HEIDI BETTS

ON THE

VERGE OF I DO

Dynasties: The Kincaids – Book 4

Harlequin Desire #2051

ISBN: 0-373-73163-9 / 978-0-373-73163-3

WEDDING INTERRUPTED…

It’s hard for events planner Kara Kincaid to be planning her sister’s wedding to the man Kara’s had a crush on since childhood. Even harder when said sister calls the whole thing off. Hardest still is when the jilted groom shows Kara some very personal attention, threatening to destroy her relationship with her family—and Kara ends up in his bed anyway.

After a just-friends engagement that just didn’t work, hotel magnate Eli Houghton thinks he’s finally found the right woman. His new plan: convince Kara there’s no hidden agenda, and that the magic words are I do…

READ THE DESIRE

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The elevator doors slid open and they stepped inside. Eli swiped his pass key and punched the button for his private suites, then brought her around so they could face forward while remaining in physical contact. Otherwise, she was sure they looked perfectly professional, perfectly normal.

The doors slid closed, shutting them in together, alone. One minute she was staring at their blurry reflection in the polished silver of the double elevator doors. The next, she was spinning like a top, coming to rest between the hard wall of Eli’s broad chest at her front and the cool steel of the doors at her back.

“I can’t wait one more minute to do this,” he growled.

She opened her mouth to ask Do what?, but didn’t get the chance to voice the first syllable before his mouth crushed down on hers. It took her completely by surprise, cutting off her oxygen and making her muscles go limp as noodles.

Against her better judgment, when his tongue licked the seam of her lips and he attempted to nudge his way inside, she let him. It was just a kiss, after all. Just one . . . tiny . . . kiss.

Somewhere over their heads, a bell dinged. The sound didn’t have time to register in her fog-laden brain before the doors behind her slid open and she fell backward.

Eli stumbled after her, catching them both before they ended up in an undignified pile on the foyer floor. Keeping them on their feet, he continued backing her across the entryway until she was once again stopped by a wall. He pinned her there with his body, touching her from collarbones to knee bones.

He kissed her again, not nearly as gently as he had in the elevator. If the kiss in the elevator could be called gentle, which is couldn’t. But he didn’t wait for her compliance, didn’t give her time to adjust or a chance to open her mouth in invitation. He simply leaned in and took what he wanted.

For long, languid moments, they stood there, tasting, touching, letting the rest of the world spin out of control. His hands clutched her waist. His erection pressed into her belly. In return, she pawed at his shoulders, her nails kneading him through the material of his suit jacket like a kitten kneading for cream.

When he released her mouth, she gasped. Then, while she was sucking air into her scalded, much-abused lungs, he caught her off-guard by scooping her into his arms.

She let out a startled yip to find herself suddenly horizontal, literally swept off her feet. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think?” he retorted without inflection, not sounding the least bit out of breath, even though she was still struggling not to pant.

Now that he wasn’t muddling her mind with steamy kisses and subtle strokes of his hands up and down her sides, she could almost think straight, and she knew this wasn’t right. Knew they couldn’t do what he was carrying her off to do.

Pressing a palm to his rock-solid shoulder and wiggling slightly in his embrace, she said, “Eli, no. We can’t do this.”

“Yes,” he told her in no uncertain terms. “We can.”

Reaching the bedroom doorway, he elbowed open the pocket doors and headed straight for the massive king size mattress at its center. The entire room was decorated in shades of the ocean—sand, turquoise, salmon—and the bed was made up with a thick golden comforter with enough pillows stacked against the woven bamboo headboard to build a fort.

That’s all she had time to notice, though, as he carried her around to the side and set her on her feet so he could begin tossing those pillows onto the floor and tearing back the covers. Snowy white sheets in what she was sure was the finest Egyptian cotton lay beneath, just begging to be dirtied and rumpled.

Uh-oh. She took a step back in self-preservation.

Eli noticed her retreat immediately.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he mumbled, grabbing her wrist and tugging her toward him.

Her hands went up to stop her from bumping into his chest, but he apparently wanted her to do just that, because he kept tugging until she made contact with a solid thump.

“We can’t do this, Eli,” she said again, trying desperately to make him see sense.

“Yes,” he returned with even more resolve than before, “we can.”

HEIDI BETTS

is the daughter of an Arabian sheik and a Las Vegas showgirl, as well as the heiress to the Chocolate is Better Than Sex Candy Company fortune. Because of this, she eats chocolate in all its many delicious forms for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between snacks . . . without ever gaining an ounce on her perfect five-foot-nine, size zero figure.

Each and every one of her breathtaking, award-winning novels has been adapted to film and gone on to become a phenomenal box office smash, featuring such mega-stars as Hugh Jackman and Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, and Harrison Ford and Charlize Theron.

Heidi readily admits that she is only able to write such passionate love stories because of her real-life happily-ever-after romance with superstar actor Dwayne Johnson, who makes every day a fairy tale. When she's not writing or making hot, toe-curling love with her "Rock" of a husband, Heidi can often be found riding naked on horseback (a la Lady Godiva) along the beaches of Malibu or hobnobbing with the rich and famous on Martha's Vineyard.

If you'd like to experience your own perfect, idyllic life just like Heidi Betts, be sure to take the little purple pill. (Not the red one. Never the red one.)

QUESTIONS

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

HEIDI: Reading one or writing one? LOL The answer to both is probably “quite often.” I just love finding a book to read that I can’t put down; one I think about when I’m away from it & can’t wait to pick up again. But the same could be said while working on my own books. Even if it’s hard to get started or the plot gets complicated toward the middle, there’s always a point where I’m so into the story that I can’t seem to write fast enough to get everything that’s whirling around in my head onto the page. 

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?

HEIDI: I’ve loved to read since forever, so chances are I was reading the back of the baby powder container when I was still in the crib & have no idea what my first book truly might have been. Plus, you have to consider it was probably one originally read to me by my (librarian *g*) mother that I then began reading on my own. I’m guessing something Winnie-the-Pooh, since I was born with hunny in my veins, too. ;) 

I can tell you, though, what romance novel I first read that really, really got me into the genre & made me start to realize I wanted to write them, too… The Outlaw Hearts by Rebecca Brandewyne. Le sigh. I loved that book like a fat kid loves cake. (And I was a fat kid who did love cake, so that’s definitely saying something.) I’ve read it probably a dozen times, &—oops, well, there you go…now I want to dig it out & read it again. 

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

HEIDI: Oh, I’m a sucker for pretty much all of them—even the darker Brothers Grimm-ish versions. Right now, though, I’m totally addicted to Disney’s Tangled. The movie & the soundtrack seem to be playing somewhere in my house almost 24/7. And can we talk about ABC’s Once Upon a Time for a minute? Thanks to that show, I’m being reminded of just how many great fairy tales & fairy tale characters there are. Love it! 

ANGI: I DO LOVE IT! Huge fan of both Tangled (what a logical story from Rapunzel). And the secrets--woo hoo--in Once Upon A Time make it AWESOME !!

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

HEIDI: Definitely. I absolutely love music & always try to come up with a list of songs that suit the story I’m working on, but sometimes it’s songs that just kind of put me in the right frame of mind for whatever I’m writing. So I’ll tell you what I listened to while writing ON THE VERGE OF I DO, but I’d love to hear what people think after they’ve read the story for themselves. How did I do? Do they remind you as much of Kara & Eli as they do me or did I miss the boat? :) 

“Smile” – Uncle Kracker

“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum

“This Love” – Maroon 5

"Weakness in Me” – Joan Armatrading (from 10 Things I Hate About You)

“Impulsive” – Wilson Phillips

“Bubbly” – Colbie Calait

“Ever the Same” – Rob Thomas

“Near You Always” – Jewel

“To Make You Feel My Love” – Garth Brooks

“Lullaby” – Dixie Chicks

“Terrified”— Katherine McPhee

“I Want You to Want Me” – 10 Things I Hate About You

“Marry Me” – Train

“Arms” – Christina Perri

“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

“Son of a Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield

“Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight & the Pips

plus random stuff by Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood…anything that put me in a Southern state of mind. ;) 

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

HEIDI: My very favorite sound, I think, is a cat’s purr. I absolutely love that low hum & the fact that you can’t get them to do it unless they’re happy. :) Not only that, but every cat seems to have its own unique purr—some are so low, you can barely hear them; others sound like Mack trucks revving their engines right next to your ear—so it’s fun to listen to them all. 



"I know, a frying pan. Who knew?"

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

HEIDI: How about both? As I mentioned above, I love Disney’s Tangled, which is definitely a fairy tale & action-adventure. And all the better that Rapunzel does most of the butt-kicking herself. :D But I’m always up for a good fairy tale (or romantic comedy, as the case may be), & I’m always up for a good action-adventure or suspense…even if it isn’t heavy in the romance or HEA department. 

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

HEIDI: LOL In the sixth grade, every Friday was Creative Writing Day, which I absolutely loved. And the most memorable story I came up with for those was about poison pepperoni on the pizzas at a school carnival. I’m sure I was probably working through some deep-seated passive-aggressive student angst with that one, but it’s the story I remember most & that prompted my teacher to tell my parents I had a much too creative mind & should maybe consider being a writer. So I did. ;) 

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

HEIDI: How much time do you have? LOL I have far too many vices, I’m afraid. Or maybe I’ll just call them “healthy addictions.” 

I love books, of course; my house is overrun with them. There are times when I think I should just get rid of the furniture altogether, toss a blanket over some of my book boxes, & call them a couch, a table, an un-easy chair. :P

I love television & DVDs. Way too much. 

I love tea! I make gallons at a time & probably drink my weight in the stuff daily. 

And right now, I’m on a huge cinnamon gum kick. But that, at least, I consider a writing-related vice. I chew it while writing & either the spiciness or chewing motion really seem to get my brain cells humming. 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: It’s DESIRE week and we’re celebrating our teammate CAT SCHIELD’S release of Unfinished Business. So I’m going to play off her title and see if you’ve got any… “Unfinished Business.” Is there a character you’ve never given a story that just has to be shared?

HEIDI’S GOTTA ANSWER: You know, there’s only one that I can think of, & he happens to be from another of my Desires. If anyone remembers FORTUNE’S FORBIDDEN WOMAN from the “Dakota Fortunes” continuity series, the heroine was involved with a really nice guy named Brad before she started to fall for the hero of the story. And I always felt kind of badly for the way she dumped him. (Being a continuity, I was provided the plotline & characterizations for the book, so I couldn’t stray off into backstory & closure for secondary characters.) 

But if I could have, I’d have loved to do a spin-off of that book to make sure Brad ended up with somebody great. Of course, he’d be a little bitter at first, having been jilted…& the heroine would be meant only as a rebound seduction…but by the end, they would realize they were meant for each other. Of course. *sigh* I actually have a whole storyline in mind—in case you couldn’t tell ;)—& if I ever get the chance (even if I have to change the characters’ names to protect the guilty) I might just get around to it, after all. 

FIND HEIDI

Contact    Website    Facebook    Twitter     WIPS and Chains    

PREVIOUS RELEASES

MUST LOVE VAMPIRES ONE LAST BITE

Kensington Brava (an epilogue to Must Love Vampires)
September 27, 2011 Free Download on Heidi’s Site
ISBN 978-0758247636      

"I DO” HAVE A DRAWING FOR THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS.

One lucky commenter will have their choice of Heidi’s backlist.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us while we continue our DESIRE WEEK celebration with HEIDI BETTS & BRENDA JACKSON. ~Angi 

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Ooh, the shoe gets stuffed firmly on the other foot. I like. :) Sure… 

The Harlequin Desire line is filled with a lot of the tried-and-true romance novels themes—secret babies, marriages of convenience, affairs between boss & secretary, revenge plots, etc. Some readers love these & others aren’t huge fans. 

What are YOUR favorite romance novel plot devices, & what would you may be like to see more of?

CATHERINE MANN

HONORABLE INTENTIONS

Harlequin Desire

ISBN: 0373731647

Major Hank Renshaw knows almost everything there is to know about Gabrielle Ballard. Except for what it's like to touch her. Because Gabrielle is his best friend's fiancée. Or she was. Until his buddy died in battle—right after making Hank promise to find her…

So now Hank's in New Orleans. In Gabrielle's apartment. Watching her nurse her infant son. It's not honor that draws him to her. It's not duty that makes him stay. It's need he's feeling, plain and simple—the desire to take the woman he's always wanted and finally make her his own.

READ SOME OF THE DESIRE

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Mardi Gras

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" Let the good times roll!

The cheer bounced around inside Hank Renshaw, Jr.'s, head as he pushed through the crowd lining the road to watch the Mardi Gras parade. His mood was anything but party-worthy.

He needed to deliver a message on behalf of his friend who'd been killed in action ten months ago. Tracking down his best bud's girlfriend added twenty-ton weights to Hank's already heavy soul.

Determination powered him forward, one step at a time, through the throng of partiers decked out in jester hats, masks and beads. Lampposts blazed through the dark. The parade inched past, a jazz band blasting a Louis Armstrong number while necklaces, doubloons and even lacy panties rained over the mini-mob.

Not surprising to see underwear fly. In years past, he'd driven down from Bossier City to New Orleans for Mardi Gras festivities. This town partied through the weekend leading all the way into Fat Tuesday. If former experiences were anything to judge by, the night would only get rowdier as the alcohol flowed. Before long, folks would start asking for beads the traditional way.

By hiking up their shirts.

A grandma waved her hands in the air, keeping her blouse in place for now as she shouted at a float with a krewe king riding a mechanical alligator, "Throw me something, mister!"

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" the king shouted back in thickly accented Cajun French.

Hank sidestepped around a glowing lamppost. He spoke French and Spanish fluently, passable German and a hint of Chamorro from the time his dad had been stationed in Guam. He'd always sworn he wouldn't follow in the old man's aviator footsteps. While his dad was a pilot, Hank was a navigator. But in the end, he'd even chosen the same aircraft his dad had—the B-52. He couldn't dodge the family legacy any more than his two sisters had. Renshaws joined the air force. Period. They'd served for generations, even though their cumulative investment portfolio now popped into the billions.

And he would give away every damn cent if he could bring back his friend.

Chest tight with grief, Hank looked up at the wrought-iron street number on the restaurant in front of him. Less than a block to go until he reached Gabrielle Ballard's garret apartment, which was located above an antiques shop. He plunged back into the kaleidoscope of Mardi Gras purple, gold and green.

And then, in the smallest shift of the crowd, he saw her in the hazy glow of a store's porch lights. Or rather, he saw her back as she made her way to her apartment. She didn't appear to be here for the parade. Just on her way home, walking ahead of him with a floral sling full of groceries and a canvas sack.

Hurrying to catch her, he didn't question how he'd identified her. He knew Gabrielle without even seeing her face. What a freaking sappy reality, but hell, the truth hurt. He recognized the elegant curve of her neck, the swish of her blond hair along her shoulders.

Even with a loose sweater hiding her body, there was no mistaking the glide of her long legs. The woman made denim look highend. She had a Euro-chic style that hinted at her dual citizenship. Her U.S. Army father had married a German woman, then finished out his career at American bases overseas. Gabrielle had come to New Orleans for her graduate studies.

Yeah, he knew everything about Gabrielle Ballard, from her history to the curve of her hips. He'd wanted her every day for a torturous year before he and Kevin had shipped out. The only relief? Since she lived in South Louisiana, while he and his friend were stationed in Northern Louisiana, Gabrielle had only crossed his path a couple of times a month.

Regardless, the brotherhood code put a wall between him and Gabrielle that Hank couldn't scale. She was his best friend's fiancée, Kevin's girl. At least, she had been. Until Kevin died ten months ago. Two gunshots from a sniper at a checkpoint, and his friend was gone. That didn't make Gabrielle available, but it did make her Hank's obligation.

Gabrielle angled sideways, adjusting the sling holding her groceries and the canvas sack, to wedge through a cluster of college-aged students in front of the iron gate closing off the outdoor stairs to her apartment. A plastic cup in one guy's hand sloshed foamy beer down her arm. She jumped back sharply, slamming into another drunken reveler. Gabrielle stepped forward, only to have the guy with the cup block her path again. She held her floral sack closer, fear stamped on her face.

Instincts still honed from battle shifted into high gear, telling Hank things were escalating in a damn dangerous way. He scowled, shoving forward faster without taking his eyes off her for even a second. The street lamp spotlighted her, her golden hair a shining beacon in the chaos. She pressed herself into a garden nook, but the sidewalk was packed; the noise of the floats so intense that calls for help wouldn't be heard.

Hank closed the last two steps between him and the mess unfolding in front of him. He clamped his hand down firmly on the beer-swilling bastard's shoulder.

"Let the lady pass."

"What the hell?" The drunken jerk stumbled backward, bloodshot eyes unfocused.

Gabrielle's gaze zipped to Hank. She gasped. Her emerald-green eyes went wide with recognition as she stared at him. And yeah, he felt an all too familiar snap of awareness inside him every time she crossed his path, the same draw that had tugged him the first time he saw her at a squadron formal.

One look at her then, in the ice-blue dress, and every cell in his body had shouted, "Mine!" Seconds later, Kevin had joined them, introducing her as the love of his life. Still, those cells in Hank kept on staking their claim on her.

The guy shrugged off Hank's hand, alcohol all but oozing from his pores into the night air. "Mind your own business, pal."

"Afraid I can't do that." Hank slid his arm around Ga-brielle's waist, steeling himself for the soft feel of her against his side. "She's with me, and it's time for you to find another spot to watch the parade."

The guy's eyes focused long enough to skim over Hank's leather flight jacket and apparently decide taking on a trained military guy might not be a wise move. He raised his hands, a glowing neon necklace peeking from the collar of his long-sleeved college tee. "Didn't know you had prior claim, Major. Sorry."

Major? God, it seemed as if yesterday he was a lieutenant, just joining a crew. Okay. He sure felt ancient these days even though he was only thirty-three. "No harm, no foul, as long as you walk away now."

"Can do." The guy nodded, turning back to his pals. "Let's bounce, dudes."

Hank watched until the crowd swallowed the drunken trio, his guard still high as he scanned the hyped-up masses.

"Hank?" Gabrielle called to him. "How did you find me?"

The sound of her voice speaking his name wrapped around him like a silken bond. Nothing had changed. He was still totally hooked on her. Bad enough before when she and Kevin had been engaged. But now, one glance at her made memories of his dying friend roil in his gut again.

He needed to check on Gabrielle as he'd promised Kevin he would, pass along his friend's final words, then punch out of her life for good.

"You still live at the same address. Finding you wasn't detective work," he said, guiding her toward the iron gateway blocking her outside stairway. His eyes roved over the familiar little garden and wrought-iron table he'd seen for the first time when he'd driven down with Kevin two years ago. Determined to gain control of his feelings, he'd accompanied his bud on a weekend trip to the Big Easy. Pure torture from start to finish. "Let's go to your place so we can talk."

"What are you doing here? I didn't know you'd returned to the States." Her light German accent gave her an exotic appeal.

As if she needed anything else to knock him off balance. Good God, he was a thirty-three-year-old combat veteran, and she had him feeling like a high schooler who'd just seen the new hot chick in class.

He took in her glinting green eyes, her high cheekbones and delicate chin that gave her face a heartlike appearance. A green canvas purse hung from one shoulder, her floral shopping sack slung over her head, resting on her other hip. The strap stretched across her chest, between her breasts.

Breasts that were fuller than he remembered.

Better haul his eyes back upward, pronto. "I'm here for you."

The rest could wait until they got inside. He pulled her closer, her grocery sling shifting between them heavily. What the hell did she have in there?

He slipped a finger under the strap. "Let me carry that for you."

"No, thank you." She covered the sack protectively with both hands, curving around the smooth bulge. Smooth? Maybe not groceries, after all. But what? Her sack wriggled.

He looked at the bag again, realization blasting through him. Holy crap. Not a satchel at all. He'd seen his sister Darcy wear one almost exactly like it when her son and daughter were newborns. No question, Gabrielle wore an infant sling.

And given the little foot kicking free, she had a baby on board.

As far back as she could remember, Gabrielle had dreamed of being a mom. Her baby dolls had always been the best dressed, well fed and healthiest in her neighborhood.

Little had she known then how very different her first real stint at motherhood would play out. No daddy for her child. A sick baby.

And now an unsettling blast from the past had arrived in the form of Hank Renshaw. Standing in front of her, tall and broad-shouldered, he blocked out the rest of the world. He wore his leather flight jacket in the unseasonably cool night, looking as tall, dark and studly as any movie poster hero.

CATHERINE MANN

is a USA Today bestseller writing steamy romances for Harlequin Desire, as well as military romantic suspense for Berkley and Sourcebooks.  A RITA Award winner, she has over two million books in print in more than 20 countries. Catherine resides in Florida with her Air Force aviator husband and their four children. FMI, she can be found online at her

Website  on Facebook and on Twitter.

HONORABLE QUESTIONS

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

CATHY: I remember having The Gingerbread Man read to me. My mother says I could read the newspaper by kindergarten.  As for what I remembering reading on my own, I have vivid childhood memories of reading The Encyclopedia Brown series, Nancy Drew.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

CATHY: Scooby Doo!

ANGI: Awe…there are so many of us who love this adorable big Dane! I’ve said many times he’s my all-time favorite. 

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

CATHY: Beauty and the Beast.

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

CATHY: Any Cajun music!  Think Mardi Gras in New Orleans – let the good times roll! 

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

CATHY: I read anywhere, anytime I can find a free minute.  I keep my Kindle with me all the time. 

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

CATHY: I adore the sound of the ocean, lucky for me since I live at the beach.  I also have a noise machine (set to ocean sounds) for nighttime when I travel.  

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

CATHY: I mentioned Beauty and the Beast above, but I also loved Rapunzel – and the movie TANGLED rocks! 

ANGI: Doesn't it? LOVE the logical story they laid down for Rapunzel. It's terrific!

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

CATHY: I have lots of favorites, but a couple that come to mind at the moment - THE QUIET MAN with John Wayne and HIGHLANDER. 

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

CATHY: Jelly beans, cinnamon red hots, M&Ms (candy!) 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: It’s DESIRE week and we’re celebrating our teammate CAT SCHIELD’S release of Unfinished Business. So I’m going to play off her title and see if you’ve got any… “Unfinished Business.” Is there a character you’ve never given a story that just has to be shared?

CATHY’S GOTTA ANSWER: How fun – and coincidental – that you asked this!  HONORABLE INTENTIONS features a hero readers have asked to see for years. Hank Renshaw, Jr. is the stepbrother of the Desire heroes in “The Landis Brothers” series.  Hank Jr.’s sisters were the heroines in PRIVATE MANEUVERS (Silhouette Intimate Moments) and A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS (HQN). Hank Jr.’s father was the hero in HOLIDAY HEROES (Silhouette Romantic Suspense.  Readers can also look for another such long awaited character in my November novella which features an all-grown-up Shelby Dawson.  Her father was the hero in UNDER SIEGE (Silhouette Intimate Moments.)  All of the backlist books I’ve mentioned have been reissued in e-book.

FINDING CATHERINE

Catherine@catherinemann.com   Website   Facebook  Twitter   

UP NEXT:

UNDER FIRE, Sourcebooks, May 2012
“Dog Tags” in LOVE BITES, HQN, June 2012
AN INCONVENIENT AFFAIR, Desire, August 2012
GUARDIAN, Berkley, September 2012
“Home for Christmas” in RESCUING CHRISTMAS, HQN, Nov 2012

PREVIOUS RELEASES (for a complete list, check out Catherine’s website)

HOT ZONE               PROTECTOR
Sourcebooks                Berkley
December 2011           March 2012

AWESOME DRAWING !!

One commenter will be chosen at random to win a three pack: HONORABLE INTENTIONS (Desire), HOT ZONE (Sourcebooks) and PROTECTOR (Berkley).

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us while we continue our DESIRE WEEK celebration with HEIDI BETTS & BRENDA JACKSON. ~Angi

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

I have a sweet tooth, no question!  Already I’ve found marshmallow Peeps landing in my shopping buggy a bit too often. What treats tempt you?

Debut Desire Author Andrea Laurence

Hey everyone. Thank you for having me here today. I'm very excited to make the rounds on my blog tour and get the word out about my debut release – What Lies Beneath. I'm running a contest for the blog tour. The details are at the bottom of the post, but be sure to comment to get an entry for a beautiful pink sea glass locket.

Today, I want to talk about television. Lately, I don't get to watch much, and if I do, it's something I taped on my DVR. Honestly, there isn't much on TV that thrills me, even if I did have the time. If someone recommends a show to me, I rarely watch it because I'm either disappointed, or immediately hooked and get behind with my schedule. So I don't bother.

The trend of the last decade has been reality shows. I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of reality television. I don't watch the Bachelor, Amazing Race, Survivor or American Idol. I'll see an episode here or there, but I've never dialled in to vote for anyone. That's not to say I don't watch any. I do have a few I like. But I prefer the shows where skills and ingenuity under pressure are rewarded. My favorites include Project Runway, America's Next Top Model and RuPaul's Drag Race.

Project Runway is my top show, however. I have a massive crush on Tim Gunn. I envy the ability to design and sew clothing. I was barely able to stitch on my patches in Girl Scouts. Actual sewing… um, no.

Fortunately, I can live vicariously through my characters. My heroine in What Lies Beneath is a fashion designer. I guess I got to design dresses for her in a way, but I didn't have to execute them. She's a skilled seamstress that can whip out a gown in no time flat. At least she could until she's almost killed in a plane crash. Then she has to rediscover her skills, and her life. In doing that, my character got to shop at Mood Fabrics, where the contestants go on the show.

When I went to New York, it also meant I had a really good reason to walk around the Fashion District and see landmarks from the show, including Mood and Parsons School for Design. I got a t-shirt. I stood outside Liz Claiborne for a while and never saw Tim Gunn. Darn it. Not exactly sure what I would've done if I HAD seen him, but it would've been a good story.

What are your favorite reality shows? If you write, what's something you'd love to experience through your characters?

Andrea

WHAT LIES BENEATH


April 2012, Harlequin Desire #2152

She’s Awake. So Why Can’t She Remember?


They say she’s Cynthia Dempsey, fiancée of media mogul Will Taylor. But try as she might, she can’t recall their high-society life or the man sitting by her hospital bed. Though her body certainly remembers him. Even as she senses the distance between them, the electricity when they touch is undeniable.

Will can hardly believe Cynthia’s transformation. Gone is the ice queen who betrayed him, and in her place is a woman who seems genuine and warm. But can he risk his heart again, not knowing what might happen when her memory returns?

Amazon/Kindle, Barnes & Noble/Nook, Books A Million

Blog Tour & Contest! Don't forget my blog tour contest! Receive an entry for commenting (one per blog) and a second for signing up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/e3O5k). The winner will receive a pink sea-glass heart locket pendant and a personalized autographed copy of What Lies Beneath. 


The winner will be chosen at random after the conclusion of the blog tour – Friday, April 27^th and announced on the Writing Playground blog (http://www.writingplayground.blogspot.com/). The winner will have 7 days to contact the author at author@andrealaurence.com with her mailing information or the prize will be forfeited and re-awarded.

NO FOOLIN...IT'S DESIRE WEEK

UNFINISHED BUSINESS hits shelves this week along with 5 other DESIRES from Harlequin. SO celebrating Cat's THIRD release, we're having DESIRE week with interviews from Andrea Laurence, Catherine Mann, Lena Diaz, THE Brenda Jackson and of course our very own CAT SCHIELD !!

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Harlequin Desire
ISBN-10: 0373731663

Once Burned, Twice Shy 

When it comes to Rachel Lansing, COO Maxwell Case makes an exception to his take-no-prisoners approach. He’ll hold this beauty hostage as his assistant and settle old scores from their brief affair five years ago. The pleasure will be all his.

Rachel smells blackmail. But with her ex-husband extorting big money from her, she needs Max as a client to keep her employment agency alive. So she hunkers down as his secretary. Soon their reignited passion burns away the clouds of mystery surrounding her past. Will their intimacy survive her secrets this time?

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 Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"You." The word came out as an unfriendly accusation. "Hello, Max."

Rachel Lansing had been bracing herself for this meeting all day, and now that it had arrived, it was so much worse than she'd imagined. Her heart stopped as the gunmetal gray of Max Case's gaze slammed into her with all the delicacy of a sledgehammer. 

She dug her fingernails into her palm as his broad shoulders loomed closer, blocking her view of the tastefully decorated lobby with its soothing navy-and-olive walls and stunning original art. 

Was it her imagination or did Max seem bigger, more commanding than the creative lover that haunted her memories? Or maybe his presence overwhelmed her because in a charcoal business suit and silver tie, he was less approachable than the naked fantasy man that frequented her dreams. 

Only the public nature of this reunion enabled her to subdue the flight impulse in her muscles. She rose from the comfortable couch in the reception area at a deliberate, unhurried pace. Keeping her body relaxed and her expression professional required a Herculean effort while her pulse jittered and her knees shook. 

Pull yourself together. He won't appreciate you melting into a puddle at his feet. 

"Thank you for seeing me." She stuck out her hand in a bid to restore her professional standing and wasn't disappointed when Max ignored it. Her sweaty palm would betray her nerves to him. 

When he remained mute, Rachel plowed into the tense silence. "How great that Andrea had her baby. And two weeks early. Sabrina told me she had a boy. I brought her this." She raised her left hand to show him the pink and blue bag dangling from her fingers. She'd bought the gift for his assistant weeks ago and was disappointed she wouldn't get to see Andrea's expression when she opened it. 

"What are you doing here?" 

"I was supposed to meet with Andrea." 

"You're with the employment agency?" 

She whipped out a business card and extended it across the three feet that separated them. "I own it." She made no attempt to disguise her pride at what she'd accomplished. 

He rubbed his thumb over the lettering on the business card before glancing down. "Rachel…Lansing?" 

"My maiden name." She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to share this tidbit with him. It wasn't going to change how he felt about her now, was it? 

"You're divorced?" 

She nodded. "Four years." 

"And now you run an employment agency here in Houston?" 

She'd come a long way from the girl who was barely able to support herself and her sister on the tips she made wait-ressing in a beach restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama. And yet, how far had she come when no matter how well her business did, she never felt financially secure? 

"I like the freedom of running my own business," she said, pushing aside the worry that drove her day and night. "It's small, but growing." 

And it would grow faster once she moved into larger offices and hired more staff. She had the space all picked out. A prime location that wouldn't have lasted on the market more than a few days. She'd signed the lease yesterday, gambling that the commission she'd get from placing a temporary assistant with Case Consolidated Holdings would give her the final amount she needed to move. Maybe then she could stop living day to day and start planning for the future. However, now that she'd run into Max, that fee seemed in jeopardy, and just to be safe, she'd better back out of the lease. 

If only Devon had been able to come here in her stead. A skilled employment specialist, he was her right hand. Unfortunately, his mother had gone to the hospital yesterday with severe abdominal pain and had been rushed into surgery to remove her gall bladder. Rachel had told Devon to stay with his mother as long as she needed him. For Rachel, family always came first. 

"How many assistants have you placed here?" Max's piercing stare didn't waver from her face as he slid her business card into his breast pocket. The effect of so much icy heat coming to bear on her was starting to unravel her composure. 

"Five." She dropped her hand into her jacket pocket to keep from plucking at her collar, lapel or buttons and betraying her disquiet. "Missy was the first. Sebastian's assistant." 

"That was your doing?" 

Rachel blinked at the soft menace in his voice. Did Max have something against Missy? She'd been with Case Consolidated Holdings for four years and had worked out great. In fact, it was that placement that had jump-started her business. 

"I heard she recently got promoted to communications director." And married Max's brother, Sebastian. Surely that proved how good Rachel was at her job. 

"That means you've been in Houston four years?" The question rumbled out of Max like a guard-dog growl. 

Anxiety spiked. "About that." 

"Why here?" 

When she'd left him in the Alabama beach town, he'd never wanted to see her again. Was he wondering if it was fate or determined stalking on her part that she'd shown up at Case Consolidated Holdings? 

"I moved here because of my sister. She went to the University of Houston and has friends here. It made sense for us to settle in Houston after she graduated." 

Inferring that Rachel hadn't had friends where she'd lived before. Curiosity fired in Max's eyes. The intensity of it seared her nerve endings. Five years had passed since she'd last seen him and her physical response to his proximity hadn't dimmed one bit. 

"I have three clients in this building," she told him, her tone firming as she reclaimed her confidence. She'd been dealing with executives for over ten years and knew exactly how to handle them. "The fact that I've placed five assistants here and we've never run across each other should tell you that my interest in your company is purely professional." 

He surveyed her like a cop in search of the truth. "Let's talk." 

"I thought that's what we were doing." She bit the inside of her lip as the smart-ass remark popped out. 

Once upon a time he'd liked her cheeky banter. She doubted he'd say the same thing today. Five years was a long time to stay mad at someone, but if anyone could manage, it would be Max Case. "In my office." 

Pivoting on his heel, he strode away from her down the hallway that led into the bowels of Case Consolidated Holdings. He didn't look back to see if she was following. He expected obedience. He'd always been bossy that way. Telling her where to put her hands, how to move her hips, the areas of his body that needed her attention. 

Her skin flushed. Desire found a warm and welcoming home inside her. She couldn't move. What was she doing? Her memories of those four days with Max belonged in the tomb with all her girlish hopes and dreams. Her moratorium on men and sex remained in full force. Indulging in lusty thoughts of Max was the height of stupidity if she hoped to cultivate a professional relationship with him. 

Max disappeared around a corner. This was her chance to run. She should make some excuse. Send Devon to do the interview tomorrow. 

No. Rachel squared her shoulders. She could do this. She had to do this. Her future required this placement fee. 

Five years ago, she'd learned a hard lesson about running from her problems. These days, she faced all difficulties head-on. Lansing Employment Agency needed this commission. She would do a fabulous job for Max, collect her money and treat herself to a bottle of champagne and a long bubble bath the day the agency moved into its bigger, better office. It all started with this meeting. 

Rachel forced her feet to move. Step by step she gathered courage. For four years she'd been scraping and clawing her way upward. Convincing Max that Lansing was the agency for him was just one more hurdle, and by the time she reached the enormous office bearing Max's name, she had her chin set at a determined angle and her eyes focused on the prize. 

"Did you get lost?" he asked as she crossed the threshold. A long time ago. 

"I stopped at Sabrina's desk and asked her to send the baby gift to Andrea." 

Rachel glanced around Max's office, curious about the businessman. During their four days together, she'd learned about his family and his love of fast cars, but he'd refused to talk about work. In fact, until she'd met Sebastian four years ago, and noticed the family resemblance, she didn't know he was Max Case of Case Consolidated Holdings.

The walls bore photos of Max leaning against a series of racecars, helmet beneath his arm, a confident grin on his face. Her heart jumped in appreciation of how handsome he looked in his one-piece navy-and-gray racing suit, lean hips and broad shoulders emphasized by the stylish cut. A bookshelf held a few trophies, and books on muscle cars. 

"You cut your hair." Max shut the door, blocking her escape. 

She searched his expression, but he'd shut all emotion behind an impassive mask. His eyes were the blank stone walls of a fortress. Nevertheless, his personal comment aroused a tickle of awareness. 

"Never liked it long." Her ex-husband had, however. 

A softening of his lips looked suspiciously like the beginnings of a smile. Did he recognize her attempt to camouflage herself? Shapeless gray pantsuit, short hair, no jewelry of any kind, a sensible watch, flat shoes, minimal makeup. Dull as dirt to look at, but confident and authoritative about her business. She'd never been any man's fantasy. Too tall for most boys. Too flat-chested and skinny for the rest, the best she'd been able to hope for from her male classmates in high school was best friend or buddy. She'd grown up playing soccer, basketball and baseball with the guys. 

Which is why it continued to blow her mind that a man like Maxwell Case, who could have anything he wanted...

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COMING THIS MONTH FROM CARINA PRESS

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PREVIOUSLY RELEASED

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FIND CAT & more about her stories on her website. Talk to her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Great Prizes all week.

Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us tomorrow as we welcome  Andrea Laurence and her new Desire: WHAT LIES BENEATH. ~Angi