~MIDWEEK TEASE~24~GOD'S ALLEGED GIFT TO CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY....

Welcome, welcome! Come on in and have a seat! We have some great teases to perk up your #HumpDay! Been working on edits for the re-release of The Doctor's Deception. It has a brand new cover and new content, so I thought I'd share with you a tease from that book. 

Faith Daniels stared at Cheryl’s closed fist and the two short plastic straws it contained. Trepidation rippled up her spine. I hate this. Her gaze flew to Jolene, who chewed her lower lip. The two of them were the last nurses in the lounge left to choose. “Go ahead, Jo. Pick one.”

Jolene’s hand trembled as she reached out to grab a straw before she snatched her hand back. “I can’t, Faith. You go.”

“Well, somebody better draw. Nurses’ report ended five minutes ago, and I know the night shift is probably more than ready to go home,” Cheryl, the day charge nurse, urged.

“Oh, what the hell. I’ll go.” Faith inhaled a deep breath and grasped the smooth plastic. Not again. Please, God. Not again.

She pulled and out slipped the one-inch stump she’d been dreading. Cheryl opened her palm to reveal the single straw left that was about an inch and a half longer than the one Faith held. Her heart skipped a beat. Her silent prayer had fallen on deaf ears—-again. A collective sigh of relief escaped the team of six nurses that were on shift today. They collected their stethoscopes and made their escape from the lounge.

“Thank God!” Jolene said dramatically, wiping her hands on her hot pink scrub pants. “I couldn’t bear the thought of putting up with him today.” She gave Faith an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Faith, but better you than me.” Jolene picked her stethoscope up off the table and left for shift report like her hind end was on fire.

“Damn. How do I always get the short straw, Cheryl?” Faith’s gaze pinned the only nurse still left in the room. “What have I done to deserve this?”

“It’s called Karma, babe. You just don’t have any.” Cheryl chuckled. “Cheer up. At least he’ll be in surgery for a while and won’t be able to start in on his regular old bullshit right away.” She patted Faith on the back and followed the others.

Faith turned to her open locker and grasped her stethoscope. She draped it around her neck, then slammed the door shut with enough force that it bounced back open. She was going to have to deal with him for the fourth shift in a row. The thought depressed her.

Him.

Dr. Stone Lassiter.

God’s alleged gift to cardiovascular surgery. 

At least in his own over-inflated opinion. A derisive snort escaped her and she closed her locker a bit more gently this time. No sense in ruining hospital property she thought and sighed heavily. Since he’d come to Deerborne County General last year, she’d made it a habit to avoid him as much as possible. But, when forced to deal with his anger when he was on a roll, she fired right back with an over-exaggerated sweetness guaranteed to get on his nerves. Her behavior was childish, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Wasn’t there an old saying about honey versus lemons? Obviously, Doctor Granite-head hadn’t heard of it.

*****

That's all I have for now! Below is my blurb that is a work in progress. Don't forget to check out the other teases today by clicking on the names listed below! Enjoy the rest of your Hump Day!

Kathleen 💋💋

Blurb:

Heart Surgeon Stone Lassiter has successfully transplanted beating hearts, but it’s his own that is causing him the most agony. With a deathbed promise to his fiancée, he's driven to open a transplant center in her hometown, and arrives at Deerborne County General Hospital. Single minded in his focus, he inadvertently alienates the nursing staff he needs to make his dream a success. He sets his stethoscope on intensive care nurse, Faith Daniels, to improve his image. 

Nurse of the Year, Faith Daniels has passed every nursing exam, but when faced with the task of the MCAT, she has severe test anxiety. Burned by her ex-husband, who used her while she put him through law school, she has become focused on passing that darn exam, and achieving her own dream to become a doctor in her own right. Will the white lie Stone tells Faith jeopardize the love they find?

#SEXYSNIPPETS~17~MIGHT AS WELL FACE THE MUSIC~

Good morning and happy Sunday to you! Welcome to Sexy Snippets, where we get a chance to share a sneak peek at a work in progress, upcoming release, or a published work. Thanks to Doris O'Connor for putting this weekly blog hop together! Now on to my snippet. I just received the cover today for Nursing Misfits Book 1, Drama Queen! I absolutely am in love... To set the scene, it's Anne's first day of clinical and things haven't been going as planned...Enjoy! Oh, and this is unedited ;)

A soft knock on the bathroom door interrupted her anguish. Anne stilled, breath caught in her throat. “J-Just a—” she hiccupped. “Just a minute.”

“Anne?”

She froze mid-sniffle. There was no mistaking that sexy baritone voice. Even now, knee-deep in her own misery the sound whispered across her skin, awakening all her nerve endings. She remembered melting into those strong arms of his, his tongue teasing hers in a bone-liquefying kiss. Her body trembled. “Y-yes?”

“Open the door, please.”

The soft command came through the wood. She winced. Anne faced the mirrored glass once more. Coward that she was, she avoided her own gaze. She couldn’t bare facing the train wreck of her reflection and cringed at the thought of him seeing her like this. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she blew her nose one last time and dried her tears. Might as well face the music.

*****

And there you have it! Nursing Misfits Book 1, Drama Queen will be apart of a high heat level boxed set late summer or early fall so stay tuned for more of Anne's drama. LOL. Comments are always appreciated. I'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to stop by and see what other fab snippets the others are sharing today.

Enjoy the last remnants of your weekend,

Kathleen💋

MIDWEEK TEASE~16~HOT MESS OR NOT, I NEED TO SEE HER AGAIN...

Fabulous morning to ya! Well... not for me as I'm stuck in a vent/airway lab training all day today. But I will be popping in and out during breaks to check in with everyone. 

I'm happy to announce I found a home for my story which features a group of misfit nursing students. I've had this partial for a while now so I guess it's time to get cracking on it. With the help of the lovely Barbara Hopkins I now have a series title~Nursing Misfit Series~Book 1 Healing Touch. This is unedited, so be kind :)

    

Ryder stared after Anne, perplexed. His instincts told him to stay away from that one. She was a hot mess, all right. So much drama… Shaking his head, he started down the hall toward the nurse’s station for morning rounds where the team of doctors, nurses, social workers, case management, nutritionist, and pharmacist met with each patient individually and made certain he or she was on the right track for discharge.

Ryder hadn’t had any qualms lying to Mrs. Strickland about why Anne was late to clinical. Not that he made a habit about lying, but he’d seen that nursing instructor in action before. She’d tear into Anne for a less infraction, he was sure, but one look at Anne’s tear streaked face and drama aside, he had glimpsed fragility there. His heart summersaulted and his protective instincts had kicked into overdrive. Not sure how much more crap thrown her way she could take, he’d lied to protect her. And would do it again, he realized. He cared for her. The shock of the realization rocked him and he nearly dropped the open chart in his hands on the floor.

He felt partly responsible for her predicament, but that didn’t explain the emotional attachment to a woman he barely knew. They’d spent one night together. One rockin’ night, he amended and nearly groaned aloud when images of Anne’s incredible mouth trailing hot, moist kisses down his navel toward his hard cock seized his mind. His body reacted and he turned a bit toward the bookcase to hide his erection, using the top edge to hold the medical record as he paged through it, the words a blur.

Ryder went over the events of the previous evening. She had told him she couldn’t go out last night at the bar. But then that stupid fight had erupted and there was broken glass everywhere. He wasn’t sure if it was the booze, or the super charged atmosphere of the situation, but when he’d bent to help her clean up the sharp shards and they’d cut themselves on that single piece and suddenly his world spun out of control. Time seemed suspended and when he’d looked into those deep blue eyes of hers, he knew he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer.

With a heavy sigh, he sat at the computer designated for the doctors and logged in to Mr. Avondale’s electronic patient record. While he put in his bedside assessment, detailed the wound dressing change, and placed a few orders for the nursing staff, his mind lingered on a certain blonde who’s hair smelled of fresh lilies and had the most amazing plump, kissable lips.

God, the things she’d done with that mouth.
His cock strained against the zipper of his dress slacks and he shifted in his chair in an attempt to relieve the pressure. “Hot mess or not, I need to see her again,” he muttered low under his breath.

******

That's all I have for now! Don't forget to check out the other hot teases this week! I hope to have a cover for you soon... Enjoy the rest of your week!

Kathleen💋

MIDWEEK TEASE~10~

Welcome to another Hump Day! Can you believe it's February already? #MidWeekTease is hosted by the lovely Angelica Dawson and allows us to share a bit of a work in progress or published work. And since I'm over the moon on contracting not one, but two books with NNP at the end of last week, 🍾🍾 I thought I'd share a scene from The Reborn, my Phoenix work in progress that will be apart of the Cimmerian Shades PNR & UFR boxed set. It did have a different name, but my daughter convinced me to change the title. LOL. I'm so happy this book now has a happy home. :) The release date should be sometime late summer or early fall, 2017!

Here's a bit of what I think my hero looks like... Now for your tease. This is unedited...


*****


Sam stared at the beautiful creature before him; anger and lust a heady combination. He struggled to keep balance. No way in hell did he need this…this whatever the fuck she was to remind him of the events that had led to his ostracism from society. The details of which were none of her fucking business. The accusations of the U.S. government that had ended in a court marshal and dishonorable discharge from the Navy he’d given his entire life to had crushed him. The disappointment and accusation in his father’s gaze the last time he’d seen his old man rose in Sam’s memory. 

Sam shook his head to clear it of the ugliness of that day. No matter how hard he’d tried to explain that his classified lab research had been stolen, used to murder thousands of innocent people in the South Pacific. The only thing that had saved him from being thrown in the brink was the lack of concrete evidence to prove Sam was the one at fault.

But he knew. Knew the truth of what had happened.

His gaze shifted to the creature before him. She rubbed her wrists, confusion in her eyes. Eyes the color of a polished Tiger’s Eye—alternating bands of rich yellow and golden brown. Ghastly purplish marks marred her creamy skin from where he’d grabbed her. Guilt tore through his gut along with an undercurrent of surprise. He hadn’t expected this being to be vulnerable. She’d exuded nothing but confidence and oozed seductive power since she’d shown up here unannounced. Something deep inside him softened.

“I’m sorry.” He scraped a hand through his damp hair. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” His voice sounded rusty from disuse, even to his own ears. Evidence of just how alone he’d been for so long. “Agent…whatever your name is. Your Council’s problems aren’t my concern. So leave,” he ground out. “Now.”

“Wilder,” she said and smiled. Confident mask in place once more. “Agent Tatum Wilder, Captain Murphy.”

A simple curve of her lips and Sam’s knees nearly buckled. A warmth and sunny brilliance shone through. Wilder… The name suited her, he thought. Sam remembered the scent of her as she’d stood so near, touching him. She smelled of sunshine, pure, natural radiant sunshine. Sam did a double take. What the hell did sunshine even smell like? He wasn’t making any sense. Damn succubus or whatever the fuck she was must have scrambled his brains a bit when she’d touched him.

He stiffened his spine and held his footing in a weak attempt to keep his knees from buckling. Never in his life had he witnessed anything so beautiful. She reached out and caressed his bearded cheek with tentative fingers. Dimly, he wondered how’d she’d gotten so close to him. Hadn’t he just shoved her across the room? An undercurrent of electricity pulsed through her fingertips.

“This isn’t exactly how this was supposed to play out. I had envisioned a night of hot, steamy sex, wrought with nothing but pleasure,” she said. Regret colored her words. “But since my powers of seduction aren’t working on you,” she dropped her hand and mumbled something under her breath that sounded like “damn atchoo”. She turned and planted herself on his couch and flipped her long fiery hair over her shoulder. “Guess we will have to do this the old fashioned way,” she grumbled, clearly put out. “Will you at least listen carefully to what I have to say?”

She’d lost him at hot, steamy sex. Mental pictures planted themselves into his brain. Tatum with those long, lithe legs wrapped around his waist as he drove his cock into her wet, slick pussy. Those strangely alluring eyes dilated with desire. The silken strands of her fiery hair that seemed to shine with the rays of the sun’s brilliance spread across the couch. He could almost hear her soft whimpers of pleasure and taste the honeyed juice between her thighs.

Blood rushed to his groin and his cock stood at attention, begging him to tear off his jeans and start what she’d suggested. He’d lived secluded in the dark deserted mountains of the Sierra Nevada for far too long without any pussy. Sam shook his head to clear the erotic images. Creatures such as this were full of deception. She'd probably lied about her powers not working because something affected him unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Couldn’t be the fact that his hand had been his only form of friendly for so long…

“You have ten minutes.” Careful to keep his distance from this alluring woman…creature he corrected, he walked over and sat on the edge of the coffee table opposite of her.

