Vivian Arend's Blog, page 80

New blurb for Rocky Mountain Heat!

Coming November 15.

He's the one who taught her to ride. Now all he wants is to ride her.

Six Pack Ranch, Book 1

Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble's a western-hat-wearing blonde with slim legs that go on forever, what's a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.

Jaxi has other plans for Blake's hands, and his heart. She may have once considered him a big brother, but that was a long time ago. She's all grown up now and ready to convince him that she's perfect for him. Except he can't seem to see past the big "don't touch" sign that's apparently still hanging around her neck.

When Jaxi ends up living right under Blake's nose, the undeniable heat between them slides off simmer and leaps up to barn-burning levels. However, a few of the younger six-pack Colemans have decided Jaxi's brand of trouble is worth risking a few busted bones.

That is, if Blake's finally ready to let go the reins and fight for what he wants…

Warning: Sexy cowboys seducing and being seduced in trucks, pool halls and barns. Drool-worthy country charm, a little double-teaming, a few secrets and a whole lot of brothers to look forward to. Anyone wanna go for a ride?

Excerpt- Rising, Freestyle

Coming next Tuesday, book two of the Xtreme Adventures

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Melanie grabbed him by the shirt and clung to him as their lips meshed. A gentle caress of mouths, with no teeth, no frantic moving to the next stage. Almost as if they were exploring each other for the first time.

It was an offering, a sacrifice. Something to affirm that while having Nathan show up created a new situation between them, the foundation they had built was solid and worthwhile.

Derrick rolled her under him on the couch, working his way down her body. Removing her clothes, kissing all the tender spots he'd discovered over the past months. His fascination with her breasts made her smile.

"I still can't believe you like them that much."

Derrick hummed happily. His palms forced her nipples upward so he could more easily suckle one, then the other. "More than a mouthful is too much."

She laughed. "Barely a mouthful. Oh, that's good." She held on to his head, keeping him close. His lips surrounded one tip, his fingers pinching and drawing the other nipple tight and ready for his hot mouth to lick. Circles followed by long, slow licks. A shiver raced along her spine and she pressed harder to his lips, looking for a little more.

The soft fabric cradled her torso as he tugged her toward the end of the couch. She laughed as he pulled her yoga pants from her in one smooth practiced move. Somehow he caught her panties at the same time, and she lay sprawled totally naked before him.

He stared at her, his gaze intent, hunger on his face. "I know why Nathan wants you."

She hesitated. Why was he bringing up Nate?

Derrick rose to his feet, looming tall and muscular over her. He still wore all his clothes, and she realized with a start she wasn't embarrassed in the least to be completely naked before him.

"You have no idea how beautiful you are." He rasped out the words—lusty and low.

"Right."

He squatted beside her, shaking his head slightly as he drew a finger down her body. "Your body is powerful. Slim in the right spots, curved perfectly in others."

His palm cupped her hip for a second before slipping back to cradle her ass.

The expression on his face, even more than his words, stroked her. "I'm glad you like how I look."

He grinned wickedly. "And the way you smell."

"Oh my God." He had picked up her legs and draped them over his shoulders, and her sex clenched. Wanting something to grasp, to fill her. She didn't have long to wait. Maintaining eye contact, he lowered his head and breathed in deeply.

"The way you taste."

Excerpt- Turn It On wins award!

I was intending on trying to do some updates while at RWA. HA! Between chatting to people and internet issues, I'm instead going to set up a couple excerpt posts for you to enjoy.

Oh! And to share that Turn It On won the Passionate Plume first place for contemporary romance! So how about an excerpt from there?

——

Setting both the wall ovens to heat, Maxine turned to manhandle the massive birds to the island to finish stuffing them only to find Ryan had everything including the premade ingredients lined up in rows waiting for her.

"Wow, you're efficient," she complimented him.

He wiggled his brows at her. "You said something about going back to bed when we're done, so I'm willing to make the chores go by as rapidly as possible."

She shook her head. "You're bad." Picking up the bowl with stuffing she made a face before grabbing a handful and sticking it into the first bird. Ryan stepped behind her. His hands caressed the sides of her torso, skimmed her breasts then slipped around to loosen the knot of her robe. "Stop it, you're not helping get the job done any quicker."

She wiggled but his grasp remained firm. "You go ahead and do your job and I'll do mine. I won't get in your way," he promised. He licked her earlobe and she smiled in spite of it all. She had her hands full of savory bread and raisins, and her belly was tight with waking desire. Ryan stroked her breasts before sliding his hands down her belly to bury his fingers in her crotch and lightly massage her slit.

"You're a bad boy, and if you keep this up you're getting nothing but a lump of coal for Christmas. Oh my God, what are you doing?"

He had slipped his hand around to her butt, his fingers slick with moisture as he prodded the rosette of her anus. "It's Thanksgiving. It's time for stuffing, right? I have a little present for you."

She had no way to stop him, no way to protest unless she took her sticky, stuffing-covered hands out of the turkey to defend herself. "You're not really going to… Ryan, I know I told you the other day I was willing for you to teach me about anal sex, but not now. Oh God!"

He suckled on her neck as he slipped his finger in. Her heart pounded. It felt far better than she wished, because she really wanted a reason to get angry.

"We're not going to have sex," he said reasonably. "You're just going to wear a plug for a little while to start getting you ready."

"Plug?"

"You're not doing your job, sweetheart," Ryan pointed out. "Stuffing, right?"

"Bastard." She finished the first bird and shuffled to the second, his one arm holding her tight to his torso, the other doing wicked, wicked things to her body. She slammed a fistful of stuffing into the avian and cried out with pleasure as he brought both hands into play, one in front, one back. "I'm going to kill you when this is over, you know that, don't you?"

He laughed and rubbed her clit, rolling it gently between his fingers. Her legs started to shake. Something cold and hard poked at her butt, and she sucked in a quick breath.

"It's okay, Maxine, keep breathing. Feel and enjoy." He increased his fingers' tempo against her clit, and warmth pooled in her belly. The stretching sensation in her anus dropped to a pleasurable…presence. And then the distraction of her breaking climax made everything else fade away.

He held her as she came, the waves of release slow and drawn out, his continued touch lightening as her body grew more sensitive. Then he kissed her cheek and walked to the sink, washing his hands thoroughly before coming to lift the heavy roasting pans into the ovens.

Maxine walked gingerly until she grew used to the plug. It didn't hurt, but she was wet and excited, and he was driving her crazy. Only Ryan would think of such a trick.

"You still plotting to kill me?" he asked, handing her a coffee mug across the island. He tried to look apologetic, but there was too much delight in his eyes for the innocent expression to work.

She shook her head. "It's a good thing you're cute. A bastard, but cute."

Ryan frowned at her. "Cute? What kind of compliment is that? I'm old, ugly as sin, bossy, and all kinds of other grievous sins, including devious." He patted her lightly on the butt and she sucked in air as the plug shifted.

"I'm not wearing this all day," Maxine warned. She couldn't imagine what disasters would happen if the sexual fever building inside distracted her while her family descended on the house.

"Of course not. Only for the morning." He nibbled her lips, rubbing small circles on her lower back. "Can we go back to bed? I have a few things I want to try while you're wearing that thing."

Her mouth went dry. She gulped a mouthful of her drink in defense as his expression turned wicked. "I need my coffee."

"I need you." He pointed at her mug. "Drink up. You'll want to be awake for this."

Ryan wrapped himself around her, keeping their bodies in full contact even as he consumed her. Her sweet flavor mixed with the after taste of their coffee, creating an exotic blend. The sensual touch of her fingers as she clutched his shoulders made him forget exactly what he had planned. He guided them blindly through the house, his thoughts jangling together in a heap of desire and obsession. There wasn't an inch of her body he hadn't explored, and he still couldn't get enough of her.

They paused at the doorway to the main dining room and he dropped to his knees, opening her robe to press kisses across the smooth slope of her belly. When she instinctively opened her legs wider, he ran his hands up her thighs, massaging her silky skin. He used his thumbs to tease the pale red curls hiding her pussy, pausing to stroke one finger the length of her wet slit.

She panted, her torso shaking under his caress. "Too much. I'm throbbing. Everywhere. Your touch is too much." Maxine groaned in frustration and let her head fall back. It hit the doorframe with a thunk. "Shit!"

He smothered his laugh and stood to rub the sore spot. Her lashes fluttered as he stared into her eyes, her pupils dilated wide, drawing him in like a magnet. "Dangerous things, butt plugs."

"Please, I need…something. It feels good, yet it burns."

"That's because you're so hot you're on fire, sweetheart." And he lowered his head to her lips to continue his assault, stealing her breath away.

Making it up the stairs and back to her bedroom took a long, long time, as he got lost in her body again and again. At one point he carried her before lowering her to the top of the stairs and lapping at her pussy until she convulsed under him. He pressed her against the window in the master bedroom, her breasts in contact with the still cool glass. She cried out as he nibbled his way down her back, begging him to touch her, to give her what she needed.

When he peeled her off the windowpane and laid her on the bed her nipples had crinkled to tight buds of rosy pink. He admired them for a moment before warming them under his tongue, drawing another cry of delight from her lips.

He was staking his claim. The house would be filled with people in a few short hours, but for now there was only her. Only him. Together—and he reveled in it.

At the Romance Writers of America conference

I'm in New York city for the first time. There are bright lights outside my window, and this rural loving girl is enjoying the rush, but I can honestly say that while this is a nice place for me to visit…I'm not moving anytime soon.

But I do love experiencing new things. So for the next week I'll be talking to fellow writers, and taking in some of the NY bright lights. Updates when possible.

Teeny update- Twitter style

"@VivianArend: One day until I leave for RWA11. Third time I've gone to a major conference straight from the camper. I win some kind of award, right?"

(that's right, last year's RWA I also left during a camping trip. Not an extended one, but still.)

"@VivianArend: This is a first. Have reached the 50k mark on a story and I'm nowhere near done. Either I'm in trouble, or the characters are."

(this is the third Rocky Mountain Book, which has a couple that are clicking very nicely. Disaster looms though…ON NOES! Brawhahahahah, insert evil author laugh)

"@VivianArend: Xkcd is a bad place to hang out when I should be working. But luckily, the family unit is gone, so they can't hear me LMAO."

(If you've never visited XKCD, you need to try it. check it out, like this one about the Matrix movie: http://xkcd.com/566/)

From on the road

A taste of Newfoundland.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The Narrows

Happy Adventure, Terra Nova

Rolling seas got bigger, so we didn't stay out long

Answering Questions

I've been getting a few questions lately that are the same kind, so thought I'd answer a few of them here.

1) When is the next wolfie/Granite Lake book out? and the related 2) Just who is Shaun and what the heck are the Takhini Wolves anyway?

The next of my paranormal wolfie-style books is Black Gold, book one of the Takhini Wolves, out September 13. While it's not a Granite Lake Wolves book, it is similar in heat level, writing style, voice, etc. There are two main differences between the Takhini Wolves and the Granite Lake Wolves:

Granite Lake Wolves:

-Novellas (28-35,000 words in length)

-Completely individual books. Ie- you don't have to read Wolf Flight to enjoy Wolf Games. Yes, getting to know the characters that overlap the books makes it more enjoyable, but each story in the GLW is a completely solo story. Start-End.

Takhini Wolves:

-Novels (Black Gold runs about 70, 000)

-Individual stories BUT the world continues. Ie, you will be able to read the second book (once I write it ) and have a complete Start-End HEA story, but the HEA for the pack/world etc has carry over. It's something I haven't tried before in a larger series and I'm excited about it. (Think Moira Rogers Southern Arcana world- each book is complete in itself, but adds to the whole story.)

Who is Shaun?

In Wolf Signs he's the 'unnamed pilot' friend that flies Robyn into Granite Lake that first trip.

In Wolf Flight we find out he's Tad's business partner and a fellow pack member of the Takhini Wolves based out of Whitehorse.

In Wolf Tracks, Shaun sneaks the helicopter in and picks up TJ and Pam to drop them at their wilderness cabin.

3) But WHEN is the next Granite Lake Wolves book out?

Okay, fine, I hear you. Yes, I will be writing more of the novellas. I'm not sure when the next will release, but I have started to work on Jared's story. I'll let you know as soon as there is something to let you know.

4) What's a Takhini? Are the wolves going swimming?

Lol. No, not a swimsuit, although you can wear one there.

In Wolf Signs, Keil asks Robyn if she's from the Takhini Wolf pack or the MIle's Canyon one. You'll find out more about the situation in BLACK GOLD, but short answer is Takhini is a hotspring at the north end of Whitehorse, and Mile's Canyon is a river pass on the south side. Check out Takhini Hotsprings:

5) What about the cats? Will you write more  Cougars like Tangled Tinsel?

I'm thinking about it. I also have some dragons I'm playing with, and more wolfies, so it's all got to fit into the big picture. Plus, right now I'm trying to get my contemporary books all caught up. Don't worry, though, I love writing the paranormal and won't ever stop.

5) What about the contemporary books? When is the next…

And that's another whole post. I've actually got four contemporary books out this year and three paranormal. I'm trying to balance making all my readers happy. Ie, not everyone likes paranormal,  or not everyone likes menages, so every time I write one of the type that isn't their interest, some readers skip that work.

Which means it can get longer between releases for them. Plus, there's this little thing called "an extended road trip" that is my current life situation, which I want to say is a ton of fun, but also messes with my writing time. I'm managed to keep up so far, but I don't want to get into trouble and promise things I can't deliver.

Update done for now. If you have more questions, send them my way and I'll answer the best I can next time around.

Mid Month Update

Now, with the help of pre-programming… I bring you MY LIFE.

I'm actually tooling around in Gros Morne National Park, but because of the wonders of scheduling, I've got this post set to roll. Here's what's been happening in my writer's world.

Just in:

Cover for Black Gold. You saw it, right?

Waiting for:

•  Cover for Paradise Found

•  Word on a sekrit project. (Yes, I always have one of these on the go, it seems. So much fun!

•  Edits on Rocky Mountain Haven

Working on:

•  Plans for the 3rd Xtreme Adventure book

•  Beginning writing the second Bandicoot Cove book. Yes, I know the first isn't out yet, but Jess Dee, Lexxie Couper and I are sure you're going to love them, so we're already planning more mischief. Because, mischief is what we do best

Writing:

Writing Rocky Mountain Hope . It's different, again, from the first two, and I'm glad of that. In other words, the characters of the story are really setting the tone for the books. I think that makes them each very unique.

Other:

I head to New York on June 27 to attend the Romance Writers of America's National conference. I'm excited about this for a bunch of reasons:

- I get to sign at the Literacy Fundraiser. The books should be hot of the presses (ie a couple days early) Breaking Waves, the print antho of the two Forces of Nature books.

- my roomies are wonderful people, and I'm going to enjoy their company very much, as well as time with other writer friends I usually only get to chat with online. People like Lauren Dane and Megan Hart, Vicki Dahl, Leah Braemel and Barb Ferrer and many many more. Also, all the wonderful people from Samhain like Crissy, Lindsey, Heather and other editors making the trip. Alas, my editor Anne is not attending, but I'm going to track her down later this year as I head back across the country.

-for anyone attending RWA as a registered attendee, I'm also going to be at the first ever Samhain sponsored book signing on Friday. Wheeee!!

And I think that's it for now. Onward!

Winners Big Bad Ipad contest

And since I'm on limited internet, I'm CHEATING and plagiarizing Bree straight from Moira Rogers website. BTW, many thanks as well to Bree for her awesome skills of Websiteness and making the contest site rock.

—–

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2,500+ entries later, the Big Bad iPad contest has meandered its way to a close. It was incredibly awesome that so many authors threw in for these crazy cool grand prizes.  (You can see the process of packing them up above!)

In the end, there could be only five winners, though.  And they are….

Week One – Denise Dickson

Week Two - Rose Germano

Week Three – Deborah Dahlin

Week Four – Mary Anderson

Grand Prize iPad Winner… Carol Thompson

I will be in contact with all of you over the next week or so to get your prizes sorted out! And thank you so much to the authors who contributed: Courtney Milan, Ella Drake, Jess Granger, Beth Williamson, Karen Mahoney, Mari Fee, Melissa Schroeder, Jennifer St. Giles,Jorrie Spencer, Sharon Cullen, Carolyn Crane, Robyn Bachar, Vivi Andrews, Ashleigh Raine, Ellen Connor, Devin Harnois, Keith Melton, Sheryl Nantus, Ella Drake, J.L. Saint,Nalini Singh, Jess Granger, Lexxie Couper, Jodi Redford, Yolanda Sfetsos, Meljean Brook,Cherrie Lynn, Zoe Archer, Nico Rosso, Portia Da Costa, Ashleigh Raine, Leah Braemel,Larissa Ione, Alisha Rai, Beverly Rae & Shelli Stevens. And thanks to Sasha Knight & Samhain Publishing for providing so many print books & the awesome tote bags!

Heading over the water

Traveling author is traveling again. It's part two of the North American tour~ as my family is now calling our adventure. We're off for a 7 hour ferry trip today to get to Newfoundland, and yes, everytime I say 7 hour ferry trip my brain automatically starts humming "…a three hour tour…"

Hopefully we won't be lost at sea for too long, as I have places to go and things to see. Things like Gros Moirne National Park.

We'll be touring NFL for two weeks before I disappear to New York for the RWA nationals, if Air Canada behaves and doesn't leave me stranded on the rock. After the conference I'm coming back and rejoining the family in Quebec City and then we'll be driving westward heading back home to British Columbia. No set time lines for any of that, except for by the end of summer I expect we'll be nearly there.

In the meantime, there will be more books coming out, more books written and more adventures. Life is good.