Hearts Afire: February - Jolie Cain & Rhiannon Leith [Feb 02]

[Maria]

Coming in 2009 - a new Liquid erotic romance anthology with a Fireman theme

Hearts Afire: February

by: Jolie Cain and Rhiannon Leith

ISBN: 978-1-59578-512-1

Featuring the stories "The Jealousy Plot" and "Captive Flame"


Stay tuned to this topic for all the latest on this new Liquid romance

Blurb for The Jealousy Plot:

For as long as she can remember, Callie has been in love with her next-door neighbor Trey, a firefighter on the Oceanside Fire Department, but he has never seen her as anything more than a good friend, a pal. Then for her birthday, Trey gives her something wonderful...not the usual tire jack and mace spray. No, he gives her a beautiful antique locket, and Callie begins to dream that maybe he has changed the way he sees her. After all, when a guy gives a girl jewelry, it means something special—right?

Only her friend Marianne Riley isn’t so sure. She thinks Trey needs to be nudged just a bit in the right direction. So she enlists the aid of her brother, one of Trey’s fellow firefighters, in a plot to make Trey jealous. But Ben Riley seems interested in more than just helping Callie out. And he arouses feelings in Callie that Trey never has. While Trey has always made her feel safe and secure, Ben makes her feel wild and out of control. He pushes her and fulfills her darkest desires.

Eventually Callie must decide...which firefighter is the one that sets her heart on fire?


Blurb for Captive Flame:

As a djinn, a being formed of fire, Adara has spent centuries enslaved to the human Magi, passed from one to another, made to do their bidding. She yearns for freedom. She yearns for love.

When fire-fighter Peter O’Connor pulls her out of an inferno, he snatches her from her current Magus. This new master has no idea of what or how powerful she is, and the opportunity to break free final becomes a real possibility. If only her body didn’t react to him with such abandon. If only his touch didn’t make her lose the will to do anything but be with him.

With the Magus closing in on them, and Peter’s life in danger, Adara must choose between her desire and her dreams.

And with supernatural arson attacks sweeping the city, Peter must decide if a firefighter can really trust a fire?

[Maria]

Excerpt from The Jealousy Plot
By Jolie Cain:


"No, Marianne. Let me go." Her face turned hot as she saw people watching her struggle against Marianne's tugging. Finally, she gave up. When her friend got an idea in her head, it was almost impossible to get it out. And now she had this crazy plan to make Trey jealous by using, of all people on God's green earth, her sex maniac of a brother.

As they got closer to Ben and his friends, Ben stood up. He smiled at Marianne. "Hello, there, Sis."

Marianne released her grip on Callie's arm and reached up to hug Ben. "Hiya, handsome. Ew...you’re all sweaty. Oh, well, I love you anyway.” She hugged him again, and he grinned down at her, and she nodded her head in Callie’s direction. “Callie saw you and wanted to come over and say hi.”

They all turned to look at Callie as she stood rubbing her arm where Marianne had been yanking on it. Her head jerked up, and her jaw dropped. Ben smiled, obviously trying not to laugh at the blatant lie his sister had told. "Well, hi yourself, Callie." He stepped around Marianne to drop a brief kiss at the corner of Callie’s mouth.

She jerked back and looked up at him in startled dismay. Marianne jabbed her in the ribs, and she finally mumbled, “Um, hi.”

He gestured to his friends. "I think you know Ross and Nina Hawkins. And this is their friend...ah..." He looked toward Ross who supplied, "Shelley Broadus." Shelley stood and strolled over to link her arm through Ben's, who stared down at her with what Callie thought was a look of surprise.

Callie mumbled her ‘hello's,’ and stood uncomfortably as Marianne chatted with Ben and his friends. Finally Marianne turned to her brother, "Ben, can we talk to you for a few minutes?"

Callie saw the curiosity in his eyes as he nodded agreement. "Sure, sweetheart. Excuse me, guys?"

Callie fell in behind, feet dragging, as Ben and Marianne walked a short distance away. What could she do to stop the train wreck that was about to happen? Nervously her fingers played with her necklace, sliding the locket back and forth, back and forth on the chain. Surely, surely Marianne was not about to do what Callie feared she was. Why in the name of all that was holy, could Marianne possibly think he would be willing to go along with such a stupid and humiliating plan? How could she stop her? Could she stop her? Obviously not, because Marianne had already launched into her plot.
As Marianne talked, Ben kept darting curious glances at Callie, and Callie wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground. She could feel her face turning redder and redder with embarrassment. Finally, Marianne shut up, and Callie could take it no longer.

She forced a laugh. "Ben, please ignore everything you heard. I know what you must be thinking, but Marianne has lost her mind. It's sad, but true, I'm afraid. I didn't want to say anything before, but she's needs to see a psychiatrist--desperately. I was going to talk to your parents about it...”

He laughed, his teeth flashing white against his tanned face, drawing Callie’s attention to the dimple that creased his chin, and turned back to Marianne. "Just so I'm clear here about this, Sis. You want me to pretend to be all hot and heavy for Callie in hopes of making Trey see her as a woman and not a little girl?"

Marianne nodded firmly. "That's right.”

Callie’s cheeks burned hotter--little girl? Omigod, had he really said little girl--and she stared at the ground. Jesus, how humiliating.

“And you think this will make him ask her out?” Callie could hear the amusement in his voice and prayed the earth would open up and swallow her on the spot.

“Of course it will. My plans never fail. And you owe me. You know you do, Benjy."

Thank God there was no way he would agree to this crazy idea, thought Callie. She wished he'd hurry up and say no so she and Marianne could get the hell out of there and put this utterly mortifying episode behind them.
He looked over at Callie and stood there, staring at her without saying anything. Then he turned back to listen as Marianne spoke again, his finger tapping against his bottom lip. His full and sexy bottom lip, Callie couldn’t help but noticing. Her eyes widened as the thought crossed her mind, and she flushed even redder, licking her lips that had suddenly become dry. Then he reached down and tugged the hem of his shirt up to wipe across his sweaty face. Callie’s eyes were drawn like a magnet to his rock-hard abs. She shivered at the thought of touching that hot, sweaty skin. She looked up. He was watching her closely, and her eyes widened when she realized she’d been caught staring. He grinned, a wicked little grin she knew probably meant all kinds of trouble. A grin that made her stomach flip over and her mouth go even drier.

"First of all, don’t call me, Benjy, Squirt.” He reached over to yank on Marianne’s hair. “You’re only a girl, you know. I’m older, bigger, and stronger.”

“Ha, I noticed you didn’t say smarter, bro.”

He laughed and turned to Callie, his eyes narrowing as they ran up and down her body, traveling from the top of her head all the way down to her scuffed tennis shoes, lingering a bit too long on her breasts and the apex of her thighs. Callie squirmed beneath his scrutiny. And then, unbelievably, amazingly, he said, “And second... Sure, I’d be glad to do anything I can to help Callie out. Anything at all. After all, she’s practically one of the family." He winked at Callie, and she gaped in return.


Excerpt from Captive Flame
By Rhiannon Leith:

The crack of timbers overhead made both firefighters snap their heads up, away from the obvious flames to find the black and charred roof sagging.

“Out,” Peter snapped. “Back the way we came. Slow and steady, Martin.”

“The others?”

“I know.”

It was the worst kind of call. Three firefighters missing, the building close to collapse with a fire which had spread rapidly and unchecked. Even the hoses didn’t appear to be reaching the heart of the fire. So it was search and rescue, masks and cumbersome suits and constant danger. The continuing risk three might become five.

Skirting the ground floor, the sound of the fire grew deafening, the groans of the shifting beams, the roar within the walls. The cloying smoke hampered vision and the debris underfoot made the path even more treacherous than on the way in. The foyer of the building opened to a wide space of blackened walls and twisted metal, all reflected in water from the hoses.

And then they heard it--voices shouting from above them.

“The stairs are still good on that side,” Dave called, and from the main door their reinforcements arrived. Fresh men, ready to tackle the flames. Peter waved at them to follow, but Dave’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. “We’re done, mate. Let them in at it. You have to know when to step back.”

Peter watched them charge up the stairway, and Dave stepped into the light, unfastening the mask and letting it hang to one side so he could wipe sweat and grime from his face.

EMTs hurried Dave away from danger. Peter sighed and started to follow.

Started, but stopped.

Behind him, he heard a voice, a woman’s voice. But they had all civilians out. He knew that for sure. It didn’t come from overhead where he suspected the firefighters were trapped, but back the way he had come, back in the heart of the fire.

A woman’s voice sang out, sweetly melodic amid the crackle and roar, as distinct as if she stood right by his side.

“Dave?” Peter barked into his mic, praying that his friend still had the earpiece in. “Dave, there’s someone back in the room to the south. I’m going after her. Can you back me up?”

Only static answered him and he cursed. It was against protocol, but the voice came again, no words he could distinguish, more like a spoken melody. Almost as hypnotic as the flames had been.

He plunged into the darkness once more.

The smoke was heavier, hampering vision and movement. His feet snagged on fallen timbers and he went down, plunging into the fire-drenched room face first.

He landed heavily, air forced from his lungs in a rush, a line disconnecting from the breathing apparatus on his back. He heard it pop and the fizz of air. Air which would feed the fire rather than him.

Survival kicked in and Peter struggled to shed the tank. He rolled onto his back and blinked through the broken face mask, coughing as the smoke crept around the shattered edges, burning the tender tissues of his lungs with each inhalation.

“Where are you, Martin?” he wheezed.

Then the flames moved, shimmering as they did, forming a body far too human to be real in such a place as this. She stood over him, a shapely column of fire, burning tresses curling around a dazzling face. The woman bent over him and took his gloved hand, pulling him up to meet her.

She had to be a dream, a nightmare. Or maybe he’d inhaled more smoke than he thought, because there was no way this was real.

The woman-in-flames tilted her head to one side, as if studying him with those golden eyes. So beautiful, her narrow face and high cheekbones, her full lips slightly parted. He swallowed hard as all thought left him.

Her hands on his arms were real enough, her touch solid. But it was impossible. The flames that wrapped around her fell back to reveal a naked figure, curved where a woman should curve, breasts that would fill his hands. And a mouth that needed kissing.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he tried to tell her as his wits returned. “We have to get out of here right now.”

Again, she tilted her head as if trying to understand his words. But she made no move, nor showed any sign of fear. Anyone else would be screaming and dashing for the door right now, or at least clinging to him, begging for help. To even be in there in the first place indicated insanity.

Peter pushed her back slightly and that was when his hands fell on her wrists. Or rather on the golden cuffs she wore. Thin chains of gold coiled up her arms to join a golden collar around her neck, so delicate it looked like jewellery. The chains ran down to her ankles as well, little trails of glittering light. Exotic, and faintly erotic in the firelight, it was all she wore. His eyes ran over her body again and his face heated more than was natural even with the fire surrounding them.

She smiled and lifted her face to his, but then a frown rippled across her smooth brow. She freed herself effortlessly from his grip and her hands closed on the mask. Peter stooped over her, powerless to resist as she pushed it aside to reveal his face. Then she rose on her toes and pressed her lips against his.

[Rachel Fox]

Yeppers, I read these two also. This series is, pardon the expression, HOT!

Congrats, ladies.

Rachel

[Tina Holland]

Looks like we got alot of talent here.

[Nina Pierce]

February is soooooo very far away.

[Jennifer Leeland]

Okay, blurbage ladies. Come on Rhiannon, show them how AWESOME this one is.
*loves having the inside scoop*

[Rhiannon Leith]

Oh Wow! A date and an ISBN. I'm still new here (Hi Jen!) so someone tell me what to do please?

Rhi

[Jolie Cain]

And hi, Rhiannon. Congrats on your first release with LSB. You're gonna love it here! Looks like we're gonna be 'pardners' on this release.

[Tina Burns]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Leith

Oh Wow! A date and an ISBN. I'm still new here (Hi Jen!) so someone tell me what to do please?

Rhi

Hey Rhi, if you've got a blurb done for the story go ahead and post it. That's all for now, you'll get into the editing and such in a little bit.

[Nina Pierce]

I think the "Jealousy Plot" is Jolie's. Anyway ... I love the blurb!

[Tracey West]

I read Jolie's also, in between other subs during 'down time', (I LOVE Firemen LOL) and couldn't resist, and I LOVED it!!!! SMOKIN'!!! You go, Jolie

[Jolie Cain]

Thanks, ladies. Yeah, The Jealousy Plot is mine. And Tracey, I like firefighters, too. In fact, I'm married to one

[Nina Pierce]

Originally Posted by Jolie Cain

And Tracey, I like firefighters, too. In fact, I'm married to one

So "in depth" research was easy for you.

[Jennifer Leeland]

Rhiannon, just post your blurb and everyone will love it. I did.

[Tina Holland]

Wow! Love the Blurbage!

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Leith

someone tell me what to do please?

