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Interview with Z.L. Arkadie, author of Once Friends

What can you tell us about your new release, Once Friends?

Once Friends is part of the LOVE in the USA. Whereas the first twelve books focused on the lives of the Lord family and their friends and loved ones, Once Friends is the start of the Hester family stories. The Hesters are two sets of sisters, who are cousins and their grandmother, who is a woman who has always been before her time when it comes to life. The LOVE in the USA series focuses on characters who aren't necessarily looking for love or expecting it. Love comes to them when it’s ready, and it’s exciting, inconvenient and alien. But they’re dedicated to figuring out a way to make their relationships work and last forever.

You're hosting a literary dinner part. Which three writers are invited?

Of course J.K. Rowlings because, I mean, all hail Harry Potter. Such imaginative artwork and the characters don’t get lost in the rich world she created. I mean, isn’t that amazing? She CREATED it. My next invitation would go to Carole Radizwell. I read her book “What Remains” at least five years ago and that story never leaves me. I have a list of questions a mile long to ask her about that book. And finally, when I read romance, I need large doses of reality and Candice Bushnell gives it to me. I would so invite her. And I’m sure we’ll all just have one glass of red wine along with the tastiest food ever, and we’ll talk about stories from sun down to sun up.

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Well, in the literary sense I have two favorites—Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet as well Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway. Regarding the latter, I feel there are no better love stories than the elements that bring two people together as great friends. As far as the first couple, I love the romance between the two characters but I perceive a divorce in the future when Lizzy gets bored and has nothing to do with herself. She wants all of Darcy’s attention but he has lots of business to attend to.That’s why in my stories, I make sure my characters have passions in life outside of their relationship to keep them happy and occupied.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Writing of course! I always end the day wishing I had five more hours, along with the extra brain power, to do more of it!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always been a creative person. I always loved stories that moved me whether in books, on TV, the big screen and especially in real-life. But I guess living and figuring out what I love one aspiration at a time led me to where I am. In the end all roads led here.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Stopping at 30k words for my first read-through and then seeing how it all magically came together. It always amazes how the plot points are always there, because the first half of the book is such a struggle to write.

What scene in Once Friends was your favorite to write?

Well, I have two. But hands down my favorite scene is toward the end of the book when Sonja sits with her grandmother to discuss all she'd discovered about her Gran’s past.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Absolutely! Everyday I wake up and practice being brave, faithful, hopeful and kind.

Z.L. Arkadie is the author of the new book Once Friends. 

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Books To Read If You Like Celeste Ng

Celeste Ng is the New York Times bestselling author of the incredibly popular literary fiction novels Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You. Her first novel, Everything I Never Told You, won the Amazon best book of the year award in 2014 and also received the Hopwood Award, Massachusetts Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and the ALA’s Alex Award. If you are a fan of her amazing work, we think you will absolutely adore these brand new literary fiction novels!

Books To Read If You Like Celeste Ng


The Mystery of Julia Episcopa

John I. Rigoli & Diane Cummings

Release Date: January 12, 2018

In the age of Emperor Domitian, a Roman nobleman named Julia flees the city. Hiding beneath her robes are secrets that men will kill for. Two centuries later, famed archeologists Vella and Erika Simone stumble upon a piece of parchment leading straight to Julia and the legacy she died to protect. They soon find themselves caught in the middle of a Vatican battle that threatens to destroy the papacy.

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Cascading Petals

Jane C. Brady

Release Date: December 5, 2017

Despite years of bullying, Jewel heart has retained her sweet and kind attitude. She has a great life, a great family, and beauty. But she has always struggled to obtain the one things she truly wants... to belong. When she meets Kaiden Carter, things start to look up. On the surface he seems perfect, but Jewel can't shake the feeling that everything is not quite as it seems.

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The Italian Teacher

Tom Rachman

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Conceived while his father, Bear, traveled around Rome in the 1950s, Pitch has learned that Bear's genius trumps all. When Bear abandons his family, Pinch strives to get the attention of his father. He first tries to become a painter, then writing his father's biography, and eventually settling for a job as an Italian teacher in London. When Bear dies, Pitch hatches a scheme to secure his father's legacy.

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The Balcony

Jane Delury

Release Date: March 27, 2018

The Balcony explores what happens if our homes could tell the stories of others who lived there before us. It is a century-spanning portrit of the inhabitants of a French village that reveals the deception, despair, love, and longing that is beneath the surface of ordinary lives.

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The Gunners

Rebecca Kauffman

Release Date: March 20, 2018

The Gunners follows the story of Mikey Callahan, a thirty-year-old that is suffering from the clouded vision of macular degeneration. He constantly struggles to make human connections and the story begins with him trying to reconnect with a group of childhood friends called 'The Gunners' after one of the members commits suicide.

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Alternate Side

Anna Quindlen

Release Date: March 20, 2018

From the New York Times bestselling author of Miller's Valley and Still Life comes a story about a tight-knit neighborhood and a happy marriage are exposed by an unexpected act of violence... Nora Nolan has a very happy life with her husband Nolan. Her neighborhood has become a safe haven and tranquil village among the urban craziness of New York City. Then one morning, Nora returns home to discover a terrible incident.

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Books To Read If You Like D.K. Holmberg

D.K. Holmberg is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy novels including the popular The Collector Chronicles, The Book of Maladies, The Teralin Sword, and The Lost Prophecy series. If you are ready to embark on a new fantasy adventure, we've made a list of new release books to read if you like D.K. Holmberg!

Books To Read If You Like D.K. Holmberg


The Oathing Stone

J.Z.N. McCauley

Release Date: March 13, 2018

Are you ready for a Faerie civil war? Catherine and Bowen are ready to tie the knot. This union of an ancient druid doctor and a woman blessed with druid magic calls for nothing less than a traditional Celtic ceremony. To connect to their ancestors at the sacred place a key must be chosen for the ritual... the oathing stone. Catherine's magic soon becomes unstable and she finds herself embroiled in the middle of a Faerie civil war.

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Two-Faced

James Hunter & Eden Hudson

Release Date: March 22, 2018

Winosa Treesinger is the last great princess of the People of the Forest... she's also a Bigfoot. All she and her people want is to dwell in the deep places of the forest, away from mankind and the destruction they bring. But when she hears about several murders in the nearby city of Missoula, she knows it's the work of an ancient evil.

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Aragami

Scott Kinkade

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Martin McDonald is just an ordinary guy with an ordinary job. Serika is a Shinigami, a god of death. Her main goal is to kill Martin McDonald. The problem is that his time has not come yet and it is against the rules to end him. Nevertheless, she is determined to carry out the act and won't let anything get in her way. Why does she want him dead so bad? The answer may lie in her mysterious past.

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Pestilence

Laura Thalassa

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Pestilence, War, Famine, Death - the four horsemen came to earth riding their screaming steeds. They have the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth to end us all... When Pestilence came for Sarah Burn's town, everyone she knows is marked for death. Unless of course, she can stop him... Too bad no one told her Pestilence can't be killed.

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The Queen of Innis Lear

Tessa Gratton

Release Date: AMarch 27, 2018

The Queens of Innis Lear is the debut epic fantasy from Tessa Gratton about three Queens, one crown, and all-out war. Gaela the ruthless commander is the rightful heir to Innis Lear. Regan, the master manipulator must produce an heir to secure her place on the throne. Ella, the star-blessed priest must protect her father the King as her sisters hide in the shadows, ready to strike.

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Sword of Light

S.M. Schmitz

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Gavyn isn't surprised when the Sumerians get company for their plans of world domination. The Egyptians pack an extra punch, many of them with the ability to shapeshift into ferocious animals. He and the other heroes are running out of time to train. Despite wanting to escape his fate, Gavyn is drawn more and more into the conflict that will soon consume Earth and mortals everywhere.

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Interview with Alessandra Torre, author of Hidden Seams

What can you tell us about your new release, Hidden Seams?

Hidden Seams was actually born from an idea my husband came up with - what if a man spent most of his life pretending to be gay, but was actually straight? I kicked that idea around my office for several months, started and abandoned several drafts, but finally found the perfect characters to pull off the plot and dove into the story. The result is a decadent world of private butlers, billion-dollar fortunes, and sizzling chemistry between two main characters that are utterly unique and absolutely attracted to each other. I LOVE this novel, and I had so much fun writing it.

What’s the last book you read?

American Queen by Sierra Simone, and I loved it.

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Beauty and the Beast. Look past the cartoon and you have a desperate dark romance built on and true friendship.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The ability to spend weeks or months in my character's lives. The act of creation really allows you to mentally live in their worlds, feel their emotions, and that joy/love/heartbreak is a fantastic rollercoaster to be on. I used to love to read, but that only gave me a few hours in each story. Writing really stretches that into a longer and more fulfilling experience.

You’re hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

JA Konrath, Gillian Flynn, and Stephen King

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

In a big comfy chair, with my three dogs and my laptop. I'd knock out five hours of writing, then head to an afternoon movie and some Chinese takeout.

What scene in Hidden Seams was your favorite to write?

The scene where the two main characters first meet. Marco's Rolls Royce literally hits the main character - Avery McKenna - as she is snooping around the back of his mansion. It is really fun interaction, and the chemistry between them sparks immediately.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

It is what it is. I say that all of the time. Sometimes book sales are amazing, often times they aren't. Sometimes we are healthy, but last year we weren't. Sometimes huge deals fall apart and situations change. You've got to keep moving, keep positive, and keep appreciating EVERYTHING. The little joys in life are what keep me happy and grateful and I am 100% focus on positivity, ignoring the negative, and envisioning greatness.

Alessandra Torre is the author of the new book Hidden Seams. 

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The Story Behind Baby for the Beast by Penelope Bloom

By Penelope Bloom

Baby for the Beast was not an easy book to write and I broke my biggest rule when writing it.

I have a general rule for myself when I'm writing to avoid looking back and re-reading until I'm done with the book. It prevents me from endlessly re-writing scenes over and over again because I didn't think they turned out perfectly, and it's probably one of the reasons I'm able to get a book written every month. I've found that ninety percent of the time, when I do my re-reads, the parts I thought were terrible actually read really well and don't need major tweaks.

But I broke my own rule. I re-read the book when I was 60 pages in and everything was going fine until about page 30. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you read the blurb you'll know the book is about Enzo, who is part of the mafia and gets ordered to kidnap Neela. My original plan for the book was to have the relationship dynamic be sexually charged, but for the characters to have a very love-hate kind of relationship. And that's where the problem came in.

I don't always get to decide how my characters will interact, as strange as that sounds. I might plan to have them not get along or to get along, and sometimes it really does feel like they gain weight as the book goes on--like they become something I can no longer bully and push into a specific direction. It's a good problem to have, because it means that my characters have an identity and they live and breathe like real people, to me, at least.

And my stupid living and breathing characters decided to have off-the-charts chemistry in this book. So when I tried to force them into a kind of "I hate you for now" scenario where Enzo was trying to stay true to his mafia family loyalties and go through with the kidnapping, it rang really false as I did my re-read.

So even though I was running out of time to get the book finished by my deadline and definitely didn't have time to write an extra 30 pages, I kind of impulsively deleted those 30 pages. I started it over and let the characters lead the book instead of forcing it down the path I wanted. In the end, I think the result was worth the extra hours and weekend nights I had to work to get it finished.
I hope you'll decide to give it a read. I promise you won't be disappointed!! Also, if you've enjoyed some of my feature posts for newinbooks, I have been writing similar posts on my website for a few weeks now and will continue to add more. You can find them at www.penelope-bloom.com. Thanks!

XX

Penelope

Penelope Bloom is the author of the new book Baby for the Beast. 

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Interview with J. Z. N. McCauley, author of The Oathing Stone

What can you tell us about your new release, The Oathing Stone?

The Oathing Stone is the second release in The Rituals Trilogy. Set in modern-day Ireland, an Irish-American woman blessed with fire magic bestowed by a sacred oak tree, marries the love of her life who just happens to be from the time of the ancient Druids. When her magic becomes faulty, and a strange string of events come into play, her world unravels, and she must once again fight for the ones she loves to escape the clutches of a civil war. A battle that spilled out from deep within the Faerie realm.

What's the last book you read?

Wizard of The Grove (Omnibus: Child of the Grove / The Last Wizard) by Tanya Huff. Highly recommend to every high fantasy reader.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My lifetime love of stories and art, from my earliest memories, have always driven me to embrace books. I've always wanted to create my own stories since my imagination has consistently been my most active ability. Along the way, every story or artwork I've enjoyed added to my inspiration to continue to create in various ways but mainly as an author.

What fictional literary world would you most like to visit?

I would have to say Narnia is that magical world in literature for me. Specifically, the peaceful time just after the White Witch was defeated, and I would love to dine with the ruling children at Cair Paravel. (Hopefully, meet Aslan!)

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I LOVE creating worlds and telling all that my imagination holds. In my mind's eye, I see the stories unfold almost like a film, and they are so exciting to me that I absolutely must write them down.

What is a typical day like for you?

On top of writing and art, I'm also a mother of toddlers and wife of a husband who works and goes to school. So my typical day is always jam-packed. Family life during the day, then writing and art at night fueled by tea and coffee to keep me going.

What scene in The Oathing Stone was your favorite to write?

There is a faerie battle scene that was so much fun to describe because it consisted of Irish mythological creatures every which way on the battlefield and I could really let loose my main character to use her magic without holding back.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I have several of those that I repeatedly use off and on, but there is one that is pretty consistent because it helps me remember to believe in myself. "She believed she could, so she did." So simple, yet so impactful.

J. Z. N. McCauley is the author of the new book The Oathing Stone. 

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Books To Read If You Like Melinda Leigh

Melinda Leigh is an Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of popular thriller and suspense novels including the buzzy Morgan Dane and The Midnight Series. Her first novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She has also been a RITA award finalist and earned three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations, Two Silver Falchion Awards, and two Golden Leaf Awards. Search for clues and solve the case with these exciting new books to read if you like Melinda Leigh!

Books To Read If You Like Melinda Leigh


Sick Girl

Rachel Hargrove

Release Date: March 15, 2018

Aubrey is fed up with her boyfriend Tom, a married man with two kids. He's constantly shoving their affair on the back burner and canceling their dates, so Aubrey concocts a desperate plan to have Tom forever... kill his wife and take her place. Befriending his wife comes easily to Aubrey. But as they get closer, the more doubts she starts to have. Then a shocking discovery changes everything.

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The General Theory of a Haunting

Richard Easter

Release Date: December 24, 2017

Every haunting has a design... In the winter of 1809, Lord Francis Merryman's wife is dying. In the madness of his grief, he is desperate eep Patience's memory alive. As the plans to build a memorial progress, Marryman Hall starts to come alive with more than just memories. This brilliant mathematician and scholar has built more into the walls than just bricks and mortar.

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Trespassing

Brandi Reeds

Release Date: April 1, 2018

Veronica Cavanaugh is losing her grasp on the world. When the latest round of fertility treatments fail, she is left on the edge and unbalanced. To make things worse her three-year-old daughter Elizabella has a new devilish imaginary friend and her husband has failed to return home from a business trip. What was left of her stability is now starting to crumble.

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The Broken Girls

Simone St. James

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Idlewild Hall is a place for the girls whom no one wants. They are the troublemakers, the illegitimate and the ones who are too smart for their own good. In the small town where it is located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four of the roommates bond over their fears and friendships blossom... until one of them disappears.

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Silent Victim

Caroline Mitchell

Release Date: March 1, 2018

Emma is a devoted wife and loving mother. She is also a killer... She has been hiding the dead body of a teacher who seduced her as a teen. Her secret might have stayed buried if her husband hadn't got a promotion. Now they need to move to a bigger home and Emma must destroy the evidence. Except when she goes to the shallow grave in the garden the body is gone.

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Duel to the Death

J.A. Jance

Release Date: March 1, 2018

When Stuart Ramey takes down the man responsible for his best friend's death, he thinks the case is finally resolved. But Stu soon finds himself with a multimillion-dollar fortune in Bitcoin thanks to a desperate bid by Frigg, a rogue A.I. program created by the killer. To sort the situation out, Stu enlists the help of Ali Reynolds and the cybersecurity crew at High Noon Enterprises.

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Interview with Rachel Hargrove, author of Sick Girl

What can you tell us about your new release, Sick Girl?

Sick Girl is a psychological thriller told in dual point of views. The first explores a young woman's desperate attempt to win the man she loves by killing his wife, Melissa. The second point of view follows Melissa, who has no idea of her husband’s affair or the plot to kill her. There are many twists, turns, and surprises.

What’s the last book you read?

The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent. Another great psychological thriller.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always written fiction as a hobby. For so many years, traditional publishing houses were the gatekeepers to a career in writing books. Getting a deal, let alone an agent, seemed like a fantasy until Amazon’s kindle-publishing platform. I dove in headfirst, quit my job, and never looked back.

What fictional literary world would you most like to visit?

Harry Potter!

What's a typical day like for you?

I roll out of bed between 9-10am, make myself breakfast, and chat with my author friends before starting work. I like bouncing from café to café to write my books. At lunch, I take a break to exercise. I end the day pretty late, around 8pm. I’m a workaholic.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

I could do with Jessica Jones’ superhuman strength!

What scene in Sick Girl was your favorite to write?

I can’t describe it, because it’ll spoil too much. You’ll know it when you see it. It’s near the end. 🙂

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Be as you wish to seem.

Rachel Hargrove is the author of the new book Sick Girl. 

