Kimberly Lewis's Blog, page 38

"Zane" Blog Tour Stop #3 with Making Connections

Join me today at http://makingconnectionsgroup.blogspot.com/ for an interview and review of "Zane". Looking forward to seeing you all there!

"Zane" Blog Tour Stop #2 with Making Connections

Today I'm visiting with Jamie Haden on her blog for a interview and a guest post. Stop by and check out those along with an excerpt from "Zane" and also the giveaway I'm offering during this tour:-) 
http://jamiehaden.blogspot.com

"Zane" Blog Tour - Hosted By Making Connections

Today marks the first day of my second virtual book tour for "Zane". I'll be starting off the tour at J.A Beard's blog for an interview. I hope you all will stop by and check it out. Have a great day and I'll talk to you all soon:-)
http://riftwatcher.blogspot.com/

Country Music Friday - "Come Wake Me Up" by Rascal Flatts

My "Family Ties" by Krista Kedrick Review

She’s all country…
He’s all city…

Grace Tucker thought she had her life put back together - with the help of her over-protective brothers.  She had a quiet, predictable life operating the family hardware store in her hometown and spending her free time with her friends, the Caldwell family.  That was… until a tragic accident took her two best friends and left their daughters orphaned.  If that wasn’t devastating enough - Dirk Caldwell, the egocentric, completely handsome brother no one’s met, blows into town.

Dirk Caldwell realized he wasn’t in California anymore when he stepped from the redneck, rattletrap airplane and was smacked in the face with a cold breeze laced with manure.  It was exactly what he’d expected from the backwater town his brother called home.  But going head to head with Grace Tucker was not.  The hot-headed, leggy cowgirl was almost more than he could handle.  But, oh how he’d like to give it a try.
When two worlds collide can they realize love, tame passion and form a bond strong enough to tie a family together?


Release Date: May 18, 2012Genre: Contemporary Romance Formats: Paperback/Kindle/NookPublisher: Cowboy Capital Publications


My Review:
I'd like to start my review by stating that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It does start off on a tragic note and that theme carries through the first half of the novel--quite sad and emotional--but it's this tragedy that brings our two main characters together.

Dirk Caldwell... What can I say about Dirk? I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like the guy. He's so arrogant in the beginning of the novel and it seems as if he's appalled to be in this small town and around small town folk. So I really loved it when Grace, or Sunny as she's called throughout most of the novel, steps up and puts him in his place. Grace, unlike Dirk, has been involved in Dirk's brother's life for years--her best friend being Dirk's brother's wife--so she doesn't tolerate him coming into her life and the lives of her Goddaughters (aka: Dirk's nieces) and wanting to shake things up. But as the novel progresses, Dirk really steps up to the plate and attempts to prove himself as a worthy uncle and provider for his nieces. And, of course, along the way he proves to Grace that he can be the man that she needs. 

The chemistry between these two characters was perfect. I truly believed their arguments, disagreements, and the heat that just seemed to sizzle between them all the time. And speaking of heat...Wow. The attraction between them was so perfectly executed--just enough steaminess without the vulgar language or phrases that make me cringe or say "Ugh...Really?" sometimes during those particular scenes.

All in all this was a very enjoyable story about two very different people overcoming their differences to make a loving family unit. It's full of sorrow, hope, love and laughter. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading small town contemporary romances.

My Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars

Want to read a little excerpt from Family Ties? Well you're in luck because I happen to have one. Thank you Krista for providing readers with this little sneak peak:-)


     “Push that tape down so it don’t stick to your butt.”
     Twelve hours ago Dirk Caldwell would’ve never imagined another man making reference to his butt.  Ever.  It just wasn’t done.  Then again, twelve hours ago he wouldn’t have pictured himself struggling to get inside a tiny, run-down, four-seater plane carrying his own luggage. 
     He would never have been anywhere near a man who’s idea of style was Wrangler jeans paired with scuffed cowboy boots, Nebraska Huskers t-shirt and a dusty camouflage baseball cap with the phrase “That’s Mr. Redneck to You” emblazoned on it.  He hadn’t realized people like that existed let alone were allowed to hold a pilot’s license.  Yet here he was bumping elbows, knees and any manner of body parts with him while juggling his way around the cockpit.
     “Just toss yer’ bag back over there.”
     Dirk looked in the direction the work-worn hand pointed and balked.  He was supposed to put his $4,000 Bottega Veneta on top of a pile of dirty rags, maintenance manuals and something that looked like it came straight out of the engine of this nineteen-seventy something Cessna?  Yeah right.
     He surveyed the tiny plane, finally resigning to set his bag on the floor beneath the mess.  The distinct sound of tape being pulled from its roll drew his attention back to the pilot in time to see him tear a strip free with his teeth.  At least they were clean and in the vicinity of white.
     The weathered hand held out the wide silver tape motioning towards the co-pilots seat populated by other such strips.  With a sneer, Dirk took it and laid it across the most obvious spot.
     “Good as new.”  The pilot smiled and tucked the roll back under his seat.
     Oh Christ!  They were going to end up dead in a fiery inferno in the middle of some cornfield.  Well, then he wouldn’t be any worse off than his brother.  His chest constricted the instant he thought that.  Danny.  Tears stung his eyes, he swallowed hard and they disappeared.
     Dirk loosened his tie.  Not his favorite.  He normally went for a flashier style, but it was a Christmas present from his brother and it just felt right to wear it for the occasion.  The tears threatened again, he blinked rapidly, but they welled further.  Thank God for his Ray-Bans.  He quickly swiped a finger beneath them while pretending to check his pockets with the other hand.
     “If you’ll get buckled up, the tower said we’re next for take-off.”
     Dirk was grateful for the distraction.  He wondered if the seat belt was also secured with Duct Tape.  He wouldn’t be surprised.  It was amazing this rattle-trap passed inspections, but then he wasn’t sure if privately chartered planes to nowhere had to go through inspections.  Probably not.
     The seatbelt seemed secure enough.  At least he would be strapped in when they crashed.  The pilot adjusted his headset and communicated with the tower.  Dirk was surprised he actually used professional pilot jargon.   Instead of   “Gee, y’all we’re ready to git the heck outta here now”.
     His estimation of a safe arrival notched up a fraction.  Even though, his full attention was on the runway and horizon until they were safely up and cruising.
     Dirk pulled his phone from his pocket with the intention of getting some work done, except it wasn’t working.  He poked at the screen anyway.  They hadn’t even left the state of Colorado and already he felt the constricting weakness of being disconnected from civilization.  It was like being naked in the wilderness.  He unbuttoned his top shirt button.
     “Sorry you won’t be able to use that for a while, probably not til you get home.”
Dirk twisted his head to the pilot.  “I’m sorry….”  He honestly couldn’t remember the guy’s name.
     “Clive.”  The pilot nodded.  “Name’s Clive.”  He returned attention to the sky.
     Of course it is.  “Clive.  I can’t go two hours without contacting my clients, let alone two days.” 
     Dirk didn’t like the assessing once-over he got from Clive.  What did he know anyway?  He probably communicated by smoke signal.  Dirk adjusted his cuff links glancing at his watch.
     “I’ll getcha there on time.”
     Dirk looked sideways at Clive, whose concentration was still on the horizon and his gauges.  If it weren’t for the sympathetic half smile on his face, Dirk wouldn’t have known the man said anything.  He was really tired of those smiles; he had seen them on his girlfriend’s face for twelve straight hours.  At least it looked genuine on Clive’s.
     “Did you know Danny?”
     “Of course.”  Clive smiled warmly, as if remembering better times.  “He was a good man.”
     Dirk waited for him to say more, wanted him to say more, but Clive fell silent again.  He seemed to be a man of few words, not something Dirk was used to.  In his line of work people never shut up.  They jabbered just to hear their own voice, thinking if they stopped they might disappear from the spotlight.
     It was that very thing that kept him busy twenty-four hours a day covering media, defusing situations and bailing clients out of trouble or jail.  So busy, in fact, he hadn’t seen his brother in more than a year.  He hadn’t even met his youngest niece and she was nearly five.  Not that Danny hadn’t asked him to visit; there just was never a right time.  Public relations never slept.
     When Dirk’s phone had rung two nights ago he thought that’s what Danny was calling about.  Another trip.  A vacation to Nebraska.  Nebraska.  Not exactly the ultimate dream destination.  Corn fields and feed lots.  Seemed like a place of misery to Dirk.
     He had ignored the first call.  He would listen to Danny’s lighthearted message and subtle plea later.  He was making progress with a smoking hot redhead at the club and didn’t need any distractions.  Of course in L.A. you never could tell what was fake and what was real, so smoking hot was all relative, but that was part of the fun.
     Dirk loved his life.  He was successful; at least it appeared that way.  His bank account wasn’t too awful to look at.  He worked and played with the rich and famous.  They liked having him around and it was nice to be needed by them.  He had been gifted with the amazing talent to twist anything into an advantage.  He was the ultimate bull-shit slinger and the people loved him for it.

