If you pick up a copy of BOYS OF SUMMER, the Blaze anthology I have out this month with Leslie and Kimberly Raye (a frequent visitor to the blog…thanks, Kim!) you will discover in my dear reader letter that baseball has been a part of my life for a very long time. My youngest brother was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, though he chose not to go. My cousin’s husband played in the minors for years. I lived down the street from former Yankee Tino Martinez while growing up and I might have been able to contact him to pick his brain about the business. You’d think I would have wanted to write about a player since I had easy access to them…but when given a choice, I wanted the team owner.
I just love men with power.:devil:
Fortunately, so does the heroine of my novella, Callie Andrews. She used to be married to Louisville Slammer team owner, Donovan Ross. But now the team might move and Callie realizes that while she doesn’t want her ex back permanently, she wouldn’t mind a blast from their very sexual past.
Here’s an excerpt…
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Without hesitation, Donovan did Callie’s bidding. He took the tequila bottle she’d uncapped, but didn’t have the least desire to drink. For this, he wanted to be stone cold sober. He wanted to remember every detail, every nuance, every sensation. Maybe she needed a belt of good Mexican hooch to loosen up–and if she did, more power to her. But him? He was already drunk on the vision of Callie climbing over his lap, her soft, warm sex brushing across his hardness, the cool silk of the negligee he distinctly remembered buying her on their honeymoon ratcheting up the tension.
She filled a shot glass, then leaned seductively backward to place the tequila close at hand. Arching her back to complete the move, her breasts taunted him, her dark, hard nipples poking through the lacy slits on the bodice. Before he could maneuver the taut flesh into his mouth, she turned and licked his shoulder–a long, moist swipe that sent sensations skittering through his bloodstream and drove his brain into a scramble. When she dangled the salt shaker over the wet spot, he wasn’t entirely sure what she had in mind.
“You’re not,” he said, guessing.
“I love tequila shots, don’t you?”
“Haven’t had them in years,” he said, groaning when she shifted so that he was nestled between her thighs in a way that begged for him to delve into her. Deeply. Fully. But it was too soon. Too soon.
“Since our honeymoon, maybe?” she asked.
He gave his head a little shake, hoping to clear a measure of the fog from his brain. Honeymoon. Mexico. Zihuatanejo Playa La Ropa. A condo on the mountainside, overlooking the Mexican Riviera. An infinity pool on the ledge of the deck that reflected the turquoise blue of the waters below. Callie dressed in nothing but a tan, sipping tequila from the hand blown shot glasses they’d bought in town, licking salt off the sensitive spot just below her thumb.
She sprinkled the white granules on his shoulder.
Who was this woman? What had she done with his once unsure and anxious Callie? She’d always amazed him. From the first moment they’d met. She’d been around. She’d worked in diners and honky tonks and dive bars from the age of fifteen, yet she’d blushed hot pink they first time he’d parted her blouse and feasted on the perfection hidden beneath her lacy bra. She hadn’t been a virgin, but she’d taken lovemaking seriously. Sure, they’d toyed and played and eventually, developed a deep trust. But never like this. Never with such bold wickedness.
Maybe it was because they weren’t married anymore. Maybe it was because in the morning, Donovan knew he’d have no choice but to walk away.
But for tonight, he’d take what she offered.
“What are you going to do with the lime?” he asked, not entirely sure he wanted to know.
She squeezed the quartered fruit beside his lips, on the side opposite of the glass shard cuts, and let the sticky tart juice burst in his mouth and dribble down his chin and chest. She tossed the rind behind her, grabbed the filled shot glass, threw back the liquor, then swiped her tongue over the salt and then kissed away the lime. Good Lord. Why hadn’t they thought of this back in Zihuatenajo?
She repeated the drinking game again, this time squeezing the lime over his nipples and the salt was applied near his belly button. Little by little, she lowered her one-woman drinking game until she’d dropped to the floor in front of him. He closed his eyes, expecting to experience an intimate sting as the combination of salt and lime tortured his sex, but she tossed the fruit and shaker aside, swallowed the tequila with one toss of her head, and then took him into her mouth.
Sensations burst through Donovan’s body, electrifying every nerve ending, firing every inch of flesh until he thought he might burn alive. But her tongue on his skin, the measured suction of her mouth, the gentle scrape of her teeth drove him into a new state of awareness. He dragged his fingers into her hair, entangling himself in the softness, surrendering to the pleasure Callie offered with bold and brazen need.
He teetered on the brink. With eyes closed tight, he watched a kaleidoscope of color burst in his eyelids. A build-up raged within him, hot and flowing. Could he hold back? He had to. Had to.
He pushed her away and when he finally managed to open his eyes, he caught sight of a flicker of triumph in her eyes.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he said.
“That’s the idea.” She climbed back onto his lap, wavered, but managed to balance nearer his knees so that she could unsheathe a condom and cover him with slow, tight skill.
“You don’t think that’s a little premature?” he asked, wondering just how tipsy his ex-wife was.
She licked her lips. “Just because you’re wearing it doesn’t mean you have to use it right away. I just thought it best not to interrupt any crucial moments.”
With a torturous wiggle, she eased forward.
Donovan took a moment to inhale deeply, to push the thoughts of lifting her on top of him further back into his brain, as far back as an aroused man could manage. More than anything in the world, more than undoing the damage the day had wrought on his reputation, his sense of time and place and his future, Donovan wanted to escape into the place Callie offered him–an enhanced taste of the past, flavored with the nuance only his former wife could bring to the mix.
Not that he didn’t have something to offer himself.
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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I have it, I just have to get around to reading it! Love those boys of summer :wink:
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Julie,
I know i already told you, I loved it!!!!!!!!!! it’s definitely a keeper!:party:
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Morning ladies!
I too have the book, but haven’t had the time to start reading it yet. I am hoping tonight things will get back to normal after the holiday weekend so I can read tonight.
I have a quick question that I hope doesn’t make me sound too dumb. What exactly is this thing happening in Atlanta that keeps being mentioned?? And is it something that is opened to the public?? Not that I will make it there I am just curious what it is. Thanks!
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Wow!! A great teaser………..I have the book in TBR pile, just will have to dig it out and settle in for a hot read………..:thumbsup2:
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YOWZA, Julie!
We need a flaming hot icon to use. Great excerpt. I found my copy this past weekend at Super Wal-Mart. Can’t wait to read the entire anthology! 
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LOL, Janelle…it’s funny, because I really wanted to add a few more paragraphs, but then I thought…can I do that? Are we X-rated here at Plotmonkeys?
Kelly, the Atlanta references are to the RWA National convention July 25-29th. Romance Writers of America. On Wednesday night, there is a HUGE booksigning that is open to the public and that benefits literacy. If you’re in the area, do stop by! It’s loads of fun.
I’m so glad so many of you have already bought the book. THANK YOU!!! :kiss:
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Talk about hot! I can’t wait to get this book.
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Awww, I wish I were going to be in the area. But I’m not….
I say we move the convention to Massachusetts. I’m sure the thousands of people won’t mind. LOL!
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Wow! I’m heading out on lunch to try and find it.
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Yowsa! I need to find this book!!!:bowdown:
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I have it, but haven’t read it yet….going to be the next book I read!!!
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I loved the book! All three stories were exceedingly hot!
I thought the friendship between the three heroines was awesome too. This book is an amazing summer read ladies! Ya’ll go buy it! 
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you are welcome, so good. love the boys of summer:party:
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It is on the TBR shelf & I will get to it–really! Soon even, maybe–so many books, soo hard to decide which one to read next!!:smile: The teaser may make me read it sooner! Maybe I’ve been holding off because I am not a big baseball fan but I know I’m going to enjoy the book.:smile:
Enjoy the day.
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Excuse me while I run out and get that book!
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I’m sorry I didn’t read the whole thing, I was too distracted by the picture of the guy’s butt…..:smile::lol:
Lui
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I don’t have that book:hissyfit: BUT I am going to go get it
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Nice cover!!
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I finished this over the 4th of July weekend – fantastic read! Oh baby!
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I just picked up this book yesterday at the mall and started it last night. I’m now just starting Leslie’s story and I love it (after the fantastic excerpt what’s not to love?) !!
Julie, I loved your story!! Callie and Donovan were soooo hot together! Loved Kim’s story too!
Thanks for such great reads!!
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Oh, I live in Pittsburgh and could have seen him play. (good thing he isn’t playing for them this year:sad:
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Thank you, Carolyn! Thank you everyone! I’m so happily surprised that so many people already have the book!!!
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I ordered this book from Amazon.com, and it’s on its way. I can’t wait to read it, and the picture on the cover is distracting and HOT!
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Can’t wait to read The Boys of Summer. Just finished New Orleans Nights and am on my way to BAM to purchase all of your set in New Orleans books. Kepp up the great work.