Quick Trip to the Keys

An overnight stay is nowhere near long enough to spend in the Florida Keys. We knew that. But we got a taste of the area and decided we definitely want to go back and spend some time there. Hubby called it a fact finding mission. We got a taste for Key West, had an amazing dinner, and did a little shopping. I even got a little walk on the beach - my favorite activity anywhere near the water.

We decided next time we would definitely stay in the middle of the action. Park our car and forget it. I'm a fan of walking everywhere if possible. There was a touristy atmosphere, but also a tropical vibe which I loved. We know where - and where not - to buy Key Lime Pie now. And next time I want to hit Hemingway's house (hey, I'm a writer) I'd love to just walk the streets, try more restaurants. Explore some of the other Keys: Key Largo, Marathon, Islamorada. And I would spend a lot more time on the beach.

When I got back home I realize how few pictures I'd taken. But I'm happy to share some of the ones I have.

I can now say I've been at the southernmost spot in the US. (And no, I don't plan to ever hit the northermost!)

And here's a little beach excerpt from The Cottage Next Door:

“Can’t sleep?”

Sylvie started. Hunter’s disembodied voice sounded loud in the darkness. She couldn’t see a thing on the deck next door, but had to assume he was sitting in his usual deck chair. Had he heard her moan?

Her heartbeat slowed back down to normal. “No.” She held her breath, waiting for him to swear and stomp into the cottage for intruding on his want-to-be-alone time. Or make a sarcastic comment about what she’d been doing when she thought no one was there.

“This is my favorite time at the beach,” he said, surprising her with his deep, pleasant tone.

“Because you can’t see the hundreds of people around you?”

His soft chuckle surprised her even more. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Partly. But there’s something about the ocean at night. Do you hear it? Right now, this isn’t the fun-loving shore where kids splash and make sandcastles. It’s more primitive.” He was silent for a moment, and Sylvie got caught up in the roar of the waves as they crashed onto the beach. The sound pulled at her, called to her.

“Think of the hundreds of thousands of years the ocean has been pounding the sand,” he went on. “Eating away at the land, reclaiming it. Taking it back into the bowels of the deep.”

Her body heated more, even with the cooling breeze. His voice rolled over her, as powerful as the tug of the waves. She’d known there had to be more to him than that angry, bitter man she’d seen so far.

“Ashes to ashes? Dust to dust? Ocean to ocean?” she asked softly.

The waves pummeled the shore for several long moments before he replied, “Something like that.”


Natasha
The Cottage Next Door - available now
www.natashamoore.com

Heading to the Keys!

As most of you know, Hubby and I have been in South Central Florida since the end of October to help out my parents after my dad had emergency surgery. My mom was overwhelmed with decisions and worry, and I'm glad we were able to come down and help. Bringing down our fifth-wheel RV, so we have our own space, made such a difference in helping my own stress levels. I'm thrilled to say that Dad is doing incredibly well (they call him a miracle at the rehab facility) and we are looking at getting him home soon.

This week one of my sisters is coming down to give Hubby and me a little break and we're taking a trip to the Keys! Chatting with Hubby's brother and his wife earlier this years, we'd all said we'd always wanted to visit and never had. So they are driving down from Georgia and tomorrow morning the four of us are driving down. I'm so excited! You all know I'm a beach person and I haven't seen a beach since we got here!

So here's my question to our readers - have you been to the Florida Keys? We're only staying overnight so...what should we NOT miss? Is Key West the best, or is another Key better? Any favorite places to eat? I'd love to know!

And next week I'll share pics!

In the meantime, if you're looking forward to the beach like I am, how about a beach romance?

Amz
B&N
iTunes

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Great Review for The Cottage Next Door!

This review for The Cottage Next Door appeared on Amazon recently-

"What an amazing writer! SO glad these 2 people got a happy ever after. Lush, romantic and profound. two people who's experienced loss and grief find each other and help each other heal. powerful"

I don't think I've had a better review ever!

Writers can get a bit down from time to time. The writing might not be going well. Sales might not be what we've hoped. We wonder if we should be writing something different or whether we should even keep writing...

I'm going to pull this review out when I'm feeling down to remind myself that I must be doing something right. And it will be inspiration for me to continue writing the kinds of stories I love to write.

Here's an excerpt from The Cottage Next Door:

“Coffee?”

Sylvie squinted as she stepped out onto the deck into the sunshine the next morning. Hunter stood on his deck, cradling a large mug in his long-fingered hands. He wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt that for once didn’t look as if it had been slept in.

“Morning,” she said cautiously. Her shirt, on the other hand, had been slept in. She hadn’t done more than pull on a pair of white shorts before she stepped outside. She’d had to get some fresh air. The walls had quickly closed in on her after she woke from tangled dreams of Matt. And Hunter.

He held up his mug. “I made a pot of coffee. Probably not as good as yours would be, but it’s hot and full of caffeine.”

“Perfect. Thanks.” She crossed the deck, the surface already warm beneath her bare feet. Hunter was back out in a moment with another mug and handed it to her over the railings.

“Smells great.”

“Taste it before you say too many good things.”

The small smile on his face was a bit disconcerting. Sylvie took a sip. Stronger than she usually drank it but not bitter at all. “It’s good. Thanks.”

“No problem. You can come sit over here if you want.”

She noticed for the first time that there was a second chair, a chaise, on his deck. He’d surprised her so much that she didn’t move. Didn’t know what to say.

“I was going to cook up some eggs. To pay you back for dinner.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“And to apologize for being such an ass.”

“Oh, well…”

He chuckled. This time Sylvie was able to see his face when he did it, and the way his face lit up made her breath catch. If she’d been attracted to him when he’d been surly, he was ten times more attractive now.

Hunter set down his mug and reached out his hand. “Help you over?”

She laughed, a quick, surprised bark. “Thanks. No. I’ll use the stairs.” She turned toward the steps, then realized that she still wore her nightshirt and hadn’t even looked in a mirror this morning. “Um…I’m going to change into some real clothes. And untangle this hair.” She set the mug down on the railing and slapped her hand over her mouth. “And brush my teeth.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll be here. And, Sylvie…”

She stopped her retreat and turned back. “Yes?”

His hazel eyes flashed. “Your tangled hair is very sexy.”

She rolled her eyes and ducked into the cottage. What had happened to the beer-chugging asshole her neighbor had been up until now? Did something happen last night when they’d been talking about the ocean and spouses and…oh yeah, they’d talked about sex. Her face burned as she remembered how she’d practically thrown herself at him.

Lonely and horny was a bad combination.


The Cottage Next Door is available at your favorite ebook vendor.

Natasha
The Cottage Next Door
www.natashamoore.com

Great Reviews for The Cottage Next Door!!!

It's been almost a week since The Cottage Next Door released from Samhain Publishing. I've been thrilled with the positive response!

"The author did a great job drawing the reader into the heartache of Hunter and Sylvie. Once I started the book I couldn’t set it down.
It’s a beautifully written love story that merged the past with the present. Leaving me, the reader, teary eyed throughout the book."

~ 5 Stars!! and a "A True Gem" rating from Guilty Pleasures Book Review

"THE COTTAGE NEXT DOOR is the second book I have read by Natasha Moore. She has a way of making the reader feel the sorrow and emotion in her characters. Be prepared to laugh one minute and cry the next. A strong willed and determined woman always makes a good story when she's fighting for what she loves and someone she is determined to heal. Natasha Moore is gifted with her words which make the reader feel strong emotions."

~ 5 Stars!! from Fresh Fiction

"This book is perfect for a lazy day in the sun on the beach...I love the interaction between the two characters and the dog especially as they start falling for each other."

~ 5 Stars!! from Mrs B's Books

Did you know how important reviews are to an author? It's not only a way for us to get the word out about our stories, but it also lets potential readers know what to expect when they might be intrigued by a cover or a blurb from a new-to-them author. It helps with visibility and it lets us know what our readers like (and don't like) and can help us decide which potential story ideas will appeal to our readers and which we might want to hold onto for another time. So if you have a couple of minutes when you finish a book, give an honest review. Thank you in advance!

Here's another excerpt The Cottage Next Door:

Hunter still didn’t know how he’d let Sylvie Chase get under his skin, or how she’d gotten him to agree to have dinner with her, but as he stepped into a pair of shorts and tugged on a T-shirt, he was struck with a strange sense of anticipation. The steaks smelled amazing. His stomach growled. He was getting tired of the crap he’d been living on for the past few months. Yeah, that was the only reason he could think of why he’d agreed to join her for dinner.

When he stepped back out onto his deck, he saw she’d taken the steaks off the grill. She stood beside the decked-out picnic table, looking a little apprehensive. Maybe she’d realized she was out of her mind to invite a jerk like him any closer.

His gaze skimmed over her skimpy top with the thin straps and the hard nipples poking at the fabric, drawing attention to her perky breasts that obviously were not being restrained by a bra of any sort. He swallowed and let his eyes drop over the shorts hugging her narrow hips and down the tanned legs until he saw the bright purple polish, the same deep purple as that tiny top, sparkling on her toenails.

“Hungry?” Her voice wasn’t much above a whisper. She cleared her throat and then louder said, “Come on over.”

Dinner. He was coming over for dinner. Hunter’s mouth watered when the scent of the meat hit him again. He grabbed a couple of cans from the ever-iced cooler beside his chair. “Beer?”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

He handed her the cans over the railings, then boosted himself over to join her. Riley barked and ran down one set of stairs and up the other. At Hunter’s command, the dog curled up on the floor beside him.

Sylvie gestured to one side of the picnic table. It was shaded by an umbrella and covered with a long cloth splashed with flowers of red, yellow and blue. A bright orange salad bowl sat in the middle, and the steaks had been placed on heavy green plates. He wasn’t surprised to see she liked lots of color in her life.

They sat down on opposite sides and their knees bumped under the narrow table. They shifted so they no longer touched, then looked at each other. Looked away. Looked back. She didn’t have a stitch of makeup on, but she was just about the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

No, that wasn’t true. Jenny had been pretty too. Beautiful. She’d been beautiful but in a different way, with long blond curls and a pouty mouth and full breasts he got lost in. But even as he thought about his wife, he couldn’t help but notice the light sprinkling of freckles across Sylvie’s cheek. How could freckles be sexy?

Natasha
The Cottage Next Door
Her Royal Masquerade
Her Royal Bodyguard
www.natashamoore.com

The Cottage Next Door Releases Tomorrow!!

I'm so excited!

Blurb:

It’s tough to grasp a second chance at love when you’re holding on to the past.

After his wife died in a car accident, bestselling author Hunter McCaffrey stopped writing—and stopped living. He’s rented a beachfront cottage to try to get his head on straight, and start the long climb up from his pit of despair.

Instead of pounding out a first draft, though, he runs the beach, drinks away his pain, and tries to ignore the vibrant woman in the cottage tucked next to his.

Still floundering months after the loss of her adventure-junkie husband, Sylvie Chase hopes some beach relaxation will help her decide what to do with the rest of her life. Instead she’s wondering what to do about her unexpected attraction to Hunter, who makes her body long for the feel of his arms around her.

As Sylvie drags Hunter back to the land of the living, soon they’re agreeing to a short fling. Just to get past their sorrow, not because it means anything. But when emotions get in the way, it’s a struggle to leave the past behind and dare to love again.

Warning: This story has plenty of sun and sand, with an energetic golden retriever thrown into the mix. Prepare to laugh and cry and cheer for two people who deserve a second chance at love.


Excerpt:

“Coffee?”

Sylvie squinted as she stepped out onto the deck into the sunshine the next morning. Hunter stood on his deck, cradling a large mug in his long-fingered hands. He wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt that for once didn’t look as if it had been slept in.

“Morning,” she said cautiously. Her shirt, on the other hand, had been slept in. She hadn’t done more than pull on a pair of white shorts before she stepped outside. She’d had to get some fresh air. The walls had quickly closed in on her after she woke from tangled dreams of Matt. And Hunter.

