Something New – A New Look

My novel, SOMETHING NEW, will always hold a special spot in my heart. It was my debut novel 2 1/2 years ago and I thought it was time for a new look. What do you think of the new book cover? Isn’t it gorgeous? Special thanks to Selestiele Designs (Noelle) for another wonderful creation!

 

For those of you who are not familiar with SOMETHING NEW, the story is a cross between a sweet “edgy” romance and women’s fiction (with a dose of suspense).

Blurb

Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level – despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her.

Excerpts

Tim glanced at her, soaking up her attractive face and those kissable lips. He suddenly remembered the explicit dream he had of her the night before: the way she felt in his arms, her body molded to his, while his lips devoured hers. His hands had had a mind of their own as they caressed every inch of her delectable body.

What the heck am I doing? He shook his head vigorously. These are definitely not thoughts I should be having about my friend. His focus should be on getting settled in and figuring out a way to deal with Andrea. No way should his mind be trained on another woman, especially if that woman was Simone.

“I have to ask you something.” He lifted his glass and guzzled his water in an effort to extinguish his steamy thoughts. “Why have you been resistant to us hanging out outside of your office?”

With downcast eyes, she used her fork to move her grilled chicken and pasta around on her plate. For a moment, he didn’t think she’d respond, but she said, “Fear.”

“Excuse me?” He leaned forward, not sure if he’d heard her right.

She looked up at him, eyes unsure and shy. “I was afraid. I recently got out of a relationship and had vowed no more men.” She stopped, mumbled a curse, and rubbed her forehead in frustration as if she’d said too much.

“Simone, we were always able to talk freely and just enjoy each other’s company. What changed? I get the feeling you’re uncomfortable with me, but I don’t understand why. I’m still the same person.”

She arched a manicured brow. “You’re kidding, right?”

He shrugged. “What?” He was clueless to what she was referring to.

“Look at you. You’re gorgeous. You were nice looking in high school, but now you…you have muscles poppin’ out all over the place,” she said, pointing at his biceps. “You give a whole new meaning to tall, dark, and handsome.” Apparently seeing his confused look, she continued. “Come on, Tim. You had to notice that every woman we walked past when we first arrived couldn’t take their eyes off of you. And I can’t blame them. Whenever we’re together, I have to remind myself that we’re friends. I shouldn’t be attracted to my friend.”

Tim sat speechless. So that’s what it was? She was attracted to him? That’s not what he expected to hear, and now he wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

He chuckled and shook his head. Apparently, he was having the same effect on her as she was having on him.

“What’s so funny?”

“I appreciate your honesty, and just so you know, I feel the same about you. I still can’t get over your transformation. You look amazing.”

Simone blushed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you.”

“I hope I haven’t added to your discomfort by staring at you, but it’s like you’re a totally different person. Back in the day, I’d always thought of you as a little sister, but the thoughts I’ve had lately have been anything but brotherly.”

*

SOMETHING NEW – a friends to lovers novel.

Get your copy now!  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashword  |  ARe  |  Kobo

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Something New

I have received numerous emails from readers asking why my debut novel, Something New, wasn’t a part of the Reunited Series, especially when it introduced some of the characters – who now have books in the Reunited Series.

The decision to not include Something New in the Series is one I struggled with, but finally decided against it because of the genre. When I first started writing, my intent was to only write sweet/inspirational romance, but if you’ve read any of my books, you know things didn’t quite work out that way. Even Something New pushed the envelope on being a sweet romance (it’s a cross between an “edgy” sweet romance and women’s fiction). And while Blue Roses started as a sweet romance, the characters (Dallas Marcel and Tyler Hollister) weren’t having it (the sexual tension between the two was too much), so I decided to turn it into a contemporary romance. That didn’t work either – and before I realized it, the story was a romantic suspense.

Okay, so long story short – Something New was not included in the Reunited Series because the stories in that series are all romantic suspense. I decided (with feedback from some author friends) to not mix genres within a series. I think it would have alienated readers who might only read sweet/inspirational romances to suddenly pick up my next book in the Reunited Series only to find out it was a different genre.

Hopefully that addresses the mystery of why Something New wasn’t included in the Reunited Series.

Now, on to other things. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of reading, Something New, below is the blurb and an excerpt. Enjoy!

Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level – despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her.

Excerpt

Simone couldn’t believe how flustered she felt being near Tim. But who could blame her? She was acutely conscious of how his wide chest and muscular arms filled his tailored black suit jacket. Relaxed and confident, he discussed with Jessica how his consulting company could assist them. Simone’s breathing quickened when he glanced at her and smiled, causing her eyes to zone in on those chiseled cheekbones that graced his ruggedly handsome face. She groaned within and rubbed her forehead, realizing small pebbles of sweat had formed at her hairline.

What is wrong with me? It’s not like I’ve never seen a good-looking man before. I must be coming down with a cold or something.

“And so when we failed to raise enough money for the expansion,” Simone heard Jessica say, “we went to the bank for a loan, but they turned us down.”

Tim frowned. “I’m surprised. Of course, I would have to look at your books to know more, but based on what you’ve said, it sounds like you guys are running a sound business.”

Simone put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. She listened as the two continued to talk back and forth. It wasn’t necessary for her to add her two cents since Jess seemed to be doing fine explaining their needs. Tim listened carefully, mentally cataloging all that was said. He was like that in high school as well. As good friends, they had studied together on occasion and even hung out some weekends. What she remembered most—his kindness, and that he was a great listener. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she missed his friendship.

Her gaze remained on him. She couldn’t get over how good he looked. The moment she walked into the room and saw him, her pulse had tripled, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d heard her heart pounding against her chest. He was sexier than she remembered, and those dark, penetrating eyes could draw in the strongest woman. He always did have women vying for his attention, and probably still did since he was even hotter than he was back then.

Stop, stop, stop it. This is Tim Hollister, friend. He’s off-limits. Besides, I’m done with men.

“Anything you want to add, Simone?” Jessica asked.

Simone’s head jerked up at hearing her name. She closed the notebook that sat on the table in front of her. “Uh, no. I think you covered it all.”

Get your copy today!

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Excerpt – Something New

For those of you who still haven’t had a chance to read, Something New, I figured I’d give you a little excerpt of what you’re missing! NOTE: Something New has been on the top 100 best-selling ebooks on Amazon’s -multi-cultural list for the past three months!

A Blurb About the Book

Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend, falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and is on a mission to take their friendship to the next level, and prove that he’s the man for her.

****

Excerpt – This is part of a scene where Tim finally let’s Simone know that he’s interested in taking their friendship to the next level.

****

“Hey. You left your notes for the new business plan in my office,” Jessica said and handed them to her. She propped her hip against the edge of Simone’s desk and crossed her arms. “I guess that means you’re still a little distracted by thoughts of a tall, dark, and fine brother who I haven’t seen in a few days.”

Simone smiled at her friend, knowing she was fishing for information. “He’s not scheduled to be back here until the day after tomorrow. I still have a little more information to put into QuickBooks before he returns for my next lesson.” Her mind burned with memories of them standing on her front porch, kissing. The more she tried to ignore the thoughts, the more they persisted. It had been over a week since she’d last seen or heard from Tim, and she missed him.

“Are you going to share what’s been going on with you two, or do you plan to keep it to yourself?” Jess asked and moved to sit in one of the upholstered chairs near the desk.

“Well, we put most of the accounts into the QuickBooks software, the employee information, and now I need to—”

Her partner glared at her through narrowed eyes. “You are not funny. You know what I’m talking about. Last I heard, you guys were going to a movie, but you didn’t tell me how things went.”

“You were at meetings all last week, and besides, there’s not much to tell. We went to the movies, then—”

Two light taps against her closed office door stopped her explanation.

“Come in,” Simone called out.

Nothing could’ve prepared her for the tall, devastatingly handsome body that stood in the doorway. Her heart jolted at the sight of Tim. He walked into her office, and her eyes traveled from those inviting lips to his broad shoulders covered by an expensive-looking double-breasted suit. She stood slowly, gripping the edge of her desk while her pulse pounded in her ears. She hadn’t seen him in a suit since he first showed up at the school, and he looked hot.

“Hey,” he said, his voice like silk against her skin.

Had she imagined it, or was that a smoldering flame she saw in the depths of his eyes?

He turned to face Jessica, whom Simone had forgotten was in the room. “Can you give us a moment?”

A wide grin curved her friend’s mouth. “Of course.” She stood and glanced at Simone. “We’ll finish our discussion a little later.”

Once the door was closed, Simone gave her attention to the man standing before her. He walked around the desk, grasped her hand, and pulled her body tightly to his. Before Simone could say anything, his mouth covered hers in a sweet, delicious kiss that caused her to mold into him. Moments later, he raised his mouth from hers and gazed into her eyes.

“We need to talk.”

She groaned inwardly, preferring a kiss over talking, as he led her to the cozy sitting area on the left side of her desk. She sat on the sofa, while he unbuttoned his suit jacket before sitting next to her.

“First, let me say that I’m sorry I haven’t called you.” He reached for her hand and held it snugly within his. His eyes trained on her. “Though I haven’t called, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought about you. Hell”—he shrugged—“a night either. You have me so turned out I can’t think straight. I haven’t been eating, sleeping, or able to concentrate on my work because of you.”

She looked down at their joined fingers, enjoying the way his thumb caressed the top of her hand. “If it’ll make you feel any better, I haven’t been faring much better.”

He smiled for the first time since entering her office, and her heart leaped into her throat. The fact that he could turn her on with just a smile let her know that she was losing her heart to this man.

Tim stood, walked a couple of feet away, and then turned back to her. “I want more. I know we agreed to rekindle our friendship, but I no longer want to be friends.” Apparently noticing her surprised look, he added, “I want to be so much more.”

Simone sat speechless, fighting to control the nervous flutters in the pit of her stomach. She ran her sweaty palms over the thighs of her pants and stared at the floor. Yesterday, she had made up her mind that she would keep her relationship with Tim at a friendship level, nothing more. But now, with the way he was looking at her, and the way he made her pulse quicken with just his presence, she wasn’t so sure.

Tim sat next to her and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “All I’m asking is for a chance. I know you just got out of a relationship, but give me a chance to show you how a man treats a woman he cherishes.”

Simone shook her head, though loving his words. “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered.

“Sweetheart, you’re not going to lose me.”

Before she could say anything, she heard a series of beeps and looked around to see where the sound was coming from.

“I’m sorry, that’s me,” Tim said and stood. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and turned off his alarm. “I have a meeting in a little while, and that was my reminder.”

“Oh, okay.” Simone made a move to stand, and he helped her up. With one arm around her waist holding her close, he caressed her cheek with his free hand, his face inches from hers.

“I meant everything I said a few minutes ago. I want you, and I plan to do whatever it takes to have you.”

His mouth came down over hers, and within seconds, a wave of pleasure crashed through her body, sending her desire from one to ten within a heartbeat. His lips devoured hers, coaxing her without words to agree to dating him, and at the moment, she wanted to scream to the world: Yes!

He lifted his head, and his dark, assessing eyes stared into hers. “I’m looking forward to being more than your friend.” And with that, he buttoned his jacket and walked out of her office.

Lord have mercy.

****

Tim shook his head as he slid behind the wheel of his car minutes after leaving Simone’s office. Never had his feelings been so intense for a woman like they were for Simone. Was he nervous about taking their friendship to the next level? Yes. Could he picture his life without her if things didn’t work out between them? No. Was that going to stop him from pursuing her until she was all his? Hell no.

He groaned out loud and closed his eyes, his head falling back against the headrest. His fixation regarding her was scaring the hell out of him. He thought about her constantly, even in his dreams. And no way was this lust he was feeling. He had no doubt that he was in love with Simone Edwards.

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Look What’s In Paperback

Look what’s in paperback!

Something New and Blue Roses in paperback!!

Undeniable temptation…
Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship and her reclaimed virginity.

Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level – despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her.

Read an excerpt

Purchase your copy today!

In Paperback: Createspace    Amazon

In E-book: Amazon   B&N   All Romance ebooks   Smashwords

 

Where most women would welcome love from a wealthy, good-looking man, Chicago-based investment manager, Dallas Marcel, is not one of them. She will never let a man control her life again. That includes handsome entrepreneur, Tyler Hollister. Dallas is on track to making partner and she’s not letting anything or anyone get in her way. But when her life is put in danger, and a Ponzi scheme ignites a SEC investigation of her firm, she realizes the one man she’d banned from her heart, might be the only one who can save her career and her life.

Tall, dark, and handsome, Tyler Hollister can have any woman he wants, but he only wants one – Dallas. When he starts talking marriage, she breaks things off between them, claiming she doesn’t want a romantic entanglement to hinder her plight to making partner. A chance meeting, six months later, brings them face to face and Tyler soon realizes the intense sexual attraction they once shared is stronger than ever. But he swore he was done with her. Except he finds out her life is in danger, and his protective instincts take over. Can he save her life without losing his heart … again?

 Read an excerpt

Purchase your copy today!

In paperback:  Createspace    Amazon

In E-book:  Amazon   B&N   All Romance ebooks   Smashwords

 

Time to Celebrate…Again!

I feel like giving away some prizes today!

To celebrate the success of Something New, and Blue Roses (Yay!!), I’m giving all of you a chance to win an electronic copy of either novel (note: you don’t have to have an e-reader). You also have a chance to win a $5 or $10 Amazon.com gift card, AND I’m giving away copies of my short story, Best Woman for the Job! NOTE: If you’ve already purchased your copy – thank you for your support! Feel free to use this opportunity to win a copy for someone else or as a giveaway on your blog.

Where most women would welcome love from a wealthy, good-looking man, Chicago-based investment manager, Dallas Marcel, is not one of them. She will never let a man control her life again. That includes handsome entrepreneur, Tyler Hollister. Dallas is on track to making partner and she’s not letting anything or anyone get in her way. But when her life is put in danger, and a Ponzi scheme ignites a SEC investigation of her firm, she realizes the one man she’d banned from her heart, might be the only one who can save her career and her life.

Tall, dark, and handsome, Tyler Hollister can have any woman he wants, but he only wants one – Dallas. When he starts talking marriage, she breaks things off between them, claiming she doesn’t want a romantic entanglement to hinder her plight to making partner. A chance meeting, six months later, brings them face to face and Tyler soon realizes the intense sexual attraction they once shared is stronger than ever. But he swore he was done with her. Except he finds out her life is in danger, and his protective instincts take over. Can he save her life without losing his heart … again? Read an excerpt

***

 Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level – despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her. Read an excerpt

***

 NEVER SAY NEVER…

Cincinnati police officer, Craig Logan, needs a plumber, but not bad enough to hire a woman.  “No way am I letting some pint-size woman near my pipes!”

ESPECIALLY IF THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB…IS A WOMAN…

When Toni Jenkins (TJ) shows up at Craig’s house to repair his plumbing issues, he thinks it’s a joke, but soon finds out the joke is on him. Not only is Toni the finest plumber he’s ever seen, but she’s good at what she does. Will he realize before it’s too late, that not only is she the best woman for the job, but she’s the best woman for him? Read an excerpt

Here are several ways to win:

1. For a  chance to win an e-copy of either book (or short story), “Like” my new Facebook Fanpage (see column on the right hand side of this blog or click on this link – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharonCCooper21?ref=hl)
2. For a  chance to win an e-copy of either book (or short story) AND a $5 Amazon.com gift card, leave a comment or a question below AND “Like” my new Facebook Fanpage
3. For a chance to win an e-copy of either book (or short story) AND a $10 Amazon.com gift card – leave a comment or a question below AND “Like” my new Facebook Fanpage AND sign up on my mailing list http://www.sharoncooper.net/contact1.html (don’t worry, you won’t be inundated with emails from me).

Note: When you leave a comment or a question, be sure to leave your first name and last initial within the comment. You have until 8pm tonight (EST) to enter for your chance to win. The winners will be announced on my blog tomorrow Wednesday, 7/25/12.

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

**Something New and Blue Roses will be in paperback at the end of August 2012 – Woo hoo!

***For those of you who have asked for more from the Jenkins Family – they are coming soon! The Jenkins Family Series is in the works. Oh, and yes, Craig and Toni will have their own book, especially since they both still have some issues to work out. If you haven’t met the Jenkins Family – purchase (or win) Best Woman for the Job for an introduction. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Make sure you subscribe to this blog or join my mailing list to be one of the first to know about what’s going on with Sharon C. Cooper!

GOOD LUCK! I HOPE YOU WIN!

A Time of Gratitude!

I was just thinking…

I feel so full and grateful right now. Not because it’s a holiday and I get some much-needed time off, but because of all of you! Over the past couple of months I’ve received sooo much love and support regarding this new venture of publishing some of my written work. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough! The thought of me actually having “readers” and people who care to hear (or see) what I have to say by following my blog (and purchasing my books) – blows my mind! It’s wild and I love it! And I love all of you! It’s because of you that I have been on Amazon’s top 100 best sellers list in multi-cultural romance for the past three weeks (off and on prior to that).

Check out some of the recent numbers:

Amazon Best Seller top 100 in Multi-cultural Romance

Amazon Best Seller top 100 in Religious Romance and African-American Literature

So thank you, thank you, thank you for your support and encouragement! You make me want to continue to develop my skills and write even stronger stories that will keep you coming back for more!

Thanks again and have a wonderful Fourth of July! As a friend used to say to me be good…and if you can’t be good – be careful! 🙂

Something New – Excerpt

For those of you who still haven’t had a chance to read, Something New, I figured I’d give you a little excerpt of what you’re missing!

A Blurb About the Book

Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend, falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and is on a mission to take their friendship to the next level, and prove that he’s the man for her.

Excerpt – This is part of a scene where Tim shows up at Simone’s company, as a consultant who her business partner wants to hire. Going in, Tim doesn’t know that Simone is part owner of the business, but when he sees her (after ten years) he suggests they get reaquainted. Simone’s not sure that’s a good idea.

****

“Maybe.”

Simone had told Jessica no men. So why was she sitting across from Tim, who was all man?

“What do you mean maybe?” Jessica questioned.

Oh crap, did I say that out loud? “I meant, though I think Tim would be easy to work with, we should discuss my needs…” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I mean we should discuss our organization’s needs and how he can help us. And of course, we’ll have to interview other candidates.” Simone felt her face heat at her faux pas and didn’t miss the amused look on her partner’s face. She didn’t dare look at Tim.

“Okay, well, let’s talk about our needs, and Tim, you can let us know if you can help us,” Jessica said.

Simone couldn’t believe how flustered she felt being near Tim. But who could blame her? She was acutely conscious of how his wide chest and muscular arms filled his tailored black suit jacket. Relaxed and confident, he discussed with Jessica how his consulting company could assist them. Simone’s breathing quickened when he glanced at her and smiled, causing her eyes to zone in on those chiseled cheekbones that graced his ruggedly handsome face. She groaned within and rubbed her forehead, realizing small pebbles of sweat had formed at her hairline.

What is wrong with me? It’s not like I’ve never seen a good-looking man before. I must be coming down with a cold or something.

“And so when we failed to raise enough money for the expansion,” Simone heard Jessica say, “we went to the bank for a loan, but they turned us down.”

Tim frowned. “I’m surprised. Of course, I would have to look at your books to know more, but based on what you’ve said, it sounds like you guys are running a sound business.”

Simone put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. She listened as the two continued to talk back and forth. It wasn’t necessary for her to add her two cents since Jess seemed to be doing fine explaining their needs. Tim listened carefully, mentally cataloging all that was said. He was like that in high school as well. As good friends, they had studied together on occasion and even hung out some weekends. What she remembered most—his kindness, and that he was a great listener. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she missed his friendship.

Her gaze remained on him. She couldn’t get over how good he looked. The moment she walked into the room and saw him, her pulse had tripled, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d heard her heart pounding against her chest. He was sexier than she remembered, and those dark, penetrating eyes could draw in the strongest woman. He always did have women vying for his attention, and probably still did since he was even hotter than he was back then.

Stop, stop, stop it. This is Tim Hollister, friend. He’s off-limits. Besides, I’m done with men.

“Anything you want to add, Simone?” Jessica asked.

Simone’s head jerked up at hearing her name. She closed the notebook that sat on the table in front of her. “Uh, no. I think you covered it all.”

Okay, so those of you who have read, Something New – let me hear from you! Those of you who haven’t – what are you waiting for?

Celebration Time!!

I feel like giving away some prizes today!

To celebrate the early release of my debut novel – Something New (Yay!!), I’m giving all of you a chance to win an electronic copy of the novel (note: you don’t have to have an e-reader). You also have a chance to  win a $10 Amazon.com gift card, AND I’m giving away copies of my short story, Best Woman for the Job!

Oh, and did I mention that I’m celebrating the early release of Something New? That means you can purchase it today!!!! Visit Amazon.com for your copy!

Here’s how to win:

1. Today I’m being interviewed by fellow blogger, Chicki Brown, at her blog site http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com/. Stop by and leave a comment or a question for a chance to win an electronic copy of Something New.
2. For a chance to win both an electronic copy of Something New AND a $10 gift card to Amazon.com – leave a comment or a question below AND leave a comment or question for me at Chicki’s site – http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com/.
3. See below for an excerpt of my short story – Best Woman for the Job and find out how to download it – FREE.

Note: When you leave a comment or a question (on either site), be sure to leave your first name and last initial within the comment. You have until 7pm tonight (EST) to leave a comment. The winners will be announced on my website tomorrow (Thursday) morning, with instructions on how to claim their prize(s). My website: http://www.sharoncooper.net/

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Oh, and did I mention that I’m celebrating the early release of Something New?  That means you can purchase it today!!!! Visit Amazon.com for your copy!

FREE READ (expired)

Blurb:

NEVER SAY NEVER…

Cincinnati police officer, Craig Logan, needs a plumber, but not bad enough to hire a woman.  “No way am I letting some woman wanna-be plumber anywhere near my pipes!”

ESPECIALLY IF THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB…IS A WOMAN 

When Toni Jenkins (TJ) shows up at Craig’s house to repair his plumbing issues, he thinks it’s a joke, but soon finds out the joke is on him. Not only is Toni the finest plumber he’s ever seen, but she’s good at what she does. Will Craig realize before it’s too late, that not only is she the best woman for the job, but she’s also the best woman for him?

Visit www.sharoncooper.net for more information.

My First Writing Award (Lucky 7)!

I’m proud to announce that a fellow blogger Yawatta Hosby http://yawattahosby.wordpress.com/ – gave me the Lucky 7 award! This award allows writers to showcase a little piece of their work and pass the award along to other novelists and writers. It can be from your published novel, short story, poem, or a work in progress – your choice.

As a winner, you’re asked to do the following (on your blog):

• Go to page 77 of your manuscript (or any part of your written work)
• Go to line 7
• Copy next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs into your post
• Give the award to 7 more writers

Can’t wait to see what everyone shares. Note: sorry if you’ve already won, but if you haven’t I hope you accept the award! Here are the writers I wish to give the Lucky 7 Award to:

Candace Shaw at http://candaceshaw.net/

Delaney Diamond at http://delaneydiamond.com/

Alicia McCalla at http://www.aliciamccalla.com/

Jordanna East at http://journeyofjordannaeast.wordpress.com/

Claire Fadden at http://claireflaire.wordpress.com/

Chicki Brown at http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com/

Jamila Gomez at http://www.jamilagomez.com/

NOTE: I really want to give the award to another blogger as well …but it puts me at eight awards. So I’m sitting here thinking…”do I dare?” And my answer is YES! I feel like breaking a few rules today! Congratulations M.J. you are one of the recipients of the Lucky 7 award!

M.J. Kane at http://thiswriterslife-mjkane.blogspot.com/

Since the release date of Something New is quickly approaching, I figured I’d follow the instructions above (as close as I can) and share a brief excerpt of the story. NOTE: Unfortunately, this means my excerpt starts at the end of a scene, but here goes:

Tim shook his head in amusement. No way would he take sex advice from his brother, the self-proclaimed bachelor for life, who walked around as if he were God’s gift to women. Not only was his brother a successful businessman, but he was known for dating some of the most beautiful women in the city.

“Thanks for the advice, but I got this.”

****

“Tim, that was the best movie I’ve seen in a long time,” Simone said as they settled into the car.

“I agree, lots of action, just the way I like. I could watch all of Denzel’s movies over and over and enjoy them like it were my first time watching.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Traffic finally moved, and Tim steered the car onto Mayfair Road and toward Simone’s house. This friendship thing was too hard. Never had he ever wanted a woman as much as he wanted the one seated next to him. The kiss the other night still shook him like an unexpected earthquake. The attraction between them was strong. Throughout the movie, he’d sensed things changing between them, and though he liked it, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. When she’d snuggled close to him during one of the action scenes, he automatically put his arm around her, and it felt right. They definitely needed to talk.

He stopped at a red light and drummed his hands against the steering wheel in rhythm with the song on the radio.

“I’m not ready to go home yet,” Simone blurted out. Despite the grip of her seat belt, she turned in her seat to face him. “It’s been such a nice evening, and I don’t want it to end. I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward, but I had to get that off of my chest.”

With a raised eyebrow, Tim glanced at her. “Is there anything else you’d like to get off of your chest?”

She threw back her head and burst out laughing. She shook her head, still laughing, and said, “Nah, I think that’s it.”

Congratulations to all of the winners! I’ll be visiting your blogs to see what you post! 🙂

Excerpt: Something New

Many of you have asked, “How many more days before your book is released?” Well, ten more days and counting! I’m excited and anxious all in one. It’s like taking your child to school on the first day and hoping that everyone he comes in contact with will love him as much as you do. Okay, maybe it’s not quite the same, but you get the idea.

Here’s a sneak peak of what you have to look forward to:

BACK COVER

Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity.

Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level – despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her.

EXCERPT

God! Can this day get any worse?

Simone Edwards hobbled to a wall in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, dodging swarms of people in the ever-crowded terminal. She didn’t have to look down to know the left heel on her favorite pair of black pumps had broken. It had already been the day from hell. No. Make that the week from hell. So why would the trip home be any different?

She propped herself against the wall, pulled her suitcase close, and took off the shoe she feared was ruined. “Oh, this is just great,” she mumbled at the three-inch heel. Isn’t it enough I have to return home from the Bahamas still single?

Not only had Glen Wallace turned down her marriage proposal, he’d left the island two days early to attend some stupid “emergency meeting at work.” Most men would be flattered their longtime girlfriend asked for their hand in marriage, wouldn’t they? Not him. After spending all their free time together, he suddenly couldn’t get away from her fast enough. And the insensitive jerk left her with the hotel bill! How could I have wasted all those years on him?

Sadness hit her square in the chest. Of all her asinine ideas, proposing to Glen had to be the worst. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to keep them at bay. The last thing she wanted was to have an emotional breakdown in one of the country’s busiest airports. Spotting a bathroom a few feet away, Simone slipped on her shoe and limped toward it.

She passed a custodial worker near the hand dryers, who looked as if she’d rather be someplace else, and found a quiet corner where she could go through her carry-on bag. What I wouldn’t give to be at home in my bed right now. She was at the point of being afraid to do or say anything for fear of something else going wrong.

After finding another pair of shoes, she placed everything back in her suitcase and hurried out of the bathroom. She had barely made it out the door when she ran dead smack into a hard body, lost her balance, and came close to making a total fool of herself. An explosion of pain from the sudden impact shot through her shoulder, but thankfully, a large set of hands grabbed her around the waist before she hit the floor.

“Whoa, are you all right?”

“Oh my God, I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying attent—” she started, but stopped when she looked up and recognized the handsome man holding her. “Tim? Tim Hollister?”

He laughed as recognition showed on his face. “Yeah, it’s me. Simone, girl, I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?”

“Besides clumsy, I’m fine.” She chuckled and rubbed her shoulder. As she adjusted her clothes and righted her suitcase, a sense of calm surrounded her. Tim had always had that effect on her back in high school, before life got complicated.

“Wow, I can’t believe it’s you. It’s been, what, ten years since we’ve seen each other?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

They both noticed they were in the way, and Tim took her by the elbow and maneuvered them out of pedestrian traffic and into a waiting area where there weren’t as many people. Simone took that opportunity to get a better look at him. With the height of a basketball player, the brother was still fine. His smooth toffee skin and intense dark eyes were his best features, but those sensual lips accented by that smile could make a girl forget they were friends.

Something New

Available: April 27, 2012