It has been a while since I did a Sneak Peek Sunday. If you're not familiar with this weekly blog hop, it's simple. Authors post a six paragraph excerpt from a published story or a work in progress.
This is Memorial Day weekend, which around my house means auto racing weekend. My husband is a life-long motor sports fan, so he will be glued to the TV most of the weekend. Indycar is his favorite venue, but it's not the only race this weekend. Formula One is running the fabled Monaco Grand Prix this Sunday, with cars racing through the streets of Monte Carlo. So I thought I'd post a peek from Worth The Risk, the contemporary romance I co-wrote with my friend Anne Farrell.
If you're not familiar with Formula One, it is the premier world-class racing circuit, also known as Grand Prix Racing, as every event in the circuit is called a Grand Prix. Very upper class, jet-setting kind of circuit with races all over the world, from Europe to Australia to China to Abu Dhabi. Last year I wrote a short post about auto racing, if you're interested in some background.
The hero of Worth The Risk is a former Formula One driver who retired after a bad crash that left him with a bum knee.
In this scene, Mitch has taken Amanda to a sports bar for lunch:
He leaned close to her so he could be heard above the noise of the televised World Series game. “Well, what do you think? Quite a place, isn’t it?”
Amanda nodded. It was quite a place indeed. Six large-screen televisions were placed strategically so that every customer had a clear view of the action. Football helmets and jerseys lined the walls above them, and what looked like an actual racecar hung on the brick wall in the far corner.
“Is that real?” she asked Mitch.
“Yep, it’s real all right,” he replied. “It’s part of the body of a Formula 1 car.”
Amanda stared at it, thinking how incredibly small it looked. She wondered if this was the kind of car he’d been driving when he had his accident.
For the first time Amanda was glad Marcia had made her read all those articles about Mitch. Two days ago she wouldn’t have known the name of the premier international racing circuit. Though Mitch had spent most of his career in the States, his last season had been with Formula 1, until the day his car spun out of control on a wet track in Belgium. The accident had ended his racing career and almost taken his life. According to the article she’d read, he had been in a coma for nearly a week. Now the only visible reminder of his trauma was the small scar between his brows, and the slight limp she’d noticed when he first came into the library. A sudden feeling of compassion washed over her.
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Worth The Risk is available from Amazon Kindle,
Apple,
BN/Nook,
Kobo, and Smashwords.
Linda
Use the linky list below to hop to another Sneak Peek Sunday blog post.
Showing posts with label Worth The Risk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worth The Risk. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Going to the Dogs: Worth The Risk
Worth The Risk, the contemporary romantic comedy written by Anne Farrell and me under the name Lyn O'Farrell, is on sale for a few days only at Amazon Kindle. Stick around for an excerpt below.
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Excerpt:
His head was nestled in her lap. Amanda gently smoothed back the hair that had tumbled into his eyes. He sighed contentedly and gazed at her with soulful blue eyes.
“You really are a love,” she murmured. “I can’t imagine why I was ever nervous around you.”
The living room was quiet now, except for the soft crackling of the fire. Shadows played on the walls as the flames danced in the fireplace. Dinner was over, the kitchen cleaned up, and Josh was upstairs asleep. It was the first really relaxing moment Amanda had had all day.
“Is that mutt bothering you?” Mitch asked as he stepped into the room.
“No, we’ve been getting acquainted.” She smiled and scratched Albert behind the ears. He looked up at her adoringly. Then, as if aware that three was a crowd, he sauntered over to the fireplace and flopped down with a large sigh. “Never thought I’d actually be jealous of a dog,” Mitch muttered, sitting down on the couch next to her.
Amanda laughed. “But he’s the sweetest thing.”
Mitch murmured his agreement, then said, “You’re sweet, too.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“For tutoring Josh, I mean,” he said quickly.
“There’s nothing sweet about that. I expect to be paid the going rate for my efforts.”
“You will be,” he assured her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, there may even be a bonus in it.” He leaned closer, a teasing gleam in his eyes.
“What kind of a bonus did you have in mind?” Amanda knew she shouldn’t have asked when his look changed to one of desire.
Pulling her closer, he rubbed his thumb along her lower lip and her lips parted instinctively. She looked deeply into his eyes and saw a new tenderness she hadn’t seen before. Her body ached in anticipation as he continued caressing her mouth and gazing at her from hooded eyes that promised a world of pleasure in their blue depths.
Albert is an Old English Sheepdog, much like the one in this picture from my Art Explosion Clipart CD. Isn't he cute?
Worth The Risk is on sale today for 99 cents from Amazon Kindle.
Also available from Apple, Kobo, Nook and Smashwords.
Linda
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Excerpt:
His head was nestled in her lap. Amanda gently smoothed back the hair that had tumbled into his eyes. He sighed contentedly and gazed at her with soulful blue eyes.
“You really are a love,” she murmured. “I can’t imagine why I was ever nervous around you.”
The living room was quiet now, except for the soft crackling of the fire. Shadows played on the walls as the flames danced in the fireplace. Dinner was over, the kitchen cleaned up, and Josh was upstairs asleep. It was the first really relaxing moment Amanda had had all day.
“Is that mutt bothering you?” Mitch asked as he stepped into the room.
“No, we’ve been getting acquainted.” She smiled and scratched Albert behind the ears. He looked up at her adoringly. Then, as if aware that three was a crowd, he sauntered over to the fireplace and flopped down with a large sigh. “Never thought I’d actually be jealous of a dog,” Mitch muttered, sitting down on the couch next to her.
Amanda laughed. “But he’s the sweetest thing.”
Mitch murmured his agreement, then said, “You’re sweet, too.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“For tutoring Josh, I mean,” he said quickly.
“There’s nothing sweet about that. I expect to be paid the going rate for my efforts.”
“You will be,” he assured her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, there may even be a bonus in it.” He leaned closer, a teasing gleam in his eyes.
“What kind of a bonus did you have in mind?” Amanda knew she shouldn’t have asked when his look changed to one of desire.
Pulling her closer, he rubbed his thumb along her lower lip and her lips parted instinctively. She looked deeply into his eyes and saw a new tenderness she hadn’t seen before. Her body ached in anticipation as he continued caressing her mouth and gazing at her from hooded eyes that promised a world of pleasure in their blue depths.
Albert is an Old English Sheepdog, much like the one in this picture from my Art Explosion Clipart CD. Isn't he cute?
Worth The Risk is on sale today for 99 cents from Amazon Kindle.
Also available from Apple, Kobo, Nook and Smashwords.
Linda
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Worth The Risk #MFRWhooks @LyndiLamont
Welcome to this week’s Book Hooks! post sponsored by Marketing for Romance Writers. In this weekly blog meme, authors share six to eight sentences snippets from a work in progress or published book. Readers have the chance to jump from one author to another, sampling different genres and styles of writing.
Today’s six-sentence hook comes from my contemporary romantic comedy, Worth The Risk, by Lyn O'Farrell. (That's me and my fellow author Anne Farrell.)
First six lines of Chapter One:
His son was matchmaking again.
Mitch Delaney groaned as he read the note Josh had thrust into his hand before dashing out of the house.
Dear Dad,
Meet me at the libery after skool. I found her.
Yur son, Josh
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Worth The Risk is available from Amazon Kindle, Apple, B&N/Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords.
Linda
Use the linky list below to hop to another Book Hooks blog.
Today’s six-sentence hook comes from my contemporary romantic comedy, Worth The Risk, by Lyn O'Farrell. (That's me and my fellow author Anne Farrell.)
First six lines of Chapter One:
His son was matchmaking again.
Mitch Delaney groaned as he read the note Josh had thrust into his hand before dashing out of the house.
Dear Dad,
Meet me at the libery after skool. I found her.
Yur son, Josh
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Worth The Risk is available from Amazon Kindle, Apple, B&N/Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords.
Linda
Use the linky list below to hop to another Book Hooks blog.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Read Tuesday
We have Black Friday and Cyber Monday, plus there's Read Tuesday, the day for buying and gifting books at amazing sale prices. Thousands of books will be on sale on Read Tuesday.
This is a great opportunity for readers to stock up on books from their favorite participating authors and publishers. You'll find more information at the Read Tuesday website, or you can join the conversation at Facebook or @ReadTuesday on Twitter.
Share the gift of reading.
Discounted books also make great gifts for the holidays. It’s easy to gift e-books, returns are not a problem with most retailers, the gift is delivered instantly (but you can schedule when to have it delivered), and there are no shipping and handling charges.
This is my first year to participate in Read Tuesday, and I have two discounted books available for you to choose from.
Lady Elinor's Escape
by Linda McLaughlin
Sweet Regency Romance
When a runaway heiress masquerades as a seamstress, she complicates the life of a tortured barrister who specializes in rescuing females in distress. Can he save her from a disaster of her own making or will the past repeat itself?
Amazon and Nook price: $0.99
Smashwords price $0.99 (Use Coupon Code: DB46R)
Note: Lady Elinor's Escape will be on sale through the end of the year!
Worth The Risk
by Lyn O'Farrell
(the writing team of Anne Farrell and Linda McLaughlin)
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk, and he wants Amanda in his life. When they draw the attention of the tabloids, his custody of his son is threatened. Amanda has waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?
