New Year's Blog Hop - Day #3

Hello Hoppers!

Just a reminder that today is part of the New Year’s Blog Hop and below is what I’m offering.

If you are starting on my blog you’ll need to get the whole scoop about the blog hop! To go to the spot with all the instructions, just click on the logo and it will take you there.

My contribution to the hop is simple. Each of you will be entered into my daily drawing for a copy of my latest book, A Viennese Christmas. Second, have any of you heard of the painting called The Kiss? Here’s a copy of it in case you’ve never seen it:

This painting is by the artist Gustav Klimt and is a very famous painting that resides in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria. It also happens to be just right up the street from my flat. Here’s more on the painting and the artist should you be so inclined to check him out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kiss_(Klimt)   

Now, you’re probably wondering just why I’m telling you this. My grand prize package will be a ‘Kiss’ package sent to you direct from Vienna. In it you will find notebooks, scarves, book marks, cards and anything in regards to the painting ‘The Kiss’ or Vienna itself. This is my best blog hop package yet.

About today: I am such a bad girl. First, let me apologize for not posting yesterday. It’s been such a lazy weekend since we once again have our flat to ourselves. The DH and I decided to have a quite weekend since the youngest went back to college in the States. And wouldn’t you know it...a cold front has blasted its way into Austria...and we’re getting snow and everything that comes with the weather. Including sketchy internet.

Second, because of this I am giving away two copies of A Viennese Christmas for Friday and Saturday. I’ll announce the winners at the end of the post. I also didn’t say last time just how I’m going to pick my grand prize winner. I will choose my big winner from all the comments from the four days. My grand prize winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 15 once all the comments are tallied. Last but not least, here’s another excerpt for Sunday’s copy of A Viennese Christmas.

Enjoy!

“Let me walk you to your door and I’ll be out of your hair.” It was if he understood her unspoken dilemma and took matters into his own hands.

“You’d don’t have to if you’d rather not.” She kept all emotion from her voice. It wouldn’t do to let him know of her interest...at least that’s what all the latest magazines said.

He shook his head. “My mother taught me to always walk a lady to her door.”

Her heart beat faster at the prospect. He treated her with such genuine respect that it made her want him more. “All right. We go in over here.” She headed toward a door in the building to their right. Each apartment had huge terraces and lots of windows. Putting her key into the lock, she pushed open the door.

The hall wasn’t long with an elevator at the end. The walls were white and the carpet new.

“Looks nice.”

“You can tell that from the hall?” She frowned.

He shrugged. “Actually yes. If the entrance looked old and worn, I’d worry about two things.”

“And those would be?” She was really interested in his opinion of the place she’d chosen as home.

“First, I’d worry about the maintenance of the place as well as the look inside the apartment itself. I’ve been in places that the entrance looked shabby and so does the inside. I also like that everything is so secure. I’ve seen some places where it was very easy to get inside if you knew the trick.”

She nodded in agreement. “I remember when I was looking for a place. Some were so out of date that I shuddered at the thought of living there. Others weren’t complete as they didn’t have a kitchen at all.”

He laughed. “That’s not uncommon for a place here to not have a kitchen or a bathroom. If that’s the case, something called an ablöse would be added to the lease.”

“An ablöse?”

“A clause that basically says the owner has to reimburse a tenant for any improvements made to the apartment. A tenant needs to make sure one is in place if they plan to make improvements to a rental space.”

Her eyes grew wide. There were so many things she didn’t know about living here. “I didn’t know that. There’s nothing like it in the States.

“Maybe, maybe not. It’s just the way the system works here and it’s been in place for years. I’m amazed that you didn’t get the information in your orientation.”

Amanda could feel her cheeks growing red. “I’ll admit, I skimmed that packet.” Turning away, she stepped inside the elevator and pressed P1. “I live in the penthouse furthest away from Belvedere.”

The door opened onto a small hall with a door at each end. Amanda turned right and fumbled with her key before finally getting it in the door.

“This is where I leave you.”

She turned fast and dropped her keys. “What? Don’t you want to come in?”

He shook his head then reached down to retrieve the keys, pressing them into her hand. “Not tonight. I’m not the kind who kisses and tells.”

What do you have to do to be entered you ask...comment and tell me one thing about the excerpt I posted from my latest book A Viennese Christmas. It’s that easy. Tell me whatever you want about my story...and do it often...every comment and item will be one entry into my contest. The more you comment, the more you’re entered not only in the daily contest but my grand prize one as well. Don’t forget to leave me your email address because if you don’t, and you don’t contact me within 48 hours, your prize will go to someone else.

Now to the most important stuff...Friday’s winner is crystaley73 and Saturday's winner is Christina Cole. If you left me your email addy like requested, you’re prize is already winging it’s way to you. If not, please contact me at oddlynn3@gmail.com and I’ll send you your copy of A Viennese Christmas!

See you all tomorrow...promise!

Lynn