Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Guilty Hearts"

Thank you so much for supporting Susan during her week in the spotlight. :) Leave a comment on today's post today, Saturday, and Sunday and I'll pick a winner on Monday to receive a PDF copy of Guilty Hearts from Susan. Remember to leave your email in the post so we can get ahold of you. Enjoy this excerpt of Guilty Hearts.

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Moderator Steph

****************

Matt watched the two of them struggle against the stiff wind on their walk back to their
car. Jared stood almost as tall as Dee. He had forgotten how petite Dee was. He remembered how much she hated her given name, Deidra. She had shortened it to Dee long ago. When anyone but her parents used her full name, she turned into a little she-cat. Kind of like when she jumped him earlier. He could feel his lips curving into a smile. Damn, she felt good. She may be small, but her thin legs around his waist had a firm hold, and her body was warm and inviting. She had cut her hair into a short chin-length do, but her sable eyes were the same, still tugging at his heartstrings.

"Did I hear voices, Matt?" He turned to see his father approaching, bringing him back to
the present. His father shuffled across the store, and Matt's guilt stabbed at his chest. He shouldn't have stayed away so long. His father had lost his vibrancy somewhere along the way, and Matt knew disappearing for thirteen years had contributed to his downfall. He promised himself he would make up for it while he could.

"Yeah, Dad. Dee was here to pick up some paint with Jared." Matt watched his father
wince.

"How did it go?"

"Alright. She seems like she has gotten along really well through the years. Why didn't
you ever tell me she had a child with Steve?"

Tom shook his head. "It always seemed to upset you to hear her name, so we didn't think it was wise to tell you at the time. As the years passed, it didn't seem as important."

"It was a bit of a shock, I must admit."

"Sorry, son. You just were nuts about her at one point, but by the time you left, you only
held contempt in your heart for her. We wanted you to have time to heal."

Matt walked over to give his father's slumped shoulders a gentle squeeze. His father's
bones were so brittle, and with his recent weight loss, Tom had become frail and thin. "It doesn't matter now. What's done is done, and it's time to move on."

"Then you're over her?" Tom's watery blue eyes held hope, and Matt didn't have the heart to destroy it. Every wrinkle and every silver hair on Tom's head was probably caused by something he had done.

"The minute she turned her back on me, I got over her." Or at least he liked to believe he did.

**********

Reviews:
Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky

I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)

Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight week - Excerpt from Beyond Ever After

Hi All - it was great to have Carie on the blog this week. GIVEAWAY: Read this excerpt and leave a comment. You'll be entered to win a PDF copy of "Beyond Ever After". This giveaway will be going on all weekend. Winner will be picked on Monday morning. Please leave a contact email if you post so we can get ahold of you.

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Moderator Steph

*****


"I've prayed all week about going to Africa, and I was sure the right answer was to go. I truly believed, and still believe, it's what I am supposed to do. Then, this morning everything changed." Haven picked up her tea, took a quick sip like it was something stronger and set it down. "I was wrong in the way I handled all of it."

She didn't meet Brody’s eyes when she spoke. Those words must have cost her. There was that urge again, to pull her close to him and just hold her until the sadness was gone. But he remained seated, hating the fear that kept him rooted to the couch.
Finally, she blew out a breath and spoke quickly, without emotion, looking at his chest instead of at him. "I would like to go to Africa, but I won't go unless it's okay with you." Then, she met his eyes and finished, "I'm asking for your permission. I'll stay here if it's what you decide. But I really want to go. Eliya... the little girl on the fridge--"

He nodded. Did she really think he didn't know who Eliya was? That Haven sent a check every month to help the girl? That Haven had been there when she arrived at the mission?

"She's hurt and needs my help."

He remembered at that moment how much joy had once been bundled inside Haven, even as a child. She had been quick to smile and tease, soothing away the pain of anyone around her. She had laughed often and openly. Because the memories were so at odds with the woman who sat in front of him, he couldn't deny her. With the realization, the last drop of anger drained out of him.

Of course she could go. How could he deny her helping a child she loved? "I'll go with you." Had he really just said that?
Surprise flashed in her eyes and then acceptance. He desperately hoped happiness would come in its wake. But she closed her eyes again, and when she opened them there was a sad sort of resignation.

It cut deep. She didn't want to spend the summer with him. She wanted to go alone. Letting her go might be easier than spending the summer with her, when she didn't want him. But fear of the infinitely dangerous possibilities overrode his pride.
He couldn't let her go with no one to watch out for her. Despite what she thought, he couldn't imagine a life without Haven.

"Don't look so excited, honey." Anger fired out the words.

"Stop." The single, broken syllable held his tongue better than rage would have. "I can't... I can't do this. Please, Brody. No more." Her dry eyes were empty. "I'll do anything to help Eliya, but I can't spend the summer fighting with you. Not here and not in Africa. I need a break."

Brody sat in silence, staring at the drops of water running down the side of his glass. Maybe they were crying for Haven, because she didn't and wouldn't. Maybe they were crying for him, too, because he couldn't figure out how to make her happy.
There was no way he could let her go alone. He had to either go with her or tell her to stay. Because he couldn't stand the unhappiness he saw on her face, he clutched desperately to the one thing that came to his mind. "A truce."

Her head jerked backward.

He held up a hand of reassurance. "No fighting. We'll go to Africa on your terms. I'll be your bag boy and body guard. I'll do everything I can to help you and not get in your way. I'll have no expectations of you, Haven. If we start arguing, I'll go home and you'll get the break you think you need."

"What do you get in return?"

"I guess I get the satisfaction of knowing if something goes wrong, I'll be there to do what I can." He leaned back, settling in to the idea.

Haven stared for several long minutes in disbelief. It was enough to make him want to withdraw his offer. Instead, he waited. Despite the pain, and it was there, so deep it created a physical ache in his chest. The one person on earth who had ever loved him needed a break from him.

Author Spotlight Week - Excerpt from Precious Things

GIVEAWAY:

To qualify for the giveaway, here's what you have to do. Read the excerpt and leave a comment. Winner will be picked on MON 13 DEC. What does the winner get? Your choice copy of: Something Better, Precious Things, Someone to Watch over me, Any Phoenix Rebellion book (I recommend Outcasts!!) or Borealis I. Basicly, any Gail Delaney book.

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Moderator Steph

Enjoy this excerpt from Precious Things:


A slight touch against her spine made her jump, and she turned into Benjamin as he laid his palm flat on her back. She smiled when he stepped closer and leaned his other arm on the edge of the bar where she stood. Not for the first time that evening, Jewell felt the slow infusion of heat just below the surface of her skin when he turned his devastating gaze on her and one corner of his mouth ticked up in a small grin.

"I was beginning to wonder where you went," she said softly, relieved that she didn't need to speak any louder to be heard over the din. His attention shifted down to her mouth, and it was all she could do not to lick her lips. Her senses had been on overdrive since they arrived. No, since he picked her up at the apartment. He'd told her on the way that he would prefer to keep the signing to a minimum if possible, which she thought odd since she'd understood her purpose at the event was to interpret.
But, if not signing had him standing closer and looking at her the way he did... she was fine with that.

"Drew Kapchik cornered me by the potted ferns," he said with another quick tick of his grin. "He's been trying to get on my team for the last nine months. He wants an excuse to quit Legacy Funds."

"You escaped..." she smiled.

"I told him I had a beautiful woman waiting for me."

Heat bloomed in her cheeks and Benjamin smiled wider. He slid his hand from her back, letting his fingers trace the underside of her arm until he took her hand in his. "Would you like to dance?"

Jewell raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"I am not without my secret talents."

She tilted her head with a smile and let him lead her to the small area cleared in the center of the room where no more than half a dozen other couples danced to the slow waltz. When they reached a clear space, Benjamin raised her hand above her head and she spun, the chocolate silk of her dress swirling around her legs. When she came around to face him again he drew her against him, his bent right arm angling behind her back so her left hand rested on his shoulder. He took her other hand and pressed it to his chest, holding it in place beneath his warm palm.

"What kind of music are they playing?" he asked, looking down at her as they stood still amongst the dancing couples.

"A waltz."
"Waltz... we dance on the three, right?"

Jewell nodded, but couldn't figure out his intention. More than once, Benjamin had surprised her with his capacity for adaptation. His lip reading was near perfect, and his speech -- for someone with total hearing loss -- was not only impressively clear, but expressive and varied. He understood the concept of whispering, of shouting, and of dropping the tone of his voice to a seductive hum that danced over her skin. But dancing?

"Give me the beat." Benjamin shifted his hand over hers and tapped his fingers against hers in a steady rhythm. "Understand?"
Jewell nodded and closed her eyes, listening to the lilting music for a few bars. With the next measure, she tapped the rhythm on his shoulder where her hand rested. One-Two-Three. One-Two-Three. Then Benjamin stepped, and as simply as that they were dancing.

She opened her eyes, and her breath caught at the warm way he watched her. His lips had only the slightest bow as he turned her around the floor. She almost forgot to keep up with the beat, giving him the taps he needed to stay in step.
"Everyone is watching us," he said low, tipping his head toward her. "They're wondering how I got to be so lucky."