Guestpost and Giveaway with Author Joely Sue Burkhart

I'm so happy to have Joely Sue Burkhart here today with a wonderful Guestpost. She asked me what I would like her to post about and I told her I adore Conn (hero of Dear Sir, I'm Yours) and so she offered this post. OMG I love it. I think I have to print it out and put a frame around it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And don't forget the giveaway at the end of the post.

Susi, this is an exclusive poem written by Conn just for you!

He was rather taken aback by some comments that a professor does not "teach" but "lectures." He agrees for the most part, but there's an important distinction he wants to make. Some professors lecture, standing at the head of the class droning on and on, never caring whether their students survive the class or not. Conn is different. He's not just the sexiest professor alive, he also gives a damn about whether his students--especially his one very special student--learns from him.

A startling revelation has been brought

To my most eager attention:

Instead of helping my students, I ought

Provide mere cold direction.

My voice -- as sexy as it may be --

Is surely quite enough!

Tho' students clamor, beg, and plead,

Discard them as dry and itchy slough!

But I cannot, Dear Reader, abandon my hope;

Most sincere, my heart's true calling:

Never leave a student in darkness to grope

Ever deeper in lost despair falling.

I seek that light, fragile and bright

A spark of pure understanding;

The deeper confusion and shaking fright,

The greater battle, vict'ry notwithstanding.

One spark in that bewildered haze

Is worth its weight in gold,

For one who's seen that treasured gaze

After denying ignorance to enfold.

So when my heart's most beloved mate

Stands before me in trembling fear--

How can I do less than eagerly abate

Every doubt while I kiss each tear?

And if she hesitates with dread

At the thought of our dark need,

Shall I lecture her instead

And leave her heart to bleed?

Shall I swear my cruel hands are safe?

That I would surely never harm

Such an innocent, lovely waif!

With calculated snake-oil charm.

Are mere words enough to defeat

Bone-deep fear of surrender?

My body, hands, lips to cheat

The temptation of this flower so tender?

Nay! God forbid my beloved ever

Look upon me with disgusted fear!

For I would rather my head to sever,

and cleave my arrogant heart with spear!

Dearest Reader, forgive me if I carefully taught

With consideration so mundane;

Instead of lecturing from on high and haught:

For I cannot bring myself to feign.

*le sigh* I love it!

~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

Joely offers a digital copy of Dear Sir, I'm Yours or a digital ARC of The Bloodgate Guardian, her new Carina Press release.

(I have to tell you I loved both books. You can read my homage to Conn here and my dual review with the wonderful pattepoilue here. The review of The Bloodgate Guardian will be up next week.)

Just leave a comment on this post.

Giveaway ends Friday June 4th and I will announce the winner on Saturday.

Good Luck!