Leigh Talbert Moore's Blog, page 5

All I Want for Christmas, #SWAG, and a #WIN!

Just fyi, reader-friends, I have both a cement truck and a table saw going outside my window right now, so this one's bound to be a bit rambly...

Perhaps my Christmas Wish List should start with #1-A nice, quiet writing space. (LOL!)

No, all the noise is from the construction on the house next door--I should be wishing for awesome new neighbors. (Or at least ones I get along with!)

I'm a writer in case you haven't noticed, so I'm always chasing trains of thought in my head, thinking about how humans interact with each other, contemplating how one different decision might change the outcome of any given situation.

It's fun! And I hope it's what keeps my characters and stories authentic. That's what I'm going for anyway.

I've been observing my interactions with the workers next door these last several weeks, imagining what they might think of the mole-lady who is often irritable when she has to ask them to move their equipment and crap so she can get out of the driveway to fetch her children from all their activities.

Lately, I've also been thinking a lot about how much has changed in publishing since this time last year. Back then, the type of romance stories I write were easy to market. Bloggers were excited to read them and schedules weren't so full.

Two things have changed--schedules are very full, and sensational eroticism seems to be the order of the day. It's prompted me to consider lying low until the pendulum swings back again.

If you're here, you've probably read at least one of my novels. They're all a bit different, some are much steamier than others, but some things are constants: I don't enjoy stories where the lovers are mean to each other or humiliate each other. I don't think abuse is sexy. I don't care for my heroes to call their lovers "sluts" and/or worse, I hope to make you smile and/or laugh at least once while reading...

It's kind of got me sitting and thinking a lot... just thinking. Nothing more.

You see, I prefer strong women--even if it takes them the course of the story to get there (Anna), it's coming. Stay with me.

Perhaps that's #2 on my Wish List--A reading majority who feels the same way... LOL! I bet every writer would ask for that. I'm probably just struggling with growing pains.

Pay no attention to the mole-lady behind the curtain. So other types of stories are enjoying the spotlight right now. What's a gal writer to do? Well, I'll tell ya...

Just keep swimming. Isn't that what we've been saying for years? It's still the truth.

And what's all this about Swag???

Well, I've created an Online Swag Store filled with fun book-cover stuff like posters, iPhone covers, etc.

Here's the link if you'd like to check it out (link)!
And if there's an item you'd like included, let me know! It only takes a day to whip it up and have it available.

* * *
Also, the HUGE Black Friday Giveaway is still going on... You can WIN FOUR $50 Amazon Gift cards!


Go here to enter (link)!
And Dragonfly is still on Sale for 99 Cents!

Enjoy the season, reader-friends! I know it's stressful at times, but remember what it's all about. Good friends, good food, and good times~

Have a SUPER week! I'm trying to find a quiet spot...

Friday, Friday, #SALES #Deals, and a Big #WIN!

Happy Day After Thanksgiving, reader-friends!

I hope you had a lovely day yesterday visiting with family, eating turkey, and being thankful.

I gotta be honest... I've never been much of a "door buster." I like sleeping in! That's changed a little since 99-cent books have been added to the equation. And the Internet. And it's probably fair to say everybody loves a great deal.

Today I'm part of TWO Black Friday events, one involving amazing books on sale for 99 cents, and one involving a great way to #WIN $50 Amazon Gift cards for even MORE shopping fun!

Here's the scoop:


The BIG Giveaway portion of the show has begun!!!
If you haven't already hopped over to the Black Friday Extravaganza Facebook Event (link) , now's the time to do it. Four $50 Amazon Gift Cards are up for grabs!

Here's the (link)! Click Here to Enter!
* * *
The second HUGE Black Friday Sale I'm in is sponsored by the Indelibles!

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!Check out these Black Friday Deals!

Lee StraussThe Perception SeriesYA sci/fi dystopian boxed set  $6.50  $.99Amazon only

Complete Perception Series set: Ambition, Perception, Volition and Contrition 

The PERCEPTION Series books (SF/mystery/romance) are Young Adult novels that take place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions--both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there's room to fall in love.


Leigh T. Moore
Dragonfly
YA 

$.99

Amazon: http://amzn.to/11i1vrmBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/13CvigtiTunes: http://bit.ly/13ixoDA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/13lpitJ

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy. Pulling
Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed
Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never
experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction
for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction.
But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by
the twins’ distant, single father. A secret that could permanently change all their lives.


