Tag: Sugar & Spice anthology

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So, What Do You Think?

You’ve gotten your copies and the stories hooked you from the beginning.

You’ve laughed, cringed, wowed and got your freak on. Maybe even looked up other work by the author of that one story that spoke to you.

You’re wondering what do I do now?

I know. You can write a review.

Come on, it only takes a few minutes to let people know what you thought of the books. You can help another reader discover the wonderful stories inside.

Don’t you want to help people? Of course, you do.

And on behalf of all the authors, I thank you in advance.

#GetCaughtReading

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Sugar Ain’t So Sweet – Naleighna Kai

About Sugar Ain’t So Sweet by Naleighna Kai

Shannan overhears a conversation that forces her to walk out on her husband, seven children, and a successful career to find a sense of peace that has eluded her for years. She thought fate had been kind in giving her a husband who adored her. But she soon discovered fate had pulled a fast one, as her husband’s nearly impossible demands and those from his unrelenting family has pushed her to an edge where there might be no return. 

 Zach has screwed up—royally. With his family following his lead in not appreciating Shannan, his wife shows him that since he can’t respect her presence, she’ll introduce him to her absence. Determined to win back the woman who is his anchor, first, he must find a way to deal with his overbearing family and disrespectful children that doesn’t cause him to lose more than he gains. While fighting to win back his wife, he’s forced to face some hard truths and family secrets that might mean he’ll lose Shannan forever.

Story Notes: Sugar A’int So Sweet
What if’s. That’s what drove this story. What if I was a wife who’d been surrounded by people who were taking, taking, and taking and not realizing that I’d been giving. What happens when that wife strikes out to find herself and figure out what she’s willing to lose in order to find that sense of peace.

Naleighna Kai is the national bestselling author of several controversial novels. She’s the founder of the NK Tribe Called Success, NK Literary Cafe Magazine, and the Cavalcade of Authors Literary Tour. She is an agent, developmental editor, literary consultant and marketing and promotion specialist.

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Excerpt – His & Hers by S. L. Jennings

Hers

Lauren bit her pouty, full lip as she waited for Marcus to receive the invitation to join them. Would he think less of her? Would he misconstrue her compliance as eagerness? The thought of having sex with someone else other than her husband scared her yet excited her, kindling a fire deep within that she hadn’t felt in years.
She’d always had unconventional desires, but she never dared act on them. She couldn’t risk being judged by her friends, her family, her church, and most of all, her husband. But watching him, fully erect, ready, and as burning hot as she was, it only solidified what she had always felt in her heart. She could do this. It was okay. It didn’t make her dirty or depraved.
She was still a good person.
By the time Marcus claimed his place in their little triangle of delicious deviance, Lauren thought she might burst right then and there. Here she was, panting, moaning, damn near whimpering, as hands massaged her round backside, moving down between her thighs in search of the humid flesh that ached for contact. Another hand fondled her breasts, tugging at her nipples just the way she liked it. A tongue caressed her neck while Marcus sought her mouth, parting her quivering lips to taste her. Just as she thought she could die a blissful death from the overwhelming sensation, a finger delved deep inside her, causing her to cry out.
“Mmmm, she’s so wet,” an amused voice rasped. “Taste.” And with that, a glistening finger eased inside of Marcus’s mouth, coating his lips with her arousal. But it didn’t stop there. Marcus grasped the hand, sucking it, teasing it with his tongue as it moved in and out, in and out. So…naughty. So taboo. And so insanely hot.
“I want you two to kiss,” Lauren found herself saying, chest heaving with every one of her excited breaths.

His

Marcus looked down at the hand in his grasp before gazing into unfamiliar sultry, brown eyes. He furrowed his brow, contemplating what this could mean for them. Once he crossed into uncharted territory, giving into hedonism without shame or reservations, could he and Lauren move forward? Would he still be committed to her and only her? Could he be? Or would his vows be tarnished by irresistible cravings?
Marcus didn’t want to speculate anymore. He wanted – needed – to find out for himself.
Without thinking, he followed his carnal desires, blocking out the niggling doubt that told him to slow down and think about the repercussions of his choices. He was tired of thinking. As an accountant, thinking was all he did. He wanted action. He wanted to feel. And yes, he wanted to go all the way.
With fire racing in his veins, setting his skin ablaze, Marcus gave into temptation, his tongue tasting sweet, forbidden fruit as his hands explored a soft yet toned ass and smooth back. The kiss was foreign yet exhilarating, rekindling the first-time feelings he relished when he and Lauren started dating. He craved that newness, that excitement. Hell, he craved more than just his wife, and that revelation brought him up short, causing him to part with the softest, fullest lips he had tasted since … since ever.
This was wrong. This was all wrong.
But it felt right also. Maybe too right. And that scared the hell out of him.
Abruptly, Marcus pulled away, urgently seeking the comfort of Lauren’s hooded eyes although he fully expected to see the opposite. Sure, they had both agreed to this, and Lauren had engaged in some fun of her own, yet he wouldn’t be surprised if she was pissed at the way he was acting – hungry and undeniably horny.
When their eyes locked, Marcus was relieved to find a sexy smile on Lauren’s lips, her gaze as heavy with lust as his. And their guest for the evening? Hot with expectation.
“Why don’t we move this little party to the bed?”

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrder SUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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His & Hers – S. L. Jennings

Two is a flame. Three is a wildfire that’s sure to burn.

In an attempt to rekindle the spark between them, Lauren and Marcus step out of the comfort and routine of their marriage and do the unthinkable: invite another party into their bedroom. As things quickly heat up, what they had hoped would ignite the flame that had been extinguished in their relationship, erupts into a scorching inferno of desire…and betrayal.

Lauren had always strived to be the ideal wife. Prim, proper, and undoubtedly loyal to her husband, she would never dream of fantasizing about another man. But what happens when another man isn’t the object of her longing? How does she compromise her heart for what her body craves?

Marcus had become a creature of habit, and it was killing his spirit. Between work and scheduled sex with his wife of ten years, he was bored with the life he had built with Lauren. Until an ordinary date night turned into something neither one of them would ever forget. And after the deed was done, he knew that his marriage would never be the same.

His and Hers is a story about tearing down the walls of inhibition, testing the limits of desire, and learning that playing with forbidden fire will always burn.

Story Notes

On a late night call with Naleighna Kai, she told me of all the exciting stories that were being written for two upcoming anthologies. “Oh, you all are writing “story stories” (deep stuff). I let her know that I had something to offer, but it would be H-O-T. This story was written in between penning two novels and preparing for a trip to the Cavalcade of authors at the Atlantis Resorts in the Bahamas.

S.L. Jennings is a military wife to her high school sweetheart, a mom of 3 rowdy boys, and a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance novels such as Taint and Born Sinner. When she’s not obsessing over book boyfriends, you can find her hanging out with a few epic fictional loves at independent bookstores, or sipping a Bloody Mary at her favorite brunch haunt in Spokane, Washington.
www.sljennings.com

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrderSUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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Southern Comfort – Naleighna Kai

The moment Joy’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep and drops off a mysterious child for her to raise, she’s forced to put her life on hold. Two years later, she abandons her dream of becoming a civil engineer, when her mother reappears with yet another child from her drug-addicted sister. Twice is enough, and the third time isn’t a charm as Joy’s outright refusal makes her an outcast to her small family. With so much responsibility at such a young age, having an intimate relationship is something she never allowed herself to dream. Until a chance meeting at the most unlikely of places.

Ali was the bridge that brought his father back into the family fold, by marrying the woman they chose for him. Now, the last child is off to college and his multi-million dollar businesses are thriving, he prepares his wife for a life without him and embarks on a journey to find the love he deserves. When he lays eyes on Joy, one word comes to mind—lost. He didn’t realize until that moment that he has a “savior complex”; but something about the elusive woman pulls at Ali’s heartstrings and makes him take a risk.

Story Notes: My first Cuddle Party was an exhilarating experience. I held onto an article in the Chicago Red Eye for a year before I got up the courage to attend. Safe, non-sexual touch. People who weren’t family. No other books that I’ve read covered this event and with the valuable input of fellow authors Lisa Watson and J. D. Mason, I thought I would share how two people could become deeply connected even when sex wasn’t on the table.

Naleighna Kai is the national bestselling author of several controversial novels. She’s the founder of the NK Tribe Called Success, NK Literary Cafe Magazine, and the Cavalcade of Authors Literary Tour. She is an agent, developmental editor, literary consultant and marketing and promotion specialist.
www.naleighnaka.com

In the anthology, SPICE readers get a taste of the most anticipated fiction offerings of the year. Readers will enjoy this eclectic blend that will stay with you long after the pages have been turned.
http://ow.ly/UhDt30lLxSI
#Fiction #Thriller #Erotica #Goodreads #BookAddict

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Excerpt – The Confection Assignment by Karen D Bradley

