Roxanne D. Howard's Blog, page 17
November 20, 2016
Toe the Line Release Holiday Extravaganza Schedule
Here is the upcoming tour stop schedule for the Holiday Extravaganza from November 21st to December 23rd for Toe the Line, Book 2 in the Costa Mesa Series! The book releases on December 13th. Please feel free to follow along at the links provided. The $25.00 gift card giveaway starts tomorrow, so be sure to comment on some of the links as it’s an extra entry into the giveaway!
I am still working to place my new novel with a publisher, so just waiting to hear back and sorting out some writing projects in the meantime. I’ll be doing more blog posts as soon as things are settled with Finding a Pulse. Good luck in the giveaway, and stay tuned to my social media feed on Twitter and Facebook for upcoming promotional opportunities and more giveaways!
All the best,
Roxanne
Schedule Toe the Line by Roxanne D. Howard
November 21 Roxanne’s Realm
http://www.roxannerhoads.com/
November 22 Fang-tastic Books
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
November 23 Creatively Green
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/
November 28 Books,Dreams,Life
http://staceyschneller06.wordpress.com
November 29 The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/
November 30 T’s Stuff
http://teresanoel.blogspot.com/
December 1 Paranormalists
http://paranormalists.blogspot.com/
December 2 Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com
December 5 ARe Cafe
http://www.arecafe.com
December 6 More Books Than Livros
http://www.morebooksthanlivros.com
December 7 Sapphyria’s Steamy Books
http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/
December 8 Ali – The Dragon Slayer
http://cancersuckscouk.ipage.com/
December 9 The Book Junkie Reads
http://mileythebookjunkie.blogspot.com/
December 12 Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/
December 13 Sylv all about books and films
http://www.sylv.net
December 14 Ogitchida Kwe’s Book Blog
http://ogitchidabookblog.blogspot.com
December 15 The Cubicle Escapee
Http://TheCubicleEscapee.com
December 16 Illuminite Caliginosus
http://darkwriter67.wordpress.com
December 19 Don’t Judge, Read
http://dontjudgeread.blogspot.ca
December 20 Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang!
http://mellojune.com
December 20 Share My Destiny
http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
December 21 Books and Tales
http://booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
December 22 Romantic Fanatic
http://romanticfanaticblog.com/
December 23 Ramblings of a Book Nerd
http://www.booknerdramblings.com/
The post Toe the Line Release Holiday Extravaganza Schedule appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
November 11, 2016
Healing our Hearts After the Election
Let’s face it, it’s been a rough week for America.
Being married to a Brit, I got a taste of what my husband felt when Brexit happened, but nothing prepared me for the outcome of the election on November 9th. Since the fallout, I’ve seen two main groups of people speak out on social media; those who are criticizing people for whining over the outcome of the election when everyone had a vote, and those who are genuinely hurt, afraid, concerned, or downtrodden by the results.
I personally felt gut punched when it became clear that Trump would be elected, because I didn’t think it could actually happen – not in today’s lifetime, not in a democracy. The campaigns and debates themselves (on both sides) were very vicious from both candidates, respectfully, and even major news networks had their doubts about Trump. His remarks about global warming being a conspiracy from China, his shady social history, comments and attitudes towards women and minorities, all of these led me believe there was no way it would happen.
Then there was this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRp1CK_X_Yw
After hardly sleeping the night of the election, I woke up and did some research about how to talk to my children about the outcome, because I knew they’d hear things at school. I found this fantastic article at LA Times:
And I began the morning gently talking about what a democracy means over breakfast. My daughters are young, but old enough to understand what’s going on, and they listened attentively, and watched how I spoke and handled the topic of what an electoral vote means, that everyone gets a say. I ended the conversation talking about how even though we might not agree with the result, we will respect it, because that’s what a democracy does.
All that aside, I would like to plead for sensitivity.
Regardless of your political persuasion, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, the color of your skin, or how you feel about Trump being our next President, please be sensitive to the emotional needs of others. This affects people’s lives, in a profound way. I have friends quite close to me who are gay, and even my husband is an immigrant, though he recently obtained his citizenship.
If people seem to be shaken by this, it’s because they are. I am. I woke up to a whole new concept of America the night after the election, one that frightens me and concerns me. If you voted for Trump, if you didn’t vote for Trump, be sensitive regardless. Be kind in your actions to others. Children are watching how adults react to all of this, and they will remember it. It’s a hard time for many Americans right now, and ultimately what is important is acceptance, love, and equality. We need it now more than ever.
