My calendar still reads November and Halloween is just over but it's never too soon to think about Christmas....or the special holiday books you'll want to read or give your near and dear. I'm excited about my first ever Christmas release, Sing We Now of Christmas out December 3 from Rebel Ink Press so I'm sharing a very special first peek and excerpt. First the blurb:When Jessica Martin met Johnny Devereaux that December, holiday magic filled the air but their love was no enchantment….he was, without doubt the love of her life and by summer, they were happy newlyweds with all their life and holidays ahead.
But when he failed to return home from a fishing trip on the Fourth of July, Jessica’s world is rocked to the foundation and when the authorities tell her that her husband is missing, presumed dead, she refuses to believe it.
As the months and seasons pass, no one else holds out hope but Jessica believes.
She knows he’ll be home for Christmas no matter what. Her family calls her crazy, Johnny’s family tries to help her find closure but Jessica’s heart refuses to surrender hope.
When Christmas comes, the truth will come out to shock them all.
Check out the brand new book trailer here:
And an excerpt:
A vase of white, red and pink roses stood on her dresser, the fragrance of the flowers heavy and sweet in the room. Candles sat on the table beside her bed and on the headboard. As they flickered she caught their scent, a rich gardenia smell she liked, one that reminded her of the classic White Shoulders perfume. A brand new comforter, soft and fluffy, covered her bed replacing the worn out old discount store navy blue bedspread. Jessica stroked her hand across the surface, admiring the white comforter where big pink and crimson roses bloomed. Mannheim Steamroller flowed from her CD player. Impressed by the effort he’d made to create a romantic scene, she smiled.
If he could create this mood, then she could follow his lead. Jessica opened a dresser drawer and searched. She rejected the full-length flannel nightgown, the faded and well-worn cotton nightshirt, the silky shorts she often slept in and pulled out the one piece of sexy lingerie she owned with triumph. The satin baby doll still had the store tags from when she bought it at clearance after Valentine’s Day last year, unable to resist the pretty crimson garment. She’d wondered who she might wear it for or if she’d ever have the nerve, but tonight, inspired by his preparation, she put it on. She sprayed on a little Obsession and brushed her hair until it hung smooth past her shoulders. Inside she trembled from a volatile combination of nerves and desire but she walked into the living room with a siren’s strut only to find Johnny still asleep.
She knelt down, noticing the way that his long eyelashes brushed his cheeks and how a slight smile teased his lips. Judging by his even breath, he was deep into sleep country but Jessica bent down to kiss his mouth, slow and serious. He responded before he awoke, his lips sculpting to fit hers and when he opened his eyes, he grinned.
“Hey, Johnny,” she said in the huskiest whisper she could summon. “It’s bedtime.”
He blinked, still smiling. “Is it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then come here, honey,” he said. “Let me rock you to sleep.”
He sat up and snagged her with his arms. He cuddled her on his lap and kissed her with gusto. Johnny tasted her with the same eager zeal she thought he would’ve for a good steak, the perfect hamburger or maybe a fine wine. Her appetite equaled his and she returned his kisses. Her arms locked around his neck to hold tight as his hands roamed, caressing her with both ardor and appreciation.
When he gathered her up and carried her into the bedroom, Jessica thought she would swoon with delight. She loved it, adored being mastered and loved with such intensity. He put her on the bed as her senses embraced all the sensual triggers around her, the rich aroma of gardenias, delightful music that evoked emotion, the candlelit ambiance and his touch against her skin. Jessica gloried in it and surrendered.
Any lingering restraint, old fears from previous relationships that went sour vanished in the total power of Johnny’s lovemaking. As they fondled and caressed, kissed and touched, Jessica crossed the last boundary to the total certainty that this man was the love of her life, her significant other, forever.
When they came together like a force of nature, on a grand scale like a cold and warm front intersecting, everything was right. Their timing brought them home together on a slow, full rush of delight, a pleasure that enveloped and encompassed them both. In those moments, that eternity that could never last long enough, they became one, united in a way that transcended any words, any laws, any binding. Nothing could be more full or complete than this and with wonder, with joy, they both knew it well.
Afterward, as they unwound with sweet lethargy they whispered words of love and promises that didn’t have to be spoken to be valid. By the time the shadows cast by the candles grew tall on the walls, they knew they would have to move but neither had the energy or inclination.
Available from Rebel Ink Press Dec 3, 2011
Available at All Romance E Books, Bookstrand, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Coffee Time Romance and more.
2 comments:
I like this, Lee Ann!
Lovely excerpt!
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