Jennifer Probst's Blog, page 18
April 7, 2014
Big News…
Wow. Just noticed I haven’t written a blog since mid March! I’ve been in the writing cave, riding out the rest of the winter madness and watching my children swap various illnesses back and forth.
But Spring is here and I have some huge announcements.
First off, I am awestruck at being included in one of the most amazing boxed sets of contemporary romance. The best part? The royalties go toward Diabetes Research. Help me make a difference and have a blast reading your favorite authors in A Sweet Life!
Have your cake and eat it too–your purchase of A Sweet Life helps fight against diabetes!
Priced at only 2.99 (regular price 7.99), indulge in this stunning limited edition collection of fourteen contemporary romances by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors…
You can make a difference while you read! All proceeds from the sale of A Sweet Life will be donated to the Diabetes Research Institute via Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research.
Featuring a foreword by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber.
Get your copy today!
https://itunes.apple.com/book/a-sweet-life-boxed-set/id852423773?mt=11″ target=”_blank”>
Are You Ready to Get Your Geek On?
Searching for Perfect releases Tuesday, April 29th and is up for Pre-Order! Don’t miss out on Nathan Ellison Raymond Dunkle – the hottest nerd to rise up the book boyfriend charts!
Reviewers are saying:
“Romance star Probst pens another sexy, satisfying romance” –Kirkus Reviews
“Jennifer Probst is one of those feel-good authors. It’s always a good romantic comedy. I loved Searching for Perfect…” – 5 Stars, Nestled in a Book
“Jennifer has written a creative and eclectic group of characters who are entertaining and engaging and real. The story might be about romance and finding love but there is an element to her writing and a fragility to her characters that make it much more. Jennifer is a romance writing superstar and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this fantastic series.” — Bella’s Little Book Blog
“I thought this was a wonderfully moving, deeply emotional, steamy, sexy, fantastic story, of hope, healing and love. 5 huge loving stars!” –Sizzling Book Club
I’m Celebrating the Release with one of the Biggest Facebook Parties of the Year! The authors I have booked are…extraordinary. I’m fangirling myself. Hang out all day and evening and win tons of prizes, with the Grand Prize of an Ipod stocked with my Searching for Perfect Playlist!
Join Right Here! https://www.facebook.com/events/290366911118563/
Stay tuned for my HUGE blog tour where I’m giving out prizes. And don’t forget to join the Probst Posse for exclusive excerpts and sneak peeks of all my work!
Happy April everyone!
March 14, 2014
The Short Story and a Challenge…
First off, a bit of screaming and gratitude. Beyond Me hit the New York Times and the USA Today bestselling list, and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing, supportive readers. Thank you for loving and sharing my stories and allowing me to keep writing for you.
Second, I want to talk about writing. I love everything about creating a good story, in various formats, and consistently try to grow and get better. When I was in college, I took a short story writing course. The class was small and intimate, and each week we’d create a new short to read and discuss. By studying and delving into the craft of the short, I learned about the power of vivid words, getting straight into the action, and how to give readers a satisfying experience in a limited amount of time.
Yesterday, I was on twitter and saw a site called 81words.net. I clicked on it out of curiosity and found a site that is dedicated to sharing stories of exactly 81 words. Readers vote and the stories are ranked. After scrolling through some of the top rated ones, I was blown away and reminded of what I love about the art of writing. In only 81 words emotions were evoked. A story was told.
Powerful stuff.
Of course, instead of going back to working my novel with a looming deadline, I got excited. I wanted to write a story in 81 words! Could I push myself to try?
Yes. So, I did.
You can read it right here. I titled it Unspoken.
After I posted, I got a huge adrenalin rush I always experience when I write The End on my book. I was also inspired by the other talented writers who pushed themselves and tried something new. I think in any career we may reach plateaus or forget to try something different.
So, I give you a challenge. Write a story of 81 words. Post it on the site here , or on your blog. Show me the link so I can read it, either on my website or on my author facebook page which is shown on the right side of my site.
Whoever takes on the challenge, I’ll put the names in a hat and give away a copy of my new digital release, Beyond Me. If you read it already, you can pick something from my backlist.
Are you a loyal reader but not a writer? That’s ok – just post that you checked out my new short Unspoken and I’ll put you into the contest!
Have fun. Happy reading. Happy writing.
March 11, 2014
Life, Love, and Moonstruck
First, some housekeeping.
A big thank you to my readers and Posse and fellow authors from the Sex on the Beach series. You made Beyond Me hit number 1 on Barnes and Noble and kept it in the top 100 of Amazon for the week.
You guys seriously rock.
Second, I’m gearing up to celebrate my upcoming release, Searching for Perfect, the second in the Searching series. You’ll see all the characters from the marriage to a billionaire series so don’t forget to preorder!
So, instead of working on my new book, I took a break last week, and after flipping the remote after hubby went to bed ( so I wasn’t tortured by the Military, History, or Discovery channel) I came across one of my all time fave movies.
Moonstruck.
Some say it’s dated. Yeah, it may show my age. But I watched that sucker from beginning to end and once again, I cried and felt my heart surge. It was like an erotic novella, woman’s fiction, and chick lit all swirled into one perfect movie. My mind exploded with ideas for writing, and creating stories that reach into a reader’s gut and twists deep and makes them feel. Because that’s real power.
Now that I’m steadily writing books and am a bit deeper into my craft and career than years ago, I found myself wanting to delve into the inner workings of the story. Why did this movie do it for me? By analyzing some of the main facets, perhaps I’d be able to wrestle more of those emotions into my own work, which is a payoff for both me and my readers.
Score.
So, I did. And this is what I found. It’s all about character, just like I suspected. Each of their motivations and past mistakes and issues and goals were key. In the movie, the acting was what made it great. In a book, characters make it great and the way we write them.
Here are three main elements I was able to break out.
Choices:
Choice is a big aspect in life, books, and movies. We pretend to be forced to do certain things, but in reality, it is all about choice. Our choice at the time to take one path over another. To decide what is right or wrong for us. In the movie, the father of Cher (the heroine) is cheating on his wife (Cher’s mother). The mother knows the truth but hasn’t confronted him yet. She spends most of the book asking the question: “Why do men cheat?” to various characters. She receives many different answers, and sifts through each one of them, trying to understand, make sense of it, accept it. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when she’s walking home from a restaurant with an attractive man she met while having dinner. The man had been chasing younger women, and Cher’s mother informs him he needs someone older to understand him. Throughout the scene, it’s obvious he begins to become interested in Cher’s mother. They reach her house, and they’re both standing outside on a cold winter night, looking at each other, and he asks her if she’ll invite him in. Now, this woman has been scorned, the guy is attractive, revenge may be tempting, and there’s a lot of ways she can decide to go with this.
What does she do?
Looks him dead in the eye and says she can’t invite him up. He asks why. And she says one of the keys to the whole movie: “Because I know who I am.”
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
He looks surprised, tries to persuade her, but the line is too powerful to ever back down from. She walks inside while he stares at her and we know we’re seeing a great moment.
Romance:
Romance is different than passion in my opinion. It’s sweeter, more delicate, more subtle. It has various motions and meanings to every person in an individual way. But I never, ever get sick of this scene which I wrote about in my foodie romance novel, All the Way. Nicholas Cage’s character – the hero- loves the opera. Cher has told him she can no longer see him because it is wrong (hero is Cher’s fiance’s brother). He convinces her to give him one perfect night and then he will let her go forever. Cage asks Cher to go to the opera with him. She finally agrees.
The scenes leading up to her makeover is so girly and satisfying. She prepares for him, and finds pleasure in her appearance, and making herself pretty. We watch her get her hair done, buy a gorgeous red dress, fancy shoes. We watch her unpack the boxes in front of the fireplace, drinking wine, thinking about the night ahead. It’s all fantasy and dreamy. I remember getting ready for my own dates, and this scene brings all the memories back.
Then, when she appears in front of the Metropolitan in Manhattan, she walks to the famous fountain and he’s waiting for her in a tux. He gazes at her with shock, adoration, lust. And he thanks her. For accompanying him. For her beautiful dress and hair and shoes. And I frikkin lose it every time.
Romance…
Passion:
God, there’s so much passion between Cher and Nicholas Cage. Reminded me of those scenes in a good erotic novel where the tension is exploding, and the heroine is unsure what to do, and the alpha male just grabs control and makes her do what she wants to do in the first place.
Example?
After the opera, they walk home and when she finds herself at his apartment, she’s angry. Cher begins yelling at him, saying he promised to leave her alone. Her speech cuts to the truth. She admits she wants to make better choices than in her past, and follow her mind, not her heart. She tells him she will marry his brother because it’s the logical, right thing to do. WE all know she’s fallen in love with Cage. But it’s her black moment – she fights her feelings and destiny.
Nicholas Cage loses it. He goes all sexy, alpha male on her and tells her he loves her. Tells her love isn’t what she thought it was, it’s not nice and civilized—it “breaks your heart” and makes things a mess. He says he doesn’t care about anything but her, and claiming her, and points to his house and says’ “Now get in my bed!”
I’m always breathless by this point, though of course I know what she’ll do. What I’d do. What any woman would do.
She goes to his bed. She surrenders.
Passion.
Dialogue:
I love dialogue. I think it’s the basis of a great book, and a great movie. Cher and Cage has a wonderful banter full of sexual tension, darkness and humor that translates perfectly. When they first meet, he’s surly and bad tempered, yelling at her. Another woman would back down, but she stands up to him, calling him a “lone wolf, ready to tear off his own paw to get out of the trap.” You realize through their conversations they get each other. They’re meant to be together.
Later on, Cage turns those words on her when she tries to reject him, saying, “You run toward the wolf” and the images their dialogue contains are so vivid and add depth to the movie.
Humor:
I’m not talking comedic or laugh out loud. Sometimes I love that. Other times it’s a humor interweaved within the realities of life. The grandfather goes out every night with a dozen dogs to walk them through the city streets. The leashes are tangled and he can barely contain them. A mass of writhing, barking bodies drag him through the city, but he loves those damn dogs, and they love him, and I see myself with my own animals and the ridiculous things I do for them because I love them. The grandfather sneaks food to them under the table during dinner. He sleeps with them. IT’s adorable. It’s real. It’s funny.
Oh, and of course the happy ever after. I need that in order to complete the cycle.
I decided to go back to my manuscript and make sure I’ve got all these highlighted and covered well. Dive deep. Be real. Watch movies that make you feel something, dissect them, and see if you can find an extra layer to unearth in your own work.
February 27, 2014
Beyond Me Countdown…
I’m excited.
5 more days till release of Beyond Me – part of the Sex on the Beach series with the amazing Jenna Bennett and Jen McLaughlin.
5 more days till the Facebook party of cocktails, giveaways, and fun.
5 more pages for you to enjoy. Now.
Love you my peeps! Stay tuned for teasers going up every day till release!
Enjoy…
*first 15 pages posted in my prior blog posts* – continuing in James’ POV:
The gorgeous, sleek line of her spine begged me to run my tongue down it until I stopped at the
sweet spot. “Maybe I’m tired of the same type of women all
the time.”
Rich hooted with laughter. “Gorgeous, smart, sexy women
who want to do anything for you? Yeah, cry me a fucking river.
I still think you won’t get anywhere with her.”
