Wife for Hire by Christine Bell-Guest Post w/Giveaway

 

First off, I’m so happy to be at Cari’s blog today, because I’m such a huge fan of her writing. But also because, WHOOHOO! This is the week I’ve been WAITING FOR! Wife for Hire is finally out with Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m running an epic blog tour featuring Let Me Indulge You contest, so stick around for details and to comment!

The concept of Wife for Hire was brought about by a hilarious conversation with my husband and kids one night when we lost power(that I’m sure ALL of us have had at one time or another) about what we would do for money. We went back and forth, lobbing one unlikely scenario after another at each other. It went a little like this:

Kid 1: Would you eat a spider for twenty bucks?

Me: No.

Kid 2: Yes

Kid 3: Do I have to chew?

Kid 4: Alive or dead?

Hubs: Twenty bucks? Seriously?? Who would do that for twenty bucks.

Kid 2: It takes me four hours after taxes to earn twenty bucks. I could eat a spider in like three seconds.

Kid 1: What if it was dipped in mayonnaise?

*dead stares from all in the room as we cannot figure out whether this is supposed to make it more or less palatable*

Me: No.

Kid 2: Thirty bucks. I hate mayonnaise

Kid 3: But do I have to chew??

Kid 4: Could I make it into a sandwich? And is it alive or dead?

 

And so it went. From being buried alive for 24 hours (bidding on that one started at 100k and topped off at “there is no amount of money”) to swimming with sharks (with much debate about time of day, size of shark and whether there was a chubbier, slower swimmer in the water with you). We laughed and groaned and pointed fingers and had a rip roaring good laugh.

It got me thinking about people and how differently they value money depending on their circumstances in life. Kid #2 would eat spider for twenty bucks because he makes minimum wage, and that’s a decent amount of money to him and he places no moral cost on the action of eating the spider. Then you’ve got kid #4 who’s a vegetarian. The morality of eating a spider if it was alive makes it a whole other can of worms. So that’s how Wife for Hire jumps off. Not with worms, of course, but when Belfast billionaire Owen Phipps offers Lindy Knight twenty-thousand dollars, she’s not in a position to say no. She’s got seven puppies and a little old lady counting on her. After some ill-advised small business ideas went bad, she’s hanging onto her house by a thread, so when she comes across a cryptic ad on Craigslist looking for an actress to do a three-week gig, she responds (in spite of her concern that it might end up getting her serial-murdered). What she gets is gorgeous Owen on her doorstep needing a fake wife to help him infiltrate a couple's retreat so that he can catch the conman who broke his sister's heart (and bank account). Hilarity, sexy times and a wee bit of intrigue ensue.

 

Check out the blurb!

 

He needs a wife for three weeks…

Owen Phipps is out for revenge. His mission? To expose the man who stole his sister’s money and dignity. All he needs is a “wife” who can play along. Too bad his last best hope is an actress who tries to mace him with perfume when he offers her the role of a lifetime.

 

Lindy Knight is a real sap. She loves too hard, feels too deep, and often finds herself saying yes when she should be saying “Let me think about it.” She can’t believe her good fortune when Owen offers her more than enough money to hold off foreclosure until she can find a job. Three weeks at a resort, money she desperately needs, and she gets to help bring a criminal to justice? Score.

 

It seems easy enough until the first time a couples bonding game turns intimate, and they realize how dangerous their mutual attraction could be. Can they keep their hands to themselves long enough to find the evidence Owen needs? Or are the close quarters more temptation than they can handle?

 

Sounds fun, right? So tell me, blog readers! How much would it take for you to eat a spider? Does the mayonnaise help or hurt? And if a gorgeous Irish billionaire wanted you to be his wife for three weeks, what would you say?

 

I’ll be giving a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to one commenter! Winner will be selected on Tuesday, so stop back to see if it’s you!

