Cover Reveal: Pieces of Love @pjsharon

I'm happy to share the cover reveal for P. J. Sharon's upcoming Contemporary YA Romance Pieces of Love.

Here's the blurb:

Sixteen year-old Alexis Hartman wants nothing more than to smoke pot and play guitar. Getting high and escaping into her music seem the perfect solution when her world is shattered by her sister's death. But when she’s arrested for possession a second time, life couldn’t get any more complicated. Her mother's breakdown is the final straw that forces Lexi to spend the summer on the West Coast with her grandmother, Maddie. When Lexi steps over the line one too many times, she's certain her life is over and that she’s destined for juvenile detention—until Maddie decides that desperate measures are called for. A three week Mediterranean cruise—for seniors—should keep her out of trouble.

 But Lexi has other ideas.

Eighteen year-old Ethan Kaswell, the poster child for good sons, is stranded on the cruise when his father, a famous heart surgeon, is kept away by an important consultation. With his own life perfectly mapped out, Ethan finds Lexi’s unpredictability irresistible. Although he’s smart enough to see that there is no future in falling for a “vacation crush,” Lexi’s edgy dark side draws him like an anchor to the bottom of the sea. As the two embark on the journey of a lifetime, can Lexi finally learn to love someone—even when she has to let them go?

Addendum:  Visiting such ports as Portofino, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; and Rome. From the Greek Islands to Tunisia, North Africa; and Barcelona, Spain to Dubrovnik, Croatia; you'll see the sights and walk with Ali as she learns about herself, her family, and what it means to love someone—even when you have to let them go.

P J Sharon has also written and produced a theme song for PIECES of LOVE, now available from iTunes! In celebration, she’ll be giving away ARCs this Friday, April 18th. Join the fun on FB by “liking” her http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks page and leave a comment for a chance to win an advanced reader copy.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty impressed at an author who can come up with a theme song for their book! Very cool. What do you think?

Linda

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

Summer's Growth by Tina Gayle (Eggcerpt Exchange)

Today I'm featuring Tina Gayle's book, Summer's Growth, in this year's Eggcerpt Exchange.

Blurb:

In the spirit-haunted Winston estate in Ohio, rooted in time and occupied by the lingering ghosts of a great family, the torch is about to pass...

Mattie Winston, sober, sensible, and steady, has served as Keeper to the family for decades. Amber Harrison, hovering on the edge of flunking out of college, unsure what she wants out of life, has barely even heard of the Winston estate. The family, however, has decided that it's time for the changing of the guard. These two exceptional women soon find themselves dealing with violence, murder attempts, and old family mysteries while each finding the love of her life. Two romances and a growing friendship, all twined around a brooding family tragedy, make for an outstanding paranormal mystery offering depth and charm beyond the commonplace. The growing love of Amber and Carter and of Mattie and Quincy offer readers a tender and engaging first novel in a winning new paranormal series.

Now the Eggcerpt:

“Trust us child to find a soul who will honor your position. Nothing will remove your fears until you can reclaim your life’s mission and enjoy the rest of your days on earth.”

“But what if Amber doesn’t like it here? She’s a young college student from sunny California. Why would she move to Ohio where it’s cold? Even in the summer, we don’t have beautiful weather. The rain can last for days.”

“There is no dispute,” Jonathan growled. “Amber is a Winston. She longs to live here.”

“But you don’t get it. There’s no guarantee. Josh has lived here all his life. He’ll do a good job.” Mattie wished Jonathan could see her point. Things might not turn out like he’d planned.

“Besides Cynthia will be deeply hurt when she finds out everything is under the control of a stranger instead of her son. She won’t understand.”

“The Council’s point exactly. Cynthia cares only for gold, not for others. It’s best for the family to have someone else as the keeper.”

The havoc this decision would cause in Mattie’s life washed bitter bile through her mouth. She swallowed, hard.

-----

Purchase Summer's Growth at: http://www.amazon.com

Or read more at http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html

Find Tina online at:
website: http://www.tinagayle.net
blog: http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter @authortinagayle

-----

I hope you enjoyed the Eggcerpt. Tina and I welcome comments.

