Cerise DeLand's Blog, page 68

Lingerie! Oo, la la!

YES, you know I am crazy for this stuff!
Whetting your appetite for more, more, more, I am over at Delilah Devlin's blog today, showing you yum yum goodies. http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/
Why?
Well, my newest heroine in a new series I write, KNIGHTS IN BLACK LEATHER , is about to open a lingerie shop in a tiny town in Texas.
What's unusal about this town?
The men are good and plenty~and the women wear little more than a smile.

Welcome the heroine of GREY's LADY by Natasha Blackthorne!

 Grey's Lady is the story of a wealthy New York merchant price, Grey Sexton, who falls for a poor but beautiful seductress, Beth McConnell. Yet, for all their social and economical differences, at their most basic level, Beth and Grey are very similar. This story explores how these similarities threaten to tear them apart before love can overcome the fear of being vulnerable.
Both Beth and Grey suffered isolation and emotional neglect in childhood. Grey grew up as a privileged only son, heir to Sexton Shipping, one of the fledging nation's largest mercantile fleets. Grey's father was a stern businessman who did not understand his daydreaming son and held him at a distance. A child in this position might take solace in a closer relationship with his mother. However, Grey's mother was chronically ill and unable to bear his childish energy. She kept to her chambers and died while he was still quite young.I will let Beth tell her story in her own words.


Why should men always have the power of choice when it comes to sexual and romantic relationships? Is it right that we women have no choice but to sit and wait for a man decide to honor us with his declarations–usually uttered in the form of a demand? And all we as women may do is say "yes" or "no" and hope we have made a wise choice. The man still has the power to break his promises and it will be our good name and heart that bears the damage.

My mother fell into an adulterous affaire with an unknown man and as a result I was created. Her husband put her out of their house. I would have been borne in the almshouse if not for the kindness of her employer. After my mother's death, I would have gone to the foundling home without my kindly benefactress. My unknown father also had his power of choice, the choice to abandon me. How fair is it that men have all the power of choice?

Oh, you ask what about the gentlemen? Ha! The gentlemen. They are the very worst.

A gentleman once declared passionate love for me. He said this so ardently, his beautiful brown eyes shone with sincerity. I was young. I was naïve. I believed him. I trusted him and gave my heart wholly into his keeping. And as went my heart, eventually so went my virtue.

Do you what happened next? Surely, I don't have to tell you. You know how these maudlin stories go. He married someone else. A lady. Someone of his own class. His took his power of choice. He became a respectable family man and I was left being a soiled dove. I had a good cry over it. I may have drank a little too much at his wedding celebration. What a pitiful little fool I was. But I did not wallow in my self-pity for long. So men have needs and desires? Well, I also have needs. I also have desires. Why should men have all the power of choice? Why should they have all the enjoyment in life?

I take my own power of choice now. I chose whom, when and for how long and I select only the most handsome, wealthy, and powerful of gentlemen.

Yes, I know you are asking do I not fear discovery? This is a worry and I take it seriously. Truly I do. I live with my half-brother and his family now. He is very protective and very touchy about matters of honor. Our mother was not faithful to his father. Now he takes such matters so seriously. Too seriously. If he had his way, I would stay home all the time, working in the backroom of his cobbler shop with one eye on the children. But honestly, though I love my nieces and my half-siblings, life there is dreary. It's all work, work and more work. Everything is shabby, everything seems to stay gritty and grimy no matter how hard I work to keep things clean. There are always more shoes to repair. I swear my eyes shall go crossed trying to sew by candlelight night after night. I never get enough sleep or time to myself. If I couldn't go out and seek my adventures, I should go mad. I have my mother's wild blood in me and my desires can run so high I fear they shall consume me.

I could marry a nice man and he would carry me away from all of this. I would have my own cozy home and hearth. My benefactress has introduced me to a nice young minister and to a nice young but struggling legal clerk and a nice young medical student who trembled all over and went pale when I said good morning to him. I have no interest in nice young men. It's the wealthy, powerful, arrogant gentlemen who fascinate me. I know they will never desire me for a wife but they shall burn for me. They shall remember me.

