BLOG TOUR: Most Ardently by Susan Mesler-Evans

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Susan Mesler-Evans' Most Ardently, coming from Entangled: Embrace! Today, on our tour stop, we have an exclusive excerpt AND an author-hosted giveaway to share! So... Check it out and be sure to grab your copy now! Follow the tour (tour schedule is at the end of the post).

Genre:

New Adult
LGBTQ Contemporary Romance

Publish Date:

October 21, 2019

Publisher:

Entangled: Embrace

Synopsis:

Elisa Benitez is proud of who she is, from her bitingly sarcastic remarks, to her love of both pretty boys and pretty girls. If someone doesn’t like her, that’s their problem, and Elisa couldn’t care less. Particularly if that person is Darcy Fitzgerald, a snobby, socially awkward heiress with an attitude problem and more money than she knows what to do with.

From the moment they meet, Elisa and Darcy are at each other’s throats -- which is a bit unfortunate, since Darcy’s best friend is dating Elisa’s sister. It quickly becomes clear that fate intends to throw the two of them together, whether they like it or not. As hers and Darcy’s lives become more and more entwined, Elisa’s once-dull world quickly spirals into chaos in this story of pride, prejudice, and finding love with the people you least expect.

       

*Excerpt*

Even for Darcy, this was low. First what she’d done to Wick, and now this.

It was official, Elisa decided. Forget the idea that she’d been too harsh, or judged too quickly. Darcy Fitzgerald was the most conceited, most vile, most insufferable person on the planet. She was stuck-up, and cruel, and… and… and…

“Elisa.”

She let out a yelp, before turning around.

Darcy was standing there, blue pea coat with matching boots, looking apprehensive. Had someone told her what Elisa had found out? If she was here to try and apologize, she would have to restrain herself from tossing her onto the ice.

“Colin told me you’d gone for a walk. I followed your footprints,” Darcy said. “I have an important matter to discuss with you.”

“Did he tell you I want to be alone?” Elisa asked, voice shaking a bit, furious just from the sight of her.

“Yes. But I need to talk to you when we’re alone, and we may not get another chance this weekend. That was… actually the entire reason I agreed when Colin invited me on this trip. I wanted to see you.”

“Darcy, I promise you, whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it.”

“I have a present for you.”

She blinked. “Um. What?”

Darcy reached into her pocket, and produced a small, heart-shaped box of chocolates, handing it to her. She took it, mainly because she was at a loss as to what else she could do. This wasn’t one of the cheap boxes they sold at the drugstore – these were expensive. Fancy. When she took a closer look, she saw that Darcy had scribbled a message in Sharpie on the front.

For Elisa Benitez. I hope you enjoy these as much as I’ve enjoyed knowing you. – Darcy Fitzgerald.

Slowly, Elisa raised her head to look at her again. She was shuffling nervously on her feet, clearly waiting for some kind of reaction. When Elisa didn’t speak, she filled the silence for her.

“I agonized over whether to get those for you,” she admitted. “I knew I wanted to get you something for Valentine’s Day, but I was worried the chocolates might be cliché. But then I thought to myself, they became cliché for a reason, and I know you enjoy chocolate, so I decided to just go for it.”

“Um—thanks, I guess, but—” She was so confused, she had nearly forgotten she was mad at her. “Why are you… why are you giving me a Valentine’s Day present at all?”

Darcy took a shaking breath, before stepping closer to her.

“Elisa, I have struggled in vain for the past few months. Ever since the day you and I met, really. But it cannot go on like this. I have something to say to you, and I ask that you listen to me. I admire you greatly, Elisa, and please believe me when I say that I most ardently love you.”

Elisa dropped the box of chocolates. She stood, frozen in place, staring at Darcy, searching her face for any sign that she was kidding. She found none. Finally, Elisa managed to force out a response.

