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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Heating Up Your February!


I don’t know about where you live, but here in Ottawa, Canada it’s cold outside!  In February, a lot of people like to head to warmer climates and enjoy some much needed sunshine.  Not everyone can get away, however, but luckily, we can always pick up a good book to enjoy some heat!  ;-)  With my new book, Insatiable, released on Valentine’s Day, the heat is two-fold.   It’s hot and sexy, like all my books, and it takes place in the beautiful, tropical Cayman Islands.

My working title for the book was Honeymoon for Three.  It starts off on Crystal’s disastrous wedding day when the best man confesses he loves her and the groom doesn’t show up.  Crystal’s sister, who believes there is a spark between Crystal and Evan, the best man, convinces her to go on her honeymoon with him.  After they arrive at the villa in the Caymans and start to explore their relationship, the groom shows up determined to win her back.


The time I spent on research for Insatiable was mostly about this lovely honeymoon location.  The book starts in California where the wedding takes place, but then moves to the Caymans, so I did a lot of research to find out about the islands.  For instance, what kind of vacation villas are available there, what the beaches are like, the temperature and color of the water, and the types of tourist activities that exist.


I was intrigued by the fact that a popular tourist activity is feeding the stingrays.  People go out to a specific sandbar where they can go into the shallow water and stingrays will swim around them, even brushing against them.  I found videos on YouTube of people actually doing it.  I included this activity in a scene in the book.  It’s only a very short scene, but I did a lot of research to ensure it rings true.  I just wish I could have gone to the Cayman Islands to do it first hand!

Here are a couple of those videos:




Another way to heat up your February is with some Red Hot Fantasies!  In December, I started a series of short stories, called Red Hot Fantasies.  The second short story, THE STRANGER, came out in mid-January, and the third should be out this spring.  You can find more information about these and my other books on my website:  http://www.opalcarew.com/bookshelf/index.php

What do you like to do to heat up the winter months?  Are you planning a vacation, or a short getaway?  Do you spend cold winters nights in front of a fire reading a book?  Or maybe you prefer to get out and enjoy the cold weather by skiing, skating, or simply enjoying a walk in the cold, crisp weather?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  If you leave a comment, you will be entered into a draw for a print copy of Insatiable.  Also, everyone who responds will receive a copy of The Male Stripper, the first story in my Red Hot Fantasies series.  (After you respond, please send me your email and the username you used for your comment to OpalCarewFreeStory @ gmail.com with the subject: “February Totebags Blog”.)

Thanks for reading,
Opal

***Opal's winner is Limecello!! Congratulations!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info so we can get a print copy of Insatiable in the mail to you!!***

21 comments:

Laurie G said...

Last winter I froze in Wisconsin. I did like cross coutry skiing. I shoveled a lot of snow and took walks for exercize. I like to read, make fires in the fireplace. it's a wonderful time to relax. This year I'm in Florida. Easier to motivate myself to swim and walk. Harder to find time to read and relax. Warm temps and sunny skies tend to put me in a better frame of mind.

Opal Carew said...

I'd love to me in Florida right now!

Laney4 said...

Oh dear. I don't sleep well (thanks to menopause) and desperately want to nap in the afternoon, but I am resisting by keeping myself busy -- by "finding my house" instead! I have been sorting through cupboards, bookshelves (gasp!), boxes in our crawl space, and more -- and have sorted lots of now-shredded paper, recycling, garbage, and donation items. It feels wonderful!!!
As for the rest of your questions, we can't afford a vacation per se right now, but always enjoy moments when we're off work at the same time (for a change) -- and when possible to vacation, we visit family 2,000+ miles away, where we enjoy geocaching, swimming in a wave pool with water slides, walking indoors daily, and doing jigsaw puzzles and playing board games in the evenings. Right now, I play competitive badminton five nights a week throughout the wintertime and basically come home, check email, watch a taped show on tv, and head to bed ASAP. I don't spend a lot of time outdoors in the wintertime due to health problems, but I DO try to toboggan once a year with family and friends.

Lil said...

I don't get a lot of vacation time from my job so honestly couldn't escape to warmer climate for part of winter. However, I love certain aspects of the season like curling up in front of the fire with a good book, or snuggling deep under a pile of blankets and comforters and reading in bed. Add a cup of coffee, tea, or serving of rum and I am happy. 'sides with a smoking hot read, sometimes being in a somewhat cool room isn't a bad thing.

little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

Pat Cochran said...

List me among those who snuggle up on
the"Big Comfy Couch" with good books,
a hot drink, and a warm coverlet! Even
here on the Texas Gulf Coast we
have been getting some cold weather!

Pat Cochran

Opal Carew said...

Laney4, you really keep busy. Playing competitive badminton 5 nights a week must keep you really fit! I like playing board games with my boys when they're not too busy with their courses at university.

Opal Carew said...

Lil and Pat, I like snuggling inside on a cold winder's day, too. Where I write, I have a nice view of my backyard which edges a conservation area, so I have a nice snowy vista. I often sit in my desk chair with a blanket and my cat next to me.

Leni said...

In the colder months I eat different types of soups, have warmer drinks and layer on the clothes. I don't go to special locations. My reading picks up during the colder weather.
Happy to say that it has been a mild winter this year and I am enjoying this. We had a tough one the last few years and this has been a nice break.

Opal Carew said...

Our winter started pretty late this year, which was great, but it's still getting pretty cold.

Opal Carew said...

Just a reminder to everyone commenting, please remember to send your email to me at OpalCarewFreeStory @ gmail.com so I can send you the free story.

Anonymous said...

Being from the Midwest and being a student I don't often get a chance to get away on vacation. I got the opportunity to go to Hawaii for 2 weeks recently though. Best time of my life. Never wanted to go home. But being that I can't jet off whenever I feel, I usually opt to hide myself under 5 or 6 blankets and read a book or watch movies.

Also, slightly off subject. I love your books. I own at least 5 and have gotten all my girlfriends hooked on reading them. big fan! :)

Michele L. said...

In the winter I always like to snuggle with my hubby under the covers to heat up. I love to read and it is so much fun to decide which book to read next. My TBR pile is 400 plus! I have a wonderful rotating shelving unit that holds all my TBR books. I sometimes read more in the colder weather but then again I do have favorite tv shows that I like to watch. Hubby and I like snuggle under a blanket on the sofa and watch tv in the evenings together.

limecello said...

Hi Opal! Oh! I'm so excited Insatiable is out! I had my eye on it the last time I went to your website and this was a great reminder. :D
As for what I do to heat up the winter months... I wish I could say I hibernate. I not exactly flush right now (or you know ever) so I stay home. :P It's nice to burrow into blankets and read a great book. A wood fire is always nice too. And a little spiked cocoa. ;)
What's really sad is... certain days I've started working out to increase circulation to stay warm. Look at what winter has reduced me to! :P

Opal Carew said...

Estark1, I'm glad you love my books! Thanks for telling your friends about them, too.

Opal Carew said...

Michele, that's a big TBR pile! I like to sit with hubby and enjoy a couple of TV shows, too. Currently, we're going through the Stargate Atlantis series, which I got him for Christmas, and following American Idol.

Opal Carew said...

Limecello, that's great that you've been looking forward to Insatiable! Blankets and a book sounds good to me, too. And the spiked cocoa... I like Bailey's in mine. :-)

Kathleen O said...

Opal from a fellow Canaadian, It is cold, cold here in Guleph... I would love to get away in the winter, but time an money just don't allow it right now. But I do hope to get away to my aunts condo in Florida, come April and then when I can back, Spring will hopefully be here...
your books sound terrific. Thanks for the giveaway..

Opal Carew said...

Kathleen, Hi. I went to university in Waterloo and went for my pilot's license at the Guelph airport! Enjoy Florida, and your welcome for the giveaway. (Don't forget to send me your email at OpalCarewFreeStory @ gmail.com so I can send you the story.)

Mary Preston said...

I do love snuggling up & reading when it's cold, but I also enjoy walking through the park. There is such a beauty in the starkness of the trees.

Shelley B said...

We like to camp. I like to sit before a big fire and read, talk, or play games with my family.

Chrisbails said...

In the cold months when we are bored I love to sit on the couch with a warm blanket, cup of tea, and a nice good book. I am don't like the cold and playing in the snow. My husband plays with the kids outside, he loves to sled with them.
This is a new author for me and would love to win and read this book.
christinebails@yahoo.com