Release day for Cupid's Last Stand
by Shauna Allen!
It's finally here! Cupid's Last Stand, Shauna Allen's fourth and final book in the Cupid Chronicles series is now available for purchase!
Genre: Contemporary/Light Paranormal Romance
Cupid’s Last Stand blurb:
Tristan Blackfeather . . .
The wounded boy has grown into a man, and his ghosts continue to haunt him. Now, faced with the ultimate betrayal, he makes a break for it, only to find himself face-to-face with his first love . . . the one he never truly forgot.
Darby Deveraux . . .
Squelching every desire of her soul, she’s existed the best she can in spite of the hand life has dealt her. Now, the boy who shattered her heart has come roaring back into town, demanding a second chance . . . does she dare?
One last shot . . .
Luckily, an old friend is there to help guide these two together. But is their Cupid Michael up to one final mission? Can your first love be your last?
Join Shauna Allen's Facebook party on June 24th to celebrate the release day of Cupid's Last Stand!
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Excerpt
Some stupid part of him wanted her to say she remembered every single thing about that summer. That she wanted it back. Wanted it all . . . wanted him. But he knew that could never be. He wasn’t the kind of man that women loved like that. He was not worthy; he was infinitely flawed—had known it since his dad left him, and most especially when Darby had first been thrown into his stratosphere as the ultimate tease. Mallory only served as an exclamation point. It was Darby. Had always been Darby.
Looking at her now, he knew it.
Suddenly, she dropped her head as something in her seemed to break. “Why, Tristan?”
“Why, what?” He placed the teabag on the counter.
She snapped her head up, her green eyes shimmering behind her glasses. “Why didn’t you write? Why did you just up and leave me that summer without a word? I mean, I know it was a long time ago and it shouldn’t matter now, but I just—”
He cupped her face and brought his lips to hers, shushing her words. He’d been waiting to do this since he first laid eyes on her in the Red Cross building . . . hell, maybe since he left her ten years ago.
She froze, her body rigid and tight as emotion thrummed between them. Then, as if a dam burst, she clutched at his shirt and yanked him closer as a mewling moan ripped from her throat and she allowed his tongue to slide in and twirl with hers. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss as far as he could, allowing every ounce of her to intoxicate him. He traced his fingertips down her throat, feeling the restless pounding of her pulse.
Ten years might as well have been ten seconds as it all came crashing down on them. He pressed her back against the countertop, fitting their pelvises together snugly, drawing a low groan from her as her nails raked down his back.
He sucked her tongue into his mouth, nibbled her lower lip. He’d eat her alive if he could. She was everything he needed to live in this moment. And she seemed to consume him in kind as her fingers moved greedily through his hair, holding him closer still.
A pop and a hiss from the coffeepot broke through the moment and she startled, drawing back to rest her head against his chest. “Tristan . . .”
He gripped her hips and held her close. “Darby. I did write. Even after your daddy told me not to. But you didn’t answer.”
She didn’t move for a moment and he wondered if she’d heard him. But she eventually peered up. “You wrote to me?”
He tapped his forehead against hers. “Yes. God. Like every day in the beginning. And I called too, but you were never home. I eventually gave up when you didn’t call or write back.” He pressed a kiss to her damp lips because he couldn’t help himself. “I told you I was crazy about you.”
She rested her cheek back to his chest. He didn’t say anything, not sure what else to say. He’d been a teenage kid. Sure, he’d promised her the moon, and sure, he’d been head over heels for her, but what did she expect? She hadn’t acknowledged one of his letters or calls. Life went on and heartbreak was a two-way street. He’d just sucked his up and bottled it away.
She rubbed her face up and down across his T-shirt as if inhaling his scent. “What did you mean about my daddy telling you not to write?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She drew back and met his eyes, her arms still linked around his waist.
He sighed. He hated to burst her bubble, he remembered how she worshipped her old man. He’d heard when he rolled into town that he’d died last year, and now Darby was running the company. Somehow, it felt wrong to talk smack about the dearly departed. But, the truth was the truth. “No big deal, Darby. After he found us together that night in your room, he pulled me aside and told me I was obviously not the kind of boy who was any good for his little girl, and if I knew what was good for me . . . well, he basically let me know that I was never to communicate with you again.”
