Shifting Magick Trilogy Book 2

A Shifter and Witch Paranormal Short

Publisher: After Glows (May 12, 2015)

Audrey Kelly has given up. As the middle sister, she is required to mate with a male kissed by the gods in order to break her part of the Kelly curse. An impossible task, even for a witch. However, when her older sister mates with a descendant of the moon goddess, Audrey’s hope is renewed. Her new brother-in-law claims that his brother could be the one to break Audrey’s curse. But could Lucian really be her one true mate?

Sentinel leader, Lucian Scott has no desire to find a mate. He’s content with his single life. Or so he thought until a curvy, little witch comes into it. The mating urge slams into him almost immediately, and his need to possess Audrey in every way possible makes it unbearable to stay away from her. Too bad his brother, the Alpha, has given him a direct order to do just that. Keeping his distance until the so-called time is right may just be the death of him, but Audrey is definitely worth the wait.

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This book was a gift from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Audrey’s curse is slightly more complicated than her sister Olivia’s.  Her mate needs to have been kissed by the Goddess. She fears she will be alone, but she can’t deny her attraction to Lucian.

Lucian doesn’t have time for a mate, but the fates aren’t always accommodating to what one wants.  Audrey is beyond any doubt his mate.  As he attempts to make that a fact Sawyer stops him in his tracks and leads into one of my favorite scenes in the book.

“Sawyer,” Lucian growled, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

“Diana isn’t feeling well and needs a ride home,” Sawyer spoke loud enough for Audrey to hear him as she fled to where her sisters waited.

Setting his jaw, Lucian held his brother’s stare while he waited for Audrey to get out of earshot. Irritation clouded his thoughts. Why had his brother interfered? After a long moment of holding the Alpha’s narrowed-eyed stare, Lucian lowered his shoulders. “She’s my mate.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you stop me?”

Sawyer raised one broad shoulder. “You can’t claim her yet. It has to be under the Hunter’s Moon.”

Confusion clouded Lucian’s mind, and he began to think Sawyer was losing his. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s part of her curse. At least it is what Olivia believes. You can’t claim her until the full moon.” Sawyer turned and disappeared into the trees.

What the hell was his brother talking about? “Sawyer!”

“I mean it. Don’t mate with her until the full moon.”

Fuck. Sawyer was a stubborn ass. His tone in the last statement told Lucian he wasn’t getting any more answers. The Hunter’s Moon was two weeks away.

Lucian would go mad waiting that long to see his mate again. On second thought, Sawyer hadn’t said not to seduce the curvy minx.

Be sure to have lots of cool drinks and at least one fan for this book. You know you should stay hydrated while reading something this hot. Another perfect beach/pool read! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the next installment in this series.  June seems so far away!

5 Contented PURRS for Book 2 of Lia’s new trilogy.

 Lia Davis

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and three equally special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, and a lover of romance. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

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 This book was a gift from the pubisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What happens when you put two extremely competitive people together, one male and one female? You get a book that has fierce contention and off the charts sex!

Cassidy Whalen and Shaw Matthews have been challenged to see who can win the contract of Denver Rockford a star quarterback looking for a new agent and a new team. The winner of said contract not only gets to represent Denver but also a partnership in Striker Sports Entertainment.

Cassidy has been working for this since she started with the company, then Shaw showed up, the retiring partner’s protégé. Now Cassidy wonders if all her work has been for naught.

Shaw has his own secrets and reasons he wants this partnership, part of the fun will be when Cassidy finds out those reasons.

One of my favorite scenes is part of the excerpt below be sure to read it.

This book was almost a cliff-hanger. There is still a lot going on and I really wanted more right away. The main story line is resolved, so I will wait impatiently for the next installment in this series. 

I would recommend having lots of cold water and a fan handy while reading this book.  Definitely a hot read and I hope it won’t be too long of a wait for the next one.

Bravo, C.L. Parker!

5 Contented PURRS for you! 

Ally was hot on my heels the second I stomped into my office, catching the door I attempted to slam shut and closing it softly behind herself instead. Even when I didn’t have the presence of mind to keep my cool, she did. My assistant had become an expert at detecting my moods, though it wouldn’t take the dynamic duo of Holmes and Watson to solve the mystery today. It was always the same after I’d been anywhere within the vicinity of Shaw Matthews. I did my best not to let it show, since I had a reputation to uphold, but it took a lot of work. And grinding of teeth. I’d even bitten into my tongue a time or two.
I growled in frustration, feeling the familiar Irish temper surge through my veins to warm my skin. No doubt, my face was red. “That arrogant—”

“—son of a bitch,” Ally finished, which, I admit, coaxed another growl from me. I didn’t know if I was irked more by her insubordination or by my predictability. “You hate him. . . . He’s just so . . . Arrrgh!”

Arrrgh? Am I a pirate now?

I spun around to face her, the messenger bag on my shoulder continuing with the momentum and nearly taking me with it. “No one likes a smart-ass, Coop.”

My assistant’s name was Ally Cooper, to be exact. Even though the surname hadn’t been her parents’, they’d been Alice Cooper roadies and fanatics, and thought giving the name to their daughter, legally, would be an appropriate homage. Ally suspected that her mother had been more than just a groupie—something her mother had never confirmed or denied. I was with Ally. She had the Father of Shock Rock’s lean physique and raven hair, and she was even rocking the nose, though Ally wore it better. If his tour dates matched up with the timing of her birth, no way would it have been a coincidence.

Ally exaggerated a pout. “Sorry.”

I didn’t think she was sincere. Mostly because I knew she wasn’t. Like I said, she was insubordinate. I’d fire her if she weren’t so good at keeping up with me. Apparently, there was something in the water. That or everyone was in on some scheme to drive me bat-shit crazy. Including Wade Price. Naturally, it made me growly.

At twenty-eight, I was the youngest woman to make a name for myself in the business, but Shaw was a minor league big shot who had only joined the agency less than a year before. And already he was a contender for partnership. Talk about it being a man’s world. His wealth and unconscionable flirting had gotten him far. So had all the influential people he had in his pocket, the name-dropper. It was his charisma that romanced his clients, though. I hated to admit it, but he was a mastermind, a real smooth talker who made big promises and always delivered. Even if he had to take the money out of his own pocket to do it. Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.

“Can you believe I have to share a car with him?”

“Seriously? They expect two people to ride in the back of a limousine? What were they thinking?” She wasn’t even trying to cover her sarcasm. No Christmas bonus for her.

“Exactly my point. I really don’t think the both of us can fit in there, what with his big, stupid, egotistical head and all.” I sounded more like a child throwing a tantrum than a grown woman with a client list talented enough to form their own major league every sports team. Thank God no one else could hear me. Especially Shaw.

“Just ignore him.” As if that were even a possibility.

Shaw Matthews was one of those people. That person others naturally gravitated toward in order to bask in his presence and maybe siphon off even the tiniest bit of his energy. You’d think he was the sun or something. And because the universe had some sort of vendetta against me, he just had to be good-looking on top of all that: six foot two with the body of a cover model, a strong jawline set with confidence, and eyes so blue, so hypnotic, you dared not gaze directly into them. And that bedhead of October brown hair always made him look like he’d just stolen a minute or two in the supply closet with a random woman. If the rumors around the office were true, he probably had. Money, looks, savoir faire; he had it all. And now he wanted my job, too.

“Ignoring Shaw Matthews is a little easier said than done.” I went to my desk and grabbed my purse from the bottom drawer, stuffing it into my bag. “He and I have a meeting scheduled with Denver Rockford tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll have to endure the suffering. I know you’ve already been putting that talented little search engine of yours to work to find out any and everything you can about him.” I stopped short. “Oh, yeah. That’s how you manage to keep your job.” Ally was the best of the best, my most accomplished protégée. Okay, so she was my only protégée.

“What?”

I shook my head to get back on track. “Nothing.”

A knock sounded on my door, and I sighed in frustration. I just wanted this day to be over with already. But when the door opened without invitation and my boss walked in like he owned the place—in fact, he did—I put on my best smile.

“I know you’re probably ready to leave, but I’d like a moment of your time,” he said.

“Of course, Wade,” I answered, nodding to Ally to excuse herself, which she did on cue. “Have a seat.”

He waved my offer off. “It’s not really necessary.” His hands slipped into his pocket, and he rocked back on his heels as if trying to come up with his next words. “Cassidy, it’s no secret that you’ve always been my favorite, preferential treatment be damned.”

It was true, though he’d never handed me anything I hadn’t earned.

“Just as it’s no secret that Shaw was Monty’s,” he continued. “What no one else knows is that Monty had been grooming Matthews to take his place when he retired.”

Oh. That was certainly news to me. It suddenly felt like the world had tilted on its axis, forcing me to inconspicuously grab the corner of my desk to balance myself. Talk about a punch to the gut.

“In fact, Monty had been ready to name him partner, until I convinced him otherwise.”

“What do you mean, sir?” I was surprised that the tremble I felt in my bones hadn’t made its way into my voice.

“Monty and I founded Striker together, and I insisted that we make the decision jointly. I wanted you, and he wanted Matthews. We were at an impasse. We also knew we only had one shot at getting Rockford. Normally we wouldn’t pit agent against agent, but we realized that by doing so, we’d broaden our chances from one shot to two. So, together, we came up with the idea of the competition.

“The way I saw it, at least then you’d have a chance at the partnership. Every single staff member knows you deserve it. Monty knows as well, so don’t be upset with him, kiddo. But,” he said with a finger in the air. “I want you to make sure you win.”

“That’s not going to be a problem, sir,” I assured him, though I was confused as to why he needed assurance after all the major deals I’d secured for SSE.

Wade nodded and eased his hand back into his pocket. “It’s not that I don’t have faith in you, Whalen. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. I know what you’re capable of, so I’ve put my best against Monty’s best. And I don’t think I need to tell you that I hate to lose.”

“No, sir, you do not.”

“Good. That’s why I’m going to stress this.” He leveled a look at me that commanded attention. “Bring home that win. By any means necessary. Do you understand?”

I nodded, but that didn’t seem to be good enough for my boss.

“Say it.”

“I will bring home the win by any means necessary.”

“Any means,” he reiterated.

I wasn’t dim. He meant even if I had to fight dirty.

Setting a determined chin, I nodded again. “Failure is never an option for me, sir.”

He smiled, the tension in his frame easing. “I’m glad we had this talk, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to know about it.”

“Understood.”

“Now get out of here, kid. I want you well rested for your meeting tomorrow.” His wink was conspiratorial, every bit as
inappropriate as if it had been flirtatious, but I didn’t take offense.

Wade exited then, leaving the door open for me to follow, which I did after gathering my things again. Ally was still at her desk, and I felt bad about keeping her later than usual, but I knew she’d never go home before I did. Maybe she was a little sassy-mouth, but no other assistant could fill her shoes.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Perfect.” Even if she didn’t believe me, she’d never press. “Email me everything you’ve got on Rockford, and I’ll go over it during the car ride tomorrow afternoon. Maybe if I look busy, Matthews won’t try to talk to me.”

Ally snorted. Actually snorted. “Who are you kidding, Cass? The second the news broke that the marriage between Denver and his agent was on shaky ground, you knew everything there was to know about him. And you’ll be poring over every single detail of it tonight, probably not getting a wink of sleep.” She knew me well. “You work too hard.”

“There’s no such thing. Da and Ma worked their fingers to the bone to give me this opportunity. I’ll not be squandering it.”

The picture that sat on the corner of the desk caught my eye, and a familiar longing punched at my chest. My parents weren’t the only ones who had been left behind. I hadn’t had a lot of friends while growing up, but Casey was my absolute best. Not a day went by that I didn’t think about him or wish he were there to tell me one of his lame jokes. No one understood me like he did, though I had some pretty terrific friends who came pretty close, and they were waiting for me at our spot.

