V.L. Locey's Blog, page 96
April 7, 2014
Tuesday Tales - Lemon
Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week I`ll be sharing excerpts from my 2013 NaNoWriMo novel, Laco Law – The Gnarled Oak. Laco Law is an M/M historical western romance, set in the fictional county of Laco, Texas in 1867.
This week our word prompt 'Lemon’. In this excerpt Clayton and Zeke commit a crime in order to try to solve one.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
At ten minutes after one in the dark of night I too was questioning the sanity of the white man. One white man in particular. The lock on the harbormaster`s door was proving to be most obstinate. Zeke shuffled nervously behind me, using his girth to block out the sight of a man on his knees trying to gain illegal entrance to this small building. The irony that I was a sheriff trying to break in did not escape me. Finally I grew angry enough to pitch the lock-pick into the bay in a pique.
“Good thing you took up being a lawman instead of being a criminal,” the bruiser said before he drove his elbow into the thin glass window behind us. I cringed at the sound of shattering glass. The door creaked open. Ezekiel withdrew his long arm from the busted pane.
“You may see a bonus in your stipend, Deputy,” I whispered as we hurried inside the shed-like office. The building barely held Zeke and me.
“I got a better way for you to pay me back.”
I looked up from the wooden cabinet that held the books and records. I could not see his face due to the darkness, but I imagined he was smirking. My blood heated up slightly when an image of him paying me back floated in front of me. I shoved the licentious thought aside to return to work. The long, thick, leather-bound tome that held the name and cargo of all incoming vessels was quite hefty. I had come in earlier in the day using the ruse that I was here to pick up some cargo. All I had wanted was a close look at the interior of the tall, boxy building. Now that knowledge served us well. Zeke lit the stubby candle he had carried in his front pocket. We leaned over the log. Each page turned wafted the smell of old paper upwards. The handwriting changed numerous times, but the information was always the same.
“Here,” Zeke said when the last page fluttered to rest. I saw the name Price scrawled neatly on the fourth line. From that first entry the name Price, and the ships under that flag, grew with leaps and bounds. My heart was stumbling over itself. We flipped faster. The sweet smell of cheroot smoke now enveloped me. Zeke`s hair was loose to help hide his face during this covert mission. I longed to gather up a handful then rub it over my face. Instead, I bent closer to the log book.
The last page contained the most recent entries. The brittle paper slipped through my fingers. The flame sputtered when wax threatened to swallow the tiny fire. I ran my finger over each entry that had the Price name attached to it. The last ship had set sail to the Orient three weeks ago. The cargo was listed as cattle, sheep, various imported citrus such as oranges and lemons, and assorted livestock.
“He`s gone.” The admission was feeble. It fell off my tongue. My head dropped forward. The candle was blown out. I was taken into Zeke`s strong arms. There I lingered, in the dark, with my lover, tears trickling down my face. I had failed Boyden just as I had failed Rebecca and Harland and the Confederate Army. Boyden was sailing away from me listed as assorted livestock. My legs wanted to let me down. Zeke held me until I could gather myself properly. We left Galveston under the dark of night. Ezekiel spoke little and I even less. What was there for me to say? The crushing burden of guilt rode upon my back. Daylight did nothing to alleviate the darkness of loss. We rode. We ate. We drank. We did not touch or kiss or fuck. I suspect that my deputy was giving me time to mourn in my own way. Perhaps he should have pushed me to interact, but that was not his way.
Three days out of Galveston, the oddity of a gaily painted wagon ahead of us helped lift the fog of despair gathered around my head. Bright yellow and pink words exclaimed the wonders of Dr. Dante`s Dryworm Distilled Dislixior. We pulled up short when the owner of the wagon emerged from the rear with a rifle pointed at my midsection. My hand flew to the scar low on my belly. Zeke had his revolvers out of their leather before I could lay a hand on my rifle.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
This week our word prompt 'Lemon’. In this excerpt Clayton and Zeke commit a crime in order to try to solve one.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
At ten minutes after one in the dark of night I too was questioning the sanity of the white man. One white man in particular. The lock on the harbormaster`s door was proving to be most obstinate. Zeke shuffled nervously behind me, using his girth to block out the sight of a man on his knees trying to gain illegal entrance to this small building. The irony that I was a sheriff trying to break in did not escape me. Finally I grew angry enough to pitch the lock-pick into the bay in a pique.
“Good thing you took up being a lawman instead of being a criminal,” the bruiser said before he drove his elbow into the thin glass window behind us. I cringed at the sound of shattering glass. The door creaked open. Ezekiel withdrew his long arm from the busted pane.
“You may see a bonus in your stipend, Deputy,” I whispered as we hurried inside the shed-like office. The building barely held Zeke and me.
“I got a better way for you to pay me back.”
I looked up from the wooden cabinet that held the books and records. I could not see his face due to the darkness, but I imagined he was smirking. My blood heated up slightly when an image of him paying me back floated in front of me. I shoved the licentious thought aside to return to work. The long, thick, leather-bound tome that held the name and cargo of all incoming vessels was quite hefty. I had come in earlier in the day using the ruse that I was here to pick up some cargo. All I had wanted was a close look at the interior of the tall, boxy building. Now that knowledge served us well. Zeke lit the stubby candle he had carried in his front pocket. We leaned over the log. Each page turned wafted the smell of old paper upwards. The handwriting changed numerous times, but the information was always the same.
“Here,” Zeke said when the last page fluttered to rest. I saw the name Price scrawled neatly on the fourth line. From that first entry the name Price, and the ships under that flag, grew with leaps and bounds. My heart was stumbling over itself. We flipped faster. The sweet smell of cheroot smoke now enveloped me. Zeke`s hair was loose to help hide his face during this covert mission. I longed to gather up a handful then rub it over my face. Instead, I bent closer to the log book.
The last page contained the most recent entries. The brittle paper slipped through my fingers. The flame sputtered when wax threatened to swallow the tiny fire. I ran my finger over each entry that had the Price name attached to it. The last ship had set sail to the Orient three weeks ago. The cargo was listed as cattle, sheep, various imported citrus such as oranges and lemons, and assorted livestock.
“He`s gone.” The admission was feeble. It fell off my tongue. My head dropped forward. The candle was blown out. I was taken into Zeke`s strong arms. There I lingered, in the dark, with my lover, tears trickling down my face. I had failed Boyden just as I had failed Rebecca and Harland and the Confederate Army. Boyden was sailing away from me listed as assorted livestock. My legs wanted to let me down. Zeke held me until I could gather myself properly. We left Galveston under the dark of night. Ezekiel spoke little and I even less. What was there for me to say? The crushing burden of guilt rode upon my back. Daylight did nothing to alleviate the darkness of loss. We rode. We ate. We drank. We did not touch or kiss or fuck. I suspect that my deputy was giving me time to mourn in my own way. Perhaps he should have pushed me to interact, but that was not his way.
Three days out of Galveston, the oddity of a gaily painted wagon ahead of us helped lift the fog of despair gathered around my head. Bright yellow and pink words exclaimed the wonders of Dr. Dante`s Dryworm Distilled Dislixior. We pulled up short when the owner of the wagon emerged from the rear with a rifle pointed at my midsection. My hand flew to the scar low on my belly. Zeke had his revolvers out of their leather before I could lay a hand on my rifle.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
April 6, 2014
Holly Jody Gill Drops In
It`s my pleasure to welcome Holly back! Today she`s sharing some blurbs and amazing cover work for her books. I`m sure you`ll find something here to warm up your eReader.
*~*
Desires blurb
Desires—a place where fantasies are made flesh and dreams become real. From BDSM to being a dog, Desires can provide it with bells on, if that’s your kink.
Stacie Clifford’s only desire is to regain her sexual confidence after her recent escape from an abusive marriage. She joins Desires looking for re-education in the joys of her body. There is only one condition; her contract states emotional attraction between tutor and student is forbidden. Stacie is fine with that; her heart is so battered she has no desire to give it to anyone else.
Then she meets her instructor, Dan. Instantly attracted, at first Stacie thinks it will help to make her sexually comfortable with him. But when she realises she is falling in love, she can’t tear herself away, contract or no. Stacie knows that, no matter how kind and caring Dan appears, he’s just doing his job. Can Stacie overcome her own Desires and walk away?
