First I would like to thank Shawna for stopping by and letting me be a part of her blog tour.
I want to thank Book Lovers for having me as I really enjoy and frequent the site myself…thanks for the support! This is the last stop on my Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour and I have to say that this has been an experience to remember. Now on to my post..
These are two elements that my stories must have. I love to write in dramatic tension and build on it with my characters…and who can actually say that they can pass up on sexual tension? In both of my books, I sort of flipped the tension from building sexual tension/attraction to obsessive sexual tension/attraction. That alone would drive a normal person to the edge and back with no breaks in between.
We always want what we cannot have…right? How many of us have “the one that got away” and regretted that they did get away. To top that off, how many of you have seen this same guy out with another woman and find yourself wondering what she has that you don’t? Hmm… Is she more desirable? More sex appeal? All the curves in the right places? Enough curves…maybe? Smarter? Prettier? Better in bed? The list can go on and on. I’m sure a few of those thoughts have crossed your mind at least once in your lifetime. Have you ever wondered what your life may have been like had theynot slipped right through your fingers? Well one of my main characters has the perfect opportunity to get back with the one that got away from her so many years ago. She is bound and determined to not let him away again and uses just about every tactic possible to keep him. Problem is, is that things go well at first and according to her plan, but he has other intentions in mind. His attention is not where it should be, according to her. The fire is turned up. He isn’t responding the way she wants and that is when the drama really kicks in.
This series isn’t your typical love story. No boy meets girl, falls in love and lives happily ever after. There are real life situations that come into play and more twists and turns that you can handle. Love, sex, and relationships can be and usually are complicated if the right signals aren’t there or are defective to begin with. It’s how you deal with it that is important. For fiction sake, I get to push everything to the forefront and delve into thewhat if’s and see my characters fall in and out of love, lust and ….their sanity (or lack of). If you like drama and romance, dripping with sex, scandal, betrayals and lust, then this is the series for you.
After a devastating break up with her cheating fiance, Savannah Summers delves into her work as the Assistant to the VP of Production in a marketing/production company. Finding refuge in work and her best friends, Savannah finally decides to try her hand at love one more time. Wanting more than ever to close the wounds of lost love and against her better judgment, she falls for Kevin Styles. This time around she vows to not give her whole self as before and keep her heart closer and guarded more than ever before.
Kevin Styles, a smooth, handsome Meteorologist at a local news station is somewhat a local celebrity in his own right. When it comes to women and playing the field, he holds all the cards. Being suave, having the right timing and patience is his forte and he is just the man to wine and dine her. However, a known player to his heart and in his not so distant past, he's looking for the right woman to tame his wild player ways.
Just when things are going perfect, Naomi Sanders, a blast from Kevin's past hits the scene. Naomi, now a revamped diva and budding actress, creates an entry into Kevin’s life and bed, reigniting a first unwanted and secret rendezvous that threatens his budding relationship with Savannah. For a short while, Kevin delights in having his cake and eating it too until Naomi decides that she wants more. Spurned, Naomi stops at nothing to stake her claim on what was once hers, bringing lies, destruction, and deceit, even if it means death. Naomi is bent on a sweet revenge targeted at anyone that lies within her path. Shattered trust and betrayal is inevitable. Can Kevin and Savannahs’ relationship withstand Naomi's tactics?
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Book Excerpt:
Feeling her presence a Still exhausted from the previous night at The Blue Horizon, Savannah flippedover in her bed and slammed the alarm clock off. Even though it was her daily routine to run every day,she opted to skip this one. The early morning sun shone through her hand crafted horizontal blinds,promising yet another unusually nice, but late Indian summer day. She reached over to close them and in the process knocked her clock to the floor. Her tongue still thick from the numerous drinks she had the night before, screamed for a glass of ice cold water. Her head throbbed with each movement likethe very sound of pins dropping to her carpeted floor could magnify and echo in her ears. Thoughts of Kevin passed through her mind. She’d never even seen him the whole time they worked on the commercial for the club. It was Luther that handled everything. No mention of his name anywhere. Well, he did say a partner. Could have been lying though, she thought.
Tremors waved through her as she remembered his handsome face, strong hands and sexy bald head. She was never one for bald men, but this one was different. He oozed sex appeal. The kind that was really un-definable, untouchable, but defiantly there. He was smooth and had without doubt made a good impression on her. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word…as far as she could remember. After scooting out of bed her thoughts continued and one point of last nights conversation replayed over and over in her head….
“Where is your woman? She’s got to be around here somewhere.” Savannah looked around as if she knew who she was. She tried to call his bluff to his earlier comment about being single.
