I love Gloria Estefan and often played her music. So much at times that my daughter learned to count to Gloria’s 1-2-3 song! One of the first times we went to South Beach we even stayed at the Cardozo Hotel which the Estefans own. We had a fun time on that vacation and went back to Miami fairly often. It’s why I decided to set so many books there, including my upcoming South Beach Security series that begins in December. This photo is a picture of us all ready to head to a Gloria concert. We saw many of them over the years!
Love dogs? You’ll love K-9s on Patrol!
I’m so so excited to be part of the K-9s on Patrol series with my fellow Harlequin Intrigue authors Elizabeth Heiter, Maggie Wells, Cindi Myers, Leslie Marshman, and Lena Diaz. All the books are standalone and my book Decoy Training helped launch the series!
You can also visit Harlequin.com for Deadly Chase, a daily free read from the K-9s on Patrol series.
If you love dogs and stories about canine heroes, I think you’ll love the K-9s on Patrol series! You can check it out at https://amzn.to/3to93iF.
Sexy Teaser from The Family She Never Met
Today’s Teaser Tuesday is a sexy excerpt from The Family She Never Met which is a blend of romance and a family saga. Thank you to everyone who has read the book and taken the time to leave a review. It’s one of the best ways you can help out your favorite authors!
In this teaser, Jessica and Luis have been spending a lot of time together and after a boat ride to Luis’s stunning Indian Creek home, they are relaxing in his pool when the attraction that has been growing between them finally flares into more.
Excerpt
The sun beat down, warming her against the chill of the breeze as they moved along the calmer waters of the bay until Luis pulled eastward once again and toward a southward facing point on an island off Miami Beach. He powered down substantially and navigated beside a dock where he cut the engines and hopped onto it to secure the boat.
She unbuckled and got to her feet, slightly shaky from the thrill of the ride and the roll and rock of the deck, thanks to the wake from a passing boat. Luis leaned down, offered a helping hand, and boosted her up onto the dock.
“No sea legs,” she said, still feeling the movement beneath her feet, but then she caught sight of the home in front of her.
A wide stone walkway surrounded by lush, manicured lawns led up to a patio with a pool and an outdoor sitting area off to the side. Beyond that, a large, two-story, contemporary home boasted windows along every wall and balconies to enjoy the million-dollar views of Biscayne Bay and the carefully tended gardens all around.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” she said, appreciating the thoughtful lines and layout of the structure and landscaping.
“Gracias. I’m quite happy with it,” he said, but she sensed some hesitation there and wondered at the reason for it.
“We can take a dip to wash off the salt before lunch,” he said and grabbed the picnic basket from the powerboat.
He took hold of her hand and drew her toward a covered patio, and at her questioning look, he tapped the end of her nose. “You’re getting burned.”
She covered her face with her hands and heat greeted her despite the suntan lotion she’d put on earlier. “I do feel baked,” she admitted.
“Dip. Dry off. Lunch before we head back,” he said and laid the picnic basket on a table on the covered patio.
“So demanding,” she teased but was eager to get the salt off her skin. She quickly pulled off her T-shirt and board shorts and rushed to the edge of the pool. She dipped in a toe, testing the waters, which turned out to be a waste as he cannonballed into the pool and sent a shock of chill water up to drench her.
“Thanks,” she said with a roll of her eyes, brushing back wet strands of hair from her face.
He grinned devilishly and slicked back his hair, the movement displaying his toned arms and chest.
To avoid the too-irresistible sight of him, she dove into the water.
Cool slipped all across her body before she rose up to the surface. Luis was just a few feet away, drops of water glistening on his tanned skin. He was still grinning happily, drawing her like a moth to a flame.
She laid a hand on his shoulder, using his greater height and strength to keep her afloat.
He placed a hand at her waist to steady her, but in those seconds, the moment changed. Became charged with the tension that had sprung up between them and she couldn’t resist.
When he applied gentle pressure to draw her close, she went, bringing her body full against him. Skin against skin as he shifted them until he was sitting on the bottom steps of the pool and she was lying along him.
“Luis,” she began, but stopped abruptly, not sure of what to say. Only sure of what she wanted to do.
She shifted upward to kiss the hollow just beneath his ear and the edge of his jaw. She followed the straight line of it to the dimple by his lips, deep now thanks to the smile on his face. Moved to that smile, so happy and relaxed. Welcoming, she thought as she covered his smile with hers.
“This is crazy,” she said, but didn’t stop kissing him.
“Sí, es loco,” he said, but didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop touching her, running his hands to her sides. Shifting one to the small of her back while he moved the other up to caress her.
“Dios, mi amor. This is so hard,” he said, his voice rough. His body tense beneath her. “I’m not sure I can hold back.”
“Do you want me?” she asked, although she had no doubt about it.
“I do, but not just for now, mi amor. I want so much more.”
Order
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3tPQ7Xx
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3bonSZN
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-family-she-never-met/id1568775092
BN Nook: http://bit.ly/BarnesandNobleFamily
BN Paperback: http://bit.ly/BarnesandNovelPaperback
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-family-she-never-met
Additional Retailers: https://books2read.com/FamilySheNeverMet
Man Candy Monday Superstar Tom Cruise
I didn’t have to think for long about who to feature on this Monday’s Man Candy edition: Tom Cruise! I’ve thought he was a cutie since I saw him in All the Right Moves. I’ve watched his movies off an on, even enjoying Far and Away with Nicole Kidman. When hubby and I saw that Top Gun: Maverick was out, we knew we had to go see it and we were not disappointed. Tom is terrific and looks amazing for his age. The movie is classic Bruckheimer with lots of action and rah-rah America vibes! Just what the doctor ordered. If there were more movies like this from Hollywood I might go to the movies more.
