Martini-ville Meets Coffee House

by Michelle Miles

Hello! I’m really excited to be here today posting at TRS! Thanks for stopping by!

Today I'm talking about my latest release with Cobblestone Press. It’s the fourth book a series called SEX LUST & MARTINIS. It’s a fun romp starring Delilah, the martini drinking, fashion-conscious diva who has one thing on her mind: sex. All that comes to a screeching halt when she runs into the love of her past life and her ex-husband, Sam.

Sam is the lazy good-for-nothing she left behind, never wanting to see again. He’s grown up and changed and is eager and determined to show Delilah the new Sam. He manages to rekindle their past flames but how far will he go to get back the only woman he’s ever loved?

I bet you’re wondering where the coffee house part comes in. Most of the books are set in and around this one coffee house: The Bitter End. The first book, Talk Dirty To Me (released in 2006 and not to be confused with all the new incarnations), features Claudia as the trash-talking Trixie and Blake, the sexy doctor. Nice Girls Do is about stripper Cara and hunky Mark, son of the coffee house owner. Book three, Take Me I’m Yours, follows the love story of a heart-broken Marion and painter, Graeme.

I started these books several years ago. In fact, the original Bitter End came to being in my first (and worst!) NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) book. That book was so bad I threw everything out except the coffee house. It was the only thing that was saved. I reinvented it, started writing a story about a phone sex operator, and had her meet her favorite caller at The Bitter End. I sold that book in three weeks. And to make that even sweeter - it was my first real sale. I was stoked!

I began work on the second book a short time later but life intervened and tried to veer me off track. I was able to finish and sell it but I wasn't done with The Bitter End yet. Two more followed, including my latest. I've since written a tie-in set at Christmastime that I hope to sell in the next few weeks.

I had a lot of fun writing Delilah's and Sam's story. It was in-progress far too long until I finally got off my rump and started writing again (that’s thanks to a push or two by some people who needed to give me a push). I’m so glad I did! I hope you’ll love the book, too. :)

Following is a sneak peek and at the very bottom, if you're interested, buying information. Happy reading!

Sam ripped out her heart. Now Delilah wants it back!

Delilah Storm believes in sex, lust, and martinis. She knows what she wants and how to get it. Until she discovers that her favorite sex toy shop has been taken over by her ex-husband.

Sam Ford is a man who doesn’t know what he wants. So when Delilah walks back into his life, he sees it as a sign. And he’s willing to try anything to get her back.

Sparks fly, proving they’re still in lust with each other. Now the two have to put the past to rest, or risk losing each other again…this time, for good.

A little sneak peek:

He glanced around with an approving eye.

“How did you find me?” she asked, shutting the door.

“Delilah, you don’t give me enough credit.” He handed her the wine. “Open up the bottle, and let’s have some.”

“Sorry, can’t.” She put it aside on the kitchen counter and watched as he roamed through the house as if he had every right to be there. “I’ve just come from a dinner party, and I’ve already had martinis.”

“And?” He turned to look at her, his eyes sparkling with question. There was something fierce there, and she questioned herself. She shouldn’t have allowed him inside.

“And you never mix the vine with the wheat.” She knew from her younger partying days that vodka and wine didn’t mix. She’d be sick as a dog tomorrow with a hangover. That was the last thing on her agenda. Even if she did end up going to brunch with Dirk.

“That never stopped you before.” He winked.

“Before I was ten years younger.”

“Ah. So you do remember how long it’s been.” He gave her an evil grin.

Shit. She should have seen that trap coming. She scowled.

Sam laughed, grinning broadly, and waved away the thought. “Fine, then. We’ll save it for another time.”

“What makes you so sure there’ll be another time?”

He gave her one of those quirked grins, as if she should already know the answer to that question. She was losing patience and propped her hand on her hip. “You going to tell me why you’re here?”

He turned to her, giving her a onceover from her bare feet to the top of her head. It felt as though he’d mentally stripped her bare, and Delilah wasn’t entirely sure she liked it, despite the fact it heated her blood, sending it to all the right places. Specifically the place between her legs—damn that man. She didn’t want to admit she’d been thinking about Sam all night. Naked. On top of her.

“I’m guessing you didn’t show up for a walk down memory lane.”

“Actually, I did.”

He moved quickly toward her, pulling her into his arms. Losing her balance, she crashed against him. Her palms landed on his thick chest for balance as he held her close before his lips pressed against her in a frenzied kiss. Her heart did a ka-thud against her breastbone, beating hard against his. Her skin tingled with delightful anticipation as his tongue delved deeper into her mouth with familiarity. Kissing him after ten years was like riding a bike—her body didn’t forget. Oh, it really didn’t forget a thing.

His tongue pushed against hers, and they dueled for control. He tasted sweet and masculine and…hot. His skin felt warm beneath her fingertips, and she explored. Her hands roamed over the curve of his pectorals, across his thick shoulders and then down his powerful biceps.

And then reality came back again, and she shoved him backward, holding him at arm’s length.

“Stop.” But the word came out on a breathy whisper, as though she didn’t really mean it, and she knew he would know she didn’t.

“Why?” He leaned closer, his mouth dangerously closer to hers. “You don’t want me to.”

No, she didn’t. But it sucked that he knew it. He leaned in, trying to capture her mouth again. Delilah pushed more strength into her arms and tried hard to keep him at bay.

“I mean it. Stop.”

Sam chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. He shoved aside her arms and pulled her to him. His mouth found her neck, tracing a hot, wet trail from her earlobe down to her shoulder and back up again. His teeth nipped her ear, making her shiver with delight.

“I know you, Delilah.” His words blistered her skin. “You’ve been thinking about this—” He tugged on her earlobe. “All day.”

Get Sex Lust & Martinis at Cobblestone Press by clicking here! Find out more about me and my books at my website and blog, follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.

X-Snippet ~ BRANDED BY THE TEXANS ~ Jerking Back On the Reins

~~~ Sliders meets Bonanza meets the Three Star Republic of Texas ~~~

Chapter Twenty-Four ~ Jerking Back On the Reins

Nuzzling between her breasts, he savored the voluptuous feel of her through the shirt. Her little gasps of desire smoldered his blood bad. Mentally jerking back on the reins, Dillon lifted her, placed her on his lap again, then brought them before the computer station.
~~~

Happy Ridin’ and Ropin’ Summer...

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

***
Blurb ~

What can three Texans do to a woman’s body and heart?
Kylie is about to find out.
Beyond her wildest dreams.
On a parallel Earth.

It’s 2009... Kylie is on the run from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. A promising doctoral student, she’s lost everyone and almost everything, except for what she stows in her car. Now, Kylie has to salvage the rest of her life. But, where in this age of GPS tracking, TV’s Most Wanted and cameras everywhere?

