B.L. Blair's Blog, page 44

Monday Excerpt - Trust Me (Holton Series #3)

“So do you cook a lot?”
“I don’t cook as much as I would like,” Paul answered while cutting the vegetables for a salad. “I enjoy it but don’t really have the time. Also, it isn’t much fun cooking for one.”
“So you don’t cook for any of your sex buddies during your flings,” Rachel said teasingly. She didn’t know why she enjoyed teasing Paul so much about his relationships, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Paul was usually so serious. It was fun to try to loosen him up a little.
“No, I don’t cook for my sex buddies,” he said sharply. He threw her a dirty look, and she laughed. “I only cook for my friends. Sex buddies. What a stupid term.”
“What would you have me call them?”
“I wouldn’t have you call them anything at all. I don’t know why you keep bringing them up.”
“I told you. I’m fascinated by this rules thing. Is the no cooking one of your rules?”
Paul stopped what he was doing and turned around to look at her. His cold, gray eyes zeroed in on her and pinned her to her chair. She shifted slightly before raising her chin and returning his look. Paul was the type of man that could intimidate the hardiest of souls, but Rachel wasn’t going to let him walk all over her. He smiled slightly and set the knife he was holding down on the counter. He crossed his arms and looked out the window for a moment. She could tell he was trying to decide something.
She loved watching him. He was hard to read, and she considered it a small victory each time she was able to get a glimpse of the man inside. He kept his emotions and his thoughts well hidden, but she was learning his tells. Right now, he was thinking about how he should respond to her probing.
When she had first arrived, Paul had greeted her with a friendly kiss on the cheek. She had understood that he was trying to put their relationship on a friendship level. He had mentioned the night before that he thought they could be friends, and Rachel was willing. Paul was a charming and intelligent man. She was looking forward to getting to know him better. She was still very attracted to him, but she knew that he didn’t have many female friends and was honored that he thought she might become one.
Paul turned back to her and studied her again. She tried not to squirm under his intense scrutiny and calmly returned his gaze. He nodded once.
“I’ll make a deal with you, Rachel,” he said. “If you can make it through this entire meal, including dessert and coffee, without once mentioning my relationship rules, sex buddies, lady friends, or any other euphemism, then I’ll tell you one rule.”
Rachel tried but failed to suppress her grin. “It can’t be the rule of not spending the whole night because I already know that one.”
When he nodded, she held out her hand and said, “Deal.”
Purchase Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Holton-Series-ebook/dp/B00FMF2FMEiBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/trust-me-holton-series-3/id703553343?mt=11Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trust-me-b-l-blair/1116875140?ean=2940045252133Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/trust-me-holton-series-3Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353821CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4427478Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=W3MiBgAAQBAJ

Happy Father's Day

He's Irresistible Collection - Susan Hatler, Veronica Blade, and Virna DePaul

He's Irresistible Collection by Susan Hatler, Veronica Blade, &Virna DePaul Genre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: October 8, 2013


Three stories. Three authors. Three kinds of romance.

Sweet. Sassy. Sexy.

Sweet: Love at First Date by Susan Hatler

Ellen may not believe in storybook love, but it’s about to rewrite her life. . . .

Ellen’s figured out that finding the right guy is all about compatibility. That’s why she signs up for Detailed Dating—the local online dating scene in Sacramento. They ask men the hard questions, compare their answers with hers, then she filters through the profiles of each provided “match.” After numerous email exchanges, she narrows it down to two promising candidates she’s excited to meet in person.

When Ellen’s best friend asks her for a favor, dog-sitting leads to disaster and Ellen ends up at the local vet where she meets a man she can’t get out of her mind. Henry isn’t a logical choice, but she finds herself paying for dog obedience class to spend more time with him.

Ellen knows that in order to have a lasting relationship, she should take the safe route and go for one of the pre-screened guys. But, how can she think with her head when her heart keeps begging her to give Henry a chance?

Sassy: From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade

When good-girl Maddie switches places with her famous bad-girl twin Jackie, she has some pretty high stilettos to fill.

Despite the danger of tabloid drama if their identity swap is discovered, Maddie has to save her sister's butt. When Jackie’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a rekindled spark for “Jackie,” his deep gray eyes and sweet kisses make Maddie's heart thumpety thump. But dating the guy who dumped her sister is a no-no. Too bad Dallas isn’t used to girls saying no. What will happen when he discovers Maddie’s deception?