Adam poked my shoulder. “When was the last time you
got rejected? It’s good for everyone once in a while.”
“She won’t reject me.” The knowledge she was meant to be
mine roared in my blood, but it was such a ridiculous feeling
I decided to ignore it. She was probably playing games, and
once I delved deeper, she’d be like all the rest. I was so sick of
disappointment and emptiness beneath the surface. Not that
I was any better. In fact, I was probably the worst culprit of
all—an empty shell sucked dry of anything real for a long, long
time.
“Care to make a bet?” Adam challenged.
“What type of bet?” I asked.
Rich drained his beer and looked triumphant. “Great idea.
We bet you can’t bed her within the week. We’ll give you five
days.”
“Are we starring in some crap spring break movie?” The
crudity of such a bet was disgusting and I waved my hand in
the air, dismissing the idea. “I’m not into shit like that.”
Rich cleared his throat. “Because you know you can’t
succeed?”
“Because it’s a scummy thing to do. And none of your
business.”
“What if I put up something you’ve been wanting for a
while?”
I turned my head. Rich seemed pretty confident I’d jump
at the offer. I’d known him and Adam since high school. Our
parents belonged to the same clubs in Florida and were all
close friends. We’d grown up as trust fund babies, given pretty
much free reign and anything we wanted. We sailed yachts
together, travelled through Europe, and had been kicked out
of too many schools. Seemed like a fucking great life until we
got older and realized most of America didn’t live that way.
That there were things like real jobs and consequences and
morality. My parents had none of that. They gave to charity
because it made them look good, but turned their noses down
at anyone who needed to scramble or get a bit dirty. When I
hit about nineteen, I figured out they didn’t like me much, and
as long as I didn’t embarrass their public image, they couldn’t
care less where I went or what I did. I did all the normal shit
kids do to get attention—screwing up and trying to make their
lives miserable because I couldn’t please them. In return, they
threatened to pull my money once in a while, and continued
to freeze me out.
Once I reached drinking age, their attorney contacted me
while they were travelling London. He had me sign on the
dotted line, and all of my trust fund money was released, with
a legal disclaimer that once it ran out, they weren’t responsible
for me. I got the big picture. I was on my own.
Of course, I’d always been on my own. I just hadn’t realized
it.
I jerked my attention back to my friend’s proposal. “Trust
me, Rich, I doubt you have anything I want that much.”
He gave me a smug look. “How about Whit Bennigan?”
I cocked my head. I’d been heavy into art my whole life, but
done nothing with it. I calmed my mind by going to museums,
studying art history, and immersing myself in the visual world
of professional artists. I had a room stocked with my paintings,
but no one had seen them. No one really cared to. Whit
Bennigan was one of the most famous painters in the south,
and was making a name for himself to rival powerhouses.
Using an edgy style with bold colors, he was a mix of old and
new and was a master when it came to manipulating light. I’d
read everything I could on the reclusive man.
“What about him?” I asked suspiciously.
“He’s a close friend of my parents. He owes them a favor,
and I could collect. What if I was able to score you a private
lesson with him?”
I jerked back. “Are you fucking kidding me? One hour
in the room with this guy could change my whole approach.
There’s no way you can bring that, Rich. You’re full of shit.”
“I’ll bring it. You get Miss Snobby Pants into bed within
five days, and I’ll get you that lesson.”
I turned and studied her. Back ramrod straight, dark hair
spilling over her shoulders, looking at something I couldn’t see
out in the distance. I wanted her. Would’ve gone after her with
or without a stupid bet, but at this point, what did I have to
lose? I needed to have her, and a lesson with my mentor would
be an added bonus. “What if I fail?”
The guys laughed. “We get your bike,” they said in unison.
Ah, shit.
My motorcycle was Harley, custom made, and sweet as
sugar. It had an engine that revved like a thing of beauty, was
badass black and chrome, and had every extra gadget I could
squeeze on there. It had taken more than a year for them to
make it to my specs, and it was my pride and joy.
“She still worth it?” Adam asked.
Yeah. She was. This was a bet I couldn’t lose.
“Are we on?”
I turned to Rich, who’d asked the question. Glanced at the
girl. And nodded. “Yeah. We’re on.”
Without hesitation, I pushed myself away from the bar
and headed toward her.
Quinn
His voice was rich and deep, and made my stomach flip
when I thought of all the things he could whisper to
me. Naughty things. I felt my cheeks go pink. Damn that inner
voice. Now I looked like some crazed idiot.
“Umm, sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
He made a point to look at the empty space around me.
“Who?”
I frowned. “Someone,” I said stubbornly. “Did you need
something?”
He laughed. His eyes were even more spectacular close up,
an aquamarine so clear and blue I felt like I could dive in and
get lost. His hair was curly, and the color of yummy bittersweet
chocolate. The strands fell over his forehead in a messy
sexiness that looked made up. Yeah, he was way too perfect.
Even his cheekbones and jaw were sharp and definitive, giving
him an older, commanding look. Way out of my league. I self consciously
tucked a long strand of my hair behind my ear.
“You’re the real welcoming sort, aren’t you? What’s your
name?”
I paused for a beat. Just enough to get my point across—I
was in charge of this conversation. My body disagreed as a
strange heat pumped through my veins and itched under my
skin. “Quinn. Quinn Harmon.”
“Hello, Quinn Harmon. I’m James Hunt. It’s nice to meet
you.”
I gazed at him with suspicion from under my lashes. “You
too.”
“Are you always this open and cheerful on break? I haven’t
seen you around—do you go to school in Florida?”
“No, I’m with two of my girlfriends for the week. We’re
from Chicago.”
“Ah, the Windy City. I’ve been there a few times. State
University?”
“Yes.”
The conversation was painful, but he seemed delighted by
my one-word answers. I wondered what his game was. Those
full lips quirked slightly upward as if my crankiness made him
happy. No wonder I couldn’t get laid. I was more comfortable
having a conversation regarding misplaced false teeth and
what foods had to be avoided because they cause gas. Maybe
working in an elderly home in my spare time wasn’t such a
great idea. Of course, soon I’d move into rehabilitation and be
around alcohol and drug addicts. Probably not much better.
“Am I boring you already?”
I blinked. Did my blush deepen? “Oh, sorry.”
He waited for more but I stopped. Stared at him. Our gazes
locked and a weird, tight tension pulled between us. I forced
down my impulse to take a step closer to soak up his body
heat. He didn’t smell of beer or smoke, but the clean scent of
pool water and soap. “Are you enjoying the party?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
February 18, 2014
Preview of Beyond Me – First Ten Pages!
Countdown has begun for Beyond Me, which will be everywhere in digital form March 4th!
Because my readers are extraordinary, we reached over 800 adds on Goodreads and I’m releasing the next five pages of the book. Click back to my previous blog post for the first five if you missed it. 18 and Over Please! There’s some raw stuff here and NOT for under 18!!
But before I post, just a quick thank you to everyone. When I posted my blog about losing my beloved dog, I was in a very dark place. Social media is a double edged sword – sometimes used for bad purposes. This time it was used for good. The outpouring of support, emails, and love from my readers amazed me. You shared your stories and own heartbreak with me, and I found solace and a smile at such support. I didn’t feel so alone anymore. So thank you for that.
Without further ado…here’s another peek at Beyond Me. Hope you enjoy!
QUINN
I sipped the lukewarm beer for something to do, and found a spot near the balcony. Hooking my elbows over the top, I watched the show at the pool while music pounded out in grindy hip-hop rhythm to inspire abandon and nakedness. For one second, I wished I was the type of girl to climb in the pool, shake her ass, and enjoy a little feminine power. I always felt so out of place wherever I went, unless it revolved around work. Social scenes reminded me I wasn’t flashy enough or bouncy enough or enough of anything.
Poor Quinn. At a cool party in Key West on spring break and complaining. My inner voice—who I termed my “inner bitch”—rose up and made me smother a giggle. I had gotten used to talking to myself back in the day and never got out of the habit. Sometimes I was my best company.
My gaze swept the pool deck to see if there was anyone I may know, or want to get to know, and then—boom.
There he was.
Mr. Perfect.
I blinked and tried to clear my vision. Trust me, I’m not one of the swoon-worthy girls who describes a guy like some male specimen. I’ve never been into the visual as much as enjoying a guy’s sense of humor and conversation. Always thought I wasn’t built that way. Even the first naked guy I saw on HBO didn’t do it for me, and all my friends had gone on and on about his abs and ass and dick like they were dying to do him. Me—not so much.
But for the first time, I kind of lost my breath.
He wasn’t movie-star handsome and didn’t own rippling muscles or crazy tats or piercings. He leaned against the railing behind the bar, watching me, a tiny smirk resting on those full lips. As if I amused him by doing nothing. His hair was midnight black, rich against his tanned skin, and fell into perfect, tousled curls over his forehead. His eyes were a startling light blue, so pale they seemed to shimmer in his face with an odd light. I tried to break the gaze, but he wouldn’t let me, just held my stare and refused to let go. As if the first one to look away lost.
I actually shivered under the hot sun. Something about that gleam of interest and laziness said he was trying to decide if he wanted to play the game. If he played, he’d bring it hard.
This guy was no bumbling, inexperienced boy. Probably twenty-three, but his gaze said he’d seen things, done things, and would maybe like to do them with me.
He was bare chested, with plain navy-blue board shorts, and nicely built. Toned, but not overdone. His stomach rippled, and he stood with his feet slightly braced apart, as if he owned his space.
Whoa.
My heart fluttered in my chest, and suddenly my palms grew damp. I squeezed the railing tighter and tried to be cool. Ridiculous. He may be hot, but I don’t think I even liked him. He was too confident, too used to girls falling over him and giving him what he wanted. I hated men like that—as if just by showing up they deserved more than anyone else. It was an entitlement thing, and since I’d had none of it, and had to work my way through every struggle in my life by myself, I didn’t respect him.
He suddenly arched a brow, as if he read my thoughts and was even more amused. Usually, that would embarrass me enough to race inside to escape, but this time I did something that was quite unlike me. I gave him a tight smile, and deliberately turned my back on him.
There. Take that.
Way to go, Quinn. There goes your one opportunity to sleep with a guy who probably knows what he’s doing.
Nah, not worth giving him another notch for his sexual belt. I did have my pride.
But not orgasms.
Please, shut up.
“I didn’t even say anything. How can I shut up?”
Oh God, it was him. I knew it.
I dragged in a deep breath and turned around.
James
The moment I saw her, my heart stopped.
I know it sounds like bullshit. That stuff doesn’t happen.
It’s always glamorized in those pussy chick flicks. The music blares, their eyes meet, and you know they’ll be fucking each other in the next half hour. Trust me, I’ve been with tons of girls, thought I was actually in love once but quickly got screwed—and not in a good way—and not once has my organ paused in my chest.
She was fucking gorgeous.
Not in the way I knew. I was so used to tons of makeup, tight, tanned bodies, and big tits. It’s the way it is. I run in circles of society and money, and no matter how much I try to get out of it and despise the surface crap, I’m stuck. The few times I met a girl who seemed genuine, I found out later it was an act—a way to grab my attention and seem different.
But this girl rocked me. First off, she came alone, and seemed content to keep to herself. She watched from the edges of the party with a thoughtful, analyzing air that intrigued me. She emanated a quiet, confident presence that radiated around her, like she was a calm in the storm of chaos. She seemed completely removed from the laughter and antics in the pool and around the bar. Not necessarily above it all. Almost like she longed to join but had accepted she wasn’t meant to belong. Her hair fell straight and silky past her shoulders and hid her face, like a screen that swayed back and forth in a game of peekaboo. It was a rich shade of brownish black that contrasted with her pale skin. Sort of like Snow White in modern day. When the curtain finally parted, I was fascinated by her face.
Large almond eyes, dark as sin, stared back at me. Her mouth looked swollen, as if she chewed on her lips as a nervous habit, but maybe they were natural. She owned stark features—high cheekbones, strong jaw, broad forehead. The one-piece bathing suit shouldn’t have been sexy when surrounded by miniscule bikinis, but it was. Hell yeah it was.
The simple black was demure in the front, but cut high on the thigh to emphasize gorgeous, non-ending legs. The thought of those calves gripping my hips as I thrust inside her made me hard. When she turned to the side, I realized the suit pretty much had no back, and the fabric stretched over her ass like a gift from the gods. I imagined cupping her, lifting her up so I could take her brutally against the wall, forcing moans from those lush lips, and biting them myself. Swirls of raw lust caught me off guard. She was unlike anyone I had ever seen, and my dick demanded to claim her.
Of course, this was when a few of my crew busted in on my lightbulb moment. “Fresh meat, James?” Rich pointed out from behind the bar. “You’re eyeing her like you haven’t eaten in a while.”
“Anyone know who she is?” I asked, never taking my gaze from her. “Nah, probably one of the spring breakers in for the week. Your parties are legendary here—and it’s no secret pretty much everyone is invited.” Rich studied her, then shrugged. “She’s pretty. Nothing I’d be chasing though, especially with your options.”
Adam jumped into the conversation, never one to be ignored. “Where’s her group? Never saw girls come alone before.”
“I think she did,” I said.
“Looks snobby to me. Like she’s too good for the others. Besides, she looks cold as ice. What the hell is she doing wearing a one-piece?”
“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I muttered. That was when I made my big mistake. Looking back, I wish I had kept my mouth shut and maybe things would’ve ended up differently.
My friends shared a knowing look. “You got it bad, bro,” Adam commented. “But I’d bet not even you could tumble her.”
Rich grinned. “Agreed. She’s buttoned up so tight you’d need a crowbar to pry off that suit. Probably one of those control freak, studious types that doesn’t know how to let loose.” He gave a mock shudder. “No, thank you.”
Suddenly, her gaze locked on mine. I sucked in my breath as recognition dawned on her face that I had been studying her. She stiffened but met me head-on, raising her chin slightly. I dove deep into a sensual heaven of swirling emotions I craved to figure out. She was so damn expressive, her thoughts flickering over that gorgeous face as she decided what to do next. I waited. Would she smile? Duck her head? Avert her gaze and pretend the connection never happened?
I raised my brow and upped the stakes.
One second. Two. She gave me a dismissing shake of the head and turned her back on me.
“Bro, she just dissed you!” The guys hooted, but I didn’t care.
“It’s a challenge.”
February 10, 2014
A Life Worth Living…
I lost my dog.
That’s probably a powerful enough sentence to resonate with anyone who has lost their beloved pet. I’m dealing with a bunch of emotions that are purely human, and as I try to make sense out of them, I find myself being driven to the page. I’m a writer. It’s the only place I have in my life where I can express myself in a way that feels right.
My dog has had a long life. He’s about sixteen years old – give or take a year. What makes him extraordinary, in ways humans are extraordinary, is his character. I rescued him from Pets Alive – my local shelter – where they had just seized a bunch of animals in an abuse case. My dog was in an abandoned house with other dogs. Who knows how long they went without food, water or human contact? At the time, I had another rescued puppy who was so overhyper I usually came home from work in tears to see what she’d destroyed. I read that an older dog could be a good companion and calm her down.
Lester was the perfect dog.
The moment I met him, I realized he was an old soul. He was dignified. He was polite – except around any type of food–, was loving, kind, and a great fit for our family. I brought him home and our new lives begun.
He was afraid and cowered in doorways. He hit the ground at loud noises. He shuddered during sleep when nightmares hit him. I knew he had a terrible past, one I’d never really know.
It took about a year before he blossomed in his loving new home, and he no longer had any trouble with noises, doors, or anything else. We healed him. He healed us.
I know he’s been sick for a while, but with his age, I was hoping for a miracle drug cure. Instead, I learned he had cancer which is untreatable and too far gone to fight. I hoped for months. I got one more week.
I watched his fat, roly poly body become bony. I watched his legs weaken so I had to carry him. I watched his bladder begin to leak when he’d always been housebroken. I watched his eyes grow sad.
Once again, my dog made me see things I hadn’t seen before. How we all age – canine and human – and hope for the gift of dignity. Someone to love us. Give us warmth and comfort as our body wastes away.
His entry to rainbow bridge was both brutal and beautiful. Brutal for me to say goodbye, with his head in my lap, and my lips to his fur, as I whispered how much I loved him. Beautiful for him because he knew he was loved, and out of pain, and had a peaceful transition from this life to the next. I was lucky to be the one to save him and drive him home from the shelter. I was lucky to be the one to hold him as he left this world in my arms.
My heart is broken. He lay with me every day as my writing companion. He followed me everywhere, with those soulful eyes. He had a favorite squeaker he would keep in his mouth and trudge from room to room, refusing to let it go in case my other dog stole it. He is my family.
Lester will always be remembered, because I wrote about him in my short story, A Life Worth Living. His voice was in my head three years ago, when he forced me to write his story. Readers have embraced it. I was able to give back to the shelter on half of those proceeds when first published. Now I am able to donate one hundred percent back to Pets Alive, where I first met my sweet companion. So many readers have emailed me and told me how that short story made a difference to them, helped them with their own pets to believe in Rainbow Bridge, and thanked me for making more people aware of a dog’s life.
Once again, I’m reminded how precious life is. How important it is to love and take chances, even when there is loss at the end. Because it is all worth it. A dog’s love is a priceless gift, so pure and innocent and real.
It really is a life worth living.
February 5, 2014
Beyond Me Excerpt!
I’m thrilled to say we reached over 500 adds on Goodreads for Beyond Me, and since I’m a lady of my word – I’m releasing the first five pages!
Stay tuned for teasers, a huge blog tour with awesome prizes, and beach fun from the three Jens!
Hope you enjoy! Remember…more reads…more pages released!
Prologue
Saturday
Quinn
I watched the plane take off and wondered if I had made a big mistake.
The city of Chicago floated beneath me, and I was sent up into the clouds for a spring break I wasn’t even sure I wanted. I sighed. So lame. Twenty-one years old and I was more comfortable working and studying than having fun.
“Don’t even think about it,” Mackenzie said. Her newly dyed chestnut, curly hair fell perfectly over her brow as she studied me. “If you keep it up, you’ll have a breakdown. You need sun, sand, and sex.”
I rolled my eyes. “Says you, because you’re comfortable getting all of it, Miss Country Star. Or at least, most of it.” That comment earned me a snort. “Me—I’m more used to rain and fog and sidewalks. This isn’t gonna be like one of those spring break movies, right? Jocks slipping drugs into girls’ drinks and taking photos of them to post on the Internet? Or sharks feeding on young bodies in a blood bath?”
Mackenzie groaned. “Way too much Lifetime TV, girlfriend. How about a tropical drink on a lounge chair, your toes in the sand, and some hot guy standing over you, bare chested and ready to serve all your needs?” Her eyebrows waggled up and down and I laughed.
“Maybe for you.”
“Maybe for you, too, if you’d stop volunteering every spare second and recognized a man younger than seventy.”
“Fine. I’ll stop complaining since you were nice enough to finance the whole trip. At least I have my own room. I’m so sick of roommates and socks on the door.”
My second best friend, Cassie, craned her neck and popped into the conversation. “I’m with Quinn. Finals are coming and I want my damn 4.0.”
Mackenzie grabbed her magazine from the pouch in the seat in front and whipped out her iPod. “You two are hopeless. We are going to have fun on this trip, even if I have to force you. No books, no studying, no lameness. Got it?”
I grabbed her iPod. “You can’t turn it on yet; it’ll mess with the plane.”
“That’s just a superstition,” Mac announced, trying to grab it back.
Cassie pulled the plug. “Quinn’s right, I’m not crashing before I graduate.”
Mackenzie groaned. “If it was a real problem, they’d take away our electronics at the gate. And how’d I get stuck in the middle seat, anyway? You’re going to torture me all the way to Key West.”
I met Cassie’s gaze and giggled. Mac was the one with the money, fame, and outgoing personality. She was a country star by sixteen, thrust into the spotlight, and came to college to get an education and get lost. I hated country music—she’s still mad at me for that—and had no idea who she was, even after she played me her top ten hit. Cassie was the studious one in our threesome, and probably one of the smartest, sweetest girls I knew. And me? Well, I was the worker bee. Save the world, one person at a time, I guess. I tried to get everything right so I didn’t disappoint anyone, especially myself.
We’d met freshman year in English 101 and the moment we started chatting, something clicked. It was as if each of us brought something strong to the group, and I liked that. I had lots of acquaintances at Chicago State, but Cassie and Mackenzie were true friends.
Cassie and Mac started arguing over the rules of turning on a Kindle, and I turned back to the window. Maybe this was a good thing for me. I was tired lately, and not up to my usual strict standards of achievement. A little sun and relaxation may jump-start me to finish the quarter strong, and getting prepared for my summer internship at the rehabilitation center. Maybe I’d even meet a cute boy I could flirt with. Even sleep with. Someone who could give me an orgasm. I was tired of reading about the experience in magazines and hearing about its greatness constantly in the dorm.
I settled my head back in the seat and tried not to hope for too much. After all, I was usually disappointed.
Chapter One
Sunday
Quinn
A red Solo cup was thrust into my hands, and I automatically grabbed it. Foam spilled over the top and dripped on my flip-flops. I had never gotten into the taste of beer, and was hoping for one of those sweet cocktail drinks with the umbrella in it. Like Sex on the Beach. The girls had gotten me hooked, and I’d had my fair share since we landed. Of course, I wasn’t at the hotel, and this was probably going to be the best I got. Unless I wanted hard liquor. I suppressed a shudder. I’d gotten drunk on rum once and threw up for hours. I still couldn’t smell it without getting nauseous.
I forced myself to take a sip and maneuvered my way through the crowds, heading outside. The house was set up on a hill in a more rural part of the island, and reminded me of those mansions shown on HGTV. White with powder blue shutters, it was three stories and held an enormous deck that showcased the in-ground lagoon-type pool, tiki bar, and hot tub. Girls in tiny bikinis lounged on the side with their feet in. Some were on guys’ shoulders doing chicken fights and pretending to be embarrassed when their tops slipped and they flashed the crowd. Of course, they had breasts, not like me, who was built with more of a slim frame and barely filled out a B cup. Boys stood in tight groups, drooling over beer, drooling over women, and drooling period.
