Shelli Stevens's Blog, page 18

Thank you!

I'm so happy that people seem to enjoy the brothers in my Holding out for a Hero series as much as I do! It's holding strong on Amazon.

I peeked at my Amazon stats and let out a big happy squee!

Going Down: #23 in Books > Romance >Contemporary
Command and Control: #26 in Books > Romance > Contemporary
Flash Point: #11 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

Thanks again to my wonderful readers, I really do hope you've enjoyed it (and yes, I'm working on a short story for the cousin Ryan! It will go up on Amazon and other ebook retailers for .99)

New Review!

First, thanks to all who picked up Flash Point! It's been #1 at Samhain for the past week (AND Command and Control even jumped back on the best seller list!). I'm sure both books will get the boot soon, though, because there's some amazing books that just came out! ;) But thanks again for reading me, and I really hope you enjoyed this series as much as I did writing it!

So I woke up to find a great review for Command and Control in my inbox! It was a fantastic review and I'm thrilled the reviewer enjoyed my story so much. Thanks, Romance Junkies!

"COMMAND AND CONTROL was a really powerful and engaging read. Author Shelli Stevens delves right into the emotional costs that returning home from war can play, not just on soldiers, but also their loved ones… COMMAND AND CONTROL was a deeply rich and satisfying story about two people who have to overcome a lot of pain in order to reunite and have a happy ending." Cheryl, Romance Junkies

Finally….three weeks until the Romantic Times Convention! Are you going?

 

You all ROCK!

Thanks to everyone who's bought Flash Point! I hope you enjoyed, are enjoying, or do enjoy it when you read it!

Flash Point hit #1 at Samhain's bookstore last night and seems to be doing fabulously around the net. And it's all because I have such fabulous readers! I loved this series and I'm so glad to see many people did too! I had to take a few screen shots that made me all kinds of giddy! I have the best readers and I really hope to meet some of you at RT next month!

Flash Point is out today!

Flash Point is now available!! I'm so excited! This is the third, and final, book in the Holding out for a Hero series (which will then roll into a print book in the future!). This book has only just released, but already has some great reviews under its belt!

One taste of her lips, and friendship is off the menu

Holding Out for a Hero, Book 3

Kate has always been everybody's friend and the de-facto little sister to the Wyatt brothers. But her feelings for Todd Wyatt, the town's hottest firefighter, run far beyond the sibling variety. Not that he's ever noticed.

After years of nursing her crush, Kate decides it's time to take action. Except she has one awkward little secret: she's still a virgin. She hopes she can seduce Todd without him realizing just how inexperienced she is.

In Todd's mind, Kate's the sweet girl he teases and hits up for free cupcakes. One surprise kiss over the summer, though, and suddenly she's jumped from the platonic side of his brain to the want-her-in-my-bed side. Even though the last thing he wants is to lose her friendship, his resistance to her determined seduction is slipping. Fast.

When malicious attacks on her bakery escalate, it soon becomes clear that for all Kate's friends, she's made at least one big enemy. And if they don't figure it out soon, things could take a deadly turn.

 

Order at Samhain

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Reviews

"Ms. Stevens takes a couple who has been friends their whole lives, adds a bit of spice and turns it into a grab a fan and ice water because this one is a HOT story. She also adds just the right amount of suspense combined with a knock out romance and made this the kind of book that I will read again and again." Fallen Angel Reviews, Recommended Read

"I would definitely recommend to any fan of contemporary romance." Whipped Cream Reviews

"Flash Point is a delightful story centering around Kate who is a great friend and Todd who is slowly realizing that she maybe more." Sensual Reads

EXCERPT

Silence fell between them, heavy and awkward, and the longer she kept quiet, the more she just wanted to scream. She could barely deal with Todd talking to her about the women in his life, seeing them was bad enough, but having to help him with it?

Todd seemed to sense her mood change, because any further attempts at conversation stayed firmly away from the topic of women and dating.

When the check arrived, he handled it despite her insisting that she pay half. The entire ride home, the hot ball of anger in her belly just kept expanding, until her vision was tinted with red and her hands were clenched into fists.

When they pulled up outside her house, she didn't trust herself to say anything more than a terse, "Goodnight."

She climbed out of the truck, slamming the door behind her as she strode toward her front door. She'd just blown any pretense of playing it cool, but so what? She heard the truck door slam again, and she flinched, increasing her pace.

Todd's fingers curled around her elbow, spinning her around and off balance. She reached out to catch herself, just like she'd done earlier today with Walt. Only this time, there was no urge to pull away when her palms flattened against Todd's hard, broad chest. But the fact that she was pissed, not just angry, downright pissed at Todd, had her jerking away regardless.

