T's Stuff

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Evening Bower Series by Sherry Rentschler

Love
and Blood

Evening
Bower Book 2

by
Sherry Rentschler

Genre:
Paranormal Romance

When
Rhea and Amor-el defeated the vampire horde, they thought they
won.

When
Rhea birthed Destin, the miracle son, they thought they fulfilled an
ancient prophecy.

When
the blue roses bloomed, they thought they achieved a long-denied
bliss.

They
were wrong.

Now,
the blue roses are dying. A tarot card reading warns of impending
dangers and an impossible future. In this gripping sequel to the
bestselling Time and Blood, a strangely ailing Rhea, a desperate
Amor-el, and a jealous Destin must confront familiar enemies banding
together against Rhea and her bower family. These powerful
adversaries plan to kill the phoenix, her lover, and her son; steal
The Great Book of Forgetting, and end the prophecy.

When
arson and murder strike too close to friends, they question loyalties
and deny love when they need it most. Blood stains the bower.

To
protect her family and the prophecy Rhea makes the ultimate
sacrifice. After all, in the battle between love and blood, blood
never lies.

Her
decision will change the bower – and her – forever.

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Time
and Blood

Evening
Bower Book 1

Historians
in Atlantis inscribed a prophecy in The Great Book of Forgetting
about a pair of phoenix whose union would change the future of all
magical creatures. When the sea swallowed Atlantis and all her
inhabitants, time forgot the people and this prophecy.

But
one creature survived.

Rhea
is a scarlet phoenix and the last of her kind. She escaped Atlantis
with The Great Book and for over ten thousand years roamed the earth,
grieved for her lost immortal beloved, and endured nightmares from
her past lives. Today, she hears a familiar voice on the wind luring
her to a new place. Rhea follows and hopes for the impossible.

She
crossed millennia to find him.

Jean-Louis
is a 250-year-old vampire in New Orleans. For fifty years, nightmares
plagued him, and a violent wind haunted him whispering in a foreign
tongue. In his dreams, Jean-Louis sees the face of a woman he knows
and aches for but has never met. He feels her approach; however, the
vampire senses a connecting malevolence waits in the shadows.

He
risks his immortality to keep her.

An
accident will bring Rhea into Jean-Louis’ arms. The shock will give
new life to the ancient prophecy. But others whisper of the legendary
phoenix and are hunting for Rhea. They must steal The Great Book and
prevent any chance of the prophecy’s fulfillment. If they fail, the
phoenix must die.

Together
they battle destiny for the future.

Rhea
will risk everything for love, even death.

When
time and blood converge, blood must win.

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Legacy Award for Excellence

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Gold Medalist (Cover)

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Silver Medalist (Fiction: Fantasy/Contemporary)

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The
Gypsy Thorn

Evening
Bower Prequel

She
is chosen.

When
Atlantis fell into the sea, a single creature survived--a scarlet
phoenix. She escaped with ancient man’s historical record, The
Great Book of Forgetting. This book recorded mankind’s every legend
and prophecy. Only the Archangel of Death understood man’s survival
depended on the fulfillment of one particular prophecy, that of the
scarlet phoenix.

Rhea
is the scarlet phoenix, transmuted into human form with wings of
fire. She hides The Great Book from those seeking to steal it and
prevent the prophecy. The Archangel befriends and protects her as he
watches her traverse time and mold history. She is the proverbial
rose that blooms in a future garden.

Jean-Louis
Riviere is an aristocrat who became a vampire during the American
Revolution. He is haunted by an ill wind whispering strange and
incredible possibilities. His family ties will lure those who wish to
destroy the prophecy; however, the Archangel also knows his blood is
all that will save the rose and secure the future

Drahomira
is a gypsy, a bastard princess, and a vampire. The Archangel of Death
chose her to protect the phoenix because she is an irreverent killer
but loyal to family. She will journey across continents and be the
catalyst that brings Rhea and Jean-Louis together. First, she must
leave her people, her throne, and her lover, cross a continent for
vengeance, die, and be reborn. Only then will she discover that she
is the rose’s legendary thorn in the Evening Bower.

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Silver Medalist (Fiction: Fantasy/Alt History)

2018 Readers Favorite
Book Awards Honorable Mention (Fiction/Fantasy/General)

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Sherry
Rentschler's fiction and poetry has appeared online and in print.
She's a previous Assistant Editor, Amateur Poetry Journal (online),
and a newspaper photojournalist. She lived in Italy, traveling around
Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and
Greenland.

Rentschler has three award-winning books of poetry,
a fictional memoir and an award-winning and bestselling paranormal
romance series, The Evening Bower. Her one book of photography, I
Wish You Joy is Rentschler's only photographic compellation and makes
a lovely coffee table pictorial.

Among Sherry's numerous
awards include a 2018 Global Ebook Legacy Award, a 2018 Global Ebook
Gold Award, two 2018 Global Ebook Silver awards for Fiction, a 2018
Readers Favorite Honorable Mention for her fantasies The Gypsy Thorn,
and Time and Blood. Plus two 2017 National Indie Excellence Award
Finalists (The Book of Now interior and poetry), 2017 eLit Book
Silver Award for poetry (The Book of Now), a 2017 Indie Press Award
for the cover of her non-fiction poetry, The Book of Now, 2017
Readers' Favorite 5 Star reviews for Breaking the Glass Slipper, and
The Book of Now.

Among her hobbies are all things vampire,
plus dragon collecting, photographing trees, and dancing with
faeries. She loves old Sherlock Holmes movies, reading urban and
gothic fantasies, fine wine, and consuming rich, dark chocolate.
Rentschler is a retired USAF veteran and currently resides in North
Carolina with her husband, also a retired USAF veteran. They await
the return of the dragons.

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Circle of the Red Scorpion Series by Charlene Johnson

Shattered

Circle
of the Red Scorpion Book 1

by
Charlene Johnson

Genre:
Paranormal Romance

Beneath
the flashing lights and the throbbing beat of the music in an LA
night club, Drake Devereaux admits he's grown tired of his playboy
lifestyle and vows to change it. Haunted by a devastating tragedy in
his past, he's never dated a woman he could love.

Ebony
Jordan lives a mundane life but longs for the hot, steamy nights she
writes in her romance novels. She can write happy endings in her
stories but never one herself.

Drake
and Ebony meet by chance and know it is more than a casual fling.
Their attraction is immediate and all consuming. They share a
passionate kiss and an unforgettable night of sex. When he opens the
door to her innermost fantasies, she starts to believe in the
impossible. When Drake allows his fears to separate them, Ebony must
face the stark reality - happily ever after only happens in
fairytales.

Solomon
Blackwell, a powerful Rogue vampire, sees Ebony and is stunned by her
resemblance to the woman he loved and lost decades ago. Ebony rouses
his bloodlust and her sexy body sets him on fire. He will stop at
nothing to claim her soul.

When
an unexpected tragedy brings Drake and Ebony back together, Drake is
given a second chance. He must to face the consequences of his
actions and protect the woman he loves from a dangerous man who has
set his sights on her. Will Drake and Ebony's love survive or will it
be shattered by an obsessed vampire who threatens to tear their world
apart?

In
a high rise above the city, Broderick Devereaux holds clandestine
meetings to formulate a plan to protect his only son and the woman
his son loves from the Rogue vampire he's pursued unsuccessfully for
more than two decades. The same cruel, sadistic vampire who also
destroyed his life. Will history repeat itself?

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Avenged

Circle
of the Red Scorpion Book 2

Broderick
Devereaux receives an invitation to his son, Drake’s wedding, and
he decides to make a last-ditch effort to repair their broken
relationship.

When
Solomon Blackwell, the Rogue vampire who was instrumental in
destroying his life two decades ago, sets his sights on Drake’s
wife, Ebony; he vows not to allow history to repeat itself. He knows
better than anyone that Blackwell will stop at nothing to possess
her.

To
protect her and his son, Broderick must tell Drake the shocking
family secret he’s withheld from him his whole life.

Drake
and Ebony are living the life they both dreamed of until Ebony
vanishes. As Solomon initiates his daring plan, Broderick, Drake, and
the Circle of the Red Scorpion race against time to find Ebony and
stop the Rogue vampire from destroying Drake’s life.

A
fierce battle between the two factions comes to a surprising end, and
the shocking conclusion of Avenged brings Broderick to his knees. Can
his team help him stop the new menace threatening to destroy the
world?

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Dawned

Circle
of the Red Scorpion Book 3 (Prequel)

From the Circle of
the Red Scorpion series, is the love story that started it all.

Deep in the forest,
Broderick Devereaux found her so unexpectedly and was instantly
mesmerized.

He was the dark,
handsome stranger Elise Munro dreamed of but never thought she’d
find.

Despite their
differences, Broderick and Elise started a life together and thought
they had it all. But internal demons and secrets threatened to
destroy their happiness.

