1) Caitlin Falconetti stood before him in all her Bureau glory, and he was dirty, wet, and smelled of dead chicken.
2) “You’re a sick bastard.”
“Yeah, I know.” Cookie heaved an unrepentant sigh as they reached the water’s edge.
3) “Now tell me you don’t want me.”
4) “Right. You never noticed the guy tripping all over himself when you’re around.”
She pinned him with a withering look. He was on a fishing expedition, but if he thought she’d fall for the oldest interrogation trick in the book, she had news for him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.”
“If you don’t shut up about it, Cook, I’m going to kick your ass. Right here, right now.”
“Stop.” He picked up a toothpick and began cleaning under his thumbnail. “You’re turning me on.”
5) Holy hell, let her do whatever she wanted. He was too damned tired to care anymore.
6) “Think.” Cookie thumped him on the forehead.
7) “I was being facetious, Falconetti. You don’t have to take everything so damned literally.”
“Gee, I’m sorry, Reed. I didn’t realize you actually possessed a sense of humor.”
8) Absolute glee flowed through his sister’s words. “Maybe you want to go church with us, too. I think the sermon is on the sins of the flesh. You can repent.”
“Tori.” He ground his teeth. “I haven’t done anything to repent for. Nothing happened.”
9) “Do you realize what you’re doing to your lungs? Could you even pass a physical training run right now?”
He laughed. “I’ll have you know I conduct our training runs every week.”
“Standing on the track with a stop watch does not count.”
10) Tick muttered a curse. “If I shoot him…”
“I’ll swear it was justified.” Caitlin tried to smile.
11) "If you say love and forever, or anything else along those lines, I’ll puke, Lamar. Seriously.”
12) “Yeah, I know, but it’s fun to push your buttons. You’re awful cute when you’re jealous, Falconetti. Makes those Irish-green eyes of yours glitter like crazy. I’ll bet you can turn on the mean real quick.”
13) "Hell, boy, her shoes cost more than your last set of tires.”
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
I Am . . .
. . . the worst blogger ever, lately. I'll get better, I promise.
I've finished my first graduate course -- whoo-hoo! The last time I checked, I had an A. Might better check to see if final grades are posted.
First round of edits on Anything But Mine are turned in.
I'm working on Madeline and Ash's book, although I should be working on the novella I want to submit for Samhain's psychic-themed anthology. Maybe when my Alphie gets here . . .
Need to be grading journals and senior projects. Blech. I want to write.
What are you up to?
I've finished my first graduate course -- whoo-hoo! The last time I checked, I had an A. Might better check to see if final grades are posted.
First round of edits on Anything But Mine are turned in.
I'm working on Madeline and Ash's book, although I should be working on the novella I want to submit for Samhain's psychic-themed anthology. Maybe when my Alphie gets here . . .
Need to be grading journals and senior projects. Blech. I want to write.
What are you up to?
Friday, December 14, 2007
Contest
I am coming back with a "real" post later today. I promise. :-)
But first, go check out Kate's blog for a contest in which you could win a copy of your choice from my backlist.
But first, go check out Kate's blog for a contest in which you could win a copy of your choice from my backlist.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
HOLD ON TO ME Now Available!
She keeps a secret buried in the past. He wants the truth—now. But an unknown killer could destroy their future.
Hold On to Me by Linda Winfree
Book Three in the Hearts of the South series.
For FBI profiler Caitlin Falconetti, immersing herself in her job is the only way to quell the memories of a vicious, near-fatal attack and what it cost her, including the only man she ever loved. Better to let him think she simply rejected him, rather than reveal a painful secret that she's certain would have destroyed his feelings for her.
Investigator Lamar “Tick” Calvert is determined to clean out the corruption-riddled sheriff’s department in his hometown. While he understands Caitlin's drive to excel at her job, that doesn’t mean he's happy about the prospect of working with his former lover, the one woman he tried and failed to hold onto.
A rash of unsolved murders, including a politician's daughter, brings them together to find the murderer before another woman dies. Daily contact re-ignites the lingering attraction between them, but Caitlin won't risk opening herself and revealing her secret. She plans to complete the killer's profile, make an arrest and get out of town for good.
Tick plans to solve this case, too, but now that Caitlin's back in his life, he also plans to finally dig up the truth about why she left him.
But there's an added complication—the killer isn't done, and Caitlin could be the next target.
For purchase information and an excerpt, click HERE.
Hold On to Me by Linda Winfree
Book Three in the Hearts of the South series.
