California

“I’m a businessman. I have several interests.” #MFRWHooks #EroticRomance #LaterInLife

January 18, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

Today’s excerpt from The Best Man starts where last week’s left off, shortly after Kitty and Jared meet at the wedding dance.

EXCERPT

“I’m not easily charmed—unless I want to be. So you haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m a businessman. I have several interests,” Jared said, handing her a glass of champagne. “I’m a middleman for various overseas companies seeking buyers in this country—copper, steel, aluminum. Most anything, really.”

“So you travel a lot.”

“Maybe that’s why it feels like I work out of San Diego rather than live there. I understand you’re a successful businesswoman yourself.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s a matter of opinion. There’s always room for improvement.”

“I also travel some to follow my horses.”

“Horses?”

“Racehorses. Do you ever get out to Arlington Park?”

“Of course. It’s such a beautiful place.” She’d heard the catch in his voice when he mentioned the horses. She understood the awe those majestic animals could inspire. “I’ve been to the Derby a couple times.”

“Ah, so you have more than passing interests in the addictive beasts.” He gave her a broad smile, took her hand and guided her back to the dance floor.

“Doesn’t every girl dream about horses?”

“Most girls give up their childhood fantasies as reality smacks them in the faces.” He leaned away from her as they swayed to the music. “Somehow, I don’t think you do.”

I can’t resist adding, and neither did we. I was a classic horse-crazy little girl whose parents, instead of buying me a horse, indulged me with all the horsey books they could find that a child my age might enjoy. I devoured them madly and never gave up my fantasy.

Imagine discovering that the man you fell in love with also dreamed of owning a horse – in my husband’s case, having grown up on a farm where, when he was quite tiny, his father still plowed the corn fields with a team of matched Belgians so he could plant cross-checked rows.

It took us several years after our wedding to make the dream come true, but we did briefly own racehorses – two thoroughbreds who did very well by us, and one quarter horse who hated racing and was subsequently trained as a cutting horse for a cattle rancher.

No wonder we support Kitty’s dream!

BLURB

Bad boy meets bad girl – is that all there is?

Passionate, hardworking, and every inch a businesswoman, Chicago realtor Kitty Paige likes her sex raw and edgy, and she sees no reason to limit herself to just one man. Never married and not quite forty, the striking blonde has successfully raised her daughter, Susan, and is already pushing her new-found freedom to the limits.

Wealthy commodities middleman and racehorse owner Jared Jacobs is father of the best man at Susan’s wedding. He is smitten by the vision in yellow who exudes sex as she escorts her daughter down the aisle. Also single, the handsome mustached California ranch owner with mischievous eyes views his sex life as a series of splendid love affairs. He sets out to make Kitty next on the list.

Together and apart, their chemistry is explosive, and their sparkling repartee and steamy sex catch both partners by surprise. Jared is first to recognize he’s fallen in love. When Kitty panics, can Jared finesse his every move and reel her in?

BUY LINK

UBL https://books2read.com/u/bzKpPq

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

“May I have this dance, Ms. Paige?” #MFRWHooks #EroticRomance #LaterInLife

January 11, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

In last week’s Book Hook, Bad Boy Jared Jacobs was scoping out his prey, Kitty Paige, at the wedding dance. Today they meet:

EXCERPT

“May I have this dance, Ms. Paige?”

Trying to look appropriately surprised, Kitty peered into dark brown eyes that sparkled.

He clearly knew she wasn’t surprised.

“Of course,” she said, rising to her feet.

She let him guide her to the small dance floor. She moved into his arms, trying not to react to his warm smile. He was accustomed to holding a woman. He held her close comfortably, resting a hand on the rise of her rump. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” she said, eyeing him levelly. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“Jared Jacobs.”

“Friend of the groom, or the bride? I’m afraid since Susan moved out here, I don’t know most of her friends.”

“I’ve been a friend of Brad’s family for years. I’ve met Susan several times. You’ve done a fine job raising your daughter, Ms. Paige.”

“Thank you. Do call me Kitty. Ms. Paige makes me sound too motherly. So do you live in Seattle?”

“Nope. I’m a fan of the sun. I work out of San Diego.”

“That should be sunny enough. You say work out of. Don’t you live there, too?”

“You’re not only a beautiful woman and a lovely dancer, you’re a good listener.”

The music stopped for more toasts by the best man.

“And you’re a bullshit artist.” She laughed at his scowl. “I’m not easily charmed—unless I want to be. So you haven’t answered my question.”

BLURB

Bad boy meets bad girl

– is that all there is?

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Amazon Readers

Kitty and Jared are my new favorite characters. I love this book. It kept me on edge because Kitty was so unpredictable, which gave this story its twist and turns. Cheryl B.

The writing is excellent, and there’s more to the wounded heroine than the facade she presents. Nicely done, Adriana. M. Varhalmi

Goodreads Readers

I loved Kitty and Jared. Both are strong willed characters who will not run from their attraction. The Best Man is excellent. Sheila G.

This is my first experience with these authors (co-written) and I loved it! Kitty has no clue what is going to happen when she meets Jared at her daughter’s wedding. Jared sees a vision in yellow and knows that he’s got to conquer. And conquer he does, in all the right ways. Kathryn.

BUY LINK

UBL https://books2read.com/u/bzKpPq

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

Her laughter seldom reached her eyes…The Best Man #EroticRomance #BadGirl

January 4, 2023 by Adriana Kraft

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

This month, in addition to our upcoming release, we’re focusing our promotions on our backlist erotic romance The Best Man.

Kitty Paige is definitely a bad girl. Will she meet her match? We thought the best way to introduce you to her was to let you see her through the eyes of our bad-boy hero.

EXCERPT

Leaning against the banquet room wall, Jared Jacobs surreptitiously studied his prey one more time. The tall shapely blonde in the canary yellow dress and yellow stilettos had drawn his attention from the moment he’d seen her walking her daughter down the aisle.

She’d escorted the bride with her chin up and with a satisfied smile on her ruby lips. Apparently she and her daughter didn’t mind thumbing their noses at custom. Unlike many mothers of the bride he’d seen, this one did not carry a Kleenex in her hand. She probably didn’t have any in her tiny clutch purse, either. Tears wouldn’t come naturally to the fair-skinned female exuding confidence at the chapel and here at the reception.

She appeared to laugh easily enough with acquaintances at the table where she was seated. But a careful observer would note that her laughter seldom reached her eyes. Like him, she was a sharp observer. She’d assessed everyone in the room, particularly the men. When her gaze had settled on his from across the room, she’d lingered ever so briefly before moving her attention to the person standing next to him.

The small band began to play in earnest. Considerable banter and movement was occurring at the head table, where the groom helped his bride to her feet. Jared smiled. The traditional first dance was about to begin.

He glanced back at the woman in yellow. Why hadn’t she sat at the head table along with the wedding party and the groom’s parents? He liked a woman who did things her way—to a point. He welcomed a challenge of most any kind. He had little doubt the woman in yellow would be a challenge.

BLURB

Bad boy meets bad girl – is that all there is?

Passionate, hardworking and every inch a businesswoman, Chicago realtor Kitty Paige likes her sex raw and edgy, and she sees no reason to limit herself to just one man. Never married and not quite forty, the striking blonde has successfully raised her daughter, Susan, and is already pushing her new-found freedom to the limits.

BUY LINK

UBL https://books2read.com/u/bzKpPq

Be sure to click to travel to the rest of today’s enticing book hooks!

Slow Dancing #MySexySaturday

January 10, 2015 by Adriana Kraft

Welcome to another round of My Sexy Saturday, where authors offer seven words, sentences, or paragraphs from their work for your entertainment. Be sure to click on the graphic at the bottom of the page and visit the other participants.

This week’s theme is My Sexy New Year, celebrating new beginnings. Having a relationship with a man – any man – is definitely a new beginning for Traci Steele. She has yet to learn that the transition from victim to survivor is a choice within her power to make. We think maybe Scott McCord, with his gentle patient approach, might just be the key to help her make this discovery. Even so, it’s a long journey, with many twists and turns.

EXCERPT

“Do you have any CDs for that CD player over there?” Scott asked.

“Some.”

“Anything slow we could dance to?”

Traci went into the bedroom and rummaged through her CD case. Her fingers felt like five thumbs. Finding what she wanted, she put it in the player, and soft music filled the room.

“Much better,” Scott said, rising from the couch and extending his hands to her.

She kicked off her flats and stepped into his arms. Was she in a trance? He held her close; her breasts nestled against his chest. It felt good. It felt right. Their feet hardly moved. They swayed to the music. There was no hurry.

She wanted to taste and savor the moment. The press of her body against his, his aftershave enticing her senses, his hand resting on her lower backside. Intimate and right. She didn’t want him to let go. Ever.

BLURB

Threatened race horses, city slicker attorney, sexy California wrangler—what can possibly go wrong?

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 race horses 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?

REVIEWS

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future. It is a story about letting go of being the victim and becoming a survivor…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

You Gotta Read Reviews Rich in romance and suspense, this book had me mesmerized from the first page. I was definitely drawn toward the main character, Traci, and all of the emotional barriers that she faced… a sensational job of combining just the right amount of suspense with a sauciness that leaves you longing for more. Run, don’t walk to your nearest book store for this sensational book. Val

BUY LINK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RPT6YJA/

THE SERIES

All four books in our Riders Up romantic suspense series are now available at Amazon. The books share some characters, but each can also be read as a standalone novel.

Cassie’s Hope (Book One) High stakes, a fiery Irish redhead, her stunning racehorse, and a fiercely loyal rancher

Heat Wave (Book Two) Hang onto the land – but at what cost? Feisty widow hires ace racehorse trainer to salvage her family’s heritage. Can they survive escalating threats to life and limb?

Willow Smoke (Book Three) When the chips are down, there’s nobody there.

Detour Ahead (Book Four) Threatened race horses, city slicker attorney, sexy California wrangler—what can possibly go wrong?