Gang,

I’m leaving today for a big family cruise. RAH, Munchkin and I are crusing the southern Caribbean with my folks and my in-laws. This is either going to be great or a disaster. Stay tuned for details…

In the meantime, I’m going to leave you with some advance reviews and an excerpt from Tempt Me With Darkness. If the lovely Naughty Nikki has time to post a thing or two for me while I’m gone, she will. I’m sending her a Manly Monday pic for sure.

5 out of 5! “TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS is fast-paced, emotional and thoroughly addicting… a very strong first installment, and I find myself panting for more of this bold and sassy new series.” ~ Romance Junkies

5 out of 5! “Tempt Me with Darkness is a fascinating tale… I loved the mix of mystical, magical and legend that was woven together to produce a first rate story that delights and entertains.” ~ Fallen Angels Reviews

“You definitely hit it out of the park!!!! I love the magic, the intrigue, the danger, the romance. It had everything you would want in a great novel.  When you finish a book and want to begin again it has got to be that good.  I am sure this is going to be the beginning of a collector set for many devoted readers and will bring many new readers to your door.” ~ Stepahnie, advance reader copy winner

Excerpt

“Still worried about your father?”
“Yes.”

All her life, she’d been told her father died before her birth. After her estranged mother’s recent death, she’d combed through Barbara’s belongings and learned that was a lie. Armed with her father’s name, last known address, and a picture that proved she’d inherited her unusual eyes, she’d been determined to find the truth. Others found long-lost relatives with less. Her search, even with Bram and the hired detective, had turned up nothing. It was as if he’d disappeared.

That worried her. Among her mother’s hidden effects had been an unopened letter her father had written nearly twenty years ago, mailed from London. Her mother hadn’t cared what it said, damn her. Not surprising. Barbara had perfected cold and unresponsive into an art form.
You have a roof over your head, young lady, because I do my duty. Do yours. Make better grades. Clean your room. Don’t touch me.

Good ol’ Mom had concealed every trace of her father. Then again, if there’d been a way to isolate Olivia or make her miserable, Barbara had pounced on it. Her suicide put an exclamation point on that fact.

In the letter, Richard Gray had begged Barbara to come back to him and bring their daughter. The poignant longing in his words had brought tears to her eyes. He’d wanted to meet Olivia, know her, love her. Her. She wasn’t a burden to him.

He’d vowed to protect them. From what? Did whatever he feared have anything to do with her inability to find him now? Meeting him would, at least, satisfy her curiosity. At best, he might help her get beyond her fear of letting people close. Please God, don’t let her be too late.

“My search is nearly at a dead end,” she went on. “I’ve got one more address I can follow up on, but if that doesn’t pan out…I’ll have to think of something else. I’m so frustrated.”

To make matters worse, business hadn’t been great, so she feared losing this little dream shop. A Touch of Magic was her one place, her center, when everything else was crap. It was her greatest achievement to date. But she lacked the money to keep paying the detective. If she went broke, she’d have to decide: Stay here or go back to the States.

Go back to what? asked the voice in her head. Here, she had made herself some roots. No more moving to a new city every three months and being the new kid in town, as she had with Mom. In England, she felt more…at home. Her flat was small. She wasn’t looking forward to the upcoming cold winter. And she hated the food. Didn’t Brits believe in good enchiladas? But the sense of history, of permanency, was to die for.
“I have a feeling he’ll turn up soon. Don’t give up.”

“Not as long as there’s still a chance I’ll find him.”

“That’s the spirit.” Bram’s warmth reached through the phone. “You tenacious American girls never fail to impress.”

Bram was a good friend. A little flirtatious, but flirting was like breathing for him. She never took his smiles and charm seriously. Besides, typically men weren’t interested in her that way.

Except, perhaps, for the broodingly sexy artist she’d met this morning.

Broodingly sexy? Marrok had been rude. An ass.

But for a brief moment, she’d sworn he wanted her. Jerk or not, knowing that had made her feel giddy and unleashed a hot tumble of desire inside her. One touch from him, and her body had lit up like a Christmas tree. Pathetic.

Ever since Marrok slammed out of A Touch of Magic that morning, a weird ache had nagged her body. Exhaustion dragged her down. Damn it, she needed sleep or caffeine—something.

“Olivia,” Bram said. “I called about Marrok. Don’t be surprised if you hear from him. I think he feels ghastly about whatever row you had today.”

“Good. I’d planned on hunting him down tomorrow.” And keeping her libido out of the conversation. “Temperamental, but wow, his talent…”

“I thought you’d be thrilled. He’s difficult and odd. But give him a chance.”

Olivia jerked on the door handle and tried to turn the key. Nothing. Some days, the old thing took an active dislike to her. Like today. Then a stutter beep in her ear made her sigh.

“Will do. I’ve got to run. My battery is dying, and I can’t get the damn door locked.”

They agreed to touch base in a few days and hung up. She tried the lock again. Jammed.

“Argh!” She pushed a strand of dark hair from her eyes. “Obstinate door.”

“Does talking to it help?”

Olivia whirled at the deep, unexpected voice. Through the darkness, a male figure towered near.

Marrok.

Though the shadows held most of his face in mystery, shards of desire needled her. He stood unmoving as pale glimmers of light splashed across his wolfish eyes. His tight black t-shirt clung to broad shoulders, worn denim to long, hard thighs. He was like an action figure come to life.

“You startled me.” A hint of accusation laced her voice.

With him near, exhaustion wasn’t a problem. Suddenly, her body pinged with life.

“Not for the first time, I think.” He stepped out of the shadows. Light from the half-moon bathed his hard face in silvery tones. “I startled you this morning as well. I apologize.”

He closed the distance between them, so quietly she understood how he’d sneaked up on her. Then he withdrew the keys from her tense grip. With a quick flick of his wrist, he locked the shop’s door. Olivia couldn’t look away from the planes of his broad back, the ripple of his shoulders.]

What would they feel like under her hands as he thrust deep inside her?

I’ll see everyone when I get back!