And...Insatiable's out today
HERE as well! Woohoo! :)
I'm so excited to share a release day with my good friend,
Lynne Roberts. Especially since I love her writing and especially love Caleb, the hero of Creative License! He's delicious. :) And look at that hot cover!
And not only that...I'm giving away a PDF copy of
First Date, Lynne's awesome first book from The Wild Rose Press. Contest will run for about a week, winner randomly chosen from the commenters. So check out my interview with Lynne, take a peek at Creative License's blurb and excerpt and comment away! Ask a question, gush about Caleb, whatever you prefer!
1) I'm browsing an e-bookstore and trying to decide what to buy. Who is Lynne Roberts? And what will I get between the covers of one of your stories?
Who is Lynne Roberts? That’s a really good question. Lynne is a pen name I use for my erotic romance books. Recently, I participated in a group blog in which our significant others were asked what it’s like to be like to be married/involved with a romance writer. Because we’re of like minds (which is kinda scary sometimes) that started a conversation around whether he’d ever met ‘Lynne’. To make a long story shorter, and avoid TMI, let’s just say that we agreed that he had indeed met Lynne.
Okay, besides the fact that I'm a writer. (You all know that) I am a mother to 5 wonderful children and a lucky not-mom to my boyfriend’s awesome son. I love to bake and my dream is to one day open a bakery/book store called “Buy the Book” or “By the Book.” My boyfriend and I are of two minds—I won’t tell you which I like, but I will ask you to please tell me which you like best.
I love to garden and this is one of my favorite times of the year. Here in California, the leaves and flowers are budding on my fruit trees, the carrots, peas, lettuce and spinach are up and growing like mad. My daffodils and anemones are beginning to flower now that the narcissuses are fading.
And I guess I should add I tend to ramble. ; )
What will you get between the covers of one of my stories? Romance peppered with a strong dose of wit and humor. I find witty banter sexy and I believe one of the best ways to fall and stay in love is to laugh together. Chemistry. Even as I’m writing, I’m rooting for the characters to get together, to find their HEA. However, you’ll also find flawed, relatable characters. Honestly, when I first started writing Creative License, I didn’t like Lily much. She was a little too snobby for my taste. It took several edits for me to see what Caleb saw in her and then I had to admit there was a chance I was jealous. I believe if I don’t fall in love with the hero, no one else will. When I wrote Caleb, I let loose. He’s as close to perfect as a perfectly flawed hero can get. In my opinion anyway. Oh yeah, and you'll find some pretty steamy sex, if I do say so myself.
2) Creative License is one of my favorite stories...well, ever. I loved it that much! Caleb is a hero to die for. How did you come up with the story? Did you have an inspiration for Caleb? (...who is mine by the way. Just saying, ladies. I called first dibs last summer, LOL)
Creative License wouldn’t be the same without you, you know! Thank you! One morning, as I drove home from dropping off one of the kids at school, Katy Perry’s Waking Up in Vegas came on the radio. I was half-listening to it but the lyrics, “Shut up and put your money where you mouth is. That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas” clicked something in my brain and started the “What-if” train. What if you did get married in Vegas… you could get in annulled, right? What if two very different people with incredible chemistry found themselves in Vegas… I could see the morning after scene vividly... The large fake diamond wedding ring... The look of horror on her face.
And then I dropped it. Vegas stories had been done to death. But the characters had already been given enough life that they wouldn’t stay quiet. Finally, I pitched the idea to an editor friend who told me to run with it. She assured me that boss/secretary stories still sell for a reason and she liked my twist on the set-up. Hence the “Vegas Story” was born.
Oddly enough, I never really used the morning after scene and the story doesn’t take place in Vegas at all.
My inspiration for Caleb was easy. I wanted to create the perfect man… that doesn’t mean he’s not flawed, he is. To me a man without flaws would be impossible to live with. Originally, Caleb had dark hair and green eyes but as he developed, I kept picturing Josh Holloway from LOST so eventually, I went back and changed all the descriptions to better fit. There are some major differences. Caleb is younger and a bit broader through the shoulders… well, you’ll have to read the story. ; ) Okay, I know you didn’t ask, but we have to talk about Lily. Lily is one of those names I love but never considered using it for one of my girls. I thought it fit this character well. I wanted to show a woman who grew up privileged. A woman who had her life planned out and under control until she met a man who challenged her, who made her look at her choices and who woke in her not just passion, but a passion for life. What would she do? Continue with a safe, predicable life that she knew, or take step off the diving board hoping love would catch her?
