What
if the one time you didn't want love was when you truly needed it?
Forced to flee her
abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and
protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a
bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this
chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in
her way.
George has always
been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But
Elle's not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows
her taste in men can't be trusted, but fighting George's charisma is harder
than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found
there's something about Elle that's got under his skin.
When Elle's ex turns
up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he's to
convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her
past behind her before it overwhelms her present?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
This excerpt is after Elle has run into her ex and George is
worried about her. Elle is fighting her attraction for him because she doesn’t
trust her taste in men.
George didn’t comment and didn’t move. She’d reached out to
him for the first time. Her hand was soft and warm. It was delicate – but it
was strong. He covered her hand with his own, caressed it. He wanted her to
know he was there for her, that he wasn’t a threat, that he would never treat
her the way Dean had treated her.
Her lips parted, but she didn’t pull away.
He took her hand in his, rubbed her palm with his thumb.
“You’re a strong woman.”
“I don’t feel like it.” Her voice was a little breathless
and she was watching him warily, uncertain.
“You’ve raised a great kid in such difficult circumstances.
I’d say that’s strong.” He let go of her hand and shuffled a little closer. She
didn’t back away. “If you need help, I’m here for you.”
Elle stood then, scowling. She stalked away and then turned
back to him. “Why? I don’t understand why you would possibly want to help me.
I’m a mess. What’s in it for you?” She put her hands on her hips.
George raised his eyebrows, but stayed seated and replied,
“I want to get to know you better. You’re a beautiful, intriguing woman.”
Elle screwed up her nose. “But I’ve told you I’m not
interested. I don’t want a relationship; I don’t want a fling.”
“And yet I just can’t keep away.” He realized how ridiculous
it must sound to her. “How about we agree to be friends?”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends. You know, people who hang out together, go to
the movies, call each other to chat about their day? Friends.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Claire Boston
is the best-selling author of The Texan Quartet. In 2014 she was nominated for
an Australian Romance Readers Award as Favourite New Romance Author.
Her debut
contemporary romance novel, What Goes on Tour caught the attention of
Momentum’s Joel Naoum when her first scene was read aloud at the Romance
Writers’ of Australia (RWA) conference in 2013. This led to a four book
contract for The Texan Quartet series.
Claire is
proactive in organising social gatherings and educational opportunities for
local authors. She is an active volunteer for RWA, as a mentor for aspiring
authors and the reader judge coordinator.
When Claire’s
not writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow vegetables, or
racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince anyone to play
with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.
Claire lives
in Western Australia, just south of Perth, with her husband, who loves even her
most annoying quirks, and her grubby, but adorable Australian bulldog.
***Disclaimer: I received this book via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.***
Book & Author Details:
AlexaCrushed by T.R. Cupak
(AlexaCrushed #1)
Publication date: May 20th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Alexa Morgan lost her mother when she was two. At eighteen, her father and stepmother died when a devastating earthquake hit the Bay Area. Only one person has remained a constant in her life: Devin.
Devin has been Alexa’s best friend since childhood. The two are inseparable—or they were until Devin declared his love for her at sixteen. When Alexa can offer him only friendship in return, Devin retreats, brokenhearted.
Alexa, on the other hand, longs for Ethan, the boy next door. Four years older than her, and with an ever-changing roster of girlfriends, Ethan is everything Devin isn’t: wild, sensual, and unpredictable.
In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, Ethan makes his move on Alexa, who reciprocates in a confused whirl of grief and desire. When Ethan leaves town shortly after, Devin comes back into Alexa’s life, offering support and expecting nothing in return.
Alexa begins to see the advantages of Devin’s quiet, stable love. But just as her feelings for her old friend begin to blossom, Ethan returns. Now Alexa must choose—the perfect boyfriend or the wild, thrilling bad boy. It’s a choice that changes her life forever.
I give this book 3 & 1/2 stars. I didn't LOVE it but I didn't hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle with it. And I think it's because of the way the love triangle played out.
