Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Julia Brandywine: EXCERPT: FOOL'S GOLD
Julia Brandywine: EXCERPT: FOOL'S GOLD: Chapter One "You’re going to do what?" Sarah Maxwell gazed at her cousin's mutinous expression, willing her t...
EXCERPT: FOOL'S GOLD
Chapter One
"You’re going to do what?"
Sarah Maxwell gazed at her cousin's mutinous expression, willing her to understand. "Rafe's reputation is in shreds since I left. I need, deep in my soul, to set things right. Please try to understand, Pipi, I have to go back."
"Back into the lion's den." Pipi shook her head. "Listen to me, cuz. You'll be going on a fool's errand. You don't think the man will actually take you back with open arms after you deserted him on your wedding night three weeks ago do you?"
"Rafe's housekeeper is going on a long deserved vacation. I'm all set to fill in for her at the ranch."
"So she's the one who's been feeding you all these gloom and doom stories about him." Pipi scowled. "It could be a set up you know."
"No, Rafe's not that devious." Sarah added sadly, "He can't even tell a decent white lie. That's how I found out that he doesn't really love me. He only married me because of my family connections."
Pipi shook her head. "You, a housekeeper? I can't picture it."
Sarah shrugged. "How hard can it be? You mop a few floors, open a few cans. I should even have enough spare time to finish the series of endangered species photos I was working on. It's the best work I've ever done and my editor said it could lead to some prestigious work."
"That's just an excuse, Sarah, and you know it. You aren't responsible for ruining the cowboy any more than your mother was responsible for ruining your father. That was all our grumpy old grandfather's imagination. You can't fix the past by doing this."
"That's not why." Sarah noted Pipi's disbelief and sighed. "Maybe that's part of it, but the plain truth is I love the hardheaded, stubborn cowboy and I can't see his life ruined..."
Sarah Maxwell gazed at her cousin's mutinous expression, willing her to understand. "Rafe's reputation is in shreds since I left. I need, deep in my soul, to set things right. Please try to understand, Pipi, I have to go back."
"Back into the lion's den." Pipi shook her head. "Listen to me, cuz. You'll be going on a fool's errand. You don't think the man will actually take you back with open arms after you deserted him on your wedding night three weeks ago do you?"
"Rafe's housekeeper is going on a long deserved vacation. I'm all set to fill in for her at the ranch."
"So she's the one who's been feeding you all these gloom and doom stories about him." Pipi scowled. "It could be a set up you know."
"No, Rafe's not that devious." Sarah added sadly, "He can't even tell a decent white lie. That's how I found out that he doesn't really love me. He only married me because of my family connections."
Pipi shook her head. "You, a housekeeper? I can't picture it."
Sarah shrugged. "How hard can it be? You mop a few floors, open a few cans. I should even have enough spare time to finish the series of endangered species photos I was working on. It's the best work I've ever done and my editor said it could lead to some prestigious work."
"That's just an excuse, Sarah, and you know it. You aren't responsible for ruining the cowboy any more than your mother was responsible for ruining your father. That was all our grumpy old grandfather's imagination. You can't fix the past by doing this."
"That's not why." Sarah noted Pipi's disbelief and sighed. "Maybe that's part of it, but the plain truth is I love the hardheaded, stubborn cowboy and I can't see his life ruined..."
Monday, August 4, 2014
Julia Brandywine: EXCERPT- HER HEART'S DESIRE
Julia Brandywine: EXCERPT- HER HEART'S DESIRE: Samantha Logan parked her car in front of her family’s dilapidated summer cabin and let out a demoralized sigh. The morning newspapers w...
EXCERPT- HER HEART'S DESIRE
Samantha
Logan parked her car in front of her family’s dilapidated summer cabin and let
out a demoralized sigh. The morning newspapers would expose the entire
disaster, complete with the glaring caption—“Runaway Bride.” What they wouldn’t
say that after she caught the bastard with another woman he’d damned near
killed her. Her hands shook as she pulled the keys from the ignition. Next time she looked for a lover she would be
the one in control. At least no one
would think of looking for her here.
With
that thought in mind she climbed out of her almost paid off clunker and walked
up the rutted path to her hideout. If
she was in luck the key would be in the old hiding place on the ledge above the
door. Reaching up on tiptoe she smiled
when her fingertips encountered cold metal.
Great, things were finally going her way.
Now
all she had to do was hole up, lick her wounds in private, and figure out what
to do with the rest of her life.
Grayson, the rat, had been her only true foray into sex and it had gone
horribly wrong, Steadying her shaking
hands, she stuck the key in the lock, and tired her damndest to turn it. Frozen solid.
Just her rotten luck. Good and
mad now she rattled the rusty lock trying to force it, to no avail. Fuck.
Then
suddenly the door tore open taking her headlong with it as she stumbled over
the threshold and into the dark cabin.
What the fuck...was all she could think before she crashed to the saggy
floor and some ox jumped on her. Desperately trying to suck in air she futilely
struggled with the seeming ninja as he flung her limp, slightly pudgy around
like a rag doll and pressed her to the ground pinning her.
A
mingling of sandalwood cologne and testosterone washed over her somewhat
reminiscent and crazily relaxing her as she was pinned under his muscular, very
male body if the heavy bulge pressed against her sex was anything to go by.
Fight
damn it, she told herself. He was too
big to be her ex-fiancé, but could Grayson have dispatched some thug to
retrieve her? Or even worse, had she stumbled across a squatter, a criminal
hiding out in the woods? Panicked, she took a wild swing into the darkness. Her
fist crunched into hard flesh and bone as she struck a glancing blow off his
jaw.
It
had no effect on the hulk on top of her. The solid wall of muscle shook off her
blow with a muffled grunt and flattened her even more with his weight. She
tried to hit him again. He blocked her move, capturing both her wrists in a
steely grip. One of his large hands
began running over her trembling body. As it skimmed over her breasts, she let
out a bloodcurdling shriek.
He
froze, his hand still cupping her breast. “Stop that god damned
caterwauling.”
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Samantha Logan is a runaway bride. Jake Ramsey is a PI on a
stakeout. When they meet in the dark after midnight, it's explosive. Wrestled to
the floor upon arrival at her family's supposedly vacant cabin, she's
terrified-until she recognizes her attacker. Jake is shocked to find the
voluptuous intruder below him is his employer's daughter. Together, they must
battle her kinky ex-fiance, espionage, and each other to solve the crime and
discover the passion between them. Will Jake be able to save himself from
Samantha's charms? Will Samantha capture Jake's love-her heart's desire?
Available now at Amazon
Reviews
Overall rating: 5 Hearts!
Sensuality rating: Very sensual!
"The
attraction between Samantha and Jake is so perfect. Giving in and admitting
that they love each other (even without using the words verbally) is so well
described. This a wonderful story, with lots of suspense, a smooth and flowing
storyline; excellent dialogue-a great tale."
Reviewed by: Glenda
K. Bauerle • The Romance Studio
5 Angels!
"I
have to admit it took until the end for me to figure out where the danger was
coming from. I was pleasantly touched with the ease at which Samantha and Jake
fought for and loved each other. HER HEART'S DESIRE provides the right mix of danger
and intense romance. Julie Skerven has done an excellent job catching and
maintaining my full attention with this story and earned 5 Angels!"
Reviewed by: Jessica
• Fallen Angel Reviews
5 Cups!
"Ms.
Skerven writes a story that is captivating to the very last page. I could not
put it down. The chemistry between the two characters is excellent. I look
forward to reading more of her work. I wish that I could have given it more
than 5 cups. It was well worth the read many times over. A feel good all over book."
Reviewed by: Cherokee
• Coffee Time Romance
4 Stars!
"Sam
and Jake are realistic and engaging characters. Skerven does a nice job of
injecting humor and intimacy into their interactions. Also, their developing
relationship nicely dovetails with the mystery they are trying to solve."
Reviewed by: Stephanie
Schneider • Romantic Times Book Reviews
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4
"HER
HEART'S DESIRE is fast paced and keeps you guessing through all its twists and
turns. Add in the spicy romance between two hardheaded characters and you have
one delightful novel! I urge everyone to buy this guaranteed pleaser!"
Reviewed by: Nadine
St. Denis • Romance Junkies
FOOL'S GOLD
Available through Amazon as an ebook and as a paperback I hope you'll pick up a copy today.
This was my first book and was a real learning experiance let me tell you. But as such it's very close to my heart.
I was thrilled when it garnered rave reviews like these.
5 Stars - Highly Recommended!
"A short contemporary romance,
FOOL'S GOLD is long on sizzle, laughter, and character. Mismatched hero and
heroine, cowboy and city lady, is a pretty standard plot, but Ms. Skerven has
taken it out of the ordinary, added some twists, a lot of tinder to fuel their
mounting passions, and given the reader a great read. Super job, Ms.
Skerven."
Reviewed by: Under the Covers Book Reviews
4 Stars!
"FOOL'S GOLD is a spicy
combination of humor, adventure, and the makings of true love. Julie Skerven's
characters are realistic and loveable."
Reviewed by: Affaire de Coeur
4 Stars!
"The characterization is
charming and realistic. Rafe and the ranch hands are what they are: men who
work in all weather, work hard, sweat, and swear. Sarah is a woman of the 90's,
but she is also aware of her responsibilities, is willing to learn, and she
loves Rafe--even while she is sweltering in red long-johns."
Reviewed by: The Word Museum
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