Smuttily Ever After

by R. S. Owl

  Simon told me once to believe in him. I did. I'm so happy I let my guard down enough to take a leap of faith. Without it, I might have missed out on the great love of my life.

  Yin and Yang

  My love knows no bounds

  It comes from the heart

  Waiting for you

  To make a fresh start

  Like a moth to a flame

  Forever you'll be

  The fire within

  That sets me free

  When you feel down

  Look up and see

  My love reflected

  In my green eyes

  For you to see

  In my heart

  You'll always be

  Protected and loved

  Yin and Yang

  The End

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  There are so many people we couldn’t have released this anthology without. The support has been overwhelming and incredible. We are so grateful to everyone. So taking it from the top…

  Thank you to Helena Hunting for the foreword, you have no idea how much we freaked out when we found out. It is amazing!

  CP Smith, who did the formatting and saved a lot of stress from trying to do it ourselves for the first time, you have no idea how much weight you took off our shoulders, thank you for donating your time and skills.

  Stacey Broadbent and Petrina Jenkins, thank you so much for editing and proofreading. These stories would look crap without your awesome eyes!

  Celia Aaron and Kacey Shea, your advice has been incredibly helpful and your help has cured anxiety many times!!

  Sloane Howell, without you so much of this book would have been incredibly stressful and less fun. Thank you for offering absolutely everything at your disposal and bending over backwards to help and make this project so much more EPIC!

  Sybil Wilson, your patience and understanding while we hounded you about covers will never be forgotten, you are an incredible designer and professional.

  Thank you Neda Amini of Ardent Prose and Jacob and Logan Chance of Chance Promotions for all your help on the cover reveal and release sign ups. Promoting this anthology wouldn’t have been as easy without your generosity.

  Thank you to CeeCee Carbajal of T & G Book Boutique for taking some awesome photographs for us – your legs are as amazing as your photography skills! Follow CeeCee on Facebook and Instagram @tgbookboutique!

  Thank you to Karen, another stunning model who bravely agreed to pose for some beautiful pics for us. You can find her on a few of our teasers.

  Thank you to Melanie of @Mells_View for making us some amazing banners and teasers!! Give her a follow on Instagram – she knows all the good books.

  The ladies over at Goodreads, SueBee and all the Shhluts, thank you so much for your help and support. Also thank you SueBee for the amazing gif!!

  A mahooosive thank you to Mila Grayson who designed our fantastic cover and all the many other various requests (demands) that you so wonderfully put up with!! You rock!

  We cannot thank everyone enough. To our friends who read our stories and gave us feedback when it was in its early stages, to everyone who challenged us and encouraged us to keep writing, to everyone who beta read and offered help to improve. Every single one of you have been amazing and we are so grateful to have you as friends.

  Bloggers are an awesome part of the book world, thanks to all of you who shared and supported this anthology from the beginning, you make us proud to be bloggers too.

  HELENA HUNTING

  NYT and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredible tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

  Titles By Helena Hunting

  PUCKED Series

  The Clipped Wings Series

  The Librarian Principle

  OUT NOW:

  Fractures in Ink (Clipped Wings #3)

  Sometimes the things we shouldn't want become exactly what we need...

  Waitressing at a seedy strip club isn't ideal, but it pays Sarah Adamson's tuition. Her goal is to finish her master's program and get a job that doesn't involve tight skirts and groping hands. She doesn't need distractions. Especially not the one that comes in the form of a hot-as-sin tattoo artist who works across the street from her apartment.

  Kicked out at sixteen, and a high school dropout, Chris Zelter is familiar with wanting things he can't have. His fractured life has never been easy. As the product of someone else's bad decisions, he knows exactly what happens when the wrong person controls your marionette strings. Now an accomplished tattoo artist in a renowned studio in Chicago, Chris has it together.

  Mostly.

  Apart from his infatuation with Sarah. She's way out of his league, and Chris knows it.

  But he's willing to be her bad decision. At least for now.

  Books are available on Amazon, iTunes, B&N, Kobo & Google Play

  Connect with Helena

  Facebook I Website I Twitter I Instagram

  CP SMITH

  CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.

  Titles by CP Smith

  Reason Series

  Property Of

  Framed

  Restoring Hope

  OUT NOW

  Wallflowers: Three of a Kind

  “Romance and poetry, ivy, lichens, and wallflowers, need ruin to make them grow.”

  ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

  They say money is the root of all evil, but sometimes, evil lurks in the most unlikely places.

  Calla Lily Armstrong spent her whole life shielding her heart. Now she's ready to break down her walls and see what's hiding on the other side. With the help of her new friends, Poppy Gentry and Sienna Miller, the three band together to find their happily ever after. One Wallflower at a time.

