You can predict the tides but not the changes they make. Gunnison Del Valle was the current in the tide that was about to change my life.
Crash one we met.
Crash two we fell in love.
Crash three changed our perfectly planned lives forever.
When the band begins to play, I can’t help but smile. I feel at home. This beach is my other home, now if only I could dance. As couples begin to shag on the dance floor, I can’t help but look at Brett’s reaction. He’s taking it all in and watching their footsteps. I begin to giggle. “What?” he asks. I stand and take him by the hand. “I have no clue how to do this.”
“It’s easy. Just remember, one-two-three rock back. I’ll help you, no worries.” I wink. After a few songs, he becomes a natural and, we are laughing, smiling, and dancing like we have been dance partners for years. When the song ends, they slow things down and Brett never lets go of my hands. Instead, he pulls me close to him as we sway back and forth and my lips meet his.
He takes me from the dance floor and leads me to the marshwalk. We walk hand in hand from Wicked Tuna to Sisters Marina while looking at all of the fishing boats and yachts. On our way back, we walk a little slower and stop to watch the tide flow into the marsh. Brett wraps his arms around me and I can’t help but look into the clear Carolina night sky and pray this is real.
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.
Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy), and author. Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!
Blog Tour: Loving Kate by D. Kelly (Book 3 of The Acceptance Series)
Katherine Moore has loved Michael Matthews since they were children. She’s also in love with his best friend. After her world was turned upside down, she made an impulsive choice which may have cost her the loves of her life. Now, as she tries to make amends, she has to choose one of them. But how do you choose between two men who love you unconditionally?
Things continue to get even more complicated with the arrival of baby Lucas. In the midst of it all, her college graduation looms on the horizon and her future has never seemed more unclear. When she finally declares which man she can’t live without, he refuses to let Kate back into his heart. Everything seems hopeless until a sudden change of events puts her in day to day contact with the man she loves.
As they both struggle to accept their new circumstances, Kate can’t help but hope this will be their second chance at happily ever after. Will the man of her dreams be able to forgive her or will she finally have to accept that she’s truly lost the love of her life?
Loving Kate is the third and final full-length novel in The Acceptance Series.
It’s crowded, but since it’s a weeknight, it’s not nearly as packed as usual. Since I’m about to lose my bull riding virginity I’m thankful for the slightly smaller crowd. As promised, Mike goes first but the ride operator isn’t as gentle on the men and he flies off pretty quickly. I think he might have wacked his balls against the hand hold on his way down. He winces a bit as he gets up.
“You okay?” I ask him, giggling, but I’m truly worried about his man parts.
He pulls me in close, his breath caressing my ear. I’m holding my breath as he whispers, “I think my baby makers are broken.” I laugh as he places a kiss on my cheek. “Good luck, baby, now go ride that bull like you’d ride me.”
He says it loud enough for everyone to hear and if I thought I was going to go deaf from the music before that was nothing compared to the whooping and hollering of the crowd. Of course the ride operator uses it to his advantage “What’s your girl’s name?” he yells across to Mike.
There’s a devious gleam in Mike’s eyes as he replies “Jessica, but all her good friends call her Jess.” He nods that he’s got it and after I’m straddled onto the bull, he holds nothing back.
“Alright, everyone, let’s hear it for our new friend Jess! Now, we all heard her boyfriend tell her to ride our bull like she rides him at home, so I think we’re in for a show.”
My cheeks were already flushed from the alcohol, my palms sweaty from nerves, but the embarrassment zinging through me makes my entire body burn. I catch Mike out of the corner of my eyes, laughing and shrugging his shoulders in a semi apology. At least he had the decency to not give my real name.
The bull starts off nice and slow, periodically gyrating a few times in a forward motion, but I’m able to hold on with just one hand. I don’t really know how long this goes on, maybe a minute or so, when I hear the announcer tell Mike over the PA system that he’s a lucky man. At this point, he’s done being nice and the bull starts bucking around like crazy. I’m able to hold it together for about another thirty seconds or so before I go flying off.
Someone helps me to my feet and I stumble over to Mike as the crowd starts chanting ‘kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss’.
Hell, at this point what does it matter? Mike’s eyes seek permission from mine as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close. He kisses me and the crowd goes wild. It’s just like the kiss we shared in my bed a few days ago—a little more than just friends, but not exactly like lovers. Whatever it is, I allow myself to feel it and the crowd cheers their approval.
Hooked on Books' 5 Star Review
In this final book, we learn more secrets, watch the relationships of all the characters grow. Kate, Mike, Daniel, Misty, Vanessa, Jess, Conner, Chad, Marc, Jake and April all evolve within themselves and their friends and relationships.
