Surprise Snippet from THE CHEERLEADER!

💜💜💜💜💜💜

Hello !

Who's enjoying the heck out of the height of the summer? Me!

I'm actually tickled that I've made great strides in writing my current work-in-progrss, The Cheerleader - a college sports romance retro 70's style.

So much so that I can't stop myself from sharing a snippet!

Sharing is an irresistible compulsion because I'm more than excited about this story!!!

What's another way to say "more than excited"???

• Thrilled?
• Vibrating with anticipation?
• Ready to explode?
• Out of this world with bliss?
• Intoxicated into oblivion? (well, maybe that one doesn't sound quite right...)

Whatever you call the emotions that move me to do it, I'm sharing a little piece of my story today, ready or not!

See the Surprise Snippet from THE CHEERLEADER below! ⬇️⬇️

In the meantime...

The pre-launch page for The Cheerleader is up on KICKSTARTER!

What the heck is Kickstarter? you ask.

Legitimate question. It occurs to me--albeit belatedly--that many of you may not have a clue what Kickstarter is. So let me tell you--albeit belatedly.

Kickstarter is a platform where creative people can post projects and request backing or support from people to complete their projects.

Projects range from games to new inventions to art and, you guessed it, books.

That's where I come in. I'm launching my new book on Kickstarter rather than just straight to publishing platforms because it's a different kind of book than I normally write, and very special to me.

Also, on Kickstarter, I can create a community with regular updates and offer more than the ebook--which I am offering at $5 a month earlier than you'll get it anywhere else, and at a discounted price. (the book will be $6.99 when it's published at retailers.)

Backers on Kickstarters choose from a variety of *Rewards* offered for each project at different price reward "Tiers".

I think it's a cool concept and I've backed several authors because I believe in their projects.

So if you're curious about it or possibly interested in supporting authors--for as little as $1--check out Kickstarter using the link below.

In the meantime...

I would appreciate it very much if you'd visit my project page and follow me--no obligation involved. Just click the "Notify me on Launch" button.

Check out The Cheerleader Kickstarter Pre-launch Page Here!

🔥🔥Also Check Out Today's SIZZLING SNIPPET🔥🔥 from Big Man on Campus BELOW! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

PLUS Check out an awesome football romance by a great author and a sizzling enemies to lovers story. Also take a look at some July romance specials below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

*****************************************

At SQ's House

Lots of boxes were delivered from Amazon this week! I'm stocking up on print books to bring with me to RomantiCONN next Saturday.

PLUS I actually published a paperback version of my 3 Book Set of Big Men on Campus! ➜➜➜➜

It's a whopping 818 pages long!! I love the Big Men on Campus series, but that's not why I published a big fat print book.

Why did I? Because I'm making it available on my Kickstarter Campaign for The Cheerleader as a Reward and an add-on. (if this makes no sense, see explanation below.)

Meanwhile, because I'm a wicked sports fan in between NBA and NFL seasons, I've been watching the WNBA--and now I'm hooked! 🏀

Those ladies are awesome! The games are fast and high scoring with amazing talent on all the teams.

I've been a longtime fan of college women's basketball, but the difference in skill level and speed is enormous.

(I apologize to all the non-sports fans for not being able to contain my sports obsession. thank you for your patience. 💜)

About the HIP: it's been 5 weeks since my hip surgery and I'm almost back to normal. I still can't drive or sit for long, but maybe by next week... 💜

*****************************************

Favorite reviews--from way back!

a May-December rom-com suspense

The Throwbacks

"Loved it! The Throwbacks is a funny, quirky, fall-in-love with the characters type of book. Ms. Queen has done a wonderful job developing the characters. Grace is light and fluffy; David is dark and reserved. Perfect match! May-December love stories are so few and far between. It was great to find this one and to totally enjoy it at the same time. Kudos to Stephanie Queen. ”

--Aroke, Amazon

"This was the first book I have read by this author and it will certainly not be my last! I fell in love with the quirky, effervescent Grace and and charming, sexy older Scotland Yard Inspector David! Their whirlwind romance was deeply moving and sweetly sensual without being explicit! I could hardly put it down! I highly recommend this as a MUST READ for romance lovers!!"

