SPRING FLING BLOG HOP winner:
Michele N.
I’ve been looking forward to Selena Blake’s hop for quite some time, because
a) it means spring is really here; and
b) my new release, SARA’S SMILE, is almost here!
SARA’S SMILE is a sweet and sensual novella about first love lost and found. Please enjoy the blurb and extended excerpt:
Blurb:
As an architect who specializes in restorations, Sara Wiley is a genius at returning neglected structures to their former glory. But when it comes to her own life, she has no idea how to reclaim the ruins, which are all that remain of her first true love.
When the biggest opportunity of her career and a sexy contractor comes her way, she’s thrilled…until she learns that the client is the long-ago boy who captured her heart and continues to invade her dreams. Is it a bittersweet coincidence or might there be a chance, after all, for Sara to revisit the mistakes of her past and build the future she has wanted for so long?
Release date: May 18th from Bradley Publishing
Excerpt:
Why am I doing this? she asked herself when she climbed into the cab, the next evening. Having dinner with him certainly isn’t going to help me get him out of my dreams.
As she got out, in front of O’Reilly’s, she was startled by her own reflection, and silently thanked Cat for assembling her outfit of dark skinny jeans, pink chiffon top with spaghetti straps and strappy silver sandals. At Cat’s insistence, she had worn her hair long and loose, and she had added her favorite dangling silver earrings and a matching chain and pendant just before she walked out the door. If clothing was armor, she was as well equipped as she could manage for the coming conversation.
She found Will at the crowded bar, where he kissed her on the cheek and gave her his seat.
“What are you drinking?” he asked.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
He ordered two martinis, and they began talking about the Hanson House. From there, the conversation turned naturally to their jobs. As Sara had expected, Will explained that he traveled all over the world and spent only a few weeks out of the year at his apartment in Santa Monica.
While he spoke, she stared at his mouth, remembering how his kisses felt on her lips. A glance at his hands awoke her memory of the way they had encircled her waist as she made love to him.
Stop it, she ordered herself sternly, and shook her head.
“Are you okay?”
Oh shit. I didn’t say that out loud, did I? “Y-yeah, I’m fine,” she answered with a laugh.
“Now that we’ve made a dent in these martinis,” he said, looking down at his glass, “I have to tell you… You broke my heart, that last night. I really loved you, Sara.”
“And you don’t think I felt the same way? Will, I made a clean break between us for you, as much as me. It never would have worked out, given our situations. You were traveling the world on the fast track to success, and I had a challenging course schedule. Look at us now, with everything we wished for. Our hard work paid off.”
Will’s gaze sharpened. “Have you ever regretted it? You know, not giving us a chance?”
Sara paused and looked into his eyes. Every day. That was what she wanted to answer, but instead she said, “I think our table is ready. Come on. Let’s go sit down.”
Over dinner, they reminisced about the summers they’d spent in Martha’s Vineyard. By the end of their meal, they noticed a band setting up, so they decided to have one more drink and listen to the music.
The bar was noisy and crowded. Will found Sara a barstool but had to stand close to her so that they could hear each other speak. She couldn’t help noticing the feel of his legs against hers as he leaned in to speak in her ear.
“I’ll be right back,” he said with a smile.
“What are you up to?” she asked, but he was gone before she could finish the question.
A few minutes later, Sara heard the first chords of a familiar tune. And it seemed that she wasn’t the only Hall & Oates fan in the bar, because many of the patrons clapped when the song started to play.
Will returned as soon as the band’s singer began. Sara looked at him and smiled.
He grinned. “Did you think you were going to get away without hearing this song tonight?”
Ah-ha! He’s pulling out the big guns and charming her with their song. He’s no fool!
I am giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a random commenter. Tell us about your first love and answer Will’s question to Sara: Have you ever regretted losing your first love? Perhaps you are still with him/her, I would love to hear that story too!
Please use Rafflecopter to enter! I’ve added a couple of extra ways to enter as well (the extra credits are optional).
Be sure to visit all of the participants in the SPRING FLING BLOG HOP for more chances to win!
My first love was my bff he never knew and hopefully never will we are happily married to others with kids now!
He never knew? I wonder if things would be different if he had!
Thanks for entering. Tobi.
My hubby was my first love
as kids our parents were friends and then we grew up on the same street and were friends too. I did have other boyfriends though and he use to get jealous and chase them away not literally but he seemed to be at the center of all my break ups, as a teen I thought he was just a jerk now as an adult I know what he was up too 
That is a sweet story, Savannah! You are living your own perfect love story. <3
I met my first love when I was 15, his brother married my cousin. Even though we lived 3 1/2 hours apart, we saw each other every weekend. He moved to New Orleans when I was 17 and it was really hard, we wrote to each other all the time (no internet at that time). At 18 I moved down there with him, I lasted two weeks (I was a mama’s girl). We both moved on, had kids and now we are both grandparents. I still have wonderful memories of our time together.
You were so young! I wonder if things would have been different with today’s technology. Texting, e-mail, social media and Skype must make long distance relationships a little easier. Thanks for sharing and for supporting my blog hops with your great comments, Sue.
I met my first love in 10th grade. He was the new guy in school
We dated for a little over a year
The new guy, huh? You grabbed him up before your friends saw him!
Thanks for entering the hop!
I met my first love my sophomore year of high school. We dated for just over 2 years. It took one of my teachers my senior year telling me that I could do so much better for me to see what he really was.
That was a teacher who really took an interest! Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to point out the obvious. Thanks for your comment, Emily!
My first real love, Chris, I met in my first year of college. He was a year older than me and we remained friends till my boyfriend dumped me. Chris was RIGHT there and ready to go…LOL! I thought I would marry him, and thankfully didn’t as I have the best hubby ever!
Wendy/books4me
Cute story, Wendy!! Chris was a patient guy just waiting there in the wings for you! I’m glad things worked out and you found your true love.
My first true love was my 26 year old daughter. I never knew I could love anyone as much as I loved her the day she was born.
You brought tears to my eyes, Michele! I have a daughter too and she is the light of my life.
My first true love was and is my hubby he will always have my heart
That’s so sweet, Anna! Thanks for your comment.
My first love is my Hubby. He was the first man I ever kissed and he is my dream come true.
I haven’t had a first love yet… Someday!
OceanAkers(at)aol(dot)com
I loved a couple guys before my husband. One in high school and one in college. But it really is like comparing apples and oranges or a lake to the ocean for what I felt when my husband and I met.
My first love and I dated for 6 years. He was 3 years older so he had a car and eventually could get us liquor for our parties. LOL!
It was so sweet when we first started dating. He would write me love notes, and buy me small gifts. He didn’t have a lot of money and I would beg him not to buy stuff for me but he usually did. He was my date for my high school grad, and went and rented a tux so he would look presentable to my family. He helped me get my first real job and we worked together for a couple of years.
He pulled some crappy things too. I guess we were just too young and still had a lot of living and exploration to do. I don’t regret losing him in most ways, but I occasionally I miss the fun we had.
My first love was my first boyfriend in college. We’d actually gone to high school together but never met until one random night in my dorm. We dated for a while, and then “went on a break” which involved him sadly sleeping with my best friend. The whole thing really ended up like a bad love triangle from a soap opera.
Well most dont ever belive me when i say it… but my first love is my husband and i would never want to change that. We have been together snice the first day of highschool 12 years ago:)
My 1st love was back when I was in high school. together about a year, broke my heart in the end, but I still wouldnt change a thing. =)
Hmm…1st would have to be 3rd grade. He gave me a flower & asked me to be his girlfriend.
my first love is an awful story… he ended up being my second husband, who 2 months after our wedding, ran off with his boss’ wife
My first love was someone I met in High school, We dated a couple of years but when he went off the the Army we broke up as we both felt we were too young to be tied down and in a long distance relationship.
My first love relationship was something very close to the story of the people in that excerpt. I grew up loving the boy next door, but when he went off to pursue a career and I went to college we met different people. I have moments of ‘what if’, but no regrets.
Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.
My first love my husband, I know boring. Deb P
My first crush was a jock at my school , he end up being my boyfriend. Well to answer the question , I believe anything happen for a reason ,whether we can end up being together with our first love or broken hearted it does not matter:)
Thanks for the giveaway! My first love was in 5th grade….I thought I knew what love was and of course I was wrong! lol
My first love is my husband of 32 years! I fell in love at 19 and never stopped.
My first love was an exchange student from Germany! Great sophomore year!
My first love was my ex husband..
I meet my first love in 3rd year hs. He was my first bf and we lasted for 5 years. We went our separate ways when i move to US and he stayed in our country. We still keep in touch after all this years.
Thanks for a great giveaway.
My first love was my best friend. He & I never ended up dating, I think we were both afraid to ruin the friendship.
My first love was a boy, I went to school with. At the time, I thought we’d be together forever but he couldn’t stay out of trouble and ended up in jail.
i met my first love when i was 18…we dated 7 years but too many issues kept us apart
My first love was one of my friends. We grew up together and our families knew each other so we never made that leap to the next level. I wonder what would have happend if we would’ve taken the chance.
mythic021@gmail.com
I regretted it when it first happened and for a couple of years afterwards, but now… no way. I love my hubby and my kids are my life.
I met my first love at a high school track meet. He lived about an hour away down the freeway. He used to draw me pictures of unicorns and write me poetry. No I don’t regret losing him, my fault but someimtes I do wonder what he is doing now. I still have his pictures somewhere packed away I think.
Z
the book are hop and then i want to win
desi t he blonde at msn dot com
I havent had a true love yet. My parents were very strict growing up and i havent really gotten out there. Im a bit shy. lol Though, i have had my fair share of crushes.
Thank you for the great giveaway and the fun hop!! Have a great weekend! 
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
My first love was someone I met when I was 16 who I never will forget!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
A fellow classmmate