Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 451

Stick to Your Romantic Guns: A Guest Blog by Dylan Madrid

I recently had a conversation with fellow romance author Kait Ballenger , during which we discussed what it means to do just that: to write love stories for a living. More importantly, we shared the second-class citizen status we’re often relegated to by some literary scribes who consider what we do and create to be of lesser value and certainly not as challenging. We both agreed we wear our romance monikers with pride. We are in love with love and we’re not ashamed to admit it.
Growing up I devoured every Jane Austen novel I could get my hands on. I memorized every line of dialogue spoken between Romeo and Juliet. I rooted for Cathy and Heathcliff and I envied Jane Eyre and Scarlett O’Hara. It’s no wonder that as a writer I feel compelled to create to-die-for love on the pages of my novels. It is the driving force behind my every written word. The discovery of attraction between two people and the possibilities of what that ignited spark might set off is what motivates me to sit down daily on convince my readers what I firmly believe: true love really does exist.
Unlike Kait Ballenger, though, the love stories I’m telling are for and about men. Without a doubt, mine is a tougher audience to please – and to find. While fans of gay romance novels exist and are very faithful readers, the concept of selling romance to a male reader is complex. Erotica tends to not only grab the shelf-browsing reader (thanks in part to aggressive and sexually suggestive cover art) but also gets the lion’s share of marketing and reviews.
So what’s an author to do who wants to stay on the sensual side of erotica and is more inspired by the courtship and ignited spark of love between characters rather than the hard core details of the sex between them? Stick to your romantic guns, I say. Yes, yes, yes. We’re told over and over again write what you know. But I also firmly believe an author should write from the center of curiosity, whether it’s about places unexplored, cultures that have piqued your interest, or beautiful strangers you meet in your life who leave such a lasting impression that you just have to write about them.
M/M Romance is now a genre of its own. And it’s a popular one, too. Up until the last few years, the majority of romance novels about gay men were written by female authors, as many female readers (yes, it’s true) read these novels just as soon as they are published. While that trend is still alive and kicking, more and more male authors, such as me, are stepping into the arena with romance novels of their own. The correspondence I get from readers always confirms my theory that gay readers are looking for love, too. For some readers, the erotica is not what they are seeking in a story. Instead, they crave the happily-ever-after; they want a modern day version of a Prince Charming; like I once did for Cathy and Heathcliff and Romeo and Juliet, they also want to root for star-crossed lovers. They want the reassurance that love has not become a casualty of an ever-growing desensitized society. They want the promise of forever.
Is it any wonder why both gay authors and male readers have only recently embraced this genre? From the beginning of our young lives, men are led to believe that romance is sentimental, it is a sign of weakness, it’s feminized and is strictly reserved (and is wholly marketed to) women. For the young man who is discovering love for another man for the first time in his life, finding an echo of his feelings in contemporary literature is no longer as arduous task as it once was. Authors such Michael Thomas Ford, Neil Placky, Dan Stone, Greg Herren, and Ken O’Neill all incorporate romance into their bestselling novels.
To date, I’ve written three romance novels. My most recent is a romantic spy thriller set in Europe called Love in the Shadows, just released by Bold Strokes Books. Although I loved the characters and the plot kept surprising me each step of the writing process, I often found myself struggling with the erotica vs. romance factor in Love in the Shadows. As the author I finally had to ask myself: is it my job to titillate, or to tell the best story possible? In the end, and as I do in my novels and in my life, I chose love.




Love in the Shadows 
Dylan Madrid
Genre: LGBT/Romance/Suspense/Thriller/Spy/Espionage
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Date of Publication:  January 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-1602829817ASIN:
Number of pages: 192Word Count: 50,000
Amazon   Barnes and Noble
Book Description:
Quintin Pearson, an American living in London, has spent the last two years working as a magazine staff writer and nursing a broken heart. Craving a change in his quiet life, Quintin accepts an invitation to an exclusive party hosted by Regina Bremington, the U.S. ambassador’s glamorous wife. At the party, terror takes over when the electricity suddenly goes out and the ambassador is assassinated.
In the safety of a dark bedroom, Quintin meets a mysterious stranger named Luca, an Italian spy. Even though the two men can’t see each other, a spark is ignited that soon becomes a mutual lust. Within days, Luca arranges for them to meet again at a remote seaside town in Belgium. There, Luca confesses his true identity and convinces Quintin they must team up to bring the ambassador’s killer to justice.
Love in the Shadows was inspired by a dream I had and a song of the same title.
Original Version of the song by E.G. Daily: http://youtu.be/O6aMrwMqumE

New Version of the song  by Circuit 21: http://youtu.be/-zF-aet-rPo
About the Author:
Dylan Madrid is the author of the novels Mind Fields, Love in the Shadows, and Backstrokes. A California native, Dylan grew up in the Bay Area. He opted to backpack through seven countries before heading to college and spent a year living in Europe, primarily on the Greek island of Ios. When he's not dreaming about living on the Italian Riviera or running away to Belgium, Dylan teaches college courses in writing and the arts.

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Life Under a Sugar Cane Roof Inspires My Writing : Guest Blog and Giveaway with Maureen Willett

LIFE UNDER A SUGAR CANE ROOF INSPIRES MY WRITINGBy Maureen Willett
Life under a sugar cane roof.  Sounds like a Christmas story, doesn't it?  It is sort of a fantasy living in Hawaii, but I actually do have a roof made out of compressed sugar cane over my 62-year-old house on Oahu.  
It's called "kanek" roofing and was quite a popular building material in the islands back in the 1960s when sugar cane was the predominant crop and they needed to do something with all the by-products. It's like compressed wood, but about six inches thick.  Hard to find now, though, since all the sugar cane plantations are gone from Hawaii.  If ever we need a major repair to our roof, we're out of luck.
When it rains, as it often does in the tropics, the sound of the water beating against the roof can be deafening to the point it's difficult to have a conversation or listen to music.  Our pets hide under tables.  Fortunately, rainstorms never last long here.
The walls of our home are 5/8-inch redwood.  With single-wall construction there's no insulation, but there's no need.  It never gets below 60 degrees here.  Our walls are so thin, if you hammer a nail to hang a picture too hard, the nail goes all the way through the wall, making a permanent hole to the outside.  I've done that by mistake more than once.  If the hole is too big, we cover it with wood filler so bugs can't get into the house. A true worry since cockroaches grow to the size of small rodents here.
This is just one example of life on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Hawaii is the most remote place on Earth, and for the most part we cherish that distance.  Even though we are a part of the United States, we live a bit differently.  I find these differences quite inspiring and often incorporate them into my writing.
Just by walking outside, I'm inspired by the beauty of my surroundings.  Even listening to rain pound against my roof, or feeling the walls of my house shake with strong wind get my imagination churning.  No wonder I write tales of fairies, and other magical creatures.  And the stuff of Hawaiian folklore is enough to give me goosebumps, or chicken skin, as it's called in the islands.  
I try to capture some of the mysterious enchantment of Hawaii in my novels.  Malia, the main character in The Soul Stealer lives in a similar house as I actually do, and she commutes to work through the rainforest each day, which wreaks havoc on her car's windshield wipers--a true problem here.  She lives on the edge of a banana tree patch and is chased by a wild boar while hiking.  If you've ever been hiking on a trail in the jungle and hear a loud snort, it can be terrifying and make anyone run for their lives.
Of course, Malia has more extraordinary adventures, especially after she meets a mysterious stranger, Hunter.  He proves to be both dangerous and protective, and since he’s wildly handsome, Malia can’t help but get involved.  Then, the adventures really begin.  Hunter takes her on a twisty, death-defying ride.  Together they ward off assassins, menacing spirits, the police, and a 400-year-old fae who is masquerading as a rock star.   
All in a typical day, when you live under a sugar cane roof. 

