SCP Turns 3 Years Old:)

Rules are simple:  Start either here or over at the SCP Blog and go to each of the 24 authors listed.  Collect the letters and unscramble them (you're spelling out Secret Cravings Publishing, how simple is that?), then email your answer to reviewcoordinator@secretcravingspublishing.com  I think you're supposed to include which author's site where you found each letter.

Aside from the individual authors' special prizes, SCP has some great prizes to offer too
Grand Prize- iPad
2First Place- Kindle HDX
Second Place- $50 SCP gift certificate
Third Place- $25 SCP gift certificate
So what are YOU giving away, Kenzie?

I'm so happy you asked!  

But first, a little known fact about me:  My 6th birthday is Feb 5th, the day we award prizes. So what better way to celebrate my 'birthday' than to award someone a special prize?

Normally, I give away a free download of my books.  So you'll get a copy of Wild At Heart, or if you've already read it, then you can select one of my others.  But would you also like to receive a special souvenier from Colorado?  Yes; I brought back some goodies with me, like pens, a notepad, and maybe even a keychain.  It's been several months since I looked at what I brought back, so forgive me if I can't cite the exact prizes.

What do we have to do to win this special prize?

Easy.  Answer this question:

What is the name of Emma's ranch?  I suggest you stop by the WAH Excerpt page.

Contest runs from now until the end of the month:)

"I'd Like To Thank The Academy-I Mean, My Publisher..."

I've been chosen to be this week's SCP Author-of-the-Week!  How exciting!  That means....contest time!  At the end of the week, I'll choose a lucky commenter (okay; you know I'll choose two!) to win their choice of our 9 combined books on the SCP website.  Don't forget to leave your contact info in the comment section!

Here's where I (we) can be found this week:

Yesterday 1/12:  Melissa Keir

Monday 1/13:  Me (here), Molly's Musings, and Shannon West

Tuesday 1/14:  Cynthia Arsuaga

Wed 1/15:  Amber Skyze

Thurs 1/16:  Tricia Anderson

Friday 1/17:  Nina Pierce

See you around, and don't forget to check back for your name on Friday!

HDH #33

Welcome to Pt 2 of  the scene on Molly's blog:)  It's simply a continuation.  Enjoy:)

“Randi...what happened to us?”

           

  “I...don’t know...”she whispered.  She tore her gaze away from his, responding to the emotions he was still able to bring out in her.  “Brian, why are you telling me this?” she quietly asked, confused.

           

He stood up and went to sit beside her.  He slid his arm around her shoulders, feeling her stiffen, then gradually relax.  “I’ve always had a high opinion of you, and I’ve always been able to talk to you.  Hell, right now you know more about my frustrations and high points than my own family, or even John!  Denise just sees the benefits, but...you’re getting the whole picture.”

            

She started to speak, but he stopped her.  “No, let me finish.  Am I wrong in assuming whenever you have something bothering you, you call John, because you can’t call me?”

            

She smiled and blushed, leaning her head agaist his strong shoulder.  “No, you’re right.  You’re the first person I want to call if something’s wrong, or just good news.  But I didn’t feel right, calling you, now that you’re married.  So I call John, hoping he’ll cheer me up, or at least drop some news about you.”

            

“That’s what I thought.”  He breathed a sigh of relief.  “What I’m trying to say is, I’m tired of fighting my feelings for you.  One thing I’ve always admired you for is your loyalties to people.  A couple of years ago, when John was being an ass toward you, you let me have it when I suggested you ditch him and sleep with me instead.”

            

“That’s right,” she stated firmly.  “You’re married, Brian.  I don’t care what your circumstances...I don’t sleep with married men.  No matter how screwed up their marriages are!”

            

“And I admire you for sticking with it,” he tried again.  “But you’ve got to admit...we only had that one time.  I haven’t slept with Denise in over a year.”

            

“What the hell are you trying to say?” she jerked away from him and looked him in the eye.  “I will not have an affair with you!”

            

“I’m not suggesting that,” he placated her, grasping her hands in his.  “I just want to see you more often than whenever Fate has us in the same damn town.  I want you to tell me that it’s okay for me to call you when I’m in the city; I want to make an effort to see you more often.  Maybe even take you to lunch once in a while.”

            

“So...what you’re saying is, you want to see me once a week, maybe do lunch...all for the sake of maintaining a friendship?”

            

“Exactly.”  He flashed his dazzling smile at her.  What the hell...you’ve come this far.  In a low, silky voice, he continued, “I’d still like to sleep with you again, but you’ve told me in no uncertain terms ‘no’, so I’ll just have to be content with seeing you, talking to you face-to- face, instead of maybe catching a glimpse of you every three years.”  He raised her hand to his lips and softly kissed her knuckles.

