Rachael Brownell's Blog

Have you been wanting to start the LSU series?

Are you a fan of brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister romances?

Would you like to read Dirty Little Secret FREE???

I’m so excited for the release of Scandalous Little Obsession, the 5th book in the LSU series, on May 12th that I’m giving away up to 100 copies of Dirty Little Secret, the first book in the series. Would you like to be one of those 100 lucky readers???

Drop me a comment below (you must comment so this post gets seen more) and fill out this FORM.

Scandalous Little Obsession marks the halfway point in the LSU series. You can read these books in ANY ORDER as each is a complete story about a different couple. No cliffhangers. No happy-for-now endings. If you haven’t started the series, jump in with any of the four books currently available:

Dirty Little Secret – brothers best friend romanceTempting Little Tease – fling to love romanceRisky Little Affair – one night stand romanceWicked Little Promise – nerd/jock, boss/intern romance

The LSU series is available on Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

**FORM CLOSES AND WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN MONDAY, MAY 2ND.**

Gah! Secrets are not my thing. I’m horrible at keeping them which is one of the reasons I’ve been so quiet on social media the last few weeks. I didn’t trust myself not to scream about this book. But it’s finally release day so I can shout as much as I want not!

Chloe
They say everyone has one true love, one person who was made just for them. A person they were meant to spend the rest of their life with. Whose souls are intertwined.
For me, that person was Wyatt.
Our love was perfect. When we were together, nothing else mattered. Not college. Not our parents. Because our relationship wasn’t about anyone else.
We had big plans for our future together.
The thing about life… it doesn’t always go as planned.
It’s been five years since I’ve been home. Since I’ve laid eyes on the only man I’ll love in this lifetime.
And in a town this small, there’s no chance I’ll be able to avoid him for long. Or anyone else from my past.

Addison
From the moment I first laid eyes on Adam, I knew I was in trouble. There was a tension between us, a chemistry I couldn’t deny. The way he was looking at me, as if he could see straight into my soul, sent my heart into overdrive.
After an hour together, I knew. He was the one. The one who would make me want to change everything. Who could make me believe in love again. In the idea of happily ever afters.
And he did.
His love and two tiny pink lines were about to change my entire life.
The thing about life… it doesn’t always go as planned.
I’ve been here before. It was the worst experience of my life and I’m not sure I’ll survive this time.

For fans of second chances, small-town romances, and happily ever afters…

And you get TWO complete stories in First Comes Love. First, single parent Chloe and her first love Wyatt. She’s left him five years ago and he’s about to find out the real reason why. Then Addison, Chloe’s BFF, and Adam, Wyatt’s BFF. Both have a broken heart. Can they find what they need to heal in each other?

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

If you’ve been following me for a while, it should. Four years ago I published a duet called the Imperfect Love Series. I’m starting to recover and rebrand some of my books and when I decided to do these books, I decided to put them together.

Cover design by Cover Me, Darling.

Which means First Comes Love is looong. Almost 400 pages!

You can snag your copy on Amazon or add it to your Kindle Unlimited bookshelf and read it for FREE!

Happy Reading!

Psssst… want a chance to win a signed copy of First Comes Love? Pop over to my reader group on Facebook and enter.

Every time I release a book in the LSU series I get even more excited. These couples, their story, are so relatable I feel like I’m one of their friends watching as it plays out. I hope you feel the same.

To celebrate the release of WLP, Piper’s story, I want to give away a few paperbacks – one of Wicked Little Promise & one of Scandalous Little Obsession (releasing May 12th). Yes, that means you get to read SLO BEFORE it releases in May! To enter to win, all you have to do is comment on this post. Easy, peasy.

Good Luck & Happy Reading!

If you haven’t started the series yet, you can read them in any order.

Dirty Little Secret – brother’s best friend/best friends little sister

Tempting Little Tease – fling to love

Risky Little Affair – one-night stand

GAH!!!

