RELEASE DAY!

It's release day!

 Truth or Dare book 3

Giving Up.  

This is the story of Brandon Blake, the eldest Blake brother.



It's available from Breathless Press, All Romance eBooks, BookStrand and other online retailers.

Blurb:

Can Dr. Arden Grey teach Brandon Blake that giving up control is worth while, with the right woman?

Brandon Blake has a problem.  His family is fed up with his controlling ways. They don’t need him managing their affairs any more.  Brandon doesn’t want to lose his connection with his brothers, but he doesn’t know any other way to live.   He’s been in charge for a long time. Now his brothers are leaving home and making families of their own, and Brandon’s interference has caused some serious rifts. Brandon’s stressful job as CEO of the family production studio and his concerns for his brothers have contributed to the ulcer his doctor recently diagnosed. Therapy is supposed to help Brandon learn how to let go and give up the need to control every thing.  Brandon finds the counselor he’s been sent to intriguing, if a bit intimidating, though she has absolutely nothing in common with the women he’s dated in the past.

Dr. Arden Gray knows about control.  A survivor of marriage to a dominant, abusive partner, she’s spent the last twenty years turning her life around.  She’s learned to take control and has made a career of teaching others to do the same.  Brandon Blake is a surprise.  When his doctor sends Brandon to her, Arden isn’t sure how she can help the man.  But after a few sessions, she sees something intriguing hidden inside Brandon Blake, something that tells her he just might be the man she’s been looking for.  If only she can convince him that giving up control to the right woman will solve all his problems!

Excerpt:

He stood automatically, reaching out to shake her hand in greeting and murmuring polite good mornings.  A slight heat rose in his cheeks and he hoped to hell the blush wasn’t visible.  And why the fuck a simple handshake for the doctor should cause him to blush he didn’t know, but something about her made him feel self-conscious and uncertain in ways he hadn’t felt since he was a wild sixteen year old serving as his beautiful mother’s escort to Hollywood’s wild parties.

            He stiffened his spine and forced himself to meet those sharp blue eyes, unwittingly squeezing her hand just a little too tightly.  He watched as the blue eyes flared wide then narrowed, and Dr. Grey gently removed her hand from his.  The flush on his cheeks grew and he felt his stomach churn alarmingly.  He and Trick were about to have more in common than he’d ever thought possible if he couldn’t calm down soon. 

            Dr. Grey led him into her office and he took the same seat he normally did on the plush leather chair in front of the desk.  Somewhat surprised, he noticed that instead of taking the chair adjacent to him as she usually did Dr. Grey seated herself behind the neat steel and glass desk.  Crossing her hands on the desktop, she met his questioning gaze calmly, and Brandon let out the breath he hadn’t realized he held.  His roiling emotions calmed as he took in her stillness, and even his churning stomach was soothed.  This was different, but not wrong. 

            Or so he thought until she spoke. 

            “I’m afraid, Brandon, that I can’t keep you on as patient any longer.”

            Panic flared.  “What? Why not?”  His stomach heaved and he forced himself to breathe deeply through his nose, swallowing rapidly to prevent the consequences of the sudden lurch.  Nothing of his feelings showed on his face.  He had twenty-three years of practice at making sure of that. He couldn’t have heard correctly. 

            “Because I can’t help you in a professional capacity.  I’ve given you the tools to manage your problem, you’re an intelligent man and you can resolve your issues from here on your own.”  Her voice remained the same as it always had, soothing and cool, her gaze untroubled and calm. 

            Damn. How had he come to depend on that calmness in such a few meetings?  How would he deal without the soothing effect her voice had on his nerves and stomach?  Quickly pulling in resources to hide the shocking sense of abandonment he suddenly felt, Brandon grasped the tiny thread of anger and blew it up. 

            He surged upright and waved his phone in her face.  “Fuck.  I could have been at the office heading off a dozen major crises!  See this?  It’s called a cell phone. I have it with me all the time.  Next time you need to change our plans, use it!”

Giving Up Releases in Just two more days! Contest Winner Announced

This is it! Two more days to the release of Giving Up- and we all get to see how Brandon Blake fares in his quest for self improvement.  Of course, we'll get to look in on Terry, Dex, Trick and Mischa as well.  Keep an eye out for that rogue Dan- I've been hearing rumors about him lately that would singe your eyebrows.  

And so- We asked you to share a challenge, or just say hi, and what a fantastic response we got to that! 

The winner by random draw, is Stormy!  Your book is in the email!   

If you're reading this, you can email me at lee.brazil@ymail.com to claim your prize. 

What's the fuss all about?

 Giving Up

Truth or Dare 

book 3

Excerpt

He stood automatically, reaching out to shake her hand in greeting and murmuring polite good mornings.  A slight heat rose in his cheeks and he hoped to hell the blush wasn’t visible.  And why the fuck a simple handshake for the doctor should cause him to blush he didn’t know, but something about her made him feel self-conscious and uncertain in ways he hadn’t felt since he was a wild sixteen year old serving as his beautiful mother’s escort to Hollywood’s wild parties.

            He stiffened his spine and forced himself to meet those sharp blue eyes, unwittingly squeezing her hand just a little too tightly.  He watched as the blue eyes flared wide then narrowed, and Dr. Grey gently removed her hand from his.  The flush on his cheeks grew and he felt his stomach churn alarmingly.  He and Trick were about to have more in common than he’d ever thought possible if he couldn’t calm down soon. 

            Dr. Grey led him into her office and he took the same seat he normally did on the plush leather chair in front of the desk.  Somewhat surprised, he noticed that instead of taking the chair adjacent to him as she usually did Dr. Grey seated herself behind the neat steel and glass desk.  Crossing her hands on the desktop, she met his questioning gaze calmly, and Brandon let out the breath he hadn’t realized he held.  His roiling emotions calmed as he took in her stillness, and even his churning stomach was soothed.  This was different, but not wrong. 

            Or so he thought until she spoke. 

            “I’m afraid, Brandon, that I can’t keep you on as patient any longer.”

            Panic flared.  “What? Why not?”  His stomach heaved and he forced himself to breathe deeply through his nose, swallowing rapidly to prevent the consequences of the sudden lurch.  Nothing of his feelings showed on his face.  He had twenty-three years of practice at making sure of that. He couldn’t have heard correctly. 

            “Because I can’t help you in a professional capacity.  I’ve given you the tools to manage your problem, you’re an intelligent man and you can resolve your issues from here on your own.”  Her voice remained the same as it always had, soothing and cool, her gaze untroubled and calm. 

            Damn. How had he come to depend on that calmness in such a few meetings?  How would he deal without the soothing effect her voice had on his nerves and stomach?  Quickly pulling in resources to hide the shocking sense of abandonment he suddenly felt, Brandon grasped the tiny thread of anger and blew it up. 

            He surged upright and waved his phone in her face.  “Fuck.  I could have been at the office heading off a dozen major crises!  See this?  It’s called a cell phone. I have it with me all the time.  Next time you need to change our plans, use it!”

In the Kitchen: Having Some Fun With Summer Produce

My Dad was a simple man.  He enjoyed simple things.  He was child during the second World War, and his parents were children during WWI.  They married during before the Great Depression, and I'm sure that colored some of the things he enjoyed. He told incredible stories of rationing, of being sent down the street to the local bar to bring back a bucket of beer (apparently lots was expected to slosh over the sides on the return trip- hence an era of early drinkers) and of camping in the woods with his buddies.  They'd all swipe a big potato from their mom's potato bin and throw them in the fire before they went fishing.  If they caught fish, they cooked and ate them right there and the potatoes were breakfast.  If they didn't catch anything, the potatoes were dinner and they headed home before breakfast.

My Dad enjoyed simple things like a tomato sandwich, or a cucumber sandwich.  We grew them in a garden in our backyard, just like he did when he was a kid.  Dad shaved off his beard and mustache every spring so he could eat fresh corn on the cob, dripping with melted butter and grilled to perfection.

So with all the gardens blooming and produce stands popping up all over out here, I'm reminded of my Dad, and enjoying some of his favorites in place of the sophisticated, processed fare we normally see.

But, I've never been one to let well enough alone, either, so here's a touch of something I found that adds a bit of fun to a veggie sandwich.

Herbed Mayonnaise

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

1 garlic clove, smashed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

3/4 cup mayonnaise

preparation

Pulse basil, garlic, salt, and cayenne in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mayonnaise and blend until smooth. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavors to develop).

OR

1TBSP minced fresh cilantro

1TBSP minced fresh parsley

1/4 tsp white pepper

3/4 cup mayonnaise

Blend together cilantro, parsley and white pepper  with mayonnaise. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavors to develop).

Enjoyed both of these on tomato, cucumber and zucchini sandwiches this week.  Try them out!