BLURB:
Loose ends have a way of tripping you up…
Years ago, a law school graduation weekend in Vegas had been part of Lily MacPherson’s plan. Waking up next to a naked Adonis with a ring on her finger was not. After a quick annulment, she relegated Caleb Anderson to her late-night fantasies—and very short list of mistakes—until his voice on the other end of the phone asks a favor that could shake the foundations of her neat and tidy future.
Caleb is still haunted by Lily’s horrified expression that morning in Vegas. At least it had made it easy to set her free…except they aren’t. The papers were never filed. And when the nosy patroness who could launch his painting career insists on meeting his “wife”, does he confess, or call Lily? He calls Lily.
When she steps off the plane, Caleb’s determination to play tour guide disappears in the San Francisco fog. Lily thought she could keep up the pretense for one weekend, cut the last tie to her past, and move on. But their chemistry still pops and sizzles, finally exploding into passion at Caleb’s studio.
It’s everything they remember…but so is the yawning chasm of differences that, in the end, could once again drive them apart.
Product Warnings
Contains balmy ocean breezes, coffee as seduction, the creative use of melted chocolate, and naughty shower lovin’ that gives new meanings to the term “shower head”.
EXCERPT:
The computer screen blurred. Lily blinked to refocus her tired eyes on the deposition and sighed in relief when the phone rang. She loved her job, loved working for a law firm, but staring at a computer screen for hours took its toll.
Blowing a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, she reached over a stack of law books. “McPherson.” Lily glanced at the clock as her stomach rumbled. She’d worked through lunch again. Damn.
The other end of the line was silent for so long, she thought the caller had changed his or her mind. “Hello?”
“Yes, hi.”
The rich, masculine voice sent chills down her spine and knotted her stomach. Eyes closed, she gripped the phone so hard it hurt. Even after all these years, she knew that voice. “Caleb?”
A low, sexy chuckle rumbled through the line. “You remember me.”
Oh shit, why was he calling her now? Memories of the most erotic night of her life flashed through her mind. Lily opened her eyes, reminding herself the most embarrassing morning of her life had followed. “How did you get this number? Never mind.”
Despite the deep breath, the receiver trembled in her hand. “Can I do something for you?”
An intake of breath and then a pause. “We have a slight problem.”
Lily’s stomach churned acid. None of their problems had been small, not for the twelve hours and twenty-two minutes they’d been married. “Yes?”
Caleb cleared his throat. “It seems the annulment didn’t go through.”
“Oh, shit.” I’m in a bad movie. This has got to be a joke. She leaned against the back of her chair. “What do you mean it didn’t go through?”
“We’re still married, sweetie. The annulment was never processed.”
Married? “Why?” Lily rubbed the ache growing between her eyes. “No. I don’t care. Just get it processed.”
“It’s too late now. We’ve been married too long.”
“We are not married.” Lily tried to swallow past the tide of rising panic.
“The state of Nevada would disagree, sweetheart.”
She could almost see that sexy grin, those sparkling green eyes. She definitely remembered what they did to her. She’d been chocolate under the heat of his sun. “I am not your sweetheart.” She reached for a notepad. Who to call? Certainly no one in the firm. Though they were all professional and talented, people talked. She couldn’t let it get back to her family or… Oh, God. Stewart. “I’ll file for divorce in the morning.”
“Um, about that.”
She didn’t have the patience to wait out the pause. “What?”
“I was wondering if we could delay that a bit.”
A pain in her hand alerted her to the death grip she’d taken on the phone. She was suddenly glad she’d skipped lunch. “Delay? Why?”
“I need a favor.”
“Well you’re out of luck. I’m fresh out of favors.”
“Lily, please listen.”
His voice had lowered to almost pleading. Something in her heart softened. What’s wrong with me? I don’t owe this man anything! He’s a stranger. “You call me out of the blue to tell me we’re still married and now you need a favor?” It came out a little more acerbic than she’d meant.
His chuckle sounded nervous. “I guess that pretty much sums it up. You’re not married or anything, are you?”
Lily closed her eyes. “No. I’m not.”
“Well.” He cleared his throat. “Except to me.”
Intrigued? Of course you are! Buy Creative License from Samhain HERE.
