Only 1 day to go in our Cozy Countdown! April 1st will
mark the launch of my Harlequin Superromance debut, A Place With Briar, and
our big release day party here at the ol’ blog. I’ll be announcing the winner,
first runner-up and second runner-up of the Fool for Romance Contest. The
winner will receive the book bundle of their choice out of the three I posted
previously. The first runner-up will receive their choice between the remaining
two, and the second runner-up will take home the last book bundle. The overall
winner will also be in the running for the Fool for Romance Grand Prize
drawing, a $100 Amazon Gift Card. All these prizes and more are still up for
grabs. Readers, you have until midnight EST tonight to be in the running. For
more on the book bundle giveaway, click here. To read more details about the grand
prize and others, visit the main contest page. If you plan to enter or have
already entered, please remember to check back tomorrow to see if you are one
of the three names drawn and to find out if you are in the grand prize running….
During the book launch party tomorrow, I will also be revealing
my new official author headshot, chosen by you – the readers!
Another note: by subscribing to my mailing list before
midnight EST tonight not only are you a Fool for Romance prize contender;
tomorrow morning when my April reader newsletter goes out, you will find out
where you can read the first 10 pages of A Place With Briar! Plus, where to
find more prizes during next month’s virtual book tour. (You can subscribe with
the pink button near the top of the right sidebar….)
Today’s the finale of our 3-Day Excerpt Extravaganza. Enjoy
the last peek into tomorrow’s release, Cole and Briar’s first kiss. This was
probably my favorite first kiss to write ;)
Cole
took off his helmet as Briar rubbed warmth back into her thighs. For form’s
sake, he checked the gauges before switching the lights off and pulling the key
out of the motorcycle’s ignition. Shifting to pocket it, he glanced back at
her. “You all right?”
“A
little warmer,” she said in a voice coated in sleep.
He felt
the tug again down low and cleared his throat. “Need some help down?”
“I’ve
got it.” Still, her hand gripped his shoulder as she dismounted.
Sliding
off, he shifted from foot to foot, trying to get the blood moving. Preferably
away from his pelvis.
Cole
followed her up the steps to the inn as she unlocked the door, holding it open
for him to enter then shutting it at his back. She flipped the latch behind
them and switched on the entryway light. “I guess I should thank you, Cole.”
With a
short smile, he led her down the hall to the kitchen. “Only if you enjoyed
yourself.”
“I
did,” she said, a little surprised. “I’m sorry to say I didn’t expect to.”
As the
stove light fell over them and he turned to face her, he let out a laugh.
“What?”
she asked, alarmed.
He
gestured up. “You’re, ah…still wearing the helmet.”
Lifting
a hand to it, she gasped. “Oh, shoot. I forgot all about it.”
When
she struggled with the strap, he stepped forward to rescue her. “Let me get
it.”
She
closed her eyes. “I can’t believe I forgot. It felt so awkward when I first put
it on.”
“You
were relaxed,” he told her, making quick work of the strap.
“I
admit, when I warmed up, I got kind of numb.” She pried off the helmet, running
a hand over her loosening ponytail.
He
began to step back then couldn’t. His blood sang at the sight of her flushed
cheeks and heavy lids. As she pulled the band from her hair, raking it with her
fingers and teasing the strands into place over her shoulders, the scent
enveloped him.
Everything
he’d felt that night swamped him again, leaving little room for rational
inhibition. He moved in, no warning. Her breath had barely caught before his
lips captured hers.
A small
sound of surprise escaped her throat as his hands closed over her hips,
maneuvering her back against the counter. She gripped his shoulders but didn’t
push him away. After a shocked second, her fingers curled into his shirt.
Her lips were
soft, plusher than he’d imagined. Sinking in, he didn’t progress further. He
could’ve gulped, taken, plundered, demanded. But he held back because her
breath cascaded over his face. He opened his eyes and saw the pinched bar
between hers. As if, like him, she fought a costly, silent inner battle.
He
lifted his lips but didn’t step back, waiting for her to look at him.
It took
her a minute. With a great deal of effort, her lids pried back from her
stirring, honey irises…and heat kindled in them, throwing a lit match on the
dry brush inside him.
She
pressed her lips together and searched his eyes. They parted once then twice
before she whispered, “What was that?”
His
heart thumped heavily between them, and he didn’t think he could stop it.
“I…I’m not sure.”
Her
teeth latched on to her lower lip in a move that tormented the hell out of him,
and her gaze lowered to his mouth. “Maybe you could…do it again?”
No mistaking
the request. The plea. Glutton for punishment, he gazed at her lips. Wanting.
Needing.
Facing
once again something he could not have.
There you have it, folks! The last teaser. You have until
the end of the day to preorder A Place With Briar at any of the
following links….
Add the
book to your To-Be-Read list at Goodreads and get a glimpse into what
inspired me to write the story, characters, and the setting on the inspiration
board at Pinterest….
The wait is almost over, Cozies!
Tomorrow my book will be on bookstores shelves. I’m still having trouble
believing it. Don’t miss tomorrow’s book launch party here at The Cozy Page and
a happy Monday to all!
