Favorite Scene: UNLOCK MY HEART by Jennifer Wilck #newrelease

Jennifer Wilck is a multi-published, award-winning contemporary romance author, and I'm very pleased to host her today. Her new release, UNLOCK MY HEART,  is book two in her Scarred Hearts series, and releases tomorrow March 2, 2022! Jennifer shares her favorite scene with us, and it's a great one. Take it away, Jen!

I’m excited to share my favorite scene from Unlock My Heart with you today. Thanks, Jana, for hosting me!

Have you ever been to The New York Public Library? It is a beautiful building filled with history, architectural marvels, and of course, books! The marble is exquisite, and it always has exhibits to check out along with the books.

When I used to work in New York City, I’d meet a friend for lunch occasionally, and we’d always meet at the lions which flank the building. Then we’d go to wherever we were eating—in the nice weather, we’d sit on the steps or eat in Bryant Park, which is right behind the library. In the bad weather, we’d find somewhere indoors. 

During one of the RWA National Conventions in New York City, my friend and I took a break from the conference and went to the library. We walked around inside, peeked into the reading rooms, checked out the exhibits, and got our fill of the books. We sat at tables and worked on our manuscripts, when we weren’t distracted by the beautiful ceilings.

With this in mind, I made sure to include a scene at the library in my latest book, Unlock My Heart. Ted is the founder and CEO of a computer security firm. Abby is one of his best programmers. The entire company is in New York for a computer security conference. When a snowstorm closes the conference, Ted and Abby decide to explore. They’ve been trying to deny their attraction to each other, but the more time they spend together, the harder it is to do. When they get to the library, well, things heat up. Here’s an excerpt I think you’ll enjoy: 

They walked with care up the icy steps, Ted taking Abby’s arm. His concern for her touched her. Desire flared. At the top of the steps, she leaned against one of the gray stone columns and caught her breath, but he joined her, arms on either side of her, his body shielding her from the few brave tourists who entered or left. This close to him, his eyelashes provided a dark outline to his eyes, his cheeks were ruddy from the cold, and his minty breath warmed her face. Out of reflex, she curled her hands around his hard biceps. His jeans brushed against hers, an invisible string tangled between the two of them, pulled her toward him. The air crackled. 

She blinked. His lips were parted, pale, and looked like silk. She wondered what they’d feel like against hers, her neck, her...with a huge effort, she dragged her gaze away from his lips. 

His neck enticed her more. The skin was a bit rough, and right below his Adam’s apple was the hollow she wanted to touch. More than anything, right now, she wanted to touch it. She lifted her hand off his arm and stopped in midair as he swallowed. Was he as turned on right now as she was? 

His pupils dilated until they were outlined in electric blue. He tipped toward her, his nose brushed against hers, and he paused. 

He was going to kiss her. 

Blurb, Unlock My Heart:

Can love break through their firewalls?

Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?

Ted Endicott, CEO and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?

As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client's system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together? 

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4NyjGx

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Heart-Scarred-Hearts-Book-ebook/dp/B09PJWJZBR

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unlock-my-heart-jennifer-wilck/1140834495

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1602136611

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unlock-my-heart

Author Bio:

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate. 

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/879114386079365

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

New Series and #NewRelease from Jennifer Wilck: A RECKLESS HEART

Today's guest is Jennifer Wilck, a fellow writer with The Wild Rose Press. Jennifer has a new series with The Wild Rose Press called Scarred Hearts and it begins with book 1, A RECKLESS HEART. The ebook releases on March 29, 2021 but you can pre-order it today. Welcome Jennifer!

Jana, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today! My latest book, A Reckless Heart, is a contemporary romance and is Book 1 in my Scarred Hearts Series. Here are five things you need to know:

1) I came up with the premise of the series in 2016. Four college buddies, scarred in some way, have found tremendous financial success in their careers. They use their vast wealth for good, supporting philanthropy projects that are close to their hearts. And then they meet the women who draw them out of their shells, challenge them and turn their worlds upside down. I wrote the first 5,000 words of A Reckless Heart while in Boston on a college tour with my oldest daughter—she’s now about to graduate college!

2) The heroine of A Reckless Heart is Meg, a former socialite with a secret past. Her past is actually based on a news report one of my writing buddies showed me, about a publicist to the stars who commits a crime. I can’t tell you anymore, because, SPOILERS!

3) The hero of A Reckless Heart is Simon. He’s a world renowned landscape architect, and I had a lot of fun researching the profession. They design college campuses, the landscaping around palaces, royal gardens, etc. And their work is stunning.

4) One of the things that helps Simon recover from his accident is a therapy garden. I also was able to do research into those, and they help with everything from fine motor skills, to the elderly, to cognitive therapy. It’s a fascinating topic.

5) The Scarred Hearts Series consists of four books. It’s a hero-centric series, meaning the heroes appear in all four stories, so you’ll catch a glimpse of each of them starting with Book One. And I had a lot of fun creating the perfect heroine for each of them. I hope you’ll join me in following their stories!

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X429BMX/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-reckless-heart-jennifer-wilck/1138858163?ean=2940162335382

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-reckless-heart/id1554790505

Excerpt:

Simon took her arm and led her in the direction Jed pointed. The walkways were deserted, and Simon was in his element. She warmed as he talked about how much he admired the flowers and herbs, climbed on walls to get a different view of the plants, or crouched to see the stems, mulch, and rocks on the ground. His excitement was contagious, and although she didn’t know what half of the plants he named were, she admired their colors and textures. 

After a few moments, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dictated notes. When he put his phone away, Meg spoke. “These gardens are beautiful.” 

“Want to see what I planted when I was here?” 

His work was here? “I’d love to.” She hadn’t seen any of his finished projects, just his plans. She was eager to see what he’d done. He led her once again toward the pavilion. In one area, sweeping in an arc, were leafy plants and flowers. At first glance, they looked as if they’d landed there any old way, but as she studied them, a pattern and a purpose emerged. Varying shades of greens and golds merged with reds and oranges. 

She gasped. “They look like flames! They’re beautiful.” 

He smiled. “When they’re in full bloom in the summer, you can see the design more clearly.” 

He’d created this because of his accident. To think he’d intentionally planted to make a thing of beauty out of destruction...her chest swelled, and she blinked away unwanted moisture. She wrapped her arms around him. “Does it help you to look at it?” 

He shrugged. “Now, it matters less to me. Then? I needed to remove the image from my mind and this formation helped. Instead of seeing the fire that destroyed my family, I turned those visions into something that created life—flowers that stunned and soothed at the same time. Plus, the ability to do the work myself was therapeutic as well.” 

“You’re amazing.” She looked around, turning in a slow circle. “I don’t think I could ever do anything like this.” The car accident and flash bulbs flickered in her mind once again. What beauty could she possibly create from her experience? 

He massaged his hand. “Took way longer than it should.” 

“And probably involved a lot of cursing.” 

Simon huffed. “In the beginning, I made sure to only be here alone. Toward the end, Jed allowed a few select people to work here at the same time as me. But never children. Because, you know, language.”

Blurb:

Meg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she's found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger.

Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he's lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he's not lonely. 

Simon's new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg's secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg's love? 

Author Links:

Website: https://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

Bio:

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate. 

She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Guest Author Marlowe Kelly and the Scandalous Jane Digby

Historical romance author Marlow Kelly is my guest today. She has a fascinating story about a truly intriguing Victorian woman. Take it away, Marlow!

One of the most scandalous women of the Victorian Era is Jane Elizabeth Digby. She was a woman known for her numerous marriages and affairs. But was she really so bad or was she just a victim of an era when women were seen as the property of their husbands rather than people in their own right?

Jane was born in Dorset, England, in 1807 to an aristocratic family. Her father was a decorated admiral in the British navy who was known for capturing enemy ships and taking their bounty.

Jane was an intelligent, independently wealthy woman who spoke nine languages, and was considered a talented artist and a magnificent horsewoman. She would have been coveted for these qualities alone, but Jane was also beautiful. Her peers described her as tall, with a perfect figure, blond and blue-eyed.

At the age of seventeen she married Edward Law, Lord Ellenborough, a man nearly twenty years her senior. Lord Ellenborough had a rising political career and it seems he spent many days and weeks away from the young, adventurous Jane. She responded to her loneliness by having affairs first with her cousin, Colonel George Anson, who it is rumored was the father of her son, Arthur. She must have also been sleeping with her husband at this time because Edward had no questions about paternity. Unfortunately, Arthur died in infancy.

Next she had an affair with Prince Felix Schwarzenberg. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter, Mathilde, in 1829. This time Lord Ellenborough knew beyond a doubt that the child was not his.

Edward divorced Jane by act of Parliament in 1830. In this time period only two divorces a year were granted. The salacious details of this case caused a scandal that rocked England.

After her divorce, and against the wishes of her family Jane followed Felix to Munich, but the relationship ended when their son died soon after birth. Felix broke contact with Jane and it seems that she had no qualms about leaving her daughter to be raised by Felix’s sister.

Jane wasn’t alone for long, she soon caught the eye of Ludwig I of Bavaria and the pair became lovers. It was at this time that she met and married her second husband, Baron Karl von Venningen. They married in November 1833. This, it seems, was a marriage of convenience, and although Jane may have cared for Karl she wasn’t in love with him. Together they had a son, Heribert and a daughter, Bertha.

