P.G. Forte's Blog, page 53
October 1, 2017
Halloween Month of Treats Giveaway ~ Day One
Who doesn’t love to curl up with a page-turning book on a chilly October day? And what would make escaping into an awesome story even more indulgent? Chocolate, that’s what!
Enter for your chance to win both in the Halloween Month of Treats Giveaway. Every day in October, we’ll be posting two new giveaways, or sometimes a giveaway and FREE book for you to download immediately and enjoy.
A paranormal romance and gift set of Godiva chocolate cookies. A romantic comedy and a box 60 of Lindor truffles. Steamy romance, romantic suspense, urban fantasy, mysteries…We’ve got the goodies to hand out. It’s trick or treat time! Enter to Win at:
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Alex Gordon • Amanda Uhl • Angelica Kate • Astrid Arditi • Bethany Strobel • Bianca D'Arc • Cailin Briste • Cherie Claire • Christa Paige • Constance Phillips • Crystal Dawn • Emme Rollins
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August 21, 2017
Another New Giveaway!
Welcome to the Steamy Book Bargains August Series Highlight and Giveaway!Are you one of those readers who holds out on a book until there are multiple follow ups! Are you afraid to commit until you can have more than just the first story in your hands!
This is for you! All the best steamy romance series in one place! Buy one book, buy the whole series, it’s up to you. But after you check out some great reads scroll to the bottom and enter to win one of two $25 Amazon GCs!
Enjoy!
Here’s the link to the giveaway page: http://steamybookbargains.com/index.php/august-series-highlight-and-giveaway/
July 31, 2017
Excerpt from In the Dark
The Children of Night series returns today! Needless to say, I'm very excited about that. The first six books (there are two more in the works) are currently on sale for only .99 each as part of Entangled's Paranormal Sales Event.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Looking back, I'm not sure if I ever actually shared an excerpt from the first book, In the Dark, here on my blog. Well, there's no time like the present! So here's the new blurb, and an excerpt. Enjoy!
Blurb:
Vampire Conrad
Quintano has been around for centuries—long enough to know falling for a human
is a terrible idea. Much less falling for adventure-seeking hippie Desert Rose
and agreeing to raise her babies.
Raised
in virtual isolation, Marc and Julie Fischer have never known their unique
status in the world. But once they’re in San Francisco, the family reunion is
nothing like they anticipated and they’re thrust into a world they’re
completely unprepared for.
Excerpt:
“Sounds like someone’s throwing a party,” Marc observed as they stepped inside the dark, paneled entrance.
“You think maybe it’s for us?” Julie suggested hopefully. “You know, like a surprise homecoming party or something? I mean, we still don’t know why we’re here so…it could be anything, right?”
It had been a shock to be so suddenly summoned here, with no explanation offered, after years of
being told that either the time or the circumstances weren’t right.
Marc
shook his head. “Little noisy for a surprise, don’t you think?” He put their bags on the floor next to the ornate brass coat tree and glanced distractedly around the empty foyer. “I dunno. Something doesn’t feel right.”
They hesitated for a moment longer but no one appeared to
greet them. Curious, they followed the sounds—the laughter, the music, the chatter of voices—toward the rear of the house.
The
closer they drew to the noise, the stronger the smells became. Wine and incense, arousal and sweat and most potent of all, layered beneath the rest, the sweet, rich, coppery scent of fresh blood. Julie’s mouth was watering by the time they reached their destination.
“Holy
shit,” her brother muttered, stopping dead in his tracks. Julie found herself nodding in agreement. The center of the large, dimly lit room had been cleared of furniture to serve as a dance floor. Most of those dancing were barely clothed and phenomenally well-toned and all of them, male
and female, vampire and human alike, wore expressions of almost orgasmic bliss.
“And
then some.” Julie’s gaze traversed the room’s perimeter, which seemed to have been lined with a succession of chaises and sofas and piles of pillows, all occupied by small groups feeding from one another. “Wow.”
Suddenly,
a loud commotion arose from the low dais at the far end of the room. “Ay, ay, ay,” a familiar voice called out in greeting. “Mis queridos— you’re here!” Make that almost familiar. Julie stared in consternation as a tall, sculpted fiure rose from the chaise upon which he’d been reclining and hurried forward to greet them. The voice was Damian’s, all right, but the tone—high-pitched and
excited—was entirely more Chihuahua-like than she’d been expecting.
Marc
gave a strangled gasp as their uncle strode toward them, his arms held wide, his long black hair streaming out behind him. He was wearing an open, floor-length, red- and black-patterned kimono over gauzy black pants—and a sly smile that suggested he knew exactly the kind of impression he was creating and was loving every scandalous second. Gold rings glittered on his fingers, his ears and both nipples. The crowd parted deferentially to let him pass.
“Stop
staring,” Julie whispered urgently to her brother. “It’s not like we didn’t know.” Damian had never kept his sexual orientation a secret, but even so, they’d never seen him quite like this before. Tonight, he wasn’t just out of the closet, he’d brought the whole closet out with him.
Before
Marc had a chance to resist, Damian swept him up in a big hug and kissed him loudly on both cheeks. “Ah, mi
amor,” he crooned, pinching his cheek as he let him go. “It’s been too long.”
Next,
Damian turned his attentions on Julie. As his arms closed tightly around her she found herself transported back to her childhood. This was the Damian she remembered. Big, warm, comforting. The uncle who’d read her bedtime stories and tucked her in at night. Who’d wiped away her tears when she fell and skinned her knees—never once pointing out that the scrapes had sometimes healed before the tears even started.
Julie
returned his embrace. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Nice threads, Uncle Damian,” she whispered in his ear. “I like this whole ‘Queen of the Damned’ look you’ve got going on.”
Damian
threw back his head and roared with laughter.“That’s my baby girl.” Pressing an enthusiastic kiss on Julie’s forehead, he smiled at her approvingly. “I knew I could count on you, chica.” Then he drew back and looked at them both. “Now, mis niños, let me look at you. How was the train? Did
you have a good trip? You must be famished.” He waved a hand at the surrounding crowd and suggested. “Why don’t you go find yourselves something to eat?”
“Where’s Conrad?” Marc asked, ignoring the pleasantries, startling Julie with his abruptness. His gaze scanned the room. “He’s not here. Where is he?”
“Oh,
who knows where he’s gone!” Damian heaved a long-suffering sigh. “That man. Always running here, flitting there—who can keep track? Entre nous? Given all the places he tries to be in at one time, I’m almost afraid the big silly has begun to believe he can turn into a bat.”
“Has
Conrad left town?” a male voice inquired. Julie stared at the new vampire with interest. He was slim with auburn hair; not quite as tall as Damian. He had a delicious cleft chin and an unsettling inquisitive gleam in his hazel eyes. “I hadn’t heard.”
A
shadow passed through Damian’s eyes, something dark and dangerous, and then it was gone. He smiled at the newcomer. “My dear, dear Armand, I’m sure your guess is…oh, well, let’s see…probably almost as good as my own, n’est
pas? But, wherever he’s gone, I’m sure he’ll be back to
delight us all again very soon.”
“What
do you mean you don’t know?” Marc demanded, the tone of his voice practically turning the words into an accusation. “I thought you said Grandfather wanted to see us? Isn’t that why we’re here? Why would he leave town if he knew we were coming? And…what on earth are you wearing, anyway?”
Julie
stared at her brother, perplexed. What was wrong with him? It wasn’t like Marc to be so confrontational. It wasn’t like either of them, come to think of it. At almost forty years old, they both still found it nearly impossible to act counter to the expressed wishes of the two men who’d raised
them. Especially Conrad. Her pondering was cut short when her attention was snared by a soft, amused chuckle.
“Grandfather?”
A disbelieving smile had curled Armand’s lips. His gaze flicked curiously over them all. “Are you referring to Conrad? I’m sure he must love being called that! But, come, Damian, you must introduce me. Are these yours?”
Once
again, Julie caught sight of that dark gleam in Damian’s eyes. He flashed a look at both twins, warning them to silence, before turning back to Armand with another saccharine smile. “Why, yes, Armand, indeed they are. And now you know all my little secrets. But, aren’t they just too precious?
This is Julie and her brother, Marc. Marc’s a little cranky at the moment. He gets that way when he isn’t fed.”
“Who
doesn’t?” Armand sent a cursory, disinterested nod in Marc’s direction before bowing low over Julie’s hand. “Mademoiselle.
Enchanté.”
Julie
shivered in delight as he pressed his lips to her hand and the warmth of his kiss traveled all the way up her arm. “Likewise.”
Armand’s
eyes met hers and he smiled in gentle amusement. Then he turned his quizzical gaze on Damian.
“I
must admit, mon ami, you’ve caught me off guard. I didn’t think your tastes ran in quite this…direction?”
“Oh,
Armand.” Damian raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed theatrically. “You disappoint me. Can you not see that they’re twins? How could I break up such a pretty set? It would have been…gauche.”
Relieved
laughter burst from Armand’s lips. “Of course. My apologies. I should have guessed it was something like that.” He eyed Julie one more time, a little more intensely than before, then he gave her hand a final squeeze and let go.
“Tres bon. I’ll leave
you three to your reunion,” he said as he bowed once again. “Au revoir.”
Damian
watched as Armand disappeared back into the dancing crowd, then he turned his attention back to the twins.“Watch yourself around that one,” he advised Julie sternly. “Don’t get too close.” He regarded them thoughtfully for a moment, then suggested, “In fact, I think it might be best if
you two were to wait for me in the kitchen until I’m done here. It’s down at the end of the hallway, toward the back of the house. Go eat. We’ll talk later.”
Disappointed,
Julie was turning to leave when Marc shook his head. “No. We’ll talk now. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. Where’s Conrad?”
“Marcus,”
Damian’s voice, though pitched low, held a note of warning. “You will do as I tell you. Conrad always said you two couldn’t handle this environment yet. This is no time for you to be proving him right.”
Julie
held her breath as the two men stared at each other, each refusing to back down. Finally, Damian sighed. “I have no time for this,” he grumbled as he shook his head. He looked to be about equal parts aggravated, worried and quietly proud. He turned away abruptly, so suddenly that his robe flared out around him. Clapping his hands to be heard above the music he called, “Out! Out! Vayamos! Party’s
over! Everyone go home!”
A chorus of disappointed groans and half-hearted protests rose from the crowd but Damian stood fim. Smiling serenely, he repeated the order. “Out! Everybody. Now.” The authority in his voice was such that even Julie found herself once again turning to leave. She saw Marc begin to do the same until Damian reached back and grabbed hold of their wrists. “Not you two.”
The
disgruntled guests filed slowly out through the doorways. Armand was among the last to leave. The parting glance he shot in Damian’s direction was filed with seething animosity. Julie stiffened in alarm, but Damian appeared not to notice.
Finally
they were alone. Damian sighed as he let go of their wrists. Reaching for the tiny strings that fastened his kimono he drew the garment around himself and secured it in place. “Now, then,” he said as he threw an arm around each of their shoulders and propelled them from the room. “Let’s go down to the kitchen and have something to eat while we talk, shall we?” Drawing them both even closer,
he pressed a kiss against the side of each of their heads. “I baked cookies. Who wants chocolate chip?”
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Looking back, I'm not sure if I ever actually shared an excerpt from the first book, In the Dark, here on my blog. Well, there's no time like the present! So here's the new blurb, and an excerpt. Enjoy!
Blurb:
Vampire Conrad
Quintano has been around for centuries—long enough to know falling for a human
is a terrible idea. Much less falling for adventure-seeking hippie Desert Rose
and agreeing to raise her babies.
Raised
in virtual isolation, Marc and Julie Fischer have never known their unique
status in the world. But once they’re in San Francisco, the family reunion is
nothing like they anticipated and they’re thrust into a world they’re
completely unprepared for.
Excerpt:
“Sounds like someone’s throwing a party,” Marc observed as they stepped inside the dark, paneled entrance.
“You think maybe it’s for us?” Julie suggested hopefully. “You know, like a surprise homecoming party or something? I mean, we still don’t know why we’re here so…it could be anything, right?”
It had been a shock to be so suddenly summoned here, with no explanation offered, after years of
being told that either the time or the circumstances weren’t right.
Marc
shook his head. “Little noisy for a surprise, don’t you think?” He put their bags on the floor next to the ornate brass coat tree and glanced distractedly around the empty foyer. “I dunno. Something doesn’t feel right.”
They hesitated for a moment longer but no one appeared to
greet them. Curious, they followed the sounds—the laughter, the music, the chatter of voices—toward the rear of the house.
The
closer they drew to the noise, the stronger the smells became. Wine and incense, arousal and sweat and most potent of all, layered beneath the rest, the sweet, rich, coppery scent of fresh blood. Julie’s mouth was watering by the time they reached their destination.
“Holy
shit,” her brother muttered, stopping dead in his tracks. Julie found herself nodding in agreement. The center of the large, dimly lit room had been cleared of furniture to serve as a dance floor. Most of those dancing were barely clothed and phenomenally well-toned and all of them, male
and female, vampire and human alike, wore expressions of almost orgasmic bliss.
“And
then some.” Julie’s gaze traversed the room’s perimeter, which seemed to have been lined with a succession of chaises and sofas and piles of pillows, all occupied by small groups feeding from one another. “Wow.”
Suddenly,
a loud commotion arose from the low dais at the far end of the room. “Ay, ay, ay,” a familiar voice called out in greeting. “Mis queridos— you’re here!” Make that almost familiar. Julie stared in consternation as a tall, sculpted fiure rose from the chaise upon which he’d been reclining and hurried forward to greet them. The voice was Damian’s, all right, but the tone—high-pitched and
excited—was entirely more Chihuahua-like than she’d been expecting.
Marc
gave a strangled gasp as their uncle strode toward them, his arms held wide, his long black hair streaming out behind him. He was wearing an open, floor-length, red- and black-patterned kimono over gauzy black pants—and a sly smile that suggested he knew exactly the kind of impression he was creating and was loving every scandalous second. Gold rings glittered on his fingers, his ears and both nipples. The crowd parted deferentially to let him pass.
“Stop
staring,” Julie whispered urgently to her brother. “It’s not like we didn’t know.” Damian had never kept his sexual orientation a secret, but even so, they’d never seen him quite like this before. Tonight, he wasn’t just out of the closet, he’d brought the whole closet out with him.
Before
Marc had a chance to resist, Damian swept him up in a big hug and kissed him loudly on both cheeks. “Ah, mi
amor,” he crooned, pinching his cheek as he let him go. “It’s been too long.”
Next,
Damian turned his attentions on Julie. As his arms closed tightly around her she found herself transported back to her childhood. This was the Damian she remembered. Big, warm, comforting. The uncle who’d read her bedtime stories and tucked her in at night. Who’d wiped away her tears when she fell and skinned her knees—never once pointing out that the scrapes had sometimes healed before the tears even started.
Julie
returned his embrace. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Nice threads, Uncle Damian,” she whispered in his ear. “I like this whole ‘Queen of the Damned’ look you’ve got going on.”
Damian
threw back his head and roared with laughter.“That’s my baby girl.” Pressing an enthusiastic kiss on Julie’s forehead, he smiled at her approvingly. “I knew I could count on you, chica.” Then he drew back and looked at them both. “Now, mis niños, let me look at you. How was the train? Did
you have a good trip? You must be famished.” He waved a hand at the surrounding crowd and suggested. “Why don’t you go find yourselves something to eat?”
“Where’s Conrad?” Marc asked, ignoring the pleasantries, startling Julie with his abruptness. His gaze scanned the room. “He’s not here. Where is he?”
“Oh,
who knows where he’s gone!” Damian heaved a long-suffering sigh. “That man. Always running here, flitting there—who can keep track? Entre nous? Given all the places he tries to be in at one time, I’m almost afraid the big silly has begun to believe he can turn into a bat.”
“Has
Conrad left town?” a male voice inquired. Julie stared at the new vampire with interest. He was slim with auburn hair; not quite as tall as Damian. He had a delicious cleft chin and an unsettling inquisitive gleam in his hazel eyes. “I hadn’t heard.”
A
shadow passed through Damian’s eyes, something dark and dangerous, and then it was gone. He smiled at the newcomer. “My dear, dear Armand, I’m sure your guess is…oh, well, let’s see…probably almost as good as my own, n’est
pas? But, wherever he’s gone, I’m sure he’ll be back to
delight us all again very soon.”
