I'm so happy to be part of the City Of Champions Blog Tour.
If you haven't read any of Chloe Barlow's books, either Three Rivers or
City Of Champions. Than you need to snatch them up, they are Must
Reads!!!! You can read my full review of City Of Champions HERE!!!
Author: Chloe Barlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 10, 2014
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: City of Champions (Gateway to Love, #2)
Author: Chloe Barlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 10, 2014
Synopsis
How do you find the will to try, when you've spent all of your life playing on a field strewn with shattered lives and broken rules?
Tragedy and betrayal taught Jenna Sutherland early on that her safest bet was to fiercely avoid any risk, whether it is in work, life, or love. Now a respected orthopedic surgical resident on the cusp of finally breaking through in her career, she’s more guarded than ever.
When injured NFL quarterback Wyatt McCoy bulldozes into her life there’s no denying he’s cocky, selfish, and downright dangerous — everything Jenna’s sworn she doesn’t want.
Suddenly the levelheaded doctor finds herself facing down her greatest fear, and she’s tempted to gamble all she’s fought so hard to build. The two embark on an intense holiday love affair that quickly teeters on obsession, and tempts them both to think they could go all-in on a real future together. Yet Wyatt's desperation to stay on the field — and out of the operating room — lures him to take dangerous risks with Jenna's trust.
Will they win at love or lose everything — including their fragile chance at happiness?
Price Details: Three Rivers and City of Champions will be at reduced prices of $0.99 for a limited time starting with City's release. Three Rivers will then return to normal price of $2.99 and City to $3.99.
City of Champions - Buy Links
Three Rivers – Buy Links
Amazon Kindle - http://amzn.to/1iemuD2
Paperback Version:
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Rivers-Gateway-Love-Novel/dp/1497317924/ref=la_B00IXAHC64_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394979351&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Rivers-Gateway-Love-Novel/dp/1497317924/ref=la_B00IXAHC64_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394979351&sr=1-1
Nook:
Kobo:
Three Rivers Deleted Scene (Gateway to Love, #1)
“You look really hot Tea.” Aubrey assured her.
“I don’t know, it feels a little exposed.” Althea looked at herself in the mirror, alternately tugging the top up and the hem further down on the deep red dress Aubrey and Jenna had chosen for her. It was low cut and gathered provocatively around her breasts, with ruching between them and at the waist. The straps were thick and soft and sat just on her shoulders. It was hot and flattering in a Lana Turner kind of way, without being trashy, but it was the most blatantly sexy thing she'd worn since Jack died.
“Not at all,” Jenna said. “You look really pretty.”
“Okay,” Althea responded, pulling on the straps, “but you guys are on duty tonight. There is no way to wear a bra with this dress and you need to let me know if the girls try to escape or the bar is cold and I get a wee tit nipply over here.”
“Of course!” Aubrey assured her as she leaned down and saluted Althea’s breasts, “Officers Cooper and Sutherland reporting for booby watch, sir. No boobs are going AWOL on our watch.”
Althea giggled and ran her fingers through her hair, noticing her empty fingers. She’d made some attempts to stop wearing her rings years ago, but something about the sultriness of her make up and dress made their absence stand out to her. It caused Althea to feel that pang of guilt like she was cheating, but she just kept reciting her new mantra: Baby Steps, Baby Steps, to herself. A reminder that she needed to make some kind of changes in her life. If a pretty red dress that brought out the auburn highlights in her hair and showcased her golden-toned skin in a way that made her feel really pretty, then it couldn’t be a bad thing, right? Right.
“Thanks Brey. Now, if I can just not kill myself in these crazy heels you leant me...don’t look at me like that. I am totally grateful because these peep toe shoes are so cute, but I hope you drive me to the hospital if I break an ankle.”
“Hopefully you won’t be walking on these shoes for long. Ideally they will be brushing your ears later.” Aubrey said with a saucy wink.
“Aubrey, seriously! You two are too much.”
“So, you’ve got the shoes, the great dress, love the soft peekaboo waves. All perfect. Sexy without trying too hard. One last check, are you waxed?” Aubrey asked.
“Brey, give me a break here.”
“This is important Tea. I know you’ve had a no vacancy sign on your beave for almost six years now, but I seriously hope you've still been getting your muff de-fluffed because there is nothing more embarrassing than finally getting ready to close the deal, only to have the guy discover you are all 1970’s wild and wooly style down there.”
“Don’t worry, I have continued to be early 2000’s bare, thank you very much. Now can we please go? Even if I don’t meet anyone who wants to discover what decade my private parts favor, I seriously need a strong cocktail after all of this crazy prep.”
“Drink it is!” Jenna exclaimed. "Ladies, its time to bring some sexy back.” Althea rolled her eyes as everyone grabbed their purses and headed out. She sent a quick text to Carol to ask how Johnny was doing. She got a quick reply: “Johnny and I are having a great night. You girls have fun!” Althea cringed sending a silent thank you that Jack’s mother had no idea what kind of fun her friends had in mind for her tonight.
“You coming Tea?” Jenna asked from the door.
“Yup, let’s do this,” and with that, they left the house to start some baby steps...in killer high heels.
City of Champions (Gateway to Love, #2) EXCERPTS
Excerpt #1 –
"If you're trying to make me like you, Wyatt, you have a really messed up way of doing it."
"You do like me. I know you do. More than that, I know you want me."
Jenna gripped Wyatt's tee shirt in her fists and pushed his back hard against the wall by the front door.
"I don't want you, Wyatt."
Wyatt let her have her mini takeover for a moment. She searched his face with hers, almost hesitant.
"You're a terrible fucking liar, Doc. Tell me, now that you've got me here, what are you gonna do with me?" he taunted. She kept staring at his lips until he took over again. He grabbed her ass with both hands and turned quickly, pressing her up against the same wall.
"Well, then, McCoy. What are you gonna do with me?" Jenna challenged back.
Wyatt slid his right hand around her body, then slowly running his fingers down the front of her jeans. She was hot through the thick cotton and responded almost immediately to his touch.
"Tell me…"
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me you want me."
"No," she sputtered at him, squirming against his hand. Wyatt popped open the top of her jeans and unzipped them so he could slip his hand into her panties. Her clit was already hard and swollen against his fingers. He rubbed it with his thumb as he curved two fingers inside of her. Jenna arched her body towards him, moaning despite herself. No matter what she said to him, her hot and wet body betrayed her. Wyatt could feel her already tightening around his pumping fingers and the circular movements of his thumb.
With his left hand he gripped her jaw, forcing her to look in his eyes, "Tell me you like the way I make you feel."
"No." She squirmed against his hand, clearly seeking sexual release, but he had her pinned firmly with the length of his body against hers and his hands, preventing her from controlling the motion.
"Tell…me…you…want…me."
"Why?" she demanded back. Her blue eyes sparkling with anger, but it was clear she was desperate.
"Because I said so and…because I want to hear it…Jenna." He stroked her harder with his thumb, suddenly twisting his two fingers inside her until she was quivering against him.
"Y-yes. Yes! I want you so bad it makes me crazy, Wyatt. Are you happy now, you son of a bitch?"
"Very," and with a smile on his face, he thrust a third finger deeply inside her, caressing her to climax with his thumb.
Excerpt #2
"Look at me, Jenna," he ordered.
The foreign sound of her given name on his lips jarred her back to the moment and she opened her eyes in a flustered frenzy, her heart pounding erratically inside of her.
"I don't want you to hide from me anymore, Jenna. No more excuses, because I've heard all of yours and I don't buy any of them. I want you to open up that margin of error for me. Do you understand me?"
Wyatt's voice was thick, his hot breath tickling her face with each of his words, causing her core to spasm violently. Jenna was becoming wet between her tensing thighs with each of his delicious commands. She tried to stand up straight and collect herself, but she couldn't move her legs.
Her mouth parted but no words came out — the insistent touching and rubbing of his fingers through her hair and against her scalp was too distracting, the flashing of his eyes on hers too hypnotic. All she could do was nod her head again as she looked wordlessly at his face. He was all hard lines and desire and all she wanted was to feel more of him.
