Writers' Wednesday: Remembering Sept. 11th & a Safari Heat Blog Hop

Welcome, everyone! I know some of you are probably here for the Safari Heat Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop, and thanks for dropping by :) Before the details, though, I'm taking a moment to remember and honor all those who lost lives and loved ones on September 11, 2001. May we never forget and always honor the privilege of living in a country that banded together and rose above the sorrow of that day...

Now, as many of you know, the Safari Heat Blog Hop contest begins this week!

The Hop's Grand Prize is a Kindle Fire HD 7” with Second Prize a 100.00 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N! Plus books to go on the winner’s new Kindle! (Note: due to shipping costs, winners must reside in the U.S. or Canada).

Even better, there are four ways readers can get extra entries into the grand prize giveaway.  You will get an entry for completing each of these: leaving a comment, following my blog, following me on Facebook, or following me on Twitter.

All the rules and a description of how the hop will work are listed on the Safari Heat site. Click the banner above or follow the link below.

http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com

Today's prizes:

Signed Swag Pack: Dianne Duvall

Signed Book: Crush by Alan Jacobson

Signed Book: The Look of Love By Bella Andre

Signed Book: Coming Clean by Sue Margolis

Signed Book: Murder Most Foul by JoAnne Myer

Pre-Made Book Cover: Carey Abbott

Signed Book: Release Me by J. Kenner

In addition to these great prizes, I'm also running a giveaway this week and next. What can you win? I'll be giving away 2 audio book copies of The Promise of Paradise AND one signed book from my backlist (you can view it here). All you have to do is enter via Rafflecopter.

Without further adieu, here's today's Sultry Summer read, from (of course!) my contemporary romance novel Summer's Song. Enjoy!

"Yes," Damian said, his breath warm on her cheek. "Sometimes I write my own songs."

He repositioned the instrument, curved his fingers into place and began to play. The melody was simple, a sweet tune that rose and fell without lyrics. It reminded Summer of a butterfly in the morning or dawn above the ocean. The notes dropped honey-like into an endless pool of longing. In the middle, it changed, became low and sensual with guttural chords that hovered and hung in the air. Damian’s shoulders hunched, and his arms tightened with intensity as he played on. A pause, and then the first melody returned, sweeter than the start, if that was possible. The sun coming out after a brilliant summer storm. A baby waking with a smile to a brand new day. It faded, grew, then faded again to nothing. With the final chord, the notes vanished into the night.

"God, that was…" Summer couldn’t find the words. "…beautiful," she finished, but it wasn’t enough to describe the passion or the complexity of the song.

He smiled. "Thanks."

"Does it have a title?"

He looked toward her and paused, opened his mouth and closed it again. "Summer’s Song."

Damian set down the guitar and moved toward her, and this time Summer saw the kiss coming. She felt it, knew it and wanted it with every part of her. He brushed his lips against hers, reached up with one hand to cup her cheek, and the step fell away beneath her. Sweet lightness flooded her stomach, her chest, her mouth. He pulled away, whispered her name, pressed his cheek to her temple and let her feel the pulse that raced there.

"Summer." The name sighed out of him, and he kissed her again.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway