Torn by Love by CA Harms

Title: Torn by Love

Series: Scarred by Love #4

Author: C.A. Harms

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Lily’s life was anything but easy.

Losing their father unexpectedly, and a mother that left long ago…

Is was always her and her brother against the world.

Until she met Tanner Parks her life was basic…

Uneventful but simple.

He was the unattainable bad boy…

Just out of reach yet Lily longed for him desperately.

He was fowl mouthed and cocky.

He was demanding and arrogant.

But he was exactly what Lily needed…

He made her stronger.

He gave you the drive to keep her head above water, when everything was falling apart around her.

My Thoughts….

Torn by Love is the 4^th book in the Scarred by Love series by C.A. Harms.    I am so lucky that I have gotten to read all of them.    With each one I think…this is my favorite…so yet again, Tanner and Lily are my favorites.     Each book gets better, they are stand-a-lone books but the past characters are found throughout the story. 

Lily and Tanner do not have an easy life.   Separately they are both have a history that they are fighting.  Together they are amazing.    They both have to trust each other, which is not easy, they have to believe that what they have is not a fling, and they have to love each other.    It was great watching them work through all of this.   They fought, they loved, and they made up.   I will admit that the making up is the best part of the story.   I love the secret of what is in the bag and his reaction when she finally shares it.    

Tanner struggles with his feelings, which I believe most men do when confronted with a strong woman that they are falling in love with.    He is such an alpha male with a ego and attitude to match.    Yet, I found him to be so understanding, patient, and loving with Lily.   He tried to understand and give her the space that she needs to deal with her past all while keeping her close and not letting her push him away.    My favorite part of their story was when he decided that they were going to move in together.   The way he went about that had me laughing at loud and anxious to see Lily’s reaction.   

Lily is hurt.   From the beginning of the story she is dealing with such a tough past.   It was hard to watch her fight it and push through.   I ached for her.   Although she loved Tanner for long before they became a couple it was rewarding to watch the feelings come to light and see they returned by Tanner.   

I certainly recommend this series.   The Scarred by Love series is wonderful.    

“You sure you’re ready for Grandma Edna and her meddling?” I asked as I led Lily up my parents’ driveway. Everyone was here with the exception of Zander and Riley, who was still ordered to stay off her feet. She was chomping at the bit to get out, but Zander wasn’t budging. She was even willing to come see Grandma, which should tell everyone just how bored she truly was. No one willingly came to our Sunday brunches, not when Edna was involved. 

“I’m fine, Tanner. She can’t be that bad.” 

I could only shake my head and wrap my arm around her shoulders just a little tighter. Poor girl had no idea what she was about to walk into. 

I heard her nagging the moment I entered the house. 

“The way you boys mistreat your bodies, I just can’t get over it. Mason at least only has one tattoo.” Grandma always found a way to tell us we were doing everything wrong. 

“Nope, got four. Three are just in places I only allow Kelly to enjoy,” Mason clarified. 

“Don’t forget about his piercings. He has a couple of those.” Max had found a way to keep the attention off himself. “What piercings?” my mother and Granny E said in unison. 

“Another place only Kelly is allowed to enjoy.” Mason seemed so refined and straitlaced. No one would expect him to have his junk pierced. Now the secret was out. 

“Max, I would expect it from you or even Tanner, but Mason?” my mother announced. We had just rounded the corner, and Lily snickered at her comment. 

“What the hell?” I asked. “I’m not even here sixty seconds and somehow I’m already being talked about.” 

My mom smiled as she stood from the couch and pulled me in for a hug. “What took you so long?” she asked. 

I tilted my head to the side, motioning to Lily. “Lil couldn’t decide what to wear. I told her she looked beautiful in anything, but she didn’t believe me.” Lily had finally decided on a pale blue dress, which brought out the color of her eyes. It was conservative and covered entirely too much in my opinion, but I knew she was worried about her first impression on Granny.  

My mother’s gaze shifted to Lily. “Well hello, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re here,” she said as she hugged her. I loved how accepting and welcoming my mother was. She was an amazing woman. 

I looked up just in time to see my grandma analyzing Lily from across the room. Her eyes softened from their usual judgmental haze. She took a few steps in our direction, and I held my breath, praying, hoping she’d keep her judgments to herself. I was more than positive I would not be able to hold my tongue if she said something out of line. 

“Who is this beautiful young woman?” 

Well suck me dry. I think I heard someone quietly whisper, “What the fuck?” I was sure it came from one of my brothers. 

“I’m Edna, honey, and what’s your name?’ she asked Lily. 

I think Lil was just as shocked as everyone else. I had prepped her for the cranky version of Granny. Nowhere in that conversation had I mentioned the woman that now stood before us.  

The room was full of open-mouthed, mesmerized, yet confused people. 

“Lily.” Her shaky voice came out barely above a whisper. 

