Cerise DeLand's Blog, page 57

OLDIES BUT GOODIES: Once Upon a Wedding by Desiree Holt!

This book is a little quickie to scorch your fingertips! I love stories about weddings and this one is special to me, not only because it was one of the first I read in the erotica genre, but also because it is by my bud, Desiree Holt.
The premise is cute, and not at all unusual: The bride has jitters. Say, what? Yes. And she tries to work them out before the wedding. Smart gal.
The groom agrees she better find a solution.
That solution is the one that rocks my world and makes me smile.
Hope for you too!
Loraine McIntyre longs for just one weekend to let down her hair and find a man who will help her live out all her fantasies before her conventional wedding to her very conventional fiancé and continuing her very conventional life. Despite Stuart's protests, she knows she has to do this or she'll always feel she missed something in life. Goodbye Loraine, hello Rainie.
And hello Joe, the sex god with lion's eyes she meets at the beach. Hopping on his motorcycle with him, she roars off to a weekend of the wildest sex anyone could ever want. But things are not always what they seem and life is about to hand Rainie a few surprises.
Excerpt:

Copyright © DESIREE HOLT, 2007All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.“Sounds like you should have a talk with Stuart.” They were silent for a long moment. Joe picked up one of her hands and played with the fingers. “So Rainie-who-wants-to-be-wild. Do you think I’d do?”She frowned. “Do?”“You know. For the weekend fling. I’m healthy, momentarily unattached and I can promise you the sex will be better than you can imagine.”Her heart was beating in a stuttering rhythm. A flutter deep in her womb began to increase in tempo.While she chewed on her lip, Joe made the decision for her. He swallowed the last of his drink, rose with lithe jungle grace and held out his hand to her. “Come on. I promise you an adventure you won’t forget.”Rainie looked up at him. A wildness glittered in his lion’s eyes, a hint of something feral and untamed beneath all those tanned muscles and that amazing grin. Anticipation rolled over her.“All right.” She stood up, hitched the thin strap of her flat purse over her shoulder and gave him her hand.He tossed their drink cups in a trash barrel and led her toward the street.“Where are we going?”“I rented a house down the beach for the weekend. How does that sound?”She paused. “I don’t have any clothes except what I’ve got on. And my car’s in the garage here.”The amber eyes darkened to a deep gold. “If things work out you won’t need any clothes. And your car’s safe at the hotel. Anyway, I’ve got the transportation covered.”They stopped at the curb where a gleaming silver Ducati motorcycle rested on its kickstand.Rainie’s mouth flopped open. “Is this yours?”“Sure is.” He winked at her and handed her a helmet. “Here. You’ll need this. Don’t want to splatter your brains before we get to that wild sex.”Suddenly Rainie threw back her head and laughed. What the hell. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? “Okay, Joe. Crank ‘erup.”She hopped onto the motorcycle behind him, wrapped her arms around his hard, muscular body, her hands clasped against sun-warmed male skin and inhaled. A cologne so light its fragrance was almost elusive mingled with the scent of the sun, the Gulf waters, the lingering coconut aroma of the piña coladas and the male essence that was uniquely Joe. She had to squash in irresistible urge to pull up his shirt and lick his skin to see if he tasted as good as he smelled.They roared down the street with wheeling seagulls squawking overhead and the rushing slipstream of the wind sweeping away the last vestiges of restraint.

ARe makes my ROPE ME IN a Recommended Read in their lastest Newsletter!

http://www.jasminejade.com/m-560-cerise-deland.aspxYowza! Allromanceebooks.com selected ROPE ME IN for their RECOMMENDED READ this week!
With two 5 star ratings from 2 different review sites, this ARe recommendation does a Dirty Harry for me. Yes. Makes my day! Heck, my week!
What did they say?
Recommended Reads 
Rope Me In by Cerise Deland 
Knights in Black Leather, Book One
In Bravado, Texas, the men are good and plenty...and lonely.
 
Not inclined to remain horny bachelors, the three MacRae brothers devise a plan to find one fine woman and get the good lovin' they deserve. One gander at the new gal in town, charming Cara Ford, and the cowboys decide to do some old-fashioned courting. Then they'll offer her a thoroughly modern deal-all three of them, just for luscious, lovely her.
 
Cara has returned to Bravado to rebuild her life after cutting the cord to her self-centered husband. One man was a pain. Why would she want to tie herself to three ranchers known for their wildcattin', no matter how sexy?
 
Undeterred, Jed, Harry and Will rope her into their daily lives, sweet-talk her into sharing their torrid nights, and set out to convince her that three hard-lovin' men in bed is better than one.  
 
I really loved the characters in this story. Cara, Will, Jed, and Harry are all really well written, complete characters. They drew me in from the very beginning. They all have different personalities and different tastes. The MacRae boys know what they want and they prepare for it and they go after it with a determination that cannot be stopped. I loved how different the brothers were and how united they were in their pursuit of Cara. I loved the interactions between all of the characters and how they handled certain situations. The sex was explicit and fairly frequent. At first there is not a lot of BDSM or ménage. It is in the story and it was enjoyable. At first Cara spends time one on one with each brother and builds relationships with them individually and as a whole. I liked the way that was done. This story focuses primarily on the relationship but there is enough going on that it holds your attention from the beginning. I really enjoyed the
plot and the way that it was written. The setting was great and I want to know more about the town and what is going to happen in it. This is the first in the series and I am excited for more. 


THIS MARVELOUS Recommendation comes on the heals of 5 LIPS from TWO LIPS and ROSE THAT RULES from Romancing the Book! 

TIM SMITH is back with his newest romantica, NEVER LOOK BACK!

Today I’m celebrating the release of my new romantic spy thriller from eXtasy Books, Never Look Back. This is the second in the Nick Seven series I began last year with Memories Die Last but like all my series titles, it stands alone.
“Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens left the CIA to carve out an idyllic anonymous life in The Florida Keys. The last thing they wanted was to be used by their former employer as pawns in America’s war on terror. Nick and Felicia navigate a complex maze of intrigue and double-crosses while dealing with a rogue agent from their past who has a score to settle. When Felicia becomes part of the scheme the stakes get higher and more personal. Can Nick keep her out of harm’s way or will he finally be outwitted? Will Felicia stay with him or return to Barbados?”
People have asked me about these characters and why I chose the setting I did. When I conceived the series I needed a place for these former spies to hang out, somewhere colorful where anything could happen but nothing that had been overused. I had recently visited The Florida Keys and asked myself a question – “If I were a former CIA spook who wanted to hide in plain sight, where would I go? Key Largo.” For plot purposes its ideal – Miami is to the north, and Key West is a couple of hours south.  A lot of action can take place on that hundred-mile stretch of islands.
Nick isn’t your typical spy guy action hero like you see on TV or in the movies. He isn’t married to his job like Gibbs on NCIS and he doesn’t ache to get back into the espionage game like Michael Weston on Burn Notice. Nor does he feel an unflagging loyalty to Queen and country like James Bond. Nick had enough and wants to stay the hell out of the game. Unfortunately his former employers have different ideas.
Every good adventure needs a sexy tough leading lady for the hero to bounce ideas and one-liners off of and Nick has Felicia, the Barbadian beauty he was once partnered with. He teasingly calls her “the toughest broad this side of the West Indies” but it’s no joke. She can kick ass with the best of them and the heat they generate between the sheets could melt the polar ice cap.  Here’s an example:
Nick lay in bed trying to go to sleep, but after the evening’s events it wasn’t possible. He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled a relaxing breath. He opened his eyes when he felt Felicia’s hand gently running along his chest. He raised his head and looked over at her. Her eyes were open and she stared at him.He sat up and leaned against the headboard. A wisp of moonlight shone through the open curtains and highlighted her soft brown eyes.“Something wrong?” he asked.She slowly shook her head while moving her hand down his torso. “Nothin’ wrong. I just don’t feel like sleepin’.”“Want to talk about it?”She scooted over then kissed him. “Don’t feel like talkin’, either.” She paused. “You saved me tonight—again.”He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “You’re worth it.”Her hand moved further south. “Seein’ you show your tough side makes me hot.”She leaned in and kissed a light trail along his cheek while her fingers roamed the back of his neck. “I just feel so close to you,” she whispered. “When all hell broke loose you didn’t hesitate. You wanted to make sure I didn’t get hurt.”Nick peered into her eyes. They gave off a soft glow in the dimness. He felt something inside, a warmth and a longing to bond with Felicia in the most intimate way, to make her a part of him. He gave her a deep kiss and felt her breasts moving against his chest and her hand fondling him into hardness.“I’m feeling pretty close to you, too,” he said.Felicia slithered down his body and took his hard-on into her mouth. She lovingly sucked him while her hand squeezed and stroked. The fingers of her other hand raked his chest. Nick moaned softly as Felicia got him fully hard. He wanted to pull her to him but knew this was her seduction. He reached down to play with her nipple, tweaking it between his fingers until it was hard and puckered. Felicia purred and sucked him harder and deeper, working her throat down his length. She teasingly ran the tip of her tongue along his swollen head, making him jerk and pulse.Nick’s breathing rate accelerated. “I love it when you do that.” He opened his eyes and looked at Felicia’s head bobbing up and down, increasing his excitement.“Felicia, I need you,” he panted.Felicia straddled him, grasped his cock and placed it at her wet opening. Slowly, teasingly, she lowered herself onto him. When he was completely imbedded inside her she stopped, panting softly. She placed her open palms on Nick’s chest and began riding him in a steady rhythm.“So damn hard,” she whispered.
                                                                        * * * *
Action and intrigue abound in Nick and Felicia’s world, whether they want it or not. In these stories I like to take the Alfred Hitchcock approach – when you least expect something to happen, it probably will:
Felicia covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. Nick placed his hand on hers and squeezed. “My angel looks tired. Want to go home?”“Yeah.” She paused. “Thanks for makin’ me go out today. Made me feel better.”“You’re welcome. I just wanted to cheer you up and get your mind off things.”She reached over and caressed his cheek. “For a tough guy, you can be sensitive when you have to be.”“Maybe I need to work on that.”They left the club via the outdoor exit then walked to the parking lot out front. When they reached a dark spot Felicia suddenly stopped, pulled Nick’s face to hers then kissed him.“What was that for?” he asked.“Just because.” She stroked his brow. “You complainin’?”“Of course not.”Nick took her in his arms and kissed her again. He felt Felicia’s hands on his shoulders and got more into their passionate embrace. Felicia pulled him a bit lower while kissing him with more intensity.Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sound of rapid gunfire and bullets hitting the building behind them. Nick looked in wide-eyed terror in the direction the shots were coming from, then shoved Felicia to the ground. He collapsed on top of her and hugged her tightly, keeping his head down. There was a brief lull and then the shooting started again. Chunks of plaster landed on Nick’s back. After another minute the shooting stopped. Nick heard sirens approaching, followed by the sound of a car peeling rubber as it left the parking lot.Nick got to his feet and sprinted toward the exit but only saw a dark compact car speeding north on U.S. 1. He ran back to Felicia and helped her to her feet.“Are you okay?” he frantically asked.Felicia took deep breaths and nodded. “Okay.” * * * *
Now that you’ve seen the trailer, read the full story. If you suddenly find yourself thirsting for a Pina Colada or wanting to take a siesta under the palms, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author whose books range from romantic mystery/thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. His website is www.timsmithauthor.com. 

SASSY 7 do 7 books for NAUGHTY SLEEPOVER series!

