I’ve decided to do a blog countdown to the release date of my next book Fool for Love, the first novella in the High Rise series. Fool for Love will be out on Tuesday 20 November 2012, so you can expect three days of promotional madness, but I’ll try to keep it interesting. 😉

There will be contests and excerpts and juicy background details, but let’s start at the beginning. A brief introduction to the High Rise series.

Four women. One building. A million complications.

High Rise is a series of four lesbian erotica romance novellas focusing on four women who live in The Ivy, the ‘sexiest building in Hong Kong’.

Alex, a local gym instructor. Her roommate Nat, a celebrated American writer who moved to Hong Kong for love. Their upstairs neighbour Maddie, a workaholic investment banker. And the penthouse inhabitant, Isabella, a psychiatrist who’s lived in the city for fifteen years.

Romances develop and untangle as these four women get to know each other better.

* * *

With every story I’ve written since Hired Help (my first), the focus has shifted more to romance than to pure erotica. Fool for Love is by far the most romantic of all. The story is longer (23.000 words), allowing me to spend more time building up the tension, which, in my opinion, makes that final release all the more satisfying. No worries though… while being more romance than erotica, there is still plenty of action between the sheets in Fool for Love.

The first novella zooms in on Alex and Maddie, two women who’ve been rather unsuccessful in their quest for love. The second novella will focus on the unlikely love story of the other two High Rise characters, Nat and Isabella. Numbers three and four will deal with… well, whatever comes next, but I don’t want to say too much about that yet.

What better way to dive in than with an excerpt… This first one is from the very beginning of the book. (Do read on until the end because I’m announcing a contest at the bottom of the page.)

FOOL FOR LOVE – EXCERPT
© Harper Bliss 2012

“We have to stop doing this.” Maddie tucked her blouse in her skirt and leaned against the door. She should have said it before allowing June into her office again—and in her panties. “It can’t go anywhere. We both know that.”

“Yeah.” June avoided Maddie’s eyes while she zipped up her pants. They’d had this conversation before, but it wasn’t easy for Maddie to resist June, and the delicious molten copper of her skin, when they had to work side by side every day. “I know.” Maddie realised June didn’t take her seriously anymore when she said it.

“Would you consider transferring to another department?”

This caught June’s attention. She fixed her black eyes on Maddie. “Really? You want to get rid of me?”

Maddie felt guilty already. She should never have let it come to this.

“Look, babe.” She cursed herself for using the term of endearment she resorted to when approaching orgasm. And June had given her plenty of those. Usually against the closed door of Maddie’s office. Their affair didn’t have room for beds or sleep-overs. Which was exactly what was wrong with it. “I’m not the one who’s unavailable.”

“You know how I feel about you.” June inched closer. Too close. Maddie could smell her perfume. And the musky scent of sex clinging to her skin. “Boss.”

Maddie sighed and let June kiss her neck before pushing her away. “That’s hardly the issue.” She held June at arm’s length. “When I go home tonight, it’s to an empty apartment. And when I wake up tomorrow morning, it’ll be in an empty bed. I can’t do it anymore.”

“So I should just up and move? I don’t think so.” June shook herself free from Maddie’s hold and took a step back. “I’m not ruining my career over this.”

This irked Maddie, but she restrained herself. “I’ll make sure your new position is better than the one you have now.” She took a deep breath. “How does Team Manager of Operations sound?”

June shot her a disdainful look. “If you don’t want to fuck me anymore, you’re just going to have to work on your willpower.” She pouted her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t do this to get a promotion.”

“I know.” Maddie threw her hands up in despair. “But you must understand my point of view.”

“I do.” June’s face softened. “And I’m sorry, but I can’t just run off with you. We’ve discussed this and I was always very upfront about it.” A sharp pang of jealousy coursed through Maddie’s bones as June checked her watch. Hubby must be waiting. Maddie didn’t understand how June could lie to herself, and everyone around her, like that. She was born in Australia, for heaven’s sake. She didn’t need to be so Chinese and repressed about it.

“Fine. Go home to Mark. Snuggle up to him closely tonight.” Maddie stepped away from the door and opened it. “I hope you sleep well.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” June smoothed out one last wrinkle from her blouse before positioning herself in front of Maddie. “It’s not easy for me either.” June’s voice was soft and sultry. “Give me a little credit.”

Maddie wanted to pull June close again and kiss her until day break. She also wanted to run away from this mess. She’d always believed she was smarter than this. What a joke.

“Good night.” She pulled her face away from June, indicating the time for meaningless displays of affection had passed. Her eyes followed June’s tall, slender form as she walked away. Maddie wondered how long she’d be able to resist this time.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed that. 😉 If you did, leave a comment and win a FREE copy (e-book only – any format) of Fool for Love. I’ll be giving away one free copy every day until Tuesday.