Touching Angel’s Desires blurb
Angel’s life was one, big, long, dream come true. Young, beautiful, sexy, and in charge of Desires—the best sex club in the country. An entire staff of delicious men and delectable women was at her beck and call, ready to indulge her every carnal whim.
When vulnerable abuse survivor Stacie Clifford tentatively approached Desires for help getting her sexual confidence back, Angel had no qualms about assigning her secret favourite Dan McVeigh as her tutor. Gentle and sweet, Dan was just what Stacie needed.
Angel hadn’t realized just how powerful her suppressed feelings for Dan were until she noticed Dan and Stacie were getting on a little too well. Despite Dan’s insistence that all was strictly professional, maybe it was time to persuade Stacie that Desires was not for her. Just how far would Angel go to keep Dan to herself?
No one touched Angel’s Desires.
Desires Secrets Blurb
Two and a half years after her first visit to Desires, Stacie Clifford’s life has done a 180. Settled and happy with her beloved Dan, baby Ryan has completed their lives.
When Dan suggests revisiting Desires for some sexy couple time away, Stacie is unaccountably cautious until she finds that Angel will not be there. She didn’t know why, but she always had a gut feeling that Angel was not to be trusted. With Angel out of the way, she and Dan, together with their good friends Jason and Chrissie, proceed to indulge in the many and varied delights of Desires. Stacie even decides to explore some of her own secret fantasies.
But events soon take a dramatic turn, threatening to shatter Stacie’s new, happy life. What secrets lurk inside the walls of Desires?
Buy Links:Secret Cravings publishersAmazon UKAmazon.com
Links to me:http://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthorhttp://hollyjgill.blogspot.co.uk/https://twitter.com/HollyJGill
*~*
Desires blurb
Desires—a place where fantasies are made flesh and dreams become real. From BDSM to being a dog, Desires can provide it with bells on, if that’s your kink.
Stacie Clifford’s only desire is to regain her sexual confidence after her recent escape from an abusive marriage. She joins Desires looking for re-education in the joys of her body. There is only one condition; her contract states emotional attraction between tutor and student is forbidden. Stacie is fine with that; her heart is so battered she has no desire to give it to anyone else.
Then she meets her instructor, Dan. Instantly attracted, at first Stacie thinks it will help to make her sexually comfortable with him. But when she realises she is falling in love, she can’t tear herself away, contract or no. Stacie knows that, no matter how kind and caring Dan appears, he’s just doing his job. Can Stacie overcome her own Desires and walk away?
Touching Angel’s Desires blurb
Angel’s life was one, big, long, dream come true. Young, beautiful, sexy, and in charge of Desires—the best sex club in the country. An entire staff of delicious men and delectable women was at her beck and call, ready to indulge her every carnal whim.
When vulnerable abuse survivor Stacie Clifford tentatively approached Desires for help getting her sexual confidence back, Angel had no qualms about assigning her secret favourite Dan McVeigh as her tutor. Gentle and sweet, Dan was just what Stacie needed.
Angel hadn’t realized just how powerful her suppressed feelings for Dan were until she noticed Dan and Stacie were getting on a little too well. Despite Dan’s insistence that all was strictly professional, maybe it was time to persuade Stacie that Desires was not for her. Just how far would Angel go to keep Dan to herself?
No one touched Angel’s Desires.
Desires Secrets Blurb
Two and a half years after her first visit to Desires, Stacie Clifford’s life has done a 180. Settled and happy with her beloved Dan, baby Ryan has completed their lives.
When Dan suggests revisiting Desires for some sexy couple time away, Stacie is unaccountably cautious until she finds that Angel will not be there. She didn’t know why, but she always had a gut feeling that Angel was not to be trusted. With Angel out of the way, she and Dan, together with their good friends Jason and Chrissie, proceed to indulge in the many and varied delights of Desires. Stacie even decides to explore some of her own secret fantasies.
But events soon take a dramatic turn, threatening to shatter Stacie’s new, happy life. What secrets lurk inside the walls of Desires?
Buy Links:Secret Cravings publishersAmazon UKAmazon.com
Links to me:http://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthorhttp://hollyjgill.blogspot.co.uk/https://twitter.com/HollyJGill
April 5, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday
Here`s a fun way to discover possible new reads. Just hop from one blog to the next for six paragraphs from that author`s current WIP or published work! This week I`ll be sharing something from my newest release, A Most Unlikely Countess, which is book 2 of the To Love a Wildcat hockey romance series.
“Is this good?” I shouted, got the nod, stood up then drank in the grounds. The trees were caped in gold, red, and amber. Leaves trickled down to the wet grass. There was a sense of serenity now that hadn`t been here last night. Maybe it was Mom`s being able to handle being here better than I thought she would. But deep down, as much as I hated to admit this, I knew I liked it here better today because Lin-Ye was gone for the day. There was something about that woman that made me glum. I walked back for another gnome, my belly growling as lunchtime approached. The cook, a delightful ginger-haired woman by the name of Mrs. Fraser, had been notified of my vegan tastes. She was now putting the final touches on some bean and rice burritos. “Okay, so where do we want this one?” I asked the gnome queen.
Mom looked over the expansive grounds, her eyes searching for the perfect spot. Smiling to myself when her eyes widened I turned to locate where the fat man with the rake would sit for a month. Instead of seeing a gnome home, I saw a silver Corvette roaring up to park behind the Jag.
“Is that the maid?” Mom asked, four ceramic gnomes held close to her chest, their tiny slippers dropping dried dirt down the front of her sweatshirt. I shook my head as the driver uncurled his tall frame from the sports car then ran his sight over his home. No, that was certainly no maid. The Count of the Crease had returned to his castle. He found us and waved. I raised my hand in reply. I shook my head. Hair blanketed my face. Mom was tapping my arm trying valiantly to get my attention, but my sight was riveted on Veikko as his long legs chewed up the distance from driveway to backyard.
“I see you are at home,” Veikko said as he approached. The wind blew in my face, tossing my security blanket back from my eyes. He wore jeans and an officially licensed Wildcats jacket with his number and name stitched over his heart. His hair was caught in the same zephyr. He hadn`t shaved in a few days. Dark yellow scruff clung to his firm jaw and cheeks. I`m no fan of facial hair but on Veikko it looked passable.
“We don`t have a car,” Mom piped up. I threw her a look. Her brown eyes narrowed in confusion. Veikko stopped in front of us, letting his Wildcats duffel drop to the lawn beside his sneakers. His brows drew into a knot over his light blue eyes.
“I am sorry,” he offered at once still perplexed, “I meant I see you are happy at home. You have made my home yours,” the man explained. Mom made a sound of understanding.“It`s a beautiful home. Your maid isn`t very nice though. She left during dinner and all her food got fed to the raccoons.”At that Veikko looked at me for assistance. I eyed the empty in-ground pool and wondered if I could hide in the deep end for a few days.“I don`t have a maid,” the man said, clearly befuddled.
SCP Store - A Most Unlikely Countess
*~*~*
Don`t forget to check out all the other great Sneak Peeks!
Sneak Peek Sunday
“Is this good?” I shouted, got the nod, stood up then drank in the grounds. The trees were caped in gold, red, and amber. Leaves trickled down to the wet grass. There was a sense of serenity now that hadn`t been here last night. Maybe it was Mom`s being able to handle being here better than I thought she would. But deep down, as much as I hated to admit this, I knew I liked it here better today because Lin-Ye was gone for the day. There was something about that woman that made me glum. I walked back for another gnome, my belly growling as lunchtime approached. The cook, a delightful ginger-haired woman by the name of Mrs. Fraser, had been notified of my vegan tastes. She was now putting the final touches on some bean and rice burritos. “Okay, so where do we want this one?” I asked the gnome queen.
Mom looked over the expansive grounds, her eyes searching for the perfect spot. Smiling to myself when her eyes widened I turned to locate where the fat man with the rake would sit for a month. Instead of seeing a gnome home, I saw a silver Corvette roaring up to park behind the Jag.