For FBI profiler Caitlin Falconetti, immersing herself in her job is the only way to quell the memories of a vicious, near-fatal attack and what it cost her, including the only man she ever loved. Better to let him think she simply rejected him, rather than reveal a painful secret that she's certain would have destroyed his feelings for her.
Investigator Lamar “Tick” Calvert is determined to clean out the corruption-riddled sheriff’s department in his hometown. While he understands Caitlin's drive to excel at her job, that doesn’t mean he's happy about the prospect of working with his former lover, the one woman he tried and failed to hold onto.
A rash of unsolved murders, including a politician's daughter, brings them together to find the murderer before another woman dies. Daily contact re-ignites the lingering attraction between them, but Caitlin won't risk opening herself and revealing her secret. She plans to complete the killer's profile, make an arrest and get out of town for good.
Tick plans to solve this case, too, but now that Caitlin's back in his life, he also plans to finally dig up the truth about why she left him.
But there's an added complication—the killer isn't done, and Caitlin could be the next target.
For purchase information and an excerpt, click HERE.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
I Am Alive.
I stepped into this wicked timewarp or something.
Anyway . . . Hold On to Me releases NEXT WEEK!
I am not ready for this. I'm excited, but ready.
Okay, so blogging over at Lucy Monroe's Tuesday. Chatting at the Samhain Cafe tomorrow afternoon.
And I'll update the word meter soon, Carol. I'm at 35,856, 'kay?
Anyway . . . Hold On to Me releases NEXT WEEK!
I am not ready for this. I'm excited, but ready.
Okay, so blogging over at Lucy Monroe's Tuesday. Chatting at the Samhain Cafe tomorrow afternoon.
And I'll update the word meter soon, Carol. I'm at 35,856, 'kay?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Frustrated
I really, really, really want to hurl the keyboard through the window.
Self-restraint is a good thing.
I will not be defeated by these {insert ugly words here} revisions.
Someone send chocolate.
Self-restraint is a good thing.
I will not be defeated by these {insert ugly words here} revisions.
Someone send chocolate.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Today's Post . . .
. . . is at Romance Worth Killing For.
Chapter Four of The Beginning is up at my newsletter group. Happy reading!
Chapter Four of The Beginning is up at my newsletter group. Happy reading!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Free Read: Chapter Three of THE BEGINNING (Prequel to HOLD ON TO ME) Now Available!
Chapter Three of The Beginning, the prequel to my December release Hold On to Me, available exclusively to my newsletter group, is now live!
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER THREE
“Caitlin. Get up.” Vince’s voice, terse and angry, somewhere over her head. She tugged the duvet higher. Strong hands wrested it away and flung it toward the end of the bed. “Now.”
“What do you want?” Her eyes feeling heavy and swollen, she sat up to glower at her brother. The familiar room, still holding remnants from her college days, seemed blurry, her mind fuzzed with the artificial sleep. Hell, she knew she’d been right in refusing to use the sleep aids to start with.
But at least the nightmares had stayed away.
He turned his back and crossed to snap the drapes open. Brilliant sunlight, probably bouncing off the Gulf, flooded the room. She recoiled, head pounding. Oh, the aftereffects of the sleeping pill were worse than any tequila-induced hangover she’d ever suffered after letting her cousin Lanie drag her about Houston’s hotspots.
Vince faced her, hands resting at his waist. “You will get out of that bed, Angel Face. You’re going to shower and get dressed. You will go downstairs and eat brunch with Troupe. The old man is frantic with worry over you. Then you should make a point to go see Lanie.”
Go see Lanie? No. Didn’t he get how much that would hurt?
His high-handedness grated, much as it always did. “Go screw yourself, Vinnie.”
“Get. Up.” Face hardening, he leaned forward. “Do as you’re told.”
Who did he think he was? Without giving him another look, she reached for the duvet again. He snatched it free once more. “Caitlin. Now.”
She was angry now, the hot, slow slide of her Falconetti temper, which she’d spent years learning to freeze over and control, burning through her veins, making her ears buzz. “You can’t make me do anything, Vincent.”
“Wrong, sister mine.” He towered over her, his face a little pale under his tan. “You have exactly thirty seconds to get up and get in the shower. I expect you downstairs with Troupe in twenty minutes. And I expect you to start living your goddamn life again.”
**
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER THREE
“Caitlin. Get up.” Vince’s voice, terse and angry, somewhere over her head. She tugged the duvet higher. Strong hands wrested it away and flung it toward the end of the bed. “Now.”
