Mari Carr's Blog, page 53

Hope Springs

Hope Springs is OUT TODAY!!! Woot! Woot! It’s the second book in the Compass Girls series and I’m so excited this day has arrived!

What will grow from the seeds of desire?

Compass Girls, Book 2

Hope Compton never considered her parents’ unconventional relationship a dangerous thing. Until, after a few too many drinks in a crowded bar, she admits her desire for a ménage to her college boyfriend—and uninvited guests try to turn her fantasy into a nightmare.

When Wyatt catches some thugs harassing the pretty daughter of his bosses, he doesn’t hesitate to call on his partner Clayton to kick some asses. But then he realizes what a temptation the sweet, sheltered Hope presents. Especially her naughty wish to unleash her inner vixen—with both of them.

Hope has no doubt her playmates want to fulfill her every desire, but something’s holding them back. She has an idea what those somethings are. With luck, and a little help from her Compass cousins to hold her fathers off, she’ll find what she needs in the shadows of the past—and convince them she’s found two men of her own who are worthy of her love.

Product Warnings

Compass books bring love in every direction and every season. But not all of life’s moments are filled with joy. Take the good with the bad, and the steamy.

Excerpt:

“Are you insane?” Wyatt shouted at her before kicking a hay bale.

“He could have hurt you,” Clayton murmured as he approached.

“Boone’s big mouth means you must know what that does to me.” Wy rubbed his chest. “There were a million people in that house who love you and you’d risk yourself like that? For what? I know I’m freaking uncivilized sometimes, like this morning—not my best showing, I admit it—but being so inconsiderate of the pain you could have caused your family…that’s just plain selfish and rude. Stupid.”

When he put it like that, she shifted from foot to foot. “I wasn’t afraid of John. I just wanted him gone. Permanently. And maybe to show him that he couldn’t touch me, not really.”

“But he could have.” A vein stood out in Wyatt’s neck, making her worry he’d over exert himself. Relapsing would prolong his recovery and stress him out. None of them needed that. Clay especially, since he had to live with Wy.

“One scream would have rained down enough angry cowboys on him to hold their own rodeo. Sterling knew what was going on and she’s one of the best shots around.” Security at Compass Ranch was guaranteed, in her mind. Nowhere else could have been as safe a haven for her. Unless it was in the arms of two loving ranch hands.

“No kidding, how do you think we realized what you were up to? You’re lucky your father didn’t notice her staring out the window. Hope—” Wyatt’s persistence in his beliefs made her realize civil discussion wasn’t an option. Maybe it never had been. A man like him respected action and bluntness over diplomacy.

Invoking the platinum rule, she prepared to treat him as he preferred.

A sudden fury ignited a conflagration in her like the lightning bolt that had struck the south hay field after last year’s summer-long drought. In this case, the dearth turning her insides to kindling had lasted more than two decades, she supposed. “You know what? Shut the hell up. I’ve had enough of men deciding my future. My dads, my uncles, my ex-boyfriend and now you guys. You can suck it. If you don’t want anything to do with me, you have no right to say how I live my life. A week ago you barely knew my name. Son of a bitch. You were half-dead yesterday and now you’re going to come in here and start brawling to defend my honor or punish me for giving that dirt bag a piece of my mind? I don’t need a lecture from you. Save your energy.”

Wyatt’s grin spread slow and wide. “You cursed. A bunch.”

“Screw you!”

“Hope, you’re wrong about one thing. We’ve known all about you for a while. How could we not?” Clayton’s quiet honesty cut through her rage. “You stand out.”

“You think we didn’t see you prancing around here?” Wyatt scoffed. “We noticed you plenty.”

“Then what the hell were you waiting for? Even after you found out I was curious about trying out your lifestyle, you didn’t make me any offers. Damn it, I practically gave you an engraved invitation and you declined.” Allowing him to see her cry was out of the question. “So go home. Rest. Do the smart thing for once in your life.”

Wyatt ignored her rant. He stared at her as if he actually considered what she’d shouted.

Crossing her arms, she refused to retreat.

“I get wanting to be in control of your destiny. I can respect independence. So is that all you need? To test drive two guys? Doesn’t matter who?” Wyatt peered into her eyes as he put it on the line. “Will screwing us delete this ridiculous idea of the three of us together from your big brain? If you want to have sex, we can handle that. If you want more, it’s impossible. Look at Boone. I won’t do that to another person. And I certainly won’t make you a target for ignorant jerks like the guys at the bar, who’d assume you’d be up for playing with them. Hiding in the shadows isn’t any way to live either. You don’t know what you’re asking for. I didn’t think you were the kind of woman who could separate emotion from sex, but I didn’t think a lot of things about you. I like being wrong sometimes. Maybe this is one of those rare instances.”

Something in her chest fluttered at his adaptability. Could she have judged him wrong too? Was he somewhat more flexible than she’d given him credit for? Steel instead of stone.

If he was bluffing, he was about to be sorry.