Ah, crap. I shouldn’t have come. The first day was perfect—we got off the plane, settled into our awesome rooms, and relaxed for the evening. The hotel was first class—Mackenzie only did top shelf—and the place boasted four restaurants, two pools, swim-up bars, a dance club, and the all-important room service. We swam and hung out the rest of the afternoon, then had dinner at the pool. That was the type of event I enjoyed—my best friends, beachy drinks, a stacked hamburger, and some laughs. But today they ditched me early, citing excuses about plans made already, so we arranged to meet at the local bar this evening. The first few hours were cool, but then I began to feel pretty pathetic alone in my one-piece suit while couples or groups swarmed around me. Then a girl with a bobbing red ponytail thrust a flyer in my hand and invited me to a party in one of the private villas on the island. Not that I was special. She handed them out to everyone in lounge chairs, chirping about how it was the party of the century and a tradition for Key West spring break.
I never went to places alone, with people I don’t know. But I could only do so much sunbathing and pretending to read a hot romance on my Kindle. I was getting twitchy and bored. Water sports weren’t my thing, so I figured, why not? Do something daring, Quinn. Go to a party where you’re a stranger, and maybe meet a hot guy. Hook up, get laid, get happy.
Now, I wished I’d stayed put.
I sipped the lukewarm beer for something to do, and found a spot near the balcony. Hooking my elbows over the top, I watched the show at the pool while music pounded out in grindy hip-hop rhythm to inspire abandon and nakedness. For one second, I wished I was the type of girl to climb in the pool, shake her ass, and enjoy a little feminine power.
January 29, 2014
The Sex On The Beach Series Big Reveal!
Today is the big cover reveal for the SEX ON THE BEACH series! This series includes the novellas BEFORE YOU by Jenna Bennett, BETWEEN US by Jen McLaughlin, and BEYOND ME by Jennifer Probst.
the SEX ON THE BEACH series
coming MARCH 4th
NOTE FROM THE AUTHORS:
Dear Reader,
Prepare yourself for Sex on the Beach, a trilogy featuring BETWEEN US (Jen McLaughlin), BEYOND ME (Jennifer Probst), and BEFORE YOU (Jenna Bennett). Three separate novellas. Three different authors. One literary world. Read them all, or just read one. It’s up to you! No matter which route you choose, these standalone novellas are sure to satisfy your need for sizzling romance and an emotion packed story.
Happy Reading!
Jen, Jenna, and Jennifer
BEFORE YOU by Jenna Bennett
BOOK SUMMARY:
It’s all fun and games
I had a simple plan for spring break.
Sun, sand, and a hot guy. Sex on the beach, with no strings attached.
A chance to get rid of this pesky virginity once and for all.
And when I met Tyler McKenna, I thought I had it made.
Until someone gets hurt
But then girls started turning up at Key West landmarks. Girls who looked like me, but with one crucial difference: They’d all been drugged and relieved of their virginity.
The virginity I still have. The virginity Ty refuses to take.
And now I’ve begun to wonder whether there isn’t more to him than meets the eye.
Suddenly, sex on the beach doesn’t sound so good anymore…
BETWEEN US by Jen McLaughlin BOOK SUMMARY:
I’m just a girl…
I’m a famous country star who’s spent her life cultivating a good girl persona to avoid bad press, but I’ve reached my limit. I’m going away for spring break with my two best friends from college, and we’ve vowed to spend the vacation seeking out fun in the sun—along with some hot, no-strings-attached sex. The only thing I needed was the perfect guy, and then I met Austin Murphy. He might be totally wrong for me, but the tattooed bad boy is hard to resist. When I’m in his arms, everything just feels right.And I’m just a guy…
I’m just a bartender who lives in Key West, stuck in an endless cycle of boredom. But then Mackenzie Forbes, America’s Sweetheart herself, comes up to me and looks at me with those bright green eyes…and everything changes. She acts like she’s just a normal girl and I’m just a normal guy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My past isn’t pretty, you know. I did what I had to do to survive, and she’d run if she learned the truth about my darkness. But with her, I’m finally realizing what it’s like to be alive. To laugh, live, and be happy.All good things must come to an end…
BEYOND ME by Jennifer Probst
BOOK SUMMARY:
CAN FUN IN THE SUN TURN INTO LASTING LOVE?
Spring break in Key West with my besties was supposed to be casual fun. But I never expected to meet James Hunt. Sex and frolic? Yes! A relationship? No. But his hot blue eyes and confident manner drew me in. And when he let me see the man behind the mask, I fell hard, foolishly believing there could be a future for us. Of course I never considered our relationship might be based on lies…or that his betrayal could rock my foundation and make me question everything I believed in…
OR WILL A LIFE BUILT ON LIES RUIN EVERYTHING?
The moment I saw Quinn I knew I had to have her. She hooked me with her cool eyes and don’t touch me attitude. I had it all, money, social status, and looks. I could get any girl I wanted…until her. When my friends challenged me with a bet to get her into bed by the end of the week, I couldn’t pass it up. But sex wasn’t supposed to turn into love. She wasn’t supposed to change me, push me, and make me want more for myself. She wasn’t supposed to wreck me in all ways. And now, if I can’t turn my lies into truth, I just might lose her forever…
——————————————-
a Rafflecopter giveaway
GOODREADS CONTEST
For each book that gets to 500 adds, 5 pages of that novella will be released! 10 pages will be released after 600 adds, 15 pages after 800 adds, and 20 pages after 1000 adds! So, spread the word and be sure to add each book to your goodreads list.
LINKS:
BEFORE YOU – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20371409-before-you
BETWEEN US – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20369409-between-us
BEYOND ME – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20371567-beyond-me
Time for some teasers!
FOLLOW THE AUTHORS
Website: www.jennabennett.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Bennett-Jennie-Bentley/192400104127600
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bennett_Jenna
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1549070.Jenna_Bennett
Website: http://dianealberts.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin
Website: www.jenniferprobst.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20371567-beyond-me
January 8, 2014
*****Backlist Bonanza*****
*****Backlist Bonanza*****
With the new year upon us, fab releases everywhere, and zero degree weather, I thought it would be a great time to share some of my backlist with new readers and give out some prizes. Sort of an after holiday blow out lol!
Here’s the goodies:
Signed copies of The Marriage Trap, The Marriage Mistake, and The Marriage Merger from my Marriage to a Billionaire Series
5 Digital Copies of The Book of Spells
2 Charm Necklaces
For a chance at winning one of the prizes all you need to do is enter the Backlist Bonanza Giveaway Contest below to earn a maximum of 30 points via Rafflecopter:
January 1, 2014
New Years Clichés and My Lists
I love clichés.
Well, I’m a writer. They’re overused for a very good reason, and that’s because they work well. People relate and understand without trying to explain too hard. But my editor is always telling me to twist the cliché to make it mine.
So on New Year’s Day I’m about to embark on the LIST. We all know them well. The top ten books I read. The top things I learned. The top blessings I am thankful for this past year. And the top resolutions.
I adore lists. Ask my hubby who finds endless sticky notes with items in crazy order, some crossed out, and many just recycled onto the next list I make. Lists help guide me and give me a sense of accomplishment.
I have been socially mia for a bit trying to restart my creative brain process and enjoy family time so now my psycho kick ass muse is in overdrive and won’t let me sleep until I write my first official post of the new year.
So excuse my endless ramble as I try to organize a multi tiered list of the past and future. Here we go!
WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED IN 2013
I loved 2013 just as much as 2012. Yes there were many ups and downs but overall, I was gifted by my growing readership who reached out and connect with me on a daily basis. Writing without an audience is heartbreaking, and I did for over twenty years so when I hear someone enjoy my book it still managed to bring tears to my eyes.
I wrapped up my beloved Marriage to a Billionaire series with The Marriage Merger which hit the NY Times, and embarked on an exciting spin off in Searching for Someday which hit USA Today. I was able to re-issue my very first book ever written and with some solid revisions and polishing, Executive Seduction found a new audience. Thinking of making it into a series so I may need feedback on readers to see if they want it. I issued my first foodie romance with All the Way and had fun with some of my fave items: food and music. I moved into a new house, went to Italy with my mom, aunt and niece, and outlined a new novel based on the experience.
All in All… a banner year. Or, umm, a rollicking ride to rival Splash Down.
WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH FOR 2014
I am a perfectionist workaholic free flowing new hippie so I’m a mess of contradictions. So is my list. For work, my readers will see my second in the Searching For series, Kennedy’s story in Searching for Perfect in April. Then the anticipated Searching for Beautiful with Wolfe and Gen comes out. I’m thrilled to share my first new adult novella called Beyond Me, which is one in a standalone series written with two other NY Times Bestselling authors – the Sex on the Beach series. It’s releasing first week of March so stay tuned! And my newest series The Posse series with Cool Gus will finally take off but I’m still playing with dates.
I’ll be going on an extensive signing tour in May and hitting major cities to sign books and greet readers. I’m travelling to Edinburgh for Fourth of July weekend to meet my overseas fans, and will be at RT, RWA, and NJ conferences this year. My niece turns sweet sixteen so I’ll also be partying like a rock star and watching the road carefully. And my tenth anniversary will be celebrated so that’s a landmark I’ll be shouting about!!
NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
How can I not add one of these in?
My list this year is a ton of clichés. I need to get healthy. I need to lose some weight, do some exercise, and drink more water. I need to get a mammogram. Do a business plan. And try not to worry so much over things I have no control of.
BOOKS I FRIKKIN LOVED
Look, I read a zillion books I loved, and there are so many authors I discovered and loved and adore to no end. This is a VERY short list I wanted to post, and I’m not adding links or doing fancy photos so you need to click on over to your buying venue of choice or goodreads and check them out.
Now, this is the most important part. I FOUND these books via:
Bloggers, Twitter, and Other Authors. Those were my main discovery routes so do with that info as you wish. In no particular order at all:
The Songs of Submission Series by CD Reiss
The Consequences Series by Aleatha Romig
The Surrender Series by Melody Anne
The Pines by Blake Crouch
Dr. Sleep by Stephen King (this I found on my own I’m a huge fan of King)
Beautiful Bastard series by Christina Lauren
The Best Man by Kristen Higgins
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (I know I’m late on this one!)
Love and Let Die by Lexi Blake
The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn
This is not a complete list, and I have many auto buy authors I didn’t add here, these were some books that surprised me by how I ripped through them and may not have picked up on my own – that’s all.
THINGS I LEARNED
Bad things happen all the time. I’ve struggled many years and barely crossed the finish line on new year’s eve, bloodied and sad and depressed. But I never lose hope because every day is a new slate for something magical to happen. I am no Pollyanna, but years have taught me to hang in, be grateful for what I do have, and hang on to hope. No good thing…or bad thing…lasts forever so don’t get too attached. Just savor the moment.
Sales go up, and then they go down. As Bob Mayer and Jen Talty quote, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” And “The best promotion is to write a great book. Then another.” And don’t stop.
This business can sometimes be ugly but I prefer to see the wonderful side and keep my positive outlook. How can I complain when I get to create stories for a living and follow a lifelong dream from when I was twelve years old! All businesses and industries are hard in some way. Keep your honor and your intentions pure. Help others. Be kind. Be fearless. Work your ass off. Use your manners.
And for God’s sake, drink more water. We have to start somewhere with taking care of our bodies and that’s my jumping off point since I drink way too much coffee during the day!
That’s it. Happy New Year to all. And in the words of Yoda and my own cliché twist that has become my signature motto:
“May the words be with you.”
