Tracey Alvarez's Blog, page 10
December 22, 2014
Scorching Christmas blog hop
Christmas is my favourite time of year – especially since it’s my birthday on Christmas Eve so I get two gifts! Score! My family knows me well enough to understand that books are my number one favourite gift, and it’s coincidentally the time of year when some of my favourite authors release their latest.
This year I have my eye on Stephen King’s latest novel, ‘Revival’ (I love a good scary, thrill read!), plus I’m hoping to get Jill Shalvis’ amazing contemporary romances ‘One in a Million’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Baby’ (I’m crushed that these are the last books in the Lucky Harbor series!). Kristan Higgins is another favourite of mine, but dammit, I’ve already read all her books and I’m impatiently awaiting her next one.
Back-up plan if Santa doesn’t come through with the books this year (giftcards are also acceptable, just saying), is to use my vivid and slightly smutty (okay, a lot smutty) imagination. Picturing the hero from my latest book, a saucy Chrismtas novella, oughta do it. Kip Sullivan from CHRISTMAS WITH YOU is hot, with a capital Ho-Ho-Ho! Dark hair, blue eyes, and muscles that can’t be hidden even inside a jolly red Santa suit…yum.
Here’s the blurb and a sexy little excerpt that may leave you wanting a Kip Sullivan of your own…
She’s a Holiday Grinch…
Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. With her beloved father gone, she’s desperate to be part of a family—so she’s spending the holidays with her step-brothers on Stewart Island. But even with sand, sun, and not a snowflake in sight, everything reminds her of what she’s lost. So no tree trimming, cookie baking, or kisses under the mistletoe for her, thanks. Especially not from Due South’s sexy bartender, Kip.
He’s a too-hot-for-his-Santa-suit killjoy…
Kip Sullivan’s moved hundreds of miles away from his family who’d like to see him married off before his next birthday—on Christmas Eve. Then ten days before the big event, his meddling relatives arrive en masse, and dear God, they’re planning to stay. With match-makers breathing down his neck, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation to unwrap Carly like a present under the tree.
The Kiwi barbecue isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer…
Kip agrees to help make Carly’s first New Zealand Christmas special. He’s got five holiday missions to complete—one involving a frisky fake reindeer—before he hopes to claim a mistletoe kiss…and maybe even Carly’s heart.
The heat in Kip’s blue gaze flared into predatory awareness. “This is one of your Christmas missions, isn’t it?” He ran a hand up her back, his long fingers closing gently around her neck.
“Missions? Oh. A visit to Santa.”
His chuckle was warm and intimate. “Since you’re already on my knee, why don’t you tell me exactly what you want for Christmas?”
Oh, it’d become painfully obvious what she wanted for Christmas, what she wanted right now. Her mouth went parchment dry. “Kip…”
“Tell Santa, sweetheart.” His fingers stroked the side of her throat, sending delicious shivers swirling through her.
Hell. She couldn’t deny it, since she all but panted in his arms. Horny elf very badly wanted to have sexy Santa’s body plastered up against hers.
“You, Kip. I want you for Christmas.”
A flash of teeth showed beneath the curly white beard. “You’re number one on my list, too, but I don’t think I can wait four more days—let’s go.” He lifted her off his knee.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google +
Pinterest
Sign up to Tracey’s most awesome newsletter
Hope you get your heart’s desire on Christmas Day, but most of all I wish you a special time with people who love you.
Tracey
');
// ]]>
');
// ]]>
December 18, 2014
Winter Warmer Blog Hop
I’ve always loved Christmas. Decorating the Christmas tree (real pine, of course!), putting out the Christmas stockings, eating Christmas food, and getting teary-eyed singing my favourite Christmas carols. All of my forty-*mumble* Christmases have been spent here in New Zealand, but a few years ago in 2011 I got the opportunity with my family to experience an almost White Christmas – I say almost, as it didn’t actually snow on Vancouver Island where we spent Christmas Day! So we had to trek to the nearest ski resort on Boxing Day to enjoy the white, cold, wet stuff!
This was a very special Christmas for our family, as we took my husband’s mother to see her sister in Canada, and as our beloved auntie had terminal cancer, we all knew it would be the last Christmas we’d spend with her. We were so welcomed by our Canadian relatives (some of whom we’d never met before) that it was heart-breaking having to leave a few days after Christmas.
While our not-so-white Christmas had lots of bitter-sweet memories, it also had some wonderful ones. Singing Christmas carols accompanied by our auntie on her ukulele. Seeing real, live holly growing. All the houses decorated in lights. Spotting a giant gingerbread house in a bakery window. Going four-wheel driving with our cousins trying to find a patch of snow for the kids to play in…
Christmas is a magical time of the year, whether it’s squabbling with family—er, spending time with family— falling in love with a special someone, or in my latest Christmas novella, a little of both! But the holiday season is a little different down here in New Zealand. It’s the middle of summer, so many families head for the beach or have a BBQ lunch in their back yards. Many of us still love the traditional Christmas lunch of roast turkey and all the trimmings and then plum pudding (or Pavlova) for dessert.
One thing we enjoy in NZ is being able to get out in the sunshine and play with our kids – especially when Santa brings them fun presents like water guns. In CHRISTMAS WITH YOU, the hero, Kip, takes part in a water battle with his nephews and unfortunately, the heroine, Carly, get’s caught in the middle.
Here’s the blurb of CHRISTMAS WITH YOU and a short excerpt for you to enjoy.
She’s a Holiday Grinch…
Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. With her beloved father gone, she’s desperate to be part of a family—so she’s spending the holidays with her step-brothers on Stewart Island. But even with sand, sun, and not a snowflake in sight, everything reminds her of what she’s lost. So no tree trimming, cookie baking, or kisses under the mistletoe for her, thanks. Especially not from Due South’s sexy bartender, Kip.
He’s a too-hot-for-his-Santa-suit killjoy…
Kip Sullivan’s moved hundreds of miles away from his family who’d like to see him married off before his next birthday—on Christmas Eve. Then ten days before the big event, his meddling relatives arrive en masse, and dear God, they’re planning to stay. With match-makers breathing down his neck, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation to unwrap Carly like a present under the tree.
The Kiwi barbecue isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer…
Kip agrees to help make Carly’s first New Zealand Christmas special. He’s got five holiday missions to complete—one involving a frisky fake reindeer—before he hopes to claim a mistletoe kiss…and maybe even Carly’s heart.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without this spicy yet sweet Due South novella.
Keeping his finger on the plastic trigger, Kip padded across the wooden decking close to the walls of the house. The drapes were still drawn in the master bedroom, which his parents were using, and a skitter of awareness danced down his spine. Carly was in that room, probably in her underwear. Exposing miles of skin…
Perfect, lightly tanned skin the color of barely toasted bread.
Kip shook his head and bit back a laugh. Wasn’t he the romantic? Toast-colored skin—Jesus. Not to mention the fact he shouldn’t be imagining his co-worker in her panties.
He paused at the corner of the house to get his mind back in the game. Lucas was out in the yard somewhere, creeping around with his eye-rolling but secretly enjoying-the-fun, older cousin.
Kip raised the barrel of his rifle and slooowly peered around the corner. Movement came from the shadowy interior of the open front door. He’d have to cross past it in order to get to the other side of the house.
Gotcha, Grandpa.
“No water in the house,” had been his mother’s strict instructions on doling out the water guns. The five of them had nodded solemnly, Kip and his dad exchanging glances of yeah, right, it’s on.
Thankful he’d chosen to play in shorts, tee shirt, and bare feet, Kip eased around the corner, rifle ready for action. He moved silently along the decking.
Carly stepped out onto the veranda, sunlight catching strands of her long hair and transforming them into streams of coppery fire. Kip froze, one foot in front of the other, and then ducked into a defensive crouch. Naively, considering the five armed hunters patrolling the grounds, she looked straight ahead. Her stellar breasts sat high and proud under a white shirt. She stretched her arms to the sky and yawned, some of her smooth, toast-colored skin appearing in a strip above the waistband of her shorts.
His fingers itched, warring with the part of his brain saying: Mate, she’ll kick you in the balls for real.
The smile appeared back on his face. Nah, he’d never been good at ignoring a challenge. He aimed the rifle, pulled the trigger, and watched the arc of water sparkle in the sun until it reached the target.
Bull’s-eye! He shoots, he scores!
Carly’s head whipped toward him, those soft, pale pink lips that had caused him to toss and turn the night before parted in an almost perfect O. Water soaked through her shirt, and dripped off her shorts. Yet his victim hadn’t screamed. She just stood there, wide-eyed and drenched.
So he blasted her again.
Her hands rose in defense, which didn’t do a hell of a lot to prevent her shirt becoming even wetter. Add in the bonus of two rock-hard nipples poking through the thin cotton, and man, he could keep firing until the chamber went dry.
“You.” She stabbed a finger at him, which caused a delicious wobble of her incredible tits. With her other hand, she swiped water droplets off her face, her whiskey eyes flashing promises of bloody revenge. “You. Are. Dead.”
“Empty threats, sweetheart.”
Voices behind her from inside the house grew louder.
“Ohmigawd. Kip just soaked her!”
“Mum, look what he’s done!”
Lizzie poked her head out of the doorway, and then jerked it back in when Kip fired a warning shot.
“Vee! Where’s the backup artillery? Quick—bring it here!”
Carly grinned at him. “Game on, pretty-boy.”
Kip spun and darted back around the corner, heading down the garden to the outside tap for a reload and then to set up an ambush.
A private ambush.
As my Christmas present to you, CHRISTMAS WITH YOU is currently FREE on Amazon!
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google +
Pinterest
Sign up to Tracey’s most awesome newsletter
Check out the rest of the amazing authors who are participating, and also www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a busy, bright and beautiful 2015.
Tracey.
December 7, 2014
Holiday Hop with Fab-u-licious Christmas Giveaway!
Less than 16 sleeps until Christmas – I’m so excited! One of the things I love most about Christmas is decorating the tree. This year we managed to wait until last weekend before my husband and two teens dragged out the Christmas tree and decorated the hell outta it. See results:
Now I have a confession to make. I’m a little anal about how the decorations are hung. Like Kip Sullivan, the hero in my Christmas novella CHRISTMAS WITH YOU, I get twitchy when two same colored baubles are hung to close together. Master 17, Miss 14 and my husband thought it was a hoot to torture me by clustering like-colored ornaments together on one branch. Gahhh! So far I’ve managed to resist the temptation to sneak back into the lounge and rearrange things.
Here’s the blurb for CHRISTMAS WITH YOU and a little excerpt of Kip’s struggles to cope with an unevenly decorated tree…
She’s a Holiday Grinch…
Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. With her beloved father gone, she’s desperate to be part of a family—so she’s spending the holidays with her step-brothers on Stewart Island. But even with sand, sun, and not a snowflake in sight, everything reminds her of what she’s lost. So no tree trimming, cookie baking, or kisses under the mistletoe for her, thanks. Especially not from Due South’s sexy bartender, Kip.
He’s a too-hot-for-his-Santa-suit killjoy…
Kip Sullivan’s moved hundreds of miles away from his family who’d like to see him married off before his next birthday—on Christmas Eve. Then ten days before the big event, his meddling relatives arrive en masse, and dear God, they’re planning to stay. With match-makers breathing down his neck, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation to unwrap Carly like a present under the tree.
The Kiwi barbecue isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer…
Kip agrees to help make Carly’s first New Zealand Christmas special. He’s got five holiday missions to complete—one involving a frisky fake reindeer—before he hopes to claim a mistletoe kiss…and maybe even Carly’s heart.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without this spicy yet sweet Due South novella.
Thirty minutes later, Kip slumped onto the couch and watched Carly lift up Lucas so he could hang a golden bauble on the tree. Mission two, underway. And unless she was a better actress than he’d credited, Carly appeared to be enjoying herself.
Lowering the boy to his feet, she glanced over. A jolt fired into his gut as her gaze connected with his, like one of the strung lights had zapped him. She stepped over a tangle of silver and gold tinsel, crossing the room to sit beside him.
Curling her legs under her, Carly propped her elbow on the couch back, her blouse gaping to display the rise of her left breast, a sliver of white lace contrasting against a light smattering of freckles. “How does it look?”
So delicious, so tempting, he wouldn’t be able to resist a taste for much longer. But she probably meant the decorations. Kip swiped a palm down his thigh and wrenched his gaze away from her chest.
He nodded at the tree, as if he hadn’t been daydreaming about counting the freckles covering her breasts…with his tongue. “Ah…like someone rapid-fired mini disco balls at it from an automatic launcher then wrapped twenty feet of tinsel around it in an asphyxiation attempt.”
She laughed, and her hair slipped over her shoulder, dangling into her cleavage. Lucky, lucky hair. God, he was so screwed if he ended up with a hard-on with his sisters around.
“I know what you’re doing, Kip.” Her voice was pitched low, husky and intimate.
He leaned forward to brace his elbows on his knees, hoping to look like a guy studying the aesthetics of his family’s tree-decorating skills. As opposed to a guy reduced to the awkward teen he’d once been; his tongue thick and uncooperative in the presence of the prettiest girl in school.
“What am I doing?”
He knew what he’d like to be doing. It had little to do with fixing up the sparkly horror show in front of them.
“You’re mentally rearranging the ornaments,” she said. “I saw your eye twitching when Logan put three red balls on the same branch.”
“How could anyone think it looks balanced?”
“He’s five, Kip.”
“He’s also the kid who lines his matchbox cars up in a row and cracks a fit if one gets pushed slightly out of line.”
“Maybe a little of your own OCD tendencies kicking in there?”
“If you’re gonna do something, do it right.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and a pretty flush spread through the smattering of freckles on her cheeks. Guess some of his do her up against the wall six ways from Sunday thoughts had transposed through his words.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google +
Pinterest
Sign up to Tracey’s most awesome newsletter
Angela Ford’s 2014 Holiday Hop Giveaway Link – Click Here
Our readers are most important to us! We are celebrating by giving away a Kindle and a $25 Gift Card. Please stop by and visit the authors listed below for more giveaways. Happy Hopping!
Jamie Brumfield Amanda Bennett Michele Mathews Julia Mills Elizabeth Inglee Richards
Carol Ann Kauffman Jennifer Chambers Diane Rinella Angela Ford Terri Carle
Sharon Kleve Melanie James Mariah Dietz Serena Zane Jennifer Conner Amanda Bennett
R.E. Hargrave Ella Medler Aubree Lane Rebecca Sherwin Teri Riggs
Ava O’Shay Andie Lea Dzintra Sullivan Andrea Perno Jennifer Theriot Chris Karlsen
Al Parks L.A. Remenicky Emma Lee Skye A.L. Wood Jayne Hyatt Amber Daulton
Joanne Jaytanie Kelly Cozzone J.D. Hollyfield Patricia Kiyono Elle Klass
T.I. Lowe Tammy Tate Jackie Marilla Casey Harvell Denise Kawaii Natalie-Nicole Bates Kelly Ann Jacobson Moira Keith Michele Gwynn Tracey Alvarez Mary Bernsen
December 4, 2014
Christmas With You Release Day & Giveaway!
★★ RELEASE DAY & GIVEAWAY ★★
#NewRelease #Giveaway #ChristmasWithYou #TraceyAlvarez #ContemporaryRomance #BookEnthusiast
Christmas With You (Due South Book 4) by Tracey Alvarez Release Day Event
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 5th, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions (http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com @BookEnthuPromotions
Add Christmas With You to Goodreads here
She’s a Holiday Grinch…
Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. With her beloved father gone, she’s desperate to be part of a family—so she’s spending the holidays with her step-brothers on Stewart Island. But even with sand, sun, and not a snowflake in sight, everything reminds her of what she’s lost. So no tree trimming, cookie baking, or kisses under the mistletoe for her, thanks. Especially not from Due South’s sexy bartender, Kip.
He’s a too-hot-for-his-Santa-suit killjoy…
Kip Sullivan’s moved hundreds of miles away from his family who’d like to see him married off before his next birthday—on Christmas Eve. Then ten days before the big event, his meddling relatives arrive en masse, and dear God, they’re planning to stay. With match-makers breathing down his neck, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation to unwrap Carly like a present under the tree.
The Kiwi barbecue isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer…
Kip agrees to help make Carly’s first New Zealand Christmas special. He’s got five holiday missions to complete—one involving a frisky fake reindeer—before he hopes to claim a mistletoe kiss…and maybe even Carly’s heart.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without this spicy yet sweet Due South novella.
She stepped under the shade of the first huge pohutukawa, blinking as her eyes struggled to adapt.
“Concentrate, zoomie,” she whispered. Her fingers fumbled up the grooved handle to find the trigger. “You got this.”
“Not this time, sweetheart.”
A strong arm wrapped around her body, pinning her arms helplessly to her side. Plastic pressed to the throbbing vein in her throat. Water seeped out of the gun and dripped down her neck. The shivers returned with a vengeance, but this time, they had nothing to do with chilly water and everything to do with the man pressed full length against her.
Warm breath puffed against her ear, and the cradle of his hips butted into her bottom. “Drop your weapon.”
Kip may as well have said, “Drop your panties.” His deep, rough voice affected her the same way.
Never surrender your weapon, zoomie.
Her throat seized, her mouth parched to sticky dryness. “No.”
Plastic squeaked, and more water oozed out of the gun, trickling down her overheated skin. The strong fingers wrapped around her upper arm flexed, not tight enough to hurt, just enough for her to know she couldn’t break free without a struggle—and another soaking.
“Resistance is futile.” Something soft and warm brushed over her earlobe, continued with butterfly lightness down the column of her throat to the very spot where her vein leaped under the skin. “I have you right where I want you. So drop it. I win.”
Her knees filled with wibbly-wobbly Jell-O, and her fingers on the gun handle had all the strength of mini sponge cakes. She was a sweet, hot mess from him grabbing her and breathing on her neck? Double-dammit. She’d underestimated the enemy’s skills at tactical engagement.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google +
Pinterest
Sign up to Tracey’s most awesome newsletter
WINNER: $10 Amazon Gift Card, plus e-copy bundle of In Too Deep, Melting Into You, and Ready To Burn.
Runner up prizes x 3: 1 e-copy of either Melting Into You or Ready To Burn.
November 21, 2014
#MySexySaturday Sexy Thanksgiving
Hi, and welcome to My Sexy Saturday – a fun blog hop where writers’ post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress. Today’s theme is ‘Sexy Thanksgiving – Sexy family’ (Because Thanksgiving is all about spending time with the people you love, right?) My excerpt of 7 paragraphs today is from my new Christmas Novella, which has a strong theme of family–and the heroine, Carly, is desperate to become part of a family again.
She’s a Holiday Grinch…
Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. With her beloved father gone, she’s desperate to be part of a family—so she’s spending the holidays with her step-brothers on Stewart Island. But even with sand, sun, and not a snowflake in sight, everything reminds her of what she’s lost. So no tree trimming, cookie baking, or kisses under the mistletoe for her, thanks. Especially not from Due South’s sexy bartender, Kip.
He’s a too-hot-for-his-Santa-suit killjoy…
Kip Sullivan’s moved hundreds of miles away from his family who’d like to see him married off before his next birthday—on Christmas Eve. Then ten days before the big event, his meddling relatives arrive en masse, and dear God, they’re planning to stay. With match-makers breathing down his neck, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation to unwrap Carly like a present under the tree.
The Kiwi barbecue isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer…
Kip agrees to help make Carly’s first New Zealand Christmas special. He’s got five holiday missions to complete—one involving a frisky fake reindeer—before he hopes to claim a mistletoe kiss…and maybe even Carly’s heart.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without this spicy yet sweet Due South novella.
“Now hear me out. My project’s called Operation Carly’s Special Christmas.”
“Say again?” Though he had his suspicions.
“The first couple of years after my dad died, the holidays were awful. So, let’s give Carly a Kiwi Christmas she will never forget.”
“Your pet projects often backfire, Mum,” Kip said. “And as lovely as Carly is, she has family here and won’t appreciate us meddling.”
“Who said anything about meddling? And her family’s not going to be here on Christmas Day. We can’t let her spend the day alone with just her stepmother and a sick old man—imagine the type of memories that’ll dredge up for the poor girl.” Tears pooled in his mother’s eyes.
Oh, hell. He was screwed.
His mother was right. None of them would enjoy their day as much, knowing Carly was miserable and alone. But in order to make Christmas special for her, it’d mean more time spent with her out of work hours. He couldn’t deny being curious about getting to know Carly better.
Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand). Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.
Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words.
When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found with her nose in her e-reader, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework.
Follow Tracey on Twitter as @TraceyAlvrezNZ or Facebook as http://www.facebook.com/TraceyAlvarez...
Her website is http://www.traceyalvarez.com and don’t forget to sign up to her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/JR3Asu
Please use the list below to check out the other Sexy Saturday posts on the blog hop – and don’t forget to leave a comment – I’d love to hear from you!
Tracey
October 30, 2014
Vampire Queen vs. Rick Grimes, Zombie Killer
If you’re a friend or follower of mine on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of zombies and The Walking Dead. So, when it came to writing Ready To Burn with Halloween smack in the middle of the book’s timeline, I couldn’t resist adding a community Halloween party – complete with the hero, Del, dressing up as Rick Grimes from the series. Below is an exclusive excerpt of Del seeing the heroine, Shaye, dressed up as a Vampire Queen before the party. Hope you enjoy, and Happy Halloween everyone!
Tracey
“Are you meant to be a cop like Aunty Piper?”
Del jerked at the small, high-pitched voice. A sword-carrying ninja and a grey-faced zombie stood next to him, their brows raised. Right. He’d been standing, staring blankly at the center’s noticeboard, instead of manning up and going into the hall.
“Hey, girls.”
The black-garbed ninja with pigtails, Ben’s daughter, Jade, scanned him up and down with a scornful expression straight from her father’s repertoire. The curly haired zombie beamed at him and elbowed her friend and soon-to-be stepsister.
“He’s Rick from The Walking Dead. He kills zombies.” Zoe demonstrated a few arms limply out, shuffling zombie steps. She cut him a keen glance. “And I’m a zombie. So, c’mon, Rick, a clean head-shot, right?”
Del’s lips tugged up in the corners. Zoe and Jade’s antics never failed to make him laugh.
He whipped his toy pistol from the holster strapped to his hips and drawled, “You are one…dead…walker.” The soft foam ball shot from his gun and nailed the nine-year-old zombie right in the forehead.
Zoe fake-staggered, groaned, and collapsed. Drummed her heels on the floor. Moaned some more. An Oscar-winning performance, if Del had ever seen one.
“Another shot to make sure she’s dead?” he asked a giggling Jade.
Jade’s pigtails bobbed. “Yep. Right in the kisser.”
“Hey!” Zoe’s head popped up.
Del shot her again.
Both girls collapsed in a tangle of giggles.
“Shooting innocent zombies? Shame on you, Del Westlake.”
Del turned, and the sight of Shaye looking so damn fine in her black lace and red gown, whiplashed through his system. His finger squeezed the trigger, and another little foam ball shot out, bouncing off the soft mounds of her incredibly framed tits. Pretty sure drool leaked out his mouth, Del froze.
Shaye’s eyes danced green fire. “Now you’re shooting at me?”
Giggles erupted behind him and a small hand tugged on his pants.
“You can’t kill a vampire with bullets,” said Zoe.
His head swivelled back to Shaye, and he took in her long dress with the lacy stuff flaring out of the elbows, the black ribbons criss-crossing her stomach right up to the low bodice of her dress, and her—come-to-think-of-it— powdered, unnaturally pale face and blood-red mouth. Peeling open her lips, she exposed realistic-looking fangs and poked out the tip of her tongue between them. She wiggled it with an unmistakable glance at the crotch of his tan pants, no doubt counting on the fact his body blocked the girls’ view of her actions.
Holyfuckingshit. Hot vampire chick does the sheriff then sucks him dry.
He swallowed—barely. “Oh. You’re a vampire.”
Jade tugged Zoe to her feet and towed her along to the double doors leading into the hall. “Aunty Shaye’s a vampire queen. So watch out, or she’ll bite you.”
Please God. Yes. Over and over.
Somehow he managed to smile politely at the girls before they disappeared.
Ready To Burn is still available for the special release price of 99 cents! Grab a copy before it returns to full price!
October 24, 2014
Ready To Burn Release Day
So excited to release the 3rd book in my Due South series, Ready To Burn. Hope you love Shaye and Del’s story as much as I do!
***For A Limited Time Only!**
Ready To Burn is available at all retailers for only $0.99!!
★★ RELEASE EVENT & GIVEAWAY ★★
Book Title: Ready To Burn (Due South Book 3)
Author: Tracey Alvarez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 25th, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions (http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com)
Take one sassy Harland girl…
Shaye Harland, sous chef de-awesome, desperately wants the role of Due South’s head chef. Though a little out of her depth, she can totally cope with the extra demands if she can resist her future brother-in-law when he muscles in on her kitchen. The Hollywood wannabe is nothing but a troublesome distraction and he fries her sex-ometer to a crisp. But as far as romance? Forget it. Love, when she finds Mr. Perfect, will be as sweet as her to-die-for cookies.
Add a bad-boy from LA…
Del Westlake swore he’d never again set foot on the island he calls the “ass end of New Zealand.” With his reputation as a sous chef in one of LA’s hottest restaurants trashed, and his estranged father’s restaurant needing a head chef, Del wants nothing more than to go in, get the job done, and get out. Except his feisty second-in-command carves herself a spot in his heart and completely incinerates his plans.
Watch the sparks fly as they burn it up in the kitchen…
Winning a spot on a TV reality show is just what Del needs to jumpstart his career back in the States. Nothing can get in the way of him winning—not even the woman whose trust he’d destroy if she discovers his secrets. But with a film crew capturing the explosive kitchen chemistry between them, will his bad-boy ways rear up and ruin his shot at becoming Shaye’s Mr. Perfect?
Amazon
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
One second Del stood beside her all moody and mysterious, and the next, his hands gripped the railing on either side of her hips. He moved fast—fast enough that she made an embarrassing little eep-ish squawk. Nowhere to go unless she became flexible enough to do a flip over the wooden railing.
Shaye yanked her hands from her pockets and gave his chest a shove. “Back off.”
Even after she added her sous chef do it now or die glare, he stayed, big and bad and way too close. He continued watching her with dark and unreadable eyes, his nostrils flaring slightly as he breathed.
Her hands didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t put them back on those two hard pecs, since every single nerve-ending had soaked up the heat burning through Del’s shirt and transmitted swoony, oh yeah sighs into her brain.
Stupid nerve-endings. Stupid brain.
She wriggled her bottom, so she half sat on the railing, arching away from him. “What are you doing?”
“Showing you the reason.”
The rough timbre of his voice stroked over her. Wickedly dark, decadently rich, scarily addictive. Like chocolate, the quality stuff made of eighty percent pure cacao.
He leaned forward, his face level with hers. “It’s a compelling reason.”
Shaye’s hand shot out to grip his biceps—that or topple backward—but God, he felt amazing. All hard, sinewy muscle and why the hell couldn’t she unhook her fingers?
Her breathing hitched, high and ragged. “My sister’s a cop, and I know how to defend myself.”
“So, show me your ninja moves.”
