TEN MINUTES IN THE SIN BIN May Not Be Enough!

 Thank goodness it's number one in the series! 

Yes, the lunch ladies' kids have made it to the big time with their own series, starting with Scott and Elise...

Scottie McCord is an NHL forward who doesn’t do a lot of looking back. But when Elise Scofield moves to the same West Coast city he plays for, he can’t help but reminisce.

I’m psyched Elise will be close by. She’s a lot of fun, and I need to get the 411 on her breakup with Hunter. I warned him when they first started dating that I would be none too happy with him if he hurt Elise. Not that I have a thing for her. Sure, that kiss when we were kids was the hottest moment of my life, but that’s just because it was a first. She’s like a sister to me now.

 

Elise Scofield is making a fresh start. A move to sunny California may be just what she needs, especially with Scott there.

Scottie and I have always been close, “two straws in a soda” is my mom’s weird way of putting it. We’ve gotten over that awkwardness of having kissed a long time ago, and fallen into an easy brother-and-sister-type of relationship. He’s the best. And who knows? He might even introduce me to an eligible hockey player or two.

But when Scott’s teammate says he’d like to spend TEN MINUTES IN THE SIN BIN with Elise, Scott becomes hot enough to melt the ice that he plays on. Then when Scott finds out his opposite winger is only trying to win a bet by bedding Elise, he wants to check his teammate into oblivion. But why are his feelings always so amped up around Elise?

One thing’s for certain; he’s determined to keep Sergei from hurting Elise. And when he’s determined, he gets what he wants.

The only problem is...this time around he’s not sure what it is he wants.  

Want to see how it all plays out? 

It's yours for just 99 pennies! Get it here:

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/TenMinutesInTheSinBin

Amazon: https://mybook.to/TenMinutesInTheSinBin

https://www.amazon.com/TEN-MINUTES-DEVILISH-DESIRES-Book-ebook/dp/B0B86V54JC/

Nook book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ten-minutes-in-the-sin-bin-m-j-schiller/1141939433

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ten-minutes-in-the-sin-bin

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443254219

WANNA WIN SOME BOOKS?

Calling all readers! It’s a brand new year and I’m ringing in 2022 with N. N. Light’s Book Heaven New Year New Books Fete. Almost 30 books from multiple genres featured plus a chance to win a $75 Amazon gift card.

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, ROCKED BY GRACE, will be featured on Thursday, January 6th. I even talk about my resolutions/goals for 2022. You won’t want to miss it. Bookmark this bookish get-together and tell your friends:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/new-year-new-books-fete

Get Ya Some LOVE AND CHAOS!

Hey, all! Just giving you a heads up that for a limited time I have the LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES on sale! In preparation for ROCK IT TO THE MOON, Book Three's release next week, you can purchase Book One, ROCKED BY GRACE for less than a bill! Follow it up with purchasing Book Two, ROCKED BY LOVE, for less than two bills! Then go ahead and get the next two in the series, ROCK IT TO THE MOON and ROCK OF SALVATION. Here's a blurb for each ~

When videos hit the Internet of rock star Zane Sanders and a random fan performing what he says is a spontaneous dance, no one believes it’s unrehearsed in this sizzling romance from bestselling author M.J. Schiller.

Zane Sanders, lead singer of Just Short of Chaos, surprised everyone, including himself, when he plucked a fan out of the audience at one of his concerts.

I don’t know what possessed me to do it. I’d never done anything like that before. But something about Grace drew me to her. And within minutes of pulling her on stage, I knew I’d made one of the best decisions of my life. Since our drummer Devin’s overdose, I’d felt dead inside. Perhaps for even longer than that. But Grace was fun, sexy—and as I would discover later—good and selfless. And an irresistible magic surrounded us that made me feel alive again.

That is, until I blew it. In classic Zane style. Funny thing is, when I first got Grace up on stage, I had no idea what to do with her. Now I have no idea what I’ll do without her.

Grace Prescott was living out every girl’s fantasy.

Only thing is, fantasies ended, and I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want this one to stop. Zane had a magnetism about him that was more than mere charisma. That was evident the moment I—the girl who normally had to be dragged out onto the dance floor—practically became a pole dancer in his arms. Then it happened. The moment everyone kept referring to as “The Kiss.” But it was all part of the show, right? It didn’t matter that Zane made more than my feet move. He stirred up feelings that scared the crap out of me. The depth of his sadness called out to me even more than his unbelievable sex appeal, and that was saying something.

But it could never work between us. He may have come from a small town like me, but he was all rock star now and totally out of my league. I was a flower shop owner, not his saving Grace.

Are some actions beyond forgiveness or will he be rocked by Grace?

When rock star Raphael Santiago comes to the defense of reporter Mia Love’s cousin, things heat up in this sizzling, new romance from bestselling author, M.J. Schiller.

Rock star Raphael Santiago is haunted by the night his friend Devin died. Maybe because there’s something that no one knows about the overdose. But when he jumps in the crowd to defend a woman at one of his concerts, he finds he doesn’t want to keep the secret from her.

Mia was a tight little ball of fire, and I was made of combustible material. She misunderstood my intentions the night we met, but I was given an opportunity to explain the next day. I wish that was our only miscommunication, but when I discovered she’d written an inflammatory article about Just Short of Chaos, I thought she was using me to get a story. The hurt that caused made me say some nasty things. Now I may have lost her forever.

Mia Love doesn’t know if Rafe is truly interested in her, or if she is merely a new plaything for him.

Oh, there was definitely a heat between us from day one. Sometimes volatile, sometimes scorching in a good way. But I’d been burnt before and I was stronger now. No way was I going to let a rock star break my heart.

When fate throws them together again, things really start to heat up.

But will they figure out how to control their passions or will their love story end in ashes?

While love had come to some of the other members of Just Short Of Chaos, Dex Rogan had no interest in getting tangled up in that mess. That is, until he stumbled upon Tatum backstage.

Before Tatum, I would have told you love was for chumps. But I would have been wrong. The moment I saw her, it was like BAM! This driving urge to be with her was more jarring than someone smacking me in the face with my drumsticks would be. And every moment since has just solidified her place in my heart. By the time I found out she was off limits, it was too late. I was all in.

Tatum Salvetti doesn’t have time for love. If it can’t be color-coded or found on the periodic table, she doesn’t need it. But when an ugly incident drives her into Dex’s arms, she’s shaken enough to step out of character for once.

I wasn’t looking for love that night, I was looking to escape, and Dex was the perfect distraction from my train wreck of a life. …He was perfect, period.

But I’m in astrophysics. I’m not stupid. I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. Even if he wasn’t just interested in a one night stand, we wouldn’t be able to hide a relationship from Zane. My brother seemed to still think of me as the ten-year-old he met when our parents wed. Well, it wasn’t any ten-year-old girl in Dex Rogan’s bed that night, and if Zane found out about it, he would go apeshit. I was trying to get away from chaos, not create it.

Tatum has sacrificed her whole life for others. But maybe this time she could think of her own desires. Could Dex’s brand of chaos be just what she needs?

Jericho Tyler was comfortable in his role as the wild man of Just Short Of Chaos. Different gorgeous women throwing themselves at him every night? What self-respecting hetero male wouldn’t dream of that? But when Salvation steps out of his shower and into his life, things start to change.

Oh, yeah. I knew the second I saw her that she didn’t belong backstage. And she didn’t belong with a man like me, for sure. But I didn’t let that stop me from seeing just how far she was willing to go to keep up her little naughty girl charade. And if she had something to prove, why not prove it with me?

Salvation Jones was not like the rest of her family. In a parcel of toe-the-line, conservative preacher’s kids, she stood out like a piece of her costume jewelry at the Inaugural Ball.

I must have had a far-sighted stork reading the directions for my delivery. I was louder than they were. More boisterous. I got into more trouble. I’d heard, “Oh, Salvation,” in my mom’s disappointed voice for so long I began to think the O stood for Olivia, or something. It’s not like I meant to misbehave, but it just came naturally to me. I’d tried to be who they wanted; now it was time for me to truly be myself. They say, “Go big or go home,” so why not start out by seducing a rock star? And not just any rock star, the luscious, womanizing Jericho Tyler. Now that was somebody worth sinning for!

Sometimes it takes a bad boy to redeem a good girl. But will she become his Salvation in the end?

Get the LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ8KYX8

 

 

 

You Should Pick Up The Phone ~ It's SATAN, LINE ONE!

Hello, All! It's been many a moon since I've blogged, but that's because I've been working on writing some great books for you. Well, that and Life. Life happens. Which is good, because it also makes me a better writer--but I digress. 

Anyway...I wanted to share with you the story behind my new release, SATAN, LINE ONE. Like much from this series, the book ties in with my real life. Back when I was a lunch lady, there was a coworker of ours who could be, well...a bit uptight. We grew to love her, but she could make things challenging at times. I believe it was my best friend--the inspiration for my character Sam--who gave her the title "Satan."   (Possibly a little unkind, but the reason it was funny was because she was so not Satan, but we liked to exaggerate things for our amusement. For instance, we liked to say the Athletic Club was evil because they left messes behind that we had to clean up. They then became the subject to blame for anything from global warming and terrorism, to the reason for the stain in the sink, and everything in between.) Then, I think I was the first one to say, when our rigid, domineering coworker would call, "Satan, line one." Someone added that this would be a good book title and I was off to the races! When I began the first book in the series, TO HELL IN A COACH BAG, it only seemed natural that SATAN, LINE ONE would find its way into the DEVILISH DIVAS SERIES. 

Now--I had a title, where was the story? Out of the title, a character was inspired, one Josephine Compton. I wanted another character who could have a nickname like a men's name, like Sam (Samantha), Dani (Danielle), Max (Maxine), and Alex (Alexis). Enter Jo! Jo (Josephine) took on the rigidity of our coworker, but why was she like that? Jo's backstory fell into place easily. She was from a large, chaotic family. The kind who put the fun in dysfunctional. In order to reinstate order in her life, Jo developed a disciplined, rule-following personality. To stick out in a family where it was easy to be overlooked, she became a high-achiever and a principal at a young age. 

