Okay, it’s Monday night and I just got caught up on my DVR recordings of some shows I missed last week. And OMG, I’m sitting here with my jaw on my chest.

Warning–there will be spoilers!!!

(Oh, let me quickly say that, like Janelle, I’m super upset that some of my new favorite shows have been canceled, especially The River and Awake. Boo!)

Okay, back to the shows I got caught up on tonight. First, we watched Sunday night’s season-ending episode of Once Upon A Time. What a GREAT show, I really love it. Oh, and in case you’re new around here (lol) I happen to have a fairy tale series of books that I’ve written for Blaze, about a world called Elatyria where fairy tales are real and our history is their myth. My most recent story was out in February, called Sleeping With A Beauty (in the Once Upon A Valentine Blaze collection.) And I just turned in a Christmas story, called The Prince Who Stole Christmas, which is a mashup of The Nutcracker and Coming to America. And, just for what it’s worth, MY Elatyria stories started coming out long before this show started.

Anyway, back to TV. I really loved the season ender of Once Upon A Time. I had been wondering how on earth they’d sustain the show, and how long it would take the audience to get annoyed with the long, dragged-out “curse” storyline where nobody knew the truth. Well, now everybody does, and things just took an even more interesting turn. With “magic” sweeping through Storybrooke, what will happen next season? I see a real war between Regina and Mr. Gold (who is my favorite character in the show.) Truly can’t wait for next fall…Mr. Gold & Belle have so much potential, my heart is already twisting as I see him making mistakes that will probably cost him her love.

Okay, the other show I just watched–last week’s Grey’s Anatomy. OMG–what a cliffhanger! I was sitting there all through the episode wondering where on earth they were going to take the show, with all my favorites saying they were leaving. Well, that last 60 seconds at the site of a plane crash, when we’re told that one of the characters on that plane isn’t going to make it, got my heart pounding. Frankly, I found myself wishing April Kepner had been on the plane because she’s the only one on the show I wouldn’t mind dying…lol. Everybody else on that plane I love and really hate to see go.

My prediction: Arizona. The heartfelt scene between her and Callie, where she begged Callie never to leave, made me think we were being set up for Callie’s future heartbreak, not Arizona’s. Oh, and I also think Meredith’s bloody hand doesn’t blood well for her future in surgery, Derek might be injured badly enough that he can’t go to Boston to pursue his fellowship, and a near brush with death will bring Mark & Lexie together, and send Christina right back to Owen. (By the way, Katie, I saw your comment yesterday about Patrick Dempsey leaving…where did you hear that? Everything I’ve read said that he, Meredith, Karev, Bailey and and Yang are all definitely confirmed to return next year!)

What do you think?? Are you as excited as I about Thursday night’s episode? And are you loving on Once Upon A time??

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Carly Here! I’m Blogging at Penguin USA – Come say hi! When is it Time to Say Goodbye? (To Characters, that is!)

Network shows are being cancelled. Over the past few days there have been announcements from various networks about what shows are being renewed, and which are not coming back for a new season. Needless to say, I’m more than a little annoyed that about EIGHT of the new shows I started watching this past season are now being cancelled. Shows like Alcatraz, The River, Missing, Awake, GCB, and The Firm. All cancelled. I sometimes wonder why I even bother watching any new shows when the Fall season starts. I get invested in the story lines and characters, then I’m left hanging at the end of the season when the show isn’t renewed.

There are a few new shows I started to watch that ARE being renewed, such Grimm, Once Upon a Time, and Revenge. And some of my other favorites like Castle, Hawaii 5-0, Grey’s, The Biggest Loser, and Nikita. But I’m still miffed at all the new shows that they ARE cancelling — now there’s going to be a slew of OTHER new shows that premiere to replace those, and I’m a little gun shy about getting invested in those new shows for fear that they’ll be cancelled, too. SIGH.

