Not a very positive way to begin a blog post but we here in the Chicago area have had enough of cold temperatures, wind and rain. Thankfully by May, there should be no snow but we Chicagoans know never to say never about the weather. This is a photo of what I can't wait to see every day and not seeing yet this spring.
And at least my writing desk is in front of the balcony doors so that my view is always to the outside. Our balcony is small, just large enough for two chairs and flowers. I know you gardeners will freak out but all the flowers are fake. Gardening is not my thing. I don't really enjoy digging around in the dirt and watering the flowers every day. We are ten floors up and the wind whips through drying out the plantings, hence watering every day. So, we solved that problem by buying a white trellis from Home Depot (try taking that home on two buses since we don't have a car). Below the trellis is a plastic trough with floral foam and small pebbles. Both are loaded with multi-colored fake flowers from the dollar store. Sometimes the flowers blow away but they're wired pretty tightly to the trellis. This way, no matter what time of year it is, no matter what the weather is, I can look out and see beautiful bright flowers. Here's a photo of them.
It's been hard for me to write this winter because of the unrelenting cold and snow but I have moved forward with some projects and am also determined to finally finish up my erotic historical western series. What has encouraged me is my first Ellora's Cave release, Lost and Found. That was February 7.
In my story telling, I find myself obsessed with small towns. I was raised in one, went to college, and taught third grade in one. Then I moved to the big city. Chicago. At that time years ago, I couldn't wait to leave my small Iowa town. Now, apparently, I'm yearning to go back home. Five of my thirteen books take place in a small town. Lost and Found is my sixth small town book. Birchwood Falls was created, populated and designed by me.
Lost and Found is about hunky Marine Marc Rahn who enlisted after his high school graduation to escape the pain of his parents’ fatal car wreck. Now on leave after eight years and multiple Middle East deployments, he returns to his small hometown to put to rest his suspicions that the “accident” might actually have been anything but.
What he doesn’t expect is an intriguing flash of a pierced nipple from a new neighbor on move-in day. The breast’s owner, Phoebe Barnes, is a beautiful young jazz singer who plans to make it big in the music business. Her early years in foster care made her hungry for attention and fame, and she’s out to achieve both at almost any cost.
Despite their differing paths, Marc and Phoebe quickly give in to the sizzling attraction between them. But will their passion turn deadly when the person who killed Marc’s family decides two murders might not have been enough?
Here's an excerpt you might find amusing -- and hot!
Unhhh, what’s that? Phoebe cranked open one eye to check the time. Nine twenty-two. Shit. She’d wanted to sleep until at least ten. Nine twenty-two wasn’t really too early but still—
Rolling off the bed, she slowly trekked to the front room of her small house and peeked out the picture window to see what the ruckus was about. Someone was moving into the bungalow across the street. Finally. The house had been empty for quite a while and was too cute not to have a family living there.
A big man at the back of a truck directed movers into the house. It was a small truck so there wasn’t all that much furniture. An iron bedframe balanced against a tire while the man bent over, his gray t-shirt riding up exposing a muscular back and giving her a peek at a gorgeous ass in snug jeans. He and another man in work clothes hoisted a black leather couch into the air and marched it up the porch steps and through the door.
She put out a hand to balance against the window frame, too curious now to go back to bed. When the man bounded back down the porch steps, his gaze riveted on hers.
His face with its hard features, strong chin and dark shadow of a beard tugged at her heart. Short black hair stuck up over his forehead, which would have made him look boyish if he hadn’t been filling out that t-shirt and jeans so well. She saw all this clearly. The street was only two lanes wide. Did this small amount of furniture mean the fascinating-looking man didn’t have a wife and family? Not that it would make any difference to her.
He lifted a hand to shade his eyes, a big grin splitting his face.
She shivered. The arm holding her up shook. “Oh my God!” Slamming back to the side of the window, she pressed both palms against the wall’s rough plaster.
Naked! She’d just shot him full-frontal nudity. She’d been so engrossed in the sight of him she’d completely forgotten her own bare-assedness. Oh shit! He’ll either never speak to me or he’ll be over here in five minutes.
How the hell was she going to get back to the protection of the bedroom? Her tiny house offered a clear view from the front window all the way through to the back. Afraid to peek around the curtain to see if he was still watching, she realized how cold she was. Her nipples—with a little gold ring piercing one tip—stood out like ripe, hard raspberries. Of course it was the chilly temperature and not her immediate attraction to the man’s jeans. And chest. And flat belly…
Okay. Pull yourself together. Just sprint to the bedroom. He’s probably not looking any longer. Just go!
She flew through the bedroom door, threw herself onto the rumpled bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. A fine time to be embarrassed by her nudity but she liked to pick the time and place to grace a man with her body.
And welcoming a new neighbor with a buck-naked flash wasn’t quite the same as taking over a plate of cookies or a tuna casserole.
Then it hit her again. She had just flashed the new neighbor. Laughter pealed out in a rush. Jesus. What a nutcase. Well it probably wasn’t the first naked woman he’d ever seen. Unless maybe he was gay?
Crap! What a waste that would be.
***
“Well I’ll be damned.”
“Did you say something, Mr. Rahn?”
His balls had instantly drawn up into the hot shelter of his groin, his cock swelling in interest. Swallowing heavily the last spit in his mouth, he stood transfixed.
He would have to have perfect long-distance eyesight.
Lost and Found is an erotic M/F novel and is available here:
Ellora's Cave ~ and Amazon ~ and Barnes and Noble ~ and AllRomance eBooks
I hope you enjoyed the excerpt!
Jane Leopold Quinn
My Romance: Love With a Scorching Sensuality
Website ~ Twitter ~ My Blog ~ Exquisite Quills! Blog
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5 comments:
Thank you for having me today, you naughty novelists. ;-)
That's a cute excerpt, Jane. It made me smile. Lost and Found is at the top of my tbr pile and I'm looking forward to it. :) Is that background on the cover one of your photos?
Best luck with this latest through Elora's Cave!
Thanks, Rose. The building in the background on Lost and Found isn't one of my photos. I offered a photo to the cover artist, but she didn't use it. It's similar enough though. Small town beauty. ;-)
I also love to write about small towns. I also live in one. The excerpt was great and the book sounds like a good read. Good luck with sales.
Thanks, JoAnne. And thanks for commenting.
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