Shelli Stevens's Blog, page 19
February 5, 2011
Snippet Saturday ~ Winter Wonderland
Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is Winter Wonderland. Feel free to read my excerpt and then hop around to the other blogs listed below!
When her roommate, needing a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, bribes her out of the house with use of an isolated cabin, Nikki reluctantly agrees. She didn't realize the cabin came fully equipped with an uptight, yet incredibly sexy, man.
Chase is looking forward to a quiet weekend alone at his cabin. When he tackles someone who he believes to be an intruder, he's surprised to find the unusual and sensual woman was given a key to his place.
Stuck together during a snowstorm, the heat from the fire isn't the only thing heating up the cabin.
EXCERPT
"Let's go build a snowman." Nikki set down her cards, feeling
restless and a bit playful.
They'd had a lazy afternoon. Hanging out in their pajamas, playing
cards and watching random movies on television. But the itch to get
outdoors was hitting hard.
"Build a snowman?" His brow rose with obvious skepticism.
Nikki climbed off the fur rug they were sitting on and stood up.
"Come on. It would be fun."
He stood up, too, scratching the back of his head. "Do you have
some clothes? Something that covers your legs?"
"I've got some jeans. Hang on, let me get dressed." She turned and
went into the bedroom, grabbing her pants and pulling them on.
Chase followed her into the room and threw on his own clothes as
well.
Ten minutes later they were outside walking around the yard.
"This is great." Nikki leaned down, grabbed a handful of snow—
yelping at the cold on her bare hands.
"Snowman?" He formed his own ball by rolling it in the snow until
it was triple its original size.
Wow, he was really getting into this. She grinned and followed
suit. Before long they had a full‐fledged snowman.
"Looks good." She grinned and, on impulse, chucked the lump of
snow in her hand at him.
Chase blinked, looking absolutely stunned. Then his laughter rang
through the trees as he charged her. She barely had time to yelp before
he'd tackled her into the soft snow.
Nikki laughed so hard her stomach ached. She tried to roll away
from him and get the upper hand, but he had one leg thrown across her
while he rubbed snow into her hair.
"You win!" She giggled and finally lay limp in the snow. "Okay.
Now I'm officially freezing."
"Yeah? Me, too." He climbed off her and held out his hand.
"Shower?"
She took his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. "Mmm. Sex in the
shower?"
His husky laugh sent a rush of warm heaviness between her thighs.
"I think that could be arranged."
Jody Wallace
Emma Petersen
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Eliza Gayle
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
February 4, 2011
Win a book
I'm the guest blogger at Cynthia Eden's blog today in her My Deadly Valentine contest. I'm keeping things Short And Sweet & giving away a book!
January 31, 2011
Crazy weekend
Well, if you follow me on Twitter you probably saw my excitement in the ER over the weekend. I used twitter to keep me company while I was checked out for facial numbness. Oye. So not fun, but so far the diagnosis is Bell's Palsy (but the whole face, which is rare!). Fortunately it doesn't seem to be a severe case, you can't really tell by looking at me, I just have numb patches and everything feels really tight. It's not fun :( Will be following up with a neurologist this week. That should give me more to blog about :) But I need to give my Twitter followers another big Thank You! for all the supportive tweets they made throughout my ER ordeal. I wanted to @ reply to everyone, but there were so many and I know I would've missed people.
Anyway, on a happier note, I've had two great reviews come in! Yay!! Both on a Holding out for a Hero book! Thanks to the reviewers for the fabulous reviews!
"Shelli Stevens sure knows how to create one gorgeous, virile and all protective guy in Sheriff Wyatt... Going Down is comedy and passion all rolled up into one fantastic story. Even Tyson's brother's are a hoot to read. Ms. Stevens definitely has a way with the storyline being fun and passionate yet showing us there's more to come. Loved it." BlackRaven's Reviews
"Firstly Shelli has on her blog I AM THE AUTHOR YOUR MOTHER WARNED YOU ABOUT, and that couldn't be more true, this isn't your mama's romance. It's sexy and sweet with just enough emotional tug of war you really aren't sure who's side you are on. That is until you are so absorbed in the story that you just can't put it down!" Book Junkie
January 29, 2011
Snippet Saturday ~ Fight
Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is 'fight'. Read my excerpt and then hop on over to the ones listed 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.
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EXCERPT
"How can you not trust me? Jesus, Gab, you know me inside and out. I considered you my best
friend—"
"That's just it," she said quietly and closed her eyes briefly. She hadn't wanted to go here with him.
Hadn't wanted to have to admit it. "I do know you, Justin. I know you entirely too well."
"Please don't tell me you're going to give me some crap line about how sleeping with me would be
like sleeping with your brother?"
"No!" She laughed and some of the tension left her body at his ridiculous question. "I wouldn't have
been all over you like white on rice a minute ago if I remotely had that brother vibe while kissing you."
A smug smile flitted across his face before he straightened it and cleared his throat.
"Okay, so what's the problem? Why don't you trust me?"
"Because I know how you are with women." She turned away and walked back into the kitchen.
There was no way she would let him see the vulnerability she knew would be naked on her face. It was an
effort to keep her words light. "You sleep with a woman for a few weeks…maybe even a month or two,
and then it's over. You move on."
"Gabby…"
"I don't want to be one of those women, Justin. I won't."
There was no response right away. Was he mad? Disappointed? She stared out the small window in
the kitchen and drew her bottom lip between her teeth.
"I don't know why you're casting stones from a glass house," he finally said. "In the two years we
lived together, you never once had a long-term relationship."
"Maybe not," she admitted. "But there were a helluva lot more women passing through the house than
men, Justin."
"Not that many more."
She turned, startled at the sudden tightness in his words. When she looked at him again, his
expression had turned surly and his hands were shoved into his pockets.
"What, did you keep track or something?"
He didn't reply, which sent a wave of butterflies through her stomach. He wouldn't have kept tabs on
the men she'd dated, would he? By all appearances, he'd barely noticed when she did date different guys.
"We're more alike than you think. I don't see how it could hurt to just see where this thing between us
goes."
Why did he keep pressing? Her pulse sped up and she ran her tongue over her lips. No way. It was
simply too crazy to contemplate.
Twice now Justin had touched her in a way that went beyond platonic. That was two times she'd
gotten swept away on a rush of desire, but more so, had felt the tugging at her heart. Of wanting to let
someone in. Lord, he already had one foot into the door of her heart, having been her best friend.
But Justin was not a man she could fall in love with. She just couldn't. It wouldn't end right at all.
The best-case scenario, she'd end up with a broken heart. The worst case…she'd end up like her mother.
Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
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Eliza Gayle
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
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Sasha White
January 22, 2011
Snippet Saturday ~ Bad Mood
Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is 'bad mood'. And I had a lot of fun with this excerpt. Feel free to check it out and then hop to the other blogs playing today!
Nika has trained her body into a deadly weapon—the better to take what she wants from any world, especially the well-protected planet Belton. But the moment she sees Lt. Brendon Marshall, her weapon is turned against her. A man like him could incinerate a woman's priorities with one look. And since he's guarding the very object of her desire, it could be so simple to use him and never look back. As long as she can ignore a more intense pleasure than she's ever known—and a wilder need than she's ever imagined…
WARNING! This is a REALLY HOT book!
EXCERPT
Brendon downed half his glass of aliaberry wine in one swallow and then slammed the glass back on the table.
What an absolute crap night. His mouth tightened and he glanced around the restaurant for Emmett. And where the hell was his friend?
Gods, he should've gone with his first instinct and just returned to his bedding chamber and jerked off.
Even now his cock throbbed with the second denial from Nika. Or was it Rebecca? Who the hell knew at this rate? What he did know was that the little minx had his emotions twisted up into the worst damn knot. And his cock suffered a much harsher fate.
He should not want anything to do with her after what she'd pulled on him. Twice now! And yet he couldn't get her out of his mind. Couldn't forget the image of the blue-green eyes narrowed in passion. Or anger. No matter how she looked at him, it twisted him all up inside.
Damn. A woman had never affected him like this. Where had he gone so wrong this time? He lifted his glass of wine again and took a smaller sip this time.
"Brendon, my friend," a voice boomed out. "How are you this fine evening?"
He lowered his glass, peering over the rim in dismay as Emmett approached the table positively beaming. What the hell? The man never beamed.
"How am I? I'm complete shit. And I'll not thank you for asking." Brendon narrowed his eyes. "Where have you been? And why do you look as though you've won the galactic lottery?"
"Hmm, perhaps I have, in a way." Emmett sat down at the table and poured himself a glass of wine from the pitcher. "I have been…about."
"About what?"
Emmett threw his head back and laughed. After a moment he calmed and said quietly, "Indulging in a bit of feminine pleasure, honestly."
"You fucking jest!" Brendon roared.
"No. Not at all."
And by the expanding grin on his friend's face, Brendon knew Emmett spoke the truth. How was it that the man who'd proclaimed to not need a woman could have one on a whim, whereas he, who'd never had trouble getting laid, could not even gain a paltry hand job from his newest interest.
"Gods, I do not believe this," he muttered and drained the rest of his wine. "I'm going to need another glass. Who is she?"
"She is none of your business," Emmett fired back and took a sip of wine. "A gentleman never kisses and tells."
Brendon scowled.
If he had been less of a gentleman, he could have been fucking Nika's sweet little pussy right now. He'd known he could have had her. Could have kissed her until her knees weakened again, and then taken her against the wall. Because he knew with every fiber of his being that she would have let him.
And yet he hadn't taken that step. Had instead walked away with a raging hard-on and a temper that could start a war.
Yes. Being a gentleman was quite overrated.
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Lauren Dane
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens
January 17, 2011
Remember why
If you're off of work/school today because of the holiday, please take a moment and reflect upon why.
Here's my favorite song, by my favorite band, with a message we can never forget.
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 12, 2011
Books, snow, all that fun stuff
Life has been busy around these parts! I've made a promise to finish a book by the end of the month for my agent, so I'll be going a bit underground. Not that I'm the best blogger as it is. Slap my hand and call me naughty. I've recently finished my first round of edits on Negligee Behavior, which comes out from Carina Press in the spring, and I am SO excited about that book! I hope you'll all love it as much as I do!
And on other exciting book news (well, maybe just exciting for me?) Going Down and Command and Control are both in the top 100 best sellers for contemporary romance books on Amazon! That just makes me giddy and bubbly to know so many people are reading (and hopefully enjoying?) the Holding out for a Hero series! Flash Point comes out in March, and it's already on pre-sale at Amazon!
So we're getting some snow around here tonight. It's supposed to turn to rain and be slush by morning, but for now I'm enjoying and have been keeping tabs via my Polly Pocket meter.
But now I should go to bed! I've become such a night owl lately! Happy hump day…it IS hump day technically, right? Well it soon will be if it isn't technically.
January 8, 2011
Snippet Saturday ~ Music
Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is Music. So hang around and check out my excerpt from Protecting Phoebe, and then hop on over to the other blogs listed below!
Phoebe's work at Second Chances, a women's shelter, has gone a long way toward her own healing after surviving an abusive relationship in college. She's moved on in every sense—except when it comes to dating.
Everything changes when Craig visits the shelter. The hot, young cop sets her pulse racing in a way that makes her consider making a move—and moving him into her bed for a casual fling. The first step: ask him out. Subtly, of course.
Craig has been attracted to Phoebe for months, so he's more than happy for the chance to get to know her better, in bed and out. His interest goes way beyond casual, but convincing her to think long term is going to take some time.
When it becomes clear her violent ex has come out of the woodwork, though, time is the one thing they don't have…
And here's my fun excerpt! Enjoy!
After five minutes of shimmying his Hyundai into the tiny parking spot, Craig climbed out and clicked on the alarm.
He smoothed his hands down the crisp designer shirt and wondered for the tenth time since he'd left
his house what the hell he was doing.
Jogging across the street when there was a break in traffic, he drew in a deep breath and shook his
head. The line outside The Retro had dwindled to only a few people.
The man who stood outside, checking IDs and taking money, glanced up and spotted Craig. His bored
expression morphed into a scowl of dismay.
"What the hell, you'd think they'd send someone else undercover this time. I promise, man, I'm not
letting any minors in."
Craig grinned and lifted his hands. "I'm off duty tonight. I swear."
The bouncer lifted an eyebrow and held out his hand. "ID and ten dollars."
Craig fished his wallet out of his jeans and drew out his license and the money.
The bouncer glanced down at the license and took the money. "Twenty-five? Hell, you're older than
you look." He handed back the ID. "Don't know why you're shitting in the same place you eat, bro, but go
on in."
"Thanks." Craig slipped the license back into his wallet and stepped through the doors of the bar.
The snap of the bass greeted him, driving the beat of the laidback seventies funk song the band
played.
He wove through the crowd, scanning the group of people for her. Though it was possible she hadn't
even come. She sure hadn't seemed all that excited when she'd told him of her plans tonight.
But she had told him. The blood rushed through his body, tightening his dick and making him draw in
an unsteady breath. Damn.
He'd been called out to the Second Chances office many times in the past few months. And each time
he'd noticed her.
Phoebe Jeffries. She was confident, friendly, and sexy as hell. And up until today, he hadn't let
himself think for one moment that she held even a spark of attraction toward him.
