SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING CONTEMPORARY BLOG HOP

 

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Scroll down for the link back to the other blogs in this hop. First, meet the men from my newest series, The Manhattan Dinner Club. Leave a comment &your email address and be entered to win your choice of any of my books. I will pick 2 winners Sunday night at eleven. 

 

This is Dr. Hack Roberts. He accidentally mows Rory Sampson down with his bike in Central Park, breaking her arm and her pug, Baxter's, leg.  He's a handsome, smug, veterinarian who comes up against a sarcastic, smart woman. Who will win this contest of wills? Or will mutual attraction trump hostility? Find out in RESCUE MY HEART.

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 Meet. Whitfield Bass, broadcast journalist and player. He's got a different model on his arm every Saturday night. Then he moves across the hall from beautiful, baker extraordinaire, Bess Cooper. Will the tempting lady across the hall cook up more than mocha cake with the gorgeous, damaged, marriage-phobe? Find out in SEDUCING HIS HEART.

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Meet Preston Carpenter, screenwriter. He's crushing on Brooke Felson, Ruth Quincy's sexy granddaughter. But Brooke only has eyes for a successful, Mr. Corporate America. Pres is not in her league, until her life falls apart. Being there to help her pick up the pieces gives him center stage. But will the call of Hollywood break up his play for her?  Find out in SHINE YOUR LOVE ON ME. (Releasing May 9)

BACK TO THE HOP HERE

TO MY WEBSITE HERE

Remember to leave your email address. I can't pick you to win if I don't have that. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

TUESDAY TALES - FLYING

Welcome, thanks for stopping by. This week is a continuation of a new football romance. There's no title yet. Scroll down to get back to Tuesday Tales.  

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 After practice, Griff sat on a bench in the locker room, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. He pulled out his cell phone and sent a text to Lynn, his Los Angeles girlfriend.

            Flying in Thursday night. You free Friday or Saturday?

“Texting that chick in L.A. with the big tits?”  Defenseman Lance Corcoran sprayed deodorant under his arms as he spoke to the quarterback.

“Like that’s any of your business.”
“Just wondering if she has a friend. One who wears the same bra size.”
“Like I’d ever let a normal girl near you, weirdo. Fuck off.”
“Keeping all the good stuff to yourself?”
“She’s not ‘stuff’, asshole.”
“Ask him in Minneapolis, Miami, Seattle or Dallas. He’s got girls in every city,” Teammate Buddy Stoddard said.
“Impressive, Montgomery.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Griff finished dressing, combed his hair then headed for the parking lot.
He’d have a hot night of good sex with Lynn, but that's all. She had been getting too clingy. Lynn wasn’t his type. She was okay for a bed buddy, but not a lifetime. A ding on his phone interrupted his thoughts.    

            How about both nights?

He cringed. Could he spend two nights listening to Lynn prattle on about clothes, movie stars and gossip? 
     Fine. Pick a movie. I’ll text you from the hotel.

He shut his phone. A movie will keep her quiet. It’s been a long time. As he drove home, Griff admitted to himself that continuing his old lifestyle without his family didn’t make sense. He needed more. He needed his own woman. Fulltime. In his bed. In his kitchen. In his life. And he needed his own kids.

Feeling restless, Griff went for a run. As he rounded the bend, he heard a noise. He slowed down to cool off and stopped when he heard scratching and a whimper. There was a small dog at the back door of what appeared to be an empty house. When Griff approached the property, the pug turned and growled a warning.

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NEW SPRING FLOWERS - DAFFODILS

Daffodils are among my favorites. They are always the precursors of spring along with crocuses and snow drops. Here are some spring flower pictures, taken this spring, to brighten your day.

 Crocus

These pictures were taken mostly in Central Park. Many are 9/11 daffodils, from bulbs given to NYC by Holland after the 9/11 tragedy. A fitting living memorial. Are daffodils a favorite with you, too? Comments are always welcome.

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FREE SHORT STORY.

 

Here's a sneak peek at my free short story. Link to the pdf follows. Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a comment, if you are so inclined.

 SWEET LOVE REMEMBERED

“Get out of the car.”

“What’d I say?”

“Get out.” Perri shifted the car into drive.

“Look, Perri, the kid’s been gone for five years already. When are you gonna let go?” Ike closed the door but leaned on the open window, in no hurry to leave.

“Mike. The kid’s name was Mike,” Perri said as she peeled out, depressing the gas pedal almost to the floor. “Asshole.”

Perri slowed down when she crossed the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. She forked right onto the Palisades Parkway, then leaned back against the rich leather seat of her BMW. The drive to Pine Grove was so familiar she could do it in her sleep.

You’d be five today, Mikey. If you had lived. It’s five years since we scattered your ashes in Cedar Lake.

June twenty-second, the day before Mikey’s birthday, was the day of Perri’s annual trip to Pine Grove. She took a shaky breath. SIDS took four-month-old Michael Jessup. The son of Perri and Sergeant Matthew Jessup…once her husband, now her ex.  

Perri pulled into the driveway of the Pine Grove Guesthouse facing Cedar Lake. She had a standing reservation for the same week every year. Lacy Ryan, gray-haired owner of the guesthouse, had Perri’s room ready. She took a freshly baked cookie off the plate Lacy was holding.

“Room’s ready, Perri.” Lacy hugged the pretty brunette.

“What’s all that lumber in old Doc Branford’s yard?” Perri munched on her cookie.

“Doc moved to Florida. Somebody bought the place. Fixin’ it up too.” Lacy took the plate into the kitchen. “Coffee’s still hot.”

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Continue reading the story HERE

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT

Welcome to Tuesday Tales. This week is a picture prompt. While this pic didn't fit into my current stories, it does fit well into one I'm planning. The story doesn't have a title yet, but it does have a plot. Thanks for coming. Return to Tuesday Tales and the awesome writers there HERE.  

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Kay pulled the car off the road onto the shoulder. Risa opened the door and threw her backpack out onto the scruffy grass.  She looked at the mountains and sighed. "Now that's a skyline."
"You sure I'm not going to get arrested for this?" Kay asked.
"Nope. I'm over twenty-one. All you did was give me a lift. You had no idea I wasn't going back."

 Kay put her hand on her niece's arm. "Do you have to do this?"
Risa smiled. "Yep. From here on, I'm not Marisa. Just Risa, a cowgirl with no past."
"Do you have to walk away from everything?"
"I'll be in touch. But only if I think you're phone isn't tapped." She laughed. "It's easy walking distance to town from here."
"Your mother's gonna kill me."
"She'll never know it was you, unless you tell her."
"My lips are sealed. I like living." Kay grinned.
She leaned over to hug her aunt then pushed out of the car. 
"Do you need this?" Kay held up a tutu.
"Nope. Got my leotard and stuff. No more tutus. Jeans and plaid shirts from now on." Risa straightened up and stretched her arms above her head. A slight breeze ruffled her long brown hair
"Wait!" She reached in and grabbed a scissors. After throwing her hair over her head, she combed it as even as she could, then cut straight through it. Bouncing her head back, she smiled. "Now no one'll recognize me."
"Holy crap. Did you have to do that?"
"Damn straight." She tossed her unevenly bobbed hair, then hid it beneath a hat. 
"Your mother..."
Risa held her finger to her lips, shut the car door and pointed her scuff-toed cowgirl boots toward town. 
"Good luck, Baby," Kay called. Risa blew her a kiss and kept on walking.

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