What would it be like to taste him? To bring that scent and his breath inside her body — would it overwhelm everything inside her and leave nothing else behind but him?
Hesitantly, Jenna lifted her hands and rested them on his waist — so lightly that her fingertips barely toughed the leather of his belt. That was all the encouragement he needed, because he immediately descended onto her mouth.
His lips were so soft against hers, but his kiss was hot and demanding. It was the most powerful combination of gentle and hard that she'd ever experienced.
Jenna slid her hands up his sides, underneath his jacket, and rubbed them against the hard ridges of his back until he groaned into her mouth. She slipped her tongue deeply into his mouth, as he pressed his full body against her. The metal of her car door dug into her back and the handle pressed uncomfortably against her butt, yet she couldn't be bothered to care.
In this moment, all she wanted in the world was more of him, every part of him. She bit down on his bottom lip, then licked against it with her tongue and he responded with nibbles and licks of his own. He slid his hands down her body, grasping her bottom in his large hands and pulling her roughly against him.
She could tell he was hard through his jeans and it made her feel like a ravenous lioness, desperate for food after seemingly unending deprivation. She wanted to sate that hunger — eager to tear him apart with her teeth, if only to taste him that much more completely.
Excerpt #3:
"Please call me Wyatt. How about we start with the locker room, that seems as good a place as any to begin your education," Wyatt drawled at her.
Jenna took a steadying breath. She then steeled her nerves and schooled her face into its most confident expression before responding, "Sounds good, Mr. McCoy."
"Oh, come on, now. Don't be so formal. Don't you like me, sugar?"
"I just met you, I have no opinion of you," she answered stiffly, immediately bristling at his ridiculous name for her.
"I don't think you're being honest. I'd say you definitely have an opinion of me, and it doesn't seem good," he responded, leading her into the expansive room lined with cherrywood lockers, benches, and various forms of equipment. Jenna had been in countless locker rooms during her life — including this one — but the nearness of Wyatt McCoy made it feel surreal and claustrophobic.
It was a dream set-up for an athlete like herself, but all she could focus on was the singeing heat coursing through her from merely his fingertips on her lower back.
She turned to him to break the connection, but that only served to plant her back against a locker and her face smack dab in front of his well-built chest.
She was suddenly overcome by a terrible sense of déjà vu — the sensation that she'd been in this place before. Yet then it had all ended so very badly. Her prior sense of light irritation and intrigue from the current situation was quickly morphing into an overwhelming sense of almost frantic nerves.
Jenna looked up into his eyes and immediately regretted it. Having spent so many years avoiding any romantic involvements with athletes, her instant attraction to this one was vexing to say the least. It felt like her emotions were changing more rapidly than she could process them.
Wyatt stared down at her and smiled. "Now that I have your attention, maybe we can get to know each other better, you can give me a chance to improve that low opinion you have of me. Did you like the game?"
Jenna was relieved that the conversation had turned to her favorite topic, and she immediately felt control and calm return to her.
"It was a tough loss and you seemed to be having a rough go of it."
"Ouch, that hurts."
"You keep telegraphing your throws like that and you're going to spend the rest of the season on your ass — trust me, that will hurt a lot more. You need to shorten your release," Jenna advised him.
"Um, I'm not sure I heard you right. What was that again?"
"Just critiquing your throwing style is all," she answered.
"So, you were watching me closely?"
"It's an occupational hazard."
He looked confused for a moment but quickly regained his cocky composure. Meanwhile, Jenna kept feeling hers slipping away.
With each unsteady breath she noticed another aspect of him that was intoxicating to her, whether it was the slight golden streaks in his chestnut hair, the matching hint of stubble on his strong jaw, or his broad shoulders — everywhere she rested her eyes on him only served to make her body more consumed with attraction and her brain more furious with that fact.
"Well, for the record, I've never heard any complaints about my release," he said, with a wink, and Jenna rolled her eyes in disgust, which only made him chuckle in amusement. "Though I thought you weren't supposed to know about football, sugar?"
"No. My ex-best friends were playing a joke. Now that you know the truth, I'll be moving along, let you get back to your life."
"But I'm having so much fun pretending to educate you. Maybe I can teach you Spanish."
"I already speak Spanish, so you've got nothing to teach me."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that. How about I teach you to relax?" he whispered in her ear — sending a shot of warmth coursing through her traitorous body.
"I'm plenty relaxed," she huffed. He smirked again, running a finger across her shoulder until she jumped.
"Relaxed, really? Hmm," he added with a cocky drawl and a slow perusal of her body that had her stomach tightening, even as her jaw clenched in irritation.
Wyatt leaned into her until she could smell his freshly-washed hair and count the beads of water on the part of his skin bared by the undone buttons at the top of his crisp Italian shirt. He was insanely attractive and far too close for Jenna's comfort. She cringed a little at her own big mouth, wishing she'd left this bad boy well enough alone. The worst thing you can do with someone like Wyatt is to engage him, and she'd done worse, she'd challenged him.
Dammit, Jenna, rookie mistake! She thought, chastising herself.
Jenna shook herself out of her hormonal stupor and stood up straight enough that he backed off a bit, "I have to ask — does this usually work?"
"What do you mean, sugar?"
"I mean this ego the size of Texas routine of yours. Calling me 'sugar' and the double entendres. I mean, come on. You want my opinion of you? Here it is. I find your little shtick — and you — exhausting and insulting. Please excuse me. I need to get back to my friends."
"I was under the impression my 'little shtick' was working," he teased, raising a hand and placing it alongside her head.
"Please. Working? Hardly," Jenna said, rolling her eyes again theatrically and ignoring the tightening in her belly and her intense desire to bury her face in his chest and just sniff him for a while.
Author Bio
Chloe is a contemporary romance novelist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their sweet dog. She is a native Washingtonian that graduated Duke University with a degree in English and Chinese language. She met her husband at Duke and he brought her to Pittsburgh over a decade ago, which she has loved ever since and made her adopted hometown. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh Law School where she continued to be a book-loving nerd.
Chloe has always loved writing and cherishes the opportunity to craft her fictional novels and share them with the world. When Chloe isn’t writing, she spends her time exploring Pittsburgh with her husband and friends. She also enjoys yoga, jogging, and all Pittsburgh sports, as well as her Duke Blue Devils.
She also thoroughly enjoys every opportunity to communicate with her readers. Since the release of her debut novel, Three Rivers, she has enjoyed the honor of meeting and talking with numerous fans, and looks forward to getting to know many more.
Connect with Chloe
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Book Trailer – Three Rivers
Book Trailer – City of Champions
CITY OF CHAMPIONS SOUNDTRACK
- Time to Say Goodbye – Con Te Partiro — Sarah Brightman
- My Silver Lining — First Aid Kit
- Luckiest Man — The Wood Brothers
- Somebody That I Used To Know — Gotye
- Casino (Bad Things) — Houndmouth
- Drive — The Cars
- Wintersong — Sarah McLachlan
- Secret Garden — Bruce Springsteen
- Estare En Mi Casa Esta Navidad — Luis Miguel
- 10,000 Weight In Gold — The Head and The Heart
- Stay With Me — Sam Smith
- What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? — Harry Connick Jr.
- Auld Lang Syne — John McDermott
- Dice — Finley Quaye, Beth Orton
- Ticking Bomb — Aloe Blacc
- The One That Got Away — The Civil Wars
- Don’t Give Up — Peter Gabriel
- Say Something — A Great Big World
- High Hopes — Kodaline
- Codeine — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- I Wish I Was the Moon — Neko Case
- With Or Without You — U2
- Ledges — Noah Gunderson
- Welcome Home, Son — Radical Face
- Lost Cause — Beck
- Ends of the Earth — Lord Huron
- All of Me — John Legend
Follow Chloe on Spotify to hear this and other soundtracks from future novels:
Giveaway!
- Two ten dollar Amazon Gift Cards
- One five dollar Amazon Gift Card.
- A holiday bundle with both signed books anda Christmas ornament of the book.
- two signed swag packets
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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