Read a steamy bonus scene from Beautiful Mess, and look at the spotlight on Megan Abel's Perfectly Broken. Keep scrolling for a giveaway. I'll admit, I was supposed to do a review of this one, but with moving and stuff, I've completely flaked out. I will read it and review it as soon as I can, because it looks AWESOME!
Happy Friday! I hope y'all have enjoyed hanging out and following this little blog party this week as you reacquaint yourselves with Olivia and Alexander. I think a lot of people root for these two to succeed as a couple so much because of the history and connection there. Alexander has loved this girl his entire life and who couldn't just swoon over that?
As a reward for sticking with me all week, what do you say to a bonus scene from A Beautiful Mess?
Well, you’re in luck. Here it is. This is what is known as Chapter 23, Something You Feel. It happens the night after Alexander and Olivia finally reconcile. The first part is in the published version. And then it gets a little steamy (which is not in the published version.)
THIS EXCERPT CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND EXPLICIT SEXUAL SITUATIONS. 18 AND OVER ONLY.
“Come. I want to show you something,” Alexander said to Olivia after they finished eating their dinner of salmon, roasted red potatoes, and asparagus. They had spent all day together after Alexander took Olivia back to her house to gather some things she would need for the weekend.
They had gone to Olivia’s gym later in the morning after eating a breakfast of egg white omelettes with broccoli, spinach, mushrooms and feta cheese that Olivia had made. Alexander thought that she was a fantastic cook. The dinner reaffirmed that thought.
Olivia had spent most of the day snuggled up on Alexander’s couch reading a book on her e-reader and scratching Runner’s belly as he cuddled next to her. Alexander sat on the other end of the couch going over case reports. He disappeared into his study every so often, closing the door to make a phone call. Olivia didn’t mind. She figured there were some things he was working on that were classified.
“Where are we going?” she asked when Alexander grabbed her hand, pulling her along with him down the stairs.
“You’ll see,” he winked. Olivia smiled at the twinkle in his eyes. He was so excited to show her wherever it was they were going.
He led her down a hallway past two spacious guest bedrooms before stopping outside a door. Beaming from ear to ear, he opened it, allowing Olivia to enter before him. She couldn’t believe her surroundings. In the middle of the enormous room stood a beautiful Steinway baby grand piano. Dozens of guitars hung on the walls. There were also amps, a drum kit, and various other instruments scattered throughout the room. It was a musician’s dream come true.
“Why do you have all this?” she asked. “Do you play?”
“Yeah. You could say that,” he replied, running his hands through his hair. “I started fiddling with the piano and guitar when I was a little boy. A family friend taught me.” Alexander remembered Mrs. DeLuca teaching him how to hold a guitar. He remembered her showing him how to curve his hands around the keys of the piano. And most of all, he remembered hearing her daughter sing those beautiful melodies. “You can feel free to come down here anytime you’d like.”
Olivia walked over to the piano, running her fingers over the keys, the cool ivory always a comfort to her. She saw a Martin guitar set on a stand next to the piano. She picked it up and checked its tuning, noting it was perfectly in tune. It must have been played recently. She wasn’t expecting Alexander to have such a beautiful music room.
“And the walls are totally sound proof so you don’t have to worry about disturbing me or anything.” Alexander sat down on a love seat against the wall, watching as Olivia fiddled with the guitar. “Play something for me, Love.”
Olivia smiled as she sat down in a chair in the middle of the room, bringing the Martin guitar with her. She remembered a song that she and Mo used to play quite a bit during her college years. When she was at B.C., she would often invite Mo and the guys over for beers to hang out with Kiera and some of their friends. Usually late at night, after lots of drinks had been consumed, Mo and Olivia would break out a few of her guitars and entertain their late night guests. This song was one of their favorites.
Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she began playing a beautiful melody. Alexander had heard the song before when he accompanied his brother to a Zac Brown Band concert. Her voice filled the room, the acoustics perfect, mesmerizing Alexander as she played the guitar, focusing solely on the music as if nothing else mattered. She sang an ode to the guitar she held against her body. As he listened to the lyrics, Alexander thought how appropriate the song was. Almost as if she could be talking about herself or the guitar she so lovingly played. Almost as if telling him how much she needed music in her life.