Tomorrow I'll be at Tina's blog with an "eggcerpt" from Lady Elinor's Escape. Watch the blog for more Eggcerpt Exchange posts through April 17.

Linda

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.

Book Review Club: At Any Price

AT ANY PRICE (GAMING THE SYSTEM)
Brenna Aubrey
Genre: New Adult (for mature readers)
Self-published, 2013

Brenna Aubrey is a local author I know from my RWA chapter. Her book was the subject of a literary auction and a six-figure publication offer. She thought long and hard before deciding to self publish, a very brave and sometimes controversial move, but one that has paid off. You can read her first month of publication report at her blog.

Now for my review:

At Any Price is narrated in first person by Emilia "Mia" Strong, a 22-year-old college student with aspirations (but no money) to go to medical school. In desperation she writes "A Virgin's Manifesto" on her blog to auction off her virginity.

The winner of the auction is Adam Drake, software prodigy and CEO of a large gaming company. Mia is a video gamer, too, and despite a rocky first meeting, the two find they have much in common. The attraction between them is powerful, which bothers Mia. This was supposed to be a one night stand. But for some reason, Adam keeps putting off the moment of consummation. When they do get together, the love scenes are hot!

While it's clear to the reader that these two are made for each other, both come with so much personal baggage, it takes a while to get to a tentative happy ending. But it turns out this is the first in a trilogy, so readers will see more of Mia and Adam's journey.

Aubrey is a terrific author. She draws the reader into the world of her characters. We sympathize with Mia's situation, juggling her studies, a part-time job as an orderly, and her blogging schedule, barely getting by, but too proud to ask for help.

Adam is used to being in charge and at times comes across as a bit arrogant, esp. in their first meeting. As we get to know him, we see that he's really a nice guy at heart. There were times when I wished I could get into his head, but ultimately his motivation was revealed.

This is the first book I've read in the "New Adult" genre, books with characters from 18 to twenty-something. According to NA Alley New Adult books encompass "the transition between adolescence (a life stage often depicted in Young Adult fiction) and true adulthood." So the characters are of legal age and sexually active, but emotionally immature. What could go possibly wrong? I've also heard recently that the genre seems to be evolving/devolving into "first love erotica" but don't ask me. I know very little about the genre, but I would call this book at least borderline erotic, esp. since the plot revolves around the loss of Mia's virginity.

Brenna Aubrey has made an impressive debut and I think she has a brilliant career ahead of her. Though I enjoyed this book a lot, I can't say it has made a "new adult" fan out of me, though I will happily read Aubrey again.

I give At Any Price five Celestial Orbs and a Get Out of Dungeon Free card.

Thanks for dropping by. Don't forget to check out of the other wonderful reviews by clicking on the graphic below.

Linda

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Review Disclaimer:

All books reviewed on this blog are either in the private collection of the blogger or were checked out of the library. None were provided free of charge for the purpose of soliciting an endorsement.

Ten Books One Low Price

The gang from Romance Super Bundle is celebrating the release of our boxed set of TEN romances on sale now for 99 cents!

On Monday, October 7th, we'll be giving away free books, swag, gift baskets and gift cards at our Facebook Launch Party. Please stop by and join the fun. We'll be there all day. Fun and games last until the next morning!

In the meantime,  here's a peak into the ten books in the Romance Super Bundle:

Touched by Death

by Dale Mayer

Death had touched anthropologist Jade Hansen in Haiti once before, costing her an unborn child and perhaps her very sanity. A year later, determined to face her own issues, she returns to Haiti with a mortuary team to recover the bodies of an American family from a mass grave–only to find the grave holds more than expected–and Jade finds herself confronting death and terror once again. And the man who unexpectedly awakens her heart is right in the middle of it all.

There’s Only Been You

by Donna Marie Rogers

Two weeks after Mike Andrews disappeared from her life, Sara Jamison discovered she was something she never expected to be–an unwed pregnant teenager. With the love and support of her annoyingly alpha-male family, she's made a good life for herself and her young son. Sure, she works too hard and her social life is nonexistent, but for the most part, she's content–until the day Mike walks into her bakery and back into her life.

Stardust Miracle

by Edie Ramer

Becky Diedrich is the cheesemaker's daughter, the minister's wife, the good sister. What she's not is her own woman, what she can't be is a mother. And then she catches her husband with another woman, and she moves in with her sister, and she starts to see sparkles. And this is just the beginning...

