Nobody But You {+ Giveaway}

Author Jill Shalvis is touring blogdom to celebrate her new release, NOBODY BUT YOU, which went on sale this week.

I’m delighted to be a part of her blog tour featuring this third installment in her Cedar Ridge series. To celebrate the release, Jill is hosting a tour-wide giveaway. Five (5) winners will win her entire Cedar Ridge series. Please see the end of the post for more giveaway details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of NOBODY BUT YOU:

          When Jacob was injured in the war, it changed him for life. Now all he wants to do is come home to Cedar Ridge, settle in at his lakeside cabin and get some much-needed peace and quiet. But there's no peace to be had when he finds a spitfire of a woman camping out on his property. Half the time he's not sure whether he wants to spank her or kiss--or maybe both. He's in a dark place and a dark mood, and here's this wildly hot woman who is also funny and light and may be the balm be needs to soothe his aching soul.

          Sophie Marren is pretty much penniless after leaving her abusive husband. She doesn't have the money to pay rent or the slip fees for docking the boat where she's been sleeping. She was getting along just perfectly until the good-looking, brooding, I'm-too-sexy-for-myself guy moves into the lake cabin that the slip belongs to. Sure he's hot as the noon sun with those dark lens and even darker 'tude, but god forbid she tie herself to another man who's always telling her what to do. But the more she gets to know Jacob, the more she sees how willing he is to battle for her wounded heart...a battle she might just let him win.

NOBODY BUT YOU is available at the following sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, iTunes, Google Play, and Kobo.

Jill is sharing an excerpt from this tantalizing book with you today for your reading pleasure.

EXCERPT …...

      She eyed the bench a long beat but did eventually sit, perching primly as far from him as she could get and yet still be close enough to grab the bottle. 
      Smart woman. 
      She took the Scotch and drank. Her eyes watered and she coughed as she handed it to him. With a sigh, she leaned back to study the night sky. Her bared throat was slim and creamy smooth. An unexpected temptation. Remembering the flash of pain and vulnerability she’d unwittingly revealed, and that for whatever reason he’d somehow added to it, he spoke. “I’m sorry.” 
      She glanced at him as if she’d never heard a man apologize before in her life. “For…breathing?” she asked. “Having a penis? What?” 
      “You were upset because you didn’t know I was a Kincaid.” 
      She sighed. “That was just me looking for a reason to be mad at you so I wouldn’t…” 
      She bit her lower lip, clearly not wanting to go on. 
      But now he had to know. “So you wouldn’t what?” 
      “Nothing,” she said. “It’s just that I’m trying to make better choices.” 
      “Of which I wouldn’t be one.” 
      “It’s not necessarily your fault,” she said. “It’s that you’re a man.” 
      “Guilty as charged.” 
      “And I’m off men right now.” 
      “And on…women?” he asked with admittedly more than a little fascination. 
      She rolled her eyes. “I’m on no one, but thank you for proving my point on men.” 
      “I get that,” he said. “But being off men doesn’t seem to be making you very happy, or sound like a whole lot of fun.” 
      “Maybe I don’t need fun.” 
      He understood that. He’d felt the same way since Brett died. “What do you need?” he asked, honestly wanting to know more about her. 
      Instead of answering, she reached for the bottle. He waited until she met his gaze before letting go. “Nothing,” she said a little too quickly. “Everything’s…perfect.” 
      “And your glass is half full,” he said. “So you’ve said.” 
      But he didn’t believe her. “How about a game?” 
      “I don’t play games.” 
      Now, that wasn’t exactly true. Whether she knew it or not, she’d been playing with his head since he’d first laid eyes on her. “Three truths and a lie,” he said. 
      She stared at him. “As in you tell me three truths and a lie, and I pick out the lie?” 
      “Yes.” 
      She considered this. “What do I get if I win?” 
      “What do you want?” 
      For the briefest of beats, her gaze dropped to his mouth. 
      Oh, hell yeah, he thought. Want me… 
      “My first boyfriend taught me that game,” she said. 
      “What did the winner get?” 
      “A kiss.” 
      Definitely still playing with his head… “Is that what you want, Sophie? A kiss?” 
      Again she stared at his mouth before dropping eye contact and wrapping that eye-stopping pink robe tighter around her body. “Do you?” she asked. 
      “Hell yes.” 
      Her gaze flew to his. 
      “Problem is,” he said conversationally, “if I kissed you, I don’t think I’d be able to stop.” 
      Her mouth literally fell open. The pulse at the base of her throat jumped. And she seemed to lose her words. 
      He went on. “But you should know, I don’t lose. That means you’ll have to tell me three truths and a lie.” And he’d hopefully get to know more about her. 
      She closed her mouth to bite her lower lip in what could’ve been indecision or excitement. Obviously he was hoping for the latter. “But hey, if you’re not sure you can handle losing, we can just forget about it,” he said. 
      The challenge lifted her chin and put sparks in her eyes. That’s it, babe. Show me what you’ve got. 
      “Bring it,” she said.

