When workaholic high-flying career lawyer Tara Woji takes a well
deserved break and meets up with old friends she doesn’t realise the
danger lurking in the shadows for her. M’na is a chi, a gatekeeper
whose duty is to protect the humans. He's lived more than a millennium
waiting for Tara and is unable to do more than just watch her. As
the shadows deepen and darkness comes to claim her, he will do whatever
it takes to protect her including doing the one thing he shouldn’t,
releasing her powers.
In a flash
of motion, he growled and stood before her, pulling her close till her body lay
flush against his hard contour. On contact, the temperature of the air around
them rose. His lips descended on hers for the second time that night.
This time,
the sensations were not a blur. She felt him in every pore of her body, soaking
in his aura, her body and mind overwhelmed by exciting sensations. The
familiarity and recognition returned, along with the desire to have him inside
her, filling her up. Memories of the two of them together flooded her mind.
Connected, she
sensed more than his memories. His emotions wrapped around her mind like a
swirling thread, connecting light, desire, and elation. Yet, in the depth of
his mind, darkness, rage, and remorse lurked.
Her arousal
increased. She clung to his muscular arms, her hardened nipples rubbing against
his chest. Despite the clothes between them, it felt as if skin stroked skin.
Her core pulsed. His hand cupped her behind, pulling her in to feel his
rigidity between her thighs.
Feverish sensation
coursed through her body, swamping every pore. She writhed in his arms, her
body undulating uncontrollably. He broke the kiss, focused attention on her
neck and sucked her skin.
"Oh!"
Colors exploded around her, the orgasm ripped out of her body violently,
blowing her mind.
He pulled
away, leaving her panting as the energy arc surrounding them subsided.
"You…you've
got to stop doing that," she said as soon as she could catch her breath,
wondering how she could respond so instantly and explosively to this man she
didn't know.
"It's
the only way I can get you to see the truth about us. What we've always been.
What we can become again."
When
workaholic high-flying career lawyer Tara Woji takes a well deserved break and meets
up with old friends she doesn’t realise the danger lurking in the shadows for
her. M’na is a chi, a gatekeeper whose duty is to protect the humans. Tara is
his assignment. As the shadows deepen and darkness comes to claim her, he will
do whatever it takes to protect her including doing the one thing that releases
her powers – unbinding her heart.
Prologue
M'na lounged in the worn foam armchair, thighs apart, legs
stretched out, right hand clutching a short tumbler of whisky. Lord of the Ring
posters covered up blue paint peeling off the brick walls.
Ironic really, the first time he was going to have sex in a
millennium and he'd chosen a demon with a love for fantasy movies, who lived
in a part of the city that could've been Mordor.
Desperation flowed in his veins, making him feverish. Sweat dripped
down his face. His t-shirt clung to his back, a second skin. He tightened his
grip on the glass to stop his hand from shaking and lifted it to his lips.
The strong liquor burned his throat as he tossed the whole
shot down. Thumped the glass back onto the small table and refilled it from the
bottle.
One of the advantages, or disadvantages depending on how one
chose to look at it, of being a super, alcohol had no effect in normal
quantities.
But he liked the sting of whisky at the back of his throat
and in his chest. It made him feel alive. Something he hadn't felt in a very
long time.
Shame it couldn't numb the pain searing his soul, his
constant companion.
Sassy, successful Faith Brown has earned her place in the boardroom
through hard work and sheer ambition. Making family is not on her agenda when
there are businesses to develop and competitors to outdo. So when a casual
affair with smooth and irresistible tycoon Mark Essien leads to an unplanned
pregnancy, she’s determined not to make the mistakes her mother made by living
with a man just for the sake of her child.
For Mark, personal matters have no place in the boardroom. Spotting the
perfect opportunity, he ruthlessly launches a takeover bid for Faith’s Investment
Brokerage firm. Finding out he’ll soon be a father, he knows he can’t let the
indomitable and sexy Faith go through with her plans of single parenthood. All
gloves are off. He’ll seduce her by any tactic necessary if it means his child
doesn’t suffer the same stigma he did as a child.
With the media dogging their affairs in the boardroom and the bedroom,
they find that making family is harder than making scandal.
I received a copy of the book from the author in return for taking part in her book tour, and leaving an honest review. Here goes!!
If memory serves me right, this book takes place at the same time as book one in the Trilogy, Keeping Secrets. This time, the story is about Mark and Faith, friends of Felix and Ebony from Keeping Secrets. I remember them mentioned in book 1, so I'm glad to read more of their story. The book starts with Faith bumping into Mark at a party, and ends up with them sharing small kiss. I knew from that point Mark would keep on at her, even though she told him she doesn't want to be with anyone.
Fast forward a while, and things are going nicely for the two of them. A lot of great sex, and a comfortable relationship. But as always, things turn up unexpectedly and can ruin things in an instant!
I like Mark, more than I liked Felix I think. There is such a dominant side to Mark, but deep down he is a sweetheart. And the picture from Kirus dreamcast, well yes, I can imagine Mark looking just like that!! <3 Ebony seems a lovely girl, very strong too, I think she could take on the world and become even more powerful than the Essiens!
I loved this book (I'm sorry Kiru that it took me a while to get to it!!!), and would determinately read book 3 when it comes out!
DREAMCAST
TEASERS
EXCERPT
Faith's cheeks
heated and she half-laughed, half-coughed in a self-conscious manner. Her body
still tingled as if it finally woke up from a long sleep. A really long sleep.
"Of course, I
wasn’t expecting that finally getting you to loosen up will get me so out of
control I was going to explode within seconds like a teenager."
How could he say
that or even expect her to believe it? In the past year, he hadn’t exactly been
lonely. Unlike her. He shouldn’t pretend this was more than it was. Sex. Lust.
That’s all they had.
She rolled over,
trying to cover herself up in a semblance of decency. The thought of him with
other women had her heart clenching tightly.
"If I believe
that, I’ll believe anything." She pulled herself up and away from him. "You
forget that your pictures have been splashed over the papers with different
women hanging on your arms this past year."
The mattress
depressed as he sat on the edge. Tendrils of his heat curled around her.
Breathing saturated her lungs with his spice. Need bubbled in her veins. She
closed her eyes, hating the tightness in her chest.
Remember, this is just sex. It doesn’t matter
how many women he’s been with this past year.
Bullshit. Her hands clenched into fists, tightening on the seams of her clothes.
"Yes, I’ve
attended events with women all because you refuse to be seen publicly with me.
I would rather have had you as my escort on those occasions."
Fingers, steel
bands, wrapped around her ankles and tugged. Eyes flying open, she gulped in
air and slid down the bed on her back until her legs straddled his hips. One by
one, he removed her shoes and massaged her bare feet. His fingers worked
blissful magic. She purred, to her dismay.
"But I haven’t
had sex with another woman since I met you at that conference in Jo’burg."
Kiru is running a contest during the book tour. She is giving away a $20 Gift card, one Making Scandal T-Shirt, one Essien Trilogy cap and a signed copy of A Valentine Challenge. For your chance to win, complete the rafflecopter entries. This contest is open internationally to eligible entrants over 18 years or as applicable in their country of residence.
CATCH UP ON THE OTHER ESSIEN TRILOGY BOOK
Keeping Secrets is 99cents /77pence for a limited time only
Have you ever loved someone and
didn’t even know it?
That’s the dilemma facing Felix
Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married to the most beautiful
and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her or their wedding. He
who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to another. Yet he
feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore fully.
Ebony can’t believe her good
fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the temporary marriage
arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed but is now the adoring husband
she’s always dreamt of. She plans to make the most of the passion blossoming between
them. However would he still feel that way when he regains his memory and
realises she’s been keeping secrets and their marriage is not what he thinks it
is.
Have
you ever loved someone and didn’t even know it?
That’s
the dilemma facing Felix Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married
to the most beautiful and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her
or their wedding; he who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to
another. Yet, he feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore
fully.
Ebony
can’t believe her good fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the
temporary marriage arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed, and is now the
adoring husband she’s always dreamt of.
She
plans to make the most of the passion blossoming between them. However, would
he still feel that way when he regains his memory and realises she’s been
keeping secrets and their marriage is not what he thinks it is?
I received a copy of this book from the author n return for taking part in her book tour, and an honest review.
I really enjoy Kiru's books, and this one was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next installment.
Keeping Secrets is literally about that, keeping secrets. We see a few secrets around in the story, Felix and Ebony both having their own, and a mystery going on in the background too in regards to phone call Ebony receives. We find out about all the secrets, but the mystery surrounding the phone call still remains somewhat secret, and hopefully will continue on in the next book.
I wasn't sure about Felix's character at first, certain things just got me, but then when you think about it, he has lost his memory, and can't remember his wife at all, so of course he will have issues trusting her. By the end of the book, I really liked Felix. And Ebony. Sweet girl, I really felt sorry for her when she talked about her family loss, you can tell her character is obviously a very loving family orientated lady.
Felix and Ebony's chemistry was amazing, Felix not being able to remember his wife at all, I thought would have put a massive downer on the book, but his insatiable lust for her was always there, and they had some good fun!!
Great book from Kiru, looking forward to number 2 in the series!
Top Ten Facts About The Main Characters
So
many unanswered questions. They wouldn’t all be answered today.
“What
are you doing here?” He’d ordered her to take the day off. So had his father.
“I
know what you and Daddy said.” She looked away from him. “I met up with my
friend for lunch and I enjoyed being pampered at the spa. But I’ve been here
every day since you’ve been hospitalised and it felt strange not seeing you.”
“But
the chair...you shouldn’t sleep in it.”
Shoulders
rose and fell as she looked up at him through her long, dark lashes.
“When
I arrived, you were asleep, so I decided to read. I didn’t realise I was so
tired. I just drifted to sleep.” She bit her bottom lip, drawing his attention
to it.
The
need to kiss her overpowered him. On impulse, he settled a hand on her back,
pulling her close. With the other, he lifted her chin and lowered his head to
meet hers.
Muscles
on her back tensed. He massaged her skin like he would a skittish horse before
a game of polo. With gentle brushes, he swept his lips across hers. The sealed,
luscious pair called him to mine their depths. Instead, he coaxed and stroked
and traced them with his tongue from one end to the other, bidding his time.
He’d
caught a glimpse of her banked passion yesterday when he asked about their
wedding night. No matter what else went on, they desired each other. Mutual
attraction.
With
a low moan, she leaned in and opened for him.
As
he slipped in, her sweet flavour exploded on his tongue. She tasted of
peppermint and vanilla. In the recesses of his mind, the kiss registered. He’d
done this before. Tasted her.
A
groan rumbled within and he slid his hands around her waist and lifted her onto
his lap so that she straddled him.
Whimpering,
she rubbed against him, hips canting against hips, supple breasts crushed to
his chest.
Needing
intimate contact, he ran a palm over her side, skimming the swell of soft
breasts down to the hem of her tunic. He lifted it, his hand making contact
with smooth, warm skin. Another moan escaped her lips. He swallowed it, loving
her sound and taste. Moving his hand up till it reached her breast, he caressed
it through the lace of her bra, flicking the already taut nipple with his
thumb.
A
lover of books, as a teenager Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket
with a torch at night. These days, with a young family to take care of, she's
still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.
During
the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual,
atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.
When
she’s not writing or reading, she'd hanging out with family and friends or
travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and
children.
To
celebrate the release of Keeping Secrets, Kiru is giving away a goodie pack which
includes $20 Amazon gift card, signed paperback of An Engagement Challenge,
Keeping Secrets t-shirt and face cap.
Leave me
a comment to stand a chance of winning and complete the rafflecopter to enter
the contest.
Secrets, Scandals, and Seduction under the African skies.
The Essiens are the kings of
African finance. A close-knit family, their father is the patriarch of a
finance dynasty that ranges from retail to investment banking spanning the
African continent. Yet all is not as it seems as the three brothers—Felix, Mark
and Tony—soon discover when their family is rocked by secrets and scandals.
Blood ties or not, family is family.
If you like your book boyfriends to be tall, dark and handsome billionaires, then say hello to the Essien brothers.
Keeping Secrets – Blurb
Have you ever loved someone and
didn’t even know it?
That’s the dilemma facing Felix
Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married to the most beautiful
and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her or their wedding. He
who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to another. Yet he
feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore fully.
Ebony can’t believe her good
fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the temporary marriage
arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed but is now the adoring husband
she’s always dreamt of. She plans to make the most of the passion blossoming
between them.
However would he still feel that
way when he regains his memory and realises she’s been keeping secrets and
their marriage is not what he thinks it is.
Teasers
About the author
A lover of books, as a
teenager Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket during lights-outs in
boarding school. These days, with a young family to take care of, she's still
sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.
During the day though, she
transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance
stories with passionate characters.
When she’s not writing or reading,
she'd hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she
currently lives in the UK with husband and children.
Hi, everyone. My name is
Kiru. I'm an author of multicultural romances, entrepreneur of a
small run-from-home business, wife to a lovely man, mother to 3
beautiful kids, sister to 4 sometimes hilarious siblings, daughter to
patient parents and hopefully friend to the lovely Dee as well as
others.
Okay, I ran out of labels.
LOL
How did you come up with
the idea for your book?
Actually, the original
idea came when I read a submission call for a Valentine anthology
about 2 years ago. But when I started writing it didn't quite fit
into the specifics so I decided to run with the story as a
standalone.
When did the characters
first pop into your head?
My characters tend to be
quite visual and vocal when they want to be. The first to show up was
Michael. In my mind, he was leaning against an SUV type car in the
parking lot to a hotel. I started wondering what he was doing there
and that's how the rest of the story developed.
Without giving away any
spoilers, was the story always straight forward for you to write, or
did it pop up any surprises along the way?
Well, you may not know
this but I'm a pantser when it comes to writing stories. Planning
totally stifles my creativity. I simply sit in front of my laptop
with a blank page and type out the images I see in my head and what
the characters say to each other.
So to answer your
question, everything ends up being a surprise as I don't know what's
going to happen until I type it.
Where do you like to
write?
I like writing at the
dining table in my kitchen, mostly. Otherwise, sometimes I have my
laptop on my laps as I sit in my armchair in the bedroom.
Do you read a lot?
Yes! I love reading. I
know some authors don't read when they are writing. I read every
opportunity I get which isn't often enough sometimes.
Who are some of your
favourite authors?
Tough one cause I'm
discovering new authors I like every day.
If I have to think about
authors that inspired me to write then Buchi Emecheta, a female
Nigerian author inspired me as well as authors like Penny Jordan and
Sandra Marton.
These days stories from
Sylvia Day and Doris O'Connor among others, take my breath away
sometimes.
And last but not least,
have you any words of wisdom for aspiring writers out there?
I have four words
for aspiring writers.
Read. Learn. Write.
Revise.
Thank you for
hosting me and my book on your blog today.
Challenge Series – Three friends. Three challenges. Are they willing to risk everything for love?
Book 1 – A Valentine Challenge
Life is good for ex-soldier turned entrepreneur Michael Ede. Or so he thinks. When his friends set him a challenge to exorcise the memory of a woman from his past, he expects it to be a walk in the park.
Socialite Kasie Bosa is spitting fire at men. Her long-term boyfriend has asked for a break via text message of all things. Fuming, she’s told him to go take a dive off the nearest bridge. So the next man who crosses her path is at risk of being shredded with her spa manicured nails.
Bad news for Michael who has chosen her as the object of his challenge. But neither of them can deny the sizzling chemistry between them nor control their responses, it seems. It’s the season of love. Will they escape unscathed? just for fun. I love the dance moves. Enjoy
This is my review from a while back of the old version of the book, I haven't gotten round to reading the new updated version yet.
I received a copy of this from the author in return for an honest review.
I read this over 2 days, and I really liked it!
I have to say (and apologise
greatly to Ms Taye), this is the first of her books I have read! And it
certainly won't be the last.
I loved the story behind this, it
reminded me of a great movie I love, 'She's All That' starring Freddie
Prinze Jr and Rachel Leigh Cook. Michael is out with friends at a club,
when Kasie walks in. Michael being the gorgeous woman eater that he is,
is challenged by his friends to prove he can 'get' her. Off starts the
challenge of wooing Kasie, but the catch? Well, Michael who owns his own
car company and more, (and is rather rich by the way), is not allowed to let Kasie know who he is. Therefore he sets off and becomes her driver while she's in town.
Kiru has written this really
well, and the chemistry between the 2 characters is unmistakable right
from the start. His gorgeous eyes piercing into her through the rear view
mirror, her heart beat getting faster every time she sees him. So I was
really excited to see what this story would bring for them.
Michael sounded absolutely delicious! And I can imagine Kasie to be a very attractive lady too. I liked the back stories that popped up from time to time to, but I won't spoil things for you by telling! I really enjoyed this story, and I'm eager to get onto book 2 in the Challenge series!
