Perfectly Imperfect – the surprise cover reveal

Surprise!

A little back story here before I get into the specifics about what my next release will be about – and more importantly, why this particular book is jumping in the line up of releases.

I’ve always been an emotional reader, so it makes sense that I would write the same way. Or maybe a better way of explaining it would be to call me a moody reader and writer. For example, Uncaged might not have ever been written, but because I was feeling a certain way personally and for that family of characters, it was born. The same can be said for my next release. In a sense, it’s the love child of the love/hate relationship I have with myself. A product of my inner insecurities that I just couldn’t let go of.

A few months ago, when I was having a particularly bad ‘self hate’ day, I had a story pop in my head. One that wouldn’t let go no matter how hard I tried to continue working on other projects. I’ve always felt like my characters know what’s best. They know when one should step up and be a little louder than the others. So, I decided to jump right in and write this book first.

At this point you’re probably wondering where I’m going with this. I promise, I’m getting there. But in order to fully understand why this book means so much to me, I need to let you know WHY this subject is so personal for me. I tend to keep a lot of my personal life to myself, but I’ve always put a little bit of ME in my books. You write what you know. For me, writing about depression was terrifying because it let a little piece of my soul fly free. But, it was also freeing. Healing. It was the breath of life that my characters needed to connect to so many other readers. There are lots of little parts of me throughout each book, but with this next release, it will be the second time I’m letting another little part of my soul fly. It’s so deeply personal that I know it won’t be easy to put into words, but it’s also a subject that so desperately needs to be written.

Body image.

It’s a topic that I’ve battled with for as long as I can remember. I was that pudgy kid that used humor to hide how much I hated myself. I was that kid in highschool that hardly ate a thing and ended up being scary thin. It’s a topic that I still, to this day, continue to fight myself over. I’ve been down the road of eating disorders and healing, but I still fight myself to see the ‘pretty girl’ under my overweight body.

So for me, Willow will be about as much of ME as it gets. I’ve been in her shoes. I still try them on day in and day out. And I know I’m not the only one that feels that struggle daily.

And with that – Willow Tate was born.

Perfectly Imperfect will be a standalone romance that I hope to have released by the end of next month, but it might be more realistic to say November. As soon as I have a firm release date, that will be announced on all my social media platforms. Either way, Willow and Kane’s story will be my next release.

I know that a lot of you were hoping that Nate would be next and I’m sorry if this news isn’t good news to you, but I strongly believe that I have to let me characters take the lead. Nate’s book and the first book in the Loaded Replay series will be released next year, but I have no set date at this time.

Now, on to the cover. As you might have noticed, this is NOTHING like any of my other covers, and that’s for a reason. Because of the subject of this book, I wanted my readers to be able to build Willow and Kane with my words. Not everyone has the same image for what is considered ‘over-weight’ and because of the journey that Willow takes during Perfectly Imperfect, it’s important to me that you have creative freedom for them. Models aren’t needed for this book. Not because I don’t know what they look like – I do – but because I feel like had I given faces and more importantly bodies to them, it would water down what I’m hoping you as readers will feel. And if you’re like me, Willow takes her face often looking just like mine. This cover might just be my favorite cover to date.

My cover designer, Sommer Stein with Perfect Pear Creative Covers, knocked this one out of the park, like always. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the way this turned out. I know it isn’t what you guys are used to seeing as the face of my books, but I really feel like Perfectly Imperfect might be one of my most ‘perfect’ covers.

Perfectly Imperfect – coming late 2015 – a standalone contemporary romance

Synopsis:

Mirror, mirror … who’s the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn’t grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all ‘mean girls.’

And those mean girls were right – it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world – and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that’s definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I’m completely imperfect.

And … I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

Unexpected Fate – Prologue

Are you ready for Cohen and Dani? You feel in love with Cohen Cage first in Cage then again in each book after. He was that adorable kid that saw the beauty in an imperfect world. With his cape, love for his sisters, and hilarious little mouth…it’s hard not to love him. But, Cohen’s all grown up now. He grew into a man that is just as strong and fearless as both of his parents. He puts family first and isn’t afraid to admit that right or wrong, his future is wrapped up in one irresistible five-foot-two package of Danielle Reid.

To pre-order Unexpected Fate –>http://amzn.to/1zLgzUj (Releasing Feb 17)

This is an unedited sample from Unexpected Fate and might change before publication. Copyright Harper Sloan 2015.

Prologue

“Axel Reid, don’t you dare!” My mom exclaims and then yelps when my daddy charges through the front door.

“Don’t I dare what, Princess? No way that boy is going near my girl. Look at him! He looks like he can’t wait to creep on my daughter!”

“Well, there is no need to scare him to death!” she mocks.

My cheeks heat instantly when I see Dane start backing away from the porch. My hopes of being able to actually GO to my senior prom are starting to go up in flames.

Poof.

Just like that.

Not that I should be surprised about it. Mom did her best to calm daddy down, but we should have known better. He took one look at me and stormed over, only to return ten minutes later looking like he does now.

So embarrassing.

“You need to stop this nonsense right now, you big lug, or you’ll be sleeping on the couch,” Mom fumes.

“Like hell I will, woman!” Daddy roars at my mom and I watch her face get sharp. He stops long enough to sling one of—that’s right ONE of—the rifles he’s carrying over his shoulder where it lands next to the other one he already has over his other shoulder.

Only my mom would be brave enough to deal with him when he’s in ‘Protect Dani from everything with a penis’ mode. He looks absolutely ridiculous. He has two hunting rifles now hanging by their leather straps over each of shoulder. He has two handguns strapped to each thick thigh, two on each side of his belt, and various knives along the way. His shirt, one that he thinks is hilarious to wear when I attempt to go out on a date, says I kill things…and eat them. I know it’s a hunting shirt…for animals, not teenage boys, but Dane doesn’t.

Mom moves in front of him, standing in the front doorway and blocking his path out where Dane is still slowly retreating. She’s been dealing with this way before they even had me. He’s…protective. I guess that’s the nicest way to put it. Well, she calls him protective. However, I call it possessive, overbearing, controlling, demanding, jerky.

“This is her senior prom, Ax. You wouldn’t let her go last year,” she pauses when he grunts deeply in his throat, “and I’m sorry but you won’t be stopping her this year. She has a right to experience this. And Dane is a nice boy. Right Dane,” she yells over her shoulder.

“Uhh…” he stammers, causing my daddy to grunt some more.

“The boy doesn’t even know how to talk, Izzy. I bet he will be nothing but handsy and think with his little pecker. Nope. No way. Not near my baby girl.”

Oh. My. God. I wish I could just fall into a hole right now. I try to see over my parents and see if Dane heard that, but with daddy basically being a giant, that’s not happening.

“You did not just say that!” I yell at his back.

Daddy turns around, his movements awkward with how many weapons he has strapped to his body. His green eyes, so like my own, slant and harden. He looks down at my dress for the thousandth time since I came downstairs and doesn’t even bother hiding his displeasure that it is showing too much of my body. Even if it is about as tasteful as it gets.

My strapless red dress has a sweetheart neckline and everything he calls my girly bits is covered. There isn’t really any cleavage, well, okay there is some but surely with my lack of being busty you couldn’t even call what IS showing cleavage. His first problem was with how much of my legs were showing. Then I made the mistake of turning around without my wrap on. That’s when he saw that the back was completely backless to what would be my bra line. Well, if I had been wearing one. Which is clearly when he lost his mind.

“You look just like your mother did that night twenty years ago when we finally came back to each other. Right down to those strappy shoe things and I guarantee you, Danielle Reid, any teenage boy that doesn’t bat for the other team will be thinking thoughts I’ll cut his dick off for. No. You aren’t going with that boy, and that’s final.

I harden my eyes and his narrow even further.

I put my hands on my hips and he squares his shoulders, his riffles clinking together.

I raise one brow and he mirrors the action.

“Daddy.”

“Dani.”

“I’ll cry.”

“No you won’t. You have more balls than that.”

“Want to bet?” I start to attempt to muster up some tears, knowing that he won’t be able to handle them, but before I can force the first one out my brother jumps into my line of sight and blocks our standoff.

“Yo, Dane! You just run along now. Dani is unfortunately feeling a little under the weather. Ebola, or the flu, I don’t know. It’s really ugly and you probably don’t want to be around this. The boils, they could pop at any moment.”

“You did not just do that,” I heatedly whisper, fuming at his nerve.

Nate turns and smirks at me, “Oh I just did.”

“I can’t believe you two!” I spin to look at the one person that could help me. “Mom, seriously?”

Her expression softens and she just shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Dani. I tried.”

“You two,” I start, pointing between my older brother and father. “You just can’t leave it alone? I’ll be eighteen in a few months. What are you jerks going to do then?”

“You’re not dating, Danielle. Not ever.”

“Oh yeah, Daddy? And how realistic is that crap?”

“Watch your mouth, little princess.”

“Mom?”

“I’m so sorry, Dani.” She walks over and wraps me in her small arms. I could probably really cry, a lot easier than when I was trying to fake, but I’ve never been one of those girls that weep constantly. It would be easier to just go upstairs, take off the dress that mom and I spent hours looking for, scrub the light makeup that she helped me apply and pretend this night didn’t happen.

***

An hour later, I’m sitting in my bedroom, still in perfect dress. My makeup is still done and my hair is still flowing in long waves. And I’m no less mad at the men in my life than I was earlier. I’ve considered climbing out my window. I’ve considered asking my best friends Lyn and Lila to come help me escape. But what would be the point? Rambo-Dad already scared away my date, the only boy left in school that was willing to ask me even though his friends had warned him about my father.

