Tori Ross's Blog, page 4

How to Gift an eBook on Amazon

This is super easy, but I’m dedicating a blog to this because…well, I don’t think a lot of people know this is an option.

If you need a last-minute gift and the recipient is a HUGE bookworm, you can totally gift them eBooks through Amazon with the click of a few buttons. Hell, you can gift them a book at 11:59 on Christmas Eve and get this in just under the wire!

Side note: If you’re a spouse or partner that saved his/her shopping until the last minute, this will make you look like a hero to your partner. No need to go to the shops and lurk around, being spritzed by perfume sellers to cover your scent of desperation.

How easy is it to gift an eBook?

Let’s say you want to gift them a copy of my book, The Cuffing Season Contract. And, yes, this is shameless promotion for my book. Have we met?

Step 1: Find the book on Amazon. (Please note that the book is currently on sale for November and will not always be that price!)

Step 2: Do you see that “Buy for Others” option on the right-hand side at the bottom of my graphic above? Yeah? Click that.

Step 3: Fill out the form. You choose whether Amazon sends the redemption code directly to the recipient, or you have the option to send it yourself. Enter the recipient’s email address, who it’s from, and add a message. If you want Amazon to send on a certain date, you also have that option.

That’s it! Easy peesy. Send them one book or several! There are wonderful deals this week, including (ahem) The Cuffing Season Contract for 99 cents! (Only on sale through November 30th, 2023!) You can find 9 other books at 99 cents and send them to the reader in your life for only $10.

There I go shamelessly promoting again…

“But, Tori, your book is only on sale in November, and I want it for a Christmas present.”

All good. Just buy it now while it’s on sale and have the delivery date in the box above set to the date you want them to get it. In fact, you can do this any time within 45 days if you find 99 cent sales! Just have them sent at Christmas or within 45 days of your event!

Need some ideas? Check out BookDoggy promotional newsletter during the 45 days before your event for great 99 cent ideas.

Happy reading! (And happy gifting!)

Black Friday Deals are Here

Did you think I wouldn’t have something for you?

It’s Get That Book Promo Day! Check out the new releases from the past few weeks and grab the sale and freebies available. The Cuffing Season Contract is in the promo as 99 cents! It’ll be that price through November 30th. Click here or on the graphic below!

If you’re heading to Books by the Arch in October of 2024, you can grab VIP tickets for half off today! Use code “Friday” in the link here on by clicking on the graphic below.

Your girl MAYYYYYY be at a certain panel and also at the meet and greet on Friday night.

Here’s what you get with your VIP Tickets:

VIP Saturday Only Tickets- Enjoy 11am early admission, swag bag, and a FREE book!

VIP Supreme Tickets- Enjoy 11am early admission, Friday panels and meet and greet, swag bag, and a FREE book!

Also for Christmas…

I’ve teamed up with other authors for some Christmas books. Some are in KU. Some are on sale. Check the pricing before you click to buy, but go ahead and click on the graphic below to see the offerings.

If you’ve read this far, congrats. You can be the first to know that Christmas on the Cruise Ship will be on sale for 99 cents ALL December on all retailers. Shhh. Watch for my blog about it and sale links if you need them.

Finally, Arson, Head Over Heels in Hawaii, and now Hot Sauce Blues are always free on all major retailers! Click on the graphics below to snatch them. Leave a star rating or review on the platform of purchase to help a sis out.

Happy Reading!

The Perfect Christmas Cookie and Holiday Romance Book Pairings…

Ready to snuggle in for a nice glass of eggnog and a spicy holiday romance book but aren’t sure which Christmas cookie you should pair with which book?

Don’t spend hours thinking about it! Let me take the guess work out of your cookie conundrum and tell you which cookies pair well with your holiday romance book of choice.

Book #1:

Cookie Suggestion: Cinnamon Palmiers. (Recipes online, but AllRecipes has my favorite one here.) You’ll want something with a little cinnamon or peppermint for this “spicy” book. Just, uh, wash your hands after you’re done eating because you may need your hands free.