While Elise was
becoming a celebrated artist, Broderick tirelessly fought to put
Solomon Blackwell, a ruthless sociopath and wealthy businessman who
befriended his wife behind bars. Putting Solomon in prison
became Broderick’s obsession as his relationship with his wife
imploded. Was Solomon behind the chasm that separated them?

Broderick and Elise
loved each other but was their love enough?

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Charlene
is a Waynesburg, Pennsylvania native. She went to Waynesburg High
School and graduated Cum Laude from Waynesburg College with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Currently lives in Sacramento,
California where she spent the last 33 years working at Northrop
Grumman.

Books
have always been her passion. She started reading at an early age and
progressed to full-length books by age nine. The first supernatural
book series she read was Dark Shadows, and it sparked her interest in
all things paranormal, with a spicy touch of romance mixed in for
good measure. She also started writing poetry in grade school and
continues to do so today.

Being
an avid reader, the consummate daydreamer and an incurable romantic
with a Cinderella complex, she started creating her own characters
and story lines because she realized she had her own stories to
tell.

She
is married to John, who believes she can do anything. She has a son,
Ty; a daughter, Danika; and four beautiful grandchildren, Aries,
Victoria, Maya, and Tobias.

Besides
reading and writing, she also enjoys photography, travel, music, and
great movies.

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the tour HERE
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Fool’s Folly by Ophelia Bell

Fool’s Folly
Ophelia Bell
(Fate’s Fools, #2)
Publication date: December 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Don’t f*ck with Fate.
Deva Rainsong has found her dragon soul, but she still feels incomplete. As a chimera, bred in a lab from the blood of all four higher races and human blood combined, it will take no less than a fragment of a soul from all five races to complete hers.
Yet even as she starts to believe that she can finally be complete and all her powers awakened, her hopes are dashed when the second soul gift from her ursa lover comes with unexpected side effects. And to top it off Fate itself has redoubled efforts to seek out and destroy all the members of the bloodline.
Fate doesn’t like loose ends, and Deva’s very existence is upsetting the balance. Will she be able to strike a compromise or be forced to run to escape Fate’s wrath?
Warning: this story is a fast-burn HOT and steamy reverse-harem odyssey, with some M/M content, not meant for the faint of heart (or libido)… #whychoose!

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Author Bio:
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.
If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/
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Fate’s Fools by Ophelia Bell

Fate’s Fools
Ophelia Bell
(Fate’s Fools, #1)
Publication date: November 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

How do you find a soulmate – without a soul?
Deva Rainsong was meant to be nothing more than a vessel to house the enemy’s soul. Bred in a lab with a link to the enemy’s bloodline, she is a mix of all four higher races and the only creature of her kind. No one, not even her family, knows how she works, or what she is truly capable of. And now, with the death of the enemy in the last war, Deva has lost her purpose. Despite the deep connection she forms with five men along her journey, love without a soul can only be an empty affair. Deva refuses to bind any man to that meaningless existence.
Unclaimed, empty, and soulless, Deva has been left with nothing but a deep, cold longing for a love that Fate will never offer. But, when Fate hounds begin hunting members of the bloodline, it becomes Deva’s personal quest to find out how to stop them. With her special link, and her five suitors in tow, she is in a singularly unique position. Together, the band of six will embark on a mission to uncover the secrets of bloodline souls, love, rogue Fate hounds, and the true extent of Deva’s powers…
Warning: this story is a fast-burn HOT and steamy reverse-harem odyssey, with some M/M content, not meant for the faint of heart (or libido)… #whychoose!

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—

EXCERPT:

The ursa claim that when they go on their pilgrimage as young adults, they do this thing they call “soul searching.” I’ve always wondered what this meant. Are their souls like vessels that need to be emptied out like old luggage and filtered through to find clues to their true path in life? Or are they missing their souls and the pilgrimage is how they find them?

I’ve never asked anyone else this question before because I kind of already know the answer. Their soul searching was a journey to understand the souls they already possessed. I’d have liked to think that my own pilgrimage was the same thing, except I was probably fooling myself.

First of all, I’m not really on a pilgrimage at all. I ran away from home and my family is probably looking for me.

And second, I don’t have a soul, which is a double-edged sword. It means I’m nearly impossible for my family to find, but it also means I am missing the one thing that could probably tell me where I belong in the world, and I’m fairly certain my own quest isn’t going to lead me to it.

