Wednesday, February 12, 2020

WHAT WAS I THINKING | by Donna Simonetta #ContemporaryRomance #Excerpt #GuestPost #Giveaway #GoddessFishPromotions



Welcome to my stop on the excerpt tour for What Was I Thinking by Donna Simonetta.  This tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.  Here on my stop, I have a semi-exclusive excerpt for you, my guest post on Valentines from the author herself as well as the tour-wide giveaway, which is for a chance to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.  Pretty cool stuff, right?  Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more exclusive excerpts and opportunities to enter the giveaway.  Have fun and enjoy it!



What Was I Thinking

by Donna Simonetta
Genre: Contemporary Romance


BLURB:


A wild Vegas fling isn't the traditional Thanksgiving celebration, and Lily and Jason have been like oil and water since they met. Blaming their steamy hook-up on too many shots at the bar, they head home.
Back in the real world, Jason wonders if he's ready to give up his crown as the Playboy King of Rivers Bend to be with just one woman. And Lily has enough on her plate right now without adding Jason Braden to the mix, even if their attraction is crazy-strong.

But life is good at throwing curveballs, and a lot can happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. Maybe even enough to lead these two polar opposites home to each other in Rivers Bend.



Excerpt:

She felt him stiffen up behind her, and Jason’s tone of voice was defensive. She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. “I know you do; I didn’t mean anything by it. We poke at each other”––she shrugged––“it’s kind of our thing.”

His grip on her hand loosened, and then he took control of the dance, by twirling her until her back was pressed to his front, and he began to move sinuously in time to the rhythm. His breath tickled her ear, as he spoke right in it to be heard over the music. “We’ve got a thing, Moonbeam?”

Jason had ditched the tie and suit jacket after the wedding, and his body heat scorched her through his crisp white dress shirt. And man-oh-Maneschewitz, his lean, hard body felt good. Really good. The Marine might be bulked up, but Jason’s body felt like it had been made for hers, which given their mutual antagonism, seemed like proof Fate was enjoying a good laugh at her expense. Against Lily’s better judgment, her body melted into his warmth and began to move with his.

“Sure we’ve got a thing,” she said over her shoulder, and was irritated to hear a trace of breathlessness in her voice. She cleared her throat and continued, “Like that––you calling me Moonbeam, because you know it bugs me.”



Why We Celebrate Valentine’s Day


            When I saw the topic for today’s post, I gulped. Maybe twice. Because I have a secret; one which is blasphemous for a romance writer. Shh…let’s just keep it between us, but I’m not really a Valentine’s Day person. There. I said it. I mean it’s nice to have a day dedicated to celebrating love, but it always felt a little forced to me––like New Year’s Eve. And if you’re feeling lonely, it can be heartbreaking.
            I thought maybe if I did an online search to see what I could learn about the holiday’s origins, I’d feel differently. It turns out that modern-day greeting card companies did not, in fact, invent Valentine’s Day. It’s been around since Roman times, when it was a fertility/springtime festival. And people have been exchanging cards and greetings for several centuries. Which reminded me of elementary school on V-Day. We used to decorate boxes and put them on our desks, and on the day we’d all walk around the classroom and put cards in people’s boxes. My mom, being a very nice person, had me give a card to everyone in my class. Not everyone’s mothers were so kind, and for a shy, unpopular little girl, it was brutal seeing other kids pass by my box.
            As a happily married adult, my experience of the day is decidedly more pleasant, because what they tell introverted kids is true––things DO get better! I’m still not a fan of getting dressed up and going out to a fancy restaurant on Valentine’s Day, but my husband and I always celebrate. He usually sends me beautiful red roses, we get a delicious pre-made dinner from a local grocery store that only needs to be heated up, and he always gives me a thoughtful, romantic card. But, here’s the thing…we love each other every day. We tell each other every day. My mom, sisters, and friends all love each other every day. And that’s what really matters, isn’t it?
            There’s a lot of hate fouling the air in the world today, so maybe we do need a day to celebrate love, in all its’ forms. But, it would be nicer if we could all, from world leaders to the people we meet on the street, would be kinder to each other on a daily basis. Sure…give your loved ones a card on February 14th,  but don’t forget to smile and thank your cashier at the grocery store on February 15th, and hold the door for a stranger whose hands are full on the 16th.  Maybe if we take the love we share on Valentine’s Day and spread it out throughout the year, the world would be a better place for all of us.


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Donna Simonetta writes the kind of books she loves to read––contemporary romances to help you escape the real world for a little while. Writing is Donna’s third career. She toiled in the business world, and when she decided being an Account Executive wasn’t for her went back to school to get her MLS degree. Next, she worked in a school library for many years. But, Donna dreamed of being an author since she was a little girl, and began to squeeze writing into her day. After the publication of her second book, she decided to leave the library and become a full-time author.

Donna lives in Maryland with her husband, who is her real-life romance hero. They enjoy traveling to visit far-flung family and friends, and spending time on the beach with an umbrella drink and a good book.

Author Links:








Buy Links:

Amazon:

Apple:


Donna Simonetta will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.





13 comments:

  1. I encourage reading so having a family who loves to read I sure support.Thanks for sharing your terrific read with us.

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  2. Thank you so much for hosting me today! Happy Valentine's Day!
    ; )

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  3. Great post, Donna! And I agree...it's the love and compassion couples show each other every day that counts. As always, I'm wishing you success with the new release!

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    1. Thank you so much, Judy! I always appreciate your support!

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  4. Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary! I love the cover too! If you decide to read What Was I Thinking, I hope you enjoy it!

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    1. Thank you, Rita! And thanks for following the tour...it's been fun for me, and I hope for you too!

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