Book #2 –

Cookie Suggestion: Snowball Cookies. (IYKYK. Winky wink. It also helps if you look at the map at the front of the book.) Happy snowballing.

When you’re done laughing about snowballing, here’s one of the many online recipes. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/snowball-cookies-recipe/

Book #3-

Cookie Pairing: Keeping with the “Nick” theme, (and I mean dick theme,) I’ll go with a biscotti. Hey, I wanted something dick shaped for this one. Try the recipe below that walks you through flavoring to taste.

Just remember…it’s a BISCOTTI. Not the real thing.

Try the recipe here: https://kristineskitchenblog.com/classic-biscotti-recipe/

Book #4 –

This is for my sweet/clean friends. This book has no spice to it, unless you consider kissing spice. (No judging here.)

Cookie Pairing: A classic, sweet romance calls for a classic, sweet cookie, so I’m going with classic spritz cookies. You can find a recipe here.

Book #5-

Now back to our spicy programming…

Cookie Pairing: Bon Bons.

I look at this book and think, “Balls.” I mean…there are two gentlemen on the cover. Lots of balls calls for lots of bon bons.

My favorite recipe is my grandmother’s, but it’s long gone, so I use this one every year since it calls for coconut. (Oh look, more nuts.) https://www.southernplate.com/grandmamas-bon-bons-recipe/

Allergic to coconut? There are plenty of recipes that call for different filler.

Book #6 –

Need some great cookies to impress your boss at the holiday Christmas party? Hmmmm…sounds familiar.

Cookie pairing: Stained glass cookies. Try this recipe to impress even the prickliest of billionaires. https://www.cookingclassy.com/stained-glass-cookies/

Happy reading this holiday season!

More Books for the Weekend!

Need something to read this weekend? If you’re in the US, this is a huge travel weekend. You may need something to read on a train or plane, and I’m here to help.

For one day only, an incredible group of authors are bringing you new ebook releases, deals, and discounts! Click the link provided and you will be redirected to GET THAT BOOK’s website where you can download all your new releases and deals: https://getthatbookpromotions.com/nov-17-2023-deals/

*Participating authors are responsible for their deals & discounts*

*Always check the retailer page before downloading*

Happy reading!

Alpharoll Freebie Day

Surprise!

You know I love dropping freebies for my readers, so I often team up with other authors to bring you all kinds of good stuff!

Basically, I have a list of nice guys you love to love, even if they can get a little surly and (cough cough) take control in the bedroom.

Yes, sir!

Click here or on the graphic above.

Head Over Heels in Hawaii is on the list. (Eric keeps calm and kind in the face of Cora’s travel tornado, and who could forget that beer pong incident?)

Need another alpharoll of mine that isn’t on the list? Check out Arson on all retailers too! Click on the cover below for that one!

Happy reading!

How to Read Libby Books on Your Kindle Device

Me: “Hey, Libby through your local library is free and has a ton of amazing books for free.”

Readers: “But, Tori, I bought this brand new, shiny Kindle device. Shouldn’t I read eBooks through Amazon since I paid for the device?”

What if I told you that you can absolutely read your local library’s books that are on Libby WITH your Kindle device? (US only)

True Fact.

You may remember my blog post on how to request books from your local library through Libby. (cough cough) If you missed that, you can read it here. All of my books except All I Wank for Christmas and my erotica (The Swingyards) are available to suggest to your library. That means, if your library purchases my books, you can read The Cuffing Season Contract, Rocks, Contact High, and all of The Traveling Calvert Sisters for FREE.

But what happens AFTER your library buys my book for their Libby catalog?

Well, you can either read it through the free Libby app you can download to any phone or tablet OR you can read it through your Kindle reader. If you pick the second choice, you simply need to send the book from Libby to Kindle.

How?

Here are the directions on Libby’s help page. It’s simply a matter of clicking a few buttons and sending the book to your Kindle. Yes, it will prompt you to login to your Amazon account, but it’s legit. Don’t let that freak you out. You need to login to Amazon to send the book there and click “deliver to device.” Then, tap “Get library book.”

After following the directions linked above, you should be able to open it up and read a book like you would a book you downloaded from Amazon.

KU who?

By the way, did you know authors get paid for books purchased by your library for the local collection? We get library pricing, which is 2 to 3 times higher than the regular book price.

So, go ahead and request your library buys our book, cancel your KU if you’re not using it as much as you thought, and make use of that amazing local library resource if they have Libby, all with the comfort of using your preferred Kindle device.

Happy reading!

Holiday Books for the Weekend

Need a little something to read to get yourself in the holiday (Christmas and Thanksgiving) spirit this month? I’ve teamed up with some other holiday romance authors to bring you some ideas. (Hint: All I Wank for Christmas and Christmas on the Cruise Ship are both in there.)

Click here or on the graphic below.

One book that isn’t on the list is my Thanksgiving romance novella, Turkey in Tennessee. You can grab it on all major retailers here or read on your library’s Hoopla app!

Happy (holiday) reading!

All I Wank for Christmas is Live!

It’s here!

It’s in KU….at least until February.

It will jingle your nuts and roast your balls.

I laughed every day that I wrote this, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Click here to go to Amazon or click on the cover below.

Blurb: After a series of unfortunate events left Holly Hepperdine without an accounting job, the only way to pay bills, pay for her sister’s school, and help her sick mother is to work at the local rub and tug massage parlor, The Happy Stroke Club, making a hundred dollars a “pop.”

Jasper Nicholas is stressed to the max on Christmas Eve. His father is ill, and Jasper has to run the family’s delivery service tonight. On a whim, he stops for a quick massage, realizing too late that there are other perks of the purchased package. He indulges but can’t get the gorgeous woman with the witty banter out of his mind, even after they go their separate ways.

When Jasper comes down Holly’s chimney late on Christmas Eve, she realizes Jasper is Santa Claus’s son and tasked with delivering gifts to the world’s children. He also needs desperate help with navigation and inventory. Can Holly and Jasper keep their hands to themselves long enough to deliver the gifts?

All I Wank for Christmas is an irreverent, raucous romantic comedy standalone, sure to put you in the mood for a happy holiday season…no Happy Stroke Club needed.

Happy reading!

Sale of the Month: The Cuffing Season Contract

Grab the National Indie Excellence Award winner for romantic comedy for only 99 cents on any retailer!

Click here or on the cover below.

Blurb:

Winner of the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy!

Tori Ross, author of Rocks and Contact High, brings you a steamy, small-town romantic comedy!

Savannah Smart comes back to her hometown, Evergreen Hills, to take over as the head librarian over the local library’s youth literacy program. She’s determined to finish her degree in library science and enjoy a quiet life as a town librarian. Her mother, however, has other plans for Savannah. When a local bar advertises a cuffing season speed dating event, Savannah’s mom signs them both up and convinces her daughter to give it a try.

Wilder Lynx is determined to remain single forever. He also has a new partner every year for cuffing season and even makes his partner sign a deal saying that their relationship ends after Valentine’s Day.

As the couple begins their cuffing season and their feelings for each other grow, they quickly realize they may be in over their heads. Can Savannah break the contract she signed and tell Wilder she wants him to stick around, or can Wilder put his pride aside long enough to void the contract?

Happy reading!

All I Wank for Christmas Teaser

Read on for Chapter 1 of All I Wank for Christmas!

Pre-order is available here, or click on the picture below.

Chapter 1

Holly

I give amazing hand jobs. It’s a gift.

Not everyone can do it well. Most hand job givers are either unenthusiastic or too eager to please. It’s a fine line to walk and get it right. It’s a blessing and a curse to be good at it, but I’ve been thankful for my handy gift every single day since Grant McHammond taught me how to slide all the way up the shaft and follow through up the head during orientation week at Illinois State. He was also the first to teach me that ball play is fair play. Cupping. Massaging. Even a clockwise nuzzle over the ole taint spot with my index finger is all part of the hand job experience. I quickly became known as Holly Happy Hands Hepperdine around my college campus.

