Tina’s Book Review – 5 Stars for RAW: Rebirth by Belle Aurora

January 2, 2019 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Book Title: RAW: Rebirth
Series: RAW Family #3
Author: Belle Aurora
Genre: Dark Romance
Start Read Date: 12/28/18
End Read Date: 12/30/18
My Rating: 5 Stars
Review Submitted By: Tina for Page Turner Soap Co Book Reviews

It had been six years since my world was turned upside down.
He exposed me to the darker side of life and I could never go back to the person I was.
I had been through more things the average person couldn’t even relate to.

If I had the chance to go back and do things differently though?
Not a chance.

I’d pick him a thousand times. A million times. For eternity.

I guess not much has changed.

My name is Alexa Ballentine, and I am still in love with my stalker.

AMAZON US

(Received ARC in exchange for our honest review.)

Twitch is back and he’s got some explaining to do!

He’s been laying low for six years to protect Alexa, the only woman he’s ever loved and his little mini-me, AJ. When the time is right, he emerges from the shadows to reclaim his family. Twitch is used to having his way, but not this time. Trust has been broken, hearts have been broken, and old enemies still have to be dealt with. And that belt…

This story is a roller coaster of a read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and Belle Aurora does not disappoint. You must read RAW before this book, as it’s a continuation of that story.

Release Blitz – RAW: Rebirth by Belle Aurora

January 2, 2019 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Title: RAW: Rebirth

Series: RAW Family #3

Author: Belle Aurora

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 2, 2019

Blurb

It had been six years since my world was turned upside down.

He exposed me to the darker side of life and I could never go back to the person I was.

I had been through more things the average person couldn’t even relate to.

If I had the chance to go back and do things differently though?

Not a chance.

I’d pick him a thousand times. A million times. For eternity.

I guess not much has changed.

My name is Alexa Ballentine, and I am still in love with my stalker.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Available at other retailers soon

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N

Author Bio

Belle
Aurora is thirty-something year old and was born in the land down under.
At an early age she fell in love with reading. Boredom one summer had her
scouring the bookshelves at home. She stumbled across Sandra Brown’s Breath of
Scandal and fell in love with romance.
Having been brought up in a loud and boisterous family of Croatian descent, she
developed a natural love for dramatics and laughter. Only some years ago had
she discovered a new love.
Humorous romance novels.
So many authors had opened a brand new world where she could lose herself yet
feel safe and at home in their stories. Belle has been known to become a
screeching banshee while anxiously awaiting their newest titles.
Belle never thought she would write. It had never interested her until
recently. Friend-Zoned began to form and in February this year Belle typed the
words Chapter One. And she fell in love.
With words.
With writing.
With a creative imagination she never knew she harbored.

Belle
Aurora is a USA Today best-selling author.

Author Links

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

Release Day Blitz – Heartbreak for Hire by Tabatha Vargo and Melissa Andrea

February 19, 2018 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

HEARTBREAK FOR HIRE IS LIVE!

I turn trusted housewives into adulterous whores.

Let’s face it, nothing lasts forever. She may have started out as your wet dream, but now she’s your ball and chain. Let me set you free.

I’ll turn your loyal lady into a lecherous liar.

I can give you the uncontested divorce you desire, end your impending engagement, or rid you of that clingy girlfriend.

Either way, you’ll be a free man.

My name is Rift, and men pay me to have affairs with their women. It’s my job to get caught. While unethical, my profession is easy. Hell, most days it’s fun. At least until I fall for the soon-to-be ex of my newest client.

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Andrea’s
Addicts

I reached out to unzip the plastic
holding my dress, but just as I did, the door to the dressing room flew
open, and Dylan stood there looking back at me.

His eyes were wide with shock, as if he hadn’t expected me to be behind
the door, and then they dropped from my face and slid down my body in an
invisible caress.

I should have covered myself; I
should have screamed at him to get out, but I didn’t move or tell him to go.
The way he was looking at me, I needed that. I needed to feel beautiful and
desirable.

