Welcome to Book Hooks, a Wednesday offering by members of Marketing For Romance Writers to share a little taste of our work and entice you into wanting more! Click on the links at the end to travel to other Book Hook posts, and enjoy!
We’re
thrilled to announce Extasy Books has re-released our erotic romantic suspense,
The Merry Widow. Thoroughly revised and edited, this is the steamy story
of a mid-life widow’s sexual awakening. Following a prologue to set the stage,
it opens with an erotic scene between two women – the first ever in our
heroine’s life. If this isn’t your cup of tea, no problem – you might prefer
our Romantic
Suspense books, all of which deliver one man, one woman, hot sex, and
perilous danger.
But if
this appeals to you – hang on for the ride! Recently widowed and in her early
forties, Merry Delany is about to plunge into a self-discovery journey that
takes her places she’s never imagined, much less hoped for. Once passion is
unleashed, can it be stopped?
EXCERPT
“So
why did you spy on me and my friends after that?”
Jim
sipped his wine and never batted an eye. “I had to know what the mob might use
against you as possible blackmail.”
“Oh.”
Merry pursed her lips. “I suppose that’s plausible. That couldn’t have taken
more than two or three weeks. You know, to discover the other women and the
guys visiting my house. And you were clear this wasn’t a drug house.”
“You’re
right, of course. If you really want to know, Widow Delaney, I became obsessed
with you. With your body. With your wild escapades. At first, I couldn’t figure
you out. And then I had to have you. You were wasting yourself on all those
young Turks. And I was in the wings more than willing to serve you.”
“And
more than able, I will add on your behalf. But you do have an ego, Detective
Barnes. Why did you wait a week and a half to come back to me?”
“Why
didn’t you call?”
“I
asked you first.”
“It
was stupid to wait. I didn’t want to appear as if I needed you. I wanted you to
come to me.”
“You
thought since I’d experienced your world-renowned cock, no other would
suffice.”
“Something
like that.”
“Do
men often think with their cocks? Ignore that question. It was rhetorical and
inflammatory.”
“Well, you don’t want to be inflammatory, now do you?”
She managed a smile around a piece of cheese. “Not yet,” she said with her mouth full. She sipped more wine and swallowed.
BLURB
The millennium arrived with such promise—will it deliver for recently widowed Merry Delaney?
So much for all the anticipation about
the new millennium. Merry Delaney’s life is still in a rut and shows no signs
of changing. Sex? A fading memory, gone long before her husband actually died. Excitement?
Hardly the hallmark of an accountant’s life. At forty-two, what can she look
forward to?
Until her best friend takes Merry’s
predicament into her practiced hands. One passionate kiss unleashes
possibilities Merry never dreamed of—and she wants to sample them all. Men?
Women? Young? Old? Ménage? Toys? Yes, to all, to pleasure, to making up for
lost time.
Enter Chicago Detective Jim Barnes, who solicits Merry’s help with a mob funds-skimming case. Can the scorching passion that soon smolders between Merry and Jim survive the escalating mob threats of exposure? Having discovered a zest for sex, will Merry ever again be satisfied with one man?
This month we’re giving away one autographed print copy of Detour Ahead. The giveaway lasts all month – of course, you can always read it free at Kindle Unlimited! Contest details after our Sunday Snippet.
Book Four in our Riders Up series is the story of Cassie’s best friend, Tracy Steele. Mourning the recent death of her father and unable to concentrate in her job as a top county prosecutor in Chicago, Tracy gives in to Cassie’s pressure to take a break—for two months, in a time share north of San Diego.
Having decided she’s put off long enough meeting the man Cassie wants her to help, Traci heads for the resort horse barns…
EXCERPT
Carefully placing
one foot directly in front
of the
other like a fox, Traci entered
the
stable.
The pungent
odors of horse manure and
leather greeting her weren’t totally unpleasant, but she preferred those of the Arboretum,
or Lake
Michigan. Traci stepped down
the middle of the stable
avoiding the outstretched heads of
horses seeking attention and treats.
How could
she appear casual when every
animal in here wanted a piece
of her? Where
the hell was McCord? He
popped up when she didn’t
want to see him and vanished
when she did.
Traci glanced
down at her white tennis
shoes. They were the best
she could do; she
didn’t own a pair of boots,
and tennis shoes had to
be better
than sandals or heels.
She frowned—her shoes were
not going to come out
of this
adventure untarnished. At least
she’d had sense enough to
put on a pair of jeans,
and the light sweater
helped with the chill.
Coming to
the end of one barn,
Traci saw an imposing sign
at the
entrance to another declaring
that resort guests were not
allowed beyond that point. She paused
and lifted her chin. Although
she was a resort guest, she
was here on business—and
she might be a city girl,
but she knew better than
to shout
in front
of
a barn full of
horses to get McCord’s attention.
Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly
keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell
she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month
R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help
their rancher friend as a private investigator.
Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.
The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around
the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as
tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love
a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she
flees in panic?
Night Owl Reviews Top PickThis is a story about letting go of
your past so you can move on to your future…Add into this touching story of
recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got
a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi
We’re thrilled to welcome
fellow Extasy author Seelie Kay to our pages this Valentine weekend, here to share
her newest release. Seelie’s characters are always dynamic, full of grit and
ready to take on the world. We can’t wait to see what she’s cooked up in this
Valentine romp!
I adore smart,
dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy,
a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me!
However, I also love strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for
what they want, even love.
Q. Why did you
write “The White House Wedding?”
It was a bit of a romp, really. I wanted to play off all the craziness
that is politics and Washington, D.C. The creatures in the great swamp have
become so predictable, a story about the political implications and hijinks of
a White House wedding just flowed from my pen. Plus, I always found it
interesting that a country that intentionally broke away from the monarchy,
goes crazy over royal weddings. Admittedly, I am one of them. I won’t get up at
4 a.m. to watch, like so many of my friends, but I will tape a royal wedding
and watch it later. And yes, I did seek teacups from Diana’s nuptials.
Unfortunately, none were to be found. At least stateside. I imagine once she
dumped Prince Charles, their value went up dramatically! Unfortunately, White
House weddings are rare and although we go crazy over royal weddings, I doubt
things would proceed so smoothly here. Every aspect of the wedding would be
dissected and criticized by the media and political opponents, making the
wedding itself a pretty negative experience, which is probably so few occur
here.
Q. The
characters in this book also appeared in “The President’s Daughter?”
Yes. “The President’s Daughter” is where the bride’s—Sarah Lee
Pearson—story first began. She had been kidnapped at age five and raised by her
nanny into her teen years. It was only after the people who raised her were
killed in a paper mill explosion that she began to search for other relatives.
A chance meeting with a presidential candidate, Jamisen Powell, leads her
search in a new direction and she discovers that he is, in fact, her birth
father. This is the continuation of that new relationship.
Q. I imagine in
this day and age, being the president’s daughter would not be an altogether
positive experience.
(Laughs.) As I observe the impact of the Trump presidency on his
children, I am exceptionally happy I was never put in that position. It must be
a horrible experience. We live in such negative times, a time when people seem
to place high value on their ability to shred reputations and destroy people.
All of the current chaos puts us one step away from anarchy. In fact, if you
think about it, it would be a perfect time for the Monarchy to attempt to
reclaim the colonies. We are so busy fighting each other, I question whether we
would band together to fight an outside threat. That’s just sad.
Q. How does
your former profession as a lawyer impact your writing?
In two ways.
First, my knowledge of the legal system permits me to predict the outcome of
certain events. Those events have played a key role in some of my stories.
Second, my friends say I am obsessed with justice and I guess that’s true. After
30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I
can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world
and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Injustice infuriates me, but
it also leads me to great stories!
Blurb:
When
politics interferes with love, can love survive?
Getting
married isn’t easy when your father’s the President of the United States! After
reluctantly agreeing to a White House wedding, Sarah Lee Pearson, the
president’s daughter, finds herself swept into a political maelstrom of
unimagined proportions.
The
White House staff and the first lady see the wedding as a political event, a
way to sweep the president into his next term. Congress is complaining about
the collateral costs. The media is delightfully rehashing every aspect of
Sarah’s life, even those events that have nothing to do with the impending
marriage. And the American public? Visions of an American royal wedding have
swept them into a frenzy and vendors take advantage, making a quick buck off of
everything from limited edition t-shirts to commemorative teacups.
Sarah
and her fiancé, Sam, fight hard to ignore the craziness, but after learning a
bounty has been put on their heads by an anti-government militia group, they
have to decide whether a White House wedding is indeed worth it. And given all
the hurtful controversy, perhaps a better solution is to not get married at
all.
Excerpt:
“How does my
father feel about this?” Sarah asked.
“Your father wants you to do what makes you
happy.”
Jamisen Powell
entered his Chief of Staff’s office and nodded coldly at Jeremiah. He added,
“He would never ask you to do otherwise.”
Sarah smiled and
rose to kiss her father on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I knew you wouldn’t ask me
to be a political stool pigeon.”
Jamie Powell
chuckled. “No. That job apparently falls to staff.” He smiled at Sarah. “Look,
hopefully, you only get married once. Make a memory that will mean the most to
you and Sam. Nothing else matters.” He shook his head, “Maybe Jeremiah will get
lucky and your sister, Melissa, will hook some poor sucker before the next
election. She and her mother would be overjoyed planning a White House
wedding.”
Jeremiah scowled.
“I am only thinking about your re-election, Mr. President. Your first term has
been a bit rocky. You need a solidifying factor, something that will grab the
hearts and minds of the American public and provide a clear path into the next
term. Your story, a daughter lost and found after twenty-five years, especially
a daughter who just happens to be a stellar human being and a successful
international law attorney, won their hearts in the first election.
“Walking that same
daughter down the aisle, something you had never dreamed was possible? The
ratings alone will rival a royal wedding. No offense, but Melissa’s marriage—if
it ever happens—could never have the same impact. People don’t view her in the
same light as Sarah. Melissa is a flighty socialite. Her deep-seated sense of
entitlement offends. The ratings for her wedding would be nonexistent. But
Sarah? She’s the golden child. The American public loves her.”
The president’s
sapphire blue eyes, which mirrored Sarah’s, flashed with annoyance. “Be that as
it may, I am not about to force either of my daughters into something they
don’t want. Sarah has declined your request, and as far as I am concerned,
that’s the end of it. You will have to find another solidifying factor,
Jer. Surely I have done something that’s re-election worthy!”
When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites
nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera,
gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
Ms. Kay is an MS
warrior and ruthlessly battles the
disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not
define you!
