LOVE Reality Romance

The blog site of author Kathy Clark a.k.a Bob Kat

An excerpt from COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

Some of you may remember me from long ago…like last century…when traditional publishers such Harlequin published my romance novels and printed them on paper and sold them through bookstores! No? Maybe you have purchased one of my more recent novels that were released in 2012 and 2013. No doubt my over 3 million in sales worldwide in paperback were one measure and one cause of the popularity of my new books. And yes, they’re digital and trade paperback.

Today, I write my Romantic Suspense series, Denver After Dark under my name Kathy Clark and the young adult mystery series, CUL8R^TM [See you later] under the pseudonym of Bob Kat. CUL8R^TM is co-written with my husband Bob Wernly. Starting this fall, the New Adult Romantic Suspense series, Scandals, will be under Kathy Clark.

I am going to take space in this blog to publish excerpts from my romance novel back list to provide as they say, a deeper cut, into the stories beyond the samples provided by Amazon. I did this last weekend at the virtual eBook Fair and I got great feedback to do more of this. So I will. Readers rule!

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS BLURB

Luke Calloway is a turkey farmer in the heartland of Iowa. He has survived the loss of his wife, and is learning to cope with a drastic change of career (from big city dentist to the owner of Wishbone Acres in the small town of Greenhaven) while raising three rambunctious sons. He’s doing an admirable job and isn’t looking for love. But that’s exactly what he finds when Darcy Carson returns to town.Darcy Carson, a successful Los Angeles television reporter, had fled from Iowa as soon as she was able. Small towns held no appeal for her, but the glamour and excitement of Southern California certainly did. Following a suspension by the station where she’s employed, she returns home, telling herself that she’ll only stay until she wins her court case and can return to work.

But Darcy hasn’t planned on meeting Luke. She fights her attraction to him, telling herself he represents everything she ran away from. Luke, too, fights his growing love for Darcy. He knows he’s only a temporary stopover in her life, that soon she’ll return to California, breaking his heart, and those of his sons.

Neither Luke nor Darcy are prepared for the way love sweeps into their lives, changing everything.

REVIEWS:

“ROMANTIC TIMES” – (4) – “Watch as Kathy Clark creates two endearing characters who know they’re being manipulated, but are helpless to stop it.”

“HEART TO HEART” – Selected to be a Highlight of the Month – “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS is great fun.”

“COLORADO ROMANCE WRITERS PAL” – “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS is a perfect story to enjoy during the holidays since it will fill your heart with the wonder and joys of learning that love truly conquers all.”

THE EXCERPT

Darcy and Luke stood a step apart, putting a cushion of neutrality between them. But as they turned and began to walk wordlessly toward the truck, their fingers brushed together and somehow became entwined. Separate, they would have been jostled apart, but united, they had no difficulty maneuvering through the crowded walkways to the parking lot.

Luke glanced at Darcy as the truck’s engine sputtered to life and backfired a couple times, drawing a dozen sympathetic stares.

“I’m sorry about this truck,” he began.

Darcy settled the goldfish bowl on her lap and smiled at Luke. “No one could accuse you of trying to impress me.”

With an unnecessary degree of concentration, he studied the narrow space that was illuminated in front of the truck by its headlights. His tone was casual as he asked, “So what would it take to impress you?”

Darcy sensed her answer might be very important to any future relationship, however temporary, that might exist between them. “Actually, I don’t impress easily,” she admitted.

“I guess you wouldn’t. Living in L.A., you’re surrounded by Mercedes and movie stars.”

She glanced at him sharply. “That’s not what I meant. Cars and actors don’t impress me.”

“Yeah?” he questioned skeptically. “What sort of car do you own?”

“Uh…,” she hedged. “Well, that’s not important…”

He challenged her with a steady look.

“Okay, so I drive a Corvette…”

“Red, I’ll bet.” He turned his attention back to the road.

“Okay, it’s red,” she conceded defensively. “So what? The station gave it to me. I wouldn’t care if it was a Toyota.”

Again, he pierced her with an unconvinced glance.

“All right, I’ll admit it.” She threw up her hands in defeat. The motion upset the brandy snifter, and she had to grab it to keep the fish from pouring onto the floor. “Yes, I enjoy driving that car. It’s a great car. But I’m not so shallow that I care what sort of car someone else drives.”

“So you don’t mind riding in this truck?”

She peered at the thick layer of dust on the dashboard and the worn blanket covering the seat. There were turkey feathers on the floorboard and a scattering of corn kernels as if a bag of feed had broken sometime in the ancient vehicle’s questionable past. Then she looked over the fluffy barrier of stuffed animals to the man behind the steering wheel. Only hours ago, she had never seen that face. And now she knew she’d never forget it. It was the man, not the truck she found disturbing.

“No,” she answered honestly. “I’ve ridden in worse. In fact, I learned to drive in a truck that belonged to my grandfather. But I will say that Gramps did wash his truck on occasion.”

They turned into her parents’ driveway and Darcy had to hold the brandy snifter up so the water didn’t bounce out when they crossed the cattle guard.

“And you could use a new set of springs,” she added.

A low, appreciative chuckle vibrated across the darkness. “Springs? This old pile of bolts wouldn’t know how to drive if it had springs. Why, there probably isn’t even anything left to attach them to.”

He stopped the truck in front of her door, but didn’t turn off the engine. When he began unloading the stuffed animals, Darcy reached out and pushed aside one of the panda bear’s ears so she could see Luke.

“I don’t need any more stuffed animals in my room. My mother seems to think everything should be left exactly as I had it.” Darcy shook her head. She had long ago given up trying to convince her mother she wouldn’t be moving back home. “Why don’t you give them to your boys? Greg may be a little too old, but Scott and maybe Adam would give these guys a good home.”

She nestled the brandy snifter in between a big bear and a fluffy dog.

“And the fish?” Luke asked.

“And the fish,” Darcy confirmed, laughing at his unenthusiastic expression.

“Great. Thanks,” he stated with good-humored sarcasm.

“Goldfish are terrific pets. They don’t make any noise, and they never make a mess on the carpet.”

“Or we can feed him to the turkeys.”

“Luke!”

He held up his hands to calm her. “It’s a joke. Besides, turkeys don’t eat meat.”

“I’ll bet they wish more people felt that way.”

“You’re not one of those animal rights’ activists, are you?”

This time Darcy’s chuckle was wry. “Funny you should mention that…animal rights is exactly why I’m on suspension, remember? But I was just reporting it, not participating. Actually, I can see both sides of the issue. I don’t like to see animals tortured for unnecessary experiments, but I don’t have a problem eating chicken … or turkey.”

“So how long do you think it’ll take to clear up your case?”

Darcy led the way up the porch steps and Luke followed. “My attorney thinks it’ll go to court after Thanksgiving.” She glanced back at the noisy truck. If he hadn’t left it running, she would have invited him to sit for a while on the porch swing.

“That’s a month away,” Luke commented nonchalantly as he stopped with one booted foot on the top step.

Darcy turned to face him, and, because of her higher position found that they were eye to eye. “More or less,” she replied. “But I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I have to fly back Monday or Tuesday for some depositions and the grand jury hearing, which means I’ll be gone most of the week.”

