B.L. Blair's Blog, page 55

Monday Excerpt - Notice Me (Holton Series #2)

Andrew Moore has always thought of Victoria as family.  She is his best friend’s little sister and his little sister’s best friend, but recently something has changed.  Andrew is thinking about Victoria in a completely different way.  She will never fit into his quiet, conservative world. They are too different to have a future together, but he cannot stop noticing her.
Victoria Carson has been in love with Andrew since her sixteenth birthday, but Andrew never noticed her as anything other than the girl next door.  She fled from her hometown so that she wouldn’t have to watch Andrew build a life with someone else.  But things have changed.  Andrew is now a widower, and Victoria has returned home.  It is time to make him notice her.
Excerpt:As always, her heart stopped when she saw him. Victoria knew she had seen better looking men, had even dated better looking men, but Andrew always moved her. For a moment, she enjoyed the simple pleasure of just looking at him. His broad shoulders filled out the conservative blue suit and his powerful arms and legs made him a lean, dominant picture. His thick brown hair had fallen across his forehead, and Victoria’s hand itched to brush it back. He was talking softly to his sister explaining the papers in his hand. Victoria watched his mouth move and waited for the smile that always made her toes curl. It happened and Victoria took a deep breath. She thought she should be used to that reaction by now, but it still caught her by surprise. Andrew’s smile brought butterflies to her stomach and made her ache for his love. She quickly pulled herself together and closed the door behind her.Andrew looked up at the sound, and Victoria found herself looking into his piercing green eyes. They had narrowed and trained on her immediately. The intense green gaze locked her into place. She stood very still while his eyes roamed over her. Victoria knew the past few months had accomplished this. Andrew was now very physically aware of her. What he thought about her, Victoria did not know. She did know he invariably watched every movement that she made.She now walked slowly across the room with his eyes following her. She watched him straighten and his back stiffen. He was uncomfortable around her, and Victoria hoped this was progress. She had waited twelve years for him to notice her as something other than a child, but she wasn’t sure making him nervous was the right thing to do. She wanted him to notice her, but she did not want to scare him away."Hi, Drew. How are you?" she asked softly.As always, he stiffened at her shortening of his name. No one called him anything except Andrew, but Victoria had decided she needed to be different. She wanted to make sure Andrew knew she was unlike anyone else."How many times have I told you not to call me that?" he asked impatiently, raising one eyebrow. Victoria’s heart skipped a beat. She had always found that gesture very sexy.She smiled again. "I don’t know. How many times have you told me not to call you that?"She laughed at the frustrated look that crossed his face. At least, he wasn’t ignoring her. She knew she could irritate him. She just hoped she could also attract him."Come on, Drew, lighten up." She walked over to him, placed her hand on his shoulder, and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. He accepted the salute but did not return the gesture. Apparently nothing had changed.Suddenly, it was too much for her to bear. She hid a sigh and quickly walked toward the exit. She said goodbye to Julie and told her she would call. At the door she turned and flashed one more bright smile before she left.Outside the door, Victoria released the sigh and was grateful no one was in the hall. If anyone in Holton had seen her at that time, she knew her secret would be out. Tears gathered briefly in her eyes, and she drew a deep breath, as her heart broke a little more. She leaned her head on the wall and willed the pain away. No one would have recognized the defeated look on her face, and no one would have believed that Victoria Carson was miserable. She had a reputation of being outgoing and friendly and happy. She always had a smile for anyone. This side of her was not known to anyone in Holton.
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Notice-Me-Holton-Series-ebook/dp/B00BFCM5RSiBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/notice-me-holton-series-2/id689557714?mt=11B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/notice-me-b-l-blair/1116761884?ean=2940045217057Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/notice-me-holton-series-2Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/346414CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4210983
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=xHEiBgAAQBAJ

Sunday Quote

All this month's quotes will be about Christmas. I hope you enjoy!

Saturday Teapot

For those who don't know, I love teapots and have a large collection. I feature one each week. I think this one is really pretty.

December Giveaway

Happy Holidays

This month's giveaway is an eCopy of Dead in the Park: Leah Norwood Mystery #2. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Entering the giveaway will also register you to receive my quarterly newsletter.You may unsubscribe at any time.