Enticing Teaser from Decoy Training
The romance in DECOY TRAINING builds slowly but leads to a big eruption of the need between Shane and Piper. In this scene, Shane has had a nightmare. It’s one that he’s had before only this time, something very important is different and makes him realize that he wants something different for his future: he wants Piper.
WARNING: Only for mature audiences!
Excerpt
PIPER BLOCKED HIS arm and took hold of his hand as he sat up in bed, bare-chested. His scars, both emotional and physical, revealed to her.
“You were having a nightmare,” she said and smoothed her hand across his chest. His skin was damp and chilled from the night air.
“I’m okay,” he said, but when his gaze focused and settled on her, he cupped her cheek, almost as if to confirm she was really there.
“You’re okay. Everything is okay,” she said, trying to reassure him.
Shane rubbed his head, as if trying to dispel the last remnants of the nightmare. He looked away for the briefest moment before settling his gaze on her once more.
“It was different this time,” he said and ran his thumb along her chin and the slight dimple there.
She squinted, trying to figure it out, but couldn’t. “How was it different?”
“You were in my nightmare,” he said, shocking her.
She laid a hand on her chest and squeaked out, “Me. I was in it?”
“You, Piper. You were there, trapped. I was trying to reach you, but I couldn’t,” he said.
“I’m here, Shane,” she said.
“You are,” he said and wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. As he lay down, he took her with him, and she ended up lying along his length.
His body was so hard beneath hers, calling to the woman who hadn’t experienced emotions like this since her husband’s death. But as she inched up to meet his lips with hers, she knew it was about more than physical longing. Shane had breached the walls of her heart and she could no longer deny what she was feeling.
She kissed him, moving her mouth along his. Taking in his breath as if she needed it to breathe. Dipping her tongue in to taste him because she wanted to know everything about this strong and caring man.
As he cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her nightshirt, her nipple beaded against his palm. Her breast heavy with need, she covered his hand and pressed it to her, moaned when he tweaked her hard nipple with his fingers.
*
HIS BREATH EXPLODED from his chest at the sound of her needy moan and the feel of her breast against his palm, beneath his fingers. The softness of her belly cradled his erection and he wanted nothing more than to strip off her thin cotton nightshirt and make love to her, but not like this.
Not when their emotions were running high from the danger threatening Piper’s life and his. He had no doubt that if the intruder needed to get to Piper, he’d kill Shane to do it.
“Shane?” Piper asked and leaned a hand on his chest to look at him in the dim light of the room.
“I… I care for you, Piper. I really do, but things are too unsettled now. We’re both not thinking straight.”
Her eyes widened at his words, and she scrambled off him, but stood by the bed for a halting second. “I care for you, too.”
Then she burst from the room, Chipper barking and hopping up and down as she chased after Piper.
Order
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZohoXx
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3CNO4bl
Apple: https://apple.co/3o9usuh
BN E-book: http://bit.ly/BNDecoy
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/decoy-training
Additional Retailers: https://books2read.com/DecoyTraining
You can read Deadly Chase for free at Harlequin.com. In Deadly Chase, a K-9 officer and a DEA agent join forces to combat a deadly enemy and confront their own complicated past. You’ll get to meet Alex and Miriam, the two law enforcement heroes in this story, but also a number of the other heroes in the K-9s on Patrol Series which begins with my book — Decoy Training — in April 2022.
A Re-release and Man Candy
I’m working on doing a re-release of Secret Agent Reunion which was the follow-up to More Than a Mission which is one of my favorite books! The hero in Secret Agent Reunion is an ex-Army Ranger and as I picture him, I’m trying to think what he might look like. That brought to mind Kyle Chandler who is one of my personal favorites. I recently watched Kyle in Super-Pumped which has another fav: Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Super-pumped is all about the creation of Uber. What do you think? Are you a fan of Kyle?
Visiting Vienna
The last two days of our cruise were actually on land in Vienna. We were supposed to take a side trip to Salzburg but because of US Covid testing requirements, we were unable to do that since it was quite difficult to get a test on a Sunday. Almost all shops, including pharmacies, are closed on Sundays in Vienna so it was a mad dash to find a place to get tested for our return trip. Despite that, we had an amazing time in Vienna. Our hotel was not far from the central historic district where there was a lot to be seen.
On the first day, we had a lovely tour guide who took us on a subway and a tram from the dock to the central district. We enjoyed a lovely authentic Viennese breakfast with her in Cafe Mozart. It was delightful to sit with her and learn more about life in Vienna. After, we went to a museum where we got to see so many amazing art objects. Here are some of the sights from the museum!
After the museum, we walked through the central district to reach our hotel which was near StadtPark. We had a little time to rest before heading out to Schonbrunn Palace. We did a tour of some of the balance rooms and the lovely gardens.
That night we went to the Plachutta restaurant which specializes in a very traditional Viennese dish: tafezlspitz. It’s very similar to a French Pot-au-feu in that it’s boiled beef in a consomme with vegetables and a soup bone with tasty bone marrow. It’s served with bread, applesauce with horseradish, and a chive sauce. Very tasty! As you can tell from the photo, hubby got the wiener schnitzel!
Back to the hotel for a rest and hitting the central district the next day. Since we weren’t able to go to Salzburg, we purchased tickets to see the Royal Lippazaner show. It was very interesting and the horses are absolutely beautiful. Interesting fact: their coats don’t start off white. They are actually anywhere from black to grey and slowly turn white as the horses age! We attended the show and walked around for our last day in Vienna before going home.
That night we had a lovely dinner at Figlmüller and I had some pork schnitzel. Delicious. To cap off our trip, I tried traditional Viennese pancakes called Kaiserschmarrn. These pancakes are denser than American pancakes and served with a fruit compote normally. Very tasty!
