Only the Beginning by Daphne Dubois - Book Tour + Giveaway
Daphne Dubois
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: 25 April 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5092-2034-2
ASIN: 978-1-5092-2035-9
Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 63,300
Tagline: Taking your best friend’s place on a blind date to let the guy down easy was the plan, taking him to bed wasn’t!
Book Description:
After a heartbreaking betrayal, Melissa Legacy shuns romance. So when her best friend joins the Lovers Oasis website and fears her fiancé will find out, Melissa agrees to meet the anonymous Romeo, prepared to explain her friend’s change of heart—then she sees him.
Failing restaurant entrepreneur, Craig Wheaton hasn’t been home since his mother’s tragic death. Now he’s back to confront his demons and stand beside his brother as best man. Dreading the reunion, he agrees to meet his avatar lover, but at the last moment he reconsiders the arrangement—until he lays eyes on her.
When Craig assumes Melissa is his online consort, she impulsively plays along, resulting in an afternoon of unexpected intimacy. But with Melissa using her friend’s identity and Craig dealing with a family fallout, is a future together impossible, or will they discover that love at first sight is Only the Beginning?
Excerpt:
Melissa blinked
a few times, trying to remember the dream. A sense of bliss made her smile into
the pillow. She was warm and the bed covers were tucked around her like a
cocoon. It must be Saturday, she thought.
a few times, trying to remember the dream. A sense of bliss made her smile into
the pillow. She was warm and the bed covers were tucked around her like a
cocoon. It must be Saturday, she thought.
There was a
shift in the bed behind her, followed by a low sigh.
shift in the bed behind her, followed by a low sigh.
She froze. In a
series of flashing images, it all came back.
series of flashing images, it all came back.
The pub. Craig.
The intense stare of his eyes. The way he’d kissed her as he unzipped the back
of her skirt. He made her feel like she was the most desirable woman on the
planet, that there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep touching her.
The intense stare of his eyes. The way he’d kissed her as he unzipped the back
of her skirt. He made her feel like she was the most desirable woman on the
planet, that there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep touching her.
And she’d
reciprocated, opening up to him, losing all her inhibitions. She imagined this
was what Lovers’ Oasis was like. The anonymity combined with the fantasy
created a freedom Melissa had never experienced before, not ever.
reciprocated, opening up to him, losing all her inhibitions. She imagined this
was what Lovers’ Oasis was like. The anonymity combined with the fantasy
created a freedom Melissa had never experienced before, not ever.
But now reality
set in. She’d woken naked, next to a man she barely knew and the earlier
courage she’d felt—the reckless delirious abandonment that augmented her
physical enjoyment of the afternoon encounter—had morphed into terrified
embarrassment.
set in. She’d woken naked, next to a man she barely knew and the earlier
courage she’d felt—the reckless delirious abandonment that augmented her
physical enjoyment of the afternoon encounter—had morphed into terrified
embarrassment.
There was only
one choice—she had to leave before he woke. Slowly, she slipped one leg out,
her foot searching for the floor. Then she inched her way to the edge of the
bed, carefully making sure not to jostle the mattress.
one choice—she had to leave before he woke. Slowly, she slipped one leg out,
her foot searching for the floor. Then she inched her way to the edge of the
bed, carefully making sure not to jostle the mattress.
She stood,
completely naked, looking down at Craig. He was on his back, one hand was on
his chest gently rising and falling as he slept. The sheets pooled at his
waist. His face was completely relaxed, his mouth opened slightly, lips parted.
completely naked, looking down at Craig. He was on his back, one hand was on
his chest gently rising and falling as he slept. The sheets pooled at his
waist. His face was completely relaxed, his mouth opened slightly, lips parted.
A warmth began
to stir inside her, remembering how those lips felt. He’d memorized each of her
breasts with his tongue as his fingers slipped down her belly then nestled
between her thighs. She’d come for him, then. So quickly…so easily.
to stir inside her, remembering how those lips felt. He’d memorized each of her
breasts with his tongue as his fingers slipped down her belly then nestled
between her thighs. She’d come for him, then. So quickly…so easily.
Her purse buzzed
from the floor making Melissa jump. It sounded like a marching band had
exploded through the door. She crouched down and lunged for the purse, grabbing
the phone and silencing it. Melissa waited, but there was no movement from the
bed. A quiet breath eased through her pursed lips. She read her phone; there
were multiple messages from Brooke. The last one was marked “urgent.”
from the floor making Melissa jump. It sounded like a marching band had
exploded through the door. She crouched down and lunged for the purse, grabbing
the phone and silencing it. Melissa waited, but there was no movement from the
bed. A quiet breath eased through her pursed lips. She read her phone; there
were multiple messages from Brooke. The last one was marked “urgent.”
—Where are you?—
Top Then Things
Writing Has Taught Me
1. Good Writing Takes Practice.
No one ever sat down at a piano and played a concerto
without a lesson. Writing is a craft that deserves an investment of your
time.
2. Being hopeful is just as important as being persistent.
Writers are inherently hopeful, otherwise no one would ever start a story.
3. Bad writing is better than no writing.
I can't edit a blank page.
4. Don't write to sell books, write to share stories.
Authenticity cannot be faked. If I don't care about my characters the readers won't either.
5. There are always ways to improve your writing, but don't let all 'the rules' keep you from finding your style.
I keep my inner editor turned off until I've finished the story.
6. There is a difference between dreams and goals.
Success is reaching goals, but my dreams are the fuel that help me reach my goals.
7. There is no limit to where my stories can take me.
Imagination affords me the luxury of taking vacations anywhere, anytime.
8. My characters are depending on me.
Truly, as the author, I am the only one who can tell their story.
9. Writing requires patience and willingness to leave my comfort zone.
I write more fluidly when I write without fear.
10. You're never too old to try something new.
I didn't start writing until my mid-thirties.
What has writing taught you?
About the Author:
Daphne Dubois writes contemporary romance and believes the right book at the right time can make all the difference. When she's not putting her characters in compromising positions (ahem), she works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Eastern Canada, the most romantic place in the world.
Website: http://bethanymyers.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: @br_myers
Author Facebook:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/brmyers/
4 Comments
I enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteI just love your cover.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting and helping share Only the Beginning with your followers ~ Daphne
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!
DeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.