Meant for Her

by Amy Gamet

A fiery homicide leaves Navy investigator Hank Jared with just two clues: an encrypted message and a name, Julie X. Trueblood. Shadows from the past surround Julie, and Hank finds the perfect place to hide her, right by his side at his sister’s wedding. Now he just needs to remember their relationship is all an act, while she works to decode the message that could save both their lives or tear them apart forever.

Rogue’s Hostage

by Linda McLaughlin

Mara Dupre is taken captive by a French and Indian War party that killed her husband and destroyed her cabin. She longs for her freedom, but her captor has other ideas. Lt. Jacques Corbeau's desire for his hostage threatens what little honor he has left. When Mara offers her body in exchange for her freedom, it may be his undoing. Will Mara find her way home, or realize she is already there?

Sleight of Hand

by Kate Kelly

Suddenly suspected of stealing half a million dollars of original paintings, Chance Spencer can't afford to have the FBI delve too closely into his covert past. When one agent in particular endeavors to put him behind bars, Chance coerces the real thief's daughter, Sarah O'Sullivan, into helping him flush her wily father out of hiding. But his plan quickly deteriorates when the stakes for his freedom soar. How can he ruthlessly use the woman with whom he's falling in love?

August Unknown

by Pamela Fryer

She doesn’t know what happened the night of the storm, why she was walking along the highway without ID, or why she has a fading tan line on her wedding ring finger, but a dark and terrifying presence haunts the edge of her memory. Before she can start a new life with the wonderful man who came to her rescue, she must remember what in her past might take her away from him.

Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception

by Lois Winston

Life has delivered one sucker punch after another to Emma Wadsworth. The poor little rich girl is the ultimate poster child for "Money Can't Buy Happiness"–even if she's no longer a child. So when Philadelphia’s most beloved citizen becomes the city’s most notorious criminal, she needs to do a lot more than clear her name if she wants to save her budding romance with the billionaire hunk someone is willing to kill for.

Hard Target

by Barbara Phinney

Military policewoman Sgt. Dawna Atkinson has worked hard for her embassy posting, even while taking the blame for a shared indiscretion with her instructor, Tay Hastings. But when her embassy is bombed and Tay arrives to assist, she refuses to trust him again. Still, as the investigation and their growing attraction heat up, Dawna has the choice to trust Tay or risk the lives of everyone around them.

Jesse’s Brother

by Wendy Ely

One woman, two men: a single summer to choose between them. Sacrificing a summer to fix her relationship with her mother and find out what’s troubling her father isn’t so bad...right? Wrong. Or so Samantha learns upon her return to Portland. As if family drama wasn’t bad enough, first comes Noah. Then comes Jesse. Will Samantha be able to choose between the men before their secret crushes her?

Now on sale at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords for 99 cents!

Linda

Romance Super Bundle Now @Amazon

I'm so excited to be part of the Romance Super Bundle, a set of ten full-length romance novels by ten different authors. We have contemporary romance, romantic suspense and one historical romance--my book, Rogue's Hostage!

 Participating authors are Dale Mayer, Donna Marie Rogers, Edie Ramer, Linda McLaughlin, Kate Kelly, Pamela Fryer, Lois Winston, Barbara Phinney, Wendy Ely and Amy Gamet. The gorgeous cover was designed by our fearless leader, the amazing author and cover designer Amy Gamet.

As of right now, the Romance Super Bundle is available at Amazon Kindle, but in October it will also be available at Apple, Kobo and Nook. Best of all, the introductory sales price is only 99 cents!

And, drum roll please... You are all invited to our Facebook Launch Party on October 7th. You can sign up ahead of time for games, giveaways, and a chance to meet and chat with the authors.

 I'll post more details next week.

Linda

Egg-cerpt Exchange: Summer's Growth

Welcome to Tina Gayle, who started the Spring Egg-cerpt Exchange, and is hosting me today at her blog. Tina is the author of:

Summer’s Growth – 1st Book in the “Family Tree” series

Blurb –

Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?

Read the first chapter at http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html
Find at www.smashwords.com www.amazon.com

Excerpt:

Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. Her new recruit’s arrival had goose bumps popping out on Mattie’s skin, adding to her anxieties.

She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.

“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”

Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.

“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”      

Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.

The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?

Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.

A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. 
How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.

“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”

The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.

“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.

“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”

Opal disappeared.

With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.

Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home - www.tinagayle.net
Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + - https://plus.google.com
Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

Egg-cerpt Exchange: Birds Do It!

Welcome to Lizzie Starr, today's Egg-cerpt Exchange Author. In turn, I will be at her StarrWords blog with an excerpt from Worth The Risk by Lyn O'Farrell.

A search for truth, switched babies, and a threat from the past all conspire to destroy the love Birdie found with Garr and his daughter, Rachelle.

Birds Do It!

Macaws as lovebirds?

An avian expert, Birdie Simons is called to help control a cantankerous hyacinth macaw during a young girl’s birthday party. Inexorably drawn to each other, she and single father Garr Logan share an afternoon of joy and bittersweet memories, for Garr’s wife died the same day as Birdie’s newborn child.

Something about Rachelle makes Birdie wonder if the golden-haired girl is her daughter, switched at birth. Then her child’s father returns, dogging her search for understanding and throwing her deeper into fear and confusion.

Ready to move on after his wife’s death, Garr wants the intriguing woman, but Birdie keeps the search, threats and hidden relationships to herself, driving a wedge between them.

Will discovering the truth from nine years ago bring them closer, or forever tear them apart?

Reviews

“A sexy hero, a believable heroine, and *lizzie starr's clever brand of humor make her an author to watch out for. With a premise so delightful I wish I had thought of it, Birds Do It! will keep you turning pages with a smile.”

** Cheryl St.John

“Filled with wit, humor and suspense, a hero to die for, a charming heroine, a delightful child and a lonely parrot, this one is a keeper. It sparkles.”

**Margaret B. Lawrence Caresse; A Loving Touch   Michael; A Gift Of Trust

Short excerpt

Her brows drawn together, Birdie eased the cage door closed. “I know.” Her expression brightened. “Take off your shirt.”

Garr took a startled step back. Unfortunately, this was not the time for his fantasies to come true. “I beg your pardon.”

“It’s your shirt. Do you wear a lot of blue?”

“Yes?” His response was slow, the word drawled from his lips.

“Brutus is threatened by you. Birds have excellent color vision and strong color sensitivity. Since he’s blue, when you wear a blue shirt and tower over him, he gets scared. He’s not angry, he’s frightened. Either take off your shirt, or get out of here.”

Garr liked hearing her order him to strip, it brought wicked thoughts that had no place in a day filled with a child’s birthday party. He tamped down his response and tried to ease the pressure of his tight jeans as he pulled his shirt free. At her signal, he tossed the shirt behind a chair.

Birdie stared at the expanse of male chest. Oh, God, that was a mistake. The thick sprinkling of hair tapered to a thin line down his flat abdomen, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans. Heat flooded her chest and crawled up her neck to cover her face. Those jeans were fuller than before, the tightness more pronounced over his...

 Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Meet *lizzie starr

*lizzie always made up games and stories to keep her company, so, a witch lived in Grampa’s weather research station and was only held at bay by waving a certain weed. An ancient road grader morphed into boat a carrying wild adventurers to islands filled with sheep that turned into lions and cannibals. Now, filled with fantasy and love, the stories of her imagination have found their way into the mundane world. And when *lizzie has to return to that mundane life, she’s *the Lunch Lady* at a private school. 

Author and lunch lady~~what a combination!    

                                      

*lizzie adores hearing what you think about her tales of romance with a sparkling twist. You can visit her blog at http://starrwords.blogspot.com, her  website at www.lizziestarr.com or contact her at:lizistarr@gmail.com

www.lizziestarr.com

http://starrwords.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/lizziestarr

www.facebook.com/lizzie-starr

amazon author page

google+

Goodreads 

Check back through the end of March for more Egg-cerpt Exchanges.

Linda

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:

The man had romance on the brain, but this time she had to agree. The town was lovely, with tall palm trees and a sandy crescent of beach ringing the glistening bay. It was a picture perfect day as they strolled along the waterfront to one of her favorite seafood restaurants.

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.