About Me
- Katie Ashley
- Atlanta, GA, United States
- I am the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best Selling author of The Proposition, Proposal, Music of the Heart, and Nets and Lies. I am represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich for all books except for Proposition and Proposal.
The Proposition
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Blog Tour Stop for Emily Snow's Devoured
So, I've known Emily Snow going on three years now. But even if I didn't know and love her and her writing, I would want to pimp Devoured! It's just that awesome!!
Here's a blurb:
Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring--after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother's Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she'd see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma's estate.
When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he's both infuriated and intrigued. He still can't get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more than ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he's determined to have her.
Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he'll hand over the deed to her grandmother's home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted. Because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she's made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas's game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured.
AND HERE IS A SNIP to WHET YOUR APPETITE!!
Here's a blurb:
Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring--after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother's Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she'd see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma's estate.
When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he's both infuriated and intrigued. He still can't get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more than ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he's determined to have her.
Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he'll hand over the deed to her grandmother's home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted. Because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she's made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas's game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured.
AND HERE IS A SNIP to WHET YOUR APPETITE!!
Lucas’s 7am wakeup rule flies out of the window the next morning because we both oversleep. The sound of the hotel room’s telephone shrilling in our ears is what drags us out of bed a little after nine. Groggily, I push my hair back from my face and answer the phone. I’m greeted by a chilly female voice.
“Kylie, put Lucas on the phone, it’s Sam.”
Sam. I try to remember where I’ve heard the name and then I realize this is the person Lucas’s mother had mentioned yesterday, the person who made him tense up in anger. And she’s a woman. I bite my bottom lip, clutching the phone until I feel like I’m seconds away from shattering it.
“I’m sorry you—”
“Don’t you dare try that I’m sorry you’ve reached the wrong room shit with me. I talked to your mom, she said you’re there, so put him on the goddamn phone.”
Lucas is sitting up in the bed now, staring down at the receiver with a blank expression on his face. “It’s Sam,” I say, hoping to elicit some kind of reaction from him. Nothing happens and a chill turns my blood to ice.
CONGRATS TO EMILY AND ALL HER DEVOURED SUCCESS!!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
I'm a NYT BEST-SELLER PLUS a PROPOSAL TEASE
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all my readers, the bloggers, my fans, my writer besties, and anyone who gave The Proposition a chance!!
Thanks also to my new agent, Steve Ross, of Abrams Artists Agency, who I hope will share in the further success of The Proposition!!
Thanks most of all go to God. I am a person of immense faith, but it has been tried and tested at every turn this year with tremendous loss and sorrow, health issues, and disappointments in the writing business. There were times I wasn't sure I would make it through this year, and I'll be honest that there were also times I was in so much emotional pain, I didn't want to. So to have the end of 2012 become so amazing is a true gift, and I know where my blessings come from!!
I wasn't going to have a teaser from The Proposal this week. BUT to share in my excitement, here is one to celebrate with!! I know most of you want to see Aidan suffering, and he has been. I promise. He's just finally been given an opportunity to see Emma after she's been shunning him.
*roughest of drafts and subject to change*
She turned and stalked away. “Em, wait!” When she didn't stop, he blurted, “Fine, you want even more grand gestures? Here’s another
one.” He sank down onto his knees on her walkway.
When Emma whirled around, her eyes grew wide. “What are you
doing?”
He gazed around them. “What the hell does it look like I’m
doing? I’m on my knees--totally and completely begging you to forgive me.”
“Get up!” she hissed when a couple walking their dog paused
to stare at them.
“Not until you forgive me.”
She growled in frustration. “Quit being dramatic.”
He shrugged. “Fine, call me a Drama Queen. Call me any
fucking name in the book! Just get all the anger and hate out of your system,
so you can work on forgiving me.” He opened his arms wide. “I said it on cards,
in text messages and voicemails, and even in that fruity book of poetry I sent
you. But now I’m going to say it to your face in case it’s the only other
chance I have.”
Suddenly in the moment Aidan didn’t feel so sure of himself anymore. Feeling shaky, he
drew in a ragged breath. “I am sorry,
Emma. I’m so sorry for breaking your heart. I’m sorry for being an utter prick
and being scared of my feelings for you. Most of all, I’m sorry for screwing up
the perfect life we had by pushing you away and cheating on you.”
Emma’s face flushed crimson as the woman on the sidewalk
gasped. Aidan turned to her. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m one of the countless
assholes who break women’s hearts. I couldn’t tell Emma I loved her, and I
almost screwed another woman to try to push her away.” He smacked his palms
hard against his chest. “But from the depths of my heart and soul, I’m so, so
sorry!”
“Jesus man, have you lost all your pride?” the man questioned,
which caused his wife to punch him in the arm.
Aidan chuckled. “Yeah, I have. Because I’m willing to do
whatever it takes to win her back,”
he replied, pointing to Emma.
When Emma strode over to him with a determined look, Aidan
felt his hope rising. It quickly faded as she grabbed him by the hair and
yanked his head up. “Get off my front walk this minute, or I’m going to
call the cops!” She shook her head maniacally. “I can’t believe you just
embarrassed me in front of my neighbors like that!”
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Excerpt from ROCK THE HEART and win an ebook!
To make amends, I'll give a copy of the ebook away. Just leave a comment!!
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “Look, Noel. I
didn’t come here to fight with you.”
Noel raises a pierced eyebrow. “Really? Tell me then, Lane,
why did you come here?”
‘Lane.’ It’s been so long since I’ve heard that. Noel is the
only person alive who shortens my name.
I shake the memories away. This isn’t a time to reminisce.
It’s time to get down to business. “Well…” I clear my throat. “I’m an intern at
Center Stage Marketing, and my boss, Diana Swagger, flew me down here to
discuss Black Falcon’s charity with you.”
“You?” He shakes his head. “Out of all the people in the
entire fucking world, they send you down here to talk to me. Did they think
because we’ve fucked before I wouldn’t fire you?”
My hands ball into fists at my side. “How can you say that
to me? I’m not one of your groupie whores, Noel. What we had was real!”
He lays his guitar down and stands in front of me—his six
foot two frame towers over me. “Then why did you leave me, huh? Tell me that.
If it was so real, why did you walk away from it?”
I can’t look at him. The reasons for me leaving him that
night, on the dock, are unbelievably selfish. Noel reaches out and takes a
strand of my brown hair between his fingers and twirls it just like he always
did when we were a couple.
I slap his hand away. His touch is just too soon.
The corners of his lips turn down. He reaches back up and
tucks the loose strand of my hair behind my ear. His fingertips linger on my
cheek. “Why do you always fight against the inevitable? You’ve always made
things so difficult.”
Saturday, November 17, 2012
SMEXY SATURDAY & Rock the Heart Winners
First, it's been a whirlwind of a week, and I'm thrilled beyond measure to announce that I am now represented by Steve Ross at Abrams Artist Agency!! I'm so excited The Proposition is in his capable hands, and we can hopefully bring it to a larger audience. :) Because of that fact, The Prop will be on sale for .99 for the following week.
Second, my buddy, Michelle Valentine, released her much anticipated Rock the Heart a week early to much fanfare! HELLO TOP 100 THE FIRST DAY OUTTA THE GATE & MOVERS AND SHAKERS #1!! SO GO FORTH AND BUY IT!!
The winners of the ebooks are Dyan, Irene FV, & Susana R!! CONGRATS LADIES!!
Keeping with the rock theme, here's the next scene in Music of My Heart where we get to meet Jake and the rest of the boys of Runaway Train. To recap: Abby was joining her brothers on tour when she accidentally stumbled onto the wrong tour bus. That landed her in Jake's bed...which ended badly for him when he came onto her!!
Second, my buddy, Michelle Valentine, released her much anticipated Rock the Heart a week early to much fanfare! HELLO TOP 100 THE FIRST DAY OUTTA THE GATE & MOVERS AND SHAKERS #1!! SO GO FORTH AND BUY IT!!
The winners of the ebooks are Dyan, Irene FV, & Susana R!! CONGRATS LADIES!!
Keeping with the rock theme, here's the next scene in Music of My Heart where we get to meet Jake and the rest of the boys of Runaway Train. To recap: Abby was joining her brothers on tour when she accidentally stumbled onto the wrong tour bus. That landed her in Jake's bed...which ended badly for him when he came onto her!!
Scorching pain ripped through my crotch, and I groaned in
agony. One minute I’d been making out with an angel straight out of Heaven and
the next a hellish wildfire raged through my junk.
In my haze, I heard the angel screaming her fucking head off
and then I heard a loud thump. Once I could see straight again, I gritted my
teeth and staggered out of bed. I cupped my aching balls through my boxers and
stumbled to the bedroom doorway.
The angel, turned raging bitch, lay in a heap in the
hallway. AJ sat beside her, cradling her head in his lap, while my other band-mates,
Brayden and Reece, knelt down, and were staring at her in silent wonder.
When Brayden caught sight of me in the doorway, he narrowed
his dark eyes. He rose up and took a step towards me, his jaw clenched tight.
His 6’2, muscled form might have been threatening if I didn’t know him for the
total tender-hearted pansy he was. “Dude, what the fuck is going on?”
I threw my hands up. “How the hell should I know? I woke up
to find her in my bed and then she nailed me in the balls!”
AJ snickered. “You gotta work on your game, man.”
I flicked him off before grinding the sleep out of my eyes with
my fists. “I thought it was Bree, and then she was saying something about a
dude named Gabe and her brothers putting me up to it.”
“That makes total sense. I mean, what sweet, straight laced
girl like this is going to be getting in your bed,” Reece remarked, twirling
the diamond stud in his ear.
We all gazed down at the girl. Nope, she was definitely not
groupie material. She reminded me of Brayden’s wife, Lily. They’d been high
school sweet-hearts, and somehow their relationship had survived the last eight
years of craziness.
Scratching the dark stubble on his chin, AJ grinned
wickedly. “Hmm, with the sundress and headband, she’s kinda got a Sookie
Stackhouse/True Blood look going on.
Pure but sexy as hell.”
Reece wrinkled his nose and shook his blonde head. “Oh hell
no. She’s a hundred times hotter in the face than Sookie!” He motioned to the
angel’s ample cleavage. “And damn, look at that rack.”
Brayden grunted in frustration. “Guys, could you stop
thinking with your dicks for one minute, and focus on the fact we’ve got a
poor, helpless girl passed out on the floor!”
“You’ve been married too long, Bray,” I mused, continuing to
take in the blonde’s features. She had felt like heaven pressed up against me. Well,
until she’d cock blocked me rather painfully.
At her moan, we all jumped back like we’d been caught doing
something we shouldn’t have. She blinked her eyes a few times, bringing her
hand to her forehead. Her brows furrowed as she rubbed her fingertips into her
hairline. Then her eyes flew open, and she stared up at us. Her face crumpled
with mortification. “Oh God, it wasn’t a nightmare.”
AJ grinned. “Ya know, chicks are usually a lot more stoked
about meeting us than you are.”
Her dark blue eyes widened. “Oh, I’m sorry if I sounded rude. I didn’t
mean that how it came out.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and snorted. “Kneeing me in
the junk was rude, babe.”
She cocked her head to the side and gave me a death glare
before pulling herself into a sitting position. “You wouldn’t stop molesting
me. What else was I supposed to do?” she snapped.
Brayden bristled as he closed the gap between us. “Somehow you
managed to leave that tidbit out of your story.”
AJ extended his hand. “Come on, Sookie, let’s get you up off
that dirty floor.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Holy Testicle Tuesday: A long Teaser from The Proposal & The Proposition is $.99 for TUESDAY only!!
