I was lucky to beta read this one for the lovely Scarlet, and I fell in love with her characters and the setting. You really do feel as though you are there, so I am very excited to be able to host her today.
Enjoy your trip to Bella Key!
****
Thank you for having me as a guest! I
appreciate you celebrating the debut of my new release, BELLA KEY, with me. :)
One look at the cover tells you Bella Key
is an erotic female/female romance. However, first and foremost it’s love story
that just happens to contain two very sexy women. So whether you’re a fan of
f/f or maybe f/f-curious ~ give it a try. I think you’re going to like it. ;)
Bella Key by Scarlet Chastain
Release Date: May 3rd
from Evernight Publishing
Blurb:
Maddie Jacobs must be crazy. At least
that’s what her mother thinks. Professionally, she’s confident and secure;
personally, she’s a hot mess. Not even a marriage proposal from a man who
adores her can quell her search for something more.
In need of an escape, Maddie flees to Key
West’s most southern island, Bella Key, to rest and recharge at Casa Bonita.
She almost gives up on weekend retreat when the Bed & Breakfast is closed
for repairs until Sunny Rojas, the inn owner, extends an offer of friendship,
sweet tea and a room. Still reeling from a breakup with her longtime partner,
Sunny is thankful for the diversion from her own broken heart.
The arrival of a fierce storm forces the
women’s emotional journey to a head and leads them into each other’s arms. But
can Maddie throw her hangups to the wind and go with her heart? The magic of
Bella Key teaches her that passion cannot be placed neatly into boxes labeled
right and wrong, because love knows no boundaries.
Excerpt:
“Good shower?”
Maddie stopped in the doorway, holding
the knot of her towel to her chest. Wet strands of hair produced rivulets of
water streaming down her shoulders and chest. “Like a new woman. Although, my
northern skin can’t handle the tropical sun. Look at my shoulders!” Sunny’s
gaze moved from one shoulder to another. Maddie was right, she was more than
sun-kissed. Her shoulders practically glowed. “Oh, chica. That’s an angry burn
you have there. I have some aloe —” Sunny picked up and put down five different
bottles from her dressing table. “—ah, here it is. This’ll ease the pain and
cut down on the peeling, too.”
Sunny flipped the top and squeezed a
quarter-sized dab of the green gel into her palm. She nodded toward her bed,
signaling Maddie to sit. Rubbing the aloe between her palms, she rested one
knee on the bed beside her. Maddie gathered her wet hair and flipped it over
her shoulder to allow Sunny access to the other. Her body shivered under
Sunny’s hands.
“Sorry, this stuff’s cold. I tried to
warm it up a little.”
Maddie closed her eyes and tilted her
head to the side. “It’s not that. It feels good on the burn. You have a gentle
touch.”
Sunny chuckled. “Scooch over a little
so I can get your other side.”
Maddie shifted, lifting her feet onto
the bed and tucking them under her legs Indian style. Sunny guided her head
forward and massaged the aloe along the base of her neck to her shoulder
blades, and down to the edge of the fluffy towel. She bent her knee, providing
an anchor for Maddie to lean upon. Her inner thighs grazed the thick towel.
Sunny closed her eyes and focused not only on Maddie’s sunburned skin, but also
on loosening the muscles along her shoulders and upper back.
“I have a confession to make,” Maddie
said quietly.
“Other than this is the best massage
you’ve ever received?” Sunny snorted.
“Mmm. That too. I-I watched you last
night.” Maddie went a few seconds without taking a breath.
Sunny didn’t waver. “I know you did.
You were outside of my door.”
“You knew? Why didn’t you stop or say
something?” Maddie kept her eyes closed but turned her head toward Sunny as she
spoke.
Sunny added another dab of aloe to her
palm. “I liked that you were watching me. It turned me on that you enjoyed it
too.”
“Never in my life had I thought I’d be
attracted, you know, sexually to a woman. It’s different with you. Many things
are different with you.” Maddie’s hand trembled as she touched Sunny’s leg,
tracing an imaginary line up and down her calf. The rapid rise and fall of
Maddie’s back matched the pounding in Sunny’s chest.
Silence filled the room. Sunny had
decided against bringing up the episode from the night before unless Maddie
did. Now that it was out in the open, Sunny could find out how Maddie felt for
sure. “Different, how?”
“You make me feel so focused and honest
and alive. I’ve never had that with anyone else before.” Maddie turned and
kneeled in front of Sunny. “Would it be forward if I asked you to kiss me?”
Sunny swallowed hard. “Yes, but I like
forward,” she whispered as she cupped Maddie’s face with her palms. Dragging
her thumb over Maddie’s bottom lip she realized how many times she wanted to
taste her lips and explore her mouth over the past two days. Sunny lowered her
face and brushed her lips once over Maddie’s. She drew back to study Maddie’s
reaction.
“Again,” Maddie whispered, her eyes remained
closed.
Find
Bella Key here:
Author
Bio:
Scarlet Chastain is the
semi-secret pseudonym of a multi-published, best selling author of sensual
erotic romance. Scarlet's focus is female-centric sizzling stories written
about women, for women.
She lives in the suburban
shadows of New York City but her heart belongs to the beaches of Key West.
Scarlet can usually be found in her favorite chair of her newly acquired
writing cave with her maltipoo, Coco.
Stalk Scarlet here:
Website: http://scarletchastain.com
Twitter: @scarletchastain
Email: scarletchastain@gmail.com
Just bought this one recently, looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Dee!!
DeletePlease drop me a note after you've had the chance to read BELLA KEY. I'd love to know how you enjoy Sunny and Maddie's story. :)
I was also a lucky beta reader. I love this :)
ReplyDelete*mwah mwah*
DeleteThanks for beta reading BELLA KEY, Raven! You gave me the push I needed to send it off.
Thanks for having me on to share BELLA KEY with your readers, Doris!
ReplyDelete(((hugs)))) for taking a peek at my girls before submission, too. Your encouragement was so appreciated! xoxo