Observing the seasoned authors around here, a snoopy dance seems to be de rigeur.

As you're not seasoned yet, just add some salad dressing and fake it for now.

[Rhiannon Leith]

'Kay! This is pretty(very) rough as I can't find my original one! But it gives the general idea.

*Blurb posted above*

[Tracey West]

Originally Posted by Jolie Cain

Thanks, ladies. Yeah, The Jealousy Plot is mine. And Tracey, I like firefighters, too. In fact, I'm married to one

OH lucky woman. First hand research, gosh your job is so difficult

[Jolie Cain]

Originally Posted by Tracey West

OH lucky woman. First hand research, gosh your job is so difficult

Yes, well, someone has to do it.

[Nina Pierce]

Originally Posted by Mike

Observing the seasoned authors around here, a snoopy dance seems to be de rigeur.

And that would be the case. Snoopy dancing with kilts is even better.

But Rhiannon, the blurb you posted is awesome. Boy, these two stories are going to make a wonderful anthology.

[Jolie Cain]

Honestly, what I want is to see some cover art. Gorgeous firefighters all hot and sweaty. Oh, my, yes.

[Jade Morrison]

Can't wait to read these stories! Both sound fantastic. This is going to be a good year!

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Jolie Cain

Gorgeous firefighters all hot and sweaty. Oh, my, yes.

I hear we'll be using mainly female firefighters on the covers, so I'm with you there Jolie, all the way

[Savanna Kougar]

Jolie, gosh, talk about lucky! for a husband...oh, and the research...
Rhiannon, wow, great to have you On Fire with us...

Great hot blurbs! This is so exciting.

[Jolie Cain]

Originally Posted by Mike

I hear we'll be using mainly female firefighters on the covers, so I'm with you there Jolie, all the way

I'll have to file a protest, Mike. I've been imagining these covers and this calendar since you guys announced it, and it ain't full of half-naked women.

[Jolie Cain]

Originally Posted by Savanna Kougar

Jolie, gosh, talk about lucky! for a husband...oh, and the research...


Great hot blurbs! This is so exciting.

Yeah, he's got a great 'hose,' and he's definitely good at putting out a 'fire.'
Of course, I quizzed him so much for this book that he feels like he actually wrote it.

[Rhiannon Leith]

I thought I'd follow Jolie's lead here - this is an excerpt from (near) the beginning of Captive Flame. Peter and Dave Martin are London firefighters, about to pull out of an impossible situation.

*EXCERPT MOVED UP TO SECOND POST*

[Gem Sivad]

These should melt the snows of winter and keep us all suitably 'warm' as we cluster around the fires.

Congratulations!

[Savanna Kougar]

Great blurbie ~ I love the djinn.

[Nina Pierce]

I stopped in hoping for another cover. Got a couple of great excerpts instead.

Very nice ladies!

[Mike]

April's Feb Fire.

[Jolie Cain]

Oh, damn, April! Blazing hot!!!!

[Jade Morrison]

HOT COVER!

More great excerpts!

Jade
Hearts Afire - March

[Hailey Edwards]

Wow to the cover and excerpts!

[Tina Holland]

I'm loving these covers...

[Savanna Kougar]

Blazing amazing, indeed, the cover...and the excerpts.

[Nina Pierce]

Beautiful cover. I love the colors and that guy ... he's just hot!

[Jennifer Leeland]

AWESOME COVER!!!!!!!!

[Bonnie Dee]

Another great cover for a great series. And both of these stories sound very hot!

[Rachel Fox]

Very nice cover.

Rachel

[Maria]

Fan the fire on Feb 2.

[Jolie Cain]

Yippee! I can't wait for this one to finally be pubbed. It seems like it's been forever!

[Alanna Coca]

*counting days*

[Rhiannon Leith]

Originally Posted by Jolie Cain

Yippee! I can't wait for this one to finally be pubbed. It seems like it's been forever!

Absolutely. So exciting!

[Nina Pierce]

Oh, only one more week before more hot firemen are burning up computers and ereaders all over the world!

[Savanna Kougar]

Jolie and Rhiannon...the blaze begins...

[Rhiannon Leith]

Oh my! It's happening tomorrow!

[Jennifer Leeland]

YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!! I can't wait until tomorrow!!!!

[Maria]

Fire it up.

Buy yours now.

[Alanna Coca]

YAY!! Congrats on the release!!