It’s 2009... Dillon, Dono and Dash are three brothers desperate for a wife to brand as their own. The Union made women scarce in the Three Star Republic by releasing a bio weapons’ plague during the border wars. These tough-as-leather Texans will do anything to keep the right woman, even if they have to lasso her like a wild filly and love on her until she loves them back.
~~~~~~

A Siren-BookStrand #1 BESTSELLER ~ http://bookstrand.com/branded-by-the-texans ~ http://bookstrand.com/savanna-kougar ~ Rated: SEXTREME

New Release - Where The Rain Is Made - Keta Diablo

I hope everyone had a grand time at the TRS release party last night. I know I did.

I have a new release *Where The Rain Is Made* and if you love paranormal, you'll fall in love with the characters in this book. More information at DECADENT PUBLISHING

Here's the blurb and a few snippets about what the reviewers are saying about Where The Rain Is Made. You can also read the first chapter and a half where you'll meet Meko and Cesca.

About Where The Rain Is Made:

A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother, Marsh. Now she must spend every waking moment planning an escape. However, she didn’t count on the powerful draw of desire interfering with her scheme in the camp of the brutal Cheyenne dog soldiers.

Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . most of the time, but when he travels through time to help his beloved People he becomes Meko, leader of the most revered and feared tribe of the plains.

Although their worlds are decades apart Meko can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. He has many battles to fight but none he wants to win more than the one that will capture Cesca’s heart forever. From the windswept plains of Colorado and the harsh life of a Dog Soldier to the placid life of a curator their love was fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.
What reviewers are saying . . .

What reviewers are saying about Where the Rain is Made . . .

“Diablo delivered an awe-inspiring novel that made me appreciate the Native American and their way of life. Where The Rain Is Made is a definite keeper that everyone should read. You’ll be hooked immediately!”
 4.5 Stars –
~ ~ ~
“Where The Rain Is Made has a lot of passion and a gripping, original plot, not to mention well wrought characters. An edgy, compelling story.
A very solid tale - one rooted in history.”
5 Stars -
~ ~ ~
“Where The Rain Is Made is an incredible read and stays with you even when not reading. There were times the description was done so well it made this reviewer a touch jealous as well as quite happy to enjoy it.”
4.5 Wings –
~ ~ ~
“Where The Rain Is Made will remain on my shelf for years to come and be revisited often :) I cringed, flinched, sighed and shed a tear. Any story that can do that has my vote all the way. Ms. Diablo, I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.”
9 out of 10 –
~ ~ ~
“Where the Rain is Made is a tale rich in history, emotions and love.
Kudos to K. Diablo for penning such an impassioned story.”
4.5 Stars
~ ~ ~
"Where The Rain Is Made is a historical romance sure to magically sweep you back in time. A must read!”
5 Stars –
~ ~ ~

"Recommended Read & 5 Stars"

"Where The Rain Is Made by Keta Diablo is an intense, sensual, compelling, adventurous story that will have you biting your nails while sitting on the edge of your seat begging for more with the turn of every page."

Read the First Chapters of the Book here http://tinyurl.com/2drur2y

Follow my erotic blog for more updates on my releases: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

If you're on Twitter follow me! I follow back, http://www.twitter.com/ketadiabloCompose

Huge blog tour for Where The Rain Is Made coming in September. I'm giving away 15 copies of the book. Get schedule here and mark your calendars!  BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

 

The (Somewhat) Serious Business of Being a Vampire

Originally the darlings of the horror genre, it seems natural that vampires would bring that darkness with them when they venture into the fantasy and the romance sections of the bookstore. And some of the best-selling vamp fiction can be quite dark: Laurell K Hamilton pushes boundaries and buttons with every new novel. J.R. Ward's fanged heroes tend to be tormented men in need of the healing power of love. In fact, the brooding vamp is so common he's a cliche in the genres of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

So where did all these comic vampire novels come from? It was probably inevitable, when you consider the fact that humor is often rooted in pain. Sometimes we laugh at other people's pain, and sometimes we laugh at our own pain.

Who's had more opportunity to accumulate pain than a 400 year old vampire?

It started in the Fantasy genre, with authors like Lionel Fenn (Mark of the Moderately Vicious Vampire), Christopher Moore (Bloodsucking Fiends) and Terry Pratchett (Carpe Jugulum). Paranormal romance authors soon followed: Kerrelyn Sparks, Katie MacAlister, MaryJanice Davidson, Gerry Bartlett, and Lyndsay Sands have hit the bestseller lists by exploring the funny side of being a bloodsucker (or dating one). Light Paranormal has become a subgenre with a following all its own.

I tend to write darker characters, like Rihat in Blood Hero, just because those are stories that come to me. But I admire the heck out of anyone who can make me laugh, especially when a creature as fearsome as a vamp is involved.

How about you? Do you like your vamps bloody serious or fanged and funny?

Leave a comment, along with your email address, and you could win a free copy of Blood Hero and a $10 B&N gift certificate.

Madeleine Drake writes feisty, fast-paced paranormal romance and erotica that spans the space-time continuum. Raised by a pride of cats, a friendly mutt, and the Sonoma County library system, she loves to read about ancient history and mythology, anthropology, gender roles, and sexual archetypes. Her homeworld is located out past the constellation Orion, but she currently resides in Texas. You can find her online at www.madeleinedrake.com.

She's Sex, He's Death: A vampire and a succubus join forces in ancient Babylon

When Babylonian soldier Rihat discovers that his village is being terrorized by an akhazu demon, he seeks help at Marduk's temple. He meets Iltani, a demigoddess who's been cursed by Ishtar to live as an ardat-lili, enslaved by lust, a night-maiden who feeds on sexual energy.

Iltani offers Rihat the power to slay the akhazu, if he'll agree to serve her every need without question. But will the price of that power be more than Rihat can bear to pay?

---+ An AllRomanceEbooks bestseller +---

"Hot, exotic, fast-paced and downright mesmerizing, this is one short story lovers of the erotic won't want to miss."

--Amanda, Rants-n-Raves

"Ms. Drake does a wonderful job of bringing action, sensuality, and passion into the story. The way she writes is intelligent and kept my attention. ...Although this is the first story that I have read by this author, it certainly won't be the last."

--Claudia Rhyes, Manic Readers

"This is a very short, fast-paced read that left me breathless. I was hooked from the first page, drawn in by the fabulous writing and the original plot. ...Ms. Drake, please continue Rihat's story, I want more of him...um, his story I mean."

--Strega, The Pagan and the Pen

"The sex was hot...Though this was an erotic paranormal read, it was so much more. The plot was fully realized, creating a new world, new rules and an intriguing story."

--LynneMarie, HEA Reviews

EXCERPT:

Rihat knelt before the limestone statue of Marduk, more out of despair than reverence for the stern-faced war god. Tomorrow, Rihat would seek out the monster that was ravaging his village, and tomorrow, he would die.

Once he was dead, who would protect his sister from the beast?

Anger tightened its hold on his throat, and he growled, trying to clear the ache that threatened to choke him. He'd wasted too much time already, first begging his fellow soldiers to fight with him, then trying to bribe palace staff to give him an audience with the king of Babylon, and finally spending his last few shekels on a scrawny pig for Marduk's priests to sacrifice on his behalf, hoping they could tell him how to defeat the monstrous akhazu by himself. All for nothing.

What could he do now but face the beast himself and die with his honor intact?

If he died well, perhaps Marduk would protect his sister.

As he opened his mouth to repeat his prayer, a fierce prickling crawled over his skin. Invisible, fiery needles pierced every inch of him, stinging his arms and legs, burning his belly, inflaming his cock. The air turned thick and heavy, and he gasped, blood pounding in his temples, a sudden, involuntary erection straining against his loincloth, lifting his kilt. His strength ebbed; the muscles in his thighs trembled.

Had Marduk noticed the frustration behind his plea, and chosen to punish him for it?

Behind him, a scuffing sound. Rihat jumped to his feet and whirled, lightheaded with the effort, grunting with the pain of stiff knees forced to move too quickly.

A woman.

Not just a woman. A beautiful woman. The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

She wore a robe of white linen so sheer he could see the red-brown circles of her nipples and the dark, furry triangle between her legs. Her skin shimmered gold, like the desert sand at midday. Her hair, black as pitch, was unbound, flowing down her back to brush against the back of her thighs like a veil. A huge carnelian, like blood turned to stone, hung from the intricate chain around her neck.

His cock throbbed harder, as if trying to tear through his clothes to get to her. If he were naked, it would be pointing straight at her.

Why hadn't he heard her enter the room?

She examined him deliberately, head to toe. When her kohl-lined eyes paused at his groin, she smiled and licked her lips with a delicate pink tongue.

"Who are you?" he rasped.

"Rejoice, Rihat," the woman answered. "Your prayer has been answered."

