Liz's Big Birthday Pre-Order Bash!

I have a first world problem, and I need help! I have moved from having two books out 1 ½ years apart to having two books coming out one month apart. This should be thrilling—instead it’s terrifying.

I’ve written before about what it’s like to be a “good” Norwegian Minnesotan. In a nutshell:  we don’t bang our drums for ourselves easily. I’ve done promo on two books—and that was excruciating. Now, I have to shout from the rooftops for two books in a row.

Holy Die of Embarrassment, Ole.

So—I come to you, my GLIAS extended family for safe haven and help. Both books are up for pre-order right now, it’s only three weeks until the September 2nd release date for the first of them “Beauty and the Brit,” and, gosh, it’s my birthday this Wednesday August 13^th.  And I’m wandering around in the “have to promote” wilderness without a map. Don’t you feel sorry for me? Don’t you think a poor old Minnesota girl deserves some love?

If so (or even if not) I do have a Birthday Bash offering in exchange for your love and support. (Translation from Minnesotan:  Beware--shameless begging about to commence.)  I’m going to share two excerpts here today, one from each of the new books. If they whet your appetite even a little, I’d love you to check out the pre-orders on B&N, iTunes, Indiebound and Amazon etc. and mark your calendars for the releases. Or pre-order if you like to do that sort of thing. And, if over the next six weeks or so you could tell one friend? I will come to your house and hug you.

Well maybe not.

But! I do have a Birthday present basket I’d love to give to a commenter. The basket includes virtual and physical prezzies: first of all,  e-book copies of both my current books, “The Rancher and the Rock Star”  and “Rescued by a Stranger,” plus a set of all four bookmarks from the Kennison Falls series, plus the first chapter excerpts from the two new books, “Beauty and the Brit” and “Good Guys Wear Black,” plus some Minnesota goodies (since that’s where the books are set) and maybe another surprise or two.

In fact—anyone who leaves comment … if you leave your e-mail as well I’ll contact you and send you a set of bookmarks. They’re pretty and fun and have cool little synopses on the backsides that are exclusive to the bookmarks. A bargain for the price of a comment :-D

And, so, here you go. A two-book excerpt party. See what you think!

BEAUTY AND THE BRIT

Release Date: September 2, 2014

                              AMAZON     BARNES&NOBLE     iBOOKS

EXCERPT:

“They’re actually quite pretty, aren’t they?” A curious smoky veil faded out the blue of David’s eyes.

Rio stared back. “If I knew what you were talking about I could agree or disagree.”

“The tattoos.”

“Oh!”

She stared down to where the delicate white, blue, and lavender-shaded feather along the inside of her right breast swooped up from beneath the rounded neckline of her tank top.

“I’m sorry. “He hesitated, measuring his words. “I was unkind yesterday.”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to like tattoos.”

“In the army I saw plenty of, how should I say it kindly? Unfortunate ones. It wasn’t fair to judge by those standards.”

“I was picky about mine. I knew I wanted beautiful art. They represent a lot of savings and, some would say, wastefulness.”

“How many do you have?”

She hesitated. “I have six.”

His eyebrows twitched a fraction higher, but he nodded and scratched his nose self-consciously. He looked positively cute in his awkwardness.

“Are they showable?”

She smiled and couldn’t help arching her own brow. “Not all of them.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. Warmth flooded her cheeks.

“I expect that was a rude question considering my actions last night. I never apologized.”

She looked instinctively down the barn aisle.

“It’s all right,” he assured her. “I sent Bonnie back to the house to get something to drink. I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“We’re adults. I didn’t exactly run screaming, David.”

“No. And I was glad you didn’t. Although tell me nothing happened during that kiss and I’ll feel a lot better.”

Over the two days they’d known each other the only thing she’d grown slightly self-confident about was teasing him, and suddenly she couldn’t even do that. So much had happened during the kiss she didn’t dare open her mouth.

He nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK

Release Date:  October 14, 2014

                  AMAZON    BARNES & NOBLE    iBOOKS   

EXCERPT: 

Rose stood. “Time for dessert. You have birthday cupcakes from The Bread Basket,” she said. “I totally wimped out on making you a cake. There just wasn’t time after work. But next year, I promise it’ll be homemade.”

“Oh? So you’re promising me next year, too?” Dewey’s eyebrows cocked in anticipation.

“Unless I get fired. In which case, I may not live here so you’d be on your own.”

“Get fired.” He mocked her. “Wouldn’t worry.”

“Then I’m sure in a year I’ll at least still know where you work.”

Two cupcakes each, a rousing game of Wii bowling, and a hair tousle before sending Jesse off to bed later, Dewey stood at the door with Rose, his new hat cocked sexily back on his head ala Brett Maverick. She played with his bangs, straightening them beneath the brim.

“Tomorrow night,” he whispered, “can’t come soon enough.”

“I don’t know. You seem a little dangerous now in that black hat. Kind of villainous. Maybe I should stay away.”

“Oh, no you don’t. And you’d best not leave town before I get a chance to tie you to the railroad tracks.”

“But isn’t there always a guy in a white hat that comes along then and gets the girl back?”

“Hey, you picked the black, sweetheart.”

“I didn’t. Jesse did. There was no talking him out of it.”

“So you wish it was white, then.”

She rested the four fingers of each hand on his cheeks and stroked his mustache with her thumbs. She’d grown so used to it she rarely really looked at the thick, well-groomed hair above his lip anymore. She liked it. It was as much a part of him as his nose. But she still wondered what he’d looked like without it.

“No. You’re such a goody guy in real life—I guess I like me a little black hat action.”

“Goody-guy?” His nose wrinkled at her again, this time in disgust. “Might as well just call me a girl.”

“Trust me, buddy, you ain’t no girl.”

They kissed, and it filled her with bubbling longing from her lips to her heated core.

“See you tomorrow at six-thirty,” he said against her mouth.

Hope that gave you a little taste of what to expect from David and Rio as well as Rose and Dewey. My question for you is this:  Dewey’s black hat was a special birthday present from Rose’s son, Jesse. My question for you is this:  Dewey’s black hat was a special birthday present from Rose’s son, Jesse. What’s the most special birthday present you’ve ever received?

Seriously, thanks for stopping by and for taking a few minutes to hear about my coming releases.  Remember:  leave a comment for a chance to win a Birthday Present goody basket. And leave your e-mail and I’ll contact you about sending a set of bookmarks!