Guest Blogger Rob Colton

Please welcome fellow Briefer, author Rob Colton. He's going to tell us about his hot new release, An

American Lamb in Europe! Woot!  Sit back and relax, Rob. I made us something hot to drink. You go ahead and start, why don't you?

Thanks for having me today, Julie. I appreciate your support.

I’m Rob Colton and I’m here to talk about my brand new paranormal novella, An American Lamb in Europe. The book was released Wednesday, February 12^th , and is available from Dreamspinner Press and all your favorite online book stores.

Since “Europe” is part of the title, I want to talk a little bit about location. An American Lamb in Europe is set in the Czech Republic, in a small city near the German border.

When I first envisioned the character of Tomas Bernhardt, I immediately thought of him as a sexy, mysterious man from Bavaria. The largest and oldest state in Germany, Bavaria is located in the southeast corner of the country. Its capital city is Munich. What drew me to Bavaria was the backdrop of the gorgeous Bavarian Alps, along with its many breathtaking castles.

But I didn’t want to set the story in Tomas’s home town, so we only get a fleeting glimpse of Tomas’s home in this book. I plan to revisit these characters in a future book—and Castle Bernhardt will play a bigger role.

With Tomas’s background set, I knew that I wanted the book to be set nearby, in the Czech Republic.

Because Jamie is searching for his missing brother, he unfortunately doesn’t get much time for sightseeing. Much of the novella takes place in a vampire nightclub, as well as an underground bunker left over from the cold war. Churches also play a big role in the book.

While Jamie isn’t particularly religious, he finds a moment of peace in the town’s small church. Churches also are used in other key points of the story. His search for Rudy leads him to an old church where he meets a French princess, and the climax of the story takes place in the catacombs located underneath the ruins of an abandoned church.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my novella. And thank you again to Julie for letting me borrow a bit of space!

  

Blurb:

Jamie Anderson knows you need to look before you leap, but he forgets it often enough to land in trouble. When his brother and only remaining family member disappears, he doesn’t think twice about quitting his job as a dental hygienist to travel to the Czech Republic to search for him.

Rescued by the sexy, mysterious Tomas in a small city near the German border, Jamie enlists his help in locating Rudy. Soon Jamie realizes the man knows more than he’s sharing. When Jamie demands Tomas tell him the truth, Tomas reveals he’s a vampire. Horrified the man he’s fantasized about is a monster, Jamie struggles with the fact he still needs Tomas's help to find Rudy.

Jamie never expects their search will land him in the middle of a vampire turf war.

Excerpt:

Unable to sleep, I shoved the covers aside and got dressed. Hoping it would help me blend into the night, I dressed in black jeans and a black shirt.

Overwhelming paranoia swamped me as I walked down the street, so I stepped briskly. Every noise made me jump. I repeatedly looked over my shoulders, convinced I was being followed. Whenever I looked, there was no one there.

When I finally reached the club, it appeared to be closed. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. Apparently, I was a little too early for the undead nightlife.

I hid across the street behind the corner of a deserted building, watching.

The idle time gave my mind space to think, and I was having second thoughts. Maybe this was a bad idea. I didn’t even know if Tomas would be here. The excuses kept coming, and I was about ready to turn and go back.

Two very large men entered the nightclub together, followed a few moments later by a dozen or so stragglers, both male and female. I assumed them to be lambs. As for the two big guys…. I don’t know what they were. They didn’t look like the kind of guys who would let vampires feed off them, but what the hell did I know.

Within minutes, the club came alive. The music kicked on, and more and more people began to arrive and disappear inside. Some loitered outside for a while, smoking under the streetlamps, but the chilly weather drove them back inside quickly.

I didn’t have to wait long to see Jiri arrive, surrounded by a small group. Before going into the club, he stopped and turned around, and I swear he looked right at me. I quickly ducked around the corner.

Shit.

My heart pounded in my chest. If he caught me, he would drain me. I just knew it. Did he really see me, or was I imagining it? Should I wait? Should I run? Should I peek to see if he’s still there?

“What are you doing, lämmchen?”

I bit back a scream and spun around to find Tomas standing next to me, so close I could feel his breath on my skin. His two friends stood a few yards away, watching. Where the hell did they come from, and how did they do it so quietly?

“Don’t sneak up on me like that,” I huffed in annoyance while moving a step away from Tomas.

“It looks like you are the one doing the sneaking.”

Author Bio:

Rob Colton is a software developer by day, and avid reader of romance novels at night. A romantic at heart, he loves stories that feature big, burly men who find true love and happy endings.

Rob grew up in northern Michigan and currently lives in the Atlanta area with his very supportive husband and their very spoiled miniature schnauzer.

Visit Rob online:

http://robcolton.com/

https://twitter.com/robcub32

https://www.facebook.com/robcub32

Purchase Links:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4693

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-anamericanlambineurope-1418670-145.html

http://www.amazon.com/American-Lamb-Europe-Rob-Colton-ebook/dp/B00IE9E5WS

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-american-lamb-in-europe-rob-colton/1118614781?ean=2940148305859

The Power of Love M/M Blog Tour 2014

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day! Welcome to our Blog Hop! MA Church and I will be your hosts for this event, and we're happy to see you here! We hope this will be just the first of a lot of blog hops, and we've invited some of our fellow authors to help us celebrate the event! You can find the links to their blog at the end of my post. There will be fun for all, and there will be giveaways!

As the hostesses of the hop, MA and I are doing something together—a joint giveaway between our blogs. You can find MA here. (US only, sorry)

1. Two First place winners will receive one handmade Be My Alien pillow and Valentine's candy. (Colors of the pillow will vary)

2. Two Second place winner will receive one handmade Be My Alien pillow and Valentine's candy.  (Colors of the pillow will vary)

3. Two Third place winners will  win an ebook copy of  Be My Alien. 

Visit both blogs for a greater chance to win.

In addition, I'm going to offer one winner their pick of anything from my backlist.

To win, leave a comment, along with your email address. Following our blogs would be nice, but not mandatory.

So today is Valentine's Day, traditionally a day of love and romance. At the risk of repeating myself, I'm going to run the flash that I wrote for the holiday last year, because I like it that much, and plan to expand it. I hope you like it too. It's a bit of a twist on giving your heart to someone. Enjoy!

This is going to be a series, one that I call Losing My Religion. The first book has no name yet.  

Someone had the worst timing in the world.

And judging by the jangled sounds of a lyre that emanated from his smartphone, it was his distant cousin and bandmate. When Sebastian caught up with Orpheus, he was going to have to hurt him for interrupting his pleasure.

“Who’s that, baby?” The man’s voice was muffled, its owner’s face buried in the thick pillows of the hotel’s double bed. Sebastian couldn’t remember his name. That was an inconsequential detail, nothing to clutter his mind with. Whoever he was, he had a very delicious ass, one that Sebastian had thoroughly enjoyed plowing. At least until the moment had been so rudely interrupted.

“Fuck me,” he muttered under his breath, before deigning to reply. “Someone. I won’t be long. Just lie there.” He pulled out, irritably, and slid off the other man, wrapping the sheet about him, ignoring the shiver his action produced. He grabbed the phone and stalked into the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind him before answering.

“This better be damn good. I was busy—”

“I can only imagine.” A throaty chuckle from the other end of the line.

“Why don’t you find Cupid and torture him if you’re bored?” Sebastian searched his image in the mirror. The lighting was harsher than he might like, but he still looked damn good. That was one of the benefits of being a demigod. Maybe he hadn’t gotten the looks that some of them had, particularly the bastard offspring of Aphrodite, his own father’s consort. But Sebastian was certainly beautiful in his own right and he knew it.

He pushed back unruly locks of curly black hair that came just to the nape of his neck. Twisting his head for a better view, he decided he should let it grow out just a little more. The trace of sexy stubble that he maintained above his full carmine lips and along his jaw was pleasing to him—he’d keep that as it was.  His cool grey eyes were carefully lined in black. A perfect vision of loveliness. He blew a kiss at his reflection and smiled.

“Stop admiring yourself.” Orpheus laughed again. Sebastian scowled at the phone and turned from the mirror. “You know I can’t do that. The man’s busy, or have you forgotten what today is?”

It wasn’t so much that Sebastian had forgotten, he simply didn’t care. He found Cupid to be annoying, for the most part. Going on and on about love all the damn time. Like it really existed. Like it really mattered. As if it wasn’t anything more than hormonal urges that produced a vast mass hysteria. A hypnosis that muddled the brain and threw it into a tailspin from which it seldom recovered. It ruined lives, and made fools of normally intelligent men. The only useful byproduct was that it was also responsible for a great deal of violence, and had launched many a war.

Sebastian Laguerre loved no one but himself.

And thank the gods he was beyond Valentine’s Day.

 “Go bother my brothers, why don’t you? I’m busy,” Sebastian repeated. Okay, technically Phobos and Deimos were half-brothers, but whatever.

“You’re the only one that likes to hang with them,” Orpheus pointed out. “Normal people avoid them.”

“Are you saying I’m not normal?”

“You’re you and I love you for who you are, Sebby.”

“Zeus’s beard, don’t call me that. I’m going. Go fuck yourself. Literally.” He clicked off the phone without waiting for the smart reply he knew was imminent and exited the bathroom. He let the sheet fall away as he wound his sinuous way back toward the bed; it trailed behind until he stepped from it. Dropping onto all fours, he crawled across the bed in a predatory manner.

“I’m back,” he purred in a sultry voice. The other man shivered in anticipation, lifting his head at Sebastian’s return, although he was well trained enough that he did not turn to look. “Miss me, love?”

“Mmm, yes, I did. Missed your cock up my ass. So much…”

“Of course you did.” Sebastian wore a very self-satisfied smirk. “Roll over, pet.”

“Is it time, then?”

“Mmmhmmm.”

He had a nice body, Sebastian admitted. Darryl? David? Dan? Something with a D, he was fairly sure. He was young, early twenties. Young and eager to please. And so far, he’d done a decent job of it. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. Sebastian wasn’t going to let that stop him from enjoying himself thoroughly.

He positioned himself between the boy’s legs—Dirk? Devin?—and took himself in hand, pumping his cock a few times. Orpheus’ ill-timed interruption had brought it down slightly, but a little well-applied pressure restored its former tumescent state.

“Now where were we?”

“About to reach glory,” the innocent supplied.

“Ah yes, just so.” He thrust inside of that tight channel in one hard stroke, producing a gasp of pure pleasure. Hot velvet surrounded his cock, a sensation heightened by the tightness of this boy’s muscles that clung so deliciously. “Touch yourself,” he instructed and the boy obeyed, grasping his cock and pumping.

“Not too fast,” Sebastian cautioned. “And don’t close your eyes. I want to see.”

The lids fluttered open again. Sebastian drove into him again, over and over, watching for the right moment. He’d know it by the boy’s responses. He’d see it in his eyes. He’d laid his instrument within reach; when he was ready he picked it up, looped the silk necktie about the boy’s neck and began to tighten it slowly, slowly…

Sebastian could see the play of emotions in the boy’s blue eyes as he spun into euphoria, until his orgasm was inevitable, and Sebastian had wrung out all that he could. As the boy came, he tightened the tie completely, until all breathing ceased.

* * * *

The body was discovered in front of a café near the Eiffel Tower, the heart in a small box beside it, along with a note—Happy Valentine’s Day, Inspector.

 Now check out all the other authors who've come out to play on Valentine's Day!

Wednesday Briefs: Dallas in Wonderland II: Chapter Four

The week is flying by once again and Hump Day is back! So, if it's Wednesday, it must also be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! Don't forget to check out our website too!

Last week, we saw Dallas in a session with his doctor, Samuel Levi. That man just confuses Dallas until he doesn't know up from down. In today's episode, he's watching his very intelligent nephew, Oz, who might know more than Dallas thinks. Find out, and then see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Dallas in Wonderland II: Chapter Four

Today’s session had ended as badly as any other. Why had Dallas dared to hope differently?

Hell if he knew.

Dallas didn’t have to work again until tomorrow night. Which worked out well for his sister, Paris, who’d begged his services as a babysitter for her son. Dallas didn’t mind watching the precocious eight-year-old and never had.  Campbell had worked a long shift and crashed immediately afterward. He’d probably come across the hall and join them when he awoke. He and Oz got on like gangbusters, luckily. The boy needed some stability in his life. Living with ditzy Paris couldn’t be easy, Dallas knew only too well.

Lately, though, he had to wonder just how stable an influence he was, either.

Dallas missed cooking. Real cooking, that was. The sorts of meals he provided at the greasy dive where he worked bore no resemblance to anything he’d done before. Back when life was easier. As a sous chef and a talented culinary student, he’d earned the respect of his head chef and his fellow employees, his teachers and his peers.

Now he was master of a greasy grill where the most demanding order he might get all night would be for a triple burger with “all the fixins”. A place where the terms ceviche, sous vide, and crudo held no meaning.

God, how he hated the Rusty Heifer.

Tonight, he’d indulged himself and Oz a bit. He showed his nephew how to make pork tenderloin Diane using pork loin rather than tenderloin for a juicier bite. Oz played the part of his sous chef and did everything Dallas had asked of him to perfection. They’d made potatoes Lyonnaise, and Oz had sliced the potatoes and onions to perfection.

Dallas was very proud of him. Oz was probably the closest he’d ever have to a son of his own.

After dinner, they’d watched an Adam Sandler movie together, laughing and crying both. Much needed catharsis, Dallas decided. Sometimes he had a tendency to hold things in, letting them build up into almost unbearable proportions.

Plus he needed to stop thinking about Samuel so damn much.

Now the two of them were relaxing in Dallas’ living room. Dallas had turned the television to a music channel. Smooth jazz played soft and low in the background. Oz sat on the floor, playing with his beloved musketeers.

Dallas was glad that some things seemed to never change.

“Is Campbell coming over, Uncle Dallas?” Oz looked up from his faux duel between a musketeer and one of the “evil” Cardinal’s men. Dallas had found miniature epees that fit into the hands of the figures, giving them a rather lifelike quality. Not sharp, of course. But they looked real enough for Oz and him.

“Probably.” He was really grateful to have Campbell in his life. His own personal Rock of Gibraltar. There was nothing romantic between them, although sometimes Dallas wondered if there could be, had he not met Samuel first...

Well, he had, and there was no use going down that road. Not when his heart was no longer his to give away.

And didn’t that sound like a Hallmark Valentine sentiment? When had Dallas become so sappy? Good thing it wasn’t really Valentine’s Day. He wouldn’t get the chance to make a fool of himself for a few months yet. He didn’t believe for a moment Samuel’s heart could be won with chocolate and cheap sentiments.

Where the real key was hidden, though, Dallas had no clue.

Oh yes, Oz’s question.

 “I’m sure he will once he gets up.”

The music shifted from one song to another, and the melodious strains of “Take the A Train” began to flow. Vintage Duke Ellington. Dallas loved it.

“What about your other friend? Will I ever see him again?” Oz persisted.

What? Who? Dallas frowned, trying to think who Oz might mean.

“The one in the dress that wasn’t a dress,” Oz patiently explained, as if he thought Dallas should remember without the reminder.

Dallas felt warmth creep into his cheeks. Oh yes, he remembered. Samuel in that form-fitting cheongsam.

How could he possibly forget?

Dallas blinked. His breath caught in his throat. Yes, another piece of vindication. Proof that Samuel had existed in his life outside of the analyst’s couch. Oz had seen and met him.

More importantly, he remembered him.

“Do you... do you remember his name?” Dallas felt the rhythm of his heart going into overdrive as he waited for the answer.

“He didn’t say,” the practical child replied, and Dallas realized that was probably true. Caginess on Samuel’s part, or a simple oversight?

“But I bet it’s Samuel,” Oz continued.

“Wh-what? Why do you say that?”

“Because that’s the name I heard you say in your sleep.  When you were staying with us.” He turned his too-wise eyes up toward Dallas, his figures frozen in mid-battle. “Don’t worry, Uncle Dallas, your secrets are safe with me and all my friends.” He returned to his maneuvers, leaving Dallas open-mouthed.

Before Dallas could get out another question, he heard a discreet knock at the door and his heart began to thump even harder for no good reason. Perhaps at the juxtaposition of the subject matter and the desire to see said subject in the flesh. Foolish though that hope probably was.

The door opened and Campbell’s pretty face appeared, followed by the whole package. He’d changed from his workday scrubs to a pair of well-worn faded ripped jeans and a tie-dye T-shirt. For a moment, Dallas was reminded of the hippie in the boat. Although the last time he’d seen him was in the courtroom, when he’d been acting as Samuel’s attorney.

If any of that was real, that is.

“Everything good here?” Campbell closed the door behind him and padded in on bare feet. Dallas nodded as Campbell dropped onto the carpet beside Oz, who greeted him with a hug.

“Saved you some dinner.”

Dallas was rising when his phone  began to ring.

to be continued

Now, go visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to!

Larry Benjamin

Jon Keys

Lily Sawyer 

Cia Nordwell

MA Church

Chris T. Kat

Sarah Hayes

Grace Duncan  

 Victoria Adams

Andrew Q. Gordon

JC Wallace

Shelly Schulz

Elyzabeth VaLey 

A.R. Von

Lily Velden

BL Morticia

Renee Stevens

Tali Spencer

 Nephylim  

Virtual Book Tour: Shannon's Law

Author Emma Calin is back! Last time, she revealed her cover for Shannon's Law. Now, she's going to talk about the book, and tell us something about forensics! I know I'm intrigued! Emma is going to be giving out a $30 Amazon Voucher to one randomly drawn commenter, a print copy of Shannon's Law to two random commenters, and a digital copy of Shannon's Law to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour. All entrants will be emailed a digital cookery book of recipes (including photos!) for meals/food eaten in Shannon's Law! The book is called 'Cops Cuisine'. Here's the Rafflecopter link for entries. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find out where the other stops on the tour are, go here.

Thank you so much for letting me showcase my forthcoming steamy action-romance novel SHANNON’S LAW. It’s  the second in my PASSION PATROL series - stories where sassy female cops lock up the criminals and always get their man.

February marks the start of my “Pinterest Reveal Virtual Book Tour” in the run-up to the launch on the 28^th February 2014. 

Every day there are feature posts on topics relating to SHANNON’S LAW on blogs all around the world.  They’re all linked together on one big Pinterest Board. Each post replaces a ‘mystery’ silhouette that was posted in January. I saved all  my notes and photos as I was writing, on a private Pinterest Board and now I can share them with you.

Today’s subject is: Forensics

In writing  Shannon's Law I had to do a lot of research. Although police scenes of crime procedures form the subject of several TV shows, they tend to focus on the exciting and juicy bits. When a body is found in a ditch, Shannon is the first police officer on the scene. Her first concern is to preserve all possible evidence. This is a job for a cop with a reel of tape. Only in fiction do detectives check pockets and deduce in seconds that the murderer was a left handed man with a spaniel dog.

A random body with no identity represents a tough case for police. Most murders are committed by someone already close to the victim. A difficult case may call for the Sherlock Holmes approach. A couple of days ago I watched an episode of the latest incarnation of the great man from 2010. The episode was entitled “A Study In Pink”. Because of his superior mind, Sherlock was allowed to attend the corpses of  victims wearing his normal clothes with his longish hair dangling over the scene. My poor ex cop partner was having a fit!  I love Sherlock – although this model seems a shade too rude and arrogant to me. Certainly his personality plays to the geek gallery with a belief that everything in life has a technical solution. Please Sherlock – don't contaminate the crime scene with your genius level skin cells, saliva droplets and hair fibers.

In reality police scenes of crime work is thorough and determined. Painstaking fingertip searching of a hectare of grassland is not for the swashbuckler. In Shannon's Law there is a big problem for  our heroine village cop. She has old fashioned intuition and needs to get a sample from a suspect address. She could just knock the door and ask for one. The criminals inside would just love to know what she was thinking. She has to let things run and get a sample for DNA testing by going outlaw. She runs risks but then needs expert help. It was time to phone a friend and ask him to run the same risk.

“You understand that forensic samples are subject to strict procedures. There must be no risk of contamination. The evidence has to have continuity and police statements to prove its origin.”

“I do know that.”

“So, you can’t gain this evidence properly?”

“Not without alerting some serious villains that I’m interested in them. I think they’re involved with the dead girl. They’re also up to their neck in drugs. I have zero evidence and even if I did and we steamed in, we’d lose the chance to scoop them for the big picture.”

The professor nodded seriously.

“I’m going to trust you totally......  

Book Blurb

Wild child inner-city cop Shannon Aguerri walks a dangerous line between her methods and justice. When the bosses lose their nerve, after yet another maverick mission, she is transferred to green pastures to play out the role of a routine village cop. When she encounters signs of slave and drug trafficking she homes in on serious millionaire criminals.

As a loner she has attracted men but nothing has stuck. When she meets Spencer, the hunky and widowed Earl of Bloxington, there is an immediate rapport between them. Their social differences mean nothing to their passion and need. 

Already in the mix is an upper class female rival – who has long plotted her way into the Earl's bed. The jealousy is an evil shade of green and the anger is a violent scarlet. 

Often inhibited by a sense of duty and honour, Spencer is slow to reveal his feelings. When Shannon confronts him with the need to choose between her word and that of her rival, he does not immediately support her.

All issues are set aside, when they are forced together to carry out a desperate rescue mission. Their love is stronger than everything ranged against them.

SHANNON’S LAW comes out on February 28^th 2014 in print and digital formats for all e-readers.

Amazon are offering some great discounts for pre-orders of the paperback version

(29% off in USA,     12% off in the UK).

You can pre-order the digital version at a pre-launch special price from Nook, Kobo, and iTunes. It will also be available in all digital formats on Smashwords

See this post and others from my tour as they go live on Pinterest or click the Goddess Fish panel below to visit the other blogs in the tour.

Follow Shannon’s Law on Facebook

Visit the Shannon’s Law Website for book details and pre-order information.

RAFFLECOPTER DRAW

Win Amazon vouchers, copies of the book PLUS a free gift for every entrant (see prizes below).

ENTER DRAW HERE : http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Mjg1OTEwYzI5YjYwMjA3ZWY2Y2EzZDEzODljNmNjOjE5/

The draw will be made at random, by Rafflecopter on the 7^th March 2013.

Companion Cook-Book

In addition to SHANNON’S LAW, I’m launching a companion digital cook-book with illustrated recipes for all the meals from the novel.

 It’s called  COP’S KTICHEN - Read the love story and taste the romance!

To celebrate the launch of SHANNON’S LAW, there is a special FREE gift for you in my RAFFLECOPTER draw. As well as great, unique prizes to win, EVERY ENTRANT will get their own digital copy of – COP’S KITCHEN. There are many ways to get bonus chances – by commenting on this post, liking Facebook Pages etc.

ENTER DRAW HERE: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Mjg1OTEwYzI5YjYwMjA3ZWY2Y2EzZDEzODljNmNjOjE5/

Main Prizes in the Draw:

$30/£20/€25 Amazon Gift Voucher, 2 paperback copies of Shannon’s Law, 3 digital copies of Shannon’s Law.

Shannon’s Law comes out in paperback and digital formats for all e-readers

on February 28^th 2014.

Emma Calin’s Website

Emma Calin’s Twitter

Emma Calin’s Facebook

About.me page: http://about.me/emmacalin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4915751.Emma_Calin

Virtual Book Tour: Secondhand Romance

Please welcome author RoseAnn DeFranco, who is here to talk about her latest release, Secondhand Romance.  RoseAnn will be awarding a $15 Amazon GC, as well as a digital copy of Return to Audubon Springs, to a randomly drawn commenter during her tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here.

SECONDHAND ROMANCE

By

RoseAnn deFranco

BLURB:  

Annie O'Malley's dream of owning a secondhand bookstore in tight-knit Audubon Springs is coming true. Still reeling from her parents' sudden deaths, she believes that signs or messages can be found within the pages of books. She loves her job and has made plenty of friends but longs for the acceptance only love and a family can provide.

Tony Iuliano is there to fix the wiring in her shop. He doesn't believe in fate, magic, or the power of a good book. All this combined with his sexy-as-sin presence and all-knowing attitude infuriates Annie. The quirky bookworm intrigues him enough to accept her bet to read a book from her shop. When he discovers a stack of fifty-year-old love letters in the book, he wants to leave the past alone, but seeing it as a sign, Annie challenges him to read the letters and search for the long-lost lovers or lose the bet.

While shaking the dust off several ill-fated romances and fighting their attraction at every turn, the pair soon become the town gossip daily special. If they can stop arguing long enough, they may just discover this particular sign was meant for them all along.

EXCERPT

He glanced at the book she left on the counter and picked it up, weighing it in his big hand as if it were a foreign object. “I don’t get it. What is it about a book that so completely captures your attention?”

Annie’s eyes widened. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Hmmm, no, I don’t think so.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m not going to try to explain this to a non-reader.”

A dark expression flashed across his face. “I read.”

“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and Playboy do not count.”

“I said I can read!”

“Calm down there, big guy. I’m sure you can read, but I own the only bookstore in town, and I’ve never seen you in here to buy a book. To my way of thinking, that puts you in the category of a non-reader, as in someone who does not read for pleasure.”

“Okay, fine. You’ve got me. Humor me. What is it about a book that completely grabs your attention, leaving your store vulnerable to theft and you to bodily harm?”

Annie regarded him through narrowed eyes, not entirely sure if he was serious or seriously trying to provoke an argument. She found both options interesting. Up until now, they shared very little in the way of one-on-one dialogue. The nature of this question indicated a certain level of contemplation he’d already given on the subject. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

“No.” He revealed just the slightest crack of a smile.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

RoseAnn DeFranco grew up in upstate NY with her nose in a book and a song in her heart. Following the pursuit of a musical theatre career in NYC, she turned her creative energy to writing romance. RoseAnn blogs about her writing experiences with her critique partners at www.the violetfemmes.com. A NJ shore transplant, she enjoys time spent at the beach with her family. She would love to one day live in a quaint shore town like the fictional town Audubon Springs from her BROTHERS OF AUDUBON SPRINGS series.  More information about these Contemporary Romantic Comedies can be found at www.radefranco.com.

Web links: www.radefranco; www.thevioletfemmes.com; @radefranco; https://www.facebook.com/#!/roseanndefrancoauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18586846-return-to-audubon-springs

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Audubon-Springs-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00FDSL792/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380163799&sr=8-1&keywords=return+to+audubon+springs

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Romance-RoseAnn-DeFranco/dp/1628301732/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391294775&sr=8-1&keywords=secondhand+romance

Wednesday Briefs: Dallas in Wonderland II: Chapter Three

A snowy Wednesday here, but it could have been worse. Just a few inches. Happy Hump Day! Time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! Are you ready? We sure are!

Last week, Dallas learned that someone was outside his apartment, looking for him. Could it have been Samuel, or is that just wishful thinking on Dallas' part? If it was, then why? The answer may lie in today's episode of Dallas in Wonderland II. Then go see what the other Briefers are up to! Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Dallas in Wonderland II: Chapter Three

Sometimes Samuel sat behind his imposing mahogany desk, fingers steepled against his sensual lips, regarding Dallas with his unusual coppery eyes flecked with green. Watching him, like a cat waiting in front of a mouse hole waits for the mouse to emerge. Except he wasn’t only the cat, he was the bait, too, wasn’t he?

Other times, he pulled up a chair close to the leather couch Dallas lay on, so close that it took all of Dallas’ self-restraint not to reach out and touch him in inappropriate ways.

Ways that were far less inappropriate when they’d been together in Wonderland.

Today was one of those days.

Samuel sat so close that his scent wafted to Dallas, that enticing aroma comprised of arousal and need, and the earthiness of desire. How badly Dallas wanted to bury his face in Samuel’s naked crotch and inhale him.

Nothing in Samuel’s demeanor indicated this was even an option.

Dallas forced himself to focus on Samuel’s words. Too often they made little sense to him and today was no exception. Apparently, Samuel had been appointed by the court to be Dallas’ psychiatrist. Dallas wasn’t sure why. At some point, at Samuel’s recommendation, a decision would be reached.

Regarding what? Dallas had no clue.

Samuel cleared his throat, a gentle reminder for Dallas to pay attention. But Dallas had been listening. Samuel had just asked him about the dreams, was he still having them. That’s how he referred to their time in Wonderland. As the deranged dreams of a disturbed mind.

No, he never came out and said that in so many words, but Dallas could read between the lines. He knew all too well he’d been tarred by the brush of insanity and that’s why he’d lost so much of what mattered in his life. He was determined, though, not to let it stick to him. But at this point, he had no idea what he needed to do to reverse what had happened.

Everything was still too confused, too muddled. Reality and fantasy mixing and merging in his mind. He never knew where one left off and the other began. Just when he thought he had a handle on it, everything changed, like a demented traffic light giving mixed signals.

And underneath it all, Dallas was convinced he’d find the flagrant fingerprint of his unfaithful ex, Quentin Mandrake. He just needed to be able to prove it.

 “Have you had any more of those dreams?” Samuel repeated the question.

“No, Dr. Levi,” Dallas dutifully replied.

Not for lack of trying, he had to admit.

Samuel shifted in his chair, recrossed his legs. Dallas watched the expensive material of his trousers tighten about those familiar legs. Samuel had the body of a much younger man. Dallas wasn’t even sure how old he really was. The subject had never arisen between them.

“Are you taking the pills I gave you? Every night?”

Now Dallas was on shakier ground. The truth was he had no desire to put strange chemicals into his body, even those prescribed by the delicious Dr. Levi. He had them, yes, every single one that Samuel  had ever given him. They were tucked safely in his apartment, just in case he ever changed his mind.

Dallas doubted he ever would.

“Dr. Levi, may I ask you a question?” Dallas’ way of not answering Samuel’s, so he wouldn’t have to lie to him.

Samuel’s smile was condescending. “The deepest waters make the least noise.”

What does that even mean? Dallas wasn’t sure if it was an observation, or simply something calculated to confuse him even more than he already was.

“What do you wish to know?” Samuel prompted.

“How do you know Quentin?”

“What makes you think I know Mr. Mandrake?”

Dallas found it maddening that Samuel often answered a question with a question. Used his own avoidance tactic on him.

Besides, he’d answered this question before. Just as he’d asked it before. And never been satisfied with the response. He expected the same result today.

“I saw him. In your office. The day...”

“Yes, Dallas? The day... Please finish your thought.”

But you already know what day. Dallas’ thoughts flared angrily. The day of the trial. The day Queen Quentin tried to take your head off.

That was the day he’d awakened to find himself in Samuel’s office, the day his world had begun to unravel. He felt the key to everything lay in Wonderland. It was imperative that he return, as soon as possible, so he could put everything right.

But how?

“The day you said you loved me,” Dallas said softly. He didn’t look at Samuel, afraid of what he might see. Mirth? Anger? Contempt?

Or the worst possibility... pity?

“Sit up, Dallas.”

Startled, Dallas obeyed, swinging his legs onto the floor. The leather couch creaked as Samuel took a seat just behind him. Dallas couldn’t see him, but he felt his presence all too well.

Now this was something different.

“Tell me more about what you think I said,” he encouraged Dallas in a breathy voice. Warm fingers caressed Dallas’ neck, massaging his flesh. “You’re very tense,” Samuel observed.

Was that really so surprising, under the circumstances?

“Did I say I love you, Dallas? Didn’t you say you loved me?”

Dallas closed his eyes, his skin tingling where Samuel touched it, thinking back to that day. To the hateful crowd that chanted Off with his head. To the vengeance-filled Quentin-in-drag who’d referred to Dallas as his tart. What had actually been said? Who said what?

Then he remembered.

Dallas had been the one that told Samuel, ‘I love you.’ Yes, that was it, not the other way around. Bitterness filled Dallas’ mouth.

Had he been wrong, then? Wrong about everything?

Wait just a moment.

He craned his neck, turning startled eyes to Samuel.

How the blazes had Samuel known what was said by whom... unless he’d actually been there?

“Hold on, my love, hold on.”

Samuel smiled.

to be continued

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