A Special Contest!

Yesterday, the third book in my Left at the Altar series, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, released from Uncial Press. Yay! One of the things I'm doing to celebrate is to offer a contest with prizes inspired by the series. This contest is open only to my newsletter subscribers.

You're not one of my newsletter subscribers? It's not too late to get in on the fun. Join the newsletter now for your chance to win some cool swag. I've got five prize packs:

A “Her Best Man” tote bag and a CD copy (text only) of HER BEST MAN.

A “There Goes the Groom” tote bag and a CD copy (text only) of HER BEST MAN.

An “Always a Bridesmaid” tote bag and a CD copy (text only) of A LONG WAY FROM EDEN

An Uncial Press tote bag and a CD copy (text only) of A LONG WAY FROM EDEN

An Uncial Press tote bag and a CD copy  (text only) of SEEING THINGS

And who knows, maybe I'll add a couple more surprise prizes along the way!

Over the next two weeks I'll be touring the Internet on my blog tour. You can see a full schedule here. My newsletter subscribers will receive an email with questions based on four of those stops. All you have to do to enter is answer the questions and email me your answers. Easy peasy! But you can only enter if you're newsletter subscriber. So enter here: http://www.eepurl.com/m3UnT  Best of luck!

Release Day!

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID releases today and I couldn't be more thrilled! I'm celebrating today at the Romance Lives Forever blog where I'm interviewing my three heroines - Sarah Stevens, Olivia Taylor, and Daniella (Dani) Dipietro - from the Left at the Altar series. I hope you'll stop by and say hello!

Always a Bridesmaid releases Jan.17! #MFRWhooks

I'm very excited because ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, the third book in my Left at the Altar series, releases on Friday, January 17, 2014. Only two more sleeps! Here's the blurb:

Dani Dipietro has always considered herself an ugly duckling in a family of swans. She's the bridesmaid her friends count on, but never the woman any man wants for his bride. So she plays the funny girl and guards her emotions, and her secrets, closely.

When Zach Morrison was dumped at his wedding, Dani was there to help him through the humiliation. A year later they meet again and once more Zach needs her help. To fend off the unwanted attentions of his former fiancé, he asks Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend. They play their roles a little too well, and make believe turns into reality. But their relationship comes crashing down around them when Zach's trust issues cause him to accuse Dani of cheating. Telling the truth means that Dani will betray a friend, something she will never do. But keeping her secrets means she may be destined to remain a bridesmaid forever. 

Here's an eight paragraph peek at ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID:

Wanting nothing more than to comfort, she wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. He held her tightly, pulling her against him and burying his face in her neck. Dani inhaled the intoxicating scent of spicy aftershave laced with underlying notes of warm, clean male. How could Chantal treat a wonderful man like Zach this way?

She gently pulled away, keeping him at arm's length. "You're going to get past this, Zach."

"It doesn't feel like it right now."

"I know, but someday, when you're old and grey, you'll be sitting on the front porch with your wonderful wife of fifty years, and you'll say 'Thank Heaven Chantal cheated on me or I never would have met you.'"

He made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "Fifty years, eh?"

"Trust me."

Some lucky girl would snap Zach up in a minute, and if she was smart, she'd shower him with the love and consideration he deserved. Some lucky girl, but not me.

Reluctantly, she took a step back. He squeezed her fingers before letting her go. With her heart pounding in her chest, and regret nipping at her heels, she hurried from the church. Before she did something stupid, like kiss the jilted groom.

This buy link, https://www.uncialpress.com/Always-a-Bridesmaid.html will go live on January 17. I hope you enjoyed my snippet!

A Sneak Peek at "Always a Bridesmaid"

Happy Sunday! Today my sneak peek is from my soon to be released (January 17, 2014) contemporary romance ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID. Here's the blurb:

Dani Dipietro has always considered herself an ugly duckling in a family of swans. She's always the bridesmaid her friends count on, but never the woman any man wants for his bride. So she plays the funny girl and guards her emotions, and her secrets, closely.
When Zach Morrison was dumped at his wedding, Dani was there to help him through the humiliation. A year later they meet again and once more Zach needs her help. To fend off the unwanted attentions of his former fiancé, he asks Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend. They both play their roles a little too well, and make-believe turns into reality. Their invented relationship comes crashing down when Zach's trust issues cause him to accuse Dani of cheating. Telling the truth means that Dani will betray a friend, something she will never do. But keeping her secrets means she may be destined to remain a bridesmaid forever.     

 Here's today's six paragraphs:

He cupped her cheek, his eyes searching hers. "Why do you do that? Make a joke or accuse me of being patronizing when I try to compliment you?"

Because I can't believe you mean it. "I know I'm not perfect, not in looks, not like Chantal. Far from it."

"Maybe I don't want perfect." His thumb traced lazy circles over the delicate skin under her eye. "Maybe I want sweet and kind and funny. Maybe I want someone who makes me laugh, and makes me believe happiness is possible."

She stared at him, his gaze rendering her immobile. She wanted to tell him not to say things like that to her, not unless he was very, very sure he meant them. Because if he didn't really mean it, she might not survive.

But her heart lodged in her throat, making speech impossible. All she could do was pray that when he left her, her heart would still be in one piece.

Zach lowered his mouth to hers. His lips touched hers, softly, sweetly. She wanted more, so much more. She stepped closer to him, stretching on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck and press herself against him. His kiss changed in a heartbeat, consuming her, devouring her in a vortex of sensation and need. Nothing mattered except this moment with Zach in her arms.

I hope you've enjoyed a look at ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID. This is the third book in my Left at the Altar series: Book one, HER BEST MAN, and Book two, THERE GOES THE GROOM.

