Teaser Tuesday, Madness or Love

#TeaserTueasday

Madness or Love is out in the world, and I feel very proud of the coming reviews. I know you're curious about Victoria and Ian's friendship/love. So, here is a little spiced up excerpt.
I have warned you! SPOILER ALERT!

ORDER HERE
or
READ FOR FREE with Kindle Unlimited

"Victoria searched for the right words, but at the exact moment she opened her mouth, her phone rang. A simple “Ian” brightened up the display, and her heart jumped involuntarily. Her finger hesitated over the accept button. Her eyes met Thomas’s.

“I need to take this. I’m sorry.”

“No problem. Take your time,” he reassured her.

She stood up, took the vibrating phone, made several hasty steps, and took the call.

“Hey,” came Ian’s voice on the other end of the line.

She reached the front door and stepped out. “Hey.”

They both paused, savoring the moment of complete joy and mutual understanding. Despite all the turmoil inside her soul, she smiled.

“I’m sorry,” were his first words. “I should have called sooner.”

“Don’t be. I know you were busy,” she said quietly. 

“That isn’t a legit excuse. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Be careful.” She laughed. “I might actually wish for something.” I might wish for you, echoed in her mind. “It’s nice to be back home, huh?”

“I thought that, too, but sitting in an empty apartment alone is not the best idea I have for a fun time.”

“You need to get away. Lose yourself in some tropical island and shut out the rest of the world. A couple of days in radio silence could do wonders,” Victoria suggested.

“I’m not convinced. Lying on the beach alone; I don’t—”

“Then ask someone to come with you.” A lump formed in her throat. She knew the meaning behind her words, but he deserved to be happy with someone. She did too. A group of giggly girls passed by her.

“Where are you?” he asked, ignoring her suggestion.

She hesitated. “Out.”

“A fun girl’s night out?”

She paused again. She had never lied to him; she wasn’t about to start now.

“Victoria?”

“No,” she said weakly, fighting the guilt. “I’m having a dinner . . . A date.”

It was his turn to fall quiet. “Oh, I didn’t know you . . . were dating someone.”

Victoria felt the accusation in his voice, but she couldn’t be sure if it was because she hadn’t told him or because she was with another man. “It’s our first date.”

“Have you know him a long time?” Ian sounded tense.

“No, not really. I’ve met him once. He’s a friend of Kim’s.”

The silence stretched. She had never felt so uncomfortable talking to him. “Ian—”

“So,” he interrupted quietly, “you’re out with a man you know nothing about.” After a sharp intake of air, he exploded. “Are you out of your mind?”

It took her a few seconds to process his reaction. “Excuse me?” She frowned at her phone.

“Do you live in a vacuum? Don’t you read the news? What if he’s a sadist, a serial killer, a rapist, or a pedophile, or any kind of creep for that matter?”

“You’re joking, right?” she asked.

Ian felt his rage rising; the room darkened, and his vision blurred. Damn you, Victoria, he thought. He clenched the phone tighter. “Do I sound like I’m joking? Do you have any idea how many perverts are out there?”

Victoria felt torn between the warm feeling that he cared and the anger. “This is ridiculous. Thomas is a great guy, and I actually was having a great time . . .” She swallowed the last three words “before you called” and bit her tongue. The sentence hung in the air, but he got the meaning.

Ian ignored the comment and the pain in his chest. “Please don’t tell me you’re planning to go home with him.”

Was that fear or disgust in his voice? Victoria opened her mouth to protest or reassure him, to defend her actions, to tell him she’s sorry, but in the end, her anger took over. All of the frustration and confusion from the past few days seeped into her bitter words. “And how’s that any of your business?”

“V . . .” he started with a softer tone.

“You had no problem when I went out with you the first time.”

“That was different,” he growled.

She hated fighting with him and shivered involuntarily. “And how was that different?”

“I would never hurt you.” His words came very slowly and quietly, almost whispered in her ear.

She felt angry tears stinging in her eyes. “Really? Are you sure about that?” she asked, desperately trying to control her voice.

Ian took a breath. Fighting with Victoria wasn’t easy. The need to comfort her, to have her in his arms, took over the anger. “V—”

“You know what?” she interrupted. “I’ll hang up now, before you or I say anything we’ll regret.”

“Victoria!” Her name lingered in the air, but she pressed the red button. Her hands were shaking slightly. She blinked rapidly to chase away the stinging reminder of her love. She starred at the phone—the last and only connection she had with him. The display brightened again, lit by Ian’s name. She turned the phone off."

 

Book Blitz Update

In case you're wondering Madness or Love is doing great! Four wonderful customers reviews, and #12,382 paid in Kindle Store. One could always crave more, but I am a genuinely happy person and appreciate even the smallest victories. For an unknown author like me Madness or Love is a success. Probably there were million other things I should have done to organize a better book launch, but on a tight budget I did pretty great.
Today is day three of the Book Blitz hosted by Lola's Blog Tours, and I'll update you on the wonderful blogs who are participating.

Books Need TLC

Fandemonium Network

BeanieBrain Reader

I will come back later to add more, because they all deserve a bow for the hard work and the constant support they give authors like me.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway and win $5 Amazon gift voucher and one of ten e-copies of Madness or Love. You would find the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the Home Page.
Here is a tiny excerpt to prick your curiosity and make you want more!

“Tell me about that dream of yours,” he compelled her.
Victoria hesitated for a fraction before speaking. “I actually dreamed about it once,” she said, slightly embarrassed. “I saw my hotel, a grand white house, the staircase with ornate wooden railings, the big French windows on the ground floor, the gardens surrounding the place. I can even recall the smell of the roses.” She looked down, not sure why she had told him all that.
“It sounds like a beautiful and peaceful place,” he said softly.
She looked up, expecting him to mock her, but his eyes disproved her.
“Do you think you’ll be able to pull this off?”
“Not without help from a bank,” she answered, “a business credit, I hope, mortgage if I have to. But it’s too soon. I need some solid ground under my feet before I can run and beg for money.” She stated the reality of the situation without a hint of desperation. Victoria had accepted the truth and had refused to be downhearted.
He fell silent for a few seconds. “I think I can help you. I know some people into recycling materials, energy-saving lighting, that kind of stuff.” He smiled, amused by her wide eyes; the green brightened up and transformed into molten turquoise. Bewitched, he briefly closed his eyes and continued. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to help you when you’re ready. And sometimes it’s all about knowing the right people.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “You’ll do that for me?”
“Of course, I will.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but the truth was he would do almost anything for her and those mesmerizing eyes. “Just give me a call when you have the property or whenever you need advice.” He casually continued with his meal.
There was slight confusion in her eyes. “Give you a call?”
“Yes, you have my number.”
“You gave me your real, private number?”
It was his turn to look confused. “Of course,” he said slowly, like talking to a child. “What other number would I give you?”
She studied him and desperately tried to figure out if he was stupid or completely naïve. “You don’t know me.”
“You gave me your number,” Ian said nonchalantly with an impish smile.
“It’s not the same,” she insisted.
“Why?” He leaned back and waited for the answer. The pull was too strong, and he could barely resist. The face of the woman in front of him displayed an array of emotions—from confusion and disbelief to respect, admiration, and maybe, just maybe, buried deep behind those green eyes, the first sparks of passion.
“How can you possibly know you can trust me?” she insisted. “I could sell the number to some tabloid. I’m pretty sure they are desperate for every bit and scrap of celebrity gossip.”    
“Are you trying to convince me that I can’t trust you?” he asked, amused. “Because I do,” he paused, “no matter how crazy that sounds.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but the words failed her.
“Listen,” he started seriously, “I’m not naïve; I know people can be cruel, calculating, manipulative, unscrupulous. Where I live, you can’t always tell who your true friends are. So you try to be conscious, and you second-guess everything. You hide in your shell, and you end up being alone, sitting on the couch on your weekend off.” He stopped suddenly, his mind somewhere back in time.
He has been hurt, she thought, by a woman or a very close friend. But that didn’t give her an explanation of his actions, though.
He took a deep breath and looked straight into her astounded green eyes. “But there is one thing I’ve learned in life—to trust my gut, unconditionally. How do I know you’re to be trusted?” He shrugged. “I can’t explain; I just do.”
Victoria blinked and tried to stay focused and calm through the haze of her emotions.
“It’s more of a feeling,” he continued. “The first time I saw you behind that desk, I knew I had found a special person, one who could be a true friend.” His eyes burned her, pierced her soul. “But you’re right,” he said in a lighter tone, “I need to be more careful with my private number.”
He waited for her, an answer, reaction, anything. She wasn’t sure how to feel about all that. The truth surfaced in her eyes—she felt the same. “I understand,” she said simply. The silence gave her a moment to pull herself back together. A smile lit up her face. “I have a proposal for you.”
His curiosity was piqued.
“Next time you end up alone on the couch in need of a friend to talk to, call me!”
He searched her eyes for a hint of fakeness, but they sparkled in the dim light, full of genuine concern. “I just might take you up on that offer.”
“I hope you will. Now,” she paused, “can we have a dessert?”
His eyes widened in shock. “You eat sweets?”
“You make it sound like something outrageous. Wait! Do you think I don’t need to eat sugar because I’m fat?”
She was clearly teasing him, but he decided to play along. “No, no, you look . . .” He trailed off. “You surprised me. Most of the women I know are either vegan or on some crazy diet. It’s tiresome. I adore people who know how to enjoy food.”
“Why the hesitation in your eyes, then? Don’t tell me your trainer is going to kill you!”
Ian laughed. “Always right on the spot.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell even if he tries to wring it out of me,” she vowed.
Ian couldn’t help but smile. Victoria made him feel at ease, at peace with the world, understood, appreciated, and respected. A permanent grin settled on his face.
“Come on, we can share one,” she pleaded.
“How can I say no to that lovely face?”
She felt her cheeks turn red.
He ignored her reaction. “You choose!”
“Chocolate melt,” she said instantly.
The waiter brought the dessert a few minutes later.
Victoria frowned. “It’s so small.”
“You can have it. Please, don’t cry!”
She looked up at him with a devilish gleam in her eyes. “You’re ready to sacrifice this chocolate heaven for me?”
“Are you mocking me?” He leaned forward, and his lively deep-blue eyes made her dizzy.
She swallowed hard and tried to clear her mind. The man in front of her was everything a woman could ever dream of—gorgeous, charming, gentle, humorous, respectful. But he was out of reach, at least to her.
“We had a deal. We’ll share!” she said finally. In fact, any other woman would want to share a lot more with him than a chocolate melt at that moment, but Victoria knew he would be out of her life in a day."

Meet Victoria Dean

I think every author weaves parts of his/her soul and mind into a character. Or maybe our heroes/ heroines are a projection of our dreams and hopes to be better if not perfect human beings.
I know for sure that Victoria Dean is my better self. She is still young (not over thirty with the first signs of gray hair), has a perfect style and confidence, when on the contrary I wear my boring dark-blue uniform five days out of seven. She's driven and never gives up. Victoria can separate her personal from her professional life. Guess who often can't! She's the young woman I always wanted to be. The reality turned out different from my dreams and goals, but I found writing. Being an author is like living in several completely incompatible realities. And that's the beauty of writing.
I chose to be Victoria Dean--at least for a small fraction of time.
If you want to dive into her world, you could meet her HERE.
Madness or Love available October 24.

MADNESS OR LOVE - THE COVER

The wait is over.

 

I want to thank all of you who participated in my crazy cover reveal event.

Especially Lynn, Philomena, Lyssa, Matt, Heidi and Mel. I know I didn't give you much time to organize and prepare. I love and respect all of you. I am thankful that I started writing and met people like you. I pray you'll love the cover and the book when it comes out on 24/10.
I'll try to entertain you during the next week with some excerpts, fun facts, and trivia.
Get to know Victoria and Ian and become their friend.

Don't forget, there's still time to sigh up for the Book Blitz organized by Lola's Blog Tours!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

PRE-ORDER NOW
 

ONE DAY UNTIL THE COVER REVEAL

The cover is almost in front of your eyes, but . . . You'll have to wait just one more day to see my creation. I know it sounds like bragging, but I am really proud of my work. I have been designing the covers for all my books and I hope you'll agree I did well. The elusive cover of MADNESS OR LOVE is just twenty-four hours away.

 

KEEP CALM

and read

MADNESS OR LOVE

 

Until then you can enjoy a tiny excerpt!

Love you all!

 

"She went to work that day without suspecting that her life would change inevitably. She felt the strange aura with the first steps she made into the spacious lobby. It was quiet, too quiet for a hotel in central London at 8:00 p.m. Two of her colleagues at the front desk whispered lively.

 Stacy noticed her first and impatiently waved her hand. “You won’t believe it,” she said in a hushed voice. Her eyes burned, and her cheeks flushed. “We’ll have a VIP guest. He should arrive before midnight. Imagine!”

“Who is he?” Victoria interrupted impatiently. The only thought on her mind was the immense pressure and expectations that a “very important person” would bring to the staff. And besides, she never understood the hysteria surrounding the rich and famous. In her mind, they were all just humans.

“Ian Young,” came Stacy’s squeaky answer.

“Who?” Victoria lifted her brows questioningly.

Her colleague looked dumbfounded. “You don’t know who he is!” Her tone raised a notch. She looked at her as if Victoria just killed someone, or at least stole her favorite curling iron.

Victoria’s amused smile turned into a frown while she wondered how anyone could be so shallow. Stacy would never win any kind of “bright mind” award, true, but to Victoria, her life was only Friday night parties, boys, and celebrity gossip. She waited patiently but wasn’t prepared for the answer.

“Born 1986, New Orleans, one sister. He started his career as a model at sixteen; first movie—Broken Stars—wasn’t a success. He’s most known for his lead in Lost Souls. One of Hollywood’s rising stars. Extremely good-looking, no, gorgeous, amazing blue eyes, dark hair, single . . .”