Today
I have a special excerpt for the contemporary romance, chick lit novel, When in Rome by J. Lynn Rowan.
During
her virtual book tour, J. Lynn will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and
Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be
entered for a chance to win, use the
form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit
her other tour stops, and enter there, too!
her virtual book tour, J. Lynn will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and
Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be
entered for a chance to win, use the
form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit
her other tour stops, and enter there, too!
A little
bit about When in Rome:
bit about When in Rome:
Atlanta-based
photographer Kate Miller doesn’t believe in fairytale romance or relationships
of the forever kind. She’s determined to build her own happiness through hard
work and professional success. So, when the opportunity arises to join an
exclusive fashion photo shoot in Rome, she jumps on the chance to gain
international recognition. But she’s not counting on an instant attraction to
the charismatic, sexy, and irritatingly arrogant director of the shoot.
photographer Kate Miller doesn’t believe in fairytale romance or relationships
of the forever kind. She’s determined to build her own happiness through hard
work and professional success. So, when the opportunity arises to join an
exclusive fashion photo shoot in Rome, she jumps on the chance to gain
international recognition. But she’s not counting on an instant attraction to
the charismatic, sexy, and irritatingly arrogant director of the shoot.
World famous, Domenic Varezzi is used to calling the shots. His clients trust
his instincts and they’re willing to pay for the best. But while his career is
thriving, his personal life has been lackluster at best. Hoping Kate could be
the answer he’s been looking for, he’s determined to win her over. Every
challenge she sends his way drives him to break through her tough-as-nails
exterior to reach the vulnerable heart that matches his own.
Surrounded by the beauty and magic of Italy’s “Eternal City,” a foundation
begins to form that could lead to a lifetime partnership, both in business and
in love. Until Domenic’s past comes back to haunt the present and threatens to
destroy everything.
Excerpt from When in Rome:
I accept the handshake. But a split second into it, as our
gazes lock, his grip softens around mine. A slow warmth seeps down my arm and
melts into my chest. My lungs seize, and Domenic’s throat works briefly as if
he can’t quite swallow.
gazes lock, his grip softens around mine. A slow warmth seeps down my arm and
melts into my chest. My lungs seize, and Domenic’s throat works briefly as if
he can’t quite swallow.
This is not what I
signed on for.
signed on for.
Panic sets in. I slide my hand from his and cup it around
the bowl of my glass. The wine burns a little as I take too big a gulp, but I
manage not to cough. Domenic, too, has retreated into his glass, but whatever
just passed in that handshake hangs over us.
the bowl of my glass. The wine burns a little as I take too big a gulp, but I
manage not to cough. Domenic, too, has retreated into his glass, but whatever
just passed in that handshake hangs over us.
“So,” I say in a voice too close to a whisper, sending a
sidelong glance his way, “do you always wander around hotels at night with two
glasses and a bottle of wine?”
sidelong glance his way, “do you always wander around hotels at night with two
glasses and a bottle of wine?”
“Only when there’s
a chance I might run into a pretty girl.”
a chance I might run into a pretty girl.”
I snort into my
glass, relieved that the spell seems to be broken.
glass, relieved that the spell seems to be broken.
Domenic’s grin
returns. “Why is that funny?”
returns. “Why is that funny?”
“The last person to call me a pretty girl was my
great-uncle, and I think I was ten years old at the time.”
great-uncle, and I think I was ten years old at the time.”
He chuckles.
“Beautiful woman, then.”
“Beautiful woman, then.”
The unexpected compliment sets off a flurry of butterflies
deep in my stomach. Suddenly breathless, I drain my glass and set it down, then
reach for my laptop and close the screen. “Now you’re just making fun of me.”
deep in my stomach. Suddenly breathless, I drain my glass and set it down, then
reach for my laptop and close the screen. “Now you’re just making fun of me.”
“I didn’t mean
to.”
to.”
Chair legs scrape as we both push away from the table, me
ready to bolt, him rising to placate me before I can. We stand facing each
other, nearly as close as we were in the studio this afternoon. Taking a deep
breath, I stare at his chest for a minute. Once my wild heartbeat and those
damn butterflies settle, I tip my head back to meet his gaze.
ready to bolt, him rising to placate me before I can. We stand facing each
other, nearly as close as we were in the studio this afternoon. Taking a deep
breath, I stare at his chest for a minute. Once my wild heartbeat and those
damn butterflies settle, I tip my head back to meet his gaze.
“What are you
doing on Sunday?” he asks before I can speak.
doing on Sunday?” he asks before I can speak.
I stutter for a minute, unable to look away from his eyes.
“Sightseeing, probably. We have the whole day off.”
“Sightseeing, probably. We have the whole day off.”
“Maybe I’ll join
you.”
you.”
My throat feels tight again. Nodding, I skirt around him,
choking out something that sounds like, “Good night.”
choking out something that sounds like, “Good night.”
His fingers touch
my arm as I pass. “Good night, Kate.”
my arm as I pass. “Good night, Kate.”
Head spinning, I clutch my laptop against my chest and rush
to the terrace doors. I look back when I reach the doorway, only to find him
watching me, his thumbs hooked in his pockets and a half-smirk on his face.
to the terrace doors. I look back when I reach the doorway, only to find him
watching me, his thumbs hooked in his pockets and a half-smirk on his face.
A face I find too
handsome for my own good.
handsome for my own good.
Still, I wave at him, wiggling my fingers like a silly
teenager who sees her crush across the cafeteria. My face burns as I whirl,
practically sprinting across the dark breakfast room to the hallway and
stairwell.
teenager who sees her crush across the cafeteria. My face burns as I whirl,
practically sprinting across the dark breakfast room to the hallway and
stairwell.
A little
bit about the author:
J. Lynn
Rowan started writing stories as a small child, usually starring her favorite
cartoon characters. Most of her work through middle and high school was filled
with typical teenage angst and melodrama, and usually mirrored the books she
loved to read. But eventually she found her own author’s voice and decided to
seriously pursue a writing career.
Rowan started writing stories as a small child, usually starring her favorite
cartoon characters. Most of her work through middle and high school was filled
with typical teenage angst and melodrama, and usually mirrored the books she
loved to read. But eventually she found her own author’s voice and decided to
seriously pursue a writing career.
Historical
fiction remains J. Lynn’s “first love”, but she has enjoyed the journey to
becoming an author of romance and chick lit. She is a member of Romance Writers
of America, the Central New York Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel
Society. She is also a teacher who tries to instill a love of learning,
reading, and writing in her students.
fiction remains J. Lynn’s “first love”, but she has enjoyed the journey to
becoming an author of romance and chick lit. She is a member of Romance Writers
of America, the Central New York Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel
Society. She is also a teacher who tries to instill a love of learning,
reading, and writing in her students.
When she’s
not writing, J. Lynn enjoys travelling, gardening poorly but enthusiastically,
studying various topics in American history for her own expertise, and
channeling Julia Child every time she steps into the kitchen.
not writing, J. Lynn enjoys travelling, gardening poorly but enthusiastically,
studying various topics in American history for her own expertise, and
channeling Julia Child every time she steps into the kitchen.
A native of
Oswego, NY, she now lives in Charlotte, NC, with her own Romantic Hero of a
husband and the most adorable baby on the planet.
Oswego, NY, she now lives in Charlotte, NC, with her own Romantic Hero of a
husband and the most adorable baby on the planet.
Links:
Better than Chocolate –
Amazon
Amazon
When in Rome – Amazon
Thanks for hosting!
I liked the excerpt.