Want to read more? Here's where you can get it:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Ties-Krista-Kedrick/dp/1475296835/ref=la_B007Y5PH70_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345237510&sr=1-2
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/family-ties-krista-kedrick/1110925098?ean=2940014459082

About the Author Krista was born and raised in Nebraska.  Her first years were spent on a ranch near the Stinkin' Water Creek in Chase County with her family raising cattle, lambs and chickens and stirring up trouble.  After spending several childhood years in Colorado and Kansas her family returned to make Nebraska their home.

Her light-hearted take on the world splashes the pages of her novels creating a wonderful mix of seriousness and humor.  And living in small communities has given her the inside view of small town people -their wholesomeness, kindness and appreciation of the little things in life.  These one-of-a-kind people are the heart of her characters.

She stumbled into broadcasting when her friend interviewed her on his show and a love for the microphone bloomed into a weekly broadcast of news and humor as a co-host for the online show @Random.

Krista makes her home in Nebraska with her husband, two daughters and basset hound where she loves to work in her yard, which supports her vivid settings in her novels.

Her novels Under a Prairie Moon and Family Ties are available in both paperback and ebook on www.createspace.com, www.amazon.com, www.smashwords.com and for the nook at www.barnesandnoble.com.

Learn more about Krista at:


Website Link:  www.kristakedrick.com and www.anovelidealive.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Krista-Kedrick-Fans/214174931950086
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristaKedrick



The Giveaway Krista is giving away one copy of Family Ties at each of her blog stops. So leave a comment below for your chance to win! 
This tour stop is hosted by Black Lion Virtual Tours. This novel was read for my own enjoyment (I own my own copy) and the review I posted was provided for this blog tour.


Thanks for reading!

"Forever in Carolina" by Nicholas A. White Blog Tour

Jason Wyatt vowed that he would fulfill his deceased brother's collegiate-football dreams. Despite a growing number of injuries, he is willing to risk anything, even his health, to uphold that promise. With recruiting underway and a football future imminent, he meets Riley, a green-eyed beauty, with a haunting and unforgettable past and an overprotective father. Jason tries to balance young love with football, and as he nears high school graduation, he is confronted with a new set of life-altering obstacles to both.





Please enjoy this excerpt from Forever in Carolina:“I didn’t say that.” Mr. Wyatt possessed a rare and undervalued ability to maintain his composure even in the most stressful situations; a patience, whether or not the reasoning held validity, that he attributed to years of fishing. “All I’m saying,” he continued, “is that he will be miserable if he doesn’t play this year. It’s not just a sport for him. It’s how he connects with Allen, and you know that. Look at him out there,” he motioned to the back window. “It’s who he is.”Mrs. Wyatt sat in silence on their bed. A photograph of an eleven-year-old Allen rested on the dresser by the bathroom. She had taken it before his first football practice in sixth grade—his helmet draped over his eyebrows, the shoulder pads extended too far past his shoulders, and his little body hid beneath the enormity of the leg pads. The first two years after Allen had passed, Mrs. Wyatt cried every time she saw the picture, but she refused to hide it. She calmed much quicker than her husband had anticipated. “I just don’t want him to get hurt. Permanently hurt,” she said.
Release Date: September 1, 2012Genre: Young Adult NovelFormats: Print and eBookPublisher: Magnifico Manuscripts
About the Author:

Nicholas A. White studies civil engineering at Clemson University and is a native of Charlotte, N
Website Link: http://www.nicholasawhite.com/ 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-A-White/e/B009CJ6AZE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1348420219&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-in-carolina-nicholas-a-white/1112436647




Thanks for reading!

"Adventures of a Graveyard Girl" by Milda Harris Blog Tour Stop

Adventures of a Graveyard Girl(Book #2 in the Funeral Crashing Series)By Milda Harris

Kait Lenox is back! It's Homecoming Dance time and Kait is excited. It's her first dance with a date and that date is none other than one of the hottest, most popular guys in her school, Ethan Ripley!
For once Kait doesn't feel like a funeral crashing weird girl and it's the most perfect romantic evening ever...at least until a girl gets murdered in the high school bathroom.
Rumors fly, panic ensues, and Kait can't help herself, she assigns herself to the case!






Series : Funeral Crashing Series
Genre : Young Adult Romantic Mystery (with humorous
elements)


Excerpt from Adventures of a Graveyard Girl:
"I like the theme: A Night in Paris. Super romantic," I said, trying to keep the conversation going.
It was well done, actually. There was a big banner at the front of the gym, where the DJ was, announcing the theme for the night. A fake Eiffel Tower stood in the middle of the snack table, separating the snacks and the beverages. An Arc De Triumphe was the entranceway into the gym. The tables scattered around the dance floor were covered with white tablecloths and silver stars. The mood lighting was ultra romantic, with small fake candles sitting on the tables.
"Yeah, it was all Madison's idea. She's our club president. Ariel said it was her idea, of course, but I heard Madison suggest it first," Sarah said.
I stopped myself from asking more about what Ariel had said. Was Sarah really criticizing Ariel? Was there dissension among the new group of bffs? I was dying to know, but there was no way Sarah was going to give me any juicy gossip if I asked her. The group lapsed into silence again. What were we going to talk about?
"It looks very cool," Ethan said, trying to get the conversation started again.
The first notes of a romantic slow song were starting to play. I started swaying to the music. Couples formed all around us. We all watched them as we tried awkwardly to think of a conversation piece.
"So, how about we dance?" Mike asked Sarah.
"I'd love to," Sarah said.
"Bye guys," Mike said, as Sarah dragged him away, totally grateful at the chance to get away from us.
Kyle turned to Suzie, "You want to dance too?"
Suzie nodded and turned to us, "See you guys later."
Then they walked away too, hand in hand. Ethan and I were finally alone. We stared at each other, suddenly awkward with one another. I felt a little nervous. We had been about to dance before, but suddenly the air was charged with possibilities.
"Dance?" Ethan asked.
I nodded and took his hand. Ethan led me a little ways onto the dance floor and placed his hands on my hips, drawing me toward him. I hooked my arms around his neck. I caught the scent of his cologne. He smelled amazing. We started moving to the notes together, side to side. My stomach was doing nervous excited flips. Now this was the best moment of my life.
Ethan looked down at me and I looked up at him, our eyes meeting. I leaned up to kiss him. I really couldn't have asked for a more romantic Homecoming Dance moment. It was so perfect, but just as our lips were about to touch, we both jumped as the music stopped with a screech, ending in dead silence. Then I heard the girl screaming, and screaming, and screaming.


About the Author: Author Milda Harris is a Chicago girl who ran off to Hollywood to pursue a screenwriting dream! She has a dog named after a piece of candy (Licorice), was once hit by a tree (seriously), and wears hot pink sunglasses (why not?). Between working in production on television shows like Austin & Ally, Hannah Montana, and That's So Raven and playing with her super cute dog Licorice, she writes young adult murder mystery, horror, paranormal romance, and chick lit novels.
Her ebooks Adventures in Funeral Crashing, Adventures of a Graveyard Girl, The New Girl Who Found a Dead Body, Doppelganger, and Connected (A Paranormal Romance) are for sale now!



Where You Can Find Milda:
Website: http://www.mildaharris.com/
Blog: http://www.writergirlinla.com
Blog: http://www.lifeslikeamovie.com
Facebook - Author: http://www.facebook.com/mildaharris
Facebook – Funeral Crashing: http://www.facebook.com/AdventuresInFuneralCrashing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MildaHarris
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4965095.Milda_Harris


Book Links:
Adventures of a Graveyard Girl is available from the following retailers:

Amazon ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Graveyard-Mystery-Crashing-ebook/dp/B007WUIMDI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Graveyard-Mystery-Crashing-ebook/dp/B007WUIMDI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347481082&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adventures-of-a-graveyard-girl-milda-harris/1112035996?ean=2940033183012
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/adventures-graveyard-girl/id528912376?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/155023




MORE ABOUT THE FUNERAL CRASHING SERIES :
Synopsis of Adventures in Funeral Crashing
(Funeral Crashing #1 – Now available for FREE download !)
Sixteen year old Kait Lenox has a reputation as the weird girl in her high school, mostly because of her ex-best friend turned mean popular girl, Ariel, but maybe it has a little to do with the fact that Kait has a hobby crashing funerals. At one of these, Kait is outted by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley. Yet, instead of humiliating her for all the world to see, he asks for her help, and Kait finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Not only is the thrill of the mystery exciting, but more importantly Ethan knows her name! A little sleuthing is well worth that!




Thanks for reading!

"The Wanting Heart" by Rionna Morgan Blog Tour Stop

“The Wanting Heart is a sexy, intriguing, modern-day western romance.  A fun summer read.”  -- Kat Martin, New York Times Best Selling Author

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Rionna Morgan during her virtual book tour for her new novel, The Wanting Heart. Please join me in welcoming Rionna!


Katherine White, a barrel racer from Colorado, lives in a fast-paced world where rhinestones shine, hooves pound, and dreams come true.  She plans on winning World Champion Barrel Racer and being with her friends until she graduates from college.  She doesn’t plan on the man who broke her heart strolling back into her life.  She doesn’t plan on finding solace in a charming stranger’s smile or falling victim to his knife. 
Blake Spencer, the man who broke her heart, is all cowboy—from the hat on his head to the dust on his boots. He thought it’d be easy, coming back to town, bowing his head a little, saying he was sorry, and all would be forgiven.  But what he didn’t know, what he didn’t plan on, was that the girl he thought he loved had become the woman he couldn’t have. If he doesn’t succeed in changing her mind, it won’t only cost him Kate’s love—it will cost Kate her life.Will Kate survive the stalking of a serial killer and find what her heart truly wants?