* * * *

She could smell his arousal with every breath, a musky, salty scent far more pleasing than the smoky-sweet myrrh permeating the temple. He was clearly a soldier, dressed in the standard leather tunic reinforced with bronze scales, a fringed wool kilt and battered sandals. Alert brown eyes over his straight nose, broad cheeks tapering down to his strong chin, wavy black hair pulled back with a cord--she would have found him attractive even if she hadn't been half-mad with the need to feed.

Iltani reined in her hunger, ignoring the deep ache in her core, the dampness between her legs. She'd finally found a warrior who might suit her purposes. She couldn't risk frightening him off before she'd had a chance to talk to him.

Even if he doesn't accept your offer, he might let you feed anyway. Few men had the willpower to resist an ardat-lili. As much as she hated what she'd become, Iltani could only restrain her hunger for so long.

He looked like he was about to speak. "It won't help to call out," she said. "No one will hear anything until I'm finished with you."

"Who are you?" the tall, well-muscled warrior demanded again. His fingers twitched, clenched into fists. "How do you know my name?"

"I heard you praying. You may call me Iltani."

The warrior took a sharp breath. Sweat beaded on his brows, highlighting the rapid pulse at his temples. "What are you?"

"My father is Ea."

"A goddess," he breathed, fear flickering over his face. He banished it with a scowl that in no way distracted Iltani from the prodigious lump beneath his kilt.

She was so hungry. "Half-goddess. My mother was human."

"What do you want with me?"

The prayer Iltani had overheard was for his sister, and Rihat was clearly prepared to die in order to protect her. A man who could love that deeply deserved the truth. But was he brave enough to look that truth squarely in the eye? Or would he recoil with disgust as soon as he learned what she really was?

"I served as one of Ishtar's handmaidens, until the goddess caught her consort Tammuz ogling me." Even the anger roused by the memory of her exile wasn't enough to eclipse her swelling hunger for Rihat. She wanted to push him down, to kiss him, to drink in the vitality he radiated. The delicate linen of her robe, soft as it was, seemed to scour her swollen nipples with every breath she drew. The tingling between her legs grew stronger. "Ishtar cursed me to be an ardat-lili and banished me to live in your realm."

Rihat didn't back away, or start praying, or make that silly gesture humans believed would protect them against evil spirits. Was he that brave? Or did he simply love his sister that much? He asked, "Why me?"

Hope welled in Iltani's heart. Had she finally found a man who would help her? She'd already released three others from their vows of service--two because she caught them abusing their newfound abilities, and a third because he'd proven too squeamish about her curse to be reliable.

"I require a warrior to help me break the curse. In return, I can give you the strength to defeat your akhazu."

Rihat regarded her in silence.

"Once the curse is broken," Iltani added, "You'd be free again. But until then, you must serve me without question."

"Free," he repeated dubiously. "Why would you release me once I've agreed to serve you?"

She shrugged, tried to hide the trembling thrill she felt as his eyes followed the movement. "That is not your concern."

* * * *

"How?" Rihat asked, barely able to think for the thunder of lust through his veins.

"How what?"

"How would you help me kill the akhazu?" It was a mistake to bargain with her. How many men had she killed, seducing them and feeding on their souls? Sucking them to husks and abandoning them, the poor bastards still crying for her touch with their dying breath. No matter that her father was the God of Wisdom, this woman was a demon, and any sane man would run from her.

But if she could save his sister, he'd give up his sanity as willingly as he'd give up his life.

Iltani licked her lips again and the muscles in his thighs shivered, his aching cock shifting beneath the fabric that restrained it. He was certain all the blood in his body was gathering in his groin. Even knowing what she was, he wanted her more than he'd wanted anything in his life.

"The blood of the gods still flows through my veins," Iltani answered. "Drink from me, and you'll have the strength of fifty men. For a while."

He could barely talk, he was working so hard at restraining himself. He wanted to seize her, to back her up against the wall and take her. Right now. "How long is a while?"

"Long enough to save your sister."

"While I serve you, you'll...feed from me?" he asked.

"I won't take enough to weaken you. I need you to be strong."

Did he believe her? Did it matter? She was the only hope he had of defeating the akhazu. A deal with a demon. It was foolish, but he was desperate.

No doubt, he would enjoy serving her as much as he would regret it. "I'm ready."

The ardat-lili smiled. "Take off your tunic."


AVAILABLE AT: Excessica (http://tinyurl.com/2fuobmz), All Romance Ebooks (http://tinyurl.com/2fmv7a3), 1 Romance Ebooks (http://tinyurl.com/2czypvy), OmniLit (http://tinyurl.com/24lt3jc), Smashwords (http://tinyurl.com/22jmog5), Fictionwise (http://tinyurl.com/2bv8ugo), Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/2eomyed), Amazon UK (http://tinyurl.com/29g4r9n)

Abducting Andrea by Cheryl Dragon

Hey Everyone,

It’s my first blog here:) So hi!!

I’m Cheryl Dragon. I write erotic romance and some erotica for a few epubs. I love trying different things and exploring character’s needs. So no matter what you like, odds are I’ve written something along those lines. Check out my backlist at www.cheryldragon.com

But right now I’m going to talk a little about my newest release.

Here’s the official blurb and an excerpt….

Now Available!

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=229-201-117-469-1

A Raider's Bodyguard Tale

Blurb
When an attack is confirmed against the rich and powerful Edington family, Raider’s Bodyguard Service springs into action. Jake Raider is assigned the independent but spoiled Andrea. He’s protected her before but this time he’s bringing the tools to tame her and make her his.

There are plenty of things Andrea wants to do with Jake but none of them involve business. In the past, he rejected her advances but this time he’s giving her what she wants and making her beg for more. Exploring the sexual needs they’ve denied, she’s at his mercy and loving it.

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=229-201-117-469-1

Excerpt:

Raider’s Bodyguards prided themselves on handling any job. Routine guarding was fine, but they specialized in threat containment and incident intervention. Jake Raider knew his latest assignment wouldn’t be easy. He’d tangled with Andrea Edington before.

The beauty struggled and kicked in his arms. Luckily, he’d put tape over her mouth and rope around her wrists or he’d have even more trouble. She never came peaceably.

It was part of her charm.

Jake tossed her in the back of a company cargo van, padded with blankets, then slammed the door. The look in her eyes sent a stab through him. Dread and desire.

Andrea knew it was him. In a way, he was glad. He didn’t want to terrify her while protecting her.

Rounding the van and getting into the driver’s seat, he locked them in just to be sure. As he started the engine, she yanked off the tape. “You son of a bitch! Who the hell do you think you are?”

She’d be strangling him if it weren’t for the hard plastic mesh between the front seats and cargo area. He was safe, but the barrier gave him a clear view into the back. Pity he couldn’t get her hands tied behind her back. “Relax, Andrea. There’s a threat.”

She rolled her soft brown eyes. “Oh, is there? Please! There’s always a threat. In case you’ve lost track, I’m twenty-five not sixteen. You can’t just snatch me or invade my dorm room because my dad hires you. This is kidnapping!”

“Your father hires the firm to monitor things for the family. Any time there’s a verifiable threat or attempted attack, we take measures. Why are you giving me hell?” He pulled out into traffic.

“Because I’m an adult, and you can’t contain me because someone else pays you to. It’s illegal and wrong.” She looked out at the road over his shoulder. “Where are we going?”

“A safe house. Get comfortable.”

Her pretty face frowned. “Before, you just guarded me. At boarding school and college, you invaded my life. Now, you’re pulling me away from my life. What happened?”

Maybe he should’ve blindfolded her? The third degree was worse than her temper. Andrea was smart. She analyzed him and the situation in seconds. “Everything is fine, but this threat is credible, and there’s a plan. We need to move you. Trust me this once?” He took the back roads for two reasons. She’d never remember how they got there and if they were being followed he’d find out fast.

She glared at him in the rearview mirror. “I trust you. You’ll do whatever Dad pays you to do and treat me like a child. I promise this is the last time. I’m an adult. I have my own company. I can afford my own bodyguard who works for me. Seriously, what if I’d had a guy over?”

He glared back, unable to deny her points. He’d taken her while changing out of her work clothes to a baby-blue, cotton T-shirt. She’d never gotten into the navy lounge pants she’d pulled out of the drawer. “I’d hope the guy would understand your safety is more important than a date.”

“You and Dad don’t give anyone a chance to understand. You just decide and take over.” The anger in her eyes wasn’t the same fury as before. This smacked of humiliation. She resented him.

“If it wasn’t serious, I’d have let you dress and pack a bag. These people would do anything to get your dad to pay a ransom. You need a permanent bodyguard.” She’d always refused that suggestion. Jake had taken the first job with her when she was sixteen and he was twenty-one.

His stepdad had thought it’d be a great match since she’d slipped away from another of Raider’s bodyguards. They’d expected Jake to fail but had wanted him to learn. He’d kept her safe and caught her every time she’d tried to run. And somehow, he’d managed to resist her.

Once he’d succeeded, he’d been assigned “Andrea duty” every time the Edington family needed Raider’s services. Jake enjoyed the challenge, the view and, finally, the fact that she wasn’t a teenager anymore.

“I don’t want a full-time guard watching me everywhere I go and monitoring who I see. He’d report back to my dad. Zero privacy. That’s why I liked boarding school. They could try to keep tabs on me, but with so many girls, it never worked.” She sat back, resigned to the trip.

“If you hired someone, it would make your parents relax. That’s all I’m saying.” He forced his eyes off her long legs and back on the road.

“That’s the other thing. I have my own business now. I have plenty of money. Why does Dad feel the need to baby me like I can’t afford you?” She fought the ropes, but no amount of wiggling freed her.

“I’m sure you can. Designer shoes pay well then?”

“They make women feel sexy and men want to have sex. That’s the key.”

“Sex is the key to shoe sales?” He didn’t need to think about sex with her tied up in a van at his mercy. Jake couldn’t resist her, not now.

“Absolutely. Not like it’s the foot fetish guys buying them. It’s just how women look in the heels. How it makes them feel. Men notice it, and it’s attractive. And look at me, without even fuzzy slippers. Where the hell are we going? Are we even close?” She contorted to look at her diamond-studded bracelet watch.

“We’ve got a ways to go,” he said.

The brat was back. Jake knew she’d been given every luxury and sent away to schools. With a rich dad and beauty queen mom, Andrea had had no chance to be normal. Her mom had wanted her to do some European finishing school. Andrea had refused and gone to college before starting her own company. Her trust fund was the seed money, but Jake knew Andrea’s fund could’ve kept her in diamond watches all her life without one day of work.

He got to see the real Andrea few people ever met. No polish and designer clothes, no charity functions and good manners. It was always raw and intense when he moved in. This was going to be a hard weekend. He just prayed his stepdad and the team got Andrea’s cousin home safely.

“Is this safe house in Canada? I don’t have my passport. I don’t have my purse!”
Close. Connecticut, but she couldn’t know that. Nor could she have her cell phone or wallet on her. He’d left it all behind. Jake had grabbed only a few personal items to help her pass the time but nothing to help her escape, contact anyone or be tracked by others. “Relax, you don’t need any identification. We’ve probably only got the weekend so you don’t need to rush back for things. It’s a nice, quiet area. No press. No one for miles.”

“I’ve got work to do.”

“So this will be a good creative time for you. No dates you’ll be standing up?” he asked.

“Please, men only want my money. I’m not interested in being a trophy wife for looks or cash. I’d end up with five ex-husbands because that type of man cheats. If my parents try to set me up one more time…” She finished the threat by kicking the air.

Jake knew better. Small talk with her had ugly landmines built in. When she’d been sixteen and then nineteen he’d tangled with her. It’d been six years, and he’d missed her. On some level, they’d always been connected. “How are your aunt and cousin?” Those were the family members she actually liked. She’d spent her summers with them, traveling.

“Fine last time I heard. I can’t check now. You know more than I do, obviously. You’re sure everyone is safe, right?” Concern slipped into her voice.

“Hey, I’m the best. If someone got taken, I’d be after them. You’re the prime target. No security, roaming free around New York City.” He hadn’t exactly answered the question with the truth, but if he had, she’d tear a hole through the van to escape. She cared for her family no matter how much she complained. That passionate streak was what would do her in if she wasn’t careful.

“I’m flattered. I get the great Jake Raider.”
He felt her gaze on him. “Take a nap. I’ll get you there safe. And the fridge is stocked so we’re fine.”

“Internet? Computer? I need to email my assistant.”

“Neither and no phones, either. Any messages go through me.”

“I’m in prison.” She elbowed the mesh between them.

He had one ace up his sleeve to shut her up. He’d pay for it, but somehow, the comment slipped out. “You could spend the weekend trying to seduce me. It’s been almost ten years since you tried that.” He hadn’t fallen for her tactics when she’d been underage. Only five years separated them, but he was too smart to fall for jailbait. At nineteen, she’d kept her distance. But she’d never know how hard it had been to resist her then.

Not just the sexual side of things. She haunted his dreams. The pushy side and the vulnerable side both turned him on.

She laughed with a deliberate snort. “I was sixteen in an all-girl boarding school. Men under thirty were scarce. Don’t worry, a week after you left my roommate’s older brother came to visit for the weekend.” Andrea gave him a Cheshire smile.

“With his sister around?” Jake didn’t buy it.

“No. She went off to spend the weekend with her boyfriend. Boarding school sex is tough, but there are ways around the system. I wanted to ditch the virgin crap, and her brother pitched in. Not bad. He was nineteen.”

A virgin. Shit! “Glad that worked out for you. I got paid to protect you, not be a stud service. I’m an ex-cop, no stranger to jailbait ploys.”

“You’re too noble to be a stud anyway.”

“Noble?” He looked at her in the rearview mirror. If she only knew.
She nodded. “You’re a good guy. Do your job and never give in to temptation. Never lie or cheat.”

“Thanks. Life is all about choices.” His real father was in prison, not a good guy. His stepdad set the example, and Jake did everything to resist bad choices.

“Want to know what my dad says about guys like you?” Those eyes of hers went dark, and the smirk on her lips told Jake that he didn’t really want to know.

“Nice guys finish last?” he guessed.

She shook her head. “Those who act really good are hiding something really bad. It’s what he said the first time I caught him with some mistress. He and mom both have their friends. They said I had to appear good for the public, but I’d make my
mistakes and the family image machine would cover it up. They probably think my shoe business is a rebellion.”

“Starting your own company is rebellion?” Jake gave Mr. Edington credit for trying to protect his stubborn daughter. He knew business, and business boiled down to people. Andrea would lunge for trouble given the chance. If Jake didn’t keep himself in check, he’d be in the back screwing Andrea right now, keeping her tied up and showing her just how bad he could be. But her safety came first. They’d come later.

“Starting my own business and not going to work for him, sure. Even if you had slept with me at sixteen and he’d found out, he probably would’ve blamed me or looked at the big picture—better you than a random college guy.”

“Daddy’s little angel?” Jake laughed to himself.

“Please. He spent more time making money than parenting. Mom wanted to travel—hard with a kid in school so away I went. As long as I avoided bad press, I was free. Until you showed up!” She rested her head on the side of the van.

Only one way to handle a seething and sexy heiress. “I missed you, too. You’ve got my full attention.” He only wished it wasn’t focused in his pants.

“Dad must pay you a lot of money.” Andrea shook her head.

“You think I’m full of crap? I like protecting people. Your version of bad isn’t really bad; it’s just bratty. I know real bad guys. They’d hurt you and enjoy it. I won’t let that happen.” He meant it deeper than any other client. She’d been sheltered. A smart woman, no doubt, she possessed strong survival instincts.
However, outsmarting boarding school matrons and escaping a bodyguard were very different than avoiding a dangerous criminal who wanted money and would rape and torture her to get it. The idea made Jake sick.

“How is such a good guy going to protect me from the really bad ones?” she mocked him.

“Maybe your dad is right? Maybe you’ve just never seen my bad side?” Jake had always fought the urge he’d had since they’d first met, screw and spank her. The order depended on his mood, but that woman needed some grown up discipline.

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=229-201-117-469-1


I had a ton of fun writing Andrea and Jake! They are just the first in the series…

Book #2 is coming in November. Pushing Penny is a BBW with the bdsm fun!

Have a great day everyone!

Cheryl Dragon

What's Not To Love About Romance?

Romance is, beyond doubt, the best genre, period. It certainly is the most flexible.
Within the pages of a romance, you can have a mystery, a thriller, a paranormal. You can explore the realms of science fiction, steam punk, or the wild west. You name it, Romance as a genre, embraces it.
Romance does one other thing that no other genre really does. It gives you a medium wherein you can celebrate the human spirit, and the human heart. It gives you a happy ending, every time.
The best romance transports you outside of yourself and away from your trials and tribulations for a brief moment in time. It welcomes you into a world where not only are all things possible, but all things are positive. Even as you find yourself in the midst of the darkest moment, you know that in the end the characters will win, love will triumph—and so will you.
I love writing romance. I love discovering characters whose stories need to be told. Sometimes, in the writing, it’s as if the characters have come alive and taken over the telling. Dialogue emerges, hearts open, and as the story blossoms, tiny filaments of real life reveal themselves in ways I sometimes never planned. When that happens, my connection to the characters deepens, and the reader has a sense of seeing a part of themselves reflected within the story I’ve given them.
When that happens, it’s magic.
I’ve always written romance, and so taking that extra little step to erotic romance, for me, was a natural progression. The stories I write aren’t just about sex. They’re about the characters, about realistic traits and challenges, about that part of the human journey I’ve focused on for that book.
All this in an erotic romance, you may ask. Yes!
The best stories are the ones that touch us and that we remember; that we go back to over and over again. I have a number of books on my shelf that I’ve read more than once. Each time I pick up one of these old friends, I discover something new. They entertain me, and they resonate with me and in those moments when I travel those pages, I know I am not alone.
That’s my goal when I write—to produce a story that touches the reader in some way that leaves them somehow more than they were before they picked up my novel. I don’t always succeed as well as I’d like.
I also love giving the reader an honest taste of being in love, the full experience of it and the fun of it. In erotic romance, nothing is hidden from the reader. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. The reader still uses her imagination to put herself in the role of the heroine, or maybe to be the unwritten, invisible best friend of the heroine or hero.
Erotic romance allows the reader to accept and explore her own sexuality in a way she never could before. For those of you who are under forty, that might seem a strange statement for me to make. But for those of us who are older, erotic romance opened a door for us—or perhaps it’s better said that it lowered a barrier. We come from a time when experts debated whether or not female orgasm even existed!
Today’s young woman can freely be a sexual being in ways not previously allowed our gender. Men have always had their sources of sexual celebration. It’s only been in the last twenty years or so we women have dared to claim our own.
Erotic romance, for both readers and writers, offers a wonderful playground where the possibilities are endless.

Morgan Ashbury
Feed the flames of your passion…with a novel by Morgan Ashburyhttp://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury

Gargoyles And Other HARD Men

I LOVE gargoyle romances. I love the thought of a hard, strong man being softened by love. Gargoyle romances do this and more.

One of my favorite gargoyle erotic romances is, of course, Mina Carter's Sunlight & Slavery. This hot short story tells the story of Knuckles, the bodyguard. Gargoyles guard things. Gargoyles squish things. Gargoyles don't do gentle. They are SO sexy.

Acon, my hero in Hard As Stone, also doesn't do gentle. He's a mountain god, an even more ancient twist on a gargoyle. He's made of stone and earth. He, when angry, squishes things. Heck, he causes landslides. The bane of a mountain god's existence are those darn climbers.

What do you love about gargoyle romances?

HARD AS STONE
By Cynthia Sax
Now Available From Changeling Press

Mountain gods are the hardest beings on the planet. Their foundation is rock. Their roots are in the earth. They are immortal and unrelenting. Nothing can make a mountain god harder than he already is... or so, Acon thinks. When he travels to a remote island to capture a fearsome beast, he discovers a woman so beautiful he instantly submits, rock hard body and soul. Is this love at first sight or an unfeeling creature's cruel weapon?

Buy Now:  http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1434 

***

"Where are you, monster?" Trellos bellowed like a wounded bull. At well over six feet tall, he was large for a human. The muscle bound warrior kicked an unlucky predecessor, grimacing as his boot made contact with the stone.

He was also an ass. Acon leaned back against the rock outcropping, gaining strength from the connection. If the gorgon didn't arrive soon, he'd smite Trellos himself.

The rock sang of her approach. Acon felt its joy, a tingling sensation rolling over his skin.

"Leave me be, warrior." Her words drifted like a summer breeze around them. They originated from everywhere and nowhere. "I have no grievance with you." He breathed deep, inhaling her sweet voice.

"I have a grievance with you, creature." Trellos rattled his sword. Acon shook his head at the stupidity. The idiot planned to fight a gorgon with a sword. This was no Medusa, handicapped by the frailty of mortality. This was her daughter Kyma. She had the blood of her father -- the god Poseidon -- flowing in her veins. No sword could kill the immortal. "Show yourself, you demon spawn."

"I would rather not." His brothers of the Ourea labeled Kyma an unfeeling monster, yet she endeavored to spare the fool. "Return to your people, warrior. Love well. Leave the joyous legacy of children. In them, your name will live forever."

"My name will live forever for having killed you, fearsome beast!" Trellos roared. His face was red. Veins stood out on his bald head. "You will fight me! Now!" He swung his sword with both hands, slicing the stone statue in two.

Acon flinched. The drone of a hundred hisses filled the air. "You dare to disrespect the dead!" A tall, slender form entered the clearing. She walked like a queen, her backbone straight, her stride smooth. A black hooded cape covered her from head to toe. "I am warning you for the last time, human. Leave this place."

"I will leave after I kill you." The warrior raised his shield. "For glory!" Trellos ran, twigs crunching under his boots.

"For peace." She calmly untied her cape and let the fabric fall to the ground. The impact was instant and overwhelming. Acon was a mountain god. Stone was his foundation and Kyma's naked, toned body radiated minerals. He convulsed with pleasure as he absorbed the particles, taking tiny pieces of her deep within him.

Trellos was made of more fragile materials. The human skidded to a stop, his face contorting in horror. A hard gray matter formed over his skin.

"Glory is not worth dying for." Kyma lifted her face to the sky, and Acon's breath hitched. She was beautiful. He had lived an eternity and never had he seen her equal. Snakes with red, yellow, and black banding sensuously twisted and curled around her head. Her skin was the color of the black onyx found in his homeland. Big brown eyes filled with pain and regret surveyed the newest addition to her collection.

"I am sorry." She reached up, cupping the warrior's stone cheek.

Acon felt envious of the dead man. He wanted her fingers on his body. She stroked the human's bare chest, removing the loose stone, and Acon's cock twitched. She bent over, picking up her cape. Her ass was gently rounded, a soft cushion for an exiled god. He hardened.

He should take her now. Her defenses were low, and his brothers expected her capture. They would trade her for a seat on Mount Olympus and a voice in the new dominion.

She drifted away, her cape billowing like a shadow behind her. Her presence lingered in his veins. He would keep his word and secure the gorgon, but that would not happen today. He would study his beautiful opponent first.



***

Cynthia Sax


Night Rides – Unicorn Princes Prefer An Audience
Dire Wolves – Blind Spot - A Scarred Lone Wolf Fights Love
http://cynthiasax.com/ 

White-hot Whirlpool

Sorry about the cover being so large...well, not really. I love this cover to pieces. Here's why.

Whirlpool is a different kind of shifter story--one with water shifters and merfolk. There's no fishy tails, but there is a community of secretive people who live in Jaffrey's Cove. They can travel underwater in their human forms, they can shift to dolphins, and they can also turn into St. Elmo's fire.

In the story, a human comes into this secret situation, and he's smart enough to start figuring things out. My job as a writer is to tell you that story, but there are times that what will draw you to read the blurb--is the cover.

That's why I love this cover. Angie Waters managed, from little more than a page of my descriptions, to pull together all the major elements. There are dolphins, the coastline. A young woman who's looking to find her future, even if it's not going to be what she'd longed for.

There's a sheriff with a good heart but a stubborn streak a mile wide. The simmering lights of St Elmo's fire. And the human archaeologist who comes between the two merfolk briefly, and then gets intimately entangled with them both.

Wow. See all that? Definitely a picture that is worth a thousand words.

---

Soft shoulders and dangerous curves…

Forces of Nature, Book 2

Braden can’t deny he’s always wanted Chelsea, but getting involved wouldn’t be fair. She has college and big dreams ahead of her—he has no desire to leave Jaffrey’s Cove. Plus, there’s the fact merfolk women often take more than one lover. Share her? Not in this lifetime.

When Chelsea’s plans for the future fall apart, the only bright spot remaining is Sheriff Braden Marley. She’s been angling for a shot at the gentle giant’s heart—and the rest of him—for a long time. Except he not only holds her at a maddening arm’s length, he somehow manages to keep other men away, too.

Enter Jamie Powell, a human marine archeologist who’s in town for a cataloging project. His instant chemistry with Chelsea inspires her to try a sexy new tactic: make Braden jealous enough to stop dragging his feet and start leaving his shoes under her bed.

The ensuing storm generates a boatload of complications none of them saw coming. A forbidden attraction no amount of merfolk magic can erase. And the danger that their secrets could be exposed to the outside world…

Warning: Seductive shimmering lights, a sexy interlude on the strip club floor, mysterious Spanish lovers, and a trio caught in an eddy of intense sexual attraction. Swim at your own risk.

----

Available at

My Bookstore and More

Amazon

Books on Board

---

Vivian Arend writes paranormal romance and Red hot contemporaries. You can find out more about her work at Romance, Hot and Wild

Snippet ~ BRANDED BY THE TEXANS ~ The Reckless Abandon Cowboys

