Archive for August, 2010

I’ve just got guests coming out of the woodwork, don’t I? Well, today I’m excited to share my day with Kim Knox. She is an amazing science fiction romance author with an unbelievable imagination. And plus, she’s from across the pond. Which is just nice and foreign and fun to say.

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The winner of the Tempted prize pack from Brandi Evans is…

Carol L!

Congratulations, and if you haven’t already, you can contact either Brandi through her site or me through mine and we’ll get you all set to receive your package.

Thanks to all who stopped by!

Today, I’m lucky enough to have Brandi Evans

as my guest blogger. Brandi’s first release with Ellora’s Cave, Tempted, is out today. And she’s gracious enough to give me some of her time to answer a few questions about her book. So grab a nice, tall glass of ice water (cause this story is HOT!) and get comfy. She’s a great gal to know!

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Good Tuesday to everyone. I hope you all had a nice weekend and you had fun reading my excerpt for Excerpt Monday yesterday. Didn’t check it out? Go take a peek. Go on, I’ll wait.

My sister came in to visit this weekend from out of state, so needless to say I haven’t gotten much writing done. But it was great to watch her play with her niece and have fun.

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Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

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Hmm, let’s see, where to begin?

I’m currently outlining and writing a few scenes for my new novella. No official title, of course. Because titles and I don’t get along…ever. But for now, it’s Call Me. This involves secondary characters from Text Me, but of course could be a stand alone read.

I managed to successfully format my Text Me submission, which was no small feat for me. haha I’m kind of computer illiterate at times. Be glad I know how to blog. I received confirmation that I had managed to not screw that up, which was nice. And then, on Thursday morning, I was told that my editor was glad to offer me a contract. Yay!

So as of now, the manuscript is titled Text Me. But that is not permanent quite yet. Absolutely no clue on a release date, but it might actually be before Songbirds, which has a set release date due to being a theme. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the date.

Yay! I’m not a one-hit wonder!

Thursday Thirteen

1. My dog needs to be shaved. He’s starting to look a little like he’s homeless.

2. Fast drafting is both amazing and horrible.

3. Reality TV is the most amazingly horribly awesome thing ever.

4. My sister is coming to visit tomorrow for the weekend.

5. Read a new (to me) author. Tessa Dare. First book of The Stud Club trilogy. One Dance With A Duke. I recommend it.

6. I read another book (Not One Dance) the other day that had the most awkward euphemisms for sexual anatomy ever. Really, do people think that calling something a “deep cavern” is a good idea?

7. I think my daughter’s toys are reproducing. Every time I turn around, there seem to be twice as many as the day before.

8. I don’t know how I lived before DVR. It’s one of the most amazing inventions of the 21st century.

9. I drove my husband’s new Jeep for the last week while he was out of town. I now want one. Badly.

10. I’m looking into Lasik eye surgery. I’ve been blind as a bat since I was 8. The thought of seeing well without glasses or contacts is baffling…but oh, I want…

11. Church shopping is frustrating.

12. Some people say when you’re stuck on a scene, move on to another scene. This never works for me. I have to write in order. Going out of order gives me an eye twitch.

13. And…I’m done.

I swear, this lady doesn’t want anyone to have to buy her books. She gives away free swag like crazy!

Head on over to Kate Pearce’s Blog to see how you can enter to win a goodie basket filled with some of Kate’s featured backlist boks (signed), Kiss Of The Rose (signed, of course) and some other fun goods.

There are five (count them — FIVE) ways to enter. So you really have no excuse. Go enter for your chance to win today!!!

This is practically book porn. Look at all those beautiful, gorgeous books! I want a bookshelf like this someday when I grow up and have a stable house that I won’t be leaving in three years.

Oh, the guy isn’t too bad either. Hot and smart? Sign me up please!

Where did I get this tasty little tidbit?

Hot Guys Reading – a blog where people send in pictures of guys caught in the act of doing the ultimate in sexiness…being captivated by a book.

Check it out…I found some great inspiration while flipping through the pages.

Today is chapter two, part one. CLICK HERE to read Chapter One in its entirety.

Chapter Two, Part One

“Boss wants to see you.”

Charlotte turned around to see a large man who looked like a retired pro football linebacker standing behind her. He wore a tight black t-shirt, straining to cover his muscular bulk, with the word “Ladies” scrolled across the front. It was obvious to Charlotte that the man was security or a bouncer or something of that nature. “What? Who?” She shivered, the adrenaline from what she had just accomplished catching up to her.

“The boss.” Mr. Linebacker motioned down the hallway. “The owner, he wants to see you in his office.”

Charlotte buttoned the top button of her blouse and snatched a towel off of a chair by the stage entrance. How long was it going to take Beth and Maddie to catch back up with her? “Look, my friends are going to meet me here in a moment, so I don’t have time. I’m sure he understands.”

Mr. Linebacker apparently wasn’t having it. “He was insistent. You can leave a message behind and tell your friends to wait.” He wrapped a massive hand around her upper arm, and while his grip didn’t hurt, it didn’t leave much room for discussion either.

Charlotte sighed. Really, it wasn’t worth fighting. The man probably had her confused for someone else. Or, maybe he wanted to offer her a job. Ha! What a joke that would be. Excuse me, Mr. Plankman, I’m turning in my two weeks notice. I got another job offer. I’m going to be a dancer at Ladies downtown. Pay sucks but the outfits don’t require dry cleaning.

Whatever the reason this “Boss” wanted to see her, it would be a short meeting. “Beth and Maddie. Tall redhead and short blonde. Just tell them to go on without me since we drove separately. I’ll call them later.”

Mr. Linebacker walked her down the hallway, away from the stage, and up a flight of stairs. They were well lit, a contrast to the dark area she just came from. As he guided her into the second floor, she looked around.

Where some gentlemen’s clubs might not care about their office presentation, this place was tasteful and clean. A cheerful yellow painted the hallway, the carpet was clean and thick. Portraits lined the hallway, plaques underneath reading the woman’s name and informing the viewer that she was the Dancer of the Month for whatever month and year applied. Unlike the dancers downstairs in person, the women in these pictures looked fresh and wore minimal makeup. Intriguing.

Charlotte followed the makeshift escort up to an office whose walls were entirely glass. Opening clear glass doors, he poked his head in. “Boss? She’s here.” A low response she couldn’t decipher came, and  Mr. Linebacker opened the door wide, sweeping his arm toward it as if to say, After you.

Charlotte walked in, waiting for the linebacker to crowd her from behind, but she simply heard a gentle whooshing sound followed by a click, and she turned around to see the doors shut and her escort walking away. Turning to face the office, she realized there was actually no solid wall present. The office sat in a corner of the building, the two “walls” facing into the hallway were all glass, and the two facing the corner were floor to ceiling windows. The one exception to transparent openness was a door with frosted glass covering it that sat on the side. The almost-full moon penetrated through, a bright beacon in the night, illuminating the room almost as if it were day. But there were no lights on.

An enormous mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room, the high-back leather chair was swiveled around to face out into the night. The only other furniture she could see was a dark leather couch off to one side. The room was warmer than she expected, and she felt her skin flush a little from the heat, prickle from the unknown.

After a few moments with no words, Charlotte cleared her throat to gain attention. The chair rotated as if it were turning under water, slow and deliberate. As it came to a stop, the moonlight highlighted the occupant. Charlotte barely suppressed a gasp of surprise. It was the man from downstairs, the one she focused on to get through her dance! What the hell was going on?

He didn’t say anything, and the silence overwhelmed her. He simply made a slow perusal of her body, as if he had every right in the world to do so. Despite her confusion, Charlotte felt her traitorous body responding. Her pussy tightened, then dampened her panties, her nipples pebbled almost to the point of pain, pushing through her bra and shirt, an unmistakable sign of arousal. She refused to cover herself, though, and waited for him to speak. When he did, it wasn’t quite what she expected.

“What the hell kind of name is Charlie?”

Hands on her hips, Charlotte muttered, “Never seen Top Gun?” Despite second-guessing the fake name not more than twenty minutes ago, she now found herself annoyed at someone else questioning it. “It’s my name, what do you care? I don’t even know yours. For all I know, it’s Nancy or something.”

Sliding out of the chair like a panther on the prowl, he came up to stand in front of her, the corner of his lip twitching with she could only assume was amusement. “Kevin. It’s Kevin.”

Charlotte took a step back, preserving her space and hoping he couldn’t innately tell that her breasts tingled when he stood so close. “Well, Kevin No Last Name, someone informed me the owner wanted to see me. If that’s you, then did you need something?”

She realized her choice of words were somewhat ill-fated when he leaned in and mock-whispered, “I need something, all right, sweetheart.” She could smell his aftershave – fresh and clean – and his own unique male scent, which made her pussy throb with wanting. As he leaned back, he winked one grey eye at her. God, how had she ever thought for even a single moment he was full of boyish innocence? He was all man.

“Well?” What would she do, she wondered, if he made an advance toward her. Would she let him kiss her? Touch her breasts, rub her clit? Would those big hands with their long fingers spread her pussy’s lips and… Whew, she really needed to get a grip. One empowering striptease and she’d turned into a horny animal who would welcome a stranger’s sexual attention?

Apparently she had, because while she had been lost in her erotic musings, Kevin had stepped behind her and leaned down to whisper in her ear. His hot breath fanned across her hear, moving fine wisps of hair that had escaped the claw she pulled her hair back in. “I want you to dance for me.”

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Check back next Monday as I take part of August Excerpt Monday with the next part of Chapter Two.