Sexy: Wild For Mr. Wrong by Virna DePaul

Can an uptight prosecutor and a laid-back defense attorney find love despite their opposing agendas?

Bryn Donovon became a prosecutor for a reason and defense attorney Daniel Mays seems to take his job about as seriously as he does his love life. While straight-laced Bryn can’t deny she’s attracted to the southern charmer, she’s determined to keep her distance. Instead, she ends up finding something she’d lost long ago—a willingness to risk all for love.





SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan's books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Blog
VERONICA BLADE lives in Southern California with her husband and children. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives-- and they are always way hotter.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Blog
VIRNA DEPAUL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy,suspenseful fiction. Whether it’s vampires, a Para-Ops team, hot cops or swoon-worthy identical twin brothers, her stories center around complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love. Bedding The Wrong Brother, which begins the Bedding the Bachelors Series, is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance and a USA Today Bestseller. Virna loves to hear from readers at www.virnadepaul.com.

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Happy Flag Day!

Monday Excerpt - Trust Me (Holton Series #3)

Paul had the cushion arranged on the floor parallel to the couch with the blanket spread over it. He handed her his coat. “Use mine. It’s longer than yours, and then you can use your coat for a pillow.”
“Thanks. That’ll help. So do you snore?”
He walked over to the desk and leaned against it. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Has no one told you? None of your lovers ever mention it?”
“I don’t sleep with women.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows and looked at him questioningly. He lifted a hand. “Literal sense of the word. I have sex, but I don’t sleep with women.”
She nodded. “Kick them out after you have done the deed, do you?”
“Something like that,” he said cautiously.
“Well, I’m hoping you do snore. It’ll help cover mine.”
“You snore?” he asked with a slight smile. His eyes danced as if he were trying to hold back his laughter.
“So I’ve been told,” she replied saucily.
Rachel placed his coat on the end of the couch. She took a deep breath and then turned to him. He stood there watching her. It was an odd feeling. He seemed to be watching her a lot. It wasn’t threatening but more inquisitive, like she was a puzzle he was trying to solve. She looked at him now and said, “Turn around.”
“What?”
“Turn around,” she repeated.
“Why?”
She sighed heavily and frowned. “Because I’m going to remove my pants. It would be too uncomfortable to try to sleep in them.”
Rachel was wearing a long top and jeans. The top was a tunic style shirt that was one of the most comfortable she owned. It was warm and soft and hit her legs about midway down her thighs. It would cover her adequately, but she didn’t want to sleep in her jeans. She also did not want to try to take them off while he was watching. She was attracted to the man, but she didn’t want to give him a peep show.
He grinned at her. “Oh, honey. You don’t have anything I haven’t already seen.”
Purchase Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Holton-Series-ebook/dp/B00FMF2FMEiBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/trust-me-holton-series-3/id703553343?mt=11Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trust-me-b-l-blair/1116875140?ean=2940045252133Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/trust-me-holton-series-3Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353821CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4427478Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=W3MiBgAAQBAJ

Sunday Quote - Experience

Giveaway for June - Gift Pack

This month's giveaway is a Dead in a Dumpster Gift Pack which will include a t-shirt, tote bag, magnet, bookmark, and a paperback copy of the book. Entering the contest will also register you to receive my quarterly newsletter. You may unsubscribe at anytime.


Sorry - Contest is open to U.S. Residents only.
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LYRICAL PRESS COZY MYSTERIES - Two Mysteries, One Tour - Book Giveaway

BLURB:Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible.
Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

