HIS WICKED DREAM: Picnic Auction

HIS WICKED DREAM

Book 2, Velvet Lies Series

by Adrienne deWolfe

Book Excerpt

(Story Notes:  Dr. Michael Jones just spent $100 to take Eden’s picnic basket out of the auction at the Independence Day Jamboree.  He claims he did so for her own good, to prevent an “outlaw” from bidding on it.  The scene is written from Eden’s point of view.  Need more in the way of a book description?  Visit this site.)

Rural Kentucky, 1881


"Are you trying to make me crazy?"

She'd taken him by surprise. She could see his guard waver in those breathtakingly blue eyes.

"I'm not sure I follow you."

"All protestations to the contrary, you're behaving like a beau. A jealous beau."

Amusement curved his lips. "I'm behaving like a good neighbor."

She blew out her breath. "Fine. Call it what you like. But you are not responsible for me, Michael. Besides, Chance wasn't doing anything I didn't give him permission to do."

"Chance, is it?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're missing the point. Deliberately, I think."

He shifted her picnic basket to his other arm. "As much as I enjoy sparring with you on a public fairground," he said evenly, glancing at the eavesdropping children who huddled, bug-eyed and mouths agape, at the rear of the orphans' tent, "might I suggest we find a cooler location?"

Eden could ignore the trickle of perspiration sliding under her whalebone to dampen her chemise. But she couldn't disregard the orphans, especially when one chubby twelve-year-old with brown, sausage-style ringlets waved to Michael.

"Hi, Doc!" she called shyly. "Is that your new sweetheart?"

The whole tent tittered. Michael weathered the giggles with aplomb. Mrs. Witherspoon appeared, tossed Eden an apologetic glance, and ushered the girls back into the shade for cookies. Eden suspected Michael the Pirate had stolen a couple of adolescent hearts, too.

"Honestly, Michael." They began strolling toward the nearest stand of trees. "You might have told the children the truth."

The glance he slid her way was veiled. "That you prefer outlaws to doctors?"

She glared back. "Must you be so difficult? I don't have to picnic with you, you know. After removing my basket from the auction and fueling a virtual prairie fire of gossip at my expense, I think I'd be well within my rights to leave you standing in the dust."

"Hmm. I suggest we drive, then."

Her lips twitched at this sally, despite her staunchest resolve. "You're impossible. Did you really pay one hundred dollars to save me from Chance McCoy?"

"I'm afraid so."

She caught her breath, uncertain whether to be elated or deflated. He'd neatly foiled her accusations that he was jealous, and he still refused to acknowledge he was behaving like a beau. Maybe he'd planned to spend the money at one of the half-dozen auctions, anyway.

"Well... thank you. I think."

"You have nothing to thank me for."

"You're not the lesser of two evils?"

"Not necessarily."

He caught her elbow, guiding her toward the carriages parked along the perimeter of the field. "While it's true your reputation will survive Chance McCoy," he said, "the question remains, will it survive me? That, my dear Eden, would be your dilemma—if you still had a choice."

He gazed fully at her then, and the heat of those blue cinders melted the protest that had bubbled to her lips. She wanted to believe Michael was making light of himself, but after that night in the parlor, she wasn't so sure. She couldn't help but remember his warning, I'm nothing like the angel I was named after. Then he'd proved his devilry with his kiss.

A thrill prickled her arms at the memory.

"Where do you propose to take me?" she demanded as he handed her into his phaeton.

The smile he flashed her was sinfully male.

"Somewhere we won't be disturbed."

(More exclusive excerpts to come!  And don't miss Part 2 of SECRETS AND SCHEMES, taking you behind the scenes of HIS WICKED DREAM.)

OFFICIAL BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY:  HIS WICKED DREAM

The official tour for His Wicked Dream (Book 2, Velvet Lies series) starts Jan. 20. You’ll get lots of exclusive sneak peaks, plus the chance to win 2 Amazon gift cards and 3 bundles of ebooks in my Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Previous posts in the pre-launch party for HIS WICKED DREAM (Below):

• SECRETS AND SCHEMES, Part 1

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Velvet Lies

"Swept into the Darkness: Chronicles of the Celestial Book One" Exceprt

The drive to work was always a trip of contemplations. Thinking about my parents burned bright on my mind. It’s never easy to survive tragedy and bounce back into the swing of everyday life. I never really paid attention to the low volume radio but the extra noise kept me company. I used to love waking up early to get my day started but lately I wasn’t much of a morning person. I lost my father in an accident, and my mother couldn’t handle the loss. She had a nervous breakdown and is in a mental hospital, so really I lost both parents in one awful moment. It’s a challenge for me to get up and go on with my life like nothing has happened. Just getting out of bed sometimes makes me feel like I am betraying my parents.
Ever since the car accident I have excruciating headaches. I went into the kitchen and pulled out the drawer that my medication was in. At the moment I was taking prescription pain killers, sleeping pills, and sometimes anti-depressants. I hadn’t needed to take those pills in a long time. I tried to deter the pain from gaining force. If it didn’t, I was going to have to cancel my date with Christine and go straight to bed. The headaches are almost blinding at times, and literally feel like a hammer is banging inside of my brain. Every time I think about the trip I am reminded of the worst day of my life.
I had just gotten back from a weekend ski trip in Aspen with some girlfriends, including Christine. It was mid-winter and my flight was delayed for several hours due to a terrible snow storm that hit the area. My dad, a surgeon at Milford General Hospital picked me up from the airport after a thirty-hour shift; the staff was low because of the storm so he decided to stick around to help out as much as he could. We were both pretty tired but it never occurred to me that dad was not in any kind of shape to drive. It was 4:45 on a Thursday morning, and it was dark and freezing cold. Sleet came down pretty hard, and made the roads very slick. It looked like dad was doing fine, and I always felt safe when he was behind the wheel. Mom was waiting for us with hot cocoa and I was so excited to see her and tell her about my trip.
The ride was long and I dozed off a few times. I woke abruptly to the sound of skidding tires and a sudden swerving motion. Dad’s head was slumped down over the steering wheel, his glasses were crooked and his eyes were closed.
“Dad! Dad! Wake up!” I yelled. I yanked off my seatbelt to shake him with force. The car was spinning out of control. His head bobbed up and down and his eyes lazily open and closed. I grabbed the steering wheel and tried to scoot over as close as I could towards him and reach for the break with my foot. The car was going too fast and bumped and swayed through the light traffic. The car sped up and then everything went black.
I’d never been a “normal” person. Ever since I was a child I’d had experiences that were hard to explain. For example, I frequently had “flashes” that showed me glimpses of the future. I also remember times when a small light would emerge from my fingers, and I was able to move things using the light. Sometimes I saw things in my visions as well, like shadows and creatures. I could also see an aura around people—usually either a bright blue color or a muddled gray. Sometimes I’d seen a red aura, which for some reason really scared me. I’d tried to ignore these abilities, and there were times when I refused to admit that strange things were happening…

ONE NIGHT OF SURRENDER by EVIE NORTH

I'm pretty excited by my new Samhain cover for One Night of Surrender, an erotic historical novella.
The book is the first in a trilogy called the Brothers Mortmain. I'm working on novella #2 as we speak.
Before my Samhain contract came along I was writing short stories and publishing them myself on Amazon and Smashwords. The Knights of Passion series is set in Medieval England. I'm planning on writing more. The self publishing process is hard work but it can be a lot of fun! And for a control feak (what me?) it is very satisfying to be able to take charge of everything from the writing to the cover to the publication date.

If you want to know more, visit my website or facebook page. I like to hear from readers and always aim to answer them as quickly as I can. http://www.evienorth.com  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evie-North/401015099984268?ref=hl
Thanks!
Evie

HATHOR LEGACY: OUTCAST Giveaway & Excerpt

Happy New Year!

At the end of the party, I'll be drawing the name of a commenter to receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

 

Excerpt

Down at the curb, a sparkling white vehicle pulled over and stopped in front of him. Across the street people were lined up waiting for transports. From the looks of them, they were Novacorp workers. Why did they all dress in those boring suits? Even miners' overalls had more color.

Standing back to let the transport door slide open, he scanned the area. No security in sight. Good. They were leaving him alone. Jon was about to climb into the vehicle when he saw a familiar face across the street. Wasn't that Nadira, the Guardian? No. He had to be mistaken.

Wait. A few pedestrians filed past her, blocking his view for a moment. She was looking up at the tower. Squinting as though she could see inside it. What was she looking for?

Their eyes met. Did she just jump, or was he imagining it? Oh no. She did react. He was sure of it. What the hell did she think she was doing by following him?