“What are you doing here?” I watched
him, his eyes a stormy blue.

His eyes devoured me, making me feel
uncomfortable. If Mitchell supposedly loved me and disliked what he saw when he
looked at me, then surely a man who didn’t love me would see me as even worse.

“The lady out front said the
bathroom was the last door on the right, but I’m guessing she meant the last
door on the left,” he said, not bothering to the hide the fact that he was
looking at my body.

I nodded, not sure what to say.

“I should apologize and turn around
and leave.”

I swallowed hard.

He didn’t leave.

Instead, he moved into the room and
quietly shut the door behind him.

“But you see, there’s a problem.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

He reached out, running a single
finger over my shoulder and down across my chest. “I can’t stop looking at
you.”

I folded my arms across my chest
now, feeling more exposed than I ever had in my life. His finger dipped into
the top of my folded arms and between my breasts.

“You’re covering yourself like a
woman who thinks she’s unattractive,” he said, moving close enough that his
whispered words ruffled the hairs on the
side of my face. “But the truth is, my cock’s hard just looking at you.”

I stiffened at his words.

No one had ever spoken to me like
that. No man had ever been so brazen, saying naughty words to me in such a
manner.

“How does that make you feel, Gwyn?”
He moved closer, his lips skimming my earlobe and making me bite my bottom lip.

I should have run out, but I was
half naked. And the truth was, I couldn’t move. My legs were stiff, and my feet
were rooted to the spot.

“How does it make you feel knowing
my cock is hard and throbbing for you?” He licked my lobe, and I shivered.
“Here you are, in your white bra and panties, looking so innocent and
corruptible … what’s an evil man like me supposed to do?”

“You’re not evil,” I said, finally
able to speak up.

My voice squeaked with my words,
making me blush even harder.

He leaned back, his brow lifting in
question. “You don’t think I’m evil?”

I shook my head. “Not even a little
bit.”

“I assure you I am.” Again, he
leaned forward, pressing his lips against my shoulder.

As if an automatic reflex, I tilted
my head to the side to give him more skin to explore.

“I’m jealous of the way the lace on
your panties is riding up your curvy hips and disappearing into the sweet space
between your thighs.” He kissed my shoulder once again, his breath striking the
side of my neck and filling my ear. “I want to be that lace, Gwyn. I want to be
resting inside your warmth.”

Dear God, he was good, and I was so very bad.

Excerpt Reveal – Hard Lessons by Charlotte West

August 14, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Cover Design: Sarah Hansen/Okay Creations

Release Date: August 28, 2017

Synopsis

Down-on-her-luck teacher, Daisy Clemmens, is about to learn some hard lessons. (Not like that, you perv.)

Lesson One

No matter how broke you are, never agree to a job that includes a rabid eight-year-old, requires a tetanus shot or where your boss is a sexy (and cranky) rock ‘n’ roll god.

Lesson Two

Do not, do not start to have tender, gooey feelings for the sexy commitment-phobe rock ‘n’ roll god. You’ll only get hurt.

Lesson Three

Okay so you’ve slept with the sexy rock ‘n’ roll god. But it’s not too late. Just whatever you do, don’t fall in love. Whoops. Too late.

Lesson Four

Never love someone, even if they are a sexy rock ‘n’ roll god, more than yourself.

Goodreads

Excerpt

The couch dipped with additional weight, Billy sat next to me. His thigh rubbed against mine. He slung his arms out to rest on the back of the couch. I felt his fingers pluck a lock of my hair and toy with it. “I think we should fuck.”

I choked on air. “Excuse me?”

He shrugged a single shoulder. “Not going to lie, flower, I find you attractive. You kind of dress like an elderly gentleman, and it does things to me.”

I looked down at my sensible skirt and cardigan, insulted and turned on all at once.

Billy shifted closer. His nose skimmed my neck. His breath was warm and smelled like whiskey. Goosebumps broke out along my arms. My stomach flipped. A big hand landed on my thigh, and I could feel the heat from his palm all the way through my wool skirt. “I think we should fuck, just once. Get it out of the way.”

Yes. No. Yes. No. My head waged a silent war with my body. Billy’s hand inched higher and at the same time, his teeth grazed the thin skin of my neck. A tortured sound escaped from low in my throat. “No,” I said weakly. I did not sound convincing. Not at all.

Billy paused his assault. “Is that a question or an answer?”

I pushed myself up from the couch, balling my hands into fists. “No. I’m sorry Mr. Wanks I don’t think this is going to work out. Good luck finding a nanny for your daughter.” I grabbed my bag from the floor, and scooped up the resume Billy had so carelessly tossed aside. It still had some use left in it. Fuck him and fuck this.

I was two feet from the door when Billy’s voice stopped me. “Oi, that’s a relief. The last nanny climbed into bed with me while I was sleeping.” He sauntered towards me. “You passed the final test. You’re really hired now.”

My mouth went dry. I wanted to scream. “Test?” I asked, taking note of the bulge in his pants, the very considerable bulge.

Billy adjusted himself with a wicked smile. “I do find you attractive, flower. Like I said, I’ve got a thing for redheads who dress like schoolmarms. Must be some Freudian shit, but I need a nanny who’s here for my little bird, not for me.”

My chin jutted out, offended by his games and ashamed of my own response to him. “I don’t think I’m suited for this position. I’ll ask the agency to send another candidate over as soon as possible.” I reached for the doorknob.

“It pays well over six figures a year, plus room, board, vacation and medical.”

My hand paused. With that kind of money I could pay off my student loans in a year and save a tidy sum. Crap. I turned slowly on my heel to face Billy, and smiled brightly. “What time do we leave tomorrow?”

Giveaway

One of Five ARC’s for Hard Lessons

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Available Now

Good Lies by Charlotte West

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2vueDkD

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2vueDkD

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2hSfmZL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2hSfmZL

About the Author

Charlotte West writes romance about strong heroines and the sexy alpha males who love them. She lives in Washington state with her husband and very large dog (think miniature pony size). She spends way too much money on books, and way too much time reading. When she’s not reading, she’s feeding her reality television addiction, eating chocolate, or traveling. She’s been known to eat her weight in Girl Scout cookies.

She has a degree in Science and a Master’s in Education, neither of which she is currently using but is still paying for. Occasionally, she moonlights as a YA author.

Connect with Charlotte

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2vSt8ks

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Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2vmWkiZ

Release Blitz – Crave: Part One by E.K. Blair

August 14, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Title: Crave: Part One
Series: Crave Duet #1

Author: E.K. Blair

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 14, 2017

Blurb

Kason and Adaline.

From the moment
they met, they started to fall. Neither of them predicted just how far the drop
would be, though.

Loving Adaline was
all Kason had ever wanted to do. But layer by layer, he started to unravel,
forcing Adaline to face an addiction she never could’ve imagined.

This is what
happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond
the loving.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Coming Soon

Crave: Part Two releases October 16

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Author Bio

E.K. Blair,
takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her dynamic and intense
writing style. Noted for her ability to create fleshed-out characters that will
evoke a realm of reactions, you can be assured that her stories will linger
with you far beyond the last word.

A former first grade
teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is
how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything
dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking
them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing,
E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and
spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and
everything in between.

Author Links

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK

TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
BOOKBUB

Release Blitz – Savior by S.L. Scott

August 14, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Title: Savior

Series: The Kingwood Series #2
Author: S.L. Scott

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery

Release Date: August 13, 2017

Blurb

Everything is not as it seems.

Alexander IV has succeeded to the throne of the billion-dollar Kingwood Empire, but the people he thought he could trust aren’t allies.

They’re enemies.

Everyone he cares about is at risk.

Decisions–SACRIFICES–must be made.

What will he do to protect the people he loves? Will Sara Jane live or die?