“What?”

~~~~~

**About the Author**

Susan Mesler-Evans is a writer, college student, D&D enthusiast, theatre nerd, and horrific procrastinator. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Susan now lives in Florida, and can often be found reading, scrolling through Tumblr until 2 AM, overanalyzing her favorite fictional characters and relationships, bingewatching comedies on Netflix, thinking about writing, and even, on occasion, actually writing. Most Ardently is her first full-length novel. You can find her at susanmeslerevanswrites.com.

Stay connected with Susan Mesler-Evans

     

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***The Giveaway***

Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the Tour

October 21st
Josselyn Radillo - Review
Hookedonbookz - Excerpt

October 22nd
Reese's Reviews - Review
Adventures in Writing - Excerpt

October 23rd
cupcakesandbookshelves - Excerpt
Hannah's Words - Review
BookHounds - Excerpt

October 24th
A Lovely Book Affair - Review
Movies, Shows, & Books - Excerpt
Somewhere Lost in Books - Excerpt

October 25th
Beneath The Covers Blog - Excerpt
Cat's Guilty Pleasure - Excerpt


Blog Tour Organized by

BLOG TOUR: No Kissing Allowed by Melissa West

Welcome to the exciting Blog Tour for No Kissing Allowed by Melissa West! Follow the tour, HERE!

Genre:

New Adult

Contemporary Romance

Publish Date:

July 28, 2015

Publisher:

Entangled Embrace

Synopsis:

Armed with her besties an embarrassing number of shots, and her list of 10 Wild Things To Do Before Adulthood, recent grad Cameron Lawson is partying it up before she starts her dream job at New York's biggest ad agency. Her last task? Hook up with a random guy. And while it's so not her style, the super-sexy guy sitting next to her is definitely game. No names. No details.

At least, that was the plan.

On her first day of work, Cameron discovers her hook-up is none other than Aidan Truitt--her new boss's boss. Talk about failing the "no fraternizing with coworkers" policy on an epic level. Especially when Aidan makes it clear their one night was only the beginning. Falling for him could cost her everything, but sometimes the only way to get what you want is by breaking a few rules...

       

Goodreads is holding a giveaway now!

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Deleted Scene

I took one long look at Mr. Confident again. “You know, I was hoping to run into you.” 

“You were, huh?” he said, his voice low and oh so sexy.

“I…Yes.” I stared at him, wondering why the lights were making everything so blurry, and then suddenly out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of Grace, her face inches from a guy and victory, and I knew I had to act fast. “Look, I sort of need a favor.”

His eyebrow lifted again. “A favor?”

“I need you to kiss me.” Were my words slurring?

Both eyebrows lifted this time, his mouth open to respond, but there wasn’t time for him to comply. This was right now, this moment, win or lose, and I planned to take home the gold. “Just…” And then before I could chicken out, I leaned in, my eyes closing, my lips puckered, but my mouth never quite made it to his. I pushed a bit harder, sure that I’d just misjudged my lean, when he began to laugh. Loudly. 

My eyes flew open to find him shaking, literally shaking, he was laughing so hard. I jerked from his grasp, nearly losing my balance. “What is your problem?”

He tried to rein in his laughter, but the smile remained. His eyes squinted, a sense of familiarity there. Like he was talking to a friend, but we’d never met. “Look, you’re cute…but this isn’t happening.” Those deep brown eyes rooted me to the spot. “Why don’t I grab you a cab?”

My cheeks flamed as his words sunk in, knocking the wind out of me. Cute? Not happening? I forced myself to hold his gaze, to keep the last bit of my dignity from slipping through one of the cracks in the floor. I’d never been called cute in my life. 

“What’s your name, anyway?” I asked, unable to hide my frustration. 

He smiled again. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“It’s just a kiss.” Even through my slight drunkenness, I could feel my face burning. God, I was going to kill Grace and Lauren for doing this to me. 

“There’s no such thing as just a kiss. It’s personal.” His gaze dropped down to my lips. “More personal than something you do with some nameless guy in a bar.”

My insides coiled at his words, at the way he seemed to know this wasn’t me and was calling me out on it. “Yet you’re still standing here.”

He swallowed, and I knew that despite his words, he was tempted. “That I am.” His eyes swept over me again, leaving a warm trail in their wake. A shiver ran down my back, my entire body drawn to him, despite his rejection, despite my dignity. It’d been a long time since a look alone caused me to buzz with such need. He leaned in closer to my ear, his breath dancing down my neck, and for a moment I forgot about the contest, all focus on this moment, this man, when he whispered, “But it’s still not happening.”

~~~~~

**About the Author**

Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and teen sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

Stay connected with Melissa West

    

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***The Giveaway***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organized by