In Laura Marie
Altom’s scorching new Shamed novel, perfect for fans of J. Kenner and Tracy
Wolff, a broken heart pushes a rugged loner to the breaking point—until a
not-so-innocent affair changes everything.
When the woman he loves marries billionaire Liam Stone,
Nathan Black swears off dating and playing by the rules. He’s also tired of
being broke. His new gig as a male escort isn’t exactly legal, but the cash
will help him build a solid future. Then there’s Carol Moore, Liam’s personal
assistant. She and Nathan always seem to get paired up at Stone family
functions—and always seem to end up in bed together. She’s definitely intriguing.
But how could a good girl like Carol settle down with a screw-up like Nathan?
After Carol’s dreamy boss gets hitched, crushing any
chance of them getting back together, she finds herself hooking up with the
bride’s best friend. Nathan is hot, adventurous, and just a little bit
dangerous. But when one of their sexy games goes too far, Carol discovers how
out of control Nathan’s life really is. And before long Carol is forced to
choose between her safe old life and the bad boy who makes her feel like the woman
she’s meant to be.
Buy Links: Amazon | B &N | iTunes | Kobo
_______________________________________________________________
Excerpt
“I, Ella, take you, Liam, to be my lawfully wedded
husband . . .”
If I heard one more word of the happy couple’s vows, I’d
fucking hurl.
I stood on the fringe of their big event with my hands
shoved in the pockets of the khakis I’d picked up at Goodwill. Why wouldn’t I
want to look my best for the love of my life getting hitched to a billionaire
who’s actually perfect for her, and can give her the kind of life of which I’ve
never even dreamed?
Everything about the beachfront nuptials was perfection.
Gently lapping surf—check.
Violet-streaked sunset kissing the ocean—check.
Pillar candles lining the aisle and practically an entire
freaking orchestra playing powdery-soft Vivaldi—check, check. Toss in thousands
of white orchids and roses, wandering flamingos, a champagne fountain, a tent
with tables heaped with food and a vodka-ice-luge carved into an enormous E
& L, and the scene was straight out of a circus freak show of flashy
wealth. Only the thing about Liam was that I truly believed not a bit of this
was for show, or to prove he’d win a wedding-of-the-century dick-measuring
contest, but because he loves Ella so much that in ways, he’d reverted to a
little kid, eager to prove his love by buying her every single toy on her Christmas
list—only it was July, and knowing Ella, the only thing she’d ever really
wanted Santa to bring was love.
In Liam, I knew she’d found that and more, and the fact
was killing me.
Seating for the hundred or so guests was an assortment of
gold-toned sofas, love seats and chairs that had no business being on a beach,
but somehow seemed as perfect as the rest of everything Carol—Liam’s longtime
assistant—and a pricey wedding planner had thrown together.
I saw her now—Carol—standing on the opposite side of the
aisle from me.
Her pale blue eyes shone with unshed tears. The
barely-there breeze stole strands from her elegant blond updo, streaming them
like golden seaweed across her mouth, but she stood stone-still, as though if
she froze, maybe time would, too, and this wedding wouldn’t happen.
She used to have a thing for Liam the way I did for Ella.
Judging by her solemn expression, the way her full lips
turned slightly down at the corners, I guessed she pretty much felt the same as
I did—that this whole event sucked balls.
The happy couple now delivered personally written, wholly
heartfelt vows. Joy. I loved Ella. I should be thrilled for her, so why did I
find myself gravitating toward Carol, then asking, “Want to get out of here?”
For the longest time she remained motionless—a pale-skinned
goddess whose gold-satin gown reflected the sun’s last gasp.
“Carol?” The music swelled as if cued by Ella’s happy
tears. How had Liam done it? Built riches so vast as to have his own wedding
soundtrack?
Carol finally looked at me. Her pain contradicted her
beauty. Silent tears fell, polluting her cheeks with wavy black mascara trails.
“Fuck me.”
“No kidding, right? I’m happy for them, but for us, this
whole thing seriously blows.”
“Agreed—but I mean it, Nathan. Fuck me. Pound me so hard
I forget tonight ever happened.”
“Wait, what?” Gaze narrowed, I cocked my head. She didn’t
flinch. “Oh shit, you’re serious.”
She grabbed my hand, then dragged me down the shore, away
from the wedding and toward the deserted house. After pressing the call button
for the glass-fronted elevator that had been built into the Big Sur cliff, she
shoved me against the nearest rock wall, slashing her lips across mine for a
kiss far more brutal than erotic.
But then I got into it, the whole anti-wedding,
pissed-off spirit of the thing, and I returned her ugly kiss with bold strokes
of my tongue. My dick roared, and I cupped my hand to her ass, tugging her
against me. She was taller than Ella—a good five-foot-eleven with heels—and satisfactorily
ground against my six-foot-two frame.
The elevator signaled its arrival with a discreet ding.
The doors opened and we plunged this shit show inside.
Now, I took the lead, banging her against the car’s
mirrored rear wall. I gave her neck a rough nuzzle before pounding the up
button, then helping myself to the deep vee of her gown.
She wore no bra and when I grazed her nipple, it hardened
beneath my palm.
I dragged my lips up her throat and along the tender
underside of her chin.
She groaned, grabbing for my fly, but the car lurched to
a stop.
When the doors swished open, we tumbled out onto the hardwood
floor of what typically was a combo movie/game room temporarily being used for
wedding gift storage.
An ornate pool table with a red-felt top had been piled
high with wrapped gifts.
I released Carol long enough to shove them aside. A few
plummeted to the floor. Judging by the muted jingle of broken glass or clanging
metal, they didn’t fare well. Fucking oops.
Right now, all that mattered was blocking pain with
pleasure.
I barely even knew this woman, but for my purposes, she’d
more than do. By way of returning her favor, I’d give her a fuck she wouldn’t
soon forget.
_______________________________________________________________
This is book 3 in the Shamed series and follows Nathan Black and Carol Moore. While I still hold book 2 as my favorite, this one gave it a run for it's money.
Liam and Ella (from books 1 and 2) are now married and Nathan and Carol are crushed. Well, Nathan and Carol end up hooking up and decide to continue. Nathan has started working as an escort (wow, I know; but don't worry he only escorts, no sleeping with the client) to try and get his financial life back in order. Somehow through all this madness and crazy clients Nathan and Carol are able to make it work and get their happily ever after.
There were quite a few parts where I somewhat, okay absolutely hated Nathan, but any issues I had with his character were fixed and I found him enjoyable again. In the end, despite everything you want them to work things out, Carol was an enjoyable character and the drama between her and Nathan really get you hooked.
Rating 4 out of 5
Read@Book
_______________________________________________________________
Laura Marie Altom is the author of more than forty books
in three different genres. Now that her kids are in college, Altom spends her
days writing and chasing after a menagerie of pets: a mini long-haired
dachshund named Cocoa, a Yorkie named Daisy, a mutt named Sweet Pea, and
Domino—a black-and-white stealth cat she rarely sees. She’s happily married to
her college sweetheart (go Hogs!), and when night falls, she steals a few
romantic moments for herself with her own hunky cover stud.
No comments:
Post a Comment