5th Street-The series

5th Street ™ is a companion series. All books are written as stand alone and there is need to read the rest of the books in the series to follow the stories. However be warned if you do decide to read out of order you will come across a few snippets or updates on couples from previous novels in the series that might be considered minor spoilers.   

In the middle of  the mean streets of Los Angeles stands an old gym "5th Street." Here the boys with the will of real men, who are able to turn their backs on the inevitable lure of gangs and drugs come with hopes and aspirations of becoming the next prized fighter. One group of young friends who've bonded here at 5th Street will capture your hearts. Each one of them jaded by hardships of growing up on the streets of LA boasts a hardened exterior. All able and willing to take on dangerous opponents. Never going down without a fight but vulnerable to what each of them think they have the power to overcome—falling in love. Meet the boys of 5th Street. 

AND...

Coming November 13th, 2014!

  

They say the only good thing about hitting rock bottom is that it can't get any worse . . . or can it?

World famous boxing champ, Felix Sanchez, had it all—the fame, the fortune, and all the women any man could ask for. When the hours of partying followed by hours spent in court and in rehab begin to outnumber the hours he spends training, losing his title comes as no surprise to everyone. The world assumes he deserved to lose it.

Only those closest to Felix know the real truth behind his sudden downward spiral. And if Felix has his way, no one else ever will. With an uncertain future ahead of him, he heads back to his roots—5th Street—the gym that started it all for him. It's where he meets the humble but mighty little Ms. Ella.

The only times Felix had ever decided to forgo the usual meaningless fling and try a real relationship he was burned badly. Now the adorable but tenacious self-defense instructor has him considering this love thing one more time.

Then just when he begins to worry that his past is letting his possessive and jaded heart get the best of him, he's blindsided in the most brutal way—he's brought to his knees—to what could be the one low in his life he may never recover from.

Excerpt

 "You hired me not just to help manage your career but to do damage control with the mess you and Andy made of it. And ever since, all you’ve done is continue to go downhill. It’s almost as if you’re trying to ruin your career.” 

 “Oh yeah? And what career would that be, huh? My boxing career? Because I think we can both agree that ship has sailed. I’m just trying to enjoy my life now.” 

 “How? By getting drunk every night and partying ’til you pass out? By starting brawls and beating the shit outta every nobody that calls you a has-been?” Preston followed Felix into the next room of his penthouse suite. “You’re not washed up, Felix. But if you keep treating your body the way you have been this past year—staying up every night, fucking every girl who throws herself at you, and partying up for days—you will be. Hell, even your dick’s gotta say I’ve had enough sooner or later.” 

Felix laughed, taking a swig of his glass of bourbon. “Not a chance.”

The rest of the guys are already out and live everywhere! Meet them next. Up first and FREE for a very limited time!

 Noah ™

    Veronica Cruz has been through hell and back. After disconnecting with the world two years ago to be at the side of her dying mother, she’s left alone, unemployed, overweight, and feeling a decade older than her twenty-eight years. When her best friend coaxes her into joining the local gym to ditch her depression and rejuvenate her life, she meets Noah. Assigned to help Veronica lose weight, Noah is everything she expected a young trainer to be—perfectly chiseled, supportive and motivating. Add to that, he’s incredibly sexy. He’s everything she’s ever looked for in a man. What she least expected was for him to fall for her, but he has. There's just one glaring problem: Noah is eight years younger.

Noah Quintanilla has his eye on a boxing title—someday. Down for a few months with an injury, his maintenance-boy pay at 5th Street Gym won't cut it. He’s finally given the opportunity to train. The catch? His trainee is an out-of-shape woman with a free week pass. Taking on the challenge, Noah stumbles into one of the closest friendships he’s ever known, and before he knows it, he’s in love. But Veronica’s not having it—the age difference is too much. Their platonic relationship means having to watch her date other men—something that would make him crazy. Believing he's the man for her, Noah sets out to prove that age is but an illusion, and there's more to him than just a number.

     

   

     
   

 

 
 
   


I'll let you guys in on a little secret. Noah has a fetish... 

Now available on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and on paperback! 

In the meantime 

Read teasers 1-3 Here

Teaser 4 - The knock out

Teaser 5 - Getting in his face!

Teaser 6 - Baby it's cold outside

And Meet:

Gio ™

Official Blurb

When tragedy strikes in the ring, Giovanni Bravo falls into a deep depression, walking away from his dream of boxing to train instead. He agrees to a two month get-away, helping train Felix Sanchez, his high school best friend and now welterweight champ of the world. Once at Felix’s lavish boxing complex, he’s reunited with Bianca Rubio, someone he remembers only as the girl with the innocent doe eyes back in high school. Her refreshing, cheerful demeanor not only takes Gio’s mind off his troubled conscience, he finds himself falling for her fast and hard. The problem—Bianca is Felix’s girlfriend.

Having a sexy, famous boyfriend has its perks, but they come with a price. Bianca not only has to deal with the ongoing tabloid rumors about her boyfriend hooking with other women, but also his constant absence when he is on the road. So now that Felix will be in town for two whole months to train for his next big bout, Bianca is thrilled. He’s even asked her to move into his cabin while he's there. But when he leaves for days at a time to promote his fight, Bianca spends time getting to know Felix’s gorgeous new trainer and good friend, Gio. Increasingly drawn to his sweet smile and smoldering green eyes, she finds herself saying and doing things she normally wouldn’t.

As it becomes more and more difficult for each to resist the other, Gio crosses the line between them. He hopes that one kiss will alleviate the overwhelming temptation and clear both their systems, but it does just the opposite. Their temptation suddenly becomes an obsession—a dangerous obsession that can only lead to heartache—for everyone.

     

   

     
   

 

 
 
   

First TINY teaser of Gio posted on my fan page this past Teaser Tuesday: 

Trinidad was pronounced dead before he ever reached the hospital. Dead at only twenty two—and Gio had killed him.  

Read 1st full teaser here. -The set up
Read 2nd teaser here. - Meet Bianca 
Read 3d teaser here - The smile 
Read 4th teaser here - Innocent flirting 
Available now on both Amazon and B&N. Soon available on Smashwords and paperback.  

Womanizer—check. 

Cocky—check. 

Dangerous—checkmate. 

Staying away from him was indisputably the sensible thing to do. 

The problem? 

She wasn’t just drawn to him; she was utterly mesmerized... 

 Hector ™(5th Street #3) 

Coming soon!  

      

   

     
   

 

 
 
   

Yes you're seeing correctly. My first NON Hispanic heroine! I'm really excited about this (as usual) But as we get closer I always start to get REALLY excited and this one is getting intense. Release date? None yet but stay tuned! Teasers and FULL blurb coming real soon! For a first glimpse into not only Hector's but Abel's POV check out "A 5th Street Christmas" now!

First teaser introducing Hector's love interest and giving you her name is here! 

 “Go ask her to dance,” Hector whispered at Walter reaching for his drink.

“What? No!” Walter pulled back his drink before Hector could take it. “She’s with that guy.”

“Trust me.” Hector whispered a little more urgently. “That guys annoying as shit. She’ll thank you.”

Walter shook his head again defiantly, the panic already all over his face as if Hector was going to force him.

“C’mon just one more dance,” the guy said reaching for Charlee’s arm who seemed almost as alarmed as Walter.

No shit she looked alarmed the guy was a pushy asshole. Hector was glad she didn’t seem willing at all to get back on the dance floor and have him pushing himself on her again. To make things worse the song playing now was a slow one.

“Damn it, Walter” Hector whispered loudly through his teeth. “If you don’t ask her, I will.”

Just looking at Walter’s annoyingly terrified face Hector knew he wasn’t going to. Glancing back at Charlee the guy had repositioned himself on the other side of her so he could now lean in again close to her ear. There was no way Hector could hear what he was saying now but one thing was clear, the way she kept pulling back away from the guy’s face , Charlee was as uncomfortable as she had been on the dance floor.

“Here,” He handed his beer bottle to Walter roughly. “You’re seriously gonna have to man up. YOU should be doing this.”

