Well…we’ve all been there, done that before. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Dumped. We’ve all been dumped.
Erotic Research
Before she could maintain her composure and try to explain, Ross turned away from her, his tone suddenly devoid of emotion. “I can see I’ve made a mistake. I clearly thought there was more between us and I’ve asked for more than you are capable of giving. Forgive me. Goodbye, Julia.”
With that, he left the cabin. Julia’s feet felt as if they’d been sunk into concrete. She heard the slamming of his car door and the turning over of the engine, but she couldn’t move a muscle. Small gravel pelted the front door as the car sped away down the mountain and still she stood frozen in place. It felt as if hours had passed before her body gave up its fight to remain upright and she collapsed into a heap upon the floor. Great sobs ripped through her as she replayed their last conversation over and over. And the one word that continually came back to haunt her…Julia. He’d called her Julia.
Erotic Research is available at Samhain and Amazon.
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This week’s snippet theme is one of my favorites. I’m a firm believer in the saying “Laughter is the best medicine” and I often try to incorporate humor in to my books. Recently, I participated in a series with some amazing Ellora’s Cave authors called the Cougar Challenge. My book, Assume the Positions is book five in the series and it was my first serious attempt at romantic comedy. I had a blast writing it and thought I’d share a bit of it with you.
Assume the Positions snippet:
At seven o’clock on the dot, her doorbell rang. She took a deep breath as she opened the front door—awestruck by the sight of Ethan on her doorstep.
He was wearing new blue jeans and a dark green button-down shirt. He let out a catcall whistle and grinned. She felt herself blush at his appreciative look.
Then her gaze drifted down to enjoy every yummy inch of him, her eyes lingering on his muscular arms before taking in the image of his strong legs encased in the tight denim. His light chuckle forced her eyes back to his face.
“Are you going to invite me in or are we going to do this thing on the front porch?”
She rolled her eyes at his cocky tone. “I’m not so sure we’re going to do any thing at all.”
She closed the door as he walked past her, surprised when he turned and slowly pushed her forward, pressing her stomach against the wood and caging her in. She was completely surrounded by his body, his strength, and she shivered with desire when his lips brushed against her ear.
“Assume the position,” he said, his voice husky, deep, sexy as hell. “Or should I say positions? We’re going to do so many things tonight, Rachel, you’ll need to keep a list to remember them all. Now are you going to play nice or do I need to whip out the handcuffs already?”
“You brought your handcuffs?” she asked breathlessly, the idea of being restrained one of her favorite fantasies.
He laughed softly. “Oh yeah, what kind of cop would I be if I traveled without them?”
His close proximity, the smell of his cologne, slowly eased her fears and she felt her inner minx emerging, ready to play. “What about your gun?” she asked. “Did you bring that too?” As she spoke she reached behind her, teasing his erection with her fingers to make her meaning clear.
He took her hand in his and pushed her palm firmly against the front placket of his jeans, letting her feel his undeniable arousal. “Oh yeah, baby. I brought the big gun tonight and believe me, it’s loaded and ready to roll.”
Assume the Positions is available at Ellora’s Cave.
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Well, I suppose by now y’all know I’m about the biggest Jayne Rylon fan on the planet. I’m here to tell you–she’s done it again. Her latest book, Picture Perfect is releasing at Ellora’s Cave and this story is fan-damn-tastic. It’s romantic, sexy, hot, and charming with a clever plotline and a hero that makes me swoon.
BUY THIS BOOK! It rocks! Seriously!
Picture Perfect
Conn Hennessey would give his father’s properties to ravish the woman he watches every night as an unwilling voyeur. Dana is uninhibited, passionate and gorgeous, but he would never settle for spying on her if he had the chance to ease the loneliness she confesses to him often.
Trapped in a cursed painting nine hundred years ago, a millennium of experience convinces Conn that Dana is his soul mate. Observing her without being able to caress her, to bring all her sensual desires to reality, is an unending torment—until All Hallow’s Eve magic gives him a shot at freeing them both.
