Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 9

WeWriWa: It Was Heaven . . . and Hell. TEXAS DESTINY/Dana Ransom

The books are in the (e-) mail! Finally, I got up the grit to contact my editor at Harlequin/Silhouette to ask if she’d be interested in having me send her the two romantic suspense completes in a potential new series . . . and she replied “Absolutely! Send them!” Both manuscripts are now cozied up in her “In Box” along with prospectives for two more books in the series (never waste an opportunity!). Whew! Now, the really hard part. Waiting . . .
To keep my mind off my email, I’ve decided to revisit the past . . . the waaaay past and another long overdue plan to get reissues of my old Dana Ransom historicals back in print. I’ve been lost in rereading my favorite series set in Texas involving the Bass family . . . and haven’t moved since I opened that first page. I LOVE these books and am more determined than ever to reissue them with a bonus – a NEW book (or more!) in the series featuring the same characters and new family members (who’ve grown up quite nicely) that I’ve been putzing with for years. But first, here’s a sample from Book 2 TEXAS DESTINY which features characters that will play an important role in the new books.
AmazonPublished: January 1, 1994Length: 448 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
DESTINED TO SAVE HIM
Wounded and left for dead by a band of savage Apaches, Texas Ranger Jack Bass thought his life was over -- until a white woman dressed in Indian clothing suddenly appeared. Before he could learn the identity of this green-eyed angel of mercy, she vanished into the night, leaving him with only the memory of whispered words and a gentle touch...
DESTINED TO LOVE HER
Ever since the terrifying day she was abducted from her husband's home and forced to live among the Apache, Emily Marcus knew she no longer had a place in the white man's world. But she couldn't forget the tender stranger she'd nursed back to life. Now, as fate conspired to bring them together once more, Emily found herself torn between honor and desire -- between vows made long ago and the love she'd risk her very soul to claim.... The Excerpt 

It was heaven and hell.

The woman in his arms was everything Jack desired – strong, brave, sweet-spirited, and beautiful. Her touch made everything inside him all hot and fluid, like the spring waters at Boquillas. She was the kind of woman a man looked for all his life, and if he was lucky enough to find her, he was smart enough to never let her go. Most of his fellow rangers were happy with the solitary life, content to roll themselves in a blanket under the stars, eat their meals out of a tin, and wash when they started scaring away game. They had no dreams beyond the moment, and most didn’t care if the future lasted fifty years or fifty minutes, but Jack wasn’t like them. He’d come from a solid family background, had seen the love between his mother and Will, between his uncle and Amanda, had held his baby brothers and sister in his arms and had known right then that he wanted children of his own. He wanted the vision Harmon had given him years ago, of looking out over land of his own, a wife and kids beside him, a table to sit at, and the satisfaction of belonging. Heaven was finding the woman to make that dream come true.

Hell was having her belong to someone else.

Almost finished with this reread then on to WILD TEXAS BRIDE. Yee Haw!! And while I’m lost out West, I’ll be busy plotting those new adventures!
What have you been up to??

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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WeWriWa: When Happily Ever After Does Last Forever . . . FROM THIS DAY FORWARD $0.99 S*A*L*E!

When a dream finally comes true, it’s supposed to last forever, right? That’s what Robyn Lee believed with all her heart and soul . . . until a tragic accident on her honeymoon ended her illusions, widowing her before she had the chance to enjoy a taste married life. Now, she fills her empty hours making sure that other couples have the chance to enjoy the future she was denied with THIS PERFECT DAY, her upscale wedding planner business. Leave it to Kyle Travers to rock that boat when her best client insists that her cranky brother photograph her special day. What could go wrong?
FROM THIS DAY FORWARDAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: November 20, 2014Length: 188 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Can two broken hearts make a perfect match?
Widowed on her honeymoon, Robyn Lee pours all her unfulfilled dreams of a happily-ever-after into her wedding planner business, hiding her own heartbreak by making perfect memories for couples beginning the loving future she was denied. The last thing she needs is for the brother of her dream client--whose endorsement will guarantee Robyn's success--to rock the boat . . . and her regimented world.
Through the lens of his camera, photojournalist Kyle Travers has witnessed all the ugliness life can offer. Still reeling from the death of his coworker in the field, he sees the frilly job of photographer at his sister's wedding as an annoyance--until he meets the steely organizer who protects her broken spirit almost as fiercely as he does his own--making him wonder if two fractured halves can make a stronger whole. The Excerpt 

Robyn Lee wasn’t the kind of woman who interested Kyle Travers. He preferred his females stacked like a full house with an IQ equal to the sum of those cards. When he looked for a companion, he looked for soft and simple—nothing challenging, nothing involving, but rather a stimulant for the body and a tranquilizer for the mind that would flush from the system without a trace. He didn’t want a rocket scientist or a surrogate mother. He wanted a few pleasant hours under the covers, and he wanted to be gone. No commitments and absolutely nothing messy, like the tears clinging to Robyn’s lashes.

Ms. Lee wasn’t his kind of woman. For one thing, she was all fragile bones and vulnerability. He knew the first time he’d held her in his arms a good squeeze would snap her in half. She was delicate porcelain and he liked them stuffed with cotton batting with a little more to latch onto than angular hip bone. She had no rump and no chest to speak of, but she had those wickedly long legs that made a man think of things he shouldn’t. With Robyn Lee, he’d never get past the thinking stage. And that was fine with him. 

Because he knew at first glance she wasn’t the kind of woman a man walked away from.

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD was one of four contemporary romances I enjoyed writing for Belle Books/Bell Bridge Books under pen name Dana Ransom. They were unique because they didn’t contain the edgy action my historicals and romantic suspense titles are known for, but instead focused on couple-centric real-life dramas (though I did manage to sneak in at least one explosion! Not in this title, though!). And you know what, surprise, surprise!, human drama can really kick butt! And another fun aside – all four book are anchored in my home state of Michigan, which has everything from warm beaches to wild and wooly forests to high tech industry and Mom-and-Pop stores. Grab up a copy of FTDF and kick back as these last few weeks of summer give way to the crisp snap of fall.

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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IWSG: Happy Birthday, IWSG!!

We’ve (and I’ve!) come a long way, baby!
September 6th question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?
I got onboard IWSG late that first (or second) year when one of my writer pals, Diane Burton asked me what I’d heard about a new social media site for writers. I’m notoriously cautious about weekly/monthly online commitments (especially when I was working fulltime) but the uniqueness of IWSG sounded perfect. A set topic and quick shoutout about what I’ve been doing, kudos to those hosting the monthly event and then . . . the best part . . . finding new writer friends! There were almost 500 (!) when I joined, a jaw dropping number that, like all new things, parred down over the years to a healthy 120ish. The advantage is that most of my other media groups are in my genre (mainly romance) – but IWSG covers all of them, including coveted film! I’ve gotten wonderful insights and suggestions from the entire realm of written (plus vocal and visual) content. Woo Hoo!
And then there’s the chance to participate by hosting. I’ve met some fantastic writers (the new and the amazingly prolific) and have gleaned priceless nuggets of knowledge by that simple contact and get-to-know you via websites/blogs. We are one heck of a creative (and generous!) group! And it’s that diversity that makes us unique. Woo Hoo us!! Here’s to another dozen (and beyond)!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the September 6th posting of the IWSG will be Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
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WeWriWa: She could lose her life . . . but he’s risking his soul! MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE – Just $0.99 Sept. 1-15

I love, love, LOVE sinking my teeth into a good vampire story and MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE has everything one looks for: An invitation too good to be true for a down on his luck New Orleans attorney running from the darkness of his past. A mystery she’d give everything to solve, including her detective shield—up to and including her own life! A D.C. law firm where its after dark business is anything but usual. Sink your teeth into MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE! Midnight Masquerade (Touched by Midnight - Book 8)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 4, 2011Length: 234 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Can they escape the shadows of the past?
This time, he could lose his soul . . . An invitation to join an exclusive D.C. law firm seems like a chance for Nick Flynn to leave his mistakes behind. But it's his shadowy past and unrealized inheritance that attracted his mysterious employers. Once embroiled in their dark schemes, his struggle for success becomes a battle for his salvation.
And she could lose her life . . . Loner detective Rae Borden goes undercover as a call girl to discover the truth about her best friend's death. Her carefully laid plan of revenge and personal redemption becomes a crusade against an unbelievable evil . . . with Nick Flynn in the middle.
"Nancy Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market today!" — Midwest Book Review/BookWire
 The Excerpt 

Kazmir Zanlos’s corner office shimmered with chrome and reflective surfaces, reminding Nick of the man himself, both dazzling the eye, but allowing no hint of the depth behind that polished exterior . . . or the decay. As a boy, he’d thought to wade out into still, clear waters trying to catch a frog only to find himself mired in the deadly quicksand concealed under the deceptively placid illusion. He felt the same way now, only Kaz Zanlos wasn’t sucking at his feet, he was devouring his soul, and like that child stuck in the bog, he wasn’t sure how to extricate himself.

While he waited, Nick glanced about the surroundings that had so impressed him upon his first interview. The obvious wealth, the scent of success, the reflection of everything he desired—for a price he hadn’t known he’d have to pay. 

Who was he trying to kid? By the time Zanlos had come to him, he’d already sold his soul for success so who was he to throw stones? If he hadn’t known what Zanlos was from the get-go, it was because he hadn’t wanted to know, still didn’t want to know, even though that truth beat at him like a morning-after headache. He couldn’t condemn Zanlos because they were birds of a feather. Those birds were vultures, circling in search of ripe carrion.

This book was literally born riding the escalator featured on the original front cover. It leads to the underground metro train where my writer friends and I traveled from the conference hotel into the city to shop during afternoon breaks and to hit the theatre – after dark when at its creepiest. The angle was so steep, you couldn’t see the top or the bottom from the other end. The temperature dropped to shiver-inducing chilliness during the ride down. And the prologue came to life during one of those up close and too personal descents when someone dropped their keys.  Brrrrr!
I’ll be at a writers’ getaway out of town next weekend so I may not be here. If not, Write On!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...

WeWriWa: “Nothing to Give” . . . An Untarnished Hero W-I-P

If you don’t ask, you’ll never know . . . and knowing is half the battle (my favorite GI Joe battle cry!) So, after finishing the first drafts and near final versions of two Texas-set contemporary romantic suspenses (my favorite to read and to write!), I girded my loins and emailed my former Silhouette editor asking if she’d be willing to take a look at my new project. Breath held . . . she said, “Send them!” You know how I love a challenge. Now, so do the characters in AN UNTARNISHED HERO, the first book in what I hope develops into a meaty series of western lawmen – my favorite kind! Here’s a look see . . .

An old passion lost.
After months of silence, Willamina Redbone is two steps away from signing papers to reclaim her maiden name when the battered love of her naïve past returns without apology or explanation. Always a man of honor where the law was concerned, she can trust Jimmy Redbone to protect her and help save her ranch, but can she trust herself not to make the same mistake with her heart. . . only to watch him ride away again?
A past love reclaimed.
Injured out of the line of duty by the man who destroyed his wife’s family, U.S. Marshal Jimmy Redbone returns to her isolated West Texas ranch to heal his wounds and rebuild their marriage along with the neglected acres while secretly protecting her from the now freed killer her testimony put in prison. And to take his own retribution upon the man who dared threaten what was once his . . . and hopes will be once again.
A dangerous debt unpaid.
With the lives of three young men unavenged and a fortune in drug money still missing, the clock is ticking down on their chance for a future together as old secrets and dangerous truths push between the lawman and his lady. But they hadn’t anticipated the efforts of a crotchety retired Ranger and a protective stray to help them defend the life they long to build . . . together.

 The Excerpt 

She’d never belonged with him in Houston, caged in his apartment, longing for the freedom of the life she’d led. But she loved him, so she stayed.  Until fate set her free from their marriage prison by calling her home.

After basking in her light, his own darkness suffocated him without her. He’d always known he had nothing to give, that she, like everyone else in his life, was only temporary. He’d figured he’d just get over it and go on with the perilous routine of his days and longer nights. 

Until Angel Soto gave him a reason to hope. 

He’d sunk his teeth into that chance to make things right, seeing only the end result and none of the consequences. Even at the risk of throwing twenty years of respect and hard work away.

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

He’d come to The Cut Above ready to face hell . . . and found himself in an unexpected heaven.  All he had to do was reach out to grab onto everything he’d dreamed of having.

What the Texas-bred hell was he doing wasting precious time on coulda, shoulda, woulda? He had eight days left before he’d return to full duty. Eight days to see justice done. Eight days to rectify four years of mistakes and neglect.  To convince the woman he’d failed to protect and provide for that the broken thing binding them together was worth fighting for. Eight days to find a path to a future they could walk together. 

I’d just begun to think I had nothing to give toward a future in contemporary romance. Silly me. What do think? Are your spurs a-jingling? Wish me luck. Here’s to getting back on the book shelves! Yee Hah!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...

WeWriWa: Hello Darkness My Old Friend . . . MIDNIGHT KISS $0.99 S*A*L*E!

Books are like old friends. With just a few words, you fall right back in sync with them as if you’ve never been apart. MIDNIGHT KISS, the first book in my “Touched by Midnight” vampire romance series, is like that. Back in the early 1990s, we first introduced ourselves after a meeting with my editor at an RWA conference in New York after his question, “Have you ever thought about writing a vampire romance?” I had! And I would – nine of them, to be exact, beginning with tragically romantic antihero, Louis Radman, who in his search to cure his century old “malady,” would take me on a delightfully dark journey that began with a dark kiss . . .
[Click to view larger image]




  

Midnight Kiss (Touched by Midnight - Book 1)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: July 12, 2015Length: 262 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A DARK CURSE Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it's not long before Bella's curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father's work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or what he seems.
A BRIGHT PROMISE After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man's tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it's not to tempt fate.
AN UNFORGIVING PAST Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.
Yet, if he's forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever?
"Dark and compelling, Gideon's novel will appeal to those who enjoy the vampire novels of Anne Rice." --Library Journal
"A colorful and hauntingly beautiful tale of otherworldly love . . . destined to become a classic!"--Affaire de Coeur
"Incredible, spellbinding reading!" --Rendezvous The Excerpt 

“Bella, I’m not talking fault, I’m talking fact. What he is is a vampire. And what he does is kill. Relentlessly, week after week, year after year, decade after decade. He is not a man. He has no soul or conscience.”

“Yes, he does!”

“Bella, he drinks the blood of his victims, and you are going to live with him, knowing that, letting him come home to you after he’s been out on the street, hunting and killing his prey? You’re going to accept that he’s coming to you with another’s blood on his hands and in his veins?”

Her jaw firmed and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t care.”

( . . . and a taste more . . .)

Her father took a step back, aghast. “How hard he’s made you already. Or is that Radman talking through you? I don’t like to believe my daughter could throw off her concern for human life.”

Arabella had to turn away as her eyes welled up with anguished tears. Because she did care. She could try to pretend she didn’t, but it was a lie. She could accept what Louis was, but she didn’t know deep down if she could handle what it was he did. She didn’t know if she could let him come into her arms warmed by the stolen life of another, without thinking of whom he’d taken into his fatal embrace: A young man with his future before him, a woman with children at home, a father providing for his family? And she knew right then she could never join Louis in his nocturnal existence. She could never develop the indifference or the desperation to do what must be done for her to survive.

She looked back at her father, her stricken expression saying it all. Wordlessly, he hugged her up to him and let her sob against his shoulder. 

“I love him, Father. I love him so. Please help him. Please find some way to cure him!”

What a journey I’ve had with this series spanning 9 books, eight years, three publishers, and three generations of a preternatural family who embraced . . . centuries. Rereading them has stirred a long suppressed desire to . . . write more of them. Perhaps via a different family existing along the same line. Or some sort of wrinkle in time. What do you think? Hungry for more?
If you haven’t had a taste of “Midnight,” now’s your chance with the first book of the series now on SALE! For only $0.99! The eight more still available!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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IWSG: Written in Stone

Our August question made me laugh out loud. Oh, how lucky and spoiled writers are today with their ability to endless toss and juggle words while looking for that perfect turn of phrase. When I hear someone complain that they’re on their fourth draft, it makes me shake my head in wonder, either from jealousy or exasperation as I rub my need-to-be carpal-tunneled wrists, thinking about today’s question:

Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

When I started out as a writer (back pre-computer or even electric typewriter era!), it was me, my idea, a pencil, and notebook paper (as the huge boxes in our basement will attest!). No “backspace/delete” or “copy/paste” or “search all.” When I took my words from handwritten to typewriter (a replica of ours you can find in museums!) every word, every sentence, every paragraph and page had to be perfect before being placed on carbon paper (original for submission, one copy for my records). There were no Jiffy Prints or Kinkos, no erasable bond, just that four-inch high cardboard mailer box and that one clean copy for my submission that HAD to be perfect. I had to be confident that each word was necessary and compelled the reader forward (hopefully to the next book in the series!)
Onerous, yes. But I was in writer nirvana. Mainly because I was blessed with the best of the best editors (not just in my opinion) when I started out. (Micki Nuding and Patience Smith, I’m looking at YOU!). They believed in my work and in my words so if I had something I felt strongly about or was iffy on, they were there as encouraging sounding boards. And even before THEM, was my critique group with their scrupulously honest opinions. Oh, there were discussions on some of my choices – sometimes I prevailed, sometimes I bowed – but always to make the book better. It was so wonderful to have that professional/personal sounding board between me and my reading audience. Case in point: Max Savoie, dark hero of my “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series. He was cutting edge for the time and words/pages just flew when I spent time with him. Buuuut he wasn’t the most heroic of characters (perhaps one of the original dark anti-heroes). My “crew” helped me craft his persona into a reader favorite that spanned an 11-book series as well as a 4-book “House of Terriot” spin-off. All because I was secure in my words.
Have the courage to be strong in your choices . . . but the wisdom to listen to what just might make your masterpiece a true work of art!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the August 2nd posting of the IWSG will be Kate Larkindale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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WeWriWa: It’s in His Kiss . . . MIDNIGHT KISS $0.99 S*A*L*E!

While I’m away from my home desk visiting one of my critique partners, I brought along some nighttime reading material – most notably from my “Midnight” vampire romance series in preparation for this month’s sale. Time to leave the nightlight on! Some of those scenes are darn right chilling! Here’s a taste from MIDNIGHT KISS . . .

Midnight Kiss (Touched by Midnight - Book 1)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: July 12, 2015Length: 262 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→ The Excerpt 

“Where is your father?” Half whisper, half growl, his voice startled her. “Get him here! I need him here, now!”

“What is it? Are you all right? Is there something I—”

“Come no closer.”

Arabella gasped at the sight of him. He was so pale! In the dimness, his flesh seemed almost translucent, lean features drawn into taut relief, all highlight and hollow, as if ravaged by a wasting sickness. wet hair clinging sleekly to the contour of his skull. Only his eyes burned . . . a hot, luminescent gold. 

(. . . and a BITE more . . . )

A trick of the light, surely, for in that moment, she could have sworn they blazed like coals beneath the dark slash of his brows. Then he turned his head away, denying her the sight of his misery.

“Leave me, please. I will be fine if you leave me.” 

He wouldn’t be fine. She could tell by watching his agitation. Something was dreadfully wrong, and he’d come to her father for help. But Stuart Howland was not at home.

“Please,” she cried out softly. “Please tell me what I can do for you.”

For a moment there was silence. Then, the slow, hissing draw of his breath as he came about to face her. They were quite close. He had no difficulty reaching out to catch her by the upper arms. His long fingers bit into tender flesh, the pressure hurtful. What kind of illness left such strength in a man’s hands, she wondered somewhat frantically, but she couldn’t move, she couldn’t complain. For he was staring down into her eyes and suddenly nothing else existed beyond the pull of his unblinking gaze. An odd lethargy spread through her as she heard him speak, his tone quiet and somehow soothing. It seemed to melt her very bones.

“What can you do for me?” he repeated, as if considering the question. His arms bent until she was compelled forward, until she could feel the force of his rapid breath against her upturned face. There was no warmth to it. Nor was there any sign of weakness or distress in him. Power . . . she sensed power. It engulfed her, swallowing her whole.

“Arabella.”

And just TRY getting to sleep with THAT image teasing your about your mind . . . I sure got a lot of reading done before I dared close my eyes!
Happy Almost August!!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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WeWriWa: A Date with Darkness . . . MIDNIGHT SURRENDER

I’m visiting one of my critique partners for a couple of weeks of reading, TV binging, and front porch rock-and-relaxing. Ahhhh! And while I’m here with just my laptop and my Kindle, I’ve decided to revisit my Touched by Midnight vampire romance series (yeah, what a time to have severe thunder and lightning! Talk about atmosphere!). There’s something about a moody, broody historically-set paranormal and a dangerously magnetic love match that I can’t resist. Help! I’m lost in the pages of MIDNIGHT SURRENDER and I can’t get out! Here’s a taste . . .

Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: October 1, 2015Length: 236 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A Reckless Quest . . . A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.
A Dark Deception . . . When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.
An Inevitable Sacrifice . . . . Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . . .
“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal
“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”—The Literary Times
“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous

 The Excerpt 

“What binds us is stronger than vows and deeper than eternity.”

She trembled, her gaze dancing nervously away. “You speak in riddles.”

“No, in truths. Look at me, Cassie.”

She couldn’t, suddenly afraid—of what he might say, of what he might see in her unguarded gaze.

“Look at me.”

His command as hard to resist as a physical force, Cassie turned toward him, painfully aware of her flushed cheeks, but he didn’t notice them. His attention fixed upon her eyes, drawing her in with a mesmerizing power, relaxing her denying tension, calming her anxious fears. 

Looking into his compelling stare was like falling into her soul.

(. . . and a nibbly bit more . . .)

“We are one, Cassie. You are mine now. Can you deny it?”

She sucked in a fragile breath and whispered, “No,” because she could feel it even if she couldn’t explain it. “I-I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to understand. You only have to believe.”

The swirl of his power engulfed her senses, teasing her with strange prickles of awareness—of him as a man, of him as more than just a man. That was where confusion arose. What else was he? What could give him that kind of control over her sensibilities? Because she lived the life of a journalist, asking questions and seeking answers, it went against her grain to blindly accept what was before her—even when under a smothering pressure to do just that. She blinked hard and struggled against his spell.

“W-what are you doing to me?” 

I can credit my abundance of creativity this week to these lovely ladies from my 30-year strong PotL critique group.

It seems like it’s been ages since we’ve spontaneously gathered together (minus one member from the other side of the state) for plotting, revising, and just plain visiting in a small-town diner and comfortable living room. What a wonderful way to refuel the creative engine. Now, I have no excuse not to finish my edits! So . . . what have you been writing – no excuses!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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WeWriWa: “A Setting Made for Sin,” A Risk-Taking Ranger

It’s always a surprising pleasure to read over what you’ve written and think to yourself, “Dang, that’s good!” And when you finally finish, you huff out a breath and think to yourself, is that it? No more? I want more! That’s why it’s taking sooooo long for me to get my latest romantic suspense ready to format – I don’t want to let the story go. Here’s a tease from A RISK-TAKING RANGER . . .

 The Excerpt 

Joshua Baxter came from money, the kind that grabbed up acres by the thousands and voters by the counties, enough to buy his grandfather a state office from which he’d retired and his father a local seat of prestige and power. His daddy owned and operated a luxurious golf resort complete with spa retreat that offered all the pricey, youth-promising treatments wealthy city dwellers craved enough to plop down a small fortune toward dubious results. All the incomes combined in this dusty part of West Texas couldn’t match what the high school senior stood to inherit. Charity wasn’t something he’d learned at home, that home being an oasis in a desert of poverty. Taking what he thought he deserved was the lesson handed down to him, along with a sleek foreign car and his own living quarters in an elaborate pool house behind the family mansion. A nervous housemaid directed the two men back after reluctantly revealing that the wealthy Casanova was not alone.

It was all Zayn could do to control his friend without resorting to a headlock as the anxious and outraged father flung open the door to a setting steeped in sin.

Low lights, a moaning pop ballad playing, an empty bottle of wine and two pairs of suggestive entwined bared legs sparked something in Zayn he hadn’t known he possessed. Something akin to parental fury.

“Texas Ranger,” he bellowed. “Best be making yourselves decent!”

A satisfying flurry of panic preceded a flood of lights from above, illuminating two frantic teens squirming into their cast-off clothing. One was an irate billionaire’s son. 

The other, who’d been enjoying his company, was not Lenna Lupan.

I’ve spent the past few days so caught up in the characters, I’ve forgotten that I was supposed to be editing. I’ve got just a few chapters left to read through (where the real hard work begins to properly build the tension!) so I’m not yet ready to pat myself on the back. There’s some work to do to tie up all the threads into a neat tapestry worth hanging on the wall with the rest of my book covers. Then I can escape the solitude of my office desk to drive across the state for a two-week vacay with one of my critique partner besties. There, I can read it over as a reader to make sure it’s in publishing shape. Fingers crossed I have nothing to do but kick back and binge on Netflix! And then it’s cover art time!
What about you? Any getaways planned for these steamy days (at least, they are here in Michigan! 90s! And not a dry heat! Whew!)?

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...