Amazon and Nook price: $1.99
Smashwords price: $1.97 (use Coupon Code: EU36T)
And don't forget the Romance Super Bundle. Ten full-length romance novels for one low price! Available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.
Happy Reading!
Linda McLaughlin aka Lyn O'Farrell
Monday, July 8, 2013
July News
Hope everyone had a good weekend. This week July events are getting into swing!
Author Cynthia Woolf interviewed me today for her blog. Drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a $5 gift card!
http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-linda-mclaughlin/
Have you heard about Smashwords.com's July Summer/Winter Promotion?
I'm participating, along with lots of other authors. Three of my books are discounted by 50% and one short story is free! Coupon codes are good through July 31.
Lady Elinor's Escape, sweet Regency romance, by Linda McLaughlin is 50% off at Smashwords. Use coupon code SSW50. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406
Rogue's Hostage, sensual historical romance, by Linda McLaughlin on sale at smashwords 50% off w/ coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291719
Worth The Risk, sensual contemporary romance, by Lyn O'Farrell on sale at Smashwords for 50% off with coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236077
And my short story: How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride, Victorian-era short story, by Lyndi Lamont is FREE at Smashwords w/ coupon code SW100! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264222
Then look around at the Smashwords site to see what other good deals you can find. The ebooks are always available in multiple formats, so it doesn't matter which reader you use.
Happy reading!
Linda McLaughlin / Lyndi Lamont /Lyn O'Farrell
Author Cynthia Woolf interviewed me today for her blog. Drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a $5 gift card!
http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-linda-mclaughlin/
Have you heard about Smashwords.com's July Summer/Winter Promotion?
I'm participating, along with lots of other authors. Three of my books are discounted by 50% and one short story is free! Coupon codes are good through July 31.
Lady Elinor's Escape, sweet Regency romance, by Linda McLaughlin is 50% off at Smashwords. Use coupon code SSW50. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406
Rogue's Hostage, sensual historical romance, by Linda McLaughlin on sale at smashwords 50% off w/ coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291719
Worth The Risk, sensual contemporary romance, by Lyn O'Farrell on sale at Smashwords for 50% off with coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236077
And my short story: How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride, Victorian-era short story, by Lyndi Lamont is FREE at Smashwords w/ coupon code SW100! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264222
Then look around at the Smashwords site to see what other good deals you can find. The ebooks are always available in multiple formats, so it doesn't matter which reader you use.
Happy reading!
Linda McLaughlin / Lyndi Lamont /Lyn O'Farrell
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Start Your Engines!
It's Indy weekend!
The Indianapolis 500 is a big deal in my household, since my husband is a life-long motor sports fan, so he will be glued to the TV most of the weekend. Indycar is his favorite venue, but it's not the only race this weekend. NASCAR has two races: the Nationwide on Saturday and the Sprint Cup on Sunday afternoon from Charlotte, NC. And Formula 1 is running the fabled Monte Carlo Grand Prix Sunday AM. 4AM on the West Coast, to be specific. That one will get recorded, of course.
The Indy speedway was built in 1909 and the first 500 mile race was run on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911. In those days, there were two men in the cars: a drive and a riding mechanic who checked oil pressure and kept an eye on other traffic. The winner that year was Ray Harroun, who was considered a hazard on the track because he was the only driver without a mechanic. The photo to the right shows Joe Dawson winning the 1912 race. (Photo from Wikicommons via Wikipedia)
Auto racing has been around almost as long as automobiles, and the early races provided a chance for the carmakers to show how well their products worked (or didn't) and built public enthusiasm for the new horseless carriages. Nowadays, race cars are designed for racing and most are not street legal. The days of racing in production cars are long over.
Unlike most racing circuits, which started as gentlemen's competitions, NASCAR has its roots in bootlegging, with moonshiners souping up their cars to outrun the federal revenue agents. It's the common man's motor sport, which probably accounts for its continuing popularity. It's also a darn good show, and the drivers are highly competitive and not always gentlemanly, including the occasional after-race fist fight. In most racing sports, the announcer says, "Gentlemen, start your engines," but at NASCAR, it's more often "Drivers, start your engines." Which is a good thing since women are finally making inroads into auto racing, Danica Patrick being the best known woman drive.
The premier racing circuit is Formula One, also known as Grand Prix Racing, as every event in the circuit is called a Grand Prix. Very upper class, jet-setting kind of circuit with races all over the world, from Europe to Australia to China to Abu Dhabi. For a long time, there was no American GP but there will be a US GP in Austin, Texas this coming November.
