Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Summer Lovin Blog Hop


Welcome to the Summer Lovin Giveaway Hop! I'm giving away an ebook copy of the best-selling romance SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover. It's one of the most popular reads of the year!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment below with your email address. You can earn extra entries by:
- Liking my Facebook page
- Following me on Twitter
- Tweeting about this giveaway (tweet @LadyWave4 so I'll get the notice) 

All entries must be received by midnight on July 17



To celebrate the Summer Lovin theme, I thought I'd share a deleted scene from my YA romance LIFE ON THE EDGE. Emily and Sergei are spending the summer weekend alone on Martha's Vineyard at Emily's aunt's house. They're getting ready to play croquet, which Em used to play with her cousins.


I set up the wickets around the expansive yard and gave Sergei a brief explanation of the rules. Once we started playing, he quickly moved around the course, and before long he was beating me rather handily.

"You're sure you've never played this before?" I asked.

He held up his hands and chuckled. "I swear, I haven't."

I stalked toward my red ball, cursing my apparent rustiness with the game. Later when Sergei gained an even bigger point lead on me, I took my mallet and knocked one of his balls clear across the yard.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. “What are you doing?"

"Oops, guess I slipped." I shrugged and widened my eyes with innocence.

He laughed. "You are such a sore loser."

"I haven't lost yet!"

"I'm giving you a three-shot penalty for misconduct," he said, trying not to smile.

"You don't have the authority to do that."

He crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet firmly. "Oh, I have the authority."

My frustration was momentarily forgotten as I couldn’t ignore how hot Sergei looked in his stance. The aviator shades resting on his slightly sunburned nose, the T-shirt stretching over his tanned biceps, the khaki shorts that showed off his muscular legs . . .

I cleared my throat and folded my arms, mimicking Sergei. "Well, let it be known I am finishing this match under official protest."

"You know, we never said what the stakes are," he said. "I think the winner should be entitled to something."

"I think bragging rights will be a sufficient prize."

"No, there should be more . . . like the winner gets to pick the meal and movie of their choice next weekend."

I scrunched up my nose. "Ugh, then you're going to make me watch some weird foreign film with subtitles."

"Are you conceding the match?" He smiled.

"Not a chance." I pointed my mallet at him. "Go get your ball and let's finish this."

It didn't take long for Sergei to complete the course, at which time he thrust his arms into the air. "Victory!"

"Yeah, yeah, you got lucky on your first time out. And I haven't played in a few years."

He grinned. "Yep, that's the sore loser I know and love."

"I'm just telling it like it is," I huffed.

He held his mallet in both hands and looped it behind my back, using it to trap me against him. "You can't admit I beat you fair and square."

I tilted my head upward. "If beating a girl at a country club sport means that much to you, then by all means, go ahead and gloat."

"Oh, I will. And I'm looking forward to picking out a good movie next week. Something Italian . . . or French . . . a very long movie. And you can cook a three-course dinner. What's something that takes a really long time to make?" He lowered his mouth toward mine with a smile. "That's what I'll want."

"I might be a sore loser, but you're an obnoxious winner.” I pushed lightly on his chest.

"Uh-uh, you're not getting away. The fine print says the winner gets a victory kiss, too."

"You're gonna have to catch me first.”

I wrestled away from Sergei and took off running across the yard. He sprinted after me, so I turned and reversed direction. As I ran toward the side of the house, I heard Sergei cry out in pain.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hop and enter the other giveaways here!



30 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for the chance to win!!! I have been wanting to read this book. New follower and can't wait to read Life On The Edge--have heard so many great thing about it!! Thanks again and have a great day!!! Followed on Twitter and Facebook and goodreads and GFC. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an awesome giveaway!
    And Sergei ... *sigh*
    jackiefelger(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've heard good things about this book but haven't had the chance to read it yet. sheree(dot)gladden(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the info on the book.
    erma2167@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous excerpt, Jen! I like the playfulness and competitiveness between the characters.

    jenniferlanebooks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi, thanks for participating in the HOP :)

    savedbymercy[at]gmail[dot]com

    Like the FB page : Aline Tobing
    Following on Twitter : @imsavedbymercy
    Tweeting the giveaway
    https://twitter.com/imsavedbymercy/status/223648036151230464

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the giveaway!

    lexiboo202[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the giveaway

    email: xgirl.wni@gmail.com
    Twitter follower:@prydoxs
    tweet url: https://twitter.com/prydoxs/status/223792026624339968

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway.

    email:ashleyhurtt@sbcglobal.net
    facebook: Ashley Hurtt

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG great giveaway! This book sounds amazing

    GFC Jolene and Family
    twitter- @joleneallcock
    FB-Jolene Allcock
    tweeted- https://twitter.com/joleneallcock/status/223912097967382529

    june111(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for the giveaway! I tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/junecat14/status/223985184947703809

    laughs4life14(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the international giveaway!!

    GFC name - sweety

    +1 Facebook name - Rosemarie Dimitri Belikov

    +1 Twitter name - @sweetyindia

    +1 Tweeted :
    https://twitter.com/sweetyindia/status/224199041427312641


    sweety225(at)rocketmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, thanks for the giveaway! And the excerpt!

    tomakunisnumberone at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for the giveaway :)

    pocketofbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the chance to win
    kissyjensen at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the giveaway!
    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    +1 Liked your Facebook page (Darlene's Book Nook)

    +1 Following you on Twitter (@DarleneBookNook)

    +1 for tweeting:

    https://twitter.com/DarleneBookNook/status/224645164185030657

    ReplyDelete
  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Thanks for being part of the bloghop! Have a great summer! stephelaine at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the giveaway!
    botezatu_paula@yahoo.com
    +1 Liked your Facebook page (Botezatu Paula)

    +1 Following you on Twitter (@krsznight)

    +1 for tweeting: https://twitter.com/krsznight/status/224808540215320576

    ReplyDelete
  22. thanks for the great giveaway!
    Gale Nelson gfc
    pgan427@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC - Taz

    tasnim-sheikh at hotmail dot come

    ReplyDelete
  24. love reading books that take place locally - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for the giveaway. My friend has been begging me to read this book.

    I follow GFC, facebook, and twitter...same name lizzylessard

    knotty1tink@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. thanks for the giveaway

    GFC Michele Luker

    jmluker at vhtmail dot net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for the giveaway!
    marine.mom42@hotmail.com
    GFC-Teresa Thompson

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the giveaway!!
    davenamy310@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  29. I like you on fb
    FB name is amy g craft

    ReplyDelete