Officer Next Door by Ranae Rose Blog Tour

How can anyone resist temptation when it’s right next door?

Riley County North Carolina has a lot to offer: coastal views as far as the eye can see, and men in uniform who are even more gorgeous. Home to the most notorious prison in the state, Alicia’s new hometown is crawling with men who carry their own handcuffs and know how to use them – like Officer Liam Alexander, her one and only neighbor. After catching him out of uniform, she can’t resist pausing to enjoy the show. When Liam’s Southern charm drives him across the property line, life gets hotter than the Carolina summer could possibly account for. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to life in the coastal haven, even with an officer next door.

Coordinating special events at a historic – and supposedly haunted – plantation is enough to have Alicia questioning her senses and her sanity, but the spirits of the past take a backseat to a pair of escaped convicts who blaze a trail of mayhem across Riley County. Not even the most intense chemistry can survive the perils that make a sunny seaside town a dangerous place to be after dark … can it?

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The rising sun burnt on the Carolina horizon like a jewel, causing the tidal mist to light up like it’d been set on fire. It was the most gorgeous thing Alicia had ever seen, besides her naked neighbor. The sight of him stripping down lit up the morning like nothing else could – not even the extra-bold, extra-large cup of coffee she clutched as she stared through her kitchen window.

Everything about him was extra-large, too. She, however, was anything but bold.

She’d die if he knew she’d been watching him like this for the past three weeks, ever since she’d moved in. Guilt surged through her system just like her daily caffeine infusion, but that didn’t keep her from enjoying the display, all that taut muscle and bare skin.

Not even close.

“Good Lord,” she sighed, to no one but herself. DC seemed faraway already; the big city had disappeared in her rearview mirror weeks ago to be replaced by real Southern heat and charm, two things her new neighbor radiated in spades.

Not that she’d spoken to him much yet.

There’d been the occasional hello when they glimpsed each other outside, usually coming to or from work. That was it, mostly because the sight of him in uniform had a way of leaving her tongue-tied, silenced by the guilty pleasure that struck her every time she looked in his direction. She couldn’t so much as glance at him without thinking about that uniform coming off in slow motion, revealing his perfect body.

Maybe it was his fault for not closing the bathroom blinds, the ones that hung over the window directly across from the shower.

Or maybe it was her fault for enjoying the striptease with her morning coffee day after day, saying nothing.

Either way, she wasn’t complaining. Close-cropped dark hair, sun-tanned skin stretched over a six foot frame of solid muscle and an ass that appeared to be sculpted from granite, not to mention the amazing view when his back wasn’t to her: the vision had been seared into her memory, and it stayed with her even after he slung a towel around his hips and strolled out of the bathroom, disappearing from her view.

That was her cue to gulp down the rest of her coffee and pull herself together before she rushed to the Wisteria Plantation House. She’d been hired there as the special events coordinator, had moved and reshaped her life around the new job, though as she drained her coffee mug, swallowing the bitter grit that swirled at the bottom of the cup, she was so dazzled by what she’d just seen that it was sure to be a challenge just to coordinate her hair and makeup for the day, let alone an outfit.

Despite the sexually-charged fog her neighbor had left her in, she managed to brush on some cosmetic staples, twist her chestnut hair into a simple chignon and shed her robe, pulling on khaki pants and a purple blouse. As she dressed, she pretended that the brush of her own fingertips against her skin didn’t inspire imaginings of what it’d be like to feel her neighbor’s hands on her body. Lastly, she slipped on sandals, a pair with modest kitten heels that’d allow her to navigate Wisteria’s grounds without breaking an ankle.

Or so she thought. When she finally walked out the door with her purse slung over her shoulder and a travel mug in one hand, she tripped over the threshold and was launched forward through the muggy Carolina air.

She windmilled, dropping her handbag but – miracle of miracles – managing to maintain her grip on her coffee.

The mug was a fancy one that remained sealed until one pressed a button, freeing the flow of liquid within. As she bent to pick up her purse and then straightened, quickly smoothing her clothing, she realized that the anti-spill mug was the best twenty dollars she’d ever spent.

Heat flooded her cheeks as she said a silent prayer of gratitude for spill-proof technology. Her neighbor was standing on the front porch of his bungalow-style house, a cute place painted a shade of moss-green that blended right into the wooded backdrop. Judging by the way he stared, frowning in her direction, he’d seen everything.

“Are you all right?” His voice echoed across the few yards between them, sounding with a depth that sent a frisson racing down her spine.

 
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

  

Johanna – ☆☆☆☆
Let's be honest, the cover grabbed my attention, and the title as well. The synopsis clinched it, and overall it was a really great read. The story started out with Alicia getting an eyeful of her hot neighbor getting out of the shower as she stands drinking her morning coffee. After the description I can't imagine any woman not wanting an eyeful. The book brings together a ghostly sense, men in uniform, and a prison break which doesn't seem easy to do but the author manages to pull it off. I was thoroughly entertained and read it straight through. I would definitely read from this author again and I look forward to many more books from her! Overall entertainment was four stars.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
Alicia just moved to small town North Carolina to take a job as an event planner for the Wisteria Plantation House. However, it’s her next door neighbor who keeps her life interesting. Liam Alexander is a correctional officer for the nearby prison, who apparently has forgotten to put up blinds in his bathroom. Alicia has made it a daily part of her routine to take her coffee into her bathroom to watch Officer Alexander as he gets ready every morning.

Sparks fly between the two and lust blooms. A pair of escapees along with some paranormal activity throw the couple together even more. Over pizza, the two succumb the lustful tension that surround them.

Nice, breezy romance with a touch of the paranormal and crazed jailed escapees.


