Cover Reveal for Geared to the Present by Dana Bennett

I’m so happy to share the cover of my husband’s novel Geared to the Present. I just love it. What do you think? Available on Amazon!

 

Author: Dana Bennett
Release Date: February 27, 2014
Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

 

Geared to the Present is the story of Jones Whitman who, after making unsavory lifestyle choices in Boston society, learns his father, James, has arranged for him to school under the tutelage of Master Wong Fei-hung in Foshan, China. Jones Whitman submits to the teaching, evolving into a strong and ethical young man. Fei-hung, master of Hung Gar gives each student a new name upon graduation. Jones’s new name is 時光旅行者, Time Traveler. Jones spends the next seven years working diligently on a design for a time machine. The Atomotron. When the first human trial is to take place, he inadvertently trips the lever and jumps forward 120 years to Snohomish, Washington, 2012. That’s where the real adventure begins.

 

Jones blushed upon realizing the short length of Darcy’s skirt. He had never seen a woman dressed in that manner. He brought his attention back to her freckled face and brown eyes, at once feeling rather mesmerized and confused. Ever the gentleman, he struggled not to stare at her bare legs.
“You’re not hard on the eyes at all. If you clean up your act—”
“I beg your pardon? What does that mean?”
“Take off those goggles, you look kinda weird with ‘em on.”
“This seems incredibly contentious for a first time meeting,” Jones said, removing his goggles.
 “That’s the kind of girl I am. What’s your name?” She took a tentative step forward and found the green in his hazel eyes captivating.
“Jones Whitman. And yours?”
“I’m Darcy Champagne.” She squinted in the sunlight and dropped her arms to the sides. “Are you from England?”
“No I am not. Please, may I have a few moments to explain the situation in which I find myself?”
“Sure, but this better be good, ‘cause I’m running outta steam for this get together.”
“Yes, as I have as well with the Atomotron.” Jones pointed to the machine. “Well, how shall I begin?” He laid his goggles and dustcoat on the picnic table and took a deep breath contemplating a way to move events forward. “What do you know of time travel?”
“H.G.? I’ve read a few books. I’m in a steampunk sort of mood these days. I even have a corset to wear for this year’s Steamcon.”
“What?” Jones asked. “So, wait, where am I? And what date would it be today?”
“Okaaaay. Now that’s a really odd question.”
Darcy began to back up, crossing her arms in front of her once again.
“It will not seem strange in a few moments, I assure you.”
“You’re in Snohomish, Washington and it’s Sunday, June 2012, and I don’t off hand remember the exact date.”
“This is incredible. I am stunned.” Jones glanced at the toggles on the time machine. “I left Boston, Massachusetts on Monday, 7 September 1891, at precisely 9:30 am.”
“Yeah, right,” she said with a nervous grin. “I’m starting to think you need some help.”
She pulled out her cell phone and looked at it.
“I know how this must sound but please bear with me. I am Jones Whitman, nephew of Walt Whitman—”
“Oh right. Sure you’re the nephew of Walt Whitman and I’m the niece of… of Joan of Arc.”
“You are making light of me, I can tell. So how can I prove to you that I am who I say I am?”
“Wikipedia. If you’re somebody famous, that invented a time machine—well that’s ridiculous because if you had, we’d all be using one right now! Who are you?” Darcy’s eyes widened, the angst apparent in her voice. “I think I’ll call Taylor and have him take you to a shelter.”
Jones wiped his forehead on his sleeve and sat down on the picnic table.
“There must be a way I can explain. I assure you these circumstances came to be by accident. I tripped—”
“Okay. Let’s say you’re telling the truth, then why can’t you just travel back to where you came from?”
“Because I have bent two gears that are crucial to generating the low vibration used to expand my atomic gravitational field to allow for a lateral time and space displacement.”
“What the…? What did you just say?”
Jones sighed.
“May I intrude upon you for a glass of water?”
“That is not what you just said.”
Darcy flopped down next to Jones.
“Yes, I know. However, my immediate need is to quench my thirst.” Jones glanced in the direction of the house. “Would this be your domicile?”
“Yeah. Came by it from the death of my father.”
“And your mother?”
“She’s in a facility. She never got over my Dad’s death. And what business is it of yours anyway?” Darcy looked Jones up and down.
“I realize it is none of my business. I am a curious kind of fellow.” Jones waited.
 Darcy stared at Jones for a moment. “Come on. I’ll take you inside.”
“You can feel completely assured that I mean you no harm,” he said as he rose from the table.
“Not necessary, I’m highly intuitive. I wouldn’t be asking you in if I had even one red flag.” She traipsed over the yard toward the house and bounced up the steps with Jones in tow.

 

Dana Bennett lived in north central Florida for the first chapter of his life. After high school, he spent the next chapter working with problem teens and their families in Pensacola, Florida and then spent time on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, in Parker, Arizona helping the Native American population. He graduated from Nova Southeastern with a degree in psychology later in life. He has had many eclectic professional experiences in the work arena, always returning to the creativity he finds in building and construction as well as crafting new stories.

He has three wonderful daughters and two adorable grandsons. He is married to his best friend and partner in life, love, and business. They have a strong supportive community of friends and neighbors who encourage them daily to keep writing.

He enjoys each day with Blakely as they work on their never finished project, life. Writing is his bliss and both he and Blakely are chasing the dream of writing full time.

You can find out more by going to:

http://danabennettblog.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GearedToThePresent

https://www.facebook.com/fracturedfidelities

Amazon

Cover Reveal for Stuck In Between

I am so thrilled to share the newest cover for Stuck In Between. Make sure to scroll down for a new excerpt from the story.

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Title: Stuck In Between
Author: Blakely Bennett
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

Jacqs is a twenty-eight year old woman caught up in an on again, off again relationship with Bond, who is her best friend and the one who causes her the most heartache. She succumbs, yet again, to his powerful charisma, but vows not make it into more than it is, a great night of sex.

Bond, too sexy for his own good, wants Jacqs for himself as he “dates” his way through the female population of South Florida. He selfishly doesn’t see the conflict of interest.

Red, Bond’s best friend, has watched Bond take Jacqs for granted for way too long and soon stakes his own claim on her.

Will Red and Jacqs budding relationship pull apart their tight-knit group of friends and will Jacqs survive being Stuck In Between.