It’s finally that time again where I get to share with you the magic Emily has worked on these covers. I’m so in love with this series and she has captured the feel of each book perfectly. What do you think?

Wicked Little Promise is coming your way in TWO WEEKS!!! You can preorder all three books now.

Want a chance to win a set of signed paperbacks of the Lake State University Series? Click HERE!

Wicked Little Promise…

He’s my new boss.

So what if I’ve secretly been crushing on him for years? Or that he’s sexy, tempting, smells like heaven, and makes my girly parts twitch? He’s also sweet, caring, and everything I’d want in a man… if I wanted one.

Which I don’t.

Falling in love is the last thing I want right now. I’m not even sure I believe in love anymore. It leads to heartbreak and that’s an emotional rollercoaster I’m not interested in riding.

Which makes the next few months the biggest challenge of my life. Spending hours alone with him, working side-by-side late into the night, keeping my hormones in check when I get a whiff of his intoxicating scent…

I can handle this. I’ll just repress my feelings the same way I have been since the moment we met. Masked by a fake smile and practiced deep breathing.

How hard can it be?

When he starts making promises, it becomes harder than I ever imagined. Because I want him to keep those promises even though I know he won’t be able to. I won’t let him.

It’s the only way to keep myself from falling in love with him. Because if I do, I may never recover.

Happy Anniversary to me!!!

It’s officially been EIGHT years since my first book went live on Amazon. It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been doing what I love for so long, even as I type the words. EIGHT FREAKIN’ YEARS! And I have each and every one of you to thank. Without your encouraging words and support, I wouldn’t have written a 2nd book, let alone FORTY!

Yup. FORTY!

And to celebrate, I decided to release a book that I’ve been working on for more than three years. It’s been finished for a while now but with the plans I’ve had the last few years, there was nowhere to slide this release in. It doesn’t fit into any one category and as I’ve started to release more college romance, this one felt like it might shake things up too much.

Then I said screw it. I want this book in reader’s hands. They deserve to fall in love with Eli and Taylor as much as I did. So… this is my gift to you. Well, a gift for THREE lucky readers who subscribe to my mailing list.

Signed Paperback of On Set; Signed Paperback of Chasing Fate; Wine tumbler; Cozy book socks; Bookmark; Wine stopper

Why is Chasing Fate part of the prize pack? I’m so glad you asked. The movie Eli is the star of, the set Taylor is working on, is based on my book Chasing Fate. That’s also why you’ll notice small similarities in the covers. If you haven’t read Chasing Fate, I recommend reading it after you’ve read On Set. There are scenes from Chasing Fate that are described in On Set I’m sure you’ll want to read more about.

Eli Simms
Sexy as sin.
Hollywood’s rising star.
A voice that makes me weak in the knees.
He’s the perfect package, wrapped in the prettiest paper, with a giant red bow tied around him.
He’s the kind of man I swore I’d never be attracted to, yet I’ve read every article ever written on the man. I know I should stay far away. Especially since all signs point to heartbreak.
Mine to be specific.
I can’t though.
Because the second I fell at his feet, I felt something. And I’m not talking about what he was hiding under the tiny towel wrapped around his waist.
Though… I felt that too.
I felt the spark.
The look on his face said he sensed it too. Then again, he’s a great actor.
And me?
I avoid the spotlight at all costs. A decision I made a long time ago. One he has me reconsidering with every stolen glance, heated stare, and panty-melting smirk.

Taylor Rush
Pouty lips.
Hair as soft as silk.
Sandy-brown eyes I can’t help but get lost in.
She’s not your typical Hollywood starlet. In fact, she’s the opposite and that’s why I like her. She doesn’t care that I’m becoming famous. That my face graces the covers of magazines every week.
The thing is, neither do I.
Do I want to be a star? Sure, but not at the cost of who I am.
And she sees through every bullshit line I give her. She calls me out, her witty banter refreshing in a city filled with fake everything.
From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was different. I also knew I wanted her to be mine.
She wants me too but she’s fighting it.
And I’m ready to break down all the walls she’s erected between us. I’ve never backed down from a challenge.

Enter to Win!Read On Set

I’ll be using the email associated with your subscription to contact winners. Please double-check all spelling.

The excitement to release Kendall’s story is overwhelming. TLT was so much fun to write. The witty banter, the heated sexts… GAH! I hope you’re all ready for this couple!!! They’re a little over the top, lack filters, are both stubborn as hell, and can’t deny the attraction they have to one another (even though one of them tries to fight it). Get ready folks! Kendall and Declan are headed your way NEXT THURSDAY, November 11th! Enjoy this little snippet to tide you over…

I’ve wanted her since the first moment I met her. She was wearing a pair of white skinny jeans that hugged her tight little ass with a baby blue T-shirt that stretched across her chest to accommodate her gorgeous tits, which I now know are a perfect handful. She was curvy in all the right places and my first thought was how I’d love nothing more than to strip her clothes off and trace those very curves with my tongue.

But she seemed shy that day. Unsure of herself.

That was a year and a half ago when we were both freshmen.

Now I know better. She’s loud, lacks a filter, and is a little too honest at times. Just like me.

My little firecracker. That’s what I call her in my head. The focus being on the word my.

Yes, I want to claim her.

No, I’m not sorry for being all alpha male about it. I’ve never been this way before. There’s something about Kendall that is bringing out this dominant side of me. Even the sexts are over the top for me.

Demanding.

Forceful.

Overtly sexual and descriptive.

When I saw her at Finn’s party last month, I couldn’t stop staring at her. The little, black dress she had on dipped low in the front, her body calling to me. Tall, black leather boots. And her hair, it was curly. I almost didn’t recognize her at first. If it weren’t for the fact Willow was right next to her, and I could pick her ass out of a lineup considering I’ve jacked off to the vision of it so many times, I probably would have made an ass of myself by hitting on her using one of my many horrible pickup lines.

See … different. I didn’t want to use any pickup lines on her. I wanted to be genuine. The effect she has on me is insane.

I saw how the other guys were looking at her. Max’s frat brothers. Eyeing her up and down. Checking out her ass, the bare skin of her legs, not covered by her boots or dress. Probably wondering how easy it would be to take her against a wall without so much as taking off her clothes. Horny bastards.

Not that I wasn’t horny as fuck from just the sight of her but at least I knew her name, which was more than I could say for any of them.

In no time at all I convinced Kendall to give me her phone number. Unfortunately, it was the same night Max and Willow found out their dad died. I wasn’t as close with James as Finn, but I know he was a good man. Our families have always gotten together for holidays, our parents have been close friends since we were young. So, when we all went back home for the funeral, I wasn’t surprised to see Kendall there.

I hadn’t texted her yet. It had only been a week, and I knew she was busy consoling Willow. But seeing her in that same black dress, this time with a conservative jacket over it, hiding her tight, little body, I couldn’t help but let her know how turned on I was.

Tacky to send a sext at a wake? Yup. Most definitely, but I did it anyway. I was about ready to pop the zipper on my slacks after the third time she walked past me. Her fruity scent wafting around her. The curve of her ass in that damn dress. Her hair was straight and flowing down her back, my fingers begging to touch it.

What surprised me was her response.

My girl was sassy. A little tease. And I’ve loved every second of the last few weeks. Even when Finn caught us about to screw for the first time.

Well, maybe I didn’t love that moment as much as some of the others. I mean, I was rock hard and aching to be inside of her. Moments away from seeing if my fantasies had done her any justice over the years, and in walks Willow and Finn.

Talk about a cock block.

Whatever. It’s not like I’m giving up. No matter how many texts he sends me to stay away from her. Asking about my intentions. Wanting to know what’s going on between us. Questioning my morals. Threatening me not to fuck her over.

Why can’t he worry about his own love life? Hell, if I were him, I’d be focused on the fact his best friend might kill him when he finds out he’s been screwing his little sister.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother. But he’s poking his nose where it doesn’t belong, so I’m hoping his downfall will provide me a little relief on that front. He’ll have to focus on repairing his friendship with Max, giving me time to show Kendall how right we are for one another without his interference.

Because she’s the type of girl you have to sweep off her feet. My actions need to match my words. And she’s worth every ounce of effort I plan to put into that very move.

Sweep her off her feet and take her to bed. Worship her body. Ingrain myself in her soul. Steal her heart.

Kendall Potter will be mine.

PREORDER NOW!!!

Haven’t started the LSU series yet? No problem. Dirty Little Secret is available now and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. The series can be read in any order though I recommend reading in order so you get the full effect of the series – I’d hate to ruin the HEA’s for anyone.

GAH!!! I can’t wait for Finn and Willow’s story to finally be in your hands. The love they have for one another is epic and their story is no different. EIGHT MORE DAYS!!! Until then, enjoy this little teaser, and don’t forget to preorder your copy of Dirty Little Secret!

“You really like this tree, don’t you?”

His voice is deep but smooth as silk. It causes a shiver to run up my spine.

“What do you want, Finn?” I ask, my voice flat and void of all emotion.

“Where do you want me to start?” His chuckle is out of character for him. He’s always been a quiet man. Well-spoken when needed but never a jokester.

“I came out here to be alone.”

“I don’t think you should be alone right now, little tree.”

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh at the use of my nickname. He’s the only one who calls me that, but he hasn’t since we were in high school.

“Max is going to kill you,” I state as I open my eyes, keeping them focused on the meadow in front of me. Maybe the mention of my brother will scare him off.

“Max is going to kill me one of these days when he realizes how long I’ve been lying to him. Might as well be now. At least it’ll give him something to focus on besides the pain.”

Chancing a glance in his direction, my eyes travel up his body, taking in his long legs, trim waist, and broad shoulders. He’s wearing a black suit, black shirt, and cobalt blue tie. It stands out against the darkness of the rest of his appearance, drawing my attention.

“Nice tie.” Flicking my eyes to his, I try to gauge his reaction.

“Thanks. It’s my favorite.”

“Not really appropriate for a funeral.”

“Depends how you look at it,” he retorts, motioning to the patch of grass beside me. “May I?”

“Will you go away if I say no?”

“Probably not.” His eyes light up as a smirk slowly begins to spread across his face.

My lips betray me, quirking into a smile before I can stop them.

I love fighting with him. Bantering back and forth. The push and pull of our relationship. It’s always felt natural.

“Knock yourself out.”

Lowering himself to the ground and stretching his legs out in front of him, he nudges me with his shoulder. “I know everyone’s been kissing your ass all day but that’s not why I came out here, little tree. I know this sucks and it hurts. I won’t sugarcoat it. That’s not what you need.”

For some reason, his brutal honesty doesn’t make me feel any better, but it also doesn’t make me feel worse.

“If you’re so smart, what do I need then?” I ask, resting my head back against the uneven bark.

“You need to let it out. The anger. The fear. The grief. If you keep it bottled up, you’ll eventually break down and it’s not going to be pretty.”

“You don’t have to watch.”

“Never said I was going to.”

“Then go away so I can do what I came here to do.”

“I’ve seen you cry before. You don’t have to hide from me. I’ll still think you’re beautiful even if your cheeks are stained with tears.” His soft voice causes my heart to skip a beat.

Closing my eyes so he can’t see the way his words affect me, I take slow, deep, even breaths. When I don’t feel him move away, I reach out and push his shoulder with more force than necessary. My hand slips, my eyes fly open, and my head lands dangerously close to his cock.

“That’s not why I came here but if it’ll make you feel better …” Finn says as he helps me back up, holding me by the shoulders while he stares into my eyes. “I’m here, Willow. Whenever you need me. I’m not going anywhere, no matter what your brother wants.”