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Interview with Tia Louise, author of Hit Girl

What can you tell us about your new release, Hit Girl?

Hit Girl is a thrilling, stand-alone romance. (You don't have to read any other books before reading it.) It's a revenge story, but it's also a love story. The main character is on a mission to avenge her past. She's made a list of the men who hurt her, and she's hunting them down one by one... so that's exciting! At the same time, she's in love with a guy who knows nothing about what she does... so that introduces some complications when he finds out.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I've always written, and I started out working in journalism. I guess Stephenie Meyer inspired me to put my fears aside and attempt to be a novelist. (I think she inspired a lot of us!)

What's on your top 5 list for best books you've ever read?

ooo... this is HARD! I'll stick to the indie romance genre to narrow it down. Some of my FAVEs are The Book of Moses (Amy Harmon), Archer's Voice (Mia Sheridan), The Pawn (Skye Warren), Truth (Aleatha Romig), and My Heart for Yours (Steph Campbell & Jolene Perry)

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Hmm... Romeo & Juliet. I know, but seriously, they started it all.

What's a typical day like for you?

I start checking emails, then I move to FB messages, then I check on the business and marketing side of things, I check in with my reader group (Tia's Books, Babes & Mermaids), then once I've taken care of all the "business," I write... and around all of that I take care of my two daughters and my husband. It's wild... lol!

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

FLYING... I've always wanted to fly.

What scene in Hit Girl was your favorite to write?

I love Chapter 8. It explains how she became who she is... but I also love a scene at the end of Chapter 20. It's an homage to one of my all-time favorite movies... #nospoilers

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

"Just keep swimming." The entertainment business goes up and down, and you just have to keep your head down, stay out of the drama, and keep putting out your best work possible.

Tia Louise is the author of the new book Hit Girl. 

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Books To Read If You Like Corinne Michaels

Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. Some of her recent popular releases include One Last Time, We Own Tonight and The Salvation Series. If you are a fan of sexy contemporary romance novels that deliver on both the heat and the feels, we think you'll love these books to read if you like Corinne Michaels!

Books To Read If You Like Corinne Michaels


Baby for the Beast

Penelope Bloom

Release Date: March 15, 2018

It was meant to be just one blind date. I did it to get my sister and friend off my back. They say I need a man in my life and I'm letting my best years slip by. But I'm perfectly happy with my life and being on my own... Then that blind date turned my life upside down. I only gave him one night, a few hours of recklessness. The scary part is I am starting to like the person I am with him.

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Hit Girl

Tia Louise

Release Date: March 19, 2018

My finest trick was convincing you I had forgotten. Names on a list. Faces in a crowd... one little girl. He told me I should let it go and get over it. But I can't do that. I want them to pay. Every last one of them.

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Fake Out

Eden Finley

Release Date: March 15, 2018

When the pressure to marry my childhood sweetheart became too much, I lied and told her I was gay and fled to New York. Five years have now passed and after one drunken encounter, I found myself invited to her wedding. Now I have to bring my boyfriend... the one who doesn't exist because I'm straight. So I bribe a guy to be my pretend boyfriend for the weekend, but when I meet Damon I start to question everything about myself.

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Hidden Seams

Alessandra Torre

Release Date: January 16, 2018

I have sold my soul and my reputation. I worked for a decade lying and smiling for the cameras for this fortune. Then she pops up. The mysterious heir with a rap sheet and combat boots. It doesn't matter though. I've played this game for a long time. I can continue the charade and keep my hands to myself and her body out of my mind. I can keep a secret until everything is mine. Or maybe not.

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Escort

Skye Warren

Release Date: March 18, 2018

As an escort, this date is purely a mutually enjoyable transaction. For someone as jaded as me, there usually aren't any surprises. But then I walked into the penthouse suite of L'Etoile and everything changed. Bea is heart-stoppingly gorgeous... and a virgin. This shouldn't be a problem. I can spend a few hours tutoring her and at the end of the night a small fortune is deposited in my bank account. But then I realized one night with her wasn't enough.

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Craft

Adriana Locke

Release Date: March 12, 2018

Lance Gibson drives Maria Malarkey absolutely crazy. He uses her office like a phone booth and takes the cupcakes from her desk like she baked them just for him... it was purely a coincidence that she knew the history teacher loved peanut butter icing. But Mariah has a way of getting under his skin too. She calls him out on his crap and seeing the librarian in a skirt drives him wild. These two don't hate each other but they also don't really like each other. But this friends-to-lovers story needs to start somewhere.

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