“Is that the maid?” Mom asked, four ceramic gnomes held close to her chest, their tiny slippers dropping dried dirt down the front of her sweatshirt. I shook my head as the driver uncurled his tall frame from the sports car then ran his sight over his home. No, that was certainly no maid. The Count of the Crease had returned to his castle. He found us and waved. I raised my hand in reply. I shook my head. Hair blanketed my face. Mom was tapping my arm trying valiantly to get my attention, but my sight was riveted on Veikko as his long legs chewed up the distance from driveway to backyard.
“I see you are at home,” Veikko said as he approached. The wind blew in my face, tossing my security blanket back from my eyes. He wore jeans and an officially licensed Wildcats jacket with his number and name stitched over his heart. His hair was caught in the same zephyr. He hadn`t shaved in a few days. Dark yellow scruff clung to his firm jaw and cheeks. I`m no fan of facial hair but on Veikko it looked passable.
“We don`t have a car,” Mom piped up. I threw her a look. Her brown eyes narrowed in confusion. Veikko stopped in front of us, letting his Wildcats duffel drop to the lawn beside his sneakers. His brows drew into a knot over his light blue eyes.
“I am sorry,” he offered at once still perplexed, “I meant I see you are happy at home. You have made my home yours,” the man explained. Mom made a sound of understanding.“It`s a beautiful home. Your maid isn`t very nice though. She left during dinner and all her food got fed to the raccoons.”At that Veikko looked at me for assistance. I eyed the empty in-ground pool and wondered if I could hide in the deep end for a few days.“I don`t have a maid,” the man said, clearly befuddled.
SCP Store - A Most Unlikely Countess
*~*~*
Don`t forget to check out all the other great Sneak Peeks!
Sneak Peek Sunday
April 3, 2014
A Most Unlikely Countess Release Day!
Today is the day! Liz and Veikko`s story is now available for purchase at the Secret Cravings Website. I am so happy and excited for the second book in my Wildcats series to finally be out. I think you`ll enjoy reading about our demure, yet remarkably resilient, heroine as she captures the heart of one of the league`s most famous goaltenders.
From beta readers to editors all the way to my proof reader, everyone has fallen in love with Elizabeth. I hope you do as well. I know I certainly did. Thank you all for your continued support. It truly is most deeply appreciated. *hugs*
Painfully shy Liz Argon probably shouldn`t be dreaming of Veikko Aho, star goalie for the Philadelphia Wildcats. As she works side by side with 'The Count of the Crease' on his memoirs, she finds herself falling for the handsome goaltender. His tender ways with her and her mentally fragile mother are slowly claiming her heart. If only Veikko wasn`t already engaged to a woman far better suited to move in to 'The Count`s' world. In book two of the To Love a Wildcat series, we`ll see if a glass slipper can survive in the rough and tumble world of professional ice hockey.
A Most Unlikely Countess
If you haven`t read Pink Pucks & Power Plays, the first book in the series, here`s the link for Viviana and Alain`s novel. I do suggest reading them in order.
Pink Pucks & Power Plays
From beta readers to editors all the way to my proof reader, everyone has fallen in love with Elizabeth. I hope you do as well. I know I certainly did. Thank you all for your continued support. It truly is most deeply appreciated. *hugs*
Painfully shy Liz Argon probably shouldn`t be dreaming of Veikko Aho, star goalie for the Philadelphia Wildcats. As she works side by side with 'The Count of the Crease' on his memoirs, she finds herself falling for the handsome goaltender. His tender ways with her and her mentally fragile mother are slowly claiming her heart. If only Veikko wasn`t already engaged to a woman far better suited to move in to 'The Count`s' world. In book two of the To Love a Wildcat series, we`ll see if a glass slipper can survive in the rough and tumble world of professional ice hockey.
A Most Unlikely Countess
If you haven`t read Pink Pucks & Power Plays, the first book in the series, here`s the link for Viviana and Alain`s novel. I do suggest reading them in order.
Pink Pucks & Power Plays
April 1, 2014
Jennifer Simpkins Pays a Visit!
Moving OnA NovellaBy Jennifer Simpkins
Blurb: Love hasn’t come easy to Hadley Jameson. With her daughter away at college, she’s decided to take time for herself and figure out what comes next. A cabin at Wildflower Creek seems like the perfect place to spend some time alone and gather her thoughts. But when she finds a strange man with sad eyes and a sexy grin in her cabin, her vacation plans change.
Being a firefighter, Ethan Crocker has seen some awful scenes play out, but none of his training could prepare him for when he’s called on to save someone close to home. When tragedy strikes, his life spirals out of control. After months of living in a fog, he’s determined to get his life back on track and be happy again. As luck would have it he finds a beautiful naked woman standing on the patio of his cabin rental, giving him the perfect distraction.
Excerpt:This wasn’t the first time Ethan Crocker had seen a beautiful women. Take that back, a beautiful semi-naked women. He just didn’t expect to find one standing on the patio of the cabin he was renting with her bikini bottoms off and working on her top. Her petite arms stretched around her back and untied the last stitch of clothing.It was one thing to see a woman briefly changing clothes, with all intention of putting something else on. This stranger outside seemed to enjoy being naked. After her top joined her bikini bottoms on one of the chairs, she tossed her head back, face towards the sky, with her arms spread out like a bird.A sharp ache throbbed in his chest. He’d known another lively, free spirited woman. And it felt as if, every time he thought about the loss in his life, the small dull ache hit him all over again.Was the woman he was staring at now, some kind of hippie? If so, that explained the whole being nude outside part. But besides her being stripped down and acting a little off with the “spreading her wings like a bird” thing, she didn’t look like a hippie to him. He didn’t quite know what he was dealing with yet.It was wrong to stand in the background and watch a woman when she thought she was alone. He felt as if he was intruding on a private moment. But for obvious reasons, like he hadn’t been with a woman longer than he cared to admit, and what he was staring at now was borderline erotic, he literally couldn’t look in any other direction. Because she was standing with her side to him, he could only make out her profile. That was enough for him to figure out her body was gorgeous. All that dark hair, that at the moment was in need of a brush, toned legs and arms, flat stomach, small, but perky breasts that would fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. Hell, even her small, perfectly shaped ears were turning him on.Shit.Legs suddenly feeling heavy, feet planted to the linoleum floor, Ethan couldn’t turn and retreat before the beautiful goddess glanced towards the sliding glass door. She had to have seen him. The doors were big and wide, hiding nothing. He also wasn’t trying very hard to be discreet.He watched as she hurriedly searched the patio before grabbing a large towel jumbled up on a table. She wrapped it around her body. It was then that her gaze landed on him again, but this time something resembling fire blazed there.Shit, shit, shit.“Who the hell are you?” the mystery goddess demanded after she slid the glass doors open. She stomped her way right up to him. “What are you doing in my cabin? And why were you gawking at me?”Her fierceness made him actually fall back a step. It was the first time he’d moved his feet since he’d caught sight of her outside. “Yours? I’m sorry, darling, but this is mine.” The next two weeks had been booked in his name months ago. Number nine. He’d made sure he got this specific cabin when he had made the reservation. “And I find it hard to believe you don’t already know the answer to that last question.”Her brown eyes with a hint of gold grew wide. “This place was booked for me a few days ago. I’ve been here since Monday night.”His attempt at flirting either went unnoticed, or she was just choosing to ignore him. That was okay. Her being pissed and wanting to get rid of him was for the best. He wasn’t at Wildflower Creek to get tangled up in a woman. He was there for…what? To find peace? Acceptance? To get his family off his back? Maybe he was just running. Not knowing why he was there only proved he neededto be there to figure it out.“It looks like we’re in a bit of a situation, now doesn’t it?” He held out his hand to her. “I’m Ethan, by the way.”With one hand gripping the towel wrapped around her body, she extended a hand out, but not to greet him. She snatched a spray can of sunblock off of the kitchen counter and held it up at face level with the nozzle aimed at him. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know if you’re telling me the truth about this cabin being booked for you too.” The finger she had placed on the trigger flinched. “But what I do know is that you’re a pervert. I suggest you get out before—”Ethan gave a smirk. “If I was a bad guy do you think a can of sunblock is going to save you?”“Do you really want to stick around to find out?” she shot back.
Buy Links:Secret Cravings PublishingAmazonB&NAReBookstrand
Bio:Jennifer has always been an avid reader, but it wasn't until she became a stay-at-home mom did she start to read romance. Her passion of reading romance turned into another passion she had as a child—writing. One late night of writing about sexy heroes and strong-willed heroines turned into two nights, until seven months later she had written her first novel.
She lives in a small, Tennessee town with her supportive husband (whose dream is to be on the cover of one of her books), a beautiful daughter, and two dogs who can’t seem to get along. If she's not writing you can find her reading, hanging out with her family, or cheering on the New York Yankees.
Connect with Jennifer:WebsiteFacebookTwitter
Pinterest
Blurb: Love hasn’t come easy to Hadley Jameson. With her daughter away at college, she’s decided to take time for herself and figure out what comes next. A cabin at Wildflower Creek seems like the perfect place to spend some time alone and gather her thoughts. But when she finds a strange man with sad eyes and a sexy grin in her cabin, her vacation plans change.
Being a firefighter, Ethan Crocker has seen some awful scenes play out, but none of his training could prepare him for when he’s called on to save someone close to home. When tragedy strikes, his life spirals out of control. After months of living in a fog, he’s determined to get his life back on track and be happy again. As luck would have it he finds a beautiful naked woman standing on the patio of his cabin rental, giving him the perfect distraction.
Excerpt:This wasn’t the first time Ethan Crocker had seen a beautiful women. Take that back, a beautiful semi-naked women. He just didn’t expect to find one standing on the patio of the cabin he was renting with her bikini bottoms off and working on her top. Her petite arms stretched around her back and untied the last stitch of clothing.It was one thing to see a woman briefly changing clothes, with all intention of putting something else on. This stranger outside seemed to enjoy being naked. After her top joined her bikini bottoms on one of the chairs, she tossed her head back, face towards the sky, with her arms spread out like a bird.A sharp ache throbbed in his chest. He’d known another lively, free spirited woman. And it felt as if, every time he thought about the loss in his life, the small dull ache hit him all over again.Was the woman he was staring at now, some kind of hippie? If so, that explained the whole being nude outside part. But besides her being stripped down and acting a little off with the “spreading her wings like a bird” thing, she didn’t look like a hippie to him. He didn’t quite know what he was dealing with yet.It was wrong to stand in the background and watch a woman when she thought she was alone. He felt as if he was intruding on a private moment. But for obvious reasons, like he hadn’t been with a woman longer than he cared to admit, and what he was staring at now was borderline erotic, he literally couldn’t look in any other direction. Because she was standing with her side to him, he could only make out her profile. That was enough for him to figure out her body was gorgeous. All that dark hair, that at the moment was in need of a brush, toned legs and arms, flat stomach, small, but perky breasts that would fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. Hell, even her small, perfectly shaped ears were turning him on.Shit.Legs suddenly feeling heavy, feet planted to the linoleum floor, Ethan couldn’t turn and retreat before the beautiful goddess glanced towards the sliding glass door. She had to have seen him. The doors were big and wide, hiding nothing. He also wasn’t trying very hard to be discreet.He watched as she hurriedly searched the patio before grabbing a large towel jumbled up on a table. She wrapped it around her body. It was then that her gaze landed on him again, but this time something resembling fire blazed there.Shit, shit, shit.“Who the hell are you?” the mystery goddess demanded after she slid the glass doors open. She stomped her way right up to him. “What are you doing in my cabin? And why were you gawking at me?”Her fierceness made him actually fall back a step. It was the first time he’d moved his feet since he’d caught sight of her outside. “Yours? I’m sorry, darling, but this is mine.” The next two weeks had been booked in his name months ago. Number nine. He’d made sure he got this specific cabin when he had made the reservation. “And I find it hard to believe you don’t already know the answer to that last question.”Her brown eyes with a hint of gold grew wide. “This place was booked for me a few days ago. I’ve been here since Monday night.”His attempt at flirting either went unnoticed, or she was just choosing to ignore him. That was okay. Her being pissed and wanting to get rid of him was for the best. He wasn’t at Wildflower Creek to get tangled up in a woman. He was there for…what? To find peace? Acceptance? To get his family off his back? Maybe he was just running. Not knowing why he was there only proved he neededto be there to figure it out.“It looks like we’re in a bit of a situation, now doesn’t it?” He held out his hand to her. “I’m Ethan, by the way.”With one hand gripping the towel wrapped around her body, she extended a hand out, but not to greet him. She snatched a spray can of sunblock off of the kitchen counter and held it up at face level with the nozzle aimed at him. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know if you’re telling me the truth about this cabin being booked for you too.” The finger she had placed on the trigger flinched. “But what I do know is that you’re a pervert. I suggest you get out before—”Ethan gave a smirk. “If I was a bad guy do you think a can of sunblock is going to save you?”“Do you really want to stick around to find out?” she shot back.
Buy Links:Secret Cravings PublishingAmazonB&NAReBookstrand
Bio:Jennifer has always been an avid reader, but it wasn't until she became a stay-at-home mom did she start to read romance. Her passion of reading romance turned into another passion she had as a child—writing. One late night of writing about sexy heroes and strong-willed heroines turned into two nights, until seven months later she had written her first novel.
She lives in a small, Tennessee town with her supportive husband (whose dream is to be on the cover of one of her books), a beautiful daughter, and two dogs who can’t seem to get along. If she's not writing you can find her reading, hanging out with her family, or cheering on the New York Yankees.
Connect with Jennifer:WebsiteFacebookTwitter
March 31, 2014
Tuesday Tales - Hug
Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week I`ll be sharing excerpts from my 2013 NaNoWriMo novel, Laco Law – The Gnarled Oak. Laco Law is an M/M historical western romance, set in the fictional county of Laco, Texas in 1867.
This week our word prompt 'Hug’. In this excerpt Clayton and Zeke meet Mr. Brooks Price.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
“I`m looking for Mister Brooks Price,” I told the office workers. Above us on the second floor, a man emerged from an office paned with glass. He was a well-dressed man, tall as I was, with a neatly trimmed blond mustache that curled on the ends. Perhaps he was close to fifty. His hair was slicked down flat to each side of his head, the hair dressing making the golden hair on his head appear a shade or two darker than his handlebar mustache. The part showed his scalp to be quite white. His suit was made of wool, clearly custom tailored as it fit him perfectly. He sported a fine long coat and elaborate cravat. His boots shone like a newly minted coin.
“I do hope I have not done anything unlawful, Sheriff." Mister Price smiled as he motioned us up the stairs then led us into his office. It was a well-appointed suite with a mahogany desk, four windows, and several chairs. There was a round table with dainty chairs hugging the corner. “My darling sister stops in for tea daily when she is in town,” he explained as I stared at the dainty cups and saucers already in place. The door closed behind my deputy. I looked from the frail table and delicate seats to our host.
“Thank you for allowing us to come in,” I said. Mister Price smiled at us. He seemed to smile a great deal. Most folks when confronted by two lawmen that smelled as rank as we would be less than friendly.
“It would be rude to not accommodate the law from my illustrious home county!” he chuckled as he settled into a huge chair behind his massive desk. Zeke and I stood before him but several feet back. We did not dare put our boots onto the finely made oval rug that covered most of the office floor. “Can I interest you in some bourbon? Or a cigar?”
Zeke threw me a suspicious sideways glance. I shook my head at the generous offer.
“We thank you for your hospitality, but we cannot accept. What we would like is just a moment of your time so that we can discuss a rather distressing situation that we have come across in the course of our duties.”
Mister Price leaned back in his leather upholstered seat, his fingers steepled under his rather long nose. His blond eyebrows knitted over his eyes.
“That sounds quite serious,” he said behind his fingers.
“Indeed it is. Are you the sole owner of the Price Cargo & Shipping Company?” I asked. Price`s gaze was heavy. I did not allow myself to shuffle or look away. He tapped his lips with his fingers.
“I am not,” he replied, lowering his hands from his lips. They came to rest on his desk. “That is a partnership with the city of Galveston. The Price name was graciously allotted the business as it is a well recognized and respected name. Why do you ask, Sheriff?”
“What exactly is it that you ship, Mister Price?”
He paused in his extraction of a fat cigar from a wooden box upon his desk.
“What tribe are you from, boy?” he asked out of the blue. Zeke`s fingers tightened on the band of his scruffy hat. The beads and feathers tinkled as he pawed the brim.
“I`m no boy,” my deputy replied, his voice deeply grating.
“Let me explain something to the both of you,” Mister Price said. He then made us wait until the end of his cigar was snipped off. He held out a lighter to Zeke. “Why don`t you come over here and light this for me, Deputy?”
“My deputy is not here to serve in the form of domestic help for you, Mister Price.” My tone was cold. My hackles were more than ruffled, they were raised. The man behind the desk smiled around the cigar held in his teeth. He struck the lighter then puffed loudly. I glanced at Zeke. He was holding onto his temper by the thinnest of tethers. I shook my head infinitesimally at him. His eyes darted to the painting of the Price ranch back in Laco that hung behind a cloud of cigar smoke. It did not waver until we turned to leave a moment later.
“That is where you are wrong, Sheriff Moore. You and your deputy both are here to serve me in whatever avenue I so see fit. Do you have any idea who it is that pays the stipend the sheriff of Laco draws?”
“No, Sir, I do not,” I said but I knew. As soon as he asked, I knew.
“Well, Son, you`re a smart Louisiana boy, I thought you`d be able to put two and two together faster than your red-skinned partner here.” Price waved his stubby cigar at Zeke. “I pay the law in Laco. I pay the mayor, the city council, the cattlemen, and the whores. Well, I only pay the whores when they`re done being on their knees, but the point is that Laco, its surrounding lands, and the rails that are quickly approaching all belong to me or soon will. Now, let me ask you once again, and I would like you to think about your reply before you make it. Why are you asking about my business ventures, Sheriff?”
“No reason, Mister Price. I believe I may have been mistaken. Thank you for your time.” I placed my dusty Stetson on my head, spun on my worn boot heel, and left Brooks Price smirking at my retreating backside. Ezekiel practically oozed confusion. Neither of us spoke until we were riding slowly down one of a hundred busy side streets.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Zeke asked as we ambled past the impressive storefront for the Price Cargo & Shipping Company.
“I`m stepping off the man`s toes. Tell me; are you any good at entering an establishment after business hours?”
“I`m no thief if that`s what you`re asking,” Zeke snapped with mild umbrage. Hessie and Storm plodded along, my mare trying to nip passersby’s that got too close.
“That is not what I was asking at all,” I replied as I looked over at him. His thick black eyebrows were wound around each other. I chuckled lightly at his bewilderment.
“Weren`t you thinking of breaking into Price Cargo & Shipping?” my deputy asked as his horse sidestepped a wagon filled with barrels fresh from the harbor.
“I was not,” I said, turning the corner then stopping so that we could drink in the sight of the Galveston seaport. White gulls swooped downward while screaming loudly. Sails snapped in the wind. Tall ships and short ships jockeyed for available piers. Steamships lumbered to and fro in the choppy water of the Galveston Bay. The smell of fish, guts, sailors, and sea was overpowering. “I was thinking of breaking into the harbormaster`s office. Breaking into Price Cargo & Shipping after our little meeting with the owner would be more than foolish.”
“Breaking into the harbormaster`s office is smart?”
I tapped my temple.
“I will never understand the white man.”
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
This week our word prompt 'Hug’. In this excerpt Clayton and Zeke meet Mr. Brooks Price.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
“I`m looking for Mister Brooks Price,” I told the office workers. Above us on the second floor, a man emerged from an office paned with glass. He was a well-dressed man, tall as I was, with a neatly trimmed blond mustache that curled on the ends. Perhaps he was close to fifty. His hair was slicked down flat to each side of his head, the hair dressing making the golden hair on his head appear a shade or two darker than his handlebar mustache. The part showed his scalp to be quite white. His suit was made of wool, clearly custom tailored as it fit him perfectly. He sported a fine long coat and elaborate cravat. His boots shone like a newly minted coin.
“I do hope I have not done anything unlawful, Sheriff." Mister Price smiled as he motioned us up the stairs then led us into his office. It was a well-appointed suite with a mahogany desk, four windows, and several chairs. There was a round table with dainty chairs hugging the corner. “My darling sister stops in for tea daily when she is in town,” he explained as I stared at the dainty cups and saucers already in place. The door closed behind my deputy. I looked from the frail table and delicate seats to our host.
“Thank you for allowing us to come in,” I said. Mister Price smiled at us. He seemed to smile a great deal. Most folks when confronted by two lawmen that smelled as rank as we would be less than friendly.
“It would be rude to not accommodate the law from my illustrious home county!” he chuckled as he settled into a huge chair behind his massive desk. Zeke and I stood before him but several feet back. We did not dare put our boots onto the finely made oval rug that covered most of the office floor. “Can I interest you in some bourbon? Or a cigar?”
Zeke threw me a suspicious sideways glance. I shook my head at the generous offer.
“We thank you for your hospitality, but we cannot accept. What we would like is just a moment of your time so that we can discuss a rather distressing situation that we have come across in the course of our duties.”
Mister Price leaned back in his leather upholstered seat, his fingers steepled under his rather long nose. His blond eyebrows knitted over his eyes.
“That sounds quite serious,” he said behind his fingers.
“Indeed it is. Are you the sole owner of the Price Cargo & Shipping Company?” I asked. Price`s gaze was heavy. I did not allow myself to shuffle or look away. He tapped his lips with his fingers.
“I am not,” he replied, lowering his hands from his lips. They came to rest on his desk. “That is a partnership with the city of Galveston. The Price name was graciously allotted the business as it is a well recognized and respected name. Why do you ask, Sheriff?”
“What exactly is it that you ship, Mister Price?”
He paused in his extraction of a fat cigar from a wooden box upon his desk.
“What tribe are you from, boy?” he asked out of the blue. Zeke`s fingers tightened on the band of his scruffy hat. The beads and feathers tinkled as he pawed the brim.
“I`m no boy,” my deputy replied, his voice deeply grating.
“Let me explain something to the both of you,” Mister Price said. He then made us wait until the end of his cigar was snipped off. He held out a lighter to Zeke. “Why don`t you come over here and light this for me, Deputy?”
“My deputy is not here to serve in the form of domestic help for you, Mister Price.” My tone was cold. My hackles were more than ruffled, they were raised. The man behind the desk smiled around the cigar held in his teeth. He struck the lighter then puffed loudly. I glanced at Zeke. He was holding onto his temper by the thinnest of tethers. I shook my head infinitesimally at him. His eyes darted to the painting of the Price ranch back in Laco that hung behind a cloud of cigar smoke. It did not waver until we turned to leave a moment later.
“That is where you are wrong, Sheriff Moore. You and your deputy both are here to serve me in whatever avenue I so see fit. Do you have any idea who it is that pays the stipend the sheriff of Laco draws?”
“No, Sir, I do not,” I said but I knew. As soon as he asked, I knew.
“Well, Son, you`re a smart Louisiana boy, I thought you`d be able to put two and two together faster than your red-skinned partner here.” Price waved his stubby cigar at Zeke. “I pay the law in Laco. I pay the mayor, the city council, the cattlemen, and the whores. Well, I only pay the whores when they`re done being on their knees, but the point is that Laco, its surrounding lands, and the rails that are quickly approaching all belong to me or soon will. Now, let me ask you once again, and I would like you to think about your reply before you make it. Why are you asking about my business ventures, Sheriff?”
“No reason, Mister Price. I believe I may have been mistaken. Thank you for your time.” I placed my dusty Stetson on my head, spun on my worn boot heel, and left Brooks Price smirking at my retreating backside. Ezekiel practically oozed confusion. Neither of us spoke until we were riding slowly down one of a hundred busy side streets.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Zeke asked as we ambled past the impressive storefront for the Price Cargo & Shipping Company.
“I`m stepping off the man`s toes. Tell me; are you any good at entering an establishment after business hours?”
“I`m no thief if that`s what you`re asking,” Zeke snapped with mild umbrage. Hessie and Storm plodded along, my mare trying to nip passersby’s that got too close.
“That is not what I was asking at all,” I replied as I looked over at him. His thick black eyebrows were wound around each other. I chuckled lightly at his bewilderment.
“Weren`t you thinking of breaking into Price Cargo & Shipping?” my deputy asked as his horse sidestepped a wagon filled with barrels fresh from the harbor.