I can see the lust in his eyes. We’re closer than we’ve been since that night. The night I felt my heart soar only to plummet to the ground the next day and shatter into a million pieces.

“Last time you promised me something similar you weren’t there the next morning. I’ll take my chances going this alone.”

Lifting my chin in defiance, I put on a good front, but Finn knows me better than anyone else. He doesn’t just look at me, he sees me. The real me. He catches the shiver that runs up my spine, the flick of my eyes to his lips, the way my body leans into his even as I try to push him away.

Then he’s searching my eyes for permission. The second I nod my head, he pulls me into his lap and his lips crash against mine, triggering goosebumps to cover my exposed skin and my entire body to clench from the sensation. Moving to straddle him, I mold my body to his and allow myself to get lost in his touch.

Even if just for a minute.

To erase the pain of losing my father.

To replace it with the pain of losing Finn again when he walks away from me.

WILLOW

As soon as the elevator doors slide open, granting us entrance, you can feel the bass of the music. I can’t make out what song it is, but the beat has me swaying my hips before I can stop myself. A clear sign I shouldn’t be here. It’s been too long since I’ve felt this carefree. The last time—

“That’s what I’m talking about, Lo. Get your groove on,” Kendall encourages.

She has no clue how bad of an idea it would be for me to get my groove on. I tried to talk my way out of coming tonight. This is the last place I want to be, but my best friend wasn’t taking no for an answer. The semester is over. I’ve been using studying as an excuse to stay in all year. To avoid his parties. But I’ve run out of excuses, and Kendall’s been begging and pleading with me for days to be my plus one.

Yes, this is an invitation only kind of party. Not that it makes me any less comfortable being here. I have a standing invitation courtesy of my brother, tonight’s host.

Judging by the increasing volume of the music as the elevator climbs the five flights to the top level of his building, he extended more invitations that usual.

This could work in my favor. With so many bodies in his loft, maybe I’ll be able to avoid him. My brother’s best friend, roommate, and the object of my every fantasy since I was fourteen years old, Finn Graham. The man is built like a brick house—tall and muscular, with perfect hair and plump lips that taste like mint. Dark chocolate brown eyes that always find mine, sending shots of adrenaline to my heart, and other places.

We spent one night together last summer. I remember every second of it, even after consuming half a bottle of Grey Goose. I can recall the way it felt when he kissed me. It was all consuming. Hot. Passionate. Almost erotic, yet at the same time, he was gentle … the way our lips danced as if we were the only two people who knew the steps.

I traced every curve of his body with my lips that night. Stared into his eyes as he thrust into me the first time. Tugged his long, brown locks hard as I came unglued beneath him.

That night I was granted my one and only wish. The wish I made whenever I blew out candles or spotted a shooting star.

Finn.

He was finally in my arms. In my life. As more than my brother’s best friend. As mine.

The next day, it was over. The only trace of our night together was the raw skin on the inside of my thighs from where his five o’clock shadow had rubbed as he teased me with his tongue for hours.

So, yeah, avoiding this party, any party my brother throws, is at the top of my list. Because there is no doubt in my mind Finn will be here. And I’ve managed to do just that for the last nine months. Until two hours ago. Three shots of tequila and I was letting Kendall dress me up like a Barbie doll. Tight leather pants, a red halter top, and smokey eyes that make my blues pop. My hair is in long, loose waves, cascading down the middle of my back. If I’m being honest, it felt good to have someone make me up after spending the week studying my ass off, wearing nothing but yoga pants, a messy bun, and oversized sweatshirts. By the time my buzz was wearing off, we were already in the Uber and on our way.

“I need another drink,” I mumble to myself when Kendall bumps me with her hip.

She has no idea what she’s done. Tonight is going to end one of two ways.

1. I’m going to get really drunk, make an ass out of myself while flirting with everyone who isn’t Finn, and pass out on the bathroom floor.

2. I’m going to get really drunk, do something stupid like demand answers from Finn, and my brother is going to flip his shit.

No, he doesn’t know what happened. No one does. I haven’t told a soul, not even Kendall, my best friend and roommate.

Why?

I’m not ashamed of that night. Hell, I’d love nothing more than to scream what happened in the middle of campus for all to hear. To claim Finn so girls would stop draping themselves all over him.

I can’t, though. Max would kill him, then me.

Max made all his friends promise not to touch me a long time ago. When we were all younger, hitting puberty. The summer my boobs finally came in. I remember the afternoon like it was yesterday. Max, Finn, and Brady were all swimming in our pool. Being only sixteen months younger than Max had its advantages. I liked his friends; they didn’t mind if I hung out with them occasionally. It was the beginning of summer vacation and my bestie at the time, Lucy, was on vacation with her family.

Instead of sulking inside or reading a book from my summer reading list, I decided to jump in the pool with the guys. My mom and I had just gone shopping for a new bathing suit. I’d chosen a cute, red two-piece with tiny white polka dots on it. I turned fourteen and my body had finally started to fill out. Instead of being a stick-thin, little girl, I was starting to get curves.

Needless to say, the moment I stepped into the backyard and called out to the guys, jaws dropped. I laughed at their reaction because it was Max’s friends. Who cared, right?

Wrong.

Max cared. He freaked out, wrapped me up in a towel, and escorted me back inside. He was muttering to himself the entire time about his friends not touching me. That I need to cover my body.

Overprotective Max.

I barely realized what was happening because my eyes were locked with Finn’s, and it was clear he liked what he saw. I noticed the changes in his body as well. He had put on some muscle, his shoulders seemed broader, and his jaw more defined.

“Aren’t you proud of your brother?” Kendall asks, pulling me back to the present. I need to focus anyway.

Stay sharp.

Keep my head on a swivel to avoid being caught off guard. To evade Finn and his smoldering gaze.

“Your brother is going to be a kick-ass president. I’m so excited for him.”

For as much as Kendall and Max don’t get along, she respects his position with his fraternity. And she’s right. He is going to be a great leader for those guys. That’s why they elected him.

“Yeah, proud. I don’t think becoming fraternity president warrants a rager though,” I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Of course it does. It’s a huge honor.”

I honestly don’t get the full impact of it, but I also don’t want to fight with Kendall. She’s a legacy, having joined the same sorority as her mother and grandmother. That means something to her. Max is a legacy as well, having joined the same fraternity as our father.

Me?

I’m anti-Greek. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with joining, it’s just not for me. I like to keep my circle small, and I get along better with guys than I do girls. I can count on one hand how many girlfriends I have, including my little sister.

Am I happy Max was voted as their next president? Hell, yes. He’s been talking about how much he wanted this for the past year. He has ideas on how to make the fraternity better, more philanthropic. To eliminate some of the harsher hazing he’s seen over the years.

So, I’m here to celebrate with him. But that doesn’t mean I want to be here. Because being here means seeing Finn, and as much as I also want that, I know it’s going to hurt the moment I lay eyes on him. My heart is going to be ripped out of my chest the same way it was the morning I woke up and he was gone.

It still doesn’t make sense to me. He wanted it as much as I did. I may have been tipsy, but I know what I saw in his eyes when he pulled me away from the party. I felt the heat in his stare as he locked his bedroom door. And when he touched me, I felt something else. Something more—

“Let’s do this!” Kendall shouts over the music as the doors slide open directly into Max and Finn’s loft.

There are people everywhere, shoulder to shoulder. It looks like he’s invited everyone he knows from campus, which makes me roll my eyes because Kendall was clearly missing her invitation. Not that he doesn’t like my roommate, he just thinks she’s loud and her lack of a filter pisses him off. More so when he’s drinking.

All things I love about her.