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Shatterproof by K.K. Weil - $20 Gift Card Giveaway

Griffin Stone knows the stats. Sons of abusers become abusers. This is his single fear.
After witnessing firsthand his parents’ tumultuous marriage, Griffin worries that he, too, harbors an explosive dark side. Can he escape from his father’s rage-fueled ways or is he destined to become part of the cycle?
Unable to persuade his mother to leave and wrestling with his resentment towards her for staying, Griffin volunteers at Holly’s House, a safe haven for abused women. Through sculpture, Griffin gives these women pieces of themselves they’ve long forgotten. Holly’s House is the only place where Griffin finds peace and purpose.
Until he meets Frankie Moore.
Frankie is an aspiring photographer, finding beauty in things most people miss, including Griffin. Griffin is attracted to her free-spirited, sassy attitude but fears Frankie will trigger the most intense part of him, the one he must keep buried.
Frankie’s got to get her act together. Her anything-goes behavior is leading nowhere fast. She’s hopeful that her latest hobby will be a building block for the future. But when a stranger appears on the other end of her camera, looking as complex as he is handsome, Frankie thinks this might be just the change she needs.
Excerpt:
When Griffin’s father strides out the door, I involuntarily suck in a gasp. Approaching us is possibly the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, especially in his sharp button-down shirt, slacks and designer shoes. He’s almost Griffin’s clone, except as he smiles to say hello, some soft lines surround his mouth and fiery brown eyes. His dark hair has the same slightly reddish tint as Griffin’s but it’s short, with not a single strand out of place. He’s got Griffin’s high cheekbones and deep dimples indenting his cheeks. These two could be twins born a couple of decades apart.
A small guttural sound spurts from Griffin, who practically has smoke coming out his ears, and two things occur to me. One: I cannot be thinking about how beautiful this man is. I have to hate him the way Griffin does, because, for God’s sake, he’s an abusive asshole. And two: even though he has explained it to me, I’m grasping for the first time why Griffin keeps his appearance the way he does. Morally, he is the polar opposite of his father, yet their physical features could make them identical.
“Frankie,” his father says, revealing a smile matched in beauty only by his son’s. “I’m so glad to be meeting you. I’m Evan.” He extends his hand.
Griffin is absorbed by his father’s manicured hand grasping mine. Definitely no tattoos on those knuckles. He releases me and turns to Griffin.
“Hello, my boy,” he says, but doesn’t reach for his hand. Maybe he knows Griffin won’t shake it and doesn’t want to make things awkward. Instead he gives Griffin a playful slap on the back. Griffin straightens.
“Why aren’t you at work?” Griffin snaps at his father. Griffin’s hands quiver and he crams them in his pockets.
“I was.” His father ignores the tone. “But when your mother mentioned you were bringing a date for dinner, I decided to cut our meeting short. Why don’t we go inside? Your mom said everything’s almost ready.” He tries to escort me by placing a hand on my spine. Griffin pulls me away and steps between us to walk.
Dinner should be interesting.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shatterproof-K-Weil/dp/1509203958
Guest Post- Naming Characters:A friend recently asked me if choosing the names for characters in my books is like choosing names for my children. My immediate response was yes, because in some ways, the processes are similar. For instance, in both cases, the names are permanent, so there is some built-in pressure about picking well. Also, in theory, I’d give everyone names I love, so the methods would have to be similar, right?After thinking about it, though, I realized that’s not actually the case at all. First off, I don’t have to love, or even like, the names I assign my characters. Maybe I’m writing about someone despicable. I wouldn’t necessarily want to give him a wonderful name. Also, I keep some of my favorite names on a back burner, waiting for the perfect hero or heroine to come along. This might be an acceptable practice for a writer – not so much for a parent.But there is one much bigger difference between the two. For each of our children, my husband and I mulled over dozens of names. We had no idea what kinds of personalities they might have or what would interest them. Their names were based solely on our opinions about what sounded pretty. When I name my characters, though, I’m privy to all sorts of information. I decide what my hero is going to be like before I lay one word on a page. I know if I want my heroine to be weak or strong, serious or funny, and I can name her accordingly. The names can reflect their personalities if I want them to. Or they can be, ironically, a sharp contrast to them. I’ll admit that when writing my first book, At This Stage, I did borrow from the pool of rejected baby names my husband and I had saved on scrap paper. Jackson and Griffin were among them. These were names we loved, but for one reason or another, opted not to use for our children. Their last names though, Wall and Stone respectively, represent parts of their characters. When naming my heroine in that book, I had certain criteria. She was on the younger side, but I didn’t want her to seem childish. She was mature beyond her years and I wanted her name, both in its whole form and her nickname, to reflect that. I chose Kaitlyn because to me, it sounded strong and controlled - even when Jackson called her Kate.Shatterproof was a different story. My heroine’s name had to suggest a free-spirited nature. It had to be a little bit fun, but not weak and not over-the-top girly. As soon as I thought of the name Frankie, I knew it was the one. I loved the idea of her full name being Francesca, yet the formality not fitting her, so she uses a shorter name. The origins of her name also have a meaning that applies to Frankie, but I won’t give that away because it’s explained in the book.In my latest work in progress, the names of my hero and heroine are symbolic. His has to do with his talent, and hers, her family background. Neither are names I would have chosen for my children, although I do like both of them. Sometimes, I think naming characters is about what’s pleasing to the ear. Other times, it’s what’s pleasing to the mind. And I suppose in a perfect world – one that may be entirely fictitious – they can be a little of both.
About the Author:K.K. Weil grew up in Queens, but eventually moved to New York City, the inspiration for many of her stories. Weil, who attended SUNY Albany as an undergrad and NYU as a graduate student, is a former teacher. She now enjoys writing her own dramas and lives near the beach in New Jersey, where she is at work on her next novel.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KKWeilAuthorTwitter: www.twitter.com/KK_Weil Blog: www.KKWeil.blogspot.com
Giveaway $20 Amazon/BN GC:
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Monday Excerpt - Convince Me (Holton Series #1)

Anna West watched her father abuse her mother in the name of love. She isn't going to fall into the same trap, but she has never met a man she could love. And then, she meets Steven.
Steven Carson watched his father shower his mother with love. He wants the same kind of relationship, but no woman has made him feel that way. And then, he meets Anna West.
Available on Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Google Play.

Excerpt:Driving cautiously, she slowed the car and rounded the curve moving the car closer to the center stripe as she couldn’t see the right hand edge. The car coming from the opposite direction had done the same, and suddenly, Anna was faced with two bright headlights bearing down on her.For a moment, she did not know what to do, then reacting instinctively, she jerked the car to the right and her bumper narrowly missed hitting the other vehicle. The slick road made it difficult to control the car, but she had been driving slowly enough that she managed to slide into the side ditch unharmed.Anna sat in her car stunned and unbelieving. She had never been in a car accident before and wasn’t sure what to do which was an unusual situation. Anna had learned at an early age to be calm and efficient. It was the only way to survive. Her abusive father had hated inefficiency and commotion so she had learned to be controlled and competent. Anna hated not being in control.For this reason, she loved accounting. Numbers could be controlled. It may take her a little time, but she could always find an answer which was more than she could do with people.Anna shook her head and then leaned forward to check on Sophie. The cat appeared unharmed but began protesting the rough treatment. Anna tried to reassure her and soon the cat settled. Anna took a deep breath then reached for the insurance manual in her glove compartment. The manual would tell her what she needed to do. She felt better already. She had a plan.All thoughts of a plan immediately flew out of her head when the door of her car swung open and a deep, soft voice asked, “Are you all right?”Anna turned and looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that were the color of a cloudless sky on an early spring day. They were framed with dark thick lashes that lightened on the tips. The lean, clean face went well with the eyes. It was a pleasant face, not too hard or too soft, but a man’s face nonetheless. It was lean and powerful. He had strong cheekbones and a straight nose. Light blond hair fell across his forehead. She stared at him unable to move. Her heart began to pound, and her body reacted to his nearness. She had never responded so strongly to any man before, and she forced herself to take a deep breath.He leaned into the car and asked again, “Miss, are you all right?”This time his voice propelled her into action. She shook off the fog that had come over her and nodded once before saying, “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little shaken. Was anyone hurt?”She glanced again at the man staring at her with a concerned look on his face. Their gazes locked, and he watched her silently with his calm blue eyes. He seemed very close, and Anna leaned back against the seat to get farther away. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, and she felt a small jolt of fear. She hated feeling physically intimidated. But the fear quickly faded as he looked at her a moment longer then a slow, gentle smile crossed his face. Anna felt her heart stop. She willed it to begin beating again.“There is only you and me,” he said softly.

Sunday Quote

All this month's quotes will be about Christmas. I hope you enjoy!

Saturday Teapot

For those who don't know, I love teapots and have a large collection. I feature one each week. Isn't this one nice?

Monthly Giveaway - Dead in a Park eBook

Happy Holidays

This month's giveaway is an eCopy of Dead in the Park: Leah Norwood Mystery #2. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Entering the giveaway will also register you to receive my quarterly newsletter.You may unsubscribe at any time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dead in a Park on Tour - Enter to win a $20 Gift Card

Dead in a Park will be on a blog tour for three weeks. Below is a list of blog stops. Visit each one for to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

November 16: Romance Novel Giveaways
November 17: BooksChatter
November 18: Journey of a Bookseller - review
November 19: Jane Reads - review
November 19: T's Stuff
November 20: FictionZeal
November 23: The Reading Addict
November 24: Harps Romance Book Review
November 25: Wendi Zwaduk ~ Romance to Make Your Heart Race
November 25: fuonlyknew
November 27: It's Raining Books
November 30: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
December 1: Unabridged Andra's
December 2: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
December 3: Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books!
December 4: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

When Leah Norwood finds the body of Donald Collins in the city park, she doesn’t know he is a distant relative. Young Donnie was a jewel thief and a career criminal. Hidden in the lining of his suit jacket was an exact replica of a ring that has been in Leah’s family for over a hundred years. After her home is burglarized, the sexy chief of police is convinced the ruby ring has something to do with the murder.
Leah wants to find out what happened to Donnie, but why would someone kill for a hundred year old ring? She discovers a connection between Donnie and the drug-dealing Cantono family, between the Cantono family and a jewelry appraiser, and between the jewelry appraiser and one of her own employees. Chief Griggs might be onto something. All clues lead back to the family ring.
Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the killer strikes again?
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords.