Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Welcome to Randi Alexander and a giveaway! (for adults only!)



  

Please continue reading if you are an ADULT only!

I am delighted to be able to have the talented Randi Alexander as a guest today.  I fell in love with her writing when I read her anthology of sizzling short stories, Cowboy Bad Boys, which impressed me so much because they were all so different yet presented a complete tale in a short story.  My Amazon review for that title is at this link.  Don't forget to answer Randi's question and leave your e-mail address in order to enter the giveaway.  (and, just so you know, 'Kick' is Randi's sweetie...you'll realize why I said that later in the post, lol)

Words from Randi Alexander....


Valentine’s Day - Love It or Hate It - Or Win a Book!

Thanks so much to The Reading Addict for having me on the blog today. I’m a big fan of ELF’s reviews, and always trust her to point me to great books!

Valentine’s Day is coming. Do you love it or hate it? I hear so many horror stories about bad V Day experiences, and it makes me sad. It should be a lovely time for couples to reconnect, but it has evolved into an over-commercialized holiday. Sometimes the pressure of trying to make the occasion extraordinary can lead to a meltdown of good intentions. Then the worst happens!

I was reading Cosmopolitan Magazine (yep, I’m a Cosmo Cowgirl!) and found these disaster stories that I thought you’d appreciate.

Dream Date Disaster - A new guy surprised me by planning the perfect Valentine's Day date: a romantic dinner followed by fireworks show on the beach. Everything was great until the check arrived. He asked me, "Should we split it or do you just want to pay for your meal?" After dinner we took a walk on the pier. He bumped into a girl, who was obviously his ex-girlfriend, and after talking and laughing for about 20 minutes without including me he finally said, "Oh sorry, this is my friend, Kat." We broke up the next day. —Katrina, 19

Shot in the Heart - I had a crush on a close guy friend during college, so I was really excited when he asked me to come over to watch a movie on V-Day. I arrived at his dorm room with a handwritten poem that confessed how much I liked him. After I read it, he said, "That's nice," and promptly started the movie, Reservoir Dogs. It was clear by the first gunshot that romance was not on his mind. I was heartbroken and had to watch a gruesome, violent movie with no chance of cuddling with my crush. —Ashley, 28

Ex Hits the Spot - After secretly dating two guys — Dan and Joe — for a few months, I told Joe I didn't want a relationship, so that I could get serious with Dan. On Valentine's Day, Dan took me out to dinner, and I almost choked on my drink when our waiter arrived. It was Joe! To make matters worse, Dan ordered a dish with béchamel sauce, which he loved. He gushed to the waiter, a.k.a. my ex, "If she could cook like this I'd marry her." I wanted to die. —Cristina, 26

Honestly, Abe? - After a long dry spell, I was psyched to finally have a new guy in my life so we could spend Valentine's Day together. Call me corny, but I was hoping I'd get flowers or chocolate — you know, what every girl wants! Instead, he gave me an old Abe Lincoln bobblehead that looked like it came from the bottom of his closet. I honestly didn't even know what to say, so I just mumbled "thank you." After a few more bad dates, I pulled off Abe's head, and kicked that boy to the curb. —Adrienne, 17

Slacker Surprise - I decided to have a low-key Valentine's Day with my live-in boyfriend. I had a feeling he was going to surprise me by making a special dinner or sending flowers. I didn't talk to him all day, so I was really excited to see what he'd planned when I got home from work. I walked in the door to find him sitting in front of the TV in sweatpants. He gave me the lamest card I've ever seen and then asked, "What do you want to order for dinner?" I was shocked that to him low-key meant nothing at all. —Ali, 24


Read more: Valentine's Day Horror Stories







Here’s my story! The first Valentine’s Day Kick and I spent together was two months after we started dating, and we were still…um…just in the kissing stage. We were taking it slow, but I don’t remember why. He gave me a card that pictured a couple in the back seat of a car. I started to laugh and he turned bright red. Evidently that was his way of telling me he wanted to move to the next level in our relationship. And I was laughing so hard at the goofy picture, I was making snorting noises! Poor Kick. (I still have that card, and it still makes me laugh!)

Which of the Cosmo stories did you like? Or do you have your own tale to tell? Here’s your chance to add your own wacky story of a romantic occasion gone bad. Leave a comment for your chance to win an e-copy of the first book in the series Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas.


 



(And here's a lovely excerpt that Randi Alexander is sharing from her most recent yummy read Cowboy Jackpot: Valentine's Day)
                                    
                                 


Blurb:
A fortuitous spin of a Las Vegas roulette wheel links New York accountant Kira Morrow and rodeo bareback rider Dallas Burns. The heat that has flared between them since their first meeting threatens to burn out of control as they share sinful nights and hot days. As their mutual distrust resurfaces, the flames quickly die. Only when Kira walks out of his life forever does Dallas realize he needs to stop letting past hurts prevent him from opening his heart to love. Is it too late to repair the damage he’s done and reclaim the heart of the woman he’s fallen for?

Excerpt: Kira stepped one foot out of her panties and spread her legs a few inches wider. "Take your time." Her voice sounded frustrated. "It's not like I'm dying for release here."

With a grin, he bit her ass cheek, the one without the tattoo. "Sarcasm will only delay things." He rubbed his thumbs along the backs of her thighs, right under where they met her ass. Unable to resist, he licked the same spot, long, sweeping drags of his tongue starting from the outside and ending at her ass crack.

The scent of her arousal, musky and sweet, invaded his nose, stabbing through his brain and sending slices of lust down his spine. He nibbled on her ass cheeks as she moaned and clenched her hands into fists.

With quick nips and licks along the cleft of her ass, he stood. He pressed kisses to each of her vertebrae, soaking in her floral scent. When he reached her bra, he unhooked it with one hand, a technique he and Boone had practiced and perfected when they were teens.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed his hands to her stomach and snugged the length of his denim-clad erection against her firm ass.

"I want you, woman."

She dropped her head back onto his shoulder and placed her hands over his.

The gesture struck an extra heartbeat in his chest. He liked having her in his arms. It felt like…home. Home? Goddamnit, where had that come from? He barely resisted jumping back. And running. Sex. This was sex and nothing more. He couldn't afford any more.

She turned to face him and one bra strap slid off her shoulder.

Sex was easy to lose himself in. He focused on her blushing cheeks and dilated pupils that made her eyes a dark green. "You're beautiful, Kira. I'm a lucky man."

Her lips curved up. "You are, and I hope I'll be getting lucky pretty quick here, too."

He waggled his brows at her. "Pretty quick. Still a passel of teasing left to do."

"Uhhh."

In his arms, her body vibrated with need. He pulled her bra straps down and tossed the lacy thing onto a chair in the corner. "Damn." Perfect D cups, so pale he could see small veins under the surface. Her nipples and darker areolas puckered tighter at his stare.

"Are you a breast man, too?"

He held her breasts in his palms, loving the softness of her skin over the firm orbs. His thumbs flicked her tight nipples. "Yep. Breasts, thighs, ass. Every amazing part of you that I can't get enough of."

Her body shimmied with each pass of his thumbs. "I have a couple parts…" She sucked in a breath. "That you haven't seen yet."


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Don’t forget to leave a comment and your e-mail address for your chance to win Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas!  Winner will be notified Feb. 15, 2013.  Thank you so much for the giveaway Randi.

                                          








My own story is that my first ever Valentine's day date (who is now my hubby) brought me my favorite candy (See's chocolates) and flowers and I was still living at my parents' home at the time.  Before we left for the romantic dinner that he was taking me out for, I put the flowers in water and hid my candy.  When I returned home, my father complained that he couldn't find the candy---now you know why I hid it!   --- ELF


Find Cowboy Jackpot: Valentine's Day in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon, and in paperback at Createspace and Amazon. Have a great Valentine’s Day! Randi "Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied" RandiAlexander.com -Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas is available in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon, and in paperback at Createspace and Amazon. -Turn Up the Heat, Chase and Seduction, and Her Cowboy Stud are available at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon -Cowboy Bad Boys is available in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon and in paperback from Createspace and at Amazon -Cowboy Lust is available in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon


                                      



13 comments:

  1. My Valentine's Day are like Slacker Surprise. Best you plan ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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    1. Aw, Debby, sorry to hear that, but this year might be the 'big surprise' year!

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  2. I used to hate Valentine's Day, even when I had a boyfriend. It seemed like a lame way to absolve everyone of the guilt of not paying attention to their loved ones all year long. But my first Valentine's Day with Mr. SM (he was my boyfriend at the time), he'd taken the time to find some lovely silver Celtic knot rings because he knew I wore that kind of jewelry. I've liked Valentine's Day ever since. :) Congrats on the new release, Randi. :)

    nevadafoxATgmailDOTcom

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    1. That's so romantic! What a great guy. Thanks, Siobhan!

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  3. I'm kinda apathetic toward VD. Don't really do or expect much. No real reason why.

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I hear that a lot, Erin. It's just another day, but I enjoy using it as another way to connect to my hubby. Thanks for the comment!

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  4. My very favorite Valentine's Day memory was the first year my husband and I were together (we had just started dating) He had a dozen and half Roses delivered, he had a beautiful giant card for me & took me out to dinner. It was a great day.

    MinDaf @ Aol.com

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    1. How sweet! A dozen and a half roses - that's unique. And I LOVE the idea of the big card. Very nice. Thanks for dropping by, Crystal.

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  5. Thanks for the comments everyone, and thanks for dropping in Randi! I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's day, even if it just means that you treat yourself to something special1

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    1. Thanks for having me on your lovely blog, ELF!

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  6. Happy Saint Valentine's Day!! Hope your day is filled romance and much love!
    Thanks for the giveaway! I have to say that I get a gift every year from my father and it's adorable.
    mestith (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Aw, that's so nice, Megan. A wonderful tradition. We have Valentine's gifts ready for the Twerplettes - this year they each get a plant and (of course) some candy. Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

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  7. Congrats to Meghan, winner of Randi Alexander's novella, Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas. Hope you enjoy it!

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