Posted in An Atlanta Edge Hockey, excerpt, Fake Play, My Books, Newsletter

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Excerpt

I felt like it was time to share an excerpt from Fake Play.

First, here’s the blurb.

Nothing like waking up in Vegas wearing only a gigantic diamond ring while sprawled out next to an equally naked stranger.

Connor Ellison

Yeah, yeah, I’m Atlanta Edge’s best winger and biggest prankster, but the coaches and PR department have given me an ultimatum: I must own up to my ill-considered stunt and stay married until the end of the run for the Cup or I’ll find myself being traded.

Lily Jones

I want nothing to do with his insane demand. But he convinces me the best decision is to play along. If we remain married and pretend to be in love, he’s offer to save my ice rink from bankruptcy. What’s another sacrifice for my family? I can put up with him until the end of the hockey season. Then we can go our separate ways.

Easy-peasy. No way will they go to the finals. And it’s not like we’ll fall in love or anything.


Now for the excerpt.


     “You like what you see?” He lifts his arms.
     “Yes. I like looking at you.” I spot several ugly bruises on his ribs, right shin—the area that at times becomes exposed between the skate and pads—and in the middle of his chest. That one worries me. He got it as a result of a slap shot during the game in Toronto. I watched it on the wide screen TV above the concession stand at work. I cringed when he blocked it, even pads can’t protect a person from a dark bruise. Without pads, he would most likely have been badly injured or dead. “What did your trainer say?”
     “He iced it. He’ll check it again before the game tomorrow.” He runs a finger across my lips. “I’m okay.”
     Nodding, I rub my hands over and down his chest, avoiding the bruise. “You’re more than okay.”
     He chuckles.
     The sparse hairs tickle my palms as I follow the thicker trail to his stomach. He sucks in air. I know it’s not to hide a beer gut, he doesn’t have one, but from my light touch. His cock, still hard from my play, jerks as if reaching for my hand.
     My lips quiver.
     “Are you laughing at my dick? You better not.” His teasing tone causes my lips to quirk up into a big smile for a second.
     “I would never laugh at your beautiful penis.” I stroke it with the tips of my fingers and glance up for a moment.
     What is it about him that makes me want to pet and play with him? I’ve never really been comfortable doing all of this foreplay. Not that I haven’t. If you want a real relationship with a man, you know sex in many variations will be involved. They are sexual beings, and treat it like food and air. Just a part of living. While most women require their emotions to be engaged.
     Though I will admit, I find I prefer sex over sharing feelings, but at the same time, I like to ignore both whenever possible. I guess that’s another reason my boyfriends break up with me.   They often said I’m hard to read. But with Connor, he’s different. That’s why I decided to go to bed with him even knowing mentally a divorce will be more difficult.
He gets me.
     Oddly, none of my old boyfriends played hockey. Oh, they watched it, but that’s not the same. Maybe it’s the reason I feel closer to Connor. He understands the pressure and the dedication of the sport.
     Why am I thinking of hockey when I’m touching this sexy man’s cock?
     “You’re grinning again. You really need to stop before it hurts my ego.”
     “I doubt I can do much damage. It’s a pretty big ego.
     “Thank you, but it’s average for my height. Obviously, the other men in your life were sad representations of manhood.”
     No longer able to hold back, I laugh so hard tears come to my eyes. He joins in. This is the strangest foreplay I’ve ever been part of.
     While still laughing with me, he pushes on my shoulders and my arms windmill as I land on the bed.
     “Perfect. The way I want you. Legs and arms spread out.” Before I can feel any embarrassment at my unladylike display, he lands on top, being careful to catch himself before flattening me. “If I had known you were so much fun in bed, I wouldn’t have waited so long.”
     “Who says I’d willingly fall in bed with you before today?”
     I’ve never imagined being naked in bed with such a sexy man and comfortably talking about our bodies. I feel a low boil of excitement and yearning. Yet, I’m not afraid of coming across as naive and ungraceful as I usually do in intimate times like this. Our attitude is like old friends enjoying each other’s bodies. Is this how it is to have a friend with benefits? Though we’re married, it’s only a technicality.


I picked this excerpt because it’s one of my favorite scenes. It shows that during making love it’s okay to laugh and joke around.

A reminder, be on the look out in September about some announcements.

Keep reading, especially romance.

Carla

Posted in My Books, Newsletter

Newslettter: Author Carla Swafford – Twenty-One more Days

You probably can’t wait for Savage Champion to be released. Maybe because you want to read it. Or you’re looking forward to me shutting up about it. Either way, the book will be released at around 15 locations. But did you know most of my books can be purchased in Germany and France too? And you can read them on subscription services similar to Kindle Unlimited (though they are not there) and through libraries’ ebook programs? Here’s the total list where you can find them.

Amazon

Apple Books

Baker & Taylor

Barnes & Noble

Bibliotheca

BorrowBox

Everand

Gardners Books

Hoopla

Kobo Books

Thalia Books

Odilo

Overdrive

Palace Marketplace

Smashwords

Vivlio

Links are not included. If I had, this email would probably go straight to your delete folder. Hate for it to do that.

