Holidays with the Beachwalk Babes Hop December 6th – 8th!

As part of the blog hop, we’ve been asked to share a favourite Christmas memory or family tradition. For me, the first thing that pops into my head can be cover both categories. ☺

So, as many of you know, I am an Aussie. Christmas for us is hot, humid…and perfect weather for a water fight! lol

I remember growing up, every year we would get water guns from Santa in our stockings. Even when we grew up and were too old for the big red man, Mum and Dad would always buy us one each and on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the entire family would get together and soak each other. Our huge lunch would have been eaten, all the presents would be opened…and then the fun would really begin. Of course, it never remained simply water guns, eventually the hose would come out and buckets would be discovered to be dropped on unsuspecting victims…the perks of having a two story home, lol

So that’s my story, a tradition I have now passed down to my kids, who get a water gun every year the same as I did.

I keeping with the blog hop, I am offering a giveaway. I am giving one lucky person a chance to win an ebook of their choice. All you have to do to win is leave me a comment, telling me the first thing that pops into your head when you think of christmas. Whatever it is, we want to know. And don’t forget to leave you email so I can contact you if you win!

Now I leave you with a sneak peek of my first release with Beachwalk Press which will be out December 16th…An Archangel’s Promise!

EXCERPT

Gabriella started moving forward. Nolan tried pulling her back, but nothing could keep her still. The need she felt coursing through her, urging her to the man on the other side of the room, was just too strong, powerful, and consuming. She barely acknowledged the throng of people surrounding her as she made her way across the floor, her eyes transfixed on her destination.

Her destination being the tall, strong, and commanding form of her childhood best friend. His dark, almost black, hair still fell into his sapphire eyes, and his lips looked just as soft and supple as they had been the last time she had seen him. When she stopped mere inches from him, Gabriella held her breath, unable to believe Hunter really stood in front of her.

The small quirk of his lips at her indecision answered her question. Oh, this was her Hunter all right.

Hunter’s hand came up to cup the back of her neck, drawing her those few inches closer. Shocked at their sudden closeness, Gabriella only had enough time to suck in a breath before his other arm came around her, pulling her against his hard chest, his mouth taking hers in a kiss filled with possession and a hunger that had her opening up for more.

The kiss was fearless, robbing her of thought. Gabriella’s body melted under his mastery, becoming pliant, molding into his as if they’d done this a million times before. She felt a thrill run through her as the familiarity of the man’s embrace drew her in deeper. This was her Hunter. Oh God. Hunter’s hand roaming up and down her back created such delicious sparks of electricity along her spine. She’d never felt so hungry, so needy.

Pulling back, needing to breathe and to see his face, Gabriella felt tears pool in her eyes. “You’re real.”

Hunter smiled down at her, his eyes softening as his large hands cupped her face. “Yeah, Gabby. It’s me.”

How was it possible? Hunter was standing right in front of her, kissing her. It was all so surreal. She caressed her fingers over his tanned face, taking it all in. His features, once boyish, were different. They were replaced with a strong jaw line and an essence of confidence and maturity. Gabriella noticed that his eyes, though still the same startling sapphire, now held flecks of azure and shards of cobalt that made them seem fiercer somehow.

Still the same, but so different as well.

“I missed you.” The deep rumble of his voice made her weak in the knees and dampen between her legs. It was such a strong reaction, it startled her out of her haze.

He had been gone so long.

Too long.

What the hell was she doing?

Wrenching herself out of his arms, Gabriella gazed up at him, at the boy who had left her broken and alone. The longer she stared into his eyes, the more furious she became with both him and herself. Why on earth was she kissing him? And how dare he show up like this, acting like he had all the right in the world to be there.

Raising her hand, she delivered a blow straight across his handsome face. Hunter had clearly not been expecting that reaction because he staggered back, his shock evident as his eyes

widened and his hand covered the abused cheek.

“What was that for?”

“Really? You have no idea why I would want to slap you?” she seethed. “You disappeared, Hunter. You left when you swore you never would. I thought you were dead.”

His face softened, which just served to irritate her more. “I know my leaving like that must have hurt, but surely you can give me a chance to explain.”

Unbelievable. The bastard thought she actually had to give him a chance. She didn’t owe him a fucking thing.

“No, Hunter. I don’t have to give you a damn thing.” Spinning on her heels, she headed for the doors leading to the stairway. Screw waiting for the lift. The sooner she got out of there the better.

“So that’s it. You won’t give me anything?” Hunter called out behind her.

Pausing at the doorway, she turned to see him still standing in the spot she had left him, and smiled sadly. “You know, if you had shown up a few years ago, I probably would have given you anything you asked for.” Her face hardened, and she narrowed a glare on him. “But I was weaker then. I had to become tougher because the pain of losing you was too much to bare. So congratulations, Hunter, you made me a stronger person. You should be proud.”

 

Make sure to check out all the other Beachwalk Babes participating in the blog hop!