TAYLOR JONES SAYS: In Mended Hearts by M. E. Gordon, Elizabeth Monroe has just learned that Simon Sullivan, a man she believed loved her, has been lying to her all along and using her. In fact, she doesn’t even know his real name. As the story opens, she’s shattered and has turned to the other man she’d been dating before choosing Simon, Spencer Salvatore. He’s everything a girl could want—handsome, rich, and thoroughly smitten with her. But can she trust him? After all, he hasn’t been completely honest with her either. But at least his real name is Spencer, and he doesn’t work for the tabloid that has been hounding Elizabeth since she met him, like Simon does. It’s now the new year, and Elizabeth is ready to start fresh with a new love and leave the heartaches of the last year behind her. But she quickly discovers that it’s not quite that easy. For one, Simon, whose real name is Nick, won’t go away. He still loves Elizabeth and is determined to win her back, certain that Spencer is only using her. Like he has room to talk! And for another thing, Spencer might not have lied about his name, but there’s a lot he hasn’t told her that she needs to know.

Told from Elizabeth’s, Nick’s, and Spencer’s POVs, the story is fast-paced, tense, and sexy—with some very spicy love scenes. I loved it and couldn’t put it down!

REGAN MURPHY SAYS: Mended Hearts by M. E. Gordon is the story of a love triangle with an innocent young woman caught in the middle between two dynamic, handsome, charming, secretive, and manipulative men. Elizabeth Monroe is a size-twelve beauty with a serious self-confidence problem. Because she’s not a supermodel size two, she’s not comfortable in her body, and she’s suspicious when, not one, but two gorgeous men start vying for her attentions. In the first book in the series, Torn Hearts, Elizabeth is torn between her feelings for Simon, who she believes is a freelance photographer, and Spencer, a rich entrepreneur and a partner with her brothers in opening a night club. Both men claim to love her. Even though she has very strong feelings for Spencer, she doesn’t trust his feelings for her because, after all, “men like him don’t fall for girls like me.” Believing that she and Simon are a perfect match, she convinces herself that she loves him, even though her feelings for him aren’t as strong as her feelings for Spencer. But just as she makes her decision, she learns that Simon works for Fame, the tabloid that’s hounding Elizabeth and ruining her life, and that he’s been spying for them all along. Devastated, she throws herself into Spencer’s arms, which is where book two opens. But even though Simon is now out of the love triangle, Elizabeth’s new life with Spencer isn’t as quiet and peaceful as she imagined. The paparazzi still follow her everywhere and threaten her internship at the Library of Congress who don’t want all the people and cameras there. Spencer is still being secretive, even though he promised no more lies, and his mysterious trips, explained by “doing this to protect you,” make her think he’s cheating on her. In addition, Nick (AKA Simon) keeps calling Elizabeth, trying to convince her that Spencer is a dangerous man and will only hurt her. Confused and angry, Elizabeth makes a lot of bad decisions and her life spirals out of control. But worst of all, someone is out to get Spencer, and they don’t seem to care who gets caught in the crossfire.

Mended Hearts is intense, passionate, fast-paced, and suspenseful, and has plenty of very hot love scenes. This isn’t your grandmother’s romance, but you’ll want to read it over and over again.

Chapter 1

Elizabeth

I sat upright in bed. Sweat beaded on my upper lip, and my hair stuck to the back of my neck. My heart was pumping overtime to keep my blood circulating.

Spencer–

I looked to either side of me. I was alone. The room was still dark, the curtains still drawn. The clock read 3:06 am. My fantasy had become my very own twisted nightmare. Six hours ago, my life had flipped upside down. The man I thought I loved had been lying to me. Simon Sullivan wasn’t at all who he said he was. Who knows if that’s even his real name.

It turned out Simon was the reason why my life was on public display for all to see. It was he who had betrayed me like no one ever had. I trusted him, loved him, and he was just using me.

Spencer had brought me home that horrible night. He stayed with me and reassured me that he wasn’t going anywhere. He comforted me in my time of need, and I was grateful. The moment my head had hit the pillow, I let exhaustion take over. I remembered Spencer lying next to me, combing his fingers through my hair. I hadn’t wanted anyone but him lying next me. Sure, we had lots to work through, but I was ready to finally accept that what we felt toward one another was real and not imagined.

Holy shit–what was that? Someone else was in the condo. I had clearly heard another man’s voice from the living area. I got out of bed and moved toward the voices. Stopping just before the hallway ended and the open floor plan of my cozy DC condo began, I scanned the room. Hidden by the darkness of the night, I watched a looming figure pace, while another stood, solid as sculpted marble.

“What do you want me to do, S?”

The pacing figure stopped moving and ran both hands through his hair. It was Spencer.

“I can’t tell her, not now. You have to stall. I need more time. Do whatever’s necessary to keep it underground. Fuck! So many years and they choose now to start digging around.”

“I’m not sure how long we’re actually going to have, but you know I’ll do my best, S.”

“Thank you, T. I’ll be in touch with you sometime tomorrow,” Spencer replied.

