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In Bloom by Katie Delahanty | New Releases + Epic Giveaways


Full Measures Synopsis:
She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.
Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.
Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.
Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.
Rebecca Yarros Bio:
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She's a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.
 When she's not writing, she's tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years, and they're currently stationed in Upstate NY with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog, but she would always rather be home in Colorado.
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In Bloom Synopsis:
My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.
I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me.　
How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I've ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it's all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all…　

 Excerpt:
Parker leads the way down the cascading staircase to the pool level. DJ David Bullock is spinning, and beats thump in the background. As we reach the pool deck, I’m scanning the scene for a place to camp for a round of drinks when my eyes find his.
Berkeley is sitting with a small group of people around a fire pit, his toga revealing his lean, muscular build. I recoil as I notice that perched on his lap, wearing a miniscule half sheet, is Lisa Greene. With a sharp inhale, I alert Blair and Parker to my discomfort and they follow my gaze.
“Uh-oh,” Blair says under her breath.
“Are you okay?” Parker, in meltdown-prevention mode, tries to steady me.
Shaken, every inch of my being wants to run and hide. Though I’ve convinced myself I’ve moved on, the physical reaction to seeing him again stuns me. The longing is almost more than I can bear. I have to fight it. “No! I mean, yes.” I bite my lip to be strong. Resisting the fresh surge of pain at him not calling, I resolve I’m not going to let him affect me. I’m done with silly fairy tales. The reality is he prefers Lisa Greene, and I have to accept it. Burying that sad truth, I remind myself I’ve moved on and Berkeley and I don’t have anything to say to each other.
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I say, determined not to let him ruin my night. Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I prepare to ignore him. (I’m secretly pleased I’ve chosen the sexy swimsuit, though.) “Drinks?” I ask.
Equipped with glasses of champagne from a passing tray, my wolf pack gathers around me. We attempt to act normal and chat, but it’s proving difficult for any of us to ignore the presence behind me. As it turns out, we don’t have to avoid him for long.
“Parker! Blair! Liv!” a shrill voice rings out over the crowd. Raising my eyes skyward, my temples pound with disbelief. Of course. Twenty times I’ve met her. Twenty times she’s refused to acknowledge my existence. Why in the name of Hollywood Boulevard would she choose this moment to birth my name from her lips?
“I think she wants us to go over there,” Blair says through her teeth while she smiles and waves at my betrayer.
“Nope,” I declare in a voice steadier than I feel. “Not happening.” Mad Max glints in my eyes. “I’m fine right here if you guys want to go.”
“It’s okay, we’ll stay with you,” Parker promises. Wolf pack. Unite. “Oh no. She’s coming over here,” Blair whispers the play by play, “and she’s bringing him.”
“What should I do?”
It’s too late. I try to look natural as they close the short distance separating us.
“Hi, guys,” Lisa purrs, inserting herself into our circle so she stands wedged between Berkeley and me. Frozen with fear, I attempt to remain unaffected as Lisa winds her fingers protectively around his biceps. “You know Berkeley,” she says to Blair and Parker. I’m back to nonexistent as far as she’s concerned. If only that were true for both of them. I can feel his eyes on me.
“We’ve met,” Berkeley confirms, a slight edge to his voice as he shifts his weight away from her.
I can’t stay for this. Being this close to him is overwhelming. My only chance at escape is to meet the challenge head-on. Channeling every last ounce of inner strength I possess, I smile at him innocently, pretending I haven’t given him a second thought since the last time we saw each other. He’s grown the beginnings of a beard since I saw him last, and somehow it serves to make his blue eyes brighter. “How was Europe?” I ask, with confidence I don’t feel, meeting those eyes directly. Familiar tension holds me spellbound and gravity begins its usual tow. I fight to hide the emotions that crowd my eyes, but I’m sure he sees right through me.
“It was good,” he says softly. “Grueling, though. I’m glad to be back.” His voice hints promise, and his eyes never leave my face. My body temperature rises under his scrutiny.
“He’ll be in town for a little while,” Lisa says. “I’m working on a new pilot that just got picked up by NBC.” She turns the conversation to her, and I’m relieved to have a new focus for everyone’s attention. Tearing my eyes from Berkeley, I busy them with a thorough pedicure examination as Parker takes Lisa’s bait.
“So exciting! Tell me about it. What’s it called?”
Lisa launches into an endless description of the new series, and I’m okay tuning her out. My part in this dialogue is done, and I begin to plan my exit strategy as Lisa rambles on. “I’m going to run to the restroom,” I whisper, with an imperceptible lean toward Blair. “Meet me by the food trucks when you’re done?”

She nods as I back out of the circle, mumbling an “excuse me.” Without so much as a peek at Berkeley, I head back up the stairs toward the house, trying to shake the feeling he’s watching, and worse, trying to stop hoping he is.
Katie Delahanty Bio:
Katie Delahanty is a fashion designer turned novelist. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and a Professional Designation in Fashion Design from FIDM. It never occurred to her that she was a writer until an economic-crisis-induced career shift from lingerie designer to e-commerce webmistress led her to start the company blog. Not being an expert in lingerie, she decided to write the blog as a fictional serial starring a girl named Olivia Bloom who worked for the lingerie line. And that’s when Katie fell in love with storytelling. She hasn’t looked back since. Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

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Website/Blog: www.KatieDelahanty.com



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