Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!
Today we have a smooch from Yvonne Lindsay, but first
... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is ... FRANCA POLI!
Can you please contact kandy (at) kandyshepherd (dot) com to receive your copy of FROM PARADISE...TO PREGNANT.
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Yvonne!
THE WIFE HE COULDN'T FORGET
A husband's amnesia means a second chance at love in this story by USA TODAY bestselling author Yvonne Lindsay.
After an accident leaves Xander Jackson with no memory of the past several years, he doesn't realize he walked out on his marriage. And his wife, Olivia, grabs this chance to start over with the man she still desires.
Allowing Xander to believe they're still the passionate, loving couple they once were is one thing. But Olivia must also hide all evidence of the devastating loss that destroyed their relationship. It's the biggest gamble of her life...and everything depends on reclaiming Xander's heart.
After a six week coma and three more weeks rehabilitation, Xander Jackson finally comes home with his wife, Olivia. But living together again is not as easy as Olivia first thought it might be, and perpetuating the lie that they're still happily married is beginning to take its own toll.
A signed copy of THE WIFE HE COULDN'T FORGET will wing its way to one commenter so share with us, have you ever wished you could start something over again--be it life, education, job, relationships, last night's dinner? Share your thoughts to go into the draw!
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is ... FRANCA POLI!
Can you please contact kandy (at) kandyshepherd (dot) com to receive your copy of FROM PARADISE...TO PREGNANT.
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Yvonne!
THE WIFE HE COULDN'T FORGETA husband's amnesia means a second chance at love in this story by USA TODAY bestselling author Yvonne Lindsay.
After an accident leaves Xander Jackson with no memory of the past several years, he doesn't realize he walked out on his marriage. And his wife, Olivia, grabs this chance to start over with the man she still desires.
Allowing Xander to believe they're still the passionate, loving couple they once were is one thing. But Olivia must also hide all evidence of the devastating loss that destroyed their relationship. It's the biggest gamble of her life...and everything depends on reclaiming Xander's heart.
After a six week coma and three more weeks rehabilitation, Xander Jackson finally comes home with his wife, Olivia. But living together again is not as easy as Olivia first thought it might be, and perpetuating the lie that they're still happily married is beginning to take its own toll.
The first thing Olivia became aware of when she
woke was Xander’s face immediately in front of hers. His eyes were open, and
his face so serious, so still, that for a split second she was afraid he’d
remembered. But then his eyes warmed and he gave her that special half smile of
his.
“Livvy?” he asked, lifting a hand to push a hank
of hair off her face.
“Mm-mmm?”
“I love you.”
Her eyes widened and her heart went into
overdrive. How long had it been since she’d heard those precious words from
Xander’s lips? Far too long.
She turned her head so she could place a kiss in
his palm. “I love you, too.”
She snuggled up closer to him, loving the fact she
could.
“I mean it,” he said. “I was thinking about the
accident and wondering when the last time was that I told you how much you mean
to me. It frightened me to think it might have been a very long time ago, and
that I might have died without ever telling you again.”
She was lost for words.
Xander continued. “And I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me? Why? I’m still your wife.” She gasped
in a sharp breath. Would he pick up on the slip she’d made, referring to
herself as still being his wife?
“You’ve been so patient with me since I was
released from the hospital. I appreciate it.”
He leaned in a little closer until his lips touched
hers in the sweetest of kisses. Olivia felt her body unfurl with response to
his touch—her senses coming to aching life. She couldn’t help it; she kissed
him back. Their lips melded to each other as if they had never been apart at
all, their tongues—at first tentative, then more hungrily—meeting, touching and
tasting. Rediscovering the joy of each other.
Xander’s hands skimmed her body, lingering on the
curve of her waist, touching the swell of her breasts. Her skin grew tight, her
nipples aching points of need pressing against the thin fabric of her bra. He
palmed them, and fire licked along her veins. And with it an awareness that
doing this with him was perpetuating another lie.
With a groan of regret, Olivia caught at his hands
and gently eased them from her aching body. She wriggled away from him and
swung herself into an upright position. Drawing in a deep breath, she cast a
smile at him across her shoulder.
“If that’s how you show your appreciation, remind
me to do more for you,” she said, injecting a note of flippancy into her voice
that she was far from feeling.
“Come back,” he urged.
She looked at him, took in the languorous look in
his eyes, the fire behind them that burned just for her. Even in their darkest
days, they’d still had this physical connection between them. A spark that
wouldn’t be doused. A need that only each other could fulfill.
* * *
Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from guest author Melanie Milburne will be posted!
Photo credit: Deborah Hillman Photography
Photo credit: Deborah Hillman Photography
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
Fab excerpt, Yvonne, and an absolutely intriguing premise! Loving the sparks between Xander and Olivia.
ReplyDeleteAs for starting something over again...every time I get home from a holiday, I wish I could start at the beginning of said holiday and do it all over again. ;-)
Thanks, Michelle!
DeleteOh, yes, I totally hear you on the holiday thing! :-)
A lovely tease from your book. Thank You. I often wish I could flip a switch and see what would have happened if I had married the love of my life when I was young woman. What would my life be like now I wonder? :o)
ReplyDeleteSavannah, that's a tough one, isn't it? And a question I think a lot of people ask themselves.
DeleteI have a lot of questions about what I would have done or should have done differently in my life, mostly to do with education and travel.
this sounds very different --I may have gone down a different career path---Lyn
ReplyDeleteWhat career might you have chosen if you could do it all again, Lyn?
DeleteMany times I wonder - but I am happy where I am now, so if I had made different choices, I might not be where I am now. So I would not change a thing. Great smooch too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy! Yes, I know what you mean. One small change at any time in your life would have led to major changes in where you are now...or would it? Are we predestined to live the life we have no matter which path we take? Who know? :-)
DeleteI have always wanted a do-over whenever I have unintentionally hurt someone's feelings. There's that feeling you get in the gut of your stomach that stays with you for ages. None of us need that feeling....
ReplyDeleteOh, heck, YES! That's a dreadful feeling, isn't it? Totally worth a do-over.
DeleteI have had times in my life that I would love to do over. Finding the right words, for example, when it's way too late.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree, Mary. That happens to me so often. Actually, I think it happens to all of us, doesn't it?
DeleteHi Yvonne
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release love the sound of this one :)
I am not sure although I do wish I could change the way I eat and make it so much more healthy :) and do more exercise
Have Fun
Helen
Hi Helen! Wow, I'm finding myself agreeing with EVERYTHING everyone is saying but I totally agree with you on health and exercise.
DeleteYow, Yvonne! That's such a sweet and sexy kiss. And it makes me think how hard it would be to in Olivia's situation. Such a fine line and then it could all go so horribly wrong when Xander gets his memory back.
ReplyDeleteI do wish that I'd kept up with yoga and started meditation earlier (we've been doing it now for 5 months). So if I could have the time over again, I'd like to do those two things!
Thanks for your lovely words, Sharon. Yes, the whole book is one difficult hurdle to face after another. It was a toughie to write, that's for sure.
DeleteAs one who has NEVER been supple, I find myself enjoying the idea of yoga but I doubt I will ever attempt it. Surely there must be a healthy exercise for people like me who have the flexibility of a steel bar? :-)
Lovely smooch, Yvonne! My oh my is that a sexy covers *fans self* I love it :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm would I like to do something over? Not materially, because I really believe the sum of our experiences make us who we are. I do however sometimes look back at old photos and wish I'd made some different fashion and hair choices!!
LOL, yes, the fashion and hair choices of a bygone era. Still, if we knew then what we know now, would we really have done any different?
DeleteThanks for you compliment on the cover. The Art Department at Harlequin do an amazing job!
Ooh, Yvonne, what a hook for a book! I want to read it! Such a lovely, juicy premise that I'm smiling just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteHm, having a second chance at things might be good, like discovering dental floss in my teens instead of much later, but generally I've been trying to learn from the choices I've made.
LOL, on the dental floss, Annie! And thanks for your comments on the premise. I turned that story around in my head for years before that one came out onto the computer screen. Isn't it funny how some stories are like that?
DeleteDon't we all wish we could have do-overs. The big thing I would like to change is where we moved when my husband retired from the Air Force. We chose the place to be near a good VA hospital. That has been a good choice for my husband who had cancer. Our son was starting 5th grade and never fit in. We are outsiders and even after 20+ years are considered as such no matter how we have tried to fit in. He was picked on in school. He went from one of the best school districts in the country to a state and system in the bottom 5. He finally gave up and quit school the day he turned 18. He has an IQ inn the 140s and can't compete for a job with kids that can't read but have a HS diploma. In an area that operates on the good ole boy system jobs are hard to come by if you weren't born and raised here, no matter the quality of your work. Had we been able to, we would have moved after realizing the problems. The people are nice on the surface and the area is beautiful, but he would have had a better future had we lived somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is terribly sad, librarypat, it must make your heart ache to see this. But I'm a firm believer that good will out and I'm sure your son's choices and intelligence will guide him onto bigger and better things in the future.
DeleteYou've written another great smooch, Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteAs for starting over - it would be my career choice, out of the lab and into the flower growing industry.
Thanks, Sue! Oh, yes, flowers, that's quite a change from what you've been used to, isn't it?
Delete