Laura Pauling  A Spy Like Me
YA

$2.99  $.99

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo
Eighteen-year-old Savvy Bent expects fireworks on her first date with Malcolm - in Paris! Except over a picnic of sparkling cider and strawberry tarts, a sniper shoots at them.
That’s only the beginning. From the top of the Eiffel Tower to the depths of the catacombs, Savvy must sneak, deceive, and spy to save her family and friends and figure out whether Malcolm is one of the bad guys before she completely falls for him.


Christine Fonseca The Requiem SeriesYA Gothic Romance
Lacrimosa (Book #1) - $2.99 $.99  Libera Me (Book #2) - $2.99 FREE for KindleDominus (Book #3) - $2.99 $0.99 for Kindle
Some sacrifices should never be made...even for love


Katie Klein
Cross My Heart
YA Romance

$3.99  $1.99 

Amazon only

Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past—a reputation—and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there’s no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love. 


Fun Stuff! 
Have a SUPER weekend, reader-friends--as always, I'm thankful for YOU! See you Monday~

Happy Thanksgiving -- Give AND Receive!!!

I'm in Duck Dynasty country, reader-friends, hanging with the north Louisiana relatives, laughing, eating great food, watching the kids play. Love the holidays...

I also want to be sure and say THANK YOU!!! (again) to all of you for making my first year in publishing absolutely amazing.

I love sharing my stories with you, I love getting your feedback, and I'm looking forward to lots more fun in 2014! All of my books with links are in the side bar, so check them out~

Enjoy your family time, hug your relatives and friends...

And on *FRIDAY* remember to hit this amazing post-Thanksgiving sale-Party! hosted by the lovely Laura Howard! I'm in it along with loads of other great authors...

Join this Event and get ALL the updates!!! (link)
They're giving away books, FOUR $50 Amazon gift cards, and tons of great prizes.  "Join" the Facebook event (link) so you'll know whats happening and when!

And if you haven't started the Dragonfly series, now's a great time to do it!

Get Dragonfly for ONLY 99 CENTS right now (link)!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

* * *One final note, ALL of my paperbacks are in the "Kindle Match" program (link) , which means you can get them as FREE or 99 Cent eBooks!
Here's how it works:★Buy a paperback copy of ANY Leigh T. Moore paperback from Amazon (link) ★Get the Kindle version for 99 cents or FREE!

So you can give and receive! 

Just a heads up. 

Most importantly, enjoy your week, have a lovely holiday, and I'll see you back here in a few~ 

Rainy Days & Mondays and a chance to #WIN!!!

Happy Monday, reader-friends!

Shew, we made it through some rough weather yesterday! I hope all of you are safe and sound reading this--thoughts and prayers with those dealing with storm damage~

It seems like every year, right about now, I'm thinking, "Where did the time go?!"

This time last year, I was also still reeling with amazement over reader-response to The Truth About Faking (link) , my very first book published.

I'm still pretty amazed by it. Love you guys!!!

Then in February, I released The Truth About Letting Go (link) , which is a different story, a little more serious...

Readers are always "discovering" these books, and I LOVE when they/you touch base with me, either by email or Facebook or Twitter.

Over the weekend, Dia of Book Junkie Joint (link) wrote an amazing review for Letting Go . She said so many great things, but this was my favorite part:

"What I liked best about this story is that it masterfully depicted how different people had different ways of coping with pain. Others find that acting reckless gave them a sort of high which made them feel alive. Others simply move on and move forward. The key point is ... it's not the same for everybody. This was how it was for Ashley and Colt. It was also the reason why I understand Ashley's compulsion to be with Colt."

Love it when people " get " it...

Please hop over and leave a comment for Dia--Here's the (link).

Today, I've got two NEW books to share from two amazing author friends--check them out~

#1-Is a New Adult/Women's Fiction by Elle Strauss (link) , who is an amazing writer-friend for whom I've beta-read for years.

On Amazon I love the story behind this book, which she originally released in German in 2000!

Elle is Canadian/native English speaker, so this is the first time her non-German-speaking fans get to read it! More here (link).

East of Eden
by Elle Strauss

Regret is a formidable foe.

Eden Kelley is the primary caregiver for her mother who’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s only twenty-four. Not what she planned to do when she left her husband for a new start with her four-year-old daughter in tow. She’d hoped for free babysitting, but instead she found a mystery. The discovery of an erroneous marriage document leads to more questions, and unfortunately Eden can’t ask her mother for answers because she doesn’t remember. 

Her mother’s antics drive her crazy, but Eden’s determined to make the best of it. That includes finding the exciting romantic adventure she’d dreamed about. But when trouble knocks, it’s her husband Cade who arrives to help. It’s awkward and tense. And Eden comes to one sure conclusion: leaving her handsome, caring husband was a huge mistake.

Her parents had a second chance at love? Would she and Cade get one, too?

"I was enamored with the mystery surrounding her [Eden's] mom and dad. I eagerly read wanting to unearth their secrets. I was thoroughly pleased with what I found and how the whole story pieced together. ...And how her parent's story related to what Eden and Cade were going through...A perfect read if you are seeking a read that is light and mysterious." - Mandy Anderson, I Read Indies

Get it TODAY!   Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords

* * *
#2-Is by another great writer-friend Ali Cross (link) , and it's the next installment in her Desolation Diaries series.
On Amazon
Tattered Dreams
by Ali Cross

Miri has seen Akaros’ return—and James’ death. 

But James has been to Hell and back and refuses to let Akaros rob him of his future with Miri. 

Desi might not be there to save him this time, but James is determined to save himself. 

A Desolation Novella.

Get it TODAY!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords


And enter to #WIN All Three books in the Desolation Diaries series-- go here to enter (link)!!!
* * *
And what about you? Read any good books lately that touched you?

Have a SUPER week, reader-friends! Love ya~

Echoes, #TTYL, and a chance to #WIN!

Happy Friday, reader-friends!

Checking in with some FAB new books -- one is coming, one is out NOW, and you can #WIN!

Here we geaux~

Coming Soon! Great author-friend (and fellow Indelible), Cheri Lasota has an amazing YA contemporary romance with ghosts and a mystery and a lighthouse ....

Check out this gorgeous picture-teaser for it:

On Goodreads
Here's the blurb:

Echoes in the Glass
by Cheri Lasota

Finnian bears the scar of an unspeakable crime.
McKenna hides the pain of a terrible betrayal. 
When all their secrets are laid bare, will the truth rip them apart or forever silence the echoes of the past?

Seventeen-year-old Finnian Bell has been on the run for years, but he finally has a chance to rebuild his life while restoring an abandoned lighthouse on the Oregon Coast.  

McKenna Lucas, the lightkeeper’s daughter, is still reeling from the pain of an event that has shattered her innocence. Fear and bitterness have turned her heart from Finnian, but he is determined not to let her go.

The lighthouse harbors dark secrets of its own…

When Finnian and McKenna uncover the story of two teens hidden in the tower back in 1934, they discover a shocking connection that bridges time and death.

Add it on Goodreads Today (link)!

* * *
Out Now! Bethany Lopez (link) has been a FAB writer-friend for ages, and she's got a fun new YA contemporary romance series, "Stories of Melissa."

Book #4, TTYL (link) , JUST came out Tuesday! Check it out:

On Amazon

TTYL (Stories of Melissa #4)
by Bethany Lopez

The last few months have been a rough road for Melissa. Her grades have slipped, her parents treat her like a prisoner, and her closest friends are too involved in their own lives to spend time with her. 

Desperate to escape her depressing funk, she starts spending more time with Layla, who introduces her to a new crowd...the wrong crowd. 

When Melissa starts to go down a dangerous path, can anyone get through to her before she does something she'll regret?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

And you can #WIN Books #1-3 of the "Stories of Melissa" along with an audiobook of Make it Last by following this (link)!

* * * On Amazon
Sale Alert! One last note - If you haven't had a chance to start the Dragonfly series (by moi!),

Book #1 - Dragonfly is on SALE for 99 cents!

Get it Today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

* * *
That's all I've got for today, reader-friends! Have a SUPER reading-weekend~

Veterans, Special Projects, and #99cent Sales

First, Happy Veteran's Day!!!

I'm so, so thankful to the brave men and women who risk their lives for our country every day, some of whom are friends and relatives!

I just realized when I wrote "special projects" that could be confused with "special ops." And I'm okay with that...

I am working on a special project at the moment--I'll give more information as I can.

In the meantime, check out this amazing Thanksgiving event hosted by the lovely Laura Howard I'm a part of...

Join this Event and get ALL the updates!!! (link)
They're giving away books, FOUR $50 Amazon gift cards, and tons of great prizes. Join the Facebook event (link) so you'll know whats happening and when!

And if you haven't started the Dragonfly series, now's a great time to do it!

Get Dragonfly for ONLY 99 CENTS right now (link)!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
Here's a fun FAN-MADE picture-teaser that I LOVE~

On Amazon
And have a super holiday and week, reader-friends! ((huge hugs))

Pirates! A #Giveaway, and you can #WIN!!!

