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Jul
31 2009 | ||
Coming in on the home stretch now!
Today’s hostess is Portia Da Costa who is offering up an awesome Yorkshire Rose tote AND it’ll have TWO books – winner’s choice from her available backlist. How’s that for an amazing prize?
KISS IT BETTER – Portia Da Costa
Virgin Black Lace
ISBN: 0352345217
Published in the US on 4th August 2009
BLURB
Pleasure with a perfect stranger…
Jay Bentley is a man with issues. Haunted by physical and psychological demons, he seeks solace and sexual oblivion in the pursuit of an exquisite erotic daydream from his youth, and the reality of a woman who has illuminated his inner fantasies since a brief meeting years ago.
Sandy Jackson has always known that a certain magic is ‘missing’ from her life. She’s feisty and philosophical, but her dreams are filled with heated images of a handsome Prince Charming she once encountered, a man who will kiss everything better and thrill her with glorious, dangerous pleasure.
But the past is an illusion, and the present fraught with conflict and uneasy compromise… can two passionate lovers reconcile their differences and slake their burning sensual hunger for each other in a wild and daring liaison?
EXCERPT
At a business cocktail party, Sandy Jackson encounters the sexy, mysterious stranger she first set eyes on in her café, The Little Teapot, earlier in the day.
“So, is he your type?”
Sandy rocked – literally – on her silly heels. She knew exactly who was standing beside her, and the deep and strangely raw voice really seemed to fit him. She’d only heard it briefly in the Teapot because Kat had served him, but it was unmistakeable, never to be forgotten.
Schooling herself to stay calm, she turned slowly towards the hard man with the beard, who’d been watching her and was now only a couple feet away.
“Not really.” She dared to look up at him. His eyes were sharp and intelligent, dark grey and glinting with a strange, disquieting light. Shaken, she returned her attention to the man in the photo – the rather glamorous Signor Guidetti. “But I do believe that’s our esteemed host, the hotel manager.”
“Indeed it is.”
For several seconds, they stared at the image in silence, then, as one, they scanned the room, looking for the hotel’s suave, slightly flashy Italian proprietor.
“So, why isn’t he your type?”
Put on the spot, Sandy frowned. What business was it of his? Yet still the ghost from her past resurfaced.
“He’s too groomed. Too slick. Too perfect.”
Unlike you.
She suppressed a flinch. Up close, her tough looking man was tougher than ever.
Tall, he towered above her, his shoulders broad and his lean yet muscular limbs strong looking beneath a rather beautiful lightweight suit in midnight grey. His buzz-cut hair was dark and looked velvety against his fine, nobly shaped skull. He had the look of a Roman Emperor, civilized yet savage.
But it was his face, most of all, that made her swallow, both intrigued by it and also faintly frightened.
His features were even, sculpted and masculine, and just as imperial as his cropped hair. But the network of fine white and pink scars that traced the planes of his high cheekbones, his mouth and jaw line, framed by his crisp dark beard, spoke eloquently of pain and suffering.
“Unlike me.”
The fierce, damaged face softened in a smile as he echoed her thoughts, and Sandy almost gasped. Once again, a fleeting sense of memory almost rocked her.
“There’s nothing wrong with looking as if you’ve lived a bit,” she countered, regaining her wits. For all his scars, the tall man had charisma. And his strong body was affecting her, making hers rouse irrationally.
Was he scarred all over? Were the clean, hard lines of his limbs marked and battered? It suddenly seemed important to find out.
“Well, that’s good to know.” His low laugh was as rough as his speaking voice, but Sandy felt it reach out and touch her like a phantom hand. Hormonal reactions fired all over her body and she experienced a tingling all over her skin, as if the fine sheen of sweat on it was creating a subtle field. She’d been hot before, but now she was burning up.
“Care for another drink?”
Her companion nodded at her glass, which Sandy suddenly realised was empty. She couldn’t remember drinking the wine, but obviously she’d been nervously swigging away without realising it. Another drink would slip down well, and soothe her parched throat, even if it was a tepid and uninspiring vintage.
“Yeah, great! I’d love one, thanks.”
She held out the empty, and as the tall, mysterious man took it from her, their fingers briefly touched.
Oooh!
Electricity seemed to arc between them, ramping up the tingling sensation. She suppressed a gasp as his dark eyes widened. He’d felt it too.
“Be right back. Don’t go away.”
TODAY’S QUESTION: You have four dollars and some typical vending machines at a convenience store right off an interstate highway you’re taking for a road trip in the summer. What do you get?
I’ll choose a winner tomorrow! Good luck
July 31st, 2009 at 10:40 am · Link
You have four dollars and some typical vending machines at a convenience store right off an interstate highway you’re taking for a road trip in the summer. What do you get?
Dr. Pepper and some chocolate
July 31st, 2009 at 10:42 am · Link
Diet Dr Pepper and Peanut M&Ms
YUM.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:08 am · Link
Provided that everything is $1 r less: Water, pepsi, Chips and chocolate
July 31st, 2009 at 11:18 am · Link
ooh, gotta have some peanut m&ms, you know for the protein to keep my strength, probably some pretzels b/c there is no better combination than chocolately sweetness and the salt from the pretzel, better through in some reeses peanut butter cups, again for the protein, and they come individually wrapped so there is less mess while driving.
Then probably a soda drink, for when I’m not already OD’d on sugar, and a bottle of water when I am (that way I can refill it for free later 🙂
July 31st, 2009 at 11:25 am · Link
Hmm….with four dollars….I would have to say a bag of sun chips and a pack of gum! lol
The book sounds really good! I was just reading about it last night!
July 31st, 2009 at 11:27 am · Link
Sprite and as many snickers bars I could buy with what I had left
July 31st, 2009 at 11:29 am · Link
A couple of Diet Cokes (the drink that keeps me in gear) and a Milky Way if they don’t have a machine selling ice cream sandwiches. Mmmm, ice cream.
I’d never heard of ketchup chips, just googled it….I guess they’re not that different from BBQ chips. gack! :- ;
July 31st, 2009 at 11:46 am · Link
Unflavoured chips and water. If there’s enough money left, a Skor bar.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:06 pm · Link
That’s easy Dr. Pepper and a Reeses cup. Then I might get something for hubs if there was any money left.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:25 pm · Link
Bottled water and chocolate.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm · Link
Hope you all enjoyed the excerpt & good luck in the contest!
I am such a dolt that I never left an Amazon Link for my book! LOL
Here it is:
Kiss It Better
July 31st, 2009 at 12:34 pm · Link
I’ll get a Coke, Chettos or Doritos and Kit Kat.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:37 pm · Link
I would get two bags of Fritos Original Corn Chips and a Sprite.
Portia, the excerpt is fabulous!
July 31st, 2009 at 1:08 pm · Link
Coke Zero and Doritos – cool original
July 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm · Link
Portia tantilizing excerpt!
I’d buy coffee from the machine. However much $4.00 would get me.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:21 pm · Link
Coke and Candy..LOL
July 31st, 2009 at 1:24 pm · Link
Diet Coke and chocolate. Its a road trip, calories dont count in the chocolate if you are on a trip!
July 31st, 2009 at 1:28 pm · Link
The essentials Dorito’s and a KitKat probably a Dr. Pepper if possible. Or some kind of combo of these three whatever the 4 bucks would get me and how thirsty I was.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:35 pm · Link
Probably gum & candy. Chips would make us thirsty for drinks.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:41 pm · Link
Since I’m road tripping it, I probably need to stay alert with some good ol’ caffeine!! I’d choose a “Diet Coke” and grab some “Grandma’s” peanut butter cookies for the protein!!! lol!!
July 31st, 2009 at 1:52 pm · Link
With only $4, I’d get a Pepsi or Dr. Pepper depending on my mood. A bag of plain potato chips any brand and a Snickers or 5th Avenue depending on what was a valuable. Have a great day.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:58 pm · Link
Coke, pretzels and hershey bar
July 31st, 2009 at 2:17 pm · Link
A Dr. Pepper and a Snickers Ice Cream Bar.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:24 pm · Link
Sodas for the family because we always pack a ton of snacks.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pm · Link
Ha, I’ve got this down to a science!!
1 20oz Mountain Dew ($1.25)
1 package of M&M’s .60
1 package of Nutter Butter Cookies $1.00
1 bag of Doritos $1.00
Then I have enough change to inevitably drop under the machine and wave my tooshie around trying to find. 🙂
July 31st, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Link
awesome excerp and humm 4 bucks and a summer trip id have to go with a soda and a candy bar and if i had enough left over id go for another drink for later or a bag of pretzles
July 31st, 2009 at 2:58 pm · Link
A bag of fritos and a Cherry Coke! Bliss on the road!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm · Link
Dr. Pepper or Mountain dew, a Snickers bar and a Twix bar and a bag of Cheetos. Yum!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:08 pm · Link
Okay for 4 dollars is 4 loonies or 2 twoonie here in Canada.
I would buy bottle of water, Mars bar and maybe Munchos.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:45 pm · Link
It would be the same thing I almost always
get: a beverage, a sweet, and a savory!
To be specific: a diet Coke, chocolate chip
cookies, and potato chips! (I am from the
southern regions, you know!)
Pat Cochran
July 31st, 2009 at 4:08 pm · Link
I would buy a Code Red Mountain Dew and a bag of Sunchips, and a pack of gum.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:28 pm · Link
I’d probably buy a bag of chips with an Iced tea, hopefully cols since I’m feeling very hot right now
July 31st, 2009 at 4:35 pm · Link
I would pocket the 4 dollars & enjoy the healthy snacks & water I brought from home. I figure I need the money to gas up further down the road. I am so damn sensible.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:42 pm · Link
For me it’s a Coke and a bag of sour Jelly Bellies.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:51 pm · Link
Some Dt Pepsi, Chips, & Chocolate!
July 31st, 2009 at 4:58 pm · Link
Depends if I am alone or with a sexy guy. If I am alone. I get a Dr. Pepper, bag of Funyons and a hershey bar. If I am with a sexy guy, Dr. Pepper, pack of cinnamon gum and a soda for him. Can’t have funky breath of I might get some kisses later.LOL
July 31st, 2009 at 5:42 pm · Link
😀 Easy, Dr. Pepper and Hershey’s with almonds.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:52 pm · Link
A Coke (LOVE sugar and caffeine!!!!), some Munchos and Cheetos. I don’t have to share with the kids and hubby, do I? It was MY $4.00. 😆
July 31st, 2009 at 6:23 pm · Link
Enjoyed the excerpt. I would get a bottled water, 2 candy bars (Mounds, Hershey w/ Almonds) and a bag of pretzels. 😀
July 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm · Link
Skittles (unless by some miracle they have something chewy and sour, then I’d get 2 of those and no candy bar), a snickers bar and a diet dr. pepper.
And man, that cover is seriously hot.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:25 pm · Link
I would do magic tricks and hopefully conjure up a few dollars more:)
July 31st, 2009 at 7:28 pm · Link
I would get a Dr pepper and M&M’s whit Penuts in them and some Dorito’s and if there is no m&m then i get a big cookie.
sasluvbooks@yahoo.com
July 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm · Link
Water, the only thing that really quenches my thirst, and something chocolate.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:48 pm · Link
I would get a Coke and a chocolate bar. If I had enough money I would also get some Cool Ranch Doritos.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:03 pm · Link
If they have it? Diet Cherry pepsi and a three musketeers. If I have anything left, then possible chips of some type.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:32 pm · Link
I love M & M’s so along with that, a diet pepsi! Both favorites!
July 31st, 2009 at 10:15 pm · Link
Four dollars…a diet Dew, Cheetos, and Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Not very healthy at all.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:12 am · Link
Diet Dr. Pepper and pumpkin seeds!
August 1st, 2009 at 1:02 am · Link
Water and Sunchips
August 1st, 2009 at 1:28 am · Link
I’d have to go for the diet soda and nuts for my trip snacks. What could be better than no cal carbonation and protien?