Laid Bare With Flair Contest Day 28!
Jul
30
2009

Today I’m giving away a copy of Laid Bare! I got a box of author copies all shiny and pretty so I thought I’d share.

Great Googly Moogly do I love that cover! The excerpt below is the opening of the book.

Unexpected Desire…

It’s been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn’t in the cards just yet…

Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin’s past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd’s best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed—and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

Excerpt from LAID BARE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright Lauren Dane, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Penguin Group

Seattle, The Off Ramp, Ten Years Ago

Music, raw and hard like sex, pulsed through the speaker stack, caught the people in front of the stage as much as it had her in its grip.

The bass line throbbed through her like a second pulse as the scent of beer and sweat settled into her system. Sweat slicked her forehead and slid down the line of her spine. The muscles in her forearm corded as she played, her fingers finding their way as they had time and again. A secret smile marked her lips as her halflidded eyes focused on something not visible to anyone else.

Yes, it was a man’s world up there, but she’d kicked down the door with her Doc Martens and she wasn’t giving her spot to anyone else. She loved making music, and it fit her like a second skin.

It made her alive.

Her dreads swung forward, partially obscuring her face—adding, she knew, to the overall effect. Her belly, glistening with sweat, slid against the back of her bass where her shirt ended and her low-slung jeans began.

Up there, under the blue lights, she didn’t have to work at it. She was. She was exactly where she wanted to be, a guitar strapped to her body, calluses on her fingers from playing. The muscles in her upper arms were well defined because she hauled equipment around for gigs. There wasn’t any doubt, any self-consciousness. She lived the life she wanted.

Erin Brown had stopped apologizing for wanting things. She grabbed experiences with both hands and gobbled them down.

Even if the band never made it beyond small, local rock clubs, she’d be happy to just keep playing. There wasn’t much more you could ask for in life, and Erin accepted her blessings quite happily and graciously.

Todd took a pull from his beer, one leg bent as he leaned against the windowsill, looking out toward the street. There she was, getting out of her beat-up van. He had no idea why the hell he did it, but since he’d moved to the day shift he found himself at his window every night at six-fourteen to watch her make the walk from car to door.

She was so not the kind of woman who usually caught his eye. Still, his fingers gripped the sill as he greedily took in the way she moved. Like she couldn’t care less if people watched. Or worse, got off on it.

Long and lean, her gait ate up the walk, her dreadlocks swinging to her ass. A fine ass it was in those faded jeans. If he looked close enough, he saw the threadbare spots just beneath the pockets.
Reflexively, he tightened his hands into fists as tension hummed through him. Anticipation and a sort of need filled his gut as he watched her.

He snorted at what an idiot he was being. Dreadlocks. What woman wore dreadlocks? Not his sort of woman, that was all there was to it.

Time stopped, along with his heart, when she turned at her door and met his gaze with a smile. A smile that told him she’d known he watched. Surprised but rooted to the spot, he raised a hand in greeting. She paused a moment before tipping her chin at him.

Briefly he relaxed as she turned back to her door, but that slid away when she paused again, dropped her bag on the porch and turned back toward his place.

Shit.

She was already on his doorstep by the time he’d put his beer down and opened the door to face her.

“Officer Keenan, how are you today?”

Her voice did things to him. Unwilling things. Low and smoky. It went with her eyes, a sort of brownish green, full of promises. Damn it, she was not what he wanted. And still he couldn’t keep his eyes from dropping to take in her nipples straining against the front of her shirt.

“Erin, I’ve told you, it’s Todd.” Yanking his gaze back to her face, he stood in the doorway, fighting the urge to invite her in. She put a hand on her hip and he caught the taut expanse of her belly exposed with the movement. And the glimmer of the ring she had there.

“I know, but I like calling you Officer Keenan. It’s sort of sexy. Very in-charge and authoritative.” She winked. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know we were having some people over later tonight. It shouldn’t be loud. You should come over if you’re going to be around.”

“Thanks for asking, but it’s really not my thing.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets before he did something stupid like reaching out to trace around the ring in her belly button or to test the texture of the dread hanging nearest to him.

She smelled of something unique. Heady, smoldering and sweet all at once. Every time they came in close contact he had that scent in his nose for days.

Today’s Question: What’s your favorite book to movie or television series?

I’ll choose a winner tomorrow afternoon!

123 comments to “Laid Bare With Flair Contest Day 28!”

  1. Calila
    July 30th, 2009 at 3:59 am · Link

    My favorite book to movie would probably be Little Women…the one with Liz Taylor. Thats the only one I can think of, LOL. I’m sure there are tons more.

    As for book to t.v. series right now its Dexter or True Blood(which i like more than the books).



  2. Edie
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:03 am · Link

    I am an either/or person, If I read the book I don’t watch the movie or vice versa.
    Though am thinking of watching True Blood, though I’m not fully decided.



  3. MichelleKCanada
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:08 am · Link

    I hate to sound like I can’t come up with a better answer here but I truly love the Harry Potter series. I really think they did a great job turning a book into a movie. So many times you can be disappointed when a movie is released when it comes from a book but I really enjoy the HP movies as much as the books.
    For instance, I love the Stephanie Plum books by Janet E but I cringe at the thought of them being turned into movies. I really don’t want them to.

    And holy cats I cannot wait for this book. The cover is a thing of beauty.



  4. Eva S
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:18 am · Link

    My favorite is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien, and great movies! Usually I don’t like books to movies…



  5. Frana
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:40 am · Link

    Hi! You got me thinking there for a moment, but here are mine: Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice. Sometimes the movie is almost better then the book but sometimes I just get disappointed like with Twilight for instance



  6. Sue Brandes
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:47 am · Link

    The Twilight series and Harry Potter series. 😀



  7. JP
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:00 am · Link

    Honestly, I cringe when I see a favorite book is being made into a film or TV series, b/c I’m sure it will never live up to my expectations. Sadly, I’m usually right.

    I do like the Harry Potter movies, not so much for trueness to the books, b/c they leave far too much out, but I do think the casting is spot-on.

    Otherwise, the only movies from books I’ve been pleased with are Merchant-Ivory productions of EM Forster novels — A Room with a View and Howard’s End, in particular. I also like Kenneth Branaugh’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing — some of the casting was off (*ahem*KeanuReeves*ahem*), but Branaugh and Emma Thompson absolutely sparkled as Benedick and Beatrice.



  8. Cathi O
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:01 am · Link

    Usually, I find the books a thousand times better than the movies or shows. The two exceptions that jump out at the moment are Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire (because she was part of the movie process; the sequel bit because she was not part of the process), Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, and Charlaine Harris’ Tru Blood. Hmmm.. I notice a theme here! 😀



  9. Mary G
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:02 am · Link

    Does it count if you have’t read the book? I love In Her Shoes the movie. Loved The Lord of The Rings books & movies. BTW loved Taking Care of Business & just ordered Giving Chase to start with.



  10. Chris
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:04 am · Link

    The Handmaid’s Tale – the movie was very different from the book, but it worked.



  11. sara hurt
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:05 am · Link

    I agree with Edie, If a book is made into a movie or vise versa then I decide wether I want to read or watch first. If I decide to read then I dont watch. They are usually never the same so it makes it hard for me to enjoy both of them.



  12. Valerie
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:14 am · Link

    I usually watch movies that have been made from books. My favourites are Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all the films made so far from Terry Pratchett’s books. Soul Music, Hogfather, Wyrd Sisters and The Color of Magic.

    I also enjoy the movies made from comics, I collect them all.



  13. Mare Fairchild
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:15 am · Link

    True Blood.



  14. Melissa Conatser
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:30 am · Link

    I love The Lord of the Rings!

    My favorite series would have to be Supernatural.



  15. Karin
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:32 am · Link

    Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings – mainly because of the special effects. Very few good books translate well into movies because the movies tend to only pick certain scenes. I remember seeing the movie Jurasic Park before I read the book. I thik the movie is only one or two chapters out of the book.



  16. Crystal B.
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:33 am · Link

    The Harry Potter series.



  17. Pamela Peddy
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:44 am · Link

    Thats a hard question because if I see a movie I won’t read the book. There have been a few where I read the book first.
    I have to go with Sleeping With The Enemy by Nancy Price. I read it about 2 years before the movie.
    I did enjoy Little Women too.
    Excerpt sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing.



  18. Amy M
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:01 am · Link

    I would say Lord of the Rings. But as a general rule I do not watch the movie if I have read the book. I usually feel let down if the movie is too far off course from the book, especially if I loved the book.

    Thanks~
    Amy M



  19. Miranda
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:03 am · Link

    I really enjoyed the conversion of The Lion, the witch & the wardrobe into a movie. The costuming and special effects really did it justice even though I always cringe when they rewrite the screenplays!

    Thanks for sharing and congrats!!!

    Miranda



  20. Lisa J
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:06 am · Link

    Not much of a fan of books to movie/tv. They just never match up to my idea of what the characters should look like and they never follow the parts of the book I like best.



  21. Pamk
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:17 am · Link

    I love the Lord of the Rings and the HP series. I know the left a lot of stuff out but in your words good googly moogy there is a lot of stuff in those big books. But I think they stay true to the essense of the books whereas some of the books to film don’t even try.



  22. Sharon M
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:23 am · Link

    I love the Harry Potter movies because they can do so much with the special effects. But my favorite book to movie is Gone With The Wind.



  23. Jana J. Hanson
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:31 am · Link

    Gone With the Wind. Both the book and the movie are good in their respective arenas.



  24. Christine
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:36 am · Link

    To be honest If I love the book I won’t watch the tv series or movie b/c I know they are going to butcher it. Especially if I love the book. The only expection I have made is Harry Potter.



  25. Collette
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:47 am · Link

    There are only a few movies that live up to a really good book. I think A Princess Bride is one of them. So is Shoeless Joe > A Field of Dreams. Maybe Pride and Prejudice into the BBC version, or the Greer Garson version. Okay, stopping now.



  26. Fedora
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:54 am · Link

    Amy Tan’s the Joy Luck Club–the movie wasn’t exactly like the book, but the adaptation was pretty well done, which isn’t always the case!



  27. Natasha A.
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:57 am · Link

    I am not a huge fan of the book to movie thing. I guess I would have to go with The Client. It was perfect, but I really did enjoy it.
    Harry Potter is good as well, as long as you don’t do the comparisons.

    I absolutely need this book. Damn my bookstore for not having any in stock. I think I will go order on my way home tonight 😉



  28. Natasha A.
    July 30th, 2009 at 6:58 am · Link

    and that should read that The Client WASN’T perfect…*sigh*



  29. jennifer cecil
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:07 am · Link

    The Thorn Birds. It’s one of the few movies where I didn’t spend most of the time yelling, at the t.v., “That didn’t happen like that!”.



  30. Roberta Harwell
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:15 am · Link

    I’m going to be telling my age a little on this blog. I loved the book to movie for Pet Cemetery even if the ending changed and the Harry Potter series. I’m a kid at heart. Have a great day.



  31. Jennifer F.
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:17 am · Link

    I guess my favorite would be the Harry Potter series. You have to give the director a little license with the movies, but as far as doing a good job getting the essence of the books into the films this series to me has done an excellent job.



  32. BookFiend
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:44 am · Link

    Hmm. I’m looking forward to CW’s Vampire Diaries. L.J. Smith’s books were some of my favs.



  33. Tracy
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:45 am · Link

    My current obsession is True Blood which I like better than the books. I am looking forward the Vampire Diaries which is coming to TV this fall. Of course, there’s Twilight and New Moon coming. Can you tell that I like vampires? – LOL.

    I also loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Harry Potter series. The latest Harry Potter movie, is the best one to date.

    Thanks for the giveaway Lauren! I can’t wait to read Laid Bare.



  34. sharon
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:46 am · Link

    HP, I suppose. I’m usually on board for anything and appreciate how a different medium can bring something different to the table. 😀



  35. catie james
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:48 am · Link

    Okay – can’t name a favorite book, ’cause there are just too many.

    Favorite movie is a four-way tie (and given the prize features a menage relationship, my answer seems apropos: THE LONG HOT SUMMER, NOTORIOUS, CLOCKWATCHERS, and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.

    Favorite television show (off air): THE GOLDEN GIRLS
    Favorite television show (on air): WEEDS – I wait anxiously every year for the next season’s DVD release because my family refuses to pay for cable. BLARGH!



  36. elaing8
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:50 am · Link

    Some of my favs are True Blood,Twilight(movie was ok),Harry Potter,Of Mice and Men(read the book in high school,movie was ok)
    I’m also looking forward to Vampire Diaries.



  37. blodeuedd
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:56 am · Link

    I will go with Pride and Prejudice, oh and North and South. BBC knows how to make great BBC drama out of books.
    And with hunky men



  38. Christina
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:57 am · Link

    With this summer I have been re watching some old fav. right now my obession is the west wing and I love Bones



  39. Heather
    July 30th, 2009 at 7:57 am · Link

    Honestly, I dont usually like books to tv shows/movies. But the Notebook was done very well. And Army Wives, which is based on Under the Sabers.

    I am very excited to see what will happen with The Time Travel’s Wife. That book was so good….and the trailer of the movie looks amazing.



  40. Blanche
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am · Link

    I’m going to have to go with Harry Potter too! :mrgreen:



  41. Sonya
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:12 am · Link

    I agree with Collette on the Princess Bride. I love the movie and the book. The Hunt for Red October was also a great movie. Alec Baldwin will always be Jack Ryan for me.



  42. Huguette E.
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:24 am · Link

    I do not have a favorite I do prefer hot and steamy romantic novels for books and comedies for movies. I do have favorite reality TV shows which are the only things I watch. At the moment I like The Bachelorette (just ended) and Big Brother both the US and UK shows



  43. alba
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am · Link

    right off the top of my head its LOTR, Love Story, There are many more that I liked too.
    PS I too love the Cover It is very Hot and her Tat OMG…….
    Have a good day.



  44. Jeanette Juan
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:43 am · Link

    It would have to be Charlaine Harris’ series made into True Blood



  45. bookfanatic
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:50 am · Link

    My favorite book series is the Midnight Breed by Lara Adrian.



  46. Amy Kathryn
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am · Link

    One of the few movies I liked better than the book is Chocolat….it may have been because I saw the movie first and then read the book, I don’t know.



  47. Carrie
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:56 am · Link

    My favorite book to movie would be Pride and Prejudice.

    P.S. I can’t wait to read Laid Bare!



  48. Marjana Kaly
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am · Link

    Harry Potter and Sex in the City!



  49. Anne
    July 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am · Link

    I really don’t like book to movies. I do like Bones, but it is so unlike the books that it is not really a book to TV at all, but rather two different entities.



  50. delitealex
    July 30th, 2009 at 9:05 am · Link

    Bones is my favorite tv show.