Title: Ask Me
Author: Laura Strickland
Genre: Romantic Comedy (Valentine)
Book Blurb:
Alone on Valentine’s Day, Leo Rankin attends the library’s Blind Date With a Book event hoping for something he can take to bed with him that night, and finds himself competing against Gerri Webb for the last remaining book. Wild child Gerri is not his usual type. Yet he feels an immediate, sizzling attraction and agrees to share the book and its accompanying bag of candy hearts.
The whole idea of a Blind Date With a Book is to go off genre, so Gerri doesn’t mind when their flirty conversation suggests they unwrap each other rather than the mystery book. When a candy heart advises, “Ask Me,” she asks Leo back to her apartment. She never expects button-down Leo to hit all her buttons, but by the next morning she fears her heart’s in danger. Can one night spent off genre translate to real life?
Excerpt:
“Be a gentleman,” the black-haired woman told Leo, “and let me have the book.” She already had her library card out, clutched in her other hand.
“Why don’t you share it?” the clerk suggested impishly. “See what happens.”
The black-haired woman laughed a bit nervously. Before Leo could speak, the clerk snatched the library card from her hand and wanded the book. “There you go. Oh, and every book comes with a little bag of candy hearts. Have a happy Valentine’s Day.”
Leo frowned and snatched the small, red bag the clerk pushed across the counter at him. Elsewhere in the building, lights dimmed. They had little choice but to leave.
Yet the woman still clutched her side of the book.
“Who gets to take it home?” she asked.
Leo smiled suddenly. “Pretty ridiculous to be negotiating over an unknown book for company tonight, isn’t it?”
“Pitiful,” she agreed.
Leo hesitated, impulse nibbling at him once again. He could suggest they get a coffee or a drink together. Sure, she was a far cry from the kind of woman he usually dated, almost diametrically opposed. But it beat being alone, right?
She gave him a provocative look. “Maybe the candy hearts hold the answer to who gets the book first.” She dug into the small, red bag in his hand to draw forth a single heart, and Leo saw her fingernails were painted black. She opened her palm with the heart on it, words facing upward.
Ask Me, Leo read.
Well, then. He drew a breath. “Want to go somewhere for coffee?”
Buy Links:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ask-me-laura-strickland/1123145876?ean=2940158066795
What’s your favorite part about being a romance author?
Giving my hero and heroine a happily-ever-after. While that may not always happen in “real life”, at least I can assure it does by the final page of my stories. And oh, it’s so satisfying!
Here’s my tip to add romance to your love life:
There’s nothing like cuddling in front of a wood fire. If you don’t have a fireplace or wood stove, try creating a display from a group of candles. Then, turn off all the lights. It’s magic!
Giveaway:
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Open internationally
Runs February 1 – 29
Drawing will be held on March 2.
Author Biography:
Multi-award-winning author Laura Strickland delights in time traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Her first Scottish Historical hero, Devil Black, battled his way onto the publishing scene in 2013, and the author never looked back. Nor has she tapped the limits of her imagination. Venturing beyond Historical and Contemporary Romance, she created a new world with her ground-breaking Buffalo Steampunk Adventure series set in her native city, in Western New York. Married and the parent of one grown daughter, Laura has also been privileged to mother a number of very special rescue dogs, and is intensely interested in animal welfare. These days while she's writing, you can always find her latest rescue, Lacy, nearby. Her love of dogs, and her lifelong interest in Celtic history, magic and music, are all reflected in her writing. Laura's mantra is Lore, Legend, Love, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Social Media Links:
Author Website: www.laurastricklandbooks.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000002632317
Author Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Strickland/e/B001KHSACW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Author Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760146.Laura_Strickland
Author Twitter:
Laura Strickland Author @LauraSt05038951
Going to New Orleans at Mardi Gras with my husband for our first date was so romantic and I have loved book romances every since.😍
Sounds like a fun read, Laura! And I agree with you about fires. Very romantic!
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your book in our Love and Romance Book Festival. Such a great romantic tip! We love snuggling together with a scented candle glowing.