BLOG TOUR: Lying, Cheating Heart by Mindy Ruiz

We are so thrilled to be a part of exciting Blog Tour for Mindy Ruiz's Lying, Cheating Heart, the second book in the Game of Hearts sereies! On our tour stop, we will share an excerpt from the book!

Genre:

Young Adult

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Mythology

Series:

The Game of Hearts, #2

Publish Date:

April 7, 2016

Synopsis:

No More Lies!

Cassie Vera thought the biggest threat to her life disappeared the night her boyfriend, A.J. Vasillios, uses his one-time-use power and saved her from certain death.

She was wrong.

The mythological hit list she was on is nothing compared to her freshman year at the University of Las Vegas. Rooming with Vegas's future female royalty has pushed her estrogen tolerance to its limit. Worse, Cassie must take place in a time-honored tradition that tests her faith, while her boyfriend's new job threatens to shatter her heart.

When age-old traditions change...

Cassie's school year is interrupted when the future queens are ordered to represent their Houses in an annual high-stakes competition. While at her ancestral home in Malaga, Spain. Cassie discovers the Greek gods have gifted her with new abilities. Cassie takes matters of righting an eighteen-year-old wrong into her hands. However, actions have consequences, and Cassie's may very well end up costing her and the House of Hearts everything.

With her family's future at stake and the love of her life choosing sides, Cassie must cheat death one more time.

When duty requires you to do the unthinkable, where will your loyalties lie?

Only a Lying, Cheating Heart Knows.

   

*Excerpt*

Beaux & Cassie

I walked Beaux down the hallway to his dorm. I hadn’t been wrong about the cut above his eye getting some friends. Despite the you’re-a-chicken taunts, I’d watched Beaux’s ride from the staging area on the closed circuit TV. The announcers were just as enamored with Beaux as Amber the busty bimbo was. When the camera zoomed in on Beaux, I had to admit, I could see where the luck and charm came from. Muscles undulated under his skin, and when he smiled at the camera, my heart may have fluttered.

It was ridiculous, but the stupid organ really fluttered.

It fluttered and then filled with guilt. I didn’t have too much time to wallow, because the moment the guilt made its way to my gut, the shoot opened and Beaux flew around on the back of a terrifying beast. Revolution bucked to the left, the right, reared up, slammed down, and then lifted its hind legs to send Beaux sailing through the air. I screamed as he crashed down to the floor of the arena. Three clowns rushed in, one stopped to check on Beaux. Nonchalantly, he picked up his black cowboy hat, dusted off his chaps, and waved to the crowd, all as if there wasn’t a deadly side of beef wanting to avenge the invention of hamburgers.

“You’re sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

“This is nothing.” Beaux smiled down at me, deepening the cut around his eye. “I’ll wash it off, and we’ll head out for dinner.”

“You sure?” I questioned. His muscular arm, draped around my neck, made another attempt to pull me closer to him.

“You could have a concussion.” I pressed. We stopped in front of his door, that mischievous smile pulled at the cut from earlier this morning.

“Come to think of it, I could use some help with my sponge bath,” his Australian accent mixed with a slight Southern twang.

“Never mind, you’re not concussed,” I chuckled. “Where are your keys?”

“Front pocket.” He waggled his eyebrows before adding, “Mind the flashlight, once you turn it on, it’s hard to contain the light.”

I giggled and slipped out from under Beaux’s arm, steadying him as I let go. I was getting good at dodging the one-liners. By the end of the semester, I’d have ninja skills to combat his come-ons.

“I think you can handle finding your own keys and flashlight from here, cowboy.” I turned to walk down the hall, but Beaux snagged the waistband of my skirt and pulled me back into him. The warmth of his body washed through me as he rested his chin on my shoulder, making parts of my body come to life. Parts of me that had no business becoming aware of anybody but A.J.

I shouldn’t feel this.

Not for him.

I had a boyfriend, and Beaux was in love with another girl. This had disaster written all over it, which was probably why Midas thought it was such a damned good idea. Beaux spun me around, my hands splayed against his chest, but that didn’t stop him from resting his forehead on mine. Every inch of the front of me pressed into every inch of him. I’m certain he could feel my heart pounding against his chest.

“Thanks for coming with me,” he finally whispered. The scent of hard alcohol one of the rodeo clowns had given him after he stumbled out of the main arena still clung to his breath.

“I wasn’t sure I had a choice.” I watched the light in his eyes dull just a fraction and immediately wanted the words back. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you got it out of your system.”

The glimmer returned; so did the mischievous smile.

“Who says I’ve gotten you out of my system?”

My pulse kick-started.

“I was talking about the bull riding.”

“Sheila, there’s no difference between you and the bulls. You’re both in my system and you’re both deadly as sin. But I will admit, I’m looking forward to kissing you more than I am the bulls.”

I stepped away from Beaux and turned so he could see how serious I was when I said, “Flirt with me all you want, but you and I will never happen. I love A.J.”

~~~

Sequel to:

(book cover is link to Goodreads)

     

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**About the Author**

Mindy Ruiz lives in a sleepy Beach Town in Southern California. When she's not writing, she spends her time chasing after three boys, making flirty eyes at her hunky husband, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out at the beach with her very large and loud Italian family.

Her career in publishing started in the 4th grade with a story about a magic, museum-hopping chair. Now, Mindy writes young adult, new adult and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include tormented heroes, snarky heroines and lots of swoon-y moments that will put a smile on your face of make your heart race Mindy is the lover of a good romance, the underdog and John Hugh's 80's teen movies.

When her toes aren't in the sand or her mind isn't in the clouds, Mindy loves hearing from readers.

Stay connected with Mindy Ruiz

       

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***The Giveaway***

Prizes:

 

Pandora Heart Bangle                                       Vegas Inspired Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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