Avril's Blog

Alyssa Fox: Bound To Protect

2012-01-16T05:05:00.005-05:00

Good morning and welcome! We're back in full swing...at least, I think so. In the author showcase today is the lovely Alyssa Fox, pimping her new release, Bound To Protect, from Evernight Publishing. Take a ogle at that delicious cover and the mouth-watering excerpt, then make sure you get yourself a copy of this one. I know I'll be all over that one.

BLURB

When Katie’s past comes back to haunt her, can she trust Chad enough, or will it be too late?

Katie Thomas has been living a secret life for four years to keep safe. All of that is about to come to a crashing halt when the ex who tried to kill her shows up again. She’s scared and not sure what to do, until she moves next door to fellow doctor, Chad Davis. He’s the last person she wants to live next door to, but one sizzling night together has her yearning for more. The only thing that stands in her way is what he wants in and out of the bedroom; it’s a threat to everything she’s ever believed.

Can he help Katie unlock her hidden desires and show her that this is more than a fling for him?

Chad Davis has always had a thing for the sexy doctor. Assigned to protect Katie, he is determined to bring down her ex to help him get on with his life, finally. His reasons are personal, but one sizzling night together in his bed is all it takes for his priorities to shift. He is not giving her up, no matter how much she insists she is not right for him.

EXCERPT

The moans coming from Katie just about did him in. Chad lowered her onto the bed and the grip of her arms around his neck tightened. For a moment, she pulled away from the kiss.

“I’ve got you. I won’t drop you.”

A smile crossed her face and made his heart grip tighter against his chest. He was going to enjoy teaching her to be submissive.

“Take your shirt off,” he said with a gruff voice.

“What?”

“You heard what I said.” She stiffened and pulled her legs against her chest. Chad stifled a curse. He had to get his dominant side in check if he was going to reach her. He couldn’t go all “hard-ass” on her the first time. What she needed right now was reassurance that she was safe enough with him to truly let go.

“You’re not going to take it off?” Uncertainty laced her voice. .

“If I wanted to take it off of you, I would have.” Kneeling on the bed beside her, Chad promised himself to go as slowly as she needed. His gut told him she wanted this even if she wasn’t sure how it worked. It was part of his job to show her what her body wanted, needed and craved deep down inside. “If you didn’t have a fantasy about this, you wouldn’t have books on BDSM. Let me show you what your body secretly craves.”

“I’m not a helpless bimbo that needs to be told what to do to get off,” she spit back.

He hardly kept his laugh inside. She still wanted to fight what he knew her body wanted, but her independent streak was woven so deeply that she didn’t want to let go and feel. Hell, after all she’d been through, he could understand why. That was one thing he admired about her. Katie didn’t take shit from anyone.

“Is that so?” Butterflies slammed against her stomach as his hand continued to roam her body. For a moment she worried about Chad's taking things too far, about not being what he needed in a woman. What if she wasn’t built to do what he wanted? He didn’t give her much time to think on that before slipping off her thong. Now she was completely naked with his hard body pressed against hers.

“Yes. Now, no talking, unless you’re screaming out my name. Until then, call me ‘Sir’.”

“What if I have a question or something is bothering me?”

“Address me as ‘Sir’ and we’ll deal with it. Are you ready?”

Katie nodded. Nothing could happen to her, and if she needed it, she had a safe word. If she had to, she’d hold onto that reassurance with all her might and not hesitate to speak the safe word if things overwhelmed her. That was the whole point of having a safe word.

“I asked you a question.”

Drawing in her bottom lip, she grazed it with her teeth. “Yes, I’m ready.”

“Yes, what, Katie?” He stopped the caress just a whisper away from her breast. She desperately wanted him to touch her again. Arching towards him, she tried to bring her body into contact with his hand, but he moved.

“Yes, Sir. I’m ready.”

“Relax. Every time I touch you, I can feel you jump. No one’s going to hurt you here.”

Taking in a deep breath, she willed herself to relax, or at least try. Before, this was the point where she’d have trouble and start to pull back from her lover.

“Shouldn’t we lie down?”

“If I thought we needed to, then I’d have told you. Get in the middle of the bed and sit back on your heels.” He could almost see the wheels turning in her head, and for a moment, he wondered if she would use the safe word. Taking a breath, she moved to the bed and did as he had told her. Good girl. Chad climbed on the bed behind her. He palmed her ass, sending heat racing down her body. “Anyone ever take you back here?”

Oh God, not there! That shouldn’t turn her on even more. Chad’s body heat seeped into her back as he blanketed her with the hard muscles of his chest. His hand moved between her thighs.

“Don’t make me ask again. I’ll spank your ass next time.”

“Yes, but I don’t like it. It hurts.” She turned her head to glance at him. “No anal. I can’t do that. You can kiss your chance to fuck me away if you think you’re going to hit me.” Never again would she allow a man to hit her. Being that weak again wasn’t an option anymore. Moisture seeped between her thighs at the erotic thought of him smacking her, but no way would she tell him that it turned her on to have him do it. She'd read about it in her books, and it was never abusive. According to the books, it was always done in a safe manner, and brought the woman pleasure. There’d been times that she’d been so turned on after reading that she had to take care of things on her own. And she had no doubts that Chad would see to her pleasure in every way.

BOUND TO PROTECT is NOW available from Evernight Publishing
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Welcome Lorraine Nelson: Trouble's Brewing

2012-01-11T15:39:00.000-05:00

Please allow me to welcome the talented Lorraine Nelson to my blog. Lorraine is a fellow Evernight Publishing author who's latest Trouble Brewing in Thunder Creek is available now for your pleasure. Take a gander at the blurb and excerpt below. You also have the chance to score a copy of any one of Lorraine's books in the Thunder Creek Ranch series. Just leave your email addy in the comments. Winner will be chosen on Monday.

Lucas Manning, Sr. is married to Winnie, Roy Grayson's mother. Trouble ensues from the moment authorities arrest her son for stalking and terrorizing Lucas' daughter-in-law. Winnie feels guilty and withdraws from the Manning family. Suddenly a threatening phone call disturbs their lives even more as Winnie becomes a target. Can Lucas convince her of her worthiness and save their marriage? Or will danger and loyalty to her son drive a further wedge between them?

EXCERPT

The warm water sluiced over their hot bodies in a rushing stream as they stood entwined in the tiny stall. Her kisses tasted like chocolate mint from the candy bars they’d snacked on earlier.

She poured a liberal amount of his shower gel into her palm. “Turn around.”

He did as requested, and she dutifully soaped his back. As her hands moved to soap his chest, she rubbed her breasts against him, and he shivered in response to the sensations rioting through his body. When her hands reached to soap his cock, he gasped, taking in a mouthful of water, which he promptly spewed out.

“Lady, you sure are full of surprises,” he said as he turned to face her, rinsing off under the spray before turning the taps off. He grabbed a towel and dried her body, his ministrations causing exquisite little moans to escape her lips. Quickly drying himself, he tossed the towel aside and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Side-by-side, they walked through to the bedroom where he could make love to her in comfort. He loved this woman. He’d shown her every day in every way he could, but the words themselves didn’t come easy, not since his first wife died and took a piece of his heart with her.

As they lay down, he cuddled close and worshipped her body with his hands and mouth, old memories pushed to the farthest recesses of his mind.

Her breasts spilled from his hands as he massaged their silky softness. “So damned soft. I could play with them all night long.”

She clutched his head urging him forward to taste her rosy buds. “Be my guest.”

He laved a tongue over a nipple, teasing before pulling it into his mouth, his hand pinching the other one. Her soft murmur of delight spurred him on. He let go of her breast, with a light bite, trailing kisses down over her abdomen to reach the honeyed prize nested in reddish curls. Her legs spread for him, the most feminine part of her open and waiting for his attention.

AUTHOR WEBSITE

EVERNIGHT PUB

Also available @ amazon and ARe

Waiting for The Sunshine

2012-01-07T17:56:00.000-05:00

My first post of the New Year. Never intended for it to be personal or dark and dreary, but it will be. Blogging really isn't my thing. For someone as intensely private as I am, it just doesn't work for me. As sporadic as my posts are, that is how my personality runs.

I'm not a talker. I'm not a cryer. I'm not someone who shares. I know my reasons and they are way too fucked up to ever take the time to bore you with.

This is a post about loss. Mine. My family's.

On December 3rd, I lost my father. No, I didn't misplace him. He died. The day he died, I tried counting the times we'd spoken civilly to each other in my head. Once in ten years. The day my mother passed away, seven years ago.

My childhood was terror. The source of that terror was my father. To say I hated him would not have been far off. My younger siblings carried on a love-hate relationship with him. He was, after all, their father. I couldn't bring myself to do that. I'm the oldest. I remember the fear with pitch-perfect clarity. Still, to this day, I look over my shoulder when walking down the street.

Still, to this day, I'm hesitant to hold hands with the Mr. when walking in public.

Remnants of my father.

When my sister told me he'd died, I expected to feel something. He was my father. He was a person. The news was akin to reading about the death of a stranger in the newspaper. You spare a moment to think about the grieving family then flip the page and it's on to the next article. It doesn't affect you, has no bearing on how you go about your day. That's what I felt. Detachment.

He deserved to be mourned and he was...just not by me.

I wondered if I was a monster after all. Was I as cold and unfeeling as I've been named a time or two? How does one not feel and mourn the loss of a parent? I mourned my mother, still feel her loss in my chest. Still think about her every day.

She wasn't perfect. She had her issues, but I felt her love. Felt her attempts to do the right thing.

Not so with him.

On December 25th, Christmas Day, we found out we were going to have a baby. Perfect gift. Until we lost it. Miscarriage.

That word doesn't fully bring across the wretched pain and anger and despair of losing a child. And it begs the question, too, how can you mourn one and not the other?

As I write this I'm in my bed, where I've been for the past week. Sick and in pain and too weak to freaking think. Everything is at a stand-still. Nothing matters, at least in the near future. Writing is non existent, the pain all-consuming. Nobody knows of our loss, because no one knew we were pregnant. I didn't and won't talk about it on facebook or twitter, to me that's not the place. Somehow this post feels more intimate. For whatever reason. Maybe someday we'll share, but not right now. I'm not worried about any family members reading this since no one knows about my blog.

I'd hoped to make my blog a bit more personal in this New Year. This, though, wasn't on the agenda. Still it's what's been on my mind and I felt I needed to get it out there. Write it down. Maybe I'll even delete it. Maybe.

I'm waiting for the pain to go away, for that heavy blanket of loss to draw back and allow the rays of sunlight to filter through. I'm waiting.

Winners!

2011-12-19T09:29:00.001-05:00

Many thanks to all you lovely folk who took the time to stop by. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, glad you found new authors and books. It is what this massive party was about. Thank you too, for the lovely comments and holiday wishes.

Chrissy Munder, you won a copy of Drea Becraft's The Real Saint Nic. Please respond by commenting here with your email addy and I'll see about getting you your prize.

Now for the winners of the HOPS. First the winner of the Secret Cravings Hop who gets a copy of Blindfold Me, plus one other of my backlist: Na (Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com) Please browse my bookshelf and email me @ avrilashton@ymail.com with your other choice.

The Christmas Blog Hop Winners. Remember, I'm picking two of you. First up, winner of their choice of two of my ebooks: RAE M. Visit my bookshelf and choose your two ebooks and please email me with your choices @ avrilashton@ymail.com

$5 GC to Evernight Publishing: Sonia Remo Ait.

Congrats lovely loves, Sonia please email me at the address above and we'll do the damn thang! Everyone else, no worries, another hop is just around the corner. I'm always giving away something around these parts so stick around.

Happy Holidays!!!

Welcome Drea Becraft!

2011-12-15T07:18:00.003-05:00

Say hello! to the awesome Drea Becraft. She's popped in for a little chat and giving us a taste of her latest release, The Real Saint Nic.

What age were you when you stopped believing in Santa and why?

Blog by Drea Becraft

Tis the season…yep the Christmas season.

I have most of my outside family already bought for but my children only a few things so far. I am so looking forward to seeing all the faces of my loved ones as they open their gifts.

Recently I asked a few questions to everyone and anyone that would listen. For this blog the question is: What age were you when you stopped believing in Santa?

I can’t tell you a specific age because I am not quite sure but I think it was around the age of 10 or 11. While I didn’t believe in him anymore I do have two younger sisters so I kept the fact that I did know a secret till the youngest didn’t believe anymore. It worked out the best that way at least I still got a present every year until everyone was on the same page. And as we all know in the kid years its all about the presents lol.

As to the why I am pretty sure someone at my school told me the truth probably one of the kids on the bus who loved to tease me mercifully lol.

Others answered:

I was four years old when my brother dragged me out of bed to see our parents putting present on chairs in the living room. ~Jean Joachim

8, I am pretty sure someone at school let the cat out of the bag ~ Shari David

I was 8 or 9 when I stopped. I think parents told me but we never told lil sister til she (2 yrs younger) asked at about 10-11. ~Dawn

So when did you stop believeing? Tell me below and be entered in to win a copy of my newest Christmas release The Real Saint Nic!

Also I have a Free Read (My Wish For Christmas Is You): http://dreabecraft.com/bookshelf/free-read/

The Real Saint Nic is at

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

ARe

Blurb

Aimee’s life changed one night, not long ago, when she staked a vampire to save another. Still reeling from that life changing night, Aimee decides to go home with Brenda, her best friend, for the holidays. She never expected Brenda’s brother, who comes off more like the Grinch then Santa, to have so many saint like qualities. Years spent alone, with no family or friends, plays heavy on her mind but Nic could possibly be the one who changes it all.

Christmas has always been a sore spot for Nicolai. He’s the real saint Nic, but society has him all wrong. He’s no saint. In truth, he’s a vampire. Over the centuries, Nic has spent the holidays fighting off the ridicule from his younger brother and giving to those less fortune, not seeing his own worth. Until one mortal, brought home by his sister Brenda, changes the holiday and his outlook on life for eternity.

Is it possible that Nic has finally found his Mrs. Clause? When worlds meld, can Aimee find the happy ever after she once asked Santa for so many years ago, or is she doomed to spend forever lonely on Christmas?

Excerpt

With a flick of his hand, the lights next to the bed turned on as did a few lamps across the room. Once my eyes adjusted, I got a better look at the amount of presents. Hundreds, littered the room. The only space not filled was around the bed and a path to two doors in opposite directions. Red, green, and golds splattered the room in a festive show of color.

“You really are Saint Nic.” Astonished I tried desperately to keep my mouth closed.

“Please don’t call me that.”

“Why not?” Turning away from the presents I turned my gaze to Nic’s in question.

“Because I’m nowhere near a saint.” Brows furrowing Nic stared intently at the computer screen.

“Then how did you get the name?”

“That would be Jaysen’s doing. One day, not to long after I started giving the gifts, we got into an argument. I don’t remember most of what was said, after all, it was quite a while ago, but I do remember the comment was rather snide. To this day neither of us knows how it ended up outside our argument, but it still reminds me of that comment. Besides saints are deemed so because of the greatness they do for mankind all I do is give a few toys to some kids.”

Moved by the noticeable hurt in his eyes, a relentless knot twisted in my stomach. Though I still didn’t know him, the connection between us grew with each passing moment.

Whether it was hormones or the fact that we were supposed to be mates, I didn’t know, but I couldn’t stand to see him sad.

I scooted out of the bed and made my way to him, wrapping paper shuffling under my feet. Then, as if it were the most natural thing to do, I lowered myself into his lap and hugged him close. “To those kids you are the world.”

“That’s why I do it every year. Though not in the grand scale that everyone thinks. I try to help at least a few orphanages and hospitals each year.”

“See, you are a saint. Every year you create the biggest rush of hope and joy to the children across the world. Though you can‘t help them all, the small sacrifices you have made over the centuries have helped to shape our world and helps friends and families learn the true meaning of giving. Without you there would be no hope of a perfect Christmas. If that isn‘t the act of a saint, I don‘t know what is.”

With a grunt in my ear, Nic’s arms tightened around me as he buried his head in the hair between my shoulder blade and ear.

Pulling away slightly, I raised my hands and held of each side of his head. My fingers ran though the silken strands of his hair using that leverage I brought his head up until our eyes met. Leaning down I kissed his full lips with a slight brush of mine.

You are the best mate anyone could ask for. Speaking while our mouths were still fused, Nic sipped from my lips slowly.

Find Drea @ http://dreabecraft.com

**Be sure to leave your email address in your comments. One winner will be chosen and notified via email tomorrow, 12/16. Open internationally**

In Wicked Chains...Weekend Dirty Dozen

2011-12-08T21:14:00.002-05:00

The Dirty Dozen this week (I just love saying 'the dirty') comes from In Wicked Chains, book #3 in The Wicked series. It's all about Kingston and Elina, and if you aren't familiar with my band of merry, explicitly wicked characters you can find them all at Amazon.

The series is four books long, with book four under construction :-) I hope you take a chance, visit with those Wicked kids, and have a blast. You can be sure I keeps it dirty..hah, said dirty again. It's my favorite word, after Tequila, of course.

BLURB

With the twist of a doorknob, his carefully cultivated façade is shaken by the woman he’d forbidden himself to need.

The daughter of a recently slain mobster, Elina Vicente has secrets, too. They weigh her down, stealing her strength and her dreams. She’s developed an unhealthy crush on Kingston though he’s never looked at her as anything but his sister’s quiet friend. When she walks in on him in a compromising embrace, Elina seizes the chance to move Kingston from her dreams and into her arms.

THE DIRTY STUFF

Set up: Kingston and Elina has one night of rough and tumble and she leaves, now he sees her in his club, grinding on another man. He goes for drastic...**hot stuff ahead. A towel, a cup of ice, and something battery operated should be on hand if you're to venture lower** Jus sayin'

A sob hiccupped from her. His spare hand fumbled at the front of his jeans and she opened her mouth, swept her tongue in to tangle with his.

He devoured her mouth, teeth clinking, biting. Elina found herself moaning into his onslaught, tugging at his zipper as she wound a leg around his waist. His naked cock spilled out into her palm and she didn’t allow him any preamble. Lifting her hip, sinking her teeth into his lower lip, she guided him into her waiting wetness.

He pushed in on a grunt, sinking deep, fast, hard. Elina shuddered. Eyelids fluttering, she gave herself over to the pleasure. Thinking was overrated.

With both hands on her hips, Kingston drove into her, pounding, punishing. He never broke the kiss and she swallowed each shuddering grunt, each moan as she clamped down around him, doling out her own form of punishment.

Get DIRTY here

Weekend Dirty Dozen...Make me Burn

2011-12-01T23:44:00.002-05:00

So this Weekend's Dirty twelve comes from an almost completed work in progress, tentatively titled 'Make Me Burn'. Yes...it is Wes and Jayce's story (if you've read Make Me Sweat). For those who haven't, Wes and Jayce are a couple from MMS who practically stole the story with their chemistry in their one and only scene together.

Them boyz is fyah! So here's a taste, but first, some BS...backstory, people. Damn!

*Whispers*...apparently, something happened between these two, but Jayce tucked tail and ran, and Wes moved on. So in this scene, which is like my ALL TIME FAVE SCENE EVA, Jayce shows up out of the blue, trying to stake his claim. Now, I say trying but for all intense and purposes, I think homeboy done claimed that.

Dirty Twelve

“I could fuck you right here, Wes.” Jayce's voice was an aroused growl. “Sink all the way deep in to that tight ass right now, then send you back to your rich boy with my cum leaking out of you.” He kissed his way up Wes’ neck and slid his tongue into his ear while squeezing him and grinding on his ass.

Wes whimpered, his mind empty of everything but the feel of Jayce. He dug his nails into Jayce’s forearms, pushing back and undulating on his bulge.

“Would he forgive you, do you think?” Jayce dragged his teeth along the tendons in Wes’ neck until he got to the point where neck and shoulder met. “Or does he already know that you’re mine?” He sank his teeth in and sucked hard.

Wanton cries fell from Wes’s lips, molten heat flooding his boxers as he came.

“Does he know those cries are mine?” Jayce whispered in his ear.

More Dirty Stuff is HERE

In Wicked Chains...a tease

2011-11-15T09:04:00.000-05:00

In Wicked Chains (The Wicked bk#) is here, available right now from eXtasy Books so I bring you an exclusive tease from Kingston and Elina.

Everyone has secrets. Some people simply bury theirs deeper. Kingston Hughes is one of those. Painful childhood memories plague him, sending him spinning out of control and running from any kind of commitment. He pretends not to feel the pain and loneliness while indulging in sexual encounters with nameless, faceless women.

With the twist of a doorknob, his carefully cultivated façade is shaken by the woman he’d forbidden himself to need.

The daughter of a recently slain mobster, Elina Vicente has secrets, too. They weigh her down, stealing her strength and her dreams. She’s developed an unhealthy crush on Kingston though he’s never looked at her as anything but his sister’s quiet friend. When she walks in on him in a compromising embrace, Elina seizes the chance to move Kingston from her dreams and into her arms.

For only the second time in her life, Elina takes something just for her, but try as she and Kingston might, they can’t prevent their pasts from intruding. Shadows of pain and bitterness rise with a vengeance and the lovers will have to decide whether to break free or remain bound…In Wicked Chains.

EXCERPT...of the adult variety

Kington wanted to gather her up in his arms and hide her away, from him, from the explicit images in his head of Elina spread wide, lips wrapped around his cock, pussy wet and dripping, ass high in the air as he drove in and out. All these things he’d learned to stop wanting from her, all needs he’d kept at bay for so long.

Whatever she saw on his face, Elina smiled. “You’ve thought about this before. Me at your feet. You doing things to me.” Her entire face seemed to glow with the knowledge. She had power, time to take it back.

Kingston grabbed her hair. She arched for him beautifully, exposing her neck. Stifling a groan, he dragged his tongue down the smooth, creamy column. His cock, aroused since his first sight of her, pushed against his zipper. He winced. Elina moaned and he thrust her away.

“Clothes off,” he rasped. “Now.” He didn’t look to see if she followed his command, instead he strode over to the camel-colored couch and sat down. In no time she’d dispensed of the faded jeans and black t-shirt and stood before him in nothing but pink and black ankle socks. When he first saw her he’d thought her too thin, but she’d gained muscle and weight, filling out nicely.

