Friday, January 31, 2014

Dating Delaney



Title: Dating Delaney
Author: K. Larsen
Genre: Romantic Comedy




Delaney Peters found her soul mate at nineteen and then lost him …fourteen years later fate tempts her again but after the heart break caused the first time around will she be able to give instead of lend her heart?

Delaney’s School of Hard Knocks- Summer Course


Dating Delaney 301

The principles of Dating Delaney


Dating Delaney 302

What Makes Delaney Tick



Dating Delaney 303

Maintaining the Relationship through bettering yourself


** The fall semester will offer such classes as Learning When to Shut Up, Asking for Directions, Chick Flicks 101 and The Art of Loading the Dishwasher (Lab Fee Extra)

Contains adult language and sexual content






I am an avid reader, coffee drinker, and chocolate eater who loves writing. I received my B.A. from Simmons College-a while ago. I currently live with my daughter in Maine.


I'm working on my fifth novel out later this year. I've published Saving Caroline, 30 Days, Committed and Dating Delaney. Enjoy!


I love hearing from you so please feel free to contact me!




Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K.LarsenAuthor

Twitter: @klarsen_author

Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AN1BSIE/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=cocowo-20







Featured Author Teresa Keefer



I'm super excited to have the pleasure of featuring author Teresa Keefer today! So read our Q & A and then read about her book Blood Vengeance which is a definite TBR paranormal! ~ Leslie



Teresa Keefer is a self-published author by night and a human resource professional during the day.  Her primary interest is romantic fiction; however, she has been known to dabble in other genres when the mood strikes her.  Being an avid reader of everything from non-fiction to horror to romance and erotica since she was young, her dream of becoming a published author herself became a reality in 2013 when she published a contemporary romance she completed in 2007.  She is a current member of Romance Writers of America as well as the Indiana Chapter of RWA.
Coming Home was released in February 2013 through Amazon’s Create Space and Kindle Direct Publishing.  Blood Vengeance-Book 1 Vengeance Trilogy was completed and released by the same platforms in July 2013 with the subsequent books due to release in 2014.  She also has written several short stories and essays as well as poetry which may be found on www.fanstory.com.
First-hand experience breathes life into her stories because they are set in places that she has visited.  Coming Home is set in the beautiful, peaceful Smoky Mountain area of East Tennessee, which is her favorite place to relax.  Blood Vengeance is set in the steamy, seductive New Orleans, a place where she and her daughters visited and to which she hopes to return.  We should also watch for locations such as Las Vegas, New York City, Washington D.C. as well as some fictional locations that she has created in her own mind.  She says that if she is able to start working on her bucket list soon, there will also be a visit to Ireland and hopefully a story from there too.  Her favorite author saying is ‘be careful what you say or do…you might end up in my next novel’.  Not to say that her fictional characters bear any resemblance to actual people, living or deceased.  Readers have said things like ‘she pulls at the heartstrings’ and ‘she makes you feel like you are right there’ when reviewing her books.  She says between book ideas that are fed to her by friends, her own imagination is continually coming up with new book ideas and she has no less than three works in process at a time.
Teresa is a lifelong Indiana resident living in a rural community in the east central portion of the state.  As a single mother of three daughters, she returned to college as an adult and earned an MBA from Indiana Institute of Technology.  Teresa has spent over 25 years in the human resource profession and has often threatened to write a humorous depiction of life in the human resource profession.  Oh, the stories she could tell!  She has been known to debate political and social issues with passion and generally does not back down, sometimes resorting to dry sarcasm to prove a point.  In addition to spending time with her daughters and grandchildren she has a lot of other interests that compete for her time such as cooking, sewing, gardening, crafting, studying spiritualism, and traveling.
Links to Teresa Keefer-Author-
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7192736.Teresa_Keefer
http://www.facebook.com/TeresaAKeefer
http://www.amazon.com/Teresa-A-Keefer/e/B00E1NM82K
http://www.librarything.com/author/keeferteresa

