Hump Day Hook - from WIP Plunge into Destiny

Every week a group of authors post short excerpts from their published books or works in progress. Follow this link for a complete listing of this week’s participants:
Hump Day Authors. And you can find links to these posts on Twitter using the hashtag #HDH.

Her husband says it’s over so Tara flees for the Bocos del Toro Islands off the coast of Panama. When the plane crashes in the sea, she finds herself the sudden mother of a blond-haired four-month old boy, Kevin. The two are rescued by the gorgeous Lucas and Tara soon falls in love with her new child and the man who patiently teaches her how to care for him.

I stared out the airplane window, watching mile after mile of Caribbean Sea pass by. My life had changed in an instant—that instant the man I’d been married to for fifteen years had said he’d fallen in with someone else. He hadn’t given up on the hope of a child; he’d gone on to say.

Neither have I, I thought miserably as I recalled the fertility tests and numerous times I’d laid on my back with my legs up in the air after sex. Despite the discomfort and the inconvenience of it all, I’d tried every technique without complaint, never losing hope that one day I’d hold that bright-eyed baby in my arms.Until he shattered all my dreams with a single sentence. Tears welled up in my eyes and I dabbed them away with a tissue.

My Sexy Saturday - From WIP Seaside Seduction

Every Saturday, a group of talented authors post 7 words, 7 lines or 7 paragraphs from a published book or work in progress. You can read some other My Sexy Saturday author posts by clicking here. In this excerpt, wealthy CEO Nicholas Gallero is getting more than he bargained for when he breakfasts on his Cabo San Lucas patio this morning.

When the water reached my hips, I plunged in and stroked toward the woman, who looked to be twenty feet from the shore. I swam up beside her and, floating over the crest of a wave, scooped her up in my arms. Her long dark hair hung in soggy torrents around her stone-white face and she coughed and choked through swollen purplish lips. She opened her eyes and gazed at me with enormous brown eyes. I read vulnerability in the depths of her eyes and felt a surprising urge to kiss her. And then all at once, her head tipped back and her limp body sagged in my arms and the undulating ocean waves. I reached across her bikini-clad breasts, linking my arms around her to secure her in a cross-chest carry.

Olympian Misty Hyman Interviews me at USMS Summer Swimming Nationals

I had the pleasure of finally meeting Olympian Misty Hyman. She interviewed me as part of the Day 5 recap of the USMS Summer Swimming Nationals. Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
In the photo posted above, I’m about to swim a mixed 200 free relay with Anna DeLozier, John Swick, and Aung Sann Oo. John, our relay anchor, poses with me in this pic.

I have to say my California dreams all came true at this meet. It’s been a lifetime dream to swim in the Mission Viejo pool and I enjoyed racing, hanging out with my teammates, watching my husband swim his first ever nationals races, and meeting new people. I brought home lots of medals, placing in the top 3 in 3 individual events (2nd 50 breast, 3rd 100/200 breast) and 2 relays, signed a lot of books for swimmers, and topped off the trip with a relaxing ocean swim in La Jolla Cove and an indulgent night’s sleep in the Grande Colonial Hotel. Swimming is truly a gift that invigorates me, keeps me in top physical condition, and helps give me the mental fortitude to persevere and achieve goals in and out of the water.

July Contest Winners

My contest winners are...

For the $5 Amazon gift card - Lyncee

For the signed copy of THE OPEN WATER SWIMMER - Jessica Subject

For the sea charm/book cover key chains nicely assembled by author Ellen Cross - Nora Snowden

Ladies, please get in touch with me - I need an email address for the gift card and mailing addresses for the other two. Congratulations and thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving your comments :-)

Review of Dangerous Descent on Manic Readers

Below is an excerpt from the 4.5 out of 5 star Manic Readers review of Dangerous Descent. Read the whole review by clicking here.

I actually had heard about the Viet Nam River caves that are the big stars of the book. I had seen the National Geographic special on this wonderful natural phenomenon, which was only discovered in the last couple of years. It is a huge discovery for ecologists, climbers, cavers, spelunkers, biologists, paleontologists, and all kinds of scientists, since it is so large and untouched. I understand travel to the caves is strictly monitored and not many except the most educated scientific expeditions are allowed to explore, so as not to upset the natural ecostructure. At the same time, the cave is extremely dangerous for humans to navigate. Because of my prior knowledge, I was more able to picture the story as it unfolded, and I enjoyed it enormously.