If you’re curious to see/know if your favorites made the cut, here you go:

ABC
The Bachelor: Officially renewed.
The Bachelorette: Officially renewed.
Body of Proof: Officially renewed.
Castle: Officially renewed.
Charlie’s Angels: Officially cancelled.
Cougar Town: Officially renewed… by TBS!
Dancing With the Stars: Officially renewed!
Desperate Housewives: Officially cancelled; series finale aired May 13.
Don’t Trust That B—– in Apartment 23:. Officially renewed.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Officially canceled.
GCB: Officially cancelled.
Grey’s Anatomy: Officially renewed.
Happy Endings: Officially renewed.
Last Man Standing: Officially renewed.
Man Up: Officially cancelled.
The Middle: Officially renewed.
Missing: Officially cancelled.
Modern Family: Officially renewed.
Once Upon a Time: Officially renewed.
Pan Am: Officially cancelled.
Private Practice: Officially renewed.
Revenge: Officially renewed.
The River: Officially cancelled.
Scandal: Officially renewed.
Shark Tank: Officially renewed.
Suburgatory: Officially renewed.
Work It: Officially cancelled.

CBS
2 Broke Girls: Officially renewed.
The Amazing Race: Officially renewed.
The Big Bang Theory: Officially renewed.
Blue Bloods: Officially renewed.
Criminal Minds: Officially renewed.
CSI: Officially renewed.
CSI: Miami: Officially cancelled.
CSI: NY: Officially renewed.
A Gifted Man: Officially cancelled.
The Good Wife: Officially renewed.
Hawaii Five-0: Officially renewed.
How I Met Your Mother: Officially renewed.
How to Be a Gentleman: Officially cancelled.
The Mentalist: Officially renewed.
Mike & Molly: Officially renewed.
NCIS: Officially renewed.
NCIS: Los Angeles: Officially renewed.
NYC 22: Officially cancelled.
Person of Interest: Officially renewed.
Rob: Officially cancelled.
Rules of Engagement: A safe bet. Could go either way.
Survivor: Officially renewed.
Two and a Half Men: Officially renewed.
Undercover Boss: Officially renewed.
Unforgettable: Officially cancelled.

FOX
Alcatraz: Officially cancelled.
Allen Gregory: Officially cancelled.
American Dad: Officially renewed.
American Idol: Officially renewed.
Bob’s Burgers: Officially renewed.
Bones: Officially renewed.
Breaking In: Officially cancelled.
The Cleveland Show: Officially renewed.
Family Guy: Officially renewed.
The Finder: Officially cancelled.
Fringe: Officially renewed.
Glee: Officially renewed.
House: Officially cancelled.
I Hate My Teenage Daughter: Officially cancelled.
Kitchen Nightmares: Officially renewed.
Napoleon Dynamite: Officially cancelled.
New Girl: Officially renewed.
Raising Hope: Officially renewed.
The Simpsons: Officially renewed.
Terra Nova: Officially cancelled.
Touch: Officially renewed.
The X Factor: Officially renewed.

NBC
30 Rock: Officially renewed.
Are You There, Chelsea?: Officially cancelled.
Awake: Officially cancelled.
Bent: Officially cancelled.
Best Friends Forever: Officially cancelled.
Betty White’s Off Their Rockers: Officially renewed.
The Biggest Loser: Officially renewed.
Celebrity Apprentice: Officially renewed.
Chuck: Already canceled; two-hour series finale aired Jan. 27.
Community: Officially renewed.
Fashion Star: Officially renewed.
Free Agents: Officially cancelled.
Grimm: Officially renewed.
Harry’s Law: Officially cancelled.
Law & Order: SVU: Officially renewed.
The Office: Officially renewed.
Parenthood: Officially renewed.
Parks and Recreation: Officially renewed.
The Playboy Club: Officially cancelled.
Prime Suspect: Officially canceled.
Smash: Officially renewed.
The Firm: Officially cancelled.
Up All Night: Officially renewed.
The Voice (Season 3): Officially renewed.
Whitney: Officially renewed.

THE CW
90210: Officially renewed.
America’s Next Top Model: Officially renewed.
Gossip Girl: A safe bet. Officially renewed.
H8R: Officially canceled.
Hart of Dixie: Officially renewed.
Nikita: Officially renewed.
One Tree Hill: series finale aired April 4.
Remodeled: Officially cancelled.
Ringer: Officially cancelled.
The Secret Circle: Officially cancelled.
Supernatural: Officially renewed.
The Vampire Diaries: Officially renewed.

So, now that you’ve seen the official list, what shows that you love made the cut? Which shows that you enjoy got the ax? Feel free to rant!

