Mickie B. Ashling's Blog, page 149

Reviews for Daddio

Daddio received a great review from Barb over at Jessewave a few days ago.  November is off to a great start!  Here's the review: 

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2012/11/01/daddio/#more-81177

Another great review from Don over at Hearts on Fire Reviews:

http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=15727

Winner!

Hi all! The two winners are kika_k and thrace . Please PM me to give me your e-mail address and format of choice.

Mayon is now available for purchase here:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3401

Now Available

Did you know that Mayon volcano is surrounded by deep coconut forests and rice paddies?  Because of the rich volcanic soil, farmers refuse to leave the area, despite the ongoing danger of a possible eruption.



Excerpt

Gregorio waved at a group of women washing clothes by a riverbed. John asked him to pause for a minute so he could watch them beat the cloth with flat boards against the river rocks. It looked like backbreaking work, and they were soaked with soap and water, but appeared to...

Book Trailer

Presenting the book trailer for Mayon, created by Qafmaniac, aka Marita Deters.

Book Trailer

Presenting the book trailer for Mayon. This was made by my very talented and awesome friend "Marita" aka qafmaniac . As usual, she did a fantastic job of bringing my novel to life. Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrsKd9mKpWg&feature=youtu.be<a

Blog Tour!

Please join me in celebrating my newest release Mayon a historical romance set in the Philippines. I'll be making several stops and giving away a few e-books at a drawing after the tour is over. Anyone who comments will be entered into the contest. If you comment eight times you'll have eight chances to win:) You can find me at:

November 17th - M/M Romance
http://mmromancebookreviews.blogspot.com/

November 18th - Book Junkie
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/

November 19th - Armchair Reader
http://coleriann.com/

November 20th - Coffee and Porn in the Morning
http://cupoporn.net/

Joyfully Jay
http://joyfullyjay.com/

November 21st - Love to Read for Fun
http://www.lovetoreadforfun.com/

November 22nd - Pants Off Reviews
http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.com/

November 23rd - Mamba's Lair
http://amaras-place.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Mayon volcano is surrounded by deep coconut forests and rice paddies? Because of the rich volcanic soil, farmers refuse to leave the area, despite the ongoing danger of a possible eruption.


Excerpt

Gregorio waved at a group of women washing clothes by a riverbed. John asked him to pause for a minute so he could watch them beat the cloth with flat boards against the river rocks. It looked like backbreaking work, and they were soaked with soap and water, but appeared to be enjoying themselves by laughing their chores away.

“Haven’t you ever seen this before?”

“Not really,” John admitted. “Back home we use washing machines.”

“How can a machine do as good a job as a human being?”

John shrugged. “I never really thought about it; my mother does the laundry.”

“I can’t imagine the clothes would get any cleaner that way.”

“You’re probably right,” John said. “Shall we move on?”

“We should stop and eat soon. Aren’t you hungry?”

“You don’t need to persuade me to eat,” John said, smiling. “What do you have?”

“They packed us a picnic lunch,” Gregorio said, kicking his horse forward. He headed toward a large mango tree in full bloom, more than able to provide the shade they would need. After he hopped off the mare, he began to unload some of the items he’d managed to stuff into the saddlebags without weighing them down. He pulled a folded mat from one bag and spread it out on a flat surface. It was large enough to sit or sleep two adults comfortably.

“That’s convenient,” John said. “What’s it made of?”

“The banig?”

“Yeah,” John said, pointing at the multicolored spread.

“Some kind of grass the women weave together. People sleep on them all the time.”

“On a mattress?” John asked.

“No.” Gregorio laughed. “On the floor.”

“Bet it would be uncomfortable without any kind of cushion.”

“It’s better than sleeping on dirt.”

“I suppose so. Do you sleep on one every day?”

“No, I have a bed.”

“Lucky for you.”

“More than you know,” Gregorio explained. “I had grandparents who took care of my mother and me. A lot of tisoys have to fend for themselves.”

“Tisoy?”

“It’s short for mestizo. That’s what they call half-breeds around here.”

“Your father?”

“Was a Spaniard. He died before I was born.”

“That explains it.”

“What?”

“Your height and the pine-colored eyes.”

“What’s a pine?”

“Haven’t you ever seen a Christmas tree?”

“Only in pictures.”

“What do you people use to decorate during the holidays?”

“Paper lanterns and nativity scenes.”

“Oh. Pine trees are tall and willowy, much like you, in varying shades of green.”

“I’m not that tall, and I’m certainly not green,” the Filipino stated bluntly. “Get your eyes checked.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my eyes,” John said gruffly, “I see you clearly. You’re at least five inches taller than most of the men around here.”

Gregorio blinked several times, trying to figure out if there was any meaning to this conversation. His brain said no, but his body didn’t agree. The redhead’s piercing gaze was doing funny things to his stomach. Moving before John realized how he was affecting him, Gregorio reached for more bundles from another bag and began to spread out their impromptu feast. There were several pieces of cold chicken, slices of breakfast ham, and wedges of hard cheese. John watched his guide grab a pandesal, the soft roll they’d had earlier, and break it in half. He stuffed it with ham and cheese and then handed it to his guest. “Eat,” he said.

“Thanks.” John took the proffered sandwich and shoved half of it in his mouth. “This is good,” he garbled.

“You want something to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Nothing yet.” Gregorio stood and pulled a large knife out of another saddlebag, kicked off his sandals, and headed toward one of the coconut trees.

John watched him scramble up the tree like a monkey, reaching the top in no time. He hacked at a few branches and the nuts dropped like bombs. The man was barely winded when he came back down. He lopped off the top of one coconut and then pierced a hole in the hard shell. Putting it up to his lips, he began to drink the liquid while John stared, captivated by Gregorio’s bobbing Adam’s apple and the juices overflowing down his chin. He stopped drinking and licked his full lips. “What’s the matter?” Gregorio asked.

“Aren’t you planning to share?”

“Sorry,” he replied, embarrassed by his lack of good manners. “I got thirsty climbing.” He replicated his movements with the second coconut and handed it over to John. “Here, drink up.”

“This is fucking convenient, isn’t it?”

“If you can climb.” Gregorio grinned. “You would probably die of thirst.”

“You jerk.”

He loped away before John’s open hand connected on his arm.

Laughing, he began to climb up the much easier mango tree.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Getting our dessert!”

He grabbed a plump yellow mango and twisted it off the branch, sending it whistling through the air like a torpedo. “Catch,” he screamed at John, who moved reflexively and caught it without a problem. Gregorio twisted off another and hurled it toward John’s waiting hand. When he was back, sitting cross-legged in front of John, he stuck his knife into one end of the mango and began peeling back the skin as if it were a banana. After it was completely denuded, the plump yellow flesh exposed, he pushed it toward John and said, “Take a bite.”

John reached for Gregorio’s hand, overlaying his stout fingers over the slender ones holding up the mango. He bit into the meaty fruit, all the while staring into the green eyes that watched intently. The juices erupted, flooding his mouth with sweet nectar. Gregorio turned the mango slowly so John could bite into another side, ignoring the liquid running down his fingers in sticky rivulets. He was hypnotized by the hunger flaring in John’s striking blue eyes, not quite sure what to make of it, but unable to look away. After John got his fill, Gregorio put the seed down and began licking the juice off his fingers.

He took his time and sucked on each digit, pulling them in and out of his mouth, deliberately employing his tongue in a provocative way, making the American fidget. Gregorio was empowered by his effect on the redhead and felt his own body reacting to the moment. He wanted this to go on forever; on the other hand, he was disturbed by the physical attraction between them. What in God’s name was happening? The Marine had been handpicked by Ignacio for one of the girls. He was a man’s man and had the right medals to prove it. Still, the yearning in John’s eyes belied everything Gregorio believed to be true about him. The consequences of making the wrong assumption could be the biggest mistake of his life.

Finally, John choked out, “Are you done?”
****************************************************************

Anyone who comments on this post will be entered into a drawing for an e-book copy of Mayon. You can also pre-order here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3401

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know black sand beaches were volcanic in origin? Here's an excerpt from Mayon which releases on Monday, November 19.



Excerpt

Kalayukai Beach was approximately eleven kilometers away from Legaspi City in the small town of Santo Domingo. John parked the jeepney on a grassy rise and gazed down at the fascinating black sand. He knew that the distinctive color was created by the natural erosion of volcanic rock, and had read about this phenomenon in journals, but he’d never seen it. The sand sparkled like mounds of blackened sugar and was just as smooth. Surprisingly, the long strip wasn’t littered with the detritus from sunken ships that still soiled many beaches throughout the islands. It would take several more years to rid the cities and countryside of the reminders of war, but this particular spot was pristine, almost virginal in its beauty, and a perfect spot for their getaway.

While one of the servants laid out the food in the shade underneath a cluster of coconut trees, the other helped Rosa construct a makeshift changing area with the strategic placement of blankets on low-lying branches. Stepping back to assess their efforts, Rosa nodded in satisfaction, assured that they would have a little privacy; only their heads and shoulders were visible.

John had worn shorts underneath his pants. It was a simple matter of stripping and folding his street clothes so they wouldn’t end up buried in the sand. Greg was always in shorts, so he’d brought an extra pair he could use after swimming.

The women’s choices of beach attire mirrored their personalities. The four older girls were in modest one-piece suits while Lily and Daisy had opted for the more daring two-piece ensembles. Petunia clutched a towel around her full-figured body, guarding her virtue from prying eyes. It was uncomfortable to be half naked in the presence of two men, especially John, who was still considered a stranger, but the appeal of swimming was far more powerful than her scruples. Daisy had no qualms about showing off her body and sauntered up to John with a playful glint in her eye. He whistled appreciatively, and she tugged him toward the water, urging him to join her. Resisting was futile, and John soon found himself thigh-high in frothy waves.

Daisy dove into one of them and began to swim out into deeper waters with confident strokes. “Hey, wait up,” he called, a little concerned that she’d go too far.

“Catch me if you can,” she said, throwing out the challenge before resuming her steady course.

“Impulsive girl,” he muttered, diving in after her. Eventually, he caught up and they swam side by side. The temperature of the water was perfect, and the tide seemed to be cooperating in their favor. There was no dangerous pull, so that was one worry he could eliminate. Now he just needed to keep up with Daisy, who was a surprisingly good swimmer. After a while, he could sense her lagging, and he gestured toward the shore. “Let’s head back,” he sputtered.

Nodding, Daisy turned around and headed toward land. They collapsed on the dark sand, sucking in mouthfuls of air, while the warm waves continued to lap at their prone bodies. “Christ,” John wheezed. “You gave me quite the workout. How come you’re such a good swimmer?”

“I love the ocean,” Daisy replied. “Papá taught me how to swim years ago, and I took to it like a mermaid.”

“You look like one,” John smiled, lifting his upper body and gazing down at her. She rolled over and stretched like a contented seal. Her dark hair was slicked back and the cotton fabric of her swimsuit was plastered to her skin, hardly disguising nipples standing out boldly against the bright red and white polka dots.

“I used to wish I could breathe underwater,” she mused, tucking her hands underneath her head. “In fact, I almost drowned myself trying to prove a point.”

John laughed out loud. “Did you actually inhale a lungful of water?”

“Almost,” she giggled. “It was a big disappointment.”

“I’ll bet,” John said, looking at her with amusement. “Have you always been so fanciful?”

“As long as I can remember,” Daisy said, sitting up. She raked her fingers through her wet hair, trying to subdue the long locks twirling around her face like the tentacles of an octopus. “What about you, John? Where did you learn how to swim?”

“The YMCA,” he replied. “Not quite as exotic as this.”

“What’s that?”

“It stands for Young Men’s Christian Association but most people call it the Y or YMCA. It’s an organization whose primary goal is to help and develop a healthy spirit, mind, and body in young men. They’re all over America, and most kids spend a lot of time there playing sports and learning other skills. Swimming is one of them.”

“We don’t have anything like that over here.”

“I’m pretty sure you have something similar in the big cities.”

She shrugged. “If we do, I’m not aware of them.” Her eyes zeroed in on the auburn curls that lay matted on his chest, and she reached out to touch him, drawn by the quantity of hair and the color. “My, you’re hairy.”

“Compared to everyone else around here, I must seem like a bear,” John said, thinking of Greg’s smooth chest.

“My father has some chest hair but it’s nothing like this,” Daisy mused, now twirling the soft curls around her fingers. “Are you red all over?”

Shocked by the question, John drew back. “Are you always this forward or is it just with me?”

“I’m curious,” she apologized. “I’ve never been with a redhead.”

“I assumed you hadn’t been with any man.”

“Of course I haven’t,” she answered quickly.

John shook his head, trying to get rid of the startlingly clear image of Daisy in a virginal white nightgown. “How the heck did we get on this topic?”

“You asked.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” Greg interrupted, glaring down at both of them. He’d been watching them warily from his perch on the branch of a mango tree, and when Daisy reached out to touch John, he moved like a panther, jumping down gracefully and sprinting across the sand to claim his own. The hot flash of jealousy had a stranglehold but he resisted the urge to shove her hands away from John.

“It’s nothing,” John answered.

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” Greg accused, staring at the telltale signs of John’s interest.

Pre-order your copy here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3401

Giveaway!

Here's a chance to win a copy of Mayon, a historical romance set in the Philippines. Leave a comment over at Chris' awesome blog and be eligible for the drawing.

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/21876

Giveaway!

I've just listed Mayon as a giveaway on Goodreads. Four signed paperback copies are available to the lucky winners. Several countries are eligible to enter, aside from the USA, so feel free to click on the link below if you're interested. Contest ends November 19, 2012, the day the book releases.





Goodreads Book Giveaway








Mayon


by Mickie B. Ashling

Giveaway ends November 19, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win