Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway: Hearts In Harmony (Five Senses #2) by Gemma Brocato

Published: May 5th, 2014

Description:

Pippa Sanders’ life is filled with songs of leaving, longing and loneliness. Since the death of her husband, her children have been her world. She’ll do anything to protect them, including encasing her heart in ice until they’re college age. She’s made a practice of shying away from any relationship that could break her heart when it ends. And it’s worked so far.

Clay Mathers has made a temporary move to Granite Pointe, Massachusetts to help with his mother’s Christmas tree farm while she recovers from a stroke. Although his long-range plans don’t include staying in the small town, a little female companionship during his short residency would be welcome. While on duty as sentry against protestors at a military funeral, he finds Pippa visiting her husband’s grave, and begins a campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits.

What starts as a simple affair evolves to something more, something that changes the soundtracks of both their lives…the beating of two hearts in harmony.

CONTENT WARNING: Contains strong language, hot sex and a spicy hero.

GUEST POST

Six Fun Facts about character(s) 

Thanks so much for having me over today. I’m delighted to introduce Hearts In Harmony to you. Today I’d like to share six fun facts about my hero, Clay Mathers. 

1. Clay was meant to be the most alpha of alpha males. Gruff, base, and a mouth like an Army Ranger. He’s a patriot and fiercely loyal to his country and willing to drop everything like a bad habit whenever he is called to duty, even though he’s been out of active duty for a number of years. He still consults with several three-letter D.C. agencies. He is considered a master strategist and an asset to the team. 

2. All his bluster covers the soft, gooey center of him. He might love his country, but he loves his mother, Seeley, more. He willingly gave up his carefree bachelor life to rush to her side when she suffered a stroke. Stepping in to help run Seeley’s Christmas tree farm while she recovers, he meets and is instantly attracted to her Music Therapist, Pippa Sanders. His early encounters with Pippa are a perfect example of his hard candy coating. Peeling away the rough edges was a real treat for me. 

3. Clay is an author of military style adventure stories, but his career got off to a rocky start. He tried to write in the science fiction genre at first, because he’d been a huge fan of William Shatner’s TekWar series about a hard-boiled detective from the 22nd century. Fortunately for the world, there is only one William Shatner, and Clay selected an alternative genre. 

4. Living on a houseboat wasn’t his first choice of abode, But he discovered that the marina life worked for him. His boat is docked near the nation’s capitol, where it’s convenient for his consulting business. It is also a great place for him to write since he doesn’t require anything more than a mobile hotspot on his phone to get online and do his work. He doesn’t know how it happened that he picked a boat, because he hates fishing. 

5. He is a fan of classic rock and roll, but can’t really sing. And he’ll only play air guitar when he is completely alone. It’s that hard candy coating thing again. 

6. When he first met Pippa, the attraction was instant. The second time they ran into each other, he learned she has twin six-year old kids. Even though he was an only child, he never longed for siblings. But the second he met the kids, he was drawn to them. Clay had never seen himself as a father, but the idea grew on him until it became a solid fact in his life. He wanted Pippa and her ready-made family. Plus maybe one or two more. And that makes his mom very happy. 

Aw - you just gotta love a man who loves his mother and will work to make her happy. Personally, I think Clay is a keeper. 

EXCERPT

TOUR SCHEDULE

Dewey cast one last glare at Pippa, who shrank behind the man standing protectively in front of her, before walking away. Neither Pippa nor Clay moved until they saw Dewey jump in a nearby truck. He gunned the engine, his tires squealing when he pulled onto the road and sped away. 

“Oh, my God! Thank you. I’m so glad you were around. I don’t mind telling you I was kind of nervous—” 

The large man named Clay wheeled around, glaring at her. “Lady, I don’t know what the hell you were thinking. It’s late, it’s getting dark, and you just attended a funeral where a bunch of ass—idiots protested. When are you women going to learn personal safety? Didn’t you see them standing over there, just looking for someone to harass?” He blinked when the skies finally opened up, fat raindrops splattering on them. His scowl deepened. “Shit, now it’s starting to rain. Saving your butt means I have to ride my motorcycle home in unsafe conditions. Sonofabitch!” 

Her mouth had dropped open when he’d begun his rant. She blinked as raindrops hit her face. Some saving this was turning out to be. 

“Look,” she said, backing away, “it’s a cemetery. Most everyone here is dead. I’ve been here plenty of times before, without any problems.” 

Clay snorted. “Oh, you’ve been at a military funeral when the fu—freakin’ Liberty Battalion protested, have you?” 

“Well, no. This is the first time they’ve protested a funeral in Granite Pointe.” 

“I’ve stood guard for at least ten funerals since they became active. Let me tell you, these are not nice people.” Clay brushed rain off his face as he threw another disgusted look at her. “Keep that in mind next time you want to come out here alone. They’re on Homeland Security’s terrorist watch list for a reason. A bunch of bubbas who wouldn’t think twice about using you to further their agenda.” He released an explosive breath and pointed a lean, elegant finger toward the road leading out of the cemetery. “Now, it’s time for you to go too.” 

Pippa, offended by his abrupt dismissal, glared back at him. “You needn’t use that tone of voice.” 

“I also didn’t need to interrupt my day to rescue your sorry ass. But I did. Everyone has a right to free speech. I’m just exercising mine.” 

Pippa opened her mouth to retort, when the irony of his words hit her. Yes, he did have a right to speak his mind. It was a privilege her husband had fought and died for. She just wished he wasn’t so crude about it. 

He eyed her and crossed muscular arms over his powerful chest, daring her to respond, obviously waiting for a chance to chastise her again for her stupidity. 

She swallowed the words she’d intended to use to put him in his place and said, “You’re right. Thank you for helping me.” 

Shock and confusion rippled across his strong face, and laughter tickled the back of her throat. She’d managed to shut him up. The same way she might have with one of her kids when they needed to listen to reason, but couldn’t help themselves. It was a little fun to take the wind out of his sails this way. She’d done it all her life with her three brothers and had seen the same look of consternation floating on their faces. 

But she’d never wanted her brothers to keep arguing with her. Not the way she did right now. If this green-eyed hunk wanted to go another round with her, she’d relish it—welcome it. There was something about him… 

Goodreads ** Amazon ** iTunes ** Kobo ** Barnes&Noble ** All RomancE

About the author:

Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying.

After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.

Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.

Website ** Goodreads ** Facebook ** Twitter

Author's Giveaway

Be sure to enter my Rafflecopter drawing for a chance to win the grand prize pack worth $100. Each item in the pack has some significance to the story. I’ll be drawing one random winner on May 31. Good Luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway