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Next up: I’m editing on His Dragon Heart, a long shifter romance novella set in the Colliding Worlds series that tells the story of Gillian (Keira’s sister) and the dragon shifter Damon, who kidnapped Gillian at the beginning of Her Scottish Alpha. I’m also working on the rough draft of Long Night’s Moon, the next book in the Mad Wolf’s Harem series.
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The Hottest Summer Nights
One of the hottest summer nights I ever experienced was in Las Vegas in July. Some friends and I were there on vacation and we decided to do an impromptu bar hop. The night was literally hot, and seemed even hotter to someone used to colder climes.
But that wasn’t all. Along the way, I met a guy–cute, funny, sexy. We hit it off right away. And while we didn’t end up together long-term, it was very hot while it lasted.
What is your hottest summer night?
I hope you enjoy the excerpt below from my newest release, Aurelia and the Three Bodyguards. Then be sure to enter my giveaway and comment in order to enter the grand prize for the hop!
♥
Excerpt from Aurelia and the Three Bodyguards
If Aurelia thought Drake was crazy after they slept together, it was nothing compared to how he’d be once he found out she escaped. She perched on the edge of her gilded cage, the door hanging open. She could still close that door. He’d never know she’d ever gotten it open.
And she’d never be free.
She jumped out of the cage and ran.
Her cage was in the corner of his bedroom. For days, he’d kept her locked in there, raging that she was his and he would protect her, keep her safe from everyone else. She liked a protective man as much as the next woman, but this was way over the line.
The bedroom was about the size of her entire apartment, and done in white and red. The bed dominated the room, swaths of red fabric falling from the canopy over the white linens. Her golden cage with its plush pillows and little table for refreshments fit in nicely with the decor.
When she’d met Drake, she’d thought she’d lucked out to have such a wealthy man interested in her. Such luck.
Her clothes and purse were hung neatly in the walk-in closet. She grabbed her purse and shoved her feet into a pair of sneakers. The clothes she had on would have to do.
When she got to the door, she eased it open, peeking down the hall to make sure no one was around. One good thing about Drake’s possessiveness was that he didn’t want any men around her at all. Not even guards. He assumed the cage was enough to keep her where he wanted her. Heck, half the time he acted like she should be happy and willing to be in the cage. It wasn’t hard to tamper with the lock so it didn’t catch the last time he closed it. But if she didn’t get away this time, he’d make sure she didn’t have another chance.
No one in the hall. Aurelia crept down this hall, then the next. Then she was at the top of the stairs. She wished she knew the mansion better, wished she knew where the servants’ staircase was. Instead, she’d have to descend into that huge foyer and hope he was nowhere around.
She paused on each step to look around the foyer and into the rooms whose doors she could see. Light streamed through the windows next to the door. Against the light stone-colored floor and glass table, it made everything look a little translucent. There was no motion and no sound. She just hoped she wouldn’t get caught in the middle of the steps with nowhere to hide.
Another step. Another. The front door was so tantalizingly close.
And Drake was so strong. When they’d started dating, she’d thought he was human. If she’d known he was a dragon, she wouldn’t have gone out with him at all. God, could dragons be possessive. Still, she’d never heard of one putting his lady love in a cage. Drake had simply gone bat-crazy.
At the bottom of the steps, she heard a sound. It seemed to come from behind her, so she hurried around the corner and hid behind the door of the front parlor. She could just see the foyer through the crack between the door and the frame.
Drake walked into the foyer, his servant Marie next to him. He was as tall, dark and handsome as he’d been the first time they met. Even knowing how crazy he was, she felt drawn to his masculine good looks.
Then she noticed that Marie held a tray of food which was probably meant for Aurelia. Damnit, they’d know she was gone before she had a chance to get very far.
“I’ll take it up.” Drake took the tray from Marie.
Marie turned and walked back toward the kitchen while Drake ascended the steps. As soon as Aurelia couldn’t see him anymore, she raced for the front door.
Locked!
Thank God it didn’t need a key. She twisted the deadbolt and yanked the door open. Then she ran.
She had made it to the street, past the hedge and the row of tall trees, before she heard Drake bellowing. He’d discovered her empty cage.
A tingling raced across her skin. Crap, was he using magic to find her? How could she escape that?
Aurelia jogged down the street while fishing her cell phone out of her purse. Dead. Not surprising, considering how long it had been sitting in the closet. At least she’d been here a few times and knew which way to go for the more populated roads. Maybe she could catch a cab.
All the houses were huge. It took minutes to pass each manicured lawn. She had forgotten how far away the closest main street was.
Not that she could go home. That’s the first place he’d look for her. A hotel, then. At least she had her credit cards.
She felt another tingle slide down her body.
Maybe she should head straight for the airport.
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Enter to win one of TWO grand prizes. You can enter on every blog in the hop just by commenting about your hottest summer nights. Just make sure you leave their email address and name to be entered to win.
1st Grand Prize: (1) Kindle Fire!
2nd Grand Prize: (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card
♥
Posted in Excerpts and Snippets, Giveaways, News
36 Comments
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Excellent excerpt! I have a lot of fun summer concert memories…
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Book looks really good!
susanmplatt AT Hotmail DOT com
Agree, a good excerpt 🙂
thank you!
swordlily_girl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway!
ncprincess96 at yahoo dot com
Book sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
My favorite summer concert was the Charlie Daniels band. It was sweltering but the music was hotter.
blueshedevil32(at)gmail(dot)com
My hottest summer night was taking a dip into the pool with my Soulmate lets say it was steamy 🙂
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
Summers in my back yard. That’s where my vegetable gardens, fruiting shrubs and fruit trees live. The strawberries have been producing for weeks now. Yum! (What’s summer without fresh fruits and vegetables?)
Kimberly
casey 44 6 at hot mail dot c o m
Visiting family on the west coast of Wales… bliss.
margarita.felices01@gmail.com
Literally Write
Loved the excerpt. I plan on relaxing on the patio with a cold drink and a hot book this summer. If I had a pool, it would be even better. Thanks for the chance to win. reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Love that cover,, love the excerpt. Summer concert, Doobie Brothers 1977. I was 16. ‘Nuff said.
jmelter at gmail dot com
Thank you and GL to everyone! jmelter(at)gmail(dot)com love bbqing
Ooooh thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I plan on relaxing and hanging out with my family.
amzpar[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for sharing the great giveaway Such amazing prizes! Very generous of you! Have a happy summer
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
summers at the beach are always hot neonangelwings(at)yahoo(dot)com veronica vaughn
Sex under the stars in the Catskill mountains.
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
No super hot summer nights. But I love anytime a summer night includes campfires and marshmallows : )
Having a little fun at an outdoor concert.
pjmillion(at)comcast(dot)net
I like these kinds of hops since I get introduced to a lot of authors I have yet to read. You write the kinds of books I enjoy reading. I have added your name to my TBR list.
Thank you for the giveaway.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
nice excerpt
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Hottest summer night was when the AC wasn’t working.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Great excerpt and thanks for the chance to win!
kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com
I have some fun community movie nights. You can meet some real hot people there some times.
strawberryrose@earthlink.net
Thanks for the great giveaway!
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
Vegas is the perfect place for a hot summer night… lol
My best memory is about a hot summer night at the beach 3 years ago, when I met a cute and sexy guy who’s now my hubby!
Tata
alifeamongbooks [at] gmail [dot] com
My favorite summer memory is spending time at the beach with my family. Thanks for the giveaway! asdidonato77(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great excerpt and I love the cover. Thanks for the chance.
mythic021@gmail.com
having a fire on the beach
Thanks for the opportunity!
farmaki(at)live(dot)com
Thank you for the chance!
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
My favorite summer memory is going to Disneyworld. I enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi! I dont have a hot summer night memory. Im only 22 and growing up, my parents were so strict. Boyfriends were not aloud. I got ground more than once for saying hi or smiling at a guy. Now, im quite shy, putting myself out there, not so fun. lol Your excerpt sounds great! Cant wait to read more! Thank you for taking part in this awesome hop! Its so much fun! Its wonderful meeting and seeing so many great people! 🙂
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Sadly, it’s been so long (been married almost 42 years), I don’t remember any hot summer nights!
Thanks everyone!!
I love all the great hot summer nights memories you’ve shared!