Yes, the Sassy 7 (http://sassyseven.com) have joined ranks once more and created a series, dahlinks, a SERIES that will blow your skirts up!
When? October 8, Monday!  That's right, seven books to read, sear your eyeballs with luscious reading and lick your fingertips.
Here we are!
All 7 ebooks will be published by Decadent Publishing and then, ta-daah, for our NAUGHTY SLEEPOVER CONFERENCE in February, everyone registered gets a copy of the print books.
Get ready cuz here we come: (in alpha order of author's last name)

Sugar Girl by Nicole Austin A guy walks into a bar... And finds the girl he shouldn’t have left behind. Their differences kept Candy and Jeremiah apart until finally, the road lead them back where they belong. But in the harsh light of the morning after can she really hold on to a shooting star?





Say Yes by Regina Carlysle All work and no play is no way to live and J.D. Stone aims to change that after a chance meeting at the Menger Hotel. When the lonely rancher meets sassy photographer, Melissa Bell, the sparks fly and passions burn hot enough to incinerate them both.





Spank ’Em Cowboy by Samantha Cayto Tara hopes to survive her sister's wedding without a wardrobe malfunction. Rob spots the voluptuous filly and cuts her from the herd. And when she craves someone to take the reins, he knows he's the right man to saddle her up for the ride of her life.





More Than You Know by Cerise DeLandOne redhead. One bartender. Lots of laughter. A desire so tender that the sheets they burn up together could set the hotel on fire. But can he intrigue a woman who’s older? What if he never lets her out of bed? Will she still want him tomorrow?





Overnight Sensation by Desiree Holt Pulled together in a crowd by an instant attraction, Abbie and Sam are powerless against the incendiary combustion that consumes them and turn a chance meeting into an overnight sensation.






Blame it on Texas by Allie Standifer Everything's supposed to be bigger and better in Texas, right? Sexy plus size model Serena Morgan isn't convinced until Texas country star Kale Winters takes her in a night of passion. Come morning will Kale convince Serena he's the real deal or Blame it on Texas?





When a Lady Meets a King by Brenna Zinn Lady Pembrook went to great lengths, traveling thousands of miles and assuming a false identity to satisfy her fantasy of a one-night stand with a real Texas cowboy. But when a mysterious stranger in dark sunglasses threatens to expose her scandalous behavior, a handsome King comes to the rescue.
See http://sassyseven.com to register for our conference!

5 LIPS for ROPE ME IN!

BIG THANKS to TWO LIPS for a delightful review! http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8054&Itemid=36
Title: Rope Me In
Author: Cerise Deland
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary
Publication date:  May 18, 2012
ISBN: 1-419939-08-2
Pages: 110
Series: Knights in Black Leather, Book 1
Reviewer: Tina
Heat Level: M/M/M/F  oral & anal sex, light BDSMRating:
Bravo Texas is full of horny bachelors looking for more in life. When Cara Ford comes to town, the three MacRae brothers take notice; they want her but does she want them?
Cara wants to rebuild her life, not find more trouble. She’s sworn off men; they are nothing but pain and heart break. Jed, Harry, and Will are not scared of a challenge; they want her and intend to keep her.
Rope Me  In  by Cerise DeLand is the first steamy read in her  Knights in Black Leather  series. There is a lot of sex, but it’s the story which kept me coming back for more. All of the angst and drama kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Cara needs all of the brothers; she just doesn’t know it yet. The MacRae brothers need her too; she brings the balance they need to life. I loved the many layers in this book; they always kept me guessing about what was going to happen next. There are some light BDSM scenes that ramp up the heat and bring the emotions to another level.
I love how Ms. DeLand brings her characters to life and makes me really cheer for them. Each of the brothers brought something to this story; they all were an equal part so no one feels left out. I was curious to see if this combination could be balanced and it can, really well in fact. When you want a hot steamy story with lots of angst and hot emotions, this is the book to pick up. 

Favorite things: How do workaholics relax?