The winner of Leslie’s Jungle Madness giveaway of a $20.00 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble is…

# 26! REGINA ROSS!

Regina, please drop Leslie an email at author @ lesliekelly.com (no spaces) to claim your prize. Congratulations!!!

Hope you all have a….

Jumping in for Les … what is everyone reading this weekend? I admit to needing a good solid read, so let’s hear it!

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Hi–this is Leslie–thanks for jumping in and starting this thread today Carly! I totally forgot last night!

I’m actually reading Midnight in the Garden of Good And Evil by John Berendt. I have seen the movie with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack several times (and LOVE it) and figured I’d finally try the book. So far it’s a bit dry, but still very interesting!

Since we’ve all got books out right now (have you read BRINGING DOWN SAM yet??) I’m giving away a $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You know what to do, just comment and you’re entered to win!

So you’ve had some time to read. And to think. Now I get to ask … but first – from the blog I did for Lauren Dane last week … there are different kind of heroes in Romance –

In my Serendipity series, I’ve done three very different heroes.
Ethan, the bad boy;
Nash, the “too perfect” hero; and
Dare, the protector.

I love them each in their own way – kinda sounds like my kids, right?

As much as I love bad boys as a reader, I have to say I have a new favorite hero as a reader and a writer and that’s the protector – and when Liza came into the picture, that’s who Dare Barron morphed into for me. The protector.

I’m not saying Dare is my favorite Barron brother. I don’t think I can – or should – pick. BUT YOU CAN!

Who’s your favorite Barron brother? And why?

What’s up with all the posts, particularly on Facebook, about how our childhoods were somehow superior because we didn’t have cell phones, iPods, Google, etc. Sorry, but while I adored my childhood, I happen to love all the opportunities my daughter has now because of modern technology. I don’t see the big deal. “Kids don’t go outside and play!” they lament. Well, yes, they do. All the time. People who actually HAVE kids know this. (And I live in Florida…try keeping our kids inside on a beautiful day with a turquoise blue pool sparkling in the backyard.)

So yeah, we drank out of hoses instead of bottled water. Does that make our childhood’s superior? (My hoses are currently hooked up to reclaimed water, which is not drinkable. My hose when I was a kid was hooked up to the well my grandfather dug. Big difference!)

We didn’t have cell phones. No, we didn’t…and because of this, we had a lot less freedom–not more. I couldn’t call my mom and say that practice ran late and could she wait 30 minutes before she left the house and picked me up…no, she had to sit in the hot car and wait for me. How is that better? Last week, my daughter had a music rehearsal 20 miles away from my house. If she hadn’t been able to call me, I would have left my house hours before I really needed to. No thanks!

For all of those people who were allowed to run around until the street lamps came on…yea, not so much in my neighborhood. We weren’t allowed to leave the yard. I grew up in the city limits and I wasn’t allowed to even go to the park a block away unless my older brother was with me and my grandmother had checked in with the neighbors who lived across the street. So I don’t let my daughter run around unchecked now, either. We have a house in our neighborhood that has some…let’s say…”problem” residents. In my childhood, we might not have even known about it. Now, not only do all the parents in the neighborhood KNOW, three neighbors have security cameras pointing at their front door.

Do you remember life before Google? Because I do! Hours in the library, trying to do a report that you couldn’t finish because some other kid had checked out all the books you needed. No thanks. I’d rather teach my daughter about the difference between a primary source and Wikipedia than have to run around to several branches of the library to get the book she needs!

I understand the need to feel nostalgic. I’m always trying to recreate some of the best parts of my childhood for my daughter. But I don’t think my childhood was superior because we had less cool stuff. We didn’t know we had less cool stuff. We had what we had and we probably didn’t appreciate it as much as our parents thought we should. That’s the natural order of things.

It’s one thing to be nostalgic about our childhoods…there’s nothing wrong with that. But I do think it’s fairly arrogant to think that our childhoods were somehow better because we had 45 record players instead of iPods or we watched Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch when we got home from school instead of playing on the Xbox. Childhood is something to be celebrated…then, now or in the future!

Don’t you think?

As you all know, last year I began dipping my toe in the self publishing pool, along with a lot of other authors. Unlike a lot of other authors who are re-releasing older books to which they’d regained the rights, I’ve released never-before-published books that I’d written but, for one reason or another, had never sold.

I haven’t talked a whole lot about them here, haven’t even put the covers on the side of the web page or anything, mainly because the first two, Coming Home and Angel Baby, didn’t exactly fit with the kinds of books I’m writing now. I think they’re good, and worth reading, but they’re not the snappy, super-sexy, a little outrageous reads you guys know me for now.

Well, that has changed with the release of my newest self published title, BRINGING DOWN SAM.

Bringing Down Sam is a light, fast-paced, sexy romance about a former child model–Eve Barret–whose friends talk her into a crazy scheme to “bring down” public enemy # 1, Sam Kenneman. Sam’s an author who just wrote a book called 101 Ways To Avoid Commitment. It was supposed to be a joke…but women aren’t getting it. And they’re out for revenge. Eve is to pose as the ditzy, blond bimbo he extols in his book, get him to fall for her, then dump him flat.

That’s the plan…but plans have a way of going awry. Especially because Sam’s not really a sexist jerk and Eve’s definitely not a bimbo. And the two of them are falling for each other in a big way.

There’s some really interesting back-story about Bringing Down Sam, which I talk about in my note to readers at the end of the book. I won’t go into it all here, but suffice it to say, I wrote this book after I’d sold Night Whispers (published by Harlequin Temptation in 1999) but my editor couldn’t buy it because of the ex-supermodel-heroine. She did love one of the heroine’s friends, though, Ruthie Sinclair, and asked me to write a proposal with her as the heroine. I did…and sold the book three weeks later! That was Suite Seduction, published in December 2000.

Anybody who’s read Suite Seduction would probably get a real kick out of seeing the “original” Ruthie, with her besties (who don’t appear in SS…I stripped out all the continuity elements from what was intended to be a four-book series.)

I had a lot of work to do on Bringing Down Sam before I could bring it to market. Not just because I am a stronger writer now, but also because I scavenged that book a lot over the years. I’d always loved it–there were some scenes I thought were really fun–so when I was writing books later on, I’d sometimes steal them. There are entire scenes from the first version of BDS that appear in Into The Fire, my 4th published book. Nate’s character is also a total re-work of Sam himself, because I so loved him as a hero. I also modeled (<--- my youngest would be screaming "PUN!" here...modeled, heroines are both former models...get it?) the heroine of my HQN title She's Got The Look after the heroine in BDS, as well as the relationship with the four friends.

So, as you can see, I had some patching to do. I would certainly never publish books with the same scenes, so I had to replace what I'd scavenged, weave it in to the original work, and make it flow. Oh, and then there was the fact that I'd never technically finished BDS--I'd written all but the last 2 chapters, not wanting to "jinx" myself and get another rejection on a full manuscript. So, yeah, lots of work.

The result was, I think, a really strong book! It's fun and funny and sassy and very sexy. It's also emotional and has some real heart, genuine conflict and avoids the dumb mistakes I would have made if I'd finished this book thirteen years ago. I've gotten some really nice notes from readers in just the week since it was released, and it already has a couple of lovely reviews.

There's one problem, and I'm sorry to tell you this, but for now, it's only available on Amazon. I can hear the groans--I'm truly sorry--but I really wanted to try the Amazon Prime program, wherein Prime members can "borrow" it for free for a month, and in order to do that, I had to give the book to Amazon exclusively for 90 days. After the 90 days, I'm sure I'll release it in all the other e-formats.

If you don't have a Kindle, don't worry, you can still read it on your computer or phone in a Cloud reader that Amazon provides. It's super easy!

Anyway, I'm hoping you'll help me out by buying or borrowing this book. If you like my books--I promise you'll like it.

And if you do read it and wouldn't mind taking a few minutes to leave a review on Amazon, I'd be SO appreciative! I've heard that it takes at least 10 reviews to really get a book some notice in the mass of ebooks that Amazon carries. Good, bad or indifferent...10's the number. Right now I'm at two. I'd really love to see that number climb. I am NOT asking you all to stack the review deck with a bunch of gushy ego-strokes...be as honest as you want! I'd just really appreciate you taking the time to do it.

