Lily Graison's Blog, page 15
October 16, 2014
Friday First Kiss #49 :: Kissed (My Once and Future Love Revisited #1) by Carla Krae (New Adult Romance)
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Kissed (My Once and Future Love Revisited #1) by Carla Krae
A warm hand snuck under his shirt, then she nuzzled his neck again. “Uh, Beth, what are you doing?”
She straddled his leg and nibbled his throat. “What does it feel like?” Two hands explored his abs.
He felt his body responding to her attentions and grabbed her shoulders to push her back. “Sweetheart, you’re drunk.”
She smiled. “Feel fine.” Her fingers tickled his sides. “Feel good, actually.”
“Beth—”
She kissed him, then put her finger on his lips. “You talk too much.”
Trapped between her and the guitar, he couldn’t really move, and she was persistent in being naughty. She trailed hot, wet kisses up to his ear, then flicked the lobe with her tongue and sucked it into her mouth, her teeth applying light pressure. His hips arched off the seat as a jolt of electricity and blood went straight to his groin.
“Playin’ with fire, love.”
He felt her grin.
“Good.” One of those sneaky hands slipped under his shirt again. “Can’t tell me you don’t like it.”
True enough, but it wasn’t right. He put his hands on her hips to push her away, then clenched his fingers when she bit his ear again.
“Beth—”
She cut off his complaint with another kiss, plunging her tongue in his mouth.
The cab stopped and the cabbie announced the fare owed.
Beth pulled away, grinning while Jacob fumbled for his wallet. He shoved a few bills at the man and opened the car door, grateful for the cooler summer air to calm his hormones. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he slung his guitar case on his shoulder.
One of her hands slid in his back pocket. He jumped. She smirked up at him, mischief in her eyes. “Quit that. I need to unlock the door.” The door to the street was locked after dark except to residents.
“Hurry up, then.”
He turned his key in the lock and opened the door for her. It locked automatically again once they were inside. He slammed her against the wall and kissed her hard enough to bruise, hoping to scare her into backing off. “That what you want?” he spat.
She stared at him, then grabbed his head and kissed him back, wrapping her long arms around his neck and curling her leg around his hip. Part of him thought you’re resisting this, why? She kissed like he was her favorite treat and she was going to gorge herself on him.
Sod it—he picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist, and carried her into the stairwell to press her against the wall. He let the guitar case slide carefully to the floor. Snogging his best friend was the last thing he expected to do tonight, but he couldn’t deny it was a bloody good time. The cock-stand in his jeans was hard enough to hurt. Couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this turned on.
Or wanted this much.
She clung to him like to a life preserver, one hand grasping the back of his shirt, the other tugging on the hair at the base of his skull each time he did something she liked. He pressed his hips into her center, seeking pressure for some relief. She squeaked and pressed back.
Oh god…
His southern brain took over, dry-humping moans out of his girl that echoed up the stairwell. He slid his hands under her ass to support her weight and give him greater leverage. She sucked his tongue numb, but he didn’t care.
“Jacob…” Shiny eyes and lips swollen from kisses. Gorgeous.
“Upstairs?” he asked.
She nodded. He let her down, picked up the guitar, and grabbed her hand. They ran up to his flat. Keys in the lock, knob twisted, and they were inside. He pressed her against the door, unable to resist her lips.
She walked him backward to the futon and pushed him down, straddling his lap. His hands slid under the back of her top. God, her skin was soft. They parted for air and he hiked the tank over her head and dropped it on the floor, then kissed and nibbled her neck, making a path over her collarbone and—
A charm on a delicate chain.
Beth’s graduation gift.
His best friend, barely out of high school and barely eighteen.
God, what am I doing?
Any other girl, and they’d be racing to his bedroom to get naked right now, but this was Bethie. Sure, they’d have a night of fun, but then would come the sober harsh light of day and things would never be the same.
Jacob needed to regain control.
Kissed by Carla Krae
One kiss ignites chemistry and passion they can’t ignore, but is this only a summer fling?
Neighbors. Best friends. It was only a crush Beth harbored for Jacob until she was eighteen. Until London.
Neighbors. Best friends. That was all Jacob thought of her until London. Until she kissed him and stole his heart.
It’s funny what Geometry class and a shared backyard wall can bring about. With a two-year age difference, Beth and Jacob were firmly in the Friend Zone during high school, but a pre-college trip to London will change their lives forever.
