Monthly Archives: August 2014
1 Week To Go! HAUNTED EVER AFTER sneak peek
Here is the last excerpt pic in the countdown to the release of HAUNTED EVER AFTER, my next full-length romantic comedy with a touch of magic. If you enjoyed FAST FORWARD, be sure to check out this cheeky, chaotic, fun, and heartwarming read on September 1st.
Excerpt:
‘Keep thinking of something funny,’ the photographer said. ‘It’ll make the smile more natural and won’t ache as much.’
Funny, funny…what on earth could I possibly find funny about this situation?
I glanced at Red. She pulled her top lip inside out and made her eyes bulge.
Nice try, ghostie.
Okay, funny stuff…um, that Friends episode when Ross gets a fake tan on one side of his body. That was quite funny. I smiled, but not enough to make me laugh.
‘Getting there, now relax and flash us a great big laughing smile.’ The photographer snapped photos while I kept adjusting my facial expressions and pose, and Red kept pulling faces, none of which triggered a burst of laughter. Until she gave up directing them at me and pulled them at the photographer instead. She stood right next to him, shoved her face next to his and grunted, looking like a deformed monkey. A bubble of laughter tickled my throat. She then sat in front of me on the floor and squished her face together with her hands till she resembled a chubby baby crossed with an alien, and that did it. My stomach heaved and laughter burst forth, and click, click, click went the camera.
‘Bravo! That’s what I’m talking about,’ said the photographer. ‘Now I’ll just check some of these before we change location.’ He fiddled with his camera and frowned. ‘That’s odd.’
The assistant approached him and peered at the screen. ‘Hmm.’
‘Hmm what?’ Lorena asked.
‘It’s okay, but we might have to shoot a couple more to replace a few of these. There’s a strange light imbalance in a few pictures.’
‘Can I have a look?’ I asked, launching from the couch and up to the camera.
‘Ah, sure,’ he said, holding the camera in front of me.
Oh my God. Right where Red had been sitting in front of me was a warped stretch of light, like a smear of something on glass. He flipped through the images and each photo where Red was in the shot had a ‘light imbalance’ or whatever they called it. I gulped.
‘I don’t know where that came from. Look, the one before is perfect, and then an instant later the shot is disrupted.’ He fiddled with the settings on his camera and I looked towards my friends and shrugged. But inside my heart flip-flopped. This was evidence. Proof that Red wasn’t just in my imagination or a manifestation of some disease, she was really here. A ghost. In this house, with me.
‘C’mon, you sexy housewife you,’ said Lorena. ‘Let’s touch up your lipstick while they adjust the equipment.’ She led me towards the bathroom, and Red followed alongside us making The Twilight Zone sound effects and wriggling her fingers.
Oh dear. I may not be sick or mad, and I wasn’t too sure about the sexy part, but I was definitely one very haunted housewife.
Stay tuned for the release of HAUNTED EVER AFTER on Sept 1st from Escape Publishing.
>> You can add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
>> And you can preorder from Amazon & iTunes at the moment (though will be available 1st Sept from all ebook retailers):
- Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M19AWO2
- UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M19AWO2
- AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00M19AWO2
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/haunted-ever-after/id902138042?mt=11
Nominate books in the AusRomToday Reader’s Choice Awards!
There’s a fabulous new website, AusRomToday, celebrating and promoting all the diverse sub-genres of romantic fiction, and they are holding their first Reader’s Choice Awards and taking nominations for your favourite books and authors from 2014. The top ten most nominated books and authors in each category will go through to the public voting round, so make sure you add all your faves to help them get to the top!
You can nominate books HERE.* *Remember, only Australian authors and their books are eligible for the awards.
