Am I the only one who finds bookshops sexy? I’ll bet you do too. My pulse always revs when I enter a promising new bookshop, when I inhale that faintly sweet perfume of old books. Even though my office is bursting with unread books–not to mention my husband’s office, our living room, our guest room–I’m still greedy for more. If that’s not unbridled lust, I’m the Queen of France.
So is it any wonder I set my contemporary romance series in a bookshop? This one, Book Nirvana, features a collection of historical erotica–volumes of stories, photos, and artwork–kept behind a locked red door. To gain entry, you must convince Clara, the widowed owner, that you’re worthy of her trust.
Here’s a little snippet to whet your appetite:
The brass bell over the doorway jingled as Clara let herself in. She paused for a moment to breathe in the sweet, musty scent of books, old and new: warm notes of paper, a faint hint of vanilla. Books were her passion long before she met Jared, and they comforted her now.
An hour before opening, the shop was quiet and warm, an oasis of tranquility. Clara set down her bag on the glass counter, then examined the round oak table where they displayed books by local writers. As usual, Lulu had tumbled the books during the night. After righting them, Clara checked the yellow vase of daisies in the table’s center—good for another day, at least. Relishing the stillness, she checked the aisles for loose or misshelved books. When she reached the rear wall, she trailed her fingers over the red door, its shiny lacquer smooth and cool.
Jared. She leaned her forehead against the painted wood and closed her eyes. She gripped the door knob, then let her hand drop. Too soon. I can’t.
Buy links:
https://wildcatalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-erotic/6283-through-the-red-door.html
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-red-door-sadira-stone/1129705434?ean=2940161713808
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