Todd didn't let her go though, instead slid his hands up her arm to pull her closer to him.

Her heart lurched in her chest and her mouth went dry.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

She lifted her gaze to his and from the light of her porch saw the regret in his eyes.

"There isn't a woman I'm trying to impress with baking. I made that up."

Kate frowned, stilling in her efforts to free herself. "Why did you say that then?"

"Damn it, to keep this from happening." His head blocked out the light as it dipped, and then his mouth crashed down on hers.

Shock ripped through her as his lips masterfully parted hers, his tongue plunging inside to taste her. She couldn't move, couldn't even respond for a moment. Until the tingling began and a liquid heat seeped through her veins, pooling heavily between her thighs.

She was in Todd's arms and he was kissing the hell out of her? How long had she fantasized about this?

I'm kind of cheating on you

I know this is my blog and I should blog here, but, well, I've discovered Tumblr. And it's so pretty, shiny and new, that I may end up blogging over there more often than not. I'll still post Snippet Saturday's here and book news though! But if you want the fun blogs, you may want to hop over and visit me on Tumblr (and if you're on there, follow me and I can follow you! I'm still so new!). http://shellistevens.tumblr.com/

And a big old squee! Flash Point is out tomorrow! You can pretty much pre-order it everywhere at this point. It's received great reviews already and is #18 on pre-order of ALL KINDLE books. How cool is that?

Pre-order at Samhain

Pre-order at Amazon

Pre-order at Barnes and Noble

Reviews

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"Ms. Stevens takes a couple who has been friends their whole lives, adds a bit of spice and turns it into a grab a fan and ice water because this one is a HOT story. She also adds just the right amount of suspense combined with a knock out romance and made this the kind of book that I will read again and again." Fallen Angel Reviews, Recommended Read

"I would definitely recommend to any fan of contemporary romance." Whipped Cream Reviews

"Flash Point is a delightful story centering around Kate who is a great friend and Todd who is slowly realizing that she maybe more." Sensual Reads

Snippet Saturday ~ Openers

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is openers! Here's the beginning of my book Tempting Adam. Check it out and then hop on over to the other blogs listed below!

The man she wants is the one she must deceive.

Seattle Steam Book 2

Christy Wallace may be a respectable Seattle Spanish teacher, but she's got a sultry side. She lets it come out to play during the summer, when she moonlights as a Salsa dancing instructor.

Sexy, cowboy Adam wants more time with her than just a fleeting cup of coffee, but she makes it clear that if he wants her, he'll have to sign up for dance class. Amazingly enough, he does. And Christy finds herself falling for a charming country hick with hands as fast as his feet.

Adam's no hick, though. He's the owner of Adam's Apples, the fastest-growing cider business in eastern Washington. To his own surprise, one night with her has him thinking in terms of forever. That is, until he walks into a restaurant for a family lunch—and finds Christy on the arm of his brother.

Is there a logical explanation? Or is something rotten in Seattle?

EXCERPT

"Do you want it wet?"

What? Christy Wallace snapped her attention away from the intriguing man standing in front of her, and back to the woman speaking. "I'm sorry?"

"Your cappuccino, Christy. You usually order it wet, but I just wanted to make sure." Madison, who owned the shop, gave her a patient smile even though there was a line of customers to the door.

"Oh. Yes. Wet, please. Thanks, Madison." She flushed, her face giving away the direction of her thoughts. Great, now the entire store probably thought she was some tawdry sex fiend.

Normally the question wouldn't have been such a doozy. She was a regular at Ooo La Latté—had been coming here since shortly after Madison had opened shop—and ordered the same wet cappuccino every day.

But her brain had gone to pot the moment she'd walked through the door and laid eyes on him. The man standing at the end of the line looked like he could've been the stunt double in any James Bond film. Well, a blond Bond. Wait, wasn't Bond blond now anyway? In any case. He had a lean muscular body, hard jaw-line, sensual mouth…and a butt you could bounce a quarter off.

This was the first time she didn't mind waiting ten minutes in line for coffee. Not with the view standing in front of her. Her imagination had gone into overdrive. Those hands…those hands on her body. His body on her body—in her body. The fantasy had gone on and on—only to be broken when Madison confirmed her usual order.

Christy shifted as she waited for her drink, trying to forget about the man who now stood beside her. But, God, he smelled good. She leaned forward slightly and inhaled again. Even over the intense coffee aroma she could smell his cologne. Something woodsy and oh-so-male.

"What's the difference?"

She blinked and then blinked again. Oh God. He was actually talking to her? Her nerves jumped to life.

"Difference in what?"

"Between wet and dry cappuccinos?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her as he accepted his drink from the barista.

She ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips. His gaze dropped to observe the small movement and her nipples tightened under her sweater.

Christy bit back a groan. What the hell was happening here? She'd been attracted to men before, but never this quick. Sex. Ah, there it was. She needed to get laid. Two years without sex turned her into a sex-starved nympho.

"Wet is with more milk and less foam." She lifted her gaze from his solid chest and up to his amused hazel eyes. Jeez, he was tall. At only five-one, she'd wager he had at least a good foot on her.

"Hmm. I guess I can understand that."

"One wet cappuccino." The barista grinned and handed Christy her drink.

"Thank you." She took it with a grateful smile.

The man next to her looked at her beverage and then gave his a pensive look. "I'm not used to fancy drinks. I just wanted a cup of coffee."

Fancy drinks? Definitely not a local. Christy offered him a smile. "Espresso drinks really aren't all that intimidating. And you know, rumor has it they're even made with coffee."

"I don't think I'd have a clue where to begin."

"Ah." She walked towards one of the leather couches in the shop, elated when he followed. "See, I think what you need is an espresso tutor."

He sat down next to her, stretching his long legs out in front of him. The plush couch seemed suddenly inadequate.

"An espresso tutor, huh?" His mouth curved into an answering smile. "You have any idea where a fellow might be able to get one of those?"

Jody Wallace

Emma Petersen

Leah Braemel

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Selena Blake

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

Lauren Dane

Shelli Stevens

T.J. Michaels

Backlist on Kindle!

So I just realized that my publisher Cobblestone Press put some of my older backlist books up on Amazon!

If you're interested, you can can now find my books Cabin Fever , Dating Season, Primal Attraction, and Love for Sale on the Kindle!

More days off? Really?

Not a whole lot going on in my neck of the woods. On the writing front I'm working on a follow up to Negligee Behavior. Well, not necessarily a follow up, but a follow up for one of the characters in that book ;) Speaking of Negligee Behavior though, I'm excited to say that SOON I'll have a cover and blurb to share! This is my Carina Press book and comes out at the end of May. Yay! And the project I have out with beta/critiquers should be coming back soon, which means off to the agent! Which means my agent will have two projects of mine to send out! I'm super excited.

On the non-writing front, the kid is off school again. Mid-winter break. Seriously. Did you hear that? That was the sound of my productivity coming to a crashing halt. I swear they give kids WAY more days off now than they ever did before. Oh well. It's good to have her home and be able to sleep in. Not that she's a sleeper inner. Though of course I'm wishing I had the money to fly us off to somewhere fun and tropical. Oh well, a pic is worth a thousand wishes?

Snippet Saturday ~ Love Scenes

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is 'love scenes'. Feel free to read my excerpt (WARNING IT'S HOT!) and then skip to the other links below!

The line between friends and lovers can get a little blurry…especially when you add tequila.

A Chances Are story.

Gabby is serious about her search for Mr. Right, but no one can say she hasn't had a good time looking. She enjoys her numerous dates and the sex that comes with them. Until she finds herself falling for the one man she vows to never love. Her best friend and roommate, Justin. A player in every sense of the word—and a reminder of her awful past.

One night, with the help of a bottle of tequila, things get a little too hot for comfort. She moves out, intent on removing him from the line of temptation.

Justin has different plans. The tequila did more than just change how he sees his good friend. It made him realize he doesn't want to be just friends any more. He's ready for something more intimate, and he'll do whatever it takes to find out why she's running. And convince her to stay.

Buy at Samhain Publishing

Buy at Amazon

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EXCERPT

Justin's heart thundered in his chest as the almost crippling desire he had for Gabby consumed him. She was going to let him make love to her. She'd given him the green light.

He slid his hands down to her ass, lifting her, and she immediately wrapped her legs around his hips. His tongue plunged deep into the warmth of her mouth to explore the hot and moist interior.

The rub of her breasts against his chest had his cock hardening further, nestling snug against the softness of her bottom.

He moved them toward the bedroom, groaning when she sucked his tongue into her mouth and squeezed her thighs tighter around him. He kicked open the half-closed door to his bedroom, then kicked it shut again. He moved them toward his bed, stumbling over his work boots.

He fell onto the bed, rolling to take the brunt of the fall, which brought Gabby on top of him.

Straddling him, she tore her mouth off him and sat up. She reached for the hem of her shirt, jerking it above her head.

The V of her black satin bra pushed her breasts together to display an impressive amount of cleavage.

His mouth watered and he lifted his hands to tug away the cups of the bra.

Her pert breasts fell free, the light pink tips already textured and hard for his mouth. She was so damn pretty, sensual in a subtle way. A way most men probably wouldn't discover until they had her naked.

