Wendi Darlin

writes hard men with soft Southern tongues and the women who bring them to their knees. Get ready for some

Hot Southern Lovin'

Erotic Romance

Cowboy Games video!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

RELEASE DAY!!!

Today's the day! The debut of my first published novel!!!! I'm a little excited, a whole lot terrified, and grateful beyond words that all of you are here with me. Thank you so much for all the support you've given me. I'll be posting adult excerpts on some Yahoo loops today, including the Siren-BookStrand reader loop. But I have to keep it a little cleaner here.

Here'a a quick (PG) introduction to Gavin and Rebecca.

excerpt from Cowboy Games by Wendi Darlin
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing

Rebecca swore under her breath. How hard is it to put a piece of luggage on the corresponding flight? Isn’t that what all those obnoxious paper tags are for? She waited for the carousel to make one more round and tried to convince herself she wasn’t stalling. She glanced again at the full-color glossy brochure for Fantasy Ranch gripped in her hand. She was out of her mind alright. And she was definitely stalling.

Maybe Melinda was right about the cowboys, and the ones on the website were just models used for advertising the place. The real ones probably had scraggly beards, three front teeth and hands so callused they’d tear a girl’s skin to pieces.

“Where are you going?”

She didn’t have to look up. The pointed toes of his boots and faded denim that traveled up from there gave the speaker away. A cowboy.

“Crazy apparently,” Rebecca said without making eye contact, focusing again on the brochure. What in the hell had she been thinking spending a small fortune for such a load of crap? She was on her way to the nuthouse alright, and getting there fast.

“I’m headed there myself,” Cowboy said in an obvious attempt at a joke. “I’ll give you a ride.”

He sounded friendly enough, but she didn’t feel like being hit on. She glanced up to tell him so, but was too blindsided to remember what smart-alecky comeback she’d planned to use. Melinda had been right about one thing. If she had to go crazy, he’d definitely be the one to go with.

“Are you Rebecca?” His dark blond hair hung to his chin in silky strands that begged to have fingers dragged through them, and his eyes could melt a girl.

A flush crept over her. No false advertising there. He was even more gorgeous in person. Her stomach did a somersault. What had she been thinking? She couldn’t go through with this. He was hot enough to sway a nun, and he was just the driver. How in the hell was she going to keep her horny hands to herself for a week? Or more to the point, how would she keep them off herself.

The cowboy held her stare and a slow easy smile spread across his face. Her head defogged enough to remember he’d asked her if she was Rebecca, and she hadn’t had the whereabouts to answer him. He spoke before she could twist her tongue around an answer.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m Gavin. Let me get this,” he said, reaching for her carry-on and easily hoisting the bag over his shoulder. “You don’t travel this light do you?”

“Gavin?” she managed. “Gavin Carter?”

“You did your homework,” he said with a smile. “I did too. Rebecca Ryder, thirty-two, biotech consultant from South Carolina.”

He summed her up like a bio off a dating site and his appearance was enough to shake her to the core, broad athletic shoulders v-ing down to narrow hips, long muscular legs and a rugged beauty that took her breath away. She forced air into her lungs. No man was going to take her breath away. That’s not what she had flown across the country for.

(For an adult excerpt, click here!)

*****
Sunday's winner was Ruth C!!! Congratulations, Ruth!!! Please email me at wendi@wendidarlin.com with your mailing address.

Today I'll be giving away prizes throughout the day. Keep an eye on the comments to this post. That's where I will announce giveaways. The Grand Prize I've been talking about all week will be given away around 1:00 EST. The Grand Prize is a fun nylon carrying bag filled with all kinds of goodies including, an 18-month cowboy calendar, Dr. Sadie Allison's book, Ride 'em Cowgirl, an adult mad libs booklet, a Kenny Chesney concert DVD, a Wendi Darlin promo pack, and more! YOU MUST BE 18 TO PLAY!
Thanks for playing and good luck!
Countdown to Yummy Sunday - 6 days!

30 comments:

Asylumgirl said...

Hey Wendi!

Congrats on your release!

I know you must be ticked pink!

Deidre

Barb said...

Hi Wendi! Happy Release Day! Congrats! Can't wait to get home from work so I can buy your book. Been greatly anticipating it's release.

Wendi said...

Thanks, Deidre! SQUEEEEEE! Ok...I just needed to get that out.
I'm so glad you stopped by. Our new releases usually go on sale around noon EST, so I'm on pins and needles watching the clock tick.

Wendi Darlin

Wendi said...

Hey, Barb! You popped in while I was leaving a comment to Deidre. :) Thanks so much for checking in this morning and for picking up a copy of Cowboy Games. I hope you love it. Please let me know what you think after you've read it. :)

Wendi Darlin

Laura J. said...

YAY!!!!!!!

Congratulations Wendi!

I look forward to getting it. That promo video is soooo HOT!!

Wendi said...

Thanks, Laura!!! I'm glad you like the video. I had fun making it. :)

I just downed a big glass of sweet tea (comfort beverage) and I'm trying to take deep breaths.

Please let me know what you think after you've read it. :)

Wendi Darlin

Lisa Haselton said...

hi Wendi,

your excitement is oozing through loud and clear. how can you be drinking tea if you can't sit still? just curious :)

congrats on the release. and just think...this is only the beginning!! many more releases to come!

-lisa

Regina Carlysle said...

I'm with Lisa...this is the first of MANY more to come. I must say each release day is completely nerve-wracking!!! You held my hand last week and today I'm holding YOURS!!! Cowboy Games is a hot, hot book and I'm predicting tons of sales. You sooooo ROCK THE HOUSE, darlin'.

Hugs!!!

Wendi said...

Lisa and Regina, you're both sooo good to me!!! And I truly appreciate the confidence you have in me. Both of you have read Cowboy Games, so that's an added source of comfort.

Lisa, the tea definitely isn't calming my nerves, but mentally I'm hoping it'll take me back to grandma's porch swing. :) Maybe I should put a pan of half-shelled peas in my lap instead. :D

Regina/Rita, I definitely need the hand holding this morning. I guess this makes it all real. I'm a published author, and I can't change my mind about becoming one. Oh....crap...I mean, YAYYY! Oh, Lord.

I'm taking another deep breath now. :)

Wendi Darlin

Wendi said...

It's up early!!!! Jami Davenport just sent me an email to let me know. The Siren bookstore has Cowboy Games available now! www.sirenbookstore.com

Deep, deep breaths!! Oh, forget, I've got to get up and move! SQUEEEE!!!

Wendi Darlin

Regina Carlysle said...

Okay. Just SAW IT!!!! WHEEEEEEE! It's OFFICIAL. Hell, yeah! I'm holding your hand now. Sending HUGS and cocktails...clinky clink!

Barb said...

This is really cool for you. I just took a peek. C'mon 3 p.m. so I can get home and buy it.

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ruth C. said...

CONGRATULATIONS WENDI.!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm doing the big snoopy dance for you.!!!!!!!!!

And YAY!!!!!!!!!!! -- I see that I won.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will be emailing you shortly.

TYVM IN ADVANCE.!!!!!!

Wendi said...

SQQQUUUUUEEEEEEEE! Thanks, Rita and Barb!! Ok, I promised a few giveaways today before the big Grand Prize drawing, so if anyone wants a Cowboy Games magnetic calendar, email me at wendi@wendidarlin.com and I'll pick two names in half an hour. :)

Please put "cowboy games calendar" in the subject line, so I don't miss your entry.

Wendi Darlin

Anonymous said...

*grabs Wendi and dances around the room* I'm so excited for you!! Heading over to the website to buy the book now!

Hugs,
Leah

Wendi said...

Thank you so much, Leah!

I just drew names for the magnetic calendars. And I decided to pick three instead of two.

Lisa, Barb and Ruth!!! Yay, they'll be in the mail tomorrow. I think I have all your addresses. If I don't I'll email you a little later. :)

Wendi Darlin

lrhubble said...

congrats on your release. :-)

Larena

Wendi said...

Thanks so much, Larena!! I appreciate you stopping by again today. :)

I'm getting myself organized to pick the winner of the Grand Prize.
I'll announce the winner in just a few minutes. :)

Wendi Darlin

Wendi said...

GRAND PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

First of all, I want to thank all of you again for playing my cowboy games this week. If you've already won something, I'm sending a promo pack along with your prize, and if you didn't win but you were playing, please send me your mailing address and I'll send you a promo pack, too.

The winner of the GRAND PRIZE is CherieJ. Congratulations, Cherie!!! You've got lotsa goodies coming your way! Please email me with your mailing address at wendi@wendidarlin.com

Wendi Darlin

Laura J. said...

Congrats Cherie J.!!

I just got my copy of Cowboy Games. I can't wait to read it. And while I was there I picked up another book too that caught my attention. I'm the same way in a bookstore, can't buy just one.

Wendi said...

Laura, thank you sooooo much!!! Please send me an email after you finish it. I'd love to know what you think. :)

Wendi Darlin

TamiC said...

Hi Wendi!! Congratulations on your release I am looking forward to recieving that bookmark in the mail that I won at the Delurking party!! I am not going to be home until next week, so hopefully when I get home it will be there!! I had to make sure I stopped in today to leave you a comment. Have a great day. Tami

Wendi said...

Tami, thanks so much for stopping by today! :)

Wendi Darlin

lrhubble said...

congrats Cherie. Larena

Wendi said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Today got away from me! And now my little cowboy is taking me out to dinner to celebrate. I'll be around a little later.

I just checked Siren's bookstore and Cowboy Games is at #4 on the bestseller list. I know I owe that to you all. I am forever grateful!

Thank you!
Wendi Darlin

Laura J. said...

Wendi that is so awesome!

I read the prologue and dang I was starting to tear up so I had to put it down for a while.

Hope you and your cowboy have a great dinner!!!

Jeanette J said...

Congrats on the book release and here's hoping you have many more.

Wendi said...

Thanks, Laura and Jeanette. :) Laura, I promise she gets to be happy again. :)

Wendi Darlin

Cherie J said...

Congrats on the release Wendi! I am so sorry I could not stop by yesterday and congratulate you but yesterday was a rough day for me. What a thrill it was to look here today and find out I was the Grand Prize winner. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I just emailed you my mailing address.

Wendi said...

Thanks for playing, Cherie and congratulations. I hope you're having a much better second half of the week. :)

Wendi Darlin