Review: Three to Ride - Lexi Blake

Re-released in a second edition with two new chapters and additional new content.

Rachel Swift is a woman on the run.

A stalker sent Rachel's world reeling. Now she's running for her life, and Bliss, CO, seems like the perfect place to hide. Bliss is a strange little town, filled with artists, nudists, and the occasional conspiracy nut. It's a good place to start over.

Max and Rye are just the men to catch her.

Horse trainer Max and Sheriff Rye gave up on their dream of finding one perfect woman to share long ago. Rachel walks in, and they're both in love and fighting their true natures.

A town like no other...

When Rachel's past catches up with her, all of Bliss is in danger. Rachel knows she should run, but how can she leave behind the love she's found with Max and Rye and the home she's built in Bliss? With her whole town behind her, Rachel is ready to make her stand. It's time for her to get back in the saddle and ride.

Nights in Bliss Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Three to Ride
Two to Love
One to Keep
Lost in Bliss
Found in Bliss
Pure Bliss
Chasing Bliss
Once Upon a Time in Bliss
Back in Bliss
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Texas Sirens Series)

Texas Sirens Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Small Town Siren
Siren in the City
Siren Enslaved
Siren Beloved
Siren in Waiting
Siren in Bloom
Siren Unleashed
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Nights in Bliss Series)
Siren Reborn

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Three to Ride is the first book in Lexi Blake's Nights in Bliss, Colorado series that was originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak. These stories are being updated with additional content and I can't wait to continue reading the series!

Rachel Swift is on the run from the stalker who has done everything in his power to ruin her life since she turned down a second date with him. Luckily for Rachel she had people who were able to help give her a new identity and she escaped but her stalker is a police officer who has already managed to track her down once so she has no doubt he's still hunting for her. When she arrives in Bliss she's practically out of cash and getting desperate but the town welcomes her with open arms and she slowly starts to make friends. The last thing she intended to do was start dating but it's been so long since she last felt attracted to anyone that surely a fling with Max for the short time she's in town couldn't hurt? Of course that all changes when she realises Max's brother Rye is the local sheriff and that the brothers have a reputation of liking to share their women...

I love menage stories so I jumped at the chance to review Three to Ride even though I'm always more sceptical when it's brothers who are involved, I usually prefer my menage stories to involve no relatives but I was actually surprised at how well it works here. Max and Rye are identical twins who are so close they're practically two halves of one person so it's not really that surprising that they want to continue living intertwined lives like that. Their last menage relationship didn't end well though so they agreed that in the future they'll stick to finding their own relationships, they just didn't realise how hard that could be when they both started to fall for the same woman. Rachel has every reason to be wary of men in general and the police in particular after the spectacular ways they failed her when her stalker became obsessed and drove her from her home so it made sense that she was initially wary of Rye and I really enjoyed watching her relationship develop with Max.

Both guys were great characters and it was easy to see why Rachel found it impossible to resist both of them in the long run, my only (very small) complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more of them together as a threesome. For over half the book it's just Rachel and Max together with Rye looking on from the sidelines so although it was completely understandable and worked really well as far as the relationship development went I'm greedy and wanted more of them all happily together.

This is my first Lexi Blake book (and I'm kicking myself because I've had a friend trying to get me to read her books for YEARS!) but it definitely won't be the last. I already can't wait for the rest of this series to be reissued but I'm happy that she's got a huge backlist for me to start working my way through. Three to Ride is erotic romance with a cute small town setting, Bliss is full of fun and eccentric characters and I loved how everyone has their own quirks and nobody judges anyone else for their choices. If only there were more places like this in real life, I have to hope they're out there somewhere but I've never found one!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Three to Ride - Lexi Blake (Excerpt)

Re-released in a second edition with two new chapters and additional new content.

Rachel Swift is a woman on the run.

A stalker sent Rachel's world reeling. Now she's running for her life, and Bliss, CO, seems like the perfect place to hide. Bliss is a strange little town, filled with artists, nudists, and the occasional conspiracy nut. It's a good place to start over.

Max and Rye are just the men to catch her.

Horse trainer Max and Sheriff Rye gave up on their dream of finding one perfect woman to share long ago. Rachel walks in, and they're both in love and fighting their true natures.

A town like no other...

When Rachel's past catches up with her, all of Bliss is in danger. Rachel knows she should run, but how can she leave behind the love she's found with Max and Rye and the home she's built in Bliss? With her whole town behind her, Rachel is ready to make her stand. It's time for her to get back in the saddle and ride.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo | Smashwords | Print

Excerpt:

Max's hands slid down to cup his girlfriend's perfect cheeks. He pulled her close and didn't try to disguise the erection he was sporting. It had been days since he'd gotten inside her. It was starting to make him crazy.

"Hello, gorgeous," he breathed as he leaned down to slant his mouth across hers.

Rachel softened against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn't protest as his tongue swept in to play with hers. He hauled her up so her feet were dangling. It was the only way to get her pussy where he wanted it. He rubbed himself against her. He knew it made him a caveman, but he wanted to mark her as his. He wanted her to get a tattoo on that perfect ass of hers that read Property of the Harper Brothers.

Max set her down. His brain went there all the time now. He couldn't stop thinking about Rachel between him and Rye. "What's for breakfast?"

"Pancakes and sausage," she replied with a suspicious gleam in her eyes.

He kissed her forehead gently and went to sit down at the kitchen table. He was very careful since she was studying him like she was trying to guess what he would do next. He didn't want her to figure out what he was thinking. He had more than one thing he needed to hide from her today. He schooled his features to express nothing but innocence.

"Oh, God, what are you thinking?" Rachel looked utterly horrified. "Who are you going to kill?"

"What?" Max asked, holding his hands up in confusion.

She rounded the table and leaned over. He couldn't help but notice she wasn't wearing a bra. If he leaned in a bit, he could see the curve of her breasts and the faintest hint of nipple.

"Eyes up, mister," she ordered in what he'd come to think of as her "drill sergeant" voice. His eyes obediently came up. He'd learned when it was in his best interests to obey her immediately. His baby was one tough cookie, and he was man enough to admit he needed her to be that way. He would walk all over her otherwise. That would make for one boring relationship. Rachel kept him on his toes.

"Sorry, baby." He would try to distract her with charm. He had some of that. He smiled and pulled her hand into his. He tugged her down onto his lap. "I can't help it. I get distracted by your breasts. They're pretty. And I'm really, really horny. We haven't had sex in days. It's killing me."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. Her arms went around his neck. "You just had surgery. You haven't even had the stitches out yet. The doctor said we should wait a few days."

"It's been almost a week." He put a little whine in his voice. Maybe if she thought he was simply horny, she would forget her suspicions. It was imperative that she not figure out what he had done after she'd gone to sleep. "I promise I could be super still. I would lie perfectly still, and you could do all the work."

She grinned. It did strange things to his heart. "That sounds tempting. I'll call the doctor today, and I'll see if we can get him to let you off the leash."

She kissed his cheek. She got up and went to the stove, where she poured out pancake batter. Max relaxed.

She rounded on him suddenly. "You're sure you're not planning something terrible?"

She knew him far too well. He grimaced inwardly. This was where Rye would come in handy. Rye could distract her. Rachel was far too much woman for one man. He needed his brother because Max had figured out that a tag team approach was required when Rachel got saucy. But he was all on his own now. He didn't like the feeling.

"Baby, I'm planning on doing some light work around the barn. I'm going to spend some time with Sunflower, and then I'll have Rye drive me into Del Norte for my checkup. That's my plan." It was true. It was part of his plan. He didn't mention the stop he intended to make.

Her eyes narrowed, and he wondered briefly if she could make that spatula into a weapon. He thought she probably could. Max sighed. He could make it into one, too. He could pull her over his lap and shove those boxers off her hips, then spank that pert rear. He wouldn't hurt her. He'd simply get her bottom all pink and pretty. He'd rather use his hand, though.

