Virgin Territory Blog Tour

Practice Makes Perfect

Patrick “Patch” Donnelly has what it takes to be the best goalie in the NHL…if only he could learn to control his temper. When Coach orders him to get his head in the game with private yoga classes, Patch isn’t having it. There’s no way this tough Boston guy would be caught dead downward dog-ing his way to inner peace. But if he refuses, he risks his starting position and the dream he sacrificed everything for, including joining the priesthood.

Yoga instructor Margot Kowalski is over men. After yet another toxic relationship, she’s eager to forget love and focus on growing her business. Doing the Hellions head coach a favor by helping out a troubled player can’t hurt, and it might give her career a high-profile boost. But free-spirited Margot is soon charming the pants off Patch. Literally. Her sassy combination of sweet and sexy proves irresistible to the goalie. Before Patch can give into temptation though, he’ll have to confess his biggest secret:

He’s a virgin.

But Patch is hiding more than sexual inexperience, and his dark past soon threatens to destroy his shot at true love.

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Check out Lia Riley's Pinterest board for VIRGIN TERRITORY!

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* * * *

In Lia Riley's exciting third Hellion's Angels book she takes on sexuality and and turns her nose up at the stereotypes which we've sadly become accustom to. Margot is a yoga instructor whose greatest ambition is to open her own business and she's been working diligently to bring this to fruition. When her best friend Breezy (yes, that Breezy from Mr. Hockey) suggests that she would be the right person to help angst-ridden Hellions goalie, Patrick aka "Patch", with his anger issues, she cynically agrees to it. Learning all about proper breathing techniques and relaxation exercises to help him manage his anger sounds a bit hokey to Patch but he's willing to try because he loves being a goalie and he's intrigued by Margot. He carries a big secret: that he's uncomfortable around women and has never done the deed. He can thank a difficult childhood for his mixed up feelings about sex. Being around Margot who is so happy with who she is, and confident and unashamed of her experience, offers him a healthy perspective on it. And now he's open to discovering all that he's missed.

You all, I love this story so so much! Virgin Territory is a definite response to the current social climate and a powerful nod to women everywhere that it's okay to be sexual, enjoy sex and to not be shamed into feeling otherwise. And whether or not one is sexually active, everyone deserves love. Patch never delivers judgment about her past. I have to tell you that one, it's refreshing to read a heroine who has a history and two, that the guy doesn't even blink. 

So, thank you, Lia Riley for Virgin Territory. It's witty, sexy, and challenges the status quo. I love it!

~ Bel

+ + + Excerpt + + +

From Virgin Territory by Lia Riley

Margot stood on tiptoe, both hands clutching the front of his t-shirt, and kissed him full on the mouth. Their ragged breaths mingled a moment. He tasted the brown sugar in her lipgloss before she broke free, pressing a quick second kiss to the tip of his nose.

“Go to bed,” she whispered, clearing her throat and stepping back. “And have a great game tomorrow.”

It took every last shred of Patch’s willpower not to close the space again, to consume her. “There’s something else you should know.”

“Shoot.”

“I’m not going to get a lick of sleep if you leave.”

“If I stay, you won’t sleep either,” she shot back, shrugging into her jacket.

“I’ll take those odds.”

She shook her head slowly as if with reluctance. “I’ve got to fold. “Goodnight.”

He took her hand and held it between his own. Her skin was cooler than his. He didn’t like that. He wanted to tuck her against him, warm her up. “Do me a favor and call when you get home. I want to know you got back safe, especially driving on that spare.”

“It’s been a long time since anyone has cared if I got home,” she said with a smile. “Careful, you might be turning into a gentleman.”

“Don’t get carried away. The things that I want to do to you are far from gentlemanly,” he said in a husky tone.

She rocked her head back and unleashed a frustrated moan. “Quit leading me into temptation. I’m trying to respect your virtue here.”

“My virtue can take a long jump off a short fucking bridge.”

“That might be. But . . .if we end up taking that jump. I want it to be special. That’s important. I want you to feel special.”

Blood rushed to his ears. “Funny, I feel the same way about you.”

“Then we’re in agreement and I’m leaving.” A wicked gleam entered her gaze. “But while you wait for my call, slip into something more comfortable.”

“Like?”

“Nothing at all.”

She blew a kiss, pirouetted, and was gone.