“Glad you’re comfortable with screwing up because I think you’re an expert by now.” She loved how she could blurt exactly what she thought without polite phrasing and he could take it. Heck, he seemed to revel in their passionate exchange, which grew more vibrant by the instant.

Arguing with him, debating their future, did something wicked to her.

Hope took a step closer, tilting her head up to maintain eye contact. The intensity of his stare sliced through her, deep into her core.

“You’re pushing him, sweetheart.” Clay’s nostrils flared like one of the horses when it scented a potential mate. “Me along with him.”

Wyatt met her halfway. He caged her between himself and his bunkmate. Their powerful bodies formed canyon walls. She loved being trapped by them. Every instinct she possessed sang with the rightness of it. Surrounded by the two men—their heat and their scent—she feared she might beg them to teach her about all the things she could sense lying barely outside her reach.

“Serves you right.” She pouted just a little.

“Why?” Clay tipped his head. “What’d I do?”

“You’ve been doing the same to me. Teasing me. Putting all these damn ideas in my head. Turning me on with no way to relieve the ache. Don’t leave me like this.” She tossed his words from last night in his face and sealed the deal.

“I won’t. I—I can’t.” Clayton swallowed hard. He looked to Wyatt quickly before he tipped her head up and covered her mouth with his.

Exactly as it had the day before, the connection of their bodies sparked a reaction more potent than the electrostatic attraction that bonded the compatible compounds she’d studied so hard. With Clay, everything was covalent. They agreed on so much. Their personalities had made last night’s companionship easy and light. Wyatt—opposite, and ionic. An explosion of magnetic energy. Or maybe the three of them could fuse into an archetypical bent bond.

Any case provided a similar outcome. A single, perfect connection.

Hope Springs is available for presale at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo.

Quote of the Day

Well…it’s a happy and sad day for me.

1. It’s my birthday (and no…I’m not revealing my age).

2. It’s the first day of school. Sob.

So…I’ll share a quote from The Princess Bride to try to cheer myself up.

“Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.”

Two more days…

As the countdown to Hope Springs winds down…it comes out on TUESDAY!…I thought I’d share a glimpse of the first book in the Compass Girls series, Winter’s Thaw.

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes it’s better.

Compass Girls, Book 1

Sienna Compton has it all figured out. Her life’s goals are set and it is all systems go. At least, it was. Until her long-time boyfriend Josh threw a ringer into the master plan, requesting a “break” from their relationship. Now she’s left alone during the long, cold Wyoming winter, questioning what her heart has always believed to be true love.

Daniel Lennon is facing an uncertain future. When a tragic accident leaves him unable to pursue his career as a professional bull rider, he finds himself at Compass Ranch, working to help Sienna’s father, Seth, build his horse breeding business. One look at Sienna has Daniel envisioning things he never imagined wanting—a permanent home, love, marriage—and he’s willing to use all the red-hot tricks in his sexual arsenal to melt the ice surrounding Sienna’s broken heart.

When lust turns to genuine emotion, can Daniel convince Sienna to take a chance on something different and unexpected? Can he persuade her to consider a new path, one that will lead her directly to his arms…forever?

Product Warnings

Roping and riding, past and future, cold winter and fiery desire, lust and love all come together in this new Compass series. Saddle up and hang on. The Comptons are back!

Excerpt:

Daniel lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. He refused to look at his clock again. At last check—no more than five minutes earlier—it had been midnight. He’d ticked off every hour since he’d crawled into bed at nine and he was still no closer to finding sleep.

Eventually, sheer exhaustion was going to have to win out. God knew he couldn’t keep going at this rate. It had been a week since he’d kissed Sienna in the stable. He would have tried to steal more than a few heated kisses from her, but Sienna pulled away when they’d heard someone enter the stable.

Daniel shuddered to think how close Seth had come to catching them. Even though they were standing a proper distance away from each other when Seth approached, he still sensed his boss was suspicious. For one thing, Sienna’s face had been flushed, her gaze roaming everywhere to avoid her father’s questioning stare. She may as well have stamped the word guilty on her forehead.

Since then, Seth had kept a very close eye on where he was and who he was with. Not that Seth had needed to be on his guard. Sienna was doing a good enough job staying away from him without her father’s interference. He hadn’t caught more than a glimpse of her when she came home from work each day. She’d stopped eating dinner with the family and even eschewed riding her beloved mare, Maria.

According to Doug, Sienna was depressed over Josh. Daniel knew that reaction was natural, but it didn’t stop him from wishing she’d open her eyes and see him as a suitable replacement.

“Screw that,” he muttered. He didn’t intend to replace Josh. He wanted to erase him from Sienna’s thoughts forever. He wasn’t sure when his intentions had changed, but somewhere along the way, he’d stopped hoping to just get into Sienna’s pants. Lately, he’d been thinking it might be nice to find a way into her life, but that didn’t seem possible.

For one thing, she’d just gotten out of a relationship. There was no way she was ready to hop right back into one. And secondly, he’d heard her conversation with Josh. They hadn’t broken up—not officially. They’d just taken a timeout. Daniel didn’t think Sienna would let the idiot come back, but, well, dammit, he wasn’t sure.