 

 AND I’m also running a Let Me Indulge You contest. If Wife for Hire gets onto the Amazon OR Barnes & Noble top 500 list by September 18th, I will be giving away a $250 gift card to the salon or spa of one lucky winner’s choice. Sign into Rafflecopter below and every comment from my blog tour will be counted as an entry. Follow my whole blog tour? EACH comment = another entry! Extra entries will also be given for tweeting or posting the link to the book on your Facebook page:

 

You can find Christine and her books here:

http://www.christine-bell.com/

https://twitter.com/_ChristineBell

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/wife-for-hire/

 

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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?

Unwrapped CONTEST!

Since I have a shiny, cover-less ARC of UNWRAPPED in my hot little paws, I'd love to give one away to a random winner who leaves a comment here or contacts me through my site and tells me how they plan to spend the holidays, whether or not you celebrate them. If you don't celebrate Christmas, just tell me something you're looking forward to this month. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Contest will run until Sunday night, winner announced then. UNWRAPPED's not out till Tues Dec 6th so read it before you can buy it.

And to convince you that you'd like to read this story of m/m/f goodness...

“I’m only asking because it’s you. Normally I’d say to hell with it and take my shot,” Matt said, his voice guttural. “I want in those pants of yours, and I’m going to get there. But only if you say yes first.”

To his surprise, Cait gave him a small smile and rubbed her palm over her wool-clad thigh. “I’m wearing a dress.”

“Is that a yes?”

She paused just long enough to make him want to drop to his knees and say a loud, fervent prayer. “No.” He still hadn’t recovered from her answer when her smile widened. “That’s a hell yes, please.”

He soon found himself on his knees anyway, close enough to her heat to breathe her in. He translated the confusion on her face as he rolled up her dress, revealing her pale legs. No stockings or garters. Just pure, untouched flesh.

Really untouched.

His mouth went dry, and he glanced up to seek her permission again. This wasn’t some random girl he’d hooked up with in a bar. It also wasn’t Tristan, who not only took what he dished out but served it right back up to him. This was the girl he’d loved so long, platonically and then otherwise, that he hardly remembered the years before she’d come into his life. It felt like she’d always been there. Always would be.

Trying to get himself back in line, he kissed the inside of her knee. She touched his hair, reaching down to loosen his ponytail like he’d done with hers. She brushed her fingers over the back of his neck, saying more with that one gesture than she could have with a thousand words.

I want you. I trust you. I love you. 

Add UNWRAPPED to your Goodreads To Read Shelf and read the blurb HERE

Welcome Romance Author Erin Nicholas! And Contest!

So I've told this story before, how Erin Nicholas writes books that make me stay up all night long on work nights to finish them. Seriously, can you imagine? And then she has to go and keep writing MORE amazing books...which reminds me, she has a brand new release out just yesterday from Samhain, HOTBLOODED.

I have my copy...and if you comment after reading Erin's post, you might just win yours! If you don't, go buy it. Because Erin's books=awesome. But Marc from ANYTHING YOU WANT is mine, just saying.

Here's Erin! And don't forget to leave her a question or comment with your email included if you want to be entered in the drawing (you do! trust me, you do!)


I love writing heroes who come to other people’s rescues—sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Often the guys I write are reluctant heroes. Ben Torres, Sam Bradford, Mac Gordon, Marc Sterling… yep, all pretty reluctant. They don’t want to be the knight in shining armor. They want to be the bad boys, they want to have a good time, they want to avoid the complications. Yet… they can’t help it in the end. Certainly for the heroine, but even for other people around them.

*sigh*. Reluctant heroes are fun. Because it really shows the depth of their feelings when they step up anyway.

Then I also have a soft spot for the quiet heroes. The ones who do the right thing, are rock solid, always steady, but don’t call attention to their actions. I’m married to one of these. I don’t need dragons slayed or villains battled, but I do need someone to vanquish the things that suck my time and energy and make me less than happy—like laundry. That’s right, he does laundry. All the laundry. All the time. He also shares in cooking, does dishes and grocery shops! Which leaves me time to write. Since I work and we have two kids, giving me time to write this way is a precious gift.

So I really like both reluctant and quiet heroes.

Which is why Jack Silver, the hero in my newest release, Hotblooded, made me a little nervous. When I “met” Jack, I immediately recognized that he was different. He’s not just willing and able to do the right thing, to help people, to take the lead… he thrives on it. He’s an ER physician because he likes to be the hero. His brother (who happens to be a psychiatrist) accuses him of having a super-hero complex. Which Jack doesn’t deny.

He’s pretty in-your-face—in a sexy and charming way, of course ;) -- about doing whatever it takes to make things right. So when he feels obligated to the heroine, Brooke, there’s no getting rid of him. Brooke doesn’t want him around, doesn’t want his help and doesn’t appreciate his pushy ways. But that doesn’t slow Jack down at all.

Here’s what I mean:


“I’m going to help you make this clinic successful.”

Oh, no he wasn’t. Hell no.

For one thing, she didn’t want anyone’s help with anything. Second of all she didn’t want this clinic to be successful. She was here temporarily to fulfill her contract. Period. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “I don’t need your help.”

“So you’ve been telling me since I got to town.”

“When are you going to start listening?”

“When you don’t need help anymore.”

She stared at him for several ticks of the clock. Then she said tightly, “I am perfectly capable of seeing the patients scheduled today. That’s the nice thing about having a small caseload.”

“That’s why you should let me help. Let’s build this up, do some renovations maybe, get some—”

“You think we should renovate.” Really? He wanted to put up curtains or something? That’s what all of this was about?

He lifted a shoulder. “Just make it feel a little warmer and friendlier.”

“You think people aren’t coming in because of how we painted the waiting room?” Not that she loved the waiting room either. It was boring and, okay, cold. But that wasn’t why she could hear crickets up there.

“New paint can’t hurt, can it?”

“We’re not repainting.”

He waited until she’d brushed past him.

When her hand was on the swinging door he said, “Fine. But that still leaves one issue un-attended to.”

Don’t ask. Keep walking. Leave. But she asked, “What issue?” anyway.

“The issue of you needing a supervising physician as of…let’s see…oh, yes. Today. Right now.”

She stood stock still at the door for several long seconds. Then she turned. Even once she faced him again, she didn’t speak right away. Finally she asked simply, “You?”

He grinned, clearly pleased in spite of her lack of enthusiasm. “Yes. Me. You need a supervising physician to practice as a physician’s assistant. I’m a physician. It works perfectly.”

She frowned at him. “How did you know I needed a supervisor?” But she held up a hand as the answer came to her. “Carla.” Clearly her nurse—and former friend—had filled Jack in on the fact that Dr. Cunningham was retiring and that there was no replacement yet. The patients on the schedule today were the last ones she could see until someone stepped up to supervise her.

She hadn’t been exactly pushing for that supervisor. All she had to do in this clinic was show up. Patients or not. Supervising physician or not.

So what if that bugged her a little? So what if she was a little bored, knew she was wasting her time and knew there were patients she could be helping? It wasn’t like they were going without medical care entirely. They had to drive an hour but no one was dying. And she didn’t want to get attached. She’d gotten attached in San Antonio and then had to leave. It had been hard on her patients and on her. She wasn’t going through that again. Especially here. She wasn’t staying even if she did get attached and that was that. Better not to have to say any tearful goodbyes.

He nodded. “She confirmed it.”

Brooke rolled her eyes. “It’s amazing the topics that come up over cups of cappuccino. I’m so glad we got that machine.”

He smiled widely. “Anyway, you need me.”

He shouldn’t seem so pleased by that. And she needed to get her imagination in check. She couldn’t go off on pornographic daydreams every time he said the word need or help

or take or…

She shook her head and asked, “So you think you’re going to be my supervising physician?”

“Yes.”

“What about your real job?”

“Leave of absence.”

“Indefinitely?”

“No.” But he didn’t elaborate.

She studied him for a moment, considering the information.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into,” she finally said, simply, but honestly.

“I’m not worried.”

She sighed. “I know. But you probably should be.”




I can assure you that eventually Brooke comes around. I mean, who can resist a guy whose sole focus is making you happy?

“You should always show your true emotions. You shouldn’t close yourself up. People can tell when you’re holding back and it’s hard for them to trust that. You don’t have to have all the answers or be happy all the time. Just be real.”

“You want real?” she asked. “You want me to just do what I want, whatever I’m feeling, no worries about consequences?”

“I think you should do what makes you happy.”

She licked her lips and nodded, her eyes on his. “Okay. You asked for it.” She shrugged out of her jacket and let it drop to the floor behind her. Then she leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck and put her lips against his. “Why is it whenever you’re within five feet of me I want to kiss you?”

Ah, consequences.

“Five feet? Hell, girl, I can’t be in the same town without wanting to kiss you.” Then he sealed his mouth over hers.

The moment she stroked her tongue along his, he put both hands under her butt and lifted her, turned, kicked her chair out of the way and set her on the edge of her desk.



So, how about you? Do you like the guys who swoop in and save the day, cape billowing behind them (figuratively ;) ) or do you like those guys who try to stay aloof but in the end can’t help being heroic? Personally, as long as they do laundry, I like ‘em all! :)

Erin

And just so you can get to know Jack even better, I’m offering an e-copy of the book to one commenter! So let me know what you think! (we’ll draw the winner on Saturday, November 12th :) and I’ll e-mail the winner directly, so don’t forget to include your e-mail address!)

See what I mean...HOTBLOODED sounds like a winner! And trust me, with Erin in control of the keyboard, you know it will be. Just leave her a comment or question and you'll be entered in the drawing!

Provoke Me Release Day Contest!

Tomorrow Provoke Me book 2 in my Unveiled series at Ellora's Cave is being released. The blurb and buy link are HERE and an excerpt is HERE.

I adore Kelly and Spencer and hope readers do too. To whet your appetite a bit, I'm posting a never before shared, HOT excerpt below AND holding a contest.

I'm giving away TWO prizes. Both winners will win an ebook copy of the first book in the Unveiled series, Reveal Me AND an ebook of your choice at Ellora's Cave. If you already own Reveal Me, you can pick another book from my backlist. Contest will close Sunday 6/26 at 11 pm EST and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Sound good?

To win, all you have to do is comment and be a follower of the blog. Easy peasy!

Now for some heat... WARNING: 18 and over only

Spencer tugged up Kelly's dress and skimmed the pads of his fingers over her bare, hairless mound. Sweet hell, she was just as ready as he’d known she would be. Her orgasm must’ve barely taken the edge off. He slid in one finger, hesitated only briefly before adding a second. Fuck, she was tight. She was also as hot as liquid fire, searing his hand.

His erection swelled even more as he sped up his strokes. She moaned, loudly and without restraint, squeezing him with her inner muscles. As responsive as she was, she’d be incredible in bed. In his bed. If they made it that far.

With every touch, her whimpers intensified. Leaning in to engulf her lips with his, to swallow those breathy moans, would be so easy. Like sticking his head under water and letting himself drown.

In some ways, he’d been drowning since the first day he’d looked at her. Damn ironic he’d fought so hard only to end up in the place he’d tried to avoid.

She cried out as he pumped into her more deeply, cried out again when his fingers curved. As her walls tightened around him, he stopped, not wanting her to orgasm yet. She moaned when he drew his fingers free with a sensuous twist, her cunt squeezing to keep him wedged inside her.

Her need fragranced the air. She smelled amazing. What would she taste like? His hand stopped halfway to his mouth, saliva already pooling for a sample.

Her knowing little smile goaded him into pulling his keys out of the ignition and slamming out of the car. Christ, she might as well have taunted him.

You tried to resist me and you failed.