"You have crazy eyes today, Max. What did you just think?" she asked breathlessly.

Rye stood in the doorway. He had on jeans and a T-shirt. His hair was still wet from his shower. "He was wondering how you would handle it if he pulled you across his lap and spanked you with your spatula. You should use your hand, Max. It would be better."

Rachel's mouth fell open. She looked between the two of them like she was trying to figure out what to say.

Max pointed at Rye. "He said it."

Rye shrugged. "He was thinking it."

"So were you."

Rye's face fell. Max saw him look down at the crotch of his jeans. "Damn it."

Rye turned and walked back down the hall. Max knew exactly where he was going.

"What's wrong with him?" She looked concerned as his brother marched off.

Max smiled broadly. Rye had done his job. She wasn't thinking about his potential plans anymore. She set a plate in front of him.

"I guess he's not hungry," Max lied.

His brother was hungry, all right. He'd been hungry since the minute he laid eyes on Rachel.

About Lexi Blake:

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Review: Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams: Volume 1 - Philip K. Dick

From the visionary writer who inspired Blade Runner, Total Recall, The Man in the High Castle, Minority Report and A Scanner Darkly comes a collection of ten stories to reprogram your mind.

From tales of a wife who suspects her husband may no longer be the same man after returning from a trip into deep space, to a government agent seeking the source behind a recent wave of illegal, telepath-inhibiting 'hoods', these stories investigate what it means to be human in a changing world.

These ten stories inspired the ten episodes of Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, the hit TV series from Channel Four and Sony Pictures Television. Each story also has an exclusive introduction by the writers who adapted it for the series, including Ronald D. Moore, Matthew Graham, Jessica Mecklenburg, Tony Grisoni and Jack Thorne.

Visit Philip K. Dick's page on Goodreads for more information

Review:
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams is a collection of the ten short stories that inspired the Channel Four TV series of the same name, each story also comes with a brief introduction from the writer who adapted it for the series which explains their thought process behind any changes they made. I'll talk about each story separately but as they're not printed in the order they're airing on TV I'll also confirm which episode each story relates to. Overall I really enjoyed this collection, it was fun to dip in and out of as I watched the TV show. I've not read anything by Philip K. Dick before but even though the stories were originally published in the 1950s most of them still felt very relevant today so I'm definitely interested in trying some of his full length novels.

The stories included are:

1. Exhibit Piece - adapted by Ronald D. Moore (episode 5: Real Life)

The episode based on this story was called Real Life and was actually very different to the original story in a lot of ways. It's hard to say too much about the plot because there are so many differences but the adaptation captured the feel or the story very well and I enjoyed both versions a lot. It was clever of Ronald D. Moore to make the story feel more modern with the use of virtual reality.

2. The Commuter - adapted by Jack Thorne (episode 3)

This is the story of a train station ticket clerk whose life is turned upside-down by a commuter who keeps trying to buy a ticket to a destination that doesn't exist. The clerk becomes obsessed with this unknown destination and is determined to uncover the mystery behind his disappearing customer.

This was a really fun story that shows you to be careful what you wish for as it may backfire in ways you couldn't have guessed. I think I liked the adaptation more than the original story, probably because it was set in the UK so the locations were familiar to me, there were a few other changes but I think they did a great job of capturing the essence of the original.

3. Impossible Planet - adapted by David Farr (episode 2)

This story is about a wealthy old woman who is desperate to visit Earth before she dies and the two space tourism guides who are willing to take her money even though, like most people, they believe Earth never existed and they certainly don't know how to find it.

I have to admit I didn't love this story, it just felt a little too short and incomplete for me. The TV episode was better in some ways, at least it was a more rounded story, but a lot of things were added and they didn't always work for me. I wasn't convinced by the romantic elements and was a bit confused about some of the other additions but overall I enjoyed the adaptation more than the original story.

4. The Hanging Stranger - adapted by Dee Rees (episode 10: Kill All Others)

This was one of the instances where I ended up enjoying the original story far more than the TV adaptation. The story is about an alien invasion where the episode is more about mob mentality and paranoia but there was never really an explanation for why people behaved the way they did. How did people single out the "others"? It seemed to be that anyone could just randomly accuse someone and then everyone else would jump on board the lynch mob. At least in the original story there was an explanation for why things happened the way they did.

5. Sales Pitch - adapted by Toni Grisoni (episode 4: Crazy Diamond)

The episode called Crazy Diamond is based on this short story. We ended up watching the episode before reading it which I think was a mistake because the episode completely confused us and neither my Dad or I were a fan of the adaptation. It's a shame because the actual story was really good, one of my favourites from the ones I've read so far! It was a really clever look at consumerism and the way we're constantly bombarded with advertisements trying to sell us stuff we don't really want or need. Considering how long ago this story was written (back in 1954!) it's probably more relevant today than ever and I thought the story ending was hilarious.

6. The Father-Thing - adapted by Michael Dinner (episode 7)

The Father-Thing is an invasion of the bodysnatchers type story and it's all about what a little boy does when he realises his father is no longer his father. The episode took the essence of the original story and updated it to a more modern setting which I thought worked really well but I enjoyed both versions. I actually think the show worked a little better because it changed a few things that didn't make much sense to me in the story which made it more believable.

7. The Hood Maker - adapted by Matthew Graham (episode 1)

This story is set in a world without much technology but where some people have gained telepathic skills. These teeps have the ability to read minds and they are used by the government to help control the populace. At the start of the story someone starts making protective hoods which allow humans to keep their thoughts private and this causes all kinds of problems.

What I thought was really interesting was that the original story focuses on the human side where people are terrified of what they teeps are capable of and live in fear of having their minds invaded but the TV show focused on the story of one of the teeps and showed how badly she was treated by her government handlers and how much danger they were all in from the public. It was really easy to see things from both sides and it raised interesting questions both about people's rights to privacy and about the way humanity has a terrible tendency to focus on our differences rather than our similarities.

8. Foster You're Dead - adapted by Kalen Egan and Travis Sentell (episode 9: Safe & Sound)

I think this was probably one of my favourite stories from the collection, the two versions are very different but the essential essence remains the same with big businesses & the government playing on people's fear and paranoia to make them spend money buying things they don't really need. In the original story it's all about people buying bomb shelters to protect themselves in case of a future war while the TV series is set further into the future where technology has a bigger role to play in people's lives.

9. Human Is - adapted by Jessica Mecklenburg (episode 6)

I think Human Is was probably my favourite story (and adaptation!) so far, it's about a pretty neglectful husband who travels to a distant planet and comes home like a completely different person. I don't really want to say too much more than that but it was an interesting look at what it means to be "human" and I really enjoyed both the original story and the adaptation, they were very similar but had slightly different endings. I actually think Jessica Mecklenburg came up with an even better ending than the original even though they were both very similar. I'd happily watch this episode again.

10. Autofac - adapted by Travis Beacham (episode 8)

I really enjoyed that story, it's set in a post-apocalyptic world where machines have taken over production worldwide and are eating up the few remaining resources at a horrifying rate. Loved how different the story was to the adaptation, they started the same but went in very different directions and it's hard to decide which version I preferred. Clever messages about consumerism and being careful what you wish for!

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

If you've been following my blog for any length of time you'll know I've been a HUGE fan of Laini Taylor ever since Daughter of Smoke and Bone was published back in 2011. I just adore her beautiful writing so it was no surprise that Strange the Dreamer was one of my favourite books last year and I know I'm not the only one desperately waiting to get my hands on the sequel, Muse of Nightmares, when it publishes!

Anyway, today is all about celebrating the release of the gorgeous paperback version of Strange the Dreamer (yes, this is another book that I've ended up buying multiple copies of LOL!). Just look how pretty it is though, it's really not my fault:

and just in case you haven't read it yet (what on earth do you mean you haven't read it yet? - get to it people, you don't know what your'e missing!!) here's the blurb:

The magical Sunday Times bestseller by Laini Taylor, author of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy

The dream chooses the dreamer.

