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Sunday, January 15, 2012

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING BLOG HOP



HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SECRET CRAVINGS!
WINA FREE BOOK OR A KINDLE FIRE!

I am fortunate to have two books published by Secret Cravings and a third one under contract. They are a great company with awesome authors. Here is my contest:

Unscramble ONE name of four of the characters in my books and you are eligible to win! Two winners will be selected to pick their choice of either, Now and Forever 1, a Love Story or Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny!
Leave your answer in a comment with your email. You're comment will automatically enter for the grand prize of the bloghop,  KINDLE FIRE, to be given by Secret Cravings Publishing and the second prize, an Amazon gift card. Don't forget to leave a comment and your email addy! Even if you can't unscramble a name, leave your name and email addy in a comment anyway. 




Scramble names from Now and Forever 1 are:
1.  Cam
2. Laclie
One of my favorite excerpts from the book is:

Mac enjoyed talking to Callie. She listened carefully, showing sympathy for him when called for and asking pertinent questions. Her lovely face took on a new glow of animation when she talked about Jason. The evening ended pleasantly. He paid her, thanked her and they lingered at the door. Mac wanted to kiss her, but how can you kiss someone who you just paid? Callie stood dangerously close to him, looking up into his eyes, making him feel like she wanted him to kiss her too but then stepped away from him, toward the door. They said an awkward goodnight, with both standing too long at the door, unsure of what to do.

Callie turned, slipped under his arm holding the door open, glided through the doorway and waved goodbye as she went down the walk. Mac gazed at her walking down the path, noticing the gentle sway of her skirt, the slim outline of her hips. He remembered the soft pink of her lips—he wanted to scoop her up into his arms and kiss her. He didn't know what to make of this young woman, at once so shy and remote-then so competent and caring. He knew there was more to her than met the eye and he‘d enjoy finding out what made her tick.
                                                                    ****
Callie felt happy for the first time in ages, smiling as she walked the ten blocks to her small room. She got undressed and pulled out a textbook to get some reading in before bed, though it was hard to concentrate. When she finally turned out the light, she couldn‘t stop grinning. Callie couldn‘t deny her attraction to Mac any longer. His presence made her tingle. Tonight she stared at his lips, sure he was going to kiss her then unsure if she should, she quickly slipped out the door before he got the hint.


Scrambled names from Now and Forever 2 are:
3. Nadny
4. Ziela
One of my favorite excerpts from Now and Forever 2 is:
“What about your parents?”
“After my parents went to prison, Kyle became my guardian. We were only kids ourselves, nineteen and thirteen years old. He worked at a garage fixing cars and rented a trailer for us. Callie came over all the time, she acted like my sister. When I went to college, Kyle joined the Army, like he always wanted. But he died before he could marry Callie or see me graduate…with honors,” Danny said, looking down at his hands, struggling to control his voice.
“How awful to lose Kyle, when you needed him most,” she said, sympathetically, looking up into his eyes, curling her fingers around his hand and squeezing.
“I can’t remember not needing him. The same must be true for you,” he said.
“I was so lost, I disappeared into bed…”
“Bed? You were sleeping around?” Danny asked as his eyebrows shot up.
“I spent too much time sleeping. Being tired all the time, I could barely move. Jonesy and Mac forced me to get up in the morning, pushed me out of the house. Still, I had to learn to put one foot in front of the other by myself.”
“You seem to be doing well.”
“I worked hard, which paid off. I still have hard days…lonely days,” she said and their eyes connected.
Danny took her hand, kissed it and threaded his fingers through hers.
“I got angry after Kyle died. I decided to go to Iraq myself…to even the score.”
“Weren’t you scared?”
“Terrified. But don’t tell anyone,” he confessed, smiling, staring into the candle.
“Being so alone terrified me. And nights at home alone in bed…”
“…you missed that, too,” he finished for her, as a beautiful pink blush stained her cheeks.
“Yes,” she admitted, looking directly into the candle’s flame.
“What about Simon?” he probed, studying her face.
“He’s a poor replacement. He’s pleasant enough…”
“Doesn’t sound like a love match.”
“When you’re lonely…and a man comes along,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Are you in love with him?” Danny asked, holding his breath, waiting for her reaction, a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Simon? No. Absolutely not. He’s…you know…someone to go to the movies with, to take to school functions so I don’t have to go alone.”
“What about the…uh…sleeping arrangements with him?” he asked, embarrassed but unable to deny his curiosity.
“Oh!” Eliza turned beet red this time and looked down at her hands.
“I don’t mean to pry, but…”
“I wouldn’t miss him like I miss Bill. I don’t know how I should explain.”
“I get the idea. He’s not much in the sack,” he said, bluntly, his gaze seeking hers.
“Not exactly,” she said, her hands twisting the cloth napkin.
“A beautiful woman like you deserves more.” He saw her eyes widen as he rested his hand over hers, calming her.
Her hands stopped, he closed his fingers around hers and she lifted her eyes to his.
“You’re right,” she said, hunger evident in her gaze.
“You deserve a man who can send you to the moon,” he murmured. He gazed at her face, lovely in the candle glow.

Both books are available on the SCP website(www.secretcravingspublishing.com) and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Bookstrand.

Check them out for review and such on my website:www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

Thank you for stopping by!!

Friday, January 13, 2012

UNSCRAMBLERS FOR FUN!

Just for fun, I have scrambled the names of  20 movie stars. Can you unscramble them? Please leave a comment telling me how you did and if you like this kind of puzzle.
MEN MOVIE STARS
(Answers at the end)  Who are these guys?

1. Mot Sucire
2. Nynad Tivode
3. Drab Tipt
4. Slusrel  Wocer
5. Tamt Madon
6.  Kacj  Clabk
7.  Omt  Knash
8.  Nary   Dleronys
9.  Caz  Forne
10. Dolneraro   Craipdio



WOMEN MOVIE STARS
1.  Tace  Clathbent
2.  Take  Swilent
3.  Taike  Shemol
4.  Nan  Wathayha
5.  Lehla  Rebyr
6.  Redw  Merabryor
7.  Nirenjef  Sninanot
8.  Leehn  Remrin
9.  Harilyl  Kwnas
10.  Take  Sonudh




"The Marriage List" - $.99! Sizzling contemporary romance!

Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn’t any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
 Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She’s finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It’s not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey’s happiness after all?

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

EXCERPT
Grey was on a mission, gathering data, information, formulating his plan for wedded bliss. After two pitchers, tongues started to loosen up.
“My wife is a pain in the ass with her decorator and her cook. The living room is white, can’t wear shoes there. Can’t put my feet up on the coffee table. And food! Tiny portions, salads. Give me a good meatloaf any day, I eat like a rabbit,” Will complained, refilling his glass.
The table was silent for a moment.
“Bobby, how’s that sexy lady you married?” Spence asked, his eyes glittering with either desire or envy, Grey couldn’t tell which.
“Watch it, Spence. Just because she has big boobs…”
“Man, she must be hot,” Spence continued.
“I said watch it!” Bobby got halfway out of his chair before Grey put a hand on his arm to stop him.
“What’s the matter, Spence, not getting any?” Bobby teased.
“Susan’s a great talker. She loves to talk. Very smart. Intellectual, in and out of bed. But the action I want in bed doesn’t involve talking,” Spence said, gazing down at his beer.
“I wish Tiffany would talk a little more. She says lawyer stuff is boring. I tell her ‘yeah that lawyer stuff is what pays for your wardrobe, honey’ but she doesn’t get it,” Bobby said, signaling the waitress for another pitcher.
Grey didn’t hear anything like what he’d expected. He had steeled himself to hear enough bragging to make a strong stomach retch, but it never materialized. Instead his friends continued to complain about their wives, what their seemingly perfect wives lacked and what the Horsemen were missing. His frustrated pals killed his taste for the women at the bar and the discovery of their dissatisfaction caused Grey to wonder if married life was a good idea for him after all.



ANSWERS
Men
1. Tom Cruise
2. Danny DiVito
3. Brad Pitt
4. Russel Crowe
5. Matt Damon
6. Jack Black
7.Tom Hanks
8. Ryan Reynolds
9. Zac Efron
10. Leonardo DiCaprio


Women
1. Cate Blanchett
2. Kate Winslet
3. Katie Holmes
4.Ann Hathaway
5. Halle Berry
6. Drew Barrymore
7.Jennifer Anniston
8. Helen Mirren
9. Hilary Swank
10.Kate Hudson

Monday, January 9, 2012

TUESDAY TALES - Welcome!


Welcome and thanks for stopping by. Today's post is from my WIP, soon to be a published novella. It's a continuation of Grey and Carrie's story from "The Marriage List."

"The Love List"
Flipping off her shoes, Carrie slipped her fleece pants off and hung them over the back of a chair. She left her fleece top and bra on as the chill in the air made the room too cold for sleeping topless. She climbed into bed, snuggled in under the down quilt and closed her eyes. Sleep came quickly.
****
            Grey opened the door quietly and tiptoed into his room. He noticed his private present for Carrie was gone and wondered if she hid it intending to take a peek later. He chuckled to himself over her insatiable curiosity. Forget trying to hide anything from her, ever!
            He slipped off his shoes and hung his jeans over a chair. Slowly peeling down the covers he slid into bed next to Carrie. She moved slightly as the bed dipped under his weight. After she rolled over on her stomach, he inched closer to her and put his head down on the pillow. But he wasn’t tired. Grey warmed his hand under his chin then placed it underneath her fleece sweatshirt, resting his fingers on her back. He loved the feel of her soft skin as he glided his hand up slightly then down to the edge of her panties.
            A month ago we were apart. I was alone and now she’s going to be my wife...my own Christmas miracle.
            His fingers toyed with the lace before ducking under the edge and cupping the firm flesh of her behind, giving it a gentle squeeze. Carrie turned her head toward him, stifled a yawn and cracked her eyes open.
            “Hey, sleepy,” he said, pulling his hand out from under the covers to stroke her hair.
            “Hey, you.”  Carrie blinked up at him, squinting.
            She flipped over onto her side and faced him. He moved his hand down, stroking her shoulder on the way to her breast, where it stopped. His fingers closed around the soft mound and he gave it a light massage.
            “Did you have something in mind?”
            “No time, honey,” he replied.
            “Copping a feel?”
            He nodded but did not remove his hand.
            “Don’t get me started, if we have no time…”
            “Guests due in about half an hour.”
            “Oh!”  Carrie cupped her hands around his face, kissed him, then threw back the covers and pushed out of bed.
            “What’s the hurry?”
            “Got to get dressed. The ham…the dips have to be…and the veges aren’t washed.”
            “They’ve got you well trained already,” he sighed.
            “Nine o’clock you’re mine, Mister,” she said, shooting him a wicked grin.
            “I’ll be here…with bells on,” he said.
            “And nothing else?”
            Grey pulled back the covers, got out of the bed heading for the chair to grab his jeans. Carrie brushed her hair and smoothed down her fleece top. She returned the brush to the dresser and stepped close to him. She slid her hand down below his belly and patted him while her other arm snaked around his waist.
            “Now who’s getting who started here?” He asked her, his hands on her shoulders.
            “Checking to make sure I’m not leaving anything…unfinished.”
            “And if you were?”
            “I might have to do something about it.”
            “No lie? Damn! If I’d known that...”
            “Too late.”  She moved away from him, chuckling and reached for her lipstick.
            He laughed and pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight.

            “Touching you wasn’t about sex,” he whispered near her ear.

            “No?” She cocked her head and stared straight into his eyes.

            “Maybe…uh, most of the time, yeah. But not this time.”

Read "The Marriage List" before the sequel comes out. Only $.99 now but the price is going up when the sequel is published.