excerpt | Linda McLaughlin/Lyndi Lamont

Please welcome Robin Michaela to the blog today to unveil her new release, The Santa Bargain.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Lyndi!

The Santa Bargain is my new contemporary romance novel. It’s a holiday romance about a relationship-phobic single mom and the equally commitment-shy guy who agrees to be Santa in their small town’s holiday parade. In order to get Joe to agree, though, Maria has to strike a bargain that promises to heat up the holidays.

The Santa Bargain is on sale for $0.99 on Amazon through 12/31/17 or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited (click this link for either version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077996MP2).

Thanks for checking it out. Have a merry and bright holiday season!

Robin

Blurb:

Santa’s gifts can be both naughty…and nice.

Coffeehouse entrepreneur, Maria Thompson, has sworn off men ever since her young son’s father walked out of their lives. But, when she literally runs into sexy carpenter, Joe Sinclair, she wonders if it’s time to rethink her plan.

Joe Sinclair doesn’t need or want romance or a family. He was raised in the foster care system and learned long ago not to get attached to anyone. Now, if he could just remember that, he could put the sensual owner of Copper River, Colorado’s new coffee shop out of his mind.

After Maria and Joe volunteer to work together on the town’s first Christmas festival, their attraction lights up brighter than a new a string of holiday lights. When Santa comes to town, will they finally find everything they’ve ever wished for under the tree?

Excerpt:

Wanting to lighten the mood, he cleared his throat. “I bet Zach is looking forward to Santa’s visit. The holiday is coming up fast.”

He watched a soft smile spread across Maria’s face. “Yes, he is. He’s at that perfect age for Santa – too old to be afraid, but still young enough to believe in the magic of the season.”

She must be working some magic of her own on him because Joe felt the warmth of her smile all the way to his toes. He grinned, remembering his own excitement as he awaited Santa’s visit when he was Zach’s age. “Has he told St. Nick what he wants for Christmas yet?”

“I’ve been waiting until the festival to take him to see Santa because the big guy is supposed to show up there. That is, if I can ever find someone to actually be Santa.” Maria clamped her mouth shut.

He saw a glint come into her eyes as she tilted her head to one side, then squinted at him like she was appraising a prize show horse. “Hmm.”

Joe really didn’t like the way she’d started looking at him. He could practically see the image in her mind – and, in it, he was all decked out in a red suit. He put his mug down on the counter so fast it made a clinking noise as he held up his hands. “Oh no, don’t get any ideas, Maria. I’m the last guy who should be Santa.”

“Why, Joe, I think you’d make a perfect St. Nick.”

He’d swear her voice had dropped by at least an octave. The new throaty tone made his groin twitch.

She picked up her spoon and slowly slid it between her lips. He watched her tongue sweep out to lick a droplet of coffee from it, and he fought to keep from groaning. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pull his gaze from her mouth.

“You know, I’ve been thinking…if you were Santa, I could be your elf,” she continued in her sultry voice. “Who knows? You might be very happy with what you find under your Christmas tree this year.”

He suppressed a smile as he thought about that. How she could make being a festival Santa sound enticing was beyond him, but she was managing. Joe was very nearly tempted to tell her he would do it, but he held back and waited to see if she’d sweeten the deal.

Buy links:

On sale for $0.99 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077996MP2

Author Bio:

Robin Michaela has been reading romances since her teen years, when she first snuck her aunt’s copy of The Flame and the Flower, by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

She’s married to her own Handsome Prince (a military airman) and has lived everywhere from the sunny shores of Florida to the wild crags of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. By day, she’s a dental hygienist and by night, Robin can be found eating chocolate, training for her next half marathon, and crafting her next novel (although not necessarily in that order).

Robin loves to hear from readers. Please visit her website (www.robinmichaela.com). You can also follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RobinMichaelaRomances) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/robinsromances).

Today I’m sharing an excerpt from my Western Romance, Lily and the Gambler, for the #HappyHolidays author exchange.

Lily and the Gambler is set in the autumn in California Gold Country, specifically Grass Valley, 1868. My husband and I visited the area some years ago and I fell in love with it. Grass Valley was especially interesting to me because of the large Cornish population in the 19th century. This area had deep gold veins that couldn’t be panned. Cornish miners were encouraged to come because of their experience in the tin mines of Cornwall, which were petering out. To this day, the Cornish pasty is a local treat, and the city still celebrates a Cornish Christmas.

Lily & the Gambler
By Linda McLaughlin
Sensual Western Historical Romance

Blurb:

Respectability is in the eye of the beholder. Or so Lily hopes when she assumes the guise of a widow. After her lover’s death, she and travels to California where she plans to marry a respectable mine owner. Then she meets King Callaway, a professional gambler.

After meeting Lily, King knows he has found his Queen of Hearts. But can he convince her to pass up a wealthy gentleman for a foot-loose card sharp? Only Lady Luck knows for sure…

(Previously published in a shortened version by Amber Quill Press)

Available at Amazon Kindle, BN/Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

Add to your TBR list at Goodreads.

Excerpt:

At last he pulled the buggy off the road at a small clearing by the stream. He set the break and jumped out to help her from the conveyance. As usual, he held her a little too closely, only this time he didn’t let go when her feet touched the ground.

She stared up into his eyes. “King?”

“I can’t get over how lovely you are,” he said, his voice husky.

“You’re quite good-looking yourself.” She reached up to stroke his cheek, still smooth from his morning shave. Her heart was beating faster than usual. Would he try to kiss her?

He turned his head and pressed a kiss into her palm. He drew her closer and lowered his head. Just then she heard the noise of another horse and drew back.

“Anyone could see us. I have to be careful of my reputation.”

He cursed under his breath, grabbed the picnic basket and a blanket from the buggy and led the way through the woods to a more secluded spot by the stream. “Is this better?”

She peered back the way they had come, but couldn’t see the road. “Yes.” Though she knew it was never safe to be alone with this man, she went willingly. She must have lost her senses.

He spread the blanket on the ground and put the basket down before reaching for her. “Now where were we?”

She smiled. “I think you were about to kiss me.”

“So I was.” He pulled her to him, one arm around her waist and the other hand cupping her head. His lips were warm and searching, demanding she respond in kind. She sighed into the kiss. Goodness, she’d forgotten how blissful the act could be. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave herself up to the kiss, delighting in the sensations coursing through her. How was she going to resist this man?

At last, he pulled his mouth away with a groan. “I want you, Lily, more than you realize.”

“I know,” she whispered, stepping away to stare at the water in the creek rippling below. “But I’m not ready for more than kisses.” She spoke the lie, knowing he needed no encouragement to take her right there. She wanted him, too, wanted to feel his skin against her own, feel his weight on her, the pleasure he could give her. But she was afraid. Afraid of losing control, of being caught in wanton behavior, of being ostracized from society. He’d made her no promises and his advances promised only ruination. “You want marriage,” he said.

She turned to look at him, not sure whether she should be angry or disappointed. “Ideally, yes. I need some assurances. What are your intentions, sir? Do you think to seduce me once and abandon me?”

He stepped nearer and ran a finger down the side of her face and neck. A shiver passed through her. “I doubt once would be enough.”

How to onnect with me online:

Follow my Blog (sign up in the footer area): https://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/
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Hope you’re having a good holiday season so far.

Linda

Linda McLaughlin/Lyndi Lamont

Romance author

Tag Archives: excerpt

The Santa Bargain: A #HolidayRomance by @robinsromances #NewRelease #HappyHolidays

Lily and the Gambler by @LyndiLamont #HappyHolidays #WesternRomance