He thrust his hands deep into his pockets. “Then maybe I’ll see you around.”

“It’s a small town.” She responded with equal casualness, but inside she cried out, But I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you while I’m here.

“Well … I guess I’d better be going,” he said and backed down a step.

“I had a nice time this evening.” Don’t leave. I want you to kiss me again.

His eyes burned into hers, as if searching for an answer to an unspoken question. His gaze was so perceptive, Darcy began wondering if he might have heard her silent request. When he gave her one last little smile, then turned to leave, she felt her spirits droop with disappointment. On the dance floor, there had been a flash of magic. Had it been a fluke? A reaction to the circumstances around them? A moment of madness?

All she knew was that she wanted to feel his lips on hers one more time and to have him hold her tight in his arms. “Luke…” She moved toward him just as he wheeled around and bounded up the steps two at a time.

“Darcy…” he breathed as he cradled her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his. “I must be crazy,” he muttered against her lips an instant before they crushed against hers.

Darcy’s arms wound around his neck, her fingers feathering into the soft, dark hair at his nape. The banked fires that had built and died back…but never out…roared to life again. It had been a long time since a man’s kiss had affected her so much. Her body molded to his, automatically seeking the boldness of his response.

If she hadn’t been standing on her parents’ porch . . . if he hadn’t been a widower with three kids . . . if she hadn’t been so anxious to get on with her life in California . . . if he hadn’t been a livestock farmer . . . she would have asked him to turn off his truck’s engine, rev up his own engine and stay for the night.

Then, as abruptly as he had approached her, he let her go. After one last, lingering look that took away what little strength she had left in her knees, he pivoted on his heel and vaulted down the steps.

Darcy leaned against the heavy support post at the top of the steps and watched him leap into his truck, grind the gears into reverse, then head toward the road. She realized her hand was clenched against her chest as if she was trying to steady her rampaging heart. Somehow she knew that kiss would come back to haunt her during the long, lonely nights in her bed in L.A.

I hope you enjoyed this sample from my book. All of my romance novels are available individually as eBooks on amazon and they have also been republished as Romance Collections with similar books in their original full length and unabridged. The Romance Collections are at a reduced price and available by going to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20 .

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

Another Romance Excerpt from Kathy Clark…COLD FEET, WARM HEART

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

This book at the time was rather creative cause it carried an online romance started on the internet. Bob and I will be married 21 years this December all from an on line romance started on Prodigy in early 1993! Remember that?

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

SUMMARY of COLD FEET, WARM HEART

On-line romances can be a great way to fall in love – or to get into trouble.

Abby Harris had never been impetuous – until she escaped to Antarctica to marry a man whose words had won her heart, but whose face she’d never seen and whose voice she’d never heard.

A sight-unseen love affair had its surprises, though. Abby got one when she and her wilting wedding bouquet deplaned in the frozen tundra and fell into the arms of Prescott Roberts, the egotistical scientist from her office – powerfully transformed into an officer and a gentleman.

She’d never cared for his arrogant manner. He’d never cared for her ice-princess coolness. Neither believed in destiny – but they believed in a deal. Dealmaking was a risky business, though, when the bargaining table was the marriage bed.

EXCERPT from COLD FEET, WARM HEART

He began unfastening the bright polished brass buttons of his jacket. “It is getting late, isn’t it? I guess we’d better get ready for bed.”

As much as she wanted to turn away, her attention was riveted to the movement of those large, tanned fingers against the crisp white of his uniform. One by one, the buttons gave way, baring a tantalizing glimpse of bronzed flesh. With a final tug at the Velcro fasteners holding the upright collar closed around his neck, he shrugged out of the jacket and reached for a hanger.

Abigail blinked at the expanse of rippling muscle that flexed with even the tiniest movement he made. With his back to her, she took advantage of the moment to drink in his magnificence. He’d taken off his hat as soon as they’d entered the room and now she could see how very blond his hair was. Had it always been that golden and that thick? she wondered. Cut in a blunt military style across the back, it emphasized the sculptured perfection of his neck and shoulders. Broader than she’d imagined, his upper torso tapered to a slim waist and narrow hips.

And the best set of buns she’d ever seen.

Her thoughts were flooded with memories of all the bold, sensual comments he’d made during their computer chats. In erotic terms, he’d managed to describe to her exactly where his hands and lips would be on her body when they were making love and how he would make her feel. He’d painted vivid pictures of their sweat-slickened bodies sliding together in passion . . . of how the bedclothes would get twisted around their bare legs. . .of how she would cry out from the pleasure he’d give her.

Abby couldn’t tear her gaze away as he hung the jacket in the wardrobe, right next to a dark blue suit coat that was also heavily adorned with military braid and insignia. Lord, she’d always had a weakness for a man in uniform. And, as she was rapidly discovering, for a man out of uniform.

But when she saw his hands reach for his belt buckle and heard the rasp of a zipper going down, she panicked. It dawned on her that within seconds she would be sharing this incredibly small room with a naked or near-naked man.

Your husband, her conscience reminded her pointedly. “I can’t—I mean we can’t—you know—not now—not here—not like this—” Abigail stammered. Bert turned his head and gave her a questioning look, but didn’t speak. “Look, I know I went into this with my eyes wide open. You and I both have reasons to see this thing through, at least for a while, so I can understand why it’s prudent that we carry out the pretense when we’re in public. But it would be dishonest of us if we were to act like husband and wife when we’re in here, in the privacy of this room.”

“Dishonest?” He took a step toward her. “Let’s talk about dishonesty, Abby.” There was a strange expression on his handsome features that only served to remind Abigail just how little she knew about this man with whom she’d just vowed to spend the rest of her life. Automatically she retreated until she backed against a solid, starkly painted wall.

He took another step before stopping. He was so close she could see the black spikes dividing the sky blue irises of his eyes. Cold, hard eyes. But there was something else she couldn’t quite identify. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn there was a shadow of pain hiding behind the dispassionate stare. “What happened to the woman who likes making love with the soulful sounds of Kenny G drifting in the background?”

So here it was—the discussion they’d both been waiting for. She gulped, vividly remembering the night she’d sat in front of the computer, typing the words while a little imp sat on her shoulder, urging her on, compelling her to fabricate an alter ego for the dull, uninspiring Abigail Harris.

How could she tell him that the sexy lingerie, the champagne, the bubble baths and yes, even the lovemaking belonged to the risqué, and nonexistent, Angelina. Not the staid, predictable Abigail everyone knew and intellectually respected.

“So how many times have you done it, Abby?”

“Done what?” She tried to sound forceful, but realized she was failing miserably. A lump the size of Alaska had coagulated in her throat. Except for the night her car broke down and she had to walk home after midnight, she’d never experienced fear. But then again, she’d never been married to a perfect stranger who knew her better than any man ever had-better than even he knew.

He reached out. Her head connected with the wall behind her. Her pulse pounded, blood racing frantically. Anxiety paralyzed her, but she also had to admit feeling her first real frisson of excitement. Rationally she realized he would never hurt her. And yet…

With his right hand, he eased the errant, windblown strands of hair from her face. She felt the brush of his thumb across her ear, even heard the sound of his erratic breathing. “How many, Abby? One? Two? Three? A dozen?”

