BLOG TOUR - EXCERPT! Vow by Bethany-Kris

by - 11/08/2018

Vow
Andino + Haven Book 2
Release Date: November 5, 2018


PURCHASE HERE:

They say it’s always the one you least expect …

Andino Marcello made his choices—the right ones for duty and famiglia. But even the right choices have consequences. He’s never been more aware of that fact than he is now. The thing is, Andino isn’t the same man he once was. The mafia wants what it wants. He’ll push until they all break. Even her.


They say love shouldn’t hurt …
Haven Murphy needs to move on—from her pain and the man who caused it. But the faster she tries to run, the more things stay the same. She never thought it would end like this for them. The thing is, Haven isn’t the same woman she once was. The heart wants what it wants. She’ll fight until it all lets go. Even him.
How far will he go for love? 
All the way to the very bitter end. 
That’s his vow.
 
~ EXCERPT ~

The cold grip of a late February wind clutched at Andino Marcello’s throat even as he tried to flip the collar of his jacket higher to keep it out. Nothing worked—nothing ever worked to keep out that kind
of cold in this fucking city.
They still had another month of this shit to go, too. Winter wasn’t going to let up until it had ravaged New York with one cold blast after another, even if it was the last day of February.
Usually, he didn’t mind the weather as much as he did this winter. He could ignore the cold, and get lost in work, or something else. This year was not shaking out to be quite the same. So was his fucking life lately.
A giant dumpster fire.
A lot like his mood, too.
Andino grunted at the enforcer who held open the restaurant door for him to slip inside. On another day, he might have given the man a nod or thanks. Not to-fucking-day. All he wanted to do was get this goddamn meeting over with, and go home.
He wasn’t even planning to work.
Andino was acutely aware of the eyes that fell on him as he entered the business. Men from his family, and men from another neighboring New York Cosa Nostra. Although, where the Marcello family hated the Calabrese organization, they tolerated the Donati crime family.
It probably helped that Dante had finally accepted the fact his daughter was going to be with Cross Donati whether her father liked it or not. Andino gave it less than six months before his cousin married the cocky Donati fucker—everybody got to have their happily ever after.
Except him, apparently.
He was still alone.
Haven still wasn’t his.
And all for what?
Andino glanced around the restaurant, and the men waiting on him to come in and take a seat, so they could begin this meeting. Apparently, he gave her up for this.
This life.
His family.
The legacy.
Duty.
He didn’t want to be bitter about it, but that was difficult. Harder than he expected it to be, frankly. The problem was—nobody gave a damn, and he couldn’t find it in himself to let them know how he felt.
Not yet, anyway.
No man in this life wanted the people around him to know he was struggling emotionally, or with something silly like love. Or the loss of it, for that matter. It was a simple weakness for someone to pick at, or hone in on. Andino wasn’t in the business of showcasing his weaknesses like badges of honor for someone else to use as fucking target practice. He was still intended to be the boss.
The boss couldn’t be emotional.
Or so he was told.
Besides, they had bigger problems to deal with at the moment than his feelings. Too many issues to name. Every single one started and ended with the fucking Calabrese family, and the fact John had killed their boss.
Surprise, surprise.
It was a mess waiting to happen.
Why was anyone shocked?
“The roads are terrible,” Andino grumbled under his breath as he took a seat beside his quiet uncle. Dante hadn’t asked, but the quirking of the man’s eyebrow was enough for him to silently ask, Where the fuck were you? “The storm picked up.”
“Should make for a fun drive home,” his father said across the table.
Andino shrugged. “That’s February for you.”
He didn’t miss the look that passed between his father, and his other uncle, Lucian. Andino had been in a mood for days, and it wasn’t about to change anytime soon. He couldn’t fucking shake it, no matter how hard he tried. He was grateful that, for the most part, the men around him who knew him well chose not to ask.
That made shit easier.
On him, at least.
“Shall we get started?” Dante asked.
Andino nodded. “Yeah, let’s start.”
“We need to figure out a way to handle the Calabrese,” his uncle said. “We all need to come to some agreement that will clean up this mess—preferably in a peaceful manner.”
“Their violence is escalating,” Giovanni added.
“They’re directly targeting Capos, or their crews,” Lucian said.
Andino sighed, and scrubbed a hand down his face. They all offered this information as though he didn’t know it to begin with. Like he’d had his fucking head shoved under sand for the last while, and pretended that he didn’t know what was happening out on the streets.
He was the underboss.
He got the calls.
He handled the Capos.
“I know what’s going on,” Andino snapped. “And I’m aware that we need to figure something out to handle the fucking Calabrese.”


SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED WITH DUTY, ANDINO + HAVEN DUET PART ONE!
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown …

Andino Marcello’s world is turned upside down when he becomes the next heir apparent to the Marcello empire. He was comfortable in his place as a Capo, but comfort is for the weak in the world of mafioso. The boss’s seat is waiting. It takes meeting a tattooed beauty who has no idea who Andino is or the criminal legacy he now carries beneath his three-piece suits, and charming smile for him to finally bend the rules set out for him. That doesn’t mean he can keep her.

They say things that never challenge you won’t change you …

Haven Murphy is doing her own thing, and she does it well. The owner of a successful Brooklyn strip club, she makes it her only goal to never fail. She’s just trying to live her life when a morning jog puts her face to face with a man that will change the direction of her life with a single conversation. She knows there’s a dark side to him beyond his good looks, and three-piece suits, but it’s hard for her to care when she wants him. That doesn’t mean he can be hers.

He’s going to break her heart; she’s going to keep his.

Because duty waits on no one.
 

BETHANY-KRIS
  Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebook GoodreadsPinterestMailing ListAmazon Author Page

~ GIVEAWAY ~

RELEASE BLITZ! Vow by Bethany-Kris

by - 11/05/2018

Vow
Andino + Haven Book 2
Release Date: November 5, 2018


PURCHASE HERE:


They say it’s always the one you least expect …

Andino Marcello made his choices—the right ones for duty and famiglia. But even the right choices have consequences. He’s never been more aware of that fact than he is now. The thing is, Andino isn’t the same man he once was. The mafia wants what it wants. He’ll push until they all break. Even her.

They say love shouldn’t hurt …

Haven Murphy needs to move on—from her pain and the man who caused it. But the faster she tries to run, the more things stay the same. She never thought it would end like this for them. The thing is, Haven isn’t the same woman she once was. The heart wants what it wants. She’ll fight until it all lets go. Even him.

How far will he go for love? 
All the way to the very bitter end. 
That’s his vow.


~ EXCERPT: VOW by Bethany-Kris ~

“That looks like it hurts,” she said, gesturing to his injury.
It was the only thing she could think to say.
“The Vicodin with whiskey chaser is starting to kick in, actually,” Andino muttered, glancing down at his arm. “Small fucking miracles.”
Haven laughed, but it came out strained, and probably a little too bitter. She couldn’t even control the rush of emotions that swept over her, never mind the anger that was still ever-present no matter what her stupid heart wanted.
She couldn’t escape this feeling.
She didn’t want to feel like this at all.
“Why are you here?” Andino asked.
She looked back at him, and shook her head. “I heard what happened.”
“I’m fine.”
Clearly.
He just completely missed the point.
Her anger swelled again. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“That I give a shit about you, I guess? I actually care, Andino. I wanted to make sure you were okay, but since the hospital said you voluntarily checked yourself out, that wasn’t good enough for me. I had to know. So, here I am. I don’t know. It’s pointless, right? I shouldn’t be here anyway.”
Haven was glad she voiced that thought—she shouldn’t be here. It wasn’t a matter of wanting to be, but a matter of what was best for her. Of course, she wanted to be here. That didn’t mean it was good for her.
Before she could overthink anymore than she already was, Haven turned to leave with a quiet, “Sorry, Andino. I’m glad you’re okay.”
She didn’t even get the chance to grab the doorknob. She didn’t see him coming for her until his hand was locked around her arm, and he’d spun her back around fast enough to make the room spin in her vision. Her gaze cleared in just enough time to see the emotion darkening his features before he closed all distance between them, and kissed her.
There was no hesitance in his kiss, and no wariness. Like he knew the moment his lips touched hers, she was going to respond just how he wanted her to. His mouth moved over hers in such a familiar way that she couldn’t help herself but kiss him back. A deep, aching kiss that left her lips tingling, and her body weaker than ever.
He could own her with a kiss.
He took her rationale away.
Worries, anger, and control … all gone.
All he needed was a fucking kiss.
There was a part of her that wanted to step back from him, and reevaluate. She knew that was the smart part of her brain whispering through the haze of nostalgia and need. It was the slip of his hand curving around the back of her neck to pull her impossibly closer that silenced the little voice.
Haven reached back for him—her hands slipping over his naked chest to get more of his skin on hers. His tongue teased hers; a silent promise if there ever was one. She always thought he kissed a lot like he fucked. Deep, and fast, and a little wild. Like he couldn’t get enough, but he was determined to get what he wanted, regardless.
And when he kissed her like that, then all of her ability to think clearly was quickly lost. Like now.
All she could focus on was him, and the way his hand tightened on her neck. His growing erection pressed against her body which only served to make her wet. She could already feel that dampness in her panties.
Andino pulled away from her mouth with a ragged breath. Those green eyes of his flashed with something dark and wild. “Upstairs, then?”
How simple that question was.
It should be an easy no from her.
Let this go.
Leave it alone.
Haven was still humming—still high from his kiss, and the promise of what was yet to come. Oh, she knew what would be coming. And that was a large part of the reason why she was quick to nod and say, “Yeah, upstairs.”

SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED WITH DUTY, ANDINO + HAVEN DUET PART ONE!

PURCHASE HERE:

They say heavy is the head that wears the crown …

Andino Marcello’s world is turned upside down when he becomes the next heir apparent to the Marcello empire. He was comfortable in his place as a Capo, but comfort is for the weak in the world of mafioso. The boss’s seat is waiting. It takes meeting a tattooed beauty who has no idea who Andino is or the criminal legacy he now carries beneath his three-piece suits, and charming smile for him to finally bend the rules set out for him. That doesn’t mean he can keep her.

They say things that never challenge you won’t change you …

Haven Murphy is doing her own thing, and she does it well. The owner of a successful Brooklyn strip club, she makes it her only goal to never fail. She’s just trying to live her life when a morning jog puts her face to face with a man that will change the direction of her life with a single conversation. She knows there’s a dark side to him beyond his good looks, and three-piece suits, but it’s hard for her to care when she wants him. That doesn’t mean he can be hers.

He’s going to break her heart; she’s going to keep his.

Because duty waits on no one.



BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebook GoodreadsPinterestMailing ListAmazon Author Page


~ GIVEAWAY ~


a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL! Vow by Bethany-Kris

by - 10/29/2018

Vow
Andito + Haven Book 2
Release Date: November 5, 2018

Cover Credits: Mykel Mignon at Oh So Novel



They say it’s always the one you least expect …
Andino Marcello made his choices—the right ones for duty and famiglia. But even the right choices have consequences. He’s never been more aware of that fact than he is now. The thing is, Andino isn’t the same man he once was. The mafia wants what it wants. He’ll push until they all break. Even her.
They say love shouldn’t hurt …

Haven Murphy needs to move on—from her pain and the man who caused it. But the faster she tries to run, the more things stay the same. She never thought it would end like this for them. The thing is, Haven isn’t the same woman she once was. The heart wants what it wants. She’ll fight until it all lets go. Even him.
How far will he go for love? All the way to the very bitter end. That’s his vow.

~ EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT ~

“They have to answer for what they do,” Gio said. “We can’t allow the Calabrese family to go unchecked when they act against us.”
“And we will,” Andino replied quietly.
“By making peace?”
“For now,” Andino replied. “For now, yes.”
His father gave him a look, and then Michel. “What are you—”
“It’s not important right now.”
And it wasn’t.
His plans would have to wait. Because he did have plans, and while he understood his uncle’s position regarding the Calabrese, and that protecting their family from more violence was what would be in their best interests … he also agreed with his father more.
Andino would never bow to the fucking Calabrese.
Not after what they did to John.
Now this, too?
No way.
Once his cousin had gotten Andino all stitched up, and he walked his father and Michel to the door, all he wanted to do was relax for the evening. Michel pulled a small baggie from his inner pocket, and handed it over. Inside were pills. Michel only shrugged when Andino gave him an inquisitive look.
“No driving when you take one. Vicodin. For pain. Don’t be a fucking hero.”
Andino laughed. “Can I take it with whiskey?”
Michel glanced over at Gio as if to say, What the fuck do I do with him, huh?
“I can’t say yes to that,” Michel settled on saying.
“But you didn’t say no, either.”
“Because what is the point?”
His cousin’s and father’s laughter followed them out of the house. Andino was quick to lock the door behind them, and go back to the kitchen. Snaps was still in his spot in front of his food bowls, and his dark eyes watched Andino as he moved around the space to get a shot of whiskey ready before he pulled one of those pills out.
He wasn’t one for meds. He could handle pain. But his agitation level was already so high that he figured, what the hell? Something to take the edge off for the night would be perfect.
He’d just popped the pill, and swallowed a shot of burning whiskey when a knock echoed through his quiet house. Snaps still hadn’t moved from his spot; the dog always alerted with a loud bark to the fact someone was approaching his house, and right then he kept staring at Andino.
Except … his tail was wagging.
Andino should have known then.
The dog only chose to not alert when it was her.
He didn’t waste time as he practically ran from the kitchen back to the front of the house. He didn’t even move the shades to look out the window before pulling the door open.
And there she stood.
Skinny jeans molded to shapely, long legs.
Hair thrown up in a messy bun.
A black trench coat.
Blue eyes on him.
Like the storm or the sea.
Fire and ice, he thought.
“Haven,” Andino murmured.
Behind her waiting at the end of the walkway, he could see the enforcer that had been posted at his house. Still fucking standing there. A precaution, his father said. No doubt, given the man was looking right at them, the fact she was there would somehow get back to his family.
Andino didn’t care.
She was there. She shouldn’t be, but she was.
More than anything, he wanted that. He also knew he should let this woman go. Turn her away, and get her the hell away from him as fast as fucking possible. He’d finally gotten her away from the mess that was him and his life, and she should stay gone. It would be better for her in the end.
He shouldn’t invite her in.
He shouldn’t keep hurting her.
“Do you want to come in?” he asked.
Famous last words




BETHANY-KRIS 
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Mailing List | Amazon Author Page

~ GIVEAWAY ~


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