Alexa has dealt with a good bit of loss in her life. The one person who has always been in her life is Devin. They've been besties since they were kids. And guess who falls in love with Alexa? Devin. Guess who Alexa couldn't be less interested in? Devin. And then here comes Ethan, who was a well-written character, but I just didn't like him. I had already made my mind up that Alexa and Devin needed to be together so any scene that had Ethan in it I just kind of sneered at.
T. R. Cupak is a great writer, though. This book is beautifully written even if there are a few scenes that I didn't like in it. These kids are young and just really experiencing life but I felt like sex was a little too casually used for this age group. (But, hey, maybe I'm a stick in the mud?) I also felt like the death of Alexa's family just kind of fell the wayside once the story started picking up speed. I didn't expect it to be the main focus but I did expect it to effect her more than it did. The ending of this book is really what did it for me. I really liked the way things wrapped up. And that's all I'm going to say so that I don't give anything away!
This is a quick read. I think I finished it in about three days but it was worth reading. I did enjoy the characters and Cupak's writing. I'd be open to reading more about these characters and more by this author.
AUTHOR BIO:
T.R. Cupak was born and raised in the suburbs of a Bay Area city in California. She was the closet nerd who hid her love of reading and writing short stories and poetry when she was younger. Back then it wasn’t considered cool to be into those types of activities for pleasure, whereas today you have TV shows, movies and books that glamourize that being a nerd is actually cool.
T. lives in a quiet, little, country town south of where she grew up. She is happily married to an amazing man who supports her in everything she does and spoils her rotten. They have a crazy little Shih Tzu named Harley. He's their fur-baby and even though he’s a pain in the arse most days, they love the little guy. She has an obsession with cars, especially fast ones. She enjoys her music louder than anyone should. Admittedly it’s to drown out hearing her own singing voice, or lack thereof. When she’s not at work or busy writing you can find her curled up reading a book on her Kindle with a glass of wine or Dirty Shirley.
T. lost touch with her creative side and stepped off the path of all things written in her early twenties. Six years ago, her passion for reading was rekindled. She began to utilize reading as a way to escape everyday chaos. Late 2013 she began journal writing. After a couple of months of journaling T. realized that this form of writing wasn't keeping her interest nor was it helping her to relax. After that realization settled in she changed the direction of her writing. Her creative aspirations were flowing once again and she happily embraced it. As her fingers started to dance across her keyboard she began to see her fictional characters begin to breathe life. Writing was only supposed to be a way for the new author to relax, but a story was born and T.R. Cupak is excited to be releasing her self-published debut novel, AlexaCrushed.
Guest Post: Top 10 Interior Design Tips by Samantha Chase
Hey, Everyone! I’m Samantha Chase and it is a pleasure to be here with Ella talking about my new contemporary romance Made for Us book one in my new family series The Shaughnessy Brothers. And I have to tell you, this series is one that I know you are going to fall in love with as much as I have.
There are six siblings and at the point that you’re going to be meeting them seventeen years has gone by since they lost their mother, and we see how this affects who they currently are. Each book will not only introduce you to an individual Shaughnessy as they navigate through their life and eventually find love, you get to spend a lot of time getting to know the rest of the family, as well.
My heroine in Made for Us is Zoe Dalton and she is an interior designer – that’s how she meets Aidan. Sparks fly from the get-go and a lot of it is over his ideas for the designs in a home and how Zoe feels they should look. Here are her top ten interior design tips for you!
10. Wall Art. It doesn’t all have to match but it does need to be hung at eye level. These can add interest to a room and really change up your space.
9. Mirrors are great for giving the illusion of more space. If you have a small room, adding mirrors in some capacity can really help it feel bigger.
8. Choose your paint color last. Furniture and accessories first – because you’ll be keeping them longer than you have to keep color on your walls.
7. Pillows – more, more, more! Throw pillows are a great accessory – don’t skimp on them. Pile them on!
6. Measure your space BEFORE you purchase anything. Nothing ruins a room more than having furniture that doesn’t fit the space – either too big or too small.
