It is hot. Hot and sticky here in Maryland. Instead of whining about it, I embraced it by re-releasing my first book!
Carolina Heat has a new,
hotter cover and some new material inside, too. I can't wait for you to dive in - here's the romantic, suspenseful blurb:
Investigative journalist Annabelle Carlyle is stunned by
the personal twist of her latest assignment: her best friend Vanessa is
missing. Annabelle goes undercover in the Old South to search for answers. Full
of thick accents and a way of life rooted in the past, Charleston is as foreign
and strange a place as any she's visited. Before finding a single clue,
Annabelle encounters a sexy man she can't shake.
Tall, dark and charming, Mark Dering is happy to show the gorgeous Yankee his
hometown. He's captivated by the quick witted, quick tempered redhead. But when
they're shot at, he realizes she's far more than just another tourist. Soon
they're deep into a mystery that goes way back to the Civil War. For once
Annabelle is in over her head. Desperate to find Vanessa, she reluctantly
accepts Mark's help and it isn't long before romance blooms.
The stakes grow higher when a body is discovered. Someone is willing to kill to
keep a century old Confederate secret hidden. With her best friend missing and
a killer on the loose, it's the worst possible moment for Mark to try and
unlock Annabelle's heart. Or is love exactly what her life's been missing?
Read on for a peek at the first chapter of Carolina Heat:
“Ready to go?” Mark slid in beside
her.
“You have no idea. I’ve been
fantasizing about getting horizontal.” She leaned her head against the seat
with a sigh.
“Really?” He drew out the word
slowly.
“Really, what?”
“You’ve known me for five minutes and
you’re already fantasizing about me?”
Heat rushed to her face as her
unintentional double meaning registered. “Oh, no. I mean, that certainly wasn’t
an invitation.” Now he probably thought she was either a slut, or incredibly
rude. This wasn’t going well.
Mark’s laugh rumbled from deep in his
chest. “It’s okay. I’m not that easy.”
Annabelle twisted to face him,
relieved he had a sense of humor. “I’m so sorry. I’ve completely lost the
ability to form a coherent sentence that isn’t a come on or an insult. You see,
I’ve been awake for two days straight, and three different zones of jet lag
caught up to me the moment I stepped off the plane.”
“Not a problem. In fact, why don’t
you sleep on it, and decide tomorrow if you’d like to repeat either the insult
or the come on. Your choice.”
Annabelle surprised herself by
giggling. The tall, dark and hot man was both funny and remarkably
even-tempered. She could hardly remember the last time she’d flirted, let alone
been on a date. His easy smile stirred something in her long dormant.
The assignment here probably wouldn’t
be too taxing. Charleston wasn’t known as a hotbed of intrigue. A little fling
might be just what she needed to shake off the boredom and dissatisfaction that
had been dogging her steps.
“It’s a nice offer. Surprisingly
nice, since I’ve acted like a complete idiot in the five minutes since we met.”
But then her reporter’s instinct kicked in a healthy dose of suspicion. “Why
are you so desperate for a date? Are you married? Hoping to squeeze in a little
action while you’re in town for a conference?”
Mark held up both hands in a time-out
gesture. “Whoa! Do you always go from zero to sixty in less than a minute?”
Pretty much. “I don’t like wasting
time. And I don’t mince words.”
“Yeah, I noticed. Happen to be a big
fan of telling it like it is myself. But you took a mighty big leap from us
splitting a cab to labeling me a low-life cheat.”
Annabelle’s eyes stayed locked on
his. “It was more of a question than an accusation. Plan on answering?”
Mark shoved a hand through his hair. “Not
married, not seeing anyone, and I live right here in Charleston. If you need
more extensive qualifications, I can pull together a resume and list of
references by breakfast.”
“Point taken. Sorry, I’ll dial back
the interrogation.” She dropped her gaze to her lap. “I’m not embarrassed to
admit I’ve been burned a few times. It’s possible I overreacted.”
“Could also be possible you don’t
give yourself enough credit.” Mark gently lifted her chin. “Annabelle, you’re a
beautiful woman. Refreshingly honest, and it’s obvious you don’t play games. Why
assume that desperation is the only reason I want to spend time with you?”
Relief flooded through her as the cab
slowed to an idle in front of a long picket fence. It was all the excuse she
needed to duck his question. “This must be my B&B.”
The back of his knuckles met her
cheek in a light caress. “Thanks for
sharing the cab. But I’m afraid you can’t escape so easily.”
“What do you mean?”
“Can’t let you leave until I know if
you’ll meet me tomorrow. I want a chance to take you on a real date, find out
what’s going on behind those shimmering green eyes. Hell, I don’t even know
your last name, or what you do.”
It took all of Annabelle’s willpower
not to rub against his hand. He had a magic touch. “If I told you now, what we
would talk about tomorrow?”
A wide grin took over his entire
face. “Great! It’s a date.”
She gave a quick head shake. “Not
quite. But I am open to the possibility. I’ll take your advice and sleep on it.
You know where I’m staying, so come by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Fair enough.” He scooted out and
retrieved her bags.
“I’m taking a chance here, Mark. Don’t
disappoint me,” she warned.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. But there’s a good chance I’ll
dream of you tonight, Miss Annabelle.” His appraising look was more intimate
than a touch, so much so that her skin tingled as the cab pulled away.