As for me, I’ll continue to do what has worked in the past whenever my life doesn’t agree with me; I will write. I’ll write about racial and sexual diversity, about cultures coming together, about strong women and good-hearted people, because that ultimately is what America’s about, choice and opportunity. If you are hurting or scared or blown away by what happened, I am here if anyone needs to talk. My door is open to everyone on this issue.
I wish everyone a calming spirit and good thoughts. I do believe that everything will be okay. Hang in there.
The post Healing our Hearts After the Election appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
November 1, 2016
November/December Giveaway – $25 Amazon gift card, and more!
Hello, Dear Readers!
My current giveaway is about to end, but I am running another giveaway starting on November 21st, to celebrate the release of Book 2, Toe the Line, in the Costa Mesa Series in December.
This time, there are 5 prizes:
1. $25 Amazon Gift card
2. 1 e-copy of Batten Down the Hatches (Costa Mesa Book 1)
3. 1 e-copy of Toe the Line (Costa Mesa Book 2) – cover coming soon. Art below by Bianca Duarte.
4. 1 e-copy of At the Heart of the Stone (long length erotic romance novel).
At the Heart of the Stone5. 1 e-copy of Chicks Dig the Accent.
Cover art by Natasha Snow with Loose Id.Good luck, and be sure to check out my new release in December!
October 26, 2016
Guest Blog, Excerpt, and Giveaway – Author Katey Hawthorne
Today I am pleased as Pumpkin Punch to have Katey Hawthorne, author of the newly released Witchy Boys: Sexy Stories for Dark Nights as a guest. Katey, thank you so much for stopping by!
****
Thanks so much for inviting me over, Roxanne! In theory, I’m here to talk about my new release, a small anthology of novelettes called WITCHY BOYS: SEXY STORIES FOR DARK NIGHTS. But I’m gonna go only slightly off topic. What can I say.
WITCHY BOYS: Sexy Stories for Dark NightsToday on my blog, Roxanne has a great post about Halloween facts and traditions. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, so I have loads of personal traditions, myself… but here’s the sad bit: I’m out of the country right now, so I don’t get to celebrate. (Okay it’s not THAT sad, I’m in India for Diwali, which is pretty much the coolest, but you see my point.) So I’m using this post and blog tour as my Halloween celebration this year!
In that spirit, here are a few of my personal favorite things to do on Halloween.
-Be The Cool House. The coolest decorations, the best candy (we make up bags!), the most impressed with all the costumes. I’ve never cared about being cool in my life, but making sure trick or treaters have the best time on our doorstep is the one time it matters.
-Watch loads of creepy movies. In particular, we’re partial to Dracula (in most of its incarnations) at my house. Always gotta do it with red wine. Obvs. But it also works with The Lost Boys, Interview With the Vampire, The Conjuring, or really bad MST3K episodes about zombie movies.
-Candy Corn. Because it’s the best, I don’t care what the haters say.
-Leaving something out for the spirits. This is an old one, dating back to when people fully expected their dead relatives to show up for dinner or just be wandering around at random. But I like to do it just because. A little dish with some bread or cake in it is great. Yeah, I know, the raccoons probably eat it. It’s just the spirit of the thing, isn’t it?
-The perfect costume. Now, I don’t necessarily do this unless I’m going to a party somewhere, but when I do costumes, I like to get pretty into it. This year, I don’t need one, but my most recent fave was a flapper and a gangster with my husband. A night where you can be whatever? We all need that, sometimes.
How about you? Drop a comment down there to let me know, and get entered into the rafflecopter giveaway!
Witchy Boys Blog Tour
October 17-31
October 17 – A.J. Llwellyn
October 18 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
October 19 – The Novel Approach
October 20 – MM Good Book Reviews
October 21 – Love Bytes
October 24 – P.G. Forte
October 25 – Joyfully Jay
October 26 – Prism Book Alliance
October 27 – Roxanne D. Howard
October 28 – Diverse Reader
October 28 – Gay Guy Reading (and Friends)
October 31 – Jenna Rose
WITCHY BOYS: Sexy Stories for Dark Nights
Author: Katey Hawthorne
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
Word Count: 20,000
Just in time for Halloween! Two novelettes about men with magic—and the occasional demon.
“Blood Magic and the Mini Zombie Apocalypse”
Griff has a bad habit of getting talked into black magic he shouldn’t be using—but this time it’s even worse. His ex is bent on revenge in the form of a mini zombie apocalypse, and the only person who can help Griff is a hottie white magic practitioner named Blythe. The catch: one of Griff’s spells gone wrong left Blythe with a haunted apartment a year ago, and Blythe isn’t over it.
Still, Blythe agrees to work with Griff. As they unravel the ugly blood, sex, and death magic, they also discover surprising things about each other. Hopefully, it’s enough for the ultimate trust they’ll need to defeat a lot of zombies and a crazed witch, or their town will end up covered in corpses.
“Præsidium”
Six years ago, Thackeray agreed to let a demon haunt him in exchange for help hunting other demons. It’s a lonely life, but worth it to be the best demon hunter possible — to save families from the kind of evil that ruined his own childhood.
This Hallowe’en, Thackeray’s dealing with an upstart coven. A powerful, pretty witch named Matt defects to help Thackeray stop their scheme to invite god-knows-what from the other side.
Demons are much easier to fight than the urges Matt’s flirting inspires. But Thackeray can’t hook up with a demon watching over his shoulder… can he?
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
Katey Hawthorne is an avid reader and writer of superpowered and paranormal romance, even though the only degree she holds is in the history of art. (Or, possibly, because the only degree she holds is in the history of art.) Originally from the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia, she currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with her family, two cats, and one very large puppy. In her spare time she enjoys travel, comic books, B-movies, loud music, video games, Epiphones, and Bushmills. Her favorite causes include animal rescue and bisexual representation in media. She is an unashamed fangirl and collects nerdy tattoos like she’s trying to prove it.
Find Katey at…
Kateyhawthorne.com blog and site
And sign up for a once-a-month newsletter, Katey Hawthorne’s Somethingorothers
Blog Tour Giveaway:
The post Guest Blog, Excerpt, and Giveaway – Author Katey Hawthorne appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
October 23, 2016
Cover Reveal for Batten Down the Hatches
I am pleased to reveal the cover for the first book in the Costa Mesa Series, Batten Down the Hatches. Cover Art by Natalie Duarte, Cover Design by April Martinez.
http://www.loose-id.com/batten-down-the-hatches.html
The post Cover Reveal for Batten Down the Hatches appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
Exclusive Excerpt from My New Release, Batten Down the Hatches!
Why hello there, Readers!
What’s that you say, an exclusive excerpt of my new release?
Why, sure!
Please enjoy this blurb and excerpt of my new release, Costa Mesa 1: Batten Down the Hatches, out on October 25th with Loose Id. There has been a minor delay in the cover art, but I should have it today or tomorrow. In the meantime, please enjoy this art of the book, drawn by Bianca and Natalie Duarte.
Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/batten-down-the-hatches.html
Piper Goldhirsch is the head reporter for Business Buster, an Undercover Boss-esque tabloid exposé show. While it was never her dream job, it pays the bills. When she attends a masked Halloween Ball and has a passionate affair in the billiard room with a sexy costumed pirate captain who calls himself Captain Jack, what starts out as a few kind words and exchanged kisses soon transforms into the greatest sex of her life, and she’s haunted by the powerful magic between them. Piper parts ways with the mysterious stranger, and assumes she’ll never see him again… until he becomes her job’s next target.
Captain Jack Spencer runs his own brand new whale watching company, Ahoy, Matey, on the outskirts of Costa Mesa and Balboa Island. He’s so good at it he’s garnered the attention of rival companies. Piper is called in by Jack’s nemesis to go undercover on an ocean tour to expose him, and reveal his alleged illegal tricks that have made his business so successful in a short amount of time. But when Piper realizes he’s the same sexy man she slept with at the Halloween Ball, she’s emotionally conflicted. Jack is unable to forget the woman from Halloween, and when they do meet up again, they can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s time to Batten Down the Hatches, because the waves are about to get wild!
Excerpt:
Piper moved aside Jack’s photo. It was him. He had a slight crease near the corner of his mouth, and she remembered the roguish Elvis smile. Damn it all if he wasn’t gorgeous beneath the pirate ensemble. She eyed the passenger ticket with some disdain. “I, uh, I’m not sure I can.”
“What the hell do you mean, you can’t?” Larry asked. “You love this stuff. Going incognito, bustin’ chops. This is the shit you live for, kiddo.”
“Yeah, but I think I might have met him.”
Tim frowned across the table. “You did? When?”
“That’s not important. I mean, he doesn’t know who I am, not really.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Messed-up case aside, she didn’t want to bust Jack. He’d given her the greatest sex she’d ever had and made her feel cherished, even if it was just for an hour out of her life. Still, it would be a trip to see him again after their passionate time together last night, to find out more about him and how he operated on a real level. It had its appeal. “I suppose if the makeup crew did a huge number on me, I might go. I don’t think he’d recognize me if they went to town with a good disguise. But I shouldn’t interact with him, in case he does realize it’s me.”
