You heard it here first?

by with No Comment Bethany & CodyStories

Okay, I’ve been sadly neglecting this little author blog … and I made the big announcement of my newest project on my author Facebook page. Guess that means you heard it here second, not first.

Oops. My author blog is sadly under-utilized.

April is Camp NaNoWriMo month, and I’m using it as the push I need to FINALLY finish editing Beth & Cody’s story, Trouble in Paradise.

Trouble in Paradise is the second of my Reality (TV) Bites books, detailing what happens to the best friends of Kari and Damien, the reluctant heroine and hero of Blind Date Bride. You might remember them as the couple who got more wedding-night action than the actual bride and groom—and the reason poor Kari and Damien were chosen as grand prize winners of Romance TV’s “Get a Love Life” contest.

Beth, convinced that Cody is losing interest in their relationship, coaxes him to apply for the network’s latest reality show, Invitation to Sin. Cody agrees—only because he’s sure they don’t have a chance in hell of getting chosen. But they do get the nod…and Bethany soon wishes she’d never considered putting their relationship through Romance TV’s crazy tests.

I finished the first draft several years ago but am only now diving deep into edits. The goal is to have it ready to go by the time I appear at the Payson Book Festival in mid-July.

Stealing the Southpaw available Oct. 25

by with No Comment Luis & Randi

Just in time for the World Series, which will showcase my beloved Chicago Cubs for the first time since 1945, I present the fifth book in my All’s Fair in Love & Baseball series …

STEALING THE SOUTHPAW.

Readers met Luis Castillo for the first time in BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, when he was the rookie pitcher giving catcher Matt Thatcher fits. He had a slightly larger role in SLIDING INTO HOME, when he was Greg’s pitcher in the big Home Run Derby Greg and Jenn organized for charity. Now, finally, Luis has the chance to tell his own story. It’s a good one, I promise.

Here’s SOUTHPAW’s back cover blurb:

Stealing the Southpaw | baseball romanceA potentially career-ending injury sends Arizona Condors pitcher Luis Castillo home to Miami to rehab and recuperate. He hasn’t even unpacked the rental car when he runs into his ex-best friend’s kid sister. She’s not a kid anymore, but she remains the main reason he ran as far and fast as he could six years ago. A successful college baseball career and two good years on the mound with the Condors did nothing to change what they did, or help him forget its consequences. He doesn’t deserve Randi’s warm welcome—and she sure as hell shouldn’t still look at him that way.

Miranda Vega sets out to convince Luis to take a chance on their relationship, which came to a premature end the night her brother found his baby sister in the arms of his best friend. The discovery sent Ricky into a vehicle, a near-head-on collision and ultimately a wheelchair. To get the boy—now man—she started crushing on at puberty and still loves today to believe Ricky’s accident wasn’t his fault, Randi needs a game plan. With any luck, she, Ricky and a Little League team in serious need of coaching will be able to notch the win.

Even with a bum left arm, Luis is a skilled opponent, adept at getting in his own way. But Randi grew up stubborn. And this time, she’s playing for keeps.

STEALING THE SOUTHPAW is $2.99 in e-book and $9.99 in paperback. It’s already available for preorder, and it’ll be live Oct. 25. Find it at your favorite retailer.

AMAZON | NOOK | KOBO | iBOOKS | BOOKS2READ | PAPERBACK | GOODREADS

Ogling the Outfielder currently a Kindle exclusive

by with No Comment Ogling the Outfielder

TW Ogling Teaser 1 #baseball #romance #KindleUnlimited exclusiveHere’s the scoop. I’m trying something new: KDP Select.

Starting today through late November, Ogling the Outfielder will be available ONLY on Kindle—and it’s free for subscribers of Kindle Unlimited.

When I started writing the story, the intent was to enroll it in KU as a test. I just hadn’t yet gotten around to it. That is the case no more.

Click the teaser photo to go directly to the book’s Amazon page.

And if you like the sneak peek in the picture, here’s a bit more of that scene. Enjoy!

***

With his eyes closed, he heard Alex’s sneakers squeaking on the cement before he saw her.

