Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 58
January 27, 2012
IMA SLUTZ INTERVIEW WITH CARRIE TUCKER FROM THE MARRIAGE LIST
Good morning, Ima Slutz here, sitting in for my cousin, Adora Smutz, who is on vacation. She's in the Caribbean this week, trying to find a man. *Sighs*, some people don't know when to quit.
I am interviewing the lovely and charming Carrie Tucker, heroine from "The Marriage List". Yes, that's her on the cover:
Ima: Welcome, Carrie. Tell me, Carrie, how does it feel to be the heroine in Jean's best selling book, The Marriage List?
Carrie: It feels great, Ima. Grey Andrews, my boyfriend, and I are thrilled. And she's got two more books with us in them, too. Did you know that?
Ima: Oh, really? Adora didn't tell me that! Hmm. And I suppose you want to tell me the titles for those also *under her breath* shameless,self-promoting slut.
Carrie: If you don't mind, Jean asked me to mention them: The Love List, which is out now and The Dating List, which she is currently writing. Of course in that last one we are supporting characters.
Ima: You can't be the princess ALL the time, you know! And you are sleeping with one of the most attractive heroes Jean has written, aren't you.
Carrie (blushes): You could say that.
Ima (leans in closer): So how is Grey in bed?
Carrie (blushes deeper red): Ima! How can you ask me that?
Ima: That's what everyone wants to know, dearie. So give...and don't leave out any details.
Carrie (flustered): I'm not going to...Grey would kill...Jean! Jean! This was not part of the deal.
Ima: I bet he's a dreamy kisser...
Carrie: You wouldn't believe...hey! Wait a minute.
Ima: Come on, Carrie, share a little with us. You know we're all panting to be with Grey. He's so...so...sexy!
Carrie: Yes, he is. I suppose one little detail...but I shouldn't...
Ima: Awww go on, girl. *leans closer to Carrie*.
Carrie: You know what he loves...what he really loves...most of all...in the bedroom?
Ima (wipes drool from chin): No, no...tell me...we're all anxious to hear.
Carrie: WOMEN WHO DON'T KISS AND TELL! *clamps her mouth shut*.
Ima: Adora said you'd be a hard nut to crack. I guess if you want to know about Grey in the bedroom, you're going to have to read The Marriage List to find out. This is Ima Slutz, thanking our guest, Carrie Tucker -- sort of -- and signing off...Carrie, you can unclamp your lips now...yes...breathe, girl, breathe.
A bit about the book
Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
Short Excerpt
"Miss Tucker…Carrie, I'm sorry but we're going to have to reschedule this pitch. I have a meeting with an investor I can't put off," he said, looking down at the papers in his hand, "I have your contact info here. I'll get in touch to reschedule."
With that, Paul marched out of the room with the man he called "Grey" right behind him. Carrie stood up and put her hand on Grey's arm.
"Hey! You ruined my opportunity to get my novel published! I've been waiting six months for the chance to see Paul Marcel," she shot at him.
Grey turned. His gaze swept over her hair, eyes and figure making her feel slightly naked and yet warm at the same time. She stared back boldly at the handsome man with a dazzling smile and an impeccable gray suit, noticing how snugly his suit fitted his trim physique
"Give it to me," he said, reaching for her manuscript, "I'll make sure he reads it."
Before she could move, snatched the manuscript out of her hand and walked quickly out of the room. She trailed along behind him, trying to speak, but soon he was lost in the crowd.
What happened here? Where's my manuscript and who was that guy?
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I am interviewing the lovely and charming Carrie Tucker, heroine from "The Marriage List". Yes, that's her on the cover:
Ima: Welcome, Carrie. Tell me, Carrie, how does it feel to be the heroine in Jean's best selling book, The Marriage List?Carrie: It feels great, Ima. Grey Andrews, my boyfriend, and I are thrilled. And she's got two more books with us in them, too. Did you know that?
Ima: Oh, really? Adora didn't tell me that! Hmm. And I suppose you want to tell me the titles for those also *under her breath* shameless,self-promoting slut.
Carrie: If you don't mind, Jean asked me to mention them: The Love List, which is out now and The Dating List, which she is currently writing. Of course in that last one we are supporting characters.
Ima: You can't be the princess ALL the time, you know! And you are sleeping with one of the most attractive heroes Jean has written, aren't you.
Carrie (blushes): You could say that.
Ima (leans in closer): So how is Grey in bed?
Carrie (blushes deeper red): Ima! How can you ask me that?
Ima: That's what everyone wants to know, dearie. So give...and don't leave out any details.
Carrie (flustered): I'm not going to...Grey would kill...Jean! Jean! This was not part of the deal.
Ima: I bet he's a dreamy kisser...
Carrie: You wouldn't believe...hey! Wait a minute.
Ima: Come on, Carrie, share a little with us. You know we're all panting to be with Grey. He's so...so...sexy!
Carrie: Yes, he is. I suppose one little detail...but I shouldn't...
Ima: Awww go on, girl. *leans closer to Carrie*.
Carrie: You know what he loves...what he really loves...most of all...in the bedroom?
Ima (wipes drool from chin): No, no...tell me...we're all anxious to hear.
Carrie: WOMEN WHO DON'T KISS AND TELL! *clamps her mouth shut*.
Ima: Adora said you'd be a hard nut to crack. I guess if you want to know about Grey in the bedroom, you're going to have to read The Marriage List to find out. This is Ima Slutz, thanking our guest, Carrie Tucker -- sort of -- and signing off...Carrie, you can unclamp your lips now...yes...breathe, girl, breathe.
A bit about the book
Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
Short Excerpt
"Miss Tucker…Carrie, I'm sorry but we're going to have to reschedule this pitch. I have a meeting with an investor I can't put off," he said, looking down at the papers in his hand, "I have your contact info here. I'll get in touch to reschedule."
With that, Paul marched out of the room with the man he called "Grey" right behind him. Carrie stood up and put her hand on Grey's arm.
"Hey! You ruined my opportunity to get my novel published! I've been waiting six months for the chance to see Paul Marcel," she shot at him.
Grey turned. His gaze swept over her hair, eyes and figure making her feel slightly naked and yet warm at the same time. She stared back boldly at the handsome man with a dazzling smile and an impeccable gray suit, noticing how snugly his suit fitted his trim physique
"Give it to me," he said, reaching for her manuscript, "I'll make sure he reads it."
Before she could move, snatched the manuscript out of her hand and walked quickly out of the room. She trailed along behind him, trying to speak, but soon he was lost in the crowd.
What happened here? Where's my manuscript and who was that guy?
ONLY $.99 AT:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS
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January 25, 2012
Interview with Sherry Gloag, author of "From Now Until Forever"
Hello, Sherry, don't be nervous now, this is easy as pie.
1) How old were you when you knew you wanted to become a writer?I was in my teens the first time I tied writing a story. Unfortunately I was in school at the time and the teacher confiscated it and I never saw it again. Her comment about it? "Why can't you write as clearly when you do your homework?" 2) What did you do for a living in your "previous" life?
Many things. I have worked in the dress department of a large retail department store. I qualified as a social worker for the blind and loved every moment of that job. My son's arrival ended that job. J I have been a school secretary, classroom assistant, and owned our own retail business. 3) Do you have a family?
Yes, my son currently works for the BBC 4) What genre do you write?
I thought I wrote mainstream contemporary romances, but have been told they are also suspenseful. I am experimenting with a regency story which I keep putting to one side, mainly because I didn't know the ending, now I have that I hope to finish it sometime soon. 5) Are you a plotter or a pantser?
For my sins, I am a 'panster' which is why it has taken so long to discover the ending of my regency romance! 6) Do your characters ever take over when you're writing?
From start to finish, is the short answer! If I try to deviate, it usually 'ends up in tears'!! 7) Do you get inspiration from real people or places?
Sometimes, but mostly one or both of my main characters turn up pretty well fully formed and with opinions to match! 8) Have you ever gotten a story idea from a news story?