The Soul StealerMaureen Willett
Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  Publish Green
ISBN:  978-1-62652ASIN: B00ED1WLCW
Number of pages: 251Word Count: 92,317
Amazon
Book Description:
Hunter Blackthorne has almost all he needs: powerful magic and the seductive art of deception.  Now, all he needs is her soul.
In the dark, twisting world of The Soul Stealer, half-human Hunter Blackthorne embarks on a quest to vanquish the heir of his father's enemy by stealing her soul.  Though his father would settle for her mere death, Hunter is determined to pilfer Malia Smalls' very essence in hopes of obtaining supreme power.  The Soul Stealer is a story of questioned loyalties, power struggles, and decidedly unconventional romance.
Since his target is a mere human, Hunter's mission seems laughably straightforward.  However, upon meeting Malia, Hunter realizes that this task is anything but uncomplicated.  Hunter starts to waver between commitment to his father's cause and an unshakable feeling of foreboding guilt over his mission.  Hunter thought he knew everything there was to know about his identity and his family, but signs of a darker truth lurk below, threatening to overturn everything.
A story of alternate realities and twisting complications set in exotic Hawaii, The Soul Stealer is a story of fantasy, magic and mysticism, but also a story about humanity and the moral and emotional conflicts that we all face.  The Soul Stealer transports the reader to an exciting, dangerous, and captivating world that won't be easily forgotten.


About the Author:
Since she was in grade school, Maureen Willett has been a writer of fiction that pushes the boundaries of what is and isn’t.  At that time, she twisted class writing assignments into stories about witches, tricksters in the night, and sparkling faery dust.  And, participating in the art of levitation every time her family gathered at holidays made Maureen feel more than qualified to write fantastic tales.  Magic had always been a secret part of her family’s legacy--toyed with but never spoken about. 
But life got in the way.  A successful career in automotive journalism and public relations in Los Angeles took her places in the corporate world she had dreamed of while majoring in communications in college.  Climbing the corporate ladder to vice president of a prestigious public relations agency was engrossing, but did she really want to spend her days writing about cars and monster trucks, and trying to break through the thick glass ceiling of the automotive world?
Then one day, she was offered a transfer to the Honolulu, Hawaii, office of her agency.  She jumped at the chance to change her predictable and stressful existence for one of soaking up the sun on a white, sandy beach.  Or so she thought.Hawaii didn’t prove to be as stress free as Maureen had hoped, but it did offer a fresh perspective.  After two uncertain years of trying to blend into the foreign island culture, Maureen fell in love with Oahu and vowed never to leave.  The tropical paradise held a soft yet powerful mysticism that inspired her to set pen to paper once again. 
Even the office buildings in downtown Honolulu were haunted.  Maureen often saw ethereal beings in the halls of the radio station where she was the manager of local and national sales.  These pesky pieces of grey mist didn’t bother her, though.  Maureen thought of them more as interesting topics for urban fantasy tales than scary apparitions.
Magical creatures pop off the pages of her novels, but at the core of each story are great characters in very human conflicts that anyone will find compelling.  Very often, Maureen writes about angels, faeries, and even leprechauns, but they are always woven through an authentic story. 
As an avid reader herself, Maureen wants a page-turner that keeps her up until the wee hours of morning.  She strives to create that same experience for her own readers.  Each novel is carefully crafted as an exciting, mind-bending experience that will take readers beyond their day-to-day lives.
But don’t expect to think too hard, or contemplate the meaning of life.  Pure fun and page-turning entertainment is what you’ll find in a novel by Maureen Willett.  It’s almost a magical experience.
Website:  www.maureenwillett.com
Twitter: @maureenwillett 
Facebook: www.bit.ly/soulstealerseries
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Guest blog and Giveaway with K.A. M’Lady

Love, Faith & Magic

Magic is many things to many people.  To some it is an association of ideas and principals.  To others it is a practice of rituals and chants; a calling of the wind and the wards of the realms.  Some even consider it a religion.  Others perceive it as a collaboration with the dead.  Whatever you perceive it to be – hocus pocus or just plain hou ha – it is all a matter of faith.
Nations and cultures have been decimated for their beliefs.  For their love of their religions, their gods and their histories.  What is one man’s faith is another man’s enemy.  In the Codex Theodosianus, the Romans banned the practice of magic, stating:  “If any wizard therefore or person imbued with magical contamination who is called by custom of the people a magician...should be apprehended in my retinue, or in that of the Caesar, he shall not escape punishment and torture by the protection of his rank.”

In the Vranthian Vampires trilogy it is the power found in the blood’s magic that corrupts.  It is the darkness of this power that stirs the desire for vengeance and corrupts an already darkened heart.  But, with all darkness there is the power of the Light.  And, it is the journey through that Light where you learn if love, faith and its magic are enough to save a nation.






Redeemed By You Vranthian Vampires Book 3 K.A. M’Lady
Length: Novella, 57 pages
Genre: Vampire Erotica Science Fiction Romance
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde
ISBN: 978-1-60180-026-8
Amazon   ARe  Mojo Kobo   BN

Book Description:
In Vranthia, The Wasting has claimed the lives of women, children, and warriors alike; many have fallen to this great plague. No one is safe from its darkness. Recklessness and subterfuge walk hand and hand amongst the Elders, as they seek a means to rule. With ferocity they intend to control the meek, with gluttony they will bleed the docile; destroying all who stand in their way.
But The Wasting can no longer be contained. What began as a dark elixir, stoked in the veins of hatred and revenge, from an enemy long thought dead, has spread beyond the great halls of the Vranthian Kingdom. And no one is certain when or where its darkness will end. Is the mystery and magic of the trion enough to save this great nation?
Kantella Balacjek is a lot of things, but a traitor to his people he is not. He needs to find the source of the darkness to prove his innocence, but the evidence against him grows almost daily. Lies told and enemies made have a way of shielding the truth from the light, even when the truth rages in the blood. Death and her harbinger await him. Will he succumb, or will The Wasting consume them all?
The Darengy grave-warriors have always walked in the shadows. But even they have their outcasts, the creatures that they fear. Onya knows what it is to be different, to be alone with the dying. The shadows and darkness hold their whispers and their pleas. Only she has the power to choose who crosses over. Enslaved by the resistance, she has learned the capacity for evil. Does her blood hold the power to seal the fate of many nations? Does she the courage to change that fate?
Mercenary, loner, wanderer – Traegar is one of the first among the Elders. He is a maker and destroyer of life. Time has jaded him. His people’s level of debauchery and power disgusts him. When the Great Wars ended he chose to walk away and hunt what he despises and loves the most; burying the pieces within him instead. Now his kindred are dying in droves. The Elders have grown unruly, and unstable in their bid for domination. In his dreams the whispers of the ancients fire his blood with the heat of the mating.
Will finding his trion redeem his faith in his people? Will their belief in each other be enough to set them all free?
Strong are the Binds of Love, Faith and Magic.
Warning: Contains menage.

Claimed By YouVranthian VampiresBook 2K.A. M’Lady
Genre:  Sci-fi/Paranormal, Vampire Erotica
Publisher:  Mojocastle Press
Date of Publication: 10/21/13
ISBN:  978-1-60180-201-9
Number of pages:  63Word Count: 15,117
Cover Artist:  Fionna Jayde
Book Description: 
Magic Changes Everything When Loves Claims The Soul
On Vranthia, The Wasting is spreading, mutating, claiming not only the women of this fierce, warrior race, but stealing the lives of men, children, warriors, and now, some say, even the Elders among their race.
Rumors of the trion – the ancient joining of Vranthian, Darengy and Outworlder blood and magic as a cure – is growing beyond the halls of Prince Kuthar’s court. With his brother, Prince Draven’s recent joining, there is the first glimmer of hope for their people. But with hope comes lies and growing subterfuge. The Elders demand a rightful ruler and some will stop at nothing to get it.
Kuthar Balacjek – leader, warrior, and vampire is first in line to be the rightful king. Bred to rule from an early age, he has learned Vranthian laws, and their ancient history. He has studied their past, and fought their battles with the blood, sweat and ferocity, that only a true ruler can comprehend. But The Wasting is an enemy that even he is uncertain how to conquer. Will he find the answers he seeks in the ones whose fate he now controls? Or have they laid claim to his soul?
Cynthiana Rue – Cyn – has never been more irritated in her life. Space-napped by her best-friend and a misfit crew of alien vampires she is swept up in Vranthian legend, war and her captors’ unbridled passions. Will she fight for her freedom or give in to the unknown?
Ooen has known slavery his entire life. Bound since youth to guard the Elder, Vogeth, he has known a life of deception. And now, The Wasting has changed everything. Accused of Vogeth’s death, his fate now lies in the hands of the Vranthian ruler – something his human captive can comprehend. Will he too rebel, or will his magic help to set them all free? 

Amazon     ARe      BN    Mojocastle Press
Bound To YouVranthian VampiresBook 1
K.A. M’Lady
Genre:  Sci-Fi/Paranormal, Vampire Erotica
Publisher:  Mojocastle PressDate of Publication: August 25, 2013
ISBN:  978-1-60180-200-2
Number of pages:  93Word Count: 22,968
Cover Artist:  Fiona Jayde
Mojocastle Press     Kobo     Amazon
BN    ARe
Book Description:
Under the dark skies of Vranthia The Wasting has spread, claiming victims by the thousands. Disease, madness and death shroud this fierce warrior race.
With the recent death of their mother, Queen Srionna Balacjek, and the imminent demise of their grieving father, King Kamet; three brothers must now find their own path. Will The Wasting’s dark madness claim them all as deceit and lies turn brother against brother. Or, is the key to saving their people in the legend of the trion. And will they find it in time?
Draven Balacjek -- warrior, Prince, immortal. Fierce in battle, sure and deadly as a dark a storm or the shadows he walks among, must choose between the ties of brotherhood or the possibility of a life without the parts of his soul he has bound in blood and magic.
The Vranthians have taken everything from Ook. Desecrated the Darengy people as a whole. But the visions of a grave-warrior tell no lies and the spirit of the human along with the fierce strength of his Prince, Draven Balacjek call to him as nothing before. Can their love together heal the wounds that time has wrought and free him of his darkness?
For singer, Leah Allen, the choice was never hers to make. But life, like the music her heart clings to, has a way of playing itself out. Will this strange new world and the fierce warriors she meets within it bring her shattered past the healing she has always needed or will the strangers she finds herself bound to be her hearts undoing? Can she make a choice between dark, intense Draven and exotic, muscular Ook?

About the Author:
Author K.A. M’Lady lives a few stone throws from corn fields, chaos and congestion; all lying on the outskirts of the many burbs of Chicago. KA M'lady spends her days calculating life expectancies, mortality and the certainty of death and taxes while in her free time the dead wander freely, buy shoes, homes, the occasional odd business or two and, if you even think of charging them too much in taxes…well, let’s just say the tax man may never come back. But if he does he might just shamble a bit.
An All Romance eBooks bestselling author, K.A. M'lady's work has been described as scary, descriptive, beautiful, dark, frightening, addictive, sexy and believable. She loves to read paranormal romances, watching horror movies, westerns on Sundays with her husband, playing fetch with her pocket beagle, Chevy and buying weird shoes. Her friends call her eccentric, her family refuses to comment. She’s been lost in the world of fiction since she was a small child, and frankly, never wants to be found—at least not any time soon. “Myth and magic builds dreams and inspirations – and in an insane world, it is our dreams that spark the revolution of change. No matter which world is being conquered. Within our dreams – all things are possible.”
Web site - http://www.kamlady.net/
K.A. M'lady Blog - http://kamladyotherworld.blogspot.com/
Paranormal Monday Yahoo Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ParanormalMonday
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/kamlady
Facebook Faith Savage - http://www.facebook.com/FaithSavageDemonHuntress
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2777271.K_A_M_Lady



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Guest blog and Giveaway Virtue by Amy Jarecki

