Where Dreams Go

Where Dreams Go, Oregon Historicals Book 2, picks up the Stevens family, from Round the Bend, at a critical time. It is 1855; and the family has experienced a major loss, but also a joy, as they await the arrival of a baby. A new, very unexpected romance is brewing as the story takes the reader through more of Oregon's history. Change is ahead, and it's not easy for all to accept its coming.

Blurb:

He had long loved her, a secret impossible love. At lonely campfires across the west, where death waited in the shadows, he had dreamed of her. Then word arrived that what had been impossible was no longer. When he came to convince her to be his own, she put up barriers. He could overcome those. Could he overcome the greatest of all—who he was?

Oregon Territory held many dangers; but the one that killed Martha Stevens’ beloved husband struck without warning on the most mundane of days. She has been forced to live alone, to make a life on her homestead, one that is purposeful, oriented to her family. Her expectations do not include a man coming into that life, who like a tornado upturns her expectations and all she has known. What this wild man wants is impossible. Or is it?

Where Dreams Go is set in 1855's Oregon Territory where these new pioneers must learn skills needed to build a state. Building a new world isn’t for the weak. Dangers are always there for those who dare to walk the high places.

Can we live our dreams—or is the cost too high?

Snippet:

     "It's a woman," Pollard confided.

     "Don’t say," St. Louis said with interest.

     "Exactly."

     "John, shut up," Adam growled.

     Pollard laughed. “But, of course, my friend.”

     "Some friend," Adam groaned, giving Joe a little kick nudging him into a gallop. "See you two at the cabin," he yelled over his shoulder as he gave Joe his head.

     As Adam felt the power of his horse under his thighs, he felt the first stirrings of freedom and release in years. He'd forgotten what it felt like to have the wind with him, to be sailing through time. Life was suddenly sweet. Maybe there’d be a tomorrow after all.

     Bending low over Joe's neck, he urged the horse on. Joe was as caught up in the joy of movement, the rapid pace they were cutting across the land, as Adam. There was no need to urge him to greater efforts. They hit the creek crossing and didn’t slow, sending water high in the air.

As though the fight and now this wild ride had burned the alcohol, the death, anger, and frustration from his system, Adam could think clearly for the first time in months. Finally, he slowed his horse. Stopping to look at the country through which he’d been riding, he absently stroked Joe’s neck as he looked into the distance. Far below he could see the silver ribbon of the river; above loomed the mass of the mountain.

     This last week, he'd decided he should leave, head north, but something had stopped him and now he knew what. He'd come here for her; then had acted like the child she thought he was. Rushing her and then not giving her time to think about something that had to be all new to her. He had wanted her for too long. He was too close.

     She had said she wouldn’t marry him, but she had also said she loved him. He wouldn’t give this dream up without a fight. If he lost, it wouldn’t be because he’d run with his tail between his legs. For once in his life, he was in reach of what he’d thought would never be his. Only a fool would run off before he knew for sure there was no hope.

 

Where Dreams Go eBook will be $2.99 until August 1, 2015 -- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YM71S44

Links to paperback and other buy sites: Romances with an Edge

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcsjTYBt4F8

Is A Kiss Just A Kiss? by Joan Reeves

Is a kiss just a kiss? That's what Herman Hupfeld wrote in the song, As Time Goes By, better known as the love song from the movie Casablanca.

I've blogged before about kisses because a kiss is significant. To borrow part of something Mae West once said, it too is "an emotion in motion."

A kiss is magical, and a first kiss is something more. Something very special because of what it means emotionally, but also because of what it means physiologically.

In 1971, Desmond Morris published a ground-breaking book, Intimate Behavior: A Zoologist's Classic Study of Human Intimacy. In his book, he doesn't talk about the magic of a kiss. Instead, he talks about the 12 steps of human intimacy, of which The Kiss is just one step.

Human Intimacy

Morris begins with Step 1: Eye To Body – visually sizing up a potential mate – and ends with Step 12: Genital To Genital Contact – which you probably don't need defined.

Step 7 in Morris's study of intimate behavior is Mouth To Mouth – Kissing. In most romance novels, that first kiss is a seminal event in the growing relationship between heroine and hero. By the first kiss, the couple in question are acting on their desire, and they're curious as to how that kiss will make them feel. Will it knock their socks off or put the damper on their growing desire?

Romance Novel First Kiss

Obviously, much depends on that kiss. If it increases their desire, which it should, then they face the problem of backing away from each other if there are circumstances that keep them apart. Of course, they may, for their own reasons, disavow the effects of the kiss. After all, a romance is all about overcoming obstacles to achieve a worthy goal – each other.

I tend to believe that a kiss, especially a first kiss, is pure magic. Hollywood pays a lot of attention to the first kiss in romantic movies. I pay a lot of attention to the first kiss in the romance novels I write.

Here's an excerpt – the first kiss – from my latest contemporary romance, SCENTS and SENSUALITY, available at most ebook sellers.

Scents and Sensuality Excerpt, The Kiss

Was it really all right to be herself with him? To show her true personality? "Nicole said men prefer women who aren't so serious. She said men like women who are sexy and flirty. I'm not like that. I'm serious and thoughtful and introverted. And shy."

She was shy? Oddly, Harrison liked that. Most of the women he'd had in his bed didn't know the meaning of the word shy. He'd never had a woman hesitate to tell him in detail what to do, where to touch, how to touch, and when to touch as she pursued her own orgasm. As if he were so unskilled that he didn't know anything about women.

"I really don't know much about pop culture and clubbing and all the stuff that Nicole knows," Amanda said.

"Your friend doesn't know what she's talking about," Harrison said. He stopped moving. Now they weren't dancing. They were just swaying in time to the music. "There's nothing wrong with the real you, sweetheart."

With that one sentence, he had her. She could smell him, and his scent was strong. Musky. Maybe it was just physiology, she thought, with the tiny part of her brain that still worked. Something about her female pheromone receptors went bonkers when he was near. He'd said sweetheart. Amanda didn't know if it was what he'd said or the endearment that warmed her so completely.

In a voice so intense that it made gooseflesh break out on her arms, he said, "You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. I like you just the way you are."

The song stopped. Still they swayed, cheek to cheek, breast to chest, heat to heat. The song started again.

"You're beautiful," he whispered against her cheek. "And you're incredibly sexy without playing silly games. You're sexy without even trying. And I want you."

His words wove a spell around her lonely heart. "I want you too," she confessed.

Harrison smiled and nuzzled the tender flesh of her neck where her pulse throbbed.

In a voice so soft that he had to strain to hear, Amanda said, "You don't have to say that...that I'm sexy. I...I won't change my mind about...about...you know." She fell silent.

Harrison pulled away from her a little so he could look at her, gauge her reactions. "Are you trying to say you won't change your mind about having a raging affair with me?"

Amanda took a deep breath and exhaled. She met his eyes directly. "Despite what you say, I know I'm not sexy. I just want to be honest with you. It's important to me to be honest. I don't like lies. They just cause problems. So here's the bald truth. I'm a flop with men, and I was desperate for a date for my cousin's wedding. Nicole helped me hook you. She tutored me on how to be a hot babe because that's what men want."

Harrison found it hard to accept that she believed all that. "That's a hell of a lot of honesty."

His comment was like the release gate on a dam. A flood of words poured out of Amanda. "I don't want you to be confused by Nicole's tricks and think I'm something I'm not. Even though I'm more than willing to...you know...have that raging affair with you."

Amanda spoke faster to get all the words out before she lost her courage. "I was just pretending. So you may not really want me now that you know the truth. I'm not a sexy hot babe, and you don't have to tell me I am just to--"

Harrison's mouth swooped down and captured hers, shutting off the frantic torrent of words. Amanda was frozen for a split second, then the feel of his mouth on hers broke through the paralysis. His lips were warm. They pressed against hers, teasing, shaping hers. The tip of his tongue licked, demanded entrance. She sighed, and his tongue plunged into her mouth. She forgot that she didn't know much about kissing. She welcomed him. She pressed her body as tightly as possible to his and couldn't hold back the moan that rose to her lips.

Win A Copy of Scents and Sensuality

Make a comment and be entered to win a $5.00 Starbucks Gift Card and a Smashwords Coupon for a free copy of Scents and Sensuality. Just leave your email address where I can contact you if you win and make arrangements for delivery of your prizes.

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Bottom Line

I hope you'll enjoy watching Amanda and Harrison navigate all the steps of intimacy in a book that's sassy, sexy, and funny.

Joan Reeves is a mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet who – no, wait, that's someone else. Seriously? Okay, if we must be serious. Joan Reeves is a multi-published author. Her books are available in ebook, audio, and print editions from all major retailers. Joan's Motto: "It's never too late to live happily ever after."

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