#OhMy! Monday Welcomes Author @_lisamowens and Her New #Sweet #Romance

Welcome to Oh My! Monday here at Sassy Vixen Publishing. I'm The Vixen and your host for today. We've an extra treat for my sassy ones. Author Lisa M. Owens is back and this time she's sharing an excerpt from her new sweet contemporary romance If Only.

To learn a bit more about the book, you can check out her interview with us for the Saturday Spotlight just two days ago. Just scroll to the post just before this one and you'll get all caught up. Go ahead, we'll wait....

Ready? Good. Here's the blurb for If Only.

What would you do if you had the opportunity to go back and relive your greatest mistake?

Five years ago, Bree Sexton walked out on her fiancé and into the arms of a charming and handsome stranger. She has regretted her decision ever since. Instead of a fairy-tale marriage, her “prince” shattered her dreams and her spirit with physical violence and emotional cruelty she barely escaped.


She then mysteriously wakes up in bed with the fiancé she loved and left, the life she’d dreamed of now a reality, until her cruel ex-husband reappears to destroy her new life. But what is real, and what is make-believe? Is she really getting the chance she has always dreamed of? And when it is all said and done, will she finally end up with the man she has always regretted leaving? Or will she wake up to discover herself alone?


Sounds fabulous to me too! Here's a bit of an excerpt to tease you some more...


Bree stood there for a minute, watching as he walked out of her life. She couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if she had married Scott instead of Bryan. How would her life have been different? Would she have had children by now? Would she and Scott still be together, after all this time? Those thoughts and more weighed heavily on her mind as she headed out of the bar. It had begun to snow, and she wrapped her coat even tighter around her slender frame. She looked around, but there was no one to be found. She couldn’t help herself; she stuck out her tongue, a childish impulse she couldn’t ignore, and then laughed out loud in spite of herself. 

She looked both ways before attempting to cross the street. Not seeing any cars, she began to make her way across. Bree was walking cautiously when one of her high heels slipped on a patch of ice. She could feel herself falling, and her breathing quickened as she began to panic, wishing she had waited for her friends before venturing off on her own. One shoe flew off as she landed, her head striking the curb. A sharp pain racked through the back of her skull, causing her to cry out. The last thing she saw was Scott’s face swimming before her eyes, and then her world went black. 

* * * *

Bree awoke to a man nipping gently on her earlobe, his tongue stroking the delicate curves. His hot breath blew into her ear, sending shivers up and down her spine. She slowly opened her eyes as a man’s hand stroked her upper thigh, and she sighed happily. 
Ooh, I must be dreaming. And it was such a delicious dream, too. 

The man’s hand traveled up her thigh and then encircled her flat stomach. Out of the corner of her eyes, Bree could see a dark head pressing against her abdomen. Then she shivered as a tongue laved her belly button, going in and out erotically, making her feel as though her body was on fire. Bryan had never made her feel like this, and she hadn’t even looked yet to see who this stranger was! But she was only dreaming, so what difference did it make? 

His hand continued traveling north, lovingly caressing her skin. He reached for her aching breasts, pressing her nipples roughly before he lowered his mouth to suckle them, first one, and then the other. Bree arched in anxious response to his touch. She longed to see his face, but she feared one look would make his magical touch disappear. 

She ached all over, wanted his hands to caress her everywhere, and she longed to touch him. She opened her legs as he straddled her. His hair brushed her naked chest as he began kissing her. His tongue was driving her crazy with desire as he placed tender kisses along her neckline. He brushed her hair aside. 

His morning stubble stung her delicate skin, but she hungered for more. Just one more touch, just one more taste, and she would awaken from this wonderful dream and find herself in bed, all alone. 

“Oh, Bree, baby. What you do to me,” he whispered, his voice husky. 

That voice jerked her back to the present. The voice had haunted her dreams for years. The voice of the man she just couldn’t seem to get over. 

“Scott,” she whispered.

Connect with Lisa

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Buy Links for If Only

Liquid Silver

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Author @_lisamownens #sweet #romance

Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight here at Sassy Vixen Publishing. We're happy to welcome author Lisa M. Owens to the hot seat. We'll get to learn a bit about her and her latest release If Only, a sweet contemporary romance that focuses on second chances.

Let's get to it shall we...


In one or two sentences, give the core premise behind your story.
A woman gets the second chance that she has always dreamed of, the chance to make things right with the man who got away.


Who is the heroine? 
Bree Sexton—She is a strong woman who put all of her trust in the wrong man.

What obstacles will she encounter in this story?
When Bree slips on a patch of ice, she strikes her head on the curb. When she wakes up, she finds herself in her former fiancé’s arms and discovers that they are married—and that she is living three years in the past. When it seems as though her happily ever after is just within reach, her cruel ex-husband shows up, threatening to take away everything that Bree holds dear.

What draws her to the hero in this story? What gives her that push away from him?
Scott Weston was her childhood sweetheart. When she met the handsome and charming Bryan Sexton, she broke her engagement to Scott and married Bryan. Five years later, now divorced, Bree runs into Scott. But he is happily married with a baby on the way.

What about her will make readers sympathetic to her?
She was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by her former husband. She might be trying to move on with her life, but scars that aren’t visible continue to haunt her. Certain things going on in her life sometimes trigger violent moments from her past. She has to overcome her traumatic past before she can build a future with the only man that she has ever really loved.

Is this book a part of a series?
Yes, this is the first book of my If Only series. 

What is the theme of the overall series and how does this story fit into that?
This series is about heroines who get the second chances that they have always dreamed of. Bree’s story is about getting the chance to make things right with the one who got away.

Will these characters show up in other books in this series? 
Yes! Bree and Scott Weston will make a small appearance in my second novel of this series, which is titled What If. I am currently working on this novel and plan on having it ready for submission within the next month or so.

How many books to you anticipate will be in this series?
I plan on there being five books in this series. Susan Weston, Scott’s sister, will have her own book as well as Luke Weston, Scott’s brother. They also have stories to tell…

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers to generate comments?
I am also currently working on a novel about a Marine who returns home from Afghanistan. I am thinking on having this novel be the first in a series, possibly having one from each branch of the military.

My questions are:
1. What do the readers think about this idea? Good idea or bad idea?

2. What is your idea of the perfect military hero? Both physical descriptions and character traits are welcome.

About the Author

The writing bug bit Lisa M. Owens at an early age; she was writing short stories and poetry by the age of seven. At the age of eight, she entered a writing contest at her elementary school. About fifty books were written, but Lisa was one of the thirteen writers chosen who received a certificate and the chance to meet Oklahoma writer Sandy Miller.

A former victim of domestic violence herself, Lisa worked at the courthouse for over seven years. Almost three of those years she worked on the Marriage License/Protective Order desk. She helped women file protective orders and worked closely with the staff and counselors at DVIS.

Frustrated with books that merely gloss over the subject of domestic violence, Lisa wanted to write a book that told the entire story. Her dream is for her words to help give someone the courage to leave an abusive relationship.

She resides in Oklahoma and has two children. This is her first published novel, and she is currently working on the next novel of her If Only series.

Connect with Lisa

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Buy Links for If Only

Liquid Silver

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Join us again in two days for Oh My! Monday. Lisa shares an excerpt from If Only.

Until next time,

~The Vixen

The Vixen Welcome Jo Cattell for Her #CoverReveal

 Hello my fellow sassy ones! I'm excited to welcome a fellow Wicked author Jo Cattell. Okay so she's not as naughty as The Vixen, but she is part of an amazing group I belong to with my alter egos Lia Michaels and Stephanie Ryan. One of our mutual friends, Leanore Elliott started the group to bring together some of her favorite authors and readers. Since she is the "wicked" behind Wicked Muse Productions, she calls us her "Wicked Women."  I love that! 

Well, Jo is in the middle of a media blitz revealing the cover of her new book due out next month. It's a beautiful YA sweet romance that I think you'll all enjoy. Young love appeals to hearts of all ages and this one has me feeling a bit romantic remembering how I felt when Mr. Vixen kissed me for the very first time.  Hell, I feel that way EVERY time he kisses me even now. ;)  

Before I uncover the fabulous work of art designed by Wicked Muse Productions for In Another Life, I want to let Jo tell you a bit about herself.

"Characters are not created by writers. They preexist and need to be found"

I'm an author, mother, friend. My dreams inspire me, my children drive me. I'm a free spirit, a dreamer, a lover of life, and a loyal friend. I live In New Jersey with my husband Eric, and two daughters Amber and Jade.

My first novel, When Angels Fall was inspired by a dream and also the loss of my niece, came out in November 2012 and was the first in my “Fallen Angel Series.” The second book After Angels Fall was release New Years Day of 2013. In Another Life was inspired by a relationship I was in as a teenager. We only have one chance to have a first love. Mine was someone who taught me how important life is and never to take anyone for granted. To see a person for who they really are on the inside and not just for what shows on the outside.

For more information stop by my blog, http://jcattell.blogspot.com/
and look for my books at Amazon.com

Let me see. Should I show you the cover first, or tease you a little bit more with the blurb. hmmmmm...Decisions. Decisions.  Okay, you twisted my arm. Here's the cover.

Don't you just love it? Do you remember how you felt the first time you fell into the eyes of the one you love? That's what I see when I look at this cover. Let me share the blurb with you now so I can go plan a special getaway with Mr. Vixen. Jo's cover has me all teenager giggly, butterflies in my stomach and all. Make sure you keep watching Amazon for the moment this book comes out!


Sixteen year old, Annie Kane was dumped by her last boyfriend. It took a long time for her to agree with her friends and find somebody new. When Jim Osborn, the class clown shows up with his best friend, Annie realizes that there’s is something different about his friend, but she can’t figure out what.

Nate Cruz wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known. He’s funny and down to earth, but he also suffers with low self-esteem from being in and out of the hospital.

After Jim tries to force himself on her at a party, Anne finally sees him as he really is and decides to end it. She and Nate become best friends. Then, a kiss changes it all. 

With Nate, she sees what love really means. She learns how wonderful life can be and how at any time, things can change without warning. If she’d stayed in her safe, little world, Annie would have missed her chance at love. But because of an irresistible attraction for a boy, she just couldn’t forget? She finds out what she’s really made of and what’s it’s like— living in another life.