Thursday, October 31, 2013

Q&A With Julie Farley







Tell me about yourself, and your writing.

I’m a mom, writer, teacher and wife…usually in that order.  I have four kids – a 14-year-old boy, 9-year-old girl, and 6-year-old girl/boy twins.  My kids provide me with tons of material for my writing and as you can imagine, I spend a great deal of time doing things with and for them.  My kids and husband are so supportive of my writing. 

How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?

I have been writing since I was in elementary school.  As an adult, I have taken quite a few writing classes and finally buckled down and got serious about writing in 2010 after my dad died.  My dad was a great inspiration to me and my biggest cheerleader where my writing was concerned. I wish he had lived to see me complete my first novel.

I have published two books in the same series.  Tripped Up Love is book one in The New Ever After Series and The New Ever After is book two.  They are both contemporary romances.

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

I am primarily working on romance novels but would love to write a middle grade novel for girls.

Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?

Someone asked this question on Twitter and I accidentally answered that I was a panther.  I got quite a reaction! I am a pantser.  I write from the seat of my pants…sort of.  I write whatever comes to me until the story takes shape in my mind.  Then I sit down and write a detailed outline.  I usually need to write about 5000 words or more to “feel” the characters before the outline is clear.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

I get up at 5:30 every morning to write and work until I need to get myself and the kids ready for school.  I usually spend my afternoons after I teach preschool writing.  Sometimes I sneak in a little time after the kids have gone to bed.  I carry my journal around and scribble notes all day long.  My friends have spotted me sitting in my van in parking lots all over town jotting down ideas before they leave me.

Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?

I love to read all types of books.  I am primarily a reader of fiction and love romance novels. I am also a fan of Young Adult novels. I do read a fair amount of non-fiction though.  My most favorite recent read is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.  It was devastatingly beautiful.  I love Colleen Hoover’s books and adored Lori Otto’s Lost and Found trilogy.

What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I have been working on a book for the last three years.  I have amassed over 500 pages of writing and finally know where I want the book to go.  I would like to finish that book.

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

Well, if you consider reading auras to be a paranormal ability I can do that! I also think I have a bit of ESP.  But if I could have any other ability I would like to have a form of telekinesis that would allow me to make sandwiches and pack lunches with my mind.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

A unicorn, for sure! I have been fascinated with them since I was a young girl.

Tell us a little about your latest release.

Tripped Up Love is a contemporary romance.  Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever known. Her perfect, yet ordinary life was turned upside down the day her 38-year-old husband died. Her happily ever after was gone in the blink of an eye. Heather’s life becomes the subject of scrutiny and pity as she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and raise her three children on her own. In the midst of suburbia and gossipy neighbors, Heather tries to re-build a normal life. Little does she know she’s about to trip into a new adventure. An adventure she could never have imagined. Where will her misstep take her and how will Heather handle the prying eyes of those around her?

What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)

Caffeine!

Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?

I don’t think I could. I tend to feel like my books are real and I can’t imagine inserting another person’s reality into them.


If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?

I would love to meet Princess Di. I have always been fascinated with her and with the Royals.  We’d meet in a quiet coffee shop off the beaten path in London and I’d ask her to give me the inside scoop on what it was like to be a member of the Royal family.

What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?

I love doing anything I can with my family and I thoroughly enjoy relaxing with my friends. I run a little and walk a lot.  I am also obsessed with Adam Levine and would consider him a hobby!

If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?

I would pick Tripped Up Love and have Adam Levine star as Peter.

What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?

I would love to be able to draw.  I was drawing a picture of a horse in preschool today and it ended up looking more like a dinosaur.

Favorite color?

Green

Weather: Hot or cold?

Am I allowed to say neither? I much prefer a 70 degree day to a sweltering summer day or a freezing cold winter day.


Favorite place to read?

I love to read in the tub but that is hard to do with an e-reader so I also have a paper book and an e-book at the ready.

Favorite meal

I love any type of Thai food – especially green curry.

Favorite non-alcoholic drink.

It’s a tie.  I love chai but I also love a fountain coke.

If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
I would like to spend more time getting lost in Europe. I’ve only been to Paris and London and I would love to do some more exploring.  Maybe we’d rent a chateau in a little village, homeschool the kids and I could write and my husband could paint.










Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever known. Her perfect, yet ordinary life was turned upside down the day her 38-year-old husband died. Her happily ever after was gone in the blink of an eye. Heather’s life becomes the subject of scrutiny and pity as she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and raise her three children on her own. In the midst of suburbia and gossipy neighbors, Heather tries to re-build a normal life. Little does she know she’s about to trip into a new adventure. An adventure she could never have imagined. Where will her misstep take her and how will Heather handle the prying eyes of those around her?




Author Bio:

Julie Farley is the author of Tripped Up Love and The New Ever After.  She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, four rarely quiet children and her 50 pound lap dog. Julie spends her days writing and teaching preschool. She chronicles her adventures on her blog atjuliefarley.com and is working on the next book in The New Ever After Series. 

Connect with Julie!

 twitter: juliefarley1
 website: www.juliefarley.com

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Release Day Blitz: Eighth Note

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Book: Eighth Note (Fire Ballad One) Author: Kimberly Stedronsky Genre: Paranormal Horror Romance Release Date: October 31, 2013 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Synopsis Eva Reed saved the world. Actually, she saved two worlds, but who’s counting? Finding herself in the middle of present day suburbia, married and a mom at only twenty years old, she’s beyond bored. Even with her popular music blog and her handsome husband Will catering to her every impulse, she longs to use the incredible powers that she possesses. But Earth is no place for magic. When Cole Mathison arrives, asking for Eva’s help in solving the death of a famous pop star, she cannot resist the overwhelming pull to use her abilities again. Eva finds that there is more to the sinister murder than what the evidence shows. People who listencontinue to die, and she must rely on her immortality to protect her from a frequency that is shattering minds and stopping hearts. There are forces at work that she could never have imagined... And evil will be heard. Meet the Author Kimberly Stedronsky is an Ohio author who prefers an epic love story. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education, which she uses as an excuse to be as immature as possible on a daily basis. She is married to a stand-up comedian Marine veteran, and their three children are appropriately sarcastic. Excerpt “I’ve spent the last thirty years proving to myself that I wasn’t crazy. I’ve… helped… people with paranormal activity.” “You’re a ghost hunter?” I snorted, listening to the monitor crackle and Perry cry out softly. Will gave a deep, amused sigh, gesturing to the house. “I am going to bed. Ten minutes, Eva.” I automatically scowled at his order. “I’ll be up in a little while,” I countered, using all of my self control not to tell him off for treating me like a kid. “Yes, love.” He bent to me, practically lifting me off the ground to catch me off guard with a possessive kiss. I could only hold on to his shoulders as his mouth moved over mine, and it took me five witless seconds to realize that the display was completely for Cole. Men, marking their territory. Please. “I won’t keep her long,” Cole promised, and Will responded with a quick nod before heading for the house. “All happily ever after here, I take it?” I turned to him, tucking my hands under the sleeves of my hoodie. “Obviously. Now tell me what’s going on.” He scratched his chin. “No, I’m not a ghost hunter. I just… lend a hand. When crazy, unexplainable shit happens.” “I hate to tell you this, but people die. Every day. I’m sure the toxicology reports will come back with some fun party results.” He stared at me, contemplating. I returned his look, waiting impatiently. Finally, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, handing it over to me. “The security cameras caught her death. There’s no sound. Eva honey, are you sure you can handle this?” I accepted his iPhone, shrugging. “Um, I set my father-in-law on fire from the inside out. I think I can handle watching someone die.” His palm covered my hand, and his fingertip swept the screen open. His nails weren’t nearly as manicured as Will’s, and his calloused skin felt rough on mine. “No sound,” he repeated, and I nodded, trying not to appear as confused as I felt. The street lamp flickered over our heads, and I waved my hand to turn the bulb completely off, leaving us in darkness. The video began with an aerial view of Nina, black and white, in the studio. I could hear that the sound had been wiped from the video, and the continuous, looping whisper kept time with my heartbeat as my pulse began to pound in my ears. Nina was tall and blonde, with adorable dimples that kept her looking years younger than her actual age. She had two fingers over her earpiece as she sang, and I watched her drag the back of her other hand over her brow in mid-verse. She stopped singing, and the rushing sound intensified. She was coughing; I watched her reach for something, and then tip her head back and take a long drink from a bottle of water. Cole’s hand slid around my waist, and I almost screamed. I’d been so involved in the video, waiting, holding my breath, I’d almost forgotten he was next to me. “Eva.” He warned. I ignored him, narrowing my eyes and focusing on the iPhone screen. Nina stilled suddenly, and the water bottle slipped from her hand. Long seconds passed as she stood there, frozen, still, and I started to lift my finger to touch the screen, checking to see if the video paused. Her head jerked down violently, chin to chest. All of her hair surrounded her face. When her head snapped upward to meet the camera face-on, my hand clamped over Cole’s arm. Her mouth was a wide, dark O, no teeth, no sound… no pupils. Blackness seeped from the corners of her eyes, and she began to bend backward, further, further still, until her entire body was folded- backwards- at the waist. Text copyright © 2013 Kimberly Stedronsky Social Links
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Cover Reveal: Claiming Ana






Claiming Ana
Brynna Curry
A Triple Star Ranch Novel

“I’ll take you, turn you, until I’m the sun that warms you, the moon that calls to you at night.” – Howl Raven

ISBN: 9781616502874
Release date: Feb. 3, 2014
Series: Triple Star Ranch, #1

Blurb: Where there's smoke, there's fire…and passion that won't be denied.

The child of a gypsy and fey, small-town veterinarian Dr. Anastasia Brannon has always hidden her magic for fear of ridicule. A red-hot encounter with the new PI in town makes their attraction impossible to deny. Throwing caution to the wind, she indulges her desires but keeps her secrets close.

A man with a shady past and secrets of his own, Howl Raven uses his feral talents and tracking skills to make a living, doing his best to lay low and hide the curse that haunts him every month. So far, so good…until an uncontrollable shift outside the full moon leaves him the victim of a werewolf hunter.

When she finds the enigmatic investigator wounded in the woods near her cabin during a storm, Ana provides medical care on instinct. She may be the only one who can banish the wolf from Howl’s blood, but at what cost?





Full-length Excerpt (Steamy)

Stop thinking about sex, Ana. Control yourself.
Howl swallowed the pills with the hot coffee burning a path down his raw throat and hoped it hid his grin.
Arrgh. He probably heard that too.
“Every word. We’ll get to that, hopefully sooner rather than later.”
“You’re evading the question. So, how did you come to be bleeding in my woods not twenty feet from my doorstep?”
“My woods. I’m renting the Parker place, remember? Technically, that makes Parker’s woods, my woods,” he corrected.
She turned her back on him to retrieve something from the cabinet. Had it only been yesterday they had shared lunch in this room? She had been molten in his arms, melting into his kiss. If not for the phone call from Jace, they would have ended up in bed. Maybe on the couch. Against the wall. Now who couldn’t control their thoughts? Where had this distance come from?
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“I know.” He slipped in behind her at the counter. He had questions. She had answers. Howl intended to have them and her. “Why didn’t you call for help?” Howl laughed when he felt her jump mentally. Mind reading was such a trip. He effectively caged her between the counter and his arms. He wanted to kiss her, just there where her neck curved into her shoulder. He nuzzled the spot and traced the tip of his tongue along the exposed skin of her throat.
She tilted her head to give him better access. “The storm knocked down lines everywhere. We’re running off generator power, no phone, and no cell.”
He felt her shiver as her situation started to dawn on her. They were completely alone. Nothing to stop them from acting on this all-consuming lust. No calls from Jace. No neighborly driveby visits from Cade. No work. Just walls, rooms, and plenty of doors with locks.
“I would have driven you to the hospital once the storm let up and you were stable, but you asked me not to. That, and my Jeep was totaled by a tree. Then I found this.” Ana held up the small jar containing the bullet she had removed. “And I knew I couldn’t go to Cade. He wouldn’t understand.”
Howl took the jar. Even through the glass, the metal burned his skin. He tossed it aside. It rolled across the floor into the corner smacking into the baseboard but didn’t break.
“Thank you for that, for protecting me. You know what I am, then.” This time he did kiss her just behind her right ear.
“Yes.”
“And are you afraid of me?” Need beat a rhythm through his blood. Please say no. The hard planes of his body pressed against the silk of her back.
“Should I be?”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“How do you do this to me?”
Howl felt her frustration as she instinctively arched into him.
“What do I do to you?” He flipped open the buttons of her blouse.
“Make me ache for you.”
A feral urge consumed him with her whispered words, something animal, something that couldn’t be controlled. He kissed the nape of her neck, and felt her skin vibrate beneath his lips. He heard her shudder inwardly and beg her body to behave. “Oh, no you don’t. I want you out of control. You should have told me about your magic.” He breathed the word in her ear. She melted underneath his massaging fingers.
“And you could have mentioned you howl at the moon, before I had to use that magic to save your life.”
Claiming Ana releases February 3, 2014.
For information regarding this and other books by Brynna Curry, please visit www.brynnacurry.com


Backlist Buy Links (print & ebook): 
KOBO     BARNES & NOBLE     AMAZON     ITUNES    OMNI LIT/ALL ROMANCE

Author Bio
Brynna Curry was born south of the Mason-Dixon Line with a full moon overhead on a hot summer night. After moving all over the southern states, she finally landed in North Alabama where she lives with her husband and their three children. Growing up, books fueled her dreams and imagination, ultimately becoming her sanctuary during the hardest times in her life.
Writing is her passion, but she enjoys the fun of sharing those stories with others by reviewing books and working in publicity. When she isn’t writing or promoting, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read, at the park with her children (when she can wrangle them into it) or just spending an quiet evening at home with Jackie watching old westerns on TV. Although her wizards, shifters and vampires are as real to her as anyone, she insists love is the truest magic and with it every day is another wonderful adventure.


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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

VBT Review: Daring To Wish




Daring to Wish
By: Tracey Rogers

Blurb

What happens when you dare to wish?

In an effort to regain her independence and break out of her shell, shy Eve Ward writes a daring wish list of all the things she wants to do before her thirtieth birthday. It’s a good thing the list is for her eyes only, because some of the items are pretty risqué.

Adrenaline junkie Lucas Riley becomes Eve’s “victim” in a kiss-a-stranger dare, and she thinks he’s perfect for her one-night-with-a-stranger wish.

With Eve, Lucas thinks he’s found the distraction he needs before he has to say goodbye to his bad boy image. When he finds Eve’s sexy wish list, he can’t keep himself from giving into temptation and sneaking a peek, and wish number eight is impossible for him to resist. Being good can wait.

Eve is thrilled when, out of the blue, Lucas offers to take her skydiving. Her sexy stranger has helped her tick so many wishes off her secret list. Her confidence has grown and now she’s having fun both in and out of the bedroom. It seems too good to be true...is it? She can’t shake the niggling suspicion that something’s not quite right.

Content Warning: contains dizzying heights and sensual sex.

 Review Rating: 4 LIGHTNING BOLTS

Review: A new year is coming. It's time to make a change. Shake off the funk and let loose. At least, that's how Eve's friend sees it. Eve isn't so sure. But of course, she goes along with it.  That night, she meets Lucas.  Things have just become interesting.  Neither of them is looking for anything serious. A little frivolous fun is just what they need....but we all know how that usually ends, right? 

 This is a fun, light hearted book. Easy to read, likable characters, and an absolute joy! I love Even and Lucas together.  Reading about how they give into love made for a great night cuddled with my ereader, and there were plenty of smiles.  Great read! 
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Author Info
A devourer of books from an early age, I spent much of my childhood stepping into wardrobes, searching for that magical snowy world where conversing with animals would be expected. When I wasn't searching for those worlds, I wrote about them instead. My first step into the world of romance was when I stole sneak peeks into my nana's books. I'm still in that world and refuse to leave.
I live in Staffordshire, UK, with my husband and three wonderful children. An avid reader and writer of romance, I strongly believe that words make the world go around.


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Excerpt
“Wait.”
Eve froze mid-turn, halted by his husky command and the tingle radiating from his hand lightly grasping her wrist. She met his gaze and realized how wrong she’d been. He was a million miles away from being uncomplicated. The startling blue of his eyes revealed depths Eve could only imagine drowning in.
“Did you say…nice?” He leaned closer. “I would say that was a lot better than nice. I’m sure if we tried again we could manage spectacular. Don’t you agree?” he drawled.
Maybe nice had been the wrong word to choose Eve relented as she noted his husky tone. It was infinitely better than nice. Try amazing! Her breath hitched as she thought of his kiss again. Knowing he enjoyed it too sent a surge of pleasure through her that settled deep within her belly. Obviously she could do some things right.
If she intended to fulfill her wishes she was going to have to find some confidence from somewhere—and fast! At the moment her confidence seemed to be firmly in the area of her knickers.
Running and hiding now seemed out of the question. Maybe confidence practice would be the lesser of two evils? She paused before turning to face Mr. Hotness for confidence lesson one.
“Hmm...” She pretended to consider. “Maybe you’re right. However, as this was a dare I’m afraid it was a one time opportunity,” she added with mock apology. “So I guess we’ll never know.”
“You kissed me for a dare?” His brow arched.
Eve nodded. “Uh-huh. My dare was to kiss a stranger.”
“A dare, huh? I feel so…so violated.” He clutched his free hand to his chest in feigned hurt, although his eyes brimmed with humor and a smile tugged at the corner of his delicious mouth.
“Don’t be offended. I did actually choose you,” she blurted before forgetting her cool, calm, and confident aim.
“So you really thought you could violate me then run?”
“That was my plan, yes,” she said with a confidence she didn’t quite feel, especially as she was distracted by the thumb lightly stroking her wrist.
“And I didn’t even try to play hard to get. Guess you got lucky.”
“Or maybe you did,” she countered without thought, mortified as a blush warmed her cheeks at his responding grin.
He grinned, releasing her hand. “Tell me. Do you like to be dared?”
Her eyes widened at the loaded question. “I…I find a challenge hard to resist.”
“Damn good thing I’m a challenge.”




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Solace in Scandal


Solace-in-Scandal-






Blurb:
Greed and lies bound them together, but will the truth tear their love apart?

When Elena Bardot suffers the backlash of a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by her father, she retreats to the abandoned estate of his partners in crime.  Wolfe Manor is lush and private, a perfect place to lick her wounds – until the notorious prodigal son returns.  Disgraced billionaire Alex Wolfe is aloof, imposing, and sexy as hell.  Elena knows she shouldn’t want him, but attraction overrules her head.

Life behind bars has changed Alex.  He doesn’t have time for the complication of a gorgeous little brunette – especially one with her name – but the tension between them escalates.  Lust overwhelms their resistance, and the sex is hot and cathartic.  They’ve both been betrayed by family, hurt by society, and cast as villains.  Alone together, they take solace in slow kisses and sensual nights.  Yet while Elena may be content to hide from the world, Alex is driven to reclaim his place atop it.  This time, he’s determined to take her with him.  


PG Excerpt
Someone was stalking around the property and, from the way he moved, he was up to no good. For a moment, he stepped into a space where the branches were bare and she could see him more clearly. He wore a fleece jacket with the hood pulled up over his head. His feet were swift and sure as he moved along the path with hardly any sound.

Elena took a step back.

Someone was trespassing. A photographer? A journalist? Something worse?

Her heart began racing.

Quickly, she evaluated her options. There was a fishing spot down on the shore not far from where she was. From there, another trail ran right along the edge of the lake. She could move quickly there. It was the shortest path back to the cabin.

She watched the figure and the silent way it moved until the gray sweatshirt blended in again with the fog. Keeping her steps quiet and her breaths quieter, she took the fork in the path that would take her away from him. Only the way was slick. She slipped once and had to catch a sapling to keep from falling. By the time she made it to the clearing along the lake, her legs were quivering.

She stepped over a fallen log and bent at the waist to take a steadying breath.
It choked off in her throat when she realized she wasn’t alone.

The man with the hood stood lakeside with his back to her. As she watched, he side-armed a rock over the surface. It skipped three times before sinking into the dark depths.

Elena took a cautious step back and then another. She’d just about made her escape into the trees when the heel of her boot knocked against the fallen log. She tensed as the man turned.

And she found herself looking into Alex Wolfe’s silver-gray eyes.

She sucked in a surprised ‘Oh!’ but then her mouth snapped shut. Fight or flight caught her smack dab in the middle of the chest, but she found she could do neither. Instead, her heart beat like a drum roll as she stared face-to-face with the man she’d sworn to avoid.

She waited for him to say something, but he watched her as warily as she watched him. He was taller and bigger than her, by nearly a foot and way too many pounds, all of them muscle. He had the fleece zipped close, and it emphasized the lean mass of his body.

Elena’s mouth went dry. He was an impressive figure, yet nothing could have prepared her for the astuteness in those silver-gray eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of an actual wolf.

A hungry, sexual wolf.

Her entire body gave one delicious pulse. There was so much to see in those eyes. Hunger, anger, determination, and desperation – but the emotions were there for only a moment. He blinked and when he looked at her again, it was as if shutters had come down over his soul.

Only the hunger remained.

That was the one thing he couldn’t hide, and a muscle in his jaw ticked. He wasn’t happy to see her or he wasn’t happy that she’d seen him.

It was difficult to tell which.

She pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say. ‘Hello’ would just sound stupid. ‘I’m sorry’ was better, but she refused to say the words to a man who had more to apologize for than anyone she knew. In the end, she just nodded. She started to turn away, but he moved then, pushing off his hood.

His hair was mussed. Without the hood, the shadow of his dusty beard seemed darker. Those silver eyes were still bright, and that face… It was a face that had graced magazine covers from Fortune to Business Week to GQ, but if he photographed well, he was even more beautiful in person.

Her stomach squeezed, but this time the sensation was deeper and more resounding.

God, why did he have to turn her into mush? Why couldn’t he be smelly and hideous? It felt like a betrayal to be so attracted to him.

She wanted to step forward. She made herself take a step back down the trail instead.

‘Wait.’

Her gaze snapped up to his face. The word had been soft, but the authority made her even more aware of him.

He reached for the zipper on his fleece. ‘You’re cold.’        

He shrugged the hoodie off his shoulders before she knew what he intended to do. Stepping forward, he held it out to her. She looked at the offering. It was such a simple gesture. Nothing flashy or inappropriate, but like her attraction to him, she didn’t want it.

Yet looking at the jacket made her unbearably aware of the chill that had seeped right down to her bones. The low-hanging fog had coated everything from her clothes to her skin and hair. Unlike him, she hadn’t dressed for a hike. She shivered as she looked at the fleece he was holding out to her. Her wrists ached and her fingers felt numb.

‘You can give it back to Leonard when you’re done with it.’

He watched her, those entrancing eyes becoming more guarded. Who was the wild beast being tamed here?

Elena was proud, but she wasn’t rude. She was freezing, and they both knew it.

‘Thank you.’ She took the final step forward that put her in reach. She stayed there only long enough to take the jacket. He was watching, so she sorted out the hood and the arms. Swinging it around her shoulders, she pushed her hands into the sleeves.

A fierce shudder went through her when she felt the warmth.

The heavy sweatshirt material felt soft and substantial. That, alone, would have been enough, but it still held his body heat. Her hands began shaking more as she realized just how cold she was. Her fingers were clumsy as she tried to catch the zipper. The two of them stood uncomfortably, feet apart, as she tried to start the metal tab. He’d just moved towards her when it caught. Shying away, she yanked the zipper all the way up to her chest.

It was only then that she realized another tell-tale sign she’d been giving off. Her face flared. Her nipples were hard. Their outline was clear against the light blue sweater she was wearing. The dampness made the material even more clingy, and the chill didn’t help her condition. The hard peaks were still obvious with the bulky sweatshirt covering her.

Her chin snapped up, but his head came up much more slowly.

He’d seen. Obviously, he’d seen.

When he finally dragged his gaze to her face, the heat was back. It smacked into her like the air coming out of an oven on a cold winter’s day.

Elena wanted to be angry and offended, but then she saw how he looked in his hiking boots, jeans, and gray T-shirt. He didn’t look like any billionaire she’d ever seen before. He looked like lust felt. Helplessly, her gaze scraped over him. The T-shirt was the soft kind that took the shape of whatever it was draped across, and there were all kinds of arcs and valleys she wanted to explore more. His biceps were thick, and his shoulders were wide. His chest was powerful, tapering down to a narrow waist. As she watched, the dampness in the air seeped into that dry material and the delineation of his muscles and tendons became more defined.

As did his masculine nipples.

Her mouth watered, and she jerked her gaze away. The heat in her cheeks was now a raging fire. It was time to go. With a nod, she dipped her head and turned. She didn’t look back as she walked shakily down the path that ran along the lake. 
The chill coming off the water was worse, even though the air stood like bated breath. She tugged the hood up over her head and pulled her hands into the sleeves. The hoodie was way too big for her, yet the extra material was appreciated. It hung down to her thighs and bundled her up.

She shuddered again, the warmth almost hurting.

Giving in, she glanced over her shoulder. She was disappointed to find he’d turned away. Another stone went skipping along the surface of the lake. He’d forgotten her as quickly as he’d noticed her.

The ball of heat building in her belly turned hard. That was the Wolfe she expected.


Bio:
Kimberly Dean is an award-winning author of romance and erotica.  Her work has been published around the world and translated into German, French, Thai and Japanese.  She enjoys the freedom and creativity allowed in writing romance, especially with all the interesting cross-genres that have been exploding on the scene.  When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine.

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