He opened his mouth, needing to tell her how sexy she was.

"What about Steven?" How the hell had he allowed himself to ask that instead?

She gave a soft laugh as she reached up to pinch her nipples lightly. His cock twitched and he drew in a harsh breath at the sight.

"I broke up with him."

"You did? When? Why didn't you say something?" he choked out.

"Last night." She lowered her body downward, until her breasts were just above his face. "At dinner—"

He captured one pink tip between his lips, causing her to break off as he suckled her deep. Christ, she tasted sweet. He smiled, loving the way she gasped and writhed above him.

"At dinner," she continued breathily. "Oh…told me why…oh God…oral sex could never be part of our relationship. He has a clitoris phobia."

Her nipple popped from his mouth with a loud suctioning sound. He stared at her for a moment, astounded by her statement.

"Are you shitting me?"

She sighed and drew a finger down the center of his chest. "You think someone can make this stuff up?"

"What an idiot," he growled and grasped her hips, rolling her again until she was beneath him.

Her green eyes narrowed slightly as she stared up at him and her tongue swept across swollen lips.

"My sentiments exactly. So I immediately ended it."

Justin drew in an unsteady breath, his chest tightening at the playfulness and desire in her gaze.

He ran the palm of his hand over her stomach, taking a moment to dip his finger into her navel.

"You should know that I'm nothing like The Suit, and am actually quite fond of the clitoris." He skimmed his hand across the waistband of the jeans riding low on her hips.

Her stomach rose as she sucked in a breath, her lips curling into a challenging smile. "I know you are."

"You do?" He dipped a finger below the waistband, smoothing it back and forth against her silky skin.

Her hips lifted slightly against his light touch. Further aroused and amused by her response, he moved his hand to cup her pussy through her jeans.

"Mmm. You told me." Her lashes lowered, veiling her gaze. "And I heard you once or twice…with

other women. It certainly sounded like you knew what you were doing."

She'd heard him. The idea of it both intrigued him, and yet sent a rush of regret through him.

"Yeah? You didn't get weirded out?"

"No. I got horny," she admitted bluntly with a soft laugh. Her lashes fluttered upward again. "And then later I got jealous."

Justin blinked in surprise, the naked vulnerability in her gaze at her admission momentarily robbing him of response. She had no reason to be jealous. Those times with other women had just been an outlet for the one woman he couldn't have. Gabby.

He hadn't been with another woman since that night with her. He opened his mouth to tell her, but lost all thought when she covered his hand, pressing his palm harder against her swollen sex.

"But I have you right now," she whispered. "And that's all that matters."

The vulnerability that had slipped over her stunned him. It wasn't her. Gabby was a rock. Nothing shook her.

The urge to reassure her rushed through him and he lowered his head to drop a kiss on her stomach.

He bracketed her waist with his hands and brushed his lips across her bare flesh.

Her body trembled under his mouth and her fingers slipped into his hair to clutch him.

Dipping his tongue into the crater of her navel, he deftly unsnapped her jeans and tugged down the zipper.

She lifted her hips off the bed and slipped her hands down to help push off her pants.

Justin tugged them the rest of the way down her legs and tossed them to the ground, never taking his gaze off her. How could he? Damn, she was sexy.

Her skin was pale, dotted with freckles in areas that he'd have a good time kissing. Her slim hips were covered by black satin panties cut high on her thighs and her breasts spilled over her bra.

It wasn't enough. He needed to see all of her. See Gabby completely naked, with no secrets.

Jody Wallace

Emma Petersen

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

Eliza Gayle

Shelli Stevens

TJ Michaels

Lauren Dane

Helen Kay Dimon

Leah Braemel

Oh what a relief it is..

I've been a little head in the sand, but that's because I was trying to finish a book. And I did it! I started writing it in December'ish, and just finished. So happy! It's out/going out to betas right now, then will go out to my agent. And in the mean time…I have a fun proposal/project in mind (rubs hands together).

Last night I took a ferry across the water and went to support fellow author Craig Lancaster during his signing. I enjoyed the chance to finally meet him/hear him read, but also was introduced to the Indie bookstore Liberty Bay Books, and met several nice employees from Amazon!

Speaking of Amazon, did you know my book Flash Point (third book in the Holding out for a Hero series) is on pre-order there? It is! And I was TOTALLY shocked to see it was at #30 in pre-orders for ALL Kindle books (not just romance!) Can you see me happy dancing? No? I'm certainly making enough noise.

Anyway, hope all is well out in the blogosphere, I should probably go work out or something. The Romantic Times conference is in less than two months and that weight loss I'd hoped for isn't really happening. I guess that's what happens when you don't work out and eat out all the time. Sigh.