I'm sharing our good news over at The Roses of Prose today. Come on over.
Have a great week.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
#WeWriWa THE PROTECTOR - Slave Traders Were Here! #sfr
Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.
Here's another excerpt from The Protector (An Outer Rim Novel: Book 3). I skipped ahead a little from last week's snippet. The townspeople have gathered in Rissa's tavern for an emergency meeting.
Apologies for the misuse of commas.
Merchant Graeson climbed up on a chair
and whistled shrilly—that got everyone’s attention, “We had a dangerous
incident last night, here’s Rissa to tell you about it.”
With a grimace she forced herself to
hide, Rissa came around from behind the bar. She’d hoped Graeson would explain
about the incident—no such luck.
“Four tendays ago I warned you about—”
“This better not be about slave traders
again,” A short, round man from one of the farms stood, “that ain’t gonna
happen here.”
As murmurs of agreement began, Sophira’s
spouse stood, “Shut up, Ramus—it can and it did, last night.” Murmurs stopped, and when silence met his announcement, he said, “Traffickers took our baby.”
The audience responded with gasps.
Another man stood, “And they tried to
take my boy.”
And then another, “Mine, too—if it
weren’t for Miz Rissa and her friends, our boys would be sold for slaves, and
that baby sold to rich people in the Central District.”
“We should have listened to Miz Rissa
last time,” Sophira said.
Who knew rescuing two girls from traffickers would bring down a world of hurt?
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from returning. Mining heir Dillan Rusteran has loved her for years. Little do they know that by rescuing more children they're tangling with a galactic trafficking ring.
Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Ghosts, Surf, and Sun with Karen Michelle Nutt @KMNbooks #endoftheroad
Is "ghosts" a great topic for this weekend? Karen Michelle Nutt has been sharing snippets of her latest release on Weekend Writing Warriors. I've been enjoying each 8-10 sentence excerpt, so when she announced the book was released I had to have her here to share an interview with Cecilia Gunner, the main character.
When I read Karen's post, I remembered my first contact with the Pacific Ocean. After a Romance Writers of America conference in the 1990's, a friend took me to Malibu Beach so I could walk in the ocean.
When I read Karen's post, I remembered my first contact with the Pacific Ocean. After a Romance Writers of America conference in the 1990's, a friend took me to Malibu Beach so I could walk in the ocean.
Q&A with Cecilia Gunner and Karen Michelle Nutt
The waves are long and smooth and
the surfers are in the water at the Malibu Surfrider Beach. An occasional laugh
and soft murmurs are carried on the wind. The forecast states it is 80 degrees
and the sun is shining bright but the cool breeze keeps the day from feeling
too warm. Karen is sipping a cinnamon almond latte and Cecilia has an ice tea
with lemon in her hand. They take a seat on one of the benches on the Malibu Pier
to begin their interview.
KAREN: Let me introduce, Cecilia Gunner, who stars in my
novel, End
of the Road. She resides in Malibu, California, a magical place of
surf and sun.
CECILIA: It's where surfers from around the world travel
just for chance to surf at the Malibu Surfrider Beach.
KAREN: I can see that. What are some of the other places of
interest?
CECILIA: There are many cool places where a person can just
chill. But if you're visiting Malibu for the first time, you shouldn't miss a
stroll down the Malibu Pier. You could have lunch at the cafe at the end of the
pier or just enjoy the view.
Karen glances around her and she
has to agree. The view is fantastic
CECILIA: Kaleb and I love it down here.
KAREN: For those of you who don't know, Kaleb is the psychic
Cecilia is seeing in hopes of helping her father move on to the afterlife. By
the way, Kaleb is really cute.
Cecilia grins, wickedly.
CECILIA: He is, isn't he?
CECILIA: But maybe we should stay on the subject of places
to see in Malibu. Just down
the road, visitors should check out the Adamson House. This is a historic house
and gardens within the Malibu Lagoon State Beach Park. The house was built in
1929 and has been called the 'Taj Mahal' of Tile due to the decorative ceramic
tiles that are showcase throughout the house.
KAREN: I've been there. My friends and I took the tour. The
tour extends to the inside of the house too. Unfortunately, we weren't
permitted to take photos inside the house, but we took plenty of photos of the
grounds. If you don't mind, tell us a little about the house and its history.
CECILIA: I don't mind at all. The house was originally a
vacation cottage for the family but eventually they made it their permanent
home. During World War II, the United States Coast Guard used the bathhouse as
their headquarters to watch over the Malibu coast.