1. Where are you from?  I was born in Warsaw, Indiana and except for a few years in Indianapolis (which I hated) I have lived in the north central Indiana area
2. When you aren't writing what do you like to do with your time?  Oh my goodness, this is a big one!  I enjoy so many things that I run out of time to do it all.  Besides spending time with my family and friends, I like to do crafts, cook, read, go to the movies, dining out, and gardening.
3. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?  I can remember making up stories long before I was in school and drawing little cut outs to go with my stories.  But I've wanted to be a lot of things including a nurse, an attorney, and an airline pilot.  Now I just want to write!
4. When did you first consider yourself a writer?  I've been writing for a lot of years...poetry when I was a teenager and then toying with story ideas as an adult but I think the first time that I considered myself a REAL writer was when I got my first paperback copy of my first novel Coming Home which is a contemporary romance that I wrote in 2007 and didn't publish until 2013.
5. What inspired your book?  When I came up with the idea for Blood Vengeance I was trying to combine elements of romance, paranormal, thriller, and erotica to appeal to a greater number of readers.  I would have to say that  with the popularity of Twilight, The Sookie Stackhouse books, and Fifty Shades I wanted to use a little of each concept.  I chose the New Orleans setting because I am FASCINATED with the history of the city and probably have romanticized the steamy atmosphere of the French Quarter.
6. Are any characters or experiences based off of your life or someone you know?  I have been up close and personal with some actual mediums.
7. Which writer, if any, would you consider a mentor? I absolutely look up to Stephen King after my best friend bought me his autobiography "On Writing" and LOVE Nora Roberts' work.
8. What are you reading right now?  I think I have a book addiction because I am jumping between several right now...Intoxicated by a fellow Indiana author and friend Jeana Mann, Blood Red by Heather Graham and Assertiveness for Earth Angels by Doreen Virtue
9. What are your current projects?  I am putting the finishing touches on Yesterday's Promises, a contemporary romance for release in the upcoming weeks.  I have a good start on the sequel to Blood Vengeance and have started working on a new idea for a trilogy called the Sisters Three.
10. What is something you hate doing? Why?  Honestly, I can't think of anything I hate doing.
11. Do you ever write naked? :) While under the influence?  Never naked but under the influence quite frequently
12. Most embarrassing story?  How embarrassing are you looking for?  I'm the queen of embarrassing situations.  Like having my 'battery operated toothbrush' kick on in my suitcase while they were tagging my baggage when I was leaving on a trip for Vegas and having the lady call me back and loudly tell me that something was vibrating in my bag?
13. Biggest pet peeve?  Waitresses who call me 'hon' or 'honey' or 'baby'...it drives me absolutely nuts!
14. Ebooks or Paperback?  Both.  But I do love my Kindle app on my phone because I can shop on Amazon anytime that I want to!
15. Do you judge a book by it's cover?  Absolutely not.  I judge by the blurb on the back cover maybe or even a review, but never by the cover.  Books or people!
16. Do you listen to music while you write? What is your current favorite?  Sometimes I do and my favorite music is country.  My first book, Coming Home, is spun from the song Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter
17. Puppies or Kittens?  Do I have to pick?  I love all animals and have a dog, two cats, and a miniature horse right now.  I would love to have the facilities to do animal rescue.


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The heroine, Abigail Cooper, has a gift. She discovered that she has the gift of mediumship, inherited from her grandmother who visits her from the 'other side'. When her teenaged sister-Reilly-goes missing with a suspected cult leader, Abigail uses her sixth sense which leads her to steamy, mysterious, modern day New Orleans.

Abigail herself is met with some danger when she is attacked by a serial rapist/murderer but is rescued by a tall, dark and mysterious man and returned to her hotel room unharmed but missing most of her memory of the attack and the events that followed. However, with help from the other side, she soon comes to understand why.

Her rescuer was none other than the wealthy, attractive, seductive and centuries old vampire by the name of Vincent Adcock. Vincent and his group of fellow vampires have been ridding the south of criminal predators in their own way for many years as a means to feed as well as a means to seek solace from what they are.

