Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 52
October 26, 2012
$10 Amazon or B&N #giftcard #giveaway
Every week I give away a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice, and there is only ONE way to enter: subscribe by email. Easy, right? But it gets BETTER! Once you subscribe, you are automatically entered every single week for as long as you remain an email subscriber. To enter, sign up using the subscription box at the top of the left hand sidebar. One entry today means one chance to win EVERY WEEK! That’s all there is to it–no, really, it’s that easy–but if you want the fine print, please click here.
Current Giveaways
Enter to win a $100 Amazon GC or $100 Paypal Cash – click here
Enter to win a paperback copy of HAWTHORNE – click here
Enter to win a $13 GC to Amazon or Barnes & Noble – click here
Other Benefits for Subscribers
I offer a LOT of giveaways, and by subscribing you’ll be among the first to know about each and every one. I also keep almost all of my giveaways open to international addresses, and this does include paperbacks. (I am so thrilled to say my books have found their way to Ireland and Poland in just the last month!) Okay, enough yappin’. I know why you’re here. *wink*
Drumroll please …
This Week’s Winner
Congratulations to supersonic182, random.org’s choice for this week’s prize. Winners are announced here each week (most often on Saturday) and contacted via their winning email address, so keep an eye on my blog AND your email to claim your gift card.
October 25, 2012
Howloween Blog Hop Oct 26th-29th (INT Paperback G|veaway)
Greetings, my goulish friends, and welcome to this installment of the Howloween Blog Hop! After you have your way with me here, don’t forget to go back to the main hop page for a ghastly amount of other giveaways. You can do so by clicking the image to your right or the link at the end of this post.
And while you’re here, please check out my Spooktacular Halloween post, where you can enter to win a $13 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice.)
Ready? Up for grabs is a paperback copy of my former Amazon ghost story best seller, HAWTHORNE. If you’re not familiar with the book, here’s a quick look. Rules for entry follow the blurb, which is conveniently located below.
International Print Copy Giveaway: HawthorneAfter a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything. What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
GOODREADS | ASTRAEA PRESS | AMAZON KINDLE | B&N NOOK
How to Enter – It’s Easy!
To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. I’d also appreciate a “like” to my facebook page, which you can accomplish using the box in the left sidebar or by clicking here. (FB liking is not required, though.)
More Great Howloween Giveaways
Click here to return to the main page for a listing of all participating blogs.
The Fine Print
Void where prohibited. Open to international addresses, but if the price of shipping is more than $15 I reserve the right to substitute the ebook version. (I’ve never had to do this, but need to say it just in case.) No purchase necessary to win. Again, VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For more information about giveaways, click here.
October 24, 2012
$100 Book Blast: “The Waiting Booth” by Brinda Berry
Yep, you read that right. One lucky reader will win $100 from Brinda Berry! Keep reading to find out how you can enter to win!
The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry
A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal… Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High-find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought…and if she was wrong to trust him…
Purchase:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository
.
Praise for The Waiting Booth
“The book kept me on the edge of my seat with its perfect balance of teenaged angst, interdimensional portals, and a fractured family.”
~ Author Christine Ashworth
“The description was so good I could easily see things as they happened…like a movie playing in my mind as I read. I just love Regulus. He’s my kind of hero for sure.”
~ Author Lynn Rush
Author Brinda Berry
Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She has a BSE in English and French and a MEd in Learning Systems Technology. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality. She doesn’t mind being called a geek or “crazy dog lady”. When she’s not working the day job or writing a novel, she’s guilty of surfing the internet for no good reason.
Links:
Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter
Goodreads * Youtube * Google+
The Waiting Booth Book Trailer
Book Blast Giveaway Details
$100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 PayPal Cash from Author Brinda Berry
Ends 11/1/12
To enter, please click here for the rafflecopter.
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Brinda and leave the others blank.
Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
October 23, 2012
“The Angel’s Assassin” by Samantha Holt (Tour-wide Giveaway)
Steamy Historical Romance
The Angel’s Assassin
A medieval story of love and betrayal.
As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.
But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?
Amazon (US) – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00989J3PM
Amazon (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00989J3PM
YouTube (trailer) - http://youtu.be/lhzZ3pu3eMQ
[image error]Excerpt
He ran. Aware only of the need to keep her safe, he sprinted until his thighs burned and his arms ached from her weight. Not that she was a heavy burden, for she lay limply in his arms, only the faint throb of a pulse assuring him that she was still alive. She wore just her chemise and it had taken a while for him to notice, his fear stricken mind consumed with other thoughts. When he had finally noticed, he wrapped her tightly in his mantle.
Continuing on, even as the dark of the following night consumed them, he narrowly avoided tripping and spilling her onto the ground. Only his resolution to keep her from harm prevented him from giving up as he stumbled across the uneven terrain, lit by little more than a half moon.
Nicholas’ steps faltered as the exertion took his toll and he was forced to a sluggish pace, his body screaming for respite. As the sun began to flicker over the horizon, it hurt his eyes, in spite of the cloud amassing in the sky. Fearing a downpour, he staggered his way into the protection of the nearest forest, unsure now of where they were.
The forest closed about them but his anxiety refused to wane. Why were they trying to kill her? If Lord Benedict had intended to kill Annabel himself then why go about this charade of hiring him? Nicholas could not fathom what he was trying to achieve. He couldn’t have possibly known that Nicholas would never go through with his sinful duty.
His legs began to shake as his lungs throbbed, but a look to Annabel’s soot covered face fortified him and he forced his legs to do the unthinkable.
Continue on.
He had to gain some distance between them and Godfrey. He was undoubtedly on horseback but he thought it likely he would not have risked journeying at night. Nicholas had little idea as to what to do next, but he resolved to keep pushing forwards until exhaustion claimed him.
After a day and a half of no rest, it finally did. He stumbled one final time and realised that it was unlikely he would recover again should he fall once more. Annabel lay peacefully in his arms and he did not want to risk hurting her. Pressing his back against a broad oak tree, he sank gratefully to the ground, Annabel still stretched across his arms.
His head slumped back against the bark and he shifted her head against his chest, settling her into his lap. His arms closed in around her, determined that even in sleep he would protect her. His leaden eyelids dropped and sleep quickly claimed him as his hands remained gripped around Annabel.
Amazon (US) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00989J3PM
Amazon (UK) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00989J3PM
YouTube (trailer) - http://youtu.be/lhzZ3pu3eMQ
Samantha Holt
Samantha Holt resides in Warwickshire, England, with her twin girls, having followed her soldier husband around the UK for nearly 10 years. Growing up in Hampshire, she was inspired by the authors Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of which lived and wrote only miles from her home town.
Samantha loves the romance genre and has been devouring romantic literature for as long as she can remember. History is another passion of hers and she loves to combine her love for history and romance into exciting and passionate tales.
Contact Samantha at:
Website – http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction
Blog – http://www.samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.co.uk
Giveaway
Samantha is offering a tour-wide giveaway. To enter to win one of five ebook copies, please click here. And be sure to follow the tour for interviews, guest blogs, and other excerpts of THE ANGEL’S ASSASSIN. The full schedule can be found here. Thanks so much for your visit, and good luck!
October 22, 2012
Spotlight: “Mirror of Shadows” by T. Lynne Tolles
Exciting new Y.A. paranormal from T. Lynne TollesElla McKaye returns home for her grandmother’s funeral to find she’s inherited a ton of money and a run down mansion she never knew existed, called Grey Manor. Her greedy mother is appalled when the will stipulates specifically that Ella can’t give her any of the inheritance. She quickly throws Ella out of her home forcing her to take up immediate residence in the spooky old mansion.
Within minutes of entering her new home she has a strange interaction with a creepy old mirror in the main hallway and the ghostly inhabitants of the past get more and more agitated the longer Ella’s there. Nearly fatal back to back accidents make Ella start to wonder if she’s angered some ghost or if there is something more sinister at work.
Will Ella unravel the deadly mystery before she becomes a ghost herself? Or will fate take another one of the Grey ancestors to the grave.
Paperback- Amazon Barnes and Noble Author site
Hardback- Lulu Author site
Ebook- Amazon Smashwords Barnes and Noble
Apparel - Embroidered Black and White plaid flannel lounge pants (jammies)
Trading Cards free – customer just pays shipping
Mirror of Shadows | ExcerptIt was a perfect day for a funeral, if there is such a thing—gloomy, gray, and cold. With steady tears of rain, the heavens seemed to be mourning along with the funeral guests. Though Ella stood strong as the pastor droned on, she would never be consolable for the loss of her beloved grandmother, Rose Grey McKaye. Ella had known for a while this day was coming as her grandmother combatted bouts of cancer, a stroke, and dementia, but all of that was not enough to prepare her for the overwhelming loss she now felt.
Ella heard no voices of condolences from those who one by one took her hand in sympathy. She only heard the rain tapping on the shiny mahogany casket covered in a blanket of chrysanthemums and peonies in front of her. Occasionally she would nod her head to the speaking sympathizer but she never took her eyes off of the coffin. Instead, she watched as a drop of water hung to the tip of a fern frond, gathering more volume until it could no longer hold on and dropped down the curved lid of the casket, and then meandered down the side stopping only for a moment by one of the carrying handles. It continued down to mingle with other drops at the base of the aluminum stand. It lingered and swelled until it could no longer resist the relentless tug of gravity and it fell to the fake green grass carpet laid out to disguise the recently excavated mound of dirt from the grave into which her grandmother would soon be lowered.
The long line of umbrella-toting guests passed before her then scattered among the graveyard to their warm, dry cars to go on with their lives. How odd, Ella thought, that time doesn’t stop for a moment to acknowledge the passing of one so loved. She felt sure that she hadn’t taken a breath since she had received the call two days before, notifying her that her grandmother had died. How would she ever survive life without her grandmother?
Ella’s childhood had been hard and she’d grown up fast and insecure in herself. The only happy memories she’d had as a child were in those blessed, short-lived visits to Grandma Rose’s house where Ella knew without a doubt she was welcome, safe, and loved.
Ella’s mother had not been a bad person, but Ella had learned at an early age that she was an anchor to her mother’s freedom. Patricia had been widowed when Ella was a toddler. She had no family of her own to speak of, and found herself a single mother with no job and no real skills. First the parade of men came, none of which ever seemed to measure up to her late husband, and then came the drugs which made the unhappy, lonely woman lost and unstable. Needless to say, this brought about a rather turbulent life for Ella’s early years.
A warm hand touched Ella from behind, guiding her away from the men now lowering the casket into its new home. They cleared away the fake grass carpet, revealing the reality and finality of what was happening. Goodbye Grandma Rose, Ella said without speaking. I love you so…and the car door shut on Ella’s words and pulled away from the curb as its wipers slapped the sides of the windshield with a squeaky but constant beat.
T. Lynne TollesT. Lynne Tolles is a lifelong avid reader of all things paranormal and now is a writer of young adult paranormal romances for readers 15 to 115. She grew up in the sunny California San Francisco bay area. She’s the mother of two, wife to one and pet mom to three cats and Newfie dog.
Blood of a Werewolf is the first of five books in a series called, the Blood Series. Other titles include Somber Island and Mirror of Shadows – both unrelated to the series.
Website: http://tlynnetolles.netfirms.com
Blog: http://tlynnetolles.netfirms.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/tlynnetolles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T.LynneTolles.Author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4132968.T_Lynne_Tolles
LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/home/tlynnetolles
Kindlegraph: http://kindlegraph.com/authors/tlynnetolles
Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/tlynnetolles
Spooktacular Blog Hop Oct 24th-31st (Gift Card, INT)
[image error]Velcome! (Yes, the “v” was intentional. That’s my Dracula face. Moving on … LOL.) I am thrilled to be a part of the 3rd annual Spooktacular Giveaway, which is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and co-hosted by The Diary of a Bookworm. This is HUGE blog hop, so be sure to click the image to the right or the link at the end of this post to visit the other *500* participants. There’s some scary-good stuff up for grabs, and the grabbing starts right here.
The Official Sarah Ballance “Are you Feeling (Un)Lucky?” Spooktacular Giveaway Prize
One of you will win a $13 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice. I know some of you might consider that a very unlucky prize indeed, but 13 happens to be one of my two favorite numbers. And if you DON’T like 13, think how unlucky it would be for you to win a $13 prize. Muaaahaaahaa!
How to Enter
To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. I’d also appreciate it you’d take a moment to like Sarah Ballance | Author on Facebook (you may do so using the box in the left hand sidebar, or click here) and if you’re a GoodReads user who loves romantic suspense, consider adding my upcoming release LAST CALL to the old TBR list.
Before You Go
If you want a sweet, spooky read, check out my paranormal romance HAWTHORNE. It’s only $1.99 and is completely free of violence, profanity, or sexual content.
HAWTHORNE
After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything. What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
GOODREADS | ASTRAEA PRESS | AMAZON KINDLE | B&N NOOK
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FANGTASTIC SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAYS!
October 21, 2012
The Story Behind Jonathon Kane’s “Corpse Days”
A Word from Jonathon KaneI’d like to talk about how Corpse Days began. I had never written a novel before. I had done a few short stories, as well as, many book beginnings – the kind that start off with a bang, and then inevitably hit a wall. So, I had this zombie idea floating around in my head for a while and I decided to throw it out there to two of my friends one night at the bar. They weren’t into it. It fell flat. However, I was not deterred because I honestly believed that their lack of confidence in the idea had less to do with the idea itself and more to do with my inability to verbalize it properly. After some time, I was finally able to put it in a way that made enough sense for one of them to be on board. Maybe it had something to do with the beer, but he had come around and that’s when I knew I had something. I also had the beginning of the story laid out in my mind, so very shortly after that night, I decided to write it out and see whether or not it turned into another great start that goes nowhere. Fortunately, it did not. It turned into something that at times, I couldn’t write fast enough.
Corpse Days | Blurb
Is this the end of the world? Is the Rapture upon us? Has a Zombie Apocalypse arrived? That’s a matter of opinion, but it doesn’t hurt to be a licensed Shooter in these uncertain times.
Meet Stan Norton – a middle-aged Shooter with a haunting past. He wants little to do with the living dead and less to do with the living, until that is, a mysterious young woman with an affinity for guns and martial arts enters his life. An adventure begins and the hunt is on for a reclusive enemy, as the clock ticks down toward a full-blown resurgence of the Corpse Days.
Genre: Horror
Find it @ Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Excerpt“So what do you say, Stan?”
“Yeah, what do you say? Wanna join our merry band of zombie hunters?” questioned Jay.
“You’re the only merry one,” played Javier.
“Yeah… I’m the merry one.”
“Seriously,” pleaded Heather with a hint of longing in her eyes. “We could use one more. Safety in numbers, Stan.”
“I’ll… have to think about it.”
“Okay. Well, think about it at our place tonight then. We have a cabin in the woods down the road from here… plenty of room, a king-sized bed, and the fridge is stocked full of beer,” she offered.
Stan contemplated the offer for a few seconds. He was exhausted from the road trip and sore from his run-in with the living dead earlier.
“Sure, if you don’t mind.”
“Our place is your place,” called out Jay enthusiastically.
“Thanks.”
“Well boys, I got this one,” announced Heather to a receptive audience.
Stan got up so that Heather could get out of the booth. She walked up to the counter, and paid the bill with cash. As she collected her change, she noticed a news broadcast on a small television mounted up in the corner behind the register. She listened closely to hear what the newscaster was saying over the noise of the restaurant.
“Earlier today, this video was shot of a man walking around downtown Mobile.”
The video was shaky. Panned out, it showed the side view of a man in a well-tailored suit slowly walking down a sidewalk. He was holding a briefcase. No one else seemed to be around. When the camera quickly zoomed in, the man still appeared to be perfectly normal. He had dark, slicked back hair and short sideburns. However, his profile was partially hidden due to the angle at which he was being shot, and when he turned his head, the reason why someone was filming him became dreadfully obvious. He was facing the camera, but he was not looking into it. He was not capable of looking into it because he had no eyes. The frame froze there.
“Oh my gosh,” gasped a waitress who was standing next to Heather, looking up in awe.
And there it was—in the upper left corner of the screen—the poster child for the new zombie movement. Where the windows to the soul would be, this thing had neither. Its humanity left behind somewhere, yet inexplicably, it still moved on—transformed from someone with a purpose to something with a purpose. Heather wondered if he ever had a soul to begin with.
“The man was processed by an off-duty police officer. He has yet to be identified,” concluded the newscaster.
“This really is the end of the world, isn’t it?” asked the gum-chewing waitress, still staring at the grotesque image in the background.
“Depends on who you ask,” replied Heather coolly.
Jonathon KaneCorpse Days is Jonathon Kane’s debut novel. A zombie story was a natural fit for him, as he loves all things Halloween. He felt he could bring human emotions other than just fear into this corner of the horror genre. In high school, he began writing short stories. However, only when Heather Storm came along—the main character of Corpse Days —did he realize a novel was possible. Jonathon has recently finished the sequel to Corpse Days, titled The Calm Before.
Learn more @ https://sites.google.com/site/jonathonkanesite/
Find CORPSE DAYS @ Amazon | Barnes and Noble
October 20, 2012
10.21.2012 #SixSunday with Last Call
Coming soon to FTMP!
Last week, Rhys was restrained by man who had broken into her hotel room. Here, Nick returns, and his appearance distracts the bad guy–a fact that doesn’t get past Rhys.
Her assailant’s hold loosened, but was it enough? Only one way to find out. Bracing herself for another mother of a headache, she threw back her head, connecting with something hard enough to be chin. His arm fell away in the same instant a horrific throbbing invaded her skull.
In a blur, Nick was on [the bad guy].
Rhys steadied herself, willing the stars from her eyes.
LAST CALL is now on GoodReads! Click here to add it to your TBR list.
Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time! To see other participating authors, click here.
Easy Entry $10 #Amazon or #B&N Giftcard #Giveaway
Every week I give away a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice, and there is only ONE way to enter: subscribe by email. Easy, right? But it gets BETTER! Once you subscribe, you are automatically entered every single week for as long as you remain an email subscriber. To enter, sign up using the subscription box at the top of the left hand sidebar. One entry today means one chance to win EVERY WEEK! That’s all there is to it–no, really, it’s that easy–but if you want the fine print, please click here.
Other Benefits for Subscribers
I offer a LOT of giveaways, and by subscribing you’ll be among the first to know about each and every one. I also keep almost all of my giveaways open to international addresses, and this does include paperbacks. Okay, enough yappin’. I know why you’re here. *wink*
Drumroll please …
This Week’s Winner
Congratulations to by.evie, random.org’s choice for this week’s prize. Winners are announced here each week (most often on Saturday) and contacted via their winning email address, so keep an eye on my blog AND your email to claim your gift card.
October 17, 2012
New Release Spotlight: “Dare” by Kacey Hammell
Dare By Kacey HammellLegal secretary, Olivia Warner enjoys being single and, aside from her closest gal pals, usually keeps to herself. But the night of her thirty-fourth birthday, she and her friends spend a fun-filled evening at a local bar where her friends dare her to approach a man, and spend the night with him. Olivia’s not one to turn down a dare, especially from her old college pals. She only hopes the man in question is in for some good conversation, because that’s all she’ll give him.
Darren “Dare” Shalvis has given up on women. He’s tired of being chased for his money, good looks, and prowess in bed. He prefers to meet a woman who, for once, wants nothing more from him than mere conversation. If only the woman asking him to spend the night with her wasn’t his favorite legal secretary.
Accepting a dare has never been so tempting…
Available from
Evernight Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK
All Romance eBooks | Omnilit | Bookstrand
Excerpt
She gave a small laugh and lifted the glass for a drink.
Dare watched her lips as she drank. He wondered what they’d taste like. It was something he’d considered many times lately.
He was drawn to her, but unsure he’d ever act on it.
Her whole demeanor said ‘hands off.’ And he wasn’t sure he was ready for the challenge.
“Tell me about it.”
“I’ll cut right to the chase.” As he turned on the stool, their knees brushed. Neither moved.
He thought he saw her eyes lit up. Perhaps Ms. Warner wasn’t as immune as he thought.
“My friends brought me here tonight for my birthday.”
“Happy birthday.”
She smiled. “Thank you. The jury’s still out whether it’s happy or not. My friends decided that as a present they’d get me a man.” She blushed and reached for her drink.
“Go on.” Intriguing.
She set down her glass and continued, “They dared me. Dared me to find myself a man and spend the night with him.”
Women…who understood them? He’d only ever participated in dares when he was younger. He didn’t think anyone took them seriously anymore.
“And you need my help, how?” Dare’s heart rate accelerated. She wasn’t asking him to…
She stared up at him, her gaze steady. “I need you to spend the night with me.”
