She’s Alive!

Tags

#amwriting, #writing, Deceive

I told you I was bad at blogging….

I have been adding words!

I’m also suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper slow at writing, so there’s that. At least you knew this. I have, however, been adding words to Deceive recently, so you should get a finished book before long. This last nearly 2 years of horribleness has done nothing to help with creativity. And… in real life, I started a business, so it’s been busy and crazy, and all the things.

Once Deceive is finished, edited, and out, I plan to move right on to the next book I have planned (and, no, I’m not telling what that is). Hopefully, that means it won’t take me 52 years between books like it has been.

Till next time!

~HB

Man, I am BAD at this Blogging Thing

Tags

#amwriting, Aylesford, Aylesford Series, excerpt, The Everetts of Tyler

So, yeah, it’s been… WAY too long since I wrote a post, but I have been working on another book, so there’s that, right?

If you’re following on Twitter and/or Facebook, you might’ve caught the cover for DECEIVE, the next book on tap. This book is the first in the Aylesford series but is following characters you know well from the Everett series, Chris Delmonico and Tiffany Morgan. It’s nice to finally give Tiff her full backstory and point of view, and we all love Detective Delmonico (well, I do, at least). So… without further ado, this is the official post with the cover (provided by the wonderful Francessca Wingfield of Francessca’s PR & Design), and an excerpt as well. The plan is to have this book out for you this fall!

“I can’t believe you talked me into this, Delmonico,” Tiffany Morgan whispered as the two made their way into the lavish ballroom of the Aylesford Suites. “An actual ball? I’m no Cinderella.”

His chuckle was warm. “I’m far from Prince Charming, Tiff,” came his reply. “But who the hell else could I talk into going with me? Gemma?”

“Your sister would’ve come in a heartbeat.”

He shook his head. “She would’ve annoyed me the whole time. Instead, I get to hang out with you when I have to wear this monkey suit.”

She laughed at that. Chris Delmonico in a tuxedo was a sight to behold, his Italian good looks and muscled body wrapped in the sexiest suit ever made for a man. She held in the feminine sound that wanted to come out, saying instead, “You clean up all right, Delmonico.”

His dark eyes danced with laughter. “And you know you’re gorgeous, even if you can’t wear heels yet.” He stuck out his arm. “Let’s make a scene.”

 

Tiffany was sipping champagne when Haleigh Everett made her way to her side. “Decide you’re well enough to skip your last appointment?”

“Didn’t you tell me I was ready for duty?” she asked the physical therapist.

The other blonde nodded. “I did, but you still need to keep up with your exercises. Your bones have healed, but the ligaments and muscles are in need of maintenance.”

She sighed. “I know you’re right, but continuing with therapy for eighteen months seems like overkill. I didn’t wear heels tonight—hell, I probably won’t ever wear them again—but I need to be able to run after suspects to do my job.”

“I know, and I’m sorry to confront you here when you’re all dolled up. I just don’t want you to reinjure yourself if I can help you avoid it.”

She smiled, fully aware the admonishment was coming from a place of concern. “I will make sure to keep my appointments from now on,” she gestured toward the other woman’s slightly protruding belly, “or at least until you add another Everett to the clan.”

Haleigh’s smile was bright. “Things are so different this time around. Caleb is amazing, and there’s family everywhere.”

“All that love is a little overwhelming, I know,” she agreed, thinking of not only the Everetts but the Delmonicos and Jamiesons. All were relatively large families with still happily married parents, and all were almost smothering with how much they loved their children and by extension the people in their orbit. She had been nearly adopted by the Everetts years ago after trying to save Cassidy, and again after being involved with Caleb and Camryn’s cases. It was so different from the way she’d been raised, it still made her uncomfortable on occasion. “But that is exactly what little baby Everett needs.”

Haleigh laid her hand across her belly. “I know. I can’t believe I’m here, married to Caleb Everett, living this life. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll wake up and find this has all been a dream.”

 

Onward and Upward!

Tags

#amwriting, ACHE FOR ME, Aylesford, Aylesford Series, Live For Me

Now that Ache For Me is out and selling (it could use some reviews if anyone feels so inclined– so could Live For Me, just throwing it out there), it’s time for the next book. I have a few I’d like to write this coming year, and if I can actually keep my shit together (and my health in check), I’m hoping you’ll get a book from Aylesford and a book from Ashford Hills this year (of course, you know me– I have been known to think big and then take forfreakingever to write a book, so let’s hope I can make this work).

So, back I go to writing this next book set in Aylesford (any guesses who the central characters are?) and hopefully I’ll have a snippet to give you soon!

Closing in on “The End”

Tags

#amwriting, ACHE FOR ME, Camryn & Carter, covers, Killion Group, The Everetts of Tyler

I am the worst blogger in history, I know, but I really am closing in on “The End” for Ache For Me. I am also in the process of changing the covers over for the whole series. The original covers are awesome (thank you, Jodi!), but since it’s been sooooooooo long since I published Live For Me, creating a cohesive series look seemed a good idea. And, it proved to be a wonderful one. Kim Killion is amazeballs. I can’t recommend her enough. Check out The Killion Group, you won’t regret it!

So… You might not be able to buy them with these covers quite yet… but here they are!

And, I’d better get back to Carter and Camryn!

*Finally* Writing Again

Tags

#amwriting, ACHE FOR ME, Camryn & Carter, The Everetts of Tyler

So, I’ve been stuck in real life and illness and responsibilities and all manner of crap, but I am back to Camryn and Carter’s story and am resolved to have it to you this year. Yes, I know that means two years between releases, and right now the plot is making me insane, but I love these two and I hope you will, too!  So… an excerpt?

Really? After everything your family has been through in the last few years, you don’t worry about your sister singing in a nightclub till after midnight?”

“I didn’t say we weren’t concerned,” Mason started.

“You need to hit the bag or something, man,” Caleb interrupted. “You’re too worked up and you’re going to hurt someone.”

“That someone would be me,” Mason said. “Look, she’s fine, and she’s not singing there anymore, right?”

“For now.”

“She’s a grown woman, Carter.”

Caleb’s eyebrows rose. “Sometimes I think he should’ve been the brother and you should be the friend. You know his name fits better.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard that, and it always made his skin crawl. The way he felt about Camryn already felt borderline incestuous. He didn’t need her brothers to point it out. “Just because your mom named you without a C doesn’t mean she loves you any less. Probably.”

Mason slugged him in the left shoulder. “She named me after herself. She loves me more, first born and all.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Caleb agreed with a sigh. “Get back to work. You two won’t learn anything standing around jawing.”

“Okay, Doc. You want me to beat the bag or your brother?”

Caleb gave him a small smile. “Definitely my brother.

Migraine Awareness….

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, ACHE FOR ME, Aylesford, Burn, Camryn & Carter, migraine, Nate & Belle, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler

So, June is Migraine Awareness month and of course those of us with this affliction are well aware of them, but I have been especially knocked out this year. In fact, I am WAY behind on both books I’ve been working on–ACHE FOR ME and BURN– but as soon as they are actually books and not, well, the collection of chapters I have so far I will share them with you.

Actually, since I haven’t posted anything in, like, four months, maybe you’d like an excerpt or two? Yes?

ACHE FOR ME (The Everetts of Tyler, Book 4)

Carter feigned sleep as long as he could, wondering what was going through Camryn’s head as he did. She’d been sobbing the night before, obviously shaken, and he hadn’t known what to do for her besides gather her in his arms. The decision had been the right one, but it’d been torture for him holding her and knowing that was all he could ever do. When her fingers slid across his biceps, feeling the muscle for a moment before trailing to his shoulder, he had to make himself known or pin her to the bed and take what he wanted.

“Morning.”

Her hand immediately left his body. “Do you work out?”

She was wondering why he didn’t look like the nerdy pushover she remembered. He’d always stayed fit, but with brothers like his he’d been the runt. Smart, but not particularly athletic. In a family full of professional athletes, he was the one who played chess. He propped his head on one hand. “I’ve been learning martial arts with your brother.”

She laughed. “The doctor and the lawyer.”

“Caleb is the teacher. Mason and I are learning.”

“The doctor, the lawyer, and the banker?” She paused. “You’re lifting, too.”

“Gotta stay healthy,” he replied before steering the conversation away from his physique. He might be learning some moves, and he did have a weekly session with a trainer, but he wasn’t vain. “What do you say I make coffee?” he asked before rolling away. It was morning and he’d held Camryn in his arms all night. He needed to make a quick and inconspicuous exit before she noticed more than his muscles were hard.

BURN (Aylesford Book 1)

Giving up on sleep herself, Belle headed for the bathroom, dropping onto the low stool tucked under the built in vanity. She had the look of a woman well-loved, but she needed to get into the shower and get started on work. She had new inventory coming in for fall and nowhere to put it, so despite the lack of a building, she had a business to run. A chill snaked down her spine. Did the arsonist mean to kill her when he burned the store down? Everyone knew she lived above her shop. She rubbed her arms. This wasn’t mere destruction of property, this was attempted murder. Pure hate. Who hated her enough to kill her? And for lingerie and sex toys?

She shook her head. There was a strip club in Tyler, and at least two full-blown sex shops in Sheridan. She swallowed. Hers was the raciest store by far in Aylesford, but it was tasteful and her ads weren’t any more risqué than the national chains. Shit, the largest chain in the world had fashion shows with nearly naked women wearing wings on national television. Seduction was small potatoes compared to that. She shrugged. Maybe not such small potatoes in a conservative southern town.

She’d met some push-back when she’d first opened, but had paid it little mind. Women needed to feel sexy, and their men—or women, she wasn’t judgmental—ate it up. So, who, then? Who would try to kill her to prove a point, to drive her away or at least shut down her business? She rubbed her temples. She didn’t have the answers, but she had a lot of questions. It’d been three days since she lost her shop, and there was always Gabe’s theory the arson had something to do with Nate. He’d said he hadn’t dated in months because of her. She ignored the curl of warmth that settled in her belly at the thought. She hadn’t dated either because it was pointless. No other man had elicited the chemistry she had with Nate. She’d just ignored it for too long.

She tugged at her hair to get her mind back on track. If Gabe was right, maybe someone wanted her out of the way because she wanted Nate to herself. He was an incredible specimen of male perfection, but to kill to get him? She watched her expression sour as she thought about what happened to Mason Everett not long ago, and prayed Nate was safe.

Editing, Writing, and Reediting

Tags

#amediting, #amwriting, #wip, Burn, DANCE WITH ME, Nate & Belle, SPEEDING

Today was a rare grown-up snow day, and tomorrow will be as well.  Kentucky was slammed with a big winter storm and Lexington ended up with over ten inches of snow and a high in the teens, so everything shut down.  Given the chance to write instead of earning a real living today I tried to embrace it (well, around the barometric migraine) but all I managed to do was edit what was already there and decide that as much as I like the bones of this book, I’m not loving it the way it is.  This happened with Live For Me as well, so I’m not surprised, but I really don’t enjoy removing words when I feel like I should be adding them.

At the same time, I know Dance With Me is in need of some editing it didn’t get three years ago when I started this whole writing thing, and Speeding needs not only editing, but an actual ending, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Speeding might need to be wrapped before Burn can really move forward.  It’s a frustrating thought, but the Aylesford series really begins with Reid and Kendall.  So… yeah, I have a lot of work to do.

So… I suppose I should stop complaining and get back to work!

Questionable Calls, Misremembering, and Edits

Tags

#amediting, #amwriting, Aylesford, Brian Williams, Burn, Seahawks, Superbowl

Being a Seahawks fan has been a teeny bit difficult the past week, for the obvious reasons.  Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson and everyone else have defended the call to pass when it seems the entire world was screaming, “You should’ve run!” but one thing that rings true for me as a lifelong football fan and former tight end/wide receiver (totally not kidding– I also played hooker in rugby during college), is that if the play had worked as planned, it would’ve been a touchdown and no one would be saying anything.  Because Butler made a great play (a rookie corner with no interceptions until that spectacular one), the game was over.  It was probably the best Super Bowl in recent memory, a constant give and take by two incredibly well matched teams, and for that I am grateful.  Honestly, last year’s blowout by the Hawks was a bit boring and that’s coming from a fan.