Not in the sense you ask, but I have turned news clips round and turned them into scenes in a story. For instance, there was a story about a family coming home from holiday to find their house had been burgled. I turned that round and had my heroine discover a stalker had infiltrated her security and gained access to her garden when she returned home after returning from a business trip. 9) Would you like to be any of your heroines?
Since a lot of my heroines seem to have endured fairly dark pasts, no, I don't think so. 10) Would you marry any of your heroes?
Difficult decision, but if I had to choose one, it would have to be Ben Kouvaris from Duty Calls. He has massive lessons to learn, but when he 'gets it' he's amazing. 11) Do you do a lot of editing before you submit a manuscript?
(My editor may not believe me. LOL) But yes, I do. I used to write several chapters without going back and editing, now I have to edit almost as I go along. Sometimes it does my head in, as I find it breaks the 'flow' or writing. I'm not sure how the changes came about! Now some personal questions 1) Chocolate or vanilla?
Vanilla in ice cream 2) Do you listen to music when you write? What do you listen to?
Very rarely, but classical or alternative music if I do. Sometimes I may put on a Jazz disc. 3) Favorite color?
Depends on my mood. I love red because it is a 'cheerful' colour 4)Favorite line of description from one of your books.
"Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet stared in amazement at the blooming patch of red milliseconds before the pain exploded in his arm."
This is the opening line of the first book, From Now Until Forever, in my series The Gasquet Lads. Published by Astraea Press in December 2011. Prince Liam Thought he'd managed to evade those who might want to harm him, and discovers his mistake the hard way.
5) Favorite dialogue from one of your books.
This is taken from my 2011 Valentine novella, The Wrong Target. The hero, business tycoon, Ryan Thomas, has had the heroine, headmistress, Tina Blackberry, dismissed from the job she loves, and discovering he was wrong follows her to Rome to try and make amends.
"Goddamit," he exploded, "Can't you stand still for one second? I have something to say, but I can't while you're jogging round the room."She halted toe to toe in front of him. "You have me dismissed from a job I loved, because I upheld the safety of my pupils, and still have the audacity to stalk me to my holiday destination and demand I listen to you because you have something to say?" Flapping her hands at her sides, she spun away and back again, planting her hands on the chair arms, she pinned him in his place and snarled, "Let me tell you something. I've come here to enjoy myself and your presence isn't part of my plan." "What is your plan?" he demanded."To get laid!" Astonishment pushed her away from the chair, her eyes wide, her lips curved up in a defiant sneer. "I intend to find myself a man and screw the living daylights out of him. And," she paused deliberately, "I don't need you for that." Favorite minor character from your book.
Liz, a special friend to my heroine, Gina, in my debut novel, The Brat, published by the Wild Rose Press, who knows almost all Gina's secrets, and will go out of her way to protect her friend when she is threatened on several fronts at once.
6) Dog or cat?
Both, but cats are special for me. 7) Country or city?
Country 8) Beach or mountains?
Both 9) Skirts or pants?
Pants 10) Early morning or late night?
Late night
A Little Bit About the Book For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window? Short Excerpt For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
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January 23, 2012
TUESDAY TALES - THE DATING LIST WIP
My Tuesday Tale comes from my WIP, "The Dating List", the next in the List series of New York Nights books. We are at Grey and Carrie's NYC townhouse. They are still engaged and Grey's brother, Colin, has come to visit for a week.
THE DATING LIST "Maybe we need a fire," Grey said approaching the fireplace in the living room. As Colin turned to head upstairs to change his pants as Grey knelt in front of the cold fireplace to lay a fire, the doorbell rang. "Get it, will ya, Col? Must be Delia. Carrie, Delia's here!" He called out as he crumpled newspaper and shoved it under the grate. "Who is Delia?" "You haven't met the famous…or should I say "infamous", Delia Tucker yet?. She's Carrie's aunt…" Colin unlocked the deadbolt lock and opened the door. His hazel eyes stared at a beautiful woman wearing a rose-colored, slim, quilted down jacket with the hood lined in white ermine. The white of the ermine emphasized the rich mahogany color of her hair and the subtle red highlights. The dark hair framing her delicate oval face made her light brown eyes turn the color of honey. They glowed as they looked up at him. His lips parted but no sound came out as he stood stock still. She stared into his eyes and smiled. "I'd know those eyes anywhere. You must be related to Grey." He squeaked out, "his brother," while his gaze wandered over the rest of her lovely face. He noted a delicate jaw with a full lower lip, perfect for pouting, led up past a small straight nose to those luminous eyes that were laughing at him now. Glowing skin with an attractive blush from either cosmetics or the cold, he couldn't tell which, on the apple of her cheeks and the hint of tiny laugh lines topped off her perfection. "Name?" She asked, her eyes, trimmed in artfully smudged black liner and fringed with black lashes, crinkled a bit at the corners.
"Game?" "Name?" She repeated. "Oh, oh...Colin."
"It's cold out here, Colin. Do you think I could come in?" She raised her eyebrows as she deepened her smile.
Her words snapped him out of his reverie and he looked down to see a large red suitcase standing next to the diminutive woman. By instinct, he picked up the suitcase, placed it inside next to the door and stepped back.
"Delia," she said, offering her small, white leather gloved hand to him after she stepped across the threshold of the house and closed the door behind her.
He took her hand, squeezed it a touch too hard, causing her to wince, then let go. He watched her gaze move down from his dark brown hair to his hazel eyes, and lower until it rested on his bare chest. The deepening of the blush on her cheeks made him aware he was half naked. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Excuse me," he mumbled as he made a hasty exit, taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor landing. The last thing he heard before he closed the door to his room was Delia's tinkling laugh.
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THE DATING LIST "Maybe we need a fire," Grey said approaching the fireplace in the living room. As Colin turned to head upstairs to change his pants as Grey knelt in front of the cold fireplace to lay a fire, the doorbell rang. "Get it, will ya, Col? Must be Delia. Carrie, Delia's here!" He called out as he crumpled newspaper and shoved it under the grate. "Who is Delia?" "You haven't met the famous…or should I say "infamous", Delia Tucker yet?. She's Carrie's aunt…" Colin unlocked the deadbolt lock and opened the door. His hazel eyes stared at a beautiful woman wearing a rose-colored, slim, quilted down jacket with the hood lined in white ermine. The white of the ermine emphasized the rich mahogany color of her hair and the subtle red highlights. The dark hair framing her delicate oval face made her light brown eyes turn the color of honey. They glowed as they looked up at him. His lips parted but no sound came out as he stood stock still. She stared into his eyes and smiled. "I'd know those eyes anywhere. You must be related to Grey." He squeaked out, "his brother," while his gaze wandered over the rest of her lovely face. He noted a delicate jaw with a full lower lip, perfect for pouting, led up past a small straight nose to those luminous eyes that were laughing at him now. Glowing skin with an attractive blush from either cosmetics or the cold, he couldn't tell which, on the apple of her cheeks and the hint of tiny laugh lines topped off her perfection. "Name?" She asked, her eyes, trimmed in artfully smudged black liner and fringed with black lashes, crinkled a bit at the corners.
"Game?" "Name?" She repeated. "Oh, oh...Colin."
"It's cold out here, Colin. Do you think I could come in?" She raised her eyebrows as she deepened her smile.
Her words snapped him out of his reverie and he looked down to see a large red suitcase standing next to the diminutive woman. By instinct, he picked up the suitcase, placed it inside next to the door and stepped back.
"Delia," she said, offering her small, white leather gloved hand to him after she stepped across the threshold of the house and closed the door behind her.
He took her hand, squeezed it a touch too hard, causing her to wince, then let go. He watched her gaze move down from his dark brown hair to his hazel eyes, and lower until it rested on his bare chest. The deepening of the blush on her cheeks made him aware he was half naked. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Excuse me," he mumbled as he made a hasty exit, taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor landing. The last thing he heard before he closed the door to his room was Delia's tinkling laugh.
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January 22, 2012
You want to be a romance writer? What are you, nuts?
Do you really want to be a romance writer? Here's a checklist of possible hurdles you'll have to face:1) Own a laptop so you can leave the house when writing or editing. Folks at home don't think twice about interrupting you and your "hobby" whenever they damn well feel like it.2) You family may either disown you or sign you up for a course in auto mechanics so you can earn a living.3) Be prepared for questions like, "so you write those trashy novels," said to me by a friend, who's never read my books.4) Be prepared to say "no" when friends ask you to take in their deliveries, run their errands, take care of their kids after school…lord knows, you're not doing anything important and you're home, right?5) Be prepared to leave the phone unanswered because your friends will call to unload their problems, looking for a sympathetic ear, because…lord knows, you're not doing anything important, right? STILL WANT TO BE A ROMANCE WRITER?6) Be prepared to have male colleagues, family friends and total strangers sidle up to you asking about sex, because, after all, you write about it, that makes you an expert.7) Be ready for men asking you for sex, texting, PM'ing, or emailing you for sex. Especially men from love-starved places like Iran.8) Don't get rattled if you hear dear old dad lean over and say to a friend, "I have no idea what the hell she does."9) You'll hear "Hey, what do you really do for a living?"10) Be prepared to have any idiot on the Internet who's having a bad day rip you and your book to shreds in front of hundreds of thousands of people. 11) Take it (#11) in total silence. Grind your teeth, but don't dare open your mouth…or the whole world will bash you in the biggest pile on you've ever seen, making a professional sports pile on looking like a kid's game.12) Promoting – are you ready to do all the promotion for your book yourself and then get slammed by Nasty Nancy's for self-promoting? Haven't they heard of Catch-22?STILL WANT TO BE A ROMANCE WRITER?13) Then…welcome to the club! NOW YOU WILL…. 14) Bask in the glow of rave reviews from readers who "get" your book and love your writing.
15) Spend your days immersed in a world of love, romance, conflicts, resolutions…and yes, sex!
16) Work harder than you thought possible to obtain a fabulous book you're proud of and readers love.
17) Sign a contract with a publisher, someone who believes in you and your work as much as you do.
18) Feel the giddy excitement when you receive a beautiful, new book cover created by your loving publisher.
19) Feel the thrill of the release of your new book.
20) Be the envy of others who slave away at jobs they hate.
21) Be the envy of women whose men think you're super sexy because you write about sex. (Even if they're wrong!)
22) Receive email from readers who were touched by your work or fell in love with your heroes or read all your books.
23) Be doing the one thing in the world you want to do more than anything else.
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Contemporary romance, 3 flames.
January 21, 2012
Sweet Saturday Sample of "The Love List"
Here is a sample of my newest release that came out yesterday, "The Love List". Carrie stared at her left hand. The brand-new, three-carat diamond resting on her fourth finger twinkled its brilliance and clarity at her, reminding her of her engagement, now three days old. Grey sat on the window seat in front of a bird feeder and pulled her onto his lap.There's food in the feeder. Are there still birds this far north in November? Haven't they all migrated by now?Neither one spoke but Grey slipped his arm around her waist, steadying her and she rested her head against his shoulder."Come on," he said, easing her off his lap, taking her hand and leading her to the back door.They pulled on down parkas and gloves, Carrie tucked her shoulder-length streaked blonde hair under a knitted hat. The early risers trudged out into the cold where their shoes crunched on the thin layer of frozen snow. Their breath hung suspended in the frigid air. Grey took her hand again and she followed him down a well-worn path to the lake. The bright sunshine bouncing off the frozen water peeked through gaps in the trees, blinding her temporarily. She could see the thick ice on the lake and a smile came to her lips."Let's go," she said, pulling on Grey's hand to increase their speed and moving out onto the frozen surface.A sudden sharp tug on her hand pulled her back with a jerk."No!" Grey hollered at her, folding his arms around her so she couldn't move.Carrie looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. "Grey? What the…""Don't go there." He tightened his grip, his mouth set in a grim line."But it's frozen solid. And it's so much fun to walk on a frozen lake.""It isn't frozen solid.""It is. Look," she said, squirming to get away but unable to shake off his firm grip."No, no, no Carrie." His eyes shone as he held her still, and she watched him blink back tears."What?""The ice, it's wrong. It looks frozen but it isn't. When I was eight, my best friend, Tom, dared me to go out on the ice. I refused and tried to keep him from going but he wouldn't listen. He fell through and died before I could get help."Carrie hugged him, her cheek on his chest. She moved back a step and looked into his eyes, catching a glimpse of the frightened little boy he was on that horrible day. What a terrifying experience! Her heart melted. "I'm so sorry. I won't go there. I promise."He leaned his head on hers and closed his eyes. "I couldn't stand to lose you, too. I love you so much," he whispered.
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January 15, 2012
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING BLOG HOP
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SECRET CRAVINGS!WINA FREE BOOK OR A KINDLE FIRE!
I am fortunate to have two books published by Secret Cravings and a third one under contract. They are a great company with awesome authors. Here is my contest:
Unscramble ONE name of four of the characters in my books and you are eligible to win! Two winners will be selected to pick their choice of either, Now and Forever 1, a Love Story or Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny! Leave your answer in a comment with your email. You will also be automatically entered for the grand prize of the bloghop, KINDLE FIRE to be given by Secret Cravings Publishing just by leaving a comment. Even if you can't unscramble a name, leave your name and email addy in a comment anyway.
Scramble names from Now and Forever 1 are:
1. Cam
2. Laclie
One of my favorite excerpts from the book is: Mac enjoyed talking to Callie. She listened carefully, showing sympathy for him when called for and asking pertinent questions. Her lovely face took on a new glow of animation when she talked about Jason. The evening ended pleasantly. He paid her, thanked her and they lingered at the door. Mac wanted to kiss her, but how can you kiss someone who you just paid? Callie stood dangerously close to him, looking up into his eyes, making him feel like she wanted him to kiss her too but then stepped away from him, toward the door. They said an awkward goodnight, with both standing too long at the door, unsure of what to do.
Callie turned, slipped under his arm holding the door open, glided through the doorway and waved goodbye as she went down the walk. Mac gazed at her walking down the path, noticing the gentle sway of her skirt, the slim outline of her hips. He remembered the soft pink of her lips—he wanted to scoop her up into his arms and kiss her. He didn't know what to make of this young woman, at once so shy and remote-then so competent and caring. He knew there was more to her than met the eye and he'd enjoy finding out what made her tick.
****
Callie felt happy for the first time in ages, smiling as she walked the ten blocks to her small room. She got undressed and pulled out a textbook to get some reading in before bed, though it was hard to concentrate. When she finally turned out the light, she couldn't stop grinning. Callie couldn't deny her attraction to Mac any longer. His presence made her tingle. Tonight she stared at his lips, sure he was going to kiss her then unsure if she should, she quickly slipped out the door before he got the hint.
Scrambled names from Now and Forever 2 are:
3. Nadny
4. Ziela
One of my favorite excerpts from Now and Forever 2 is: "What about your parents?"
"After my parents went to prison, Kyle became my guardian. We were only kids ourselves, nineteen and thirteen years old. He worked at a garage fixing cars and rented a trailer for us. Callie came over all the time, she acted like my sister. When I went to college, Kyle joined the Army, like he always wanted. But he died before he could marry Callie or see me graduate…with honors," Danny said, looking down at his hands, struggling to control his voice.
"How awful to lose Kyle, when you needed him most," she said, sympathetically, looking up into his eyes, curling her fingers around his hand and squeezing.
"I can't remember not needing him. The same must be true for you," he said.
"I was so lost, I disappeared into bed…"
"Bed? You were sleeping around?" Danny asked as his eyebrows shot up.
"I spent too much time sleeping. Being tired all the time, I could barely move. Jonesy and Mac forced me to get up in the morning, pushed me out of the house. Still, I had to learn to put one foot in front of the other by myself."
"You seem to be doing well."
"I worked hard, which paid off. I still have hard days…lonely days," she said and their eyes connected.
Danny took her hand, kissed it and threaded his fingers through hers.