EXCERPT:“Welcome, everyone. My name is Lily Wilson, and I’ll be leading the tour today. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them. There’s a sign-in sheet on the check-in counter. We’ll be starting at one o’clock, which is in five minutes.” She turned in my direction and said, “I’d like to introduce the manager of one of Resorts International properties, Kelly Jackson. She’s in charge of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.”
The members of the group smiled an acknowledgment. A short man in a denim shirt and khaki pants raised his hand. Lily smiled at him and asked, “Is there something you’d like to know?”
He pointed to the entrance to the parlor. “What is that shield above the doorway?”
“Redwood Heights was built by Reginald Brandon. That’s the family coat of arms,” Lily said. “There is an official Brandon crest on file. However, Mr. Brandon wanted to design his own to reflect life in the West. On his shield he chose to put the silhouettes of two rearing stallions, symbols of strength. Rifles instead of swords crossed over the top of them—the weapons of that era. Tall redwood trees filled in the area behind them and were the source of his wealth. You can see his motto for loyalty and honor on the banner.”
I enjoyed her explanation. It added another dimension to an object that had just been an interesting piece.
A tall woman with a long brown braid down her back pointed to a picture. “Is this Mr. and Mrs. Brandon?”
“Yes, that picture is of the Brandons,” Lily replied. “The woman in the picture is the second Mrs. Brandon. As with many wealthy families and historic estates, there are questionable stories in their past. Redwood Heights is no different.”
“How so?” asked the woman.
“We don’t have any pictures of the first Mrs. Brandon. She was the belle of glittering New York high society who found herself in remote Redwood Cove. She disappeared not long after arriving. Some say she ran off with a lover. Rumors cropped up that she took a sizeable amount of Brandon’s money, changed her name, and left to enjoy San Francisco’s growing attractions.”
The cadence of Lily’s voice took the story beyond a runaway wife. Her tilted head and arched eyebrow led you down a path of mystery and intrigue. The visitors moved a little closer.
Lily leaned toward them and whispered, “Some say she never left at all.” Her words lingered in the dead silence.
Everyone was still—frozen in that past time. Goose bumps popped up on my arms. Someone coughed, and the spell was broken.
“After a time, Brandon married again. They had no children and, alas, the house went to a distant cousin.”
I’d been mesmerized by the tale. Snapping out of it, I looked around. Sylvia still wasn’t there.
“The tour will meet in the parlor. Restrooms are down the hallway to your right,” Lily instructed the group.
I walked up the carpeted stairs to the second floor, running my hand over the smooth oak railing. It had taken hundreds of polishings to develop the fine patina and rich glow.
Sylvia’s room was the first door at the top of the staircase. I knocked quietly. When there was no response, I knocked harder. She must really be a sound sleeper. I tried the door, but it was locked. I rushed downstairs, retrieved her room key, and glanced at my watch. If Sylvia hurried, she’d still have time to make the start of the tour. Arriving back at her door, I knocked again.
“Mrs. Porter, it’s Kelly. The tour is starting in a couple of minutes.” I got no response, so I unlocked the door and peeked in. Sylvia was sitting in front of her dressing table, her back to me.
I opened the door a little farther. “Mrs. Porter?” I stepped inside the room. In the filtered light from the curtained windows, Sylvia’s image reflected in the mirror. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested on her shoulder. She must have dozed off before making it into bed for a nap.
My attention was drawn to a brooch on the left side of Sylvia’s blouse as I approached her. I hadn’t noticed it before. It was a lovely piece—a large egg-shaped pearl surrounded by a burst of red.
I touched Sylvia’s shoulder. No response.
“Mrs. Porter?” I gently shook her.
Sylvia’s head rolled forward and hung down. Her dangling hair covered the side of her face.
I gasped, and my heart began to pound. I looked more closely at her. The burst of red wasn’t part of a pin—it was blood.
About the AUTHOR:Janet Finsilver and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Ellie, a boxer/coonhound mix. Janet enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and cooking. She is currently working on her next Redwood Cove mystery.http://janetfinsilver.com/http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31695https://www.facebook.com/janetfinsilverauthor/https://twitter.com/JanetFinsilver


BLURB:The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there's nothing cozy about murder . . .
Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi's sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi's name--without getting herself in hot water.




