Adele Dubois Blog

Snorkeling, anyone?

I’m spending the day with author Melissa Schroeder, July 27, to celebrate a Summer of Love.

Leave a comment on the blog about my new paranormal erotic romance DO ME GOOD and be eligible to win a free copy of one of my books. Hope to see you there! Here’s the link:

http://www.melissaschroeder.net/

I’m a sucker for a handsome face. I like men with symmetrical features who are easy on the eye. No ruggedly handsome, craggy types with a two-day stubble and unkempt hair for me. My fantasy hero has a smooth jaw line that doesn’t scratch my tender skin, a gorgeous face to match a well-toned body, and smells fresh enough to have stepped from the shower. He’s confident and commanding and not afraid to love a woman. That’s my type of man and the hero I created for DO ME GOOD.

The hero of DO ME GOOD, Gunnar, is my first otherworldly protagonist, and I admit I’ve developed a crush on him. He’s a fearless Nordic warrior cast into eternal servitude during a time when mortals served gods and goddesses. He becomes a celestial in the pre-Christian period before those who interacted with both gods and mortals were called angels. Gunnar is a Nordic Light Elf and so handsome he is “fairer to look upon than the sun.”

I hope you enjoy DO ME GOOD as much as I enjoyed creating this story. Here’s a sample of the book with a summary and excerpt. Thanks for reading.

The inspiration for Gunnar, model Arnaud Lemaire. Photo used with permission.

*****

DO ME GOOD by Adele Dubois

TOP PICK! ~Night Owl Romance
BOOK of The Week Nominee! ~ Whipped Cream Reviews

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8301-50-do-me-good.aspx

Summary:

Penny throws her hot, but worthless mooch of a boyfriend out on her front lawn with his clothes, and vows never again to be a bum magnet. Exhausted by overwork and mountainous debt, Penny pleads for divine intervention.

Gunnar, a rebellious Nordic warrior cast into servitude by an angry god to learn humility, answers. While Penny sleeps, the celestial arrives to complete her household chores, but she awakens and finds him. The handsome immortal kisses her, sparking a passionate, forbidden sexual encounter.

Dark forces seeking vengeance for Gunnar’s past misdeeds mark Penny as a target. To protect his lover, Gunnar tests immortality in a death battle using a god’s magical sword. But the strength of Penny’s love might be what saves them both.

Excerpt:

He smoothed the hair at her temple and then rubbed a thick tendril between his thumb and forefinger. “I am Gunnar.” He pronounced the name “Goo-nar”.

A coarse brand of the sun, surrounded by a circle on the back of his hand, and covering the areas between his thumb, index knuckle and wrist caught her eye. His hand looked muscular and powerful beneath her gaze.

She touched the scarred skin with the tips of her fingers while he held a length of her hair, recognizing Freyr’s sacred insignia from her textbooks. “The pain must have been excruciating.”  Without thinking, she lifted the old wound to her mouth and laid four kisses against its perimeter before pressing a fifth to the emblem inside.

A low tremor vibrated across her lips as they touched the ancient symbol on the white, extended hand. The brand grew warm and then hot on her mouth, though it did not burn. Her lips tingled and her body hummed with the pleasant sensations. She ran her tongue over the thick scars to erase the heat and then licked the center with the tip of her tongue in a tiny swirl before lifting her head.

His gasp of surprise was the last thing she expected as he released her hair and leaned away.

“Have I offended you? I’m sorry.” She searched his face for clues as to what to do next. Behind his shocked expression she found desire and longing and something completely unexpected.

Thankfulness.

Penny waited for his reply without letting go of his disfigured hand. She could tell his next words didn’t come easily.

“Kindness isn’t something I’m used to finding. Perhaps you’d be less inclined toward compassion if you knew what I’d done to deserve this brand of servitude.”

She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck to bring his face closer to hers. “I am Penelope. And if you are from Alfheim, I know who and what you are. I just don’t understand why you’ve come.” How could she deserve his rare, benevolent gifts? She was just an ordinary woman, barely scraping by.

“Sometimes we get what we need, simply because we ask. That’s the beauty and power of the unexpected.” His warm breath grazed her cheek in shallow rushes, lifting goose bumps across her skin. His wide, firm mouth smelled of sweet ground parsley and fresh-picked mint.

Their gazes locked and held, assessing, appraising.

Searching.

Gunnar’s eyes were like pools of deep blue water speckled with light that pulled her in and down. Down. Her breathing slowed as the sound of her heartbeat intensified in her ears and the inside of her mouth moistened. She licked her lips and became intensely aware of every nerve ending shimmering along her body. Her muscles tensed as if waiting for something unexpected to happen.

As if meeting a Nordic Light Elf in the flesh wasn’t amazing enough.

Just when she wondered how his mouth would taste, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her. An explosion of kinetic energy shot vibrations through her body that prickled every fiber and muscle, held her taut and then released, leaving her breathless.

     ****
Buy Link:

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8301-50-do-me-good.aspx

Keanu Charles Reeves (pronounced kay-ah-nu, not key-au-nu) is both a Canadian and naturalized American citizen. His name in Hawaiian means, “cool breeze over the mountain.” He was born September 2, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon to an English mother and Hawaiian/Chinese father while his mother was working in that country. His parents were divorced when Keanu was very young.

Buff for the movie Point Break with the late Patrick Swayze. He has maintained surfing as a hobby since co-starring in that film. He also enjoys horseback riding. For The Matrix and its sequels, Keanu learned over 200 martial arts moves.

Keanu was named “One of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World” by People magazine in 1995. Dang. Makes your heart go pitter-pat.

He played ice hockey in high school and was such an outstanding goalie his team called him “The Wall.” Keanu dropped out of school at age 17 to move to Hollywood and pursue an acting career.

Tragedy has struck Keanu twice. He has lost both a child and a girlfriend. The child he and Jennifer Syme were expecting was stillborn in 1999. In 2001 Jennifer was killed instantly in a car crash near Highway 101 in Los Angeles.

Hot damn! This looks like a cover for my book REV ME UP.

I definitely saved the best picture for last. Keanu owns at least two Norton Commando motorcycles. Hard to believe Keanu fits the CLASSIC HUNK profile, but he qualifies. When he turned 40, Keanu had this to say: “Here comes 40. I’m feeling my age and I’ve ordered the Ferrari. I’m going to get the whole mid-life crisis package.”

At 46 Keanu is still gorgeous and very crush-worthy. Don’t you agree? ~ Best, Adele Dubois

It’s been a long time since I posted pictures of hot bodybuilding hunk Sagi Kalev (pronounced Suh-gee), but I certainly haven’t forgotten him.

Here’s my favorite picture of Sagi and me posing together for a nutritional product. Don’t we look great? (Okay, I admit that’s not me with Sagi. (grin) That’s a hotter than hot professional model, but we almost have the same hair. Except mine is shorter. And she’s younger. And thinner. And… LOL.)

More pics of sexy Sagi Kalev from various bodybuilding sites. Enjoy! ~ Best, Adele Dubois

This humble tablecloth has celebrated every birthday with each member of our family for three generations. We’ve all grown up or grown old with this cloth, and a family birthday party just wouldn’t be the same without it gracing the table.

This week we’re celebrating our daughter’s twentieth birthday and the dinner table will be set with our traditional tablecloth.  A colorful Happy Birthday banner will drape the kitchen doorway as it always has. Grandma’s homemade chocolate cake will glow with candles while we sing the Happy Birthday song after the meal. Our Yorkie will bark and jump up and down while our daughter blows out her candles. We’ll have our Norman Rockwell/Hallmark/Kodak moments, just for a little while, because birthdays are still celebrated joyfully, no matter how old we become. It’s the one day we each get to be special, without having to share the limelight with anyone.

Though the tablecloth pictured here is made of simple vinyl, it’s one of my most prized possessions.  There are pieces of tape on the back, and a few fade spots on the front, but the tablecloth brings our family a sense of unity that never wears out.

When my son or daughter marries and starts a family, the tablecloth will go with them, and generation number four will begin using it for birthday celebrations. When the tablecloth finally wears thin, we’ll start again with a new one to pass down.

In this fast-changing world, it’s comforting to have small traditions to hold onto. The birthday tablecloth is one of ours. Does your family have a special tradition? Tell us about it.

“TOP PICK! FIVE STARS!” ~ Night Owl Reviews

*****

I’m visiting author Melissa Schroeder July 6 for her Summer of Love contest celebration, where a lucky reader will win a copy of one of my back titles. Winner’s choice. Stop by and read about my first time–dating a guy with a Harley, that is.

Read my original post “Like Flying” and leave a comment to be eligible for a prize. I hope to see you there! Here’s the link:

http://tinyurl.com/23nku59

Have a great Fourth of July week-end at the beach, on the lake, watching fireworks, eating barbeque and drinking cold beer, or just relaxing at home with your loved ones.

If you’re in the mood to read, check out my bookshelf page. My titles are waiting just for you. Enjoy!

http://www.adeledubois.com/bookshelf.shtml

In case you haven’t heard Miranda Lambert sing The House That Built Me, by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, I’ve posted the You Tube link to her official video.

The House That Built Me has to be one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching songs ever written, and Miranda’s performance is inspired. If this tune doesn’t win “Song of the Year” or “Single of the Year” at the County Music Awards next year, there’s no justice in this world.

I bought Miranda’s new CD, Revolution, which features The House That Built Me and loved it.

Listen to The House That Built Me and try to convince me it didn’t make you cry! 

*****

The House That Built Me

by Tom Douglas / Allen Shamblin

Performed by Miranda Lambert

I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for you
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQYNM6SjD_o