His By Design...
August 2013 Harlequin Desire Ziara glanced up to find Sloan’s gaze directed her way. His earlier anger had turned his bright blue eyes icily sharp, his body rigid, his jaw tight. But now he eased back in a chair, propping his elbows on the arms. His fingers absently stroked the upper ridge of his lip, drawing her attention to the sensuous curve of his mouth. His turbulent look suddenly softened like ice thawing beneath a heat lamp. Her emotions seesawed as his gaze traveled south, visually caressing the extra length of leg exposed by her hasty drop into her chair. She could almost feel his touch sliding along the edge of her skirt, tickling the sensitive skin on the backs of her legs. Bit by bit, Ziara used up her willpower forcing herself to sit impassively. The twitch of her thighs urged her to shift her feet, but she resisted. That would tell him just how much he affected her. Tightening her muscles, she tried to crack down on the spreading fire, to no avail. Ignoring physical desire had never been a problem before him. Her new boss. Her soothingly subtle gray business suit, so comfortable in the luxurious air-conditioning only moments ago, now felt heavy, itchy. Her nipples peaked against their confinement. She felt that he peered through her professional armor to the woman she kept hidden deep inside. How could a simple look make her so aware, too aware? As if she lacked something only he could provide. As casually as possible, she adjusted her position and her skirt, covering her legs down past her knees. Knowledge leaked into his eyes, as well as smug satisfaction. He did that on purpose. Feeling a need to defend herself, she met him with a flick of her lashes. Slowly she lifted her left brow. He grinned, not at all intimidated by her challenge. “Be in my office and ready to work first thing tomorrow morning.”
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I'm blogging today with Keira Kohl and her readers about the Dominant/Submissive themes in my books. Do you prefer the darkest of D/S in your books or your D/S on the lite side? Join us for the discussion and comment for a chance to win a gift card!
I'm over at Delilah Devlin's High Octane Heroes blog talking about my very own High Octane Hero, Michael Korvello! Check it out and comment for a chance to win a gift card!
It's Field Trip Day! I'm the Friday Quickie on author Sarah Grimm's blog today! :) Drop by and learn a few things you might not have known about me.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending my first reader event. Boy, was it exciting...and extra special to me.
You see, the Heart of Dixie Annual Readers' Luncheon is an event I've been either coordinating or assisting with for 10 years as an unpublished author. This year I actually hosted a table and got to share my great publishing news with so many of the readers who encouraged me each year of my journey.
Here are a few of the highlights:
This is the lovely table I shared with historical author Cathy MacRae. Cool authentic police items to go with the "romantic thrillers" theme in honor of our guest speaker, JT Ellison, and a print of my first Harlequin cover that the luncheon committee had made as our author gifts.
Look at this awesome group of authors that hosted tables!
This is the Dani Wade author basket I donated as a door prize. After years of creating raffle baskets for this event, I was over the moon to create one especially for me. And these are the "wedding favors" I put together for the readers at my table, since HIS BY DESIGN is set in a wedding gown design firm.
Even though I didn't have a print book available, I did sign swag for FINDING HER RHYTHM and SNOW BOUND at the author signing event. It gave me a chance to meet and talk with several new readers, which was totally fun.
Meeting readers for the first time in my "author persona" made me nervous -- until I sat down and started talking. Then I simply smiled and enjoyed myself. Being surrounded by friends and fellow authors made it that much more special to me, especially my awesome Playfriends! (Marilyn Puett, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang, and me)
Some really great memories!
Dani
This is the lovely table I shared with historical author Cathy MacRae. Cool authentic police items to go with the "romantic thrillers" theme in honor of our guest speaker, JT Ellison, and a print of my first Harlequin cover that the luncheon committee had made as our author gifts.
Look at this awesome group of authors that hosted tables!
This is the Dani Wade author basket I donated as a door prize. After years of creating raffle baskets for this event, I was over the moon to create one especially for me. And these are the "wedding favors" I put together for the readers at my table, since HIS BY DESIGN is set in a wedding gown design firm.
Even though I didn't have a print book available, I did sign swag for FINDING HER RHYTHM and SNOW BOUND at the author signing event. It gave me a chance to meet and talk with several new readers, which was totally fun.
Meeting readers for the first time in my "author persona" made me nervous -- until I sat down and started talking. Then I simply smiled and enjoyed myself. Being surrounded by friends and fellow authors made it that much more special to me, especially my awesome Playfriends! (Marilyn Puett, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang, and me)
Some really great memories!
Dani
FINDING HER RHYTHM excerpt
“The paparazzi have it all wrong.” Frozen at the bottom of the stairs, she found herself asking, “What?” “They have it all wrong, about my brother and me. I don’t have sex with a new woman every night. We didn’t hold orgies on the tour bus. And I didn’t need whips and chains to get my wife to have sex with me.” Apparently she wasn’t listening to the right kind of gossip shows. He stalked to her as he spoke again. “People want us to be edgy, raw. After all, we’re rock gods. But my needs are relatively simple.” Without volition, she found herself backed up to the wall, her fingers flat against the wainscoting to give her some piece of reality to hold on to. Though a part of her was still scared, a growing part of her felt the kindle of arousal. He leaned in close, resting his forearm on the wall beside her head. The fire behind him obscured his face. Her pulse pounded as she felt space narrow to the inches separating them. He surrounded her, and every muscle in her body wanted to surrender.
Struggling after the death of her parents, Taylor let her hormones lead her into the biggest mistake of her life. Now she has a dangerous ex who still wants to own her and a desperate need for safety. What could be safer than her new job as a rock star nanny? Except now she’s locked herself in with a man who is potentially more dangerous…to her heart.
Michael Korvello has a dominant nature and a lonely heart that he keeps firmly under wraps. His kids have suffered enough for the mistakes of his past. But his new nanny has those dark desires howling at the gate. The only thing keeping him in check is the fear lurking in those brilliant green eyes. Can he earn her trust, and the right to transform all her desires into reality?
Just when neither can deny their need for each other, Taylor’s ex shows up like an unlucky charm, intent on taking back what he considers his…even if he has to destroy Michael’s world to get to her. Can two kindred souls protect the passionate love they ache for from an outsider bent on ripping them apart?
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Sneak Peek: FINDING HER RHYTHM
With a wry twist of his lips, he headed into the busy kitchen, following the draw of happiness and the lure of butter and brown sugar. They'd assembled homemade pizza masterpieces, with Susan's blessing, and had now moved on to the dessert portion of the evening. Although as he walked into the room, he wondered just how many cookies would make it to the oven, considering the blatant dips into the cookie dough bowl. His gaze met a laughing green one, sparkling with knowledge of his thoughts. “Don't worry,” Taylor mock whispered. “That's why we make two batches at a time.” Good thing she couldn't read all his thoughts, or she'd know he would give his next endorsement check to lick the swath of grainy butter mixture from the edge of her mouth. Her lips parted, and he wondered whether his thoughts were so secret after all. Then a wicked grin tilted her full lips, stopping his breath in his chest. Somehow her finger was loaded down with cookie dough—he didn’t see it happen because he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her mouth—and she was offering it to him. “Wanna bite?” she asked. Oh boy, did he. He wanted to make her take the bowl, spread it over those full breasts, and offer him a bite— Breaking the spell with a shake of his head, he leaned back. “No thanks,” he said, his voice coming out a little harder than he intended. Like flipping a light switch, the emotions disappeared from her face. “Okay,” she mumbled, then popped the dough into her own mouth. An intriguing flush swept over her high cheekbones.
Struggling after the death of her parents, Taylor let her hormones lead her into the biggest mistake of her life. Now she has a dangerous ex who still wants to own her and a desperate need for safety. What could be safer than her new job as a rock star nanny? Except now she’s locked herself in with a man who is potentially more dangerous…to her heart.
Michael Korvello has a dominant nature and a lonely heart that he keeps firmly under wraps. His kids have suffered enough for the mistakes of his past. But his new nanny has those dark desires howling at the gate. The only thing keeping him in check is the fear lurking in those brilliant green eyes. Can he earn her trust, and the right to transform all her desires into reality?
Just when neither can deny their need for each other, Taylor’s ex shows up like an unlucky charm, intent on taking back what he considers his…even if he has to destroy Michael’s world to get to her. Can two kindred souls protect the passionate love they ache for from an outsider bent on ripping them apart?
Available at Amazon, B&N, and other online retailers.
CHECK OUT MORE SNEAK PEEKS HERE! 
Today the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood is letting me talk writing, family, and RWA's Golden Heart award with my very own sister, author Ella Sheridan! Join us for all kinds of fun today! www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com 
There’s very little that’s hotter than the south in summer! With 100 degree temperatures and high humidity, stepping outside can be like stepping into a sauna sometimes. And unlike some places we don’t get the relief of a daily rain shower. Nope, just sweat, sweat, and more sweat.
But sometimes that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s the perfect combination to get those hot heroes to take off their shirts for ya. Maybe when they’re working on the lawn, or out in the field, or on the car…After all, it’s hot. And so are they – glistening muscles under the southern sun.
Of course, that’s not the only reason they take off their shirts. Swimming is an epidemic during a southern summer. Pools, rivers, lakes…heck, even a pond will do. Anything wet.
Maybe that’s why my hero in FINDING HER RHYTHM has a million-dollar pool at his mansion outside Atlanta, GA. It’s a long-held dream of mine, ever since I saw a bare bones version at a hotel once. But Michael Korvello, famous rock star, doesn’t go for bare bones anything. He likes his pool like his woman, curvy and lush. Slides, smooth rock formations, a waterfall, a little cave…all over the top, surrounded by lush tropical plants. The perfect way to cool down (or in his case, heat it up – his heroine accuses him of having a thing for sex in water).
So share with us your favorite way to cool down in the summer! One lucky winner will get an Amazon or B&N gift card from me. All commenters are eligible to win the grand prizes through the rafflecopter!
FINDING HER RHYTHM
A Backstage Pass Novel
Struggling after the death of her parents, Taylor let her hormones lead her into the biggest mistake of her life. Now she has a dangerous ex who still wants to own her and a desperate need for safety. What could be safer than her new job as a rock star nanny? Except now she’s locked herself in with a man who is potentially more dangerous…to her heart.
Michael Korvello has a dominant nature and a lonely heart that he keeps firmly under wraps. His kids have suffered enough for the mistakes of his past. But his new nanny has those dark desires howling at the gate. The only thing keeping him in check is the fear lurking in those brilliant green eyes. Can he earn her trust, and the right to transform all her desires into reality?
Just when neither can deny their need for each other, Taylor’s ex shows up like an unlucky charm, intent on taking back what he considers his…even if he has to destroy Michael’s world to get to her. Can two kindred souls protect the passionate love they ache for from an outsider bent on ripping them apart.
Don't forget to visit the other blogs on this hop for more fun, prizes, and hot, hot, hot!!! The list can be found here.
I'm hanging out with my sis, Ella Sheridan, over at The Mutual Admiration Society. Guess who's hangin' with us? Michael Korvello, rock star hero of Finding Her Rhythm! Come check out the story behind his "look" (and there might be a giftie up for grabs!).