--KPBeaudoin

Let me give a truly heartfelt thank you to all of you who write and post reviews for any of the books you read. It means a great deal to every author I know.

READ NOW!

*****************************************

back by popular demand

🔥🔥SIZZLING SNIPPET OF THE WEEK!🔥🔥

from

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

Joni

He gives me a pussy-teasing kiss, then backs up, ready to leave me at the door, but I hear myself say, “Don’t go.”

Jack studies my face with those eyes, like he’s eating me up, like he can see through me, and I hope he does. I hope he sees what I want from him. Now, before the night changes to the cold light of day. 

I feel like the pumpkin in Cinderella, wanting to go for the wildest ride possible while I have wheels.

“I don’t know, Princess," he rasps. "If I stay, we’ll be crossing a hard line, the kind we can’t uncross.” He comes close and slips a hand through my hair as his words flow over me, not sinking in, his voice winding through me while the feel of his hot fingers on my scalp distracts me.

He brings his other hand to curve around my ass, pulling me against him so I feel his cock, harder than before. A shudder runs through me, and I barely stop myself from moaning, from falling on my knees in front of him right here and now.

He rests his forehead against mine, his mouth almost touches mine and he breathes into me. My heart hammers with the impossible anticipation of him, but he stays like that, breathing slow and unbothered, and I don’t know what he’s doing, what he’s thinking. I only know he has complete control. 

Then he covers my lips with his, pulling on me like he’s the thirstiest man in the world and I’m a lake, an oasis, his last hope. He presses me harder, backing me into the door, and I can hardly catch my breath, hardly hear anything but the beating of my heart. I feel the thundering in his chest as he leans against me and I want so much more from him, I need to tell him somehow, to make him come with me. 

He breaks away and whispers, “You want me inside?”

I’m dizzy from the implication. He’s read my mind, but I’m not sure if he means inside me or my dorm. It doesn’t matter. I nod and breathe into his mouth. “Yes.”

“I’d say you’re not my type, but my dick is telling us otherwise.” His voice scrapes my nerves like gravel. He lets out a long hard sigh. “You know I want you like a son of a bitch." He pauses and separates from me. “But you are so far off-limits—”

“You’re going to turn me down?” Realization lashes me into humiliation and I reflexively press my hands against his chest and push. He barely moves.

“It’s for your own good.”

“You’re such a—”

“I know what I am and I know what you are. A good girl. Let’s keep it that way.”

“A good—” I choke out a laugh, infuriated with shame. But why should I be ashamed?  “You think you’re so noble, don’t you?” I can hear the tears of frustration rise my voice and I take a deep breath, shaking with the effort not to slap him. 

He’s brought me to the brink of seduction just to prove that he can, to humiliate me. Once again.

“You’re a cowardly asshole. You’re not noble in the least—”

He smiles. “No. I’m not noble. And don’t you forget it, Joni.” He takes another step away from me, so that I’m outside the sphere of his influence. His scent and warmth fade and all the sparkling delicious sensual titillation and passionate self-righteous indignation of a moment before goes flat. All those emotions become a memory, a two-dimensional imagining inside the space of my mind.

I laugh. Too loud in the quiet of the night and empty of anything resembling humor. Looking at him I see the Jack of my imagination, the one I lived with after I left school because of him, the one I’ve worked so hard to banish.

“I’ll see you Monday for calc lessons,” he says, watching me. I open my mouth and then close it again without speaking. I should tell him to go to hell, but I can’t. 

He smirks. He knows what I’m thinking, knows I need the tutoring, that I have another quiz to prep for. And he knows I’m addicted to the tutoring sessions, to his attention. 

Shit. Damn him. I turn away and stumble inside, wishing I had the gumption to slap him.

As I run up the stairs to my room, I wish the memory of his kiss wasn’t overwhelming my anger and humiliation. I can feel his lips on mine and the vibration of need that the thought of tasting him sends through me erases whatever else I’ve felt about him.

As I reach my room, I wish I’d taken Dooley’s advice and bought the vibrator that time we went to the toy party at Amherst.

Read More Here!

*****************************************

Surprise Snippet: THE CHEERLEADER

Bryan

“Fuck.” Holding the football into my chest. I barely make it to the sidelines with Mack Delaney diving after me. As he hits me, I crash into a crowd of cheerleaders before I roll to a stop. Fuck. I manage to keep that one under my breath as the shouts and screeches hit my ears. 

“Sorry. You Okay?” Mack says. But he’s not talking to me. Hefting myself off the ground I frown when I see the athletic trainer trotting over and coach Torino looking our way. He blows the whistle and sends some freshmen in for a rep. Then he waves off the athletic trainer deciding there's no harm done.

Some of the girls giggle as they reassure Mack that they're fine. They're all smiles. The male cheerleaders stare and I’m not sure what to make of that, but I don’t care much. Eldridge comes off the field and heads for us instead of to the bench as I'm about to head back. He stops me.

“You ladies okay?" he asks. Here we go. "Sorry about the throw. I was a little off. I didn’t mean to make ait so close to where you’re…” He waves his hand like he’s not sure what they’re doing..

One of the girls says, “Practicing.” She beams her smile and I swear she looks familiar, like I should know her, but she wasn’t on the squad last year. I would know. You can’t spend any time with Liz McNeil and not know everything about the UConn cheerleaders whether you want to or not.

“What’s that contraption for?” Eldridge points to the minitramp.

Mack laughs and takes off, heading for the bench. I should follow him, but I feel obligated to stick with Eldy, so I stand rooted to the spot while I’m dying of thirst.

“It’s a mini tramp,” I say. My parched voice sounds gruff, not that it matters. “You should move it down toward the defensive end zone to stay out of the way.”

The new girl gives me a surprised look.

“What my charming friend means," Eldy says, "is that he’s concerned for your safety.” He grinning at the girl while a few other cheerleaders stand and watch. I glance over to see Liz with a couple of the guys, all business, working on a stunt. 

“I’m Dane Eldlridge, quarterback. This grump is Bryan.” He tilts his head in my direction and I frown to confirm his grump comment. “And you are?”

“ Susie Bennett. Nice to meet you.” She’s aiming her pretty face at Eldy and looking at him like he’s a historical artifact. Susie Bennett… I know that name from somewhere. She  glances at me. “It’s nice to meet both of you.”

I grunt and push Eldy in the direction of the bench where we belong. He winks at Susie and mouths see you tonightat Husky’s as if she’s a lip reader. 

“Good luck with that,” I mutter under my breath. For some reason, I don’t think she’s my friend’s type. She seems too serious.

“Did you see that?” Judy says loud enough for us all to hear. “The team’s lady killer wants to see you tonight at Husky’s. Are you going to meet him?”

I want to shout at the ridiculous girl we can hear you, but I turn away, not wanting to hear the conversation.

“Do you read lips or something?” I hear Susie say in spite of myself as we walk away.

When I hear Liz laugh, I don’t turn around and try not to start running. She says loud enough for the world to hear, “We’ll all go. We deserve pizza tonight.” 

Eldy grins at me and I smack his head. 

“You’re just jealous,” he says.

“Of what exactly?” I say in my disinterested monotone to annoy him. 

“Because the Great Dane has scored again.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Eldy.” I say. He may be known as Dane to all the girls on campus but I can’t call him that without thinking of the Great Dane dog breed or worse, some Nordic prince—which he’s not. The rest of the team, for whatever the reason, followed my cue and now he has to live with the name Eldy in the locker room. 

He elbows me in my pads, but I feel it and squash the urge to wince at the sharp pain because the bruising on my ribs underneath borders on a fracture. I don’t know for sure because I declined the team docs suggestion to get an X-ray. 

“Did you hear that?” he says, oblivious as usual, in his own self-absorbed world. “We’re on for Husky’s tonight with the cheerleaders.”

“I’m not deaf.” I put my helmet on the bench, glad to be away from the mini-tramp, the cheerleaders and their incessant talking and giggling. Liz is the only person on the squad I know or care to know.

With the possible exception of Susie Bennett because I can't get rid of the idea that I know her from some fucking place.

Not that it matters.

Eldy follows me, his helmet still on his head. “You have to come out with us to Husky’s, tonight.”

“Are you going to bug me to go out every night until I do?” 

He grins and nods. “I know you want to. Pizza—"

“Fuck you.” In truth, I like the pizza at Husky’s enough to tolerate a short stint of giggling girls for it—not that I make a steady diet of pizza. I’m working on staying lean and I’ve noticed too much pizza doesn’t work for that.

He slaps my back. “Don’t worry. They’ll leave you alone. I’ll grab all the attention. Except for Liz of course.”

“You can have her attention too. She’s not mine. I told you we’re not a thing. We broke up last winter.”

“Are you sure? Because I heard her stop by last night—”

I whip my head around and look at him as we reach the water barrel. Grabbing a cup, I look away and get some water which I pour half in my mouth and half over my head.

“It was nothing. She was drunk. She didn’t stay.”

“I know.” He pauses and I can feel him watching me. 

“What?” I grumble, waiting for his usual accusation.

“You need to get over her, man. Move on. Try someone new—”

“Nothing to get over and I don’t need anyone new. Haven’t you heard me? This is our year, Eldy. We’re going to win the conference.”

He laughs. “And you’re going to get a fat NFL contract.”

 I frown and raise my hand to scratch my face, disguising the middle finger I give him because coach is a stickler about sportsmanship and team unity and he’s called me out on my so-called lewdness before.

Eldy leans in, his smile gone. “I hear there’ll be scouts at the Navy game.”

I grunt. “You’re listening to gossip again.” I shake my head. I’d heard the same thing from a local reporter—Hartford, not Storrs, and not unreliable. Still, I’ll believe it when I see it.

“None of that shit matters,” I say. “I’m going to stay focused on training and the game and improving my speed.” I stare him down in challenge.

“Don’t give me that look. I train hard.”

My smirk escapes because I know he puts in his time. Not as much time as I do, but I know I’m a driven bastard. I shake my head. I have no choice. I was born this way. At least that’s what my mother tells me. Says I get it from my dad. Hard work and a charming personality is all from him, she always tells me. She’s kidding about dad being a charmer. He’s a man of few words and fewer smiles and although I’m okay with that, I know enough to realize most people aren’t charmed.

We’re watching the guys on the field finish the drill and it’s about time for our turn again. 

Eldy turns to me, as serious as he gets. “So you put in extra time with the weights for speed?” He’s asking my advice because he’s a competitive fucker and I admire that about him. He may joke, but he doesn’t like being outdone by me, not even in the hard work department—the only one where I outshine him in my opinion.

“No,” I lift my helmet to put the smelly thing back on my head. “The time with weights is so the defensive linemen will bounce off me when they try to take me down.”

He laughs. Coach Torino blows a whistle and motions for us to go back out there.

“Let’s see if they bounce off you today, Granger,” my friend says as we trot onto the field.

“You just pay attention to the pass off and I’ll do the rest.” I can already taste the salty sweat on my lips as we line up under the relentless afternoon sun.

We line up with Eldy under center. I’m on the line as if I’m going to run out for a short pass or block for Lenny Dobbins our wide receiver to my right.

Eldy calls out the play and we all know what it is, including the defense. They all know it’s a run play where Eldy drops back and fakes the pass and tosses the ball off to me. The play requires the line to hold up the defense and split second timing on the toss. It requires me to catch the short toss as I step back, and then take off through the gap the right guard and tight end are supposed to open up.

“Sixteen-twentyf-our-ready-set-hut,” Eldy shouts.

The center snaps the ball and we all move. Including the big beefy defensive linemen, except they’re moving right at me.

But I’m quicker because my life depends on it, or at least the health of my limbs and not to mention my ribs. I’m first off the line and move past the lineman who’s beef makes him a fraction of a second slower than me and that’s all I need.

The inside linebacker is another matter because he’s leaner and faster and coming at me, diving for my knees. I jump over the linebacker like a champion hurdler. When my feet hit the ground, I turn the switch to a flat out sprint. Twenty yards out from the endzone, I see in my peripheral vision our fastest safety, Fletcher, chasing me down. I know he’s going to catch me before I get to the end zone in spite of me willing my legs to churn faster. 

Preparing for impact, I hold onto the football almost hard enough to bust it. When Fletcher’s close, I turn away from him to protect the ball as he flies at me from two-o’clock, and dive forward in an automatic move to gain extra yards as we collide.

“Where you think you’re going, Granger?” Fletcher says as he rolls over me and pops up to a stand. He has a nasty grin on his face and his hands on his hips, as he towers over me blocking the sun from my eyes. He doesn’t bother to extend a hand to help me up from where I lie flat on my back still clutching the ball. 

Catching my breath, I grin up at him. “Thank for blocking the sun while I rest a minute.” I’m not one to back down from challenge. It’s always best to taunt a taunter, even when it’s my own teammate. Though I’m smart enough to keep my voice low so that only he can hear me. 

He doesn’t say a thing as I stare up at him wondering what the fuck his problem is before I remember I don’t care. 

Mack Delaney, the linebacker I used as a hurdle, trots up, winded and laughing. “You shitting me, Granger? You fucking hurdled me. You practicing with the track team on the off season? That was crazy.” He stretches out a hand and I take it, pulling myself off the grass. 

Suppressing a grunt, I manage to hide the fact that my ribs are on fire behind my game face which looks a lot like a grimace anyway. My normal badass face.

“You practice that face in the mirror?” Fletcher says.

I don’t bother acknowledging his wiseass comment. He’s already gotten as much attention from me as he’s getting. Trotting back to the line in spite of the pain, I tell myself it’s just another in a long line of bruises.

CHECK OUT THE

KICKSTARTER PRE-LAUNCH PAGE HERE!

************************************************

Only 1 Week Away!

RomantiCONN is Coming!

I'll be signing books on Saturday July 27th and I'd love to see you there!

Trumbull Marriott, Trumbull, CT

Advance Tickets Available through 7/24 HERE!

****************************************************

More books for your reading pleasure

SQ's Featured Authors

Hockey Romance at Its Best!

Daddy's Grumpy Best Friend - Haley Storm

A Sizzling Enemies To Lovers Romance

I just found out the one-night stand from last week is half my age and my best friend's daughter.

She's been working here two days and walks around like she owns the place, a straight pain in my a$$. 

Nola's drop-dead gorgeous but gets on my. Every. Last. Nerve.

I just can't get the night out of my head when I tossed back my bourbon, gave her a side eye, and told her to get her act together.

Before I could blink, she was on my lap, her thick thighs straddling mine. 

Being with her means I risk losing everything her father and I built.

He's the one person responsible for my success. 

She's off-limits, but when I'm pressed against her, I can't resist. 

I didn't reach this level of wealth without making hard decisions.

Protecting Nola unleashed an animal in me I haven't seen in years. 

I'll do anything to win her heart and make her mine… 

READ FOR FREE NOW!

***************

The Nanny's Fumble Recovery - Brittany Bell

A fish out of water romance story

Madison is a small town Texas girl who knows all about hard work, but when she applies, and is hired, at the Practically Perfect Nannies Agency, she soon finds out she's in over her head with her client.

Cade is new to the big game of professional football. He is trying to keep his head down, only focus on his duties to the team, and stay away from all the ‘bad’ extracurricular activities that go on all around the league.

When the quarterback on the team needs a favor, the rookie is obligated to accept the task, but he never thought that task would involve a pretty little blonde who is completely out of her element.

Order The Nanny's Fumble Recovery now to find out if this inexperienced duo will be able to survive all the newness they are up against.

*Please note that this is a sample of The Nanny's Fumble Recovery and not the entire book.

READ FOR FREE NOW!

*********************************************************

More Romance Books for You!

ROMANCE FREEBIES JUL/AUG

LUST & LITERATURE

WIDE BOOKS FOR SALE EVERYWHERE!

********************************************************

SQ ROMANCE FANS!

➜➜Join the SQ Team on Facebook Here

When you have a chance, please let me know what you think of my snippet from THE CHEERLEADER.

I always love hearing from you and would LOVE feedback. Hit reply and send a note any time. 💜

Warmest Regards,