Are you a Sinful Siren?
I believe we all have a sinful siren somewhere inside us, don’t you? So I was thrilled to join Under the Covers, Guilty Pleasures and over 100 bloggers for the Sinful Sirens blog hop!
In the Sinful Siren Spotlight is Sara Wiley, the heroine of my new sensual romance novella, SARA’S SMILE.
Meet 24 year-old, fledging architect, Sara. First, she has a fun Cosmopolitan drinking, shoe loving, romantic side. She’s also a young professional trying to handle the stresses of a job and climbing the ranks in a male dominated profession. Throw in catching the attention of two very handsome men. Can she keep all of these balls in the air long enough to find her happily ever after? It’s not easy for young single adults out there today, is it?
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?
SARA’S SMILE will be available on May 18th!
Excerpt (from the opening of Sara’s Smile):
A familiar voice drew Sara Wiley’s concentration from her Blackberry to the crowded Fifth Avenue corner where she stood waiting for the crossing signal to change.
The source was revealed by a quick scan of the sidewalk. Her eyes locked on a back view of broad shoulders outlined under a slate grey suit jacket. Gazing upward, she recognized the head of dark hair that skimmed the top of his collar. Sara sucked in a breath and her heart quickened. There was no mistaking the confident stance as he talked with the man standing next to him. Unable to speak or move from her spot beneath the street sign as the light changed, Sara simply watched as he was swallowed up by the crowd.
Longing, mixed with painful tinges of regret and sadness, engulfed her heart as she fought back tears. Thank God her feet wouldn’t move, because her first instinct was to chase him down that busy New York City avenue and to feel those protective arms around her body while she nestled her face into that perfect spot between his shoulder and neck.
Shit, Sara, it’s been five years. Get it together. She rarely allowed those feelings to get the best of her and there was no time for a breakdown. I need to be on my game today, she thought as she stepped inside the coffee shop next to her midtown office building for her second non-fat latte of the spring morning.
Due to luck and great timing, the managing partners of Richards + Rodgers Architects had assigned Sara to the Hanson House restoration, a Greenwich, Connecticut sixteen-room Victorian. Normally, one of the partners of would have claimed such a large project but none of them wanted it because of the hands-on attention it would require through the spring and summer months. The wealthy Greenwich businessman who recently purchased the mansion contracted with the firm to restore it to its original splendor, and Sara had jumped at the chance to lead the project. What the hell, it was the perfect opportunity to show the partners what she could do. After all, she had no grand plans for the summer. Her social life was mediocre at best and her love life was sadly nonexistent.
After drawing up the plans, bids were sent to a dozen construction companies, which she then narrowed to a short list of four. One of which was at the top of her list: Pennington Construction. PC was one of the fastest-growing and highly respected construction businesses in the metropolitan area. The PC bid came within budget and was accompanied by an impressive portfolio of restoration projects. Sara flipped through the glossy pictures of Victorians and stopped at the picture of a home she knew. It was a mansion on North Water Street in Martha’s Vineyard, on the same street where she had spent numerous summers with her best friend, Cat. Small world, she thought wistfully.
Sara had purposely scheduled the interview with Pennington Construction last, as she wanted to give each construction firm equal consideration, rather than risk being swayed by her first choice. She walked by the office receptionist, Mary, on her way to the meeting in her firm’s conference room. Mary was closer to her mother’s age than her own, and she continually tried to set Sara up on blind dates.
“Hey, you picked a good day to look sexy. Have you seen Mr. Pennington yet?”
“Mary, ‘sexy’ wasn’t the look I was after. Really, you think this outfit looks sexy? I was going for professional.” She chose her outfits carefully. Knowing she looked even younger than her twenty-five years, she felt it was important that she look professional. She’d decided on a black pencil skirt with a narrow ruffle at the knee-length hem and a light blue silk blouse. Black heels completed the ensemble. She wore her hair in a low knot at the nape of her neck, but her locks had a life of their own and, by the ten-thirty meeting with Pennington, wisps of hair had already loosened from her bun.
Mary surveyed her from head to toe. “Okay, you are a sexy professional. More importantly, Michael Pennington is very good looking and is just your type. Plus he’s not wearing a wedding ring. I checked it out when he signed in,” Mary said with a wink.
“You are too much. Besides, I want to hire this guy, and you know my rule. I don’t date men I work with,” Sara said over her shoulder as she walked toward the conference room.
“You may want to rethink the hire, then.”
I’m giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to one lucky commenter. All you need to do is enter through Rafflecopter and tell me in the comments what you’re looking forward to this summer!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here are my fellow hoppers, be sure to stop at each one for more chances to win great prizes!
Sarah’s Smile sounds really good. Good luck on your release
I’m looking forward to Lusted in Las Vegas being released and reading Sara’s Smile this summer
Hillary
hillacurr@gmail.com
I’m most looking forward to the summer blockbusters. So many fun movies come out in the Summer time. I will OD on popcorn I’m sure.
I’m looking forward to laying by the pool with a beer while the bbq is cooking.
I am looking forward to spending the first summer since my dsughters were born with them.I
I’m looking forward to spending more time with friends and doing a few home improvement projects that are long overdue. Basically anything that can be done while sipping margaritas
Like Hillary, I’m also looking forward to Lusted in Las Vegas!
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I can’t wait for the warm weather and vacationing in the mountains! Thanks for participating in the hop!
mimirose41209 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the chance to win
I am looking forward to the warm weather & lots of family mini vacations!
raynman1979@yahoo.com
actually, my intentions are boring… i have been out of work for almost a year and am looking forward to possibly working this summer
I’m looking forward to making a dent in my massive tbr pile this summer…boring huh?
andieleah78@gmail.com
Not boring at all! Sounds like the perfect summer plan to me.
I am looking forward to sitting on the porch swing and swinging while I read!
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
I’m looking forward to going to the beach and getting together with family and friends.
mythic021@gmail.com
Reading! I need to catch up on all the releases from the past 3 months from my favorite authors and a few that were recommended to me.
Reading!! I have a TBR pile so long I need to tackle it! I will be doing lots of catch up while the kiddlets are outside causing a ruckus.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I’m looking forward to going hiking and things like that
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I’m looking forward to days at the beach with a good book!
I’m looking forward to a vacation trip.
Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.
Looking forward to our family vacation at Lake Tahoe in July.
I’m looking forward to the beach trips with my family and reading new books!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Im looking forward too the warmer weather and having more time to read have a very big too read pile! Thank you for the great giveaway!
tishajean@ charter.net
Swimming, Beach, Hot Days, Hotter Nights, Less Clothes — Love Summertime
Thanks for the chance to win
scarlettkitty at hotmail dot com
Hey, Sandra. I love the excerpt! This one is on my TBR also.
My plans this summer are to take a sexy island vacation with my hubby. We have never been on vacation without the kids, so I am very excited about it. The rest of the summer my children and I will be going swimming (both pool and beach) often and I am sure doing other activities as well.
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway.
One thing that I am looking forward to this summer is spending more time with my nephew. He stays with me a lot during school breaks. However, I am also kind of dreading it for the first part of summer, cause I have to go through PT again 3 times a week for a while, not sure if it will be for 4 or 9 weeks yet. Could ruin my whole summer
Thank you for the giveaway
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
vacation and spending time with my kids
I’m looking forward to being able to sleep in over the summer instead of getting up at the ass crack of dawn to get 4 kids to school on time.
I’m looking forward to 2 wks at the beach and doing a lot of reading.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m looking forward to time around the pool and camping (okay staying at a motel, but my grandkids think thats camping!) and a whole bunch of reading.
proudarmymom32 @ yahoo . com
I’m looking forward to being able to catch up on my reading! Schools almost out and I have the summer to read. Whoo-Hoo!
Summer isn’t for AGES where I am, but I’m looking forward to the warm mornings (which make it so much easier to actually wake up) and the longer days.
I can’t for summer so I can sit on a patio in the evening on a warm summer night and enjoy company with friends and people watching.
Thanks for the giveaway!
redfirewood888(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca
DarkBloodyVamp
im looking forward to spending time in the pool, camping and reading alot of really good books:)
thanks for the great giveaway!!
LorettaLynn
elliott2668(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am looking forward to catching up on my TBR pile of books and some of the tv shows that I have missed on VOD.
Thanks for the chance!
jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com
I added Sara’s Smile on Goodreads shelve (to-read) = Juana Esparza
I’m looking forward to my trip to the sea, and also going to see the new Dark Knight movie.
Lazy days, good margharitas and good reads!
Woohoo! Blog Hopping!
What a great way to discover new blogs and visit with old friends. Everybody wins this way!
I’m looking forward to winning Sara’s Smile and sitting by the pool reading it. LOL
Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win!
I’m looking forward to the sunshine.