The hero of Worth The Risk, the romance I wrote with Anne Farrell, features a former Formula One driver as hero.
An ex-race car driver's life spins out of control when scandal hits a small California town. Will love come at too high a price?
I won't be watching all the races with the hubby, since that is prime writing time, but I'll catch some of it. What race, if any, will you be watching?
And if you're one of the millions on the nation's highways this weekend, drive safely!
Linda
The Indianapolis 500 is a big deal in my household, since my husband is a life-long motor sports fan, so he will be glued to the TV most of the weekend. Indycar is his favorite venue, but it's not the only race this weekend. NASCAR has two races: the Nationwide on Saturday and the Sprint Cup on Sunday afternoon from Charlotte, NC. And Formula 1 is running the fabled Monte Carlo Grand Prix Sunday AM. 4AM on the West Coast, to be specific. That one will get recorded, of course.

Auto racing has been around almost as long as automobiles, and the early races provided a chance for the carmakers to show how well their products worked (or didn't) and built public enthusiasm for the new horseless carriages. Nowadays, race cars are designed for racing and most are not street legal. The days of racing in production cars are long over.
Unlike most racing circuits, which started as gentlemen's competitions, NASCAR has its roots in bootlegging, with moonshiners souping up their cars to outrun the federal revenue agents. It's the common man's motor sport, which probably accounts for its continuing popularity. It's also a darn good show, and the drivers are highly competitive and not always gentlemanly, including the occasional after-race fist fight. In most racing sports, the announcer says, "Gentlemen, start your engines," but at NASCAR, it's more often "Drivers, start your engines." Which is a good thing since women are finally making inroads into auto racing, Danica Patrick being the best known woman drive.

The hero of Worth The Risk, the romance I wrote with Anne Farrell, features a former Formula One driver as hero.
An ex-race car driver's life spins out of control when scandal hits a small California town. Will love come at too high a price?
I won't be watching all the races with the hubby, since that is prime writing time, but I'll catch some of it. What race, if any, will you be watching?
And if you're one of the millions on the nation's highways this weekend, drive safely!
Linda
Labels:
auto racing,
Formula One,
Indy 500,
Lyn O'Farrell,
Worth The Risk
Monday, April 1, 2013
Fooling Around at CTR
This April Fool's Day I'll be at Coffee Time Romance's Book Brew, sharing excerpts with other authors involving furred and feathered characters. I'll be sharing excerpts from Worth The Risk and Tova's Dragon, and a personal story about my first dog Lucky.
The excerpt from Worth The Risk features Mitch's dog, Albert, an Old English Sheepdog, much like the one in this picture from my Art Explorsion Clipart CD. Isn't he cute?
Drop by to visit and fill up those Goodreads shelves with some great new books.
I'll be giving away an e-book copy of Romancing The Pages, an anthology published by my local RWA Chapter, to one lucky commenter. I was honored to be one of the editors for the stories, most of which feature new and upcoming authors. Several of the stories feature animals, mostly dogs, so it sort of fits today's theme.
Wednesday is Barrie Summi's Book Review Club day, so I'll be back then with my April review.
Have a good day and don't let yourself get fooled!
Linda
The excerpt from Worth The Risk features Mitch's dog, Albert, an Old English Sheepdog, much like the one in this picture from my Art Explorsion Clipart CD. Isn't he cute?
Drop by to visit and fill up those Goodreads shelves with some great new books.
I'll be giving away an e-book copy of Romancing The Pages, an anthology published by my local RWA Chapter, to one lucky commenter. I was honored to be one of the editors for the stories, most of which feature new and upcoming authors. Several of the stories feature animals, mostly dogs, so it sort of fits today's theme.
Wednesday is Barrie Summi's Book Review Club day, so I'll be back then with my April review.
Have a good day and don't let yourself get fooled!
Linda
Labels:
blogging,
Book Brew,
Tova's Dragon,
Worth The Risk
Thursday, February 14, 2013
A Valentine's Day Kiss
Are you enjoying Valentine's Day? My husband bought me the requisite box of dark chocolates from See's, so I am. Here's a first kiss excerpt from Worth The Risk by Lyn O'Farrell, just for Valentine's Day.
First Kiss Excerpt:

After a delicious lunch of fresh swordfish they walked the town, stopping at all the tourist spots. They hiked up to the botanical gardens, visited the Casino where haunting echoes of the Big Band era seemed still alive, and went on the Glass Bottom boat.
“Let’s take a walk on the beach,” Mitch suggested as they stepped onto the pier.
They shed their shoes and socks, enjoying the feel of the warm sand on their toes. Amanda breathed deeply of the sea air and sighed in contentment.
“It’s been such a nice day, I hate to go home,” Mitch observed.
“You just don’t want to get back in the plane,” she teased.
“On the contrary, I can’t wait to take off over that drop-off gorge. I hope it doesn’t leave Josh fatherless.”
“You don’t have any confidence in me.”
“I haven’t booked passage on the boat, have I? You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He gave her a look that told her the man loved a touch of danger. Her plan had backfired. Instead of discouraging him, he seemed even more interested. That should bother her, but somehow it didn’t.
“I’ve really enjoyed this.” He gestured at the town. “It’s like another world.”
She nodded in agreement. “That’s the reason I enjoy flying over here. It’s so easy to forget about the stress of daily life.”
He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “What kind of pressure are you going back to at the library?”
The pressure is right here. She was constantly fighting her attraction to this man. “Nothing really,” she remarked casually. “We’re getting ready for Halloween and I’ve got to get a costume together. I’m supposed to be Sleeping Beauty.”
“Oh? That has possibilities.” He leaned closer so his lips brushed her temple. His throaty voice whispered in her ear, “You’ll need a prince to kiss you awake, you know. I’ll be happy to volunteer for the job.”
Amanda’s breath quickened as she stared into his darkened eyes. He wouldn’t. Not here, on a public beach, in front of everyone.
He would.
She felt her knees weaken as his mouth descended. Her mind told her to pull away but her body had no desire to back out of his embrace. His kiss was as light and tender as an ocean breeze, but her reaction was anything but cool. Her pulse pounded and her heart jumped erratically.
It’s just a kiss, she told herself. But even as they pulled apart she felt a burning desire, an aching need, to feel his arms around her.
“You can’t deny it,” he whispered.
“Deny what?”
“The chemistry between us. It’s been there from the beginning.” He started to draw her close.
“No.” Her gaze caressed his face for a brief moment, then she turned away to look out at the glistening water. She couldn’t let this happen. She should have known better than to bring him here.
Her boastful words of the other day came back to mock her. I could make that racecar driver sit up and take notice if I wanted to. She wasn’t the one who was supposed to be affected. She should have known he was out of her league.
What had she gotten herself into?
--------------
How are you celebrating today?
Linda
PS Congratulations to JS who won the $10 Gift Card in the Firsts Blog Hop giveaway.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
First Book Second Chances
I'm excited to be part of the Firsts Blog Hop sponsored by Marketing For Romance Writers along with forty other authors. I hope you are enjoying all the different posts. Our blog hop giveaway is a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. Leave a comment below to enter.
Anne and I hope you enjoy the blog hop. Leave a comment below to win our blog hop giveaway: a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. If you are commenting anonymously, leave your email address so we can find you.
Happy blog hopping!
Linda McLaughlin and Anne Farrell
w/a Lyn O'Farrell
Websites:
Anne Farrell http://annefarrellwriter.com/
Linda McLaughlin http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lynofarrell
There is nothing more exciting for a writer than that first
published book. You never forget the day you get “the call” or the day you behold that first published copy, though nowadays it’s just as likely to be an
e-book as a print book. But it’s exciting either way, like your birthday and
New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.
My writing partner, Anne Farrell, and I each got the call one
October quite a few years ago, and our book was published the following April, as Private Affair, Kensington Precious Gem #121, and for an entire
month it could be seen in the book section at Wal-Mart! Then it disappeared for more than a decade.
So it is almost as
exciting for us to now see the book, now titled Worth The Risk, getting a second chance to reach readers in an
updated and revised e-book version.
Worth The Risk is
all about second chances, something our main characters could use. All are
wounded: Amanda from a humiliating experience in her past, Mitch from a
terrible accident and disastrous marriage, and little Josh from the death of
his mother.
Click here for more information including buy links.
Click here for more information including buy links.
Blurb:
Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all
else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested
at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the
supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being
caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous
past.
Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has
been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that
anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved
to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the
complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have
filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his
heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.
Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling
for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a
high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight
Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and
Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But
will happiness come at too high a price?
Worth The Risk is available in e-book format from the following ebookstores:
Amazon Kindle, Apple iTunes, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords and Sony Reader
Amazon Kindle, Apple iTunes, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords and Sony Reader
Anne and I hope you enjoy the blog hop. Leave a comment below to win our blog hop giveaway: a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. If you are commenting anonymously, leave your email address so we can find you.
Happy blog hopping!
w/a Lyn O'Farrell
Websites:
Anne Farrell http://annefarrellwriter.com/
Linda McLaughlin http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lynofarrell
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