NEW
RELEASE
Reckless
by S.
C. Stephens
Reckless, the long-awaited final
instalment of the Thoughtless Series, is finally here. If you haven't read the
first two books, Thoughtless
and Effortless,
check out my earlier blog
post.
Description
Can love survive
when life gets Reckless?
When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can
their love for each other withstand the constant pressures of superstardom? The
friendships they’ve formed, the new family they’ve found, and the history
they’ve forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent
waters of the band’s exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on
success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that
twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to
overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price—but will
it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Temporary Bliss
I was stirred from sleep by a hand running up
my thigh. Smiling, I stretched my tight limbs and placed my palm over the
wandering fingers. The hand was warm and soft, and clasped mine, cinching
tight. A cool ring of hard metal dug into my skin as he held me in his firm
grasp and I smiled wider, fingering the matching band on the ring finger of my
hand.
I’d gotten married last night . . . in the
spiritual sense, at least. A soul-filled pledge of undying devotion was enough
for us right now. And really, a formal ceremony and a piece of paper wasn’t
what made a marriage. It was the feeling bursting apart my chest—the
overwhelming sensation that I’d been cleaved in two at birth, and,
miraculously, I’d managed to find my other half. And even more miraculously, he
felt the same.
Soft lips touched my shoulder, and I snuggled
further into the body seeking my solace. The sheets wrapped around us were the
finest linens I’d ever slept in, but their luxuriousness paled in comparison to
the man beside me. With his warm legs tangled around mine, his broad chest
flush against my back, and his arms circled over and under me cradling my body
to his, he was far more comfortable than the overpriced bed.
Pulling the fingers laced with mine up to my
lips, I kissed the promise ring on his left hand. A low chuckle escaped him,
then those sensuous lips of his worked their way up my neck. Warm and content,
my skin instantly pricked with goose bumps as small bolts of electricity shot
right through me.
When he got to my ear, he whispered, “Mornin’,
Mrs. Kyle.”
My heart was instantly thudding in my chest. I
twisted in his embrace until I could see him. Eyes the color of a twilight sky
stared back at me, and a small smile curved his mouth as he searched my
features. His face was perfect—the angle of his jaw, the slope of his nose, the
fullness of his lips. At the moment, I couldn’t recall anything quite as
beautiful as the man who’d just given me his name.
“Good morning, Mr. Kyle.”
A small giggle of disbelief escaped me, and
Kellan’s smile widened. The contentment in his eyes was nearly palpable. It
warmed my heart that I made him feel that way. He’d had enough pain in his
life; he deserved peace. It was all a little surreal to me, the depth of his
love, the fact that I inspired it. Sometimes, I didn’t feel worthy of him, but
I was grateful for him, every day.
“I can’t believe we just did that, Kellan.”
He cocked an eyebrow, his grin instantly
mischievous. “What? Have mind-blowing sex? That really shouldn’t surprise you.”
His expression softened into adoration. “Every time with you is incredible.”
Biting my lip, I forced the flush he was
making me feel aside. “I wasn’t talking about that.” Reaching up with my free
hand, I stroked his jaw with my finger. “I meant getting married.”
Kellan propped himself up on his elbow and
looked down at me. His gaze slid down to our hands locked together, to the ring
encircling his finger. The look of contentment on his face shifted to outright
bliss. I’d never seen him happier. “ ’Til death do us part,” he whispered.
Running my fingers down his chest, the hills
and valleys of his absurdly defined body starting to ignite mine, I murmured,
“My parents won’t accept you as my husband until you walk me down the aisle,
you know.”
Remembering that I’d left them a vague message
on the answering machine at Kellan’s place, since they were still in town for
my graduation yesterday, I frowned. They were going to be so pissed when they
woke up and heard that I’d run off and gotten married without including them.
Honestly, I was a little surprised that my phone hadn’t rung yet . . . or that
the hotel room door hadn’t been beaten down.
Kellan laughed and repositioned our bodies so
that he was lying on top of me. Giving him a soft smile, I ran my fingertips
down his back. He shuddered. “And I will. . . .” Leaning down, he placed a kiss
on my neck, then my collarbone. My heart sped up. “I will give them the
ceremony they want. . . .” Looking up at me, he let his lips trail from my
collarbone to the top of my breast. I struggled to not squirm. “I’ll give you
the wedding of your dreams, Kiera.”
His lips closed over my nipple then, and all
of last night’s passion flooded back to me. As satisfying as our first union as
husband and wife had been, I wanted more, I wanted him again. I didn’t think
I’d ever stop wanting him in every way that that implied.
Just as my fingers drifted up to thread
through his hair, my breath long past casual, his lips left the erogenous zone
that they’d found. I looked down at him right as he looked up at me. Crooking a
grin, he kissed between my breasts, then down my belly. Just the thought of him
continuing on his southern path had me instantly aching for him. His grin
turned cocky, like he knew it.
“I’ll give you everything, Kiera, but, until I
can do it properly . . .” His tongue dipped into my belly button before
trailing down my abdomen. I groaned and closed my eyes, simultaneously shifting
my hips up and pushing his head down. I heard a throaty laugh escape him as his
lips traveled down my thigh. His breath hot against my skin, he finally
finished his sentence, “. . . we may as well enjoy the perks.”
Then his tongue brushed over my core and I
lost all pretence of control.
Review
By Michelle
E.
I know S.C. Stephens
was apprehensive about the release of Reckless
as it was published without many people reading it first, unlike the previous
two books. Well, needless to say, she did not disappoint me or the rest of her
fans. The same day the e-book released, it hit the #1 spot on Itunes and Barnes
& Noble (Amazon had not released it yet). Congratulations SC!
I had an ARC of
Reckless in my possession on February 1 and did not finish it until February
26. During this time, I read three other books just so I could make this book
last. It was bittersweet knowing I had waited nine months for Reckless, and now it was over. When
people would ask me my opinion after finishing the book, I told them I had one
word to describe Reckless: PERFECT!!!!
All the D-bags and
their girlfriends, Denny & Abigail, Kiera's parents and sister Anna,
Kellan's dad and siblings return in Reckless as they all are an integral part
of Kellan and Kiera's life. I enjoyed reading the interactions between all of
them. They are all like one big happy family. Yes, there will be turmoil,
angst, happy and sad moments, but it's all part of the journey that made me
love this book (and series) even more.
Now, let's talk
Kiera. After all the bashing she took after people read Thoughtless and Effortless,
I was overjoyed to see that she had matured and grown and put Kellan and his
career first. She was confident and not wishy-washy as we experienced in the
first two books. This was a huge accomplishment for her, and I'm so proud of
her.
And finally the
piece de resistance known as Kellan Kyle. There will NEVER be another Kellan
Kyle (AKA Sex on a Stick), and I didn't think I could fall in love with him
anymore. And I was so wrong. There is something about a man who can be so
sensitive, sweet, complimentary, and appreciative of his girlfriend/wife. He
never fails to reiterate his love and devotion to Kiera. And for that, he will
remain by number 1 book boyfriend.
"Tangling my
hands through his hair, I gazed at him until I thought my heart might burst. He
unwaveringly met my eyes, "I love you too, Kiera. Just you. You're my
always."
"I love you. I
would do it all over again if I needed to. I'd go back to the beginning for
you."
Thank you Kellan
Kyle and S.C. Stephens for the journey and the memories. Until we meet again
for the next re-read.
About the Author
S.C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every free
moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on
romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless,
an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the
unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and
surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless
in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop
ever since.
In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys
spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her
iPod with writer's block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and
spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the
beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.
For further insights, check out this interview with the author.
Links