To that end, anybody who reviews the book within the next 2 weeks on Amazon can write to me and send me a link to the review and I'll send them a print copy of one of the books I've mentioned in this post--Suite Seduction, Night Whispers, Into The Fire, or She's Got The Look--depending on availability. Just drop me a line at author@lesliekelly.com and I'll send you a book. (U.S. only please!)

Meanwhile, if you're still not sold and would like to read an excerpt, click to check out a bit of Bringing Down Sam. Enjoy!

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When they reached the condominium building, Sam made no effort to wait to be invited up. He took her arm firmly as they walked through the garage to the elevator. “I think I’m interested now. In the offer you made earlier.”

Eve followed him into the elevator. “Offer?”

“Uh-huh. Before we left. You offered me…a drink. I think I’ll take you up on it now.”

His mouth said drink. But Sam knew his eyes said something else entirely. She pulled away from him, skittish and nervous. Eve was suddenly so easy to read. She didn’t want to be alone with him. He’d wondered earlier that evening if she was a tease, the type of woman who enjoyed being admired but not actually physically touched. That was not the case, however. She’d liked being in his arms. No question about it. When he’d first suggested they leave the party, she’d known exactly what he was really suggesting. He’d seen the excitement in her eyes. Now, though, she regretted it. Sam was determined to find out why.

Though the elevator was roomy, he stood so close to her his trousers brushed her dress. He kept one hand curled over her elbow, not giving her a chance to pull away from him.

When they reached her floor, she quickly walked to the door of the penthouse. “You know, Sam, I’m afraid I overdid it with the champagne. And it always gives me a headache. You will let me offer you a drink another time, won’t you?”

He shook his head and hid a smile. Headache my ass! “If you’ve had too much to drink, you’d better let me in so I can take care of you. Don’t you worry about a thing.” Not allowing her a chance to protest, he took the key from her hand and ushered her into the condo.

“I will be all right, I just need to lie down.”

“Right. You just go in and lie down. I’ll bring you a drink and some aspirin. How about a cold cloth for your head?”

He heard her small groan of annoyance. “Look, you don’t need to go to all this trouble. I’m just fine.”

“Well, if you’re fine, maybe I’ll stay for that drink.”

He saw her bite the corner of her lip indecisively. She didn’t want him taking care of her. Nor did she want him staying to socialize. Sam enjoyed her discomfort. It served her right for trying to scam him.

“Maybe I should lie down,” she finally said. He saw her bottom lip curve out in a tiny pout. She didn’t like being coerced. Sam imagined she was used to getting her own way.

“Okay, go on, I’ll be in in just a minute.”

She gave him one worried stare over her shoulder as she left the kitchen, crossed the living room and entered a door on the opposite side of the condo. Sam quickly glanced through the cabinets in the kitchen, noting she had absolutely no food. The refrigerator was nearly empty, too. He wondered how long she’d been in town.

Finding some bottled water, he grabbed it, then crossed the living room and knocked lightly on the bedroom door. “Eve? Can I come in?”

Silence. Sam gently pushed the door open. The room was nearly dark, lit only by the light emerging from the attached bathroom. He saw a form huddled under the covers of the king-sized bed. Crossing the room silently, he found Eve curled up on her side, with her hands beneath her chin, pretending she was sleeping.

“Eve?” She still didn’t reply. No way was she asleep. She’d left the kitchen less than five minutes before. He’d be willing to bet she still had her dress on!

“Gee, I guess your headache’s better already. But you might need this anyway.” Sam spoke in a whisper, as if he believed she was out cold. She let out a dramatic sigh and shifted under the plush comforter.

Sam unscrewed the top of the bottle he held. “Eve? I think the best way to cure a headache like yours is with some nice, cold water.”

Not even hesitating, he lifted the bottle and poured a fast, steady stream onto her forehead.

Eve screamed when the cold water hit her head. She shot straight up, thrusting the covers off her body. “Just what are you doing?” Jumping out of the bed, she wiped the water off her face with her hands.

Sam stood right next to her, a smirk on his lips. “I guess that helped. Maybe you’ll feel well enough now to take off your shoes and clothes before you climb back under the covers.”

