Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Welcome Julia!




Today I’m thrilled to share with you Julia Rachel Barrett’s newest release Pushing Her Boundaries, which released Feb 21st with Siren Publishing. I’m excited to read this book because it’s based on true accounts of a canoe trip she and her husband took – dubbed the canoe trip from hell.


Julia is not only a talented writer, but a beautiful person on the inside and out. So please take a moment to read her blurb and excerpt. Oh and of course I think you should buy the book! *hint* *hint*
I have a copy and when I finally finish these edits I'm treating myself to this story.


Blurb:


Maggie Anderson is done with men. Flying to Minneapolis, she’s seated beside the type of man she always falls for, a sexy, arrogant alpha jerk. Mace Williams irritates the woman next to him. She's so damn sexy, he doesn't care. When their seatmate suffers a cardiac arrest, Maggie and Mace team up to save his life, but it's too late.
Once in Minneapolis, Maggie heads to a restaurant with her sister, only to find Mace waiting. Worse, she learns he'll soon be her brother-in-law.
Stuck in her sister’s apartment with Mace, Maggie offers him one night of sex, anything goes, no obligations, no recriminations. Mace agrees... he wants more than Maggie's body, he wants her heart.
Thrown into a disastrous canoe trip, they must work together to survive. Maggie must face her demons and trust Mace with her life. Mace is determined to save her, regardless of what the future brings.

Excerpt:

The server arrived with their drinks. Mace noticed that by the time they’d finished talking to the young woman about the chef’s tasting menu and ordering it, Maggie had finished half of her dirty martini. When the server brought their first course, she ordered another. Is it me, or do all social gatherings make her uncomfortable?

Mace couldn’t help grinning. After she’d downed her second martini and had finished two glasses of the sauvignon blanc, Maggie unreservedly grinned right back.
“Oh my god, this curry noodle dish with short ribs is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” She reached over with her chopsticks and took a small piece of beef from Mace’s plate. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not in the least. Anything else you’d like to share?” Looking across the table, he spotted one remaining lobster dumpling on the dim sum platter. He reached for it, picking it up with his thumb and forefinger. “Close your eyes and open your mouth.”

She did so without protest.

Damn, this woman has the nicest white teeth and the prettiest pink tongue I’ve ever seen.
He set the dumpling onto her tongue, and, to his surprise, Maggie closed her mouth around his finger and thumb, delicately sucking the dumpling into her warm, wet mouth.
So much for getting through the rest of the evening sans erection.

Mace stole a glance at his brother Jeff. He and Lynn seemed engrossed in conversation and oblivious to the tableau playing out three feet from them. He wondered if Maggie meant to do that or if it was the alcohol talking. She didn’t seem like the type to drink very often. She was a charming woman when she dropped her guard. He wondered who or what had caused her to raise it in the first place.

By the time dessert and coffee arrived, Maggie seemed very relaxed. She propped an elbow on the table and rested her head on her hand, giving him a nice view down the bodice of her dress. He tried his best to keep his eyes focused on her face, but every time she leaned over, Mace couldn’t seem to stop them from drifting downward. He was very glad she hadn’t worn a bra. Thank god there was still light from the setting sun, enough to allow him to discern just a hint of the rosy rings of delicate skin surrounding those perpetually erect nipples.

Forget the chef’s tasting menu, I’d rather taste her. Instead, he licked his tiny spoon of frozen strawberry crème fraîche. He watched Maggie’s eyes follow his tongue with interest. Turnabout is fair play. He offered her a taste. She shook her head, but she continued to stare at his mouth with what appeared to be fascination. Either that or I have some food stuck to my face. He licked at the cold confection again, testing the waters. As Mace watched, her eyelids seemed to grow heavy, sliding down to cover those pretty hazel eyes. When she opened them again, he could tell that she was turned on—not by the frozen confection, but by the movement of his tongue, not that she’d ever admit it. Clearly, if he was going to get where he wanted to go with Maggie, Mace would have to push her boundaries. The alcohol may have lowered her resistance for a few hours, but by tomorrow morning, he knew the fences she surrounded herself with would be mended and sturdy. Well, you can usually find an opening if you search long enough.

12 comments:

  1. Julia, I still chuckle every time I think about the Canoe Trip From Hell blog! You are quite the memorable author and I can't wait to read this:)

    Loved the excerpt!

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  2. Congrats on your newest release, Julia!! I know it will be as awesome as your other wonderful books. :)

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  3. Hi Amber! Hi Julia! I just read this book and I loved it! It's a great story. (Amber, aren't you a member of the New England Chapter? or am I going crazy?)

    My review for the book is up on my blog! Sexy story, very suspenseful plot.

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  4. Julia, you write the most luscious descriptions of food!
    Congratulations on another great book!
    XXOO Kat

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  5. Congrats, Julia! Sounds like a sizzler.

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  6. Thank you, Amber. Tweeting you! You are such a sweet writing sister!

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  7. sounds like yet ANOTHER fabulous book, Julia! Can't wait to read it!

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  8. Ah, I love Mace. This is gonna be fun.

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  9. Congrats on the new release Julia. I love the premise of this story. Here's wishing you many happy sales!

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  10. Sounds great! Can't wait to read it. I also want to find the blog about the trip from hell. I had a camping trip from hell, so I am sure that I can relate.

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