A way to relax? Enjoy looks of Italian Olympic team
of water polo players. Si, preggo, pronto!
For workaholics like authors, relaxing is a challenge! If it is for you too, want some insights in what your fave authors do to get peace of mind and body? What are mine? I walk 3x a week.  I swim 6 laps every other day. I do yoga often and at the end of each day? I cook, baby! I cutthings. I whack them. I sauté and braise them. I wrestle with them sometimes. All while sipping my favorite wine for the evening!Here are a few of my favorite buddies’ methods. And yes, all are members of the Sassy Seven! http://www.sassyseven.comFirst up, friend Brenna Zinn ( http://www.brennazinn.com) declares, “Relaxing is hard for me.  I have a strong, relentless drive to constantly do something, be productive in some way or think about what has to be done.  I often wake up at 2 a.m. with my mind wide awake and ready to start the day.  My body might disagree, but my mind rules supreme.  “Because of this, my kind of relaxation is more cerebral.  When I can shut off my head, forget the world around me, and just be in the moment is the time I'm most relaxed. Usually, when I ride my bike or practice yoga, I can achieve relaxation.“Playing poker, especially in Vegas, gets me there too.  Even if I'm losing.  But topping my list is when I'm hanging around my girlfriends, laughing, and maybe having a few drinks.  Those relaxing moments are truly cherished.”Sassy 7 buddy, Nicole Austin ( http://www.nicoleaustin.com) says, “Number One on my list? Go to the gym. Yes, I can hear the groans already but it’s true. The gym is the one place where I can let my very active mind relax. I pop in my headphones, turn on my iTunes dance mix and drift away. When I skip going to the gym I have no energy and sleep issues so it’s an absolute must for me!“Second fave?  My new favorite relaxation is going for a massage. Ahhhh, now that’s the ticket. I go once a month—sometimes two—close my eyes and let hot young men with strong hands rub the knots out of my shoulders, neck, arms, back and legs. I always walk out of there feeling like an overcooked noodle. So good!I love stories where the hero and heroine are total opposites, they just clash, but all that intense clashing creates undeniable passion. A passion neither can ignore for long. Where there's smoke.”Oh, AMEN, Nic!And let’s hear from non-stop Desiree Holt! (http://www.desireeholt.com) Does she relax? Ever?“I love to relax on my new back porch with my e-reader and a sippy cup of whipped cream vodka. By the time I finish both I'm relaxed as hell.  In the fall I love to relax with football, although some people would say it makes me manic! But that's where the vodka comes in.”Now, what are your favorite chillaxin’ ways?Tell us! And to one who comments, I will give away one of mine of your choice!!!And do Get Naughty with all 7 of us Sassy ones at our NAUGHTY SLEEPOVER in February. ( http://www.sassyseven.com )

Oldies but Goodies: OUT OF CONTROL by my pal, Desiree Holt!