I shook out my hair, put my shoulders back and stood as
straight as possible. I wouldn’t let Red intimidate me. When I strutted over to
him, his expression left me confused. He’d always been so cold, like a granite
statue and yet, I couldn’t read the new side to him.
“Why did you want me to come and what did you mean? Wait …
no … shit, what I really wanted to say was that I appreciate you coming to get
me.”
“Let’s go have a drink.”
“A drink?”
“Yes, you could use one.”
“Would you stop doing that?” I said, squinting up at him
through the outside house light that cascaded around him.
“Doing what? I just offered you a drink,” he said, resting
his back against his vehicle and folding his arms in front of him.
“No, you said I needed one. You’re so bossy.”
He laughed and said, “You bring it out in me. I’ll do my
best to temper the urge.”
“You have urges?”
“You don’t want to know,” he said, glaring down at me.
“Oh … I,” I stuttered, my nipples flaring at his intent. I
crossed my arms over my chest as well.
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me along with him into the
house and through the main sitting area. Dreamworld
played through the sound system. Cat gave me a questioning look as Red led me
into the kitchen. I shrugged my shoulders back to her. He opened the refrigerator,
fingered a Mike’s Lemonade and a bottle of Dos Equis, popped the caps and
swooped up my hand again in his large palm, leading me out to the back.
I loved all the palms and the large stone deck around the
Jacuzzi and pool. His two-story home sat on the intracoastal waterway, allowing
him to keep his boat right behind the house.
Two guys I didn’t recognize sat at the wrought iron table
by the pool, smoking cigarettes.
“Hey Ray, Charlie, glad you could make it,” Red said,
pausing but not releasing my hand.
“Thanks for the invite. She’s a tiny one,” one of the guys
said, tilting his head in my direction.
“She makes up for it with a big mouth,” Red said with a
smug expression.
I tried to pull my hand out of his grip, but he held on so
tight I had to use my free hand to punch him in the shoulder. I would have
preferred to punch his jaw but I figured it would hurt me more than him to hit
the sharp edge of his face.
His friends chuckled, leaving me even more incensed.
“And he makes up for his Neanderthal size with his small
personality or at least that’s what he calls it,” I said, purposefully looking
at his pants.
That made his friends fall out in hysterical laughter and
I felt rather proud of myself.
“Come on, you,” he said, dragging me back inside and up
the stairs to his bedroom.
I had never been in there before. So neat and organized,
it could have been a room in an upscale hotel except for the antique furniture
on either side of the fireplace and the art on the walls. A chair sat near the
entrance to the room, a pair of slacks over the back of it.
“What the hell is going on with you Red?” I said as I
finally managed to pull my hand away from his. “You’ve never given me much
notice over the years. How long has it been?”
“Five years.”
“I’ve been putting up with your crap for five years?
Jesus.” I took the lemonade from his hand and took several swallows.
“Take it easy, Jacqs,” he said, closing the door behind
him and leaning back against it.
“Stop telling me what to do, would you?”
“I can’t help myself,” he said with a slight smile.
“Try.” I sat on the edge of the bed, putting plenty of
distance between us.
“I didn’t much care for your joke.”
“Your friends rather liked it and you started it. Don’t
fuck with me and I won’t fuck with you back.”
“Do you have to talk like that? It’s very unattractive.”
“What the fuck … shit …um heck do you want from me?” I
drank more to boost my courage.
“I’m warning you, Jacqs.”
“Warning me? From what? What will you do?”
“Don’t push me.”
“I push your buttons without even trying.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Are you going to answer me?” I asked. “Because, if not,
I’ll just head home.” I stood, finished off my drink and took a step toward the
door that he blocked with his massive frame.
He crossed the distance between us, swiped the drink out
of my hand, placing both bottles on the corner of his dresser. Before I had a
chance to fight or protest he lifted me under my arms, off my feet, and placed
my back against the wall. He groaned as if it pained him and then he descended
on my mouth with his.
I tried to push him off me, but he remained hard as steel
and I finally gave over to the incredible sensations he stirred within me. I
took his large face in my little hands and that caused him to groan in
pleasure, deepening the kiss. As I wrapped my legs around his bulky frame, he
held me closer and carried me over to the antique chair by the door. He sat
down with me on his lap, and we just stared at each other for a moment.
Afraid of breaking the spell that I knew would end once
reality set in, I sat, waiting. He ran his hands up my neck, followed by his
mouth, kissing and nibbling. Chills fluttered down my spine and I moaned, “Oh,
Red.” Wetness pooled in my panties and I wanted him to take me. I wanted to
know what his cock looked like, tasted like. I didn’t care if we ever spoke
again afterwards, or if my motivations stemmed from getting back at Bond. Red
had sparked an intense need that required fulfillment and I wanted him to take
me.
Running my hands through his short cropped red hair, I
pulled his mouth back to mine and he took control. Clutching my wrists, he held
them with one hand behind my back, and bit his way down my chest. He unbuttoned
the rest of my blouse, pushing the silk down off my shoulders, exposing my
breast and hard nipples to the air.
“No bra? You’re naughtier than I imagined.”
“You’ve thought about me?”
“Incessantly. Keep your arms behind you,” he said as ran
his hands under my breasts and lowered his mouth. “I had no idea.”
“What?”
“For such a tiny woman, you have rather large nipples.”
I scrunched my face, not sure if he liked what he saw.
“No need for the funny face, I love them.” He sucked on my
right nipple and I closed my eyes in pleasure. His big hands kneaded my flesh
and pulled on my left nipple.
“Ohhhh,” I called out, arching into his caresses.
“Shhhh,” he said, “I think I heard something.”
“Don’t stop,” I pleaded.
“Stay the night.”
“That’ll go over well with Bond, for sure.”
“Did you have to mention him?”
The bubble had burst and in my embarrassment, I scurried
off his lap and buttoned up my shirt. I glanced in the mirror on the dresser
and smoothed out my hair.
He pushed into me from behind, grasping my breast over my shirt. He nipped my earlobe and said, “I’m not done with you, but I need to check on the party below.” He clutched the nape of my neck, turning my head toward him and kissing me one last time.
“I’ll see you downstairs.”

 

Blakely Bennett grew up in Southeast Florida and has been residing in the great Northwest for over eight years. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in psychology, which accounts for her particular interest in crafting the personalities, struggles, and motivations of her characters. She is an avid reader of many genres of fiction, but especially erotica and romance. Writing has always been her bliss. She is attracted to stories of self-struggle and ultimate recovery.

Blakely is married to a wonderful, loving and supportive husband, also a writer, who helps to keep her grounded. She is a mother, a communitarian, a lover of music (always on while she is writing—thank you, Pandora), and a good friend. An advocate of love and female empowerment, she is a facilitator for a women’s group. She loves to walk and hike for exercise and finds that, since moving to Seattle, WA, she is now one of those “crazy” people who walk in the rain.

Stuck In Between (erotic romance) is her 5th novel. She is also the author of the dark erotic suspense, My Body Trilogy (My Body-His, My Body-His (Marcello) & My Body-Mine) and co-authored the contemporary romance, The Demarcation of Jack with her husband, Dana Bennett.

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