Hi folks! Amy Jarecki here.
Ahem. Today’s post is on adding sexual tension in fiction. Any manuscript which shows an attraction by one character to another must have sexual tension. Even Harry Potter has it. So what is sexual tension…
An attraction between two people, a heightened awareness of that attraction, and the resulting conflict caused by opposing goals and opposing emotional paths.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is attracted to Choe, but she’s dating Cedric Diggory and Harry is consumed with the conflict of fighting Voldermort. Sounds like they’ll never get together…
So…The big question? How to create sexual tension/conflict?
1.     Start with character and internal conflict. First, readers want an emotional read. In a romance, the characters must have opposing goals and opposing emotional life paths.
a.      In my contemporary romance, Chihuahua Momma, Matt is trying to get away from a broken relationship and Rebecca wants to hide in her dog world and forget about men. Sounds like they couldn’t possibly have anything in common, or possibly be attracted. Definitely a great place to start a romantic story!
b.     I use the psychology book, Are You My Type, Am I yours, Relationships made easy Through the Enneagram by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele, to define my character’s personalities. It lists the nine enneagram personality types and how they interact with each other, showing what each type likes and dislikes about the other. It is an excellent tool for establishing conflict as well as delving into your character’s psyche before you write the first word.
2.     Character Actions and Reactions. What keeps characters from instantly proclaiming their adoration for each other? FEAR! Fear is a powerful emotion, and should be used! But then the characters start feeling things and doing things that they might not even recognize as attraction at first.
a.      Let’s start with Linda Howard’s 12 Steps to intimacy:                                                    i.     Eye to body contact. Begin the journey by looking each other over.                                                  ii.     Eye to eye contact. We catch each other’s attention.                                                iii.     Voice to voice contact. We talk, flirt, joke, become friends or enemies.                                                iv.     Hand to hand contact. Often the first twinge of fear come at this step and this is a major turning point in a relationship.                                                  v.     Arm to shoulder contact. When a man puts his arm around a woman’s shoulder they have to be close. She can no longer run if she feels threatened.                                                vi.     Arm to waist contact.                                               vii.     Mouth to Mouth contact. This can be very passionate, or fleeting.                                            viii.     Hand to Head. This is the last big move before heading into real intimacy. Head touching can cause great tension between two people. If a woman allows a man to touch her head, it’s a sign she could be open to more intimacy. And this is where many stories stop showing…                                                ix.     Hand to body.                                                  x.     Mouth to breast                                                xi.     Hand to genital                                              xii.     Genital to genital (These last four are the most intimate and the genre will determine if they are shown or not shown).
b.     We can make things tenser between the hero and heroine by skipping steps.
c.      Sexual tension is about thinking about sex but not doing it. The longer you put it off, the more you add to the tension.
d.     Use internal dialogue and Deep Point of View to show your character’s conflict.
3.     Use Senses and Dialogue. Applying sensuality can elevate every scene from good to memorable:
a.      The Five senses—use these instead of dialogue tags. Intersperse your dialogue with the character’s internal emotions about what he/she is saying:                                                    i.     Sight                                                  ii.     Hearing/Sound                                                iii.     Smell                                                iv.     Touch                                                  v.     Taste
b.     Example: My current WIP, I show the hero’s thoughts and actions are in conflict with his dialogue:
“Is everything to your liking, Colin? From the scowl on your face I’d wager something didn’t sit well with you,” Robert said.
Och, something didn’t sit well with him. That fat-kidneyed codpiece spinning Margaret on the dance floor like he was a strutting pheasant. “Nay. I just need another tot of ale is all.” Colin tipped back his flagon and skulled it.
4.     Body Language:a.      Men’s body language:                                                    i.     Preening behavior: Chest out, shoulders back, strut.                                                  ii.     Drives fingers through hair.                                                iii.     Hooks thumbs in belt.                                                iv.     Points foot and woman.                                                  v.     Intimate gaze—held longer than normal                                                vi.     Dilated pupils                                              vii.     Stands with hands on hips.                                            viii.     Sits with legs spread or crossed.
b.     Women during courtship:                                                    i.     Pupils dilate, cheeks blush.                                                  ii.     Shake their heads, flipping hair.                                                iii.     Expose inner side of wrists with palms out.                                                iv.     Hips roll when walking                                                  v.     Hold gaze just long enough for him to notice.                                                vi.     Lips part and appear moist.                                              vii.     Fondle object, like the stem of a wine glass.                                            viii.     One leg tucked under, knee pointing at male.                                                ix.     Cross and uncross legs                                                  x.     Voice lowers                                                xi.     Rub palms on thighs
c.      Both sexes use eye contact:                                                    i.     Intamate-between eyes and chest                                                  ii.     A sideways glance with raised eyebrows
5.     Putting it together…When drafting a story, I layer my conflict. At first I might write my dialogue, and then I go back and add the setting, and then the conflict and the emotions. Remember fear is powerful and keeps us from getting what we want. Here’s the “meet” scene from my new novel, VIRTUE ©:
Stacking the plastic pool glasses, he sensed movement across the deck. He glanced up and stopped short. Long blond hair fluttered with the breeze, legs that wouldn’t stop, and a body so well proportioned, he’d only seen the likes in swimsuit editions of Sports Illustrated.
She looked his way and his breath caught. He quickly glanced down, busying himself with the glasses. Gabriel’s heart thundered in his ears as she approached.
“Hi,” she said, her American accent friendly, not bitchy like other incredibly beautiful tourists he’d encountered. “You think I could get a Diet Coke?”
Gabriel looked up. She smiled, white teeth, eyes that reflected the sea, flawless skin. “Ah. Sure.” He reached for a glass, one of the fancy plastic tumblers. He scooped in some ice and grabbed a toothpick umbrella, garnishing it with a lime and a red maraschino cherry. Holding up her special drink, he grinned. “Why diet?”
She lowered her extraordinarily long lashes. “I’m a dancer—always watching my figure, you know.”
Gabriel hoped she didn’t notice the heat that inflamed under his skin. “You’re a dancer on the ship?”
She took a sip. “Uh huh. Arrived last night.” When she leaned in, he caught a delicious fragrance like rain falling on orange blossoms. “I’m pretending I’m lost and taking a little self-guided tour on my way to the theater. I thought I’d have a look around before spending who knows how many hours tied to the stage.”
“Off to rehearse, huh?”
“Yep. Had to learn two shows in a week.” She pointed to her white flip-flops. “I’m wearing these to air out the blisters on my toes.”
He glanced down, but only made it as far as her well-muscled, slender thighs. Perfection. “Sounds painful.”
“It’ll be all right.” She leaned closer with the most adorable smile he’d ever seen in his life. “Know what?”
Gabriel hoped drool wasn’t draining out the corner of his mouth. “What?”
“The lead dancer is leaving the show after this tour, and I’ve been picked for the fan dance.”
God in heaven, why did that not surprise him? He’d choose her for any spotlight dance. He’d pick her just to stand center stage for hours on end. You want to drape those pegs across my bar so I can stare at them all day? Holy mother, she could do anything she wanted.
She flashed a questioning grin. “Did I say something wrong?”
“N-no. Not at all. I was just thinking how great it was that you got picked for a lead. That’s totally awesome.”
“Thanks.” She pulled back and giggled—cute.
He let his gaze slide to the top of her head and stood straight. She was only about three or four inches shorter than him. “I’m Gabriel AhKin from Belize.”
Her eyes slipped down to his badge. “I’m Zoe Marshall from the United States. Do you know Utah?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, I’m from a small town in the mountains. Thanks for the Coke, Gabriel AhKin. You’re a life saver.”
He stood motionless as she walked away, the backside every bit as beautiful as the front. When she disappeared through the automatic glass doors, he ran his fingers through his hair. Focus. You’re here to work. Girls like her are way out of your league. Well, my time’s up. You can find me around the internet:
Web Site: www.amyjarecki.comBlog: http://amyjarecki.blogspot.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjareckiTwitter: @amyjarecki
My romantic suspense, Virtue, available everywhere in eBook, December 6, 2013, and Virtue—The Cut Scenes for FREE.




