Love is intoxicating, but the
hangover can be agony...
Conservative, straight-laced Ally
Taylor has the perfect life – successful fiancé, beautiful home, great career –
until she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed. Desperate to shake off the
sting of rejection, Ally heads to Felony, a notorious heavy metal club on the
bad side of town. Even more dangerous than the bar is Jack Jameson, the hunky
alpha male bartender whose smoldering dark eyes and dimpled smile turns her
common sense to mush and her knees to noodles. After eight long years in a
failed romance, the last thing Ally wants is to hook up with someone like Jack,
but she can’t help wondering if he’s really as good in bed as his reputation
suggests.
Jack Jameson has had his eye on Ally
for months, drawn to her smart mouth and tightly wound self-control. When Jack
finds Ally sitting on a barstool in his club, heartbroken and miserable, he’s
more than happy to offer a little heat between the sheets to distract her. Too
bad Ally’s not interested in his “hit-it-and-quit-it” philosophy. If only Jack
could convince Ally that he’s tired of the endless parade of girls through his
bedroom, she might see him in a different light.
When Jack and Ally get together,
everything goes wrong and it’s more than either of them bargained for. Ally’s
got serious trust issues and a need for control that makes Jack crazy. Jack’s
got more baggage than an airline carousel; the constant stream of women from
his past stirs up all of Ally’s insecurities. Can Ally overlook Jack’s
womanizing past and learn to trust him? Will Jack be able to commit to just one
woman or will a secret from his past ruin everything?
GUEST POST:
Have you ever sat
on the edge of your seat turning the pages of a novel or watching a movie,
waiting for the plot to unfold? That’s how I feel when I’m writing a new story
because I am a complete “pantser”. For those of you unfamiliar with the
term, it means that I write blindly, by the seat of my pants, without any
idea where the story is going.
I wish I could be one of those writers with the detailed outline, storyboards,
and ten-page synopsis completed before they start the book. Unfortunately, my
mind just doesn’t work that way. I’ve tried it and ended up sitting at my desk,
staring at my notes and outline, wondering when the words will come.
I do my best work early in the morning when I my brain is unencumbered by
responsibility and logic. The words flow through my fingertips and into the
keyboard like water from a pitcher. When creativity is at a premium, I am by
turns thrilled, shocked, and excited to learn about my characters and surprised
to find out what they will do next. It’s as if they come alive on the pages of
my book.
I will admit that it’s a messy process. Often times, the story meanders from
its true course. It means countless revisions and a technique that I call
“layering”. I read and re-read the story, adding layers of detail, weaving in
important character traits and tying up loose ends.
As I said, I’ve tried the structured approach. It left me feeling cold and
emotionless, two things that I can’t afford as a writer. I want to be able to
feel my characters, to live their problems. I want to cry alongside them during
the bad times and celebrate with them in their moments of glory. For me, that
is the joy of writing.
EXCERPT:
She
didn’t want to believe him, but one look into his dark eyes and she had no
doubt that he spoke the truth. Eyes like that didn’t lie. The clarity of their
brown depths spoke volumes about his sincerity. He stared back at her with one
eyebrow cocked as if daring her to challenge his answer. She cleared her throat
and tried to look away but couldn’t. No, if there was one thing she knew for
certain, Jack didn’t lie. He didn’t need to.
She
shook her head to break the spell. A few more minutes of his heated chocolate
stare and she’d be flat on her back with her legs in the air. Then the office
gossips really would have something to talk about. “Thanks for lunch.”
“We
aren’t done yet.” He glanced at the brass and mahogany grandfather clock behind
her. “I still have another ten minutes of your time.” She stood and he rose
with her, a lithe and graceful motion. “You want to know what I think?”
“Does
it matter? I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway.” She took a step backward
and he moved with her, herding her backwards in a seductive dance until the
backs of her thighs came up against the desk, so close that her skin prickled
with a sudden rush of heat.
“I
think that if you were really into Brian, you would’ve made the time for him. I
think that you’re secretly relieved to be free of him and feeling guilty about
it. I think that deep down inside you’re dying to break out of this cage you’ve
built for yourself with someone who knows how to give a girl what she
needs.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jeana Mann is the author of
sizzling hot contemporary romance. Her debut release Intoxicated was a First
Place Winner of the 2013 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest and a finalist for the
2014 Carolyn Readers Choice Award.
Jeana was born and raised in
Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and
Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and
Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she’s not busy dreaming
up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the
years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the
shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the
Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than
the places she’s been are the people she has met along the way.
Be sure to connect with
Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her
upcoming releases.
Links:
Website: http://JeanaEMann.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanaEMann
/ @JeanaEMann
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann
Intoxicated available on:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1d8XTAJ
Barnes & Noble:
http://bit.ly/1lQ6Ulf
All Romance eBooks:
http://bit.ly/O3EGYM
Google Play: http://bit.ly/OIBgei
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1gcECRo
GIVEAWAY:
Jeana will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
An interesting Guest Post. I'd have to plot or I would lost the plot - entirely.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me today! I have to head off to the nasty old "day job" but I can't wait to check in later.
ReplyDeleteThank you I enjoyed the excerpt and I agree the hangover of love can be agonizing
ReplyDeleteI've had a few "hangovers" too, Stacey.
DeleteLoved the excerpt. Sounds so real. I can really see both characters.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mom Jane. I really enjoyed writing both of these people.
DeleteYou are welcome!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting
ReplyDeleteSounds good... A new book to add to my TBR list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt. This sounds interesting :)
ReplyDeletetweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the excerpt the best.
ReplyDeleteNothing like finding y our man with someone else. :(
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the except.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt & always like to know more about authors
ReplyDeletei liked the author bio
ReplyDelete