He half-opened one eye. The second quickly followed, giving him a better view. She was…er… “Stunning.”

Alex’s cheeks turned pink, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. “Thanks.”

Crap. Her answer meant he’d said it aloud. One good thing: at least she knew how to take a compliment. Most women he knew brushed them off—or worse, fished for more.

Not that he wouldn’t willingly give them in Alex’s case. Her black T-shirt clung lovingly to full breasts. She was, if he had to guess, a solid C-cup. Just the way he liked—

Alex cleared her throat. “Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d never seen boobs before.”

The teasing note in her voice did nothing to assuage his guilt. He lifted his head and met her eyes. “Sorry.”

She was right. He’d been ogling boobs since age thirteen—so why did these particular breasts rob him of the power of speech?

They were nice, sure. Perfect globes, straining against soft black cotton. But he’d seen, even felt up, some of the finest tits money could buy. This specific intern’s perfectly nice rack shouldn’t leave his mouth dry and his jaw on the floor.

Alex’s arms crossed, thrusting what he couldn’t stop staring at into even more prominence.

He made an effort and dragged his gaze back to her face. “I’ll behave.”

Her lips lifted in a half smile. “Somehow I doubt that.”

“Would you like me better if I were well-behaved?”

Alex’s eyes widened. Her sharp intake of breath said she was as surprised by the question as he was.

“Never mind. Don’t answer that. Why don’t we start this whole conversation over?” He scrubbed his hand over his face as if that could erase the last several minutes. “Ready to grab some food?”

“No.”

“No?” Damn. So much for starting over.

She shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. Yes, I’m hungry. Starved, as a matter of fact. The peanut butter toast I had for breakfast is long gone.”

She paused and drew a deep breath. “No, I wouldn’t prefer a well-behaved Sam Sloane.” A slow, sexy smile spread across her face, and she laid her hand on his forearm. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

“You think so, huh?” The warmth from her fingertips seeped into his skin. Her fingers tightened around his arm, and he stifled a groan. He was in trouble—and about as far from perfect as he could get. “What about the women in the shower?”

“They were stupid.” Alex’s tongue darted over her lower lip. “Everyone knows it’s not nice to kiss and tell.”

Big trouble. Sam jerked his arm out of her grasp, ignoring the hurt that flashed in her eyes. “We’d better get to the party before all the hot dogs disappear.”

Get Ogling the Outfielder exclusively at Amazon for a limited time.

#MySexySaturday 155: My Sexy Reunion

by with One Comment Dave & MelindaExcerpts

What's your idea of SexyLong time no blog, eh?

I’m on vacation from the day job this week, so I have nothing but time to do all the things I want to do more often—and that includes jumping into this week’s My Sexy Saturday blog hop.

This week’s theme is “My Sexy Reunion”—and I can think of no more appropriate reunion than that of Dave and Melinda in Diva in the Dugout. Here, they renew their carnal acquaintance five years after a one-night stand made them parents—a fact of which Dave remains unaware for nearly five years.

Enjoy!

***

Diva In The Dugout | Arlene Hittle“Mom knew me better than I knew myself, because I was already on my way to life in the slow lane. Another woman changed me, Mel.” His voice dropped. The gentle stroke of his thumb against her cheek fluttered her already-faltering heartbeat. “I never forgot the blonde bombshell who left me in the middle of the night.”

The husky declaration melted her last shreds of resistance. If he truly had never forgotten her, maybe they could have a happily-ever-after like her parents. Mel wanted so much to believe that. She needed to believe. She leaned into his caress, then closed the gap between them and brushed her lips to his.

Strong fingers threaded through her hair, and he deepened the kiss. Memories rushed back, memories of how strong she’d been all those years ago. How fearless. How easily they fit together, like two halves of one whole. So hot—and so right.

She wanted that again.

A whimper escaped from deep within her. From a place only one man—this man—had ever touched. Dave’s tongue stilled.

“Don’t stop now,” she murmured.

Mischief danced in his eyes. “I wasn’t planning to.” In one smooth motion, he slid one hand under her blouse and undid her bra.

