Five years ago, Brooke had everything she wanted… until it disappeared like a magic trick. While she grieved the loss of her perfect future, fate sealed it. Moving on wasn’t an option. It was a requirement.
Now, Brooke has more money than she knows what to do with. But she also has panic attacks, no relationships outside her family, and a daughter. Brooke may have shut down, but there is no way to numb the constant terror that Mia could be taken away from her. She spends her days looking over her shoulder and avoiding her shameful memories.
She’s fine hiding from the world until Chris moves next door. A friendship forms when they unwillingly bond over their painful pasts. As walls come down, their relationship starts to develop into more. Brooke now realizes everything she’s missing out on and wants—a happy and stable family for her and Mia.
But Mia may not be the child with no traces of her father as Brooke assumed. And making a moral choice will risk everything.
This book contains explicit language, graphic sexual content, and sensitive topics which may be triggers to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
About The Author
Kelly Lincoln is the author of Insignificant and Beyond Repair. She enjoys reading, inappropriate jokes, all things Disney, and spending time with her family. She lives in the northeast and drinks way too much Diet Coke.
For information about published works and upcoming releases, please visit www.kellylincoln.com. You can also find Kelly when she’s avoiding writing on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKellyLincoln. or on Twitter @KLincolnWrites.
If you would like to be notified via email when Kelly has a new release, please sign up for her newsletter on www.kellylincoln.com.
WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU KNEW ABOUT YOURSELF WAS A LIE?
Melusine Doré is as practiced at guarding a secret as she is at wielding a weapon. Yet her past refuses to stay buried. Her worst fears are realized when Melusine and her companion, Levi, get called to hunt a beast in her birthplace of Malheur. The second she sets foot on her native soil, nothing proceeds as she planned: a beautiful tinker sets her sights on Levi, a gentle monster kills for sport, and an admission of love becomes a betrayal. Melusine comes face to face with the lies of her family’s past—and a truth that could destroy her.
Adventure number two in the Clockwork Siren series, Submerged takes us from the muddy trenches of steampunk Chicago to the sticky swamps of Louisiana to the slippery side of love.
Katie grew up in Racine, Wisconsin where she acquired an irreversible nasal twang and an addiction for books with a slightly dark edge. She now lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband, two daughters, and two fuzzy cats. She has been an avid reader of YA fiction for years. While she has a penchant for the paranormal, she devours a range of books -- along with popcorn and black licorice. She consumes all three in large quantities. Luckily, the books don't stay on her hips.
Kaitlin Grant lost her spine. She isn’t a slug—but her abusive ex-lover and business partner is. Broken and bruised, she escapes to the safe haven of Connor, Iowa, to resurrect her self-confidence. But Kaitlin doesn’t anticipate the potent electricity still sizzling between her and Sky Whitefeather—the swarthy Native American man she left years ago.
Returning home from Iraq with a daughter and an unforgivable secret, Sky tries to bury the past, until Katie—the girl who annihilated his heart, returns to town. The irresistible woman stirs up emotions he longs to forget and rekindles desires that might burn him alive.
Can new love grow from the ashes of their past, or will a trail of death and betrayal destroy their dreams?
The sound of churning gravel and the purr of a car engine drew Sky’s attention to the road. A silver Jag slowed to a stop in front of Gran’s. His heart clutched in his chest, air stilled in his lungs. Katie.
He didn’t need to see the shimmer of her glossy auburn hair reflecting in the setting sun to recognize her. The blistering pull of every cell in his body and the rush of conflicting emotions rolling through him were proof enough. Anger, desire, sadness, and rejection brought with them a sting that burned the backs of his eyes. Forcing down the lump of emotion clogging his throat, Sky tried to tamp down the familiar vibration humming through his body. A part of him wanted to whoop for joy before yanking Katie into his arms kissing her senseless. Another part of him wanted to forget she even existed…wipe away the ball-churning memories that flooded his brain, and focus on the hurt and anger he felt when Gran broke the news, Katie had left. Yet, all he could think about was touching her, kissing her, holding her in his arms, before he dragged her beneath him.
Skimming a cursory glance over the ridiculously expensive sports car, Sky’s shoulders sagged. Katie had achieved her dreams all right, it was staring him in the face, sending feelings of inadequacy deep into his bones. He hadn’t had a damn thing to offer her at eighteen; he sure as hell didn’t now. Sky couldn’t compete with the riches she’d apparently become accustomed to. It didn’t take a genius to see he could only rate as a long lost lover. Reality stung, like a slap to the face.
Katie had ripped his heart out and stomped it to shit—a fact he’d do well to remember. But it didn’t erase the desire to love her again, or the growing need inside his jeans. Disgusted by his traitorous libido, her return only served to make him pick at the scabs of the past, and douse them in salt water. Sky clenched his jaw.
“Looks like you got everything you wanted, Katie,” he mumbled with disdain. “I’m sure you’re happy now.”
No sooner had the words rolled off his tongue than the sounds of gut-wrenching sobs filled his ears. What the hell?
Tossing down the shovel, Sky mopped the sweat off his face before storming toward the Jag. Katie’s sobs grew louder and more pitiful. Like fine crystal, the flimsy barrier he’d erected around his heart, began to crack, splinter, and finally shatter. Standing next to the open window, Sky watched tears drip from beneath her shroud of silky, red hair. The waning sun reflected in each drop, casting them in a shimmer of gold, as they spilled onto Katie’s lap.
His guts and heart clenched in tandem. Sky had only seen Katie cry once: the first time they made love; those had been tears of joy. There wasn’t an ounce of happiness in the guttural sobs ringing in his ears. What the hell had happened to her? This wasn’t the strong, resilient woman he’d once loved. Seeing Katie in the throes of such brutal sorrow gutted him.
In an instant, his heart caught fire with the need to protect: burning away the poisonous animosity he’d felt moments ago. Instantly, flames of love reignited—the powerful kind they’d once shared—and Sky only wanted to scoop her into his arms so he could comfort and slay the demons causing her this pain.
Bestselling author, Jenna Jacob paints a canvas of passion, romance, and humor as her Alpha men and the feisty women who love them unravel their souls, heal their scars, to find their happily ever after kind of love. Heart-tugging, captivating, and steamy, Jenna’s books will surely leave you breathless and craving more.
A mom of four grown children, Jenna and her Alpha-Hunk-husband live in Kansas. A lover of books, Harleys, music, and camping, Jenna’s zany sense of humor and lack of filter exemplify her motto: Live. Laugh. Love.
Let Jenna introduce you to her wild and wicked family in her sultry series: The Doms of Genesis. Or become spellbound by the searing love connection between Raine, Hammer, and Liam in her continuing saga: The Doms of Her Life (co-written with the amazing Shayla Black and Isabella La Pearl). Journey with couples struggling to resolve their pasts and heal their scars, to discover unbridled love and devotion in Jenna’s new contemporary series: Passionate Hearts.
From Nicole Flockton comes the intense, emotional conclusion of her bestselling Bound trilogy…
Reclusive, exclusive, and world renowned, Jeffrey Courteux might get a lot of attention for his exquisite jewellry, but he keeps his personal life under tight wraps. His solitary life fuels his creativity and keeps him sane, and he’s not willing to give it up – until a pair of sexy legs in killer heels makes hiding away less appealing than it used to be…
Smart, driven, and ambitious, Greta Adamas knows she’s the only suitable candidate for Vice-President of her family’s advertising firm. Landing the Jeffrey Courteaux account for his new line of jewellry will only catapult her to the upper echelons of the advertising world, and nothing will keep her from achieving her dreams – not even the overwhelmingly attractive designer who won’t leave her thoughts…
Mixing business with pleasure is always a potent cocktail, but one with consequences. What happens when two people who know what they want suddenly want something completely different – and completely out of their reach?
Jeff stepped out into the sunshine and contemplated where to go next. He could get into his car and drive back home, but the thought of being alone didn’t appeal. Instead he headed toward the jetty that cut a path between the middle of the oyster farm. Maybe a walk would clear his head.
He looked up as he reached it. Standing about a third of the way down the jetty was Greta. She was leaning out over the railing, as if trying to see the magic of a pearl being formed below the surface.
There had to be a reason for him to keep crossing paths with her. This time he wouldn’t be a jerk. This time he wouldn’t shut down on her. This time he wouldn’t let her go.
Jeff walked toward her slowly, thoughts of what he was going to say flowing through his mind.
‘Hi,’ he said softly. A need to reach out and touch her dark hair, twirl the strands around his fingers to see if it was as soft and silky as it looked, nearly overwhelmed him.
She turned to face him. With her sunglasses on he couldn’t see what was going on behind her eyes. Now he knew how annoying it was for her when he put the glasses. ‘What do you want?’
A chuckle escaped him at her response. Jeff didn’t need to see her eyes. He knew they’d be firing sparks at him. Her reaction was exactly as he expected it to be. No way would she be excited to see him again.
‘I want to apologise for how I acted earlier. I’m sorry, Greta.’
‘Thanks,’ she nodded and turned back to look out over the ocean. A soft breeze blew, lifting the strands, tempting him to give into his earlier impulse to touch them.
‘Can we start over?’
‘What would be the point? I’m leaving in a day or two. I don’t need the complication in my life right now.’
Jeff took a couple of steps forward, until he was standing next to her. The wind, it seemed, knew what he wanted and blew a skein of her hair into his face. He softly looped it around his fingers. Just as he’d thought, it was soft and the subtle fragrance of flowers wafted up to him. He wanted to lean closer, until his mouth was touching her sweet skin.
‘I don’t need complications in my life either.’ Somehow he’d closed the distance and was so near her neck. Her scent was intoxicating. He wanted to nuzzle and nip the curve where her neck met her shoulders, hear her gasp, soothe with his tongue. ‘I don’t know what’s happening, Greta, but I don’t think I can let you leave without having you.’
Not waiting for a response from her, Jeff slipped his arms around her so she was encircled in his arms. Keeping one arm anchored around her back, he lifted his glasses, exposing his eyes to her. Letting her see the desire he knew was flaring through him at that moment.
He hadn’t been lying when he told her he didn’t know what was happening. Feelings of desire so strong were taking control of him, making him throw his normal cautious approach toward women out the window. All he knew was he needed and wanted her.
‘I want you, Greta, like I’ve never wanted another woman in my life. Let me have you, even if only for today.’
She manoeuvred her arms from his hold and placed one hand on his chest. He expected her to push him away. He would be disappointed but would accept her decision. Instead she scrunched his shirt in her hands and tugged him closer, until it would be impossible to slide a piece of tissue paper between them.
‘This is insane,’ she whispered, as she lifted her own sunglasses with her free hand. Her hazel eyes blazed with desire. The golden flecks within their depths danced in the sunlight. There was also confusion in their depths. He could appreciate that and he knew he needed to reassure her that everything would be all right.
‘I know and I don’t claim to understand it. I do know that if I don’t take this chance, I’ll always wonder “what if”,’ he paused. ‘I live with enough “what ifs” to not want to add another one.’
He lowered his head and brushed his cheek against hers. The contrast between his lightly stubbled chin against her smooth cheek was indicative of their whole encounter. Smooth against rough. An undeniable friction growing with every passing second they spent together. ‘What do you say? Will you spend the rest of the day with me? Do you want to explore whatever is growing between us?’
Greta moved her head fractionally and he tightened his hold on her. Her lips brushed his. ‘Yes.’
On a groan, he captured her lips with his. Her mouth opened immediately beneath his. His body sprang to life at the contact of their tongues meeting. He couldn’t stop it even if he tried. He sunk his fingers into her thick hair, to deepen the contact. Her taste invigorated his soul. Sweet and tempting, like the juiciest strawberry. He wanted to know what she tasted like all over.
As if reading his thoughts, she pulled her lips away from his. ‘Let’s go back to my hotel room.’
Jeff nodded immediately, his body aching to sink into hers. To lose himself until the only thought in his mind was her. Not the collection he needed to come up with. Immediately, thoughts of Luc’s request cooled his desire as effectively as a bucket of cold water.
‘Is everything okay, Jeff?’
Her voice hesitant; like she had a horrible feeling he was about to tell her he’d changed his mind. He pushed the troubling thoughts of Luc and the collection away. He would deal with it tomorrow or the next day. Today, this minute and the next few hours were all about him and Greta.
He leaned down and kissed her again. Just a short kiss, because if he let himself he could easily take her on the jetty in broad daylight, where anyone could walk past. As it was a tour group was making their way down the jetty, heading for where he and Greta were standing.
Grabbing Greta’s hand, he entwined his fingers with hers. ‘Everything’s great, let’s go.’
He lowered his sunglasses and turned his head away from the tour group as they walked past. He recognised the tour guide and he didn’t want to risk her revealing his identity to everyone.
As they walked down the jetty, he wondered if he should let Greta know his true identity. He squashed the thought immediately. They were two ships passing in the night. That’s all they would be. One wild afternoon and evening together and then they’d part and continue on with their lives. Without needing to see each other ever again
Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love.
On her first school report her teacher noted ""Nicole likes to tell her own stories"". It wasn’t until after the birth of her first child and after having fun on a romance community forum that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book.
Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.