“I was not,” I said, turning the corner then stopping so that we could drink in the sight of the Galveston seaport. White gulls swooped downward while screaming loudly. Sails snapped in the wind. Tall ships and short ships jockeyed for available piers. Steamships lumbered to and fro in the choppy water of the Galveston Bay. The smell of fish, guts, sailors, and sea was overpowering. “I was thinking of breaking into the harbormaster`s office. Breaking into Price Cargo & Shipping after our little meeting with the owner would be more than foolish.”
“Breaking into the harbormaster`s office is smart?”
I tapped my temple.
“I will never understand the white man.”
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
March 30, 2014
A Most Unlikely Countess Excerpt
I hope this last Sunday of the month finds you hale and hearty!
Since I pulled a silly me and forgot to sign up for Sunday Sneak Peeks this week, I thought I`d just go ahead and share a bit from A Most Unlikely Countess, book two of the To Love a Wildcat series. Release is set for 4/4, unless something unexpected crops up. I hope you enjoy this little look at Liz`s life after she agrees to pen Veikko`s memoirs. This scene takes place after a rather memorable trip to the Wildcats` locker room for our shy little biographer.
Even though this blog does have a mature content warning before you enter, let me put this up just in case:
This excerpt contains mature and explicit language that concerns a certain part of the male anatomy. These are hockey players, folks. They`re not nuns. If such words offend you, do not read any further. If you like dirty words and/or hockey players in various forms of undress, read on!
*~*
A brief volley of cock-related jibes flew back and forth. I was never so grateful to see a man as I was when Veikko appeared. He was still in his pads and uniform, having stayed on the ice longer to drill with the assistant goaltending coach, Sebastian Kirby, a tall lean man with a warm smile hiding under a huge nose. Coach Kirby`s task was to fire shots at the goalie repeatedly. Veikko looked down at me hidden among his equipment and clothing.“Is there a reason you`re hiding in my cubicle?” he asked, leaning on his fat hockey stick, a trace of amusement playing over his lips.“She is hiding from all the penises,” Alain offered, sliding his briefs up over his firm ass. I mean, what I assume would be a firm ass. Not that I was eyeballing my best buddy`s boyfriend’s backside or anything. Oh God, even my eyelashes were hot with embarrassment. My ass scooted further into the enclosure.“Well, that`s understandable,” Veikko said casually, “Seeing such tiny things being touted as something large and impressive would confuse any woman.” He winked at me then offered me his hand. Sliding my fingers across his palm I inhaled at the sensation of his flesh and mine meeting. Keeping my eyes averted I muttered a query about the exit.“Tiny? Please! My cock is so formidable it could be used as a battering ram,” Lessard threw back, driving his elbow into Andersson`s ribs. The captain grunted, hitched up his towel, and slapped the young pup from Quebec upside his wet head.“Do you think you can stop talking about your stupid puny dick, Lessard? Can`t you see the woman isn`t used to having genitals in her face?” Andersson barked.Yeah, that was the final straw. I made a wild run for the exit, slamming into and then rebounding off the imposing-yet-handsome-for-an-old-guy form of head coach Philip Moore. If I were thirty years older and not mortified on a continual basis . . .I didn`t stop running until I was out of wind, which was roughly twenty feet from a ladies room. Inside I went, huffing and puffing. I was not about to blow anything down.“Shit,” I mumbled as I found my reflection in one of fifteen mirrors over fifteen sinks. My cheeks were still scarlet. My hair was filled with static. I must have been sweating because my mascara had run. I looked like some introverted chick version of Brandon Lee in The Crow. Digging into my black canvas tote I located a scrunchie. It was green with yellow polka dots, which clashed pretty badly with the whole gray skirt, leggings, vest, and long-sleeved blouse look I was rocking but, tough shit. Pulling my hair back I pony-tailed the ebony mass then I scrubbed my face violently, hoping to remove not only the mascara but the shame of being so fucking inhibited.As I was drying my face on coarse brown paper towels, the door opened. I lowered the clump of damp towels to see Veikko peeking around the door.“Are you alone in here?” he asked on a whisper. I nodded. He stepped inside. The man filled the ladies room with his presence and padding. “I think I should apologize. I know you`re shy. I should not have plunked you down like a delicate rose among all those nasty weeds.”“It`s okay,” I mumbled, balling the towels tightly in my left hand. He shook his head. He had shed his skates but he was still in his goalie get-up. The scent of sweaty man clung to him. It wasn`t a bad smell at all. No, not at all.“You`re too forgiving,” he said, reaching out to grab my chin to lift my sight from his black stocking-clad feet. “The next time you can talk to them when they are not naked.”“Thanks.” I smiled. He smiled back. The sink behind me was a Godsend for it kept me upright.“Your eyes are so warm,” Veikko said, tipping my head back slightly, the pads of his fingers rough on my freshly scrubbed skin. “You should wear your hair off your face so that those eyes can be seen. Most women, they don`t have honesty in their eyes, but you? You think it then there it is on your face and in your eyes. It is something I haven`t seen for many years.”
My brain was screaming for someone in my cranial language department to make words. Obviously they were on a coffee break. Some weird gurgle happened in my throat. Voices erupted in the hallway. Veikko released my chin.
Since I pulled a silly me and forgot to sign up for Sunday Sneak Peeks this week, I thought I`d just go ahead and share a bit from A Most Unlikely Countess, book two of the To Love a Wildcat series. Release is set for 4/4, unless something unexpected crops up. I hope you enjoy this little look at Liz`s life after she agrees to pen Veikko`s memoirs. This scene takes place after a rather memorable trip to the Wildcats` locker room for our shy little biographer.
Even though this blog does have a mature content warning before you enter, let me put this up just in case:
This excerpt contains mature and explicit language that concerns a certain part of the male anatomy. These are hockey players, folks. They`re not nuns. If such words offend you, do not read any further. If you like dirty words and/or hockey players in various forms of undress, read on!
*~*
A brief volley of cock-related jibes flew back and forth. I was never so grateful to see a man as I was when Veikko appeared. He was still in his pads and uniform, having stayed on the ice longer to drill with the assistant goaltending coach, Sebastian Kirby, a tall lean man with a warm smile hiding under a huge nose. Coach Kirby`s task was to fire shots at the goalie repeatedly. Veikko looked down at me hidden among his equipment and clothing.“Is there a reason you`re hiding in my cubicle?” he asked, leaning on his fat hockey stick, a trace of amusement playing over his lips.“She is hiding from all the penises,” Alain offered, sliding his briefs up over his firm ass. I mean, what I assume would be a firm ass. Not that I was eyeballing my best buddy`s boyfriend’s backside or anything. Oh God, even my eyelashes were hot with embarrassment. My ass scooted further into the enclosure.“Well, that`s understandable,” Veikko said casually, “Seeing such tiny things being touted as something large and impressive would confuse any woman.” He winked at me then offered me his hand. Sliding my fingers across his palm I inhaled at the sensation of his flesh and mine meeting. Keeping my eyes averted I muttered a query about the exit.“Tiny? Please! My cock is so formidable it could be used as a battering ram,” Lessard threw back, driving his elbow into Andersson`s ribs. The captain grunted, hitched up his towel, and slapped the young pup from Quebec upside his wet head.“Do you think you can stop talking about your stupid puny dick, Lessard? Can`t you see the woman isn`t used to having genitals in her face?” Andersson barked.Yeah, that was the final straw. I made a wild run for the exit, slamming into and then rebounding off the imposing-yet-handsome-for-an-old-guy form of head coach Philip Moore. If I were thirty years older and not mortified on a continual basis . . .I didn`t stop running until I was out of wind, which was roughly twenty feet from a ladies room. Inside I went, huffing and puffing. I was not about to blow anything down.“Shit,” I mumbled as I found my reflection in one of fifteen mirrors over fifteen sinks. My cheeks were still scarlet. My hair was filled with static. I must have been sweating because my mascara had run. I looked like some introverted chick version of Brandon Lee in The Crow. Digging into my black canvas tote I located a scrunchie. It was green with yellow polka dots, which clashed pretty badly with the whole gray skirt, leggings, vest, and long-sleeved blouse look I was rocking but, tough shit. Pulling my hair back I pony-tailed the ebony mass then I scrubbed my face violently, hoping to remove not only the mascara but the shame of being so fucking inhibited.As I was drying my face on coarse brown paper towels, the door opened. I lowered the clump of damp towels to see Veikko peeking around the door.“Are you alone in here?” he asked on a whisper. I nodded. He stepped inside. The man filled the ladies room with his presence and padding. “I think I should apologize. I know you`re shy. I should not have plunked you down like a delicate rose among all those nasty weeds.”“It`s okay,” I mumbled, balling the towels tightly in my left hand. He shook his head. He had shed his skates but he was still in his goalie get-up. The scent of sweaty man clung to him. It wasn`t a bad smell at all. No, not at all.“You`re too forgiving,” he said, reaching out to grab my chin to lift my sight from his black stocking-clad feet. “The next time you can talk to them when they are not naked.”“Thanks.” I smiled. He smiled back. The sink behind me was a Godsend for it kept me upright.“Your eyes are so warm,” Veikko said, tipping my head back slightly, the pads of his fingers rough on my freshly scrubbed skin. “You should wear your hair off your face so that those eyes can be seen. Most women, they don`t have honesty in their eyes, but you? You think it then there it is on your face and in your eyes. It is something I haven`t seen for many years.”
