Heatherly Bell's Blog, page 7

Countdown to the release of Breaking Emily’s Rules

It’s officially nine days before Breaking Emily’s Rules, the first book in the Heroes of Fortune Valley series, releases in digital format on all platforms. The print release date is 2/7/17.

I’m crazy excited to bring you this new series about former Air Force pilots, and I hope you will enjoy Emily and Stone’s love story. For an excerpt of Breaking Emily’s Rules, click HERE.

Pre-Order HERE

I’m just going to put this right here…

Because I love looking at him.

Have you ordered your copy yet? It’s not too late to enter my giveaway. Winner announced on 2/1/17.

 

#Tuesday tidbit

I’ve been buried deep in Levi Lambert, the third pilot in my Heroes of Fortune Valley series. But today is Tuesday tidbit, and though the release of Breaking Emily’s Rules is just around the corner, why not share a sample from Airman to the Rescue, book two, which also happens to be up for pre-order.

Cover coming soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~

She was going to stop being so angry at the world and its inhabitants. Stop being anti-social and learn to be friendlier. Fake it till you make it. Judge was a big part of the change, and he made the chit-chat  easy. On the other hand, Gus reminded her that no matter what kind of magical fairy dust she wanted to sprinkle all over, there were still people like him to turn it into sparkly pollution.

She was a work in progress.

Judge opened his mouth, but the loud speaker squawked and Emily’s soft voice called out, “Chartered flight two-oh-three passengers, please come to the tarmac for boarding.”

“Guess you better go,” Sarah said.

Judge slapped his always-excessive tip on the counter and smiled. “Wonder if she’s flying me today?”

“That happened once.”

“A man can dream.” He picked up his briefcase and waved to Sarah.

It didn’t surprise her that Judge carried a little torch for Emily Parker soon-to-be-Mcallister. Most men crushed on Emily. And Sarah understood crushes. Unfortunately she understood them far too well. Crushes didn’t go anywhere because at heart they were nothing more than fantasies. Judge had to realize he didn’t stand a chance with Emily. But the fifty-something bald and sweet Judge probably loved a gratifying fantasy as much as the next person, and as long as the make-believe never converged with reality, it was usually a safe and predictable situation.

The door leading to the tarmac opened and the object of her personal fantasies strode in, as always seemingly unaware of how he made Sarah break out in a spontaneous sweat. Matt Conner, Stone’s Air Force buddy and best friend, carried himself with his usual air of confidence and easy male swagger as he made his way inside, aviator shades covering his chocolate brown eyes. He worked for Stone, one of a handful of pilots on staff. While Matt made his way to Magnum’s offices, where he occasionally taught a lesson or two, Sarah forced her gaze away and wiped the countertop. She hated this hyper-awareness of him every time he walked into a room. She’d swear if her eyes were blindfolded she would realize he had to be in the room by the absolute pull of her body in his direction.

Not for the first time and certainly not for the last, she forced herself to get with the program and stop daydreaming. She was here to fix a house, and fix her life if at all possible. Not to lust after a man, no matter how hunky.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Airman to the Rescue, copyright 2017 Maria Buscher

Harlequin Enterprises

Why it’s dangerous to be married to a romance writer

So, husband and I were at the movie ‘Passengers’ starring Chris Pratt. I decided to eat a hot dog without the bun because I’m doing this low carb thing and popcorn is the devil. I know if I sit with movie theater popcorn I will eat the entire bag until I’m literally sick. Until there is a carb explosion and nobody wants to see that.

Me: “Would you like my bun?” (Because heck, I’m not going to eat it and what a waste.)

Him: “Of course I want your bun, baby. I want to squeeze it.”

Me: “That’s going in a book.”

Him:

And that’s why you should be careful what you say around a romance writer…

 

 

Tuesday tidbit

Here’s a little excerpt from a scene in which Stone, our hero, teaches our heroine Emily how to properly hit a punching bag.

“Are you okay?” Stone’s voice broke through the haze.

Emily stopped swinging, her breathing heavy and ragged. She wiped sweat from her forehead. “Sure. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been at it for a few minutes. Thought I’d lost you there.” He grinned so wide both dimples appeared.

“Okay, you were right.” She backed up, worn out and sweaty. “I needed that. It felt good.”

He came around from the side of the bag. When his arms went around her waist, she leaned into him. “You feel good.”

“So do you.” She kissed him then, thinking no one had ever cared enough to show her how to deal with her feelings in any real and tangible way. Not talking it out, as she would have expected from any psychologist or girlfriend, but physically hashing it out. And it made sense. Stone was a man of action.

His arms slid up and back down her arms, and he seemed to study her. “Don’t let me hurt you. Don’t ever let anyone hurt you. Ever again.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible. I—”

“Promise me.” His hands tightened around her arms.

“Okay. I promise.”

She kissed him again, tenderly, and then again not so tenderly, the only thought in her head being that she’d just made a promise only he could make her break.

Stone Mcallister, former Air Force pilot and man of action. 

Sometimes I believe…

Mondays were just put at the beginning of the week to test us…

Photo courtesy of Sweatpants and Coffee

Happy last day of 2016

Wishing you all a happy new year with hopes for a wonderfully prosperous 2017. I’m optimistic about 2017. I hope you are too. Here’s someone to make you think optimistic thoughts, or um, order you to have them:

I order you to have a wonderful 2017. No one says “no” to me. 

Ah well, I’d listen to him if I were you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

xoxoxo

Merry Today

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Rules were made to be broken …

“Emily’s Rules.” She smiled. “I’d like another date.”

One more date didn’t make a relationship. He could handle that. Sure he could. “Are you asking me out on a date? Again?”

“Hang on. There’s a little more to this.” She blushed and flapped that piece of paper in the air. “I want one night with you. One night of wild, passionate sex.”

He couldn’t have heard that right. “What?”

She glanced at her list. “I’ve thought a lot about it. Do you want to see my list?”

“Try and stop me.” He stepped forward to grab the paper, but she snatched it out of his hands.

“Patience. I’ll read them off. And don’t say anything until I’m done.” She held up her index finger. “Number one—use protection. And don’t look at me like that. It’s a valid concern.” She cleared her throat. “Number two—no spending the night. Number three—no asking for a second night. And the last one is no kissing.” She put her list away and turned to study him. “Are these rules acceptable to you?”

~ From Breaking Emily’s Rules, which you can get here.

 

Airman to the Rescue Tuesday Tidbit

Here’s an as-yet-unedited excerpt from book two of Heroes of Fortune Valley, which I hope you will pre-order:

~~~~~~~~

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

She had a goal when she’d come out to Fortune that went beyond hammering out estate problems with her brother. Sarah Mcallister was going to stop being a prickly porcupine. There’d been too many years of pantsuits and hair buns. One big mistake, okay, several big mistakes in her teenage years didn’t mean that she had to be a nun for the rest of her life. She was going to awaken her inner goddess because life was short, dammit, and she was going to get some.

Yeah, right.

Her doorbell rang. Probably Emily again, who dropped by once a week, with or without Stone. She had to give it to her sister-in-law to-be. Emily kept trying her best to make Sarah feel welcome. She’d reached out and made friends, which Sarah appreciated. It wasn’t like Stone had thrown out the welcome mat when she’d arrived in town.

But when Sarah opened her front door, it wasn’t Emily behind it. Matt stood there in all his male glory. The mid-day June sunshine pooled through the doorway all around his big body, practically illuminating him. It was as if God was showing off, saying, ‘Behold some of my best work. You are welcome.’

He grinned and whipped off his aviator glasses. “Hey.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

And my casting for Matt Conner, should Hollywood ever come ‘a callin’. Just saying. He would be adequate.

12 Days of Christmas Fun and Prizes~

Join me and my friends for some early holiday fun and win prizes!

Starting today, December 1, and for the next twelve days, visit me on my Facebook author page to find our featured author. Then hop on over to her author page, check out her private giveaway, and be sure to enter the rafflecopter for the grand prize.

I’ll have a special giveaway from my author page on December 4!