Partying with Excerpts--What More Could You Ask For???

This week is all about celebrating the release of All-American Father... Or is it???

This week's all about the launch party giveaways, some would say.

It's all about YOU, I'd argue. My loyal online buddies--these celebrations are my way of saying thank you for always being here to share the ups and downs of this writer's life ;o)

And yes, there have been a lot of ups late. All-American Father's numbers are strong out of the gate, and I've reveived some amazing reviews--check out my Reviews Page (http://annawrites.com/reviews.shtml) to take a peak. Plus The Prodigal's Return just won it's first award, and The Runaway Daughter is a Holt Medallion finalist. But there's always the future to look to--and that's what I'm wanting to share with you this. What's coming up--what do I intend to make you wait months to get more of, he-he ;o) ?

Seriously, my gift to you today, my thank you, is an excerpt from the end of The Perfect Daughter--setting up Lissa and Martin's story, which is a strong subplot in my upcoming October release, Because of a Boy (the beginning of my Atlanta Heroes series.) Then later in the week, I'll share a peak of what these amazing characters are doing in BOAB.

Oh--and there are the party prizes, too ;o) Everyone leave a comment (about All-American Father if you already have a copy, about when you're going to buy it (lol!), about your lovely spring day, about whatever you chose). It's the first day of the party, so let's settle in and get ready for some fun (if you'd like to read an interesting discussion, check out today's Romance By the Blog (http://www.romancebytheblog.blogspot.com/)--I posting over there, too). But be sure to leave a comment back over here, so you'll be in the drawing for today's winners.

Here's today's purse prize, because you knew there


would be one. It's the last of my XOXO purses from the February paty. Isn't it amazing!!!

Plus, let's give away one of these great Coach keychains--I've received several emails from folks already, begging for one!!

And, as promised, I'll be giving away a $5 Borders gift certificate a day to one lucky fan who's in my address book--email me your email address if you never have, so you can be part of that drawing, and so you will receive newsletters and updated about future parties, book releases, and chances to win cool things ;o)

Here's Lissa and Martin's excerpt from my Feb. The Perfect Daughter.

Up until now, they've been a sweet couple slowly falling in love, but of, course, I couldn't let that last forever...stay tuned for more...enjoy!!!

************

How could such a large, vibrant force of a man look as small as Martin did in his hospital bed?

Lissa scooted the one chair in the room closer and sat. Maggie was hovering somewhere by the door, but Lissa had eyes only for Martin.

He was so still. The kind of still demanded by the narcotics he'd been pumped full of. He'd be awake soon, the ICU nurse had assured her with a smile and an encouraging pat. As if that would solve everything.

Lord, what did she say when he woke up?

His hand moved, and she quickly covered his fingers with her own. His grip tightened, squeezing in that reassuring way of his. A happy laugh escaped, a watery one, as she rested her head on the mattress beside his arm.

"You... You crawling in here with me?" he mumbled, the back of his fingers stroking the hair that had spilled over them.

Sitting up, she found his eyes still closed, but his heart-breaker smile firmly in place. Then he shifted in the bed, and the smile faded.

"Martin." She gripped at the fingers that were slipping away. Bit her lip against the denial that welled up when he didn't have the strength to fight her. "You're under heavy sedation. It's important that you lie still."

"I..." One final tug freed his hand. He ran hesitant fingers down his side until he reached his hip.

"I can't feel my..."

"The doctor says there's a good chance the lack of sensation's only temporary."

It wasn't a bald face lie. At the worst, it was a well-intentioned exaggeration. Anyone, especially an athletic, independent, ruthlessly physical man, was entitled to a few juicy exaggerations to get through something like this.

And Martin was getting through this. She refused to accept anything less.

"What happened?" His voice was that of a stranger's now. Cold and distant, as if he were pulling in on himself. Away from her. His eyes squinted open. "Tony was down, and--"

"Tony's okay." She soothed her palm over his arm. The heat of his skin, the sifting muscles beneath, were exactly the reassurance she needed to keep talking. To help Martin hold on, until the surgery was done and they had more information. "They're admitting him for the night, but it sounds like more of a precaution than anything else. Sheriff Lewis said you went in to cover. If it weren't for you--"

"What happened to me," Martin bit out. His chest was rising and falling at an alarming, too-fast pace. "Why can't I move my legs."

"You...were shot." She refused to look away. She refused to fall apart.

"Wh... Where?"

"In the back." Her voice broke, but she ignored it. "Twice."

Panic flared in his now-alert eyes. Anger and denial. Then he turned he head until he was looking away.

"They'll operate as soon as you're ready." He'd stopped trying to dislodge her grip, but the distance kept growing between them as he stared at the wall. "They have to retrieve one of the bullets they couldn't get out earlier. The doctor was saying you should be good as new after that."

Martini's head whipped back toward her. His eyes narrowed, calling her a liar.

"They're not sure if surgery will fix my legs, are they?" he lashed out. "What is the doctor going to say then? Sorry officer, you're life is over?"

"Your life isn't over, Martin. And I--"

"You what!" he demanded. "You're going to keep coming around then? Getting your kicks sitting by the cripple's beside and telling him everything's going to be peaches and cream when you don't know dick? Is that what you were looking for in your next man, Lissa? Maybe you could even change my bed pan from time to time!"

"Martin, I know you're upset--"

"Upset!" He let loose a vile curse. "Upset?"

"Just try and rest. You need to heal, so they can take care of your back. You're sister will be here soon, and--"

"Damn it, I don't need my sister. I haven't talked with the woman since my parents died. And I damn well don't need you holding my hand! I need to feel my damn legs."

"I know." He was angry at his injuries, not at her. He was acting just like her girls did when they were hurt, focusing his pain outward so he didn't have to deal with it. Shoving her bruised feelings aside, she called up the no-nonsense tone that always cut through Callie and Meagan's crap. "But whether you want me here or not, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you to go through this alone, I don't care how good an excuse
you have for wallowing in self pity."

"Self pity?" He rewarded her with the kind of hard stare she suspected had backed down hardened criminals. "Damn, woman. A few hours ago, I was pulling your clothes off and trying to drag you into my shower. Now, you're telling me I might never be able to walk on my own again, let alone...anything else. This isn't self pity, this is the back-end of hell. You don't want any part of it. And I'll be damned if I want a woman around whose number one job is to feel sorry for me. Get the hell out."

"Martin, I love you, and I--"

"You barely know me."

"That's not true. We may not have made love yet, but--

"No, we haven't. And now we never will."

"But the doctor said--"

"Screw the doctor." Martin's toneless curse was that of a man giving up.

"Martin, please--"

"Get out!" He turned his head away again, dismissing her as if she'd never been there. As if she she'd only imagined him, just a few hours ago, offering her a place in his heart.

Her throat squeezed shut. Rising from the chair so fast it fell backwards, spinning toward the door, she burst into the hallway, only to skid to a halt beside Maggie, who'd clearly heard every word.

"You're not going to let him get away with that bull shit, are you?" Maggie demanded.