5. Rugs. The days of wall-to-wall carpeting are kind of going away. Hardwood floors are all the rage but you can use area rugs to define a space. Even in an open floor plan, you can use multiple ones and they don’t all have to match!
4. Don’t be afraid to try something new! Color can be your friend! Not every room has to be white or beige. If you’re afraid to go all-out with a bold color, try doing it as a feature wall.
3. Be comfortable. It won’t matter how beautiful a room is if nothing in it is comfortable. It’s your home and you’re going to be living in it so make sure you’re picking pieces that you actually want to sit on and use.
2. Lighting. Natural lighting. Supplemental lighting. It’s all important. Natural lighting is always best, but you need to make sure you’re utilizing all of your options to make your space bright and inviting. Chandeliers, can lights, table lamps, candles…so many options!
1. Make the space your own. Believe me, I can come in and design a room for you and decorate it like no one’s business, but unless you add your own personal touches, it’s always going to lack warmth. Put out the things that have memories for you and let others see it.
***
Book Information
Title: Made For Us
Author: Samantha Chase
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Shaughnessy Brothers, Book 1
Summary
Can't make time for love?
The Shaughnessy brothers have spent the years since their mother's untimely death taking care of each other and trying to make their father proud. Oldest son Aidan is hard-working, handsome, successful-and still single. Sure, he'd like to have his own family someday, but who has the time?
She'll show him how to find it
Zoe Dalton, a stunning designer Aidan meets on one of his construction jobs, has the beauty and heart to make Aidan realize how much he could be missing. But it's not easy to break down walls you've spent years building up. Now there's a major storm bearing down on the North Carolina coast, and it could be catalyst enough to force Aidan and Zoe into some major decisions of the heart.
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel,Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
***DISCLAIMER: I received these books via Sparkle Book Tours in exchange for honest reviews. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.***
Title:
The Arrangement
Series: The Russian Guns # 1
Author: Bethany-Kris
Audience: Adult 18+, New Adult
Genre: Contemporary romance with some
suspense elements.
Format: E-book and Paperback
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Cover by: Crimson Romance
Editor:
Pages: aprox. 319 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4405-8064-2
ASIN: B00IPSCO6M
Date Published: March 17th, 2014
Blurb-
Nothing will stop the Bratva mob boss from
taking back what's his, and once he has her, he'll do anything to keep her...
Viviana "Vine" Carducci's and
Anton Avdonin's marriage was decided more than two decades ago. The deal
between leading mafia families has more on the line than anyone knew, even if
the Bratva and Cosa Nostra shouldn't mix. When Vine's family is murdered and
she's left with nothing more than her grief to survive the mob world alone, she
believes the arrangement won't see the light of day.
Anton can't allow the one woman he was
supposed to love get away. At the possibility of her death, he steps in to save
her with guns blazing, knowing exactly what it might cost him: everything. But
it's been nearly a decade since their last meeting, and he can't help but
wonder if the woman he took back is the same girl he fell for all those years
before.
Protected and loved, Vine is unable to
forget their shared moments a lifetime ago, or the future she knows they're
owed. When an old flame of Anton's shows up to rip the veil off the carefully
constructed secrets he'd been hiding, she learns that nothing about her life is
as it seems. But, that's nothing compared to the bomb about to blow. Can Vine
see beyond the pain and blood to take what she always wanted? And just how far
will the mob prince go to keep her safe?
In a world where violence, deceit, and
greed reign, your life is not your own, and sometimes, love has to be arranged.
“A marriage is only going to cause more
issues. I’m worthless to the Bratva; you practically said so yourself.”
“No, you’re worth a great deal, especially
if you’re married to me.”
But, why?
“You’re hiding something from me,” she
realized, hurt that he was lying again, even if it was by omission. Viviana
couldn’t decide which stung worse—that he didn’t trust her, or that he thought
she didn’t deserve to know whatever it was. “What aren’t you saying?”
Anton looked stricken, fingers drumming a
quick beat on his thighs. “I gave them my word. It was supposed to be them
explaining this to you if they desired to—all the reasons and things that
happened years ago. It’s not my story to tell, and I promised. My word is all
I’m worth if you consider the way I live; without it, I have nothing.” Reaching
out, he cupped a hand over her knee and ran it along the inside of her jittery
leg. With his fingers moving so softly against her inner thigh, he pressed his
fingertips close enough to her center to make Viviana throb with need.
Murmuring, he said, “Can’t you try to trust me? Viviana, you know me … you do.”
She ignored his plea. “Who, Anton?” His
fingers pressed harder at her words, grip tightening when Viviana refused to
react to his motions. What she really wanted was more. So much more of his
hands on her body, but she didn’t dare speak that out loud. “Was it my father,
or Nicoli? Who?”
“I can’t answer that right now.” With that,
he stood and held out a hand for her to take. “Come, I’ll get you back in bed
for the evening. Let you rest and get the last of that sedative out of your
system. I promise you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Too exhausted to argue, her palm met his.
Anton’s lips touched down to Viviana’s fingers in a flutter of movement. She
wouldn’t have noticed the quick kiss had she not felt the heat of his mouth
brushing along her sensitive skin. She might as well have been sixteen and
falling for him all over again.
Viviana couldn’t figure out if she was
willing enough to let him do it. It didn’t help that she wasn’t all too sure if
she knew this man anymore. Was he the same one she wanted all those years ago?
Had his feelings remained the same nearly a decade later … was that even possible?
Could someone want another that much?
What was even more frightening was that
with his blue eyes watching, and his hand connected with hers, waiting, Anton
still felt like hers.
Just like he always had.
Title:
The Life
Series: The Russian Guns # 3
Pages: aprox. 269
ISBN: 978-0-9937797-0-1
ASIN: B00MDWT0BI
Date Published: August 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Bethany-Kris
Editor: Elle Leigh
Blurb-
The mafia life is a dangerous one revolving
around honor, duty, and greed—a troublesome thing like love isn’t meant to play
a part, but no one follows the rules.
Surrounded by men waiting for the Russian
mob boss to show weakness, Anton Avdonin should have known showering affection
so openly on his new bride wasn’t a good idea. Of course, that didn’t stop him.
When Anton’s wife begins attracting unwanted attention from an unknown source,
he’s determined to find out just who is playing the risky game and put a stop
to it by whatever means necessary.
From a Cosa Nostra princess to a Bratva
queen, Viviana “Vine” Avdonin was made for the life. Pregnant, safe, and loved,
she’s more than happy to move on from the history that haunts her to start out
fresh. Then again, someone else has other plans. Old rivals from the past and
bad blood from the present have mixed in the worst way, threatening to take
away the things Viviana loves the very most. No matter what, she can’t let that
happen.
Both Viviana and Anton know there’s only
one way this can all end and it’s up to them to do it. But, who is behind the
veiled threats and personal attacks, and how far are they willing to go to get
what they want? When the truth finally surfaces, the consequences will be
devastating and no one could have seen it coming.
In a life where everybody plays for keeps
and no one fights fair, one mistake might cost them everything.
“My God. You know there’s nothing there,
right? Her and me, I mean. That’s not … It’s just not there, baby. You don’t
have to be jealous.”
“I’m not jealous, Anton.” Strangely, he
believed her. Viviana shrugged under the weight of his arm resting around her
shoulders. “Why should I be … of Tatiana? I have exactly what she doesn’t.
Everything she thought should have been hers is mine. I have your life, your
son, and your love. Even if she was nothing more than your whore, which she
isn’t, she still wouldn’t have any of those things. So no, I’m not jealous of
that girl. On the other hand, I do wonder if she is envious of me.”
“I have no doubt of that.”
Viviana sighed. “Exactly. Tatiana has
defied her father, you, and God knows how many others just to hurt me once.
That was before we were married, before Demyan, and she only managed to sling
words. This time might be different. At this dinner, she’s going to see me
pregnant, happy, and protected, all because of you. Again, all that she doesn’t
have and everything she wanted. So it brings me back to safety, I guess. You
made it clear you don’t want her in any way so would she hurt me, or worse your
baby, because of her resentment? Is she that crazy over you?”