Find out NOW in this EPIC conclusion to the bestselling The Kingwood Duet. Savage, book 1 in the series, should be read first and is LIVE on Amazon.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Excerpt

I sit outside on a bench, looking at the scuffs on the tips of my black leather shoes. The bottoms are worn from wearing them while riding my bike. It was the only sign that set me apart from the other rich kids where I grew up. Other than Cruise, no one rode motorcycles or had dealt with anything worse than getting a warning after getting busted for smoking, skipping school, sneaking out, smoking weed, getting drunk, or driving over the speed limit. The list could go on.

I have a car. I just don’t drive it much, preferring the freedom I feel on my bike. It wasn’t just my clothes or the bike that set me a part. None of them had lived, breathed, existed simply because their soul mate did. Not even now.

From the moment I saw her, I knew Sara Jane was it for me, an angel in a Catholic school uniform, eating a candy bar. She couldn’t have been more innocent. Except she was. The girl had barely been kissed. It’s like she had been waiting to meet me, as if she had saved herself for me. How a girl who looked that good and smelled even sweeter remained untouched for so long was beyond me.

I would have loved her no matter what. She could have been a prostitute, and I would have only seen her halo. I was a ship navigating a stormy sea, but she called me to her lighthouse, a beacon shining in the dark. It was never about her innocence, or the sins I had inherited. The day I met Sara Jane was about two lives that weren’t meant for only one lifetime, but destined to be together forever.

Maybe that’s what had given me the confidence to break away from the kids I grew up with. I knew I was meant for something bigger than a life of partying and getting high socially.

I was meant for Sara Jane, and she for me.

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Join the Savage
Facebook Spoiler Group

Author Bio

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she’s a pro.

Author Links

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Cover Reveal – In Too Deep by Jordan Marie

August 14, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

I did a bad thing.

I did a really bad thing.

I’m not a bad person, I swear. I just made a few mistakes.

Mistake number one was agreeing to rent my hotel out to an insufferable a**hole, named Aden Smith.

Mistake number two was ignoring his threats to sue me when he handed over a list of items he deemed “unacceptable”.

Mistake number three was diving into the pool to save his life when he fell. It would have been less complicated to hide his body.

When the hospital refuses to let me know how he is, I panic.

Claiming to be his wife might be my biggest mistake yet—especially when he believes me!

He might have been the one drowning, but I’m sinking in a bed of lies, going down fast—and there’s not a rescue in sight.

A QUIRKY WRITER GOING WHERE THE VOICES TAKE HER.
USA Today Best Selling Author Jordan Marie, is just a simple small town country girl who is haunted by Alpha Men who talk in her head 24 hours a day.

She currently has 14 books out including 2 that she wrote under the pen name Baylee Rose.

She likes to create a book that takes you on an emotional journey whether tears, laughter (or both) or just steamy hot fun (or all 3). She loves to connect with readers and interacting with them through social media, signings or even old fashioned email.

Twitter Facebook Web Goodreads Amazon

Release Blitz – No Hesitations by T.C. Matson

August 12, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

NO HESITATIONS

by T.C. Matson
The Fighter Series
Publication Date: August 11, 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon (#Free with #KU!): http://amzn.to/2wDBz0R

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2uqa79f

SYNOPSIS:

Ryker
My life is perfect.
I have it all—the woman of my fantasies and my shot at the championship.
It’s all right in front of me. In my grips. I can see it, taste it, feel it.
No chance in hell I’ll lose.
Until I fall at the mercy of another man’s hands.
I’m torn apart and forced to make difficult decisions while staring malicious hatred in the eyes.
Doors open and others close—ones I’m not ready to see go.
My course changes. My dreams begin evading me.
You think I fought hard to get where I’m at now?
You haven’t seen the depth of my perseverance yet.
This isn’t the end of me.
I AM NOT DONE.

Whitney
He has everything in his hands—his career, me, our future.
One costly mistake, a defiant decision, and everything vanishes.
As he holds my hand through the darkness, he loses it all.
I watch with anguish as he struggles to put the torn pieces back together.
It’s not as easy as he had hoped.
But his strength proves powerful. His determination unbreakable.
Together we’ll conquer.
Together we don’t accept defeat.
WE ARE NOT DONE.

***MUST BE READ AFTER NO HOLDS***

**DON’T MISS THE BEGINNING OF RYKER & WHITNEY’S LOVE STORY IN NO HOLDS!**

BUY NOW!

Amazon (#FREE with #KU): http://amzn.to/2uqtHlK

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2vnSAMc

***This is a STANDALONE***

Ryker
I lost the championship.
The contract.
My dignity.

I’ve been offered a second chance.
I’m back with vengeance.
Determined and focused.
I’m going to win the championship.

Just when I thought I had it all planned out, she walked into my brother’s anniversary party. She’s beautiful, exquisite, and has a smile that makes me weak. I need to make her mine. Now I’m not only fighting to win the championship, I’m also fighting to win her.

Whitney
My life was on track…until him.
He’s not my type—an adrenaline junkie who enjoys inflicting pain on others for sport. Tall and tattooed with piercing blue eyes, he’s too sexy to resist.
I didn’t see him coming until he was already firmly entrenched in my life.
Suddenly, I’m falling head over heels for a man I realize I can’t breathe without.
We’re in for the fight of our lives.
And we both have everything to lose.

ABOUT T.C. MATSON

“Dreaming in Reality…You dream in reality when you pick up a book and get lost in it. In my writing, I strive to take you to a place where reality and fantasy become a blurry line. Everything should be relatable. It could happen…couldn’t it?” ~ TC Matson

TC Matson loves to let her character’s voices be heard. With a head full of stories, she puts her keyboard through a beating daily. With an understanding that love isn’t always instant and full of flowers—her writing mirrors it.

She’s a romance junkie at heart and an avid reader. Add those two together and she will devour books within hours, getting lost in the world the author creates.

Matson resides in the peaceful Piedmont area of NC with her husband and three boys, where staying hopped up on caffeine is the key to her sanity. Chaos is indefinite and a sense of humor is an absolute must.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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Pre-Order Blitz – Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck by Bree Dahlia

August 12, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

LOVE, LUCK & CLUSTERF*CK by Bree Dahlia
is available for PRE-ORDER for only 99cents!
AMAZON | B&N

LOVE, LUCK & CLUSTERF*CK by Bree Dahlia
Legal Series; Standalone
Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 14th!

Would you give up your best friend for one night of passion?

From the author of the Legal series comes a hot and hilarious new STANDALONE.

I met him on the luckiest day of the year.

Of course, I wasn’t aware of his true identity at the time. I only knew him as the arrogant blond god who gave me a shamrock necklace. For luck.

As if I needed it.

Okay, maybe I did. But it was presumptuous of him to assume I wanted his help – all because he made it his business to pry into my personal conversation.

I, Perry Sommers, want a life makeover.

I want to stop being so impulsive and start acting like a grown up.

I want to settle down and have a real relationship, instead of a series of clusterf*cks.

I want to fall in love. Just not with this man.

But love isn’t fair. It doesn’t care if someone is off-limits, and Stephen Davidson definitely is. I can handle that. Our intense chemistry tests me on a near constant basis. I can handle that too.

What I can’t handle is how much I’ve come to need him in my life. I never expected this infuriating hard-ass to become my best friend, but now that he has, I never want to let him go.

I can’t destroy the bond we share, but there is only so much a woman can take before she breaks.

Before she throws it all away for one perfect night.

** This friends to lovers standalone takes place six years before Legal. It does not need to be read in conjunction with the others in the series. **

ADD TO YOUR TBR ON GOODREADS
http://bit.ly/LoveLuckClucsterfckTBR

PRE-ORDER FOR ONLY 99CENTS: AMAZON | B&N

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GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win 1 of 3 signed paperbacks of
LOVE, LUCK & CLUSTERF*CK!

http://bit.ly/LoveLuckClusterfckGIVEAWAY

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Bree Dahlia is an unconventional romance junkie. She loves reading it but adores writing it even more. Her stories range from lighthearted to sizzling with that satisfying Happily Ever After ending and a touch of the unexpected. She favors themes of friendship, forgiveness, and unconditional love with alpha characters and eccentric tastes.

She holds degrees that she does nothing with and has experienced a long string of jobs that have left her unfulfilled. Only as an author, has she truly found her passion. When not crafting stories in her small Wisconsin town, she hikes unbeaten trails, watches hockey games, and wishes she didn’t detest cooking so much.

Dahlia is her middle name. Her last name is more suitable for a horror writer.

Sign up for Bree Dahlia’s Newsletter!
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Excerpt Reveal – Sweet Reality by Laura Heffernan

August 11, 2017 · by Tina@BooksAndSoap

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Synopsis

SUGAR, SEA SALT, AND SHOW BIZ

Jen Reid’s life after walking off a reality show has been great–she’s gone from being a broke twenty-four-year-old Seattleite with no love life and no job to the twenty-five-year-old who got the guy, moved to Miami, and is starting a bakery with her best friend. She thinks her showmance love might be about to propose. And with mouthwatering goodies based on everyone’s favorite shows, her business, Sweet Reality, is destined for success.

That is, until a killer competitor opens right across the street. If she’s going to save Sweet Reality, Jen has to come up with a secret ingredient–like the recipe that won Totally 80s Bake-Off. Jen can get it–if she steps back into the spotlight. Soon she and her boyfriend are out to sea on a cruise ship full of reality stars, including her nemesis, Ariana; her lying, cheating ex; and some wicked producers looking to bring the drama. Separate cabins, “surprises” from her past, and scenarios tailor-made to spark fights are just the beginning. But with her self-respect, her business, and her future on the line, the fallout from this made-for-TV plotline will be all too real . . .

Goodreads

Excerpt

Sarah kissed both our cheeks before pulling away and handed me a small, clear plastic container. “You’re the best, both of you. I gotta go before they tow my car. Love you all, I’ll see you next Sunday. Bring me alcohol, and try not to get into any trouble. Especially you, Ed.”

He winked at her, and Justin pulled her aside, supposedly to talk about their mother for a minute before dropping our suitcases with the porter. I suspected he had another reason for this conversation, which made me grin far more than I should at the prospect of having my luggage checked.

This excitement would not be contained. Nearly two years ago, I’d been so sure my ex-boyfriend planned to propose right before I found out he was married. I’d been excited then, but the thought of spending my life with him never sounded as perfect as marrying Justin. He was my other half, the absolute best partner for me.

Sarah winked at me over his shoulder, her way of telling me she’d slipped him the ring. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, wishing I could share my excitement with someone, but got distracted by the massive ocean liner casting shadows over the dock. More specifically, by the lifeboats.

Eyeing the orange rubber vessels lining the sides, I turned to Ed. “Do you think they brought enough lifeboats?”

“Yes. Also, this isn’t the Titanic. We’re not gonna sink. We have communications devices to call for help. And you, Jen, have your very own hunky stud in Justin to save you if anything goes wrong. Relax. Take your Dramamine.”

I rooted around in my carry-on for a moment before giving up. “My Dramamine must be in my big suitcase . . . which I probably shouldn’t have given to him to check. At least not without putting this Tupperware in first. The carry-on is about to burst.”

Ed gestured at the container Sarah handed me before leaving. “What’s that for?”

“So I can bring her one of Tammy Rae’s cupcakes. They’re doing a tasting after the bake-off tomorrow, remember?”

One of the onboard events pitted reality stars against each other in a baking competition, which Ed apparently forgot to sign up for. Hopefully, he wasn’t going to wing it. My friend created excellent meals for everyone while we were in the Fishbowl, but his laissez-faire attitude to cooking wouldn’t produce the same delicious results in baked goods.

Instead of competing against Ed, I signed up to judge with Justin. Partially as a way of getting on Tammy Rae’s good side, and partially because rumors said everyone involved got to sample her winning cupcakes after the event. I needed to be in the right place to snag one. Well, two. One for me, one for Sarah. Then I could verify whether these things tasted as good as the inter-webs claimed and butter Tammy Rae up by raving about what a baking genius she was before begging for a favor.

