K. Webster's Blog, page 13
February 16, 2015
Alpha and Omega is LIVE + Giveaway!
Alpha and OmegaAuthor: K Webster
Series: Alpha & Omega, Book 1
Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Year: 2015
Will Alpha and Omega fly through this one last challenge and fulfill their destiny? Or is there a warm place waiting in the basement of HEL just for them should they fail?
Overview
Read the prologue here.
For six years, a tough wannabe guardian angel named Alpha has worked hard to prove his worth at HEA Corp. His partner, Omega, has been with him every step of the way. Known affectionately by the other ladies in their sector as Hottie and Dreamy, they’re the dynamic duo and a sure bet to become Seraph Guardians and get their wings. The elite SG protect the good souls of Earth from meeting untimely deaths.
Currently, Alpha and Omega are Minders who protect the not so innocent until HEL Enterprises, HEA’s sister company, sends their Reapers to collect what’s theirs. As training ends, the partners are made aware of their final assignment.
Lark Miller.
Alpha has read her file—she’s the worst of the worst—a drug addict loser with a dark, hidden past. On his final assignment, not only do they change the rules of the game by stripping these Minders of their powers and extending the terms of their protection, but they also send in one of HEL’s top Levarthians, a spicy Latina named Lovenia, to shake things up.
Alpha and Omega know they have to keep their heads in the game and their hearts free from distraction.
But what happens when a Minder develops feelings for the one they’re supposed to protect? What happens when the rules become unclear and things aren’t what they seem?
Will Alpha and Omega fly through this one last challenge and fulfill their destiny? Or is there a warm place waiting in the basement of HEL just for them should they fail?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
February 2, 2015
Valentine’s Day Giveaway!
Enter to win a print copy of The Vegas Aces series (open internationally) and a ton of other great books and prizes!
Series: The Vegas Aces
Rock Country
$2.99
Author: K Webster
Series: The Vegas Aces, Book 1
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
What happens when a typical bad boy rocker comes across a sad country song? Why, you get the sweet sound of Rock Country. More info →
Rock Heart
$2.99
Author: K Webster
Series: The Vegas Aces, Book 2
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Sometimes you have to break before you can piece yourself back together again. More info →
Rock Bottom
$2.99
Author: K Webster
Series: The Vegas Aces, Book 3
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Together, Donnie and Nora form a Bonnie and Clyde relationship of sorts and find themselves running desperately from a storm determined to destroy them.
Will these two find a way to be together forever? Or will dark clouds engulf them and blow away their chance at a happy ending? More info →
January 27, 2015
Coming soon in 2015!
So it’s January and I’m sure plenty of you are wondering what’s on my writing agenda. I appreciate the many messages I receive daily asking about what’s next. Many of you are pushing for more Vegas Aces books while others need more of the Breaking the Rules series. Let me tell you what I have in store for you all!
Alpha & Omega
For six years, a tough wannabe guardian angel named Alpha has worked hard to prove his worth at HEA Corp. His partner, Omega, has been with him every step of the way. Known affectionately by the other ladies in their sector as Hottie and Dreamy, they’re the dynamic duo and a sure bet to become Seraph Guardians and get their wings. The elite SG protect the good souls of Earth from meeting untimely deaths.
Currently, Alpha and Omega are Minders who protect the not so innocent until HEL Enterprises, HEA’s sister company, sends their Reapers to collect what’s theirs. As training ends, the partners are made aware of their final assignment.
Lark Miller.
Alpha has read her file—she’s the worst of the worst—a drug addict loser with a dark, hidden past. On his final assignment, not only do they change the rules of the game by stripping these Minders of their powers and extending the terms of their protection, but they also send in one of HEL’s top Leviathans, a spicy Latina named Lovenia, to shake things up.
Alpha and Omega know they have to keep their heads in the game and their hearts free from distraction.
But what happens when a Minder develops feelings for the one they’re supposed to protect? What happens when the rules become unclear and things aren’t what they seem?
Will Alpha and Omega fly through this one last challenge and fulfill their destiny? Or is there a warm place waiting in the basement of HEL just for them should they fail?
THIS BOOK DOES NOT HAVE A CLIFFHANGER. THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE.
Alpha & Omega is my new baby and it is going to be EPIC. Like, head over heels swooning for the lead hero named Alpha, kind of EPIC. And full on cheering for the heroine, Lark. These two have a love that can’t be measured or defined. It’s unique and I can guarantee you’ll fall in love with the both of them. This book will have everyone talking and you won’t want to miss out on this story!
You can add it to your Goodreads here.
Crushed – a novella (book five in the Breaking the Rules Series)
Jackson and Andi have been through a lot. Against all odds, two broken people found each other and somehow became whole. Life should be perfect for them.
But it’s not.
In fact, life is really hard.
All Andi wants is to grow her family, but failure after failure sends her hurtling into a deep depression. Jackson only wants Andi to be happy. So when their dream of having children starts to become a reality, things begin to look up for them.
Unfortunately, life throws them another curveball and they begin to drift apart. Andi hits an all-time low, and the strength of their marriage is tested.
Will Jackson be able to fix the broken pieces of Andi?
Or will she be too crushed to ever be put back together again?
Crushed is on the agenda for a March release (date TBD). It is book five in the Breaking the Rules series and is actually a novella. This novella follows the story of Andi and Jackson from the first book, Broken. This story was absolutely GUTTING to write. Andi deals with some very personal issues that a lot of women, unfortunately, can relate to as well. My betas sent pictures of themselves crying but I was also told that I spun the story in a beautiful, heartwarming way. In the end, you know you’ll get your HEA…you just have to wade through some sad stuff to get there.
I promise it will be worth it in the end. To put Crushed on your TBR on Goodreads, click here. The cover reveal will be coming in February.
The Road Back to Us (a standalone novel)
Caroline Harrison has had enough. After eight long years in an unhappy marriage, she’s ready to throw in the towel. Her workaholic husband, Bentley, is done too—choosing his career over his wife. They’ve met with their lawyers and only need to get through the holidays until their divorce is finalized.
Bentley isn’t ready to tell his family about the divorce, so he asks Caroline to spend one more Christmas at his mom’s under the ruse they are still happily married. Together, the set out on a seven hour car ride in the middle of the Canadian Caribou to put on one last happy show. What could be an opportunity to rekindle their love and spend quality time together turns out to be a road trip from hell.
When a surprise snow storm catches them off guard, Bentley and Caroline find themselves in an accident without any possibility of help in their near future. At one point, their love was all they needed to survive. But now, when all they have is each other against the frigid winter storm, will they find the love they lost before it’s too late? Or will this be the end…in more ways than one for Mr. and Mrs. Harrison?
The road back to us may be a turbulent path, but in the end, it’s worth the chaos because it leads back home.
This book is amazing. I’m in love with the characters so far and I’m almost done writing it. The Road Back to Us is a story about second chances and redemption. I feel like my readers will relate to these characters and root for a happy ending.
You can add it to your TBR on Goodreads here. The cover reveal will be in April.
Omega & Love
Omega’s story…will he get his happy ending? And will it be with the demon everyone LOVEs to hate?
You can put it on your Goodreads TBR here.
These books are in no particular order but are in the works for 2015…
Rock Out – Book four in the Vegas Aces Series
I know, I know. Everyone needs Kenny and Daphney’s story. I NEED their story too. But, Daphney’s a stubborn thing and isn’t talking to me. As soon as I finish the projects I’m working on, I’m dedicating some time to reread Rock Bottom and get a feel for the story again. Her story is one that I need to really think about because I want to give you all the same “wow” factor you received with the other books in the series. I hope to give you this book by the end of the summer.
Disgrace – Book six in the Breaking the Rules Series
You all have been wondering if this series will continue and it will. At this point, there will be seven books in the series—possibly eight depending on how the seventh plays out. In Disgrace, we’ll catch up with one of the main characters in Mistake. If you’ve read it, you will know exactly who it is and if you haven’t, you better step to it! The heroine in this book will be someone that’s been mentioned but hasn’t made an appearance yet in the series. While you don’t know much about her, I know that she was a nasty person in her past…but you all know how I love a good redemption story!
Book seven in the Breaking the Rules Series
Many of you fell for Ian, the hunky Irish bartender from the first couple of books. Well, he’s going to be the hero in book seven that hasn’t been named yet. Be ready for his temper, tattoos, and full on alph sexiness!
Annabel & Me – a standalone
This book is going to be a tear jerker. More to come soon!
Well, kids, that’s all I have for now. As you well know, I get crazy ideas in my head so this is all subject to change. Alpha & Omega is completely done and so is Crushed. The Road Back to Us is almost finished and Omega & Love is halfway done. Rock Out has been started. That’s my progress!
Thank you all for caring enough to wonder what’s coming out. I can’t thank you enough for your support. I have a fabulous new group over on Goodreads called Real Romance by K Webster. Please join us by clicking here, so you don’t miss out on exclusive excerpts and giveaways!
January 17, 2015
Alpha & Omega Cover Reveal + Giveaway!
Alpha and OmegaAuthor: K Webster
Series: Alpha & Omega, Book 1
Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Tag: Coming Soon
Publication Year: 2015
Will Alpha and Omega fly through this one last challenge and fulfill their destiny? Or is there a warm place waiting in the basement of HEL just for them should they fail?
Overview
Read the prologue here.
For six years, a tough wannabe guardian angel named Alpha has worked hard to prove his worth at HEA Corp. His partner, Omega, has been with him every step of the way. Known affectionately by the other ladies in their sector as Hottie and Dreamy, they’re the dynamic duo and a sure bet to become Seraph Guardians and get their wings. The elite SG protect the good souls of Earth from meeting untimely deaths.
Currently, Alpha and Omega are Minders who protect the not so innocent until HEL Enterprises, HEA’s sister company, sends their Reapers to collect what’s theirs. As training ends, the partners are made aware of their final assignment.
Lark Miller.
Alpha has read her file—she’s the worst of the worst—a drug addict loser with a dark, hidden past. On his final assignment, not only do they change the rules of the game by stripping these Minders of their powers and extending the terms of their protection, but they also send in one of HEL’s top Levarthians, a spicy Latina named Lovenia, to shake things up.
Alpha and Omega know they have to keep their heads in the game and their hearts free from distraction.
But what happens when a Minder develops feelings for the one they’re supposed to protect? What happens when the rules become unclear and things aren’t what they seem?
Will Alpha and Omega fly through this one last challenge and fulfill their destiny? Or is there a warm place waiting in the basement of HEL just for them should they fail?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
January 15, 2015
Prologue: Alpha and Omega. Coming soon!
Life is nothing but a sequential series of monotonous repeats. You wake up and then you eat. You work and then you eat. You bathe and then you eat. Oh, and then you sleep.
Over.
And.
Fucking over again.
Life is a blur. Each passing moment is just another second closer to your final destination—six feet under the dirt to be mourned and eventually forgotten.
I wasn’t made for life. Unfortunately, I was one of the few who figured out the algorithms of this godforsaken planet and became a slave to the monotony. I knew my ultimate destiny was death. The overdramatic poet in me craved that end, because maybe then I could actually feel something besides the constant internal clock counting each second until my expiration. My thought was: Let’s hurry and get this phase of my existence over with so that I can move the fuck on. Life is like the lobby of a doctor’s office. Or waiting to get your driver’s license renewed at the DMV.
Boring.
As.
Fuck.
Each day, I toyed with the idea of speeding the process up. Sure, I lived in a home with lovely parents who bought me lovely things and loved me dearly. But something was missing inside me—that little part that keeps everyone else grounded and emotionally tied to this Earth. For me, that part was void. It never existed in the first place, so I hadn’t been able to grow or nurture it like everyone else. In me, there were no feelings of hope or excitement. I did not envision children or a spouse or a kickass career.
All I could think about was what color the inside of my coffin would be. Would my parents splurge and get me a ridiculous silk–lined, wooden box that caused them to tap into their retirement? Or would they just use their credit card and buy the midgrade one—the one that has a thin padding and scratchy material but looks good enough on the outside?
I didn’t plan on staying there anyway. They could have cremated me if that had been more in their budget. I’d have been happy with my remains sitting on the mantel next to Granny’s and our dog, Buckie. It honestly wouldn’t have mattered because I figured I would be running full force into the afterlife that awaited me. Something deep inside me knew I was better mentally equipped for that next phase. A part of me twitched and fidgeted at the idea of what was to come.
Was that what these other brainless drones called hope?
Dare I say I was hopeful?
Then it was all ruined.
One smile. One goddamned beautiful smile infected my heart and soul with such a force that I nearly exploded. All hopes of afterlife and the eagerness to leave this one vanished with that one handsome smile.
Thump.
My heart gave one painful thud and began beating for the first time in its life. I hated the feeling. Hated that the powers that be had realized I was onto their game. They made me their project. They showed me a smile. I was diseased by light from such a simple gesture.
Surely I could manage to look away and remember my goals. There had to be a way to avoid the magnetic glow that sucked me right in.
And then he spoke.
The beautiful smile had an even more beautiful voice. And with each word, each joke, and, eventually, each touch, I intertwined my soul so intricately with his that I never had a chance of letting go.
I fell in love.
And suddenly, life wasn’t long enough.
Add Alpha & Omega to your Goodreads here.
Join my newsletter to get exclusive access to this story and more here.
December 30, 2014
The Year of Epic Failure
In 2014, I had one BIG goal.
It seemed unattainable but I typically laugh in the face of opposition and latched on to this huge goal, hell bent on achieving it. When people tell me I can’t do something, my stubborn ass thinks that I can. But guess what? This time they were right…
I failed.
In February of this year, I published my first book, Broken. And a month later, I published my second book, Wrong. So, when I published my third book, Scarred, a month after my second one…I had a brilliant idea.
This idea was so wild that, honestly, I wondered if it were even possible. It didn’t stop me from trying though.
But, like I said, I failed.
I’ve always been a bit of an overachiever and extremely competitive. But typically, unless we’re playing Monopoly or Scrabble, my competitiveness is with myself. I love busting my own records and beating my own scores. I’m a total nerd like that.
So, after that third book, my goal was to publish TWELVE books by year end.
Yes, you heard me…TWELVE.
Since my goal was ridiculously far out there, I only chose to share that goal with a few close people and of course my editor and formatter because they had to be booked in advance. I knew I might be criticized for slinging shit at the wall and hoping that it stuck. Not the case.
Instead, I busted my ass. I spent sometimes twenty hours a day in front of my computer pounding away on story after story. Since I was self-publishing each and every one of them, that also meant every free second that I wasn’t writing these stories, I was spending my time on marketing. Additionally, I was very adamant on creating my own teasers and book covers which sometimes took up my entire day.
Needless to say, for a solid year, I spent an incredibly unhealthy amount of time in front of my computer. I also spent a great deal of money. All for one goal…
Twelve books.
As time went along, the pressure of my self-imposed deadlines began to get to me. My writing that was for fun became, a few times along the way, extremely stressful. All sorts of things in my life suffered, including my health. Evidently, spending so much time in front of your computer is bad for your back. Who knew?
By the time 2014 started coming to an end, I realized something. I wasn’t going to make my goal. All of the hard work seemed futile because the number I wanted wasn’t there. It was time to stand there with my chin held high and face the facts.
I failed.
I published ELEVEN novels. Not TWELVE. ELEVEN. For a goal oriented, overachieving woman like myself, this was such a bummer.
But. There’s always a “but”. I may have failed on this one HUGE goal, but what I accomplished in the process was MASSIVE.
A short story of mine called The Devil’s Man was published in an anthology called Shade of Fear in February as was my first book, Broken. In March, I published my second book, Wrong. April, I was part of the Southern Seduction anthology and published Scarred, book three. May was when I published Apartment 2B, book four, and June was Rock Country, book five. I also was lucky enough to be a part of the anthology, Alphas on Top, with five other amazing authors in May as well. Then, I published book six, Love and Law in July. August was Rock Heart, book seven. In September came book eight, Moth to a Flame. October brought on the ninth book, Rock Bottom. Then, in November, along came Mistake. Finally, in December, my co-written book with Elle Christensen, Erased was published.
I kept my editor and formatter very busy.
Even though I hadn’t quite made my goal, I was still proud of what I’d managed to do. Not only had I been able to publish all of those stories, I also attended my first book signing in August. People actually came to my table and wanted signed books by me. It was surreal. Additionally, I was invited to several more book signings for next year—some with my absolute favorite authors I’ve ever read. I was completely amazed.
I also met some pretty fabulous people along the way. Readers, bloggers, and authors all became my friends. The big ‘ol book world suddenly became smaller and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So, even though I may have fallen short, just shy of the finish line, I feel as though I jumped enough hurdles to earn my own special medal.
Eleven is a good number.
It’s like being number one…twice.
I think I might high-five myself.
So thank you to all of those that supported me along the way…my husband, my family, my readers, and my friends. You all are awesome and I couldn’t have made it this far without you.
I wonder what my goal for 2015 will be…maybe I’ll win a pie eating contest. I do love pie…
December 28, 2014
Erased Coauthored with Elle Christensen is LIVE!
Erased
by Elle Christensen, K Webster
Publication Date: December 29, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis
Joss Parker’s life is a fairy tale come true. She’s a concert pianist in New York who lives with her longtime boyfriend and is close with her fiercely protective father—until one fateful night when she is taken in the middle of the night.
In a desperate attempt to access a program that could be a threat to national security, her ability to play the piano is threatened. Her world comes crashing down when her father puts his need to protect a program over his own daughter.
At the last minute, Joss finds herself whisked away by an unlikely ally.
She later lands in the protective custody of none other than small-town bad boy and bar owner Derek Slade. Slade is entrusted to look after Joss and see to it that she hides behind her new persona, Jill, so that bad people don’t find her ever again.
Joss has been erased. Joss is now Jill.
As Joss trades her blond locks for Jill’s mahogany ones, she also takes on the strength of her new persona. Jill is someone who doesn’t put up with crap. Jill doesn’t trust easily. Jill must protect the broken heart of Joss.
Joss and Slade battle an intense attraction, but she isn’t the only one with secrets. Behind Slade’s silver eyes are mysteries he’s unwilling to share. Slade knows better than to get involved with Joss, yet he finds it nearly impossible to push her away.
What happens when Slade crosses the line of protector? Can he protect her when the evils of both of their pasts come back to haunt them?
About Elle Christensen
Elle Christensen is a debut author. Her first novel, a collaboration with author, K. Webster is due to release in December of 2014.
Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
About K Webster
I love my husband of 11 years and sweet kids. My passions include reading, writing, graphic design, and shopping! I absolutely love social media and the power of how it connects people all over the world. You can usually find me easily on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads!
Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
December 12, 2014
Cover Reveal: Erased, Co-Authored with Elle Christensen
Erased
by Elle Christensen, K Webster
Publication Date: December 29, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis
Joss Parker’s life is a fairytale come true. She’s a concert pianist in New York who lives with her longtime boyfriend and is close with her fiercely protective father—until one fateful night when she is taken in the middle of the night.
In a desperate attempt to access a program that could be a threat to national security, her ability to play the piano is threatened. Her world comes crashing down when her father puts his need to protect a program over his own daughter.
At the last minute, Joss finds herself whisked away by an unlikely ally.
She later lands in the protective custody of none other than small-town bad boy and bar owner Derek Slade. Slade is entrusted to look after Joss and see to it that she hides behind her new persona, Jill, so that bad people don’t find her ever again.
Joss has been erased. Joss is now Jill.
As Joss trades her blond locks for Jill’s mahogany ones, she also takes on the strength of her new persona. Jill is someone who doesn’t put up with crap. Jill doesn’t trust easily. Jill must protect the broken heart of Joss.
Joss and Slade battle an intense attraction, but she isn’t the only one with secrets. Behind Slade’s silver eyes are mysteries he’s unwilling to share. Slade knows better than to get involved with Joss, yet he finds it nearly impossible to push her away.
What happens when Slade crosses the line of protector? Can he protect her when the evils of both of their pasts come back to haunt them?
About Elle Christensen
Elle Christensen is a debut author. Her first novel, a collaboration with author, K. Webster is due to release in December of 2014.
Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
About K Webster
I love my husband of 11 years and sweet kids. My passions include reading, writing, graphic design, and shopping! I absolutely love social media and the power of how it connects people all over the world. You can usually find me easily on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads!
Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
September 8, 2014
Mistake – Book Four in the Breaking the Rules Series
WARNING – If you haven’t read the first three books in the series, this excerpt may contain spoilers. Also, this excerpt has not been edited and is subject to change.
Many of you have been patiently awaiting Opal’s book. I’m ready to make this happen for you…and soon! I thought I would share a little excerpt on what I’ve been working on.
Prologue
First day of college…
You were a mistake. That was a constant reminder in my home growing up. Momma took every chance she could to remind me of just that. A mistake for getting pregnant from a loser? A mistake for not getting an abortion or putting me up for adoption?
My entire life has been one big mistake. Every decision I make always ends up being the wrong one. In high school when I joined a drama class just because I thought the teacher was hot, that was a mistake. Turns out, I couldn’t act and the teacher hated that I was the worst one in the group. Both he and the class took their digs at me daily about how horrible I was. It was a fucking nightmare.
When I decided to get a job at a restaurant waiting tables so I could save to go see Olive in New York—that, too, was a mistake. After spilling coffee all over three customers in a single day, I was fired. Apparently I wasn’t cut out for that sort of work.
At eighteen, when a fine ass black man showed up on my doorstep offering to whisk me away to New York City so I could model, well, that was a mistake as well. Turns out, my naïve ass moved in with a psychopathic, sadistic shithead that was obsessed with my sister and just using me to get to her. Big mistake. Huge.
I’m tired of making mistakes. Once I set my eyes on the handsome investment banker, Trent Sutton, I knew things were going to turn around for me. In an effort to quit making mistakes and make something of myself, I chose to enroll at CUNY and get my Bachelor’s degree in Investment Banking. That would get Trent to notice me.
For once, I was going to learn from my mistakes and start making better decisions. Things are going to change. I can feel it.
Chapter 1
Nearly four years later…
I’ve been fucking friend zoned. Sitting up in my desk chair, I quickly unbutton my top two buttons of my blouse and poke my chest out. The board meeting is about to start which means Trent should be here any moment. How that man can resist my constant advances is beyond me. I can see the lustful way he appreciates my body but he never makes a move. It is fucking annoying. Maybe he was waiting for me to get out of college? The worst thought is maybe he just doesn’t find me attractive.
The latter makes me sick to my stomach. I spend several days a week in the gym building my muscle tone and eat extremely healthy. I know that he notices my tight curves but he never even tries to touch me. It drives me crazy.
“You look pretty today,” Andi compliments as she comes in with Jackson. He makes a beeline straight for the conference room while she stops at my desk. Andi is absolutely gorgeous. Her long, platinum blonde hair is always smoothed to perfection. She always wears sexy, form fitting suits that accentuate her curves. Jackson, her husband, has a hard time keeping his eyes off of her even to this day. It makes me happy for her but sad that I can’t even get Trent to lose his measured control even for a second.
“Thanks, doll. Board meeting,” I remind her, winking. She giggles and throws a glance over at the front doors where a group of men are entering.
“If that asshole doesn’t notice you today, you need to fucking move on. Seriously, Opal. You’re gorgeous, smart, and spicy as hell. You need a man that will fall to his knees and worship you, not one that treats you like a little sister,” she sighs.
I frown at her words. Being treated like a little sister is worse than being fucking friend zoned.
“Gross, Andi! Now go away, he’s coming this way,” I hiss and wave her away. She chuckles all the way to her office earning a glare from me.
“Good morning, Opal. How is your day?” a sexy, familiar, deep voice asks from behind me. I suppress a shiver and swivel around in my chair to face him. He looks sexy as hell, like usual, in his navy pin-striped three-piece suit. His blonde hair is perfectly styled, and like always, I have the urge to run my fingers through it and mess it all up. David Beckham has nothing on this man. Blue eyes twinkle at me as his lips curve into a smile. Those lips. God, what I could do to those lips.
“Cat got your tongue?” he teases. Really, this man has no idea how much I want him. My skin burns but I quickly recover. But not before I appreciatively run my eyes over his overly toned body.
“Hey, Trent. Things are perfect now,” I breathe out suggestively and cock an eyebrow up at him. His eyes do the thing they always do when I say these things to him—they darken—but only for a moment. I don’t miss when his eyes dart down to my fairly exposed chest but his eyes are back at mine in a flash.
“Great, we’ll chat after the meeting, hon,” he says grinning and saunters off to the boardroom. I admire his ass until he closes the door behind him. Hopping up from my chair, I head to Andi’s office to explain in detail the latest encounter. Ever since I began working at Compton Enterprises four years ago, Andi and I have become extremely close. Olive and Pepper have their kids in common which means they spend a lot of time together doing “mommy” things. Poor Andi and Jackson are still trying to conceive.
“Opal,” Bray calls out from his office as I walk by. Stopping in my tracks, I peek my head in.
“What’s up, bro?” I ask. And he is my brother in every sense of the word. He rescued me that night from Drake and I will forever be grateful. It was also Bray that treated my sister like nobody ever could—he loves her and my niece Abby with such an intensity that it can be felt by all those around them.
“Want to go visit Olive for lunch at the firing range?” he questions. Typically we go visit her at least one of the three days she works up there to help Jo. At first, Bray was overly insistent that she didn’t need to work. But my sister wouldn’t hear any of it. They didn’t need the money but it was more about her getting out and having adult interaction. On many occasions, Jo has tried to sell it to her but Olive hasn’t conceded just yet.
“That sounds great, Bray. Just holler at me when you’re ready,” I instruct and head next door into Andi’s office. Normally I wouldn’t bust into her office knowing Jackson could be ravishing her on the other side but since I knew he was in the conference room, things were safe. I am about to start whining about Trent but realize she is crying. Quickly, I close the door behind me and rush to her side.
“Andi, what’s going on?” I ask softly as I stroke her hair. She quickly dabs her eyes and looks sadly up at me.
“Oh, Opal, I’m just devastated,” she sniffles. Deciding she’s a little better, I move back to the other side of her desk and sit down.
“About what?” I ask. But I know what she’s about to say before she even says it. Four years they’ve been married and she’s had five miscarriages.
“It happened again this weekend,” she whispers tearfully. My heart tightens for her. I absolutely hate this for her. She’s such a kind, wonderful person and deserves a baby so much.
“I’m so sorry, Andi. Is there anything I can do?”
She sniffles and sets to shredding the tissues anxiously. I have a feeling there’s more than the miscarriage going on right now.
“Jackson and I are going back to counseling this week. We’ve been arguing so much lately. When we have sex, it’s so calculated and timed with my ovulation calendar. There’s no more spontaneity. Jackson is patient but I can see him faltering. He never says a word but I know he resents me for this. I honestly don’t know what to do so that’s why I set up an appointment with Dr. Sweeney. Jackson was pissed but never disagreed. Opal, I’m just so miserable,” she confesses.
My heart aches for her. “Andi, have you thought about other options? Have you tried in vitro fertilization? Have you looked into adoption?”
She reaches into her purse and pulls out a card. “I actually have an appointment this week to talk to this Dr. Ellis about our options. He comes highly recommended and is really good at what he does. If this doesn’t work, I’ll look into adoption. I can’t take any more of these miscarriages. They gut me, Opal. I’m an emotional mess afterwards.”
“Things are going to work out, Andi. Just hang in there. You know I’m always here for you,” I remind her. She nods and attempts a smile.
“Thanks, girl. Now tell me about Trent. Does he want to have wild sex with you in the conference room?” she asks, wagging her eyebrows.
“I wish but he doesn’t seem remotely interested. I swear, I feel like I’m in high school again desperately crushing over someone unattainable like my drama teacher,” I grumble. Her eyes widen and she giggles, her low moment from earlier dissipating.
“Why does that not surprise me, Opal? Why don’t you let me fix you up with someone? I’m sorry but Trent is just taking too fucking long. When was the last time you got laid?” she questions.
“Drake. He was my first and my last. My fucking vibrator broke from overuse too! I’m ready for things to turn around,” I exclaim.
Needing to get back to work, I stand and give her a hug. Giving her a slight wave, I make my way back to my desk and bury myself in my work until the conference room door opens and the board members file out. Trent makes his way back over to my desk and sits his brief case down.
“How were finals? I forgot to ask and I’ve been wondering since you were especially having trouble in your International Investments class,” he says and sits on the edge of the desk. My eyes trail up his muscular legs for a second before I make eye contact.
“It was a fuck—” I begin but stop myself. He always frowns when I cuss, so I start again. “It was a nightmare but I passed with a low B. I’ll be graduating in a couple of weeks and will be ready to unleash my investment knowledge on the world,” I laugh.
His eyes study my face for a moment like he’s seeing me for the first time and my heart pounds out of my chest. I drop my eyes to my lap, not wanting to break the spell. His large hand reaches over and sweeps a strand of hair from my face. My eyes once again dart to his and I feel my panties dampen as I try not to inhale his unique scent. He’s regarding me differently and it’s doing things to my heart and my mind. Crazy things.
“Well, I think that calls for a celebratory dinner. Would you let me take you to dinner tonight?” he asks in that sexy, deep voice of his. My heart is on overdrive now. He’s never once asked me out. I’m almost at a loss for words. Almost.
“Sure, Trent. I would love to have dinner with you. And dessert too,” I suggest. His eyes fall to my chest but quickly make their way back to my eyes. This time he licks his lips and now I know I’ll need a panty change.
“Write down your address and number. I’ll pick you up at seven,” he says hoarsely. Quickly, he hops off the desk, grabs his brief case, and stalks out the front doors.
I have a date with the successful, sexy, Trent Sutton. I’ve only waited four years for this day to come.
(To be continued….hope you enjoyed the tease!)
Mistake will be releasing late 2014
If you sneaked over here and read this without reading the first three books, I’ll forgive you. You can grab them up below…
You can purchase the books in a set here:
Buy Links for Breaking the Rules Series Box Set
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ufIdCH
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pBaMJx
Or, you can purchase them individually here:
Buy Links for Broken (Book 1 in the Breaking the Rules Series)
Amazon: http://bitly.com/1hNqDTO
B&N: http://bit.ly/QSe7XI
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lXh4zZ
Buy Links for Wrong (Book 2 in the Breaking the Rules Series)
Amazon: http://bitly.com/RqiWsd
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1fiG1Yw
Buy Links for Scarred (Book 3 in the Breaking the Rules Series)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/QMmjZT
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pEpWjU
September 4, 2014
Breathing Romance Back into the Genre
If you spend as much time on Facebook as I do, you may have begun to notice something. Romance books are becoming less advertised as love stories and are being portrayed as “mommy porn”. Authors and blogs (I’m totally guilty of this) have resorted to using “sex” to sell their “sex” books. Sounds legit, right?
Wrong.
We as authors (erotica, contemporary romance, etc) have poured our hearts and souls into writing books that carry an equal amount of love story and steam. I know personally, I get highly offended when someone tells me I “write porn.”
Have you ever watched porn? I have and it’s cheesy as hell. The faces they make….ew.
A porn story might involve the pizza delivery guy showing up to deliver pizza to a desperate housewife while the husband is at work, only to end up screwing her six ways to Sunday. The husband shows up and they have a ridiculous threesome. So hot, right? NOT.
I don’t write porn. I write LOVE stories. My stories are tales of broken people that find redemption in each other. These stories detail out chemistry between two souls and their journey toward a happy ever after. And while there is sex, and in some of my books a lot of it, there’s also love. The connection between the characters is real and something everyone can relate to.
There’s no love in porn.
So when did our industry become about downgrading our art to just porn with no story line. We find half naked pictures of men to post all over our pages and covers of our books to sell our product. When you open Facebook, if you’re a book nerd like me, your feed is flooded with endless scrolling of a different set of chiseled abs with each post.
So what’s the big deal? I like abs….
That’s not the point. Everyone can appreciate beauty, no matter the form. The point is, it is becoming the face of our industry. It’s casting a light on our genre that says what we write isn’t as good as the rest…like it’s dirty and cheap.
I’m sorry, but I’m proud of each and every one of my sexy stories.
Again, what’s the point?
The point is, it’s time to breathe romance back into the romance genre.
Thus with a kiss I die. ~ Romeo~ (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)
Um, swoon much?! Your heart melted a little and I didn’t even post a picture of a tattooed badass Romeo with Ken doll abs in an expensive suit rolling up on a Harley. You still imagined a sexy, romantic, panty-melting lover.
And that, my friends, is another point. The books we write are not meant to be picture books. They’re romantic fantasies for you to get lost in. When the author describes the way the hero’s eyes caress every curve of the heroine’s body, your heart seizes in anticipation. You want to get caught up in their story. We as authors have a job to help create a visual in your head so that you don’t need accompanying pictures.
And how’s this for romance? Sheesh, it reminds me of some of the dialogue that goes on between some of my characters:
” ‘for I have seen you give him looks and smiles this very night, such as you never give to me.” (Pip speaking to Estella)
“Do you want me then,” said Estella, turning suddenly with a fixed and serious, if not angry, look, “to deceive and entrap you?”
“Do you deceive and entrap him Estella?” (Pip)
“Yes, and many others-all of them but you.” (Estella)
(Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)
Awwww, Estella loves Pip even if she has a funny way of showing it.
Can you imagine if Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare had Facebook back in the day? Would ole Charlie post a sexy picture of a hard-bodied Pip standing behind a fire wielding a hammer as he beat the metal into submission all the while while giving the camera a naughty smirk? I kind of think he’d be more inclined to post an excerpt like the one above to draw the reader into the story.
Would Bill Shakespeare post half naked pictures of Romeo hanging from the trellis in nothing but a pair of fitted tights showcasing all of his man-glory all over his page? While I’m sure Romeo was a looker back in the day and most of the dames wanted to throw their knickers at him, the story wasn’t just about him was it? No, it was also about Juliet. It was a romance story through and through. A tragic one—but most of them are anyhow.
So in a nutshell, I’m getting bored of the “well, sex sells” mantra. In my opinion, romance still sells…we just need to bring back the focus to the heart of the matter…
Love.
People were in love with these classic romantic stories long before Fabio came along with his golden tan and flowing Thor Wannabe hair. I think it’s time to give respect back to our genre and credit it for more than just “mommy porn”.
I write a love story about two people that usually have a little trouble finding their way at first but they always do eventually. The story is typically a passionate yet angst-filled one that weaves it’s way toward a happy ending.
Who’s ready to bring sexy back? Get your head back in the gutter where it belongs and off of Facebook. Let’s rely on our imaginations once again to paint a picture of the perfect book boyfriend instead of drooling all over images that have nothing to do with our books.
Surely I’m not the only one out there that sees how our industry has been overrun by abs. Again, abs are not a bad thing. But my books aren’t about abs. They’re about love.
*smooches*
Love,
Kristi