“Pity,” she said, her voice held regret. “Everything you just envisioned would have been more than satisfying…for both of us.”

He gasped. “How did—-”

“Oh, come now Sam,” she tsked. She stared pointedly at the bulge in his jeans before lifting her gaze to his once more. “The real question is how could I not? Your lust radiates off you in high frequency, my friend.” She waved a hand in peeved dismissal. “My time is ticking… in more ways than you can imagine and since you don’t want to play…” a small pout puckered her full, red lips.

“I’m not going to color the facts. You seem pretty well versed in the supernatural for a human. Most feign ignorance of the dangers that exist around them, which works for us. What you may not know is that everything has an order. Humans cling to their laws and government, but the truth is that peace and balance between all species supernatural and human is kept by an ancient nation and has since the beginning of creation. Each being is represented on the council by one of its own, but ultimately, all decisions are made by Rà, God of the Sun. I’m a Phoenix. We Agents are Rà’s… umm…enforcers if you will. Step out of line and we, put you back in your place.”

Sam sat still, trying to absorb what Tatum had said. An internal battled waged as he struggled to tamp down his physical desire for her. “Rà? As in Rà from Egyptian religion?”

“One and the same,” she said.

“So, Rà isn’t a mythical Egyptian god?” He frowned. “I don’t understand,” Sam said, scratching his bearded chin. “What does your Rà want with me? Can’t he just snap his fingers and make everything right?”

Tatum’s soft laughter glided across his skin, like a silken caress. He shivered, despite the heat from the hearth.  Sam's cock strained against his jeans demanding contact with her. A need to have her mouth wrapped around his hard length, hell he’d even take a hand job from this being… welled up deep within his gut. He gulped and swallowed hard.

Down, Murphy. Down. She can fucking read your mind, you idiot.

*****

That's all I have for now! Don't forget to stop by and check out the other Teases... Link is below. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Kathleen 💋

MIDWEEK TEASE~7~

Happy Hump Day and welcome to this week's tease! Midweek Tease is put together each week by the wonderful Angelica Dawson where we all get to share a small slice of a published book or a work in progress. Comments are encouraged and most welcome! :)  

This week's tease comes from my book Dating 911. My nurse, Roxanne Carter, finds herself in a bit of a predicament....

******


Unyielding hands suddenly yanked her onto the gurney, her arms pinned between her body and Ralph’s chest.

Her expelled breath exploded in a muffled “oommf”. With wide eyes, she stared down into Ralph’s lecherous face. He was definitely awake, and a lot stronger than she would’ve imagined.

“Ralph. Let me go,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to breathe through her mouth so she wouldn’t hurl.

“Sure, sugar, after you give me a little kiss.” His words slurred and his fetid breath fanned her face as he spoke. Dry cracked lips puckered as he levered his head toward hers.

She reared back as far as possible within his firm grasp, and twisted her head. His sticky kiss met her neck. Revulsion clawed her skin. Dodging his torpedo tongue by rotating her head back and forth, she called for help. Ralph was still drunk. Experience with drunks in the ER had taught her he wouldn’t listen to her commands while still under the influence.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, his free hand stroked down her back and rested on her butt.

“Now, Ralph, you need to let me go. You’ve had too much to drink and are in the emergency room. I’m trying to help you.”

God, how could I have been so stupid as to let my mind wander off my work?

He squeezed her bottom.

“Oh!” Crap! She needed a new plan—-and fast.

“Can I be of assistance?” a familiar baritone drawled.

Another swoop of Ralph’s mouth had her on the defensive before she could glance at the doorway. “What do you think?” she snapped. “Could you hurry?”

“Well, I’d be happy to come to your rescue. But what’s in it for me?”

Shock infused her system. Her head veered toward the cool voice filled with laughter. She stiffened. Jett leaned against the door jam. Helmet under his arm, face smeared with soot, he must have had a recent battle with a fire, but his deep grey eyes danced with mischief.

This was her savior? Lord, help her!

