The LOOK Challenge

My poor, neglected blog. Between work, the nonsense that is my immune system, and my overall laziness, I’ve been away far too long. *wags finger and give self a stern look*

Anyway, back in August, my Crescent Moon sister, Jennifer Wells, tagged me in the Look Challenge. Here are the rules:

  • Find the first usage of the word “look” in your work in progress and paste the surrounding paragraph(s) into your blog.
  • Invite as many people as you want to take part in the challenge with you.

So, here are a couple paragraphs of my romantic horror novella, Salt In the Cupboard:

As I take a step forward, the door bursts open. My heart leaps into my throat. I cry out. My cheeks heat at the surprised face of Ian Reese, my chemistry lab partner from last year. His hair has been shaved into a buzz cut, accentuating his sharp cheekbones and those blue eyes that shoot static to where my heart should be. A black t-shirt hugs every dip and curve of his muscles, and his jeans hang from his hips in a sexy peel-me-off kind of way. Holy. Cow.

“Alexis,” he says with a smile that could melt the sun. “How are you?”

“Ian.” I look away to mentally fan myself. “I’m great. You live here, too?”

“As of yesterday.” He juts his chin to his right. “Apartment twelve.”

“Twenty-six.”

He nods. We stand in awkward silence because I can’t think of anything else to say. Our date that never happened mixes through the cool air and hangs heavy with the clouds.

 

Not many people have seen this story, not even my beloved critique partners! I’ll explain why in an upcoming post, along with some BIG news!

I’m inviting everyone who sees this to participate in the Look Challenge. I’ll be LoOkInG for your post!

Happy Book Birthday to Practically Dreaming & Not Your Average Fairy Tale

Jennifer Wells and Chantele Sedgwick are celebrating their book birthdays! Here are the covers and the blurbs:
Practically Dreaming

In a Zodiac-based world, finding a mate is easy. Falling in love is the hard part.
Astrology influences almost everything, from career choice to where people live. Even romantic matches are based solely on astrological compatibility and determined by the infallible Council of Venus.
Animal psychic Tierra has every reason to trust the Council—save one. Her match with fellow Virgo, Evander, works better on paper than in person. But she stubbornly hangs on, believing their relationship will grow and develop, all the while trying to rationalize her feelings for Lachlan.
Veterinarian and Reiki master, Lachlan, hides a secret, which has kept him single for more than two years. This Pisces dreams of a happily ever after with Tierra, but believes it’s impossible for him.
Tierra and Lachlan must confront their doubts, differences, and society’s belief in the Council. Will they defy the odds and choose each other? Does astrological certainty eclipse the chance to fall in love?

Not Your Average Fairy Tale

Armed with wings and a blue wand, being a fairy godmother should be easy … unless your name is Ash, and you’re a dude.
Ash Summerland has it all–good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. When he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings. A.K.A. the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a “happy ever after”. But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father’s death, she doesn’t want anything to do with Ash. And worst of all, she doesn’t believe in happy endings.
Both these books sound amazing!