Halfway through the song, Alexander stood up and grabbed one of his other guitars. He watched Olivia’s hands, getting the chords he needed to join her. Sitting in the chair next to her, he played with her, singing along to the chorus as she continued belting out the lyrics. Olivia opened her eyes, smiling at the sound of his soft, sultry voice next to her.
She finished the song and Alexander leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “That was fantastic, Olivia. Did you study music in college?” He knew the answer, but she didn’t know that.
“No, actually.”
He looked at her, feigning surprise.
“I know. Everyone thought I would. I mean, I was constantly involved in music groups all through middle school and high school. Everyone thought it was what I would study. But I actually have a degree in exercise physiology.”
“Ah,” Alexander said. “Hence the health club.”
She smiled. “Yeah. I don’t know why I chose that. I mean, I was worried if I studied music, I’d start to hate it. And I didn’t want to hate music. Anyway, music isn’t something you study. It’s something you feel.”
Alexander flashed back. He remembered Olivia’s mother saying those exact words to him as he learned to play guitar and piano all those years ago. And those words had stayed with him ever since.
“What? What is it?” Olivia asked, noticing a distant expression on Alexander’s face.
He quickly returned his attention to the beautiful brunette sitting next to him. “Nothing. Give me that,” he said, placing his guitar on the ground and doing the same with the Martin guitar Olivia held in her hands. The atmosphere in the room became heated as Alexander stared into Olivia’s brown eyes, his heart racing from her beauty.
“Come here.” He raised himself off the chair and held out his hand for Olivia.
She looked at him skeptically before placing her hand cautiously in his.
Smiling, he led her over to the baby grand piano, turning around to face her.
Noticing the expression on his face, Olivia scrunched her eyebrows. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Her breathing became ragged in anticipation. She had seen that expression on his face before, most recently the previously night when he brought her back to his place. She knew what he wanted. And she’d be fooling herself if she said she didn’t want the same thing at that moment.
He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her on top of the closed piano lid.
“What are you doing?” Olivia asked.
Alexander leaned in, brushing his lips against her neck, inhaling her scent. “God, you smell amazing, Olivia. Anyone ever tell you that?”
She closed her eyes, lost in the sensation of Alexander’s lips on her skin. “You may have mentioned it once or twice.” She threw her head back, giving him better access to her neck, her body lighting on fire when he began to nibble on her ear. She moaned out in response.
“I want you. Right here. Right now, Olivia,” Alexander said forcefully, bringing her body closer to his as she sat on the piano. “Do you want that?”
She nodded. “Yes, Alexander.”
He brought his lips to hers, kissing her full on the mouth, his tongue tangled with hers. Running his hands up and down her back, he groaned into her mouth.
Olivia pulled him into her, wrapping her legs around his waist, slowly teasing him with her body. She felt his arousal grow and she couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s so funny, Miss Adler?” Alexander asked, pulling out of the kiss and giving Olivia a mischievous grin.
“Oh, nothing.” She pulled his tee shirt and crushed her lips back against his. “I just love how turned on you get. And I know I’m the one who does it to you,” she whispered breathlessly into his mouth before invading it with her tongue once more.
Alexander couldn’t take much more of it. He needed to feel her naked flesh against his or he knew he was going to lose his mind. Pulling out of the kiss, he ripped his tee shirt over his head. “Enough of this. I need you,” he panted.
Olivia grinned. “Losing control so soon, Alex? I was kind of enjoying just kissing you. Maybe I don’t want to have sex right now.”
Alexander placed his hand on her back and pulled her closer to him, feathering his lips against hers once more before trailing kisses across her neck and down her collarbone. She moaned with pleasure. Slowly roaming her body with his hands, he slipped one underneath the waistband of her yoga pants. He found that sweet spot and could feel how wet she was. “Oh really, Olivia? Doesn’t feel like you don’t want me inside you right now.” He lightly clenched his teeth onto her neck, sucking gently. “From the feel of things, I’m pretty sure you want me to fuck you just as much as I want to.”
Olivia moaned at the feeling of Alexander’s fingers slowly toying with her overly sensitized clit and his mouth gently sucking on her neck. In the past twenty-four hours she had more mind-blowing orgasms than she could remember, and she was ready to explode again from just his touch. And that scared her and thrilled her.
“Tell me you want that, Olivia,” he whispered against her skin. “Tell me you want my cock inside you, thrusting in and out, pushing you higher and higher until you can’t take it anymore and you shatter into thousands of pieces all because of how I can make you feel.”
She nodded, certain that Alexander could probably make her cum from his words alone. “Yes. I want that. I want to feel you inside me.”
“Good,” he responded curtly, removing his hand from her pants. “Lie on your back.”
She raised her eyebrows, wondering what he had planned.
“Just do it, Olivia.” He brushed her lips with his. “For once, stop being so stubborn.”
She smiled, nodding. “Okay.” She leaned back, Alexander supporting her back with his arm until she was flush with the top of the piano.
He reached up and lifted her ass, lowering her pants down her legs before kneeling on the ground and placing her legs on his shoulders. “God, Love. You’re so fucking wet. And I do this to you. Don’t you ever forget it,” he said before pressing his tongue against her clit, slowly circling her.
Olivia moaned, knowing that she would never tire of the feeling of Alexander’s mouth on her most sensitive part. She began slowly thrusting against him, the sensation overwhelming her once more. It felt incredible and it all seemed so unreal. Never had anyone else made her want to fall apart as quickly as Alexander could. Her breathing increased as he gently slid a finger inside her, stretching her out.
“You like that?” Alexander asked against her clit, the vibrations of his voice making her squirm.
She nodded feverishly, her body tightening in anticipation of what she knew was about to happen. She was on the brink of another incredible orgasm and she wanted to fall apart but also wanted the incredible feeling of Alexander’s tongue on her to last as long as humanly possible.
“You’re about to cum, aren’t you, Olivia?” he asked thrusting even faster with his fingers. “You always tighten up and your breathing becomes heavy.” He looked at the beautiful woman panting on top of his piano. “And I fucking love that I can make you cum so fucking hard and quick.” He returned his tongue to her, sucking gently on her clit as she convulsed around him, her orgasm lasting longer than any orgasm she had ever had.
After several long moments passed, Alexander stood up, helping Olivia down from the piano. “Now comes the fun part,” he winked, turning her body away from his, trailing kisses down her shoulder blades. “Hold onto the piano for support. And bend over.”
Olivia turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Alexander as he stripped out of the remainder of his clothes.
His expression turned heated. “Just do it,” he said, pressing his hand on her stomach and pulling her against his naked body.
She gasped at his erection on her back.
“Or you’ll regret it,” he whispered against her neck.
Shivers ran through her body as she felt Alexander’s chest against her, his lips barely touching her skin. It was such a unique feeling, her nerves on fire from his deep voice, his amazing touch, and his sensual words.
Nodding her head, she bent over and braced herself using the piano, thinking that Henry Steinway and his sons would be rolling over in their graves at the thought of what she and Alexander were about to use their beautiful instrument for.
She immediately felt Alexander’s fingers between her legs, toying with her clit once more. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the feeling of his expert hands pleasuring her once more. It was mind boggling to think that she just had an amazing orgasm and was ready for another one.
“You like that, Olivia?” Alexander asked as she moaned out in gratification.
“Yes,” she exhaled, her breathing becoming ragged once more.
“Good,” he replied, removing his fingers from her. “And don’t you ever forget how good I make you feel.”
She panted, hating that he had her so worked up and left her wanting.
“Now hold on tight. This is going to be fast and hard.”
Olivia’s heart raced in anticipation. She liked the sound of that.
Almost instantly, she felt Alexander plunge into her, setting a fast pace as he held onto her hips, helping to keep her upright.
“God, Love. You feel so fucking amazing,” he grunted out as he thrusted into her, his brow becoming damp with sweat. “You drive me crazy. You know that?”
Olivia moaned in response, knowing that he did the same to her. No one ever set her off like Alexander did. No one ever filled her and pushed her so close to the edge in a matter of seconds and she was both frightened and overwhelmed at the idea that she finally found someone who could satisfy her in the bedroom and elsewhere.
“You look beautiful from this angle, Olivia.” Alexander reached around and toyed with her clit slowly, bending down to gently nibble on her shoulder blade. “I love the way you taste,” he said, slowing his pace down, withdrawing slowly before flexing back toward her, gradually filling her to the brim.
“Fuck,” she exhaled, the fullness overwhelming her. She was so close.
“And I’m not just talking about your pussy, Olivia,” he explained, pushing back into her before withdrawing yet again. “Your skin, when it’s salty with sweat from me fucking you tastes fucking divine.” He continued toying with her clit as he leaned down and bit her neck, gently sucking on her skin once more.
Olivia screamed out as Alexander quickened his pace, thrusting mercilessly inside her.
“Come on, Olivia. Let me feel it. I know you want to come again. Don’t deny your body.” He feathered kisses against her neck, lowering his voice. “And don’t deny me the incredible sensation of feeling your body shudder around me,” he whispered, pulling on her earlobe with his teeth.
Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She yelled out Alexander’s name as she came undone, spiraling down from yet another amazing orgasm, wondering if Alexander would always have the same effect on her.
“God, I love making you cum, Olivia,” Alexander grunted before thrusting into her one last time and finding his own release. He held onto her stomach, helping to support her as they both attempted to regulate their breathing.
“Holy shit,” Olivia said, finally finding her voice several moments later.
Straightening up and picking Olivia up in his arms, Alexander planted a long kiss on her lips. “I will never tire of being inside you, Olivia. So I hope you’re ready for the ride.”
She smiled, running her hands through his hair. “Oh, Mr. Burnham. I’m certainly prepared for the ride. Again. And again. And again.” She giggled as she thought of the double entendre.
“God, I love that sound.”
How can you continue living when you’re living a lie? How can you convince your body to stop feeling, your soul to stop caring, and your heart to stop beating?
Haunted by her past, Olivia Adler flees Boston for a beach in Florida, leaving everyone behind, trying to shut the world out. Remaining a relative recluse in her self-imposed prison, she tries to turn everything off, wanting to feel nothing. But a new acquaintance won’t let that happen. After being away from Alexander for a month, his voice constantly ringing in her head, reminding her that her inability to confront her demons will not only destroy her, but also him, can she really be expected to want to feel again when it brings nothing but pain?
Back in Boston, everywhere he turns, Alexander Burnham is reminded of Olivia… His Olivia… He tries to dull the ache left in his heart the only way he knows how… in the bed of a beautiful woman. But Alexander isn’t about to lose his Olivia. After a clue comes to light regarding Olivia’s whereabouts, can he convince her to return to Boston with him? When a force that has laid dormant for months resurfaces, can Alexander still protect her from the unknown danger? And when Alexander comes face to face with a shadow of both his and Olivia’s past, will he be able to tell her the secret that is threatening to tear them apart?
A Tragic Wreck is the continuation of T.K. Leigh’s heart-breaking Beautiful Mess series.
What happens when you lose everyone that promised they would always be there for you? How can you protect the few pieces of your shattered heart that remain?
Olivia Adler is a woman with a troubled past. After losing her parents at the young age of six and being raised by an uncle who she lost years later, she refuses to get attached to anyone, including friends. For the past decade, she has been able to remain unattached to any man, too worried about losing someone to get too close. Until Alexander Burnham walks into her life one night and changes everything. But he has issues of his own. And he’s keeping a secret that could turn her world upside-down. Will Olivia let Alexander in enough for him to get close and protect her from a force threatening her very existence, or will she push him away, scared of letting Alexander in, in order to protect her heart?
A Beautiful Mess is the first installment of a three part series sure to captivate the heart with a story of secrets, courage, and love.
