It's finally over! 2014, the year from hell is in the past. I have had some bad years before, but this year really decided to go full force and hand me as many tragedies and setbacks as it could. It truly goes down as one of the worst years of my life. And still, I try to put a smile on my face every day while convincing myself that today will be better. So, come on 2015, let's make this a nice one, huh? What do you say? I'll be real sweet to you and even give you some sugar *wink wink*... seriously though, please please please be a much better year than you were the last. I'm on my knees beggggggging you! *smiles*
Crappy year aside, I do have some good news though! My long awaited book, Risque Renovation is now available on pre-order and it's going to be a HOT one! Below are the details and if you order it before January 17th at midnight you'll save 10% off of the publisher's list price!
Word Count: 55,123
Heat Level: SEXTREME
PRE-ORDER TODAY! AVAILABLE: Saturday, January 10th
This title is offered at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, January 17th
[Siren Classic: Erotic Contemporary Romance, HEA]
After years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Sandra Jameson flees in search of a new identity. Wandering across the country, she happens upon a small coastal town of Grand Isle, Maine. The quaint little city is exactly what she has been looking for and Sandra, now going by the name of Patreece Warren, sets down roots to begin her new life.
Kade Riley grew up in Grand Isle and has a reputation of being a bit of a ladies’ man. As the local handyman, he is called on by many for various projects. When the new woman in town catches Kade’s eye, he comes to her rescue with his tool box in hand.
Patreece slowly lowers the protective walls she’s built around herself. While the days tick by, their attraction for one another grows until that spark ignites into a flame.
Now, the only thing standing in the way of their future is her past.
STORY EXCERPT
After saying good-bye to both her and Janis, who were heading out to set some things up at the park, Patreece made her way over to join the sweet little girl and the man Rachael called her uncle. Yesterday, Patreece had felt uneasy about being around Kade. Seeing the gentle way he behaved with Rachael made him seem just a little less scary.
“Wow. Those pancakes look really good.”
“Wait until you taste them. They’re so good,” Rachael answered with a mouth full of food.
“Good enough to wear, huh?” she teased as she sat down next to Rachael.
“Oh, ha-ha. You wanna change seats and sit across from the little monster who cannot remember to close her mouth while she chews?” Kade asked.
“Oh no. That’s quite all right. I think I’ll stay right here next to my new friend. Besides, I want to have a good seat for story time.”
“Yeah! Story time!” Rachael bounced in her seat.
Kade wiped his mouth with a napkin and then set it in his lap. “You had to remind her, didn’t you?”
“Come on, Uncle Kade. Tell one of your stories,” Rachael begged him.
“Well, I probably would have, but I can’t now.”
“Why not?” she asked him with a pouty face.
“Because someone was a little monster and ate up all of her bear before I was able to tell it.” Kade reached across the table and tickled under her arms.
Rachael wiggled in her seat and laughed hysterically.
Patreece sat there watching them. It was sweet seeing this massive man turn into putty with this little girl. There was a genuine love there and it made her wonder if Kade had children of his own. He definitely seemed as if he’d be a good father. Not at all like her ex-husband.
As soon as the thought of her ex entered her mind, she quickly pushed it aside, tucking the memories into a far corner of her brain in hopes they’d never show themselves again. She hated how easily she could be distracted by recollections of her past. Her only hope was that in time, those scars would eventually start to fade away and allow her the opportunity to breathe without the constant worry.
“So you like the pancakes?” Kade asked.
“Mmm… They’re very good. I’m sorry. I should have said something sooner. Thank you so much for making them.”
“No problem. I was going back there anyway.”
Patreece was intrigued by the almost bashful way he deflected her gratitude. Yesterday he had struck her as the type of man who was incredibly charming, one who no doubt received loads of compliments and could handle them easily. He surprised her by acting the complete opposite. Was there more to this Superman contractor than met the eye?
Like her, did he have hidden layers? Characteristics that she’d find out once she dug a little deeper and got to know him a little better? She was still getting used to people calling her Patreece. This new identity of hers was proving to be a challenge, one for which she wasn’t entirely prepared. Earlier, when Janis had been introducing Patreece to some friends, she heard someone call out for Sandra. On instinct, she had turned around. Luckily, Janis hadn’t caught on to Patreece’s slip—not that the agent would have noticed it as one. Still, the lapse in judgment irked her. She needed to be more careful from there on out or she would start raising suspicion, and that was the last thing she wanted or needed.
She took a bite of pancake and noticed Kade watching her. He may seem harmless on the surface, but his vibrant blue eyes that pierced her reminded her that looks could be deceiving. He may have only been joking with Rachael. But now she saw something in them that unsettled her. Those weren’t the eyes of a loving uncle. Those were the eyes of a man.
She swallowed her pancake past the knotted ball of nerves that had seemed to lodge in her throat. She needed to slow down. Just twenty-four hours ago she’d set foot in Grand Isle, and already she owned a home and had made friends with just about everyone within shouting distance. Now the charming and seemingly harmless contractor was leering at her with a look that didn’t just warn of an attraction, it downright promised it.
Abruptly, she set down her fork and stood from the table. “I’m sorry. I just realized I left some clothes in the washer. I need to go. I’ll see you all later. Good-bye, Rachael. It was very nice meeting you, sweetie.”
Patreece didn’t wait for either of them to respond. She all but ran from the café and got into her car. The way her adrenaline was pumping, she wished she would have walked to the restaurant. If she needed to walk home, maybe she could run off some of her fear.
The few-minute drive to her home seemed to take forever. The roads seemed longer, narrower and almost seemed to drift off into the distance as she tried to navigate while taking shallow, rapid breaths. She was having a panic attack again. It had been months since she’d had one back in Beverly Hills.
She was thankful she’d had the forethought to go to her pharmacy and get a three-month supply of Xanax shortly before she’d left. With high hopes, she’d had no intention of needing it. She’d told herself she was stronger and wouldn’t need it. She had even hoped the day would eventually come when she could throw them away and no longer be dependent on medicine to help her fight her fears. If this morning had taught her anything, though, it was that she had a long way to go before she was whole again. A long way to go before she felt free to breathe again.
A very long way.
http://servicesbynic.blogspot.com/
Nicole Morgan is an author of erotic romance novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful back story. Erotic romance mixed with good old-fashioned whodunit. While she's written everything from contemporary to paranormal her leading men will more than likely be wearing a uniform of some kind. From military to police officers, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. From her very first novel about Navy SEALs to her more recent releases you will be sure to find a few twists and turns you were not expecting.
