Some people are away, so others want to play! For the rest of this week I’ll have some guest bloggers, and excerpts and giveaways for you all to take part in.
The first guest blogger, starting things or is Bonnie Edwards
EVERYDAY there will be a giveaway from me, over and above anything that the guest bloggers do. Winners will be drawn from those that comment through out the day, even if the guest blogger isn’t offering a contest, I have books and treats to giveaway. Today, I’m offering up a copy of Gotta Have It by Renee Alexis. I picked it up inthe bookstore yesterday, thinking it would be cool to offer up an Aphrodisia title…especially since Bonnie was first up (I looked for THE HARD STUFF Bonnie, but it was sold out,)
So we’ll start the day off with a bit of naughtyness from Bonnie
Introducing Bonnie Edwards…
Well, here we are left all alone when RT’s in full swing. Big ugh. I’ve never been to a Romantic Times convention, but by all accounts they’re really fun! Maybe next year when I’ve got Midnight Confessions out in March and then the sequel…big drum roll here…More Midnight Confessions comes out in June. The RT convention will be smack dab in between both release dates…so maybe I’ll decide to go.
But for now, we’re here to enjoy a little fun ourselves. So, with Sasha’s encouragement I’ve included my first ever excerpt. That’s right…I’ve never done one before. Not anywhere. Not even on my own website…(don’t go look, it’s so far out of date I’m hanging my head in shame!)
So, Sasha’s idea for the week is to have some fun, hear from some other authors and maybe, give some prizes away. With almost no arm-twisting (she’s such a cutie, she doesn’t need to twist arms) I agreed to be here, to blog. And to give away some cover flats.
Not just any cover flats either. Oh, no! These are very special, so special you have to work for them…maybe break a sweat for…get hot for…(oh, no, that’s something else entirely – forget I said that…)
What you’ll need to do is read my excerpt and then tell me, with some thought, if you agree that sometimes you can tell at first touch whether this person’s THE ONE. Not love at first sight…heck we all know that can happen and often does…but love at first touch…if it’s true and it happens…would you recognize it…accept it…
And then – oh yes! – I said you’d have to work remember? Then I want to know if you, as a reader, would like to see more stories about the curse of the McKay men.
And why are these cover flats worth working hard for? Because, dear readers, I’m going to give away one cover flat of The Hard Stuff…*before* the Aphrodisia logo was approved. I think, given time, that’ll make it a collectible, don’t you? The spine’s got different wording, too, and the A’s not on the front cover.
Not to worry…when I sign the flat on the inside, I’ll note the ‘pre-logo’ state for you for proof.
Cool eh? I think I’ll up the ante and promise two of these to the two best (most thoughtful) answers and 3rd place will get a flat from Pure Sex – which isn’t nearly as collectible, but well, it’s for third place.
At the end of the week, I’ll look at all the comments posted, then ask the 3 people I’m most impressed with to email me privately.
So the question to consider is: do you think ‘love at first touch’ happens and would you want to read more about the curse of the McKay men?
Remember to give me some thoughtful feedback, not just off the cuff one-liners…if you want to win.
EXCERPT. SLOW HAND: from the PURE SEX anthology
“Mr. MacKay?” Teri Branton asked, pleased at how clear her voice sounded. No one would know from her voice how vicious her day had been.
The man on the SandJack twitched as if she’d woken him. She probably had. He had the insolent look of a man used to doing a lot of nothing. His feet were propped against the railing, giving her a worm’s eye view up the back side of his khaki shorts. Strong lean legs, tanned beyond healthy, big bare feet with strong toes and callused soles.
He slid his ball cap to the back of his head, revealing a powerful face. Powerful because his lean nose and slashing thin lips were too cutting to be handsome. But they held her attention just the same. Then he opened his eyes and focused on her.
Cut by the laser blue that stared back at her, Teri’s heart fluttered at the intensity and she took a single step back. Tired of being intimidated, she caught herself before taking another.
“You are the captain of the SandJack?” she asked.
“Take off your shoes.” His voice had a deep timbre that stroked her insides from breastbone to toes, so she wasn’t sure what she’d heard.
“Excuse me?”
“Those shoes,” he tilted his chin down to indicate her feet. “Take them off.”
A fierce light from his gaze burned into hers as he waited.
And then she knew. He wasn’t the captain of this vessel. He was a pirate, a rogue, a brigand. He was danger. And excitement.
A thrill chased down her belly.
She looked at her feet and saw incongruous white satin stilettos with a delicate spray of seed pearls trailing the outside edge.
Her wedding shoes.
She was still in them.
Odd that she’d forgotten to change. When she’d found them after a hunt through every store in Manhattan, a perfect fit, she’d paid a fortune for them. They’d meant a lot to her at the time. Now, they just looked . . . sad.
Stepping wide, she saw the pirate follow her movement, then track the shape of her legs up from her feet to her knees and higher.
Interesting.
He was checking her out! Awareness of her own power gripped her as she numbly regarded her shoes, and thought about the pirate’s interest.
The intensity she’d given to the hunt for these perfect shoes was gone as surely as smoke in the wind. With as much substance. Stupid how her wedding had taken over her life, her every waking moment. Her back felt tired from these shoes, her toes ached from every pair of stilettos she owned. The fatigue seeped from her pinched toes, up her calves and into her lower spine.
She wanted to sag with the weight of her day, but then in her peripheral vision, she saw the pirate move his beer to his lips. He took a sip from the bottle, waiting with obvious patience for her to do whatever it was she was planning to do with the shoes.
She looked at him again, saw the hot blue of his eyes, the long lean length of his legs, the strength in his hands. Then she considered the very private week ahead of her.
She’d decided to spend the time eating too much, drinking too much and mulling her life. But now, this pirate presented another opportunity. An exciting opportunity for overindulgence of a different kind.
Besides, she was sick of men giving her orders and making demands, from her ex-fiancé, to a whole TV production crew. And this man looked arrogant as hell, supremely confident and in need of lessons in polite conversation.
Slanting him a glance, she realized she was in just the right mood to give this captain the lessons he needed.
Aware that he watched her, she bent down, slowly slid her right shoe off. With a surreptitious glance, she saw his gaze sharpen to intense focus. She set the shoe on the dock. Definitely had his attention now.
She bent over again, gave her ass an extra tilt and ran her hand down her left leg to her ankle, grasped the back of her left shoe and slid it off too. He still watched, his eyes hooded with the pretense of nonchalance, but she knew better.
She set her left shoe beside her right on the dock, in perfect alignment. The seed pearls glowed with the warm sheen nature had given them.
But somehow it wasn’t enough to remove the shoes. It wasn’t enough to have him look at her toes as she wiggled them, nails painted pink and pearly in the sunshine. No, this little display wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy her.
She lifted each shoe, balanced them on her open palms, and tilted first one then the other into the brine. They landed on their sides and began to fill with water.
A lightness filled her at their silent drowning. She smiled as they sank.
The pirate dropped his feet to the deck, stood and leaned over the rail to see them go.
One floated a couple seconds longer than the other, but in the end, they drifted to the bottom, lost. “You didn’t have to pitch them.”
“Yes I did.”
He looked at her with a question in his eyes. “Jared MacKay, Captain of the SandJack, at your service.”
“Teri Branton,” she responded.
He looked up the dock toward the street. “Where’s the groom?”
“Missing in action.”
He looked perplexed. “He’s not aboard. Did you lose him on the way from the airport?”
“No.”
His eyebrow quirked with an unspoken question.
Teri ignored it because she hadn’t yet considered what to say when people asked. She held out her hand for help to climb over the railing to the deck.
He obliged. A snap of electricity arced between them at first touch. She dropped his hand immediately. The burn in her palm made her smooth her smarting hand across her skirt.
He stared at his hand as if he’d been stung. “Feel that?”
Down to her toes. “Yes. We’ll try again.”
“No! No way. I’m not touching you again.” The shocked vehemence in his tone appalled her.
“How am I supposed to get over the railing?”
“Here.” He leaned over the side and dropped a step stool onto the dock. “Use this.”
“Yes, sir,” she snapped, hiking her skirt so she could lift her leg over. She teetered mid-straddle and had to stretch out her arm for balance. He made a grab for her waist, then dropped her to the deck like a sack of potatoes and jumped back.
The tang of his touch reverberated through her ribcage and settled like fire around her heart. Must be the airline food. She patted her chest. “Heartburn.”
“Sure, yeah, that’s what it is.” But he was running his other hand up and down the arm he’d wrapped around her.
I am a believer in love at first touch. It didn’t happen quite from the same type of casual touch like the scene described in your excerpt. It was, however, the first date with a fun and handsome man while I was working abroad. We were on a countryside walk and I was a little ahead on the path at one stage. When the path widened he came up beside me and very lightly brushed aside a strand of my hair running a fingertip along my neck with just a whisper of touch and trailing it down as a continued caress following the length of lying along my back . What began as a small frission of awareness ended in a shivery tingling that spread out from where he had touched to all the places that he had not touched. We have been married for over a decade now. So as you can see, it certainly worked for me.
As for this curse of the McKay men, my knee jerk reaction is yes I do want to read more about them. The excerpt doesn’t give quite enough for me to know much about what the curse might be. But with sparks like that between two people, you certainly have my attention. Besides, some curses end up to be blessings in disguise.
first, I am actually in groups using this addy: jess_m29@hotmail.com, but it’s frequently full, so please send any email to me at richardfan05@gmail.com please.
thank you
I really don’t know if I believe in it. I have not ever experienced it.
I would think lust at first touch is more likely.
I think love would take time to develop.
as for if I would want to read about the curse of them, of course I would.
:inlove:
I know my comment is probably nowhere near as good as little lamb’s, but it’s mine. 😉
I believe in love at first site. I guess it would be the same as love at first touch. Some people just know who they are meant to be with whether it is from a look or a touch. It has never happened to me, but I still believe in it. The excerpt was great. I would definately be interested in reading more about the McKay men. Jared McKay sounds very interesting.
Funny enough, while I believe in things I haven’t experienced or dont remember experiencing (IE Reincarnation), I don’t believe in love at first touch. Regardless, I’m intrigued by the excerpt and I definitely want to know more about the curse! :great:
Sasha- Just wanted you to know that I’m halfway through the ARC of “Bound” and love it! If it wasn’t for having to work thirteen days straight I’d have it all read. But it’s so natural ,smooth and exciting all at once! Thank again ever so much.
OK, this is really great fun…and remember I mentioned my website is in desperate need of a revamp? Well, my web dude just emailed me. He’s been missing in action for a couple months, but just resurfaced…so, I’ll be spending the rest of my day updating bits & pieces over on my site…so if it’s down, check back again!
Now I have to sit & think about all the good news I need to share…
And Little Lamb Lost…what a great story. I recall the first time I held hands with my dh – got the same tingle you described so beautifully.
Jessy, you’re right, I think, love does develop over time, but without the lust…it doesn’t stand a chance! :inlove:
And Amy, just b/c it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. and believe me, you’ll know it when it happens! whoo – hoo!
LLL~ That sounds so damn romantic. :inlove:
Jess ~ I’m lucky enough to have read and ARC of this story since it’s inthe PURE SEX anthology and my story THE CRIB is in it as well…it’s great..and I for one want to read more of the McKAy men!
Amy ~ You sounds like me. Never experienced it, but believe in it. It’ll happen one day.. for both of us!. 😉
Cece~ Isn’t it funny? I agree 100% I believe in many thigns I’ve not actually experienced. Love being one of them, re-incarnation another. LOl I think That belief / hope of these things is what keeps me going at times. 😎
Sheryl!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!! I’m getting anxious for it’s release. :blush:
:wink:I can say it was lust at first sight then love followed for me.
I do believe it is posible to have love first.
:jump:I just got Gypsy Heart!!
YA!!! Thank Deb! I just finished going over the galleys for it to get into print and fell in love with Gage again. Like I said, my first romance, and I wrote it so long ago that I really enjoyed re-reading it. LOL
OK I’m the odd man out here. I’ve never felt that touch and don’t believe in either love at first touch or first sight. I’m too jaded but even when I wasn’t I don’t think I believed either. Lust at first sight and touch is what I believe in because lust can turn into love.
I most certainly would like more stories about the McKays.
I am obviously doing something wrong here. but here’s my post again.
Sasha, delete it if it’s duplicated, please.
Okay, last time I’m gonna try to post an answer here *sigh*
I belive that we all want to find that ONE GREAT LOVE. I think maybe there IS one per person. It’s just that it’s such a big deal so maybe it takes more than one lifetime to find it.
I write a lot of books that depend on Love-At-First-Sniff though. And with that iin mind, I’m going to post a never read before (except by Sasha) excerpt for the next Montgomery book called Family Doctor.
for the warm up excerpt, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VenusPressChatters/ and read message # 21060
JJ
http://www.jjmassa.com
I had a crush on my now husband for a long time before our first date. When he came by to pick me up, he touched my back with his hand and my knees started shaking. That was the only time I was so nervous and had that happen. I couldn’t get them to stop and then my hands started. I was a mess. So, yes whether it’s a feeling of heartburn, nerves or nausea (LOL) I believe in Love at First Touch.
I dont’ believe in love at first touch….love with first fuck maybe…that’s why I always have sex on a first date. Because then I know if it’s worth going out on a second date and a third. etc. If the sex sucks, what’s the point. But hey that’s just me….:tongue:
I definitely believe in love at first touch. I met my DH in a bar (ya I know, tacky….lol). I was complaining about the lack of dance material and he overheard. As we touched on the dance floor, my heart just lifted. I knew I would be seeing a lot more of him.
I really would like to hear more about the McKay curse. The excerpt just whetted my appetite for more.
BTW great first excerpt.
VIVI! I’m shocked!!
Okay, I’m not really. LOl but I thought I should be…:angel:
Maria ~ I think I have to believe in it. I mean. I want to believe that there is someone out there for all of us, and I’ve not found it yet, love, or the magical touch..so I have to keep the faith. 🙂
Lust at first sight is a given. LOl I’ve felt that too many times to count. 😳
JJ Massa is having trouble posting..so I’m posting her comment for her.
I believe that we all want to find that ONE GREAT LOVE. I think maybe there IS one per person. It’s just that it’s such a big deal so maybe it takes more than one lifetime to find it.
ÂÂ
I write a lot of books that depend on Love-At-First-Sniff though. And with that in mind, I’m going to post a never read before (except by Sasha) excerpt for the next Montgomery book called Family Doctor.
ÂÂ
for the warm up excerpt, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VenusPressChatters/ and read message # 21060
:inlove: ah yes ,that feeling:angel: , and in a vw doodlebug :cursing:
i had wished for experince :shock:, that i didnt hav e to please him:roll:
god was i really ever that youngg :confused:
but yes i beliveve in ‘feeling’ though never been in love, so dont ebelive in that hogwash. but , turn my on baby ,o yea
I believe in love at first touch/site. My hubby asked me to marry him two weeks after we meet. (He said he knew I was the one the first time he saw me). It did take me a little longer, but we are still going strong 32+ years, 5 kids and 6+ grandkids later.:lol:
Hey, I left a comment a few hours ago and it never showed up.
I’ll have to try again.
KimW that was so cute…has to be real love.:smile:
And Lisa T…thanks for the comment re: the excerpt. I know a lot are x-rated, but since this was my first time (and I wanted to get that snap, crackle & zing in there) I was careful not to give away tooo much. But don’t worry, Teri and Jared *do* get a little action…it is titled Slow Hand, after all. 🙄
As for the next McKay story…I’ll have to think hard about it…hard, yeah, real hard…
Bonnie
Love at first touch….definitely. When I met the man who is now my husband he was dating my best friend in high school. Yes I know! Slut. (Not really, you have to hear the whole story behind our relationship becoming what it is, but that’s another story). When we first met I was sitting in a truck with my best friend, her male friend who I was interested in at the time and it was dark. We stopped at his house for some reason I still don’t remember. All I remember was shaking his hand and saying nice to meet you.
Just read the excerpt from JJ Massa.
Love the way that Marc Fonteneaux smells the air in the room immediately upon entering. Wonder what his diagnosis of Tayler will be.
The physical reaction to an attractive man isn’t what moved me. It felt different and right. Being strictly a reader I doubt that I will ever be able to explain it very well. Had never heard of love at first touch. Was simply converted suddenly.
Sorry Bonnie, Seems my spam filter is being a bit mean to people today. I went into the holder and let all the comments out! 😳
Hi Bonnie, nice to meet you!
I for one like when there is this connection of stories. Too one thing, while reading a short excerpt and knowing it was a pirate (yummy) i first thought ‘historical’ but while reading I got the ‘contemp’ feel so I wanted to ask you about that. I don’t recall reading a contemp pirate so this is unique for me. Too is this story in the Hard Stuff anthology? and lastly, MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS, is that book one of the McKay men books?
You know, when I read it in books about the first touch, I think of it as a feeling too, a touch we continue to feel for the one we love. I really do. With my hubby, its not like everytime we touch we have that, but there are many times we have the touch where we remembered what it was like and know what that touch means. Without getting too detailed, it mainly means we need to touch each other, to make love. That we need each other. I remember in the beginning when we met we had that awareness and it was exciting and it still is after 23 years. I myself when I read the story about the instant feel they get, I get goosebumps reading that.
Oh I definately want to know more about the curse of the McKay men. So you saying there are more McKay brothers? Can you tell us what the curse is!? Cuz if they are in the book, I will bother you about their stories.
I’m sorry for all the questions but this excerpt was fastinated and would love to know more!
Cathie
tbranxiety@yahoo.com
Cathie,
Jared has one brother, but you won’t meet him in Slow Hand. Sorry, he’s not in BodyWork in The Hard Stuff, either. As for Jared being a pirate, well, he just looks like one! Black hair, blue eyes, bare feet & earring. And a great wide grin that makes Teri think of pirates, b/c they’re sexy as hell.
Midnight Confessions has no McKay men, either.
Sorry to say I haven’t written Jared’s brother’s story yet. But, I will.
What’s funny is…In BodyWork, I mention a cousin’s wedding … that was Teri’s wedding… so, the hero in BodyWork in The Hard Stuff is Teri’s cousin, Tyce Branton. Now, that’s one hot man!
Hope I’ve answered most of your questions, and thanks so much for joining in the fun…
Keep checking my website at http://www.bonnieedwards.com for updates on those McKay men…now that I know *for sure* how much people like connected stories…I’ll work hard on finding just the right heroine for Jared’s brother…I promise.
I’llkeep checking over here through the week and get back to the 3 winners and announce them on Saturday.
This has been a really great time, and thanks Sasha for making it happen.
Bonnie
one of my comments got eaten too 😉