Carry Me Home Tour Coming Soon!

 

Folks, Monday, July 15th starts my blog tour for one of my favorite of my books, Carry Me Home! I've put the dates and places I'll be "guesting" in case you want to drop by.

15th: Krista Ames

16th: Snifferwalk Books 

18th: Melissa Mackinnon

19th: Reader's Edyn

20th: Melissa Kendall

22nd: Harlie's Books

23rd: Jessica E. Subject

29th: Storm Goddess Book Reviews 

30th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

31st: Deal Sharing Aunt

Carry Me Home Review!

I recently got this review for my June book, CARRY ME HOME:

"Ms. Bourne packs a lot of punch in short page length. I really cared about these characters and rooted for them to find love again!"

Thanks, Rebecca Grimaldi!!

Coming July 10th!

 

BLURB

Meggie MacDougall often dreams of Quinn O’Connell, the sexy Irish football coach who swept her off her feet in Dublin. But what happened in Dublin must stay there. She has responsibilities at home, and she refuses to fuel the gossip fires in Glenhalish.

 

Quinn has never forgotten Meggie and the explosive weekend they shared. Overwhelmed by memories of her passion, beauty, and zest for life, he jeopardizes his cushy career to find her and test the connection between them.

 

When Quinn arrives in her Highland village, Meggie is determined to ignore him. However, she isn't prepared for the claim he lays on her heart with his sexy charm and his tender soul.

 

Will pride and fear keep Meggie from embracing possibilities, or will Quinn's gentle persistence break down her defenses and lead her to a silent surrender?

 

EXCERPT

Quinn came toward her, the ball juggling between his feet. “Get him, Miss Meggie!” someone called from across the pitch.

Her heart rate, already soaring, tripped at the sight of her man. Her nerves tightened, her muscles clenched. She rocked on the heels of her feet. She’d steal the ball for her team.

He closed the distance between them. Meggie pushed against his rock-hard abs and tangled with his feet. He tugged on her ponytail, slid his foot between hers, and sent the ball to his teammates.

Meggie yelped, her arms flailing to her sides. Her feet remained tangled with Quinn’s, and she lost her balance.

Quinn’s arms circled her waist and twisted her so his body took the brunt of the impact with the dirt-packed earth. She rolled to the side, still cradled in the crook of his arm and with the pressure of his delicious body over every inch of hers. “Are you all right?” He propped himself up and brushed her hair away from her face.

“Aye. Thank you for taking the fall for us.”

“You’re down here with me, aren’t you?”

“Aye, but you protected me. Thank you, my Irish knight.”

“My pleasure, my lady.”

Aye, she was his lady and she decided she rather liked it.

He leaned down and claimed her mouth.

“Is she hurt?” one of the lads yelled. The ground trembled beneath their feet.

“Aye, ye daft fool. He’s giving her mouth-to-mouth,” yelled another.

Together they both giggled and ended the kiss. “You should probably let me up before they call for an ambulance.”

“Right.” He jumped to his feet. “No worry, boys. She’s fine.” She missed the feel of him against her body. As she propped herself on her forearms, he reached down and pulled her to her feet.

 

Thank You!

 

First off, I want to thank everyone who came out, commented or tweeted about my CARRY ME HOME Release Party! I had a great time sharing my latest book, and my future plans, with you!

As promised, I have the list of winners. I compiled a list of names from each day's blog posts and used random.org to find my winner for that day.

Without further ado, the winners are......


MONDAY- REBECCA ROYCE
TUESDAY- EVA LEFOY
WEDNESDAY- AMI WEAVER
THURSDAY- EVELYN BERRY
FRIDAY- KATHLEEN GALLAGHER

Winners, I'll be emailing you later today with details of what you've won and asking you for your snail mail address. Or you can beat me to the punch and email me at alexa @ alexabourne . com (without the spaces)!

Last Day of the CARRY ME HOME Release Party!

Hello again! Today I'm again on the Get Lost in a Story Blog sharing details about what's next for me and the people of Glenhlish, Scotland. PLUS, I've revealed the cover of my next Tease book, Silent Surrender! Check it out and let me know what you think of all my plans!

PLUS.....

Today I'm also hanging out on Elizabeth Morgan's Blog and we're playing 20 questions!

AND.....

I also stopped by Laurey Buckland's Blog too!

Remember, commenting in any (or all) of these blog posts will give you an extra chance at winning one of the FIVE prizes! Winners will be chosen and posted tomorrow. For more chances, you can go bakc and comment on any of my blog posts for any day this week! Check Monday's post for the deets. AND if you tweet about it, which will give you MORE chances to win, make sure to include me @AlexaBourne and #CMHReleaseParty!

Party On!

Welcome back to the party for my latest book release! Today I'm blogging in a different place and I hope you'll join me!

On the Get Lost in a Story Blog, I'm sharing about the song that inspired my book, Carry Me Home. I'm also sharing some pictures of Scotland so you can hopefully see why I love setting books there! Remember, for every comment you leave wherever I am this week you'll be in the running for the FIVE prizes I'll be sending out! AND if you tweet about it, which will give you MORE chances to win, make sure to include me @AlexaBourne and #CMHReleaseParty!

Happy Book Birthday!

I'm so excited to have Carry Me Home on sale now! I hope you'll pick it up and enjoy it and then let me know! Today I'm out celebrating so I won't be on here too much, but I did want to tell you this. The excitement of the day your book goes on sale doesn't go away. I'm still as giddy today as I was with the very first book release. I want to run around the city shouting to anyone passing. I want to stand on the corner by the stoplight with a sign sharing my book cover. I want to dance around the house each time a friend or relative calls me and I downright want to lift a glass of Glenfiddich whisky when a new friend or reader emails. Carry Me Home is my 4th ebook and so far these feelings haven't diminished. Will they in time? I hope not!

 

Okay, while I'm out celebrating, here's the blurb, an excerpt and the buy links in case you want to pick it up right now! And when you're done here, visit the Daily Dose of Decadence blog for a closer glimpse into the struggles Jamie and Mary have.

Book Blurb:

After six months in the city, Mary MacDougall returns to the Scottish Highlands to finalize her divorce. Because of a past tragedy, she doubts her husband Jamie can possibly love her with the same unbridled passion as before and insists ending the marriage is best for both of them. But Jamie has other ideas….

Jamie MacDougall has no intention of letting his bonnie lass go. At least not without a fight. Aye, they’ve suffered heartache, and she may be ready to call it quits, but he refuses to throw away the partnership they’ve built since they were children. Instead, he’ll remind her they were meant to be together, forever.

Can this marriage survive pride and grief to allow love to carry them home?

Excerpt:

“What do you want, Jamie?” She’d not get caught up in his soulful amber eyes. No, she would not.

“You’ve had your bit of fun, but I want you to come home.” He tilted his head to one side and drifted his fingertips along her bare arm.

She yanked away. “I’ve come to get my papers from you, to say good-bye to those I love, and to move on with my life.” She stepped around him and continued down the path to the center of Glenhalish. “I’ll be at the Kierlain House until Sunday. Please bring the forms and leave them with the front office.”

“I don’t have them.” He nearly shouted with glee. “I tossed them out.”

“I thought you might say that.” Smiling on the heels of another small victory, she fished through her handbag and pulled out another copy of the divorce papers. She’d come armed with a half-dozen copies just in case he chose to be difficult. She strode back to him with her chin held high and slapped the papers against his chest. “Here.”

Jamie stared at the lass’s fine arse strutting away from him. Her hair had been cut, straightened and the summer dress with the flowery print accentuated all the curves he’d fallen for so many years ago, the curves he knew so intimately. And those heels, for the love of St. Bridget, Mary hadn’t worn high heels like that since she left school. They’d brought her closer to his height, yet she still only reached his shoulders.

She’d left Glenhalish in January, a cold, distant housewife, and come back this alluring woman. For a moment, panic set inside his gut. He’d intended to convince her to come home so they could face their grief and move on together, but seeing how much happier, sexier, and sophisticated she was, perhaps Edinburgh was good for her, better than he could be.

But he wanted her back, wanted to get through this rough patch they’d strayed onto after the lad’s death, and return to the partnership they’d shared since primary school. They had too many years left. She couldn’t leave him. He wouldn’t survive without her.

The lass may have plans to leave him forever, but Jamie MacDougall wouldn’t give her up without a fight.

Reviews Are Already Coming In!

"It's rare that a book actually brings me to tears and even more rare that I can both laugh and cry in the same book, but this deeply moving story of a couple on the verge of ending their marriage did just that....This is a must read!" ~~~~~~~~ RITA Award Winning Author Jan Hudson

"This book was a short-sweet-happy ending type of book that was just perfect to read before bedtime! These are cool characters in a cool setting and all I can say is I could have kept reading." ~~~~~~ Artist and Web Designer Cheryl Rae
 

Amazon  Decadent Publishing   All Romance Ebooks

Barnes & Noble   Smashwords

AND.....Remember I'm also on the Daily Dose of Decadence Blog today discussing the impending divorce of my main characters.

(Remember, any comments you make to any one of my blog spots this week will put you in the running for five different prizes! Check out the list of places on the Monday post of where I'll be each day! AND if you tweet about it, which will give you MORE chances to win, make sure to include me @AlexaBourne and #CMHReleaseParty!)

A Few Words From Meggie...

 

 

Hiya! Alexa and I are so glad you've stopped by to join us. We're so excited to celebrate the release of Alexa's new book, Carry Me Home, that is part of the new Tease line. Oh, wait. I suppose I should tell you who I am. My name is Meggie MacDougall. The hero in Carry Me Home is Jamie MacDougall, me oldest brother. (Aye, I talk with an accent. I'm Scottish, after all!)

 

Do you want to know how this story came about? Aye? Well, one of Alexa's grand editors emailed and asked her to be a part of Decadent Publishing's new project, Tease. Naturally she was honored and excited and a bit nervous. But how wonderful to be asked!

 

 



Straight away Alexa knew she had the perfect couple for this lovely little story-  Jamie, and his wife, Mary. You see, all three of us are a part of Alexa's very first book, Her Highland Champion. After Alexa finished that story, she knew all we MacDougalls had a lot more to say and do. So, after the editor asked her to write for Tease, Jamie and Mary's impending divorce took over Alexa's mind and she went to work writing Carry Me Home. It was a whirlwind of a story, although a heartache for us all. I mean, me daft brother was about to lose the only lass he'd ever loved and if.... Och! I cannit share anything else. I promised Jamie, Mary and Alexa I'd not say too much. For some reason they all think I talk too much!

 

All right. All I'll say now is if you want a good cry and a good laugh, then get on your way to buying this book as soon as you can. You'll not be disappointed.

 

Now, since this is part of Alexa's Release Party for Carry Me Home, let's get to the question you need to answer for a chance at a prize. Have any of you come across a secondary character you definitely wanted to learn more about?

 

(Remember, leaving comments on any of Alexa's blog spots this week can put you in the running for one of the FIVE prizes she's offering! Scroll down to Monday to see the list of places you can read more about Carry Me Home! AND if you tweet about it, which will give you MORE chances to win, make sure to include me @AlexaBourne and #CMHReleaseParty!)

 



LET'S PARTY!

Welcome to my party for the release of my latest book, CARRY ME HOME! The book went on sale yesterday. I like to party so we're celebrating ALL WEEK! Below you'll find the links to all the places I'll be celebrating this week and what prizes I'll be sharing with lucky commenters! There will be a prize for each day!

Monday, June 3rd- We're celebrating here AND on the Decadent Tease blog. Come join me there for a quick and fun Q & A!

Tuesday, June 4th- We'll be right here for a special visit from one of my favorite characters. She'll give us the scoop on CARRY ME HOME from her perspective.

Wednesday, June 5th- We'll be right here, where I'll share an excerpt, some reviews, and my own feelings about release day. Ooooh, AND I'll be on the Daily Dose of Decadence blog talking about the main challenges my hero and heroine face. 

Thursday, June 6th- We'll be on the Get Lost in a Story blog, where I'll share the song that influenced and ultimately made me finish the story.

Friday, June 7th- We'll be back on the Get Lost in a Story blog, where I'll let you know what's happening next with me and the folks in my fictional Highland village. Oooh! I'll ALSO be on Elizabeth Morgan's blog for 20 questions! AND I'll be posting on Laurey Buckland's blog too!

Now make sure to visit several (or all!) of these places because one person will win a prize each day out of all the comments for that day. So the more comments you leave each day the more chances you have to win a prize that day! PLUS....if you tweet about the party and include me (@AlexaBourne) and #CMHReleaseParty, you'll gain even MORE chances to win! All of the prize winners will be announced on here on Saturday, June 8th. Some of the prizes you can win for commenting and tweeting are copies of my books, Amazon gift cards, books (by other people), and a few other British treats!

Sneak Peek Sunday!

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday, where authors post 6 paragraphs of a published work or a work-in-progress for your enjoyment! To see who else is participating, visit here!

It's almost here! In just THREE more days Carry Me Home will be available for purchase! I'm so excited! I hope you enjoy this next excerpt from the very first Decadent Tease Entice book! I hope you like it enough to put the book on your To Be Read list.

He hurried to block her path. "Lass." Grabbing her forearm, he said…nothing. Instead, his gaze traveled along the length of her. Twice.

"What do you want, Jamie?" She’d not get caught up in his soulful amber eyes. No, she would not.

"You’ve had your bit of fun, but I want you to come home." He tilted his head to one side and drifted his fingertips along her bare arm.

She yanked away. "I’ve come to get my papers from you, to say good-bye to those I love, and to move on with my life." She stepped around him and continued down the path to the center of Glenhalish. "I’ll be at the Kierlain House until Sunday. Please bring the forms and leave them with the front office."

"I don’t have them." He nearly shouted with glee. "I tossed them out."

"I thought you might say that." Smiling on the heels of another small victory, she fished through her handbag and pulled out another copy of the divorce papers. She’d come armed with a half-dozen copies just in case he chose to be difficult. She strode back to him with her chin held high and slapped the papers against his chest. "Here."

SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Carry Me Home is available EARLY on the Decadent Publishing website and the All Romance Ebooks website!!!!

Sneak Peek Sunday!

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday, where authors post 6 paragraphs of a published work or a work-in-progress for your enjoyment! To see who else is participating, visit here!

Now, for my sneak peek.....

Over the last 2 weeks I've shared snippets from my June 5th book, Carry Me Home. This story is set in the Scottish Highlands and is a contemporary romance. This sneak peek picks up from what I posted last week. Mary MacDougall has only been back in the Highlands for seconds and she's already struggling with herself and her husband. To read the opening of the book, click here. To read last week's snippet, click here.

And now, for this week's 6 paragraphs.....

 

Nothing had changed. Making this trip had been the right decision. The sooner their marriage was over, the sooner she could move on with her life.

"Thank you, but I’d rather you brought me the signed divorce papers." She flexed her fingers around the suitcase handle and started down the stairs.

With the flowers still in Jamie’s hand.

A small smile crossed her lips. She’d take any victory she could. This would be a fierce battle.

"Mary, wait." His work shoes clumped down the wooden stairs.

Please keep me strong. 

Hot Summer Nights!

 

 

Welcome to the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop! We're excited to have you join us. We are going to also offering two Grand Prizes!! In order for readers to take part, they must leave their name and email address in their comments. Two winners will be chosen at random and notified no later than May 31, 2013.

1st Grand Prize: (1) Kindle Fire!

2nd Grand Prize: (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card

 

In addition to these fabulous prizes, I'll be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and some book swag to one commenter here!

 

I'm not such a fan of hot summer nights, unless they include a hot guy by my side! I have to put up with summer heat that threatens to melt me. For the most part, I try to stay inside where there's air conditioning!

 

But my characters, on the other hand....

 

In my upcoming book, Carry Me Home, the main characters have a few steamy summer nights, for sure! Jamie and Mary MacDougall have been married for years, but their marriage is on the verge of collapsing. Mary left town to "get away" and has now returned, six months later, to force Jamie to sign divorce papers. But Jamie has other plans. He knows they are meant to be together and he has every intention of reminding Mary of that. He concocts a plan for an intimate weekend filled with hot nights and sweet days, everything his bonnie lass needs to feel loved and cherished once again. Here's a short excerpt for you!

 

Beads of sweat gathered along Jamie’s collar. His outfit smothered him, but it had been worth every ounce of discomfort. The look on Mary’s face when she saw him in his kilt would live in his brain forever.

And her own dress had left him speechless. Aye, him. The silky fabric clinging to hercalled to him, begged him to strip it off her. But he couldn’t. He had to bide his time. He absolutely could not mess this night up. It might be his only chance to save his marriage, to hold onto the woman who owned his heart.  
And so he’d pretended to be a complete gentleman all through dinner, had ignored his body’s urge to claim her once again, and had begun to believe he might have a chance to win her back.

While they waited for Berney to prepare the cranachan, one of her favorite songs came over the speakers. Aye, he’d planned the soundtrack for the evening, but he couldn’t have timed it better. As the first string of notes filled the air, she tilted her head to one side.

Jamie stood and held his hand out to her. "Come."

"What for?"

"A dance."

She hesitated, but only for a moment. As she slid her fingers in his and stood next to him, she said, "Only because you know how much I love this song."

"Fair enough." He tugged her into his arms. Her soft body entwined so perfectly with his, like the old days. They used to hold each other every chance they could get before their world fell apart. He brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek, along her jaw, down her neck. With his hand drifting to the nape of her neck and massaging there, he moved his mouth over her eyes, her nose, her lips. She openedher mouth to him, invited his tongue with her own, taunting, teasing, playing like brand-new lovers getting to know each other. He supposed, in some ways, that was exactly what they were.

But he’d not rush them. The marriage had taken time to disintegrate. He’d not be able to sew it back together in one more night. Perhaps, though, a long weekend of loving memories would reopen the doors to their love.

He pleasured her mouth, matching her tongue strokes and then taking his away, giving and taking. When the song ended and Berney brought out their traditional Scottish dessert, he guided her back to the table.

And when the meal was completely finished, he escorted her to her hotel room door, kissed her on the cheek, and walked away. Why? Because that was what gentlemen did, and his lass deserved to be treated like a lady.

Now, here's your question for the Blog Hop: What's the steamiest night or steamiest couple you've read? Come on, now! I need some book recommendations! 

 

Leave a comment (with your name and email address) and be in the running for both my prize and one of the grand prizes!

 

Remember, the more you participate, the better your chances are of winning a prize! Visit our other authors, comment and get in the running!

 

Sneak Peek Sunday!

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday, where authors post 6 paragraphs of a published work or a work-in-progress for your enjoyment! To see who else is participating, visit here!

Now, for my sneak peek.....

Last week I said I'd be sharing snippets from my upcoming book, Carry Me Home. This story is set in the Scottish Highlands and is a contemporary romance being released on June 5th! This sneak peek picks up from what I posted last week. Mary MacDougall has just gotten off the train in her Highland village after 6 months away. To read last week's snippet first, click here.

She crossed the brick bridge over the track, her heels clacking against the stone in time to the rhythm of the wheels of the case. By the door to the one room station house, she stopped. "You."

Standing by the stairs to the parking lot with his hands behind his back was the man who’d stolen her heart and trampled it until there was nothing left. Jamie, her husband.

And yet, her old ticker still stuttered.

Damn. She had hoped to have at least a few hours to steel her nerves before confronting him. But no, here he stood, tall and big and so tempting. Her gentle giant with his well-trimmed beard and his wild red hair hanging too long.

"Hello, love." His smooth voice enveloped her like a perfect summer dress.

All she’d learned about herself over the last six months came to her brain. She was her own woman—confident, sexy, independent. He had lost the right to call her love when he'd all but forgotten about  her…back then. When she had needed his strong arms to hold her up, he jumped into work at the family’s pub and left her to deal with her pain alone.

Well? What do you think? Let me know!

Sneak Peek Sunday!

It's time again for Sneak Peek Sunday! A bunch of authors share six paragraphs from a published work of theirs or a work-in-progress. To read more about Sneak Peek Sunday, visit this website. As for the sneak peek into my own work.....

In 3 weeks and 3 days, my next book will be available! Carry Me Home is the name of it and I'm soooooo excited! Early reviews are saying good things! So, as I'm working on promo ideas for it, I've decided to share snippets with you from Carry Me Home each week for the next 4 Sundays. Today's snippet is the opening of the book. I hope you like it! Please let me know what you think!


Mary MacDougall tossed the edge of her scarf over her shoulder and reached for her suitcase handle in the overhead compartment of the train. Six months was a long time to be away from everyone she knew and loved. Much had changed with her. Would anyone notice? Or would she fail and return to the woman she used to be?

With her case in her hands, she descended the stairs. When she stepped onto the Glenhalish platform, her stomach curled. Sunshine brushed across her face. She turned up to it, closed her eyes, and inhaled the scents of her home. Sweet heather and freshly cut grass from somewhere.

Aye, she loved Edinburgh, but Glenhalish held her soul.

Had held it until she’d run away in the dead of winter.

As the train closed doors and chugged onward, Mary reopened her eyes. She’d be reboarding in four days’ time, with everything she owned and the signed papers that granted her freedom.

Hopefully.