He held up his mug. “I made a pot of coffee. Probably not as good as yours would be, but it’s hot and full of caffeine.”

“Perfect. Thanks.” She crossed the deck, the surface already warm beneath her bare feet. Hunter was back out in a moment with another mug and handed it to her over the railings. “Smells great.”

“Taste it before you say too many good things.”

The small smile on his face was a bit disconcerting. Sylvie took a sip. Stronger than she usually drank it but not bitter at all. “It’s good. Thanks.”

“No problem. You can come sit over here if you want.”

She noticed for the first time that there was a second chair, a chaise, on his deck. He’d surprised her so much that she didn’t move. Didn’t know what to say.

“I was going to cook up some eggs. To pay you back for dinner.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“And to apologize for being such an ass.”

“Oh, well…”

He chuckled. This time Sylvie was able to see his face when he did it, and the way his face lit up made her breath catch. If she’d been attracted to him when he’d been surly, he was ten times more attractive now.
Hunter set down his mug and reached out his hand. “Help you over?”

She laughed, a quick, surprised bark. “Thanks. No. I’ll use the stairs.” She turned toward the steps, then realized that she still wore her nightshirt and hadn’t even looked in a mirror this morning. “Um…I’m going to change into some real clothes. And untangle this hair.” She set the mug down on the railing and slapped her hand over her mouth. “And brush my teeth.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll be here. And, Sylvie…”

She stopped her retreat and turned back. “Yes?”

His hazel eyes flashed. “Your tangled hair is very sexy.”

She rolled her eyes and ducked into the cottage. What had happened to the beer-chugging asshole her neighbor had been up until now? Did something happen last night when they’d been talking about the ocean and spouses and…oh yeah, they’d talked about sex. Her face burned as she remembered how she’d practically thrown herself at him.

Lonely and horny was a bad combination.


You can pre-order THE COTTAGE NEXT DOOR and have it appear on your e-reader in the morning :)
Amazon
B&N
Apple
Samhain

I hope you enjoy Hunter and Sylvie's story as much as I do!

Natasha
Playing for Real
Her Royal Masquerade
Her Royal Bodyguard
www.natashamoore.com

First Advance Review & an Excerpt

The Cottage Next Door releases a week from tomorrow! I'm so excited about this one, because while I will continue to release erotic romances, The Cottage Next Door takes me back to my contemporary romance roots, and I'm looking forward to writing more of them as well.

The first advance review came in from Fresh Fiction, and the reviewer had come great things to say:

"THE COTTAGE NEXT DOOR is the second book I have read by Natasha Moore. She has a way of making the reader feel the sorrow and emotion in her characters. Be prepared to laugh one minute and cry the next. A strong willed and determined woman always makes a good story when she's fighting for what she loves and someone she is determined to heal. Natasha Moore is gifted with her words which make the reader feel strong emotions."

You can read the entire review here.

Here's an excerpt:

“Can’t sleep?”

Sylvie started. Hunter’s disembodied voice sounded loud in the darkness. She couldn’t see a thing on the deck next door, but had to assume he was sitting in his usual deck chair. Had he heard her moan?

Her heartbeat slowed back down to normal. “No.” She held her breath, waiting for him to swear and stomp into the cottage for intruding on his want-to-be-alone time. Or make a sarcastic comment about what she’d been doing when she thought no one was there.

“This is my favorite time at the beach,” he said, surprising her with his deep, pleasant tone.

“Because you can’t see the hundreds of people around you?”

His soft chuckle surprised her even more. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Partly. But there’s something about the ocean at night. Do you hear it? Right now, this isn’t the fun-loving shore where kids splash and make sandcastles. It’s more primitive.” He was silent for a moment, and Sylvie got caught up in the roar of the waves as they crashed onto the beach. The sound pulled at her, called to her.

“Think of the hundreds of thousands of years the ocean has been pounding the sand,” he went on. “Eating away at the land, reclaiming it. Taking it back into the bowels of the deep.”

Her body heated more, even with the cooling breeze. His voice rolled over her, as powerful as the tug of the waves. She’d known there had to be more to him than that angry, bitter man she’d seen so far.

“Ashes to ashes? Dust to dust? Ocean to ocean?” she asked softly.

The waves pummeled the shore for several long moments before he replied, “Something like that.”

The words she’d been thinking slipped out easier in the darkness. “I’m sure she would want you to be happy.”

“What do you know?” he snapped, but Sylvie thought his voice contained more hurt than anger.

“I know what it’s like to roll over in the middle of the night and still be surprised to find the other side of the bed empty.”

“It’s like a kick in the gut every fucking time.”

“Yeah.” She wrapped her arms around her knees. “I still save up things I want to tell him about my day…”

“And then remember she’s not there to share those things with anymore.”

“I have to look at pictures to remember what he looked like when he was healthy and fit and eager for the next adventure.”

“I can’t remember what she smelled like anymore.” Hunter’s voice cracked. “She had this soft scent like powder and flowers and I don’t know what, but I used to be able to smell it everywhere in our apartment. It’s gone now too.”

She nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see it. “I used to sleep with one of Matt’s shirts and I cried all day when I realized his scent was gone.” Sylvie was pleased she could say that without getting tears in her eyes. Maybe she’d finally reached acceptance.


The Cottage Next Door is a second-chance-at-love beach romance and is available for pre-order. The release date is September 16th!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Teasers

I have no graphic designs skills. I wish I did. How lucky for those authors who can design their own covers! And what about those cool teaser graphics you see everywhere now on Facebook and other social media. I wanted them! But aside from not having the technical skills to create them, I can't even visually imagine them to begin with. My creative talents do not lie there at all.

Luckily, I have a son who is very artistic. He's drawn and played around with computer graphics since he was very young. First, it was superheroes. You know, Spiderman posters and things like that. Then he graduated to imagining his own movie posters. Now, he designs posters for many of the community theater productions in our area. So I asked him..."Do you think you could make me some teaser graphics?" I showed him some examples, gave him some quotes and my book cover, and he came up with four teaser graphics for my September release, The Cottage Next Door. Aren't they great??

Maybe someday, he can design some books covers for me!

The Cottage Next Door releases September 16th and is available for pre-order now.

Natasha
Love Is... - available now
Playing for Real - available now
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
The Cottage Next Door - coming Sept 16th
www.natashamoore.com

My First Romance

With the publication of Love Is...(the charity anthology which includes my story Her Royal Rendezvous) on Aug 5th, and The Cottage Next Door on Sept 16th, I just realized I will have 25 novels/novellas/short stories published! 25! Back in 2006, after writing and submitting for more years than I care to count, I despaired of ever being published. But in September of 2006, I got the e-mail that changed my life. Samhain Publishing wanted to publish my contemporary romance, The Ride of Her Life!

If there is a "book of the heart" this was the one for me. I learned so much going through the process of edits and covers and release days. It's still available in both print and download, so I thought I'd share the cover, blurb and an excerpt today.

The cover gods smiled on me. I'd been around long enough to know I was very lucky to get an awesome cover like this the first time out of the gate.

Blurb:

She’s in for the ride of her life.

After a devastating diagnosis, sensible Sarah Austin yearns to live life to the fullest. When she talks her former teenage crush into a cross-country ride on his Harley, she thinks it’s her one and only chance for adventure, including a fun fling with love ‘em and leave ‘em Bastian.

No longer a rebel, Dean Bastian is a counselor for troubled teens and ready to settle down. He doesn’t know why Sarah is so desperate for an adventure, but he’s willing to do anything to keep a smile on her face, even pretend to still be a bad boy.

Sarah doesn’t want to burden anyone with the future she faces, but can Dean convince her that the rest of her life can be an adventure…with him?

Excerpt:

He was out in the driveway, polishing the bike, when Sarah pulled up to the curb. At least, he thought it was Sarah. The woman who stepped out of the late-model Ford was petite, wearing faded blue jeans and a tight T-shirt that hugged her every curve. She pulled out a familiar saddlebag and slung it over her shoulder, then grabbed a pizza box out of the backseat. She nudged the door closed with her hip.