EXCERPT:Limping home, I saw Greg’s truck parked at City Hall. I went in through the side door that took me to the police station. Amy kept going, heading home to shower before returning to her job as city hall receptionist.
Greg stood by Esmeralda’s desk and raised his eyebrows when he saw me. “Rough workout? I’m glad I was too busy to go today.”
“Oh, you’ll get yours. Don’t think demon trainer didn’t notice you were gone.”
“Okay. So why are you here?” He pushed a curl back out of my face. “Too far to walk home after the workout?”
“You’re just mean, you know that right?” I sank into the couch. It did feel amazing just to veg for a second or two. Okay, so Greg could have been right about my real motives for the impromptu visit. “Actually, I wanted to know about your call-out last night. I’m assuming this was a murder and not an old guy dying in his sleep.”
“And you deduced that from?” He watched me closely.
Shrugging, I sank deeper into the cushions. No wonder Greg didn’t mind sleeping in his office every so often. The couch was amazing. “No one blabbed, if you’re thinking of blaming Toby. You didn’t call, and you’re still wearing last night’s clothes.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. I guess I’m more transparent than I thought. We don’t know much about the murder, except the guy checked in a few days ago under a false name. Of course, the motel doesn’t ask for any verification or even a credit card. Cash only out there.”
“So he’s not a local.” For some reason, this made me feel better. Sure, it was sad someone had died, but people died all the time. I just didn’t want it to be one of my friends.
“Not that I can tell. But I think it’s the biker who’s been racing up and down Main Street. He fits the description.” Greg shrugged and grinned. “And, there’s a bike parked outside his room. Yep, I’m a trained investigator, I notice these things.”
“Big guy?” I thought about how the elderly woman had almost been smashed by the rider just a few days ago.
“Nope. He’s tall, maybe six feet, but if he weighs more than a hundred fifty soaking wet I’ll buy you dinner.” Greg groaned as he stood and walked across the room to his desk. He pulled me to standing. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Do what?” Now that I was upright, my stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. I dug into my tote and pulled out a protein bar.
“Trick me into telling you more than I should.” He pointed to the door. “Out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
I took a bite of my protein bar as I walked out. Pausing at the door, I turned back to look at him. He was already typing into some document. “I take it I won’t see you for dinner?”
“Not tonight. But I’ll be over on Sunday at the latest.” He paused. “Are you working the festival that day?”
“Just the morning shift. We’re closing the main store and only running the food truck that day.” I adjusted the strap on my tote, feeling the weight on my screaming shoulder blade. I walked out of the office and wondered how bad the murder had been. Just because it was a stranger that lay in the morgue, didn’t mean someone from South Cove hadn’t been involved or known the guy.
Or why else would he have been here?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction. Visit her at www.lynncahoon.com.http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/26451https://twitter.com/LynnCahoonhttps://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor

Buy links:TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
MURDER AT THE MANSION: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
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I am working on a new mystery/romance series. The main character finds lost pets for a living. The first book will be called The Lost Great Dane. Below are three covers that I am considering. I would love to know your opinion.




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Monday Excerpt - Trust Me (Holton Series #3)

The man had made it to the door, but she still could not see his face. However, there was something familiar about him. When he opened the door and stepped into the lobby area, the light illuminated his features, and she recognized him immediately. Her heart began to beat faster, and blood rushed through her veins causing her whole body to grow warm.
He was absolutely gorgeous. Rachel had thought so the first time she had seen him, and a second look did nothing to change that opinion. His hair was jet black and glossy. The dark waves that covered his head were currently wet with the residue from the sleet but were usually thick and shiny. His face was classic perfection. The forehead was wide and smooth. He had prominent cheekbones and a strong chin. His eyes were a cold winter gray and just as chilling. They were framed with thick dark lashes and set under dark straight eyebrows. His lips were full, and when stretched into a smile, they revealed smooth, even teeth.
Rachel had only seen him really smile once, but it had been devastating. It was possible she had only seen him smile once because she had only seen him once before today; however, she doubted it. He did not seem the type of man to smile like that often. Half smiles, polite smiles perhaps but not the full devastating smile she had seen. He typically presented a solemn and thoughtful façade, but that day he had smiled at Victoria which was hard not to do.
Rachel smiled herself just thinking about Victoria. Victoria Carson, soon to be Moore, had to be the reason the man was here, standing in her library. Victoria and Andrew Moore were getting married in a little over a week, and he was in the wedding. He was tall, standing a little over six feet. His build was a sculptor's dream. His shoulders were broad, and he had a muscular chest that tapered to his waist. He had a flat stomach and strong, lean legs. He was dressed in a suit that had never been on a rack. It was cut to fit him like a glove. The double-breasted jacket emphasized his broad shoulders, and Rachel knew the shirt was silk. The black overcoat was cashmere, and the shoes on his feet were real leather and handmade. Everything about him screamed wealth and success.
His name was Paul Hart. Rachel knew he had wealth, and a lot of it. She also knew he had success, again a lot of it. She had a small crush on him. It reminded her of the time in high school when she had thought she was in love with the current Hollywood heartthrob. It was unrealistic and impractical but still fun to dream. He was a man totally out of her league, and yet, he fascinated her like no man ever had.
Purchase Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Holton-Series-ebook/dp/B00FMF2FMEiBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/trust-me-holton-series-3/id703553343?mt=11Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trust-me-b-l-blair/1116875140?ean=2940045252133Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/trust-me-holton-series-3Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353821CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4427478Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=W3MiBgAAQBAJ