For more sneak peeks, check out http://sneak-peek-sunday.blogspot.ca/  Have a great day!

Seven lines from 'There Goes the Groom' #MFRWhooks

Happy Book-hooks Wednesday! Today I've got seven lines from THERE GOES THE GROOM, book two in my Left at the Altar series. Here's the blurb:

Eight years ago Tony left Olivia at the altar. He was sure she didn't really want to marry him. Now he's back, and they're forced to work together.

Coming home isn't easy for Tony, because his father wanted him to work at a trade instead of going off to college. Their relationship is still unsteady. Even before Tony's return, Olivia began questioning the depth of her love for her fiancé, a man she chose because he was safe and reliable. The last thing she wants is a loveless, faithless marriage like the one her parents suffered through. 

When Tony, who never stopped loving her, insists her fiancé is the wrong man for her, Olivia sets out to prove him wrong. But the sexual chemistry between them is still strong, and so are her feelings for him. Even so, how can she break her engagement, hurt her fiancé as she was once hurt? And how can she trust Tony not to abandon her like he did before?

If anyone does the jilting this time, she will. 

Here's seven paragraphs from the opening of THERE GOES THE GROOM:

“I, Anthony James DiPietro, take you, Olivia Jane Taylor, to be my lawful wedded wife, from this day forward, till death do us part.”

The impact of the words hit Olivia. They were promising to love each other for the rest of their lives. How could anyone make a promise like that? How could she possibly know at twenty how she would feel at forty?

She swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment, thrusting the thought from her mind. All she knew was that she loved Tony. They’d have to figure out this marriage thing as they went along.

Like her parents figured it out?

Something inside Olivia snapped, like an elastic band reaching its breaking point. What if she and Tony didn’t make it?

The minister continued the liturgy. “Olivia, repeat after me, ‘I, Olivia Jane Taylor—”

“I can’t marry you.”

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, Book three of the Left at the Altar series, releases January 17, 2014.

See you next time!

Today's Spotlight on Always a Bridesmaid

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID is releasing January 17 and I'm gearing up for the big day with guest posts around the Internet. Today I'm at Lia's Book Haven for a spotlight look at my new release, the third book in my Left at the Altar series. I hope you can stop by!

The Sunday Snog from Always a Bridesmaid!

It's great to be here at the Sunday Snog with my very first excerpt! ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID is book three of my Left at the Altar series, and it's releasing on January 17, 2014. Here's a blurb:

Dani Dipietro has always considered herself an ugly duckling in a family of swans. She's always the bridesmaid her friends count on, but never the woman any man wants for his bride. So she plays the funny girl and guards her emotions, and her secrets, closely.

When Zach Morrison was dumped at his wedding, Dani was there to help him through the humiliation. A year later they meet again and once more Zach needs her help. To fend off the unwanted attentions of his former fiancé, he asks Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend. They both play their roles a little too well, and make-believe turns into reality. Their invented relationship comes crashing down when Zach's trust issues cause him to accuse Dani of cheating. Telling the truth means that Dani will betray a friend, something she will never do. But keeping her secrets means she may be destined to remain a bridesmaid forever.     

In this excerpt, containing Zach and Dani's first snog, they meet again after a year:

The door swung open, and for a moment Dani could only stare. Zach Morrison stood holding the door and looking even more handsome then he had a year ago. She'd learned from Fiona that he'd be here, that they'd be paired together in the wedding party. But even though he'd had a starring role in her fantasies for the last year, she hadn't expected her insides to go all mushy at the sight of him.

Finally, she remembered her manners and held out her hand. "It's nice to see you again, Zach."

He took her hand and held it tightly. "It's nice to see you, too. In fact, I'm really glad you're here."

Her mouth went instantly dry. "You are?"

"Yeah." He squeezed her fingers, the look on his face intense. "I know we don’t know each other well, but I have a favor I need to ask you. A really big favor."

"Okay." She couldn't imagine what kind of favor he'd want from her. "Why don't I come inside and you can tell me about it."

He looked furtively over his shoulder. "I haven't forgotten your kindness when I saw you last. My mother told me how considerate you were to her and Camp as well. Thank you."

"You're welcome. But I really didn't do anything." Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.

"It meant a lot to me. Listen, there's not much time. I wanted to ask you--"

"Zach! Who's at the door?"

Dani started. She knew that voice. Chantal.

Zach visibly shuddered at the demanding tone in Chantal's voice. His blue eyes implored her.

"Please, play along with me. I'll make it worth your while."

"What?"

"Daniella, help me, please!" he whispered.

How could she say no to a handsome man asking for her help?

"Okay, but--"

Before she could articulate a question, he pulled her into his arms, his mouth descending on hers. Dani was too shocked to object. For a full ten seconds she remained rigid and unyielding. Then she relaxed slightly, sighing at the sweet sensation of his lips touching hers. Her hands seemed to move on their own accord, first exploring his muscular chest, then winding around his neck. Her body trembled as it molded itself against his.

"Dani? Is that you?"

Chantal's voice doused the pleasant awareness. She stepped back with a jolt, shocked that she'd been so intimate with someone she hardly knew. She cringed. And in front of an audience, too.

Zach put his arm around her waist, pulling her against him and kissing her cheek. "Just follow my lead. Please," he whispered urgently in her ear. Dani looked up into his eyes and saw his desperation. Without thinking, she gave an imperceptible nod. He grinned and turned to face Chantal.

"I was just saying hello to Daniella."

Chantal looked her up and down. "Since when do you say hello to Dani by sticking your tongue down her throat?"

I hope you enjoyed this first kiss! For more sexy snogs, check out other kisses at http://blissekiss.co.uk See you next time!