Mia’s head snapped up at a sound that wasn’t anything like the faint echoes of music from the other end of the lake. For some reason, her instinct was on high alert especially since the additional security team was missing in action.
“Having dinner out here was a great idea,” Mia said for the sake of their nosy neighbor Patty, who was walking in their direction as Calvin approached the table.
The older woman wasn’t any cause for concern.
“You like me cooking for you.” He brought out the spaghetti and salad, slid it on the table, then leaned in, kissing Mia. He wrapped his arm around her waist, nuzzling her neck. “Maybe we should have dessert first.”
“I’ll not be reheating dinner tonight.” Pushing him away, she turned him back toward the house, then swatted that gorgeous rear end of his to send him on his way. “You need to go grab those breadsticks. I’ll open the wine.”
Calvin, who had never been married, enjoyed playing the role of husband a little too much. He winked before stepping off the planks and into the dining room. He paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder. “We need to do this more often.”
Most often wouldn’t happen. Tonight was the last day of her assignment, then she’d be back to her regular life and that didn’t include being a high security detail protector to a top secret invention and its handsome creator.
Several minutes later, she poured him a glass of red wine before fixing their plates. She scanned the area again and a tingle of suspicion ignited in her mind.
What’s taking him so long?
“Calvin, today would be nice,” Mia yelled. She perched on the chair, waiting for his smart response.
None came.
Mia placed the glass on the table and swept into the house. Calvin wasn’t in the kitchen. If he had slipped into his office to work instead of joining her outside, there was going to be a problem.
Mia laid eyes on Calvin as she rounded the corner, but his voice halted her in her tracks.
“Run, Mia. Run,” Calvin yelled, lunging for the stocky Asian man near the office door.
A hefty Black guy slammed his weapon across the back of Calvin’s head.
Mia sprinted down the hallway past the study and powder room, aiming to get her weapon. She kicked herself for not bringing it inside. They wouldn’t kill Calvin, but they could hurt him if he didn’t cooperate. She slid a cast iron skillet from the cooktop.
“Go get her,” someone yelled from the office.
Several things crashed to the office floor. Calvin put up one hell of a fight. Mere seconds had passed when Mia’s pursuer rounded the corner. She slammed the skillet into his chest, causing him to fly into the wall. He recovered and reached for her arm. The skillet crashed down onto his head with a backward swipe. This time, his body hit the ground, right on top of his gun.
Damn.
Her feet pounded on the hardwood floor as she raced for the front entrance, aiming to find some type of reinforcements. An armed man came off the path to the porch. She slammed the front door, locking it. Keys jiggled in the tumbler.
Mia ran top speed toward the kitchen ahead of a spray of bullets that landed in the cabinets. She slid toward the island like a baseball player trying to reach the home plate. She scrambled around the counter, bolting to the deck and made it to the table.
“Nowhere to run,” a man with an ivory complexion said as a Latino guy calmly stepped over the threshold onto the deck as though nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.
“Don’t be so sure of that.” She snatched the Ruger, aimed, and pulled the trigger five times taking out the biggest threat. Mia didn’t wait for the Latino man’s advancing body to hit the ground. She hit the stairs. The ivory man took cover in the dining room and held up on a perfect vantage spot.
Three armed men raced toward her. Damn, how many did they send?
Mia’s heart sank, but adrenaline kicked in as she turned back.
She had to make it to the Lincoln.
“Mrs. Atwood, don’t do it,” he yelled as she climbed from the patio chair to the railing.
He aimed his Glock and fired.
Mia took a flying leap from the banister and dove into the water.

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrder SUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict

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The Confection Assignment – Karen D. Bradley

About The Confection Assignment by Karen D. Bradley

Mia Jakob takes on a security detail that some of her superiors felt was out of her league. They might’ve been right, but not for the reason they think. The chemistry between her and the handsome client, Calvin, has Mia struggling to resist sweet temptation as she protects him and the invention wanted by several government agencies.
The last forty-eight hours of her detail will be the most intense as highly trained teams make several attempts to steal the invention and the mastermind behind its creation. Mia’s skills are put to the test as she fights to keep them safe and the invention from falling into the wrong hands. But, will her attraction to Calvin be the very thing that get them killed?

Story Notes: for The Confection Assignment

Writing keeps me sane. Creating this piece for the Sugar Anthology challenged me to be more concise due to the word count limitation. I was honored to be among an amazing group of authors. It created an environment of education, elevation, and encouragement which allowed me to improve my writing skills.

