Featured Author!

Posted by Leslie on April 3rd, 2007 | No Comments

So check this out — I’m the featured author at both the Historical Romance Club (you may have to refresh a few times, as the featured authors rotate) and Sandra Barkevich’s website/blog. I’ll be her guest blogger later this month! I’ll be sure to post a reminder here.

Good Pesach or Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

Enjoy another short excerpt from SECRET INTENTIONS:

She licked her lips. Markham had not allowed her explore much of him that night, feasting himself on her only, ripening her body like a flower to the fruit. Now it was her turn. Her turn to discover the texture of his flesh, the taste of his skin. Her turn to take control.

So deep in concentration was he, Markham did not look up until she stood beside his chair.

A surprised light gleamed in his colorless eyes. “Good morning. Do you need something?”

Oh, she needed something. Her blood hummed. Wickedness enveloped her. With a few purposeful bats of her eyelashes, Lizzie slid his chair back from the desk. Markham curled those enticing lips, waiting for her next move without a word.

She leaned forward, placing her hands atop his arms. Through the fabric, his black hair tickled her palms. “I need a kiss,” she answered, now only inches from his face. His foreign scent whistled through her veins in lightheaded rush.

“A kiss?” his voice dropped to a mesmerizing hum. “I believe I can oblige that request.”

Lizzie slanted her lips over his, tasting tea, scones, and ardent longing. He opened his mouth and she pursued his tongue with her own. A jolt ricocheted from her nipples to her groin, deepening that ache deep in her center. She nibbled at his lips, wanting to devour him yet needing to regain control.

A low sound echoed from his throat and she pulled away, grinning at the helpless whimper.

Markham watched her from hooded eyes, color like red wine spreading across the hard angles of his cheeks. “Will there be anything else?”

Fresh Fiction (and another excerpt)

Posted by Leslie on March 30th, 2007 | No Comments

Coolness! There’s an article at Fresh Fiction on my (second) cousin, Michael Chabon. He’s become such a success! Way to go!!

Not only that — I gots me a page on Fresh Fiction. All because I asked them why they had one of my books listed (Jordanna Kay’s THE PRICE OF DISCOVERY) and not my other books.

A short (but yummy) excerpt from SECRET INTENTIONS:

Markham searched for shadows in her gaze, those secrets that kept him at bay. But anticipation and yearning overpowered her resolution. She revealed herself too easily. Despite any resistance, this fairy craved his touch.

“No, what, Miss Parker?”

Her pink tongue ran along the inside of her lips, moistening them, tempting him. “Whatever it is you’re about to do. Don’t.”

He lifted her chin. “Are you so sure about that?”

“No…yes.”

“It seems you are uncertain.”

“You can’t…you can’t do this to me.”

“Do what? Kiss you? Do you really wish me to stop?” Markham brushed his thumb across her lips, silencing her protests. Her eyes drifted closed again as if commanded by his touch.

Her lips parted. “Please…”

Her warm breath invited him to lower his mouth to hers. He kissed her lips delicately, tasting her sweetness, swallowing her sighs.

A surrendering whimper escaped from her throat.

Intensity exploded. Swells of need crashed against his skin, into his scorching arousal, even within his very bones. He slid his way inside her mouth, searching for the velvety smoothness of her tongue. She tasted like honey and hyacinth and everything that reminded him of the countryside.

Her fingertips brushed his shoulders. The devil! He wanted her to touch him. Touch him everywhere with those tiny hands, graceful as a butterfly’s wings.

Next excerpt!

Posted by Leslie on March 27th, 2007 | No Comments

Enjoy!

~~~~~

Lizzie followed him across the lawn, the grass vibrant and soft beneath her feet. It would be wondrous to lie down here on a warm sunny day, have Markham kiss her senseless.

They fought against the wind, as the ominous clouds promised this surprise would be a quick study. Markham reached behind him for her hand. She let him take it, far past caring who could be watching from the upper windows.

The heat greeted them the moment they stepped inside. Then, she noticed the aroma. Sweet, spicy, bitter and all-around heavenly.

Markham looked down at her and raised a black eyebrow. “Take a look around.”

Even more excited than she had been at the Botanical Gardens, Lizzie reluctantly let go of Markham’s hand and crossed directly to the vibrant bouquet of colors at the far end.

Ah. Roses.

Everywhere, in various stages of bloom, roses of pink, yellow, white and red tantalized her with their succulent fragrances. She cupped a scarlet bud in her hands, gently stroking its velvety petals.

Markham came up behind her, the pull from his warm body a force she bravely fought. It took everything in her not to lean back against his broad chest.

“And so you like the third surprise?”

Lizzie nodded, afraid to trust her voice.

She felt him tug at her cape and pull it from her head and shoulders. The chill did not last long in the warm room. Then his breath was hot in her ear. “I have more.”

Throat thick and tight, Lizzie swallowed. “M-more surprises?”

“One…perhaps two more.”

His lips touched her neck, shutting down her brain. She released the rose, eyes drifting closed.

Heavy taps pounded the glass above them. The rain. They took too long. But she didn’t care. Wet, dry, she didn’t care.

Markham’s tongue traced a damp line from her neck to her ear. He nibbled on the rim and then kissed his way back down to her shoulders. Then, those hands, those strong, very male hands cupped her breasts, possessing them. He yanked her back against him, proving his strong arousal on the small of her back.

The increasingly loud patter on the glass could not obscure his moan. “I want you.” Her spine tingled with his dark, throaty voice.

That craving ache began low in her belly, forcing her to turn, to find his mouth. Lizzie had to kiss him, she had to answer this humming and burning in her blood.

“I want all of you.” His black gaze penetrated her, halting her search for his lips. “Time for your fourth surprise.”

Here’s the deal!

Posted by Leslie on March 20th, 2007 | No Comments

I’m gonna post more excerpts of SECRET INTENTIONS over the next several days. Then, I’ll post some questions. Those who can answer the questions based on the excerpts will win a choice of bath product or earrings. But one question will NOT be from the excerpts, but from the book itself. That correct answer will win you the perfume “Secret Intention” ~ Created by Jean-Paul Guerlain, this is a year 2000 limited edition fragrance. The fragrance exudes freshness and sparkle, thanks to the light and tangy accents of Calabrian bergamot, lemon, Ceylon tea, cardamom, and coriander, followed by an intense flowery heart note of white jasmine, peony and neroli on a warm layer of sandalwood, Tonka beans and vanilla.

Now, onto another excerpt! Enjoy!

The vehicle set off and dashed Lizzie’s chance to be away from him. Now she was trapped in this small space, trapped with that enticing aroma, those bottomless eyes, those expert lips.

Blast that man. He was always outmaneuvering her, finding some way to be with her alone. What did he want from her?

“To kiss you again. You want to know why I wanted to come along. It was to kiss you again.” He didn’t blink or blush, the wicked rake.

Despite her better sense, her heart trembled. Within seconds, her mouth ran dry, as if preparing itself for his entry. Her breasts tingled, hardening her nipples. The mere mention of his lips on hers sent her body into a chaos of pleasure.

Dear Lord!

Lizzie clenched her teeth, hoping it would put an end to this unraveling of her willpower.

“No, Markham,” she whispered, fixing her gaze out the windows. Anything but to look at him.

“No?” His voice was closer. “I see you. You can’t deny your reactions.”

“Go away.”

“I keep thinking about the other day out on the garden terrace. I remember how you felt under my lips, under my hands.”

Lizzie couldn’t hold back her whimper.

“You want me to do it again.”

He was before her now, nearly on his knees in the swaying carriage. Lizzie closed her eyes but she could feel the heat from his body.

Seduction. The man was a master at it. He’d wormed his way under her skin, infesting her with his smooth words and warm touch. And like the flower or the tree, she’d succumb eventually. Only to be left exposed, vulnerable, weakened.

By the time the London Season ended, no man would want her. Having been ruined by Lord Markham, she would return home alone. Returning home ruined could not be worth this quaking heat in her veins.

She felt him shift closer to her face. “Kiss me,” he murmured.

No. This man had given her no reason to believe he’d do anything but seduce her. Never had he actually earned her kisses.

Lizzie steeled her gaze on him. A shadow of whiskers grew along his cheeks, his breath blew warm on her face. A twitch of his lips spoke of eagerness, anticipation. He really did want to kiss her.

Not today. Not again.

“Move away, Markham.”

His gaze lowered to her lips. “You don’t mean that.”

Lizzie drew in a deep, sustaining breath. “Oh, I do. You’ll not have my kisses.”

He sat back in his seat, but with an eyebrow raised. “Oh, I will. I’ll have that and more.”

Waiting for Release!

Posted by Leslie on March 7th, 2007 | No Comments

I’m waiting for Triskelion to release my full-length historical, SECRET INTENTIONS. This book started a loooong time ago at the 2000 RWA Conference when I was in a workshop of Jo Beverly’s. She said one little fact and it got my brain thinking. Since then, the story has undergone several major revisions. I’m very excited to see it released to the public and I hope Triskelion will consider putting it out in print. Once it is available for sale, I plan on holding a contest, so please keep checking back for information and the link to buy! Here’s a teaser excerpt:

“We have several months to spend together, Miss Parker.” The words tumbled from his mouth in a low huskiness. “And it would not do well for you to allow secrets to stand between us.”

Wasn’t he the pot calling the kettle black? And yet, his secret could cause far more damage than hers.

“What secrets are you referring to, sir?”

Markham growled, drew in a deep breath but only managed to torment himself with the heady aroma of her hair. Already, she weakened him, but he must show her who was in control. She had no power here in London. And she’d better realize that now.

“I’ll learn your secrets one way or another,” he said, fighting the urge to press his lips to the top of her head.

She struggled, torturing him, but he held firm.

“You can make this easy by telling me now or I will use other ways to discover them.”

Miss Parker angled her head to glare at him. Shadows lurked in the depths of her green eyes. Shadows that spoke of veiled mysteries. “I’ll tell you nothing. Now release me or I shall scream.”

Passion flared in his blood, creating the urge to both kiss her and fling her away. He hated this agony of fury and desire that seemed inseparable and irrepressible when she was near. Only a day with her and she already weakened his self-control.