  Former Atlanta Homicide Detective, Devin Hawthorne, moved to Savannah for a change of pace and a fresh start as a Private Investigator. He finds it right under his nose in the form of a Southern beauty who drives him to distraction, and deadly secrets that threaten her very life.

  Connect with CP:

  Facebook I Goodreads I Twitter

  SPELL BOUND

  (Stacey Broadbent & Petrina Jenkins)

  Professional freelance proofreaders and content editors.

  Website I Facebook

  Stacey Broadbent is also a Self-Published Author and a Book Blogger.

  Connect with her online and keep updated on all her book news.

  Author Stacey Broadbent I Stayc's Book Blog

  CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER INFO

  Mila Grayson | KU Book Reviews

  http://www.kubookreviews.com

  Kay Su | BooksandMe

  http://iamkayiee.blogspot.com

  Beauté De Livres - Beauty of Books

  http://beautedelivres.com/

  The Messy Mind of Monique Pearson

  http://mindofmoniquepearson.com/

  The Saucy Owl - Reviewing the Raunch

  http://thesaucyowl.wixsite.com/thesaucyowl

  Obsessed with Romance

  http://www.obsessedwithromance.com

  Books and Boys Book Blog

  http://booksnboysbookblog.blogspot.com

  SNEAK PEAKS

  Shameless

  By Monique Pearson

  Expected Release: Early 2017

  © Copyright Held by Monique Pearson

  Apparently miscommunication is the theme of the day. I get to Owasso, only to find the manager I was supposed to see has gone to lunch, isn’t answering his cell, and left no information for anyone at the rental agency. After over an hour of waiting and another half-hour of this apparently new manager trying to figure out how to set up the appropriate paperwork, I’m finally heading to Humble.


  I probably should have been grateful for the delays, but I was too busy being pissy. It’s later than I planned to arrive. I could go to the hotel, but I decide to make a stop to let my sister know I’ve arrived so she doesn’t think I bailed on her and I’m not coming.

  As I’m driving into town, the sun is just beginning to set. I make a right at the post office to head towards my sister’s, and as I’m passing the church, I notice Pastor Joe heading inside. It’s Thursday so I’m not sure what he’d be doing at the church this evening, but since he’s the only person in this town who doesn’t drive me absolutely bonkers, I turn into the church parking lot and kill the engine.

  It takes me a moment to calm my odd fears about seeing someone from my old life before I get out of the car.

  One step through the door, and Pastor Joe sees me from the pulpit, smiling the way that always offered me a sense of warmth and comfort. I’ve never really been into the whole religion thing, but if anyone could convince people there’s a light out there somewhere, it’s definitely Pastor Joe.

  I speed up the steps as he steps down, and we meet near the front of the church.

  “Alex!” he booms in that James Earl Jones voice of his. “It’s so good to see you.” He wraps me up in a bear hug without hesitation. It feels like I saw him just the other day.

  “Pastor Joe,” I say pulling back and smiling up at him. “I just got into town and saw you coming in here, and I just wanted to say hello.”

  “Well, you do an old man’s heart good, Honey. When your sister, Sam, told me you were coming for the funeral, I wasn’t sure if I’d get a chance to see you beforehand.”

  “You are doing the funeral, then?” I ask because I hadn’t gotten any of the details from my sister other than my dad had died and I was needed here.

  “Yes, of course. Your daddy was a good man. Besides, I don’t get a chance to get behind the pulpit much anymore, so when Sam said it was Jakob’s wish, I was grateful the Lord hadn’t called me home yet so I could do this for him.”

  Confused, I asked, “What do you mean you don’t get behind the pulpit anymore? This is YOUR church!”

  With a small laugh he says, “It will always be my home and until my last breath, I’ll be around to offer counsel to the people of Humble and occasionally stir up some trouble from up there.” He points back with his thumb to the pulpit. “But, I’m no spring chicken, Alex. I can’t always be here, so it was time to pass the baton, so to speak.”

  “It won’t be the same,” I tell him with a sad shake of my head. “You’re the only Pastor I’ve ever known who made church seem like a safe place to be. You actually made it fun sometimes, and you know how I feel about church in general.”

  “Still haven’t figured all that out, eh?” He gives me a wink, then says, “I hate to hear you don’t feel the same about all churches, but I promise you, little lady, I’m leaving you in good hands here. I think you’ll agree.”

  “Not possible,” I grimace. Hands on my hips, I continue, “There’s only one you, and don’t think anyone is going to be okay with some crazy religious wing nut coming in here and changing everything. You are just the right mix of Pastor and friend. Who could possibly take your place and be half as kind and wise?”

  A familiar deep voice sounds behind me, causing me to jump.

  “Not take his place, but I promise to do my best to continue his work for this community.”

  I turn around so fast I almost fall into a pew. My mouth gapes open, my palms begin to sweat, and the girl who never shuts up can’t find any words.

  In front of me stands the best friend I haven’t seen or spoken to in over 8 years. The only man I’ve ever loved.

  “Hey, Lexi,” he says, coming closer. “Long time, no see.”

  I swallow hard and lick my suddenly parched lips.

  “J.J.”

  SOPHIE’S SANTA

  By R.S. Owl

  Release Date: December 1st 2016

  © Copyright Held by R.S. Owl

  “I’ve seen you kiss in the movies, I’ve memorised the shape of your plump lips, but never did I think you’d kiss as amazingly as you just kissed me, Jude.” I say as I stare up from underneath him, the weight of his crotch against my pelvis making me feel even more flustered. He looks into my eyes and grins out the side of his mouth. “It’s all so staged in the movies, they tell you exactly the way they want you to turn your head, I can be reckless with you, Sophie.” He grinds his hips against me and takes my mouth again, pulling my lower lip between his teeth and holding my gaze with his own heated stare. I can feel his hardness and I want it naked. I move my hands down his toned chest and ripped stomach towards his belt. Just as I go to work his buckle, he slides his arm under my back and grips my waist. He has a glint of cheekiness in his eyes as he rolls onto his back and pulls me on top of him. BANG!

  I awake from my, very near, sex dream to find myself face down on my Ikea rug. My nose stings from where I face planted the floor and my nipples hurt from where my tits nearly went through my back. Good job they aren’t fake or I think they would have burst. I have two choices. I can either stay here and accept my patheticness or I can move my ass to my actual bed. I contemplate the decision for a few minutes before deciding I’m too proud to sleep on my floor.

  I pull my head up first to look around. I notice the lack of light and sound and find that my television has timed off. The timer on my fairy lights around the tree have also timed off. The only light in the room is streaming in from the street light outside my living room window. I lift my head to peer over at the clock. From the faint glow alone I can’t make out the minute hand but it’s somewhen after 2am. I bring my arms up to push myself back so I’m sat on my feet. Then I use the coffee table to not-so-graciously rise off the floor. Maximum effort.

  I check I’ve dead bolted the front door before going to the toilet to brush the red wine stains off of my teeth. Just as I go to rinse out my new minty fresh mouth, I hear a thud coming from somewhere near the front of the house, followed by a clattering. I lean my head around the open bathroom door, there’s definitely noises coming from my living room. My mind rushes through all the possibilities of what could be in there. I locked my front door, all my windows are shut, I didn’t hear any glass shatter. Someone can’t be in my house.

  I walk through the hallway towards the living room, grabbing my umbrella for a weapon as I go. I tread lightly, trying not to make any noise. As I approach the living room door, I jump into the room and turn the light on simultaneously, my umbrella raised above my head with the other hand. What I see shocks and disgusts me.

  “Get your hands off my fucking chocolate!” I shout at the intruder as I approach him, my umbrella out in front of me ready to jab him away. He drops the packet and the remaining chocolate, if there is any, and steps away from the coffee table. He raises his hands above his head, looking at me, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. I lean forward to inspect where he dropped the chocolate. There’s nothing left. He ate all of it.

  “You finished the whole bar!?” I’m furious, not only did he steal my chocolate, he stole all of my chocolate.

  “I’m, I’m sorry, people usually leave mince pies, but, but, I thought, um, can you put the weapon down please, Sophie? I thought you’d left the chocolate out for me.” He looks genuinely scared.

  “How do you know my name?” I ask with my umbrella still pointed towards his chest. “And more importantly, how the hell did you get in here?”

  He stares at me for a while, his eyes occasionally blinking like I’ve just asked the most ridiculous question. I raise my eyebrows expectantly.

  “You know what night it is, right?” He asks slowly, while looking over to my Christmas tree.

  “Of course I know what night it is, but that still doesn’t tell me why you’re here in my living room eating my chocolate!” I drop my umbrella and rest my hands on my hips.

  My eyes maintain a glare while I check out this intruder. It’s then that I no
tice, he’s dressed completely in red. Not bright red, but a crimson red, like the colour of my wine. He’s wearing a tight fitting v-neck sweater which hugs his arm muscles superbly. Below that he’s wearing slightly darker crimson jeans, not skinny jeans but fitted well. His boots are black lace ups, like the caterpillar style work men boots, and his black belt matches them.

  Looking back up to his face, his eyes are the yummy dark brown of chocolate, matching his slightly curly, short hair. His strong jaw is covered by a light smattering of hair, and it draws my gaze to his mouth. Perfectly plump lips like Jude Law. He’s smiling widely at me like he’s completely aware that I’m checking him out. His teeth are a stunning white and perfectly straight. This man is gorgeous.

  He clears his throat and I remember that this man is also an intruder in my house. I resume my inquisition. “Well? Why are you here?”