“I need a drink. Have a good night, and I’ll see you in the morning.” With any luck, I’d survive the rest of the evening without having to look at Shaw’s stupid face.

Lady Luck was a fickle bitch, and Irony was her sadistic sidekick.

Monkey Business was a neighborhood pub that had an old-world Irish feel, with the traditional emerald-green and gold trim, dark wood everything, and a menu that boasted a selection of ale even the most snooty of beer snobs could appreciate. It could’ve been on any street corner, but as it happened, it was halfway between the place where I made a living and the place where I laid my head at night. And it was more like a second home to me than my own apartment. Which was exactly the reason it irked me when I cracked the door only to hear his voice. Of all the taverns, pubs, and bars in San Diego, Shaw Matthews had to hang out in mine. I was convinced he did it on purpose, but I refused to let him run me off. After all, I had been there first.

“Hey, Cass! The usual?” Chaz, my bartender friend, asked as I made my way through the happy hour crowd to get to our table. A nod was all the answer he needed. And the follow-up eye roll when I spotted his buddy Shaw occupying the bar stool in front of him reaffirmed the fact that I still didn’t approve of his choice of besties, to which he only smiled and shook his head.
Chaz was a chiseled mountain of a man with a perfectly rounded bald head, soft baby blues, and a pristine smile. For someone who didn’t know him, the body ink and piercings might have been intimidating, but Chaz was an all-around good guy. Like a lot of bartenders, he had a worldly sort of wisdom about him, so I couldn’t quite figure out why he kept the company of someone as superficial as Shaw. I could only assume that Shaw had said something similar yet different about me, because every now and then Chaz liked to remind me that he was Switzerland in this war that wasn’t really a war.

On the far side of the room and near the left corner of the bar was a table of rich, dark wood with a glossy top. Four unmatched chairs sat in an arch so that none of their backs were to the crowd but, instead, each seat had a perfect view of the entire room. My friends and I liked to people-watch. We also liked to keep an eye on anyone who might be eavesdropping on our own conversations. The proximity to Chaz and the bar was another perk. At the beginning of his shift, our bartender friend always did us a solid by placing the Reserved sign on the table in the alcove to ensure that we would never have to kick anyone out of it. Well, Demi would probably be the one doing the physical work.

Demi Renée was as sweet as sweet could be, as long as she called you friend. Not that she was a royal bitch to strangers, but if someone rubbed her the wrong way, they’d soon wish they hadn’t. Demi led self-defense classes for women, and she could take on just about any man who dared challenge her. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, though. She was a tall, leggy broad with platinum-blond hair that was cut short and spiked on top, Barbie’s perfect figure, and lashes you’d swear were fake, but weren’t. And she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Unlike her best friend and ex–college roommate, Sasha.
Sasha Hale was spoiled rotten, a real girly girl. She had a heart of gold and would give strangers the shirt off her back, which of course meant she was left with far more heartache than any one person should have to endure. She was Demi’s exact opposite, so they balanced each other. Not that Sasha was ugly, by any means. Her mixed ethnicity gave her all the best traits from her mother and her father. She was short and curvy, with a tiny waist framed by a bodacious chest and a voluptuous ass. Her caramel-colored skin was softer than any I’d ever felt. It was unnatural, but she swore she didn’t have any sort of special skin-care regiment. I was convinced she was lying and had told her she would burn in hell for doing so. Her figure and angelic skin weren’t the only parts of my friend I coveted. She also had these round doe eyes the color of dark honey, with thick lashes and perfectly arched eyebrows, and the natural pink tint on her lips was sickening. I hated her.

No, I didn’t. I loved her. Okay, so I loved to hate her.

Pushing through the last of the crowd, I finally plopped down into my chair. The ice-cold tall draft Chaz had poured and slid to the corner of the bar was just out of reach, so I waved my hand for whoever was closest to pass it over.

“Uh-uh! Girl, who do you think you are? Coming in here all late and then waving for somebody to do your bidding. They might call you the ice queen where you just came from, but you are not royalty here. You better get off your ass and fetch it yourself.”

That would be Quinn, my nearest and dearest, though I couldn’t feel the love at the moment. So I did the only thing I could do: I pouted.

Quinn’s skin looked porcelain in contrast to his jet hair. He was well kempt, perfectly groomed, and dressed to impress no matter what the occasion. With his toned physique, he could’ve been a professional model for any twentysomething boutique, but he was just our Quinn. Though he had no problem calling us out when we weren’t at our best. “Stop that. You do not look attractive,” he said, grabbing my beer and sliding it over to me. The pout worked every time. “You need it for this toast, anyway.”

I sighed, more mentally exhausted than physically. I was also breaking in a new pair of heels, so there was that. “What are we toasting?”

He sat tall and straight in his chair, with a smile so bright it could’ve been seen from Mars. Sasha and Demi were exhibiting the same smile and looked like they were about to burst into a cheerleading routine, complete with pom-poms and herkie jumps.
“Look what Daddy bought me!” He held his wrist out, and I was nearly blinded by the bling that adorned it. A Breitling Bentley watch in yellow gold, leather, and—if I had to guess—fifteen or so carats of diamonds. It had to have cost a fortune.
Clearly he expected me to be every bit as excited as he was. And I was. Mostly. Sasha and Demi leaned back and out of his eyesight and started throwing out hand gestures that I was sure were meant to get me to not say what I really thought, because that was how we played the whole “Daddy” situation. Quinn could become quite defensive otherwise, and that was never a pretty thing.

Daddy was Quinn’s sugar daddy. Quinn’s gay yet not out of the closet sugar daddy. We were Quinn’s best friends, and even we didn’t know what the man’s real name was. All we knew was that Daddy was an account holder at the bank where Quinn worked. A married account holder with lots and lots of money and influence who didn’t believe it was in his best interest to let his wife, his constituents, or the general public become aware of his sexual preference. I thought it was stupid. Especially considering the leaps and bounds the world had been making in that regard. But it was his life, and Quinn accepted the hidden role he played in it. I loved my best friend, I really did, but I was quite sure the posh lifestyle Daddy was providing helped in keeping Quinn’s mouth shut about their secret affair.