“What
do you mean you don’t know?” Marc demanded, the tone of his voice practically turning the words into an accusation. “I thought you said Grandfather wanted to see us? Isn’t that why we’re here? Why would he leave town if he knew we were coming? And…what on earth are you wearing, anyway?”
Julie
stared at her brother, perplexed. What was wrong with him? It wasn’t like Marc to be so confrontational. It wasn’t like either of them, come to think of it. At almost forty years old, they both still found it nearly impossible to act counter to the expressed wishes of the two men who’d raised
them. Especially Conrad. Her pondering was cut short when her attention was snared by a soft, amused chuckle.
“Grandfather?”
A disbelieving smile had curled Armand’s lips. His gaze flicked curiously over them all. “Are you referring to Conrad? I’m sure he must love being called that! But, come, Damian, you must introduce me. Are these yours?”
Once
again, Julie caught sight of that dark gleam in Damian’s eyes. He flashed a look at both twins, warning them to silence, before turning back to Armand with another saccharine smile. “Why, yes, Armand, indeed they are. And now you know all my little secrets. But, aren’t they just too precious?
This is Julie and her brother, Marc. Marc’s a little cranky at the moment. He gets that way when he isn’t fed.”
“Who
doesn’t?” Armand sent a cursory, disinterested nod in Marc’s direction before bowing low over Julie’s hand. “Mademoiselle.
Enchanté.”
Julie
shivered in delight as he pressed his lips to her hand and the warmth of his kiss traveled all the way up her arm. “Likewise.”
Armand’s
eyes met hers and he smiled in gentle amusement. Then he turned his quizzical gaze on Damian.
“I
must admit, mon ami, you’ve caught me off guard. I didn’t think your tastes ran in quite this…direction?”
“Oh,
Armand.” Damian raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed theatrically. “You disappoint me. Can you not see that they’re twins? How could I break up such a pretty set? It would have been…gauche.”
Relieved
laughter burst from Armand’s lips. “Of course. My apologies. I should have guessed it was something like that.” He eyed Julie one more time, a little more intensely than before, then he gave her hand a final squeeze and let go.
“Tres bon. I’ll leave
you three to your reunion,” he said as he bowed once again. “Au revoir.”
Damian
watched as Armand disappeared back into the dancing crowd, then he turned his attention back to the twins.“Watch yourself around that one,” he advised Julie sternly. “Don’t get too close.” He regarded them thoughtfully for a moment, then suggested, “In fact, I think it might be best if
you two were to wait for me in the kitchen until I’m done here. It’s down at the end of the hallway, toward the back of the house. Go eat. We’ll talk later.”
Disappointed,
Julie was turning to leave when Marc shook his head. “No. We’ll talk now. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. Where’s Conrad?”
“Marcus,”
Damian’s voice, though pitched low, held a note of warning. “You will do as I tell you. Conrad always said you two couldn’t handle this environment yet. This is no time for you to be proving him right.”
Julie
held her breath as the two men stared at each other, each refusing to back down. Finally, Damian sighed. “I have no time for this,” he grumbled as he shook his head. He looked to be about equal parts aggravated, worried and quietly proud. He turned away abruptly, so suddenly that his robe flared out around him. Clapping his hands to be heard above the music he called, “Out! Out! Vayamos! Party’s
over! Everyone go home!”
A chorus of disappointed groans and half-hearted protests rose from the crowd but Damian stood fim. Smiling serenely, he repeated the order. “Out! Everybody. Now.” The authority in his voice was such that even Julie found herself once again turning to leave. She saw Marc begin to do the same until Damian reached back and grabbed hold of their wrists. “Not you two.”
The
disgruntled guests filed slowly out through the doorways. Armand was among the last to leave. The parting glance he shot in Damian’s direction was filed with seething animosity. Julie stiffened in alarm, but Damian appeared not to notice.
Finally
they were alone. Damian sighed as he let go of their wrists. Reaching for the tiny strings that fastened his kimono he drew the garment around himself and secured it in place. “Now, then,” he said as he threw an arm around each of their shoulders and propelled them from the room. “Let’s go down to the kitchen and have something to eat while we talk, shall we?” Drawing them both even closer,
he pressed a kiss against the side of each of their heads. “I baked cookies. Who wants chocolate chip?”
July 27, 2017
Going To The Chapel: Excerpt
In Waiting for the Big One , Gabby and Derek went from being
friends to lovers; now they're waiting for their big day. But will it be the
wedding of their dreams? Or a bride's worst nightmare?
A quick trip to Gabby's
hometown of Sapphire Falls turns into a wedding nightmare when Gabby and Derek
are plagued by hailstorms, fires, voracious goats, angry bees, allergies,
cancellations and enough family drama to fill a barn.
Can they hold it all
together, or will their Big Day turn into a Big Mess?
Buy: Going To The Chapel: HERE
Read more about the LA Love Lessons series: HERE
And a sneak peek at the sequel, Going Up The Country can be found: HERE
EXCERPT:
We arrived at
Gabby's family's farm at about four in the afternoon. A large metal sign hanging from the front
gate proclaimed it to be the Quick Browne Goat Farm. "So who's
Quick?" I asked.
Gabby shot me a
puzzled look. "What are you talking about?"
"On the
sign." I pointed behind us. Browne was the family name, and the goat part
was also obvious, but Quick?
Gabby smiled.
"Oh, I don't know. The goats, I guess. You know that sentence they make
you memorize when you learn touch typing: 'the quick brown fox jumped over the
lazy dog'?"
"I've heard
of it, sure."
"It's like
that. "
Puzzled, I turned
in my seat to stare at her. "It's 'like that' how?"
"Well, I
mean, we've always had some of the laziest sheepdogs you've ever seen. I'm sure
they've been jumped over a time or two."
