HelenKay Dimon's Blog, page 36

Some Book News

I have two releases this week and two pieces of info to share. So…

First, my short JUST SAY YES is included in the AGONY/ECSTASY anthology. I love my story. It's a little naughty but is a romance, and I hope you'll check it out. And how can you say no to a book with this cover:

Second, I am talking about IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU and giving away a copy at the awesome Novel Thoughts and Book Talk blog. Hope you'll swing by and say hello. And to entice, you, let's look at the adorable cover one more time:

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Release Day!

Holiday romance novels tend to release early, like in October. I don't know about you but the last thing I'm thinking about in October is Christmas. This is one of the many reasons I'm excited about my release today – IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU in the HOLIDAY KISSES anthology. I love this story, have huge respect for the other authors in this anthology – Alison Kent, Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton – and the book actually releases during the holiday season. Yay!

If you're itching for a holiday novella about a couple with a past, a hero who is charming but a bit clueless and a heroine who has just about reached the end of her patience, give this a try:

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And check out the entire anthology. You can't go wrong by buying all four stories!

And…

If you'd like to learn a little more about IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU and possibly win a copy, check out my interview HERE.

Snippet Saturday

The theme today is secondary characters. Since IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU releases tomorrow, I thought I'd go ahead and give another snippet from that story. In this scene you get a peek into the brotherly love between the hero (Austin) and his brother (Spence).

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They'd made contact. Yeah, Carrie was half yelling at the time, but Austin still considered it progress of sorts.

"That went well." Spence shut the door to the makeshift office and joined his brother in watching Carrie practically run from the lot.

"It's a start."

"Were we listening to the same conversation?"

Austin tore his gaze away from her ass and tugged his gloves back on. He'd waited months to see her again. He could hold out a few more days to touch her. "She thinks I don't appreciate the things she cares about."

"Whatever that means."

Spence could identify plant species, had handpicked every choice in their hothouses and on the sales floor, and could classify every tree on the three hundred acres they owned along with their father. But women? Not his area of expertise.

Since the brothers lived together on the top two floors of the farmhouse in Holloway whose bottom floor served as the business office for Thomas Nurseries, Austin had a front-row seat to the parade of women Spence slept with then showed the door. The guy didn't do commitment. He barely did overnights.

Austin tried to explain his position anyway. "Carrie is big on the boyfriend support thing."

"Aren't all women?"

The man had a point. "I guess that's why you run away from them so fast."

A sea of red crept up Spence's neck to his cheeks. "When did we start talking about my love life?"

That topic needed months of dissecting and a therapist. Austin wasn't touching it. "My point is I know Carrie's issues and can handle them."

Spence snorted as he dropped down on the step to the office. "Since she's living here and you're living two hours away, you might want to work on the way you handle things."

"And since one of us actually needs to work so we can sell trees and make money, can you hand me that?" Austin pointed to the pocket knife on the ground next to Spence's foot.

"I have a job. Landscaping, running a family business." He kicked the closed knife in Austin's direction. "Any of this sound familiar?"

"Mitch is handling everything back home with the business while I take care of my problem with his sister here."

"And you think I don't get women." Spence muttered something about idiots.

"Meaning?"

"If she calls the cops on you for stalking, you're on your own." Spence jumped to his feet and reached for the nearest tree. "I don't have extra money for bail, so don't ask."

"I'm not stalking."

"You crossed state lines to hunt her down then set up shop outside of her window." Spence shook his head. "What would you call it?"

Austin had to admit pieces sounded bad when Spence laid them out like that. "She's hiding. If she were really over me, she wouldn't do everything she could to keep from seeing me. She'd meet me head-on."

"Your logic is nuts."

No, he'd worked it all out in his head and it made sense. "Her pride is in the way. Once I get around that we're good."

"Now you sound like an egotistical prick."

Austin's confidence took a kick but he didn't even flinch. "I'm being realistic."

"If that were true I'd be at home right now."

____________

Remember to check out the other authors' snippets:

Lauren Dane

Rhian Cahill

Eliza Gayle

Anne Rainey

Jody Wallace

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Vivian Arend

Alison Kent

Delilah Devlin

Shelli Stevens

Shiloh Walker

Leah Braemel

Saturday Snippet

The theme today is holiday. Seems appropriate, doesn't it? Thought I'd go ahead and give a peek of IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU. Yeah, it's the wrong holiday but everyone is out shopping this weekend (except me), so it works.

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"When are you coming home to visit your family?" He took a sip of coffee and eyed her over the cup.

"Now you sound like Mom."

"She misses you."

Carrie threw the cake on the counter as the acid in her stomach bubbled. "Don't do that. Don't use family guilt to lure me back to Holloway."

"Fine." He pushed off from where he leaned against her stove and started toward her. "How about this? I miss you."

The words she'd longed to hear. The same ones that cut through her, bringing both pain and joy. Her heart spun but the knot in her stomach tightened.

"Austin…" She held up both hands in a half-hearted attempt to fend him off.

When he wrapped his fingers around her wrists and carried her hands to the back of his neck, she didn't fight him. His scent washed over her senses, lighting every cell on fire. She smelled the cool outdoors on his skin, that subtle mix of pine and soap with a touch of fresh firewood.

The soft strands of his fine hair slid through her fingers as her body melted into his. The robe, his clothes, it all faded away. In her head, her soft skin smoothed over his rough edges.

His mouth danced in a trail from her ear and down her throat. Her heartbeat spiked in response.

"Am I supposed to pretend like I don't miss you? No way could I pull a lie that big off." His husky voice rumbled against her bare skin.

"You're not even supposed to be here."

"But I am."

____________

Remember to check out the other authors' snippets:

Lauren Dane

Anne Rainey

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Selena Blake

Taige Crenshaw

TJ Michaels

Vivian Arend

Delilah Devlin

Lacey Savage

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to folks in the U.S. and to those who celebrate the day.

Thank you to all my readers. I only get to do what I love because you buy the books. I am truly grateful.

Almost Christmas (Sort Of)

I know we haven't had Thanksgiving in the U.S. yet, but I'm thinking it's time to start talking about Christmas. The fact I have a holiday release likely has something to do with my early push. And I am not alone. Harlequin is giving away copies of the HOLIDAY KISSES anthology and the two other Carina holiday anthos. So, head on over HERE and enter.

And to tempt you, here's a snippet from my novella, IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU:

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He blew on his gloved hands. "It's going to snow."

"You could always tell."

"Not sure if it's my innate ability to read the signs or the fact it started coming down a second ago."

She leaned in and glanced out the big window that overlooked the lot. "Ah, brilliant."

White flecks filled the near-black sky and landed on the tree branches. She inhaled and even through the walls could pick out the refreshing scent of pine, the same smell she associated with Holloway and hayrides and hours of racing around outside once the school cancellation announcement came across the crawl on the bottom of the television screen.

If she closed her eyes she could blink her way back to the wooded acres surrounding Austin's house and relive the last winter she spent there. The nights so deadly quiet except for the soft rustle of branches and slick click of icy snow as it fell and piled in feet-high stacks.

Austin slid a thigh onto the desk and studied her. "What are you thinking about?"

"Why?"

"You're smiling."

The memory filled her with the same comfort as a cozy blanket on a cold night. "Trudging through the snow until I could barely lift my leg and was so tired I almost fell over. Impromptu snowball fights and the rumbling sound of the snow blower."

"You're kind of making me hot."

She coughed out a laugh and kept going until she doubled over and her stomach ached. When she opened her eyes again, he was at her side with that soft expression of amusement on his sexy mouth.

He slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her body tight to his. "You okay there?"

"You make me happy."

His hand tightened on her arm. "Good to know."

"Everything about you tempts me."

"Then I'll stay quiet to keep from messing this moment up."

Booksigning

Our dog is feeling much better. Thanks for the concerned emails and comments. She's basically lounging around sleeping 23 hours per day. Not a bad life for her right now.

I did want to mention that tomorrow I will take a break from playing doggy nursemaid and attend a booksigning. I am part of a signing with Jill Sorenson and Maya Banks. They are terrific authors, so I am thrilled to be signing with them. The info:

Friday November 18, 2011 6:00 PM

Oceanside Barnes & Noble

El Camino North Shopping Center, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054, 760-529-0106

This event will be a Barnes & Noble bookfair to benefit the Valley Center Library.

Free Book

I've spent the last few days taking care of her:

That's Jemma. She's 14 and has been sick. She's better now, but I spend most of the time just staring at her.

While I'm doing that, you can get a free copy of this:

THE BIG GUNS is the featured book on the Harlequin website as part of the Freebie Fridays promotion – Yay!! You get THE BIG GUNS free if you order two other books. So, now is a good time to stock up on some Harlequin titles!

With Thanks

Today is the official release day for the charity anthology, SEAL of my Dreams. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to a veterans charity, the Veterans Research Corporation. This is a small but heartfelt thank for the significant sacrifices military members and their families make for all of us every day.

On this Veterans Day, thank you to all who serve and to the families who support them.