Portia Da Costa's Blog, page 24
March 7, 2011
New release from my buddy Saskia!
My writing buddy and critique partner Saskia Walker has a brand new release today. HOLLY'S INTUITION is the second in a trilogy of stories about three psychic sisters, and if you enjoyed the first in the series, MONICA'S SECRET, you're bound to love this one too!Here's the blurb:
Holly's neighbours, Joshua and Stewart, are fit, gorgeous, and gay -- or that's what she thinks. Then one day, after coming to his aid following an accident, she forms a deep connection with Joshua, and subsequently becomes a psychic voyeur into his love life with Stewart. Holly has never experienced anything so intense, erotic, and arousing before, and despite her confusion about why this has happened to her, she can think of little else but being in the bed with the two men.
Joshua is trying to come to terms with being gay, and he's about to announce his sexuality to his family. But now Holly has entered the scene and he's drawn to her as well as to his partner, Stewart. Since his accident he feels close to Holly. She calms him…and arouses him. Sharing Stewart with her shouldn't be this much of a turn-on, but it is.
Stewart is bisexual, and his attraction to Holly is something he's been keeping under wraps for the sake of his relationship -- until he discovers Joshua is attracted to her as well. When they end up in a threesome, sex has never been this hot, but Joshua is even more confused about his sexuality as a result. Then Holly confides her psychic ability, adding a whole new dimension that none of them can ignore. Her intuition has brought them together, but will it also tear them apart?
HOLLY'S INTUITION is available from Total-E-Bound now
February 28, 2011
A most auspicious day today!
Wahey, it's a big publishing day for me today. Not only do I have a new book out myself - FAR FROM PERFECT, my first ever release with a new-for-me publisher Samhain Publishing - but my fabulous writing buddy and critique partner, SASKIA WALKER, also has a new title published today. So you might say that Tuesday, 1st March 2011 is a bit of a Yorkshire double, as we both live in the same region, not ten miles apart. Saskia is on holiday at the moment, taking a well earned break, so we won't be able to lunch out to celebrate our new books, but I'm sure when she's home again we'll soon be hitting our favourite cafe to mark this occasion.
Anyway, first, my offering:
FAR FROM PERFECT is the first out and out romance I've had published in a while. As readers will know, I'm mostly known for writing women's erotica and erotic romance, but I am a romance author too, and have had a couple of releases over the years, under an earlier nom de plum MEGAN PAUL. However FAR FROM PERFECT is my first non erotic romance release as "Portia", and it's a sort of "friends to lovers" plot crossed with an "engagement of convenience".
Anna Felgate has loved Niccolo Lisitano since she was a teenager, and four years ago, she kind of forced the issue with him somewhat, by sliding into bed with him one night and pretty much offering herself to him "on a plate". She knew he was the man for her, and was convinced that if he could just see her as the woman she'd become, rather than the girl he'd always looked out for in a brotherly way, the path would be open for their relationship to blossom. However, as so often happens, the best laid plans of mice and lovers went awry, and though the lovemaking was blissful, the aftermath was a mess of recriminations and emotional over-reaction, leading to an outcome was a polite estrangement between Anna and Nick.
However, four years later, Nick needs Anna's help in cheering up his dangerously ill father, and only an engagement between his playboy son and the daughter of his old and dear friend will suffice for the elder Lisitano. Cue a high drama of spiky verbal jousting, love-hate confrontations, and a desire between Anna and Nick that just won't quit.
So, if you want to find out how these two stubborn people resolve their differences, and what Nick's special patent migraine cure is, you can find out by taking a chance on FAR FROM PERFECT! It's available now direct from Samhain Publishing here, or you can nip over to my website, and read the prologue and check out various buying links for your preferred ebook vendor or ebook device [I'll be adding more choices as they become available]. But do remember, if you're a Portia Da Costa fan who's looking for edgy erotica and kinkiness, this book might not be the one for you. It's got highly sensual love scenes, and emotional intensity, but no raw, graphic descriptions or perviness.
You can also read quite a generous sized portion of FAR FROM PERFECT here at Googlebooks. That should give you a fair idea if it's hot enough for you!
* * *
But if you want a read that's guaranteed to be red hot and raunchy, as well as wonderfully written, look no further than HER FANTASY by my chum Saskia Walker. This is a Harlequin Spice Brief, so the level of eroticism is super high, and Saskia's story is themed around a sizzling menage a trois.
Here's the description:
"Which sexual fantasy is your ultimate turn-on?"
How is Anya Reid supposed to control her lust for her sexy coworker Warren McClure when he asks questions like that on their very first date? She has wanted Warren and to be more adventurous in bed for a long time, but she never expected him to be so direct...or to correctly guess that a ménage is her secret desire.
Soon Warren isn't just talking about Anya's fantasies—he's making them come true. But does he want a true relationship, or is he only interested in their erotic games?
You can find more delightful details about HER FANTASY here at Saskia's site, along with a taster excerpt and links to purchase it.
Enjoy!
Anyway, first, my offering:
FAR FROM PERFECT is the first out and out romance I've had published in a while. As readers will know, I'm mostly known for writing women's erotica and erotic romance, but I am a romance author too, and have had a couple of releases over the years, under an earlier nom de plum MEGAN PAUL. However FAR FROM PERFECT is my first non erotic romance release as "Portia", and it's a sort of "friends to lovers" plot crossed with an "engagement of convenience".Anna Felgate has loved Niccolo Lisitano since she was a teenager, and four years ago, she kind of forced the issue with him somewhat, by sliding into bed with him one night and pretty much offering herself to him "on a plate". She knew he was the man for her, and was convinced that if he could just see her as the woman she'd become, rather than the girl he'd always looked out for in a brotherly way, the path would be open for their relationship to blossom. However, as so often happens, the best laid plans of mice and lovers went awry, and though the lovemaking was blissful, the aftermath was a mess of recriminations and emotional over-reaction, leading to an outcome was a polite estrangement between Anna and Nick.
However, four years later, Nick needs Anna's help in cheering up his dangerously ill father, and only an engagement between his playboy son and the daughter of his old and dear friend will suffice for the elder Lisitano. Cue a high drama of spiky verbal jousting, love-hate confrontations, and a desire between Anna and Nick that just won't quit.
So, if you want to find out how these two stubborn people resolve their differences, and what Nick's special patent migraine cure is, you can find out by taking a chance on FAR FROM PERFECT! It's available now direct from Samhain Publishing here, or you can nip over to my website, and read the prologue and check out various buying links for your preferred ebook vendor or ebook device [I'll be adding more choices as they become available]. But do remember, if you're a Portia Da Costa fan who's looking for edgy erotica and kinkiness, this book might not be the one for you. It's got highly sensual love scenes, and emotional intensity, but no raw, graphic descriptions or perviness.
You can also read quite a generous sized portion of FAR FROM PERFECT here at Googlebooks. That should give you a fair idea if it's hot enough for you!
* * *
But if you want a read that's guaranteed to be red hot and raunchy, as well as wonderfully written, look no further than HER FANTASY by my chum Saskia Walker. This is a Harlequin Spice Brief, so the level of eroticism is super high, and Saskia's story is themed around a sizzling menage a trois.
Here's the description:
"Which sexual fantasy is your ultimate turn-on?"How is Anya Reid supposed to control her lust for her sexy coworker Warren McClure when he asks questions like that on their very first date? She has wanted Warren and to be more adventurous in bed for a long time, but she never expected him to be so direct...or to correctly guess that a ménage is her secret desire.
Soon Warren isn't just talking about Anya's fantasies—he's making them come true. But does he want a true relationship, or is he only interested in their erotic games?
You can find more delightful details about HER FANTASY here at Saskia's site, along with a taster excerpt and links to purchase it.
Enjoy!
February 17, 2011
A Goody from my Buddy!
Monica's Secret by Saskia WalkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Monica's Secret is a delicious erotic feast of a novel, set in the luxurious world of a high class hotel. Lucky Monica gets involved with not one, but two handsome men, Owen and Alec, who've been sent to investigate an intrigue at her workplace. The three embark on a sizzling affair, with many lushly described scenes of hot threesome lovemaking and m/m action, all laced with elements of bondage and domination, voyeurism and exhibitionism. To balance the intense sexual storyline, there are also deeper emotional elements too, where the characters face up to personal issues with their relationship as a catalyst. Monica in particular learns to accept an aspect of her life that's always been part gift, part curse, and embraces it with the help of her exciting new lovers. A luscious read!
View all my reviews
February 8, 2011
Isn't this completely fab?
January 27, 2011
Hide and Seek - new edition
There's a new edition of this nifty book out today!
HIDE AND SEEK is an anthology of stories themed around exhibitionists and voyeurs, edited by Alison Tyler and Rachel Kramer Bussel. My story - GLINT - is about a sexy couple on holiday, who get frisky on the beach... and then see a flash of sunlight from the lens of a stranger's binoculars. Ooo la la!