From VIRGIN TERRITORY.  Used with permission of Avon Impulse. Copyright © 2018 by Lia Riley.

+ + + Tour Wide Giveaway + + +

To celebrate the release of VIRGIN TERRITORY, we’re giving away five paperback copies of HEAD COACH by Lia Riley!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. Five winners will each receive a paperback copy of Head Coach by Lia Riley.  This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance.  Giveaway ends 3/18/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address.  Duplicates will be deleted.  CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

+ + + About Lia Riley + + +

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling fourex with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

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This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Head Coach (Hellions Angels #2) by Lia Riley

* * * 3/4

Neve Angel’s life is all work and no play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. One of Denver’s top sports reporters, she's fought hard to make it in a male-dominated world, and she won’t back down from a fight with anyone–not even the Hellions’ gruff head coach, Tor Gunnar. Her hostile relationship with the icy Scandinavian is the stuff of local legend.

Tor Gunnar hates dealing with the media; at best, they are a nuisance and at worst, a distraction. And no one distracts him more than the scrappy, sexy reporter who gets him hot under the collar. When he wins a not-so-friendly bet with Neve, he decides it’s high time they either kiss or kill each other, and invites her as a date to an out-of-town wedding.

But what happens when enemies become lovers? Will they be able to smother their sizzling attraction, or is it time to start playing for keeps?

Source: advance e-galley provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review


If ever anyone needs to get me in a good mood, just hand me a Lia Riley book, any one of them because that'll do the trick. Revisiting the Hellions Hockey World was such a joy for me because Riley always mixes humour with the serious.

Tor is the Hellions head coach who's facing a tough season without his ace player (Jed West from Mister Hockey) and it's only gotten more stressful with the lockout. Everyone wants a piece of him or the latest scoop from him and none more so than Neve Angel, a reporter who seems to be more of a pain in his backside than anything. They've had an adversarial relationship for as long as they can remember that they both seem to hate and love. Hate because Neve pushes his buttons. Love because Neve pushes his buttons unlike any other woman in a freaking long time. And Neve is equally as affected by their frequent jabs at each other.  With hockey on hold that buffer that was between them has been removed. It just so happens that Tor's still tight with Jed who's girlfriend is Breezy Angel, Neve's sister. So when they wind up at a bar together one night and agree to a bet that she loses (to be his date for a weekend at his ex-wife's wedding), you know what that means. TROUBLE. Now all that underlying attraction that's been brewing will finally erupt. 

I enjoy these enemies-to-lovers stories because it's always fun to see who gets to whom first and how they respond. Additionally, with both of them being in the same business but on different sides of it makes things tricky for them. Getting involved with a coach could ruin her credibility as a journalist. As a coach, dating a journalist would be a huge conflict of interest for Tor. What keeps it all moving is Riley's effortless wording and humour. I just like how she gets creative with her descriptions. And oh my goodness, I died laughing through all the puns because who doesn't love puns? Especially when it involves a moose. 

The only thing that was off to me was how quickly a resolution presented itself because I don't think I got an inkling of it at any point as a possibility. It is also entirely possible that I might have even missed it if it was mentioned earlier but that's minor in comparison to the fun, sweet, sassy and sexy story that Head Coach is. If you're looking for something featuring two people who seem to barely stand each other but secretly want to jump each other's bones, you must read Head Coach! 

~ Bel

The Corner of Forever and Always Release Blitz

We are so excited to celebrate the release of The Corner of Forever and Always! Lia Riley is back with another spectacular story in the charming Everland, Georgia series. Check out the excerpt, giveaway and review!

 Fairy tales aren't ever what they seem . . . 

Tuesday Knight's dream of Broadway stardom has flopped, leaving her unemployed and brokenhearted. Ready to quit kissing frogs and make her own happily-ever-after, she takes a job as a princess in Everland, Georgia's historical amusement park.

Mayor Beau Marino lives an unenchanted existence-all work, no play-which is fine by him. After his marriage ended in disaster, the last thing he wants in his life is more drama. But Everland's new free spirit has a talent for getting under his starched collar.

When the town's beloved but bankrupt park might be shut down, Tuesday and Beau face a choice. Can they join forces, save the day-and each other? Or will their fierce battle of wills destroy any chance of a fairy-tale ending?