Why had she never noticed the subtle nuances of his voice before? “How many what?” she repeated having a hard time grasping his words, her gaze so captivated by his unblinking stare. She might have felt ridiculous under normal circumstances, but she was quickly learning that nothing on the Ice was normal, that the line between reality and unreality was a confusing blur.

“Made love with Kenny G’s sax in the background,” he prompted when she didn’t respond immediately to his inquiry.

Heated color rose to paint her cheeks. A fictitious lover on a nameless, sightless electronic bulletin board was one thing; talking about the nonexistent person with her husband not more than six inches away was another thing entirely.

He continued to rub the pad of his thumb around her ear, tantalizing her. “I bought a Kenny G CD before I left the U.S., Abby. Just for you. Just for us.”

“Don’t,” she implored, wishing she could think, wishing he’d move away, wishing he wouldn’t use her own words against her, wishing he wouldn’t call her Abby in that soft, seductive way.

“Don’t what?” He moved a fraction of an inch closer, so close their breaths mingled. He smelled of champagne, of wedding cake. . .of passion.

“Don’t stand this close?” he prompted. “Don’t remind you of the things you said to me? Or don’t touch you like this? Or this?” He traced the outline of her lips. Though she tried to resist, her lips involuntarily parted. “You know, ever since we started corresponding, I’ve dreamed of this night.” His voice was husky.

She tried to force herself to concentrate on what he was saying, rather than the way his fingertips felt against her suddenly ultrasensitive skin.

“I’ve dreamed of holding you in my arms, dreamed of stripping off your clothes, piece by piece. Dreamed of carrying you to the bed and . . .”

Her eyes drifted shut under the powerful onslaught. It was impossible to believe this was the same man she’d so casually dismissed in the lab, the flirtatious scientist who seemed more interested in the chemistry of mating Homo sapiens than the chemistry of molecules.

“I’ve dreamed of watching you climax, Abby, dreamed of hearing you call my name, asking for more.”

“Bert. . .”

“Hmm? What part was it you didn’t want to hear, Abby?” His fingers tightened on her jaw until her head was being gently, but very firmly held in place.

At the abrupt shift in his tone and the unexpected pressure of his hands, her eyes flew open. She saw he was angry-maybe even beyond angry. He was obviously upset about the situation, and Abigail wasn’t sure which part of it bothered him the most-the fact that he’d married precipitously or that his mystery lover was Abby.

She’d been a fool to believe how wonderful things would be in Antarctica. For the first time, she’d let her heart rule her head and look where it had gotten her. Her fantasy had become a real-life disaster. And her Prince Charming had turned out to be a real-life toad.

“The part about me wanting to make love to you?” he went on, forcing her to continue looking into his wintry eyes. “Or the part about how you want to make love to me, Angelina.”

Bitterness welled up inside her. Bert was accusing her of being deceptive, conveniently ignoring his own part in the entire situation. “Look,” she said angrily, surprising even herself with the defiance and vehemence in her tone, “I may not be totally innocent in all of this, but neither are you. You had plenty of opportunity back in Boulder to confess you were engaged in a steamy electronic love affair while you were asking me out.”

“Confess?” Bert demanded. “What was I doing that you weren’t doing just as often? You weren’t exactly spilling your guts to me. You know that old saying about casting the first stone.”

Anger at his accusations and his casual dismissal of his own guilt gnawed at her. She pushed away from the wall and pointed a finger at him. “If anyone has reason to feel deceived, it’s me,” she said.

“Honey, you wrote the book on deception.”

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

Its’ Time To Add another Excerpt to my Romance Back List…CODY’S LAST STAND

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

HERE’S THE SUMMARY OF CODY…

e had the wildness of the prairie in his eyes…the gentleness of a lover in his lips. And on that fateful day at Little Big Horn, Cody took Elizabeth Lawrence captive without firing a shot.

Elizabeth searched high and low for the raven-haired stranger after their timeless encounter. When she met him by chance, she almost wished he was the ghost she’d believed him to be.

Descended from the great chief Sitting Bull, John Cody was as ferociously proud of his Indian heritage as Elizabeth was of her ancestor, George Custer.

A hundred years after the most famous battle of the West, was there any hope that the descendants of two bitter enemies could at last make peace?

In this modern-day Romeo & Juliet tale, Cody and Elizabeth must defy generations of bad blood and families who cannot accept the possibility of their romance. Can the star-crossed lovers survive a war that still rages?

EXCERPT Of CODY…ENJOY!

The friction that had been building during their conversation immediately dispersed, neutralized by her unexpected capitulation and the concentrated power of her smile. Cody rolled onto his side. With his elbow planted on the rock, he propped his head up on his hand. His move had closed the distance between them until he was near enough to see the black spikes radiating from the pupils of her eyes, piercing through the cornflower-blue irises. They were the eyes of a seductress, yet he could see a vulnerability in their depths.

She had removed her hat and left it on the ground next to the rock. A gentle breeze whispered through the pine needles and sent the large, floppy leaves of the cottonwoods into motion. It also feathered through her hair, lifting the strands that had strayed from her ponytail and depositing them across her cheek.

Automatically his free hand moved to brush them away. But as soon as his fingers touched her skin, his control wavered. She was too close and he wanted to taste her lips, lips he knew would be as sweet as honey. Suddenly the differences between Elizabeth’s life and his didn’t seem so important. The fact that she was white and he was Native American was irrelevant when weighed against the overwhelming desire he had to kiss her.

If she had made even the slightest protest, if she had made any move to turn away, he could have stopped. But encouraged by the expectant look in her eyes, he leaned closer. His attention was drawn to the pink tip of her tongue as it raced around her slightly parted lips, leaving behind a moist, shiny trail he could no longer resist.

His fingers tunneled into the hair at her temple, sweeping it off her face and out of his way as his lips touched hers. He meant the contact to be brief. All he wanted was to satisfy his curiosity whether or not anyone or anything could taste as good as she looked.

But once he felt her full mouth beneath his, he knew one kiss would never be enough. His mouth moved over hers, memorizing the shape, savoring the texture and never wanting to leave. How many kisses would it take to satisfy him? Ten? Twenty? Fifty million?

Elizabeth was not remaining passive beneath his caress. There was a passion that rivaled his in the way she returned his kiss. Her hands had found their way to his body, her fingers stroking the tensed muscles of his back. He inched over until his body partially covered hers.

If he thought that would make him more comfortable, he was wrong. The sensation of her firm breasts pressing against his chest made the pressure in his groin almost unbearable. He could not keep from pushing against her, feeling his hardness nuzzle into her softness, even if there were several layers of clothing in between.

Cody didn’t know how much more of this torture he could take. There was a limit to a man’s ability to resist temptation, even a man who prided himself on self-control.

It was time he faced the truth. Cody wanted more than to sample Elizabeth’s lips. Whether it was wrong or right…whether it was temporary or permanent…he had to make love to this most desirable, most inappropriate woman.