KISSED is the first of five books in the MY ONCE AND FUTURE LOVE REVISITED series exploring Beth and Jacob’s relationship with all its joys, flaws, and heartache.
New Adult Contemporary Romance saga. This story is intended for readers over the age of 18 due to adult language, sexual content, and adult situations.
FREE at most online stores!
Amazon
Amazon UK
Apple
ARe
BarnesAndNoble
Kobo
Smashwords
Scribd
About Carla Krae
Fiction writer. Sci-fi lover. Trained vocalist. Cat mom.
Debuting in 2011, Carla Krae lives in California with two crazy cats and a tech guy.
My Once and Future Love Revisited series published by Willowick Publishing:
Kissed
Betrayed
Forgiven
Loved
All of Me, All of You
Dylan and Jen: a My Once and Future Love Revisited story
Website / Facebook / Twitter / LibraryThing
*Authors, want to see your book featured here on Friday First Kiss? Go HERE to find out how.*
The post Friday First Kiss #49 :: Kissed (My Once and Future Love Revisited #1) by Carla Krae (New Adult Romance) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
October 13, 2014
Goodreads Giveaway Winners
Last month’s Goodreads Giveaway of 5 signed paperback copies of HIS BROTHER’S WIFE has finally come to an end. There were over 1,100 entries so Congratulations to the winners! Your signed book will be in the mail soon.
There will be an all new giveaway up very soon. Keep an eye out for my monthly newsletter (which goes out this Friday) for more details.
The post Goodreads Giveaway Winners appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
October 9, 2014
Friday First Kiss #48 :: Ella’s Choice by Ruby Merritt (Historical Romance)
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Ella’s Choice by Ruby Merritt
Only moments after the man they called Richoux reclined against the tree, Little Brave detected his even breathing. Her hands stilled and she watched him uninhibited. Her people had experienced much sorrow and anguish at the hands of the white man’s soldiers and this scout today. And yet, the scout slept here before her tepee, within the heat and light cast by her fire. How did he do this?
The scout stirred, his legs stretching out in front of him. He looked like her people. He had the power and stealth of their mighty warriors. She set aside her work and approached the slumbering man. He spoke the white man’s tongue fluently, knew their ways as well as those of the Plains People. Yet, he was not under the spell of the blustering military man. How did he live in two worlds?
She crouched beside him and watched the steady rise and fall of his muscled chest. More than once today, he’d stood between her people and the soldiers. He’d kept her from rushing into gunfire when Moon Howler had been killed. Yet, he’d carried out Gleaming Chest’s orders to move them from their village. In which world did his heart beat?
For long moments, she scrutinized the strong angles of his face sharpened by the cast of the firelight and found no answers. She shifted, intending to return to her work when suddenly, a hand clamped around her wrist. She gasped and would have tumbled backward if he hadn’t steadied her with his other arm about her waist.
He muttered something she did not understand. She shook her head and he switched to the language that was more familiar to her now. His voice gentled. “I’m sorry, I grabbed you. A reaction from too many nights being on guard.”
Staring into eyes as blue as her own was disconcerting. There was kindness there, but it was accompanied by something more primitive. Similar to that she saw in the braves’ eyes when they looked at her. Unlike the braves, the primitive gleam in Richoux’s eyes did not annoy or unnerve her. It gave her an airy feeling that stole her breath.
He released her wrist and shifted his arm lower on her waist.
Her stomach fluttered strangely when his hand moved to her hair. He stroked the errant strands framing her cheek. She was no stranger to what went on between men and women, their tender looks and loving caresses, their passionate kisses, but the intense heat left in the wake of this man’s caress surprised…and excited her.
A shiver ran up her spine and she licked her lips, wanting to feel more of these heady sensations. His fingers traced the line of her jaw. Her gaze flickered to his full lips. As if he sensed her desire, he cocked his head and her breath caught in anticipation, but he did not lean in to kiss her. His fingers stilled beneath her chin and she waited, her heart beating faster than hummingbird’s wings. And when his fingers curled ever so slightly beneath her chin, inviting her forward, she touched her lips to his.
His lips were full and firm beneath hers, slightly moist. They shifted against hers and took over, gentle but sure, tasting and teasing hers. A sizzling feeling moved through her, intensifying like the fires that often swept the prairies after a storm.
Soon, she responded in kind. Her hands moved to the hair brushing his shoulders, her fingers twining into the silky strands—their softness another sensation to revel in. One of his large hands cupped her cheek, while the other caressed her from waist to hip. Every stroke tightened a coil of need deep within. Suddenly, that womanly place between her legs moistened and throbbed for something more. Every kiss, every touch and every breath she shared with him edged her toward that something more, a fulfillment of a yearning within them both.
A twig snapped. His lips froze against hers, his hand stilled its caressing. Another snap…closer. Whoever was coming was not concerned about being heard. He released her, and Little Brave scrambled to her feet. Richoux did likewise, but she noticed he did it more slowly than she had.
The soldier Sun Hair appeared.
At the sight of those gleaming buttons and the stale smell of the dark clothing that all the soldiers wore, Little Brave regained her senses.
Words issued from the soldier’s mouth, and just as easily, the white man’s words fell from the scout’s mouth in response.
The telltale huskiness of his voice suddenly filled her with shame at what she’d been doing. This man had led the soldiers to their camp and was helping to rip her people from their home. They’d been forced to relinquish their weapons. Stone Skipper had been wounded. Moon Howler had been killed. She did not know what would be forced upon them next, but she knew she could not involve herself with such a man. Her people would not accept him.
She would become an outcast.
And she would lose another father.
Ella’s Choice by Ruby Merritt
When Ella Hastings is captured by the Blackfeet Indians at age nine, then adopted by the Lakota Indians, she is thrust into a new way of life and transformed into Little Brave, adopted daughter of their revered and peaceful chief, Grey Owl. Ten years later the white man returns. Their soldiers storm her tribe’s village and bring reminders of a world she’d almost forgotten. Suddenly, she is confronted by the question: To which world does she now belong? Her only hope in discovering who she really is lies with the enigmatic army scout, Beech Richoux.
Son of a French trapper and Lakota mother, Beech Richoux was raised in a white man’s world after his mother’s death. Acting as an army scout to raise money for his horse ranch, he’s unaware of the Army’s true intent to annihilate his mother’s people until it’s too late. And the white woman he finds living among the Lakota only adds to his desperation to save his people. Now the narrow path he has created to balance himself between these two worlds is tipped by the mysterious white woman known to the Lakota as Little Brave.
Can two people robbed of their own childhood learn to live together in such differing worlds? Can Little Brave and Beech forge a new path into a life where they both are finally set free?
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About Ruby Merritt
Ruby Merritt writes historical western romance. Her passion for imagining life and love on the High Plains has its roots in reading and rereading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books as a child.
Although Ruby doesn’t call the High Plains her home, she resides in an equally beautiful and rustic locale, The Gateway to the Texas Hill Country.
When Ruby’s not reading or writing, she can be found riding her horse or homeschooling her children who are avid horsewomen and readers as well.
*Authors, want to see your book featured here on Friday First Kiss? Go HERE to find out how.*
The post Friday First Kiss #48 :: Ella’s Choice by Ruby Merritt (Historical Romance) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
October 1, 2014
October Website Giveaway
Its October 1st and I have a brand new giveaway up and ready for entries. I’ll be giving away (6) sets of signed paperback copies of The Calling and The Gathering this month so run over to the CONTEST page and get your name into the hat.
The September winner of the Lily Graison swag pack was Larena H. She’s going to be the envy of quite a few readers that I know wanted this. Congratulations, Larena!
The October Newsletter will go out in a few days. I’ll have the next part of my free romance novel serial DESTINED HEARTS and I’ll be drawing another winner for the newsletter giveaway. Be sure you’ve subscribed to get your story password and for your chance to win a $25.00 giift card! You can sign up HERE!
The post October Website Giveaway appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
September 25, 2014
Friday First Kiss #47 :: Come Back by Melissa Maygrove (Western Historical Romance)
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Come Back by Melissa Maygrove
Becca left the cave and went for a walk with Cyrus. As she led him to a nearby field to graze, she turned her face up and let the sun bathe her cheeks with warmth. She hadn’t bothered putting on her coat. The weather had taken a turn, bringing spring-like conditions.
Plucking a few blades of grass, she sat on a large rock and watched Cyrus nibble, wondering if Seth would follow her and question her about the drawing. She should have thrown it away. Unlike the others, the pleasant memories it stirred no longer outweighed the bad.
The familiar trod of Seth’s boots approached, his left step slightly heavier than his right, especially now that he was injured. He’d told her he was as good as healed, but she knew better. He still favored his side, and his stamina hadn’t completely returned.
He stopped a few feet away—hatless—studying her from under the lock of golden hair that swept sideways across his forehead.
“You forgot this,” he finally said, holding out Cyrus’ lead line.
“Don’t need it.” She squinted up at him, the curve of her lips more a reaction to the sun in her eyes than an actual smile. “He follows me around like a puppy.”
Seth’s arm dropped back to his side, the coil of rope still in his grasp. He inclined his head toward the rock she was sitting on. “Mind if I join you?”
Becca scooted over and motioned to the empty spot beside her.
They sat there in silence, staring out at the prairie while the breeze fanned their faces and stirred the ruffles of her skirt. That was fine with her. She didn’t feel like talking.
Seth shifted his boots in the dirt and fingered the coil of rope in his lap. He didn’t say anything, but she could feel the tension building the longer they sat there. Directly, he looked up at her. Here it comes. “Who is he?”
She tossed the grass aside, never breaking her gaze from the line of trees in the distance. “His name is Nathan Keating.” She stood and took a few steps, keeping her eyes on the horizon and her emotions locked away. “I met him on the wagon train. His family’s wagon was near ours in the line, and our parents became friends. They were planning to claim land near each other and build farms. Nathan was, too.
“A few weeks into the trip, he began paying attention to me—doted on me quite a bit, actually. He eventually made his intentions known and asked me if I’d marry him once we got to California. I said yes.” Becca turned and faced Seth. “He was my intended.”
His eyes widened, and what little color had returned to his cheeks over the last few days drained away.
She stood there, waiting for him to respond. When he didn’t, she turned away again. The breeze took on a mournful sound, and the prairie seemed emptier than ever before.
“Was,” Seth muttered. “You said he was your intended. Don’t you mean is?”
Becca lowered her head with a sardonic smile only the ground saw. “Let me ask you something.” She faced him again. “What if the woman you planned to marry was left behind? What would you do?”
His brow darkened. “I’d do whatever it took to find her.”
Exactly.
Her point made, Becca left for the cave.
Seth rose and caught hold of her arm. He stepped in front of her and his gaze locked with hers—irises dark and turbulent. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Her grip on her emotions slipped with a sharp intake of breath.
Seth slid his arm around her waist, drawing her flush against his large, taut frame as he cradled her jaw in his hand and tilted her face up to meet his. His breath feathered over her mouth, and his lips touched hers with a softness that surprised her. He lingered there, then slowly lifted his head.
Becca stood speechless as his eyes searched hers. A flock of sparrows took flight from a nearby tree. The brisk beat of their wings matched the flutter of her heart.
He’d given her a kiss. Her first kiss.
A small crease appeared between Seth’s brows. He released her waist as the hand on her face fell away.
A big brown nose came out of nowhere, bumping his shoulder and knocking him sideways. With an angry snort, Cyrus wedged himself between them and glared at his owner.
Seth glared back. “What in the—”
Cyrus snorted again and stomped his hoof.
Becca patted her champion’s broad neck. “It’s okay, boy. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.” Cheeks heating, she eased around Cyrus, avoiding Seth’s gaze. “I’ll go start lunch.”
Come Back by Melissa Maygrove
Left behind by everyone she loves…
Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self-worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn’t want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind.
Headed for Texas, chased by the demons of his past…
Seth Emerson knows exactly what he wants. Working to save for a cattle ranch of his own keeps him busy and keeps his pain buried. Rescuing a stubborn woman from the hills of New Mexico Territory isn’t part of his plan—but she’s exactly what he needs.
Making greater sacrifices than either of them could foresee…
Seth and Rebecca set off on a risky journey and a quest for truth, each healing the other’s love-starved soul along the way. Will they give in to their growing attraction? Or will they honor their commitments when Seth returns Rebecca to civilization… and her betrothed?
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About Melissa Maygrove
Native Texan Melissa Maygrove is a wife, mother, nurse, freelance editor, and romance writer. When she’s not busy caring for her tiny nursery patients or shuttling teenagers back and forth to after-school activities, she’s hunched over her laptop, complicating the lives of her imaginary friends and playing matchmaker. Melissa loves books with unpretentious characters and unforgettable romance, and she strives to create those same kinds of stories for her readers.
