Friday, May 20, 2011

A New Day, A New Launch Party!



by Beth

It's launch party time again in the lair! THE PRODIGAL SON is out now and I'm thrilled to celebrate its release with my fellow Bandits, our Bandit Buddies and, of course, Sven, the Gladiators and the Hockey Hunks ;-)

THE PRODIGAL SON is the second book in my Diamond Dust trilogy for Harlequin Superromance and tells the story of Matt Sheppard, the youngest of three brothers, and Connie Henkel, who works as the vineyard manager for the Sheppard's winery. Here's what the back cover says:

He always gets what he wants--and that's made Matt Sheppard an international success as a vintner. So he never saw his mother's blackmail coming. She says she'll sell the family's vineyard if he doesn't stay put for exactly one year. But running the Diamond Dust with his brothers was his father's dream, not his. Now he's shackled to the place by familial ties as strong as vines and tight enough to strangle him.

Worse, he's forced to work with a resentful manager, Connie Henkel. Her mile-long legs can't distract him from his goal: to improve the business and get out as soon as he can. Because if the single mom entwines herself around Matt's heart, he'll never be able to leave.

Here's a quick excerpt from when Connie approaches Matt after his brother's bachelor party:

“So,” Connie said, turning slightly in her seat to face him. “How’d the party go? Anything wild happen? Any Hangover moments?”

He grinned, appreciating her reference to the movie. “No tigers or babies have been spotted and as far as I know, everyone still has all of their teeth.”

“As long as the groom does, that’s all that matters.” The bartender set a glass of ice water in front of her and Connie smiled her thanks to him. Took a sip before clearing her throat. “Look, about last night--”

“Are you going to apologize?”

Her pretty mouth thinned. “For putting an arrogant man in his place? Can’t say I’ve ever regretted that,” she told him, reminding him of his words when he’d asked if he should apologize for kissing her.

“So you’re obviously not here to beg my forgiveness. Did you come over expecting me to apologize?”

Brushing her short bangs to the side, she stared down at her water. His own fingers twitched with the need to touch her hair. To see if it was a soft as he imagined.

“I came over because…” She stirred the ice in her glass with her straw then abruptly let go and met his eyes. “I came over because you looked…alone.”

“Hard to be alone when I’m surrounded by people.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “Maybe alone wasn’t the right word. More like…lonely.”

The muscles in his shoulders tensed but he didn’t move. Couldn’t. Not when his breath was locked in his chest. Not when he was afraid she was right.

Still, he forced a grin. “Not lonely,” he assured her as he deliberately slid his gaze down her figure lazily before holding her gaze. “But glad for the company anyway.”


Enough chit chat...let's get this party started!! Crank up the margarita machine! Dim the lights! Buff the Cabana Boys! And, most importantly, turn up the music! This is a party after all, and what better way to celebrate then by hitting the dance floor?

What song gets you out on the dance floor? What song gets your groove thang shaking when you hear it, no matter if you're at home, in your car or at the store? I'll give away copies of THE PRODIGAL SON to two commenters today!

69 comments:

Kim in Baltimore said...

Aloha!

Kim in Baltimore said...

Isn't the GR a Prodigal Son? He travels around the world but always returns home to the Bandit's Lair ... where they throw him a wild party?!?

Congrats, Beth, on your new release! Hmmm ... love and wine ... a great combo!

I brought some grass skirts for the Cabana boys to hula!

Helen said...

Well done Kim have fun with him

Whoo Hoo Beth

Can I just say that I actually finished reading The Prodigal Son last night and Loved it what a great story, Matt and Connie are just so good for each other loved it from start to finish.

So another launch party way to go I will have a margarita thanks Cabana Boys and perhaps a massage Sven before I get up and boogie on the dance floor LOL.

And there are many songs that will get me up on the dance floor any toe tapping music will do especially if it is from the 70's Rod Stewarts Twisting The Night Away is a good one.

Congrats Beth on another fantastic story, I am looking foward to Aiden's story.

Have Fun
Helen

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Woot! Gotta love a launch party. I have The Prodigal Son on the way. Just a day and it will be in my hot little hands.

To keep my hands busy in the meantime how about bringing me a nice Toasted Almonds Lars? Oh, and some of those nice little toasted bites.

Anna Sugden said...

WOOOHOOO!! I'm so excited - always love a new Beth Andrews book and I'm thrilled that this one has already arrived thanks to the fabulous Book Depository!! I've been waiting eagerly since Brady's book for the next one in your series to come out (LOVED Brady!)

What gets me out on the dance floor - the old favourites - Thriller, Man I feel like a woman (Shania), Abba, It's Raining Men, Grease, Celebration, Come on Eileen etc etc There's a song that's played over here called Hi Ho Silver Lining - that always gets me dancing! I also like Hips Don't Lie by Shakira.

What gets me off the dance floor? I will survive by Gloria Gaynor *shudder*. Or any hip hop/rap/Alexander O'Neal.

Laurie G said...

Congrats on your book Release!

Great Dance Songs:
F--- You(Forget You) Cee Lo Green
Born This Way-Lady GaGa
Lucky and I'm Yours- Jason Marz
Layla -Eric Clapton
Caribbean Queen- Billy Ocean
Sir Mix A Lot- Baby Got Back
Sugar On My Tongue-Trick Daddy & Ludacris
Hey Ya -Outcast
Jump-Van Halen
I Get Around- Beach Boys
Time Warp-Rocky Horror Picture Show
MR Jones- Counting Crows

Unknown said...

Well done Kim
Congrats on your book Beth... I have the book and it is the next book I read.....roll out the drinks anything will do
I am showing my age here but any ABBA will do LOL

Beth Andrews said...

Good morning! I want to apologize for the teeny, tiny font on the excerpt. I tried and tried to get it to come out right but Blogger and I just didn't see eye-to-eye *g*

Kim, I would say the GR is a Prodigal Son as he's always skipping off one of his adventures and is always warmly received when he comes back home :-)

Thanks for the congrats! And thanks for the grass skirts for the Cabana Boys *ggg*

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Helen! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Thank you *g*

Oh, a pre-dance massage is a great idea! As is a post-dance massage! Poor Sven will be busy today :-)

There were some great dance songs from the 70s! When I was a kid, I wished I could dance while roller skating. All I could manage was The Hokey Pokey *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Dianna! I hope you enjoy TPS *g*

To keep my hands busy in the meantime how about bringing me a nice Toasted Almonds Lars?

ROFL! Well, Lars has been sunning himself daily by the pool *g*

Oh, or did you mean something other than our pool boy? ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

I hope you like Matt's story, Anna! And I have a soft spot for Brady, too. Love me those tortured heroes
:-)

Those are all great dance songs! I'll dance to certain hip hop songs but when That Old Time Rock and Roll comes on, I sit it out. Probably because I've heard it too many times (but I still love Bob Seger *g*)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Laurie!

Love Born This Way and often catch it on VH1 when I'm on the treadmill. That and Ke$sha's Blow get me moving (and the video for Blow is hysterical! James Van Der Beek!!)

Every time I hear Jump I'm transported back to 8th grade and the routine I did when I tried out for the Majorettes. Sadly, I didn't make the team and my baton twirling days ended :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Barb! Hope you enjoy the book *g* Until then...drink up! I have a good friend who prefers a few drinks before getting on the dance floor. Luckily, I'm not opposed to plying her with alcohol ;-)

ABBA has some great dance songs! I'm doing a little chair dancing right now as Mama Mia plays in my head *g*

pjpuppymom said...

Congrats, Beth! I'm always happy to see a book with your name on it hit the stores. :)

Jess said...

Good Morning Beth :)

Happy Release Day! I can't wait to read Prodigal Son. I really enjoyed A Marine for Christmas and I'm looking forward to reading more of the Diamond Dust series.

Congrats!

Jenn3128 said...

Just this morning, driving in the car half asleep and Good Vibrations by Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch came on. Such a guilty pleasure and it got me moving!

Pissenlit said...

Happy launch party! Congrats on The Prodigal Son! I need a calendar devoted to keeping track of release dates. I keep missing them!

Spirit of the West's Home for a Rest gets me out on the dance floor without fail. Best drinking/partying song ever!! :D I don't know what my groove thang is or whether it shakes but The Killers' Read My Mind always has me moving even if I'm sitting down at home.

Minna said...

Well, here are some:

KEVÄT JA MINÄ - TOMMI LÄNTINEN (Spring and I)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV8cRMmMAFY&feature=related

Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sIjSNTS7Fs

Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pu0Fn1oRN4&feature=related

Tik 'N' Tak - Upside Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyZHlQ9O-g



---------------------------------
---------------------------------


Sir Elwoodin Hiljaiset Värit - Neiti Kevät (Miss Spring)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwIgXd6avWY&feature=related

Tavaramarkkinat: kevät (Spring)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkxToOpZ3nY&feature=related

Tipi-tii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTigmdXqn2s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzCUvzfHX50

Minna said...

Tom Jones - If I Only Knew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqDEn7uUhFc

Donna MacMeans said...

Woohoo! Boy - those cabana boys can shake those hula skirts like nobody's business!

LOL on what songs will get me on the dancefloor - more like what songs will get me OFF the floor (rap). I do love to dance - can't help it - the music just takes over my body. And I have to say - it's not a pretty sight LOL, but WTH I love it!

Beth - I love this premise! And the excerpt - yum! You can feel the tension and attraction between these two. Throw a little alcohol in the mix and I think the prodigal son is home at last!

Now back to the dance floor - tell Lars I'm guessing I'm going to need his magic fingers for a marathon massage tomorrow after dancing all day today!

CrystalGB said...

Hi Beth. Congratulations on your new release. One song that always gets me dancing is Pink's Get This Party Started.

Janga said...

Congrats on the new release, Beth. I found The Prodigal Son when I was grocery shopping Wednesday, and now it's on my next-to-read shelf.

As for dancing, Abba's "Dancing Queen" is hard to resist. And I know all of you are too young to remember, but "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas always makes me want to dance--and sing.

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, PJ! I always get a thrill seeing my book on the shelves *g* It never gets old!

Beth Andrews said...

Hi, Jess! Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed Brady and JC's story *g* I had a lot of fun writing the Diamond Dust trilogy. It was fascinating to get into the 'minds' of such different brothers :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Good Vibrations by Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch came on.

Jenn, that is a great song to get moving to! I think Glee did a version of it last year. It just makes me want to get up and dance. Oh, and, of course, I'm reminded of a young Mark Wahlberg ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

I need a calendar devoted to keeping track of release dates.

Me too, Pissenlit! There have been quite a few Bandit releases lately. Now if only there was more time for reading, I'd be all set *g*

I don't know what my groove thang is or whether it shakes but The Killers' Read My Mind always has me moving even if I'm sitting down at home.

LOL! I'm guessing you've got one, then, and that it shakes when the right song comes on ;-)

Thanks for the congrats!

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Minna! Love Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves *g* Annie Lennox is so fabulous. Thanks for sharing :-)

Beth Andrews said...

more like what songs will get me OFF the floor

Donna, I'm the same way. I have to really dislike a tune in order to sit it out. Although I do find some songs easier to dance to than others and I've never been able how to move to Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way (which the band my husband ran the lights for used to play all the time!)

You can feel the tension and attraction between these two.

Thank you! I had fun writing the bar/bachelor party scene. Come to think of it, one of my favorite scenes in the next book is set in that same bar!

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Crystal! That's a great song to dance to *g* I like to move to Pink's song Trouble. It comes on my iPod and I do my little chair dance :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Janga! Thanks so much for picking up TPS. I hope you enjoy it.

I love Dancing in the Street! And wasn't it remade in the 80s by...Mick Jagger? Is that right?

I just checked and it was Mick Jagger and David Bowie.

I like the original better but I remember their video :-)

Gannon Carr said...

Woohoo, it's party time! Congrats on the new release, Beth. Can't wait to read it!

Pass me a margarita---and a cabana boy---and let's boogie down. Anything by Earth, Wind and Fire is always good. As long as there's a good beat, I'm there.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Lots of songs will get me shaking my groove thing. Right now it's: On the Floor by JLo. It's very catchy and danceable.

And with my misspent youth, pretty much anything by Def Leppard makes me dance and whoop...and I cannot resist singing along and dancing to "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by the Georgia Satellites.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

WOO HOO!!! Launch Party in the Lair!

SUPER CONGRATS Beth on your newest, The Prodigal Son. I'm sure the GR will claim he was your inspiration for the title. ;-)

Thanx for the grass skirts for the Cabana boys, Kim! Unfortunately, it appears poor Paolo had an allergic reaction. I've sent him off to the Cabana Boys' quarters with some benadryl and calamine lotion.

GREAT dance tunes we've got going. Celebrate by Kool & the Gang always gets me moving. And OF COURSE I remember Dancing in the Streets, Janga. I was in my crib *Koff*Koff* but I remember! Also remember Rescue Me by Fontella Bass. Always LOVED that song. How bout Heard It Through The Grapevine?!?!