Leading the way through the crowd, in search of my brother or alcohol, whichever we find first, I keep Kendall’s hand clasped in mine. Neither of us are tall enough to see over the crowd, my five-foot-three and her five-foot-four stature swallowed up by the large bodies around us.

I recognize almost all of them, tossing a head nod here and there when my eyes connect. Most are part of Max’s fraternity, a few I recognize from the baseball team.

As we finally step out of the throng of people and into the kitchen, I let out a sigh. The open concept of Max’s loft is great for entertaining but that doesn’t stop people from crowding together.

Case and point … the kitchen is empty. Which happens to be where the alcohol is.

“Beer or punch?” I ask Kendall, sliding around the island.

She thinks it over, rubbing the heart tattoo on the inside of her wrist as I fill my red, plastic cup with punch. She stares at my cup for a second, and I immediately know what she wants. Handing it to her, she takes a sip, her eyes widening in surprise. It’s probably stronger than either of us are used to knowing my brother.

If the drink calls for an ounce of booze, he’ll give it two. Multiply that by a hundred to make a large batch and suddenly the punch packs a punch.

“Punch,” Kendall hollers at me over the music, attempting to hand my cup back. Shaking my head, I fill a second cup and clink mine against hers. “To our last night at sophomores. May next year be even better than this year.”

And here I thought this year would be better than last year.

Nope. I was wrong.

Next year can’t get any worse, I think to myself as I spot Brady walking by.

“Hey! Where’s Max?” I ask, placing my hand on his forearm. When he turns toward me, I notice his face pales.

“Willow. I’m so sorry,” he replies, pulling me in for a hug.

“What? Where’s Max?” I ask again, pushing against his chest but he doesn’t budge. Something’s not right. I can feel it. “Brady! What’s going on? Where’s my brother?”

This time he releases me when I attempt to step away. Looking up into his gray eyes, I see his unshed tears. When he points down the hall toward Max’s room, I take off in a sprint. The door is closed, something that would normally make me pause, worried I might walk in on something I don’t want to see, but not tonight. I burst through the door, and everyone’s eyes whip in my direction.

Max is sitting on the edge of his bed, head bent, phone in his hand. I can’t see his face, his golden-brown locks hanging down and blocking my view. What I do notice is the slump of his shoulders and how they shake slightly every few seconds.

My brother is crying. I can’t remember the last time I saw him shed a tear.

“Willow,” Finn says, drawing my attention to him. Our eyes meet before I can avoid it, his flaring to life for a brief moment then calming. What I see in his deep brown globes causes my knees to buckle.

Devastation. Sorrow. Pain.

My knees give out, but Finn catches me before I hit the ground, scooping me up in his arms and holding me close. I rest my head against his chest, my body going numb.

I vaguely hear Colton, Kane, and Julian mumble their condolences to first Max and then Finn, clapping Finn on the shoulder before exiting the room. It’s just the three of us now and my body is on high alert. Not only am I still in Finn’s arms but something is wrong with my brother, and I seem to be the only person who isn’t aware of what’s going on.

I wiggle out of Finn’s arms, and he sets me on my feet but doesn’t release me. His hands fall to my hips, and he pulls me back against him chest. I try to step away, his touch too much to bear, but he only tightens his grip.

“Max.” My voice is barely above a whisper.

When he lifts his eyes to mine, I intuitively know my world is about to fall apart. They’re bloodshot and tears are still streaming down his face. He flicks his eyes to Finn’s, and I feel Finn nod. Instantly, Max is standing in front of me.

“Lo, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Fuck! He’s never this serious with me. He sounds like Dad right now when I’m in trouble or when he’s lecturing all three of us—me, Max, and our little sister, Evie—about the importance of keeping good grades and being responsible.

I stare at his mouth as he says the words that shatter my world. I don’t hear anything after that, the room spinning around me as I try to comprehend what’s happening. My body feels weak, my legs heavy as I take a step toward his open arms, but I don’t remember the feel of his embrace, blacking out before I reached him.