Des and I are launching our bi-monthly bit we call OLDIES BUT GOODIES . Yep. We're pimping out the books you may have missed!OUT OF CONTROL is one of my very favorites of hers. Why?A hot and believable romance has got to have a solid background. This one is not only an accurate view of the Hill Country of Texas (Des's and my home territory) but also a bang up job of characterization of a serial killer's only surviving attemtped victim. Yes, this woman is damaged but has rehabilitated herself enough so that we can see the trauma and the recovery.A must read! Here you go: Twenty five years ago Carrie Nolan was the only victim to survive the killing spree of a pedophile. Her life has been frozen in time, and not even a move to a distant city or a name change has healed the wounds that left her emotionally and sexually scarred. Determined finally to reclaim her life, Carrie returns to High Ridge as multi-published crime novelist, Dana Moretti, in hope of asking the questions that would lay her nightmares to rest. Sheriff Cole Landry, came to High Ridge to escape the horrors of Iraq and Afghanistan, but soon after the sexy author arrives and starts poking her nose into matters best forgotten, his town once again becomes the hunting ground of a ruthless killer. She's sure it's the same man, and he's not all that convinced she's wrong. Keeping Dana safe means keeping her close—very close—under his protection, under him. Between her sexual need for Cole and the danger lurking behind every stranger's face, her world is spinning out of control.
“Can I help you?”The deep voice that spoke to her sent shock waves through her. She whirled, her knees shaking. Oh, hell. It was him. The man in the truck. Wearing a uniform, for god’s sake. “I have to say,” he went on, “you look a lot better when you aren’t soaked through by the rain.” Dana’s legs were shaking, keeping time with the butterflies doing the rumba in her stomach. The first thing she thought was cowboy. He had the easy, relaxed yet alert stance she’d seen on men around horses and cattle. And his feet were shod in square-toed Western boots. She was sure his hat would be a Stetson.But the way his eyes assessed her, the analytical gaze…military. Some kind of covert ops. A dangerous combination in a man.Dangerous to women. And to people who were misled by his friendly smile.He was somewhere in his mid-thirties. At least six-four, broad shouldered, and lean hipped, the khaki of the sheriff’s uniform looking as if it were custom tailored for him. His face was all angles and planes, with deep-set, whiskey-colored eyes framed by dark brows and lashes. Even in her state of high anxiety, she couldn’t miss the sexuality that radiated from him. The ultimate alpha male. And trouble. I’ll bet he has to beat the women off with a nightstick. Well, for sure he won’t have to worry about me. Oh, wait. After last night, he probably thinks I’m a nutcase anyway.She wet her lips. “I gave my card to your…to the woman at the window. I’m Dana Moretti.”“I know who you are.” His smile, like John Garrett’s, was professional and didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve been expecting you. Come on.” He swung the door wide, the muscles in his tanned arms flexing with the movement. “If you’d identified yourself last night,” she told him, trying to keep the acid out of her voice, “I might have been more willing to accept a ride. I don’t make it a habit of jumping into trucks with strange men.”His body brushed hers as he let the door swing shut, and lightning shot through her. What the hell? She knew what unexpected lust was. She often wrote about it, but it wasn’t a feeling familiar to her personally. Certainly not in a situation like this. Maybe this was a bad idea, after all.“So, what kind of men do you jump in trucks with?”
www.desireeholt.comwww.desireeholttellsall.comTwitter: @desireeholtFacebook: /desireeholtAnd now an App for all Apple device

Oldies but Goodies? Desiree Holt and I do them on 1st and 15th!

Have a list of authors whose works you adore? Whose words speak to you over and over again? Ones that give you that warm fuzzy—or scorching erotic feel you love?
My buddy Desiree Holt does that for me, every time, big time.
She and I begin a new series on each of our blogs starting tomorrow, wherein we give you a hot jolt of goodness as a blast from the past!
Join us on the 1st and 15th of each month here on my blog and over on hers, too, for OLDIES BUT GOODIES, aka Books you may have missed that you certainly do not want to!
See http://desireeholttellsall.com

Strong Female Characters? Michelle Birbeck gives the scoop!