Anton stayed silent, letting his wife’s
words sink in as he considered them. It wasn’t that what she said didn’t make
sense, because it did, but he wondered why Viviana had asked for Tatiana’s
presence at all.
“You asked for her to be there, Vine. If
you were worried about all of this, why ask at all?”
“I also asked for no guns.”
“And I’ll make sure that’s adhered to as
best I can,” Anton said, still feeling confused. “You won’t take a step into
any establishment unless it is weapon free.”
Viviana felt tense in his arms. “You don’t
need a gun to kill someone.”
“She won’t have any chance to be alone with
you.”
“I know.”
“Then what?” Anton asked.
“I want this done,” she said so low he
strained to hear. “Put an end to it, however you have to. I don’t want to worry
about her or her goddamned family after it’s over. I don’t want to think if she
can’t hurt me, she’ll go to the next best thing.”
“You’re worried she’ll try to hurt Demyan.”
“Or you. To me, that’s just as bad.”
“You know that’d never—”
“No, I don’t,” Viviana interrupted coolly.
“But if I didn’t have them to worry about, it’d be one less thing for me to
consider.”
It was only then that her hidden meanings
were starting to dawn on Anton. Viviana never asked him for anything in regards
to business. She didn’t like to have her hands in his pots, so to speak. This
was entirely different, especially if she was asking what he thought she was
asking.
“Come on, Vine …”
“I want it done,” she repeated thickly.
“Please.”
“On your head, though? You want that on
your mind, bloodying up your hands, too?”
“Please?”
“Stop it,” Anton said, practically spitting
the words. “Fuck, just don’t say that shit. I’ll handle it.”
“Before or after one of us is dead?”
Title:
The Score
Series: The Russian Guns # 3
Pages: aprox. 265 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9937797-1-8
ASIN: B00OVPD746
Date Published: October 27th, 2014
Publisher: Bethany-Kris
Editor: Elle Leigh
Blurb-
In the mess of love and life, nothing and
no one is left untouched.
After everything the Russian mob boss Anton
Avdonin has done to keep his family safe from the dangers of the world
surrounding them, he never thought it would come down to this. The officials
are knocking, the charges are piling, his wife is hurting, and they’re facing a
fate he never thought to consider. He didn’t just make one mistake … no, he
made many. It’s time to answer for them all.
Viviana “Vine” Avdonin is stuck watching
the life she adores crumble around her. Bad decisions have led to terrible
consequences in more ways than one. She doesn’t have time to recover from one
devastating tragedy that leaves her shattered before the next one is crushing
down, too. Saving her husband from a life sentence might be the easiest thing
she has to do when her own misdeeds are staring her in the face.
Together, Anton and Viviana have survived
more than once, but this path will be by far, the hardest they’ve ever walked.
Sometimes they have to walk it alone … because forgiveness isn’t always black
and white and love can be blurred by pain. With the blissful ignorance gone and
the blinders removed, how much of themselves will they have to sacrifice to
come out on top one last time?
When everyone has a score to settle, it’s
hard to notice the person causing the most heartache is the one staring back in
the mirror.
Anton flinched, disgust filling him to the
brim. This whole situation was horrible, and he felt dirty with ten grimy fingers
pointing straight at his guilty chest.
“Well, aside from firing her, there’s not
much I can—”
Anton didn’t get to finish his sentence. A
loud bang and shouted orders rang out in the downstairs of the club. The
tinkling sounds of canisters popping along the empty floor echoed up to their
spot. There was no denying what was happening downstairs.
“Fuck,” Ivan muttered.
Instantly, Anton was off his office chair,
ignoring the gun he knew was in the desk, and the information of a shipment,
never mind the laptop he should have tried to somehow destroy. No, instead, the
only thing he could think of was the little boy on the floor with wide blue
eyes and terrified, reaching for his father.
“Papa?” Demyan cried.
“Shhh, little man,” Anton whispered.
