I’m doubly excited for this book. Why, you ask? Well, because Hidden Fire is significant in two ways.

First of all, it’s the sequel to Winter Fire, and secondly it’s part of an anthology sequel. Sound confusing? It’s not really.

Winter Fire released as part of the Red Hot Winter Anthology, along with Triple Dare by Lexxie Couper and True Heart by Delilah Devlin. The books were so well received, we all wrote sequels: Hidden Fire (by me) Dare Me (by Lexxie) and Lone Heart (by Delilah). These sequels now form the Red Hot Weekend Anthology.

Hidden Fire – The Blurb

Dirty desires, dark secrets…deepest love

Fire, Book 2

Well, this is an unexpected twist. Jenna Brooks is all set to spend the weekend wallowing in misery, repairing the cracks in the façade she’s maintained for twelve years. Instead she’s…tied to a chair. Kidnapped by her own twin brother and her so-called best friend.

It’s for her own good, they say. She’ll thank them later, they say. But when they reveal her partner in captivity, she shores up her emotional barriers. It’s Garreth Halt. The one man for whom she let her guard down. What a fool she was.

For one electrifying moment, Garreth had Jenna naked in his arms, on the edge of losing her legendary control. Could have kept her there forever, too, if he hadn’t felt honor-bound to tell her the truth. Before she’d heard the whole truth, though, she’d retreated behind the fortress around her heart.

Now they’re knee to knee, with no escape. While he’s irritated he let his alleged best friend get the drop on him, a small part of him is thrilled. With one final chance to show her his love is real, Garreth methodically, wickedly, sets out to dismantle her defenses.

One dirty word at a time.

(Just kick me if I forget, please.)

So, what is “Currently Loving”? Well, it’s a general category that’ll cover something I’m currently really enjoying. A book, a movie, TV program or maybe a song I can’t stop listening to. And if you have any things you’re currently loving, please tell me about them. I’m always looking for new music, books, movies etc.

So, what am I currently loving at the moment?

It’s a song. One I heard on the radio a few months back, loved it and immediately downloaded it. It’s become a fave of the whole fam, and every time we get in the car we all have to listen to it and sing along at the top of our voices. (Ok, so the Dee family version isn’t so pretty, but the original is way cool…)

It’s called Summer Paradise (By Simple Plan & featuring K’naan)

Oh, and know what I love about this vid? It’s set in Australia.

Enjoy.

Jess

This is my first step into the wonderful world of Self Publishing, and I’m still pinching myself to prove I’m not dreaming. But it seems it’s true. The book is officially available for purchase.

Look here. It really is!

http://www.amazon.com/Visiting-Paradise-ebook/dp/B006ZNTI36/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_7

With the re-release of the book comes a brand new, gorgeous cover. Created by Valerie Tibbs, I think it is the perfect art work for the story:

Visiting Paradise: The Blurb

Beth Brown needs a holiday. She’s burnt out, single and madly in love with the man who pays her salary, Joe Bastion. Much as she’d like to act on her feelings, Beth’s learned the hard way not to sleep with the men she works for.  As far as she is concerned, Joe is off limits.

Sometimes, to get what you want, you have to chase hard. And  Joe wants Beth  He’s organized the trip of a lifetime for her. Beth’s about to set sail into paradise, and she has no idea Joe’s the one who’ll be taking her there.

Product warning: This book is filled with sunny blue skies, gorgeous tropical islands and a whole lot of scorching hot loving.

————————

Visiting Paradise is only available for purchase on Kindle.

I know there’ll be complaints from Nook users, and I do apologize, but I’m taking baby steps here. Today Kindle, tomorrow I need to rest a bit (hey, the procedure was exhausting!) and maybe soon – Nook and Smash Words.

But please, give me time. I’m still reeling from the idea that I have self published a book. The idea has always scared the bejeepers out of me.

(Um, perhaps I should classify the “I” bit. I had some help from my hubby. If not for him, I’d never have worked out how to convert the word document into the appropriate format. Nice hubby, huh?)

So, please, stop reading my blog now and go and buy the book from Kindle instead. I need the reassurance that this was a good idea.

Jess

The contest is up at The Romance Studio right now. You wanna go there and enter for your chance to win.

Curious to see what’s up for grabs?

Here’s a list:

Ebook list:

Cynnara Tregarth — Backlist choice (ebook) www.cynnara.com

Alice Gaines — Sinful Wager (ebook)http://alicegaines.blogspot.com/

Selena Illyria — Dragon New Year: Dragons at Midnight (ebook) www.selenaillyria.com

Cassandra Carr — Head Games (ebook) www.booksbycassandracarr.com

Mychael Black — Blood and Fire 1 (ebook) mychaelblack.wordpress.com

Diana Castilleja — Backlist Choice www.dianacastilleja.com

Belinda McBride — Voodoo You Love (ebook) www.belindamcbride.com

Anne Kane — Shifting Priorities – The Collection (ebook) www.annekane.com

Jess Dee — Winter Fire (ebook) http://www.jessdee.com/Jess_Dee/Home.html

Lexxie Couper — Suck and Blow (ebook) www.lexxiecouper.com

Tilly Greene — Konnichiwa Cowboy (ebook) www.tillygreene.com

Rhian Cahill — Truth or Dare — Party Games (ebook) www.rhiancahill.com

B.J. McCall — Wildander (ebook) www.bjmccall.com

Brannan Black –Reader Choice of Wolfman Collection (ebook) http://site.epicromances.com/Home.html

Megan Slayer — Fallen (ebook)

Nicole Austin — Good Vibrations (ebook) www.nicoleaustin.net

Missy Welsh — Reader Choice (ebook) www.missywelsh.com

Jade Buchanan — Broken Rules (ebook) www.jadebuchananbooks.com

Sharon Bidwell — All Washed Up (ebook) www.sharonbidwell.co.uk

Kayelle Allen — Alitus Tales of the Chosen (ebook) www.kayelleallen.com

Kate Hill — Frenzied (ebook) www.kate-hill.com

Lissa Matthews — Twisted Up (ebook) www.lissamatthews.com

Sophia Titheniel — Dance Wars (Collection) (ebook) www.sophiatitheniel.com

Koko Brown — Player’s Ultimatum — (ebook) www.kokobrown.net

Willa Okati — Best Man (ebook) http://www.willaokati.com/Willa_Okati/Home.html

Cat Johnson — Educating Ansley (ebook) www.catjohnson.net

Marie Treanor — Ariadne’s Thread (ebook) www.marietreanor.com

Eliza Gayle — Power Play (ebook) www.elizagayle.net

Jambrea Jones — Backlist www.jambrea.com

Sienna Mynx — Before Sunrise (print) http://siennamynx.com/

Christine Cody — Bloodlands (print) www.christinecody.net

Jessica Coulter Smith — Moonlight Savior (ebook) www.jessicacoultersmith.com

Josh Lanyon — Ice Capade (ebook) www.joshlanyon.com

Samantha Kane — Love’s Surrender (ebook) http://www.samanthakane.us/www.samanthakane.us/Welcome.html

Ashlyn Chase — Either (choice of ebook or print) http://www.ashlynchase.com

Jayne Rylon — Through My Window (ebook) www.jaynerylon.com

Lisa Renee Jones — The Vampire Wardens Trilogy (ebook) www.lisareneejones.com

Lex Valentine — Reader’s Choice www.lexvalentine.com

Elizabeth Jewell — Puck You http://elizabethjewell.kabeka.com

G Royale — Queen for a Day http://www.ggroyale.com

Gift Certificates:

Raine Delight — $10 Gift Certificate to ARe www.authorrainedelight.com

Diana DeRicci — $25 Amazon Gift Certificate www.dianadericci.com

Tara Lain — $10 Amazon Gift Certificate www.taralain.com

Jianne Carlo — $10 Amazon Gift Certificate www.jiannecarlo.com

Loose-Id — 5 $5 Gift Certificates www.loose-id.com

Tilly Greene $10 ARe Gift Certificate

Publishers:

Etopia Press — Reader’s Choice http://etopiapressblog.wordpress.com

MLR and PIP — Reader’s Choice http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php http://www.passioninprint.com

Pink Petal Books — Reader’s Choice http://pinkpetalbooks.com

Other

JFay of Studio 3B — a sample of her Sinfully Delicious Cupcake Solid Perfume www.studio3bonline.com

——-

See? Massive.

Just CLICK HERE to enter.

GOOD LUCK!

Jess

Truth be told, I’m only writing this blog post now because I have a massive deadline looming, and I’m finding everything in my power to avoid settling down and meeting the darn deadline. (I’m pretty good at this tho. I’ve convinced myself this is my pre-writing time. My time for getting my head together, gathering my thoughts and getting into the groove.)

Anyway one of my getting-in-the-groove habits is to check blogs from the previous day to see if I’ve missed comments etc. So I was over at the Down Under Divas and happened to notice the search term “Procrastination” was used by five different people to find our blog. Fascinated, I too typed the word into Google to see how quickly it would lead me to the Down Under Divas.

It didn’t. Well, not after pouring through six or seven pages of Google search results. (So I have to commend those searchers’ perseverance in finding the Divas. They must all have searched for way longer than I did, making them true procrastinators.)

But what I did find was this hilarious clip by Ellen Degeneres. The second I saw it, I had to post it to my blog.

Enjoy.

Jess

First Page of See You In My Dreams

If old wives’ tales were simply words,

They never would be told.

There’s truth in every fable, child—

so heed this song of gold.

When day is done and night has come,

You’ll see it in your dreams.

Eyes of fire, heart’s desire

You’ll know just what it means.

 (Gramma Rosie’s Lullaby)

Chapter One

Shocked all the way down to her toes, Sophie Butler gawked at the man.

Oh, shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

She was so going to be fired for this.

She should turn around and beat a hasty retreat. If not hasty, she should back out of the door real slow, and give the guy a little privacy. At the very least, she should have the decency to cover her eyes and stammer out a sincere apology.

So why then did she stand frozen in place with her jaw hanging open and her tongue glued to the bottom of her mouth?

Because she was dazed, that’s why. Stunned by the sight that greeted her.

And what a sight. A good six feet of tanned male muscle. Legs that stretched on forever, with slim, powerful thighs. A hard and well-defined stomach that tapered down to lean, square hips. Not to mention the arms, biceps rippling and bunching as he towel-dried his hair.

_________________

And that concludes the first page peak series. Hope you enjoyed them.

Jess

First Page of Office Affair

Chapter One

“You want to know what I think?”

Ben Cowley jerked his head up at the unexpected voice. He’d been so immersed in figures, he’d had no idea anyone was in his office. Hell, he had no idea anyone was left in the building. At this time of night he’d assumed everyone else had gone home.

“I always want to know what you think.” He flashed the woman standing in the doorway his biggest smile, knowing he flirted shamelessly.

“I think you need to get laid. And you need to get laid soon.”

The smile vanished. “Pardon?”

“You’re a mess, Cowley. You have been since you transferred to the Sydney office.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw, but he tried not to show any other emotion—even though his stomach clenched in a nasty knot. Ben raised an eyebrow in question. “Is there a reason we’re having this conversation?”

She pursed her lips and gave him a somber nod. “You’ve changed. You’re not the same person you were when we first met. It’s almost as if you’ve lost your enthusiasm, lost your drive. People are starting to talk—”

“People?”

“Well, me.” She wrinkled her nose sheepishly. “And maybe not quite talk. It’s more like I’m getting worried about you.”

Ben looked wryly at her. She cut an imposing figure. Tall—made even taller by the four-inch heels she always wore—slim and dressed to kill. Kill competitors, that was. Melissa Sparks was an all-business, no-nonsense, one-hundred-percent goal-oriented investment banker. Much like Ben was.

____________

Stay tuned. Tomorrow I’ll post the last first page excerpt. The first page in the first book of an all new series, Speed.

Jess

First Page of Island Idyll

Chapter One

You Are Personally and Cordially Invited to Attend

The Soft Opening of Australia’s Newest FIVE-STAR Luxury Resort

BANDICOOT COVE on Bilby Island.

Bring a plus one if you desire.

All expenses and needs will be catered for as we test our customer services in preparation for the Grand Opening.

(P.S. Can you believe I got this job, guys? Wow!!

See you soon,

Love, Kylie

XXXX)

(P.P.S.—Si! Wait ’til you see who installed our computer network. Your eyes are gonna pop.)

