Who Is Cinderella Blue?

My scheduled guest for today was unavoidably detained so I'm stepping in to cover for her.

Cinderella Blue

Love means never having to say: "You're under arrest."

I love that line because I always laughed at the tagline from the old movie Love Story.

Allow me to tell you about my next romantic comedy, Cinderella Blue, Book 2 of San Antone Two-Step.

If you read Nobody's Cinderella, Book 1 of San Antone Two-Step, you met Darcy's rough, tough, no-nonsense brother Detective Bruce Benton.

In Cinderella Blue, you'll meet Andie Luft, the woman who is more than a match for Benton.

Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Completing This Book

Well, it's not really funny but you have to laugh to keep from crying sometimes. This book was previously published under the title Most Wanted. I started expanding and updating it more than a year ago, and all hell broke loose.

Now, every time I return to the the book, something happens. I've become positively superstitious. Okay, not really, but I am wary each time I open the book file.

A case in point. I thought I'd finally finish it last week so it would be available on October 31, but a family medical emergency cropped up. Another delay. Again, this week, I have the end in sight. I'm almost scared to say it will be available by next Friday, November 7. (Just pretend I didn't say that.)

Price Drop

Today, I'm dropping the price on Nobody's Cinderella to 99cents. The price will remain there until after the holidays because Nobody's Cinderella is being included in the upcoming Romance Box Set, Christmas on Main Street, 12 full-length romance novels for only 99cents.

Excerpt, Cinderella Blue

Copyright © 2014 by Joan Reeves

Heat shimmered in waves above the pavement as Bruce Benton crossed the street. The photography studio, flower shop, and jewelers created one-stop shopping for women looking to drop a few grand on a pretentious wedding. Through the glass storefront of the photography studio, Bruce saw one such woman as he passed.

A moment later he stopped abruptly, turned, and retraced his steps, casually glancing at the window again. The woman he'd seen wore a wedding dress. The gun in her right hand didn't go with her wedding gown at all.

He drew his Glock and eased the door open. A bell over the door jingled as he slipped inside. The woman whirled. She held her gun in the same shooter's stance as he. He couldn’t help but notice that she was a real looker. "Take it easy, lady. Maybe the photographer took some lousy pictures of you. That's no reason to shoot him."

The blonde grinned. "Next thing I know you'll be thinking I'm robbing the place."

"It's hard to imagine why a sweet thing like you would have a gun."

"Sweet thing?" Irritation chased away the grin. "Lower your gun. Lay it on the floor."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see I'm a--"

Everything happened at once. A man rushed from behind her, slammed into her, and sent her flying into Bruce. They went down in a tangle of arms, legs, and miles of white satin.

She came up snarling.

Bruce leaped up, gun in hand. "Freeze!" He was the one grinning now. "I always wanted to say that. Just like a TV cop. I see you lost your gun, sweet thing."

He got his cuffs out and stepped toward her. With a snarl, she whirled. All he saw was a white blur. All he felt was agony in his hand. Then a roundhouse kick to his solar plexus cut off his gasp of pain, and he hit the floor. Wheezing, he tried to rise.

"Uh uh, sweet thing. You stay right where you are."

The blonde, smiling brightly, stood over him with her gun--and his--pointed at him.

Ah, crap. He'd never live this down.


Takeaway Truth

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse at my next contemporary romance. Look for it at most book sellers next week.