Winter Warm-Up #HopswithHeart

Welcome to the Winter Warm-up Blog Hop!

This season I heat up the holidays with my steamy new series, The Queen Quartette, a riveting saga of secrets, deception, betrayal, and revenge. The fourth and final book in the series, HIS DIAMOND QUEEN, is slated for release 12/30/14 but is now available for pre-order. Check out the excerpt below!
~~~~♦~~~~
Excerpt from His Diamond Queen... 
Available for pre-order!
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“I think a Bluetooth would be perfect for you.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, for one thing, you could keep that hideously old phone out of sight.” She wrinkled her nose. “Do they even make flip phones anymore?”

His bark of laughter surprised—and annoyed—her. What was so damn funny?

“God, could you stop being a snob for just one second?”

Her back stiffened and she crossed her arms under her breast, which forced the seatbelt closer against her. “I’m not a snob. I just like nice things. What wrong with that?” Remembering what Mercedes had told her earlier, she echoed, “That doesn’t make me a bad person.”

He laughed again and it only grated more on her nerves. Like everyone else in her life, he obviously didn’t take her seriously.

“No, it makes you a conceited, self-centered snob. There are people out here with real problems and real issues, who could use the money you spend on shoes and bags and whatever else to pay for serious things like rent and food. But only pretty, shiny things matter to you.” He scoffed. “It may not make you a bad person, but it doesn’t make you a very good one either.”

That stung. Rachelle kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to let him see how much his words hurt. He didn’t know anything about her, and she didn’t appreciate him lumping her into some list that condemned anyone who had money and wasn’t ashamed to show it.

“Just because I have nice things doesn’t mean that’s all I care about. I go to charity events and donate every— what? Why the hell are you laughing?”

“I never understood those so-called charity events. Why throw a party for the already rich just because they are helping those less fortunate than them? Why not just send a check?”

Rachelle narrowed her eyes at him. “No matter what I say, you would never understand.” She may be far from a philanthropist, but at least she made an effort to give back and she wouldn’t let Jay’s self-righteousness make her feel as if she wasn’t doing enough.

“Anyway, what about you and this truck?” She gestured around the wide cabin of the truck. “You obviously like big, shiny things and this thing can’t be good for the environment, but that doesn’t seem to stop you from driving around and killing our ozone layer and you don’t hear me jumping down your throat about global warming and whatnot.”

“I do now,” he muttered. “Besides, it’s not the same thing. I can’t drive just anything. I’m a big guy, princess.” He glanced at her, a sly grin curving his lips. “Whatever I ride needs to be able to handle me.”

Rachelle’s back stiffened and she automatically glanced down at his lap, thankful for the shades that kept her wandering eyes hidden. He may have been talking about his truck but her mind had certainly wandered… He was a big guy. Was all of him proportionate to the rest of him? The thought left her flustered and her cheeks burned.

“Don’t get all shy on me, princess. I was just talking about my truck.”

“I know that,” Rachelle snapped, her face growing warmer. Gritting her teeth at the amusement still plain in his voice, she swung her gaze back to the road that stretched ahead.

“Good. Now if you just sit back and relax, you might enjoy the ride.”


Series sampler now available!
She turned to him again, frowning. If she indeed had a wandering mind, she had him to thank. “I’m not stupid, Jay. I know what you’re really talking about.”

She didn’t miss the sly smirk on his hard-edged face.

“What?” he drawled with false innocence. “I’m just saying, it might look big and rough but it’s nothing you can’t handle.”

She narrowed her eyes. He thought he was so cute. Tightening her arms around herself, she turned away from him and stared straight ahead.

“You’re such a jerk,” she muttered.

He chuckled. "So I've heard."
~~~~♦~~~~

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! What's on the top of your reading list this winter? Leave a comment and enter to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Be sure to visit the Rafflecopter because four lucky commenters will selected! And don't forget to hop on over to the next bloggers.

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Comments

cchant said…
Enjoyed the excerpts. Thanks for the chance to win.
cchant86 @ yahoo.com
Jen Barnard said…
I can't wait to read Light my Fire by G A Aiken, it came out in November, but I haven't got a copy yet.
jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com
Unknown said…
I am looking forward to the release of Viscount of Vice by Shana Galen

fencingromein at hotmail dot com
Unknown said…
From November thru December I try to read as many Christmas stories as I can. It's my way of getting into the spirit of the season!
Anonymous said…
RJ Scott's "Angel In A Book Shop" appeals to me...

Trix, vitajex(At)Aol(dot)com
Wild N Mild $$$ said…
I can't wait to read Real Santa.
Jennifer Rote
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
Tatiana L. said…
On the top of my reading list are some great new books by Stacy Eaton that I am beta reading for her!

tatiana_lwg (at) yahoo.com
Melanie M said…
Thank you for the snippets! Sounds great!
Unknown said…
I don't know where to start :) but I'm interested in classics right now, any really.
Jami Brumfield said…
Adding The Queen Quartette series to my TBR spiritandmindconnection@live.com
Daniel M said…
i'm so far behind i can't keep track of what's next - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Natalija said…
Great excerpt! Thank you for sharing!
I'd like to read more Christmas stories, but I tend to lean towards westerns. There's just something about cowboys...


natalija(dot)shkomare(at)gmail(dot)com
Unknown said…
I am reading my way through Love, Laughter and Merrily Ever After box set. kumquat8 at hotmail dot com
Katie Amanda said…
It's hard to say. Sometimes I like to read YA. I haven't gotten to Cinder yet. I've been wanting to read that for a long time. Thanks!
Unknown said…
Reading through "Dust of Dreams" right now.
Cheryl R said…
I have The River Maiden on my pile sitting next to my bed.
Tanya G said…
Right now I'm reading through Colleen Hoover's books. Thanks for the chance! Have a happy holiday season! Tanyamarieward(at)Hotmail(dot)com
Unknown said…
Anything by Colleen Hoover :)
Berkeley Hapa said…
Enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks for the giveaway!
Veronika said…
Just started The Siren by Tiffany Reisz. I've heard a lot of great things about this series.

verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
Holly Letson said…
Mostly manga actually.

bookaholicholly at gmail dot com
Anonymous said…
I have several YA books on my to-read list, but I am getting ready to move and start a new job so it might all be shelved for a while.

Happy holidays!!

morwesong AT yahoo DOT com
Linda Trinklein said…
Sparrow by Sara Mack ! She is such an amazing author. I just loved her first series.
Thanks
CindyWindy2003 said…
On my top books to read list is the Divergent series. I still need to get them.
Jan Lee said…
I want to start reading more books by Gillian Flynn. I read Sharp Objects and loved it :)
Jean W said…
I am currently reading More Than a Rancher.
barniebad said…
I hope the Santa has gotten my wish list! I would love to find "The Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks and "The Orphan Master's Son" by Adam Johnson under my Christmas tree.
Hope Mitchner said…
I have about five books that I am looking forward to reading beginning with the One Day Contract by Rick Pitino
jessica said…
I've got a ton of books on my list. a lot on my kindle that I haven't gotten around to reading and others that I've check out from the library. . I'm so behind on Lora Leigh's books so any of the newest ones by her.
jessangil at gmail dot com
Ally Swanson said…
Right now the top book on my reading list is "Gray Mountain" by John Grisham. Thanks, allyswanson@hotmail.com.
Judy Gregory said…
The new Janet Evanovich. (can't remember the name, it's sad) I love the humor in her books.
Kimberly Hall said…
all kinds of boxed sets my email is LILKIM_2072002@yahoo.com
hhkaufman78 said…
I would love to read The Outlander series.
jmcgaugh said…
As soon as it comes out, Karen Moning's Burned will move to the top of my list!
Sherry Compton said…
I want to read James Patterson's new book.
savewish@yahoo.com
bn100 said…
you were mine by Abbi Glines
Tina B said…
Love the excerpt! ;)
On my reading list...Nobody's Lost by Kallypso Masters, the upcoming Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole, One Love by Lili St Germain to name a few. :)
Happy Holidays!