He released an annoyed breath and forced his eyes shut. He’d never fall asleep at this rate. He tried to clear his mind of Sienna Compton completely.

A knock sounded on his door.

“What the hell?”

He listened again, wondering if he’d imagined it or if it was the cold winter wind knocking a branch against the trailer.

Another knock. Someone was definitely outside.

He rose and slipped on a pair of sweatpants. Opening the door slowly, he was surprised to find Sienna, wrapped in a coat and shivering.

“Sienna? Get in here. It’s freezing out there.”

She quickly climbed the three stairs, passing him as he closed the door.

“Is something wrong?” He couldn’t imagine there was anything—short of bad news—that would bring her to his trailer at this time of night.

She shook her head. “N-no. Everything’s fine.”

“Okay. That’s good.”

She didn’t bother to explain more. Instead, she shrugged off her coat. Underneath she was dressed in a little slip of a nightgown. He hadn’t realized until that moment that her legs were bare. She’d walked all the way over here in a bit of silk and slippers. Obviously she was paying for the decision, given her uncontrollable shivering.

“Jesus, Sienna. What the hell are you wearing? Or not wearing? You’ll be lucky if you don’t get frostbite.”

She rubbed her hands together, blowing on them for heat. “This was a lot s-sexier when my cousins and I p-planned it from the warmth of my bedroom.”

“Sexy?” Her words hit him like a sledgehammer to the forehead. “Did you come over here to sleep with me?”

Her cheeks were red from the cold, but even so, her blush enhanced the color. “If you h-have to ask, then it’s s-safe to say I’m not doing s-so well.”

He laughed. He couldn’t help it. She was here because she wanted to have sex with him? He’d never been offered such a delectable frozen treat. Unfortunately, she mistook his response.

She reached for her coat, intent on putting it back on. “This was a mistake.”

“Oh, hell no. No mistake.” He pulled the coat away from her and tossed it onto his couch. Then he tugged her into his embrace, trying to infuse her trembling form with some of his own body heat. He rubbed her back lightly.

“You’re warm,” she murmured against his chest.

“And your hands are like ice cubes.”

“Sorry.” She tried to step away, but he stopped her, gripping her wrists. He placed her palms on his chest, holding them there.

“Don’t pull away. Let me warm you up.”

They stared at each other for a few hushed moments, as Daniel allowed his gaze to travel over her silky nightie.

“Say something,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “No. You first. Ask me, Sienna. Ask me to touch you, to take you. I promised I wouldn’t do that until—”

“Touch me,” she interrupted.

Daniel didn’t wait for her to say more.

Winter’s Thaw is available from Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Saturday Snippet

Today’s snippets are all about the Smooth Operator. Everyone loves a hero with moves. As for me, I don’t think there’s anything sexier than a cowboy pushed beyond his limits by the woman he loves. Hope Springs comes out on TUESDAY! Thought I’d share an excerpt.

Snippet:

“Are you insane?” Wyatt shouted at her before kicking a hay bale.

“He could have hurt you,” Clayton murmured as he approached.

“Boone’s big mouth means you must know what that does to me.” Wy rubbed his chest. “There were a million people in that house who love you and you’d risk yourself like that? For what? I know I’m freaking uncivilized sometimes, like this morning—not my best showing, I admit it—but being so inconsiderate of the pain you could have caused your family…that’s just plain selfish and rude. Stupid.”

When he put it like that, she shifted from foot to foot. “I wasn’t afraid of John. I just wanted him gone. Permanently. And maybe to show him that he couldn’t touch me, not really.”

“But he could have.” A vein stood out in Wyatt’s neck, making her worry he’d over exert himself. Relapsing would prolong his recovery and stress him out. None of them needed that. Clay especially, since he had to live with Wy.

“One scream would have rained down enough angry cowboys on him to hold their own rodeo. Sterling knew what was going on and she’s one of the best shots around.” Security at Compass Ranch was guaranteed, in her mind. Nowhere else could have been as safe a haven for her. Unless it was in the arms of two loving ranch hands.

“No kidding, how do you think we realized what you were up to? You’re lucky your father didn’t notice her staring out the window. Hope—” Wyatt’s persistence in his beliefs made her realize civil discussion wasn’t an option. Maybe it never had been. A man like him respected action and bluntness over diplomacy.

Invoking the platinum rule, she prepared to treat him as he preferred.

A sudden fury ignited a conflagration in her like the lightning bolt that had struck the south hay field after last year’s summer-long drought. In this case, the dearth turning her insides to kindling had lasted more than two decades, she supposed. “You know what? Shut the hell up. I’ve had enough of men deciding my future. My dads, my uncles, my ex-boyfriend and now you guys. You can suck it. If you don’t want anything to do with me, you have no right to say how I live my life. A week ago you barely knew my name. Son of a bitch. You were half-dead yesterday and now you’re going to come in here and start brawling to defend my honor or punish me for giving that dirt bag a piece of my mind? I don’t need a lecture from you. Save your energy.”

Wyatt’s grin spread slow and wide. “You cursed. A bunch.”

“Screw you!”

“Hope, you’re wrong about one thing. We’ve known all about you for a while. How could we not?” Clayton’s quiet honesty cut through her rage. “You stand out.”

“You think we didn’t see you prancing around here?” Wyatt scoffed. “We noticed you plenty.”

“Then what the hell were you waiting for? Even after you found out I was curious about trying out your lifestyle, you didn’t make me any offers. Damn it, I practically gave you an engraved invitation and you declined.” Allowing him to see her cry was out of the question. “So go home. Rest. Do the smart thing for once in your life.”

Wyatt ignored her rant. He stared at her as if he actually considered what she’d shouted.

Crossing her arms, she refused to retreat.

“I get wanting to be in control of your destiny. I can respect independence. So is that all you need? To test drive two guys? Doesn’t matter who?” Wyatt peered into her eyes as he put it on the line. “Will screwing us delete this ridiculous idea of the three of us together from your big brain? If you want to have sex, we can handle that. If you want more, it’s impossible. Look at Boone. I won’t do that to another person. And I certainly won’t make you a target for ignorant jerks like the guys at the bar, who’d assume you’d be up for playing with them. Hiding in the shadows isn’t any way to live either. You don’t know what you’re asking for. I didn’t think you were the kind of woman who could separate emotion from sex, but I didn’t think a lot of things about you. I like being wrong sometimes. Maybe this is one of those rare instances.”

Something in her chest fluttered at his adaptability. Could she have judged him wrong too? Was he somewhat more flexible than she’d given him credit for? Steel instead of stone.

If he was bluffing, he was about to be sorry.

“Glad you’re comfortable with screwing up because I think you’re an expert by now.” She loved how she could blurt exactly what she thought without polite phrasing and he could take it. Heck, he seemed to revel in their passionate exchange, which grew more vibrant by the instant.

Arguing with him, debating their future, did something wicked to her.

Hope took a step closer, tilting her head up to maintain eye contact. The intensity of his stare sliced through her, deep into her core.

“You’re pushing him, sweetheart.” Clay’s nostrils flared like one of the horses when it scented a potential mate. “Me along with him.”

Wyatt met her halfway. He caged her between himself and his bunkmate. Their powerful bodies formed canyon walls. She loved being trapped by them. Every instinct she possessed sang with the rightness of it. Surrounded by the two men—their heat and their scent—she feared she might beg them to teach her about all the things she could sense lying barely outside her reach.

“Serves you right.” She pouted just a little.

“Why?” Clay tipped his head. “What’d I do?”

“You’ve been doing the same to me. Teasing me. Putting all these damn ideas in my head. Turning me on with no way to relieve the ache. Don’t leave me like this.” She tossed his words from last night in his face and sealed the deal.

“I won’t. I—I can’t.” Clayton swallowed hard. He looked to Wyatt quickly before he tipped her head up and covered her mouth with his.

Hope Springs is available for presale at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo.

Want more snippets?

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Leah Braemel

Meet the Heat Valerie Tibbs

Valerie Tibbs has designed over HALF of my book covers. Seriously. Over half. Know why? Because I love her work! She’s an amazing artist and a fantastic friend! She’s been with the IntlHeat gang since day one and she’s one of the very first friends/fans I made WAY back in 2008. She’s been a lovely supporter of my work and I truly don’t know what I’d do without her.

What is your favorite book? 
So many.  Too many to pick from.  But at the top of my list is Calista’s Men by Jory Strong.  And Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston.  Love those all the books in those series.
What is your favorite food?
I love authentic Italian food.  But after living in Italy for 8 years, I’m a total snob about it here in the US.  Just ask my poor husband.
What is your favorite song/singer/type of music? 
I can’t say that I have a favorite song, but I love pop music.  Fun, bouncy stuff.  But my favorite singer has to be Adele.
What are your goals for the future (design or personal)?
To be able to work full time with the design business.  That goal is getting closer.
If you could design a cover for any author, who would you choose and why?
Janet Evanovich or Nora Roberts.  Just because I love them and it would put me on the ‘map’!  Plus it would give me great satisfaction knowing that they’ve seen something I did.
What’s the hardest cover you’ve ever designed and why?
That’s a tough question.  There are a lot of covers that are tough to design just because of the subject matter (or the crazy requests from authors), but others are tough because there are too many hands in the design process (editors, senior editors, art directors, marketing directors, publishers, etc…) and the end result is nothing like I had envisioned.  I’ve done mockups that I thought were just awesome right off the bat, and the other parties involved hated it so I’ve had to start over.  Those are the tough ones.
What’s your favorite cover designed? 
That’s hard.  Like picking a favorite child.  I think right now my favorite is actually a series of covers I designed for Mari Carr and Lila Dubois (The Trinity Masters series).  These turned out really well, if I do say so myself.
If you could have any of your favorite books made into a movie, which one would you choose and who would play the hero/heroine?
Probably one of the Play By Play books by Jaci Burton.  Love that whole series and I think they’d translate well to film.
Boxers or briefs?
Boxer briefs!

