Splish-Splash Page Hop!
It's time, everyone!! HAPPY
! To celebrate, your
are joining together for the SPLISH-SPLASH PAGE HOP, taking place from FRIDAY MORNING (1/8/16) to SUNDAY EVENING (1/10/16). There's 13 of us, all donating a different prize every time you hop to someone's page!
It's time, everyone!! HAPPY
! To celebrate, your
are joining together for the SPLISH-SPLASH PAGE HOP, taking place from FRIDAY MORNING (1/8/16) to SUNDAY EVENING (1/10/16). There's 13 of us, all donating a different prize every time you hop to someone's page!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Just click to someone's page to start--yes, you can start ANYWHERE, because when you're done having fun with that author, she'll guide you to the next author on the list--and keep going so that you are qualified for her prize drawing.
GRAND PRIZE for the whole hop, selected from everyone who plays with us on any page (so you don't have to hit all 13 to be eligible) is a plush spa robe and matching fluffy towel!
ARE YOU READY? SET? Here are all the authors particiapting, along with their pages. HAVE FUN SPLISH-SPLASHIN' AND HOPPIN'!
A. CATHERINE NOON: https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder/ ANGEL PAYNE: https://www.facebook.com/authorangelpayne/ DAKOTA TRACE: http://alittlebitofnaughty.blogspot.com/ DANI WADE: https://www.facebook.com/dani.wade.1 DARAH LACE: https://www.facebook.com/darahlace ELLA SHERIDAN: https://www.facebook.com/ellasheridanauthor/ LARA ARCHER: https://www.facebook.com/laraarcherromance/ LEELA LOU DAHLIN: https://www.facebook.com/LeelaLou2/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel NESE LANE: https://www.facebook.com/NeseLane/?ref=hl NONA RAINES: http://www.facebook.com/NonaRaines.author MIA DOWNING: https://www.facebook.com/MiaDowningAuthor ROBYN BACHAR: http://therobyn.blogspot.com/ TAIGE CRENSHAW: http://taigecrenshaw.com/blog/ TINA CHRISTOPHER: http://wp.me/p22zpW-nh ZOEY DERRICK: http://zoeyderrick.net/
Romance Readers' Movie Night!
Are you a romance reader? Wanna have a girls' night out but too tired to go anywhere? My friends in the Nice Girls Writing Naughty group have the solution! Every month we feature a different event just for romance readers, and this month's event is a GIRLS' NIGHT IN.
Are you a romance reader? Wanna have a girls' night out but too tired to go anywhere? My friends in the Nice Girls Writing Naughty group have the solution! Every month we feature a different event just for romance readers, and this month's event is a GIRLS' NIGHT IN.
The Nice Girls are hosting a Movie Night, a time for all of us to get comfy in our jammies, pop some popcorn, grab a drink or two, and cuddle up with the movie While You Were Sleeping. We'll chat about the movie, laugh until soda comes out our noses, and enjoy some great girl time together with you, our readers. Don't tell anyone, but there's a rumor going around that some of us might show up at the party IN PERSON (via video). How awesome is that?!
If you want to join me and a bunch of awesome romance authors and readers (and we SO hope you do!), rent a copy of While You Were Sleeping from your favorite rental place or grab it off Netflix...or your shelf if you already have it. (I do. :) ) Then go over to the Facebook event and join in -- you're definitely invited. And on DECEMBER 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM EST, settle in with your movie, snacks, and Facebook for fun, fun, fun!
Come late if you have to. We'll be talking all night, as well as giving away gift cards to our readers as a thank-you for all your wonderful support this year. I can't wait to see you then!
~ Ella
Naughty Hotties Memorial Weekend Blog Hop!
Happy holiday weekend! If you're visiting, you're probably traveling along the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog hop, right? Well, I definitely have a hunk to share with you, my hero from TRUST ME, Jack.
Jack is as alpha as they come, but his woman, Maddie, is more than his match. At the end of TRUST ME, they've only known each other a few weeks, but Jack is certain they're meant to be together.
So what does he do? At a weekend bonfire, he waits until their guests say good night, then convinces Maddie to agree to whatever he asks. ;)
I've included the scene below for your Memorial Weekend enjoyment. Comment on this blog (and the others in the blog hop) for a chance at the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card.
And I'll also choose one lucky commenter to receive their very own copy of TRUST ME so you can read the rest of Jack and Maddie's gripping story. Don't miss out! Be sure and comment.
* * *
She was beautiful in the moonlight, the fire’s faint glow flickering over her skin. Jack couldn’t breathe, looking at her. Knowing she belonged to him. Knowing she’d chosen to stay instead of running, to trust him when everything in her world had taught her that trust meant pain. He reached out, tugging the hem of her tee up to allow his lips access to the smooth skin of her stomach.
“What is that for?” she asked.
“What do you think?” He nipped her in a particularly ticklish spot, then ran kisses over the place where Reed’s bullet had left such a horrible bruise. She’d healed, but he’d never forget it. He never wanted to see her in pain again. He wanted to love her, pleasure her. Right now.
But there was something else he had to do first.
For once words escaped him. He dug in his pants pocket, gripping the jewelers’ box tight before pulling it out for Maddie to see, only she wasn’t looking at him, so he placed the box carefully on her breastbone, right between her perfect mounds. Then he went back to kissing her.
“What’s this?”
He couldn’t answer; he was too afraid his voice would crack.
Maddie stared at him for a long moment. When he still didn’t speak, she sat up, the velvet-covered square in her hand. He held his breath when she opened the lid.
“Oh Jack.”
He sat up too.
Inside, nestled on a satiny white pillow, lay a narrow gold ring. Chocolate diamonds nestled in clusters along the band, formed into small rosettes that sparkled in the moonlight. His throat got tight as the same chocolate sparkles stared up at him from her eyes.
“I know it’s too soon to get engaged, but I wanted—”
But Maddie was already shaking her head. “You’re always worried about too soon, you jackass. Who cares about too soon? Worry about what you want instead.” She dug the ring from the box and slid it onto her left ring finger. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” And his ring on her finger… His breath got choppy. “Strip for me,” he said. Without waiting for an answer, he unzipped his jeans, the relief bringing a sigh to his lips. He pushed the stiff material down and lay back to watch as Maddie removed her clothes one piece at a time. The little tease was making him wait. Only when he circled his stiff erection and pumped roughly did she hurry up.
“Did you need something?” she asked teasingly.
He growled as she got to her knees, her breasts bobbing in the moonlight. “You on my dick.”
“Aren’t you charming.”
“Always.” He gripped her by the waist and tugged her atop him. Maddie spread her legs, and hot liquid settled against his needy shaft. They groaned together.
Jack swore his voice went so rough it scratched his vocal cords. “I want you, Maddie.”
“You’ve got me.” She rocked atop him, coating him in her sweet cream.
“Forever?”
Maddie went still. She stared down at him for a long time, her eyes too dark to read in the dim light. Jack held his breath. Finally she leaned forward, her full breasts coming to rest on his chest, her lips a whisper away from his. “Forever, Jack.” She kissed him. “Forever.”
* * *
Remember, your comment is your key to two great prizes this weekend! And be sure to return to the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog to continue along the blog hop for more great prizes.
TRUST ME is available at the following retailers if you'd like a copy of your own:
What I've Been Reading: Hot Pursuit by Lynn Raye Harris
Hot special ops soldier. Woman in need. A past they'd both like to forget. A passion that makes it impossible. What more could you ask for?
I'd put off starting this series because, like me, Lynn Raye Harris writes military/ex-military suspense with a Southern touch. It's hard to read in the same genre you are writing and not have bleed-through, so I waited until Trust Me was finished before starting this series...
And I'm glad I did, because I needed a free weekend to finish Hot Pursuit! This is book one in Harris's Hostile Operations Team series. Here's the blurb:
The last man she ever wanted to see…
Evie Baker’s luck just ran out. Thanks to an ex-partner with organized crime ties, she’s lost her restaurant, her money, and nearly all her self-respect. Forced to return to her hometown and work as a shampoo girl in her mother’s salon, she doesn’t think her luck can get any worse.
But then someone starts shooting at her, her sullen baby sister is suddenly missing, and the high school heartthrob who stole her heart—and her virginity—is the only man big enough and bad enough to help.
Might be the only one who can save her…
Captain Matt “Richie Rich” Girard can’t afford to get involved. He’s already on the verge of a court-martial after a Top Secret op gone wrong, and he’s been ordered to stay out of trouble while he’s home for his sister’s wedding.
But when Evie’s ex-partner turns up dead, staying out of trouble is the last thing on Matt’s mind. He failed Evie once before; he can’t fail her again. If he’s going to protect her from a killer, and find her sister before time runs out, he’ll have to risk his entire future—and both their lives—to do it.
Things are about to get HOT in the bayou!
Suspense can go one of two ways, easy on the romance and heavy on the suspense, or heavy on the romance and easy on the suspense. Harris straddles the fence very well. There's a strong mystery, figuring out why Evie is being targeted, why her ex-business partner winds up dead. Matt has his own worries and family obligations pulling at him, warring with his need to help Evie and, ultimately, to be in bed with her. Instead of Evie being the female in danger, it's her teenage sister who has been kidnapped, and together these two have to figure out what they need to rescue her.
The book moves at a fairly good pace despite the history between the two main characters that needs to be worked out and the cast of secondary characters that populates the small town of Rochambeau, Louisiana (and makes it come alive). That many people sticking their noses into this couple's business while they're trying to hide/solve a kidnapping might have made for a cluttered and confusing story, but Harris handles it well. I didn't feel that "I wish this would hurry up" feeling I sometimes get with contemporary romances; I just wanted myself to hurry to the next page!
The sexual tension between Matt and Evie is strong. I would've like a bit more on-screen "action," maybe, and certainly it would have taken me longer to get over the aftermath of Matt's leaving after taking her virginity than it did Evie (I might've wanted him to squirm on that hook a bit longer, or maybe for Evie to feel it a bit deeper), but then I tend to prefer a darker, more angsty read. This book is lighter but enjoyable, and overall their relationship works well.
I'll definitely be reading book two!
If you enjoy these inside looks into what is on my reading list each month, you might like a new venture I've started with Nice Girls Writing Naughty's reader group. The final Saturday of each month, I'll be hosting the Nice & Naughty Reading Club featuring a romance we all read, then discuss on the blog. For more information and to find out what book we are reading this month, check out my blog post on the site HERE.
Hunky Holiday Blog Hop!
Does he look cold to you? ;)
Welcome to my stop on the NGWN Hunky Holiday Blog Hop! The NGWN ladies are known for their man candy on our Facebook group, but we want to share it with you, here, on our blogs this cold December weekend. Be sure and check out every stop on the hop for more chances to win great prizes, including a copy of one of my backlist e-books and the grand prize of a $50 All Romance eBooks Gift Card from Tina Christopher!
So which hunky hero am I introducing, you might ask? Well, it being the holidays, there was really only one choice: Damien.
My hero from Naughty Little Christmas heats up the cold Atlanta nights like no hero before him. I thought I'd share with you a little snippet of what Christmas with Damien is like, and exactly what he likes to get into under the Christmas tree...
*
Blinking away sudden tears, Harley watched as Damien lifted a hand to his collar and slowly, one by one, undid each button he encountered. Her skin hot, tight, she began to pull her shirt from the waistband of the miniskirt she wore, but Damien shook his head. “Nope. You are going to wait until I tell you to undress.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “I am?”
His wicked grin said he knew she’d obey, questions or not. “You are.”
So damn sure of himself—and, unfortunately, right. She waited, watching, anticipation stirring inside her as he revealed the smooth golden skin she loved to touch. When his shirt dropped to the floor, she swallowed hard. He let her stare, let her gaze trail the muscular width of his shoulders, the smooth skin stretched across his perfect chest, the six-pack that continued below his belt. And then his hands were grasping his belt, unbuckling, sliding the length of leather from each loop.
His words broke the silence. “I have this fantasy.”
Her knees went weak. “What about?” she croaked.
The belt joined the shirt on the floor, and Damien went for his zipper. “That very first night, when I saw your hair”—the metal hissed as he lowered it—“I thought it reminded me of these suckers I used to love as a kid. Strawberries and cream.” A chuckle quirked the side of his mouth.
“Life Savers?” she asked. He ate the miniature versions of the ring-shaped pops all the time, not that she really cared what he ate right now. Her attention was too absorbed in the wait for his pants to fall. She wanted to see his cock, wanted to taste it, touch it, ride it. Have free rein to do as she liked with the instrument of so much of her pleasure.
“That’s the one.”
“I thought you hated my hair.”
“No. I loved it. That’s why I wanted you to change it.”
Because even then, he’d been attracted to her, just like she’d been attracted to him. The knowledge warmed the pit of her stomach. “So what’s this fantasy?”
Damien toed off his shoes, then slid his pants and boxers down his legs, taking his socks with them. When he stood, he was gloriously naked. Aroused. Mouthwatering. Harley barely kept herself from falling to her knees and begging to suck him down.
“I want,” he said as he reached for a small bag on the mantel, “to run one of these candies over every inch of your body. I want to taste the sweetness on your skin, taste you, until every time I put one in my mouth, all I can think about is you. Tonight.” The last word scraped across his vocal cords as he took her hand and pulled her toward the bed. “Now strip.”
Harley hesitated. “There’s something I want too.”
“Hmm?”
“I want to taste you.”
His pupils dilated, shock and desire drowned in chocolate. “I think we can work something out.”
“Okay then.” And she stripped.
*
Doesn't that suit just make you want to muss him up? ;) There's lots more adventure under the Christmas tree in Naughty Little Christmas. Be sure and check it out!
And if you leave a comment below telling me your favorite Christmas candy, you could win a copy of Naughty or another book on my backlist.
Comments must be posted before 12 a.m. Sunday (EST) in order to win. I'll post my winner here, and Tina will post all of the winners on the NGWN blog on Monday, December 15th.
Remember, the more comments you leave, the more chances you have at that grand prize! So HOP BACK TO THE NGWN BLOG and visit some more Hunky Holiday Heroes!
~ Ella
FUN Cover Reveal: Tina Christopher's Dirigibles Are Forever!
Fellow Nice Girl Writing Naughty Tina Christopher has a new release coming, a fun book called DIRIGIBLES ARE FOREVER. Here's how she describes it: "Dirigibles Are Forever is a super-sexy Christmas novella set in an alternative Victorian London, filled with adventure, secrets and fun."
That sounds like something very different and very entertaining. The cover is too. Want to see?
I love it! Can't wait to pick this up when it releases on December 9th from Loose Id.
Special Agent Jack Smith kept his identity a secret when he came to the London Royal Port Authority with one assignment, one he cannot fail. It holds him back from following his attraction to Holly. But on the eve he must complete the mission, Holly asks for one night with no rules or boundaries, and his control snaps.
When London experiences an unexpectedly white Christmas, all dirigible traffic is grounded, leaving Holly and Jack free to act upon their stormy passions. Holly finds her determination to stay emotion-free crumbling unaware Jack is experiencing the same need. Each lover wishes for more, but fears it can’t be. Instead they focus their desires in mind-blowing passion.
But when Holly discovers that Jack isn’t who he claimed to be, everything is thrown into turmoil. Can she trust the man she thought she knew?
NaNoWriMo Naughty Girl Style!
I'm just everywhere lately, aren't I? :) I'm talking on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog today about NaNoWriMo and how to use conflict to further your story. Check it out: #NaNoWriMo Naughty Style: Day Two!
Wolfen Bonds Scavenger Hunt with Dakota Trace
My first ever blog guest!!! Please welcome Dakota Trace! She's hosting a blog hop where readers can follow the characters along on a quest. Read on -- and enjoy!
Colleen approached the door with trepidation, her hand going to her bare throat. Would Nevin be upset that she’d misplaced the torque he gave her? Or would he just shake his head and lightly scold her. Sometimes it all depended upon his mood.
“You know standing outside his room and worrying about it, isn’t going to get your torque back,” Livvy commented as she licked off a stray smear of chocolate from her forefinger. Evidently, she hadn’t come out completely unscathed from her earlier wrestling match with Sara.
Frustrated, Colleen couldn’t help but snap at the nonchalant muse. “I’ve had about enough of you, muse. All you’ve done is screwed around and made this more difficult—”
“I know your parents and I raised you better than that, Colleen Donnghal.”
Colleen winced and looked up to see her mentor. With long gray hair, a closely cropped goatee and fit and trim body, he was what most would call a silver fox…or in this case a silver wolf. “Sorry. It’s been a long week. Dakota has this blog thing going on, and I’ve done nothing but traipse around with her pain in the butt muse.”
Nevin’s eyes narrowed as he focused on Livvy and he gave a low growl. Of course, as usual the muse didn’t seem to realize the danger she was in – unless it came to housework. “Muse you say?” When Colleen nodded, he took a step toward the corset and mini skirt-wearing muse. “So she’s responsible for my backstory?”
Livvy finished sucking the chocolate from her finger. “Yep. That would be me. I mean slave writes it, but the ideas are usually 100% mine. She a good slave that way. Writes exactly what I tell her to - well at least most of the time. I keep asking her to write a story about a horny muse and her harem of love slaves, but so far she keeps denying me.”
“Ah, Livvy?” Concern crept into Colleen’s voice as she noted that Nevin’s face had started to change. His wolf was upon him. Whatever secrets about his past that her mentor was keeping, it was obvious he wasn’t happy about, and the muse in front of him was the cause.
“Yeah?” LIvvy looked up, surprise on her face as she realized how close Nevin was.
"Ah…Colleen, you want to call your guard dog off, before I have him put down? He’s looking a bit long in the tooth.”
“Now might be a good time to run.” The tearing sound of clothing, made Colleen cringe. “Before Nevin makes you a wolf snack.”
“Shit!” As Nevin contorted, his legs and arms shifting to that of his wolf, Livvy darted back down the hall with a silver wolf at her heels.
Colleen sighed and turned to the readers. “Well, that didn’t go exactly as I planned.” She gave a shrug. “but it serves her right. Maybe she won’t be so meddlesome in the future of her creations.”
A loud shriek from below rang out as Colleen slipped inside Nevin’s room. “Don’t worry he won’t hurt her much. Just scare the shit out of her.”
Walking to his dresser, she smiled as she spotted her torque. “There you are.” She picked it up and fastened it back around her neck. In the mirror, the Celtic torque gleamed on its delicate chain.
“Now that I have this back. I suppose I should thank all the hosts that were nice enough to let me stop by with Livvy. You’ve all been great.” Colleen smiled. “Also before I go, here’s the scoop on the contests. The daily contest winners will be announced at the Wrap Up Party tomorrow, along with the grand prize winners. So be sure to stop by.”
She moved to leave the room, then snapped her fingers. “I probably should tell you how to enter. It’s easy. For the daily contest, just put your name and email in the comments below. A key chain and a book off Dakota’s backlist is up for grabs. For the grand prize? Just enter the name on the graphic into the google form below. Easy huh?”
Another scream filtered through the open door. “And I guess that’s my cue to go rescue Livvy. But thanks again to all who have followed the tour. It’s been fun.”
Code for Google Form [googleapps domain="docs" dir="spreadsheet/embeddedform" query="formkey=dG9DRVVkTlVLODRLSDY2MFF3RzlEd0E6MA" width="500" height="795" /]
Interested in Wolfen Bonds? Here's the blurb:
The Council of Elders has charged Matthias Galloway with bringing the once prosperous Taghte Pack back into the Council's fold. In exchange for his services, Matthias names his terms: he wants to claim his longtime lover and friend, Andrew, as his mate.
Nephew of a powerful alpha, Andrew Gilchrist has long been a coveted commodity because of his services as a healer. Neither expects the Council to agree to Mathias’s terms, leaving him free, finally, to claim his chosen mate. Even more unexpected is the presence of a third-bond to appear during their mating ritual.
The grandchildren of the slain alpha of the Taghte pack, Colleen Donghall and her twin brother, were whisked away at birth. They're still kept hidden from those who would harm them. Raised in seclusion, Colleen's never experienced lust, let alone the bond between mates. On the night of lunar eclipse, she's drawn into Matthias and Andrew's passionate claiming, and her dormant libido is powerfully awoken.
But it’s nothing compared to the lust and danger that will stalk her and her mates, when she arrives in Scotland.
You can grab your copy of this exciting book at Loose Id today!
About Dakota:
Dakota is a simple Midwest girl, who found her passion in storytelling at a young age. She wrote her first novel her freshman year on an old electric IBM typewriter. Now writing in several different genres from erotic romance and BDSM to m/m and paranormal, she is a published author with multiple books under her belt. When she isn’t writing, she’s a devoted band mom and a loving wife. You can get in touch with Dakota at:
Dakota’s Website Dakota’s Blog Dakota’s Facebook Dakota’s Twitter
Thanks for playing, everyone!
NGWN Teacher's Pet Blog Hop
Hello, everyone! I'm so glad you're visiting for Ms. Dakota Trace's NGWN blog hop, Teacher's Pet! I have my very own pet below. ;) Don't forget to gather your facts about him and return to the NGWN blog to enter the information and gain a chance to win that $50 gift certificate! Now here's my pet:
Brad is the hero from my latest release, Just a Little More. Here are five fast facts about him:
1. In high school, Brad was voted most likely to become a father early. He spent way too much time watching over all his friends -- and going out with the girls. ;)
2. The craziest thing Brad did in high school was...fall in love with his best friend. Oh, and there was that incident in the janitorial closet with what's her name, but we won't mention that...
3. Growing up, Brad wanted to be just like his big brother, Michael.
4. In college, Brad's crush was Angel, his best friend, but she lived hundreds of miles away. No other woman would do.
5. In high school, Brad was president of the student body. They were his responsibility, you know, and he had to take care of them. :)
There you have it! Brad was a favorite with the girls and all the boys looked up to him. So what happened after his illustrious high school/college career? Find out in Brad and Angel's book, Just a Little More:
Six weeks ago Angel had it all—a brand-new master’s degree, an apartment with her best friend, Brad, and the chance to take their friendship to a whole hot new level. But on the night of their first kiss, a would-be rapist ripped her bright future apart. Stuck in a never-ending cycle of fear and depression, Angel is determined to find herself again, even if it means putting herself at risk.
Brad has loved Angel since he saved her from a playground bully in the fifth grade. But just as it seemed Angel’s eyes were opening to the true feelings between them, it all fell apart. When Angel disappears on the night of a freak snowstorm, Brad is determined to find her. And when he does, he won’t let her hide any longer. It’s time to wake her up—to a life without fear, and to a love that can heal the deepest wounds.
Just a Little More is available at Loose Id, Amazon, ARe, B&N, and Kobo. And don't forget to go back and fill out your entry for the NGWN Teacher's Pet Blog Hop Grand Prize!!!
Funny Friday: Man Candy
I write romance, and for those of you who aren't around romance authors very much, we see (and search out!) a lot of what we call "man candy." Why do we call it that? Because a good-looking man is sweet to look at, that's why! So today I wanted to share a meme one reader posted to the Nice Girls Writing Naughty Facebook Group that made me laugh. And yes, we all thanked her. ;) Enjoy your Funny Friday!
Recipes to Cool a Blistering Heat!
I have so much going on over the next month! Two books to finish, school to start for my kiddoes, work to accomplish, and decisions to be made. Southern Nights will be live October 23rd with book one, Teach Me. *squeee!!!* :) I can't wait for this series to come out! And still there's more to come, like...
The latest Nice Girls Writing Naughty party!
Beginning today, Nice Girl (and FAB author) Jianne Carlo begins our NGWN August event, Recipes To Cool a Blistering Heat. Every day for the next two weeks, one of us Nice Girls will post a recipe sure to make the summer heat more bearable. We love sharing with you, our readers, the little things in our lives, including stuff we love to eat! And we want you to share with us too. That's why we're asking you to post your favorite recipes in the comments sections of the blog each day. Your recipe can be a drink (mine is!), an appetizer, an entree, or a dessert. At the end of two weeks, one reader will win the Grand Prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card. AND the Nice Girls, being nice ;) , will vote on the recipes we like most in each category, and the winners will also receive prizes!
Sound like fun?
Hop on over to the blog today (and the rest of the week) to share your yummy recipes with us and gain a chance to win one of FIVE prizes on August 17th! My post goes live tomorrow, and I assure you, it's cool, refreshing, and absolutely perfect for sipping off firm, beautiful abs. <3
And if you want to keep up-to-date with all the exciting things I've got going on these days (including new releases and fun contests), be sure and sign up for my newsletter. I promise not to hold back any sexy details -- or man candy. ;)
~ Ella
Nice Girls Writing Naughty Scavenger Hunt!
I'm topping off a wonderful release week with a visit over at Nice Girls Writing Naughty. We're having a scavenger hunt for our readers. Simply visit each author via the link below, write down the answer to their trivia question, and e-mail your answers to Dani Wade at readdaniwade@gmail.com. Your e-mail enters you to win:
A $50 Amazon card and a prize pack of books!
DON'T enter your answers in the comments! They must be e-mailed (so we don't spoil the fun for our other readers).
For my contribution, I'm asking the question:
How long has Brad been in love with Angel?
For the answer, read the blurb for Just a Little More, the third book in my Secrets To Hide series from Loose Id:
Six weeks ago Angel had it all—a brand-new master’s degree, an apartment with her best friend, Brad, and the chance to take their friendship to a whole hot new level. But on the night of their first kiss, a would-be rapist ripped her bright future apart. Stuck in a never-ending cycle of fear and depression, Angel is determined to find herself again, even if it means putting herself at risk.
Brad has loved Angel since he saved her from a playground bully in the fifth grade. But just as it seemed Angel’s eyes were opening to the true feelings between them, it all fell apart. When Angel disappears on the night of a freak snowstorm, Brad is determined to find her. And when he does, he won't let her hide any longer. It's time to wake her up—to a life without fear, and to a love that can heal the deepest wounds.
For even more fun, hop over to our group's Facebook page starting at 10:30 AM EST for great giveaways and chats with a dozen erotic romance authors. They have some great goodies planned for you today, July 5th, from 10:30 to 4:30 EST. Not a member of our Nice Girls Writing Naughty Readers Group? Click the link above and join -- we'll get you added ASAP so you don't miss any of the fun!
Interested in Just a Little More? This book is the third in my Secrets series but can be read as a stand-alone. Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite:
Angel Gilliam wrestled the butterflies in her belly as she forced her key into the stubborn lock and finally managed to turn it. She was through the apartment door and calling Brad’s name before she could tug the key back out.
Nothing.
The silence that met her call deflated her excitement like a leaking balloon. Damn it, she wanted him to know first, in person, not over the phone. He was the only one who would understand how much this meant to her.
A glance around the darkened living room confirmed its emptiness. The heavy blue curtains Brad had hung when they moved in a month ago were drawn across the windows, pulling a smile from her as she crossed toward the kitchen. She’d teased him about their joint living room being a “man cave,” but who was she to argue. She hadn’t found a full-time position here in Atlanta yet, and five years in college dorm rooms hadn’t left her with a ton of homemaking supplies. The only curtains she owned were floral and gauzy and hung in her bedroom down the hall. And honestly, she didn’t mind if it was masculine. From the time they’d decided to share the apartment, she’d known she wanted as much of Brad in it as she did her own style. It was like the old T-shirts she’d snitched from his suitcase whenever he visited her at FSU, only better. Here, it wasn’t just his scent surrounding her, comforting her; it was his presence. Walking into the apartment was almost as good as being wrapped in his arms. Almost.
“Brad?”
The kitchen was empty too. Maybe he was still in the shower? Hope sent her on a mad dash down the hall that ended in a quick skid. She barely managed to stop by hanging on to the doorjamb of the master bedroom, but as she swung inside, she found Brad’s room was also dark and still. The faint scent of soap and hot water lingered in the air, confirming her fear that he’d already left for work.
“Well, damn.”
She slumped onto Brad’s bed, the king-size monstrosity that took up three-quarters of his room, and let the soft comforter cushion her as she considered her options. The only thing in her mind since she’d gotten off the phone with Henry Lockwood at the Atlanta office of Child Protective Services had been telling Brad about the interview she’d landed. She didn’t want to wait until he got home around four in the morning, if she could even stay awake that long. Waiting till he woke up was even worse. And she was pouting, darn it. She hated it when she pouted. She’d just so wanted to tell him, and tell him now. If only she hadn’t been stuck waiting for the bus to bring her home.
Turning her head to bury her nose in the soft down of the comforter, she filled her lungs with the scent of Brad’s cologne and something else, something vitally him that she couldn’t put a name to. When had she first noticed it? She wasn’t even sure she knew, it had happened so gradually. He’d visited her at school every chance he got, even during summer breaks when she was busy loading up on classes so she could get through her bachelor’s and master’s programs in five years. But even when her roommates and girlfriends were falling all over themselves chasing after him, his focus had been on her. And somewhere along the line, her focus had centered completely on him.
So why hadn’t they done anything about it?
Good question.
Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, she stood and crossed the hall to her bedroom. Clothes lay scattered on most of the surfaces. Makeup, jewelry, shoes. After sharing a room with one fellow foster child or another through her teen years, always keeping her belongings locked up, protected, then doing the same in the dorm, Angel reveled in the ability to mark the space as hers. To claim ownership with the sheer presence of her things. Brad teased her about it, about “letting her hair down” after so many years of being the model foster kid, but she knew he got it. He’d understood the fears hiding down deep inside her even before she did, understood why she’d always tried to be perfect, to overachieve, to not be sent back into the system. He got her.
She eyed the folded clothes stacked at the end of the bed, ready to be put away. Right on top lay the red cashmere sweater Brad had given her for Christmas a couple of weeks ago. Their first Christmas living together—as best friends. The look in Brad’s eyes when she wore that sweater, though, went way beyond friends. It even went beyond the emotion that, if she was honest with herself, she knew she’d seen in his eyes over and over when he’d visited her at school. The emotion she’d heard in his voice every time they talked on the phone. An emotion she’d come to anticipate, to want, even if she hadn’t fully understood what it was. That look Brad gave her was crystal clear. Hunger. It made her shiver. And it felt right, as if all the years they’d spent together had naturally led to this, wanting each other as well as needing each other.
Maybe it was time to stop pussyfooting around and bring things out in the open. And she knew just how to do it.
The excitement was back again, humming under her skin, fizzing like champagne through her veins. It had her smiling as she gathered the sweater and her tightest pair of jeans and headed for the shower. An hour later she was standing outside the wide double doors that led into Thrice.
The burly bouncer guarding the door eyed the low curve of her neckline. “Hellooo.”
“Hi.” She handed over her ID, which the man dutifully checked. His eyes might’ve strayed a couple of times, but Angel just took that as a sign that she looked as good as she’d hoped.
He handed the card back, shooting her a wink. “You wouldn’t be inclined to save me a dance later, sweet thing? I get off at ten.” “I don’t think Brad would like that,” she told him, a little laugh escaping as she left him with his mouth slightly ajar.
Inside, a cacophony of music, people, and movement hit her eyes and ears, flashes of light adding to the confusion. The massive room—the center of a former warehouse, Brad had told her—seemed to sway with the ebb and flow of clubgoers filling every available space.
It took some wading to find the sunken dance floor taking up the entire middle of the room, then the bar area at the far side. When she took the time to think about it, she was still amazed that Brad had walked away from his family money and chosen to work in a bar, especially after his brother’s death. Most people would call it crazy—and a few of their friends had. But it made sense. His degree in business management meant he could work his way up at Thrice, but he also loved being in charge of the bar, interacting with customers, keeping people safe—that more than anything. He’d told her more than once that people shouldn’t pay with their lives for having fun or relieving stress, and he made sure of it with his vigilant watch over those in his care. He wanted to make a difference, no matter how small other people thought it was; they were alike that way.
His blond head came into view first, then the rest of him. Brad moved behind the room-length bar with ease and efficiency. A word here and there passed out with the drinks brought smiles to the people he served, especially the women. The feminine eyes eating him up sparked a dark jealousy in Angel’s core. But it was the look in Brad’s eyes that really mattered, and that look filled with fire when he saw her walking toward his end of the room.
His gaze swept her body, head to toe. And all the way back up. She watched his tongue slide along his bottom lip, saw him shift as if he was suddenly uncomfortable, and the knowledge that other women wanted him faded past caring. When his eyes finally met hers, she smiled, feeling the sexy edge to the way her lips curved, and put a little extra sway into her hips as she closed the distance between them. Brad leaned on the bar top, chin propped on his fist, to watch.
“Is it my birthday?” he teased when she got close enough to hear him.
A man seated on the next closest bar stool turned to look. “Maybe mine?” he asked. He was in his early twenties too, but his conservative hair and business-casual clothes didn’t fit Thrice’s vibe tonight.
“Hands off, Ryan,” Brad warned.
Ah. That explained the button-down and khakis. This was Brad’s co-manager in training. Damien’s secretary. “Hi.”
“And she has manners,” Ryan pointed out, throwing a pained look Brad’s way. He reached for Angel’s hand and leaned over to place a chaste kiss on the back. Angel felt her heart flutter at the sheer mean filling Brad’s gaze as he watched.
“And you are?” Ryan asked.
“Angel.”
“Taken,” Brad said at the same time, straightening to his full six-two height. Angel giggled.
“Fuck off, Brad,” Ryan threw out, his eyes still on Angel.
Brad leaned over the bar far enough to pop Ryan upside the back of the head. “Language,” he snapped.
“Ow!”
Watching the two of them was like watching brothers torment each other. Ryan was pouting now, but it didn’t earn him any points with Brad. “You can drop her hand anytime, Wonder Boy,” Brad growled.
Ryan slowly released her, but the half smile he shot her way—on the half of his face Brad couldn’t see—told her he was drawing it out for Brad’s benefit, not his own.
Brad whipped the tie at the back of his black apron open and wadded the cloth into a ball. He threw it on the counter. “I’m taking a break.”
Ryan glanced around. “Where’s your relief bartender?”
Pitching his thumb over his shoulder toward the mirror behind him, Brad shrugged. “Take a look at him.”
Ryan’s incredulous expression reflected perfectly in the mirror. By the time he started muttering protests, Brad had rounded the bar and taken Angel’s elbow.
“Get back here, asshole,” Ryan called.
Without missing a step, Brad shot a bird back at his friend. When Angel looked up at him, the amused curve of his lips had her laughing.
“You’re mean,” she said between chuckles.
“Not to you.” He shrugged. “Ryan earns it.” His mouth twitched at her laughter, though, and when he joined in, the noise and crowds surrounding them fell away from her awareness. Brad filled it up too much for anything else to intrude.
He didn’t stop at the curved railing that encircled the dance floor. Angel tugged on the hand now twined with hers. “Where are we going?”
Brad glanced down. “To get away from this noise,” he said, voice raised above the din. “The last thing I want to do is shout at each other over this mess.”
Angel agreed. Of course, going somewhere without noise probably meant going somewhere without this many people…or any people. She swallowed hard at the idea of being alone with him. She wasn’t a tease, and she’d been making it plain what she wanted for the last half hour. Now it was time to pay up. What if she couldn’t?
Nerves multiplied like tribbles in her veins as they went through the entry area of the club. Brad led her down a dark hallway to one side marked EMPLOYEES ONLY. The hall was dotted with doors, and Brad opened one about halfway down. They stepped into a brightly lit room lined along one side with lockers and the other with a comfy seating area. The counter, sink, fridge, and microwave proclaimed “break room” loudly. When the door slid shut, the sheer relief of relative silence distracted her from her nerves for about a millisecond.
“So…” Brad pulled her toward the couch but turned before they reached the brown leather monstrosity. His gaze went straight for her breasts in their soft red cover, and he seemed to lose track of what he was saying. In the moment it took for him to break himself away, Angel felt that look right down to her clenched thighs.
Shaking himself back to awareness, Brad finally asked, “To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
Angel felt every muscle go tense. Say it! Say you have feelings for him—new, different feelings. You want him to know. He wants to know; just look in his eyes and see it. Tell him.
She cleared her desert-dry throat, opened her mouth, and said, “I got the interview.”
Not what she meant to say. Definitely not. And not what Brad expected her to say, from the sinking look on his face. But it didn’t last. Brad was Brad—a huge grin appeared, and the next thing she knew his arms were around her waist and he was twirling her through the air with a loud “whoop!”
Her smile felt bittersweet as love swelled in her chest. He was always putting her and her needs first, before what he wanted. He lifted her up, gave her whatever he thought she needed, even if it was far less than he might want. How long had he been doing that?
And how long was she going to be a coward and let it continue?
When he finally settled her on her feet, she was breathless with anxiety. She met Brad’s warm gray eyes…and immediately, all the p whirling inside her settled. She reached to cup his stubble-covered cheeks. “I came by for something else too,” she said, surprised by the suddenly low, raspy tone of her voice.
“What?”
“This.” She pulled him down until her lips could meet his and kissed him.
You can pick up your copy of Brad and Angel's story at Loose Id (all e-book formats available), Amazon, All Romance ebooks, and Kobo. (B&N coming soon.) Pick up a copy and enjoy some reading time this holiday weekend!
Have a great Fourth!
~ Ella