Caroline Clemmons chats about Out of the Blue. Comment Now. Win Huge!

Welcome to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. It’s been such a blast so far and only bound to get better! This week it’s my pleasure to welcome romance author, Caroline Clemmons. She’ll be dishing out about her upcoming June 4th release, Out of the Blue. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press main store and a free Ecopy of Out of the Blue upon release.

OUT OF THE BLUE

Deirdre Dougherty never cursed at anyone, much less put a curse on the potato crop of her remote Irish village. She’d rather take her chances with the Atlantic lapping at the bottom of the cliff than the mob intent on burning her as they have her cottage. Deirdre leaps . . . and plops down over 160 years later in a Texas lake. She doesn’t understand how she’s ended up with the man from her recent visions or why he has the same name as the saint to whom she prayed. She’s in danger of falling for the handsome policeman who rescued her, in spite of the fact that he thinks she’s lying to him. How can she convince him her story is true when she’s finding it difficult to believe the tale herself?

Police Detective Brendan Hunter wants answers. Who shot him and killed his partner? Why? And why does Deirdre know details of the event? Her story has to be a colossal fabrication or else she’s a beautiful psycho. Either way, he wants her gone before he becomes even more fascinated with her. But he can’t let her out of his sight until she confesses to how she learned details no one but he and his late partner knew.

SKY: Welcome Caroline, thanks for joining me this week!

CAROLINE: It’s an honor to be here. Thank you for having me, Sky.

SKY: I’m so curious…what inspired this story?

CAROLINE: A friend, Sandy Crowley, and I were talking about an article I’d seen that a particular editor thought it would be interesting if a historic heroine came forward to present day. I thought that sounded like a lot of fun. Sandy and I talked it over and she helped me plot OUT OF THE BLUE. Writing it was a great experience, one of the most enjoyable writing adventures I’ve had.

SKY: I adore a man from the past visiting the present. Super idea! Tell me, what makes your heroine fly off the pages? I’d love a glimpse of who she is.

CAROLINE: Deirdre Dougherty a beautiful but unpretentious clairvoyant healer determined to succeed in her new situation. She’s had a hard life, and she doesn’t expect a handout. The fun part at first is her confusion with her new home—imagine a poor Irish girl from 1845 jumping from a cliff into the Atlantic and landing in a present day Texas lake beside a rock formation known as Hell’s Gate. At first she thought she’d died and was in purgatory—literally at Hell’s gates—and believed the police detective who rescued her to be a demon in Angel’s guise, but she quickly mastered her situation—with the help of the hero’s former–flowerchild mom, Blossom.

You get a sense of her confusion in the following exerpt:

Standing at the cliff’s edge, Deirdre trembled and fought the terror washing through her.

Something horrible was wrong. “Everything is different. Are you sure your boat was below here? Mayhap it was another cliff.”

His hands firm and insistent, Brendan pointed. “See those kids playing across there, near that dock? That’s the Boy Scout camp at Johnson Bend. Look to your right on this side of the shore, there’s Mom’s house at that point of land. Do you recognize it and my boat tied up at the dock?”

She took a deep breath and tried to speak. Her heart pounded in her ears. How could everything have changed?

Her words, when she found her voice, rasped out in a hoarse whisper “Yes, I . . . I see

. . . the house.”

Merciful heaven, what had happened? Her legs threatened to give way again and she gripped Blossom’s arm for support. “Is the land we’re standing on Hell’s Gate?”

Behind them, Jim answered, “Been called that for over a-hundred-and-fifty years, ever since Comanche Indians caught those two trappers here.”

Talk of Indians and trappers made her head whirl more. She needed to sit down but she turned slowly again and searched for anything familiar. “D-Do you know which way Ballymish is from here?”

The sheriff’s man frowned. “Never heard of it.”

SKY: Superb excerpt! Now don't keep us waiting. Fess' up. What makes your hero worth knowing─lusting over?

CAROLINE: Brendan Hunter is tall, handsome as sin, and a man of action—who could resist? He’s the son of former hippies turned communal farmers who was raised by his rigid and domineering paternal grandparents after his dad’s death. Brendan is an alpha male who is good to his mom, and he’s guilt-ridden over the death of his dad when he was ten. He’s brave and not afraid of danger, but he’s also compassionate and loyal. Here’s an excerpt that involves him and Deirdre back at home after two men tried to kidnap her:

She pulled his shirt loose from his slacks. “I know you’re an honorable man who doesn’t dally with women like me, but I must insist on this.”

“There are no other women like you.” He took a step back. “Deirdre, stop and think what you’re asking. It’s not a small thing.”

She took his hand and pulled him toward his room. “I’ve thought of nothing else since you saved me.” She offered him a slow smile, throwing her untried powers of seduction into it, feeble as her wiles might be. “In fact, I’ve thought of it since the day I came here.” They were in his room and she locked the door behind them.

He chuckled. “You mean after you learned I’m not really a demon?”

She stopped when they reached his bed. “Mmm, I’m not so sure you aren’t. You must be a wizard at least, else how did you enchant me with your spell?” She unbuttoned his shirt and slid her hands against his skin.

He caught her wrists. “Deirdre, you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s no going back from this once we’ve been together. Some things can’t be undone.”

“I may not know exactly how this works, but sure and I’m a quick learner. Everyone says so.” She shoved him hard and he fell backward on the bed. While surprise was still on her side, she pounced beside him. “Is this the way?” She leaned down and kissed him.

His lips were sweet as honey cakes. His arms slid around her and he returned her kiss. When she parted her mouth for him, he rolled so he was over her, never taking his lips from hers

She realized he knew a lot about lovemaking. At first it annoyed her to think of him like this with other women. But she decided it best that one of them knew how to proceed. Understanding how coupling worked was not the same as experience.

His hands caressed her and before she knew it, she was out of her blouse and the confining bra.

He kissed along her jaw, then to her neck and then—Blessed Saints!—he kissed her breast. She moaned with pleasure as he pulled the peak into his mouth and suckled. Heat built in her private place and she felt moisture gather there.

Heaven could be no more glorious than this moment. Or so she thought. Then he slid his hand between her legs and slowly up to where her thighs met. When his finger dipped inside her, she gasped.

His finger moved in and out with the same timing as his tongue against her peaked nipple. Heat inside her flamed hotter and hotter until she feared she’d melt. As if by their own free will, her hips moved to meet his delving finger. Great power gathered in her, threatening to burst free.

She feared she might expire from the passion. Instead, the ecstasy inside her exploded and showered her with a million stars.

She cried, “Sweet mercy, Brendan, I never knew.” Then she melted against the pillow and sheets.

He raised his head to meet her gaze. His eyes were dark with passion, his face flushed with desire. “Are you ready for more?”

“More. Yes, more.” Deirdre said.

Brendan gathered his willpower and made one more try. “Honey, we haven’t...gone too far to stop now. Any more and I won’t be able to—“

She placed her fingers on his mouth. “Please, Brendan. Even if you don’t care for me as a lover and never want me again, let me have this now.”

How could he resist that plea? Especially when she asked what he desperately needed. “You know I care for you.” He tugged his belt loose and kicked off his jeans and shoes. His cock was rock hard and tented his briefs.

She gasped. “Oh, my.”

He figured she’d be scared off and braced himself for her change of mind. Lord, he didn’t think he could bear it if she halted their lovemaking.

SKY: Whoa! Fanning myself. Heck of an excerpt, Caroline. Your writing is breathtaking and flawless. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing!

CAROLINE: The interview has been my pleasure, Sky.

About LONG WAY HOME from the anthology, NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES . . .

***Top Ten Finisher-Preditors and Editors Readers Poll-2009***

Ms Clemmons has written a story I could really sink my teeth into. With a fearless heroine and a determined hero, LONG WAY HOME drew me into its heart from the first sentence. Ms. Clemmons won my regard with her endearing southern-fried drawl mellowing out every page of this exciting and witty tale. It’s a marvelous story sure to delight any reader.

4 ½ Kisses from Sal at Two Lips Reviews.com

About THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND . . .

Clemmons is an exceptional storyteller who creates wonderful character arcs for both Nate and Sarah. Sarah is transformed from a mouse to a lioness, while Nate starts off as a con man and ends up a respectable businessman who saved the day. 　Together they become better people, facing challenges that force them to question their actions and past decisions. Put this on your must read list!

TOP PICK 4 1/2 Stars

Romantic Times

. . . Kudos . . . to author Caroline Clemmons for one of the most entertaining books this reviewer has ever read . . . absolutely outstanding job with strong, distinctive characters, impressive imagery and syntax. 　The story line is intelligent, sensuous and full of humor and emotion. I highly recommend THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE . . .

ReaderToReader.com

A highly suitable romance! Highly recommended .

Cindy Penn, Senior Editor, Wordweaving.com

... engaging story of a newly formed family ... The story entertains ...

Romantic Times

THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE is a delightful tale of a woman's courage. . . peopled with lively characters and lots of plot twists and turns . . . not to be missed.

Diana Risso, Romance Reviews Today

Filled with lively characters and interesting plot twists, THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE is a delightful tale of one woman's courage in the Old West. Drake will keep you laughing. He expects a normal marriage, with the subservient little wife. He doesn't bargain on Pearl! Pearl is one independent, bossy little lady who does not let a husband stand in her way.

Judith Rippelmeyer, The Word On Romance

Check out Caroline Clemmon's website for author information, reviews, recipes, and more. NOTE: Sky here. I browsed through Caroline's site. It's super. I highly suggest that any writer swinging through click here to check out her writing tips. They're top notch!

To purchase Caroline Clemmon's books visit The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.

Doesn’t Out of the Blue sound fantastic? Don’t forget, for a chance to win a free Ecopy of Out of the Blue upon release and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, be sure to leave a comment by Friday, May 21 12 PM EST.

Thanks for visiting!

~Sky