Read an excerpt from Glint here
January 24, 2011
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magnificent! There's a reason Dame Agatha was called the Queen of Crime... it's because she was an amazing writer. This is my first Christie read, and now I know what all the fuss is about. Her mysteries are just as fascinating on the page as they are on the screen, and Murder on the Orient Express is every bit as fantastic a puzzle to read as it is to view.
I love the wit and subtlety of the writing, the small telling touches that bring to life not only Hercule Poirot but all the other characters. It's all so effortless and captivating.
I'm thrilled to think how many wonderful Christie reads I now have ahead of me!
View all my reviews
January 21, 2011
January 16, 2011
Mid January update
I don't have any new covers or anything just at the moment, so I thought this cute new shot of Simon the Not Stray would make a nice alternative. Isn't he a handsome fellow? What a noble profile! :)So, what's happening right now, with half of January already gone? I've been pretty busy since the beginning of the year, sorting out various stuff, writing, editing, trying to come up with new ideas. At the moment, I've finishing checking the page proofs for my 1st March Samhain title FAR FROM PERFECT. I'm really, really excited about this release because for the first time in a long time, it's not an erotica release. Far From Perfect is highly sensual, but not graphic. It's a category length contemporary, with a luscious alpha hero, Niccolo Lisitano, a rich and glamorous Italian businessman and sometime playboy. Nick is gorgeous, sexy, a perfect male specimen... but his complex relationship with Anna, the heroine, is hugely problematical, in fact, far from perfect... ta da!
What else have I been up to? Well, I've been working on an idea/outline for another Harlequin Spice book, to follow up my first one IN THE FLESH. Spice #2 is another hot Victorian story with central couple who have just as thorny a relationship and the above mentioned Anna and Nick. Adela and Wilson also have 'history', emotional and family complications that mean they are at odds as much as in lust with each other. I've subbed their story outline to my editor, and I'm hoping she'll be as excited about it as I am because I'd love to write Adela and Wilson's fiery story.
I'm also happy and delighted that I've already made a sale, even though it's only January. Legendary editor Rachel Kramer Bussel has accepted my story Concubine for her forthcoming anthology Obsessed. Am thrilled to be in this one because there are lots of wonderful writers involved.
January 2, 2011
Not so much resolutions, more guidelines...
It's no use me making cast iron resolutions at the beginning of the year, because my willpower has the consistency of a poorly set blancmange, and I know I'll only falter and fail miserably in some of the things I resolve to do. But I am going to try a bit harder in some areas...
going to try not to put off important decisions because they are uncomfortablegoing to try not to be scared of things and peoplegoing to try and keep doing a bit of writing every day, so as not to lose contact with my muse and my projectsgoing to try to keep reading more and maybe sample new genres and subgenresgoing to try and be a bit more organisedgoing to try and procrastinate less generallygoing to try not to go ballistic over small setbacks and disappointments, and to maintain a more c'est la vie outlookgoing to try and self publish somethinggoing to try and do something about the Dumpster Office of Doom [yeah, I know I said that last year]I'm sure there are other things, and I might post about them later, but that seems like a reasonable list... and I'm just trying to do this things, not saying I'm going to do them... and then end up feeling pathetic because I didn't. :)
going to try not to put off important decisions because they are uncomfortablegoing to try not to be scared of things and peoplegoing to try and keep doing a bit of writing every day, so as not to lose contact with my muse and my projectsgoing to try to keep reading more and maybe sample new genres and subgenresgoing to try and be a bit more organisedgoing to try and procrastinate less generallygoing to try not to go ballistic over small setbacks and disappointments, and to maintain a more c'est la vie outlookgoing to try and self publish somethinggoing to try and do something about the Dumpster Office of Doom [yeah, I know I said that last year]I'm sure there are other things, and I might post about them later, but that seems like a reasonable list... and I'm just trying to do this things, not saying I'm going to do them... and then end up feeling pathetic because I didn't. :)
January 1, 2011
Thought for the New Year!
Found a link to this clip on a great author message board that I frequent, Romance Divas, and I thought it was an apt sentiment for the start of a new year.
No brooding on the mistakes and mis-steps of the past. It's the fun and the challenges ahead that are important. Here's hoping that 2011 is a brilliant year for us all!
ps. also appropriate for my March 2011 Samhain release FAR FROM PERFECT, which has a hot Italian hero who likes to drive fast cars! :)
