FOLK'S, WE'RE HERE TO PARTY!
Come on in to Vintage Vonnie. I've been all aflutter this morning getting ready for Sara's book release day party. Here, grab a plate and fill it with some goodies. I think I made something for everyone's tastes. Sara said she loves strawberries, so I may have overdone with them a tad, but you know how I aim to please.
I just love new books and when they have a sizzling rating, well, who can resist. A "hawt" story makes for a great beach read. First, snatch a flute of bubbly while I tell you about my guest. Sarah Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel
Gambling on a Secret was names by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the
Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012.
Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.
I'm from Pennsylvania, too, Sara, south-central. Now, while Sara shares her blurb and an excerpt, don't be afraid to keep your plates filled. There are goodies galore. Before I forget, if you're not into champagne, my Calvin is manning his cuppachino maker and he'd love to brew you something special.
Gambling
On A Heart
Book 2 of The Colton Gamblers
Blurb:
She
once lost his heart on a bluff. Will she risk everything to win it back?
Beautician
Tracy Quinn spends her days making the women of Colton, Texas beautiful, while
living down the nickname of Olive Oyl, given to her by the only man she has
ever loved—Zack Cartwright. She spends her nights alone, despite what her ex
husband wants their friends and neighbors to think.
Ex-rodeo
cowboy. Ex-bad-boy. Ex-Marine. Widower and single dad Sheriff Zack Cartwright
can describe his life in exes. One ex in particular reminds him of what’s
missing in his workaholic life: Tracy Quinn. For years since she broke his
heart, he’s practically made avoiding her a second job. He still wants her, but
can never go after her.
When
cattle rustlers target her brother’s ranch, Tracy and Zack are stuck working together.
Her son could use a positive male role model, and his daughter is wild for a
chance at a “substitute” mom. But Tracy’s ex threatens to sue if she lets Zack
near her son, and the Colton grapevine is abuzz with rumors about their past
relationship. Is it worth the gamble to see if what they have is more than
lust?
CONTENT
WARNING: Spicy sex
(Sorry, Sara, I couldn't resist!)
Excerpt:
“I was hoping you could keep me company this afternoon.”
He skimmed his fingers over her cheek.
Her insides, heating up like lava under the surface
of the earth, pooled in her low belly. Her lips parted.
Against her lips, he whispered, “Tracy, I want you.”
She had thought of little else since he’d left her standing
on her porch Friday night. He was asking her to enter into a sexual
relationship without any hope of a future--without love.
But she was already in love with Zack.
Both of their kids would benefit from them being
together. Hadn’t that been what she’d decided while she tossed and turned in
her big, empty bed?
With her gaze locked on his, she murmured, “I want
you, too, but I have a stipulation.”
He leaned back. “What is it?”
“I’m no one’s bed-buddy, Zack. I know what my
reputation is in this town, but it’s all wrong.” She swallowed her rapidly
thumping heart back into place. “I’ll only go through with this, if you promise
to treat me as a serious girlfriend. That means we date, we visit with our
families and we share our kids.” When his expression hardened, she quickly
added, “Mandy likes me. And I adore her. I’d like to bring her here, to the
shop, for a few hours and play. And take her shopping. I know your mom tries,
but she’s busy with her foundations and charities she does for the Junior
League.”
The breath she sucked in was full of Zack’s scent of
sage and leather. “Meanwhile, you can teach Bobby how to ride and maybe take
him to the sheriff’s department and show him around. Jake won’t like it, but
I’ll deal with him.” Having laid her demands out on the proverbial table, she
held her breath, waiting for him to tell her what she could do with herself.
After all, a man of Zack’s caliber could have any damned woman he wanted. Tracy
was just handy, and according to the gossip of her ex-husband and mother-in-law,
she was easy.
He studied her for a few moments. “That’s more than
one stipulation.”
“Take it or leave it.”
“Tracy, it won’t change what I told you Friday
night. I’m never getting married again.”
His words stung as much now as they had the other
night, but she didn’t show him how much. She kept her face determined, as if
she were haggling over one of his horses, rather than her body and soul.
“Fine. But I’m not a floozy. Yes, I’ve made
mistakes. But I have my son to consider. And I’d hope you’d feel the same about
Mandy. They’re bound to see us together. What do you plan on telling your
six-year-old daughter when she asks about me? That I’m your friend with
benefits? I know that isn’t what I
want to be teaching my son.” Moreover, she didn’t want to give credence to
Jake’s claim that she had no sexual morals.
“Okay,” he said at last. “We’ll play the game your
way.” He pressed her against him. “Luck would have it I’m off this afternoon,
too. I’ve already put in sixteen hours.”
When his lips captured hers, she knew she’d made a
pact with the devil, but she couldn’t stop the elation surging through her.
There was something he wanted from her. Sex was a big portion of it, but
something else kept Zack from walking away and hooking up with any one of the many
available women in town.
Sara also writes
paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.
Buy Links:
Author links:
Giveaway:
*Please
leave your email address to qualify*
Tour Grand Prize is
a swag pack full of goodies! A signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby, an ebook copy of my last release Gambling On
A Secret, a notebook, a pen, and a custom jewelry set—all tucked
into a keepsake box. A $20 value.
*Swag pack is for
the entire six-week tour. Winner will be announced on September 1, 2013
*Open
to Continental US citizens 18 years and older and where not prohibited by law.
WHEW! WE HAVE PARTIED HEARTY!
SARA, GOOD LUCK DARLIN'. HOPE YOU HAVE AWESOME SALES!
.jpg)
