Mari Carr's Blog, page 87

Quote of the Day

Today Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday is observed. Seems only fitting we hear from him today.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Three's Company Contest!

Today from 3 to 9 p.m. EST, I'll be hosting a Menage Mania party at the Samhain Cafe with Rhian Cahill, Jayne Rylon, Crystal Jordan, Beverly Rae, and L.A. Witt. Today, we all share a common bond–we have menage stories releasing at Samhain this month.

To celebrate the release of my menage romance, Because You Love Me (coming January 24), I thought I'd hold a fun, easy contest. Simply take a look at my books and tell me which of my menage stories — Tequila Truth, Happy Hour, Retreat, Everything Nice, Sweet Thursday, Any Given Sunday, Northern Exposure (pssst–NE is free right now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Sony), Inflamed or Because You Love Me–you'd like to read. One commenter will win the menage of their choice!

I'll announce the winner tomorrow evening around 5 EST. That will give everyone a chance to enter. Hope to see you at the Samhain party.

Free Read!

That's right…I said free. For the next two weeks, Northern Exposure, the first book in the Compass Brothers series, will be free at Amazon, Barnes and Noble…and for the first time ever, Sony. This is a great chance to give the series a try, but you need to move fast. This opportunity runs out on Jan. 28.

All roads lead home when that's where you've left your heart.

Compass Brothers, Book 1

Silas Compton always had his eye on Lucy, the veterinarian's daughter. He was even content to wait for the girl of his dreams to grow up before getting anywhere near her with his family's double-edged legacy.

Waiting around led to fooling around with his best friend—and an impulsive eruption of desire that Lucy's innocent eyes weren't meant to see. Figuring Compton Pass wasn't big enough for the three of them or the pain he'd caused, Silas let loose his tightly reined wanderlust and headed for Alaska.

Ten years later, when an oil rig accident sends him home, he braces himself for the reopening of old wounds. Instead he finds himself in the care—and welcoming arms—of Lucy and Colby, whose marriage has plenty of room for the man they both still love. And forgive with all their hearts.

As things start to unravel at Compass Ranch, Silas must dig deep for the strength to assume his rightful place in theComptonfamily…and lay the foundation for a future with his lovers. If he can forgive himself.

Warning: This book is overflowing with sexy cowboys who like to saddle up and ride each other as well as the woman of their dreams. The likelihood of becoming addicted to their ranch family is high. With three more stories yet to come, beware. You won't be able read just one!

Read an Excerpt.

 

 

Saturday Snippet

This week, we're looking at setting. A character's surroundings can, at times, play a very important part in a story. In Any Given Sunday, it was a move to a new house that set the entire conflict of the story into motion!

Snippet:

"Nice house."

Lauren turned around and spotted Sean's sister, Riley, and her husband Aaron coming in with more boxes. "When did you two get here?" Lauren asked.

"Just now. Thought we'd grab some stuff off the truck and start helping." Riley turned around and put her box on top of the heavy one Aaron was already carrying. "These say books, so I'm assuming they go in the office we just passed."

Lauren nodded, confirming Riley's assumption.

"Put those in there, sugar, while Lauren gives me the tour."

Aaron groaned. "If I fucking pull a muscle, Riley, you'll be sorry. Probably be laid up for weeks. No boom-boom."

Lauren laughed at Aaron's taunt as Riley started to grab her box back. Aaron chuckled and moved away before she could retrieve it.

"Gotcha," he teased as he walked to the office.

"Asswipe," Riley muttered, though her face betrayed the truth. Lauren didn't think the honeymoon would ever end for those two. They'd eloped in Vegas over two years earlier, but they still only had eyes—and hands—for each other.

"Thanks for coming over to help, Riley. I really do appreciate it. Actually, I don't know how we could have moved all this stuff if it weren't for your family."

Riley took her arm and propelled her up the stairs. "Gotta be some perks to having four overgrown, overbearing brothers. Top of that list is that they can move all the heavy shit. So we'll start the tour upstairs. What are the sleeping arrangements?"

Lauren led her toward the first room at the top of the stairs. "Sean and I have the master bedroom and until the guys finish building the basement apartment for Chad, he'll be in the guest room."

"Mmm hmm," Riley hummed.

Lauren tried to figure out what was going on in the woman's head. She'd been making odd comments about this move ever since they'd announced it to Sean's family. Lauren suddenly wondered if she hadn't been as good at hiding her secret lust for Chad as she'd thought.

"This is the master bedroom. It has a great bathroom through those doors—big-ass Jacuzzi tub and everything." Then she sighed at the pile of boxes lining the walls, the dismantled king-sized bed and the drawer-less dressers. God only knew where the drawers had ended up. "Jeez. It's gonna take ages to get this place put together."

Riley was standing at the doorway, looking down the hall. "Where is Chad sleeping again?"

"A little farther down the hallway, on the right. The guest bathroom is toward the end. What's the obsession with sleeping arrangements, Riley? You know as well as I do it makes sense for Chad to move in with us until he and I graduate."

In addition to being Sean's sister, Riley had become one of Lauren's dearest friends over the past few years. Despite that fact, sometimes Lauren struggled with Riley's unusual view of the world and life in general.

"All I'm saying is, are you sure you don't want to share a room with Sean and Chad? Let's face it. You've got the hots for both of them. There's a lot of pent-up lust hovering in the air whenever the three of you get together. It's sort of stifling really."

Lauren sat down on a box, resting her elbows on her knees. "I'm committed to Sean, Riley. We've been together over two years. I'm not about to make a pass at his best friend."

Riley claimed the box next to her. "I'm not saying you should throw Sean over for Chad. Just add another man to the mix."

"Jesus. You know, we're not all as crazy as the Collins'. Most of us mere mortal beings just get through the days living normal lives, either alone or in pairs. Besides, I'm attending school to become a doctor. Of psychology. Not sure how living in a ménage would go over with my patients when I open a practice."

"I don't see anything weird about living in a threesome. Look at my brother Killian. He's been happily shacked up with Lily and Justin for years. I've always thought you, Sean and Chad were destined for the same."

Lauren shook her head. "Killian's deal is the exception, not the rule. I don't know of another person in the world living in that kind of setup."

"So that means no one else is? Pardon me, babe, but you don't know that many damn people. I bet there are loads of threesomes out there making it work."

"Why am I having this conversation with you? How do I let you drag me into stuff like this? The point is moot. I'm in love with Sean. We're eventually getting married and living happily ever after. The end."

Riley refused to be deterred. "And Chad?"

"Chad will hopefully be what he's always been. Our best friend. And God willing, he and I will achieve our dreams and open a practice together. This move hasn't changed anything except our address."

"I don't buy it."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "What don't you buy?"

"If you and Sean are so committed that you've decided to buy this house together and start shacking up, if this is just the first step toward marriage, then why bring Chad into the mix?"

"I'll admit the timing wasn't ideal, life-wise, but look at this house, Riley. It's gorgeous. Sean was helping Killian and Justin do some construction work on it so the former owner could sell. Sean took one look and knew it was our dream home. It's an easy commute to the pub for Sean and close to the university. When he brought me here to look at it, we knew we wanted it."

"It is beautiful. I guess I'm just worried you're both rushing things a bit."

Lauren sighed. She'd been feeling the same way lately. Sean hadn't exactly pushed her into buying the house, but he'd been so excited when he'd shown it to her. His enthusiasm had been infectious. Now that she was here, the reality of what she'd committed to was hitting her.

"Like I said, we weren't looking to buy a house until after I graduated in the spring. We couldn't leave Chad high and dry with just two more semesters to go. With Chad and me only working part-time while we finish grad school, having him rent the basement apartment helps us make the mortgage until I find a job. Besides, Chad couldn't afford the college apartment without a roommate, and while I know he wouldn't have minded advertising for one, it didn't seem fair to put him in that situation. He and Sean have lived together since high-school graduation."

"So this house-sharing deal is definitely a short-time thing?"

Lauren nodded. "Yep. Just untilChadand I earn our doctorates and find jobs."

Riley reached over and grasped Lauren's hand. "I'm really happy for you, Lauren."

Riley's words and her kind touch proved to be too much. Suddenly Lauren heard things falling from her lips that she hadn't meant to share. "When Sean brought me to see this house, he had a picnic basket with wine and bread and cheese. After taking me through the whole house, we sat on the floor in the living room. He pulled out the food, poured us some wine and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me."

Riley laughed. "God, that's sappy. Sounds just like my baby brother."

"It was completely romantic. I looked at him and I knew. God, Riley, I knew all the way to my soul I wanted to live this lifetime with him."

"And now you are," Riley said.

Lauren looked down, tried to find a way to explain. "I made a choice. Part of being an adult means you have to make difficult decisions."

Riley's eyes narrowed. "You chose Sean."

"And I don't regret that. Not for a minute," Lauren interjected.

"But you still want Chad."

Any Given Sunday is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.

Want more snippets? Check out these authors!

Megan Hart — Read in bed!

Eliza Gayle

Rhian Cahill

Jody Wallace

Lissa Matthews

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Alison Kent

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

Shelli Stevens

Shiloh Walker

Zoë Archer

Two hot Bianca D'Arc books!

Amazing writer Bianca D'Arc has two new releases available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For just $2.99 each, these stories are a steal!

King of Swords

David is a newly retired special ops soldier, looking to find his way in an unfamiliar civilian world. His first step is to visit an old friend, the owner of a bar called The Rabbit Hole on a distant space station. While there, he meets an intriguing woman who holds the keys to his future.

Adele has a special ability, handed down through her family. Adele can sometimes see the future. She doesn't know exactly why she's been drawn to the space station where her aunt deals cards in a bar that caters to station workers and ex-military. She only knows that she needs to be there. When she meets David, sparks of desire fly between them and she begins to suspect that he is part of the reason she traveled halfway across the galaxy.

Pirates gas the inhabitants of the station while Adele and David are safe inside a transport tube and it's up to them to repel the invaders. Passion flares while they wait for the right moment to overcome the alien threat and retake the station. But what good can one retired soldier and a civilian do against a ship full of alien pirates?

Note: This novella was previously available in an anthology titled Fortune's Fool, which is now out of print. It has been revised and re-edited for this edition.

Warning: This book contains adult situations and language, romance, adventure, and intimacy described in frank terms. There may also be some buckling of swashes, piracy and heroism in the vastness of space.

King of Cups

Retired soldier and covert operative, Alex Hambly tends bar on Madhatter Station, out near the galactic rim. He's fighting an impossible attraction to the sexy card dealer, Della—a mysterious woman who sometimes sees the future. She also kicks ass when the need arises, which makes her even more desirable in his eyes.

When the heir to the alien, jit'suku empire is threatened, only Della can identify the would-be assassins. It will take all of Alex and Della's combined skills to save his life and prevent an all-out galactic war. From the frying pan into the fire, Alex and Della wind up aboard the alien ship, headed for the alien homeworld.

Startling, unforeseen events put their lives and millions of humans and jit'suku in dire jeopardy. Can they find a solution not only for their people, but for themselves and the forbidden love they can no longer deny?

Warning: This book contains graphic language and adult situations.

Undone Rebel

There are two things I know for certain about Lila Dubois. 1. She's the funniest person on the planet. 2. She can write the hell out of a book. She's got a new one, Undone Rebel, coming out today at Ellora's Cave and I was lucky enough to beta read it for her! I can be very annoying (aka beg nonstop) until I get what I want and I WANTED this book. It's also book one in a trilogy. New series? Score! Check it out! This one is RED HOT!

Book one in the Undone Lovers series.

When amateur fetish model and rockabilly princess Adelita "Addie" Sanchez is asked to model for an instructional BDSM book, she turns the offer down—she's not a porn star. Then she meets the three male Dominants behind the project, including Lane Therres, who convinces her the book is more art than porn, and she'll be safe in his hands.

The rules of the photo sessions are clear—there's no sex, and Addie can call a halt to anything she's uncomfortable with. But self-reliant, strong-willed Addie doesn't count on liking what the powerful Doms do to her body with their ropes, chains and toys. Enjoying Emory's touch after falling for Lane, Addie turns away from both men, scared of what they're making her feel. She's worried that a relationship built on a BDSM contract can never be anything but whips and chains.