He looked at the transport, then back over at Nadira. Was that a smirk on her face? Damn it. She was daring him to come over there. So, she thought she could just track him across the city and he couldn't do anything about it? It didn't matter to him if she was a Guardian, or whatever she called herself. He wasn't going to be treated like a common thief.

Jonathan hitched up the strap of his travel bag. He wouldn't even bother to use the pedestrian bridge. It was half a block away and would take too much time.

Walking around the transport, he stepped into the street. There was a break in the traffic. If he moved fast, he could make it across without a problem. The transports were programmed to stop for obstructions. But whether they could stop short if he ran out in front of them was another matter. 

Nadira darted down the side street. She wouldn't get far. Jonathan dodged a couple of passing vehicles on his way across the boulevard.

He made it to the opposite corner and in his haste, banged into a company worker. Flashing Jonathan a scowl, the man smoothed his dark brown jacket. But Jon didn't have time to apologize. Nadira was up ahead, just a beat away from running.

Not that it mattered if she ran. He knew he could get her. She was obviously fit. But he had longer legs. And a lot of practice catching what he wanted.



About the book

On the planet, Hathor, a powerful group called the Guardians serves as the security force for Novacorp, the corporation that runs Hathor with its ruthless monopoly. Nadira, as one of the most powerful Guardians, is expected to use her intuition and telekinetic powers to keep the capital city safe from thieves and intruders.

Jonathan Keel, son of a mine CEO on the nearby planet, Astarte, is wealthy, privileged and used to getting what he wants. When his father goes missing after a robbery and explosion at the mine, he defies the authorities and heads to Hathor to search for him and for the robbers.

Security is on high alert and Nadira is charged with protecting Jon. She rescues him from an vicious attack and discovers that the Guardians have another agenda that has nothing to do with solving the crime.

Jonathan finds evidence of his father's possible involvement, while his attraction to Nadira forces her to confront all she has known about being a Guardian, especially the rule to put duty before her personal feelings.

Struggling with their growing desires, and chased by company security, Jon and Nadira flee the city. But solving the crime leads them to endure betrayals from the people closest to them, as secrets are revealed that not only link their pasts but also threaten to destroy Jon's family and separate him from Nadira forever.

Buy it on Amazon.com for Kindle and in Print.

Visit my blog here: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

Happy Release Week, Essence! Fun Giveaway

Essence is set in St. Augustine, Florida, at a luxury spa by the same name (Essence). So what’s the best (or your favorite) location/setting for a romance that you’ve ever read? Comment on this post to win a copy of Essence today!

Giveaways:

It’s release week for Essence, my contemporary romance novel published by Soul Mate Publishing. Released on January 1, 2014, it’s now available at Amazon and Soul Mate Publishing. In celebration, I’m giving away five Kindle copies of Essence today to people who comment on my blog post. So jump in and comment away. Check back throughout the day as I’ll be giving away other cool items, including signed copies of books by your favorite contemporary romance authors (Nora Roberts, Susan Donovan, Donna Kauffman, and Kimberly Kincaid).

Book blurb:

All Haven Jameson ever wanted was to own a little piece of paradise. Now, she does, having established a successful luxury spa in St. Augustine, Florida. But when the property next door is sold to a mega developer and his pro-golf celebrity brother who design trendy, bustling playgrounds for the rich and famous, she fears her dream could slip away. Confronted by her late husband’s infidelity, Haven learns everything she believed about her marriage was a lie; so she finally sets aside her grief and opens her heart to loving the widowed pro-golfer who is her biggest professional competition. In the end, Haven discovers that living a safe, loveless life is far worse than embracing passion and taking a chance on a man who’s vowed never to love again. And that, sometimes, no matter how high the risk, the best paradise of all can be found inside our own hearts.

Find Mackenzie Lucas:

To find me, go to my website at http://mackenzielucas.com to sign up for my newsletter. You can follow me on Twitter at MacLucas_writer. Like my Facebook Author Page to keep up with my new releases and chat with me on Facebook at: MackenzieLucasFanPage.

Happy reading! And I look forward to hearing from you!

UNTANGLE MY HEART by Maria K. Alexander

Thanks for joining me today to celebrate the release of my contemporary romance, Untangle My Heart. It’s a second chance at love story that reunites two opposites attract characters. Edward Weston is from a wealthy British family, where he and his brother wore ties to dinner and were taught to suppress their feelings. Kate DiFrancesco is from a hand-gesturing, loud-talking Italian family from Northeast Philadelphia, where love and good food were in abundance. They each have emotional baggage to put aside when danger comes knocking and will need to work together in order to protect those closest to them from harm. 

Throughout today, I'll reveal more about the hero and heroine as well as share excerpts. Let's start with the blurb.

You can find Untangle My Heart at:

For Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00GVKRLOG

In Print from The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/InzITZ

I love hearing from fans. You can keep in touch with me at:

Website: http://mariakalexander.com

The Violet Femmes Blog: http://thevioletfemmes.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MKAlexander1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-K-Alexander-Author/201236689917319

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mariakalexander

HIS WICKED DREAM: Secrets and Schemes (Part 1)

Welcome! I’m so excited to be here! 

The official tour for His Wicked Dream (Book 2, Velvet Lies series) starts Jan. 20. You’ll get lots of exclusive sneak peaks, plus the chance to win 2 Amazon gift cards and 3 bundles of ebooks in my Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Meanwhile, in the spirit of “secrets and schemes,” I’m taking you behind the scenes to learn the “real” story behind the story.  (You realize, I probably shouldn’t admit ANY of these things in public . . . LOL!)  Enjoy! ~ Adrienne deWolfe

SECRETS AND SCHEMES (Part I):

Behind the Scenes of

HIS WICKED DREAM

Book 2, Velvet Lies Series

by Adrienne deWolfe

1.

Michael is the eldest sibling in the Jones family. When Michael is introduced into the series (SCOUNDREL FOR HIRE,) he’s not exactly likeable. Yes, fans have written to tell me this! However, those same fans write in the next sentence that while they were “worried” they wouldn’t like Michael after reading SCOUNDREL, they “fell in love with him” in his own book, HIS WICKED DREAM.  (This was all part of my nefarious plan!)  In fact, Michael earned the Reader’s Choice Award for Best Hero from the Avon Books Website.  Not too shabby for a guy that “nobody liked!”

2.

In my original concept for the VELVET LIES series, the youngest Jones sibling, Gabriel, was supposed to appear as a ghost. Gabriel and his ghost dog, Goober, were supposed to match-make for Michael and turn his life upside down. Goober's fondness for chasing cats was the SOLE REASON I developed Stazzy as a pet for Eden. Alas, there was this little hurdle called, MY EDITOR. When I was writing HIS WICKED DREAM in 1999, Avon didn’t think an historical romance with ghosts would sell. (Picture Adrienne laughing hysterically, because Paranormal Romance is now one of THE hottest sub-genres.)  Eventually, I replaced the Gabriel-and-Goober subplot with the “animal orphanage” that now figures so prominently in the story.

3.

Michael is my first ever attempt to write an Alpha Hero (and probably my last.)  As a reader, I personally prefer mischievous, wise-cracking, somewhat naughty characters (HINT:  Rafe from SCOUNDREL FOR HIRE, Wes from TEXAS LOVER.)  But everyone kept telling me, “Adrienne, readers want ALPHA males.”  Uh-huh.  (Are those the same folks who hated Michael in Book 1?)  

4.

Speaking of replacing things, you will find that the paperback version of HIS WICKED DREAM (which Avon titled, ALWAYS HER HERO – yuck!) has a different set of villains than the ebook version.  This evolution occurred because Sera’s story (SEDUCED BY AN ANGEL) changed so drastically from my original concept.  I wrote Sera’s story 13 years after I finished writing HIS WICKED DREAM.  And when I started writing Cass in Sera's story . . . well, he stole my heart.  So I had to redeem him.  (And give him his own book, of course! DEVIL IN TEXAS is coming this Summer.)  

5.
Now you’re probably wondering about that big, fat “Yuck!” comment that you read in #4.  Okay, here’s the secret scoop about my Title War:  I begged and pleaded, but Avon refused to let me have another title.  The title I wanted was HIS WICKED DREAM, but I would have settled for anything less schmaltzy than ALWAYS HER HERO.  Fortunately, my epublisher agreed with me.  In fact, my epublisher’s Title Guru said (and I quote) “Romance novels with provocative words like WICKED, SCOUNDREL, SEDUCED (etc) sell better than Romance novels with sweet titles.”  I rest my case!

Stay tuned!  Part 2 of Secrets and Schemes:  Behind the Scenes of HIS WICKED DREAM will post on this site later today.  If you're into SWAG and like my novel covers, visit my shop at http://CafePress.com/AdriennedeWolfe

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Velvet Lies