Dean couldn’t take his eyes off her, or her new short, spiky hairdo. She looked sexy as hell. He felt his body tighten as her hips swayed in the well-washed denim. Her white T-shirt stretched seductively across her breasts and his heart pounded at the sight. They were only talking about the trip and he already couldn’t control his response to her. They hadn’t even left the driveway yet. What would happen once they were on the road? He felt more than a little irritated that he was so out of control around her.

“What did you do to your hair?” he called out, a little harsher than necessary.

Her bright smile faltered and she lost the little rhythm she’d had in her step. Real smooth, Bastian. She continued up the walk at a slower pace and Dean met her halfway. He took the pizza box out of her hands but she didn’t meet his glance.

“I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” he told her. “You look great. In fact, I was blown away. You look so different.”

She shrugged her shoulders and finally looked at him. “I can’t fit a hairdryer in here,” she said, pulling the saddlebag off her shoulder. “The stylist said I just use a little gel and I’m ready to go.”

He’d always been one of those guys who loved women with long hair. Preferably flowing in a riot of curls down her back. But one look at Sarah and he was a changed man. The smooth pageboy she’d worn before had been plain and simple. But this flirty style brightened her eyes and flattered her tiny features. With a simple haircut, Sarah had been transformed from merely pretty to palm-tingling sexy.

He wanted to touch her again. Really touch her this time. Play with the fringe of hair around her face. Nibble on her pretty little ears. Kiss the bare nape of her neck. He grasped both ends of the pizza box. He was in big trouble.

If you like road trip romances, stories of good girls who want to be bad and the bad boys who want to be good, or simply an emotional contemporary romance, why not give The Ride of Her Life a try?

Natasha
Love Is... - coming Aug 5th
The Cottage Next Door - coming Sept 16th
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
www.natashamoore.com

Countdown to The Cottage Next Door

Two months seems like a long time when you're waiting for a release, but this is summer, where I swear I have something going on almost every weekend and before long I won't be able to fit anything else in before summer is over. And then it will be September and WOW it will be release day for my second-chance-at-love beach romance, The Cottage Next Door.

Also, starting next week, I'll be heavy into promoting the charity anthology I've contributed to. The release date for Love Is... is Aug 5th and that will be here before we know it! Heads up - next Mon, Jul 21st will be cover reveal day - both for the anthology, and for my story, Her Royal Rendezvous. So check back next week for a peek at the awesome covers, and an excerpt from my Her Royal Romance short story. (In the meantime, we now have a Facebook page, you can "like" to get updates https://www.facebook.com/LoveisRomanceAnthology)

But for now - how about a little teaser to whet your appetite for The Cottage Next Door? I love my tortured hero and the heroine who brings him back to life.

Blurb:

It’s tough to grasp a second chance at love when you’re holding on to the past.

After his wife died in a car accident, bestselling author Hunter McCaffrey stopped writing—and stopped living. He’s rented a beachfront cottage to try to get his head on straight, and start the long climb up from his pit of despair.

Instead of pounding out a first draft, though, he runs the beach, drinks away his pain, and tries to ignore the vibrant woman in the cottage tucked next to his.

Still floundering months after the loss of her adventure-junkie husband, Sylvie Chase hopes some beach relaxation will help her decide what to do with the rest of her life. Instead she’s wondering what to do about her unexpected attraction to Hunter, who makes her body long for the feel of his arms around her.

As Sylvie drags Hunter back to the land of the living, soon they’re agreeing to a short fling. Just to get past their sorrow, not because it means anything. But when emotions get in the way, it’s a struggle to leave the past behind and dare to love again.


Warning: This story has plenty of sun and sand, with an energetic golden retriever thrown into the mix. Prepare to laugh and cry and cheer for two people who deserve a second chance at love.

Excerpt:

“Can’t sleep?”

Sylvie started. Hunter’s disembodied voice sounded loud in the darkness. She couldn’t see a thing on the deck next door, but had to assume he was sitting in his usual deck chair. Had he heard her moan?