You can see more of Valerie’s work on her website or why not like her Facebook page?

Lovestruck Giveaway Hop

b>Love-struck: (adjective) having a passionate or overwhelming feeling of love; smitten. This week I’m participating in the Lovestruck blog hop. Hop along to discover some new romances! And what better way to heat up the summer, then with a couple of alpha cowboys?

Hope Springs is the next story in the Compass Girls series I’m co-writing Jayne Rylon. It releases on August 20. Leave a comment to be entered to win the first book in the series, Winter’s Thaw. All you have to do is tell me type of hero melts your butter. Do you go for the strong, quiet type, the sensitive nerd, the demanding dom? Describe your ultimate man!

Now, how about a never-seen-before sneak peek at Hope Springs?

What will grow from the seeds of desire?

Compass Girls, Book 2

Hope Compton never considered her parents’ unconventional relationship a dangerous thing. Until, after a few too many drinks in a crowded bar, she admits her desire for a ménage to her college boyfriend—and uninvited guests try to turn her fantasy into a nightmare.

When Wyatt catches some thugs harassing the pretty daughter of his bosses, he doesn’t hesitate to call on his partner Clayton to kick some asses. But then he realizes what a temptation the sweet, sheltered Hope presents. Especially her naughty wish to unleash her inner vixen—with both of them.

Hope has no doubt her playmates want to fulfill her every desire, but something’s holding them back. She has an idea what those somethings are. With luck, and a little help from her Compass cousins to hold her fathers off, she’ll find what she needs in the shadows of the past—and convince them she’s found two men of her own who are worthy of her love.

Warning: Compass books bring love in every direction and every season. But not all of life’s moments are filled with joy. Take the good with the bad, and the steamy.

Excerpt:

Sawyer strode around the sectional and crouched by Clayton’s knee. He held his arms out to Hope and muttered in a gruff tone, “Ah, baby. What did they do to you? I’m here. No one’s going to touch you again.”

The gorgeous girl in Clay’s arms sobbed. The dam broke and tears rained down her cheeks after dangling from her thick, curled lashes like diamonds. Shock and something like jealousy—toward Clay or Hope, he wasn’t sure, maybe both—speared Wyatt when she refused the solace her uncle offered and nestled closer to Wyatt’s man instead.

Whoa.

Sawyer Compton looked up, his raised brows making him appear as stunned as Wyatt.

Despite the power that radiated from the man all three cowboys in attendance respected, Clay didn’t hesitate. He embraced the young lady they’d admired from afar and supported her with the quiet sureness he’d granted Wyatt in the darkest hours of the night.

He knew just how tempting it was to believe in that relentless affirmation of peace ahead. It built confidence that the world would come to rights again soon.

Unlike Wyatt, Hope didn’t show her appreciation by fucking the shit out of Clay, though maybe she would have given it a try if her uncle hadn’t lingered a hairsbreadth away. The clench of her swollen fingers on Clay’s nape just before she buried them in his ultra-soft tawny hair gave her away.

Now this was trouble they didn’t need.

Because Wyatt felt it too. Something swirled between the three of them. Endorphins could account for some of the exhilaration storming his better sense. Not all of it, he suspected. Watching Clay melt, his restraint dissolving in the wake of Hope’s tears, Wyatt had to act.

He closed the gap between them and laid his hand on Clay’s other shoulder. While Sawyer studied them, he squeezed, reminding the other guy of his presence and where they were. Now wasn’t the time to find another stray to take in. How had that gone with Boone?

Thankfully, his partner stiffened. His caresses on Hope’s spine morphed into awkward pats. The woman sniffled and blinked. Those almond eyes of hers nearly cracked both him and Clay when she darted a wide, watery stare between them.

Damn, she was potent.

“I—I’m sorry.” The questions in her eyes at Clay’s sudden change punched Wyatt in the gut. It had to be better to stop this before it got started, though. No sense in misleading her. Certainly not when the stakes were so damn high. They couldn’t afford to lose their jobs. It would kill them to leave the place they’d come to love as if it were their own.

“You’re fine.” Clay tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. He likely couldn’t resist. Wyatt didn’t blame the guy either. “Just, maybe you’d better tell your uncle how this went down. Sooner you do, sooner you can go home.”

Mention of Compass Ranch and that cute little bungalow she lived in with her wild cousins made more moisture trickle from her eyes. She bit her abused lip, then nodded.

Don’t forget to check out these other awesome blogs too. Lots of romance! Lots of prizes. And leave your comment here to be entered to win the first book in the Compass Girls series, Winter’s Thaw. 

One more week…

And the countdown continues to the release of Hope Springs on August 20. Today I’m wrapping up my recap of the Compass Brothers series with an excerpt from Western Ties. This book is probably in my top five favorite books I’ve ever written. Even though it made me cry for WEEKS!

How strong are the ties that bind?

Compass Brothers, Book 4

Leah Hollister’s sex life needs a swift kick in the pants. Small-town Compton Pass, though, isn’t the place to explore her need for bondage. When she gets an invitation to a BDSM party out in LA, she wastes no time booking a flight.

Her plan to play anonymously is shot to hell when she runs into high-school crush Sawyer Compton—and he lays immediate claim to her.

Sawyer Compton commands total control, in and out of the bedroom. He never thought Leah could handle his darker urges, but one look at the white bracelet that marks her as a sub ripe for the picking, and he knows exactly how this night is going to end. With Leah in his bed.

Leah didn’t expect to enjoy the comfort Sawyer’s familiarity brings, even as his touch takes her to unimaginable heights of pleasure. When bad news from home sends him reeling, she’s more than prepared to offer him anything he needs: her body, her friendship. Even her heart—if Sawyer can loosen the reins over his own to accept her love.

Product Warnings

Invest in tissues. Lots and lots of tissues. Between spicy, set-the-sheets-on-fire bondage romps and the last Compass brother coming home, you’ll need them.

Excerpt:

“Leah?” a familiar male voice behind her said.

Leah closed her eyes and prayed she’d imagined it. There was no way. No possible way—

“Leah Hollister?”

She sighed. Fuck. What were the chances?

Turning, she realized her night wasn’t going to end as she’d planned. She should have saved her money. Should have stayed in Compton Pass. She was screwed.

“Sawyer.” She didn’t bother with the pretense of being happy to see him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Leah,” Stacey whispered, her voice full of warning.

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer. His gaze started at the top, taking in her dramatic makeup, before drifting lower to her breasts, accentuated by the tight corset Stacey had loaned her. She willed herself to remain still as he finished his visual tour with a long look at her short leather skirt and stocking-clad legs.

“Enjoying the view?” she taunted. “You still haven’t answered my question. Shouldn’t you be in San Francisco? What are you doing here?”

He scowled. “That’s my question for you. A BDSM party in L.A. is a long way from a kindergarten classroom in Compton Pass. Last time I saw you, you were leading a pack of five-year-olds around my family’s ranch.”

A couple of years earlier, Sawyer had helped her organize a field trip to Compass ranch. It had been one of the highlights of the year for her students—and for her. It was also the last time she’d seen Sawyer. Two years was a long time. She certainly hadn’t expected their reunion to take place in L.A.

She sucked in a deep breath and tried to hide her disappointment. He was right. She’d purposely put herself as far away from home as possible, so that she could indulge in these two nights. One weekend to confirm a few suspicions she’d always held in regard to her sexual preferences. Sawyer was going to put a wrench in the works.

She gestured at her outfit. “I would think my role here would be obvious.” For the first time, she allowed her gaze to travel over him as well. Her body heated with arousal as she noted how unbelievably sexy he was. He wore tight dark jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest to perfection. No one in the place would fail to read the dominance in his stance, the aura of power he projected.

On the surface, she was shocked to find her friend in a place like this, but there was another part—deep inside—that wasn’t a bit surprised. He belonged here.

“So you’re a Dom?” She fought the urge to laugh as she asked the absurd question. Of course he was.

His gaze drifted to her arm. He grasped her wrist, pulling it up and toying with the white wristband the host had given her upon arrival.

“You understand what this means, right?” he asked, gesturing to the bracelet.

Sawyer completely ignored her Dom question. It didn’t matter anyway. It had clearly been rhetorical. He was a Compton. Anybody and everybody from their neck of the woods knew that name was synonymous with alpha male.

She gave him an annoyed look. “Of course I do.”

It was evident from his tone he didn’t think she belonged here any more than Stacey. One of the reasons she’d planned this adventure far away from home, surrounded by strangers who didn’t know her, was because rumors spread like wildfire in their small hometown. She knew about Sawyer’s sexual proclivities, and she’d always wondered if she shared a few of them.

Besides, her sweet disposition didn’t inspire the more adventurous cowboys back home to ask her out, so her opportunities for exploration were seriously limited. Stacey was right. She was a goody-goody.

Sawyer didn’t appear to like her answer, so he restated the obvious. “It means you are an unattached submissive who’s looking for a Dom. This wristband has declared it open season on you.”

She shrugged, unconcerned. “Sorry to shatter the illusion, Sawyer, but I think I can handle whatever this party dishes out. It’s not like I’m a virgin.”

He frowned. “You lost your virginity in the backseat of a Pontiac to Les Prescott after Compton Pass won the district football championship our senior year. The guy was a shithead. You should’ve chosen better.”

Leah laughed, though a ripple of desire slammed into her. It was always this way with Sawyer. Though they were just friends, there’d never been a time when she hadn’t felt his gaze on her. He’d scared off more than a few would-be boyfriends in her lifetime claiming they were only after one thing. Les had fallen into that category, but Sawyer had been playing on that championship team and had been a bit distracted that night.