Ever since I ran, I’ve been going through the motions of this so-called “soul search,” but haven’t really learned a whole lot about myself that I didn’t already know. I’m an infinitely adaptable creature and a quick study, yet the powers I was born with are still wimpy as fuck. Three weeks into a self-imposed exile from the life I knew, all I’d really learned were things related to the human world to which I’d fled.

Humanity was both amazingly resilient and heart-breakingly fragile at the same time. I finally understood why the higher races were so drawn to them. Why the dragons used to collect human mates and hoard them like treasure.

That particular instinct wasn’t exactly dormant in me. Thanks to my somewhat unorthodox origins, I was magically linked to a special segment of humanity that was infused with divine blood. And thanks to that blood, there was something distinctly magical hurting some of the humans of the bloodline.

My deepest instincts urged me to protect them. Whether it was my dragon nature at work, or a trait of one of the other four races that ran in my blood, I kind of wanted to take half the bloodline home with me just to keep them safe. That would have solved a lot of issues, but it wasn’t exactly feasible to show up in the Dragon Glade or one of the other three sacred homes of the four higher races with a whole pile of humans in tow.

Even if I could go home. One of the few things I’d learned about myself was that I was stubborn as hell. I was part human, so that resilience and tenacity was there, but I was also immortal, so not so fragile, at least not on the outside. I couldn’t leave the human world until I’d figured out what was hurting the people I was linked to and why, even if it meant keeping watch over the one thing they possessed that I didn’t: their souls.

The irony was not lost on me.

Author Bio:
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.
If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/
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Killer Among by S.E. Green

Killer Among
S.E. Green
(Killer Instinct, #3)
Publication date: October 19th 2018
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

Lane swore never to be like her late mother. But now she too is a killer. One difference remains—Lane only stalks and punishes the guilty.
But while trailing a new killer of teenage girls dubbed “The Strangler”, Lane makes a terrible miscalculation and kills the wrong man.
Now the family of the man she accidentally murdered is hunting the killer, and Lane is forced to cover her tracks by befriending them. Because everyone knows you keep your enemies close.
But are they really enemies? Lane isn’t so sure.
As the plot surrounding “The Strangler” tightens around her like a noose, for the first time Lane is tempted to trust someone with her darkest secrets. But will breaking down her boundaries bring salvation, or doom?

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—

Author Bio:
S. E. Green is an award willing, bestselling author who writes dark and twisty novels like Killer Instinct, dubbed "Dexter for teens"; Ultimate Sacrifice, a satanic cult novel of suspense; and Vanquished, a gritty survival thriller. She also writes under Shannon Greenland and there you'll find young adult novels of action, romance, and suspense.
Shannon lives in a small Florida beach town, has one very grouchy dog, and loves to travel. She's also up for any adventure you might throw her way.
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Viking’s Valor by Sky Purington

Viking’s Valor

Viking Ancestors

Rise of the Dragon

Book 2

Sky Purington

Genre: Time Travel Fantasy/Shifter Romance

Date of Publication: November 1, 2018

ASIN: B07G5N8QBC

Number of pages: 256

Word Count: 81,000

Cover Artist: Tara West

Book Description:

Cursed by her dragon ancestor, Sage is at the root of a burgeoning prophecy that threatens her sisters. The only way to protect them is to leave Winter Harbor, Maine, and travel back in time to tenth century Scandinavia. To travel back to Håkon and Leif, the men she left behind. Two warriors pitted against each other to win her over so they might strengthen their position in an ongoing war. Yet when she arrives, she’s captured by someone else entirely.

Set to annihilate his nemesis before he wreaks havoc and claims Sage as his own, Viking Håkon Sigdir pursues Leif. Until Sage is taken by Magnus of the Årud tribe. It then becomes a race to see who can save her first from the enemy’s rogue ally. A race that turns into a battle of wills as their rivalry for Sage intensifies.

Sparks fly as an age-old vendetta ignites a love triangle that threatens not just the fate of Håkon’s people but his very heart. Will Sage ultimately choose him or Leif? Will she see past the dark enchantment affiliated with her ancestor's prophecy and realize who is destined for her? Better yet, will she see clearly the evil imposter? Because if she falls for Leif’s mock heroism rather than Håkon’s genuine valor, the war will be lost.

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Excerpt #2 (Spicy)

Håkon’s eyes
slid to Sage as everyone gathered their possessions and began disembarking. It
was one thing to try to keep her from touching his tattoo but how would he ever
dare lie with her now that he knew how easily Leif could take over his body.
The very idea made his inner dragon rear up in territorial rage.

Clearly sensing
his thoughts, Sage’s hand slipped into his, and she didn’t let go when he tried
to pull away. “No.” Her eyes met his. “No pulling away from me, Håkon. Not when
I want to touch you. Not when I want to offer you and your dragon comfort.”

Though she was
trying to tell him she had not let Leif get to her, he knew better.

“You think you
know better,” she murmured, still following his thoughts. “But you don’t.” She
shook her head. “What happened back there was my body’s response to your body.
My dragon’s response to you. Not to Leif. There’s a difference, and you need to
separate it. Because if you don’t, you’re feeding right into what he’s trying
to do. Drive a wedge between us so that I’m more susceptible to him.”

“But you are,”
he said as they traveled into a tunnel at the back of Magnus’ cave. “He was
hand-picked to attract you, Sage. Hand-picked to appeal to your dragon.”

“I guess.” She
frowned and shook her head. “But I can tell you this much. Whatever his appeal
may be, it’s not nearly as strong as yours.” Her voice grew softer. “He’s not
constantly on my mind. I’m not interested in getting to know him better…” Her
eyes met his. “Much better.”

“Because you are
not with him all the time like you are me,” he said, determined to make sure
she continued to be reasonable even as his inner dragon roared with triumph at
her words.

“You’re supposed
to be trying to win me over,” she reminded. “Not pushing me away.”

“I am trying to
win you over,” he said softly. “The right way.”

“I get that.” A
grateful glint lit her eyes. “And I appreciate it.” She stopped and faced him,
allowing enough room for others to pass as she stepped closer and narrowed her
eyes on his. “But maybe it’s time for you to stop being such a nice guy and
fight fire with fire.”

“You want me to
act like Leif,” he murmured, troubled. “You would prefer that?”

“I didn’t say
act like Leif. You’re not a heartless barbarian.” She rested her hand on his
chest. “But you are a strong Viking dragon who has never let another male shake
your confidence. Especially not a rival male.”

“He has shaken
my confidence with good reason,” he managed, ignoring Davyn’s wink and grin as
he passed, leaving them alone in the light of Håkon’s torch. “He can get to you
through me.”

“So far, here
and there,” she said softly, shifting even closer. “But maybe because in some
strange way I’ve let him by keeping you at a distance. Maybe he’s found a
loophole in our whole dating process.”

“Dating?”
Despite himself, he couldn’t help a small grin. “Is that what you would call
all the havoc we have experienced since meeting?”

“I don’t know
that it’s been all havoc.” She met his grin as she stepped so close she had to
tilt her head to keep their eyes together. Her voice was a little breathless
and flirtatious as the mint in her luminous eyes danced in the firelight. “But
it’s definitely been exciting.”

Somewhere way in
the back of his mind, he knew he should stop this, but neither his human or
dragon half listened as she stood on her tip-toes and pulled his mouth down to
hers. The moment their lips touched, his dragon roared in approval, and he
yanked her close. He wasn’t gentle like he’d been up to this point, but
aggressive with the inherent need to claim her.

To make her his.

About the Author:

Sky Purington is the bestselling author of forty novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth, and legend. When combined with a love for history, romance, and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington. Interested in keeping up with Sky’s latest news and releases? Either visit Sky’s website, www.SkyPurington.com, subscribe to her quarterly newsletter or sign up for personalized text message alerts. Simply text 'skypurington' (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121 or visit Sky’s Sign-up Page. Texts will ONLY be sent when there is a new book release. Readers can easily opt out at any time.

Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.

Website: www.skypurington.com

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Book Blast His Tempting Love by Anya Summers

His Tempting Love

by Anya Summers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya Summers will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banners to see the other stops on the tour.

GENRE: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Cora Roberts has a plan: move to a new town and make a better life for herself and her son. As a single mom, she’s not looking for a relationship of any kind. But then she never expected to have the sexy Garrett offer her a night of uninhibited pleasure with no strings attached.

Garrett Brooks never expected Cora’s surrender to his touch to be so sweet – or tempt him to want more than just a single night with her. But as he pursues a deeper relationship with Cora, a threat from his past emerges.

Will Garrett be able to tempt Cora with his love, or will outside forces tear them apart?

Read an Excerpt

A pair of shirtless cowboys settled onto the stools at table ten in her station. Cora approached and couldn’t help but notice that the man with his back to her had one hell of a sexy back. Could a back be sexy? Because this one was. His muscles were defined, flexing with each slight movement. She had an image of herself dragging her tongue along the clearly distinct line of his spine, right down to the two dimples peeking above the line of his low-slung blue jeans.

She inhaled a steadying breath. Clearly her vibrator wasn’t getting the job done if she was having lusty thoughts about a strange man’s back.

The gentleman was a large guy—had to be at least six feet or taller—with dark chestnut hair peeping from beneath his ivory Stetson. His long, muscular, jean-clad legs were tucked beneath the table. The jeans rode low on his hips, even with the brown leather belt circling his waist, and the material lovingly cupped his behind. It wasn’t one of the flat butts so many men had but firmly rounded to give a woman something to hold on to as he thrust.

Clearly it had been far too long since she’d done the deed if she was envisioning holding on to his sexy butt while he had his way with her. She had to be careful or she’d wind up sleeping with someone she had no business getting entangled with.

The hot cowboy’s friend was an equally big fella. Although, for her at least, he was eclipsed by his friend.

Cora plastered a smile on her face as she rounded the table and faced the two Doms.

“Sirs, what can I get for you this evening?” she asked and finally lifted her gaze up to the man’s face. And holy smokes, what a face. Sinfully handsome didn’t even begin to describe her hot cowboy. Nor the fact that one glance at him made her skin feel three sizes too small.

“You’re new,” the cowboy said, and his voice reminded her of melted dark chocolate. Her gaze dipped from his ‘melt your panties off’ face to his brawny shoulders. Viewing them from the front, suffused with lines of ropey muscles, made tingles tighten in her core. Her gaze lowered to his solidly formed chest, the pectorals well-defined and liberally dusted with fine dark hair. Her mouth watered to taste the flat disks of his dusky brown nipples and then follow the singular line of his happy trail with her tongue over his ripcord abs. She inhaled a steadying breath. What the hell was wrong with her? She flashed her gaze back up to his face. His chestnut hair was shaded with hints of deep auburn and the color extended to the trim beard covering his square jaw. But it was the Dom’s eyes, framed by thick chestnut brows, the sharp cobalt orbs reminding her of the deep blue waters off the bay in Seattle, that caused her breath to catch in her throat. They stared at her, glittering with interest as they gave her body the same studious perusal.

“Perceptive,” she replied, as she attempted to reel her pulse back from its fluttering, thumping madness. Just because she found the cowboy sinfully attractive to the point that all her erogenous zones had taken notice, didn’t mean she could act on said lusts. “My name is Cora and I will be serving you this evening.”

“I’ve not seen you around here. New to the area?” the other cowboy said.

She directed her gaze his way. He was equally attractive, with his fawn-colored hair showing beneath the brim of his black hat and hazel eyes that leaned more toward brown with flecks of emerald and gold. His jaw was clean shaven, a bit more angular, and he had a slight cleft in his chin. The cowboy’s chest was certainly noteworthy, a tad leaner, his build more like a swimmer’s, and dusted with light fawn-colored hair. But this guy didn’t make a five-alarm fire ignite in her nether regions. Which made him safe territory, regardless of the fact that his eyes weren’t all that warm.

She addressed him and said, “Yep. Moved here two weeks ago.”

“From where?” Blue eyes asked and she swiveled her head, feeling her high ponytail swish against her shoulder blades. She was drowning in his stare, pin pricks of heat swarming her system. With a simple glance, the man caused every nerve ending to tingle with awareness. Her breath backed up in her lungs and she had to fight the very real desire to touch him. See if his skin would burn at the touch.

“Seattle. Would you two like anything to drink tonight?” she asked, wanting to steer away from her personal life.

“Quite a long way,” the other cowboy said, his stare assessing her, and she couldn’t help but feel he was attempting to divine all her secrets.

He had no idea. She missed her friends, she missed her tiny little house. She missed home. She shook herself. This was home now, whether she liked it or not.

“It is.”

Blue eyes said, “I’m Garrett and this is Jackson. Why don’t you bring us a bucket of Coronas to start?”

“Absolutely. Hungry? Anything to eat?” she asked.

“Not for anything on the menu.” Garrett gave her a lopsided, sexy grin. Laugh lines crinkled at the corners of his intense gaze. And Cora felt a resounding ache in her core. Smooth. This Dom was a charmer. A panty melting charmer, and by the wicked gleam in his cobalt gaze, he knew how to make a woman scream in ecstasy. And if she was reading correctly into his innuendo, sexy Garrett would only be too happy to show her just how exemplary he was in matters of the flesh.