LYING, CHEATING HEART, the long awaited second book in Mindy Ruiz's Game of Hearts Series is finally here! Be sure and grab book 1, ENCHANTED HEART while it's FREE for release week only!
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LYING, CHEATING HEART Synopsis:
No More Lies!
Cassie Vera thought the biggest threat to her life disappeared the night her boyfriend, A.J. Vasillios, used his one-time-use power and saved her from certain death.
She was wrong.
The mythological hit list she was on is nothing compared to her freshman year at the University of Las Vegas. Rooming with Vegas’s future female royalty has pushed her estrogen tolerance to its limit. Worse, Cassie must take place in a time-honored tradition that tests her faith, while her boyfriend’s new job threatens to shatter her heart.
When age-old traditions change …
Cassie’s school year is interrupted when the future queens are ordered to represent their houses in an annual high-stakes competition. While at her ancestral home in Malaga, Spain, Cassie discovers the Greek gods have gifted her with new abilities. Cassie takes matters of righting an eighteen-year-old wrong into her hands. However, actions have consequences, and Cassie’s may very well end up costing her and the House of Hearts everything.
With her family’s future at stake and the love of her life choosing sides, Cassie must cheat death one more time.
When duty requires you to do the unthinkable, where will your loyalties lie?
Only a Cheating Heart Knows.
Excerpt:
Wind pulled at my hair, lashing the ends into my face as we made the drive back to the dorms. It was too much to talk about. My sister, Cara, had her secrets with Mr. Bones, and I had mine with Yayati. He knew about me years ago and never told Midas. It was one thing to water down a fact; it was another to completely defy the House of Midas.
Why?
Why would he risk it?
Cara pulled the car into the Dayton Complex parking structure, pressed a button to bring the top up, and killed the engine.
Cara finally broke the silence. “I’m not looking for bonding moments and giggles over hot chocolate.”
“I’m not looking for that, either. I’d just like a civil relationship with my sister.”
“Half,” she corrected me.
“You and Carina are all the family I have in this world.” The words caught on the lump in my throat. “You’re my sister.” My hand covered hers. I didn’t miss her flinch at my touch. “I didn’t mean to ruin your life, especially when your very presence saves mine.”
Finally, her round honey eyes found mine, so much uncertainty churning. I wanted her to trust me. I squashed the warm tingle climbing up my back. I needed this to be because she wanted to be my sister, not because I’d commanded her under my powers.
Cara’s eyes broke away. “Thank you for stopping.”
“You felt that?”
She nodded.
“What . . .?” My question trailed off. Maybe I didn’t want to know what it felt like. Maybe it was painful from the beginning. Gods knew, it could be physically damaging.
“It’s like I’m being forced out of my mind. Nothing belongs to me.” Cara folded her hands in her lap, studying her polished nails before she spoke up again. “I could hear you.”
“You could?” I whispered.
“You want me to want to be your sister.” She turned and looked at me, really looked at me. A small bead of sweat dribbled down the side of her face. “Then it got all muddled and I was back. Back in control.”
I sank into the leather seat, the need to confess more stifling than the heat.
“I went after Helen this morning.”
Cara turned the car on and kicked up the air, then turned in her seat toward me. “I was wondering when that was going to happen. Spill.”
Half a dozen "fuck mes" later, Cara and I left the car and headed back to our dorm rooms. Laughter and splashing from the pool sprayed over the bougainvillea-lined rails around the pool and barbeque area of our dorms.
“What are you doing today?” I asked.
“Not sure. I have shit to do.” Cara pulled open the lobby doors. She waved to a group of girls coming out. “I’m sure you do, too. A.J. probably needs help before he leaves.”
“Found that one out today, too.”
Cara punched the up button and leveled me with a look before saying, “I know you want to give this sister thing a try.” She held up a hand, stopping me. “So this is my contribution. A.J. may be your Jack, but he’s the heir to the House of Midas first. Beaux’s a spare king. He’s been living his life without any rules or repercussions. Now he has you. Both boys have pasts. A.J. will never be totally honest with you. It’s not in his nature. And Beaux’s never had anything to be responsible for.”
The doors to the elevators slid open. Cara smiled at a group of boys coming off the elevator, admiring their chiseled bodies and lack of clothing. I chewed on my lip as we walked into the elevator. The doors shut out the sounds from the lobby.
“Here’s my other sister thing: A.J. loves you, but his House comes first and all the duties and suitings that come along with it. Beaux is easy on the eyes but has a heart that’s buried under eighteen years of being told you don’t matter. You can change that. I’ve seen how the world reacts to you. You just have to make them both know you need to be protected. You’re worth protecting.”
My review
Read ENCHANTED HEART, the award winning first book in the Game of Hearts series while you wait…
ENCHANTED HEART Goodreads ** Amazon
About ENCHANTED HEART:
Cassandra Vera never ever breaks the rules.
Ever!
She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, Cassandra agrees an overnight road trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday is the perfect way to ring in the New Year. After all, it’s Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know the secrets of her own pastare buried there, as well.
In the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle —and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.
About Mindy Ruiz:Mindy Ruiz lives in a sleepy Beach Town in Southern California. When she’s not writing, she spends her time chasing after three boys, making flirty eyes at her hunky husband, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out at the beach with her very large and loud Italian family.
Her career in publishing started in the 4th grade with a story about a magic, museum-hopping, chair. Now, Mindy writes young adult, new adult, and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include tormented heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of swoon-y moments that will put a smile on your face or make your heart race. Mindy is the lover of a good romance, the underdog and John Hugh’s 80′s teen movies.
When her toes aren’t in the sand or her mind isn’t in the clouds, Mindy loves hearing from readers.
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