Who was Hector kidding? There was no way Walter would do what he was about to. He took the few steps to reach Charlee and smiled at her ignoring the guy. “Dance with me?” Without waiting for an answer he took her drink and shoved it at the asshole. “Hold this.”

They both seemed stunned but neither said a word and to Hector’s relief she didn’t say no or protest him taking her hand in his as he walked her onto the dance floor.

If anyone is wondering Charlee is short for Charlotte. 

In case you missed the New Years Day teaser here is the link:  

Set up: They get a moment alone at a party.

That reminded Hector of something. Getting back to her earlier comment about not being a genius, he felt almost stupid now about being so pissed over what she’d done yesterday. “A chess scholarship? Impressive. Not that I’m surprised. I’d say only a chess genius could come up with what you did to me yesterday.” Her timid smile flat lined immediately. “I’m not mad okay? I mean I’ll did feel a little stupid—”

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel stupid,” she said quickly then added in a lower voice shaking her head softly. “I swear.”

He smiled even bigger hoping to reassure her. “I know that now, Charlotte.” He saw it yesterday when he called her that. A flicker in her eyes he didn’t know what to make of then and still didn’t now. “Do you not like being called Charlotte?”

Those big blue eyes looked up at him as she shook her head. “No I don’t mind. I just… I’m just a little surprised you remember.”

Going against everything he’d been telling himself since he walked into that party tonight, he took a step closer to her. “Yeah, I remember,” he said taking yet another step closer to her. “I also remember you having more freckles. You cover them up?”

She nodded staring at him the same way she had yesterday, the very way she had on the dance floor. Like she wanted to say more but wouldn’t—couldn’t. “Why?” Unable to hold back anymore he touched the soft flesh of her cheek with the back of his hand gently. It felt as soft as he’d imagined and the fact that she didn’t protest or even move away from him made his heart pound like it had when he held her earlier. “You don’t like them?”

Clearing her throat but not looking away she stared right at him. “No, I don’t.”

“I like them.” Feeling intoxicated by the feel of her skin against his hand he continued to caress the few freckles that weren’t concealed around her lips with the tips of his knuckles.

He knew he should stop but he couldn’t now. The tips of his knuckles moved over her lips and she closed her eyes, her lashes fluttering along with the very subtle but undeniable tremble of her body. She breathed in deeply and so did he. He had to. He was beginning to lose it. Staring at her lips for a moment he tried one last time to convince himself he shouldn’t. Nothing in him, not his pounding heart, not his hungry lips, not his aching growing need—none of it was cooperating here.

 

Read a 5th Street bonus Christmas scene!

Coming later this year 2013

Abel ™ (5th Street #4)
     

   

     
   

   
     

Read the prologue now for a glimpse of what's to come. Warning this is an adult contemporary. Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language. This prologue contains explicit sexual content.

 Disclaimer: Some details are subject to change during rewrites. 

Abel (5th Street #4)

Prologue

“I’m game if you’re game,” Nellie said, staring at him anxiously.

A man’s burning urges often ignore all logic. Abel Ayala knew this was all this was. A day of sipping on cocktails and lying around the deck of a cruise ship watching scantily-clad bikini-wearing women giving him the go-ahead smiles had done it to him. But now he stood here staring into Nellie Gamboa’s eyes, a divorcee eight years older than he was who from what he’d heard was still carrying a load of emotional baggage—probably still held a torch for her ex as well. She was someone he would not and should not be thinking of in terms of releasing some sexual tension, damn it.

The fact that she’d turned her life around after what had been hailed by his friend’s wife and Nellie’s best friend, Roni, as one of the most grueling experiences any woman could go through didn’t help. She’d gone and shaped up and did a complete makeover from the mousy woman he once remembered her as. If he didn’t know it, he’d never even guess this sexy-as-hell woman would be hitting thirty soon. The sexual tension between them had been a living breathing thing and going on for months now. Only up until now he thought he might be imagining her requited feelings of lust.

His twenty-two-year-old ass had no business with a woman her age—no business getting involved with Roni’s best friend—especially knowing full well that he’d never take a relationship with her seriously. But this changed things. Nellie was telling him she was all for a no-strings-attached relationship. She was as interested in anything serious as he was. Coming off what she called the divorce from hell, she said she wanted to live it up now. He was glad for the liquid courage Nellie’s wine had provided. She said she was all for a fun-and-run experience and she’d had her eye on him for some time.

It was still a risk, his brain reasoned. Things could sour. This could even cause a rift between him and his good friend’s wife if any hurt feelings came from this. But the already throbbing parts of his body said otherwise.

She tilted her head in that sexy way she did so often with curved lips that practically called out for his. To hell with logic! Pulling her delicate frame against his immediately released some of the pent-up tension that had been building every time he’d been around her lately.

Swallowing hard, he stared at those lips—lips he’d wondered far too many times what they must taste like. “Hell yeah, I’m game,” he said as he took her mouth in his. Feeling a desire like none he’d ever felt before, he kissed her deeply, sucking her tongue, her lips. Damn, he wanted to eat her up.

He’d been fighting it—over thinking it—for months. This was just his ever-so-curious body’s reaction to finally giving into a longing that had peaked tonight as they’d enjoyed a few friendly dances. That’s all it was. But he needed more than just a kiss now. God he wanted so much more, and since she was game . . . He pulled away from her just long enough to catch his breath and take a look around the almost-empty deck.

“I’d invite you back to my room, but Hector and Charlee might—”

She tugged his hand and was already on the move. “Let’s go back to mine.”

The second the elevator doors closed, Abel pushed her against the wall, pulling her by the waist to him, and his mouth and tongue sucked at every inch of hers. She panted softly, running her fingers through his hair as he moved down to her soft neck and sucked softly then a little rougher.

As the moving elevator came to a stop, Abel tore himself away. No sooner had the doors opened when they were out in a rush to her room. They turned the corner down the long corridor of rooms.

“How far down?” Abel asked.

“All the way to the end,” she replied, taking even longer strides.

Feeling crazed with anticipation, Abel’s eyes searched for the ice/vending machine room like the one on his floor. The moment he saw it, he pulled her in it.

He answered her confused expression with a kiss as he closed the door and pushed her against it. “I need to refuel.”

All right, he needed to get laid more often. This was ridiculous. Obviously he’d been spending too much time training and not enough socializing, because he’d never felt this kind of urgency. Duly noted—he’d move a few things around in his schedule. She lifted her leg, bringing it around him.

“Careful,” he warned, biting her lower lip, “or I may just finish you up right here.”

“Do it,” was her only response and he froze.

Pulling back to look in her eyes, he could see she was serious. “Right here?” He asked, his hand already traveling down under her dress.

She nodded as his fingers felt the dampness between her legs and how hot she already was, pushing his heart into overdrive. He squeezed his eyes shut as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Sweetheart, don’t play with me.”

“I’m not,” she assured him breathlessly.

Abel opened his eyes, looking down at her big brown eyes. Up until that moment, he’d never noticed the golden specks that were sprinkled throughout. The desire he saw in them now was as urgent as his own, although he didn’t miss the slightest bit of apprehension. He couldn’t blame her. Anyone could walk in on them, though he was certain he’d be able to hold the door closed against the force of any one person or maybe two if they pushed against it. At least until he was sure she was decent. But he didn’t want her doing anything she wasn’t completely certain about.

“Are you sure about this?” He slipped his finger under her panties, her moisture inviting him all the way in.

She gasped, closing her eyes at his touch and nodded. “The kiss on the deck,” she said, her eyes remaining closed. Abel stared at her lips as she continued to speak a little more breathlessly with every caress of his finger to her silky wet skin. “The elevator . . . This . . . It’s exciting. I’ve never done something so . . .”

Nellie stopped to swallow, licking her lips, and Abel kissed her before she could finish. She didn’t have to. Suddenly the need to make this happen for her, make this experience with him be one she’d never forget, took over. It was just an ego thing. Nothing more. What guy didn’t like knowing they were a woman’s first anything?