PREORDER NOW!

Happy Hump Day!

What better way to get through the rest of the week than with a great book? Well, I have two on sale until Monday that you’ll want to devour!

For All The Wrong Reasons, a friends-to-lovers romance, – and it’s counterpart – For All The Right Reasons, which is also a friends-to-lovers romance, are both on sale! FATWR is only 99 cents and FATRR is marked down to $2.99! If you’re a kindle unlimited subscriber, you can read both of these books are part of your subscription. And if you didn’t hear, you’re now allowed to add up to 20 books to your bookshelf!

What’s better than a great deal on an epic read? How about winning it for free???

Right now, you can enter for your chance to win one of 100 copies of my latest release, A Moment Too Late, a steamy, small-town romance, on GoodReads. The ebooks will automatically be sent to the winners when the giveaway ends.

OR>>>>

You can enter to win one of 5 signed paperbacks of Dirty Little Secret, a brother’s best friend romance, on GoodReads. DLS is the first book in my new college romance series, Lake State University.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week! Make sure you snag FATWR and FATRR while the deals are hot!

One. More. Week!!! I can’t believe AMTL will be in your hands in seven short days. This is by far one of my personal favorites. I loved every minute of writing Jay & Drea’s story. The angst. The torture they put themselves through. The love they’ve held onto all the years they were apart. It’s both inspiring and heartbreaking. (There’s a good chance you may need tissues at some point in this story. This is your warning.)

To tide you over, and because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to share, here’s a little snippet from one of my favorite scenes in the book…

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“This isn’t about anybody but us. Two grown adults. People who care about each other very much. I don’t give a sh*t what anyone else thinks. All I care about is you. This moment. The way you looked when you completely let go. Knowing I did that. Your lips were parted, your eyes closed, head thrown back, and you were pressing against me. Your body begging for more.”

Running the back of his hand over my cheek, down my neck, and continuing until he’s gripping my hip, Jay pauses to relish my body, but not for long.

“Live in that moment, Drea. Don’t let the guilt from the past dictate your present. Don’t let it stop you from having what you want. What you’ve always wanted. From being with me. Because I want to see that expression on your face again. A lot more. Very soon.”

Pressing my elbows into the mattress, I force my body up and seal my lips against his. The hand that was resting on my hip is now holding my head hostage as Jay devours my lips. His body rolls on top of me, and a familiar sensation begins to build as he rocks his body against mine.

Soon must mean now. His recovery time is impressive.

“Too. Many. Clothes,” he says between kisses as he works his way down my neck.

“Yes.” The single word comes out as a hiss as he nips the sweet spot where my neck and shoulder meet.

Jay’s hand slides up my back, and I raise off the bed as far as I can so he can unclasp my bra. Once I feel the fabric release it’s hold, I start pulling it away from my body. Sitting up, Jay steadies my hands and slowly removes my bra, taking in the sight before him with great admiration.

“Perfection,” he states, his eyes never leaving my chest. My nipples pucker as the cold air brushes across them. He seems to notice and bends to take one in his mouth and the other in his hand, my back arching off the bed in response as I hold his head captive against my chest.

“So responsive,” he coos, moving to pay the other nipple the same attention. I don’t bother to reply with anything more than a moan when he bites down on the sensitive bud.

While his mouth and left hand work their magic on my breasts, his right hand takes a slow and torturous adventure down my side, across my stomach, and slips beneath the thin material of my thong, gently tugging as I wiggle with anticipation.

Once I’m free of the binding undergarment and the only thing between Jay and I are his boxer briefs, I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him tightly against me. A growl escapes him as his movements become frenzied. Shimming out of the last of his remaining clothes, I attempt to help with my toes only to be met with resistance.

“If I take them off, there’s no going back,” he murmurs against my chest before lifting his eyes to mine.

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PREORDER YOUR COPY NOW for the special release price of only $2.99! A Moment Too Late will only be available on Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

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