Excerpt from SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY, releasing OCTOBER 17, 2014!!
***
I headed out to my truck by ten-thirty. Before I could turn the key, I spotted someone across the parking lot kicking and screaming at a POS special with its hood up.
That someone was wearing ripped blue jeans and a hoodie.
I started the truck and drove slowly over to her section of the darkened, mostly abandoned parking lot. Most of the crowd, including those who were giving her the most grief, were all inside getting their buzz on, listening to the next act.
I rolled down my window as I got to her. “Having trouble?”
She whirled around to glare at me. When she saw my face she rolled her eyes. “I’m fine,” she said as she turned around to the stalled vehicle.
I stopped the truck and slid out. “You may be fine but your car is on its last leg.” I glanced down at the engine, which looked to be about a hundred years old. “Let me give you a ride.”
She glanced me over with disdain. “Yeah, no thanks.”
“Fine, then how about a jump?”
“How about get lost?” she snapped. “Go play Boy Scout somewhere else.”
She was clearly pissed, but I would have been too after what happened after her gig. “I’m just trying to help.”
“I don’t need your help,” she spat.
“Look, I know it’s been a rough night…,” I started but she whirled around, a tiny, fiery bundle of fury.
“Do you understand English? Get lost!”
My blood started to boil. “Fine! Stay here all night. See if I care.” I turned toward the truck, but before I got to the driver’s side I stopped myself. She wasn’t angry with me, I tried to remind myself. I couldn’t very well leave her there, not with all the aggressive drunks who had tried to get at her in the club. They wouldn’t stop at no, and that was no kind of guy to run into in a dark parking lot. I took a deep breath before I turned back and walked over to the car.
Her eyes widened as I approached. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I’m helping you,” I told her before I circled her waist with my hands and lifted her away from her car so I could figure out what was wrong with it. “Too bad you’re too damned stubborn to see that.”
“Fuck you!” she spat, hissing at me like an angry cat.
I ignored her as I fiddled with the engine. I sidestepped her to climb inside and turn the key. Nothing. I got out, rounding to the front of the car to test the connections. Despite the ancient car, the battery was new. I retrieved my tools from my truck and within a minute her car fired to life. She stood staring at me, stupefied.
“Connection was loose,” I told her as I put my tools back in the box. “Shouldn’t give you any more trouble.”
I put the tool box back in the bed of the truck before I hopped in the cab and gunned my own engine. She walked, reluctantly, to my window. “Thank you,” she managed.
I looked her in those big doe eyes, which were a lot more contrite than angry. “You’re welcome.”
“I’d offer you money, but…,” she trailed off, looking embarrassed.
I held her gaze for just a minute longer before I said, “Don’t worry about it. Finding out you are a woman and not just a feral cat was payment enough.”
I left her sputtering behind me as I squealed out of the parking lot.
***
Pre-order SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY teaser "I Just Want to Make Love to You"
Excerpt from SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY, releasing OCTOBER 17, 2014
***
“So was this a date or some kind of a goodbye?”
She looked away. I had my answer. And it pissed me off.
“So let me get this straight. Because some other asshole screwed you over, you’re not even going to give me a chance. Is that it?”
Her eyes flashed at me. “Not just some asshole. The asshole. It started this same way. He invited me to perform in his band. He thought I had ‘it.’ That I could be a star. Meanwhile I played backup while he got to soak up the spotlight. And Gay was right there the whole way, making sure he got the opportunities I didn’t.”
“Why would she do that?” I asked.
Her eyebrow cocked. “You don’t believe me?”
“I didn’t say that,” I corrected at once. “But it is in her best interest for you to do well. Why would she play favorites?”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me, as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle. Finally she looked away. “Because I’m a harder sell, that’s why.”
It echoed what Gay had said to me. It didn’t make sense when she had said it, and it didn’t make any sense when Lacy repeated it. “Why are you a hard sell?”
“Because I won’t play the game,” she said. “I don’t care to wear slutty outfits or flirt with all the boys in the crowd. I just want to sing, get paid and go home. That’s it. I never wanted to be famous, Jonah. That’s not my scene. Fame changes people. When the people around you stop telling you no, it’s that much easier to stop telling that to yourself. So it’s no holds barred. Real life rules don’t apply. Look at us. We’re reduced to some booty call in a hotel because it would hurt your image to be seen with a steady companion who isn’t somehow more famous than you.” My eyes narrowed as she went on. “You know that’s why you’ve gotten all this recognition right? It’s because of Ariel Acardi and Jasper Carrington.”
That rubbed me the wrong way. “Gee. And I thought it had something to do with me being talented.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she snapped.
“Then what do you mean?” I snapped back.
“You’re not an artist, Jonah. You’re a paper doll that Gay can dress up, or strip down, just to fill her club.”
My heart plummeted as I stared at her. Was this really what she thought of me?
“I see,” I gritted through clenched teeth. I buttoned my shirt, which had come unbuttoned when I tried to seduce her.
It was clear that was no longer on the agenda. At least she had the decency to look chagrined and turned away. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I’ll pay you back for the room.”
“I don’t care about the fucking room,” I snarled.
“Then what do you care about?” she shot back.
I stomped over to stand almost nose to nose with her. “I cared about spending some time with the Lacy I thought I knew, not this cold-hearted bitch who comes out to play every time your pride gets a little wounded.”
There was a resounding crack throughout the room as her hand flew across my face, slapping me hard before I could stop her. “Do it again,” I dared, before I breathed “bitch,” to seal the deal.
Her other hand raised but I caught it. I curled her arm easily behind her back, bringing us face to face. “Is this some kind of fucking foreplay with you, lady?” I said under my breath as I studied her eyes.
“You’re an asshole,” she hissed.
“Then why are you here with me?” I asked as I held her even closer. As mad as I was, she still felt like heaven in my arms. That body… that fire… all I wanted to do was throw her on that bed and make her mine. It wasn’t just a fight with her anymore. It was a fight for us. “If I’m some talentless hack, some witless paper doll, why did you come here? To rub my nose in it, like some dog that pissed on the carpet?”
“No!” she denied instantly.
“Then tell me,” I commanded in a soft voice.
Her eyes darted between mine until I saw tears form at the edges. Finally she said, “I wanted you to prove it wasn’t true. That you’re not him.”
It was the most honest thing she had ever said. “You want proof?” I said before I lifted her in my arms and tossed her onto the bed. I followed her down, pinning her to the mattress with my body. “Here’s your proof.” I crushed her mouth under mine for a punishing kiss that would silence any of her doubts.
***
Pre-order SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY now from Amazon! Coming soon to B&N and iTunes!
Enter to win one of three signed copies via Goodreads! Giveaway ends 10/31/14.
***
“So was this a date or some kind of a goodbye?”
She looked away. I had my answer. And it pissed me off.
“So let me get this straight. Because some other asshole screwed you over, you’re not even going to give me a chance. Is that it?”
Her eyes flashed at me. “Not just some asshole. The asshole. It started this same way. He invited me to perform in his band. He thought I had ‘it.’ That I could be a star. Meanwhile I played backup while he got to soak up the spotlight. And Gay was right there the whole way, making sure he got the opportunities I didn’t.”
“Why would she do that?” I asked.
Her eyebrow cocked. “You don’t believe me?”
“I didn’t say that,” I corrected at once. “But it is in her best interest for you to do well. Why would she play favorites?”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me, as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle. Finally she looked away. “Because I’m a harder sell, that’s why.”
It echoed what Gay had said to me. It didn’t make sense when she had said it, and it didn’t make any sense when Lacy repeated it. “Why are you a hard sell?”
“Because I won’t play the game,” she said. “I don’t care to wear slutty outfits or flirt with all the boys in the crowd. I just want to sing, get paid and go home. That’s it. I never wanted to be famous, Jonah. That’s not my scene. Fame changes people. When the people around you stop telling you no, it’s that much easier to stop telling that to yourself. So it’s no holds barred. Real life rules don’t apply. Look at us. We’re reduced to some booty call in a hotel because it would hurt your image to be seen with a steady companion who isn’t somehow more famous than you.” My eyes narrowed as she went on. “You know that’s why you’ve gotten all this recognition right? It’s because of Ariel Acardi and Jasper Carrington.”
That rubbed me the wrong way. “Gee. And I thought it had something to do with me being talented.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she snapped.
“Then what do you mean?” I snapped back.
“You’re not an artist, Jonah. You’re a paper doll that Gay can dress up, or strip down, just to fill her club.”
My heart plummeted as I stared at her. Was this really what she thought of me?
“I see,” I gritted through clenched teeth. I buttoned my shirt, which had come unbuttoned when I tried to seduce her.
It was clear that was no longer on the agenda. At least she had the decency to look chagrined and turned away. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I’ll pay you back for the room.”
“I don’t care about the fucking room,” I snarled.
“Then what do you care about?” she shot back.
I stomped over to stand almost nose to nose with her. “I cared about spending some time with the Lacy I thought I knew, not this cold-hearted bitch who comes out to play every time your pride gets a little wounded.”
There was a resounding crack throughout the room as her hand flew across my face, slapping me hard before I could stop her. “Do it again,” I dared, before I breathed “bitch,” to seal the deal.
Her other hand raised but I caught it. I curled her arm easily behind her back, bringing us face to face. “Is this some kind of fucking foreplay with you, lady?” I said under my breath as I studied her eyes.
“You’re an asshole,” she hissed.
“Then why are you here with me?” I asked as I held her even closer. As mad as I was, she still felt like heaven in my arms. That body… that fire… all I wanted to do was throw her on that bed and make her mine. It wasn’t just a fight with her anymore. It was a fight for us. “If I’m some talentless hack, some witless paper doll, why did you come here? To rub my nose in it, like some dog that pissed on the carpet?”
“No!” she denied instantly.
“Then tell me,” I commanded in a soft voice.
Her eyes darted between mine until I saw tears form at the edges. Finally she said, “I wanted you to prove it wasn’t true. That you’re not him.”
It was the most honest thing she had ever said. “You want proof?” I said before I lifted her in my arms and tossed her onto the bed. I followed her down, pinning her to the mattress with my body. “Here’s your proof.” I crushed her mouth under mine for a punishing kiss that would silence any of her doubts.
***
Pre-order SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY now from Amazon! Coming soon to B&N and iTunes!
Enter to win one of three signed copies via Goodreads! Giveaway ends 10/31/14.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
October Newsletter, New Releases and Upcoming Appearances!
Hello, my lovelies. September was a bitch, keeping me sick almost all month with the flu, bronchitis and good ol' post nasal drip. But I am happy to report I got some major work done and you know what that means...
New books for you!
For everyone out there who started this journey with me with the GROUPIE series, you will NOT want to miss the new trilogy I have planned for you. If you've read a lot of my books, you already know I like to crossover characters and story lines. In fact I get a big kick out of it. I love to revisit those old characters just as much as you love to read them. Whether GROUPIE's Vanni and Graham, LOVE PLUS ONE'S Shannon, Jake and Jorge and FIERCE'S Jace Riga pop up in the epic billionaire FULLERTON FAMILY SAGA, or GROUPIE'S Graham and FIERCE'S Jace pop up in THE UNDISCIPLINED BRIDE, you are sure to see some old favorites as cameos, or even supporting characters, in surprising new stories. My new SOUTHERN ROCKERS trilogy will expand this seemingly infinite GROUPIE universe.
And, for the first time ever, I write from the male POV, to get you inside the head of my SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY, Jonah Riley.
I had a lot of fun getting to know Jonah through his story. I mean, it's a sexy southern boy and a 9-hour playlist of music that crosses genres from country, southern and classic rock and roll. For 24 chapters, I got to relive some of my glory days when I was a southern girl on the prowl... with all the angst and longing that implies.
And I'm pleased to announce that I will share that story with you all, across all platforms, OCTOBER 17, 2014!!
Like my bestselling and beloved FULLERTON FAMILY SAGA, the SOUTHERN ROCKERS trilogy will be released over three months. Jonah's story in October, Lacy's story, SOUTHERN ROCKER CHICK, in November and the third book, SOUTHERN ROCKER DUET, in December, when Lacy and Jonah hit the FIERCE stage to compete for a record contract.
As you already know, I'll be turning the angst up to 11. (Why? Because it goes to 11.) The hubby blew through book 1 in two days and called me more than once to bawl me out about it. The term "evil bitch" was bandied about more than once. He promises there will be a lot of broken Kindles by the time this book is done. It's going to be a wild ride with all the drama, angst, twists and turns for which you love to hate me.
*Author not responsible for broken e-readers.
And... oh yeah... Vanni's back. :EVIL GRIN:
The SOUTHERN ROCKER trilogy takes place in Austin, Texas, deep in the heart of my home state, which is where I'll be signing for all of you in February at the DEEP IN THE HEART INDIE AUTHOR EVENT. Get your tickets now!
(For $25, you can get VIP tickets to join us for the cocktail hour. Tickets are limited, so check out the FACEBOOK page to get them before they're gone.)
Who knows? Maybe we'll find a few Jonahs and Lacys of our own as we explore the iconic music scene there.
Don't forget to "like" my Facebook Author page. There are a lot of fun things coming up, blog takeovers, giveaways, and more information on upcoming appearances. Be the first to know!
See you in November, which is my birth month. We'll have LOTS of fun. I promise!
GV xoxo
New books for you!
For everyone out there who started this journey with me with the GROUPIE series, you will NOT want to miss the new trilogy I have planned for you. If you've read a lot of my books, you already know I like to crossover characters and story lines. In fact I get a big kick out of it. I love to revisit those old characters just as much as you love to read them. Whether GROUPIE's Vanni and Graham, LOVE PLUS ONE'S Shannon, Jake and Jorge and FIERCE'S Jace Riga pop up in the epic billionaire FULLERTON FAMILY SAGA, or GROUPIE'S Graham and FIERCE'S Jace pop up in THE UNDISCIPLINED BRIDE, you are sure to see some old favorites as cameos, or even supporting characters, in surprising new stories. My new SOUTHERN ROCKERS trilogy will expand this seemingly infinite GROUPIE universe.
And, for the first time ever, I write from the male POV, to get you inside the head of my SOUTHERN ROCKER BOY, Jonah Riley.
I had a lot of fun getting to know Jonah through his story. I mean, it's a sexy southern boy and a 9-hour playlist of music that crosses genres from country, southern and classic rock and roll. For 24 chapters, I got to relive some of my glory days when I was a southern girl on the prowl... with all the angst and longing that implies.
And I'm pleased to announce that I will share that story with you all, across all platforms, OCTOBER 17, 2014!!
Like my bestselling and beloved FULLERTON FAMILY SAGA, the SOUTHERN ROCKERS trilogy will be released over three months. Jonah's story in October, Lacy's story, SOUTHERN ROCKER CHICK, in November and the third book, SOUTHERN ROCKER DUET, in December, when Lacy and Jonah hit the FIERCE stage to compete for a record contract.
As you already know, I'll be turning the angst up to 11. (Why? Because it goes to 11.) The hubby blew through book 1 in two days and called me more than once to bawl me out about it. The term "evil bitch" was bandied about more than once. He promises there will be a lot of broken Kindles by the time this book is done. It's going to be a wild ride with all the drama, angst, twists and turns for which you love to hate me.
*Author not responsible for broken e-readers.
And... oh yeah... Vanni's back. :EVIL GRIN:
The SOUTHERN ROCKER trilogy takes place in Austin, Texas, deep in the heart of my home state, which is where I'll be signing for all of you in February at the DEEP IN THE HEART INDIE AUTHOR EVENT. Get your tickets now!
(For $25, you can get VIP tickets to join us for the cocktail hour. Tickets are limited, so check out the FACEBOOK page to get them before they're gone.)
Who knows? Maybe we'll find a few Jonahs and Lacys of our own as we explore the iconic music scene there.
Don't forget to "like" my Facebook Author page. There are a lot of fun things coming up, blog takeovers, giveaways, and more information on upcoming appearances. Be the first to know!
See you in November, which is my birth month. We'll have LOTS of fun. I promise!
GV xoxo
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