Summer Solstice, Baby!

LAURA: Hi all!

On average, the Sun is 1.496×10⁸ km away.
That's 8 min 19 s for those of you
travelling at light speed.

DEBBIE: Damn it’s hot! Where are we?

LAURA: We’re in central Mexico checking out some Aztec ruins.

DEBBIE: Why???? And why did you have to pick the hottest day of the year to do this?

LAURA: It’s the summer solstice. It’s the day marking that summer is halfway over already.

DEBBIE: Ummm, didn't summer just begin?

LAURA: Yeah, kinda. For the kids out of school, absolutely. Course, I’m not really an expert in any of this solstice stuff—but I do find it fascinating. I do know today is the longest day of the year. You've got over fifteen hours of daylight today! Fifteen hours of sightseeing. Fifteen hours of cruising the local markets.

DEBBIE: Fifteen hours of drinking margaritas.

LAURA: Fifteen hours of writing time…which reminds me, where is that next chapter?

DEBBIE: I thought this was a research day? Pushy, pushy, pushy. So why are we in Mexico on the longest hottest day of the year?

LAURA: No clue. Hey look…an alter. Why don’t you crawl up there and take a load off?

Sacrifices were made while the person was
still alive. The heart was ripped from the chest
and held up to the gods while still beating.
Often, the priest would take a bite.
Yummy....

DEBBIE: Ummm. You are the one who dragged me here for no good reason, YOU crawl your butt up there. Sheesh, next time you want to do research, GOOGLE!

LAURA: You know, the Aztecs did a lot of sacrifices... If crops didn't grow and the people were starving, the priests made sacrifices.
....Here. Let me help you up on this alter....now layback (eases Deb back). Comfy? Now, imagine that the people are all disgruntled and want food. What better way to do it than to rip out a heart and offer it to the gods?
....(unzips fanny pack) And check out this knife. (Holds it over Deb so she can see it) I got it at a local shop where the owner flintnaps his own blades. And I’m pretty sure this handle is an actual animal bone! Pretty cool, huh?

DEBBIE: Laura, I swear to all your Aztec gods if we don't get off this damn thing now I'll never let you have coffee again. I am NOT your sacrificial lamb here. Get what we need for this next Red River book and we’re out!

LAURA: (puts knife back in fanny pack) Sheesh. I wasn’t really gonna sacrifice you.

Aztec Priest or Summer Solstice Eye Candy?
Either way, Debbie says she's
volunteering for the sacrifice.
"Somebody's gotta do him- er, it. Um, yeah."

DEBBIE: Uh huh. I know you want to sell books, but damn, woman.

LAURA: Well, we all have to make sacrifi— er, I mean do what needs to be done to get the word out.

DEBBIE: And who is going to write the next book with you if you sacrifice me???? You will never find anyone like me.

LAURA: Yes, you are unique!

DEBBIE: HAHAHAHA, you’re stuck.

LAURA: Okay, so…since the summer solstice has been around for, well, since the beginning of time. I can easily imagine that the Aztec’s understood the significance and took advantage of pleasing their gods through sacrifice.

DEBBIE: Sounds bloody.

LAURA: I’m sure it was. I thought since the next book in our Red River series has an Aztec tie, we should visit and get a feel for the place. Did lying on the alter get you in the mood to write?

Aztec Sun Calendar - Is time running out?

DEBBIE: No. But I am hungry. Let's go get a steak.

LAURA: Now you’re talking!

DEBBIE: But first, let’s share an excerpt from Sins of the Mind, the first book in the Red River series. Don’t forget! One lucky commenter will get a free copy.

LAURA: Cool! AND by commenting on our blog, readers get entered into the Grand Drawing with the following prizes:
....1st Prize – a Kindle Touch or Nook Touch
....2nd Prize -a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (these will be mostly ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.

RRR

Red River Series: Book 1

Sins of the Mind

L.J. Garland & Debbie Gould

BLURB:....Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.

....The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT:

....“Moment?” He raised his eyebrows, tried for a surprised expression. “We were having a moment? Where was I?”

....A husky laugh escaped Abby’s lips. She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her hand, his fingers encircling her delicate wrist. With great care, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. Her sharp intake of air told him she liked it.

....“Is this the moment you were referring to?” He kissed her wrist. “Or this?” His mouth grazed along her skin, up the side of her neck to the tender point below her ear.

....“Mmm.” She shivered.

....He inhaled, reveled in her unique scent. A mixture of spicy vanilla and exotic flowers invaded his senses and sent the room slowly spinning. Primal lust roared through him, demanded he possess her in a rush of carnal passion.

....But Ethan resisted.

....Intent on enticing Abby into a wild, heated frenzy, he trailed the tip of his tongue along her throat. Her pulse hammered beneath his ardent attention, and he reveled in her response. His fingers slid over her supple skin. One hand sought the silky tresses adorning her head while the other coaxed her legs across his lap and then slipped around her waist.

....He pulled back, stared into her lovely face. Eyelids fluttering, she sighed in his arms. When she looked at him, desire burned bright in her eyes. His heart stuttered at the sight, and hot need rushed to his groin.

....“Abby.” Her name rolled from his tongue in a mix of desperation and lust. A voracious hunger to taste every inch of her body washed over him. The urge to kiss the small of her back, to run his tongue along her skin, delving and dipping into her secret, sensitive places, all but overwhelmed him. “Tell me to stop. If you’re not ready, honey, tell me to stop right now and by all that’s holy, I will. But you need to know how much I want you right now.”

RETURN TO SFR BRIGADE HERE

1st Prize - winner's choice of a Kindle Touch or a Nook Touch
2nd Prize - a library of science fiction romance titles donated by various authors and an Anabanana Gift Card. Most of the books will be in digital format, with one print anthology.
Midsummer Blog Hop Participants

1.	Pippa Jay	13.	Liana Brooks	25.	Debra A. Soles
2.	Misa Buckley	14.	A. R. Norris	26.	Marlene @ Reading Reality
3.	Arlene Webb	15.	L.J. Garland & Debbie Gould	27.	Rae Lori
4.	Pauline Baird Jones	16.	Sandra Sookoo	28.	Bella Street
5.	Frances Pauli	17.	Cara Michaels	29.	Kyn Hatch
6.	Imogene Nix	18.	Sheryl Nantus	30.	T.K. Anthony
7.	Natalie Wright	19.	Diane Dooley	31.	Jo Jones
8.	Greta van der Rol	20.	Kathleen Scott	32.	A.B. Gayle
9.	Jessica E. Subject	21.	Ella Drake	33.	Sue Ann Bowling
10.	Kayelle Allen	22.	Cathy Pegau	34.	S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
11.	Joanne Elder	23.	T. C. Archer	35.	DL Jackson
12.	Melisse Aires	24.	Kitty Roads	36.	Hywela Lyn