During one wild night, he fulfills Dana’s fantasies. Come morning, can he convince her of what he knows to be true? He’s not an imposter pretending to be the man of her dreams. They were destined to be together and he has twenty-four passion-filled hours to break the spell or be condemned to his prison, alone, for all of eternity.
The clock is ticking.
This week’s theme is mistaken identity.
Excerpt from No Recourse.
Jack stared at the unconscious woman in his arms. Her presence had taken him by surprise. Before lightning struck the tree, he was unaware that anyone else had been nearby. Who the hell was she?
I should have stayed on the ship, he thought, not for the first time tonight.
Taking in the strange appearance of the woman, he wondered why she would be out alone on such a treacherous night and dressed in male clothing. He pondered whether she could be part of the smuggling ring suspected to be operating in this area.
Alex, the Marquis of Dorset and his good friend, had written several months ago discussing his concerns about light signals he had observed off the coast. Alex had heard there was a group of smugglers at work and, although smuggling wasn’t new to these parts, he had been concerned by rumors that it wasn’t goods being brought in, but people.
With the end of the war against Napoleon, there was still a fear that some of the French weren’t happy with the return of their king and would like nothing more than to punish England for its unwanted interference. If French spies were trying to enter the country, Dover would be the perfect place to land. Its close proximity to the French shoreline and many secluded beaches made it an accessible port for such dissidents.
However, it wasn’t the possibility of French spies, but Lady Julia’s disappearance that prompted him to travel to Fernwood Grange at the moment. He’d spent the better part of the last three months aboard one of the ships in his shipping company, traveling to Spain and Italy, then back again, only to return home to discover Julia Parker, a friend and ward of his uncle, Robert Campbell, the Earl of Wilshire, was missing.
If he’d taken the time to think about his actions he would never have made such an ill-advised trek at such a poorly chosen time, but he was anxious to discover Julia’s whereabouts. She’d already been missing for two days. The Grange, Alex’s home, bordered his uncle’s land, and determined to remain in the area until Julia was found, he thought it was the perfect place to begin his search.
Driven by his anger toward his uncle and desperation to see Julia safely recovered, he had traveled first to his uncle’s estate, the Homestead. The journey there had proved to be an unproductive waste of time as his mad uncle uttered inane threats, and Jack had left in a furor. Even though Fernwood Grange was only ten miles away from the Homestead, the trip had taken three times as long as normal due to the unnatural darkness, then the pounding wind and rain.
Regardless of whom this odd-looking woman in his arms was, no gently bred lady would be out on a night such as this doing anything honorable. No one at Fernwood Grange expected him–especially not in the middle of the night. Looking down again at her still form, he came to a quick decision as her unnaturally pale face stirred him to take immediate action. Carefully, he lifted her onto his horse and then hoisted himself into the saddle. Adjusting her to a secure position, he rode off back through the woods; the way he had just come. There was a small hunting cabin not too far away, deep in the copse. He would take the woman there and question her, as he couldn’t see any reason to wake up the entire Grange household.
If she were involved with the smuggling of French spies, he would get the answers he was seeking and then personally deliver her to Alex in the morning. If the woman could give him names of others involved, he and Alex could contact the local magistrate and put an end to the criminal activity at once. Perhaps these smugglers knew of Julia’s whereabouts. That thought alone prompted him to quicken the pace of his horse, anxious to put the nightmare of these past two days to rest.
Slowed by the continuing storm, they arrived at the cabin a quarter of an hour later. He dismounted carefully and carried the woman through the rain to the shelter. Using the occasional flashes of lightning as his guide, he picked his way across the room and deposited her on a straw pallet. Immediately, he went back out into the storm and led Lancelot to a crude stable behind the cabin.
As he cared for the horse, he wondered again who the woman was. Why was she out on such a terrible night by herself? He decided her presence could not be a coincidence. Had the lightning not struck the tree she was standing behind, he would never have known she was there. The god-awful weather had taken away most of the senses he relied on. He hadn’t heard her over the thunder, and the rain was coming down so hard he could barely see a few feet before him. It was evident she was as shocked by his sudden appearance as he was by hers. The suspicious way she regarded him immediately clued him into the fact that she clearly had something to hide.
Returning to the cabin, he threw his saddlebag on a nearby table and used the flint by the fireplace. Fortunately, the last occupant had left a large load of dry firewood inside the cabin. It would last through the night, he thought thankfully, as the room was extremely cold due to the howling winds.
After a few minutes, Jack had a large fire blazing and two candles lit. From his saddlebag, he produced a dry shirt and breeches. He had packed only a single change of clothing as he’d been anxious to make his way to the Homestead. His valet was to meet him at the Grange with his belongings tomorrow. Glancing quickly at the bed, he confirmed that the woman was still asleep, and he started to peel off his wet things. Once dressed in dry clothes, he tried to decide how best to question her when she awoke.
Rifling through a battered trunk at the end of the straw pallet, he pulled out three thin, wool blankets. With the light from the candles and fire, he stood at the end of the bed and studied the unconscious woman. She was definitely a stranger to these parts. He’d grown up in this area and had spent many holidays with Alex at the Grange as a youth. He’d never lain eyes on this woman, of that he was certain.
Jack studied her unusual outfit more closely. Her breeches were not those of a man, but tailor-made for a female figure. Cut low on her waist, they enhanced the curves of her shapely legs and bottom. Her damp green shirt clung to her body, revealing firm, full breasts. She had no coat, leaving him to wonder if perhaps her late night adventure was unplanned. No woman would venture out on a night like this dressed in such inappropriate clothing. As he ran his eyes over her exquisite form, undeniable desire passed through his body.
Shaking off his lustful thoughts, he turned his attention to her face. Her fiery red tresses were unpinned and cut so that they just brushed her shoulders. The mass of spiral curls lay loose over the pillow. Before he could stop himself, he walked to the side of the bed and bent down to brush a stray curl away from her face.
From this angle, he suspected her pale complexion was not natural, but a result of the intense pain she suffered under the tree. If he hadn’t seen her walking toward him after the lightning strike, he would have suspected the lightning had struck her. However, she didn’t scream in pain until she approached him, or rather until she approached the tree and he didn’t question that the pain had been truly intense. He had seen men wounded in battle too often not to recognize the real thing.
For now, the pain seemed to have waned as she rested peacefully. Long lashes hid her deep-set eyes and he felt vaguely curious about their color, though he expected with hair that color, they would be an emerald green or perhaps hazel. She had a few freckles, obviously placed there by the sun, on her delicate nose and cheeks that he found endearing. Although her features were not what conventional society would consider beauty, he thought she was one of the loveliest women he had ever seen.
Enough! He was disgusted with the direction his thoughts were heading. This woman could be a spy. No doubt his lustful musings were from the lack of female company endured these past few months. While he loved sailing the open seas, it certainly left a man lonely for the comforts of home and a soft, willing woman.
He realized any soft thoughts about this woman would not help him discover her identity. Picking up one of the threadbare blankets, he cut it into strips. Testing the strength of the material, he put it to the side lest he need to restrain her later. He didn’t want to harm her, but he was determined to get the answers he was seeking. With smugglers in the area and Julia missing, too much was at stake.
She shivered slightly and he noticed a blue tinge around her lips. The fire was not producing much heat in the drafty cabin, and her clothing was still wet. Grabbing the two remaining blankets, he covered her and then pulled a chair over to the corner of the room. He needed a plan and found he couldn’t concentrate when he was so close to this beautiful stranger.
No Recourse is available from Liquid Silver and Amazon.
Today’s snippet revolves around pets and animals. Like last week, I was surprised to discover that not many of my characters have pets. I have, however, written a series historical romance novels in which three friends are magically transported back to Regency England during a freak storm. One of the first things these ‘modern’ women had to learn was how to ride a horse!
Excerpt from No Regrets (June Girls series, book two)
By the end of Vee’s first month in residence, daily life at Waterplace had taken on a stable, comfortable feel. Standing at the edge of the yard, Ben watched her attempt to master the side saddle. She’d been practicing for days and he had to admit, she was a terrible rider. In direct contrast to her unease atop a horse, Chelsea had taken to riding as a fish takes to water. Even now, she and Chelsea were circling the yard, Vee stiff and uncomfortable, Chelsea carefree and relaxed.
Smiling, he was amazed when he considered the difference one woman’s presence could make in a home. With Vee’s help, he’d managed to employ a gardener, two chambermaids, a young stable boy and he finally had the time to begin the interviewing process for the important position of head groom.
Mrs. Henry was embracing her role of housekeeper now that she actually had servants to guide and organize and Mr. Henry was pleased with his new role as the butler. Years of hard work had taken their toll on his body, and the older man was grateful for the opportunity to take on a job that was less physically challenging.
The happiest day was the day he’d finally managed to retain a capable cook–a stout woman whose name, ironically, was Mrs. Cooke. The night he announced Mrs. Cooke’s employment, they had a miniature celebration and Vee, delighted with Mrs. Cooke’s name, decided to rename everyone in the house according to their roles. She’d teasingly referred to him as Mr. Dukeson and Chelsea as Miss Ponygirl. Mr. Henry became Mr. Butler and Mrs. Henry she simply referred to as Her Majesty, much to the housekeeper’s delight. It was the first time he’d seen a genuine smile cross Chelsea’s lips and stay there. Vee brought life and laughter to the house and for that, he would be forever grateful.
The greatest change she had wrought in the house was Chelsea’s presence. Although the child still wouldn’t speak and rarely smiled, she no longer hid. Following Vee’s lead, he began engaging in one-sided conversations with the child in an effort to set her at ease. No major bridges had been crossed with regards to their relationship, but for the first time since Chelsea’s arrival in his life, he felt hope for their future together not simply as guardian and ward, but perhaps someday as father and daughter.
His biggest success with the child came due to Vee’s simple behest. He’d purchased a mare and a pony and true to his word, took the two females out for riding lessons. Glancing across the yard, he had to admit he was thrilled by Chelsea’s enthusiasm for it. The child was a natural equestrian and he was delighted to share his expertise with her. A love for horses was something they shared, and he rejoiced to see her smile now when she thought no one was looking. Twice in the past week, he’d spied her sneaking apples out to the stable as she clearly adored her little pony.
Sighing heavily, he considered all the things still left to do. His hunt for a governess hadn’t been as successful as his search for the other servants, but if he was truthful with himself, he hadn’t been looking very hard lately. Chelsea seemed at ease in Vee’s presence and his lovely ladybird, over the course of the last fortnight, had taken over all care for the girl herself. She fed, bathed and helped Chelsea dress, in addition to seeing to the child’s meals and tucking her into bed each night.
Vee’s personal riding lessons, unlike Chelsea’s, were not as successful. She was clearly terrified of the horses, in spite of his assurances that they would not harm her.
“Try not to sit so stiffly,” he coaxed.
“I’m sitting stiffly because I am stiff,” she answered sharply. “We’ve been at this for days and my legs and bottom are crying in agony.”
“You simply need to give your body time to become accustomed to the position. It will get easier.”
“I don’t want it to get easier,” she said, a slight whine in her voice. “Why can’t I ride in the carriage behind the horse?”
“Vee, we’ve been through this before. It’s not always practical. You need this skill,” he cajoled.
“Why? Apparently, I’ve lived this much of my life without it.”
Her words drove home to him again her likely origins. It would not be uncommon for a prostitute to never have ridden a horse. It would have been more unlikely if she had. Horses were a commodity the lower classes couldn’t afford.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of another horse approaching the house. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a tall man with light brown hair approaching on a black gelding. He sat upon the seat with confidence, and Ben could see he was an excellent horseman.
“Ah, my afternoon interview,” he said.
“Another candidate for head groom?” Vee asked, aware of his frustration at not being able to find someone he felt worthy of the important position. He’d held several failed interviews in the past few days.
“Yes. It looks like this one may have some promise. If you will excuse me, I’ll go join him. Do me a favor and take two more laps around the circle before you dismount? Practice makes perfect,” he said with a smug smile. He turned away, but not before he caught her sticking her tongue out at what she thought was his back.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s not very ladylike.” He looked back at her over his shoulder. “Just for that, perhaps we should make it four laps.
No Regrets is available at Liquid Silver and Amazon.
I was told the themes for Saturday Snippets were open for interpretation. Good thing because I have come to the very sad realization that I’ve never blown anything up in any of my books–an oversight I intend to correct in the future. However, I have written many ‘explosion’ scenes in my books–thing is, they all take place in the bedroom! So, for your explosion-reading pleasure, I give you an excerpt from my latest release from Samhain Publishing.
Excerpt from Rough Cut
If he didn’t get inside her body soon, he felt as if he would explode into a million pieces. He rose from the bed and watched as she regained her wits. She pulled to check the tightness of the straps holding her captive to his bed and her gaze flew to his.
“You won’t break those restraints.” He slowly undressed, thrilled to see her watching him as if spellbound, subdued, submitting. He removed his shirt and pushed down his pants and boxers in one smooth move, her eyes following his every action.
“Like what you see?” he teased when her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.
Her eyes flew back to his face. “Yes,” she whispered. “Very much. Please hurry, Ty.”
He fought to regain control of the moment. Damn her. She’d taken his ideas of domination and submission and blown them out of the water. He’d lived his entire life with the dream of controlling a woman in the bedroom, and in one afternoon, Gwen had taken his preconceived notions of how this should work and twisted them into something new, something glorious. Life with this woman would never be boring and as that thought crossed his mind, he realized that he would accept nothing short of a lifetime with her.
This really was their honeymoon.
Rough Cut is available at Samhain.
This week’s theme is Unusual Professions and I knew immediately which snippet I would share. My day job (though I love it) is rather monotonous and dull. When I wrote Everything Nice, I decided to give free spirit, Allie, an awesome job!
Excerpt from Everything Nice.
“Ah good. Our drinks.” Taylor took the glass of wine the waiter delivered and set it in front of Allie. “You know, hellion, I think these last few weeks are the longest you’ve stayed in one place in years. Aren’t you getting bored hanging around this lazy town yet? Doesn’t seem to me like there’d be enough excitement around here to keep you occupied.”
Charlie heard the challenge in Taylor’s tone and realized his friend’s thoughts mirrored his own. He’d long ago resigned himself to the fact that Allie had an adventurous streak a mile wide. Ginny had kept them abreast of Allie’s escapades during the past few years.
She’d taken off with barely a word to anyone with Jim Griffin and Charlie still couldn’t think of the man without a growl rising in his chest. For one thing, Griffin had been roommates with Allie’s father in college. The damn man had also been rich enough to do whatever the hell he pleased, which unfortunately meant risking his life—and Allie’s—on a daily basis.
Charlie fought back a scowl as he recalled listening to Ginny describe Allie’s adventures with Griffin. They’d bungee jumped off the Zambezi Bridge in Victoria Falls, skydived in Moab, Arizona, snorkeled in shark-infested waters and even driven a race car at Talladega. If there was an element of danger involved in an activity, Griffin was the first person in line to try it, usually with Allie at his heels.
She’d traveled around the world with him, serving as his traveling companion and personal assistant, and Charlie couldn’t help but wonder just how personally she’d served the man. Damn woman was a free spirit with far too much independence and stubbornness for his peace of mind.
“Oh I think the last few years with Jim managed to burn out any aspirations I might have had in terms of living my life as a drifter. Believe me, if I never see the inside of another hotel room again, it’ll be too soon,” she joked lightly before the usual sadness that always crept in when she mentioned Griffin fell into place. “I do miss that crazy man.”
Griffin had died six months earlier of a massive heart attack and, while it appeared that she was at last ready to put down some roots, Charlie wondered what her return would mean for him. His feelings for the woman were such a jumble in his head and heart, he didn’t know which way was up. When her sister had mentioned Allie was returning home, he’d decided that hell would freeze over before he’d let her escape him again.