Sawyer had appointed himself her personal guardian in third grade when Jordan Haskiell had shoved her down on the playground after she’d beat him in a footrace. As a result, Sawyer had endured an afternoon in the principal’s office and God only knew what kind of punishment at home after issuing Jordan a very physical, very painful warning of what happened to guys who messed with Leah. While Sawyer hadn’t pursued her romantically, he’d certainly taken the bonds of friendship to a new extreme.

Despite the fact they’d existed in different cliques at school, Sawyer hadn’t let social status stop him from being one of her best friends. He’d run with the jocks and cheerleaders, while she’d been firmly encamped with the brainiacs, less affectionately referred to as nerds by their peers. “How could you have known about Les?”

“I told you. He was a prick. He was bragging about it at school the following Monday.”

She flushed. She’d never heard of Les spreading rumors about her. “I didn’t know—”

Sawyer grinned. “Luckily, he started his boasting with me. I took him out behind the school and gave him a reason to shut his fucking mouth.”

His admission held a hint of humor, but she could tell he was angry. She decided to test the waters to see how screwed she was.

“Well, it was great to see you again, but Stacey and I were going to pop over to the bar for a drink.”

“I’ll go with you.” He confirmed her fear.

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re scaring off all the other Doms.”

His wolfish grin let her know that was his intent.

Her temper sparked. “God dammit, Sawyer. Go away.”

Stacey lightly touched her arm, alerting Leah that she’d spoken too loudly. Several people glanced in her direction and frowned. She was never going to achieve her goal at this rate.

Sawyer was the only person in the room who didn’t take offense at her faux pas. “You realize this is a weekend party?”

She nodded. It was starting to look like it would be a long two days.

Sawyer reclaimed her hand, slipping off the white bracelet.

“What the hell are you doing?” She tried to pull her arm free, attempting to grab the wristband back.

Sawyer’s grip was implacable. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a green bracelet. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. There was no way he would—

Sawyer slipped it around her wrist.

“No,” she whispered when he lifted her hand.

Western Ties is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony and All Romance Ebooks.

Quote of the Day

Continuing with great lines from The Princess Bride!

“You’ve been chasing me your entire life, only to fail now. I think that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard; how marvelous.”

Meet the Heat Bianca D’Arc

This week, I’m featuring one of my dearest friends, Bianca D’Arc in the Meet the Heat spotlight! Bianca joined IntlHeat a couple of years ago and she’s been one of the nicest additions to the gang ever! She’s a lovely lady, a talented writer and a genuinely kind person!

What is your favorite book?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy

What is your favorite food?
Pizza!

What is your favorite song/singer/type of music?
Favorite singer would have to be Steve Perry of Journey. That voice can DO things to a woman! LOL. Favorite type of music is probably classic rock.

What are your goals for the future (writing or personal)?
I want to finish the Redstone Clan series early next year and use 2014 to finish a few of my series with Samhain – most notably the Resonance Mates series, which will wrap up in March 2014.

If you could co-write a book with any author, who would you choose and why?
Probably Lora Leigh or Laurann Dohner because they write a similar storyline about humans genetically modified with animal DNA. I love that plot and I love those books. I started my working life as a biochemist, so that sort of thing has always intrigued me. I also really like cyborgs – which is something I might explore more sometime in the future. 

What was the hardest scene you’ve ever written?
In my second Dragon Knights book, Border Lair, there’s a catharsis scene where the hero comes to terms with the death of his wife and child years before. He breaks down. As I was writing it, I wasn’t sure if I was going too far – making this strong man turn to mush over something that happened so long ago. But I guess I did okay with it because I got a fan letter a few months after the initial release of the book thanking me for writing that particular scene because it had apparently helped someone who had lost their partner a few years ago and gave them hope for the future. I was floored. Best fan letter ever. Made me feel so good about my work! And I’m glad I went out on a limb and wrote that scene that, at the time, was very hard for me to write.

What’s your favorite book you’ve ever written?
I think maybe The Ice Dragon because of the loveable baby dragon, Tor. He is probably my favorite character to have written because in some ways, he’s like my very own child. I don’t have kids in real life, but the baby creatures that appear in my books occasionally feel like my “children” to some extent.

If you could have any of your books made into a movie, which one would you choose and who would play the hero/heroine?
A few fans have told me that they could see Vin Diesel as the hero in Once Bitten, Twice Dead. Personally, I’m not sure, but it is a very action-oriented book, so maybe. And Angie Harmon as the heroine because the cover model is a dead ringer for her.

Boxers or briefs?
Boxers. I’m a traditionalist.

Where can you find Bianca?

Website: www.biancadarc.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiancaDArcAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancadarc

Two more weeks!

With just two more weeks to go until the release of Hope Springs, I’m still counting down Compass-style! Today’s featured book is Eastern Ambitions. This book hit the New York Times bestseller list–a first for me. I cried the night my editor called to give me the news. Truly one of the happiest nights of my life!

He’s lost everything. Can he win her heart?

Compass Brothers, Book 3

Sam Compton never liked getting his hands dirty, at least not on Compass Ranch. Armed with a business degree, he’s about to become the youngest VP at an illustrious Wall Street investment firm. Until his partner in an office romance turns into an ultra-refined snake in the grass.

Staggering from the punch of betrayal, another blow threatens to level him. His father is dying. He races home to lend his brain to his brothers’ backs at the ranch, and finds something he never expected. A sophisticated yet playful woman stimulates his mind…and parts below the belt.

Compass Ranch gave Cindi Middleton’s wounded soul everything it needs: a home, acceptance, and respect—not to mention unlimited sex—from the ranch’s sexy cowboys. Despite their instant and intense sparks, Sam’s defection to the bright city lights she left behind is a big red flag. She’s been there, done that, burned the T-shirt.

Yet the heat of their attraction brings them circling back to each other’s arms…until a certain snake reappears, threatening to endanger the acquisition of the one thing Sam has realized is truly priceless.

Product Warnings

Tissue alert! The authors recommend you have a few on hand while reading this book. To make up for any sniffles, a host of cowboys with open arms await to console you, distract you or make your wildest dreams come true.

Excerpt:

Cindi shook her head as Seth helped his brother up the stairs. She didn’t have to be introduced to recognize the man who’d ridden in with the southern charmer. Another one of the infamous Compass Brothers had returned.

Magnets from the four corners of the country, not to mention several places around the world, pinned pictures of Vicky’s heartbreakers to the refrigerator in the main house. Even without the recent headshot of one of New York’s top traders, she’d have had no trouble identifying JD’s offspring.

Sam had inherited his father’s build and the easy flow of his movements. Something about him called to her even more than the other potent Compton men. Maybe it’d been his sophisticated style, his understated yet quality clothing or his classic haircut, which highlighted his handsomeness more than his ruggedness.

In person, he blew away the photo she’d drooled over when putting up leftovers. Damn.

“Careful, sweetie.” Jake approached from where he’d been tinkering with a piece of equipment. He wiped the grease off his hands onto his jeans before trailing his index finger down her neck. “You’re looking like you might swallow that talented tongue of yours.”

“Jealous?” She lifted a brow.

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Can’t imagine a Compass Brother sharing his girl. That’d be a mighty big problem. For both of us I’d reckon.”

“You do realize Silas has sex with both Colby and Lucy, right?” She adored the blush that enhanced his deep tan.

“That’s different.” He shook his head. “You know what I’m talking about. Or if you’ve forgotten, maybe I could show you. Pretty sure Duke, Johnny and Levi are finishing up inside. We’ll make you forget you ever saw that kid. City-slickers like him don’t have anything on real men.”

“Not tonight, Jake.” For the first time, the idea of a romp in the hay with them didn’t appeal. Usually an invitation to be embraced by their group inspired a shiver. Not today. “And don’t talk like that, okay? It doesn’t improve my opinion of you.”

“Really, Cin?” He retreated a step or two as though she were one of her beloved barn cats, hissing and slashing at him with sharp claws. “Is that how it is? I always thought you didn’t care about a man’s standing as much as his open arms. We’ve made you part of our family, given you what you needed. The second you see some rich prick you’re going to throw us over? Hell, you’ve never even talked to the guy.”

“Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?” She chuckled. “All I’m doing is standing here, enjoying the evening air and the scenery.”

“I’ve seen that look before.” Jake came closer. He crowded her against the wall, but she didn’t flinch. He’d never hurt her.

When he bent his head and stole a kiss, she added enough heat to the brief glide of her lips to reassure him.

“I like it better when it’s aimed at me,” he whispered in her ear. “Have your fun. I’ll be ready to pick up the pieces.”

“What do you have against Sam?” She tilted her head as she studied the tightness in Jake’s jaw. He was one of the most relaxed, easygoing cowboys she’d ever met.

“It’s hard to respect a kid who doesn’t appreciate his good fortune.” Jake shook his head. “I’d have killed for the kind of folks he has, the support he threw in the garbage. All of the Compass Brothers.”

“Didn’t they leave right after high school?” That’s what ranch rumor had to say about it, anyway.

“Yeah. All of them lit out of here like their asses were on fire, the moment they turned eighteen. Silas… Of all of them, I get how that situation could screw with your head. Maybe.” He kicked at a rock. “The rest, well, I don’t understand.”

“You can’t judge what they did as teenagers, Jake.” She snagged his hand and squeezed. “You’re older. We both know how important these kinds of connections are. They were lucky. They didn’t have a clue what it’s like to be totally alone, like us. Never will probably.”

“I hope you’re right.” The cheerful mask he typically wore drooped a fraction, and Cindi couldn’t resist their bond. Jake had provided a safe haven for her when she needed it. Tonight seemed like a bad night for him. “Wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

She leaned toward the open door, tugging on him gently. “Your offer still stand?”

“Why?” He peered from beneath the brim of his dark, dusty hat.

“I think I changed my mind.” She walked backward, drawing him into the barn.

Eastern Ambitions is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo andAll Romance Ebooks.