In his arms, he held his son tighter and
turned his back to the door of the office. It seemed like only milliseconds,
but his mind was running a million miles a minute. Anton couldn’t begin to
understand why the officials would be raiding his club. His guys certainly hadn’t
been given any indication and they’d all been pretty quiet.
Demyan’s shaking increased as the shouts
down below became louder. “It’s okay, Demyan, it’s okay. Papa’s here.”
The sounds of a dozen or more pairs of
boots pounding up the metal staircase ratcheted up Anton’s nerves to a breaking
point.
“Anton …” Ivan started to say. “Anton, give
me your son!”
The hardest thing Anton ever had to do,
next to walking out of his house that morning knowing his wife’s heart was
breaking, was hand his trembling, scared, and crying son off to another man. It
was safer for Demyan, though.
No doubt, they weren’t there for Ivan.
Anton watched Ivan curl a fighting Demyan
into his chest as he got to his knees on the floor and automatically put his
hands behind his head. The less threatening he seemed at their entrance, the
less likely they were to cause him harm, never mind his son seeing it.
“Demyan, it’s okay,” Anton repeated when
the first kick to the door landed with a solid thump. The second and third only
followed louder, harder. “Hide his face, Ivan!”
When the door finally broke, it wasn’t a
second before Anton found himself face down on the floor, his son’s cries
overtaking all other sounds. Cuffs tightened around his wrists to an almost
painful point, but Anton refused to show it. A boot landed hard between his
shoulder blades, keeping him pinned to the floor even though he wasn’t
fighting.
“Papa!”
“Anton Daniil Avdonin, you’re under arrest
for the murder of Sonny Carducci, Tatiana Belov, Sergei Belov …”
Title:
Demyan & Ana: A Russian Guns Novella
Series: The Russian Guns # 4
Pages: aprox. 122 pages
ISBN: 9780993779732
ASIN: B00TXCSXEG
Date Published: March 2nd, 2015
Publisher: Bethany-Kris
Editor: Elle Leigh
Blurb-
Demyan and Ana have lived in privilege and
protection as the children of Anton and Viviana Avdonin. With a Russian mob
boss for a father and a mafia queen for a mother, they’ve got big shoes to
fill. Love and life are messy games to play, especially when you’re new at it.
An attack on one Avdonin will leave the
family stunned and hurting. Their retribution is brutal, but the repercussions
for their revenge will be even more devastating. Because when blood is spilled
in their world, more must fall, too.
No one is safe. They have always been
formidable—unstoppable. But they are not bulletproof.
Giving all of your heart to one person
means running the risk of losing it when life comes crashing down. A happily
ever after is just beyond their grasps.
It’s one thing to have a mob boss for a father.
It’s an entirely different thing to have Anton Avdonin for a father.
“Are you ever going to marry that girl?”
Anton asked, nodding in Gia’s direction.
Gia laughed with Demyan’s mother. About
what, he didn’t know. She looked happy and carefree.
“You’re twenty-five. She’s twenty-six.
You’re almost done with school, she already is and working. Not to mention
you’re living together. Shit, you might as well be married, son. Just get it
done with already.”
Demyan cocked a brow over the top of his
beer bottle. “Get it done with?”
“Well, what the fuck else do you want me to
say? It’s not like you’re making any damn effort to do it on your own.”
Lifting a single shoulder in response,
Demyan tipped the bottle up and swallowed a mouthful of the amber colored,
bitter liquid.
“You’ve been in love with her forever. I
wish you would make it official.”
Demyan rolled his eyes. “It’s not any less
official just because we don’t have rings and a signed marriage license. We’re
happy like this. She’s really independent. I don’t know if she will ever want
to get married.”
“Have you even proposed?” Anton asked
pointedly. “How would you know if you don’t?”
“You assume I haven’t.”
“If you asked Ivan for his daughter’s hand
like a good man, I would be the first person he called after.”
Goddamn it. Sometimes it sucked to have his
father be such close friends with Gia’s father. Between the two of them,
nothing flew under their mutual radars. It had been like this since Gia and
Demyan were teenagers.
“You don’t understand. I’m not going to ask
Ivan for something Gia doesn’t want yet, Papa.”
Anton’s brow crinkled. “Oh.”
“Yeah. I’d marry her in a heartbeat. Like
first thing tomorrow morning at the courthouse if she would let me.”
“Why won’t she?”
Demyan didn’t know.
“Is it the Bratva thing again?” Anton
asked.
“No, I don’t think so. We don’t talk about
that at all.”
“Nothing?”
“Nope,” Demyan said simply. “It’s easier
this way.”
“So, fact is, that could be precisely why,
but you don’t know because you won’t ask.”
Demyan hated when his father made sense. “I
love her, Papa.”
“I know you do.”
“Exactly. And if being together like we are
is what makes her happy, I don’t need more. I won’t push her for more, either.
She doesn’t like that I’m Vor, so I don’t make a point of shoving it in her
face. It’s only a small piece of us, but not all. I’m going to keep my focus on
the better parts.”
“Fair enough,” Anton said, but his smile
didn’t ring true. “And when were you planning on telling me, anyway? Or at
least, your mother.”
“Tell you what?”
“That Gia’s pregnant.”
Title:
Shattered
Series: The Russian Guns # 5
Author: Bethany-Kris
Audience: Adult 18+, New Adult
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Organized
Crime
Format: E-book & Paperback
Publisher: Bethany-Kris
Cover by: Jay Aheer
Editor: Elle Leigh
Pages: Full length novel – 100k
ISBN: 978-0-9937797-6-3
Date Published: July 2nd, 2015
Blurb-
“Don’t fall in love with me. I ruin beautiful
things.”
Love made him this way, but life makes him
stay.
Life doesn’t give a redo. There’s no rewind
or pause button to take you back or stop time. Once something happens, it
happened. The most tragic of those times in his life, the ones he wouldn’t get
back and the moments he could never fix, reminded Demyan Avdonin of a bullet
meeting glass.
The impact of the bullet doesn't break the
glass into pieces, but instead, leaves behind a single hole surrounded by a
spider web of cracks. Fragile cracks that, when handled with the utmost care,
would splinter into shards of what used to be.
Demyan thought he had been broken beyond
repair once, four long years ago.
He was wrong.
She touched the glass, unknowing of the
cracks holding him together. These are the broken pieces of a shattered man and
the woman who made him live.
Something was happening to him, and it was
because of her. He was letting it happen because he liked the way she got under
his skin, made him think, and forced him to feel. Even if it wasn’t always
fucking pretty.
Demyan wasn’t sure how he felt about that
other than the fact he didn’t want to think about it at all. Hooking up was one
thing, but acting cozy was completely different and not what he should want.
“Demyan—”
“Don’t,” he forced out.
“But—”
Demyan turned on his heel, a hand flying up
in the air to stop her from saying another thing. He made a swift beeline for
the front door, grabbing his jacket off the back of the couch where he tossed
it the night before.
“Demyan!”
At the front door, he tugged on his coat
before yanking on his shoes.
“Demyan, please just wait a second,” Claire
pleaded. “Please!”
Her cry sliced him straight down to the
fucking bone. Like it ached in his heart because he was the one making her
hurt. She was just feet away from him. Christ, he could reach out and touch
her, soothe her if he wanted, but he couldn’t.
“Don’t do that,” Demyan said sharply,
standing straight and trying to force back the rising anxiety and anger.
Claire snapped away from him as if he’d stuck
out at her with his hand. “Do what?”
“That.”
“I don’t understand wh—”
Demyan waved at her. “That right there. This
can’t be something. We can’t be something. Don’t do that.”
“Demyan, you’re freaking out over nothing.”
No, he wasn’t.
There were tears in her eyes. They weren’t
falling, but they were there. She was hurt by his rejection, and he didn’t know
how to handle what was going on inside his head and heart. So, it was pretty
goddamn simple for Demyan. He needed to stop whatever this was before it went
any further. Straight for the kill, like any good monster would do.