Argh!!! It's the birthday of French author Albert Camus , a Nobel Prize-winner who died in 1960 at the age of 46 in a car crash.

I was listening to a story about him on NPR this morning... well, actually, I tuned out half-way during the story (writer-brain!), but I caught a great quote before it was over.

It was all about Sisyphus, and Camu's essay on "The Myth of Sisyphus."

[Digression: I already knew about the myth from watching Party Girl , a movie that always reminds me of my great writer-friend (and former DJ) Matt "Rush" MacNish .]

Anyway, here's the quote:

"Meaning doesn't lie in the work, it lies in what you bring to the work." 
Nice, huh?

Note: Camus didn't actually say that, the NPR commentator said it, but I still liked it. Just doing a little writerly sharing. (Y'all know I'm a former English teacher, after all.)

* * *
Now, what about this GIVEAWAY?

Want to win a copy of Watercolor ???

Tiffany Talks Books is celebrating 5,000 "likes"; Go here and enter at **Prize Pack #19 (link)!

There are also TONS of other books up for grabs, so it's a whole kettle of fun!

* * *
As for the chance to #WIN, once again, I'm participating in The Romance Review's SUPERFUN Year-End Splash Party (link)!

Go here to win!
More than 400 authors are involved, and you answer Q&A questions, then you get to play a cover-art memory-match game, and all of this is for a chance to Win Free Books!

Watch out, though. Those games are SO addictive.

***Tomorrow you can try for a chance to win Undertow !

* * * And what's this about PIRATES???

If you have an insatiable appetite for PIRATES and romance with MYSTERY thrown in, than you are in for a great ride with the BANDITS series.

Book 2 in the series Wastelands by LM Preston (link) comes out Spring 2014 (May). And I have the smokin hot cover!

Check it out:

Add it to your GOODREADS reading list Today!
And enjoy a FREE read of the first book in the series, Bandits here.


Fun times, reader-friends! 
Have a super rest of the week and weekend~ 

Rouge #WINNER and Keeping Up

We have a Winner, reader-friends!!!

I went to the ole Random Number Generator, and it pulled.... #2!!!

Chris Fries--you Won the Rouge Audiobook (link)! 
Please email me at leightmoore(at)gmail.com so I can give you the claim number.

**woo hoo!!!** **throws confetti**
(Honestly, I would give all of you who entered a free copy, but unlike my ebooks, I don't have access to it that way. They only gave me like five codes.)

If you're interested in Rouge , the book, here's the link. I call it my "secret book" because so few people know about it... (LOL!) But it's a good one--just different from my other stuff.

Anywho! I'm in the reading cave doing beta reads for some fabulous author-friends.

Add Me! Today, I'm working on a new book ( Unexpectedly You ) by my lovely cover-designer Jolene Perry (link) and supersweet friend Cassie Mae (link).

They're writing together as Mia Josephs & Riley Janes. (I know! Wha-what???)

But it has something to do with their traditionally pubbed books... it's OK, though--I can tell you this so you know to go buy this FAB book by these amazing writer-friends when it releases later THIS MONTH...

After that, I get to read a superfun, super sexay new serial by my author-friend Magan Vernon (link).

Then I'll be heading into the next installment of   A Shot in the Light by one of my first bloggy buddies, the fantastic leader of the Naked World Domination campaign, Hart Johnson (link).

Seriously, if you love conspiracy theory stories , you will LOVE her Shot in the Light series. It's fast-paced, fun, and chilling AND it's only 99 cents on Amazon (link).

So lest you think I'm just hanging out, eating bonbons and not writing... LOL!

Have a super week, reader-friends! Back soon~ 

Scream for #HALLOWEEN, #WIN a Rouge audiobook!

Halloween is my all-time, absolute favorite holiday.

So in honor of the occasion, I'm RE-presenting my Top Three Favorite Halloween Memories starting from least scary to... well, most silly.
And Stay tuned... your chance to WIN! is at the end~

1. The Country Fair-McCue Road.
In elem-middle grades, I went to a private school that had a Country Fair every year on Halloween. There were games, dunking booths, crafts for sale, fair food, etc.

That was all fun when I was little, but when I got closer to high school, I realized the teenagers would always take off and run around to local "haunted" sites while all the children and parents were at the fair. (Back then you got your drivers' license at 15 and I had an older brother.)

There were two sites near where we lived that had several legends around them. The first was McCue Road. It led back into the woods and started off paved, but eventually it turned to gravel. Supposedly two dead bodies drained of all their blood had been found wrapped in garbage bags back on the gravel part. Naturally, that meant there was a coven of witches doing Black Sabbath rituals that we had to investigate.

The other was a grave at this Civil War-era cemetery in Zachary, La. I don't remember the name, but the grave had bars installed across the top because the legend was it contained the corpse of a witch. One by one the bars had been removed by... teenagers... and supposedly when the last bar was gone, she'd come back and kill us all.

All sorts of stories about cars going dead and then failing to start, power windows going down and not going back up, headlights going out and not coming back on, etc., were told by kids who'd tried to steal bars off the grave.

(To me that didn't make sense because wouldn't she want to come back? So why mess with the teenagers trying to release her?)

Nothing ever happened to us on these trips, but the memory of being 13 and allowed to tag along with the cool "big kids" on those adventures is still pretty vivid. It forms the basis of my Halloween love...

2. My Hero.

In college I dated a guy who was six-foot-two, 200 pounds--big guy. He stomped around town in Size 13 Docs, was the lead guitarist in a band. Mr. Cool, right?

He was also the youngest of nine kids--good south Louisiana Catholic family--and claimed when he was out running one night he saw the Spirit of Death (a dark shadow) rise out of a gutter and go into a house in his neighborhood. The next day (he said) the man who lived in that house died of a heart attack.

My boyfriend was also a major campy-horror-movie fan. Like the super B- variety. He made me watch The Evil Dead. And the sequels. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Piranha! (the original)...

So he and I went to this haunted house one Halloween--you know, the pretend kind where people dress up and try to scare you? Many of you have never seen me in person. I'm not so big. I'm about five-foot-four, and I weigh between 120 and 130 pounds, depending on if there are cupcakes in the house.

At one point on our haunted tour a fellow dressed as Leatherface with a chainless chainsaw ran out toward us. Immediately my giant boyfriend lifted me off the ground by my upper arms and threw me in front of him,  at  the guy with the chainsaw.

Me: What are you doing?!?!
Him: (panicked) They won't hurt a girl!
Me: They won't hurt anybody! It's all fake!

We all know that was a completely illogical response, btw. They always hurt the girl.

3. Trick or Treat.

We didn't celebrate Halloween at my house when I was a kid. Well, my paternal grandmother thought that was a lot of ridiculousness. So one year when my brother and I were visiting her at Halloween (we were very young), she decided to take us trick or treating around her small hometown of Liberty, Miss.

I was very much a pleaser as a child, and I just knew we weren't supposed to be doing this. Internally, I was all a-fret because "if Mom found out..."

I was also a pudgy little kid. I was never very tall and until I hit puberty, I was ... well, fat. There's just no other nice way to say it. I didn't like to sweat and I liked to eat. Two plus two equals four.

So we went to several houses, got bags filled with candy. Me: Hey, this Halloween business ain't so bad! Then my Mammaw said we had to go to one more house. It was someone she knew, but at the time, I wasn't aware of that.

My brother and I walked up to the door and knocked and "REEE!!!" An Evil Witch jumped out and released a blood-curdling screech! My brother took off like a rabbit, but I knew I'd never out-run her. I closed my eyes and started swinging my Halloween bag with all my might.

To this day I remember hearing nothing but a high-pitched shree and feeling all my precious candy falling around my shoulders and disappearing through the cracks in the porch. At some point, I took off running. I was not pursued because the "witch" was bent over, hyperventilating with laughter.

I remember seeing her talking to my grandmother through the driver's-side window at the car, and I crept back and got in the backseat. We had to drive a few blocks before we found my brother...

So there you go! My fave holiday memories... ***Now for the TREAT! Your chance to WIN!***

On Amazon I'd love to hear your favorite Halloween memory.

Leave a comment, and on Monday, I'll pick ONE LUCKY commenter to WIN a copy of the Rouge audiobook!!!

Here's the description:

Romance, velvet, sequins, and murder...
 
Hale Ferrer is the rising star of the hottest cabaret in New Orleans. And her one goal is escape. Escape from the lies, from the crime, and from her growing fear that one day she'll have to earn her living in the secret back rooms, where the dancers do more than dance.
  
But she won't leave behind Teeny, the orphan-girl she promised to protect.
  
Freddie Lovel is rich, handsome, and in love with Hale, and he's ready to sweep her away with him to Paris. But her heart is captured by Beau, the poor stagehand with eyes as blue as Louisiana iris flowers.
   