Rachael – ☆☆☆
Alicia has just moved to a new place... And has discovered that her neighbor is very used to not having someone living next door to him. She watches him get in and out of the shower every morning over her morning coffee since he doesn't close his bathroom blinds.

Liam is the extremely hot officer who lives next door... And watches his neighbor's shadow undress every night without her knowledge. When Alicia brings over a few ladies she works with and it happens to be on a night that a few guys that Liam works with show up as well, they end up all spending time together.

A set of brothers escaping from a prison bus (where Liam works) changes the whole dynamic of the group, putting fear into play. Not to mention Alicia has been seeing what very likely could be spirits, which could be hinting to something not so good in her future.

The sexy cover and good synopsis were instant appeals to me, but I felt like the book needed a bit more work. More often than not we were told things instead of shown them making the story a bit dull at times :( I also found seeing the side of one of the escapees to be unnecessary as I felt the connection to Alicia and Liam much more interesting.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Officer Next Door story contains supernatural elements (ghost) but not to the extent that it was off putting for someone like me who usually doesn't read paranormal fiction.

This was an unexpectedly steamy read, this author writes sex very well. I enjoyed spending time with Liam and Alicia, their relationship is hot. I did feel the relationship was more about lust than love and when it switched from one to the other, I didn't really feel the emotions and went along with the words on the page.

I enjoyed Officer Next Door and I look forward to reading book 2 which will be Sasha and Henry's story.

 

 
Ranae Rose is the best-selling author of more than twenty adult romances and counting. Originally from Maryland, she grew up the daughter of a US Marine and always wanted to be a writer. Today she lives on the US East Coast with her man in uniform, young children, German Shepherd dogs and overflowing bookshelves.

Her love affair with the romance genre began as a teen when a classmate handed her a romance comic book. Instantly hooked, she read them during class behind her textbooks and under her desk. She hasn’t looked back since.

When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys things like good coffee, travel and fitness – especially pursuing her elusive goal of getting her husband to tap out on the jiu jitsu mats (no luck so far).

Connect with Ranae

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Officer Next Door (Lock and Key #1) by Ranae Rose to read and review for this tour.

The Viper by Kele Moon Blog Tour

Marcos Rivera is a fighter. A gang member. Someone who has seen the dark side of humankind and survived. He has lost family and gained enemies. He has stolen cars and destroyed hearts, stripping one for money and the other for pleasure. His past is haunted and his future is bleak.

Until her.

Katie Foster is a high school history teacher. Smart, strong, and sexy. She is a woman Marcos shouldn’t want. Shouldn’t touch. Shouldn’t love. He met her in Garnet, a backwards, hick town that’s the last place in the world he wants to be, but he finds himself going back for a taste of the forbidden.

Katie represents all that is good in the world, and Marcos knows he’s nothing but trouble for her perfect life. He fights and he screws. He commits crimes and he breaks the rules. He will never change and he will never escape his gang lifestyle.

Or can he?

What happens when two different people from two very different walks of life risk it all by giving into the passion that threatens to consume both of them? Can a woman who only knows how to play it safe give her heart to a man who lives hard and loves harder?

Will she survive The Viper?

 

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“You’re stubborn, cariño.”

Katie flipped her hair back. She crawled over Marcos and straddled him once more. She reached for her coffee and took a sip. She noticed he didn’t have a complaint this time. He seemed a little too relaxed to bother as she admitted, “I am very stubborn. Ask anyone. It’s usually their chief complaint about me.”

“I like it.” He tugged a long strand of her hair. “A lot.”

“That’s why you’re perfect.” She grinned, enjoying how completely unselfconscious she was around him. It was such a rare commodity in her life. For some reason, she didn’t question for one minute that he liked her just as she was. She felt the same about him as she eyed his body under hers. She reached out and touched one of the stars on his shoulder. There was a matching one on the other shoulder. “What do these mean?”

He winced. “If you knew, you wouldn’t think I’m perfect.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Try me.”

“They mean I’m a thief,” he said simply, as if daring her to judge him.

“Of what?” She took another sip of her coffee as she studied the strange stars that decorated each of his shoulders.

“Of anything left unattended long enough for me to take advantage of.” He laced a hand behind his head, still studying her thoughtfully. “Cars. Houses. Pretty, innocent gringas with talented mouths.”

She laughed. “I’m not that innocent.”

“That’s what you think.”

“Mmm,” she hummed rather than argue, and took another sip of her coffee that was extra creamy and sweet, making it the color of Marcos’s tan skin. She studied him again, and ran her hand over the tattooed cross on his chest with the names of his mother and cousin above and below it. Then she touched the inked black tribal tattoos on his right biceps. It covered so much skin, and the left side matched. “What about these?”

He looked amused with her exploration of him. “They mean nothing.”

“Then why get them?”

“I dunno, ‘cause I was young and vain and had a lot of disposable income.”

“From stealing things.”

“Yup.”

“Where’s your disposable income now?”

He laughed. “On my arms.”

“So you must not be stealing things anymore,” she said, because she suspected as much.

“Not right now, no.” He took her coffee from her and leaned up, stealing a sip before he put it back on the nightstand. “Soon, maybe.”

“Once a thief—” she mused.

“Always a thief,” he finished for her as he laced his other hand behind his head. “You’d be smart to remember it, chica.”

“Why did you get the tattoos?” she asked as she touched his right arm again. She didn’t believe for one minute he did them just for vanity. Every marking on his body had a meaning. It was like an illustration to the history of his life, and she found it fascinating. “The truth.”

He looked away from her. His body stiffened all of a sudden, and she got the impression she may have pushed too far before he admitted in a low, raspy voice, “Because they hurt.”

“Huh?”

“I just wanted something to hurt me. To make me forget. To make it sting so bad I couldn’t think about anything but the needle digging into my skin.”

“Did it work?”