All this is shown to the reader as the book unfolds, and in addition to the natural dangers, we see human dangers as well. The writer gives us an accurate depiction of the oppressive heat, discomfort, lack of amenities, plus the huge variety of critters, both human and otherwise, that abound. The book is scary, sexy, and chock full of adventure at every turn.

Hump Day Hook - July 17 - from Love in the Labyrinths #2 - The Unseen

I am one of many talented authors who share excerpts from their books and/or works-in-progress every Wednesday on Hump Day Hook. If you'd like to read some more enticing author hooks, please follow this link.
My hump day hook for the day - quite hot, this one - comes from my soon-to-be-released (August 1) contemporary romantic adventure, The Unseen (Book 2 in the LOVE IN THE LABYRINTHS series). I'm working on edits on this as we speak :-)

Here’s the blurb:
After gem smugglers murder three men, Kent Dunbar pretends to abandon his exploration of Vietnam’s Mountain River Cave, arranges to send the female assistants, including his new love, Rebecca Devereaux, back to the States, and enlists help from a team of Vietnam Veterans who served with his father.

Rebecca, shocked and hurt by Kent’s rejection, suspects something’s afoot. At the airport about to depart, she overhears some buff older men talking and realizes they’ve arrived to help Kent carry on his mission. Rebecca convinces her best friend, Amanda, to stay and when the flight is cancelled, the other assistant, Bunny ends up with them as well.

Passion ignites when Rebecca and Kent reunite and Amanda’s crush on explorer Tom quickly turns hot and heavy. While high maintenance Bunny is sent to a comfortable hotel, the two girls join the men on the adventure. But a killer’s pursuing Bunny, a handsome man’s about to sweep her off her feet, Amanda and Tom have been kidnapped, and the smugglers have acquired special powers. Will the adventurers be able to outwit the smugglers.

In this scene, Rebecca and Kent are following the gemstone smugglers, who kidnapped their friends Tom and Amanda. They've just found a vial the smugglers dropped in the mud and are checking it out...

“Holy crap.” Rebecca jumped back, blinking again and again to see if her eyes were tricking her. But still she saw nothing except empty space.
“What’s wrong?” Kent’s voice seemed to project from nowhere. “God, it feels like ants are crawling on me.”
“It’s not that—the powder made something happen.” Rebecca wanted to pinch and slap herself. “I can’t see you anymore."

If you'd like to download Book 1, Dangerous Descent so you'll be ready to read this one by release day, it's available on Amazon.

My Sexy Saturday - July 13 - from The Unseen, Book 2 Love in the Labyrinths

Every Saturday, a group of talented authors post 7 words, 7 lines or 7 paragraphs from a published book or work in progress. You can read some other My Sexy Saturday author posts by clicking here.   My post this morning comes from my soon-to-be-released (August 1) contemporary romantic adventure, The Unseen (second book in the LOVE IN THE LABYRINTHS series).

The rattan squeaked loudly as he squeezed into the chair beside her. He slung an arm around her, pulled her in closer and pressed his mouth against hers. Her lips tasted so plump and delicious, he felt greedy for more. “I promise,” he breathed. Her full lips merged into his willingly, wetly, parting to invite his tongue inside. “Oh, Bec, I missed you so much.”
His heart throbbed with passion and love where it had felt so empty just hours ago. His tongue breached her lips, tasting and exploring her mouth. Heat coursed through his body, and his arousal pressed urgently against his pants.
The squeaking of the chair transformed into cracking and Kent and Rebecca fell on the floor, clinging to each other in a pile of woody bits—all that that remained of the splintered chair.
As she laid legs akimbo on her back, Rebecca threw her head back and burst out laughing. She pushed herself up on her hands and tucked a long lock of dark hair behind one ear. “Well that was a surprise.”
Kent leaned toward her and reached for her hand. He felt lighter than he’d felt all day seeing the joyous expression on Rebecca’s face. “Let me help you get up.”
Once they stood, Rebecca brushed off her backside. “I think I have splinters in my butt.”
“I can help with that.” Kent reached around behind her and plucked at the fabric of her pants. He itched to yank them off, so he could massage and knead her naked buttocks.

If you’d like to read Dangerous Descent, the first book in the Love in the Labyrinths series, you can buy it on Amazon.