Kelly Fitzpatrick's Blog, page 7
April 15, 2013
SIGNED BOOK HOP! Welcome to my blog and the Signed B...
SIGNED BOOK HOP! Welcome to my blog and the Signed Book Hop. Come on in, sit right down and poke around. If you're here for the No Strings Attached hop...click here or keep going down and you'll find it. I'm multi-tasking.
I love print books, the look of them, the feel and even the smell. But I've grown fond of the convenience of my eReader. I have over a hundred books loaded, including all of my own. I carry the reader in my laptop bag, and whip it out at will. It holds my place for me without a bookmark, it has a builtin night light and I can make the print extra large. I gotta admit, I still enjoy a print book from time to time.How do you like your books? Print or ebook? Leave me a comment with your email address and I'll enter you in a drawing for a signed, print copy of Lily in Wonderland (US mailing only).
Blurb:
Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland.
When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
Excerpt: Chapter One
Lily launched a bag of barbecue potato chips across the room, hitting Jake squarely in the back of the head.He rubbed his skull. “What was that for?”“Jake Pratt, you are a dirty, lying, thieving, no-good, ugly, low-life, belly-crawling thug,” Lily said without pausing for a breath. “And didn’t you ask for a bag of chips?”“A half-hour ago.” Jake ripped open the bag. “But I ain’t dirty!”He also wasn’t ugly.There was a rap at the door, interrupting the yelling, but neither occupant acknowledged the intrusion. Jake raised the TV remote and the volume followed suit. A second, louder knock rang out, this time impossible to ignore.“Phone call for Lily,” a man said warily from the other side of the paper-thin door.Lily sighed loudly before strolling across the worn linoleum floor. The heels of her boots clicked with each step, matching the sway of her hips. She kicked an empty beer can across the room. The aluminum can ricocheted off several surfaces, the sound echoing throughout the space before the container rested in the small, dated kitchenette. She flung the apartment door open, letting it crash into the wall, and then slammed it shut behind her.Lily sniffed. She distinctly smelled urine. Did it come from the rat-faced man before her, or was there some other culprit?“That’s quite a shiner,” the man pointed out.“Nothin’ gets by you, Einstein,” Lily replied.“My name isn’t Einstein. It’s…it’s Clyde.”“Whatever,” Lily mumbled. She picked up the receiver of the pay phone down the hall, which smelled of stale nicotine. Lily wiped the mouthpiece off on her shirt before putting it to her face. “Hello.” She didn’t even bother masking her disinterest to the caller.“Is this Lily Tucker?” a shaky voice asked from the other end of the line.“I’m happy with my long distance carrier, Elwood,” she advised the caller while she lamented over her chipped fingernail polish.There was a moment of silence. “You…you don’t have a phone,” the caller pointed out.“What are we talking on, brain trust?” She blew a bubble with her gum.“I…uh…well, a pay phone,” he ventured.A loud pop from her end of the phone punctuated his words.“You’re a hard woman to find,” he added.“Listen, I’m late for a very important meeting and, as they say, time is money. So what do you want?” she asked, not really caring but in no hurry to go back to her dingy studio apartment to continue an argument she would never win. Fighting with Jake was like trying to reason with a drunk—a waste of time.Lily had not applied for any jobs or been on any auditions recently. It was doubtful this call could be anything but bad news. It was the story of her life—bad news, followed by more bad news, followed by bad luck, bad timing and bad taste in men.“I’m Arthur Sutherfield.”“Can you get to the punch line, Artie? I have a bubble bath and a masseuse waiting,” she explained while reading a dirty poem written on the drab, graffiti-tagged wall. The sound of a crying baby mixed with rap music, grating on her nerves.“I’m your grandmother’s attorney.”She sighed. “I don’t know what the old broad told you, Art, but I don’t have money for my own bail, much less hers.”He paused. “She’s dead, Miss Tucker.”Lily was momentarily speechless, but recovered her composure quickly. “I don’t have money for a funeral either,” she replied. She stumbled against the wall, letting it hold her upright. Lily couldn’t explain the sting of remorse she felt for a woman she didn’t know.“That’s not why I’m calling. Your grandmother left everything to you,” the lawyer said.She swallowed a lump that caught in her throat, then scoffed. “And that would be what exactly? Family Bible, a case of Ensure and some granny panties?”“A house on a…a private island and some money. Basically, everything.”“Is this a joke?”“No, it’s not, Miss Tucker. Of course there’s paperwork, and probate…”Lily cut in. “Are we talking about Iris? Iris Flanders?”“Yes. I’m sorry to be the one to inform you,” Arthur said. “She was a fine, Christian woman…”“Can I call you back later?” she asked, breaking in again, interrupting his love fest for a woman he knew better than Lily did.Lily wrote Arthur Sutherfield’s number on her hand before replacing the phone. She paced back and forth in front of the telephone, picking it up only to put it back in its cradle. Finally she mustered the courage to punch out zero and the number she knew by heart. It rang.Why hadn’t he changed it?“Collect from Lily Tucker,” she mumbled, and then waited. Her impulse was to hang up before someone could pick up, but she didn’t. “Lily Tucker for Keenan Kane.” Her eyes rolled around in annoyance at hearing a woman answer his phone. “Oh, I know he’s a big TV star. Trust me, he’ll want to talk to me.” She took a few deep breaths for courage as she waited to hear his voice. She’d longed for it nearly every day over the past year and half—and at the same time dreaded it.“Lily?”“Don’t talk, just listen. If you talk, I hang up and walk,” she threatened him. “Write down this name—Jake Pratt. Lives in the valley. You got it? He has what you’re missing. We never had this conversation.” She slammed the phone down hard.Lily tried to steady her hand with her other shaking hand.After her call to Keenan and a few more deep, cleansing breaths, she returned to her dreary room, using her acting skills to suppress the joyous emotions that welled up in her.“What was the call about?” Jake asked her.“I inherited an island in Wonderland.”Jake turned to her, rubbing his sore jaw. His eye was black and swollen shut. “Yeah, right.”A smile tugged at the corners of Lily’s mouth. She knew he wouldn’t believe her. “Can I get you a beer, babe?”“So suddenly I’m babe again?”Lily popped the top off a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, handing it over with a smile. “What do you mean?”“What do I mean?” Jake took a long drink of his beer. “Twenty minutes ago I was a dickhead and you stuck your fist in my eye.”You’re still a dickhead. A few short days later she left the highway in a beat-up ’69 Buick Electra with the top down and the radio on full blast. The wind whipped through her short hair. The fresh air filled her lungs, invigorating her. Lily needed the burst of energy, considering she’d napped in the car at a rest stop the previous night. Her grooming regime that morning had consisted of touching up her nail polish, splashing some water on her face, applying a fresh coat of deodorant, followed by makeup and brushing her teeth using only her finger. She remained focused on getting farther away from Jake and closer to Arkansas, where her newfound fortune awaited her.The tall, majestic trees that lined the winding road, along with the stunning scenery seemed to have popped up shortly after crossing the Texas state line. The lush greenery and chiseled hills had little effect on Lily. Mother Nature was nice. Money, on the other hand, was a beautiful, beautiful thing. Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness, well frankly, they were just wrong.Her cell phone rang. Lily looked at the caller ID. Jake again. She flung the phone out the open window, deciding she had listened to enough threatening messages. After all, “I’m gonna kill you with my bare hands,” is just a figure of speech.Cell phone flinging was liberating. It should be an Olympic event. Lily felt empowered. She was done with men. Men were evil. Who needs ’em?The thought of her inheritance wafted around in her brain when she spotted the road sign that warmly welcomed her to Wonderland, population in the four digits. Also there to welcome her were flashing lights in her rearview mirror. Shit!The patrol car let out a whoop-whoop when she failed to comply. Lily swore under her breath before pulling over to the side of the dusty, gravel shoulder. Once stopped, the smell of her own exhaust caught up with her. Tapping her long red nails on the steering wheel, she watched in her rearview mirror as the deputy approached in what looked like a well-starched uniform with perfectly pressed pleats. His badge, she noticed, was shiny, same with his shoes. The patrol car was at least ten years old, but it appeared to be freshly washed and waxed.“Good afternoon, miss!” the man said, tipping his hat and shouting over her radio, which blared Born To Be Wild.“Huh.” She chewed her gum in time with her tapping nails to mask her mounting panic.“Could you cut the engine and turn the music down?” he barked, and this time she complied. “Do you know why I pulled you over today?”“Bored, lonely, looking for a friend,” she guessed with a wily smile.“Brake light is out.”“Crime of the century,” she said, holding her wrists out, daring him to cuff her, “Officer.”“Your tags are expired, tires are bald and, FYI, it’s deputy.”“Deputy Dawg,” she drawled, looking at his nametag from behind the sunglasses that concealed her black eye.“Deputy Tobias Dodd,” he corrected, pointing at the tag that displayed his name. “I’m gonna have to issue you a citation. Can I please see your license and registration?”“Deputy Dodd, isn’t there some way we could work this out? I’m willing to consider any suggestions you may have.” Her lower lip jutted out to pout for her freedom.Lily wouldn’t have made the offer, but the deputy was young, tall and handsome. And if that wasn’t enough, he had the broadest shoulders she’d ever seen. It wasn’t true that objects may appear larger in her rear or side view mirror. He looked delicious, and she had skipped breakfast and lunch.His hair was dark brown with eyes to match. The southern accent he tried so hard to mask was like music to her soul. There was no wedding band, which was inconsequential to Lily. She was trying to beat a ticket, not search for an ex-boyfriend. Additionally, she’d always had a thing for men in uniform, preferably a cop uniform, and he wore his well. If she promised to meet him later to rock his world, he might let her slide without a ticket. The deputy was so cute she might even show up to let him rock hers.“License and registration,” he repeated.Lily hesitated, not sure what illegal substance Jake may have left in the glove box. She rummaged through it, tossing garbage on the floorboard to mix with the other trash already there. Her mind was at work formulating a story for any possible scenario.“Ah-ha, here it is,” she said in triumph, handing the ripped and crinkled paper over to him with a well-practiced, demure smile.He looked from the registration to her and then sighed with disappointment, which displayed itself on his face in the form of a frown. “Is your name Jacob Pratt?”“No.”“I didn’t think so.”“I can explain. You see, I bought the car from Jake.”“Does he know that?” Dodd inquired doubtfully.She paused, pondering the truth versus a lie. “He might have been passed out during the transaction,” she admitted with a sly grin, momentarily picturing Jake waking up with a killer hangover to find her, his money and his car gone. The image gave her a wave of pure pleasure.“Do you have any paperwork to substantiate your claim?”“Are you calling me a liar, detective?”“Maybe when I get to know you better—and it’s de-pu-ty.” His index finger dotted the syllables on his nametag with force.“I assure you, de-pu-ty, I paid dearly, certainly more than this heap is worth,” Lily protested.“I’m gonna have to check and see if it’s been reported stolen,” he informed her in a tone that alluded to his annoyance. “Do you have any weapons in the vehicle? I mean other than your obvious charm.”The deputy’s compliment, she noted, was anything but. It dripped with sarcasm and was accentuated with a slight eye roll. Lily shook her head, even though she had no idea what was stashed in the car. Admitting that would get her searched and impounded, possibly detained and arrested. That would make poor use of her valuable time.“I’ll be right back,” he promised. “And I’m gonna need that driver’s license,” he reminded her, and then he walked back to his cruiser shaking his head.She slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose to watch his reflection stroll back to his patrol car from her driver’s side mirror. She let out a low whistle before pushing the shades back in place.
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I love print books, the look of them, the feel and even the smell. But I've grown fond of the convenience of my eReader. I have over a hundred books loaded, including all of my own. I carry the reader in my laptop bag, and whip it out at will. It holds my place for me without a bookmark, it has a builtin night light and I can make the print extra large. I gotta admit, I still enjoy a print book from time to time.How do you like your books? Print or ebook? Leave me a comment with your email address and I'll enter you in a drawing for a signed, print copy of Lily in Wonderland (US mailing only).
Blurb: Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland.
When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
Excerpt: Chapter One
Lily launched a bag of barbecue potato chips across the room, hitting Jake squarely in the back of the head.He rubbed his skull. “What was that for?”“Jake Pratt, you are a dirty, lying, thieving, no-good, ugly, low-life, belly-crawling thug,” Lily said without pausing for a breath. “And didn’t you ask for a bag of chips?”“A half-hour ago.” Jake ripped open the bag. “But I ain’t dirty!”He also wasn’t ugly.There was a rap at the door, interrupting the yelling, but neither occupant acknowledged the intrusion. Jake raised the TV remote and the volume followed suit. A second, louder knock rang out, this time impossible to ignore.“Phone call for Lily,” a man said warily from the other side of the paper-thin door.Lily sighed loudly before strolling across the worn linoleum floor. The heels of her boots clicked with each step, matching the sway of her hips. She kicked an empty beer can across the room. The aluminum can ricocheted off several surfaces, the sound echoing throughout the space before the container rested in the small, dated kitchenette. She flung the apartment door open, letting it crash into the wall, and then slammed it shut behind her.Lily sniffed. She distinctly smelled urine. Did it come from the rat-faced man before her, or was there some other culprit?“That’s quite a shiner,” the man pointed out.“Nothin’ gets by you, Einstein,” Lily replied.“My name isn’t Einstein. It’s…it’s Clyde.”“Whatever,” Lily mumbled. She picked up the receiver of the pay phone down the hall, which smelled of stale nicotine. Lily wiped the mouthpiece off on her shirt before putting it to her face. “Hello.” She didn’t even bother masking her disinterest to the caller.“Is this Lily Tucker?” a shaky voice asked from the other end of the line.“I’m happy with my long distance carrier, Elwood,” she advised the caller while she lamented over her chipped fingernail polish.There was a moment of silence. “You…you don’t have a phone,” the caller pointed out.“What are we talking on, brain trust?” She blew a bubble with her gum.“I…uh…well, a pay phone,” he ventured.A loud pop from her end of the phone punctuated his words.“You’re a hard woman to find,” he added.“Listen, I’m late for a very important meeting and, as they say, time is money. So what do you want?” she asked, not really caring but in no hurry to go back to her dingy studio apartment to continue an argument she would never win. Fighting with Jake was like trying to reason with a drunk—a waste of time.Lily had not applied for any jobs or been on any auditions recently. It was doubtful this call could be anything but bad news. It was the story of her life—bad news, followed by more bad news, followed by bad luck, bad timing and bad taste in men.“I’m Arthur Sutherfield.”“Can you get to the punch line, Artie? I have a bubble bath and a masseuse waiting,” she explained while reading a dirty poem written on the drab, graffiti-tagged wall. The sound of a crying baby mixed with rap music, grating on her nerves.“I’m your grandmother’s attorney.”She sighed. “I don’t know what the old broad told you, Art, but I don’t have money for my own bail, much less hers.”He paused. “She’s dead, Miss Tucker.”Lily was momentarily speechless, but recovered her composure quickly. “I don’t have money for a funeral either,” she replied. She stumbled against the wall, letting it hold her upright. Lily couldn’t explain the sting of remorse she felt for a woman she didn’t know.“That’s not why I’m calling. Your grandmother left everything to you,” the lawyer said.She swallowed a lump that caught in her throat, then scoffed. “And that would be what exactly? Family Bible, a case of Ensure and some granny panties?”“A house on a…a private island and some money. Basically, everything.”“Is this a joke?”“No, it’s not, Miss Tucker. Of course there’s paperwork, and probate…”Lily cut in. “Are we talking about Iris? Iris Flanders?”“Yes. I’m sorry to be the one to inform you,” Arthur said. “She was a fine, Christian woman…”“Can I call you back later?” she asked, breaking in again, interrupting his love fest for a woman he knew better than Lily did.Lily wrote Arthur Sutherfield’s number on her hand before replacing the phone. She paced back and forth in front of the telephone, picking it up only to put it back in its cradle. Finally she mustered the courage to punch out zero and the number she knew by heart. It rang.Why hadn’t he changed it?“Collect from Lily Tucker,” she mumbled, and then waited. Her impulse was to hang up before someone could pick up, but she didn’t. “Lily Tucker for Keenan Kane.” Her eyes rolled around in annoyance at hearing a woman answer his phone. “Oh, I know he’s a big TV star. Trust me, he’ll want to talk to me.” She took a few deep breaths for courage as she waited to hear his voice. She’d longed for it nearly every day over the past year and half—and at the same time dreaded it.“Lily?”“Don’t talk, just listen. If you talk, I hang up and walk,” she threatened him. “Write down this name—Jake Pratt. Lives in the valley. You got it? He has what you’re missing. We never had this conversation.” She slammed the phone down hard.Lily tried to steady her hand with her other shaking hand.After her call to Keenan and a few more deep, cleansing breaths, she returned to her dreary room, using her acting skills to suppress the joyous emotions that welled up in her.“What was the call about?” Jake asked her.“I inherited an island in Wonderland.”Jake turned to her, rubbing his sore jaw. His eye was black and swollen shut. “Yeah, right.”A smile tugged at the corners of Lily’s mouth. She knew he wouldn’t believe her. “Can I get you a beer, babe?”“So suddenly I’m babe again?”Lily popped the top off a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, handing it over with a smile. “What do you mean?”“What do I mean?” Jake took a long drink of his beer. “Twenty minutes ago I was a dickhead and you stuck your fist in my eye.”You’re still a dickhead. A few short days later she left the highway in a beat-up ’69 Buick Electra with the top down and the radio on full blast. The wind whipped through her short hair. The fresh air filled her lungs, invigorating her. Lily needed the burst of energy, considering she’d napped in the car at a rest stop the previous night. Her grooming regime that morning had consisted of touching up her nail polish, splashing some water on her face, applying a fresh coat of deodorant, followed by makeup and brushing her teeth using only her finger. She remained focused on getting farther away from Jake and closer to Arkansas, where her newfound fortune awaited her.The tall, majestic trees that lined the winding road, along with the stunning scenery seemed to have popped up shortly after crossing the Texas state line. The lush greenery and chiseled hills had little effect on Lily. Mother Nature was nice. Money, on the other hand, was a beautiful, beautiful thing. Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness, well frankly, they were just wrong.Her cell phone rang. Lily looked at the caller ID. Jake again. She flung the phone out the open window, deciding she had listened to enough threatening messages. After all, “I’m gonna kill you with my bare hands,” is just a figure of speech.Cell phone flinging was liberating. It should be an Olympic event. Lily felt empowered. She was done with men. Men were evil. Who needs ’em?The thought of her inheritance wafted around in her brain when she spotted the road sign that warmly welcomed her to Wonderland, population in the four digits. Also there to welcome her were flashing lights in her rearview mirror. Shit!The patrol car let out a whoop-whoop when she failed to comply. Lily swore under her breath before pulling over to the side of the dusty, gravel shoulder. Once stopped, the smell of her own exhaust caught up with her. Tapping her long red nails on the steering wheel, she watched in her rearview mirror as the deputy approached in what looked like a well-starched uniform with perfectly pressed pleats. His badge, she noticed, was shiny, same with his shoes. The patrol car was at least ten years old, but it appeared to be freshly washed and waxed.“Good afternoon, miss!” the man said, tipping his hat and shouting over her radio, which blared Born To Be Wild.“Huh.” She chewed her gum in time with her tapping nails to mask her mounting panic.“Could you cut the engine and turn the music down?” he barked, and this time she complied. “Do you know why I pulled you over today?”“Bored, lonely, looking for a friend,” she guessed with a wily smile.“Brake light is out.”“Crime of the century,” she said, holding her wrists out, daring him to cuff her, “Officer.”“Your tags are expired, tires are bald and, FYI, it’s deputy.”“Deputy Dawg,” she drawled, looking at his nametag from behind the sunglasses that concealed her black eye.“Deputy Tobias Dodd,” he corrected, pointing at the tag that displayed his name. “I’m gonna have to issue you a citation. Can I please see your license and registration?”“Deputy Dodd, isn’t there some way we could work this out? I’m willing to consider any suggestions you may have.” Her lower lip jutted out to pout for her freedom.Lily wouldn’t have made the offer, but the deputy was young, tall and handsome. And if that wasn’t enough, he had the broadest shoulders she’d ever seen. It wasn’t true that objects may appear larger in her rear or side view mirror. He looked delicious, and she had skipped breakfast and lunch.His hair was dark brown with eyes to match. The southern accent he tried so hard to mask was like music to her soul. There was no wedding band, which was inconsequential to Lily. She was trying to beat a ticket, not search for an ex-boyfriend. Additionally, she’d always had a thing for men in uniform, preferably a cop uniform, and he wore his well. If she promised to meet him later to rock his world, he might let her slide without a ticket. The deputy was so cute she might even show up to let him rock hers.“License and registration,” he repeated.Lily hesitated, not sure what illegal substance Jake may have left in the glove box. She rummaged through it, tossing garbage on the floorboard to mix with the other trash already there. Her mind was at work formulating a story for any possible scenario.“Ah-ha, here it is,” she said in triumph, handing the ripped and crinkled paper over to him with a well-practiced, demure smile.He looked from the registration to her and then sighed with disappointment, which displayed itself on his face in the form of a frown. “Is your name Jacob Pratt?”“No.”“I didn’t think so.”“I can explain. You see, I bought the car from Jake.”“Does he know that?” Dodd inquired doubtfully.She paused, pondering the truth versus a lie. “He might have been passed out during the transaction,” she admitted with a sly grin, momentarily picturing Jake waking up with a killer hangover to find her, his money and his car gone. The image gave her a wave of pure pleasure.“Do you have any paperwork to substantiate your claim?”“Are you calling me a liar, detective?”“Maybe when I get to know you better—and it’s de-pu-ty.” His index finger dotted the syllables on his nametag with force.“I assure you, de-pu-ty, I paid dearly, certainly more than this heap is worth,” Lily protested.“I’m gonna have to check and see if it’s been reported stolen,” he informed her in a tone that alluded to his annoyance. “Do you have any weapons in the vehicle? I mean other than your obvious charm.”The deputy’s compliment, she noted, was anything but. It dripped with sarcasm and was accentuated with a slight eye roll. Lily shook her head, even though she had no idea what was stashed in the car. Admitting that would get her searched and impounded, possibly detained and arrested. That would make poor use of her valuable time.“I’ll be right back,” he promised. “And I’m gonna need that driver’s license,” he reminded her, and then he walked back to his cruiser shaking his head.She slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose to watch his reflection stroll back to his patrol car from her driver’s side mirror. She let out a low whistle before pushing the shades back in place.
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April 10, 2013
No Strings!!!!
No Strings Attached! Okay, this is easy. For you and for me. I'm not even going to welcome you to my blog or invite you to poke around for excerpts. I might not even respond to your comments. At all. There are no strings attached.
I'm not going to ask you a question or ask you to "like" me or "follow" me. Just leave your email address (you can say something if you want) so I can contact the random winner of an ecopy of
Lily in Wonderland
. Don't feel obligated to read the blurb. And don't forget to check out the other participants. You know - if you want.
Blurb:
Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland.
When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
I'm not going to ask you a question or ask you to "like" me or "follow" me. Just leave your email address (you can say something if you want) so I can contact the random winner of an ecopy of
Lily in Wonderland
. Don't feel obligated to read the blurb. And don't forget to check out the other participants. You know - if you want.
Blurb:Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland.
When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
March 19, 2013
Rites of Spring blog hop!
Welcome to my stop on the Rites of Spring blog hop.
My Falling For The First Time offering: an excerpt of my hero and heroine's first meet from This Side of Dead
All things considered, it wasn’t what he had expected from death.
His lids flickered open. "Am I in Heaven?" he muttered. His blurry angel hovered over him. His vision focused on eyes warm and blue like the waters of the Caribbean, but he felt the icy chill of a stroll in a walk-in freezer. "You'll be in Hell if you don’t find the wherewithal to get up on your feet and haul your ass out of here with me," she said.
"Are you an angel?" A soggy, shivering, angry angel. She was Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, that was for sure. With the full moon up above, she practically glowed in the dark. The black ringlets of hair framing her white face and blue lips made for a strikingly haunting visual combination. "You’re beautiful."
Tilting her head adorably, she said, "Aw, thanks." Then through a clenched jaw, she growled, "Now get up." She pulled on his arms until he reluctantly sat up. Mal didn’t know what he had expected from the afterlife, but not unbearable cold, lightheadedness and a forced nighttime march through the dark forest of death. "I’m cold."
Tightening her grip on his biceps, she said, "No, buoy boy, I’m cold."
"Will you spend eternity with me, my angel?"
"Get. Up." She helped heave him to his feet.
Malcolm wavered on unsteady legs. His head spun—or everything around him did—and he bent to puke out a stomachful of murky river water. "Oh. My. God. I’m alive. Death could not possibly be this miserable."
"You can thank me later," she said. Thank her later?
"You did this? You saved me? Why?"
She bounced on her toes, wrapping her arms around her body, straitjacket style. "I know this sounds crazy, but we’re on death’s doorstep."
Sounds crazy? Try looks crazy. Wild-eyed crazy
He glanced toward the all-too-familiar bridge in the distance. "Being on death’s doorstep is sort of what I was going for when I jumped off the bridge." Mal plopped back down on the ground to wait for Death to double back and fetch him. Her body heat would feel mighty good right about now, but would only slow his progression toward his blissful demise. Might be worth it.
"Get up," she demanded in a raspy Exorcist voice. Pointing to the bridge, she added, "You will not die today." He waited for her head to spin. Nothing. "Come back and try again tomorrow. I’ll be sure to be somewhere else."
He hung his head and shook like a jackhammer. "I can’t get up. Your friend was right. I’ve lost the will to live."
"He’s not my friend." His militant angel flung her wet t-shirt wildly over her head. Next, she skimmed her flirty skirt away.
Hallelujah! I
am in heaven. "W-what are you doing?"
"I’m going to share my body heat," she replied. "We’ll get you up a couple degrees, and then you and I are going to hike out of here before the Grim Reaper returns."
"O-okay."
Wait. What? "The Grim Reaper?"
"Death," she whispered. In nothing but black bra and panties and little lacy socks poking out of mud-covered ankle boots that squished with each step she took, she straddled his lap. "He’s a crazy, necrophiliac killer. And that’s the best-case scenario." She ripped open his shirt, buttons flying hither and yon. It was like a Penthouse Forum dream come true. "Cannibalism might be involved."
Looking straight down at her cleavage, he asked, "Does this mean you
will spend eternity with me?"
His guardian angel flashed him a ring—either that or she’d flipped him off at the speed of light with the wrong finger. "I’m practically engaged, Bob." "My name’s not Bob."
She peeled away his wet shirt and rubbed his arms with her hands in a none-too-gentle way. "Well it’s all I’ve seen you do so far besides whine, so I assumed."
Blurb: On Memorial Day weekend, Cecilia Denton hopped out of her boyfriend Brad’s car and leapt off a bridge. Far from suicidal herself, she did it to save a jumper, but she had no idea of the chain of events her heroic stunt would set in motion. Because Cecilia cheated the Grim Reaper, Death claimed her boyfriend instead. Now, Cecilia and Malcolm, the stranger whose life she saved, must go on a scavenger hunt of redemption. Either they prove to Death that there’s more to humans than greed and despair, or Death claims both Malcolm and Brad. Malcolm Manchester didn’t ask to be saved, and he sure doesn’t want to be Cecilia’s partner in a game of Beat the Clock to restore Death’s faith in humanity. The heat is on Cecilia to give Malcolm a reason to live before time runs out—or send him off with a bang.AmazonBarnes and Noble
Please leave me a comment with an email address and I will enter you in my drawing for an ecopy of This Side of Dead. Don't forget to check out the other Rites of Spring bloggers for additional great giveaways and more chances to enter for the grand prizes! 1st Grand PrizeKindle Fire (international) 2nd Grand Prize$50 Amazon.com gift certificatea Rafflecopter giveaway
My Falling For The First Time offering: an excerpt of my hero and heroine's first meet from This Side of Dead
All things considered, it wasn’t what he had expected from death.
His lids flickered open. "Am I in Heaven?" he muttered. His blurry angel hovered over him. His vision focused on eyes warm and blue like the waters of the Caribbean, but he felt the icy chill of a stroll in a walk-in freezer. "You'll be in Hell if you don’t find the wherewithal to get up on your feet and haul your ass out of here with me," she said.
"Are you an angel?" A soggy, shivering, angry angel. She was Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, that was for sure. With the full moon up above, she practically glowed in the dark. The black ringlets of hair framing her white face and blue lips made for a strikingly haunting visual combination. "You’re beautiful."
Tilting her head adorably, she said, "Aw, thanks." Then through a clenched jaw, she growled, "Now get up." She pulled on his arms until he reluctantly sat up. Mal didn’t know what he had expected from the afterlife, but not unbearable cold, lightheadedness and a forced nighttime march through the dark forest of death. "I’m cold."
Tightening her grip on his biceps, she said, "No, buoy boy, I’m cold."
"Will you spend eternity with me, my angel?"
"Get. Up." She helped heave him to his feet.
Malcolm wavered on unsteady legs. His head spun—or everything around him did—and he bent to puke out a stomachful of murky river water. "Oh. My. God. I’m alive. Death could not possibly be this miserable."
"You can thank me later," she said. Thank her later?
"You did this? You saved me? Why?"
She bounced on her toes, wrapping her arms around her body, straitjacket style. "I know this sounds crazy, but we’re on death’s doorstep."
Sounds crazy? Try looks crazy. Wild-eyed crazy
He glanced toward the all-too-familiar bridge in the distance. "Being on death’s doorstep is sort of what I was going for when I jumped off the bridge." Mal plopped back down on the ground to wait for Death to double back and fetch him. Her body heat would feel mighty good right about now, but would only slow his progression toward his blissful demise. Might be worth it.
"Get up," she demanded in a raspy Exorcist voice. Pointing to the bridge, she added, "You will not die today." He waited for her head to spin. Nothing. "Come back and try again tomorrow. I’ll be sure to be somewhere else."
He hung his head and shook like a jackhammer. "I can’t get up. Your friend was right. I’ve lost the will to live."
"He’s not my friend." His militant angel flung her wet t-shirt wildly over her head. Next, she skimmed her flirty skirt away.
Hallelujah! I
am in heaven. "W-what are you doing?"
"I’m going to share my body heat," she replied. "We’ll get you up a couple degrees, and then you and I are going to hike out of here before the Grim Reaper returns."
"O-okay."
Wait. What? "The Grim Reaper?"
"Death," she whispered. In nothing but black bra and panties and little lacy socks poking out of mud-covered ankle boots that squished with each step she took, she straddled his lap. "He’s a crazy, necrophiliac killer. And that’s the best-case scenario." She ripped open his shirt, buttons flying hither and yon. It was like a Penthouse Forum dream come true. "Cannibalism might be involved."
Looking straight down at her cleavage, he asked, "Does this mean you
will spend eternity with me?"
His guardian angel flashed him a ring—either that or she’d flipped him off at the speed of light with the wrong finger. "I’m practically engaged, Bob." "My name’s not Bob."
She peeled away his wet shirt and rubbed his arms with her hands in a none-too-gentle way. "Well it’s all I’ve seen you do so far besides whine, so I assumed."
Blurb: On Memorial Day weekend, Cecilia Denton hopped out of her boyfriend Brad’s car and leapt off a bridge. Far from suicidal herself, she did it to save a jumper, but she had no idea of the chain of events her heroic stunt would set in motion. Because Cecilia cheated the Grim Reaper, Death claimed her boyfriend instead. Now, Cecilia and Malcolm, the stranger whose life she saved, must go on a scavenger hunt of redemption. Either they prove to Death that there’s more to humans than greed and despair, or Death claims both Malcolm and Brad. Malcolm Manchester didn’t ask to be saved, and he sure doesn’t want to be Cecilia’s partner in a game of Beat the Clock to restore Death’s faith in humanity. The heat is on Cecilia to give Malcolm a reason to live before time runs out—or send him off with a bang.AmazonBarnes and Noble
Please leave me a comment with an email address and I will enter you in my drawing for an ecopy of This Side of Dead. Don't forget to check out the other Rites of Spring bloggers for additional great giveaways and more chances to enter for the grand prizes! 1st Grand PrizeKindle Fire (international) 2nd Grand Prize$50 Amazon.com gift certificatea Rafflecopter giveaway
March 14, 2013
Lucky in Love Blog Hop!
Erin Go Bragh! Welcome to my blog and the Lucky in Love Blog Hop.I'm no fan of green beer (beer...yes...green beer...no), but with a name like Kelly Fitzpatrick, you can bet I'm Irish. And my favorite color is green, although you'd think from my blog that it's pink. I don't believe in Leprechauns, or their pot of gold, but I can appreciate a rainbow after a rain shower. I love Irish nachos, which is sliced potatoes smothered in cheese and onions and sour cream. Yum! Actually, I've never met a potato I didn't like. I also love Irish men, Irish heroes, and Irish names. Ian. Sean. Ryan. Enough about me. What about you?
Tell me what you love about the Irish. Favorite name, place, tradition, movie, book, author...whatever... How easy is that? And I'll enter you a drawing for an ecopy of Lily in Wonderland.
Blurb:Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland. When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target. AmazonBarnes and Noble And please, share the love with the other Lucky in Love Blog Hop bloggers!
Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love!
But that's not all....
We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
Tell me what you love about the Irish. Favorite name, place, tradition, movie, book, author...whatever... How easy is that? And I'll enter you a drawing for an ecopy of Lily in Wonderland.
Blurb:Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland. When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target. AmazonBarnes and Noble And please, share the love with the other Lucky in Love Blog Hop bloggers! Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love!
But that's not all....
We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
March 3, 2013
No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop
No Strings Attached! Okay, this is easy. For you and for me. I'm not even going to welcome you to my blog or invite you to poke around for blurbs. I might not even respond to your comments. At all. There are no strings attached.
I'm not going to ask you a question. Just leave your email address (you can say something if you want) so I can contact the random winner of an ecopy of This Side of Dead. Don't feel obligated to click on the link to Amazon or read the blurb. And don't forget to check out the other No Strings Attached participants. You know - if you want.
