Howdy! Soon — September 30th — my newest ebook, RED HAWK’S WOMAN, will be released. Currently it’s on sale for practically a song. Also, I’ll be giving away a free ebook today (not RED HAWK’S WOMAN, because it is not released yet) But I’ll be giving away some other ebook of your choice. So please come on in and leave a comment here at www.petticoatsandpistols.com. That’s all you have to do to be entered into the drawing.
And so with this in mind, here is an excerpt from the newest book:
RED HAWK’S WOMAN, an excerpt
by Karen Kay
He wanted to laugh at her, for she looked so stubborn and yet so forlorn. Indeed, at this moment, he thought she resembled a rabbit, staring up into the eyes of a wolf. Unfortunately for him, he was that wolf.
“You are frightened,” he told her, “especially after what happened a few nights ago. And because you do not understand why I am here, asking you these questions, you fear for your safety, even with me. I only hope you will give me a chance to prove myself to you.”
“I hope so too.” She rose to her knees. “Now if you will excuse me, I must get back to my hotel. The others will wonder about me.”
When she made to get to her feet, he did not stop her. Instead, he gave her one quick nod, which appeared to keep her from leaving, at least for the moment.
“Thank you for combing my hair.” She smiled as if to ease the tension between them. “I could all too easily become accustomed to such things.”
That smile was his undoing. Was she some sort of enchantress that she could ensnare him with an action so simple?
He wanted to get lost in that grin, to bask in it. Moreover he longed to spend more time with her, wanted the rest of the world to go away when he was with her. He swallowed hard. “You are most beautiful when you smile.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but even she seemed at a loss for words, and her lips, now parted, looked inviting.
He cleared his throat, started to say something, but had second thoughts.
She mumbled, “I never forgot you.”
“Nor I, you. I waited for you that day.”
“And I came back to that pool day after day,” she confessed. “You never returned.”
“I was gone from that country by then.”
“Gone? But I thought you lived there.”
What could he say that she might understand? Certainly not the truth.
Not knowing what to tell her and what not to, he simply gazed at her. At length, however, he uttered, “I, too, have my secrets. Perhaps tomorrow evening we will unburden ourselves.”
“Perhaps.”
“I would touch you, if you would let me.”
Shyly, her gaze locked on to his. “Would you? How?”
What was she suggesting? He closed his eyes briefly. Swamped by a craving to know every little thing about her, he tried to speak. Nothing happened.
For lack of knowing what else to do, he brought his hand to her cheek, smoothing the backs of his fingers down toward her neck. With the action, desire, hot and urgent, raced through him. Her skin was soft, delicate, fragrant with femininity. He swallowed. “It’s not enough.”
“What?”
“I thought a simple touch would be plenty—that it would last me…several days. I was wrong. It’s not enough.”
She shut her eyes then slowly drew in toward him. Her lips parted, she swallowed and she whispered, “Then how else would you touch me? That is, if you could?”
Did she, too, want more? The thought sent him quietly out of his mind. “Perhaps I might stroke you like this.” Bending, he brought his cheek to hers. “Or maybe like this,” he mumbled, as he wrapped his arm around her and drew her closer. Haiya, he needed to feel her flesh against his.
But it was not to be. It could never be.
He should let her go. He would let her go.
And then from out of nowhere came her words. “Do you kiss?”
“Of course I kiss.” Hardly able to believe he was having this conversation with her, he tried to gulp down the lump that had formed in his throat. “Are you going to let me kiss you?”
She murmured, “You might try it and see.”
He lowered his head; she lifted hers. Gently, his lips sought the silky texture of her mouth, and he thought that pleasure might surely burst within him.
Everything about her was right—the way her lips fit against his, the clean taste of her breath. He hungered to know more of her.
She groaned. The sound excited him, and in reaction to it, he thought he might explode.
He nipped at her lips once, again, his tongue darting in and out of her mouth, teasing her, testing her. How much of this could he take before he demanded more?
She leaned in toward him, and he caught her, pulling her closer yet. But he didn’t continue his foray of her. Instead he brought her body in as near as he possibly could—given the fullness of her swimming attire—and hugged her. “I have dreamed of doing this from the moment I first saw you.”
It was her turn to gasp, as though she couldn’t quite breathe in sufficient oxygen. “Now or back then?”
“Both. But neither has been a good time for us. Back then we were too young, and now we have secrets from one another.”
He set her away from him, but he couldn’t let her go completely, and the backs of his fingers came up to smooth over her cheek. Downward he caressed, toward her neck.
He knew what he should do, what he should suggest. He only hoped he had the courage to do it, to say it.
Do not be lured by matters of the flesh.
White Claw’s words echoed in Red Hawk’s mind. But was this a simple matter of the flesh? Red Hawk argued with himself. Or was this more?
Deep within himself, he knew the answer, as surely as he knew his heart. After a few moments, he gulped down air and summoned his nerve. “We should marry.”
Presales today at http://store.samhainpublishing.com/hawks-woman-p-73630.html
KAREN KAY aka GEN BAILEY is the multi-published author of American Indian Historical Romances. She has written for such prestigious publishers as AVON/HarperCollins, Berkley/Penguin/Putnam and Samhain Publishing. KAREN KAY’S great grandmother was Choctaw Indian and Kay is honored to be able to write about the American Indian Culture.
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Wow, I just read the blurb from Red Hawk’s Woman and it is going on my TBR list.
Hi Judy!
: ) Thank you so much!
What a great excerpt, putting this one on my to buy list.
Hi Jean!
Oh, you do my heart so much good! : )
I love your books!! I just read the excerpt and my heart was racing the whole time!!! I felt like I had read everything up till that point!! Your books are very enticing!!! Thank you for writing from a different perspective. Would love a chance to win.
Oh, Cori, you have made my day with your comment. Thank you so much! : )
Can’t wait to read this one!
Hi Minna!
You are most gracious! Thank you!
Oh, darn that White Claw! Stopping the romance! Wonderful way to start a Tuesday!
Hi Melody!
Ha! You post made me smile. Thanks for getting me started on the right track today, also. : )
As usual, I can hardly wait for your newest. You can be sure I will be checking websites for it!!
Wow, Connie!
Thank you so much! : )
I liked the hair combing. It can be very sensual and not used much by authors. I’ll have to get the book now so I can read the actual passage. Love your books.
Hi Kathy!
Thank you so much! Yes, that’s true. It also is a little known fact about the marriage of men and women in Native America long ago. It was the man’s duty to comb his wife’s hair every day. : )
Interesting, huh?
Congrats on this latest release Karen! 🙂
Thank you so much, Colleen! : )
Great excerpt…going to add to the TBR pile.
Hi Michelle!
You are most kind. Thank you.
Hey Kay,
Love the excerpt….Can’t wait to read it….
Melinda
Hi Melinda!
Thanks so much. Nice to hear from you again. : )
Love these cowboys!!! Buy all of them. Can not wait for more and I read too fast and then I am hungry to find more. Older readers can read hours at night and need lots of books to keep their reading habits filled. Have to wait too long for these books he hah!
Hi Sally!
Yes, me, too! I know. I know. It’s so nice to have a good book at night. : ) When my kids were young, it’s what kept me going.
Write faster gals. I read them so fast I run out before the month is out and am searching for more. I read you guys like candy……..yipee hiho
Hi Sally!
I so love this post! : )
Looks Like a great Book. Congrats on the release!
Hi Maragaret!
Love the way your name is spelled. Thanks so much!
As always, I loved this excerpt and am eager to read more!! Congratulations on the upcoming release!
Hi Britney!
Love it! And thanks for the congrats! : )
What a beautiful cover and love your writing. I so could picture the scene reading. Thanks for the peek! Caffey (Cathie)
Hi Caffey!
You know, I love this cover, too. It has many things going for it — the passion, the love, and in my mind, it’s just a little different.
Thanks for the compliment. Means a lot to me.
Oh, I had to go and look at the gravatar picture — nice, nice cover.
Awesome excerpt & beautiful cover, too! Congratulations, and best of luck with the release of Red Hawk’s Woman!
Carol
Hi Carol!
Thanks so much for leaving a message and thanks for the sweet, sweet comments. I see that you are another Western Romance Author. Yea! So glad to meet you!
Hi Karen,
I can’t wait to start reading ‘Red Hawks Woman’! Since the first day I read an excerpt of ‘The Angel and the Warrior’, I’ve been hooked on your novels. Wonderful story telling and great attention to detail. Cheers to you and the success of your new novel.
Hi Carolyn!
Oh, my, you have just made my day so much better (and it needed to get better). Thank you, Carolyn. : )
Hi Karen –
Lovely excerpt and an interesting blurb. It’s time for me to read a nice Karen Kay romance.
Thanks for sharing and best wishes on a successful release!
Martha
Hi MarthaE!
How sweet! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. : )
Very good excerpt. This is sure to be a great release.
Hi Lori!
You are most kind! Thanks for coming here today and leaving a message. : )
This sounds like a great book! I am going to have to check out others of yours. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sally!
Thanks so much! You do my heart good. : )
For some reason, my comments didn’t post yesterday. Congratulations on the kindle release. Nice excerpt. Two characters worth getting to know.
I hope the release is a big success.
Hi Patricia!
You know, we’ve been getting a lot of spam lately and I believe we have a new filter on spam — maybe that’s the problem. I’m so sorry that you posts didn’t post. Geez! By the way, I’ll be blogging this next Tuesday on Ancestor Day — and of course I’ll be giving away another free ebook — so please do check back. : )