Author: Maya

Here is Micah’s cover, Sweet Temptation. If any of you are MAC users and the cover, specifically the title, looks really blurry to you drop me a comment and let me know? Thanks!

Giving away lots of books over at Writeminded today. So if you missed your chance at winning here on this blog, head over to enter at Writeminded!

Bring cookies, because it’s a party :banana:

Oh and here’s the link since stupid wordpress has decided to do away with all my html tags. :huh:

http://www.writemindedblog.com

So been talking to my agent and editor about possible titles for books 2 and 3 of the KGI series. First one is The Darkest Hour and it features Ethan and Rachel Kelly. Yep, they’re married already. Oh man I love this story. Anyway, going in I only ever had the title for that first book and titles do not easily come to me so here it is over a year later after selling that series and I finally have titles.

Book 2 will be No Place to Run and it features Sam Kelly

Book 3 will be No Place to Hide and it features Garrett Kelly.

Well they all feature the entire Kelly clan plus the heroines, Sophie and Sarah, but you get the idea *g*

Just finished

Sweet Temptation and Songbird

Working on

The Darkest Hour

Next up

The Millionaire’s Contract Engagement (continuity for Silhouette Desire)

Last paragraph written (from The Darkest Hour)

His mom cocked an eyebrow and then frowned. He recognized that look. A reprimand was about to fly. He almost grinned. Woman could make him feel five years old again with one stare.

Hey guys, it’s Friday! :whoo:

Here are the winners of Sweet Persuasion. Remember you only have a short time to claim your book. I’m mailing everything Monday morning.

Booklover1335, comment #3

Funkywaterdino, comment #21

Mikaela, comment #10

Lindylou, comment #18

Congrats! Don’t forget to email me at mayaATmayabanks.com with your snail mail addy by early Monday morning or your book finds another home.

*whispering* ok so I’m giving away copies of Sweet Persuasion over at Writeminded today. I’ve also given away copies on Twitter. SO I thought I’d give away a copy or two over here but I’ll keep it quiet as sort of an easter egg for those who actually come over here every once in awhile :kissing:

Soooo leave me a comment. Tell me you’d like the book. I’ll leave it open for a couple of days. I’ll announce by this weekend and then you’ll have until Monday morning to claim your book, otherwise sorry! Your book will go to another home. I have a huge mailing I’ve got to get done before we leave for Scotland.

Hope everyone is having a good hump day! (Is it Wed already?? :huh:)

We flew in yesterday afternoon, ate dinner in Houston then drove home. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. Go figure. So I read in bed for several hours before passing out. I woke up with the headache from hell and so far nothings kicking it. :crying:

Disney was…exhausting. To be honest, it’s not really my type of vacation. There’s the whole crowd thing. I’m not much of a people person. My idea of heaven is a nice quiet beautiful place where I’m not bumping into people at every turn. Give me mountains, some camping, fishing!, a not crowded beach, a cabin in BF anywhere where there’s nothing for miles. Ahhh. Wonderful stuff!

I feel guilty saying that, like I’m some sort of freak for not adoring Disney World, but there you have it. Anytime I’m exposed to lots of people for any prolonged period of time I sort of meltdown and need time to decompress. This happens to me at conferences too. I venture out and the constant barrage of people, conversation and having to be “social” has me fleeing back to my room for “alone” time after a few hours.

And I dunno. I was pretty appalled at just how rude people are in a place like Disney. I still shake my head. Don’t get me wrong, I met lots of really nice, polite people but the really bad behavior that was rampant just made my mouth drop. I mean are manners really that difficult a concept?

In other matters, I got some really good news while at Disney :whoo: I bought a pressie to celebrate right before we left because the only thing better than good news is good news while on vacation, yes? I’ll share as soon as humanly possible. Oh and the pressie was just the perfect multi color jade bracelet. I’ve been looking for one forever.

Now it’s back to work for me *sob*

I’m doing a happy dance :banana: School is over. No more getting up early. I’m a total night owl. I like working late and sleeping in but for the past few months I’ve been working late and getting up early. This combination does NOT make me happy. I have lots to do this summer. We’re traveling quite a bit and I have lotso books to write in short order.

But for now? I just sent in Micah’s book and I’m finishing up on Songbird so I’m totally down for some vacation time where I do not think about work at all. For the next week I’m going to have more fun than a human being should be allowed. We leave Sunday morning weeee!

Oh and I had the most marvelous epiphany the other night for Garrett’s book. I’m sooooo excited because it’s just perfect! No, you’re not supposed to know who Garrett is lol. He’s not scheduled for awhile. But his story has been bugging me and now I have it all figured out.

See you guys in a week! (try not to have too much fun without me)

Pregnant by the Tycoon

She hadn’t known she’d slept with the boss. But the next morning Jewel Henley learned the exotic stranger who’d swept her off her feet was her new employer, Piers Anetakis. And before she could explain, Jewel found herself without a job…and pregnant.

After five months Piers had finally tracked his one-night lover down. Determined to explain the mistakes that had been made, he was confronted with an undeniable truth. Jewel was carrying his child. His Greek honor demanded he marry Jewel. But was there more between them than lust…and was it enough to make their marriage of convenience last?

Excerpt:

Jewel Henley shifted on the hospital bed, one hand curled around her cell phone, the other hand pushing aside hot tears. She had to call him. She had no choice.

Having to depend on the man who couldn’t get her out of his life fast enough after their one night stand wasn’t a prospect she relished, but for her baby, she’d do anything. Swallow her pride and try to let go of the burning anger.

Her free hand dropped to rest on the burgeoning swell of her belly, and she felt the sturdy reassurance of her daughter’s kick.

How would Piers react when she told him he was going to be a father? Would he even care? She shook her head in mute denial. Surely, no matter his feelings for her, he wouldn’t turn his back on his child.

There was only one way to find out and that was to push the send button. His private phone number was already punched in. She may have been fired from her job, but for some reason, she’d held on to the phone numbers she’d been provided upon her hiring.

And still she couldn’t bring herself to complete the call. She let the phone drop to her chest and closed her eyes. If only there weren’t complications with her pregnancy. Why couldn’t she be one of these beautiful, glowing women who were pictures of health?

Her thoughts were interrupted when her door swung open and a nurse bustled in pushing a cart with the computer she logged her charts.

“How are you feeling today, Miss Henley?”

Jewel nodded and whispered a faint, “Fine.”

“Have you made arrangements for your care after your release?”

Jewel swallowed but didn’t say anything. The nurse gave her a reproving look.

“You know the doctor won’t release you until he’s satisfied that you’ll have someone to look after you while you’re on bedrest.”

A sigh escaped Jewel’s lips and she held up the phone. “I was just about to make a call.”

The nurse nodded approvingly. “Good. As soon as I’m finished I’ll leave you alone to finish.”

A few minutes later, the nurse left, and once again Jewel lifted the phone and stared at the LCD screen. Maybe he wouldn’t even answer.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she punched her thumb over the send button then closed her eyes and put the phone to her ear. There was a brief silence as the call connected, and then it began to ring.

Once. Twice. Then a third time. She was preparing to chicken out and cut the connection when his brusque voice bled into her ear.

“Anetakis.”

It came out more of a growl than anything else, and she quickly lost courage. Her breath came stuttering out as more tears welled in her eyes.

“Who is this?” he demanded.

She yanked the phone away and clumsily jabbed at the buttons until the call ended. She couldn’t do this. Issuing a silent apology to her unborn baby, she determined that she’d find another way. There had to be something she could do that didn’t involve Piers Anetakis.

Before she could dwell too long on such possibilities, the phone pulsed in her hand. She opened it automatically a second before she realized that he was calling her back.

Only her soft breathing spilled into the receiver.

“I know you’re there,” Piers barked. “Now who the hell is this and how did you get my number?”

“I’m sorry,” she said in a low voice. “I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“Wait,” he commanded. Then there was a long pause. “Jewel, is that you?”

Oh God. She hadn’t counted on him recognizing her voice. How could he? They hadn’t spoken in five months. Five months, one week and three days to be exact.

“Y-yes,” she finally said.

“Thank God,” he muttered. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Just like a damn female to disappear off the face of the earth.”

“What?”

“Where are you?”

The questions came simultaneously.

“Me first,” he said imperiously. “Where are you? Are you all right?”

She lay there in stunned silence before she gathered her scattered wits. “I’m in the hospital.”

“Theos.” There was another rapid smattering of Greek that she couldn’t have followed even if she understood the language.

“Where?” he bit out. “What hospital? Tell me.”

Completely baffled at the turn the conversation had taken, she told him the hospital. Before she could say anything else, he cut in with, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

And then the line went dead.

With shaking hands, she folded the phone shut and set it aside. Then she curled her fingers around the bulge of her abdomen. He was coming? Just like that? He’d been looking for her? None of it made sense.

Then she realized that she’d never told him the most important piece of information. The entire reason she’d called him to begin with. She hadn’t told him she was pregnant.