“No problem. Hey, bro, we’re going to get through this, just like everything else.” The sculpture named T moved closer to the door then turned back. “Happy New Year, S.”

“Yeah–happy New Year.”

The door closed, but nothing else moved. I went back in my room, jumped in bed, pulled the covers up, and waited.

I felt like I was in a Telemundo soap opera. All we needed was a secret marriage and an evil twin to show up. Scratch that. I don’t need any more drama than I already have. My family was slowly shrinking. My best friend was in love with both my brothers, plus she was mad at me. Let’s see, what else? Oh right, the man I thought I was in love with was totally using me. Let’s not forget about the striking man pacing in my living room with a temper problem. Who, might I add, seems to have more secrets than an award-winning novel. Truth be told, I knew nothing about the man who was pacing in my living room.

I had no idea why he was interested in me. I wasn’t famous or anywhere close to the company he was use to keeping. I was simply Beth Monroe, plain Jane, curvy, and stubborn as a mule. He, on the other hand, was a thirty-one-year-old, highly sought-after man, with the world at his feet. He ran his businesses with an iron fist and was good at it, so good he had become rich beyond his years.

The floor creaked slightly as Spencer came back into my bedroom. I faced away from him, trying to steady my breathing, to make it look like I was still sleeping. I could feel his presence standing over me. The bed dipped and the covers moved as he slid in. I wanted to turn to him, have him hold me tightly. I wanted to know who he was. I wanted to ask him a million questions, but I didn’t. I just lay there and played dead.

His hand snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Then he moved the hair that lay in the crook of my neck. His warm lips kissed me, as his hand wrapped around my stomach, pulling me still closer to him. Suck it in, Beth. I felt his lips smile on my neck. Bastard. He told me once before to stop doing it, but it was habit. I wasn’t a twig, I never would be, and I’d probably never stop doing it. I dared him to say something.

He nuzzled my neck inhaling deeply. “I’m not like him,” I heard him whisper softly. “I won’t hurt you. I will not be like him.”

He must have been talking about Simon. The urge to look at him took over. I needed to see him. I needed to make sure it was all real.

I moved my body, as if waking from sleep. Turning in his arms, I found myself face to face with him. His breathtaking features were laying on my pillow. His black hair was messy but still looked perfect. His eyes were out of this world, blue as the most beautiful sea. His eye lashes were dark and long. He had strong cheekbones, and divine, sexy, stubble grew along his strapping jaw. I stared at him, in awe of his beauty, as he stared back at me. I would have loved to known what he was thinking then. Smiling at him, I decided to throw it all out the window. My need to figure him out overruled the need to stare at him in silence. I wanted to learn about his past, learn about him.

“What are you thinking?”

His hand moved down my back, finding its way under my shirt to my bare skin, as I asked my question. “I was thinking about you. How I need you.” He paused. “Elizabeth, I’m scared out of my mind right now. I’ve never felt this way about someone before.”

This wasn’t the usual Spencer, the Spencer who knew exactly what he wanted and how to go about getting it. He looked vulnerable and truly frightened.

“I won’t lose you,” he said fiercely, staring right into my eyes. “I’m not like him.”

There he was, the demanding Greek God who knew what he wanted.

“Spencer, I know you’re not like Simon, but you have to talk to me.”

He touched my face and let his thumb run along my bottom lip, tugging it to one side. God, that drove me wild. Holding the back of my neck so that I couldn’t move, he crashed his lips to mine. It was as if he couldn’t hold back any longer and, honestly, I couldn’t either. His tongue slipped between my lips, exploring my mouth, as mine fought against his.

My hands went to his hair, and I held on tight to the roots. I felt his chest against mine. His heart raced against me as if he had just been running a marathon.

“I need you,” he said, pulling back, waiting for me to say something. “Elizabeth, I need you”

I nodded my head vigorously because, I couldn’t form any words. He crushed his lips to mine again, pulling me up to rip my T-shirt and shorts off. I lay underneath him, naked as a new born baby. I sat up on my elbows to get closer to him. Taking my neck in his fingers, he pulled me closer, not rough or hurried, but carefully, sensually. I was Jell-O in his hands. The best part was, he knew it. He knew the effect he had on me, and he was taking full advantage. I felt safe with Spencer, safe from everything. His words echoed in my mind. ‘I won’t hurt you.’

I had been hurt, and now I just wanted to be happy. But could Spencer be the one to do that for me? We had our differences, but I needed him as much as he said he needed me.

A hand moved between my legs, his fingers falling right where I needed them most. Before I had the chance to beg for more, he was sinking them inside. I arched my body as he claimed me, my vision going dim in ecstasy. Those magical fingers, that had me losing it on my father’s desk in a matter of minutes, were at it again. I moaned in pleasure, clutching at his chest.

I had a feeling my nails were moments away from drawing blood, but when he touched me like that, he deserved it.

“Spencer–please, I need you–I need more.”

He stopped moving and looked me in the eyes. The early morning light was starting to show through the closed curtains.

“Say it again,” he demanded, caressing my cheek with his thumb.

“Spencer.”

The words wouldn’t come out as fast as he wanted them to, so he asked again, “Say it, say you need me. Tell me you choose me.”

His expression changed as I took my time figuring out if this was what I really wanted, or was it just what my sex-crazed body wanted.

Even through all the madness going on around me, I was always drawn back to Spencer. It was more than the animalistic pull I thought it was when I first ran into him on the side walk outside of my brothers’ soon-to-be nightclub 21.

Before, I had pushed Spencer aside for Simon’s sake, but now Simon was gone, and I was free to let my heart choose, without feeling guilty.

I took in his beautiful face, every inch of it. I ran my fingers through his hair, around his ear, and let my hand rest on his cheek. I had never seen Spencer look more nervous. He wasn’t the multi-millionaire, demanding, hot shot right now. He was just Spencer, a man, putting his heart out on the line for me–again.

“Spencer, I–” I was finding it hard to say. I knew exactly what I wanted to say, but it scared me to jump in head first after everything that had happened with Simon. I thought I had known him. I didn’t know anything about Spencer, but the one thing I definitely did know was that I falling for him faster than I had thought possible. I used the simplest of words. “Yes.”

“Yes? Yes, what? Elizabeth, I’m not going to do this–” His face fell and he shook his head, as if in disbelief.

“Spencer, look at me!” I interrupted him. “Yes, I choose you, only you.”

He had such a great smile, and I was determined to see more of it, a lot more of it. I had made a decision. I wanted Spencer Salvatore and, by some miracle, he wanted me too.

“You’re sure?” he asked, after kissing me.

“Yes, I’m sure. But you have to promise me, no secrets. You need to tell me everything, I mean it, Salvatore.”

“Making demands of me already, Miss Monroe? I’m glad to see that your stubborn ways are still intact. It will make for some very interesting conversations.”

I rolled my eyes, a little disturbed that he knew me so well.

“Don’t roll your eyes.”

I looked at him and cracked a smile. “And I see your domineering ways are in full swing. Like you said, it’s going to be fun ride.”

Smiling back at me, he kissed my lips.

A moment later, he was on his knees, spreading my legs and making room for himself. He slid his boxers off and leaned over me, kissing my lips, neck, and breasts. He kissed around my navel, and my hips flexed in response. Of course, I sucked it in. Did he really expect anything else?

“Stop that. You don’t have to do that.” He was inches from my stomach, looking up my body.

“Spencer, I can’t help it. You’re just going to have to deal with it,” I said, practically panting, as I waited for him to put those lips where I really needed them.

“Don’t take this wrong way, but shut the hell up and don’t do it again.” He grinned up at me before kissing me just below my navel. He sat back on his knees and held himself, teasing me. “You still on something, you good?” he asked, as the tip of him was on the verge of entering me.

“Yeah, I’m good–you?”

My question took him off guard but I wasn’t trying to get an STD from some bimbo pop star.

“Baby, I’ve been good since the night I met you.”

Look at that, I’m already getting to know him. This could work out.

“Good.”

He leaned over me, his lips finding mine as he gently filled me.

I had forgotten how tight he made me feel. It was mind altering. I moved my hips with him as he kept kissing me. Grabbing his back, I dug my nails in, to anchor myself to him.

He sat up holding my legs wide. Spencer was a sight for my very sore eyes. His body was flawless as he moved in and out of me. I had to touch him. I had to make sure he was real, that all of this was all real, because it could have easily been just a fantasy that I had made up in my mind. I touched his abs and let my fingers make their way up as he slowed his movements to watch as I touched him. My fingers went from one muscular pectoral to the other. They grazed over the large scar that ran down the middle of his chest. I froze over it, it was longer than I had remembered it being the first time I had noticed it. Spencer was still moving slowly, when he grabbed my wrist with one hand. When I tried to place my other hand over the scar, he grabbed that one too. Holding tight, he pushed my hands above my head, keeping them there. His lips curled before he moved faster. I think he was trying to distract me and, fuck, if it wasn’t working. Scar? What scar? All I could think about was my building release as I tightened around him.

“Let it go, baby.”

I was unraveling at his words as I called out his name in a sweet release. He gave me a few more deep thrusts before he lost it as well. Thank god, for birth control. We did not need to add a baby–Baby? Did he call me baby?

He collapsed over me, moving slightly to the side so as not to totally squish me, although I wouldn’t have minded at all. Breathing heavily, we lay there in silence, looking up at the ceiling.

We turned our head sat the same time. Our eyes met and, if the smiles that were upon our faces weren’t an indication of how happy we were to be exactly where we lay, then I didn’t know what would have been. I moved closer to him and laid my head on his chest. I wrapped my arm around his damp body. He held me tightly as he kissed the top of my head. This was going to be a great year. All the bullshit from before was over, and I was happily in Spencer’s arms. The rest of the world was just going to have to deal with it.

© 2017 by M. E. Gordon