“Well, Lily, it is nice to meet you. Come with me. Let’s go get us some tea.” She hooked her arm through 

Lily’s and led her toward the kitchen.  

Silence set in as we all watched the two of them walk away. Lily never looked back. In fact, you could hear her soft laughter as they stepped out of sight. 

“You remind me a lot of myself when I was younger,” Edna said, her voice fading down the hall. 

Ah, hell no, Lily was nothing like Granny. She was sweet and kind. So far from Edna and her bat-shit crazy ways. 

“Dude,” Max grunted. “Your girl has tamed the crazy ol’ lady. That thought should scare the shit out of you.”  

Everyone including my father was shocked. Shit like that never happened. Granny E never found anyone she didn’t have some sort of complaint about.

I enjoy happy endings in my love stories. Loving those scenes that give it the needed angst and heat to keep you hooked and wanting more. Just enough drama to make her heart race and your stomach flutter. I haven't always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently I have taken on a new liking and now I am addicted to Romance Novel.

I am a Limitless Publishing Author and love sharing my stories with my great fans. Feedback is great and I really enjoy interacting with my readers.

I live in Illinois and enjoy spending time with my husband and two children. 

You will always find me with my kindle or paperback in hand as it is my favorite pass time.And I never leave home without a small notebook. You never know when an idea for a new story will strike.

Scarred by Love (Scarred by Love #1)

Broken by Love (Scarred by Love #2)

Shattered by Love (Scarred by Love #3)

HOSTED BY:

Quirks and Kinks by Laurel Ulen Curtis

Releasing: June 23^rd, 2015

Blurb:

“It’s a new show, Quirks and Kinks. We’ve already selected a male reenactment actor to be your co-host, so you're the last piece of the puzzle. There’s some seriously f@$%ed up sh*t out there that people are into, and the two of you are going to be the face of it.”

“I’m going to be the face of people’s freakish fetishes?” I asked disbelievingly.

Larry shrugged his nonchalance, shoving it directly down the throat of my panic. “Half of it.”

That conversation was the beginning of more than a show.

It was the beginning of mystery, friendship, and love, and the outcome of mixing all three together with two unsuspecting victims.

Easie Reynolds and Anderson Evans were drawn to the same, simple thing—each other.

But, sometimes, undeniable chemistry isn’t enough. After all, how easy is it to get know someone when they’re constantly pretending to be someone else?

Preorder:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Fgyx2F

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/quirks-kinks/id994899160?ls=1&mt=11

SNEAK PEAK EXCERPT:

 

“I’m still not even sure what we’re doing here,” I told Ashley as I glanced around at the cheap Tex Mex themed decor of El Loco Restaurant.

All around us, business-suit-clad, young singles chatted and laughed, sinking deeper into their margaritas and each other. A life untraveled stared me in the face, but it didn’t make me feel bitter or regretful. All I felt was stupid for being out and spending money that we didn’t have.

“You just landed a job,” she cooed before sipping delicately from the free water.

Giving her my undivided attention, I narrowed my cat-like blue eyes.

“Granted, it’s not a job you’re exactly thrilled about, but it comes with money, and that’s worth celebrating a little.”

“Pff,” I huffed. “So far, all it’s come with is a bag of muffin mix and humiliation.” Exaggeratedly, I checked my purse. “Nope, no money.”

Ashley just shook her head. “We’re eating one dollar tacos. Peanut butter and bread are more expensive. Relax.”

My fingers itched for a cigarette, and astute twenty-three year old lady that she was, Ashley didn’t miss it.

“Besides, if we’re going to get on the money discussion you’re going to have to take a closer look at some of your other expensive habits.”

Ashley had been trying to talk me into quitting for years, and I knew my lungs would thank me if I somehow managed to follow through. But for as desirable as it sounded, I just…couldn’t. It wasn’t so much the addiction and the work it would take to kick a years-in-the-making habit. It was that smoking had become my emotional crutch. My timeout in any moment of need and my excuse to busy myself with something other than being a bitch. I was scared of the chasm I’d fall into, the unclimbable hill I’d create with my auger-like anxiety.

My sister didn’t know any of that. No one did.

“I smoke for my career.”

Her eyes practically rolled all the way out of her head. “This ought to be good.”

“You know this industry is unbelievably vapid, and vapid means skinny. Smoking keeps me that way.”

She shook her head in disdain.

“And it’s cheaper than a gym membership.”

“Global warming, anyone?” she called dramatically. “You’re argument is balancing on some pretty thin ice.”

“Shut up.”

Suddenly, warmth wafted up into my face as our waiter shoved the toasty basket of complimentary chips into the center of our table. My eyes drifted naturally from the basket to the hand holding it, where a large, oval, heavy metal ring sat in blazing contrast to the tan expanse of his long ring finger, up the line of his muscular—deliciously veiny—forearm, to the cuff of his rolled up black sleeve. On a runaway mission of their own, my eyes wouldn’t stop, eating up the expanse of his bicep in an instant, stutter-stepping up the corded column of his slender throat, and landing on one of the most attractive male mugs I’ve ever seen.