Eve saw him glance knowingly at her white dress. “Yeah, well, when I do it’ll be alone, pal!”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Miss Barret…if that is your name.”

Eve stared at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, who the hell are you really?”

Eve felt her imaginary headache begin to turn real, pounding in her temples. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sam gave her a look of disbelief as he plopped down on her bed and leaned back against the headboard. She noted he avoided the large puddle near her pillow.

“If you’re a brainless bimbo, I’m in line for the Nobel Prize for literature. Now, who are you?”

Eve eyed him warily, wondering how much to admit. “My name is truly Eve Barret.”

“Okay, the rest of it?”

Gingerly sitting down on the corner of the bed, Eve said, “I started modeling as a kid.” So far, so good. She wasn’t actually lying yet.

“Why the act?”

“What act?”

“Don’t play dumb. Although, you do it well. Why the brainless-breathy-blonde act?”

Part of her ached to tell him the truth. She was already uncomfortable with the whole situation, and would just as soon have ended it right away. But she wasn’t ready to tell this guy she’d had the nerve to think she could make him fall at her feet, pining away in love with her. He’d laugh in her face before shutting the door on it.

“Well,” she finally explained, “I guess it’s what people expect. You know, a lot of executives expect tall blonde models to have a certain way about them.”

“A certain stupid way?”

Eve nodded.

“So why’d you keep it up for me? I’m not an executive.”

Eve struggled for an explanation. Suddenly an unpleasant look crossed Sam’s face. “Wait a minute. It’s my father, right? You found out he’s the new owner of a number of magazines, and you were trying to get to him through me?”

Unable to suppress a trill of laughter, Eve shook her head. “I’m afraid impressing him was the last thing I did tonight. He looked at me like I was some kind of unpleasant insect. No, I swear, your father had nothing to do with it.”

“Then why?”

She paused. “I guess it was just easier to keep it up all the time than to slip in and out of character.” She watched him, trying to determine if he believed her or not. His expression seemed to soften.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I am feeling a headache coming on. Maybe you’d better go.” Eve crossed the room to her bedroom door, waiting for him to follow. He didn’t budge. She looked over her shoulder and put one hand on her hip. “Well?”

“You did it again. You never do wait for people to answer, do you? I’m not going anywhere.”

“What do you mean?” she asked warily.

“I mean, you issued an invitation to me.”

“Oh, have your silly drink, if you must. Then you can leave.”

Sam chuckled. “That’s not the invitation I meant.”

Eve crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Oh? I don’t recall inviting you to do anything else.”

He slowly stood and crossed the room. Eve watched him, eyes wide, feeling like a stalked animal. His stare was unwavering, his steps smooth, steady and deliberate. When he reached her side, he tilted her chin up with the tip of one index finger. “Don’t you?”

Eve shook her head, unable to tear her eyes from his. She licked her lips nervously.

His generous mouth curved into a smile. “Maybe your invitation was silent. Maybe you’re even inviting me again right this second.”

And he was right. She was. Because all she wanted right now was for him to kiss her again, to continue that sultry exploration they’d begun on the dance floor. Now that she no longer had to act a part for him, and could be free to be something like her real self, she wanted that kiss more than anything, even if a voice deep inside her told her she didn’t deserve it.

She remained silent, not even trying to duck away when he put his hands on either side of her, pressing them flat against the bedroom door, effectively trapping her just inches from his chest.

“I liked kissing you,” he whispered.

“I liked it too.”

And then he was. Kissing her. Tasting her. Driving her crazy.

His mouth was soft, nibbling at her lips until she parted them and welcomed his tongue with her own. Tilting her head, she invited him deeper and their tongues swirled and tangled, lazy, slow and sultry. She lifted her arms around his neck, holding him even more tightly, driven more than a little mad by the press of his long, hard body against her softer curves. His kiss was hot, demanding, but his tongue tasted sweet and she thought she could happily drown in him. She felt his fingers trail a course from the nape of her neck all the way down to the small of her back, and shivered when he gently slid them inside the waist of her dress, stroking her hip, nearing her bottom.

Eve reached for Sam’s jacket, trying to shrug it off one shoulder. Instead of helping her, however, he ended their kiss and pulled away. She wanted to cry, missing his warmth and his strength and that amazing mouth.