Karen D. Bradley has penned several contemporary fiction novels— Love Runs Deep, Life on Fire, and Shattered Illusions. Recently, she ventured into film making by writing and producing a short film based on one of her novels. Visit Karen on the web at
www.karendbradley.com

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrder SUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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Excerpt – Dirty Diana by J.D. Mason

Diana Rigby was shaken out of a deep sleep with words she never thought she’d ever hear again.
“I’m callin’ ‘bout yo’ momma,” Aunt Lorraine said in that slow Southern drawl, laced with a kind of artificial sweetness that compelled an eye roll from Diana.
“What about her?”
Through the years as she climbed the ranks to become a Mixed Martial Arts Champion, she’d almost forgotten that she’d had a mother. That was her goal after she left Rhino, Texas not long after graduating high school. She left that same day, as a matter of fact, not bothering to tell anyone; determined to put as much space between her and the hell she’d grown up in as soon as possible.
“She ain’t doin’ too good, Diana,” Lorraine offered, then she waited, no doubt hoping that Diana would ask the most logical question. What’s wrong?
Silence hung heavy between the two for several beats before Lorraine continued. “Doctors say she ain’t got much time left. Cancer got her. She stayin’ here with me, until… well.”
“That’s too bad,” was the best Diana could muster.
Lorraine seemed disappointed in Diana’s lack of emotion or any expression of sincerity in her regret. Diana offered words. That’s all. She had nothing else to give her mother except empty and hollow words that meant absolutely nothing.
“She asks ‘bout you. Asks Tray to look you up on the Internet to see how you doin’.”
Again, Diana had no response. She left the edge of the deck and settled onto a cream- colored chaise.
“I’m sure she’d like to see you, Diana. It’s been so long.”
Returning to Rhino had never been on her radar. She never expected to see her mother again. But apparently, the umbilical cord between a mother and child is never fully severed, and it tugged on Diana until a few days later when she drove into town in a rented car on the same road she’d ridden on in that Greyhound bus when she left.
Welcome to Rhino, Texas, the sign on the side of the road read. Population 24,353.
* * *
The woman speeding down Flint Road in the flashy red convertible was definitely not from around here. So, of course, Jake postponed going back to the station to turn around and follow her. The speed limit was thirty, and she had to have been doing at least thirty-five. Being a small-town sheriff, little things like that mattered.
He flashed his siren and lights only for a moment before she pulled over to the side of the paved road. He’d probably let her get away with a warning, but if nothing else, at least he’d get to meet somebody new.
“Afternoon, Miss,” he said in his best Texas Sheriff drawl.
Damn! She was lovely, even behind those big sunglasses and that headscarf.
She turned her face up to look at him. “Was I speeding?”
Those, big, pretty lips of hers caused him to subconsciously lick his own. At first glance, he took her for a white woman, but up close he could see that she was either real light-skinned, Latina, or biracial. Stylish was the word that came to mind, right after beautiful. Everything about her screamed money, and she shone in the light like a new penny.
Jake had heard things, especially since she was back. Dirty Diana. Not white enough. Not black enough. She had a reputation for being loose, for lack of a better term. Looking for love in all the wrong places because she obviously wasn’t getting it from the one place she needed it most.
“You could always count on Dirty Diana for a good time.”
Good for who, though? Certainly not for a young girl who had probably been taught from birth that she wasn’t good enough or wanted. Guilt stuck in the back of his throat. If only he’d done something that first time he and the sheriff had answered the call to her house that day, maybe her life would’ve been different.

* * *

Jake wasn’t the type to get caught up like this. Women flirted. He flirted back, but he’d always known where to draw the line when one needed to be drawn for his sake, or for the sake of someone else. Level-headed. That phrase might as well have been his middle name, because it’s who he was, what he’d always been, to the point of being downright boring. She’d captivated him, somehow.
Diana Rigby had put a spell on him that he couldn’t shake, and that was fine with him.

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrderSUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm#GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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Dirty Diana – J. D. Mason

MMA fighter, “Dirty” Diana Rigby has just lost her title in a championship match. Soon after the fight, a relative calls Diana delivering the devastating news that Diana’s abusive and estranged mother, Louise Rigby is dying. Overwhelmed in disappointment and grief, Diana breaks the promise she made to herself years ago, and returns to her hometown of Rhino, TX to find closure with the woman who raised her, the woman she swore she’d never see again.

 When Sheriff Jake Randolph stops the beautiful stranger for speeding, he has no idea that it’s the young girl he first laid eyes on over twenty years ago when he and his superior, the former sheriff were called to the Rigby house in response to a disturbance call. Back then, the rookie cop believed that the child should’ve been removed from the home for her own safety, but his decision was over ruled, and he’s never forgiven himself for his lack of conviction.

 An emotional confrontation with her mother leaves Diana reeling into old habits of looking for love for all the wrong reasons, and Jake finds himself on the receiving end of Diana’s bad habits.

