Attorneys

I was thinking as I began my latest work, Wynter's Protection, about attorneys. Once I was serving jury duty on a case between an individual and the city. I was the alternate (I think that's the term.) where I would be the fill-in juror if someone had an emergency and needed to leave. As such, I had to stay there through the entire case listening to testimony and the details of the case. Apparently, this was an appeal because the city had won the case last time.

After listening to everything, I was thinking hm, this guy knew what he needed to do, and he had all the information and knowledge to file a claim with the city. But instead, he waited until the statute of limitations ran out and then did it. The city was under no obligation to honor his claim. I saw all that and had come to my conclusion that, yeah I would vote against him when the jurors came together--that is if I was needed.

I noticed during this procedure the city's lawyer made constant eye contact with me. She seemed to do it with me more than any other juror, or maybe I was just feeling special that day. Lol. Either way, I noticed each time she did it while she was speaking. Then something changed, toward the end of the trial when it became obvious that no one would need to leave, and then I would probably be dismissed, she didn't meet my eyes at all. Not once. I was useless to her. That was a letdown, but I got her reasoning.

This woman saw me as a possible voice to the other jurors. I don't know how she deduced that I would lean toward what was fair and honest more than what my emotions were telling me regarding this man. Maybe I gave subtle clues with my body language or facial expressions. Who knows, but when I wasn't any help, she was gone.

Lawyers to me are single-minded, tenacious about getting to their goal. I thought of this particular experience while starting my current work because my heroine is an assistant district attorney. She's just closed a major case, and a coworker wants her to have dinner with him. However, Wynter's never been into lawyers. Maybe it's because she knows what they are about. She's seen them in court and caught that look in their eyes. She's worn that look because she's one of them, and they don't appeal to her to date.

Who does get Wynter's blood pumping? Well, I'll share more when my story's more developed. Just thought I'd drop a teaser and share my thoughts. Thanks for reading. :)

Unsuited - Coming October 21, 2011

Nyah has serviced Ethan’s custom built car for months, and she can’t wait to see him each time he comes into her shop. But how can a man who comes from money like he does—a playboy who owns a penthouse apartment in uptown Charlotte—take a mechanic like her seriously? Half the time she can’t get all the grease from under her chipped fingernails, and she’s more comfortable in a ratty T-shirt and jeans than a dress and heels. Hell, she doesn’t even own a dress. That doesn’t stop Ethan from offering her what he is interested in—a no strings attached sexual relationship. Nyah’s fearful of losing her heart, but she can’t resist the man’s touch or his words. His world is nothing like she’s ever experienced, but when all is said and done, and Ethan’s interest cools, will she be able to walk away unscathed?

Coming soon from Amira Press.

Goodreads reviews for Something Unexpected

Reviews from Goodreads.com

Bear in Paperback

Stripped Bear and Bear Necessities are now together in paperback. Yay! Here's the link:
BUY.

Fourth of July!!

Had a total blast last night at Dahlia Rose's house. Earlier in the day, she had a cookout with her family and mine in attendance. Her hubby and his buddy set up fireworks for us to enjoy. Now imagine it's dark out there with light from the shed and a bit from the streetlights out front. We were in back. Then you see the shadows of two men with hats on with lights on them. Dahlia said they looked like miners.

The first row of chairs included the brave ones, the boy kids. The women were way farther away in the back in a row of chairs with the babies and Dahlia's little girl. Then Rob comes over with his head light hat on and says, "Okay, if anything goes wrong, the signal is Hit the Deck!" and everyone goes that way to get to safety."

You can imagine we were getting nervous at that point. Everything was going great. And then Dahlia and I are sitting there saying wow, you see that one? Seemed like it was low. Another "zip" sound and a light ball goes to the right of us. One more to the left. We're still sitting there watching the boys clear out. And only then did it occur to us. Yeah, maybe we should run! It was so funny.

And all of us women are like hey where was the signal? I didn't hear any "Hit the Deck!" The men were in denial. Lol. But it was hilarious. We couldn't stop laughing, and Dahlia kept saying crazy stuff that made me wish I'd recorded her to post it online. ;o)

By the time I walked home, I was so glad I had my oldest son to walk with me, because the entire block was smoky from all the neighbors and their fireworks. Of course someone said "man, this reminds me of a horror movie." I scooted home quick. All in all we had a great time.

Hope you had a fun and safe Fourth of July as well.

Hopelessly Devoted to You

Coming to Sugar and Spice Press July 2, 2011

All Raina can think about is the possibility that she might be pregnant, but her boyfriend tells her to get rid of it if it's true. Angry and hurt, she goes to confront him at his brother's house only to find he's been killed in a car accident. Stunned and grieving more because her baby will be born without a father than the loss of a man she only now realizes wasn't right for her, Raina accepts comfort from Hunter, her late boyfriend's brother.

But Hunter and she have never gotten along. Hunter is ex-military, rigid, and condescending. He never seemed to feel Raina was good enough for his brother despite the fact that she busted her butt for her masters and was making something of her life. Raina can't understand why Hunter would now be the one to support her and even ask to be named as the baby's father.

Hunter doesn't care how long Raina fights him. He will be there for her and the baby. He knows he made the wrong choices before his brother passed allowing Raina to see only a cold exterior. The truth is from the moment he laid eyes on her, he was lost. He has to win her heart or lose the woman he's been hopelessly devoted to for years. The challenge is not managing Raina but loving her. If he can find the balance, just maybe she'll run into his arms where she belongs.

Bear Necessities

Coming July 8, 2011 to Amira Press

When her mother's new boyfriend gets a little too free with his hands, Simone decides it's time to relocate. Without warning her cousin, she travels to Charlotte, North Carolina to see what kind of better life she can make for herself. To her surprise, her cousin Ayana--who's never been that good with the opposite sex--has not one but two sexy men sharing her bed. And the sounds of their loving on Ayana in the middle of the night has Simone wishing she had her own lover. Then she's wondering just what they put in the water down in the South because two more hot men show up at Ayana's. This time it's identical twins, and they're not looking for her cousin, but they have their sights set on Simone. Well, one of them anyway.

Artan has no problem claiming the mocha beauty as his mate, but his brother Fallyn refuses her. Fallyn knows the importance of finding a strong mate who can bear his children, especially since their clan is dying out. He has no use for a woman born and raised in the city with a fear of nature. The problem is he can't keep his eyes off of her, and every time she gets excited, he can't think straight. Pulling Simone out of one scrape after another is not in his plan. Things get really complicated when a female bear shifter from home shows up to claim Fallyn, and she has no problem killing Simone to get what she wants.