Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Seductive Musings

Friday, October 26, 2007

The Scent of a Man


Scratch and sniff? I wish!

Take a moment to imagine Marc Hunter. Six-feet-four of alpha male, 200 solid, muscular pounds, green eyes. If you nuzzled against Marc's chest, how would he smell? What scent would his skin exude? How would his natural animal scent make you feel?

The answer to that question is coming soon.

I am beyond myself with excitement to announce that I am collaborating with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of Parfume des Beaux Arts in the creation of perfumes that represent the characters of Sophie Alton — and my favorite convicted murderer — Marc Hunter.

Dawn and I met when I went in search of ambergris. I've always had a sensitive nose — a boon and a bane — and wanted to know what ambergris smells like. This was related to an erotic romance that I may or may not be writing. I found her via Google, and was thrilled to know that a real perfumer — as opposed to a stink scientist — lived in my town.

I discovered that, though I hadn't heard of Dawn, the editors at Oprah magazine had. So had an A-list of Hollywood celebrities who wear her hand-crafted scents, not to mention a host of people on both coasts and in Europe. I visited the studio and was deeply impressed by her creativity and the magic that goes into creating a true perfume.

Dawn uses mostly natural essenses and makes her perfumes drop by drop just as European parfumers did two hundred years ago. She was recently invited to speak at the Denver Art Museum in connection with their ongoing exhibit of treasures from the Louvre. There, she talked about the kinds of scents that 18th century Frenchmen and woman might have worn, unveiling perfumes she'd created for Marie Antoinette and Madame du Pompadour.

Needless to say, I sniffed myself silly at her studio, and we started talking about ways that we might work together. This afternoon, we sorted through some ideas and decided to collaborate on scents for Sophie and Marc. Depending on how this goes, we might develop scents for all my characters.

Yes, Aimee, Julian, too. And, no, Boadicea, I won't forget Iain.

How do you bottle raw, sexy Alpha Male? If anyone knows, it's Dawn.

I've been wearing some of her scents lately and loving them. Typically I don't wear perfume because it's so powerful that I gag. A woman will step out of an elevator or walk past me on the street, and I choke at the toxic fumes wafting off her skin. But because Dawn uses real oils and not chemicals created in a lab, her perfumes are much more subtle — and very sexy. I also bought some essenses from her — ambergris and Arabian musk — which I play with, too.

So far, my faves are "Seduction" and "Lili." When I first wore "Seduction," I kept waking up at night thinking, "What's that wonderful smell?" It was my wrist. LOL! I started wearing "Lili" recently. She described "Lili" as being a young woman in Paris in the springtime. All I know is that it's very sweet and innocently sexy. I also wear the Arabian musk. For some reason, Arabian musk, which I know now is one of four "animal" scents, drives me bonkers. I swear, I could huff it all day long. At any rate, I love her scents.

The cool thing is that Dawn makes perfumes that everyone can afford. Just because Cher is one of her customers (no kidding!) doesn't mean I can't be, too.

Go poke around on her website...

https://www.dshperfumes.com/

Or read my article about her online...

http://www.boulderweekly.com/?site_id=619&id_sub=10397&page_id=10397

In the meantime, Dawn is reading an ARC of Unlawful Contact, and I'm working on Untamed. (No, really, I am. Honest.)

I hope everyone is ready for a relaxing weekend!

UPDATE:

I just learned that Benjy, my younger son, is a FINALIST for an all-expenses-paid four-year scholarship to Yale! Now I want to drink instead of write. LOL! Woohoo! Of course, that doesn't mean he'll get it, but it's still a wonderful thing to make the final cut.

9 comments:

Debbie H said...

Marc is definitely leather, spices, coffee and forest(pine,etc). Can't wait to smell the fragrances!

Give Benj a hug and a good pat on the back for the nomination and I will keep good vibes he gets it.

Anonymous said...

HEY that is awesome big Congrats to Benj that is just wonderful! And I'm gonna check out Dawn's website it sounds wonderful. I'm like you I have a really hard time finding any perfume that I even remotely like. Most are like you said stink in a bottle lol.