Denying her fears, Hale is ready to choose love and a life with Beau, until a predator hidden in the wings launches a chain of events that could cost her everything--Teeny, their one hope of escape, and possibly even her life.

Yep! My dark and atmospheric tale set in New Orleans read by the lovely & talented Susan Eichorn Young is perfect for the season. You'll LOVE it~

So leave a comment, then get out, scare some children, eat some candy, watch a scary movie, be safe.

But most of all have a very, very

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween Kisses #BOO!

I confess, reader-friends.... Halloween is my favorite holiday! 

I LOVE dressing up and being scared an the lovely fall weather. And I don't know, but doesn't everyone just seem to be in a better mood at Halloween?

It's all the candy, I know.

When I wrote Dragonfly , I wanted to have something Halloween in it. The book follows the first semester of senior year, which covers the holiday. ( Watercolor is the second half, ending at prom.)

Since Dragonfly is on SALE right now for 99 CENTS ( No tricks, all treats ), Here's the fun, Halloween Hay Maze excerpt, which also involves a little smooching.
On Amazon
See what you think~

We handed over our tickets and started into the maze. Renee and Rachel were giggling nervously as we walked, waiting for something to happen. Jack held out his arm to me, and I took it, not minding a little temporary protection, regardless of the source. 

It was cooler inside the maze, and the height of the walls made it darker as well. Huge spotlights lit certain portions of the grid, but some corners were almost completely dark. Those were the tense spots, where you could feel the actors lurking, waiting to scare you. It was all in good fun, but I was glad we were going through it as a group.

We rounded the first corner, and from the shadows, I felt the swish of air as something ran toward us from behind. Rachel screamed as a fur-clad figure snarled at her. We scattered in six different directions, screaming and laughing. It was terrifying, and I couldn’t stop giggling. I ran as hard as I could from our grisly pursuer, thinking someone was with me, but after several turns, I stopped running and looked around. I was alone. Great.

I walked slowly through the dim-lit stacks, straining my ears for familiar voices. I thought I heard Rachel off to my right, and I followed the sound. But as I rounded the corner, it was a shadowy dead end. I doubled back and listened again. It sounded like they were just on the other side of the hay wall, and I started running straight ahead. My heart was thudding when the passage opened. I could go right or left. I waited and listened, and once again, I felt the swish of air as a figure came up behind me. I spun around ready to scream, but it was only Julian.

“Hey,” he said low in my hair, as his hands found my sides.

“Julian!” I laughed, hugging him in relief. He smiled and pulled me into a shadowy corner. “I hate being alone in these things, and I thought you were—” 

He leaned in and cut me off with a kiss. My heart had been racing from the fright and the running, but now it was flying for a different reason. Instinctively, I pulled him closer, not wanting to let him go, and he held me tighter in response. 

This time his kiss was not a question, it was a demand, and the part of me I’d been pushing down for weeks came rushing up to meet him. My arms were around his neck, and I slipped my fingers into his hair. I felt his lips curve into a smile against mine, and our mouths opened, tongues touched, and electricity raced to my toes. It was hot and breathtaking, and everything I’d expected returning Julian’s kiss to be like. His uncasted arm circled my waist, holding me strong against his body, then he lifted his head to look into my eyes. 

We were both breathing fast. Neither of us spoke, we only smiled, a little amazed and unable to look away. He leaned forward to kiss me again, and once more I kissed him back, open-mouthed and eager. Hungry. I felt confident and strong, and I didn’t want to stop ever. He held me back against the scratchy hay wall, and my hands moved from his shirt to his shoulders and then his neck. I wanted to touch his skin. I wanted to pull him closer. I wanted to feel his skin against mine. 

His lips moved to my jaw then my chin, and without thinking, I murmured his name. I dropped my face against him, inhaling deeply the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the straw all around us. We were swirling in a dizzying wave of adrenaline until I heard voices coming toward us. 

As if waking from the most amazing dream, I opened my eyes and reluctantly stepped away, out of Julian’s arms.

“I think I heard them over here!” Renee ran up and stopped short, the laughing others close behind her.

I turned away and tried to pick the hay fragments out of my hair. There was no denying what we’d just done, and I didn’t know what to say. 

* * *
Maybe "Oops!"--? (LOL!)

I know, all the Julian lovers in the house were like, "Yes!" And that's only the beginning for those two. If you haven't started the series, now's a great time!


Get Dragonfly (#1) TODAY for only 99 cents!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
And have a smoochy, spooky, SUPERFUN Halloween, reader-friends!!!