This Side of Dead5 Star Romance Writer's Review Blurb: On Memorial Day weekend, Cecilia Denton hopped out of her boyfriend Brad’s car and leapt off a bridge. Far from suicidal herself, she did it to save a jumper, but she had no idea of the chain of events her heroic stunt would set in motion. Because Cecilia cheated the Grim Reaper, Death claimed her boyfriend instead. Now, Cecilia and Malcolm, the stranger whose life she saved, must go on a scavenger hunt of redemption. Either they prove to Death that there’s more to humans than greed and despair, or Death claims both Malcolm and Brad. Malcolm Manchester didn’t ask to be saved, and he sure doesn’t want to be Cecilia’s partner in a game of Beat the Clock to restore Death’s faith in humanity. The heat is on Cecilia to give Malcolm a reason to live before time runs out—or send him off with a bang.
I'm not going to ask you a question. Just leave your email address (you can say something if you want) so I can contact the random winner of an ecopy of This Side of Dead. Don't feel obligated to click on the link to Amazon or read the blurb. And don't forget to check out the other No Strings Attached participants. You know - if you want.
This Side of Dead5 Star Romance Writer's Review Blurb: On Memorial Day weekend, Cecilia Denton hopped out of her boyfriend Brad’s car and leapt off a bridge. Far from suicidal herself, she did it to save a jumper, but she had no idea of the chain of events her heroic stunt would set in motion. Because Cecilia cheated the Grim Reaper, Death claimed her boyfriend instead. Now, Cecilia and Malcolm, the stranger whose life she saved, must go on a scavenger hunt of redemption. Either they prove to Death that there’s more to humans than greed and despair, or Death claims both Malcolm and Brad. Malcolm Manchester didn’t ask to be saved, and he sure doesn’t want to be Cecilia’s partner in a game of Beat the Clock to restore Death’s faith in humanity. The heat is on Cecilia to give Malcolm a reason to live before time runs out—or send him off with a bang.
February 13, 2013
Swept Away Valentine's Day Blog Hop
Welcome to the Swept Away Valentine's Day Blog Hop, brought to you by The Bloghop Spot.
I'd love to be Swept Away for a romantic weedend...day...hour...I'll take what I can get even if it's splitting a foot long at Subway. Any acknowledgement of the lover's holiday would be appreciated. Not a day goes by without my husband telling me he loves me - adores me. He pumps my gas for me, drives me to work in the snow and has learned not to toss my delicates in the dryer. But every year he asks me what date Valentine's Day is. It's always February 14th. Always. Which is what I tell him. Every year. A good year is when he asks before the 14th. It doesn't always go down that way.How much importance do you put on Valentine's Day? Leave me a comment and your email address and I'll enter you in a drawing for an ecopy of Dodging Cupid (US/Int) and a goodie bag of V-Day gifts (US mailing only).
Dodging Cupid
International Digital Award winner
Blurb: After a string of disastrous Valentine’s Days, broken hearts and failed relationships, Jenna’s decided to spend this Valentine’s Day in the least romantic spot possible—the coin-op laundry. No flowers. No candy. No annoying couples or romance of any kind. The only glitch in her plan is the leather-clad biker in heart-print boxer shorts who walks in as her washer starts. This just might turn out to be the best Valentine’s Day Jenna’s ever had.
Don't forget to check out the other great blogspots on the hop for more great prizes!
I'd love to be Swept Away for a romantic weedend...day...hour...I'll take what I can get even if it's splitting a foot long at Subway. Any acknowledgement of the lover's holiday would be appreciated. Not a day goes by without my husband telling me he loves me - adores me. He pumps my gas for me, drives me to work in the snow and has learned not to toss my delicates in the dryer. But every year he asks me what date Valentine's Day is. It's always February 14th. Always. Which is what I tell him. Every year. A good year is when he asks before the 14th. It doesn't always go down that way.How much importance do you put on Valentine's Day? Leave me a comment and your email address and I'll enter you in a drawing for an ecopy of Dodging Cupid (US/Int) and a goodie bag of V-Day gifts (US mailing only).
Dodging Cupid
International Digital Award winner
Blurb: After a string of disastrous Valentine’s Days, broken hearts and failed relationships, Jenna’s decided to spend this Valentine’s Day in the least romantic spot possible—the coin-op laundry. No flowers. No candy. No annoying couples or romance of any kind. The only glitch in her plan is the leather-clad biker in heart-print boxer shorts who walks in as her washer starts. This just might turn out to be the best Valentine’s Day Jenna’s ever had.
Don't forget to check out the other great blogspots on the hop for more great prizes!
February 12, 2013
Post Blog Hop Blues
I have sort of jumped feet first into the world of blog hops. They are fun and give me a chance to chat up readers and writers. As one blog hop ends and another has yet to begin, I'm sort of blue. Feeling lost. I should be making good use of my free time. Instead, I'm counting the minutes until the Swept Away hop starts on Thursday. Hope to see you then.
February 7, 2013
Heartbreaker Blog Hop
Welcome to my contribution to the Heartbreaker Blog Hop. A special thanks to Carrie Ann for making this hop possible.
Whether you love or hate Valentine's Day, you'll get a chuckle out of my take on the lover's holiday - Dodging Cupid. My hero, Del might come off as a bad boy heartbreaker, but he's really a heart melter. Me, I prefer to be romanced every day of the year by my hero, or at least every other day. Not necessarily with flowers and chocolates, but with compliments, accolades and oil changes, among other things. I have nothing against the once-a-year-February-14th homage to Saint Valentine, or flowers, or even chocolate. Bring it on. What's your take on Valentine's Day? Love it? Hate it? Take it or leave it? Tell me how you really feel and I'll enter you into a random drawing for an e-copy of Dodging Cupid. Don't forget to leave me your email address. And please share the love this Valentine's Day by hopping over to visit the other Heartbreaker Blog Hop authors. This hop has big prizes and little prizes and GRAND prizes ->
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
My prize!
Dodging CupidWinner of the International Digital AwardsBlurb:After a string of disastrous Valentine’s Days, broken hearts and failed relationships, Jenna’s decided to spend this Valentine’s Day in the least romantic spot possible—the coin-op laundry. No flowers. No candy. No annoying couples or romance of any kind. The only glitch in her plan is the leather-clad biker in heart-print boxer shorts who walks in as her washer starts. This just might turn out to be the best Valentine’s Day Jenna’s ever had.Show More Show Less
Whether you love or hate Valentine's Day, you'll get a chuckle out of my take on the lover's holiday - Dodging Cupid. My hero, Del might come off as a bad boy heartbreaker, but he's really a heart melter. Me, I prefer to be romanced every day of the year by my hero, or at least every other day. Not necessarily with flowers and chocolates, but with compliments, accolades and oil changes, among other things. I have nothing against the once-a-year-February-14th homage to Saint Valentine, or flowers, or even chocolate. Bring it on. What's your take on Valentine's Day? Love it? Hate it? Take it or leave it? Tell me how you really feel and I'll enter you into a random drawing for an e-copy of Dodging Cupid. Don't forget to leave me your email address. And please share the love this Valentine's Day by hopping over to visit the other Heartbreaker Blog Hop authors. This hop has big prizes and little prizes and GRAND prizes ->
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
My prize!
Dodging CupidWinner of the International Digital AwardsBlurb:After a string of disastrous Valentine’s Days, broken hearts and failed relationships, Jenna’s decided to spend this Valentine’s Day in the least romantic spot possible—the coin-op laundry. No flowers. No candy. No annoying couples or romance of any kind. The only glitch in her plan is the leather-clad biker in heart-print boxer shorts who walks in as her washer starts. This just might turn out to be the best Valentine’s Day Jenna’s ever had.Show More Show Less January 29, 2013
Winner!
My Happily Ever After winner is Kaylyn. Her prize is in mail (or will be soon). Thank you everyone for stopping by and leaving comments.
January 18, 2013
Happy Endings Giveaway Hop
Welcome to the next stop on the Happy Endings Giveaway Hop! There are three things that all of my books have in common - no exceptions. Romance, comedy and a happy ending. I know I'm supposed to tell you my "Happy Ending" story, but I haven't reached the last page. I don't know how it will end. And I don't want to jinx it. I often complain that romance stories end when the marriage begins, as if marriage is the nail in the coffin of romance itself. Seems most romantic movies and books end with an engagement or a wedding. The conflict is resolved, goals achieved, and haunting childhood issues overcome (in place of haunting childhood issues we can insert a tragic loss, an emotionally crippling past breakup, or debilitating disease to be cured). Even television shows get cancelled if the elusive romance blossoms into a burst of love or a fatal case of marriage. I have mixed feelings about that. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and the heart wants a happy ending (especially my cold, black heart) even if the happily-ever-after is the beginning of marital bliss.
For a writer of romance, I am probably one of the most cynical people about love. I joke that I keep my feelings buried in the back yard under a rather large rock. I leave the romantic gestures and declarations of love up to my husband, who by the way, tears up during movies and wept at our wedding. I hear a collective Ahhh. Me, I only cry during Field of Dreams, not sure why (now there's a married couple to admire and aspire to). I prefer a man to show his love by taking out the trash rather than telling me how pretty I am. A little less talk and a lot more action. Show don't tell. Actions speak louder than words. You follow me, right? If he wants to tell me how I pretty I am while taking the trash out - he's a keeper!
Despite my romantic handicap, my stories end - happily. I go get my shovel, move that rock and dig up my feelings, pouring them onto the page. My heroes are larger than life - flawed - tortured - sometimes brooding - always sexy. They will die for the heroine or kill for her. My heroines - well - my heroines are like me only braver. Sometimes cynical. Other times hapless. Sarcastic. Snarky. A little rough around the edges. In need of a hero to save her, but sometime she saves the hero. How do you like your romance? Your heroes? Your heroines? No opinion? Then how do you like your eggs?
I will pick a random commenter to win a print copy of Lily in Wonderland (U.S. only)( or an ecopy International). Please leave me your email address for easy contact. And don't forget to check out the other Happy Endings bloggers.
Lily in Wonderland
Blurb: Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland. When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
For a writer of romance, I am probably one of the most cynical people about love. I joke that I keep my feelings buried in the back yard under a rather large rock. I leave the romantic gestures and declarations of love up to my husband, who by the way, tears up during movies and wept at our wedding. I hear a collective Ahhh. Me, I only cry during Field of Dreams, not sure why (now there's a married couple to admire and aspire to). I prefer a man to show his love by taking out the trash rather than telling me how pretty I am. A little less talk and a lot more action. Show don't tell. Actions speak louder than words. You follow me, right? If he wants to tell me how I pretty I am while taking the trash out - he's a keeper!Despite my romantic handicap, my stories end - happily. I go get my shovel, move that rock and dig up my feelings, pouring them onto the page. My heroes are larger than life - flawed - tortured - sometimes brooding - always sexy. They will die for the heroine or kill for her. My heroines - well - my heroines are like me only braver. Sometimes cynical. Other times hapless. Sarcastic. Snarky. A little rough around the edges. In need of a hero to save her, but sometime she saves the hero. How do you like your romance? Your heroes? Your heroines? No opinion? Then how do you like your eggs?
I will pick a random commenter to win a print copy of Lily in Wonderland (U.S. only)( or an ecopy International). Please leave me your email address for easy contact. And don't forget to check out the other Happy Endings bloggers.Lily in Wonderland
Blurb: Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland. When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.