I lie down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. Maybe I should go away from college. I had planned on living at home while I attended Georgia Tech, but there is no way I can deal with this stuff any longer. If my father had things his way I would be shipped off to become a nun. Or he would buy an island and make it an all girls cult.

“Uhggggg!” I yell to the empty room.

“Seriously, Dani-girl, things can’t be that bad.”

I jump up when I hear the deep, gravely, insanely sexy voice coming from my bedroom door. That voice. My lord. The things it alone does to me should be classified as illegal.

My hair slaps me in the face, a good handful landing in my open mouth and I hastily pull it out before turn to where he is standing.

My lord he’s beautiful. He’s always been. My heart speeds up when I take in his smirking face and the mischief dancing in his brown eyes.

“Cat got your tongue?”

I shake my head.

“Speechless?”

I shake it again.

“Do you really have some flesh eating boil-slash-ebola like sickness?” he laughs.

I narrow my eyes at him and his rich laughter booms through the room.

“I’m just kidding, Dani-girl. Come on, get yourself ready and let’s go rock this prom.”

My jaw drops, again. “What?” For the first time I notice that he’s dressed in a perfectly tailored tux. My eyes travel down his tall form to his shining black dress shoes. On the way back up, my eyes hit the corsage spinning around his finger before I look back up into those gorgeous eyes.

“Let’s go, beautiful.”

“Does Daddy know you’re here?” I ask, not moving from my spot.

He sighs, steps into my room and walks over. His cologne, Gucci Black, wraps around me. He’s worn the same scent for years. I perversely sniff it every time I hit the mall with Lyn and Lila. That scent…it’s my undoing.

He grabs one of my hands, gives my knuckles a kiss before placing the corsage around my wrist. He gives my hand a squeeze before letting go. Placing his strong hands on my shoulders he presses down until I’m seated on my bed. Kneeling before me he takes my feet one by one and fastens the strap of my black heels back on before standing and grabbing my hands, again, to pull me to my feet.

The whole time I act like freak and just gape at him.

What in the hell is going on?

“Ready?” he asks.

“Uhhh…”

“Right, you’re ready,” he laughs, grabs my hand and pulls me through the house, down the stairs and into the entryway of the house where my parents are waiting. Mom has her camera ready, forcing us to take some pictures, all of which I’m sure I just stand there in a daze. I think I smiled in them, but I’m too busy trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Daddy smiles big and triumphantly the whole time, like he’s won some battle here.

“Oh, good. You got here,” Nate mumbles through a sandwich he’s stuffing down his throat.

I shake out of my stunned stupor and look over at him. “You did this?” I ask with disbelief.

“Well, duh. Can’t have my little sister miss her prom because of some boils. Plus, I knew this guy” he says pointing at our father, “wouldn’t mind him.” He takes another bite before he looks over my shoulder. “And I know he isn’t going to try to pet the cat.”

“Nathaniel Gregory!” Mom gasps.

“What? Why do you think dad act like he does? Just because I’m willing to say the words you don’t have to freak out.”

I look over at my mom who has turned bright red. Daddy laughs at her embarrassment and pulls her into his arms. “Are you sure we didn’t drop that one a few times as a baby?” She slaps his hard stomach and shakes her head.

“You look beautiful, honey. Have fun, okay?”

I smile at her and move my eyes to daddy to judge his mood. He just smiles at me.

“I trust him. He won’t let any of those pimple face, prepubescent boy touch a beautiful hair on your head. Have fun, sweetheart.”

I walk over and give them both a hug. Standing up on my toes as far as a can to whisper my gratitude in his ears. He’s annoying. Overprotective and possessive of his girls, but I love him and I know he comes from a good place.

“Uh, excuse me? Do I not get any little sister love here? I’m the one running this show, you know?”

“You’re such a dork, Nate,” I laugh and give him a hug before turning back to my date.

He’s standing by the door talking in low towns to my daddy. I can’t hear him, but he’s still smiling so I’m guessing there isn’t any talk about dismemberment going on. He looks over, his smile deepening and the lines around his eyes crinkling. Something moves behind his eyes, darkening them slightly, but he looks back over at daddy, finishing up their conversation for a few minutes.

“Ready, Dani-girl?” he asks a few minutes later, making my heart speed up again.

Holy. Crap.

“Yeah, I’m ready.” Or at least as ready as I’ll ever be.

That night, while dancing to Brett Young’s Kiss by Kiss, I knew that I would never be the same. I could feel the jealous waves coming off every female in the room as he held me in his arms. Of course, I had a man and not a boy as my date. Five years older than me and very obviously not a teenager.

Being held in his arms was a dream come true. His scent invading my lungs with every inhale. His eyes twinkling and his smile holding me hostage. I knew I would never love a man as much as I love him.