Larry clapped his hands and tilted his head. “I’m on it. We’ll get one of the female interns to go on the cruise too, and see if she can rattle his birdcage a little. In the meantime, we’ll get you hooked up. Wig, glasses, prosthetics, the whole nine yards. You always know how to handle it, Goldhirsch. I’ll leave it up to you how you want to go about things. Go see Stefan and Lance in makeup and tell them what you want. I’ll get the intern girl and equipment ready.”
* * * *
An hour later, Stefan Delgado swiveled Piper around in the makeup chair. She took one look in the mirror and gasped. After Stefan’s magic, she looked like her middle-aged, overweight Aunt Fran. She’d had them pad her up to look heavyset, and her real hair was smashed down with bobby pins and a hairnet, over which she wore what she’d christened the Rod Stewart wig, a trendy but huge blonde bob with bangs. Thick, beehive sunglasses shielded her eyes, and the elasticated waist pants she wore over the padding concealed her slim legs. She wore flat tennis shoes.
Stefan’s husband, Lance, popped up alongside him, drinking an espresso from a small cup and saucer. They were both close, dear friends of hers and often invited her over for dinners and get-togethers.
“I think you’ve outdone yourself, my love.” Lance grinned at his husband, who remained concentrated on Piper’s reaction.
“Hmm. I’m not a big fan of the wig, but no one handles Piper’s hair but me. Well?” Stefan asked, his voice tetchy. He tugged on the measuring tape around his neck. “Do you like it or not?”
Piper touched the latex on her cheeks, which looked natural and added an extra layer of fat. She poked her finger against it. “Weird. Well, aside from the fact my Tuchus has a Tuchus and that I look like I belong at my Grandma Yetta’s bingo night, I’d say it’s a safe-enough bet there’s no way in hell he’ll ever recognize me.”
Chapter Three
Piper drove alone through the sunny, palm-treed streets of Costa Mesa, gnawing on mixed feelings, until she came to Newport Beach. The familiar stucco houses and terra-cotta roof shingles were replaced now with more coastal, charming ocean-side cottages and custom-made homes with circular address plaques next to the doors.
Passersby and tourists strolled along the sidewalks, while others rode rental bicycles with relaxed expressions. She turned down a pretty neighborhood road and found the side street which led to the Balboa Island ferry. She parked her car on the ferry, rolled the car windows down, and passed four dollars to a disinterested boatman. The ferry oscillated in tandem with the gentle bay waves. The intern, Crystal, was meant to be on the same cruise by herself and would attempt to flirt with Jack to play the ladies’ man angle, which might add more spice to the whole story.
Trepidation wrestled with the pit of her stomach, though. If Jack was indeed corrupt and endangering the whales, fair enough. But after what they’d shared, what would it be like to destroy him as she’d done to so many others? She might have had to toughen up and suck up the truth about being a seedy tabloid reporter, rather than the serious journalist she’d always set out to be, but it didn’t mean her integrity had flown out the window. She prayed she wouldn’t have to expose him.
It was a mere five-minute journey to Balboa Island across the water, and when they docked, she drove the car off the boat onto the platform. The building Ahoy, Matey was in occupied a hole-in-the-wall next to fishing shops a few hundred feet away. She parked in a nearby garage, paid ten dollars for the day, and walked over to the cruise shop. She adjusted her sunglasses and pulled down the bangs of her wig. If she could find a spot near the tail end of the boat, she might be able to see what they were up to, and the hidden camera on the button of her floral blouse would catch it all. The standard protocol for Business Buster was to do reconnaissance on the company, assess the situation, meet with management about her findings, and then run the show and bust them in a flamboyant, trashy style.
A scraggly-haired young guy in shorts and a light-blue polo top with the Ahoy, Matey logo checked her in. He handed her a passenger ticket.
“The boarding area’s to the left of the building down by the dock, ma’am. Wait there until it’s time. Would you like to rent binoculars for ten dollars for the trip?”
Piper glanced at the display shelf behind him. They had sunscreen for sale and different kinds of binoculars for rent. “I’ll pass, thanks.” She smiled, took the ticket, and went to the dock.
A senior couple sat on a bench, dressed to the “we’re vacationing” nines—sun visors, stretch pants, fanny packs, and all. Piper gave them both a polite smile, just one of the older folks, and patted down her wig as she turned away. She got close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. Their voices sounded almost New Yorker and definitely Jewish. She had a knack for finding her people wherever she went and could spot the nuances of the dialect.
“Do your hands itch, Bernie?” the old woman asked. “God, my hand is burning. I feel like I touched a cactus or something.”
“I have it too, Rose. Must be the hotel lotion.”
Piper pressed her lips together. They might as well be relatives commiserating at her Uncle Ira’s get-togethers.
“I’m always colder here too. It’s this California weather, much drier and less humid than Fort Lauderdale.”
“Maybe it’s your hormones.”
“Yeah, it must be.”
Piper tried not to crack up. A metal click unlatched nearby, and she turned to see Captain Jack a few feet behind her, freshly shaven and handsome as he opened the gate that led down the dock. He had on a light-blue polo top identical to the shop attendant, with his name stitched above the breast pocket. He wore a white captain hat, a nice contrast against his darker features.
She stood up without thinking twice and stared at him, her mouth open. Oh, it was him. She knew that hard, built body, those hips that took hers without mercy, those enormous shoulders, full lips, and hawk-like, deep-blue eyes. He flashed a wide grin at her, apparently amused to find some middle-aged cougar ogling him.
“Hello, ma’am. Ready to see some fish today?”
Piper tugged at her earlobe and avoided eye contact. She brightened her throaty voice and tried to imitate her nasal aunt. “I, uh, yeah, I guess. Absolutely.”
Bernie approached Jack. “Say, you got life jackets on this ship, son?”
“Yes, sir. We do. Life jackets, life boats, lifesavers for sale, the whole shebang. You let us know what you need, and we’ll be sure you get it.”
“Good. We like to be safe.” Bernie put an arm around his wife as Jack opened the gate and motioned them through.
“Well, we aim to keep you safe. If you’ll make your way right down to my first and second mate, there, if you please. They’ll take your tickets and help you on board. Ma’am.”
Jack nodded as he watched her, and his blue eyes seemed to glitter with merriment as he watched the cute old couple. He appeared oblivious to her actual identity. She gave him a small grin in acknowledgement and ducked her head as she headed along the dock. Her insides were on fire.
The post Exclusive Excerpt from My New Release, Batten Down the Hatches! appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
October 20, 2016
New Release Blog Tour Dates and Links, New Novel Finished, and Other Pursuits
Hi, Readers!
Sorry it’s been a while since my last blog post. I was locked away in the Writing Cave, finishing Finding a Pulse. I’ve been hard at work editing it and preparing it for submission to a good publishing house, and it dawned on me that Batten Down the Hatches releases this coming Tuesday, the 25th! I have a three-part giveaway still going, and upcoming guest blogs to post from a few fellow authors on this website. But if you’d like to follow along on the blog tour, here are the dates and links (below). I’ll be more steady with blog posts now that the novel is complete; radio silence usually means I’m either tied up by a ninja or my children, or I’m writing.
October 10, 2016
Blog Tour Info, Links, and Excerpt for At the Heart of the Stone
Dear Readers:
Here are the blog tour links for At the Heart of the Stone, from October 24th to October 31st, if you’d like to follow along. This spotlight blog tour will accompany my other blog tour and new release of Batten Down the Hatches. If you are a blogger and didn’t get a chance to get on the blog tour, please email me or contact me through this website, and I would be happy to do up a guest post for you.
At the Heart of the Stone
Roxanne D. Howard
Genre: Contemporary Romance,
Paranormal Romance,
Contemporary Fantasy
Publisher: Loose Id
Date of Publication: February 16, 2016
ISBN: 9781682520451
ASIN: B01BUQLMCM
Number of pages: 323
Word Count: 118,000
Cover Artist: Dar Albert
Book Description:
Dreams are the perfect shelter for our fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren’t as ideal, as her long-term relationship with Charles, her controlling fiancé, has hit a dry spell.
When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father’s funeral right in the middle of a high-stakes corporate merger, she heads back to face the demons from her past. What she doesn’t expect is to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O’Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and right into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she’s dealing with the bitterness of being betrayed by Charles and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark’s awareness of the superficiality of her existence and reawakens not only her sexuality, but her soul.
Blog Tour:
October 24 Guest Blog
ARe Café
October 24 Interview
Deal Sharing Aunt
http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/
October 25 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm
October 25 Review
Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog
http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com
October 26 Review
Romance Authors That Rock
October 26 Spotlight
Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang
October 27 Spotlight
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/
October 27 Spotlight
Supernatural Central
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com
October 28 Guest Blog and review
The Book Junkie Reads . . .
http://mileythebookjunkie.blogspot.com/
October 28 Spotlight
Fang-tastic Books
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
October 31 Spotlight
Sapphyria’s Steamy Books
http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/
October 31 Spotlight
Romantic Fanatic
http://romanticfanaticblog.com/
Excerpt:
The blindfold was tied on and made of soft black material that caressed her skin. Though she knew it was light out, the mask bathed her in darkness. Still, she was aware of his touch, his heated, pulling kisses that moved away from her lips and trailed down her jaw to her throat, over her collarbone, toward her breasts.
