Books-n-Kisses is pleased as punch to let our pal Joan Swan take over the blog to talk about her debut book FEVER the was released back in February 2012… If you have not read this book it is totally AMAZING!!!! Okay so enough with my mumbling here is Joan……OH WAIT!!! I know Joan is going to tell you this, but FEVER is only $3.99 right now over on
Amazon.
I find choosing a new book to read terribly difficult. There is always so much to consider: author, genre, style, mood (yours and the book’s), price, format… And so many limitations: Money, time, interest… It’s even more difficult for me to take a chance on an author whom I’ve never read before.
So, as both a debut author and an author published in trade format, I am thrilled that FEVER, my first novel, was picked up by Amazon’s Top 100 program this month. That means FEVER is sale priced at $3.99 for the month of May! Now you can try a new-to-you author (me) at very low risk! And just to reduce the risk further, I’ve added a snipit from FEVER below. If you’re interested to know what others think of FEVER, there are many in-depth reviews on Amazon to browse and the entire first chapter on my website.
For those of you who have read and enjoyed FEVER, I’d really appreciate it if you spread the word! And I’m happy to reward you for your efforts with a chance to win 1 of 3 Amazon Gift Cards! $25, $15 and $10!
Everyone can enter! All you have to do is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below.
Good luck!
Now for a snippet from Fever by Joan Swan:
Teague set her down on the sofa in front of the fire. “Don’t move.”
He disappeared down the hall and Alyssa sat watching the fire in the hearth, wishing she could jump into it. As her body temperature rose, she shivered uncontrollably.
Teague returned with a space heater in one hand and a stack of towels in the other. After plugging in the heater and pointing it directly at Alyssa, he dropped to his knees in front of her. He pulled off her shoes and socks then tugged the jacket off her shoulders and threw it aside. Curled his fingers into the sleeves of her shirt at her wrist and pulled one arm out, then the other.
Alyssa gurgled a protest. Her arms were as stiff as tree limbs, her teeth clenched as if the hinges of her jaw were rusted shut. With one pull, her shirt came off over her head and joined the jacket on the floor.
He picked up a towel, threw it over her head and started scrubbing. Icy droplets from her hair needled her back like little knives. “S-s-s-so c-cold.”
She barely got the murmur from her mouth. Nothing was working right—not her limbs, her voice, and most definitely not her mind.
“I know. Give me a minute.” Teague slid the towel off her head, made one swipe of her back and tossed it away. “Lay down.”
She cast a sidelong look at the sofa, wanting more than anything to obey. “I c-c-can’t move.”
Teague lifted her legs and eased her back. Alyssa rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, soaking in the feel of the lush, warm corduroy fabric. Then his hands were on her again, pulling at her sweats. Before she could push his hands away, her pants were off.
“Everything has to go,” he said. “You’re soaked.”
With a simple flick of his fingers, the knot she’d tied in her pathetic excuse of a bra opened. Alyssa pulled in a surprised breath as he yanked it off. Then his hands were at her hips. A second later, her panties were gone. She found herself caught between shock and embarrassment before something soft layered over her, cocooning her in warmth. A breath of relief slipped through clenched teeth. Teague stood in front of her, bare-chested, his hands unbuttoning his jeans.
Excitement spiked in her chest, turned to heat and melted into her pelvis. “W-what are you d-d-d-doing?”
“Getting you warm as fast as possible.” He toed out of his boots and dropped his jeans.
Alyssa was too exhausted, and honestly, too interested, to look away. He was so beautiful, like a work of art she could study for endless hours. The tattoos were shadows of her imagination now, his body perfectly pristine and tan as if he spent a lot of time outdoors.
“W-w-warm w-w-water,” she said. Preferably with him in it, too.
“The water heater is ancient.” In an abrupt move, he lifted the blanket and lay on the sofa alongside her. “No warm water until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”
He pressed his body full length against hers, worked his arms around her back, laid his top leg over hers and ratcheted his body close. Alyssa sucked in a breath at the feel of him, so supremely warm, all hard muscle and soft skin.
Oh, man. Okay. This worked, too. Maybe even better.
“Jesus Christ,” he growled. “You’re a fucking ice cube.”
“S-s-stop—“
“Swearing,” he finished for her, “I know, I know.”
His hands were everywhere, sliding, rubbing. And every part of her that he touched warmed instantly, the feeling so primitive, so perfect. Alyssa pried her arms away from her chest and slid them around his back, pulling him until the flat plane of his chest pressed to hers. His warmth instantly seeped into her skin. This is just what she’d wanted a few hours ago. Now she was too damned frozen to take advantage.
“Oh, my, G-god,” she murmured against his chest. “You feel so g-good.”
She shifted closer, a leech searching for heat, and she found it when his hips aligned with hers. His erection pressed along her thigh, pumping heat through his cotton briefs and directly into Alyssa’s skin. A mixture of excitement and nervousness tangled in her throat. His arms tightened around her on an irritated groan, and he tried to shift his hips away. But with the edge of the sofa at his back, he didn’t get far.
“Stop wiggling for God’s sake. You’re going to push me off the couch.” With a kick of the blankets, he tightened the fabric around their feet then rubbed the arch of his foot over her instep and toes. And somehow managed to put space between her hips and his. “Your hands and feet are the parts I’m worried about.”
Those should be the least of his worries. He should be concerned with the craving deep in her chest, the one that made her mouth want to taste and her hands to touch. Between the moment he’d dragged her into the house and now, one vital fact she’d suspected had been confirmed: he had no plans to hurt her. She’d given him the perfect opportunity to get rid of her quickly, quietly, permanently, and without any involvement. All he’d had to do was leave her out there. Yet he’d saved her, not only from the wolves and from the elements, but ultimately, from herself.
She pried one hand from his grasp, slid it up his chest and around the back of his neck. With her face pressed between his thick pectoral muscles, Alyssa rubbed her cheek against the warmth and strength. Dragged in the scent of hotel soap lingering from his shower that morning and the his purely male and unique scent.
She hummed in pleasure. “How can you c-create so much h-heat?”
“We’ve been over this, remember?” His voice sounded thick and rough. “You know, my father, Hades, god of the fires of hell and all that?”
She would have at least snickered at that quip, only her face would crack. She wedged her other arm underneath him, trying to align every inch of her skin with his. He may not have had much room, but he managed to scoot away again.
Frustrated with both the lingering chill and his resistance, she pulled on his shoulder to roll him into her. “Hold m-me.”
“I am,” he snapped.
“Closer. I’m s-so cold.”
“Honey.” His voice dropped to a raspy growl. He slid a thigh between hers, wrapped his arm around her back and pressed their bodies together. “We can’t get a whole lot closer.”
She’d like to prove him wrong. Dammit. Only he was still resisting. And she just didn’t get it. She may not be a Swedish goddess like Hannah, but she wasn’t the Hunchback of Notre Dame, either.
She tightened her arms around him, soaking in his heat, revealing in the feel of him while the fire inside her kicked up a notch. He smelled good, he felt good, he looked good. He was the only good thing in the moment. She couldn’t look ahead, couldn’t look back, or everything fell apart. All she could do was live right now.
He wanted her, too. There had been hunger and passion of their kiss earlier in the day. There had been ownership and control in the way he touched and maneuvered her body in his arms. There had been demand and need in that thick, heavy shaft pressed against her pelvis.
Her thoughts raised her body temperature. Closing that last bit of distance between them gained more appeal by the moment.
There was no time left for second guessing herself. She knew what she wanted and she was going to reach for it.
Alyssa let her hand drift down Teague’s ribs, her fingers playing along each indentation as she kissed his chest.
He groaned, a wanton, pained, frustrated sound. His hips rocked and pressed into hers. His erection was thick and hard and so damn hot. Now this was more like it. Alyssa absorbed the deep zing of pleasure pulsing through her pelvis.
His fingers curved around her upper arm and pushed her back. His eyes skimmed her face and paused on her mouth.
Yes. Kiss me.
“What happened to that line in the sand?” he asked.
Damn you.
“What line?” She added pressure to the back of his head to bring him closer, craving the feel of his mouth.
His hand fisted in her hair. Yes. Yes. Yes. Her mouth parted in anticipation of the pressure of his lips, the swirl of his tongue.
Joan, you are such a tease! You left off at a good part. 😉
Humpf……I still haven't read it. I know, I know…I'm slow…
Marika
LOLOL…I'm wicked like that 🙂
I'm slow too, Harlie! Not enough hours in the day, right?
OH MY GOD! This sounds AMAZING!!!!!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I want this book now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the excerpt! I'm going to be rereading it for a long time until I can get the book XD
Congrats to Joan on her debut release, I do have this in my TBR but just haven't had a chance to read it yet. Looking forward to it though:)
Gladly pimp out FEVER for Joan – Even if I had to fight with my tumblr and Google + to do it. Hey I even went on my plog to post something! Cannot wait for BLAZE
Hey Alba! Glad you enjoyed!! It's only on sale a few more weeks! Grab it before it goes back to full price!! 🙂 Hope you LOVE it!
Thanks much Maria!! Hope you enjoy!
I saw!! It came up on my Google alerts! Thank you sweetie!! XOXO
Gosh I'm so slow! I NEED TO READ THIS NOW!!! Heard nothing but great things!
Hi Natasha! Hope you LOVE!! 🙂
Books sounds great! Can't wait to get it in my hands. In my TBR pile. Thanks Joan.
Sue P.
suepete12(at)yahoo(dot)com
The book sounds terrific! Good luck with everything – can't wait to read it!
What is better than a steamy book and an Amazon gift card?
Susan C.
scoster1@comcast.net
I MORE than enjoyed!!!
~sorry I didn't come back and check the replies~
O_____O
Since I'm international it doesn't apply here but I'll still try and get it 😀