I'm happy to have the opportunity to have Cate Lord here at Among the Muses today! She's here sharing with us readers a little about her heroine and giving us a great teaser of her new release, Lucky Girl!
oOoOoOo
Jess Devlin: A Heroine Every Gal Can Relate To
Thanks so much to Among the Muses for hosting me today to talk about my romantic comedy Lucky Girl, recently released by Entangled Publishing.
Writing Lucky Girl was a challenge for me, but in a good way. I’d written medieval romances that were published in mass market paperback, and while I adore writing historicals, I decided to try a book set in contemporary times. I wanted my creative muse to spread her wings a bit; she does get easily bored. Also, I wanted to try a story that wasn’t expressed through two viewpoints, that of a heroine and hero, but just one: the heroine’s.
Could I do it? This was a huge departure from my usual writing process. I was a bit nervous, actually, to think of plunging into the writing pool in a teeny hot pink bikini, rather than a concealing white linen shift. I decided that to make the book really come alive, I had to give my heroine dreams, desires, and conflicts that would resonate with most women of today. Flipping through magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire, Glamour, and In Style gave me ideas as to what my story gal might be dealing with: weight, workplace politics, dating, fashion disasters, family conflicts, and financial woes. Above all, she had to touch heartstrings and make us root for her until the very end of the book.
Could I do it? I squeezed myself into that pink bikini (without once looking in a mirror), sucked in a deep breath, and dived in.
My heroine is twenty-nine-year-old Jessica Devlin, the overweight, workaholic beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine who flies to England to be maid-of-honor in her cousin’s wedding. During her two-week vacation, she’s swept up in an unexpected romance with Nick Mondinello, the gorgeous British marketing exec she met briefly two years ago and is convinced is one-hundred-percent wrong for her.
From the first words of the book, Jess revealed herself to be quirky, sarcastic, and painfully self-conscious, but with good reason. She’d been badly hurt by her ex-fiance’s betrayal four months before their wedding. The breakup shattered her emotionally and destroyed her self-confidence. Since that time, she’s been living through each day but not really living.
While I hadn’t been betrayed by a fiancé, I’d endured breakups with long-term boyfriends. What woman hasn’t felt crushed when she’s dumped for someone else? I drew upon my own experiences and heartaches as I wrote each scene for Jess, and knew that this novel would be a journey of healing for her. By the end, she’d be a stronger, happier woman.
As the book progressed, the words that flowed from my fingers and appeared on my computer screen weren’t my words, they were Jess’s. As I read them aloud to check the sentence flow, I heard them in her voice. She wasn’t just my character, she was my best friend, telling me what she loved, hated, feared, craved, and wanted (and yes, that would be hottie Nick). By the last word of the novel, I hated to say goodbye to her.
Since I personally hate spoilers, I won’t say how Jess’s happily-ever-after comes to be. But if I’ve done my job right, Lucky Girl will make readers smile, giggle, and think “yeah, girlfriend, I can relate,” and they’ll enjoy Jess’s story to the very last word. Fingers crossed.
by Cate Lord
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
ePub ISBN: 978‐1‐937044‐20‐6
Print ISBN: 978‐1‐937044‐21‐3 Jessica Devlin isn’t looking for love. Heartbroken after being dumped by her unfaithful ex‐fiancé, she’s determined to have a fabulous time during her vacation in England where she’ll be maid‐of‐honor at her cousin’s wedding. After working overtime as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine, avoiding dating, and putting on ten pounds, Jess is ready to toss her past like an empty lipstick tube and party like a single gal.
But when she steps into the church on her cousin’s wedding day, she sees the one man who could sabotage her plan—James‐Bond‐gorgeous Nick Mondinello. She’s never forgotten the London marketing exec who held her in his arms after her beloved grandfather’s funeral two years ago. Ambitious, and lusted after by women everywhere, Nick is completely wrong for guarded, Plain Jane Jess.
Could Spy Man Nick ever fall for her? Nope. Not unless Jess is one lucky girl.
*Praise for LUCKY GIRL*
“A fun and sassy read!”
~ Katherine Garbera, USA Today bestselling novelist
“Fun, fast‐paced, fabulous. Jess Devlin is an American Bridget Jones!”
~New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde
Excerpt ~ From Chapter 5 ~
I started down the sweeping gravel drive. Already, my stress was fading like the last splashes of sunshine. Now, my head swirled from too much alcohol, sugary cake, and. . . Nick.
Whee!