“What did you have to do for that, and did he at least let you wear kneepads?” I asked, deciding to keep it light and maybe even a little funny.

“Oh, hush. Jealous,” he said, waving me off. I wasn’t so sure it was a wave-off as much as an attempt to blind someone with the reflection of the lights off the diamonds.

Demi rolled her eyes. “You’re going to get robbed the second you walk out of here if you keep flashing that thing around.”
“Damn, Q,” Chaz said from the bar. “You might want to get your bodyguard to walk you home. Huh, Demi?”

Demi giggled, the flirt. The chemistry between those two was off-the-charts hot, but Chaz had never made a move on her. The chemistry between me and Chaz’s bestie, on the other hand . . . left a lot to be desired.

“Very nice,” Shaw said, getting up to examine the piece for himself. He probably thought it was fake, that no one in our circle could afford such a thing. A circle in which he was forcibly included, which put quite the strain on the elasticity of the band that held it together.

Sasha elbowed me and cut a sharp glance toward my still frosty glass. I hadn’t realized I’d been white-knuckling it. Not only that, but I’d also been biting the inside of my cheek. A barely perceptible chuckle from Shaw let me know he’d noticed. Damn it! I didn’t want him to know how much he got to me. Though that ship had sailed the day we’d met, I was sure.

“Still slumming it, Matthews? All your posh friends have plans for the night?” I never could figure out why someone like Shaw Matthews, a.k.a. Richie Rich, chose to hang out in a pub rather than a La Petite Frou-Frou something or another.

“You really think you have me pegged, don’t you?” When I smirked up at him, he shook his head and turned to slither back under the rock from which he’d come. Okay, so the rock was a bar stool.

Fighting to maintain what little bit of composure I had left, I decided I really needed that drink. So I lifted the glass to my lips and completely forgot I was a lady in a public place. It never failed; when that first taste of hops hit my tongue, I closed my eyes and was instantly transported back to the only hole-in-the-wall tavern in Stonington, Maine. My da and his crew would always stop by for a few nice cold ones after a long fishing trip to exchange their sea legs for a pair of drunken ones, which really wasn’t much of a transformation. When he wasn’t looking, I’d sneak a sip or two, mostly because I wanted to emulate everything that was my da.

I hadn’t realized I’d chugged the entire glass until I openedmy eyes and found my friends gaping at me. “What?”

“Jeez, Cass. Would you like a trough next time?” Sasha looked around, clearly embarrassed. Thankfully, Shaw was nowhere to be found.

“I swear to God, if you burp, I’m going to reach across this table and smack you.” Quinn wouldn’t really hit me, but I also wouldn’t be that rude, and he knew it.

Demi beamed with pride and offered me a high five, which I accepted with a playful wink. I was a lady most of the time, but every now and then, it felt good to live wild and free. If Casey were there, he’d insist on it.

“Where did the superjerk go?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t seen me.

Sasha gave me the look. That one people give the runner-up to some grand prize. “I take it the announcement was made today?”
Quinn threw his hands into the air. “I knew it. He got the partnership, didn’t he? They didn’t even give you a chance, the chauvinistic bastards.”

“What? No!” My friends could be a little dramatic at times. I still didn’t understand how they could possibly underestimate me so much. “We have to compete for it. Whoever gets Denver to sign will also get the partnership.” I reached across the table and grabbed Demi’s bottle of beer for a quick swig

“Well, that should be easy,” she said.

I started to laugh, but then I saw that her brows were lifted like she expected me to understand words that hadn’t and didn’t need to be said out loud. She was serious about whatever point she was trying to make, but I obviously wasn’t on the same page. Having all gone to college together, Demi, Sasha, and Quinn had been friends for far longer than I’d been in the picture. They could practically read each other’s minds, and did a lot of the time. I was nearly there, but not quite. Whole conversations sometimes took place around me that left me oblivious, and this was shaping up to be one of those times.

I sat her beer bottle down. “What are you talking about?”

Sasha sighed. “Seduce him, dummy.”

“What? I am not going to seduce the most sought after player in the National Football League. Not that it could be done even if I tried.” Even if I wanted to sink so low, the man could, and did, have any woman he wanted.

Sasha merely pointed at my roommate. “Gaydar says?”

Quinn made a buzzer sound. “Not gay, but I’d sure like to try to change his mind about that.”

“See? Not gay means it can be done, if done right. Totally seductable.”

Demi snorted. “I don’t think ‘seductable’ is a word.”

“I said it, therefore it is.” Sasha crossed her arms with a pretentious yet playful set of her chin.

Quinn was still in plotting mode; otherwise, he would’ve been all over her spoiled behavior. “You know, she could always skip the jock and go straight for the ball cutter. That way, if neither one of them lands the tight end—”

“Quarterback,” Demi corrected.

“Hold on. Ball cutter?” Things were getting out of hand.

Sasha patted my arm. “Wait a minute, honey. The grown-ups are talking.”

“Right. Quarterback. Whatever. They’re all tight ends as far as I’m concerned. But like I was saying, rudeness . . . If neither of them lands the pigskin lover, she’ll still have his balls in her purse.”

I was being ignored. I didn’t like being ignored. “Whose balls? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, yeah. Good idea! Why didn’t we think of that before?” Sasha sat back, pleased with the result.

Demi followed suit. “Brilliant idea! Two birds. One stone.”

Sasha nodded in agreement. “Yeah, she definitely needs to get laid.”

“Of course it’s brilliant. Hello? Queen of the balls, here.” Quinn preened, proud of himself.

“Can I be part of this conversation, please? What just happened?”

Demi reached for her beer. “We just solved your problem.”

I snatched the bottle away before it made it to her lips. “You did? Care to let me in on the secret?” It was still cold, so I decided on a sip for myself.

