Desire & Dessert by Madison Michael
Welcome to Mary's Garden Blog. Hope all of you are enjoying the fall, or whatever season you are in.
First, before we move on we need to have our weekly garden tip. I'm not a gardening, yes, I know Mary's Garden, right? I LOVE gardens, I love to enjoy them, relax in them, and write in them, etc.
My husband is the resident gardener and works our to make our yard enjoyable. Since he is busy watching NFL, I have referred to Gardening Know How for our tip:
Put the Garden to Bed
Dig up and bring in any sensitive bulbs or tubers. This will depend on your USDA plant hardiness zone, but anywhere there is an extended freeze plants should be brought indoors. Removing plant debris and raking will decrease pest, disease and weed seeds that overwinter. Empty the compost bins and start a new batch. Spread the compost around the base of sensitive plants that can use the extra layer as a blanket. Plant a cover crop on your vegetable garden.
Now let's hear from Madison Michael.

Desire and Dessert
B&B Billionaire Romance Series (Book 1)
By Madison Michael
Madison has put together some really awesome Prize Packages to giveaway during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win one of the prize packages. You may find the tour locations here.
About Desire & Dessert:
Can they forge a business merger and a personal one too?
Spoiled Stevie Jurran expects smooth sailing when she arrives at Lakeside Lodge to implement her plan to merge it into the luxury Bijoux Hotel chain. Completing this simple task will move her up the corporate ladder, increase her value to her fatherās multi-billion dollar business and settle the score with her cheating ex-fiancĆ©. Just one insignificant B&B stands between her and success āone B&B and its provoking and intriguing manager.
Secretive and sexy Grant Harris is not your typical innkeeper. Digging in his heels, he tries to preserve the aesthetic of Lakeside Lodge by resisting every change Stevie implements. Retreating from his life in the B&Bās surroundings, Grant quickly learns thereās no way to combat his growing desire for the infuriating heiress. Can he concede to her demands and contend with his past to win this alluring woman?
The B&B should be a perfect fit for the hotel chain. Stevie and Grant should be a perfect fit as well, but will they set aside their pasts and egos to complete a merger of a different kind?
Will love seal their deal? Amazon
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2NJ30xy
Excerpt from Desire & Dessert:
āInside or out?ā
The maĆ®treād and Grant were both looking at Stevie expectantly. Usually assertive, she demurred to Grant. āYou know the place better; you choose.ā
āIf you would like the patio, Dr. Harris,ā the host suggested in a heavily accented voice, āI have a lovely corner table.ā
The couple acquiesced and were seated in the back corner of the enclosed patio. The music was fainter, but still audible accompanied by the tinkling sound of a fountain. Stevie glanced across the patio. There were about eight tables outdoors, all for parties of two. High bushes of hibiscus and roses bursting with blooms surrounded the patio. The fragrance was wonderful, the table incredibly intimate.
āYou like it?ā Grant asked with a hint of uncertainty.
āI love it.ā
āWait until you taste the food,ā he promised, his confidence restored.
They hid behind tall menus, selecting dishes to share along with a carafe of sangria. After giving their order to the server they were finally alone.
āItās beautiful here,ā Stevie breathed. āThank you for suggesting it.ā
āNow that I finally have you alone,ā Grant teased only to be interrupted by the server arriving to pour their drinks. āSo much for my sinister plans.ā
āDo you have sinister plans?ā Stevie queried in a low, husky voice.
āDo you want me to?ā
āNo answering a question with a question,ā Stevie responded. She watched conflicting emotions waver across Grantās face and waited quietly. She would not give him an out. She had learned from business that silence was a powerful tool.
āYes, in fact, Stevie. I have very sinister plans.ā
The words were out, electric between them like a live thing. Stevie sucked in a breath, surprised by how quickly and matter of factly Grant had stated his desires. She reached her foot forward under the table closing the few inches that separated them. She rubbed her foot slowly up his leg, allowing her movements to acknowledge what she failed to say with her lips.
āHave I shocked you?ā
āI guess that depends on just how sinister you can be. Mostly you have pleased me,ā Stevie admitted. No shy wallflower, she gave Grant a bold smile and placed her hand in his. āIām looking forward to finding out.ā
Grant pressed a soft kiss on the back of her hand then released her as course after course of Latin inspired small plates arrived. For the next hour they spoke of the food, the atmosphere, the music, everything but each other and what lay ahead. After assuring that he ordered something to satisfy Stevieās sweet tooth, Grant requested the check. When it arrived, Grant automatically reached for it and Stevie reveled in the moment. Too often she was the one who paid for the date. Not tonight.
āWe could go dancing?ā Grant asked. āPerhaps a salsa club in keeping with our theme?ā Stevie believed he was just making a polite offer but couldnāt quite tell.
āAre you a good dancer?ā
āNot on a dance floor.ā Grant offered her a wicked smile and reached to help her from the chair. āBut in a bedroomā¦ā
āBraggart.ā
āAm I?ā
āShall we find out?ā
Madison Michael traded 28 years in Fortune 500 tech and management positions for a chance to spend her days with sassy heroines, sexy, rich heroes and nothing but happy endings. Growing up the daughter of a librarian, she learned to love books, especially classics and romances, and spent winters cuddled under blankets losing herself in books.
Madison is the author of three novels in the Beguiling Bachelor series, as well as several short stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.
After living in the northeast, southeast and the west, Maddy returned to her Midwest roots. She lives in Evanston, IL with two feline editorial assistants and great views of Chicagoās famous skyline.
Social Links:
Website: madisonmichael.net
Madison's Blog: madisonmichael.net/category/maddys-blog
Maddy's Romance Madness: madisonmichael.net/category/mrm/
Maddy's Tours and Treats: madisonmichael.net/category/tours-and-treats/
Facebook: facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance
Twitter: twitter.com/madisonmichael_
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/Madison-Michael/e/B01EVUGG6G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
About Desire & Dessert:

Secretive and sexy Grant Harris is not your typical innkeeper. Digging in his heels, he tries to preserve the aesthetic of Lakeside Lodge by resisting every change Stevie implements. Retreating from his life in the B&Bās surroundings, Grant quickly learns thereās no way to combat his growing desire for the infuriating heiress. Can he concede to her demands and contend with his past to win this alluring woman?
The B&B should be a perfect fit for the hotel chain. Stevie and Grant should be a perfect fit as well, but will they set aside their pasts and egos to complete a merger of a different kind?
Will love seal their deal? Amazon
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2NJ30xy

āInside or out?ā
The maĆ®treād and Grant were both looking at Stevie expectantly. Usually assertive, she demurred to Grant. āYou know the place better; you choose.ā
āIf you would like the patio, Dr. Harris,ā the host suggested in a heavily accented voice, āI have a lovely corner table.ā
The couple acquiesced and were seated in the back corner of the enclosed patio. The music was fainter, but still audible accompanied by the tinkling sound of a fountain. Stevie glanced across the patio. There were about eight tables outdoors, all for parties of two. High bushes of hibiscus and roses bursting with blooms surrounded the patio. The fragrance was wonderful, the table incredibly intimate.
āYou like it?ā Grant asked with a hint of uncertainty.
āI love it.ā
āWait until you taste the food,ā he promised, his confidence restored.
They hid behind tall menus, selecting dishes to share along with a carafe of sangria. After giving their order to the server they were finally alone.
āItās beautiful here,ā Stevie breathed. āThank you for suggesting it.ā
āNow that I finally have you alone,ā Grant teased only to be interrupted by the server arriving to pour their drinks. āSo much for my sinister plans.ā
āDo you have sinister plans?ā Stevie queried in a low, husky voice.
āDo you want me to?ā
āNo answering a question with a question,ā Stevie responded. She watched conflicting emotions waver across Grantās face and waited quietly. She would not give him an out. She had learned from business that silence was a powerful tool.
āYes, in fact, Stevie. I have very sinister plans.ā
The words were out, electric between them like a live thing. Stevie sucked in a breath, surprised by how quickly and matter of factly Grant had stated his desires. She reached her foot forward under the table closing the few inches that separated them. She rubbed her foot slowly up his leg, allowing her movements to acknowledge what she failed to say with her lips.
āHave I shocked you?ā
āI guess that depends on just how sinister you can be. Mostly you have pleased me,ā Stevie admitted. No shy wallflower, she gave Grant a bold smile and placed her hand in his. āIām looking forward to finding out.ā
Grant pressed a soft kiss on the back of her hand then released her as course after course of Latin inspired small plates arrived. For the next hour they spoke of the food, the atmosphere, the music, everything but each other and what lay ahead. After assuring that he ordered something to satisfy Stevieās sweet tooth, Grant requested the check. When it arrived, Grant automatically reached for it and Stevie reveled in the moment. Too often she was the one who paid for the date. Not tonight.
āWe could go dancing?ā Grant asked. āPerhaps a salsa club in keeping with our theme?ā Stevie believed he was just making a polite offer but couldnāt quite tell.
āAre you a good dancer?ā
āNot on a dance floor.ā Grant offered her a wicked smile and reached to help her from the chair. āBut in a bedroomā¦ā
āBraggart.ā
āAm I?ā
āShall we find out?ā
About Madison:

Madison is the author of three novels in the Beguiling Bachelor series, as well as several short stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.
After living in the northeast, southeast and the west, Maddy returned to her Midwest roots. She lives in Evanston, IL with two feline editorial assistants and great views of Chicagoās famous skyline.
Social Links:
Website: madisonmichael.net
Madison's Blog: madisonmichael.net/category/maddys-blog
Maddy's Romance Madness: madisonmichael.net/category/mrm/
Maddy's Tours and Treats: madisonmichael.net/category/tours-and-treats/
Facebook: facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance
Twitter: twitter.com/madisonmichael_
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/Madison-Michael/e/B01EVUGG6G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Thank you, Madison, my readers always enjoy when you visit.
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