Summer is Here!

Summer is Here!

One of the greatest parts of being a teacher is that I have the summer "off."  Well, my summer is here and I have big plans. 

1. First, I will work on my newest WIP, Frequent Flyer. The story has been sitting in my head for months now and the characters are dying to make their appearance. I think they are tired of waiting to get their hands on each other. 
2. Second, I plan on READING, my favorite past time. My husband says I am literally attached to my kindle, and I think I am. But, that's okay. I usually can't be. I deserve it! 
3. Third, my summer plans include tutoring students at my tutoring school. Yep! Once a teacher, always a teacher. 
4. Lastly, but not least, I plan on traveling! In 9 days, my sister will come visit us here in Guatemala. Sadly she hasn't visited in more than 10 years. So, I will be showing her around. Expect pictures. Our favorite place will be in Antigua Guatemala:

So, I thought I would share my TBR list for this month. I cannot wait to get my paws on Jill Shalvis's upcoming releases. She has become my all-time favorite contemporary author. Did I mention she will be visiting my blog during her blog tour? 

A Book I am Rereading with Great Pleasure as I wait for tomorrow... release day for the next in the series:

Jill Shalvis is having a blog tour and will be visiting my blog on July 18.

My Current TBR list:

Still haven't finished this one.

Put it to the side, but have to finish!

And a summer funny:

Happy Summer to you all!
Melinda

Euro Cup Hump Day Hunks

It's already hump day! Woo hoo!

In honor of this summer's Eurocup, I will share some European soccer eye-candy. Hope you enjoy the games!

Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal

Of course I have to have David Beckham!

David Beckham and Heath Pearce

Olivier Giroud - France

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY,

Melinda

Teaser Tuesday - Bringing Down Sam by Leslie Kelly

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. This meme is simple and fun, you just pick up your current read, flip to a random page, and choose 1 or 2 teaser sentences to share! Here are the guidelines:

• Grab Your Current Read
• Open to a random page
• Pick two “teaser” sentences from that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHARE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for other readers)
• INCLUDE the TITLE & AUTHOR too, so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR and wish-lists! If possible, add the page number.

Current Read: Bringing Down Sam by Leslie Kelly
Current Chapter: 1 (Just starting)
Random page on Kindle: 1


Since I am just starting this today.... I thought I'd share the first lines from the novel.

"A single woman´s number one goal is to get a ring on her finger.   A single mans number one goal is to steer clear of jewelry stores." From 101 Ways To Avoid Commitment.

Back Blurb: 

High school teacher Eve Barret has a secret--she was once a child modelingsuperstar. She's left that life far behind, and has no intention of returning to it. At least not until her best friends talk her into a crazyscheme to "bring down" Public Enemy Number 1: Sam Kenneman.

Sam Kenneman has every woman in the country up in arms about his new bestseller, 101 Ways To Avoid Commitment. The book's supposed to be a joke--but women aren't getting it. Now he just wants the frenzy to die down so life can go back to normal.

Her goal? Teach him a lesson.

His goal? Don't fall for the sexy blonde.

The problem? They can't resist each other!

Thanks for stopping by,
Melinda

Lovestruck Giveaway Hop - If You Were Mine by Bella Andre

 I love giveaways! How about you? Well, now is your chance to win one of my newest favorite ebooks. 

Blog hop runs from 12:01 AM June 15th through to 11:59 PM June 22th, 2012.

Love-struck: (adjective) having a passionate or overwhelming feeling of love; smitten

The book I've chosen is If You Were Mine by Bella Andre. If you haven't read the Sullivan series, you have to make a bee-line drive to the bookstore now! The Sullivan family series is full of hotness! 

Hot guys, 

Hot sex, 

Hot love,

Hot romance,

Hot passion

Get what I'm saying? It's hot! If You Were Mine is book #5 in the series, and even though I am already married, I have a HUGE crush on Zach, the main character. Zach is a good-looking, funny auto shop mogul who races on the side. He is used to getting what he wants with his charismatic attitude, but he is sweet at the same time. What girl could resist a man with a dog named Cuddles? 

     "Honestly, all the yelling does is make her more anxious.  Which makes her act out more, especially when she doesn't know the proper behaviors to replace the naughty ones with."

     "And here I used to think I liked my girls naughty."

     She groaned. "You're incorregible."

     She should be a whole lot more upset about it, but the truth was, she kind of liked his sense of humor.

     "Incorrigible enough to tell you how hot it is when you use big words?"

     She should have known better.

He meets Heather who is a dog trainer and unforgettable in Zach's eyes. What I love is that Andre describes Heather as just a simple woman with her hair pulled back and shorts. But, Zach sees her for who she really is... a woman who needs love and needs to be HIS.

 

Heather wasn't used to people surprising her.  It had taken her a while to learn how to read people, how to separate the honest from the deceitful, the real from the fake, but ever since the age of seventeen, she'd made sure not to let anyone slip through her filter.

 

Most of Andre's books are full of hot sex scenes. This book does not let you down. However, it did take some time for them to 'hit the sack' and I liked how their relationship built up to that point. Once they did make love, the passion went wild. An excellent, fast read that will keep you reading throughout the night.

Zach Sullivan was walking, living, breathing sex.  And she was a sensual woman who couldn't help but respond. A least on a physical level. 




If you would like to win an ecopy of this book, please complete the form below. The contest ends on June 22 and is open to all readers in the US, Canada or International. The winner will be randomly chosen by rafflecopter


Please view the other blogs included in this Giveaway Hop. The list can be found at Under The Covers.  Many amazing romance books will be given away! I know I will be visiting.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Father's Day Six Sunday

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

In honor of Father's Day, I've chosen six sentences that include Jake and Amanda's fathers from Time Changes Everything. Joe, Amanda's dad, is so much like my own father.

Jake and Amanda take a trip home to Louisiana for Christmas. This excerpt is taken from their arrival.

Again, I am reminded how hard choosing only six sentences can be, so I cheated a little, and didn't officially enter the #sixsunday bloghop this week. Hope you enjoy anyway!

        “Isn’t that something, you both living in New York? Libby had a fit when she found out.”  

        “What’s that Joe?” Libby jerked her head in his direction, since she always heard everything that went on around her, even if she was at the other side of the car. 

        “Nothing. Nothing.” Joe swung his hand in the air, as if there was a mosquito nagging at his neck. 

       “Well, anytime you need me to take care of her, you let me know.” Jake smiled at Amanda. 

       She clenched her teeth and turned her head. Jake knew she was pissed, but he loved her all riled up.

       “Don’t tell her mother that, or you’ll be sorry.” Joe slapped him on the shoulder and trudged off with Amanda’s luggage. “What’s in these jiggers?”

Thanks for stopping by!

Melinda
     

Magic Mike Dream Cast. Dirty Little Secret.

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link.


This week's question:

With the upcoming release of MAGIC MIKE where some of the hottest guys strip nekkid and shake their ummmm assets, we want to know YOUR fantasy cast!

If you could choose six of the hottest stars to shake their moneymakers for you, which guys would it be?

 

Well, it is a BIG excitement for me that Magic Mike is coming out at the end of the month. In case you haven't seen yesterday's Magic Mike Hump Day Hunks, check it out! Every week I choose some hotties to share and it so happens that I chose the men from Magic Mike!

My ideal cast for this HOT movie would be close to who they have already. Really, who could get better than Matt Bomer. I have a little crush on the man.

I love his eyes!

BUT since we are talking about showing off their bods... How about this one?

Other hotties for my ideal cast would include Ian Somerhalder....

And since this is my fantasy, I have to include David Beckham. I know he isn't an actor, but he is too hot not to have him!

I also crush on Josh Duhamel. I know he is gorgeous, but his voice does wonders to me as well!

Okay, Okay... I could go on forever. I cannot wait for the real movie!

Melinda

Merde! First Kiss Blogfest

The second day of the First Fight, First Kiss Blogfest is here! This is my favorite! I love first kisses. I love any kisses, actually.

In Time Changes Everything, Jake and Amanda are childhood friends. They meet up with eachother in New York and are attracted to eachother, but haven't done anything about it...until now.

     Jake wrapped one arm around Amanda’s waist. “Woah, there, Mr. – Paris -, Amanda said it was over.” Pointing his finger in Dominic’s chest, he added, “Take your hands off her.” 

      Dominic took a deep breath and removed his hands. 

      With a gentle touch, Jake rubbed Amanda’s hip with his hand. “She’s with me now.”
   
     Amanda still didn’t move, only staring back and forth, her cheeks red with rage. Why did Amanda stand frozen like a deer in a car’s head lights?

      “I don’t think so.” Dominic’s breath came hard and fast. He stared at Jake’s hand on Amanda’s side. “She is for me.”

      Finally Amanda spoke up. “Believe it.” She turned her body to Jake’s, reached for his face with both hands, and lowered his head to hers.

      It began with small, gentle caresses, Amanda’s lips teasing Jake’s. Jake was taken aback, but went along with the ‘game’.

     The kiss turned into a hunger. They moved faster and faster as Amanda placed her hands behind his neck and Jake placed his hand on the small of her back and pulled her body even closer to his. Every cell of his body buzzed in anticipation as Amanda squealed under his lips.

      Amanda opened her mouth and Jake inserted his tongue searching hers. She pressed every ounce of her body into his, and he moved his hands under her shirt and touched her soft flesh. She flinched and pressed harder against his body.

     Jake moved his other hand up to her hair. His fingers played in the swirls and he pulled her head closer. She moaned softly and he slid his tongue out of her mouth to run it along her upper lip.

    “Merde!” Dominic shouted. “This is not over, ma chérie. You will come to your senses.” He stomped out with a huff, slamming the door behind him.

      Amanda stopped kissing Jake, blinked at him and hurried to the back of the building. With her fingers on her lips, she cursed under her breath.

      Jake stood frozen, still as a statue, not sure of what his next move should be. His lips stung with her touch and his chest moved up and down rapidly, his breath still uneven. He felt certain Amanda wasn’t playing a game. She couldn’t with that kind of kiss.

Magic Mike Hump Day Hunks

Hump Day Hunk - June 13, 2012

I don't know about you all, but I am excited for the movie Magic Mike! It opens on June 29, in case you're wondering. The cast if full of hotties and here are pics from the movie to get you through the week.

Matt Bomer, Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello

I love Matt Bomer's smile here. Yeah, only the smile....LOL!

Oh, Matt! You can come ´fall in line´anytime.

Joe! Come on over and stop my fire!

Channing, you dressed up for ME? 

I know you're tired, Alex, so thanks for stopping by.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, LADIES! See you next week,

Melinda

Mouth-watering First Fight

I've been anxiously awaiting this bloghop! Today's topic is FIRST FIGHT. I will hare my MC's first spat from my manuscript Time Changes Everything. Hope you enjoy.

     Amanda slid into her own, perfectly fit apron. “I need a strong man to mash the potatoes.” She pointed to a bowl.

     “No problem.” He grabbed the masher and diligently started his job. He mashed the potatoes, while Amanda moved deliciously around the kitchen. Every move she made was like a dish in itself.

     His eyes devoured her. She leaned over the sweet potatoes, stirring them, round and round, and she bent to check the turkey in the oven. He almost fell over checking out her fine ass. Holding up her hair, so it wouldn’t dip into her concoction, she hummed a tune he didn’t recognize. The back of her neck glistened, like a white chocolate waiting to be nibbled. She looked mouth-watering.

     How could she not want a man in her life? What kind of woman was she? Dressing like that, and not wanting to share her body with a man? He couldn’t figure her out.

     “So, what’s up with you?” Amanda asked. Jake was startled by thequestion. “You mad about something?”

     Jake looked down and saw that he mashed the potatoes to mush. He put the utensil down, looking around to keep his thoughts busy. “I’m just surprised you invited me here.”

     “Why would you be surprised? We’re both in New York and we don’t have time to go home until Christmas. We grew up toge-“

     “I mean, I’m a man and you were quite clear the other day that you don’t want a man in your life.” He grabbed a rag from the counter and rung it in his hands.

      Amanda blinked. “Jake, you’re not just any man. You’re a good friend.”

      “Well, no matter, I’m a man and I took offense to your comment the other day.” Jake slapped the rag over his shoulder.

     “Well, look who’s talking. Shouldn’t I take offense to how you treat women? Go on a date, sleep with them, and never call again.” Amanda tore open a bag of marshmallows and threw them on top of the sweet potatoes.

     “I never did that to you.”

     “Right. But you sure did lead me on with that kiss. You said you would come back and then you just left.” Amanda shoved a Pyrex dish his way and nodded to the mashed potatoes.

      Jake grabbed the Pyrex and pointed it at her, “That was seven years ago. And it was different.”

     “Why should I want a man in my life after being treated like that?”

     “Hey, you can’t blame me for that. Anyway, we kissed that night. I didn’t force you, may I remind you. And, we’re talking about today, not seven years ago.” Jake scooped the mash potatoes into the Pyrex in one movement.

     “Today. Yes.” Amanda jutted her chin out and took a deep breath, “Why are we fighting then?” She glared at him.

     “You don’t want a man in your life. Period. You made it loud and clear. Yet, here I am. Why do you want me in your life?”

     “Hellooo” Chloe and Veronica opened the door, “Happy Thanksgiving. The day of Thanks.”

     “And the day of Giving.” Veronica finished.

Come back in two days for my FIRST KISS scene!

Thanks for stopping by,

Melinda

My Wacked-Out World. Monday Funny

I'm going crazy. I am in the week of hell. It is officially the last week of school, which means I'm teaching my last classes to overactive, life-draining, nincompoops my wonderful sixth graders, grading final exams, entering final grades, cleaning my classroom, saying goodbye to teaching friends who are moving on to other countries, and keeping up with my afterschool business, my tutoring center. So, add on about 2-3 more hours at the end of  my work day to my second job...tutoring. Then I get home, make sure my kids are studying for finals and maybe cook dinner (if I don't want my kids to starve or DH steps up to superhero and does it for me). 

