The day that I have been anticipating for so long has finally come! Come this Friday I will be a full-time writer as I will be retiring from my law career. It is a happy but bittersweet moment since I will not be seeing my office friends every day. However, I will be visiting as many of them have been part of my life for over thirty years. But now, onto the next phase of my life! I’ve already planned many releases for next year and spending more time with you! Today’s Throwback Thursday photo is to my very first book signing back in 1999. My first, but not my last! Have a great day!
I hope you had a nice day yesterday! I spent the day with my sis at the amazing Longwood Gardens and you can check out some of the photos below.
And now, don’t forget to have some fun today by entering the Never a Bride Cover Reveal giveaways! Today is the last day and I can’t wait to pick winners for all these awesome giveaways. You can find the giveaways at these links:
Just one day left until the Cover Reveal Party and Giveaways! Yes, you read that right, giveawayS as in one each hour from 10 to 3 plus some awesome teasers and Behind the Scenes of my January release NEVER A BRIDE, #3 in the At the Shore series.
Please join me at my Facebook Fan page tomorrow, December 11, from 10 am to 3 pm EST for lots of fun.
My new contemporary romance novel, NEVER A BRIDE, is Carlo and Emma’s story in the At the Shore series. I just love Carlo! He is so darn sexy and in love with Emma. Unfortunately, Emma has a lot of daddy issues she has to overcome to be able to see that Carlo is the perfect man for her. In this scene, Emma has gone to check on the men who are trying on tuxes for an upcoming wedding. All the men are ready except for Carlo, who is still in the fitting room. When Emma goes to check on him, the sparks fly!
Excerpt
“I can see you’re all having fun, but did you decide on any of the tuxes I picked out?” she said as she peered at Jonathan, Owen, and Andy, and wondered where Carlo was hiding.
Jonathan sauntered over, grabbed the last piece of sandwich, placed it on a plate, and handed it to her. “Eat. It’s way past lunch hour and you’re cranky.”
“I’m not cranky,” she said, but her stomach complained noisily, forcing her to add, “Just hungry.”
“More like hangry,” he teased. Grinning, Jonathan laid an arm over her shoulders and walked her to the leather wing chair beside a massive leather couch where Andy and Owen sat sipping beers. She joined them there and took a bite of the sandwich, nearly moaning as the flavors of the tender roast pork, bitter broccoli rabe, and sweet mozzarella cheese exploded in her mouth. Not to mention Carlo’s secret garlicky tomato sauce, the game changer that had made him a champion on a network cooking show.
After swallowing, she glanced around the room at the men. “So what’s up? Where are the tuxes I left out for you?”
“We decided we’re not tux kind of guys. Well, Owen is, but the rest of us are just plain ol’ suit types,” Jonathan said as he sat on the arm of her chair.
She arched a brow. “And Carlo?”
Owen gestured with his beer bottle to the dressing room. “He’s in there.”
Wondering if Carlo needed help, she walked over and knocked.
“Come in,” he said.
She did only to find Carlo standing there in nothing but his tidy whities and a white shirt that was too small for his broad shoulders. The shirt hung open in front giving her a glimpse of what lay beneath the fabric.
Her heart did a little stutter at the sight of him, all lean sculpted muscle and smooth skin with the remnants of a summer tan. Heat suffused her and her face warmed in a blush.
If Carlo noticed, he did his best to hide it as he fought to pull the shirt closed and said, “I never knew that the buttons on your suit sleeve said so much about a man. If they’re real. Stitched. Horn. Who knew?”
She took a few hesitant steps until she was close to him and brushed his hands away as he struggled to button the shirt. “This shirt is absolutely the wrong size, but the style will suit you,” she said and smoothed the fabric across his broad shoulders and chest.
At his ragged sigh, she looked up and met his gaze. The desire there was impossible to miss and she should have stopped touching him. She should have moved away, but she couldn’t.
“You’re not playing fair, Emma,” he said, a rough grumble in his voice as he laid his hands at her waist.
“I’m sorry. It’s just so scary to think about changing what we are,” she said and finally stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around herself.
He raked his hands through his thick cocoa brown hair, tousling the ever-present waves. “I’m not your father, Emma. I would never hurt you. I respect you.”
“I know,” she said, but inside there was still too much fear and doubt. “I just need a little more time, Carlo. And you said you’re a patient man, remember,” she teased, trying to ease the tension in the room.
“I am, but I’m not a saint either. When you touch me . . . I want to touch too, Emma, but I can wait. Just promise me one thing.”
She was afraid to ask what she had to promise but fought back her fear. “I guess it depends on what the promise is.”
With another ragged sigh, he shrugged his shoulders, straining the fabric of the shirt. “I feel like a tool. Promise you’ll make sure I look okay because I’m not a suit kind of guy.”
She grinned and was about to reach out to smooth the linen over his shoulders again but jerked her hand away and locked it with her other hand behind her back to keep from touching him again. Meeting his gaze, she said, “I promise.”
You can purchase NEVER A BRIDE at the following retailers:
I’ve got this cute little guest today to share the news about my cover reveal for NEVER A BRIDE, my new contemporary romance novel. Visit with me at my Facebook Fan Page on December 11 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm EST for a chance to win an assortment of goodies and to read teasers from the book. There will be giveaways and teasers every hour on the hour so please mark this in your calendar and join in the fun!
Today I’m offering up a free read of one of my military romance novellas that are set on the Jersey Shore. Actually, all the stories in the Take a Chance series are set in towns all up and down the Jersey Shore. I hope you’ll enjoy this sexy and emotional read! To download the free read, please visit https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/mpx6b.
Happy Veteran’s Day and a big thank you to our veterans and those serving in the military, as well as their families. Our military men and women sacrifice so much to keep our great Nation free. They should be honored and respected for their services. Thank you and God Bless You. God Bless America.
If you want to know how you can help a veteran today, please visit this great article at https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g4005/ways-to-help-a-veteran/.
Original Image by Gerard Dutton from Pixabay