“No.” He looked back to her, the pain glimmering in his light eyes. “If it did, I would have a lot more.”

She laid down over him and let her head rest on his shoulder over one of the stars that marked him as a thief. He stroked her hair and together they shared a quiet moment where she didn’t judge him, and he let her be still and ache for him.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

  

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this novel, which successfully introduced changes in pace depending on which character was the lead in the story. By the end it had smoothed out in a really natural way. The premise of the story being good quiet woman meets off the rails gorgeous man is not new, but the twists and turns make this a very fresh read.

Engaging from the beginning; torridly steamy in places, and telling a meaningful story; Ms Moon has written a hit. I highly recommend it to you.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Kele Moon has written another fabulous romance.

The book commences with Garnet native Katie getting into a car accident and meeting Marcos, the cousin of Chuito who we met in the Battered Hearts series.

Marcos, a Miami native and a gang member, is struggling to go straight after serving a prison sentence. I loved Marcos right from the start - the way he faces everything head on. He is honest. He knows who he is and doesn't try to hide it.

Katie has an instant connection with Marcos and I loved her character as well. She is trusting, open, compassionate, strong and goes after what she wants.

I really enjoyed Katie and Marcos' journey and seeing how two people from very worlds come together and ultimately, made each other better people.

The Viper is a spin off from Kele Moon's Battered Hearts series but it isn't necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one. I would recommend you read them too, if only because they are great reads as well.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
It’s been a while since I read Ms. Moon’s work and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read The Viper. It reminded me why I enjoy her writing so much. She creates realistic characters that you can’t wait to spend time with and don’t want to be interrupted while you’re with them. I told myself when I started the book today that I would read for an hour and then do some work and come back and read some more. I did manage to take my first reading break, but when I picked the book back up I didn’t put it down until I finished it. Yep, it sucked me right in.

Katie and Marcos do NOT meet under the best of circumstances. Despite the situation and the fact that Katie should be frightened of Marcos, he is the only thing that keeps her from losing it that awful night. Once her life return to normal, everyone seems to be stonewalling her when she attempts to contact Marcos – telling her he’s too dangerous and she’s better off leaving well enough alone. I have to say that I absolutely loved the way in which Marcos learned of her attempts to contact him and exactly how long she had been trying. And his reaction to it, well that’s the kind of thing that makes a girl’s heart flutter. Even though Marcos truly is a lover and not a fighter, circumstances force him back to his old life and he finds himself walking a fine line between life and death.

The Viper is a romance through and through and it is a great start for the Untamed Hearts series. Ms. Moon has created a hero in Marcos that is strong, loyal, loving, and passionate. It is these characteristics that make him perfect for Katie – who has just enough temper and attitude to challenge Marcos without making him feel judged. They complement one another and their chemistry is obvious and translates into some smoking hot sex scenes. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and really hope that it’s Chuito’s story. Until then, I’ll be revisiting Ms. Moon’s other books.

 

 
A freckle faced, redhead born and raised in Hawaii, Kele Moon has always been a bit of a sore thumb and has come to enjoy the novelty of it. She thrives off pushing the envelope and finding ways to make the impossible work in her story telling. With a mad passion for romance, she adores the art of falling in love. The only rules she believes in is that, in love there are no rules and true love knows no bounds.

So obsessed is she with the beauty of romance and the novelty of creating it she’s lost in her own wonder world most of the time. Thankfully she married her own dark, handsome, brooding hero who had infinite patience for her airy ways and attempts to keep her grounded. When she leaves her keys in the refrigerator or her cell phone in the oven he’s usually there to save her from herself. The two of them now reside in Florida with their three beautiful children who make their lives both fun and challenging in equal parts–They wouldn’t have it any other way.

Connect with Kele

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Viper by Kele Moon to read and review for this tour.

Womb of the New World by Mira Noire Blog Tour

In a post-nuclear future, the lush pleasure cyborgs of Earth have become powerful, fearsome mutants known as Wroks who rule the wild, desolate Fallout landscape. The Wroks and their leader, Yoevin, desperately hunt for a female capable of mothering a cyborg's child. As the years pass, they struggle while fighting to hold on to the intelligence and humanity granted by their makers centuries ago.

Hidden deep in caverns below, Imogenne and her people survive by cultivating the earth, making rare forays above ground for supplies and fresh resources. But Imogenne is not like the rest of her people. She is wild, sensual, and strangely independent -- like her mother, who disappeared years ago in a Wrok attack. On the verge of being betrothed to a man she does not love and facing the rest of her life underground without adventure or freedom, she is haunted by darkly erotic visions that promise something more beyond the world -- and biology -- she knows.

When she is captured in a night Wrok raid, Imogenne hopes to escape her new masters and survive by her wits. But she then discovers a horrifying truth: Her body has a will of its own, one that may very well leave her no choice but to become a mother of the New World.

***This title contains graphic sexual scenes: m/f, captive sexual submission, voyeurism, mutant cyborg and human intercourse. Do not read this work if you find such themes offensive.***

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I turn my head slowly to look at the walls. Stone, heavy and grey. One side has a window looking out onto a night sky. Another is entirely made of a metal gate, and on the other side sits the monster. I swallow hard, and say nothing, taking in every detail, willing myself to give no reaction at all to my captor.

“Look upon me, then. You’ll see me for many days hence.”

His eyes glow red and unnatural, but in them is an intelligence. The ears are pointed, like the bats of our warrens, nearer to the back of his head.

“What are you?” I ask, noting the powerful muscles of his body, beneath black, warped skin that looks dry and peeling. Veins ride out hard against the flesh, bulging as though from an excess of power. From behind his back rise huge, membranous black wings, with pointed upper tips that hook together, holding them closed … again, like a bat’s.