Okay, I'll admit that I've been a bit obsessed with Ace Ventura since it came out when I was a Freshman in high school. I do like some inane comedies. :) And when I was thinking about this epic Tuesday post, the first thing that entered my mind was "HOLY TESTICLE TUESDAY!!" :) *Yes, I probably desperately need sleep at the moment for using that as a title to a blog post, but I digress*Since I'll be at the beach next Tuesday furiously pounding out wordage on The Proposal, I decided I should probably give you an extra long tease this week since I won't be posting next week. I also wanted to give another gift by making The Proposition $0.99 for TUESDAY only!! It's the Tuesday gift that keeps on giving the whole year long!! :)
So, back to the real point, which was the teaser. I wanted to post this one because it addresses the title of the sequel. Oh, did you think it was all based on that kind of proposal? Oh no, not quite!! This scene takes place the same day as last week's teaser with Patrick, Emma, and Aidan in the ER. Later that evening, too much emotional stress puts baby Noah in danger and lands Emma in the ER.
*Rough draft & subject to change*
Dr. Pendleton snapped Emma's chart shut. “I’m going to insist on strict bed-rest for the next two to
four weeks. Your feet are only to touch the ground to use the restroom, and I’m
going to insist on you using a seat in the shower, too. Is that clear?”
Emma gasped. “But my job—”
He held up a finger to silence her. “I’ll fill
out the necessary paperwork for you to take a leave of absence. The most
important thing right now is for you to rest and limit your stress level. We don’t want any more premature labor.”
“How long do I have to stay in the hospital?” Emma questioned,
her voice wavering.
“I want to keep you in at least over night, and then you can probably go home tomorrow. Let me go check on the status of moving you upstairs.”
After Dr. Pendleton exited the room, Emma's emotions
spiraled dangerously out of control. She tried fighting with everything in her not to
totally and completely lose it at the prospect that Noah’s life was still in danger.
It was too much to bear, and she couldn’t stop the floodgates from opening. A strangled cry erupted from her lips, sending
both Casey and Aidan racing forward to comfort her. Somehow Casey elbowed Aidan
out of the way, blocking him from getting to her.
A frustrated grunt came from Aidan, but Casey ignored him and grabbed
Emma’s hand. She squeezed it tight and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t cry,
Em. It’s all going to be fine. Lots of women have to go on bed rest for a
while, and then the rest of their pregnancies are completely normal.”
Between hiccupping sobs, Emma replied, “I hope so.”
“I know so. And I’ll take you Grammy’s first thing tomorrow, and she’ll get you through this.”
Emma shook her head as the tears slid down her cheeks. “I
can’t go to Grammy’s. Granddaddy had hip replacement surgery a week ago, and
she’s already ragged from taking care of him. I can’t put any more stress on
her at her age.”
Aidan cleared his throat and sidestepped Casey to stand in
front of Emma. “You’re coming home with me. I’m going to take care of you.”
A hiss erupted from Casey. She jerked her hand away from
Emma’s to jab a finger into Aidan’s chest. “Over my dead body!”
Aidan’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
Casey’s nostrils flared. “You’ve got to be out of your
fucking mind! You take care of her?
You’re the very reason she’s in this condition!”
He winced.“Look we all know I fucked
up! Royally. Even though I’d give anything to take it back, I can’t. But I can
make it right, and one way to prove to Emma how truly sorry I am is to
stand by her and take care of her when she needs me most.”
Emma sucked in a breath at Aidan’s words. She was sure one
of the countless monitors she was hooked up to was about to go haywire with her
accelerating heartbeat. Shock reverberated through her that he had even
suggested taking care of her, least of all that he actually meant he’d do it. While
deeply touched, she couldn’t imagine how her frayed nerves could allow her to
be so close to him. Finally, she shook her head. “I don’t think—”
His blue eyes blazed with a steely determination. “This
isn’t up for discussion.”
Casey snorted. “Oh hell yes, it is up for discussion. If anyone is going to be taking care of Em,
it’s me, fuckwit!”
Aidan’s face clouded over with fury, and Emma feared he was
about to truly lose his temper. His jaw clenched as he leaned closer to Casey.
“You seem to forget that’s my child
she’s carrying. Noah is my responsibility. You can sure as hell believe that nothing
else matters more to me in this world than my
son.”
Glaring back at him, Casey countered, “Too bad you weren’t
thinking about Noah when you almost screwed that skank!”
At Aidan’s growl, Connor squeezed between them. “Okay,
enough!” He shook his head. “Damn, you two have got to chill with the pissing
contest about Em. Would you stop for a minute and think about how much you’re
upsetting her?”
Both Aidan and Casey snapped their gaze from Connor and
stared at Emma. Their attention caused her cheeks and neck to flush.
Aidan’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Em. I didn't mean to
upset you. I just want…” He ran his hand through his sandy hair. “More than anything in the world, I want you to let me take care of you and Noah.”
The sincerity in his words sent her heart fluttering again,
and she hated herself for it. After nibbling on her lip, she questioned, “What
about your job? You can’t possibly travel like you have been and take care of
me 24/7.”
“I’ll just sign up for family medical leave or something.”
Emma couldn’t help widening her eyes. “You would do that?”
“Of course I would. You need me,” Aidan said, edging closer
to the bed.
“But with your position, will they even consider granting
you one when we aren't even married?” Emma asked.
Aidan shrugged. “If they don’t, then I’ll just quit.” The
corners of his lips tugged up in a smile. “You and Noah mean more to me than a
job.”
Casey crossed her arms over her chest in a huff. “And what
if your libido kicks in one night after seeing some slut in a short skirt? Are
you just going to run out on Em again?”
“Case,” Emma pleaded as Aidan snarled, “Don’t fucking go
there!”
