Mari Carr's Blog, page 95
September 26, 2011
Quote of the Day
And the Steel Magnolia quotes roll on.
"Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!" – Clairee
September 24, 2011
Saturday Snippets
I'm taking some liberties with today's theme and I hope you'll forgive me. For my milestone excerpt, I chose Party Naked, my latest release at Ellora's Cave. I won't be featuring a milestone the characters are celebrating, but rather one I'm celebrating. Party Naked is my twentieth release with Ellora's Cave. It's been a long, wonderful journey from Kiss Me Kate's release in Sept. 2008 until this one three years later.
Party Naked snippet:
Stephanie rubbed a weary hand over her face. The Romantic Hearts book club meeting was in full-swing as she dropped off the second round of Screwdrivers. She wasn't sure what book they were discussing, but it must have been a hot one. The ladies were animated and laughing loudly over a certain racy passage.
It was only seven o'clock, but she felt like she'd been on her feet for years rather than a few hours. She was still stewing over the parking ticket in her pocket. She'd never met a more arrogant, condescending police officer in her life. She had half a mind to storm over to the police department and file a complaint against Detective Nolan.
The only thing holding her back was that ultimately she had been wrong. She should have known better than to do something so stupid. Her day had been one long string of bad luck. It only stood to reason that the first time she'd ever double-parked in her life, she'd block in a freaking cop. Murphy's Law was having a lot of fun at her expense.
She hadn't told the other girls about the ticket upon returning to the bar because she was equal parts irritated and embarrassed. She'd just carefully stepped over the mat, put the liquor bottles on the counter and gotten to work.
Surprisingly Thursdays were pretty good days for them, business-wise. In addition to the book club meeting, there were quite a few regulars who came to have a drink or two and unwind with a newspaper or the newest novels.
Speaking of regulars, Stephanie took a detour to a chair in the corner. "You need me to freshen up your drink, Elias?"
Elias Clark was Books and Brew's most loyal patron. He came in two nights a week—Thursdays and Saturdays—and he always followed the same routine. He'd claim his chair in the quietest corner of the shop, drink two scotch and sodas—never more than two—and read the newspaper. Then he'd find Jayne and she'd talk him into buying a new book.
"Thank you, Stephanie. I believe I am ready for my second glass."
She picked up his empty tumbler and started to walk back to the bar, but Elias stopped her with a question. "You okay tonight? You seem tired. That's not like you. You're usually the life of this place."
She smiled at his compliment and shrugged easily. "I've had a long day."
A very long one, she thought.
"Perhaps you could take off early?" Elias suggested. "Go home and rest. I bet the other ladies wouldn't mind covering for you."
Stephanie glanced around the shop. Jayne was leading the book discussion, while Sophie and Jordan were helping various customers, either by finding books or serving drinks.
She shook her head. "Only a few more hours until closing time. I'll be fine 'til then."
Elias gave her a friendly smile and she felt grateful for his concern.
She was halfway to the bar when she spotted a familiar face walking through the front door. She stopped in her tracks. Detective Nolan sauntered in like he owned the place and the temper she'd managed to subdue all afternoon flared hot once again.
He glanced around the bar quickly, looking over at the boisterous book group as he took a seat at the end of the bar. His gaze missed her completely.
Suddenly she felt as if the clouds on her lousy day had lifted and she'd been granted a bit of good fortune. She'd had hours to fume about the detective's behavior and, as always happened, she'd thought of a million clever, cutting things she could have said to him after she'd driven away. She'd been pissed off about missing her opportunity.
A smile crossed her face. Time for round two.
She walked toward him.
As if sensing sudden danger, the detective turned, his gaze catching hers as she approached. She enjoyed the myriad emotions that covered his face in the few short steps it took her to reach him—surprise, annoyance, anger and, finally, was that regret? The last pulled her up short for a moment, then she drew near.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't De—"
The detective grabbed her shoulders, pulled her toward him and cut off her words with a kiss that left her stunned motionless for a full thirty seconds.
What the hell?
Party Naked is available at Ellora's Cave.
Check out some more milestones!
September 23, 2011
An exciting month!
I've been hiding out in the writing cave lately working fast and furious on Western Ties, the final Compass book. I've spent the last two weekends glued to my chair for HOURS, but the book is now *almost* completely finished. Now that I have a few minutes to catch my breath, I thought I'd fill you in on my exciting news!
Last week, my Samhain editor offered for Because You Love Me, the sequel to Because of You. It's a romantic suspense/red hot menage story and it's looking at a late Jan. 2012 release.
