Monday, June 4, 2012

Cadence Beach by Linda Juliano (Review, Interview, & Giveaway)


Today I’m very excited to introduce you to a talented author, Linda Juliano, and her great novel, Cadence Beach. Please stay a while and also read the review I wrote for the novel. Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win some of the prices Linda brought along.

Welcome to Novel Moments, Linda. It’s great to have you here.

Tell us a bit about yourself
I’ve been happily married almost eighteen years and have two wonderful boys.  Originally from Oregon, I’ve lived in San Francisco now for twenty-two years.

What keeps you writing?
 My love of the craft.  I don’t think I could stop if I tried.

Can you tell us a little more about Cadence Beach?
After killing his unfaithful wife, Suzanne, Allan Roth believes she will return to him to atone for her sins by inhabiting the body of another woman. For no other reason than the fact she resembles his dead wife, Allan believes Josie Gianni is that woman.   As a relationship develops between Josie and Gordon Forrester, Allan becomes convinced that through Josie, Suzanne is betraying him once again.  He grows increasingly dangerous until finally reaching an explosive breaking point.

What inspired you to write this novel?
Writing a novel always sounded overwhelming to me, but one day I mentioned to a friend that I wished I could write a novel, and she encouraged me to give it a try.  I thought about it, gathered the courage and wrote “Cadence Beach”, leading to the discovery that I love writing novels.

How did you come up with the title?
There is a town on the coast of Oregon called Cannon Beach.  “Cadence Beach” was loosely modeled after that town. The twist on the name just came to me, no searching thoughts required.

How long did it take you to research and write the novel?
About 4 years.  

Is there a certain message you would like readers to get out of this novel?
There’s a subtle message about forgiveness and its power.

Do you experience writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I have productive days and less productive days, but I haven’t had any issues with writer’s block (yet).

Are you a full time writer? If not, how do you make time to write?
Yes and no.  I juggle writing with working 1-2 days a week outside of the home and caring for my family (husband and kids) the rest of the time. I wonder if anyone can be considered a full-time anything these days with the many directions we take, but for the most part, I’d probably consider myself basically a full-time writer.

How does your daily writing schedule look like?
I write about 4 hours a day, 4 days a week.  Mornings are best for me, so I typically begin about 10:00 a.m. and write until 2:00 p.m. 

How does your marketing schedule look like?
I spend about 2 hours (or more) a week on directly marketing my work.

Which avenues do you use to market your books?
Facebook, Goodreads and word of mouth, but my favorite avenue is a site called LinkedIn. The writer’s and author’s groups are fantastic outlets for exchanging information and promoting your work.  Doing this blog tour is another wonderful avenue for marketing.

What books can we expect from you in the future?
 Mostly contemporary romance and contemporary women’s fiction.

What was your best ever moment as a published author?
 Finding an unsolicited, lovely review of my book on Amazon. I was on cloud nine for hours!

What question are you dying to be asked? And the answer is?
Maybe just what inspires me?  The answer: True stories of perseverance and survival (in every sense of the word) in the face of adversity move me beyond words. 

Do you have a message for your readers?
I’d like to say thank you for choosing to read “Cadence Beach”, and I hope you feel inspired to follow my career one novel at a time.

Thank you so much Linda. I will definitely follow your career. I enjoyed reading your novel.

Cadence Beach
by Linda Juliano

BLURB
Soon after Josie Gianni moves to Cadence Beach, Oregon, she’s immediately thrust into a strange and chilling interplay with a demented stalker who believes the soul of the wife he murdered has returned through Josie.

Fueled by jealousy and fear of betrayal, the stalker's intentions grow increasingly dangerous when Josie falls for Gordon Forrester, the aloof, attractive owner of the local bookstore.

Will Josie's wit and Gordon's love save her, or will Josie fall victim to the madman's destructive behavior as he attempts to reclaim his wife's soul?

MY REVIEW
 
I mean it when I say that Cadence Beach is one of the best romantic thrillers I’ve read in a long time. I’m so happy to have discovered Linda Juliano and her wonderful book. 

I love thrillers that keep me awake long into the night because I just have to read one more chapter to find out what happens next. 