Since he was five years old, Lazlo Strange has been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to go in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself - in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep to cut it off from the world? What did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do many more mysteries - including the blue-skinned goddess who visits Lazlo's dreams . . .

So I already posted my review for Strange the Dreamer last year but I thought I'd include it again here.

My Review:
It's been a long wait for something new from Laini Taylor, I absolutely adored her writing in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series but if anything she's honed her skills even more and Strange the Dreamer was even more beautifully written. She always manages to completely captivate me with the worlds she creates and when I fall into one of her books I never want to come back out again.

Strange the Dreamer is the story of Lazlo, a young man who was orphaned as a baby and raised by monks before he discovered the magic of the great library and trained to become a librarian. Lazlo is in part a little like every book worm you'll ever meet, he's obsessed with stories and spends so much time with his head stuck in a book that real life often happens around him without him even noticing. Lazlo's biggest obsession is the mystery of Weep and he has dedicated his life to reading everything he can about the city that disappeared so long ago. It's been years since anyone was able to find Weep and nobody can even remember the city's real name but Lazlo longs for it to be discovered again and he would give anything to visit the place he has spent so long dreaming about. Lazlo is a dreamer but he's also smart, funny and very caring. He always tries to help people but never expects thanks for his hard work and is so grateful for every opportunity he is offered that he never takes anything for granted.

This is also the story of Sarai, a young woman who has been trapped in her home for years with only her siblings for company. I don't want to get into too much detail about where Sarai is or how she ended up trapped there but her path crosses Lazlo's in the most unusual manner and I absolutely loved spending time with them both and watching the beginnings of their romance. Sarai and her siblings have been through something horrific but thanks to her unique talent she is the one best placed to understand both sides of the story and she longs for peace and freedom. She's such a compassionate girl, one who has seen the worst people have to offer but who also has great capacity for forgiveness and who tries really hard to look at the good in people.

Once again Laini Taylor has created a world that you just want to dive into, there are so many beautiful and amazing things to discover but there are also dark secrets lurking underneath that will leave you reeling. Her characters are people you want to be friends with and even her villains are so complex that you can understand their actions even if you don't particularly agree with them. There is so much pain and fear between the two different groups in the story that it's going to take a miracle to pull them together but I have complete faith that if anyone can pull it off Lazlo Strange and the Muse of Nightmares can. Working together I think they can achieve anything.

Strange the Dreamer is definitely one of my favourite books of the year and there is no doubt in my mind that it is going to be appearing on a lot of "best of 2017" lists. The Muse of Nightmares is right at the top of my 2018 wish list but I know I'll be rereading this book while I wait for it to be released.

I just have to add that I think the UK cover is so gorgeous and after a little arm doodling I think it would make a pretty gorgeous tattoo too!

********************

Now I've talked about how much I loved the book but I thought it might be fun to have a look at the different covers too.

UK Paperback / UK Hardback which is also being used for the US Paperback / US Hardback

They're all so pretty aren't they, it's hard not to want to collect the set. Which cover is your favourite? I have to admit I think the original UK hardback is probably my favourite, I'm not at all surprised that the US publisher chose to use it for their paperback. I love the gold foil on the US cover though (can anyone tell me if it's actually shiny gold? I've not seen that version in the flesh) but I think the new UK paperback is pretty too and I really like the pastel colouring.

If you haven't read Strange the Dreamer yet don't forget to order your copy ASAP, I'm already looking forward to rereading this just before Muse of Nightmares comes out so it's definitely a book I'd highly recommend. Make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour too!

Blog Tour: A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars - Yaba Badoe (Including a guest post from the author talking about the story's setting)

I absolutely loved Yaba Badoe's magical realism debut A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars when I read it last year (you can read my review here) so I'm excited to take part in the blog tour to celebrate the paperback release. If you didn't read the hardback then you don't want to miss out now, I mean just look at the gorgeous cover!

A powerful, haunting, contemporary debut that steps seamlessly from the horrors of people-trafficking to the magic of African folklore, by an award-winning Ghanaian-British filmmaker.

Sante was a baby when she was washed ashore in a sea-chest laden with treasure. It seems she is the sole survivor of the tragic sinking of a ship carrying migrants and refugees. Her people.

Fourteen years on she's a member of Mama Rose's unique and dazzling circus. But, from their watery grave, the unquiet dead are calling Sante to avenge them:

A bamboo flute. A golden bangle. A ripening mango which must not fall...

... are these the missing pieces of the jigsaw which will tell Sante's story?

Now please give a very warm welcome to Yaba Badoe who is here today with a fabulous guest post!

Guest Post:

Why I Set My Book In Europe by Yaba Badoe

I set my YA debut, A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars, in the walled port city of Cadiz in Andalusia, southern Spain, because it’s a place I know and love. Thought by some to be the oldest city in Europe, Cadiz was founded in 1100 BC by the Phoenicians. It’s beautiful and distinctive with tall Moorish-style buildings in narrow, pebbled streets. Surrounded by the Atlantic, it has more than one hundred watchtowers, which were traditionally used for spotting ships.

I first travelled to Cadiz to write and teach English as a Foreign Language after spending seven years working as producer and director in television at the BBC. I joined the corporation as a trainee in radio and television, and although I enjoyed the work I was doing, having completed a four part series, Black and White, about the impact of race and racism on two male journalists, one white, the other black, I needed a change.

Almost thirty years later, my editor at Zephyr, Fiona Kennedy, encouraged me to place the characters I’d created in an earlier version of A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars in a contemporary setting. Cadiz with its exotic, magnificent landscape seemed the obvious choice.

I started re-writing what had originally been a science-fiction story in 2015 when the migration crisis in Europe, a crisis which had been unfolding for many years, was coming to a head. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars tells the story of Sante. Sante was a baby when she was washed ashore in a sea-chest laden with treasures. It seems she is the sole survivor of the tragic sinking of a ship carrying migrants and refugees. Fourteen years on she’s a member of Mama Rose’s unique and dazzling circus. But, from their watery grave, the unquiet dead are calling Sante to avenge them.

I suspect that I was inspired to write A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars because as a migrant myself – one of those pesky ‘citizens of nowhere’, a dual national of Ghana and the United Kingdom to boot - I’m conscious of how legitimate fear of migration – the influx of strangers with different languages and customs - is being manipulated by politicians to achieve their own ends. There’s no better way to distract and dissemble than to find a scapegoat to mask the injustices of neo-liberal capitalism in a time of austerity. And migrants – whether Eastern Europeans in Britain or those making the deadly crossing from Africa to Europe – are easy scapegoats.

As a British citizen with African roots, I’ve relished my freedom to live and work in Spain, Jamaica and Ghana. Moreover, the nature of my work as a director and producer of television documentaries has taken me from Europe to Africa, America and Asia. Nonetheless, I’m more at home in Europe than ‘elsewhere’. And yet with the rise of xenophobia and nationalisms, I find myself feeling increasingly uncomfortable at the lies I’m being told about migrants and the fear of them I see everywhere. Maybe that’s because as a migrant myself, I’m aware that the last time xenophobia and nationalism took hold in Europe, it didn’t end well.

********************

Thanks for such a brilliant post Yaba, you raise some really important points about the way politicians use people's fears to their own advantage. The increase in xenophobia and nationalism that has been bolstered by Brexit and Trump is pretty terrifying really and I think it's an important subject to talk about, especially with the current refugee crisis and the horrific and dangerous journeys desperate people are being forced to take.

Don't forget to grab your copy of A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars today and check out the rest of the tour stops for more fab posts from Yaba!

Release Day Blast: Three to Ride - Lexi Blake (Excerpt)

Re-released in a second edition with two new chapters and additional new content.

Rachel Swift is a woman on the run.

