Six Sentence Sunday, Heart Signs style, part 8

Happy Six Sentence Sunday! This week I'm sharing more from my latest Ellora's Cave erotic contemporary release, Heart Signs, which came out 2/3. In this scene, Sam and Rory just bumped fenders and they're talking about Rory's banged-up car. ;) Hope you enjoy!

“Some scratches go pretty deep,” Sam murmured.

“The rest of the car’s pretty beat up anyway, so it's not worth the effort of fixing it,” Rory said, still caressing him through the threadbare cotton shirt. He didn't ask her to remove her hand--

his heart just beat faster.

“How does it run?”

“Like a charm.”

“Then it’s worth it, because dressing the window just helps convince people of what’s inside.”

Check out Heart Signs buy link and excerpt at Ellora's Cave HERE (also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ARe!)

Find more Six Sentence Sunday goodness HERE

Winners!

Thanks to everyone who came out to visit Mari, Lexxie (and Nick!), Erin and Taryn this week! And thanks again to my wonderful guests for visiting! There will be more author interviews and giveaways soon!

Here are the winners for the giveaways. All winners have already been contacted or will be contacted soon!

Mari Carr's winner: Taryn Elliott
Erin Nicholas's winner: Gabby
Lexxie Couper's winner: Chrisbails
Taryn Elliott's winner: JBJ Bounce

Thanks again to all! :)

UNCROSS YOUR HEART GIVEAWAY!

Today my critique partner, Taryn Elliott, becomes an officially published author. YAY! We share not one but TWO publishing houses. I love her to pieces and she's an AMAZING author who routinely makes me laugh, cry and get insanely jealous. Mark her name down, folks, because you're going to be hearing lots about her in the coming years.

Read on for some deets about her YUMMILICIOUS hero, Nate Cross, and how you can be entered to win BOTH a copy of the book and a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

So, Cari was sweet enough to let me come on her blog and talk a little bit about my first release from Ellora's Cave. Heck, this is the first release for me...EVER! I'm pretty freaking excited on the all around.

UNCROSS YOUR HEART has been years in the making. I didn't mean for it to be. But I've learned that life has a way of working out in ways that you least expect.

I wrote this novel on a lark. I needed something to write for NaNoWriMo. (National Novel Writing Month for those that aren't insane enough to give it a try or have never heard of it. Google it. Talk about crazy!)

I admit to one weakness. (Okay, so I have a bunch of them, but this is really the main one. I swear!) I have an unnatural and unrelenting fascination with musicians. I just can't help it! I have no musical ability whatsoever, so of course I'm fascinated with the entire process. But in this instance, I thought I'd go as far away from musician as humanly possible.

Insert Nathan Cross.

See. PRETTY.

Okay, so there might be a little bit of rockstar in the shoulders and overlong hair, but he's pretty much a regular guy--a guy I'd like to play naked jungle gym with, but a regular guy nonetheless. ;)

Beyond the pretty factor, he's actually a mix of everyman--he is totally in love with his family and especially his mother. (NO, not a mama's boy. Just a good Irish son.) He takes care of his friends and actually likes going to work everyday. He's a FedEx guy by day and inventor by night.

While I have no designs on being an inventor, I totally understand doing the day job deal while you find a way to make your dreams come true. I think a lot of us can relate to that. There's a finite number of us that actually get to do what we love as our day job. But for the most part we work because we have to put food on the table, support our families--or in my case, electronic toys that ain't cheap, boys and girls. Oh yeah and my dog, Stu. LOL--and pay for a house or dwelling. Then we usually have a little hobby on the side that brings us happiness.

He's created this nifty little invention that has been gaining a lot of notice, not to mention sales. It's called the Thumb Lock. It's simple, like a lot of the best and most wildly sold inventions are, and very versatile. The problem is, Nate's so focused on creating another invention that he's blind to the success he already has.

He just keeps banking his money for the future and spinning his wheels. And that flows over into his relationships as well. He's got a little crush on Miranda who sees him more as a ficus plant than a man, but never really does anything about it.

So, of course, it's my job to shake up the players and kick them out of their comfort zones. The lines blur between fantasy and reality when each of them sees a different side of the other.

Instead of the delivery guy, he's a man in a bar with a set of shoulders to die for and forearms that make Miranda sit up and take notice. And Nate gets to see the sexy siren side of the business woman that's never given him the time of day. What Miranda doesn't know is that with one dance she's opened a Pandora's box full of trouble. For the longest time she's just been a pretty stop on his everyday route. The problem is...now that he's actually touched her. Now she's real, and he's never going to want to stop.

Insert mad hijinks, sexy times in places that never seem to include a bed, and two people that finally find that little piece that's been missing from their lives and the strength to never let it go.

So, tell me what it is about a man that makes you really sit up and take notice. And if you leave a comment and an email address I'll randomly select someone to receive a $10 GC from BN or Amazon along with a copy of my novel, UNCROSS YOUR HEART in either format.

Thanks again, Cari, for letting me come to your blog on release day. There's no where else I'd rather be.

Sometimes starting over means facing your greatest fears…

Miranda Woods is adept at pretending to be someone else, someone without a past. She’s able to forget for chunks of time that she comes from a very wealthy, notorious family. She’s given up most of the party-girl vices from her old life, including sex. But that’s before Nathan Cross barges into her life.

To all appearances, Nathan Cross is a simple man—devoted to family and friends, committed to his work. But nothing is simple about Nate’s feelings for Miranda. Fascination quickly blooms to outright lust, and not just for her body. He wants all of her, even the parts she hides from the world. But Miranda’s secrets threaten to drive away the one man capable of helping her come to terms with her past, and allow a future with a love that’s all about truth.

EXCERPT here

UNCROSS YOUR HEART's BUY LINK click HERE

Visit Taryn Ellott at http://tarynelliott.com

Nick Blackthorne’s World Blog Tour CONTEST!

I'm thrilled to have the amazing Lexxie Couper here today with her delectable hero Nick Blackthorne and his world tour! And wowza, look at that delicious cover! I'm a huge, huge, HUGE fan of Nick and may or may not have immediately tweeted Lexxie the minute I finished Tropical Sin to tell her of my fervent and unending love. I'm so excited to read Love's Rhythm and all the rest of Lexxie's books that I currently have on my TBR. This is such a fun contest, so keep your eyes open as you look around my blog to find the phrase from Nick's Internation Number One bestseller Night Whispers.

Nick Blackthorne’s World Blog Tour

Cari Quinn’s blog is the fourth stop on Nick Blackthorne’s World Blog tour. Here you’ll find an exclusive interview with Nick himself, an exclusive excerpt from Love’s Rhythm PLUS a line from Nick’s International Number One bestseller, Night Whispers.

If you’re not sure what Nick Blackthorne’s World Blog Tour is, check out contest details here at Lexxie Couper’s blog http://www.lexxiecouper.com/blog/ There are prizes galore including right here! To be in the running to win an ebook from Lexxie’s backlist make sure to leave a comment or ask Lexxie (or Nick) a question. A winner will be announced at the end of the day J

Blurb

His music moves the world. Can his love move her heart?

Nick Blackthorne knows all about words of love. They’re the reason he’s the world’s biggest rock star. The irony? He turned his back on love a long time ago, lured away by the trappings of fame.

An invitation to a friend’s wedding is a stark reminder of how meaningless his life has become. When he enters that church, there’s only one woman he wants on his arm—the one he walked out on a lifetime ago. But first he has to find her, even if all she accepts from him is an apology.

Kindergarten teacher Lauren Robbins once had what every woman on the planet desires. Nick. Their passion was explosive, their romance the stuff of songs…and it took fifteen years to get over him. Then out of the blue Nick turns up at her door, and all those years denying her ache for him are shattered with a single, smoldering kiss.

But molten passion can’t hide the secret she’s kept for all these years. Because it’s not just her heart on the line anymore…and not just her life that’ll be rocked by the revelation.  

Product Warnings

Remember your first crush on a rock star? Now add smoldering sex, a raw and undeniable passion, soul-shattering orgasms. And secrets… 

The Romance Interview With Nick Blackthorne

We sat down with rock star,  Nick Blackthorne and asked him about romance. Here’s what he had to say…

Do you believe in True Love? Absolutely. True love, that unconditional kind of love that most singers sing about, definitely exists. The trouble is I think, a lot of people miss it. Or expect love to be all about them when it has to be about two people. I lost my heart to my true love a long time ago but then went and messed it all up because I was, well to be frank, bloody stupid. True love is that perfect combination of wanting nothing in the world but the person you love being happy, and knowing the person you love wants nothing else but to see you smile and be happy. It’s beautiful. 

How do you make your True Love feel special on her birthday? Breakfast in bed to start the day. Then a helicopter flight to the local vineyard for a picnic hamper lunch followed by a relaxed stroll around the estate, hand-in-hand. After that, fly back home before finishing off the day by cooking her dinner and cleaning up. And then…it’s present time.

Another man hits on your True Love in a bar. How do you deal with that situation?  I want to say I’d punch the crap out of him, but I’m probably not allowed. Can I get my bodyguard to punch the crap out of him? No? Hmmm, okay. I’m told I can be quite intimidating when I want to, so I’d bloody well make sure the guy knew he was being wanker, tell him to back off and pull his head in before it gets knocked off. Hmm, I keep coming back to violence don’t I?

Your True Love comes in from a bad day at work. What do you do to make her feel better? Foot massage. First thing first, foot massage. Then let her vent. I know we men try to fix everything, but just let her vent. Keep massaging her feet while she’s venting. Then offer to cook dinner while she takes a bath. After that, she’s in control of the TV remote. Or movie selection. Or Wii game choice.

What is your ideal “Happy Ever After”? Spending the rest of my life with the woman I love, watching our kids grow up – yes, I said, kids, plural – taking them to soccer games, teaching them how to play the guitar…but the most important thing...just being with her. Left alone by the paparazzi and media to be with her and our family, like any other normal couple.

Exclusive Snippet from Love’s Rhythm

Nick laughed again, the sound utterly joyous. He shook his head, one part of his brain wondering how long it would be before his bodyguard let Walter go, another part wondering just how long it would take to find…

Lauren.

Her name played over his senses, soft and gentle like her, teasing him just like she had all the way through high school.

And just like it had in high school, his body reacted to that tease—his heart thumping harder, his mouth growing dry, his hands growing sweaty.

Nick let out a groan, quickening his pace through the studio’s rabbit-warren-like hallways until he was almost running. With a nod at the receptionist perched behind the front desk—a perky little blonde he’d partied with more than once over the years—he pushed hard at the heavy glass doors and stepped out into the crisp Melbourne winter morning.

Walter didn’t slam into him from behind. No one stopped him, in fact, which told Nick that Aslin was still keeping the record producer under control. Perfect.

Lifting the collar of his old, battered leather jacket against the cool breeze, he turned and walked toward Collins Street. He’d grab an overnight bag from his suite at the Grand Hyatt, hail a taxi and get his arse to the airport. If he was lucky he’d be able to catch the next flight to…

Nick slowed to a halt, ignoring the chilly wind tugging at his hair and clothes. Fuck. He had no idea where he was going. The last time he’d seen Lauren they were living in a tiny apartment above a delicatessen in Western Sydney fifteen years ago. They’d moved there from their home town so he could be closer to his newly signed agent—a dubious talent manager by the name of Reginald Eggleston who’d promised a naïve twenty-year-old Nick the world. Lauren had enrolled at Sydney University to study teaching and the pair of them had existed in a crammed environment full of laughter and long nights screwing each other senseless. Then came the groupies, the constant fan mail and women of all ages throwing themselves at Nick. The tours around Australia, around the US, the UK, and then the night Lauren said goodbye…

A thick lump settled high in Nick’s throat, and he swallowed. What the hell was he thinking? That she would still be in that stingy little shoebox that always stank of salami? That she would be sitting on their second-hand sofa with its squeaky springs and frayed paisley covering, waiting for him to waltz back into her life? Jesus, had she even finished her teacher’s degree? He didn’t know. Why didn’t he know?

Because you’re a selfish prick, Nick. Because Lauren didn’t want to go where you were going so you cut her loose and went there on your own, fucking every little groupie who spread her thighs for you on the way. Do you really think Lauren Robbins is going to want to even see you again, let alone go to a wedding with you? Fuck, you really don’t have a clue about normal life, do you? For all your self-congratulatory gloating over finding yourself again, after learning who you really are after the shit of the last two years of your life, you still think like a fucking rock star—self-centered, self-absorbed and self-important.

The lump in Nick’s throat thickened. Choked him. He sucked in a ragged breath, the chill on the air burning his lungs. “Jesus, you’re an idiot.”

****

Buy links for Love’s Rhythm

Samhain Publishing http://store.samhainpublishing.com/loves-rhythm-p-6744.html

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Rhythm-ebook/dp/B007C6YYSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329964359&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loves-rhythm-lexxie-couper/1109129892?ean=9781609287023

Welcome to the fantabulous Erin Nicholas! CONTEST!

Yay, one of my very favorite authors is here today to celebrate her brand new release, EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. Look at that cover! Don't you want to read it? I can't wait! My Kindle's practically vibrating saying read me, read me, read me!

Erin's put together a wonderful post for everyone today and as a special bonus, we're also giving away an e-copy of the 1st book in the Anything & Everything series, ANYTHING YOU WANT. If I say I loved that book, it wouldn't do my feelings justice, so I'll just claim Marc for own yet again and be done with it. (Back off, ladies!) All it takes is a comment or question for Erin (please also leave your email address) and you're entered into the drawing! Winner will be picked this Saturday, 3/24.


Now here's Erin!

There are handcuffs and then there are HANDCUFFS

I write contemporary romance.  Sure, it’s sexy.  Yes, I use “dirty” words (and love every one of them! J).  No, my characters definitely do not close the bedroom door.

A couple of my characters have had semi-public sex (okay, more than a couple J) and some of my characters have used toys and flavored body powder and they’ve all tried various positions.  Not to mention the food!  Pie filling, for instance.  Cold cappuccino.  Butter!  (that’s right… butter).  Yes, there’s been some of all of that.  And here’s the kind of writer I am—I let the characters decide how it’s gonna go.  I mean, it’s their sex life.  If they want to worry about the mess of involving butter in their lovemaking, who am I to stop them?

So, when handcuffs showed up in my latest release, Everything You’ve Got, I went with it.  It made sense and it was fun.  The cuffs definitely got the job done.

But then I started thinking—handcuffs might give people a different idea about my writing.  I love the sexy stuff.  I don’t mind some light bondage in my reading.  I don’t mind if the couple invites someone else into their bed.  I don’t mind if they go to a sex club and have not-so-semi-public-sex.  At all! (hellooo, Spencer!) (Edited by Cari to add: Spencer says helloooo back to Erin! LOL)  But I don’t write it.  I write straight, sexy, two people contemporary romance.  So, I thought maybe it would be worthwhile to point out that there are handcuffs and then there are HANDCUFFS.

The handcuffs in Everything You Want serve first to get Luke to his surprise party.  Nothing kinky.  Okay, there’s a steamy kiss but this is very PG-13 handcuff use.

Then Luke uses them to get Kat in the RV and on the road trip he’s convinced will get their relationship really started.  Sure, she offers him a blow job to set her free—but yeah, PG-13-ish otherwise.

Then Kat uses them… oh, yeah.  Okay, that gets a little more R-rated J  But still… overall these are just handcuffs.

 

So, while I’m sure they’re going to keep the cuffs in the bedside table just in case, I don’t think Kat and Luke will be graduating to anything kinkier.  Or maybe they will. Kat does have a fondness for black leather thigh-high boots.  And Luke, after all, has a fondness for Kat.  Anyway, it’s their life and their sex.  I just write about it. 

But... imagine what they could do in public with those cuffs and some butter!

EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT BLURB

A girl, a guy, a set of handcuffs… What more could happily ever after possibly need?

Anything & Everything, Book 2

Luke Hamilton’s requirements for the perfect woman are straightforward: live, work and play in his beloved hometown—and get along with his mother.  Dr. Kat Dayton’s got it all.  And Luke’s noticed.  It’s obvious to him that his long-time friend belongs with him, especially after the world-rocking kiss she lays on him at his birthday party.

While Kat can’t deny she’s imagined a kiss like that—and more—for years, she’s less convinced they’re destined for happily ever after.  Still, Luke figures that’s nothing a friendly kidnapping and a three-day road trip won’t fix.

Kat would love to let Luke in, but if he discovers the truth—that committee meetings bore her to tears and she’d rather have a root-canal than go to another potluck—his white-picket-fence dreams will be crushed.

