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Jennifer's book is out!
I’m happy to announce that Skin Deep, my contemporary romance originally published
by Whiskey Creek Press in 2011, has been re-released by Rebel Ink Press.
With a tighter storyline and a brand new cover that better reflects
the grittiness of the story, it’s currently available as an e-book, but will be
released in paperback shortly.
Here’s the blurb:
The last thing
Valerie needs, after escaping an abusive marriage to an alcoholic and
rebuilding her life, is a broody, secretive, standoffish man. But that’s
exactly what she gets when she becomes a makeup artist on the set of a hit
sitcom and draws the attention of the series’ star.
John Samuels
hides a terrible past—a life of abuse and neglect. A successful acting career
and the affection and support of cast, crew and friends, does nothing to
convince him that he is anything other than an unlovable monster.
Will
he learn that the life he’s been living has been built on a lie or will he be
doomed to repeat the sins of his father?
And here’s an excerpt:
That night, after all the
scenes had been shot, Valerie waited for everyone to leave. She didn’t want to
answer questions or receive pity.
She arranged and rearranged
drawers and tools. The trailer contained three stations, each with its own
make-up chair. A long table ran down one wall, with plenty of drawers for
storage space. Well-lit mirrors hung above the table. Unable to find anything
else to do, and convinced by the silence that everyone had to have left, she
took out her keys to lock up. She jumped as a knock sounded at the door, the
trailer rattled, and a head peeked in.
“Valerie?”
“Oh, hi, John.” She expelled
a deep breath and willed her heart to slow its frantic beat. “Do you need
something?”
“No.” He entered and stood
by the door. John Samuels played the lead. At almost six foot three, he dwarfed
the trailer and had to tip his head to fit. He folded his muscular arms across
his chest and spread his feet apart. “Michelle told me you were not joining us
tonight. I thought I would see if I could change your mind.”
Valerie rolled her eyes.
“She is persistent.”
“You noticed.” John’s dark
eyes twinkled. His mouth widened with a ghost of a smile. Valerie tried not to
gasp.
He reminded her of a rugged
cowboy—broad shouldered, with a prominent brow, dark piercing eyes, high
cheekbones, and a cleft chin. When he smiled, even a slight trace of one, his
eyes looked like liquid velvet and his dimples twinkled like stars in the night
sky. A five-o’clock shadow covered his cheeks. Her fingers itched to brush
against their rough texture, to tease his mouth into a full-blown grin.
“So, what can I say to make
you join us?”
As he leaned against the
wall in well-fitting jeans and a T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination,
Valerie’s mind said, “Sleep with me.” Heat crept up her neck, over her cheeks,
and continued to the roots of her hair. A thin sheen of sweat dampened the
space between her breasts. She felt the sudden urge to fan herself, like a
damsel in distress in an old B-movie. Instead, she ignored her traitorous
thoughts. Her balled fist pressed into her tight stomach.
“Tonight, not even chocolate
will change my mind.”
She didn’t exactly lie. She
had no intention of going to the bar, or of sleeping with him, no matter how
her thoughts might try to sabotage her good intentions. She’d been fooled by
surface finery before, and it had almost killed her. She wouldn’t let it happen
again.
“I will remember that,” he
promised. “But next time you will not get off so easy.” His eyes bored into
hers for a moment, and then he turned on his heel and left.
* * * *
True to his word, John
arrived the following day prepared for battle. With a cursory knock on the
door, he dangled a bag of M&Ms inside the trailer, but snatched it back
before she could grab them. “We are going out for pizza. I will pick you up in
ten minutes.” Before she could answer, he walked out.
Valerie shrugged as she
finished her work. The new Valerie never allowed other people to make decisions
for her, but she’d practically handed John a permission slip. And, he had
M&M’s. How could she refuse?
Ten minutes later, he
returned, ushered her out the door and down the steps. Although he didn’t touch
her, she could imagine the warmth of his hand on the small of her back, and
feel the gentle puff of his breath against her hair. The angle of his body
steered her toward the others in the parking lot as if he had taken her by the
hand and dragged her with him. An invisible electric charge pulled her. Or
maybe it was his Dial-soap scent. That scent—soap and man—made her stomach flip
flop. Her uncontrollable reaction to him disturbed her, especially since he
appeared unaffected.
He remained silent, strode
toward their meeting place, and studied his surroundings as if he expected
someone to pop out of the shadows and yell, “Boo!”
Then she saw the brown bag
of M&Ms sticking out of his white shirt pocket. Before he could stop her,
she reached around and grabbed them, opened the bag and popped three in her
mouth.
“Hey, those are mine!” He
reached for the bag, but not fast enough to retrieve them.
“Not anymore.” As she danced
away from him, she stuck another handful in her mouth.
He brought his hand up to
his heart, as if she had wounded him deeply, but the twinkle in his eye gave
him away. Valerie had all she could do not to burst out laughing.
“You did not have to take
them, you know. I was planning to give them to you later.” He pouted and his
dark hair fell across his brow, but not before Valerie saw a flash of a smile
turn the corners of his mouth up.
“Oh really? When?”
“After dinner, of course. I
would not want to spoil your appetite.”
Interested? Here are the buy links. I hope you enjoy the
book, and if you read it, please post a review. Thanks!
This book definitely sounds intriguing, Jennifer. I could picture the scene perfectly in my mind's eye.
ReplyDeleteThank, Margaret. That means a lot.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the re-release - and best of luck with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paula!
DeleteCongrats on the re-release. I do like this cover.
ReplyDeleteGreat description in the excerpt. I felt like I was right in the scene. My favorite line was about her wanting to brush her fingers over his five o'clock shadow to tease his mouth into a full grin. I loved it!
Thanks, Debra. I always have trouble figuring excerpts out.
DeleteTheir chemistry is real.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Thank you, Ana. They're a great couple together.
Delete