Liz Crowe's Blog, page 11

Liz Haz Needz

Yeah, well, I promise not to share them all with you but for now, allow me to beg….

My first self publishing adventure/insanity is really happening. Outside of the daily panic attacks over edits, timing, promos, trailers, budgets and, you know the actual WRITING and EDITING of the dang books … well, you get me.

Anyways, by way of an update, LOVE GARAGE is headed for proofreading, COACH LOVE is in post "Liz Early Reader" revision and headed to 1st content edits in a few days, LOVE BREWING is ruminating ….. and I have a FREE SCENE for ya here as part of this little begging exercise.

The Love Brothers is a series about a mixed Italian/Irish heritage family, set in a fictional, former horse farm intensive town between Lexington and Louisville Kentucky that has been co-opted by developers and hipsters as a hot new suburb. The story of the parents (Lindsay Halloran and Anton Love) will be told by way of a novel within a novel by the youngest son, Aiden, in the 4th book. But we jump in with both feet with book 1 (LOVE GARAGE), then move on to the brothers' stories as adults with COACH LOVE and LOVE BREWING (the family business is, no big surprise, a brewery). 

I am plumbing my own background growing up in small town Kentucky for this series, which has caused some interesting "what does THAT mean?" conversations with my Aussie editor. It's another in my ongoing attempt to show how ordinary folks live, love and make it through the everyday triumphs and tragedies of life. Early readers are raving! They even set up Goodreads pages for the first 2 books (Love Garage/Coach Love). I'm trying a few new things, craft-wise with these boys but am enjoying the heck out of getting my Southern back on, bourbon, basketball, "I'll swan," and all!


FREE SCENE FROM LOVE BREWING: 

Allow me to introduce you to Diana Brantley, a new character for the 3rd novel in this sweeping, yet down home family series. THERE IS AN ENTIRE WORKING CAST OF CHARACTERS FOR THIS SERIES IN MY FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK in the "files" section. 


Dominic Sean Love is one of the 2 "middle brothers" and is proving to be a fan favorite, even though his whole story has not yet been told….



Diana slapped the horse's rump as she turned him out into the paddock and leaned against the barn door, relishing the soreness in her muscles from the morning's efforts. The sun burned a white hole in the light blue, late summer sky. Smells of her childhood filled her nose, smoothing her edges. There was an edge in the air that made her shiver with anticipation. The cow made a low sound, reminding her she needed to stop dreaming about her favorite season--the hunting kind--and finish mucking out the rest of the barn. The garden needed weeding. The last of her tomatoes were due in and her sister Jen had already sent her three texts about the egg salad she needed to make and get over the shop.With a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes and let the light wind cool her face. Her arm muscles were burning, her thighs quivered from the morning's hard ride. She turned and let her butt drop onto the overturned bucket from the horse's post-ride cool and wash."Go on, get out there, ya big baby," she said when the huge saddlebred nuzzled her arm. She watched him trot away obediently and stick his nose into the water trough, his tail flicking lazily, indicating his satisfaction with their morning's exercise. Her eyes closed again and she let the sweet smells and sounds of her family's farm fill all her senses. Bees buzzed, the cow made another reminder sound, late season locusts hummed. Diana drifted, her mind calm for a change, free of her sister's endless to-do lists and catering menus.When the horse whinnied and snorted she ignored it and stretched her jeans-clad legs out in front of her, arms up over her head. One of the dogs let out a loud bark, then other other two joined in, the sounds delighted, so she figured Jen must have pulled up in the catering van to pick up the egg salad she still needed to make.Deciding to ignore her a big longer and enjoy the peace and quiet she always found in the barn, Diana kept her eyes closed."Hey," a distressingly familiar male voice said. "Um, Diana?"She sighed, keeping her eyes tight shut, unwilling to acknowledge how much she would have given at one point in her life to hear that voice say her name again."What do you want Dominic?""Just a place to crash. Hide a bit, I don't know.""Why now? I thought you are your folks were getting along good now. Did your brother just get married or something?""Diana," his voice broke. "Please."She opened her eyes and observed the man she had loved since she'd been sixteen and they'd spent a summer experimenting with pot, booze and sex. He stood in, of all things, a pair of dress pants, a crumpled long-sleeved shirt. A red tie hung loose around his neck. His hair was yanked back so she could see that he'd added more body art to his neck. He was looking down at his feet. She rose and smacked the dust of her ass then stood, arms crossed, willing him not to be here, not to tempt her, because god help her still loved this man, despite how badly she'd allowed him to treat her."I am not letting you back in my bed, Dom."The corner of his full lips lifted in a smirk that made her want to smack it off his face."Not asking for that…yet.""Go to hell," she said, brushing by him, forcing him out of her brain. He snagged her arm and held on tight."I'm already there, trust me. Diana, I swear it I just need a friend right now and someplace to lay low. I'll help, you know that."As if on cue, the horse bumped his back, shoving him forward. He kept his grip on her arm and leaned in close to her ear. She frowned and yanked her arm out of his grip, keeping her gaze on the far horizon and her mind on the fact that if she went with her gut right now, she'd pull this man back into her bed, her heart and her life, no questions asked."You can sleep out here."He let go of her. "Thanks, babe.""Don't call me babe, you shithead, mother-fucking, selfish, cheating asshole.""Okay," he said. She kept walking away from him, letting the memory of their last and she believed final blow out fight fill her mind, fueling her fury as she put one boot in front of the other, putting as much distance as she could between them.

****************************************************
NOW FOR THE BEGGING! I have paid for some amazing, custom covers for all of these books, plus a trailer….and I will be revealing all of these things with excerpts and blurbs for the first 3 books on NOVEMBER 2, 2014….so I'm hosting a HUGE party on Facebook and a giant giveaway.
If you are an author, a reviewer, blogger or anyone who'd like more exposure via a giant gala and 10-day rafflecopter giveaway please consider donating any prize of your choice to the contest AND if you like you can host an hour or 2 of the 2-day Facebook gala!USE THIS FORM! It's easy, just a few questions and I'll take it from there: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sNV3fCqLrtCiENf2kwK-Orrbd-62rNiRa6fz39m0DGY/viewform?usp=send_form

Thanks, I Needed That.

Thanks to Cate Masters and her beautifully crafted novel WEDDING AT THE BLUE MOON CAFE (from Decadent Publishing) I am feeling pretty good about the human race right now.

Sure, there are stupid wars, scary diseases and if I lived in Toledo I doubt that I'd be drinking my water just yet. In my own life things have been so crazed as to be certifiable between losing my job, selling my house, moving into condo, nurse-maiding my spouse through knee replacement surgery without killing him, and now finalizing a house purchase that will be undergoing a GIANT RENOVATION in the coming months (more on this later, with pix!).

But I realized that I owed some of my fellow authors reviews, based on promises made back before all that up there happened to me. So I pulled out my iPad and got reading--reminding myself that "reading" is really my 2nd favorite leisure time activity. I'll let you guess the 1st one. 

I will be reading and reviewing several books in the coming weeks, including books by Nina Pierce, D.H. Johnson, Jennifer Probst, and Margie Church and posting them here on the Beer Books and More Blog (and on the 'Zon and Goodreads). But today, allow me to introduce you to:
CATE MASTERS

and her novel
Wedding at the Blue Moon Cafe

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she'll always be a Jersey girl at heart.

Most days, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. 
Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Reviewers have described her work as "so compelling, I did not want to put it down," "such romantic tales that really touch your soul," "filled with action scenes which made it a riveting story," and "the author weaves a great tale with a creative way of using words that makes the story refreshing to read." 

Her novellas, short stories and flash fiction appear at various epress sites and web zines as well as Flesh from Ashes (2005), Quality Women's Fiction (2005), Phase (2004), and The Writer's online edition.

Her freelance articles have appeared in The Sentinel, Carlisle.

She was nominated for the Most Engaging Author in the 2012 Readers' Choice award. 
In 2012, her re-release of Sixties-era short, Seventh Heaven, was an EPIC finalist. 

In 2011, three stories placed in the Top Ten Finishers at the Preditors and Editors Poll - Angels, Sinners and Madmen (historical); Follow the Stars Home (Native American historical); and Design for Life (contemporary) 


In 2011, four stories finaled in the EPIC competition: One Soul for Sale (paranormal); Going with Gravity (contemporary); Picture This (contemporary); and Wilderness Girl (contemporary erotic romance). 

In 2010, The Pearl S. Buck Foundation awarded first place to her short literary story, Christmas Eve at the Diner on Rathole Street.

Her short literary story, All is Calm, All is Bright, was awarded second place in the annual Pennwriters Short Story contest in 2005. 

In addition to her own blog, she launched TBR (To Be Read) in 2012, and is a contributor at The Susquehanna Writers and The Paranormalists.




Blurb:
Never look back. Clarissa Hartman left her miserable life behind the day she graduated high school, the same day she turned 18. Driving for days, the road led her to Marfa, Texas. Right away, she knew she'd found home. Seven years later, she's found her place in life plus the one thing she never expected to find: love. Dylan Wall's everything she ran away from. So why can't she stay away from him? 

Never give up. Dylan Wall is at the top of his game. His PR firm's sought out by brand name companies, but he's so busy spinning everyone else's reps, he doesn't realize his personal life's taken a downhill turn. Deep down, he knows that somewhere, the perfect someone is waiting for him. The woman who'll accept him for who he is - if he's ever able to reveal it. When he lands in Marfa for his best friend's wedding, Clarissa's sharp tongue puts everything in a different perspective. She draws out a side of himself hidden away for too long. She's everything he wants, in the wrong package. So why does she feel like home? 

In Marfa, appearances are deceptive. Discovering the truth beneath the surface is the first step toward finding yourself, and joy.

MY REVIEW:

I'll admit that this type of novel is not usually what I reach for. But I'll also admit that the cover caught my eye and held it. Ms Masters has crafted a romance to be sure, and one with what could be deemed "typical" characters (a bride, her bestie, a groom, his pal) and a fairly classic set up: bridesmaid and best man meet, clash, then come together. But the entire time I was reading Wedding at Blue Moon Cafe I was so wrapped up in the way the story unfolded I couldn't put it down. The setting was beautifully drawn, so well that I could picture myself there. The characters were similarly crafted, coming to life in ways that so many "bridesmaid and best man meet then marry" novels simply don't. 
I would recommend this book to anyone who not only enjoys a sweet romance but also to anyone who values a well-crafted story with realistic characters. Yes, this does happen. Thanks to Ms. Masters, Dylan and Clarissa, I think I just might believe that now.
A Liz Five Brew Read!


buy it here:http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Blue-Moon-Cafe-ebook/dp/B00HQSO4YW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407328921&sr=8-1&keywords=wedding+at+the+blue+moon+cafe



In between reading I will be editing the first 2 books of my first self publishing adventure: The Love Brothers. I have a couple of covers, an idea for trailer, some thoughts about promo but gotta get that 3rd book written! There is a Pre-published page on Goodreads for LOVE GARAGE (book 1) and the one for COACH LOVE will be coming soon! Cover Reveal party and gala and general confetti tossing is SET for:November 2, 2014 (a fairly significant date on my personal calendar as well….)
So watch for my upcoming reviews and the Crowe's Nest Renovation Liz Iz  Contractor Chronicle….make it a great week!

Trailer Time!

Greetings and happy First Tuesday in August Liz fans (and all you others),

I'm pondering "book trailers" today and would love to know how you feel about them, as readers, authors, and folks seeking new books to enjoy. Do you love them? Even know they exist? Give a rat's ass about them if they are NOT for books already Sooper Dooper Famous?

I ask because in case you did not realize this, they are expensive and time consuming. This is not to say that I don't get a singular, tingly thrill down my spine every time I watch one of mine, but I get the feeling that I'm sort of, um, rubbing one out, if you know what I mean with these things. That is to say, I'm paying my hard earned money to create something that only I will ever truly value.

I would love your thoughts. 
I am going to try the trailer thing again with my upcoming Liz First Self Published Series: The Love Brothers (coming in January/cover reveal soon!)

In the meantime, here are some of the ones that get me all worked up. Go ahead. You know you wanna….

Stewart Realty: Jack & Sara Trilogy



Stewart Realty: Conditional Offer


Stewart Realty: Escalation Clause


Stewart Realty: Mutual Release



And a stand-alone one for Paradise Hops (the old cover, unfortunately)


And for a 1NightStand novella: Turkish Delights



Tell me your thoughts about book trailers….good? bad? mostly for author ego masturbation?
Love ya
Liz

Jack Gordon is In The House: A Stewart Realty Extra Scene

A BONUS EXTRA SCENE FROM MY INCLUDED NOVELLA: HOUSE RULESwarning: NSFW18 and over only.


HOUSE RULES is part of the What to Read After 50 Shades of Grey Gemstone Collection Part 3!
Buy these 11 novels for just .99 for a limited time here:
Kindle US - http://amzn.to/1vAJMdz
Kindle UK - http://amzn.to/1pLsmOe
Nook - http://bit.ly/1vAJJyA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xlIKoB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1o4jZXh
Itunes: http://bit.ly/1mOxQjh




This scene falls just before the final chapter of HOUSE RULES and sets the stage for the epic, best selling Stewart Realty saga that begins with Floor Time.

enjoy….


An Exclusive Stewart Realty Extra Scene
By Liz Crowe 
All Rights reserved.


The Blonde Client

Jack sighed and wiped at the sweat that had gathered on the back of his neck. The day had proven unseasonably warm for late April. He had toyed with cancelling this last listing appointment at the tag end of a very long day of appointments, closings, showings and varying levels of bullshit paperwork at his desk in the main Stewart Realty office on Ann Arbor’s north side. He had more listings than he knew what to do with at the moment and had considered hiring a second assistant in the last few days. He did not need this listing. But the inner competitor in him wouldn’t allow him to pass up at least the opportunity to see the place.
Resisting the urge to tug his tie loose, he climbed out of his car and took a long, deep breath. The house was a non-descript tri-level. No different than a third of them in this sixties built popular neighborhood on Ann Arbor’s southwest side. But the builders had had a reputation for superior quality that had held through the years, and so despite having a nearly unworkable, practical floor plan, the place was in many ways superior to ninety percent of the crappy, generic, three thousand square foot two-stories that had been tossed together in the last decade or so on the city’s outskirts.
He squared his shoulders and made an attempt to settle himself. He had no real reason to be so keyed up. He’d just surpassed the Stewart Realty sales record for the second time, and had more money in the bank than he’d ever imagined possible. His own Burns Park renovation project was done, and he now lived in his dream house, complete with man cave ideal basement, gourmet kitchen, and fully equipped master suite, all completed to his exact specifications, and much of it constructed with his own two hands. He lived alone of course. He had his pick of women in five different real estate offices, plus the many who peopled his email and text message inbox. While the whole BDSM scene had gone sour on him for a lot of reasons, it turned out that having the odd somewhat vanilla sexual encounter in empty houses or emptied out realtor offices suited him quite well, thanks. As long as he did not have to bring them home, to his bed, or wake up with them in his space the next morning.
Jack shot his cuffs and narrowed his eyes at the various deferred maintenance items on the house, readying his game face for the coming hour or so of convincing a random housewife to let him list her mother-in-law’s pile of bricks and vinyl siding in one of Ann Arbor’s choicest neighborhoods. He’d sell the damn thing inside of a week. The trick was snatching the five or eight new buyer clients he wanted along the way.
He stuck his hands down in his trouser pockets as he waited for Missus Desperate Daughter-In-Law to answer the doorbell. He never brought a dog-and-pony show for listing appointments. He would listen, allowing his mind to drift to all the things the house needed done while the potential seller would explain all the various “updates” they’d done. Then he’d take a tour, mentally noting deficiencies and problems and finally he’d take control of the kitchen table conversation, making sure said target understood that he, Jack Gordon, was the one and only real estate pro who could effectively handle their “unique situation.”
Jesus. Everybody thought they had a unique situation. If only they knew how much their situation was not that. But he could handle it, no matter what. He never took notes, or shoved some sort of lame ass power point in their faces. He had himself, his eyes, his facial expression and his laser-sharp memory. And his impeccable powers of convincing follow-up.
He smiled at his own awesomeness, and then focused on the woman who’d just opened the door to him. He blinked, just to clear his vision and make sure he was seeing correctly.
“Hi, Jack, right?”
The woman was tall, slender, attractive and dressed in a short black skirt and simple cream blouse and camisole. He licked his lips and held out his right hand without a word. She took it. At that moment, Jack knew he had this powder puff listing in the bag.
She gave him the tour. He took in the horrific gold and green bathrooms, the basement paneling, the dated HVAC, and the somewhat saggy roof and her amazing ass the entire time. When they wound up in the kitchen he turned to her with his best, thousand-watt grin.
“This looks great. There are some things I’ll want you to address before we throw it open to the public though. Let’s go have a seat and talk about it.” He held out a hand. The woman stared at it a half second, and let her gaze travel blatantly up his suit-coated arm, across his wide shoulders and to his own eyes. Her full lips turned up in the sort of grin that made his scalp tingle. He cleared his throat, and let himself touch her, just her elbow of course, as he guided her into the shag-carpeted horror of a living room on the upper level.
She sat. He sat next to her and leaned forward, pretending to be deep in thought and let her soak in his quiet for a few minutes. The situation could go one of two ways, he figured, but at that moment, the sexy, older, blonde woman’s aura was impinging on his and making him flat out horny. He repressed it, channeling it, unwilling to let her have the upper hand. She sat back, crossing her long, tanned, bare legs in front of his eyes. He grinned. He loved it when a woman knew what she wanted. And this one did, he could feel all up and down his spinal column.
“I’ve met with three other realtors,” she said, letting her backless high heel dangle as she swung her leg ever so slightly. “You’re the last one I’m interviewing.”
Jack did not miss the emphasis on that last word. He turned his head to look at her. The woman’s color was high, her long blonde hair swept up into a messy sort of thing on top of her head. She was staring right at him.
“Well, I expect I’ll make your short list,” he said, shifting ever so slightly so his thigh touched hers. He turned his torso so as to take in the full measure of her tall, thin, perfection. She was forty five if she was a day but the best sort of preserved maturity. She grinned and cocked her head at him.
“Are you flirting with me, or do you always pull the full frontal charm thing with potential women clients?”
“Yes,” Jack said, leaning back and putting his hand on her upper thigh. A shock wave shot through him. She put her hand over his.
“Good,” she said. “I like it when a man wants to work for it.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, but could feel it in his bones that he was about to not only snag a primo listing, he was also gonna get epically laid. He tightened his grip on her leg, loving the play of muscles under his palm, and slid his hand higher until it was under her skirt, his fingertips skirting the edges of her panties.
“I’m not that easy,” she said, making him look up into her snapping blue eyes. “Jack.”
“Oh,” he said in a whisper, his body hardening and his mind going a little numb, already calculating if they should fuck on the shag carpet or on grandma’s couch. He cared little either way at this point. She sucked in a breath and un-crossed her legs, giving him the access he wanted. He leaned forward, slanting his mouth over hers, loving her taste and the way her pussy warmed his fingers. His brain went into a familiar shut-down, the small noises of satisfaction she made and her lusty odor suffusing his senses. “Something tells me you might be,” he muttered, breathless, as he broke their kiss.
She tugged him down over her, using his tie as leverage and had his belt unbuckled and his zipper down in an eye blink. He loomed over her, unsure but eager at the same time, shoving aside her easy-access camisole and latching onto one huge, rock-hard nipple as he kept up his finger work down below, drawing the most delicious and groan-inducing orgasm from her on her mother-in-law’s smelly couch.
She cupped his face with one hand after she’d stopped shuddering and moaning. When she reached down to grip his aching cock, he shivered, wondering what the hell he was doing right now, but wiling to go with it. He grinned and bit her fingertip.
“Get up, luscious,” he said, tugging her to her feet and kissing her as he walked them into the dated, sixties nightmare of a kitchen and down the few steps into the wood paneled family room. She tugged at him, teasing him and her kisses were all sorts of perfect. The family room had a better carpet anyway, he recalled as he guided them there, lowering her down onto it and licking his way up from her ankles, taking a moment each time to latch onto her clit, sucking hard and making her squeal and her hips buck into his face before crawling up between her legs and staring into her face.
“Got a condom I assume,” she said, making him admire her even more.
“Of course,” he said, taking a second to pull his wallet out of the inner pocket of the suit coat that he still wore.
She took it and rolled it over his length quickly before arching her back, giving him a mouth-watering view of her ripe, ready body. “Fuck me Jack,” she said, staring up at him. “Please?”

“Well, I hate to disappoint such a lovely lady,” he said, dropping down over her and angling his hips, as regret draped over his consciousness.
What in the hell was he doing? He just met this crazy woman. This was a very bad plan.
“Oh…Jesus,” he groaned when she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in.  Closing his eyes as he pounded into her, meeting her thrusts, groaning with her, he berated himself even as he came with a loud cry of satisfaction, relishing the way her body seemed perfectly matched to his, pulsing and clutching at his dick just as he released.
They lay gasping for breath, entwined on the ugly orange shag carpet of a sixties-era family room. Jack could already sense himself withdrawing from her. But she sighed and tugged him close so he kissed her, already concocting excuses so he wouldn’t have to do anything else with her, like get a drink, or worse, take her home to his house that night.
“Okay, where do I sign?” she asked into his lips.
He grinned and disentangled himself, feeling somewhat sordid, but a whole lot victorious. “I’ve got the contract in the car,” he said, tugging off the condom, pulling up his never-quite-shed trousers and buckling his belt as she got slowly to her feet. “Wait right here.”
As he stepped out into the cooling, late April Michigan evening, his head was clear thanks to the monster orgasm but his heart pounded in a way that alarmed him.
Was this what he’d been reduced to? Fucking his way into great listings?  He grabbed his laptop from the backseat and straightened up, catching sight of her…of…oh shit what in the hell was her name? He grinned, gave her a little wave, and trotted back to the door.
“All right then,” he said, shouldering past her and trying to retrieve the woman’s damn name from his addled memory banks.  “Let’s get this done shall we?”
She sat at the dining room table, staring at him in a somewhat proprietary way. He cleared his throat, cursing his own weakness when she leaned forward, her bare foot teasing his thigh and making him want to fuck her all over again.
“So, Vanessa,” he said, relieved that her name had popped into his consciousness. Her grin made him congratulate himself and think that maybe he’d play this one out a bit, see what else they could conjure between them before he moved on to whatever he had waiting for him around life’s next corner. “Let’s sign your listing contract.”
She watched as he fired up his laptop and highlighted the e-signature boxes at the bottom of page one. He blinked, waiting and fully expecting her to add her initials here, sign her full name there and then drop to her knees for an epic blowjob. His ever-ready cock was already hardening in anticipation.
But she just sat, swinging her slim leg and eyeballing him. His chest tightened in frustration but he kept his smile fixed in place, leaning towards her just enough to remind her of their little close encounter in the next room.
“I think,” she said, inspecting her perfect manicure before pinning him with an ice-blue stare that probably rivaled his own. “I want to sleep on this. I met a really nice lady realtor yesterday. She had me convinced but I wanted to keep my scheduled appointments so, you know, I kept ours today.” Her half lidded eyes met his. He frowned and started to speak but she put her cool fingertips over his lips. “Don’t worry Jack,” she purred, as she gripped his thigh a little harder than was absolutely necessary. “You made a lovely first impression. I think I just might need an encore. Like, you know, a date. Dinner, dancing, wine, that sort of thing? So you don’t get the wrong impression of me.”
“I, uh, thought this was your mother-in-law’s house,” he said, cursing himself for sounding like a stuttering dumbass even as his eyes were drawn into her cleavage.
Smooth, very smooth, you numb nuts.
She chuckled and leaned back in her chair, keeping her gaze on his. He bit back the urge to lunge forward and yank her up by the hair, then force her down to her knees where he wanted her. Shutting his eyes against that impulse, he took a long breath. She was in his space then, lips near his, hand on his still rigid zipper.
“Oh sweetie, don’t be mad,” she whispered, as her tongue flicked out and touched his lips. “Although you are cute when you’re flustered.”
He stood up, glaring at her. She sat there, completely in control of herself and her surroundings.
Yeah, you gave her what she wanted, you colossal idiot, he thought, noting that she was a pretty brittle around the edges. But his body was already betraying him, pushing him forward. He put his hands on the arms of her chair, keeping his lips hovering over hers, trying to snag the tenuous control over the highly charged situation and pull it back into his realm.
“All right, Vanessa,” he said, before standing back up without kissing her and snapping the laptop closed. Gratified that she looked miffed at his snub, he tucked the device under his arm. “Dinner it is. Pick your favorite place and text me. I’ve got to get on with my evening.” With that, he turned on his heel and headed for the front door, stopping at the last minute to look at her. “Which lady realtor,” he asked. “Someone from my company, I assume.”
Vanessa remained seated, looking satisfied, which gave him a jolting buzz of pleasure.  She flicked her fingers dismissively. “Oh, um, Sara I think her name was.”

Jack narrowed his eyes, trying very hard not to launch himself across the room at the woman and fuck her until he couldn’t walk, if for no other reason than to drown out the clanging gong of underlying dissatisfaction in his own head. “Sara, huh? Well, tell her you’ve already chosen your new favorite realtor,” he said with a grin and wink before heading out the front door.

The End.

A Breakaway Across the Beer Bar with Jessica Subject

Today at the bar, my eager drinker/fans will meet the lovely and talented JESSICA SUBJECT…
Liz: Welcome to my bar, Jessica. What can I pour for you to start?It’s a pleasure to be here, Liz! I’ll take whatever you recommend. Got anything new I should try?
Liz: Well, seeing as how I got "freed up to pursue my other opportunities" from the brewery in Ann Arbor, let's try something from Short's Brewing shall we? A Huma Lupa Licious IPA….
Tell my readers about your hockey themed novel.Sudden Breakaway is a 1Night Stand story that takes place at a hockey game. Paige is dedicated to her job and needs a break. Though she wants to find love again after the end of her marriage, she knows that’s pretty much impossible because of her constant travelling for work. Jared is a former military man who ended up leaving the Marines to take care of his orphaned niece and nephew. He has very little time to himself between working for the government and the children in his care. But, a family friend offers to babysit for him and hands him a ticket to a hockey game. While writing, I intended the hockey game to be between my favorite team, the Ottawa Senators, and the Washington Capitals. Due to copyright issues, those names cannot be mentioned in the story.
Liz: You tend to write a lot of science fiction romance. Why do a sports one?In some ways, this story is still science fiction romance, in that the heroine, Paige, works for the Space Service, recruiting new members. I do enjoy watching hockey though (live is the best), and I thought it would be fun to have one of my stories set at a hockey game. It was summer when I wrote the story, and I think I was craving cold weather, too.
Liz: Oh look empty glass, what can I get for you next?I think I had a pumpkin beer last time. Do you still have that one?
Liz: Well, now that my options for great Michigan craft beer options have really opened up, let's try this one from one of my personal favorite Michigan Breweries New Holland. The Ichabod Pumpkin Ale:

Are you a huge hockey fan? If so,why? And were you pleased or not by the Stanley Cup playoffs this year? 
I wouldn’t say I’m a HUGE hockey fan, but I do enjoy watching it. I was glued to the television when the Canadian men’s and women’s hockey teams were playing earlier this year though. As for the NHL, I don’t watch it as much. I’d rather see hockey live. It’s much more exciting. Only one Canadian team made it to the playoffs this year, so it was rather disappointing. But, there’s always next year. ;)
Liz: Any more sports-themed books in your future? If not, what do you have coming up we can look forward to?
Not in the near future, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one. This year, I’ll be submitting The Star Princess for the Beyond Fairytales line at Decadent. I’ll also be finishing up the Alien Next Door series with Angela’s story, Alien Attraction and re-writing a sci-fi romance novel series that I’ve had sitting around for a while. Under my pen name, Paisley Brown, I’m hoping to finish two more stories as well.
Liz: Time for a nightcap, what's your poison?I’m good, thanks! Seriously, two drinks and I need help out and a ride home. Thank you for having me!
Liz: (opens door and hails a taxi then sits down for 3rd one, pondering just how high her tolerance must be).

Sudden Breakaway a 1Night Stand story By Jessica E. SubjectErotic Sci-Fi/Military RomanceISBN: 978-1613333730Dressed in her black designer suit, Paige Brown recruits men and women for the Space Service. After the end of her marriage, and several failed recruiting missions, she yearns to find a way out of her lifelong contract to live a normal life. To find love again.Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at a hockey game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies, fulfills his wildest dreams except the one that binds his heart.Has Madame Eve made a mistake or can two lonely hearts overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?Amazon | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes & Noble | more
Excerpt:Jared shucked his towel and stroked his rigid cock. That woman made him hard every time she came to the door, trying to persuade him to sign up for the Space Service. Her claims had seemed far-fetched when she’d first approached him, yet his commander had confirmed her credentials, having been approached to join by another many years ago. While Jared would never add his thumbprint to the contract he’d read, he wouldn’t mind if she stopped by to try and convince him again.Ms. Brown, with her black blazer revealing a hint of cleavage and a skirt that showed the perfect curvature of her ass. When he’d answered the door fresh out of the shower and seen her on his porch, he’d gripped the door handle to hold himself back from yanking her inside and tearing off her fine-pressed suit.He squeezed his balls; no time to jack-off. Dylan and Madison would arrive in an hour, and he had to take one last run through his house to get rid of any lingering dust bunnies before Children’s Services appeared. No obvious dirt in the living room, he headed toward the kitchen, but his mind kept flying back to Ms. Brown.She had the whole librarian thing going on, with her dark hair tied up in a bun and glasses resting on the end of her nose. Though, none of the women who worked at the local branch made his cock throb. Perhaps there was some truth to the naughty librarian tale. He wished.Most women’s version of naughty did not come close to his. While the whole BDSM club scene didn’t appeal to him, he enjoyed a little bondage during foreplay. He’d spent months at a time deployed in the Middle East. While home, he appreciated the opportunity to date the pretty women who found a guy in uniform sexy. But once he fetched the cuffs, they bolted. They hadn’t even wanted to use them on him.Ms. Brown was no girl, though. No more than a couple years his senior, she exuded experience with her seductive glances, her posture that plunged her cleavage into his line of sight, and that damn wiggle of her ass as she sashayed back to her car. She could teach him a thing or two. He yearned for the chance to find out.No, his next lay could no longer be at the forefront of his mind. In less than an hour, he would become the father-figure to two impressionable young children. His sexual urges would have to take leave for the foreseeable future.He’d been in his last month of deployment to Afghanistan when the call came in. And it took another day for his commander to reach him with the news. His brother-in-law had been killed in a car accident, leaving his niece and nephew orphans. And as much as he loved the Marine Corps—Semper Fi—he couldn’t let the kids be raised by strangers. They had no other family left.Bio:Jessica E. Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous. When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook| Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph



I'm hanging out over at Jessica's Place: Mark of the Stars with my soccer boys. Check me out!Liz

At the Sports Bar with Leesa Bow's Aussie Rules 'Ballers

Today I welcome an author who is bringing the heat in the form of Australian Rules Football in her books!


Welcome to my sports bar Leesa what can I pour for you to start?
Leesa: Thanks Liz. I’ll start with a Pinot Gris. I live in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounded by beautiful vineyards so I love wine.
Tell us how "Australian rules football" is different from American football.
Gosh they are very different. One similarity is the shape of the ball. Aussie rules is continuous, play only stops momentarily and they pass differently, kick frequently and the goal posts differ. Oh and we don’t wear any protective clothing. Better eye candy ;-)
Here’s link to explain it betterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqymJpIhpPY
I have included a picture of what we call a mark. 


What inspired you to write a novel with Australian rules football as a central setting? Tell us a bit about Winning the Player ...
Leesa: My husband played the game so writing the story came naturally. Although my inspiration to write came when my second daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer. All four of my daughters are athletes and play basketball. When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer, all her dreams of playing college basketball in the US were ripped away. With her permission, I integrated some of her experiences into my character Aubree.
Winning the Player is about second chances, not only in love but for Aubree to find herself again. As an elite athlete, a knee injury ended her future as a professional basketball player. She took off overseas and returned two years later, only to bump into Hunter Stone, the guy she ran out on the night before her flight. Hunter is a star footballer, arrogant, and a player on and off the field, but Aubree also knows his other side.
Aubree is tough and doesn’t need a man to make her feel loved or needed. But in time she lowers her guard to Hunter, and hopes he doesn’t crush her heart and devastate her world all over again.

Do you like sports? if so which are your favorites?Leesa: YESFootball (all types)BasketballNetball
whoops! am empty glass...what can I pour for you next?Leesa: Oh thank you. This time I’ll try a Sauv Blanc. But I’m easily pleased. I also like red wine like Shiraz. I’m not a beer drinker (yes hard to believe an Aussie who doesn’t drink beer haha) and I like some liqueurs like Midori, Vodka, Baileys, Ouzo. Oh and I love cocktails, so bring on Happy Hour ;-)

I was sorry to see the Socceroos out of the World Cup so early. Are you a soccer fan?
Leesa: I’m not a huge soccer fan although I enjoy watching it. The World Cup is sensational and I love how it connects the world. The posts on Facebook and Twitter show such true passion of the fans.I wrote a fun post for my publisher Destiny Romance Australia. Here’s the link.
http://www.destinyromance.com/news/19284986/leesa-bow-author-winning-player-tells-why-world-cup-has-so-much-offer

Who is your pick to win the soccer World Cup?
Leesa: I’ve always been bias to Brazil and since they are the host country I think it goes in their favor.

Do you have plans for more sports themed books?
Leesa: Yes. My next book Charming the Outback will be released on August 19 this year. It’s a follow on from Winning the Player and is Maddy’s story. Sport is not the main focus in this book, and much of the story takes place in rural Australia.Here is the cover for it: 


Although my current WIP is a sport themed book about a ruckman football player. In Aussie Rules Football the ruckman is the tallest player in the team. Here’s another pic for you.




Nightcap time! What's your poison?
I’ll take a Baileys on the rocks. Thanks Liz, I’m going to sleep well.








Blurb:
When injury destroyed her dream of playing college basketball, Aubree Taylor fled overseas. Now she's finally home again and ready to move on with her life. Until she runs into Hunter Stone on her first night out, the only guy who's ever meant anything to her – and the last person she wants to see.Since she ran out on him two years ago, Hunter hasn't been able to get Aubree off his mind. The sexy football star has had girls all over him for years, but Aubree is the only one to have ever seen behind the cocky persona he puts on for the crowd. Despite her attempts to keep her distance, Aubree is unable to resist the strong attraction between them and it isn't long before they fall into a passionate relationship. She has never been afraid of a challenge, but Hunter's arrogance and inability to trust are testing her to her limits. Aubree must decide whether to follow her heart and lower her guard…or risk losing the best thing that's ever happened to her.EXCERPT:
Chapter One'ID.' A beady-eyed security guard held out his hand. I handed over my driver's licence, stepped back and waited.'Name?''Aubree Taylor.'He stared longer than necessary and I wished I'd taken the time to apply makeup. For God's sake, I'm almost twenty-one. Do I really look underage? If he declines my entry based on the fact I don't look as though I'm trying to pick up —'Date of birth?' He scratched the side of his jaw.'Come on,' my best friend interrupted. 'Give her a break. She's been away travelling for two years and we want a drink to celebrate her homecoming. Her hair is longer, and it's darker than the photo because —''Maddy, it's fine.' A shiver ran down my spine and it wasn't just from the icy wind. It was this place. I inhaled the cold night air heavy with salt, and waited.'Go ahead.' He shoved the card in to my hand and unlatched the rope. Heels echoed off the wooden floor as we weaved around the room towards the entrance of the Shores nightclub. My gaze followed the white walls and despite the dim light recognised the same outback artwork from the last time I was here.'Nothing's changed in —''A bloody long time,' Maddy finished.My stomach tightened at remembering the last time. I looked to the stairs to the iron-balustrade balcony where I'd made my big mistake. My guard shot up, blocking the memory. I focused instead on faces in the crowd and burrowed between girls modelling tacky long lashes.'Come on, it's my shout. Let's head to the upstairs bar.' Maddy grabbed my hand and yanked me in line behind her.I had never liked the upstairs bar where football players, who thought they were someone, congregated. This bar was famous for 'picking up'. Guys got what they wanted—no strings attached—and girls bragged to their friends the following day. I failed to understand why females thought sleeping with a sports star for one night presented bragging rights. Two years ago I vowed not to become a notch on a football player's belt, promising myself I deserved better because I'd almost slipped up.Maddy pulled me through the crowd towards the bar. She managed to lean one arm on the bench and wave a fifty-dollar note at the barman. She caught his eye and yelled, 'Two red Vodka Cruisers.'Conscious of my short dress just covering my butt, I tugged at the hem and saw guys on my left checking me out. Wearing a dress—short enough to pass as a top—in a nightclub with sleazy guys, with the additional stench of stale alcohol, somehow didn't add up to my hope of meeting a guy who would respect me.'Well, I don't believe it. Aubree Taylor has returned to Adelaide.'Oh, God. My stomach dropped. I knew who that voice belonged to. I looked over my shoulder and forced a smile.'Emily, what a surprise,' I said in a high tone, feigning delight. My luck of not running into Emily since high school had just dried up. I had never got over her snide remarks about my body being too muscular and how if I had short hair I'd be mistaken for a boy.She waved her hand at me. 'I thought you were in America playing basketball or something. Oh, that's right, you injured your leg and can't play anymore. I remember. You ran off to America to hide.'Air froze in my lungs. 'I wasn't hiding. I travelled for two years,' I lied.Maddy turned and pushed herself between me and Emily, handing over a Cruiser. 'Hi, Emily. I see you've caught up with Aubree.' Maddy winked. I relaxed a smidgen knowing she had my back. 'How good is it to have her home? She looks terrific, doesn't she?'Before looking back at Emily, I placed the bottle to my lips and skolled half its contents. She studied me for a moment and raised a brow. Seriously, Maddy's comment didn't require an immediate assessment.'Your hair has grown.''I couldn't afford to get it cut.'Her critical gaze flicked away from my face, wandered down my body. 'Well, not bad for someone who's been slumming it overseas.' She twisted her blonde bob-styled hair behind her ear and her expression softened, as though she'd seen something she liked. Guess I finally passed as female.'So how's your leg?' she continued. 'Can you play basketball again?' I tensed, realising her tone was sans sympathy.My chest tightened and a lump grew under my diaphragm, making every breath difficult, just like every other time when someone questioned me about basketball.Don't let her get to you. Don't let her get to you. This isn't school.I sucked in a deep breath and composed myself before answering. 'My leg's better, but no, I can't play ball.' My stomach twisted at the memory of the devastating knee injury three years ago and how my dream of playing basketball for Australia had been shattered.'Too bad.' She shrugged. 'Anyway, Maddy, where's that gorgeous cousin of yours?''Hunter? How would I know,' Maddy sneered. She turned her head so fast her long, black ponytail almost whipped Emily's face.The tension in my shoulders had eased when Emily's attention was diverted to someone else, but on hearing Hunter's name my entire body stiffened. An uncomfortable bubble grew inside me. I needed space. 'Well, it's been nice catching up, but I have other people to see.' I grabbed Maddy's arm and dragged her to the back of the room before she insulted Emily.'Biatch,' Maddy said, walking away. She wasn't blind to girls using her to suss out her cousin. In fact, it plain pissed her off.I found a corner table near the wall and stood on the far side as though it offered protection. It had been Maddy's idea to come to the club – our old stomping ground –  to de-stress and relive the good old times. After talking to Emily, it had the opposite effect.Maddy clinked her Cruiser against mine and winked. 'To you. I'm glad you came home.''Me, too.' I'd missed my mum and Maddy the most, and two years away qualified as a reasonable amount of time to forget. Well, that's what I told myself as I downed the drink. Maddy followed my lead and banged her empty bottle on the table. 'Come on, let's dance.' Without waiting for an answer, she pulled me in the direction of the dance floor.I wasn't sure how much time had lapsed while grinding moves on the dance floor, but judging by my achy feet and internal Cinderella clock, it was time to go home. My mind drifted to tomorrow and starting work at eight at the community nursing home. It wasn't my dream job, but I couldn't afford to be choosy after ignoring tertiary studies to travel. Mum had helped secure the administrative role since she worked there as a chef and had put in a good word to HR.'I think I'll call it a night. I'm already dreading the morning.' I pulled a face, hoping for understanding.'Bullshit to that. I'm buying you another drink. The real fun hasn't started yet.' Maddy latched onto my arm and tugged me through the suddenly swelling crowd. It could only mean one thing—more football players had arrived. We headed to the same table at the uncrowded corner of the upstairs room. Everyone else strived to be near the players, surrounding the heroes in large oval-shaped groups near the bar. I reached for a stool and almost fell on it, rubbing my knee more out of habit than from pain caused by dancing in heels.'I'll get us drinks.' Maddy flashed her money before I could object.I glanced towards the crowded bar and cringed. Being alone made me uncomfortable, although worrying about bumping into Emily again seemed pointless. The football players, as I remembered, captured her attention. I scanned the room, and despite my time away managed to identify players from both teams that played in the Australian football competition.At almost seven feet tall, Darcy Rayne, ruckman for the Thunder, stood head and shoulders above the crowd. Known for his womanising ways and a regular at the Shores nightclub, I guessed many women came here just to see him.The hum of conversation faded when three tall guys entered from the stairs. The crowd parted, offering a clear path to the bar. 'Who do they think they are?' I muttered under my breath. 'Bloody gods?' It hardly mattered that I couldn't identify them with their backs turned because I felt the air of arrogance waft across the room. Two were blond; the third guy had longer dark hair falling around the nape of his neck. I watched out of curiosity rather than interest as they stopped to talk to someone at the bar. Their presence consumed every person in the room and I cursed, acknowledging that I, too, was drawn to them.The dark-haired guy leaning on the bar straightened. At around six-foot-five, and not as tall as the ruckman, he also stood out in the crowd. He turned slowly, surveying the room, but not in the casual checking-out-the-opposite-sex kind of way.Something was wrong. I strained my neck to see what troubled him. My heart jumped as I recognised his side profile—the long straight nose, generous lips and chiselled jawbone. A long fringe swept his face, reminding me of a boy-band look; that's why I hadn't recognised him when he'd first walked in. His gaze wandered across the sea of heads until blue eyes met directly with mine. I froze in my seat. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt like a kangaroo held prisoner in the dark by a blinding spotlight.Hunter Stone.Heads turned to see who Hunter was eyeballing in a not-so-friendly manner. Despite my hammering heart, I stared back with a straight face—my competitive nature from years of basketball taking control—refusing to succumb and smile at him. Moments later he turned to resume his conversation at the bar. Girls standing between us glared and I wanted to laugh, no cackle, at the notion of being their competition. I'd be the last person Hunter would choose.My chest tightened at recalling the last time, and what almost had eventuated. Panic clawed its way up my throat. I needed fresh air. I grabbed my handbag and looked up as Maddy came bounding through the crowd smiling ear to ear, before handing me another red bottle.'Guess who I just ran into?' She pulled down her green miniskirt a little before edging herself up onto the stool.'No idea.''Hunter,' she said in a higher-than-necessary voice. 'I told him you were back and he seemed eager to say hello.'Bullshit. 'Really.''Yeah, he paid for our drinks and said he'd buy you one later to welcome you home.''Kind of him.'Maddy tilted her head at me. 'What is it?''Nothing, I'm tired and need some rest before work tomorrow.''Fine, but promise me we'll do this again soon. I'm not about to let you turn into a hermit.' She narrowed her sapphire eyes at me, reminding me of the same scowl her cousin had aimed at me minutes before.I crossed my fingers behind my back. 'Sure.'The excerpt and purchase links can be found on my publisher Destiny Romance  websitehttp://www.destinyromance.com/products/9781743485699/winning-player-destiny-romance/19282638/extract


Leesa Bow grew up in Broken Hill. Sport played a major role in her life growing up in a small country town, and Leesa had a passion for basketball.   Although she loved to read books with happy endings, she never believed she would end up a novelist.Leesa started her professional life nursing at the local hospital before moving to Adelaide in her early twenties. She married a football player, and inevitably her four daughters were also sporty. Leesa began writing seriously when her second daughter became sick with cancer. Initially writing was therapeutic, but when her daughter got the all clear, she decided to continue writing seriously. Stories about sport, romance, and characters aged eighteen plus seemed logical since her daughters were of a similar age, and often surrounded by athletes.In her spare time Leesa writes New Adult romance. On weekends she enjoys watching basketball and football, having beach days with the family, catching up with girlfriends, and daydreaming about strong heroines. 
Here’s my social media links.
Website: www.leesabow.com
Tumblr: http://leesabow.tumblr.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Leesabowromance,
Twitter: @leesabow
Good Reads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8106454.Leesa_Bow

You can also purchase this title at:·         Amazon  Australia·         Apple·         Google Play·         Kobo·         Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Player-Destiny-Leesa-Bow-ebook/dp/B00JEUKI5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404001147&sr=8-1&keywords=leesa+bow 


Well, I don't know about YOU guys but I may have a new sport to "research!"Thanks for stopping by the Liz Sports Bar Leesa!Check out my info on her blog here:

Lily, Liz and the Footie--Lily Harlem Across the Sports Bar

I am tickled red, white and blue (hey, it's on both of our flags) to announce  that LILY HARLEM is across the sports bar with me today. We are gonna talk about one of my favorite subjects: soccer.

If you like you can hop over to Lily's Blog where I am revealing an EXCLUSIVE first chapter peek at "SET PIECE" which will be the 4th Black Jack Gentlemen novel, releasing in late spring/summer 2015!


Welcome to my Sports Bar Lily, what can I pour for you to start?Oh, thanks for inviting me in. I don’t usually frequent sports bars as we live in a rural part of Wales UK, I’m more a village pub kind of girl but this is fabulous and I’ll have a chilled white wine please.
We share a mutual love of football/soccer and my review of your book “Scored” is below. What is your favorite thing about the sport?I do love football, you’re right, and hockey and tennis and gymnastics and anything equestrian. Having a ton of brothers and brothers-in-law (I was the only girl for years until some of them married) who are all football crazy it was a case of “if you can’t beat them join them “and I ended up getting in the thick of it, going to matches, hosting match day lunches (parties for big tournaments) and cheering on the players. I even took on the administrative responsibilities for one of their local teams for a few years. Once I got involved it didn’t take long to get favourite star players and to be able to chip in with the endless football orientated conversations. My favourite thing about football therefore has to be hanging out with my boys, and of course, secretly admiring the on-pitch talent!
Do you anticipate writing more soccer-based novels?Mmm… Scored was a one off really, but I did have a reader asking me if Nicky’s fellow reporter friend Phil was going to get his own story so I could write a spin-off in the future. Perhaps it could be m/m. I have a hockey series, Hot Ice, maybe I should think of a Scored series.
Who is your team?I’m a Tottenham Hotspur supporter through and through but I also follow Swansea. I love a trip to White Hart Lane in London though it is a bit of a trek and gets expensive. Swansea is easier and just a train ride away and they’re an awesome team, they are brilliant to watch and the atmosphere is always incredible.
Oh look an empty glass. What can I pour for you next?I’ll have another white wine please, it’s all I drink apart from copious amounts of tea!

You write for all sorts of publishers. Do you also self publish? Why or why not?I do write for a variety of publishers, yes, Ellora’s Cave, HarperCollins, Totally Bound to name a few. And I also self-publish, Scored is self-published. I started on that route a few years ago as a bit of an experiment, but I now have four self-published novels (one of which, Breathe You In, was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2013) and seven co-authored titles with Natalie Dae. (We write under the pen name Harlem Dae and our work together is definitely on the edgier end of the erotica scale.) I enjoy the independence of self-publishing, the immediacy of finishing a book and being able to get it straight out onto the shelves and the total control over the final product. The royalty rate is also higher which means I can offer the book cheaper to the reader and still make more – it’s win-win and since writing pays my bills and puts food on the table it’s something I’ll continue to do.
Who’s your pick to win World Cup 2014?Brazil!
Now, give us a taste of your favorite scene from SCORED.
Okay, here goes, this is taken from a few chapters into the book. Football journalist Nicky has found herself in the same hotel as the England football squad. With a team manager enforcing a ban on wives and girlfriends around during the tournament she is the only female there and keeps bumping into the gorgeous captain, Lewis Tate. She’s trying hard not to be a bumbling fool or an adoring fan whenever she sees him but it’s not going particularly well. Lucky for her, he likes this side of her and things soon heat up…
* * *
Sipping on a cup of tea, I flicked through the hotel brochure. The restaurant menus looked divine, as did the treatments on offer at the spa. Perhaps I should treat myself to a facial or a massage, or better still put one down to expenses. I scanned the price list. Okay, maybe not.But they did have a pool. A very luxurious-looking pool with hydrotherapy jets, large loungers around the edge and a jungle of potted ferns and palms that led out onto a terrace. I could go for a swim; that was free for hotel guests.I dragged a white bikini from the side pocket of my case. It was a designer brand, bought in a retail outlet for a fraction of the price it would have been sold for originally in some swanky London store. I’d been waiting for an opportunity to wear it for the first time.I nipped into the bathroom, freshened up using the complimentary lemon and neroli fragranced toiletries, then slipped into my bikini. Pulled a big, fluffy robe around myself and checked the hotel map in the information booklet. I only had to get to the elevator and head down to the basement and I’d be at the spa. I was sure plenty of people just wore robes when moving between their rooms and the pool.I was just about to leave when a thought hit me. Damn. How could I go to the pool now? Lewis had been holding trunks and goggles when I’d seen him. If I showed up for a dip he would definitely think I was tailing him. I clicked my tongue on the roof of my mouth in irritation. I’d been looking forward to stretching out in the water after my long day. Letting those nice hydro-jets pound onto my aching shoulders.A sudden noise in the hall outside caught my attention. Footsteps, a door being opened. A few seconds later the loud thud of it shutting.Great. That sounded directly opposite. Lewis had obviously finished his swim and gone back to his room. That would leave the pool free for me to use, and of course, anyone else in the hotel, but as long as it wasn’t him that was fine. The last thing I needed was to bump into him for a fourth time in less than twenty-four hours. A restricting order would be knocking at my door faster than I could say penalty shoot-out.
After dropping my robe onto a wicker lounger with deep cream cushions, I waded down the steps into the pool. Cool water wrapped around me, caressing my aching limbs like soothing hands. Bliss. Even more blissful because I had the place all to myself.There were voices coming from the terrace. Three double doors were flung open to the sunshine and the breeze. I couldn’t hear what was being said, just the low hum of conversation.Kicking out, I swam on my back toward a large silver tap-like jet and watched the shimmering reflections on the roof. They shivered and shook, the sunlight rippling across the ceiling in sparkling waves. Sighing, I moved beneath the jet, let the blasting water jostle and jolt me, bash against my travel-weary shoulders.I shut my eyes. The heavy pounding was heavenly, massaging away several days of stress and strain. I tipped my head back, smoothed my hair from my face and allowed the water drag the sodden strands over my scalp and down my back. Later I would use the luxurious-smelling shampoo and conditioner in my hotel bathroom and tame my curls ready for tomorrow’s match. I was bound to see Phil there. I hoped he wouldn’t ask me too much about the Donbass and the players. Likewise, I hoped Reg wouldn’t give me a hard time later when I just did a report about the architecture and history of the hotel rather than a detailed account of my meeting with the team captain.Just the thought of Lewis conjured an image of him in my head. His smile had had a devastating effect on my lusty hormones, sending them skittering this way and that. Prodding and poking me, and reminding me that it had been just over a year since I’d taken a man to my bed. How blessed was Naomi to get her hands on his hot body? She must know she was the luckiest woman on the planet.I rubbed my fingertips over my shoulders and chest, blindly making sure my bikini was still covering my modesty. Sure Lewis was drop-dead gorgeous, but he was also a really nice guy. He’d been kind enough to make sure the press conference was fair, polite enough not to use the word vibrator in the elevator, and then more than happy to help out a stranger struggling with a keycard. And to top it all, he went to church like a good boy. He was perfect, there was no other way to describe him. I wondered what he saw in Naomi, whose reputation as a diva preceded her. Perhaps it was all for show and beneath the veneer she was a sweetheart.Somehow I couldn’t imagine it.I sighed and decided to relax on one of the soft loungers and let the breeze tickle over me as I dried.Opening my eyes, I stepped out of the blasting jet.Fuck!Standing at the side of the pool were four England players staring straight at me.Suddenly I was glad of the extra support the water gave me. My knees felt weak, and my stomach turned a cartwheel.What the hell?Neil Bryers stood at the far left, his dark skin gleaming and a wide, white grin on his face. Next to him was the goalie, Ted Hatton—he was tall and skinny, famed for his big hands, and right now he also had big eyes. Then came Liam Taylor; the baby of the team at only nineteen, he wore bright orange flowery swim trunks and was gripping a towel at crotch level, twirling it around his fingers. Finally, Lewis stood with his hands on his hips and his mouth slightly parted. He didn’t have thesoft, smiley expression he’d had in the mental image I’d been enjoying. In fact, he looked beyond pissed off.Damn, I really should have stayed in my room. I could hear that restricting order winging its way toward me.But what could I do? I was here now, in the water, and they were there, waiting to get in.I took a deep breath and waded toward the steps, wishing there was a little more support in my bikini top. I could feel my breasts shifting as I moved. With each step they bounced and jiggled. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.The players stayed stock still and continued to stare. I wondered about flashing them a smile then decided against it. That would just make me look like a footy groupie. And I certainly didn’t fall into a WAG-wannabe category. I was a serious reporter, here for the game, not the players.Gripping a steel bar, I exited the pool, the water splashing away from my body as I rose. Typical that was where they were standing and I had to walk right past Lewis to reach my robe. I caught his eye briefly. He’d pulled down his brows, narrowed his eyes and was gnawing at the inside of his cheek. I dropped my gaze and admired, for the shortest pocket of time, his broad chest and the scribble of blond hair at the center that led a tantalizing trail downward, past his naval to the waistband of his shorts.I reached my robe and used it to dab against my face, wiping away the drips. Thankfully, I heard the shuffle of feet, someone mentioned the sunshine outside, and I was aware of the players moving out of the pool area.Dropping the robe onto the lounger, I took a deep breath and sagged my shoulders.“It’s see-through, you know.”
Standing directly in front of me was Lewis.I was shocked to see him when I thought I was alone again. “What?”“Your bikini, it’s completely see-through.”I pulled in a sharp intake of breath and glanced down.
Oh fuck! He was right. My white bikini was opaque. My nipples were dark and erect, poking at the pathetically thin material, and my little strip of pubic hair...fuck, you could make out every strand and the first indent of my labia.“Shit.” I scrabbled for my robe, but Lewis was already holding it open for me.“Here,” he said.“I, er, thanks.” I shoved my arms in and pulled it tight around my body. Every millimeter of my flesh prickled with embarrassment. “Shit, I didn’t know, it’s new, I—”“Hey, these things happen. Trouble is, these guys are all on enforced celibacy. Seeing a beautiful woman standing in a see-through bikini underneath flowing water might just tip them over the edge, if you know what I mean.”Oh my God. Had I heard him right? Had Lewis Tate just called me beautiful?“I’m really sorry,” I gabbled. “I didn’t know. I’ll just go and...and...” And what, get dressed, curl up under a stone and die?He cocked his head and studied me. “I’m not complaining on my behalf, but Liam’s just a baby. He barely has the self-control needed to cope with Fellows’ damn rules.”I gripped my hair into a ponytail and squeezed it to wring out the pool water. “Like I said, I’m sorry.”“No apologies.” He was watching me fiddle with my hair. “But if I catch him trying to bed some Ukrainian chick later then I’ll know who to blame.”“Well, I’m sure it won’t come to that.” Words and thoughts were tumbling in my head. Was I really having a conversation with Lewis about his team’s struggle with celibacy?“You’d better hope it doesn’t.” He twitched his mouth into a half smile. “Perhaps I’ll go and order him to have some quality alone time. Take the edge of it. That usually helps, doesn’t it?”My intestines knotted. “I don’t know what you mean.”He shoved a hand through his hair and it flopped messily around his face and temples. “Sure you do.”He turned and walked away, in the direction of the terrace. His movements were so easy and graceful he almost glided, his body under absolute control. If I hadn’t been so ruffled at the bizarre conversation we’d just had and his parting comment, I would have enjoyed seeing the way the sinewy muscles in his back sat taut beneath the skin, shifting ever so slightly with each step.But I was seriously ruffled. My cheeks were burning and the traitorous bikini felt cold and sticky against my skin. There was no way I could chill out by the pool now. The relaxed state of a few minutes ago had evaporated and in its place sat yet another dagger of mortification.There was only one thing for it. Clearly, I couldn’t be trusted out of my hotel room, because each time I did venture out some humiliating incident occurred with Lewis. I would shower and change and order room service. In fact, I would only come out for matches over the next few weeks. That would be the best thing. I would live there, it was certainly sumptuous enough. Perhaps then I’d be able to avoid any more toe-curling episodes of shame.
* * *

Of course Nicky doesn’t stay in her room and it seems Lewis can’t stop thinking about her in that bikini. Her luck soon changes for the better and before she knows it she has the England captain exactly where she wants him!

Nightcap time! What’s your poison?Eeek, I guess I can’t go for more wine. Okay, I’ll have a change and go for a port, a little bit of cheese to go with it would be wonderful. Thanks for asking me over today, it’s been fun.

Lily Bio
Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including Ellora's Cave, HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Xcite and Sweetmeat Press. She also self-publishes novels that range from emotionally charged erotic romance, to steamy ménage a trois and, with Natalie Dae, (Harlem Dae) dark BDSM that pushes all the boundaries.
Her HOT ICE series regularly receives high praise and industry nominations and Lily is sure that she’ll never run out of inspiration for penning more sexy stories about her bad boys of the ice and the women who tame them.
One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy so make sure you hang on tight for the ride!

Lily Links
Website http://www.lilyharlem.com/
Blog http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/lily_harlem
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lily.harlem
Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/LilyHarlemAuthor
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/lilyharlem/
Raw Talent http://rawtalentseries.co.uk
BritBabes http://thebritbabes.blogspot.co.uk
Hockey Romance http://www.hockeyromance.com
Newsletter Subscription http://www.lilyharlem.com/newsletter-subscription.html
Hot Ice https://www.facebook.com/hoticeseries
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/106837751333678531161/posts
Harlem Dae http://www.harlemdae.com
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4070110.Lily_Harlem


And now ladies and gents let me fill you in on what I thought about SCORED, by Lily Harlem:
There are a zillion and one novelists out there and about three quarters of them write "erotic romance." I try to keep up by reading the "big names" and find myself nine times out of ten, setting the books aside in bored, frustrated disgust. I prefer characters to be well-rounded that is to say with more than one dimension to them emotionally speaking and so many that are popular right now might as well be cut right out of the same tired length of cardboard.
But not Nicky and Lewis. Lily Harlem has really scored big with this one for me for a lot of reasons not the least of which she brings an English football team to full, technicolor life with plenty of details to suit a fanatic like myself but that would also appeal to someone less enamored with the beautiful game. 
I also prefer sex in books to feel like it's occurring naturally, not forced or stuck in to manipulate readers. The explicit scenes in Scored were not only gorgeously written but deliciously placed at the right time within the narrative. That, to me, is the difference between what I consider "erotic dime novels" that keep getting cranked out, rehashing the same stories with new names over and over again and something like SCORED which, while predictable by the end, was so satisfying I wanted it to end the way I predicted it.
A give Scored a 5-Brew Rating!
Go buy it and be ready to drop into a lovely, sexy, funny, distraction from your day.Go ahead, CLICK HERE to read chapter one for FREE.

The Atheist's Prayer: A Liz Review and Feature

Welcome to the Beer, Books and More blog!

Today I introduce you to a fascinating book: The Atheist's Prayer. I participate in a fair number of "book blitz" style tours for my fellow indie authors. Every little bit of publicity helps, I always say and I am happy to provide it when I can. However, sometimes a book is presented that really compels me to take time out of my hectic life and read it. This was one of those times.

*****NOTE!******Amy will be awarding a signed copy of The Atheist's Prayer, and a free subscription to Underground Book Reviews' Weekly Newsletter to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.


First, a bit about the novel:


The Atheist’s Prayerby Amy R. Biddle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
After a solar eclipse, nineteen people were found dead in a remote area of the California National Forest. They were lying in a circle, holding hands and wearing plastic fairy wings.
Years later, on the other side of the country, no one in the southern city of Jefferson is concerned about fairies or fairy-worshiping suicide cults. Except for Candy. She might not have proof, but she's damn sure it's going to happen again.
The problem is, Candy is a coke-dealing stripper and the only person who will listen to her is an alcoholic mall Santa named Hank, who's only listening because, well...she's hot.
There are seven days until the next eclipse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm including 2 excerpts because they are both so amazing:

AN EXCERPT FROM HANK: the alcoholic mall Santa
Hank spent the drive convincing himself that being a bouncer would be an awesome job. Girls, drinks, drunks, late nights. Really, he was being paid to do exactly what he would be doing if he wasn’t working. Maybe they would give him a gun. No, they wouldn’t. But maybe they would give him a bat to keep behind the entrance, just out of sight. Or a Taser. There was a lot of fun to be had with a Taser.
Hank frowned at his five-o-clock shadow in the rearview mirror, trying to look tough. His gap tooth added to the effect. Actually, he looked like a damn good bouncer. As he drove, he imagined using the self-defense moves and choke holds that he’d seen in movies. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that this new job was a perfect fit. He decided that he should try to get a full-time position bouncing and quit his shenanigans at the mall.
By the time Hank arrived at the strip club, the sky had lost its reds and purples and was assuming a murky shade of city gray. The front of the club was just as drab in the twilight as it had been in the dark and rain on Sunday. Its plain cinderblock walls stood silently, with a single metal door in the middle. Hank had always found the dichotomy between the inside and the outside of strip clubs amusing. Hidden in back alleys and tucked away behind supermarkets, strip clubs were the Narnia of a grown man’s world.


AN EXCERPT FROM KEVIN: the seven-year-old
“Oh, my God,” said his mother when she picked him up. “What happened?” The car smelled of new textbooks, and there was a pile of them on the backseat.
“I don’t think the boys at school liked my clothes,” said Kevin. This was true. It wasn’t why they were all muddy, but he was sure no one liked them.
“Did they hurt you? Do you want me to talk to someone?” she asked.
“Luna made them go away,” he said.
“Hunter’s daughter, from church?”
Kevin nodded.
“Well, that was nice of her. Maybe she felt bad for tripping you. Still, if it happens again I’m going to say something.”
Kevin hoped she would say something about letting him wear jeans, but they merged onto the highway in silence. Kevin watched the white dotted lines on the road as they were sucked under the car.
“What did you learn in school today?” she asked, finally breaking the silence.
“We came from monkeys,” he said after some thought.
“Oh, no,” said his mother, shaking her head.
“E-vo-loo-shun!” He sounded out the word, feeling smart.
“Sweetie…” she started. But Kevin was already on a roll. He had learned a lot, he realized.
“And, I’m a bass-turd,” he said. “Because I don’t know my daddy.”
“That's a bad word, Kevin!” she snapped.
Kevin felt guilty but he didn't know why. He also wasn't sure why his mother’s face was so red or why she stopped the car on the side of the interstate. Traffic was whizzing by and Kevin could feel the energy deep in his bones.
**************************
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Amy now spends half of her life at sea and the other half wherever the hell she pleases. An avid traveler and dangerous daydreamer, she is most at home when surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains or the great blue sea. In her spare time, Amy co-runs Underground Book Reviews, a website dedicated to finding and reviewing quality, independent novels. Her short fiction and poetry has been published by a smattering of online publications including Every Day Fiction and Revolt Daily.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Atheists-Prayer-Amy-Biddle/dp/1780995822/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19139574-the-atheist-s-prayer?from_search=true
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-R-Biddle-Author/201710869846209?ref=hl
Blog: www.amyrbiddle.com

LIZ'S REVIEW:

Yeah, so how can I resist reading THIS? I couldn't and I was not disappointed.
This book provides a sort of "Neil Gaimon-esque" surreal reading experience crossed with a "Christopher Moore" humorous touch that I really enjoyed.
Nothing is what it appears to be, which is another trait I love in a well- crafted novel.
While ostensibly about faith (or a lack thereof, if you take the title into consideration) The Atheist's Prayer is very much about personal salvation and how that is found not so much in religion but in our fellow human beings. Hank and Candy, both disturbed and pretty amusing characters in their own right, discover the good in each other through their attempts to save a couple of kids from a cult. And along the way everyone (and I mean everyone) makes mistakes, missteps and bad choices in the sort of gritty realistic way that I LOVE to read.
I guarantee that this is one of the most creative and well-handled renderings of a slice of screwed up American life I have personally ever read! Realistic characters, down to earth dialogue and a plot that turns in on itself just enough to keep you guessing.
It's a 5-Brew Read! Go buy it NOW!

Cat Johnson Brings her Football Kindle World To Liz's Bar

I'm all: HEY GUESS WHAT?
 CAT JOHNSON is sitting here at the bar with me today, to chat about her Kindle Worlds novella Game On and to endure a bit of Beer Wenching …. 
You'll see what I mean….


Liz: Welcome to my beer bar, Cat! What can I pour for you to start?








CJ: My absolute favorite beer is Blue Moon served in a chilled pint glass with an orange slice. But keep in mind that if I’m ever here in October, then I drink Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale. I like to keep my beverages seasonal. LOL
Liz: *spits, splutters and accepts her bartender's smack on the back…..*
Ok sweets I am gonna teach you a little something about that. You are suggesting *winces* that I serve you a beer made by a giant conglomerate, owned by a company located in South Africa (i.e. a “Macrobrew”). Here, let me pour you something way better but in the same style category of Belgian style Wit (wheat). It’s called “Oberon” and it’s brewed by Bell’s Brewing here in Michigan. It is distributed nationally….look it up and support a craft brewery with your beer spending bucks!
You are a huge success story and have just added a new element to your career: the Kindle Worlds. Tell Liz’s rapt drinker/readers all about it. The good, the bad, the fun, the not so fun . . .
CJ: A huge success story, huh? LOL I think you had too many beers there, Liz! LOL But thank you. I did hit the #1 bestselling Kindle Worlds title with my new release Game For Love: Game On, about a hot football player and the sassy PI who tracks him down and captures him.
Here’s the blurb from GAME FOR LOVE: GAME ON. . .
Trent O’Shea is a superstar athlete on the football field, but for one week each year he escapes into anonymity at an exclusive resort in the Florida Keys that caters to the rich and famous. Armed with a fake identity, he’s happy to sit by the pool and do nothing except enjoy some breathtaking scenery—and maybe ask her if she needs help putting sunscreen on her back.

Laurel Burnett never met a bad boy she couldn’t catch. Cheating spouses. Deadbeat dads. Scammers. Once the determined PI sets her sights on them they all fall, and the next alleged perpetrator in her crosshairs is none other than the San Francisco Outlaws’ Trent O’Shea. The super-sexy linebacker who Laurel’s client hired her to track will be her biggest trophy yet. She’ll do anything to bring him down, even follow him to a resort paradise and use herself as bait.

But things aren’t always as they appear and Trent and Laurel both learn that sometimes even perfectly planned plays can go wrong when love and lust are involved. Then it’s game on! 
This whole Kindle Worlds thing was quite a surreal process, I can tell you that. From the initial email from Amazon with the subject line, “Bella Andre is interested in your writing” that had me literally saying, “WTF is this about?!”, to the nondisclosure agreement I had to sign to even hear the complete answer to my question, to the phone calls with the head offices of Amazon in Seattle, it was a whirlwind. From initial contact to release day it was about two weeks during which I had to keep my mouth totally shut while researching and writing within the world of Bella Andre’s Game For Love book, which Kindle Worlds had licensed but had yet to reveal to the public. (For those unfamiliar with Kindle Worlds, it’s basically monetized fan fiction. You can learn more at http://kindleworlds.amazon.com/.)
But the sleepless nights and writing until my eyes went blurry were well worth it when I woke up on June 26thand saw my novella live, and then read Amazon’s press release revealing the secret to the world, that they had launched four new romance Kindle Worlds.
Just hours after that, a blogger posted on my Facebook that my title was sitting at #1 in all of Kindle Worlds. Pretty amazing! You can go check out Game Onand stalk my rank along with me at bit.do/gameon.
Liz: Dang, that is awesome. Where can I sign up for one? So, why American football? Is it your favorite sport? If not, what is? Do you or did you play a sport? Oh and if you have the words "NYT and/or USA TODAY Best Selling" author behind your name my dear, you are a success in my book.
CJ: You can sign up for one! Now that the world is open, any author can write a story to the specifications laid out on the Kindle Worlds guidelines and submit it for approval. So write one and come join me!
Why American Football—Bella Andre’s Game For Love world centers around the San Francisco Outlaws, a fictional football team. So when I crafted my own characters to live in her world, I made my hero Trent be a linebacker for the Outlaws. Little secret—I know very little about football. I had to go to friends who played it and/or watch it religiously for some of the facts. Sadly, I’m not sports oriented.
Liz: You write a lot of military romances as well. Is that a world you are familiar with?
CJ: It is a world I was not born into, nor married into, but it’s a world I’m familiar with now after 8 years of researching it and working directly with my active duty military consultants. It’s a pleasure and an honor to write about these real life heroes.
Liz: Uh oh, empty glass. What can I pour for you next?
CJ: Corona Light with a lime, please. Trying to cut some calories. J  You might notice I really enjoy a fruit garnish with my beer. LOLLiz: **groans and tries not to smash her beer glass***
All right my dear, if you want a lovely light beer that does not support the Macros (see lesson above but note that “Cornoa” is owned by a company in Belgium, same one that owns “Budweiser”) let’s try this: It’s called “Cerveza Vicino” from Odell Brewing, one of the older craft breweries in Colorado.

If you want FRUIT in a beer you should try Fruit IN a beer…like this one, from Short’s Brewing in Traverse City, Michigan. “Soft Parade” is brewed with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. It. Is. Delish. Bottom line is this: Tell me where you live and I will tell you exactly where to go to find GREAT options with real flavor!
OK, Beer Wench lecture over….ahem…







Tell us more about “Game On”.
CJ: How about a snippet of a spicy hot scene? Here’s a PG-rated excerpt from Game On.
Laurel slipped into the water and hadn’t even had time to swim all the way across before she heard the splash of Trent diving in. She reached the other side and gripped the edge. Turning, she was surprised to find him right there behind her. “Oh, hi.”With the water sluicing off his hair and shoulders, he reached for the edge on either side of her, framing her inside his arms. “Hey.”“The water’s warm.”“It’s heated.”And getting hotter by the minute with Trent barely a breath away from her. “I figured it must be . . . Trent?”“Yeah?”“Thanks for dinner.”“You’re welcome.” He didn’t move. Not closer and not farther away. The temptation of him stayed right within range and she itched to reach out and grab it.He was waiting for her to make the next move. She sensed that and somehow knew that if she swam away and put some distance between them he’d accept that.Now that she’d spent a bit of time within the confines of this man’s arms, she didn’t want to move away. She wasn’t sure she could. It was like he had his own gravitational pull and she’d become trapped in his orbit.So now what? Laurel swallowed.The tiny voice in her head screamed kiss him! While the other voice of reason asked what kind of woman kissed a man she’d only known for a couple of hours?One who’d had some fruity drink with a hell of a kick to it and then a good portion of a bottle of champagne, that’s who. But also the kind of woman who knew what she wanted and went after it.For better or worse, that was who Laurel was and always had been. It took guts to be a woman in a male dominated industry like private investigations, yet she’d done it and pretty darn successfully too.The woman who’d faced down angry husbands and white-collar criminals shouldn’t be afraid to go out on a limb and make the first move with a hot guy who’d invited her to dinner and didn’t look as if he was too anxious to put any distance between them anytime soon.Bracing herself, Laurel moved in just a bit, yet remained shy of his lips. “Trent?”“Yeah?”Making the move to kiss him seemed too scary. Too risky. The best she could come up with was to say, “Kiss me?”He didn’t object. So fast it caused the water to slosh between them, Trent moved closer and crashed his mouth against hers.Her inner voice only needed that much encouragement to tell her to hold on to this man and hold tight, and she did, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He supported her with his hands beneath her bottom, but in the water she was buoyant, weightless as she moved against him, desperate to get as close as possible.Trent angled his mouth over hers and deepened the kiss. He plunged his tongue between her lips and groaned as she equaled his enthusiasm, matching the thrust of his tongue stroke for stroke with her own.She felt his erection pressing against her. Only the barrier of her swimsuit and his kept him from being where she needed him to be. She pressed closer and he drew in a sharp breath through his nose.Liking the reaction as well as the sensations rocketing through her from the contact, Laurel set a rhythm that had her insides twisting, tightening for release.He broke the kiss and hissed in a breath between his teeth. “You keep that up and I’m going to embarrass myself right here.”She didn’t stop her motion. It was hard enough just to say, “I’m so close.”“Christ.” He smashed his mouth against hers again.

Liz: Do you think this will morph into a new series for you?
CJ: It could, but with limitations. The characters I created for Kindle Worlds now belong to them. So I can write more in the series, but they will all be Kindle Worlds stories and not available from other retailers. That’s not a deal breaker for me, but I have a few Nook readers and also some international readers who don’t have access to the US Kindle Worlds site who are not happy right now. FYI-you don’t need a Kindle to read eBooks purchased on Amazon. They have a fabulous lineup of free apps for PC, Mac, Android, and IOS that virtually turn any device into an eReader for Kindle eBooks.
Liz: What are your favorite types of books to write? Military? Cowboys? Why?
CJ: When I’ve been writing cowboys for too long, I find it incredibly refreshing to jump into writing a military story, and taking a break from writing my next Midnight Cowboys book to write a football player in Game On was a really nice break. So I think I need the mix to keep me entertained. And I just love an Alpha male hero so military men and cowboys both really fit that bill.
Liz: Anything new on your horizon?
CJ: YES! I’m very excited that I’m launching a brand new series this month—HOT SEALs, featuring, you guessed it, Navy SEALs. Book 1, Night with a SEAL, is launching in the Hot Alpha SEALs Megaset on preorder now. 12 stories by 12 different authors, all for 99 cents for a limited time only at bit.do/alphaseals
Liz: Finally, if you were to recommend one of your longer books to start with to get a sense of the “Cat Johnson style” what would it be (I ask, purely selfishly. I already downloaded the football novella!)
CJ: I really do love the series that I created for Kensington, the Oklahoma Nights series. The first book is One Night with a Cowboy. My hero is both a cowboy and a soldier so you get some action in the bull riding arena, then move to the war zone while he’s deployed for a few chapters. And of course there are the required hot smexy scenes and the happy-ever-after. That one really gives readers a nice round taste of my writing. Last I saw, Nook and Kindle had the 83,000-word eBook on sale for something like 70% off list price, so check it out quick before they raise the price again at bit.do/summer2014. It’s also in paperback for the print lovers among you.
Liz: And who is your pick to win the World Cup?
CJ: Well, of course the hope is always that my home team, the USA, wins but every team works so hard (and has such dang hot players!!) I’ll just be happy for a good clean exciting competition. May the best team win!
Liz: Hell Yes We Believe! Nightcap time! What’s your poison?
CJ: Guinness Stout. The dessert of beers! And before I fall asleep from all this beer, let me say thank you so much for inviting me here today!
Liz: Mmmmmkay…taking a long, cleansing breath…and teaching you that Guinness Stout in America is not worth the water they used to make it with. Get it in Dublin, it’s great.
 So…..here, have an Imperial Milk Stout from New Holland Brewing (Holland, Michigan but with near national distribution). It is even MORE like dessert. Trust me. I’m a Beer Wench!


CONTEST!!!!!!!!One lucky COMMENTER on this blog post will be chosen to receive a copy of Cat's other sports romance—Cole (Red, Hot & Blue series), featuring a major league baseball player who finds out you can go home again. Leave your email in your comment! 

BIOCat Johnson is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.  A self-proclaimed promo ‘ho, she is known for her creative marketing and research practices. Consequently, Cat has sponsored bull riding rodeo cowboys, owns an entire collection of cowboy boots and camouflage shoes for book signings and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living.As a hybrid author, she writes both full length and shorter works and is currently contracted for series with publishers Kensington and Samhain.

LINKS
Site www.CatJohnson.netMailing List bit.do/CatsNewsTwitter Cat_JohnsonFacebook CatJohnsonAuthor

And just in case you want to get a taste of what LIZ told CAT about how "beer" and "books" are similar, just click here!

Jack Brings the Fireworks--a Stewart Realty BONUS scene!

In honor of our nation's celebration of independence, I'm bringing Jack back to help with the whole "fireworks" thing. 









Jack Gordon is the first male character I ever concocted. And will always remain my favorite…



And so, in a NSFW or NSFFG (family gatherings) moment….a bonus scene from the best selling STEWART REALTY SERIES (this one would fall somewhere between Floor Time and Sweat Equity for those of you who are fans. If you are not, well, if you want more, grab a FREE copy of FLOOR TIME today and plan to one click your way through other 8 books!)


Exclusive!

Jack Brings The FireworksStewart Realty Extra SceneLiz Crowe   *All Rights Reserved



Sara flopped into her desk chair with a frustrated sigh. Head pounding and gut churning, she stared up at the familiar ceiling of her cubicle and pondered just how in the hell she could finagle a way out of this mess. She hated feeling like a rookie, especially now since the huge commission that had seemed so very real not twenty four hours before was slowly but surely slipping right through her fingers.
“Control your people, damn it.” She could practically hear Jack’s deep voice admonishing her. “You let them get even the slightest inkling you’re already spending the money, then you lose them. Period. Work smarter. Be professional.”
“Shut up, you ass,” she whispered into the empty space, eyes clenched against frustrated tears. Damn the man.
Yeah, you’re the one engaged to him, remember?
She blew a lock of her hair off her face already anticipating the lecture she’d be getting once she admitted that she’d let her buyers start dictating the terms of the transaction. An ever-present, low-lying buzz shot up her spine when she thought about the tall, handsome, gregarious man who’d captured her body and soul. It was quickly followed by a thrill of defensive anger. She stared down at the mutual release she still had clutched in one hand, wondering what, exactly had gone wrong.  A random glint of sunlight through a window caught the edge of her obnoxiously huge engagement diamond, sending wild rainbow prisms against the far wall.
She’d rushed back to her downtown office from the surprise client  rejection over a seemingly innocuous cup of coffee. The deal had been sliding sideways on her, she knew it. After a grueling three and a half hour inspection of the huge Burns Park pile of stone and bricks that had taken her buyers nearly a year to choose, and then another three weeks to negotiate, they’d gone a solid forty eight hours before responding to her calls so she could get some kind of answer about that particular contingency. The damn house was huge, and had more potential than it deserved but was riddled with knob and tube wiring in the attic, had two wonky basement walls and needed a very expensive new roof.
But they’d known that going in, she thought. She’d pointed out all of those things and they’d negotiated so hard on the price, she figured they’d just subtracted all the anticipated costs of those fixes already.
That was her first mistake. They wanted another fucking thirty five thousand off the already low price. It was beyond the pale and she’d had a split second of doubt about their seriousness. But she had countless hours into them already. She had to close the damn deal. She’d had one fall through already that year and had gotten the requisite earful from Jack Gordon, sales manager, the man who made her want to scream with frustration but at the same time curl up in his lap and let him pet her like a housecat: “Stewart Realtors do not let deals fall through. You close it. Period.”
So now she sat in her emptied out downtown office, pre-Fourth of July weekend, huffing her own flop sweat and gnawing her lip raw.
“We don’t like the way this is progressing,” the obnoxious couple had stared down their long noses at her, making her jaw drop. “We don’t think you’re looking out for our interests anymore.”
“Fuck their best interests,” she muttered. The chair creaked as she turned it to face the chaos that was her work space. “Insufferable assholes.”
“Sounds like somebody could use a long weekend.”
She blinked and looked up to see blue eyes twinkling over the top of her cubicle wall. Jack stood there, tie loosened and the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up. She sensed her body shifting into a sort of autonomic positive reaction to his presence. Shoving it down under an attempt at self-righteous anger in hopes of avoiding the looming lecture, she frowned and averted her eyes from the way his hands rested on the top of her cubicle wall, recalling what those very hands had done for her just the night before. She repressed the urge to shiver.
She glared down at the signed release, and slowly relaxed her grip, letting it drop to the floor at her feet.  He moved fast and snagged it up, his forehead creasing as he absorbed what it meant—a million dollar deal, broken. Thanks to the fact that she couldn’t control her clients. She closed her eyes and waited for the berating to begin.
But silence met her ears. A hand on her arm made her flinch. Jack pulled her to her high heeled feet, their bodies close, his lips near her ear. His other hand cupped her skirted ass, firm and calm. “I say…” he began in a low whisper, keeping the grip on her bare upper arm. “I say we start the weekend right about now.”
She sucked in a breath, unwilling to let go of her fury but knowing that more than anything she wanted this, right now, right here, in some perverse replay of their first time together, around the corner in the hallway. She put her hand over his zipper, loving the obvious indication of his own receptiveness to that particular idea. He shifted to give her better access and kissed his way from her neck to her lips before drowning out all the frustration and anger with the sort of knee-melting lip lock she’d gotten addicted to. His tongue parted her lips slowly as she stroked his increasingly rigid cock.
He made a lovely, pleased sound as she reached down to unbuckle his belt. This man was all she needed in her universe. Him and his lips and hands and legs and voice and eyes and eerie calm demeanor laced with a wicked sense of humor and knee jerk temper. She grinned into his lips as he hissed when she released him from his boxers. “Glad to see I don’t have to do too much convincing,” he said, sliding the hand he’d had on her arm up the back of her blouse to pop open her bra.
She gasped in pleasure when he cupped her breast, running his thumb across her peaking nipple. “You are too, too tempting,” he said as he pressed her back against the cluttered desk top and leaned over to suck her nipple. Her body arched against him, aching for him, while her mind did a quick inventory of anyone who might still be around, or show up, while they put on a sex show in the middle of the huge room full of empty desks.
“Jack,” she croaked out, even as she threaded her fingers in his thick hair. “We can’t do this…here, oh dear Jesus!” She yelped when his hand slid quickly between her thighs and his fingers found their target. She spread her legs and leaned her head back against the credenza, giving into the sensations coursing through her.
“What was that my dear?” he said, as he teased her clit while looming over her again, his other hand propped on the desk. “We can’t do what, exactly?” He kept up his pressure, his icy blue eyes holding her gaze and piercing her soul all over again. “Should I stop?” His breathy whisper sent her over the edge. “Hmmm….baby….want me to stop?”
“No,” she said, clutching his arm and digging her fingers in as an orgasm danced around the edges of her brain. Her hips starting moving, as a glorious white noise filled her ears.
“That’s what I thought,” he said, before biting her earlobe. “I want to feel it now Sara. I want to feel you come on my hand.” He leaned down to suck her nipple again just as he slid fingers into her, keeping his thumb pressed hard against her throbbing clit.
“Yes! Jack!” she cried out. The climax rolled over her, blinding and deafening her in a delicious little death. He sighed and pulled his fingers out of her. She leaned back, gasping for breath, hoping no one walked in on them but not caring at the same time.
He didn’t move or speak, just stood there staring at her, his rigid erection exposed, the thick tip of his cock glistening. She licked her lips and slid off the desk, palming him, and going up on tiptoe to cover his full lips with hers. He clutched her hair and shoved his tongue into her mouth, making her moan and wish they were at home, in bed, with her closet toy box. Her skin was burning for something more. He’d spoiled her, turning her in to a sex maniac along the way.
He broke the kiss but kept his fingers tangled up in her hair. Slowly, surely, he tightened his grip and brought a bite of pain to the pleasure room he’d created out of her previously aggravating workspace. He put his hand over the one she had pumping up and down his thick shaft. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse.
“Turn around,” he said, giving her hair a hard tug and making her head tilt back so he could lean in and bite down on her shoulder. “I want to fuck you.”
“Yes Sir,” she said, eager, willing and ready. She turned and he yanked her skirt up, dropping to his knees to rip her soaking wet panties off with his teeth. He stood up slowly, letting her feel every inch of his dick against her ass. She could sense his need for her. It was palpable, filling the space around them with its urgency. She spread her legs and arched her back, looking around through the curtain of her hair to stare at him as he seemed to be mesmerized by the sight of her exposed skin.
He had one hand on his dick and was licking his lips as he ran his large, warm palm up her thigh, across her ass and then between her legs. Without warning he smacked butt cheek, hard, then again, making her squeal and her body harden all over in anticipation. He was using his best open-palmed strike, not hurting, just stinging, exactly the way she liked it. He grunted every time he smacked her and she sensed her skin burning as a fresh orgasm rolled up from her core.
She had her head down, arms propped on the desk, absorbing the blows and willing the orgasm away but it was no use. Luckily, as she was about to scream from the intense pain and pleasure he grabbed her hips and pounded into her, groaning as he reached around to finger her clit at the precise moment her whole world went dark, then exploded behind her eyes like those ever clichéd fireworks.
“Oh, dear God,” Jack grunted and shivered, gripping her hips hard as his own kept moving against her. Finally he sighed and draped his still shirt-clad torso over her back, nibbling and kissing her shoulders and neck, burying his fingers in her hair as their bodies slowly calmed. He pulled out and turned her around. “That was a nice distraction, no?” He ran a finger down her face and across her lips. His eyes were almost midnight dark from satisfaction. “Huh baby?” he brushed his lips over hers then stepped back to pull his trousers back together before helping her fasten her bra in silence.
Finally, she stood, taking long, deep breaths and feeling better than she had in weeks. Not that they didn’t have sex nearly every day, usually in his house, after which he’d convince her stay, to move more of her stuff over in anticipation of their upcoming “cohabitation” as he liked to call it. But somehow today was…different, and better, just amazing, really.
“You’re amazing,” she whispered, kissing his fingertip and running her hand down his damp shirtfront. Her shaky knees forced her back down into her chair, where she’d sat not thirty minutes ago dreading facing him, her fiancé, her boss, essentially but still…
He dropped down in front her, hands on her bare legs, his crooked smile making her want to cry for some reason. “So about this fuck up,” he said, picking up the crumpled paper from earlier. “We’re gonna have to fix it, you know. Stewart Realtors don’t have fall throughs.”
She blinked, then burst out laughing. “I love you,” she said, leaning back and letting her legs rest on either side of her mans’ as he remained kneeling at her feet.
“I know,” he said. “I have that affect. But seriously Sara, what are you gonna do about this?” He held the incriminating paper between two fingers, the frown taking up residence between his eyes.
“I’ll figure something out. But not until after you take me home, let me get a long, hot shower and a big glass of wine. And more of this.” She lunged forward and kissed him, throwing her arms around his neck in utter abandon, surprising them both, as it was completely out of character for her. He rose, pulling her with him, kissing her and kissing her until she felt tears rising behind her eyes. Finally, he stopped and leaned back to look at her.
“Well, all right, if you insist.” He scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, smacking her ass all the way out the back door to her car. After he deposited her behind the wheel of her Beemer, he put the mutual release on her lap and patted it. “Stewart Realtors don’t…”
She reached out and cupped his cock, gratified to feel he was still half hard. “Stewart Realtors don’t what, big boy?” She stroked him and he shut his eyes for a second.
“No cheating. That’s harassment.” He stepped away and slammed her door. She started the car and rolled down the window, gazing up at him with her best sexy, sweet girl eyes.  He laughed then, a familiar, growly, sound that made her relax even more. “See you at home, loser,” he said. She grinned and started to roll the window up. “I love you,” he said, his eyes dark. Something about the expression on his face worried her but she pushed it aside in anticipation of a long relaxing weekend with her man.
“I know,” she called through the half open window, before backing out of her parking spot and taking off into the nearly non-existent Main Street traffic. She could sense the grin crossing her face all the way over to Jack’s house—soon-to-be-her house. She shook her head, unwilling to let her own insecurities and inability to totally absorb where she was in her life right now invade a rapidly calming psyche. Her phone buzzed in the passenger’s seat where she’d left it before stomping into the office. She grinned even wider at the sight of a message from him:
“Leather, I think, tonight. And the strawberries. You down with that Sara Jane?”


The End.
And now….be ready….because JACK GORDON is part of not one but 2 What To Read After 50 Shades of Grey Book Bundles! 
Get Part One Here (all links)Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVWZH24 Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433647iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/what-to-read-after-fsog/id871585639?ls=1&mt=11Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/what-to-read-after-fsog B&N Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-to-read-after-fsog-cj-roberts/1119468448?ean=2940149524617




and Part Three drop on Sunday, July 6!
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