This week also has one of the most respected newscasters on television turning out to be a little bit of a fiction writer.  Now, we all know the news is not just the facts, and there is always a slant depending on the particular channel or publication, but inserting oneself into a situation is certainly not the way to honor the veterans who were actually there.  Can Brian Williams recover from this?  Time will tell.

For me, well, I have been struggling with Burn for the last, well, forever.  I love Nate and Belle, but I’m not loving the way their story is turning out, and the villain is crazypants, but too prominent in the current version of the book.  So… you will be getting the first of the Aylesford Series this year, and hopefully the last of the Everett Series as well, but, well, not for a while.  Thank you for bearing with me– this whole working 40+ hours a week and raising children thing really gets in the way of writing– and I truly hope when I actually have a book ready, you’ll love it.  Until then, how about a snippet?

“So, now Gabe doesn’t think the arsonist is after you?” Belle asked, hating herself for the deflated feeling that came with the thought he might send her back to Claire’s.

“No one is sure anymore. He seems to think it’s sex, or at least things related to sex or sins being targeted, but that’s so broad, so crazy, I have no idea where to start.”

She gave him a saucy smile. “You’re about the sexiest thing in Aylesford, so you’re definitely in danger if that’s the case.”

He returned her wicked grin. “Likewise.”

She had to step away so she wouldn’t jump on him in the middle of a conversation that might mean both their lives were in danger. Her stomach pitched when she told him, “I’ll pack my things.”

The smile slid from his face, replaced with a fierce look. “You said you wouldn’t run.”

“Oh. I.” Her heart was beating double-time. He wasn’t going to send her away, and now he thought she didn’t want to be here.

“You’re mine, Isabelle Baxter.” His green eyes were intense as he laid his claim, but he didn’t move toward her.

“Yours?”

His brows furrowed. “Didn’t I make myself clear this morning?”

He hadn’t said much, but the intent was there, especially after she’d begged him to leave bruises. Still, she needed to hear the words. “You didn’t say—”

“Actions speak louder than words, sweets,” he told her before closing the space between them. “I can’t leave you vulnerable, and I refuse to let you go.”

She swallowed. She’d never seen him like this, determined and possessive, and she liked it. “I don’t want to go,” she started.

“Then don’t.”

“But if the arsonist is after me, I will not put you in danger.” She spun away from him. “If something happened to you because of me—”

He turned her to face him, cut her words off with a kiss. “You told me once that I put my life on the line for strangers all the time. Why shouldn’t I risk myself for you?”

She studied him, taking in the hard look in his eyes, the ticking muscle in his jaw. He was a firefighter, a hero, and she had hidden behind that, hidden from him for years because of that fact. Now that she had promised to accept his nature, his need to make a difference, to save people, she had to back up her words with actions. “What if you lose your home because of me?”

“A house can be rebuilt, Belle.” He pulled her to him again. “You can’t be replaced.”

“Neither can you,” she said quietly as she laid her head against his hard chest.

Well, hello there, 2015!

Tags

#amwriting, Aylesford Series, Burn, Happy New Year, resolutions, SPEEDING

Fourth quarter was a tough one for me, and I have not been blogging nor have I spent much time on social media. So, hi and Happy New Year!

One of my resolutions for this year is to write more– I’d really like to release more than one book this year!– and one of those books needs to be the as yet unfinished SPEEDING that started me on this journey. Looking at it now, I see it needs A LOT of editing and revision to go along with the final chapters, but that is something I would love to do this year. I will also be taking it down from the site in the next few weeks so when it is finished and released it won’t bring up any plagiarism alarms, and it will of course be free (charging for something I’ve offered for free for years seems a bit, um, wrong.)

BURN is first up, and it in full swing, with characters you know along with new ones that will anchor the Aylesford stories. That said, how about a snippet with some old and new characters?

“You’re living with Nate? Oh my god!” Kendall shrieked as she sat down to lunch, meeting Belle, Claire, and Taylor.
Belle felt her cheeks heat with color. “It’s not like that.” At the disbelieving looks of her friends, she gave in. “Okay, it’s kinda like that, but not.”
“Sure, that makes sense,” Taylor commented, a smile on her lips.
Belle took a deep breath, held it a moment, blew it out and tried to explain. “He wants to keep me safe. After my building was burned down, they’re worried.”
“So, naturally, you move in with a yummy firefighter you’ve had the hots for forever,” Taylor finished.
“And the other part? Where you said it’s kinda like that?” Claire asked.
“We kissed last night, and let’s just say…” Was there really a word to describe it? She settled on, “Wow.”
“That’s all you’re giving us? Really, Belle?” Claire complained.
“How’s Owen these days?”
“Touché, sister mine.”
“That’s what I thought.” She stared her little sister down. “You’d better not forget.”
“Tell!” Kendall ordered.
Claire looked away, took a breath. “Belle made me promise to go after Owen if she took a step with Nate.”
Kendall and Taylor both gasped at that. “What? You’re dating Daniel,” Kendall sputtered.
“He’s boring!” Belle drew the word out.
“Boring, huh?” Taylor asked, eyes on Claire.
“Total vanilla, home to watch TV by nine, meatloaf every Wednesday, boring,” Belle continued with a smirk.
“Maybe not that boring,” Claire defended halfheartedly. “He’s just so… So…,” she trailed off to search for a word.
“Just so-so?” Taylor asked.
“We broke up this morning. It was,” she paused, “really easy.”
“He wasn’t feeling it either?” Kendall asked.
“Guess not,” Claire agreed with a shrug. “We were much better friends than lovers.” She blew her hair out of her eyes. “We really weren’t great lovers.”
“So, what’s your plan, baby sister?”
Claire shook her head, her cloud of dark hair flying. “I called him.” Three sets of eyes focused on her as she swallowed and continued, “I left him a message and asked him to call.”
“A message?” Belle repeated.
“I called his office.” When Belle rolled her eyes, Claire added, “After hours. Tonight.”
“Please tell me you left him your cell.”
“I’m doing this, Belle. I’m making the first move. I’m sorry if it’s not as big as you moving in with your lickable firefighter, but I’m doing it.”
“Good for you,” Kendall encouraged.

If Weather Could Kill….

Tags

#amwriting, #snippetSunday, Burn, Nate & Belle, snippet

This summer has been especially brutal for me as one of my biggest migraine triggers is barometric pressure changes.  I have managed to add to BURN, but although I’m not as far along as I’d like this book shouldn’t take a year and a half to land on your ereader of choice (probably.)

So… What do you say to a hot snippet from BURN?

She crept into Nate’s room, stopping to take in the smörgåsbord of muscle lying among the twisted bedclothes. Intellectually, she knew fighting fires was hard work, understood that he worked hard for the rippled abs and bulging biceps, used them to do good work, but as a woman she couldn’t help but sigh. This is how men were meant to be built. Strong, protective, unyielding. She couldn’t wait to trace the furrows with her tongue, to line up his rock solid body with her much softer one. She’d taken two steps toward him when he startled her, his voice low and roughened with sleep. “You’d better be ready.”

“I’m here,” she answered, suddenly unsure of herself, all the reasons she’d stayed away swirling in her mind.

“You have about five seconds to leave,” Nate said, an almost menacing edge to his voice.

She swallowed, grateful for the darkness surrounding them. Hopeful she sounded confident, she promised, “I’m not leaving.”

“Then come here and let me touch you. I’ve been dying to touch you,” he growled, and she was powerless to deny him. She closed the space between them, vaguely aware she was holding her breath. If he had been dying to touch her, so too had she been desperate to touch him. He rose from the bed, his gloriously naked chest rising and falling with short pants, his fully aroused cock tenting his boxers. Her mouth watered. She wanted to lick him all over, to take him down her throat, to feel him explode within her, swallow his salty essence, but all she could do was stare.

“Come here,” he commanded and she obeyed. As soon as she was within touching distance he had her plastered to him, his mouth on hers. He devoured her, exploring her with his tongue, owning her mouth, stealing her breath. She wrapped her arms around his strong neck and jumped, throwing her legs around his waist. He was so strong he held her easily, allowing her to climb him like a tree.

He continued to ravage her mouth as he turned and pressed her to the bed. “I have dreamed of you here,” he whispered. “Tell me you’re really here.”

(c) Hayden Braeburn