New Favorite Song

I don't listen to a lot of pop music anymore, but this one caught my attention when I was driving around California. Here's Audre Lorde's Royals, which I have now listened to probably a hundred times. It holds up well. ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/v/nlcIKh6sBtc?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=v5P3YO3LS3kKIMqJ-YDPTA

New Goodreads Giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Sex and the Single Fireman

by Jennifer Bernard

Giveaway ends November 26, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

My first Goodreads giveaway! I'm offering up five signed print copies of SEX AND THE SINGLE FIREMAN.  I have to admit I haven't done a lot on Goodreads so far -- I just haven't had time. I'm incredibly behind on posting book reviews; it would probably take me a week to catch up. But I'm determined to be more active, starting with this giveaway. I'm also intrigued by the "Featured Author" ask me anything type of events, so stay tuned for that.

Do you enjoy Goodreads? What do like to see authors do on Goodreads? I'm open to suggestions! In the meantime, good luck in the giveaway!

Jennifer

My Eye Obsession

The other day I got into a discussion with another author about eyes. She says she doesn't particularly notice a man's eye color and thinks romance writers overemphasize them in their character descriptions.

Really? My gosh, eyes are so important to me, in books and in real life! In fact, my husband's eyes were the first thing that drew my attention (closely followed by other body parts, but that's another story.) I thought he had the kindest blue eyes I'd ever seen. I still think so.




To me, eye color is just part of the picture. The expression, the brightness, the spirit that shines from a man's eyes say so much about him. I can't imagine not including my hero's eye color in my books. I know exactly what Captain Brody's eyes look like: charcoal-gray with little glints of silver. Psycho has brilliant, vibrant blue eyes. Chief Roman's are a deep dark color, somewhere between black and midnight blue. And so on.

 

 But she definitely got me thinking. Am I overdoing my obsession with eyes? When you're reading a book, are the hero's eyes important to you or not? I'm really curious. Help me out here!

Cover Reveal: DESPERATELY SEEKING FIREMAN

Since I don't want to leave anyone waiting too long for their next Bachelor Fireman fix, a new novella will be coming your way on December 31. It's called DESPERATELY SEEKING FIREMAN, and I just received the cover. I love the sassy-sexy feel of this one. The story has a little bit of everything. A wedding, a scandal, a storm, and some serious chemistry. Enjoy!

 

Fire Captain Jeb Stone and incredibly successful press secretary Nita Moreno have both been burned by love before. That’s why neither one is looking for more than a few steamy nights of passion.

When circumstances find them stranded on an island together babysitting a cross-dressing senator and the very pregnant wife of San Gabriel’s most famous captain, they allow the sparks they feel to take center stage. But as their feelings grow, can they each allow the other past the barriers they’ve built to protect their hearts?

Preorder Links: 

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Book Events with Rachel Gibson

I picked up my first Rachel Gibson book a few years ago, and was instantly captured by her wry, irreverent style and the unusual heroine, a New Age shop owner who liked aromatherapy. Perfect foil for the undercover cop hero. Gabrielle Breedlove and Joe Shanahan were so wrong for each other, and yet so deliciously, hilariously perfect for each other. I adored It Must Be Love, but I never, ever imagined that I'd someday be appearing at a book event WITH RACHEL GIBSON!!

Believe it or not, that's what's happening this week. Wednesday at 7pm, we'll be at the Mission Viejo Library, and Thursday at 7pm at the Clark County library in Las Vegas (all the details are below), talking about our books and signing. I'm excited and yes, a little nervous. She's a superstar who routinely appears on the bestseller lists. I'm still a relative newcomer, having only been published for a year and a half. Book signings in general are still new to me, let alone book signings in the company of Rachel Gibson!

I have a feeling this will be me. ;-)

But hey, it's a thrill and hopefully I won't do anything embarrassing like over-gush or forget the title of my book or trip over my chair or spill water on everyone's books ... well, let's not imagine all possible bad scenarios.

So, if you're in Southern California or near Las Vegas, do consider coming out! I'd love to meet you.

October 16, 7pm
Mission Viejo Library
100 Civic Center
Mission Viejo, CA

October 17, 7pm
Clark County Library
Jewel Box Theater
1401 E. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Rachel will be signing her bestselling new book, RUN TO YOU,
















and I'll be signing HOW TO TAME A WILD FIREMAN.

Free Short Story: FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN

FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN 

A Bachelor Firemen Short Story

“As you all know, a fashion magazine camera crew is coming to the firehouse today.” Captain Brody looked about as happy as a cavity-ridden kid at the dentist’s office, but the firefighters of San Gabriel Station 1—all three shifts--broke out in a cheer. It took no more than a brief scowl to make the applause stop. “Ground rules. No talking to the models. No flirting with the models. No handing over phone numbers to the models. You stand where the photographer tells you, we get this thing done, and life goes back to normal.”

Matt McBride couldn’t help himself. His mother had always said – yelled, really – that he was born to make mischief, and nothing in his life so far had proved her wrong. He raised his hand. “Excuse me, Cap, but exactly how rude do you want us to be? Just so we can be properly prepared for all scenarios.”

“Excuse me?”

“Like, for instance, what if a model tries to talk to us. Let’s say I’m the model, and Vader’s Vader.” He turned to the big muscleman firefighter next to him and spoke in a falsetto. “Oooh, Vader, you’re so hunky and fine. Want to hang out tonight? I’m afraid my hot tub’s going to catch fire and I’d looooove to have a man with a big hose nearby.”

Vader looked disgusted. “Like I haven’t heard that line before.”

“You say, ask the Captain,” said the Captain sternly, his charcoal eyes glinting dangerously. No one messed with Captain Brody in that mood. “Anyone talks to you, refer them to me. I’m serious. I fought against this shoot, but a donation to Widows and Orphans goes a long way. I want no disruptions. McBride, that especially applies to the B-Shift, since you’re on duty. You’re extras in this gig, but you’re firefighters first. A call comes in, shoot’s off. You talk to a model, you’re off the shoot. Those are my ground rules. Understood? Now go suit up.”

As the firefighters dispersed, Matt spoke out of the side of his mouth to Patrick Callahan, AKA “Psycho,” the blue-eyed wild man of Station 1 and his closest friend on the A-shift. The two of them had cut quite a swath through the female population of San Gabriel. “Bet you a soda they’re going to want us shirtless.” 

“Anything for the cause,” said Psycho piously. “Anything for the cause.”

Fred, known ironically as “Stud,” caught up to them just before they reached the apparatus bay. “I told my little sister Lizzie we’re going to be in Cosmo, and she just about died. She threatened to rip her braces off if I don’t get Bianca’s autograph.” 

“Who’s Bianca?” asked Matt.

“She’s … she’s world-famous and … and enchanting and she’s the star model who’s coming. Don’t you guys know anything?”

Matt clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s why we have you, Stud. Keep us up to date on all the important and enchanting stuff.”

Fred refused to laugh. Worry creased his endearingly boyish face. “How’m I supposed to get her autograph when the Captain said no talking?”

“You hand her a pen and paper and let her figure it out. Pretend you’re a deaf-mute.” Matt winked at Psycho, who chuckled and shook his head.

“Really?” Fred frowned. “That sounds a little dishonest.”

Vader strode past them on his way to his locker. “Show up at her hotel and buy her a drink. That’s what I’d do. Her and a couple of her friends. Models travel in packs. And they never say no to champagne.”

Seeing the stark terror on Fred’s face, Matt came to his rescue.

 “As if she’d be staying in San Gabriel,” he said. “Celebrities like that, they don’t stay in normal places. They have, you know, supersonic jets and floating hotels that whisk them from one town to another, and assistants whose entire job is to keep specks of dirt off their clothes …” As usual, his imagination ran away with him. He’d always loved to spin a good story.

Vader shrugged one huge shoulder. “Whatever you say, Nessie.”

Matt grimaced. The guys called him Nessie for two reasons. One, he was born in Scotland, and two, he’d once pretended for a solid month that he’d been raised by the Loch Ness monster. Big mistake, that one.

Vader continued. “Besides, I happen to know the entire crew, including the models, are staying at the White Flower Inn. I know a chick who works there. They booked the whole place. Stacy says they practically strip-searched her when she went in to work.” He looked thoughtful. “We did a re-enactment. Didn’t seem so bad to me.”

“There you go, Stud.” Matt squeezed Fred’s shoulder. “All it takes is a strip search and a massive dose of rejection from a pack of models, and that autograph is yours.”

Fred looked a little ill, but at that moment all teasing stopped as a long tone echoed through the station. The dispatcher’s voice followed.

“Reported structure fire for Engine 1, Truck 1, Battalion 4, Paramedic Squad 3. 1White Flower Lane, Incident 51, time of alarm 9:22.”

In shock, the firefighters all looked at each other. “That’s the freaking Inn!” Vader yelled. “I gotta call Stacy.”

The sound of the other B-shift firefighters running into the apparatus bay snapped Matt from his paralysis. He was on shift. Right. He grabbed his helmet and face piece from his locker.

“We’ll hold down the fort here.” Psycho tossed him his jacket. “Go save some models."

To continue, click here for your free download. 

http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/Avon/fallingforthefireman.pdf

Book Sale News!

Everyone likes a good bargain now and then -- I know I do. I have a couple for you today. First of all, for today only, HOT FOR FIREMAN is the NOOK Daily Find, on sale for $1.99.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/ebook-nook-daily-find-bargain-deal/379003102

This offer is only valid for Saturday, August 31, so if you have a NOOK or if you know someone who loves their NOOK, click on that link and enjoy!

Over at Amazon, THE FIREMAN WHO LOVED ME, the book that begins the series, is on sale for Kindle for only .99! http://www.amazon.com/Fireman-Who-Loved-Me-ebook/dp/B00655X79K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377969082&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fireman+who+loved+me

Not to be outdone, B&N.com also has this book on sale for the same price.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-fireman-who-loved-me?keyword=the+fireman+who+loved+me&store=book

With the newest book in the series, HOW TO TAME A WILD FIREMAN, coming out on September 24, this is the perfect time to get caught up! While all the books can be read on their own, there's something extra-fun about reading all the books in a series. And more are coming, so brace yourself for lots of sexy fireman fun! 

 

Have a great weekend! It's a perfect time to curl up with a hot fireman, don't you think? ;-)