If he hadn’t heard it with his own ears, he wouldn’t have believed it. This night was the strangest he’d had in a long time. It was as if he’d been offered a million dollars on a silver platter.
Of course, he wanted to spend the night with her. He’d fantasized about it many times. He just wasn’t clear on what exactly she was asking. He didn’t want any misunderstandings. “Are you asking me to spend the night with you to…” Dare cleared his throat. “…be with you?”
“Oh! No, yes, I mean no. Dammit, I’ve screwed this up.”
“Relax.” He put a hand on her knee. “It’s okay. Let’s try this—do you want me to have sex with you?”
Olivia groaned. Dare love that sound, and heat filled his groin.
“No. Not to have sex. God, this is mortifying.” Olivia placed her hand over his where it still rested on her knee. “Just to spend the night together—a movie, hang out, whatever—until eight a.m., when the dare is over.”
Dare laughed. She talked so fast he could hardly keep up. He’d never seen her so animated before. He liked her flustered and breathless…a lot. He wondered if she looked and sounded like that during sex.
He couldn’t go that route. Not now.
“Okay, so let me get this straight. You want us to spend the night together—with no sex—until morning? All because of a dare? Why didn’t you just say no?”
“I can’t. In college, the five of us made a pact—in blood, for God’s sake—that we’d always be friends and never back down from a dare. Trust me, right now, I wish I’d never made it.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I can imagine how you feel.”
“I’m so tired after the day we had. This was the last thing I needed tonight.”
“Yeah, when I stopped by the office today you seemed a bit irritated.”
She sighed and ran her fingers over his hand. Dare was surprised how comfortable it felt to have their knees and hands touch. He didn’t think Olivia was even aware she caressed his hands…or wreaked havoc on his libido. If her innocent touches could send him into overdrive, he wondered what would happen if she put all she had into it.
“It was the day from hell. I just wanted to meet the girls for a few drinks, then head home to soak the day away.”
Dare grit his teeth and tried not to think of Olivia in a bathtub—water floating around her body, relaxed, languid. The image could send him over the edge.
“Well, you’re in luck. I’m your man for the night.”
Olivia smiled and her eyes danced. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. The last thing I wanted to do was have to pick up some random guy. I’m so glad you were here.”
Pleased he could help her, Dare grinned. He realized he wanted to anything to put that carefree smile on her face.
“So.” He took a sip of his beer. “What do you want to do?”
She scowled. “Well, we could go back to my place. I have a spare room that you can crash in if you want.”
Surprised, Dare took in her flushed face. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yeah. We don’t exactly have to stay up all night. It’s still spending the night together, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, in a manner of speaking. Your friends weren’t specific.”
A smug smile crossed Olivia’s face. “No they weren’t. Which is a testament to how much they thought this through. I would have made a list of do’s and don’ts.”
They both laughed. Olivia had a naughty streak and he liked it. Liked it—and her—very much. A night with Olivia Warner wasn’t what he’d expected.
Sure, he’d thought of her in his bed often, writhing and moaning with passion, but he never thought fantasy would become a reality. He couldn’t let the opportunity go.
His buddies didn’t call him Dare for no reason. He could never resist a challenge.
He placed both hands on her shoulders, drew her gaze from her glass, and put his cards on the table.
“What if we have an agreement?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“For us to spend the night together, we should have some ground rules.”
“Ground rules?”
“I will spend the night with you. More than eager to do so, except one thing.”
“What’s that?” she whispered. He barely heard her but saw her lips move.
He wanted to taste them, desperately.
“I don’t want to sleep in any spare room.”
“You don’t?” She gawked at him.
Her expression was comical but Dare didn’t feel like laughing.
“No. I want to spend the night in your room.” Dare had her full attention. She stared at him, eyes wide. “In your bed.”
Kacey Hammell
The writer: Kacey is a multi-published erotic romance author who was encouraged to write by her beloved husband and quickly found herself writing fast and furiously. Not that she’ll ever tell him those three dreadful words that he longs to hear…”You were right.” Kacey is a true romantic at heart.
The Wife and Mom: Born, raised and still living in her hometown in Ontario, Canada, Kacey found true love with her husband. As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.
Readers can learn more about Kacey’s books and contact her via …
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