Dani Jace's Blog, page 6
May 15, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – May 15
Happy Sunday and hope you’re have a great weekend! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
This week I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases on the longest day of the year, June 21. And just in time to pump you up for football season.
Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . . Heath was leaving practice when his cheating ex-girlfriend called out of the blue and he ends the conversation with: “Ancient history and I’m a time zone away now.”
He accelerated the Jeep out of the sports complex. It had taken weeks to gain distance from her manipulations and now after her call, the commercial Virginia Beach oceanfront seemed intrusive.
A June sun blazed brightly in a cloudless sky while he cruised down Sand Fiddler Lane. Ninety degrees was cool compared to summer heat in Texas. When he’d signed the six-month lease on the house, the realtor touted Sandbridge as a locals’ beach.
He pulled into the driveway and found Dugan beneath the stilted house, applyin
g a coat of wax to the chrome of his Fat Boy Harley. He and his linebacker buddy had scraped through college classes but shined on the gridiron. They’d landed on the practice
squad of a pro team in Texas a couple of years ago, but in March the league went on strike.
Dugan paused from his task and squinted at him with brown eyes. “You look pissed.”
Please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
May 8, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – May 8
Happy Mother’s Day! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
This week I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases in June. Just in time to get you ready to football season. Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . . Heath has just finished practice and his planning to meet his teammate, Dugan, at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
He clicked on his seat belt and started the open-door jeep when as his cell phone went off. For the first time in weeks, he answered without checking the display.
“Hey, babe,” Sandy cooed.
After a couple of weeks without calls, he figured she’d given up. “How’s Ben?”
What else should he say to the woman he’d found with her tongue down a friend’s throat? Make that former friend.
“You misunderstood, he was inconsolable after Marcie left him.”
“Yeah right, so you were just giving him a little mouth to mouth resuscitation?”
Silence filled his ear before he shot back, “Ancient history and I’m a time zone away now.”
Please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – April 23
Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
This week I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases in June. Just in time to get you ready to football season. Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . . Heath has just finished practice and his planning to meet his teammate, Dugan, at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
He clicked on his seat belt and started the open-door jeep when as his cell phone went off. For the first time in weeks, he answered without checking the display.
“Hey, babe,” Sandy cooed.
After a couple of weeks without calls, he figured she’d given up. “How’s Ben?”
What else should he say to the woman he’d found with her tongue down a friend’s throat? Make that former friend.
“You misunderstood, he was inconsolable after Marcie left him.”
“Yeah right, so you were just giving him a little mouth to mouth resuscitation?”
Silence filled his ear before he shot back, “Ancient history and I’m a time zone away now.”
Please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
April 24, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – April 23
If you’re new to Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, it’s a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
This week I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases in June. Just in time to get you ready to football season. Heath Lancaster’s happy to be on the practice squad of a professional football team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him
unemployed. Until he finds a new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . .
Heat, ninety-percent humidity, pain and exhaustion, none of it mattered, football fueled Heath Lancaster’s blood. Sweat streamed down his face as he drove the sled another five yards. After six grueling weeks, he’d made the cut to play on Virginia Beach’s new semipro team. Over the grunts and groans of the offensive line, a whistle blew, stopping them mid-step.
Heath yanked off his helmet then grabbed one of the water lines from the portable station. Cooling H2O washed over his head and face before he gunned a stream down his parched throat.
“Wanna hit the beach after lunch,” Dugan McKenzie asked before drinking from another hose. Dugan ran through a string of women the first couple of weeks of camp until he nearly washed out. Performance now improved, and on the roster, he was on the hunt again. This time, Heath planned to join him, imagining cool waves and a sea of curves wearing bikinis.
“Sure. Meet you back at the house.”
June 21, 2016Please check out the amazing roup of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
April 17, 2016
Sand and Sin – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – April 17
If you’re new to Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, it’s a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
This will be my last post on, Sand and Sin and next week I start with my upcoming release, Game On!
Navy SEAL, Jax Taylor, takes leave after being injured on a mission and catches a military hop to Virginia Beach to see a buddy. TJ is night training and recommends a local SEAL bar called the Trident. He’s intrigued by lovely, green-eyed bartender Peri, but she’s stated she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. Between the booze, pain killers and a thirty-six hour day, the tavern begins to sway. Jax makes his way outside to get some air. After closing the bar, Peri locks the back door and heads for her truck, when she sees a form slumped against the wall.
She knelt beside Jax and leaned in pressing on his leg, a sticky dampness cooling her fingers.
“Fuck!” He jerked as his eyelids flew open.
“Fuck is right, sailor, you’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing,” he said shaking his head as if clearing cobwebs.
“Come on,” she offered, helping him to his feet.
“Peri?”
“Yeah, and you owe me another tip.”
He laughed, leaning on her as she guided him to her truck.
Now what to do with him; she drove home.
Please check out the amazing writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
April 10, 2016
Sand and Sin – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – April 10
Spring had arrived in coastal Virginia and then we had some flurries earlier today! Hoping warmer weather is on the way. If you’re new to Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, it’s a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m continuing with with my newest steamy release, Sand and Sin. Navy SEAL, Jax Taylor, takes leave after being injured on a mission and catches a military hop to Virginia Beach to see a buddy. TJ is night training and recommends a local SEAL bar called the Trident. As he chats with the lovely, green-eyed bartender Peri, she realizes he’s friends with TJ and asks why his buddy isn’t showing the hot spots.
Jax fiddled with his napkin and answered, “He’s jumping out of a C-130.”
“So, you just returned stateside today?”
He checked his expensive, matte-black, multi-function watch that would have marked him special-ops without their previous conversation. “About two hours ago.”
“Long mission?”
“Months,” he said glancing around the bar, then to her.
“It’s early, you still have time to remedy your just-back virgin status,” she replied with a smirk.
His gaze burned into her like a blue flame before asking, “Is that an offer?”
For the first time since working at the Trident, she considered breaking her rule, as she thumped her pen on her ticket pad. “Sorry, don’t mix business with pleasure.”
Please check out the amazing writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
April 8, 2016
When Time Falls Still – Brenda Margriet
Today I’m happy to interview Brenda Margriet’s heroine and hero of her new release, When Time Falls Still. For a little bit of background on Charlotte and Justice before we chat with them:
Professor Charlotte Girardet is focused on one thing – securing tenure at a large, prestigious university.
Her career is firmly on track, but her life is complicated by her attraction to rough and rugged security guard Justice Cooper. It isn’t only Charlotte’s heart in danger, however. Tensions blaze on campus after several students are viciously attacked.
Struggling to balance her ambitions and her growing passion, Charlotte takes a leap of faith, and trusts Justice with her deepest secret. But when the assailant’s attacks escalate to kidnapping, will Charlotte have the chance to decide between her long-held dreams or a new life with Justice?
Sounds exciting. Nice to meet you both. Are you ready to answer some questions?
Charlotte: Absolutely Dani, and thanks for having us.
Is there a specific body type, hair, or eye color that attracts you? Does your current lover meet the criteria?
Charlotte: This is easy for me to answer, and Justice already knows the truth. No—he was NOT someone I expected to be attracted to. My lover before Justice was a sophisticated, urban, intellectual type. And a jerk, in the end, but that’s neither here nor there. Justice is this big, hulking guy with scars and a rather intimidating look. He is an intellectual, which just goes to show you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. But everything from his lifestyle to his job to his stubborn insistence that he is always right should have turned me off.
Justice: You’re no sweet little fairy yourself, Charlotte. But I’ve decided I like to have a good armful of woman. As for stubborn—pot, meet kettle.
I’m also familiar with that trait in my spouse, Justice. Where were you when you lost your virginity?
Justice: Really? Who picked these questions?
Charlotte: Blame Brenda for that. You go first.
Justice: (Sigh) Fine. Junior hockey road trip, back of the bus.
Charlotte: Last year of undergrad, just before convocation, my apartment with my roommate’s brother.
Justice: Late bloomer, where you?
Charlotte: I had other priorities. Like getting my degree.
Justice: I have never met a more focused person. I still have to wrestle you away from your work.
(Laughs) I’ve never interviewed a couple before, but I gotta say this is fun! How do you stay fit?
Charlotte: I like to run, usually on a treadmill. But Justice got me into boxing, as well.
Justice: She packs a pretty good punch. I don’t have much time for formal workouts, but I still love to get out on the ice as often as I can.
A couple that spars together stays together, ah…what is your favorite piece of clothing to remove from your lover?
Justice: Charlotte wears these long sweater dress things—
Charlotte: Knitted tunics.
Justice: Whatever. They hang just below her ass, and then she wears these tight stockings—
Charlotte: Leggings.
Justice: I don’t care what they’re called. But I love to peel them off you, lift up the hem of your tunic, and—(unintelligible whispers)
Charlotte: (shocked) Justice!!
Whoa! Think we need to cut to commercial! Thanks guys! I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Charlotte and Justice a little bit. If you want to read an excerpt from their story, you’ll find one here http://www.brendamargriet.com/when-time-falls-still—excerpt.html
Brenda: Thanks again, Dani, for letting me visit your blog! One of the ways I’m hoping to connect with readers is through my brand new newsletter! They can find the sign up form on the front page of my website (http://www.brendamargriet.com/) and on my Facebook Author Page (https://www.facebook.com/BrendaMargriet/app/100265896690345/?ref=page_internal). As a thank you for signing up, I will be pleased to send them a copy of my short story, The Life She Had Before.
And one more thing! I’m giving away 5 copies of When Time Falls Still. Enter here http://gvwy.io/t9drasv by April 15th for a chance to win!
Thanks Brenda now let’s give readers a little blurb and excerpt. Great having you all here today!
Blurb:
Professor Charlotte Girardet is focused on one thing – securing tenure at a large, prestigious university.
Her career is firmly on track, but her life is complicated by her attraction to rough and rugged security guard Justice Cooper. It isn’t only Charlotte’s heart in danger, however. Tensions blaze on campus after several students are viciously attacked.
Struggling to balance her ambitions and her growing passion, Charlotte takes a leap of faith, and trusts Justice with her deepest secret. But when the assailant’s attacks escalate to kidnapping, will Charlotte have the chance to decide between her long-held dreams or a new life with Justice?
Excerpt:
Charlotte braced herself against the motion of the elevator, but not before her breasts, protected only by thin fabric and thinner lace, brushed Justice’s chest. He was standing so close she felt overwhelmed. Not intimidated—he didn’t scare her—just…swamped by his nearness.
Or maybe it was the heat in his eyes.
Ocean depths had nothing on the blueness searing into her, she thought wildly. Vertigo weakened her knees, but she couldn’t look away.
“I—” She broke off, swallowed, and tried again. “I don’t know what to say.” He toyed with the end of her braid, and she swore she could feel the touch of his fingers fizzle up the strands, down her spine and into the soles of her feet.
“Did you honestly think I wasn’t attracted to you?” His voice rumbled, low and sexy.
The doors slid open. Thank God the hallway was empty. Her legs felt disconnected from her body, but she managed not to stumble. She unlocked her office, seeking refuge inside. Justice followed.
“Charlotte?”
He wasn’t going to let it go. Perseverance was his greatest strength—and his most irritating habit, she thought peevishly. “I threw myself at you and you walked away.”
“I just about took you up against your front door.” Frustration coloured his tone. He scrubbed his hands over his close-cropped head.
“Fine. Maybe you were right.” She lifted her satchel off her shoulder and tossed it into a nearby chair. “Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly enough.”
“Maybe.” He crossed his ankles and leaned against the wall, the casual stance belying the tension evident in the fists jammed in his pockets, the set of his shoulders. “Now what?”
“I don’t know.” The collar of his uniform jacket had kinked up on one side. Without thinking, she stepped forward to smooth it down. He caught her hand and held it. Her fingers curled into his.
The connection felt good. It felt right. Maybe she should stop thinking altogether, and just go with her gut.
She never did that. She planned and researched and debated and planned some more. Trying to regain her equilibrium, she tugged away and escaped behind her desk.
“Let’s look at this rationally,” she said. His scarred eyebrow arched and amusement flickered in his face, but she battled on. “We are both healthy, single adults. For some reason, we seem to have strong physical chemistry.”
“Some reason?” The amusement was uppermost, now. His lips remained firm and straight, but she could see it in his eyes, as usual.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are not the kind of man I ever thought I’d be attracted to.”
He lowered his lids and regarded her through narrow slits. “Right back at you.”