Now I’d like to share my thoughts on this book. I was fortunate to be able to both read a copy of the book and listen to the audio version. I highly recommend both formats.

NOBODY BUT YOU by Jill Shalvis

Sometimes when worlds collide, sparks fly in a good way such as in NOBODY BUT YOU by Jill Shalvis.

Narrator Karen White gives unique voices to these feisty characters enhancing the story. Her cadence fits the highs and lows of the characters’ emotions and actions.

In an effort to out her ex-husband, Sophie Marren takes his precious boat in the divorce settlement. Sea sick or not, she has to live on the boat being penniless. Trying to find a place to moor the boat without paying is a challenge for Sophie, especially when she keeps running into the sexy guy who just moved into a cabin on the lake. Down on luck and love, Sophie is determined not to give up.

Jacob Kincaid has been away from Cedar Ridge and his family for way too long. When he joined the service he left with bad feelings between him and his twin Hud. Waiting to repair the strain between him and his family, Jacob doesn’t need any other problems. But when he encounters Sophia trying to use his dock, he can’t help himself. The more they interact, the more they are drawn to each other.

The author has created strong, but flawed characters that are likable and well-developed. The small town setting draws readers in.

The story flows smoothly and at a good pace. The romance is hot and steamy, the family loyalty is heartwarming, and the fun is contagious. NOBODY BUT YOU is a standalone read from the Cedar Ridge series. The characters will hold you captivated as you pull for these two battered hearts to unite.

Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis, A Cedar Ridge series (Book #3), Grand Central Publishing, @2016, ISBN: 978-1455586806, Mass Market Paperback, 352 Pages -- Narrated by Karen White, Hachette Audio, @2016, ASIN:BO1946YW68, Unabridged, Audible Audio Edition, Run Time: 10 Hours and 13 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

About The Author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. 

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

For more on Jill and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This is a tour-wide giveaway. Five (5) winners will win the entire Cedar Ridge series by Jill Shalvis!

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t appear, just click on the link to be taken to the widget page.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Jill’s visit. Do you like moody heroes and spitfire heroines?

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He’s So Fine {+ Giveaway & a Bonus}

I’m delighted today to be participating in the Launch Day Blitz for HE’S SO FINE by Jill Shalvis, the latest release in her Lucky Harbor series.

Here’s a brief summary of the book:

          For Olivia Bentley, Lucky Harbor is more than the town where she runs her new vintage shop. It's the place where folks are friendly to strangers-and nobody knows her real name. Olivia does a good job of keeping her past buried, not getting too cozy with anyone . . . until she sees a man drowning. Suddenly she's rushing into the surf, getting up close and personal with the hottest guy she's ever laid hands on.
          Charter boat captain Cole Donovan has no problem with a gorgeous woman throwing her arms around his neck in an effort to "save" him. In fact, he'd like to spend a lot more time skin-to-skin with Olivia. He's just not expecting that real trouble is about to come her way. Will it bring her deeper into Cole's heart, or will it be the end of Olivia's days in little Lucky Harbor? 

For those not familiar with Jill, here’s a little background information on her.

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

You can find out more about Jill and her writing, by visiting her website and you can connect with her on Twitter and Facebook

HE'S SO FINE is available in mass market paperback, eBook and audio book formats wherever books are sold. It can be found at the following sites: Barnes and Noble, iBooks, IndieBound, Kobo, Google Play, and Amazon. And of course you can add it to your shelf on Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one of 10 print copies of HE’S SO FINE, a Lucky Harbor Novel, and is being held tour-wide. 

To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you think you’d like to live in a charming little community like Lucky Harbor? Doesn’t the cover of this book make you think of cool, fall days? a Rafflecopter giveaway
To celebrate even more, the author is giving away a Lucky Harbor prize pack including several titles from the series and a signed tote. Just click on the Rafflecopter widget below. a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s In His Kiss Launch Day

I’m delighted to be among the bloggers participating in the Launch Day Blitz for IT’S IN HIS KISS by Jill Shalvis today.

You can hear a clip of the audio edition of IT’S IN HIS KISS by clicking HERE.

Here’s a summary of the latest installment in Jill’s Lucky Harbor series:

ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER
          Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.
          Boat builder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart? 

IT'S IN HIS KISS is available in mass market paperback, eBook and audio book formats wherever books are sold. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. 
 
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

For more on Jill and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

To entice you a bit more, Jill is sharing an excerpt from her new novel for your reading pleasure.

Chapter 3

      There was still the night’s chill on the air when Becca woke up the next morning. Early sun rays were doing their best to beat back the dark shadows of the night, stabbing through the cloud layer with hints of soft yellow and orange.
      She rolled the kink out of her neck from sleeping on the floor. Today was the day she further depleted her savings by buying furniture.
      And other essentials, such as food.
      Today was also the day that she got her act together. She stared at the portable piano keyboard leaning so deceptively casual-like against one of her suitcases.
      As a jingle writer, all she had to do was write a catchy tune for a given product. That was it. Write a jingle, sell it to the ad agency that had her on retainer, and accept their thanks in the form of a check.
      Except she’d been having trouble for a year now. Her muse had shriveled up on her, and she was eking out only the barest minimum to keep her agency interested. Her latest assignment was simple—come up with something catchy for Cushy toilet paper. A relatively easy and insignificant enough assignment, right?
      Right.
      With a sigh, she grabbed a roll of the toilet paper that the company had sent her, shoved it in her tote bag, and headed out. The first person she came across was the same boy on the bike who’d nearly hit her the other day. “Hey,” she said, flagging him down.
      He slowed. “Sam’s probably in his warehouse—”
      “No, this question’s for you.” She pulled out the roll of toilet paper. “Feel this. What does it make you think of?”
      He blinked.
      “I’m writing a commercial for it,” she told him.
      “That’s weird,” he said, but he reached out and took it. Considered. “I guess it feels nice to squeeze,” he finally said.
      “Good, but unfortunately, that commercial’s already been done,” she said. Give me something else.”
      “Okay…” The kid scratched his head. “It’s…soft?”
      “Soft,” she said.
      “Yeah. You know, cushy.”
      She blew out a breath. “Thanks.”
      “I wasn’t any help at all, was I?” the kid asked.
      “You were great,” she told him, and waved as he rode off.
      She walked to the pier for more ranch-flavored popcorn, which she’d bought at the ice cream stand. The same twenty-something-year-old guy was there today.
      “You’re back,” he said.
      “Yep. You give good popcorn.”
      He smiled. “I know. I’m Lance, by the way.”
      “Becca,” she said. “I’m new to town.” Lance was small, painfully thin, and had an odd sound to his voice, like his chest was hollow. She glanced at the jar on the counter, with a DONATE TO CYSTIC FIBROSIS research poster taped to it, and felt a pang of worry and empathy for him.
      “So what’ll it be, Becca New to Town?” he asked.
      She smiled. “Ranch-flavored popcorn.” She paused. “And a single chocolate scoop.”
      “Living large,” he said. “I like it.”
      When he brought the popcorn and ice cream to her, she held up the roll of toilet paper. “Question,” she said. “What does this make you think of?”
      He laughed. “That’s going to cost you a double scoop, at least.” But he squeezed the roll of toilet paper. “Tell me why I’m humoring the crazy lady?”
      “Because she writes the songs for commercials,” Becca said. Sometimes. If she’s very lucky. “And I need one for Cushy toilet paper. Only I’m stuck.”
      “So your brain’s…plugged?” he asked playfully. “Your brain’s got a big…load?”
      She laughed. “Don’t quit your day job.”
      He squeezed the roll again. “You know,” he said casually. “I get sick a lot.”
      Her heart pinched. “I’m sorry.”
      “It’s okay. But I use this brand for blowing my nose. It’s softer and more gentle than tissues.”
      She smiled and handed back the ice cream cone she hadn’t yet licked. “Okay, now that’s worth a double.”
      He made it a triple.
      A million calories later, she was back in her place, and she managed to come up with a little—emphasis on little—jingle for Cushy. She sent it off to her agency, fingers crossed.
      Standing up, she moved to the window and took in a most mesmerizing sight.
      Not the ocean, though that was pretty damn fine, too.
      But Sexy Grumpy Surfer—SGS for short, she’d decided—side by side with one of the other guys from last night, the two of them doing pull-ups on some metal bar. Given their easy, economical speed and the way they kept turning to eyeball each other, they were competing and not for the first time. They were shirtless, their toned bodies gleaming with sweat in the early-morning sun, definitely outshining the Pacific Ocean.
      “Wow,” she whispered. She had no idea how long she stood there, or how many impossibly difficult pull-ups the two men did before they both dropped lithely to the ground, straightened, and gave each other a shove.
      Their laughter drifted to her ears and she found herself smiling along with them. A sweaty tie then, she decided, and realized she was a little hot herself.
      Hot and bothered.
      Sexy Grumpy Surfer looked damn good laughing. The other guy moved off, back toward the small building between the street and beach, but SGS remained. Turning only his head, he unerringly met Becca’s gaze.
      Crap. She dropped like a stone to the floor and lay flat. He hadn’t seen her, she thought. He totally hadn’t. The glare on the window had blocked his view. Yeah, for sure he’d missed her…
      Slowly, she rose up on her knees to take a quick peek and winced.
      He was still there, hands on hips, looking right at her.
      He’d missed exactly nothing, and she suspected he rarely did.
      Then the clouds shifted, and suddenly the sun was shining right on him, like he was the best of God’s glory. Since the sun was also bright, making seeing details difficult, it was probably—hopefully—her imagination that his mouth quirked in a barely there smile as he shook his head at her.
      Her stomach quivering, she ducked again.
      And then from her position prone on the floor, she forbid herself from looking out the window ever again.
      Ever.
      Crawling to her suitcases in the center of the loft, she sat cross-legged, pulled out her list of Must-Buys, and added curtains. Curtains would keep her from being distracted by her view. Curtains would keep her on task.
      And away from further embarrassment.
      She showered, dressed, and left the warehouse, sending a cautious look down the alley.
      Empty.
      Relieved, she left. Several hours later she was back, followed by Eddie, the kid on the bike, whom she’d paid to help lug her loot. Thankfully he came with an older brother who had a truck, and equally thankfully, Lucky Harbor had a “vintage” shop, a really great one. She’d found everything she’d needed there, including gently used sheets that she bought for curtains.
      In far less time than it’d taken to shop, she had curtains up and the bed made, and she was sitting on it, staring at an email from her ad agency.
Becca,
The Cushy jingle works. I’ve sent accounting a request to get you payment. Next up is Diaxsis, the new erectile dysfunction medicine. Details and deadline info attached, if you’re interested.
      Not Great job, Becca. Not You’re back, Becca. Not We’ve put you back on our top tier, Becca.
      But neither was it You’re fired, Becca, so she’d take it. But Diaxsis? She blew out a breath and hit reply:
I’m interested.
      The next morning, Becca opened her eyes and let out a happy breath. She’d actually slept, and if there’d been bad dreams, she didn’t remember them. Turning her head, she stared at the curtains where a weak daylight poked in around the edges.
      The insulation in her building was either poor or nonexistent. She could hear every single time the back door of the building next to hers opened.
      It opened now.
      Don’t do it, she told herself. Don’t go look. You’re stronger than this. You don’t need the distraction…

