Laurel O'Donnell's Blog, page 58

Inspirational Quote Monday! #9 of 2014

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week – “Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” – Yoko Ono

 

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

First Kiss Friday – Quotable by Kathy L Wheeler

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Kathy L Wheeler, author of contemporary romance Quotable.  Welcome Kathy!  Here’s the first kiss between Genna Lyndsey and Rick Johnson.

Irritation filled Rick, noting the dark storefront and the hour Genna Lyndsey heedlessly took for granted. It seemed an unnecessary risk, loaded down with her purse and another bag. Probably filled with books, he surmised, her back to the street. Hell, there was a building under construction just across the damn street. Rain fell in a gentle mist.

“Where is your partner?” he snapped.

“She went home hours ago,” she said cheerfully.

His jaw clenched with an unnatural exasperation.

“Is something wrong? I’m no expert, but you seem a little out of sorts.”

“I just drove up to get some coffee next door and I see you locking up your store with no regard to personal safety.” He encroached her personal space to make his point—certainly not for the sweet fragrance of wild honeysuckle. He breathed deep.

“Oh.” He saw her steel herself against the surge of emotions assaulting her when she turned and met his angry gaze. The stiffening of her spine, the deep pools of her eyes, color indiscernible under the night sky. Her gaze measured him intently through the black sturdy glasses. “‘I cannot think well enough to be intelligible,’” she whispered, her delicious mouth parting slightly. It was all the invitation he needed. He blamed the wild honeysuckle.

Without so much as a second thought, he moved his mouth over hers in a slow deliberation, allowing her almost ample time to step back should she have wished. It didn’t matter that the door was to her back and she had nowhere to step back to.

Definitely, the wild honeysuckle. It drove him wild with desire. Just the feeling of her timorous nature kept him from devouring her outright, tempting as it was. His tongue touched her lips in a feathery motion, drinking in sweetness so pure he wanted to fall to his knees. He pulled her slight body into his.

A sharp pain hit his leg. He grunted and broke the kiss, making the break as painful as the pain in his leg. He glanced down. She’d dropped everything she’d been holding, her hands clutching the front of his shirt. Her cheeks were flushed. With hunger? Need?

She seemed at a loss as to what to do next. He stifled an urge to smile, irritation dissolving for the moment.

He grasped her hands gently, surprised by the rising desire to safeguard her. Resisting the appeal to reclaim her mouth, he tugged them from his shirt. Kneeling down, he gathered the spilled belongings. Just as he suspected, he’d been besieged with books.

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

Ahhh. Spring Break. What Break?

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

This past week was Spring Break from my day job.  A week off.  A week off! you say.  Wow.  And that’s how I looked at it.  An entire week!  Just imagine what I could accomplish writing!  Start a novella, edit a book, write, write, write.  Sigh.  Somehow it never turns out like I think.

This past week was filled with “catch up” activities.  You know, those activities or chores you push off until you have more time.  More time.  That is just an elusive phrase.  What does more time really mean to us writers?  It’s never enough time.  Not when you are responsible for keeping the family going, keeping the house from crumbling around your shoulders, keeping your environment clean.  This is on top of the regular routine – making sure the kids have what they need, cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping.

Don’t get me wrong, during this “break” I did get things accomplished.  I steam cleaned the entire upstairs (sadly in need of it) and I caulked the kids bathroom (glad I did because it really needed it).  Surprised, aren’t you?  Yes, I like to do it myself because then I can make sure it’s done right.  I’m not complaining.  Because if I weren’t a control freak, I could dole out these chores and have more time.

And here we are, back to more time.  That elusive phrase.  So, I did do some chores on my list.  I even went downtown to the Field Museum.  But I didn’t start a novella and I didn’t edit the book.

They might call it Spring Break.  But it’s not really a break.  They should call it Spring Catch Up.   Next week I’ll get back into the groove and begin that novella and edit that book.  And I’ll probably start a summer catch up list.

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

Inspirational Quote Monday! #8 of 2014

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week -

“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” – Henry Van Dyke

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

First Kiss Friday – Murder Most Foul by JoAnne Myers

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is JoAnne Myers, author of contemporary romance Murder Most Foul.  Welcome JoAnne!  Here’s the first kiss between Jackie Reeves and Walker Harmon.

Smiling, while descending the staircase in her white satin pajamas, she 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, he 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.

 

 

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

Time for a Giveaway!

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

Woo Hoo!  I love my readers so much!  Time for a giveaway!  

Post the name of your favorite Laurel O’Donnell hero in the comments with your email address (so I can contact you if you win).  Then tweet or Facebook this post.  Good luck!

On March 31st, I’ll pick one lucky reader who had commented.  They will win my medieval romance ebook, The Angel and The Prince.   

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

Inspirational Quote Monday! #7 of 2014

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week -

“It’s spring fever…. You don’t quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! - Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

First Kiss Friday – Ian – Book 3 in the Madman MacKeefe series by Elizabeth Rose

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Elizabeth Rose, author of historical romance Ian – Book 3 in the Madman MacKeefe series.  Welcome Liz!  Here’s the first kiss between Ian MacKeefe and Kyla.

“Dinna hate me, Kyla. Ye have te understand thet nothin’ can e’er happen between us.” Ian’s words said one thing but his body was saying another. Why did he have his arm around her, pulling her closer, if he was trying to push her away?

Still, his words sounded so final and she wondered for a moment if she was just fantasizing again and there was really nothing between them after all. Mayhap her expectations were set too high and she shouldn’t get her hopes up. Not when it had to do with Ian MacKeefe. She was confused, but had to know for sure.

“Somethin’ already has happened between us,” she said, turning and looking up into his eyes. The firelight danced off his sun-kissed skin and the whole moment would have been special if only he would drop the walls between them.

“Nothin’ happened,” he said, as if he truly believed it.

“Ye kissed me, Ian MacKeefe, and if ye say ye felt nothin’ between us then I say ye are the biggest liar I’ve e’er met.”

“I didna feel anythin’.”

She blinked once, then twice, not believing he was really acting like such a dolt. She had to make him admit that he was lying. This may be the only chance she ever got.

“Prove it,” she challenged him.

“What do ye mean?”

She raised her chin and looked him straight in the eye. “Kiss me again, and if ye can honestly say thet ye feel nothin’, then I swear I’ll leave ye alone and ne’er mention it again.”

He laughed then, and the brightness of his smile as well as the deep, rich rumble in his chest vibrating against her, about drove her from her mind. Damn, why did he have to be so desirable?

He lowered his head and looked up from the corner of one hooded eye. One side of his mouth twisted wryly as he answered. “I dinna want te play games, lassie,” he said in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

And when he removed his arm from around her shoulders and started to move away, she decided she didn’t want to die without feeling Ian’s lips upon hers one more time. She daringly took hold of his shoulders and reached upward, pressing her lips firmly against his before he could object.

Then she pulled away quickly, her hand going to her mouth, unable to believe her own brashness, and she waited for his reaction. A sense of excitement surged through her and the exchange between them seemed to have set her mouth afire. She slowly lowered her hand and wet her lips slightly with the tip of her tongue, tasting his essence of whisky and pure, male power. Then her eyes intermingled with his, and she felt her heart hammering in her chest as she waited for what seemed an eternity for him to respond to what she’d done.

He didn’t speak at first, only studied her with his intense, smoldering eyes. She felt a delicious shudder wash through her as she recognized the way he was looking at her right now. It was the look of lust she’d seen every time he was with a woman he was about to bed. His hooded eyes drank her in, and he peered up through his long, black lashes that had no right belonging to a man. His hazelnut eyes turned soft and silky, then suddenly mixed with an intense fire that made him seem dangerous, yet too seductive for her to ever look away.

“Well? Did ye feel anythin’?” she asked softly, almost choking on her words. Her own emotions were spiraling out of control from just one kiss, but she figured he was going to lie to her again, and act like he didn’t feel the strong attraction that was obvious between them.

“I dinna ken,” he said, surprising her with his answer. He reached up and scratched at the side of his face, his hand blocking his mouth momentarily, but she didn’t miss the way his tongue darted out and flicked across his lips before he lowered his hand again. She wondered if he were tasting her essence as well. “It was too fast,” he said. “I’m used te kisses thet last a little longer.”

“So . . . should we try it again?” she asked carefully, hoping this was what he was hinting at and that she wasn’t misreading him. She found herself staring at his mouth in anticipation.

“Mayhap we should.” He reached over and lifted her chin gently and brushed his thumb along her bottom lip. She closed her eyes, feeling a tingle run through her as she eagerly waited. “But this time, we need te try it slower so we can both see if we feel anythin’,” he told her.

 

Available at:

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IO0GDM2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/412895

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

My Best Friend

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

I want to introduce you to my best friend.  He is my inspiration, my writing companion and my stress reliever.  We have a connection.  His name is Charming.  And yes, that would be after Prince Charming from Cinderella.  Who knew how well the name would fit him when I named him when he was a kitten.

As my children are fond of reminding me, I almost didn’t get him.  We had gone to the shelter to get his sister and another cat because up until that point, I always had girl cats.  I had heard that they were more affectionate.  How wrong I was!  As luck would have it, the other kitten was not there.  But Charming, who wasn’t named Charming yet, was.  My children begged me to get him.  I had my misgivings, after all I never had a male cat before.  

But that little guy changed my mind!  He grew into his name.  And even when he is mischievous, which is often, I can’t stay mad at him because he is…well, Charming.  He has that regal air about him that commands subordination.  Or at least food and to open the backdoor so he can smell the outside world.  Or just to love him.  He is an indoor cat and likes it that way.  There is plenty around the house to entertain him.  He is spoiled beyond measure, as is fitting for a Prince.  He has cat trees and toys and rolled up pieces of paper that he bats around.  

But when I write, we have a routine.  As soon as I sit at the computer, he meows this little squeak and I jump out of my chair and say, “What’s wrong, Charming?”  He comes running and I pet him after he stretches.  Then, I turn on the faucet in the tub and he gets a drink.  When he is done, he comes into the room and cleans himself as I shut it off.  Then I lay out a blanket for him, not any blanket, mind you.  It’s the warm fluffy comfy Disney blanket.  He lays down on the blanket next to me as I write.  He’s here now, purring as I pet him.  

My buddy.  My companion.  My Charming.

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy

Inspirational Quote Monday! #6 of 2014

Laurel O'Donnell - Author

It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week -

“Spring is the time of the year, when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens

 

 

Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy