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!

July Already?

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, Caleb and Haleigh, Caleb Everett, Dylan and Cassidy, Haleigh and Caleb, July, Live For Me, The Everetts of Tyler

First things first, happy Independence Day!

Now, second things, well, second… how the heck is it already July?  I mean, holy crap on a cracker, this year is already more than half gone?  School starts back in six weeks?  I promised two releases this summer and neither are ready yet? Ack!

So, without further ado (what a fun word), I give you a snippet from Live For Me.

Hand shaking, she picked up the phone on her nightstand, staring at the buttons for long minutes before finally making the call.

“Hello?” Cassidy answered the phone after the first ring, her voice tired through the line.

“Um…” Haleigh hadn’t been prepared for Cassidy to answer, even though she knew she and Dylan lived together. “Is Dylan around?” she finally asked.

“Haleigh? Are you okay?” the other woman asked instead of answering the question. “Dylan isn’t home, but what’s wrong?”

It was then she realized it was nearly three in the morning. She’d taken a nap after putting Georgie down so she could see Caleb when he got home, and had completely forgotten it was the middle of the night. She winced at the thought of waking Cassidy, and took a breath before explaining herself, careful not to say a word about the other woman’s younger brother. “I’m sure you know about the preschool thing with Georgie,” she began, grateful to hear an affirmative noise from Cassidy before going on, “and I just don’t feel safe here by ourselves. I mean—”

“I understand, but Dylan’s out of town tonight.” She paused. “What about Chris Delmonico?”

She held back a sigh of relief. “I know Chris.”

“Would you be okay with him staying in your house?” Cassidy asked, and Haleigh wondered just how much about her the town knew or presumed. She didn’t imagine that would’ve been a question posed to everyone.

“I would,” she answered, happy it was true. “But it’s three in the morning, and he has to be at the school in a little while, and…” she trailed off. She could make it through the next five hours before she had to be at work without being attacked. She could make it through the rest of her life without Caleb in it. She choked on the thought. No, she couldn’t. “Ya know what? We’ll be okay. I’m freaked out, and called in the middle of the night, but we’ll be fine.”

“You will not. I’ll come stay with you if you need, but if you’re scared, don’t ignore it.”

Really? “You’d do that for me?”

 

Holy Overbooked Summer, Batman!

Tags

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

Ya know how those short people who eat money in your house take all your time?  Well, why is summer worse than the school year?  LOL.  I love Girlchild, but I think we’re going to need a driver just to take her to all her scheduled events, and when you add Boychild to the mix, well, we’d better open up an account for lunches and gas money.  *sigh*

So, instead of listening (well, okay, reading) me lament about my wonderfully popular kiddos, how about a snippet from BURN?

 “Uncle Nate, Uncle Nate!” the children screamed in unison as they jumped into his open arms. She guessed them to be about seven or eight, cute as hell, and they obviously adored their uncle.

“You guys are so big!” he exclaimed when he caught them, feigning falling over. “I won’t be able to pick you both up before too long.”

“Nu-uh,” the girl protested. “You’re strong!”

“The strongest man ever!” The little boy chimed in. “You’re stronger than Superman!”

“Nah,” Nate disagreed. “I’m not that strong.”

“You save people,” the little girl said. “Momma says you’re a superhero.”

She liked the sound of that, even if it made her stomach turn to think about him running into burning buildings.   

Villains Running Amok!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, Burn, Nate & Belle, snippet, villains

I’ve been working on BURN for the last few days, and I have to say the villain has been running amok.  It’s not a bad thing, but I keep having to go back and rethink/rework the story line every so often.  When it’s finally finished, I hope it will be a book worth reading, and I have to say the Aylesford series is shaping up to be more on the Erotic Romance side of things, although definitely with suspense and action (surprise!).  So, since I’m off-schedule blogging, and I need to go get ready to go to the day job (which I really do love, ignore me when I whine), I will leave you with a snippet.

 Nate stood beside Gabe, the damage to the building appalling. They’d fought the fire hard and technically won, but Juliette Jamieson had a lot of clean up and rebuilding to do before she could teach here again. He turned to his friend. “What the hell kind of connection is there between a lingerie shop and a school of dance?”

Gabe thought about that for a moment before answering, “Sex and dancing are sins?”

Sins? “Are you kidding me?”

The large man frowned. “No. The church Liza belonged to before she met me wouldn’t even allow ballerinas to join.”

He must’ve spent Sunday school learning about the Golden Rule or miracles or something. “So, Belle’s store sells sex,” he thought back to those Sunday school lessons, “or lust, and Juliette teaches dance?” He paused. “That’s not one of the deadly sins. That much I remember.”

“But dancing is sexy.”