Bo said...

First off,HUGH congrats to Ben! That would be awesome if he got it!!!

Now,I can tell you exactly what Iain would smell like-ME,since I'd be all over him first chance I got,LOL.

Seriously,though,this is SO cool! I am a sucker for a fine smelling man.I've nearly given myself whiplash on several occasions after a man has walked by.And if he looks half as good as he smells...just collect me from the floor,please,'cause I turn into a puddle,LOL.Not every man can wear every cologne,though-I believe the scent should fit the man and vice-versa.A man's natural scent should make you want to rip his clothes off and just do him right there,who cares where you are or who is watching.It ought to inspire instant hardcore lust.

Woodsy stuff is good,if it's not too strong.Clean smelling,ocean-type stuff is a fave of mine as well.It has to drive you insane the minute it hits your nose and make you want the kind of man that would wear it.I imagine Marc with a little combo of those and maybe some other things as well.Iain is woods and smoke from fires and sweat and even a bit of dirt to me.

Hot damn this is exciting! I'll have to check out Dawn's site when I have more time.

Anonymous said...

Holy Cow way to go Benj! That is awesome.

That is so cool that you are working on fragrances. I would definatley love to get my hands on some! It is fun to imagine how the different characters would smell and this is a very cool way to bring it to life!

Ronlyn said...

So cool!!! I've got a sensitive sniffer too. I can't WAIT to smell the scents you come up with.

And congrats Ben!!

Karen said...

That is freaking awesome about Benjy. I'm sending him and you good luck vibes!

Anonymous said...

Marc First? Really? *sigh* You just made my Monday. Can't wait to buy some. I wouldn't mind reading an ARC to help you decide the perfect scent for Marc. LOL

Congrats to Benj! That is a HUGE honor. My daughter is a senior and I've learned how difficult it can be to get a scholarship; to make the final cut is awesome. I'm sending good vibes your way!

Sue Z said...

Way to go Pamela and Benji too!

Hey, I remember playing dress up with those perfumes! I even have pictures (of the prayer meeting LOL).

I love a clean musky scent of a man. My DH smells so good after he showers and shaves. Some of the products they have for men just smell great.

Just like women, men should not overdue the cologne. When someone walks by me, I just want a hint of that scent, not the "OMG, he took a cologne bath!!"

I think that Marc would smell like sex and candy!! (Hmmmm, why does that sound familiar??)

Hi, Debbie H — Mmm, you make Marc sound soooo yummy! And thanks! I'll pass the hugs and congrats along. :-)

Hi, Jenn, thanks! I hope you found something that interested you on Dawn's site. Her scents are so delicate and amazing. I could truly sniff until I got dizzy. LOL!

Hi, Bo. Thanks! And ROFL! He would smell lik you, huh? I should say that in the story there's a scent Marc has been very hungry for, a scent he's been dying for, a scent he's thought about and missed for six long years while he's been in prison... Let's just say he manages to put his tongue on it eventually.

I like your interpretation of Iain. He would be exactly that — very earthy. Sweat, man, pine, dirt, and (to steal from you) ME! I'm very scent sensitive so a man's smell either turns me on or off. There's no in between.

Hi, Cheryle. Thanks for the congrats. I'm really excited too!

Hey, Ronlyn. Hope all is well with the wee ones. I'll be sure to let you know when we have samples. And thanks! I'll pass word along to Ben.

Hi, Karen, thanks so much for the vibes! Keeping fingers crossed here. We find out on Nov. 30.

Hi, Debbie D -- Cool that your daughter is a senior! Congrats on that and thanks for the good wishes. Yes, Marc first. And we will get the ARC contests soon, I promise. ;-)

Hi, SueZAY! Yes, you did some sniffing of her scents when you were here. We have photos of that. We all look like we're huffing or something. LOL!

Sex and candy? What do you think Marc is — some kind of M&M dispenser? Hugs to you, my PGB.

Hugs to everyone, and thanks!

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