            

“No strings?” she said huskily, her fingers on fire where his lips had been.

            

“No strings, no committments...no one gets hurt,” was his reply as he kissed her other hand.

            

She pondered the question as she turned around, wrapping his arms around her waist and settling back against his chest.  Am I strong enough for this?  Seeing him once a week would be wonderful, and I know it’s probably just a line married guys use, but this is Brian!  You want to be with him, admit it!  And none of the guys who have asked you out even come close to measuring up to him!  So just have fun with it; spend a little time with him every week, and get to know Brian the man, instead of Brian the boy whose body you crave.  Maybe in time, you’ll decide you don’t want him, after all!  Yeah, right.  And maybe he’ll divorce Denise in the process...or maybe pigs will fly...

            

Brian’s lips on her ear brought her back to reality.  She closed her eyes and inhaled his fresh scent, and a fierce longing welled up inside her.  She wrenched away and stood up, tears forming in her eyes.  Brian also stood, and went to wrap his arms around her again.  What happened?  All I did was kiss her ear...maybe she’s going to refuse, after all.  I can’t push her...  “Randi,” he whispered.

            
All of a sudden, she turned in his arms.  “All right.” 

HDH #28

Click here for more HDH fun:)

Story Recap:
Brian meets his best friend John's new girlfriend Randi and instantly flips over her.  Randi experiences similar feelings, but doesn't want to come between two friends.

It is now six months later, and Randi's back in town after the summer break.  John has been seeing Crystal while Randi's been gone; Brian goes with John to pick up Randi and tries to feel out where John stands with the two women.  It doesn't go very well.

"And Crystal?  What’s she like?”

            “Oh, she gives good head and all, and she’s got bigger tits, but Randi’s quiet...she knows when to keep her mouth shut.  Crystal talks too much, sometimes.  Although, Rand likes to psychoanalyze a topic to death, if you get her started.  But once I start kissing her, she generally shuts up about her studies.”  John grew thoughtful.  “Do you think she’d marry me?”

            “Dude,” Brian choked.  “Marriage?  You planning on keeping Crystal on the side?”

            “Naw.  Randi’d have my balls if she knew about Crystal.  I just wonder if Randi’s The One, you know, that would keep me faithful.”

            “Are you insane?  The instant Randi left college, you were on the phone, rounding up a woman to be with!  You?  Faithful?  Don’t make me laugh.”  Brian looked out the window, his resolve weakening by the minute.  Why did I agree to come?  This was a bad idea...Randi deserves someone who’ll be faithful to her, not someone who’s finding a new woman the minute her back is turned...Man, if he does propose, and she’s stupid enough to accept, then there’s nothing I can do...

            “There’s Randi, waiting as always.  You know, I like a woman who’s on time.”  John slowed the car and honked.

            “If you love her so much, why don’t you get out and hold the door for her?” 

See you here next week for Randi's POV!

HDH #27: Halloween Fun!

Click here for more Hump Day Madness:)
Since it's Halloween tomorrow, I'm giving you a break from Randi and Brian.  Since none of my books or wips have any Halloween scenes, I decided to continue the scene posted over on Molly's blog.  In Endless Love, after leaving the Haunted House, Peter, Caitlyn, and Amy join the rest of the gang at a local bar, where a surprise awaits.  Enjoy!

 “At eleven o’clock, we have to get up on stage and let the audience choose the winners. Anybody want to switch costumes with me?”

“Oh, Keri, it’ll be fun. Besides, neither of us can squeeze into that tiny skirt of yours. Thank you.” She accepted her whiskey sour from the server.

“Or your shoes,” Amy added.

Keri pouted then shrugged. “Oh well, if I get drunk enough, it won’t matter, right?”

“Just don’t fall down. I’m going to join Steph, Gretchen, and Troy on the dance floor.” Taking off her hat, Amy made her way to the crowded dance floor.

“What happened to her nose?” Keri signaled to the server. “It looks swollen.”

“It is.” Caty filled her in on what had happened. “Peter, do you dance?”

“Sure, what the hell.” He pulled himself to his feet and followed her. When the judging began, Troy, Gretchen, Keri, and Stephanie went on stage. A large selection of others in costume joined them, and after the first round, they were still in the running, along with a pregnant nun, a Hershey’s Kiss, a green M&M, and a pair of aliens. The judges eliminated the two candies first, then the aliens. After several moments of consultation, they announced a tiebreaker. To everyone’s surprise, the DJ announced, Robert Palmer and Girls as the winner.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!  See you back here next week for another exciting snippet:)

HDH #26

Welcome to another exciting installment of my scary, potentially controversial wip, titled Anatomy of an Affair.  You seemed to enjoy last week's, where Brian meets Randi and has an instant attraction.  Was it mutual?

For more HDH fun, go here.

Apologies for the head-hopping and for the length.  I'll clean it up later.  This was written maybe 12 years ago.  In this scene, Brian has called one of his stand-by girls to satisfy his arousal, but now can't get Randi out of his mind.

Just a few blocks down the street, Randi stood looking outside John’s bedroom window, her robe pulled tightly around her.  In the bed, John lay snoring, and she stared out at the stars, thinking of the man who’d rocked her world with the slightest pressure of his fingers.  How did this happen?  She asked herself over and over.  You’re acting like a teenager with a crush!  Get a grip on yourself!  The guy’s obviously a womanizer...looking to get a quick lay...look at how quickly he charmed the other girls...I wonder who he left with...who he’s with right now...Stop it!  It’s none of your business!  Besides, I love John, she argued with herself.  She turned to look at the young man sprawled across the waterbed, oblivious to everything but his dreams.  You just can’t throw away six months and go chasing after his best friend!  It’s just not done!  You never come between two guys!  Now stop acting like an oversexed idiot and get control of yourself!  Giving herself a shake, she returned to the bed and slid in beside John, shedding her robe and shivering as his body heat reached out to her and enveloped her in its warmth.  But in spite of her good intentions, her mind focused on a pair of arresting brown eyes...

            

Alone at his own window, Brian was also giving himself a mental pep talk.  She’s taken...even if John doesn’t know how to treat her the way she ought to be treated...How in the hell would you know?  You just met her!  Maybe she goes after sleezeballs...some chicks go after the bad-boy image...maybe she likes being disrespected...No way.  I recognized her type...she should be with me!  She should be with me!

            

“Brian?” A sleepy voice interrupted his thoughts.  “What’s wrong?”

            

“Nothing,” he whispered back.  “I just couldn’t sleep.”  He returned to the bed, determined to put Randi out of his mind. 

            

“Here...I’ll give you something guaranteed to help you fall asleep,” she said, sliding her hands down his chest and following with her lips.

            

Summoning his self-control, he allowed her to play with his body, squeezing his eyes shut and conjuring up Randi’s image when he felt himself not responding.  Shit.  Was this to be his fate, then?  Having to picture another woman’s face just to perform?  Afteward, he feigned exhaustion and snuggled her close until her heavy breathing signaled sleep.  Gently he eased out from under her and put as much distance from her as he could, accepting the fact that sleep was far off.

Did you check out Molly's latest installment of 'our' wip?  Yes, Hunter and Kayla will be under my name....

HDH #25

Yes, I'm aware I haven't participated lately.  Blame Molly, lol....she's even posted some of the current wip which will be under my name!

Anyway, several of you asked for a snippet of my infidelity story, called Anatomy of an Affair.  In the beginning, they meet, but Randi (heroine) is with Brian's best friend.  She's just told him her roommate is dating Mike; Brian states he hadn't seen him yet.

“He’s occupied, if you know what I mean, dude,” John Kendall winked and clinked his beer against his friend’s, inclining his head slightly toward the house.

            Brian immediately understood; Mike always preferred to take his women upstairs first, then spend the rest of the evening hitting on the other ladies before ultimately drinking too much and then going home with his original female.  He didn’t know how some guys still managed to do that...it had been fine in high school, and the first two years of college, but lately meaningless sex was losing its appeal.  He preferred to engage the women he chose in conversation, unless of course, they were an absolute knockout, then he might bed them without question.  But the last girl he’d done that to had turned out to be self-centered and uninteresting.  These days, he was more cautious about who he approached.

            “Have you found anyone yet?” John was saying, stroking Randi’s cheek.

            Yes, I have, but you found her first, he wanted to say.  Shaking his head, he sipped his beer and looked around.  Might as well be honest.  “I noticed Randi, and was about to introduce myself,” he said, careful to avoid her eyes.  “I see Brenda’s looking lonely.  See ya later.”

Over the next several weeks, I'll take you through this complicated relationship, and if you think it's believable, then I might try to finish it.  This is the story that every time I add more to it, I find out a few months later that one of my friends is going, or has gone through, a similar situation.  So I'm a little scared to keep going, lol!  This is very rough, and I'm going to have to clean it up, since there is a great deal of head-hopping.  I'll try to keep those segments off of here:)