Being a new principal, or a new boss in any setting, has its challenges. A lot of people (myself included) don't like change. We become comfortable with the status quo and change throws us off-balance. That being true, anyone walking into a new role in this sort of environment is already disliked, even before they slap a name plate on their office door. Long before they've made their first decision, they are seen as the enemy. 

Who, then, to pair with our little anal-retentive principal? Hello, Killian Murphey! Killian is the anti-Jo. He is laid-back to the point that it is a detriment to his growth. How did he get that way? His parents died and left him an orphan, shuttled off from his home in Ireland to an uncle's in the United States. Like his father, Killian was easy-going and comfortable in his role as a bartender. Until he finds someone who inspires him to reach further and become more than what he is settling for. 

When Jo walks into his bar, Killian is smitten right from the start. The more he learns about this naive, lonely woman, the more he falls in love with her. He watches on as Dani and Sam try to coach Jo--or Josie, as they sometimes call her--in the fine art of picking up men. Making Sam and Dani see him as a contender for Jo's heart then becomes the hurdle that Killian needs to leap. In his mind a lowly bartender is no match for a woman of Josephine's statue. Thank goodness Jo doesn't see things the same way. But in her eyes, she's no match for his charm, good-looks, and worldliness. Like most good partnerships, the two fill in each other's gaps, and help one another to grow.

Well, now you've seen how it all started, you need to see how things end up. Pick up SATAN, LINE ONE at the following retailers and give it a read. Jo and Killian are dying to tell you their story! 

And then be on the lookout for Book Five, PITCHFORK IN THE ROAD. When Zoe and Zack are reunited as adults, how can they overcome the pain caused by their breakup? And, with Nick in the picture now, how can Zoe make a choice between her two best friends? 

PITCHFORK is in the development stage with the publisher, and Book Six, A SIN WORTH THE PENANCE, will be a continuation of Killian's story. The devilish divas certainly have a lot to share with you! So hop on over to Amazon--or whatever retailer you prefer--and get started!

Amazon: mybook.to/SatanLineOne

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/satan-line-one-mj-schiller/1129033880?ean=9781947833968

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/satan-line-one-the-devilish-divas-series-book-4

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mt/book/satan-line-one-the-devilish-divas-series-book-4/id1434162174?mt=11

As always, thanks for reading!

~IN THE COMPANY OF INTIMATE STRANGERS~

Today I am very happy to be featuring the lastest release from my friend, Tara Mills, INTIMATE STRANGERS!







Can she ever forgive herself? Will she ever forget him?

When newly engaged couple Mac and Kate, take a celebratory fishing trip off the island of Pelican Cay, they never dream their romantic bliss is in jeopardy.

What happens will test Kate in ways she never saw coming, make her question what she understands about her own heart, and lead her into the arms of another man.

This exciting short story has it all; romance, terror, passion, betrayal, and a happy ending, of course, but perhaps not the one you'd expect.



Sneak Peek
There was a spring in Kate and Mac’s steps when they hustled down the dock, clasped hands swinging between them on this bright and early morning. In truth, it could have been simply the give of the walkway under their feet, but she chose to attribute it to their blissful mood. Her skin still tingled from making love with him back at the hotel. Both wore smiles that wouldn’t quit.

Kate turned her wrist, and his, to admire her beautiful new ring. The breathtaking diamond caught the light and shimmered back at her, utterly captivating her all over again.

Mac shot her a quick glance and chuckled as he gently tugged her along. “Come on. You’ll have all kinds of time to stare at that rock once we’re on the boat.”

“I can’t help it.” She laughed, still thrown by his unexpected proposal. “I love it!”

He turned her hand so he could admire the ring himself then winked at her. “It looks good on you.” Mac craned his neck and spotted their chartered boat. “I see ‘em.” He shared a nod with a man watching them from a fly bridge just ahead.

The man chuckled as he made his way down a chrome ladder to the deck to meet them. “You beat my other crewman.” Turning, he reached for Kate’s hand, hauling her into the boat as Mac boosted her by the hips from behind. Her fiancé leaped gracefully onto the boat after her and they both faced the captain.

“Welcome aboard the Sea Sprite. I’m Brady Finn.” Still holding her hand, he gave it a hearty pump.

He didn’t look any older than they were, but his sharp features were weathered from the wind and sun. The lines framing his smile gave his tan even more warmth. Her eyes strayed to his sandy hair. Generally, she preferred men who were more clean-cut, like Mac, but the way Brady’s shaggy hair fluttered and feathered in the breeze, with the sun glinting off his natural bleached highlights, was undeniably appealing. As if saving the best for last, only now did she meet his unusual blue-green eyes. Set off by fine lines radiating out from the corner of each, they were beautiful, so striking she was thrown for moment.

