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Friday, February 19, 2016

COMING SOON TO AUDIOBOOK! SNEAK PEEK AT GRIFF MONTGOMERY, QUARTERBACK

Welcome! Take a taste of Griff Montgomery, Quarterback, an Amazon bestseller, and the first book in the football romance series,  First & Ten. Coming to audio book in two weeks!

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She raced into the street. A car making its way to the south end of town screeched on its brakes. The man holding the dog dropped the lead and leapt in front of her. He snatched her arm and yanked her out of the way. She fell to her knees on the pavement, but didn’t feel the pain because the pug was licking her face. She kept repeating his name as tears flowed.
“You okay, lady?” the man asked, grasping her elbow and easing her to her feet.

Lauren clutched his arm while her knees trembled. She narrowed her eyes. “You stole my dog,” she said, before bending over to pet the pooch.

*********        
"What else are you good at, besides grilling and throwing a football?”
“Do you want the PG version or X-rated?” He snickered, his dark eyes dancing with mischief as they skimmed over her skimpy robe, making her shiver.
She laughed.
Griff slipped his hand over her free one. “Or should I show you?” His gaze settled on her lips.

She finished chewing and sat back, checking him out again. His muscles were nicely defined, and the sprinkling of dark chest hair tempted her fingers. She ached to touch him, but resisted. He’s a womanizer. He’ll leave you. He’ll hurt you. “Don’t think so.” She removed her hand to cut another piece of meat.

***********
His friend shook his head. “I don’t know if you’re a man of great willpower, or an idiot.”
“Neither do I,” said the quarterback.
Griff wasn’t ready to face the fact that he was giving up good, steady road trip sex for a woman who didn’t want to get married.

***********
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
“Please. I don’t want to be alone.”
He got in beside her and tucked her against his chest. She snuggled down.
“Look there,” he said, pointing. “See the moon? It’s full.”
She nodded. He was lying behind her, his arm around her middle, holding her fast. Lauren laid her hand on top of his.
“I’m here. You’re safe. Close your eyes. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and brushed her lips against his arm. Griff kissed her hair and tucked his knees up under hers. The warmth from his body soothed her. Her muscles relaxed as she stared at the moon for a moment before falling back to sleep.

*************

A bit about the book
Two people, two tragedies, two deep, devastating secrets….  Griff Montgomery is the headline-making, heart-breaking star quarterback of the Kings – a  6’4”, 33 year old womanizer. Lauren Farraday is a beautiful young interior designer, bitterly scarred by divorce, whose life is falling apart. Though they violently oppose one another in court over her beloved pug (she thinks he’s arrogant and  conceited, and he thinks she’s a bitch on wheels), something happens....
 These are the bare bones of this sizzling romance, riddled with passion -- the first in a brand new series that’ll tantalize football fans and have readers glued to every page and on the edge of their seats!

Griff looks like a super hero with his tousled, mahogany hair, dazzling smile, dark, sexy eyes, and a body  that does something indescribable to a tight pair of jeans. Though Lauren’s sworn off men forever, one look sends shivers down her spine, making her feel lonelier than ever before. Her lustrous, long hair, sparkling green eyes, and nonstop curves make his fingers tingle at the thought of touching her.  How do they deal with their cataclysmic attraction? Will they be able to drop their protective facades – his to camouflage his grief over his sister and her family, for whom he was a surrogate father, moving 3000 miles away…. And hers’ to shield her from the incalculable loss of her husband and hoped for child?


For Griff, the thought of falling in love is as foreign as toe shoes and a tutu. For Lauren, it’s like putting on cleats and a helmet and running 50 yards…. Can they, will they, risk it? 


Buy it here in ebook or paperback:







Monday, February 15, 2016

TUESDAY TALES - HARLEY'S STORY CONTINUES


Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. The word prompt this week is "beat." Harley's story continues, but will be stopping very soon as the book is due to be released in early March. Return to Tuesday Tales with the link below.

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“Where’s your keeper?” Trunk Mahoney asked, sliding onto the stool next to him.
“California.”
“Good. She’s a piece of work. How did you end up with her?”
“She’s not so bad.”
“Not so bad? Doesn’t sound like a great match. But, hey, my first marriage wasn’t exactly perfect, either.”
“I’m not aiming for a first marriage. This will be my one and only.”
“Maybe she’s not the right girl? Don’t get me wrong. She’s hot, beautiful. But she doesn’t like us and we’re your team.”
“She’ll get used to you.”
“These guys? Doubt it.”
“Come. Five bucks says I beat your sorry ass,” Harley said, pushing to his feet and grabbing a handful of darts.
“You’re on.”
The two men moved to the side where the new dart board hung on the wall. It wasn’t long before they were joined by Buddy Carruthers and Bullhorn Brodsky. Bull and Buddy had a couple of beers while Trunk and Harley stayed sober.
After the game, Trunk drove Buddy and Bull home. It was ten and the bar was empty. Harley ordered a piece of cheesecake and a cup of coffee. Carla joined him.
“Aren’t you usually home in bed by now?” She asked.
“During training camp? Yeah. Not so great going home alone.”
“Hot for your new girl?”
“You could say that.” Although she didn’t provide a lot of companionship, he missed what she did add to his life.  “You and Trunk look good. This place is coming along.”
“By the season opener, it should be finished. Like it?”
“It looks amazing.”
“My only worry is that someone’s gonna get into a fight and throw a dart at someone.”
Harley laughed. “Might happen.”
“I wanted to get safe darts. The Velcro kind? But Trunk talked me out of it.”
“He’ll be here to sit on anyone’s face who gets out of hand.”
“Yeah, he’s my security team.” She grinned.

Harley’s gaze perused her. He’d never seen Carla look so good. Everything about her glowed. That’s what love looks like. He knew it was the look of love, because he had seen it before, on Shyla’s face when she gazed at him. He frowned to think he’d never seen that on Vanessa’s face, even the day he proposed.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

HARLEY BRENNAN, RUNNING BACK FINALLY MAKES HIS APPEARANCE!


Inspired by a certain reality TV program where a man is looking for a wife, Harley's story is one that came to me when I was writing the Hollywood Hearts series. His story was supposed to be book six, but Gunther Quill pushed him out of the way and took over book 6 for his own story. 

I didn't want to have a 7 book series, so Harley's story went on the shelf.  But the story lived and grew in my head. When I started the football series, I got the idea that Harley's story would fit here perfectly. So here it is: 
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Harley Brennan and Shyla Hollings agreed to part company to follow their careers. It was a mutual decision. The star running back had no problem getting dates, but never the right dates. After one year spent trying to replace the only woman he’d ever loved, he declared defeat. Until the reality TV show, Marriage Minded, approached him.
     Harley flew to L.A. after the Super Bowl, ready to find his new soul mate. Bumping into Shyla at the airport didn’t give him a clue that she’d be behind the scenes, designing the sets for the program. And she didn’t tell him.  Was Fate playing a hand, bringing them together? If so, Harley had to admit, Fate had lousy timing.
Convinced his life was heading for a touchdown, Harley’s confidence was high, until his luck ran out. Would the running back get knocked out of the game or sprint to victory?    
A unique combination of reality TV show surprises, football action, humor, and steamy love scenes, HARLEY BRENNAN, RUNNING BACK, will keep you guessing until the last scene.
            
****************

It's up for pre-order on Amazon. Here
It will be out in paperback within two weeks. And an audio book is planned. 

The book is still with the editor, so I have to share an unedited snippet: 

“So you won the Super Bowl, now you’re looking for a wife?”
He nodded. “That’s about it.”
“I can’t believe you can’t find one on your own.”
“All those groupies in bars aren’t exactly the girls I want to take home to mother.”
“That would be quite a trip, since your mom’s been gone five years now.”
He almost spit out champagne. She laughed and handed him a napkin.
“Nice way to talk about my mother.”
“None of your teammates can fix you up with the perfect girl?” She arched an eyebrow.
“If they could, would I be sitting here?”
She shrugged. “Guess not. Well, they can’t all be me.” Mischief twinkled in her eyes.
He grinned. “You got that right.”
The steward brought out caviar on toast, which they gobbled down. They dined on filet mignon, cooked medium. Harley thought he’d lose it when she pulled out the same book that he had finished the month before.
“Damn it, Shy. Why do you have to be so much like me?”
“A man-whore?”
“You know what I mean. I read Grafton’s latest book last month.”
She laughed. “My male twin. Oops, that would make us incest.”
He smiled before replying, “Is there an ‘us’?”
Color crept up to her cheeks. She turned away, peering out into the blackness of night.
“I guess not. Not if you’re on the quest for connubial bliss with someone else.” 

Come on board for a wild ride through reality TV twists and turns, football action with unexpected consequences and a happy ending you'll never see coming. Pre-order your copy now, here.

HARLEY BRENNAN, RUNNING BACK.




Monday, February 8, 2016

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT - HARLEY'S STORY CONTINUES



Welcome! This week we have our choice of any one of four pictures of windows. This one is my choice as I continue Harley's story. We are restricted to 300 words only. Return to Tuesday Tales at the bottom of the page. 


*****************

     Shyla wrapped a towel around her freshly-showered body and sat by the window. The crew was lucky to have rooms facing the beach. Off season? She smiled and rested her chin in her hands. Memories of playing on the deserted beach at six a.m. with Harley in Costa Rica danced through her brain.

At his suggestion, they’d shucked their suits to skinny dip in the warm, clear water. Floating on her belly, Shyla had rested her face on the surface, her eyes open, staring at the multitude of tiny, colorful fish.  She’d never seen anything like them. She grabbed him and pointed to her find. He held his breath and watched with her.
     The cook, a true romantic, whipped up a small breakfast delight and packed it up with two café frío drinks – coffee with chocolate and whipped cream. They dried off, spread out a blanket under the shade of a palm tree, and dined on scrambled eggs and fresh fruit.

Feeding strawberries and kiwi to each other had led to lovemaking. She sighed, remembering the passion, mixed with the naughtiness of being so intimate on the sand. Their physical chemistry always led them there. She had missed that with other men. And now it was over. She lingered, kneeling on a chair, letting the soft, moist Caribbean breeze caress her face one more time. After all, her suitcase was packed. Nothing left to do but dress.
     The knock on her door brought her back to reality.
     “You’re not ready yet? Let’s go,” Dan said, returning to the hall.
     Unable to tear her gaze from the scenery, she dressed by rote. It had been too short, this island visit. And it had ended badly. But she wouldn’t think about that until she got stateside. Plenty of time for a pity party then.

     Thanks for stopping by.

RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES
MY WEBSITE

Monday, February 1, 2016

TUESDAY TALES - HARLEY' STORY - WORD PROMPT - STOLEN


   Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. The word prompt this week is "stolen". We continue with Harley's story, but today it's from Shyla's point of view. 
    
**************

   As she stood at her window, looking out on the island paradise, Shyla wondered how she and Harley could have built such a strong relationship on the handful of stolen hours they'd shared. 
   She crept quietly out of the room she shared with Biana, her intern, and walked along the deserted beach. At six a.m. she was the only one. She leaned back against a palm tree, enjoying a moment of shade.
   What started at the wedding in Costa Rica continued when they returned stateside. She had been between gigs, so she bunked in with him in his gorgeous, modern house in little Monroe, New York. 
   Two weeks of total bliss. They were never out of sight or touch with each other. Nights were spent making love and talking until three. She'd swore they would never run out of things to say. The snatches of time together continued for a year. Then they agreed that their work needed to come first and they parted. 
   Now here she was, advising him on the women vying for his attention and his hand in marriage. Her stomach clenched. This was not a place she wanted to be, yet she had only herself to blame. 
   "Penny for your thoughts," a deep behind her said. 
   Harley was there, grinning. She smiled. 
   "So who's the bad girl today? And who should I be pursuing?"
   Me.
   One stab of pain shot through her heart. "Ruth is too timid for you. And Clara has other things on her mind. She's texting constantly with someone. Vanessa's still the best."
   "Really? I might have other ideas about that." He said stepping too close to her. They were alone. 
   She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't stop herself as she leaned into his arms. 
The kiss was sweet, succulent and familiar. He came to his senses first. 
"I've got to stop doing that."
"I suppose."
"You're not helping."
"What did I do?"
"You just stood there."


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Thanks for coming. Don't forget to read the others and you can find them HERE