A tug pulled her hoodie up a little, and he slowly zipped it open, yanking the front of her T-shirt down, her bra right along with it. She couldn’t see anything, but knew it was him. Her dream lover.
She expected him to latch on to her nipple, but he didn’t. He caressed it instead, flicking his fingernail along the sensitive bud, marking a trail of pebbling, tantalizing kisses around the entire circumference of her right breast. He laved the sensitive underside with his warm tongue, making her whimper, while his hand came up to fondle her left breast.
Lark was aware they were both lying on the porch swing, but he distracted her by seizing her nipple with his teeth.
She groaned. He chuckled, the vibrations reverberating through her whole body. She clutched him tighter. Lark wanted to pull off the blindfold, but he had her pinned down. He continued his ministrations, kissing his way over her bared, flat stomach, across her hip bone, and closer to his ultimate goal. She covered his hand at her hip with hers and grasped it. She was a sweaty mess from her run, but it seemed like he was taking in everything about her.
“Wait,” she said. “I-I can’t see you. I want to. Take this off.”
“I’m here,” he assured her, crawling back up over her body.
Knuckles brushed softly down her cheek, and she could feel his gaze on her. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
Lark gave up fighting her blindness and self-lamentations as his lips pressed against her own. “Mmm, yes,” she moaned between kisses. “Kiss me, God, yes. I don’t want to feel anything anymore but you.” There was something about the darkness that emboldened her. She felt his chest and encountered the lapels of a jacket of some sort. She yanked him all the way down, moaning and sucking his lower lip between her teeth.
In an instant, the full weight of his body came down upon her, and his kisses changed from having been demanding and passionate to the complete polar opposite.
It was as if he was timid and reluctant, yet the more she gave to him–putting her arm around his neck and releasing the fury of her frustrations out on him–the more he began to respond. Tentative at first, with a hint of reluctance he’d never shown before. What was this? A cool breeze blew past her face, and a sense of déjà vu of the night before overtook her.
* * * *
If the kiss had stayed careful and guarded, she might have continued to question it. But the blindfold disappeared, and she realized she’d fallen asleep. Her eyes flew open, and he was there. Oh my God. He was there! Heated eyes watched her. Rakish dark hair fell over his forehead as he breathed hard, and the morning sun lit up the world behind him. She took a deep, shuddering breath to speak, but his hands moved to cup her face. He held still and closed his eyes as his lips took her mouth. Right then and there, it was very clear that this was real. That was the weight of a real man on top of her, clothed, and smelling citrusy and clean. What in the hell is happening here?
How did he get here? He was only her dream lover.
Or was he?
Confused beyond all comprehension, Lark didn’t have any time to contemplate what was really going on. His lips delivered a breath-stealing, soul-shattering kiss, and then they were all over each other. This, ah, this she knew. Lark hooked her ankle over his and put a hand on his shoulder, trying to rid him of his jacket and draw him closer. She clenched her hand in his hair as he devoured her mouth. He tasted the same as her dream lover, and she put her tongue in his mouth to savor more of that tangy sweetness.
They were both making noises they never had in her dreams, little breathy gasps and blasts of air as their mouths met and separated as they sought new angles and depths to their passion.
He made a disgruntled sound as he tried to get more comfortable in the cradle of her hips over the hindrance of clothes, and she realized she really wasn’t dreaming anymore. He nibbled on her lower lip as she opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but then she was carried away in the undercurrent of his large, warm hands, which were caressing the skin of her stomach beneath her hoodie and T-shirt. She continued to accept his kisses but pawed down her still zipped-up sweat jacket. Okay, so she was still clothed. He was rock hard against her, and he ground his hips into her, a disbelieving grunt escaping his lips. Lark rolled her eyes back, shivering at the jolt that went through her.
“Wh– Mmm. Whoa. Stop!” She finally managed to say against his mouth. She furrowed her eyebrows and scrutinized him as he breathed in and out, bracing himself on the weight of his hands above her, his bright green eyes bearing into hers. His face was the face of her dreams–the sensual, bowed lips and cleft chin, the built body, and the thick hair. His hair… She blinked. It was cut at the nape and styled for a day at work. She glanced down at what he was wearing.
“Um, why are you wearing a suit and tie this time?” she asked, squinting against the sunlight. Please, God, let this be a dream. He moved his head, putting her in shade.
“This time?” He lifted an eyebrow, perplexed. “You’ll have to forgive me, lass, but I’ve no idea what the devil you’re talking about.” He maneuvered himself off her and sat upright at the end of the swing.
She tucked her feet against her and sat up, unable to do anything more than blink at him in utter disbelief.
“I was coming up to knock on the door when I saw you lying here, and given how you were tossing and the noises you were making, it looked like maybe you were having some sort of a seizure.”
