Showing posts with label Christina Thompson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christina Thompson. Show all posts

Saturday, September 20, 2014

"Their Rigid Rules" by Christina Thompson

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Their Rigid Rules
(The Chemical Attraction Series Book 3)
by Christina Thompson


Their Rigid Rules, the third book and prequel in The Chemical Attraction Series, can be read first or last in the series. Also available: Chemical Attraction and Chemical Reaction.



Their Rigid Rules is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


For another book by this author, check out my blog post on The Trucker's Cat.

Description
Taylor Valentine, a senior at Western Michigan University, has had her life planned out since kindergarten. After her parents died while she was still in high school, she had perfected it to make them proud. Now with the help of her best friends, Joe and Eva, she focuses on graduation and a career with romance in the far distant future. However, when the visiting professor enters the lecture hall to a four-weekend Civil War seminar, her perfect plan hits a snag.
As a handsome history professor and former marine, Dr. Stuart Morgan has his own set of strict rules especially with infatuated students. He enjoys his boring yet pleasant life until he starts receiving death threats. With his unwanted bodyguard in tow, Stuart is unnerved by his reaction to Taylor. Their rigid rules discourage all but a flirtation.
As the death threats become evident, the FBI believes Taylor’s the culprit, hindering their budding romance. When Taylor inadvertently becomes the target, Joe and Stuart whisk her away to protect her. Meanwhile, Joe struggles with his feelings for Taylor. He’s loved her since grade school. He won’t let her go and stands in Stuart’s way. The men push her to choose between the lifelong love of her best friend and the true love of her new boyfriend.
With the threats from family and foe pulling them apart, Stuart wonders if they can sustain the stress. Trusting their love, he must somehow convince Taylor to break her rules and embrace a new plan.

The Chemical Attraction Series Town Tour


Excerpt
Taylor walked toward the end of the bar and saw Eva in her seat next to the professor. She grimaced at her sudden twinge of jealousy. Talking to people, especially guys, came easy to Eva. Once, she had Eva teach her how to flirt. It came off embarrassingly fake. As a result, she left the hair twisting and eyelash fluttering to the pros, like Eva and Cindy. Taylor loved Eva like a sister so why would she care that men liked her better? She had her plan, and she’s only talking football, and, jeez, he’s her professor. She sat on the other stool closest to the TV. Looking back at her, Eva grinned. Frowning, Taylor switched their beer mugs and averted her eyes to hide her hurt feelings.
Eva laughed. “Settle down,” she whispered to her. “I’m going to give Joe hell for making us watch on this tiny screen. He just walked in.” She leaned closer. “He’s all yours.”
Stunned, she choked on her mouthful of beer. Was she that easy to read? Sips from now on, she told herself. Don’t make a fool of yourself in front of your professor. Dr. Morgan moved to Eva’s stool to be closer — to her or to the TV? God, she needed to calm down. Blowing out a breath, she pushed her mug away. She tried to focus on the game.
“I hope the coach told special teams to stay in their lanes. I don’t want to get burned again like last week,” she said.
“Hey, you want another pitcher?” Johnny asked, already grabbing the empty one.
“Coke for me. I have class tomorrow, and the professor has me taking a ton of notes,” she replied with a smirk.
“Make it two,” Dr. Morgan said to him. He grinned and leaned toward her ear. “I heard he likes giving essay tests, too.”
She smiled at the intimacy. His warm breath on her ear made her body rigid with awareness. She didn’t dare lose herself in his gaze. After the game, she grabbed her bag and jacket. Dr. Morgan followed her out the door. She zipped her jacket against the chilly afternoon. All of the leaves had turned brown and created a wet, slippery layer across the sidewalk. She walked with care.
“Are you on campus?” he asked beside her.
“Yeah, Burke’s Hall. Where are you staying?”
“The guest apartments for visitor speakers and professors who want to stay on campus.”
“I’m going that way, too,” she said, secretly happy to be with him a little longer.

Featured Review
This story is impossible to put down. A page-turning romantic suspense. The instant lightning between Taylor and Stuart will make you believe in love at first sight. The mystery over who could be sending the death threats mixed with the romance between the two will keep you awake until the books is finished. Stuart was a perfect leading man. I love military guys. He is the perfect blend of alpha-male, smart history professor, and die-hard romantic. Taylor is a great leading lady, sure of her path in life and afraid to take too many risks. Thankfully, she deviates from her perfect plan to fall in love. I loved this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a captivating, well crafted story that will keep you guessing.
This is a romantic suspense with sexual content. Recommended for mature audiences.

About the Author
After retiring from acupuncture and massage therapy, Christina found a new passion. She enjoys writing about the emotional workings of our mind and heart and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions. Her background in Traditional Chinese Medicine taught her that the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways. The healing power of LOVE is incredibly profound.



Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

Links



Sunday, April 27, 2014

"The Trucker's Cat" by Christina Thompson

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
The Trucker's Cat
by Christina Thompson


The Trucker's Cat is currently ON SALE for only $0.99. This book tour, brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours, stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
“Some men think there’s a choice between right and wrong. Great men know there is none.” ~ General Steven Randall
In The Trucker’s Cat, Samantha Randall and Major Logan McCormick believe in a common value that takes on extraordinary meaning.
At the Russian Embassy where she lives with her mother and stepfather, Samantha uncovers a plot to assassinate the President. Her father’s famous speech urges her to act. She treks cross-country to warn the driver that his cargo has the proof, but she finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Driving a truck on a special military assignment, Logan sees no choice and rescues Sam from a bloated lecher. Against protocol, he gives the wildcat a ride. With Russian soldiers searching for Logan’s cargo and another team chasing Samantha, they quickly realize they must work together. Making sacrifices for the greater good, they will do what’s necessary to prevent the unthinkable.

Excerpt
Freshly shaved and showered, Logan McCormick sipped his black coffee from a window booth in the truck stop diner. While his partner ranted through the communication piece in his ear, he watched a smoking Greyhound bus catch fire at the edge of the parking lot. The passengers scrambled in every direction except for a young woman in a flannel shirt and jeans. She sprayed the engine with the fire extinguisher. It surprised him that she could hold it up; it was almost as big as she was.
“Mick, are you even listening to me?” Barrett asked in his ear.
“I wish I wasn’t. You’re whining again,” he mumbled.
“I am not. It pisses me off that I can’t get a decent cell signal anywhere at this damn truck stop.”
“Who are you calling? I’m your only friend.” He smirked at the non-reply.
The group from the bus raced across the parking lot knowing they’d have a long wait. Glad he already ordered his meal; he continued to watch the young woman by the pay phone. As she walked gracefully toward the diner, her heels never touched the ground. He smiled when she paused at the lowering of the flag.
When his cell vibrated on the table, he checked the caller ID, winced, and covered it with his Texas Ranger’s baseball cap. Fascinated with the young woman, he pushed his hat aside and leaned forward to see her argue with the attendant. The man nodded apologetically while she shook her finger at him.
He sipped his coffee. As he wondered about the wildcat under the cap, the waitress stopped briefly to deliver his steak and scrambled eggs. He wolfed down his meal, and the young woman disappeared into the gas station’s convenience store. The bus passengers overwhelmed the only two waitresses. It looked like the manager corralled the busboy to carry around a pot of coffee and hand out menus. He chewed his last bite as an elderly woman with a bag of red yarn trolled the diner and eyed his spot.
“How long does it take you to eat?” Barrett asked in his ear.
He set his knife across his plate. “Can I finish my coffee, please?”
Logan held out his mug for the busboy and spotted the young woman scanning the room from the doorway. His wildcat assessment fit. Her body was sleek not awkwardly skinny. The loose curls of reddish brown hair danced around her cap as she turned her head. He couldn’t see her face but knew by her confident stance that she was a spitfire. She caught him staring and moved toward him. Damn it. He didn’t need the attention.
Pulling her cap to her brow to shadow her face, she stood beside the table with her backpack in her hand. “Hello, Major.”
Barrett thundered in his ear, “What the hell? Who is that?”
“Excuse me?” he asked tensely.
“I’m guessing you were a major in the army,” she said.
He relaxed slightly. “What makes you think that?”
“Your hair is army short, your watch is military time, your combat boots are army issue, and your posture is rigid,” she said, setting her bag on the seat across from him. She slid in next to it.
“Military maybe, but an officer?”
She shrugged. “You have a superior air about you. I guessed. Was I right?”
Barrett laughed. “She’s got you pegged.”
Resisting the urge to turn off his com, he frowned and crossed his arms stretching his denim over-shirt. When he didn’t answer, she continued, “I’m looking for a ride.”
“How do you know I’m not done for the night?”
“I think you prefer to drive at night. You’re clean and you just ate breakfast.”
Barrett snickered in his ear. “Let her. She’s amusing, and you’re such a grouch.”
“No,” he replied to her and Barrett. Two could play her game. “What are you running from?”
She stiffened slightly. “What makes you think that?”
“You have leftover hair dye on your earlobe.” She gasped and rubbed her ear. He pointed at her other. “Busted,” he said with a chuckle.

Review
Some books take pages to develop the story line, not this one. It is fast paced from page one, you learn the characters as it moves along in such an entirely believable way. It quickly becomes clear who most of the "good guys/bad guys" are while still having short unexpected turns.
The romance enhances the story and is not overdone or overly explicit. You hope for the "right" ending but won't know till it gets there.

About the Author
Christina Thompson, a retired acupuncturist, enjoys writing about the physical science, the emotional workings of our mind and heart, and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions.
Her degree in biology from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo gave her a love of science and a background into the physical realm of the body. Her diploma in Traditional Chinese acupuncture from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine taught her that the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways.
She teaches at the Reflexions Plus Holistic Center on many topics including massage therapy, acupuncture, Feng Shui as well as other modalities of Chinese medicine. She currently resides with her husband, Kraig, in West Michigan.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

Links