“I once looked like your kind, you know,” he says, not quite answering the question. My eyes wander down, unable to stop. “I would not look there now, if I were you.”

His voice is gravelly and soft, and I stop my eyes at his chest, feeling my heart suddenly skip beats. It rarely does that.

“Why?”

“There are many strange stories to tell. You’re the only one I’ve met who hasn’t lost some of her sense by now. I wonder how many stories you could bear.”

“Test me, then.”

I lift my eyes to his and feel a daring in them I do not know the source of, but it takes over, like everything else. His chin is sharp and pointed, and I see fangs hiding behind the surface of his lips. They gleam, those lips, wet and hungry for something I have yet to see.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆

Womb of the New World was an enjoyable sci-fi romance that was one of the more original storylines that I have read in a while. The humans have been forced underground due to nuclear and chemical warfare. They remain there to protect themselves from the Wrok, cyborgs that have mutated as a result of the bioengineered weapons. The novella focuses on Imogenne, a 17 year-old human girl who has become restless living underground. She is plagued by nightmares and a drive to leave the safety of the caves. When she finally convinces her father to allow her to participate in a night raid, she finds herself face to face with a real-life nightmare … Yoevin, the leader of the Wrok.

Yoevin is one of the few remaining original cyborgs, one who retains vague memories of his pre-apocalyptic life and experiments instituted by their creator to enable cyborgs to mate with humans that possess specialized genes that allow them to reproduce with cyborgs, thereby insuring the continuation of both species. Because Yoevin remembers the experiments, but not the specifics, he was caught off-guard when he encounters Imogenne and reacts to her more bodily than any female before. His drive to claim her makes for a seriously steamy scene and Imogenne learns more about herself at his hand than before. They quickly find themselves facing decisions neither ever anticipated before.

I found Womb of the New World to be a quick read with an original storyline. Ms. Noire has done a great job of creating human and cyborg characters that have distinctly different voices. While this is a novella, it is full-developed story that could easily be expanded to a series as the couple move forward in their relationship and their new world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more from this author.  

 

 
Passion. Decadence. Drama. Mira Noire doesn't pussyfoot around. If you're looking for the typical happily-ever-after with the same old characters - they aren't here. Mira writes visceral scenes that are so real you can taste (and smell!) them, and loves to feature flawed characters you may not always like. Like or not, you'll definitely love watching them, and hopefully enjoy following them on their intensely personal erotic journeys. Mira lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, loves to travel abroad, and has a B.A. in English from Stanford University. Visit Mira at http://www.miranoire.com to get to know her world a little better.

Connect with Mira

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Womb of the New World by Mira Noire to read and review for this tour.

Cover Reveal – Serial Volume One by Jaden Wilkes and Lily White

Jude Hollister kills. Born with everything, wanting for nothing, murder has become his addiction. He kills women who entice him. He immortalizes them while they’re still young and beautiful. How will he manage to save the one woman he loves?

Ronnie Lapierre is a survivor. Born with nothing, she’s struggling in a dead end job with an abusive bastard for a boyfriend. Jude offers her a way out, salvation beyond her wildest dreams. What will happen when she learns his terrible secret?

Gideon Blake is the brightest mind to come out of Quantico in years. Charged with finding the Cascades Butcher, he’s perfect for this game of cat and mouse. Will his own dark past lead him to success, or drag him into the depths of hell with the most dangerous man he’s ever encountered?

Hearts will be broken, families destroyed, and good men will turn evil. In the end, only one will remain. Find out who survives in this intense story of love and ruin.

Serial. A brand new dark, erotic thriller from the twisted minds of Lily White and Jaden Wilkes.

Warning: Explores dark themes of murder, violence, sexuality, BDSM, the nature of evil...basically all the good stuff.

***Serial is a serial, shorter stories published faster. How long is ultimately ends up becoming is solely dependent upon our readers. The more you want, the more we write.***

Coming September 2014

“Would you like me to take you straight home, Sir?” my driver asks as I settle into the back of the company car. It's long, sleek, black and classic. Unfortunately it will also stand out too much in the neighbourhood I want to cruise tonight.

I am just looking. Window shopping if you will. I haven’t killed a woman for almost three months now and I can feel the urge building up in the back of my brain. Work was a bust, it’s a good thing I’m the boss or I would have been fired every damn time I start to cycle. I get so distracted I can barely remember my own name.

I can’t help it, I truly can’t. I’ve researched addiction, Googled the fuck out of everything from, “How do I stop killing” to “Frontal lobotomy results sociopathy” when the going gets tough.

It’s not a morals thing. Don’t get me wrong. I believe I am on a mission and the women who choose me are already dying by the time they accept their fate.

It’s more of an inconvenience and timing thing. I’ve been doing it for over a decade. I’ve killed many, many women. I couldn’t tell you how many off the top of my head, I’d have to count my trophies to be sure, but ballpark around twenty five.

Chances are I’m going to get caught eventually. And I don’t want to get caught. Getting caught will be such a bore. Such a drag. Such a stock fiasco. Our company shares will plummet once it’s realized the head is such a fucking nutjob.

I’m usually very good at business, the thing that allows me to slit the throat of a woman and take my knife to her breast is the very thing that allows me to make logical business decisions without flinching.

Every CEO is a sociopath. They have to be. Business is not very pleasant, and only the worst men with the darkest hearts survive up the tangled rivers of boardrooms and back room deals.

So I try to fight my urges, for my family, my business and for the simple fucking fact that I don’t want to end up behind bars.

Jaden Wilkes

Jaden is the pen name of a girl living on the prettiest farm in BC. She shares her space with her husband, her children, and an Irish Wolfhound named Tiberius. She can now be found lurking in the dark corners of the internet looking for artful porn gifs, dirty poems and places to promo her work.

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Lily White

Lily White is a dark writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. Most of the time she can be found wandering around aimlessly while her mind is stuck in some twisted power play between two characters in her head. You may recognize her in public by the confused expression, random mumbling, and occasional giggle while thinking up a scene. Lily's favorite things in life are reading, thinking about reading, buying books for reading....and writing. Her other secret pleasure is meeting with her plot editor in public to discuss her books and watching the shocked expressions of the people around her that don't realize she's talking about a book. When Lily is not reading, writing, wandering or freaking out innocent bystanders, she's sleeping. – Bio from Amazon

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Sterling Sunshine by Cheryl Dragon Blog Tour

Gretchen isn’t in Sterling to find men. At least she keeps telling herself that. She has a new job to do promoting local businesses. Still, she can’t resist hoping she’ll find the right group of hot men to really make her dreams come true. She already has her eye on a certain sexy trio, and when they fail to make the first move, she uses work to make a meeting happen. Alaska is definitely bringing out her bolder side.

Tony and Ross are eager to date and seduce the voluptuous beauty but their third lover is a roaming pilot with notoriously bad timing. Do they count him in or out? Should they wait for him to show up or move on her? The attraction proves too hard to resist, but Matt turns up just in time to make it a foursome. It complicates the relationship but adds to the passion. Besides, love and lust aren’t practical.

The deeper Gretchen gets into the lives of her three men, the more she knows they need to be shaken up and she’s just the woman to do it!

Book 2
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Early on a Monday morning, the sun was already high and shining. Summer in Alaska meant lots of craziness with only a few hours of darkness. After the long dark winters, people soaked up the sun, and it meant not enough sleep, too much energy, and stupid stuff. Tony Wooden was ready for another day of tourists and locals who needed help. He saw all of it firsthand working as a paramedic with the Sterling Fire Department.

As he sat at the breakfast table across from his steady guy, Ross Isaac, Tony tapped on the side of his coffee mug. The excessive sun affected him too.

“Too much coffee?” Ross teased.

“Too much routine.” Tony glanced over. As usual, Ross was studying his tablet for the latest news. The new mayor of Sterling wanted to boost tourism and make his mark. At only thirty-three, he was young for that sort of job, but everyone liked him. A long-time resident, Ross was one quarter Native and it showed in his dark black hair and brown eyes. He wanted progress but respected tradition, which pleased almost everyone.

“Can I help?” Ross asked.

“I’m just a jealous jerk. My little brother Jason and his guys have the perfect woman for them and I feel like I’ve been off and on with guys all my life. I knew I liked men and women growing up. I found the right men, but Matt always makes it complicated with his job priorities. We’re finally set but we could be missing a chance,” Tony said.

“Gretchen.” Ross sighed. “I agree, she’s the best thing that’s happened to this town in a long time. And us. I’m just as interested as you are. You’re so cute when you’re smitten.”

“You have to like her and...” Tony stopped before he brought up the guy who’d hopped in and out of their lives regularly.

“She’s very attractive. I can’t say I’m in love right now. I more than like her but we haven’t had a lot of time to do any traditional sort of dating. She’s been busy moving up here. Back and forth to Michigan then setting up her advertising work with your brother and his group. It’s hard to seriously date someone who is still moving and settling in. Will she stay in Alaska? Plus I’m still figuring out this mayor job.” Ross grinned. “It’ll happen.”

“With just two of us? Or will Matt show up and ruin it? Throw a wrench in it?” Tony asked. He was used to putting out fires and handling emergencies, so when Matt landed in town, it wasn’t too bad. Ross and Tony dealt with it and enjoyed it. Maybe Tony had been putting off moving seriously on Gretchen because of the Matt question. He and Ross had spent time with her, but it was more friendly time at gatherings.

“He could jumble things if we’re trying to win Gretchen.” Ross nodded.

“No shit! He showed up right after the wedding she was in, but she was busy going back and handling things at her old place. By the time she came back, he was off again. They’ve crossed paths at most. Now she’s staying with her friend Melody and my brother and Ryan and Dale, but Matt’s gone again. I don’t want to screw it up. It’s already complicated,” Tony said.

“Small towns are always complicated. New women don’t move here every day. We shouldn’t keep things on hold. I think she’s settled in now and, with summer here, we have lots of events and options to socialize. But are we ready to shut the door on Matt? Maybe he’d settle in if we had the right woman?” Ross asked.

Tony had been wrestling with that for weeks. Matt had met Gretchen once or twice while he was here, but, like most times, he’d gotten some job and hopped in his plane.

He didn’t want to lose Gretchen over it, but Matt was a complicated guy. His dad was an ice-road trucker who was gone for long stretches. It seemed to be genetic. Matt was a pilot who loved to take high-paying jobs transporting things needed by people living on islands and in remote areas. Not every place had a ferry, and once it warmed up, the ice roads shut down. He made good money, and Tony understood, but it was hard to build a relationship without all the players.

“What do you think?” Tony turned the question back around on Ross.

“We love him. We always will. We know what he is and accept it. He’s not going to change tomorrow because of an ultimatum. We just need to live our lives. If we want Gretchen, we go after her. Date her. Two stable men isn’t bad. Gretchen came up here for Isa’s wedding. Isa only has two men and she’s very happy,” Ross said.

“And if Matt drops in while we’re dating? You know his timing,” Tony replied.

“Then we tell the truth. We tell Gretchen all about him and our history. The ménage tradition in this town is odd enough. She doesn’t seem to mind it for her friends. Guys with jobs that take them away for chunks of time is part of why the ménage structure worked in Sterling. Being on the Kenai Peninsula, some of the men went out in boats to fish while others went north and up the mountains to mine. And everyone hunts. All of it is dangerous. Sharing a woman gives the family protection. Matt says he wants the old-fashioned relationship because he loves the real Alaska.” Ross shrugged.

Tony nodded. “Matt loves the adventure. He could make a living around here giving tours. We just have to be honest with her. Two men are plenty when you have such a safe job. We’re both in town.”

“Isa married two men in the coast guard. There are no guarantees in life. You have to roll the dice and hope for the best,” Ross said.

“I know. I want to make her part of our life and keep her safe. I deal with chaos at work. I don’t like chaos in my personal life.” Tony left the table and put his dishes in the dishwasher.

“Then you should’ve cut Matt out a long time ago. A new player means uncertainty. She might not like it. She might want four men. Who knows? The longer we wait, the better the chance other men will go after her. Right?” Ross asked.

Tony leaned down and kissed Ross slowly. “I know. When you explain it, it makes sense. I want to offer her the world not a hard to explain trio.”

“If we’re that hung up on her, we need to stop stalling and move on this fast.” Ross looked at Tony. “You’re worried I won’t fall for her?”

“Of course I am.” Tony sighed.

“I’m crazy about you, and we both can’t get Matt out of our system. I think the odds are good. Let’s see what we can do to get her attention.” Ross cleared his place.

“I hope I haven’t waited too long.” Tony leaned on the counter. “She was moving and working but I danced with her at the wedding and stuff.”

“Stuff?” Ross asked.

“Nothing like that. Flirted. You’re right. We need to move on it before she thinks we’re not interested. I just don’t want Matt to screw it up.” Tony knew he was overanalyzing and looked at the time. “Work is always a distraction. Have a good one.”

“You too, and stop worrying,” Ross said.

That was easier said than done. Tony wanted a stable family of his own. Tourism did better over in Homer. Sterling was a bit more traditional, but they had their share. New women moving in didn’t happen much. Any woman wouldn’t do. Gretchen caught his attention, and Tony trusted his instincts.

Growing up in Alaska, he was ready for the bear in the backyard or the moose on the road. He trusted his gut on a camping trip or when driving in a blizzard. At work he made split-second decisions about life, death, and the conditions around him. When it came to personal things, he agonized because he had time to think. He couldn’t trust that Gretchen and Matt would work out. He wasn’t that lucky, but he couldn’t pick between the two. He had to trust Ross and explore the options.

* * * *

Gretchen stayed out of the way as the flurry of activity swept through Melody’s home. Technically it was the guys’ home, but she’d relocated and made it hers. Three kisses and the men headed off to their boat repair shop while the women lingered over coffee.

“Well the boat repair business is picking up,” Melody said.

“I wish we could get your dress-making business humming.” Gretchen had been working on advertising but it wasn’t working as well. Alaskans were a fairly practical lot. Fancy dresses were for very special occasions only.

“I’m still getting some work, but the self-sufficient nature of Alaskans means sewing isn’t the most in-demand skill. Weddings are my best business, but people might not have the funds to buy custom gowns.” Mel shrugged.

“But you’re happy?” Gretchen asked. She knew the answer and was doing her best not to be jealous of Mel’s blissful state. Alaska was an adjustment, but Mel had easily transitioned to a complicated relationship.

Mel grinned. “Very.”

“Good. I think if we focus on weddings, we can build a business for you. We’ve got some samples and you’re working on a few more. I’m trying to get a meeting with the mayor. Maybe link up with the tourism push I heard he’s looking to do.” Gretchen’s mind whirled as she nibbled a piece of bacon leftover from her breakfast.

She’d been working hard to prove her new job; helping with the advertising and promotion of the boat repair and dress design business was worth it. After a long stretch of unemployment, she had purpose. There was plenty to do but progress was only showing on the boat side. Gretchen feared that was just the good weather, but she’d gotten the word out farther than the guys.

“You don’t need to push so hard, Gretchen. No one expects magic overnight. We’re doing the bridal show in Anchorage. That’ll help,” Mel said.

“It will and it’ll be even better if we can build up Sterling as a spot for destination weddings. Alaska is a great vacation place, we can make Sterling a great location to get married in and enjoy the scenery, the nature, and all that good stuff. If we can tie our promotion budget in with the town, we’ll more than double the reach.”

“Destination weddings? Here?” Mel asked.

“Sterling has it all. Small, cute feel. Water and gorgeous nature settings. The men can fish, hunt, hike, and all that. Women too. Or the women can do the wine tasting in Homer like we did. We need to build up the draws for women because they really are the ones who make the wedding decisions.” Gretchen nodded.

“That’s true. There’s a beauty salon in town. Not a ton of shopping beyond basics. Photographer.” Mel frowned.

“You’re sure you’re not going to have a wedding? We could make a blitz of promotion about that.” Gretchen grinned.

“No. Marriage is great for some people, but I won’t play favorites.” Mel shook her head.

Mel had overcome a lot of marriage doubts and independence issues to move here. Committing to such a complex relationship was great progress, and Mel didn’t want to be legally married to one man and not the others. Gretchen admired her friend’s perspective, but she couldn’t imagine still not wanting a big wedding. Legal or not...it was a celebration!

“I hope gay marriage is made legal here soon. That’d add to the business. Two brides, double the dresses. Or two custom-designed tuxes works too. Group marriage will take forever, but we don’t need it to be legal to throw the party,” Gretchen said.

“I know you were out of work for a while and it was really depressing, but you don’t have to push so hard. Big things take time. I won’t be a billion-dollar dress designer in a day. Especially not after moving here.” Mel patted her friend’s hand.

Gretchen took a deep breath and sipped her coffee. “I get it. Too much too fast. Too much pressure on myself. It’s just so nice to have something to do. I’m living in your house and eating your food. You know I just want to make myself useful.”

“You are. There’s no rush to move out. Trust me, the guys don’t mind. The deal was room and board while we get things going. Once business picks up, we can start paying you more. You can find a place, if you want to stay,” Mel said.

“I’m not sure I want to live alone here. Definitely not yet. It’s different, but nice. Small town. Things feel a bit simpler, yet other things are a lot more complicated.” Gretchen had been eating more in-season fresh fish and local meats instead of the processed food that were cheaper and easier to come by in the lower forty-eight. That alone helped her take off the weight she’d added while jobless.

“You fit in better than I did at first.” Mel checked her phone.

“It’s summer too. That helps. The darker winter was a rough way to explore a new town with wedding stress on top of it. You were a great maid of honor and made fabulous dresses in the dark. At least now we know what we’re in for. We can soak up the sun and prep for the winter.” Gretchen looked down at her smartphone.

Technology was a big part of what helped Alaska run better these days. Even if they were snowed in, information still came through. “What if we do an app?”

“An app? For dresses?” Mel asked.

“Yeah! What if we had an app designed where women take a selfie and pick a design of yours, and it adjusts to their form? They could virtually try on your whole line. There would be a place to put in for a custom dress, of course. But the idea is they can see what you’ve done and how it’d look on them from anywhere. We could advertise in Canada and all over Alaska. Offer the app for free.” Gretchen started making notes in her phone.

“You’re really good at this. See. I knew I hired the right woman for the job. Maybe Ryan can help?” Mel suggested.

Gretchen nodded. Ryan was the tech expert of Mel’s men. “Make sure we load those prom designs you did too.”

A text popped up on her phone.

From the office of the Mayor: He has an opening at 11 a.m. today. Please reply if you’d like this spot or not.

She replied yes quickly. “I’m seeing Ross today at eleven. Hopefully he’ll be on board.”

“He will and he’s hot.” Mel grinned.

Gretchen’s jaw dropped. “You have three hot guys.”

“I meant for you. Tony was flirting with you at Isa’s reception. He and Ross are an item. They’d been running into you every chance they get. You don’t see it? I don’t know why they haven’t been here trying to get you out on a date all spring,” Mel said.

 
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

  

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone. It is a fun novel about a ménage relationship in Sterling, Alaska. The characters are well drawn, the location lends itself to sufficient drama, and the community is interesting, creating a well-rounded story. Is it entirely believable or likely that this relationship would take off in this way? Probably not, but that is why I read such books - because they are fabulous fantasy. The dynamics of the quartet are definitely entertaining. I challenge you not to visualise how they get it together!

I'm looking forward to seeing who will be the leads in the next installment - there are plenty of promising options.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
This is book 2 of the series but I read as a standalone.

Sterling, Alaska has a high male to female ratio. It is the norm for most families in this small town to be made up of one female to 2-4 men. It's not traditional but it works.

Gretchen didn't move to Alaska to find a man/or men, or so she keeps telling herself. Tony, Ross and Matt are already in a relationship. Tony and Ross are the constant with Matt coming and going to help support the family. When Tony is interested in Gretchen, he hopes Matt and Ross will agree to add her to their family.

I really liked Matt. Tony came off as very whiny and I found myself skimming his parts and some of the sex scenes. I don't know if I wasn't connected enough or needed more heat. I enjoyed the read though, get premise.


Johanna – ☆☆☆
I enjoyed reading this short novel about a ménage of men finding that right girl. I thought the sex scenes were deliciously erotic and hot! The book got an overall three stars for entertainment, I just wish there had been more of a plot and climax, not just the good kind!

Also Available in the Men of Alaska Series

Book 1
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Loose ID

A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance. Her two favorite settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans...where anything can happen! Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she analyzes numbers for a division of a large international conglomerate, which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance novels.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sterling Sunshine (Men of Alaska #2) by Cheryl Dragon to read and review for this tour.

Thin Love by Eden Butler Blog Tour

Love isn't supposed to be an addiction. It isn't supposed to leave you bleeding.

Kona pushed, Keira pulled, and in their wake, they left behind destruction.

She sacrificed everything for him.

It wasn't enough.

But the wounds of the past can never be completely forgotten and still the flame remains, slumbers between the pleasure of yesterday and the thought of what might have been.

Now, sixteen years later, Keira returns home to bury the mother who betrayed her, just as Kona tries to hold onto what remains of his NFL career with the New Orleans Steamers. Across the crowded bustle of a busy French Market, their paths collide, conjuring forgotten memories of a consuming touch, skin on skin, and the still smoldering fire that begs to be rekindled.

When Kona realizes the trifecta of betrayal—his, Keira's and those lies told to keep them apart—his life is irrevocably changed and he once again takes Keira down with him into the fire that threatens to ignite them both.

 

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

 

“What’s the matter, Wildcat?” Kona lay on top of her, held her hip with his long fingers. “You nervous?” She could only manage a nod and Kona smiled, moving his mouth to her neck, down her shoulder, kissing lightly. “We don’t have to do this. I can wait.”

“No!” She panicked at the thought. He laughed at her excitement and that touch on her hip got tighter. “No,” she said, voice a bit calmer. “I want you, Kona.” He looked at her, smile gone, expression relaxed. “I’ve wanted you for weeks and weeks.” Keira exhaled, moving the hair off her forehead. “It’s just been a while and you’re so…” She flicked her eyes down then quickly back up again. “You’re a lot bigger than I expected.”

“Ha, sweetheart, you’re good for my ego, but it’s just me.” Kona kissed her again, slipping just the tip of his tongue into her mouth before he pulled away. “I’ll be easy with you, Wildcat. I’ll be so slow and good, but maybe this will help.”