Story Notes: Dirty Diana

This story came on the heels of some major life changes and on the eve (give or take a week or two) of a dream trip to Europe. It was important for me to reel in the chaos and focus, so I made it a point to progress through this story like an MMA fighter in training.

J.D. Mason is the author of more than twenty novels including The Woman Trapped in the Dark, Seducing Abby Rhodes, The Real Mrs. Price. A national bestselling and award-winning author, her work has been featured in in USA Today, Essence, Pride Magazine in the U.K., and Today’s Black Woman.

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrderSUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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Excerpt – Spicing Things Up by Lisa Watson

Cassia pressed the doorbell and waited. Her palms were moist, so she wiped them on a black skirt she was wearing that fell just above her knee. She quickly ran her tongue over her teeth, then straightened her blouse.
The door opened suddenly, bringing her face-to-face with the object of her desire.
“Cassia,” Dylan said, his expression neutral. “Come in.”
“If you’re busy, I can just—”
“No, not at all,” he said motioning for her to enter.
She swept past him into a home that exuded style, warmth and masculinity. He closed the door behind her and gestured to the couch across the room. “Have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you.”
He took a spot across from her. “So, what’s up? You mentioned you needed to discuss something about the agency?”
Dylan’s woodsy cologne made it hard to concentrate, as did the navy-blue sweater that molded to his torso tighter than a sports car hugging a race track. Cassia tried to refocus her attention, but it was hard when gazing into his face meant staring at his stubbled jaw and eyes the color of twelve-year old whisky. She could swear she felt perspiration forming above her professionally shaped brows. She blamed her assistant, Tabitha, for this sudden, new awareness of him. Her carefully packaged feelings for Dylan had been neatly tucked away, and now the bow was starting to unravel.
Suddenly, Cassia stood and moved across the room, pretending to be studying the paintings on his wall, but in truth she was just hyper aware of everything from the unhurried pace of his breathing, to the way the dimmed light in the living room enhanced the hue of his eyes.
“We have a new client,” she finally said, scanning the antique world map adorning his wall. “Mrs. Maya La Dova.”
“As in La Dova resorts?”
“One and the same.” Cassia confirmed, with a quick glance over her shoulder.
“So, what does this have to do with me?”
“Well, since your father’s health scare, things have been a bit…uncertain,” she turned to lay eyes on him. “Especially since you’ve always been vocal about not wanting to work here.”
Dylan frowned. “You know why. I’d signed a non-compete clause. Plus, my boss was reluctant to see me go because I was his best investigator. Apparently, I was very good at what I did,” he said with mirth.
Some of the breeze whooshed out of Cassia’s sails. “Oh. I didn’t know that.”
He stared at her with surprise. “I just assumed you knew. Anyway, it’s all straightened out and won’t be an issue.”
Cassia was dumbfounded. “Neither dad, nor Michael ever told me. I always thought you just didn’t want to be here. It was one of the reasons I didn’t think you’d be a good fit.”
Dylan covered the distance between them in five strides.
“Only one?” he replied. “It was never an issue of wanting to, Cassia. Besides, heart attacks have a way of changing people’s minds.”
She nodded. “Point taken.”
Without warning, the air grew taut with tension. Cassia’s breathing was choppier by the second. Dylan leaned in closer. Cassia resisted the urge to back up.
“Why don’t you trust me, Cass?”
Caught off guard by his proximity, sheer height, and unhurried air, Cassia hesitated. He’d never used a nickname for her before.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you…well that’s not entirely true. I’m passionate about my work, and the company. I don’t want anything to jeopardize either one.”
“I’m also committed to making sure we thrive. Our fathers formed this company and devoted every waking moment to its prosperity Now that we’ve taken over for them, I’m just as dedicated to seeing us grow.” He folded her arms across his chest. “It’s easier to do that when we’re both on the same page—are we?”
Cassia walked back to the couch. She sat down and smoothed the non-existent wrinkles out of her skirt. “Why would you doubt it?”
“Because reading people is what I do.” He crossed the room and sat down. His frank gaze pinned her to the spot. “And my instincts tell me two things; that you like not sharing the spotlight. And that my commitment to work has nothing to do with the tension between us.”
When she remained silent, Dylan finally said, “So what did you need?
Happy to discuss about anything besides their personal history, she blurted out, “Will you be my husband?”

In the anthology, SPICE readers get a taste of the most anticipated fiction offerings of the year. Readers will enjoy this eclectic blend that will stay with you long after the pages have been turned.
http://ow.ly/UhDt30lLxSI
#Fiction #Thriller #Erotica #Goodreads #BookAddict