Sienna James drew her arm back, took aim and flung a flattish oyster-colored shell forward with as much gusto as she could manage. It sailed a good five meters in the air, landed with a muffled plop and sank beneath the pristine water surrounding the tropical and oh-so-beautiful Bilby Island.

With a satisfied grin, Sienna buried her feet in the wet sand, the sludgy grains squishing between her toes and leaned down to get another shell. Taking careful aim, she tossed it just as far as before. This time however, as she released the shell, she let out a mighty whoop.

Why the hell had she never considered tossing out her troubles before? So far, it was working a treat. With every shell that landed in the ocean, the shackles of her grief loosened, and throw-by-throw, step-by-step, she walked free of them.

Before lobbing the next shell as far as it could go, she brought it up to face level, glared at it with one eye and named it.

“Ben Cowley,” she said and let it fly.

Ben sank gratifyingly fast.

“Dead-end engagement,” she said to another shell and watched it disappear beneath the surface—just the way her ex-upcoming wedding had. Without even a splutter of breath. Both the shell and the wedding were gone. Never to resurface.

_________________

And tomorrow? Well, this is a bit of a surprise. It won’t just be a first page peak, it’ll be a first time peak. I’ll be posting the first page of the sequel to Island Idyll: Office Affair – a book that hasn’t even finished being edited!

Jess

First Page of Exotic Indulgence

Chapter One

You Are Personally and Cordially Invited to Attend

The Soft Opening of Australia’s Newest FIVE-STAR Luxury Resort

BANDICOOT COVE on Bilby Island.

Bring a plus one if you desire.

All expenses and needs will be catered for as we test our customer services in preparation for the Grand Opening.

Kylie stared at the embossed card once more. The elaborate curlicues and swirls in the resort name twirled like fireworks going off in celebration. She’d really and truly made it. All those years of schooling, of working her way up through hotel after hotel, and here she was, in charge of the hottest, most exclusive resort to hit Australia.

She flipped the card onto her desk and drained the sparkling water in her wine glass in one gulp.

About bloody time.

Three weeks remained until the doors symbolically swung open, and her feet already throbbed—and not in a good way. There were last-minute details to take care of, which included ensuring she could be reached at all times during the soft opening. The practice weekend would be her last chance to make certain any possible disasters were eradicated before the official opening.

God help anyone who interfered with her preparations over the next few weeks.

The view out her window showcased the resort. When she’d demanded a fourth-floor office instead of one of the penthouse units—like most managers nabbed—the rest of her crew had been shocked. Yeah, she’d have been able to see the entire length of Bilby Island. All the way from the sheltered west-side harbor to the eastern shore where white sand beaches met the Pacific Ocean. But this location put her closer to the action. Let her look into the heart of the resort—the actual people moving around it. Staff wandering the grounds, working the pools, arranging tables and chairs in the bars and restaurants below her.

——————-

Tomorrow? The first page of my novella from the Bandicoot Cove Anthology, Island Idyll.

Jess

First Page of Hidden Fire

Chapter One

Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia

Jackson Brooks lifted his glass in the air and held it out in a toast. “Happy birthday, sis.”

Jenna clinked her glass with his, careful to keep the orange juice from sloshing over the side. “Happy birthday to you too.” She grinned at her twin. “You having a good one so far?”

Jackson looked at her, a half smile on his lips. “Never thought turning thirty would change my life. But it has.”

Jenna laughed. “A little melodramatic, don’t you think?” There was no one else she could tease as openly as her brother. No one else in the world she felt this comfortable with. Except maybe for her best friend, Rachel.

“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “It’s just made me think, is all. Made me assess what’s important.”

“Philosophy? This early in the morning?” The two were sharing a quiet, celebratory breakfast in the hotel dining room. “So tell me, Socrates, what conclusions have you come to? What is important in your life?”

Jackson met her gaze, his expression intense. “The usual I guess. Love. Life. Healing.”

Her breath caught. “Healing?”

“Healing enough to live life to the fullest,” Jackson elaborated. His gaze did not waver.

No, Jackson, please. Don’t bring this up. “And are you? Living life to the fullest, I mean?”

“Are you healing?” he asked.

She bit her lip. “Nice birthday conversation.” Not. “Mind if we change the subject?”

___________

(Much more of this to come soon. I promise)

Tomorrow?

A different series…Bandicoot Cove.

Jess