He seemed contrite, and he turned his head as he licked his lips, full and abused from her kisses. Something close to mortification bloomed inside her.
“Erm, you…begged me to kiss you, and then you yanked me down. One thing led to another and, well, that was pretty much the way of it. I am only human, though I know that’s no excuse.” He swallowed and stared at her, his Adam’s apple moving in his throat. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have gone down when you pulled me, but it was strange–like you knew me or something.”
Lark leaned forward and rubbed her eyes. This couldn’t be real. She was hallucinating. She had to be. When she opened her eyes she’d see a man in his fifties with a receding hairline, glasses, and a beer gut. She reopened her eyes, and there he was: The full package. In the flesh. There was an air of intelligence in the way his eyes scrutinized her. She sat up and planted her feet on the porch, then put a hand to her head. The vertigo from earlier returned. “No, I’m sorry. I was dreaming…”
“Excuse me for saying so, but it must’ve been one hell of a dream.”
Lark nodded and tried not to black out as a wave of dizziness came over her.
“You look like you’re dehydrated. Hold on.”
The lilt of his familiar Irish accent soothed her like warm milk. He stood and walked over to a black laptop case propped near the front door that had several thick manila folders sticking out of its open center, one of which she could see said BRAITHWAITE in large, capital letters on an index label. He crouched down and unzipped the front pocket, extracting an unopened plastic water bottle.
“Here,” he said, unscrewing it and holding it out to her.
“Thanks.” She accepted the bottle and took a long sip of the cool water. It almost instantly revived her. She wiped a little water off the corner of her mouth with the top of her knuckle as he watched her. She offered it back to him, but he shook his head and reclaimed his seat next to her.
“Keep it. Drink.”
“Thank you.” She closed her eyes and took several large gulps, the cool liquid a balm to her throat.
“My name’s Niall O’Hagan.”
His voice was deep and pleasant. It sounded different, lighter than the sultry bedroom voice she was used to from her dreams.
“I’m the Braithwaites’ attorney.”
Lark paused in midsip and lowered the bottle in her hands. “You–no.” She laughed, glancing at him.
His mouth lifted at the corners, as if it were dawning on him he was the butt of a joke he wasn’t aware of. “I…what?”
Oh, the irony of dreaming about her father’s lawyer this whole time. Oh my God. She started giggling. This was it; she was officially losing it. She got up and walked over to the top step of the porch, put a hand over her face, and plunked herself down. “I am so messed up.”
A sudden, unwanted flash of Gemma saying “darlin’” to Charles yesterday surfaced, and tears stung her eyes. She went silent and willed them not to fall. It was no use.
After a moment, Niall sat down on the step beside her. “I’d offer you a drink, but I quit ten years ago.”
Lark laughed, despite the tears. “An Irish attorney who doesn’t like Guinness is like an Englishman who doesn’t like fish and chips or something.”
“I know; shameful,” he said with mock contrition. “Don’t hold it against me. I’m doing the world a favor. Trust me. I was a horrible drunk. Seriously, though, are you okay, miss?”
Lark scoffed and gesticulated with her hands to the sky. “It’s Lark. And what a loaded question of the day.” She couldn’t look at him, not after what happened. She clenched the edge of the step on either side of her and stared out at the trees.
“Well, considering we’ve already gone to second base, we might as well be open with each other. Forgive me if I’m candid, but it seems you were having an alleged, eh, intense dream, and you woke up and believed I was him. Is that right?”
Horror dawned on her at what she’d done, and her jaw dropped. “No!” Yes. She glanced at him, and his knowing expression said he knew that was exactly what happened.
“I see,” he said, his tone careful but persistent. “Then why did you kiss me like that?”
“I-I don’t have to answer that.” She lifted her chin with defiance.
He scooted closer to her. “No, you don’t. But I wish you would.”
She scratched her head in frustration and jumped up, moving toward the door.
“I’m sorry to embarrass you,” he said, and she paused with her hand halfway to the doorbell. “I’m decent. I would never– I never meant to take advantage of you at all, please know that. When you kissed me like that, so familiar, I…”
It occurred to her Niall was being a lot more of a gentleman about the whole thing than most men would be, given how horrid the situation was. And she, meanwhile, was being a total bitch. And the poor guy had no clue as to why.
He met her in two quick strides, and his proximity alarmed her. They’d never both been standing in any of her dreams. He was at least a few inches over six feet, well built with wide shoulders and a lithe, muscular frame to complement the height.