Diva in theDugout is available at all major e-retailers. This handy universal link will take you to your choice of the Big Four, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iBooks.

#MySexySaturday: Talk sexy to me

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

It’s Saturday! And, for most folks, it’s the start of a long weekend.

My weekend started Friday, and I have to work Sunday. However, I plan to enjoy my Monday off. I’m also taking Wednesday off so I can road-trip to Phoenix to see Kristan Higgins. In addition to being a motivating speaker (click for her 2013 RWA keynote speech that brought me to tears), Kristan is one of my favorite writers. So when I heard she was going to be at Changing Hands Bookstore on Sept. 9, I had to figure out how to make the trip on what would usually be a work night.

Of course, Saturday means it’s time for My Sexy Saturday — and with it being a long weekend, you have more time to enjoy perusing all the snippets.

LynnSexySaturday_bannerThis week’s theme:

We know that lovers have a special language that only two of them share. The hidden looks, the longing gaze, the love shining in their eyes all accompanied by those sexy, sexy words. Sometimes, they are whispered, sometimes spoken aloud and occasionally shouted from rooftops. Authors are very good at those sexy conversations. We love sexy and it’s always so fun to share.

If you don’t mind, I’m going to share one more excerpt from BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, which is included in Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set. The 13-book collection is only 99 cents through Labor Day, and then it’ll be available at its regular price of $6.99. (That’s still a bargain for 13 stories, if you ask me…)

Back to my snippet. In this scene, Dave and a couple of his teammates are at the local bar when Meg and her friend walk in and invite themselves to play pool. After the game, Meg and Matt start chatting … er, flirting … She has just finished accusing his friend of distracting the competition, to which Matt replies that he can vouch that “Dex” has a good heart.

***

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene Hittle“Dave said something similar about you.” Meg wasn’t going to share why Dave had said it. Matt didn’t need to know she’d been checking out his butt.

Her sudden silence didn’t keep Matt from raising an eyebrow in inquiry. “Oh?”

“He said you’re a great guy.”

Matt chuckled. “He’s right, you know. I am a great guy.”

“Oh yeah? If you’re such a fantastic catch, why hasn’t some other girl reeled you in?” Immediately, she wished she hadn’t offered such a quick comeback. What was it about this guy that made her speak first and think later?

But Matt didn’t look offended; he was merely amused. “Maybe because no one has dangled the right bait.”

Meg opened her mouth to reply and then clamped it shut. She wasn’t going to ask what bait he was waiting for, because that would imply she cared. And since she wasn’t in the market for a new man—great kisser or not—she didn’t.

***

Unforgettable Heroes IIAnd if you believe the lies Meg’s telling herself, well … you don’t, do you?

BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is part of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, available now. For the bargain price of 99 cents, 13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….
Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

 

#MySexySaturday: Sexy Has It

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_bannerOMG, guys! UNFORGETTABLE HEROES’ Release week has been a whirlwind, with lots of successes along the way. More on that in my Manic Monday post. Right now, it’s time for My Sexy Saturday.

This week’s theme: Sexy Has It.

From the My Sexy Saturday blog:

We all know sexy has it. As authors, we define ‘it’ every day and write those wonderful, sexy scenes. Sexy has sexy, sexy has love, sexy has wonderful. Sexy has the power to change world, set people free and everything in between. Sexy is just right and good and oh, so fun to share.

Since I’m still celebrating this week’s release of Unforgettable Heroes II, I’m giving you another snippet from BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, my contribution to the 13-book boxed set.

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleIn this scene, Matt has rushed Meg out of the hotel lobby before she can figure out people are starting to snap his picture. (He’s still trying to keep her from finding out he plays ball for a living, and has just roped his brother, Stan, into pretending his hotel room belonged to the stylist, not him. Matt used his brother’s mad skills with a pair of shears to convince Meg to have dinner with him.) And Meg is still fighting to put her baby’s best interests first.

Happy reading!

***

Meg was breathless when Matt cursed and released his hold on her. She had no idea why he’d kissed her, or why he’d abruptly stopped and put six feet of space between them.

“What was that?”

Matt was also out of breath. She watched him take a few deep breaths before answering. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“What if I want it to happen again?”

The words flew out of her mouth before she could censor them. The moment they left her lips, Meg wished she could take them back. She’d just met this guy, for God’s sake. It was too early to be confessing that she wanted him to jump her bones—especially when his brother stood just feet away. What was it about this family that made her feel so at home?

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Damn hormones were making her horny and brainless. Even if it were the truth, she had no business getting involved with Matt. Or anyone, really. The baby needed to be her number one priority.

Matt smiled at her. “But I’m glad you did.”

***

Unforgettable Heroes IIBEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is part of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, available now. For the bargain price of 99 cents, 13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….
Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

#MySexySaturday: My Sexy Boyfriend

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_bannerWelcome to the My Sexy Saturday blog hop. Long time no see, eh?

I’ve been alternately working the day job (which takes up more energy than I’d like, even though I work 5 fewer hours a week than I did in Flagstaff), hiding out in my writing cave (halfway through a new Love & Baseball short!) and preparing for the release of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, of which BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is a part.

This week’s theme is “My Sexy Boyfriend,” and I’m in luck—or maybe it’s you, the readers, who are in luck. Matt, BEAUTY’s hero, is outstanding boyfriend material.

Oh sure, he’s a tad hesitant to commit—and once he does, he battles an overbearing streak. Even with his flaws, he’s an improvement over Meg’s ex-boyfriend. (That one dumped her to join the professional poker circuit, before he had any idea she was pregnant. He wrote a terse goodbye note on the back of the receipt for her birth control prescription.)

Here’s an excerpt that showcases the difference between Matt and the ex. Enjoy!

***

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene Hittle“Meg wouldn’t have sent someone looking for me if everything was fine.”

Matt didn’t bother to hide his astonishment that Tim could speak more than two words at once. “She didn’t send me.”

“Then why are you here?”

Whoa. Five whole words this time. He’d have to work harder than that to break his last-sentence record of twelve. Matt took another moment to debate with himself before answering. “I thought you deserved to know.”

“Know what?”

The guy had a right to know he was about to be a father, no matter how despicable—or illiterate—he might be. Matt took a deep breath. “Meg’s pregnant.”

Tim dipped his head so the hat again hid his eyes, but Matt caught a glimmer of something he didn’t like before the shade fell. “Not mine.”

Unforgettable Heroes IIBEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is available on its own for $2.99, but it’s also part of Turquoise Morning Press’ new Unforgettable Heroes II boxed set, which is available for preorder now and releases Aug. 25. For the bargain price of 99 cents,  13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….

Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

Coming Aug. 25: Unforgettable Heroes II

by with No Comment FeatureMeg & Matt

Turquoise Morning Press’ Unforgettable Heroes II boxed set will be available soon, and I’m excited to be a part of it. BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is among the 13 fantastic books you’ll get for the super-low introductory price of 99 cents (through August).

After Sept. 1, the price shoots up to $6.99. If you ask me, that’s still a bargain for 13 hunky heroes you won’t want to forget—but everyone loves a sale, so preorder your copy now.

Here are all the details:

Pre-order Date – Available Now!

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Unforgettable Heroes II 

ISBN: 978-1-62237-423-6

Heat Level: This 13 book set contains stories from sweet to erotic romance

Price Promotion: $0.99 for pre-order period through release week

Retail Price: $6.99 after September 1

Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels

Keywords & Themes: romance, heroes, Alpha, contemporary, historical, comedy, cowboys, suspense, paranormal, sweet romance, erotic romance, beach, older couple, ninja, warrior
AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

 

13 NATIONAL BESTSELLING AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….

UP CLOSE – ELIZABETH BEVARLY is the New York Times bestselling, RITA Award-nominated author of more than seventy novels and novellas. Up Close is the perfect beach read, blending adventure and intrigue with romance and sensuality, peppered with the author’s signature humor.

PARKER: THE MONTANA MCKENNAS, (Book 4) – MADDIE JAMES is an International bestselling author of more than thirty romance novels and novellas. Parker, is her latest release in the Montana McKennas western romance series.

SPRING CHICKENS – MARGARET ETHRIDGE is a National bestselling author, contemporary romance fan favorite, and TMP top-selling author. Her second chance at love story, Spring Chickens, is a romance that defies the ageists!

CRESCENT MOON – JANET EAVES is a National bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend series of books. Crescent Moon, a Legend After Dark novella, takes the townsfolk of quiet Legend, TN on a bit of a different spin. It’s still Legend, only darker.

RESCUED BY THE CELTIC WARRIOR – AMY JARECKI is a National bestselling author of more than ten Scottish historical romance novels. Rescued by the Celtic Warrior is a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

SCENT OF A SHADOW – JENNIFER JOHNSON is a National bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Scent of a Shadow, features a man making his living by hiding in the shadows, and a divorced mother of three, who finds him.

THE GULL MOTEL – AMIE DENMAN is an EPIC Award and Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist for her books. The Gull Motel, a beach read about a young woman who takes over a small Florida motel and falls for the man next door, earned a 4-star review from RT Bookreviews.

NICK OF TIME – BOBBYE TERRY is a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist in Mystery/Suspense, and a National bestselling author. Nick of Time is a Climax, Virginia novel of suspense, intrigue and romance.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – JC WARDON is the author of the thirteen-book Mystic Waters series, called a “series to watch” by her publisher. Diamond in the Rough, is book 6 of the Cavanaugh Family series.

BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER – ARLENE HITTLE is the author of seven contemporary romance novels and novellas. Beauty and the Ballplayer is a 2011 Golden Heart finalist and winner of the First Coast RWA unpublished Beacon.

RIVETING HIS ATTENTION – MAY WILLIAMS is the author of historical romance, Riveting His Attention, which has been called “fun and flirty” and “adorable” by her fans. May writes both contemporary and historical romance.

CORPORATE COWBOY – BELLA MASTERS is the erotic romance pen name of International bestselling author Maddie James. Corporate Cowboy, an All Romance Ebooks bestseller, received a favorable 4 Star Review from RT Bookreviews.

RUNNING NOWHERE – LISA TAPP is the author of Maggie Award Finalist, Finding Beth, the first title in her Young Adult Ro Davis Series. Her book Running Nowhere, part of the contemporary romantic suspense Maystown Series, was the Romantic Suspense winner of the Hot Prospect Contest and was named a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense.

Website: http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com

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Manic Monday: Payson Book Festival this weekend

by with No Comment Blind Date BrideCher & DerrickMusings

Payson Book FestivalTalk about manic weeks… When I’m not at work, I’ll be running around getting ready for the first-ever Payson Book Festival.

The festival is Saturday, July 25,  from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gila Community College, 201 N. Mud Springs Road, Payson, Arizona. All kinds of authors will be there. I’m sharing a table with RWA chapter mate Susan Haught.

Activities will include:

  • Book readings by authors
  • Storytelling for kids
  • Book signings
  • Author exhibit tables
  • Local food vendors
  • Musical entertainment

I’m looking forward to interacting with readers, for sure! If you’re in Arizona, plan on stopping by. It’s a beautiful time of year for a road trip to Payson!

Speaking of getting ready, I had to unearth my box of bookmarks and business cards. I hadn’t seen it since my move, and I had a moment of sheer panic last Thursday when I couldn’t find it immediately.

It’s my own fault, really. I snagged boxes from the Daily Sun office for my move. They were the perfect size — big enough to hold books and/or videos without being too heavy to move once filled. And they’re all stamped “Sedona Visitor’s Guide.” So I have a couple dozen boxes all with the same label … with no idea what’s actually in them. (Yeah, that’s a solid argument for labeling boxes as I pack them. I did that at first. Alas, when moving day came and we were still throwing stuff in boxes, the labels went by the wayside.)

Finally, I found my author promo items. Some other crap from my computer desk had been dumped on top of the precious stuff I sought.

My stash

If you stop by to see me Saturday, I’ll autograph a bookmark for you. I’ll also have copies of BLIND DATE BRIDE and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS for sale.

Ready for Payson Book Festival