COVER REVEAL! Time Out, Valentine by Melinda Dozier - and a #Giveaway

Time Out, Valentine

by Melinda Dozier

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: January 2015

About the Book:

Lexi’s life is one big dump. Or so she thinks. To keep her mind off her latest breakup, she stays busy with work. It’s no big deal, since writing for Time Out Portland Magazine is a blast…except for the one small snag – Grant Reeds. Grant, a shy but sexy computer geek, is new to Time Out, working as the Networking Director for the online magazine. Even though Lexi thinks he doesn’t notice her, he sure as hell does. The owners have a plan for their upcoming Valentine’s Special, pairing up the two to explore romantic date ideas around the city. Soon, Lexi and Grant learn that the old adage, “Opposites Attract,” can ring true.

SNEAK PEEK!

Excerpt from Time Out, Valentine:

Grant sipped his beer and surveyed the room around them—anywhere but at the siren next to him, with her fancy drink, an umbrella hanging off the side. Overhead lights strobed the room, gleaming in all directions. The DJ announced a new song and a new crowd rushed to the dance floor, leaving them more alone in the back of the room. Thank God.

It was stifling hot. He tugged his collar from his neck and rolled the sleeves of his white button-up. His glasses slid down his nose, forcing him to take them off and put them in his shirt pocket.

Luckily in that part of the room, the music wasn’t so loud that they had to scream to converse. He only raised his voice a fraction to ask her the question he’d been wondering since they set foot in the place. “So, you think this is romantic enough for a Valentine's date?"

She batted her long lashes in his direction and smirked. “There’s low lights.”

“Yeah and loud music, people all around.” To help prove his point, someone bumped him in the back, pushing him closer to Lexi. His hand circled her waist and rested on her hip.

She sipped the drink, moving the umbrella with her other hand, then licked her lips. “It’sthe place to be. All trendy couples find their way here.” She cocked her head. “What would make it more romantic? Kissing?”

A slow smile formed and he faced her. Not a bad idea. “Actually, yeah.” He placed his bottle on the table behind them, cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck.

She laughed nervously, putting her weight on another sexy as hell foot. “What? You’re gonna kiss me? For real?”

“We need romance.” He grabbed her cup and put it next to his bottle. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

“You kissing me won’t—”

He placed his thumb on her lips. “Shhh. Stop talking so we can be romantic.”

About the Author:

Melinda is a multi-published contemporary romance author with books from Crimson Romance, Swoon Romance and The Wild Rose Press represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband/college sweetheart who brings "mucho amor" to her life. Melinda enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her three boys once they are grown. Melinda's guilty pleasures include reality t.v., traveling, blogging and playing Zynga games.

LINKS:

Website: www.melindadozier.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melindadozier

Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/melinda.doz

The Wild Rose Press: http://goo.gl/F3IG1W

Sign up for Melinda’s newsletter HERE.

 

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BOOK REVIEW: ONE LUCKY NIGHT, a romance anthology

One Lucky Night, a romance anthology
published May 2014

Stories and authors included in this collection:

Lucky Break, by Aria Kane

Lucky Star, by Grace Teague

A New Tune, by Ana Blaze

Lexi's Chance, by Constance Phillips

Drink or Dare, by Melinda Dozier

About the Book (from Goodreads):

One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance? One Lucky Night is a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes by Aria Kane, Grace Teague, Ana Blaze, Constance Phillips, and Melinda Dozier.

Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she's in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Not even gorgeous ones. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whelan meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.

MY TAKE:

One Lucky Night is an anthology of five wonderful sexy tales, woven together with a single theme and taking place on one fateful winter night.

The stories take place in The Brazen Head, an Irish pub in the heart of Boston owned and run by the Whelan siblings. Jaimie Whelan is the eldest brother and his wife is the head chef, but the premise of the evening is that the two of them are trying to take a rare night off together - a date night - leaving the pub in the hands of the other siblings.

A snowstorm descends on Boston, and an older Irish gentleman in a bespoke grey suit takes up residence at the bar for the evening. He interacts with the characters in each of the stories, the other Whelans, the staff, and some of the regular patrons. He doles out the advice each needs to stop denying the attractions they feel, and follow their hearts.

Each story was unique, with interesting characters and different points of view. I enjoyed each tale individually, as well as the way the stories worked together and played off one another.  All five authors are gifted storytellers, creating characters you believe and care about, and sex scenes that may just melt your e-reader.

My two favorites were "Lexi's Chance" and "A New Tune," with "Drink or Dare" coming in a close third.  I especially loved the character of Sean Whalen throughout all the stories, as the cute sexy Irish bartender (a staple in Boston pubs, believe me!) Author Constance Phillips gives us the behind-the-bar view of what Sean's really thinking and feeling, and lets the reader glimpse the sweet guy lurks behind the facade. Ana Blaze's tale of the Irish musician flirting with the waitress is a similar tale of a man who acts like a player as part of his bar persona but is truly interested in just one thing... A real shot at love with the one woman he can't get enough of.

Flirty, sexy and fun, this collection of sizzling tales will make you smile long after you finish turning pages.

Buy ONE LUCKY NIGHT on AMAZON