Website / Blog / Twitter @MelissaMaygrove / Facebook / Google+/ Goodreads
*Authors, want to see your book featured here on Friday First Kiss? Go HERE to find out how.*
The post Friday First Kiss #47 :: Come Back by Melissa Maygrove (Western Historical Romance) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
September 18, 2014
Friday First Kiss #46 :: The Masked Slipper by Jessica Lorenne (Fantasy, Paranormal)
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, The Masked Slipper by Jessica Lorenne
They walked in silence. Nicolette’s person was cold and unforgiving. Alexis’s insides rattled with worry. Estelle was totally unaware, and Gladwin was clueless. They passed the door Nicolette was used to entering. She stared after it. They paused at one beside it. Gladwin went in first. Nicolette turned on her friends when he was gone.
“How could you not tell me?” Nicolette shrieked.
“What?” Estelle feigned innocents, but Nicolette saw the look that passed between her and Alexis. Estelle was a good liar, but not that good.
“Do not lie to me,” Nicolette begged. “What exactly is wrong with him?” She demanded.
Alexis frowned deeply. “Gladwin’s intelligence level and understanding is the same of that as a ten year old child’s,” he said quietly. “There was an accident a long time ago. It—it prevented the growth of his brain. It actually,” Alexis shifted uncomfortably, “made him less intelligent than he was when it happened.” Alexis sighed. “I am sorry, Nicky.” He walked away then. His head bowed low.
Nicolette’s eyes held painful pressure behind them. She didn’t know if she should be afraid, upset, or angry. She saw that Gladwin’s condition was not on Alexis’s list of things he wanted to discuss. So she calmly turned her heated gaze on Estelle.
“I am sorry, Nicky. Honestly. I did not know. I mean. I knew he was not the brightest of the men I’ve encountered. But it was not until the ceremony that I truly realized what Alexis meant when he told me. I am sorry,” she said quietly. Estelle pulled something from a purse she carried. She let it unravel. “This is a gift from Armel. The eldest sorcerer,” Estelle said. She put the necklace over Nicolette’s head so it dangled around her neck. It was a dainty little trinket. Nicolette sighed. “Everyone wants you to feel happy and comfortable here.” Estelle took Nicolette’s hands in hers. “Even Vienne.”
Nicolette nodded. She kept her gaze low. She rubbed the tension from her face.
“Goodnight Nicky.” Estelle kissed Nicolette’s cheek. “He is a good man,” she whispered, “despite what has happened to him. Perhaps that is all that is needed. His goodness.” She left.
Nicolette sighed. She was still a while, and then went in the room. She moved to shut the door. Gladwin’s hand rested over hers as he went to do the same from behind. Nicolette gasped. The spark. Her eyes grew wide in an instant. It was as if lightning flickered against her skin. What she had secretly hoped for during the ceremony now jolted her. A hand grabbed her arm. She was spun around, and pressed flat against the door. Her mind whirled. She didn’t understand. The door snapped loudly to announce that it had been locked.
Gladwin was not afraid to kiss her now. In fact, he was a very good kisser. Nicolette sighed. She shut her eyes. He was not clumsy like she thought he’d be. Her mind fought against the moment, but her arms wrapped around his neck anyway. She pulled him closer. Gladwin’s hands moved quickly to unlace the back of her dress. His fingers brushed against her skin. She cried out. She remembered her wounds. They pained her still. Gladwin pulled back immediately. He was close, but very still.
“I am sorry,” Gladwin whispered. He swallowed. His breath was heavy.
Nicolette looked up. She wondered at the familiarity of his voice. Her heart rung to hear him speak those words. She’d heard him say it before. Hadn’t she? Nicolette shook her head. She struggled to breathe. Her heart beat galloped unevenly against Gladwin’s chest. “It is not your fault,” she assured him quickly. She wanted him to kiss her again. Her eyes lifted. Gladwin was unmoving. He was trembling. Nicolette bit her lip. She forced herself to be brave, and lifted a hand to caress his cheek. He looked down to meet her gaze. Those eyes. Nicolette stared.
“I—” Gladwin closed his mouth quickly. His gaze fell, and rested on the necklace Nicolette wore. A blue glow reflected off his face.
Nicolette looked down. Her mouth gaped. The stone on the chain was the source of the glow. “Is that supposed to happen?” She whispered. She’d never seen magic like that before.
Gladwin pushed himself away. Nicolette glanced at him. He looked furious. “Take it off.” He whirled around and growled dangerously. Nicolette swallowed. His tone caused her to shake. “Take it off!” He shouted.
Nicolette jumped. She obeyed quickly. Her hands knocked together in her attempt to unlatch the clasp. Gladwin snatched the thing from her. Nicolette’s breath caught. She watched Gladwin storm to a desk. He forced a drawer open, and threw the stone inside. He slammed the drawer shut, and turned to face Nicolette.
