Today I'm hosting romance author Jennifer Wilck and highlighting the re-release of her book: Skin Deep. Jennifer is a friend and fellow New Jersey author, and we are exchanging blogs today. You can read all about my new release (The Diamond Legacy) on her blog as well as read about her book release on mine. Please peruse this page and feel free to leave a comment.
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Thanks so much for hosting me here today, Joanne, and
helping me celebrate the re-release of my contemporary romance, Skin Deep.
Skin Deep was the second book I wrote, but the first one
accepted for publication. With its re-release, I now have all my books
published by the same house, which, for an anal person like me, is extremely
satisfying.
This time around, I have a new cover, which I LOVE! It’s a
departure from my normal covers, but I think it represents well the tone of the
story. What do you think?
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The story has also been tightened up and edited better,
which is gratifying for me as a writer.
It’s a gritty and emotional read and was tough to write.
Anytime you discuss domestic or child abuse, it’s heart wrenching. Both my hero
and heroine overcome a lot in their past to finally reach their happily ever
after, and I hope you enjoy reading their story.
Here’s the blurb:
The last thing Valerie needs,
after escaping an abusive marriage to an alcoholic and rebuilding her life, is
a broody, secretive, standoffish man. But that’s exactly what she gets when she
becomes a makeup artist on the set of a hit sitcom and draws the attention of
the series’ star.
John Samuels hides a terrible
past—a life of abuse and neglect. A successful acting career and the affection
and support of cast, crew and friends, does nothing to convince him that he is
anything other than an unlovable monster.
Will he learn that the life he’s
been living has been built on a lie or will he be doomed to repeat the sins of
his father?
And here's the excerpt:
That night, after all the
scenes had been shot, Valerie waited for everyone to leave. She didn’t want to
answer questions or receive pity.
She arranged and rearranged
drawers and tools. The trailer contained three stations, each with its own
make-up chair. A long table ran down one wall, with plenty of drawers for
storage space. Well-lit mirrors hung above the table. Unable to find anything
else to do, and convinced by the silence that everyone had to have left, she
took out her keys to lock up. She jumped as a knock sounded at the door, the
trailer rattled, and a head peeked in.
“Valerie?”
“Oh, hi, John.” She expelled
a deep breath and willed her heart to slow its frantic beat. “Do you need
something?”
“No.” He entered and stood
by the door. John Samuels played the lead. At almost six foot three, he dwarfed
the trailer and had to tip his head to fit. He folded his muscular arms across
his chest and spread his feet apart. “Michelle told me you were not joining us
tonight. I thought I would see if I could change your mind.”
Valerie rolled her eyes.
“She is persistent.”
“You noticed.” John’s dark
eyes twinkled. His mouth widened with a ghost of a smile. Valerie tried not to
gasp.
He reminded her of a rugged
cowboy—broad shouldered, with a prominent brow, dark piercing eyes, high
cheekbones, and a cleft chin. When he smiled, even a slight trace of one, his
eyes looked like liquid velvet and his dimples twinkled like stars in the night
sky. A five-o’clock shadow covered his cheeks. Her fingers itched to brush
against their rough texture, to tease his mouth into a full-blown grin.
“So, what can I say to make
you join us?”
As he leaned against the
wall in well-fitting jeans and a T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination,
Valerie’s mind said, “Sleep with me.” Heat crept up her neck, over her cheeks,
and continued to the roots of her hair. A thin sheen of sweat dampened the
space between her breasts. She felt the sudden urge to fan herself, like a
damsel in distress in an old B-movie. Instead, she ignored her traitorous
thoughts. Her balled fist pressed into her tight stomach.
“Tonight, not even chocolate
will change my mind.”
She didn’t exactly lie. She
had no intention of going to the bar, or of sleeping with him, no matter how
her thoughts might try to sabotage her good intentions. She’d been fooled by
surface finery before, and it had almost killed her. She wouldn’t let it happen
again.
“I will remember that,” he
promised. “But next time you will not get off so easy.” His eyes bored into
hers for a moment, and then he turned on his heel and left.
* * * *
True to his word, John
arrived the following day prepared for battle. With a cursory knock on the
door, he dangled a bag of M&Ms inside the trailer, but snatched it back
before she could grab them. “We are going out for pizza. I will pick you up in
ten minutes.” Before she could answer, he walked out.
Valerie shrugged as she
finished her work. The new Valerie never allowed other people to make decisions
for her, but she’d practically handed John a permission slip. And, he had
M&M’s. How could she refuse?
Ten minutes later, he
returned, ushered her out the door and down the steps. Although he didn’t touch
her, she could imagine the warmth of his hand on the small of her back, and
feel the gentle puff of his breath against her hair. The angle of his body
steered her toward the others in the parking lot as if he had taken her by the
hand and dragged her with him. An invisible electric charge pulled her. Or
maybe it was his Dial-soap scent. That scent—soap and man—made her stomach flip
flop. Her uncontrollable reaction to him disturbed her, especially since he
appeared unaffected.
He remained silent, strode
toward their meeting place, and studied his surroundings as if he expected
someone to pop out of the shadows and yell, “Boo!”
Then she saw the brown bag
of M&Ms sticking out of his white shirt pocket. Before he could stop her,
she reached around and grabbed them, opened the bag and popped three in her
mouth.
“Hey, those are mine!” He
reached for the bag, but not fast enough to retrieve them.
“Not anymore.” As she danced
away from him, she stuck another handful in her mouth.
He brought his hand up to
his heart, as if she had wounded him deeply, but the twinkle in his eye gave
him away. Valerie had all she could do not to burst out laughing.
“You did not have to take
them, you know. I was planning to give them to you later.” He pouted and his
dark hair fell across his brow, but not before Valerie saw a flash of a smile
turn the corners of his mouth up.
“Oh really? When?”
“After dinner, of course. I
would not want to spoil your appetite.”
Here are the buy links:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-skindeep-1760465-149.html Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1108162104?ean=2940151547222 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Jennifer-Wilck-ebook/dp/B00UGLRPZG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1425950074&sr=8-4&keywords=jennifer+wilck
I hope you enjoy it and if you do read it, I’d love you to
post a review or let me know what you thought. I can be reached at:
Website: www.jenniferwilck.com
Twitter: @JWilck.
Blog (Fried Oreos):www.jenniferwilck.blogspot.com
Heroines With Hearts contributor: http://www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.comFront
Porch Saturdays contributor:http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com.
Script Chics:https://www.facebook.com/ScriptChics?ref=hl
Thanks so much for hosting me today!
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