No question—most women would find Brady Finn attractive. Trying very hard not to think about it, she blushed at her delayed response to his introduction. “Kate.”

As always, Mac saved the day. Offering his hand to their skipper next, he grinned. “And I’m Mac Schafer.” He looked around, taking it all in. “Wow, this is some boat.”

“Thank you.” The captain was noticeably pleased at the compliment. “Ah … here’s Rome. He’s going to help you haul in your monster fish today.”

“Rome?” Kate raised her eyebrows as she shook the Latino’s hand.

His lips tightened. “I prefer it to Romeo.”

Brady gave him a good-natured cuff on the arm and told the passengers, “He’s not as big a fan of Shakespeare as his mom.”

Chuckling, Mac clasped hands with him and brought back the man’s easy smile. “Good to meet you, Rome.”

A sigh of contentment escaped Kate as she gazed at her fiancé. Mac had a way with people, a gift for diffusing tense situations. It’s what attracted her to him in the first place.

Stepping back she was startled to catch the captain watching her, studying her. She had an uneasy suspicion he was very aware of how carefully she’d examined him minutes ago. Looking evasively away, she reached for Mac. Pressed against his side while he chatted, Kate rubbed her hand up and down his spine, in dire need of a little of his calming mojo herself all of a sudden.

Oblivious to her tension, Mac smiled at Brady. “You said there’s a bathroom on board?”

The captain pointed to his left. “Through the salon and down the stairs.”

Mac gave Kate’s waist an affectionate squeeze. “See. Told you. You’ll be fine.”

“You can’t miss it.” Brady’s eyes landed on her again. To her relief, they didn’t linger this time. “We’ll head out as soon as Manuel gets here. Excuse me. I’ll see what’s keeping him.”

Rome waved the couple into the cockpit. “How about a quick tour?”



Buy Links: Crimson Frost Books — Amazon



About the Author

I'm a lifelong wordaholic, contemporary romance writer, pampered wife, and proud mom. Escape with me into books.

If you like fun and flirty, saucy and sexy, exciting thrills and suspense, or simply a good chuckle, I've got a story for you.



Please visit my website, Tara Mills Romance, for more information on my titles, sneak peeks, and my quirky blog.



I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Google+

HOW DOES ONE FIND LOVE IN TOUCH? ~ A ROMANCE OF A DIFFERENT KIND

I am so excited to have author Lucy May Lennox on today! She has written a different kind of love story that I feel needed to be written, although I never had the idea myself. Won't you listen to her talk about--

~ WRITING A DEAF-BLIND CHARACTER ~

This was definitely a big challenge that I set myself! I didn't base Jake on any one person I have met in real life. I have known several blind people, and a few people with hearing loss, so I did draw somewhat from my interactions with them. But I also did a lot of research.

Part of what inspired me to write about a deafblind character was my frustration with "wounded hero" romance novels where the hero's "wound" or disability is something really minor, like a scar that actually makes him more attractive. I'm always looking for an alternative to the perfect alpha male hero but often it's just the same thing in a different package.

At the same time, there seems to be this insidious assumption that only way guys can have a disability and still be attractive is to downplay the disability as much as possible. So I thought, why not write a romance with a guy who has a serious disability, one that really impacts every aspect of his life. I wanted to see how far I could push it and still have a satisfying story.

As I did more research, I realized that many of the deafblind people I read about online are married. So much for stereotypes! These people clearly had found their "happily ever after," but who was writing their stories?

When I did my first round of research, all I found was non-fiction writing, and as I finished the first draft, I started to think I might be the first to write a love story with a deafblind main character. Then as I was doing revisions, I discovered Of Such Small Differences by Joanna Greenberg. It's a wonderful book; I can't recommend it highly enough. So in the end I'm not the first, but I'm happy to come in second.

BLURB ~

Kassie has felt adrift ever since her dad died when she was in college. Now 24 and living in Seattle, she gets interested in learning sign language through her roommate, a sign language interpreter. One day at a Deaf community event, she sees a young man sitting off by himself. Kassie feels compelled to try signing to him–the fact that he’s strikingly handsome doesn’t hurt.


Jake has been deaf and blind since birth. His disability has cut him off from the world, but beneath his isolated exterior, is a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor. Despite the odds, he’s highly educated, but at 26, he’s gotten stuck in a rut, with few friends and no clear career plans. Until a sweet-smelling girl introduces herself to him unexpectedly, and opens up a whole new world to him.

Jake is more intelligent, more genuine than anyone she has met before, and for the first time Kassie starts to feel like her life has some direction. But as their friendship deepens into something more, the difficulty in communicating with each other only grows, and it seems like everyone they know thinks their relationship won’t work. How can they come to a deeper understanding of each other, and find a future together?

EXCERPT ~

CHAPTER ONE


“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kassie asked as she slammed the car door shut behind her.

Erik smiled down at her, his brilliant white grin reassuring. “Of course. You’ll be fine.” He jogged across the parking lot while Kassie dawdled behind, even though the rain was increasing from a mist to a steady drizzle.

“I don’t know. My signing still sucks. What if they don’t understand me?”

Erik put an arm around her, hugging her to his lean tall frame. “Come on, you’re not here as an interpreter. This is just a casual meetup. And since when have you been shy?”

Kassie grinned despite herself, then looked up at the low-slung building before them. A sign over the door read Seattle Deafblind Center. She glanced up at Erik again.

“OK, but you’ll help me if I get stuck?”

“You’ll be fine,” Erik repeated as he pushed the door open.

To Kassie it seemed purely by accident that she ended up in this place at this time. She had moved to Seattle after graduating from college because she wanted to get away, to start over. She had chosen a small school in Indiana near home, but her father had gotten sick in her freshman year and died in her junior year, leaving her to sleepwalk through college in a haze of grief that prevented her from making any friends, let alone boyfriends. By the time she graduated she was ready to start over in a new place where she didn’t know anyone. She found a job easily enough as an administrative assistant (well, secretary really) to the head of finance at the corporate office of a big name department store. The pay was alright, even if the job itself felt pointless and boring. The atmosphere in the office was decidedly stodgy despite the store’s inept attempts to be edgy and hip.

It was because of her housemate, Erik, that Kassie started taking American Sign Language classes at Seattle Community College. Erik was a CODA, a hearing Child Of Deaf Adults, and worked as an ASL interpreter. Learning ASL seemed like a good way to get involved with something more meaningful than her current job, but after over a year of classes Kassie was, if anything, even more painfully conscious of how far from fluent she was. From time to time she accompanied Erik to pizza nights and meetups at the Seattle Deaf Community Center, but while people there were nice, they always seemed a bit mystified by her presence. Inevitably someone would ask if she was training to become an interpreter.

No, I just want to learn, she’d reply, doing her best to make her signs quick and natural. Usually the other person would smile, but somewhat hesitantly, as if that wasn’t really enough of an explanation.

If she signed, I’m Erik’s friend, people assumed they were a couple, which seemed ridiculous to her because he was so obviously gay. But apparently it was the only way people could make sense of her presence there.

Still, she kept going with him every month or so. The meetups, just casual gatherings to chat in ASL for a few hours in the evening, were good practice. Then one day Erik mentioned to her that he had been asked to attend a similar meetup, but for deafblind people. Impulsively, Kassie volunteered to go with him, but the thought of her inadequate signing skills was making her uncharacteristically nervous.

Kassie followed Erik into a medium-sized meeting room with round tables and plastic chairs arranged around the hard linoleum floor, like a school cafeteria. A dozen or so people stood or sat eating pizza, just like the Deaf meetups she had been to before, except everyone sat much closer together, signing in pairs. Erik greeted several people with great animation, hugging them and introducing Kassie. Most of them seemed able to see her signing well enough to understand her, even some of the people carrying white canes. Only one woman put her hands on top of Kassie’s as she spelled out her name.

As Kassie started to relax and look around, she noticed a figure sitting off by himself, separated from the small knot of people. She watched for nearly half an hour, but no one approached him. She gauged him to be about her age. His eyes were closed and his brows pinched up in a frown, but even so he was strikingly handsome, with close-cut, glossy black hair contrasting with a pale complexion.

She nudged Erik, pointing toward him with her chin. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, that’s Jake,” Erik replied. “Don’t worry about him–his intervener will be here soon.”

“His what?”

“Intervener, it’s like an interpreter for deafblind people. Like Mandy there,” he added, waving to a woman who was signing into the hand of another woman seated beside her.

“I’m going to say hello to him,” Kassie said. It seemed wrong to her that one person should be excluded from the group.

Erik looked slightly pained. “Kassie, you don’t understand,” he said. “Everyone else here has Usher’s Syndrome. They’ve been Deaf all their lives–only started to lose their vision as teenagers or adults, and most of them still have some sight. They’re all ASL native speakers. But Jake is profoundly deaf and totally blind from birth. I’m not sure he even knows ASL.”

Kassie stared at him, her eyes growing larger. “How can he not know ASL? He must know something, right?” she asked, a little shocked.

Erik explained, “It’s hard to learn the signs if you can’t see them. I think he uses a different manual alphabet that’s easier for him.” Seeing the look of concern on Kassie’s face he added, “Don’t worry about him, he’s fine.”

Kassie turned to look at Jake again. He didn’t look fine to her. He looked bored and lonely. She knew how it felt to be on the outside, to have no one to talk to. What if he was just waiting for someone to go over to him? It didn’t hurt that he was cute too. If they were at a party she would find some excuse to talk to him. “I’m going to say hello to him,” she insisted.

“Try printing block letters on his palm, he might understand that,” Erik suggested with a shrug.

Kassie squared her shoulders and marched across the room, daring Erik to stop her, but he had already turned his attention to someone else.