A mixing bowl of ethnicity, his naturally tanned skin and dark features stood in stark contrast with the minty green of his eyes. Directly on me and smirking, they were mesmerizing.

And mocking.

Ashley spoke, as I’d apparently lost all of my normal snarky ability.

“Thanks.”

A small glance from me to her preceded his polite answer. “You’re welcome.”

She smiled her prettiest smile, the one that infused her entire being from chest to eyes, and the corner of his mouth notched higher in response.

A foreign heaviness settled in my chest as I watched, and its completely unwelcome presence nearly made me sick.

He turned to leave slowly, one last lingering look in my direction making my nerves ratchet up to an eleven.

Fuck. I did not like to be rattled. Confident words were my modus operandi, but a good earthquake could wreck even the strongest of routines. My table at El Loco, tonight—this guy—was the epicenter.

The man in question had just earned himself automatic placement on my shit list.

Straight, white, top teeth just barely teased the plump pillow of his bottom lip. It was unintentional, completely innocent, and hot as Jesus’ sauna.

Shit list position confirmed.

“You’re, like, really attractive,” Ashley noted, evidently drunk on her water and speaking via a direct link to my brain.

His chuckle was like a full body vibrator, skating through the nerves on every inch of my skin. One long-fingered hand shot straight to his neck, rubbing the uneasiness of Ashley’s compliment out quickly.

“Thanks.”

“Are you an actor?” she continued. “You’ve got to be, right?”

LA. Every attractive person you meet must be in the business.

I would have laughed at Ashley’s assumption and how ridiculous it was if I hadn’t been thinking the same thing.

He looked slightly bashful, but fought straight through the discomfort and answered her frankly. “Uh, yeah. I mean, I’m trying anyway. I’m not particularly successful.”

Distracted by my reaction to him and his honesty, I didn’t run a pre-check on anything coming out of my mouth. Not that I normally had the best filter. “So you’re another one of those actors, waiting tables to pay the bills and pass the time?”

He bristled, and rightfully so. But he did it with an otherworldly calm, meeting my eyes directly and speaking in a soft, polite—if only slightly teasing—voice.

“One of those? Oh. No. Waiting tables is my dream. I just act to fit in.”

My cheeks felt hot with embarrassment and shame, and the glint in his eyes told me that he saw it.

Sometimes I hated that my default setting was bitch. Such a dominant trait was hard to overturn. “Okay, so maybe that was a little rude.”

One corner of his mouth—the smug one—rose just slightly. “It’s a distinct possibility.”

Silence hung between us, but while my time was spent avoiding eye contact, his was spent calculating his next blow.

“I guess you must be something really impressive then?”

“Huh?” My wandering eyes shot to his with the focus of a heat-seeking missile.

“Well, you obviously aren’t on the waiting tables slash acting track that the rest of us losers are.”

“Um—”

“I mean, you must do something that really matters, right? Educating orphaned kids. Curing Cancer. Coming up with the way to end all of the world’s unrest.” Attractive arms crossed over an equally nice chest. “Am I right?”

For as confident as I usually was, and as many comebacks as I normally had, I couldn’t think of one single thing to say.

Unfortunately, my sister wasn’t suffering from a similar problem.

“Hah! She’s an actor too. But she’s too busy to wait tables.”

“Working?” he asked, one manly eyebrow cocking in time with his question. If I wasn’t mistaken, he actually looked impressed for a minute.

I was ready to leave right then, but Ashley, being the one of us with a conscience, had a knack for ruining a good thing.

“Oh. No. She’s just too busy being her. You know, cutting people like you down in her spare time.” She looked away, bopped to the music in the background. “But, she doesn’t do it on purpose. She was born this way. Cold, dead heart and all. I guess that’s why people like me still love her.”

I tried not to let her words hurt. After all, if I were describing myself, I probably would have chosen the exact same words, and because I knew her so well, I knew she was just trying to make a joke and bail me out of a situation of my own making.

And yet, I still couldn’t stop the smile from slipping and sliding its way off of my face.

It only took a few seconds to recover, but when I looked back up at the waiter, he was looking at me differently. Assessing.

Uncomfortable was too cushy a word for what I was feeling. Bombs exploded and sprayed shrapnel, the sharp edges of his scrutiny digging into the flesh of my muscle and making it twitch just beneath the not-protective-enough layer of my skin.

 

About Laurel Ulen Curtis

Laurel Ulen Curtis is a 27 year old mother of one. She lives with her husband and son (and cat and two fish!) in New Jersey, but grew up all over the United States. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, and puts that to almost no use other than forecasting for her friends! She has a passion for her family, laughing, and reading and writing Romance novels.

Website: http://laurelulencurtis.blogspot.com/

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