Welcome to my stop on Wendy Burke's Virtual Book Tour for Wise Men Say. Please make sure to leave a comment or question for Wendy below to let her know you stopped by. You can enter her tour wide giveaway below by filling out the Rafflecopter form and follow her tour here.
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by Wendy Burke
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Category(ies): Holiday-Themed, Military
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Heat Level: Sizzling
Word Count: 12,300
Buy Links
Amazon
ARe
Barnes & Noble
BookStrand
Decadent Publishing
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Blurb
More than twenty years ago, Emmy Patterson kissed her fiancé for the last time. Despite bad news from U.S. military services, to this day she has reasons to hold on to hope he's alive and celebrates his life every chance she gets.
Her family, however, thinks her partly crazed, unable to grasp the reasoning behind her perpetual optimism.
Called on a business trip to promote her glass artwork, she spends the winter holidays in Las Vegas. Is this chance travel to the The Castillo in Vegas a coincidence, or does the wise Madame Eve know ‘some things’ were meant to be?
Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations and adult language which may be considered offensive to some readers.
Reviews
5 Stars: “one of the best 1NS”
“I have read over 50 of the books in this series and this is one of the best yet. Heartfelt and sexy I totally loved it.”--MLK (Amazon Review)
4 Stars: “Short Story That Is Sweet Yet Satisfyingly Sexy”
“The 1Night Stand series of books from Decadent Publishing can always be counted on to entertain and delight. Wise Men Say by Wendy Burke adds to that reputation with its heartwarming storyline about the unending power of love.
For over twenty years, and despite what she's told, Emmy Patterson has been hoping the love of her life returns from the war. Her loyalty and memories of a lost love keep her going and while this might seem crazy to some, deep down we all wish we had someone who affects us that deeply. So this part of the story worked for me and made the story even more heartwarming once all the events played out. While in Vegas for work she gets an unexpected surprise that is her dream come true and gives her a night she'll never forget that changes her future forever.
Nick's never forgotten Emmy but isn't without scars, inside and out. He's a strong and proud man and wants to put the past behind him and move forward with her, but some flashes of the past still remain that are lightly touched upon. The sexual chemistry between them is still hot and their connection is both comfortable and satisfying. These romantically-charged sexual interludes lead to a fairytale ending that, while a bit rushed, will leave readers misty-eyed.
Wise Men Say is a feel good story that reminds us of the power of love. With its fantasy-like feel it becomes every little girl's dream wrapped in an adult package. Those wanting an entertaining start to the New Year will find it with Wendy Burke's newest release!”--J. Faltys (Amazon Review)
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Excerpt:
Usually after so much time in the cold, she’d be tired but instead she tossed and turned.
Office of the Pentagon.
Why did that have to come today?
“Dammit.” Getting out of bed, she went to her closet. Dragging out a step stool, she reached for the box tucked in the furthest corner of the shelving. She got a hand on the container, and with reverence, she slipped it from its resting place. Careful, it’s almost all you have left of him.
Cross-legged on her mattress, with the linens and comforter bunched about her, she smoothed a small area and placed the box there. She slipped off its lid. Inside sat a flat, vacuum-packed plastic bag holding a near-ratty sweatshirt. The word Navy printed on the front, faded and close to illegible, the article of clothing had seen many washings.
But, yet, it hadn’t been washed in twenty years.
Removing the shirt from the bag, she placed it in her lap where she stroked the decade’s old piece of clothing. Closing her eyes, she remembered Nick’s solid biceps filling out the jersey fabric, his well-cut pectorals curving the front. Slipping a hand into the pullover’s opening, she imagined his flat, muscled tummy meeting her touch and her finger tracing a dark trek of cottony down.
She smiled, seeing his salacious grin in return, while his hand grasped hers, willing it further into his boxers.
“Where are you, Nicky?”
Stretching out, she kept the sweatshirt close to her face. It irritated her that she could barely discern his scent considering she’d taken such care to retain it.
He filled her mind. Sure, she had photo upon photo of him, of them together, but those images captured not the essence of her Nick; his kindness, loyalty, dedication to her and to his country, and of course, the physical memories. She cursed herself, reaching far back into her memory, trying to extract the sound of his voice. Would I even recognize it if I heard it?
She clutched the fleece closer, her free hand caressing low on her belly. She fantasized his specter kisses on her neck. Burying her face further into his clothing, she dug her hand under the waistband of her flannel pajama pants.
Even after so many years away, the mere thought of him aroused her; his beautiful, well-cut muscles flexing as he undressed, honed from workouts no gym rat could ever tolerate. The taste of his mouth, bright and pepperminty, his talented tongue, so insistent she swore he had the ability to suck her clit inside out. She gasped into the blue material as she slipped her finger deep between her folds, dreaming of him.
Holding back tears, she recalled the first time Nick had touched her in such a manner. After they’d dated for about a year, Nick got relocated from Virginia to California for SEAL training. Meeting up in Las Vegas proved easy, a cheap flight for both of them—her from Milwaukee and him from San Diego. In her mind, she leaned back into Nick’s broad chest as hot tub bubbles tickled her bare skin. The sunset over the Vegas Strip had been magnificent. After emptying a bottle of Moet to toast Nick’s new career path, some extensive fooling around ensued. In her memory, he lifted her from the tub, carrying her to bed. That moment, he kissed her in a way he’d never done before—and with good reason, that night, with her permission, he he’d taken her virginity.
She panted into the sweatshirt, her tissue swelling around her drenched finger. “Oh!” An electric burning sensation forced her finger from direct clitoral contact, but she forged through it, bringing herself over the edge. She cried out, her arms legs and torso trembling through her orgasm.
“I miss you, Nicky….”
She clutched the one remaining possession of her fiancé and cried herself to sleep.
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My Review
Christmas and romance always seem to go well together and that's never more true than in Wendy Burke's Wise Men Say, a sweet, spicy contemporary romance named after a line in a song by Elvis. While a part of the 1Night Stand series, this can be easily reas as a standalone book.
For more than twenty years, Emmy Patterson has believed her missing fiancee would return to her. Missing since the beginning of Desert Storm, Emmy has refused to accept the possibility of his death. While moving on with most of her life and establishing her career, Emmy still holds out hope for a miracle.
Nicholas Klaussen returned to the US two years ago. Injured both physically and emotionally, Nick is finally ready to pick up the pieces of his life and move forward. There's just one thing - he doesn't know if his fiancee has waited for him or moved on. Contacting the 1Night Stand dating agency was easy, getting a chance to reconnect with the love of his life will be a miracle.
Ms. Burke did a really good job developing Emmy's character in this very short story; while her family can't understand her determination in believing he's alive, Emmy refuses to give up. Building a life without Nick wasn't easy but it's something she managed to do on her own. It was very easy to connect with Emmy and while not practical, her hope is believable.
Will Emmy be able to believe her eyes when she sees Nick alive and well? And what other surprises will both Emmy and Nick uncover as a result of Madam Eve's intervention? You'll have to read Wise Men Say to find out. I thought it was a really cute, hot holiday romance.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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About the Author
A TV producer by day and a romance writer at night, sometimes the two employments inadvertently cross –whoops! When not at her fulltime TV job or part-time job in radio, Wendy is either writing or fighting off a furry attack by one of her two cats. She leads a wonderfully silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband in a suburb of ‘beautiful’ Toledo, Ohio.
Connect with Wendy Burke
A TV producer by day and a romance writer at night, sometimes the two employments inadvertently cross –whoops! When not at her fulltime TV job or part-time job in radio, Wendy is either writing or fighting off a furry attack by one of her two cats. She leads a wonderfully silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband in a suburb of ‘beautiful’ Toledo, Ohio.
Connect with Wendy Burke
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Prize is 2 eBooks from author's backlist (winners' choice; 1 each to 2 winners). Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Mar 6. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
Thank you for the kind words in your review. Good luck to everyone who enters!
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