“I cannot believe you’re honestly considering letting him do
this! He broke your heart, Em!” Casey cried, throwing her hands up in
frustration.
Emma sighed. “Yes, I’m well aware of what he did. But at the
moment, I don’t see any other choice but to accept what he’s proposing.”
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Overly Verbose Allegedly 7 Sentence Sunday Snip!!
I think it must be the fact I think outside the box or something because I find it hard to limit myself to 6 or 7 sentences. Maybe it's just I'm an overly giving person!! Or maybe it's I feel I need to make ammends for the *whispers cliffhanger* that has so many people upset with me.
Sooo, here's from Emma's first chapter in The Proposal....she's with Patrick at the moment!!
"Such a little sass pot, aren’t you? What a mouth you’ve got for such a supposedly sweet girl!”
Emma’s heart stilled as she heard Aidan’s voice echo in her ears, “That mouth of yours is trouble.” An ache burned through her chest, and she fought to catch her breath.
Sooo, here's from Emma's first chapter in The Proposal....she's with Patrick at the moment!!
“Come on, Em, you’re a beautiful, vibrant young woman. What
in the hell are you doing here at the VFW with me and a bunch of other old
farts?” Patrick asked, with a grin.
She giggled. “Are you kidding? I can't miss Saturday Bingo! What
about all the fabulous prizes I could win? That bulk sized box of Depends is
calling my name.” When his chest vibrated with amusement, she pointed a finger.
“Hey, you shouldn’t laugh. You’ve had a pregnant wife and daughters. You know
lack of bladder control is serious business!”"Such a little sass pot, aren’t you? What a mouth you’ve got for such a supposedly sweet girl!”
Emma’s heart stilled as she heard Aidan’s voice echo in her ears, “That mouth of yours is trouble.” An ache burned through her chest, and she fought to catch her breath.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Smexy Saturday Post & Contest to Win Rock the Heart by my bud Michelle Valentine!!!
I'm probably going to break a few hearts that my Smexy Saturday Snip isn't from The Proposal....Instead it's from Music of My Heart, my rocker book that got pushed back for The Proposal to be pushed forward.
I'm excited about this book, but the real reason I'm sharing the snip is because I'm even MOAR excited for my writer bestie, Michelle Valentine's, Rock the Heart to be released on the 20th! So after you read, be sure to enter the contest to win one of 3 available ebooks!! You're gonna love Noel guys!! SWOONS!!
So here's Jake....Who's going to rock your world Valentine's Day 2013!!!
And here's Abby.....
Here's the setup. Abby is joining her brothers band, Jacob's Ladder, on tour to see if she's ready to take her exiting brother, Gabe's, place so he can be a full-time husband and new father(think of them like The Band Perry). Rock Nation is a huge festival in the desert where tons of bands are playing and there's tour busses everywhere. A leering roadie points her to the wrong one, and here's our scene...
An arm snaked around my waist, jerking me down further onto the mattress. “What—” I started before the warm flesh of a man’s body pushed me on my back and covered me with his weight. It took all of a millisecond to realize this was so not Gabe.
Scorching hot lips met my own, and I shuddered. They pressed
eagerly against mine with intense longing. Desire raged through me, pooling below my waist. His fingers wrapped and tangled
their way through my hair. When I opened my mouth to protest, a tongue darted
into my mouth, dancing tantalizing against my own.
Tearing my lips off his, I screeched, “Get off me!”
A seductive grin stretched across his face, and he licked
his lips, flashing me a silver tongue ring. “No, you’re definitely not Bree. You
put her to shame.” He glanced down at my body again and groaned. “All in
white--you’re a fucking angel.”
“Oh God,” I moaned, bringing my hand over my eyes.
“So you’re telling me you didn’t sneak into my bed on purpose?”
I snatched my hand away and glared up at him. “Of course I didn’t! I don’t even know you.”
Three pairs of legs dangled out of the bunks. Almost in unison, they hopped out. Three bleary eyed, heavily tattooed rockers in various states of undress, stared at me with bewildered expressions.
“Oh shit,” I murmured before I pitched forward and everything went black.
*Rough draft and can possibly change..you know the drill*
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm excited about this book, but the real reason I'm sharing the snip is because I'm even MOAR excited for my writer bestie, Michelle Valentine's, Rock the Heart to be released on the 20th! So after you read, be sure to enter the contest to win one of 3 available ebooks!! You're gonna love Noel guys!! SWOONS!!
So here's Jake....Who's going to rock your world Valentine's Day 2013!!!
And here's Abby.....
Here's the setup. Abby is joining her brothers band, Jacob's Ladder, on tour to see if she's ready to take her exiting brother, Gabe's, place so he can be a full-time husband and new father(think of them like The Band Perry). Rock Nation is a huge festival in the desert where tons of bands are playing and there's tour busses everywhere. A leering roadie points her to the wrong one, and here's our scene...
Tripping over a mound of clothes, I stumbled forward, pitching onto the side of the bed. “Gabriel Andrew Renard, if this is your idea
of a joke, it isn’t funny!”
A long moan erupted from underneath the covers as a body
shifted toward me. When I was little, the boys, Gabe especially, used to love
the scare the shit out of me. I had a feeling where this was heading, and after
the morning I’d had, I wasn’t in the mood. “Okay, fine. If you’re going to be a
dick, then I’m going back outside.” I grunted with frustration and started to
hoist myself off the bed.
An arm snaked around my waist, jerking me down further onto the mattress. “What—” I started before the warm flesh of a man’s body pushed me on my back and covered me with his weight. It took all of a millisecond to realize this was so not Gabe.
Once again my traitorous body enjoyed the sensations
pulsing through me so much a moan erupted deep in my throat. But then I
realized I was allowing a stranger some heavy first base action, not to mention
his hand had started to grope second base. With all the strength I had, I
pushed against him.
Tearing my lips off his, I screeched, “Get off me!”
