AFTER MIDNIGHT, by Sarah GrimmBuy link: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: contemporary romance
Heat level: hot
Thirteen years—that's how long Isabeau
Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her
mother's life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now
she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks
through the door of her bar...
Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal—one that doesn't include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won't be easy, but he can't get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.
Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?
Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal—one that doesn't include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won't be easy, but he can't get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.
Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?
EXCERPT:
“I’m not the type of woman men fall for.”
“I’ve fallen for you.”
Heat flooded her system. She forced herself to breathe, to keep her eyes locked with his. “No you haven’t. You …”
He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. “I, what?”
“Never mind.”
“Finish the sentence, Isabeau.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then let me.” He closed the distance between them. “You were going to say I haven’t fallen for you, weren’t you? You actually believe him? That you’re nothing more to me than convenient?”
Her pulse throbbed thick and hard. Heat radiated off his body. The scent of him filled her head. She wanted, more than anything, to press herself against him and relive the pleasure of his mouth against hers. Instead, she lifted her chin. “Maybe.”
He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. “You believe him, but not me?”
“You are here only temporarily.”
“Yes.”
“And I am just down the street.”
“I suppose.”
She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “So the whole thing does seem rather—”
“Don’t say it.”
“—convenient.”
Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. “Now I’m getting angry.”
His hands skimmed down her sides, slipped under her shirt and settled on her lace-covered bottom. Her breath went uneven. Searing need swarmed her.
“You want something to believe, believe this.” He pulled her into the solid ridge of his erection. She lost her concentration. “There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you.”
“I’ve fallen for you.”
Heat flooded her system. She forced herself to breathe, to keep her eyes locked with his. “No you haven’t. You …”
He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. “I, what?”
“Never mind.”
“Finish the sentence, Isabeau.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then let me.” He closed the distance between them. “You were going to say I haven’t fallen for you, weren’t you? You actually believe him? That you’re nothing more to me than convenient?”
Her pulse throbbed thick and hard. Heat radiated off his body. The scent of him filled her head. She wanted, more than anything, to press herself against him and relive the pleasure of his mouth against hers. Instead, she lifted her chin. “Maybe.”
He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. “You believe him, but not me?”
“You are here only temporarily.”
“Yes.”
“And I am just down the street.”
“I suppose.”
She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “So the whole thing does seem rather—”
“Don’t say it.”
“—convenient.”
Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. “Now I’m getting angry.”
His hands skimmed down her sides, slipped under her shirt and settled on her lace-covered bottom. Her breath went uneven. Searing need swarmed her.
“You want something to believe, believe this.” He pulled her into the solid ridge of his erection. She lost her concentration. “There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you.”
BIO:
As a young girl, Sarah
Grimm always had a story to tell. At times they were funny, other times
scary, but they were always happily-ever-after. Sarah lives in West Michigan
with her husband, two sons and three miniature schnauzers.
Find Sarah Online:
Website: http://www.sarahgrimm.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SGrimmAuthor
Thanks for sharing with us today Sarah. I love the last line of your excerpt!
Congratulations on the new release and also on your 2011 Readers' Favorite Award for Not Without Risk.
Congratulations on the new release and also on your 2011 Readers' Favorite Award for Not Without Risk.
Stacey Joy Netzel
Stacey-
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for spotlighting After Midnight today! I can't express how grateful I am to all of those who have offered to host me on this crazy blog tour of mine. :-)
You're welcome, Sarah. It sounds like a great book! Thanks for the wonderful contest you're offering at your site.
ReplyDeleteAnd a quick note, anyone who comments, the winner will be picked a bit later in the week.
I felt the same way when I read the last comment Stacey. Great way for Sarah to leaves us wanting more.
ReplyDeleteCasey, hopefully it worked and you are wanting more. :-)
ReplyDeleteI too loved that last line: “There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you.”
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
kamwh1207(at)att(dot)net
I've heard so many good things about your story! I can't wait to read it. The excerpt is wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteTina - So glad you like that last line! *smiling* Good luck in the contest!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Brenda. I really hope you enjoy Izzy and Noah's story!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah and Stacey!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the release of "After Midnight". Noah sounds like just the man Izzy needs to break free. He is self-assured and not afraid to let her know he wants her. Great excerpt. I've been hearing a lot of good things about this book.
Cambonified (at) yahoo (dot) com
Na, thanks for visiting! Noah isn't perfect, but he's perfect for Izzy. :-) Thrilled to hear you're hearing good things about After Midnight!
ReplyDeleteCongrats again Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Calisa!
ReplyDeleteSorry for being late with the winner announcement, but here it is:
ReplyDeleteBrenda!
Congratulations and enjoy the book. :)
Thanks again for guesting at my blog, Sarah. I wish you much success!