"By foxes?"
"No."
Gabby eyed me strangely. "By goats. It's a goat farm, remember?"
I probably should
have given up at that point. I've gotten into these kinds of conversations with
her before. They never end well. "Okay, but then where do the foxes come
in?"
"They
don't."
"But..."
"Look, the
whole point of that sentence is that it uses all the letters of the alphabet,
right? They had to use fox. Goat wouldn't have worked at all in that
context."
"Obviously."
"Okay, and
so what should also be obvious is that it wouldn't make any sense to call this
the Quick Browne Fox Farm. Right?"
None of it made
sense; that was the problem. And I was just about to say so when she hit me
with that smile.
Now, here's
something you might not know about my Gabe. She has one of the greatest smiles
in the whole damn world. It's fucking radiant. It's the kind of smile that
makes men stupid. If you haven't seen it, you'll just have to take my word on
that. I knew I was in trouble the very first time she flashed it my way. I'd
never before been covetous of a facial expression, but in that moment I
desperately wanted to keep her smiling at me—and only at me—just like that,
forever.
I know it's only
a matter of time before her career takes off, because I can't be the only one
who feels that way.
"Well?"
Gabby prompted. "Would it?"
But her smile had
done its usual good work. My train of thought had so thoroughly jumped its
tracks that my brain was the mental equivalent of a heap of twisted steel.
"Uh...what were we talking about again?"
Gabby shot me a
mock glare. "The Quick Browne Fox
Farm. Remember?"
"Oh,
right." Now, I'm all for sticking to my guns, but I also know when I'm
beat. "Yeah, you're right. That's crazy. That wouldn't work at all."
"Exactly,"
Gabby purred as she pulled the truck to a stop. She glanced at me again, and
her smile went from bright to brilliant; I felt a thrill of delight, until I
realized the reason for it wasn't my easy capitulation, it was the fact that
she was home.
I turned to look
around me. We were parked in front of yet another picturesque farmhouse; this
one was white, with blue trim and shutters, a wraparound porch, and a white
picket fence. Blue hydrangeas clustered around the foundation. Blue morning
glories twined along the fence. Baskets overflowing with light and dark
lobelia hung from the eaves of the porch. "I see someone likes blue."
Gabby nodded.
"My mom. It's a Sapphire Falls thing."
"Makes
sense."
The theme,
unfortunately, was not confined to the house. Now that I knew what I was
looking for, I saw hints everywhere. In the English Sheepdog dozing on the
porch swing; mostly white with
bluish-gray patches. In the flock of mop-headed chickens pecking at the
lawn—oddly reminiscent of the dog, with similar plumage in matching shades.
Even the drive where we were parked, with its blue-gray gravel, and its border
of whitewashed rocks fit the picture. It
was impressive, in a slightly over-the-top, borderline obsessive kind of way.
Not that I'd ever say so.
Just 'cause my
family's dysfunctional, doesn't mean I don't know better than to criticize
someone else's.
I’d have had to
be an idiot not to notice the eager expression Gabby’d been wearing ever since
we'd left Omaha. While, intellectually, I knew she loved acting, that she loved
the life she'd built for herself out on the coast, that she loved me, I
still found myself starting to worry. How much work was it going to take to
drag her away from here next week?
"Let's go
see where everyone is," Gabby said as she jumped from the truck. I started to follow, but just then a man came
striding around the corner of the house to greet her. He was tall and lean, with the kind of
weathered skin and corded muscles that you only get from spending most of your
life working out-of-doors. I'd pegged
him as Gabby's father even before she turned and waved impatiently for me to
join them.
Gabby's dad,
Mick, looked every inch the aging hippy farmer Gabby had described him as
being. His hair was long, just starting to go gray, and the bandana on his head
was clearly there for functionality, not as a fashion statement—despite it being
blue and white, like everything else around here.
He had a firm
handshake, a steely gaze, and a smile that would probably have been a whole lot
warmer if I were someone else. But I was the stranger who would shortly be
marrying his daughter, the bastard who'd gotten her pregnant. I suspected it
would be a long time before he forgave me for either of those offenses. And, until he did, I figured my chances of
getting a genuine smile out of the man were slim to no-fucking-way.
"Did I tell
you that Derek teaches yoga?" Gabby asked, threading her fingers with mine
and leaning against my shoulder. I was intensely aware of her tit pressed tight
against my bicep, and not in a good way, given that her father was looking on.
I felt like she was claiming me for her own, marking me as hers, all of which
I'd normally be in favor of. But, right now, with the hostile vibe already
rolling in waves off her old man? Not so much.
"That's how we met."
"So you've
said," Mick replied dryly. I didn't miss the way his face hardened as his
gaze latched onto all the places where Gabby's body and mine connected. It was
all I could do not to push her away. Something told me that would be worse.
"My dad's
been practicing yoga for years," Gabby informed me, seemingly oblivious to
the tension.
"Very
cool." I smiled at Mick. "What style do you prefer? Sivananda? Kripalu?" I was expecting him to be into
something like that, something old skool and classic. Maybe a little Bikram in
the winter.
What I wasn't
expecting was, "Goat."
"Daddy!"
Gabby scowled at him.
"What?
You've never heard of goat yoga? Look it up, if you don't believe me."
Mick gazed at me challengingly, and added. "Sometimes the chickens join in
too."
"I think I
saw something about that online." Of course, I'd assumed it was a joke,
but maybe I was wrong? "I'd be interested in seeing that in action while
I'm here. We don't get much of a call for it in Los Angeles."
"Their
loss."
"I guess
so."
* * * * *
When I finished writing Waiting for the Big One , I thought I'd
said everything I needed to say about Gabby and Derek. Then they surprised me
by showing up in Love,
From A to Z , and in Let
Me Count the Ways .
And I began to wonder if I hadn't closed the door on them a little too quickly.
Fast forward a few years, and I found myself playing with the idea of
writing a wedding story set in Sapphire Falls. I couldn't resist the chance to
finally give Derek a voice, and the opportunity to tell his side of things. And
now that Gabby an families have introduced themselves, I suspect that at least
some of them will be getting their own stories soon too.
And please check out these other new additions to the Sapphire Falls Kindle World:
Going From Zero to Sixty by Lizbeth Selvig. Elle Mitchell has a talent for anything mechanical and all things cars. When she applies for a low-level mechanics job in Sapphire Falls, it’s mostly to get away from her big brother’s watchful eye and prove she can handle life on her own. What she can’t handle is the hot new boss, Harley Holt, or his penchant for speed!
Going Gets Hot by Rachelle Ayala. Two geeky scientists, Amber and Chad, arrive in Sapphire Falls in time for the Summer Festival. Hot with new clothes and makeovers, they get more attention than they bargained for.
Going Even Wilder by Trish Edmisten. Jillian Somers and Jackson Wilder are back! It’s been eight months since they admitted their feelings for another, and Jillian’s happier than she ever thought she could be. There’s just one problem. Jackson still hasn’t proposed. When it doesn’t look like he’s going to, Jillian’s sister convinces her to take matters into her own hands and ask him to marry her. Too bad Jackson has other plans....
Going to Pieces by EmKay Connor. A disastrous reunion sends Brooke Jones Roseman running from the only home she’s ever known and into the arms of a stranger who teaches her the real meaning of family.
Thanks to Rachelle Ayala for spearheading this group release; to Meg
Benjamin for the use of her Texas Barbecue truck which appears in Going up in Flames and in Hungry Heart (Konigsburg, TX series #8); to
Kate Davies for lending me her characters, Mia and Chase, who first appeared in
Going
for Broke ; and to Kinsey Holley for her character, Brook, who first appeared in
Going
for Brook ; and most of all, of course, to Erin Nicholas for opening her world
to us and giving us all such a fun playground in which to write.
July 25, 2017
Summer Heat!
If you love Sapphire Falls, the small town Erin Nicholas created, you'll enjoy these FIVE brand-new Kindle World romances. New characters, new and old friends, mix it up during Sapphire Falls' annual Summer Festival.
Join Lizbeth Selvig, Rachelle Ayala, Trish Edmisten, EmKay Connor, and PG Forte for a summer romp through Sapphire Falls, where falling in love is fast and country heat is hot!
Going From Zero to Sixty by Lizbeth Selvig. Elle Mitchell has a talent for anything mechanical and all things cars. When she applies for a low-level mechanics job in Sapphire Falls, it’s mostly to get away from her big brother’s watchful eye and prove she can handle life on her own. What she can’t handle is the hot new boss, Harley Holt, or his penchant for speed!
Going Gets Hot by Rachelle Ayala. Two geeky scientists, Amber and Chad, arrive in Sapphire Falls in time for the Summer Festival. Hot with new clothes and makeovers, they get more attention than they bargained for.
Going Even Wilder by Trish Edmisten. Jillian Somers and Jackson Wilder are back! It’s been eight months since they admitted their feelings for another, and Jillian’s happier than she ever thought she could be. There’s just one problem. Jackson still hasn’t proposed. When it doesn’t look like he’s going to, Jillian’s sister convinces her to take matters into her own hands and ask him to marry her. Too bad Jackson has other plans....
Going to Pieces by EmKay Connor. A disastrous reunion sends Brooke Jones Roseman running from the only home she’s ever known and into the arms of a stranger who teaches her the real meaning of family.
Going to the Chapel by PG Forte. Gabby Browne and Derek Novello have gone from friends to lovers, and now they’re waiting for their Big Day. But will it be the wedding of their dreams or a total nightmare?
Pick up all FIVE and check out all of the other Sapphire Falls Kindle World books.
If you are outside of the USA, not to worry. Please download this PDF showing you how to buy Kindle World books from outside of the USA. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
July 17, 2017
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Lovers Book Fair and Giveaway July 17-31
Can’t get enough paranormal romance and urban fantasy books? We've got you covered!
We’ve got a Kindle Fire
HD 8 loaded with 80 of them ready for one lucky winner to claim! With bestselling titles from J.R. Ward, Bella Forrest, Christine Feehan, Jeaniene Frost,
Karpov Kinrade, Terry Spear, and Gena Showalter among dozens more, not to mention
30+ books donated by the sponsoring authors, this prize package has it all. You could
also win one of two runner-up $25 Amazon gift cards.
Enter the Giveaway Here
http://bit.ly/2tOzrnE
And while you’re at it, shop our awesome summer book fair with over 30 PNR/UF titles
for you to choose from. https://pnrufgiveaway.blogspot.com/p/...
This Giveaway is Sponsored by:
A.K. Koonce • Angela Sanders • Beth Caudill • Bianca D'Arc • Brian Foster • Calinda B
• Casi McLean • Christa Paige • Constance Phillips • D.N. Erikson • Elizabeth Marx •
Gayle Parness • Helen Scott • J. Rose Allister • JC Andrijeski • JD Monroe • Jennifer
Allis Provost • Jody A Kessler • Joynell Schultz • Karen Michelle Nutt • Lauren Lively •
Liz Long • Marilyn Peake • Mark Vanderhoek • Mary Abshire • Meg Xuemei X • N.D.
