M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 79

Star Power Out Today!

And it's already had a rockin' review at Long and Short Reviews!

It's only available at TWRP right now, but I'm sure it will be at Amazon before long.

Here's an excerpt:

He set the glass down and spun it in circles. "Come into the pool with me."

As she stared at him, twin reactions of panic and desire pulsed through her. "What? Why?"

"Because it's a pool party. If I go in there by myself, I'll look anti-social, which I am, but if I go in there with you—"

She inclined her head, understanding. "It'll look like you're making time."

He grinned.

She thought she should be used to the power of it by now, and lowered her gaze to the margarita glass, her fingers brushing his. When she snatched her hand back, his grin widened. Damn it.

He stood and stretched out a hand. "I love that you get me. So come on."

The casual gestures, his touches, were part of his charm, and she should have absolutely had her shields up, but here her defenses were down. She touched her fingers to his and felt the sizzle all the way to her pretty pink toenails. Before she could withdraw, he closed his hand around hers and guided her across the rock patio to the pool with its floating candles. She touched her toe to the surface.

Surprisingly, the water was warm.

"Take off that net thing. There aren't any fish to catch in here."

She glowered, but tugged the cover-up over her head and tossed it over the nearby landscaping rocks. Sam never took his gaze from her.

"What's the point of it, anyway?"

She reached up to wind her hair into a knot at the back of her head. "It's a cover up."

"What does it cover, exactly?"

Ignoring him, she walked around to the diving board to the hoots and cheers of the other guests. She tugged at the legs of her suit, stepped to the end of the board and dove into the water, needing the distance, at least for a few seconds. She surfaced to see Sam treading water nearby.

"Show off."

She pushed her hair back from her face and straightened. Okay, maybe she had been showing off, just a little. "Sometimes it's better to just dive in."

"I'll remind you that you said that." He swam closer.

Oops. She paddled backwards.

"You're not doing much for my reputation."

Her hair had come loose from its knot, so she reached back to secure it. "That's not my job."

"Maybe it should be, for the weekend."

"What, to make you look good? I do that anyway."

"I mean, maybe we should be a couple. For the weekend you could be my buffer."

She narrowed her eyes against the panic blossoming in her chest. "Bad idea." Bad, bad, bad idea.

"Why?" Oh, so many reasons, not the least of which was he'd have too many excuses to touch her, maybe kiss her, and her defenses would crumble and she'd fall head over heels, only to be thrust back into her regular role when they returned to California.

Then watch him romance the rest of the female population.

"You're the actor, not me."

"It won't be hard. I just want to be— unavailable."

He was definitely unavailable. And, he was right, it wouldn't be hard to pretend. Too easy, in fact. "You could be brave and just say no."

"What's the fun in that?" He swam closer. She bumped against the rock waterfall that blocked them from the view of the other guests. No escape.

"I'll make it worth your while."

She lifted her chin as everything in her quivered with the desire to say yes—along with the fear of that desire. "I already make more money than I can spend."

"Comp time, then. Another week of vacation. My house in the Hamptons. Full staff."

If she agreed to this role of 'buffer', she'd need a week to recover—but not at a place that would do nothing but remind her of Sam. "No deal."

"A week. My house in Italy. You could take Susie; you've been saying she needs a vacation. Take her, take the whole family. Two weeks."

Temptation tugged. Her sister Susie did need a vacation. God knew the woman's life was tough, with her husband unable to work because of an injured back, her oldest daughter recently diagnosed with Asperger's, and her youngest retained in first grade, for which Sue blamed herself because she was so scattered about everything else, including trying to support the family. Lorelei helped as much as Susie's pride—or sometimes desperation—allowed. A vacation where someone waited on her every wish would be a godsend.

Three days playing Sam's girlfriend. She could keep her guard up for three days. She'd just have to remember it was all an act. Hadn't she been watching Sam act for years?

She thrust a palm up before he came any closer. "Two weeks in Tuscany, complete with access to the yacht and staff."

He closed his hand around hers, warm and firm, and made no move to release her. "I'll even throw in the jet skis."

She frowned. "Not sure about that."

The light tug on her hand sent a ripple through the water. "Do we have a deal?"

"Okay."

"I think a deal like this needs more than a handshake."

Before she knew what he was doing, he pulled her through the water toward him and lowered his lips to hers. She barely had the chance to register the firmness of his shoulder beneath her hand, the tang of margarita on his breath, the warmth and smoothness of his lips, before his mother appeared above them.

"Time for cake!"

My Brain Never Rests

My brain never rests. You may have noticed. I never understand people who are bored. I'm. Never. Bored. I kinda wish I was sometimes.

Yesterday I went to JoAnn Fabric with my mom and baby brother. We were there a bit more than an hour. During that time, I mentally made a split skirt, purses in at least five different Christmas fabrics, pajamas, tablecloths….you get the picture. It was really inspiring. If only I had more time.

My plan for yesterday was to get plants. I'm down to less than 25 outside. My brick planter has been empty since July. My concrete planters have been empty since the first freeze last year. I really miss having the color around. Again, no time.

We won't talk about the story ideas. And y'all. The books to read. My wish lists are swelling because I'm trying not to buy more books until I get some read. I'm getting there—

Anyone know a trick to getting the brain to shut down temporarily? Or does anyone have one of those time gadgets like Hermione in Harry Potter?

Also, I'm guest blogging at a new place Oct. 21, and they want 500 words, geared toward readers, not writers. Any ideas? Pretty please?

The Trouble with Series

I'm listening to the 6th book in a 9 book series and wondering why I keep coming back to the series. I like the setting, and the characters from the first book, for the most part, and a secondary romance with older characters and another with younger characters. When I start the book, I'm immediately into the setting, no matter how long it's been since I read the last one.

But.

The main couple in this series is the Most. Annoying. Couple. Ever. He reminds me of Michael Scott from The Office (a little smarter) but with the same goals. She is a bitch. Full on, blaming him for her pregnancy when she was just as much a part of the conception. I'm continuing the book because of those secondary romances, but wish I could fast-forward through the scenes with these two.

I found the same problem with Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters. You'd have to read through some annoying stuff to get to the characters you cared about I like overarching plots, but maybe some drag on too long.

Goals for Week Star Power Releases

The dh is on vacation, so I don't have to cook, but it'll mess up my new schedule (come home, walk, clean, cook, collapse). He wants me to take a day off so we can go into the Hill Country for a day. Sounds really tempting.

1)      Celebrate Star Power's release, hopefully with dinner at the Gristmill.

2)      Finish requested revisions

3)      Finish revisions on contracted story

4)      Work on Midnight Sun once those are turned in.

5)      Work in the yard.

6)      Library

7)      grocery

8)      Keep walking

9)      Keep up house

Told You

I knew this would be the fall of revisions, but wow. I have requested revisions for a short story before it can go to contract, as of last night. Today I got the second round of edits on another short story. And my Carina editor told me to look for line edits next week. Meanwhile I'm doing revisions on Midnight Sun, and I had this idea for a new short story and I'm plotting my NaNoWriMo book. I also started walking this week, and I'm trying to catch up on Fringe and Vampire Diaries and I never did finish Maybe This Time though I love it and it's due Sunday.

I've also been keeping up with the house! Yay, me. And I had my grades done on time. Then STAR POWER is out next week, so I'm updating my newsletter and website. No wonder I'm tired!

The New Season So Far

So, the new TV season so far:

LOVE Hawaii Five-0. Lots of action, love Grace Parks and Daniel Dae Kim. Could love Alex O.

REALLY LIKE: Undercovers. JJ Abrams pulled me into it. I love the backstory, love the relationship, love the action.

NOT SURE: My Generation. I was ready to give up on it, but it's one of those shows that you think about after it's over.

GETTING ONE MORE CHANCE: Sh** My Dad Says. Didn't like the pilot. Too much laugh-track, all the good one-liners were in the previews.

As for returning shows: Supernatural, Modern Family, The Middle and Glee all had awesome premieres. Was disappointed in Castle. All the rest were okay.

What are you watching? What are you loving?

Single Dads

I'm planning a series that I want to start writing during NaNoWriMo. Initially I thought the first hero would be a single dad, and the heroine a teacher. But I've been watching Fringe and am intrigued by the relationship between Peter and his dad. I don't write kids as a rule. Children had a small role in Breaking Daylight and Don't Look Back, but only at the end. I've never written a kid throughout the book. I usually don't read books with kids, probably because I work with them all day...

Goals for the Last Week of September

1)      Newsletter (Star Power is coming out next week!)

2)      Website update

3)      Revisions on Midnight Sun. I want it to be complete  by the end of the month.

4)      Library

5)      Grades (end of the 6 weeks)

6)      Keep up house (been doing pretty good here)

7)      Start walking. The rain should be done and the temps are more fall-like.

And since I'm done revising that short story, we're back to Sam.

Stuff I'm Loving

Despite what the picture conveys, I'm in a pretty good mood.

I LOVED the Supernatural season premiere last night. How often have we Dean Girls wanted to see Dean's life after hunting, where he gets his HEA? Loved Lisa, loved Ben. Hated Sam's hair. My husband said, "His voice has changed." I said, "He's 27. I hope so." Anyway, excited to see where this is going.

I'm really into Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie. It's very clearly a Crusie. I'm planning to curl up with it after I do my chores.

Gl...

Reading Slump

I'm in a reading slump. And the bad–I'm reading three books!

First up is the audio book I'm listening to. Last week I finished listening to Life As We Knew It. It was so compelling that I listened during planning as well as on my way to and from school. I had to know what was going to happen, and as soon as I finished it on Thursday, I went to the library and picked up the second book.

Only it's not a sequel. It's another character in another city, dealing with the same things. Only you...