He assessed her as well, and his eyes widened with realization. “Wait. Lark? Rick’s daughter? But you’re so little,” he said, surprised. “From the pictures, I assumed you’d be, erm-
“Fatter?” she asked, glad she was at least back on sure ground. She could always toss jokes around about her heavy days. “It’s okay. You can go ahead and say it. I’ve lost a lot of weight.”
Niall put a hand to the back of his neck. His eyebrows rose. “I think ‘a lot’ is an understatement. Good on you! My mam struggled with her weight too; I know from growing up with her how hard it is to lose it. Well, you look amazing. Wow.”
He rolled his eyes at himself and glanced away. The bizarreness of seeing him act misplaced and common, and not at all like a sex panther, was messing with her.
“I’m sorry.” He laughed. “I sound like an idiot. Listen, I hope you don’t think I’m some leering wanker. This is…awkward.”
“You can say that again,” she murmured with a small smile, wondering what he would say if she told him she’d been having erotic dreams of him every night for the last six months. It was bad enough she’d just made out with the guy.
She held out her hand but didn’t make eye contact. “So listen, how about we forget it ever happened, okay? I’m Lark Braithwaite. I flew in a couple of days ago from London.”
He took her hand and closed his long fingers over hers. “Niall O’Hagan. Pleasure.” He stepped a little closer. “And I’m all for a clean slate, but forgetting’s not on my agenda, lass. I’m taking that one to the grave. Hands down the best snog I’ve ever had in my life. Client’s daughter or no, you can’t take it back.”
About the Author:
Roxanne D. Howard is an author with Loose Id. She has two titles published and one series coming out over the holidays. She is a U.S. Army veteran, and has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. She is also an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and loves everything related to marine biology. She resides in the mid-western United States, and is the proud mother of two beautiful girls, several pets, and loves to spend time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and she can be contacted at author@roxannedhoward.com.
To find out more, please visit her website at www.roxannedhoward.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxanneDHoward
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010437978489
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29245889-at-the-heart-of-the-stone
Tour giveaway
$10 Amazon giftcard
The post Blog Tour Info, Links, and Excerpt for At the Heart of the Stone appeared first on Roxanne D. Howard, Author.
October 1, 2016
CTRR Award for At the Heart of the Stone
I came home from doing a full grocery shop and standing in line with lots of interesting characters, to an email that At the Heart of the Stone has received Coffee Time Romance’s CTRR Award! I am blown away and so pleased that it resonated with the reviewer. It was my first novel, and like that once in a lifetime love that comes along and knocks our socks off, as my first novel, I put a lot into it, so it is amazing to know it touched people. Here is where you can find the Award and the full review for At the Heart of the Stone from Coffee Time Romance:
At the Heart of the Stone Coffee Time Romance Award and Review Link
With my third book coming out on October 25th, the first book in the Costa Mesa Series, I’ve opted to do a belated book tour for At the Heart of the Stone. ARC copies are available for interested bloggers. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my writing, bought my books, sent an email of encouragement, and been there for me in any capacity. Your support means more than you could ever know.
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September 20, 2016
Creating a Memorable Character
Have you ever seen The Fisher King? Remember this guy? He played the homeless cabaret singer. And fun fact, he was also the original Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street! Mr. Noodle had a set of pipes on him, y’all! RIP Michael Jeter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmfGLfWqlzA
Anyway, he’s the one character I vividly remember from the movie. Why? Because in the beginning, he was a homeless, down on his luck bum in scraggly, unkempt clothes. He befriended Robin Williams, whose character is desperately in love with a mousy girl named Lydia. So, Robin’s character enlisted this guy’s help, and he got dressed up in this getup and took a balloon bouquet to Lydia’s work, got on top of her work desk, and shaked and shimmied as he belted his talented heart out to a cover version of his own made up tune to a song from Gypsy.
In my mind, there’s only one thing you need to create a memorable character; originality. Inspiration for original, sensational characters are all around. Who was your uncle before he became the Drunk Uncle? What was your grandmother like as a teenager? Does she sugar coat how she truly was and gloss over the truth like Marty’s mother in Back to the Future? Everyone has a story to tell and a quirky trait that makes them truly unique, and your job as the writer is to mine for that gold beneath the salty surface.
In my newest book with Loose Id Publishing, Chicks Dig the Accent, Molly Ivers is a grad student and an exhibitions and collections archivist with the local museum. She is desperately in love with ancient artifacts and everything to do with Paris. The hero in the story, Evan Castle, is also finishing his master’s. He’s a fun loving guy who loves to rock out on stage and sing in his band to help pay his tuition. He speaks fluent French, but he’s very down to earth about it all.
Every character has something they’re hiding and a reason for hiding it, whether it’s a talent, a secret, or a passion. The best thing we can do as writers is to find it.
What do you think makes a character memorable?
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