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Few things get more giggles than my husband’s driving adventures, so I thought I’d share a little story. Make no mistake—this is not a one-time occurrence. This particular story happens every time we go somewhere, whether it’s across town or across the country. I know as you read, you’ll nod along. If you’re not giggling about your significant other, it’s because you’re the one who does this.

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“Want to get out the GPS?” Liam reaches behind his seat for the little pouch filled with technological marvels.

I look at him like he’s crazy. “We’re going to my parents’ house. They haven’t moved.”

Color creeps up his cheeks, but he holds his ground. “We’ve never driven in from this direction before. Besides, the GPS tells me what time we’re supposed to get there, and I like to shave off as many minutes as I can. It’s like a little game. Beat the satellite.”

I say “fair enough,” but what I really mean is “it’s pointless to argue with you,” and plug in the device that gives anyone anywhere our exact coordinates, should they want them for any reason.

He’s not kidding when he says he’s never approached from our current direction. We chose to check out some antique stores before driving across the state. I, however, have driven almost every highway, interstate, and back road into the town where my parents live. Because he’d rather have the help of the GPS than his wife, I shut up and read a book.

Until I look up and realize we’re on the wrong road.

“The little dot says we’re driving through the middle of a field,” Liam says, smacking the little screen like it’s a misbehaving child. “Something’s wrong with the GPS.”

“No. Something’s wrong with you. You missed the turn about a mile ago. The GPS just doesn’t know because it’s all new roads.”

“Well, why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t need me! You needed the GPS. Besides, there were signs everywhere. Why didn’t you just pay attention to those?”

Silence. He has no argument.

I put away the book and prepare to direct him back to the correct highway. I fully accept responsibility for not paying attention to begin with. I should have known; I really should have.

We turn around to head back in the right direction, and within moments, the new intersection appears. I point out the sign with the junction information and tell him to take a left.  He does so without question, and we’re back on course. I don’t pull the book back out, however. I learned my lesson.

A few minutes later, I speak up. “You’ll want to get in the right lane for the turn.”

What does my grateful husband say? “I can read the signs, thanks.”

Where were those skills thirty minutes ago when he took the wrong turn?

Whatever. He’s obviously an engaged driver now, and with the help of his newly acquired abilities and the sometimes-wrong GPS, he no longer needs my help.

Out comes the book again.

Twenty minutes later, Liam smacks the GPS with a curse, and I look up to see we’re on the wrong road again.

“Liam, what on earth?”

“She lied! The GPS lied! And where were you? You could have been paying attention and told me which turn to take.”

I see red, but I don’t leap from the moving vehicle the way I want to. Instead, I help him get turned around again, and when we reach the intersection where the mistake was made, I helpfully point out the sign he missed the first time.

“Thanks,” he says with an eyeroll. “I can read.”

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That’s right! It’s here early – but only in Kindle format. This is the next paranormal romance obsession; I promise. And you can win a copy for your Kindle to read before everyone else knows about it. I dare you to enter the contest, meet Conor, and not fall madly in love. So how can you win? It’s easy. Leave a comment below for one entry. If you tweet the contest and/or book and include @MelissaFoxWords, like Melissa Fox on Facebook and leave her a message, add the book to your shelves on Goodreads and leave her a message, reblog with a link to this post, or otherwise spread the word, you’ll get an extra entry for each activity. It’s that easy. Now, you want to know what you’re about to go crazy over, right? Check out the excerpt below.

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“I always knew you loved me, Conor.” Merry could barely hear her voice over the pounding of her heart. “I didn’t understand. I still don’t, not completely, but I knew. That’s why it hurt so much and why I could never forget. That’s why I had to come home.”

His free hand curled around her neck. She didn’t know if he intended to bring her closer or hold her in place. Her breath caught, and his expression changed to something she recognized, something that turned her breathlessness into searing pain. He pulled her up those last few inches and placed his mouth on hers.

Shock ripped through her the minute their lips touched. She gasped, rising to meet him with pent-up longing and frustration. After a brief, stunned moment, both his hands flew up to hold her face as she gripped his arms. She sighed in relief when his mouth opened over hers, the scorching heat making her head reel and her body want more. She accepted the touch of his tongue, pulled him in and welcomed him as she went blind with pleasure. The compulsion to keep taking and never stop overwhelmed her senses. His taste flooded her soul.

He felt so good.

Merry fought against the desire to ravish more than his mouth, to hold on to reason and keep the contact to just kisses. She had never expected to hold him close again, to be immersed in his heat and scent. Their unique connection proved just as strong as she remembered, and she savored the moment until she had to pull from his embrace or succumb to the temptation of his hovering mouth.

“Conor—” The look on his face gave her a hot thrill of excitement. “Conor.”

oOo

Want it? Click the Rafflecopter link below to see your options. Some activities will earn you more entries, and the more entries you have, the better your chances will be. You’ve got one week to TELL EVERYONE. The contest will end at 7:00 pm CST on November 5.

 

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Liam likes to ask those questions that just don’t have answers. The problem is, he really wants one anyway. In self-defense, I’ve come up with a few responses that fit and use them every time. Now, a conversation on a long road trip goes something like this:

Liam: What’s he hauling?

Me: Ass

Liam: Are we going the right way?

Me: Still.

Liam: Where do you reckon he’s going?

Me: That way.

Most of the time, he’s not really looking for answers so much as just wanting to make noise—get my attention. On occasion, the question will have a legitimate answer, and the conversation changes a bit.

Liam: What’s he hauling?

Me: Porta-Potties.

Liam: Are we going the right way?

Me: I have no idea. You missed the turn four miles ago.

Liam: Where do you reckon he’s going?

Me: That way.

Answering “where’s he going?” is nearly impossible, unless we happen to know the person in the car and have been given some idea of the destination beforehand. Fortunately, Liam seems to understand there’s no solid response to the question and I’m not psychic.

But one time…one time while traveling in Connecticut, a state where neither of us knew a soul, we got an answer. We’d gone away for the weekend and experienced trouble with the car. With a barely-there alternator, we putted to the Honda dealership to get it fixed. As we struggled, a little old lady passed us like we were sitting still, and there came the question. “Where do you reckon she’s going?”

I looked over and took stock of the blue hair, pearl necklace, and old-fashioned frock and tried to give an original guess. “Bingo.”

He accepted my offering. What evidence did he have to the contrary? We continued on our merry way to the dealership, where we got an answer to the unanswerable for the first time. There at the service desk stood the little, old lady with her keys to her Honda.

Liam was so freaked by this unexpected resolution he didn’t ask again for years.

Melissa Fox is nearing the release of her debut novel, WRAITH REDEEMED, and I couldn’t be more excited if it was my own book. Melissa and I often work together developing plots, editing, rewriting, encouraging, brainstorming, and just plain supporting. I’ve watched the creation of WRAITH REDEEMED from almost the beginning, and I knew the moment I read the first paragraph two years ago that she had magic in her hands. It’s thrilling to see the book, after several rounds of edits and rewrites, in its final form.

In the coming months, The Wild Rose Press will introduce Melissa Fox and WRAITH REDEEMED to the world. This is just the beginning of an amazing, powerful, passionate journey, with fascinating mythology that will leave you breathless. It’s my great honor to share the cover with you now.

Demon-slayer Conor O’Shea is about to engage in the most dangerous encounter of his life—facing the woman he scorned.

For years, Merry Bradbury’s world revolved around Conor O’Shea. After his sudden betrayal leaves her alone and heartbroken, she comes home to settle her past and move into the future. The last person she expects to see is Conor.

Conor O’Shea never wanted anything more than forever with Merry. Discovering he is a Wraith warrior, honor bound to fight demons, destroys that plan. Merry is his Amorta, his one true soul mate, but he leaves to keep her safe from the evil that stalks him.

Eight years later, Conor’s worst fear is realized, and he returns to defend Merry from his enemies. Can he save her from an unspeakable fate and reclaim her heart? And if he does, will Merry be able to accept all that he is?

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You can visit Melissa Fox’s website to learn more about her upcoming projects, including the second book in the Wraith series. Be sure to watch for announcements on her Twitter for the release date. Also, please leave some words for Melissa to let her know how excited you are about WRAITH REDEEMED!