One by One – by Author Yawatta Hosby

It is with great pleasure that I welcome author Yawatta Hosby to my blog today! Yawatta is introducing us to her novel entitled: One by One! I thought this would be perfect seeing that it’s Halloween! But before Yawatta tells us about her mystery thriller, let’s get to know her.

Yawatta, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m from the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, an hour away from Washington D.C. At West Virginia University, I got my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, my major was accounting. I should have pulled a Felicity and focused on art or writing instead.

I told myself if I didn’t have a career by the age of 30, then I would go to graduate school. It was time to make a decision a year ago, so I decided to become an author. No more writing as a hobby. It was the best decision I could have ever made. The arts will always be my passion—don’t get me wrong, I love math too.

When I was 8, I drew all the time. In the 7th grade, I took my first creative writing class and fell in love with it. My friends and family kept telling me that I should write novels or illustrate children’s books. I guess I finally listened 🙂

How did you come up with the idea for One By One?

For my first attempt at NaNo, I kept reading that it’s supposed to be a fun challenge. What better way to challenge yourself than to write in a genre you’ve never written in before.

My inspiration came from multiple sources. Agatha Christie is my favorite author, so I wanted to give my take on an updated Then There Were None. I really enjoyed the TV show “Harper’s Island” when I watched the marathon on the Chiller Channel, and all the “Scream” movies are my favorites. I wanted a story where a group of tortured friends have to figure out who’s the culprit, if they want a chance to survive. I also wanted a huge betrayal and a satisfying twist at the end.

What kinds of writer support groups do you belong too? Do they help with the writing, marketing and the publishing process?

I work best with writing buddies and/or critique partners. We motivate each other as well as share feedback on what works and what doesn’t in a scene or story. Melissa has been great with sharing my blog posts by tweeting. Essentially, I do my own marketing and publishing.

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?

It’s a mixture of both. Before I start a rough draft, I have the plot outline and character sketches already available. However, most of the time, the plot totally changes by the end of the story. Not necessarily the end result, just the different path of a character’s journey. For example, when writing One By One, I already knew the order of everyone’s deaths. The only thing that changed were the ways in which they died—sometimes you have to get creative 🙂

Tell us about One By One

A group of friends vacation in an isolated cabin; they’re terrorized one by one. How many will survive? Three? Two? One? None?

Let’s face it, there’s been plenty of books about a group of friends being murdered in the woods by a crazy killer. Mine is different because of the killer’s motivation. Hopefully, readers will feel what the characters are going through; I try my best to make every single scene engaging, showing rather than telling (like it would appear on the big screen). I believe that readers will enjoy the back and forth between characters (especially when they start turning on each other) and will be caught up with solving the mystery.

What inspired you to write in your genre?  Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?

I watch a lot of horror movies, and recently, I’ve been a fan of shows with psychological mindgames. It was only a matter of time before I’d be interested in writing in the thriller/suspense genre. I started writing dramas (I think that’s considered literary or contemporary fiction). Tear jerkers will always be my favorite; being a Negative Nancy helps create scenarios where there’s a lot of tension with my characters, internally and externally.

Do you have a favorite character you have written?

A favorite character I’ve written has been Sequoia from my untitled women’s fiction novel. Usually I write about shy women or women who are pretty stubborn once they make up their mind about enjoying their independence instead of dating. Sequoia was the first person, who’s pretty flirtatious and charming. She’s also quite manipulative, so it was fun writing her character—someone totally opposite from me.

Short answer favorites:

Dessert – Chocolate Pie

Favorite City – New York City

Season – Fall

Actor –Ian Somerhalder

Actress –Natalie Portman

Band/solo singer – Rihanna

Color – Blue

Cuisine – Macaroni and Cheese

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

I have rough drafts I’m working on. I actually just finished another NaNo challenge in May. I created a 30,000 word story called Trapped: A Novella. It’s suspenseful and based off a short story I had written. It’s about a guy who’s obsessed with wanting a family, no matter the costs.