Yeah. That was the night that I confirmed what I had always known. What I had always felt.

Cohen Cage owned my heart and I never wanted it back.

What’s Next, Harper?

I’ve been asked a few times about what was coming next. I haven’t said much, mainly because I didn’t know which of the voices in my head would win. I had two very dominant alpha males in my head battling it out to see which of my new series would win. Both books were started and still I couldn’t decide which one I loved more. (It was hard…so hard)

Well…

I’m happy to say that there was a winner. A big winner. One that I’m so excited to share with you I can hardly stand it. I’ve mentioned a few times on my Facebook and my author Facebook as well as my instagram that I was working on Unexpected Fate. I don’t think I realized until today that there were a lot of people that missed the news on who that book was about. I didn’t do a big cover reveal or announcement, that’s never really been my style. Mainly because I can’t sit on stuff and wait for a specific date. When I have one of those stunning covers in my hands, er…computer, I need them out. I can’t wait to share them. But, if doing so, I realize that a lot of my readers miss upcoming news.

Let me step back for a second. I’m getting carried away.

Unexpected Fate. This will be book one of a new series called Hope Town. I have no set number of books, but there will be a few 😉 and Hope Town is a series spin off from the Corps Security books. More specifically…Hope Town & Unexpected Fate will be the start of the children from the Corps family. They’re all grown up and ready for love. Each of these books will very much stand alone and you don’t need to wait for the series to be out to read them in order. The characters will be interconnected, but not as much as they were in Corps Security (where I would never recommend reading them out of order past Beck’s book.) And my favorite part – the parents are very much a big focus in the Hope Town series.

So… here is the synopsis. I’ll let that do all the talking about WHO Unexpected Fate will feature.

Have you ever felt like you were living your life for a future that was predetermined? Like there was some bigger picture you just prayed you would someday see clearly? That picture has been crystal clear to me since I was old enough to recognize it for just what it was.

Or I should say recognize him for who he was.

I’ve loved Cohen Cage since I was a small child. He’s been my everything for the last twenty-two years. I’ve loved him through every girlfriend he’s ever brought home. Through his college years and then mine. I’ve loved him through two deployments. And ever since the day I told him how I felt, he’s acted like I’m a stranger.

My name is Danielle Reid, and it’s time for me to get my man.

Our future is an unexpected fate, and no matter what our parents, siblings, and friends say…it’s going to be worth every second of the fight to make it happen.

Sigh.

Double sigh.

Cohen Cage is a character that I have loved for five books. As a child I fell in love with his infectious personality and as the books continued on it was very clear to me that he was one I would never be able to leave behind. It was also VERY clear to me that he would end up with Dani Reid.

Just like his father’s book, Cage, writing Cohen was effortless. He didn’t just speak to me, he yelled. The things I assumed would happen or how I thought Cohen would act during certain scenes were just thrown out the window when I started writing. HE stole my head and did whatever the hell he wanted. AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! Dani was a shock for me. I knew I would love her because, hello! she is Axel and Izzy’s baby girl, but I was so pleasantly shocked with just how much I love her as a character. With every page I wrote it became obvious that Cohen and Dani would become my new favorite couple.

I love them. I love them alone and I ADORE them together. Their love, connection and the power of them both are something that I still get chills over. And watching that love grow – sigh freaking sigh.

So…when will you get this book I can’t stop rambling about?

February 17

In just over a month they will be all yours. Keep an eye on either of my facebook accounts, TSU or instagram over the following weeks. Teasers will be coming SOON!

NOW – MORE NEWS.

With the birth of Unexpected Fate there will for sure be book two in the series coming early 2015. This book will feature Liam Beckett and I’ll have more news about Lee and his lady love soon. Another book that will be coming early 2015 is Jaded Hearts. This book will start the rocker series, Loaded Replay, and I can’t wait to show you the covers for this series. Book one will feature the sexy as hell female lead singer, Wrenlee Davenport. I’ll post more about these two books when I have more infomation for you.

Alright. I think that about sums up what’s to come…for now. I hope you all love Cohen and Dani as much as I do.

Happy Reading!!

Locke Synopsis Reveal

Darkness is the only thing I see. Ever since the day my life changed. The day that everything and everyone I held close to me ceased to exist. The day I lost it all and the demons of my past consumed my every waking moment.

I tried to keep others at arm’s length. Tried not to let my darkness taint them. Ruin them. Harm them. And whether I want to admit it or not, as much as I wish I could keep them locked out, they refuse to leave. Refuse to let me suffer alone.

If I hadn’t been so focused on keeping those demons from flying free, I wouldn’t have missed how one perfect angel was able to sneak her way under my skin—refusing to let go. Making me want things I don’t deserve.

She consumes me. Her beauty knows no end. The love she promises tempts me every time she’s near. But that pure heart that makes her MY Emmy is the one thing I’m convinced I’ll destroy if I ever let her close.

