Awakening (25 page)
Authors: Ashley Suzanne
OH BLOGGERS!!! – SHIT HOT DAMN!!!
You butches are CRAZY! Any time I ask for a little post or some pimping, you guys come out guns blazing. You MADE my books what they are! Your reviews mean everything to me, even the not so hot ones. Without those words of criticism and confidence, I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today. Because of you, I’m getting better with each book I put out. THANKS BUNCHES!!!
And just a few random shout outs because I can:
The girls at the Triple M Bookclub, The P Ninjas, This Redhead Loves Books, Tabby’s Tantalizing Reviews, Everything Marie, Gia, Diana, Kara, Chantel, Alma, The Booker Hooker, My Goddaughter Lyndsey, Hilary Storm, SE Hall, Perfect Pear Creative, Toski Covey Photography, MGBookCovers, Pamela Ann, Brooke’s Book Blog, What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey, SHUT THE FUCUPCAKES, The Chick Click, My Voxer Babes, Feisty Girl Book Blog, 2 Chicks and a Blog, Three Chicks and Their Books, HEA Bookshelf, Eye Candy Bookstore, BestSellers and BestStellars of Romance, Maryse, Kiss and Tell Reviews, Crazies R Us Book Blog, Chrissy, Deuces Babe, Diva’s Discussion, Lustful Literature, Who You Callin’ a Book Whore, and countless others that make my life worth living!!! You all rock. I wasn’t going to name names, because I know I forgot some of you. Please forgive me. You all get shout outs in my soul!
About the Author
Ashley Suzanne is a married mother of three little boys as well as a daughter, aunt, sister, best friend, birth mother, blogger, book whore and author. Ashley is a native to the suburbs of Detroit, with most of her family living in Kentucky and New York.
You can usually find Ashley sitting in bed, with her laptop, playing on Facebook, pretending to write, entering giveaways (she’s also a swag whore) or on a football field with her oldest son, Tyler. Yep, not only is she a football fan, she’s a football mom!
When she’s reading, it’s typically something to do with romance, erotica being her favorite genre. Ashley co-owns a blog, 2 Chicks and a Blog, with her GBFF Manda. She’s a total fan-girl over a few authors, Pamela Ann, Brooke Cumberland, SE Hall, Madeline Sheehan, Jasinda Wilder, Angela Graham, CM Stunich and Riley Rhea to name a few.
Ashley has no pets, unless you count her children and she is a little OCD. Her favorite color is pink. Her favorite drink is cherry vodka and coke and double chocolate brownies are a must.
Stalk Ashley on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ashleysuzannebooks
Twitter:
@itsashleyyo
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212411.Ashley_Suzanne
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Suzanne/e/B00F559F24/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Other works by Ashley Suzanne:
Mirage – Book 1 -
http://www.amazon.com/Mirage-Destined-Series-Ashley-Suzanne-ebook/dp/B00ESL6T52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385273030&sr=8-1&keywords=mirage+ashley+suzanne
Inception – Book 2 -
http://www.amazon.com/Inception-Book-1-5-Destined-Series-ebook/dp/B00G12XU1M/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Just to get you a little excited, I have a sneak peek
ENTICE by S.E Hall.
COMING SOON IN EARLY 2014
“
Why
are we here again?” Zach looks around and questions me.
“Just put your pussy back in your pocket and shut the fuck up.”
Since all my boys keep getting lost in the Bermuda Bush - like, they dive into her bush once and I never see them again, I have now nominated Zach, the only single one left, as my new partner in crime. But if he doesn’t quit his fucking whining, I’m going it solo.
I’m a man on a mission, no time for complaining. After spending the last few weeks scouring every club within fifty miles of school, in all directions, my patience is wearing thin…and I’ve run out of clubs.
All
Brock had to do was take Dane’s money and throw together a bachelor party for Parker. No one said send dancers, but he did, and because he can’t get ahold of the shady fuck he did business with, I’m plagued by the image of a girl who’s proving to be more elusive than Bigfoot.
“I don’t think this is a strip club bro. Look,” Zach nudges my shoulder and points to a small stage, a wall of chicken wire wrapped around it.
The flashing sign outside says
Unbuckled?
How is it
not
a strip club? Disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel, watching, as we speak, Meemaw and Peepaw slow dance amongst the peanut shells on the floor. I’m not sure if I should sue for false advertising or thank God they’re not going to actually unbuckle anything
Add ENTICE on GR -
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18776942-entice?from_search=true
And now a sneak peek at Saving Stella by Eliza Brown and can be purchased at Amazon.com
SAVING STELLA
By Eliza Brown
Sloan
"I hate seeing her like this. There's just no colour in her life you know? Just her pant suits and her frigin numbers."
"Pant suits can be hot."
"Ha, not the ones Stella wears. Trust me Bray she needs something to liven her up. I'm sick of seeing her looking so, I don't know, dreary?"
"Maybe she likes dreary? Is she happy?"
"She thinks she is. I know better though. I need to do something to shake her up a little, show her there's so much more to life than sitting in her apartment with that weird little dog of hers. I just don't know what? I've tried getting her to hit the town with me, even a bar but nope, says she can't do it. Sometimes I think she just doesn't want to get anything on her ridiculously expensive sensible heels. What God loving woman spends that kind of money on sensible heels? Really?"
I let out a huff as my frustration built. I really had to do something about Stella. I had to bring my sister back.
"Why not set her up?"
"Pfft, as if any of the guys I know would be good enough for my baby sister."
"Hey now! I take offense to that."
True, if I were to set Stella up with anyone, Bray would probably be at the top of my list of candidates. He's attractive, ha who am I kidding? Bray is HOT. He's successful, motivated and an all-round good guy.
I leaned back from the piece on his left bicep I was working on, coming together nicely. I sized him up, it had been a while since I fully checked him out. Friends don't ogle friends, unless they're scoping them out for their sister.
Bray raised his eye brow at me as if to say, 'What the Fuck'.
"Dude, chill. I was just assessing the goods. You might be right about setting Stella up. In fact I think you're the right guy for the job."
"Wait, what? That's not where I was going with this Sloan."
"No no, you planted the seed my friend. It's as good as done. You said you can't manage the books on your own anymore. Here's the perfect solution."
"What, start sleeping with your sister so she'll do my books for me? That's a little sleazy don't ya think?"
"Geez, not what I meant. Stella is an accountant. Some crap about numbers making sense, always adding up, yada yada, yada. Anyway, Il get you an appointment, she can go through your books, you can invite her for coffee, next thing ya know I'll be wearing a hideously ordinary maid of honour dress at your wedding."
From the look on Bray's face he wasn't as down with my plan as id hoped. His eyes were popping out of his head and a sweat had broken out across his forehead.
"Jumping the freaking gun there a little aren't ya Sloan! I haven't even met the chic, and you're already planning our wedding. You're frigin crazy! I'm not the marrying kind. You know that."
I knew it wasn't anything personal but this is my baby sister we're talking about. I tend to get a little defensive where she's concerned, perhaps even a little irrational. I pushed my seat away from Bray and got to my feet, hands fisted on my hips.
"You saying my sister isn't good enough for you asshole! Well I got news for you, you'd be lucky if Stella spared you a glance, and if she wants to marry you, you'll God damn do it! You hear me!"
"I knew it, bat shit crazy! You're off your rocker if you think I'm going to go out with your sister now."
"What? Why not? She's an angel."
"Jesus Sloan, you just told me I have to marry the chic if she takes a fancy to me, and let's be honest here,"
Oh here it comes, he was gesturing up and down his body, I knew where this was going.
"Who wouldn't want all this?"
He had that smug look on his face, like he's the shit and everybody knows it, including himself.
"Way to be modest Bray."
I started walking away, slipped my phone from my pocket and flicked Stella a text.
'Need a favour baby sister, boss man needs an accountant. You got time?'
I knew I wouldn't have to wait long for a response, Stella was glued to her phone like it was a life line. Plus she was super-efficient, she'd know off the top of her head what appointments were free without having to check with that airhead receptionist of hers.
'1.45 tomorrow. Name? Not a baby!'
A grin spread across my face, she hates it when I call her that. But older is older, even if it is only by 4 minutes.
'Brayden Brooks, 4mins is 4mins baby sister. Xx'
"It's done Bray; I'll text you the address. 1:45 Tomorrow."
I heard him groan as I started clearing my work station. The shop was empty apart from us. We'd hung back so I could get started on his latest piece. It would probably take another session or two before it was done. Mean ass phoenix rising from the ashes. It'll be beautiful when I'm done.
"Sloan. Really? I'm not a relationship kinda guy, you know that. I don't want to screw our friendship over this shit. She'll want me, I'll humour her for your benefit but then I'll get bored and move on, you'll get pissed and quit. You're the best I've got; I can't afford to lose you."
I ignored him, he'd be good for Stella, just the right amount of colour to brighten up her life. I finished cleaning up my station.
"Are you listening to me Sloan? Sloan! Damn it! You're a stubborn little thing, you know that? I'll do it, but if things go south, you can't walk. Deal?"
"Deal boss man. Now, beers at Freddie's?"
"Need you ask?"
We closed up the shop and started the short walk up to our local haunt; Freddie's was my kinda place. Plenty of beer, hot dudes with hot tats and they had a live band in on Friday and Saturday nights.
Stella
Agh my neck is killing me. Time to call it a day I think. Bianca left an hour ago. Ugh I should have left when she did. I hate walking out to my car alone. I know I'm in a safe enough neighbourhood but still. A woman walking around at night, alone is just asking for trouble. I only meant to stay an extra fifteen minutes but as usual I got carried away in the bliss of numbers.
I shut down my computer and put my laptop in my satchel. Slipping my feet back into my shoes I felt around in my bag for my gun, I had never used it, but I felt better knowing I had it. Then I grabbed the can of pepper spray I kept in there and my keys. Armed with one in each hand I headed for the lift down to the lobby.
"Goodnight Tyler."
"Goodnight Ms Morgan."
Tyler had been the doorman since I leased my office 2 years ago. He was a nice older gentleman, with greying hair around the edges. I knew if I asked he'd walk me to my car, but I also knew he would probably get in trouble for leaving his post.
Time to pull up those big girl panties Stella. Walk straight to your car, get in, and go
. Simple enough right? Sad thing was I had to give myself the same little pep talk every time I stayed late, which was happening more and more lately. I need to get a life!
I slipped into my little Prius without any crazies trying to attack me. All the same, I flipped the lock switch straight away. You can't be too careful.
Pulling into my apartment complex I could feel my tense muscles relaxing; home.
Once inside, I called out to Fergus who was probable sleeping on the fresh towels on the rack in the bathroom. But sure enough he came running when he heard my voice. I had grown up with big dogs, but I couldn't exactly keep a Great Dane in my tiny apartment. So it was just me and Fergus my long haired dachshund for now, until I found the courage to move to a bigger place. He was a good little dog. He kept me company, never once wizzed inside and had the decency to look ashamed when he let one rip.
I latched his lead and we set out to the grassy area downstairs for him to do his business.
Half an hour later when Fergus was done and we had returned upstairs I prepared dinner, seared marinated chicken breast with a fresh salad and crisp glass of wine. This is my idea of a good night.
Table of Contents