The novel has a beginning that pushes the reader right into the story of Allan Roth, a man obsessed with his dead wife. She died in a way that sent chills down my spine. Unable to live without her, he started to believe that her soul was back and now lived inside the body of a woman called Josie Gianni. He was determined to get his wife back, determined to make Josie believe she belonged to him. He soon started stalking her and no place was too far. When Josie moved to Cadence Beach, so did he. He didn’t let her out of his sight. But then something unexpected happened. Josie started to fall in love with another man, Gordon Forrester. This drove the stalker mad, until he just couldn’t stand it any longer. His jealousy finally overwhelmed him and he stopped being just the man that watched from a distance. He became a very dangerous man, to both Josie and the people who cared about her.

One thing I loved about the novel is that the author also gave me a peek into the stalker’s dark, dangerous mind, allowed me to watch as he weaved his plans. But I also enjoyed following the trail that led him to the man he had become. I find that interesting because I believe that all evil has its roots somewhere. 

Most of the story took place in a small, beautiful seaside town that the author brought to life with every word. I loved not only the setting but also its residents, who were very believable, interesting, and welcoming. It was a pleasure getting to know all the different characters and their surroundings. 

Cadence Beach was so good that the story stayed with me long after I turned the last page. The ending left me really satisfied but still craving for more. I guess I’ll have to wait for Linda’s next novel. I’ll definitely buy it. She's a very talented author who will go very far. You will not be disappointed by Cadence Beach. I highly recommend it. 

AUTHOR BIO
I spent the first 24 years of my life living in a suburb of Portland, Oregon until I was offered a job with United Airlines that took me to San Francisco, CA where I subsequently met my husband and accepted San Francisco as my new home.  As strikingly different as Oregon and California (San Francisco, particularly) are from one another, I have a great deal of love for them both.
 
After the first of my two children was born, I left my job with the airline to become a full-time mother (what an adventure!).  When both children were well into school, I began my pursuit of a writing career, following my lifetime love of the craft.  I’ve done some children’s stories and several poems, three of which have been entered into a poetry anthology, but found my place as a novelist despite my initial fears and reservations about taking on such a demanding form of writing.

Like most writers (or any artists, really), I’m happiest when I’m engaged with my craft, and for me that means constantly tapping in to the endless supply of story ideas roaming the corridors of my mind.

Every day is a journey with writing (as with life), and with each bit of knowledge I gain, I feel a growing sense of strength and accomplishment.  Perusing this as a career is not an easy road, but one of my favorite quotes (from Hebrews 11:1) helps to ease some of the angst. “Faith is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead”.

LINKS


GIVEAWAYS

Linda will award a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and an antique copper bookmark to the two hosts with the most comments.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-cadence-beach-by.html

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Chocolate Aftertaste: Free on on kindle for 2 days

Dear visitors and followers,

As a way to celebrate my little successes in May, Chocolate Aftertaste (kindle version) will be free on www.amazon.com for two days this week, Saturday and Sunday. Please go and download your copies and inform your friends to do the same. I hope you enjoy the novel. If you do, reviews are always very much appreciated.
Here's the link: http://amzn.to/KCo2sE

Have a great day.

Liz

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Self-designed Bookmarks for Promotion

Dear lovely followers,
I would like to share some great news with you. I'll be having my first reading/signing event in June at the only English bookstore in Vienna. I'm really honored and so excited. The day I received the email from the bookstore telling me they would host my event (and even stock my books afterwards), I was so excited I couldn't sleep. So, I decided to prepare for the event by designing my own bookmarks and the invitation. I was thinking of hiring someone else to do it for me but then thought, "why not do it myself?" I'm glad I did. I printed them out on hard glossy paper and they look amazing in person (the photo didn't come out too nice).



Invitation I designed for the event. You're invited.


Monday, May 28, 2012

Dancing Naked in Dixie Tour (GUEST POST & $25 Amazon GC)

As part of the blog tour for Dancing Naked ín Dixie, I would like to welcome the author, Lauren Clark to tell us about  what inspired her to write the novel. She brought a few giveaways with her so don't forget to take advantage of the chance to win.
Welcome, Lauren. We're excited to have you here.

GUEST POST

The inspiration for writing Dancing Naked in Dixie was the opposite of Stay Tuned, my first novel. The idea for Stay Tuned came about after a real-life fistfight between news anchors at a television station where I worked. (They were both fired!) For Dancing Naked in Dixie, the title came first and I built the story around it.

I had wanted to feature Eufaula and the Pilgrimage as a setting for one of my novels and it seemed the perfect fit. I created the character of Julia Sullivan, a travel writer with attention-deficit disorder. I wanted to see what this big-city girl would do when sent to small-town Alabama.

At first, when I decided a developer was going to try and ruin Eufaula's historic district by building condominiums, I had considered Julia discovering some locally made new cookie or dessert so delicious it would make people want to "Dance Naked." She could bring it back to New York City, share it with friends, and there would be a nationwide cookie craze or rush to buy the sweets. This would create an influx of money through tourism and job development and give the city enough revenue to fight off the developer.

However, as the story progressed, the baking creation turned out to be a better fit for PD, Shug's sister, who needed some softening around her sharp edges. By pursuing her dream of owning a bakery, we see more facets of her personality and how much she cares about her family and the Eufaula community. PD's Pillow Puffs become her signature treat and a significant way in which she contributes to the Pilgrimage.

With the tie-in for the title still needed, I looked at how Dixie explores the theme of bias and pre-conceived notions about culture and place. Julia throws a good-old fashioned hissy fit when she's pulled off a plum assignment and sent to Eufaula, so I stepped it up a notch and had her announce to her brand-new boss that she'd "rather dance naked" than go to Alabama for this assignment. (This also ties in nicely with some romantic tension in the last chapter.)

Eventually, Julia realizes that she was completely wrong about the Deep South, and along her journey, learns important lessons about herself, and grows as a person. You'll have to read the novel to find out how she does it and what changes her mind! 

Like Julia, have you ever had pre-conceived notions about a place or part of the country? What happened when you visited? What do you think now?

DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE 
BLURB

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage? 

                                                                   EXCERPT

The Best Butts in Alabama, the huge billboard above my head brags. A robust pink pig, dressed in blue overalls and a cowboy hat, winks down at me. Next to the hog’s turned up nose, royal blue letters read ‘Phil’s Bar-B-Q.’ 

Phil certainly knows how to make a first impression. As does Mother Nature.

The sunshine beats down on my shoulder through the window. Is it always this muggy in December? I swipe at my forehead with the back of my hand and do quick surveillance.

Where is the historic, elegant city I was promised in the letter? There is a normal-looking church across the street, a run-of-the-mill real estate business to my right, and a tiny hole-in-the-wall place called The Donut King, which seems to be doing ten times more business than the Winn-Dixie grocery store I just passed.

So far, all I see of Eufaula, Alabama is more in-your-face commercial than traveler chic. Of course, I’m not in the best frame of mind to become one with my surroundings.

After a lousy Thursday morning of sulking and a rushed packing job, I sent an RSVP with regrets for the fundraiser, gave away my tickets to the Met, left a voice mail for Andrew, and changed my ticket to an earlier departure.

Hours later, after fighting through JFK security, surviving the cramped flight to Atlanta, I spent the night in Buckhead, Georgia, picked up my enormous rented SUV this morning (it was either that or a red minivan), and began driving the three-and-a-half hours to reach my pinhole-on-a-map destination.

All to save my job.

                                                                  AUTHOR BIO
Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets.

A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com/.

IMPORTANT LINKS
 



GIVEAWAYS

Lauren will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and to the host with the most comments.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-dancing-naked-in.html

Good Luck.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Amethyst Eyes: Edit and Revise, show some pride in your work and ...

Amethyst Eyes: Edit and Revise, show some pride in your work and ...: Hi! Recently I posted an offer from Kristi Holl to edit and critique your Children's-YA manuscripts. Today I want to introduce you to yet ...

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Elanraigh: The Vow (Interview & Giveaway)

Today I would like to introduce you to S. A. Hunter's novel, Elanraigh: The Vow. Please stay a little while to learn more about the book, the author, and also enter the great giveaway contests.
First of all I would like to introduce Sandy Hunter to Novel Moments.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English Literature.  After my daughter came along, I chose to work close to home and indulge my love of animals by working for an amiable, if thrifty, veterinarian. I believe in promoting the right of all creatures to live the existence that Nature intended. This value is strongly evoked in my novel.