~~~ Sliders meets Bonanza meets the Three Star Republic of Texas ~~~

Snippet from Chapter Twenty-Two ~ The Reckless Abandon Cowboys

Kylie edged toward the food tray, the smell of percolating coffee still inside her nostrils. Not particularly hungry, but damn curious, she perched on her knees. While uncovering the nearest dish, she noticed a small stack of clothing on top of an ottoman.

Two fried eggs eyed her as she eyed them. Picking up a slice of buttered toast first, she tasted, then nibbled while lifting another lid. It appeared to be applesauce and a bowl of oatmeal.

“Too bad I’m not a breakfast girl. Course, that could change if things continue this hot and heavy with the Reckless Abandon Cowboys.”
~~~

Happy Ridin’ and Ropin’ Summer...

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

***
Blurb ~

What can three Texans do to a woman’s body and heart?
Kylie is about to find out.
Beyond her wildest dreams.
On a parallel Earth.

It’s 2009... Kylie is on the run from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. A promising doctoral student, she’s lost everyone and almost everything, except for what she stows in her car. Now, Kylie has to salvage the rest of her life. But, where in this age of GPS tracking, TV’s Most Wanted and cameras everywhere?

It’s 2009... Dillon, Dono and Dash are three brothers desperate for a wife to brand as their own. The Union made women scarce in the Three Star Republic by releasing a bio weapons’ plague during the border wars. These tough-as-leather Texans will do anything to keep the right woman, even if they have to lasso her like a wild filly and love on her until she loves them back.
~~~~~~

A Siren-BookStrand #1 BESTSELLER ~ http://bookstrand.com/branded-by-the-texans ~ http://bookstrand.com/savanna-kougar ~ Rated: SEXTREME

"Take a Bite Outta This" Last Day to Enter Contest One

We need entries for two giveaways!

Last chance to win the T-shirt shown below!

Don’t miss your opportunity to win this quality T-shirt from
Destiny Blaine’s Winning Virgin Collection

Visit these fantastic blogs and find out how you can win a Winning Virgin T-shirt this weekend only! Also, for those commenting on the following blogs, you stand to win one of the best Destiny Blaine prize packs ever!

Take a look at the blogs below and enter to win today!

Sagi’s Randomness Blog— Blog will Post on August 23, 2010
http://sagis-randomness.blogspot.com/

Author Sandy Sullivan http://www.sandysullivanauthor.blogspot.com/

Dawn’s Reading Nook:
http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/2010/08/contest-for-winning-virgin-devotion-by.html

Author Keta Diablo Keta’s Keep—August 23, 2010
http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/

Brandé Waldon's Book Junkie:
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/

Author Shiela Stewart's Blog http://darkcravings.blogspot.com/

Author Kiki Howell posted at Authors by Authors:
http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com/2010/08/contest-by-destiny-blaine.html?zx=17684effcf43cc85

Author Raine Delight's Blog:
http://rainedelightbooknook.blogspot.com/?zx=926bdfc8a1f8366e

TRS Blue
http://trsblue.blogspot.com/

Author Mahalia Levey's Blog:
http://mahalia2010.wordpress.com/

Mahalia Levey posting at Novel Sisterhood
http://novelsisterhood.blogspot.com/

The Romance Studio
http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/take-bite-outta-this.html

Wendy's to Read or Not to Read Blog http://wendystoreadornoread.blogspot.com/

Siren-Bookstrand Blog
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2010/08/take-bite-outta-this.html

Author Cindy Spencer Pape
http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/2010/08/ouch-and-surprise-guest.html

Judie Stewart's Honey Bunny Promos
http://honeybunnypromos.blogspot.com/?zx=5bbc474b6c203c10

Destiny Blaine's blog
http://destinyblaine.blogspot.com/2010/08/take-bite-outta-this.html

Winning Virgin Devotion, Book Five in the Winning Virgin Series is coming to Siren Publishing on Monday, August 23, 2010. Pre-order your copy of Winning Virgin Devotion now through Sunday, August 22, 2010 and you could win a snazzy Winning Virgin T-shirt like the one below!

How to enter: Purchase your copy of Winning Virgin Devotion while the e-book is being offered as a pre-order selection: http://www.bookstrand.com/winning-virgin-devotion

Send a copy of your receipt to: destinyblaine@yahoo.com with TAKE A BITE OUTTA THIS in the subject line.

On Monday, August 23, 2010 ONE RANDOM winner will be chosen and the winner of the Winning Virgin T-shirt will be notified via email. Winner’s name will be posted at: http://destinyblaine.blogspot.com.

Please note: The only size we have in stock is an ADULT MEDIUM. Winner will not have the option of trading this prize for another future or past prize or swapping for a different size. Image on the T-shirt is WINNING VIRGIN PROMISES. In order to verify your purchase of Winning Virgin Devotion, please copy and paste your receipt in an email and follow the directions above. Without the c/p receipt, we’re unable to verify book purchase. This contest/sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law.

