Monday, June 28, 2010

Title Contest - help help

Have you always longed to get in on the early stages of a story before it is published? Fantastic! I need I title! Read the following rough blurb and offer a suggestion. If I use your title, you will receive credit on the thank you notes and a five dollar gift certificate for the novel of your choice from TWRP. The only catch is my editor has to like your suggestion too. If no title is chosen, the cleverest suggestion will still receive the gift certificate.

Think heat as the story will fall under the wilder roses catalog. Possible triggers - sea, water, Caribbean, pirate, cougar, resistance, seduction, yacht, bodyguard, or video games.

Blurb:
Life has taught forty-two-year-old Jess to protect herself emotionally and physically. Her abusive ex-husband skewed her idea of what a real relationship entails. She loves with passion but doesn’t take crap from anyone except her beautiful daughter.

When she’s assigned to protect a multi-millionaire game designer everything changes. He's far too young but Sean ignites a passion that captures Jess's body and mind. She refuses to admit the attraction because of the twelve year difference, but Sean becomes the one thing Jess can’t control. She tries to push him away but to do so she has to touch him. Bad idea. She tries to block him out of her head, but he sneaks beyond her defenses. No matter what she does, he won’t back down and leave her be. Damned irritating brat.

In Jess, Sean sees a fit, sexy, and beautiful woman who makes him laugh, keeps him humble, and does not want him solely for his checkbook. Jess teases Sean’s sense of humor and stirs emotions he’s repressed for too long. He doesn’t see the age difference as an issue. His heart and body want her plain and simple. He just has to get past her hang ups, survive a pirate attack at sea, and convince his sexy bodyguard to let him love her. What could be easier?

Excerpt:
Slight language warning

She gestured around the room. “This wasn’t handed down from Great Grandpa So-and-so?”

“No. The boat I rented. The money I earned. Some from talent, most by sheer luck.”

“Doing what?”

“I design computer games.”

A generation next job. What other profession would a self-made rich kid have? “Of course you do.” She let go of his bicep and scooted away. “You have to go.”

“What? Why?”

Because every word that comes out of your mouth reminds me of how old I am. A woman who grew up with Pacman and Donkey Kong should not want to jump a modern gamer. “Because I’m out of my mind to be here, with you, like this.” She forced herself to rise, to move away from the bed and the illogical allure of his presence.

He stood, blocking the narrow path to the door. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong? Every time I’m around you, I start thinking things I shouldn’t, that’s what.”

“Really? Anything you’d like to share?”

His cheeky grin teased desire. She longed to kiss it, to soak up his sexiness for later. “Get out of my room, brat.”

He trailed a finger down the side of her face and across to slowly outline her lips. Heat pooled hot and heavy between her legs. “Don’t send me away, Jess. Not when I want to stay so very much.”

How did he know exactly what to say? Did someone teach that to young men? Guys of her generation didn’t have a clue for the most part. “Damn it, kid. I’m twice your age.”

“You are not, and if you were, who cares?”

“I don’t want to want you.”

“But you do. I see it.”

“Bullshit.”

His grin flashed again. “When you look at me, you lean ever so slightly forward, and your nipples tighten under your top.”

“They do not.”

“Do too.” He chuckled and edged closer. His long, muscular hands circled her waist and kept her from collapsing in an embarrassing puddle at his feet. “You also lick your lips, wetting them for my kiss. I wonder where else you’re ready for me.”

Everywhere. “Damn it, what do you want?”

He brushed his mouth over hers, more graze than touch. Her entire being tipped toward him, anxious and eager.

“I want you. Plain and simple.”

17 comments:

  1. The Game of Love. Love of the Game. I'm pretty lame at a good title but those came to me.

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  2. My immediate thought was "Game On!" Good luck with your project.

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  3. See? I told you I'm lame at titles...I like Jill and Jannine's ideas way better. Good luck, you'll find the perfect one. And then your editor will think of something else, LOL.

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  4. I stink at them too, Val. These are better than I had but I hope I get a few more to show my editor.

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  5. Title suggestion...

    COUGAR HEAVEN

    Blaise
    Wilder Roses

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  6. Okay. I LOVE thinking up titles. So, here are mine brainstormed. Excellent display of voice in your blurb, by the way.
    Playing for Keeps
    Love Games
    Catching Jess
    Love Score
    Heart Play
    Catching Hearts
    Catching Heat
    Keeping Score
    Pulse Points

    That's it, for now...

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  7. Okay - just a note. The original title was Heart Games but my editor felt it was too sweet for the heat level.

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  8. Love the excerpt! Its going to be a great read!

    Hmm. Titles. A few popped up:

    "Catching the Cougar"
    "Winning the Cougar"
    "Seducing the Cougar"
    "Seducing Jess"
    "Cougar's Second Chance"

    hugs, Kari Thomas, www.authorkari.com

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  9. Great blurb. Here are some ideas for titles you can review:

    Wild Seascape
    Raging Waters
    Soul Games
    Playing for Keeps

    thoughts in writing, Marie Bradley.

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  10. Her Pirate Cub

    Her Cougar Cub

    Cougar Heat

    Carribean Cougar

    That's it - now I'm brain dead! Fun!

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  11. I'd love to read this and find out when her and Jess finally get it on. :)
    I'm not so hot with titles either but how about :
    Twice The Heat
    Passion's Score
    Cougar's Heat and Passion's Game

    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com

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  12. I am getting excited. Some of these are really good. Thanks everyone. If you get another idea, pop back. The contest is open through Friday.

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  13. I have no better ideas than the great input you're getting but I've enjoyed reading them and your post. :)

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  14. Loved your Excerpt. We are woman!!
    And we are just as good as any one else, if not better.
    This story is on my list!!

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  15. Thanks all. I will let everyone know the verdict as soon as I hear from my editor.

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  16. Okay, my editor picked one of mine. Hard to believe, but I promised a prize so I picked my favorite. "Game On" suggested by Jannine Gallant. I liked the naughty and challenging feel of it as well as the reference to his profession and the push and pull of the game between them. Thanks for playing everyone.

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