He thought most dancing was boring, but who was he to judge? “If this arsonist is targeting sexy things, we have a problem.” Aside from the absurdity of the idea, sexiness wasn’t universal. “What class was Juliette teaching when the alarm went off, anyway?”

A strange expression lit Gabe’s face before he answered. “See, there’s where my theory came from,” he started, his face unreadable. “She had a guest teacher scheduled to teach—get this—cardio pole-dance.”

“Cardio what now?”

Awesome Reviews at The Jeep Diva!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, Five Star Reviews, Live For Me, reviews, Saturday Snippet, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler, The Jeep Diva

Both Everetts of Tyler books were reviewed by The Crazy Granny over on The Jeep Diva this week, and Dance came away with 4.5 Stars while Fight received 5 Stars!

Read both reviews here:

The Jeep Diva

Great reviews aside, I haven’t been writing like I’d like on Live For Me– although I am making progress, there is a slight chance the release date may have to be pushed back a bit.  We’ll see how Haleigh and Caleb (and Georgia) work out their lives (and if they work them out well together with no gaping plot holes, crappy dialogue, or stupid grammar…)  That said, today’s snippet!

She was cleaning up her office when a chill crawled up her spine, making her turn to look out the door and down the hall. Instincts on high alert, she took a deep breath to keep from panicking and searched the corridor for something or someone out of place. Finding nothing, she returned to her office, but the unease didn’t dissipate. Afraid something had happened to Georgia, she fished her phone from her bag.

“Mommy!” Georgie greeted from Caleb’s phone.

“Hi, baby. Are you having fun?”

“We seed a billion animals!”

“A billion?”

“Uh-huh. And we had hot dogs and ice cream!”

At least she could say Caleb was true to his word. “I’m happy you’re having such a good time, baby girl. Can I talk to Dr. E?”

She heard Georgia tell Caleb it was his turn, and braced herself for the sound of his deep voice in her ear. “We’re fine, Mommy,” Caleb said through a laugh when he took the phone from Georgia.

“I wasn’t worried,” she denied, causing his laughter to intensify.

“Yes you were, and that’s okay.”

She sighed. “Having fun, Doc?”

“More than I thought possible. I promise she’s fine, and I won’t let anything happen to her. You don’t have to worry, Angel.”

It was silly that his endearment made her feel better. Ignoring the niggling sensation something was still wrong, she said, “I’m glad you’re enjoying the zoo. I’ll see you both after work.”

 

 

Wednesday (barely) Snippet!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, Book 3, Caleb and Haleigh, Live For Me, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler, Wednesday WIP

The small brunette smiled broadly as she walked into the therapy space. “So, m’dear, make a move on the doctor you had your eye on yet?” she asked with no preamble.

She shook her head, her ponytail flopping around behind her as she did. “Not really,” she half-answered. She didn’t want to tell Robin that Caleb had been living with her for a month, yet she’d never even brought herself to touch him, let alone make a move.

Robin squared her shoulders, raising herself to her full five foot one. “C’mon, Haleigh, you can’t just let him get away. What if he’s interested?”

“Why would a man like Caleb be interested in me?” she asked, her hand flying to her mouth when she realized she’d named him.

“Caleb Everett?” Robin asked, eyes wide. “Word is he hasn’t been home at all in the last few weeks.” She shot Haleigh a sly look. “Where exactly has he been all this time?”

“I don’t know,” she lied, but knew Robin didn’t believe her. She doubted she was very convincing anyway. She’d been lying for years, but even if she’d given an Oscar-worthy performance, she’d opened her mouth and blurted his name.

The other woman made a scoffing noise. “How can you believe he isn’t interested if he’s been staying with you for so long?” She tilted her head to study Haleigh. “Do you not see how beautiful you are? God, I’d kill for skin like yours, and imagine if you wore a little makeup.” She paused. “You’d be a knockout.”

A knockout? “Are you on painkillers?”

Robin’s face scrunched up at the question. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

See what? She was pale, with blonde hair that badly needed a trim, blue eyes that were too close together, lips that were too full, breasts that were too small, and hips that were too wide. “I’m certainly no model.”

“That’s what you think. I say you let me make you over. See what happens then.”

She eyed her patient and friend, a woman who always looked put together even when she came in for sessions, her hair perfect, her makeup artfully applied. “Maybe I should.”

“You bet you should. You’ll knock his socks off.”

Even if she did, she had no idea what to do with him afterward. She winced inwardly. For a woman who’d been married for three years, she had absolutely no idea what to do with a man who didn’t just take whatever he wanted. Caleb wasn’t the type to take, he was the type to give, and that scared her more than anything else.

Great Reviews!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, 4 stars, 4.5 Stars, Chris Delmonico, Kindles and Wine, Live For Me, review, snippet, TBQ, The Book Queen, The Everetts of Tyler

Um, I am REALLY late in writing this post, but I hope you forgive me.  Fight For Me was featured on Kindles and Wine with a 4.5 star review AND on TBQ’s Book Palace with a 4 star review last weekend (see, I told you I was late!)  Hopefully, the tweeting and facebooking (yeah, that’s totally a word), sent you over there, but in case you missed them, here are the links:

I have also been working too much, and not writing enough this week, so today’s snippet is a short one.  Chris Delmonico’s POV showed up in this book, too (gotta love a persistent man, dontcha?), and we learn a little more about his family and his past in this book.  (For all you Chris lovers out there (I’m looking at you, Heather), I promise his book is coming this year, but BURN is necessary first, I swear).

Chris Delmonico brushed graham cracker crumbs from his jeans. When he’d pushed for this assignment, he hadn’t really thought it through beyond catching the asshole preying on preschoolers, but after being snotted on, painted, whined at, and bitten, he was ready for a break.

“Mister Chris?” a little redheaded girl he was fairly certain was named Ainsley asked while tugging on his hand. “I hafta go potty.”

Yeah, being a detective was awesome. Everything he ever wanted. “Okay, sweetie, let’s go.” He stood up to walk her to the kid sized bathroom inside the classroom, praying she was as well potty-trained as she was supposed to be. He knew one day he might want kids of his own, and he liked them—really, he did—but a room full of other people’s children, not related to him in any way, grated on his nerves.

Holy Crap!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, Best of 2012, Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews, Live For Me, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler

Excuse me while I pinch myself….  Nope, it’s real.  Fight For Me is nominated as one of Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews BEST OF 2012 in Contemporary Mainstream.  See, I’m not making it up, I swear:

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews BEST OF 2012. Voting closes 2/17

The field is chock full of amazing authors and books, and although I always thought actors were full of it when they said, “It’s an honor to be nominated,” I now know it’s true!  I mean Jill Shalvis is on the list, and Robyn Carr, and a whole bunch of other amazeball authors.  Also on that list is a friend of mine, Julieanne Reeves and her Romantic Suspense, Razing Kayne.  (Yup, that’s a buy link.  I’m nice like that).  Fellow Kentucky Independent Writer, Kallypso Masters is nominated for BDSM (that link is for the first in her series– if you haven’t read her series, read it in order), and every single book on the list is a winner and worth adding to your TBR pile.

And now, since it’s been a long time since I’ve given you a snippet…

Her lips were compressed, her shoulders tight, and he knew it was killing her to leave the baby with him. He also knew she had little choice, and so did she. When she finally gave him a quiet, “Maybe,” it was as good as done.

Georgie’s face broke into a broad grin. “Pomise?” she asked as she wrapped herself around his leg. “I wanna see monkeys, and giraffes, and ephalants!”

He hauled her back into his recently vacated arms. “Yes, baby doll. We can see all the animals.” He still couldn’t believe he was looking forward to a day at the zoo as much as the preschooler he held. “And we can have hot dogs for lunch.” He ignored Haleigh’s choked sound at the mention of processed meat and added, “Ice cream, too.”

“Wet’s go now!” Georgia practically yelled in his ear. At least one Carlisle was excited.

Haleigh was still visibly agitated, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Sure, he was aware he’d stirred the pot throwing in hot dogs and ice cream, but she needed to trust him. Not only was a doctor, he’d never let anything happen to any little girl, much less one he tucked in at night.

 

*Cough*

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, Caleb and Haleigh, cough, Live For Me, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler

So… I recovered from the whole strep/flu sickastravaganza, and now I’m–you guessed it– coughing! It’s terrible! I’m drugged, and I refuse to miss work, but it’s not what I’d call pleasant or fun.

I have also been behind writing Live For Me, so let’s hope Caleb and Haleigh’s story is ready for editing by the beginning of April.  Otherwise… Yeah, let’s not talk about otherwise just yet.

Speaking of Live For Me, a snippet:

He was always amazed by how quickly she could go from a tantrum to excitement, but he nodded instead of laughing. “Yes, baby. I hoped your mommy could come with us, but she needs to work.”

“Mommy, you hafta go,” Georgie directed, her bossy tone nearly making him laugh again.

“I can’t, sweetie.” Haleigh’s hair flew around her face as she shook her head. “Mommy has responsibilities,” she went on, slicing Caleb with an icy look.

Georgia’s bottom lip came out in a pout again. “Working is icky.”

This time he did laugh. “Indeed, my little baby doll.” He hugged her close before she wiggled to be put down. “Mommy needs to make people feel better.”

“Nuh-uh. Mommy’s not a doctor. She’s a ferpist.”

“A therapist,” Haleigh corrected. “Mommy has people on her schedule, and she can’t just bail.” She glared at Caleb. “Mommy has bills to pay.”