In the tradition of New York Times bestselling authors Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, and Marina Adair, comes the second book in Lia Riley's Everland, Georgia series about two city sisters finding love in a small town.

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THE EVERLAND, GEORGIA SERIES

IT HAPPENED ON LOVE STREET, #1

THE CORNER OF FOREVER AND ALWAYS, #2

Series Page on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves her husband, three kids, wandering redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

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EXCERPT

“I’m nervous.” The tightness in his tone backed up the muscles bunching near the hinge in his jaw. And the simple, honest admission did something to her that no amount of flirtatious back-and-forth ever would.

“So am I.” She began buttering the dish. “Who taught you how to cook?”

He stirred the chocolate in the double boiler, hands clenching the spoon. “Mama used to say that a man needed to know three things: how to fix a dessert, iron his own shirt and sew a button. That some day future women would thank her.”

               “Smart lady.” Tuesday laughed, grateful for a moment to recalibrate, to slow her racing heart. “I suck at ironing by the way.”

               Beau gave her a resolute stare. “I make my own starch.”

               “Stop.” She nearly dropped the dishtowel. “No, you don’t.”

               “One tablespoon of cornstarch in two cups of water.”

               Her gaze fixed on the rare smile tugging the corner of his mouth. The revelation was oddly endearing. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or terrified.”

               “Your mama didn’t teach you these things?”

               Tuesday thought. “We grew up in small town Maine.”

               “Sounds cold.”

               “So, so cold. So much snow. So much cold. Beautiful though.”

               “I’d like to check it out, in summer.”

               “Yeah, good idea. My dad ran a maple sugarbush farm, made homemade maple syrup. Mom was his opposite. He loved being outdoors. She liked being inside. I guess they were opposites,  must have attracted at some point but over time they repelled each other. Pushed one another further and further away. She left when I was in high school. Moved down to New Hampshire where she was from and met a banker. They live in the suburbs. She has a housekeeper now.”

               “She abandoned your family?”

               “I. . .you know, I don’t know. My sister thinks so. I was the baby. My mom used to love to style my hair. She could do so many intricate braids. We didn’t have much money but she’d shop at thrift stores and garage sales and find me cute dresses. Sometimes I’d find her sad and I’d try to cheer her up. I’d ask her to brush my hair and she would,  even though sometimes I could hear her sniffling and I knew if I turned around I’d see her crying.”

               Tears sprang to her eyes and she ground her fists into them. “Wow. Hello! Where'd these come from.” God, way to keep things light. Her inconvenient emotions would probably sink the night.

               “I’m sorry that happened.”

               “Me too.” She took a breath. Then another.

“Can we return to the regularly scheduled programming? Chocolate is always the cure.”

               Beau looked like he might press forward but changed his mind at the last moment. “My mama taught me how to separate yolks from whites. Can I show you?”

               “I won’t pretend that I have skills. Instruct away.”

               “Okay, pick an egg, any egg.”

               She selected a brown one and he stepped behind her, her back heating against his  chest. His arms slid over hers. “Now what you do is give it a tap to open the shell. No! Not so big, just a little one.” His hand engulfed hers, guiding the movement. “Good. That’s real good. Now let the yolk settle in one side. That’s it. Now you start to transfer the egg back and forth and back and forth, let the white run out like that until voila! All you have left is the yolk.”

               Tuesday gawked at the golden yolk in the shell. “Martha Stewart eat your heart out.”

               He checked the chocolate and milk, it had melted down into a decadent pool.

               “Can we eat that as is? I’m sure the souffle is amazing and all but hey, a bowl of melted warm chocolate is going to do me fine.”

               His laugh was just as decadently rich. “Haven’t you ever heard that good things come to those who wait?”

               “Sure, by people waiting,” she quipped. “They need something to tell themselves.”

               That really got him going, his deep laugh rich as sun-warmed molasses. “Let me make you a deal.”

               “I’m not agreeing until I hear the terms.”

               “Smart woman. When you have this dessert, you are going to say it’s better than the best sex you’ve ever had.”

               She set her hands on her hips. “You have a low opinion of my sex life.”

               “Nah.” He winked. “Just a very high opinion on my soufflé.”

               She arched a brow. “You’re on.”  

               Standing behind her he continued to help guide her effortlessly through measurements and pouring, mixing and stirring. He didn’t grind on her or get perverted, not that she’d have minded. Chocolate was meant to be an aphrodisiac and she’d never experienced anything so sexily mundane as chatting over nothings in the kitchen with a man who didn’t try to cop a feel. He appreciated and and even savored her for who she was and what she offered which right now was fully dressed fairly polite company.

               In fifteen minutes he opened the oven and slid the soufflé in.

“And now?”

               “We wait,” he answered. “Until it’s puffed on top and jiggly in the center.”

               “You have a way of making cooking sexy.”

               “Do I? I guess that helps even the field.”

               “How so?”          

               “You make breathing look sexy.” His gaze lingered on hers for a few beats before he turned and began to wash the dishes.

She stared at the back of his head, his broad shoulders, his narrow hips, blinking in surprise. He seemed wholly unaware that he’d broken her heart and put it back together, refashioned into something new, stronger and brighter.

GIVEAWAY

REVIEW

* * * 1/2

These covers are simply too cute and they convey what is the absolute best about the Everland, Georgia series from Lia Riley -- they're sweet, charming and irresistible. 

I never ever thought that small town romances would be a thing for me but Riley has converted me. She continues the set up she created in It Happened On Love Street, featuring a quirky little town with equally quirky residents and those adorably romantic street names. In this second book, Tuesday (Pepper's sister from the first) makes her home in Everland after abruptly leaving New York. Also left behind are the ex-boyfriend and her dreams of being an actress. Though she may have quit acting it doesn't mean that she's given up her flare for the dramatic and this is something that confounds the town's mayor, the widowed and very single, Beau. He's not used to Tuesday's view on life. He likes rules, structure and work. He drowns himself in it. As mayor he has lofty ambitions to get his beloved town on the map and thriving once again. Tuesday's impulsiveness is contrary to his sense of propriety and organization. The fact that they seem to be polar opposites doesn't mean that they aren't also enthralled with each other in small spurts. The problem is that they've had their hearts broken with everything they believed in thrown in their faces in the process, and each has reacted differently to that heartache. When Tuesday becomes a formidable spokesperson for one of the town's landmarks, it means they have to work together and time that will tell if they finally hook up or continue to be friendly foes.

I laughed quite a bit while reading this because Riley has a fun way of phrasing things, especially emotions. It's almost like you're there experiencing everything firsthand. There were plenty of moments when I thought to myself, "Same". I'm always curious when two different personalities clash and how they find mutual ground. It's no different here. The inclusion of the POV from the town's vindictive and manipulative archnemesis, Ma Hogg who lives in the next town over, makes for a distinct contrast to the entire town of Everland's generally sunny disposition. There are also a couple of other characters that I hope will get their own stories and I'm happy to have Riley surprise me. 

I feel redundant saying this but I'll read anything by Lia Riley. I've read all her books so far and I've learned that she can do angsty, romantic, light-hearted, adventurous and serious. Each work she has put out has had a different feel to it. Reading On The Corner of Forever and Always was a sweet escape into a modern day fairytale-like story replete with a prince and princess warding off evil, and legends of lost treasure. 

~ Bel

Mister Hockey (Hellions Angels #1) by Lia Riley

* * * 3/4

Her biggest fantasy is about to become a reality. . .

Jed West is Mr. Hockey. The captain of the NHL’s latest winning team, the Denver Hellions–and the hottest player on the ice—at least according to every magazine. .and Breezy Angel. Breezy has been drooling over Jed at games for years, and he plays a starring role in her most toe-curling fantasies. But dirty dreams don’t come true, right?

Then Jed saunters through the doors of her library, a last minute special guest for a summer reading event, and not only is he drop dead gorgeous up close, his personality is straight up swoon-worthy. He even comes to the rescue when she has an R-rated “Super Book Worm” costume malfunction. But when he mistakenly assumes she’s more into books than pucks, she’s too flustered to correct his mistake. And then comes a big kiss, followed by a teensy-tiny problem. Jed’s dating policy is simple: Never date a fan.

So what’s a fangirl going to have to do to convince her ultimate crush that he’s become less of a perfect fantasy, and more like the perfect man. . .for her? 

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Yowza!! Have the cover gods smiled upon Lia Riley! You're forgiven if you get lost in Mister Hockey's intense gaze and take a while to open the book. I stared and I may have sighed. Okay, I DID sigh. Can you blame a girl?