And, oh yeah, in the middle of this week I finally get a request from a publisher to see my full manuscript! WOO HOO! SO, somehow, I have to finish my final edits and send that in before they forget about me. 

The good thing is that it's only ONE MORE WEEK and then I have the summer to write and maybe relax.

With that in mind, I wanted to take the time to share some writing funnies. Hope you enjoy.

If only we could really use these symbols when we edit.

This is how I'm feeling! I am still editing another story, but Frequent Flyer is dying to come out! 

Must buy!

Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully I am alive next week. Please check back!

Melinda

Friendly Games Six Sentence Sunday

Six Sentency Sunday is a day where published or nonpublished authors share six sentences from their work. I will share six sentences (or a few more) from my newest WIP, Frequent Flyer, continuing a few paragraphs from where I left off last week.  Hope, the middle school principal, has just told Colin that his son has a detention and that he needs more father-son time.

 

“There’s a Friendly Games Morning this Saturday and I know Jason would love to attend.”

“Sounds perfect. Will you be there?” Now, why did he ask that? Maybe he wanted to see Ms. Robinson in some athletic shorts. He shook his head.  Stop it, Colin! Get yourself together. Your son needs you.
                Her eyes widened and she smirked. “It’s a school function, so of course I’ll be there.”

Be Inspired! Time Changes Everything

Thanks to Page After Page for hosting this Blog Hop!

All of our stories come from somewhere, whether it be a dream, another book, a life event, etc. And as writers, we need to be promoting our stories on a regular basis so that others will want to read it.

Answer the following ten questions. Then, tag five people to answer the questions. (You can use the same ones, or make up your own. Just remember - they all have to be about the writer's book!)

I will be answering questions about my manuscript, Time Changes Everything.

Questions:

1. What is the name of your book? Time Changes Everything

2. Where did the idea for your book come from? I began writing this so long ago, I can't remember where the idea originated. Most of my ideas come to me in my dreams, so I imagine it came from a dream.

3. In what genre would you classify your book? Category Romance

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition, who would you choose?

Jake Edwards (Colin Egglesfield)

Amanda Larson (Alexis Bledel)

5. Give us a one-sentence synopsis of your book. Amanda Larson meets up with her childhood crush and realizes time changes everything.

6. Is your book already published/represented? Not yet! But, on my way there!

7. How long did it take you to write your book? I started writing about six years ago, then I took a hiatus. Last year I picked it up again and finished it.

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or, readers of which books would enjoy yours? Harlequin Special Edition books, Contemporary Romance

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book? Jill Shalvis, Shannon Stacey

10. The first 50 words...

            Amanda’s priority for the evening did not include a night of playing hide-and-touch boy toys with her friends. But, her roommate’s birthday became a ritual over the years, so she couldn’t back out. 
     Plus, she had some exciting news to share. 
     Taking a deep breath, she walked down the steps and into the newest after work hotspot - Manahatta’s Bar and Grill .

11. Have you been inspired to write other novels? Yes! I am currently have a WIP called Frequent Flyer. Colin Calaway, a single father, meets his soulmate and son's princiapl, Hope Robinson.

The 10 writers I will tag are very talented writers. Please check them out!

Journey of a Romance Writer: Chantel Rhondeau
Rachelle's Window
Kimberly Sullivan
Life, Love, Family and Passion - Christina McKnight
The Enchanted Writer


Thanks for stopping by!

Melinda

Me? Dress up? Stylish Blogger Award

Thanks to Jennifer Comeaux for tagging me for this award! Rules? Share the last time I dressed up.

Thanks to this award, I now realize that I better do something soon to dress up. It has been way too long! I guess the last time I kindof dressed up was for parent conferences. I don't really dress differently than a normal day, though, so I don't think it counts. I pledge to dress up by the end of the month, which works out nicely since it will be my hubby and I's 16th anniversary!

My kiddos LOVE to "dress up." So, I will put some of my favorite dress up pictures of them.

My little Captain America

They look like aliens. At the beach at Guatemalan Pacific coast.

We're Saints fans!



My littlest...fell asleep "dressed up."

Motorcycle Man

I pass this award on to the following bloggers:


Christina McKnight - Writer of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Historical Romance. 
L.J. Kentowski - Urban Fantasy Author
Danielle B: Entertaining Interests 
Tangled Lou 

Thanks for stopping by!

Melinda