Iverson • N.D. Jones • PG Forte • Shelli Rosewarne • Tena Stetler • Traci Douglass •
Vella Day • Viola Estrella • Vivien Jackson • Aileen Harkwood
June 19, 2017
A Romance Reader’s Dream Summer Giveaway
How many books do you read over the average summer? Could you read 80? Because
that’s how many ebooks one lucky winner will walk away with in the Books at the Beach
Giveaway, including the latest titles from Nora Roberts, Catherine Bybee, Debbie
Macomber, and Gena Showalter, plus dozens more. You could also win one of two
runner-up $25 Amazon gift cards.
Books at the Beach Giveaway & Book Fair
June 19-30
(Sponsored by the 54 authors listed below)
Alina K. Field • Allyson Lindt • Amy L Gale • Anna Durand • Astrid Arditi • Barbara
Lohe • Beverley Oakley • Bianca D'Arc • C. A. King • C.E. Wilson • Carmen Fox • Casi
McLean • Catherine Kean • Chloe Flowers • Christa Paige • Constance Phillips •
Cynthia Clement • Danica Favorite • Debbie White • Denise Jaden • Dianne Venetta •
Elizabeth Rose • Gayle Parness • Helen Scott • Jacqueline Diamond • Jina Bacarr • Josie Riviera • Judith Keim • Karen • Michelle Nutt • Katherine Lowry Logan • Kris Michaels •
Kristina Knight • Kristy Tate • Margaret Locke • Mari Carr • Naomi Bellina • PG Forte •
Quinn • Raine English • Regan Walker • Sheila Seabrook • Shelique Lize • Soraya Naomi
Stacy Gold • Stella Marie Alden • Stephanie Julian • Stephanie Queen • Sydney Aaliyah
Michelle • Sylvia Hubbard • Tamara Ferguson • Tena Stetler • Traci Douglass • Vicki
Crum
Enter the Giveaway Here
http://booksatthebeachfair.blogspot.com
And while you’re at it, shop our awesome summer book fair with over 50 fantastic
romance titles for you to choose from.
http://booksatthebeachfair.blogspot.c...
June 6, 2017
Some Girls Like It Hot promo!
How would you like to win one of 100+ gift cards to start off your summer? Join me for the Some Girls Like It Hot Facebook hop from June 9-12. You can enter to win a gift card from every author on the hop! With gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $25 up for grabs, that’s over $1000 in prizes!
Mark your calendar and make my FB page your first stop on the hop.
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPGForte/
Or go to http://somegirlslikeithot.blogspot.co... for the complete list of authors and their Facebook links, plus info on a bonus giveaway. We’re awarding an Amazon Echo Dot of Kindle Fire to one lucky winner who enters every author’s giveaway on the hop.
Even more fun and chances to win…have you entered our two grand prize giveaways? That’s right, we’re running two big giveaways at the same time. Enter for your chance to win an Kindle Fire HD 10” tablet ($299), plus additional kindles and Amazon gift cards.
Giveaway #1
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Giveaway #2
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April 13, 2017
The one about the friends...
Check out Candace Carrabus' new newsletter, out now. Featuring an excerpt from yours truly. http://candacecarrabus.com/todays-ride-meet-author-pg-forte/
You'll notice I can't help sharing that lovely, lovely cover once again. SO pretty.
March 7, 2017
Cover Reveal and Excerpt from Two Truths and a Lie
The third book in the Games We Play trilogy, Two Truths and a Lie releases next Tuesday. This was such a fun series to write.
This is Brenda's story. Unlike her cousins, Brenda is far from confident of their ability to make a success of their family's hotel, The Wild Geese Inn.
Here's a sneak peek:
A month earlier…
“Is there some reason you keep staring at me, Mr. Murphy?”
It had been approximately fifteen minutes since Brenda had
made Max’s acquaintance—since she’d overheard him checking in, recognized his
name as one she’d been waiting for, and hurried over to introduce herself. It had
been maybe ten minutes since she’d invited him into her office so that they
could discuss their mutual business in private, and so that she could warn him
against accidentally mentioning said business to her cousins.
And for most of
that time Max had been staring at her. Even now his gaze was tracking her every
move, coming to rest, every now and again, in all the most unexpected places:
her neck, her lips, her fingers, her hair, her breasts.
Well, okay, maybe not all those places were unexpected, but enough
of them were to make her feel exposed.
She wouldn’t have characterized herself as being unusually
vain, and she was certainly no stranger to male appreciation—or scrutiny—but
Max’s unwavering attention, coupled with her own intense awareness of it, of
him, was quickly becoming a problem. If for no other reason than it prevented
her from scrutinizing him.
Her cousin Gwyn would probably have bolted by now. Her
cousin Luke might have already thrown a punch. Brenda preferred to clear the
air and set things straight. “Is there something wrong with my appearance?”
“No, not at all.” A flush colored Max’s cheeks. “I
apologize. It’s just that you remind me of someone I used to know.” He looked
her right in the eyes as he said it. And there was a hint of challenge in his
gaze, as though he were daring her to make something of it. Suddenly, Brenda
felt it too, a vague but unmistakable feeling of familiarity. An overwhelming
sense of yes, there you are. At last.
If she were superstitious she might term the sensation déjà vu or concoct some
ridiculous fantasy—that they’d been lovers in a past life, for example, or soul
mates destined, since before either of them were born, to meet and fall in
love. But she wasn’t superstitious, so she called it what it was: meaningless
coincidence.
She cleared her throat. “Anyway, getting back to what I was
saying, my cousins don’t know that I’ve been in contact with Fairfax, and I’d
prefer to keep it that way for now.”
