April 23, 2008 • Print This Post
I now have less than a week until my first Kensington Brava release, HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT, hits stores shelves. And, um, yeah, I can’t wait. 
Today, I thought I’d do a bit of early celebrating by giving away an autographed copy of HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT to one commenter. Wanna win? Just leave me a comment about your all time favorite character. I’ll be back on Saturday to announce the winner.
Dr. Emily Drake, the heroine of HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT, was one of my absolute favorite characters to write. The woman has a hell of a painful past, but she’s overcome her childhood and is now one of the most respected psychologists in Atlanta. Of course, Emily isn’t your typical therapist. She only treats paranormal patients (and that’s where my story, or her story begins).
And, as part of my celebration, I thought I’d post an excerpt from HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT:
* * *
“How much do you know?”
Emily swallowed and tried to figure out just how much she should reveal.
His hold tightened around her.
He was the one sitting down, the one forced to look up at her, but Emily had the feeling she was the one in the vulnerable position. “I-I know you aren’t human.” Her voice came out softer, huskier than she’d intended.
She hoped Colin would leave it at that. Hoped he wouldn’t probe any deeper.
“Ah, baby, I already knew that.”
She tried to tug her hand free, but his grip was unbreakable.
“You’re the Monster Doctor, the one all the local ghouls go to see.” A faint trace of amusement underscored his words. But his eyes were watchful, intense, showing no echo of humor.
Her jaw clenched. “Let go of my hand.”
He smiled at her, and his fingers fell away from her wrist.
Emily immediately sprang across the room, putting several feet between them. Nice, protective space. “Look, if you aren’t here to discuss the case, then I want you to leave.” She turned her back on him, heading toward the front door.
“How do you do it?”
His words stopped her.
“How do you tell who is human and who isn’t?”
She heard the soft rustle of the sofa cushions as he rose.
“That’s a pretty interesting talent you’ve got there. And I’m just dying to know exactly how you do it.”
Emily cast a longing glance toward the front door. “I’m afraid you’re just going to have to live with your curiosity, Detective.” Because she sure as hell wasn’t going to reveal her innermost secrets to a stranger. Yep, letting the guy inside had been a definite mistake.
“Hmmm.” His breath blew against the nape of her neck. Emily jumped, startled to find him so close to her. The guy hadn’t made a sound when he’d crossed the room.
“I’d like to see your hair down,” he muttered, and his fingers brushed against the bun she’d yet to unwind.
She jerked away from him. “And I’d like to see you leave. Guess which one of us is about to get her wish?”
His hard lips curved into a smile, a smile with a hint of real warmth. “Tough lady, aren’t you?”
She’d had to be.
His smile slowly faded. “But trust me, I’m a hell of a lot tougher than you could ever dream of being.” And in a flash, he had her pinned against the wall. His strong, hard body pressed against her, his muscular thighs pushed between hers, shoving up her skirt, and his right hand locked around her wrists as he forced them against the wall over her head.
Her breath left her body in a startled gasp.
“Now let’s try this again,” he growled. “Just how much do you know about me?”
Tags: Cynthia Eden, Hotter After Midnight
Posted by Cynthia Eden @ 9:50 am • Filed under: Cynthia Eden
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Ooh, looks like I’m first here!
Mighty nice excerpt (and cover too!) 
Hope to pick it up soon! 
And big congrats with it!!!
Lois
Great excerpt. Congratulations on your new release. I love the cover.
Love paranormal stories and have this one on my wish list already. As for my all time favorite character, I would go with Roarke and Eve Dallas.
It’s a hard question to pick a favorite character. So, I’ll pick one that touched my heart when I read her story… Victoria from Patricia Grasso’s “To Catch a Countess”.
Don’t enter me, I’ll buy a copy. But, wanted to say Y’all have to read this book. It is FANTASTIC! And Dr. Emily is one of the strongest women I have ever read. I can’t wait to see her pop up in another book. Please……? *G*
Congrats on your upcoming release! Enjoyed the excerpt! It sounds great! One of my all time favorite characters is Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice.
Love the excerpt! congrats on your upcoming release, as well.
That is an outstanding excerpt! Milla Edge in Cry No More by Linda Howard is one of my favorite characters.
Good luck on your upcoming release and I enjoyed the excerpt. I don’t have one favorite character from a book. I am in love will all of the Dark-Hunters from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s books. Anticipating and waiting for Ash’s story to be released soon!
Thank you, ladies!!!
I love getting a list of favorite characters from people–because then I know that I really need to read the books attached with those characters. Cry no More and Milla are on my keeper shelf, but I see a few new names to add.
(And Brandy, Emily will definitely pop up again!!)
Congrats on your upcoming release! Great excerpt too! I have this on my list to read.
Great excerpt! I guess if I had to pick my favorite characters ever it would be a toss up between Eve Dallas,Roarke, and Ash. I have even more that I love, but those are my top 3 right now
Congrats on your new release.
My all time favorite character would have to be Eve Dallas. I think she rocks as a strong heroine. Roarke is ranks up there, too.
Great excerpt.
My all time favorite character is Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small.
Hmm…this is a toughie but I have to give it to Sebastian St. Vincent from “Devil in Winter” by Lisa Kleypas. Such a well written character and a true unrepentant bad boy!
I have to say Ayla from Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children Series (first book Clan of the Cave Bear).
Wonderful excerpt and I too love the cover!
“Now let’s try this again,” he growled. “Just how much do you know about me?”…..He sounds hot! Great excerpt!
My all time favorite character and most memorable is Roarke from the J.D. Robb series.
Love that cover, too, and have been waiting to read it, and apparently a friend of mine who usually likes what I do thinks I’m going to love it since she just posted an A+ review - congrats on that!
I have a favorite Kleypas hero, too, but mine is Derek Craven from Dreaming of You, tortured and hard from being alone on the streets when young who survives and becomes wealthy but never feeling deserving of love or that he can fit it, ruthless. Yet when he finally falls and still thinks he’s not worthy for it, he can’t resist and finds happiness.
Wow! Terrific excerpt, and I love the trailer for this book. Congrats on the new release! My favorite characters are Jessica and Dain from Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase.
Love the excerpt!!! Can’t wait to read it.
Tami B
Ah, more characters! Thank you! Eve and Roarke are two of my favorites, too. I just love that In Death series.
Duh — I got so excited about being first, I forgot my all time favorite characters. LOLOLOL
Well, you didn’t say if it needed to be bookwise or not. . . so to be different, I’m going to say a movie character — Darth Vader! 
Bookwise, Mr. Darcy is a top one. . . 
Lois
Hi Cynthia,
Congratulations on your new release! I’ve had my eye out for it - I think I’ll save it as a reward for finishing finals. I’ve been waiting for this book to come out, and have read and re-read excerpts of it…
As to my favorite character… one of them would be Bobby Tom Denton from Susan Elizabeth Phillip’s “Heaven, Texas.” I want one.
Oh count me in on this drawing. I would love to win this book. I just love the cover of it. Please pick me.
Sounds hot!
Can’t wait to read it.
This book is on my wish list to buy as soon as released.
You are the newest author to be put on my Keeper shelf.
sounds very good and love the cover. it is hot like the title. i love all of lelsie kelly charcters
This book is a definite must read! Thanks for posting the excerpt!!
Congratulations on your newest release! Sounds like one awesome book. Definitely a must read for me.
My favorite character? Hmmm. Hard to pick only one. But I think if I had to pick only one it would be Jenks from Kim Harrison’s Hollow Series.
Hi Cynthia!
Best wishes for your upcoming release. It sounds great, and I’d love to be entered in the contest.
Naming one favorite character is practically impossible!!! Eve & Roarke obviously come to mind (and I’ve only read the first three books so far!), but to throw something new into the mix, I’ll add Colin Ames-Beaumont & Savitri Murray from Meljean Brook’s Demon Moon. I love them. And any of JR Ward’s Brothers from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. See? I told you it was impossible to pick one!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Thank you all so much for the comments!!
Ah, and now, for the winner…I asked my husband to pick a commenter number (I assigned numbers to all the comments–just going straight down the line) and the number he selected matched up to…Liza!! Congratulations, Liza!
Thank you, again! Have a great weekend!
wtg liza
Ohh! the title sounds seductive and I wouldn’t mind winning an advance copy of you book. Lol I wish you good luck on all future releases.