Welcome to our Blog Tour Stop Got Caged? for Amber Lynn Natusch and her Caged Series books brought to you by Pure Textuality.  

When I was asked to compose a guest blog post, I had no idea what to write.  As an author, it was an especially low moment.  Then a great friend suggested that I take an excerpt from the first novel in my series, Caged, and explain what I loved about it.  Genus!  Times like this illustrate my need for a team of levelheaded people around me--and entourage of rational thinkers.  

The unfortunate reality for me was that my favorite scenes from Caged all contain spoilers, but I still managed to find some good ones :)

For this blog, I chose a scene that involves three of my favorite characters:  Ruby, Sean, and Ronnie. The combination of them together in one scenario led to some cheeky dialogue and a whole lot of tension.  Ronnie's keen observational skills combined with Sean's uncanny ability to disarm Ruby create a recipe for her complete embarrassment.  Unfortunately for Ruby, it's not the first time.  

Without further ado, I give you Ruby, Sean, and Ronnie, in the infamous "Crash" scene.

Excerpt:

As changed into the handpicked outfit, Dave Matthews Band's "Crash" came over the speakers in the shop.  It was clearly a sign.  I'd always had this theory that it couldn't be a bad day when that song came on the radio.  I smiled to myself in the mirror as a I pulled the blouse on and arranged it so it sat perfectly on my frame.  A pair of cognac-colored boots were thrust into the dressing room just in time.  

"Thanks," I told the disembodied arm.  

"You're welcome.  I forgot that Peyta wears the same size as you.  I think she was hiding them for herself.  You'll never believe where I found them," Ronnie replied, chuckling to herself.  

As I unzipped the boots to put them on, the jingling bells signaled another customer entering.  

"Can I help you?" Ronnie asked, sounding a little sweeter than usual.  

Hot guy for sure.

"Got an vintage rock shirts?  Preferably something from the seventies?"

Oh.  My.  God.

"Sure.  Over there in the corner.  I have some in the back too.  I'll go pull them for you," she said, sounding all too happy to oblige.

As soon as the coast was clear, I stuck my head out to see Sean standing where Ronnie had directed him, rifling through the tees.

"Do you work on your stalker qualities, or are you just stalker-tastic by nature?"  I asked him while his back was facing me.  

"Ruby," he said without turning around right away.  When he finally did, the remnants of a smile were barely visible on his face.  "Nice outfit," he said, giving me elevator-eyes.

"Evasion and flattery will get you nowhere.  Do I need a restraining order or what?"  I asked, trying desperately to stifle the grin that was tugging on my lips, threatening to expose my true sentiment.  

"Maybe," was his only response.

"I found these four in the back.  They look like they should fit you," Ronnie said as she shot through the strings of beads.

"It's not for me, but thanks.  The size should be fine."

"Is it your boyfriend's birthday?"  I asked mockingly.  

"Don't worry, Ruby, he's just a friend.  You know it's you I really want," he kidded.  I turned eighty shades of read.

Ronnie cocked her head to the side as she watched us, clearly amused with something as the right corder of her mouth twitched and turned up.  I rolled my eyes at her and bit the proverbial bullet.  

"Ronnie, this is Sean.  Sean, Ronnie."

They exchanged pleasantries before Ronnie focused her attention back on me.

"Just beefing up the wardrobe my ass" she said with piercing eyes that only a mother possesses.  I said nothing in response.  

"I'll take this one," Sean said, breaking the brief silence which I had no intention of filling.  

Ronnie turned to him and took the shift before heading over to the counter to ring up the purchase.

I scoffed to myself and muttered something under my breath.  

"What was that?"  Sean asked.

I signed heavily in an attempt to convey my displeasure with repeating myself.

"I said 'so much for that theory'."

"And what theory would that be?"  he asked casually.

I sighed again.

"My theory that it can't ever be a bad day when Dave Matthews sings 'Crash' on the radio."

He smiled boyishly.  

"You like that song?"  he asked.

"It's one of my faces.  Why?"  

"You do know what it's about, don't you?"  he asked, choking on a laugh.

"Apparently you do, so why don't you enlighten me?"  I asked, getting frazzled by his persistence.

"It's about masturbation.  He's a Peeping Tom, Ruby," he said, just before he roared with laughter.  

"You're disgusting.  It is not...it's about love."

The more I tried to defend my tune, the harder he laughed.  Ronnie finally cleared her voice from behind the counter.  

"It's forty-five dollars, please," she said to Sean.

He wiped the tears that were welling in his eyes from the strain of laughing.

"Sorry," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the necessary cash.  "Here you go." 

He took the bag that Ronnie extended to him before turning back to me.  

"I guess your theory was wrong.  You really do look like you're having a bad day."

"You're an ass" was all I could muster in response.  

"Never claimed to be anything else," he said as he strode past me flashing his impossibly green eyes down to mine.  "You should buy it.  Especially the boots.  I have the perfect place for you to wear them," he said plainly.  "I'll see you soon, Ruby."

I stared blankly at the door from which he's just exited, completely speechless.  I heard from Ronnie come up beside me.

"I'd do more than beef up my wardrobe for that one," she said, her comment laced with innuendo.  

"It's not like that Ronnie," I defended.

"It should be.  It really, really should be," she said, staring me down.  

Book 4 - Scarred releases September 24th, 2012  =)  

Amber Lynn Natusch

Website 

If you're dying to know more about me, allow me to put you at ease. I'm a sharp-tongued, sarcastic cancer, who loves vegetable smoothies, winter storms, and the word "portfolio". I should NEVER be caffeinated, and require at least eight hours of sleep to even resemble a human being. At thirty-four, I just now feel like I can keep a straight face while saying the word "rectum" (which is actually a huge lie because I just laughed out loud while reading this to my husband). I live with my iPod firmly affixed to my body, drive too fast, and laugh/cry at inappropriate times.

Now here's your chance to win an ebook copy of the first book to the Caged Series.  Just fill out the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

Two ebook copies are up for grabs.  

Winner will be announced September 18