"I got angry after Kyle died. I decided to go to Iraq myself…to even the score."
"Weren't you scared?"
"Terrified. But don't tell anyone," he confessed, smiling, staring into the candle.
"Being so alone terrified me. And nights at home alone in bed…"
"…you missed that, too," he finished for her, as a beautiful pink blush stained her cheeks.
"Yes," she admitted, looking directly into the candle's flame.
"What about Simon?" he probed, studying her face.
"He's a poor replacement. He's pleasant enough…"
"Doesn't sound like a love match."
"When you're lonely…and a man comes along," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you in love with him?" Danny asked, holding his breath, waiting for her reaction, a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Simon? No. Absolutely not. He's…you know…someone to go to the movies with, to take to school functions so I don't have to go alone."
"What about the…uh…sleeping arrangements with him?" he asked, embarrassed but unable to deny his curiosity.
"Oh!" Eliza turned beet red this time and looked down at her hands.
"I don't mean to pry, but…"
"I wouldn't miss him like I miss Bill. I don't know how I should explain."
"I get the idea. He's not much in the sack," he said, bluntly, his gaze seeking hers.
"Not exactly," she said, her hands twisting the cloth napkin.
"A beautiful woman like you deserves more." He saw her eyes widen as he rested his hand over hers, calming her.
Her hands stopped, he closed his fingers around hers and she lifted her eyes to his.
"You're right," she said, hunger evident in her gaze.
"You deserve a man who can send you to the moon," he murmured. He gazed at her face, lovely in the candle glow.
Both books are available on the SCP website(www.secretcravingspublishing.com) and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Bookstrand.
Check them out for review and such on my website:www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SECRET CRAVINGS!WINA FREE BOOK OR A KINDLE FIRE!
I am fortunate to have two books published by Secret Cravings and a third one under contract. They are a great company with awesome authors. Here is my contest:
Unscramble ONE name of four of the characters in my books and you are eligible to win! Two winners will be selected to pick their choice of either, Now and Forever 1, a Love Story or Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny! Leave your answer in a comment with your email. You will also be automatically entered for the grand prize of the bloghop, KINDLE FIRE to be given by Secret Cravings Publishing just by leaving a comment. Even if you can't unscramble a name, leave your name and email addy in a comment anyway.
Scramble names from Now and Forever 1 are:
1. Cam
2. Laclie
One of my favorite excerpts from the book is: Mac enjoyed talking to Callie. She listened carefully, showing sympathy for him when called for and asking pertinent questions. Her lovely face took on a new glow of animation when she talked about Jason. The evening ended pleasantly. He paid her, thanked her and they lingered at the door. Mac wanted to kiss her, but how can you kiss someone who you just paid? Callie stood dangerously close to him, looking up into his eyes, making him feel like she wanted him to kiss her too but then stepped away from him, toward the door. They said an awkward goodnight, with both standing too long at the door, unsure of what to do.
Callie turned, slipped under his arm holding the door open, glided through the doorway and waved goodbye as she went down the walk. Mac gazed at her walking down the path, noticing the gentle sway of her skirt, the slim outline of her hips. He remembered the soft pink of her lips—he wanted to scoop her up into his arms and kiss her. He didn't know what to make of this young woman, at once so shy and remote-then so competent and caring. He knew there was more to her than met the eye and he'd enjoy finding out what made her tick.
****
Callie felt happy for the first time in ages, smiling as she walked the ten blocks to her small room. She got undressed and pulled out a textbook to get some reading in before bed, though it was hard to concentrate. When she finally turned out the light, she couldn't stop grinning. Callie couldn't deny her attraction to Mac any longer. His presence made her tingle. Tonight she stared at his lips, sure he was going to kiss her then unsure if she should, she quickly slipped out the door before he got the hint.
Scrambled names from Now and Forever 2 are:
3. Nadny
4. Ziela
One of my favorite excerpts from Now and Forever 2 is: "What about your parents?"
"After my parents went to prison, Kyle became my guardian. We were only kids ourselves, nineteen and thirteen years old. He worked at a garage fixing cars and rented a trailer for us. Callie came over all the time, she acted like my sister. When I went to college, Kyle joined the Army, like he always wanted. But he died before he could marry Callie or see me graduate…with honors," Danny said, looking down at his hands, struggling to control his voice.
"How awful to lose Kyle, when you needed him most," she said, sympathetically, looking up into his eyes, curling her fingers around his hand and squeezing.
"I can't remember not needing him. The same must be true for you," he said.
"I was so lost, I disappeared into bed…"
"Bed? You were sleeping around?" Danny asked as his eyebrows shot up.
"I spent too much time sleeping. Being tired all the time, I could barely move. Jonesy and Mac forced me to get up in the morning, pushed me out of the house. Still, I had to learn to put one foot in front of the other by myself."
"You seem to be doing well."
"I worked hard, which paid off. I still have hard days…lonely days," she said and their eyes connected.
Danny took her hand, kissed it and threaded his fingers through hers.
"I got angry after Kyle died. I decided to go to Iraq myself…to even the score."
"Weren't you scared?"
"Terrified. But don't tell anyone," he confessed, smiling, staring into the candle.
"Being so alone terrified me. And nights at home alone in bed…"
"…you missed that, too," he finished for her, as a beautiful pink blush stained her cheeks.
"Yes," she admitted, looking directly into the candle's flame.
"What about Simon?" he probed, studying her face.
"He's a poor replacement. He's pleasant enough…"
"Doesn't sound like a love match."
"When you're lonely…and a man comes along," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you in love with him?" Danny asked, holding his breath, waiting for her reaction, a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Simon? No. Absolutely not. He's…you know…someone to go to the movies with, to take to school functions so I don't have to go alone."
"What about the…uh…sleeping arrangements with him?" he asked, embarrassed but unable to deny his curiosity.
"Oh!" Eliza turned beet red this time and looked down at her hands.
"I don't mean to pry, but…"
"I wouldn't miss him like I miss Bill. I don't know how I should explain."
"I get the idea. He's not much in the sack," he said, bluntly, his gaze seeking hers.
"Not exactly," she said, her hands twisting the cloth napkin.
"A beautiful woman like you deserves more." He saw her eyes widen as he rested his hand over hers, calming her.
Her hands stopped, he closed his fingers around hers and she lifted her eyes to his.
"You're right," she said, hunger evident in her gaze.
"You deserve a man who can send you to the moon," he murmured. He gazed at her face, lovely in the candle glow.
Both books are available on the SCP website(www.secretcravingspublishing.com) and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Bookstrand.
Check them out for review and such on my website:www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
January 13, 2012
UNSCRAMBLERS FOR FUN!
Just for fun, I have scrambled the names of 20 movie stars. Can you unscramble them? Please leave a comment telling me how you did and if you like this kind of puzzle.
MEN MOVIE STARS
(Answers at the end) Who are these guys?
1. Mot Sucire
2. Nynad Tivode
3. Drab Tipt
4. Slusrel Wocer
5. Tamt Madon
6. Kacj Clabk
7. Omt Knash
8. Nary Dleronys
9. Caz Forne
10. Dolneraro Craipdio
WOMEN MOVIE STARS
1. Tace Clathbent
2. Take Swilent
3. Taike Shemol
4. Nan Wathayha
5. Lehla Rebyr
6. Redw Merabryor
7. Nirenjef Sninanot
8. Leehn Remrin
9. Harilyl Kwnas
10. Take Sonudh
"The Marriage List" - $.99! Sizzling contemporary romance!
Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
EXCERPT
Grey was on a mission, gathering data, information, formulating his plan for wedded bliss. After two pitchers, tongues started to loosen up.
"My wife is a pain in the ass with her decorator and her cook. The living room is white, can't wear shoes there. Can't put my feet up on the coffee table. And food! Tiny portions, salads. Give me a good meatloaf any day, I eat like a rabbit," Will complained, refilling his glass.
The table was silent for a moment.
"Bobby, how's that sexy lady you married?" Spence asked, his eyes glittering with either desire or envy, Grey couldn't tell which.
"Watch it, Spence. Just because she has big boobs…"
"Man, she must be hot," Spence continued.
"I said watch it!" Bobby got halfway out of his chair before Grey put a hand on his arm to stop him.
"What's the matter, Spence, not getting any?" Bobby teased.
"Susan's a great talker. She loves to talk. Very smart. Intellectual, in and out of bed. But the action I want in bed doesn't involve talking," Spence said, gazing down at his beer.
"I wish Tiffany would talk a little more. She says lawyer stuff is boring. I tell her 'yeah that lawyer stuff is what pays for your wardrobe, honey' but she doesn't get it," Bobby said, signaling the waitress for another pitcher.
Grey didn't hear anything like what he'd expected. He had steeled himself to hear enough bragging to make a strong stomach retch, but it never materialized. Instead his friends continued to complain about their wives, what their seemingly perfect wives lacked and what the Horsemen were missing. His frustrated pals killed his taste for the women at the bar and the discovery of their dissatisfaction caused Grey to wonder if married life was a good idea for him after all.
ANSWERS
Men
1. Tom Cruise
2. Danny DiVito
3. Brad Pitt
4. Russel Crowe
5. Matt Damon
6. Jack Black
7.Tom Hanks
8. Ryan Reynolds
9. Zac Efron
10. Leonardo DiCaprio
Women
1. Cate Blanchett
2. Kate Winslet
3. Katie Holmes
4.Ann Hathaway
5. Halle Berry
6. Drew Barrymore
7.Jennifer Anniston
8. Helen Mirren
9. Hilary Swank
10.Kate Hudson
MEN MOVIE STARS
(Answers at the end) Who are these guys?
1. Mot Sucire
2. Nynad Tivode
3. Drab Tipt
4. Slusrel Wocer
5. Tamt Madon
6. Kacj Clabk
7. Omt Knash
8. Nary Dleronys
9. Caz Forne
10. Dolneraro Craipdio
WOMEN MOVIE STARS
1. Tace Clathbent
2. Take Swilent
3. Taike Shemol
4. Nan Wathayha
5. Lehla Rebyr
6. Redw Merabryor
7. Nirenjef Sninanot
8. Leehn Remrin
9. Harilyl Kwnas
10. Take Sonudh
"The Marriage List" - $.99! Sizzling contemporary romance!
Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
EXCERPT
Grey was on a mission, gathering data, information, formulating his plan for wedded bliss. After two pitchers, tongues started to loosen up.
"My wife is a pain in the ass with her decorator and her cook. The living room is white, can't wear shoes there. Can't put my feet up on the coffee table. And food! Tiny portions, salads. Give me a good meatloaf any day, I eat like a rabbit," Will complained, refilling his glass.
The table was silent for a moment.
"Bobby, how's that sexy lady you married?" Spence asked, his eyes glittering with either desire or envy, Grey couldn't tell which.
"Watch it, Spence. Just because she has big boobs…"
"Man, she must be hot," Spence continued.
"I said watch it!" Bobby got halfway out of his chair before Grey put a hand on his arm to stop him.
"What's the matter, Spence, not getting any?" Bobby teased.
"Susan's a great talker. She loves to talk. Very smart. Intellectual, in and out of bed. But the action I want in bed doesn't involve talking," Spence said, gazing down at his beer.
"I wish Tiffany would talk a little more. She says lawyer stuff is boring. I tell her 'yeah that lawyer stuff is what pays for your wardrobe, honey' but she doesn't get it," Bobby said, signaling the waitress for another pitcher.
Grey didn't hear anything like what he'd expected. He had steeled himself to hear enough bragging to make a strong stomach retch, but it never materialized. Instead his friends continued to complain about their wives, what their seemingly perfect wives lacked and what the Horsemen were missing. His frustrated pals killed his taste for the women at the bar and the discovery of their dissatisfaction caused Grey to wonder if married life was a good idea for him after all.
ANSWERS
Men
1. Tom Cruise
2. Danny DiVito
3. Brad Pitt
4. Russel Crowe
5. Matt Damon
6. Jack Black
7.Tom Hanks
8. Ryan Reynolds
9. Zac Efron
10. Leonardo DiCaprio
Women
1. Cate Blanchett
2. Kate Winslet
3. Katie Holmes
4.Ann Hathaway
5. Halle Berry
6. Drew Barrymore
7.Jennifer Anniston
8. Helen Mirren
9. Hilary Swank
10.Kate Hudson
January 9, 2012
TUESDAY TALES - Welcome!
Welcome and thanks for stopping by. Today's post is from my WIP, soon to be a published novella. It's a continuation of Grey and Carrie's story from "The Marriage List."
"The Love List" Flipping off her shoes, Carrie slipped her fleece pants off and hung them over the back of a chair. She left her fleece top and bra on as the chill in the air made the room too chilly for sleeping topless. She climbed into bed, snuggled in under the down quilt and closed her eyes. Sleep came quickly.**** Grey opened the door quietly and tiptoed into his room. He noticed his private present for Carrie was gone and wondered if she hid it intending to take a peek later. He chuckled to himself over her insatiable curiosity. Forget trying to hide anything from her, ever! He slipped off his shoes and hung his jeans over a chair. Slowly peeling down the covers he slid into bed next to Carrie. She moved slightly as the bed dipped under his weight. After she rolled over on her stomach, he inched closer to her and put his head down on the pillow. But he wasn't tired. Grey warmed his hand under his chin then placed it underneath her fleece sweatshirt, resting his fingers on her back. He loved the feel of her soft skin as he glided his hand up slightly then down to the edge of her panties. A month ago we were apart. I was alone and now she's going to be my wife...my own Christmas miracle. His fingers toyed with the lace before ducking under the edge and cupping the firm flesh of her behind, giving it a gentle squeeze. Carrie turned her head toward him, stifled a yawn and cracked her eyes open. "Hey, sleepy," he said, pulling his hand out from under the covers to stroke her hair. "Hey, you." Carrie blinked up at him, her eyes squinting. She flipped over onto her side and faced him. He moved his hand down, stroking her shoulder on the way to her breast, where it stopped. His fingers closed around the soft mound and he gave it a light massage. "Did you have something in mind?" "No time, honey," he replied. "Copping a feel?" He nodded but did not remove his hand. "Don't get me started, if we have no time…" "Guests due in about half an hour." "Oh!" Carrie cupped her hands around his face, kissed him, then threw back the covers and pushed out of bed. "What's the hurry?" "Got to get dressed. The ham…the dips have to be…and the veges aren't washed." "They've got you well trained already," he sighed. "Nine o'clock you're mine, Mister," she said, shooting him a wicked grin. "I'll be here…with bells on," he said. "And nothing else?" Grey pulled back the covers, got out of the bed heading for the chair to grab his jeans. Carrie brushed her hair and smoothed down her fleece top. She returned the brush to the dresser and stepped close to him. She slid her hand down below his belly and patted him while her other arm snaked around his waist. "Now who's getting who started here?" He asked her, his hands on her shoulders. "Checking to make sure I'm not leaving anything…unfinished." "And if you were?" "I might have to do something about it." "No lie? Damn! If I'd known that..." "Too late." She moved away from him, chuckling and reached for her lipstick. He laughed and pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight.
"Touching you wasn't about sex," he whispered near her ear. "No?" She cocked her head and stared straight into his eyes. "Maybe…uh, most of the time, yeah. But not this time."
CLICK TO GO BACK TO TUESDAY TALES Read "The Marriage List" before the sequel comes out. Only $.99 now but the price is going up when the sequel is published.AMAZONBARNES & NOBLE
January 6, 2012
Love Talk with Adora Smutz - Interview with April McKenna
Love Talk with Adora Smutz
Today, Adora is interviewing April McKenna from April's Kiss in the Moonlight.
Adora: Good morning, April. How are you today?
April: Fine, Adora and you?
Adora: So you're Gavin's main squeeze, eh? Tell us, where does he mainly squeeze you, anyway?
April: In places he'll never squeeze you, Adora!
Adora: Hey! I get the good lines around here!