She remained motionless, processing this. “He did?”
“Yeah.”
Her hand flew to her lips. “Oh, God.” Tears filled her eyes. “And all this time I was crushed. I thought . . . I blamed you. Thought you walked away and forgot me.”
He yanked her closer and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “I never forgot you, Darby. Not for one second.”
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Review
Wonderfully sweet second chance love story.
Tristan and Darby met and fell in love as teenagers when he was spending the summer in New Destiny. Darby wanted to get out of New Destiny, and Tristan promised he would come back for her when he was done with high school. Of course, as many stories go, he did not keep his promise. Fast forward ten years later and Tristan is left standing at the alter on his wedding day. Feeling like he needs make a fresh start, Tristan decides to move from Texas to California and start his own bike shop. But fate, or should I say Cupid, has other plans for him.
Darby's home town of New Destiny has experienced an earthquake that has damaged most of the town. They are in need of volunteers to help rebuild. Tristan happens to be watching to television reports and recognizes Darby. He decides to stop by on his way to California to lend a helping hand. Darby never expected to see Tristan again, especially not not as part of a construction crew helping to rebuild her town. Darby never left New Destiny, and took over her father's construction company when he passed away. Now she must work with Tristan on a daily basis.
Cupid, known as Michael, has come back to help Tristan and Darby. He first met Tristan when he was a kid and knew he would the one to help Tristan overcome his issues and in order to be with Darby. With Michael's help, Tristan and Darby are thrown together to work on the same projects. Try as they might, they cannot deny their chemistry or feelings. Tristan still has plans to move on to California. Will Darby survive losing Tristan again? Can Tristan trust that he is enough for Darby?
Great ending to the series, it was nice to see Michael helping his previous charges son as well as catching up with previous couples. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend that if you decide to read the other books in the series, those should be read in order.
Other Titles by Shauna Allen
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Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three awesome teenagers, including one she’s about to send off to the Air Force. She is the award-winning author of the Cupid Chronicles series, including Charlie’s Angel and Cupid’s Last Stand. Shauna also writes emotional Contemporary YA novels as SC Montgomery, works as a freelance editor, and is personal assistant to two NYT Bestselling authors. She loves all things sexy, sassy, and Gerard Butler.
Shauna would love for you to visit her at her website and blog at: www.shaunaallen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shauna.allen.12
Twitter: http://tiny.cc/s0dlmw
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916632.Shauna_Allen
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shaunaallen7/
You can also sign up for all the latest Shauna Allen news with her Angel Kisses Newsletter here! http://eepurl.com/D_RcP
And please learn more about her YA alter-ego at: www.scmontgomery.com
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Praise for Shauna Allen’s Cupid Chronicles:
Tattoos, cupids, and bad boys: Shauna Allen delivers one heck of a read. Fresh, sassy, and witty—she brings a new voice to romance that readers are gonna love!
New York Times Bestselling Author, Christie Craig
A charming romance from start to finish. Shauna Allen's fresh, new voice makes Inked by an Angel a must read.
Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Zebra author, Melissa Cutler
The Halo Effect . . . doesn’t disappoint. Shauna has an amazing ability to write compelling characters that are real and relatable.
Christie Palmer Reviews – 4 ½ of 5 Stars
With a cupid in the mix love finds a way to conquer all things . . . I must say that I loved the book and the characters in the book. I hope we see more from this talented author.
Night Owl Reviews – 4/5 Stars
A well-written, clever romance with a twist, Inked by an Angel reminds us that love exists in the unlikeliest places, and that we may need a “guardian angel” to help us find what was meant to be all along.
Gillian’s Tattooed Book Reviews – 4/5 Stars
Holy smoke! Shauna Allen has done it again! I fell in love with the Cupid Chronicles from the first book and that was it for me . . . Shauna did not disappoint with Wounded Wings and from the first two sentences I kid you not I was in love.
Reese’s Reviews: My Addiction to Fiction – 5/5 Stars
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