“Don’t fall in love with me. I ruin beautiful
things.”
Claire flinched. “Why would you say that?”
“You can’t fall in love with someone like me
and you certainly can’t afford to believe there’s something here or that you
can make me better again. I am broken—unobtainable and unfixable. I don’t need
a fucking martyr in my life. I’ve got enough of those as it is.”
“Ouch.”
“Just … don’t.”
“Fall in love with you.”
“Exactly,” Demyan muttered.
“Why would you say that?” she repeated.
Wasn’t it obvious?
“Claire—”
“Why would you tell me not to fall in love
with you and then in the next sentence, call me beautiful?”
Because she was.
Eclipse Reviews – Character
Interview Questions
Thank you for taking the time for the interview. Please
answer the following questions; you also have the option of changing some
questions if you feel that you would be more at ease with other questions. This
can be serious or quirky it’s all up to your character.
Character Name: Anton Daniil Avdonin
Character Bio: Age 27 (in The Arrangement but progresses
through his life as the series goes on). Blue eyes, black hair. Full American
Russian. Bratva mob boss who was arranged to be married to Viviana Carducci at
a young age. Often stubborn, particular, and known to be possessive regarding
his wife. He likes his guns, fast cars, and of course, vodka.
Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?
My best quality would have to be my loyalty. My worst … probably
my jealousy.
What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
There is more behind the masks I wear. There is always more.
What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?
I’m not religious but I still pray.
What are you most afraid of?
Losing Vine, or anything of that nature.
What do you want more than anything?
For my wife to be happy, always.
What is your relationship status?
Married. And happily so, I might add.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
Classic. Black suits, black shoes, black shirts.
How much of a rebel are you?
I’m a Russian Mob Boss. Is that bad enough for you?
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Staying alive through everything I’ve done and managed to
do. In my profession, bosses don’t last long.
What is your idea of happiness?
Quiet, soft sheets morning light, and my wife.
What is your current state of mind?
High. My mind is always going, running, and in some kind of
motion. It never stops. I seem cool and composed on the outside, but inside, my
mind is crazy.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My eyes or my tattoos. My wife would probably say my
tattoos.
What is it that you, most dislike?
Lies, anything deceitful. Betrayal. It doesn’t make for a
good man or woman.
Which living person do you, most despise?
I’ve killed most of the people I dislike.
What is your greatest regret?
Not taking my wife sooner than what I did when her uncle had
her across country.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Honor—loyalty.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Dignity—respect.
Which living person do you most admire?
My wife. She’s strong in ways most people don’t understand.
That’s very admirable to a man like me.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it
be?
You know, I’m pretty pleased with myself just the way I
am—bad parts included.
What is your motto?
Family first.
Once again thank you for the interview.
Jeanine
Eclipse Reviews
Playlist for The Russian Guns Series
Music is
often the biggest inspiration to me as a writer. The following songs were the
most influential for background and emotion in The Russian Guns series. I hope
you enjoy the playlist for the series as much as I enjoyed listening to them as
I wrote.
List:
1)The Weekend – High For This (The
Score)
2)Nick Jonas – Chains (The
Arrangement)
3)Lana Del Rey – Body Electric (Entire
Series)
4)Theory of a Deadman – Angel (Entire
Series)
5)Metallica – St. Anger (The Score,
Shattered, Demyan & Ana)
6)Ed Sheeran – Give Me Love (The
Arrangement, Shattered)
7)K.D. Lang – Leonard Cohan’s
Hallelujah (Shattered, The Score, Demyan & Ana)
8)Lindsey Sterling – Shatter Me
(Shattered, The Life)
12)Lea Michelle – Battlefield (The
Score, Demyan & Ana)
13)Christina Perri – Human (Shattered,
The Score)
14)Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful
(The Life)
15)Three Days Grace – Animal I Have
Become (The Score)
16)Seether – Words as Weapons (Entire
Series)
About The Author-
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much,
and mother to three very young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in
Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called
home. With her boys under her feet, a snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a spouse
calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something ... when she
can find the time.
