Ex Libris

I am very happy to welcome back to to the blog the lovely Jessica Scott, who besides being mom to two little girls, wife to an officer, a career soldier herself is the author of the wonderfully heartfelt and emotional Coming Home romances! You might remember how much I enjoyed Because of You, so I am happy to let you know that Book #2  will be released next week, yay! So pre-order your copies, and read on to learn more about Jess and get a glimpse of !

A Book Hangover
by Jessica Scott

Thanks so much for having me here today on Ex Libris! Like Stella, I’m an avid reader but for the last couple of years and especially since “becoming a writer” I read more critically now. Because of that, I end up reading less and end up stopping a whole lot more books than I end up finishing.

I’m not honestly sure why that is. Part of it is that I enjoy books that really grab hold of me and don’t let go. It’s hard for a book to have that kind of connection for me. Another way I’ll end up reading a book is that if I read a sample and can’t stop thinking about it. was like that for me. I could not get the line where Katniss says something to the effect of “that was as close as our relationship was going to get: entrails, no hissing” when talking about her sister’s cat. Man did that cat do me in on . I bawled for DAYS. I was wrung out, completely empty and could not fathom another book or series that was going to tear me up like that.

Anyone who’s been following me knows just how much I loved Nalini Singh’s . There was just something about Honor’s broken courage and Dmitri’s cold, wounded shell that just spoke to me. I love a good romance as much as the next gal but I’ll tell you I really love a romance that brings two wounded souls together and let’s them heal. I think that’s why I’m still hung up on Dmitri and Honor.

In my next book , I don’t necessarily pick up the series where left off but I do try to keep to one of my deeply embedded themes of bringing wounded souls back together. Captain Claire Montoya is badly damaged and trusts very few people. Captain Evan Loehr is very much a rule follower for his own reasons. And when they’re faced with a situation that requires both of them to give a little bit, the battle is on.

Below is an excerpt:

He shifted uncomfortably, then cleared his throat. The sound pulled her attention from the agenda and made her look up. She shifted the paper, and he gripped the edge to angle it so he could see it better. His fingers slid against hers, and he froze. She looked up, their fingers still touching, her green eyes darkening.

Then she swallowed and pulled her fingers free from his touch.

This was not the woman he knew—the wildfire, out-of-control officer he was used to seeing in the tactical operations center. That woman made snap judgments and spoke before engaging her brain. This woman was restrained. Tense. This was new, a side of Claire that Evan had never seen before.

Her gaze met his, hesitant.

“What are you doing?” Her voice was thick, edgy and filled with a wariness that made his heart flip in his chest.

“Listening to your brief.” His voice sounded off to his own ears, harsh and rough.

“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” She leaned back in the booth and stared at him, a sharp, hunted expression in her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

Silence hung over them, awkward and cold. She said nothing, and he could see her searching for the right words, fighting the edge of panic. “Like you’re looking to start rumors. Captain America doesn’t sleep with members of his team, remember? Violates some superhero code or something.”

“I wasn’t planning on sleeping with anyone, let alone with you,” he said dryly.

She laughed out loud and just like that, the tension snapped and fizzled into an almost comfortable silence. “Well played, Captain America. Well played.” She paused then. “Do you have any issues with this training plan?”

He studied the chart that outlined the key measures of success for the convoy operations. After a long moment, he glanced up at her. Shadows fell across her face, casting it in a soft, subtle glow. “No. The timeline sucks, but the convoy stuff is a good plan.”

“All right, that does it,” she snapped.

“What?”

“You’ve never said ‘good job’ to me on anything. What’s wrong with you?”

Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She has commanded two companies, served in Germany, Korea, Fort Hood and Iraq, and been lucky not to get fired. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

You can find Jessica online at her website /  /  / Goodreads

There are 2 giveaways going on:

Jessica has generously offered an ebook copy of to a lucky commenter!

 

To be entered just leave a comment and tell us: Which novels gave you "book hangovers"?

Giveaway is open worldwide and ends on 5 October 2012!

ENTER TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE OF A KINDLE FIRE OR A NOOK COLOR!

To celebrate the long awaited release of her second book, Jessica's having a super giveaway the UNTIL THERE WAS YOU PREORDER SWEEPSTAKES all throughout September until Oct 7th!

To enter the contest, forward your email receipt of purchase of to:  "” . Entries must be received by OCTOBER 7, 11:59pm EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Giveaway is open worldwide and ends on 7 October 2012!

You can preorder at these ebookstores or wherever ebooks are sold!

Buy at | B & N | Powell's |