Special Guest: Laura Breck

Today I'm pleased to welcome a guest to The Cozy Page, author Laura Breck! Laura is a fellow blogger at The Roses of Prose and I'm really excited to learn more about her debut novel Secret Vegas Lives:

Bestselling author Antonio Daniato sets a trap to capture his blackmailers, and is surprised when well-known psychologist Valerie Kane stumbles into his arms. She swears she's not involved, but he threatens to expose her unless she reveals her accomplice. When she bares her soul to prove her innocence, Antonio is fascinated by her honesty, but shaken by the intensity of his desire for her.

Surrendering to temptation, Valerie defies her family's wishes and risks her reputation to let hot-blooded, enigmatic Antonio into her life. But she uncovers evidence that he's staging the blackmail scenes as research for his next book—and casting her as the blackmailer. When she confronts him, it's his turn to convince her of his innocence.

Their outrageous sexual attraction keeps them in each other's arms, but mutual distrust prevents them from admitting their deeper emotions. When the true blackmailer threatens to reveal Antonio's double life, Antonio yields to his guilt and chooses to let Valerie go. But Valerie discovers his secret, and will fight for Antonio against an addiction whose hold on him may be stronger than their love.

Secret Vegas Lives is a romance/mystery. This genre seems to be growing again by leaps and bounds. Can you tell us what inspired you to write it?

I lived in Las Vegas for three years, and I loved it! It’s so different from my hometown in Minnesota. People from around the world relocate there, and create a unique culture and personality that is addictive. I wrote Secret Vegas Lives based on a girlfriend’s idea after we visited Vegas for a wild bachelorette party. Woot!

Tell us more about Secret Vegas Lives.

Dr. Valerie Kane is an eminent psychologist who is at the wrong place at the right time, and is mistaken for a blackmailer by crime novelist Antonio Daniato. They both swear they’re not the blackmailer, but their suspicions keep them from exploring the intense attraction between them. When they learn to trust each other, the passion is red-hot. But there’s a reason they’re being blackmailed, and when they learn each other’s secrets, their perfect romance is torn apart.

Which is your favorite protagonist and why?

It has to be Antonio. He’s a flawed, self-indulgent man who embraces his bad-boy persona and lives it to the maximum. He doesn’t care to change, he’s happy with his one-nighters and his secret thrill addiction. Until he meets Valerie, and knows what’s been missing in his life. The love of a soul mate, the sharing a man can only have with someone he trusts completely, and the promise of a future.

You’ve sold another manuscript recently. Congratulations! What do you love most about writing?

I love my Italian series, weaving the characters from each book through the others. And weaving bits of interrelated plot within each book. Sometimes the most amazing things pop into my head, and I quickly write them. Then the next day I fire up my laptop and read what I wrote the day before, and I can only attribute the snappy prose to my muse.

According to your website, you’re a big believer in giving back to the community. Tell us about that.

Each of my books discusses an unpleasant element of society that, with our help, can be changed. That’s why I partner with a charity in the city in which each of my books is set. In Las Vegas, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Shade Tree Shelter, a shelter for women, children, and their pets. Read more about this amazing shelter on its page on my website, LauraBreck.com

You’re a member of Romance Writers of America. Please tell us more about it and if you would recommend new authors join?

I’ve been a member of Romance Writers of America for years. Their local groups, Midwest Fiction Writers of Minnesota, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, meet monthly, and other chapters, such as Elements of RWA and ESPAN, are online chapters only. Both the brick-and-mortar meetings and the online groups are extremely helpful, supportive, educational, and worth the tax-deductible membership fees.

Ok, now for the fun part! What's your zodiac and what does it tell you today?

I have given up birthdays due to their aging effect, and thus have eschewed my zodiac sign as well. But today, for me, is another 24 hours of unlimited opportunities to work toward my goals, and to make a difference in the world.

Wow, that's a great one! If you could set a story where you live, what genre would it be? Heart-pounding romantic suspense and sweet contemporary?

Gosh, Saint Paul, Minnesota is probably its very own genre of mild pleasantries and quiet cautiousness. But much closer to sweet contemporary than anything with heart-pounding intensity.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be and why?

I'm a Hurricane. Sweet to the taste, but fortified with a kick of drive and enthusiasm that kind of sneaks up on you.

What recent read would you recommend?

I'm a big fan of Randy Wayne White, and I just read an older book of his, Captiva. It's a book I'll never forget.

What's your favorite smell and what makes it significant?

Coffee in the morning. We're coffee snobs. We fresh-grind our beans, and use purified water. I love getting up early, sitting at my computer with a cup of coffee, and writing for an hour before anyone else is awake. Oh, and don't even get me started on Saturday mornings...

And last but not least, if you found the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what would you see in it? (Note: If you aren't an HP junkie like me, the Mirror of Erised is a magical object that is inscribed “I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.” Orphaned Harry sees his parents, his friend Ron sees himself distinguished as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, and Albus Dumbledore supposedly sees himself with a pair of socks.)

I've watched the movies, but never read the books. I admire your dedication to the author's subtexts, Amber! For me, the mirror would show a schoolgirl at heart.

Can we please have a little teaser from Secret Vegas Lives?

My pleasure!

Chapter One

“Don’t move your lips when you talk,” her sister said from under the blanket in the back seat. “They might be watching you.”

Valerie Kane’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she turned into the dog park’s empty lot. Through stiff lips, she answered, “We’re here.” She pulled into a spot as far from a light as possible, shifted into park, and killed the engine. “I’m a little nervous.”

“Is your hood up?” Monica asked.

She looked out the windshield. “Hood?”

Her sister heaved a sigh. “On you, not the car.”

Oh, crap, she needed to focus. She tugged the drawstrings of her hooded sweatshirt. “Yeah, it’s up.” She looked around to be sure they were still alone and caught a glimpse of the lights of the Las Vegas strip twinkling blissfully in the distance. A tingle of anxiety ran through her.

“Are we doing the right thing?”

Her sister reached between the seats and gripped her arm. “We don’t have to do this, Val. If you have any doubt, just start the car and let’s go.”

Taking a deep breath, she zipped up her hoodie. “No. We promised. I can do this.” She pressed the unlock button on the doors then glanced back. Monica was well hidden and was lying on the bag containing their cousin’s blackmail payment.

Her sister whispered, “Just go really fast and get back here. Wait, first roll down the windows, so I can hear you if you scream.”

Scream? There was no reason to scream. No one was here. This was just a package pick-up. Her sister was being overcautious.

She pressed the four window buttons. “Here I go.”

Opening the door, she jumped out quickly. If they were watching, she didn’t want the interior light to give away her identity. Tonight she was a body double for their cousin, an Academy Award winning actress.

The blackmailers specified they wanted the actress to make the pick-up and delivery, but Valerie and her older sister, Monica, let their cousin talk them into doing it. Would the blackmailers be fooled? She and her cousin did look similar, with long, straight black hair and light skin, although she was twenty years younger than the actress.

She jogged across the grass, her shaky legs slowing her. The park measured a half-mile square, and, though the sun was down, the temperature had to be in the eighties. Dressed in layers to look heavier, her body heated quickly.

At regular intervals, she slowed and scanned the area. She saw no one, and her jitters eased.

Then a surge of adrenaline pumped through her. She was doing something risky, finally, in her too-safe, over-protected life. And it felt as invigorating as a ride on a roller coaster.
It took a few minutes to reach the middle of the park, where a water fountain stood next to a couple trees.

She stopped a yard short and looked around, hearing only crickets chirruping and her heart whumping. She walked up to the fountain and squatted, reaching under the lower bowl set at dog’s height. She felt it, a package taped to the bottom, and tore it loose. It was heavy. How much cash was in it?

Above her, branches rustled, and a large bulk dropped from the tree, three feet from her. A man, all in black, a foot taller than her and at least a hundred fifty pounds heavier, grabbed her arm, looming over her.

Where can we find out more about your writing?

Stop by my website, LauraBreck.com, to read an excerpt and watch a video trailer of Secret Vegas Lives (available now from RedRosePublishing.com) I’ve also posted an excerpt from the second book in the series, Scandalous L.A. Desires (coming in 2010.)

Do you have a couple of contests for us?

Check out my monthly website drawing, where I give away a heart-shaped carabiner and lipstick USB drive. And today, one random commenter will win a goodie bag of my promotional items.

Thank you so much, Amber, for hosting me on The Cozy Page today. I’ll be around to answer any questions, and to read comments.

Wishing you tons of sales, Laura! Readers, it's your turn to drill Laura! Sound off!

NaNo Thoughts: Day 4

Whew! It's Day 4 of November's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and so far my 1,667 words a day have been oddly easy. My muse is proving herself very productive and easy to work with. I catch myself wondering, "What's the catch?" Usually as soon as I cozy up to her, she takes a indefinite sabbatical.

Though I am not a morning person, she seems to be. As soon as I wake up, I go straight to the computer in my office. Here I have no wireless signal, which I credit to so far being able to hit my daily word count and then some (averaging roughly 1,800 a day) before lunch or 2 p.m. at the latest. As a reward, I transfer my laptop to the den where I do have wireless internet and answer email, tweet my progress, and update my word count at the NaNoWriMo site. Depending on how engrossed I am in the scene, I go back and add more words, boosting my daily progress. I like knowing throughout the day that the real work's done and I can go back if my muse is still feeling work savvy. Otherwise, I usually tweak my material before bedtime, editing and jotting down ideas for tomorrow or a later plot point.

It's crossed my mind more than once why in the world NaNo is scheduled for November. The holiday rush begins. Thanksgiving plans are debated, college and NFL football distracts on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, my day job hours pick up.... Did the creators of NaNo pick a challenging month to test participants even further? Really, why November? Why not January? Or February? March? April? May, not so much thanks to graduations and weddings which transfer into June. July is for family vacations. And who wants to be tied to the keyboard when the beach beckons? August is back-to-school. September, the average parent is still adjusting to back-to-school. October, though? What's wrong with October? I'd still really like to know why November is D-Month! Can anyone tell me?

Ok, I promised helpful quotes! These get my fingers moving in the morning:

"Plots are like sharks - they either keep moving or they die!"

- J.R. Ward

"The only thing that stands between a woman & what she wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible."

- Richard M. Devos (c/o Maree Anderson - Thx!)

“I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning.”

- Peter De Vries (c/o Cindi Myers' Market News blog)

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."
-Muhammad Ali

“Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending.”
- Author Unknown

“If at first, an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.”
- Albert Einstein

"My mind is novel-shaped."

- Zadie Smith

"It may take me a while, but I'll get it."

- Jennifer Hudson, auditioning for Dreamgirls

"The most important thing in writing is to have written. I can always fix a bad page. I can’t fix a blank one."

- Nora Roberts

*At The Roses of Prose, we're talking about NaNoWriMo all week long. Stop by!*

NaNo Notes

NaNo 2009 and a month of literary abandon officially launched yesterday. Over 100,000 writers signed up to take the 50,000 word challenge. I thought I'd share some of my notes from last year from this month's Romance Writers United's "Write Right" newsletter.

*If anyone would like a copy of this month's informative RWU newsletter, contact me at amber@amberleighwilliams.com. I will be happy to forward!*

It’s November again and writers everywhere are gritting their teeth and downing copious amounts of caffeine. Why? Because November 1st marks the first day of National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNo.

2008 marked my first NaNo year. I hadn’t written a full-length novel in over twelve months so NaNo seemed like the perfect way to get my muse back in shape. When November 1st rolled around, I was feeling a mix of high anticipation and impending doom. I’d never pantsed a day in my life. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month. Whether I knew my next plot point or not, I had no choice. I had a loud cricket on my shoulder guilting me out of procrastination and back to my new MS Word document. I just barely scraped by that 50,000 mark at midnight on November 30th. I fell behind in the third week thanks to the first holiday rush at my day job. With the help of Jiminy and a husband who offered to sling wet noodles whenever he saw me slacking in my free time, I came out of NaNo victorious!

I’ve met quite a few writers who are doing NaNo for the first time this year. The last 2009 count for NaNo was 78,000 and growing. I thought I’d share a few notes-to-self from the trenches to help get first-timers in gear:

#1 – You must write 1667 words today. If you don’t, you’ll be forced to write 3334 words tomorrow. And while NaNo’s website claims 1700 isn’t physically impossible, 3334 might just be.

#2 – It helps to have a coach. Prior to this year and last year’s NaNo, I asked my husband to keep me on my toes. I gave him a title, too, which he seemed to like: The Muse-Buster! First though, I warned him I might hate him at some point. Also bought him a hard hat and some Kevlar.

#3 – Be prepared to live, breathe, and eat your characters. Okay, well maybe not eat – but you know what I mean! You go to bed thinking about them and the story and wake up the same way. You dream about them—more than you already do. Your fingers will do the typing motion in your sleep. If you’re desperate to get away, you must remind yourself that procrastination won’t come until December 1st – and oh how sweet that day will be if you’ve got those fresh 50,000 words under your belt (or on your back-up hard drive) and you’ve silenced that cricket on your shoulder.

I gathered more advice from veteran NaNo writers around the web. Here’s some of their advice:

Pace yourself. Daily word count is 1667 - if needed do it in 10 minute increments throughout the day.
- Delilah K. Stephans

Plan easy meals for your family. Realize they will survive without you for a month. Remember it is only 1667 words a day.
- Jill James

Write at the same time, for the same amount of time, every day, and eliminate all distractions.
- Kelly L. Stone

If anyone else has any advice or thoughts on NaNo, email it to amber@amberleighwilliams.com. I’ll add it to weekly encouragement posts at The Cozy Page (http://amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com) throughout the month of November!

Here’s to literary abandon!

Worth A Click...

Procrastination can only take up so much of the day so I like to know which sites are worthy enough to indulge that time in. Here are some new favorites I've developed over the last few weeks...

Blogs I Follow...


1) The Season Blog - Many may already be familiar with Beverley Kendall's historical romance site, The Season. Not only is there now a Forum, there is also a Blog. Both have helped reawaken my love of the historical romance novel. There's always interesting historical-romance-themed topics, the opportunity to pick the brain of a historical romance author or two, polls, and the occassional giveaways. The Season Blog is definitely on my procrastination list.


2) Borders True Romance - Join host Sue Grimshaw and Borders online for romance galore! Not only is there video interviews with favorite romance authors the likes of Nora Roberts, J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, etc., there's the chance to interact with guests like Carly Phillips, Susan Donovan, and more! Plus some pretty great book giveaways as well. I thank Borders for putting the spotlight on romance! (I find this a great diversion for my Romance Novel TV shut-down blues...)


3) League of Reluctant Adults - This group of paranormal/urban fantasy authors uses the tagline "Paranormal. Chatty. Inappropriate." Off the wall and fun, I stop by for updates often from Jaye Wells, Molly Harper, Dakota Cassidy, Michelle Rowen, etc.! Not all that many free goodies up for grabs, but there's always paranormal-related topics being discussed and that's precisely why it makes my list. Must feed my paranormal obsession!


4) Risky Regencies - This blog is probably my current favorite. I look forward to visiting to hear the latest in Regency romance chatter from one of my current must-buys, Diane Gaston, as well as Amanda McCabe, Carolyn Jewel, and several more ladies who make it their business to know...well, risky regencies. There's always something to learn or discuss, especially if you appreciate the Regency genre as much as scores of other Austen followers.


5) Cynthia Eden's Blog - Nobody throws a virtual party better than paranormal romance and romantic suspense author Cynthia Eden! Whether it's a launch party like her 30 Days of Demons leading up to the July release of Midnight's Master or holiday celebrations like her Month of Monsters going on right now, there's always fun to be had at Cynthia's blog.


6) Murder She Writes - Move over, Angela Lansbury! The queens of romantic suspense and mystery have banded together to bring readers relevant topics every week - Allison Brennan, S.J. Day, Heather Graham, Roxanne St. Claire, Debra Webb.... Yeah, these are just a few reasons I stop by. Nobody writes murder or wisdom better than these ladies. Definitely worth a click!


7) Fresh Fiction - Fiction lovers will love Fresh Fiction. Add contests and favorite fiction authors together and I'm there! Recently, Nina Banks stopped by to discuss writing humor. Now I'm hooked. I must know what is being said every week at Fresh Fiction! Plus, they review!


8) Romancing the Blog - Romance readers and authors discuss "what's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the world of romance" at Romancing the Blog. I've long been a fan of this site. Guests are welcome to post during "Open Blog Nights."


9) Fierce Romance - Nobody knows better what makes romance sexy (particularly romance heroes) than the ladies of Fierce Romance. A visit to this blog gets my blood moving in the morning. Whether its eye candy, book trailers, hot topics that range anywhere from hot heroes to cover models to hot hero wardrobes and weapons, I love me some Fierce Romance! And there's usually some really juicy excerpts readers can sink their teeth into :)

10) The Roses of Prose - Of course I had to go there, lol. But hey, not only do I like posting every Monday at TRoP. I love reading what the other ladies, Kianna Alexander, Laura Breck, Lisa Lipkind Leibow, and Nancy O'Berry, have to say. They're amazing ladies I've already learned beaucoups from. I'm very happy to be a part of this site!

So readers, what're your favorite group blogs? What makes a site worth the procrastination time? I'd love to hear recommendations!

CTR Review for FOREVER AMORE

Lovely surprise in my inbox tonight from Coffee Time Romance - a 4-cup review from reviewer Maura:

"This is a wonderfully written story of a forbidden love during wartime. The two main characters are extremely well developed and sympathetic and I felt so much sympathy for their plight. The setting of Italy during World War II is an exciting one filled with political intrigue and danger from all sides. The author has brought the era to life and filled it with some memorable characters. The villain DiMarco in particular jumps off the page. The descriptions of the Renaldi’s lives during wartime are quite detailed, from their personal lives to their social lives. Fear makes some members less than honorable and brings out the best in others, even family can turn against one. Lucille’s trials and tribulations and her love for Charles will keep the reader riveted from the first page to the last one."

Thank you to Maura and CTR! I particularly like the line "Their romance is dangerous and forbidden, but love does not always follow the rules." For the full review, visit CTR here!

And great news, not only is Forever Amore available in paperback and ebook at Black Lyon Publishing; you can now purchase the Kindle edition here!

Special Guest: Celia Yeary

Today I’m thrilled to welcome another very special guest to Cozy, fellow Wayback author Celia Yeary whose novella Showdown in Southfork is available now from The Wild Rose Press!

Marla Ellington inherits an abandoned town on ranchland near Wayback, Texas. When she arrives to claim her property, and finds Cody Matheson sitting on the porch of the dilapidated honky-tonk, her temper flares hotter than her pistol. Anger blazing, she settles in for a showdown.

Cody’s only goal for the week is to win the bull-riding event at the Saturday night rodeo. But when Marla receives an anonymous threat that forces her to leave town, Cody finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a mystery. ’Course, catching a criminal and lasting eight seconds on a bull are easy compared to winning the love of the feisty, strawberry-blonde beauty who wants nothing to do with him. Now it's his turn for a showdown.

Welcome to The Cozy Page, Celia, and many congrats on the Wayback release! I’m eager to talk about Showdown in Southfork! It’s a wonderful addition to the Wayback series. It also harkens back to the suspenseful themes we found in Judith Rochelle’s Shadow of the Hawk and Sylvie Kaye’s Wrong Side of Love. Can you tell us a bit about this?

I’d be happy to. First, it’s light-hearted, even though an unknown person threatens Marla, and it’s humorous and a little sexy. I based the story on a real event about Albert, Texas—population 4. John Cave owned it—yes, he owned this ghost town with acreage and an old honkytonk—and placed it on eBay. Since we drive by that small place often when traveling, I “wrote” the story in my head on the way to our destination.

Intriguing! Your heroine Marla definitely lives up to Wayback’s feisty standards. Tell us a bit about Marla and what motivates her.

Marla is from a semi-wealthy family in Dallas, rather pampered as the only girl, but still, she has an independent streak. She inherits the town from her eccentric grandfather who lived there all alone until he died. The catch—she must stay there one week to claim her inheritance. When she arrives, Cody is there, a stranger, and the sparks fly.

I already love hero Cody. Cowboy and bull-rider are welcome qualities around these parts ;) Can you give us more insight into Cody’s character? What attracts him to Marla?

Cody is easy going and somewhat lazy when he’s free of actual work. But when he must accomplish something, he’s all male, strong-willed, and well—“bullheaded.” He loves to tease, play, and flirt, and he finds cute feisty Marla the perfect target. And she plays right into his hands—pun intended.

What is it about the cowboy hero that is so endearing?

Good question. Cowboys, as we know them or create them, are protective, aggressive, respectful, and loyal. Yep, that’s a cowboy for you. They can have broken hearts waiting to be mended by the right woman, a thick skull a female usually must crack to get a point across, and arrogance fit to kill when he thinks he’s right. Through everything, he’s looking for love—sometimes in all the wrong places—but we’ll forgive him for that.

What compelled you to write a story for the Wayback series? Care to share any of your favorite Wayback series moments?

I read the first two Wayback stories, and fell in love with the town and the story line. The series became very popular right away. I knew authors were submitting, so I began to yearn for that place in the Wayback lineup. You see, I have a killer instinct. Most people see me as a kind, sweet, mature woman. But underneath, I want to win. So, place a challenge before me and I’ll work very hard to make it my own. Now, I’m hoping my book will be in an anthology—most of my local friends and family want a book to hold, not read online, and they’d buy the anthology.

Please let us here at Cozy know if Showdown is printed in an anthology! You have another western romance available from The Wild Rose Press. Give us the skinny on Yellow Rose All My Hopes and Dreams.

It’s a story about two opposites—prim, proper, spoiled Cynthia Harrington who wants to choose her own husband but her father selects one for her; and Ricardo Romero, a wealthy Spaniard in town to buy blooded mares. Impulsively, he asks for her hand in marriage. She accepts and he takes her home to the ranch. Each must learn how to live with the other, and the task is not easy.

Do you have any upcoming titles readers should look out for?

Texas Blue has a release date in January 2010. It parallels All My Hopes and Dreams, in a way. I took characters from one to write the other story. This is a full-length novel.

According to your website, though Texas is your home, you travel quite a bit. What are your favorite places to visit and where haven’t you been that you would like to go?

We’ve traveled all over Europe, part of Russia, the Scandinavian countries, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and of course, the United States. I’ve never visited a place I didn’t enjoy in some way. I cannot choose a favorite at all. But one place we’ve not been is Ireland and Scotland. If we do fly across the ocean again, I’d love to visit those places.

Okay, now for the fun part! What’s your zodiac and what does it say for today?

Virgo. ‘You thrive under deadlines now. Not everyone is as thrill-seeking as you, so be patient with the steady quiet ones.’ Very true—I do my best under pressure and with close deadlines.

If you could set a romance where you live, what genre would it be? Sweeping historical, heart-pounding romantic suspense, or hot contemporary?

I live in the Texas Hill Country-rugged, rough and beautiful. I would have to place a sweeping historical here!...with maybe a little hot sex thrown in. Why not?

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be and why?

Margarita, definitely. It says, “I’ve worked hard, so I’ll kick back, turn on some Tejano music, sit with someone I love, and have a plate of jalapeno cheese nachos to go with it.”

What recent read would you recommend?

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. It’s not erotic, but it’s plenty hot.

What’s your favorite smell and is there anything that makes it significant?

Hmmm, wet, green grass, freshly mowed. Here in Central Texas, we often have long droughts and all the grass turns brown. With a little rain, it pops right back, and I feel rejuvenated and blessed. And the smell is lovely.

And last but not least, if you found your heart’s desire at the end of the rainbow, what would it be?

Oh, that’s difficult. My heart’s desire—to have my three young grandsons grow into worthwhile, happy young men who will make a difference in their world.

Thanks again for lounging with us here at The Cozy Page, Celia! I’m sure my readers will look forward to reading Showdown in Southfork. I definitely look forward to your January Cactus Rose release! To close, would you mind giving us a nibble of Showdown?

******

Cody turned to her, shaking his head. “Not a good spot for your bedroll. Not good at all.”

“Why not?”

“I saw mice droppings over here when I arrived.”

“Mice?” she squeaked.

“Yeah, I guess they come out over here.”

“Noooo,” she said with her hands on her cheeks. “Is that the truth?”

“Seems likely to me. That’s why I sleep back over there.” He motioned with his head.

“Then, where am I going to sleep?”

Cody looked behind her, and said, “Whoa! One just popped his little head out that hole.”

Goosebumps popped up on Marla’s arms and down her back. In one motion, she squealed, “Eeek!” sounding just like one of the mice again, turned, and slammed into Cody. He stood his ground while she literally climbed up his body, grasping his shirt, wrapping her legs around his hips, and moving on up to clasp her arms around his neck.

After only a few moments, she noticed that he hadn’t moved, except to lock his arms around her bottom and boost her a little higher. Leaning back, she looked into his face. He grinned like a Cheshire cat, or the one that got the cream, not unlike the roguish grin she’d seen earlier.
The man was dangerous.

“I’ll get down now,” she said, pursing her lips and looking away.

“Well…you’re gonna have to let go of my neck.”

When she did, he kept her escape in check by allowing her to slide down his body, unhurried, holding her close. When she stood toe-to-toe with him, she make the biggest mistake of her life. She looked up into his eyes.

“You sure are a little thing,” he whispered.

“I’m petite.”

“You’re short and compact,” he said low and sexy.

“I’m…will you stop it?”

“Haven’t done anything, yet.”

She raised one eyebrow in challenge. “Well?”

Great excerpt, Celia! Thank you again for sharing and I wish you tons of sales!

Readers, sound off: what are your favorite ingredients in a cowboy hero's character? Who're your favorites and why do they stand out? And don’t forget to stop by The Wild Rose Press and get your copy of Showdown in Southfork today!

Readers Luncheon Photos

As many of you know, I traveled with author Cynthia Eden to Baton Rouge on Oct 3rd to attend the HeartLa's Annual Romance Readers Luncheon as a guest author. I enjoyed what speakers Kelley St. John and Cynthia had to say about reading romance and the importance of connecting with readers and was so glad I got to share the event with my mother who drove all the way from Alabama to be my luncheon buddy :) I met several other authors, signed copies of Forever Amore and The Way Back Home, and most importantly talked to readers! Thought I'd share some photos from the event. Enjoy!

At my table at Drusilla Seafood. I enjoyed chatting with the enthusiastic ladies at my table. The pasta was divine!

Signing books - Maya Banks, me, Chere Coen, and Allison Kent. So glad I got to share the table with such distinguished ladies!

I must thank my mom for helping me look so lady- and business-like for this occassion. Where would I be without her? :)