Release Date: July 9, 2012
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Formats: All eBook types
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Please enjoy this excerpt from The Wanting Heart:             “It’s late, Blake.  I’m tired.” Kate said.“Not too tired to be kissing that city feller.”  Blake could’ve kicked himself.  He wanted to talk to her not fight.“That’s none of your business.  You have no right to be spying on me.”“I wasn’t spying.  I was watching Cathy.”Kate stepped into the full light.  “Well, you should have ta
Oh my! I don't know about y'all but I loved that excerpt! Definitely sounds like my kinda book:-) 

Here's where you can find it:
US Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wanting-Heart-ebook/dp/B008BIAFF8/ref=la_B008C7Y69O_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341763134&sr=1-1 

UK Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wanting-Heart-ebook/dp/B008BIAFF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341844025&sr=8-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wanting-heart-rionna-morgan/1111664538?ean=9781440551482
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rionna-morgan/id539545850?mt=11
Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=4r_bT5UubgsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=rionna+morgan&source=bl&ots=a8m1Jz8Z7s&sig=aGbVZzYQaZdf0x0z0sMoohEwFK8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lMMIUKbNGIiqrQHKp4zKCg&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

About the author
Come on in and stay awhile. Romantic Suspense is my favorite genre. Settling in with a good book . . . feeling the tingling terror of the suspense and the sweetness of the surrender. Can't get much better than that!
Growing up out West, Rionna Morgan followed her love of horses to the rodeo arena and her love of English to the classroom and to writing. She has been looking forward to sharing her stories with you her whole life. Rionna is a founding member of Montana Romance Writers; she reads as much as she can possibly hold, and she loves most of all combining the chilling edge of a knife with the sweet surrender of romance. Rionna shares her home in Missoula, Montana with her husband, her four children and the mountains outside her window. Please be invited to stop by rionnamorgan.com--she loves the company.
Website Link:  http://rionnamorgan.com/ Blog Link: http://www.rionnamorgan.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/RionnaMorganFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RionnaMorganGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/rionna_morgan
The Giveaway! Rionna will be giving away two copies of her book to two randomly drawn commentors from this tour! So if you're interested make sure you leave her a comment for your chance to win! Good luck!


To follow Rionna's book tour just click on the image above and you'll be able to find all of the blogs she's visited and will be visiting in the future. 
Thanks for reading!

Check out what came in the mail:-)

That's right! Zane is now in print! I am so excited right now and I must say that they do look rather nice:-) It's available now on Amazon for $7.99. Click on the link below and it will take you directly to the book's page. I've been getting so many nice comments from you guys about the book and I just want to let you know that I appreciate it very much. Nothing makes an author more happy than having a reader reach out to them and tell them that their book was really good. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart! 
Click here to purchase your very own paperback copy of "Zane"!

Five-Day Book Blitz for "Under a Prairie Moon" by Krista Kedrick!

It's a Five-Day Book Blitz for Under a Prairie Moon! Download your FREE book today
~~One night, under a prairie moon~~
Poor uninspired, unfulfilled Andrea Jameson; photographer extraordinaire. Where was her dreary life taking her?  The last place she'd ever imagined! A motel room with her
ex-boyfriend's younger brother. She had to escape without a scene. So she slipped out with only the memories of one incredible night. Or so she thought...
~~One night is never enough~~
Nebraska rancher Jason McCoy made a miracle happen last night.  He made beautiful, vivacious, talented Andy his after twelve years of loving her.  But all his dreams came crashing down when he woke to an empty room.  She was gone forever.  Or so he thought…
How were they to know their journey had just begun?
Download your FREE book today! UNDER A PRAIRIE MOON BOOK EXCERPTSunlight.  It was only sunlight.  Bright, infuriating, painful sunlight burning her retinas.
Andy would’ve screamed at the pain splitting her skull in half if she had any saliva in her mouth.  She couldn’t swallow, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t blink without it hurting.  Her entire body felt heavy and abused.

Was she dying?  She actually hoped she was.  Even her groan of agony was too much.

She kept her eyelids clamped together, afraid of what she would see if she dared to open them again.

What the hell had happened to her?

She tried to summon memories from the night before but it was like sucking Jell-O through a straw.

Water.  She needed water.  If the horrid taste and cotton-mouth were gone, she could force her brain to function.      
Maybe.
 
She hesitated, bracing for the pain.  Well, she couldn’t just lie here suffering.  She parted her eyelids a fraction, wincing and scowling at the splintering in her head.  She blinked, trying to focus.

Wool drapes.  Not her drapes. 

She squinted in confusion.  Hotel drapes.  I'm in a hotel.  Silently cursing all alcohol to perdition, she raised a leaden arm to rub her forehead.
Hung over.

She’d rather be dying.

Sucking in a ragged breath she reached with her other hand to remove the sheet from - her naked body?  She flinched as she fully opened her eyes.  What was she doing sleeping in the buff?  She never slept naked.  Not with the possibility of a fire or a burglar.

Andy’s stomach churned.  The sense of dread hovered at the edges of her sluggish mind.  She tugged harder on the sheet, irritated with its determination to stay put.
With a huff she looked down to investigate.

Shock and mortification paralyzed her when her gaze encountered the problem.  Good God.  She closed her eyes tight, wishing it to be a hallucination from the drinking.

Andy gathered her courage and opened her eyes to the very tan, muscular arm lying across her rib cage.  Her stomach clenched and her impossibly dry mouth became an arid desert.  Panic spread like wildfire.  She had never in her life done this.  She had never brought home a random man.

Okay Andy.  Get a grip here.  She took several steadying breaths before easing the heavy arm away from her.  She scooted gingerly to the edge of the bed and rolled to a crouching position on the floor.

She listened for movement, a change in the man’s breathing, anything to indicate she had woken him.  Nothing.  She braved a peek.  The covers rose and fell in steady rhythm and Andy breathed a sigh of relief.  She rose further, biting her lip, trying to stay quiet.  She took one step back, her foot tangled in fabric threatening to trip her up.

She whipped her gaze to the bed and nearly dropped back to the floor.  Her mouth gaped open and her eyes widened.  Like a tidal wave, a fresh surge of embarrassment washed over her as the night came crashing into her brain.

“Oh sweet Jesus,” she whispered to herself.  She had done the unthinkable.  Her cold hands trembled.  Why oh why had she gotten so drunk last night?  She felt like the biggest idiot to ever cross the earth.

Frantically searching the room, she located her scattered clothes and suitcase by the table.  Get out.  She had to get out.

She tip-toed into the darkened bathroom, grabbing her clothes.  The door creaked.  Her heart stopped.  Her breath stopped.  Her jaw tightened.  She couldn’t turn around, frozen in stunned panic.  Nothing.

  With her eye trained in the crack of the door, Andy pulled on her clothes and whipped her hair back into a pony tail.  She gently pulled the door open - quicker through the creak- never looking away from the sleeping man.  She crept to her suitcase and stuffed her things inside.

She went to the door and slid the chain.  She rested her hand on the knob, looked back at the bed and hesitated.

Andy slid her fingers across her swollen and chapped lips, remembering.  With an impulsive smile she eyed his peaceful body half-covered by the white sheet.
Her pulse quickened at the sight of his broad chest sprinkled with dark hair.  Her entire being tingled with the memory of rough facial hair grazing delightfully against her heated skin.  And those firm lips like velvet tugging at her flesh.

Andy closed her eyes in regret and remorse.  Impossible.  This was impossible.  She squeezed the door knob and twisted.

One more look, just one more.  She knew this was the last time she would see him.  Disappointment saturated her, down to her very core.

Damn it all.

She was actually thinking about staying in this room, about waking him with a kiss.
Andy opened the heavy door only far enough to squeeze herself and her luggage through, then closed it with the same caution.  She hurried down the hallway, glancing back, so nervous she would be caught.  Her stomach twisted into knots and her sweaty palms slipped on her suitcase handle as she raced to the safety of the parking lot.  She had to choke back the tears to find her car.

How was she going to come to grips with this?  How was she going to live with the fact she had slept with her ex-boyfriends little brother?Online website templates