THE HOTTER YOU BURN
The Original Heartbreakers
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back
with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale featuring a troubled playboy and
the woman he can’t resist…
Beck Ockley is ruthless in the boardroom...and the bedroom.
He's never been with the same woman twice, and vows he never will. With a past
as twisted as his, meaningless sex keeps the demons at bay. His motto: One and
done. No harm, no foul.
Harlow Glass is the most hated girl in town. The beautiful
artist is penniless, jobless and homeless. When she sneaks into Beck's home—her
ancestral estate—for food, she's shocked by his early return...and her
immediate, sizzling and intense attraction to him.
For the first time in Beck's life, he can't get a woman out
of his mind. All too soon, friendship blooms into obsession and he'll have to
break her heart...or surrender his own.
THE HOTTER YOU BURN
GENA SHOWALTER
$7.99 U.S./$8.99 CAN.
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-77969-7
ON SALE 7/28/15
This is the second book in the Original Heartbreakers
series. You don’t need to read them
order, but I highly suggest you do. I
haven’t read the novella yet, but I will when I get a chance. This is an enjoyable read and series, so
far. I will read the next book when it
comes out later in the year.
Harlow Glass was the evil town bully, and boy does that town
hold grudges. She is probably the most
hated person in town. Wait, no probably
about it, she IS the most hated person in town!
She has changed, but no one will give her the chance to show them. There was an “incident” her junior year in high
school, that changed her. After her mom
died, she was not able to get a job, she hurt too many people in her past. She lost her family home. She is living in a tent on the property.
This is where Beck Ockley comes in. He and his two friends bought the house. He knows who Harlow is, but hasn’t met
her. He is the new town man-whore. It’s a one-time thing with him. No repeats and absolutely no
relationship. He has some issues, but it’s
understandable with the way he grew up.
A little pie thief changes things for him and he fights it
all the way. He absolutely has a problem
with any type of change. But he can only
fight it for so long.
“If I could commit, it would be with you. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want
you. But I’m just not hardwired that
way.”
I thought this was a really good story. The games they played were a bit much though,
but they didn’t distract from the story.
Some just felt a little too high school for me.
I received a copy from Netgalley.
GENA SHOWALTER
Gena Showalter is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling
author whose works have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as
well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony
Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly
spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the
rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual
page-turners sure to enthrall.
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1AKgfXQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/1BKwtec
Social Media Links:
Website: http://members.genashowalter.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@genashowalter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/genashowalter
THE HOTTER YOU BURN EXCERPT
“I’m leaving, that’s what,” Harlow said. Determined words,
snotty tone. She attempted to wrench herself from Beck’s grip.
“Oh, no.” Beck merely tightened his hold. “We’re going to
have a glass of sweet tea while you two crazy kids get to know each other
better.”
Harlow anchored her hands on her hips. “You know what?
You’re right. We are going to get to know each other. But your presence is
unnecessary, Beck. Leave.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“We don’t need—”
He cut her off, whispering, “If you and West get married and
live happily ever after, you’ll have to get used to having me around.”
She snapped her mouth shut, then lifted her chin and
grumbled, “That’s a very sad point.” She flashed a too-bright smile at West and
eased into the chair Jase had vacated. “I’m game if you are.”
Beck vibrated with irritation as he carried a pitcher of tea
and three glasses to the table and settled between the pair. “My girl here has
certain ideas about the kind of man she wants to end up with,” he explained,
“and I’d like to know if the two of you are compatible.”
Understanding dawned on West’s features, a smile nearly
breaking free. He cleared his throat and donned his most uncaring expression.
“Sure. Whatever.”
Beck poured the tea, handed out the glasses, and Harlow
clutched hers as if it were a lifeline.
“Kick us off, sweet pea,” he said. “Tell my good buddy
Lincoln—that’s his first name, in case you didn’t know—a little about
yourself.”
“Well.” There was a slight tremor in her voice. “I’m
twenty-six, and I’ve never been married.”
“Would you like a medal?” West muttered, while staring down
at his cell phone, playing one of the games he’d created.
She glared at Beck, but he merely arched a brow.
Don’t make plans with men you don’t know.
“Yes, actually, I would like a medal, considering I’m hot
but don’t realize it, which makes me even hotter.” The tremor had vanished, the
snotty attitude firmly in its place. “It’s a miracle no one’s snatched me up.
But then, most men are idiots, so…”
West smiled, realized his mistake, and glowered at his
screen.
Beck braced elbows on the table. “You’re suggesting outward
beauty is all that matters.”
“Hardly. My personality is hot, too. But Beck, darling.”
Sugary-sweet tone now. Too sweet. “You aren’t part of this get-to-know-you
session, even though you insist on being a total third wheel, so do us all a
favor and zip your stupid lips.”
Then, she dismissed him. Looking to West, she traced her
fingertips over the collar of her shirt, so feminine Beck’s every masculine instinct
growled, hungry for the next meal. “So. Lincoln. How old are you?”
West played the video game a little longer before deigning
to answer. “I’m twenty-eight, but I’ve got the stamina of an eighty-year-old
coma victim. Horrible lover. Even worse cuddler.”
“Well, those skills can be taught,” she said, reaching over
to caress his shoulder. “Anyway, you’re quite young to be so successful. It’s
impressive.”
It was impressive. Beck wasn’t sure where he would have
ended up without the guy.
West shrugged. “I work hard,” he said, then added, “probably
too hard. I tend to ignore the people in my life. Especially women.”
“Well, I understand how taxing such a busy work schedule can
be, and I commend you for it.” She gave his shoulder another caress, and Beck
almost jerked the two apart. “I hope the lucky ladies in your life are as
understanding as I am.”
“I guess,” West said and shrugged again.
“Wow, just look at these muscles, West. You are amazingly
strong, aren’t you?” She cast another narrowed glance Beck’s way, presumably to
make sure he was watching as she scooted her chair closer to West’s. “You
know,” she said, the tip of her finger toying with the rim of West’s glass.
When she caught a bead of condensation, she brought it to her lips and sucked,
causing Beck’s groin to twitch behind his zipper. “I have a skill of my own,
but it’s quite naughty.”
West glanced up, phone forgotten. “Do tell.”
“Yes. Do.” Beck simmered with renewed anger—even more
desire. He smoothed a lock of hair from Harlow’s face. One touch, but he was
greedy for more.
Her breath caught, but she leaned away from him, getting
closer and closer to West, until her mouth was poised at the shell of his ear.
In a husky voice low enough to be considered a whisper but loud enough for Beck
to overhear, she said, “I’m super good at parking.”
Stick a fork in me. I’m done. Done with the conversation.
Done with watching the object of his obsession doing her rock-solid best to
arouse another male. “West doesn’t need to hear about that. Let’s go—”
“Even boys from two counties over dreamed of making out with
me in the backseat of their trucks,” she continued with an effortless
sensuality. “I’m very bendy.”
Beck slammed his glass on the table, tea sloshing over the
sides of the rim. “Harlow here is looking to settle down forever,” he barked.
“She thinks you’d make an awesome groom.”
“Marriage?” West sneered with distaste. “Me? Hell, no.
Never.”
“He’s all for others tying the knot, but when it comes to
himself he thinks the Newlywed Game should be called the Dig Your Own Grave
game,” Beck explained, relaxing now that the conversation had taken a new
direction.
Harlow unveiled a brittle smile. “Maybe you just haven’t met
the right person, Lincoln. You don’t mind if I call you Lincoln, do you?”
“Call me whatever you like, but I have met the right
person.” His voice cracked. “She died.” He stood, his chair skidding behind
him, and strode out of the kitchen.
Harlow rounded on Beck, all hint of supple, willing female
gone. “I hope you’re happy with yourself. You did this.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.” The words were nothing more than a hiss. “You
wanted me to know I can’t win the affections of anyone else, that I’m stuck
with you, destined to be your newest conquest.”
“Stuck with me?” he snarled.
“Yeah, that’s right. You aren’t the prize you think you are,
Beck Ockley, but maybe West is. Maybe he’s worth fighting for. Maybe, unlike
you, he has a heart and the ability to care for someone other than himself.”
“I have a heart. I care.”
She didn’t seem to hear him, plowing ahead. “You know, there
are plenty of guys in town. Why focus all my efforts on just one? I’m sure lots
of guys would like a chance to get to know the new me. I can bring them back to
my RV—”
“My RV.”
“—and practice being married, just the way you suggested.”
Beck would burn the RV to ash first.
Too far gone to fight his sense of possession, he hooked his
foot around the bottom of her chair and forced her chair closer, closer still.
Their thighs touched, and she gasped, perhaps at the force he’d used, perhaps
with a desire of her own.
He grabbed her by the waist and easily hefted her onto the
table, on his feet and between her legs a second later, glaring down at her.
“I want you, and it’s past time I showed you how much.
You’ll keep your sweet ass parked on this table and you’ll show me your skills.
Me. No one else.” And then his hand was cupping the back of her neck, drawing
her forward.
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