Who says friends can't be lovers?

Happy Birthday Beachwalk Press! I'm proud to be associated with my wonderful publisher and this talented group of writers.

As you know, we're all celebrating this weekend, and Beachwalk has graciously offered to provide the grand prize for our blog hop, a $100 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble - winner's choice. But that's not all we're giving away. I'm personally offering a gorgeous signed copy of my sexy suspense, Friends and Lovers. 

If you haven't read it yet, you don't know what you're missing! Wes is a total charmer and Lauren is a woman on a mission. Together, they're out to right some wrongs and rock each other's world. 

Friends and Lovers

Can the man of Lauren’s dreams save her from the man in her nightmares?

Wes Dunlop was a hot commodity in high school and the ruin of good reputations, so it was easy to criticize the guy when his sister did it too. Then Lauren McKay actually met her best friend’s brother, and she was intrigued. When he came to her rescue, she was doomed. Afraid to admit her change of heart, Lauren hid her secret from both of them.

Fifteen years later Wes is back. Now a dedicated cop, he’s determined to win Lauren—the girl he can’t forget and the only one his sister demanded he leave alone. But he finds that Lauren’s life is a lot more complicated than he imagined.

Personal tragedy made Lauren a fierce defender of battered women. However, when a dangerous gunman tracks his wife to Lauren’s shelter, the protector becomes the target.  Her life suddenly in the balance, nothing will stop Wes from doing everything in his power to rescue her. 

How about a steamy teaser?

Loving Wes wasn’t what came as such a surprise to her—no, it was falling in love with him all over again, but deeper this time, that made everything so intense and special. This wasn’t a one-sided infatuation with a fantasy; this was the real deal, warmly reciprocated.

Dropping her eyes down his body as he dried his hands, Lauren wondered if Wes even noticed he was still naked. She certainly couldn’t help it.

“Come here,” she said with a husky voice, pulling him close and wrapping her arms and legs around him.

Wes dipped down and kissed her, and Lauren gave herself up to the heady sensations of bare skin to bare skin, tongue to tongue, and their heartbeats synchronizing. She tightened her grip on him and felt his erection brush against her. She pressed back, willingly.

He groaned. “You realize this isn’t the bedroom.”

“Your point is?” Lauren put her ear against his chest and listened to his heart as she ran her fingertip lightly along the underside of his cock, making both jump to attention.

“Hold that thought,” he said and dashed to the bedroom for a condom.

Lauren’s towel was draped over the top of the shower door when he got back.

 Here the the participating blog links. Be sure to visit more of them and leave a comment to be entered into the drawings.

Sidda Lee Tate
Tabitha Rayne
Jaye Shields
M.A. Stacie
Olivia Starke
Ashlynn Monroe
Pepper Anthony
Lacey Wolfe
Laura Beth Peters
Imogene Nix
Stephanie Beck
Ella Jade
Emily Wood
Theresa Stillwagon
Constance Bretes
Tamaria Soana
Tracey Rogers
Nola Cross

Tara Mills

No Excuses

I blew it recently. I was supposed to share an excerpt for Tantalizing Tuesday and completely lost track. Summers are crazy busy for me, still, it would help if I got up to my desk to read my notes -- not to mention checked my emails on a daily basis so I'd see my calendar reminders. I'll try to do better. Promise.

However, there is a silver lining to my oops. It made my choice of what to share a lot easier once I dreamed up the name for this blog post. No Excuses. The Nike catchphrase automatically suggested fitness. Voila! I had my scene. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Wes and Lauren at the gym. Let me set this up. They've just come from an impromptu stroll in the city park where Lauren vented her anger and frustration to him. Wes suggests a safe outlet for her aggression. Neither has fessed up to their attraction yet. It's still simmering between them.

  “Hold out your hand,” he directed, standing in front of her.

Lauren gave him her right and stared like a hypnotized idiot at his sculpted chest, his lean ribs, and his firm abs while he hooked a loop over her thumb and proceeded to wrap her wrist and knuckles.

She finally looked down at what he was doing and asked, “What’s with the tape? I thought I was going to wear gloves.”

“You’ll need both.”

“Oh.”

He secured it with Velcro then looked at her expectantly. She handed him her left next and he went to work, wrapping that one too.

Squatting down for a second, he picked up the gloves and held them out for her. She fought her hands inside and he snugged up the closures around her wrists.

“How does it feel?” he asked.

“How’s it supposed to feel?”

“No pinching? Can you make a fist?”

“It’s good.”

“Then you’re all set. Come on.” He brought her over to the bag.

Wes took up a position in front of the bag and directed Lauren’s attention to his feet which, he pointed out, were shoulder-width apart.

Mmm, so they are.

“Are you paying attention?” he asked.

Lauren jumped, ripping her eyes away from his amazing shoulders.

“Yes,” she said with a blush.

“Don’t lock your knees. Are you right or left handed?”

“Right.”

“Okay, so you’re going to want your left foot forward and your right foot back, toe somewhere between twelve and two. See?”

“Yes.”

“Another thing, don’t plant your right heel.”

She looked and nodded.

“Keep your hips right under your shoulders and don’t lean. Your body should be one solid unit.” He moved aside and waved her forward. “Reach out with your arm.”

She raised her glove and he moved her closer to the bag.

“Good, you don’t want to overextend. Balance is important.”

Lauren’s body temperature climbed several degrees once he started positioning her. His hands followed her legs and took hold of her feet, turning them out. When he caught her at the hips she nearly melted, but thankfully he didn’t seem aware. By the time he released her shoulders she was almost dizzy, but he wasn’t finished yet. Wes stepped directly behind her, his solid body pressed right up against hers, and his arms came around her as he took hold of her wrists to demonstrate how to throw a punch. At that point, she didn’t care if she ever threw a punch, she did not want this moment to end.

But they did punch and jab as one being until he felt confident she understood how to strike without injuring herself. Then he walked around to the other side and took hold of the bag, facing her. His smile was like a narcotic—tough to overcome once hooked.

“Center of the bag, Lauren. Hands tight, wrists strong.”

Her first two hits careened off the sides, and she blushed because she wasn’t concentrating. Not that she was going to explain herself. It was hard enough having to ignore how intently he was watching her without admitting he was unraveling her.

“Come on, focus,” he said.

Easier said than done, but somehow she managed it and he cheered her on. “Give me more.”

Give him more? The man didn’t know what he was asking. She laughed and struck again, and again, and again, using her sexual frustration, her close proximity to the man of her dreams, and her long standing cowardice to pummel the innocent bag.


Available in eBook and paperback. Buy it now from Beachwalk Press, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance Bookstore, Books A Million, BookU, Exclusives,
Waterstones (UK), WHSmith (UK), and Kobo.

***Wait, wait, wait, wait. ***

Before I head out of here, I wanted to share the news. Beachwalk has dropped the prices on a bunch of titles and three of my full novels have gone from $5.50 to $4.99! 
Have a wonderful and romantic weekend. Be sure to put a Beachwalk title in your bag.

Looking for Love

Hi, I'm Tara Mills and I'm a shy introvert with sexy tastes. I'm a bookish girl. I love to read them and love to write them. What I don't enjoy is stepping into the limelight and singing for attention. It's hard for me. I would love it if my books got more attention without forcing me out of my shell. Unfortunately, that can't and won't happen. So, I'm stepping outside my comfort zone and putting on my game face.

The truth is, there are a lot of authors out there, and more releases coming daily. It's hard to make a noticeable splash in a rainstorm over an ocean. There's noise, commotion, and raindrops fall so fast they tend to blur into one curtain of gray.

As a reader, I know how daunting it can be to find the right authors for you. I understand the challenges of locating stories that will make a deep impression on you and remain long after you've set the book aside. The kinds of stories you'll reach for again and again. Somehow this particular author connected with you. Or that story touched you, or entertained you in a significant way.

Writers love it when you read and enjoy our work. We greatly appreciate it when you write warm reviews. You've made our day when we hear you've recommended us, or something we've written, to others. And yes, even shy authors love to connect with their readers. We want to hear from you. Tell us how much you loved our book(s).

Most of us have author pages on Facebook so if you are on Facebook, like their pages. And yes, say hello. We're more than happy to return the greeting. Our author pages aren't simply for promotion and getting word out on our latest news. It's where we hope to connect with you, our readers.

Let me invite you to my Facebook page. I hope to see you there. Tara Mills

I'm also on Google +

Rescue Me

Friends and Lovers is coming in print!  I'm eagerly awaiting my own copies. In the meantime, I just had to check on Amazon and there it was!  I'll try to contain my excitement here, and the number of exclamation points I use, but seriously, it won't be easy.

Why should you care? Let me introduce you to Wes Dunlop, the hero in Friends and Lovers.  Now, admittedly, I only write heroes I can fall in love with myself. These guys are a cut above yet incredibly human. Wes, well, he's out there in front of this incredible manly pack.

Like any guy, he's got flaws and a past that he's still apologizing for, yet he's a decent person with a strong sense of justice. There's a protective streak running through him and it drove him into law enforcement. He never looked back. His commitment to protect and serve doesn't stop once he's off the clock, either.

Wes is a lover and a fighter, his fists and aim equally dangerous. I love that he takes his job seriously, not himself. One more thing. His heart is steady and it belongs to Lauren McKay. It has for a long time. We find out there isn't anything he wouldn't face to keep her safe, whether it's her temper or an imbalanced gunman.

So get to know Wes, Lauren, and the wonderful supporting cast of characters who color and lighten this exciting and tender love story.

Let me share some links.  Friends and Lovers (in print!)  See, I snuck another exclamation point past you.

Here are more links. I presume they're primarily eBook formats but I haven't checked yet.

Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Beachwalk Press, All Romance eBooks, Bookstrand,Coffee Time Romance Bookstore, Books A Million, BookU, Exclusives, Waterstones (UK) ,WHSmith (UK), and Kobo.

-Have a safe and wonderful weekend, and yes, slip Friends and Lovers into your beach bag. You won't be disappointed.

- Tara Mills

Rub a dub, dub, three men in my hot tub

Can you imagine? What would you do with all those hands, wiggly toes, laps? It would certainly keep a girl occupied, so to speak. Talk about sitting pretty! 

I know, I’m bad – but only on paper. That’s the best part of my job. I get to imagine all kinds of possibilities, and positions, without risk of injury or emotional blow-back. In truth, I’m simply a wife, mother, neat freak, total klutz, timid driver, and reclusive writer. I’m like a bear when I’m in my writing cave. You probably don’t want to disturb me. You might even want to suggest a shower or, bare minimum, a comb to tame my wild waves when I finally emerge.

Since this is my inaugural Spicin’ It Up blog post, I thought I’d introduce myself today. Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Tara Mills, and I write contemporary romance. I’ve got one title out with Beachwalk Press at present, Friends and Lovers, and another coming June 17^th, Grading on Curves. I can’t wait. This is a wonderful place to be.

As intriguing as the three men in a tub scenario sounds, I’m really just a traditional romantic at heart. In the long run, I think most people are simply looking for that one special person who will understand them completely—and love them anyway. Those hopeful goals are what inspire me to fire up my computer every morning. There’s nothing I enjoy more than couples too distracted by each to notice I’m steering them over daunting hurdles, tripping them down slippery slopes, and throwing ice cold water on them at inopportune moments. Hey, we all have to suffer for love before we can fully appreciate it, right? In the end, I’m still the one who’s going to tug them up by the hand, brush them off, and turn them toward each other again. I might even give them an encouraging nod and a wink for good measure. If they can endure what I throw in front of them, they’ve got a real shot at their own personal happily-ever-after.

 

That’s when I wish my characters well and move on to abuse and challenge the next couple. Falling in love is a bumpy, bruising, sometimes scary proposition—but what a ride.