Where was Tammy Rae? Hopefully she hadn’t changed her mind and canceled at the last minute. According to E-Entertainment News Online, she’d mysteriously pulled out of Celebrity Poker Match a few years back, despite being a favorite to win. I scanned the docks, looking for her.

With luck, the recipe would be in my hand and I’d be lounging by the pool before the ship arrived in our first port. But one thing at a time. First, Justin and I needed to thoroughly explore and “enjoy” our cabin. Our glorious private cabin where we wouldn’t have to worry about my boyfriend’s sister or his somewhat creepy roommate hearing us through the paper-thin walls of our respective apartments. Or well, at least we wouldn’t know the people on the other side of our walls, so it wouldn’t matter what they heard.

Ed’s voice called me away from those thoughts, back to our conversation.

“What?” I asked.

“I said, calm down. Justin will be back soon, Tammy Rae will arrive before the ship leaves, and your suitcase, with Dramamine, will be delivered to your cabin sooner rather than later.”

“Why didn’t I take seasick pills before leaving home?” I moaned. “Why am I doing this?”

“You mean, freaking out over nothing? I couldn’t tell you.” Ed hugged me. “Really, Jen, you’ll be fine. I’ve cruised before. You won’t feel a thing.”

Finally, Justin walked toward us, sans luggage. I found myself relaxing as he put an arm around my waist and squeezed. I kissed him.

“Ugh. Lovebirds!” Ed moaned. “Get a room!”

“Hey, Ed, isn’t your boyfriend around here?” Justin asked good-naturedly. “Why don’t you go find him?”

Ed met his boyfriend Connor, formerly known to me only as Curly Beard, while filming The Fishbowl. Although the Network strictly prohibited staff from socializing with the contestants, they still found a way to make a connection. More importantly, they’d managed to keep it going ever since. The Network promoted Connor from production assistant to camera operator, and Ed recently moved from Boston to Los Angeles to be with him while pursuing a stand-up comedy career. I couldn’t have been happier for them.

“He’s doing some pre-boarding filming. I’m not allowed,” he said to Justin. “Besides, someone had to keep your belle here from having a panic attack. Did you know she gets seasick?”

Justin tilted his head at me the way he did when he didn’t want to say he thought I wasn’t being one hundred percent truthful. “You never mentioned that. You do?”

“I don’t know. When I was in high school, I threw up on the swan boats at the local fair.”

“Wasn’t that right after you bought tacos out of some guy’s van? Because I’m not sure that was the boat’s fault.”

This was the problem with dating someone long enough for them to hear all your stories. “Maybe…”

“You’ll be fine!” Ed said. “Now, let’s go before they take off without us.”

“Depart,” I said. “Or set sail.”

“Whatever.” Ed took off for the ship, luggage in tow.

“What’s really wrong?” Justin asked.

He gazed into my eyes until I realized I’d been freaking out over nothing. “I don’t know. I’ve been on edge all week. Partially it’s the bakery. What if Sarah can’t come up with new recipes? What if Tammy Rae hates me?”

“You are a resourceful, brilliant woman. You can be very persuasive. Plus, Sarah’s a genius in the kitchen. Even if Tammy Rae says no, the two of you will come up with something.”

I sighed. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m being stupid. I don’t know why I’m so jittery.”

Behind me, someone walked by wearing a t-shirt showing a woman with long, dark hair, pouting out from the inside of a clear fishbowl. And suddenly, I realized exactly why I felt so on edge: Ariana. The one person who could always make me act like my brain took a vacation without my body. No one confirmed whether she’d be onboard. I couldn’t relax until we set sail without her.

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About the Author

Laura Heffernan is living proof that watching too much TV can pay off. When not watching total strangers get married, drag racing queens, or cooking competitions, Laura enjoys travel, baking, board games, helping with writing contests, and seeking new experiences. She lives in the Northeast with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts.

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