April: Sunny Davis warned me about you, *grins*
Adora: Yeah? Don't get too uppity, I'm just getting started. Tell me, do you ever have sex in the fireman's carry position with this sexy fireman?
April: *stifles a laugh* Adora, do you even know what that position is?
Adora: Well, no…but it sounded good.
April: What's your favorite position for sex, Adora?
Adora: I'll ask the questions here, young lady!
April: *laughing* so ask already, I'm aging rapidly.
Adora: *flustered*, Jean! Jean! You said she'd be a pushover! What's going on here.
April: Tell us, Adora, which one of Jean's heroes do you want to sleep with first.
Adora: Well, first there's…wait a minute! My turn, my turn…how IS Gavin in bed anyway?
April: Wouldn't you like to know? You'll never find out, either. Gavin hates pushy women.
Adora: You have some nerve! I'm not pushy…I ask aggressive questions. I get to the stuff people want to know about.
April: Oh? You think so?
Adora: I'm an award-winning journalist!
April: Yeah, if the award is Idiot-of-the-Year!
Adora: Hey! Is that a crack? So tell me miss high-and-mighty, how did you ever snag such a sexy guy. You're nothing to look at, I mean compared to me.
April: *flips hair back*, you don't have to be a 36 DD to be attractive, Adora, especially to Gavin. He can't get enough of me.
Adora: Oh? *moves closer to the microphone* Tell us about it.
April: Why only yesterday when I was in the outdoor shower, he…wait a minute!
Adora: Go on, go on… the outdoor shower *grins*.
April: Jean! Jean! *pulls out her .22 semi-automatic* Can I shoot her?
Adora: I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. *gathers up belongings and stuffs them into briefcase* This is Adora Smutz for 'Love Talk" thanking April McKenna and signing off for this week.
April: *polishes barrel of gun on her sleeve*. Gets 'em every time.
More about April and Gavin
Fresh from graduate school, April McKenna, beautiful and brilliant vows to strike out on a new path rather than return to San Francisco to take a job with her father's firm. She meets Rusty and sets off for an escapade that ends in tragedy. Injured and alone she is taken in by Sunny Davis, a friend of her mother's who lives in a small town in the Catskill Mountains in New York.
During her recovery, April resolves to carve out an exotic life of travel and adventure. But she didn't count on a sexy fireman upsetting her plans. Gavin Dailey has dated practically every woman in the county, but when he meets April, he knows he's finally found the one he wants. Only a stubborn man like Gavin wouldn't let April's resistance to his charm and his small town change his plans. Determined to win her, he pulls out all the stops until he encounters one stumbling block he didn't count on. Only a near-tragedy resurrected from the past gives April the tenacity she needs to make the right decision for her life in April's Kiss in the Moonlight. This is a sweet contemporary romance with no explicit sex.
Short Excerpt
He walked up to the car and knocked on the window, startling April, who jumped.When she turned to look at him, he was smiling at her.
"Flat?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Pop the trunk," he said.
Can't you get inside the car through the trunk? He could attack
me...
"Take it easy. I'm not a mass murderer. Want to help you
change your tire," he called to her.
April popped the trunk. If she didn't want to spend the night
alone in the dark, accepting his help was her only choice.
"Are these yours?" he asked, plucking her panties off the door
handle and holding them up to the car window. The white lace
bikinis looked ridiculously small in his large hand.
April felt heat seep into her face and knew she had turned
several shades of red. Avoiding the stranger's gaze, she opened the
car window and snatched the panties from him. He laughed, shook
his head and headed for the trunk, as she struggled to put the
panties back on while sitting in the front seat.
"Easier to jack up the car if you're not in it," he called to her.
Reluctantly, she got out of the car, keeping an eye on him and
perched on a large rock at a safe distance to watch him, hugging her
knees to her chest.
"Rusty," he said, extending his hand after taking off his
backpack.
"April," she responded, wrinkling her nose with distaste at
the sight of dirt coating his hand.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Greasy." He wiped his hand on his jeans.
He worked for forty-five minutes, jacking up the car then
changing the tire. April watched him with interest. As he began to
sweat, he removed his T-shirt. April stared at his strong chest
covered with reddish hair, feeling a desire to touch it. The muscles
in Rusty's arms worked as he attached the jack and began to pump
it up, moving the car higher and higher. He was tall, about six foot
four inches, broad and strong. He shot her an easy grin from time
to time.
"What's a beautiful woman like you doing stranded out here?
Where you headed?" He asked, looking her over with appreciation
in his eyes.
"San Francisco. You?" She said, blushing slightly under his
gaze.
"I've got a week to get to Allentown for a job. At the rate I'm
going, it'll take me a week to walk it." He worked the tire iron on
the lug nuts.
She laughed. "Why kind of job?"
"Driving a truck to New York City and back. It pays well."
"You going to live in Allentown?"
"Of course. Where are you coming from?"
"Got my MBA from Kensington State University. Heading
home."
"Going back to a job?"
"Uh...an internship. But I don't want to. I'm not sure what I
want to do."
"After all that time with college and graduate school and you
still don't know what you want to do? Heck...a lot of money down
the drain."
"Education doesn't always tell you what you want to do in
life."
"True enough. Still going home, eh?" He leaned against the
car.
"It's expected."
"Car's ready. You should replace the dead tire because if this
one blows, you're out of luck," he pointed out, putting his shirt back on.
"Thanks. Get in," she said, standing up, and brushing herself
off.
"You giving me a ride?"
She shrugged and gave a nod.
"Well, I can promise not to strangle and murder you...but I
might kiss you," he said.
"Thanks for fixing the tire. I'm taking you all the way to
Allentown," she said.
"No way! You are? Fantastic."
"The least I can do...it's not far out of my way and...I'm in no
hurry."
"Up for a little journey?" he asked her with a wicked grin on
his face.
"Maybe." She looked him over, thinking about his offer of
adventure.
"Let's get some food. There's a diner down the road a ways
and I'm buying," he said, holding the door open for her.
She smiled up at him as he closed the car door.
Buy Link (only $2.99 for a full length novel)
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
BARNES & NOBLE PAPERBACK ($8.09)
SMASHWORDS
Today, Adora is interviewing April McKenna from April's Kiss in the Moonlight.
Adora: Good morning, April. How are you today?
April: Fine, Adora and you?
Adora: So you're Gavin's main squeeze, eh? Tell us, where does he mainly squeeze you, anyway?
April: In places he'll never squeeze you, Adora!
Adora: Hey! I get the good lines around here!
April: Sunny Davis warned me about you, *grins*
Adora: Yeah? Don't get too uppity, I'm just getting started. Tell me, do you ever have sex in the fireman's carry position with this sexy fireman?
April: *stifles a laugh* Adora, do you even know what that position is?
Adora: Well, no…but it sounded good.
April: What's your favorite position for sex, Adora?
Adora: I'll ask the questions here, young lady!
April: *laughing* so ask already, I'm aging rapidly.
Adora: *flustered*, Jean! Jean! You said she'd be a pushover! What's going on here.
April: Tell us, Adora, which one of Jean's heroes do you want to sleep with first.
Adora: Well, first there's…wait a minute! My turn, my turn…how IS Gavin in bed anyway?
April: Wouldn't you like to know? You'll never find out, either. Gavin hates pushy women.
Adora: You have some nerve! I'm not pushy…I ask aggressive questions. I get to the stuff people want to know about.
April: Oh? You think so?
Adora: I'm an award-winning journalist!
April: Yeah, if the award is Idiot-of-the-Year!
Adora: Hey! Is that a crack? So tell me miss high-and-mighty, how did you ever snag such a sexy guy. You're nothing to look at, I mean compared to me.
April: *flips hair back*, you don't have to be a 36 DD to be attractive, Adora, especially to Gavin. He can't get enough of me.
Adora: Oh? *moves closer to the microphone* Tell us about it.
April: Why only yesterday when I was in the outdoor shower, he…wait a minute!
Adora: Go on, go on… the outdoor shower *grins*.