A stalker sent Rachel's world reeling. Now she's running for her life, and Bliss, CO, seems like the perfect place to hide. Bliss is a strange little town, filled with artists, nudists, and the occasional conspiracy nut. It's a good place to start over.

Max and Rye are just the men to catch her.

Horse trainer Max and Sheriff Rye gave up on their dream of finding one perfect woman to share long ago. Rachel walks in, and they're both in love and fighting their true natures.

A town like no other...

When Rachel's past catches up with her, all of Bliss is in danger. Rachel knows she should run, but how can she leave behind the love she's found with Max and Rye and the home she's built in Bliss? With her whole town behind her, Rachel is ready to make her stand. It's time for her to get back in the saddle and ride.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo | Smashwords | Print

Excerpt:

"You should have told me who you were the minute I stepped into the shower with you," she complained, shoving a blue T-shirt over her head.

Rye ran a frustrated hand through his wet hair. It was so much longer wet. "I couldn't breathe enough to talk. I'm sorry. I should have locked the door. I should have skipped the damn shower. Hell, I should have spent the night somewhere else. I knew something like this would happen."

She calmed down as she noticed Rye looked a little tormented. When she thought about it, it kind of was inevitable. Maybe not the stroking him part, but certainly the seeing him less than clothed. "Rye, we didn't do anything we shouldn't have. It was a mistake. I'm sure this isn't the first time a woman got twin brothers confused and ended up seeing more than she should. It's your house. I'm the one who should be more careful."

Rye turned away from her. He placed both hands on the dresser. His head fell forward as though he was very tired. "We've shared a room all of our lives until a year ago. Even after our parents were gone and we could have, probably should have, taken our own rooms, we didn't. We moved in here and, when we had the money, renovated to suit our needs. We built this room and that bathroom for the future. I don't know, Rachel. I just always expected him to be there."

"I am not trying to take your brother away from you," Rachel said quietly. Was all this drama worth it when she knew she wasn't going to be able to stay? Her heart hurt at the thought, but sooner or later, she would have to move on. Until Tommy was caught, she was in danger and so was everyone around her.

Rye sighed. "Oh, Rachel, I'm not jealous of you." He turned to her, and the intensity in his blue eyes made her heart speed up. "I'm gut-churningly jealous of Max. All of our lives, I've been the one to find our women. He's a charmless bastard who went along for the ride. I'm the one who wanted to get married. I'm the one who wanted to have kids. He just wanted to fuck. Now, he's the one who finds you? How the hell is that fair?"

She stood there, watching him at war with himself. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and soothe him, but she didn't have the right. From everything she knew, Max had decided to go straight. He wanted a normal one-on-one relationship. He would probably be upset if he knew how attracted she was to Rye.

Rye shook his head. "I'm leaving tonight. I'll pack a couple of things and stay at Stefan's until I can find an apartment."

"Don't." She was horrified at the thought. "I'll leave. This is your home. I never meant to cause this much trouble."

Rye smiled slightly, but it was a sad thing. "I can't watch you and Max. I'll get to the point where I can be friendly, and we can pretend to be some sort of normal family, but I'll never stop wanting you. I can't live in the same house and watch you settle in with my brother. Do you understand the relationship I want?"

"You want to share me with Max." The statement came out in a low, breathy voice. She had meant to sound matter-of-fact, not sultry.

"I want you between us, Rachel. I want you to be our wife and our lover and the mother of our children. I want you to sleep in between us. I want you screaming your pleasure when we take you at the same time. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand." Her mouth was dry as she thought about it. She could have both of them. Two gorgeous men, loving her, wanting her. It was the fantasy of a lifetime.

"Max doesn't want that anymore. I have to choose between pursuing the woman I think I was meant to be with or honoring the brother I've shared a life with from the moment we were conceived. Know this, Rach, if he weren't already madly in love with you, if you hadn't already chosen him, I would be all over you. That's why I have to leave."

About Lexi Blake:

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

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Series: Vows for Billionaires #2
Publisher: Harlequin Books - Presents
ISBN: 9781335419248

Expecting royal twins can only mean one thing…

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