“Oh, sure thing. You’re going to seduce Shaw.”

I choked on the gulp I’d just taken, my eyes watering and the liquid going down what I was sure was the passageway to my lungs rather than to my stomach. Sasha started pounding on my back—as if that was going to help—while Demi lunged for the bottle, because clearly that was the culprit of my near-death experience.

Though I was still coughing incessantly, I couldn’t let them go one more second thinking that was even a remote possibility. “Oh, no, I’m not!”

Sasha huffed. “Why not? He’s good-looking.”

Quinn guffawed as if insulted by her statement. I was glad someone was on my side until he clarified himself with words:
“Honey, that man is a piece of scrumptious wrapped up in good gawd!”

Demi laughed. “Right? So freakin’ beautiful.”

“And he knows it,” I reminded them. “Besides, they say the Antichrist will be beautiful, too.” Demi started to object but I cut her off before she could get a word out. “And I’m not going to screw Denver, either. I’m talented enough to get the partnership without having to stoop so low, but thank you for having so much faith in me.”

I was disappointed in my friends. They knew I wasn’t made up of the stuff that would allow me to do something like that. Maybe it was all in jest, but after the “by any means necessary” talk with Wade only minutes before, I wasn’t feeling all that confident in my own words. I needed some distance. Picking up my bag, I stood up and made my way toward the door without saying goodbye.

My friends and I would meet in the same bar, at the same table, tomorrow. They knew it. I knew it. And Shaw Matthews would most likely be there, too. As if he could read my thoughts, he turned to look at me, the intensity in his gaze catching me off guard and nearly causing me to plow into a table full of frat brothers. I recovered well enough, but I could still feel him staring at me all the way to the door, the scorching heat of it dissipating only after I’d put brick and mortar between us. I was sure he wore a cocky grin at my expense, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. If all went well at the meeting with Denver, I’d wipe it off his face tomorrow.

 Author Bio

 

Romancing Austin

Seven Romances. One Wild Party
A multi-genre contemporary romance anthology

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Authors: Riley Bancroft, Evelyn Berry, Cara Carnes, Jax Garren, Irene Preston, Rebecca Royce, Chandra Ryan

Introductory Price: $0.99 (limited time); reg. $3.99

 Former rock star Dex Reed throws a wild comeback party in his Austin penthouse, and seven romances heat up the night.

 No Quitting Allowed, Rebecca Royce

One last assignment and then Lana is quitting her job, quitting Austin, and moving on with her life. Until Jake stumbles into her and changes the direction of her whole world.

Twisted, Cara Carnes

Caleb “Colt” Douglas agreed to close out Twisted Delirium’s sold out world tour with a gig at SXSW for one reason–win back the woman he left behind.

Do Over, Chandra Ryan

When life offers Juliana a fresh start, will she follow her heart or play it safe?

Consortium, Riley Bancroft

Record exec Holt Michaelson married the enigmatic Chloe to keep his assets safe from a vindictive competitor, but after a fiery encounter with his new wife, he’s determined to claim her as his own, body and soul.

Tall Order, Irene Preston

Dylan made the worst mistake of his life when he chose his career over Aston, but tonight he’ll take a risk on Aston even if it’s too late.

Enchanted, Evelyn Berry

Stripped of her magic, fairy princess Aurora is torn between her duty to her imperiled family and to a brilliant musician who holds the key to their freedom…and her heart.

One Night with the Vampire, Jax Garren

Tonight Alex will finally possess the woman he’s craved, but Sofia’s dangerous family secrets threaten to tear them apart.

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This book was a gift from the authors in exchange for fair and honest reviews. Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway at the end.

No Quitting Allowed, Rebecca Royce

I loved the view of Austin, TX through Rebecca’s character’s eyes.

Lana Del Monaco is a personal assistant to an extremely self-centered Rock Star Dexter/DBR.  He really made me angry before he was introduced in the book.  His texts to her were insistent and childish.

So when Jake Perry bumped into her on her way into DBR’s building, I guess I understood her angry rant.  The brewing storm inside her let loose once she confronted Dexter in the middle of his party and quit.  She headed off to the bar and Jake joins her there. This leads into a favorite part of the story which is also the excerpt I was given to share.

“You’re staring at me.” She set her glass on the bar and it made a large clink.

“You’re beautiful. It’s easy to look at you.”

She waved her hand as if to indicate the room. “Stare at someone else.”

He looked around for no other reason than to appease her. She was a woman who needed a break. How badly did you have to be pushed to shove a bag and your job at your boss?

He caught the gazes of two of his employees. They waved with a lot of gusto. He grinned. They’d be hung over in the morning. It was a good thing he’d given them a few days off to enjoy South by Southwest. Employees weren’t productive when they’d rather be somewhere else.

“Nope,” he turned back to Lana, “I think I’d rather focus all my attention on you.”

“Why? Don’t you want to gaze at Dexter adoringly?”

“Let’s try a new refrain. We’ve had the Dexter back and forth already. I’ve registered it. You hate him. I don’t care one way or another about DBR. I listen to eighties’ punk. How about you?”

She pursed her lips. Whatever she was about to say, he’d wager money she would shout it. He could feel it in his bones. In their short acquaintance, Lana liked to yell. God, she was really going to be an exciting person to know.

So completely impolite on the street—and he had to admit, in the elevator. Yet, when she’d collided with him in her haste to get away from DBR, she’d apologized. Somewhere in all her bluster was a huge heart. He could see her light.

“I enjoy listening to Broadway musicals.” She shouted the fifth word, exactly as he’d known she would. “And any other music found in New York City.”

“Ah, I can feel an Austin dig coming on. And your criticism of my beloved city, I won’t take. Hate DBR all you want. Hate Austin? No, ma’am, no one with a soul can hate my city.”

The full blaze of Lana’s temper turned on him and all straight from her eyes. What did it say about him that he got so fucking hard? Tonight would be an important turning point in his life; he could feel revelations buzzing in his bones. By the end of the evening, he would know himself better. Life was funny. The universe showed him truths at the most unexpected times. He’d known when he saw her on the street he had to purposely bump into her. She was a woman he needed to become acquainted with.

 “Have you ever been to Manhattan?”

He smiled. “Sure.”

“And you wouldn’t rather be there than anywhere else in the universe?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Right, Lana, baby.” He had to add the last bit to watch her color rise. “I’m right where I want to be.”

Her grin twisted. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” Her query would be great, her mind had so far taken her mouth to really unusual statements.

“If any of the bedrooms in here are unoccupied, would you want to fuck me? A really big quasi-anonymous romp in the sheets? Immediately?”

Let me say here that jumping right into one of the hottest sex scenes is a good place for this story to begin.  The next parts are a whirlwind of sex and Jake trying to win her heart as well as make her love Austin as he does. From his boat, to his club and the restaurants, to the amazing hot sex they share, romance is blossoming.  He shows her Austin by day and night, spending as much time as possible with her during her two week notice.  In spite of the strengthening dynamic between them, she is determined to return to New York. No matter how much it hurts them both.

Although I don’t live in Manhattan I am close enough to visit.  I can’t imagine, if I had moved to Texas, that I would ever come back here to live.  I have never been to Austin, but I have been to San Antonio and I love it.

Thank you, Rebecca for making me want to visit this city.

Five Contented Purrs, for Rebecca!

 Rebecca Royce

As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.

I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. I live in Austin Texas where I am determined to eat all the barbecue in town.

I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I’ve been told I’m a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

I’d love to hear from you!

Cheers!!

 RebeccaRoyce.com | Blog | The Decadent Divas | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | GoodReads | Amazon

Twisted, Cara Carnes

Sometimes BFF’s can be a pain, both literally and psychologically.  Shasta ‘Shas’ Monahan’s BFF Betsy aka Bets falls into that category simply by taking her to a Twisted Delirium concert to celebrate her birthday.

Caleb ‘Colt’ Douglas had left her, broke her heart and now it would be ripped to shreds watching him perform. But of course it couldn’t end there, Bets had backstage passes.

After a not so awkward but interesting reunion, Caleb and Shas head to an after party requiring an appearance by ‘Colt’.

This excerpt is during the party and it actually leads into some very, very hot balcony sex.

His hands settled on my hips as hot breath fanned my pulse. Winding my fingers with his, I took a few deep breaths and regarded the lights of Austin sprawled before us. My head spun. Whether from the four shots or the musky heat enveloping me, it didn’t matter.

I’d lost my mind. Bring on the cute, white jacket with the shiny buckles in the back. Maybe a few months of self-hugs and padded rooms would knock sense into me. Seven years and I still reacted like he was the sun in my universe. My damned, traitorous body refused to loosen its grip on what’d once been.

Whatever rash judgment call I’d made to land myself on the highest balcony in Austin with Caleb holding me undid every step away from the past. The decision had little to do with exorcising the demons I’d battled and everything to do with the grand what-if my inner dreamer refused to let die.

What if he hadn’t left me? What if I’d fought to remain at his side?

The old me didn’t fight, scrabble for what was hers. She toed the line and remained unnoticed. Uncomplicated.

What a fucking stupid bitch.

“You’re scrunching your nose,” he accused with a chuckle. “What are you thinking about so intensely?”

I stilled under the implication. He remembered my tells? Answering meant going down the serious road. Tequila-filled Shasta had zero business opening the serious vault. Not when hussy Shasta was primed and ready to carouse.

Tonight. I’d give myself tonight to bask in the chemical imbalance Caleb Douglas created. I’d revel in the delirium and pretend the seven years we’d been separated meant nothing and I somehow stood a chance of competing against the millions of people filling the chasm between the man I loved and who he’d become, a rock sensation capable of having any woman he wanted.

“Why are you here? Why me?”

“It’s always been you, Shasta Monohan.”

The balcony..sex, the elevator..sex, oops arrested.

Note to self, if ever about to have elevator sex, push the STOP/HOLD button first. I was really shaking my head at this one while laughing hysterically. Shasta’s mood swings were epic in her mind and all it takes is Caleb to calm her.

The thing is she doesn’t realize that everything she felt when he left, he felt too.

I loved this book!

Five Contented Purrs, for Cara!

The antics here were the perfect introduction to  Cara’s new series Delirium.  I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Read more from “Twisted”

 Cara Carnes

Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13.

In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves traveling, photography and reading.

 CaraCarnes.com | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Tsu | GoodReads | Amazon

Do Over, Chandra Ryan

Jilted at the alter, or rather right before going down the isle, Julie Prescott races to the airport. There was no way the slimeball was going to take his new girlfriend on her trip. She had the tickets in her purse and was going to Austin.  Once there she found herself at South by SouthWest, sitting alone and staring at her drink.  Here is one of my many favorite passages from this book.

When she looked over and caught him staring at her, he stood. He’d obsessed about her long enough. He wasn’t a teenager. He didn’t gawk at women from afar. It was time he introduced himself.

After grabbing his drink, he made his way over to her table and smiled. “I do believe you’re cheating your drink out of its destiny.”

Her expression changed from one of melancholy to confusion. “I’m sorry?”

“It’s not me you should be apologizing to, angel.” He nudged his way between her and the person to her left to sit on the crowded bench next to her. “That poor whiskey is dying to be tasted.”

She glanced at her drink as if she finally remembered it. “Oh.” She focused her attention on him again. “Wait. How would you know what my whiskey wants?”

“I happen to have a lot in common with whiskey. We’re spirit brothers.”

“Are you, now?” She lifted the glass and took a slow sip. “You’re both certainly bold.”

“Life doesn’t favor the weak.”

Luke Sinclair definitely had a great opening line.  It led to them attending DBR’s Party and her saving him from an awkward situation.  Followed by, I kid you not, Chicken Donuts!  I have to admit I am skeptical.

This was a fun read. I think I spent more time laughing than speculating on what would happen next. An awesome couple and of course, heart pounding sex.

Five Contented Purrs, for Chandra!

 Chandra Ryan

Being from a rather nomadic family, Chandra Ryan loves to travel and meet people. But she’s found that sometimes, like when you’re stuck inside because of a good old-fashioned Southwestern heat wave, you have to make do. Fortunately for her and her loving family, who don’t like seeing her suffer from cabin fever, she’s found creating new people and places equally as fascinating. Also, you’re a lot less likely to spill your ice tea.

 ChandraRyan.com | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Amazon

Consortium by Riley Bancroft

Chloe Davenport has an unusual marriage, one of I guess you could say convenience, for him.  Holt Michaelson needed a wife to help him save his record label from a ruthless competitor.

Right from the beginning there were so many mixed signals from both of them. Especially from Holt, I couldn’t decide if he really wanted this relationship to move on or not. Chloe wasn’t much better with all her waffling. Someone had to make a move.  Here is the excerpt I was given, it is also one of my favorite scenes.

“So you marry a stranger to escape instead?” He pursed his lips into a thin line, narrowing his gaze on her.

“Why now?” She stomped her foot. “Why are we having this conversation now and not three weeks ago before we said ‘I do?’”

“I didn’t realize then that your fiancé would show up, demanding you back.”

“He’s not my fiancé. You’re my husband.” Exasperated, she took his hand in hers. “There’s no reason to think for one second that I will leave. I’m not going anywhere.”

“And what about when you decide you need more? Hmm?” He took a step closer boxing her in against the side of their house. “What about when you want a relationship? When you want somebody to love you?”

Her heart dropped. After Adam tore her soul to shreds, she hadn’t wanted to be with anyone again, to go through the ache of being heartbroken and depressed. She’d written off men, figuring she would be better off alone. Yet, Holt offered her a different type of security, one she thought would satisfy her. It was a relationship with some benefits—not all.

“What about you? Do you plan on having affairs to keep yourself happy? You know this door swings both ways.”

“I already told you Chloe, I wouldn’t. My words should be good enough for you.” He rubbed his chin in slow back and forth strokes.

She took a deep breath and exhaled with force, trying to understand where their conversation headed. “I’m not going anywhere. This is you and me.”

He placed his palm against the stone exterior of the house right next to her head, effectively caging her. “I guess we’ll see after this weekend. You will be attending a South-by-Southwest party tomorrow night as my wife.”

As he said ‘my wife,’ her heartbeat sped up and warmth blossomed in her core. “Wha—I—what?”

“Dex Reed is throwing a party at his condo. There are rumors that he’s thinking of leaving his label to start his own and I want to sign him. I need you to be by my side to win him over with your charm and I will be introducing you as my wife.” Wife.

This continues on a rocky road where it is anyone’s guess what will happen. I certainly won’t tell.   I have to say I was very glad for the excerpt I was given to share.  There is a lot of very hot, steamy sex in this one and most of my favorite scenes are in the middle of them.

All I can say is WOW.

Five Contented Purrs, for Riley!

Riley Bancroft grew up in the heart of Dallas. Ever since she was little she favored stories on the darker side, not only supernatural, but psychological. The pursuit of her writing career began when she wrote a short story based on an intimate scene to share with her friends. They encouraged her to write romance. And so, she did.

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Tall Order by Irene Preston

Dylan had left Win, gone to NYC to open a restaurant.  Now he’s back in Austin, a failed restaurant behind him and cooking in a diner and for a less than stellar catering firm.

Win had made something of himself after Dylan left, he had no choice.  Dylon had paid all the bills all Win had to do was create.

At Dexter’s South by SouthWest party Dylon hoped to make connections to find a chef postition. One he could be proud of. His boss at the catering firm however snuck in food that wasn’t gluten free and not what Dylon had prepared for the party.

When Win shows up at the party and he asks Dylon to leave with him to go listen to real music. Dylon thought twice then quit his job and left.

Win and Dylon have a lot to overcome. Dylon has a lot of arrogance and Win doesn’t seem to know how to fight productively.   They really need to sit down and find out what had happened in the eleven months Dylon has been gone.  I felt like cracking heads together more than once as I read this book.

When they come together it is fireworks and sizzling hot, but when they are apart it’s like the Artic freeze.

This is one of my favorite scenes, when Dylon decides to quit his job and leave with Win.

Win stared at him. “You’ll never get hired anywhere else in Austin if word gets out you’ve been slinging slop for Joe Bob’s. You can’t tell me you’re going to put this on your resume.”

“I—“

“If you don’t want to come with me, just say so. I mean you broke up with me a year ago. I thought we might be able to be friends after all this time, but if you don’t want to, just say so.”

“Eleven months.”

“What?”

“Eleven months. Not a year.”

“That’s what you have to say?”

“And I didn’t break up with you.”

“The hell. Dylan, you took a job in New York City and left.”

“But I didn’t break up with you. I asked you to come with me. So if we broke up, you broke up with me.”

“If we broke up? We haven’t spoken to each other in a year.”

“Eleven months.”

“Jesus, I—“

“Yes.” Dylan interrupted before the conversation could degenerate further. Because what was he thinking? Win wanted them to leave together and Dylan was arguing.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, let’s get out of here. It’s good to see you again. This job blows. Let’s leave.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. What? You don’t want to now?”

“No. God, you’re touchy. Let me go tell Jim I’m leaving.”

“Yeah, Felix can kiss my ass, but I should tell Mark I’m ditching, at least. Come get me when you’re ready to go.”

Another fun read with sizzling sex and fluctuating emotions.  It’s not just girls that get bent out of shape.  Thank you for that, Irene.

Five Contented Purrs, for Irene!

Read an Excerpt here “Tall Order”

Irene Preston has to write romances, after all she is living one. As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe. Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.

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Enchanted by Evelyn Berry

I loved getting a little of the paranormal in this anthology.  Aurora has a mission to complete in four days or be a slave to the Fairy Queen, her Aunt Titania for the rest of her life.  I love the way she pretty much fell into a job and a place to stay.  Fairies have an innocence that cannot be compared to anything else. Especially if they have never been to the human world.

So she becomes a page turner for organist Dallas Turner, and gets the opportunity to meet the object of her mission, rocker Dexter Bryce Reed at the end of the fourth day.  She completes the first rehearsal with Dallas and leaves.  Dallas gets a phone call from one of the organizers of the concert Fern, who informs him that Aurora would be staying with him until after the concert.  The concert that was also an audition for the position of the accompanist for the Austin Choir.But now he has to find her.  This is one of my favorite scenes in the book.

Finally, he found her walking along the sidewalk, still barefoot and in her revealing dress. Her hands were cupped as if she was holding and talking to something.

“Aurora,” he yelled out the window. Her head jerked, and she adjusted her bundle so she could wave at him.

“Dallas.” She walked toward him with a wide grin but took one look at his car, and her steps faltered along with her smile.

He tightened his hands on the steering wheel. He knew it was a bucket of bolts, but it got him from Point A to Point B—most of the time—and he wasn’t going to apologize for his lack of wealth at the moment.

“Fern called me and told me you’d be staying with me until after the concert.” Knowing Fern, she probably hadn’t told Aurora anything about her living arrangements. He should count himself lucky she’d made it to the church for even part of the rehearsal.

“Uh…she did? I am?” Her eyes widened in surprise, and she leaned down to say into her cupped hands, “Did you hear that Manuel? We have a place to stay. I told you we’d find shelter.” She looked up again, and her sunshine smile returned. Her happiness shined through unfiltered and stunned him, leaving him gasping under her beauty.

Keep it together “You are.” Proud of his firm tone, he put the car in park, then jumped out to lead her to the passenger side.

“You better let me open the door…it kinda sticks.” Who was he kidding? His face warmed with embarrassment as he struggled to open the passenger side.

 As they get to know each other, Aurora also learns all sorts of things from TV that she plans on practicing with Dallas.  Which of course will give us the sizzling sex.  The question is will Aurora complete her mission in the midst of all this.

While this is more on the outskirts of SXSW, it has all the music and charm of Austin that all the other stories do.  I truly enjoyed this offering.

Five Contented Purrs, for Evie!

Evie Berry was made, born, and raised in Austin, but has lived in Michigan and Alaska. Yes, Alaska. She loves long road trips with her family, meeting new friends, and daydreaming about distant planets. After reading romance for most of her life, she finds putting her fantasies on paper a dream come true.

EvelynBerry.com | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

One Night With the Vampire by Jax Garren

Sofie Velasquez is a massage therapist and a paranormal creature, a jaquar. This is the reason that Alex Moreau only gets his massages from her. She won’t freak at his lack of a heartbeat. It was kind of like a date every Thursday night. It was expensive for him but he owed her something he could never really repay. They have something more than a masseuse client relationship, it was more of a friendship.

On this Thursday, Sofie tells him about her parents and how she had been sent to the United States to be with the pack that included other family members. The jaguar’s main source of income was drugs and in order to stay out of it she paid dues. In return Alex spoke to her about being with Cash Geirson, the well known leader of CoVIn’s military.

At the end of their session Alex asks her out and they agree to meet later for a movie. This excerpt is when he arrives to pick her up and is one of my favorite scenes.

Alex shot her another one of his smiles like a ray of sunshine in the gloom. “I’ll put this in the icebox for later.” He took the Champagne to her refrigerator.

Icebox? He’d accidentally used a word from the early twentieth century. He must be at least one hundred years old. He bent over to slide the wine in, outlining his tight glutes beneath the chinos. As his therapist, she’d seen them naked already—pale, smooth skin over perfectly shaped muscles—but then he was a client on a table. In her kitchen, bent over as he sorted through leftovers to make space, he was all man. Desire rose through her fiercely, setting her skin tingling and her breath on edge. She could probably have him tonight, too.

The problem was she didn’t just want him. She liked him. Given her way, they’d make tonight amazing and then see about tomorrow, but a relationship meant a lot of honesty she didn’t know him well enough to give. It wasn’t fair to him to start anything if there was a chance she had to work for Marcos.

He straightened and turned to her. The dark look in his eyes meant he knew she’d been staring at his ass.

She cocked a hip. “How long does it take to find room in a near-empty fridge for one bottle?”

He shut the door and sauntered toward her. “How long would you like it to take?”

She popped him on the rear and headed to her room for her purse. “You are trouble with a French accent.”

When she came out, he was right where she’d left him, waiting for her with a soft expression. “You are an angel with magic hands.”

She swallowed past the lump forming. This was not a relationship. She didn’t have the freedom for a relationship. So tonight she’d keep it light and hot, one really good night before her fall from grace. She looked him over in a thorough examination. When there was no room for doubt about the wicked direction of her thoughts, she strode across the room to the door, high heels clacking on the tile. “If you like my hands, you’re going to love what I can do with my mouth.”

Cash’s girlfriend Rhiannon had gotten invites to Dex Reeds SXSW party and gave one to Sofie.  She had to get her cousin Miguel into the party in lieu of her dues this month.  She didn’t want to but she didn’t have the money.

Can Sofie save Dex from a fall? Could she not do what the Alpha wanted her to do and not pay for rebelling?  Would she have a future with Alex? The answer to those questions and more in the book.

Hot Frenchman, hot sex, rebellion, witches and more.  This book has it all.  I am sure you will love this one as much as I did.

Five Contented Purrs, for Jax!

Jax Garren is the author of hot, urban paranormal romances the Austin Immortals and the Tales of the Underlight. Though descended from Valkyries and Vikings (she’s part Swedish), Jax was raised a small town girl in the Texas Hill Country. She’s been a programmer, a theater teacher, a wedding singer, and a foster parent. She’s now happily married to an engineer who studies renewable energy. Jax loves meeting new people, so if you see her, give her a Viking “Hail!”

 JaxGarren.com | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | GoodReads | Amazon

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