I very – VERY – rarely offer any of my books for free, be they reader or print copy.
BUT…
For the next 5 days 12/15-19, my bestselling and newest addition to the NYC Socialites series, INFLUENCE, will be free – yes free! ZERO MONEY – exclusively on Amazon Kindle.
Why am I doing this? It’s the season for giving, after all, and I want everyone to have an opportunity to read one of my favorite books in the series. So, if you like stories about women who had it all, lost it, then got it back on their own and found love along the way, the NYC Socialites are for you. Why not start with INFLUENCE. I mean…it’s FREE!! LOL. What have you got to lose?
On Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 11 am until 1pm I will be at the TOADSTOOLBOOKSHOP in Keene, NH, discussing and signing my newest releases. Hope to see you there! And remember: Books make great gifts – for others and yourself, so why not treat yourself to a little romance this holiday season?!
With all the hoopla of Thanksgiving and then shopping, I forgot to post that yesterday was my turn over on Romancing the Genres. This month’s topic was holiday-oriented and what better way to talk about the upcoming holiday season than to tell you about my Dickens Holiday Romance additions?
BLACK FRIDAY is the standard start of the shopping season ( although I start in July, lol!) To help you with your gift list, I’m putting most of the ebooks in my catalog on sale for just #99cents. You can gift the romance reader on your list with the entire NYC Socialites series for less than $4.00 – or to put it in perspective – less than a cup of designer coffee at Starbucks, or a meal at McDonalds! Or you can stock up on your own winter reading! No one says you can’t give yourself a little gift, too!
If you haven’t read this face-paced, bodyguard trope, romantic suspense yet, now’s the right time to do so!!
Cyber-security specialist Dylan Keane is working undercover to suss out a corporate thief. When he zeroes in on Harper Vale, he thinks he’s found his mole.
Harper has a reputation as a coding savant and an introvert. Dylan’s interest is flattering, but after she’s implicated in the theft of the company’s protected software, she doubts everything he’s told her.
When a series of potentially deadly accidents occur involving Harper, Dylan wonders if she is being set up to take the fall. One thing is certain: the more time they spend together, the more Dylan realizes he’s the one who’s falling—for Harper.
Dylan Keane knew if he hadn’t been forced to walk the straight and narrow by his parents and older brothers he would have had a lucrative career as a con man instead of a private investigator.
Both professions required a large amount of personal hubris and, well, confidence in order to get people to drop their guards and divulge things they wouldn’t ordinarily give a voice to. Both required an in-depth knowledge of human nature and the ability to predict what people were willing to do to protect their secrets. And both required an exceptional ability to believe the role they were playing and lose themselves in the character.
Dylan possessed all three qualities and one more extremely important one: he was naturally likable.
The fact he’d been blessed by the Gods of good looks didn’t hurt either.
So, armed with those good looks, likability, and superior acting skills, he skirted the perimeter of the corporate lunchroom until he spotted his mark pay for her lunch and then lift her tray.
Surveilling her for the past three days told him she’d walk directly to an empty table in the corner, not establish eye contact with any of her co-workers, and settle in, facing the parking lot through the room-wide windows to eat alone.
Not today, sweetheart.
He tugged his phone from his back pocket and clicked on one of the apps. Pretending to read it, he moved towards the mark, his apparent concentration focused solely on his phone.
Apparent being the operative word, because his true attention was fixated on the woman now crossing the room on her way to her table.
She dressed for comfort, but then everyone in the tech division of Kirkpatick Industries did. Worn and aged Converse sneakers were the shoe of choice among the twenty and thirty-somethings who made up the bulk of employees, his mark no different from her coworkers. Where they did differ was in the definition of comfort. Where t-shirts and faded jeans were the norm, she routinely wore body-hugging black leggings with oversized, long-sleeved button-down shirts in varying neutral colors. No jewelry, no personal adornments. He doubted she had a drop of makeup on.
That told him she didn’t like to stand out in a crowd, but didn’t necessarily want to be a lemming, either.
Her shoulder-length wavy blonde hair was typically pulled into a messy bun or dangling in a tale down the nape of her neck.
Dylan wondered what it would look like free and flowing down her neck and back.
The few things he knew about her life he’d culled from an in-depth and barely legal digital deep-dive. An only child adopted by a couple who had long since given up on ever having biological children, she’d been the class nerd all through grade school, high school valedictorian and then graduated second in her class at M.I.T with a double degree in computer programming and engineering.
She’d been recruited by ten top tech companies while a senior but had opted to get her Master’s degree before signing on to any.
Daniel Kirkpatrick himself had recruited her after reading a paper she’d penned on the future of the gaming industry for her thesis.
That had been eight years ago. By all appearances, she was a diligent worker, wicked smart, and had perfect performance reviews. She was also a loner and hadn’t moved up the corporate ladder as one would have expected given her educational pedigree, something that alone was suspect.
With a flick of his finger across the screen, giving the impression he was engrossed in what he was reading, Dylan moved with ease and finesse across the lunchroom until he bumped into his mark, clipping her lunch tray and causing it to fall flat on the floor.
“Oh, Jeez. I’m so sorry.” He reached out to grab her forearm when it looked like she was about to follow the tray. A jolt of surprise surged through him when his work-roughened hand met skin spun from silk. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Nothing hot spilled on you, did it?”
Brows the color of unmined gold pulled together over eyes a hue his mother would have dubbed fresh basil. Sitting behind oversized glasses that hid their natural beauty, those eyes now squinted as she peered up at him. Annoyance flicked in the moisture coating them.
Glancing down to where the contents of her ruined lunch sat and then back up to him, she shook her head. “Lucikly, no.” Irritation spilled through the words.
“I’m really sorry,” he repeated. “I was so engrossed in reading an article I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“There’s a reason you shouldn’t walk and read,” she said, testily. Squatting, she grabbed the tray and began placing the spilled contents back on it.
The subtle chide had him smiling on the inside because it sounded like something his mother would say. And in exactly the same pissed-off tone.
“Here, let me do that.” He bent and took the tray from her. “There’s nothing salvageable here,” he said, inspecting the now-ruined salad. “Let me buy you another one since I’m the reason this one is toast.”
Intrigued? I certainly hope so, LOL. IF you like Dylan, you’ll like his brothers – the rest of the Brothers, Inc. bodyguards in the PRIDE OF BROTHERS series.
Cyber-security specialist Dylan Keane is working undercover to suss out a corporate thief. When he zeroes in on Harper Vale, he thinks he’s found his mole.
Harper has a reputation as a coding savant and an introvert. Dylan’s interest is flattering, but after she’s implicated in the theft of the company’s protected software, she doubts everything he’s told her.
When a series of potentially deadly accidents occur involving Harper, Dylan wonders if she is being set up to take the fall. One thing is certain: the more time they spend together, the more Dylan realizes he’s the one who’s falling—for Harper.
Looking for some great books to give as gifts this year? How about getting a little something for yourself but you don’t want to battle the bookstore crowds? NNLight’s got you covered. Their annual Holiday Gift guide has hundreds of books and audiobooks you can scroll through to find the perfect gift.
Today, they’re featuring Contemporary romances, and my newest NYC Socialites book, INFLUENCE is highlighted.
Check out the link, here: GIFTGUIDE to see my book and dozens more!! Happy shopping, kids!
Remember – books makes great gifts!! And if you want to get INFLUENCE at a deep discount, consider shopping in my Website Holiday store.
Just as I’ve done for several years, I am opening my own direct-to-you bookstore so you can purchase my books at a reduced price as gifts for yourself or for the romance reader on your holiday gift list.
Below, you’ll find a list of all the books available this year directly from me.
Each book is $13.00 for the print version and this year I’m offering something else if you plan on gifting the book to someone ( or just keeping it for yourself!!!)
Book Boxes.
I handpaint these boxes for my books to nestle in to keep them safe or to give them to someone as a present.
If you would like one for one of the books I’ve indicated, they are $2.50 each, additionally.
The store will be open from 11.1.2023 until 12.5.2023 so I can get everyone’s books to them in time for the holidays. And just as an aside, this offer is only open to US residents. ( I can’t ship oversees or to Canada because of prohibitive shipping costs.) But you can purchase the books at Amazon and major online dealers.
And to make it even easier, here’s the store’s QR code. Just point your camera at the screen and click on the link. You’ll be taken right to the order form!!! Easy Peasy. ( I try, lol)
I’m so excited to be joining a bunch of my author friends this Saturday at the Rutland Public LIbrary for a fun-filled day of Halloween activity, including an author book signing/sale!
Like the graphic above tells you, the event starts at 10 am and goes until 2 – no matter what the weather because we are inside the library!!!
I’ll be there – in costume – selling all my PNR books plus my Christmas romances. So, if you’ve got a romance book lover on your holiday list this year, why not start shopping early and gift them something they’ll love? I’ll have my branded book boxes available, too, for the Christmas books.
See you Saturday!! I’ll be the lady in the Mrs Claus outfit, lol!
Welcome to the Author Fair! Feel free to explore both floors – the children’s authors are on the upper level. Be on the lookout for ghouls, goblins, and ghosts as children and adults alike may be dressed in a Halloween costume!
Up for a treat? Take a brown bag to collect sweets, treats, and swag at the author tables.
Eager to win one of the tote bags filled with books and a Dunkins gift card? Grab one of the scavenger hunt cards and be sure to visit 7 authors, chat with them for a few, then ask them to put a sticker on your entry card. Fill out the back with your info and return it to the welcome table (lower level).
More about the Authors…
Andi Ramos is an author and travel agent from central Massachusetts where she lives with her family and her little Boston Terrier. Her love for reading grew into a passion for writing. She dabbled with pen and paper for a long time and eventually stopped pushing her amusements aside and started developing those stories into novels. One of her favorite things to do is to hop into her motorhome with her family and write while traveling down the road as they journey to various destinations. Website: www.andiramos.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiramosauthor
A retired music teacher with the Worcester Public Schools, Andrew Noone holds graduate degrees in musicology and art history from Syracuse University. He has also done graduate study in English as a Second Language education, as well as American history. He has taught courses in ELL, music and art history at colleges throughout the state. This is his first book, which Jonathan Cohn of the Huffington Post has called “…meticulously researched, elegantly told…” He is married with two adult children, and enjoys piano, guitar and watercolor.
April Jones Prince is the author of 14 books for young readers, including the recently released You Are a Reader!/You Are a Writer!, as well as Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing, Snowy Race, Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates, and two titles in Penguin’s popular “Who Was?” chapter-book series. A frequent presenter at schools and libraries, April works with writers of all ages to bring their stories, passions, and ideas to life. April believes everyone is a reader and a writer, whether they read novels or news alerts or type tall tales or text messages. That includes YOU! For more info and activities for kids and teachers visit: http://www.apriljonesprince.com.
Barbara Lamacchia is a retired high school teacher of English. After a long career teaching writing, Barbara decided to try her own hand at composing. Her first novel, Among The Missing, was published in the spring of 2023. When she’s not writing, she’s traveling or working in her yard. In addition, Barbara likes to cook and host holiday parties and summer family get-togethers. Church activities also take up a lot of her time, but Barbara always saves afternoons and evenings for spend dining out with friends. Barbara is also a Patriots fan and seldom misses a game on tv. Barbara is also an avid reader and a movie buff.
Calla Zae loves writing sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romance novels. She is an artist and loves to create visuals to convey her stories. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband who keeps her grounded to Earth and two creative children who think she has her own secret planet. They’re on to something…Calla also has books under two other names:
Linh Nguyen-Ng loves the arts and writes children’s books. The creative process is something that makes her heart smile whether it is writing, sketching, painting, or finding unusual things to create her artwork. She loves to write children’s books because a child’s world is so magical that she never wants to leave it.
Nadia Han is a contemporary romance author. She’s a dreamer, a visionary, and a believer in karma and kindness. She lives in New England with her family and spends most of her time crafting stories. When she’s not writing, she practices yoga, reads, explores nature, and eats all kinds of foods.
Michele (or Chele for short) Pedersen Smith is a quirky author smitten with mystery, comedies, romance, spirituality, holidays, and time travel. Writing since 6th grade, her stories go wherever the muse inspires. Besides novels, her work has appeared in Guideposts magazine, three Quabbin Quills anthologies, Mount Wachusett Community College literary journals and the college newspaper, Mount Observer. When she isn’t plotting whimsical what-ifs and dialogue, Chele is a supermarket pharmacy technician. She loves attending live theater and thinks any day is taco Tuesday.
Chuck Abdella teaches history St. John’s High School. His four-book fantasy series, The Outcasts has been enjoyed by readers on six continents. His new YA fantasy series, The Centerton High series, speaks to anyone who has ever wondered if their teachers were from another world! Chuck’s writing has appeared in the St. John’s Icon, the Boston College Stylus, Worcester Magazine, and The Boston Globe. When he’s not spending his time reminding adolescents that the Romans were much cooler than they thought, Chuck enjoys reading, coaching youth softball, playing basketball, and watching Boston sports. Find him at www.chuckabdella.com
Author Diane Kane’s short stories appear in several anthologies, including her award-winning short historical fiction piece, “Ernest Lived,” which was the basis for her novel I Never Called Him Pa. Kane is the publisher and co-author of Flash in the Can Number One and Number Two, short stories to read wherever you go. She also has two children’s books, Don Gateau the Three-Legged Cat of Seborga and Brayden the Brave Goes to the Hospital. Both won Purple Dragonfly awards. Kane lives in a small rural town in Western Massachusetts and spends her summers on the rocky shores of Maine. I Never Called Him Pa is Kane’s first novel, but hopefully not her last. She sits patiently by her keyboard, awaiting new characters to talk to her.
Rutland Author Diane Spindler has been practicing psychotherapy for over 30 years. When she first started as a therapist, she was disappointed there weren’t any techniques to help clients heal quickly. So she started on a quest to find that method. She discovered many techniques that solved some of her requirements, but none that did it all. Her answer was to cherry pick the parts of each one that contributed to her goal and put them together in a unique way to aide her clients in healing from trauma. The result of this quest became Gentle Reprocessing. Ms. Spindler has been training other clinicians how to help their trauma clients effectively for over 20 years. She has presented her work in the US, Canada and Paris. She also has taught in the Boston University PEP department consistently, as well as in private workshops and in clinics. She has continued to teach Gentle while having a private practice in Central Massachusetts. For more information go to GentleReprocessing.com
Dick Durland is a non-fiction writer whose work can best be described as “putting his passions to paper”. His initial book, “Halloween – Life of the Party” was featured in this year’s “Printers Row Lit Fest” in Chicago, IL. Due out next spring, Dick’s “Winning the Day – Saving Baseball”, chronicles his son’s improbable rise through the baseball ranks while ensuring readers are compelled to acknowledge the underlying reasons behind the current demise of ‘America’s favorite pastime’. His penchant for sharing his real-life experiences is further reflected in several Letters to the Editor over the years, winning numerous “Letter of the Week’ honors. Dick and his wife Sue have 3 children and are long-term residents of Paxton, MA. For more about Dick’s writings, go to dickdurland-author.com.
E.D. Hackett is a speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She writes women’s fiction novels with one foot in romance. Common target themes include self-acceptance, family, friendship, and self-love. Her books always have a happy ever after because life is hard enough. She loves anything Ireland, books over movies, fall over spring, and ice cream over cake. She can be found at https://www.edhackettauthor.com and all over social media.
Eileen O’Finlan is a native New Englander who loves books, cats, and history. She writes historical fiction and cozy fantasy. She shares her home with an adorable calico Maine Coon mix cat named Autumn Amelia. When not working, writing, or reading, she can be found in her garden, going for a walk, or listening to music.
Award-winning author Janet Raye Stevens writes short stories and novel-length mysteries, time travel, and the occasional holiday romance with humor, heart, and a dash of suspense. A Derringer Award and Silver Falchion Award finalist and winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for the WWII-set paranormal suspense A MOMENT AFTER DARK, Janet lives in central Massachusetts with her family.
Rutland AuthorJean M. Grant is a scientist by training and has a penchant for misunderstood creatures, be it sharks, microbes, or wounded characters. She writes historical and contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and commercial fiction. Three of her books have won awards. As a nature enthusiast, Jean also writes family-oriented travel articles. When not writing, she enjoys gardening and going on adventures near and far with her family. If she were stuck on a desert island, her three essentials (besides family, food, water) would be coffee, lip balm and pink post-its. Find her at www.jeanmgrant.com.
Jillian MacGregor writes spicy romance. She is married with two adult children and 2 extremely spoiled rescue dogs. When she isn’t working her day job, she is reading or writing romance, sometimes while traveling. She loves coffee and chocolate and loves to hear from her readers!
Joanne Roach-Evans attended The School of the Worcester Art Museum, Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College majoring in Art, English, and Graphic Design. She has a Masters in Education from Worcester State University. Her first children’s book “Seashells: Treasures from the Northeast Coast” was published in 2013 by Islandport Press. “Seaweed: Marine Algae from the Northeast Coast” was published in July of 2019, “Marine Animals from the Northeast Coast” was published in February of 2020, “Marine Birds from the Northeast Coast” was published in May of 2021, and in May of 2022 she published “Little Piping Plover.” jroachevans.com
Rutland Author Karen Elizabeth Sharpe is a poetry editor at the Worcester Review, and her poems have appeared in Columbia Journal, West Trade Review, Mom Egg Review, Catalyst, Mason Street Review and other magazines and anthologies. She is the author of Prayer Can Be Anything (Finishing Line Press, 2023) and This Late Afternoon (Dunn & Co. 2004). She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Karen has been a member of Marge Piercy’s juried poets group and a member of the PoemWorks community in the greater Boston area. She has been a coffee-cart clerk, a babysitter, a journalist and editor, a caterer, a funeral ceremonialist, a professional fundraiser, and an assistant vice president at two universities. She celebrates the healing power of forgiveness in relationships.
Kristy Kielbasinski loved to laugh as a child, so naturally her favorite book was “The Monster at the End of this Book.” Now as an adult she is a stand-up comedian and gets to have strangers laugh at her crazy life. When she is not performing comedy, she is busy writing. Her greatest joy is creating funny stories and games with her kids. Kristy lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three boys, and a spoiled dog named Lego.
LJ Cohen is a novelist, poet, fiber artist, potter, and relentless optimist. After 25 years as a physical therapist, LJ uses her knowledge and skills to injure characters in her science fiction and fantasy novels. Her most recent book, A STAR IN THE VOID, (book 5 of the Halcyone Space series) is her eighth novel. DERELICT, the 1st book in the series, was named a Library Journal self-e select title and book of the year in 2014. LJ is active in SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and Broad Universe and lives on a homestead farm in Central Massachusetts with her spouse and their two dogs. http://ljcohen.net
Lois McAuliffe has been a children’s librarian for 45 years and the Director of Children’s Services at the Ashland (MA) Public Library for 23 years. She is the author and illustrator of three picture books about wild animals. Two of her books feature hippopotamuses, and all the kids at the library know that Miss Lois loves hippos! She doesn’t have a pet hippo (much to her disappointment), but she currently shares her home with a cat named Mistletoe and two guinea pigs named Doodles and Hazel.
Paulette Stout is the fearless author of fast paced contemporary women’s fiction tackling social issues often ignored. With Paulette’s books, readers get bingeable prose, relatable characters and compelling stories that keep pages turning. Her 10 book award recognitions span both of her titles—Love, Only Better and What We Never Say—adding to her three media industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts at her home in Acton, Massachusetts. Connect with Paulette on her website at http://www.paulettestout.com, on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok @paulettestoutauthor or on Twitter @StoutContent
Peggy Jaeger writes romantic stories about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. Her books make you believe in happily ever afters. Visit her at www.peggyjaeger.comwhere she blogs daily about things that make her say, “WHAT??!”
Rebecca Southwick writes historical fiction and lives in Massachusetts with her life partner and their four cats. This is her debut novel.
Ronald C. McGilvray is a Kathleen Downey Short Fiction Award winner and has also been writing poetry for much of his life. He has eleven self-published volumes of poetry, the first of which was Secrets, Scrawls and Strays – And Other Virgin Verses. His poetry has also appeared in collections and publications such as Lad O’ Pairts Vol. 1 – Hope Over Fear and the Worcester Magazine. Among many of his life diversions, his most enjoyable was as a newspaper reporter and editor. He has lived all over New England and now resides in Spencer, MA with his wife Sandra.
Sarah Zane is an author of happy endings for traumatized queers. She is a bisexual feminist and a licensed therapist. Her books deal with themes of feminism, trauma, sexuality, and mental health. She lives in New England with her husband and 2 black cats named Gatsby and Mr. Darcy. When she isn’t writing, she can be found perusing a book in her home library, taking forest walks, visiting castles, or planning exotic trips she can’t afford. She can be found at thelibraryofsarahzane.com.
Sharon A. Harmon is the author of the children’s book Horatio Mortimer Loved Music. It isa book that brings the world of sound to life. Young children will delight in following Horatio on his adventure of finding musical notes everywhere he goes and storing them in his large brownsack. Francois Christmas Crossing is based on a true story, about an owl that left Canada in a tree that traveled to Georgia where it was sold as a Christmas tree. Many years ago she found a tiny sawhet owl in the road and she took it home for two weeks until it was strong enough to be released into the woods again. This is the first time that she illustrated a book. Her books are on Amazon and sold in many stores. She is a freelance writer and poet. She has been published in Highlights for Children, Ranger Rick, and The Caterpillar in Ireland., She lives deep in the woods of Central Massachusetts with her husband, many fir trees, and owls.
Sharon Healy-Yang writes smart and sassy mysteries that evoke the wit and suspense of her beloved 1940s films. Her Jessica Minton mystery series (Bait and Switch, Letter from a Dead Man, and Always Play the Dark Horse) features a sharp female lead who faces espionage, murder, Nazis, a femme fatale with henchmen, and even horse thieves, aided by her madcap sister, wise alec cat Dusty, and a dashing, mysterious man. The forthcoming Shadows of a Dark Past tips its hat to the ghostly noir of Val Lewton and other 1940s forays into the supernatural.
Suzanne Eglington resides in North Central Massachusetts with her New Adult kiddos and lots of fur babies. She started out in the contemporary spicy romance genre and during 2020 while the world was in lockdown she found her voice in action/adventure and young adult fantasy fiction. In her down time she runs an annual event mingling romance authors and romance readers in October – Fall in Love New England. You can find her at http://www.suzeglington.com or http://www.suzanneeglington.onlineor http://www.fallinlovenewengland.com
Tom Ingrassia is an award-winning author, radio personality, Motown historian and motivational speaker. His first book–One Door Closes: Overcoming Adversity By Following Your Dreams–is currently being adapted as a documentary film, premiering in October, 2023. Tom’s second book–Reflections Of A Love Supreme: Motown Through The Eyes Of Fans–was named Best Music History Book by both the National Indie Excellence Awards and the NABE Pinnacle Awards. Every Wednesday, from 9 am to 1 pm, you can hear The Motown Jukebox with “Motown Tom” on WCUW 91.3FM. http://www.ingrassiaproductions.com
Sometimes, characters just waltz into your head and dig in deep, demanding you to tell their story.
Dylan Keane was such a character. In the second POB boo, Aiden, Dylan entered and stole scene after scene with his wit, charm, and let’s be honest here – hotness! This little tease is from Harper Vale’s perspective and gives you an indication of just how hot he really is….
Dylan sat on a bench with his back to her, bent forward, and holding a hand weight that he studiously lifted, then dropped. On the floor in front of him, a few other weights were scattered.
Her vision zeroed in on his back when she realized he was shirtless. Those powerful muscles she’d had a pleasurable hint of when he’d held her in his arms were on full display. Corded and toned, his back was a sculptor’s masterpiece of carved-from-marble shadows and trenches. His shoulders—good Lord his shoulders! No description she’d ever read in any of her beloved romance novels came close to depicting the perfection of this man’s naked back and arms.
As he lifted the barbell in one hand, sinew and cords shifted with the movement. His upper back flexed, his skin glossy with sweat, which only served to highlight each motion.
He dropped the weight and stood in one easy, graceful move. Lifting his hands above his head, he reached toward the ceiling, extending all the way through his fingertips, then he stretched backward from his trim waist.
Harper’s pulse shot through the roof when he then bent forward and placed his palms flat on the floor in front of him giving her a perfect view of his glutes outlined through his nylon gym shorts. Perfection was a word she’d always thought bandied around way too much in her romance books, but it was the only word to fit Dylan.
Maybe perfection squared was more accurate, because when he collapsed into a squat and then lifted back up, his palms still on the floor, those toned and tight twin mounds of flesh and muscle were as gorgeous an ass as she’d ever seen – or dreamed about.
A gasp blew from her when her fingertips began to tingle and itch to touch him.
All over.
She clamped a hand over her mouth but too late discovered he’d heard her when he turned around to face her.
Good God, the front of him was even better than the back. How the hell was that even possible? Or fair?
A smattering of black, curly, shiny-with-sweat hair covered his pecs and trailed down over abs which simply couldn’t be real. The man must do a thousand sit-ups a day to have such a toned and defined six-pack. The shorts rode low along his waist, baggy over his trim hips, ending mid-thigh.
“I’m s-sorry,” she stammered. “I heard a noise and…” The words died when he reached for a towel and dragged it across his face to sop the perspiration covering it then drew it over his neck and down his chest. The insane notion to ask if she could trail her tongue over all that flesh washed through her mind.
She licked her lips, wondering how he’d…taste.
“Did you get some rest?” Dylan asked, oblivious to the raging lust coursing through her.
Harper swallowed, nodded, then managed to eke out a “Yes.”
Dylan slung the towel across his shoulders and held onto the ends. His gaze raked over her face, his forehead slatting. “You okay?”
Harper had to intentionally lift her eyes from its course down his torso, where it had stopped to take in the waistband of his low-riding gym shorts, back up to his face. She imagined her cheeks must look like ripe cherries from the thoughts running through her head about what was below that nylon.
There was a question on his face, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember what he’d asked.
“Harper?”
“Hmm? Yes… I mean…what?”
With a head tick that caused some sweat to shift down his shoulders, a tiny grin bloomed in one corner of his mouth. Harper followed the droplet, hypnotized by its movement as it cascaded over his naked upper arm and trailed further down. When it landed on his wrist and settled, she licked lips that had turned to dust.
Dylan’s grin grew. Tugging the ends of the towel he took a step toward her. Harper forced her gaze back to his face. The blue in his eyes glowed, the outer edges of his irises turning a deep, dark azure.
“You know,” he said, lifting one leg over the bench, then the other as he came toward her, “I’ve found a workout works as well with relieving stress as much as a nap does.”
“You…you have?”
That damn grin.
“Yeah.”
He stopped right in front of her, all his body heat wafting over her. The scent of his sweat—pure, raw, and ridiculously male—had her fingers tingling again to rub their way up and down him, and then do it again.
“Want to give it a try?” he asked. “I could spot you.”
“Spot m—?” She stopped short when he dragged a finger over her upper arm. Even through the fabric of her shirt it felt like the most seductive of skin-on-skin caresses. The little air she had left in her lungs helped keep her from passing out at the exquisite sensation of his fingers on her. When he palmed the circumference and gently squeezed, she truly felt as if she might drop to the floor in a dead faint, ravaged by want.
“You’ve got pretty decent muscle tone,” he said. “A little daily work could add some definition. Not make you cut, per se. But add a little…heft.” His free hand circled her other arm and held on fast. “You’re small boned so you wouldn’t want to bulk up what you have. Defining it would be good, though.”
Perspiration sprouted across his brow again, a drop sliding down his temple to his jaw. Harper swallowed as her eyes tracked the moisture.
Ever so slowly Dylan pulled her in closer. Consumed by his scent, his touch, the absolute beauty of his mouth, she pressed her unshod feet to the floor and lifted up on her toes. She wanted that mouth on hers, needed it, like she needed her next breath to stay alive.
Intrigued? Here’s the link to order it in print or ecopy: DYLAN
Read the fabulous reviews and add it to your GOODREADS LIST here: DYLAN
Peggy Jaeger, Author 