Something’s Amiss is a women’s fiction novel that I’m working on. It’s almost time for beta-readers. It’s a drama about two exes who reunite after their best friend passes away.

I have another women’s fiction novel that I’m working on. Still untitled. It’s about a love triangle between three celebrities.

ONE BY ONE BLURB

Alone in the woods, thirty miles from civilization with no cell phone reception, the weekend turns into a deadly game when a killer hunts Rae and her friends. They struggle to stay alive and discover the truth.

Is someone stalking them, or is there a killer among the group?

Reminiscent of “Harper’s Island,” ONE BY ONE is a disturbing mystery thriller where a group of friends let paranoia get the best of them. With suspense and betrayal, it’ll also remind readers of “Scream.” Someone never intended for them to leave the cabin and will follow through with the plan by any means necessary.

EXCERPT FROM ONE BY ONE

“Where do you think they are?” Logan asked.

Kenan sat on top of a rotted tree stump. He rubbed his forehead. “I have no idea. If I did, we’d already be there.”

Logan sighed. He had no choice but to follow Kenan’s lead because he knew the area more than Logan did.

He wanted to ask Kenan a more personal question, like did he think something awful happened to them? Kenan was quiet during their search and had calmly taken over this morning that Logan couldn’t tell if his friend was freaking out.

If a tragedy happened ten years ago, it could occur again.

The boys didn’t speak for a while. Logan tapped his sneaker between the moss and tall grass. They should be trying to pinpoint their friends’ whereabouts. What was Kenan doing? Every second counted. “I’m sorry. I know this must be hard for you.”

“What?”

Logan lowered his eyes to the ground, whispering, “Being here at the cabin.”

“I slept like a baby last night, actually.”

“Well, Rae was having a hard time. Last night she came to me and said she couldn’t sleep. She asked where Brady was.”

“Why didn’t she come to me?” Kenan frowned, standing up.

Logan shrugged his shoulders.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me? You could’ve woken me up if I was asleep.”

“The thought didn’t even cross my mind.”

“Well, next time it should.” Kenan cracked his neck. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about her. It’s like she’s afraid to bring up the past because she’s trying to protect me.”

“Just like you’re trying to protect her.”

“She must be really freaking out this morning. I should’ve stayed with her.” Kenan threw on his black hoodie because a light drizzle started. Logan wished he would have brought something to protect himself from the rain, while hoping it wouldn’t storm. He wore a red t-shirt and red athletic shorts that went past his knees. Even though he wasn’t afraid of thunder and lightning, Logan was smart. There would be no protection with only trees surrounding them.

No one could afford to get hurt at this place. Who knew how far the hospital was…

*

BUY LINKS

Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble

Here’s how you can reach Yawatta on the internet:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Advertisement

Exit Strategy by L.V. Lewis

Congratulations to author L.V. Lewis on her new release, Exit Strategy, book 2 of the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy! I thoroughly enjoyed Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever, book 1 of the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy and can’t wait to dive into part 2  – Exit Strategy! L.V is also doing an AWESOME giveaway, but first let’s find out what Exit Strategy is all about. Check it out!

Cover Design by: CoverMeCreative.com by © krischarbonneau@yahoo.com

Photo Credits: Cover Image – Passion © Chris Schmidt – Track5 Photography via iStockPhoto.com

Vintage Carriage Return © Editorial via Dreamstime.com

Author L.V. Lewis revisits the world of Keisha Beale and Tristan White from her Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever in Exit Strategy!

Ex·it Strat·e·gy (noun) 1. A preplanned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant. 2. The method by which a venture capitalist or business owner intends to get out of an investment that he or she has made in the past.

Will Keisha and Tristan exercise their elaborate EXIT STRATEGY and end their unorthodox arrangement?

Assailed by demons she thought she had conquered, Keisha Beale has uttered the words to end her tumultuous relationship with Tristan White. Separated, they grapple for a time with their personal demons. However, when their lives apart become unbearable, a credible threat brings them back together prematurely.

As they seek to discover who is responsible for the threats, several seemingly unrelated incidents throw them into a tailspin. Will Keisha’s youthful indiscretions or Tristan’s un-reconciled feelings for a former sub derail their tenuous arrangement?

In the meantime, trouble in Nathan and Jada’s paradise send dramatic ripples that hint of future difficulties in the idyllic pairing.

Nothing Ventured…

Tristan uses his vast wealth and connections to correct a gross miscarriage of justice, while Keisha makes herself utterly vulnerable to Tristan and fears he has chosen to exercise his own exit strategy.

…Nothing Gained!

Will this be the end of the indecent arrangement that became a fairy tale? Or will Keisha and Tristan reveal the trauma from their pasts so they may heal and completely embrace their relationship?

Sensual, suspenseful, and still infused with the riotous levity of Triple-G and Fairy Hoochie Mama, the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy departs from full parody with a distinctive take on love, loyalty, sacrifice, redemption, and acceptance.

Get your copy NOW!  Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, & Amazon

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY

L. V. Lewis doesn’t have the financial means of Tristan White, but she wouldn’t want readers to go away from this new release empty handed, so she’s giving all readers the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Click on the photo below to enter.

The giveaway will run from October 29th – November 28th (don’t forget to like and follow my friends, then tweet about the giveaway daily to increase your odds of winning).

ALSO:

During the week of October 29th – November 5th, Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever will be on sale for $.99!

Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | Sony

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L. V. Lewis has one foot in South Georgia and the other in North Florida. She’s been blessed with a husband who’s put up with her for a lot of years and has given birth to four children, two of whom she has raised to adulthood and one to near adulthood. She delights in her almost empty nest status so much that she writes the kinkiest novels she can conjure up.

L. V. Lewis’s Exhaustive List of Contact Info:

 Email: lv.lewis148@gmail.com

 GoodReads, Twitter, Facebook, The Block, & Pinterest

FREE – Rendezvous with Danger

Rendezvous with Danger is FREE this weekend (10/19 -10/20) on Amazon! Don’t delay, get your FREE copy today!

Alandra Pargas, ex-CIA counter-intelligence officer, plans to wreak vengeance on the people who tried to kill her. A little rendezvous with danger is not what scares her, though. It’s seeing the tall, dark, and dangerously sexy man she vowed to love forever that has her running for cover.

Former U.S. Special Operative, Quinn Hamilton, left the world of covert operations after the love of his life died in his arms during a black op. Three years later, he still loses sleep wondering if maybe he could have done something more to save her – until Alandra shows up on his doorstep. With her lies and betrayal, he wants nothing to do with her, yet, his heart won’t cooperate. It’s not until unknown enemies come after her that he must decide if he can leave the past behind and protect the woman he’ll always love. Will they survive this last mission and rekindle the love and passion they once shared?

Excerpt

Quinn stood in Wiz’s office facing a fifty-inch, wall-mounted computer monitor staring at Alandra’s CIA identification photo. This was the woman he remembered – wild curly brown hair, skin the color of bronze, expressive light-brown eyes and those luscious pouty lips. God he missed her. There was a time he couldn’t imagine living without her. Regardless of their unconventional careers, they took advantage of every moment they had together. Meeting up in various places around the world, they did everything they could to keep their love alive. This was why he couldn’t understand how she could be alive for the past three years and not seek him out.

“Can I just say, without you jumping over the desk and choking me, that you have a fine-ass wife? I can’t believe you never told me and Malik you were married. What’s up with that?”

Quinn turned to Wiz, not in the mood to answer the same questions his friends had posed the night before. It took years for him to move on and rebuild his life after Alandra, yet, in less than twenty-four hours it was as if he was reliving the nightmare.

“Like I told you guys last night, answering questions about Alandra after I thought she was dead would’ve sparked more questions that I’m still not willing to answer.”

Wiz held his gaze for a moment. “Well, alright then. No more questions.” He resumed typing on his keyboard and seconds later the printer spit out numerous sheets of paper.

“Actually, I have a question for you,” Quinn said. “What made you continue digging for information after I said I wanted nothing to do with her?”

Unfazed by Quinn’s jacked-up attitude, Wiz grabbed the papers from his printer and a remote that controlled the monitor. “Curiosity and this.” He handed Quinn the documents and pointed the remote at the screen. “I researched both Alandra Pargas and Velvet Aguilar. She started going by Velvet two years ago while living in California. Prior to that, it was like she didn’t exist. There is no activity of any sort under either name.”

Quinn sat on the edge of Wiz’s desk, arms folded across his chest, and the papers Wiz had given him gripped in his hand. “How long has she been in Chicago?”

“Off and on for the past few months. It looks like she came here earlier in the year, when her mother was on her deathbed, but only stayed a couple of weeks that time. Prior to relocating to Chicago eight months ago, she lived in L.A,” Wiz continued. “Initially, she lived in Wicker Park, but a few weeks ago she moved to the Southside of Chicago. You’re holding a dossier of all relevant information.”

Quinn had always been amazed at the information Wiz could dig up on a person. Reluctantly, he skimmed the documents in his hand. A classified internal memo that accused Alandra of selling government secrets, as well as bank statements and several government documents Quinn wasn’t sure he wanted to read. There was a part of him that wanted to know what the last three years had been like for her. How she survived a gunshot wound to the chest and who consoled her during her recovery. But the other part of him couldn’t let go of the fact that she allowed him to believe she was dead for all those years. That he couldn’t forgive.

“So she’s the reason you got out of Special Ops?”

“Why continue protecting my country when I couldn’t even protect my woman,” Quinn said, his eyes locked on the documents in front of him.

Wiz placed the remote on his desk and took a seat on the leather sofa, his legs propped up on the coffee table. “So now what? You gon’ act like she doesn’t exist, even if it means she might be in danger?”

Quinn pushed away from the desk and dropped the papers on the sofa near Wiz. “I’ve seen her, but I still can’t believe she’s alive.” Instead of a weight being lifted from his heart, it felt as if he were trapped under a bolder. For the past few months he’d had a nagging feeling Alandra was alive, but nothing could have prepared him for seeing her again. He’ll never be able to forgive her for tossing what they had because of her job. “I’m out of here, Wiz. I have a business meeting in thirty minutes.”

“Hold up, man.” Wiz bolted from the sofa. “Right before she showed up in Tzbekystan, someone tried to frame her by leaking to the media that she was a double agent, selling government secrets to North Korea.”

“Who’s to say she wasn’t?” Quinn said flatly. “Alandra was, or is a spy. She will always be a spy, and a professional liar. Wiz, she’s part of a past that I’ve tried like hell to forget. Whatever shit she’s involved in, is on her.”

Wiz shoved him. “No matter what she is or what she’s involved in, I would think you’d want to get over yourself and find your wife! We’re not the only ones digging into her background and for all we know, she might be in some deep shit, and need your help. And if that’s not enough, maybe this next piece of information will get you off your sorry ass.” He leaned against the doorjamb. “Alandra might have died the first time protecting someone.”

Quinn stood straighter. “Who?”

“You.”

**

Here’s your chance to read the whole story – FREE. So if you have a Kindle click here to get your FREE copy!

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

My Evening with Joyce Meyer

If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you know that every now and then I share random thoughts or ideas. Today is one of those days. I was just thinking about my evening with Joyce Meyer.

A couple of weeks ago Joyce Meyer was in town. I’m a big fan of hers and her style of bringing a message across. Well her message this particular evening was – It’s Never Too Late. She reminded us that when you’re going through something, quitting is not an option. Instead of giving up – get up and keep it moving! The people who make it to the finish line are the ones who refuse to quit!

What a wonderful reminder! The best part of what she said is that any of us can apply those words/idea to our current situation or some aspect of our life. Whether you’re a writer, someone who is trying to drop a few pounds, a job seeker, or an entrepreneur – if you refuse to quit, you can make it to the finish line.

Joyce (I feel I know her well enough to call her by her first name) gave twelve things for us to keep in mind while we’re going through. Keep in mind, the list is from the notes I took. So everything might not be grammatically correct for you scholars out there, and it didn’t help that I was writing super fast. With that said, I think you’ll still get the gist of her message.

1. When you’re hurting don’t go wild and attack. Learn to control your mouth while you’re hurting and keep your focus on God and what He has done in your life.
2. Don’t withdraw or hide yourself and get depressed because you’re in the “pit.” Remember you can be pitiful OR powerful. You’re not the only one on the planet who is suffering.
3. Don’t believe the lie that God is punishing you for something you did in the past. The Bible says that God remembers our sins no more.
4. Don’t blame and get mad at God.
5. When you’re hurting, don’t ever think there’s no way out. Take God’s hand and let Him walk you to a place of peace (study His Word). Be an overcomer (don’t give up – anybody can quit). No pouting and feeling sorry for yourself. KEEP DREAMING – YOUR DREAMS MIGHT COME TRUE.
6. To passively fight injustice, do all the good you can do – that will defeat the devil. Overcome evil by doing something good. God has a plan and can work good out of bad.
7. When you’re hurting, keep your commitments – keep your word. Be honorable people (Galatians 6:9).
8. Hang on to your integrity (remember while you’re going through, you’re growing spiritually).
9. When you’re hurting don’t stop giving.
10. When you’re hurting don’t trust your thoughts or feelings (go to the Word). Make sure your thoughts are in line with the Word of God.
11. Trust God and say so (God I trust you!) – Psalm 91:2
12. Be thankful and don’t complain.

I know these reminders helped me and hopefully they can help you or someone you know. Be blessed.

My Interview with Best Selling Author Delaney Diamond

I feel honored to have Best Selling Author and a very dear friend of mine, Delaney Diamond hang out on my blog today! Delaney is doing a virtual book tour and stopped by to introduce her latest release, The Blind Date.

But fiirst, let’s get to know Delaney a little better. I had the pleasure of interviewing her recently and figured I’d share what she had to say:

Okay Delaney, at what point in your life did you realize being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a career you were going to turn into reality?

I didn’t have dreams of being a writer, so for me it happened fairly quickly after I decided to become an author. The only reason I even tried writing was because people were always telling me how well I wrote, but that was nonfiction—reports, essays, letters, things like that. I had no idea if I could write fiction well, but less than a year after I started, I received a contract for my first book, The Arrangement, from a small press. It was full speed ahead after that.

Between your book writing, blogging, marketing, family and all the other things that can get in your way, how do you manage your time? Do you have a set schedule or do you sort of play it by ear?

I sort of play it by ear, but I really need to follow a schedule. I’d probably be more productive. Lol. I write for short periods each day. Some days are more productive than others. If I find I’m staring at a blank page or struggling to get through a particular scene, I’ll skip it and write a different scene in the book. I also use a timer to keep me on track. I might set the timer to write for an hour and when it goes off, I have permission to check emails or run errands, or play around on Facebook or something.

Who was the toughest character for you to “get right” that you have written so far?

That’s a hard question. In general, I think I always struggle with the female characters because the heroines are the ones who get blasted by readers and reviewers. Sometimes I think we’re a little hard on the heroines—myself included. The heroes, on the other hand, are allowed to be a-holes and forgiven as long as he makes the right changes and his actions can be justified. I spend more time trying to fine tune the heroines’ personalities so they don’t come off too weak, too strong, too annoying, too…well, you get the idea.