I'm gonna need both Sven and Lars to massage out my aches and pains after all this shaking my groove thang. LOL!

AC

Louisa Cornell said...

Aloha, Kim! He does seem to be hopping back to the Big Island quite a bit lately. I STILL can't get him to sneak me into his luggage!

Hula skirts on the cabana boys?? Where's my lawnmower!


YAY, another Beth Andrews book in the house! LOVED A Marine for Christmas! You write such SIGHWORTHY heroes!

What gets me on the dance floor (or dancing around the kitchen?)

Sweet Home Alabama will usually get my feet moving.

Celebrate (of course)

We Are Family

And Aunty Cindy, I am right there with you on Heard it Through the Grapevine

Thriller

YMCA

(She's a) Brick House

(Yes, I am over fifty. Deal with it! LOL)

jo robertson said...

Whooooo hoooooo, Beth! Congratulations on your latest release. THE PRODIGAL SON sounds delicious!

LOL, I'm no longer allowed on the dance floor, but when I was, a good cha-cha was bouncy and graceful at the same time.

ClaudiaGC said...

Hi Beth!
Congrats on your new release!
Everything upbeat will get me on the dancefloor. There are already great songs mentioned. Even though I'm in my mid-twenties I like to dance to songs from Abba and similar bands, too. But I also love most of the latest stuff. So, I'm quite easy to please that way. :)

Pat Cochran said...

Hi, Beth,

What gets me on the dance floor?
Anything with a heavy backbeat,
especially anything by Earth, Wind,
& Fire. "Celebrate" does it every
time. Or "Play That Funky Music,
White Boys." Or anything by Donna
Summer! Or if a slow song is called
for, give me any of the Four Freshman
ballads, especially "Graduation Day."

Congratulations, Beth! Enjoy your
Launch Party!!

Tawny said...

WOOOOT!!! It's party time! YAY, I'm so excited to celebrate your release, Beth. This book is fabulous - Matt and Connie are such a strong couple who really bring out the best in each other :-)

Congratulations on yet another fabulous book - you are so good!

As for the groove thang... sweetie, nothing gets me willingly on a dance floor. You know that :-)

Anna Campbell said...

Kim, you got our Prodigal Rooster for the launch party! Get him shaking his tail feathers!

Beth, huge congratulations on the release of THE PRODIGAL SON. I was really excited when my copy turned up in the mail yesterday. I'm saving it for a day when I can just wallow in the story. I bet it's as wonderful as all your other brilliant books!

Actually I'm a child of the 80s - well, at least that's when I was doing my groove thang. I think I'd pick Tainted Love for my dance floor song! Oh, baby, it's so bad, it's gooooooood! I give you all a boy could give you!

JBarr5 said...

that song by black eyed peas, tonights the night, don't think that's title though (i got a feeling)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Gannon! Great choice with Earth Wind and Fire! Whew. The dance floor is getting crowded now but isn't that always when it's the most fun? :-)

Of course, I usually have my shoes off at that point and am always hopeful nobody steps on my toes *g*

Beth Andrews said...

and I cannot resist singing along and dancing to "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by the Georgia Satellites.

LOL, Hellion! This song came on the radio the other day when I was driving home. I cranked it and sang right along *g* Ahh...the 80s!!

Saw JLo's new video when I was exercising the other day. Catchy!!

Beth Andrews said...

it appears poor Paolo had an allergic reaction. I've sent him off to the Cabana Boys' quarters with some benadryl and calamine lotion.

I wondered why I saw Jeanne heading that way with a few cotton balls and a happy grin *g*

Ooh, Rescue Me! Great choice. For some other classics, how about Shout? Or Mony, Mony? Love those *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Hula skirts on the cabana boys?? Where's my lawnmower!

ROFL, Louisa! I think the poor Cabana boys are in hiding *g* Maybe a weed whacker would be safer?

Nah. Probably not.


You write such SIGHWORTHY heroes!

Wow. Thank you so much. That's such a nice compliment!

I'll dance with you to Brick House! And YMCA!! Great picks :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Jo. I'm not a very good cha cha-er but that hasn't stopped me from trying ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

A weed wacker? OUCH!!!!!

chey said...

Congrats on your latest release!
Songs from Grease or Abba get me dancing.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Beth Andrews said...
ROFL! Well, Lars has been sunning himself daily by the pool *g*

Oh, or did you mean something other than our pool boy? ;-)

LOL, you know what I meant..

Leni said...

Early In The Morning by The Gap Band is one that gets my moving. As long as it has a good beat I love it. Add great lyrics and it's even better.

Christine Wells said...

Oh, fantastic! Another wonderful Beth book to look forward to. This sounds like a great read. Loved the excerpt, Beth. I can tell when these two get together, sparks will fly!

I am very much in the mood to shake my groove thing--or I will be once I've finished buffing my share of the cabana boys. Tough work but someone's got to do it! And after a good boogie, I'll have a massage from Sven on his special cocktail bar/massage table. Picture me lying face down, looking through the hole in the massage table at a very large margarita with an extra long straw!

Songs that get me shakin the groove thing would have to be those cheesey '70s disco classics like "Knock on Wood" "You make me feel like dancing" etc. Let's party!

Congrats, Kim! Watch that rooster. He knows exactly how to shake his tail feather.

Nancy said...

Kim, congrats on the GR!

Beth, I read Prodigal Son and loved it. Congrats on another terrific book. :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Claudia! I'm the same way - love both the classics and newer songs *g*
Plus, with two teenage daughters, I hear a lot of current songs :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Karyn! Sven and Lars are making the rounds with their drink trays. It's awfully hard to see what you're drinking though with those disco lights flashing ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks so much, Pat! It's been a heck of a party *g*

Great song choices! I remember dancing around my bedroom to Donna Summer as a kid. Loved her songs!

Beth Andrews said...

As for the groove thang... sweetie, nothing gets me willingly on a dance floor. You know that :-)

LOL! I know one thing that gets you out there *g* But, hey, if you don't want to dance, I'll just have to take your cute husband out on the dance floor ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks so much, Anna. I hope you enjoy TPS!

Yes! Tainted Love is sooo good, isn't it? Er...I mean the song, of course ;-)

Also love Safety Dance which doesn't have strong lyrics but does have a groovy beat *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Hi, J Barrett! The Black Eyed Peas have some great dance tunes! My daughters have been listening to Just Can't Get Enough and it definitely makes me feel like dancing *G*

Thanks for stopping by!

Beth Andrews said...

Inara, thank you so much! That means a lot that you enjoyed the book!

I won't tell a soul that you listen to Ke$ha. Though, I have to admit, I listen to her, too *g* She's on my iPod along with Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Avril Lavigne and Pink, just to name a few. And when the video for Blow comes on TV while I'm hoofing it on the treadmill, I turn it up. Way up :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hi, Chey! Grease has some fabulous dance songs. Love You're The One That I Want (ooh, ooh, ooh, honey!) Although I'm not sure how Sandy ever danced in those leather pants :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Leni! I always listen to lyrics which only sounds weird if you're like my husband who admits to NOT paying attention to the lyrics of most songs *g* So I totally agree that great lyrics make a great beat even better :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Picture me lying face down, looking through the hole in the massage table at a very large margarita with an extra long straw!

Oh, Christine, I want one of those for my house! Actually, I'll take them all: the table, the very large margarita and Sven ;-)

Love those 70s songs! Dance songs just don't ever seem to go out of vogue, do they? The best ones are timeless *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Nancy! Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. Here, have a drink and a Cabana Boy...I mean, a Cabana boy will bring you a drink :-)

Fedora said...

Woot, Beth!! Congrats on the latest! Can't wait to pick up my copy of The Prodigal Son ;) Love hanging out in the Lair with the BBs and those delightful cabana boys... I see a few stragglers still about!

Hooray for this series, Beth!

Mary Preston said...

I know it's lame but anything from THE VILLAGE PEOPLE tends to course through my veins & get me moving.

marypres@gmail.com

Jo's Daughter said...

It's Raining Men always makes my foot tap.
But it's Express Yourself by the lovely Madonna that'll make me move towards the dancefloor :D

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks for stopping by, Fedora! One thing we can always count on in the lair is that our launch parties last well into the night. And sometimes the next day :-)

Beth Andrews said...

That's not lame, Marybelle! They're classic *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Great picks, Jo's Daughter! My favorite Madonna song is Ray of Light. Always gets me moving :-)

Maria D. said...

Congratulations on your new release! I'm pretty much a Lady Gaga and Rhiana fan so if I heard either "Only Girl in the World" or "Bad Romance" I would probably be up on the dance floor...or at least shaking my head...lol