I’m especially thankful for my ability now that it’s my family’s livelihood.

Sure, I have a degree in accounting. I may be a certified public accountant. Fat lot of fucking good it’s done me in this small town in the hills of Pennsylvania where nothing happens and corporate jobs are scarce. I had to come back home when Mom fell sick with an autoimmune disorder. Dad did the typical “going out for milk” runner about ten years ago. It’s been hard, but I’ll be God damned if my younger sister, Helena, has to quit community college because of lack of tuition.

Someone has to pay the bills, pay Helena’s tuition, and take care of Mom until the social security office wants to process that disability claim. That same someone also can’t find a remote accounting job to save her life. I guess companies don’t want to gamble on remote workers that just graduated. Maybe they want people to show up to the office the first few years as an accountant to prove themselves. I blame generation bias.

Whatever the reason, I’m back in my childhood town working at the Happy Stroke Club. The club was the only place hiring. My town is too small for a Target or a Walmart. My only other choices were the Chinese restaurant that only hires family members and the rest area by the interstate.

Something tells me I made the safe choice of not working at the rest area. I’d rather give hand jobs in a climate-controlled facility than work a glory hole.

I work in a small massage parlor that you practically need special directions to find. It’s a small brick building with a faded sign and a gravel parking lot. Most clients park around back because the back of the building backs up to the woods. We picked a rural area so clients’ wives wouldn’t drive by on their way to the grocery store and see their husbands’ cars in the lot. It’s sad as fuck, but it’s worked well for the owner, Linda One.

Don’t feel sorry for me, though. Tips are good. I never have to use a calculator. I don’t have to stock shelves. Or mop.

Well, I do have to mop. Sometimes things get…messy. That’s the only drawback of this job, though. I get the job satisfaction of hearing a man who hasn’t been laid in a year moan like an animal as I cup my gloved hand over his dick and catch his load in my hand, often cooing over such a beautiful orgasm. They like it when you compliment the release arc as it moves through the air. After all, if you want good tips at a hand job joint you have to make the men feel like they are the brightest star of your day and their orgasm is exciting and original.

Then again, I think that’s all men.

“Holly!” Linda One yells from the front of the shop, causing me to jump. “Client here to see you.”

I don’t think her name is really Linda. If you go into a massage parlor and every woman in the joint is named Linda, that’s your first sign it’s one of those massage places. At a rub and tug, we’re all Lindas. I’m not sure why I use my real name with most clients. Probably because I grew up here, and the town won’t buy the Linda bullshit with me. It’s awkward to give a fake name to your old high school math teacher when you’re massaging his balls.

Most men know this Linda tip, and I feel sorry for legitimate masseuses named Linda.

Other signs you’re in one of those massage parlors? A fake flower, usually a rose, is on the table in the massage room, the place only accepts cash, and they’re open late into the evening, sometimes twenty-four hours.

Legitimate massage places often deal with men asking to be finished, and it’s a good way to be banned from the premises. You never ask to be finished if you’re in a legitimate joint. If you’re unsure, the rule of thumb should always be to wait for your massage personnel to ask if you want a “full release.”

If you’re wanting your gherkin jerked, you’re in the right place at The Happy Stroke Club. Full release is on the menu board above the desk. Sometimes, I’m not sure how we’ve flown under the law enforcement radar.

Actually, I do know. Sheriff DeWitt, the head poohbah of the county police, and his department come in every Thursday afternoon for “team building.” I guess team building includes separate jerk-off sessions with the ladies here and not trust falls or beer over happy hour. We’re their “happy” hour plan. They keep the feds and the state troopers away for selfish reasons.

I take a deep breath and roll my shoulders, walking to the front of the shop where Linda One smiles at an older man from behind the counter. His hair is white and combed to the side like Donald Trump’s hairstylist did his hair this morning, and he wears glasses with gold frames.

Another man, a younger one, flips through a magazine on the chair in the corner of the waiting room. I do a double take when I come into the room. I’m used to the older guys. I’m not used to a drop-dead gorgeous guy with dark tousled hair, beard stubble, and shoulders like a brick shit house that could get any woman he wants.

He’s not from around here, and he smiles as he puts down the magazine he’s holding, blinks twice, and tilts his head to the side as he runs his eyes over me.

Fuck me.

“Holly!” Linda snaps, causing me to startle again. “This client has a gift card he got a few days early.” She points to the older man and then gestures to the Christmas special display where clients can buy gift cards for their friends. “This man says he needs extra help.”

They all say that.

“Of course,” I say, tearing my eyes away from the hot piece of ass in the corner and extending my hand to the older man. I try not to slouch in disappointment with the knowledge I’ll spend too much time with the older guy, and my coworker, Linda Two, will get to yank the stud. “I’m Holly. I’ll be your service provider today. Come on back.”

I glance one last time at the younger man, and his eyes follow me as I leave the room. He squints and frowns, and it’s obvious he’s sad I won’t be his jerker today. If I didn’t know better, I’d say his face is lined with concern. I half expect him to follow me to make sure I’m safe.

I lead the older man into my room, and he grunts as he climbs on the table without even looking around. Most men want to look at every single thing when they get back here for the first time. I guess they think there will be toys, whips, chains, or something scandalous.

I run my eyes over the walls, bare except for a few pictures Linda One got from a garage sale. I have a white counter that holds clean sheets for the table, gloves, and cleaner. It looks like the standard doctor’s office counter with a small sink attached in case I need water for an especially messy client. Otherwise, the sheet-covered massage table in the room is the only clue of what goes on here.

“What kind of services do you do to help?” the man asks, clasping his hands over his stomach and staring at the ceiling. “I’m desperate. My wife has given up all hope.”

One of those guys. I see a lot of the guys that use a little blue pill. Either that, or they need a twenty-four-year-old woman in high heels and a short skirt to get hard. That’s where I come in.

“I’ll fix you right as rain, sir,” I say, propping a pillow under his knees. “It was nice of your friend to give you a gift card for my services.”

“My wife bought it for me.”

Huh. That’s a little unorthodox. Most wives don’t want their husbands coming here. Maybe his wife likes the idea of him fucking around with someone else and then coming home to her and telling her about it? I get that once or twice a month. One client likes to record the session and stream it to his wife.

Whatever. I don’t kink shame.

“Where would you like me to focus?”

He waves his hands over his torso and down to his thighs. “On the problem.”

“Of course.”

I snap on some gloves, and he eyes me warily. “Is that necessary?” he asks.

“Oh, yes. Things can get messy, and we are safe and sanitary at The Happy Stroke Club.”

“Well, I guess that’s fine,” he says, chewing on his lip. “Will this hurt?”

What kind of sadist has been handling his skin flute? This man clearly needs me, and I should have his wife come in for a lesson or something. “No, sir. I think you’ll find the treatment most pleasant.”

He relaxes and closes his eyes, and I wonder if I should have him take his glasses off. Some guys are shooters and get it all over.

I unbutton my blouse until my cleavage shows. This increases tips, especially if they ask to palm my breasts while I finish them. The men feel like they owe me something extra then, and I’ve never had a problem with it. Nothing wrong with a little afternoon nipple flick.

“You can touch me if you like,” I whisper, massaging up the man’s legs on my way to his fly.

“Why would I touch you? I’m the one getting stroke care.”

“Fair enough,” I say. I move my hands from his knees and up his thighs.

When I get to his pants and start to unbutton them, he gasps and rolls to his side. He swipes my hands away and looks at me like I’ve hurt him. I instinctually step back, and my butt hits the counter behind me.

“What the hell are you doing, young lady? Are you trying to touch my pecker? What does this have to do with stroke care?”

