Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 55

Weekend stuff…snippets, Maleficent and a cute baby goat.

It’s a ramble!

We saw Maleficent… I liked it. It was fun and a great kid’s movie. I guessed a few twists, and one I thought would happen didn’t, and the way it did happen was sort of hokey, although yeah, I can see why they did it.

But all in all, definitely worth seeing, especially if you like fairy tale twists. My seven year liked it and keep in mind, bratlet has some serious ADHD, so if it held her attention, that’s saying something. It does have some scenes that might bother younger kids, and bratlet doesn’t get scared too easy, so don’t use my opinion there on taking kids her age or anything.

“This is insane, Noah,” she whispered.

“It’s beyond insane . . . and you felt it, too.” His hand was at her hip now and she forced her lids up as she met his gaze.

“I felt it.” On a shaky breath, she pressed her brow to his and told him, “I looked at you and it was like every-thing inside me whispered, There you are. I’d never seen you before in my life, but it didn’t matter. I felt like I’d been waiting my whole life for just that—finding you.”

The world turned into a dizzying blur around her and she clutched at him, crying out in surprise as he caught her up in his arms. A moment later, she was caught between him and the wall and she thought maybe, just maybe, this was the one time she didn’t mind being in this house. The feel of his chest against hers, his hips pressing square against her through the layers of her skirt.

The blue of his eyes burned like fire as he caught her face in one hand, angling her head back until all she could see was him.

“We found each other.” His voice was hungry, hot and hoarse as he bent down, rubbed his mouth against hers. “All that matters. I don’t want to hear you worrying that this is anything but what it is . . . it’s for us.”

 

Just a couple of days… did you pre-order?  Keep in mind that although this is mass-market, you can’t guarantee it will be in your local store, so it doesn’t hurt to ask in advance.  Now is a good time!  Also, if you hit stores like B&N or BAMM and you don’t see it, it doesn’t hurt to ask up front (not for this book or any other you want on release day that you can’t find.)  Sometimes the book you want is sitting in the back still boxed up.

Excerpt

Order

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And now, prepare for cuteness attack.

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Deeper than Need…five days left!

“You try and take it easy if you can,” she murmured. “You look like you’re having a rough one there, Noah.”

A rough one . . . maybe that was why he did it. Reaching up, he touched his fingers to her cheek when she went to pull away.

She stilled.

The voice of reason, rational thinking, restraint . . . the voice Noah expected to hear whispering to him from the back of his mind was silent as he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

Just a light, easy kiss. Almost impersonal. Impersonal . . . if anything could be impersonal when a man had spent so many nights dreaming about a woman. If anything could be impersonal when the heat of her skin reached out to tease him, even though inches separated them and the scent of her, sweet woman and lavender, rose up to taunt him. If anything could be impersonal when her lips parted on a gasp and he caught the first hint of her taste.

If anything could be impersonal when he lifted his head and saw her staring up at him, her gaze smoldering, smoking, as if it held all the heat of the sun. It was almost too much and he had to fight to keep from hauling her back against him.

Another kiss, just one more, he thought. Deeper, harder—

A car sped by and he heard Micah’s voice bounce off the glass as the boy called for his mother, but the words made no sense.

Trinity licked her lips, her lids drooping down to shield her lashes.

Aw, now that wasn’t helping at all. “It just got a little bit better,” he murmured, stroking his thumb over the path her tongue had taken.

She eased back, a slow blush rising up to stain her cheeks pink. But she didn’t look away.

“Should I apologize?” he asked.

She reached up and closed her hand around his wrist. “I’m hoping you won’t. If you do, my day is probably going to take a turn for the worse.”

 

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Deeper than Need…next week!

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Max hadn’t been able to keep Noah from seeing the bloody smears on the windows or the rusty stains on the porch. The lingering ache that had haunted him for so long had finally faded. But now he felt raw, exposed, as he stood there, ready to bare himself to the woman who was coming to mean everything to him.

If they were going to have any chance at all, this talk had to happen. It had to happen now.

Closing his eyes, he forced a breath past the band that had wrapped around his lungs, and then he turned his head and stared at her. The soft light of the fading day painted her skin a delicate gold and he reached up, cupped her skin.

“I’ve got things I need to tell you,” he said gruffly. “Things that are almost impossible for me to talk about. But before I do . . .”

He dipped his head and pressed a kiss to her lips, felt her soften against him, reach for him. He caught her wrists as she reached up to cup his face, felt the maddening beat of her pulse. “The past twenty years of my life have been nothing but a cloud. Everything was just . . .grey. There was no color, no light, no laughter. All that changed the minute you and Micah came barreling into my life. I don’t want to lose that.”

“There’s nothing you’re going to say that will change what I feel. I . . .” She paused and blew out a breath. “Sometimes I get a little scared about just what I feel, considering that we really haven’t known each other that long. But . . . you felt right to me the first time I looked at you. Whatever you have to say to me isn’t going to change the man you are.”

The words rested on his heart, almost painful yet still enough to make him catch his breath. Hope could cut deep sometimes.

 

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Thank you

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For those who’ve served…thank you.

For those who are still serving, thank you. If you’re a family member, thank you. And for those who have lost a loved one…may you have peace.

Random bits of fun

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First…let me prove my unending dorkiness …I’m up top at heroes and heartbreakers… see?  see? SEE!!!!!! And just in case they take me down….here’s a link the excerpt.

Two of my oldest titles are a daily deal on Kindle… The Hunters: Books 1 & 2, available for 1.99 on Kindle.

 

Ilona Andrews posted this to her FB yesterday

Ilona via Telle Smith

Then there was this piece of beauty. And let me tell you…it’s beauty.

If A Mom Sang The Frozen Song… via Joy FM

RT Wrap up

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Honestly, I dunno how thorough this will be because my brain is mush from RT.  I do remember some things…

 

I stalked Larissa.  I saw copies of Reaver.  Dear Larissa…why don’t I have Reaver?

I had beignets and cafe au lait and regular coffee will never taste the same.

Again, why don’t I have Reaver?    ETA: Sad sigh. The REV threw me.  I want REVENANT and I thought I saw it.

I saw Ilona & Gordon Andrews and I heard after I’d gone there were BURN FOR ME samplers, so I was sad.

My ankle, which I’d hurt a while back, was killing me by day 2, and I limped off and on (more on than off as the con went on).

Again, why don’t I have Reaver?  (ETA: FYI, I still think I should have Revenant.)

I saw Nalini Singh and she has the prettiest damn pink purse, which I want.

Nalini, why don’t we have Bluebell yet?

We had an epic and awesome social media panel and FYI, Jaye Wells really knows how her stuff, so if we ever do this, I’m volunteering her as moderator.  I also threw stuff at people.  It was chocolate, though.  People seemed to like it and the room was almost full.

I stalked David Morrell and got my husband a signed copy of one of his books–that’s the dude who created RAMBO, guys… RAMBO!

I’m still hung up on Reaver (that hot R angel) & Bluebell. why…..

I ate more food than what seems humanly possible.

There is too much alcohol available and too much yummy food and I crashed my first ever party…because Cara McKenna made me.  Megan Mulry and Anne Calhoun and Jeffe Kennedy and Sasha (twitter, @Caribbeanaccent) had rented this house and I kid you not, it was like this epic bordello that was just a little too much and tried to be fancy and elegant, but went over the line in the best possible way and it was awesome.  Cara dragged me in and I said I was crashing but I’d leave if they’d just let me pee and they said no, I could stay.  The caterer redefined barbecue.  I think angels sang when I took my first bite.

Then there was the street performer.  She all but turned the world inside out with her violin and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anybody play so beautifully.

I also had beignets…I mentioned that right?  Drool.  I haggled at the French Market and I met a bunch of lovely new readers and I signed quite a few books at the bookfair.

For me, I had fun.  There was an issue with a couple of booksellers, but that was the booksellers, and I ranted in private with a member of the RT staff.  I met lots of lovely readers, which really, is the point of the signing.  I hate that so many had to wait so long.  I had to bail early because of my flight.  But I had a ball.

Altogether, RT 2014 was lovely.

Now… my favorite pic…

New Orelans | Pic is mine

I have news…such nice news, I have.

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So I live by the Ohio.

It’s weird how you never realize how something like that plays into your life until you find yourself driving down by it.  Stopping to taking pictures…

And then one day…bam…there’s a book.

More like three.  This idea has been toying and dancing and flirting with me for a while now and finally, it let me catch it.

It’s a fun one, too.  Fun as in, it’s suspense-ish.  But I won’t be killing people all around town, either.  I mean, yes, there will probably be mayhem.  But I don’t think I’ll be smashing and bashing on every corner.

That’s the fun for me…maybe a little more laid back.  Maybe.

Here’s the fun for you…(and me)…I sold it.

St. Martins has bought a new trilogy for me.  It’s going to be a three book series, another small town romantic suspense series, this one, set in the south.  Instead of the Ohio, I ended up going with the Mississippi for reasons that I won’t be going into, but it was important to the story.

I have NO idea when it will be out.  I kinda need to write it first.

But here’s a snippet.

 

 

The last thing Gideon Marshall expected when he woke up that morning was to see trouble come rolling back into town.  But, unlike most people, he didn’t mind one bit.

He’d always had a soft spot for Neve Flanagan, the hellion youngest child of the family that had been the central figure in this small town for more than a hundred and fifty years.

Now that he was the sheriff of said small town, people might expect things to change—Neve had gotten into trouble more than once in her life, both before and after she’d left home.  But to be honest, Gideon suspected a lot of that was because people had expected her to get in trouble.

Neve simply gave them what they wanted.

Right now, as she leaned against the side of the beat-up Corolla that looked nothing like the fire-engine red Porsche she’d driven away from here eight years ago, she did the same thing.  She gave him what he wanted.

A smile.

It wasn’t the same smile, though.  That hit him, right in the heart.

Neve was like the little sister he’d never had and that wan, tired smile mad him want to chew nails and hit something.  Or somebody.  Because he recognized the look on her face, all too well.

She had the look of somebody who needed to hide.

But he knew his Trouble too well.  Instead of handling her the way he wanted to, hugging her up against him and demanding she tell him what was wrong, he did what he would have done eight years ago.  He reached up and caught of lock of her hair—deep red and soft—and pulled.  “Well, well, well.  Trouble is back.”

She made a face at him.

“In town fifteen minutes and I’ve already heard that—three times now.”

Gideon grinned, somewhat relieved to see an echo of her old smile flash across her face.  Then she moved away from the car and wrapped her arms around him.

Now, he let himself hug her.  And it hurt, he realized, more than he’d thought possible to feel the sharp bones and frail strength in her.  She’d lost weight, too much of it.  It was like there was nothing but skin, bone and the remnants of that cocky attitude.

“You stayed gone way too long, sugar,” he murmured against her temple as she tucked her head against his chest.

“Yeah, well.”  She sniffed and snuggled in closer.  “I kept thinking about coming back and nabbing you up for myself since my sister was dumb enough to let you get away.  But…well.  You’re so old.”

“Old?”  Chuckling, he rubbed his cheek against her hair.  “You mean to tell me I’ve been waiting around here for eight long years, pining after you and you think I’m too old for you?”

The gas pump shut off and she sighed, breaking away from him.  “Well, maybe not too old.”  Then she shrugged and finished dealing with the car, grabbing her receipt, putting the gas cap back on.  “But you and I both know you’ll never love anybody but Moira.”

He didn’t say anything.

Neve’s gaze swept up to him and he knew he didn’t have to.  She wouldn’t tell anybody.  Neither would he.

Their secret.

Friday 56

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So, who is all at RT this week and which of you are living vicariously through the tweets and Facebook posts? I fall into the latter category. I love New Orleans and I hate that I’m missing out on so much fun and a wonderful city.  But, don’t fret if you’re like me and had to stay home; we can still have fun, right?  We’ve made it to Friday…and it’s time for some Friday 56.  Grab your closest book and flip to page 56 and give me the 5th full sentence.   This week, I’m going to go back a bit and I have one of Shiloh’s older novels, The Hunters: Eli and Sarel, and it’s a steamy one ;)!

 

Lifting his head, he asked, “No panties, darling?”

 

If you’re at RT, make sure to find Shiloh and say hello!

Leaving…

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And I’m gone.  I headed out yesterday for NOLA & the RT Convention.  I managed a feat of of epic proportions by packing all of my stuff into a carry-on, just mailing the my promo.

I’ll be back in a few days…

So… did you read LONG FOR ME?  What did you think?

 

Also…don’t forget the contest going on with the SECRETS & SHADOWS novellas…if you haven’t entered, please do.   Barclay PR is helping spread the word and you can maybe swing by there and see what all is up today… it looks like they keep links posted on the what’s what. ~I forgot to ask and I’m posting in rush…shocking surprise  ~

 

LONG FOR ME… available now..

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Nothing but the desperation of a man staring down the business end of a gun. Guy knew that well enough.  But all of this added up to yet another scar on the Bell family and they already had enough.  And Chris . . .

The door slammed shut behind him.

He had to fight not to flinch.

Of course she was here.  After the night they’d spent, after everything she’d been dealing with, how could he not expect her to come looking for him?

She always came to him.  It was something that he both needed and hated, because he needed her, more than he needed to breathe, it seemed.  But she didn’t want the things from him that he wanted from her.

She wanted comfort, wanted silence. Wanted a million things, and he just wanted her.

Feeling the weight of her gaze, he turned to face her, leaning against the counter behind him, his hands curling around it so he didn’t give in to the temptation to reach for her as she came even closer to him.

“What in the hell are you doing?” she demanded.

“Taking some personal time,” he said levelly.

It had been his idea to take a few days away from work. Piss-poor timing, he knew, but the sheriff hadn’t been able to deny it made sense.  Fifteen years ago, Guy had been tangentially involved in what was likely going to be a manslaughter case.  They didn’t need him around right then.

He didn’t need to be around right then.

If he could cut the ties that bound him to Chris, he’d just leave Madison altogether.  She was the only thing that really held him here, but those ties were strong, forged of iron and lust and love and need.  To cut those ties, he’d have to cut out his heart.

“Personal time.”  She continued to stare at him, her eyes glinting, sharp and brittle.  “What did you do? Roll out of my bed and just decide you needed a few days away? Just like that?”

“Actually, I’d put the request in the day before the memorial.”  Setting his jaw, he looked at the wall past her.  “I should have mentioned it before that.  This isn’t exactly the best time for me to be around, Chris.”

“Not the best time.”

The wooden tone of her voice was so unnatural, he couldn’t help but look at her and the shattered expression on her face ripped at him.

“Aw, fuck,” he muttered, shoving away from the counter.  “Chris, that isn’t what I . . .”

“No.”  She shook her head, her throat working as she swallowed.  Vivid bursts of ink, those sexy, insane bursts of color that bloomed on her flesh moving as her chest shuddered, a ragged breath easing out of her.  “Fifteen years, I waited for answers.  Now I have some of them, and the person I always turn to just up and leaves.”

He closed his eyes.

“Okay.  Fine.  I get this is hell on you, too.  I thought maybe we could help each other through it.  But you don’t want that.  I’ll see you around.”  She turned and headed for the door.

She was two feet from the door when the threads of his control broke.  Slamming a hand over her head, he shoved the door closed as she went to slip outside.  When she attempted to jerk it open, he simply outmuscled her.

When she spun around and glared up at him, he glared back. “You get that this is hell on me,” he said, echoing her words.  “You have no idea what kind of hell this is.”

Her lip quivered, a snarl forming on her face.  “Poor Guy.” She gave him a look of mock pity and reached up to pat his cheek.

He caught her wrist, pinned it to the door.

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