Unfortunately his work commitments and Allie’s busy schedule—moving back home and settling Griffin’s vast estate—had interfered with any plans he might have had in terms of taking the next step. Seeing her tonight, looking so beautiful, had solidified his determination to cast off their “just friends” relationship and attempt to build something more.
“So what’s the plan, Allie? Got your future all figured out yet?” Taylor asked before Charlie could formulate the question. He glanced up at his friend and wondered for the millionth time if Taylor could actually read his mind.
“I guess I decided it was time to settle down and…” She paused, shrugging lightly.
“Stop running.” Taylor finished her comment, and Charlie wondered what his friend thought Allie was running from.
Everything Nice is available at Ellora’s Cave and Amazon.
Check out some more unusual professions from these authors.
In the spirit of the holiday season, this week’s snippet is a fun one. Having a glass of wine with my friends and toasting to their good health is one of my favorite things to do! So for this snippet, it’s bottoms up…and cheers!
Excerpt from Covert Lessons.
The doorbell to her townhouse rang promptly at six o’clock Thursday night and Kelly checked her hair one last time in the mirror. She’d chastised herself relentlessly since returning home about her excitement over Mac’s dinner invitation. As soon as she got home this afternoon, she’d torn through the place in a cleaning frenzy before finally stopping to take a shower. Hell, she’d even blow-dried her hair and reapplied her makeup. She’d been in such a tizzy her cat had taken refuge under her bed, where she was fairly certain he’d spend the rest of the night. The whole time she’d tried to keep her rampant thoughts contained.
It’s only pizza, for Pete’s sake.
All he wants is information on my kids.
He’s too arrogant.
A million things crossed her mind, but none of them dampened her enthusiasm and none of her arguments stopped her from cleaning house, primping and feeling as giddy as a schoolgirl going on her first date.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, incredibly pleased to see he had reverted back to his casual look from Monday. He was clad in blue jeans, boots and a hiking jacket and she felt the familiar rush of longing that flooded her system whenever he appeared. When she took his jacket to hang up, she saw that underneath he was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt with “Navy” emblazoned across the chest.
“Were you in the Navy?” She felt strangely tongue-tied and was desperate to grab hold of any topic of conversation.
“Nope, but my brother is, so this year we all got Navy attire for Christmas. I’m a Tech boy myself.”
“Ah, a Hokie, eh? Well, you see before you a Radford girl.” She giggled. Virginia Tech and Radford University were neighboring colleges in southwest Virginia. “I spent many a weekend tailgating at your football games.”
“Didn’t have much of a choice, did you? I mean, considering Radford doesn’t have a football team. Just think, we could have been hoisting back a few in the very same parking lot.” As he spoke, he held up the six-pack of Coronas he’d carried in.
“Small world.” She took the beer from him and led the way to the kitchen. “Let me put these in the fridge.” She bent over and rummaged around in the crisper. “I’m afraid I don’t usually keep limes in the house.”
“Truth be told, I like to drink Corona with lemon,” he admitted from behind her.
“You’re joking?” She held up a lemon. “So do I.”
Laughing, he popped the tops on the two beers she’d handed him while she sliced the lemon and slid the small wedges into the bottlenecks.
Lifting his bottle, he led the toast with a quick, “Cheers.”
She tapped his bottle and added her own. “Go Hokies.”
Covert Lessons is available at Ellora’s Cave and Amazon.
Three Cheers for these other Saturday Snippet authors!
Anyone who’s seen Valerie Tibbs’ book covers knows she’s a talented artist. She’s my go-to girl and she has designed me some spectacular bookmarks, banners as well as setting up my newsletter. Quite frankly, I don’t know how I ever lived without her–she’s an author’s best friend. Well, she’s started making book trailers. I never really thought I’d be interested in trying this, but after seeing a few of Val’s efforts, I knew I wanted one for my Wild Irish series at Ellora’s Cave.
So, to celebrate the release of Ruby Tuesday, I am unveiling for the first time ever, my Wild Irish trailer. It’s a little longer that the average trailer (about 2 and half minutes), but it covers all seven books and I just love it…and Valerie!