He ignored me as his fingers fisted the hem of my sundress.
A lazy chuckle erupted from him. “Bree, babe, what the hell are you doing
wearing clothes to bed?”
Bree? This jerk was mauling me because he thought I was
someone else. I gritted my teeth and smacked his bare, sculpted chest. Hard.
“I’m not Bree, asshole!”
The light on the bedside table flickered on. I sucked in a
breath at the drop-dead gorgeous face hovering over mine. Blue eyes, hazy with
a mixture of sleep deprivation and desire, stared down at me. He ran a hand
through his disheveled sandy blonde hair before raking his gaze over me. He
made sure to linger on my heaving chest and how my sun dress had bunched up my
thighs to almost reveal my panties. My eyes widened at his heavily inked arms and chest.
When he started to lean over to kiss me again, I brought my
hand in front of his face. “Look, if Gabe put you up to this, the joke is up.
You got me. Ha, ha.”
His brows furrowed, and I noticed the hoop in one of them.
“Who the hell is Gabe?”
My heart shuddered a little, and I tried to still the fear
prickling over my body. “My brothers didn’t put you up to this?”
“No, babe, I don’t think so.”
“Oh God,” I moaned, bringing my hand over my eyes.
“So you’re telling me you didn’t sneak into my bed on purpose?”
I snatched my hand away and glared up at him. “Of course I didn’t! I don’t even know you.”
“Well, give me a chance to get to know you better.” He
pressed his hips into me, and for a brief instant, I fought the longing
crisscrossing over my body. After all, I’d never kissed a strange guy or been
in a stranger’s bed.
“No, I have to go,” I murmured against his urgent lips.
When it was very clear he wasn’t going to let me up, my
desire got doused with anger. Who the hell did he think he was pinning me down
and trying to get to know me better by grinding himself against me? Drawing all
the strength I could muster, I brought my knee up against his groin.
“FUCK!” he groaned, rolling off of me.
Seizing the opportunity, I scrambled out of the bed. I threw
open the bedroom door and stomped out into the hallway. “Okay, boys, you’ve had
your fun, so cut the crap! You better get your sorry asses up right now!” I
screamed.
Three pairs of legs dangled out of the bunks. Almost in unison, they hopped out. Three bleary eyed, heavily tattooed rockers in various states of undress, stared at me with bewildered expressions.
“Oh shit,” I murmured before I pitched forward and everything went black.
*Rough draft and can possibly change..you know the drill*
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Friday, November 9, 2012
Interview with author JB McGee, Author of Broken
Today on the blog I'm featuring author JB McGee of Broken. I'm so excited that she is a fellow Georgia gal, and I'll be meeting up with her and Michelle from Literati Literature Reviews on Saturday night!!
Here's a summary of her debut novel:
Gabby's life has been anything but easy. She is surrounded by friends who seem to have everything she doesn't: money, social standing, and happily married parents. While dealing with the loss of her mother, she experiences her first heartbreak. She commits herself to her studies and runs away from any emotions that aren't safe. Bradley Banks, a confident CEO and commercial architect, who has long time commitment issues forces Gabby to feel again, but will he be her next heartbreak?
Here's a summary of her debut novel:
What would be a typical working day for you?
When and where do you write?
I have special needs children so my life is crazy and my schedule must be flexible. Sometimes they are in school and other times they are too sick to go to school. Being five and seven year old boys, when they are here, it is very difficult to write. Those days I spend my time being a referee for the most part. However, I am a bit of a workaholic. If I am unable to write and I'm not breaking up a fight, you'll find me marketing the book or myself in some way. I am also a graphic designer, so I am usually designing for clients during the weekdays, as well.
When I wrote Broken, my boys were actually well enough to attend school three days a week for about four hours a day. I was able to write during those times. When they came home, they were exhausted and would take naps, and so I would continue writing. I'd stop when they woke up and then start back again as soon as they were in bed. I had the story for Broken written in two weeks. Now that they aren't in school like that, I find now that the library is my best friend. Anytime my husband will keep them for me to go, I'm out of the door before he changes his mind. I go to the quiet room there, put my headphones in and the creative juices start to flow.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
One word: starting! When I decided to write Broken, I did some research and then made an outline. But, even with the outline, I still struggled with how to start my first sentence. I just had no clue how to even begin. I finally just typed something out with the thought that I could always change it after I started if I didn't like it, which is exactly what I did. My first sentence for Broken initially was the start of the wedding, but a beta reader told me to go back and add more of Sam and Gabby leading up to that scene. I did that and I think it worked out quite nicely. I would tell anyone who wants to write to do just that. Even if it's just a sentence. Sentences become paragraphs. Paragraphs become chapters. And before you know it, you'll have a novel. And on a tangent, sometimes outlines don't work. If I showed you my outline, you would be very confused. My imagination totally went crazy and what I had planned to write is not what my mind decided to have me type.
When and why did you first start writing?
When I was in the seventh grade, I was told I could no longer do my book reports on Nancy Drew. It was tragic. This was the beginning of reading being a chore and not a passion. After that, I hated English and I really didn't read unless I absolutely had to read.
I love Nicolas Sparks and read his books. I also loved the Left Behind Series. But, really other than those books, I wasn't a reader. My husband asked me in college why I even bothered wasting money on text books if I was never going to open them. I would laugh and say because I do open them in class to make my professors think I study. But, I was notorious for skimming books right before a test or reading on the internet what a story was about enough to wing it. I would pay attention in class and then look at the excerpts that were being discussed and I'd get involved in the conversation as best as I could. By the time the test came, I usually knew as much about the book having not read as my peers who had read it.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I am the last person who thought I would ever be an avid reader, let alone a writer.
