Tawna Fenske is a USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Her offbeat brand of romance has received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, one of which noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year.
Hello, awesome readers! I hope you all had an amazing holiday no matter which one you observed (or maybe you’re a holiday hussy who celebrated them all—no judgment here!)
Last month, I released my first holiday rom-com, Studmuffin Santa. Reader response has been so fabulous that I’m using it as a launch-pad for a new series of standalone romantic comedies centered around two families operating a reindeer ranch and a luxury resort in the Central Oregon high desert.
The next book won’t be out until May, but here’s a little New Year’s Eve bonus scene to tide you over…
BRANDON
I know I look like a creeper sitting here on a lavender plaid quilt watching a woman dress.
But since the owner of the quilt invited me, I figure I’m good. The quilt owner also happens to be my girlfriend, so I’m well within creeper-free safe zone.
“What do you think of this one?” Jade holds up a slinky black dress and gives it the same dubious look she shot me when I suggested naming her new reindeer calf David Hasselhops. “Too fancy?”
“The bra and panties are nice,” I offer. “Maybe stick with that and call it a minimalist outfit?”
Jade sighs, but I can tell she’s not really annoyed. I can also tell she’d be a lot happier pulling on her Wonderwoman T-shirt with a pair of jeans and grabbing a beer. I’m about to suggest that when she turns back to her closet.
“We haven’t even picked which New Year’s party we’re going to yet,” she mutters from inside the closet. I’m so busy admiring the perfect curve of her ass that I almost miss the next thing she says. “I guess we could hit the one your cousins are throwing at the resort.”
“Nah.” I shake my head as Jade turns back around with something flowy and purple on a hanger. “We should rule out any party venues with more than ten syllables.”
Jade rolls her eyes, but I can see her counting Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort off in her mind. “So, what—you want to ring in the New Year at Drake’s Burgers?”
A good burger does sound tasty, but it’s not what I’m craving. God, she has the best arms. Lean and muscular and made for clenching around my back. Or for throwing hay bales. Whatever.
I fight the urge to reach out and stroke one of the brown-gold waves tumbling over her left breast. “No burger joints,” I say. “This is our first New Year’s Eve together. I want to do something memorable.”
There’s a knock at the bedroom door, followed by a familiar voice. “Hey, Jade—do you have any safety pins?”
“Right here,” she calls, pulling open a desk drawer. “You can come in, we’re not indecent.”
“Yet,” I murmur, earning myself a flushed grin from Jade as the door flies open.
Jade’s younger sister, Amber, strolls in wearing a weird one-piece pajama thing. It covers her from neck to toe, but I could name a dozen guys who’d line up barefoot in the snow to see her in it.
Amber’s never been my type, but I do understand the appeal.
“Pin my butt?” Amber pivots so her backside faces her sister, and I catch a glimpse of the words “Blasting zone, keep away” on the rear flap of her onesie PJs. “I got these at a white elephant thing last week, but there’s a button missing.”
Jade grabs a safety pin and reaches for her sister’s rear. “Please tell me you’re wearing these to that black-tie party at the Kitzmillers’ place,” she says through a mouthful of safety pins. “Or an orgy.”
“No dice,” Amber says. “There’s a pajama party out at the Domino Room. Free waffles in the morning.”
“Crap, did you feed the reindeer yet?”
“Yep.” Amber grimaces. “It took me twice as long, since Vixen’s in heat again.”
“I meant to warn you,” Jade says. “How long did she make you rub her nose this time?”
“Twenty minutes.” Amber peers over her shoulder and seems to notice for the first time that her sister’s not exactly clothed. Modesty’s not a big thing for these two, but Amber shoots me a knowing look. “You sure I’m not interrupting anything?”
Jade shakes her head and pulls another safety pin out of her mouth. “I’m figuring out what to wear.”
Amber laughs. “And I’m sure Brandon’s a great big help.”
“Huge,” Jade agrees, cheeks pinkening just a little. Is it my imagination, or did she just shoot a look at my crotch?
“We’re deciding which party to hit,” I tell Amber.
Amber folds her arms. “What are the choices?”
Jade secures the last pin in place and gives her sister a smack on the butt. “Maybe the one at Brandon’s dad’s place.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
There’s a weird pang in my chest, but I take a few deep breaths to make it go away. My dad’s been a resident at Central Oregon Dementia Care Unit since I was eighteen, so it’s not like this is something new. But spending a major holiday there instead of deployed to some war zone is a big switch, so I’m still adjusting.
“Someone gave us tickets to that big shindig at the Tower Theatre.” I clear my throat, and glance at Jade. “We’d talked about that.”
“We did.” Jade looks back at her sister and shrugs. “Honestly, I think you’ve got the right idea with the PJs.”
Amber shoots me a salacious wink. “Make her show you the red thing I got her at Victoria’s Secret,” she fake-whispers. “It’s crotchless.”
Jade’s face grows pinker, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from pulling her down on the bed beside me. She glances over and there’s something in her expression that wasn’t there a minute ago. A noticeable longing, coupled with an unmistakable heat.
I make a New Year’s resolution to give her anything she wants for the rest of eternity.
“I’ve gotta run,” Amber says, and I wonder if she picked up on whatever’s buzzing between Jade and me. “Don’t wait up,” she calls as she hustles out the door.
Jade watches me as Amber’s footsteps bang down the stairs and out the front door. The instant a truck engine growls to life, she bites her lip. “I know we talked about going out on the town tonight, but would it be okay if we just—”
“Yes.”
She lifts an eyebrow and smiles. “How do you know I wasn’t going to suggest we muck stalls?”
“As long as you’re wearing that, I’m down for it.”
She laughs and tosses her hair, giving me an unobstructed view of the world’s most perfect breasts. “Let me just grab my rubber boots.”
Her smile widens and she makes no move to go anywhere, so I grab something a lot better than boots.
“Hey!” She laughs as I catch her by the hips and pull her down onto the bed with me. She tumbles willingly, laughing as I brush a gold-brown wave off her forehead. Our gazes hold, and I can feel those perfect breasts pressed against my chest.
“We’re going to miss the parties,” she murmurs as she leans in and plants a kiss at the edge of my jaw. Giving me a sexy smile, she brushes a second one on my cheekbone, then a third right at the edge of my mouth.
When she draws back, we’re both a little breathless.
“We’ll make our own party,” I tell her. “Champagne and everything.”
She laughs and leans down again. Her breath ruffles the hair above my ear, and her breasts are so close that my mouth starts to water. “Well, then,” she murmurs. “It appears you’ve already popped the cork. Let’s get the party started.”
Now that you’ve met Jade and Brandon, I hope you’ll grab Studmuffin Santa to get the rest of their story. Amber’s book hits shelves in May, so now’s a good time to get caught up!
Up For Grabs:
I know I look like a creeper sitting here on a lavender plaid quilt watching a woman dress.
But since the owner of the quilt invited me, I figure I’m good. The quilt owner also happens to be my girlfriend, so I’m well within creeper-free safe zone.
“What do you think of this one?” Jade holds up a slinky black dress and gives it the same dubious look she shot me when I suggested naming her new reindeer calf David Hasselhops. “Too fancy?”
“The bra and panties are nice,” I offer. “Maybe stick with that and call it a minimalist outfit?”
Jade sighs, but I can tell she’s not really annoyed. I can also tell she’d be a lot happier pulling on her Wonderwoman T-shirt with a pair of jeans and grabbing a beer. I’m about to suggest that when she turns back to her closet.
“We haven’t even picked which New Year’s party we’re going to yet,” she mutters from inside the closet. I’m so busy admiring the perfect curve of her ass that I almost miss the next thing she says. “I guess we could hit the one your cousins are throwing at the resort.”
“Nah.” I shake my head as Jade turns back around with something flowy and purple on a hanger. “We should rule out any party venues with more than ten syllables.”
Jade rolls her eyes, but I can see her counting Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort off in her mind. “So, what—you want to ring in the New Year at Drake’s Burgers?”
A good burger does sound tasty, but it’s not what I’m craving. God, she has the best arms. Lean and muscular and made for clenching around my back. Or for throwing hay bales. Whatever.
I fight the urge to reach out and stroke one of the brown-gold waves tumbling over her left breast. “No burger joints,” I say. “This is our first New Year’s Eve together. I want to do something memorable.”
There’s a knock at the bedroom door, followed by a familiar voice. “Hey, Jade—do you have any safety pins?”
“Right here,” she calls, pulling open a desk drawer. “You can come in, we’re not indecent.”
“Yet,” I murmur, earning myself a flushed grin from Jade as the door flies open.
Jade’s younger sister, Amber, strolls in wearing a weird one-piece pajama thing. It covers her from neck to toe, but I could name a dozen guys who’d line up barefoot in the snow to see her in it.
Amber’s never been my type, but I do understand the appeal.
“Pin my butt?” Amber pivots so her backside faces her sister, and I catch a glimpse of the words “Blasting zone, keep away” on the rear flap of her onesie PJs. “I got these at a white elephant thing last week, but there’s a button missing.”
Jade grabs a safety pin and reaches for her sister’s rear. “Please tell me you’re wearing these to that black-tie party at the Kitzmillers’ place,” she says through a mouthful of safety pins. “Or an orgy.”
“No dice,” Amber says. “There’s a pajama party out at the Domino Room. Free waffles in the morning.”
“Crap, did you feed the reindeer yet?”
“Yep.” Amber grimaces. “It took me twice as long, since Vixen’s in heat again.”
“I meant to warn you,” Jade says. “How long did she make you rub her nose this time?”
“Twenty minutes.” Amber peers over her shoulder and seems to notice for the first time that her sister’s not exactly clothed. Modesty’s not a big thing for these two, but Amber shoots me a knowing look. “You sure I’m not interrupting anything?”
Jade shakes her head and pulls another safety pin out of her mouth. “I’m figuring out what to wear.”
Amber laughs. “And I’m sure Brandon’s a great big help.”
“Huge,” Jade agrees, cheeks pinkening just a little. Is it my imagination, or did she just shoot a look at my crotch?
“We’re deciding which party to hit,” I tell Amber.
Amber folds her arms. “What are the choices?”
Jade secures the last pin in place and gives her sister a smack on the butt. “Maybe the one at Brandon’s dad’s place.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
There’s a weird pang in my chest, but I take a few deep breaths to make it go away. My dad’s been a resident at Central Oregon Dementia Care Unit since I was eighteen, so it’s not like this is something new. But spending a major holiday there instead of deployed to some war zone is a big switch, so I’m still adjusting.
“Someone gave us tickets to that big shindig at the Tower Theatre.” I clear my throat, and glance at Jade. “We’d talked about that.”
“We did.” Jade looks back at her sister and shrugs. “Honestly, I think you’ve got the right idea with the PJs.”
Amber shoots me a salacious wink. “Make her show you the red thing I got her at Victoria’s Secret,” she fake-whispers. “It’s crotchless.”
Jade’s face grows pinker, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from pulling her down on the bed beside me. She glances over and there’s something in her expression that wasn’t there a minute ago. A noticeable longing, coupled with an unmistakable heat.
I make a New Year’s resolution to give her anything she wants for the rest of eternity.
“I’ve gotta run,” Amber says, and I wonder if she picked up on whatever’s buzzing between Jade and me. “Don’t wait up,” she calls as she hustles out the door.
Jade watches me as Amber’s footsteps bang down the stairs and out the front door. The instant a truck engine growls to life, she bites her lip. “I know we talked about going out on the town tonight, but would it be okay if we just—”
“Yes.”
She lifts an eyebrow and smiles. “How do you know I wasn’t going to suggest we muck stalls?”
“As long as you’re wearing that, I’m down for it.”
She laughs and tosses her hair, giving me an unobstructed view of the world’s most perfect breasts. “Let me just grab my rubber boots.”
Her smile widens and she makes no move to go anywhere, so I grab something a lot better than boots.
“Hey!” She laughs as I catch her by the hips and pull her down onto the bed with me. She tumbles willingly, laughing as I brush a gold-brown wave off her forehead. Our gazes hold, and I can feel those perfect breasts pressed against my chest.
“We’re going to miss the parties,” she murmurs as she leans in and plants a kiss at the edge of my jaw. Giving me a sexy smile, she brushes a second one on my cheekbone, then a third right at the edge of my mouth.
When she draws back, we’re both a little breathless.
“We’ll make our own party,” I tell her. “Champagne and everything.”
She laughs and leans down again. Her breath ruffles the hair above my ear, and her breasts are so close that my mouth starts to water. “Well, then,” she murmurs. “It appears you’ve already popped the cork. Let’s get the party started.”
***
Now that you’ve met Jade and Brandon, I hope you’ll grab Studmuffin Santa to get the rest of their story. Amber’s book hits shelves in May, so now’s a good time to get caught up!
Brandon Brown is the unlikeliest Santa ever to don a red velvet suit.
His abs are more cheese grater than bowl full of jelly, and deploying to Syria is the closest he's come to the North Pole. But family drama sends the jaded Marine home for the holidays, and lands him an unexpected gig as a part-time Santa.
Jade King is hustling to get Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch off the ground, and she's not thrilled her sister hired a Santa with sex-appeal. The last thing Jade wants is a beefcake circus, and guys like Brandon bring sleigh-loads of trouble. But Studmuffin Santa proves more popular than anyone dreamed, drawing hordes of happy kids, lusty moms, and a mystery foe hell-bent on wrecking it all.
The threat has Brandon playing protector for the reindeer and their sexy keeper, which is risky for a guy who's sworn off happy endings and the whole Christmas mess. But as Jade and Brandon bond over Santa suit malfunctions and risqué Christmas cookies, they find they have more in common than a craving for gingerbread. Can they find a way to mesh their wish lists, or will ghosts of Christmas past bring things crashing down like a fat man in a cast iron sleigh?
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Thanks for excerpt and blurb. Have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Great Excerpt! Thanks for the chance to win! Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete