Indulgent Blog Hop, For Keeps, and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Indulgent blog hop! The timing of the hop couldn’t be any more perfect as I have a brand new release, For Keeps, which features seduction by Nutella, one of my favorite indulgences. It’s fabulous with pretzels, spread on a graham cracker and although you didn’t hear it from me, the old spoon in the jar trick is simplicity at it’s indulgent best. In For Keeps, Allie and Cooper live in the same apartment building and have formed a friendship that started mostly as flirtation. Cooper invites himself over for dinner one night and although the sparks are flying, Allie wouldn’t dare make a move–Cooper is 28 and she’s 40. She doubts he’s doing much more than making her feel good with his playful quips and flirtatious touches. It’s only when they make dessert, crepes filled with Nutella, that she learns Cooper is interested in a different kind of sweet treat.

Here’s the scene:

After dinner, they cleared the table and Allie got out flour and eggs. “I thought it’d be fun to make crepes. I should’ve made the batter before you got here, but there wasn’t enough time.” She turned as Cooper placed the dinner plates in the dishwasher. “Thanks for cleaning up.”

“No problem.” He shut the stainless door and wiped his hands on a kitchen towel. “What can I do to help?”

“You can get the butter out of the fridge. I need two tablespoons melted.”

“Got it. Now what?” He wagged the stick back and forth.

She eyed him, loving the playful smile across his face that unfortunately highlighted the boyish quality of his charms. “Look at the lines.” She ran her finger along the parchment wrapping. “Cut off two tablespoons, put it in a bowl and pop it in the microwave for thirty seconds.”

“That much I can manage.”

His bangs flopped down onto his forehead as he worked. His profile was strong and something about that particular view of his mouth left her breathless. It didn’t take much to imagine gently tugging on his lower lip with her teeth, sinking into him, their tongues tangling. Staring at him, thinking naughty thoughts may have been an ill-advised plan, but after a glass and a half of merlot, she could no longer keep her brain from the course it longed to take.

“I need you to drizzle in the butter while I beat this,” she murmured.

He pulled the bowl from the microwave and flashed his eyes at her. “Yes ma’am.”

Her eyes clamped shut for an instant. No you don’t. Please don’t call me ma’am. She whisked the batter and he parked a hand on her lower back, streaming the golden-yellow butter into the bowl.

“Like this?” he asked.

Oh yeah, like that. His hand was scorching through her thin cotton t-shirt. “Yes,” she answered. A rough huff of air escaped her lips as he applied more pressure when the final drops spiraled down into the bowl. He’s driving me crazy. “I was thinking Nutella in the crepes. Does that sound okay?” Please say yes. Chocolate might help at this point.

“It all sounds good to me.” His voice was as rich as the butter in the bowl. “Over here, right?” A pang of disappointment hit her when he lightened his touch and stepped away. He was only gone for an instant, but she missed his touch all that time.

“The batter needs to sit.” Allie turned as Cooper unscrewed the lid from the jar. Her breath caught when he dipped his finger into the chocolaty spread and popped it into his mouth.

“Mmm,” he hummed. “So good.” His tongue swept across his lower lip.

“It is,” she mumbled, the most coherent string of words she could assemble. How long before I melt into a puddle on the floor?

Cooper dipped his finger into the jar a second time.

“You’re cheating,” she said. “No double-dips.”

He shook his head and his eyes softened, drawing her in as her pulse quickened. “It’s not for me.” He eased closer and held out his finger. “You know you want some.”

Her mouth gaped, but more from shock than a craving for chocolate. She drew in a long, slow breath. Is he doing what I think he’s doing? He let his finger rest on her lower lip before sliding it into her mouth. Her tongue quivered with anticipation of the sweet reward. She cursed her impatience, but immediately closed her lips around his finger and sucked. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but closing them was an idiotic idea. The smolder in his eyes told her she’d done exactly what he’d been hoping for.    Copyright © Karen Booth, 2012 All rights reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

Hungry for more??? Read the full excerpt.

For Keeps is available from:

Ellora’s Cave | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance E-books

Have you ever been seduced by food? Share the details in the comments and I will award one lucky winner their choice of one of my other Ellora’s Cave releases–Long-Distance Lovers (co-authored with Karen Stivali) or Love My Way. NOTE: This contest has ended. Kelsey S. was the winner!

In addition, the Ndulgent Bloggers are giving away a Grand Prize of a $100 gift card from the winner’s choice of Barnes & Noble or Amazon via Rafflecopter.  Rafflecopter giveaway

Both giveaways end at 11:59 PM, EST on September 22.

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Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 57: Rick Springfield’s Two-Page Spread

Anybody who knew me in seventh grade knew one thing to be true: I was going to marry Rick Springfield. It was only a matter of the stars aligning. To nudge fate in the right direction, I wrote Rick an eloquent letter that simply stated, “I Love You” one hundred times. Surely, my expression of devotion would bring us together. I’d said, “I Love You” one hundred times. Not ninety-nine. Not one hundred and one. One hundred. (My 13 year-old daughter loves this story and will tell it to anyone who will listen. Just ask my hair stylist.) Well, Rick, I’d say that I’m still waiting, but after reading your memoir, Late, Late at Night, I’m going to have to pass. As to whether Keri Stevens is amenable, you’ll have to ask her yourself.

Keri Stevens

Ozarks, Missouri, Class of ’93, Currently: Romance author

Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: “Sister Christian”

Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: Rick Springfield two-page spread from Sunday’s Parade Magazine

Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: Twisted Sister. I’ve long-since come to appreciate them more.

Best show or concert you saw in high school: Milli Vanilli and I am not even kidding. They were wonderful. And they SANG, dammit!

Best high school make-out song: “Voyage, Voyage” by Desireless. French song, French singer. I was an exchange student the year it was a hit, and I did most of my making out in Germany.

Keri Stevens creates mayhem and magic in small-town paranormal romance novels like her debut, Stone Kissed, which has won two international awards: The Golden Quill for best first book and the International Digital Award for paranormal romance. You can learn more about Keri at keristevens.com or chat with her on Twitter @KeriStevens.