Diverted by the sight of Jett, Ralph licked a trail of slime from the side of her neck to her ear. She shuddered even as bile rose. Roxanne swallowed—-hard.

Yuck! This was all Jett’s fault. If he hadn’t distracted her in the first place, her attention wouldn’t have strayed from her work.

“Listen,” she said through clenched teeth. “Isn’t it your job to serve and protect? Get over here and get me off him, or call someone who will.”

“That’d be the police, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “The motto of the PFD is ‘Survive, Prevent Harm and Be Nice’. I might be persuaded to be nice and get you out of your dilemma on one condition,” he said in his slow, lazy drawl. “Have dinner with me.”

“What?” She dodged another amorous advance of Ralph’s lips, and twisted again to glare at Jett. He’d moved from the doorway and slowly advanced toward them. Hope flared.

“A woman in your position can’t be too picky in your choice of rescuers. Take me, babe, or leave me. Isn’t one dinner worth the price of your freedom?”

His words doused the kernel of hope before the emotion had taken root. “Forget it,” she stated flatly. “Cruz!”

“Sorry, but my brother is outside in the ambulance bay with a truck that rolled in hot, red lights and all, along with the rest of the available staff. Code three, I think. I’m all you’ve got. But, hey!” He shrugged and turned to leave. “I know when I’m not wanted. I’m not a completely heartless bastard. I’ll let someone know about your trouble with old Ralph. They’ll get in here…eventually.”

Another squeeze to her backside from Ralph’s wandering hand changed her mind. “Wait! Don’t go!” Panic heightened her anxiety. Her heart thumped against her ribcage, and her breath came in short pants. She continued to struggle against Ralph’s ardent advances. “I’ll have dinner with you. Just get his hands off me.”

Jett turned and advanced on the gurney. Roxanne held her breath expectantly.

“Listen, man. You’ve got a hold of my woman. My baby only kisses me. Right, honey?” With a wink, Jett easily disengaged her from Ralph’s passionate embrace and draped a possessive arm around her waist. Heat from his palm seeped into her scrubs and singed her skin.

My woman? My baby?

She wiped at the drool stuck to the side of her face and neck, shuddering. Sidestepping out of Jett’s enthusiastic embrace, she whirled on Ralph to make sure he was still safe on the gurney.

Seemingly exhausted from his zealous effort, he held his arms toward her. “Come here, darlin’,” he slurred. “I need you.”

“What you need, buddy, is to dry out. Now lie back and behave,” she said in a stern tone. Placing a palm on his chest, Roxanne shoved with just enough force to ease him back into a prone position.

He slumped against the pillow and sighed. A half-smile curved his lips. She shed her gloves, straightened her scrubs, and rushed to the sink to wash away Ralph’s enthusiastic affection. A masculine chuckle reminded her of her “savior’s” presence. She met his gaze in the mirror. Grey eyes twinkled with amusement, triggering her anger.

“Is that the fastest you move? It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a raging inferno, or I’d be dead!” she whirled around and plunked her hands on her hips.

Jett’s charming mask slipped for a fraction of a second. He recovered, casting her a cool smile complete with eyebrow wiggle. “All I need to know is what time to pick you up tonight, sweetheart.”
******



BLURB
Emergency room nurse, Roxanne Carter is a loser-magnet wishing she could enjoy her single life. Commiserating with girlfriends over butterscotch martinis creates the idea of The Dating Manifesto—a not so scientific research project which promises to point the way to dating success. While gathering data to find the most suitable single men available, she wades through a series of unsavory, stale dates, which literally places her back at ground zero. Just when she is ready to give up, sin personified in the form of sexy firefighter Jett Avery, arrives tainting all of her previous data.

A traumatic warehouse fire, in which firefighter Jett Avery's closest friend dies, has him suffering from Posttraumtic Stress Disorder. Attempting to stave off the worst of his depression, he decides to use his brand of therapy...Sex. The remedy has lost luster until he encounters ER nurse Roxanne Carter. 

******

Dating 911 available here: https://www.amazon.com/Dating-911-Kathleen-Grieve-ebook/dp/B005UQ3KYC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482305834&sr=8-2&keywords=dating+911

That's all I have for now! Please stop by and heat up your Hump Day with the rest of this week's Teases. See the link below.  

Kathleen 💋