Being stuck in an RV with Luke should be three days of flirtatious fun, but for Kat it’s heavenly hell. The close confines and good old-fashioned lust are making a mockery of her perfect-woman façade, and if he finds out about the mistake that might cost her job—

and force her to leave town for good—it’ll take more than a sexy pair of handcuffs to keep him close.

Warning:  Contains a man who's willing to do anything for the perfect woman, an RV and surprise road-trip to help him prove it, and a woman who's wondering just what the hell she's gotten into.

EXCERPT FROM EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT

 “Close your eyes,” he said, his lips against her ear.

She did, shivering a little though she was feeling anything but cold.

Then she felt the brush of silk against her cheek and felt him slide what she assumed to be his tie over her eyes. She was sure of it as she felt the gentle tug of him tying the ends behind her head.

“Uh, Luke?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you just blindfold me?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re actually blindfolding me?”

“Yep.”

Her heart sped up. Okay, now they were moving in the direction she wanted.

“It’s very likely I’ll peek,” she told him.

“I’m sure you’re right.”

Then he leaned in.

Kat felt her breath catch and she felt herself drift closer to him, seeking his heat.

“This will fix that.”

But she didn’t ask what he was talking about because his lips met the back of her neck. Tingles spread quickly. She found herself wanting more, tipping her head forward to be sure he knew she was fine with this. His response was to slide his hands down her arms bringing her hands behind her back. Then his tongue licked a spot behind her ear and she lost track of anything else.

A moment later, she felt the cold metal of the handcuffs click around her wrists.

She couldn’t have really explained to anyone how it happened. It was fast and smooth.

She tugged on her wrists. “What are you doing?”

“Handcuffing you.”

“What is going on?” she demanded, trying to sound annoyed.

She didn’t think she pulled it off. She sounded breathless and turned on. Which made sense since that was exactly what she was.

Suddenly she felt him move in front of her and the next thing she knew her world tipped—literally—and she was being carried over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Whatever I want,” he said putting a big palm on her right butt cheek.

Yeah, she couldn’t argue with that assessment of the situation.

Oh, sure, she could scream, kick, run, try to get away. But then she might actually get away which, she was honest enough to admit, was the last thing she really wanted.

Twenty minutes later she’d changed her mind.

She was handcuffed to a chair in the kitchen area of Sabrina and Marc’s RV.

Luke sat in the driver’s seat. Driving. Away from Justice.

She’d tried everything to get him to free her. She’d even offered him a blow job.

He’d turned the radio up at that point and hadn’t turned it down since.

She saw the sign for Martinsburg—he’d removed the blindfold as soon as she was secured to the chair—so she knew they were headed east.

Finally she sighed. Whatever he had planned, he was winning so far. The farther they got from Justice the lower her chances were of hitchhiking back or calling for a ride.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going at least?” she yelled over Green Day’s latest hit.

He leaned forward and lowered the volume. “Nashville.” Apparently he could hear better than he’d let on.

Then she focused on what he’d said. Nashville? Well, of course they were going to Nashville.

Son of a bitch. She tugged on the bindings at her wrists. He was kidnapping her to Nashville.

Cocktales Pub Crawl with Mari Carr! CONTEST!

Before Mari takes over, I have to tell you guys that Mari is pretty much the reason I started writing erotic romance. Yeah, I know I've told this story before, but bear with me! LOL She was the first erotic romance author that I read when I was trying to see if the genre was for me and her book, Tequila Truth, basically set me off on my path. She's one of my favorite authors and a sweetheart to boot! I can't wait to read SCREWDRIVER tomorrow!

Read on for your opportunity to win a backlist ebook of Mari's (and trust me, you want one, because  I've read just about all her books and they're all incredible!)

Welcome to the eighth stop in the Cocktales Pub Crawl. Newsflash…though I think y’all may already know this…Cari Quinn rocks. Like really rocks. Her books suck you in and grab hold of you and there’s no letting go until you hit the words The End. I’d love to hate her for being so fabulous, but it’s impossible because she’s also so damn nice. I can’t win. LOL. So…today’s drink was selected with my very dear Cari in mind. She’s got a new book coming out in April called Virgin Territory (snicker, she said virgin).

For this eighth round, let’s try a Passionate Virgin. Remember to write down that drink title to be entered in the grand prize drawing. Details about the crawl can be found on my website (www.maricarr.com).

2/3 oz cinnamon schnapps
1/3 oz Tabasco® sauce
1 cherry

Pour 1/3 oz. tabasco sauce into a cordial glass. Add two parts of cinammon schnapps. Pierce a stemmed cherry throughout in order for it to become filled with cinnamon schnapps. Drop it into bottom of glass.

This week’s pub crawl is being held to celebrate the release of Screwdriver on Tuesday, March 20. It’s is available for preorder at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Cocktales books are about four friends who own a combination bar/bookstore in Portland called Books and Brew (this is my DREAM business). Each woman runs a different aspect of the business—bartender, bookkeeper/office manager, the marketing/events coordinator, and the bookstore gal.

The theme of friendship is strong throughout these books. I love all my girlfriends. They get me through the long days, the sad days, the PMS days, and all the others in between. What is at the heart of the Cocktales books is these four women who are always there for each other. So today…I thought I’d give you a sneak peek of some of their “girl talk” just for fun.

Stephanie reached beneath the bar for her purse. “I need to run home and grab a swimsuit. You guys in?”

Jayne nodded. “Yeah. The pool sounds like fun. Want to take one car and stop at my place on the way to yours?”

Stephanie pulled her car keys out of her handbag. “Sure. I’ll drive. How about you, Jordan?”

Jordan crinkled her nose. City pools weren’t her thing. “No thanks. I might hang out here for a bit in case Gabriel emails or calls.”

Stephanie gave her a wicked grin. “If he does call, why not be bold for once and ask the guy out?”

Jayne stepped closer. “I agree with Steph. I mean, if you’re destined to be all hot and sticky today, you might as well get there the fun way. With Gabriel.”

Jordan tried to fight back the blush the mere mention of Gabriel’s name inspired, recalling the red-hot fantasy she had played out in her office this morning. It was a lost cause. Her friends loved to tease her about her fruitless crush on their landlord. Gabriel Lawson was richer than Midas, more handsome than Gerard Butler and the ultimate ladies’ man.

He’d also held her heart in his hand since the first day they met. She’d long ago resigned herself to the idea she and Gabriel would never be more than friends. Gabriel had come to count on her as the one woman who would never hit on him. He was oblivious to her true desires. While being just friends was an annoying position, she didn’t intend to give it up anytime soon. Gabriel had a permanent revolving door when it came to girlfriends. The masochistic part of her took some sick pride in the fact that she was the only one still standing.

Besides, she’d seen the beauties on Gabriel’s arm over the years and the old Sesame Street song drifted through her mind. She was definitely the one thing unlike all the others. She didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell at capturing his attention, so she maintained her Gabriel worship in secret. Instead of upsetting the norm, she offered him friendly conversation and advice, while casting him as the star in all her masturbation daydreams.

Jordan feigned a yawn. “Oh thank God, you managed to get in your Gabriel dig today. And it’s early. Not even noon. That may be a new record for the two of you.”

Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Nice dodge, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re shortchanging the both of you. The guy’s perfect for you. You’re both number freaks. You listen to the same crap jazz music and actually choose to go to art museums during your free time. Think of all the pretty, nerdy babies you could bring into the world.”

“Gabriel is hardly a nerd.” Gabriel was male perfection incarnate, with dark eyes, soft brown hair, chiseled jaw and a toned body that begged to be touched. In addition to that, he was alpha, intelligent, handsome, suave. Jordan had a never-ending list of descriptions for him and “nerd” was nowhere on it.

Jayne, the bookworm of the group, placed her hands on her hips. “It’s a good thing we keep you trapped behind that bar slinging drinks, Steph. You have no culture in your soul. Poor Jared.”

Stephanie was six months into the longest relationship of her life, with the man Jordan truly hoped her friend would eventually marry. Jared, a local police detective, had given Stephanie a ticket for double-parking and, after a few tumultuous dates, the key to his house. “Jared and I see eye to eye on what’s fun. Rock concerts. Check. A day at the beach. Check. Walking around a museum looking at indecipherable paintings for hours on end. No thanks.”

Jordan raised her hand, cutting off the familiar argument. “This entire conversation is pointless. Gabriel doesn’t know I’m interested and I’m not about to ask him out on a date. There’s no way I’d risk our friendship just to be his flavor of the month.”

Stephanie crinkled her nose. “Let’s be serious. With Gabe, it’s more like flavor of the week.”

Jordan tilted her head in annoyance. “Thanks for the distinction.”

Stephanie’s face showed no remorse. “The difference is you wouldn’t be a short-term deal. You have the advantage.”

“What’s that?” Jordan asked.

“You’re pretty and smart, the two of you have tons in common and you’re already friends, which I’ve heard is how you’re supposed to start a relationship.”

Jayne laughed. “I think that may be an old wives’ tale. God knows you and Jared skipped straight to the good part and you’re still going strong.”

Stephanie nodded. “Good point, but I’d say it’s already too late for Jordan to sleep with Gabriel the first night they meet.”

Jordan leaned on the bar. “God. I wish I had your nerve. I miss sex.”

Now how about a little contest? Leave a comment here on Cari’s blog by 6 a.m. (EST tomorrow, March 20) and one winner will receive their choice of an ebook from my backlist. The question is an easy one. Each day we’ve been trying some pretty unusual cocktails on our pub crawl. If you were really going to a pub, what drink would you order?

Six Sentence Sunday, Heart Signs style, part 7

Happy Six Sentence Sunday! This week I'm sharing more from my latest Ellora's Cave erotic contemporary release, Heart Signs, which came out 2/3. In this scene, Sam and Rory just bumped fenders and he asks her to come back to his apartment to exchange information...and maybe more. ;) Hope you enjoy!

Sam pivoted toward Rory and this time she didn’t retreat. This time she moved closer. She had to touch him, had to know. Her lips trembled open and she lifted her hand to his chest. She expected the wall of hard muscle. What she didn’t expect was the wild throb of his heart beneath her palm, its skipping beat encouraging her own to race.

Check out Heart Signs buy link and excerpt at Ellora's Cave HERE (also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ARe!)

Find more Six Sentence Sunday goodness HERE

Winners! And other awesome stuff!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!


I'm way late posting these winners, but hopefully I'll make it up to you by the slew of amazing guests visiting the blog next week! There will be multiple opportunities to win cool stuff and you'll learn a bit more about some of your favorite authors (or soon to be favorite authors, in the case of my fantabulous CP, Taryn Elliott.)

What's on the agenda?


Monday 3/19 - the wonderful Mari Carr will be visiting as part of her Cocktales pub crawl!


Wednesday 3/21 - the incredible Erin Nicholas will be celebrating her latest release, EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!


Thursday 3/22 - the awesomesauce Lexxie Couper will be sharing as part of her LOVE's RHYTHM world tour!


And Friday 3/23, my bestie, CP and terrific author, Taryn Elliott, will be talking a bit about her FIRST EVER book release, UNCROSS YOUR HEART!

And oh yeah, did I mention there would be PRIZES? Hoping to see you there!

Speaking of prizes, I owe people a bunch of them, and I'll be emailing the winners in the next few days.

Here are the winners from recent blog hops I've participated in. Congrats to the winners and thanks so much for participating! 


The winners of the WITH LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY BLOG HOP are:


One commenter wins a $5 GC to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) - CAYCE


Another winner wins two of my backlist ebooks of their choice - WAKEANGEL


The winners of the NAUGHTY AFTER DARK BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY are:

Five winners win a backlist ebook of their choice -

SARAH KALAITZIDIS

JEAN P

RHONDA D

BOOKS4ME

RENEAVA

The winners of the ST. PATRICK'S DAY BLOG HOP are:

Grand Prize 1: Winner's Choice of a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet -

#136 from Carrie Ann Ryan’s  - Melissa L 

Grand Prize 2: Winner's Choice of a $90 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card - #4186 from Wendy Smith's Blog - Shadow

Winner of a backlist ebook of their choice - JESSICA SUBJECT
Winner of ebook copy of VIRGIN TERRITORY when it releases - BOOKATTICT

St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop!

First of all, if you're waiting on prize announcements for some of my recent blog hops and contests, they'll be coming within the next few days, along with the winner of THIS blog hop, promise! I've been behind lately but I'm donning my green Supergirl cape and taking care of bizness this weekend!

Now for the hop, put together by the incredible Carrie Ann Ryan!

We're having a Blog Hop to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and wearing green! Over 120 authors are going to be telling anything they can about being Irish, celebrating the day, wearing green, drinking green beer... pretty much anything!