Then…as if the Samhain acceptance wasn't exciting enough, my Ellora's Cave editor accepted White Knight, the sequel to Black Jack! Woo Hoo. Two books sold in one week! White Knight is Travis' story. I think he may be one of my favorite characters of all time. I love wounded heroes and Travis is about as wounded as a man can be.
As you saw, I had a new book release this week. Party Naked, Book one of the Cocktales series, hit Ellora's Cave on Wednesday. Next Tuesday, Slam Dunk, the latest Black & White Collection book will hit Samhain's shelves.
Next weekend, I will be attending Romanticon in Akron, Ohio. If any of you are in the Akron area, I hope you will come to the booksigning on Sunday from 12-4. Details can be found on Ellora's Cave's website. My CP Rhian Cahill is making the trip from Oz and I'll be meeting up with my writing partner, Jayne Rylon and favorite cover artist ever, Valerie Tibbs, as well. Needless to say, I can't wait!
September 21, 2011
Party Naked contest!
Thought I'd hold an impromptu overnight contest to celebrate the release of Party Naked at Ellora's Cave today. The rules are simple. Party Naked (as well as the next three books in the series) is named after a cocktail. In the comments, tell me the funniest drink name you've ever heard. I'll run the contest through 5 p.m. EST tomorrow (Sept. 22) and choose a winner at random. Prize will be winner's choice of my ebook backlist. 
Party Naked
Party Naked - Book one of the Cocktales series. Coming to Ellora's Cave releases TODAY.
Cocktales, Book One
Stephanie Harper is perfectly happy co-owning Books and Brew, where she slings drinks and entertains her friends with cutting wit and a cynical take on love. She's convinced she has no time for anything deeper than sex; she has a business to run, after all. And her thrice-married mother has proven happy every after doesn't exist.
Jarod Nolan begs to differ. Chance has him running into Steph—and giving her a ticket—one morning, but it's fate that finds him in her place of business that same evening. A sizzling one-night stand ensues, and although Stephanie escapes before he wakes the next morning, Jarod is already sure she's worth the chase.
Steph's more than willing to party naked with the hot cop, but she's adamant they're driven by lust, not love. Jarod is prepared to prove otherwise, even if it means giving up one of the things he and Stephanie do best…
What's that old saying? Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder?
And what about the rest of the series? Stay tuned for more books in this series…
In Screwdriver, Jordan Lance, the accountant/business manager of Books and Brew, has had a crush on the landlord of the store's building forever. Unfortunately, she's cursed with incurable shyness whenever he's around. Besides in her mind, the gazillionaire Gabriel Lawson is way out of her league. When Gabriel's best friend and master carpenter, Casey Woods, shows up to do some work on the store, he sees a way to help Jordan get the man of her dreams. Maybe he'll even get to realize a fantasy–or three–of his own along the way.
In Bachelor's Bait, Sophie Kennedy, debutante and daddy's little girl runs the marketing end of the store. After all, socialite is her middle name. When money's not an object, working with your best friends can be fun. A chance meeting with Marc Garrett, a free-aid lawyer at a Bachelor Auction, opens her eyes to a world that isn't always plated in gold.
In the final book, Screaming Orgasm, Jayne Kent, the quiet, intelligent, reliable friend who runs the bookstore has always had feelings Elias Clark, a scientist and "regular" at Books and Brew. Despite the fact, he's older, Jayne finds herself drawn to him in ways she can't explain. While he's always offered advice and friendship to the girls, always been affable and easy-going, Jayne soon finds out he's not at all what he appears to be.
September 20, 2011
Island Idyll
My BFF Jess Dee has a book releasing at Samhain today! It's part of the Bandicoot Cove series and these covers AND stories are red, red hot! Check it out!
Island IdyllAdolescent fantasies can grow into very adult realities.
Bandicoot Cove, Book 4
Sienna James has come to Bandicoot Cove to mourn the end of her eight-year relationship with Ben Cowley. The last person she expects to meet is the star of every one of her high school fantasies.
Joshua Lye is not only as appealing as he was in high school, he reveals she was the main feature in his adolescent wet dreams. As kids they never got it together. But they're adults now, and there's nothing keeping them apart.
When Ben arrives at the resort determined to win Sienna back, finding another man in her bed kind of throws a spanner in the works. But he isn't deterred. Rather than admit defeat, he comes up with an alternative plan: Let Sienna sleep with both men—at the same time. Then she can make an informed decision as to which man she wants.
Sienna shouldn't want to go through with this shockingly sexy plan, but she does. Desperately. Except after the sexual storm passes, she could have it all…or be left holding an empty heart.
Product Warnings
Contains a suggestion beyond risqué, a solution beyond orgasmic, and two men who know how to play dirty. Really, really dirty.
September 19, 2011
Quote of the Day
Steel Magnolias again!
"A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste." – Ouiser
Ain't it the truth!
September 17, 2011
Saturday Snippets
This week's theme is Important Date. As I tried to think of a snippet to share, I considered the idea that sometimes there are events that happen in life that–at the time–seem insignificant, but in retrospect, you realize that day, that moment was a turning point. There was just such an event in Everything Nice. The three main characters are at an end of summer bash, sitting around the campfire, thinking it's just another party. Little did they know the events of that night would change everything…
Snippet:
"So how long have you been in love with Anderson?" Taylor asked.
Allie turned to look at him briefly before letting her gaze drift back to the man in question. "Forever," she confessed, the alcohol loosening her tongue. "How long have you been in love with him?"
Her question was nothing more than a taunt, a petty way to strike out against the man, and she expected him to ignore her challenge, offer a flat-out denial, call her a fool.
She'd only come to suspect Taylor's feelings toward his best friend since they'd moved home from college. For some reason, after their return, she'd begun to watch Taylor as much as Anderson. A fact she couldn't even begin to explain to herself as the man had been a thorn in her side for most of their childhood. To say they butted heads often was an understatement. Ginny had teased her about her volatile relationship with Taylor, once claiming that they were both too much alike.
She was surprised to hear his heavy sigh of resignation.
"How did you know?" he asked.
Allie offered him a light laugh despite the fact her heart felt far from happy. "I'm not blind."
Taylor nodded as if her answer were enough. "It would seem that blindness only affects Anderson."
"He doesn't know?"
Taylor chuckled, though the sound offered no mirth. "Never came up in conversation."
"In twelve years?"
"He's not gay, Allie."
She raised her eyebrows at his words. "I wouldn't have said you were either, if your list of female conquests was any indication."
"You're right. I'm not gay," he admitted. He turned away from watching Anderson and moved closer to her. His intent gaze, while making her uneasy, drew her toward him like a moth to a flame.
"Care to explain that statement?" she asked, the alcohol in her system making her say things she'd never have had the nerve to voice otherwise.
"Ever heard the term bisexual?" he replied sarcastically.
She scowled, but before she could chastise him for being such a smartass, he grinned at her and ran his hand down her cheek in a more-than-friendly way. "Allie, I love women too. I love being with women, making love to them, tasting and touching them."
"But you've been with men as well?"
"A couple in college," he confessed.
"Neither of them stole your heart?" she asked, silently wondering why it felt so natural to be having this far-from-normal conversation with a man she'd always suspected detested her.
"My heart's not available," he answered simply.
"It belongs to Anderson?"
Taylor glanced back at his friend. "He's the only man I've ever truly found myself attracted to—in a forever kind of way. I can't help wondering what it would be like to be with him."
She nodded. "Well, that certainly explains why you hate me. I never realized it before, but I suppose I'm the competition."
Taylor's eyebrows lowered, furrowed. "I don't hate you, Allie. I never have."
Allie was surprised by his answer. "But I thought—"
"Allie," Taylor interrupted, moving closer to her. "You aren't the competition. You're part of the equation."
Before she could respond, his lips lowered to hers, taking them in a kiss that was gentle and hard at the same time, tentative and possessive in the same breath.
She tried to understand what was happening, but the alcohol left her brain feeling fuzzy while Taylor's kisses and roving hands left her body feeling very warm.
When he pulled back, Allie opened her eyes. "I'm drunk. And confused," she admitted, and Taylor laughed, drawing his finger softly down her cheek again.
"Soon, hellion. Soon it'll all work out. You'll see." And with that enigmatic comment, Taylor got up and walked around the bonfire, joining in the conversation with Travers and Anderson.
Allie took a deep breath and struggled to understand what just happened. She looked around at the other people at the party. No one seemed to have noticed Taylor kissing her, everyone engrossed in their own conversations.
What the hell am I doing?
Kissing Alex Taylor—a confessed bisexual who happened to be in love with the same man as she—was not smart.
Shit, she was drunk and depressed about her life. Her mind was playing tricks on her. There was no way she could have possibly understood Taylor's intentions correctly. He couldn't have meant that he intended to have her and Anderson, could he?
She struggled to take a deep breath and a feeling of claustrophobia closed in on her as she realized she could give in to his desires far too easily. Apparently Ginny had been right. She and Taylor were similar people with similar hopes and needs.
But if she succumbed to Taylor's invitation, where would that leave her?
Here, she thought sadly. Stuck in this same godforsaken town, waiting tables at the fucking diner. The image of her exciting new job offer floated before her eyes.
Stay or leave?
Stay or leave ?
She felt someone watching her and her gaze traveled to Anderson. She saw him studying her, his eyebrows lowered. So many emotions seemed to be controlling his face, she couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling. Curiosity, anger, jealousy, concern?
So she'd been wrong. One person had seen the kiss. One person had seen it all.
Everything Nice is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.
Check out some more important dates!
September 12, 2011
Quote of the Day
For the next few weeks I thought I'd share some quotes from the most quotable movie ever–Steel Magnolias.
I use this line all the time. It also works if you take out the word "cries" and insert "drinks". LOL
"I have a strict policy that nobody cries alone in my presence." Truvy (Dolly Parton)
September 10, 2011
Saturday Snippets
This week's theme is color and I chose an excerpt from Rough Cut for this week's snippet fun. When I think of color, I think of descriptions. It's always fun to imagine what a character will look like. It's like drawing a picture with words and color always plays a large role in that.
Snippet:
Ty glanced over and noticed Gwen quietly taking in everything with a scowl on her face. From her perspective he must look like the world's most heartless bastard—getting his jollies from some bimbo before kicking her to the curb. Dammit. This was not the way he'd planned for this meeting to go. He desperately wanted—oh hell, he needed Gwen to work with him on the project he'd invited her to California to discuss.
"You can let go of me now," she said tersely.
"I can explain." He heard the front passenger door slam and the car took off with enough speed that he and Gwen were thrown back against their seats just as cameras began to flash around them. With the car in motion, he released her wrist.
"You don't owe me any explanations. I'm a big girl, and I'm perfectly aware of what was going on. Perhaps you should ask your driver to pull over so Bambi—was that her name?"
He nodded once and struggled to regain control of his increasing ire. "Gwen—"
She ignored him. "So that Bambi and I can switch places. Clearly she wasn't done and as I have no intention of finishing what she started, I'd hate for you to die of an acute case of blue balls."
He took several deep breaths, hoping it would calm him down, but clearly nothing was going to make today better. It had started its downhill spiral when his personal assistant quit first thing this morning. Then his chef had inadvertently set a small fire in the kitchen because Ty's insane ex-girlfriend had decided to sneak into the house and put his favorite pair of Gucci leather dress shoes in the oven. As a result, he'd asked his manager to change all the locks in his house to prevent the woman from enacting any other petty acts of revenge.
Then the co-producer for his current project threatened to walk over some minuscule plot point and the studio bitched about the amount of money he'd spent on the film he'd just completed. The fact they stood to make a killing on the movie didn't matter. Greedy bastards always wanted more. Between the temp agency siccing Bambi on him and Gwen's refusal to listen to his explanation, he felt as if his head was going to explode.
"I can only imagine how it must feel for a man with your legendary sex drive to—"
"You may want to reconsider finishing that statement," he barked. "Not one more word, Ms. Preston. I mean it."
"Tell your driver to drop me off at the nearest hotel. I think our negotiations have ended."
He shook his head, unsure where his anger toward Gwen had come from, but the fact of the matter was his cock had been soft as a down pillow when Bambi had been trying to blow him. That state had changed rapidly the second Gwen entered the limo. She looked different in real person, considering he'd only ever seen her once on a television interview. She was a petite, willowy redhead with porcelain skin, unusual in sunny California. Her bright blue eyes flashed sparks of anger at him, yet despite her ire, he was assailed with an instant attraction.
He was used to beautiful women. Hell, he was surrounded by them twenty-four seven. Gwen wasn't beautiful by Hollywood standards, yet she was certainly striking, even alluring.
"Oh no, Gwen. Our negotiations haven't even started yet."
"I thought that you were different, but you really are as arrogant and chauvinistic as the tabloids say. I don't usually believe those rags, but I think they were dead-on where you're concerned. I'm going to tell you one more time to let me out of this car, Mr. Ransome, or I swear to God, I'll slap you with a kidnapping charge so fast it'll make your head spin."
He grinned at her, aware the look only fueled her anger further. They'd corresponded through email and phone calls regularly during the past few weeks and he had felt they were striking up a friendship. He regretted his harsh words, but he couldn't shake the image of her on her knees in front of him. He'd have to make amends, because he wasn't about to let her get away, regardless of her paltry threats.
"Gwen, I apologize for my rudeness. I can assure you I am the man from the phone calls. Today, well, my only excuse is that it has been a rather long, painful day."
"It's only ten a.m."
He nodded and sighed heavily. "Nonetheless, I am sorry. How was your flight? Pleasant, I hope?"
She narrowed her eyes at his abrupt about-face and quick change of topic. "Mr. Ransome—"
"Ty," he corrected her. She'd been calling him Ty on the phone for weeks and he loved the sound of his name spoken in her sultry voice.
Rough Cut is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony and ARe.
Check out some more colorful snippets!