Lane will exchange Dom leather for shining armor to prove to his rockabilly princess that even the most gallant knights sometimes prefer dungeons.

Excerpt:

"Can I help you?"

"Adelita?"

"Depends who's asking. What do you want?"

He pushed away from the wall and stood in the doorway, invading her space. "I want to have a conversation with a pretty woman."

"And I," Addie put her finger in the center of his chest and pushed, "don't trust pretty boys."

Addie closed the door, but the man slid his foot between the door and the jamb. Addie jumped back, prepared to run for a phone and call 9-1-1 if he made a move she didn't like.

He pushed the door open again and held up one hand. "I'm not coming in, I just thought you might like it if I didn't say what I have to say through the door."

Addie cocked her hip, felt the robe slide open a bit. "And what is it you have to say?"

The blond's gaze had dropped to her breasts and the lacy bra that was peeking out from the widening slit in her robe.

"I'm working with C&C Productions." He leaned against the doorjamb. A few locks of hair fell across his forehead as he tipped his head down and smiled at her. He was handsome, if a little too clean-cut for her taste. She liked her men to be tattooed retro gentlemen who could refurbish a car as well as they danced. This guy was frat-boy handsome all grown up and sexy, though if he was a porn star it was a clean-cut veneer over skanky man-whore interior.

"Oh." Addie pulled her robe closed. "I already told the lady I wasn't interested."

"I'm one of the other models. I thought we could talk about it."

"Listen, porn star, I'm not interested.

"I'm not a porn star. I'm a systems engineer."

"You're what?"

"A computer geek. It's true. Here." He fished his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a business card.

Addie took a tentative step closer and accepted the card.

 

Lane Therres

Systems Development

AIFO Consulting

 

"This is really you?" She held the card up. "Lane."

"Yep. Lane Therres. It's nice to meet you."

"You're a geek consultant." Addie was still examining the card. Everything felt out of sync, as if she were dancing a half beat off the music. The blond—Lane—was a piece that didn't fit with the day's admittedly strange happenings.

He laughed lightly. "That sums it up. Maybe I should have that on the cards."

"If this is really you, what are you doing modeling for porn? I think your geek boss will be upset."

"I rarely interface with clients, I build systems on the back end. Plus, it's not porn. It's art."

"And there's a stack of 'art' pictures guys conned women into taking that end up as internet porn."

"Can I show you something?"

"If you whip out your dick, I'm calling the cops."

"No dick." He looked over his shoulder. "I think."

Addie lunged for her phone. "That's it, alpha delta porno, I'm calling the cops."

"Alpha what? There's no need to call the cops."

"The catchphrase of psycho porn stars everywhere, I'm sure. Deja."

"Deja." He rolled the word nicely. "That means 'leave', doesn't it?"

"Very good. Buh-bye then."

Lane ducked out of the doorway for a second and reappeared holding a book. "This is all I want to show you." It looked like the same book Helen had tried to show her.

"Strangely, you haven't left."

"Weird, isn't it? Can I come in?" He didn't wait for her answer but stepped in, closing the door behind him. He made her happily cluttered apartment seem small.

Addie picked up a stone calavera—skull—decorated for Dia de los Muertos from the shelf at her shoulder. It easily weighed five pounds. "Do you regularly force your way into women's apartments?"

"This is a first, actually."

"I feel so special. It's going to be even more special when I bash your head in."

"With a sparkly skull? There's some irony in there."

Addie narrowed her eyes. "You're making it hard to hate you."

"I was socially inept until college, so thank you, it's good to know the years of hard work learning to talk to women have paid off."

"I'm still going to hit you. I'll try to avoid your pretty-boy face."

"The fact that I'm holding a conversation with a woman whose robe has come undone is even more amazing."

Shit. Addie looked down and Lane jumped across the room, snatching the skull from her. Her robe was still in place, though it had slipped to one side, exposing her left breast in its leopard-and-cream lace bra. She pulled it in place and sighed. Lane was tossing the skull in the air and grinning.

"You're in. I'm unarmed. What do you want?"

"Just to talk, and to show you this." He held up the book.

"Fine, we'll talk. Put down my skull."

He set the jeweled piece on a table behind him. He looked around her living room, having the raised brow reaction most people did when they saw she had more sewing supplies than furniture.

"Have a seat," Addie said. She curled into her armchair, tucking her robe securely under her legs so it wouldn't slip, and motioned to the matching ottoman.

Lane sat then jumped up. "Fuck!" He picked up the beaded top she'd been working on. The needle was sticking up out of the fabric and had, predictably, found its way into his ass.

Addie's lips twitched. "Pain in your ass?"

"Funny." He set the sewing aside and swept his hand across the ottoman before sitting. "Maybe we should start over." He held out his hand. "I'm Lane Therres."

"Addie Sanchez." His handshake was firm and very warm.

"It's very nice to meet you, Addie. I'm looking forward to working with you."

"You mean fucking me, and it's not going to happen. I'm not going to be part of your little porn."

"I wouldn't do porn either. I'm a normal guy. Well, sort of. The project Helen wants you for isn't porn."

"Then what is it?" Addie asked, exasperated.

"It's probably easier to show you." He held out the book. "This is the last project C&C did. It's an informational book of sorts. It's got stories, explanations and most importantly, photos."

Addie flipped open the book.

Foot Fetish—The Sole of Devotion.

"This is a book about foot fetishes?"

"Yes. Don't freak out, just turn the page."

She raised a brow. "Do I look like the kind of woman who freaks out?"

"Fair point."

Addie flipped the glossy page and skimmed the first few lines of text. It talked about the history of foot fetishism, the beauty of the fetish, the variations that were possible. "This makes it sound like the only way to show someone you love them is to," she skimmed the page, "lick their shoes."

"That's how some people feel."

She skipped the next pages of text, stopping when she got to the first photo. It was a full-page black-and-white image of a woman's calf and foot. A glossy, black high heel dangled from her toes.

The next image was the same woman's foot, but now a man was kissing it. In the next photo he licked the side of the shoe. Another flip and the man was licking the sole of her bare foot.

The images were beautiful, well lit and composed, yet clearly sexual.

It wasn't porn.

 

I'm back!

As you may or may not have noticed, my website was hacked early last week. Just spent a very long, sad week waiting for it to come back. My webmistress (a miracle worker) managed to restore it all–yay! So I'm back on track.

Here's all the news I've been DYING to tell you in the past week:

1. I submitted Screwdriver, book two in the Cocktales series, to my Ellora's Cave editor.

2. I submitted the last book in the Because trilogy, Because It's True, to my Samhain editor.

3. Because You Love Me is finally up for preorder at Amazon and Samhain. No luck at Barnes and Noble yet, but I'll keep a look-out for it.

4. I have registered for the Romantic Times convention in Chicago the week of April 11-14. I'll be rooming with Jayne Rylon and celebrating the fact that 8 of my fellow International Heat pals will be there as well. This is the first time so many of us have been in the same place at the same time. Watch out, Illinois! I'm participating in the Ebook Expo and the Giant Book Fair (both are open to the public). I'll also be hosting a Red Hot Pictionary game and sitting on a panel about the ebook industry. Hate to wish my life away, but come on April!

5. I'm about to start work on a duo of red hot romantic comedies I'm co-writing with Lexxie Couper. I can't wait to write these books!

6. I received the cover for the print anthology of Northern Exposure and Southern Comfort. It releases in Sept. 2012. Isn't this cover stunning?! Love it.

 

Magnus re-release!

My friend, Jambrea Jo Jones has a book re-releasing today at Total E-bound and can I just say…this is my favorite book by Jambrea! Magnus rocks!

Book one in the Semper Fi Series

Hoorah! Take no prisoners.

The military is Marine Colonel Joe "Magnus" Rivers' reason for being. Protecting the United States of America from all threats is his sole purpose in life. His world is turned upside down when a woman is assigned to his team of elite Marines and his attraction to her threatens his career.

NCIS Special Agent Emily Patterson's orders: infiltrate Colonel Rivers' team and find the culprits behind a rash of kidnappings connected to a sex slave ring. Her mission parameters didn't include an attraction for Colonel Rivers but nothing in Emily's career could have prepared her for Magnus. Her job becomes more difficult as she gets to know the man behind the uniform and Emily finds herself wanting to prove herself to him, potentially exposing her identity before she clears Magnus.

Magnus and Emily struggle against their growing feelings for one another, both knowing the consequences of giving in to lust. Magnus is Emily's team leader and fraternising is against the rules. Emily is investigating Magnus and his team; getting involved with him could ruin her investigation and her career.

Reader Advisory: This book contains some violence and lots of swearing and sexual assault.

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released at another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Total-E-Bound.

 

Devon's Pair

My BFF, Jayne Rylon, has a new release today! I wanted to share the deets with you because it's part of the amazing Powertools series!

Devon's Pair

Will his boyfriend's girlfriend become his girlfriend too?

Powertools, Book 4

James has watched each of the crew fall in love, one by one, until only he and his life partner Neil remain "unattached". So, when he sees the way his bisexual boyfriend is checking out their new apprentice, he's sure he's doomed to lose the man of his dreams.

His love is strong enough that he would let go to ensure Neil's happiness. Instead, sparks fly between the three of them—along with the rest of the crew—and he realizes he might not have to surrender because his boyfriend's girlfriend is becoming his girlfriend too.

Product Warnings

The world's first m/f/m/f/m/f/m/m/f…we think. You never know exactly what's going to happen next when the crew gets back together, but it's guaranteed to be steamy.

Excerpt:

Neil swiped work-scuffed knuckles over his gaping lips to ensure no drool escaped. He couldn't help but stare. Painted toes peeped from strappy sandals. They led his bulging eyes to a delicate ankle then up the pretty, tanned calf that poked beneath the open door of a beastly black truck. The sexy shoe rested on the running board before its equally delicious owner hopped down to street-level right outside the crew's current fixer-upper.

Maybe the pick-up wasn't any bigger than the one he and James owned. It could have been the sultry yet petite driver who made it seem as enormous as the whale sharks he and his boyfriend had spotted while snorkeling in Mexico last year. There too, most anything would have seemed gargantuan beside the glorious plum smuggler that had hugged James's svelte hips as though he'd been shrink-wrapped into it.

Neil shook his head to clear the tropical memories of his lover. Between them and the chance run-in with this woman—one he'd love to lure inside and share with James—he'd be sure to sport wood when he met their new employee.

The lecture James had delivered on their ride in this morning resounded in his mind. "Try to tone it down until we get to know him, okay? The new guy might not be as accepting as the rest of the crew of our wild liaisons."

Not many people were.

Wouldn't be good if their recently hired apprentice quit before lunch.

The dude hadn't showed yet, which meant Neil had to hang out here on the curb and wait for the schmuck. A mutual friend had highly recommended Devon Giles right when they'd decided they could use some temporary help. Most of the rest of the crew settled into new relationships and needed a little extra personal time compared to usual. After a bunch of debates, they'd agreed to try adding someone to their tight-knit group on a trial basis.

Running late on day one wouldn't earn the guy any brownie points.

Still, the sweet view made up for abandoning James, who'd already started tearing up the old flooring by himself. Neil hated to let his partner shoulder more than his fair share. Generous and hardworking, his mate would push himself harder than he should. Neil swore he'd make it up to James with a killer back rub and slow, relaxed sex.

Maybe sooner rather than later if he ate his fill of such sweet eye candy.

The woman sauntered around to the other side of her truck and caused Neil to wonder if he was dreaming when she shucked her cornflower blue peasant blouse right there in the soft light of the spring morning. She left her racer-backed sports bra in place as she kicked off those sinful shoes and covered her cute pink pedicure with thick white socks before slipping her dainty feet into sturdy…construction boots?

What the—?

Quote of the Day

Lila Dubois shared this quote with me and I absolutely LOVE it.  It's a new year…let's roll in to it with some laughter!

"I'm too fucking busy, and vice versa"  – Dorothy Parker