“What do you want?” Her eyes feeling heavy and swollen, she sat up to glower at her brother. The familiar room, still holding remnants from her college days, seemed blurry, her mind fuzzed with the artificial sleep. Hell, she knew she’d been right in refusing to use the sleep aids to start with.
But at least the nightmares had stayed away.
He turned his back and crossed to snap the drapes open. Brilliant sunlight, probably bouncing off the Gulf, flooded the room. She recoiled, head pounding. Oh, the aftereffects of the sleeping pill were worse than any tequila-induced hangover she’d ever suffered after letting her cousin Lanie drag her about Houston’s hotspots.
Vince faced her, hands resting at his waist. “You will get out of that bed, Angel Face. You’re going to shower and get dressed. You will go downstairs and eat brunch with Troupe. The old man is frantic with worry over you. Then you should make a point to go see Lanie.”
Go see Lanie? No. Didn’t he get how much that would hurt?
His high-handedness grated, much as it always did. “Go screw yourself, Vinnie.”
“Get. Up.” Face hardening, he leaned forward. “Do as you’re told.”
Who did he think he was? Without giving him another look, she reached for the duvet again. He snatched it free once more. “Caitlin. Now.”
She was angry now, the hot, slow slide of her Falconetti temper, which she’d spent years learning to freeze over and control, burning through her veins, making her ears buzz. “You can’t make me do anything, Vincent.”
“Wrong, sister mine.” He towered over her, his face a little pale under his tan. “You have exactly thirty seconds to get up and get in the shower. I expect you downstairs with Troupe in twenty minutes. And I expect you to start living your goddamn life again.”
**
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Contest Winners
Hi, all,
I'm drawing late due some some connection issues, but the two winners in my "Tell Me What Book You'd Like" contest are . . .
Heather Rosman and Sara W.!
Thanks to everyone who entered. Also, remember that if you join my Yahoo newsletter group before December 1st, you're automatically entered for a gift basket drawing, including some great Southern goodies and a signed copy of What Mattered Most.
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available Now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
lindawinfree.blogspot.com
I'm drawing late due some some connection issues, but the two winners in my "Tell Me What Book You'd Like" contest are . . .
Heather Rosman and Sara W.!
Thanks to everyone who entered. Also, remember that if you join my Yahoo newsletter group before December 1st, you're automatically entered for a gift basket drawing, including some great Southern goodies and a signed copy of What Mattered Most.
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available Now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
lindawinfree.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Contest
I'm going to leave this open 9:00 PM EST Saturday, November 10. Okay, here's the deal:
1) Visit my author page at Samhain (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/linda-winfree).
2) Peruse the blurbs and/or excerpts for my current releases (What Mattered Most, Truth and Consequences and His Ordinary Life).
3) Drop me an email with SAMHAIN CONTEST in the subject line to linda_winfree at yahoo dot com (you know what to do). In the email, tell me which title you would like if your name is drawn, along with 1-2 sentences telling me why you're interested in this particular title.
4) Saturday night, I'll draw for two winners and announce them at the Samhain Cafe as well as my blog.
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available Now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
lindawinfree.blogspot.com
1) Visit my author page at Samhain (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/linda-winfree).
2) Peruse the blurbs and/or excerpts for my current releases (What Mattered Most, Truth and Consequences and His Ordinary Life).
3) Drop me an email with SAMHAIN CONTEST in the subject line to linda_winfree at yahoo dot com (you know what to do). In the email, tell me which title you would like if your name is drawn, along with 1-2 sentences telling me why you're interested in this particular title.
4) Saturday night, I'll draw for two winners and announce them at the Samhain Cafe as well as my blog.
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available Now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
lindawinfree.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Free Read: Chapter Two of THE BEGINNING (Prequel to HOLD ON TO ME) Now Available!
Chapter Two of The Beginning, the prequel to my December release Hold On to Me, available exclusively to my newsletter group, is now live!
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER TWO
It was done.
She’d done it, he was gone, it was over.
There was nothing left.
On a chilly wind, night sounds drifted up from the courtyard. Caitlin Falconetti pulled her robe more closely about her. A hard knot tightened her throat, but really, no tears remained. There was simply…nothing.
She’d brought her things out to the balcony of the apartment she shared with Gina Bocaccio, her partner from the FBI, hoping to work, avoiding sleep, avoiding what waited for her when she closed her eyes. However, she couldn’t concentrate, could only keep reliving that final meeting in vivid, sickening detail. He’d looked like she’d kicked him, once the realization of what she was saying, what she was doing, finally sank in.
Her palms stung and she rubbed a finger over one of the raw half-moons there, where she’d curled her nails so tightly into her skin that one of them had drawn blood. She was grateful for the minor pain. It was bearable.
Somehow, she’d grown accustomed to empty. Empty had been when she was six, the year her mother died and her father had sent her to boarding school. Empty had been afterward, when the periodic visits with her grandparents hadn’t been enough, when she’d cried over returning to school, begging to be allowed to live with them, only to have her pleas smoothed over. Empty had been never quite being able to please her brother, never quite feeling that Vince’s love and approval were hers, sound and secure.
Empty had even been those months after Fuller’s vicious act, filled with loss and pain and grief.
Empty had been waiting for him to come home, trying to put what had happened into words.
She could live with empty. It just was, and she could go on from there.
With him gone and everything finally over...that was different, nothing.
But from nothing, she didn’t see anywhere to go.
**
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER TWO
It was done.
She’d done it, he was gone, it was over.
There was nothing left.
On a chilly wind, night sounds drifted up from the courtyard. Caitlin Falconetti pulled her robe more closely about her. A hard knot tightened her throat, but really, no tears remained. There was simply…nothing.
She’d brought her things out to the balcony of the apartment she shared with Gina Bocaccio, her partner from the FBI, hoping to work, avoiding sleep, avoiding what waited for her when she closed her eyes. However, she couldn’t concentrate, could only keep reliving that final meeting in vivid, sickening detail. He’d looked like she’d kicked him, once the realization of what she was saying, what she was doing, finally sank in.
Her palms stung and she rubbed a finger over one of the raw half-moons there, where she’d curled her nails so tightly into her skin that one of them had drawn blood. She was grateful for the minor pain. It was bearable.
Somehow, she’d grown accustomed to empty. Empty had been when she was six, the year her mother died and her father had sent her to boarding school. Empty had been afterward, when the periodic visits with her grandparents hadn’t been enough, when she’d cried over returning to school, begging to be allowed to live with them, only to have her pleas smoothed over. Empty had been never quite being able to please her brother, never quite feeling that Vince’s love and approval were hers, sound and secure.
Empty had even been those months after Fuller’s vicious act, filled with loss and pain and grief.
Empty had been waiting for him to come home, trying to put what had happened into words.
She could live with empty. It just was, and she could go on from there.
With him gone and everything finally over...that was different, nothing.
But from nothing, she didn’t see anywhere to go.
**
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree
Monday, November 05, 2007
Oy.
You Are Running on 89% Adrenaline |
 Your Adrenaline Level: Very Dangerous Life is passing you by so quickly, you hardly can notice what's going on. You definitely need to slow down before you crash hard! |
Friday, November 02, 2007
Where to Find Me Today . . .
Or rather, where to find my heroes.
They're in the Basement over at Romance Worth Killing For and the Samhain blog.
They're in the Basement over at Romance Worth Killing For and the Samhain blog.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Help Sumter Regional Win an MRI
Not sure if y'all remember, but back in March, we had tornados move through here. I posted about running late at night from the one bearing down on the town where I live. Anyway, the town of Americus north of us was almost decimated -- and their hospital took a direct hit. Below, I'm posting an email detailing how we can help Sumter Regional Hospital win a new MRI. The video is incredible -- it includes footage from the security cameras and you can watch the tornado move by as it slams into the hospital.
It only takes two minutes. Please help!
This was sent to me by a friend. Please read and consider participating:
Dear Friends & Family,
So many of you have asked of ways that you can help Sumter Regional Hospital and Americus , Ga. This is an easy way to help our community and would be such a Godsend for our hospital. Siemens is having a contest to give away a one million dollar MRI machine to a hospital in America . The hospital must come up with a video to present their need and it is a vote of popular opinion. There are many videos already submitted. Many are silly, a few are business-like, but none are as touching as the story of the tornado that ripped apart our town on March 1 st. You can submit one vote in a 24 hour period from each email account. After watching the video, the vote button will turn to an orange shade color; that is when you are allowed to cast.
Please visit winanmri.com and place your vote for the video entitled "Blown Away" by Sumter Regional Hospital every day until the end of the year.
We have a huge deficit between monies owed to us by the insurance company and the amount it is going to take to rebuild our hospital. If you forward this to everyone in your email address book, this message could reach so many people.