“Never open it.” His finger pointed at the desk.
Nicolette nodded vigorously. Her chin quivered. She had to bite her tongue to keep back her tears. She watched Gladwin storm out the room to the one she used to occupy. He looked a mess, but Nicolette felt like one. Gladwin slammed the door shut between the two rooms. Nicolette let out a breath that came in a sob. Tears burst from her grip. Her trembling chin pulled her lips into a frown.
She did not understand. She lifted a hand to her brow. It pulled down so hard it shook. She slid to the floor. She covered her face with her hands, and wept. For a brief moment, for one space in time, she thought that this could have been her happily ever after. In truth, it did not matter if he were the stupidest man in the world. Just so long as he cared for her, and wanted her. Now Nicolette knew. She would never be wanted. She would never belong to anyone. The love she craved was now forever denied her.
The Masked Slipper by Jessica Lorenne
Standing in front of the prince she is being forced to marry, Nicolette realizes that her fairy tale has gone awry. She is a Cinderella, and she isn’t marrying the man she met at the ball she so begrudgingly attended in glass slippers she did not want to put on. She had always dreaded her fairy tale, but now she’s wondering what went wrong?
In this world where fairy tales are relived by the masses it is normal for the story to change, but not the love interest chosen by the magic. Instead of the sincere, kind, and charming masked-man she met at the ball, she is chosen by a spell to marry a complete stranger who is not only disinterested in her, but has the mental maturity of a ten year old.
But nothing is ever as it seems when Evermagic is involved, and through its guidance, Nicolette will find herself having to choose between leaving or staying with her new husband. But what is more, she must consider the possibility that she is now living in a second story, and this one might finally prove to her of her true worth.
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About Jessica Lorenne
Jessica Lorenne started writing for assignments in elementary school, but didn’t begin her first attempt at a novel until the age of 12 when she was inspired by Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, which she then read along with other works by Tolkien. This first story turned into the Bearer of Power series from which other relating projects have emerged.
She grew up in western Oregon where the national forest was her backyard. It became the backdrop for her stories, and fed the fantasy realm of her imagination. She started rewriting fairy tales while studying theatre, voice, and writing at Brigham Young University-Idaho, beginning with Cinderella.
*Authors, want to see your book featured here on Friday First Kiss? Go HERE to find out how.*
The post Friday First Kiss #46 :: The Masked Slipper by Jessica Lorenne (Fantasy, Paranormal) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
September 11, 2014
Friday First Kiss #45 :: Gold Rush Brides: The Beginning by Cassie Hayes (Historical Western Romance )
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Gold Rush Brides: The Beginning by Cassie Hayes
It dawned on Jack that he was proud of Dell. Then it dawned on him that he was proud of himself. Together they’d worked to build something that was about to come to fruition, if Aidan could pull it off. Of all the jobs he’d done in his life, none had been more fulfilling than starting this paper from scratch. Of course, most of the credit went to Dell, but it wasn’t lost on him that he’d grown a fair bit over the last week or so. And it wasn’t nearly as disagreeable as he thought it would be.
“That’s a funny smile,” Dell said, breaking his reverie.
He gave her a wink and turned her back toward the shop.
“Let’s see how Aidan’s coming along.”
As they approached the shop, the sweet squeak-thump of Aidan running the press reached their ears. They hurried up the steps and into the shop to find him pulling on the platen lever, grinning like a madman.
Jack was so delighted, he swept Dell up in his arms and spun her around the room for the second time that day. Suddenly remembering that she’d just had a fainting spell, he carefully set her down. Grasping her soft face in his rough hands, he looked deeply into her sparkling green eyes, asking with his if she was all right.
Her smile and a lone tear was her answer as she clutched at his hands.
He loosened his hold, but his hands remained, a thumb stroking her cheek lightly as he drank in her features. He couldn’t get enough of looking at her — her hair, her eyes, her lips, her adorable button nose. Never in his life had woman affected him so.
Dell was gazing up at him like a little doll, her fingers whispering across the tanned and scarred backs of his hands. Even this late at night, after a hard day of working, her beauty couldn’t be denied. The color was high in her cheeks, no doubt from Aidan’s success at getting the press running, and she looked downright happy.
It was the most natural thing in the world for Jack to dip his head and take her lips with his. Wrapping his arms tight around her waist, he pulled her body against his, feeling the rustle of her skirts against his legs. One hand slid up the rough wool fabric of her dress to her dark chestnut hair, entangling itself there in the locks that had come loose from her bun throughout the day.