Each relationship endures complications from secrets and time can only heal the wounds that are the result. They must learn to live without one of their friends and grieve. They must learn to forgive the secrets that were kept from them and grow into the person they need to be. Their loyalty to one another is what keeps them together. They are family, friends and so laced into each other's lives, they pull from one another's strength to endure the good and the bad.
Check out the whole series today!
Breaking Kate (Book 1 of The Acceptance Series)
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Catching Kate (Book 1.5 of The Acceptance Series)
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Releasing Kate (Book 2 of The Acceptance Series)
Amazon | B&N | Kobo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm a wife, a mom and a dog lover. I'm also a taxi, problem fixer, extreme multi-tasker and my kids biggest fan in anything that they do. I love to write, so when my career suddenly derailed I turned back to my love of writing. I married my high school sweetheart... how cool is that? Margaritas and sarcasm make me happy. Chocolate makes that happiness grow exponentially. People who make me laugh are my favorite kind of people. I believe Karma is a bitch who slaps back hard and that mean people suck. I'm California born and raised, I love the beach but hate the sand. The Acceptance Series is my first series with more books to come soon.
Follow D. Kelly:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON
Witch plus wolf? They’re allergic. Except no one told their hearts.
Shifters and witches? Forbidden on pain of death. Might as well stick a fork in a light socket. Yet those are the kind of sparks witch princess Sophia Blue
feels when she meets wolf shifter Noah in her aunt’s bookstore.
But Sophia is stuck. Her aunt is missing and Noah, the last person to see her, is Sophia’s only hope. If not for that and her aunt’s new, cute little
doggie, Sophia would run as far as she could from the sexy, hard-hewn alpha.
Noah’s stuck too. Before disappearing, the aunt hit him with a hex gone horribly wrong—he’s the doggie. By day he’s fifteen pounds of yippity-yip, and with
five anti-alpha wolves nipping at his heels, that’s deadly dangerous. Only Sophia can help him, but she has lost her magic.
Then an evil mage from Sophia’s past shows up with murder on his mind, and all Noah’s instincts shout to protect the woman his misguided heart thinks is
his mate.
Warning: Sinfully sexy alpha thrown together with a hot witch in a small town. Sass, sparkle, a meddling aunt, snafus, growling, fighting, and oh yeah,
sex. Might want to get up to date on your shots.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Heart Mates:
Sophia, looking for her missing aunt, seeks alpha wolf Noah at beta Mason’s garage.
“I don’t know where Noah is. How could I?” Yet even as Sophia spoke, that snarl of awareness curled up her nape.
Mason said, “He phoned just a minute ago. Said you named him Kin—”
“—someone to help,” a bass voice thrummed from the dark depths.
Sophia spun. That masculine voice, vibrating with power, plucked a long string of deep, throbbing need.
A man emerged from the blackness, gliding into the sharp white light. Her entire belly turned inside out.
Crane-her-neck tall. A smooth prowl, all muscular grace, extraordinary strength and endurance. A fall of black hair over a high, regal brow. He was total
alpha—powerful, deadly and sexy as hell.
Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped and her heart beat hard against her ribs as her hormones plonked “Endearing Young Charms”—and then exploded. Not really,
but the full-body shiver and the rush of hot need through her veins was anything but mild.
He stopped a few feet from her, standing with breathtaking stillness. Werewolves were usually ruled by their aggression, so the man’s cool composure was
even more striking.
Definitely a were, though. His honed jaw was textured by the rough black morning-after-sex stubble all male wolf shifters seemed to have. Her body splashed
with a hot me want of desire.
Their eyes met.
Power shows in the eyes. This man had power, and to spare. She was stunned by irises of pure silver around pupils which opened to her like velvety black
pools. She fell in and happily drowned.
“Noah, finally,” Mason said. “I found Marlowe, but he’d already gotten rid of the…” He cut Sophia a glance. “The thing. I read the kid the riot act, made
him do some work around here and sent him home.”
“Good.” Noah’s answer was for Mason but his gaze was still locked on Sophia. He took a step nearer, his eyes flashing. “You’re Linda’s niece.”
“Yes.” Nervously, she fingered her pearls. Those gleaming silver eyes knocked her off-balance, drilling into her very thoughts. She sucked in a breath, got
a lungful of hot male and nearly imploded when her body zinged like every hormone she had was shouting alleluia.
Damn it, no. He was a shifter. Worse, he was pack alpha, bound to be mated. An ex-witch slavering after a mated alpha?
Smiting was happening for sure.
He glided another step closer, his muscles sliding easily under his skin and clothes. He raised his hand and caught her fumbling fingers, stilling them.