What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

The actual writing. Haha. Sometimes I have a great idea, but I suffer from writer’s block. The way I try to work around it is to work on another project, do some research for the book, or write a different section of the book.

Delaney, you know what my favorite scene in The Blind Date was, but what was your favorite chapter (or scene) of The Blind Date to write and why?

My favorite parts were the flashback scenes when they were in Chicago. Even though this is a story about a couple who met and made love the first night they went out, I didn’t want it to just be about that. I wanted to show that they actually had a connection beyond the physical.

In The Blind Date, you get a glimpse of Ryan and Shawna when he approached her on the street, a bit nervously because they were younger and in her words, he was “less sure of himself, though very charming.” You also see them go out to dinner and go dancing.

Rumor has it you’re working on a new series The Johnson Boys. Can you tell us about this upcoming series and maybe a timeline for the first release? Also a little tease would be great?

The rumor is correct! The Johnson Boys is my next African-American family series, similar to my Hawthorne Family series. It’s called the Johnson Boys for now, but I’ve added a sister since I wrote the series name. You know how that is, we adjust as ideas come to us. Lol. The family owns a brewery in Seattle.  There’s Cyrus, Trenton, Xavier, Malcolm or Marlon (not sure what his name will be yet), and their sister, Ivy. Right now, the strongest stories in my head are for Cyrus, Trenton, and Ivy, so I haven’t really decided which one I will work on first, but in the meantime, I’ve been taking notes and have written pieces of the stories in between my other manuscripts.

And since you asked for a little tease, below is an unedited snippet from one of the books tentatively titled Just Friends. Lana and Trenton are best friends and she’s just returned from a visit to her family in Arizona. Trenton comes over to see her, but his sweet best friend has gone through some changes that he doesn’t like. Specifically, she’s colored her hair and is now wearing contacts instead of glasses.

Trenton scratched his head. “I don’t understand. What’s going on with you? What’s with all the changes?”

Lana shrugged and started spooning food onto the plates. “Like I said, I’m not getting any younger. I turned thirty two months ago, and it’s time for me to act like a woman and look like one.”

“I liked the way you looked.”

She smiled briefly at him over her shoulder. “That’s sweet, but you’re just saying that cause you’re my friend. I want to know what a man thinks.”

“I’m a man.” What the hell?

She giggled on her way to the refrigerator. “You know what I mean. You’re more like a girlfriend than a man.”

Since when?

He was slightly offended by the comment, but he chose to ignore it because there were more pressing matters to address. As Lana poured lemonade—hers was good and tart because she made it with fresh lemons and none of that powdered stuff—into two glasses, he paid close attention to her. She didn’t just look different, she was acting different. He hadn’t noticed it before, but she was more confident. It must be the new hair and the contacts. And the shorts. They were the shortest pair of shorts he’d ever seen her wear. They put her legs on display in a way that made him take notice. Had her legs always been that long?

She was small up top but thick on the bottom, and it was never more noticeable than today. Her butt looked round and full, and her hips looked like they’d widened since he’d seen her last.

Dayum.

“No comment?” Lana asked, walking toward him with a glass in each hand. She handed one to him.

“About what?”

“About everything. My new look?” Her voice was soft, disappointed. She’d expected a different reaction, and for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t excited for her.

“You look nice. I mean, you know, it’s different. It’ll take some getting used to.” He took a large swig of lemonade, wishing it was something stronger.

*

Lol, I can’t wait to read more! Okay, now Delaney I have some random questions:

What’s the most amusing thing that’s ever happened to you?

I have no idea, but I can tell you something amusing that happened to me recently. When my nephew and I came back from vacation this summer, I dropped him off at home. I was walking behind him and fell. I just missed my footing, tripped, and fell, landing on my hands. (Great reflexes, right?) My keys were in my hand, and the car key broke off the keychain. When it broke, the edge cut a gash in my palm and I started bleeding. I know this doesn’t sound funny, but it was. I can’t remember the last time I fell, and it was so sudden and so random that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Could you tell us three random facts about yourself?

