Marooned In Miami - Sandra Bunino - Review/Excerpt/Giveaway

Title: Marooned in Miami
Author: Sandra Bunino

Format: Ebook provided by author for review

From Goodreads:
Undeniable lust and a fierce Miami storm bring sexy strangers together at The Hotel Del Santos for a passion filled night.

Stephanie, still reeling from a failed marriage, needs a break from the past. She decides to take her friends’ advice and finds a perfect stranger for a night of no-strings-attached, smoking hot sex.

Jason, a wealthy Seattle builder has the worst luck with love. Swearing he would never allow another woman to get under his skin, Jason decides a life of casual sex is just fine with him. While watching Stephanie’s sexy stilettos click across the lobby floor he zeros in on his next conquest.

Cut off from the outside world, the lives of these two strangers collide and burn with desire when stranded in the perfect storm. Both are content with the idea of sharing a glorious one-night stand together, that is, until they go their separate ways.

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Ok, I first learned of this book while I was hopping during a hop. After I spent about an hour drooling over the cover (you know it is hot), I read the synopsis and I really hoped I’d win a copy!! Well, I didn’t!!! LOL. But luckily for me,  Sandra and I were able to talk, and here I am in the lucky spot of getting to read and review! Woohoo!!

The basics - Jason is a wealthy man, and he is in Miami at The Hotel Del Santos after finding his girlfriend in a very compromising position. The girlfriends in his past have all been the same – gold diggers. You can't really blame him for being a bit jaded when you are constantly thought of as a walking wallet. But then he sees Stephanie. Zap!  Instantly he wants to talk to her, to know her, to... you know!

Jason follows her onto the elevator, which is not always the wisest place to be in a horrible Miami storm!

I really  loved Jason as a character. He is clever and charming, just the sort of guy who you think knows his way around a woman. But whats so wonderful about him is that he is also sincere and caring. That pretty much makes him near perfect, right? He takes matters into his own hands, and is determined.  Those are all terribly sexy traits!

The chemistry between Stephanie and Jason is electric, white hot, and sensual. This story definitely delivers on all counts of romance and erotica, while not being overly graphic in the sex scenes. Even without the graphic content you catch yourself holding your breath as you read. It definitely had enough steam and sensuality to make it interesting!

And then their one night stand is over and you want more! They both have to leave town, but will they hook up? I was hoping and wishing!!  And I am totally not telling you! Haha!  I love this couple and I can’t wait til Lusted In Las Vegas is released, because trust me – it looks like it will definitely live up to the title and its legacy!

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Guess what! There's more!  Sandra Bunino is offering up an excerpt of this tasty book and a copy to one winner!  How awesome is that??  So read the excerpt, then cool off for a moment, fill out the Rafflecopter and leave a comment! 

Thank you Sandra, for offering up this awesome prize! 

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Startled by an angry crack of thunder, she saw a flash of lightning through the lobby’s floor to ceiling glass window. The chandeliers all flickered in unison as the elevator doors opened. She swore under her breath, looked down at her three-inch heels and considered walking up the six flights of stairs to her room.

“Hey, is it okay to take the elevator in this storm?” she called to the front desk clerk who nodded and gave her a small wave.

A night stuck in the elevator was not in her plan. She debated for a moment about walking up barefoot when she heard a low voice to her right.

“How about we chance it together?”

She spun around to see the source of those words that washed over her like a slow moving current. Stephanie’s breath caught when she turned toward the source of the silky voice. His eyebrows raised and waited for an answer to his question. His lips curled to showcase his straight white teeth. He appeared out of nowhere; surely she would have noticed him in the lobby. A day’s growth of dark stubble covered his chiseled cheekbones below dangerous blue eyes. Stephanie’s heart raced, while she imagined her fingers combing through his dark wavyhair. Stop it, she thought as she shook her head slightly and hoped the action would rid her mind of these visions. One side of her said kick off those heels and walk up all of those damn flights of stairs, but the other told her to take him up on the offer. It was as if an angel and a devil sat on her shoulders. The devil was winning. The front desk didn’t foresee an issue with the elevator so why should she?

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed, careful not to give him any indication of the attraction she felt, even though his dark hair and tanned complexion made her insides turn to mush. There was something about his presence that made her feel sexy. She couldn’t make sense of the feeling. Heat coursed through her veins and straight down to her core. How could a stranger have that effect on her? I’ve got to start dating. I’m turning into a horny mess. She stepped inside the elevator and pushed the button for the sixth floor. The man followed closely behind, slid his key into the PH slot at the top and pushed the button.

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Sandra's next release is due out in May is entitled SARA'S SMILE. 

Have you ever wondered what happened to your first love? Sara has her dream job at a top architecture firm, a swanky New York City apartment and the interest of a sexy builder she just hired for her new project. However, her idyllic world comes to a screeching halt when her first love and the man who has been invading her dreams, Will, turns up where she least expects him.

