Vivian Arend's Blog, page 88

Saying thank you

It's been a very busy couple of weeks, ever since the release of Wolf Tracks. Now with Falling, Freestyle out, Turn It On in print next week, and Tangled Tinsel as well…

I need to regroup. I've been chatting, and writing blogs and writing new stories. I'm working on edits for the 2nd and 3rd book in the Pacific Passion series. There just seem to always be another thing to do–and while I love being busy, and I LOVE writing, I will admit that the part that makes it most exciting is hearing from people who have enjoyed my books.

And I'm not alone-all writers love it. So here's my challenge to you. If you've read a book that you really enjoyed during the last month, and I'm not talking only about MY books, any book– let the author know. With the ease of blogging/ adding reviews to Amazon/ goodreads etc, it's easy to lose that personal touch. Take the time and tweet them, hit their facebook page–something.

Reach out and touch someone. It's amazing how much it will mean to them.

(And I do send out thanks to all of you who have supported me in my writing.

See what I see?

It's day 30 of our extended road trip, and we're in Palm Springs.

My view:

My 'office':

And when the sun drops behind the mountains? Damn it gets cold fast!

New Release- Falling, Freestyle

ISBN: 978-1-60928-260-8

Length: Category

Price: 4.50

Publication Date: November 30, 2010

Cover art by Angie Waters

Never venture out of bounds without a buddy—preferably two.

Dara's past four incredible years have been lived to the fullest. Along with her best friends, Kane and Jack, she's left no local wilderness unexplored, no ski slope unchallenged. Yet lately she wonders why they've never seen her as more than a buddy with breasts. When—or if—either man will cross that unspoken line.

It's a line Kane eyes harder every day. Since high school, he and Jack have shared everything. A condo, vacations—and their best girl. Kane's ready to get serious about his wilderness school and outfitter business, and that includes putting down roots. Preferably with Dara.

Wary of the men who've recently been sniffing around Dara, Jack has a growing sense that he or Kane better make a move soon, or they're going to lose out on their perfect match. Question is, who does she prefer…and who's going to bring their easygoing trio to an end?

Overhearing the boys arguing over her, Dara's floored—and torn. Choose between them? No way. Drastic measures are called for, a plan for their annual holiday getaway that will clarify her feelings once and for all—or lose everything in a sexual storm of whiteout proportions.

Warning: Old friends turned lovers can get into the most trouble—exhibitionism, bondage, spanking. Anal sex, oral sex, unauthorized use of ski safety harnesses, icicles in the hot tub… The author apologizes in advance for any melted monitors.

~~~

NSFW excerpt to enjoy

Jack needed to get this whole situation back under control. It was too close to exploding into something that could tear their friendship apart, and he was sure that wasn't what Dara had intended.

But he wasn't sure she'd intended for her suggestion to be anything other than a one-time fling either.

He had already decided once this weekend was over he would slowly bring their relationship to a new level. They were good friends, and he'd always looked out for her, careful never to cross the line sexually. Oh, he'd seen her glimmers of interest toward him, but he'd also caught her checking Kane out with the same expression at times.

Jack wanted her. In his bed, in his life—in his future—and he would do whatever it took to make that a reality.

Including, it seemed, share her.

He returned to her side and cautiously sat beside her on the couch. His body weight made the cushions shift and she leaned against him involuntarily. When she would have scrambled away, he placed an arm around her shoulders and trapped her.

"Just slow down, sweetie. You've put both Kane's and my brain in a bit of bind. We're not saying no to anything."

"You're not?" She whispered the words, her body tense in his embrace.

"We're not saying yes right off either."

"Jack…" Kane warned.

He looked up at his best friend. They'd never fooled around with the same woman before, at least not at the same time. And this wasn't just any woman; it was someone they both cared deeply about. Kane tended to be a lot more private about his sexual practices than Jack had ever expected, maybe from growing up in a house full of women. Still, knowing that Kane desired Dara and cared for her—if he couldn't have Dara to himself right now, sharing her with Kane while they dealt with this mess seemed the best way out of a bad situation.

"If there are kinky sexual experiences Dara wants to try, you prefer she experiment with us or some nameless guys off the street?"

Dara hit him in the chest. "Yeah, right. Like I'm going to put out an ad in the paper for a threesome, Jack. I'm not an idiot."

"A threesome?" The flash of lightning her words produced short-circuited his logic center. Every time she spoke she upped the ante. Fuck this. She wanted to have a discussion about them getting it on? Welcome to reality. He picked her up and plopped her into his lap. She squealed for a second, then gripped the top of the towel so hard her knuckles went white. He stroked a finger across her smooth skin above her hands, wondering what she would taste like.

He could barely wait to find out.

"No, you are not an idiot. But you've managed to freak me out. Sweetheart, we've never kissed beyond platonic busses on the cheek and you're talking about sex. That does things to a guy."

She wiggled slightly and there was no way she could miss one of the things that it did to him. His cock was at full strength, pinned behind the taut fabric of his jeans. The curve of her ass pressed down on him and her eyes opened wide as she realized what she sat on. "Fuck."

"Hell yeah, fuck." Jack wrapped his arms around her and held her close, breathing in the scent of her skin. She whimpered as he brushed his lips against the pulse pounding in the vee of her throat. He was going to explode just from the thoughts filling his head.

A ménage. With Dara. God damn.

"Jack, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mess up our holiday. I just care a lot about—"

He covered her mouth with his to silence her. With her lips open to speak, their tongues met instantly and in a flash her taste filled him. Sweet, with a twist of cinnamon from her gum, the lingering taste of chocolate. He kissed her, leaning back on the couch and dragging her with him so her slight weight pressed on him more fully. She dug her fingers into his hair and suddenly it wasn't enough. He crushed her closer, the top of the towel sneaking down to her waist as their tongues tangled together. God, the woman could kiss. She took his mouth like she took to the hills, full out, full speed—caution be damned.

The sounds escaping her registered like early warning signs. Little gasps as he nipped at her lips, a long drawn-out moan as he kissed his way down her throat. A whispered plea when he rearranged her on his lap without taking his mouth from her skin. She straddled his hips, the heat of her core resting on top of his erection and damn if he didn't want to strip them both and let her ride him.

Go slow.

His brain shouted it, but his body protested vehemently. He rocked his hips instinctively, rubbing against her center and they both swore.

Fuck going slow.

~~~

Ebook available: Amazon | MB&M | Barnes & Noble | Sony

ARC winners- second attempt

Sorry for the technical difficulities. Ie, while I'm on the road for a few months, internet gets spotty, so I'm not always able to post in a timely manner. Plus, Bree has been under the weather, meaning both of us missed announcing the ARC winners.

Here they are!

Wilder's Mate: Nancy Gilliland

Deadlock:  Sullivan Mc Pig

Freeze Line:  Lindsey Ekland

Falling:  Kelly Thrash

Turn It Up:  Susan R

Tangled Tinsel:   Lisa J

We hope everything loves the books, and we'll be in touch ASAP, meaning as soon as Bree can stay vertical, and I get my act together and drag my butt out of the sunshine that's FINALLY arrived.

Thanks for joining us for the Arc-a Thon!

Dropping in with news and views

Lets see, where to start? There's THIS:

From All Romance Ebooks:

In the season of giving, ARe is giving back and offering a 50% rebate as our gift to your readers. But hurry! This sale only lasts one day.

(If you click the banner, you'll link through to my book list at ARe. Cool!)

Here's my view today:

AND…tomorrow is the official release of Falling, Freestyle, but you know My Bookstore & More always sneaks out the releases early. It's LIVE!!

~BUY LINK~

ARC-a-thon Winners

If you're here for Snippet Saturday, you're in the right spot. Scroll down a tiny bit.

If you're here to find out about the winners for the ARC-a-thon, Wheeeee!!! Yup. Only I'm shooting you over to Moira Rogers for the master list. Hope you had fun reading the exclusive excerpts. Oh, and before you go, you can slip down a little as well and enjoy another snippet.

Hope to see you on Tuesday when Falling, Freestyle will officially release.

Snippet Saturday- Lemon-ism Dates

The awkward dating moments..that go on and on. Some times there's nothing to do with a date but make lemonaid and throw it in his face Well, I don't have a snippet of that kind of date for you, but I do have a "date gone wrong" to share. From Turn It On, available in Print in just over a week!!

Pushing the sensual limits can set off all kinds of alarms…

Turner Twins, Book 1

Inheriting her grandmother's home is a dream come true for web designer Maxine Turner. She's looking forward to a little freedom from the constant demands of her beloved, crazy mob of a family. When vandals expose just how vulnerable she is living alone, she seeks help.

Ryan Claymore's well-thought-out life was wrenched out from under him when responsibility for his special-needs step-brother landed on his shoulders. Going from military man to business man hasn't been easy. He counts himself lucky he's found Maxine to trade his security-system knowledge for her web site expertise.

The red-hot chemistry that sizzles between them comes from out of the blue, and they both fight a losing battle to resist. Even the secret Ryan hides isn't enough to keep Maxine from working her way into his heart—and his bed.

But something else might tear them apart. Whoever seems determined to destroy her home, and her sanity along with it.

———–

Pulling away, his desire reflected back from her eyes. "I'm going to make love to you, Maxine. I'm going to remove every stitch of your clothing and touch every inch of your skin. I'm going to spend hours learning what your body needs, learning what you enjoy and then hours more giving it to you."

Her eyes widened, her face flushed crimson, her mouth open in a circle of awe as he spoke. Her tongue slipped out to moisten her bottom lip, and he nipped at the plump wet surface, the burst of her flavor sending his arousal even higher. He lowered his torso on top of her slowly, his rigid cock pressing against her yielding body. Their lips were mere inches apart and she continued to stare at him, her eyes showing desire and panic in equal proportions.

The porch boards creaked to their left. "Maxy? Are you out here?"

Fuck.

Maxine squirmed under him, pushing at his chest until he sat back, his body hard and aching. "It's my brother." She scrambled to button her blouse. "I'm sorry, I don't know why he's—"

"Maxy? Where are you? Are you okay?"

This was not fucking happening. Ryan dragged a hand through his hair and tried to calm his body down before he did something stupid, like pick Maxine up and carry her into the house under her brother's nose.

"We're over on the swing." She turned her wide eyes on Ryan, her lips swollen from his kisses, her breathing erratic. "I have no idea what he's doing here," she whispered.

Maxwell rounded the corner. "Why are you…?" He spotted Ryan and his forward momentum ceased, his gaze snapping back and forth between them. Ryan guessed their disheveled condition encouraged Maxine's brother to assume the worst.

Of course, if he'd been half an hour later, he might have been right.

He glared at them, his disapproval clear. "I tried calling, but got no answer. I was worried when I didn't hear from you."

Beside him on the swing, Maxine tensed. "I'm not twelve anymore, Junior. I'm fine. Ryan and I went out for dinner."

"Ryan? With Claymore Security?"

There was no way around it. Ryan stood and held out his hand. "That's me. I take it you're Maxwell."

Maxwell shook his hand, his body language relaxing off high alert. "Call me Junior. You'll find everyone in our family has a nickname."

Ryan nodded politely then turned back to Maxine. She stood beside the swing, her fingers twisting together, her bottom lip tight between her teeth. Her hair jumbled around her shoulders, all the gentle curves of her body calling to him as his cock throbbed. "You want to—"

"Come on, I'll take you home," Maxwell announced.

She sighed and shook her head. "This is my home. I'm staying here, you know I've moved back in."

"It's not ready yet."

"I'm not having this conversation with you again. The house is fine and I live here. What are you doing anyway? Shouldn't you be with Natasha and the baby?"

"I had to drop off some boxes with Uncle Maxum, and when I called home, Tasha said you weren't there. So I thought I'd stop by on my way and check to see you were all right."

"I'm fine. So…good night."

The air crackled with tension. Maxine's eyes shone brightly, her skin flushed with embarrassment. While both embarrassment and arousal suited her, personally he enjoyed the arousal better.

Maxwell looked pointedly at Ryan, his gaze steady. "I'll walk you to your car."

"Junior. What are you doing?" Maxine demanded. She stepped closer to Ryan, taking him by the hand.

Ryan laughed as he heard a growl rise from her brother. There was no way on earth Junior would leave his sister alone with Ryan tonight. Protective mode was written all over the man.

Maxine tugged his fingers. "I need to…" She glared at Maxwell, who stood like a bump on a log, eyeing them both. She gave a frustrated groan before pulling Ryan around the corner, away from Maxwell's view.

Ryan caught her against him and kissed her thoroughly, his hands holding her close as their lips and tongues tangled together. She twisted, her body rubbing desperately against his. Already aching, he separated them. Things were going no further tonight, and he'd reached the limit of his tolerance.

She rested her head against his chest and let out a huge sigh. "I'm so embarrassed. You must think I'm sixteen."

He laughed again. "You've got a brother who cares for you. That's nothing to be embarrassed about." He breathed out, low and slow, to try to force his dick to relax enough he could walk back to his car without pain.

The window behind them cranked open an inch and Maxine jerked. "I'm going to have a beer. You want one, Ryan?" Maxwell asked from within the house.

Ryan snorted. The man was unbelievable. "No thanks, I think I'll be going." He lifted Maxine's chin to gaze into her eyes. Maybe it was for the best. His body thought it sucked big time, but there would be another night. The chemistry between them wasn't going away anytime soon. "I'll call you tomorrow."

She nodded, the rosy hue of her skin muted in the porch light's dusky illumination. He dropped a kiss on her nose before walking her to the front door.

He was still chuckling when he pulled away. Maxine stood in the open doorway, while a grinning Maxwell waved from behind the living room window.

_______

Amazon Ebook | Amazon PRINT | MB&M | Barnes & Noble

———–

Check out these authors for their take on the lemonaid theme.

Lissa Matthews, Mari Carr, McKenna Jeffries, Taige Crenshaw, Ashley Ladd, Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon , Shelley Munro, TJ Michaels, Shelli Stevens, Jody Wallace

ARC-a-thon Day 5: Wilder's Mate Contest

It's time to dive in and get your feet wet. All of you not out running the Black Friday gauntlet, good for you–more $$ to spend on books, I always say

~~~

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

~~~

I posted an excerpt from Moira Rogers upcoming Wilder's Mate yesterday (pop back for some heated goodness…) and here's where you can enter to win an ARC- an advanced reader copy well ahead of the screaming masses that will be swarming the ebook stores come March 1–kinda like those swarming crowds today.

To be entered to win: Leave a comment and tell me if you lived in the Wild West, what job would you have in town? Sheriff? Bar keep? Town bum?

And then pop over to Moira Rogers blog for an excerpt from my Tangled Tinsel, and a chance to win an ARC.

ARC-a-thon day 4: Wilder's Mate Excerpt

Here's a -special special treat- An exclusive excerpt from the first book in a brand new series coming this spring from Moira Rogers. Wilder's Mate. It's so spanking new, its cover is still on the wait-and-see list. I caught Bree and Donna blushing on IM a few times while they were writing this one…

(If you're wondering what's happening this week, I suggest you pop back to Monday and read through all the goodness until you catch up. Wheee!!!!)

~~~

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

~~~

He'd almost managed to get to sleep when a timid knock sounded on the door that led to Satira's adjoining room. "Wilder?"

He fought the urge to slam a pillow over his face. "Yeah?"

She must have taken his reply as permission to enter, because the door inched open and she slipped through, a slight shadow wrapped in a blanket. The floorboards creaked as she took a step closer to the bed. "Do you mind…?"

She looked like she thought he'd growl at her until she ran screaming from the room. "Come on in."

"I can't sleep." Her voice held more than a little shame at the confession. "If people are expecting you to bed me, it can't hurt our disguise if we sleep in the same room, can it?"

Now he wanted to slam a pillow over his lap. "Can't hurt our disguise." It could only hurt him if he had to control himself around her. She grasped her blanket tight around her shoulders, but the gauzy fabric brushing the floor as she walked was sheer, flesh-colored silk.

She stopped next to the bed. "If you don't want me here, I'll go. I'll understand."

"Do you?"

"I think so." She stared at the floor. "Men have needs, but you're not interested in complicating our already difficult situation by giving in to them."

If he was a snake… "Did you come over here for sex, or because you'd sleep better if you weren't alone?"

"The latter." She shivered and clutched at the blanket as it began to slip. "I know you could get to my room quickly enough if anything happened, but the way some of those men were watching me…"

She was scared, and he felt even worse about his lust as he patted the blanket beside him. "Climb up. You don't have to be alone, and you don't have to worry about me."

"Thank you." The blanket gaped open as she scrambled onto the bed, revealing that the damn flimsy nightgown Juliet had packed for her was transparent all over. She shivered and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

Wilder shook his head. "That scrap of nothing isn't warm enough."

Satira choked on a laugh, a little hysterical but genuine. "I know. If it gets much colder tonight you'll have to kick me out of your bed to keep me from cuddling as close as I can."

The laughter was better than the way she'd looked at him before, hesitant and wary and almost ashamed of her fear. "If you put your cold feet on me, I'll scream like a little girl."

Icy toes poked at his leg, and he laughed and shoved her away.

She squirmed right back, and this time he got an entire foot pressed against his knee. Her breathless laughter cut short on a little moan of pleasure. "You're so warm."

"Won't be for long." He affected a growl, one he ruined by laughing again. "Jesus, woman. What were you doing, hanging your legs out the window?"

Satira huffed, but it didn't stop her from tucking her other foot against his shin. "My feet get cold."

"You're a walking icebox."

She echoed his words back, laced with drowsy contentment. "Won't be for long."

Quick as a rattlesnake bite, his protective shell of humor faded, leaving him in bed with a sleepy, scantily clad woman whose body made his knees weak. "Then it'll be my turn to freeze."

One small hand crept back across the covers until her fingers brushed his. "I'd keep you warm."

His balls ached. "Better watch what you promise, sweetheart. I'm not a noble man, no matter what you think."

Satira twisted until she faced him, eyes wide but unafraid. "It's been eleven months since a man took me to bed. I don't want noble."

His first thought was to turn her over his knee and spank her. That led directly to his second thought, a mental image of her bent over in front of him, her pale ass red from his hand, her cunt glistening and wet. "Satira."

She squeezed her eyes shut and went still, her slightly ragged breaths and too-quick heartbeat the only sounds for long moments. Then she breathed out a tiny sigh. "You make me feel like such a fool, throwing myself at a man who doesn't want to have me. Over and over again, and I'm supposed to be intelligent."

He urged one of the thin straps of the nightgown from her shoulder. "You worry too much."

"I know." With her eyes still shut she missed his mouth the first time, her open-mouthed kiss landing on his cheek.

His cock jerked like she'd licked him, and he turned his head far enough to meet her second kiss head-on, opening his mouth under hers. He swallowed her tiny little moan, and for a moment she seemed shy. Her tongue darted along his lower lip, then returned to stroke deeper, teasing against his.

He moved before he realized it, rolling them both and pinning her to the bed. "I'm not a boy. You know that, right?"

A short, jerky nod, and she wet her lips. "You're not just a man, either. I know that too."

No fear, and he trembled at the thought of being able to let go. Really let go. "No, not a man, either."

She craned her head up and kissed his chin, then the corner of his lips. "I will enjoy your attentions. Even if you wish to bind me, or order me to my knees, or take me across yours."

"Shh." Right now, there was only one thing he wanted to do. He slid one hand into her hair and tilted her head back, opening her mouth wider so he could kiss her deeply.

There was nothing quiet about her moan this time. Her fingers found the back of his head, clutching at him as if she could pull him closer. She reacted more quickly than he thought she would, melting under him.

He trailed his mouth to her neck and collarbone. "What if I do something else entirely? Will you like that?"

"I won't know until you do it." Her fingers stroked down to his shoulder, exploring with unabashed curiosity. "I like an adventure. And learning new things."

"If what I have planned for you is new, you've been bedding the wrong men."

Her bare shoulder lifted in a shrug, but her voice held a soft vulnerability. "They found me pleasant enough to tumble. Perhaps I didn't inspire them. None of them had seen me in my fancy hair and expensive dress, after all."

"Like I said…" He skimmed one hand down her side and gathered her sheer gown high on her leg. "You've been bedding the wrong men."

She laughed and bent one knee, sliding her foot along his calf. "Perhaps. So how do you intend to prove that you're the right man?"

"I could." His fingertips tickled over the top of her thigh. "Spread your legs."

No hesitation at all. She opened for him with a quiet, eager noise, her hips lifting toward his hand. "And here I was, certain you'd want to see my breasts first. You seem so fond of them."

"I know how to take my time."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Are you going to take me?"

Wilder slipped his hand under her gown, between her legs. "You mean am I going to fuck you?"

~~~

**blushes** Okay, yup. **grabs cool glass of water**

And…you can look around a little until you feel up to walking, and then head over to Moira's Blog for a chance to win a copy of my Turn It Up.

**sweats**

ARC-a-thon day 3 Deadlock Contest

Today is time for the working part. Here's where you can enter to win an ARC of this fantastic story.

~~~

Abandoned by her wolf shifter father and raised by her human psychic mother, Carmen Mendoza can't deny she's different. She craves things most women shy away from–and she has a trail of shapeshifting ex-boyfriends to prove it.

Working at a clinic for supernatural creatures, she's escaped the notice of her father's legacy-obsessed family. Until they need a pawn in their bid for power. Snared by a vicious spell designed to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Alec Jacobson was once the heir apparent to the wolves' ruling elite, until he walked away to marry the woman he loved. She paid with her life. He lives as a rebel, a black-sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from the wolves' barbaric class system. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen.

Yet staking his claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground. Unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules–and start making them.

Warning: This book contains a renegade alpha wolf, a smart empathic doctor, very dirty sex with psychic safe-words, the occasional dominance game in and out of the bedroom, and a group of supernatural citizens ready to take on the corrupt leaders of their world.

~~~

I gave you an excerpt to enjoy yesterday, today you can throw your name into the hat for a chance to win. (Rules on Monday's blog post, yada yada yada) To be entered, leave a comment and tell me if you were invited to play a children's game with a Significant Other, what game would it be?

After commenting, you can head over to Moira Roger's blog for an exclusive excerpt from my February release, Turn It Up.