Her café au lait skin was creamy smooth with small, firm tits, brown, nickel-sized nipples, and a flat stomach. Her chest heaved with every breath she took.

His balls ached with the need to explode.

She stood about five-six in her flat feet with toned legs. Her pussy was shaved though a thin landing strip remained.

No underwear. How…intriguing. He smiled and shifted to ease his dripping cock. “Come here.”

She bit her lip, reddening the skin. He wanted to kiss it away, but Kington reminded himself of the matter at hand. He had to make it so she didn’t want this, didn’t want him.

Elina walked toward him with sure footsteps. Their gazes held. Trust and need shone brightly in hers, and fuck if he didn’t blink to hide the raw lust running rampant through him. She stood between his parted knees, fists curled, waiting.

He smoothed a shaking hand down her front, sweeping between her breasts and stopping at her pubic mound. She held herself still as tiny sounds drifted from her. Staring up at her, emotion clogged Kingston’s throat. Fear of her negative reaction to him, even more afraid of the positive, raced inside him. After all this time of wanting from a safe distance, he had her in his grasp.

“Get on your knees.”

She dropped as if she’d been waiting all her life for his command.

Christ. His fingers flexed at the urge to hold her close and never let go. Lifting his hand, he dragged his knuckles down her cheek.

Her lashes fluttered and she leaned in to his touch. He didn’t linger. Swinging a leg over her head, he stood up and moved behind her.

She jerked and turned around, but he sank his fingers into her hair and held her head steady.

“Don’t move, look straight ahead.” He unbuckled his belt and pulled it free, watching the way her shoulders stiffened at the sound. “Hands behind your back.”

She complied silently.

“You say you want me, El, but I’ve been noticing things.” He dropped behind her on the floor. Catching both her wrists in his bigger palm, he wrapped the belt around them and buckled, drawing it tight. When she was secure, he leaned in and brushed her hair away from her neck.

She shivered.

“I’ve noticed you don’t like being touched, El.” He rubbed his nose over the shell of her ear.

Elina turned slightly, giving him better access.

“The only man you’re comfortable around is Niko, and he’s taken,” Kingston whispered in her ear.

She shook her head and panted. “Even with a different face, Niko’s familiar to me. He’s safe.”

Kingston’s gut twisted. Fucking jealousy.

“If you stayed around me long enough to notice, you’d see I like your presence just as much,” she said. “Maybe more. But you’re always running away and I’m always left needing you near.” Frustration brought her Spanish accent to the forefront as she rolled her Rs.

“I can’t be what you want,” Kingston’s voice cracked. Couldn’t she see how bad he’d be for her? His father made sure to ruin him for anybody.

“Let me be the judge.” Elina tilted forward, arching her back as she said, “Do whatever you want. I can take it. I can take you.”

Kingston ran his gaze down her curved back, to the hands shackled just over her ass, and her butt cheeks, so pale and taut. His mouth watered. He pictured himself sinking his teeth into the unblemished flesh, drinking in her cries.

Fucking. God.

Pressing a kiss to her nape, he trailed a shaky finger down her spine. Elina undulated like a dancer, mesmerizing, intoxicating. He licked her shoulder, then nipped.

She groaned.

Her aroused musk teased his nose. His hard cock dripped, aching to be buried between those pale thighs. He cupped himself through his jeans, shuddering at the contact.

“Balance on your knees.” King smoothed a hand over the curve of her left butt cheek as she changed positions, knees apart. Pressing himself against her back, he reached in front and palmed one of her tits.

Elina gasped. He squeezed her nipple, pinching and pulling before moving on to the next.

Her hips rolled, ragged moans left her throat, and he fought his own needs and wants to give her this. With one hand occupied with her tits, he trailed a finger of the other down her ass crack.

“King.”

Fuck, I love the way my name sounds on her lips. Soft and breathless. His balls drew up at the sound. Kingston gritted his teeth and counted to ten in his head. By the time he got to ten, her fragrant musk scented the air and his entire body shook from restraint.

He bent and slid his tongue over her spine, laving it. Her knees widened. Removing his hand from her nipples, he gripped her hips to hold her still, but she rocked back on him.

“King, more.”

A plea and God help him, but he wanted more. It wasn’t enough what he’d done, not nearly enough. Pulling apart her ass cheeks, he ordered roughly, “Open.”

Automatically, those legs opened, giving him an eyeful of juices glistening on the inside of her thigh. “Higher.”

She arched, opening herself for him. He plunged two fingers into her.

Elina cried out. Her fiery pussy clamped down on his fingers, juices squishing as he thrust in and out. She rode his fingers, her cries echoing around the room. He bit down on the inside of his cheek, stifling his grunts.

He hooked his fingers. She stiffened, then her hips rocked faster. She ground down and he ground up, the heel of his palm rubbing her ass. The rough material of his jeans rubbed his cock just right as his hips snapped forward in time with his hand. Contraction after contraction gripped his fingers as Elina came, slick moisture raining on his fingers, sliding down his palm.

Arm aching, shuddering as he came in his pants like a teenager, Kingston groaned. I’m fucked.

Buy @ eXtasy Books : http://bit.ly/rtFILY

Weekend Dirty Dozen w/In Wicked Chains

2011-11-10T23:43:00.003-05:00

In Wicked Chains is bk#3 in my The Wicked series with eXtasy Books. I learned last week it will be released on Nov 15, so I decided to use it for your durrty this week. Here's ya blurb...no cover, cause I'm keeping it under wraps until I unveil it in my newsletter.

Dirty Blurb

With the twist of a doorknob, his carefully cultivated façade is shaken by the woman he’d forbidden himself to need.

For only the second time in her life, Elina takes something just for her, but try as she and Kingston might, they can’t prevent their pasts from intruding. Shadows of pain and bitterness rise with a vengeance and the lovers will have to decide whether to break free or remain bound…In Wicked Chains.

***In this scene in the beginning of the story, Elina has made up her mind that she's not waiting for Kingston to make the first move. She takes the initiative, but...

Dirty excerpt

She’d been too late. Someone else was once again in her spot, taking her place.

The woman kneeling at Kingston’s feet devoured him with obvious relish, saliva dripping down her chin. A thick leather belt bound her hands behind her back.

Anger and something else burned Elina’s skin, hardening her nipples and slicking her inner thighs. The bastard had no idea what he did to her, none.

“Shit,” Kingston growled. His hips bucked.

Elina’s gaze flew from the woman on the floor to his face, but his eyes remained closed. She tightened her fingers on the doorknob, unable to tear herself away. Her heart hurt, but her clit pulsed.

Betrayed by her body and Kingston.

More Dirty

Guest Blogger Drea Becraft

2011-11-07T22:48:00.002-05:00

Today my guest is the awesomely adorable Drea Becraft. She's possibly the nicest and most hardworking woman I know and she's talking about recording all those precious little moments in our lives.

Welcome, Drea!

Recording Life

As a kid I can’t tell you how many times I wished my mother wouldn’t shove a camera in my face at every little moment. As a adult I wish now I had all that media and it didn’t get lost over the years. What little memories I have I remember are connected to the few pictures I now hold dear.

I will be the first to confess I take tons and I mean TONS of pictures of my kids as they are growing up. Not so much videos since I don’t own a video camera but the pictures are great for them to have when they grow up and have children of their own. Now I truly know the importance of recording the years as my kids grow faster then I ever thought imaginable.

Whether it be by picture or video I am a true believer in the need to record life. Even through the little things and the big things every moment is precious. I am planning on one day getting a video camera and god help my children when that happens lol.

In the first book of this series (Live For The Todays) we got a big taste of how much Tina loved to record life. In the following book (Forget The Yesterdays) her love of the camera help those she leaves behind cope with a loss. So how about you do you record life? How often?

Blurb: Forget The Yesterdays

Release Date: September 12, 2011

For Buy Links: http://www.dreabecraft.com

Some say the past defines us, others say to forget it and move forward. For Jack McCloud, the past plagues him with what could and should have been. After the death of the only woman he ever truly loved, Jack finds that forgetting the yesterdays is harder then he ever imagined. Impossible, until one woman comes into his life and turns it upside down making him rethink where his future leads, and whether he really wants to survive it on his own.

Samantha Larsh, a single mother, only wants what is best for her and her newborn son. So when offered a job at ARC Management, she is elated at the opportunity to provide the life they both desperately need. One day, one job, and one secret later her life would be forever changed. Can the future handed to her by fate be enough for her to look forward to tomorrow, or is she forever doomed to live in the shadow of yesterdays ghost

Excerpt:

His dream began with the sound of the surf reaching his ears, the sunlight gently shining through his closed eyes.

“Are you just going to lay there?”

Peeking through his lashes, he saw Tina. “I was working on my tan.”

“As if you aren’t already too good looking. The last thing you need is a tan.”

Grabbing her hand, Jack pulled her down on top of him, holding her to his chest. “It’s been a couple of months. I missed you.”

“You know I have places to go and people to see.”

Reaching up, he tucked a piece of her auburn hair behind her ears. “Too busy to haunt

little old me, huh?”

“Never!” Leaning down, she kissed his mouth, running her tongue along the seam of his lips, asking silently for entrance.

Jack pulled her tongue into his mouth and sucked on it lightly, at first, then more forcefully. Running his hands up and down her bikini-clad body, he reveled in the feeling of her skin beneath his hands.

Pulling away slightly, Jack looked up to her face as the sun shown behind her, giving her the appearance of having a halo. Tears shown in her eyes, making him wonder why she was so sad. They were on a beach together, nothing could be better.

Reaching up, he brushed the tear from her cheek. “What’s the matter darlin’?”

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“What are you talking about? We always have tomorrow.”

“I can’t keep coming to you, Jack. It’s time you move on. I want you to be happy.”

“I won’t be happy without you. I can’t be happy without you.”

“Yes you can and you will. Promise me you will move on.”

Turning his face away from her, he watched as the surf receded into the sea. Feeling her small hand cupping his cheek, he allowed her to bring his face back to hers.

“Please, Jack, for me.” A tear ran down her cheek, hitting him just below his nose and running down his lips.

Licking the tear away, he ran his hands up her arms to the back of her head, pulling her down to meet his hungry lips. Kissing her with every ounce of love in his body, he couldn’t stop, like a man possessed. Never leaving the kiss, he rolled over on top of her, her back in the sand.

Pulling away from her mouth had been about the hardest thing he ever had to do, but he couldn’t resist looking into her hazel eyes. “I can’t promise, because I never want to break a promise to you T. I will try my best… that I can promise you.”

“That’s all a girl can ask for.”

“I will never stop loving you, never.”

“I’m not asking you to. I believe there is enough love in your heart for more than one though.”

“I seriously doubt it. No one is you Tina, you’re the one I need and want.”

“I know but sometimes, the heart knows what it can and cannot handle before the brain catches up. Trust your heart baby, it will never steer you wrong.”

A loud beeping sound seemed to come from the waves, getting louder and louder with each beep.

“Its time for you to go, I love you. Always have, always will.” Kissing him, she disappeared in front of his eyes.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Reaching for the alarm clock, Jack pressed the snooze button and sat up in bed. Blinking to clear his eyes, he could have sworn he saw Tina standing in the corner of his room, waving goodbye.

“I love you, always have, and always will.” Jack smiled at her as once again she disappeared, leaving him to stare at the empty room.

Weekend Dirty Dozen w/ Blindfold Me

2011-11-04T07:38:00.000-04:00

This weeks' WDD is from Blindfold Me, my first completed novel, now available in both print and ebook format. The heroine Lyric meets Grayson, her childhood sweetheart here for the first time in almost thirteen years. Many things were left unresolved and it doesn't help any that some major drama is popping off at the company Grayson just bought. Lyric's company.

Here's the blurb

Thirteen years ago, Lyric Benson's boyfriend accused her of sleeping with his older brother then disappeared. She never stopped caring, never stopped hoping. Now, all these years later, Lyric is stunned to discover the new owner of her company is one Grayson St Clair, who never forgot or forgave her transgression.

Grayson wants nothing to do with someone he thinks hurt him so deeply. He can't let go of the past and he can't trust Lyric. It doesn't help matters that while on her watch, the Masonry company she oversaw was hacked into and the company's top secret client list accessed. Reluctantly, Lyric and Grayson team up to find the culprit, with Grayson denying their blossoming feelings at every turn. But when his brother appears, secrets in tow, Grayson will have to choose: live in the past or move on with Lyric.

The Dirty

“If you had your way, I’d be long gone. Wouldn’t I?”

“Well, yes. Especially since you practically gave our clients away.”

“Bastard,” she spat. “This has nothing to do with Ilsha. You still hate me.” Her chest heaved. “You still hate me after all these years.”

“What do you expect, Lyric?” Thirteen years of pain and anguish clung to every word he spoke. “You slept with my brother!”

Available for Kindle Nook and @ ARe

More authors and their Dirty stuff are here

Blog Tour-Stop (1)

2011-11-01T10:43:00.000-04:00

To kick off my virtual tour to promote Till Abandon, I've been interviewed over at Books-n-Kisses. Stop by and oh, have you snapped up your copy of Till Abandon yet?

Book one in the Paranormal Security Council Series

All the power and killer instinct she possess can’t protect her from the claiming of one determined wolf.

They call her ‘The woman in white,’ whisper ‘Death-Bringer’ with their last breath, but no one knows exactly what she is. Not even Voltaire herself. The deadly magic within her is a living thing, able to crush anyone and everything with a blink. Abandoning the blood-soaked world she’s used to, Voltaire seeks out the one constant in her tired life-the green-eyed wolf in her dreams. She’s ignored the wolf’s call for years, afraid to surrender, but danger haunts her mate. He needs her.
Wolf-shifter Blake Montez is in the middle of a war, battling the usurpers intent on taking over his territory. Unfamiliar magic hums in the air, unnoticed-it seems-by everyone but him. He finds the source already under his nose, in his home. The delicate woman in white knows things no one should know, and the heat simmering between them is unlike anything he’s ever felt. His wolf recognizes her as his mate, though Blake remains unsure he can trust her.
Voltaire sets out to prove herself with time running out. Enemies are on the prowl, some foreseen, others remaining cloaked in shadow. She and Blake team up, fighting side by side, but in the end Voltaire might be the biggest threat to their love.

EXCERPT:
"Will you fucking die already?" Voltaire pressed the right heel of her gold Zanotti’s into the bullet hole in the man’s neck. The idiot keeping her from her date struggled—a futile effort, if she did say so herself. His cobalt-blue eyes stared up at her from his position on the floor, pleading for mercy while his body twitched. Wet sounds gurgled in his throat, then he coughed. Dark red blood flew everywhere, dotting the back of her heel and running like a red stream down the corner of his mouth. Pink tears leaked from his eyes.
"Damn it, now look what you’ve done." She lifted her foot off his throat to inspect the damage to her shoe. "I bought these today, specially for this occasion, and you go and fuck them up."
Men. Can’t train them, or horsewhip them in the middle of the street. What the hell is there left to do? Kill ‘em.
She knelt beside the man, who was getting bluer by the minute, and shook her head. "You know, that colour does great things for your skin tone." She grabbed the sleeve of his white shirt and wiped off her heel. Blood pooled under him, sinking into the plush, grey carpet. She glanced up at the digital clock on his desk. He had some fabulous things in this office—she’d take a tour of the house if she wasn’t so damned strapped for time.
Hah, strapped.
A dull buzzing started on the left side of her skull, annoying as a mosquito.
"Will you stop already with the fucking mind control? You’ve been trying it all night, and has it worked?" She lifted an eyebrow and projected her thoughts to him. Obviously not. You pissed off the Council and they’ve marked you for extinction. She bared her teeth. "Unfortunately for you, they gave you to me as a going away gift."
Tugging the bowie knife from her ankle strap, she slashed his throat with a flick of her wrist.
"That’s for taking up so much of my goddamn time."
She fished the disposable cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans and pulled off her black gloves with her teeth. Hitting the redial button, she straightened and stepped delicately over the body on her way to the door.
"Yes?"
"It’s done."
Voltaire paused at the threshold and took one last look over her shoulder to admire her handiwork. Damn, sometimes she astonished even herself. The married father of four hadn’t batted an eye when she’d sent him a drink at the bar then offered herself to him for the night. She gave him bonus points for not taking her to his marital home. Apparently Mr Moneybags kept an apartment downtown for his nightly hook-ups.
Fucking men. Is nothing sacred anymore? Sure, she’d been paid a couple of mil to kill him, but still.

@ Total E Bound: http://bit.ly/pyBzg9

BTOTBH Winner!

2011-11-01T07:11:00.002-04:00

Massive thank yous go out to all you awesome peeps who stopped by during the Bewitching Trick-orTreat Blog Hop. It's been fun and I've had a blast. Stick around, we'll be doing it all again for Christmas.

I've had such a great turn out, I decided to pick two winners. SURPRISE!! and drum roll...

Winner One (picked by random.org) is wlynnchantale

and

Winner Two (picked by random.org) is Lisa **Wolphcall@ bellsouth.net

Congrats to the winners! Check out my website for a list of my books and descriptions and email me your preference (1 each) at avrilashton (at) ymail (dot) com.

Weekend Dirty Dozen w/Dulce

2011-10-27T10:01:00.008-04:00

This week's Dirty Dozen is from Dulce, my M/M short in the Midnight Seduction Manlove Edition Anthology pubbed by Evernight Publishing.

DULCE Blurb: Wolf shifter Griffin Royale, is back in his hometown of River’s Junction, Colorado, for his mother’s annual Halloween masquerade party. It’s his first time back since he left three years ago, but the instant Griff steps foot in his brother’s club, he senses his mate.

Bartender Dulce O’Brien is a shifter as well, but he instantly rebuffs Griffin’s advances, denying their connection. Denying his sexuality. Now Griffin has to find a way to claim his mate despite the many obstacles standing in their way.

Dirty Dozen

"You think I want to own you, Dulce?” Fuck, my voice shook with the waning attempts at restraint. “I don’t want to own you. I want to claim you. Hold you down and fuck you.”

I felt his swift intake of breath and saw the internal struggle he waged when his eyes clashed with mine. He wanted. Like I wanted.

I pressed closer to him, front to front, hard against oh-so-fucking-hard. He didn’t move toward me, but he didn’t move away either. I pushed further, sliding my hand up his tattooed arm, over his shoulder, and finally up his smooth head. His skin felt like satin fire under my palm.

Available @ Evernight Bookstrand ARe Amazon

Get more of the Dirty Stuff over HERE

Got Vote?

2011-10-24T08:00:00.004-04:00

I did something recently I swore I'd never do. I entered a pitch contest over a Passionate Reads. The prize is to get your first three chapters and a synopsis critiqued by an editor from at Ellora's Cave. Since I've wanted to get my foot in the door over at EC, I jumped at the chance.

First we had to submit a blurb only. Out of almost fifty who entered that first round, ten were chosen. I was one of those along with my M/M story Love The Sinner. You now have the chance to read the first chapter of Love The Sinner, along with the other authors who moved to the second round, and vote on whose you like.

Here's the blurb that made it through to the second round:

NYPD Detective, Gabriel Ashby would love nothing more than to bust Angelo Pagan’s ass and lock him up, so why is he seeing the bastard in his erotic dreams at night? Never having looked twice at another man, Gabriel doesn’t know how to deal with his sudden and intense desire for one of the force’s Most Wanted. Everyone close to Angelo somehow ends up dead, with the smug gang leader standing alone amid the rubble.

Angelo Pagan can’t figure out the cop undressing him with his eyes and pushing him away with his words. Attraction to Gabriel is suicide and Angelo resolves to ignore the fierce chemistry…until a police raid goes wrong. He critically injures Gabriel, changing the trajectory of both their lives. Now, despite anger and resentment on both sides, the two can’t get close enough.

Their forbidden affair is threatened from the onset by lies and betrayal. They live on different sides of the law, unable to find a way of breaching the huge gap between them. With the authorities looking to make an example out of Angelo, Gabriel has to decide if it’s really worth it to hate the sin but love the sinner.

And here's your chance to read the first chapter. Scroll down to the list of author names and their titles and click on mine. If you like what you read so far, and want me to move on to the final stage, please vote. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

Passionate Reads

Weekend Dirty Dozen w/ Till Abandon

2011-10-21T08:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my inaugural Weekend Dirty Dozen post. Every Weekend my fellow DD authors and I will post twelve sentences from a WIP or pubbed work complete with blurbs, buy links, and even giveaways. Click HERE for the list of all participating authors.

TILL ABANDON (bk#1 in the PSC series)

available @ Total E Bound

BLURB~ They call her ‘The woman in white,’ whisper ‘Death-Bringer’ with their last breath, but no one knows exactly what she is. Not even Voltaire herself. The deadly magic within her is a living thing, able to crush anyone and everything with a blink. Abandoning the blood-soaked world she’s used to, Voltaire seeks out the one constant in her tired life—the green-eyed wolf in her dreams. She’s ignored the wolf’s call for years, afraid to surrender, but danger haunts her mate. He needs her.

Wolf-shifter Blake Montez is in the middle of a war, battling the usurpers intent on taking over his territory. Unfamiliar magic hums in the air, unnoticed—it seems—by everyone but him. He finds the source already under his nose, in his home. The delicate woman in white knows things no one should know, and the heat simmering between them is unlike anything he’s ever felt. His wolf recognizes her as his mate, though Blake remains unsure he can trust her.

Voltaire sets out to prove herself with time running out, enemies are on the prowl, some foreseen, others remain cloaked in shadow. She and Blake team up, fighting side by side, but in the end Voltaire might be the biggest threat to their love.

Twelve Sentences

“Twirling around, she met his hungry gaze. “I get your distrust of me, but why can’t you put faith in what the wolf is telling you?”

His delicious lips thinned. “The wolf isn’t in charge, I am. And right now, I want you far away from here.”

“Aww.” She pouted. “If I were any of those other fake-ass bitches you seem to like fucking with, my feelings would be crushed right now.” Sliding a hand up his chest, she leaned in and licked his neck. The wolf went nuts. “But I know better, ‘cause I can see the mini-movie in your head,” Voltaire whispered. “The one where your head is between my thighs and I’m screaming your name.”

It's Release Day for Till Abandon!!

2011-10-17T07:31:00.000-04:00

It's release day for Till Abandon! Wohoo!! Okay, yeah, I should be an old pro at this right? Every one knows Release Day is filled with angst and a whole bunch of nail biting. I'm not really biting my nails, just knocking back coffee like shots and praying like mad that the few fans I have actually like this new direction I've taken on my writing journey.

I've always said I write what I read, so stepping into the paranormal race isn't far off the mark for me. I wrote Till Abandon last NaNoWriMO. Back then it was titled Voltaire and finished at--I think--56k words. When time came to edit the story, it all felt wrong somehow, so I chucked the entire mess and started from scratch. Suprisingly, it didn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would.

It just wasn't working as a full length.

Today, Voltaire is a novella, retitled Till Abandon. Works for me.

As it's book #1 in the Paranormal Security Council (PSC) series, I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Hope the people who take the time to sample Till Abandon will be happy as well.

All the power and killer instinct she possess can’t protect her from the claiming of one determined wolf.

They call her ‘The woman in white,’ whisper ‘Death-Bringer’ with their last breath, but no one knows exactly what she is. Not even Voltaire herself. The deadly magic within her is a living thing, able to crush anyone and everything with a blink. Abandoning the blood-soaked world she’s used to, Voltaire seeks out the one constant in her tired life-the green-eyed wolf in her dreams. She’s ignored the wolf’s call for years, afraid to surrender, but danger haunts her mate. He needs her.

Wolf-shifter Blake Montez is in the middle of a war, battling the usurpers intent on taking over his territory. Unfamiliar magic hums in the air, unnoticed-it seems-by everyone but him. He finds the source already under his nose, in his home. The delicate woman in white knows things no one should know, and the heat simmering between them is unlike anything he’s ever felt. His wolf recognizes her as his mate, though Blake remains unsure he can trust her.

Voltaire sets out to prove herself with time running out. Enemies are on the prowl, some foreseen, others remaining cloaked in shadow. She and Blake team up, fighting side by side, but in the end Voltaire might be the biggest threat to their love.

*Warning: contains scenes of the heroine's sexual dominance over someone other than the hero.

"Will you fucking die already?" Voltaire pressed the right heel of her gold Zanotti’s into the bullet hole in the man’s neck. The idiot keeping her from her date struggled—a futile effort, if she did say so herself. His cobalt-blue eyes stared up at her from his position on the floor, pleading for mercy while his body twitched. Wet sounds gurgled in his throat, then he coughed. Dark red blood flew everywhere, dotting the back of her heel and running like a red stream down the corner of his mouth. Pink tears leaked from his eyes.

"Damn it, now look what you’ve done." She lifted her foot off his throat to inspect the damage to her shoe. "I bought these today, specially for this occasion, and you go and fuck them up."

Men. Can’t train them, or horsewhip them in the middle of the street. What the hell is there left to do? Kill ‘em.

She knelt beside the man, who was getting bluer by the minute, and shook her head. "You know, that colour does great things for your skin tone." She grabbed the sleeve of his white shirt and wiped off her heel. Blood pooled under him, sinking into the plush, grey carpet. She glanced up at the digital clock on his desk. He had some fabulous things in this office—she’d take a tour of the house if she wasn’t so damned strapped for time.

Hah, strapped.

A dull buzzing started on the left side of her skull, annoying as a mosquito.

"Will you stop already with the fucking mind control? You’ve been trying it all night, and has it worked?" She lifted an eyebrow and projected her thoughts to him. Obviously not. You pissed off the Council and they’ve marked you for extinction. She bared her teeth. "Unfortunately for you, they gave you to me as a going away gift."

Tugging the bowie knife from her ankle strap, she slashed his throat with a flick of her wrist.

"That’s for taking up so much of my goddamn time."

She fished the disposable cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans and pulled off her black gloves with her teeth. Hitting the redial button, she straightened and stepped delicately over the body on her way to the door.

"Yes?"

"It’s done."

Voltaire paused at the threshold and took one last look over her shoulder to admire her handiwork. Damn, sometimes she astonished even herself. The married father of four hadn’t batted an eye when she’d sent him a drink at the bar then offered herself to him for the night. She gave him bonus points for not taking her to his marital home. Apparently Mr Moneybags kept an apartment downtown for his nightly hook-ups.

Fucking men. Is nothing sacred anymore? Sure, she’d been paid a couple of mil to kill him, but still.

Available now from Total E Bound

A Taste of Zakia And The Cowboy with Author Lorraine Nelson

2011-10-07T20:50:00.002-04:00

Welcome my guest today, Lorraine Nelson, as she gives us a taste of her latest release from Evernight, Zakia and The Cowboy. Enjoy and got your copy now!

With a stalker following her every move, Zakia has no choice but to flee the city. Her options limited, she runs to the only place she's ever felt safe...the Thunder Creek Ranch and her ex-husband, Lucas.

Will he protect Zakia from the stalker? And if he does will either of them be able to ignore the feelings that have simmered for so long, ready to explode... before danger either draws them together or pulls them apart.

EXCERPT

“Sorry, Darlin’. Always a cowboy,” he apologized.

He sat on the edge of the bed and struggled to remove his cowboy boots, then disposed of pants, briefs and socks. When he looked up and saw the still smooth, silky skin of her upper torso and full breasts partially covered by her beautiful, long, blonde hair, he had to ask himself how he got to be so lucky. Déjà vu was very much in existence as he admired the woman standing before him. Zakia was still every bit the exquisite, sexy woman she’d been on their wedding night, only now she was trying hard not to giggle.

“What’s so funny,” he asked with a grin as he reached for her.

“Just a little touch of déjà vu going on.”

“I was thinking the same thing. You’re just as beautiful now as you were on our wedding night,” he stated as he pulled her back into his arms.

“Well, I was thinking it funny that you said those exact same words on our wedding night.”

“What words?” he asked, curious and trying to think.

“Sorry, Darlin’. Always a cowboy.”

“Ooohh, those words. It’s true. A cowboy doesn’t go too far without his boots.”

“Did you mean it, Luke?”

“Mean what?”

“That you still think I’m beautiful.”

“Do I need to install mirrors on every wall in the house?” he teased. “Yes, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and sexily built. Now, shut up and kiss me.”

“Oh, I so like a man who knows what he wants,” she cooed.

When she reached for him, pulling him down for a kiss filled with all the passion he remembered, his heart soared. Gone was the polite restraint they’d held to since her arrival. He kissed her back, longing for more, aching for the promise her lips delivered.

His hands moved to her breasts, rubbing and tweaking the nipples to turgid peaks, then massaging the silken softness until she moaned against his mouth in pleasure. Breaking the kiss, he took one rosy nipple into his mouth, sucking and nipping lightly before transferring his attention to the other one.

He worked his way down her body, one kiss at a time, having to keep a tight rein on his control as she breathed his name over and over again. Her body writhed beneath him as he reached her sopping pussy, her unique scent driving him wild as always. He parted her lips and kissed her, rubbing tiny circles on her clit with his thumb. His other hand reached beneath her to fondle her ass as he began sucking her, his tongue laving and prodding her wetness until he could take no more. Rising up, he coaxed her legs apart with his knees and positioned himself. As he looked into her desire-glazed eyes, he moved, pushing into her with one hard thrust.

Then he stilled. It had been as tight as their first time. “Did I hurt you?”

“Uh, uh.” She shook her head as her body began to move, encouraging him to pull out and push into her warmth again.

She grabbed his hips, pulling him closer, deeper, and they fell into a rhythm that told of their familiarity with each other. It was as if he’d gone back in time, back to the days of love and laughter, caring and sharing their lives, completing each other. He thrust in and out, faster, harder, seeking the rapture he’d only found with the woman lying beneath him.

Thought took a long, slow ride after that as they concentrated on catching up on years of lost loving, and he was pleased to note, she still had that deep, husky, pleading note in her voice when she screamed his name.

Now available @ Evernight Publishing

Amazon

Bookstrand

All Romance

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Lorraine's Links

Website

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Calling all Winners!!

2011-10-03T14:21:00.003-04:00

Evernight Publishing has posted the list of winners, including the commenters from each author's blog to win $5 EP GC. Check out the list HERE.

The lucky winner from my blog is LYNN CHANTELE!! *Lynn wins the $5 EP GC.

The Lucky winner of a copy of Make Me Sweat is WENDY (books4me)

* * * *

Winner of my release party over at Goddess Fish *who wins their choice of my backlist* as picked by Random.org is...EVA

Wendy and Eva, you lucky kids will be receiving an email from me shortly. Lynn Chantale, you should be hearing from Evernight directly. CONGRATS!! to all the winners and thank you to all who've dropped by to visit my poor neglected blog, showing her some love...hope you stick around. Giveaways are always happening round about these parts, we're generous like that ;)

~Av

Partying at Goddess Fish Today!

2011-10-02T09:00:00.005-04:00

Come join me today over at Goddess Fish Promotions blog. I'll be showcasing Till Abandon with excerpts and the like. A lucky will win their choice of my backlist.

Guest Author: Amy Valenti

2011-09-26T20:23:00.004-04:00

Welcome author Amy Valenti, as we showcase her latest work: Dominance and Deception from Total-e-Bound.

Thanks for having me here, Avril! Today I’m going to be sharing a little snippet from my debut novel, Dominance and Deception. It’s full of corrupt criminals, sizzling sexual tension, intense D/s scenes and heartbreaking angst – not necessarily in that order! Have a little read for yourself…

To catch a killer, you have to think a little kinky...

Submission is a dangerous game... Faye Tate is a police forensic scientist, a switch, and secretly in love with a police detective.

Detective Zach Pierce has made many enemies, but his attraction to Faye is too strong to be denied. Can Pierce protect his submissive from those who seek to use her against him, or will her devotion to her Dom cost Faye her life?

Reader Advisory: This book alludes to scenes of F/F intimacy. It also has scenes of ménage à trois.

Excerpt:

“Try to get free.”

Obediently, Faye writhed on the bed, tugging at the handcuffs that restrained her wrists and the silk scarves I’d used to tie her ankles to the bedposts.

“Can’t, Sir,” she said, half smiling, half apprehensive, as if she was unsure whether the response would lead to reward or punishment. Hell, with Faye, the punishment usually was the reward.

I didn’t keep her in suspense. “Good.”

When I brought the riding crop up into her line of sight, her eyes widened and she bit her lip, a shiver of anticipation thrilling through her body. I paused for a second, giving her time to back out if she needed to, making no attempt to hide the way my eyes swept over every part of her.

“Are you ready?”

She swallowed hard, her eyes on the crop. Shaking a tendril of damp hair from her cheek before answering, she nodded, her words just barely whispered.

“Yes, Sir.”

The way she submitted, unquestioning, to my authority made me want to throw aside the crop right then. I needed to be inside her, needed to hear her beg for release, needed to lose control completely. But not yet. The scene had yet to be played out.

Faye looked from the crop to my face, and from the slight upward quirk of her eyebrow I could tell she’d caught on to my train of thought.

“Or we could just…” she said softly, shifting seductively against the mattress.

Snapped back into my role, I stared her out until she stilled and broke eye contact.

A flicker of amusement remained in her voice as she conceded, “I’m sorry, Sir. I was outta line.”

“You’re damn right,” I said, and without warning cracked the crop down onto her breast, just below the nipple.

She yelled with combined pleasure and pain, attempting to suppress the grin on her face.

I paused to let the blow register, knowing she was hardly even trying to be properly submissive. Most of the time, she let it wash over her, sinking so far into the state that it took time for her to come back from it. Tonight she was in a playful mood of a completely different kind—cheerfully insolent and willing to take all the punishment I could meter out. I already knew she’d let me whip her until she was sore all over, then defy me for just a little longer, setting her tolerance for pain against my willingness to give it.

I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

Faye looked down at the red mark rising on her flesh, then up at me. “That the best you can do, Sir?”

I raised the crop, never letting my pissed-off façade slip. “I haven’t even started—”

Faye’s phone rang, the unexpected sound disorientating us both. She groaned, scowling at the offending object as if it was sentient.

“Damn it! Not now!” She tugged expectantly at her handcuffs. “Okay, let me out of these.”

I stood there, impassive, and she rolled her eyes.

“Zach, seriously. Someone’s probably dead and we’ll have to go to work.”

Bio

Amy Valenti is a tarnished tease, and her mind has lived in the gutter since the day she realised what sex was. She hails from England, which she doesn’t find quite as exotic and sexy as the average US citizen seems to, but if people want to compliment her on her accent, that’s all fine with her! Her muses are many, fickle and very demanding.

She has a degree in creative writing and currently works as a proofreader/copy editor. In her free time, she reads, writes and plays videogames. On the rare occasions she doesn’t have a laptop on her knee, she loves to curl up with friends and pets – and chocolate – for TV show and movie marathons.

Links

Dominance and Deception is out now from Total-E-Bound Publishing

You can find Amy at her blog, or on Twitter or Facebook:

http://amyvalenti.wordpress.com/

http://www.twitter.com/AmyValenti

http://www.facebook.com/AmyValentiErotica

Evernight's Big Birthday Bash

2011-09-25T00:00:00.007-04:00

One of my awesome Publishers, Evernight Publishing, is celebrating it's first birthday. We're having a party from Sept 25-Oct 2nd and of course, You're Invited!

I'm giving away a pdf copy of MAKE ME SWEAT but...Evernight will choose any one of you who comment here to win a $5 Evernight GC. In addition, Evernight will choose three separate commenters from ANY of the participating author blogs below to win one of three grand prizes: a new Kindle eReader, $50.00 CASH-U.S. dollars-(gifted via PayPal) and a $40.00 Evernight Gift Certificate.

All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter/become a member of my website and comment on this post. Be sure to leave your name and email addy in your comment. The more author blogs you comment on, the better your chances. Winners will be announced October 3rd on Evernight's blog and website.

Guest Author: ~Kellie Kamryn~

2011-09-21T07:27:00.001-04:00

Have you met KJK? No? You know her as Kellie Kamryn, but she's KJK to me. An awesome, warm, and talented lady who's stopping by to give you a taste of her new release, Monkeys, Sex and other Birthday Surprises. Title got your interest? Keep reading while I pocket this money she paid me to say all the positive stuff ;0)

Available @ Secret Cravings Publishing

BLURB: Missy Harder is reluctant to ruin a good thing and meet with her on-line lover, Sam Kentley, in person. Sam is dying to see if the connection they have is real. Humiliated in front of Sam by her brother's pet capuchin at her surprise birthday party, she wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when Sam refuses to leave her to her misery, they both learn that humor will get you through anything, and sometimes great sex and love sneak up on you when you least expect it.

EXCERPT: Sam began to sputter a reply, but Missy interrupted. “Mom. Get. Out.”

“Fine. Going,” she said, turning away. But then she pivoted back to them for a parting shot.

“Way to go, honey.”

Missy covered her face with her hands. Sam tried to remove them but she held firm. “Feel

free to leave any time. My family is crazy. My life is insane.”

“Well, it’s anything but boring.”

“No shit.”

“You’re mom’s a firecracker. Maybe we should have a threesome.”

Missy removed her hands from her face and gaped at him.

“I’m kidding,” Sam said, holding his hands up out in front of him. “That was a joke. I like

kinky, but a mother-daughter combo is not one of my fantasies.”

She swatted his arm and dug out a fresh T-shirt from a drawer. It hugged her generous

bosom, and Sam’s eyes drew there like Winnie-the-Pooh to a honey pot.

“You have a great rack.”

The sincerity in his voice made her smile, despite the crude way in which he delivered the

compliment. “I’m glad you approve.” She huffed out a breath. “We should get back to the party.”

Sam took hold of her hand and led her out of the room. At the doorway, he tugged on her

hand so she spun to face him. He yanked her against him, and she melted into his body on

contact. “One more to tide us over.”

The man never let her speak. His mouth captured hers, but this time his tongue invaded,

mating with hers. Her hands crept up to his neck and sank into the curls at his nape. Deep, hot,

wet—everything a passionate kiss should be. Thrust, parry. Dodge, tease. Slip, slide.

Missy sucked on his tongue, hinting at what she could do to his dick. He groaned, his hands

digging into her back. He didn’t release her when they broke apart.

Their chests heaved. Desire crackled between them. The words of her sister echoed in her

head, “Real sex is better than phone sex…” Yeah, it is. Or, would be.

Missy put some distance between them, keeping her hands in his hair. The ache between her

thighs shrieked at her to follow through with things. Like, right now. What was more important

—sex or birthday cake?

She knew if she didn’t return to the living room, her mother would announce that she was

“indisposed.”

Missy looked him straight in the eyes and gave his erection a slight nudge with her pelvis.

“Okay. We’ll do it your way later. No talking. Just fucking.” And before she could take back

what she said, she hurried back to the waiting guests.

*A word from KJK: My inspiration: Sex like life is an adventure. It's not always perfect, and we tend to have a few mishaps along the way. My characters embrace this with humor and I want other people in life to do the same.

http://www.kelliekamryn.com/
http://www.kelliekamryn.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogger~* Karenna Colcroft

2011-09-14T07:32:00.000-04:00

Today author Karenna Colcroft is stopping by and she's talking about the sometimes daunting task of moving on after a devastating loss. Take a minute to read this poignant post.

*Building a New Life*

After tragedy, no matter how large or small the scale, there’s a period of mourning. Maybe a time of stagnation, where the person or people affected just exist, overwhelmed by what has happened. And then there’s a time of rebuilding.

Reaching the rebuilding point isn’t easy. A friend of mine lost part of her home and many belongings to fire in the winter of 2010. For months, she, her two children, and her mother lived in a hotel room while my friend wrangled with insurance agents and the house was made livable again. They still haven’t managed to replace everything that was lost.

Sometimes the prospect of rebuilding or starting over is just too overwhelming, so people just continue to maintain their lives and do the best they can with what’s left. After losing a loved one, it can be particularly difficult to move on. That person’s loss doesn’t go away, and a person can’t be put back together the way a house can. You can’t replace a human being.

In my novella Help Around the House, two years have passed since tragedy struck Jodie and her two young children. Her husband Royce died unexpectedly of a heart attack, even though he was only in his mid-thirties. Jodie still mourns her husband two years later, and she has stagnated, making her life only about working and caring for her kids. Fortunately, she’s had her next-door neighbor Todd to lean on. With no family of his own, and having been friends with Jodie and Royce for nearly eight years, Todd has taken on Jodie and her children as his family, and Jodie counts on him for everything from home repairs to occasional babysitting.

Now Jodie has reached the point of wanting to rebuild her life, and she wants Todd to be part of it. The problem is that she isn’t sure she’s ready to move on with another man. Making a life with Todd won’t be easy, but they’re both willing to try.

Help Around the House is available from Pink Petal Books http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Help-Around-The-House-by-Karenna-Colcroft.html

The death of a loved one is difficult to overcome. So is the loss of a home, or of half a town. Because of recent earthquakes, flooding, and fires many people in the United States have lost homes, belongings, and even loved ones. Please consider donating to a charity that provides assistance for people dealing with the aftermath of these disasters.

Karenna Colcroft

Turning passion into forever

http://www.karennacolcroft.com/

Alexandra O'Hurley is Here!

2011-09-05T21:51:00.004-04:00

Since I've been treating my blog as the red-headed step-child, my pub mate, the awesome Alexandra O'Hurley, has agreed to show some compassion and visit for a while. Welcome Aunty Alex as she gives us her thoughts on mythology plus insight and an excerpt from her Berserker Mate's Trilogy.

Mythology is one of my favorite spots to dwell, the creativity and sensuality of our ancestors is so incredibly inspiring. At least to me it is.

The paranormal escape is one of my favorite reads. With so many vampires and werewolves already out there on the scene, I didn’t want to go that route. But several of my friends claimed they wouldn’t speak to me ever again if I didn’t write something in that vein. It took until I stumbled across an old myth to find the way I could present a shifter story in my own way.

Berserkers are of Old Norse legend. Men who turned into wolves and/or bears and fought with a vicious ferocity unlike anything man had ever seen. Considering these Viking warriors of old were hard as nails, to find something they feared was something incredible. I knew I had to write their story.

These Immortal men are strong and virile, and have literally held me hostage. They whisper to me in my sleep and beg to have their wicked way with my keyboard.

Night of the Dragon

A Berserker Mate's Story, 1

Ryden and Rayne are Berserkers, immortal warriors wrought of Odin’s lightning. They are cursed to walk the Earth for one thousand years without finding love. And then they smell her...

Karli is a manager for an amusement park, and during her daily tour, she runs across the most incredible men she has ever laid eyes on. The erotic visions swirling in her head push her to the edge, and she cannot ignore the two virile men.

But can anything develop between the Berserkers and their mate with a hunter sworn to keep them apart on their trail?

The first part of a three part novella series, Night of the Dragon begins the tale of six Berserker Immortals, born over one thousand years ago in Ancient Norway. Three sets of twins created of Odin’s lightning to aid the Norse kings of old, they now fight against the evil Swartska who kill off Berserkers to feed Freyja’s hall.

Night of the Dragon is Rayne and Ryden’s tale. Going Berserk is a short within the Midnight Seduction anthology that foreshadows Jakob’s tale, whose story, along with his twin Joran will be told in the second installment. Finally, Eryck and Erulf will be the third and final, magical ending to the series.

Excerpt:

If Karli gave in to their kind of play, she was afraid she would walk away broken.

But no matter what she told her head, her body could not reject the heated combination of the two. Both virile, desirable men who seemed to stalk her equally, and innately she knew if she succumbed to one, she would also the other. What was crazier than the fact she knew it, was the fact her oversexed mind was running images of being sandwiched between both of their naked bodies. Of having them both possess her at once.

Karli was an independent, driven woman, who worked so much she rarely had time to date, let alone swoon over some random men she crossed in the park. She hadn’t had a date in, well, forever. Her career was her main concern. Once she got that in place, everything else could happen for her, marriage, babies, the little white house, with its matching little white picket fence. She was as boring and white bread as they came. And she wasn’t the type to go around fantasizing about screwing two men at the same time.

Hell, this was past fantasizing. It seemed it could become her reality if she wanted it and was willing to succumb to them and the images running through her head.