KAREN: I loved learning the history of the places I visit.
CECILIA: If you like history, then the Getty Villa should be
on your list to visit also. The museum focuses on Ancient Greek and Roman Art.
It's free to visit the museum but you must make a reservation. Cecilia pauses for a moment to sip
her ice tea.
KAREN: So, you're haunted by
your father. Tell us how this came about.
CECILIA: My father was Lars
Gunner, frontman to the Silent Plaids. The band was popular in the early 1990s.
He died 23 years ago when he drove his truck off the pier located on my
parent's estate. I was only three years old at the time and my memories of him
are vague.
KAREN: It must be odd getting
to know your father now as a ghost.
CECILIA: It is but I wouldn't
miss our time together for the world, but I know he can't stay on this realm
forever. I'm learning all about ghosts from Kaleb and the different kinds of
hauntings.
KAREN: Besides your father,
are there any other ghosts haunting Malibu?
CECILIA: There's the
ghost of Thelma Todd, an actress who was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. She
supposedly haunts this building on Pacific Coast Highway. It was once her
roadside cafe and it's not far from the house where she met her mysterious end.
People have claimed they've spotted a filmy apparition standing in front of the
building and that it resembled the actress. Unfortunately, my photo didn't
capture her standing there and Kaleb said he didn't see her there either.
KAREN: Well, that concludes our interview for today. Thank
you, Cecilia, for being here.
CECILIA: Thank you for having me.
KAREN: I thought we'd end with an excerpt from END OF THE
ROAD where Cecilia and Kaleb are at a restaurant discussing the supernatural.
CECILIA: It was our first date. Her lips curve into a
smile as she remembers that night.
* * * * *
Excerpt:
"I
couldn't let you pass up their Cannoli." Kaleb leaned forward resting his
forearms on the table.
"Cora is right. They are to die for." His
light-hearted teasing changed as his attention was averted to something behind
her.
She
shifted around in her chair to follow his line of vision, but she didn't see
anyone there, just an empty table for four. She glanced at him again with
unease. "Is there something there?" Her voice was a mere whisper.
He
nodded with some reluctance. "There's a ghost seated at the table behind
you."
She
couldn't help it; she whirled around again expecting to see this ghost he spoke
of, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary and she told him as much.
"I wondered since I could see my father if I would end up seeing other
ghosts," she continued to whisper so not to be overheard. There were still
a few tables around them where patrons were seated and enjoying their dinner.
"I
had wondered too but not all who have encountered a ghost end up seeing
numerous ones. Just like someone who is sensitive to the otherworld may not see
the entity in the same way."
"Do
you mean I might see my father differently than how you see him?"
"I
believe some people are capable of seeing a ghost or spirit if they opened
themselves to the possibility. However, even when the heart is willing, some
may not be able to pick up the signal, or energy that the ghost or spirit gives
off."
"You
keep saying ghost or spirit, but aren't they the same thing?"
"Most
probably think so, but I think of a ghost as a person who has yet to move on to
the afterlife."
"And
a spirit?"
"One
that has passed on to the afterlife but comes back for a visit. These entities
are different than ghosts."
She
frowned. "Different how?"
"The
spirit is... How should I put it? They're more angelic than human in a sense. I
think that's why they don't always appear like they looked when they were
alive. Sometimes, they're just a whisper or they leave behind scents that
trigger a memory just to let us know they were thinking of us."
End of the Road
Karen
Michelle Nutt
Genre: paranormal/ ghost story
/mystery/ romance
Publisher: Twin Star Books
Date of Publication: Oct. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1976310584
ASIN: B075FDJBKF
Number of pages: 282
Word Count: 86k
Cover Artist: Gillian's Book Covers: "Judge Your Book By Its Cover"
Tagline: A rock legend never dies.
Sometimes, he comes back as a ghost...
Book Description:
Lars Gunner, the frontman for
Silent Plaids, died 23 years ago and his death was ruled an unfortunate
accident. Despite the fact he can't recall what happened to him in his last
moments of life, he is convinced he was murdered.
He has been trapped in limbo until
his daughter, Cecilia, unearths his journal and is able to see him.
She seeks help from Kaleb, a
psychic, but as they resurrect the past, the secrets and lies surrounding Lars'
rock and roll life just may be the death of them too.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/GR2CZci1R4o
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen
Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband. Though her three children
are grown and starting their own adventures, she still has a houseful of
demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits long hours
with her at the computer.
