by Ty Langston
“Without further adieu, here is our Number One Contender, Evan Bates.”
A highlight package showing the highlights of Evan’s career and time in the house were
broadcast. Evan also spoke and for the first time; he spoke of why he was gone from MMA for the last five years.
“Well, there was one reason. My daughter. She’s one of the reasons that I’m here, but I guess;
truth be told, that I missed this sport. For years, I’d make every excuse in the book not to come back because I was scared that if I did, I wouldn’t be as good as I once was. Jackson and I are friends. I’ve known him for a long time. He knows that, for him and me, it doesn’t matter about the win. It’s about coming back better and stronger than you were before. I just want to say, thank you to my family, my friends and especially to Hayley. Thank you for making me see that in order for me to move forward, I have to come out of the dark.”
The tape ended. Hayley looked over at Evan with tears in her eyes. Evan looked over at her and replied with a wink. “We’ll be ok.” He mouthed.
Hayley smiled and watched the bout. Evan took Jackson Briggs out in the 2nd round with a
superkick. Hayley was pleased. She was glad that this journey was over. She had learned more about herself in the last few months than she ever wanted to know. But at least, she’d have others by her side to help her along the way to find the ‘Next Great Hope’.
The End
I hoped you enjoyed the story. For your reading pleasure, here are more Red, Hot and BOOM!
Stories!
A Slow Burn
Tigris Eden
In the Fictional town of Beauville, anything is possible.
Annabelle Macon left home to become somebody. When fired from her job in New York, she’s anxious to come home. Home is where the heart is, and her heart has always been set on Jackson Storme. But when opportunity presents Anna with an exciting new job back in New York, she doesn’t know what to do.
Sheriff Jackson Storme is happy being deemed a player. He hasn’t found the one woman to call his own, and that’s okay with him. When his baby sister pulls up to the Fourth of July picnic and her passenger steps out, Jackson realizes his woman has made herself known.
Will Anna and Jackson’s fire only burn for one night, or can he convince her that the best burn is a Slow burn…
http://www.authortigriseden.com/stories-from-beauville.html
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Return to Her
Alexandra O’Hurley
Cheated on and dumped, Cassie Summers feels nothing but relief. She’d stayed too long, and honestly, it was her attraction to her ex’s roommate Mason that kept her hanging on past the expiration date. Mason makes her heart beat faster and her panties damp. Too bad he’s only a friend, as she’s not his type.
Mason Parker’s Southern charm and good looks let him through a lot of doors—and into beds. A
protective instinct a mile wide pushes Mason to be Cassie’s shoulder when his roommate skips town, and he has to face his real feelings for her. Can he find the patience to just be the friend Cassie needs while she gets over her ex?
When Mason’s called for duty and has to ship out for a year, he knows he can’t leave without telling her exactly how he feels. Amid the fireworks on the Fourth of July, they’ll make their own sparks and give in to the crushing need both have for one another.
http://www.alexandraohurley.com/p/red-hot-and-boom.html
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Sparks Fly
Mari Carr
I Do is the easy part. Happily ever after? Not so much.
Evan and Annie are deeply in love, but that hasn't stopped tension from creating cracks in their relationship. Determined not to fail his wife, Evan takes action before those cracks become craters, damaging their marriage irreparably. Over the Fourth of July weekend, he'll reignite Annie's passion with his own brand of fireworks.
Stand back and watch the sparks fly.
www.maricarr.com/books/
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Naughty Girls Do
Jodi Redford
Lexie Winters is on a mission—to lose her good girl image and tempt resident bad boy, Ash Bodry, into her bed. Tired of being treated like his kid sister, it’s past time for her to play dirty. She has her work cut out for her though when it comes to the sinfully sexy yet incredibly frustrating man.
As far as Ash is concerned, Lexie is strictly off limits. Not only are they friends, her dad just happens to be the sheriff, and years ago the man steered Ash away from a life of crime. No way is he repaying that favor by giving into his wicked fantasies of Lexie. But when the little vixen strolls into his tattoo parlor and requests a very naughty piercing, Ash’s honorable intentions are tested to their limits.
Now that Lexie’s hammered the first chink in Ash’s defenses, and he’s sweating bullets, there’s no chance in hell she’s settling for his hands off policy. Even if it means some flirty strip tease action and late night skinny dipping to convince him that this newfound naughty girl will do whatever it takes to get her man.
http://www.jodiredford.com/More_Books.html
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For Liberty
Rene Folsom
While deployed overseas, his mission classified, the heartfelt letters Maximus writes are the only bits of communication Liberty receives during the year he is away. Her memories of him, along with a box full of letters, become her most prized possessions—that and the life growing inside her.
It’s not until communication stops, and the scheduled return of her Army hero comes and goes, that Libby begins to freak out. Her worry for his welfare, along with concern over her current situation, wreaks havoc on her once-solid nerves.
While she’s waiting for his return with bated breath, she clings to hope and remembers the words he once wrote: “A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind.” The infamous quote is a constant reminder of why he chooses to fight: For Liberty.
http://renefolsom.com/2014/04/for-liberty/
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White Chocolate Cherry
Graylin Rane
Julia is getting ready for work, her camerawoman and best friend Amy by her side, when a notice is left at her door. She’s been chosen to receive a sculpted chocolate man picked personally by Eros to fulfill her romantic and sexual needs.
While other women would jump at the offer, Julia is torn. It’s been three years since she lost her beloved Jorge after twenty-five years of wedded bliss. How would she explain a chocolate man to her six kids?
Anteros is carved perfection, luscious, and gorgeous with a surprise for her. He loves books and discussing history, he backs away when she feels a loyalty pull to her lost husband, respects her devotion to family. Time and patience pay off as Julia slowly opens her home, her body, and her heart.
http://www.graylinfox.com/candy-man-delivery-service-stories/white-chocolate-cherry/
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Firecracker
Desiree Holt
Dani DeLuca is known as Firecracker, as much for her hot rides as a barrel racer as for her long, luxurious red hair. When she takes first place in the Fourth of July Golden Spur Rodeo she decides it’s time to celebrate with some real fireworks. And who better to create those sparks than Chad Bailey, bull breeder, and Brody Hunter, champion bull rider. Dani’s never experienced a ménage but she’s sure if she did Chad and Brody would be the ideal candidates.
Chad and Brody have been rodeo friends with Firecracker for a long time but they’ve never taken it beyond that. For one thing they didn’t want to ruin a great relationship. For another, they were all too aware that she didn’t play on the circuit. But over some time sparks have been simmering between them, sparks that are just waiting to be ignited.
The two men take Dani to a classy hotel for an elegant dinner and night of celebration. But all through dinner the air around them crackles with sexual electricity and when the
y give in to the desires gripping them all, the Fourth of July fireworks have nothing on the sparks between Dani, Chad and Brody.
www.desireeholt.com
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Come With Me
Sable Hunter and Ryan O’Leary
Lacy spends her time planning events at a country club. Her latest and greatest project is the big Fourth of July celebration. Fireworks lighting up the sky – Red Hot and Boom! She loves the excitement and the spectacular display of sparkles and heat gives her a thrill. The only problem is… Lacy has never had any fireworks of her own. Despite having to listen to her friends tell of their sexual escapades, she has never experienced the big ‘O’. According to the only man she’s ever given herself to, Lacy is frigid. Is something wrong with her or has she just not met the right man for the job?
Jake is the manager of the golf course at the country club. He’s designing and overseeing a building project and the sight of him shirtless and sweating and flexing…has given Lacy ideas. Jake has a certain reputation of being able to handle almost any task he’s given. Rumors of his sexual prowess are
legendary. Now, every time Lacy sees him working with his hands, doing some heavy lifting, his body gleaming with the sheen of exertion – she begins to hope that Jake can give her what no one else ever has.
IF - she can just figure out how to ask him. But what Lacy doesn’t know is that Jake has ideas of his own.
His outlook on love and life has been molded by the mistakes of his family. He doesn’t think true love exists, there’s just sex. Until he meets Lacy. This Fourth of July celebration proves to have more explosions in store than those in the sky, for Jake sets out to prove that he can give Lacy exactly what she needs. In fact, Jake intends to show Lacy that what she needs – is him.
http://sablehunter.com/
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Scorin’ on the Fourth of July
Cassandra Carr
After Mikael signs a free agent contract with the Buffalo Storm professional hockey team, he finds himself agreeing to a part of a charity hockey tournament taking place over the Fourth of July weekend.
While there, he meets Terri, the goaltender who recently backstopped the US women’s hockey team to a gold medal. He’s instantly enamored, both by her skill and her beauty, and sets out to learn more about her.
While Mikael has a brand-new life in Buffalo, Terri fears that to be able to continue playing her beloved hockey she’ll have to leave the area, possibly going far away if that’s what it takes to find a professional team willing to take a chance on a female goaltender. She likes Mikael, but fears becoming involved and then having to leave him.
Both Mikael and Terri are facing turning points in their career and must decide if love is worth it or if they’ll leave their passion on the ice.
http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
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Dual Desires
Shyla Colt
The red, white , and blue rally used to be a high point for Ardy Larkin. The festival brought in enough money for the town to scrape by, and added a bit of excitement to the air. This year everything’s different.
Her father made a deal he couldn’t back, and now her life is forfeit. Demanded as payment for their debt she finds herself attached to the biggest, baddest, member of the Dueling Devils M.C., their president, Demon.
In need of someone to watch his children while he was away, Ardy Larkin seemed like the perfect
solution to all Demon’s problems, until he caught a case of feelings for an innocent girl who didn’t belong in his world. When a dangerous situation forces his feeling to the forefront, he shows her what it means to be claimed by a member of the Dueling Devils.
http://www.shylacolt.com/
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All Hat No Cattle
Randi Alexander
It’s Independence Day, and Harper Johansen is at the rodeo in South Dakota on business. While she’s deep in cowboy territory, she’s hoping to meet a real cowboy—one who shares her dreams for the future.
Shaw Donahue, tall and sexy in his cowboy hat, jeans, and boots, could be that man, and Harper quickly falls for his seductive charm. Until he tells her he’s a roughneck.
Shaw can’t believe his luck. Harper is an accomplished, intelligent businesswoman, and she’s beautiful, sexy, and willing. Until she learns he’s working the local oil field. Before he can explain the reason he’s roughnecking, she pushes him away, telling him they can only be friends. He doesn’t fit into her plans.
With four days of rodeo ahead of them, can Shaw convince Harper to value a man for more than his cattle?
http://randialexander.com/preview/red-hot-boom-hat-cattle/
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Knocked Out
Ty Langston
Fresh out of Grad School, Hayley Monroe gets the chance of a lifetime when her boss gives her the opportunity to produce and host a reality series on finding MMA’s “Next Great Hope.”
Enter former MMA contender Evan Bates. His sudden re-appearance into the sport after a mysterious five year absence not only raises eyebrows, but also temps both in and out of the Octagon.
Can Hayley keep everything in check? Or will she be Knocked Out?
http://www.tylangston.com
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One Last Rodeo
Michel Prince
Betsy Flynn's star is rising as she serves as the color sports reporter for the local CBS affiliate. Her focus, knowledge and high heels have become a staple along every sideline in Minneapolis, but a rodeo has come to Minnesota and this Texas transplant will have to go back to her roots.
Five years ago JT Long chose being a rodeo pick-up man and his best friend’s career over the love of his life, Betsy. As JT’s rodeo shows up in Northern Minnesota he quickly realizes his chances of winning Betsy back are getting slim. She has a hot new man after her and she’s not about to let JT break her heart again. Now he has one last rodeo to win her heart.
http://www.michelprincebooks.com
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Stars and Sparks
Christin Lovell
Plus size journalist Shae Roberts was used to the fast pace of city life, dressing to the nine everywhere she went, and having more than one coffee shop to choose from. When the Atlanta-based newspaper she
worked for cut their staff in half, she was forced to branch out. Four months later, she landed in Bear Valley, a small town a hundred-and-twenty-seven miles from familiar.
Barry “Bear” Jacobs has just returned from his final tour after six years in the Marines. He’s ready to move on, but finds his sleepy hometown hasn’t changed nearly as much as he has. With his military career now in the past, he has some hard decisions to make. He’s seen what the world has to offer, and it’s far more than he believes the familiar of home can…until he bumps into a certain sassy, overdressed reporter.
Two people in transition are attempting to find their new place in this world, but, sometimes, it’s not about finding a place, it’s about finding a person, and there’s nothing but stars and sparks between these two.
http://christinlovell.com/red-hot-books/
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The Hotter It Gets
Cat Schield
No one gets under attorney Reese Donovan’s skin faster than mediator Kenzi Gable. If she isn’t meddling in his client’s affairs behind his back, she’s driving him crazy with her sassy tongue and sensual allure.
Kenzi shouldn’t enjoy tormenting the savvy lawyer as much as she does, but his unwavering confidence brings out her mischievous side and she has made it her mission to knock him off his game.
When they’re thrown together on a case, their clashing personalities make working together nearly impossible, until one steamy July night when they discover that arguing might be the best sort of foreplay.
http://catschield.net