I've read so many sports romances lately, particularly hockey ones that I wondered what would be different about Mister Hockey. It seems that most of the male athletes tend to be categorized as egocentric, players, arrogant, while the women despite themselves fall helplessly for that. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy reading them all, especially how these athletes grow and become more evolved, but I take particular delight when I read about one that goes against the grain. Jed is that kind of athlete. I don't take him for a saint but he's a decent guy with strong principles and who's currently at a crossroads in his career. Jed's being interviewed for a podcast by an incredibly smart and assertive reporter when she out of the blue asks a huge favour of him. The reporter's sister who is a librarian needs someone from his Hellions organization to fill in as a guest reader at her library because their coach couldn't make it. No big deal, he can step in to save the day for a group of young kids. When he arrives he comes face-to-face with the most stunning woman he has ever seen - Breezy. He assumes that she's not a hockey fan hence, doesn't know who he is. Bonus points! If he peeked inside her office though he'd realize he's mistaken. Not only does she love the sport, she's his biggest fan with all the memorabilia to prove it. Breezy can't believe that she's standing in front of the man who has had a starring role in all her fantasies. So like most women when in this situation she's flustered. Worse yet, a horrifyingly embarrassing wardrobe malfunction has Jed covering for her - literally. Once again, we are all Breezy when she hastily leaves the library running to the sanctuary of her home. Bat wait! In her haste she's run off with his car keys which Jed shows up later to retrieve. One thing leads to another ... and with all the sexy vibes and googly eyes ... you can imagine what happens next.

It's an unusual set-up but it's entertaining. Jed and Breezy get on amazingly. The only thing that could ruin this is that they're both hiding secrets. Well actually, it's just Breezy who still hasn't come clean that she's his number one fangirl. While she's debating when to tell him the truth, Jed's facing his own dilemma regarding his health and next career move. What they do have in common, and what I sympathized with, is the entire sibling-comparison thing. Breezy gets on well with her sister but it's their mother who is constantly comparing the two sisters and pointing out Breezy's "lack of". She thinks she lacks ambition or wonders if Jed can really be attracted to Breezy when her sister is the more slender, conventional beauty. Breezy is a strong woman but it still hurts to hear a mother knock her body image. And Jed has always felt he's been in his brother's shadow and is still reconciling his success with his brother's reality. 

I thought Mister Hockey was a sweet whirlwind romance with both Jed and Breezy being a fun pair. I ate it up and finished it within a day. I know I'm repeating myself when I say how I honestly enjoyed that Jed was a more down-to-earth kind of guy than an Adonis-like pro with a wild past. Breezy, who's simply too adorable and open-hearted, is also rather silly at times which makes me want to be besties with her. Jed and Breezy together make me smile and I hope they do the same or you.

~ Bel

It Happened On Love Street Release Day Blitz & Giveaway

In the tradition of New York Times bestselling authors Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, and Marina Adair, comes the first in a new series by Lia Riley about two city sisters finding love in a small town.

The most romantic place she never wanted to be . . .

Pepper Knight moved to Everland, Georgia, as step one in her plan for a successful legal career. But after this big-city gal's plans go awry, going home with her tail between her legs isn't an option. So when the town vet—

and her sexy new neighbor—offers Pepper a temporary dog-walking job, she jumps at the chance. No one needs to know that man's best friend is her worst nightmare . . . or that Everland's hot animal whisperer leaves her panting.

The last thing Rhett Valentine wants is to be the center of small-town gossip. After his first love left him at the altar, he's been there, done that. These days, life is simple, just the way he likes it. But sultry southern nights get complicated once sparks fly between him and the knockout next door. When she proposes a sexy, secret fling—all the deliciousness and none of the prying neighbors-it seems too good to be true. And it is. Because Pepper's determined to leave Love Street, and when she goes, she just might take his heart with her . . .

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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THE EVERLAND, GEORGIA SERIES

IT HAPPENED ON LOVE STREET, #1

THE CORNER OF FOREVER AND ALWAYS, #2

Series Page on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves her husband, three kids, wandering redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

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REVIEW

* * *

Pepper moves to a small town specifically for a job as a clerk at the Mayor's office. She shows up on her first day only to learn that she no longer has that job. She had everything planned around this move including the fact that it would've been a stepping stone to bigger and greater things but now those plans are in tatters. Resident hunk and much-loved local vet Rhett has a successful business but has been tight-lipped about his personal life mostly because he's determined to keep his private affairs from prying eyes. Rhett meets Pepper on her worst day ever and despite their awkward start, he finds her incredibly attractive. That's a reaction he hasn't had in a while. Hoping to keep her in town longer, he arranges a temporary job for her: that of a dog walker. It's so ridiculous that it's funny because she's petrified of dogs. Bills have to be paid though and this gig should buy her some time while she resets her plans. Falling in love with the town's most eligible bachelor is so not part of it.

The most enjoyable part about IHOLS is Pepper adapting to small town living, the slower pace and the friendliness. It’s weird after spending so much time in New York, and for her it’s coming full circle since she grew up in an even smaller town. However, she constantly worries about having a reliable income so that she can take care of her father. She has always felt the weight of responsibility therefore, while she may be taking to Everland and its quirks, she's always mindful that it’s temporary. Rhett on the other hand sees her a welcome breath of fresh air. She has no history here, she's smart, isn’t immersed in the town gossip and not to be forgotten, hot as hell. He’s finally interested in someone except that she wants to skedaddle as soon as she can. They have a fun thing going where they're at ease with each other to a certain extent. Unfortunately, Pepper’s just at a tough stage in her life trying to pick apart her needs from that of others. It’s going to take patience, encouragement and a lot of love to convince her to stay.

My only hangup was all the town gossip. It's a minor story detail but everyone’s business is on full display and even worse, some even openly meddle and barge in on you. That intrusion just makes me so uncomfortable. Luckily, that doesn't overshadow Rhett and Pepper being annoyingly adorable or her entertaining adventures in dog walking. 

It Happened on Love Street is a cute, small town romance filled with friendly people and a few wacky personalities. It's not my personal favourite of Riley's romances but it's an ideal escape if you're in need of one this summer and you can bet that I'll be reading The Corner of Forever and Always because how can I resist? These titles just make me smile :) For now pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea and enjoy! 

~ Bel

EXCERPT

“Here’s an idea.” He nudged his finger on hers. “Say we—and this is purely hypothetically—enjoyed the . . . ahem . . .pleasure of each other’s company in the privacy of our homes.”

“Hypothetically, kept it casual and under the radar?”

She nudged back. “When I leave, there’s no heartbreak, no drama, and no one is the wiser.”

“Interesting theory?” He reached out, his hand splaying her knee. “Or recipe for disaster?”

Tingles shot up her thigh. His skin was warm, those fingers very big and very male. “I have enough to worry about with my future. If you don’t need me for more than a little here and now? I might be persuaded. Hypothetically.”

He moved his hand from her knee to the back of her neck. The touch melted her faster than an ice cube in the July sun.

“What are you thinking?” she murmured.

His deep blue gaze locked on hers and there it came again, that curious sensation of floating and drowning. “That I’d like to hypothetically kiss you.”

There was a sudden roaring in her ears, a whoosh of blood. “Well, there’s only one way to test a hypothesis.”

Slowly, oh so slowly, he dipped forward. His lips didn’t settle on hers like she expected. Instead, he kissed the center of her forehead, softly, experimentally. A tremble rocked through him.

The evening air was sultry, no a hint of chill. The idea that she shook this steadfast man sent a shiver of need through the join of her thighs, a throbbing shudder that swelled to an ache as he peppered a light trail of kisses down her temple, and then moved lower. He took his sweet time on her cheeks, treating her as something to savor, a delicious dessert you didn’t want to wolf in one bite. Tension spread through her body, pulling tighter and tighter, her belly doing a fluttery dips and dives.

When he finally reached her lips, it seemed reasonable to expect that the kiss would be as soft as the others. Silly. Because Rhett was full of surprises. He didn’t hold back, his tongue was greedy, insistent, and hungry. Their teeth banged together. A chair tipped over. They crashed against a table leg, sent it screeching across the floor.

“In theory, you’re a good kisser,” she gasped, tracing her lower lip with her tongue. The skin was puffy, aching.

“Let me experiment a bit more. The initial results are promising.”

GIVEAWAY

The lovely folks at Forever Romance would like you to experience Everland. Enter below to win 1 of 10 copies of the book - good luck!

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