Regardless, the two fired something inside her, something she had never felt before. Her heart beat a staccato within her body, and she felt pulsing in places she wished she didn’t. Especially when she needed to focus on work and the safety of those inside the park. All around her the sounds of Scream Town began filtering back into her ears and she slowed her breathing down. She needed to get a hold of herself.

Straightening and taking one last long deep breath, she exited the dark passageway, and stood on the fringes of the sea of bodies milling around. This week was always the busiest, as Halloween was a few days away. Karli scanned the crowd, trying to ensure the men were not there. Relieved that she could again focus on her job, she walked the area, but kept looking over her shoulder.

Entering the Zoo compound, Karli passed the wolf enclosure and a glow of silver. Not able to ignore it, she moved towards the fence and realized the glow came from Giza, the female gray wolf that was one of their most popular animal attractions. Moving up to the fence, Karli watched the beautiful animal working with her trainers on the last animal show of the day.

A course of heat ran through her again. I need to see a doctor; I am much too young for hot flashes. Perhaps a psychiatrist too, to figure out my compulsion to fuck random strangers.

“Shame those beautiful beasts are caged here. They should roam free.”

Looking to her left, all she saw was an enormous bicep. Her eyes drifted up, and her gaze was met with a silver one. A shiver of yearning ran down her spine.

Karli moved her mouth a second or two before her voice caught up with her. “All…all of the animals here…are rescues. They were either hurt, or taken from people keeping them as pets. We give them…all the care…they need to heal...and then a safe home….if returning them to the wild…is impossible.”

Nice job, Stuttering Sue. I’m sure he thinks you are a moron now.

“Where they are put on parade throughout the day for stupid, fat humans to ogle instead of roaming the forests hunting like their natures demand.”

Stupid, fat…humans? “If we had not intervened, they would have…died.”

“And living in a cage is better than death? I wouldn’t want to live that way, would you? Just look at her eyes.”

Karli didn’t want to admit that she had often stopped here through her park tours and thought that the animals reflected sadness in their eyes. “We give them…the best care we can.”

“The best care would have been releasing them to the wild.”

“Giza was too badly hurt to go back. Plus, it’s too late for that now, regardless.” Unable to stop the words, the ones no one in the park was supposed to utter aloud. “They have been here so long that they would die if we released them.”

“You know this, yet you keep them anyway.”

“I’m not the one in charge of the animals.” Karli backed up a step as he drew nearer. A large hand moved to her face, one finger extended. His touch was feather light, as he stroked it along her cheek.

“No. No, you just work here. Another one of their caged beasts. Perhaps I need to set you free?”

“And how do you suppose you can do that?” A wave of desire spread through her, starting at the barely there touch upon her cheek. The finger moved under her chin, lifting her face to his.

“Like this.” Dropping down, he pressed soft lips to hers in a kiss that was a whisper of what it could be. A name whispered through her mind as his kiss ended…Ryden.

“Ryden?”

His brows furrowed as he stood back to his full height. “How do you know my name?”

”I…don’t…know.”

The corner of his lips hinted at a smile as his eyes bored a hole deep within her. The man inhaled, deeply, lowering his head until it was level with her own. She felt his hot breath on her neck, and she arched her back slightly, her traitorous body demanding more of his touch.

Which never came.

Opening the eyes she hadn’t even realized she had closed, she looked up into his hooded gaze, the one that screamed an arousal that equaled her own. Tapping his finger on her nametag, the tugging blossomed into a full smile. “Well, Karli of Scream Town, I will be seeing you soon. Very soon.”

Get at Evernight Publishing

http://www.alexandraohurley.com/
http://www.alexohurley.blogspot.com/

Excerpt~ Enchanted by London Saint James

2011-08-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

And we're back with London Saint James, who was nice enough to tease us with an excerpt from her new release with Evernight Publishing, Enchanted. Make sure you show some love...Go forth. Read. Buy.

Can love withstand the test of time?

Winter never truly understood love, nor did she have time for men until she met Austin Wells Carlyle. He was the man who would rock her world to its foundations. He would test her notions, give her something to believe in, and change her misguided thoughts regarding happily ever after. Strangely, she was going to allow him be the one thing she never believed in—her soul mate.

EXCERPT~~ He took me into his arms. We danced to the sounds of the waves breaking on the shore, underneath the stars. The breeze made whooshing sounds through the reeds and tall spiky grass up on shore. In the distance, the intermittent light flashed from the lighthouse which was perched upon a bluff. It was the perfect backdrop, too beautiful, too tranquil. This was the kind of place made up of dreams; no one should be nervous in this setting. To be here in this picture perfect place with a drop dead gorgeous man, the man I loved after all, was everything a girl could want. I needed to get a grip and stop being so totally silly, so jittery.

It was about time to internally scold myself when Austin’s hand brushed up against the small of my back. I delighted in the feel of his hand as he made small movements against my bare skin beneath my shirt. He leaned in and caressed the base of my neck with his lips.

Against the hollow of my throat, I experienced his words. “Winter, I love you.”

“I love you,” I said, breathless.

With each dance, Austin seemed to pull me closer into his body. With each dance, I wanted him more and more. The anxiety and nervousness I had experienced earlier was now gone as if it had never even existed. The slow simmering of desire had turned into a full-blown boiling beneath my skin. I wondered if he was feeling the same. I thought he was.

Austin kissed my lips softly. My body began to tremble. He looked at me with those all too tempting eyes. “Winter.” He whispered in my ear with his silk ridden voice. “Would you like to go back to the cottage with me?”

I whispered, “Yes.”

He pulled back. He was gazing deeply into my eyes. His fingertip ran over the lines of my lips. He sighed contently then took my hand. We walked without words back up the beach, finally reaching the cottage. The others were gone from the terrace, off getting into their own sort of trouble I guessed. Austin paused. We dropped our shoes at the back door. He gazed at me with the softest expression then kissed my lips softly before entering into the cottage.

We went up the stairs slowly, down the hall then stood in front of the door to our room. The pause seemed like a lifetime. I studied the wood-grains in the door, wondering if we were ever going to go inside. Then Austin glanced over at me with a heat which could only be described as mind-blowing. He opened the door, scooped me up into his arms and carried me inside, closing the door behind him with his foot.

My eyes flitted around the room. It was filled with dozens of white, pink, and red roses. The light of the room was only candlelight. Music played softly like a lullaby in the background.

He has been busy. This is good. This is very good.

“Don’t be mad,” he said as he put me down.

Has he lost his mind?

“Why would I be mad?”

“Well, I was hoping.” He paused. “I want us to be closer. I want to make love to you so bad it hurts. But if you are not ready than please do not feel like this.” He gestured toward the room and the four-poster bed. “Do not feel like I am pressuring you. I love you. You are more important to me than anything so I can wait.”

I never said a word. Every insecurity I ever had was vacant from me. I was going to allow my body to do all the talking tonight. I moved with assurance toward him. He watched me. I wrapped my arms around Austin’s neck. I stood on my tiptoes in order to press my lips to the hollow beneath his ear. I closed my eyes, took a breath, and wanted to dissolve.

He smells so good.

“Winter,” he whispered softly.

“Shh.” I opened my eyes to see him. “You told me once you would not look until I wanted you to, do you remember that?”

“Yes.”

“Well….” I dropped my hands from his neck. “I want you to look.”

His returning smile took my breath. I had to look away from his eyes, which was almost impossible. I glanced at my hands. They should have been shaking, but they were not. My hands found Austin’s shirt. I unbuttoned each button slowly foregoing the urge to hurry. With a tremulous breath, I ran my hand down his skin, exposing the perfect alabaster of his muscular chest. His shirt was off and on the floor. He’s so beautiful, I thought.

My lips found his chest and liked the feeling of his flesh beneath them. My fingers outlined the angles and planes of his strong rippled stomach, moving slowly around his tight waist. I watched his skin, his reaction to my touch. The muscles beneath my touch seemed to jump, flex, relax. I could not believe this beautiful man was here with me. If I could, I would look at him; worship Austin’s perfection for the rest of my life. My eyes were filled with more beauty in this moment than ever before.

I allowed my hands to find and trace the outline of his wide shoulders, follow the contour of his muscular back. My body moved around him while my eyes, hungry, followed my fingers which were lost to the canvas of his flawless skin. Touching him was like finding a secret. I pressed my lips to his shoulder blade. He groaned. I burned. My teeth grazed the surface of his skin. My tongue followed the line of him while my hands ran freely over the surface of his biceps, his forearms.

I had to wonder in awe. A part of my mind told me such beauty should be a dream, because no one could be this fabulous. But touching him grounded me in reality. I had never seen anything so magnificent, so beautiful. It was in this moment I knew. I knew in the whole of my life I would never want anyone but Austin Carlyle. I would indeed love him, forever.

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/

London's Link

Wecome, London Saint James!

2011-08-17T09:00:00.003-04:00

Today I have the honor of welcoming author London Saint James to my spot. London is a fellow Evernight Pub author, cool peeps, and she's celebrating a new release--Enchanted--today!! Awesome stuff. London will be here for two days, so there's enough time to get to know her. Today, I bring you the woman herself as she sits down to answer some questions. Go forth. Read. Buy.

Welcome, London. Tease us with the blurb from your latest release.

Can love withstand the test of time?

Winter never truly understood love, nor did she have time for men until she met Austin Wells Carlyle. He was the man who would rock her world to its foundations. He would test her notions, give her something to believe in, and change her misguided thoughts regarding happily ever after. Strangely, she was going to allow him be the one thing she never believed in—her soul mate.

What was it about these characters and their story that appealed to you?

Enchanted is book 1 in a 4 book series, The Heart Of Winter, so the characters story evolves, changes over time…however, without giving too much away about the other books to be released, the appeal would be true love, soul mates, and is it truly possible to be “connected” to someone. Wrapped in with that would be the appeal of opposites. Winter is introverted and Austin is outgoing. Winter is working class and Austin is wealthy. And I guess exploring Winter’s insecurities, and let’s face it, who doesn’t have insecurities. I wanted to push the boundaries of that wall we sometimes build around our heart. I wanted to discover what it is like, when all you have to go on is bad experiences, to trust, love, really open your heart to someone. Her experience with her parents marriage was, men leave. Can she truly believe Austin won’t leave?

How would you describe your writing?

Hmm…I look at writing as not only telling a story, but inviting the reader to take a journey. Every writer has their own voice or style, but I really want the reader to see what the characters see, feel what the characters feel. Just as in life there needs to be some twists and turns in that journey, along with sexual heat, romance, love, passion, and on and on. So perhaps I could describe my writing as passionate and vivid.

Is there any subject matter you won’t tackle in your writing?

For me, in the case of subject matter, bestiality, incestuous or intense sexual abuse for the sake of titillation is out. While as a writer you may have to explore the uglier side of life within your writing (and I have explored the uglier side) I also believe there is a huge difference in writing to empower or expose an issue, as well as adding a hard issue to explain a characters pain, hurt and things which they must overcome, rather than exploiting those issues for sexual titillation. I would hope we (writers) would all be conscientious of how and why it is being written.

How long have you been writing?

I have scribbled stories my whole life, had some poems published, but only in the last two years I have become what you call “serious” about writing.

What’s the weirdest thing you had to research for a story?

I suppose it would hinge on the fact of what people consider weird, LOL, but probably pressure points in the body which enhance sexual arousal. Oh, and specific uses for ropes and knot work in BDSM.

FUN Qs

How do you relax when you’re not writing?

I love to listen to music, watch a good movie, read a great book, and/or hang out with people I love.

What’s your ideal date night like?

I would go with movie at home, buttery popcorn, snuggling on the couch and maybe a little kissing (or a lot of kissing) with buttery lips.

What’s the one food that must be in your fridge?

*Giggles* Um…I never have time to go shopping so you don’t want to look in my fridge. But hmm…I have cheese.

What music are you listening to today?

Some R&B, some RAP, some love songs…

Describe where you are right now.

Inside my house, in the living room, sitting on my couch, with a puffy navy blue pillow tucked under my left arm and my lap top perched on my lap.

If you could up and move today without warning, where would you go?

Paris, France.

*Come back tomorrow for a taste of Enchanted ;)

Author BIO: London wrote her first short story in the second grade. Her teacher informed her parents London had a big imagination, but having a big imagination wasn’t necessarily a good thing as far as he was concerned. Without watering that seed of imagination, London placed her vivid characters, her childhood stories, along with her imagination on the shelf, where they would wither for a while.

At the urging of her eighth grade English teacher, London pulled her imagination off that shelf and wrote her second short story. To no surprise, it was a love story which was inspired by a song. With encouragement, London began to write once again. She fell head over heels in love with writing, the power of words, and the journey we all take when we read a great story. Then as life does it moves on, so yet again London placed her imagination on the shelf to wither for a while. She needed to do the “sensible thing.”

In doing the sensible thing London earned a degree in Psychology. While in college she traversed into writing once more, was encouraged by a couple of professors to peruse that endeavor and wrote. In doing so, she lit that spark of imagination which she thought was long dead.

London writes erotic romance, from sweet to downright naughty. She is an author for Evernight Publishing and a member of the Romance Writers of America as well as a member of Passionate Ink.

Buy ENCHANTED

London's Link

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-31T08:00:00.002-04:00

Staying with A Wicked Ride...Sasha panics when she starts feeling for Niko, and Niko--well, he's not helping the situation.

Her gaze roamed the room. She needed to find clothes and leave before she dropkicked the idiot standing in front of her. How dare he call the mind-blowing, three-minute humping they did a mistake? Did he think she made this a habit, allowing every hot guy who made her cream with only a look to slide up in her? That he was the first only made her want to shoot him more.
Fucker.

More Six

WIP WEDNESDAY!

2011-07-27T11:05:00.000-04:00

It's WIP WEDNESDAY--yep, literally just made that up--and I figured I'd post a little something of what I'm working on. I've been quiet, but you must understand, quiet is my thing. Some people do alcohol, drugs, whatever. I do quiet.

My kinda drug.

So...what am I working on? It's hard to say; one minute I'm writing on the f/f story I'v neglected for forever, the next I'm revising The Wicked bk#3, the next it's plotting for The Wicked #4. I don't plot, really, but I like to have a get-to-know-you session with the characters beforehand, see if they let anything juice slip. Those waiting for Maysin's story should be happy to know juicy tidbits are being dropped left and right. That one's gonna be a doozie.

Still, I haven't begun writing it yet. Just taking notes.

I'm working on Till Surrender, bk#2 in my PSC series with Total-e-Bound. It's M/M. It's Paranormal. It's soo good it's a wonder the shit isn't fattening...Okay, fine. I'll stop tooting my own horn. *grumbles: don't see why I can't, it's my freaking horn*

Here's the working blurb: Half-breed. It’s who and what he is. Takayo ‘Saint’ St. John doesn’t pretend to be anything else. He hides from no one, fears nothing…until he stares into the cornflower blue eyes of his mate. The man who’s life he’s infiltrated under false pretenses. Harsh words and a cold shoulder isn’t enough to keep the distance between them, but Saint’s mission overshadows everything. His job is to kill the brother of the man he loves and he can’t escape that.

Ryken Valte melts under the intense attraction between him and Saint, but the man keeps pushing him away, denying their connection. Ryken would give up everything, do anything to have Saint at his side, but secrets bigger than them makes it impossible. Ryken wishes for one chance, just one, but he’ll get more than he bargained for when dark forces neither comprehends return with a vengeance.

It's a revelation and utterly new challenge to write someone as dark as Saint turns out to be. The characters of Saint and Ryken clash intensely, dark against light. Push to pull. I love being privy to their story and I gotta say, from the first page, I've been bawling like a baby.

Some of my fave lines from Saint: He really wanted to sleep. And get laid. Though not necessarily in that order. It’s been a long-ass minute since he had a good dick suck and a balls lick. Fuck, but he was due.

And my faves from Ryken: Perfect, the feel of Saint pressed to him, the smell of his sweat, the intoxicating taste of Saint’s kiss. So perfect, Ryken had been on the verge of coming, until Saint broke away, throwing the need between them in Ryken’s face like a Gatorade bath after a Super Bowl win.

Fave scene so far: (got a lot of those)

Lips curved, Saint slid his gaze down the tight length of Ryken’s body. Past the red t-shirt and tan leather jacket, to the dark jeans riding low on his hip. He licked his lips at the thick bulge growing bigger at the moment. “Scares you, doesn’t it?” Bringing his attention back to Ryken’s face, he saw that confused arousal was back.

Deep splashes of red colored Ryken’s cheeks. “What scares me?”

Saint closed the distance between them with a grin, his cock swaying within the loose confines of his sweats each step. “The pull you feel between us scares you. The fact that I get your cock hard scares you.”

Ryken’s jaw dropped, his eyes bulged.

Saint kept going. “The fact that you see my face when you’re with David scares you.”

Ryken jerked as if struck. Guess that one hit home.

Saint leaned forward, sniffing the side of Ryken’s neck. The other man’s heat scorched him, making his eyes slide shut. Ryken stiffened. Wave after delicious wave of arousal crashed over Saint, but he couldn’t act on it. He needed to drive Ryken away. “I can smell him on you, Ryken. David.” He spat the name out. “Did he fuck you? Give you what you needed?”

Whimpers left Ryken’s throat. His hands moved up, grabbed Saint’s forearms, the blunt nails sinking into his skin. Saint snatched Ryken’s hands away and pushed him backwards, slamming him into the door. A muted gasp escaped Ryken’s parted lips. Their gazes met, clashed, those gorgeous blues begging.

God. God.

Ryken licked his lips and Saint was on him in a fucking heartbeat, tongue sliding inside wet heat, fingers tangling in silky blond locks...

Anotther Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-24T07:50:00.001-04:00

Once again we're sampling A Wicked Ride and this week, Sasha, our hard-edged heroine has an eye opener...after Niko, the hero, has his way with her ;)

He took her mouth in an addictive kiss and she didn’t want to move. Not from this spot, with this man still buried deep in her pussy, holding her so tight. She wanted this and she wanted it with Niko.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Wrapped in the sensual embrace of a man who just blew her back out while still fully dressed, Sasha did something she’d never done before.

She panicked.

More Six are Here

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Six sentences from A Wicked Ride. My hero is asked a question by the heroine holding him at gun point.

Niko humored her while he thought of a way to get his gun back. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

The gold doorknockers in her ears swung when she shook her head. “Now that’s a shame. That body of yours was meant to be ridden hard. And often.”

Get more SIX here

Blog Hop Winner!!

2011-07-09T10:57:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who came out for the Evernight Authors Blog Hop. It's been fun, and we appreciate the follows. I'd love to give each of you a prize just for showing up, but I can't. Stick around though, there will be more hops coming :)

The winner of a PDF of my Interracial erotic romance Make Me Sweat, as chosen by RANDOM.org is Siobhan Muir/Meg Palevich!! Please email me @ avril.ashton@yahoo.com and I'll send over your prize.

Happy reading :)

~Till Abandon Cover Unveiled~

2011-07-08T11:54:00.002-04:00

Introducing my first foray into the Paranormal with the PSC series...

They’re the elusive agents of the Paranormal Security Council. Trained killers, they're nowhere near human and dangerous to all, even the ones they love. Now the Council is crumbling from the inside out. Is it every man for himself? And who will be left standing when the dust settles?

All the power and killer instinct she possess can’t protect her from the claiming of one determined wolf.

They call her The woman in white, whisper Death-Bringer with their last breath, but no one knows exactly what she is. Not even Voltaire herself. The deadly magic within her is a living thing, able to crush anyone and everything with a blink. Abandoning the blood-soaked world she’s used to, Voltaire seeks out the one constant in her tired life—the green-eyed wolf in her dreams. She’s ignored the wolf’s call for years, afraid to surrender, but danger haunts her mate. He needs her.

Wolf-shifter Blake Montez is in the middle of a war, battling the usurpers intent on taking over his territory. Unfamiliar magic hums in the air, unnoticed—it seems—by everyone but him. He finds the source already under his nose, in his home. The delicate woman in white knows things no one should know, and the heat simmering between them is unlike anything he’s ever felt. His wolf recognizes her as his mate, though Blake remains unsure he can trust her.

Voltaire sets out to prove herself with time running out. Enemies are on the prowl, some foreseen, others remain cloaked in shadow. She and Blake team up, fighting side by side, but in the end Voltaire might be the biggest threat to their love.

COMING OCTOBER 17 from Total-e-Bound.

Check out my Booty Box Store over at TEB to get Till Abandon merchandise!

Evernight Sizzle~ A Blog Hop!!

2011-07-04T23:06:00.002-04:00

Join the EVERNIGHT Authors as we welcome Summer with our own special brand of HOT!!

We've got goodies--of the hot variety, of course. Seventeen authors all joining together to give you, the readers, a lil bit of Summer Lovin'. What do you have to do? Ah, well that's the easy part. Comment. Leave your email addy. Follow, but only if you want to. You'll be entered to win books--yes, multiple. Don't we just love multiples?

The More the Merrier is my motto. You know, other than Make it Hot ;)

Each author's blog you visit and comment on, you're entered to win a book, or in some cases more than one.

Easy, no?

Takes no time at all and you get steamy, sexy reads from some amazingly talented writers. *bats lashes*

This hop runs from July 5-to July 8. Winners announced July 9. Enough time to get around to all of us. We're not picky, we'll wait our turn.

My I/R erotic romance, Make Me Sweat, is up for grabs so make sure you stop by, and when you're finished, hop right on over to the next author...and the next. You won't be disappointed.

MAKE ME SWEAT RELEASE DAY!

2011-06-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

My first release with Evernight Publishing is out today! Make Me Sweat came to me like all my stories do…an opening line and a flash scene. That works as the catalyst to get me writing and my own mind working in tandem with the characters as they open to me. This story was quite easy to write, but the secrets all surprised me. I saw nothing coming in that one, usually I have an inkling. Not so much. I began writing with a certain expectation and after the characters had their say, I was assed out. Happens more often than you might think.

So, the song most on repeat during the writing of Make Me Sweat was Usher’s Love In This Club. Fit perfectly for the first two chapters, then I transitioned into some Notorious and threw in a something from The Civil Wars and OneRepublic. I diversify with my sounds LOL. And now here’s the blurb for Make Me Sweat.

Charged with planting a listening device in the office of a dangerous nightclub owner, Ever Marcille accepts an invite from her target to indulge in some naughty play. She didn’t count on their mutual, insatiable need, or the many ways his closely guarded secrets are intertwined with hers.