The rock was hot and hard beneath her back. The man lying partially on top of her was almost as hot and hard. The excitement of the latter made her forget the discomfort of the former.

His kisses were as wild and passionate as she’d imagined. They were awakening in her sensations that she hadn’t known existed. She’d thought all those stories of being swept away, beyond all control were pure fiction. Until this moment…with this man.

His tongue teased the tender skin of her lips, slipping deeper until it met and mated with her own tongue in seductive strokes. His breath swirled into her open mouth as he refused to break the contact even for the necessary act of breathing.

Elizabeth’s own breaths were coming in shallow gasps. She could have blamed the pressure of his chest on hers, but she knew it was more than that. This was what she had been waiting for from the first time she had seen him, standing before her.

When it came to pure sexuality, her attraction to him was as primitive and unrestrained as the savage she had originally thought him to be. Now that she knew better, she knew how wrong the “savage” moniker was. The man was more intelligent and better educated than most of her very civilized friends.

The memory of his near-naked body glistening in the sunlight heated her from the inside out. Anxious to feel that flesh beneath her fingers, her hands tugged at his shirt until she freed it from his pants. The snaps popped open, leaving his broad chest accessible to her exploratory touch.

As her fingers splayed over the muscled ridges of his rib cage, she could feel the immediacy of his reaction. Lifting his head, he peered down at her, searching her eyes for the depth of her feelings.

“Lady, do you know what you’re doing to me?” he moaned.

Instead of directly answering his question, she demanded in a fervent whisper, “Kiss me….”

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

Paying It Forward…an excerpt from ANOTHER SUNNY DAY

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

SUMMARY

Sarah and Sunny – the Day sisters – identical twins, a dazzling mirror image. It was Sunny who had all the talent and success as a singer. Sarah preferred to work behind the scenes as her sister’s tour assistant. But Sarah is ready to stop touring and make a life of her own. When Sunny commits to a publicity stunt of riding on a trail ride, she begs her sister to take her place, and Sarah reluctantly agrees. Sarah loves horses, and it sounds like a fun adventure.

How could Sarah know that the moment she landed in Houston bewigged, made-up, dressed in Sunny’s typical over-the-top country siren’s costume, a craggy knight in Levi’s and a cowboy hat would hand her a challenge. Tyler Ross dared the “spoiled superstar” to survive the ordeal. How could he know that horses and ranching were more Sarah’s style than star trips? How could she tell him without giving away the masquerade and ruining her sister’s career?

Read Sunny’s story in the sequel GOLDEN DAYS.

ANOTHER SUNNY DAY appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and reached #3 on Waldenbooks Best Seller List of all paperbacks. When originally published, it sold over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Another Sunny Day

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen any pictures of you au naturel.

“I beg your pardon?” she asked, shocked. “I would never agree to do nude photos,” She glared indignantly at him.

“No, wait. I meant without that wig. You really do have beautiful hair.” His approving gaze swept the long, loose length of spun gold that tumbled down around her breasts. “I wonder how many people know what you’ve been hiding all these years,” he speculated, his tone suggesting a more complex curiosity than his words would indicate.

Indirectly he was asking her how many people she had been intimate enough with to share this secret. If only she could get up enough courage to tell him what other secrets were hidden beneath that artificial hairpiece. Not that it was really any of his business, but she couldn’t blame him for asking. If she’d had the nerve to ask, she would have loved to find out the same information about him. Instead “Sunny Day” stayed in character. “Not as many as you might think. Other than my family and my manager, Mack, no one ever sees me without my wig,”

“That makes me special, then, doesn’t it?” he teased lightly, but the joke backfired as her eyes darkened seriously.

“Yes, it does,” she answered softly. Several seconds passed, their gazes locked, with neither daring to say what was foremost in their minds. Sarah moved first, scooting her chair away from the table noisily and walking over, to the sink to rinse out her mug. “It’s setting late. I guess we had better turn in for the night, so if you’ll just go on into the bedroom—”

“The bedroom?” he interrupted, one dark eyebrow arched eloquently.

“Yes, you’ll sleep in the bedroom, and I’ll sleep on the sofa,” she finished hastily.

“Oh.” He tried to hide his disappointment in the sleeping arrangements. “I believe you’ve got it backward, though,” he argued.

“No, I don’t. It’s your camper, and you’re too tall for the sofa, so it’s just common sense for me to sleep on the sofa and let you have the bed.”

“You bullied me into spending the night in this camper, but I refuse to let you give up the bed, and I, as a man, will rough it on the sofa.” His deep voice demanded obedience. ‘”Either that or I’ll sleep in the truck. Then you can sleep in whichever bed you want.”

“Male chauvinist!” she accused.

“Superstar!” he countered.

“All right, take the sofa,” she acquiesced, knowing that if she didn’t, he would make good his threat to go back outside into the bitter cold, sleep in the truck and probably catch the flu—a fate he deserved, but one which she couldn’t wish on him. With a defiant toss of her golden head she flounced gracefully from the room.

An hour later she lay on her back on the big bed, staring into the dark. Her only excuse for her childish behavior was that it had effectively disguised her real feelings. She had narrowly escaped from a very tense sexual confrontation. So why was she still awake, feeling every emotion but satisfaction? Hadn’t she been acting in Sunny’s best interests? Or was she just afraid to admit that her whole body ached for a fulfillment that only this man could provide? She had never been stirred so deeply and passionately, which made her doubly vulnerable. If she overreacted to what she thought was a sexual overture but wasn’t, then he would think she was as loose and forward as her sister had a reputation for being. She tried to remember anything he might have said or done that could give her a clue as to how he felt, but other than their few kisses, his behavior had always been that of a perfect gentleman . . . unfortunately.

From the other room came the sound of Tyler turning over and bumping loudly into the wooden arms at either the head or foot of his too short bed and uttering a most ungentlemanly curse. It served him right, she thought. Apparently he wasn’t getting any more sleep than she was, but it was all his fault. If he had listened to reason, he’d be able to stretch his long frame out on this bed, and she would have been quite comfortable on the smaller sofa.

Maybe now he would be a little more open-minded, she told herself as she got out of bed and flicked on the overhead light. Maybe she could talk him into playing musical beds. That was her only reason for going to see him now, in the middle of the night, wasn’t it? Sarah opened the bedroom door but paused on the threshold.

Tyler saw her immediately and sat up, leaning on one elbow. Shafts of light broke around her body, piercing through the thin gown, making it virtually invisible. Her hair fell around her shoulders and down almost to her elbows in glorious disarray; highlighted from behind like a frothy halo. Her face was in shadow, making it impossible to read her expression, but he sensed a tense indecision. She was like a shy doe, poised for flight at the first sign of danger. He wasn’t sure why she was here, but a wave of passion surged through his body with the power and fierceness of the wild north wind that had shown them no mercy earlier in the day, just as she was showing him no mercy now.

“I couldn’t sleep. I wondered if you . . .” She faltered, all coherent thoughts driven from her mind at the sight of him. The light from her bedroom invaded the dark room, softly illuminating his tanned nude torso in sharp contrast to the whiteness or the sheets.

All his well-planned resolutions flew out the window. His eyes, burning with desire, never left her face as he reached out and pulled back the covers to expose the empty space next to him. “Come here, darlin’,” he invited, his voice deep and gentle as he held out his hand toward her.

Still Sarah hesitated, weighing the possible results against the depth of her desire. What would happen if he should expect the real Sunny, to pick up where they left off after the trail ride was over? Or what if he let something slip to the press that might hurt Sunny’s career? Or what if . . . Suddenly she realized that for this one night she didn’t really care about anything else but Tyler. Regardless of the repercussions, this was her one chance to be where she most wanted to be . . . in his arms. Tonight was their night; she would worry about everything else tomorrow.

With a soft heartfelt sigh she floated across the room and sank into his waiting arms.

His body shuddered with suppressed longing as he looked deeply into her apprehensive eyes. “Are you sure?” he asked tenderly.

“Shh,” she whispered against his lips, her body melting against his warmth. She had gone this far, and she didn’t want to be talked out of it now. This was not the moment for rational thoughts. For once sensible Sarah was going to let her heart rule her head.

Tentatively, not wanting to overwhelm her with the strength of his feelings, Tyler gently kissed her mouth while his hands slowly stroked her body.

But Sarah wanted more. She had been waiting for this moment since she had first been attracted to him at the airport. Boldly her fingertips slid down the hard curve of his side and up the ridge of his hipbone. She savored the rippling waves of muscles in his back and shoulders before her long fingers nested in the thick silken hair at the back of his neck. Her lips pulled him deeper into the kiss, demanding everything he had to give.

“Take it easy. We’ve got all night,” he murmured against her mouth as his hands eased under the hem of her gown, drawing it up and with her help pulling it over her head before tossing it on the floor.

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

Another day…another excerpt for you! Angels Series, Angel Of Mercy

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

What do you do when the choice you made was the wrong one? During the war, Jeff Hawkins’s tenderness had been nurse Angela’s sanctuary from the horrors of Vietnam, and his passion had been their salvation.

But Jeff had been wounded long before a bullet brought him to the EVAC hospital. Fearless, with nothing to lose, Jeff was the kind of soldier to whom they awarded Purple Hearts . . . posthumously.

Years later, when he encountered Angela again at a veterans’ reunion, she could no longer pretend that the madness of war had triggered their brief, all-consuming alliance.

Could they have a second chance? Or had she forfeited any claim to Jeff’s love when she did the unforgivable . . . married his best friend? Not all wounds are visible . . . and not all wounds can be healed by the soft touch of a nurse’s hands. But Angela knew he was worth fighting for . . . and Jeff was tired of fighting.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This book burst full blown from a dream. I loved writing every word and had a great time picking the perfect songs to open each chapter. ASCAP wouldn’t let me use the words without paying a gazillion dollars in royalties, so I chose titles that would invoke the mood and atmosphere of each chapter that followed. Angela and Hawk were such wonderful, but heart-breaking characters. He was a great hero, and she was the perfect person to help him heal. This was the final book in the ANGEL trilogy, with KISSED BY AN ANGEL and PHANTOM ANGEL preceding it. I lived with them for years, and I will truly miss having them in my daily thoughts.

AWARDS: Winner of the “ROMANTIC TIMES” Reviewer’s Choice Award for Series Romance.

Finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Choice Award.

EXCERPT

She felt his hands loosen their hold, but he didn’t release her. Nor did his expression of skepticism and disapproval change.

“Craig wanted the same things out of life as I did,” she went on. “He had plans to attend law school and he knew where he was going and what he wanted out of life.” She gave a mirthless chuckle. “Which is funny, because I thought I did, too.”

“Did your life turn out like you planned?”

“Does anyone’s?”

“Mine didn’t.”

“Yours turned out better,” she pointed out.

“I was lucky,” he repeated. “I got a second chance when I needed it the most.”

“Your guardian angel must have had to work awfully hard. Who would have guessed you’d end up here, at the top of the world as a country rancher?”

“There are a few things I wish that angel would have done differently,” he commented with a tinge of regret. His hands slid up and down her arms in an unconsciously sensual caress.

The emotionally charged atmosphere in the room had undergone a subtle change. Angela noticed the nearness of her body to Jeff’s had become intimate rather than comforting. From the blue flames that leaped to life in his eyes, she could tell that Jeff had suddenly realized the same thing. But he didn’t move away.

“You and I had some good times together. I’ll never forget the first time I saw you, rushing over and pushing me back into bed. I couldn’t see your eyes, but I heard your voice and I smelled your perfume.” He breathed an almost wistful sigh. “From then on, I didn’t even have to open my eyes to know when you were standing next to me. To this day, I can walk past a perfume counter and pick it out.” He leaned closer, and drew in an experimental breath. “You don’t wear it anymore.”

Angela was caught off guard by his confession. “No, I’ve changed perfumes several times since then. It was sort of an extravagance to wear perfume to the hospital, but the men told me they liked to smell something fresh and feminine for a change. Wind Song was very popular in the sixties, but I haven’t worn it in years. I didn’t even realize they still sold it. I’m surprised that you remembered.”

“I remembered,” he confirmed, his voice growing husky. Threading his fingers through her hair, he added, “I also remember how soft your hair was and how it used to tickle my chin when we danced.” He lifted a thick strand and let it trickle into place. “You’ve let it grow. I like it longer.”

Angela wasn’t certain how the conversation had turned in such a disturbing direction. She hadn’t been comfortable with the previous discussion, but it hadn’t caused her heart to race. Her hands curved around the back of his neck, her fingers tunneling through the hair that curled over the collar of his shirt. “Thanks. Yours is longer, too,” she commented. “The last time I saw you, you barely had enough hair to comb.”

“You know what else I remember?” he persisted, letting the palm of one of his hands cup her cheek, drawing her face closer to his.

“No, what?” she answered in a breathy whisper, knowing he was going to kiss her. The words “second chance” kept repeating in her mind, keeping rhythm with the increased tempo of her heartbeat.

His lips were so near, she could feel the gentle brush of them against hers as he said, “I remember how sweet you tasted, and the little sounds you made when we made love. And I remember thinking my luck had changed when that VC bullet sent me to the hospital and into the tender loving care of a beautiful angel of mercy.”

Angela repeated weakly, “We were both just kids …” His mouth moved across hers tenderly, teasingly. “And we were living with life and death every day …” The tip of his tongue outlined her lips, leaving a moist, heated trail. “Things weren’t real …”

One hand still curled around the back of her head, offering it the support her neck seemed strangely incapable of providing at the moment, while his other hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her against him.

“Tell me again that you cared about me,” he murmured, his breath hot against her mouth.

Her body was pressed to his, intimately molding the softness of her curves against his hard contours from thigh to chest. His desire was evident, and its boldness intensified the ache that was building within her. For several seconds, his lips silenced hers with a kiss so urgent and hungry that her legs almost buckled beneath her.

“Tell me you thought about me at least a couple of times in the past few years,” he insisted in a low, almost taunting tone. But the slight tremble in his voice told her that in spite of his attempt to minimize her response, her answer was very important to him. It was almost as if he was holding his breath, waiting, wanting, needing to know that at least one person would have been sorry if he had died.

“Yes,” she breathed, anxious for him to kiss her again. “You were very special to me. I wanted you to get well, but I hated that you would recover and be sent out again instead of going home to safety.” His face was so close she couldn’t see him clearly, but his sexy, masculine scent filled the parts of her senses that weren’t already drugged by his provocative barrage. His tactics had broken down her defenses, leaving her eagerly waiting for the final charge.

“But did you forget me the minute you left ‘Nam?” he inquired with urgent persistence.

Her arms tightened around his neck and she heard him groan at the pleasure of her breasts rubbing against him. “I could never forget you,” she assured him. “Even after Craig told me you were dead, you were always in my thoughts.”

“Well, I, for one, am glad he was wrong.”

She glanced over his shoulder at the lengthening shadows outside the windows. Unable to hide her disappointment and regret, she sighed. “It’s getting dark. I suppose we’re going to have to leave soon or we won’t make it back tonight.”

“We could stay.”

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

After Midnight, A Denver After Dark Suspense…A free excerpt, an oldie but a goodie from late 2012!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome back to my blog site.

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark for Myself and the Bob Kat team

SUMMARY

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Officer Sam Morgan had worked for the Denver PD for five years, most of which were spent patrolling the streets around the State Capitol. He’s seen his share of druggies, dealers and hookers, but since some of them were his best sources, he normally wasn’t quick to arrest them. On a hot June Saturday night, Sam was sharing his patrol car with a ridealong, which could be a blessing or a curse. Things went smoothly until they came face-to-face with a hooker and her pimp. Suddenly, the pimp pulled a gun, and after exchanged gunfire, the other police officer and the pimp were both dead and Sam was seriously wounded. The ridealong had saved the day by retrieving a dropped pistol and shooting the pimp before he can get a fatal shot at Sam. In the confusion, the prostitute disappeared into the night. Kate, the hooker, tries to convince Sam, as he recovers from his wounds that she isn’t a really a prostitute, but he doesn’t believe her. She tells him she’s an actress, hired by the dead pimp to be on the streets that night for the filming of a TV show. As the weeks pass and it becomes clear that someone is out to either frighten her enough to leave Denver or to kill her, Sam begins to believe her story. Joining together, the cop and the actress uncover many inconsistencies and even more suspects. Along the way, they also discover a sexual attraction that quickly turns into even more than either of them had bargained for. As they get closer to the truth, the threat escalates until Kate finds herself fighting for her life. It’s up to Sam to save her, but will he be in time?

EXCERPT of After Midnight

Hours later, she was safely ensconced back in her apartment. The play had gone well and the drive home uneventful, even though her heart had pounded every time headlights speeded up behind her. But none of them had belonged to a dirty pickup truck and none of them had lingered behind her any longer than it had taken to pass her.

It wasn’t until she was waiting for her soup to heat in the pan on the stove that she glanced at her cell phone and saw that she had a missed call from yesterday. From Sam. She selected voice mail and listened with a growing smile.

“Just thought I’d see how you were doing. Give me a call when you get this message. Oh, this is Sam.”

As if she wouldn’t recognize his voice. She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was not quite midnight. Would he still be up? Did it make her sound too eager if she called him now? But a whole day had passed. Surely, that would make it seem like she had kind of blown him off. But that thought, too, alarmed her. She didn’t want him to think she was pathetically waiting for his call, but she didn’t want him to believe she didn’t care either.

Oh, just call him. She hit the redial, vowing to let it ring only three times. If he didn’t answer then, she would . . .

“Where the hell have you been?” his voice was rough and angry. Or was it concern? It caught her off guard.

“Excuse me. Was I supposed to check in with you?” she asked.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, then Sam continued in a much different tone. “Hey, I’m sorry. That was a little stronger than I meant it to be. When I couldn’t get in touch with you . . . well, I was worried.”

“About me?” She tried not to sound as delighted as she felt.

“Yeah, about you. So, sue me.”

She could hear the smile bouncing along the air waves and into her ear. “My phone’s battery ran down. I just saw that I missed your call.”

“Busy day?”

“Crazy night.” She hesitated for a moment, not sure she wanted to get into the whole truck and crashing incident.

“Oh?”

Simple question, but she could hear the flatness in his tone as if he was forcing neutrality. Was that a hint of jealousy? That possibility excited her, but it also pushed her into a decision to share last night’s terror with him rather than to have him think something that was totally wrong.

“Someone tried to run me off the road last night.”

Instantly his voice changed, and all hint of humor disappeared. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just a little shaken. But my poor car is several inches shorter.” She turned off the stove and settled on the couch, then went through the whole evening from the first terrifying moment to the forgotten cell phone in her car, and her eagerness to get to the safe zone of her apartment.

“So Brian just happened to be there?”

“He said he had just dropped his girlfriend off at her apartment. I know it sounds weird, but he drives a white Camry or Corolla or some kind of Toyota. I don’t recognize cars all that well. But it definitely wasn’t a pickup truck.”

“Did you call the police?”

“No, now wait . . . before you get all Mister Cop on me, there was nothing I could tell them about the truck, and he was long gone.”

“They can check for paint transfer, look at traffic cameras and a half dozen other things. What is it with you and cops?”

She honestly hadn’t thought about any of those things. “I guess I screwed up. I just wanted to get home.”

“You could have called me.” He sounded almost hurt.

“I wanted to,” she admitted softly. “But I just didn’t know if I should.”

“Why the hell not?”

Kate winced. Should she admit that she had been disappointed that he hadn’t called her? Did it make her sound all needy and clingy if she told him that she had hoped there was more to their relationship than cop/witness? “I just didn’t know if . . . you would be interested. It was way out of your district.”

She heard him sigh.

“Kate, I am definitely interested. I thought you knew that.”

“But you didn’t call.”

“Neither did you.”

“But you’re the guy.”

“What is this, 1950?” He was silent for a few seconds before continuing, “I didn’t want you to think I was pushing you or taking advantage of your trauma.”

“Why do I feel like I’m in junior high?” Telling him all about last night had brought on a fresh wave of anxiety, but now she could feel a different type of excitement stir inside her. She smiled and stretched out on the couch with her back nestled in the corner. “I didn’t do junior high well.”

“Oh, come on, you were probably one of those hot cheerleaders who had all the boys hanging around your locker.”

“Well, I admit I was a cheerleader, but I was really shy back then. I hardly dated at all. How about you? I’ll bet you were a jock.”

“I played a little football and baseball,” he admitted.

She could hear the creak of leather, and she guessed he, too, was settling back and enjoying the conversation as much as she was.

“And dated the cheerleaders?” she prompted.

“One or two,” he admitted.

“I’ve heard stories about cops.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, they’re probably all true.”

“So, how many women are you juggling right now?” she teased, but realized she was holding her breath, waiting for his response.

“Nah, I’m more of a one-at-a-time guy.”

“I would have thought the girls would be all over you now. Handsome cop with his arm in a sling. Oh, and that sexy shaved area over your ear.”

There was a pause, then he asked, his tone light, “You think I’m handsome?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t actually seen you for a few days, so my memory’s fading fast.”

He laughed out loud. “That’s easy to fix. Why don’t I meet you between shows again tomorrow, then I can follow you home in case that truck shows up again?”

“You can sit through the play again?”

“Are you in it?”

“Of course.”

“Then I want to see it again. And again. And again.” His voice was husky with promise.

Kate closed her eyes and smiled. “You’re either a real fan or a glutton for punishment.”

“You might say I’m a big fan.”

“Okay, it’s a date.”

“Just curious, but where do you live?”

“You don’t already know?” she teased. “I thought cops had access to all that.”

“We do, if you were a suspect. We don’t usually run investigations on our girlfriends.”

That little junior high tingle shot through her again. Girlfriend! Okay, so he had said it as a plural, but she only heard it as it referred to her. “My apartment is in the Newcastle Hotel on the corner of Colfax and Grant. Do you know where that is?”

“Are you kidding? I go there about three times a week. Shootings. Overdoses. Stabbings. Good God, woman. That place is a shithole.”

“It’s cheap, and I can’t afford to be picky.”

“Well, keep your doors and windows locked.”

“You’re going all cop on me again.”

“I’m just trying to keep you alive. And lady, you’re turning this into quite a challenge.”

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

PICTURES HERE

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense

Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision]

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens

Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]

Estimate a July 28, 2013 release

Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Estimate a October 1, 2013 release

Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]

Set in Austin, Texas

Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com

A Private Affair…A free excerpt

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Kathy Clark, a.k.a. Bob Kat

Hello…I’m Kathy Clark, author. Welcome to my blog site.

Some of you may remember me from long ago…like last century…when traditional publishers such Harlequin published my romance novels on printed on paper and sold through bookstores! No? Maybe you have purchased one of my more recent novels that were released in 2012 and 2013. No doubt my over 3 million in sales worldwide in paperback were one measure and one cause of the popularity of my new books. And yes, they’re digital and trade paperback.

Thank you for stopping…each blog post will have-

The summary of the featured book
The excerpt from that book
A summary of my recent books
All the links needed to find additional information including how to order any of the books

Best wishes,

Kathy Clark

Here is A Private Affair

SUMMARY

A private investigator out to collect divorce evidence becomes more and more attracted to her unsuspecting prey. Kelly McClain is hired to get the “goods” on wandering husband, Adam Davis. Although the attraction is immediate for both of them, Kelly is fighting both professional and personal battles. She doesn’t get involved with clients or subjects under investigation . . . and definitely not married men. In this romantic comedy set against the steamy tropical backdrop of Orlando and DisneyWorld, Kelly must struggle against this handsome cheater’s considerable charms while trying to do her job and keep her integrity.

EXCERPT

This assignment had been distasteful from the start, and now she was going to meet, face-to-face, the cheating louse whose wife had hired Kelly to get incriminating photographs that might bring the man to his senses so he could change his ways before he lost his lovely family. Whatever the results, Kelly’s appointed task was just beyond the door, and it was time for her to get it over with as painlessly as possible.

Gently she eased the door open, her left hand tightening around the camera in preparation for whatever sight would meet her. A king-size bed dominated the room, but it showed no signs of recent use. The blue velvet spread had been folded invitingly back to reveal four plump, uncreased white-cased pillows. A pair of tan slacks were tossed carelessly across the foot of the bed, and two dark brown shoes peeked out from beneath the spread’s edge. A trail of abandoned socks, a crumpled shirt, and brief, hot pink jockey shorts led the way to the bathroom where the sounds of spraying water and a passable male baritone gurgling “As Time Goes By” told her that the unsuspecting couple were still enjoying their shower.

Kelly couldn’t suppress a grimace of repulsion. It was going to take more than a degree in criminology and. many years of on-the-job experience before she would be able to witness a bedroom scene with any amount of detachment, much less a bathroom orgy. She was beginning to feel more than a little nauseous, probably from a bad case of nerves that was getting worse by the second. Her job would have been a lot quicker and easier if the errant couple had been in bed where they were supposed to be, instead of in the shower like two depraved ducks

She just couldn’t force herself to confront them in the bathroom. She had heard about the bizarre things some couples did in showers, and for a woman who had rarely shared her bathroom with anyone for reasons more personal than brushing her teeth, this was above and beyond the call of duty. She decided not to crowd the small private room any more than it already was.

Instead her gaze continued to sweep the room, efficiently cataloging its contents. Her eyes touched on the open suitcase that sat partially unpacked on the luggage rack, on a massive provincial dresser whose top was littered with the assorted contents of the man’s pockets, and in front of a television set that was either showing an old black-and-white movie or needed to have the color adjusted.

But something about her observation began to bother her. There seemed to be a glaring absence of feminine apparel. Had the woman been so over-whelmed with the man’s charms that she hadn’t even taken time to undress before taking the plunge? As Kelly’s fertile mind expanded on this theory, the sound of running water in the shower stopped, and several minutes later one member of her dedicated surveillance opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom.

A large fluffy bath towel covered his head, completely hiding his face as he briskly rubbed his hair. Kelly’s shocked, but interested, gaze was automatically drawn lower as she admired a pair of broad, well-muscled shoulders and a brawny chest liberally dusted with dark brown hair that followed a slender line down the middle of his flat abdomen before it spread once again around the intimate masculine area that was only partially revealed by the titillating, vigorous dancing of the towel’s ends. Only the teasing points of the oversize cloth as they dipped and weaved made an attempt to hide any part of the man’s magnificently nude anatomy as he continued drying his hair, temporarily unaware that he had an audience. Kelly watched with the perverse fascination of a snake charmer studying a deadly cobra as the towel twitched back and forth, never fully exposing the man’s charms but giving every promise that it could happen at any moment.

“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my room?” a deep voice thundered, causing Kelly’s hazel eyes to immediately snap up to the now-uncovered face. A rosy flush of embarrassment stained her cheeks as she struggled to regain her temporarily misplaced power of speech.

Although she had seen a small photograph of Adam Davis before leaving Los Angeles and had been following him at a discreet distance for the last three days, trying to monitor his every move, she had never really gotten a close look at his face until now, and the experience was more pleasant than Kelly had expected. No wonder this man could pick and choose the women he wanted to spend time with and why his faithful wife had pitifully begged Kelly to bring back enough evidence so she could have a handle with which to hold on to her man, if her marriage could indeed be saved. Kelly’s own heart was doing uncharacteristic flip-flops as she watched the interesting play of emotions cross and change the angles and planes that made up one of the most handsome faces she had ever had the displeasure to see.

“I’m a hostess from the club, sir,” Kelly answered, fighting an inward battle with herself to remember the reason she was in this man’s hotel room. She had never felt this incredibly powerful magnetism toward any man during all of her twenty-six years, but apparently she wasn’t the only woman afflicted with this strange disease. His womanizing was, after all, the very root of the problem she had been hired to document. Maybe if he would leave some of his charm at home, he wouldn’t be tempted to spread it around so liberally. Courageously she matched him stare for stare. “The hotel has sent you this complimentary bottle of champagne.” She spoke with renewed calm as her deceptively honest expression masked the disgust she felt for this two-timer, this scum who could so casually cheat on his lovely wife. She sincerely hoped that he and his date choked on it later.

