Release Day (Excerpt, Letter from the Author and Giveaway): SINFUL REWARDS 12 (A Billionaires and Bikers Novella) by Cynthia Sax (Adult)

*Warning: Adult Content (18+)

“A YEAR OF SIZZLING HOT SAX”

THE SEXIEST 12 MONTH SERIAL is SINFUL REWARDS!!!

The thrilling conclusion to the Billionaires and Bikers series is here!!!

Sinful Rewards 12

A Billionaires and Bikers Novella

By USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax

Release date: June 16th, 2015

Published by Avon Red Impulse (HarperCollins)

Genre: Adult Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

One tiny mistake turns Bee Carter's worst fears into a terrifying reality. She knows she isn't alone. The sexy, honorable man she adores stands by her side, willing to sacrifice his freedom to ease her concerns.

But she yearns for more than he is offering. She wants a partner who will love her as fiercely as she loves him, who will say the words and mean them, and someone who will choose her because this is what he desires more than anything else, not merely out of a misguided sense of duty.

Will saying no to the man she loves earn Bee unbearable heartache or will she finally get the forever she craves?

SINFUL REWARDS 12 EXCERPT

Nicolas stands in the hallway, a sheepish smile on his beautiful face, and my small burst of joy dissipates, replaced by the dreaded malaise. He’s handsome, the lights shining on his black wavy hair, tanned skin, dark eyes. He’s immaculately dressed in a gray suit, white shirt, pink tie. He’s carrying ice cream, a small tub of Heavenly Hash cradled in his perfectly manicured fingers.

But he’s not Hawke. He’s not the man I love, the only person I want to see.

“Don’t look at me like that, Bee.” Nicolas pushes his way into the condo. “I had that situation with the New York build last night. There will be fancy events in the future.” He holds up the tub. “I brought ice cream.”

I summon a smile. “You forgot about me.” I take the ice cream from the dashing billionaire. “What do those articles I sent you say about forgetting friends?”

Nicolas grimaces. “You knew I was a bad friend.” He walks with me to the kitchen, smelling of expensive cologne and wealth.

“You’re not a bad friend.” I set two bowls and two spoons on the counter. “You’re a terrible friend.” I open the tub of ice cream.

The real estate developer settles his long lean body on a bar stool and dips a spoon in the container. “You’re not giving up on me, are you?” The lines carved between his perfect eyebrows belie his casual tone.

“I’d never give up on you.” I knock his sucked-clean spoon away and huddle over the tub, protecting the ice cream from impatient-billionaire-induced contamination. “Hawke doesn’t love me,” I blurt, needing to voice this, to share this with someone.

“He said that?” Nicolas steals a spoonful of ice cream from the bowl I’m filling.

“No.” I frown, scooping as fast as I can. “But he’s never said he loves me, either.” I push Nicolas’s bowl toward him.

His eyes sparkle. “I’ve never said I love ice cream.” He shovels the sweet treat into his mouth with a boyish glee. “But I do. Very much.” His lips curl upward. “The name of this flavor is perfect. It is heavenly.”

“Hawke doesn’t love me,” I repeat stubbornly, dishing out a smaller portion for myself.

“A good friend would agree with you.” Nicolas’s head is bent over his ice cream.

“You’re not a good friend.” I place the tub in the freezer compartment of the fridge. “What would you do?”

“I’d tell you that neither of you are acting rationally, that if craziness is a sign of love, Hawke has it much worse than you.” Nicolas licks his spoon. “He guards you like you’re the last piece of prime real estate on the planet. I’m taking my life into my hands by simply eating ice cream with you.”

I climb onto the bar stool beside him, his observations about Hawke’s protectiveness appeasing me, banishing some of my melancholy. “He cares about me.”

“No, he cares about his team.” The billionaire’s lips flatten grimly. “Disregarding all of my advice about maintaining his distance.” Nicolas believes remaining aloof from his employees makes painful staffing decisions less traumatic. “What Hawke feels for you is in an entirely different category.”

“It isn’t love.” Or is it?

Saying Goodbye to Bee, Hawke And Nicolas

by Cynthia Sax

One of the most common questions reading buddies ask me is “What is the toughest part of writing?” For me, the toughest part is the last chapter or, in the case of Sinful Rewards, my sizzling hot 12 novella contemporary erotic romance series, the last novella.

I know, while writing this part of the story, that I’ll be saying good-bye to beloved characters. Yes, I’ll be able to reread the story and visit them but I’ll no longer be living in their world, listening to their every thought, experiencing every emotion.

What will I miss most about the characters in Sinful Rewards?

Bee/Belinda

Bee, of all of the characters in Sinful Rewards, has grown the most. Our exhibitionist-in-training heroine started the serial with a fairly shallow view of others, herself, love, life. She’s endured quite a bit. These experiences have changed her.

I suspect she’ll continue to change, continue to make the transition from twenty-something new grad to mature, confident woman. She’s surrounded by strong female role models—her mom, Ellen, Lona. I can see them all influencing her. I’ll miss seeing that change.

Hawke

Hawke is a man of surprises. That’s what I’ll miss about our tattooed bad boy biker. He loves new experiences and sharing these new experiences with the people he loves. I doubt that he will ever have a ‘normal’ day. His job is constantly changing and he enjoys this aspect of it.

I couldn’t guess what he’ll be doing a day, month, year after Sinful Rewards ends. I know he’ll have his loved ones, his team around him. He’s as loyal as Bee is, as committed to his friends, family, woman. But I don’t know what his day will entail.

Nicolas

Nicolas is the character I wish I had spent more time with. Our jellybean eating billionaire has emotional depths we haven’t even started to explore. I’ll miss his self-depreciating sarcasm and his feigned arrogance, the vulnerability he hides under his business bastard personae.

I’ll miss the characters from Sinful Rewards but I feel fortunate to have known them. They’ve changed me as much as, I suspect, I’ve changed them.

GIVEAWAY

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*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is not responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

PURCHASE LINKS

SINFUL REWARDS 1: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 2: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 3: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 4: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 5: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 6: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 7: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 8: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 9: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 10: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 11: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 12: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cynthia Sax

USA Today bestselling author CYNTHIA SAX lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago. 

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Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway: WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD (Serenity's Plain Secrets #2) by Karen Ann Hopkins

Happy to be a part of the cover reveal, hosted by Kismet Book Tours, for the second book to Karen Ann Hopkin's Serenity's Plain Secrets, WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD today!!!

WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD

Serenity's Plain Secrets, Book 2

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Expected release date: December 16th, 2014

Published by: Self-published

Genre: Adult Contemporary Mystery, Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

Some Amish communities aren't so cozy.

Whispers From The Dead is the powerful and thrilling sequel to Lamb to the Slaughter, in the Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets. 

Sheriff Serenity Adams and Daniel Bachman are once again partnered up in a criminal investigation, when they travel to a northern Amish settlement that has been riddled by arsons for the past two decades. Serenity quickly discovers that there is much more going on in the touristy community than just barns being set on fire and that the new group of Amish has their own secrets to hide. She begins to unravel an extensive criminal underworld that threatens to destroy everything that the simple people of Poplar Springs hold dear and even puts her own life in jeopardy. 

And although Serenity tries desperately to avoid it, things begin heating up between her and Daniel, making her wonder if true love and happiness are really within her grasp.

EXCERPT

I was slipping my gloves on and almost to the car when I noticed Daniel standing beside his Jeep.  Apparently he was waiting for me. I was in the process of weighing the pros and cons of stopping to talk to him when he pushed away from his vehicle and strode over, meeting me halfway to my cruiser.

            “Happy New Year,” he said sweetly.

            I chuckled and my breath spread out into an icy mist between us.  “Not much happiness going on around here.”

            “It could be worse.”

            I risked looking directly into his eyes and said briskly, “Oh, yeah, no one’s dead this time, but Jory probably wishes he was.” I shook my head. “Dammit, I don’t understand why people do this to each other.  If Ruby wanted out, why not just tell Jory and be up front about it.  And then again, why would she even want out; three beautiful girls and nice house in the suburbs, a great guy.  What’s the matter with her anyway?”

            Daniel smiled at my little tirade, looking down at his booted foot as he pushed the snow around briefly before meeting my gaze once again.  

            “I’d really rather be talking about us.”

            “Us?”

            “You know, you…me…us.” His white teeth flashed in a brilliant smile and I was once again completely at a loss as to why this gorgeous guy was stalking me.

            He was so tall and his shoulders were so broad that he actually provided a nice break from the wind that was gusting hard enough to catch the loose snow in the parking lot and spray it up into the air in wild sheets of bitter cold around us.  I was even tempted to take another step closer and steal some of the heat that seemed to radiate off of him, but I controlled myself and stood still. 

I had a sudden vision of Daniel, minus the Carhart jacket and the flannel shirt.  I knew that underneath all those winter clothes was a well-defined chest that connected to washboard abs.  I definitely didn’t want to think about his firm butt or his strong thighs so I quickly forced the image to evaporate, and met his gaze squarely.  Unfortunately, looking at his wide spaced brownish-black eyes and the amused set to his jaw that was covered with a few days worth of black stubble wasn’t much safer.  He was too dammed handsome for his own good. 

            “We’ve already discussed this.  It’s not a good time for us to get involved.”

            His amusement quickly changed to frustration and he snorted. “What are you waiting for?  We’re both available, we’re highly attracted to each other, we survived a harrowing experience together…what more do you need to simply go out for dinner and movie with me?”

            Maybe I was being a complete idiot.   I had issues—I knew it.  But letting Daniel into my life was about the scariest thing I had ever faced.  A gun pointed straight at my head was more welcome than the prospect of putting faith in any man, especially him.

            “This is just a game to you, isn’t it? The minute I agree and go out with you, you’ll grow bored and move onto someone else.  So why the hell should I even bother.”

            His eyes widened for an instant in understanding and then he took a measured sigh.  “Someone must have really betrayed your trust for you to be so paranoid.”

            I smiled and nodded, “Yep, I won’t deny it.  Just look at what went down in there tonight.” I pointed at Charlie’s with an angry thrust of my arm. “Jory and Ruby were supposed to be a happily married couple, with kids and a dog, the whole package.  Now their lives are ruined.  They’ll probably be divorced and both sleeping with new partners by this time next year.” 

            “I get what you’re saying.  I really do.  But it doesn’t have to be like that for everyone…or for us.  I’m a patient guy, Serenity.  And I have no problem waiting for you to figure out how unreasonable you’re being. Besides, we’ll have that long drive up north with only the two of us in the Jeep and then a whole week in a secluded Amish community together to talk more about this.  So I’m not overly concerned with your avoidance at the moment.”

            The return of his smug expression cut through the honey warm desire that had been spreading through me for simply standing too close to him.  He thought he had it all figured out, but I was determined to show him that he didn’t know anything at all.

            The cold air once again sent a chill through me and I zipped my jacket up to my neck and said, “Actually, there’s been a change of plans.”  The sudden arch of his eyebrows was priceless and I quickly hurried on, “I’ve decided to leave tomorrow after all.”

            “But you know that I have to finish the Mayor’s guest suite.  He has visitors arriving this week and I promised him,” Daniel said carefully.

            I shrugged.  “Sorry, Daniel, I have a tight schedule also.  Since I’m officially on vacation in six hours, I’d like to be on my way.  Perhaps I’ll get lucky and Bishop Esch and that Rowan fellow were overreacting about the mystery on their hands.  I might be able to wrap things up quickly and you won’t need to make the trip at all.”

            Daniel took a step closer and looked down at me.  I couldn’t help but swallow hard at his close proximity. 

            “I thought you wanted my company on this one.”

            Seeing the resolute look on Daniel’s face, a shiver of fear passed through me when I realized I could definitely push Daniel too far and then he would give up on me.  As bitchy as I was being to him, I didn’t want to completely run him off.  Part of me wished desperately that he’d stick around. 

            “Sure, I’d like your help with the investigation.  God only knows how bat-shit crazy this Poplar Springs community probably is.  But I don’t want to put you out either.”

            Daniel took a long breath and stared at me for several more seconds before he finally said, “I’ll join you as quickly as I can.  I’m sure you can handle the locals on your own until I arrive.”  He suddenly had his arms around me in a tight, but quick squeeze.  He whispered into my ear, “Happy New Year.  I’ll see you soon.”

            He turned and went to his Jeep without another glance in my direction.  The infuriating emptiness that I had felt when he let go said plainly that I was already in way over my head with Daniel Bachman.  But I reasoned to myself as I walked to the cruiser that we hadn’t even had sex, so I was still in a good position.  He did not have a hold of me—yet. 

GIVEAWAY

- From the author, Karen Ann Hopkins, ONE lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card (from Amazon, Barnes and Noble OR iTunes)!!!

- Also, 10 eCopies of the first book to the series, LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, are up for grabs!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

Book 1, LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

Release date: March 14th, 2014

SUMMARY

Lamb to the Slaughter is a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a corn field during the harvest. 

Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the country town of Blood Rock, and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate. 

At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidently shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community and even the girl’s parents react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. 

As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting. 

Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman, who left the Amish when he was nineteen, and has his own dark reasons to help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up. 

Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end.

Amazon / Banes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Karen Ann Hopkins

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Teaser Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): RUINING MR. PERFECT (The McCauley Brothers #3) by Marie Harte (A)

RUINING MR. PERFECT

The McCauley Brothers #3

by Marie Harte

Expected release date: October 7th, 2014

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genre: Adult Romance

Format: Paperback, eBooks

SUMMARY

It's Not Easy Being Right...

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She's fit, successful... and decidedly lonely. She can't stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He's just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right — 

except when dealing with her.

...But Someone's Got To Do It.

Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too well. She's a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault — 

also like him.

A past misunderstanding has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up — get her to let loose. 

But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

TEASER EXCERPT

 A woman like Vanessa had her own mind. He respected that about her. But he refused to be constantly maneuvered in this relationship. They would be equals. Not one dominant over the other, even if the woman had a reputation for running right over anyone who opposed her fascist sense of right. She needed a man she could trust, one who wouldn’t bow to her every whim. She needed him.

With that in mind, he called the one person he knew would help him, no questions asked.

She picked up on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Abby, it’s Cam.”

“Oh, hi, Cam. Don’t you sound all grown up on the phone.”

He laughed. “Thanks. I think.”

“What can I do for you? Just name it.”

Her desire to help pleased him. “I need help. Vanessa has volunteered herself to spend Valentine’s Day with my mother, but I had plans for our first holiday together.”

“Oh. Hmm.” She paused. “You know, Mike talked to Brody and Flynn about this just this morning. I’m sure he’ll be calling you soon. He was planning to surprise your mom. An evening out, just the two of them at dinner. I told him Vanessa would watch Colin, since she’d volunteered to help in the first place.”

“That won’t work.” Not if he planned to have her to himself for the better part of the night.

“No. I see that. Hold on.” She muffled the phone and told Brody something before she came back. “Cam?”

“Yeah?” He grinned, wondering why she sounded so breathless all of a sudden.

“Stop that.” She cleared her throat. “Sorry, not you. The plumber is distracting me.”

He heard Brody say something he couldn’t make out, but it made Abby laugh.

New love. He envied them. “Tell him to shut up so you can help me.”

“I did. Brody, sit.”

He wondered if she realized she used that exact same tone on Hyde—the dog.

“So we need to get another babysitter,” she was saying. “No problem. I have just the person.”

“Someone trustworthy, I take it?”

“Cam, you wound me. Truly. Look. Kim and Robin are perfect to watch Colin. If they won’t work, between me and Maddie, we have a ton of other friends who can successfully keep Colin out of danger—and jail—while you romance Vanessa.”

Brody’s laugh came over the phone loud and clear. “Vanessa? You’re a real risk taker, Cam. My hero.”

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Marie Harte

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with romance and happy endings and knew writing was her calling. 

Years later after the Marine Corps, Information Technology, and 60 hour work weeks, her dream has finally come true.

Marie lives in Oregon with her family and is constantly reading and writing.

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