The warm pads of his fingers pressed against her skin were stunningly sensual. Her lips fell open because she was having trouble breathing. She blinked at
him.
He lifted her hand from her pearls and brought it to his nose. Finally those remarkable eyes closed as he inhaled. A tiny, appreciative smile curved his
lips, as if he were enjoying the bouquet of a fine wine. “You smell amazing.” His voice rippled with a low, sensual growl.
Her body responded with “Endearing Young Charms”. Boom-boom.
When his lids lifted, his gaze had gentled. The wolf within was very strong, but the man controlled it utterly.
A half step closer, him or her, she wasn’t sure who. Their auras kissed. A thousand butterflies jigged inside her. Pure male heat rolled over her skin,
edged with virile, wild magic. A tremor hit low in her belly. If she leaned in a fraction of an inch, she’d touch him, flesh-on-flesh…she swallowed hard.
Touching him might be like completing an electrical circuit, and she’d be the one fried. “Look, I’m trying to find my Aunt Linda.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth as she spoke. “She owns the bookstore.”
“Yes.” Under that silvery gaze, her lips felt too full, throbbing. The word was hard to form. She licked.
His pupils dilated until his eyes were pure black, riveted to her mouth. “You’re the gor—the woman in the picture.”
What had he been about to say? Gorilla? Gourmand? Gorgeous? “What picture?”
“Your aunt has a photograph of you.” He released her hand to slide a finger under her chin.
All her breath expelled. Without oxygen, she let him tilt her face to one side, then the other. The throbbing in her lips intensified.
His lids lowered, lazy with promise. “Your nose is longer than I expected.”
Wow. Just what a woman wanted to hear. “Thanks.”
“It’s a good nose. Honest. Elegant. I like it.”
Instantly the throbbing was back, but she pushed it away, mirrored it by stepping back. “An honest, elegant snout is still a snout.”
He followed her. “Your nose is unique, like your scent. Exotic. Deeply enticing.”
He was right on top of her. She stared up into eyes glowing between lids slit, not in suspicion, but heavy-lidded with intent.
She's been named Lexia, 'man's defender', by the one who raised her and died for her, the man she called her father.
She's been named Maura, 'for darkness', by the woman who created her, a mother who sees her as a weapon, and tool for power.
She has battled for her freedom, for the revenge of her father’s death, and then given it all up to save the man she loves.
She's given up her soul, her humanity, and now, there is only one question left. Can she create her own destiny or is she bound to follow the fate set for her before she was born?
Her breath gasped out of her in a sudden hiss, dying off to a gargled cry as the cage inside of her burst open. Every kill, every emotion she’d locked away, burst out.
Her foot hit the break before he’d even jumped in her path – because she knew he was here. There was only one person in the world who could strip away every shield she’d wrapped around herself. Only one person who could reach her soul, her heart through the mountain of pain and torment inside of her.
“Linc,” she cried breathlessly, her eyes searching the dark night.
Finding the glow of his eyes first, Lexia stared as the black panther loped out of the trees, flashing his eyes at her.
He’d found her. After all this time, he’d found her. Stepping out of the vehicle in a daze, the torrential rain soaked her clothes instantly. Her feet struggled to find footing in the sodden earth. She walked toward the majestic cat. Standing in the beam of the headlights, overcome with emotions, she was stripped of words, lost in the chaos of her mind.
“Linc,” Lexia whispered, afraid her dream may shatter into a million pieces, but Lincoln wasn’t a dream. He’d found her – just like she always knew he would. Her past had been galloping toward her and had finally collided.
“Lexia?” Derrick murmured softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. The caring gesture snapped her out the daze.
“Take your hand from my mate, hunter,” Lincoln growled as he suddenly shifted.
“Lincoln, leave him,” she said, taking a tentative step toward him. “What are you doing here?” She sighed longingly.
“I promised you I’d never let the darkness take you. You are mine, Lex. The hunters can’t have you.”
Sucked back to a memory, Lexia dropped to her knees screaming, the skull-cracking pain in her head too much to bear. She could hear Lincoln and Derrick shouting at her, but she’d lost all control of her body. Falling forward, her hands gripped the ground as they were swallowed by thick mud.
She sat in Lincoln’s arms. His warmth seeped into her bones, warming her down to her very soul.
“Killing is never easy, Lex, but sometimes it’s necessary. Sometimes we have no choice. You have to find balance, find a way to deal with it before it destroys you.”
“No, Linc, you’re wrong. The killing, that’s easy. To me it’s as natural as breathing. Admitting deep down inside to enjoying it, to relish in the power I have over people, that’s the hard part. That part will destroy me, because one day, I might stop being disgusted with myself. One day, I might truly be lost and every kill – every life I take – will give me pleasure, make me smile. I hope that day never comes.”
“Lexia,” he whispered.
“Just give me space, Linc, please?” She rose from his lap, feeling like she didn’t deserve his love.
“Lexia, that will never happen. Are you listening? I will never let that happen.”
The memory broke free the feelings she’d hidden inside of her. Gripping her head, she rocked as she remembered faces of the dead, their screams, their pleas, and her joy.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to them. “I’m so sorry.” Dragging in a deep breath in hopes of calming herself, she concentrated to the frantic beating of her heart. Each pump whooshed in her ears, drowning out the memories.
Her eyes found Lincoln. Remembering how he’d smiled, how his eyes would burn with desire…she remembered every sweet smile, every caress. Oh, how she missed his touch, missed feeling like the most treasured person in the world.
It didn’t matter how much it hurt to feel as she did around him. It didn’t matter how many people Maura had killed with her hands. Lincoln had the power to reach through every layer of darkness. There was no power equal to his love.
The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. “My pretty panther,” she said on a broken sob. Sitting back on her heels, she looked up at him as he took a step toward her. Rain mixed with the tears running down her face as she remained powerless to move.
Lincoln dropped to his knees with a pained cry, his eyes looking vulnerably human. Unable to speak, she smiled through her sobs, tilting her head ever so slightly before giving in and falling into his arms. Pulling back, she stared into his eyes, her fingers touching his face, as he touched hers, lips crashing together in desperation. They kissed, rain dripping from their hair, mingling with their tears.
The rain blinded them and froze their tortured souls. It was tragic and divine, and as they pulled apart, Lexia felt herself fracture. Every broken, patched back together piece of her fell apart. Her power left her in a broken cry as her eyes turned blue. She fell onto her hands, resting her head against his chest.
“Linc, you should have never come. Why did you come? You’ve put yourself in danger,” she said against his chest, taking every effort to keep the tremble from her words, yet failing.
“How could I just leave you? Come with me, Lex,” he begged.
“I can’t. It’s not that simple.” She wished there was some other way. Wished she had somehow ended up in a universe where her ledger was clean.
Drawn into a world she thought impossible, Lexia’s innocent night of partying leaves her dazed, confused and asking questions she’s not sure she wishes to know the answers to.
Attacked by vampires, Lexia’s ability to defend herself triggers events she can't escape. Before long, she struggles to keep up a façade around her friends and family.
Then, there is Lincoln. Finding herself irresistibly drawn to him, Lexia senses he desires something more dangerous than a simple romance. Lincoln has secrets and what she learns changes her life forever.
A story of love, loss, and, betrayal, Lexia and Lincoln’s lives will never be the same again.
All Lexia ever wanted was to graduate from high school and leave Deadwood. Now she would give anything to have her quiet life back. With her Father murdered and her best friend, Alice kidnapped. Life is anything but Simple.
Despite the odds, Lexia and Lincoln, the panther shifter she has fallen in Love with, rescue Alice. On their journey, Lexia meets the one person she least expected to see again, her mother.
Seemingly abandoned as a baby, secrets unravel and lexia learns who she really is. Her Mother created her and she was created for one purpose only...
Darkness.
Only one thing is certain, sacrifices will be made and lives will be lost.
Join Rachel for 24 hours of Fun Giveaways and Guest AuthorsHere
Born and raised in N.E.England before moving to New Zealand in 2008. She now lives in Queensland, Austraila with her Husband, three Children and a Golden Lab. Paranormal Romance Author of The Deadwood Hunter Series and YA Paranormal Author of Winter Wolf. A New Dawn Novel She hopes you love her characters as much as she does :)
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Katherine Moore has loved Michael Matthews since they were children. She’s also in love with his best friend. After her world was turned upside down, she made an impulsive choice which may have cost her the loves of her life. Now, as she tries to make amends, she has to choose one of them. But how do you choose between two men who love you unconditionally?
Things continue to get even more complicated with the arrival of baby Lucas. In the midst of it all, her college graduation looms on the horizon and her future has never seemed more unclear. When she finally declares which man she can’t live without, he refuses to let Kate back into his heart. Everything seems hopeless until a sudden change of events puts her in day to day contact with the man she loves.
As they both struggle to accept their new circumstances, Kate can’t help but hope this will be their second chance at happily ever after. Will the man of her dreams be able to forgive her or will she finally have to accept that she’s truly lost the love of her life?
Loving Kate is the third and final full-length novel in The Acceptance Series.
Breaking Kate (Book 1 of The Acceptance Series)
Catching Kate (Book 1.5 of The Acceptance Series)