“Don’t you think it’s a little late for deliveries?” he asked suspiciously as he glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Nonchalantly, as if it were not at all unusual for a strange woman to witness his nude body after a shower, he slid the towel down and wrapped it securely around his waist. Oddly enough, his unsettling blue eyes had so captured her own eyes that they had not strayed from his face since he had spoken. Hearing no response from her, he continued. “Not to mention the fact that I’m leaving early in the morning and won’t have an opportunity to properly enjoy this champagne.” He stepped close enough to read the label. “The Dodgers didn’t do badly that year, but I’m afraid it wasn’t a prime one for wine,” he commented wryly before demanding, “Why didn’t the hotel send me this gift when I first arrived?”

He was standing so close to her that the tangy, clean smell of him assaulted her already vulnerable senses. “This week we’ve been very busy with four conventions.” She blurted out her preplanned explanation. “But as soon as we discovered our oversight, I was sent up here with your champagne and an apology from the management.”

“Which still doesn’t explain how you got through a locked door and into my bedroom.”

“I knocked several times, but you must have still been in the shower and couldn’t hear me,” she lied without hesitation. This was the sort of reaction she had been expecting, so her answers were ready. “I didn’t think anyone was here, so I let myself in with my master key. I was just going to put this on your dresser, then leave.”

After he had listened to her explanation he studied her silently for several minutes, his head tilted slightly to one side. Long, well-shaped fingers combed through his thick hair, which was almost black from its glossy wetness. Kelly watched, bewitched, as the expression in his light blue eyes changed from hostility to amused curiosity. They slowly and thoroughly raked her scantily clad figure, caressing each of her long bare limbs. After several nerve-racking moments, his lips curved into a captivating smile, revealing a deep masculine dimple carved into each cheek.

“It was Mark, right?” he guessed.

“Mark what?” she asked, perplexed by this new line of questioning.

“I should have known you were an actress. That was really good.” He chuckled as he congratulated her. “As you already know, it isn’t ‘Mark what,’ but ‘Mark who,’ as in Mark Cameron. He sent you here as a joke, didn’t he?” He took another step toward her.

Kelly had played “chicken” and won against the best of them, but this time she found herself retreating as quickly as he was advancing. “I don’t know anyone named Mark Cameron and haven’t the faintest idea what you are talking about.” She stalled as she felt the curved edge of the dresser bite into her buttocks, effectively halting her escape.

“The game is over, so you might as well tell me the truth. Mark and I have been having this sort of contest since high school.” His voice was hypnotically smooth as he continued what he felt was an unnecessary explanation. “We are always trying to best each other’s practical jokes, and I guess he felt like he owed me one.” His hands reached out, took the forgotten urn from her weak grasp, and set it down on the dresser top. “I have to admit that at least this time his taste has improved. But maybe I shouldn’t send back his little surprise without checking it out completely. The gift wrapping is very, very nice,” His voice had deepened to a husky whisper as his index finger lightly traced the gathered edge of her plunging neckline.

Although he had barely brushed the soft hills of her bosom, a tingle of excitement raced wildly through Kelly, starting at the invisible line of his touch and spreading downward. He was much too close to her now, his height towering over her, making her five-foot six-inch frame seem short in comparison. Her mouth was open to protest, but oddly no words came out. A small noise that sounded curiously like a sigh escaped her lips just seconds before his dark head bent and his mouth captured hers, demanding full surrender. All coherent thoughts fled her befuddled brain as a wild, indescribable pain seared through her body, settling in a dull ache in the most improbable places. The staccato roar of her heart pounded in her ears as his mouth continued its sensual assault, leaving her moist lips eager for more.

One large hand supported the back of her neck as his fingers spread into the silky depths of her sienna-brown hair, which tumbled in long, loose curls well past her shoulders, while his other hand roamed in lazy circles around her back, leaving heated trails along her sensitive skin through the thin material of her blouse.

“How far did Mark pay you to go? I’m willing to up the ante if he was, as usual, a cheapskate. The one thing I would never want to pinch with you is pennies.” He breathed into her ear, and although she could tell he was teasing her, the insulting insinuation of his words jolted her back to sanity.

Kelly ducked away, trying to escape before his kisses completely clouded her sense of responsibility and morality, but his unyielding arms effectively held her against him. She leaned as far back as possible, scrambling for freedom. Her searching hand closed around the neck of the thoroughly chilled bottle of champagne, and for a fleeting moment she entertained the thought of christening his dark head, but the unexplainable urge to make love to this man rather than wound him frightened her and made her even more frantic to get away immediately.

“Here,” she gasped, thrusting the frosted bottle against his unclothed abdomen. “Have some champagne and cool off, Romeo.”

His shocked body automatically arched away from her as soon as the bottle touched his flesh, and his hands released their hold on her in a reflex to catch the champagne before it hit the floor. His breath had left him in an audible whoosh, and he could only sputter his surprise.

Kelly took advantage of his discomfort and sprinted for the door. However, she couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “You can forget the tip. This one’s on me.”

I hope you enjoyed this sample from my book. All of my romance novels are available individually as eBooks on amazon and they have also been republished as Romance Collections with similar books in their original full length and unabridged. The Romance Collections are at a reduced price and available by going to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20 .

Here are a few important links for your use. Have a great rest of your day. Again…thanks for stopping.

My author’s website is at http://www.nightwriter93.com

To order any book on Amazon go to http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

To contact me my email address is info@nightwriter93.com

Recent books:

Life’s What Happens is a New Adult Romance for ages 18 to 25 and beyond.

Romantic Suspense series: After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense Book #1

What started as a routine contact stop turned into a brutal double homicide. Hooker to lover or low-life to no-life. It’s all in his hands.

Young Adult Mystery series: OMG, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #1

Albert Einstein said about time travel “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

Young Adult Mystery series: BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery Book #2

It’s difficult to investigate a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

New Adult Romance: LIFE’S WHAT HAPPENS

How did one night change over a million lives of new adults forever?

TUTORIAL: OMG = Oh My God, BRB = BE Right Back

All four books are available on Amazon at http://astore.amazon.com/nightwriter93-20

Additional details on the CUL8R^TM time travel series is at http://www.cul8rseries.com

2013 Awards

After Midnight, a Denver After Dark Suspense

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for suspense
Finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award for young adult [9/1 final decision

OMG, A C CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery

First place in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for young adult

Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book 2013 Awards for young adult

BRB, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery
Named finalist in the Reader’s Choice 2013 Award [9/1 final decision]

Life’s What Happens
Finalist in the Best Indie Book of 2013 for literature

TUTORIAL: BION =Believe It Or Not

CURRENT PROJECTS

BION, A CUL8R^TM Time Travel Mystery [Bob Kat]Estimate a July 28, 2013 release
Cries In The Night, a Denver After Dark Suspense [Kathy Clark]Estimate a October 1, 2013 release
Scandals, a New Adult Romantic Suspense [Kathy Clark]Set in Austin, Texas
Estimate a December 1, 2013 release

Check the progress on this blog or Kathy’s website at http://www.nightwriter93.com