I’m a broken man. A broken man with too much darkness in his soul to ever let her light shine upon me. But even that doesn’t stop me from craving her with every single breath in my body.

Cooper is here!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Danielle from Mean Girls Luv Books– ‘From the prologue of this story…it’s just THERE. You just connect on a level that I’m not sure you have even connected thus far in the series.’
Read full review here.

Chelcie from GingerRead Review– ‘The pain in the words on the pages tore me apart. The pure sorrow was so real that all I could do was weep and feel the pain and just keep going.’
Read full review here.

Teaser Thursday- Cooper Prologue Reveal

Prologue – Asher

“Come on, Coop,” I whisper. It’s dark in the closet, but I can still make out his huddled form in the back corner. “Come on, Coop. Please. Mom will be back soon and you know she’s gonna be mad if she hears us.”

I shift my body so he can see the cracker box I grabbed from the barren kitchen. Mom never brings us food anymore. I’m lucky that my best friend, Joel, lives close and shares his snacks with us or we wouldn’t eat.

He doesn’t ask questions.

Not anymore.

“I’m scared, Ash.”

I ball up my fist when I hear his broken and weak voice. My brother is so small. I just turned ten last week, but I’m bigger. I know Coop is small because he is always scared. Too scared to come out of the closet our mom always makes us stay in.

“We gotta hurry. Move over, ‘kay?”

“’Kay.” His weak voice cracks.

“Are you still cold?” I question.

“Yeah,” he replies weakly.

When I get to the back of the closet, closing the door tightly behind me, I reach out and hand Coop the box. It only has seven crackers in it. They’re old, and I had to get a few roaches out of the box before I brought it back. Coop doesn’t like the bugs that live in the kitchen.

“Don’t you want some?” He holds the box my way, and even though my stomach rumbles, I shake my head no. “You need some too, Ash,” he tries again.

“I’m okay, Coop. I had some before I brought them back. You gotta hurry before mom gets home, okay?”

He nods his head and starts to eat sluggishly. I grab one of the bottles of water Joel gave me last week and hand it to him. His head falls to rest against my shoulder while he takes turns eating and drinking slowly.

He’s getting weaker. He couldn’t get up this morning to go to school. He just kept sleeping, so I stayed home. Mom didn’t even notice. I could hear her throwing up this morning. She’s always throwing up. And drinking the nasty stuff.

I don’t know how long we have been sitting here when I hear the front door bang shut and the sounds of feet stomping around the house. Coop drops the crackers and pulls his legs up to his chest.

“Zachariah Cooper! Where in the hell are you, you little shit?!”

Oh crap. This isn’t going to be good.

“Ash,” he quivers.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

I grab some of the old blankets we sleep on and throw them over Coop. I can hear him whimpering when I crawl over to the door and crack it open.

I know she’s coming.

She wouldn’t miss this chance to show Coop how much she hates him.

But I won’t let her. No. I’m a big boy now, and I won’t let her hurt my brother anymore.

I hate seeing Coop scared.

I’m already standing in the middle of the bedroom when she rounds the corner, her yucky clothes that don’t cover her private parts on and her face smudged with old makeup—I know she’s going to be really mean today.

“Where is that little shit? He didn’t go to school again today. Both of you little shits decided to stay home, and now I’ve got the school poking around, asking questions!”

She tries to get around me, but with her tall shoes on, she can’t move quick enough. That’s all the distraction I need for her to focus her attention on me and not on Coop. Just where I want it.

Right before her hand reaches out and slashes against my face, I promise myself that I will never let anyone hurt my baby brother.
Never.

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of the Dads out there! I’ll be spending today with my husband and our three little ladies, but I had someone who wanted to share his Father’s Day with you all.

So… I’m going to pass things over to Cohen to tell you just how he made Greg’s Father’s Day special this year!

Enjoy your day!

Xo,
Harper

Father’s Day

“Dilbert!” I’ve been calling his name forever, but he keeps looking at Uncle Davey funny. If I were bigger he would hear me and he would stop giving Uncle Davey those weird wiggles of his eyebrows. “DILBERT!” I scream making all the ladies in Dilbert’s hair place look at me. I just smile and wave before looking back at Dilbert.
“What’s up, my prince of all that is cool?”
“Need your help, Dilbert! I need to get Daddy something for Daddy Day! Mommy told me that you could help me with it since her and Daddy have my girls at the doctor today for their checkers up!” I rush out, knowing that we need to hurry or Daddy will come back before I can get Dilbert to help me.
“Whoa, Cohen! What can Sway help you with?” He laughs and spins in his hot pink tall shoes. I don’t know why he wears shoes like my mommy wears, but he’s really cool so I don’t mind. I won’t wear those silly shoes though.
“Mommy said you can sew! She told me, then she made hotdogs and these cookies that look like witch hats. Then she said that you know all sorts of fun things, but she said you really know how to sew and that if I need you to sew something you’ll do it because she can’t sew to save the lives!” I take a deep breath and wait for Dilbert to tell me he can sew. I know he can because Mommy told me so.
“Of course I can sew! Would I be this fabulous if I didn’t know how to make magic with a little needle and thread? I tell you, I would not! There just isn’t a market for the kind of amazing Sway needs. Come tell Sway what you need my little alpha man in the making.”
I don’t know what an alpha man is, but I know what I need Dilbert to do.
I had just finished telling him every single thing in the world I need him to do when I see my Daddy come in the front door of the salon. The ladies with their heads in the blowing bowls all look over at my Daddy when he walks over to where Dilbert has me standing on the counter in the back of the room. The ladies all get big eyes and their faces get red.
Girls are weird.
“No worries, Cohen-Ba-Bohen, Sway will make it happen,” he whispers.
I give him a nod and jump right when Daddy gets close enough. He catches me with a laugh and swings me around until I’m high on his shoulders. My daddy has the strongest shoulders in the whole world.
“Thanks for watching him so we could take the girls for their check up, Sway.”
Dilbert and Daddy talk for a second and then we’re walking out the door. I can’t wait my surprise for Daddy!

Sunday afternoon Mommy brings a bright gold box to me and laughs, “Here you go Co-man. Sway dropped this off yesterday and I made sure Daddy didn’t see it.”
Mommy smiles and I lean down to give my girls a kiss. They both laugh at me because they love me. My girls will always love me.
Running through the house I scream, “Daddy! Dadddddy!”
“Whoa, little dude, where’s the fire?”
“What? There isn’t a fire! But this is really really important! Here, OPEN IT,” I say loudly giving Daddy the gold box.
Mommy comes up behind me and I go stand next to her. My girls are making their funny noises from the other room where I left them rolling on the ground.
This is perfect.
“What’s this Cohen?” he asks.
“It’s for Daddy Day!”
He laughs and starts to open the box. I can’t stop my body from bouncing up and down. I can’t wait to see it.
When he pulls the top off and moves the paper that covers my gift to him I can hear him make a funny noise. Sounds like that one time I swallowed a fly, that wasn’t fun.
“Oh my,” I hear Mommy whisper. “This is why you asked me if Sway could sew, baby?”
“Well, yeah!” I laugh.
Daddy still hasn’t moved. He’s just looking down at his present and moving his hand over what I got him. He makes a small cough sound and rubs his hands over his eyes before looking up at me. His face is wet, but it isn’t raining inside so that’s weird.
“Your face looks funny, Daddy,” I tell him, because he really should know.
“Yeah,” he whispers. “Did you think about this all on your own, buddy?”
“Yup!”
“Well, son…I love it. I love it so much. Come help me out, okay?”
When he has my present out and Mommy helps him put it on I smile big.
He turns and the bright red cape swings around with him. I smile even bigger when I hear Mommy read what Dilbert put on the back.
“My Daddy is my HERO.” She sounds funny and when I look up her face is wet too.
Whatever.
“YAY! Now we can both fight the bad guys and no one can ever get to our girls! Woohoo!”
I run over and give Daddy a big hug and then hurry over to my girls so I can tell them what I got Daddy!
I look over at Mommy and Daddy one more time and smile really big when I see Daddy hugging Mommy. His back is to me and all I can see is his red cape and the big blue letters that Dilbert sewed on the back.
“Best Daddy Day ever!” I whisper to my girls and they smile big—even if they don’t have teeth.

Oh Chicago!

Oh, Chicago! I have got to say, you are one fun town! Not only did I have a blast with the authors and readers, but also I was able to bring my mom with me to the signing. It was so much fun having her experience the signing. And I’m happy to say that she left 10 new books heavier!
If I could go back to Chicago for a day of never-ending food, I would. Good lord do they know how to make pizza and pasta! And the shopping, sweet heavens did I have fun there.

But enough about that… Let’s get to the fun stuff!

MAJOR HIGHLIGHT! Finally, finally, finally getting to meet the fat rabbit hating, Danielle, or otherwise known as my sanity keeper. It’s still up in the air on if she thinks I’m as bat shit crazy as I really am, but I had so much fun with her. Danielle brought three of her friends from Louisiana and I might just have a desire to move to their town. Those girls, HILARIOUS! And I can’t forget the Mean Girls from Mean Girls Luv Books. Danielle is one of the 10 phenomenal ladies that blog with MGLB and this weekend I got to meet three more of them! (One of which is Becky, one of my betas, Girl Scout cookie deliverer and swag keeper) I don’t think it’s a secret that MGLB holds a pretty special place in my heart. I’m starting to collect them like there’s no tomorrow… they should probably be concerned. 😉

I learned pretty quickly that Danielle might just be the funniest person to introduce to authors. She’s a book lover to the max and seeing her meet these amazing ladies was just amazing. So—authors if you’re seeing this and you meet Danielle Calcote at a future signing (cough, cough Tennessee Valley Author Event) make sure and give her a BIG BIG hug…she loves warm hugs!

So Friday night was great food with amazing ladies, and maybe a few drinks or 10. I knew that going into Saturday I would need to be rested, LONG DAY! I had my first Chicago deep-dish pizza and considered keeping the leftovers on ice until I got home. For real, best pizza I’ve ever had. I have no idea how I’m going to ever be able to eat Papa John’s again.

Saturday started with breakfast in bed and laughs with my mom (really was a blast to spend the weekend with her!), Starbucks, wander around the hotel, and some people watching. Then the fun started. The signing was probably one of the most fun I had with readers and authors. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming. Not to mention I stocked up on a ridiculously beautiful amount of books for my own collection! My fan-girl highlights included R.K. Lilley telling me she was reading, and loving, Axel. Maybe impregnating Mr. Lilley with my sperm. Hugging Katy Evans AND Alice Clayton. Finally meeting Raine Miller and keeping my stuff together long enough not to scream how much I love her. Michelle Valentine. I hugged her. And let me just say, I loved her before but I love her even more now. Seeing the Wilders again, and loving them just as much as I did every time before. And, to me, meeting Fred LeBaron is like celebrity status. Selfies with Jenn Foor, Danielle and Zac Efron. → Thank you to each and every person who came out that day and made the Chicago Author Event what it was. You guys ROCK!

And now I come to the entertainment portion of the event. LOL, literally. If you joined us over at Brandos Speakeasy…well, you know EXACTLY what I mean.

A few things I learned from the my first experience at hosting an after party…
When the owner (SHOUT OUT TO THE COOLEST BAR OWNER AROUND, DINO!) asks you if you want male strippers to come, he isn’t joking, and not only will the come…but you might too. LOL!
Chicago strippers, they don’t play.
When you ask the bartender to give you something heavy on the liquor and fruity, he’s going to give you exactly what you want. When the owner tells him to make them heavier after you drunkenly tell him they’re weak, the bartender will give you exactly what you want. And, 23 Jolly Rancher drinks don’t just sneak up on you… they jump on your back and say yee-fucking-haw!
When the owner takes out his homemade liquor, that could be trouble. Delicious trouble.
When you say on the way TO the bar that you’re not sure it’s safe to walk back and you should take a taxi…arrange that before you’re drunk enough that it feels like a good idea to walk.
The billboards have eyes…and strangers don’t appreciate you letting them know that they should proceed with caution.
Rent and Ride bikes are really fun to power race with Kim Jones…while they’re locked up and not moving.
If you fall asleep in your PA’s room while everyone is chatting, leave your phone unattended, you will find hilarious pictures in the morning…and when you just pop up and walk out of the room after being passed out for an hour, no one will stop you, but they will laugh in the morning at how weird you really are.
I’m sure there’s more…but damn if I can remember it.
All I know is I had one of the most fun nights ever with an amazing group of people.

All in all, I had so much fun. I experienced it with my mother and the best ladies around. Thank you, Chicago, for showing me such a great time.

Happy Birthday Harper Sloan!

Happy Thursday everyone!!!!

Today is a super special day! Why? Because I officially leave my twenties behind! That’s right, I’m 30!!!

I wanted to do something fun today, throw in a little giveaway, and just enjoy it!

So…to kick things off, I’m keeping Cage at 99 pennies for today only, and then he’s going to go back to full price. Grab him while it’s hot. 😉

I’m running a giveaway for 30 (YES, 30) swag packs! I know there is a lot of swag I post that I don’t offer outside of signings that readers have shown interest in. It’s also a little way for my Corps boys to spend the day with me (and you).

ALSO… I’ve got some funny, weird, and even more weird random facts about me – yup, you guessed it – 30 of them. LOL! It’s silly, but it’s me.

ANNNNND, last but not least, my favorite. 30 of my current (and subject to change with every new book I read) book boyfriends. I don’t think I’ve done this in a while, and I get asked a lot what books I would recommend. Well, it goes without saying that if the men made this list, I 150% recommend reading the book. I think each and every one of my BBFs are in a series AND I loved each book. Now, I’m going to say this – these are in no particular order – except for number 1… my man, Kane ‘Tack’ Allen.

Thank you, all of you, for the amazing birthday wishes! <3 <3 It means the world!!

★★★ 30 Random Facts ★★★

1. I can wiggle my ears. It apparently only impresses my kids but I think it’s rad.

2. My favorite color is teal.

3. I’m insanely obsessed with reality TV. The trashier the better.

4. Honey Boo Boo lives about 1.5 hours away from my house. Scary. Real scary.

5. I’ve never been further west than Texas. And I was 6 when I was there. But come October I’ll pass that mark for VEGAS! (www.lovenvegas.com)

6. I’m thinking of starting a movement to raise awareness to the problems skinny jeans can cause men. Think of the balls people. It’s very troubling to thing of those poor things.

7. I trust few.

8. I collect cocks… The poultry kind… Because I think it’s funny to say cock. But to be honest… I collect the picture kind too. Which means if I die unexpectedly I need someone to come destroy all my devices. All. Of. Them.

9. I’ll let laundry pile up until I’m forced to do it. I hate it that much.

10. The naughty groups I’m in on Facebook are the best inspiration.

11. Banks freak me out. I avoid going inside as much as possible.

12. I could sleep 23 hours a day – and be happy about it.

13. My ADD is… Hey, something shiny!

14. I’m addicted to tattoos. Not only because I can tell a story in my body, but because the pain is delicious.

15. I hate being outside.

16. Bugs terrify me. Straight up I’ll chunk random household objects at one if it’s in my house.

17. If anyone ever found my phone they would seriously wonder about what kind of person I was. Refer back to #8.

18. I collect hot men pictures. Yummy. 19. I might have issues buying all the fun as seen on TV things I see.

20. I need music to do almost everything.

21. I’ve been married to my baby daddy for 10 years in July. I haven’t killed him yet so that’s a major win.

22. Danielle Calcote is pretty much always right. Sigh.

23. I’ll laugh at myself before someone else laughs at me. Some of the funniest shit ever has been at my expense.

24. I have 3 daughters. The last baby, Miss A, was supposed to be a boy. Good job there ultrasound tech.

25. I drive a mini van like the sexy beast I am.

26. I think it’s impossible for me to not fucking cuss.

27. Birthdays are awesome. Even if you are one year older. Everything gets better with age.

28. I love boy bands. From the 90s.

29. In my head… my boys are very much alive and just living a few towns over. I may or may not talk to them. Out loud. In public.

30. I hate doing these things. Lol. My attention span isn’t built to make these interesting. Lol.

★★★ Top 30 Book Boyfriends….of the moment. ★★★

1. Kane ‘Tack’ Allen from the Mystery Man series by Kristen Ashley

2. Jesse Ward from the This Man series by Jodi Ellen Malpas

3. Joe Callahan from The ‘Burg series by Kristen Ashley

4. Ty Walker from the Colorado Mountain series by Kristen Ashley

5. Remington ‘Remy’ Tate from the Real series by Katy Evans

6. Asher Mayson from the Until series by Aurora Rose Reynolds

7. James Cavendish from the Up in the Air series by RK Lilley

8. Tristan Vega from the Tristan and Danika series by RK Lilley

9. Drake Bennett from the Blythe College series by Rochelle Paige

10. Shame from the Lights of Peril series by AC Bextor

11. Dragon from The Aces series by Nicole Jacquelyn

12. Deuce West from the Undeniable series by Madeline Sheehan

13. Damien Hart from the Hart Family series by Ella Fox

14. Kellan Kyle from the Thoughtless series by SC Stephens

15. Xavier ‘X’ Cold from the Hard Knocks series by Michelle Valentine

16. Colt Mitchell from the Mitchell Family series by Jennifer Foor

17. Jackson Compton from the Breaking the Rules series by K. Webster

18. Horse from the Reapers MC series by Joanna Wylde

19. Jaxon Riley from the Broken series by Kimberly Lauren

20. Rule Archer from the Marked Men series by Jay Crownover

21. Brooks Valentine from Love’s Suicide by Jennifer Foor

22. Carter Ellis from the Chocolate Lover’s series by Tara Sivec

23. Nick Anderson from The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

24. Aiden Palowski from the Binding Arbitration series by Elizabeth Marx

25. Logan Matthews from the Ready series by JL Berg

26. Jace McAllister from the Explosive series by Tessa Teevan

27. Nate Makenna from the With Me In Seattle series by Kristen Proby

28. Ryan Christensen from the Love series by Tina Reber

29. Jack Carter from The Perfect Game series by J. Sterling

30. Christian Grey from the Fifty Shades Trilogy by EL James

★★★ SALE ALERT ★★★
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★★★ Dirty 30 Giveaway ★★★

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Cooper Synopsis Reveal

Do you take me seriously? Because I don’t. I use my jokes and easygoing personality to hide the pain I’ve felt since he took his last breath. I’m adrift without my partner in crime, my best friend…my brother. I can taste the vengeance just within my grasp.

Until she barges into my life. Promising me happiness and a peace I’ve been craving for years. She is the sun to my darkness, the happy to my despair.

But she holds secrets. Just like I do. She holds hers close, where I just pray mine don’t rock the walls we’re trying to build.

Now I’m stuck at a crossroads between my desire for revenge and my craving for her and the life we could have together—and I have no idea which road I should travel.

All I know with crystal clear certainty is that the past has the power to destroy it all.

Harper Sloan