Abel reached for his wallet, but his lips never left hers. She kissed him back just as urgently, her hands grasping the front of his shirt. She gasped harder at the sound of his zipper opening. So he stopped and looked at her wide eyes. “I’m sure,” she said before he could ask again, pulling him to her, and he groaned against her mouth.

Working fast, he got the condom on and reached under her sundress, pulling her panties down. When they hit the floor, he lifted her easily off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She did and he adjusted her, groaning loudly as he entered her. Kissing her harder now as he fucked her against the door, he tried in vain to stifle his moaning, but it felt so damn good to be inside her. Here he’d been under the assumption that women who had been married, especially for several years, wouldn’t be this tight. She was tighter than some of the younger women he’d been with, and it felt just too damn good to finally be doing what he could only fantasize about up until now—so good it was almost alarming.

With her arms tightly wound around his neck, she began to pant with every thrust, and he went even harder, her panting growing more frantic as he felt her begin to pulsate around him each time he slid into her. Just as her entire body began to tremble with pleasure, he felt her arms tighten around his neck as she pulled her mouth away from him to breathe and cry out. Abel couldn’t hold it any longer either. Groaning again, he came in an explosive climax. Sinking deep inside her, he pushed his body against hers, burying his face in her sweet neck. Nellie clung onto him for dear life, gasping for air.

“We’re…” Nellie started to say before stopping to catch her breath, “still going back to my room, right?”

Abel smiled, squeezing her naked behind and looked up into her somewhat embarrassed eyes. “You bet this hot little ass we are. That was just an appetizer. I hope you have all night, because what I have in mind is gonna take that long.”

Her eyes sparkled now with excitement and she nodded. Hot damn! She was going to be more fun than he’d expected.

More teasers 

Read Teaser 1 Here:

Teaser 2 copy pasted from fan page.

*unedited & details subject to change since this is still a WIP. (Language)

"So is it true?"

Abel walked into one of the open shower stalls and turned on the water. He turned back to Noah who sat down on one of the benches on the other side of the stall's pony wall that came up past Abel's waist so he could still see Noah's curious expression. "Is what true?" Abel asked pulling off his trunks and briefs and stood under the shower.

"That you and Rachel are real serious?"

"What?"

Noah laughed. "Roni saw it first and asked me about it but just last night I was flipping through the channels and it was on like two different tabloid shows. They have pictures of you and her earlier this week having sushi and then getting back in your car so apparently it's real serious."

"It's bullshit. We had lunch. That's all. Andy said they'd do this once we got closer to the fight." Not wanting to look at him now he stood under the shower for a few seconds lathering up before asking. "What did you tell Roni?"

"I figured as much. So I told her you've just bagged the girl a few times and that's probably all this time was, too."
Abel squeezed his eyes shut. Fucking great. As if he needed to give Nellie more reason to feel free to jump in bed with someone else. If she thought he was doing it why shouldn't she?

Noah stood up now. "Is that who you're seeing tonight?"

This wasn't like Noah. He never asked Abel details of his conquests and he knew better than anyone, Abel wasn't one to be talking about his personal life. The only reason Noah even knew about Rachel was because she's the one that told everyone. There could be only one reason Noah was asking now. The same reason he'd ever asked before so Abel had to ask but he still wouldn't look at him."Why?"

"Just wondering."

"No you're not." He turned to him now the irritation that had built all week and he had to fight to keep under control in Nellie's office today was peaking now. "You don't wonder about my personal life and you know I don't talk about it. Ever. So what gives? The little wifey put you up to this?"

"First of all." Noah pointed at him with a murderous glare. "You watch that fucking tone when you talk about Roni. You hear me?"

Abel turned back to the shower leaning his head under it. He seriously needed to get a grip. He might as well just tell Noah he had no idea how to deal with knowing Nellie would be on a date tomorrow night and it was driving him batshit crazy since he was being so damn transparent about it.

In case any of you are wondering if this will be another conflict about their age difference like in Noah's story. Let me assure it is not. There will be a whole other conflict these two will be dealing with in the midst of getting it on and on and... well you get what these two might be doing a lot of. Right? ;)