“Daring a cornered woman to hurt you isn’t very bright.”
One of his hands rasped off the wooden railing and touched the end of her ponytail. He selected a strand and stroked it down her jaw. Shaye licked her lips, unable to suck her gaze from his mouth, which angled closer. Close enough that she could tell the flavor of the last handful of potato chips he’d eaten.
Salt and vinegar. Her favorite.
She strained upward to see if he tasted as good as he smelled…Freaking hell—
Shaye reared back a little, hair slipping from his fingers, her chin narrowly missing his. “Are you going to kiss me?”
Her heart gave a little bunny-hop at the thought and leaped around her ribs.
“Not unless you ask real nice.”
“Ask you?” There was that damn smirk of his again. She should’ve guessed he was playing with her. “When pigs fly.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, but the smile didn’t falter. “Now you’ll have to say, ‘Please, Del. With a cherry on top.’”
“I’d jam that cherry up your nose before I’d kiss you, Hollywood. Get outta my face.”
His gaze dipped once to her mouth then flicked up. “I can’t go anywhere while you’re grabbing onto me.”
Other Books in the Due South Series:
Book #1 In Too Deep
Amazon
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Book #2 Melting Into You
Amazon
Amazon UK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest
October 10, 2014
#MySexySaturday Another Sexy Moment…
Hi, and welcome to My Sexy Saturday – a fun blog hop where writers’ post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress. Today’s theme is ‘Another Sexy Moment’. My excerpt of 7 paragraphs today takes place after Piper ignores West’s order to get out of the water. She’s a police dive cop and doesn’t appreciate being bossed around. If you wanna find out what they do next, you can buy a copy of In Too Deep (which in August won Best First Book in the Romance Writers of New Zealand 2014 Koru Award for Excellence) at the retailers below.
She swallowed back a bitter dose of hurt. “Get your hands off me.”
His palm burned her cool flesh, each finger branding a stripe on the soft skin of her inner arm. West moved closer, the few inches of height he had on her blocking out the sun. Hell, his size had less to do with blocking out the sun than just standing close to him. He dazzled her. And that alone made Piper want to punch him.
But she refused to shrink back, to allow him to see how his hand on her bare skin affected her. She latched onto her anger, pulling a memory from her days in police training college to reinforce it.
“More aggression!” her instructor bellowed at her when she’d participated in training exercises tackling suspects who were really other cops in jumpsuits. “You’re a cop arresting a suspect who could have a concealed weapon. Don’t give him a frickin’ cuddle and kiss!”
More aggression, that’s what she needed. Definitely not thoughts of cuddles and kisses with the man who hadn’t blinked from examining her in the last ten seconds. She moistened her suddenly dry lips, and froze when something changed in his gaze at the flick of her tongue. Heat flared, heat that melted the ice of only a moment ago.
Piper narrowed her eyes so she wouldn’t see his gaze track down to her lips again. Because she was mad, not thinking about the reasons why he might find her mouth interesting. “Remove your hand before I start breaking fingers.”
Aggressive enough? Better than the alternative of, “Kiss me you crazy fool.”
Buy your e-copy of In Too Deep from:
Amazon
AmazonUK
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.
Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words.
When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework.
Follow Tracey on Twitter
Please use the list below to check out the other Sexy Saturday posts on the blog hop – and don’t forget to leave a comment – I’d love to hear from you!
Tracey
October 1, 2014
**Cover Reveal** Undesired Lust – Eden Summers
Title: Undesired Lust (Reckless Beat, #3)
Author: Eden Summers
Series: Reckless Beat
Release Date: November 2014
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22126926-undesired-lust
They used to be the perfect team.
Two years ago, songstress Sidney Higgins ruined her life by sleeping with not one, but two of the famous Reckless Beat men, Mason Lynch and Sean Taiden. Their night of intimate celebration turned into a worldwide sensation when the video Mason vowed to keep private was uploaded to the internet, destroying her squeaky-clean reputation and turning the world against her. Now she’s broken and left without hope, trying to find the one thing that can get her back on her feet.
A mistake neither one of them is willing to forgive.
When the sex tape went viral and his best friends held him accountable, Mason bore the stigma of asshole with pride. Now, bitterness has destroyed him, driving away his muse and making him worthless in the industry he loves. There’s only one option left to reclaim his creativity, but that would mean collaborating with a woman who wants to castrate him with a plastic knife.
A palpable chemistry even hate can’t diminish.
Forced to work together, neither one of them is prepared for the undesired lust which immediately takes hold. The lies fade away, exposing the truth; however, it also awakens a threat from their past. The person responsible for tearing them apart is back to ensure they don’t rekindle a spark. With their safety in the balance, Sidney and Mason need to determine what they’re willing to risk to reclaim a relationship they wish they’d never lost.
CURRENTLY FREE
For a limited time only, Blind Attraction, the first book in the Reckless Beat series is FREE!! One-click before it’s too late.
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00D0SVX32
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D0SVX32
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blind-attraction-eden-summers/1115426346?ean=9781484842812
Make sure you catch up the entire series before Undesired Lust is released.
BLIND ATTRACTION (Reckless Beat 1)
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00D0SVX32
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D0SVX32
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blind-attraction-eden-summers/1115426346?ean=9781484842812
PASSIONATE ADDICTION (Reckless Beat 2)
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00GO2GP9S
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GO2GP9S
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passionate-addiction-eden-summers/1117404687?ean=9781493510559
RECKLESS WEEKEND (Reckless Beat 2.5)
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00IT0L7IW
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IT0L7IW
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reckless-weekend-eden-summers/1118867259?ean=2940149536016
Eden Summers is a true blue Aussie, living in regional New South Wales with her two energetic young boys and a quick witted husband.
In late 2010, Eden’s romance obsession could no longer be sated by reading alone, so she decided to give voice to the sexy men and sassy women in her mind.
Eden can’t resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face.
Join in the fun with this International giveaway. Up for grabs is a print copy of Blind Attraction + swag. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form.
September 26, 2014
#MySexySaturday Getting your sexy on with macaroons…
Hi, and welcome to My Sexy Saturday – a fun blog hop where writers’ post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress. Today’s theme is ‘getting your sexy on…’ My excerpt of 7 paragraphs today takes place in my contemporary romance Ready To Burn – due to be released October 25th. The hero, Del, has just dug into the heroine’s stash of macaroons made for her sister’s bridal shower and both of them nearly get their sexy on right there in the restaurant’s kitchen.
Take one sassy Harland girl…
Shaye Harland, sous chef de-awesome, desperately wants the role of Due South’s head chef. Though a little out of her depth, she can totally cope with the extra demands if she can resist her future brother-in-law when he muscles in on her kitchen. The Hollywood wannabe is nothing but a troublesome distraction and he fries her sex-ometer to a crisp. But as far as romance? Forget it. Love, when she finds Mr. Perfect, will be as sweet as her to-die-for cookies.
Add a bad-boy from LA…
Del Westlake swore he’d never again set foot on the island he calls the “ass end of New Zealand.” With his reputation as a sous chef in one of LA’s hottest restaurants trashed, and his estranged father’s restaurant needing a head chef, Del wants nothing more than to go in, get the job done, and get out. Except his feisty second-in-command carves herself a spot in his heart and completely incinerates his plans.
Watch the sparks fly as they burn it up in the kitchen…
Winning a spot on a TV reality show is just what Del needs to jumpstart his career back in the States. Nothing can get in the way of him winning—not even the woman whose trust he’d destroy if she discovers his secrets. But with a film crew capturing the explosive kitchen chemistry between them, will his bad-boy ways rear up and ruin his shot at becoming Shaye’s Mr. Perfect?
She schooled her features into holding the glare of death, even though her pulse skyrocketed at the heat of his gaze. “I’d made an exact number of macaroons to fit on my mother’s fanciest platter, and now you’ve screwed it up by eating one.”
“I’ve a confession to make.”
Del closed the distance and rubbed the ends of her scarf between his fingers, tugging it gently so it pulled against her neck. Reminding her again of what they’d done together. To each other. He bent down, the scent of him—hint of shampoo, warm male skin, and a trace of almonds from her stolen macaroons—wrapped around her. His hands closed on her bare upper arms and his lips brushed her ear. “That was my second macaroon.”
She gasped, more from the sizzle of contact than his admission. “You had two?” Her heart pin-balled into her throat, making her voice come out a breathless squeak. As if she cared about the missing baking since his teeth closed gently on her lobe.
“Yeah. After I gave in to the temptation of trying the first one…” His magnetic pull drew her hands to his chef’s jacket, where they fisted either side of his hips, anchoring her, since apparently her body had filled with helium bubbles and wanted to float to the ceiling.
Hot, damp kisses pressed along her jaw. The scrape of his soft bristles conducted a current straight to her happy-place via her nipples, which tightened unbearably against her bra. Her white demi-cup push-up bra with matching bikini panties—since a Slutty Bridesmaid liked being a little daring under her party clothes.
“I was hooked,” he said. “One taste just wasn’t enough…”
You can pre-order Ready to Burn for only 99 cents at these retailers:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.
Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words.
When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework.
Please use the list below to check out the other Sexy Saturday posts on the blog hop – and don’t forget to leave a comment – I’d love to hear from you!
Tracey