For me, St. Patrick's Day means a couple things. Watching our local hometown parade on TV (one of the best in the nation!) and also going shopping. What? I know, that sounds weird, but since I was a child, a local furniture shop would drape the store in green and do it up Irish style for the month of March. And...I have a hardcore furniture fetish. Yep, I said it. So every year, I have to go check out their big sale and drink their free Irish coffee (just about the only alcohol I drink all year) and dream over the furniture I want. I know...lame, right? But it makes me happy and it's a fun tradition. Plus it helps me design rooms in my books!

Speaking of books...here's the cover of my latest release HEART SIGNS. Which isn't Irish-related, but does have a big, sexy, bald hero. ;)

Just in case you want to check it out (it's hot and emotional and hopefully fun here and there too) here's the Ellora's Cave buy link. Click HERE.

Oh yeah, now what was I saying? Back to the hop! Each author will be giving away a prize. Like a swag pack, gift cards, ebooks, print books, and so much more.

So what's MY prize?  A backlist book (winner's choice!) to one winner and an ebook copy of my NEXT release, VIRGIN TERRITORY - as soon as it becomes available - to a second winner.


What do you have to do to win? It's EASY! Just become a follower of the blog and leave a comment telling me if you plan to get frisky or have fun on St. Patrick's Day. That's it!

PLUS We have TWO Grand Prizes for TWO different winners!

Grand Prize 1: Winner's Choice of a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet


Grand Prize 2: Winner's Choice of a $90 Amazon or Barnes&Noble Gift Card

Just visit the websites below on Friday March 16th and comment on as many as you want. The grand prize winners will be chosen at random from the commenters - meaning you can comment on EACH blog - meaning 120 entries to the grand prize.

Come on over and wear your green and win some prizes!

My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris Cover Reveal!

Yay! The day is here! My girl and fellow Entangled Publishing author, Rachel Harris, is revealing her gorgeous cover for MY SUPER SWEET 16TH CENTURY today. Isn't it beautiful? And read on for an incredible excerpt and where/how you can pre-order it!

MY SUPER SWEET 16TH CENTURY Excerpt:

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”

She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?”

At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.

Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”

I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.

Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.

“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”

Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.

Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

My Super Sweet 16th Century releases September 11, 2012! It's available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble. Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Be sure to connect with Rachel at:
www.RachelHarrisWrites.com
www.twitter.com/@RachelHarrisYA
www.facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA
www.goodreads.com/RachelHarris

Six Sentence Sunday, Heart Signs style, part 6 ~ naughty!

Happy Six Sentence Sunday! This week I'm sharing more from my latest Ellora's Cave erotic contemporary release, Heart Signs, which came out 2/3. In this scene, Sam and Rory just bumped fenders and he asks her to come back to his apartment to exchange information...and maybe more. ;) Hope you enjoy!

Rory's skin heated under his stare. Sam didn’t speak, just rested his fingers lightly on her battered car’s new scar. It felt as if he was touching her intimately, holding his hand over the pulse point in her throat, over her heart. Over her breasts and her sex and all the sensitized nerve endings in between.

“I can fix this for you.”

God, just the whisker-rasp of his voice made her melt. 

Check out Heart Signs buy link and excerpt at Ellora's Cave HERE (also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ARe!)

Find more Six Sentence Sunday goodness HERE

Six Sentence Sunday, Heart Signs style, part 5

Happy Six Sentence Sunday! This week I'm sharing more from my latest Ellora's Cave erotic contemporary release, Heart Signs, which came out 2/3. In this scene, Sam and Rory just bumped fenders and he asks her to come back to his apartment to exchange information...and maybe more. ;) Hope you enjoy!

Rory followed Sam's silver Chevelle, keeping far enough back that she wouldn’t accidentally inflict any more damage on his previously pristine classic car. He swung into the drive of an ordinary-looking two-family house and she parked behind him, using the moment it took to grab her purse to suck in a deep breath. She’d told Pam she’d be gone for two hours, just in case.

She glanced up as he climbed out of his car. His intent dark eyes bored into hers through the windshield and she felt the hit all the way to her toes.

Two hours that just might change her life.

Check out Heart Signs buy link and excerpt at Ellora's Cave HERE (also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ARe!)


Find more Six Sentence Sunday goodness HERE