Fearing her legs wouldn’t hold her, she leaned back against the door, sucking in deep, ragged breaths. Sam took another step back, watching her from a foot away. He didn’t reach for her, didn’t try to lead her to the bed—or pick her up and toss her on it.

Hell.

“Is that really all you wanted?” she asked when she could finally speak.

He shook his head and rubbed a not-entirely-steady hand over his jaw. “Not by a long shot.”

Oh, thank heaven. For an awful moment, she’d feared he would be satisfied with that one long, hot kiss.

“But it’ll do for a start.”

His gaze drifted down her body, pausing to stare at her curves through the white dress. She felt her already aching nipples grow even tighter beneath the fabric and wanted him to touch her with his hands the way he did with his eyes. She saw him clench his jaw, saw the pulse beating in his temple as he stared hard at her. There was no way he could possibly hide his thoughts—the intensity of his stare betrayed him, as did his quickened breath. Eve felt a thrill course through her body. He was claiming her. She waited for her conscience to shout out, demanding that she show him the door, but she couldn’t hear a thing except the pounding of her heartbeat in her own ears.

“Goodnight, Eve.”

She froze. “What?”

“I said, goodnight. I think it’s time for me to go.”

“Go?” Her voice squeaked. “You want to go now?”

Knowing she must sound like an idiot for parroting his words, she shook her head hard. He was walking out on her? After that kiss, he was just going to walk away?

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said softly, and his voice held a note of something sounding like regret. “You have no idea how much I want to take you up on your latest invitation. A few hours ago, I would have.”

Eve shook her head hard and straightened, trying to shake off the physical sensations still sparking through her body. Sam cupped her cheek with his warm hand, but she yanked her head back, feeling too rejected to have him touch her at all.

What an idiot she’d been! She’d decided earlier in the evening that there was no way she was going to sleep with Sam Kenneman and she should have stuck with that decision. At least then she wouldn’t feel like such fool, standing in her bedroom, a quivering mess, aching for someone who didn’t want her.

“So what’s different now?” she finally asked, her tone icy. Though she stared down at the carpet, tense and angry, Eve couldn’t resist when he tugged her chin up and made her look at him. She sensed unshed tears in her eyes and hated him for putting them there. “What is it? You discover I have a brain so now I’m not good enough to sleep with? What the hell changed things, Sam?”

He didn’t say anything for a heart-stopping moment, and Eve regretted showing how hurt she was. But she couldn’t help it. For some reason, this rejection had brought out a lot of old memories she thought she’d put aside. Feelings of self-doubt, of being unworthy, crept into her mind, dancing around her head with malicious glee, taunting her with accusation.

Eve was always good enough to shut up and look pretty in front of a camera. But she wasn’t supposed to worry her little head about things like contracts or deals, or what her father was doing with all the money she earned.

Finally Sam’s voice drowned out the echoes. “Oh, Eve, sweetheart, you’ve changed things. A few hours ago, I figured I’d come back here, and we’d end up in bed. And then I’d never see you again. I’d already half-decided that if I’d slept with you tonight, I wouldn’t have called you tomorrow.”

“You’re presuming an awful lot. I never said anything about sleeping together,” she muttered, trying to convince herself with her own voice.

“No, I don’t imagine we’d have done much sleeping.”

She glared at him. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Whatever. The point is, Eve, you’re worth the wait.”

She paused, glancing into his face. His green eyes glittered in the low light of the bedroom; he looked both anticipatory and regretful. “Worth the wait?”

“Oh, yes,” he said as he brushed his fingers across her jaw. His thumb came to rest on her bottom lip, and he slid it back and forth. Unable to resist, Eve parted her lips and caught the tip of it between her teeth. He gave her a slow, sultry smile, but didn’t try to pull away. “Now I see there’s someone I want to get to know inside this lovely package. I can wait. You are definitely worth waiting for.”

Sam pulled his thumb away and replaced it with his mouth. He kissed her lightly, sliding his tongue along the outline of her lips, teasing her, arousing her, but not taking more.

“I do love foreplay,” he whispered against her lips. “Days and days worth of it. I want to look forward to you like a kid looks forward to Christmas.”

Eve shuddered, from the feel of his kiss, from the sensuous words bombarding her senses, from the hot smell of him.

“And maybe you’ll learn to trust me.”

“Trust you?” she whispered, unable to think, unable to do anything but feel as he continued his sensual assault.

“Uh-huh. I don’t like secrets, Eve. And I cannot abide deceit. While there are still so many mysteries hanging between us, I’ll just
concentrate on foreplay.”

This time he didn’t tease her lightly with those hot lips, he devoured her like a starving man a banquet. His hands dropped to her hips as he kissed her deeply, and he pulled her hard against him, so she could feel his rock-hard erection pressed into the juncture of her thighs. Eve went soft and wet and hot, every nerve ending flying to life, every inch of her aching for him.

And then he stopped kissing her, turned on his heel, and left.

Like it? Order now from Amazon!

I have to confess, I’m a coupon user.  I’m not an EXTREME couponer, but if there is a coupon handy, I will use it.  I like saving money — who doesn’t? — especially when it’s easy to do.  I also do a LOT of internet shopping.  And no matter what website I go to, before I go through the check out process, I always check on Google to make sure there isn’t some kind of coupon code for a discount for the place I’m making my purchase.  Most times than not, I’ll find a coupon code and save money, or even shipping costs, which can really add up!

A few months ago I came across this website called Ebates, and now that I’ve used it a whole lotta times, I just have to share how incredible this site really is.  Ebates is all about saving consumers money . . . and offering consumers REBATES (in a check form) back on their purchases.  The membership to join is FREE, and the whole process of earning money back on your purchases is extremely easy.  All you have to do is start on the Ebates website, look up the store you want to shop at, then use the link to the store’s site.  So long as you START at the Ebates webstie, they will track the link and your purchases and you earn cash back for every online purchase you make.  Ebates also hunts down all the great cut-rate coupons and exclusive offers that stores are having, and offers you those savings, too!

So, all in all, Ebates is  about saving money all the while making  money — and the percentage of your rebate depends on where you shop.  They offer rebates on over 1,500 stores, and some of those stores include: Barnes &  Noble, Kohls, Gap Kids, Saks, Old Navy, HSN, JCPenney, Macy’s, Target, Groupon, Expedia, Petco and so much more!  I even used it for a hotel I booked through Hot Wire and got 6% of my purchase back in rebates!  I really thought that they’d offer only low-rate websites, but I’ve even made purchases at American Eage (for my daughter), and Clinique, and Chaa-Ching, I’ve gotten money back!  The first check I got was $23.00 and some change.  The second check I got was for $41.00.  This while just doing all my normal on-line shopping!

At first I thought this place was too good to be true, but I really thought “what the heck, it can’t hurt to try it”, and I LOVE getting those sporadic checks in the mail.  The hardest part of using Ebates is REMEMBERING to start at their website and using THEIR links to the store’s website (other wise, you don’t get credit for the purchase).  But now it’s the first place I go when I need to order something online — to see if they offer a rebate for the store I’m shopping at, or any current coupon codes.  I love this place!!!!

If you’re curious to see what it’s all about and sign up, here’s the link — and if you do sign up using this link, you will automatically get a “bonus” gift card that is ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! I know this, because I got one when I signed up, too!:  LINK TO EBATES

Okay, now it’s your turn.  What are some of the best sites you know of that you use to save money? 

There are a lot of winners to announce from all the contests this week. So, let the announcements begin!

The winner from Janelle’s Friday contest for a $20.00 online gift certificate to Amazon is:

Comment #117 – Bella

Congratulations!  Please email me at janelledenison @ sbcglobal.net with your information, and I’ll get that gift certificate emailed to you!

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The THREE winners of Carly’s $10 Amazon Gift Cards are:

Comment #1 – Liza
Comment #16 – Jenni
Comment #85 – Lindsay Wolford

CONGRATULATIONS!  Winners please email Carly at carly phillips @ mac . com (no spaces) with your email/address so you can receive your prize!

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The winner of one of Lauren Dane’s backlist books is:

Comment # 17 – Laurie

CONGRATULATIONS!
Please visit www.laurendane.com and pick a backlist book – then email Carly at carly phillips @ mac . com (no spaces) with your choice and email/address and she’ll forward your info to Lauren so you can receive your prize!