Unscrupulous by Avery Aster released this month, the second in the Manhattanites series. You can find more by going to Avery’s Site l Goodreads

Undressed, book one is currently on sale for $2.99 through 8/27. Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt from Chapter Two

*set up: Taddy’s assistant Kiki has just started working at Brill, Inc. Taddy explains to her why she loves the color red.

            Challenged to come up with anything more unique than Rose Petal, Sugar Plum and Earth Red for lip color names, she’d been rebranding SKUs for Baden Cosmetics. Taddy replaced their stickers with new labels, which included Double Penetration, Licked All Over and her personal favorite, Cunty Red. Clients hired her for one thing and one thing only, to get them press. Lip gloss called Sugar Plum wouldn’t secure an editor’s attention at HerSay magazine. But Cunty Red? Most definitely.

            “What is it, Miss Brill?” Kelly pushed her unbleached chignon up and sat on the seat’s edge with a sharp inhale.

            “We have a problem…a whopper to be exact.” Taddy heaved her breasts out. She loved scaring the flat-chested new hires with her knockers.

            “Do we?” Kelly asked in terror. Taddy assumed not from her boss’s breasts, for those she knew Kelly admired because she always stared at them fondly. Her dismay was for the word “problem” that came from Taddy’s mouth.

            “First, thank you for the gift. It’s in red, my favorite color.” She loved this pashmina. She owned five at home identical to this one.

            “I read in the company handbook you are to be branded in red at all times.”

            “Red is the color for intensity—I am a deep person, Kelly.”

            “I see, Miss Brill.”     

            “Red enables people to make quick decisions, a motto I live by.” She tapped her acrylics on the Horchow mirrored desktop. “It also embodies strength and power. Two traits I strive for. Understand?”    

            “Yes ma’am.” Kelly made a noise. She swallowed hard—twice.

Ten Fun Facts on The Color Red:

1. Less than 2% of people have natural red hair.

2. Fashion designer Valentino is known for his signature red dress which debuted in 1959. It was a rose tulle skirt named Fiesta.

3. In Russian Red also means "Beautiful!"

4. Costume designer Marilyn Vance (Pretty Woman) urged the producers to allow Julia Roberts to wear the famous red dress to the opera. They had originally wanted Julia in—black.

5. Crayola manufactures red crayons in 23 varying shades.

6. In the American flag the red stripes mean courage.

7. Over the years red has often been worn as a favorite by powerful women. Nancy Reagan sported red so much they coined the color "Reagan red."

8. For good luck, brides in China wear red wedding dresses, not white.

9. As one looks at the color red, their heart beats faster.

10. When in love, red flowers are a must, no other color will do.

Enter in The Manhattanites Rafflecopter prize contest (must sign up for Avery’s newsletter and will only be notified about upcoming releases) and win:

• First prize: a $200.00 American Express gift card. 

• Second prize: your name in Avery Aster’s upcoming novel; Unsaid (#3 The Manhattanites) scheduled to release fall/winter

• Third prize: ebook of Unscrupulous & Undressed

• Fourth prize: ebook of Unscrupulous

• Fifth prize: ebook of Undressed

**** Please follow the Rafflecopter directions at each stop. Full Terms and Conditions are located on the widget. ****

a Rafflecopter giveaway