REVIEW
4 1/2 HOT FUNNY STARS! I'm a sucker for a good paranormal and Teresa did an awesome job with this one! Abigail is beautiful and gifted. Vincent is mysterious and hot. The vampire family is funny and I fell in love with them all. This story is beautifully written and was a very enjoyable read. I can't wait for the next one! ~ Leslie





Thursday, January 30, 2014

Fully Automatic Release Blitz

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Synopsis
You might think you know Brad’s story, but think again. There’s so much more to his story than what Valerie told. See Brad before Valerie came into his life and, when he was playing back burner to Ethan, see what Brad was up to when no one else in the band was looking.
Valerie might have thought she and Brad were inevitable and maybe, in the back of his mind, Brad might have felt that way too, but he didn’t just sit around waiting for her. See the secret side of Brad that you had no idea existed. What kept the driving force behind Fully Automatic focused even while his heart was breaking?
Buy Now
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Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/m2s2dpg
 
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Excerpt


MeetTheAuthor

Jade Author Pic
Jade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question. She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children. She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady. Okay, so maybe not.
Still want more? Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing. Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her. She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a friend. Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first.
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Concealed Blog Tou

Title: Concealed (Hidden #1)

Author: Victoria Michaels

Genre: Romantic Suspense 18+

Publication Date: December 10, 2013

Publisher: Crazy-Bee Press

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.


Synopsis
Life has been complicated for Sydney Ross. Desperate for a new start, she leaves home but, during her travels, witnesses something that will forever alter the path of her life. On the run for the last six years, Sydney finds herself living the life of a nomad until she one day stumbles into a small town and hopes she's finally found a place to put down roots. With a good job in a local diner and, for the first time ever, friends who feel like family, things start looking up for Sydney. The biggest shock of all is catching the eye of the town’s most eligible bachelor, the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins.
Sparks fly between them, and it's not long before Sydney believes Elton, Missouri could be the home she's always wished for. But Sydney's past and her secrets have a way of catching up with her. When a brutal murder shakes the small town, Sydney is terrified that the countdown has begun on her time in Elton.
Have the shadows from her past found her again? The people who mean the most want her to stay, but that would put everyone, including her daughter, at risk. Can Sydney put her faith in Wade or will she keep running from a danger that even she doesn't fully understand?

Purchase Links: Amazon |Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Createspace

Review 
4 stars of unique. Loved Loved Concealed suspense, mystery, drama, romance all wrapped into this amazing book!! Sydney and her daughter have been on the run for 6 years when she finds Elton Missouri and for the first time she feels she might have found a home. Wade Jenkins is the hottest sheriff around and is focused on wanting Sydney but the fear she might be hiding somethng is undeniable and he doesn't want to be hurt again. The connection between Wade and Sydney is strong but her past may tear them apart. Concealed had me at the end of my seat and had me biting my nails in anticipation to see what would happen next. This book is a unique and amazing read!
~Raquel~

About the Author
Victoria Michaels is a wife and mother of many who lives her life in what seems like a constant state of motion. Kids’ sports, meetings, homework and general family fun take up twenty-seven hours of her day. In her thirty seconds of free time, Victoria likes to read, write and travel the country with her husband.

She most enjoys writing about love and laughter, two things that are central to her everyday life. If you would like to know more about what’s coming next from Victoria, please check back at victoriamichaels.net for updates, news and sneak peeks of future releases.
Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook |Website | Goodreads


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lotus Petals Blog Tour

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Presented by:
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clip_image0044_thumb1_thumbBook Info-
Title: Lotus Petals
Author : Brantwijn Serrah
Genre: Paranormal/Historical/Erotic Romance
Audience: Adult
Formats: E-book
Publisher: Breathless Press
Cover By: Victoria Miller
Editor: Jayne Wolf
Pages: 111 pages
Expected Date of Publishing:  
Jan 17, 2014



Blurb-
Aijyn, human slave to a ruthless vampire Lord, would never dare do anything to incur his wrath. Then, she fell in love... with his bride.
Book Links-

4 stars
A tale of forbidden love.  Two fighting for their lives.  Will love be enough?  Lotus Petals is a very deep book, one filled with passion, adventure, and much more.  You definitely have to be in the right mindset to be ready to read this book, it's not just quick, easy read.  The subject matter of the book was slightly difficult for me to get into, with it being lesbian erotica.  But about halfway through the book, I was entranced with the story and dying to know what would happen next.  The author has done such a wonderful job of giving you in-depth knowledge of each character, their thoughts, feelings, and attitude.  You feel for these characters and it makes the book that much better.  I will be anxiously awaiting the next book :) ~Lauren
Excerpt-
Three vampires rested in the room occupied by the captain of the daimyo’s hunting party—all three of them awoke instantly when the little human oiran threw back the screen, shouting at them in furious Japanese. Without waiting for them to move, she strode boldly across the little space to come eye-to-eye with the captain himself as he struggled to come to his feet. At first they were so stunned by the mortal’s appearance none of the three knew what to do: Kazuo, the captain, finally registered her shrill accusations.
"You would poison the daimyo’s honored guest?" she shouted at him. "You would drug her with octopus venom and then humiliate her?"
Coming to his senses—they were slower in the daytime, vampires—Kazuo brought his hands down on her shoulders and lifted her off her feet. The sudden movement reminded her she had stepped into a tiger’s den—she stiffened in his grasp and sucked in a fearful breath.
"Since when does the human come into my rooms uninvited?" he snarled. Fear shook her—she fully expected he would hurt her, and rightfully so—but she did not give off.
"Rhiannon Donovan has drunk the venom of the blue-ring octopus," she said, her voice quavering but still strong. "Your huntsmen use it to paralyze and kill—one of them drugged the human she hunted, and she swallowed it with his blood!"
"You dare charge my men with such a disgraceful act? And for a gaijin slut?"
"What’s going on here?"
Kazuo looked up; his two servants followed his glance. In the doorway stood Nagisa, tall and elegant, wrapped in the gauzy silk of her azure sleeper’s yukata—she, too, must have been roused by the sound of Aijyn’s screams. Her cold eyes regarded each of them carefully.
"Aijyn," she said, the curiosity in her tone edged with danger. "What do you mean by disturbing the captain during his daytime rest?"
Kazuo shot a dangerous and warning glare at the human oiran, but Aijyn ignored it, desperate with fear.
"Nagisa-sama, the Councilwoman’s noble emissary was betrayed last night during the hunt," she said quickly; she’d never imagined one day it might be Nagisa, of all people, to save her from the fangs of an angry vampire.
"Rhiannon drank the blood of a human poisoned with octopus venom, and now she lies in her rooms injured and sick. They took her hair, Nagisa-sama! They’ve shorn her like a...like a rag boy!"
Nagisa’s poisonous eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line like the blade of a knife.
"Kazuo," she said, the word like a stone dropping into an empty well. "Put Aijyn down."
Kazuo stared, incredulous, at the graceful tayu. When he did not immediately comply, Nagisa strode into the room and grabbed him by the throat.
"Why, Kazuo-san," she growled sweetly. "I had no idea you had already become so bored with immortality. Seventy-three years, if I recall, and already you wish for our master to release your soulless carcass into oblivion."
Amazingly, Kazuo slowly backed down, quietly letting Aijyn go while his eyes remained furiously on Nagisa. His servants watched with silent awe as Nagisa continued, never breaking her hold on the captain’s neck.
"Aijyn-chan, you are surely aware you will suffer greatly, should this accusation prove false," the tayu said.
"I am quite sure of it, Nagisa-sama," Aijyn replied, bowing low. "I have heard the captain and his hunting party speak of the blow-darts they use to sting their human prey with the toxin. Kazuo-san has said the poison stings kin-born vampires as well; I am quite sure Rhiannon has swallowed it, and what reduced her to helplessness while her clothes were torn and her hair cut off."
"Please return to the rooms of our guest. Attend to her carefully—be sure these men did not force themselves on her body, as well. I will deal with Kazuo, and send word to the daimyo of this dishonorable conduct."
Aijyn felt cold all through her, and a dizzy giddiness swept through her mind. She had not even considered what she did—storming into one of the vampire’s nests!—and now she felt weak in the stomach. How had she even survived it?
Nagisa’s words echoed in her head: make sure the men had not forced themselves on Rhiannon’s body. How could she not have considered it or checked for signs of it, to see if Rhiannon had also been raped by these monsters?
"Aijyn-chan," Nagisa said again. Shaken from her daze, she nodded. Then she slipped quickly out of the room and found herself running, again, for Rhiannon.

Book Trailer -
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Character Bio’s -
Anijyn BioDaimyo BioNagisa BioRhiannon Donovan Bio2Solva Bio

Playlist -
While Your Lips Are Still Red, by Nightwish
Water Bowl, from Cirque di Soliel's Zumanity
The Sacrament, by H.I.M.
All About Us, by t.a.t.u.
Come Alive, by BlueStone
Bring Me To Life, by Evanescence
Nobody Lives Without Love, by Eddi Reader
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game, by Massive Attack with Tracey Thorne
Rabbit Heart by Florence + The Machine
Whoever Brings the Night, by Nightwish
Kingdom for a Heart, by Sonata Arctica
My Immortal, by Evanescence


Soundtrack-
Sayuri's Theme, from Memoirs of a Geisha
While Your Lips Are Still Red, by Nightwish
Water Bowl, from Cirque di Soliel's Zumanity
Come Alive, by BlueStone
Nobody Lives Without Love, by Eddi Reader
Ancient Echoes, by Blue Stone
Lily's Theme, from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Original Score
Statues, from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Original Score
He Was the Best of Us, from the Beowulf Soundtrack
Hanenone – Ailes Grises, from the Haibane Renmei Soundtrack
Broken Wings by Tomoko Tane


Giveaway-

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clip_image0104_thumb_thumbAbout the Author –
Sometime in early 2009, Brantwijn Serrah ran across an erotic novel in her local Barnes and Noble, and fell in love with the gorgeous geisha pictured on the cover. Sad to say, the book didn't live up to expectations. After one too many iterations of the phrase "his most honorable penis", Brantwijn decided to write her own story instead. The idea for Lotus Petals, the tale of a geisha seduced into the world of vampires, was born.
When she isn't visiting the worlds of immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic endeavors: sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing plushies for friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop role-play games, and can spend hours watching Futurama, Claymore or Buffy the Vampire Slayer while she writes or draws.
In addition to Lotus Petals, Brantwijn has had several stories published in anthologies by Breathless Press, including the 2013 Crimson Anthology and 2014 Ravaged Anthology.  She's also had a short story published in the Cleiss Press Big Book of Orgasm, and hopes to have several more tales to tell as time goes on.  She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon and loves to see reader comments on her work. Her short stories occasionally pop up at Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.

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Enticed Blog Tour










Ginger Voight’s “Enticed” – Book #1 of The Fullerton Family Saga is NOW AVAILABLE!Make sure to check out the Teaser & Giveaway for

Signed paperbacks of Book 1 and Book 2 (upon release) & $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice)! Be sure to join our Facebook Event for the Blog Tour - CLICK HERE to join.
"Entangled" Book #2 will be available on January 28th!!


Rachel Dennehy had a crazy thought. If she could just start over somewhere else, she could forget about her sad and tragic past and all the ghosts that chased her. When an email landed in her inbox, to tutor a difficult student whose father just happened to be the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the nation, the apple was a bit too enticing for Rachel to refuse. She moves from Texas to Beverly Hills, where she is tasked with turning around her wealthy pupil’s bad attitude. It is a bad attitude that stems almost entirely from his parents’ ugly divorce and even uglier custody battle.
That her new boss Andrew, or Drew, Fullerton is one of the handsomest and most eligible bachelors in the world means nothing to Rachel. She has absolutely no plans to ever marry or have kids of her own. Her priority is teaching nine-year-old Jonathan, who needs her guidance and her direction and... most importantly... her friendship.
Drew’s brother, Alex, however, assumes otherwise. He basically accuses her of being a gold-digging opportunist upon their first meeting. This sets the two immediately at odds, though they both have young Jonathan’s best interest at heart. Alex believes that Rachel is a “ringer,” a wholesome alternative to edge Jonathan’s socialite mother out of the running for custody, since she left Drew after her own salacious affair with a younger man. He wastes no time in telling Rachel that as long as she stays in her job, she will keep Jonathan from his real mother, and that is the driving force behind Drew's interest.
Unfortunately the more he tries to warn her away from Drew, the closer he ultimately propels her toward her charming boss. Drew never questions her motivation or her presence because Jonathan thrives under her tutelage, and Drew is beguiled by her no-nonsense attitude that challenges him from the start.
Rachel navigates these choppy waters solely to protect Jonathan. She sees the adults in the family as self-serving; most of whom are far more interested in hurting each other than taking care of this fragile, vulnerable boy. Her heart traps her into this sticky web, despite her own history of loss and betrayal. How long will she last? More importantly, what will she be required to give to save these Fullerton men who continually tug her in three different directions?
The saga begins with the first book, titled “Enticed,” due to release in early 2014. Author Ginger Voight returns to the dream-making landscape of Los Angeles, in a new tale that throws back the curtain on the dangerous power, appeal and excess of the privileged. Only by the time this tale is done, one principle character will pay the ultimate price as they all race toward that elusive happily ever after.
REVIEW
5 AMAZING STARS! This book hooked me and I finished it one sitting. I immediately fell in love with Rachel. She is amazing with Jonathan who is a sweetheart. The relationship they forge is cute and fun. Drew is handsome and is a jerk one minute and a sweetie the next but you can't help but fall for him a little bit. Alex is cocky and annoying and again you can't help but fall for him just a little bit too even though he is the enemy. I don't want to give too much away but I was laughing and crying and then wanting to punch everyone in the face. Ginger did an excellent job with the book and I can't wait to start the next one! ~ Leslie




“I think you misunderstood exactly what kind of tutor I was seeking for my son. He is going to be a titan in business, following four generations of Fullertons before him. He needs to be prepared. You’ll forgive me if I don’t think measuring ingredients and shopping at the market qualify as the higher education for which I’m paying very good money.”
I placed the fork on the plate, my appetite totally obliterated. “You wanted me to teach your son, and I have done that. More importantly, I’ve reached him. He knows he can trust me, especially after I shielded him from that family debacle yesterday. This morning I gave Jonathan three different tests. In math, he was tested on fractions and word problems. The skills he learned with a simple cooking lesson or quick trip to the store helped him score in the 99th percentile testing at near seventh-grade levels. Likewise on the history essay, in which he researched and wrote a thousand-word document on the Greystone Mansion and Park where we walked and explored, which – if I’m not mistaken – qualifies under your physical fitness requirement. I also tested him on the book he’s been reading for pleasure, with a questionnaire that helped him think critically about the material he was reading simply for the joy of it, giving him several key vocabulary words to note as he read along. It is a book that has been in my own curriculum for years, and I’m confident at least one student who reads it will go on and get an Ivy League education.”
His jaw clenched as he realized what I had done. I had taken Jonathan from a stale, unchallenging classroom environment with endless tests and bookwork, which had been crippling his curious and playful nature. By putting him in an entirely foreign setting, he learned how to do the things Drew wanted him to do, right down to the budgeting skills at the market, but in new ways that would naturally keep him more engaged than the boring ol’ status quo. And Jonathan had never even realized what I had done until I had quizzed him on it.
My green eyes glittered just as hard as Drew’s icy blue ones. “You may question my methods, Mr. Fullerton, but my results are indisputable. Considering I did all this in two days, even playing go-between between you and your ex-wife and your pain-in-the-ass brother, I’d say I’ve done a hell of a lot more than the previous tutors you have hired to do this job, with exceptional results.”
Normally I wouldn’t have cursed at an employer. But his elitist attitude really pissed me off. Did he really believe his son was too good to wash a dish or cook a meal, as if these mundane tasks held no value for such powerful, wealthy people? And if that was true, how did he regard anyone who had the misfortune of being born average? Did he think we were all beneath him, simply because we had no one to treat us like gods? The Texan was coming out, and he was either going to prove he could deal with that or he was going to send me home anyway. I had nothing to lose. In fact, the only one who had anything at all at stake was Jonathan.
“Now, if you don’t approve of my more unconventional methods, then you can gas up the jet and send me home tonight. But I’m willing to bet that you won’t find anyone else who can reach Jonathan the way that I have done. I have a connection with him. That was what you wanted. That is what you got.” I grabbed a glass of ice water and gulped it down. “Do with that what you will.”
Before he could reply, Jonathan raced back into the room, wearing a new jade green kimono, and holding the entire box set of his favorite Anime program. “Thanks, Dad!” he said as he rushed to hug his father. “Let’s watch it together,” he pleaded hopefully.
I used that opportunity to slide my chair back and rise from the table. “I think I’ll retire for the evening. Let you two catch up.”
Jonathan was crestfallen. “No, Rachel,” he said with a plaintive whine in his voice. “Please don’t go. You haven’t even had any pudding.”
“Pudding?” Drew echoed.
Jonathan nodded. “She made homemade Southern banana pudding.”
I shook my head. “You enjoy it. I’m stuffed,” I lied easily. “The dinner was excellent, Jonathan. You did a great job.” I turned to Drew. “It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Fullerton. I trust you’ll think about what I said and let me know if there has been any change in plans.”
Jonathan was panicked as he looked between his father and me. “Change of plans? You’re not leaving, are you, Rachel?”
“No decisions have been made,” Drew filled in before I could speak. “Why don’t you go get us some pudding, Jonathan? That sounds delicious.”
Jonathan nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Drew rose to his feet and walked around the table to face me. “Obviously I’m not used to being spoken to in such a way in my own home,” he said, his voice hard but quiet. “But obviously I offended you. I apologize.” He offered his hand.
It was a gesture of civility, but his eyes were still lethal as they stared down at me. My hand shook as I placed it in his. His fingers closed around mine powerfully as he pulled me closer. I gasped as I stopped short mere inches from that massive chest. I hadn’t been this close to a man in many years, much less a man as intimidating. I was certain that he could feel the tremble in my grasp when my eyes shot to his. His face broke apart in a victorious smile. “Start over?” he asked softly. “Rachel?”
I gulped hard. I should have told him to gas up the jet anyway and just leave Beverly Hills in my daydreams where it belonged. Had Jonathan not been a factor, I probably would have done just that. But he was very much a factor, so I owed it to him to make inroads with Drew, who now had five days to prove to me that I could work for him. He had to trust me and my methods, and respect the job that I was hired to do. So I tipped my chin again and said in as steady a voice as I could muster, “You’re the boss,” I said, adding, “Mr. Fullerton,” defiantly.



Ginger Voight is prolific author, freelance writer and optioned screenwriter. Her fiction is diverse, with novels like the edgy, coming-of-age drama DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, and the fun family adventure for kids of all ages, COMIC SQUAD.
Having grown up reading different authors like Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Ginger has always been drawn more to story than to genre. This shows up in her various stories. Titles such as MY IMMORTAL and TASTE OF BLOOD are a delicious, heady mix of horror, suspense, and romance.
Genre romance, however, has held a special place in her heart, ever since she read her first Harlequin novel when she was only eleven. As a result, Ginger is making a name for herself writing romances of her own, starring women who look more like the average American woman rather than those traditionally represented in the size-biased American media. Her Rubenesque romances were created especially for those heroines with fuller figures, who can still get the man of their dreams if only they believe they can. Such titles include UNDER TEXAS SKIES, LOVE PLUS ONE, THE GROUPIE TRILOGY, THE FIERCE TRILOGY and PICTURE POSTCARDS.
Ginger was included in the best-selling book by Smith Magazine NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING, featuring her six-word memoir.

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