I’ve always lived at the edges of ocean and forest, so it came naturally to have a sentient forest as a major character in Elanraigh: The Vow.  I love kayaking the scenic Island coastline, swimming and walking. I’ve got a ready sense of humor and an optimistic outlook (a good thing when you’re a writer). I’m enjoying retirement now…and if I were only more disciplined, I’d get even more writing done J

My publications include Dark Fantasy short stories in pro magazines and she is currently working on a sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow.

What keeps you writing?

I just don’t feel right if I don’t have a project on the go. There’s something so special about creating characters and then seeing them through their cycle of growth or crisis. When words get flowing, it’s such an exhilarating experience.

Can you tell us a little more about your novel?

Elanraigh: The Vow is set in an alternative, quasi-medieval world.  Elanraigh, is Thera’s story; the sheltered daughter of a noble house who is forcefully awakened to the danger her land and her people will soon face from fierce seafaring invaders known as the Memteth.  She learns she has a destiny, according to Prophesy, to restore the bond between her people and an ancient guardian of Allenholme, the Elanraigh forest. 
Though the people of Allenholme have lost the ability to directly commune with the Elanraigh, forest-mind has been “teaching” Thera since her infancy. Her particular gift manifests at the story’s opening as the ability to project her spirit into a “joining” with a young raptor. 
Duke Leon, Thera’s father, invites a northern tribe known as Ttamarini, to ally themselves with Allenholm to defeat the Memteth invasion that Thera has foreseen in her dreams of Black Sails.  Both the Ttamarini Dream-Speaker, and the Elanraigh Forest-Mind understand that the destinies of the young Ttamarini heir and Thera of Allenholme are intertwined. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way…
 
What inspired you to write this novel?

In 1995 I read an intriguing article in the Vancouver Sun, titled “Lumber firm wails the blues over “singing forest”. Apparently a local tree planter had a spiritual experience in a forest near Tenise Creek; she says, “something akin to the voice of angels rose from the landscape.” I tucked the though provoking article away and some years later, was sorting through my tattered old file full of various newspaper and magazine articles, the “Story Ideas File”, and read the “singing forest” article again. I began to type and wrote, ““The Elanraigh forest quivered with deep unease. Forest-mind sifted the westerly wind and breathed its warning.” And so a sentient forest came to be both a major character and the setting for my YA fantasy, Elanraigh: The Vow.

How did you come up with the Title?

Hmm. As is often the case with fantasy genre, I was simply looking at a name for the forest  that evoked its beauty with a certain Celtic flavor. This particular volume features that Thera has a vow to make to the Elanraigh forest…and she must first understand the desires of her own heart.

How long did it take you to research and write the novel?

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that it took me about six years…I was working full time as a property manager at an airport, had a lot of night meetings too, so Sundays were about the only day I had to work on Elanraigh.

Is there a certain message you would like readers to get out of this novel?

I have written primarily to entertain my readers; however, I do express certain values I hold dear, through Thera, Chamakin and other characters; respect for all life…to tread gently on this earth.

Do you experience writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

Oh yes—blank page syndrome happens. Sometimes I grab a notebook and pen and push myself just to get words down; or I will just pick up a book I love and read that for  a while (I’m currently reading the Song of Fire and Ice series). Music and poetry can help there too.

Are you a full time writer? If not, how do you make time to write?

As I mentioned, I’m retired, so you’d think I had all kinds of time. No. I do try to make myself commit to at least an hour a day—of course, if things get rolling along nicely, that can stretch out to three or four hours. My local writers group arrange “writer retreats” as well. We book rooms somewhere (on the shoulder season) and blitz at writing. We raise great energy and get lots done. If we can’t swing that, we’ll just do a workshop day.

What does your marketing schedule look like?/what avenues do you use to market your book

Chaos! Ach! This is my debut novel and the entire “marketing” concept is new to me. I have a blog, and participate in some face-book groups geared to writers. I’m on Goodreads as well. Opportunities such as this, to guest on a blog are invaluable to authors trying to introduce their work to readers. My publisher, Eternal Press, have a Yahoo page where their authors can discuss and promote their work to readers as well.

What books can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently working on the sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow. I also continue to enjoy writing short stories for anthologies and have some dark fantasy published as well.
I’ll always write in the fantasy/paranormal genre as it’s what I love to read—it’s a joy to me.

What was your best ever moment as a published author?

It would take a lot to beat the moment I read the email from my publisher saying they were  pleased to accept Elanraigh. Wow! I think I ran out of the house and danced around the yard…looking back, I’m sure I terrorized some local dog walkers who happened to be strolling by just then.

What other question are you dying to be asked? And the answer is?

I’d love to give a nod to some of the authors I’ve loved over the years. I could never list them all; however, there are some whose work have influenced me strongly in what I desire to achieve. Robin McKinley, especially Beauty and the Damar novels; Ursula LeGuin, especially the Earthsea novels, C.J. Cherryh, especially Pride of Chanur series and Hunter of Worlds, Elizabeth Moon, especially the Deed of Paksenarrion series, Mary Stewart especially her Arthurian Saga.

Do you have a message for your readers?

My most cherished wish as an author would be to know that my readers have felt totally immersed in my novel’s world in all its detail—you taste the food, smell the air and live the lives of the characters. You have been moved by their love, shaken by their terrors, and can shed tears of joy for their happiness. When the book closes, that you feel in some small way that your life has been enriched. I will not rest until I can achieve that.

Thank you so much for visiting Novel Moments and Good luck with the novel.

Elanraigh: The Vow

Book Blurb:
Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way?  


Author Bio
Bio – S. A. Hunter
Author – Elanraigh: The Vow

Sandra attended school in Victoria, B.C. and later graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English Literature.  After her daughter came along, she chose to work close to home and indulge her love of animals by working for an amiable, if thrifty, veterinarian. She believes in promoting the right of all creatures to live the existence that Nature intended. This value is strongly evoked in her novel.

Sandra’s always lived at the edges of ocean and forest, so it came naturally to have a sentient forest as a major character in Elanraigh: The Vow.  She loves kayaking the scenic Island coastline, swimming and walking. She has a ready sense of humor and an optimistic outlook (a good thing when you’re a writer).

Her publications include Dark Fantasy short stories in pro magazines and she is currently working on a sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow.
 Author Blog       Email: sandyh118@shaw.ca

GIVEAWAYS

The author is having a grand giveaway, one Print copy of the book (US) a signed bookmark (INT and US) and a $20 amazon gift card (INT and US)! Use the Rafflecopter for a chance to win. Also, if you would like a chance to win an ebook copy of the book and a signed bookmark, please leave a comment. Good luck.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 14, 2012

GUEST POST: Erin Nicholas (Author of Anything You Want)


Today I would like to welcome, Erin Nicholas, the author of Anything You Want. Her novel is currently on tour and Novel Moments is one of the stops. Erin, welcome to Novel Moments. Please tell us a little more about the book. 

Anything You Want was my fifth book.  You’d think by that time, the writing would have gotten easier wouldn’t you?  Well, no.  In fact, for much of the writing I referred to it as This f#%$-ing Book!  It would not cooperate.  Or I should say, the characters would not cooperate.

I wrote a synopsis, a summary of the story.  Had it all laid out nicely.  Everyone had a part to play and there was a definite direction. 

But the characters didn’t read the synopsis.  And kept insisting on doing things their own way. 

Here’s how it went down.  I had this idea for a book.  I love reunion stories.  Especially childhood sweethearts reunited.  They know each other, have some history and obviously have some conflict.  It’s so fun.  So, I developed the characters of Sabrina and Luke.  Sabrina broke Luke’s heart, now she’s down on her luck and needs help and he’s the only one she knows she can call.  He shows up, disgruntled but unable to say no, and things happen and they fall in love, etc, etc, etc.

Sounds good right?  Sure.  But Luke had this friend, Marc.  Marc did not like Sabrina.  He hated that she always leaned on Luke and Luke never stood up and said no to her.  I started noticing that things with Sabrina and Luke just weren’t resolving, it didn’t feel right.  Not to mention all the sparks that always flew between Sabrina and Marc.  Whenever they were together they got each other all riled up.

Just what the heck was going on?!  

I finally stopped and just thought about that.  Why was I having a hard time getting Luke and Sabrina together and things between Sabrina and Marc were so interesting?

Yep, you guessed it.  Marc and Sabrina belonged together.

Which meant… ugh… rewriting the whole book.

I’m not kidding.  I wrote the whole book with Luke, but was just never happy with it.  

When I finally accepted my fate and went back and let them do what they wanted well, it was actually quite easy to write!  Things fell into place, everyone was happy (well, except Luke—who really thought he was in love with Sabrina.  But then I assured him I’d write him a book too and he felt better).

Now that it’s done, I love how it turned out.  Marc and Sabrina are absolutely perfect for each other (and Luke got his happily ever after now too in Everything You’ve Got).  But yeah, the process was complicated and I don’t want to go through that again.  

Which means that I’m even less likely to write a synopsis ahead of time.  If my characters aren’t going to read it anyway, what’s the point? 

Anything You Want
by Erin Nicholas

 
BLURB:

Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never wanted…

It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her musical dream, she’s stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined credit history—and morning sickness.

Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent streak and calls the only person who won’t hang up on her. Luke, the man she left behind.

Marc Sterling’s first instinct is to protect his business partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think she’s talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite direction.

When he shows up at her hotel room, there’s something in the air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart mouth—and purple panties—still drive him crazy, but now it’s a different kind of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest airport.

And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she’ll only say “I do”, Marc realizes he’s just crazy enough—about her—to forget whose heart he wanted to protect.

Warning: Contains two people who don’t like each other very much, a Toyota that can’t quite handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And foreplay with—what else—pie filling. 

EXCERPT 
 
The urge to kiss him was nearly overpowering. “You have to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Being so…all of this.”

“Sexy?” he suggested with a grin. “Hot? Hard to resist?”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop her smile. “Yes. All of it.”

“You think I’m hard to resist?” He sounded surprised.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

His smile changed from cocky to something much warmer. Her entire body felt it.

“It’s really, really fun, isn’t it?” he asked.

It really, really was. But she couldn’t shake the weirdness of it. This was Marc after all. Marc who had come to Wyoming to keep her away from Luke…

And that was what was bugging her.

“You’re very attentive for a guy who doesn’t like me much.”

“Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t like you at all.”

“Thanks for clarifying. And for making my point.”

“You’re wondering why I’m suddenly so…”

“Attentive is the word I’m most comfortable with.”

He chuckled. “Okay, you’re wondering why I’m suddenly so attentive.”

She wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to her next question. “Because you don’t want me with Luke?”

He crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the back counter. “I don’t want you with Luke.”

“Are you trying to make him look bad?” She regretted it as soon as she’d said it.

He looked very interested in that. “What does that mean?”

She shook her head. “Never mind. Forget it.”

She started to move past him, but he caught her arm and pulled her around to face him.

“I’m making him look bad?”

“You’re not trying?”

“Dammit, Seattle.” He hadn’t let go of her yet and he pulled her closer. He sounded intent rather than annoyed. “Tell me how I’m making him look bad.”

“You’re making me want you more than I want him.”

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances.  Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun.  She loves to write about reluctant heroes, flawed heroines, sex with food and happily ever afters.  She does not like to write dark moments, synopses or bios.  You can find Erin on the web at www.ErinNicholas.com, www.ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com, on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ErinNicholas) and even on Facebook (when necessary).


TOUR GIVEAWAYS

Erin will be awarding a grand prize of an Anything You Want Apple Pie Pack—red and white tote filled with red pot holders, a red & white apple apron and towel set, apple pie cookbook, gourmet apple pie filling and an apple pie scented candle to one randomly drawn commenter (US/Canada only please) and choice of an eBook from her backlist to one commenter at every stop.
Please follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/03/virtual-book-tour-anything-you-want-by.html

Thanks so much, Erin, for spending a bit of time with us today. I wish you the best of luck with your novel.