Today we have the blog tour for AFTER THE FALL by Katy Ames!
Check it out and grab your copy today!
Title: After the Fall
Author: Katy Ames
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About After the Fall
If there was one man in the world Grace Fitzgerald never wanted to see again, it was Mark Donovan.
Sinfully handsome and notoriously cocky, as a guest at her luxury hotel, Mark was impossible. As the new owner, he’s become a nightmare. The kind that wakes Grace in the middle of the night wishing she could forget how right his lips felt against her own, or how tempting his fingers were on her skin.
Sinfully handsome and notoriously cocky, as a guest at her luxury hotel, Mark was impossible. As the new owner, he’s become a nightmare. The kind that wakes Grace in the middle of the night wishing she could forget how right his lips felt against her own, or how tempting his fingers were on her skin.
But despite all the challenges Mark and Grace face working together, it’s impossible to ignore the attraction that flares every time they fight for control. Or the secrets that refuse to stay hidden in the luxury of the Seven Winds Resort.
They’re engaged in a battle of wills. But the real war begins when Mark and Grace realize just how much they have to lose. When mistakes from their pasts threaten everything they’re working for, they have to decide: admit defeat or join forces to save the hotel and each other.
A steamy, enemies-to-lovers standalone romance from Katy Ames, author of After the Island.
Excerpt
“Since we’re here, I have
something I’d like to discuss.”
“Mark, really? I just want to
finish my run. Can this wait until later?”
He grinned. “I’m not one to
pass up an opportunity when it presents itself. Besides, I’m less likely to get
interrupted by a phone call right now.” When she glared, Mark laughed. “Seems
unlikely that anyone would want to bother you so early in the day.”
“Yes”—Grace gave him a pointed
look—“exactly. Everyone here knows to leave me alone until after my workout.
And coffee. Lots of coffee.”
“Perfect, then I’ll have you
all to myself.”
Grace bit back a groan as she
resumed her regular pace and felt a surge of annoyance as Mark easily fell into
step beside her.
“I’ve told Carrie to take the
Sugar Mill suite out of inventory starting next month.”
Grace halted, and Mark was
several yards beyond her before he realized she’d stopped. Grace was staring
when he turned around.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I need it.”
“No”—Grace shook her head, her
ponytail flicking sharply across her shoulder—“you don’t.”
“Yes”—Mark’s face was split
into a blinding smile—“I do.”
“You can’t possibly,” she shot
back. “You have a two-floor villa all to yourself. There’s no reason in the
world you could need another room. And certainly not another suite.” Grace closed
out the music app on her phone and started typing an email. She was about to
hit send when long fingers pulled it from her grasp. “Hey!” Grace squinted up
into Mark’s face. “Give it back. Now.”
Mark glanced down at the screen
and skimmed the message she’d typed to Carrie before casually hitting cancel.
“No, not until you let me finish.”
“Mark. I understand you’re new
to the hospitality industry, but as your general manager, let me explain
something to you. Removing expensive suites from the reservation system is a
bad idea. They’re how we make money.” She spoke slowly, dragging out the words.
“And you know why we need money?”
Mark, clearly enjoying her
irritation, just smiled. Grace fought back the urge to poke him hard in his
very bare chest. “We need money to pay for all of the changes that you’re so
intent on making. Regardless of how deep your pockets go we do actually need to
turn a profit here.”
“I appreciate your concern for
our bottom line, Grace, but I don’t think removing one more suite is going to
cripple us. Besides”—Mark cut off her protest—“I’ve already made up my mind.
We’ll honor the reservations for the Sugar Mill over the next two weeks, then
we’ll accommodate the rest in other suites on property. Carrie already has the
instructions.”
“Carrie already has the
instructions—” Grace was dangerously close to stomping her feet like a child.
“Mark,” she ground out. “You do realize that Carrie should receive her
instructions from me. Not you. If just for the sake of consistency, I can’t
have you telling her one thing while I’m telling her another.”
“Exactly. Which is why I wanted
to talk with you now. I was going to bring it up yesterday, but you kicked me
out of your office.”
“I did not kick you out. I had
to take a call.”
“Semantics.”
“Asshole.”
“Excuse me?”
Shit! Grace knew her face
was bright pink. There was no way Mark hadn’t heard her. She closed her eyes
and pinched the bridge of her nose before looking back at him. “Sorry, that was
uncalled for. And incredibly unprofessional. It won’t happen again.”
Mark took another step towards
her, and Grace had to tilt her head to maintain eye contact. She might have
called her boss an asshole straight to his face, but she wasn’t going to back
down either. With some effort, Grace kept her breathing even as Mark studied her,
the steady rise and fall of his chest just inches from her own.
“Don’t you remember what I
said, Grace?” His voice was low, his eyes skittering down to the pulse at the
base of her throat. Grace managed to shake her head as she pulled her bottom
lip between her teeth. Mark’s chest rose as he tracked the tug and give of that
lip as she bit it nervously. When he continued, his voice was thick. “You don’t
need to be polite. Not with me. I prefer your honesty to false flattery any
day.”
About Katy Ames
Katy Ames has spent most of her life on the East Coast and hopes to spend more of it in the UK. In part, so she can indulge in her serious plaid obsession. There isn’t a teenage drama on the CW or a period British TV show she hasn’t binge-watched at least twice. And she can be persuaded to do most things with the promise of bourbon, coffee, chocolate, or a nap, not necessarily in that order. Katy is mom to a small human who has an obscene amount of energy and a blissful ability to ignore swear words, and wife to a man whose reading habits are far too serious. Katy and her family reside in Washington, D.C., a city she where never planned to live and loves so much she’d be happy to talk about for hours. Just ask.
Katy writes contemporary romances that feature heroes who are strong but not so silent, heroines who aren’t afraid to kick ass, and stories that get a little messy before they end happily ever after.
Connect with Katy
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Check out Katy’s fun new romance in her newsletter!
#ChooseYourOwnRomance, by Katy Ames
When I joined this wonderful and wild world of romance, I fell in love instantly - with the readers. You guys are enthusiastic, supportive, and passionate. And some of the loveliest people I’ve every had the pleasure to chat with, either in person or online.
I created #ChooseYourOwnRomance not just to thank you for being so awesome, but to bring readers into the heart of the story. Literally. By answering a few “this or that” questions, my followers on Instagram selected the trope, the location, the hero, and the heroine for the romance I’m currently writing.
Every week, I post a chapter on Instagram and readers get to decide how the story continues. Do they kiss? Does he stay? Does she go? Is there a love triangle? Do they have sex...?
And every Thursday, around 8 PM EST, I post the next installment, based on the winning votes from the previous week. It’s like an old-school Choose Your Own Adventure book, but for romance. (gasp!) (and, yes, I dated myself just then)
The current story focuses on Eden and Jude, childhood friends from a small town who haven’t spoken in years. The silence and distance have turned these once-friends into enemies. But a tragedy brings Eden home and Jude is doing everything possible to make her stay. And, maybe, if readers are kind, to show her that he’s never thought of her as anything but the love of his life.
Readers can catch up on Eden and Jude’s story at: https://katyamesbooks.com/chooseyourownromance/
And if you want to get in on some hot and heavy decision making, please join me every Thursday on Instagram (at) katyamesbooks and/or search for #ChooseYourOwnRomance.
Hope to see you there. You’re the best. Romance rocks.
Lots of love,
Katy