Jake did not seem to notice her approach his chair. He sat with his back rigidly straight, but his head dipped slightly down and to the left. Up close he was even cuter, with his strong, slightly triangular jaw. The contrast between his glossy black hair, slightly grown out on top, and his pale skin was startling. His eyelashes were dark and thick too, although his eyes opened only slightly, showing a line of white.

Kassie waited for a moment, but when he still did not give any sign of noticing her she tapped him on the shoulder. Jake jumped so high she nearly retreated, overcome with guilt for having startled him, but he was already holding out his left palm toward her. Realizing it would be even more cruel to walk away, Kassie extended a trembling finger and wrote very slowly in the palm of his hand, H-E-L-L-O.

To her extreme surprise, he saluted her with the ASL sign for hello, then added, My name is Jake, in rather jerky, hesitant signs. At least that’s what she assumed he meant; rather than spelling out his name, he made a name sign, tracing a sort of J against his chest with his pinkie finger.

Kassie made to introduce herself as well, with his hands resting on hers, realizing only too late that when she gestured towards herself, she brought his hand directly onto her breasts. Jake seemed to realize the same thing–he breathed in sharply and flushed from his neck to his hairline, bright pink splotches standing out against his white cheeks. Flustered, Kassie tried again, this time only moving her hand halfway. My name is K-A-S-S-I-E, she signed, fingerspelling her name then adding the name sign Erik had given her, a K at her right temple, a reference to her short, curly blond hair.

Jake did not reply, so she made the signs again, even more slowly, but he kept tugging her hands towards him. She gently tugged back, but that only seemed to agitate him. He brushed his fingers over her palm, then made some rapid signs she couldn’t follow. She stared at him helplessly. He sighed in irritation as he repeated the signs, the splotches on his cheeks turning darker red.

This time Kassie picked out C-A-R-T-E-R, but that was all. What is carter, she wondered, feeling increasingly panicked. She glanced behind her, trying to spot Erik, but instead a small balding man with round glasses set atop a hooked nose suddenly appeared and insinuated himself between her and Jake. Before she realized what had happened, he pushed her aside and put his hands under Jake’s. Immediately they began signing back and forth rapidly.

Kassie shifted from foot to foot, unwilling to end their conversation so abruptly. If you could even call it a conversation, but still, it seemed rude to walk away. “Umm…excuse me, but who are you?” she asked the interloper.

Without pausing his signing with Jake, the man gave her a sour look. “I’m Joel Carter, Jake’s intervener,” he snapped.

“Oh, of course!” It seemed so obvious now. “I’m Kassie,” she said, fingerspelling her name again and adding her name sign at the end, so he could repeat it into Jake’s hand. “I’m a friend of Erik’s. I was just, um, saying hello to Jake.”

Carter passed along the message, then said, “Jake says hello.” Kassie watched their interaction curiously. Carter was not using any ASL signs or fingerspelling she recognized. Jake held out his left palm flat and at an angle, while Carter tapped and brushed it in different places with his fingers, sometimes straight or bent, sometimes one or more than one finger at a time.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Carter, but do you mind telling me what system you’re using? Erik said Jake doesn’t know ASL, but I guess he was wrong about that. Anyway it looks like now you’re using something else. I’m just curious,” she finished lamely, realizing she was starting to babble.

Carter was not pleased with her question. “He knows some basic ASL,” he answered shortly, “but we’re using the deafblind manual alphabet.”

“Oh, I see.”

Carter stared at her but did not say anything more. After a moment Kassie realized what was happening: Carter didn’t want to talk to her. He wanted her to go away, but being an ethical interpreter he was not going to say anything to her he would not also sign to Jake.

“Well, um, ok, nice to meet you, Jake,” Kassie said, and patted him on the shoulder as Carter interpreted. Again Jake jumped a bit, and Kassie fled back to Erik on the other side of the room.

For the remainder of the evening Kassie stuck close to Erik, signing briefly with a few people, but for the most part feeling like an observer. At the Deaf meetups there were always lots of people, and she rarely had a problem finding someone willing to let her practice her ASL. But here she realized it was hard to sign to more than one person at a time, and even harder to initiate small talk with a stranger. She never realized how much she relied on catching someone’s eye to begin a conversation. She ended up chatting with one of the interpreters about her ASL class, although she knew her teacher would scold her for using her voice.

Back in the car , Erik asked, “So what did you talk about with Jake?”

“Nothing,” she replied truthfully.

“I told you his intervener would show up,” Erik said as he pulled out of the parking lot. “But he is kind of a hottie. I don’t blame you for wanting to chat him up.” He turned to wink at her.

“Oh my God, what are you talking about?” Kassie protested. “Not everyone is a horndog like you.”

Erik just laughed. In the two years they had been living together they had grown close, even though initially they only met through Craigslist. Erik was the ideal housemate, a good cook and fastidiously clean, even if he was kind of loud and liked to play techno turned all the way up. After feeling alone for so long, Kassie was glad to have someone to joke around with. She liked going out with him to gay clubs where she could dance however she liked, and no one hit on her. Not that she was against dating–she had attempted a few relationships, but somehow the guys she met all seemed self-involved and shallow.

But even though Erik was fun, he definitely had his own life that didn’t always include her, and she tried not to be too clingy. She tried to find activities that would get her out of the house more, and suddenly she found she was running around all the time.

Now she caught sight of the clock on the car radio.”Oh no, is that the time? Do you mind dropping me off at my yoga class? I’ll take the bus home.”

BIO ~

Lucy May Lennox is a lifelong resident of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her first ambition in life was to become a child actor, but when she grew too old to be an adorable prodigy, she turned to writing instead. A connoisseur of novels featuring men with physical disabilities, she grew frustrated with all the cliches, ignorance and stereotypes and decided to write her own positive take on disability. In addition to writing, Lucy also enjoys cooking and gardening, and is an amateur opera singer.

You can find Lucy here:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

You can buy LOVE IN TOUCH here:

Paperback Amazon US I Amazon UK I Amazon Canada I Amazon Germany I Amazon France I Amazon Spain I Amazon Italy I Amazon Mexico I Amazon India I Amazon Brazil I Amazon Japan I Smashwords I Barnes and Noble

Lucy has generously offered to giveaway an e-copy of LOVE IN TOUCH as well as a $25 Amazon gift card, so enter below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


What are your thoughts on creating a deaf-blind character? What do you think your greatest challenge would be?

~ YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD OF AN ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE? ~

Today I am happy to be entertaining Leanne from Jessica Subject's ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE. What a great title! So Leanne, why don't you start out by telling us a little about yourself? What is your occupation? Strengths, weaknesses?

Hello MJ! I’m Leanne Declan and I’m twenty-two. I work at my family’s dairy farm, or at least I used to, until I got my hand caught in a grain auger and had to have it amputated. Now, I’m just trying to adjust to having no right hand, doing basic things like getting dressed. Strengths? I’m not sure I have many anymore. But, after some encouragement from our farmhand, Jake, I’m going to try and do some things around the farm. Weaknesses? Well, you try going a day without the use of your dominant hand. I have to go a lifetime.

What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My parents are wonderful. They taught me the value of hard work. I feel like I’ve disappointed them now after the accident. I should have been more careful.

Accidents happen, Leanne. Even at my day job, as a lunch lady, I have gotten cut, and burned, and smashed fingers, etc. Now tell me about your earliest childhood memory?

I remember being in the barn with my father, him teaching me how to milk the cows. He used to take me out in the tractor to plow the fields as well. Sometimes I’d fall asleep in the tractor with him. Now I can do it all myself. Or, I used to, before I lost my hand. Maybe someday I’ll be out there doing it all again.

You talked about Jake. Is he your hero?Describe him. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

Jake? I never expected him to be my hero. He’s always been there by my side, annoying the crap out of me. Now, I don’t know how I could get through the day without him. He’s still always there, but he won’t let me give up on my dreams. He keeps pushing, more so than my parents.

Is there anything about Jake that you would consider a flaw?

He doesn’t give up. On anything. Sure, sometimes I need the encouragement, but sometimes I need a break, too.

What is it that you want out of life?

I’ve always wanted to take over the farm. I never remember wanting to do anything else. And if Jake doesn’t give up on me along the way, maybe we can have a future together.

With all this talk about work, let's take the discussion in another direction. After all, it's almost the weekend! If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

A free day? What’s that? If in the summer, I’d love to go to the beach, walk through the sand, have a campfire, and catch a movie. In the winter, I would go tobogganing. I always loved that as a kid.

What songs are you listening to on your mp3 player lately?

Jake sent me a bunch that he thought would be encouraging. I guess they are. The one I listen to the most is What Doesn’t Kill You by Kelly Clarkson.
 

That is a valuable lesson to learn. Well, that's all I have. Thanks for joining us today!

Now let's hear a little bit about ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE:

At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true? 
The Challenge series 

By Jessica E. Subject 

Contemporary Western New Adult Romance 

ISBN: 978-1613334607 

Buy Links: 

Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble | more

EXCERPT~ 

A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop.

White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening.

Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be.

“Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”

A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“Mom, is it really…?”

She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.”

“It hurts so bad.”

“I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.”

“Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.”

“Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony.

Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.”

Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.”

The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven.

Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.

Bio: 

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Jessica has been kind enough to offer one lucky commentor an e-copy of ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE. She will draw the winner's name on the 21st, so be sure to comment below. Good luck!

~ MELINDA DOZIER IS BREAKING THE RULES IN HER NEW ROMANCE ~ I'M SO TELLING ON HER!

Please welcome the lovely Melinda Dozier to my blog today!

Melinda, what is something you struggle with when you write?

Time! I’m not a full-time writer (oh how I wish I could be!) so I have to find the time to fit it in. It’s not something a mom, wife, teacher can do easily. Luckily, my family is very supportive!

I hear you, sister! Now give us a brief glimpse at your road to publication.

2013 is my debut year! Lucky #13! My first novel, Time Changes Everything, was published in May from Entranced Publishing. I also wrote a prequel, The Boy Next Door, which is more Young Adult and it’s free at Smashwords. My third novel, Breaking the Rules, was released on July 8 from Crimson Romance. I’m just finishing up two novellas that will be available at the end of the year! Lots of writing happening this year!

That's exciting! Best of luck with all of that! Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

I am a middle school English teacher at an American School in Central America. I love teaching the two important parts of my life – reading and writing. My number one goal as a teacher is to motivate my students and to find a love for reading!

Where in Central America do you live? Where would you love to live?

I’ve lived in Guatemala, with my college sweetheart, for about 16 years. Although I’m an ex-pat, I dream of retiring in the US one day, particularly Florida (St. Pete area).

I see you like things hot! Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?

Being a boy mom keeps me busy, but I love it! Luckily, I have my dog Bella to even things out.

Now, just for fun, what was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?

My Kindle Fire!

What CD is in your CD player right now?

Although I don’t use a CD player, I do have a playlist for every book I write. The current manuscript is about a snowboarder, so I have several songs amped up and ready to go. The theme song for this Olympic Snowboarding novella is “Got the World in My Hands” by Taio Cruz.

Name your favorite children's story.

Goodnight Moon – It brings back a lot of sweet memories with my children.

What was your nickname growing up or now?

Mindy

What are your three favorite smells?

Fresh cut cilantro, ocean breeze, cucumber

Those are three new ones! You obviously like those fresh, crisp smells. Thanks for being my guest!

Thanks so much for having me today! It’s been fun!

Now here's a little more about Melinda's book:

Blurb

A forbidden love affair in the past has led Hope

Robinson, a middle school principal, to Harbor Bay, Florida, where she commits herself to play by the rules. This can be difficult for a perpetual klutz, who—even strapped in a cast—has to uphold a competent attitude at all times.

Luckily, she has Dr. Colin Calaway on her side, a widower and father of a student, who is ready to give love another try. When Colin convinces Hope they should explore the connection between them, a steamy romance develops, though it could destroy them both. They must decide if their jobs—and their hearts—are worth the risk.

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Excerpt

He shook his head. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“Doing what?” She looked around, confusion in her eyes.

“Talking about the weather.” He scooted closer to her, making her back up toward the railing.

“Colin—” A warning came from her mouth.

He scooted her all the way back. “You can’t go around saying stuff like you did back there and just pretend nothing’s happening.”

“I’m sorry, Colin. I didn’t think before I spoke.”

He put his arms around her, holding onto the rail. “Sometimes it’s better to just speak what’s on your mind.” He lifted one hand and caressed her cheek. “Damn it, Hope. Life is too short to ignore the truth and the truth is that we are extremely attracted to each other.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it before saying anything. He was right, but she didn’t know what to do about it.

“Don’t deny it.” He brought his thumb down and touched her bottom lip.

Leaning into his touch, she said, “Remember we’re just friends.”

He shook his head. “To hell with friends, Hope. I haven’t felt like this in so long.” He placed his forehead on hers and leaned in more. Enough that she could feel his quickened breath on her chin.

 “Me too.” She sighed. Leaning back, she looked in his eyes. “I know it’s not fair, but we can’t.”

“I’m not going to lie—this is freakin’ frustrating.” He scraped his hand over his face. “I mean, I haven’t been on a date in months, because I just don’t feel it with anyone. Then, when I do feel ‘it,’ I can’t do anything about it.”

She looked down. “I feel the same way and I’m frustrated, too.”

“Then why are we ignoring it? Even the tarot card lady said we should be more than friends.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, and she is a knowledgeable source to trust.”

“Just hear me out, Hope.” He stroked her hair, causing her heart to beat faster. “We’ve had an amazing afternoon together.” He pointed back and forth between them. “This is who we really are. You. Me. Hope and Colin. Just two people having an incredible time together. See how much fun we can have if we forget all the labels? No principal, parent, doctor bull crap. Just us.”

She sighed and looked into his eyes. “It has been a great day.”

“You need to just stop thinking about all the reasons why we shouldn’t be together and look at the one reason why we should.” He held her chin up. “Us.”

         

Author Bio

Melinda Dozier lives in Guatemala, Central

America, with her husband, three boys and German Shepherd.  She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they’re grown. Learn more about her at www.melindadozier.com.

You can also find Melinda on twitter at www.twitter.com/melindadozier or Facebook at www.facebook.com/melindadoz

LINKS:

Crimson Website: http://www.crimsonromance.com/upcoming-releases-romance-ebook/breaking-the-rules/

Blog: http://melindadozier.blogspot.com

Website: www.melindadozier.com

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON: http://goo.gl/o3Chm

B&N: http://goo.gl/xApGh

iTUNES: http://goo.gl/T94cX

KOBO: http://goo.gl/PtCZX

GIVEAWAY:

Melinda is giving away an ecopy of Breaking the Rules and winners choice of a Yankees or Red Sox baseball cap through her tour wide giveaway. Winners must enter via Rafflecopter and will be chosen on July 27.

a Rafflecopter giveaway