Once you reach the site, just click on Sumter Regional Hospital in the drop down, watch the video (about two minutes) then click on the orange VOTE button once it lights up. You can vote once a day.
It only takes two minutes. Please help!
This was sent to me by a friend. Please read and consider participating:
Dear Friends & Family,
So many of you have asked of ways that you can help Sumter Regional Hospital and Americus , Ga. This is an easy way to help our community and would be such a Godsend for our hospital. Siemens is having a contest to give away a one million dollar MRI machine to a hospital in America . The hospital must come up with a video to present their need and it is a vote of popular opinion. There are many videos already submitted. Many are silly, a few are business-like, but none are as touching as the story of the tornado that ripped apart our town on March 1 st. You can submit one vote in a 24 hour period from each email account. After watching the video, the vote button will turn to an orange shade color; that is when you are allowed to cast.
Please visit winanmri.com and place your vote for the video entitled "Blown Away" by Sumter Regional Hospital every day until the end of the year.
We have a huge deficit between monies owed to us by the insurance company and the amount it is going to take to rebuild our hospital. If you forward this to everyone in your email address book, this message could reach so many people.
Once you reach the site, just click on Sumter Regional Hospital in the drop down, watch the video (about two minutes) then click on the orange VOTE button once it lights up. You can vote once a day.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Free Read: Chapter One of THE BEGINNING (Prequel to HOLD ON TO ME) Now Available!
Over the next six weeks, I'll be posting a chapter weekly of The Beginning, the prequel to my December release Hold On to Me, exclusively to my newsletter group.
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
Happy Halloween, everyone, and I hope you enjoy this little treat!
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER ONE
She wanted him gone? Fine. He was gone.
Jaw clenched, fighting off an intense nicotine jones, Tick Calvert rested his chin on his fist and watched the Atlanta skyline as the plane banked for final approach. Her voice, her words, pounded in his head, echoing as they had for days. He’d done everything he could possibly do to change her mind.
But you could only kick a dog so many times before it got the message it wasn’t wanted anymore.
As of yesterday, he definitely had gotten her message, loud and clear. Now it was time to move on. Maybe being home again would help him figure out a way to do that.
The landing came off without a hitch and with his FBI credentials, he made it through security with relative ease. With only his carryon, he didn’t have to worry about looking for luggage and strode toward the rental car kiosks.
“Where are you going?” The familiar female voice, filled with teasing fondness and a hint of laughter, had him spinning around.
“Tori.” He barely had time to say her name, warmth and affection spurting through him, before his baby sister launched herself at him. His carryon hit the floor, and he wrapped both arms around her, giving in to the impulse to swing her around in his embrace. His eyes burned. Lord, he’d missed her.
Once he’d set her on her feet, she plopped a kiss on his cheek and pulled back, wrinkling her nose. “You smell like cigarettes. And you look like hell.”
“Don’t curse.” The correction came automatically and she rolled her eyes. He studied her, unable to resist a wide grin. Her dark hair was longer than he remembered, pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her eyes, the same dark brown as his own, sparkled up at him with a familiar impish light. “What are you doing here?”
He’d intended to surprise his mother and the rest of his family by turning up a day early.
She reached up to tweak his nose. “Stanton ratted you out. I couldn’t wait to see you and there really wasn’t any reason to let you rent a car if I could drive you home, so here I am.”
He leaned down for his bag and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad to see you.”
Her even white teeth flashed in a grin. “Same here.”
They walked toward the bank of glass doors and she nudged his side. “Mama doesn’t know you’re here, though. I can’t wait to see her face when we turn up this evening.”
The idea warmed him further, driving out some of the chill he’d carried with him since that final confrontation yesterday afternoon. Holy hell, he was ready to be home, to be surrounded by his family and all things familiar.
He needed that. Needed it to get Mississippi out of his head. Needed it to get her out of his head.
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree.
To subscribe, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree- subscribe @ yahoogroups. com without spaces. If you join before December 1, you'll be eligible for to win a gift basket full of Southern goodies and a signed copy of my debut novel What Mattered Most.
I'm including a snippet of The Beginning for your reading pleasure.
Happy Halloween, everyone, and I hope you enjoy this little treat!
The Beginning
A Prequel to Hold On to Me
Coming December 11, 2007 from Samhain Publishing
CHAPTER ONE
She wanted him gone? Fine. He was gone.
Jaw clenched, fighting off an intense nicotine jones, Tick Calvert rested his chin on his fist and watched the Atlanta skyline as the plane banked for final approach. Her voice, her words, pounded in his head, echoing as they had for days. He’d done everything he could possibly do to change her mind.
But you could only kick a dog so many times before it got the message it wasn’t wanted anymore.
As of yesterday, he definitely had gotten her message, loud and clear. Now it was time to move on. Maybe being home again would help him figure out a way to do that.
The landing came off without a hitch and with his FBI credentials, he made it through security with relative ease. With only his carryon, he didn’t have to worry about looking for luggage and strode toward the rental car kiosks.
“Where are you going?” The familiar female voice, filled with teasing fondness and a hint of laughter, had him spinning around.
“Tori.” He barely had time to say her name, warmth and affection spurting through him, before his baby sister launched herself at him. His carryon hit the floor, and he wrapped both arms around her, giving in to the impulse to swing her around in his embrace. His eyes burned. Lord, he’d missed her.
Once he’d set her on her feet, she plopped a kiss on his cheek and pulled back, wrinkling her nose. “You smell like cigarettes. And you look like hell.”
“Don’t curse.” The correction came automatically and she rolled her eyes. He studied her, unable to resist a wide grin. Her dark hair was longer than he remembered, pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her eyes, the same dark brown as his own, sparkled up at him with a familiar impish light. “What are you doing here?”
He’d intended to surprise his mother and the rest of his family by turning up a day early.
She reached up to tweak his nose. “Stanton ratted you out. I couldn’t wait to see you and there really wasn’t any reason to let you rent a car if I could drive you home, so here I am.”
He leaned down for his bag and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad to see you.”
Her even white teeth flashed in a grin. “Same here.”
They walked toward the bank of glass doors and she nudged his side. “Mama doesn’t know you’re here, though. I can’t wait to see her face when we turn up this evening.”
The idea warmed him further, driving out some of the chill he’d carried with him since that final confrontation yesterday afternoon. Holy hell, he was ready to be home, to be surrounded by his family and all things familiar.
He needed that. Needed it to get Mississippi out of his head. Needed it to get her out of his head.
To read more, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Wow!
I was chatting over at Joyfully Reviewed tonight -- they're having their Contemporary Bash today.
Guess who was there?
Lucy Monroe!
Yes, I gushed. Just a tad, mind you.
I mean, come one . . . Lucy Monroe!
And I picked up two more subscribers for my newsletter.
Could one ask for more?
Guess who was there?
Lucy Monroe!
Yes, I gushed. Just a tad, mind you.
I mean, come one . . . Lucy Monroe!
And I picked up two more subscribers for my newsletter.
Could one ask for more?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Newsletter and Contest Info
Hey, y'all. I'm finally home from the first day back teaching after fall break. 5:30 came early this morning and getting back into the swing of it was hard . . .
I wanted to share a little information first about my newsletter group. I've recently begun sending out a monthly newsletter. It includes news (of course) about my books, trivia tidbits, a monthly recipe, reviews and contest information.
In the files section of the group, you'll find The Cutting Room Floor (scenes that didn't make it into the final versions of my books). Coming soon will be a series of online reads available only to my newsletter subscribers (the first one kicks off October 31 -- a nice Halloween treat!).
Also, by subscribing, you're automatically entered for the contest celebrating the print release of my debut book, What Mattered Most. On December 1, I'll draw from all subscribers for a goodie basket including a signed copy of What Mattered Most and some Southern surprises.
Interested? Send a blank email to Linda_Winfree-subscribe at yahoogroups.com (you know what to do!).
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
http://www.lindawinfree.com/
I wanted to share a little information first about my newsletter group. I've recently begun sending out a monthly newsletter. It includes news (of course) about my books, trivia tidbits, a monthly recipe, reviews and contest information.
In the files section of the group, you'll find The Cutting Room Floor (scenes that didn't make it into the final versions of my books). Coming soon will be a series of online reads available only to my newsletter subscribers (the first one kicks off October 31 -- a nice Halloween treat!).
Also, by subscribing, you're automatically entered for the contest celebrating the print release of my debut book, What Mattered Most. On December 1, I'll draw from all subscribers for a goodie basket including a signed copy of What Mattered Most and some Southern surprises.
Interested? Send a blank email to Linda_Winfree-subscribe at yahoogroups.com (you know what to do!).
Linda Winfree -- Sultry Southern Romantic Suspense
HIS ORDINARY LIFE -- Available now, Samhain Publishing
HOLD ON TO ME -- December 2007, Samhain Publishing
http://www.lindawinfree.com/
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