Front:

p>

Winning Virgin Devotion
Debuts August 23, 2010
Destiny Blaine’s Winning Virgin Book Five
Published by Siren Publishing
Available only at Siren-Bookstrand
http://www.bookstrand.com/winning-virgin-devotion

Out of Shadows is HERE!

The next book in my "Shadow Ryder" series, Out of Shadows, is now available from Ellora's Cave!

BLURB:

Companion to “Shadows Stir” from Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology and Beyond Shadows

Dovina Horne has arrived in Sleepy Hollow to study the legend of the horseman. She believes it’s only a myth until she’s threatened by a horse and rider while walking on a deserted trail in the woods. Only the sudden appearance of a warrior saves her from the horseman’s sword. She feels an instant connection, both sexual and emotional, to this protective stranger.

An immortal warrior of the Shadow Realm, Hadeon’s mission is to protect Dovina at all costs. He knows the horseman is not what he seems, but something more powerful and sinister in disguise. The longer Hadeon spends with Dovina, the more he wants her. He finds his way into her bed and her heart, but their relationship is doomed. He is an immortal from the shadows and she is a human filled with light. But when the final battle comes, they must use all that is between them if they hope to survive.

Read an Excerpt

Buy the Book

Beast in a Kilt receives high marks!

I received a fantastic reader review from Camryn Rhys I wanted to share with everyone!

Beast in a Kilt
by Nicole North
from [anthology] Red Sage Secrets, Vol. 29
Genre: Historical Erotic Romance Novella (Scottish/Shapeshifter)
Publisher: Red Sage
Cost: $10.99

"What I Liked:
After reading Nicole North's first historical erotic romance novella (also a
Scottish/Shapeshifter book), Kilted Lover, and enjoying it, I was thrilled
to hear that her next book had come out. So I immediately bought it. Given
the fact that sequels usually disappoint me (I'm looking at you, Legally
Blonde, X-Men, George Lucas, Matrix, Pirates of the Carribean... okay, I
have to stop somewhere, but I could really go on and on and on... Disney...
okay, I'm back), I was leery of this sequel. First of all, I'm not super
crazy about the time-travel elements (which this story did not have),
although I thought she handled that element in her first book better than
most. And second, my fear of sub-par sequels nearly kept me from buying this
book.

"It would have been a shame if it had. I actually thought this book was
better than the first. It had all the elements of the first story that I
loved: the sensuality in addition to the hot sex, a really fantastic alpha
hero, and of course the Scottish Highlands. There is something magical about
the way Nicole North writes erotic romance relationships. Whatever magic
wand she's got in her head to make it work, she Tim-Gunn's it right out of
the park. She manages to make each sex scene absolutely vital to the
progression of the relationship while also integrating important character
development into the non-sensual parts of the book.

"With erotic romance on everyone's radar now, I wouldn't be surprised to see
Nicole North on the list of authors who have won an erotic romance RITA when
RWA finally adds that category. She is an excellent writer, and I hope she
writes many more of these Scottish Shapeshifter erotic romances in the
future.

"Book Blurb:
Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland
warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best
friend's little sister. When Catriona's family promises her in marriage to a
detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate
worse than death.

"But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to
spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn't believe himself worthy
of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and
claim him. body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and
defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both."


~ Camryn Rhys

A huge thanks goes out to Camryn for her wonderful review!!

Read a sexy excerpt from Beast in a Kilt!

Available at Red Sage, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Borders, and other booksellers.

http://www.nicolenorth.com/

Revisiting a Villain: Little Foxes

One of the first novellas I wrote back when I was first published was titled “Black Planet: Little Dragon.” It was a bit of a rambunctious space opera, starring a feisty heroine named Rose Lee. There was a supporting character in the book, a minor villain named Kitsune Jung.

Kit had everything that attracted…and intimidated Rose. He was handsome, funny and confident. As we came to discover, he was also sneaky, selfish and more than a little cowardly. By the end of the book, I was so fed up with Kit that I abandoned him to a hostile alien race as a slave.

OK, I’ve got to be honest; that didn’t sit very well with me. I mean really, was he so bad? Was he irredeemable? I went back and re-read the book. Yeah, he was that bad. *sigh* But I felt really bad about him being abandoned by the heroes of the book. Wasn't that a bit out of character for them? So I started thinking what if…

What if there’s more to Kitsune Jung than meets the eye? What if his motives were not as clear-cut as they seemed in Little Dragon?

What if…Kit Jung is really a hero?

I then sat down and started thinking of his heroine. She is Rose Lee’s cousin and grew up in the shadow of her dynamic cousin. In spite of this, she is probably a better marital artist, and has a steadier temperament. She’s patient, non-judgmental, and in spite of a history of phobias, is courageous. She’s the perfect match to Kit, strong where he is weak, timid where he is confident. Her name is Hu Fei Lee, a name that translates loosely to “Flying Fox” in Chinese.

Sometimes as an author, I tend to fall in love with a villain. That’s when you know you’ve really fleshed out a character, because the villain is every bit as important as your lead. I didn’t fall in love with Kitsune Jung; I pitied him. I hated him. He made me feel guilty until I returned to him, trying to discover his story. Hopefully, I captured him and revealed him for the hero that he really is.

Black Planet II: Little Foxes is available at Changeling Press. Please follow the link to a blurb and excerpt.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1419

Please visit Belinda's website at: www.belindamcbride.com

And her blog at www.belindam.blogspot.com

The Research of Writing Erotic Romance

If Subject #1 lifts leg A at a 45-degree angle, and Subject #2 leans on a rock in the middle of a plush-with-greenery Irish countryside, would it be possible to insert tab A into slot B?

Say what?

Exactly. During a recent workshop on the Language of Erotic Romance through SavvyAuthors, one person mentioned “acting out” their romance scenes. I quickly flashed back to a few of these instances myself. Fortunately, I have an able and willing experiment partner (i.e. my hubby) who’s willing to placate my creative juices.

Now before you start to get all hot-and-bothered, as the workshop contributor mentioned: We are clothed! Yep, that’s exactly what happens in my writing process, too. Literally, it’s a “come here, stand here, sit there, now how would this work?”

With historical romances, it’s vital to get the facts correct. With science fiction it has to be believable. When it comes to writing a love scene, the last thing I want is for the reader to stop and go: Say what?

Sure, we all have read those scenes that include a 6-foot tall protagonist in the back seat of a Mini. Well, maybe not a car quite that small, but you get the mental picture. And unless you are 16 years old and passionately groping, there’s not much to be desired about doing it in a car. (Am I getting old or what?)

Instead, we want plenty of room to stretch out, lavish out the passion and reach new heights. We want plausibility & believability, but not necessarily the predictability of the same-old, same-old. That’s where the kinesthetic research comes into play: New positions and new techniques.  

In my debut novel Sex University: PHYSICAL EDUCATION, the students are given a positions textbook with a position for every day of the year – each with a tastefully done color image to illustrate the position. The re-enactors would have to be pretty limber to pull off some of the movements, but overall they seemed pretty do-able. Want to see how the characters use the manual? Read Physical Education!

Now, back to the research “work.”

Ah, the lengths us writers go to in order to bring the most accurate, and stimulating, scenes!

Louisa Bacio

Available Now: PHYSICAL EDUCATION

http://louisabacio.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/louisabacio
http://twitter.com/louisabacio

Contest:

What say you? Ever read a scene that didn’t seem physically possible? Ever have a scene act as an inspiration? Or, as a writer – do you act out your movements? Leave a comment with a valid email address and I’ll pick one lucky person to win a copy of Physical Education in .pdf format.

It's Coming! (Let's talk movies, shall we?)

I was sitting in my room bugging the hell out of my daughter to help me come up with a blog subject. And guess what? Neither of us could come up with a single thing to talk about. So my next natural train of thought was, ‘what new book do I have coming out’ in hopes of coming up with a loosely related subject to blog about. No luck…sort of.

Death and Roses is releasing next month from Ellora’s Cave as part of the Hunters for Hire Sci-Fi continuity series. Death and Roses is an erotic romance about a female Super Soldier who meets up with the soldier she believes killed the only man who’s ever loved her. There's more to every author than just writing, writing, writing, right? *say that 10 times really fast* And since I really don’t like talking about my books all the time, I wanted to think of something 'not' bookish. My upcoming sci-fi led me to another thought: FUTURISTIC MOVIES!

I am absolutely thrilled that Resident Evil 4: Afterlife is coming out on September 10th in 3D and Imax 3D! *tj dancing around doing a very high pitched squeeee!* I’m totally excited because I like series. Love them, in fact. It doesn’t matter whether the series is done in film or book form, I totally heart them. To be honest, my wallet takes a bit of a beating because when I buy a book in a series, or watch a movie in a series and I love it…I gotta have the whole darn thing!

If you’re not familiar with the Resident Evil franchise, it started with the first movie where Alice (Milla Jovovich, remember her in Fifth Element? No? <---Here’s a picture of her in that movie from 1997) is an amnesiac who doesn’t remember that she works as an operative for a nasty bio-agent manufacturer called the Umbrella Corporation. Then she gets her memory back. That’s real bad news for the bad guys considering her character kicks major ass. I think that’s why I love Alice – any book I write has to have a heroine that can hold her own, which Alice does in spades.

Each Resident Evil movie carries along that same story line of ‘get the bad guys’, but if that’s true, what makes me anticipate this new one? Well, the last movie not only killed off the gorgeous Oded Fehr (gorgeous guy to the right), but pretty much made it look as if no one exists on Earth but poor Alice. Her last line in movie number three to the bad guys who’d gone underground to hide was, “Hello boys. I’m coming for you. And I’m bringing a few of my friends.” A few of her friends turns out to be a room several stories high full of clones…of herself.

Hell, one Alice is hard enough to deal with. I’m wondering what they’re going to do with hundreds of her…or will they do anything at all?

Now, I don’t know if Blogger will let me do this, so if it doesn’t work, hop over to my personal blog to take a look at the trailer at TJ Michaels dot com.

See you at the movies!

TJ is an award winning multi-published author of contemporary, paranormal and multicultural romance who’s even managed a couple of CAPA nominations from The Romance Studio!

Visit her on Twitter, Facebook and of course her own site. Visit her publishers at Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing and Pocket Books

Sexy sexy Satyrs!

We have the next in our Satyr series coming out next month, called To Collar and Keep. Its about the Satyr prince of Clan Rummer, Harlequin, and the girl he was promised, Arabella. Its sexy, its naughty and for the fans of the series, sheds a LOT of light on Satyr culture and the big mystery of Where the hell Tempest disappeared to.

To Collar and Keep is available through Total E Bound September 13th on their site. And for you lucky readers, I'm going to give you a sneak peek here: WARNING: Unedited excerpt: RATED R:

Harlequin Donahue’s desk was strewn with textbooks, legal pads and highlighters and he sneered at it. His father, Boris Donahue, Clan leader of the Rummer Satyr house, barked into the phone as he kept it away from his ear. He might be a Satyr, but his hearing was as precious to him as any normal person.

“Harlequin, you will be at the Olanis gathering early. The Grecian contingent is coming three days before and you must be present, no exceptions.”

He winced at the mention of his full name, rolled his eyes and sighed. While it wasn’t a problem for him to meet his future female, he did have other responsibilities he had to tend to. As a Rummer prince, he was charged with becoming a leading force in the scientific community, as all the rest of the clan elders before him. His area of expertise was physics, and while still young compared to most getting their doctorate, Harley was driven by the need to be the best and most powerful Satyr of the Rummer clan. That meant taking over the scientific department of Rummer International, his clan’s defense and aerospace firm, something he was more then prepared to do. Granted he got his degree. The fact that the Olanis celebrations were less then two weeks away and his finals were this week, the stress was unbelievable. Throw on top of that meeting his intended and he was stressed, pent up and pissed off. Who had time to fuck when they were trying to create the perfect future?

“Father, there isn’t a shot in hell of me not making the celebrations, let along getting their late. I do have a few things I need to close out before I get there, and I do have finals.”

“You’re a Satyr!” his father bellowed. “Do what you do best, fuck the grades outta them and get your ass there.”

“Would that it was possible, but even I have standards, and I’m not getting bound to any one of those buzzards, not to mention two of my professors are guys.” At his words Karina, his flavor of the year, sauntered in nude and went to kneel at his feet and smiled up at him.

She was beautiful, and very comely, but she wasn’t special enough to truly be a Satyr prince’s property. Lower Satyr maybe. Sure, she was tall, russet colored hair, big hazel eyes, perfect body and breasts, a mouth and lips made for sucking cock, not a mark on her latte colored skin and a mind to rival half of the world’s Nobel Prize winners, but she wasn’t Beloved material for a prince. No, Harley, like those before him, would have a Beloved, and wouldn’t settle for less then royalty. Which was probably why he agreed to the match with Arabella.

There was a possibility that he would bring Karina with him to the gathering, and pass her off to the congregation the first night of the celebrations. She would enjoy it, she was fully intergraded as a pet, and he had cultivated her over the year just as an experiment. It wasn’t that he needed to, but the fact that he could was his driving force.

It wouldn’t be the first time a prince brought a living present for someone to master. He petted her hair and nodded, needing the distraction, and she quickly opened his pants and set to work sucking sweetly on his cock. She was good, and this was the limit on what he was allowing himself. He had no time to engage in his normal menu of carnal desires, so this would have to do. It was a damn good thing she sucked cock like a pro. He sighed and affected his bored expression, careful not to give her any form of praise, and turned his attentions back to his father, who was still raving about his prior commitments.

“Harlequin, I don’t care what you have to do, get your ass to New York in five days time!”

“Can do Father, Where are we meeting?”

His father sighed. “Olanis this year is not at Belvedere Castle. After the summit and the issues once Esben and Minerva left, Milton decided we would use site B, so you will escort the contingent to New Paltz, New York, to Mohonk Mountain House. Arturo and his people will be meeting you at the Waldorf Astoria on Saturday afternoon, and you will be gracious and accommodating. Everything has been set up by way of transportation, just get them from the city to the hotel upstate so you can claim your place.”

Harley was rather aware of the bullshit that had transpired months before during the convergence summit with Esben and Minerva. He had heard Esben rail and complain about his now father in law’s arrogance and had been plotting against the old codger ever since Esben had left the summit early. No doubt word had gotten out to the European Satyrs, and they smelled dissention within the American clans, especially with the Olanis celebrations pushed to the spring months, and Harley knew his father did not want the alliance he and Arturo had been cultivating for the better part of twenty five years compromised by Milton’s nefarious plans.

“Better be someone and not something Harlequin.” Boris growled with frustration. He always thought Harley spent more time between the pages of a book then between the legs of a willing woman.

His father hung up and Harley closed his eyes enjoying the soft suction from his pet servicing him. Yes, he thought. Her talents shouldn’t go to waste. She will have to come with me.

This was going to be tight. If he timed it just right, he would be able to finish his last exam and get him and Karina on the family jet before Friday. He was going to make it in by the skin of his teeth, but nothing worth it was easy.

Interested? Well you can start the story off right by reading Ben's story, Of Crimson and Collars, HERE. You'll just love Ben and Minerva... Hot doesn't cover it.