Random fact 1: Roaches scare the bejeezus out of me. Especially the big ones that fly.

Random fact 2: I’m not a morning person. I have to force myself out of bed every day. If I didn’t, I’d probably stay there until 10 am.

Random fact 3: I hate carrots.

All right, last question: What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

I’m working on The Wrong Man, which is book 2 of the Love Unexpected series. Although the books are connected, they are stand alone stories and don’t have to be read in order. After The Wrong Man, I’ll be working on one of The Johnson Boys stories and More Than a Mistress, which will be another interracial romance due some time next spring. No date yet on either project.

Blurb for: The Blind Date

One night changes everything . . . again.

Years ago, when Ryan Stewart saw Shawna Ferguson, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a free man, and his deception caused him to lose her after a weekend that changed his life.

When Shawna’s sister and brother-in-law set her up on a blind date, she has no idea it’s with Ryan, with whom she’d spent a weekend she wishes she could forget. She reluctantly agrees to finish the date with him, but doing so leaves her vulnerable to his charms and the heat he ignited in her that very first night.

 

Excerpt for: The Blind Date 

Her brow furrowed. “Why me?” she asked. “Out of all these women walking around out here.”

“There are other women out here?” Ryan looked around at the pedestrians as if seeing them for the first time. “I didn’t even notice. I only have eyes for you.”

A beat later, they both burst out laughing.

“Good one,” Shawna said. “Have you used it before?”

“First time. I thought of it on the fly. Good though, right?” He stopped grinning and looked her in the eyes to make sure she knew how serious he was. “But I meant it. Let me buy you dinner.”

“Ryan, I’m not interested in seeing anyone right now. You seem very sweet, but I’ll be leaving in a couple of days, so I don’t think this is a good idea.”

He couldn’t let her get away. She had to say yes. He’d come to Chicago to clear his head, and somehow he knew she’d play an important role in helping him finalize the decision he’d been struggling to make.

“It’s only dinner.” He could see her waver as she shifted from one foot to the other and tucked her purse closer to her body. “When do you get off?”

She laughed nervously. “This is ridiculous.”

“No, it’s not. You have to eat and I want to feed you. Makes sense to me.” He hoped that by keeping the conversation light, she wouldn’t overthink it and slip from his grasp, leaving him standing there with no way to see her again. “What kind of food do you like?”

Shawna shook her head in defeat. “French cuisine is my favorite.”

“And when do you get off?”

“At six.”

“I’ll be here at five-fifty, waiting.”

“If you’re not, it’s no big deal.” She shrugged.

He fixed his gaze on her face. “I hope that’s not true.”

She hesitated, tilting her head slightly, brown eyes observing him as if trying to figure him out. She obviously still doubted his sincerity.

“I’ll see you at six, Ryan Stewart.”

 *

Buy Links

Get it now for FREE until October 7, 2013: Amazon

Contest information:

Not only is Delaney Diamond giving away a free copy of her book, she’s having a contest!

Prize: Winners choice of four (4) of the following items: (1) Delaney Diamond T-shirt in large or extra large (2) Delaney Diamond two-tone tote bag (3) $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (4) Delaney Diamond keychain (5) an autographed copy of Hot Latin Men Vol. I (6) an autographed copy of Hot Latin Men Vol. II (7) four bookmarks with Delaney Diamond book covers.

Eligibility: You must be a subscriber to Delaney’s blog –http://delaneydiamond.com/blog/. Prizes open to U.S. and international entrants.

How to enter: Correctly match each blog on her tour with its description. Visit the contest post on her website for the details.

Deadline to enter: October 13, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST

Winners will be notified by email and announced on the contest post on her website.

Delaney’s Contact info.

Website |Facebook | Twitter | Romance Novels In Color