April: Jean! Jean! *pulls out her .22 semi-automatic* Can I shoot her?
Adora: I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. *gathers up belongings and stuffs them into briefcase* This is Adora Smutz for 'Love Talk" thanking April McKenna and signing off for this week.
April: *polishes barrel of gun on her sleeve*. Gets 'em every time.
More about April and Gavin
Fresh from graduate school, April McKenna, beautiful and brilliant vows to strike out on a new path rather than return to San Francisco to take a job with her father's firm. She meets Rusty and sets off for an escapade that ends in tragedy. Injured and alone she is taken in by Sunny Davis, a friend of her mother's who lives in a small town in the Catskill Mountains in New York.
During her recovery, April resolves to carve out an exotic life of travel and adventure. But she didn't count on a sexy fireman upsetting her plans. Gavin Dailey has dated practically every woman in the county, but when he meets April, he knows he's finally found the one he wants. Only a stubborn man like Gavin wouldn't let April's resistance to his charm and his small town change his plans. Determined to win her, he pulls out all the stops until he encounters one stumbling block he didn't count on. Only a near-tragedy resurrected from the past gives April the tenacity she needs to make the right decision for her life in April's Kiss in the Moonlight. This is a sweet contemporary romance with no explicit sex.
Short Excerpt
He walked up to the car and knocked on the window, startling April, who jumped.When she turned to look at him, he was smiling at her.
"Flat?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Pop the trunk," he said.
Can't you get inside the car through the trunk? He could attack
me...
"Take it easy. I'm not a mass murderer. Want to help you
change your tire," he called to her.
April popped the trunk. If she didn't want to spend the night
alone in the dark, accepting his help was her only choice.
"Are these yours?" he asked, plucking her panties off the door
handle and holding them up to the car window. The white lace
bikinis looked ridiculously small in his large hand.
April felt heat seep into her face and knew she had turned
several shades of red. Avoiding the stranger's gaze, she opened the
car window and snatched the panties from him. He laughed, shook
his head and headed for the trunk, as she struggled to put the
panties back on while sitting in the front seat.
"Easier to jack up the car if you're not in it," he called to her.
Reluctantly, she got out of the car, keeping an eye on him and
perched on a large rock at a safe distance to watch him, hugging her
knees to her chest.
"Rusty," he said, extending his hand after taking off his
backpack.
"April," she responded, wrinkling her nose with distaste at
the sight of dirt coating his hand.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Greasy." He wiped his hand on his jeans.
He worked for forty-five minutes, jacking up the car then
changing the tire. April watched him with interest. As he began to
sweat, he removed his T-shirt. April stared at his strong chest
covered with reddish hair, feeling a desire to touch it. The muscles
in Rusty's arms worked as he attached the jack and began to pump
it up, moving the car higher and higher. He was tall, about six foot
four inches, broad and strong. He shot her an easy grin from time
to time.
"What's a beautiful woman like you doing stranded out here?
Where you headed?" He asked, looking her over with appreciation
in his eyes.
"San Francisco. You?" She said, blushing slightly under his
gaze.
"I've got a week to get to Allentown for a job. At the rate I'm
going, it'll take me a week to walk it." He worked the tire iron on
the lug nuts.
She laughed. "Why kind of job?"
"Driving a truck to New York City and back. It pays well."
"You going to live in Allentown?"
"Of course. Where are you coming from?"
"Got my MBA from Kensington State University. Heading
home."
"Going back to a job?"
"Uh...an internship. But I don't want to. I'm not sure what I
want to do."
"After all that time with college and graduate school and you
still don't know what you want to do? Heck...a lot of money down
the drain."
"Education doesn't always tell you what you want to do in
life."
"True enough. Still going home, eh?" He leaned against the
car.
"It's expected."
"Car's ready. You should replace the dead tire because if this
one blows, you're out of luck," he pointed out, putting his shirt back on.
"Thanks. Get in," she said, standing up, and brushing herself
off.
"You giving me a ride?"
She shrugged and gave a nod.
"Well, I can promise not to strangle and murder you...but I
might kiss you," he said.
"Thanks for fixing the tire. I'm taking you all the way to
Allentown," she said.
"No way! You are? Fantastic."
"The least I can do...it's not far out of my way and...I'm in no
hurry."
"Up for a little journey?" he asked her with a wicked grin on
his face.
"Maybe." She looked him over, thinking about his offer of
adventure.
"Let's get some food. There's a diner down the road a ways
and I'm buying," he said, holding the door open for her.
She smiled up at him as he closed the car door.
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SMASHWORDS
January 2, 2012
TUESDAY TALES - GREY & CARRIE, PROMPT: KISS
Word prompt this week is "kiss".
GREY & CARRIE'S CHRISTMAS
My story today is taken from a WIP, sequel to "The Marriage List". It is the continuing story of Grey and Carrie. They have arrived at his parent's house in Pine Grove, a small town in upstate New York in the morning on Christmas eve and the whole family greets them:
Carrie was enveloped first in Fran's arms for a hug. Member after member gave her hugs, then moved on to hug Grey. John eased everyone away from the doorway so he could close the door.
"I'm not paying to heat the outdoors. Get your butts in here," he said, putting his hand on Grey's shoulder, "glad to see you, son."
Fran linked Carrie's arm through hers as she walked her into the living room. The tall Christmas tree was decorated with more home-made ornaments from many years of school holiday projects stretched over four children than it was at Thanksgiving. Perhaps Fran found an old box of treasures in her attic. The entire house sported festive decorations. Evergreen swags hugged the mantle and twined through the staircase. Snow globes, small statues of Santa Claus and other Christmas figurines perched on the wide marble mantle and the baby grand piano. One white electric candle stood proudly in each window.
There was a roaring fire in the large fireplace, bordered with cream-colored molding stained with soot in a few places. Fran steered Carrie to the wide brown velvet sofa. Jenna sat cross-legged on the floor in her fleece workout outfit. Bill sat next to her, petting the two pugs snuggled up to him. Barbara and her husband, Ernie, took over the love seat. John commanded the leather wing chair. Grey joined Carrie on the sofa and Colin pulled up an ottoman.
Carrie stood up and took her bags of gifts to the tree and placed them under and around. Then she did the same with the two bags Jenna brought in. Afterward she rejoined Fran.
"Let's go over the schedule for today and tomorrow." She pulled a small journal out of a large pocket in the apron and opened it to a clipped page.
"The open house has been moved to 2:30 to 7:30 so anyone who wants to can go on the Santa sighting hayride. Grey," she said, turning to face her son, "Carrie has never been on that. It's not long, about twenty minutes. Might be fun. Then we have our one-present exchange at eight o'clock."
Grey nodded at his mother and directed his gaze at Carrie, who smiled at him in return.
"Dad is doing brunch this morning…what are we having John?"
"Pancakes and link sausages. Chocolate chip pancakes 'cause Grey said those are Carrie's favorite," John smiled directly at her.
Carrie blushed at the attention.
"Okay, he's going to start that in about five minutes. It's nine thirty now, hmmm. We need to get the ham in the oven by one o'clock. So let's eat then divide into teams. We got most of the cleaning done before you got here, Grey…"
"Gee. I'm disappointed!" He made a mock sad face. Colin threw a pillow at him.
"Right! I've saved a few choice tasks for you, though," Fran smiled at him, her eyes twinkling. Grey groaned.
"I think I have all the food and I've been baking cookies all week. They are in tins. Still, I didn't get around to lemon bars and you know Emma always asks for those."
Silence fell on the room. Fran gave a quizzical look. Barbara stood up.
"Then we have a lot to do, so we'd better begin," she said, tapping her husband on the shoulder.
Everyone got up and went to the kitchen. Together they set the big table in the dining room while John whipped up pancake batter. Barbara cooked the sausages on the grill on the deck in the back. Grey and Carrie disappeared into their room to unpack.
"Why did everyone get quiet when your mother mentioned Emma?" Carrie asked Grey as she slung her small suitcase on the bed and unzipped it.
"Don't know. Emma, my girlfriend from high school, is a family friend now. She's married to Matt, also from our high school. They've got a kid."
"But she comes here every year for your family's Christmas open house?"
"She and Matt come on Christmas day, in the afternoon for an hour or two, that's all. I swear she comes only for the lemon bars."
"What aren't you telling me?" Carrie opened the top dresser drawer, folded her lingerie and placed it in the drawer.
"Okay, okay. She was my first…and I was hers. There. But it's ancient history."
"Ancient history with you or her? Losing your virginity is a big deal. Someone you usually remember."
"I have you. I don't want Emma, haven't for years and years. I moved on and I assume she has, too. Otherwise, Matt is going to have a problem," he said, hanging up a shirt in the closet.
"Perhaps your sibs don't agree. Otherwise why did everyone clam up at the mention of her name?" Carrie folded some shirts and added them to the drawer, then closed it.
"She likes to flirt. She still flirts with me. It used to make Matt mad, but I think he gets it's only Emma being Emma and doesn't mean anything." Grey took all his socks in one hand and opened the second dresser drawer and dumped them in.
"Is she pretty?" Carrie took a dress out of her bag and shook it out.
"I guess. Haven't thought about her in a long time. She's not as pretty as you are,"
"Oh?" Carrie hung up her dress and stopped, her brow furrowed.
"What?" He stopped.
"Do I need to worry about this woman?" She whirled around to face him.
In two strides he was in front of her, enveloping her in his arms. He hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Honey, you don't have to worry about anything. I love you and only you. I'm not interested in anyone else. You're mine and I'm yours. Don't let her stopping by ruin our first Christmas together."
"Hey, yeah. It is our first Christmas together," she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, a smile curling her lips.
"Looks like we'll have to move our 'date' tonight to nine, instead of eight."
"Still gives us plenty of time…"
Grey grinned at her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
"Hey, you two, get outta bed and come down here. Breakfast is ready!" Colin called up the stairs.
Color rose to Carrie's cheeks as Grey took her hand, leading her into the hall.
"Colin can be a real idiot sometimes," he murmured as he headed for the stairs.
BACK TO TUESDAY TALES, CLICK HERE!
Blurb: Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
Buy Links for "The Marriage List"
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
CLICK HERE FOR MY WEBSITE
GREY & CARRIE'S CHRISTMAS
My story today is taken from a WIP, sequel to "The Marriage List". It is the continuing story of Grey and Carrie. They have arrived at his parent's house in Pine Grove, a small town in upstate New York in the morning on Christmas eve and the whole family greets them:
Carrie was enveloped first in Fran's arms for a hug. Member after member gave her hugs, then moved on to hug Grey. John eased everyone away from the doorway so he could close the door. "I'm not paying to heat the outdoors. Get your butts in here," he said, putting his hand on Grey's shoulder, "glad to see you, son."
Fran linked Carrie's arm through hers as she walked her into the living room. The tall Christmas tree was decorated with more home-made ornaments from many years of school holiday projects stretched over four children than it was at Thanksgiving. Perhaps Fran found an old box of treasures in her attic. The entire house sported festive decorations. Evergreen swags hugged the mantle and twined through the staircase. Snow globes, small statues of Santa Claus and other Christmas figurines perched on the wide marble mantle and the baby grand piano. One white electric candle stood proudly in each window.
There was a roaring fire in the large fireplace, bordered with cream-colored molding stained with soot in a few places. Fran steered Carrie to the wide brown velvet sofa. Jenna sat cross-legged on the floor in her fleece workout outfit. Bill sat next to her, petting the two pugs snuggled up to him. Barbara and her husband, Ernie, took over the love seat. John commanded the leather wing chair. Grey joined Carrie on the sofa and Colin pulled up an ottoman.
Carrie stood up and took her bags of gifts to the tree and placed them under and around. Then she did the same with the two bags Jenna brought in. Afterward she rejoined Fran.
"Let's go over the schedule for today and tomorrow." She pulled a small journal out of a large pocket in the apron and opened it to a clipped page.
"The open house has been moved to 2:30 to 7:30 so anyone who wants to can go on the Santa sighting hayride. Grey," she said, turning to face her son, "Carrie has never been on that. It's not long, about twenty minutes. Might be fun. Then we have our one-present exchange at eight o'clock."
Grey nodded at his mother and directed his gaze at Carrie, who smiled at him in return.
"Dad is doing brunch this morning…what are we having John?"
"Pancakes and link sausages. Chocolate chip pancakes 'cause Grey said those are Carrie's favorite," John smiled directly at her.
Carrie blushed at the attention.
"Okay, he's going to start that in about five minutes. It's nine thirty now, hmmm. We need to get the ham in the oven by one o'clock. So let's eat then divide into teams. We got most of the cleaning done before you got here, Grey…"
"Gee. I'm disappointed!" He made a mock sad face. Colin threw a pillow at him.
"Right! I've saved a few choice tasks for you, though," Fran smiled at him, her eyes twinkling. Grey groaned.
"I think I have all the food and I've been baking cookies all week. They are in tins. Still, I didn't get around to lemon bars and you know Emma always asks for those."
Silence fell on the room. Fran gave a quizzical look. Barbara stood up.
"Then we have a lot to do, so we'd better begin," she said, tapping her husband on the shoulder.
Everyone got up and went to the kitchen. Together they set the big table in the dining room while John whipped up pancake batter. Barbara cooked the sausages on the grill on the deck in the back. Grey and Carrie disappeared into their room to unpack.
"Why did everyone get quiet when your mother mentioned Emma?" Carrie asked Grey as she slung her small suitcase on the bed and unzipped it.
"Don't know. Emma, my girlfriend from high school, is a family friend now. She's married to Matt, also from our high school. They've got a kid."
"But she comes here every year for your family's Christmas open house?"
"She and Matt come on Christmas day, in the afternoon for an hour or two, that's all. I swear she comes only for the lemon bars."
"What aren't you telling me?" Carrie opened the top dresser drawer, folded her lingerie and placed it in the drawer.
"Okay, okay. She was my first…and I was hers. There. But it's ancient history."
"Ancient history with you or her? Losing your virginity is a big deal. Someone you usually remember."
"I have you. I don't want Emma, haven't for years and years. I moved on and I assume she has, too. Otherwise, Matt is going to have a problem," he said, hanging up a shirt in the closet.
"Perhaps your sibs don't agree. Otherwise why did everyone clam up at the mention of her name?" Carrie folded some shirts and added them to the drawer, then closed it.
"She likes to flirt. She still flirts with me. It used to make Matt mad, but I think he gets it's only Emma being Emma and doesn't mean anything." Grey took all his socks in one hand and opened the second dresser drawer and dumped them in.
"Is she pretty?" Carrie took a dress out of her bag and shook it out.
"I guess. Haven't thought about her in a long time. She's not as pretty as you are,"
"Oh?" Carrie hung up her dress and stopped, her brow furrowed.
"What?" He stopped.
"Do I need to worry about this woman?" She whirled around to face him.
In two strides he was in front of her, enveloping her in his arms. He hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Honey, you don't have to worry about anything. I love you and only you. I'm not interested in anyone else. You're mine and I'm yours. Don't let her stopping by ruin our first Christmas together."
"Hey, yeah. It is our first Christmas together," she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, a smile curling her lips.
"Looks like we'll have to move our 'date' tonight to nine, instead of eight."
"Still gives us plenty of time…"
Grey grinned at her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
"Hey, you two, get outta bed and come down here. Breakfast is ready!" Colin called up the stairs.
Color rose to Carrie's cheeks as Grey took her hand, leading her into the hall.
"Colin can be a real idiot sometimes," he murmured as he headed for the stairs.
BACK TO TUESDAY TALES, CLICK HERE!
Blurb: Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all?
Buy Links for "The Marriage List"
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
CLICK HERE FOR MY WEBSITE
Stories of Love and Passion
I am a writer of contemporary romance series, some sweet and some spicy. I love to write and do it fulltime. I'm married, live in New York City with my husband, two sons and a rescued pug named Homer.
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