My brain was screaming for someone in my cranial language department to make words. Obviously they were on a coffee break. Some weird gurgle happened in my throat. Voices erupted in the hallway. Veikko released my chin.
March 27, 2014
Iris Blobel Drops By/Book Giveaway!
It’s such a pleasure to be Vicki’s guest today. Thank you so much for having me here today.
I suppose it’d be polite to introduce myself first – I’m Iris, born and raised in Germany but I moved to Australia in the late 1990s. I’m married, have two beautiful daughters, work at a private school and present a German Program at the local radio every Wednesday.
But really, I’d love to talk about my latest books – New Beginnings and More Beginnings.I love writing stories that are set in Australia. It has some of the most beautiful sceneries in the world – beaches with coral reefs, the outback with the Uluru or the rainforest with the most amazing wildlife.
But there’s also a small island south of Australia, which is called Tasmania. This is where my latest series is set. Why Tasmania? It has everything from mountains to coral blue sea, from warm summers to cold winters, a chocolate factory in Hobart (!!), Australia's oldest operating brewery and the friendliest people.I fell in love with Tasmania during my first visit about 20 years ago and when I spent a long weekend in Hobart a few years back, I wondered what it would be like to move there – that’s how New Beginnings started.
New Beginnings is about Sophie and Mia Levesque, sisters who inherit a house in Hobart from a stranger. As eight-year-old Mia settles well into her new school and life in general, twenty-something-year-old Sophie is not only occupied by her search of what connected her to Clara, but also her new studies and the two men, who suddenly have become part of her daily life - Mark O’Connor, the lawyer representing Clara’s estate, and Zach, the hunk from across the road.
In “More Beginnings” the now teenaged Mia finds out about her father. It’s got a little bit of everything in it, relationship between sisters, grief, romance and the “mystery” of who the generous lady was, who left them the house.
Thank you all for stopping by. I truly appreciate it.
Links
~♣~ Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/More-Beginnings-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00I310OMM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390873925&sr=1-1
~♣~ Amazon.com.au: http://www.amazon.com.au/More-Beginnings-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00I310OMM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1390903300&sr=8-3&keywords=iris+blobel
~♣~ Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-beginnings-iris-blobel/1118329836?ean=2940148356462
~♣~ Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/402687
Blog: www.iris-b.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/irisblobel
Twitter: _iris_b
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
*~*
If you`ve read New Beginnings, leave a comment for Iris and you`ll be entered to win a copy of More Beginnings!
I suppose it’d be polite to introduce myself first – I’m Iris, born and raised in Germany but I moved to Australia in the late 1990s. I’m married, have two beautiful daughters, work at a private school and present a German Program at the local radio every Wednesday.
But really, I’d love to talk about my latest books – New Beginnings and More Beginnings.I love writing stories that are set in Australia. It has some of the most beautiful sceneries in the world – beaches with coral reefs, the outback with the Uluru or the rainforest with the most amazing wildlife.
But there’s also a small island south of Australia, which is called Tasmania. This is where my latest series is set. Why Tasmania? It has everything from mountains to coral blue sea, from warm summers to cold winters, a chocolate factory in Hobart (!!), Australia's oldest operating brewery and the friendliest people.I fell in love with Tasmania during my first visit about 20 years ago and when I spent a long weekend in Hobart a few years back, I wondered what it would be like to move there – that’s how New Beginnings started.
New Beginnings is about Sophie and Mia Levesque, sisters who inherit a house in Hobart from a stranger. As eight-year-old Mia settles well into her new school and life in general, twenty-something-year-old Sophie is not only occupied by her search of what connected her to Clara, but also her new studies and the two men, who suddenly have become part of her daily life - Mark O’Connor, the lawyer representing Clara’s estate, and Zach, the hunk from across the road.
In “More Beginnings” the now teenaged Mia finds out about her father. It’s got a little bit of everything in it, relationship between sisters, grief, romance and the “mystery” of who the generous lady was, who left them the house.
Thank you all for stopping by. I truly appreciate it.
Links
~♣~ Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/More-Beginnings-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00I310OMM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390873925&sr=1-1
~♣~ Amazon.com.au: http://www.amazon.com.au/More-Beginnings-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00I310OMM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1390903300&sr=8-3&keywords=iris+blobel
~♣~ Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-beginnings-iris-blobel/1118329836?ean=2940148356462
~♣~ Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/402687
Blog: www.iris-b.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/irisblobel
Twitter: _iris_b
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
*~*
If you`ve read New Beginnings, leave a comment for Iris and you`ll be entered to win a copy of More Beginnings!
March 25, 2014
Please Welcome Liza O`Connor!
What a great way to spend a Wednesday! Getting to meet a new author and learning about a new book is my preferred Hump Day activity. Today the talented Liza O`Connor is here to share some excerpts as well as some info about her contemporary romance, Ghost Lover. Take it away, Liza!
~~*~~
Ghost LoverBy Liza O’Connor
Contemporary Romance with a touch of paranormal
Blurb
Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him--beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
BUY LINKAMAZON
ExcerptsExcerpt 1
“So my brother steals all your money and to compensate you, he suggests you come to England, marry him, and he’ll give you his trust fund.” Only his brother could contrive such an absurd plan.“Yes.” By her brief answer, he gathered she thought it a perfectly reasonable solution.His brother might be an idiot, but this gold digger would soon discover Gar a force to reckon with. “Did he steal a half million from your bank account?”Brendon laughed. “Do you have any idea how long that would take? Cash machines only allow you two visits a day at two hundred dollars a pop.”“How much did he take?” Gar restated his question.“Four hundred,” Senna replied.Gar stared up at the ceiling praying for patience, then glared at Ditz. “So why didn’t you pay her back the four hundred?”Ditz stubbornly refused to answer, and instead glanced at the girl.She sighed and faced Gar. “Precisely what I asked. He said he didn’t have the four hundred, but if I married him, he would come into a half million. Since the landlord planned to evict me, I really had no choice but to accept the offer.”Excerpt 2Senna woke to her breast beeping. Trying to make sense of the oddity, she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows and discovered the noise came from Brendon’s wristwatch. Somehow, his hand had found its way beneath her bra during the night, and now chirped like a baby chick.She contemplated tearing his hand off at the wrist, but he looked so angelic with his curly dark hair framing his handsome face. With a heavy sigh, she unlatched her bra and eased his hand out, then gently shook him until his face scrunched into a pained grimace.He groaned and frowned at his noisy watch. “This is a god-awful hour to be woken up,” he said in his sexy British accent. “Never bothers me when I’m coming home at this hour.”Senna rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself.”Pushing himself up, he shook his head. “Remember the second night I came around? You kept yelling at me, ‘Did I realize it was four in the morning?’ At the time, I couldn’t understand your fuss.” He groaned and scratched his scalp. “Well, I certainly understand it now. It’s bloody hell to be woken at this ungodly hour.”