“Don’t have one right now…” He had many…but he told her the truth. He was not committed to any of them. “I have friends but that is all they are,” he continued. They both were sitting in his car. The sunroof was open and invited the full moon in. Shadows of light danced across his face exposing his strong jaw-line as he clenched his teeth as if in deep thought.
With the alcohol fully embracing her, she found heart enough to ask questions she otherwise would not have asked had she been sober. Jasmine crept in the back of her mind as well, giving her more courage to drop her guard and open up a bit. “C’mon…a man as fine as you has to have someone somewhere…even if she is in the shadows. You got it going on and single?! I don’t believe you…and do your “friends” know they are just friends?” Her voice slurred. She rubbed her eyes.
“Nope, but thanks for the compliment.” He looked at her. She was beautiful. Her soft features glistened between the shadowed moonlight as he drove her to her car. “And yes, they know they are just friends.” At three o’clock in the morning, Michigan Avenue was still bustling with energy, which made Kevin pay a bit more attention to the road than to her. “Where did you say you parked?”
Savannah raised her head and pointed in two different directions. “Hold on,” she said. “I am not sure…slow down so I can see.”
“Looks like you had too much to drink. Why not let me take you home.”
“I am not drunk. A bit buzzed, but not drunk. I can make it home on my own.” She sat upright in the seat and pointed to her car as they slowly passed it on the street. A bright orange piece of paper flapped in the air as she grabbed it from the windshield. “I don’t believe it. I got a ticket? I thought I could park here.” Plopping down in her car, she rolled the window down to thank him. Inhaling a deep breath of fresh cold air, she tried to steady her swimming head. She placed the key in the ignition and started the
car.
“Thank you Kevin. It’s been real nice. I will give you a call later.” She blew a kiss to him in the air, waved then rolled her window up.
He was not on hundred percent sure that she could make it home on her own, so he followed closely behind her. After all The Blue Horizon was his club was his and he felt a responsibility to get her home. He also felt more than that, but now was not the appropriate time…not yet…..
Savannah gathered her thoughts, pushing aside Kevin and what she could remember from last night when she heard a clanging noise coming from the kitchen area. Realizing that she was only wearing her bra and panties, she reached for her robe. Her purple silk camisole and pants that she usually wore to bed hung over the back of her chair. She grabbed an old golf club that she never used from the corner of her closet and headed down the hall towards the sound. Her heart pounded furiously as she got closer. Jumping around the corner to catch her intruder, she screamed. Hands in the air she began swinging the club at whatever moved. Take care of business now and ask questions later.
A wild mass of hair ran towards him, screaming and swinging uncontrollably. “Hey!! Hey!! Hold it! It’s me!” he tried to grab the club from her. Missing her aim a couple of times, one finally landed in his side. He snatched the club and fell back into the counter. Holding his side, he yelled once more. “Savannah!”
“Kevin? What are you doing in my house? Who let you in here?” She pushed her hair from her face and closed her gaping robe.
“You did.” He winced in pain and bit his tongue in anger. “I think you broke my rib.”
“Why the hell would I let a man I just met into my house?” She looked around the kitchen, making sure everything was still in place. Her attention then turned to the living room where most of her
valuables sat. The beige, earth toned cathedral ceilings boasted a mural that housed art that would stir envy in the best of collectors; two Picasso’s and a one of a kind Van Gogh. Along the other walls and tables, an assortment of African art displayed her tastes in the exotic.
She finally realized that he was standing in her kitchen in what appeared to be boxer shorts and socks. “Why are you undressed? Where are your clothes?” Rubbing her forehead she took a seat. “I want you to please explain to me what you are doing in my house practically naked, then I want you to leave.”
“Well it was obvious that you were drunk last night when I offered to bring you home. So I followed you to make sure you got here safely.” He walked over to her and placed a cup of steaming hot black coffee before her.
All anger aside, she gazed at his body from foot to head and back down again, drinking in his essence. Chills hit her once again. His smooth brown chest which rose as he breathed and spoke then narrowed down to his torso; perfection in the making. She was mesmerized, pushing all angry thoughts to the back crevices of her mind. The strength of his long legs flexed with each step he took towards her. Her only action was to admire his beauty.
“I felt it was my responsibility to make sure you got home since you were in my club.”
Snapping back to reality once his low voice stopped, she eyed the coffee wearily then sipped it. “That does not explain why you are not dressed and why you are still here. Thanks though for caring.” She clasped her robe around her neck and asked, “Did you undress me?”
“Yes, but let me explain.” Her mouth flew open. He held up his hand to silence her before she bombarded him with what he knew would be emotionally slicing words. “I undressed you, placed you in your bed and covered you up. You literally passed out at the front door. The outfit you had on did not look comfortable enough for you to sleep in.”
“Whatever.”
“Honestly, I didn’t even look,” he lied. “Really, I didn’t.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” she questioned. The shrilling sound of her phone cut through their conversation. She let it ring, not moving from her spot. “Well, what about your clothes? Why don’t you have them on?”
He hesitated. “Mine were not comfortable enough to sleep in either,” he half laughed, hoping she would lighten up and laugh with him. “Besides, I did not want to wrinkle up my clothes,” he added. He moved to the living room, grabbed his clothes from the back of the chair and quickly put them on. “Better?” he asked.
“Listen, why not get together later on today?”
She rose from her chair, and herded him to the door as a sheep dog would a field of sheep. “Thank you for helping me out. How thoughtful of you to do your gentlemanly duty and see me home. And I mean see literally.” Opening the front door, she lightly brushed against him. Irritated that she was aroused by the sight and mere touch of him, even though she knew she should be angry, she politely pushed him out.
“Tonight?” he questioned. “Oh…and happy birthday.”
“Thanks, I may give you a call.” Savannah closed the door without hesitation and watched him through the blinds as he got into his car.
nd knowing that she was watching him, he slowed his pace to a crawl, hoping she would invite him back in for breakfast or something else. He reached for the car door and got in. Okay, maybe she won’t invite me in, but I know I am in, he thought. Starting the car, he remembered how her breathing had become rapid when he moved towards her. He saw the light in her eyes as she looked at him. He knew all it took was just a matter of time. Time that he’d decided was worth waiting through. There was something about Savannah that drew him and he intended to find out what it was and if it was more than just a lust filled attraction, as he was quickly tiring from late night visits to his “friends” to fulfill his needs, he admittedly hoped that it was more than lust when it came to her.
Thank you, Book Lover’s, for having me, I appreciate your support. This is my last stop on the Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour and I must say that it has been an experience.
About Shawna:
As an avid reader, Shawna Hill always loved the idea of writing a novel. Her first ventures were in short story format where she found her knack and was published first in confessional magazines. Later she moved on to create and publish an online romance magazine that eventually went into print. Her first novel, In Between Lies, is a result of numerous engaging conversations with her girl friends.
Always one to want to explore ideas, explanations, and scenarios, Shawna decided to pen the stories that questioned situations. What is commitment… and when in a relationship does it take place? What is the price of being friends with benefits? Is it worth being that “friend” and taking the risk to maybe being the “one” later? How about the women that think they are in committed relationships only to find out he’s not committed at all? Once you find out he is not with just you, what lengths do you go through to try to be the only one? Or do you even want to? Do you run or stay and claim what you want?
In Between Lies raises these questions and explores them through volatile relationships with drama filled twists.
Shawna Hill was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She holds a BS in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University. She is currentlypursuing her Masters in Marketing and Communications @ Franklin University. For several years, she’s been an avid reader and at the urging of friends and family, decided to pen her own stories. She is currently at work on her next novel that will yet again question situations and ideas.
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Naomi is back!
What a woman will do in the name of love!
After a bitter, destructive, and explosive parting with her former ex-lover, Kevin Styles, Naomi Saunders has no choice but to move on with her life. Kevin, equally happy and finally free of Naomi, is ready to move on as well. But before he does, he passes Naomi's taped confession to his confidant, Attorney Winston Lane, with instructions to hold it just in case she shows up to wreck havoc in his life again.
Naomi, torn with feelings of revenge and twisted love, decides to stay on the outskirts of Chicago...close to Kevin and the woman that came between them. In order for her to stay, she must take on a new persona and lifestyle that will enable her to sustain her lavish lifestyle she'd grown accustomed to living. Not wanting to go back to the struggling life she once endured before her short lived acting career, she makes a lifestyle changing move that hones her acting skills to perfection, proving she is the ultimate diva...or is she?
Thanks again Shawna for stopping by, but that's not all! Shawna has graciously offered one copy of each of her books, In Between Lies and Intimate Illusions for one lucky winner. All you have to do is answer this question, Why do you read romance? What draws you in? The romance part or the hot scenes?. Please leave your email addy so I have a way to contact you when you win. This giveaway starts July 3rd and will run until July 17th , winner will be announced on July 18th!
3 comments:
I like the romance part, I am an incurable romantic =)
tatiana_lwg(at) yahoo.com
Great excerpt!
rootml1 AT hotmail DOT com
This book looks great and would love to win. Loved the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway. This is a new author for me and would love to read this book.
christinebails@yahoo.com
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