Nothing was sweeter to him than when she responded by snaking her arms around his neck and pulling his face closer to hers. At first she was hesitant, seeming to not know how to even kiss — which, it dawned on him, might actually be the case — but through his gentle instruction, she soon mastered the art and was giving as well as she received.
Jack’s hands couldn’t stay still. From her hair, they roamed her back and sides, up to her arms and down to her precious hands. Hers ventured as far as his shoulders but there would be time enough for exploring later.
Cupping her face again, he kissed his way down her neck as far as the high neckline of her blasted dress would allow. Taking a different tack, he moved up to her ear, breathing into it as he kissed his way around the rim. Her body was pressed so close, he could hear the moan come from deep within her chest, as well as her rapid heartbeat.
For a moment, he couldn’t understand why she was tapping him on the shoulder. It didn’t make sense because both of her hands had moved down his broad chest. It finally dawned on him that she couldn’t possibly be the culprit.
Growling and baring his teeth in frustration, he turned his steely gaze on a laughing Aidan. He’d never wanted to sock a man so badly as at this moment.
When Dell realized that she’d been openly kissing a man in front of someone else — and right in front of a big window — she threw her hands up to her blushing face, mortified. Jack was a little hurt that she was so embarrassed to be seen kissing him, but considering her experience level, he understood.
Before he knew what was happening, she’d turned and run out the door, no doubt toward Sam’s. He wasn’t about to let her run around San Francisco at night alone, and ran after her — but not before cursing Aidan for interrupting them.
Gold Rush Brides: The Beginning by Cassie Hayes
Who needs a man? Certainly not Miss Delilah Price!
Abandoned by the man who ordered her as a mail order bride, Delilah struggles to get by in Gold Rush-era San Francisco. Not willing to return to her father’s restrictive home — or face the arduous six-month voyage back to Boston — she hatches a plan to start her own business. She’ll never have to trust her future to a man again.
Jack Dalton struck it rich in the Sierra Nevada and is having a mighty fine time spending his gold at dance halls and saloons in town. He can’t for the life of him figure out why so many of his drinking buddies are signing up for ads in the matchmaking paper that snooty ‘Miss Priss’ is starting up. The last thing he wants to do is to settle down.
When an unscrupulous charlatan threatens to shatter Delilah’s dream, Jack takes pity and steps in to lend a helping hand. Then he gets suckered into partnering with the very woman he desperately wants to avoid. Long hours working together force them to face their deepest fears and admit they’re drawn toward one another. Can they let go of their pasts and find hope for their future or will they let their fears tear them apart?
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About Cassie Hayes
Cassie Hayes grew up pretending she was Laura Ingalls (before that pesky Almonzo arrived on the scene) in the middle of Oregon farm country. She lives with her husband and cat on the Pacific Ocean and loves to hear from her readers.
Authors, want to see your romance book featured on Friday First Kiss? Go HERE to find out how.
The post Friday First Kiss #45 :: Gold Rush Brides: The Beginning by Cassie Hayes (Historical Western Romance ) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
September 5, 2014
Friday First Kiss #44 :: Murder Most Foul by JoAnne Myers (Detective/Mystery)
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Murder Most Foul by Joanne Myers
Agent Harmon has just returned to the rental cabin late in the evening after an exhausting and danger filled day of locating and questioning witnesses. His informant is a local RN, named Jackie Reeves. She began sharing the cabin after her home was ransacked by persons unknown. She woke from hearing his return.
Smiling, while descending the staircase in her white satin pajamas, Jackie said, “I can’t sleep, anyway. I prepared dinner, but the food is cold and the beer is warm.”
Dropping wearily into an overstuffed chair, Agent Harmon pulled Jackie onto his lap. He nuzzled her neck, stroked her arms, then her long, slim legs, and whispered, “As soon as I solve this case, I’ll treat you to a five-course meal. I swore off love when I became a Federal Agent, but, honey, I can’t leave town without you.” Kissing more and more passionately, they drifted into lovemaking for the first time.
Murder Most Foul by Joanne Myers
When two dismembered torsos wash up on the banks of the local river in the small industrial town of Pleasant Valley, residents are horrified. Between contradicting statements, police ineptitude, lust, lies, manipulation, incest, the motorcycle gang The Devil’s Disciples, crooked cops, and a botched crime scene, everyone becomes a suspect.
The young beautiful Jackie Reeves, a registered nurse, believes the killer is a man from her past. She contacts the dangerously handsome FBI Agent Walker Harmon. An arrest is made, but Harmon and Jackie believe an innocent man is being railroaded by local cops. How far will these lover’s go to solve this heinous crime before anymore killings. Determined to find the truth, Agent Harmon and Jackie are forced to run a gauntlet of deep trouble and turmoil, which marks them for death.
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Other books by JoAnne:
“WICKED INTENTIONS” a paranormal/mystery anthology
“LOVES’, MYTHS’ AND MONSTERS’,” a fantasy anthology
“THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY,” a biography true-crime
“POEMS ABOUT LIFE, LOVE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN”
“TWISTED LOVE,” a true-crime anthology available in July
Other books soon available:
“FLAGITIOUS,” a detective/mystery anthology available in September
About JoAnne Myers
I have been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several novels under my belt, I canvas paint.
When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dogs Jasmine, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, Savvy Authors, Coffee Time Romance, Paranormal Romance Guild, True Romance Studios, National Writers Association, the Hocking Hill’s Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I believe in family values and following your dreams. My original canvas paintings, can be found at: http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com
The post Friday First Kiss #44 :: Murder Most Foul by JoAnne Myers (Detective/Mystery) appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
September 3, 2014
Goodreads Giveaway!
I’m holding a brand new giveaway, in addition to my regular monthly website giveaway. Over on Goodreads, you can enter to win one of five (5) signed paperback copies of His Brother’s Wife. Just click the link below to enter. Good luck!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
His Brother’s Wife
by Lily Graison
Giveaway ends October 03, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
The post Goodreads Giveaway! appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
August 22, 2014
Friday First Kiss #43 :: Love, Myths and Monsters by JoAnne Myers
The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.
Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.
This weeks Friday First Kiss comes from, Love, Myths and Monsters by Joanne Myers
“When a non-human lives as long as I do, he never sees humans the same as others. Some mortals are good, like you, but most are no better than gutter rats. Humans kill for sport. The wars and epidemics take their share. In the famished countries, parents eat their own children to survive, much like Lycans”
“Do you hate being immortal?”
“Everything must eat to survive. After a while over the centuries, I looked to killing humans like changing my underwear. After a while, I rationalized my actions. ‘Many families were better off with fewer mouths to feed’ was one excuse I told myself. ‘The world is over populated’ is another, so who would be missed? After a while, I convinced myself my kind helped rid the earth of human riffraff.”
“Like a natural garbage disposal?”
“Yes, but I see things differently now.”
“So, do you miss being human?”
“Only because I met you. I can never grow old with you.”
“You’re asking me to marry you, aren’t you?”
“That’s why I took you to the mall. To pick out a ring, but…”
“But we were interrupted.”
“Don’t sweat it. Things worked out anyway.” Then, we kissed for the first time, long and hard, and it took my breath away. Yes! This is the one. I knew it.
Drenda glanced at her watch and she looked tired. It was nearly three in the morning.
“How about one more stop before I take you home? There’s someone special to me that’s been waiting to meet you.”
“Two Paws!”
“Yes, is it okay?”
“Of course, I want to meet my future father-in-law.”
We quickly dressed and drove to the cave. From the moment we entered, our lives were never the same again.
“Two Paws! Two Paws! Who did this to you?” My oldest and dearest friend lay on the floor, dying from multiple gunshot wounds to the stomach. Shot with a silver bullet. Silver metal poisoning was a painful and lingering death. A quick death for werewolves was a silver bullet through the head or heart. Anywhere else and we suffer for hours or days before dying. The person who shot Two Paws made sure he could not fight back—wanted him to suffer—and the shooter smelled of Lycan.
Love, Myths and Monsters by Joanne Myers
When young Lycan Sonny Red Blanket, a Shawnee Indian falls for mortal girl Drenda Way, he must save her from his fellow Lycan’s and stop a werewolf uprising.
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About JoAnne Myers
I have been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several novels under my belt, I canvas paint.
When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dogs Jasmine, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, Savvy Authors, Coffee Time Romance, Paranormal Romance Guild, True Romance Studios, National Writers Association, the Hocking Hill’s Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I believe in family values and following your dreams. My original canvas paintings, can be found at: http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com
The post Friday First Kiss #43 :: Love, Myths and Monsters by JoAnne Myers appeared first on Romance Author Lily Graison.