Oh shit. The pieces come together like the last few missing pieces of a puzzle. This happens now and then, so it’s not a new situation, but I take my gloves off with a snap and throw them in the nearby metal can.

He looks at me with a look of revulsion and horror. “I don’t understand,” he mumbles.

“What did your wife tell you when she gave you the gift card?”

He squints and looks at the ceiling like he’s trying to remember. “Well, she said that she found a new place specializing in strokes. She thought it would help me since I had my stroke this past spring.”

I sigh and put my hands on my hips. I force my lips into a straight line. I don’t dare smile or laugh when this happens because that’s a sure way to set them off. “I’m sure The Happy Stroke Club name would be something a woman without knowledge of rub and tugs would think is a rehabilitation facility for stroke victims.”

“It’s not? What kind of place is this?” he asks, swinging his legs off the table and still looking at me with wide eyes.

“It’s the other kind of stroke club.” He looks at me blankly, and I pinch my nose. Some innocent folks are slower on the uptake. “Sir, we stroke dicks here.”

His mouth drops open and he looks around the room as if noticing that he’s in a massage parlor for the first time. He eyes the bottle of cleaner on the table and the box of rubber gloves by the sink. Slowly, he slinks off the table and looks back at it with a grimace, probably wondering if he should go home and wash his pants.

I keep my room as clean as possible, but he should probably run the pants through the hot cycle.

His hands shake, and I’m mildly worried he’ll have another stroke on my floor. I pat his arm. “Let me take you back up front and Linda One will refund the money for your wife’s gift card.”

A gurgling sound comes from his mouth like he’s finding words to say or just trying to catch his breath. He lets me lead him to the lobby, and he looks around the hallway like he’s seeing it for the first time.

When I get to the lobby, the hot guy is still sitting in the chair waiting for Linda Two. Maybe she’s on lunch. Maybe he’s waiting for Linda Three. Whatever the case, he’s still there, and he smiles when I walk into the room. “It’s you!” he says with a smile, dropping the magazine again.

I hand off the older gentleman to Linda One and mouth, “Stroke victim.” She sighs and waves the man over to the counter for a refund. I don’t think the man has blinked since I tried to touch his cock.

Walking to the gorgeous man, I tilt my head and smile. “Do I know you?” I ask.

“Nope,” the man replies with a little shake of his head. His eyes light up like a spotlight, and he gives me another look up and down my body. He clears his throat and focuses on my face. Only then do I remember my shirt is still unbuttoned enough for my C-cup breasts to pop out.

“Oh, I just thought maybe we knew each other since you seemed to know me just now.”

He shrugs. “I just saw you a few minutes ago. I was hoping you’d be my masseuse, but you went back with that guy. I guess I was disappointed when you left and felt happy when you came back.”

What. A. Cinnamon. Roll.

“That’s sweet. Did a Linda come and get you yet, or are you waiting for a specific masseuse?”

“I think I’d like you if that’s alright.”

My heart drops to the floor. I only get to jerk off guys this hot when I have an actual Tinder date and choose them myself. Gorgeous men who look like they could model on the cover of GQ don’t exactly rush into a small-town rub and tug. Maybe he’s someone’s bored relative who has nothing better to do in our town over Christmas and is only surrounded by cousins who would be unsuitable for hand jobs.

“Have you recently suffered a stroke?” I ask, not wanting to have a repeat of the last man.

“No.” He furrows his brow and frowns. “Does that matter?”

“Nope. Just checking. Come on back,” I say, turning and waving for him to follow me. “Welcome to The Happy Stroke Club.”

I don’t expect him to tell me his name. None of the men do. Sure, I know the police department, my math teacher, my old gym teacher, the deacon at my childhood church, and the guy that runs the fish fry. But they don’t say their names, and I don’t say them during the procedure. It gets weird. It’s probably like the town gynecologist pretending they’ve never looked inside your vagina or given you a breast exam when they run into you at Taco Bell. What I do is a business transaction, end of story.

It catches me off guard when I hear a husky whisper behind me. “I’m Jasper.”