“I understand.” He glanced away, at last, an odd expression
on his face. Brenda couldn’t decide if he looked relieved or disappointed. “And,
to be honest, until there’s an actual offer on the table, I’d rather they not
be involved either. However, I do anticipate being around quite a lot in the
next few weeks, asking questions and whatnot. They might find that curious.
What do you suggest I say if they wonder why I’m here?”
“I’m glad you asked, because, as it happens, I’ve given the
matter a good deal of thought.”
He smiled faintly. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me in the
least.”
Brenda wasn’t exaggerating. Over the past few weeks, she’d
thought of little else. Luke might be enamored with the idea of having his own
bar, and Gwyn was clearly emotionally attached not just to the business but to
the building itself. But Brenda was the realist. The one who’d gone to school
for hotel management. The only one, or so it seemed at times, who realized how
much trouble they were all in.
She’d taken on a variety of tasks since November in an
effort to refamiliarize herself with the hotel. She’d helped out in the
kitchen, taken a shift or two in the bar; she’d made beds, and ordered
supplies, and checked guests in and out, but anyone could have done as much
with equal or—in many cases—superior results. Growing the business, protecting
her and her cousins’ inheritance, making sure the three of them didn’t end up
losing everything—that was her job, her passion, her only real contribution. That was the one thing she could do better than
anyone else.
And she was failing at it.
So, yes, she’d gone looking for solutions—because someone
had to suck it up and be the adult. When she learned that the Fairfax hotel
chain was potentially interested in acquiring the property, she’d done the
sensible thing and followed up with them. And when they’d told her they were
sending an inspector—one Max Murphy—down here to check out the property, she
for damn sure had given thought to the question of what kind of cover story she
could use to explain his being here.
“I thought we’d tell them that you’re an author,” Brenda
explained. “We could say you’re here doing research for a book you’re writing.”
“I’m not sure I follow. What kind of book are we talking
about? Like a travel guide?”
“No. I was thinking more of a novel that you’re planning to
set in a hotel like this one. That way you can ask whatever questions you like
and no one will think twice.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that.” Max hesitated. “It
seems a bit far-fetched. And I’m not sure how convincing I’d be as an author.”
Brenda shrugged. “Obviously, it would be best not to say
anything at all. But I think, if they ask, we should have a story ready.”
“I’ve always felt that, in situations like this, it’s best
to stick as close to the truth as possible.”
“I agree. So what would you suggest?”
Max smiled. “We could tell them we’re dating.”
Oh, like that’s not
far-fetched? Brenda started to laugh, then quickly turned it into a cough
when she realized Max was serious. “Sorry. I don’t think that would be a good
idea.”
“You’re not married, are you? Or otherwise involved?”
“No,” Brenda shot back. “Are you?”
“Do you really think I would have suggested we date if I
were in a relationship with someone else?”
“Sure. Why not? You might be polyamorous, or in an open
relationship, and not see anything wrong with it. Or you could be a liar, or a
cheater—”
“In which case I probably wouldn’t admit it, anyway.”
“Exactly.”
“Were you always this cynical?”
“No. I used to be shockingly naive. But then I grew up.”
“I’m sorry,” Max answered. His voice was unexpectedly
gentle.
“I don’t know why. It’s hardly your fault. Frankly, I’m not
even sure why I asked. It doesn’t matter, does it? Since we’d only be
pretending to date.”
“What if we weren’t pretending? What would you say if I were
to ask you to have dinner with me—for real?”
“I’d say no.”
“Because I’m not your type?” He said it lightly, with his
smile still in place, but there it was again, that hint of something in his
eyes that looked absurdly like pain.
Brenda shook the odd notion away. “No. That has nothing to
do with it.” Sweet Lord, Max was practically the poster boy for her type. She’d
been attracted to large, red-haired, bearded men from a very young age. Since
that one time that her Aunt Glynis decided it would be fun to take Brenda, Luke,
and Gwyneth into New York City to give them a street-side view of the Saint
Patrick’s Day parade. One glimpse of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum
Corps marching up Fifth Avenue, row upon row of kilt-wearing men, tall, broad,
and imposing, was all it had taken. Brenda had been hooked. But physical
attraction wasn’t everything. “If you must know, I don’t date, not in Atlas
Beach.”
Max quirked an eyebrow. “May I ask why not?”
“There are several reasons actually.” None of which were any
of his business. “I don’t have a lot of time right now, for one thing, what
with running the hotel, negotiating with Fairfax—”
“Creating inventive cover stories.”
“Yes, thank you. That too. For another, the dating pool here
is very small, and I’ve known most of the men in it since preschool. You’d be
surprised how off-putting that can be.”
Although, unfortunately, not off-putting enough where some
of the men were concerned.
* * * *
To read more about the series, check out my website: http://www.pgforte.com/GamesWePlay.htm
Brenda's relationship with Max is a sexy sham designed to keep her cousins from learning of her plans to sell their family's inn. Falling in love for real? That was not supposed to happen.
All work and no play has been the story of Brenda Donovan's life for the past few months. Concerned about the future of her family's inn, she's been searching for a buyer for the business -- without her cousins finding out what she's up to. She has no time for relationships. But pretending to date sexy Max Murphy, the hotel scout who's there to assess the property? That's totally doable. Especially when games, role-playing, and light bondage are included in the package. Falling in love was never supposed to be part of their deal, however, and now her heart's in play.
Max has no problem with hiding his true identity from Brenda's cousins. But are they the only ones he's deceiving? When all is finally revealed, will the cousins lose the Wild Geese Inn? Or will they add another member to their growing family?