T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is a producer / attorney by trade. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre.
Her debut novel “A Beautiful Mess” has garnered relative praise, having been an Amazon Best Seller, an Amazon Top-Rated book. Recently, the book was named by The Guardian as a top reader-recommended self-published book of 2013 as well as a 2013 Reader’s Favorite in Publisher’s Weekly in addition to being named an Amazon Romance Editor’s Fan Favorite for Top Debut Author and Best Page Turner.
When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
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Perfectly Broken
By Maegan Abel
Synopsis
Zane Tishler moved in with his brother after his nightmare divorce to find that his brother had taken in a “stray”, a punk chick with a bad attitude. Liliosa Cortez found a place to start over in a city built for hiding. But when her roommate’s brother moved in she pegged him for a pretty boy with enough baggage to fill a semi and major hostility toward women. But now, after two years, Lili and Zane have become best friends and the perfect “wingmen.” They’ve developed a system for tagging and bagging tourists. No strings attached. They are partners in crime who have managed to have the time of their lives in the City of Sin.
Life would be perfect if they could keep it this way, but a new player in the game makes both Lili and Zane face the feelings they had not been prepared to notice. What happens when dangerous shadows from a forgotten past find their way into the neon spotlights? What happens when the fuse is lit on all those emotions they have deeply buried?
Can they survive the explosion or the will the backlash tear them and everyone they love apart?
When two pasts become one present in the searing Nevada heat…
When two realities collide under the lights of Vegas…
When two lives are threatened due to secrets and lies…
What do you do when you find out your perfect world is Perfectly Broken?
Perfectly Broken
By Maegan Abel
Excerpt
"How was your night off?" Nikki asked as she brushed past me, leaning to grab a bottle from the spot on the higher shelf. I barely had to duck to get under her arm to take an order.
"Good," I yelled back as we passed each other again moments later. We were used to this, the chaos of working in one of the popular themed-bars on The Strip. I'd worked at plenty of the bars but working here, for Shannon, was the best job I'd had.
"Did you give Zane a lap dance for his birthday like I told you to?" Nikki nudged me with her elbow and I spun a bottle in my right hand before pouring the drink I was working on.
"Right. Because that would've ended well," I answered with a laugh and shook my head. "No, but I did actually dance with him. His ex-wife showed up and caused a huge scene. It was kind of a mess."
Nikki shook her head and glanced over at me before pulling out two beers and passing them back to the customer she was helping. "I don't know why you two don't just fuck and get it over with already." I threw a bar rag at her and she laughed again, glancing at the clock beside the register.
"Trust me, Nik, that is never going to happen," I said over my shoulder as I passed her.
"Well, if you're not going to fuck the hotness monster, I'm totally going for it next time I see him." Nikki winked as she stopped directly beside me to take an order.
"That'll never happen either!" I laughed at Nikki's shocked expression. "First of all, you seem to be forgetting that Zane doesn't do locals."
"Details." She waved a hand dismissively as she finished filling a glass, nearly sloshing whiskey all over the bar.
"Second, I made him promise not to fuck anyone I work with."
Nikki slammed the bottle into place. Ignoring the customers momentarily, she spread her arms in a gesture that clearly said ‘what the fuck’. "Why? Why would you twat block me like that?"
I tried not to laugh, but I couldn't help it. I heard Nikki mumble under her breath as I turned to take a few more orders.
"Sorry, but you're a double no for him. You'll have to find a new hotness monster." I passed her the vodka, noticing the bottle was almost empty. "By the way, he doesn't really count as a hotness monster if we know how to find him."
"Whatever. He was my favorite hotness monster," she sighed in faux dismay.
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Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maegan studied Stage Production Technology in college and now works as a seamstress in a department store full-time. Her love of theatre and family ties to that world guided her to work part-time backstage in the various theatres in Tulsa. She spends a lot of downtime backstage reading (Thank Goodness for ereaders!) and the idea for Perfectly Broken was born during the run of The Lion King for four weeks in Summer 2013.
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