Undercover federal agent Simon Dakin has one thing on his mind, catching the arms dealer known as Ghost. That’s until he spies the mysterious woman at his bar. Time after time she comes in, teasing his senses. Starring in his fantasies. He promises himself one night with her in his arms, but a single taste isn’t possible. He’s hooked.

Even as their secrets intrude, Dak and Ever succumb to their desires. But time is running out. Secrets past and present must be revealed. Can their new-found feelings survive the many blows, or is this over before it even begins?

Love the names, no? I don’t name them, mind you. When they introduce themselves to me, they tell me their names. Sounds cooky? You ain’t heard the half.

My favorite line from Make Me Sweat: “He made me feel soft and safe, which is nuts considering he was fucking me six ways to motherfucking Sunday.”

I laughed as hell when I realized what I wrote. You know, there’s always a trace of me in all my characters and I gotta tell you, that’s me right there. It’s so something I’d say.

Not my absolute fave paragraph, but quite close: Damn it, she blinked again. Ever parted her lips to tell him no, but he kissed her. Fucking man and his kisses. He tasted of her pussy and whiskey. A heady mixture she could get drunk on. She opened wider under his insistent probe and got swept away by that damn tongue of his. Still lodged deep inside her, his cock twitched and she tightened around him.

Get a delicious excerpt from Evernight. And Ever and Dak are already hanging out over at AMAZON and allromanceebooks Be sure to say hi now ;)

More Six Sentence Sunday

2011-05-29T08:50:00.010-04:00

And more from Blindfold Me....

He leaned down and placed her gently on the carpeted steps. Lyric stared up into his eyes and unhooked her legs from around his waist. Her hands slid from his neck. She lay back like an offering, legs and arms open, waiting for him.

She’d waited so long.

The flames in his silver eyes held her captive, consuming her.

Amazon SCP Barnes and Noble

Six Sentence Website

Free Read Available Now!

2011-05-26T08:15:00.001-04:00

The next chapter of TOUCH, my free serial read is now available to be downloaded over at Secret Cravings Publishing.

Six months after a brutal attack, Dahlia Pierce still jumps at her own shadow,

but the green-eyed stranger holding her at gun-point has her yearning to feel
him. His touch, his kiss. He robs her bank and leaves, only to reappear in her
bedroom later.

Cruz Doriaye has always been more interested in business than pleasure. The
bank job should be no different, but the need radiating off Dahlia gets to him.
Calls to his own hungers. He answers, but his line of work stands between
them. As does her secrets.

Here's a tease...

“What will you do?”

“I don’t know, Ricki. This is…unexpected.”

His best friend chuckled. “You’ve got a jones for her, huh?”

Cruz opened his mouth to deliver a scathing denial, but Ricki continued. “I’ve seen the pictures of her, remember? She’s not my type, but I’m still creaming in my Vickies.”

http://secretcravingspublishing.com/FreeReads.html

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-05-22T08:50:00.004-04:00

This week it's on to my third novel, Blindfold Me. My heroine, Lyric Benson, is going through some workplaces changes--namely the corrupt owner's resignation, and the return of her childhood love as her new boss.

A harsh sound escaped her, a cross between a laugh and a sob. She pushed her half-eaten breakfast away and kicked off her shoes. Black patent peep toes, five and a half inches of gorgeous, expensive torture.

She rose on achy feet and walked to the windows—the reason she loved her office so much. Four huge windows made up the back wall from ceiling to waist, and brightened her office with breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. The cloudless blue sky and choppy waves on the river served as her center, helping to bring her back to the matter at hand.

Available at Secret Cravings Publishing and Amazon

Six Sentence Website

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-05-15T08:50:00.001-04:00

And now for some sentences from book two in my Wicked series, One Wicked Night.

Seated alone in the crowded bar, Myka Prentiss blinked moisture from her eyes. She pushed the still-raw wound of betrayal to the back of her mind. For now, she wanted to watch the dark stranger. He caught her attention the instant he came through the doors of Club NV. His movements were that of a dancer, all stealth and precision, carrying him with a rhythm that didn’t come from the loud music blasting in time to her frantic heartbeat.

Mr. Dark tried to blend in, but his darkness intrigued her.

Get more One Wicked Night @ ExtasyBooks and Amazon.

Find more great Six Sunday authors at http:///www.sixsunday.blogspot.com/

Six Sentence Sunday!

2011-05-08T08:50:00.002-04:00

So, last week I gave you my first piece of Six Sunday with Sasha and Niko from A Wicked Ride. This week we’ll stay with those two crazy kids. After Niko spirits Sasha off to a secluded cabin, they do the nasty and she tries pushing him away afterwards, telling him she doesn’t want what’s happening between them. Here’s his response. My Niko? He goes hard ;0)

“Let me tell you want I want,” he said. “I want you naked in my bed. I want to hear you scream my name over and over. I want that ass of yours in the air as I fuck you. I want to feel your tight pussy squeezing me into orgasm, again and again. I hunger for you, Sasha, the same way I know you hunger for me.”

There’s something about A Wicked Ride that still gives me chills when I read it. It’s my sexiest book, I think. Plus I giggle like a fool every time, ‘cause Sasha? That chick’s crazy! Find them at Amazon, Are and Bookstrand :)

Find even more delicious sentences over here!

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-05-01T08:50:00.002-04:00

From A Wicked Ride, as the h/h, Sasha and Niko, meet for the first time. They say first impressions aren’t everything. Hmm…

The overhead light flicked on and he blinked at the brightness then took in his uninvited guest sprawled in the black leather armchair at the foot of the bed. She looked at him through lowered eye-lids, head tilted back. The left side of her head was shaved close to the scalp, but the right side appeared untouched. Bangs, kissed with light pink, obscured her right eye. Dark waves brushed a shoulder the shade of creamy sepia. A nickel plated Glock pointed at his head.

Find Sasha and Niko at Amazon, Bookstrand, and ARe

Get more Six Sentences from great authors at the website

Author Interview**LeeAnn Sontheimer Murphy

2011-04-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

Author LeeAnn Sontheimer Murphy is back with us today, answering some burning questions.

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

I’m different which most people read as “weird” and always have been. My tastes are very eclectic in everything. I’m a rebel at heart and very independent. I love language and words, hence my lifelong affair with reading and writing.

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I wanted to write even as a child because making up stories was one talent that all the other kids in my huge extended family didn’t have.

I got serious about writing when my twin daughters (now 15) were babies because I realized that if I didn’t then someday I would be a bitter old woman wondering why I never did do what I always planned – write fiction. So when I was up to my eyeballs in diapers, formula, and all that baby stuff times two, I sat down and started a novel. It seems a little crazy now but I’m glad that I did.

How would you describe your writing?

I once had another writer describe my work as “blue jeans prose” and I like that. I’m not a literary legend in the making but I think I put words together in a way that a lot of readers find pleasing.

What are you working on now/have coming out?

The sequel to LOVE TATTOO comes out in June and I’m finishing up another volume with Will and Cara, LOVE KNOTS. I’m currently doing edits for a September release, Love Never Fails, from Rebel Ink Press and in my nonexistent spare time, starting on a new WIP, tentatively titled The Forest Dancer, based on an Albanian legend.

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title?

It can be any of the above; my muse isn’t picky. A lot of my fiction starts as a scene that evolves into a storyline. Titles often come last although recently I’ve come up with several that sound so good, I write them down and plan to build the story around them.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad?

If you’re going to do this seriously and do it right, it takes many more hours of hard work than most people ever imagine.

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre.

Dean Koontz, Laurel K. Hamilton, Deborah Smith, Ramsay Campbell.

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car?

My music tastes are eclectic; the lineup I’ve got right now includes the Eagles( Hell Freezes Over), Mary O’Hara, CCR, Johnny Horton, and Tommy Makem.

What are you reading now? (not your work )

I’m reading “The Midnight Eye Files – The Amulet” by William Meikle and I’m also reading my way through Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series.

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? 

I like to unwind with a drink; my favorite beverages being John Jameson’s Irish whiskey or Sobeleski vodka.

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m________

I am probably talking!

Where can readers find you on the net?

On Facebook as Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy, @leeannwriter on Twitter, on my blog “A Page In The Life” at http://leeannsontheimermurphywriterauthor.blogspot.com/

At my website: http://leeannwriter.weebly.com/

My Space

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B004SIQYO6

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/products/Love-Tattoo-by-Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy.html

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Tattoo/Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/e/2940011255069/?itm=3&USRI=love+tattoo

Welcome Author LeeAnn Sontheimer-Murphy!

2011-04-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

Today author LeeAnn Sontheimer Murphy is blogging about the inspiration for her latest release, and giving us a preiview of things to come. Please welcome LeeAnn!

Although most of my prior manuscripts included some paranormal elements, I didn’t set out to write a paranormal romance until I wrote Wolfe’s Lady which debuted from Evernight Publishing last December. After it came out, I thought about what I might follow up with and I wanted to do something paranormal. I thought about shifters, ghosts, and all the various creatures of the night and I thought I wanted to find something unique. Instead, one cold night driving down the highway, an old two-lane road I realized that something like ninety percent of the other traffic happened to be all big rigs driven by long distance truck drivers. That made me think “Wow, what a great occupation trucking could be for a vampire”. At the time, it was just an off the wall stray thought, nothing more.

But that idea stuck and began to simmer somewhere in my subconscious, cooking from just a vague notion into a full-blown Idea I could serve to readers. So I started adding elements. I love Memphis. I think it’s a trippy, totally awesome place with everything from Beale Street and the blues to Neely’s barbecue and Dyer’s Hamburgers and even Elvis. Memphis became the setting because I thought about all the night life possibilities for a vamp. I like Irishmen, especially dark haired, handsome, sweet ones so my hero became an Irishman by birth, Will Brennan. He needed a heroine and so the next thing I knew, a little ol’ Texas gal named Cara Riley, a singer, started yapping in my head so I decided she could tell this story.

I tend to be a pantser more than a plotter, especially at the beginning of any new work so once I had them meet, on a hot early summer morning before daylight, the story began to build. For me, if the story takes on a life of its own, needing care, feeding, and guidance but follows its own will, it’s going well and this story did that.

I long thought that the term “love tattoo” was a much sweeter way to describe a hickey so that became a focus of their relationship and also the title of the work.

When I finished it, I sent it off to Evernight with fingers crossed and hopes high. When they accepted, I did my usual dance of joy and when the edits came in, I got back to work. My editor, Caitlin Ray, loved Cara’s voice and the story so even though I thought it was done with that one tale, she didn’t. She suggested the possibility of a sequel or series and after I pondered that, I thought, well, maybe.

The sequel, Love Scars, has also been accepted by Evernight and should be out sometime around June. I also have a third volume, Love Knots, in progress. I’ve had a number of readers express interest in the ongoing story of Will and Cara so now they have more to look forward to reading.

Love Tattoo is available on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, at Evernight’s site and at many other online retailers. Reviews are coming in and I’m happy overall with them although I try not to put too much stock in them. Doing so can be dangerous for a writer and can become an obsession if you allow it to be.

For those who haven’t met my truck driving, dressed in black, Shakespeare quoting vampire Will Brennan or sassy, would-be singer Cara Riley, here’s a snippet from Cara, the heroine who tells the story in her first person unique Texas fashion:

We be-bopped along Beale Street from one club to another

until almost dawn and we did dance. Sometimes we just listened to

the sweet sound of blues played in some smoke-filled club and in a

few places; we gazed at each other, shutting out the world. We talked,

too, to each other about many things and we touched. Every time that

our fingers met, our hands collided, or my leg intersected his beneath

the table, I sizzled. My skin felt as fragile, as easy to damage as a

butterfly wing, thin and sheer. Each brush of his flesh against mine

made me shiver, quiver with an incandescent ecstasy beyond anything

I knew before. Will made me sensual in a new way and I felt almost

reborn, sexy this time.

And now to be fair, we’ll hear just a bit from Will who chimes in third person every once in awhile,

He could not recall the last time that he shared a bed with

anyone or anything but Cara caused him to do the things he vowed

never to do again. He could have made it home if he rushed but he

accepted her invitation to stay. He hoped he would not regret

staying, but he did not think that he would.

Cara flooded his senses and he wanted her. More than desire

consumed him and although he would rather not admit it, even to

himself, he needed her. Even that first night, in a hurry for something

quick, something temporary, she drew him as if he was a moth and

she the flame.

Even her name, so close to the Irish endearment that he used,

pleased him.

Intrigued? Interested in more? Love Tattoo is available in the usual places online and for those who still haven’t had enough, who anticipate more with eager interest, here’s the blurb from the upcoming Love Scars, scheduled for release in June from Evernight Publishing:

Love Scars blurb:

After marrying her sexy undead husband Will Brennan, Cara Riley Brennan thought her happy ending would last forever but she soon learned that the course of true love doesn’t ever run quite that smooth. Just when she thought they were settling into eternal bliss, Sallie Hawkins, the woman who made Will into a vampire in the past, intrudes into their lives. She’s wicked, she’s jealous, and she won’t stop till either Will or Cara is dead.

Her psychic presence tortures them both in body and soul but when Sallie shows up outside their home in the flesh things go from bad to worse. Cara and Will realize that confrontation is inevitable.

When the three meet for battle, they all may not survive and in the end, who lives and who dies is up to Cara who will do anything to keep her chance at a permanent happily ever after ending intact.

Author links:

http://leeannsontheimermurphywriterauthor.blogspot.com/
http://leeannwriter.weebly.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B004SIQYO6
http://www.evernightpublishing.com/products/Love-Tattoo-by-Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy.html
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Tattoo/Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/e/2940011255069/?itm=3&USRI=love+tattoo

Author Interview~* Julia Rachel Barrett

2011-04-21T11:38:00.000-04:00

Please welcome author Julia Rachel Barrett to the hot seat!

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

Eclectic. I can’t think of another word. Maybe energetic. I have a tough time sitting still. My interests vary from gardening, horses, reading, writing, painting, music, cooking and baking. I’m an obsessive hiker and photographer. I love to travel, enjoy meeting new people, but at the same time, I’m quite shy. I guess, like most people, I’m this complex and sometimes conflicting mix of characteristics.

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I actually began writing seriously in high school. Poetry. I majored in creative writing in college and had a couple short stories and poems published before graduation. I’ve always loved reading and listening to what our family called bubbemitzes – grandmother’s tales. I guess I knew when I was a kid that the one thing I really really really wanted to be was an author. But…I needed to make a living so I became a Registered Nurse. I took up writing seriously again in 2007.

How would you describe your writing?

My style is pretty clean. I don’t like a lot of frivolity in my life so you won’t find much in my writing. I learned in college to say what I had to say using as few words as possible. That’s what I tend to do. But a lot of my stories are metaphorical and allegorical. I usually bury a message in my books, or at least a philosophical question. Captured, my science fiction romance, is a bit of a morality play. If you read it, you’ll see what I mean.

What are you working on now/have coming out?

I’m currently working on a paranormal romance involving a tortured ghost/demon and the reluctant psychic who can interact with him. Once I’ve completed that book to my satisfaction I’ve got a romance-suspense about half finished. It’s about a medical student who believes her twin brother has been murdered. She’s forced to flee for her life, carrying her brother’s secrets with her.

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title?

I know it sounds odd, but all three appear in my head at the same time.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad?

How much fun it is to write a sex scene! I am squeamish, and I won’t use certain words, but I do enjoy writing erotic romance.

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre.

George R. R. Martin and Tad Williams are incredible science fiction/fantasy writers. I love Guy Gavriel Kay and his historical fantasies, along with Sharon Kay Penman. Anne McCaffrey is a fun author. I love Ursula Le Guin and Margaret Atwood. Diana Gabaldon hooked me with Outlander. Linda Howard is my favorite writer of romance-suspense. I love so many authors I wish I could list them all.

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car?

I tend to listen to artists like The Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Barry White, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson. I also like Amy Winehouse, no matter how weird she gets. She has an amazing voice.

What are you reading now?(not your work )

I have a huge TBR pile, but right now I’m reading three books – To Reign In Hell, by Steven Brust, The Hemingses of Monticello, by Annette Gordon-Reed, and The Hidden Reality, Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos, by Brian Greene. I read a lot of nonfiction when I write.

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? 

I love getting a foot massage and a pedicure!

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m...usually doing something outdoors or cooking a big meal.

Where can readers find you on the net?

My website is http://juliarachelbarrett.net/

But I also participate in two shared blogs: http://www.sevennightwriters.blogspot.com/
And: http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for generously donating your time and your space!

Dawne Prochilo is Guest Blogging Today!

2011-04-14T10:00:00.006-04:00

Today the awesome, and loveable, Dawne Prochilo is guesting. Tomorrow she'll be in the hot seat to answer some questions. Let me step aside and allow her to do her thing :)

When you look at this picture, what do you see?

If I didn't know this person I would say she is a sweet person with a personable smile. She seems shy to some extent. Maybe a mom...maybe a wife...someone's daughter...maybe works in an office.

In reality, yes, she is a mom, a wife, a daughter and...an erotic romance writer.

But just because I write this genre doesn't mean I always live it.

I know the old clique "we are what we eat" holds true...but are we who we write?

Is every character based on yourself or someone you know? Do have sex day in and day out like the characters in your books? Are you a curvaceous woman with ample breasts? Do you dress provocatively all the time? Is sex always on your mind? (OK- I'll give you this one).

Most of my characters are based on myself- well, at least my physical attributes and some added fantasy ideas of how I would like to appear. Sexier. More voluptuous. More adventurous. Very independent.

How much of yourself should you put into a character? Or should you even put the likeness of yourself in print?

When it comes to physical attributes I am completely comfortable with it...but when it comes to behind the doors- not so much. I do NOT want to expose my personal sex life to the world...or at least my fans. That is no one's business but my own.

Do I have sex on a whim? Possibly. Do I want sex 24/7? Ummm, sometimes. Do I fantasize about sex? Well, yes, who doesn't.

In my erotic novellas I write about wanton women and their sex lives...THEIR sex lives, not mine. Maybe I live vicariously through these women...maybe not.

Do you think readers of your work think that just because you're an erotic or romance author that you live like your characters?

*Follow Dawne on her facebook fan page- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dawne-Prochilo-Erotic-Romance-Author-Sex-Advice-Writer/111351808934539

Her blog- http://dawneprochilo.blogspot.com/

WINNER!!

2011-04-11T09:54:00.000-04:00

WINNER of a pdf copy of Rie McGaha's One Good Man, as decided by Random.org, is...

Tracey D

booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Tracey, I'll be emiling you soon with your prize. Congrats!!

Author Interview/Giveaway *~Rie McGaha

2011-04-08T10:00:00.002-04:00

Author Rie McGaha is back with us today. Let's get to know the lady better.

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

I'm someone who met life head on, have been through the worst and the best life has to offer, and I lived to tell about it.

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I've always known I wanted to write but I didn't know about being an author til much later. I wrote my first romance in the 8th grade, then wrote stories for my kids, but I didn't really consider publication until my kids had all grown and moved out. My first release, Deadly Dreams, from Noble Romance Publishing was published in 2008.

How would you describe your writing?

Ha! Eclectic. Unconventional.

What are you working on now/have coming out?

One Good Man came out on March 11, 2011 from eXcessica Publishing. This is a contemporary, bbw, romance set in Biloxi, MS. And coming in May from Silver Publishing is the first installment of My Soul To Keep trilogy, Calen. Calen is a historical, time traveling, fantasy, romance set in ancient Scotland and has castles and witches and a villain possessed by a demon. Your typical bedtime story for big girls!

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title?

I think the characters do. Maybe. I don't know, it's kind of like, well, yeah. The characters appear first and give me an idea of who they are and what they want, and then the plot forms around them.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad?

I guess it was the fact that I would have to be solely responsible for promoting and selling my work. I had this idea that publishers had PR persons on staff who did all of that. It was quite a shock and something I was totaling unprepared for and didn't have a clue how to do it. I had a rough first year learning how to interview, write blogs, get out there and chat, write press releases, etc.

If I could do anything differently, I would have began promo before that first book even came out. I know now that author promo and author relationships with readers is integral to being successful.

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre.

James Patterson is my favorite overall because I am a huge fan of the Alex Cross series. He really hurt my feelings when he married off Alex's partner John, who I am madly in love with and think he should have his own series.

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car?

Don't own an iPOD. I'm an old girl, and I love what is now called "classic" rock. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, Pink Floyd, all those great bands, but I like some of the newer artists too. Train, James Blunt, etc. Bruce Hornsby is another favorite. I saw him in Kansas City at the Uptown Theater and he is a phenomenal artist and showman.

What are you reading now?(not your work :)

If I only had time to read as much as I would like. I recently read Waiting On The Moon by Tracy Rowan and it is right up there in the top ten of the best books I've ever read.

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? ;)

I have no guilty pleasures, I'm perfectly comfortable with them! I like dipping a Hershey bar in my coffee and sucking on it. I like eating Cheerios late at night while watching TV. I like tipping my head back and eating whipped cream from the can. And I put Buttershots in my hot cider.

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m...editing

Where can readers find you on the net?

Rie McGaha Links:

Website: http://www.riemcgaha.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rie_McGaha
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/novelsbyrie
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/NovelsByRieMcGaha
Biker Or Not: http://www.bikerornot.com/natenrie
Manic Readers: http://www.manicreaders.com/RieMcGaha/
The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews:
http://thepaganandthepenbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Man Of The Month: http://spotlightauthor.blogspot.com/

Blogs:

http://anauthorstale.blogspot.com/
http://sizzlingreleases.blogspot.com/
http://riemcgaha.wordpress.com/
http://authorofferings.blogspot.com/
http://lovefurbabies.chipin.com/rescued-animals

Don't forget to comment on today's interview as well as Rie's guest post yesterday to be entered to win a copy of One Good Man. Winner announced Monday!!

Guest Blogger/Giveaway: *~Rie McGaha

2011-04-07T10:00:00.003-04:00

This week we have author Rie McGaha hanging with us. Today she'll blog, tomorrow we get to know her better with an interview.

Cheesy Is Not A Genre by Rie McGaha

I recently read a blog post by a rather new author and I understood exactly how he felt about euphemisms when writing for publication and promotion. I actually post a lot of articles geared toward new authors because I remember all too well when I was brand new. I didn't know how to do an interview, write a blog, or promote my work or myself. Promotion is the thing I hate most, and the thing that must be done by all writers if we ever hope to sell a book.

I also remember the numerous books I've read over the years with all those cheesy euphemisms for body parts and the sex act - "his manhood," "her wetness," "his rigid pole," "her flower blossom." And the list goes on and on. When I was twelve these terms I read in pilfered magazines and books were a fire to my burgeoning libido. But let's face it, we're not twelve anymore, so let's put on our grown up lingerie and act like the adult men and women we are.

Have you ever been in bed with someone, and said, "I'm going to wrap my fingers around your love pole?" Have you ever been in the company of your friends and said, "Yep, I tongued that love blossom until she screamed?" If you have, I'm sure your friends are still laughing. Let's face it people, the way we talk is the way things should be when reading, or more importantly, writing a sex scene, whether it's romantic sex between a husband and wife, or a hot, wild ménage. If you can't bring yourself to use everyday terminology, then write sweet romance where the sex is alluded to but goes on behind bedroom doors.

BIO: Rie McGaha is a multi-published author who writes romance in numerous sub-genres that include fantasy, paranormal, and suspense. She is the mother of 12, Nana of 33 (and counting), and lives in the beautiful Kiamichi Mountains of SE Oklahoma where she rescues abused, abandoned and neglected animals For The Dawg House.

Her latest novel ONE GOOD MAN was released 3/11/2011 from eXcessica Publishing.

Allison Hamstead thought it was love. Finally, after all the years alone, someone loved her in spite of the fact she was fat! Not that her size had ever kept her from being successful, but it had kept her far from personal relationships. She’d heard all of the fat jokes ever told, all of the things people in her office said behind her back, and she didn’t miss not having a boyfriend, or dates every weekend. Did she? But now she was in love and she couldn’t wait to introduce him to her best friend, Sarah. And what a mistake that had turned out to be! It wasn’t long before the love of her life and her best friend were living together and Allison was humiliated.

Starting over is never easy, but Allison is determined to do just that and moves far from Chicago to the warm waters of Biloxi, Mississippi where she accepts a position at one of the floating casinos. For the first time in her life Allison feels like she’s truly at home. She loves her job, she loves her boss, who is like a father to her, and she loves being a part of all the excitement going on around her. Except for one little thing…

Her boss’s eldest son, Stephen is probably the most handsome, gorgeous, and sexy man she’s ever laid eyes on…and he knows it! And for some reason he acts interested in her. Then her mother comes to visit and winds up dating her boss. Her accounts start showing large amounts of money missing. And her ex shows up unannounced and says he wants her back. Can anything else possibly go wrong?

Absolutely!

EXCERPT~ As she lay back on her towel, a shadow fell across her. She opened one eye to see Stephen standing over her grinning. “You’re blocking my sun," she said and shut her eye.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Yes, I do mind.”

“Thanks.”

Turning her head toward him, she again opened one eye and frowned as she discovered he had removed his shirt and spread his towel beside her.

“There’s a lot of beach here you know, you could pick another spot.”

“Yeah, but I like this one.”

“You’re just trying to make me mad.”

“Now why would I do that?”

“Because you act like a twelve year old, and teasing girls is what twelve year olds do.”

“Yeah, but my toys are much bigger and go a lot faster," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes and went back to sunning herself in silence. Stephen didn’t speak for a long time either, which she thought was a blessing and probably too good to last long. She was right.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s fraternizing and your father doesn’t allow it.”

“Not true. We’re just two colleagues having dinner together. The fraternizing rule only applies between management and underlings. He’s afraid an employee would feel their position would be threatened if they refused a date with management.”

“Or perhaps he just didn’t want you dating the entire staff.”

He laughed. “That’s a possibility.”

“You’re shameless.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I’m not having dinner with you.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Look, Stephen, you don’t have to do this." She sat up and looked at him squarely.

“Do what?" He asked, almost managing to look innocent.

“All of this…"she waved one arm, “this flirting you seem to be doing with me. I’m not exactly your type.”

“What do you mean my type? That’s pretty judgmental and shallow of you." He grinned at her again.

“And if anyone would know about shallow, it would be you, now wouldn’t it?" She said rather tersely. “Just stop it.”

“Allison…"Stephen watched as she picked up her things and began making her way toward the casino. He blew out a breath and shook his head

psst...comment on this post and on Rie's interview tomorrow and you can win a copy of One Good Man!! Remember to leave your email addy in your post

Rie McGaha's Links:

Website: http://www.riemcgaha.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rie_McGaha
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/novelsbyrie
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/NovelsByRieMcGaha
Biker Or Not: http://www.bikerornot.com/natenrie
Manic Readers: http://www.manicreaders.com/RieMcGaha/

The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews: http://thepaganandthepenbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Man Of The Month: http://spotlightauthor.blogspot.com/

Blogs:

http://anauthorstale.blogspot.com/
http://sizzlingreleases.blogspot.com/
http://riemcgaha.wordpress.com/
http://authorofferings.blogspot.com/
http://forthedawghouse.webs.com/
http://lovefurbabies.chipin.com/rescued-animals

Author Interview *~Adrienne Wilder

2011-04-01T10:00:00.002-04:00

Today the talented Adrienne Wilder is in our hotseat, answering questions, and giving us a tease of her works. Please welcome back Adrienne, everyone!

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

I really agonized over this question—mostly because anything good I say feels pretentious if I’m critical of myself I sound emo. HA! I suppose I would describe myself as strange, friendly, aloof, hyper-creative, and terminally disorganized. I like simple things, peace and quiet, and good friends.

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was very young. I didn’t start writing seriously until about two years ago.

How would you describe your writing? Love story, meets action flick, meets horror, with a whole lot of OMG she did not do that, thrown in for flavor.

Darwin's Theory Book One: Pain

http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/pain.htm

What are you working on now/have coming out? I have several irons in the fire and manuscripts out for evaluation. Currently City of Dragons Book 2 is being looked over by one of my beta readers, and Darwin’s Theory—books one through five—are done and on their way out.

Darwin's Theory Book Two: Secrets

http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/secrets.htm

With any luck I’ll have at least 6 new books coming out this year.

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title? Usually it’s a snap shot scene. A person, doing something, saying something… They are faceless and nameless until the pieces fall into place and the story unfolds. Lots of times I begin writing, before even I know what the heck is going on.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad? How cold it is. Seriously, my fingers freeze from being stuck out over the keyboard even on a warm day.

Other than that, I’m surprised by the people, both readers and other writers. They have been amazing in their desire to be helpful and supportive.

City of Dragons: Blood Bonds

http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/bloodbonds.htm

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre. To be honest, this changes for me on a weekly basis, because I discover new and incredible writers every day. To name a few, Sloan Parker, Z.A. Maxfield, Jordan Castillo Price, Kim Dare, Vivien Dean, and many more.

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car? Kazy, Creed, Staind, Marylyn Manson, Linkin Park, Hollywood Undead, Rob Zombie, Sick Puppies…

What are you reading now?(not your work :) I just finished Sloan Parker’s More for the third time. I really like that book. Lots.

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? ;)

Eating sushi. Especially crab eggrolls.

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m...plotting to take over the world…okay it’s more like my small stake of real-estate on the internet.

Where can readers find you on the net?

http://www.theatlantadens.com/
http://www.facebook.com/adriennewilder
http://twitter.com/CityofDragons

Guest Blogger *~Adrienne Wilder

2011-03-31T10:00:00.002-04:00

This week, erotic romance writer, Adrienne Wilder will be spending time with us. First up, her hilarious post on...well, England.

I Dream of England

Actually, they’re more like nightmares.

So, a beta reader and I were emailing back and forth joking about “one day when I make it big”…You know, the dream every writer (and lottery player) has. Anyhow, I told her I would take a trip to England and take her out on the town.

Then I remembered my last English adventure. The actual stay in the UK was very nice. The flight getting there, however…Needless to say, the trip on a plane was my first and last.

About eight years ago, I was able to take a trip to England. All expenses paid--lodging, travel, and airfare, courtesy of a family member. Sounds like a vacation lottery, doesn’t it? Yeah, well, maybe if you don’t suffer agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), acrophobia (fear of heights), and of course glorious claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces).

‘Cause if you do, being locked up in a small metal tube thousands of feet above the planet, squished into an 18-inch-wide chair, and surrounded by people you don’t know with no way to call home is exactly where you want to be.

Trying to explain these fears to people who don’t understand them is pointless. That’s why and how I was eventually talked into this trip. Although it did take said family member seven years to do it. I think the final straw was when she told me to “bring a friend”. After which, my best friend Lorri promised to knock me over the head and stuff me in the cargo hold if I didn’t go.

And since I believed her… Thirty days later I had a passport and was on my way to the UK.

We arrived at the airport and headed for British Air where the trauma begins before we even get off the ground. For those who are aware of Atlanta Hartsfield security measures, I need not explain. For those who aren’t aware, consider yourself lucky. I—because I am so not-well-traveled and had never been on a plane—was not prepared. I mean, I knew about the no dynamite, nuclear missiles, scissors, and fingernail clippers, but I had no idea the trouble that the underwire in my freaking bra would cause.

Lorri stepped through the metal detector, no problem. I stepped through next. Lights go off, sirens sound, and the freaking SWAT team drops down from the ceiling. Okay, maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration. But the security guard wasn’t wearing any deodorant, and she did frisk me ALL over, including pulling up my shirt, flashing my underclothes to the rest of the line while she slid her hands under my bra to cop a feel. Then she popped it! I had bruises! Like it was my fault her hands were cold and I squealed like a girl.

After the security guard thoroughly humiliated me, she handed me my bag and sent me on my way with a pleasant “Enjoy your flight.” I thought, surely to God it can’t get any worse.

You’d think with all the horror movies I’ve watched over my life, I’d know better than to think such a silly thing, let alone mock the gods of fate and mortification, because Murphy’s Law and Sod’s Law (the English version) will inevitably apply.

So we are boarded the plane.

There is no way around it—I’m a fat chick. I’m not going to sugarcoat my weight or pretend it’s “bone” or anything silly like that. I’m fat, and I know it. And said family member who booked the flight also knows I’m fat. In an attempt to give me some extra comfort, she booked our seats at the bulk head. Unfortunately, one of the other passengers must have slipped the stewardess a twenty because we wound up crammed into a middle seat, me at the window, Lorri in the middle, and some poor guy who would soon be scarred for the rest of his life and develop a fear of frizzy-haired fat Americans by the end of the flight.

I made my way to my designated seat. Then I looked at the seat.

Okay. As I said, I know I’m fat. I can deal with it, not make excuses for it, even suffer with being uncomfortable at times. Fine. But one look at that seat, and I knew things were about to get worse. I was actually embarrassed as I squeezed into that seat…until my knees hit the seat in front of me. I’m fat, but I’m not tall. Roughly 5’5. Lorri sat next to me. As she squeezed her 150 pound petite self into the airplane seat, she looked at me and asked, “Do these seats seem small to you?”

I wanted to tell her “Hell, yeah”, except I couldn’t breathe.

From my spot near the window, I watched in horror as the metal casket I was trapped in was shuttled away from Planet Earth, further and further from the security of firm ground, and catapulted into the wild blue yonder. The plane made a smooth leap into the sky, and I promptly burst into tears.

The stewardess, of course, was concerned. Lorri told her she had it under control. After we were in the air, I discovered a small screen on the back of the seat in front of me (the tears had blurred my vision, or I would have found it sooner). It could play movies, had travel factoids, and last but not least, a MAP. This was apparently British Air’s sick idea of rubbing in just how far away I was traveling from Planet Earth, as well as my shrine of safety and the speed at which I was being hurtled towards certain death. I watched in horror as the little green dot—known as “My Chariot of Hell”—moved further and further away from the little state of Georgia and headed up the East Coast.

I watched that freaking green dot until my eyes threatened to dry out.

As we headed over the great state of New York—I think it was New York, it was small and hard to identify—the plane took a right over the ocean, and the seriousness of my situation sank in. I was in a plane, surrounded by people, above the planet, leaving home. My logical mind worked out the facts: It was only for a few days, flying was safer than driving, I was with a friend, I had my passport, I was going to see family…My artistic mind, however, flooded my brain with visions of the plane coming apart at the seams and me being left clinging to the one remaining engine while I jettisoned to certain death into the middle of the ocean.

A fall that I would survive, at which point I would be harassed by sharks, washed up on a beach, and find a volleyball that I would decorate with the local vegetation and name Wilson.

My logical mind didn’t stand a freaking chance!

I began to shake. Not shiver. I’m talking all over limb-rattling, teeth-chattering, full-body tremors that made me look like I was doing an impersonation of James Bond’s margarita. It was so bad that the people in front of us turned around to look because the seats were vibrating. The people behind us promptly called the stewardess, and Lorri—dear friend—had to calm down the little man on the end who looked like he was about to run screaming for his life.

Lorri instructed the stewardess to bring vodka and orange juice.

Yeah, ‘cause we all know getting drunk would make the situation better.

I don’t drink by the way—so my logic was “What’s the worst that could happen?” Lorri whipped up a cocktail, and I drank it. The earthquake in my muscles died down. Apparently, her plan was working—until the cold set in. It didn’t seem possible that a person—a fat person—could freeze to death on a plane while crammed in a seat surrounded by dozens of warm bodies, all of whom are sweating, complaining, and dying from the lack of oxygen flow in the place.

Just call me talented.

I wrapped myself in my blanket, Lorri’s blanket, and several other blankets donated by the poor souls trapped on the flight with me. Lorri continued to feed me liquor.

By the third drink I wasn’t feeling so well, so the lady in front of me offered a Dramamine. She apparently get’s airsick. My first thought was, holy shit, you can get airsick! Great, just great. Her airsickness must have been contagious because I came down with an acute case within the next three minutes.

I know what everyone is thinking—I barfed. I am proud to say, I did not barf! I did something just as embarrassing though, I cried—again. And I begged to go home. Yeah—that was worse than the crying. Apparently I am a sad, sad, drunk.

Lorri—steadfast friend that she is—patted my hand and told me to suck it up. She told the guy on the end to suck it up, too. I think he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown at this point. Not that I could blame him.

After a couple more hours of Dramamine- and vodka-hazed Hell, I’ve written my last will and testament on the back of a napkin, begged Lorri to feed the dogs, and sworn to myself that if I lived through, this I would never challenge God and his dominion over the heavens again.

As I gazed out the window waiting for the last of my will to live to drain out of my body, I see land. Oh, God, land! We’re safe, we’re gonna go home. I’m thinking, oh, boy, I’ll actually live to tell the tale.

Then it dawned on me, that bit of land wasn’t Georgia, it was England, and I was stuck here for the next ten days.

Not only that, in order to go home, I’d have to do this again!

http://www.theatlantadens.com/
http://www.facebook.com/adriennewilder
http://twitter.com/CityofDragons

Author Interview and Giveaway with Cassandre Dayne

2011-03-25T10:00:00.002-04:00

The totally naughty Cassandre Dayne is back so we can get to know her a bit better.

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself? I am a bit of a wicked wild child that tends to tell it like it is. I am a vivid imagination and I absolutely love animals, especially dogs. I am a musician and love to cook.

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously? I knew when I was seven I wanted to write and did quite a bit before I was sixteen. Then life settled in and I stopped until about two years ago and I haven’t stopped since

How would you describe your writing? I write in several genres including erotic – mostly contemporary, but I also write campy murder mystery involving a gated community association and paranormal with an entire series of vampires.

What are you working on now/have coming out? I have an erotic contemporary novella coming out on March 24th titled Shadows of Panic & Wicked Desire, the first in a series of erotic contemporary stories based on a saucy bar (The Flamingo Rustler) called Wicked Wager Among Friends – Tales From Lucifer’s Lair (two more in the works right now) and several novels and stories coming out this year.

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title? Generally I come up with the idea and the name seems to just appear! The characters also come screaming to me telling me who they are.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad? Surprising good is that I can write very fast and have ideas flowing constantly and not bad but time consuming is the amount of marketing that you have to do for yourself. Whew!

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre. Dean Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton and Carl Haissen to name a few.

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car? Everything from Bon Jovi to Nickelback and I’ll throw in the Sac Brown Band and ZZ Top as well.

What are you reading now?(not your work :) I am constantly reading erotic books and in truth, I haven’t picked up new one since Christmas.

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? ;) Champagne, cheese, hot tubs and playing with my pups.

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m spending quality time with my beautiful dogs that are my kids and my husband.

Where can readers find you on the net? http://www.cassandredayne.com/
http://www.cassandredayne.com/
https://cassandredayne.wordpress.com/
Email: cassandre@cassandredayne.com
https://twitter.com/bethanyhalle

**One lucky commenter will win a copy of Cassandre's Wicked Wager. Please leave your email addy in your comments. Scroll down to read the blrub and an excerpt from Wicked Wager.

http://www.bookstrand.com/cassandre-dayne
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cassandre+Dayne

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsU2RzmWko0

BLURB – Wicker Wager Among Friends – Tales from Lucifer’s Lair

Veronica Spelling was used to getting what she wanted, but not with men. She had long desired her best friend, Travis Hunter, for years. Golden, masculine and perfect, her mouth watered for him. And while they had admitted their kinky proclivities over long nights and tasty margaritas, he had never indulged. So she decided to take matters into her own hands and kick up the heat one wild night, suggesting a wicked little wager of pool. The prize? If she ended up the winner then she would receive her most heavenly desired wish, to be taken in the ass by a man for the first time. If he did, then she would become his sex slave for twenty-four luscious hours.

The only problem? He was decidedly gay, had only been with a woman once and was in a casual relationship with their mutual friend, Jonathan. Then there was that itching little problem of whether he could get it up or not. Against the odds, Travis finally determined his true feelings about the luscious vixen and won the bet. During those twenty-four hours, he fulfilled her most erotic fantasies. As morning dawned and reality set in, the question about Jonathan’s acceptance settled into their reality, and Veronica was left with a haunted feeling. Unsure of what to say, they left each other without further words. Could their combined friendship survive the blatant sensual act or would their entire world be turned upside down forever?

EXCERPT

“Travis, what would you say if we kick up the heat of this little game and enter into a bit of wager sexy friend? A highly wicked one of course.” Veronica tossed her long locks and gave him that look merely to tempt. Tease.

“A wager?” He rubbed his forehead, squinted and finally turned his saucer-sized eyes directly on her. The look he gave her was blatantly cautious. Anxious.

She chuckled, but the delicious thought pulsed tiny vibrations into her pussy. “Or boy toy, are you too scared to play a dangerous gamble with a sizzling girl?” Her normally perky smile was laced with something a bit darker. Saucier. Her gaze smoky, she held the pool stick in front of her, sliding the cool wood back and forth between the cleft of her chest. Finally resting the long pole between her breasts, she tipped her head back and sighed. Oh, there was no doubt that she was kicking up the heat in the bar by the coughs and groans that suddenly erupted inside the haze-laden space. The burning question remained, would Travis bite? Veronica Spelling cocked her head, swayed her hips back and forth and flicked the thin side of the pool cue back and forth across one nipple, which was now very erect from her naughty thoughts alone.

Travis eyed her, his expression circumspect as he sipped on his bourbon. “Okay. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, let think about this.” She licked her lips for clear emphasis and pressed a single finger past, darting inside her hot wet mouth. Suckling for effect, she pulsed it in and out as his eyes blazed a long trail down the length of her body. “Mmmm.” She eased the tip out and realized the glossy L’Oreal Vixen Red lipstick had stained her finger like a badge of wanton lust. She glided around the pool table and stood beside him so that he could be the only man in the darkened bar that could hear her shameless little words. Or so she thought.

Veronica was used to getting everything she wanted, in business that is, but not necessarily in men. Tonight, she hoped that would change. By day, she was a high well-respected accountant and by night a vixen in disguise. The sinful thought gave her a quiver. “Hmmm, let me give this some thought. Oh! I know! If I make the shot, then you personally get to be the very first guy that fucks me in the ass. And if you make the shot, then I’ll be your sex slave and do anything...you...want...me...to do...for...one...entire day...and night. Oh, and I do mean anything.” She knew what he craved, wild and very kinky. He was heavily into S & M and had generally been the top in his relationships. But lately, something had seemed amiss, which was one reason she had garnered her nerves to attempt something so blatantly shameless.

The crisp mahogany liquid spewed out of his mouth so fast that he gagged from the sudden flow. A solid stream of the cold liquor trickled in tiny beads across her cheek and down her almost transparent thin white shirt, forcing him to gasp and Veronica to shiver.

But not necessarily from the faux pas.

Guest Blogger Cassandre Dayne

2011-03-24T10:00:00.001-04:00

It's my pleasure to introduce the totally wicked Cassandre Dayne to you guys. She'll be here today guest blogging and tomorrow for an interview and giveaway, but let's see what she has to say.

HOW KINKY CAN YOU BE?

I am often asked as an erotic romance author if I am as kinky as I portray with all my delicious little characters. The truth is…I’m not telling! That being said, I think that all of us carry a bit of the naughty inside just begging to get out. Whether you are in a long term marriage, a brand new relationship or simply playing the field, you enjoy feeling that moment of wicked heat don’t you? You know what I mean, that wonderful tingle of apprehension and anticipation that sends a series of shivers dancing down your spine. That can be because of a look across the room or something a bit more out of the ordinary.

Now, you and I know that we can all get into a rut with our love lives because of work and children and everyday chores that we have to do. However, that doesn’t mean you aren’t craving an experience that’s out of the ordinary. If you had a wonderful moment where you could do something a touch kinky, would you do it? Let’s explore some of the ideas from mildly tame to a bit racy.

A Slather of Jam & A Taste of Honey

Envision a time alone as you are lounging in front of the fire with soft strains of jazz guitar playing behind you and you have set out a carpet picnic complete with fruits, cheeses, jams and some rich wines. Imagine bending him down onto the soft pelt and wrapping a scarf around his eyes, brushing your lips across his as you dart your tongue just inside. Then take a sip of wine and bend over carefully, allowing a trickle to slide into his mouth. Remind him that there will no touching or you’ll have to tie him up. And while he struggles to comply, you gaze a long languishing trail down the length of his body. Slowly open a jar of raspberry jam and slather a long slow trail down from the edge of his carved chin all the way to the top of his pelvis. Where else you might allow your fingers to go is entirely up to you. As you dart your tongue out to lick up and down the heat of his body, you begin to give him the idea of what else might be in store for the night… Just as he purrs that he can’t take it any longer, you drizzle honey across the seam of his mouth.

