One of the weird things about being a writer (one of the MANY weird things!) is the time between when a book is released and when you actually finished. As you may know (unless you’ve been living under a proverbial rock and totally missing any of my subtle hints here at Plotmonkeys) PHANTOM’S TOUCH came out yesterday, officially. I finished writing the book back in February and since then, have written KISS OF THE PHANTOM, the third book, which I’m revising right now.
There are so many things I want to tell you about PHANTOM’S TOUCH, but then I realize…wait, I can’t tell them that…that will give away X in KISS OF THE PHANTOM. Or, I want to start a discussion about a certain element of the book, but I can’t do that either because I don’t really reveal the full significance until book three.
Now trust me, PHANTOM’S TOUCH is a complete story…you’ll get a sexy meet, a thrill ride of a middle and a fully happy ending. The book features a valiant soldier, Aiden Forsyth, the second brother to have been locked in an object (this time a sword) and a Xena-like actress named Lauren Cole. I loved writing Aiden because he’s so honorable and because despite the centuries, he still struggles with the violence he saw at the massacre of Culloden, in which he fought for the British. Lauren has her own dark past, but she’s determined to make a go of her life. If she can do so with a sexy, sometimes-invisible lover, so much the better!
Ben Rousseau and Catalina Reyes, my popular secondary couple from PHANTOM PLEASURES, are back…as are Ben’s crusty father, Paschal, and the ever duplicitous Gemma Von Roan. New characters are this book as well. My personal favorite is Helen Talbot. She’s VERY loosely based on my agent, Helen Breitwieser. VERY loosely based. In fact, I thought for a while that my agent might be offended by “her” character’s maneating tendencies, but she has a great sense of humor and didn’t complain! The one thing they have in common is they are both stunningly GORGEOUS. And yeah, I love them both anyway.
Also key to the book is Lauren’s ex-husband, the Svengali-like movie producer, Ross Marchand. Put them all together and you’ll get a paranormal romance that glitters with Hollywood glam.
So here’s your tease for today…this is the “morning after” Lauren has released Aiden from the sword…sort of. Oh, and look for something special at the bottom of the post!
Lauren tested the temperature, found the scalding shards irresistible and stepped beneath the stream. So caught up in the delicious way the heat eased into her stiff and constricted muscles, she didn’t bother to close the door completely. She wasn’t entirely surprised when the chill of it falling open blasted her bare backside.
Then the feel of Aiden’s hands against her skin nearly sent her flying.
She spun.
“Aiden?”
A sensation began at a precise spot between her inner thighs and knees, much like the tips of fingers tracing over her skin. Primal heat immediately suffused her body from every direction. Inside, from the needfulness. Outside, from the water. She leaned forward against the tile and concentrated on the sweet pressure rising higher and higher up her leg and then disappearing into the tawny curls at the juncture of her thighs. Somewhere between a breath and a probing touch, the magic parted her feminine lips and slipped inside, slim at first, teasing the tip of her clit, then broadening, stretching, touching every sensitized part of her. She gasped, choking down water as her heart sent needful pulses through her veins. Her hands itched for someone to touch, someone to cling to, even as she tripped onto the edge of a climax. With no male flesh to hang onto, she grabbed the showerhead for balance.
Her breasts made exquisite contact with the chilled tile, adding to the explosion of sensations detonating across her body.
She was panting, moaning uncontrollably as pleasure built to the pressure point. Then, the contact disappeared.
“Aiden?”
“I’m here,” he said, his whisper barely audible over the shower, his form entirely unseen, even amid the steam.
Though her body throbbed for him to finish what he’d started, Lauren forced herself to breathe. To not sound anxious. Or worse—desperate. “I hoped it was you and not some other phantom haunting my trailer.”
“I am not dead,” he replied, his voice deep and throaty and decadent. “I cannot haunt you.”
“You’re sure?” she asked.
Once again, the sensation of having a man inside her—and yet…not—threw her body into extrasensory overload. She gasped, then cried out when an added force tightened around her nipples. She squeezed her eyes tight as an orgasm rocked through her, prolonged and exquisite and maddening.
“Why are you…,” she asked, spinning around, “…doing this to me?”
“Do you not enjoy my attention?” Aiden teased.
She swiped water out of her eyes. “You know I do.”
A slither of a touch snaked across her neck and shoulders. “You found me, my lady. Fate drew you to me.”
“I don’t believe in Fate,” she argued.
“I venture to guess that less than a day ago, you did not believe in phantoms, either.”
She couldn’t resist laughing. At him. At herself. She pushed the water out of her eyes again and decided she’d better get lathered soon or risk running out of hot water. She loved her luxury trailer, but it was a trailer, not a suite at the Crown Chandler Beverly Hills.
“You’ve got me there,” she agreed.
Suddenly, he was surrounding her again. In front. In back. Over. Beneath. Inside. She gasped for breath, sputtering when water flooded her mouth and nose.
“I want you everywhere,” he admitted.
She forced herself to move to the other side of the shower stall. “Slow down, phantom-boy. You’re going to drown me. Unless,” she said, suddenly suspicious, “that’s your intention. Take me into the afterlife with you?”
Though a wave of presence rushed at her, the change in atmosphere, this time, remained inches away. She felt certain that if she reached out, she’d collide with magically weighted air.
“I told you,” he said. “I am not dead.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Suddenly, all she could hear—all she could feel, was the cold draft from the opened shower door and the hot sizzle of the water against her skin.
Was he gone?
Had she insulted him?
She had no idea what constituted a faux pas in the world of phantoms and ghosts, but she did know she had to get out of the shower. She made short work of lathering her body with a fresh bottle of her favorite aromatherapy wash, courtesy of Cinda, no doubt, and then took the time to wash and condition her hair. After doing a quick check to make sure all necessary parts were sufficiently buffed and clean, she shut off the shower and reached for a towel.
Stepping into the cold bathroom, she wondered how far Aiden had wandered. Still dripping, she closed behind her and began to call his name.
But the instant the metal trim touched the stall, the lights above her flashed. A hot spire of electricity shot through her body, seizing her muscles until she dropped, unconscious, to the ground.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Warm wishes for a Happy Birthday go out to Plotmonkey pal Cheryl S. today! We hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day!
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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Wow!! What a fabulous excerpt!!
Can’t wait to read it!
Happy Birthday Cheryl S.!
Have a great day all,
Cher
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Happy birthday Cheryl!
Wow, that’s one hot story! Sounds awesome!
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Wow! Great scene. I look forward to reading it. I bought Phantom’s Touch last Saturday, at the Books A Million in the shopping center where I work. But I haven’t read Phantom’s Pleaseures yet. I’ll have to get that one and read it first. That won’t be until after Christmas.
I like to read Christmas themed romances in Dec. Anyone have any suggestions for a good one? It doesn’t even have to be a current one.
Happy Birthday Cheryl S.!
Everyone have a great day.
Debbie
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The download for the Sony is finally up on the site and I was all set to download it, then I realized, I wouldn’t be able to put the complete set of books on the shelf, so I will need to go buy it at Borders. Gotta get Beddle the Bard tomorrow anyway, might as well add it to the pile.
It was a great little tease- so who is trying to kill her??? brat.
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ev, there’s a reason this is my favorite emoticon
I’ll be picking up Beedle as well, of course. Glad the Sony version went up…the Kindle version isn’t (or wasn’t as of last night) which is something I’ve asked my publisher about.
Debbie, Roxanne St. Claire is giving away a Christmas themed novella over at her website. It’s free, so you might want to check it out. Limited time only. It originally appeared in a Christmas-themed novella collection we did together called I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
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Great teaser Julie! I have Phantom’s Touch at the top of my tbr pile. I’m reading Yule Be Mine by Jennifer LaBrecque right now. It’s a really hot read that takes place at Christmas time. Must read faster so I can get to Phantom’s Touch!
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OK, didn’t read the excerpt because I have the book sitting here next to me, and I’m determined to not start on it until I finish a few things that I need to get done first. I’m terrible. Once I get into a book, I put everything else off (including meals and laundry) and I have some things I have to get done and can’t afford to get sidetracked by a hot phantom! :giggler
Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
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Yey, Cheryl..
Good excerpt, Julie..
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I WANT MY COPY NOW! *shakes fist at Amazon* Yeah, yeah. It’s in the mail. I’ve heard that before! I love your writing, Julie. You set up a scene so well. *looks for jealous emoticon*
I’m off to meet the DD for her MD appointment. She’s scheduled for her last round of eye surgeries next week. Cornea transplant and glaucoma implant so far. Next up is laser glaucoma surgery and cataract removal. If all that takes, then after the first of the year, she’ll have plastic surgery to repair the eyelid. Of course, the surgery is scheduled the middle of finals week. Murphy’s Law.
Happy Hump Day, ya’ll! :jumpleaf
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Happy Birthday, Cheryl!
Loved the excerpt, Julie! I can’t wait to read it!
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love Love LOVE this book!!!
For those of you who have been living on some desert island and haven’t read one of Julie’s books, let me tell you, GET THIS ONE! I absolutely adored it, my favorite of anything she’s ever done, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Lauren was a fantastic heroine–totally loved the Hollywood angle, which was realistic and a nice backdrop for the story, without it getting in the way. And Aiden…le sigh. le yum. My favorite of the brothers…so far, at least.
Congrats again, Julie, on a wonderful, fabulous book. I hope this one rockets you to the bestseller lists!!!!
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Picked up your book at Barnes and Noble yesterday, Julie, and am planning on curling up wiht it this weekend. I wanted to get to it soon, but I am drowning in my students’ research papers at the moment. Sigh.
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I finished reading Phantom’s Touch over the weekend.
I can’t wait for the next in the series.
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I asked Santa for your books Julie… can’t wait to read them… Great teaser by the way.
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I :heart1: my postal carrier! I got home and the Amazon box was in the mail. I know what I’m doing after dinner – and it’s not the dishes.
*stares covetously at book, remembers deadline, sighs* Back 
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What a tease Julie!
Can’t wait to read to read Phantom’s Touch as I loved Phantom Pleasures. Yesterday I was at Wal-Mart & Target but neither had Touch! Darn! Hopefully when I get a chance to get to Border’s they will have it. There are so many books out now that I want!!! Thanks for telling us about Roxanne’s give away. Love her books also!
Silver, good luck to your daughter on her surgery. I hope it all goes smoothly.
Debbie, good Christmas reads, any of Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories are always good especially the ones about the angels Shirley, Goodness & Mercy. Right now I am reading a Christmas Blaze book Heating Up the Holidays with three stories by Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D’Alessandro & Jamie Sobrato. I’ll Be Home for Christmas an anthology with stories by Linda Lael Miller, Catherine Mulvany, Julie Leto & Roxanne St. Clair, Santa Baby an anthology by Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster & Carly Phillips those are all Christmas books I have read in years past. Good luck finding some Christmas stories to read.
We need Christmas icons!! Pretty Please!
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Now that a fabulous excerpt!
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Loved the excerpt!
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“Happy Birthday” to Cheryl S!
Love the excerpt!
Pat Cochran
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Fabulous excerpt, Julie! Yow!
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Julie, that was a fantastic excerpt! Now I wish I could go get the book and just spend the night reading it. Unfortunately, I’ll be cleaning and baking, if I have time, so I can help my parents get everything ready for their Christmas open house on Saturday.
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Great excerpt, Julie. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes. They are truly appreciated and have made me feel all warm and fuzzy. This is the best place to visit.