Her heartbeat slowed back down to normal. “No.” She held her breath, waiting for him to swear and stomp into the cottage for intruding on his want-to-be-alone time. Or make a sarcastic comment about what she’d been doing when she thought no one was there.

“This is my favorite time at the beach,” he said, surprising her with his deep, pleasant tone.

“Because you can’t see the hundreds of people around you?”

His soft chuckle surprised her even more. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Partly. But there’s something about the ocean at night. Do you hear it? Right now, this isn’t the fun-loving shore where kids splash and make sandcastles. It’s more primitive.” He was silent for a moment, and Sylvie got caught up in the roar of the waves as they crashed onto the beach. The sound pulled at her, called to her.

“Think of the hundreds of thousands of years the ocean has been pounding the sand,” he went on. “Eating away at the land, reclaiming it. Taking it back into the bowels of the deep.”

Her body heated more, even with the cooling breeze. His voice rolled over her, as powerful as the tug of the waves. She’d known there had to be more to him than that angry, bitter man she’d seen so far.

“Ashes to ashes? Dust to dust? Ocean to ocean?” she asked softly.

The waves pummeled the shore for several long moments before he replied, “Something like that.”

The words she’d been thinking slipped out easier in the darkness. “I’m sure she would want you to be happy.”

“What do you know?” he snapped, but Sylvie thought his voice contained more hurt than anger.

“I know what it’s like to roll over in the middle of the night and still be surprised to find the other side of the bed empty.”

“It’s like a kick in the gut every time.”

“Yeah.” She wrapped her arms around her knees. “I still save up things I want to tell him about my day…”

“And then remember she’s not there to share those things with anymore.”

“I have to look at pictures to remember what he looked like when he was healthy and fit and eager for the next adventure.”

“I can’t remember what she smelled like anymore.” Hunter’s voice cracked. “She had this soft scent like powder and flowers and I don’t know what, but I used to be able to smell it everywhere in our apartment. It’s gone now too.”

She nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see it. “I used to sleep with one of Matt’s shirts and I cried all day when I realized his scent was gone.” Sylvie was pleased she could say that without getting tears in her eyes. Maybe she’d finally reached acceptance.


The Cottage Next Door will release on Sept 16th. You can pre-order it now if you don't want to forget. :)

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Firemen Calendar "Mr June"

Wouldn't he make a great addition to next year's NY Firemen Calendar? It's hard to believe the little guy is nineteen months old. Where does the time go??

He's a big boy now and wants to do everything himself. Like try to find Elmo on Netflix.

And eat with a fork, even if it's easier to use his fingers.

In true boy fashion, he loves to play with water.

It's not easy to get a good picture of him now because he's always on the go. And he knows what a "phone" is and wants to look at the pictures. I caught him here just before he reached for it.

On the swing with "Papa".

Even though he's on the move most of the time, he still likes to cuddle with Grandma. (And Elmo and Cookie Monster and Bear)

And I'll cuddle with him for as long as he lets me.

Natasha

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Playing for Real - available now
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
The Cottage Next Door - coming Sept 16th - pre-order now
www.natashamoore.com

Our Winter Home

Now that hubby and I are no longer working day jobs, the idea of becoming snow birds during the long, cold winters of western NY has become a topic of conversation. Debate. Negotiation...

We have quite a few friends and family who travel south for the winter. We visited many of them this past winter. Almost all of them, in subtle or not-so-subtle ways, chatted up their particular areas and/or pointed out houses that were for sale in their areas. As tempting as it would be to own a house in Florida, realistically...we can't afford a second mortgage. But a new RV...a little bigger, with MUCH more storage??? That we could handle.

We bought a fifth-wheel trailer, with TONS more storage, and a vaulted ceiling that gives it a very open feel. Because it has slide-outs on both sides of the unit, we were afraid it wouldn't work with the deck we'd built at our camping space. But there's still plenty of room.

You can see the pendant lights over the kitchen island. The stairs in the back go up to the bathroom and bedroom.

Pictures don't do it justice. The rear living area is very spacious, and aside from all the large windows, we have a flat screen TV and an electric fireplace.

Yes. I think we will be very comfortable in this new home.

And the great thing about this winter home is that we can live it in during the other three seasons, and take it to visit other areas of the country. We plan on a trip to the Finger Lakes this summer and to the Outer Banks in the fall. And we're thinking about going out west sometime in the next couple years. I'm still waiting to see the Grand Canyon.

So all that's left now is deciding where we want to stay in Florida during our three months as snowbirds next winter. Or will it be two months? Or only six weeks? Um...hubby and I are still in negotiations over that part. I'll let you know once that's been decided.

Natasha
Her Royal Masquerade-available now
Her Royal Bodyguard-available now
Playing for Real-available now
The Cottage Next Door-coming Sept 16 - pre-order now
www.natashamoore.com

The Cottage Next Door - Cover Reveal

I'm thrilled to share the cover for my September release from Samhain. This is a second-chance-at-love, beach romance and I'm in love with the beachy feel of the cover!

Blurb:

It’s tough to grasp a second chance at love when you’re holding on to the past.


After his wife died in a car accident, bestselling author Hunter McCaffrey stopped writing—and stopped living. He’s rented a beachfront cottage to try to get his head on straight, and start the long climb up from his pit of despair.

Instead of pounding out a first draft, though, he runs the beach, drinks away his pain, and tries to ignore the vibrant woman in the cottage tucked next to his.

Still floundering months after the loss of her adventure-junkie husband, Sylvie Chase hopes some beach relaxation will help her decide what to do with the rest of her life. Instead she’s wondering what to do about her unexpected attraction to Hunter, who makes her body long for the feel of his arms around her.

As Sylvie drags Hunter back to the land of the living, soon they’re agreeing to a short fling. Just to get past their sorrow, not because it means anything. But when emotions get in the way, it’s a struggle to leave the past behind and dare to love again.


The Cottage Next Door releases September 16th, but if you don't want to forget, it's available for pre-order now at Amazon and Barnes&Noble and iTUnes (And probably other vendors as well, those were the only places I checked this morning.) As we get closer to release date, I'll share some excerpts and hold a beachy contest or two.

I can't wait to share Hunter and Sylvie's story with everyone!

Natasha
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
Playing for Real - available now
The Cottage Next Door - coming Sept 16
www.natashamoore.com

Still on the Road

Just a quick blog post because I actually have some internet access. One thing I've learned while travelling is that even if the hotel advertises free Wi-Fi, that doesn't mean it's reliable! My phone gets the 4G signal, but not my computer.

We've been having a great time, although the driving gets a little old.

One highlight was having lunch with our own Jenna Ives! Why didn't we get come pictures?????

Hubby and I are still traveling for the next week or so. When I get back home, I'll share some of the pictures I DID get.

I did get the cover for The Cottage Next Door, my September Samhain release, in my inbox while I was at my parents' place. Can't wait to share it!

Talk soon.

Natasha
www.nataashamoore.com

So long 2013 - Hello 2014

This is the time of year when we tend to look back on the past 12 months and see what we've accomplished, what we wish we had, and how we want to carry on in the new year.

2013 was a year of big change for me. I left the day job to write full time. And as well as contracting two stories to Samhain and one to Ellora's Cave, I also took a big step into indie publishing with a contemporary royalty romance, Her Royal Masquerade.

And watched the little guy grow from an infant into a toddler with a personality and a mind of his own.

Looking ahead to 2014, I have book #2 in my Her Royal Romance series - Her Royal Bodyguard - ready to go and am planning on writing several more in the series this year. I have two releases from Samhain scheduled. Playing for Real will be released Feb 4th and is availabe for pre-order now. The Cottage Next Door will be out in September. Only Playing for Real was even imagined when 2013 started, so I can't wait to see what 2014 brings.

Here's hoping 2013 was a great year for you and that 2014 brings even more wonderful things for you. And I'll finish off this post with a few pics of the little guy because I just can't resist :)

Happy New Year!
Natasha
www.natashamoore.com