Love A Rainy Night

So....its been a little wet around these parts lately.

Thanks to this -

Tropical Cyclone Marcia

quite a few LoveCats are looking a little like this -

We were lucky where I live, a lot of rain but well away from the destructive effects of the cyclone. 
 Here are a couple of shots of how my back yard went from a trickling creek to a lake in a few hours. If you click on the pics you'll get a larger view!

The stream just starting to form at the back of our place

The stream swells into a lake engulfing the bottom half of our yard

Girl child taking the dog down for a frolick in the water.

 Both my and my hubby's families and my best friend live further north, however, and Marcia pretty much landed on their heads. Everyone is safe and well but the clean up will take a while. No power for at least a week. Water and sewage only coming back online now. My thoughts are with everyone in central Queensland as the mop up continues.

But, destructive weather patterns aside, there's nothing I love more than a rainy night.

Or day. Particularly if its a weekend and you can just lie in bed with a book and read all day :-) May I perhaps, suggest these two? :-)

 Ask Me Nicely (Sal's story) is out next Monday. But if you'd like a little glimpse of Sal prior to reading it, then grab a copy of No More Mr Nice Guy too!                           

How do you pass a rainy day/night?

Favourite Reads of 2014?

As another year draws to a close, I've found myself looking back at some of my favourite reads of 2014. They've been a diverse bunch, and far too long to list here, but I'm going to give you a bit of a peek into my list, and hope you'll do the same for me in the comments.

So, in no particular order, here are a few of my favourite books from this year's reading list:

 
No More Mr Nice Guy, by Amy Andrews
This book hit the USA Today bestseller list, and I know why - it was steaming hot, heaps of fun, and gorgeously sweet. Loved it!
 
 

Lead, by Kylie Scott
I could have put any book in the Stage Dive series on this list, but I read Lead most recently, so I've gone with that one. If you haven't read this series yet, grab a copy of Lick!
 

The Honeymoon Trap, by Kelly Hunter
Eli and Zooey had me entertained from the start (where they get married as part of an online role playing game), to the end (where they... nope! No spoilers!).

  
The Bouquet List, by Barbara DeLeo
This one was delicious! Yasmin was such fun to spend time with (sock sliding!), and I developed quite a crush on Lane (buttoned-up and seriously hot).

Full Measures, by Rebecca Yarros
This book had me turning the pages as fast as I could! Deeply emotional as well as a sigh-worthy hero.

An Accidental Goddess, by Linnea Sinclair
Loved everything about this book - the characters, the story, the world they were in, everything!

Deeper, by Robin York
This is the first book in Caroline and West's story, but it stands alone. I loved that it tackled a serious topic (Caroline's ex posts explicit pictures of her online as revenge), but it was the tortured, gorgeous West who kept me reading after my bedtime.
 

There were lots and lots more that I loved, but, as I said, this was a little taste of my favourites list.
 
So, what books have you enjoyed in 2014? I'm ready to stock up for 2015, so don't be shy in sharing!

 

Lists by Amy Andrews

I've got a couple of books either I'm working on or just about out at the moment that involve lists.
I like writing lists.  No, actually that's not true - I like *crossing things off lists* that I've already written :-)

So it's should come as no surprise that I like writing list books. I like them because they give the whole thing a ready made structure for both the reader and me, the writer. It kind of helps to keep me on track.


The first book - No More Mr Nice Guy - comes out next Monday (the 29th). There was a smooch from it a couple of weeks back if you want to check it out a little. NMMNG is a book that revolves around a sex list. Now, I'm not going to tell you what's on that list (although if you sign up to my newsletter here you'll be one of the first ones to find out on release day! ) suffice to say its detailed and just a little bit naughty :-)

The second book is the WIP I'm writing with my sister called Numbered. It's kind of a Bucket List meets Beaches story - yes tissues will be needed!! It revolves around the premise - what would you do if your days were numbered? It currently had interest from a publisher and we're hoping it'll be out on shelf next year (fingers crossed!!)

So....lists? Love them, loathe them?
What about list books? Love them, Loathe them?
And what would *you* do if your days were numbered?

Sunday Smooch with Amy Andrews

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Amy Andrews but first 


... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Lucy Waterhouse!!!


Can you please contact susannebellamy (at) gmail (dot) com to receive your copy of Engaging the Enemy


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from No More Mr Nice Guy


Amy says - No More Nice Guy has no official blurb or cover just yet and isn't out to September 29th but I couldn't wait to share a snippet of my sexy new Brazen from Entangled Publishing.

I've included a blurb of my own just to give everyone a bit of an idea but the official one will vary when it comes up for pre-order in the next couple of weeks.

Josie Butler is leaving her nice, safe, boring existence in small-town Australia in search of adventure in London. But first she’s spending a couple of weeks with her best friend Sal. Shopping and shoes and Friend’s re-runs – what could possibly go wrong?

One night of too many fruity cocktails and a sex-list later, Josie has her answer. Especially when Mack, Sal’s older brother, discovers the list and thinks it’s hysterical that strait-laced Josie would ever actually go through with it.

Goaded by his disbelief, Josie sets out to prove him wrong with the baddest guy she can find. Only she didn’t bargain on it being Mack. But when Mack shucks off his nice guy image he does it in spectacular fashion and they’re soon blowing through her list and an illustrated sex guide at a rate of knots.

But as Josie’s flight to London looms and their feelings get deeper what started out as a straightforward proposition gets a lot more complicated. 

  
Scene set-up

Josie and Mack have just had their minds blown by a night of very unexpected sex. Sal, Josie's best friend and Mack's sister is, thankfully, oblivious and carries on the morning after as per usual. She's been on at Mack to buy a new bed for ages (he's currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor) and he finally agrees. Sal tries to convince Josie to go with him.

WARNING -  the passage contains use of the F word. Please don't read if that's likely to offend.

Smooch



She looked at Josie speculatively. “What are you doing today? I can’t go with him. I have a small-animal clinic that goes for hours.”

Josie looked at Sal, ignoring the rub of Mack’s thigh. “You want me to go with him?”

“He can’t go by himself. He’ll spend a fortune on something no-frills. Utilitarian. You know what he’s like. All about function rather than style. The man’s got no flair.”

“Mmm,” Josie said. Normally, she’d have agreed with Sal. Mack had a long history of buying expensive, practical, ugly things. But one thing she knew for sure after last night— Mack had flair to burn.

Sal pushed the toast toward her. “The man’s been celibate for six months. He needs a little debauchery in his life.”

Who didn’t need a bit of debauchery in their life? Josie was fast becoming a convert. And God knew Sal could compel anyone to do anything with those expressive blue eyes of hers—she really should have been leading a cult. But Josie didn’t want to seem too eager, either. “Mack’s not going to want his bossy little sister’s friend along for the ride.”

“I don’t mind,” he said cheerfully.

Josie glanced at him. Amusement sparked in his olive green gaze, and she narrowed her eyes slightly to warn him. 

“Sal’s right. I could do with a woman’s perspective. You know…for all the debauchery.”

“Atta boy,” Sal said.

Josie rolled her eyes. But inside, a delighted thrill squirmed from her belly to her throat like a firework launched into the night sky. “Okay.”

“Come on down at twelve. I’ll drive.”

Josie was about to add something else inane, in case Sal could see the giddy jig happening inside her, but her friend suddenly swore under her breath as she checked her watch. “Come on, brother dearest,” she said, taking a gulp of  her coffee. “We’re late.” She shoved half a piece of toast in her mouth as she reached for her bag. “It’s a bit hard to justify when we live upstairs.”

Mack stood, and Josie immediately felt the loss of his nearness. The press of his thigh, the rub of his arm. “Right behind you,” he said. “Just gotta grab something from the bedroom.”

Sal nodded absently as she headed for the door. “You and me,” she threw over her shoulder in Josie’s general direction as she turned the knob. “Tonight. Out.”

“Okay. Sure, if you want. I’ll—” But Sal was already disappearing out the door, and as soon as it clicked shut, Mack was stepping between her thighs and placing his hands either side of her, crowding her back.

“You and me.” He lowered his head until he was growling in her ear. “Tonight. Naked in my bed. F***ing. Begging me for more.”

Everything inside Josie turned to putty. Just the bald statement alone had caused a rush of heat and wet between her legs, and she bit down on her lip to stop the whimper as her senses infused with the smell of Mack. Without a doubt, she’d put Oliver Twist to shame tonight.

And then he kissed her. Hard. Uncompromising. Josie held onto his hips and opened to him. Heat and lust and raw primal need slammed into her belly and squeezed hard. She was never going to last until tonight. She wanted to beg right now. Don’t go to work. Stay here. F*** me now.

He pulled away abruptly and took a pace back, which was probably just as well. Josie’s senses reeled as she dragged air into starved lungs. It was gratifying to see him equally breathless.

“See you at noon,” he said.

And walked out the door.

 

For a chance to win a copy of NMMNG tell me, have you ever kept a secret from a friend that almost killed you? Did that friend ever find out? Were there consequences? 

Amy's promise - although the book isn't out until 29th September, I will ensure the winner receives a digital copy from Amazon on release day! 

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a new smooch will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver