Tuesday, July 30, 2013

A Much Needed Break

I’ve missed so many blog posts I can’t count. Today I’m hanging up my hat and admitting I’m done blogging for a bit. I’m going to take time away from my writing career.
My real life has been intense and I’ve been interviewing for a new job. There are a lot of changes going on in my life. Writing has taken the back burner. I have no desire to write at this time.
I’ll be around to support my fellow writer friends and occasionally you’ll find me on the loops.
I’m always on Facebook and sometimes twitter.
You'll also see guests here, so check back.

Thanks so much for all the support you’ve given me over the years. It has meant everything to me. It’s not good-bye; just I’ll see you soon. :o)

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Celebrating!

My baby girl turns 2 today!

Friday, July 26, 2013

Special Guest - Em Petrova



Five Things to Say in Bed
By Em Petrova

When writing erotic romance, I often search for new ways to excite the characters as well as my readers. I thought you might enjoy this information! Here are some things he’d like to hear in the sack.

His name: Let your man know you’re not fantasizing about David Beckham (even though you might be) by saying his name. Punctuate it with a few “ooohs” and moans. It’s a good way to ease into dirty talk, which will light his fires!

Fantasies: What’s said between the sheets stays between the sheets, right? So let loose! Maybe you dream about having sex in a new place such as the kitchen or the backseat of the SUV when the kids are at the sitter’s. Maybe you’d love to introduce toys or a third partner. Talk about your fantasies during foreplay and see if some of them don’t come true!

Action: Tell him what he’s doing makes you…[insert dirty line]. For instance, “Oh, Brady, your fingers there are making me so hot.” If swearing isn’t your style, try some romance novel words like “pulse, swell, or throb”. The characters in my erotic romances don’t hesitate to vocalize this way—and it’s especially fun when I have a heroine who has less inhibitions than the hero. Just think what might happen if tell your lover how he makes you feel!

Encouragement: Everyone wants praise, whether it’s your puppy who finally didn’t mess on the floor or your kindergartener who’s learned to read. Your mate is no different. He needs those positive strokes too. For you erotic romance readers, you know the hero’s praise ratchets up the heroine’s desire. And the heroine’s praise makes the hero feel needed and loved. Take a cue from some of those characters and offer encouragement between the sheets and see if he doesn’t work harder to please you!

Dirty Phrases: Simple phrases like:
“oooh, harder”
“Right there”
“Don’t stop”
Go a long way in the bedroom (or office cubicle or restaurant restroom!). Don’t skimp, but overuse these phrases and you’ll sound like you’re making an amateur adult movie!

Make it fun by vocalizing! I’ll leave you with a passage from my latest Loose Id release SLICK RIDER.

Blurb:
Physical therapy assistant Lilly’s job is to keep rodeo star Juss Rossie off his injured leg and from using his bad shoulder to rope more buckle bunnies. Trouble is she wants—just for once in her life—to be one of those rodeo gals who gets the cowboy. Pushing him to the limits of his therapy will take some creative maneuvering, and she finds he responds in the yummiest ways.

Juss hates like hell to be laid up with injuries and off the back of a bull. But being at the mercy of therapist Lilly is torture—especially when she gets in the pool, on the mat, or crawls into bed with him. Can he recover from her mind-blowing advances without losing his heart?

EXCERPT:

The bell for room four pealed for the third time in a quarter of an hour. Lilly Hall whirled around and glared at the light flashing over the door. The normally quiet alarm sounded like a gong in her head.
“Bed four needs something, Lilly. Don’t keep your patient waiting,” her fellow physical therapist assistant Katie said with a grin. Short-staffed as always during late summer. Everyone went on vacation and left the physical therapists to answer call lights.
“He needs something all right.” A kick in the chaps—bound and gagged. The insufferable cowboy was driving Lilly’s patience to the brink. If she heard his country drawl one more time, she was going to do something very bad. Like hog-tie him with a resistance band.
Juss Rossie, star of the rodeo circuit, was injured and on her turf. He was everything Lilly had dreamed he’d be—his game was smoother than aged whiskey and every hard inch of his body spoke of the power and control he exerted over the bulls he rode.
Now he was confined to a sling and a splint after taking a fall from Bushwhacker, one of the meanest, ugliest bulls on the Professional Bull Riders Tour. Juss had ridden it for seven seconds before he was flung off laterally, tearing his knee and dislocating his shoulder and popping several ligaments. They’d brought him in gritting his teeth in pain, refusing to take any pain meds. The first thing Lilly had done was help hold him down while a nurse administered a big fat shot to his tanned butt cheek.
Yes, he was wonderfully tanned—all the way to his toes.
And horribly infuriating.
The light over his door kept flashing. Having a long shift with a frustrating patient made Lilly grind her teeth and remind herself why she loved physical therapy. For two more weeks she was stuck with him in this private rehab center. Unfortunately, Juss Rossie had assigned himself to her every waking moment of those two weeks. Money could do that.
If she was being honest with herself, she’d admit she was like a cat in heat for the panty-drenchingly-sexy cowboy. How many times had she watched him on the Jumbotron being jerked all over the place and wished she could mount a man with that much skill?
As a physical therapist’s assistant, she often traveled to the arena with Doctor Paddington, who personally saw to several of the riders. She’d never seen Juss up close and personal before though. She would have remembered those steely biceps, corded forearms, hard chest…and the hat he would have worn dipped low over those smoldering black eyes that went with a blacker reputation.
They called him Slick Rider because he’d started out riding broncos, and it was rumored he liked to ride bareback. Actually, his reputation was that he preferred everything bare.
A tingle ignited between Lilly’s thighs. She contained the urge to squeeze them together. Getting hot and bothered at work was a pitfall of hanging around so much muscled flesh. An almost constant parade of rodeo riders visited this private center.
Lilly hadn’t ever dated a cowboy, but it was on her bucket list. Still, not one of the cowboys who had visited the center had ever lit a spark in her. She’d spent half of last night dreaming about being with Juss—bent over, pinned beneath him, and riding him.
The last image had finally awakened her, and she’d had to finger herself to get relief. Taking control of a powerful man like Juss was a dream she’d never forget. But the reality paled in comparison to her fantasies.
“Lilly,” Katie warned when Lilly continued to ignore the flashing light.
“Jeez— All right!” She burst through the door of room four.
He lay there like a tanned god. Long, sooty lashes framed gorgeous chocolate-colored eyes that melted every woman in his vicinity. He always wore a goatee, but since coming here he’d trimmed it extra short. Probably because he’d injured the shoulder of his dominant hand—his left—and was forced to use his right.
Her heart squeezed at the sight of his lazy smile. “Glad to know my money is employing the most attentive staff available,” he drawled.
Insufferable man. Fucking gorgeous, yes. But insufferable.
A crease lived between his dark brows, and his mouth was drawn.
But those eyes—there’s something deeper there than he lets on.
She leaned against the door and stared at him. “How’s your pain level on a scale of one to ten, according to that chart?” She gestured toward a mint-green paper taped to the wall, sporting ten faces in various stages of distress.
“Ten,” he said, his eyes unwavering.
“Is that so? I’m sorry to hear it. One would think a big strong cowboy who gets hurled off the backs of two-thousand-pound beasts could handle a little postsurgical pain. Ah, no matter.” She came forward, withdrawing a pen from her pocket but concealing it in her palm.
He waved her away. “Get out of here with that syringe. Damn, girl, you’re a wildcat.”
“Let me show you my claws.” She grinned and uncapped the pen with her teeth.
Realization sparked in his eyes. He leveled his gaze at her. “You gonna try to pump me full of ink for my pain? Try it and you’ll be sorry, Whiskey.”
She jerked to a stop. Confusion settled in her mind, but warmth tightened her belly. He had a nickname for her?

Thanks for reading, and a big thanks to Amber Skyze for hosting me!

Em Petrova
~where words mean so much more~



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Winner Announcement

I used Random.org to pick a winner and the winner of this hop is:

I think my favorite is night time campfires with the entire family. heather1974 at gmail dot com Thanks!

I'll send an email. If the prize is not claimed in 10 days I'll pick another winner.

Thanks to everyone to dropped in and participated!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Hop




Welcome to the Summer Romance Giveaway Hop.

Summer is my favorite time of the year. You'll find a bunch of my stories take place on the beach or a pool is involved. I can't help it. That's where I love to spend all my free time. :o)
In honor of this summer hop...I'm giving away a copy of my ebook Sex on the Beach. It's a perfect summertime read. Or anytime. *wink* *wink*


You only need to tell me what you love about summer to be entered for a chance to win. And Please be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win my prize or the grand prize.
Grand Prizes - We have two grand prizes. #1 is a Kindle Fire. #2 is a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.

Don't miss out on the others in this hop...just follow the link.







Guest Blog - Shelley Munro



It’s A Goal: The Lure of Sports Romances
New Zealand is a land of sports lovers, and I number amongst them. At this time of the year (our winter) the rugby and netball seasons are in full swing and most weekends I watch the games on television.
Add sports to romance, and I’m in heaven. There’s something about a sports hero that really grabs my interest. I like sports romances because:
1. The sports heroes have very fine physiques, the result of some serious training.
2. The dedication and sacrifices they make to play their chosen sport is inspiring.
3. The heroes have money and fame, which makes them interesting.
4. They’re public figures and under intense scrutiny, and this adds to their conflict.
5. The heroes might find it easy to get women, but when the right woman comes along that’s when they have problems and the excitement begins.
6. The sport adds to the conflict with injuries, loss of form and competition to make the starting team.
7. The book covers are usually hot.
8. They often come in series because lots of sports are team events. A series of sports romances—what’s not to like?
Although I started off as a reader of sports romances—I blame Susan Elizabeth Phillips and my New Zealand roots—it didn’t take me long to try my hand at writing them too.

Playing to Win features a rugby hero and has a suspense element to the story. 


Issy’s Infatuation features a female rugby player and a male rugby coach. 


Eye on the Ball is a gay romance and features a rugby player and a coach from an opposition team. 


Wanna Do Bad Things With You is also a gay romance and features two rugby players. 

The Bottom Line features a rugby playing hero, although rugby isn’t a huge part of the story. 



As a writer I try to give my books just enough sports flavor to grab the sports enthusiast, yet not too much that I’ll bore those people who aren’t familiar with rugby. It’s a delicate balance, and hopefully I’ve managed to get it right. It’s certainly a joy writing about the sports I enjoy and to showcase New Zealand as well.
CONTEST: Answer this question and complete the rafflecopter to go into a draw to win an Amazon Gift Certificate (2 x winners). Do you enjoy sports romances and why or why not?
~ * ~



Playing to Win
Professional rugby player, Lane Gerrard is used to women throwing themselves at him, but a scurrilous tabloid article naming him as father of a child sends his temper soaring. The woman he confronts doesn’t fit the blackmailer profile. Kate Alexander is attractive with an enchanting innocence, enticing. A total stranger. Her feistiness draws his unwilling admiration, but the child…he is the image of Lane.
Kate can’t deny her son’s similarity to the sexy man at her door but no way will she hand him over without a fight. Kate doesn’t possess money but she can shower her son with love. With public speculation rife, Kate reluctantly works with Lane to discover the truth. They grow closer as distrust slowly turns to mutual fascination, but the tabloid articles bring out a stalker. Mild pranks escalate into danger, and suddenly Lane realizes Kate is a woman he could love. With Kate and her son, he could have a family. Now, with his heart on the line, this is one game he’s playing to win…
Purchase links:
~ * ~
Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.
Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her very own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com.




Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Crazy Times

Life has been insane. Not in a good way. I’m busy, busy, busy. Hubby had a phone screening yesterday for a new job. He goes in for the face to face next week. The job is a great opportunity for him. It means a nice raise and better opportunity for growth.
The downfall? It’s near Salem, MA. The drive would be crazy for him. It would mean moving to MA, somewhere between here and Salem. I have nothing against moving to MA, except it’s still in the Northeast. Before this job came to light we’d been talking about moving to Florida or Texas. We both are tired of long cold winters and most who know me, know I’m a summer, hot weather person.
I’m watching my dreams of moving someone warmer fly out the window. I’d never dream about him not taking it if offered. No one deserves this more than him. He’s paid his dues with his company. This is the obvious next step for him. I WANT him to get the job.

I just wish it was somewhere closer or down south. LOL Oh well…those are the things we do for the ones we love. The good thing is my job can be done from anywhere, both the day job and my writing! 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Scavenger Hunt Giveaway



I'm taking part in the Summer Scavenger Hunt Giveaway. I'll be giving away a copy of Operation: Second Honeymoon. There will be a ton of great prizes, including the grand prize - a Kindle.

Stop by for the fun and a chance to win. http://scavengerhunts.vpweb.com/Event.html

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Where is Amber Today?

Today is New Release Day for me...

I have an interview over at Author Anne Lange's place...
http://authorannelange.com/2013/07/09/operation-seco…by-amber-skyze/

I'm visiting Shelley Munro






Buy Here

Blurb:

On the verge of their tenth anniversary, Cole is planning a surprise gift aboard a boat for his wife Avery. Bathing suits are optional - preferably left behind. The only other thing they need to make this weekend perfect? Owen their next door neighbor.

Out on the open sea, Avery will find herself tied to the rails being tortured in the sweetest ways imaginable. The men take her to delicious heights, only to leave her hanging - if only momentarily. When she demands an orgasm she oversteps the boundaries Cole and Owen have but in place. The two men spank her back into submission. There's nothing like red cheeks to ignite the flames of desire in Cole.

After a tremulous six months of clawing their way back together, Avery is ready to accept the help she needs to fix the marriage her husband has fought so hard to save. Will a weekend of hot, sweaty sex be enough to rescue them?

Excerpt:
“You okay in there, honey?”
The knock on the bathroom door startled her.
Damn you, Cole. Why couldn’t you stay outside a few more minutes?
“Just fine. I’m getting changed.”
“With the door locked? Since when do you lock the door, or shut it, for that matter.”
“Sorry, honey.” She hid the vibe in the striped towel and unlocked the bathroom door. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
She avoided looking him in the eyes. Avery knew she was a terrible liar.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You seem a bit jumpy today.”
She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
“I’m just fine. How was your day?” Did you go have a quickie with your friend Lynne? As tempted as she was to ask the question aloud, she refrained.
“Not as good as yours obviously. I didn’t have time to play around in the pool.”
“Oh that. That was nothing.” She brushed it off with a swat of her hand. “I really need to get dressed and back to work.”
Avery turned around to find her clothes. As she bent to put her underwear on, Cole came up behind her and rubbed his fingers across her pussy.
“Well, well, well. If my wife isn’t drenched. Did someone come?”
Avery held her breath and tried to think of a good reason for being wet. There wasn’t one.
“I needed a quick orgasm to relieve some job-related stress. I used my finger vibrator for a speedy result.”
“Really? And you knew I was home. I could’ve given that clitty a good tongue licking. What’s up with that?”
“Honey, you know I’d give anything for you to lick my pussy, but I’m superbusy. One swipe of the tongue leads to a bunch of other things that I just don’t have time for.”
“Like a blowjob for me?”
“Exactly. I only needed to relieve some stress, but if you’re going to make a big deal out of this, my quickie will be wasted.” She pretended to be angry. She wanted to get dressed and head back downstairs to the safety of her desk. She didn’t want Cole to know her pulse raced, and she didn’t want to spill the beans about the e-mail she’d read. If she gave it away without proof, he’d deny it. She needed time to collect her thoughts. Instead of devising a plan of attack, she’d planned a seduction. Only she never had time to ask Owen the magic question.
The quick orgasm was exactly what she’d needed to ease the ache in her pussy. Now, as her breathing returned to normal, she had to get dressed.
“Are you sure your relief is only stress-related?”
She stopped breathing. What was Cole suggesting?
“Of course it’s stress-related. Why else would I do it alone?”
“Exactly what I wanted to know.”
He moved closer, and Avery felt his warm breath on her neck. His cock pressed against her skin. Shit, he was rock hard and ready for sex. She didn’t have time right now. She should be working, not standing her in her bathroom naked and about to be taken by her husband. A husband she suspected was cheating on her.
“Cole, I’m confused by what you’re asking.” She feigned innocence. If he was saying what she thought, this conversation could get ugly.
“Avery, you know exactly what I mean. This,” he said while gliding his finger over the folds of her pussy, “this isn’t from being stressed by your job. This is from being so close to Owen. Would you like to fuck him?”
“What? Absolutely not. Why would you ask me something like that? You know I’d never cheat.” Unlike you.
Avery’s chest rose and fell as her heart raced. She didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking.
“I’m not suggesting cheating. I’m suggesting a threesome.”

Thursday, July 4, 2013

July 4th

Happy Independence Day!


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Interview with Helena Harker

Please welcome Ellora's Cave author Helena Harker!





When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?
I write whenever my children give me the chance to write. So when they are in bed, or when they are watching TV, I am sitting at the computer, typing away! I try to aim for 1,000 words a day, but I often don’t meet that.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Absolutely. Every writer needs critique partners. My crit partners offer me valuable insights about little things that escaped my attention. Without them, my writing wouldn’t be as polished as it is.

Who are your books published with?
Mostly with Ellora’s Cave.

What do you think makes a good story?
Characters the reader cares about and a plot with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending.
Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?
Yes. I write erotica, so I don’t want people to know about it. “Helena” is close to my real name. “Harker” was suggested by a close friend. I liked the alliteration, so I went for it!


As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A novelist. I’ve never wanted to be anything else. I’m glad I’ve managed to get published, and it would be fantastic if I could quit my day job someday.

What are your favorite TV shows?
Game of Thrones (I watched all 3 seasons in 3 weeks), Dexter and True Blood. I am quite obsessed with all three. Other than that, my TV is pretty much always on the Disney Channel, because that’s what the kids watch.
What is your favorite meal?
Anything with the word “chocolate” in it.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Sometimes I go out and buy margarita mix. Then I kick back and relax while watching TV.

What would we find under your bed?
Lots and lots of dust bunnies! If I have to choose between writing and housework, well, writing ALWAYS wins out!

Bio:
Helena Harker is a teacher by day, writer by night, a daydreamer who loves to escape to other worlds. Her fiction is populated by strong men, passionate women and lots of steampunk inventions. In her free time she enjoys photography and curling up with a good book.

Blurb:
Camilla is a sexual blackmailer. After a betrayal from her fiancé, she spends her days exacting revenge against men who are unfaithful. Armed with an iron resolve, her Panoptoscope and a handbag filled with instruments of castigation, she becomes a formidable adversary. Her quest for revenge has hardened her heart, but a small part of her still thirsts for passion and the heat of a man’s touch.
Hephaestus is a skilled metallurgist who hammers iron into any shape his imagination desires. When Camilla walks into his forge asking him to repair a pendant, flames of passion ignite between them. After Camilla receives letters that threaten to expose her, she seeks his protection as well as his love. However, in order to melt her heart, Hephaestus must resort to extreme measures to make her see that pardon, not punishment, is needed for love to grow.

Excerpt:
Hunting men is a most lucrative occupation, one I enjoy with an ardent passion. As I wait for Lord Aldridge to exit his tent, I silently curse him for choosing to pitch his camp in this godforsaken bog. Although we are barely an hour outside London, it seems I have been transported to the jungles of Borneo. The dank, moist air wreaks havoc with my curls, my riding boots slip through the mud and my walking skirt reeks of rotting leaves and mallard droppings.
Silent, shielded by darkness, I rest my body against the trunk of a tree that leans precariously over the pond and adjust the lens of the Panoptoscope against my eye. Motionless against the elm’s rough bark, I blend into my environment. Although my hiding place is barely ten yards away from Aldridge’s simple canvas tent, he will never see me.
I aim the ‘Scope at my quarry and peer through the lens. How magical. My newest, truly ingenious modification far exceeds my expectations. My contraption allows me to see in the dark, and for a few moments I imagine myself to be a panther lurking in the undergrowth, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush my prey.
The leafless trees appear in various shades of gray, their limbs hanging low, resembling eerie fingers that reach for the tent. Lantern light glows inside, and shadowy figures stir within the canvas walls. Lord Aldridge has brought company. It is not unexpected. After all, Aldridge has many suitors.
All of whom are male.
Come out, Aldridge. Your judgment awaits. Often, I choose to confront men and punish them for their sins. It is a good thing that I do, for who else would pass judgment over them and sentence them for their transgressions? Surely not another man. No, it is a woman’s duty to judge men and determine whether they should be condemned for their actions.
Shadows shift. I catch sight of an arm, a knee, a head. An embrace? I believe so.
Does Aldridge’s wife know about his philandering? How can she not? After tracking his whereabouts for weeks, I know how little time he spends at home. How does she cope with his betrayal? When a man promises to stand by the woman he loves till death do them part, he should be forever bound by that promise or be prepared to suffer the consequences.
Camilla Covington’s consequences.






Monday, July 1, 2013

Welcome Melanie Shawn




Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
The Unconventional Writing Process of the Sister-Duo Writing Team That Make Up Melanie Shawn
I know. The idea of a “writing team” doesn't seem to make much sense at first blush. After all, everyone always talks about what a solitary pursuit writing is. In fact, after the old, “If you want to be a writer, then write,” trope, the solitary existence of a writer is probably the most oft-referenced part of the writing life.
So what made us decide to tackle this traditionally solitary pursuit in tandem?
Well, much like Aretha and Annie in that catchy 80s anthem from the title, it sprang from a decision to take our future into our own hands. We wanted to define what our lives would look like moving forward, and we knew that – no matter what – we wanted to approach it together. When we took a look at our strength and talents, we realized that we'd actually been “writing together” as part of the business we own for quite some time – articles, proposals, emails...and blog posts, much like this one!
Once we realized that we already had a natural writing rhythm together, it was a short leap to deciding that we wanted to tackle fiction writing together, as well.
We have always passionately loved stories. We saw Good Will Hunting together 14 times, for Heaven's sake...and that was just in the theater! We love to examine the motivations behind various characters' words and actions. We can discuss one scene in a book or movie for hours on end.
It wasn't a difficult transition, then, for us to move on to creating our OWN worlds, along with the people who live in them.
Many people wonder what the process of “writing together” looks like. Do we actually open up a blank document together and craft every sentence collaboratively, while sitting there side by side?
Good GOD, No! Not only would that be far too slow, it would probably be pretty frustrating, as well.
Rather, we do the work in “passes” - Shawna takes a pass, Melanie takes a pass, Shawna takes another pass, and so on. With each subsequent pass at the manuscript, the plot becomes tightened and the language more refined. By the final pass, we both love it!
Writing collaboratively is great for us because we both bring strengths to the table. For instance, Shawna is the “romantic gesture” nut and thinks of all the beautiful and highly romantic scenarios in the books. Pretty much anything in any of the stories that has made you go, “Awwww....I love it!” came straight from Shawna's brain!
Melanie, on the other hand, is the “word nerd” and comes up with the lion's share of the descriptions, metaphors, similes...all of the linguistic ornamentation that makes the book sparkle. Also, she's the sarcastic and sassy one, so the majority of the quips and jokes come from her snarky sensibilities.
By working together, we wind up with an end product that is far better than anything either of us could have produced on her own – and we have a HELL of a lot of fun getting there!
Writing as part of a team may not be for everybody. But it is definitely for us!

Bio:


Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Originally from Northern California, they both migrated south and now call So Cal their home.

Growing up, Melanie constantly had her head in a book and was always working on short stories, manuscripts, plays and poetry. After graduating magna cum laude from Pepperdine University, she went on to teach grades 2nd through 8th for five years. She now spends her days writing and taking care of her furry baby, a Lhasa Apso named Hercules. In her free time, her favorite activity is to curl up on the couch with that stubborn, funny mutt and binge-watch cable TV shows on DVD (preferably of at least eight seasons in length - a girl's gotta have her standards!).

Shawna always loved romance in any form - movie, song or literary. If it was a love story with a happy ending, Shawna was all about it! She proudly acknowledges that she is a romanceaholic. Her days are jam-packed with writing, being a wife, mom aka referee of two teens, and indulging in her second passion (dance!) as a Zumba instructor.  In the little free time she has, she joins Melanie in marathon-watching DVDs of their favorite TV programs.

They have joined forces to create a world where True Love and Happily Ever After always has a Sexy Twist!



Book Description:

Jason Sloan is known as Harper’s Crossing’s resident Romeo, and he’s never had to work too hard to live up to that nickname. With his easygoing charm, whiskey-colored brown eyes, and sinfully sexy half smile, women just seem to fall all over themselves when he’s around.

Well...most women, anyway. Katie Lawson’s the one woman who isn't putty in his hands, and she's the only one he’s ever wanted in his arms.

Katie Lawson left Harper's Crossing in the middle of the night ten years ago, immediately after her high school boyfriend Nick's funeral. She left behind all memories of Nick, and she left behind her life-long best friend, Jason Sloan.

Now she's on the fast track to junior partner at one of San Francisco's top law firms. She's made a life for herself that's all about maintaining order and sticking to the rules. Rule #1 is keeping herself WAY too busy to think about all that she ran away from. If she can do that, after all, she can keep everything under control.

But that rule is about to be broken. She’s headed back home to be the maid of honor in Nick’s little sister’s wedding. It's time to face the truth she's been avoiding all these years, the same one that sent her running ten years ago - that maybe she didn't lose her first love the summer after high school. Maybe her first love has been waiting for her all this time, at home in Harper's Crossing.




Excerpt:

Katie opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She snapped it shut. She tried again. Same result. She imagined she looked like a trout on the banks of a river, flapping her mouth open and shut for no apparent reason.
The realization of how silly she must look gave her just the extra edge of courage she needed to jump off the cliff.
“Jason, I...I wanted to...I wanted to tell you that...” she steeled herself for what she knew her physical reaction would be as she forced herself to look up into those gorgeous brown eyes, which resembled nothing so much as pools of warm and melty milk chocolate...
The expression on Jason's face when she raised her eyes brought her up short. She narrowed her eyes.
“Why do you look so smug?” she asked suspiciously.
Rather than answering, he smirked and bent down, putting his mouth right next to her ear. His hot breath assailed her neck and she began to feel light-headed again.
Wait...was this....OH NO! Panic attack #2 might be on the horizon.
Not in front of Jason, PLEASE, not in front of Jason, Katie begged the Universe.  It seemed like the Universe must have more important things on its mind, however because - oh, lord. Now the shallow breathing was starting.
Jason's breath on her neck, however, was anything but shallow. It was deep. And heavy. And warm. And full of desire. And...oh, man, that lightheadedness was just getting worse and worse.
Jason had her pinned up against the trunk of her car. Her mind was screaming at her to push him away and RUN as fast and as far as she could. Hey, it had worked in the past. Her body, however, was sending her some very different signals.
“I'm not smug, Kit Kat,” Jason informed her, his deep voice rumbling in his chest.
“Wha...huh...?” Katie mumbled.
Jason laughed lightly, “I was just saying that I'm not smug. Just happy to know that I still get under your skin.”
Katie didn't respond. She didn't even really hear what he said, she'd stopped trying to pay attention to the words. Stupid words. They just got in the way of listening to his voice...that silky, deep voice.
Jason traced his thumb down the back of Katie's neck slowly, sensuously, and then continued across her shoulder and down her arm. When he reached her waist, he slipped his hand around her easily, spreading his fingers slowly and firmly, grasping her back with a familiarity that felt as dangerous as it did comforting.
His thumb began to gently massage the small of her back, sending sharp zings of electricity ping-ponging off of her nerve endings. She wanted to stop those little zings of pleasure in their tracks. She wanted to ignore, suppress, deny...anything!
She needed to push him away and get some distance is what she needed to do. Her knees began to buckle. Any time now, a little voice in the back of her head whispered. Any time you want to get a jump on creating that distance would be perfect.
That was, however, not what Katie did. No matter how hard her lizard brain screamed at her to push him away...step away...jump away...DANCE away, even...all Katie found herself doing was looking up into his chocolate brown eyes as she melted into his embrace.
Katie heard a low moan escape from Jason's throat and was suddenly hyper-aware of how close their lips were to each other. A shiver ran through her as she contemplated the nearness of those delicious, sexy lips.
Katie's breathing became more labored, but not in an out-of-control, panic-attacky kind of way. No, it was more of a body-coming-alive-for-the-first-time-in-years kind of way.
She vaguely wondered what was going to happen next, but couldn't make herself focus too much on the future. Not when the present was this flipping interesting!
Her brain might be telling her to get out of this situation, to think about the consequences – but her body was perfectly content to ride this little scene out and see where it went thankyouverymuch.
Why did it seem that she was utterly incapable of listening to her brain in any situation where Jason Sloan was involved?

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