      But like Pavlov’s dog, she got up and peeked through the curtains.
      It was foggy out, but the bigger news was that Sexy Grumpy Surfer was back. It looked chilly, and yet he was in another pair of board shorts and a T-shirt that hugged the width of his shoulders as they flexed enticingly while he dumped the contents of a shop vac into the trash bin.
      Sex on a stick.
      He didn’t look up this time, and Becca forced herself away from the window. She showered, ate the leftover ranch-flavored popcorn—breakfast of champions—and gave her keyboard a long, hard look. “Today,” she told it. “Today, you give me something better than It works.”
      Sitting on the bed, leaning back against the wall, she pulled the keyboard onto her lap.
      A year. A year since she’d composed jingles for the best national brands, and the reasons why were complicated. She’d lost her muse, and her footing. On life. That had to change. Hence the across-the-country move. A new venue, a new beginning. But she still needed to prove herself, if only to the woman in the mirror.
      Her parents wouldn’t ask her to prove herself, she knew this. Growing up, they’d never asked anything of her, other than to take care of her brother while they worked crazy hours in the jazz clubs of New Orleans. Watch Jase, that’s all they’d ever expected her to do.
      Though only two years separated her and her brother, Becca felt far older, always had. She’d done her best to take care of him, succeeding better at some moments than others. But at least the promise of his talent had been fulfilled. He was a wonderful concert pianist.
      Now she wanted, needed, to be wonderful at something, too.
      And yeah, yeah, being worthy shouldn’t be tied up in financial success—or lack thereof—blah blah. But whoever had said that had clearly never had to pay their rent on time.
      Her cell phone vibrated. The screen said Jase calling.
      Until recently, they’d been close, and had talked frequently. Except, just like her early—and short-lived—success with jingle writing, this too had turned out to be an illusion. A glossy veneer shown to the world, while the truth was hidden deep inside them both.
      She stared at the phone until it went to voice mail.
      Two seconds later came a text. You okay?
      Completely okay, she texted back. Liar, liar, pants on fire…
      But hell if she’d give anyone she cared about more stress to deal with. She turned her phone off, ignored the guilt, and spent the rest of the day alternating between nesting in her new place and trying to work a jingle about the male erection.
      And maybe, also, looking out her windows a little bit. She told herself it was the ocean that drew her, but mostly her gaze was drawn to the alley. In addition to the pullups, she’d now seen Sexy Grumpy Surfer carrying a large duffel bag to the boat moored at the dock, washing down said boat with the same two other guys she’d seen before, and taking a hard, brutally fast run along the beach with yet a third guy.
      Seemed like maybe Lucky Harbor was a hot-guy magnet.
      By the end of the day, Becca needed sustenance and a change of scenery, so she headed into town. She could’ve gone to the diner Eat Me, but instead she walked a block farther, past the pier, to go back to the Love Shack.
      She told herself it was the atmosphere. The place was done up like an Old West saloon, with walls lined with old mining tools, tables made from antique wood doors. Lanterns hung from the exposed beam ceiling, and the air was filled with laughter, talking, and music from the jukebox in the corner.
      She ordered a burger and sat by herself to eyeball the real reason she’d come back here—the baby grand piano in the far corner. It was old, and had clearly been around the block decades ago, but it called to her. She stared at it, torn between wanting to stroke it, and wanting to run like hell.
      Jase might the real talent of the Thorpe family, but there’d been a time when the two of them had been a duo. Maybe she’d never been quite as good as he was—not that her parents had ever said so, they didn’t have to—but she’d been good enough to boost Jase’s talent. The press latched on to them early, and they’d even become pseudo celebrities.
      Things had been good, until she’d turned seventeen. With that age had come some self-awareness, and a serious case of the awkwards. Besides the headaches and bone aches that had come with a late, fast growth spurt, she’d lost all coordination, including her fingertips. Practically overnight she’d turned into the Graceless Ugly Duckling, exemplified.
      The following month, their manager had gotten them invited to compete at the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The place had been filled with people—more than two thousand—and all Becca remembered was being struck by sheer, heart-stopping panic.
      She’d tanked, and the press had ripped them to shreds.
      Shaking off the memory, Becca paid for her food at the bar and took in the sign at the register that said: help wanted. She glanced at the piano and gnawed her lower lip. Then she gestured for the bartender. “Who do I talk to about the job?”
      “Me,” he said with a smile as he set aside the glass he’d been drying to shake her hand. “I’m Jax Cullen, one of the owners.”
      “Is it a hostess position?” she asked hopefully.
      “Waitressing,” he said. “You interested?”
      Was she? She glanced at the piano and ached. And she knew she was very interested, skills or not. And there were no skills. None. “I am if you are,” she said.
      Jax lost his smile. “Shit. You don’t have any experience.”
      “No,” she admitted. “But I’m a real quick learner.”
      He studied her, and Becca did her best to look like someone who was one hundred percent capable of doing anything—except, of course, handling her own life. She flashed him her most charming smile, her “showtime” smile, and hoped for the best.
      Jax chuckled. “You’re spunky,” he said. “I’ll give you that.”
      “I’m more than spunky,” she promised. “I bet you by the end of my first night, you’ll want to keep me.”
      He held her gaze a moment, considering. “All right, I’ll take that bet. How about a trial by fire starting now?”
      She eyed the room. Not full. Not even close. “Who else is working?”
      “Usually on a night like this, two others. But both my girls are out sick tonight and I’m on my own, so you’re looking like good timing to me. If you’re any good.”
      The piano in the far corner was still calling to her, making her braver than usual. “I’m in,” she said.
      Jax gave her an apron and a quick rundown of what was expected. He told her that here in Lucky Harbor, familiarity was key. Everyone knew everyone, and the trick to good service—and good tips—was friendliness.
      Then he threw her to the wolves.
      The first half hour remained thankfully slow, but every time she walked by the baby grand, she faltered.
      Play me, Becca…
      At about the twentieth pass, she paused and glanced around. Not a soul was looking at her. She eyed the piano again, sitting there so innocuously, looking gorgeous. Damn. She’d played on her keyboard, but not a piano. Not since two years ago when she’d quit. She’d had a near miss with going back to playing a year ago, but then things had gone to all sorts of hell, reinforcing her stage fright and giving her a wicked case of claustrophobia to boot.
      Play me, Becca…
      Fine. Since fighting the urge was like trying not to need air, she sat. Her heart sped up, but she was still breathing. So far so good. She set her fingertips on the cool keys.
      Still good.
      And almost before she realized it, she’d begun playing a little piece she’d written for Jase years ago. It flowed out of her with shocking ease, and when she finished, she blinked like she was waking from a trance. Then she looked around.
      Jax was smiling at her from behind the bar and when he caught her eye, he gave her a thumbs-up. Oh, God. Breaking out in a sweat, she jumped up and raced into the bathroom to stare at herself in the mirror. Flushed. Shaky. She thought about throwing up, but then someone came in to use the facilities and she decided she couldn’t throw up with an audience. So she splashed cold water on her hot face, told herself she was totally fine, and then got back to work to prove it.
      Luckily, the dinner crowd hit and she got too busy to think. She worked the friendliness as best she could. But she quickly discovered it wasn’t a substitute for talent. In the first hour, she spilled a pitcher of beer down herself, mixed up two orders—and in doing so nearly poisoned someone when she gave the cashew-allergic customer a cashew chicken salad—and then undercharged a large group by thirty bucks.
      Jax stepped in to help her, but by then she was frazzled beyond repair. “Listen,” he said very kindly, considering, “maybe you should stick with playing. You’re amazing on the piano. Can you sing?”
      “No,” she said, and grimaced. “Well, yes.” But she couldn’t stick with playing, because she couldn’t play in front of an audience without having heart failure. “I really can do this waitressing thing,” she said.
      Jax shook his head but kept his voice very gentle. “You’re not cut out for this job, Becca. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
      She was beginning to think she wasn’t cut out for her life, but she met his gaze evenly, her own determined. “I bet you, remember? By the end of the night, you’ll see. Please? One more try?”
      He looked at her for a long moment and then sighed. “Okay, then. One more try.”
      A group of three guys walked in the door and took a table. Fortifying her courage, Becca gathered menus and strode over there with a ready-made smile, which congealed when she saw who it was.
      Sexy Grumpy Surfer and his two cohorts.
      Bolstering herself, she set the menus on the table. “Welcome, gentlemen.”
      SGS was sprawled back in his chair, long legs stretched out in front of him crossed at the ankles, his sun-streaked hair unruly as ever, looking like sin personified as he took her in. She did her best to smile, ignoring the butterflies suddenly fluttering low in her belly. “What can I get you to start?”
      “Pitcher of beer. And you’re new,” one of them said, the one with the sweetest smile and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. He had short brown hair he’d forgotten to comb, some scruff on a square jaw, and was wearing cargo pants and a polo shirt with a small screwdriver sticking out of the breast pocket. “I’m Cole,” he told her, “and this big lug here…” He gestured to the dark-haired, dark-eyed, darkly dangerously good-looking guy next to him. “Tanner.” Then he jerked his chin toward SGS. “You apparently already know this one.”
      “Yes,” Becca said. “SGS.”
      They all just looked at her.
      “Sexy Grumpy Surfer,” she clarified.
      Cole and Tanner burst out laughing.
      SGS just gave her a long, steady, paybacks-are-a-bitch smile.
      “Or Grandpa,” Cole offered. “That’s what we call him because he always seems to know the weirdest shit.”
      “And Grandma works, too,” Tanner said. “When he’s being a chick. No offense.”
      Sam sent them each a look that would’ve had Becca peeing her pants, but neither man looked particularly worried.
      “And your name?” Cole asked Becca.
      She opened her mouth, but before she could answer Sam spoke for her. “Peeper,” he said. “Her name is Peeper.”
      His steely but amused gaze held hers as he said this, which is how Becca finally saw him smile. It transformed his face, softening it, and though he was already ridiculously attractive, the smile—trouble-filled as it was—only made him all the more so. It gave her a little quiver in her tummy, which, as she couldn’t attribute it to either hunger or nerves, was not a good sign.
      “Peeper,” Tanner repeated slowly, testing it on his tongue. “That’s unusual.”
      Still holding Becca’s gaze, Sam said, “It’s a nickname, because she—”
      “It’s my big eyes,” Becca broke in with before he could tell his friends that she’d been caught red-handed watching them like a…well, peeper. “Yeah,” she said. “I’ve bowled him over with my…peepers.”
      Sam startled her by laughing, and the sound did something odd and wonderful and horrifying deep inside her, all at the same time. Unbelievably, she could feel herself standing on the precipice of a crush on this guy. She’d been attracted before, of course, plenty of times, but it’d been a while since she’d taken the plunge.
      A long while.
      She hoped the water was nice, because she could feel the pull of it and knew she was going in.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Jill’s Launch Day Blitz. What is it about the small town atmosphere that pulls you into a story?

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Celebrating the 4th with Jill Shalvis, Rebecca York {+ Giveaways}

Welcome everyone to a grand celebration for the Fourth of July. I hope you’re having a great day and thanks for taking time out of your holiday to visit with the fabulous romance authors Jill Shalvis and Rebecca York on this special day.
 
Both authors have wonderful new releases and to celebrate they’re sharing excerpts and hosting awesome giveaways.

First, this is part of Release Week Blast for Jill, who is celebrating her quirky contemporary romance, THEN CAME YOU. She’s sharing an excerpt and hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway. The prize is a $50 gift card to an online e-tailer (open to anyone who signs up for the author's newsletter).

Next, this is also part of a Blitz for the action-packed romantic suspense, BETRAYED, by Rebecca. She is also sharing an excerpt and hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway. The prize is the Rockfort Files series book #1 and a $50 gift card to an online book e-tailer. More about both giveaways at the end of the post.

Jill Shalvis’ THEN CAME YOU

Here’s a brief synopsis of THEN CAME YOU, An Animal Magnetism Novel Book #5 …..

      Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.
     Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans... 

Book Information
Title: THEN CAME YOU
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 9780425270172
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley


Excerpt
Emily sat on a fallen log and leaned back. When she was little, she’d loved to try to star watch. In LA, this was tricky because of all the city lights, not to mention smog. Doing it here, in the land of the big sky, was a whole new ball game. “I’m not lonely,” she said to the horse, who snorted again and swished his tail.

“Good. Cuz you’re not alone.”

Two long legs came into her peripheral. Wyatt crouched at her side and looked into her face.  “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said.

Nodding, he sat on the log at her side and leaned back, presumably to look at whatever she was looking at. “Pretty night.”

His hands were behind him, his shoulder and a part of his chest brushing her arm and shoulder. Actually it was more like he was encircling her within his arm span, which was considerable. It was a guy move, an alpha guy move, and it made her feel ... protected.

She was getting far too used to that, she thought with a sigh. “Where is everyone?”

“Gone,” he said, and there was an odd quality to his voice that had her taking a 
second look at him. He didn’t take his gaze off the sky so she got him in profile, the tousled hair, the fine lines crinkling the corners of his eyes from long days out in the sun, the square, scruffy jaw. A broad shoulder built to take on the weight of the world. 

He’d been working his ass off, here at Belle Haven, helping Dell take up the slack for the out-of-town Jade, and then going home and helping his sisters with the monstrous house they were fixing up. He did so much for everyone, and she found herself wanting to do something for him. Make him smile. Make him relax. Make him forget, even for a few minutes…  She nudged him with her shoulder.

He nudged her back and turned to look at her then, his eyes dark and unfathomable behind his glasses.

Chickening out, she turned her head this time, and stared up at the sky as he had been only a few seconds before.

“Emily.”

When she didn’t tear her gaze off the stars, he leaned in and nipped her ear.

Sucking in a breath, she looked at him again. His was still dark, but there were things swirling in those dark depths now. Need. Heat.

Affection.

He stole her breath. 

“Let the record state,” she said, reaching out to snatch off his glasses, “that I don’t always make the first move.”

He blinked in momentary confusion, and probably also because he could no longer see. He opened his mouth to say something, but she sank her fingers into his hair and kissed him, hard and long and deep.

“Emily,” he said when they broke for air, his voice rough and husky.
She climbed into his lap and then pushed him backwards off the log so that he fell to his back in the wild grass with her straddling him.

Laughing, he slid his hands beneath her top and up her back, drawing out a delicious shiver from her.  Then his hands slid slowly down her spine, and into the backs of her jeans.  “Let the record also state,” he said in a delicious growl. “Who made the rest of the moves.”

THEN CAME YOU is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, and ITunes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. 

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
 
For more on Jill and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Rebecca York’s BETRAYED

Here’s a brief synopsis of BETRAYED, a Rockfort Security Book #2 …..

      There is a spy in S&D systems who is leaking top-secret information that could lead to extreme disaster. It's up to Shane Gallagher to uncover the mole and set things right.
      Systems analyst Elena Reyes had no intention of stealing company secrets until her brother's life was threatened by the cruelest of mobsters. When Elena finally confesses her deeds to Shane, he's ready to do everything he can to keep her out of danger. But will Shane's help be enough to protect them, or will his good intentions leave them all for dead?

Book Information
Title:BETRAYED
Author: Rebecca York
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Romantic Suspense




Excerpt

Elena had never thought about seducing a man. She wasn’t even sure of her moves. But she knew that Shane wanted her, even if he wasn’t prepared to admit it. She also knew he felt protective of her, which was probably part of the conflict he must be feeling.

Before he could come up with another objection, she cupped the back of his head with her hands and brought his face down as she raised her own head toward him.
She hadn’t been sure what would happen. Or perhaps she’d been afraid that he’d wrench himself away from her. But the danger must have affected his emotions as well as her own. When their lips met, it was as though someone had tossed a match into a pile of gasoline- soaked kindling. Invisible flames rose as heat flared between them.

She heard him growl her name and felt him gather her closer as he kissed her with purpose, running his hands up and down her back.

The heat coming off him made her dizzy. She should be afraid, but she kept kissing him, letting him feel all the passion that she’d held inside herself for so long.

Opening her lips, she invited him to explore her mouth, then did the same with him, absorbing his taste and the way the mouth-to-mouth contact sent shock waves to every part of her body. 

“You know that you’re playing with fire?” he asked. 

“I know what I want.”

“Then take off your clothes.”

Again, a dose of reality. Was she ready to get undressed in front of him? Or was she going to back away—the way he hoped she would.

She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of scaring her off. Not because she was trying to score any points, but because what she wanted hadn’t changed, even if he was trying to make her take a step back.

She did step back, but only a few feet. She kept her gaze on him as she reached for the hem of the T-shirt and pulled it over her head, then let it drop on the floor so that she stood before him naked to the waist…

BETRAYED is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York’s writing has been compared to that of Dick Francis, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Maggie Shayne. 

Her award-winning books have been translated into twenty-two languages and optioned for film. A recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, she lives in Maryland near Washington, DC, which is often the setting of her romantic suspense novels.

For more on Rebecca and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.



GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The first giveaway is from Jill. The prize is a $50 gift card to an online e-tailer (open to anyone who signs up for the author's newsletter). To enter, just click on the first Rafflecopter widget and follow the instructions.

The second giveaway is from Rebecca. The prize is the Rockfort Files series book #1 and a $50 gift card to an online book e-tailer. To enter, just click on the second Rafflecopter widget and follow the instructions. The widgets may take a few seconds to load, please be patient.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and joining in the fun with Jill and Rebecca. My wish for you today is that where ever you are, you’re having a great time and enjoying your day whether you’re celebrating the holiday or not. Do you have a book lined up to read during the holiday weekend? Are you reading romance, mystery, crime fiction or some else?

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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