Excerpt 3Brendon moved to the window and stared out. “I don’t think you realized how bad things became for me when Nan died. I’d lost the only person who cared for me. I had no one left. The million dollars I lost on a roulette wheel wasn’t done just to get rid of the cook. I did it to get your attention. While you didn’t give a shit about me, you’ve always loved money. And it worked. You finally noticed me.”“And sent you away,” Gar said with remorse.“Yeah.” Brendon turned and gave him a faint smile. “Not exactly the response I’d hoped for, but it turned out all right. I met Senna and since then life keeps getting easier with each day. Now I find I even like you most of the time.”“Well, the feeling is mutual. You’re still eccentric, but you’ve a good heart and good intent, and I’m proud you’re my brother.”Suddenly the door opened and Senna walked in looking at both men with concern. “Are you two having a fight?”“Not at all.” Brendon smiled. “In fact, Gar told me he’s proud I’m his brother.”Senna’s eyes filled with appreciation as she grinned at Gar.Her smile almost broke Gar’s heart. God help him, but Brendon had nailed the truth. He did love Senna, and more than anything, he wanted her to be his wife.
AUTHOR INFO
About Liza O'Connor
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog, Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIZA O'CONNOR
Liza's Blog and Website Facebook Twitter
~~*~~
Ghost LoverBy Liza O’Connor
Contemporary Romance with a touch of paranormal
Blurb
Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him--beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
BUY LINKAMAZON
ExcerptsExcerpt 1
“So my brother steals all your money and to compensate you, he suggests you come to England, marry him, and he’ll give you his trust fund.” Only his brother could contrive such an absurd plan.“Yes.” By her brief answer, he gathered she thought it a perfectly reasonable solution.His brother might be an idiot, but this gold digger would soon discover Gar a force to reckon with. “Did he steal a half million from your bank account?”Brendon laughed. “Do you have any idea how long that would take? Cash machines only allow you two visits a day at two hundred dollars a pop.”“How much did he take?” Gar restated his question.“Four hundred,” Senna replied.Gar stared up at the ceiling praying for patience, then glared at Ditz. “So why didn’t you pay her back the four hundred?”Ditz stubbornly refused to answer, and instead glanced at the girl.She sighed and faced Gar. “Precisely what I asked. He said he didn’t have the four hundred, but if I married him, he would come into a half million. Since the landlord planned to evict me, I really had no choice but to accept the offer.”Excerpt 2Senna woke to her breast beeping. Trying to make sense of the oddity, she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows and discovered the noise came from Brendon’s wristwatch. Somehow, his hand had found its way beneath her bra during the night, and now chirped like a baby chick.She contemplated tearing his hand off at the wrist, but he looked so angelic with his curly dark hair framing his handsome face. With a heavy sigh, she unlatched her bra and eased his hand out, then gently shook him until his face scrunched into a pained grimace.He groaned and frowned at his noisy watch. “This is a god-awful hour to be woken up,” he said in his sexy British accent. “Never bothers me when I’m coming home at this hour.”Senna rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself.”Pushing himself up, he shook his head. “Remember the second night I came around? You kept yelling at me, ‘Did I realize it was four in the morning?’ At the time, I couldn’t understand your fuss.” He groaned and scratched his scalp. “Well, I certainly understand it now. It’s bloody hell to be woken at this ungodly hour.”
Excerpt 3Brendon moved to the window and stared out. “I don’t think you realized how bad things became for me when Nan died. I’d lost the only person who cared for me. I had no one left. The million dollars I lost on a roulette wheel wasn’t done just to get rid of the cook. I did it to get your attention. While you didn’t give a shit about me, you’ve always loved money. And it worked. You finally noticed me.”“And sent you away,” Gar said with remorse.“Yeah.” Brendon turned and gave him a faint smile. “Not exactly the response I’d hoped for, but it turned out all right. I met Senna and since then life keeps getting easier with each day. Now I find I even like you most of the time.”“Well, the feeling is mutual. You’re still eccentric, but you’ve a good heart and good intent, and I’m proud you’re my brother.”Suddenly the door opened and Senna walked in looking at both men with concern. “Are you two having a fight?”“Not at all.” Brendon smiled. “In fact, Gar told me he’s proud I’m his brother.”Senna’s eyes filled with appreciation as she grinned at Gar.Her smile almost broke Gar’s heart. God help him, but Brendon had nailed the truth. He did love Senna, and more than anything, he wanted her to be his wife.
AUTHOR INFO
About Liza O'Connor
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog, Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIZA O'CONNOR
Liza's Blog and Website Facebook Twitter
March 24, 2014
Tuesday Tales - Picture Prompt
Hello! It`s time for Tuesday Tales again.This week I`ll be sharing excerpts from my 2013 NaNoWriMo novel, Laco Law – The Gnarled Oak. Laco Lawis an M/M historical western romance, set in the fictional county of Laco, Texas in 1867.
We have a picture prompt this week so the excerpt is written to reflect the image and must be three hundred words or under. In this snippet we find Clay and Zeke have arrived in Galveston.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
When we emerged from that cattle car we were indeed a pitiful sight. Our horses looked, and I can assume, even smelled better than us. I drew in a deep breath. Among the various smells of a busy port city there was the salt water tang of the ocean on the wind. Zeke stood stiffly at my side, the reins to our horses white-knuckled in his left hand. The city of Galveston was truly remarkable.
It spread as far as the human eye could see. If you glanced in the direction of the harbor, you could see the masts of the sailing ships above the roofs of the hundreds of homes and businesses. Carts drawn by horses cluttered every available inch of space beyond the train depot. Dog was a flurry of indecision. Zeke spoke to him, telling him to stay close.
Wagons selling everything from furs, hand-crafted metallic mirrors, and chili con carne vied for our attention. We walked among the many hawkers peddling their wares. I finally did manage to get one of the ‘Chili Queens’ – the women who served food in the plaza – to point me in the direction of the Price Railroad building.
After paying her a penny for a cup of the spicy bean and meat concoction, she pointed us to the largest building in the railway plaza. Zeke enjoyed the chili con carne immensely
The Price Railroad & Port Authority office was an impressive wooden structure with three floors and many windows. We hitched our horses, removed our hats, told Dog to stay, stamped the cow shit from our boots, then entered the hustle-bustle office. Several young men looked up from desks. I saw Zeke tug up the grimy bandana around his thick neck.
“I`m looking for Mister Brooks Price,” I told the office workers. Above us on the second floor, a man emerged from an office paned with glass.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
We have a picture prompt this week so the excerpt is written to reflect the image and must be three hundred words or under. In this snippet we find Clay and Zeke have arrived in Galveston.
A note for my readers: This is a gay romance novel, and so the romance that occurs is man on man. If this is not your cup of tea, no one will think less of you if you read no further.
As this is my NaNo work, it is quite rough. I do ask that you overlook any glaring mistakes you may find. Please do check out the other wonderful writers after you`re done reading by clicking on the Tuesday Tales link at the bottom. Thanks for stopping in!
When we emerged from that cattle car we were indeed a pitiful sight. Our horses looked, and I can assume, even smelled better than us. I drew in a deep breath. Among the various smells of a busy port city there was the salt water tang of the ocean on the wind. Zeke stood stiffly at my side, the reins to our horses white-knuckled in his left hand. The city of Galveston was truly remarkable.
It spread as far as the human eye could see. If you glanced in the direction of the harbor, you could see the masts of the sailing ships above the roofs of the hundreds of homes and businesses. Carts drawn by horses cluttered every available inch of space beyond the train depot. Dog was a flurry of indecision. Zeke spoke to him, telling him to stay close.
Wagons selling everything from furs, hand-crafted metallic mirrors, and chili con carne vied for our attention. We walked among the many hawkers peddling their wares. I finally did manage to get one of the ‘Chili Queens’ – the women who served food in the plaza – to point me in the direction of the Price Railroad building.
After paying her a penny for a cup of the spicy bean and meat concoction, she pointed us to the largest building in the railway plaza. Zeke enjoyed the chili con carne immensely
The Price Railroad & Port Authority office was an impressive wooden structure with three floors and many windows. We hitched our horses, removed our hats, told Dog to stay, stamped the cow shit from our boots, then entered the hustle-bustle office. Several young men looked up from desks. I saw Zeke tug up the grimy bandana around his thick neck.
“I`m looking for Mister Brooks Price,” I told the office workers. Above us on the second floor, a man emerged from an office paned with glass.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week with more from the old West!