Give Him A Saucy Present He Won’t Soon Forget

Strategically hide a red foil bag in his car so that he won’t find it until he’s leaving work for home. At first he’ll find the crisp white linen written in scarlet lettering of where to stop and buy your favorite bottle of wine and the other instructions will be very clear. At every naughty stop on the way, you’ll allow him to open a gift - tiny pair of crimson lace thongs, a bottle of massage oil, a brand spanking new studded vibrator and last but not least, a flogger. Can you imagine the state he’ll be in when he comes through the door finding you in nothing but a big fluffy towel?

Give Him a Lunch He Soon Won’t Forget…

Imagine showing up at his place of employment wearing a lacy bra and panties, stocking and stilettos all wrapped up by a coat and nothing else. You slip inside and lock his office door when he least expects it, sashay over to his desk and just when he figures out you are there, you drop your coat, giving him a mid morning break. You proceed to glide around the other side, kicking his feet apart and lowering down onto his lap where the first wicked chore will be to give him the lap dance of his dreams. Perhaps when he’s all hot and bothered, you’ll drop down to your knees and tease him just a bit…

Don’t Be Shy – Show Off What You Got

Now this one might not be for everyone but imagine a darkened bar with four of your hunk’s closest friends playing pool and you decide to kick up the heat and tease. Just imagine what your guy might do. From my current release, Revving Her Wild Engines:

The four men backed off and formed a circle around them, their looks full of mischief. David smiled wickedly. “You are one very bad girl you know.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Stephanie teased.

“You asked for it.” He turned her, slamming her belly into the cool cherry wood of the pool table. Her whimper did nothing but fuel the fire in his groin. He pressed the length of his hardness into her, moving back and forth, the friction forcing him into a wild frenzy. His cock ached to be inside of her. As he leaned over, he whispered hoarsely and slid his hands under the back of her dress. “You’re mine baby and I think I need to remind you of that.”

Stephanie scrambled to hold onto anything as his hands raced up toward her lacy panties, the cool swatch of air forcing a whimper from her mouth.

The men stood gaping as David kicked her legs apart and brushed his finger across her exposed ass cheeks. He yanked the tiny string of her crimson material between her thighs and ripped it off, throwing it across the table. The gasps of the men floated around them as David plunged his fingers into the wet core of her slickened pussy.

Her legs buckled, pitching her further into the edge of the table. As he thrust in and out of her wildly, she struggled and clawed, pushing up on her forearms. Her long blond locks were a striking contrast against the velvety green felt. As Mark came into view, she turned her head and whimpered. Mark stared down at her flushed face and cocked his head as David turned to stare into his eyes.

“You remember now baby who you belong to, baby?” David knew he was teetering on a fine edge, but he was too turned on to stop. As he continued his assault on her pussy, he freed her naked breast with his other hand. Pinching one nipple roughly, he pressed his body into her, forcing them both into the table.

“Jesus...mother...holy...hell.” The dark voice rumbled around them.

Panting erratically as their hearts pumped together, David was a beast on fire and unable to stop.

“I have to have more of you right now.” He pulled her back with him, yanked her trembling body around to face him and she gasped as he held her still for a long moment, allowing the other men to enjoy and to hunger for her nakedness.

“Wha...what are you doing?” Barely able to whisper, Stephanie moaned and quivered, her eyes as big as saucers.

“Giving us both a bit of pleasure darlin’. What we both want.” He gave her zero options and against all rationality and amidst the gasps and moans of the men that stood frozen from the salacious act, he lowered his head to her hot, sweet, dripping pussy.

I hope I’ve given you at least a few naughty vixen ideas that you might be able to use in your relationship. Remember that there are no rights and no wrongs. Its what you feel comfortable with but…there are many ways to add spice to your romantic life. How about trying something this weekend and if you find out you like it, write me a line or two.

Kisses xxx
Cassandre

http://www.cassandredayne.com/
https://cassandredayne.wordpress.com/
Email: cassandre@cassandredayne.com
https://twitter.com/bethanyhalle

psst...Cassandre will be back for an interview tomorrow and one lucky commenter will win a copy of one of her books.

Guest Blogger Robin Badillo

2011-03-23T10:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome guest blogger, Robin Badillo!

He loves me? He loves me not? He….

That’s the never ending question isn’t it?

As a writer, those words hold different meaning for me than it may for a reader. I see the characters I create as manifestations of the people I wish I knew, especially when it comes to the heroes.

If those interesting people were real, the exciting possibilities could be endless and life would be one adventure after another. Right?

More often than not, some gallant Knight isn’t going to rush in on his trusty steed, throw me over the back and ride off with me into the sunset, in fact, I think I got chaffed just thinking about it. Leather saddles can me brutal and saddle-horns don’t always rub ya’ in a food way, if you catch my drift.

The full moon isn’t going to hang perfectly so in the sky, just waiting for some sexy werewolf to ravish me either…. Hello? Werewolves are bound to have fleas and for Pete’s sake, they sniff each other in some pretty disgusting places.

And brooding, super-hot vampires? Geesh…. How unsanitary is that? I mean, yeah they often have the great hair, perfect lips and skin to die for…literally… but can you imagine the cost of a good dental plan?

Then there’s that hardened misunderstood criminal on the run from corrupt cops who want him dead because he holds all their dirty secrets…. Yeah, I’m allergic to bullets and while life on the run may lead to some hot and heavy, desperate, ‘I’m gonna die any minute so take me while you can,’ sex, is it really worth it?

Don’t even get me started on the women. Good Lord!

How many perfect asses, fluttering eyelashes, pouty lips and straight from the salon hair-do’s, that never get mussed up unless sex is involved, can one world take? There are the over the top, ‘I’ll kick your ass if you even think of messing with me,’ tough girls and the ‘I’m too helpless to live so why don’t you just feed me to the damn dragon and get it over with’, type heroines and let’s not forget the girl next door who had a bad complexion and flat chest the last time the hero saw her but… sha-bam, she suddenly has the measurements of a Greek goddess and a face the angels sing about. Oh, and no plastic surgery was involved in that transformation at all….yeah right, give me a break.

As I look around, I see reality and isn’t it so much better?

I mean think about it.

Sitting in a coffee shop enjoying a nice caramel mocha latte, hovering over my laptop putting the finishing touches on my latest work in progress, suddenly, I can feel it. That little burn you get just at the nape of your neck that tells you, someone is watching…

I nonchalantly look up and scan the room and I see him. Tall, dark, handsome and with eyes I could lose myself in for days on end, hair I could run my fingers through and oh…. Wait… yes, he has a friend, who’s just as sexy, just as hot and just as …. infatuated with the other guy as I am…. How do I know this? Uhhh, he just kissed him exactly like I imagined I would… Damn!

Okay, so that wasn’t where the stare came from. There are plenty more fish in the room, right?

There’s the handsome guy in the business suit sipping his coffee, no wait, he has a wedding ring on, scratch him off the list…

I glance to the left, dismiss the chubby bald guy with all the pink sweetener packets stacked in front of his coffee cup, who looks like he still lives with his mother even though he is at the very least in his late forties…

BUY HERE

My attention skims past the college couple snuggled in the corner, canoodling a little too intensely than necessary for a public place so early in the morning and my gaze stops at the attractive brunette with the flight-attendant figure and tight skirt and I think to myself… “Well, I’m over forty now, why not experiment….”

No, that wouldn’t last. She would just use my crap and probably take up more room in the closet than I do, definitely not worth the hassle and maybe a bit too far out of my comfort zone, for now anyway.

Who could it be?

Reality, Robin. That’s what you asked for. Think now, who was staring at you?

The burn returns and I find myself searching the room yet again. Could it be the other guy in the corner reading a newspaper? How about the young jock flexing his bicep as he gulps down an energy drink?

After several more prospects are eliminated, I feel a soft tap on my shoulder.

“Yes?” I turn toward the person standing behind me. This is it! My heart pounds in my chest, I can’t catch my breath if my life depended in it and if it doesn’t come back soon, it just may.

Slowly, I scan washboard abs, which are quite noticeable through the tight black t-shirt tucked into a nice fitting pair of denim jeans, then I notice the muscular pecks, flanked by two impressive bulging tanned biceps. My gaze drifts up, as I begin to warm all over, to bright, glistening ivory teeth peeking out from a dimpled grin and his eyes, Oh God, his eyes are the greenest green I have ever seen on a man in my life. His cologne wafts through the air and caresses my nose, filling my mind with passionate desires and flashes of intimate moments I would love to share with this Adonis.

“Does your table have napkins?”

My teeth rattle in my head as his squeaky voice, resembling that of woody-woodpecker, claws at my last nerve. What the fu—?

“Uh, umm,” I stutter in a stupor of deflated euphoria, my face burning hot. “Yeah, knock yourself out.”

I shove the napkin container toward him, trying my best not to look like an idiot, gather my things and leave as fast as I can.

As I sit in my car, I rethink my earlier position.

Suddenly, vampires, werewolves and even a hardened criminal or two doesn’t sound so bad. In fact, a hardened anything sounds perfect after being slapped in the face with reality. I mean I’m no spring chicken myself, and I’m sure a fair number of people have run for the hills when they saw me coming, but come on. Give me a break?

Reality has its perks and I’ve seen some really hot couples out there, making the rest of us all look like yesterday’s leftovers, but fiction has everything, just the way we want it, including in most cases, the happily ever after.

As a writer, I’ve personally fallen in love with a couple of my heroes, one in particular (*cough, Jason Craft, cough, cough*) and for damn good reasons, too. The least of which had very little to do with his voice…okay, well maybe it had a little to do with it, but then again, his voice came from my own mind. You may hear him differently.

Regardless, sometimes it’s just more rewarding when we find that particular hero or heroine in the pages of a book. Their story means that much more, and it just may give some guidelines to look for when scanning a room for that potential mate in real life. That is, if you’re single like me, of course.

No, reality isn’t perfect, but neither is fiction if you’re really paying attention. We all have flaws and so do vampires, werewolves, shifters and hardened criminals on the run.

The good thing about a romance novel though, is when you ask…. “Does he love me or doesn’t me?”

The answer will most certainly be…. “Why yes, yes he does.”

It’s up to you to hold on tight when he sweeps you up into his arms and rides off with you into the sunset! (And baby powder usually prevents chaffing!!)

http://www.robinbadillo.com/
http://www.robinbadillo.blogspot.com/

Author Interview

2011-03-18T10:00:00.002-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of introducing a new author to you guys. Awesomely talented! Please welcome Xavier Axelson!

For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

Erotic, exotic and a little psychotic

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I’ve always known I wanted to write and always have. I think I’ve always taken my writing seriously, it’s probably the only thing I really am intensely serious about.

How would you describe your writing?

I’m definitely an acquired taste. I write about the sensual and the brutal; this is definitely NOT for everyone.

What are you working on now/have coming out?

I’m working on two novella’s right now; one is called Lily’s Father and the other is called The Good Cop. I am also editing a horror novel called The Elementals.

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title?

Definitely NOT the title; I think the plot comes first and then the characters for sure.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad?

That people are terrified of writing! Fear is what stops people from actually sitting down and writing

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre.

Richard Adams, Peter Beagle, Miss Read, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Tennessee Williams

What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car?

Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Robyn, and I’m in love with Florence and the Machine

What are you reading now?(not your work :)

The Mists of Avalon, The Year at Thrush Green and Mrs. Dalloway

Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? ;)

All my pleasures are guilty…lol

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m...dreaming

Where can readers find you on the net?

http://www.xaviersaxel.webs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/xaviersaxel

Dutch’s Boy

This story contains: Oral Cowboys, Wild Horses, Gun’s on Trains, Voyeuristic Masturbation, Sugar being used in a most suspect manner and Dangerous Horse Trainers with ulterior motives…Please be careful….

Publisher: Seventh Window Publications

BUY: http://www.seventhwindow.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath&products_id=35

Excerpt:

Blake’s eyes were deep gray, like river rock cold and appraising. This was a man who had seen a lot and wasn’t afraid to take advantage if only for his own survival.

“You bring a gun with you, Harry?”

Harry drained his beer before responding, he had been trying not to look directly at Blake, but that familiar twinge between his legs was making it harder to look away. Blake was not a bad looking guy; his eyes sparkled when he smiled, not unlike a snake Harry thought suddenly. Blake’s skin was tanned, weathered, he had worked long and hard in the sun Harry guessed, and when Blake smiled, which was often, Harry noticed the lines that formed by his gray eyes and the corners of his mouth. Harry thought of Reb and the dream then, this wasn’t Reb but Harry wasn’t sure he would ever see Reb again and he was alone.

“You alright, Harry?”

“Yeah fine, why?”

“Cuz I asked you if you brought a gun with you and you’re just staring at me like you’re mute or something.” Blake scratched his stubbly cheek and took a final swig of his beer, those gray eyes still searching Harry.

“Yeah, um, yeah I brought something with me, they took it though, guess I ain’t as clever as you.” Harry nodded towards Blake’s waist.

Blake looked down to wear his gun was secured. “You wanna see it?”

Guest Blogger~*My Trip to New Orleans

2011-03-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

I've got a treat for you all. Talented a talented author has taken over the blog for the next two days. First comes the post then along comes the interview...tomorrow. I hope you enjoy this post and stop by tomorrow as we get to know this awesome author better. For now, allow me to step aside as Xavier Axelson takes it away :)

I was completely unprepared for my trip to New Orleans. I booked the ticket a week before I was supposed to leave. I just couldn’t actually get it through my head that I was actually going to go to Mardi Gras! How does one prepare for such a trip? I couldn’t catch up mentally. A close friend answered my question by simply saying, “you don’t, you just roll with it.” So roll with it I did.

I flew to Memphis and then to Dallas much to the chagrin of everyone but me. I guess now looking back the flight pattern was slightly preposterous but that’s what I get for waiting last minute to book a flight. Besides, a good friend lives in TX and was being gracious enough to let me borrow her car. Oh yeah, didn’t I mention that I would be driving to New Orleans via Dallas? Alone? Again, this seemed to bother everyone but me. I was still reeling from other unrelated events that had happened earlier in the week never mind an 8-hour car ride through swamps. This trip definitely made me a big believer in the forward motion of life. It does seem that once one is on a road it simply makes the most sense to continue on it until you reach your destination; be that the side of a mountain, the bottom of a swamp or Mardi Gras.

I got into TX with minimal discomfort. I will say that I have yet to visit Memphis and love it. The first time I was there, I was trapped on the freeway in the middle of a natural disaster. This is sad, as I am huge Elvis fan. But I digress. I got in ate and went to sleep and woke to start my trek to NOLA at 5am. I think I might have slept 4 hours. Maybe. Coffee was imperative. My friend lovingly sent me on my way with me behind the wheel of her car. I’m not the best driver in the best circumstances. People have often said this because I was meant to be driven, not to drive.

I think I did very well. Thanks to Joan Jett, Prince and NPR, not necessarily, in that order but I will give an extra shout to Ms. Jett as “Cherry Bomb” at 7am is a definite jolt to the system. The drive was going good until I hit Louisiana. Now mind you, I have waited my whole life to go to New Orleans. Then the rains came. I do tend to bring weather with me when I travel. Ask anyone who has picked me up and the minute I am settled in the car it starts to snow the next day blizzard. It’s a gift. Now it didn’t start to rain right away. Louisiana gave me about half an hour to fall in love with its strange and beautiful landscape. I was entranced. The freeway runs between swamplands and if I was a dessert person before I may just be a swamp person now. Eerie, mysterious and stirring; those were the three words that came to my mind as I drive on, it felt as if it had been waiting for me, I felt like I was going home.

Did I mention the rain? It started to pour; torrential, apocalyptic rain a la Memphis. Naturally, it hit its crescendo as I traversed the bridge that went over the might Mississippi. The bridge was HUGE and even though it appeared incredibly well built, it did move. I think somewhere between spelling Mississippi like a chant in my head I switched to Hail Mary. The rain did not let up until I was well into New Orleans and exhausted and starving. Nature has incredible timing and a sharp, often cruel, sense of humor.

I was only too happy to relinquish the wheel to “E” who masterfully took command of the vessel and traversed us back to the amazing “W” Hotel where we would be staying. Where “E” had been staying for over a month. The hotel was glamorous and posh. I’m a sucker for frivolous things and the fact that the place changed out its welcome mats three times a day to indicate what time it was thrilled me to know end.

Mardi Gras is not just a day or week, it is a season. The air is electric, the streets are crammed, and there is music even when there is no music. I couldn’t rest even if I had wanted too. I was too excited. I was hungry! “E” took me to Mother’s where I my love affair with New Orleans was cemented. I ate the best collard greens I have ever tasted with gumbo to die for and then bread pudding that could possibly be a deadly weapon it was that good. Once stuffed to the point of near gluttony “E” insisted on taking me to the casino next to the hotel and then I was finally allowed a nap.

Upon awaking, it was soon decided I must got Bourbon Street and so we did. Chaos is a beautiful thing. I have been to many a rave, I know Vegas, I get drunken debauchery. I must say that Mardi Gras, nay, Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras is a rave on meth. I loved every minute of it. There were scantily clad men and women dancing in every bar window, people serving Jell-O shots from giant plastic syringes and college kids drinking out of fishbowls and beads of every size and description were being pelted from overstuffed balconies overhead. I bought an amazing mask made from Tarot cards and drank a hurricane that was so strong I think I may have gotten drunk just carrying it. Oh yes friends, you can drink in the streets! In fact, when you buy a drink in a restaurant they serve it in a plastic to go cup.

I could go on and on…the food in New Orleans is outstanding. I ate something called “crab pound cake,” did beignets at Café DuMonde, went to the VooDoo Museum and even visited Marie Laveau at her supposed gravesite. There is so much about New Orleans that is amazing that I feel I’ve hardly given it justice here, but to be honest, I feel greedy, as if sharing everything would be like telling a best friends secret and that is something I just won’t do.

Find me and my writing online at: http://www.xaviersaxel.webs.com/

Psst...Xavier will be back tomorrow with an interview and more about his novel Dutch's Boy!

Guest Blogger~*Gwenna Sebastian

2011-03-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

Amazing M/M author, Gwenna Sebastian is here, on special release from WickedlySexyWriters, to talk about finding the time to write. We can all relate so take it away, Gwenna!

Finding the time to write

I get this question all the time from my friends and co-workers and especially those people who really want to write and be published. I hear the same thing from each of them: I can never find time to write, how do you do it?

I wish there was an easy answer. Until recently, I actually worked two jobs and have a small business on the side. I made the decision that the part- time evening job had to go if I wanted to seriously find adequate time to write. Having said that, I still have a regular full time day job that sucks a lot of my energy and sometimes the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer and try to be creative.

The thing is, creating and writing stories is what I want, what I love, and what I dream of doing full time. I'm always scribbling down thoughts, dialog, a new character name or piece of background in a small notebook I always carry. It comes to work with me, it travels to appointments, it travels with me wherever I go. It's filled with Post-it notes and tabs and URLs. Even pages of actual material that I'll type up when I get home.

I read somewhere that if you can't make the time for it, it's not your passion and that you really don't want it bad enough. I didn't necessarily agree with that at first but over time realized it's true. You want something bad enough, you will make room for it in your life. I made room for writing because it's that important to me.

I'd like to say I'm up an extra hour early in the morning or that I faithfully write at least an hour every evening and several on the weekends, but that isn't true. With my new release, VN2, that is coming out July 1st, I did reach a point where I sat down almost every single night and worked on it. And gave over a considerable amount of my weekends because I made a promise to myself that I was going to finish it. I set deadlines and didn’t make the first two. But I didn't give in and kept at it and finally pulled it off.

I proved to myself that I could do it, that I could set aside an hour or so almost every evening and half to two thirds of my weekend toward a specific end. That it was worth it, if for no other reason than to prove to myself I could finish a full length novel. (Although the reward was having my editor offer me a contract for it! Ah, validation for the hard work!

I've been indulging in a break for the last couple weeks but now will buckle down and carve out the time for a prequel to my current release, Lost and Found. I've set myself an ambitious deadline of late summer/early fall to finish it, all the while working on edits for VN2. I'm juggling at least two other novels as well, but I find it's easiest to focus my energy on one project and work on the others when I’m bogged down on the main one.

So let me offer this advice for those of you who really, really want to write but haven't been able to find the time.

1. If you can't justify a specific time every day, like an hour, then pick a word count or, what I like to do, a scene. Aim to achieve that word count or finish that scene. And don't fuss over it, write it and don't look back. There's plenty of time to edit later! Just write it for now!

2. Keep a notebook with you and use it. Sitting in the dentist office cooling your heels, or having the oil changed and you have nothing better to do? Even if you aren't necessarily writing, you can certainly work out a plot point, some dialog or a character sketch.

3. Don't sweat the details. This brings me back to editing. You do not need to write something submission grade right out of the gate. It's called a "rough draft" for a reason. If you agonize over something for days, you aren't moving forward. I color code my outlines and manuscripts. If I know I need to overwrite or rewrite something, I'll highlight it, note it and move on. It's not going anywhere and will be waiting patiently for me when I'm ready for it.

4. Develop an outline. Not everyone likes them but I find I can accomplish so much more if I have an outline. I can see exactly where I am at any given moment. Like my manuscript, I color code. As I complete a section, I change the color. Something I need to rewrite or change the POV or use in a different place, all have handy colors that I can see at a glance and know what I need to do.

So that's how I manage to find the time. Hopefully, it can help someone else here.

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=82_86&products_id=239

Sometimes even a hero needs someone to save him.

Mark Connor doesn't feel like a hero even though he served two tours in Vietnam and survived a vicious ambush that took the lives of all but a handful of men. But he lost his best friend and lover, and now he refuses to be close to anyone. That makes his instant attraction to Josh a real problem.

Josh Myers hires on with Mark to help him with a remodeling job. A survivor himself of a Beirut bombing, he embraces life with open arms. But he can't get his new flame to take an interest in love, in life, or in himself.

Alone in the northern Outer Banks in January, Mark clings desperately to his past, even as Josh offers him a future he doesn't think he deserves.

Author Links

Website: http://www.gwennasebastian.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002124574734
Live Journal: http://gwennasebastian.livejournal.com/
Blogspot: http://gwennasebastian.blogspot.com/

**Psst...drop by www.wickedlysexywriters.wordpress.com tomorrow and Friday for excerpts from Lost and Found!

Guest Blogger ~Cynthia Arsuaga~

2011-03-09T10:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome Cynthia Arsuaga, everyone. Cynthia is doing the rounds, promoing her novel My Life as a Dog, available now from Secret Cravings Publishing.

Creating Strong Supporting Characters

When speaking or writing about a supporting cast of characters, movies usually come to mind. Starting in the 1920’s first British and later American film makers recognized the importance of them. Interestingly writers used the tool practically from the first novel written. Robinson Crusoe had his man “Friday”. Don Quixote had his squire Sancho.

This type of supporting character complements one or more main story figures, either by contrast or through some form of supplementation. The relationship is designed to enhance both personalities and make them come alive.

A good example is the character of Linda in My Life as a Dog. She is private investigator and shape shifter Drake Martin’s secretary. I used her insouciant competence to showcase his frequent inattention to detail. She is the classic “I am woman; I am strong” female who balances work and family keeping both on course, while complaining of being under appreciated by all.

On the other hand nothing beats a good villain. Where would Superman be without Lex Luthor, or Batman without The Joker? The character of Kat in Cynthia’s Born to be Wild oozes with evil. The contrast between her persona and that of the main characters, Stefan and Alex, more clearly defines all three of them. She’s the kind you love to hate. Without her the personalities of hero and heroine would be watered down.

You build a supporting character using the same methods as any other. Plan them out. They should have unique and believable attributes. I used Linda’s teased hair, East Texas speech, and general confident sassiness against Drake’s more laid back deeper thinking persona. That she doesn’t know about his shape shifting ability keeps tension in the interactions between them.

Cynthia’s Kat, on the other hand, what Mark Twain called “flourishing villainy”, that most despised of all creatures by humankind. Holding sway until the very end she keeps the hero and heroine on their toes, without respite, throughout the novel.

So, build the supporting cast with the same care you take with the lead roles and the work, whatever the genre, will benefit.

http://secretcravingspublishing.mybigcommerce.com/products/My-Life-As-A-Dog.html

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADvZ1EEN21U

Drake Martin—private investigator, ladies’ man, shape-shifter—Yorkshire terrier, named Precious. Enter six-year-old Kady Hartley and life changes. Years later, they meet again. Still a PI, she's FBI. Follow them on an adventure tracking the Russian mob involving human trafficking through the streets of New Orleans and watch the fur fly.

Following Kady to New Orleans where she is on assignment he knows it will be easier to watch over her if he stays in the shadows, keeping his shifter abilities hidden. He hooks up with the local Sufi, head of the shifter family clan, but

eventually engages in a bloody battle with the Russians. But, there is another enemy in their midst, one who won't rest until he destroys their chance at everlasting love...

Drake has fallen in love. Can Kady love him for who he really is, or will she leave him upon discovering the truth about him?

Oh boy!

**Find Cynthia: http://cynthiaarsuaga.weebly.com

Being My Authentic? Self

2011-03-07T09:38:00.000-05:00

I’ve always known when I sat down to write my novels, they’d be erotic romance. I try to keep my writing as authentic to me as possible—as well I should. My love of all things high-heeled is stamped all over my stories. As is my love of food, music and hard, somewhat violent heroines.

Also present in my stories is my filthy mouth. Seriously, every other word out of my mouth is a curse word. You know the saying ‘curses like a sailor?’ That’s me. I was raised by a fisherman father, the fish market was a short walk away from our front door and well, nothing was ever discreet. The hustle and bustle, the cursing, the filty, dirty words. I loved it then. I love it now.

My favorite curse word is the ultimate multi-tasker. Motherfucker. Doesn’t it just roll of the tongue? It’s so versatile.

“Aint that a motherfucker?”

“You motherfucker!”

“Motherfuck you!”

“Bring me that motherfucking bottle of tequila, and don’t you spill a motherfuck!”

It’s an addiction, I swear. Of course, with the kid, the mister and I kinda have to disguise our cursing. Think up interesting ways to do it. Still there’s nothing like letting one fly loose every once and again.

Think I’ve cursed way too much here? You ain’t heard anything yet. Get me riled up, piss me off and I let go. But really, enough about me. What’s your favorite curse words and why?

**psst! Author Cynthia Arsuaga will be here on Wednesday, sliding through as part of her promo week on WickedlySexyWriters.

Guest Blogger~ Jennifer Labelle

2011-03-02T10:00:00.002-05:00

This week author Jennifer Labelle is in our SexySpotlight and today she's sharing her writing experiences with us.

A Newbie Experience

By Jennifer Labelle

My love of books began at a very young age. Parentless by the age of thirteen, it was around that time that I really began to appreciate written words. It was an out for me, my escape from the horror that was my life at the time, and I couldn’t stop myself from then on. It’s where it all started.

It wasn’t until my last child, and only daughter was born that I decided to peruse being published professionally. Little did I know how frustrating it could be. I found patience that I never knew I had as I waited for someone to answer my submission. Meant To Be was the very first story I’ve ever submitted. It was an exciting time because, Oh my god, I actually wrote a book! But then reality set in, and cloud nine was pushed aside.

The first few rejections stung. They were hard not to take personal, but then I realized that it wasn’t necessarily me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t write well enough for a publisher to like what I submitted, it was that this profession is highly subjective, and I underestimated the challenge. I wasn’t alone in this, and I wasn’t about to let anyone destroy my dream.

Well, my stubbornness came in handy, and Meant To Be was accepted. My cloud nine was restored, the contract was signed, and the overwhelming, jumping up and down happiness after signing the contract was felt. Holy crap, I did it. I’m actually going to be published! My friends and family were ecstatic.

Then came the impatience again.

Months went by as I waited for edits, and repetitive questions were asked by friends and family. When is your book coming out? What’s taking so long? It’s kind of funny to think about right now. Now that all is said and done, that is. Patience is just a part of the business. You’ve got to learn it, live it, and learn to love it.

So in the meantime, I tried writing something else, but I didn’t get very far. Edits finally kicked in, and it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I had to fix punctuation, do some re-writes, and I had to take away repetitive and unnecessary words in my sentences. You get the gist. Thankfully I had a really great editor who was with me every step of the way, and was quick to reply.

The manuscript was tweaked, primed to satisfaction, and then off to the proof reader, who was also wonderful, I might add.

I got to squeal at the sight of the finished product, as my fabulous publisher sent me my ARC copies in pdf format. Meant To Be was finally ready to go, and I couldn’t be more relieved. I love my story and characters very much, but I was also getting sick of reading it...LOL!

Of course I’m giving you the fast version of events here. It’s been quite the experience so far, and I’m delighted to say that Meant To Be made its debut on February 16.

www.secretcravingspublishing.com/JenniferLaBelle.html

I hope you all enjoy the story as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it for you, and I look forward to many more accomplishments like this in the near future.

So, now I’ll part and prepare myself to fall in love all over again with my next project. Thank you Avril for hosting me this week, it’s been a blast, and I really appreciate it.

*Happy to have you, Jennifer.

Author Links:

Buy link: www.secretcravingspublishing.com/JenniferLaBelle.html
Website: http://www.jenniferlabelle.com/
Publisher: http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292
Twitter: http://twitter.com/1JenniferLabell

Guest Blogger Drea Becraft

2011-02-23T10:00:00.004-05:00

As part of her SexySpotlight promoing her debut release, LIVE FOR THE TODAYS, my friend and partner in Wicked crimes, Drea Becraft is here today, talking her inspiration for her stories and giving us a tease.

Take it away, Drea!

When I started writing this story I looked to one of my best friends as inspiration. Her aunt felt ill one day and went to the doctor. A short time later she was told she had pancreatic cancer, then in what seemed like only moments later she lost her battle.

While I was there for my friend it gave way to a really great story that I could not get out of my head. So I began with an idea and fell in love with a plot line and then Live For The Todays came to be.

So many things could take us when we least expect it. The title says it all. Live for the todays and forget the yesterdays, because life is to short to dwell on the things that really won't matter in the long run.

~~*Blurb*~~

Vengeance is only a mouse click away, but what happens when you fall for the one your suppose to hate? Diane Miles lets very few people into her life, and the ones she calls family she never lets go of. But what if is she to do when her best friend is dying and her whole world as she knows it is about to be torn apart.

Chase Griffin is in shock when a woman accusses him of treating one of his employees wronfully. When she takes over his system making it impossible to work, he doesn't know whether to strangle her or spank her till she begs for mercy. When he discovers who his local vigilante is, strangling is the last thing on his mind as she bocomes his rock during the last days of his sisters life. http://secretcravingspublishing.mybigcommerce.com/products/Live-For-The-Todays.html

~~*Excerpt*~~

To: griffinchase67@arcmanagement.com
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010, 8:19 AM

Subject: Oops, did I do that????

It’s been a month, Ace, and you have yet to find and fire the one who wronged my friend. I have given you more than ample time and now it’s time for you to pay.

You are up against one hell of a computer chick. And Ace, I am holding your system ransom until meeting the demands.

I hope you don’t have important meetings you need to be in this week, because I just cancelled them.

Oh isn’t it wonderful how the world translates in 101011, LOL.

NO YOU CAN’T,
Your Local Vigilante

Oh, how good it feels finally sending that message. After a long night of hacking into the arrogant assholes computer system, she finally had the worm in place, and his system stalled. Sometimes, it pays to be one hell of a computer wiz and even one better, having software irreversible by anyone but herself.

Sure, it would be a huge inconvenience for both Mr. Griffin and maybe his secretary, but that’s as far as her vigilance went. Diane only wanted to make one man pay, so no need to hack the entire ARC main frame. Other employees should not pay for the failure of their boss, nor should the customers who pay for services needed.

Totally engrossed in what she was doing, Diane didn’t notice Tina standing in the doorway. Dressed in a black skirt suit with a yellow blouse, she had her hair pulled in a bun. If you didn’t know any better, you would think she was your ordinary woman, but Diane did know better.

“You’ve been at it all night again, haven’t you?” Tina said, crossing her arms across her chest and glaring.

“Always treating me like a kid, yeah Mommy, I spent all night on the computer. But I swear, once I hit the pillows, I’ll sleep all afternoon.” With a half smile, Diane pushed away from the desk and headed toward her friend.

“You better, I swear I have no idea how you go on as little sleep as you do. I would have migraines out the ass if I tried to pull that stunt.”

“Luck of the genes, I guess.” Diane shrugged then hugged her friend lightly. Releasing her, she stepped back a couple of steps to continue their conversation. “When are you going to give your resignation?”

“I will in a couple of weeks. We have some pretty big hitters coming in and I want to get them settled before I up and leave. It’s the least I can do before I leave them bereft an acquisitions agent.”

“And a damn good one at that.”

“Amen, sister.”

“You are too kind to that man after the way he treated you.”

“Just because someone else got the job as agent doesn’t mean he’s not a good boss, Diane. I sure don’t hold a grudge over what happened. And I have no clue why you would either.”

“I just hate to see anyone hurt the ones I love.”

“Oh, honey, I love you too but just let it go. It’s so not worth the trouble or worry.”

“I can’t help but worry about you, T. You’re my family.”

“You’re my best friend, and I would be so lost without you.”

“I know. I am pretty fabulous.” Blowing on her nails, then on her shirt, she winked at her friend.

* * * *

Chase was pissed. Not only could he not get into any of his files, but his email didn’t work unless sending to only one recipient. The tech guys from his IT department could do nothing to restore it but assured him that only his files were hostage, both were a relief and an annoyance. Obviously, he was the only target of this vigilante, and she was doing a really good job.

Even more pissed now than when first discovering the problem hours ago, Chase shot off an email to his nemesis. Satisfied in the knowledge that while he enjoyed a great lunch with his sister and best friend she would be squirming.

From: Chase
To: vengeance101@network.com
Date: Monday, July 6, 2010, 12:10 PM

Subject: RESTORE MY SYSTEM NOW!!!!!!!

Listen, I don’t know who the fuck you are, or how the fuck you got into my system, but I want it RESTORED NOW. You can’t just mess with someone’s livelihood. You mess with me and you mess with the company. Not only are you screwing over your friend but also the people that work for my company.

I have no idea what started this, but if you don’t restore it, I will find you and have my lawyers so far up your ass you won’t know where you end and they begin.

YES, I FUCKING CAN,

Chase Griffin
President & CEO
ARC Management Company

~~*Where to find Drea*~~

Website: http://dreabecraft.webs.com/
Blog: http://dreabecraft.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/andreabecraft
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dreabecraft

Winner of Danica Avet's Giveaway

2011-02-18T08:57:00.000-05:00

Jen B, you won the Mardi Gras mask offered by Danica Avet in her interview. Please contact me at aviashnanama@yahoo.com so I can forward your info to Danica, since you left no contact email.

Again...Calling Jen B, please step forward and claim your Prize.

Presents...Interview with Author Danica Avet

2011-02-17T09:00:00.010-05:00

Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with a jump-off--or in this case, with the fabulously talented Danica Avet. She's one fourth of my critique team--yes, gots me a team, and she writes steamy paranormal romance with a touch of Cajun spice *winkety-wink* Danica's Veil series is contracted by Siren-Bookstrand and book one is available now.

Ruby Fontenot, a Cajun hermit, loses control of her life when she’s tapped to become the last Lineage Chieftain in a paranormal world she had no idea existed. With the power to change the face of The Veil by choosing its leaders, Ruby is now a wanted woman. Once she meets a member of the Veilerian High Council, what began as a fight for her life turns into a fight for her heart and her freedom.

As the High Council Representative, Lucian Ravenswaay has spent decades searching for the elusive Lineage Chieftain only to discover she’s his life mate. But this vampire has bigger plans than settling down; he wants a Council seat and to get it, he’ll have to turn Ruby over to them. The line between what he wants and what he needs is blurred and making the wrong choice could mean the destruction of an entire society. BUY: http://bookstrand.com/ruby-uncut-and-on-the-loose

****
Danica is freakishly talented, obscenely funny, and the characteres in her stories are just the best...Hot, funny and hmm, the sex. De-freaking-lish. But allow me clear my dirty mind and present the lady herself.

Welcome D...For readers getting to know you, how would you describe yourself?

Hrm…I’d describe myself as a Southern woman with a strange sense of humor and an interest in really hot men. Um, oh, and I write romance!

When did you know you wanted to write? When did you start writing seriously?

I actually started writing when I was about sixteen. It was a story about a girl coming back home and running into an old love. I had no idea what I was doing, but it felt right. I wrote off and on for the next twelve years, but it wasn’t until 2008 that I decided to really sit down and get to work. It’s been a crazy journey so far and it looks to become even crazier!
How would you describe your writing?

I like quirky, not your run-of-the-mill love stories. I adore strong heroines who know what they want and will do anything to get it until they run into that one man who won’t be their doormat. I try to incorporate a lot of humor in my writing as well. I love to laugh and the road to true love can so easily be paved with really crazy, funny situations.

What are you working on now/have coming out?

I have two more books in this series coming out through Siren Publishing: Succubus-in-Waiting, and Lifestyles of the Fey and Dangerous. I’m working on a second book in my Olympus, Inc. series and have yet another paranormal in the works with ideas popping up in my head every day! Sometimes I think medication would not go amiss ;)

Which appears first when contemplating a new project: A character, the plot, the title?

It really depends. Sometimes it’s a conversation between characters, sometimes it’s a title, other times it’s a situation I think would make a great opening. From there, I have to work out a sensible plot and that so isn’t easy sometimes.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about writing, good or bad?

The support! When I started writing several years ago, I never suspected there was an entire network of other aspiring writers and pros so willing to help and extend their hands in friendship. When I decided to do this seriously, I joined RWA, my local chapter, as well as an online chapter and I haven’t looked back. I’ve met such wonderful, funny people (like you!) who help me remember why I’m in this business in the first place: to write romances other readers will enjoy.

Name some of your favorite writers from any genre.

Ooooh! J. R. Ward, naturally. Her books chew me up and spit me out and I keep going back for more. Kresley Cole is one of my other absolute favorites. In other genres, I love Mary Balogh’s and Elizabeth Hoyt’s historicals, Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters for contemporary, and Jennifer Crusie for romantic comedy.

J.R and Kresley does it to me, too and I love Mary Balogh. What’s playing on your iPOD/in your car?

Wow, anything really. Mastodon (metal), Fat Boy Slim, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, ABBA, Johnny Cash, Spinnerette, Santogold, Pavaratti, Mozart, etc. You name it, I most likely have it :)
What are you reading now?(not your work :))

I finished the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost in preparation for the next release. I forgot how much I loved Bones *drools* Most recently though, I finished the next book in Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series yesterday as well because I just can’t get enough of those Valkyries! Declan, oh how I heart you!

God, I love me some Crispin. Care to divulge some of your guilty pleasures? ;)

Guilty pleasures…Reading romance. Most people who I befriend would never look at me and think I’m a romance reading fanatic. For years, I kept it quiet because I was embarrassed. Now, I’m all out there for people to see. What can I say? I adore romances with sizzle love scenes and hot, lickable heroes! ;)

Finish this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m________

Reading and listening to music at the same time. Seriously, almost every night you can find me perched on my sofa with my dog and cat, a book (or my Kindle) in my hands and the radio blaring. It’s an illness, so I feel no shame for my obsession ;)

Where can readers find you on the net?

These days it feels like I’m all over the place! You can find me here:

Website: http://danicaavet.com/
Blog: http://danicaavet.wordpress.com/
Group blog: http://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/
And coming soon: http://darkertemptations.wordpress.com/

Thanks to Ms. D for stopping by today. Had much fun. One lucky commenter will win a Mardi Gras mask like the one pictured just above here, handmade! by Ms. D, so get to commenting. And now here's a tasty excerpt from RUBY: Uncut and on the Loose...to whet your appetite and send you running to cop that ;)

~*(Upon Lucian finding Ruby snooping through his bedroom.)

Seeing her in his bedroom had taken him from half-mast to full hard-on and seeing the blood rush to her cheeks nearly sent him over the edge. He considered it an honor she would seek out his room to learn about him. Lucian wasn’t fool enough to think she did it because she wanted to know his favorite color. But her reaction to the photo album of the councilors pleased him.

He stepped up behind her, not touching her but letting the heat from his body reach out to her. Lucian breathed in her sweet jasmine scent and felt the lust come back on full throttle.

“Did you learn anything interesting about me?” he asked, leaning forward so his breath washed over her ear.

Ruby kept her head bowed, the vulnerable nape of her neck bared to him by her short hair. Lucian watched the goose bumps travel up her neck.

“You have terrible taste in books and candy,” she said softly, her hands flipping through the pages in the photo album.

Lucian chuckled, moving his mouth to the other side of her ear. “Anything else?”

He heard her breath catch. His nostrils flared. He caught the scent of her arousal. He fought a growl.

“You watch too much television,” she responded on a shuddering sigh. Lucian could see her eyes were half closed and a light blush crested her cheeks.

“It gets lonely sometimes,” Lucian whispered against her ear, pressing a soft kiss at the top of it.

She shivered and he applauded her body’s response. Lucian knew success was at hand, until her spine stiffened.

“You could always call one of your fellow councilors to join you,” Ruby shot back with fire. She moved away from him, tossing the album on one of the shelves of the entertainment center.

Lucian could just about kill Tawny for sending the stupid album. It had been her idea of a Christmas gag gift, as if he’d want to look at their mugs for the holidays. He wouldn’t have the damn thing at his house if it hadn’t been for one of the Junior Guardians mistaking the breathtaking women as part of a harem. Lucian grimaced.

“Ruby, those would be the last women I’d bed,” he said in all honesty. He’d only slept with Bianca, and she wasn’t in the album. Ruby still didn’t look convinced. “I’ve worked with them for the last forty years. The last thing I want to do is take them home with me.”

She stood in front of one of the massive windows, looking outside. Her chin was tucked into her chest as she looked at the backyard. Lucian knew she could see Deer Trail Bayou through the tangle of oak trees surrounding the property. He always found the view calming. He wondered what it would be like to pull up one of the overstuffed chairs and sit with her in his lap looking out the window just like she was doing now.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m not tough or brave like the other women seem to be in this world.” She chuckled and threw a glance his way. Her eyes darted around the room. “Would you mind getting dressed?”

Lucian did mind as a matter of fact, but had a feeling this stunning moment of intimacy might come to an end if he didn’t offer her a little distance. As a skilled tracker, he knew when to give his prey some room.

He shrugged as though it didn’t make any difference to him one way or the other. He pulled out an old T-shirt from his chest of drawers, all the while very conscious of her watching his every move. With his back to her, Lucian grinned to himself and made a show out of snapping the shirt out of its fold, causing her to flinch.

He felt the muscles in his shoulders and arms flex as he bunched the shirt with his fingers. His sensitive ears picked up the sound of light, rapid breathing and Lucian knew she wasn’t unaffected. He lifted the shirt over his head, tilting his head back and letting his hair fan over his shoulders. He glanced over at her.

Ruby had a crazed look in her eyes that sent a zing of desire through Lucian. Her mouth was getting redder by the minute and her arousal scented the air again. Teasing her, he stretched his torso, pulling the shirt to cover his chest, one hand smoothing it while the other led the way. When his leading hand reached the waistband of his jeans, her eyes went to half-mast and a wild flush bloomed in her face.

Lucian wasn’t exactly immune to his play either. He had a screaming erection begging for release. When Ruby’s tongue swept out of her mouth to wet her bottom lip, Lucian growled deep in his chest. It was an instinctive reaction to her bodily fluids and he wanted a taste.

So he stepped forward and left Lucian Ravenswaay behind, while the predatory beast stalked its mate.

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Guest Blogger~ Jennifer Labelle

Guest Blogger Drea Becraft

Winner of Danica Avet's Giveaway

Presents...Interview with Author Danica Avet

Guest Blogger Drea Becraft

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