But Jane couldn’t or wouldn’t settle. Within five years she took another lover, Count Spyridon Theotokis of Greece. When Venningen found out he was furious and challenged Theotokis to a duel. Karl won the dual, injuring Spyridon, but lost the girl. Jane left her husband to care for her injured lover. Seeing that her affections had changed, Venningen released her from their marriage. He kept the children and took care of them, although, he and Jane remained friends and kept in touch for the rest of their lives.

Jane, now in Greece, converted to the Greek Orthodox faith and married Theotokis in 1841. The pair had a son, Leonidas. Tragically, he died at the age of six, after a fall from a balcony. Out of her five children, Leonidas was the only one she seemed to have truly loved and was devastated by his death. Her relationship with Theotokis ended and the coupled divorced.

Once again, Jane wasn’t alone for long; her next lover was King Otto of Greece. This just seems to have been a quick affair. And Jane moved on to Greek General, Christodoulos Hatzipetros. She threw herself into her life with him, living in caves, riding horses and hunting in the mountains. Christodoulos was a man famous for his womanizing and Jane walked out on him when she discovered he was cheating on her. (Okay, I’m surprised by this considering all the cheating she’d done in her life.)

In her mid-forties Jane travelled to Arabia where she met and fell in love with Sheik Abdul Medjuel El Mezrab, whom was fifteen years her junior. Their marriage seems to have been a happy one, built on compromise. She wanted to be married in the European sense whereas he wanted to keep his harem. It is rumored that they agreed to be monogamous for three years after that time he would reinstate his harem and could take other wives. By all accounts, Jane loved the Bedouin life, living for six months a year travelling, and sleeping in a tent. The other six months were spent in her palatial home in Damascus. Her marriage lasted nearly thirty years until her death in 1871.

Jane was definitely a woman out of time. She seemed to yearn for adventure, and men were a part of that. She doesn’t seem to have had much in the way of maternal instinct. I think her children were just a byproduct of sleeping with men in an era where there was no such thing as reliable contraceptives.

I like to believe she found the life she was looking for with the Bedouin. The fact that everyday was different would have been fun for her. And when she got tired of sleeping in a tent she could return to her comfortable home in Damascus.

My character, Annabel, in A Woman of Love, wasn’t as fortunate as Jane. Annabel is completely controlled by her disreputable husband, Lord Elliott Peters. So when he demands that she pay his gambling debts by bedding his friend, James Drake, she is forced to comply.

What happens when Annabel meets James? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

A WOMAN OF LOVE is part of the Honour, Love and Courage series from Marlow Kelly:

When her dissolute husband insists that Lady Annabel Peters bed one of his villainous cohorts to repay a gambling debt, she is scandalized. But she is forced to agree because he controls every aspect of her life.

A physically and emotionally crippled war hero, James Drake has retreated from society. At the request of his brother, he manipulates events so he can interrogate Annabel, a woman he thinks may be part of a ring of thieves.

Neither of them count on an instant and overwhelming attraction. James may now believe Annabel but she suspects her husband plans to kill her. As one of her husband’s friends, James is not to be trusted.


Yet how can she escape a man who has the ability to control her with a gentle kiss?

Excerpt:

She swung around, and came face to face with a demon. He was tall, and broad with long, black hair, a bushy beard, and a scar that traversed his right cheek, narrowly missing his eye. Shadows darkened his face with stark lines making him look like a man who had come straight from hell. She straightened her spine. He was a man, plain and simple. Not a demon, and certainly not from hell. She needed to keep her whimsical thoughts at bay, so she could form a plan.

“Have you changed your mind regarding our rendezvous?” His soft-spoken, polite manner seemed strangely at odds with his appearance.

“I-I never agreed to...” She licked her lips. Why was her mouth so dry? Had his intense gaze turned her into a blathering nitwit?

He clasped her hands, enfolding them in his warm touch. “You have a graze here. Did you fall?” He kissed each palm in turn, his warm breath making her quiver deep in her belly. She wrenched her hands away. Good God. Was she so starved for affection a simple touch could kindle her passion? 

Yes, she was. It had been years since a man had caressed her with anything close to tenderness. 

Buy Links for A WOMAN OF LOVE:

Amazon ~ TWRP ~ B&N ~ iBooks

Author Marlow Kelly

After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories and her curiosity regarding the lives and loves of historical figures are the inspiration for her characters. You can visit Marlow at www.marlowkelly.com.

Marlow's Social media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlowkelly?ref=hl 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/want2write 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Marlowkelly14/

Marlow be awarding a $10 Amazon egift-card to a lucky winner via Rafflecopter.

Readers can go to www.marlowkelly.com to get the tour dates and follow the tour. The more you comment, tweet and follow the more chances you have to win. Giveaway runs from 4th March until 31st March.

a Rafflecopter giveaway