She bristled, but took her own advice and let it go. “Regardless, we could take advantage of this mutual appeal.”
“There’s the professor I know and…admire,” he murmured.
She ignored the sarcasm. “I’m only here for a few more months.” The exam today was the last she needed to invigilate. As soon as they were marked and the results submitted, she was flying out to spend Christmas with Sonny and family, returning a few days before the start of the winter session. “Are you in any of my classes next semester?”
He shook his head, watching her closely.
“Would you consider a short-term, exclusive relationship, with a predefined end date?” There, she thought. That sounded mature, sensible. No need to let emotions colour what promised to be a satisfying adult affair.
He straightened from the wall, looming to his full height. “Would this so-called relationship be strictly physical? Or could it involve social aspects as well?”
Once again, she sensed an underlying current of laughter, but she ignored it. “I can’t see why not.”
“And it would come to an end the same time as your contract?”
“Or earlier, of course, should either of us find it no longer meets our needs.”
“I thought English professors were supposed to be romantic.”
Romance. Love. That’s what hurt you. Sex, on the other hand, was just sex. “Not all of us.”
Reviews:
If you’re looking for a great contemporary romance, WHEN TIME FALLS STILL is the book for you. The romance between Justice and Charlotte was full of ups and downs but their connection, friendship and attraction a constant. A fantastic introduction to a new-to-me author, I will happily browse through Brenda Margriet’s backlist.
The Romance Reviews – 4 Stars
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=21212
Margriet’s voice produces a smooth flowing narrative, intriguing sexual tension, and a well-plotted romance that takes it’s time developing as Margriet sets out to address and resolve the internal issues of the protagonists while flirting with a light suspense filled subplot.
Smexy Books – Grade B
http://smexybooks.com/2016/03/review-when-time-falls-still-by-brenda-margriet.html
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01CXB7OAC
Website (with all other links): http://www.brendamargriet.com/when-time-falls-still—where-to-buy.html
Bio:
Brenda Margriet write contemporary romances with heroes you’d meet at the grocery store. And by that she means real-life men – sexy, smart and looking for the love of their life. Her heroines are bold, savvy and determined to accept nothing less than the man they deserve.
A voracious reader since she was old enough to hold a book, Brenda’s idea of the perfect holiday involves a comfortable chair near the water (ocean, lake or pool will do), a glass of wine, and a full-loaded e-reader.
She lives in Northern British Columbia with her husband, three children (all of whom are taller than her) and various finny and furry pets.
Join Brenda’s newsletter and be the first to know about new releases and other exciting news! Plus, receive a free c-copy of her short story, The Life She Had Before.
http://www.facebook.com/brendamargriet
http://www.pinterest.com/brendamargriet
@brendamargriet
http://www.goodreads.com/bmargriet
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/brendamargriet
March 26, 2016
Sand and Sin – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – March 26
Happy Easter if you celebrate! Spring has arrived in coastal Virginia. If you’re new to Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, it’s a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m continuing with with my newest steamy release, Sand and Sin. Navy SEAL, Jax Taylor, takes leave after being injured on a mission and catches a military hop to Virginia Beach to see a buddy. TJ is night training and recommends a local SEAL bar called the Trident. Jax is chatting with the lovely, green-eyed bartender Peri, when she finds out he’s a friend of TJ’s she asks if he’s in the area to train. Some creative punctuation to make scene in ten.
“Currently in a holding pattern.” With a roll of his shoulders, he scowled and thumped his glass down. Not linebacker thick, he was more like a running back—built for speed.
“They call you GQ.” A Texan not rugged enough to be branded Cowboy and too handsome for Tex.
He sipped his drink, then cleared his throat and asked, “Did TJ share my birthday, too?”
“No, just a story about you chasing some bad guys through the streets of a South American country in your birthday suit,” Peri said and grinned.
“Touché,” he said and held up his glass then shotgunned the remainder of his whiskey.
Usually immune to her bar patrons, she was blindsided with a lust she’d lidded since her daughter was born. “Where’s TJ? Shouldn’t your buddy be showing you the hot spots?”
Please check out the amazing writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
March 22, 2016
Romance Writers Weekly – Fav Movies and Shows
This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Fiona Riplee wants insights into our psyche by learning what movie or network series we LOVE to watch. She also wants to know what we think those movie(s) or show(s) say about our creative personality? If you came from visiting Brenda Margriet thanks for hopping over.
For me, I believe my smorgasbord of movie and show favorites means I have multi personalities! I enjoy pretty much all genres, except gruesome horror.
My newest favorite network show is Lucifer. Talk about a witty devil. I also love Sleepy Hollow and it’s historical plot twists. As a Trekkie from way back, I feel the new Star Trek movies are well done and true to the original series. Chris Pine has the Kirk swagger and Karl Urban pulls off the pessimistic and dry wit of the original Bones. Captain America, Iron Man and Thor turned me into a Marvel fan and now I can’t wait for the next Guardians of the Galaxy. The mix of classic rock and pop into the movie was pure genius. One day, I’d love to write a sci fi or fantasy romance. Between paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi, one of my personalities must believe in the unbelievable.
Sarcastic humor comes second nature and draws me into situation
comedies such as Two and Half men and Mike and Molly. Fun movies such as Magic Mike and upbeat romantic comedies, The Ugly Truth, 27 Dresses, and The Replacements are some of my favs. Yeah, the last one is a football movie but also a love story. So I guess I’m a sarcastic romantic.
Above all, I’m a hard core action fan. I grew up on 007, going to Bond flicks with my dad and brother. Indiana Jones and Gladiator are tops on my action repertoire. I’m also a long time fan of Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Dwayne Johnson will always be “The Rock” to me and Vin Diesel as Riddick is one sexy outlaw. For action TV
shows right now, I’m into Chicago Fire and Blind Spot. Cinemax’s Strikeback was absolutely awesome. Special forces dudes are the hottest! The action genre embodies a part of my personality that wishes I had the guts and skills to be a total bad ass!
All these personalities within me have helped write a historical romance set in Roman times, a paranormal about shifters, and my last three novels about a firefighter/surfer, SEAL and professional football player. I’d have to say action romance seems to be a theme in my writing.
Hope you’ll hop on over to Leslie Hachtel and see what movies and shows drives her creative side.
Romance Writers Weekly –
This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Fiona Riplee wants insights into our psyche by learning what movie or network series we LOVE to watch. She also wants to know what we think those movie(s) or show(s) say about our creative personality? If you came from visiting Brenda Margriet thanks for hopping over.
For me, I believe my smorgasbord of movie and show favorites means I have multi personalities! I enjoy pretty much all genres, except gruesome horror.
My newest favorite network show is Lucifer. Talk about a witty devil. I also love Sleepy Hollow and it’s historical plot twists. As a Trekkie from way back, I feel the new Star Trek movies are well done and true to the original series. Chris Pine has the Kirk swagger and Karl Urban pulls off the pessimistic and dry wit of the original Bones. Captain America, Iron Man and Thor turned me into a Marvel fan and now I can’t wait for the next Guardians of the Galaxy. The mix of classic rock and pop into the movie was pure genius. One day, I’d love to write a sci fi or fantasy romance. Between paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi, one of my personalities must believe in the unbelievable.
Sarcastic humor comes second nature and draws me into situation comedies such as Two and Half men and Mike and Molly. Fun movies such as Magic Mike and upbeat romantic comedies, The Ugly Truth, 27 Dresses, and The Replacements are some of my favs. Yeah, the last one is a football movie but also a love story. So I guess I’m a sarcastic romantic.
Above all, I’m a hard core action fan. I grew up on 007, going to Bond flicks with my dad and brother. Indiana Jones and Gladiator are tops on my action repertoire. I’m also a long time fan of Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Dwayne Johnson will always be “The Rock” to me and Vin Diesel as Riddick is one sexy outlaw. For action TV shows right now, I’m into Chicago Fire and Blind Spot. Cinemax’s Strikeback was absolutely awesome. Special forces dudes are the hottest! The action genre embodies a part of my personality that wishes I had the guts and skills to be a total bad ass!
All these personalities within me have helped write a historical romance set in Roman times, a paranormal about shifters, and my last three novels about a firefighter/surfer, SEAL and professional football player. I’d have to say action romance seems to be a theme in my writing.
Hope you’ll hop on over to Leslie Hachtel and see what movies and shows drives her creative side.