In my children's lit class my professor told me that I was going to be an author. She said "One day you're going to send me an email and tell me you've written a book and I'm going to be so proud." I laughed and said okay, but I was really thinking this woman is crazy. I was honored on the one hand, but I could not picture myself writing anything other than something I was forced to write for a good grade. And I hated that so much, I would procrastinate until the very last minute to actually sit down and write it.
I also had a dear friend, Jan Gambino, who helped me on my journey as a special needs mother. Jan told me that one day I'd write a book about our own journey, as it is certainly a unique situation with all of us having Mitochondrial Disease ("Mito"). I had blogged from the moment I found out I was pregnant with my first child (after years of infertility, not so unique). Jan would tell me those blog posts would become my chapters, to keep writing. She passed away last year and I kick myself for not writing sooner so I could have had her help and friendship along the journey.
So, it seems everyone else believed in me, but I didn't believe in myself. It wasn't until I read Fifty Shades of Grey and became obsessed with that story that my passion for reading, which had been lost in the seventh grade, came flooding back to me. After reading about six different books, most from initially self-published authors, I realized that I had a story in my head. I love a challenge, but I also feared having severe ADHD in addition to Mito that I would find myself halfway through and not finish for lack of attention or because my body decided to go on strike.
I made up my mind I was going to do it. I asked my husband if he would be upset if I wrote a romance novel that might have some erotica in it. I told him I'd use a pen name. He said he didn't care. So, on August 12, 2012, I started to write Broken. I decided a short story or novella might be a good start, rather than a novel. Initially, I thought of those papers I had dreaded writing and how the thought of a 400 word paper would send me into a panic attack. The thought of writing even 5,000 words was overwhelming. So, my first goal was that, 5,000. I think I had that many words in a couple of days. So, then I moved my goal up to 10,000 words. That's when I told my family if I could make it to 20,000 words, even if I didn't finish it, I would feel like I had really accomplished something. But, by the time I got to 20,000 words, my story was really getting juicy and I realized I couldn't just stop. Not to mention, I had beta-readers begging for more chapters. So, I made it to around 46,000 words and as much as I wanted to add more to get to novel length, I just didn't feel I could add words that progressed the plot.
One of the first things I did was send a copy to my children's lit professor. It was a really awesome moment for me. A couple of weeks ago I wrote my first children's book and sent her that, too. After I write the trilogy, the next book will be about my life. It will be for and because of Jan. It will be a legacy for my children and hopefully help other families the way Jan helped us. I am a writer. I think I always have been a storyteller. It just took a series of events and a few people to help me believe in me to make me realize it.
How did you come up with the idea of your book?
I thought, well this happened in my life, and I bet people would think that was juicy. I'll just take this one little event, and I'll twist the heck out of it and make it fiction. That's how it started. Like I said, I made this outline and it's nothing like what I actually wrote. When I finished chapter one and thought, Uh oh! Where do I go now, I decided I wanted to do a past/present format. So, I really ended up coming up with two stories and putting them into one. I knew that if my readers were left hanging in chapter one wanting to know what happened next, but they had to flash back, they'd keep reading chapter two to get to chapter three. Then, I hoped by the time they got to chapter three, they would have to have chapter four.
What are you currently reading?
I'm reading Binder Full of Women (Billionaire Binder Series). I saw it on a friend's wall, as she had posted it as a political joke. I decided since the first book was free, I'd download and read it. The timing is great since election day has just passed. Obviously, the book's binder full of women is not the same binder the politician's are discussing. :)
I have special needs children so my life is crazy and my schedule must be flexible. Sometimes they are in school and other times they are too sick to go to school. Being five and seven year old boys, when they are here, it is very difficult to write. Those days I spend my time being a referee for the most part. However, I am a bit of a workaholic. If I am unable to write and I'm not breaking up a fight, you'll find me marketing the book or myself in some way. I am also a graphic designer, so I am usually designing for clients during the weekdays, as well.
When I wrote Broken, my boys were actually well enough to attend school three days a week for about four hours a day. I was able to write during those times. When they came home, they were exhausted and would take naps, and so I would continue writing. I'd stop when they woke up and then start back again as soon as they were in bed. I had the story for Broken written in two weeks. Now that they aren't in school like that, I find now that the library is my best friend. Anytime my husband will keep them for me to go, I'm out of the door before he changes his mind. I go to the quiet room there, put my headphones in and the creative juices start to flow.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
One word: starting! When I decided to write Broken, I did some research and then made an outline. But, even with the outline, I still struggled with how to start my first sentence. I just had no clue how to even begin. I finally just typed something out with the thought that I could always change it after I started if I didn't like it, which is exactly what I did. My first sentence for Broken initially was the start of the wedding, but a beta reader told me to go back and add more of Sam and Gabby leading up to that scene. I did that and I think it worked out quite nicely. I would tell anyone who wants to write to do just that. Even if it's just a sentence. Sentences become paragraphs. Paragraphs become chapters. And before you know it, you'll have a novel. And on a tangent, sometimes outlines don't work. If I showed you my outline, you would be very confused. My imagination totally went crazy and what I had planned to write is not what my mind decided to have me type.
When and why did you first start writing?
When I was in the seventh grade, I was told I could no longer do my book reports on Nancy Drew. It was tragic. This was the beginning of reading being a chore and not a passion. After that, I hated English and I really didn't read unless I absolutely had to read.
I love Nicolas Sparks and read his books. I also loved the Left Behind Series. But, really other than those books, I wasn't a reader. My husband asked me in college why I even bothered wasting money on text books if I was never going to open them. I would laugh and say because I do open them in class to make my professors think I study. But, I was notorious for skimming books right before a test or reading on the internet what a story was about enough to wing it. I would pay attention in class and then look at the excerpts that were being discussed and I'd get involved in the conversation as best as I could. By the time the test came, I usually knew as much about the book having not read as my peers who had read it.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I am the last person who thought I would ever be an avid reader, let alone a writer.
In my children's lit class my professor told me that I was going to be an author. She said "One day you're going to send me an email and tell me you've written a book and I'm going to be so proud." I laughed and said okay, but I was really thinking this woman is crazy. I was honored on the one hand, but I could not picture myself writing anything other than something I was forced to write for a good grade. And I hated that so much, I would procrastinate until the very last minute to actually sit down and write it.
I also had a dear friend, Jan Gambino, who helped me on my journey as a special needs mother. Jan told me that one day I'd write a book about our own journey, as it is certainly a unique situation with all of us having Mitochondrial Disease ("Mito"). I had blogged from the moment I found out I was pregnant with my first child (after years of infertility, not so unique). Jan would tell me those blog posts would become my chapters, to keep writing. She passed away last year and I kick myself for not writing sooner so I could have had her help and friendship along the journey.
So, it seems everyone else believed in me, but I didn't believe in myself. It wasn't until I read Fifty Shades of Grey and became obsessed with that story that my passion for reading, which had been lost in the seventh grade, came flooding back to me. After reading about six different books, most from initially self-published authors, I realized that I had a story in my head. I love a challenge, but I also feared having severe ADHD in addition to Mito that I would find myself halfway through and not finish for lack of attention or because my body decided to go on strike.
I made up my mind I was going to do it. I asked my husband if he would be upset if I wrote a romance novel that might have some erotica in it. I told him I'd use a pen name. He said he didn't care. So, on August 12, 2012, I started to write Broken. I decided a short story or novella might be a good start, rather than a novel. Initially, I thought of those papers I had dreaded writing and how the thought of a 400 word paper would send me into a panic attack. The thought of writing even 5,000 words was overwhelming. So, my first goal was that, 5,000. I think I had that many words in a couple of days. So, then I moved my goal up to 10,000 words. That's when I told my family if I could make it to 20,000 words, even if I didn't finish it, I would feel like I had really accomplished something. But, by the time I got to 20,000 words, my story was really getting juicy and I realized I couldn't just stop. Not to mention, I had beta-readers begging for more chapters. So, I made it to around 46,000 words and as much as I wanted to add more to get to novel length, I just didn't feel I could add words that progressed the plot.
One of the first things I did was send a copy to my children's lit professor. It was a really awesome moment for me. A couple of weeks ago I wrote my first children's book and sent her that, too. After I write the trilogy, the next book will be about my life. It will be for and because of Jan. It will be a legacy for my children and hopefully help other families the way Jan helped us. I am a writer. I think I always have been a storyteller. It just took a series of events and a few people to help me believe in me to make me realize it.
How did you come up with the idea of your book?
I thought, well this happened in my life, and I bet people would think that was juicy. I'll just take this one little event, and I'll twist the heck out of it and make it fiction. That's how it started. Like I said, I made this outline and it's nothing like what I actually wrote. When I finished chapter one and thought, Uh oh! Where do I go now, I decided I wanted to do a past/present format. So, I really ended up coming up with two stories and putting them into one. I knew that if my readers were left hanging in chapter one wanting to know what happened next, but they had to flash back, they'd keep reading chapter two to get to chapter three. Then, I hoped by the time they got to chapter three, they would have to have chapter four.
What are you currently reading?
I'm reading Binder Full of Women (Billionaire Binder Series). I saw it on a friend's wall, as she had posted it as a political joke. I decided since the first book was free, I'd download and read it. The timing is great since election day has just passed. Obviously, the book's binder full of women is not the same binder the politician's are discussing. :)
*Thanks so much for the interview, and I wish you the best of luck, JB!!
--
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
THANK YOU THURSDAY = The Proposition for $1.99 & Some Gifts cards
FIRST OFF, FOR ONE DAY ONLY TODAYTHURSDAY, The Proposition will be available for $1.99. Yes, that's right, I said 1.99!!!
SECOND, I'm offering TWO $10.00 Amazon gift cards. All you have to do is a leave a comment about your FAVORITE part of The Proposition!! Or, if you haven't read the book yet, you can leave a comment about the best book you've read lately!
I can't thank you all enough for your love and support of The Proposition!!! I wanted to be able to give back more than just virtual hugs, kisses, chocolate, and ridiculous amounts of GIFS!!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Teaser Tuesday from THE PROPOSAL!!!
Yowzers!! What a debut week...oh wait, it hasn't been quite a week yet! I'm still walking around my house with a goofy grin and having moments where I just yell SQUEE! or HOLY SHIT! Yep, that's been me since the release of The Proposition!!
So, I'll quit rambling and get to the point, which is Teaser Tuesday!! This scene puts Aidan and Emma back together again for the first time. Ladies, she's making him work for it, I promise!! Patrick's had a little health scare that landed him in the ER(nothing too serious), and Emma happened to be with him when it happened. So, away we go!!
Aidan reached out his hand to flag down a passing nurse when
the sound of singing stopped him cold in the middle of the hallway. Strains of Danny Boy floated back to him—his father’
s favorite song. Only second generation Irish, Patrick had grown up with the
songs of the old homeland like Danny Boy
and The Fields of Athenry. Aidan couldn’t
remember a time in his life when his father wasn’t humming one of them.
But it wasn’t his father singing. This sweet voice
cut through to Aidan’s soul, causing him to shudder.
It was Emma.
Her voice drew him nearer and nearer like a siren leading a
man to his doom. His steps slowed to a crawl as his eyes honed in on the door
down the hall from him. The last time he heard her sing was at grandparent’s
Barn Dance—the night before he realized he was in truly and completely in love
with her. But all of that was before he had broken her heart.
Pausing in front of the doorway, Aidan tried to still the
rapid acceleration of his heartbeat. His father reclined back on the hospital bed with Emma perched
beside him. She held his hand that was tethered to an IV
pole in both of hers. Although Patrick had oxygen tubes stuck in his nose, he appeared
to be feeling fine and was enjoying his impromptu concert.
When the last notes of the song echoed off the drab walls,
Patrick applauded. “Beautiful, Emma! Absolutely beautiful!”
Even though she ducked her head, Aidan could see her usual
flush of embarrassment that tinged her cheeks. “You’re welcome.”
“Without a doubt, you have the voice of an angel, sweetheart.”
Emma leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You know there isn’t
anything I wouldn’t do for you, and that includes singing a song with
impossibly high notes in the middle of the ER.” One hand flew to her abdomen
while a smile spread across her face. “Noah must be a true Irish Fitzgerald.
He’s going crazy dancing right now!” Taking Patrick’s hand, she brought it to
her belly. “See?”
Aidan sucked in a breath and staggered back. What the hell? His son had a name, and he
hadn’t even had a part in it. How could she do something as monumental as
naming their child without asking him? He shouldn’t have cared that Emma had bestowed
her late father’s name on their son, but he did. Anger pulsed through him.
Stalking through the doorway, he blurted, “Excuse me? Noah?”
Patrick and Emma both turned to stare at him. Emma’s face
reddened from her ivory cheeks all the way down to her neck while her frantic gaze
darted around the room as if looking for an escape. Scrambling out of the bed,
she backed as far away from him as she could.
Although his attention should have gone to his ailing father,
Aidan couldn’t take his eyes off of Emma. Any anger he felt quickly
evaporated, and his heart constricted with love for her. God, he had missed
her. He didn’t realize just how much until she was standing right in front of
him like a vision. Three weeks without her and he was a physical and mental wreck. But Emma could have been one of Patrick’s roses in bloom. Her
breasts were fuller, her stomach was rounder, and her hips wider. He fought to
catch his breath.
AND, how do you like the cover?!!! *chews fingernails that you like it*
Sunday, November 4, 2012
And On The 7th Day there was a 7 Sentence Snip!
So, I decided to join the ranks of posting a Sunday snip!! Since I never know
when to shut up or be concise, mine will be 7, rather than 6!!
This is from the first chapter of The Proposal, which releases January 5th, rather than March 15th
After a snort escaped his lips, Aidan’s face smacked hard onto the kitchen table before he gave a maniacal laugh. “Actually, Pop, I was shitfaced five beers and two shots of Patron ago. I think it’s safe to say I’m fucking plastered now!”
This is from the first chapter of The Proposal, which releases January 5th, rather than March 15th
After a snort escaped his lips, Aidan’s face smacked hard onto the kitchen table before he gave a maniacal laugh. “Actually, Pop, I was shitfaced five beers and two shots of Patron ago. I think it’s safe to say I’m fucking plastered now!”
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Contest Winner & Interview with Aidan & Emma on Saturday Night Special with Kelli Maine
So, um, yeah, that was a long 24 hour period for the contest, right?!! LOL I'm still in a goofball haze of giddiness!!
Thanks to Random.Org number generator we have technical and scientific winning number of Post 20 or TAMARA!!! CONGRATS!!
Tonight you don't want to miss the interview with Aidan and Emma at the beginning of their journey together over at my buddy Kelli Maine's blog http://kellimaine.blogspot.com/
You can win an arc too!!!
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS, SUPPORT, AND LOVE!!
Thanks to Random.Org number generator we have technical and scientific winning number of Post 20 or TAMARA!!! CONGRATS!!
Tonight you don't want to miss the interview with Aidan and Emma at the beginning of their journey together over at my buddy Kelli Maine's blog http://kellimaine.blogspot.com/
You can win an arc too!!!
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS, SUPPORT, AND LOVE!!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
HOLY COW WHAT A DAY!! ANOTHER CONTEST & RELEASE DATE FOR THE PROPOSAL!
Okay, I realize that was an insane amount of shouty capitals, Ms. Steele!! But OH MY!! THIS:
Out of the gate!! The first day!!
I'm amazed, flabbergasted, squeeing 24/7, floored, speechless(and if you knew me in real life you would release how amazing a feat that was!!).
Even as a writer, I could never adequately convey my appreciation for my readers and supporters. I love you guys to bits, and I couldn't have done this without you!! It's been a difficult year and difficult journey in the writing business, so I can never take for granted this amazing of a feeling or experience. MUAH, MUAH!!
Aidan says thanks too!!
So, I feel like I need to give back for the amazing day Proposition readers have given me. So I'm offering up a $25 Amazon gift card tonight to show my appreciation!! All you have to do is leave a comment here, and I'll pick a random number for the winner!! I'll close the contest tomorrow morning, so my Pacific time frame peeps can get a chance!!
The end of The Proposition....yeah, erm, it's got a lot of peeps a little excited...a little riled...little upset that the sequel isn't out until March.
Yeah, so I've thought long and hard, and I've decided to move the sequel, The Proposal, up to January, rather than March.
MOST OF ALL THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Out of the gate!! The first day!!
I'm amazed, flabbergasted, squeeing 24/7, floored, speechless(and if you knew me in real life you would release how amazing a feat that was!!).
Even as a writer, I could never adequately convey my appreciation for my readers and supporters. I love you guys to bits, and I couldn't have done this without you!! It's been a difficult year and difficult journey in the writing business, so I can never take for granted this amazing of a feeling or experience. MUAH, MUAH!!
Aidan says thanks too!!
And does his finest Michael Jackson impression!!
So, I feel like I need to give back for the amazing day Proposition readers have given me. So I'm offering up a $25 Amazon gift card tonight to show my appreciation!! All you have to do is leave a comment here, and I'll pick a random number for the winner!! I'll close the contest tomorrow morning, so my Pacific time frame peeps can get a chance!!
The end of The Proposition....yeah, erm, it's got a lot of peeps a little excited...a little riled...little upset that the sequel isn't out until March.
Yeah, so I've thought long and hard, and I've decided to move the sequel, The Proposal, up to January, rather than March.
MOST OF ALL THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
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