If you’d like to nominate any of mine, hooray! Cyber hugs to you 😉 Here are some details to help you… >> My eligible books are:
- THE JANUARY WISH
- FEBRUARY OR FOREVER
- HAUNTED EVER AFTER
>> My eligible categories (you can vote in any or all of them, and for multiple books and authors):
- Best established author
- Author of the year
- Cover of the year
- Book of the year
To nominate, fill in the simple web form on the page HERE. Thanks to readers for supporting Australian books and authors, and thanks to AusRomToday for hosting these awards! 🙂
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- A Tarrin’s Bay novel
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- A Tarrin’s Bay novel
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- Novel
HOW TO BUY AND READ AN EBOOK WITHOUT AN E-READER
Not sure how to get started reading ebooks? It’s easy! And here’s how, in this blog post by Rachael Johns…
More and more authors are putting out novellas that are digital only to keep readers happy in between their longer stories. Some books will only ever be published digitally.
As I have a digital novella – TEASE ME, COWBOY – releasing next week, I thought it a fitting time to talk about HOW you can read an ebook if you don’t have a dedicated reading device.
I must confess I still read mostly print books. I love the feel and smell of a brand new book and I love having all my faves lined up in the bookshelf. I DON’T like the dust they gather because I think we’ve established before, I’m not a housekeeper. But I do also read books on my Kindle and now my iPad, even occasionally on my phone. But let’s forget about the Kindle e-reader for a moment and talk about HOW I could read…
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2 Weeks To Go! HAUNTED EVER AFTER sneak peek
Each week until release day I’ll share a fun excerpt pic like the one below, and a longer excerpt here on the blog. So with 2 weeks to go, here is the next excerpt of HAUNTED EVER AFTER, my next full-length romantic comedy with a touch of magic. If you enjoyed the fun and mayhem of FAST FORWARD, be sure to check this one out on 1st September. 😉
Excerpt:
‘What…what are you doing?’ I stiffened.
He ignored my question and put my bare foot against his bare chest, rubbing and massaging it with his firm hands. ‘I could get you back for the trolley incident, but I’m not one to hold a grudge.’ He winked.
I wasn’t going to let a petty incident ruin my evening but I couldn’t quite get rid of the embarrassing sensation crawling up my spine. A complete stranger is rubbing my foot! Barring a professional masseuse, this shouldn’t happen to an engaged woman, should it? What would Greg be doing right now? Probably enjoying a super-expensive bottle of wine at the golf retreat and chatting business.
No, he shouldn’t be getting this personal with me, I should put a stop to it. I’ll just politely remove my foot from his hold and… Oh God…oh wow…how on earth is he doing that? My foot was practically having an orgasm. A footgasm. Was that even possible?
Ty smiled as he rubbed and pressed, probably knowing too well the magic his hands were casting. He must be using some kind of acupressure technique. Fancy a stripper knowing that. Strangely, my body softened a little and I let him do his thing, even though I felt like a terrible wife-to-be.
When he’d had his way with my foot he placed it gently back in the shoe, then stood and ripped off his pants for the second time that night. His body moved with the music as though his muscles were controlling the tempo. There was no doubt about it, this guy could dance. Whoever said dancing was a girly pursuit for guys hadn’t seen Ty. He oozed masculinity, confidence, and — gulp — sexiness, and his performance was in no way cheesy. It was classy. And professional. And…I think I’ve had too much to drink. I shook away the hint of desire creeping throughout my body like a pack of stealthy field agents. Greg. Think of Greg. He’s my man, he’s my fiancé, and Ty is just some light entertainment to satisfy Lorena’s urge to create the ideal hen’s party.
‘Wipe that drool from your face, girlfriend!’ My body stiffened as Red sat next to me.
‘Go away,’ I hissed through pursed lips.
‘What, and miss this show? I’ve been practically comatose back there in the corner from the shock of all this beauty.’ She eyed Ty with intense eyes of desire. ‘Mmm… Now I really miss being alive.’ She floated towards him and moulded her body to his as he swayed.
Red, please don’t. I tried to send her an instant message via ESP.