But today, when they'd been closed in her office together, discussing her past…
His fists clenched at his side and his jaw tightened. He'd never have imagined her having been an
abuse victim. She was too strong. Didn't put up with shit.
But maybe that's what happened to someone when they overcame that type of horror.
As if his internal sensor knew she was near, his gaze swung to a table in the corner of the bar.
Phoebe sat on the outside edge, nursing a beer between her palms and looking uncomfortable.
His blood pounded a little harder as his gaze ran over her. Damn.
Her black curls hung loose around her face, instead of being pulled back in a clip like she usually
wore it. And he hadn't thought it possible, but she was even sexier outside of work than she was in the
skirts she wore to the office.
He thought about the thigh she'd inadvertently flashed him earlier today, when she'd crossed her legs
during their conversation. They'd been so smooth and pale, and the sight of her soft-looking skin had
almost given him an erection on the spot.
There was no skirt on her tonight—her denim-clad legs under the table gave that fact away, but the
light blue blouse was cut low and he knew when he saw her up close it would be a near match to her eyes.
Her gaze lifted toward where he stood, almost as if she'd known he was there. He saw her eyes widen
and her mouth part slightly.
She leaned over to whisper something to Gabby. A second later, Phoebe slid out of the booth and
crossed the crowded floor toward him.
"Hi." Flipping a curl off her shoulder, she gave him a hesitant smile. "I'm surprised to see you here,
Officer. Are you working tonight?"
The light caught her face, her gaze sparkling up at him. He was right, her shirt was an almost-exact
match for her eyes. They were the prettiest blue.
"You can call me Craig. And, no, I'm off duty." He moved his gaze over her face before letting it
drop for just a moment to her cleavage. "You mentioned this place earlier and I thought I'd drop by."
He lifted his head again to watch her expression, wondering how she'd react to his blunt reply.
Though the fact that he'd shown up at all should be a clear sign of his interest in her.
She didn't look at all uncomfortable, if anything her smile grew.
"I'm glad. You should join us."
"You sure your friends are cool with that?"
Phoebe lifted an eyebrow. "Did you forget that part where Gabby practically threw me at you
earlier?"
He gave a soft laugh. "No, I didn't forget." Unable to stop himself, he reached out and wrapped one
glossy black curl around his finger. "Why do you think I really showed up tonight?"
Lissa Matthews
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Shelli Stevens
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December 31, 2010
2011 is gonna rock my socks
Today is New Year's Eve!! Or I'm sure, New Year's day in some parts of the world. Depending on where you're reading this. If you're reading this…
I'm never one to do anything too exciting on New Year's Eve, well, not since I became a mom (single one with few choices in sitters I trust). But I'll probably hang out with one of my good friends (11 years, baby!) and kidlet at the cabin. Have some wine, talk about 2010, make awesome, fabulous, some impossible, some out of my hands, goals for 2011. It would be awesome to have someone to kiss at midnight, but I don't think we'll be drinking THAT much wine. Maybe next year, when I ring in 2012, I'll be in Hawaii and find some nice cabana boy or something… or something…
I thought I'd be totally original this year and make it a goal to lose weight/get healthy for the New Year. Totally original, right? But seriously. I started gaining weight after jury duty last year, and have not stopped. Have not effing stopped! GAH! So that's my goal. To stop and throw this weight thing in reverse. Hold me to it! I want to fit in my clothes for RT in April (which, are you going? You totally should!).
I really am so excited for a New Year. New possibilities. I love the fresh start. Turning a new page…wistful sigh. So what are your goals? Do you make any?
Anyway… Happy New Year, please be safe, but have fun!
December 26, 2010
So happy!
I hope you all had a good holiday! I'm still recovering from all the food and presents (and family!). I also received a fabulous gift right on Christmas. My book hit #1 at Samhain's bookstore! So thank you to all who've bought it, I was so excited. Still am! I hope you're enjoying it or enjoyed it. Or if you haven't read it, enjoy it when you get to it!
I've also received some great reviews lately, which is really exciting as well since those don't come as often! Thanks to the review sites and bloggers and anyone who's taken the time to write a review for my book! Deeply appreciated :)
"An emotional story of love and acceptance." PNR
"Sexy, broody, tortured to the max and a possessive streak a mile wide when it comes to Megan, Trevor just makes my heart go thud, thud and my knees all wobbly with his mere presence." Maldivian Book Reviewer
Now I'm off to enjoy an overnight to finish up this book (editing wise) I've been promising to send my agent. See ya all on Tuesday! Have a great week!