When she's not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or
otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order at Gillian's
Book Covers, "Judge Your Book By Its Cover".
Whether
your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories
capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human
phenomena—falling in love.
Visit the
author at her website: http://www.kmnbooks.com
Gillian’s
Book Covers, “Judge Your Book By Its
Cover”
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KMNbooks
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/karenmnutt/
Amazon
Author Page:
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Veronica Scott and PETS IN SPACE 2
Today, my special guest is Veronica Scott. Ever since I started reading Veronica's stories, I've been major fangirl. I've been looking forward to reading her story in the Pets in Space 2 anthology since I first heard about it. As soon as it was ready for pre-order, I one-clicked it. Right away I read Veronica's story. I loved it. I hope you enjoy her post about Karissa and Grant.
Thanks for having me as your guest today to talk about Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 2!
May I squee a little bit more that the anthology recently made the USA Today
Best Sellers list? Hurray for scifi romance, right?!
Although Karissa, my heroine in the novella I wrote for the
anthology, is a rock star of the far future, she comes from a planet known as
“The Music Planet” because the inhabitants have evolved a lifestyle revolving
around traditional “Thousand Year Songs.”
This is how Karissa explains them to Grant:
“What’s the deal with these songs? Do generations of people
really sing the same tune night and day for a thousand years?”
She nodded. “Sometimes it’s the same song but more often
there will be new verses being written daily or weekly, and given to the choirs
and soloists. The musical variety depends on the funding and the purpose for
the song. But the music never stops, not for anything. There’s a story once of
a huge fire and the choir at that time moved outside and continued singing
while the building fell. Anyone can commission a thousand year song although as
you can imagine it takes massive resources, so typically only the most elite
families or temples will do so. I have heard of villages putting all their
resources into it, but the village was long gone and forgotten by the time the
song concluded.”
“A thousand years? People actually sign up to sing the same
song for their entire lives, and never hear the final notes? Their children
never heard the final notes? Why?”
She shrugged. “Why do human beings do anything? Why did the
people from Terra venture out in their generation ships before the hyperspeed
drives were invented? The songs are a part of the Calillia religion. Legend
says they bring the blessings of the gods upon the planet and the people. In
fact, it was gods who started the first songs, millennia ago. If you believe in
myths.” She gave him a shrewd glance. “Nowadays much of the planet’s economy is
based on the songs and supporting the needs of the singers.”
Pulling him with her, Karissa ducked into the back of a
large song temple, where the choir he’d heard was faithfully singing the chorus
and refrain of their life’s work.
“See this?” Karissa pointed at an elaborate, slow moving
device beside the door. “This was the style of chronograph when the song
started. It’s measuring how long they’ve been singing, and how much time is
left.”
“How long?”
She eyed the device. “Eight hundred years, give or take a
decade or two.”
**********************************
The songs are a key point in the plot, as it turns out. I
got the idea a long, long time ago from several bits of interesting trivia I
stumbled across. I was reading about clocks that were designed to run for up to
10,000 years. The first prototype of the “Clock of the Long Now” was actually
built in 1999. There are actually several clocks in different parts of Europe
built in the early 1300’s which still work, although they haven’t run
continuously for all those years. So it was an easy jump to creating timers for
my 1000 year songs. I also keyed a bit off the idea of the famous Oberammergau
Passion Play performed annually since 1634 by the inhabitants of the village of
Oberammergau, Germany. Since its first production it has been performed on
open-air stages in the village and is a composite of four manuscripts dating
from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Blurb for Star
Cruise: Songbird:
Grant Barton, a
Security Officer on the Nebula Zephyr, is less than thrilled with his current
assignment to guard an Interstellar singing sensation while she’s on board the
ship. It doesn’t help that he and his military war bird Valkyr are dealing with
their recent separation from the Sectors Special Forces and uncertainty over
their future, with their own planet in ruins.
Karissa Dawnstar is on
top of the charts and seemingly has it all – talent, fame, fortune and devoted
fans, but behind her brave smile and upbeat lyrics she hides an aching heart.
When a publicity stunt goes wrong, Karissa finds herself in the arms of the
security officer assigned to protect her – and discovers a mutual attraction
she can’t ignore.
Trouble continues to
plague the pair, driving a wedge between them and leaving Grant certain that
Karissa is in more danger than she realizes, from overzealous fans and her own
management. Grant is determined to protect Karissa whether she wants his help
or not. Can he discover the truth behind what’s going on before he loses
Karissa or is there someone else plotting to keep them apart – permanently?
Blurb for Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 2:
The
pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets
in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance
authors brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the
fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author,
Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King,
for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA
TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard,
Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine
Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they
share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!
10% of the first month’s profits go to
Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and
trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve
quality of life and restore independence.
Our website: http://www.petsinspaceantho.com/
Author Bio:
USA Today Best Selling Author, Veronica Scott is also the
“SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happy Ever After blog. She grew up in a house with a library as its
heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica
thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of
books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a
National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud
recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job,
not her romances! She was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in
the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor
Sunday, October 22, 2017
#WeWriWa: THE PROTECTOR - Dillan under Rissa's roof
Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.
Here's another excerpt from The Protector (An Outer Rim Novel: Book 3). I skipped ahead a little from last week. Rissa has offered her spare room to Dillan then immediately has second thoughts. (Alluded to before, this is a May-December romance. Rissa is December.)
He looked so different from the kid who
used to come to Astron, he and his friends—rich teens with nothing to do but
take risks. Idiot thrill seekers.
The Dillan Rusteran standing before her
was no longer tanned from the suns of the various planets he and his friends
visited to climb mountains, surf in treacherous oceans, or skydive out of their
luxury space yachts. From what little she could see of his face beneath the
shaggy, dark-brown beard, he had the pale skin of someone who spent a lot of
time indoors. Worry lines creased his forehead and fanned out from his green
eyes. His shoulders were broader, and his chest had filled out. Still trim, he
had a solidity about him that hadn’t been there before.
This man would be sleeping under her
roof. Again.
Who knew rescuing two girls from traffickers would bring down a world of hurt?
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from returning. Mining heir Dillan Rusteran has loved her for years. Little do they know that by rescuing more children they're tangling with a galactic trafficking ring.
Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Meet Author Gina Conkle and her new release MEET A ROGUE AT MIDNIGHT @GinaConkle
I'm happy to have fellow Michigander Gina Conkle here today. Even though she wasn't born here, we've adopted her. We met through the Mid-Michigan RWA chapter.
Welcome, Gina. Tell us about yourself.
Hi! Thanks for hosting me, Diane.
I’m Gina Conkle, writer of Viking and Georgian romance. I’m also wife to Brian
and mom to Clay (in college) and Chad (in high school). I grew up in southern
California, but we made a big move to Michigan in 2014. We love it here! When
I’m not writing, I do a little flower gardening and when I have time for it, I
like to explore cooking foods from around the world and from different eras.
When did you first realize you
wanted to be a writer?
There was a crystal-clear moment
in 5th grade. I was sitting at my desk at school. I remember the
clothes I was wearing and thinking about what I’d read (Gone With the Wind) and
a story I’d written for a creative writing assignment (The Girl Who Stopped
World War III).
What does your family think of
your writing?
They love it. My husband is fully
supportive of my writing and my sons think it’s pretty cool that mom writes
books. They also think cool how I know minutiae about Vikings and Viking
history. My son Chad will tease me with, “Hey, Mom, didn’t Agnar Legbone invent
that?” when we talk history.
I also read non-Mom-ish things. I
get several archaeology newsletters, and I get books and periodicals from
around the world about history of warfare, ancient history, and all things
medieval. When we first moved to Michigan, my Medieval Warfare magazine was
forwarded to my husband’s company, and the latest issue was on his desk. An
employee read an article title aloud, “The Mace: Simple but Effective.” The
employee thought the magazine was for a man!
Or he could've thought the mace was your husband's style of management. 😊
What do you enjoy most about
writing?
I love getting lost in the story
worlds. The other surprise comes from the revelations about life. I’m hungry to
keep learning…as much about knowledge and the world around us as learning
things that make me a wiser woman.
If you could give the younger
version of yourself advice what would it be?
Be fearless.
Excellent advice. How do you balance a life outside
of writing with deadlines and writing muses?
Ha! I don’t! My family knows to
leave me alone when I’m locked away. I’m not very good at balance. I tend to be
all or nothing. In 2006, I decided to set aside my writing and focus on my
boys. I’d started writing late 2002/early 2003. Any writing was done after my
boys had gone to bed. But, I noticed writing and RWA activities starting to
take over my life. It wasn’t until early 2012 that I felt like “Okay, let’s
focus on writing.” My husband points out my tendency to throw myself into
projects…sometimes at the exclusion of everything else.
I'm the same way, Gina. All or nothing. What are some jobs you've done that
would end up in a book?
I worked in biotech, specifically
in Life Sciences. My biotech experience came in handy when I wrote Meet the
Earl at Midnight. The hero, Lord Edward, was a man of science studying the
healing properties of plants.
Where do you get your information
or ideas for your books?
I read a lot of non-fiction
history books. What might seem dry to others is heaven to me (especially female
historians writing about Viking women and Viking history). Worlds open up to me
and a story plays out like a mind movie.
That is so cool, Gina. Tell us about your latest
release.
My latest release, Meet a Rogue
at Midnight (a novella) is the 4th installment in the Midnight
Meetings series. It stays squarely in Georgian romance, no crossing over into
other genres.
This story is a childhood
friends-to-lovers romance, which was a first for me to write. The hero, Jonas,
first appears in Meet the Earl at Midnight as man of business to Lord Edward. I
didn’t originally have a story for him, but my then editor, Leah Hultenschmidt,
asked for Jonas to be the hero in book 2 in the series. My agent pushed for
book 2 in the Midnight Meetings series to be Cyrus and Claire’s story (The Lady
Meets Her Match). Jonas got shuffled to the backburner until this year.
Fans have told me they like that
Jonas is a commoner. He’s the strong silent type, and I’ve also had lots of
excited, fan feedback on his first kiss in the book!
Tell us more about Meet a Rogue at Midnight. I love the cover.
A Saved Scoundrel…
Jonas Bacon Braithwaite wants to make peace with his grandfather before departing England. Once Nottinghamshire’s favorite trouble-maker, he’s since become an upstanding man of honor. But, the lushly curved thief hiding in his bedchamber makes him think twice about one last conquest.
A Stubborn Siren…
Livvy Halsey bristles at life’s rules. Always has. Sneaking into the Braithwaite house to reclaim a treasured family heirloom is one way she upends the conventional life that awaits her. Duty demands she marry. But what harm is there in having a little fun with her childhood friend before the Twelfth Night ends?
And Twilight Temptation…
Stolen kisses fan hot flames. Surprising passion intertwines with friendship…but will it be enough to last forever?
Jonas Bacon Braithwaite wants to make peace with his grandfather before departing England. Once Nottinghamshire’s favorite trouble-maker, he’s since become an upstanding man of honor. But, the lushly curved thief hiding in his bedchamber makes him think twice about one last conquest.
A Stubborn Siren…
Livvy Halsey bristles at life’s rules. Always has. Sneaking into the Braithwaite house to reclaim a treasured family heirloom is one way she upends the conventional life that awaits her. Duty demands she marry. But what harm is there in having a little fun with her childhood friend before the Twelfth Night ends?
And Twilight Temptation…
Stolen kisses fan hot flames. Surprising passion intertwines with friendship…but will it be enough to last forever?
Excerpt:
Jonas
stood bare-arse naked before a crackling fire, bathwater dripping down his
chest. There was no time for a proper dry off. The drapes were stirring in his
bed chamber though the window was closed. He snatched velvet breeches off the
chair and slipped them on casual as you please—minus his smalls. All his
clothes sat in a battered sea chest next to a pair of black boots peeking out
beneath blue drapes.
Boots
that weren’t his.
With
a cautious hand, he lifted his heavy dragoon pistol off the mantel and kept an eye
on the scrubby, modest-sized side boots. A lad? Who would want to ambush him
here? His coming home to Plumtree should be of no consequence…not after ten
years gone.
The
village and his grandfather’s stone house hadn’t changed much. Humble, quaint,
and cramped. He didn’t belong here. Not anymore. The sooner he took care of
matters with his grandfather, the Captain, the sooner he’d be on his way.
But,
his first order of business was dispatching the unskilled housebreaker.
“I
know you’re hiding behind the curtains,” Jonas said, one hand buttoning his
placket. “Show yourself.”
The
boots didn’t move. Howls of laughter drifted up from downstairs. Christmas Eve
celebrations must be going well in the parlor. The house burst with fresh pine
boughs and spiked cider, the green and spicy scents floating everywhere.
“Come
now. This is not a night for ill will.”
Housebreaking
was a serious crime with grisly consequences. The lad needed some sense knocked
into his foolish skull. Jonas padded across the room, his dragoon pistol in an
easy hold at his side. Raucous guffaws exploded through the floorboards. Mr.
Goodspeak, fine soul that he was, brayed the loudest. Fiddle music played a
Yuletide carol in double time while the salty old sailors stomped a bad rhythm.
The Captain must’ve shared his best whiskey, the kind that warmed a man as good
as a woman.
Weary
from a hard day’s ride, he could use a dram. And a woman.
“I’ll
count to three,” he said, padding barefoot across the room. “One…two…”
The
drape bulged with the business end of a pistol. Jonas froze. Air nipped him.
His pulse beat in his ears as his fingers curled tighter around his pistol. At
the click of a cocked weapon, instinct took over.
“…thr—”
Jonas dropped low and rammed his shoulder into the lad’s mid-section.
“Umph!” The
housebreaker grunted and a shiny piece clattered across the floor. A
blunderbuss.
Jonas
kicked the weapon backward. Fists pummeled his back as white hot pain shot up
from his toes. A black boot mashed his foot.
“Enough,”
he growled, hoisting the lad over his shoulder.
His
foot throbbing, Jonas spun away from the window. Cloth ripped overhead. The
drapes and rod crashed down on their heads. Whoops and hollers rang through the
house. The Captain and his cronies had to be deep in their cups not to hear
this scuffle. Jonas knocked the wool off his face as the housebreaker kicked and…squealed. He squinted at the bottom
wiggling on his shoulder, and the split second cost him. A knee jabbed his
ribs.
“Oomph!” His gun slipped, and the brass buttcap
hammered his already aching toes. Air hissing through clenched teeth, Jonas
hop-stepped to the bed. “Stop!” he bellowed and landed all his weight on the lad.
The
bed frame quaked from the assault. The housebreaker sunk into the down
mattress, fighting hard. Jonas drove his head into the criminal’s chest, and
two mounds pressed his face. Soft, round, and jiggling. A slow smile formed
against the wool. He was nose deep between sizeable breasts—a fine pair as
breasts go swathed in old drapes.
“Well,
bugger me.”
The
housebreaker wheezed. “I’d…rather…you get off me!”
Eyes
wide, Jonas rolled sideways and clamped his thigh across her thrashing legs.
The woman’s mouth gaped behind wool like a caught fish. She flopped like one
too. A feminine hip squirmed at the juncture of his thighs. Fingers clawed the
curtain. His midnight visitor tussled fiercely with the drape, the bed ropes
creaking madly beneath her.
“Shhh. Let me uncover you,” he said,
staying her busy hands.
“So
you can shoot me?”
“No.
So you can breathe easy.” He paused, his grip on her wrists full of authority.
“We can stay like this all night, or you can trust me. It’s your choice.”
Yellow
firelight danced across waves of mussed bed sheets. Land-locked sailors sang
off-key below stairs. Music pitched fast and high from the parlor, but the
storm on his mattress calmed. Tautness in the wrists he held eased a fraction.
The housebreaker lay stiffly against him, smelling oddly of…vinegar.
She
panted against the drape. “You call those choices?”
“Best
I can do for a woman who pointed a pistol at me.”
Jonas’s
blood pumped with satisfaction. His lush, midnight visitor was at his mercy.
Bit by bit, her breathing slowed behind blue wool. She grumbled, but her body
went lax against him. He grinned, liking her pliant, surrendered. The skirmish
was over.
“Well?”
she said, her hip shifting against his ballocks. “Aren’t you going to get this
off me?”
Copper-hued
hair shined through a tear in the cloth. The woman in his bed was a gift
trussed in cloth, excitement in his otherwise dull Christmas Eve homecoming. It
was time he unwrapped his present. Jonas stuck a finger in the hole and yanked.
Threads snapped, showing bold brown eyes staring at him through tangled hair.
With the hole wider, he ripped the drape with both hands all the way to the
soles of her black boots.
A
pretty mouth opened wide and sucked fresh air. “Thank you.”
His
comely housebreaker lay dressed in homespun breeches and a plain shirt open at
the neck. A gentleman’s faded bottle green coat flopped wide as she brushed
hair off her face. Exquisite breasts free of a corset, shift, and waistcoat
ruined the mannish disguise. Cambric stretched across dainty nipples at the
center of curves flattened as nature would have it when a woman was on her
back. The siren’s chest rose and fell with alluring rhythm, the sight striking
him speechless.
“Did
you get your fill?” She snapped her coat shut and laughed. “Welcome home, Jonas
Bacon Braithwaite.”
That was a great first meeting, Gina. One last question before you go. Where can readers find you?
People can find me at these places:
My website where you can also sign up for my newsletter: http://ginaconkle.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginaconkle
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gloveshistory/