‘I can almost feel his heat,’ she said, leaning in close to his face. ‘I wish I could smell him.’ She breathed in violently through her nose like she was trying to unclog her sinuses with nasal spray.
Stay tuned for the release of HAUNTED EVER AFTER on Sept 1st from Escape Publishing.
>> You can add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
>> And you can preorder from Amazon & iTunes at the moment (though will be available 1st Sept from all ebook retailers):
- Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M19AWO2
- UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M19AWO2
- AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00M19AWO2
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/haunted-ever-after/id902138042?mt=11
A one-of-a-kind competition (Aus residents only)
I love giveaways and I just had to share this one with you… my good friend and critique partner Alli Sinclair whose debut novel LUNA TANGO has just been released, is running a contest to win an original oil painting! The painting encompasses the passion of the tango, and you can see the prize HERE.
To enter, all you have to do is take a photo that depicts the tango – it can be of you and another person embracing in the tango way, it can be a drawing, it can be of LEGO minifigures getting their groove on, it can be of your pets, your kids, soft toys – anything! Just give it a tango flare.
I’ve already entered, you can see my photo with the dashing Marco on my blog post about the RWA conference here. 😉
For all the contest details and where to send your photo to, visit Alli’s blog.
Have fun and good luck! 🙂
RWA 2014 conference wrap-up and photos!
I just got back from my annual writer’s conference, run by the awesome Romance Writers of Australia. Over 350 writers, editors, and agents were in attendance in Sydney for four days of fun, friendliness, flirtiness, and fabulous… dancing. (Those who listened to Emma Darcy’s Hall of Fame speech probably thought I was going to say something else there) 😉
As usual, lots of photos were taken (some good, some that were maybe best not taken at all), and I’m sharing a few here today along with some highlights from the conference…
- The night before the conference started I went out to dinner with my writing club and critique partners, and then we got comfy in a hotel room for an Offspring party! In other words, we watched the final episode of our favourite TV show Offspring. As a writer, I can tell you that this show is fabulously well-written. We weren’t missing it for anything! #TeamLeo by the way.
- Thursday I went to my first published author day which was filled with great industry advice and media training, followed by the Literacy High Tea fundraiser which had scrumptious food and laugh-out-loud guest speakers, along with a debate that gave politicians a run for their money. Our debate topic was of much worldly importance: Which heroes are better – betas or alphas? (betas all the way, in my opinion) 😉
- And on Thursday night at the Harlequin author dinner… this happened:
What’s a writers conference without a bit of tango dancing? 😉 My critique partner Alli Sinclair forced me to do this (really, she did) and one of the photos will be an entry into her tango pose competition she’s running on her blog, which you can check out HERE to win an original oil painting.
- On Friday there was a very informative and practical workshop by James Scott Bell, and I wrote lots of notes to take back and utilize in my own writing. And he showed some great examples from movies! I like the fact that as a writer, when I’m watching a movie, I can say that I’M WORKING.
- Friday night = Leather and Lace cocktail party. Maleficent, Cher, Catwoman… just a few of the great costumes worn by enthusiastic dresser-uppers.
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- Bec McMaster & Dakota Harrison
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- Juliet Madison & Rachael Johns (with Bondy)
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- Juliet Madison & Stefanie London (with Romance Llama)
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- Cher – AKA: Ros Baxter
- On Saturday there were a variety of informative and entertaining workshops (and I must make a special mention of our international guest speaker Cherry Adair who was the life of the party – ahem – conference. Her talks were inspiring, emotional, and downright hilarious, and she blessed us all with her generosity and support, and some touchy-feely-huggy stuff.)
- I had the pleasure of introducing Jenn J Mcleod’s workshop on small town twists and secrets which was fantastic and filled with lots of great ideas on how to make your small town story shine. Thanks Jenn!
- I was very proud to see my critique partner and debut author Alli Sinclair receive her First Sale ribbon, after receiving mine last year and getting rather excited, I told her she had to pull a crazy pose like I did. 😉
- Saturday afternoon I went to my first ever book signing run by ARRA! (milestone moment, pass the Kleenex please). What does a digitally published author sign at book signings? Postcards, brochures, flyers…etc, and the occasional body part or handbag. I’m joking about the body part, not about the bag. Thanks to the readers who came up to say Hi! And thanks to my critique partner Diane who gave me a present: a fluffy little owl writing mascot, who I’ve called Solomon. He joined me at the book signing!
- Then we had all of 20 minutes to get back to the hotel and get glammed up for the RWA awards gala – the Logies of the romance writing world. One problem: my left eye decided to become rather inflamed and bloodshot, uncomfortable and watery, making me squint now and then with the occasional eye-bulge for good measure – I’m sure I looked like Rik from The Young Ones after a bit too much alcohol or a whack on the head from Vyvyan. Luckily, when the Escape After Party began, the weird bluey-purple lighting changed to weird reddy-pink lighting and I thought ‘Yes! Now my eye will match.’ 😉
- But I’m getting ahead of myself, back to the awards night… congrats to all the winners! I was especially excited to see my fellow Escape author Kendall Talbot take home the RUBY award for best romantic elements book of the year for Lost In Kakadu! 🙂
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- Kendall accepting her award
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- Telling hubby the good news
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- The RUBY award
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- “I won, woohoo!”
- There was much celebration after dinner with almost two hours of letting loose on the dance floor. Abba, The B52’s, Michael Jackson… nothing beats having some energetic, crazy, slightly daggy fun with some golden oldies (songs, not people… because everyone braving the dance floor was young and hip in my opinion) 😉 Escape had organized a photo booth with crazy dress-ups, and that was a hoot! (Solomon the owl told me to say that). Then we all dragged ourselves off to our hotel rooms to get a completely sufficient three hours of sleep before the Sunday workshops began.
- When the conference finished, my buddies and I had fun walking around Sydney Olympic Park among the crowds of people there for a big soccer match, looking for food to eat. We ended up back where we started and charged like swarming locusts towards a tiny table when it became available in the bar of the Pullman Hotel, where we squished plates for six both on the table and on laps. There, we discussed goals for the next year, book marketing, and what we want to achieve by the next conference. We also pretended the stretch limousine outside the hotel was ours.
I love spending time with other writers, many of whom have become wonderful friends, and the RWA does a great job at putting on this annual conference and for that I am truly grateful.
Rock on! 🙂
To see all the tweets about the conference, check out the hashtag #RWAus14 on Twitter.
3 Weeks To Go! HAUNTED EVER AFTER sneak peek
Each week until release day I’ll share a fun excerpt pic like the one below, and a longer excerpt here on the blog. So with 3 weeks to go, here is the next excerpt of HAUNTED EVER AFTER, my next full-length romantic comedy with a touch of magic. If you enjoyed the fun and mayhem of FAST FORWARD, be sure to check this one out on 1st September. 😉
Excerpt:
‘What’s your favourite colour?’ I asked Ty.
‘Cobalt. Why?’
‘Just making conversation to pass the time. Cobalt? Not blue, or green, or red, but cobalt?’
‘Colours vary, it’s good to be specific.’
‘I guess. Then why aren’t you wearing cobalt? And why is your car black?’
‘I didn’t say it was my favourite colour to wear or anything, it’s just my favourite colour to look at, generally.’
‘Fair enough. That makes sense.’
‘What’s yours? Wait…light purple?’
‘Mauve. How did you know?’
‘You were wearing it that night you got stuck in the toilet. Just a guess.’
And I thought the only thing he’d noticed was the fact that I’d gotten stuck in the toilet.
‘Favourite TV show?’ he asked.
I was having déjà vu. It reminded me of the twenty questions Red had fired at me during dinner at the guest house when Ty was with us. As long as he didn’t ask me my favourite sexual position like she had, I’d be fine.
‘Doctor Who, or Midsomer Murders.’
He smiled. Was he silently making fun of my entertainment choices?
‘Oh, and Friends,’ I added, to seem reasonably normal and hip, and to honour last Saturday night’s laughter prescription. ‘You?’
‘Friends, too, of course, and Seinfeld. And Game of Thrones.’
‘Oh, I don’t think I could watch that. Looks too explicit and gory.’
‘Exactly! I love it. Try it, I guarantee you’ll be hooked.’
‘Hmm.’ I wasn’t convinced.
‘Okay, next question: If you could go back in time, when would you go?’
‘The fifties. They seemed cute and fun. You?’
‘Hmm, maybe the Palaeolithic period? You know, grow a beard and long hair, wear nothing but a loincloth, and hunt for food. Perfect.’
‘Caveman, huh? Well, you’ve got the loincloth bit all sorted, in a modern sort of way.’
‘True. Maybe I’ll have to mix up my performances a little. Instead of Doctor Ty, I could be Caveman Ty.’
An image of him swinging shirtless from tree to tree flashed through my mind. ‘Or Tarzan’s naughty cousin.’
‘Good idea. Tyzan, perhaps?’
I chuckled.
‘How about we play I Spy next instead of Twenty Questions? It’s a perfect game for road trips, Cody loves playing it.’
Being around Ty was never boring. And I appreciated the way he was taking my mind off the inevitable challenge of going back to Chris’ house.
‘I’ll start,’ he said. ‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…I.’
‘Umm… Incredibly infuriating guy indifferent to public displays of partial nudity?’ I joked.
‘Nope! And yes, sort of.’
‘Impossibly irritating imbecilic Neanderthal?’
A laugh shot from his mouth. ‘I didn’t know you had such a witty way with words, Sexy Sally.’
‘I’m full of surprises this long weekend.’
Stay tuned for the release of HAUNTED EVER AFTER on Sept 1st from Escape Publishing.
>> You can add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
>> And you can preorder from Amazon & iTunes at the moment (though will be available 1st Sept from all ebook retailers):
- Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M19AWO2
- UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M19AWO2
- AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00M19AWO2
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/haunted-ever-after/id902138042?mt=11
Special Offer for THE JANUARY WISH
My publisher has created this special offer to coincide with the RWA Australia conference which is on this weekend, simply use the code RWA14 to get THE JANUARY WISH for only 99c HERE, until 31st August.
*This will provide you with an epub copy, so you will need Adobe Digital Editions or an epub reader to read the ebook.
Happy reading 🙂
Would You like Magic With That?
This week Escape Publishing launches its new category of novels, Magic Realism Romance:
Not quite paranormal, not quite fantasy, this genre believes that magic is a part of the every day, and that there’s more to our lives than can be explained. If you’re looking for a little mystical, a little miraculous, a little more, this is the romance for you.
Some of my novels will be included in this category: FAST FORWARD, I DREAM OF JOHNNY, STARSTRUCK IN SEATTLE, and my upcoming releases HAUNTED EVER AFTER and 12 DAVES OF CHRISTMAS. They fit the description because they are set in the real world with real people (and so aren’t full-on fantasy or paranormal), yet have that little touch of magic to take the story beyond the realm of the world we know.
Time travel, wishes, angels, ghosts… they’re all part of Magic Realism Romance, and each is included in one of my MRR books. Mine are also known as Romagic Comedies, because they have romance, magic, and comedy. If you like these types of stories, I have a facebook group you might like to join: Romagic Comedy Readers & Writers.
…This week, MRR authors from Escape Publishing are having a blog tour to celebrate this niche genre. Check the Escape blog for all the links. Today, for my post, I’m sharing an acrostic poem! I’m also having a giveaway to win an advance copy of my September release, HAUNTED EVER AFTER, as well as a copy of fellow Escape Artist Robyn Neeley’s book BATTER UP! See the rafflecopter at the end of this post to enter.
Here is what you could experience when you read a Magic Realism Romance novel:
Magical elements
Angelic intervention
Ghosts galore
Intuitive insight
Charmed heroes
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Racing against time
Extraordinary scenarios
Animal attraction
Love potions
Intelligent plots
Spells and sparkles
Magic lamps and more!
>>WIN! One advance ebook copy of HAUNTED EVER AFTER by Juliet Madison (read it before everyone else!), plus one ebook copy of BATTER UP by Robyn Neeley. Open worldwide. Winner drawn 13th August and notified via email.
To enter, click the rafflecopter link:>> a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck! 🙂
HAUNTED EVER AFTER:
Mixing romance, humour and a sparkle of magic, Juliet Madison is back with a new full-length novel about a bride-to-be, a mystery and the stripper next door.
When bride-to-be Sally Marsh attends a weekend away with her bridesmaids, the last thing she expects is an uninvited guest: the ghost of her fiancé’s ex-girlfriend. Red is quirky, loud and distracting, and Sally is soon desperate to find the reason behind her presence, so she can rid herself of her embarrassing shadow before the wedding day.
Unfortunately, the ghost is reluctant to share the reason for her existence, but very enthusiastic about Ty, the surprise hen’s night stripper who keeps showing up at awkward moments. Time is running out for Sally, but it’s also running out for Red. By the time all is revealed, Sally will be tested to the limits, and go above and beyond everything she’s ever believed in order to ensure not only her own happy-ever-after but Red’s as well.
BATTER UP:
She mixes more than flour and sugar into her cake batter, and he’s about to find out if a little bit of magic is to his taste…
Bakeshop owner Emma Stevens has a secret — a delicious, slightly unorthodox secret. Each Monday, she mixes up a premonition to share with the bachelors of Buttermilk Falls, and sets one lucky man on the path to true love.
When reporter Jason Levine finds himself mixed up in a Las Vegas bachelorette party, he hears the strangest rumour: the marriage is happening thanks to magic cake batter. Seriously sceptical, and sick of frauds, Jason journeys to the backwater town of Buttermilk Falls to expose the baker and release the townspeople from her evil clutches.
But when Jason meets Emma, tempers flare and sparks fly. Will Jason cling to his logic at the expense of a future, or will he let himself fall under Emma’s spell?
Have you read many Magic Realism Romances or perhaps Romagic Comedies? Let me know some you’ve enjoyed…
4 Weeks To Go! HAUNTED EVER AFTER sneak peek
Each week until release day I’ll share a fun excerpt pic like the one below, and a longer excerpt here on the blog. So with 4 weeks to go, here is an excerpt of HAUNTED EVER AFTER, my next full-length romantic comedy with a touch of magic. If you enjoyed the fun and mayhem of FAST FORWARD, be sure to check this one out on 1st September. 😉
Excerpt:
‘I want you to call Ty and ask him to come over for a game of Twister.’
‘Twister? But that’s a game for flexible young kids who don’t mind clambering over each other.’
‘Ty is flexible.’
‘I’m not! And I’m engaged, it wouldn’t be right to get that close to another guy. You’ll have to give me another dare.’
‘Okay, I dare you to walk down the main street and sing Tomorrow from Annie at the top of your lungs, and hug random people as you go by.’
I had visions of being captured on video and going viral on YouTube. ‘No, no way.’ I shook my head vigorously.
‘Then call Ty.’ Mel handed me back my phone. ‘Twister or Tomorrow. What’ll it be?’
I ran a hand over my head. No way could I sing in public, especially after my dance incident. Singing was a completely different thing, and my voice could barely crank out a simple Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in tune.
‘So I just have to call him and ask, it doesn’t matter if he says no, right?’
‘If he says yes, you have to play Twister with him, but if he says no, well, I guess there’s nothing you can do about that. But you have to at least ask him.’ She shoved the phone into my hand and it shook in my grasp. It was only a simple phone call, but something about being around him made me nervous. Maybe it was his superhuman physique, or the fact that he seemed like some super-caring, kind, too-good-to-be-true angel from heaven sent down to earth to make women swoon and look after those who needed a little extra support. He came from a completely different world to mine, and it felt like I was about to call my teenage celebrity crush.
‘Here’s his number,’ Lorena said, showing me her phone.
I added him as a contact and my finger hovered over his number.
‘Press it, Sally! I want to see this!’ Red was back to her usual self at the prospect of another embarrassing moment for me.
I pressed it.
‘Hello? Ty speaking,’ he answered.
‘Hi, Ty, I…’ Oh God, I’m rhyming! ‘It’s me, Sally.’
‘Sexy Sally?’
Heat rushed up my face. ‘Well, the one from the guest house.’
‘Yeah, as I said: Sexy Sally. What can I do for you? Would you like to book another performance?’
‘Oh goodness, no, not at all.’
‘Gee, thanks. Glad you’re so keen.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean…I just meant, anyway, I’m calling to ask something,’
He was silent for a moment, then: ‘You’ll have to speak up, sunshine.’
I cleared my throat but my voice remained croaky. ‘I was wondering if you’d care for a game of…’ I cleared my throat again at the same time as uttering the word, ‘Twister’.
‘Sorry? A game of what?’
‘Twister,’ I said more loudly, the painful embarrassment like a red-hot burn on my cheeks.
Mel tipped her head back with a sudden laugh.
Ty’s voice held a hint of a smile. ‘You want me to come over to play Twister?’
‘I guess so.’
He chuckled. ‘You girls are an entertaining bunch.’
‘It’s okay, you don’t have to, I know you’ve had a busy day and you probably have other things to do with your brother, or a job to go to, or — ’
‘Be there in ten.’
‘Huh?’
‘The guest house. Ten minutes. I’ll warm up on the way there.’ And then he hung up.
I kept the phone next to my ear and furrowed my brow, my mouth agape.
‘Sal?’ asked Mel.
‘He hung up.’
‘He hung up on you?’ Georgie asked.
‘No, he hung up after saying he’d be here in ten minutes.’
‘Woohoo!’ Mel exclaimed. ‘I only wanted you to ask him, I didn’t think he’d actually agree to it! Ooh, this is going to be fun to watch!’
‘Watch? But you have to play too, I can’t play it on my own, with him.’
‘Nope, the dare was for you to ask him over to play.’
‘And I’m definitely out of this game,’ Lorena said, holding her belly and convenient excuse. I was sure, though, had she not been pregnant, she wouldn’t have minded playing Twister with a stripper.
‘And as much as I’d love to get up close and personal with His Royal Hotness, I’d much rather see you in action on those coloured spots.’ Mel grinned, and I looked towards Georgie for moral support.
She held her palms up. ‘Sorry, I’m needed in the kitchen.’
‘But we’re eating out tonight.’
‘Yes, but someone has to marinate the lamb for tomorrow night’s dinner.’
‘But — ’
‘Too late for an appeal, Sal, you better get ready. Warm up and stretch or something. I’ll set up the mat. Tick-tock!’ She tapped her watch.
Oh my goodness gracious me. I felt like I was about to betray Greg. What had I got myself into?
As Mel prepared the game, I swung my arms around in circles. Probably best if I did warm up a little, it would make it easier to manoeuvre around the mat and avoid bodily contact. Why did he agree to play Twister anyway? He knows I’m taken, so it’s not like he’s seeing it as an opportunity to hit on me or anything. Probably just wants to show off his…bendiness.
Stay tuned for the release of HAUNTED EVER AFTER on Sept 1st from Escape Publishing.
>> You can add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
>> And you can preorder from Amazon & iTunes at the moment (though will be available 1st Sept from all ebook retailers):
- Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M19AWO2
- UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M19AWO2
- AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00M19AWO2
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/haunted-ever-after/id902138042?mt=11
JULIET MADISON 