Kona’s hand left her hip, slipped between her thighs easily and he coaxed more wetness from her, teasing her lips, taking his time to touch her clit. Keira shuddered, held her hand against his wrist as he continued and Kona took her lead, rubbed once more over her clit before he slipped two fingers inside her. He’d learned her body in the past few weeks and Keira had been grateful that she didn’t have to tell him what she wanted, what felt best. He always seemed to know.

His mouth was warm, tongue eager as he kissed her, as those large fingers curled and his knuckles touched the spot that sent her mind swimming. He never had to touch her for long, always knew exactly how to read the lift of her voice, the collection of sounds that gave away just how good she felt when he touched her. That night was no exception. Just a few sure rubs of his knuckles against her G-spot and Keira was flying, hips off the mattress as her body chased that orgasm.

“Beautiful. Every time, Wildcat. So beautiful.” Another kiss against her neck, with Keira still spinning on the crest of her orgasm and Kona slipped inside of her. “God…” Kona moved his hips slow, barely moved an inch and already Keira felt full, felt she couldn’t be stretched any further. When he slid deeper, she hissed, not from the pain but from how sensitive she already was. “You okay? You want me to stop?”

“No,” she told him, opening her eyes so he’d know she wasn’t hurting. “God, no, please keep going. You just fill me up. It’s so good, bebe.”

Kona stilled inside her and a small quirk of his mouth told Keira he was pleased. “That’s the first time you’ve ever called me that.”

“I’ll say it again just to keep that smile on your face.”

Then Keira lifted her legs, wrapped them around Kona’s hips and she let herself be filled as he worked inside her. Everything about Kona was huge; his body, his cock, his voice, his presence and all of it filled Keira’s room as well as her body, moved around them and through them and she felt high, so high on him, on the sensation of him moving inside of her, his hands on her breasts, his fingers clasped with hers as he lifted her hands above her head on the pillow and pinned them there.

Sweat pooled over their skin, met together in the twist of their bodies and when Kona stared down at her, kissed her like her lips would give him breath, Keira shuddered, squeezed against him. The light was thin and Keira could only make out the outline of his features, the small glint in his eyes and it was too much, too overwhelming, but she would not run this time, she wouldn’t tell herself she could do without this. Not again. Not anymore. She belonged to him. Her body, her heart, no matter how beaten and worn it was, belonged to Kona Hale.

Keira squeezed against him again and Kona stilled, stared down at her with a smile that told her he wanted to control this, lead her. “Don’t squeeze,” he said, pulling her hips up, hitting inside her deeper. “If you open up, baby, go wide for me, relax, I can make you come hard, I can make it last for you.” A slow thrust, deeper, harder and Keira arched against him, relaxed her inner muscles even as she throbbed against him. “Perfect, so perfect.”

This was deeper, freer somehow, letting Kona move them, letting him control the moment and Keira held onto Kona like he would anchor her, keep her from floating above herself.

“Come for me, baby. Give it to me completely and I’ll make it so, so good for you. I’ll take care of you when you shatter against me.” And Keira listened, guessed that this is what Kona needed—that slip of control she gave to him. She let go, pushed out, relinquishing herself, giving her body to Kona, rather than closing off, pulling in, and the effect was substantial. He moved in closer, worked faster and Keira let herself open, relax until that heavenly sensation came upon her, urged on by Kona’s strong hands on her hips, his wide dick touching all the way inside her and when the orgasm came, it mirrored her heart—free, unyielding, explosive.

“God… ,” Kona said, voice rising higher and higher with each grunt he made, hips slamming into her hard, fast, faster, and Keira knew he was hitting his crest. Shoulders shaking, hips pumping faster and faster, Kona released a groan, filling her, throbbing inside her as he came.

Then he pulled his hand from hers and held the back of her neck, stared down at her with his thumb on her cheek. “This is always, Wildcat. You… you’re my always.”

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

  
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
For some reason it is difficult to know exactly where to start when reviewing this book. It starts in the present, then travels back to sixteen years earlier, and stays there revealing all... Or so we think. Then we are back, as we inevitably knew we would be, to today. Did the journey go as expected? Hmmm ... Here you need to accept that you should read it yourself to find out. Is it worth it? Absolutely!!

This is a book which will stay with you; which will make you think about 'big' feelings; about choices, trust, anger, love. And then it throws it at you again and again. In places it felt over laboured, but that may well have been the very point.

I loved it - with thick love.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
This story has it all for me. A strong Female lead, a player male lead and the all-consuming love that will take your breath away as you read. Keira is 18 and a freshman in college and all she wants is to keep her perfect GPA. Kona is 20 and the one everyone wants on and off the field. Everyone except Keira, he doesn't know how to handle this, she is not throwing herself at him like every other female on campus. When they are thrown together for a class project, Keira is not going to let Kona slide while she does the project alone. When she confronts him after he misses their first meeting, he knows he has to get to know her, her fire and her fight. The relationship is an addiction to them both. Will it destroy them or keep them together? Or will their mothers get their way and keep Keira and Kona apart? When unimaginable events happen and Keira has finally had enough, she runs and Kona has no idea where she has gone. This story starts in the present with Keira back home in New Orleans for her mother’s funeral and dealing with her step-father's estate, which isn't much since he owed everyone. Then goes back 16 years where life was perfect, destructive and all-consuming for Keira and Kona. We learn what happened in all those years before and it really broke my heart for them both. Then it brings you back to the present and Keira can't begin again with Kona because they are destructive together and he will not break her heart again. I think this is a perfect story and there was some grammar errors and missing words but it was not enough to take away from the story-line. This is a first for me from Eden Butler and I can't wait for Ransom's story, THICK LOVE.

 Eden Butler is an editor and writer of New Adult Romance and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary (no cliffie) Romance, Chasing Serenity launched in October 2013 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.

When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.

She is currently imprisoned under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.

Please send help.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Thin Love by Eden Butler to read and review for this tour.