My first shipment of books came in and the cover was out of wrack. So I placed gold tape on the edge. Looks fancy, doesn’t it? I went in and adjusted the cover for the next batch before ordering. So hopefully they will be okay. But I do like that gold edge.

I will be selling these in Montgomery (Alabama) May 17 & 18. Be sure to buy a ticket (general admission can be as low as $5) Go to my website carlaswafford.com and click on On-Line and In-Person. The link is there for the tickets and more information.


Today is April Fools day in the U.S.A. A time for people to pull pranks on each other. I’m not wired that way. So no worries. Just have a good day, and if you celebrate Easter, I hoped it was as lovely there as it was here.

By the way, it’s not too late to ask to be an ARC reader of Savage Champion. Just email me at authorcarlaswafford @ gmail.com (no spaces) with your mailing address and I’ll send you a paperback copy (U.S. subscribers only). Deadline for me to mail it to you is April 7. Will probably take a week to arrive. Of course, there’s a catch. You’ll need to read it as soon as it arrives and post a review on Goodreads before or on the release day.

Anyway, keep reading (and writing if that’s your thing) and have a wonderful early April.

Regards.

Carla

Posted in Advertisement, excerpt, My Books, Newsletter

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – What’s Next?

As you probably remember from the last newsletter, Savage Champion is coming out April 23, 2024 for US$0.99 in ebook. I had mentioned the paperback would be $10.99 but forgot to mention that will most likely be on Amazon only. Everywhere else, the paperback will probably higher. It’s just the way the margins work when published through Ingram Sparks. Be sure to preorder your ebook copy. I’ll let you know when the paperback can be preordered. This is actually my longest book, over 90,000 words. Most of mine are 60,000+ to 80,000+. In case, you’ve forgotten what the cover looks like, here it is.

Tori Amherst

I died years ago.

In my savage new life, I revenge the helpless.

But a hunter came. A human. A former cop. Now a private eye.

His body, his blood, and his wounded soul is perfect.

Then I discover I’m not a champion, but a terror.

Ronan Michaels

I died in her arms.

But I woke to a new life full of hate

She hides truth. I hate secrets.

I crave her body, her blood, and her lost soul.

Then I discover the lies.

I will get my revenge and she will be mine.

Excerpt From Savage Champion

Here’s the first time Ronan (MMC) clearly sees Tori Amherst (FMC).

At that moment, the Maserati door opened and one long leg stretched out followed by another. Damn. Black hosiery and stilettos covered shapely limbs and dainty feet. She’d dumped the ugly ass coat. With a subtle wiggle, she smoothed her short leather skirt and turned to close the door. A flash of pale skin under her open leather jacket caught my eye. Only a strip of some type of clingy material covered her full breasts.

She moved like a panther, smooth and seductive. I grabbed my phone and hit video record. No one would believe me. The woman was fine. When she strolled beneath a street light, I remembered the grainy picture her brother had given me. It hadn’t done her justice. She’d cut her dark hair. Chin length strands caressed her enchanting face with each toss of her head.

My stomach clenched, answered by an unwelcome swelling in my groin. Her hair was dark red, more of an auburn color. I was a sucker for redheads.

Damn. She was the sexiest woman I’d ever seen in my life, and she was my client’s crazy sister. Fuck.

Ronan Michaels ~ Savage Champion

I was about to push the button to send out my newsletter, and decided to check on the book I mentioned in the following paragraph, you know, just in case Amazon finally did something about it. Well, they did. They finally took my name off it, but have deleted my reviews, not placing them on the correct book. No surprise. Anyway, I decided not to delete the paragraph and let you read what I deal with every time I turn around with Amazon. So sad. Of course, I won’t be calling them. The reviews (201) are still on Goodreads. I will not be surprised at any point if they disappear there too. Amazon does own Goodreads.

It's a struggle working with Amazon. The other day, I contacted them via chat about my book's, Circle of Desire, reviews showing up on another author's book with the same title. The incorrect book has two women and a sailor on the cover, and you can tell the book is from the forties or fifties, and it's a MALE author's name. A used bookstore has it for sale. Amazon kept telling me they couldn't do anything about it. Bull crap. So that means I will have to actually call Amazon and I really hate it. They are so hard to deal with. Their personnel have a script and they stick to it, never trying to listening to what I say. Keep your fingers crossed that I can make them understand this time. I've been dealing with a problem on this book or another (usually something so simple) for over 3 years.

Work, Work, Work (quote from Blazing Saddles)

Presently, I’m working on two books. One with my best friend, Betty Bolte´, and one of my own about a big asshole male billionaire. That’s a favorite trope of mine. There are so many books waiting for me to finish or revamp/edit. So who knows what will come out this year (besides Sen’s book).


If you’re wondering about the giveaway winners, I only heard from one subscriber. She didn’t say Happy Holiday as part of the rules, but I went ahead and offered her a paperback or ebook. She never answered. Oh, well. So none were given away. I’ll try again maybe next month. I’m thinking positive, believing everyone already has a copy of Jake.


Next newsletter, I’ll talk about the practice of giving stars, diamonds, coffee cups, peppers etc. In other words, ratings.

Happy New Year! Talk to you again soon.

Carla