From the innocence of young love found on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the rekindling of love’s passion in New York City and Santa Monica, SARA’S SMILE will leave you breathless for more.

Then LUSTED IN LAS VEGAS will release sometime during Summer 2012!!

Stephanie and Jason’s sexy tryst continues in Sin City! Their chemistry is undeniable and lust is taking a turn toward love when they return to each others arms. However, all is not perfect in paradise when Jason’s ex comes to town.

Amador Lockdown Excerpt/Giveaway

Today I am lucky enough to be able to share an excerpt with you from Amador Lockdown.  I'm particularly excited about this excerpt because it was part of one of my favorite parts of the book!  So please, take a read.  And enter the giveaway at the end! 

And a great big Thank You! to Coral Russell for providing me with the excerpt and the giveaway! 

Read my review HERE

Title: Amador Lockdown
Author: Coral Russell

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EXCERPT

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Three shadows glided down the alley between the Amador Hotel and an office complex. The sound of sneakers skidding to a halt reverberated between the walls of the buildings. At the back corner of the hotel, the shadows bunched up and paused.  

“Okay, smart ass, the place is locked up. Now how do we get in?” Nelson whispered.

Julio’s plans weren’t that specific. He and Xavier had been two galans during Dalia’s quinceanera. She’d come to school a couple of weeks later waving around a picture of the Honor Court on the balcony, with a black shadow hovering behind her. That night, Julio started looking up information about the Amador Hotel, and ran across the news articles on the LC ComicCon and the Restore the Amador fundraiser. The news chalked it up to electrical problems in an old building, but Julio thought something else might be happening.

“The news said some windows were broken. Look,” he said, pointing down the back of the building. “It looks like two windows are boarded up. If we can get a corner loose, we’re in.”

A large, paved parking lot spread out behind the building. The closest lights were the streetlamps at the other end of the parking lot. Julio paused to make sure no cars were traveling around at three in the morning. “Go, go, go!”

They ran to the first window. “Xavier, you keep a lookout. Nelson, help me get the window open.” They both yanked at a corner of the plywood. It didn’t budge. “We should’ve brought a hammer,” Xavier whispered.

Nelson reared back and kicked at the board. The board didn’t budge, but the sound echoed out over the parking lot. “Dude, what the hell are you doing?” Xavier whispered.

“You can’t kick it in,” Julio said, as he grabbed Nelson’s arm and pulled him toward the next window. “This board looks warped. Try this corner.”

Xavier stood to the side as Julio and Nelson dug their fingers up under the corner of the board and yanked. A small squeal of metal answered their effort. “Otra vez…again. This time, brace your foot against the wall,” Julio instructed.

Nelson did what Julio asked. Julio nodded, and then both boys yanked again. The board gave a loud crack, but didn’t appear to move much. Julio knelt down to inspect the corner. It was loose, and when he pulled upward on the corner, a nice-sized gap appeared under his fingers. “We can squeeze in,” he said, standing up.

Nelson, the biggest of the three, turned around and knelt with his back to the wall under the window. He grunted as he squeezed first his head, and then his torso, up behind the board. He felt hands pushing his legs. “Hey,” he yelled, “cut it out!”

“There’s a car coming!” Xavier said.

“Oh, shit.” Nelson braced his palms against the top of the windowsill and shoved. When the backs of his knees cleared the windowsill, he let himself tumble backwards onto the floor.

Julio’s head appeared a second later and, as soon as Nelson could get a hold under his arms, he yanked him clear of the window. 

Xavier stuck his head inside. “Pull me in!”

Nelson grabbed Xavier’s arms and pulled until his feet and knees went thunk on the carpet.

“Owwwww! God damn it!” Xavier rolled over and clutched his leg.

“What?”

“Something cut my leg.”

“Where?” Julio asked, flicking on his flashlight.

Xavier rolled his blue jeans halfway up his calf. “Here.” A red line, oozing pinpricks of blood, started at his ankle, and then disappeared further up his calf underneath his blue jeans.

Nelson thumped him on the back, and then grabbed him under his armpits and lifted him to his feet. “I’ve had worse cuts on my eyeball.” 

“Shut up! That fucking hurt.”

“Quiet,” Julio hissed. They all froze, listening for sounds of an approaching car or the whoop-whoop of a siren. “I don’t think they saw us.”

There was a ‘click,’ and then a small beam of light shone out from the flashlight in Xavier’s hand. 

“My leg hurts,” Xavier complained.

“Pussy,” Nelson said, as he poked Xavier in the ribs.

“Shut the fuck up!”

“Seriously?” Julio motioned toward the doorway with his beam of light. “Let’s do this.” 

“Hey, where’s my flashlight?” Nelson asked.

“I thought ??? told you to bring one,” Julio said.

“No,” Nelson said.

Julio and Xavier exchanged a look.

“Here, take mine.” Julio handed his flashlight to Nelson.

They made their way slowly through the back rooms to the main hall. They stopped, and bobbed their lights up and down on the staircase. “This is where we were when that picture was taken.”

“Okay,” Nelson said. “Now what?”

“Xavier, why don’t you sit down on the steps while we go upstairs and have a look around?” Julio suggested.

“We should stay together.” Xavier’s voice wavered in the gloom.

“I thought your leg hurt?” Nelson asked.

“It does, Nelson, but we should stay together…just in case.”

“In case of what? A strong breeze ruffles your hair?”

“Julio, why did you invite this pendejo?”

“Nelson,” Julio said. “Come on, I thought you wanted to check this out.”

“Check out what? This ghost crap? I don’t believe in it. I just thought breaking into this place would be cool.”

“Okay, fine. Nelson, you stay down here. Xavier, come on.”

“We should stay….”

“Xavier, just come on!”

Julio followed Xavier up the staircase, and turned left at the landing to walk up the small staircase leading to the hotel rooms. Xavier flicked the light back and forth. “There’s a room back here.”

As Xavier played his light around, Julio said, “There’s nothing here. Let’s check the other rooms.” 

They walked down the hall, and paused before each wooden door. The doorknobs felt slick under Julio’s hand. They poked their head into room after room. 

“It’s just a big, empty building,” Xavier said, disappointed, after Julio shut the door on the fourth room.

“Oh, shit, I almost forgot,” Julio said, tugging something out of his pocket.

“What?” 

“This.” Julio held up a slim, gray, plastic stick with a rainbow of small light bulbs at the top. “It’s a K2 meter. You know, like the one ghost hunters use on TV. They say ghosts give off an electromagnetic field. No lights, no ghosts. Lights, there may be ghosts.”

“Damn, bro, isn’t that expensive?”

“I bought it second-hand. It’s so old I have to stick a penny in here just to keep the thing on.” Julio pointed to a penny jammed a quarter of the way in at the top of the on/off button. He opened the door to a room. “I’m going to walk in the room, and you stay here. Hopefully this baby will light up.”

“What do the different lights mean?”

“It starts out green; then, as they get closer, the colors change to yellow and orange. If the ghost is right on top of you, it’s red. It will stay on red as long as the ghost is near.”

Julio walked around the perimeter of the small room, keeping the K2 meter pointed in front of himself. He reached Xavier. “Nothing. Let’s try the next room.”

“Hey, guys!” Nelson called out from below.

Julio and Xavier walked to the wooden railing and leaned over. “What?” answered Julio.

“This is boring. There’s nothing here except some old furniture.”

“Nelson, you can leave if you want. Thanks for helping us get in. We’ll catch up with you later.”

“Nah,” his voice faded as he walked out of sight underneath them. “I got nothing better to do... which is sad.”

“We’re almost done up here.” Julio opened the next door, and Xavier shone the light on another empty room. The rooms were not much bigger than a closet. He took slow, measured steps around the perimeter of the room, holding the K2 meter out slightly ahead of him. He was walking back toward the doorway when they heard a hard thud from downstairs. 

The light left the room as Xavier lit up the railing. “What was that?” 

Julio followed the wall the rest of the way to the door, and then stepped out into the hallway. “Nelson,” he called out. He watched Xavier’s beam of light flit back and forth along the main hall below. They heard another hard thud. Nelson’s flashlight rolled out into view from underneath the landing. A second later, Nelson fell hard on his backside to the right of the light. Xavier jogged toward the stairs, his leg apparently feeling much better.

Julio leaned over the railing. “Nelson, you all right?”

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Author Bio

Coral Russell won the 2003 McCaleb Peace Initiative which produced the non-fiction articles Peace on the Peninsula about South Korean's view on reunification. You can also find various articles written by her on Technorati and BlogCritics. After winning a fiction writing contest (a fluke), she caught the fiction bug. An encounter with something paranormal on a local ghost tour inspired her to start writing the ghost hunter series.

Her titles include Peace on the Peninsula, Twelve Worlds, Playing with Fire, The DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing and eBook Publishing, and Amador Lockdown.

Ms. Russell runs the blog alchemyofscrawl at alchemyofscrawl.wordpress.comStop by for the latest in Indie book reviews, news, and resources. You can stalk the author on Twitter ,  Facebook, Goodreads, and Google+

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GIVEAWAY

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Giveaway is open internationally to anyone age 13 and older.  Giveaway is for one copy of Amador Lockdown, for Kindle or Nook (mobi or epub)

Contest will run from 1-18-12 12:01 until 1-24-12 12:01, EST.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

Contest is a Rafflecopter Entry, so if you do not see the Rafflecopter below, please refresh your page!

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