Dare by Kacey Hamell – Review/Excerpt/Giveaway (Thursday, December 13th)

Giveaway Info:  Prize is 1 eBook from Kacey’s backlist (winner’s choice). Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Dec 18. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Dare

by Kacey Hammell

Published by Evernight Publishing

Published on September 12, 2012

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: Steamy

Length: 25,000 words

Available at:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | aRe | OmniLit | Bookstrand

 

Blurb:

**An aRe Bestseller!**

Legal secretary, Olivia Warner enjoys being single and, aside from her closest gal pals, usually keeps to herself. But the night of her thirty-fourth birthday, she and her friends spend a fun-filled evening at a local bar where her friends dare her to approach a man, and spend the night with him. Olivia’s not one to turn down a dare, especially from her old college pals. She only hopes the man in question is in for some good conversation, because that is all she’ll give him.

Darren “Dare” Shalvis has given up on women. He’s tired of being chased for his money, good looks, and prowess in bed. He prefers to meet a woman who, for once, wants nothing more from him than mere conversation. If only the woman asking him to spend the night with her wasn’t his favorite legal secretary.

Accepting a dare has never been so tempting…

Review:

5 Stars – http://whippedcream2.blogspot.ca/2012/10/dare-by-kacey-hammell.html?zx=948f593b6f963d73

“Although at first glance DARE might seem like your typical romance novel (quiet girl meets rich hunk), it’s not. The reason for this is the way Ms. Hammell depicts her characters…author’s description set an image of such natural ease between them that I felt from the beginning that they were perfect for each other…behind the hot sex Kacey Hammell throws in a mystery, which surprisingly comes to play an important role in the development of the characters’ relationship…DARE was a quick, extremely enjoyable read for any moment of the day, if you dare get hot and bothered at any time.”–Bittersweet at LASR

Excerpt #1:

Olivia burst out laughing without reservation.

Dare had heard it a lot tonight and the evening couldn’t be going any better.

Before taking separate cars from Countess, they’d agreed to meet back at her place for a late dinner. She had the job to pick up Chinese food while he had run his own errand.

When he’d walked her to her car and mentioned the need to stop at the drugstore, he saw her turn scarlet even in the dark. It was refreshing to find a woman who didn’t come on strong and found the slightest flirtation blush-worthy. He didn’t know many women like her.

The urge to kiss her nearly choked him. Yet before he could act, she’d whispered goodbye and hidden in her car. But the night was still young and he planned to take full advantage of the fact.

Once settled at her place, they instantly dived into their food.

He watched her smile between bites, and fought the impulse to take her lips with his. Olivia didn’t have Angie Jolie lips but they were still lush and fuller—cherry red and wet—than most women’s.

As she pushed more food into her mouth, her lips wrapped around her fork—she’d given up trying to master chopsticks, which they’d both found hilarious—Dare imagined her mouth around his cock as she sucked him deep over and over again.

“You know, chopsticks are dangerous.” Olivia’s voice brought him from his musings.

“Dangerous? I’m not sure about that, but if you say so.”

After he watched her struggle with them for fifteen minutes, Dare agreed to some extent. She was very different from other women he knew. Some never relaxed enough to laugh at themselves the way she did. Most were self-conscious and obnoxious.

But the more Olivia tried, the worse her coordination became and the more they cackled about it. Dare couldn’t recall a time when he’d had such a great time with a woman. Olivia was easy to be around. He also hadn’t felt so laid-back in ages. Most dates were full of tension and what-ifs. But with her, perhaps their honesty and knowing what the night held put them both at ease.

Dare knew she was a bit nervous, but the underlying sexual tension was electric. There was still a calm atmosphere as minutes ticked by. He was happy with that but wished he’d taken the initiative before now and asked her out. He really enjoyed her company.

“Yes, dangerous. Twice now, I’ve nearly poked my eye out with those things.”

He held up his own chopsticks, having mastered the craft years ago. He eyeballed the unintimidating weapon and then scrutinized her, brows raised. She looked serious. He had to hold in a laugh. “Perhaps you’re not feeling them.”

She frowned. “Feeling them? They’re in my hand, Dare, how can I not be feel them?”

Pleased she now used his nickname—it had never sounded so sweet—he shook his head. “No I mean, feel them. Hold them gentle, yet firm. Let your fingers slide against them like a caress.”

He lifted his hand higher, slid his fingers gently, and moved the chopsticks with grace and ease.

Dare watched her gaze darken as it followed his movements, and her cheeks flushed. He never thought showing a woman how to use chopsticks would be arousing, but desire was clear in her gaze.

She couldn’t have any idea just how hot she looked when turned on. His cock thickened. His pants grew uncomfortable and tightened over his burgeoning erection.

Shifting on the couch, he set the box of chow mein and his sticks on the coffee table, and leaned toward her.

“Olivia,” he whispered.

She stared into his eyes. The deep green of hers deepened, and her breath quickened. “Yes?”

He took the box of chicken fried rice from her hand, set it on the table, his gaze never leaving hers. He cupped her cheek, drew her closer to him, their lips an inch apart. “Do you know how many times, how long, I’ve wanted to kiss you?”

“Hmm,” came her incoherent reply. Dare didn’t need further encouragement.

Lowering his head quickly, his lips rubbed hers, left and right, sweet caresses that kicked his blood pressure into high.

He had never tasted anything sweeter. Her mouth held a hint of mint from the tea she’d made earlier.  He would always associate the flavor with her. And he wanted more of it.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips. He nudged her backward until she lay against the couch. He shifted closer and lounged next to her.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, and she tugged him closer still as her tongue swept his mouth.

Dare groaned. Sexually aggressive women were a turn on, always had been, but with her the excitement went up a notch. Her hesitancy mixed with aggressiveness was more than pleasing. This woman could turn a man inside out. Her touch and taste were addictive and sweet.

If Dare wasn’t careful he’d fall for her…hard.

Review:

I adore Kacey Hamell.  I love her voice, her characters and they plots that pulls together for her characters.  The sex between her characters is hot and has a point.  Its never thrown in there for the sake of another sex scene.  That said, I was a little disappointed in a couple of aspects of Dare.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book but there were some issues that were never explained in the end.

What do you do when your college best friends dare you to pick someone out at a bar and sleep with me?  Well, other than wanting to slap said college best friends, you pick out the man who you know from work in passing.  He will do for now.  Plus, seriously would he even be remotely interested in her.  A dare for a Dare is what she got.  One night turned into the entire weekend.  Neither expected to fall for the other in that one weekend but it happened.

Back at work on Monday, Olivia is charged with leaking information out of the law firm.  With Dare looking at her, he doesn’t back her up.  Told to leave until further investigation she goes home to her girlfriends, vodka and mint chocolate chip ice cream (my favorite).  Heartbroken and shattered by what she thinks is Dare not believing in her, she realizes that her dare is over.

OMG, the scene when Dare shows back up at her apartment and her girlfriends are there is priceless.  The dialogue is hilarious, snarky and somewhat emotional for all of them.  He has to convince them that he is not there to hurt Olivia but to explain and beg for forgiveness.  Candy and Holly are definitely forces to be reckoned with.  *hint* *cough* *more please*

Here’s where it gets muddled for me…when they are finally being honest with each other, Dare doesn’t mention that he is filthy rich.  It is mentioned at the beginning of the book but dropped in the end.  I mean, if they are going to be honest, that he needed to tell her that.  Just a little thing for me but overall, buy this book, read it and love Kacey Hammell has much as I do.  🙂

About the Author:

The writer: Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres.  She is a true romantic at heart.

 

The Wife and Mom: Born, raised and still living in her hometown in Ontario, Canada, Kacey found true love with her husband.  As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

Readers can learn more about my books/contact me via …

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