The Wedding WarJenny GilliamContemporary romanceAvailable from The Wild Rose PressISBN: 1-60154-224-0March 2008
Mia Briscoe, the 31-year-old owner of Weddings by Mia knew this trip was in jeopardy when she boarded the plane for her first ever first-class flight. Her best friend, Jillian Tyner was getting married in two weeks and her parents could afford to procure the upgraded tickets. But when she contemplated her seat, there was a horridly rude man sprawled across her seat. He refused to move. And since he was so gorgeous, she got little help out of the flight attendant. She finally gave up. The air travel did not hold much promise but the eye candy was not a hardship.
When she flew into South Carolina, she was excited to see Jillian Tyner and Gabe, her fiancé. What shattered her well-being was seeing her seat mate also walking up to them and finding out he was Gabe’s brother, Jake Ryan. His sole purpose in being here was to stop the wedding. Jake felt there was no such thing as happily ever after and he refused to give his brother up to the leg-shackles of matrimony without a fight.
Ms. Jenny Gilliam is a new author to me. She has grabbed my attention. She worked her main characters into multi-faceted individuals who blended extremely well with each other. There were a myriad of problems with the two couples who were the main focus as well as the supporting cast members. She managed to keep the story flowing without losing site of any of the impressive plot. The storyline was intense and I had a hard time putting it down.
The sexual tension was palpable but certainly not offensive. The sensual scenes were beautifully written and felt as if I was, personally, involved. Believe me, that does not usually happen. I loved the way she both extended the loving feelings but also pulled away from reality when things got passionate.
Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Very sensual
Reviewer: Brenda TalleyMarch 19, 2008
She’s an American heiress nobody wants; he’s a Duke every woman is after.
When Nathaniel, Duke of Peckham, meets Charlotte, he’s suspicious of her indifference. Too many women have sought—and failed—to catch him. However, Charlotte is more interested in dead pharaohs than English dukes.
Her pretended immunity vanishes, however, when a debutante seeking to entrap Nathaniel gets murdered. All too soon, his reputation as a misogynist makes him a suspect, and Charlotte impulsively comes to his aide.
Unfortunately, both are unaware that a highwayman interested in rich heiresses is following Charlotte. And that another debutante lies dead in Nathaniel’s carriage.
Some nights just don’t go as planned.
EXCERPT:
Now, he glanced in the direction of the doorway and seemed to stiffen. Charlotte followed the direction of his gaze with dismay.
“Say something,” he said, bending over to whisper urgently in Charlotte’s ear. “Anything—just don’t leave me alone with her. Please, you’ve got to help me!”
Charlotte jumped, startled as his warm breath played over her neck.
Lady Beatrice floated toward them across the flagstone terrace, her steps quickening as she noticed them. “Your Grace,” she called.
“I don’t see why you think I should—” Charlotte paused as Lady Beatrice neared.
What did he want from Charlotte? Did he hope to make Lady Beatrice jealous? Charlotte could almost smell the faint, metallic odor of an iron trap following Lady Beatrice like stale perfume. Suddenly, Charlotte didn’t trust either of her companions in the soft, cold darkness of the terrace.
Lady Beatrice placed a light hand on the man’s sleeve. He gazed beseechingly into Charlotte’s eyes and she wavered in confusion. She could not protect him from Lady Beatrice, even if that was what he wanted.
Unable to resist the entreaty in his eyes, Charlotte said the first thing that came to mind. “I don’t see why you want me to explain the differences between the Garden Tiger and the, um, Buttoned Snout again. It’s not difficult, you know. A child could do it. All you have to do is concentrate.”
He had asked for her help. A lecture on moths was the best she could do considering the circumstances.
“Yes,” he said, his tone humble. “But I’m new to this, uh, that is, I’ve never appreciated moths before. Couldn’t you just go over it one more time?”
“What are you doing out here, Your Grace?” Lady Beatrice asked, her tone sharp. She glanced from him to Charlotte. “Miss Haywood,” she reluctantly acknowledged. Then she gazed at him, tilting her head back to make him feel taller and emphasize the lovely line of her throat and impressively bare bosom. She smiled and gave a light, tinkling laugh when his eyes followed that perfect curve of flesh. “You don’t wish to be compromised, do you? With poor Miss Haywood?”
Her artless question made it clear she knew exactly who he would prefer to compromise. And it wasn’t poor Miss Haywood.
“We’re identifying moths, Lady Beatrice. I doubt seriously whether anyone will find themselves compromised. Don’t you agree, Your Excellency?” Charlotte said, unable to resist teasing Lady Beatrice by deliberately using the wrong title for the duke. She knew it would annoy her. Charlotte just hoped she had understood the gleam in His Grace’s eyes correctly and that it would not annoy him.
At least not unduly.
Title: Baby Decision
Author Name: Tina Gayle
Genre: Comtempary
ISBN: 978-1-934475-59-1Price: $6.00
At Amira Press - http://www.amirapress.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=116
Excerpt:
Susan grabbed the sleeve of Colt’s jacket, unable to stop herself from asking, "She told you I was pregnant?"
Colt shook his head. A confused, almost pained look passed over his face. "No, she said you warned her that you might have to leave class in a hurry because you have a sensitive stomach."
"Oh." Susan quickly released Colt’s arm and turned. "I, uh, have a problem with your cologne. It seems to upset my sinuses."
She walked away from him, trying to escape him as well as catch her breath. How could she be so stupid?
Blurb:
Susan York faces the biggest decision of her life. A baby or college? Unmarried and confused, Susan is not looking for a guy. She only wants to get through her classes without getting sick. Colt Lefevour needs help with his English Lit homework until he discovers Susan is pregnant. Hurt from his ex-girlfriend aborting his baby, he wants to be the father of Susan’s baby, but can he convince her to let him help.
Tina Gayle
www.tinagayle.net
Deana Curtis, a young law-school student vacationing in Manchester, England is shocked to find herself transported back to 1962 after she makes a wish on a golden amulet. There she meets her childhood crush—Tristan Wallace. Armed with the knowledge of Tristan’s bleak future, can she stop the sexy spy/ rock star from mysteriously disappearing?
Tristan wants to believe that the golden-haired pixie is telling the truth, but her story sounds insane. Could she truly be a time traveler who made a wish to help him? As he grows closer to Deana, he not only believes her, but worries that he will be unable protect her from his evil enemy—communist spy, Sascha Pope.
Deana smiled as Tristan packed three fully loaded bags into the trunk of his Ferrari. “I can’t thank you enough for buying me an entire wardrobe.” She hadn’t exactly counted on time-traveling and had left her purse and traveler’s checks inside the manor in 2007. However, Tristan was a true gentleman and had offered to pay for everything. “If I can find a way to reimburse you, I will.”
“Don’t bother yourself over it. I rather enjoyed the way you modeled each dress for me as you stepped out of the fitting room. You looked prettier than a summer’s day with each one you tried on.”
Her jaw dropped. He actually complimented her? This man who she’d gawked at every day on her mother’s Acid Moon album cover had just said the sweetest thing. To her. Maybe Tristan wasn’t really such a grouch after all.
“T-thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me coming from you.”
He shut the trunk and turned to face her.
She melted and dove straight into those pools of blue when his gaze met with hers.
“I mean it, Deana. I might think you are a bit daft, but you are the prettiest girl I’ve seen in a long time.”
She couldn’t breathe. Oh God, he leaned his head down a bit and his lips were so close that her knees wobbled. Could she kiss him without passing out? Then it struck her that he’d just called her crazy.
“I don’t know if you should kiss a daft woman.” She turned her head.
He gently stroked her cheek, compelling her to face him. “I only said you were a little daft. That’s not a bad thing. Even my mum acts like a bit of a loon from time to time. I like it—makes you spirited and fun to be with. And I want to kiss the slightly daft, very beautiful woman standing before me.”
She laughed. “Since you put it that—”
Tristan cut her off with his mouth. He pulled her close, crushing her against the hardness of his chest. She inhaled his spicy, woodsy scent. He was lean and hard all over, just the way a real man should be. His kissing technique surpassed every expectation. He knew just how to duel with her tongue and he tasted like peppermint. Her wish really had come true.
A sudden blast of gunfire broke the spell and a bullet whizzed by just inches away from both of them.
“Bloody hell...” Tristan pushed her away. “Go. Get into the car. Now!”
Not wanting to argue at a moment like this, she jumped into his Ferrari without even opening the door. In a flash, he took his seat and gripped his keys hanging from the ignition.
Her heart pounded in her chest and her fingers trembled as she touched his shoulder. “Do you think whoever shot at us...are they still here?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t intend to stay and find out.” He started the car and slammed his foot on the gas, peeling out of the parking lot as fast as he could.
My first novel, The Wedding War, which will be released Friday, March 21, 2008, got's its virgin review today. Here it is:
Hi Jenny,
Your book The Wedding War was just reviewed by Rita of Night Owl Romance. She really enjoyed your review and her is a copy with link.
Title: The Wedding War
Author: Jenny Gilliam
Genre: Contemporary
Hearts: 4/5
Reviewer: Rita
Date: 3/17/2008
Online: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1391
Mia Briscoe is pulling triple duty as best friend, maid of honor, and wedding planner. Not to mention she was flying from California to South Carolina to do it. Boarding the plane she finds a mouth-watering hunk sitting in her seat and thinks 'Maybe this won't be so bad'. Then the hunk refuses to move. Stewing the whole ride she can't wait to get away from him. All she wants to do is get on with planning the wedding that could be the feather in the cap for Weddings By Mia. Jake Ryan isn't about to let his baby brother Gabe make the biggest mistake of his life. And he thinks marrying Jillian Tyner a woman he's only known a few months is about as big as a mistake he can make. When little Miss Uptight informs him he's in her seat he can't help wanting to irritate her. So acting on his primitive side he does. The only problem is he finds himself falling for her.Finding herself sharing a cottage with Jake is the last thing she expected, but for Jillian she'd make it work. However when Jake tells her that if he has anything to do with it there will be no wedding she swears to make him eat his words. Jake's teasing and little peeks at a more easy going side lure her into wanting to tempt the beast.Can she escape unscathed? Will she even want to? This story had some surprises and great characters. It moved and flowed keeping the pages turning. Jenny Gilliam has a way of make you want to ask what's next. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes that opposites attract feeling.
How's that for a first review? Huh? Huh? That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
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