Michelle's site: www.michellebirbeck.co.uk
I saw a Q&A by Joss Wheadon that’s been going around tumblr for a while, and it got me thinking about the subject in question.
The Q&A was: So, why do you write these strong female characters? A: Because you’re still asking me that question.
Well, this inspired my own question, which is this: How can people NOT write strong female characters?
I can’t do it. No matter how hard I try, I really struggle to write weak ass, whiney women who do nothing but snivel and wait for a man to come rescue her.
Screw that.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of being rescued on occasion by a big strong man, with lots of muscles, dressed in leather, carrying weapons… sorry, I’m getting off track there. But I don’t need a man to come rescue me. And neither do my characters.
When I was writing The Last Keeper, it never occurred to me at any point to write anything but strong female characters. I wanted them to have weaknesses, but those weaknesses weren’t what defined them.
Serenity, Poppy, and Helen are three of my favourite examples of what I think are strong female characters.
Serenity has lived through hell. She saw the destruction of her entire race, held her brother and sister as they died. For over half of her three thousand years of life she’s had to watch as her race was hunted down and slaughtered.
Then she meets Ray, and everything looks up. She’s got her man, the one person in the world meant for her. But loving him doesn’t make her weak. Being at her happiest when she’s with him doesn’t mean she’s incapable of being happy on her own.
And when she loses him and breaks down, that doesn’t make her weak, either. Most of us would break down when we lose a loved one. It’s the getting up and carrying on, going on with her duties as last of her race, and being there for her family when she feels like hell, that makes her strong. It’s the fact that despite everything she’s been through, she still has it in her to get up, go out, do the things she has to, and plaster a smile across her face. Even though that smile is a fake one.
Then there’s Poppy. Most feared female vampire in the world. She gave the vampire’s ruling body, The Seats, everything they ever wanted. A sadistic way to hunt down disobedient underlings, one that they took great delight in for centuries. She fought her way to the top of her male dominated world, and made them worship her.
But then she gave up everything she had to be with the man she loved. Not because he asked her to, but because she wanted to. And let me tell you, when Serenity says Poppy is the only one who ever left The Seats willingly, she means it. No one leaves The Seats. Not unless it’s feet first. No one even gains a place among The Seats without years of servitude and fighting. But Poppy did. She forced them to give her a place, and she fought her way out of it in search of a better life. To me, that makes her one of the strongest characters I’ve written, purely because she had to fight so hard for everything she wanted.
But perhaps Helen is the strongest of all my female characters in The Last Keeper. She lost her partner, her parents. She watched Serenity fall apart at every loss over the years. She stood tall through everything and gave her all to keep those she loved safe. Yet where Poppy and Serenity are immortals in the book, Helen is basically human. She has no extra powers, no ability to heal herself, and isn’t immortal. Yet if she has to kick Serenity’s backside from here to the other side of the world, then she’d do it. Despite everything she knows, the loses she’s felt, she puts everyone else first, stands tall in the face danger, and doesn’t let anything stand in her way.  
So in all honesty, I don’t understand writing weak female characters who just want a man to come provide for them and take care of them. We all have moments of weakness; we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t. But those weaknesses shouldn’t be what define us, and they shouldn’t be what define our characters, either.
I did try writing a female character once who wasn’t strong—she certainly wasn’t weak, either—but I got about half way through the first chapter before I threw the whole thing out and started again. At this point I don’t ever seen me writing any characters who aren’t capable of standing on their own two feet and giving everything they have for what they want and what they believe in.
About Me:  Michelle is 29 and has been reading and writing her whole life. Her earliest memory of books was when she was five and decided to try and teach her fish how to read by putting her Beatrix Potter books in the fish tank with them.Since then her love of books has grown, and now she is writing her own and looking forward to seeing them on her shelves, though they won’t be going anywhere near the fish tank.When she’s not writing, she’s out and about on her motorbike or sitting with her head in a book.
You can find out more about Michelle and her books on her website: www.michellebirbeck.co.uk

Naughty Sleepover for readers of erotica!

A convention with BDSM demo, sex toy demo and male strippers?Really?Yes! Here's one you won't EVER FORGET!The Sassy Seven's Naughty Sleepover in February in San Antonio at The Menger Hotel.And for ladies who want to have a great weekend, laughing and learning about stuff that perhaps you've not known too much about before, this is your weekend. In a safe environment. Controlled. Only with other women.Women who read erotica.Women who write it.Women who enjoy getting away from their significant others and maybe taking home a bit of knowledge to spice up their love life.And if that cake needs icing, we have all of this:
GIVEAWAYS of books and bling.A great little city that you can safely walk in. A hotel, historic and comfortable, as well as affordable.The Alamo across the street, just in case you need a shot of history with your strippers, BDSM demo, line dancing, fun games and Tex-Mex dining. A conference fee that includes 4 meals and one Chocolate Extravaganza.Authors to schmooze with.Editors to pitch your story idea to!Sassy Seven babes who are giving away tee shirts, books, bling of their own!Raffle baskets.(Yes, you will need another suitcase cuz your carry-on will NOT hold all this!)And love.So what are you waiting for?Got to http://sassyseven.com