I smiled into the breeze tugging at my gown. How totally dumb to get giddy over a few conversations, and him touching my arm—but those moments were mine. All mine.
No one could steal, distort, or shatter them.
Most of all Sex Crazed.
I’d savor those memories for days, like a mint I’d pull out time and again and twirl around on my tongue to revive the zingy flavor, but would never dream of crunching.
While I walked, stones skittered under my sandals. The trees whispered in the breeze. Were those big ol’ cranky oaks talking about me?
Boy oh boy, I must be really drunkie-wunkie. I knew trees didn’t talk or get cranky. Honestly I did.
My toe hit a half-buried stone. Ow! I stumbled, struggled to regain my footing, and stepped hard on the hem of my dress. The seams under my breasts and arms pulled taut, followed by a faint ripping noise.
“Crap.” Righting myself, I squinted down at my gown. I couldn’t see past my humongo-bingo-bongo breasts. Was the silk torn? Were my womanly attributes going to burst out?
As discreetly as possible, I slid my hand up to feel along my underarm and bodice seams. Yes! I was still intact.
Bending down at an awkward angle, I brushed a gray smudge off the silk. It took several swipes to get rid of the smudge, but I managed.
On the last smack, I heard laughter. Swaying slightly, I straightened, blinked, then focused on the cars parked in rows on the lawn.
Tilly and Andrew’s white limo gleamed nearby.
Two ushers stood beside it, their backs to me. Both held metal cans.
Hmm. What were they doing?
I walked closer and heard a soft whhoooshht.
“Don’t forget to slather the door handles,” Nick said, his voice coming from the other side of the car.
“Nick, are you sure we have enough shaving cream?”
“Shaving cream?” I blurted.
Nick straightened and stared at me over the roof of the limo for two long heartbeats. My pulse jumped from a smug-chicky thud-thud to a crazy bam-bam.
“Jess, Jess, Jess.” His tone held a warning note.
Resisting a delicious shiver, I sidled closer. “Nick, Nick, Nick.”
“What are you doing out here? I thought you’d be enjoying another G & T.”
So, he’d been keeping tabs on me, huh? Watching how this Chicky Dee held her drink as part of his panty-interrogation plan? “I thought I’d go for a twilight stroll. Keep out of trouble—unlike you bad boys with your shaving cream.”
“One of Andrew’s friends owns the limo rental company. He won’t mind.” Nick’s gaze slid to the other ushers then back to me. “You’re not going to tell on us, are you?”
“And if I am?” I echoed his teasing tone.
“Tsk-tsk. Wrong answer, Jess.” He stepped from behind the limo, a can of shaving cream in his hand. “I’ll have to find a way to keep you quiet.”
How exciting. Would he lather me all over with shaving cream? Force me to join them? This could be very, very fun. “Keep me quiet?” I said. “How?”
He fingered the can’s trigger. White foam hissed out into his palm before he arched an eyebrow.
“That doesn’t scare me.”
His brow arched higher. More foam spurted out until it filled his hand. Enough to toss like a mucky snowball.
“Want this in your hair?” he said, his voice husky and low.
Barely resisting a shudder, I shrugged. “It will comb out.”
He grinned. “On your face?”
“It’ll wash off.”
Eyes narrowing, he moved closer. His gaze slipped to the neckline of my gown then locked on my breasts. “On your. . . dress?”
Chills skittered over my skin. Hoo-eeee!
Watching him, I slowly circled around the tail end of the limo. They’d splattered shaving cream on the boot. Someone had scribbled ‘Just Married’ in clumsy letters.
I giggled. “Wow. You guys would get an A in kindergarten printing.”
Nick scooted closer. “You’re not going to tell, right?”
Wicked excitement burned inside me. I felt alive, exhilarated, and very, very naughty. “Why the hell not?”
“Jess—”
A vision of the boy chasing the girl in the reception hall darted though my mind. “C’mon, Nick. You’ve no reason to get your panties in a knot, right?”
Laughing, he shook his head. “Promise you won’t tell.”
“No, I can’t promise.”
“Well, then. . .” He lunged toward me.
I shrieked, spun around, and bolted across the lawn.
Whoops rang out behind me. “Get her, Nick.”
“I intend to.”
My heels sank into the turf, bringing me to a sudden, lurching stop. Damn. I needed to run!
Just as I yanked my heels free, cold wetness splattered in my hair. Another soft whoosssht, and more cream hit my arm. Shrieking just like the girl with the stolen bowtie, I resumed running, darting from side to side as though being chased by a hungry alligator. I tripped on the uneven ground, caught my balance, and then ran on.
Dammit, he was right behind me.
My side pinched. Gin lurched up from my stomach, burning the back of my throat. Wheezing a breath, I stumbled to a stop. Nick pounded up behind me. Bracing my hands on my thighs, I dropped my head and gasped for air—realizing, in that moment, that my posture gave him a perfect view of my cleavage.
A twinge of self-consciousness prompted me to stand up straight. As I rose, I took in his long legs, lean waist, gorgeous face—so close I could reach out and trail my fingers down the shadowed line of his jaw. Shaving cream spotted the front of his suit jacket.
Meeting his gaze, I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, you got me.”
He reached out and pulled a soggy wisp of hair around in front of my eyes. “I warned you,” he murmured in an oh-so-soft voice. “Do you like to tempt danger, Jess?”
Was he asking if I was interested in him? “Always,” I said.
What are you doing? the rational part of my brain screeched, but the naughty part told it to shut the hell up.
Nick’s mouth curved into a grin before he released my hair so it brushed down past my cheek. Shaving cream dropped from the edge of his hand. The wetness cooled my neck and moistened my bodice above my breast. I didn’t care.
Oh, God, I didn’t care.
He cupped my face with a gentle hand. The potent heat of him zinged from his flesh into mine. Longing, loneliness, and desire twisted inside me in a fierce tornado. How keenly I remembered his hand smoothing over my back years ago, his warm breath upon my hair, his strong, masculine arm curved around me.
I ached for him. Ached, so badly.
Touch me, my body cried. Kiss me. Snog me.
I wanted to get drunk on the essence of Nick.
He stared at me, his focus so intense, I quivered inside. Very slowly, he rubbed his thumb over my lips. I tasted shaving cream. I tasted him.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, my body wept. Snog me now!
A trilling romantic melody floated through my mind along with a glorious fantasy—Nick’s hand sliding into my hair to capture the back of my head, his head lowering, his mouth pressing to mine. Not a quick little kiss, mind you, but a deep, slippery, tongue-tangling smooch which brought my body arching against him, while I clung to his broad shoulders, begging for more.
Oh, yes!
Anticipating the luscious taste and feel of him, I rose on tippy-toes and pressed my mouth to his.
Warm lips to warm lips. . .
Exhaling a sharp breath, he broke the contact. Stepped away.
I dropped back on my heels. Disappointment crushed my idyllic fantasy like an unlucky caterpillar. Splat!
Heat flooded my face. “Why—?”
“Jess.” His gaze shuttered before he wagged the shaving cream can. “Let’s call a truce, all right? I’ve got work to do.”
Huh? I struggled to understand. When did putting shaving cream on a car take priority over kissing? “Is that the only reason you stopped our kiss?” I asked.
“No,” he said, too damned quietly.
I started down the sweeping gravel drive. Already, my stress was fading like the last splashes of sunshine. Now, my head swirled from too much alcohol, sugary cake, and. . . Nick.
Whee!
I smiled into the breeze tugging at my gown. How totally dumb to get giddy over a few conversations, and him touching my arm—but those moments were mine. All mine.
No one could steal, distort, or shatter them.
Most of all Sex Crazed.
I’d savor those memories for days, like a mint I’d pull out time and again and twirl around on my tongue to revive the zingy flavor, but would never dream of crunching.
While I walked, stones skittered under my sandals. The trees whispered in the breeze. Were those big ol’ cranky oaks talking about me?
Boy oh boy, I must be really drunkie-wunkie. I knew trees didn’t talk or get cranky. Honestly I did.
My toe hit a half-buried stone. Ow! I stumbled, struggled to regain my footing, and stepped hard on the hem of my dress. The seams under my breasts and arms pulled taut, followed by a faint ripping noise.
“Crap.” Righting myself, I squinted down at my gown. I couldn’t see past my humongo-bingo-bongo breasts. Was the silk torn? Were my womanly attributes going to burst out?
As discreetly as possible, I slid my hand up to feel along my underarm and bodice seams. Yes! I was still intact.
Bending down at an awkward angle, I brushed a gray smudge off the silk. It took several swipes to get rid of the smudge, but I managed.
On the last smack, I heard laughter. Swaying slightly, I straightened, blinked, then focused on the cars parked in rows on the lawn.
Tilly and Andrew’s white limo gleamed nearby.
Two ushers stood beside it, their backs to me. Both held metal cans.
Hmm. What were they doing?
I walked closer and heard a soft whhoooshht.
“Don’t forget to slather the door handles,” Nick said, his voice coming from the other side of the car.
“Nick, are you sure we have enough shaving cream?”
“Shaving cream?” I blurted.
Nick straightened and stared at me over the roof of the limo for two long heartbeats. My pulse jumped from a smug-chicky thud-thud to a crazy bam-bam.
“Jess, Jess, Jess.” His tone held a warning note.
Resisting a delicious shiver, I sidled closer. “Nick, Nick, Nick.”
“What are you doing out here? I thought you’d be enjoying another G & T.”
So, he’d been keeping tabs on me, huh? Watching how this Chicky Dee held her drink as part of his panty-interrogation plan? “I thought I’d go for a twilight stroll. Keep out of trouble—unlike you bad boys with your shaving cream.”
“One of Andrew’s friends owns the limo rental company. He won’t mind.” Nick’s gaze slid to the other ushers then back to me. “You’re not going to tell on us, are you?”
“And if I am?” I echoed his teasing tone.
“Tsk-tsk. Wrong answer, Jess.” He stepped from behind the limo, a can of shaving cream in his hand. “I’ll have to find a way to keep you quiet.”
How exciting. Would he lather me all over with shaving cream? Force me to join them? This could be very, very fun. “Keep me quiet?” I said. “How?”
He fingered the can’s trigger. White foam hissed out into his palm before he arched an eyebrow.
“That doesn’t scare me.”
His brow arched higher. More foam spurted out until it filled his hand. Enough to toss like a mucky snowball.
“Want this in your hair?” he said, his voice husky and low.
Barely resisting a shudder, I shrugged. “It will comb out.”
He grinned. “On your face?”
“It’ll wash off.”
Eyes narrowing, he moved closer. His gaze slipped to the neckline of my gown then locked on my breasts. “On your. . . dress?”
Chills skittered over my skin. Hoo-eeee!
Watching him, I slowly circled around the tail end of the limo. They’d splattered shaving cream on the boot. Someone had scribbled ‘Just Married’ in clumsy letters.
I giggled. “Wow. You guys would get an A in kindergarten printing.”
Nick scooted closer. “You’re not going to tell, right?”
Wicked excitement burned inside me. I felt alive, exhilarated, and very, very naughty. “Why the hell not?”
“Jess—”
A vision of the boy chasing the girl in the reception hall darted though my mind. “C’mon, Nick. You’ve no reason to get your panties in a knot, right?”
Laughing, he shook his head. “Promise you won’t tell.”
“No, I can’t promise.”
“Well, then. . .” He lunged toward me.
I shrieked, spun around, and bolted across the lawn.
Whoops rang out behind me. “Get her, Nick.”
“I intend to.”
My heels sank into the turf, bringing me to a sudden, lurching stop. Damn. I needed to run!
Just as I yanked my heels free, cold wetness splattered in my hair. Another soft whoosssht, and more cream hit my arm. Shrieking just like the girl with the stolen bowtie, I resumed running, darting from side to side as though being chased by a hungry alligator. I tripped on the uneven ground, caught my balance, and then ran on.
Dammit, he was right behind me.
My side pinched. Gin lurched up from my stomach, burning the back of my throat. Wheezing a breath, I stumbled to a stop. Nick pounded up behind me. Bracing my hands on my thighs, I dropped my head and gasped for air—realizing, in that moment, that my posture gave him a perfect view of my cleavage.
A twinge of self-consciousness prompted me to stand up straight. As I rose, I took in his long legs, lean waist, gorgeous face—so close I could reach out and trail my fingers down the shadowed line of his jaw. Shaving cream spotted the front of his suit jacket.
Meeting his gaze, I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, you got me.”
He reached out and pulled a soggy wisp of hair around in front of my eyes. “I warned you,” he murmured in an oh-so-soft voice. “Do you like to tempt danger, Jess?”
Was he asking if I was interested in him? “Always,” I said.
What are you doing? the rational part of my brain screeched, but the naughty part told it to shut the hell up.
Nick’s mouth curved into a grin before he released my hair so it brushed down past my cheek. Shaving cream dropped from the edge of his hand. The wetness cooled my neck and moistened my bodice above my breast. I didn’t care.
Oh, God, I didn’t care.
He cupped my face with a gentle hand. The potent heat of him zinged from his flesh into mine. Longing, loneliness, and desire twisted inside me in a fierce tornado. How keenly I remembered his hand smoothing over my back years ago, his warm breath upon my hair, his strong, masculine arm curved around me.
I ached for him. Ached, so badly.
Touch me, my body cried. Kiss me. Snog me.
I wanted to get drunk on the essence of Nick.
He stared at me, his focus so intense, I quivered inside. Very slowly, he rubbed his thumb over my lips. I tasted shaving cream. I tasted him.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, my body wept. Snog me now!
A trilling romantic melody floated through my mind along with a glorious fantasy—Nick’s hand sliding into my hair to capture the back of my head, his head lowering, his mouth pressing to mine. Not a quick little kiss, mind you, but a deep, slippery, tongue-tangling smooch which brought my body arching against him, while I clung to his broad shoulders, begging for more.
Oh, yes!
Anticipating the luscious taste and feel of him, I rose on tippy-toes and pressed my mouth to his.
Warm lips to warm lips. . .
Exhaling a sharp breath, he broke the contact. Stepped away.
I dropped back on my heels. Disappointment crushed my idyllic fantasy like an unlucky caterpillar. Splat!
Heat flooded my face. “Why—?”
“Jess.” His gaze shuttered before he wagged the shaving cream can. “Let’s call a truce, all right? I’ve got work to do.”
Huh? I struggled to understand. When did putting shaving cream on a car take priority over kissing? “Is that the only reason you stopped our kiss?” I asked.
“No,” he said, too damned quietly.
Grateful for her wildly active imagination and plenty of story ideas, Cate isbusy working on her next book. She lives in Central Florida with her husband,daughter, and a very spoiled cat.
Giveaway Details:
- Cate and Entangled Publishing are generously offering one lucky girl *wink* -- or guy -- a digital copy of Lucky Girl!
- Leave a comment along with your email addy.
- Extra Entry Possibilities:
- Tweet the contest (you can use the little button at the top of the post). Make sure to include the tweet link in the comments area.
- Become a fan of Cate's on Goodreads.
- Contest is International!
- Contest will run from 9/12 - 9/16
- Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email.
Good luck, and thanks for stopping by to support Cate and her new release!
18 comments:
Great excerpt. Would love to finish the book to find out what happens. I was waiting for him to kiss her. Cate is a new author for me and am always looking for new authors to read. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win. Friended Cate on Goodreads and Facebook. Will share with friends on facebook also.
christinebails@yahoo.com
Hi Cate!
I'm about 1/4 of the way through Lucky Girl, and absolutely loving it! Keep up the good work, I'll keep reading!
--Brooke Moss
Hi Cate!
The story sounds wonderful... I will definitely be adding it to my wishlist.
Thanks for the giveaway!
yadkny@hotmail.com
Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com
Great excerpt! I think it's great that Kate was brave enough to try something she wasn't comfortable with and I just love the sound of this book...Nick sounds like a great guy and I already love Jess as a character...she had me at "but those moments were mine. All mine. No one could steal, distort, or shatter them."...I can identify!...lol...
junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com
Christine, thank you for your lovely words about my book! I'm glad the excerpt intrigued you. :)
Brooke! Woot! I'm so glad you're enjoying LUCKY GIRL! Your novel is in my TBR pile; I can't wait to have time to dive into it. :)
Extra Entry's
+1 Tweeted the giveaway:
http://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/113314984049639424
+1 Liked Cate's page on Facebook
+1 Fan/Friend of Cate's on Goodreads
junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com
Yadkny, thanks for adding LUCKY GIRL to your wishlist! :) Yay! Thanks, too, for commenting today.
Tore, thanks for wanting to read my book. I hope you enjoy it.
Maria, aww! Thank you! Jess and Nick will always have a special place in my heart.
Lucky Girl sounds like such a fun and entertaining read. I sense great chemistry between Nick and Jess which is so important in a story.
Cambonified (at) yahoo (dot) com
Na, you're absolutely right! There's sizzling chemistry between Jess and Nick, which makes for a fun story. :) Thanks for stopping by today. :)
This book looks fantastic!
Robin D
robindpdx (at) yahoo (dot) com
This sounds like such a light and fun read. Thanks for the great giveaway!
mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com
Great excerpt - looking forward to reading Lucky Girl. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
k(dot)cherub2011(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a fun story and I always love it when stories are set in England. I'll definitely check this book out.
Jen at delux dot com
Thanks for sharing the excerpt! The book sounds great and I really like the cover. Please count me in for the giveaway!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
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