VirtueAmy Jarecki
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Date of Publication:  12/3/13
ISBN: 978-1-62237-234-8ASIN: B00H343Y1S
Number of pages: 338Word Count: 88,640
Cover Artist: Kim Jacobs
Amazon   BN   Smashwords
Book Description:
Sheltered, raised in rural Utah, Zoe Marshall has never heard of the Mayan Prophecy of the Golden Goddess—but she’s about to.
At the moment she’s thrilled to have landed her dream job dancing on a cruise ship where she meets Belizean Gabriel AhKin. The sizzling bartender stirs her passion.When the ship docks in Belize, Zoe disappears—spirited into the bowels of a Mayan cult led by a reclusive fanatic. When the madman sees her, he divines Zoe is the Golden Goddess. She is “the one” to fulfill the prophecy. Now Gabriel’s driving obsession is to save the woman who’s captured his heart.
Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/kDtR0q3JPRY
About the Author:
Before college, I was a showgirl. I toured—singing and dancing my way around the world in a review called Follies on Broadway. Several years later, I dreamed up the plot for VIRTUE after I took a cruise to Belize...
How cool would it be to write a romantic suspense about a dancer who falls in love with a hot Belizean man and ends up in more trouble than Indiana Jones?
Web site: http://www.amyjarecki.com/
Blog: http://amyjarecki.blogspot.com
Twitter: @amyjarecki
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjarecki
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5306959.Amy_Jarecki
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Alien Bride: Falling For Angels and the Tall Ones

Alien Bride: Falling For Angels and the Tall Ones
            In Alien Bride, I introduce a race of technologically superior, sentient, non-terrestrial beings, loosely referred to as “the Tall Ones.” They are something between angels and aliens, noncorporeal transhuman entities that became smitten with human life on earth.
            Or more specifically, they became smitten with human women.
            My inspiration in creating the Tall Ones stems from both musing upon sacred texts and scraping the bottom of the bowl of conspiracy theories. (I’d also like to make a quick disclaimer that while I drew inspiration from religious concepts, I make no claims to know The Unknowable--my ideas are simply ideas, what-if’s!)
            Angels are a fascinating subject; what woman wouldn’t love a hunky, heavenly protector? Forbidden love brings an even greater appeal; if one is to follow the pseudepigraphal lore, love between angels and humans is expressly forbidden.
            Delving one step deeper into writings like the Book of Enoch, love between angels and human women can only yield abominations--the Nephilim. The Nephilim are genetic aberrations, half-angel and half-human, giants at least twelve feet tall, with six toes, six fingers, insatiable hungers of all kinds, wicked menaces. According to the Book of Enoch, angels sent to watch over mankind fell when they caved into the temptation to make love to human women. Different angels are credited with teaching humanity different things; some taught of the constellations, some taught metallurgy, some taught the art of war and weaponry. What the angels taught humanity is a mixed bag--some of the skills clearly advanced civilization, while others seem to hasten its destruction. This forces me to speculate upon the motives of such angels, wondering if they did love humanity, or if they wanted to destroy it and took it by force... or perhaps it was a bit of both?
            I’m a junkie for all things ancient civilization, and the astronomical knowledge of ancient people has always been a huge point of fascination for me. It blows my mind thinking about how they could calculate the movements of the stars with precision on par with the Hubble, with no comparable tools at their disposal.
            The Annunaki are another race of beings from the stars said to have descended upon humanity to bestow upon them various great feats of civilization in ancient Sumerian myth. In modern internet-era myth (ask Google... at your own risk), the Annunaki are aliens, and there is a boatload of conspiracy theory extrapolating upon the original mythology, painting the Annunaki as instructors of civilization, and even as politicians today. Some claim they genetically engineered humans to be gold-harvesting slaves, or a food source to be fattened up for the slaughter.
            Honestly, I have no idea about any of it, much less the truth in any of it--but I do think it’s incredibly interesting to consider that some of the most mystifying bits of ancient knowledge came to humanity from an outside source. Then I thought about it, thought about it, thought about it some more... (binged on some Stargate SG-1 in the process...) and wondered, what if?
            Alien Bride is that what-if. It’s spaceships, it’s politics, it’s devils, angels, blood-sucking fiends, and a forbidden romance that is hella sexy. It’s not intended to be canonical; it is, however, completely intended to raise some appreciation about the unsolved mysteries of the world--and to get the reader tangled up in one of those, “oh, no, oh, we shouldn’t, oh--oh--OH--” kind of romances. Whew!


Alien BrideSex, Drugs, and BiopunkBook 1
Brie McGill
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 1492890758ASIN: B00G1IL2PM
Number of pages: 419Word Count: 140,000
Cover Artist: Cover Shot Creations
Amazon     Smashwords     ARe
Book Description:
Ninkasi Mara didn’t plan to celebrate her university graduation entangled in a bungled kidnapping meant for her father, a corrupt senator in the pocket of Techthonic Innovations. Locked alone in the gilded tower of Chateau Bernadette, Ninkasi fears its opulent pleasures will erode her will until she collapses into the comforting arms of the mysterious masked man who frequents her chamber with vintage wines and sumptuous dinners.

For more than twenty years, Orion has plotted the perfect revenge. Manipulating the hand of an insurrectionist faction, he intends to settle a shadowy score with Techthonic Innovations, a biotech giant with a history of dubious experiments. When the faction’s amateurs fail to return with the senator, they further complicate Orion’s task by returning instead with a woman who is a painful reminder of a love lost long ago. Torn between risking the secrecy of the faction and a maelstrom of emotion, Orion secretly visits her chamber in disguise.

When Orion disappears, Ninkasi is dragged into the search and rescue mission. To find him, she must learn the truth of his secrets about his hatred for the company and the physical anomalies he tries to hide. The answers await discovery in a terrifying alternate world beneath her feet in which human sacrifice is the least of her worries.

There is a reason Orion went alone...

About the Author:
Doctors suspect Brie developed an overactive imagination during childhood to cope with the expansive corn maze known as rural Pennsylvania. Unable to afford an operation to have the stories surgically removed from her brain, she opted instead to write them down.
Brie lives with two devious cats, Lunar and Loki. In her spare time, she enjoys making laser sounds with her MiniKorg, channeling entities in hyperspace, and roflstomping video games from the nineties.

http://www.sexdrugsandcyberpunk.com
http://sexdrugsandcyberpunk.blogspot.ca
https://www.facebook.com/brie.mcgill
https://twitter.com/BrieMcGill
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085769.Brie_McGill

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Release Day Blitz Betrayal by Jenna Jaxon

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BetrayalTime Enough to LoveBook TwoJenna Jaxon
Genre: Historical Romance
Tagline:  The worst betrayals come from within.
Book Description:
After a night of passion with her betrothed, Sir Geoffrey Longford, Lady Alyse de Courcy is eagerly looking forward to her wedding.  But when Geoffrey is forced to marry another, a heartbroken and possibly pregnant Alyse finds herself in her own private hell. She must either gamble with her reputation or marry someone she does not love.
A reputed connoisseur of women, Thomas, Lord Braeton, has dallied with many ladies of King Edward’s court, although he has favored none.  However, as Geoffrey’s best friend, Thomas has sworn to serve and protect Alyse, an oath now sorely tested when he agrees to marry her—in name only—to guard her reputation. Yet, as they grow closer, and Thomas discovers Alyse’s sweet but spirited nature, he comes to desire a marriage in truth.  Can he overcome her memory of Geoffrey or is Thomas doomed to burn with passion for a woman he can never possess?
If you would like to purchase the first part of the trilogy, Betrothal, it is available at Amazon  Smashwords  

You can find Betrayal at Amazon and Smashwords
 About the Author:
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance.  Her historical romance, Only Scandal Will Do, the first in a series of five interconnecting novels, was released in July 2012. Her contemporary works include Hog Wild, Almost Perfect, and 7 Days of Seduction.  She is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America as well as a member of Chesapeake Romance Writers. Her medieval romance, Time Enough to Love, is being published as a series of three novellas.  The first book, Betrothal, released on April 19th.  The second novella, Betrayal, will release at the end of January.
Jenna has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager.  A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise.  She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets.  When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director.  She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.
She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.

Find Jenna online at:
http://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Jaxon/146857578723570
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4960704.Jenna_Jaxon

Other Books by Jenna Jaxon:
Betrothal--Historical Romance
Only Scandal Will Do--Historical Romance
7 Days of Seduction--Contemporary Erotic Romance
Almost Perfect--Contemporary Erotic Romance
Hog Wild--Contemporary Erotic Romance

Giveaway Frost Burned: Mercy Thompson Book 7 by Patricia Briggs

To celebrate the mass market paperback release of Frost Burned I have a giveaway for you sponsored by the publisher.

Frost Burned Mercy Thompson Book 7 Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…
After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.
Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

Book 8 releases  March 11, 2014
NIGHT BROKENMercy Thompson Book 8Patricia Briggs
ACE HARDCOVER 352 Pages  

Auto mechanic and shape shifter Mercy Thompson is back in NIGHT BROKEN, the eighth highly anticipated installment in Patricia Briggs’ New York Times bestselling series! Readers have been entranced by Mercy since the debut of Moon Called, and fans have eagerly followed the kick-butt heroine on her adventures through a rich, modern-day world populated by a host of supernatural creatures.
In the #1 New York Times bestselling Frost Burned (March 2013), Mercy’s life went through a considerable change after becoming Adam Hauptman’s mate and stepmother to his daughter, Jesse. NIGHT BROKEN brings new challenges for Mercy when she receives an unexpected call from Adam’s ex-wife, Christy, who claims she’s on the run from a stalker. Mercy soon discovers Christy’s intentions are far from honest, and she will have to put her personal feelings aside to face a monster with the power to destroy her entire world.


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Passion From The Vine by Shannon Casey

Passion From The VineShannon Casey
Genre:  Erotic Romance
ISBN: 978-1-4918-2508-2  ISBN: 978-1-4918-2509-9ASIN: 2013918106
Number of pages: 188Word Count:  55,045
Amazon   BN
Book Description:
Izzy, a woman shattered by the man who was supposed to protect and cherish her, sets out on a journey to mend her broken heart and discovers a passion greater than she had ever imagined. 
Valentino, a man driven to expand his family’s empire and bury his own tormented past, finds a desire that runs deeper than the vines he tends. 
Enthralled with each other, Izzy and Valentino want a real relationship but can’t let go of their painful pasts.  Izzy, seeks her independence while still trying to hold onto Valentino, but he will not settle for pieces of her love and halfhearted trust.  Will these two broken souls, who were brought together by fate and bound by an irresistible attraction, be strong enough to overcome their own insecurities and give love a chance. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18771385-passion-from-the-vine

About the Author: 
Shannon Casey was born in Turlock, California, the second oldest of eight children.  Being the only girl she had to use her imagination to entertain herself.  She was also a tom boy who never let the fact that she was a girl slow her down.  She learned to ride horses better than the boys and practiced her hand at roping and barrel racing.  
She married her high school sweet heart during her senior year and became a mother at seventeen, but she didn’t let that slow her down.  Her daughter became her motivation to obtain her college degree and create a better life for them.  Shannon graduated from CSU Stanislaus in 1997 and soon after had her second daughter.  She went on to obtain two master degrees in psychology, two credentials and a private license. 
During her career as a psychologist she never gave up her dream of becoming an author, but as the years passed she never found the time to actually write.   Like most people, the daily grind and spending time with her children took precedence over her desire to create. 
Then she met her second husband, Corey Casey, through her older brother Anthony.  They married in March 2008.  When her son was born in July 2009 it was the perfect time for her to cut her hours to part time.  Corey inspired her to pick up her pen and write, telling her that she would never know unless she tried.   Since that time, she has written her first novel, traveled and found her creative outlet. 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Passion-from-the-Vine/601582543233746
http://www.amazon.com/Shannon-Casey/e/B00H5CDSOG/
Twitter: @Shannon79396996
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Turbulent Passion by G.L. Ross Deleted Scene and Giveaway

Turbulent Passion by G.L. Ross Deleted Scene #1Upon entering Wayne’s home, Wayne immediately pours a glass of wine. “Wine, Lisa?”“Sure, but just half a glass.  I’ve already had two glasses and am really sleepy.” “Do you want to head on to bed?” Oh jeez, no! Now I’m wide awake. Bed? I had not even thought about sleeping arrangements. This night is a complete and total clusterfuck!“Uh, no, let’s visit and listen to music. I down the half glass of wine and request a refill.” Liquid courage, please come through. How did I not think about sleeping arrangements? Another Freudian slip? Wayne turns on some music while explaining, “I created this mix for you, for us. All these songs remind me of you.” “Wayne, that’s very sweet. You really are too good to me.” A nervous energy flows through my veins. Every word I utter sounds forced. Wayne sits beside me on the couch draping an arm around my shoulders. “No, you just bring out the best in me, Lisa.” His hand brushes down my cheek and an electrical charge vibrates my senses. “You have no idea how beautiful you are which is what makes you even more stunning. Dance with me.” Wayne stands, takes my wine glass and sits it on the coffee table. Taking my hand he pulls me into his grasp. “I love holding you, smelling you, tasting you.” He nibbles my ear and once again I feel “that” ache. I so want him and I really want to forget Lance. I need to forget Lance. I need Wayne to kiss every inch of me and make “that” ache and Lance’s ache go away. “Do you like it when I kiss you here, Lisa?” He kisses my neck tracing my ear with his tongue. “Yes,” I breathlessly utter.“…and here?” He kisses the corner of my mouth. My breathing is labored.“Yes, very much.”  I think too much, but maybe this is what I need.Wayne whispers in my ear, “Lisa, do you want me?” My heart skips a beat. The song on the mix ends and there is silence between songs. “Yes, but I’m scared.” With a lift of my chin, I look into his intense eyes, his intimidating eyes. “What are you afraid of? I will be gentle.” His hand massages the tension in my neck.“I’m afraid of you leaving me, of breaking my heart.” I wish God would send me a sign. The next song begins to play and Oh My Gosh! It’s Chris Young singing, “Gettin’ You Home Tonight.” Is this a sign God? “Lisa, why would I ever want to leave you? I told you, ‘you mesmerize me.’ I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone. Let me make love to you, baby.” I’m stunned, excited, and over the top nervous. The look on his face and the tone in his voice leaves no doubt that he really wants me. Taking my trembling hand in his he leads me to his bedroom. Sometime between the tour of the house and now he has created a seductive backdrop, with candles all over his bedroom and white rose petals spread across the bed. It is a scene out of a romance novel. He is a master of seduction.Wayne discards my cardigan exposing my hesitant flesh. Soothingly, he slips my camisole strap from my shoulder while spreading feather light kisses across my nape. I close my eyes, enjoying the long anticipated affection as he walks behind me. He lifts my camisole over my head. Opening my eyes I stare at the enticing, yet frightening bed. Standing naked from the waist up, reality slaps me in the face; this is going to happen - tonight. The “master of seduction” massages my shoulders, before exploring my body. His experienced hands make their way to my breasts. His fingers teasingly torment my nipples. My mind flashes to Lance. You have to forget Lance, Lisa. I find myself unconsciously surrendering to Wayne as I lean back into his arms. His mouth begins, ever so gently, nibbling kisses up and down my neck. Just as I am beginning to relax, Wayne spins me around plunging his tongue into my gaping mouth. The darkness of his eyes says it all. He desires me and he is going to have me tonight, there’s no turning back. My skirt is on the floor before I know what has happened and his hands are inside my lace panties. Slowly enticing me with his moans he lowers my panties to the floor. Unexpectedly, Wayne abruptly stops his quest. Stepping back, he begins to undress for me. He’s so at ease with his nakedness. I’m frozen and in absolute awe of his beautifully sculpted body. His arms and chest are a sea of muscles, rippling and strong. His narrow hips merge into large, powerful thighs. I want to touch him, but instead I simply stare as he removes his jeans. Oh my gracious, he definitely desires me - there is no doubt. “Take my hand, Lisa.” Nervously, I respond. He leads me to his bed never breaking eye contact. He places a kiss on my palm, prior to placing my hand on his chest. Like a child experimenting with a new toy, I stroke and search the strong and sturdy muscles that lure me. I do want him. My mind, heart, and flesh are viciously warring with each other. Weakened by the night’s activities and the desire to forget I search for the tangible; I choose to focus on the sexy man standing in front of me, nude, desiring to possess me. Nothing else matters at this moment. My flesh wins the war.“Lisa, I will ask you again, ‘do you want me? Do you want me to make love to you? Here? Right now?’”  I nod my head affirmatively. With his hands on my shoulders, Wayne sternly demands, “No Lisa, I told you one day you would beg me to release the passion inside of you, so I need to hear you say it.”I stand perfectly still while listening to the intense pounding of my racing heart. I’m desperately trying to absorb this monumental moment. A man is about to make love to me. My mind is screaming, “No,” but my flesh has surrendered and is waving the white flag. Releasing my held breath I softly respond, “Wayne, kiss every inch of me - I want you, now.”


Book Trailer Contest
Create a book trailer for Turbulent Passion and post it tohttps://www.facebook.com/pages/GL-Ross/433900326733078
or email the link to gaylelross@gmail.com
Viewers may post a comment as their vote for each trailer; you may vote for more than one.Book trailers may be posted and voted on thru March 17th. Voting will end at midnight CST on March 17, 2014. The winner will be announced March 18, 2014 via facebook, twitter, and my website www.GLRoss.com
The winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card.


Turbulent PassionThe Flyboy TrilogyG.L. Ross
Print Length: 213 pages
ASIN: B00GSRF5UE
Amazon
Book Description:
Bold, arrogant, and gorgeous are three words which describe the playboy of International Air, Captain Lance Miller. Unbeknownst, to everyone touching Lance’s life, is the fact Lance harbors a secret, a secret which continues to affect his relationship with all women. Love and trust do not exist in Lance’s world, only lust, sex, dominance, and an occasional busty blond.
Naïve, new hire, Flight Attendant, Lisa Price recently graduated from college and is desperately searching for her destiny, a destiny which at this time does not include a man, especially a pilot. Lisa is driven to succeed in all areas of her life, but she too has a secret. A secret she must choose to be embarrassed by or to honorably embrace.
Is it possible these polar opposites will find passion and trust in each other’s arms, enabling them to relinquish control and share their secrets, or is their attraction far too turbulent to pursue?
Discover Lance & Lisa’s secrets in Book One of the Flyboy Trilogy: Turbulent Passion.
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Chapter OneLance
LisaMaybe I’ll go to graduate school. I could become a psychologist; all my friends think I am their twenty-four hour on-call shrink anyway.Maryanne rang me at two thirty this morning. Woke me up to cry and complain about how Matt had broken her heart. “He is so unromantic. It is our one year anniversary and he takes me to an action flick. An action flick, can you believe that Lisa? Then he wants to go do it in the back of his car, really? I mean really?” I wait to make sure she is really finished. Maryanne asks numerous questions, but doesn’t actually want you to respond, to any of them. She merely wants to vent to the Universe.“Maryanne, has Matt ever done anything you wanted to do the entire time you’ve been seeing him? No, he hasn’t.” This time I won’t allow her time to answer my question. Yes, I am annoyed. She woke me up to complain about Matt’s, unfortunately, normal behavior, which she chooses to put up with on a daily basis. There’s absolutely no need for her to answer the question or make excuses for him or herself.“But, Lisa he loves me. I know he does.” Blah, blah, blah.I bury my head under my large, fluffy pillow. “Okay, let’s say he does, just for grins sake, but does he respect you? Obviously not, so move on and find someone who deserves you and cares about your feelings. Men need to treat women with respect and love. Never settle for less, Maryanne.”“Lisa, you are so strong. I’m not like you. I’m not that strong, plus I get lonely. I don’t know what I would do without Matt. I can’t go without someone, like you do.” Thanks for reminding me.Frustration builds as I roll onto my back; turning my head I stare at the time on the alarm clock. “Maryanne, Maryanne,” I condescendingly mutter. “Go see Matt later today and tell him how he made you feel. Now, please, for the love of Pete, get some sleep. Good night - good morning - good whatever the hell time of day it is.”“Night, Lisa. I love you, thanks for listening.”I can’t help but moan while dropping the phone back on my bedside table. Why is it women allow themselves to be treated disrespectfully? I would rather be alone then be with someone like Matt.“Anyway, back to present day and today’s mission. Graduate school in psychology might work. I could even find a part time job while going to classes or work during the day and classes at night. Of course I’d better get busy applying to universities today, it may be too late to apply and receive acceptance.” Why am I speaking out loud to myself? I really need to get a life and soon.I locate the graduate school application site for The University of Texas at Dallas. “Let’s see, age? Twenty-three.” Yes, I took the five year plan through college. I changed degrees three times and dropped classes due to late night partying causing oversleeping of 8:00 AM classes. Why would anyone want to teach an 8:00 AM class? Ugh, painful memory.“What?” I respond to an unexpected knock at my door, “Who could that be?” Speaking to the air, again, Lisa. You really need to stop talking to yourself.My vibrant friend, Lucy, greets me at the door. Lucy is really short, petite, and a bundle full of energy. We met doing volunteer work last summer at the animal shelter. We weren’t much help though, because we wanted to play with all of the animals rather than clean their cages.“Hey girl, what are you doing?”Lucy pats me on the face and heads into my den while extending a backwards compliment, “Oh, Miss Lisa. You are so pretty, even without your make up.” That’s my Lucy. She knows I hate wearing make-up, especially when at home. I figure I’m not going anywhere to try and impress anyone, so why hassle with it. Lucy, on the other hand, always looks perfect and doesn’t know or understand the true meaning of dressing casual. If she runs to the grocery store she has full make-up and hair. She’s a flight attendant for International Air and seems to think she is always on a plane; crisp and perfect all the frickin’ time.“Lisa, I’ve had a fabulous idea, so you need to dig out a picture of you smiling and with make-up; a color one that shows off those magnificent green eyes.”I climb into my oversized yellow chair, tucking my legs under my tush. “Lucy, please have a seat and why do you need my picture?”Lucy chooses to sit on the edge of my robin egg blue sofa, crossing her ankles, again so prim and proper. “You, my dear, are filling out an application to be a flight attendant, with me! Isn’t that great?”  She exuberantly declares. “I can’t be a flight attendant. I don’t even like flying. My ears hurt and I absolutely hate heights.”Flashing her dynamic, “hello – good-bye,” smile she attempts to convince me, “It will be fine. When you are talking to passengers your ears stay open and you never have time to look out the window, so you will have no idea how high you are.”I attempt an explanation, “I was filling out an application for grad school when you knocked on the door. I’ve decided to get my masters in psychology. I’m going to get paid for all of my late night counseling.” That should appease her…maybe.“That is terrific Lisa, but you can still fly.” Why did I know she would say that? “You will fly on the weekends and go to class during the week. You can even study on your overnights, it is perfect. Now get me that picture.” So much for appeasing her.
About the Author:
G.L. Ross is a proud, sixth generation, native Texan. As a true Southern Belle, G.L. has always dreamt of the “happily ever after,” the prince riding in on the white horse sweeping her off her feet. She hasn’t found “Prince Charming” – yet (always an optimist) – but finds him every time she writes about her characters “happily ever after” endings.
Her motto in life is to “always find the good” in every person and situation.
Whether through laughter, prayer, or a glass of wine or vodka, G.L. finds the good in life and shares her sense of humor, love, and adventure in her stories. Take flight with Lance & Lisa in Turbulent Passion, the first book in the Flyboy Trilogy.
Website: www.GLRoss.com
Twitter: @GayleL4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/GL-Ross/
http://www.amazon.com/G.L.-Ross/e/B00GZ8H842
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7411636.G_L_Ross   



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Bounty by Elise Sax and a Giveaway

I may be in love, and the weird thing is that I created him. He’s a figment of my imagination. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. He’s smart, manly, and he has muscles in all the right places. And sure, he’s a mercenary, and sure he kidnapped a woman and sold her to a crazy despot, but nobody’s perfect.
               Right?
               So, who am I in love with? He’s the hero in BOUNTY, my latest rom com thriller. Luckily my heroine is in love with him, too, but it took a while. I mean…they had a bumpy start: He kidnapped her. Then, there were the guns and mines and just about everybody trying to kill them.
               But love conquers all. And did I mention he’s really hot?
               Normally, I would warn you not to fall in love with him because he’s mine. But the funny thing about writers is that they share their heroes. It’s the kinky part about authors that nobody talks about.

               So, I hope you do fall in love with my man. Fall in love with him and go on BOUNTY’s wild ride. 
Enjoy!




BountyElise Sax
Category: Contemporary Romance. Romantic Suspense
Book Description:
Abby Williams has got it made: First a new job as magazine editor in London, and now a trip to an exotic island to review a five-star resort with poolside service. Unfortunately, on day two of her vacation, Abby finds herself bound and stuffed into a burlap bag and dragged across two continents. And worse than that? Her hottie abductor has got her distracted. Maybe escape is overrated.
Iain Brodie is a muscle-bound mercenary. He just helped a despotic dictator take over an island. He's also Abby's kidnapper, and he has his own problems.  Framed for a murder he didn't commit and a boss who’s out to get him, he has to face facts:  Early retirement is out of the question and Abby Williams looks damned good in a burlap bag.
Elise Sax delivers another hilarious page-turner, filled with adventure, murder, mayhem, and love. BOUNTY is a sexy, wild ride.
Tags:  funny, mystery, England, adventure, romantic comedy, hot romance, humor
Amazon    BN     Smashwords  
About the Author:
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. She is also the author of the Matchmaker Mystery Series.
http://elisesax.com/
https://twitter.com/TheEliseSax
http://www.facebook.com/theelisesax
http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elise-sax/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766108.Elise_Sax


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