How do I protect myself from discovery? I limit my liaisons to one single meeting. I never meet with my gentlemen again, no matter how desperately they implore me. And they do implore me. Though I am poor, the child of adultery by an unknown man and powerless in my society, I have something gentlemen desire. I have beauty, and thanks to my mother's wild blood, I understand their hot lusts better than the women of their class. I do gain a measure of satisfaction out of leaving them burning for more. Burning for me. No gentleman shall ever forget the one afternoon he spent with me.

Today is a special day for me. Mr. Asahel de Grijs, otherwise known as Grey to his friends, is coming to my favorite bookseller to give a lecture on privateering. He is a New York man, the owner of Sexton Shipping which has a fleet of over forty sea going vessels. He is rumored to be the wealthiest gentleman in America. I know this is not true. I know exactly who is the wealthiest man in America. But Mr. Sexton is among the top three wealthiest men in our nation. He is also politically connected and quite powerful. He would be the brightest feather in my cap. I think I shall wear my shabbiest dress because it is always more thrilling when these gentlemen cannot resist the tattered, poor little bastard girl. They are slaves to their own greed for beauty.

I don't really deride gentlemen for their focus on beauty. I appreciate a handsome face and well-made masculine form. Well, if Mr. Sexton's physicality matches his other attributes, then I shall be entertaining a gentleman today. In private. In his carriage. But only for today. Afterwards, he shall burn for me. He will never forget me.
An excerpt: (Copyright, All rights reserved, 2011) "Are you hungry?" he asked, his tone front-parlour-polite."No." She couldn't possibly eat. She'd been pent up with desire like a caged cat for two weeks. Now, so close to being beneath him again, she could barely keep herself from swooning from the excitement.
"You know, for a moment there, I thought you were about to bolt."
"No, never."
"That's a relief." He laughed without smiling and pressed something into her hand—a key. He whispered his room number. "Go up. I'll follow shortly."
"I haven't much time."
"Very shortly." The edgy promise in his voice sent a bolt of desire twisting through her belly. Her knees melted to jelly and she wobbled.
"Careful." His strong hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her, his face showing none of the emotion pounding through her own body. How could he remain so unaffected?
Impulse seized her and she caught hold of his lapels. "Kiss me."
He leaned closer. Heavens, anyone could come along and catch them. Oh the risk… But her breath quickened and her nipples stiffened, straining against her stays. She closed her eyes, tilted her head up. Waited.
And waited.
"How many men since me?" He laid his large hand at the base of her throat and a thrill went chasing through her. "Look me in the eye."
Her lids fluttered open and his gaze pierced into her with such intensity she gasped. "It has only been two weeks."
"Answer me, Beth."
Another thrill trembled through her. Fear or anticipation? She couldn't say. "None."
Still holding her throat, he studied her for several long moments. She set her jaw, refusing to waver under his scrutiny.
He bent and his mouth pressed hers, hard and hasty. Passion spiralled, took her soaring to the stars. Lassitude weakened her and wetness seeped between her legs. He lifted his head. She tightened her hands on his lapels, trying to pull him back. He resisted, his eyes trained on her like a stag with a doe.
Kiss me. Just kiss me, you arrogant jackanapes.
"Now, go." He released her, set her veil back in place and left her there.
She gaped at his departing back, watching how he moved, so tall and proud. Over-proud. Did he have any idea what a rarefied class he found himself in? She didn't go around asking just any man to kiss her. She had very high standards and she shared herself with only a select few. She was bestowing quite an honour on him and yet he reacted as if she were the one who ought to be grateful. And to add insult to injury, he hadn't even kissed her. Not truly.
THANKS, NATASHA!  
Now, dear reader, do run to buy your copy of GREY's LADY:  http://www.amazon.com/Greys-Lady-Carte-Blanche-ebook/dp/B00630ZCP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320423899&sr=8-1

Boot Scootin' Boogie Blog tour by Natalie Acres! A Hot Ride!

Thank you for hosting a blog stop during The First Annual Natalie Acres Boot Scootin' Boogie Blog Tour! I'm excited to share information about the Cowboy Boots series in celebration of my new release, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts. The third book in this romantic suspense saga, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts is by far the 'hottest' of the series. A Siren-Bookstrand LoveXtreme title, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts introduces readers to Abby Rose and her team of seven fellow operatives. With a deadly mission in front of them, Abby's team members are forced to face regrets as they come to terms with the fact they've fallen in love with one of their own. Now, with Abby taking an inside position on a very dangerous mission, Abby's men work around the clock to make sure she leaves this assignment alive!Hold on tight! This series moves faster than the hit TV show '24'!Releasing November 7th, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, Book 3 in the Cowboy Boots Series Blurb:  Seduction turns deadly when Abby Rose, an agent with the Underground Unit, decides to put a provocative spin on revenge. Her plan to sleep with a cartel leader backfires when fellow operatives refuse Abby the opportunity to face her enemy alone.Abby's fellow agents begin the fight of their lives. After discovering Abby will use her body to lure in the man who killed her father, and their command leader, seven highly trained operatives cope with high tensions as each man comes to terms with feelings never previously acknowledged. This team isn't fighting for another cause or plotting the best way to take out their mark. The stakes are much higher. These men will take up arms and meet their greatest challenge as they work together to protect the woman they admire and love. Excerpt: Rated R for content and language Ace snarled. "I will spank her when this is over." "Sure you will," Casey said. "About like Porter plans to put a dildo in her pussy and paddle her twat." "I never said that," Porter said, keeping a keen eye on Abby. "Talk about that kiss and I'll deck you," Ace said. "Damn, those lips were sweet," Porter teased. Ace faced him. "I wasn't kidding." Porter took a deep breath. Sometimes Ace's attitude was a real obstacle. He was a smart-ass SOB when he wanted to be. Standing about six foot four, Ace was nothing more than layers of muscle. The only soft spot the man possessed was the one Porter held in high regard, too—Abby Rose. "I say we take him out right here," Casey said, always ready to jump the gun. Casey looked like a kid, and very often Porter reminded himself Casey wasn't a child, hard to do since the guy looked like a surfer boy of about eighteen. Only a year separated them. Porter was twenty-nine. Casey followed only a year behind. Still, Casey was a trained killer just like the lot of them. Under normal daily circumstances, he was such a klutz and a clown, but when he aimed his gun and pulled the trigger, no one had a more accurate shot. Fowler folded his hands atop the table. "I'm ready for this to be over." "What's wrong, Fowler," Ace taunted him. "Afraid Juraz is gonna tap that?" "He won't be a-tappin' that. I'll promise ya." Porter and Ace exchanged a knowing stare. Porter shook his head in warning. It wasn't worth the argument. They all recognized the possible scenarios. The best they could hope for was the most favorable. If Abby went to bed with Juraz, they wanted her to kill him before she was forced to fuck him. Unfortunately, they needed information from Juraz before she pulled the trigger. And he probably wouldn't open his mouth unless she first opened those long, shapely legs. Copyright © 2011http://www.bookstrand.com/cowboy-boots-and-unsettled-debts 

Welcome, Mahalia Levey who knows THE PRICE OF DEFIANCE!

Hi Cerise,
Thanks for having me on your blog. For those of your readers who don't know me, I'm multipublished and write a mixture of genres that include: Interracial romance, Contemporary romance, Military Romance, African American romance, BDSM, Shapeshifting Demon horror/paranormal dark erotic romance, Shapeshifting Tigers, Gargoyles and an assortment of other animals, I'm dabbling in Sci Fi and have one Cosmic short romance. My book lengths vary from 8 thousand words to forty-seven thousand words. I like variety and I go where the characters in my head lead me! I'd love to give a back listed copy away of one of my previous books to one winner today!
my links are www.mahalialevey.com www.mahalia2010.wordpress.com and www.twitter.com/hales3000 . You can find me on Facebook by searching Mahalia Levey. I have a fan page and an author page!

The Price of Defiance Available from Decadent Publishing.
America Patterson loves living on the edge. Living a double life, she car models by day and engages in illegal street racing by night, knowing she's one of the best. Underneath her flawless facade lies a young woman filled with turmoil. When her new found hobby lands her in hot water, she finds she may be in over her head.
Alejandro Escovedo is summoned home after his Mixed Martial Arts fight to find his best friends sister in jail, he knows he must intervene. Their explosive past gives him all rights where she's concerned. He's determined to end her dare-devil ways by finding the trigger to her self-destructive behavior.

Excerpt: Copyright 2011, Mahalia Levey. All rights reserved.

Antiseptic…sterile…death… The smells assailed her as she woke up. Amy raised her hand to feel her head and felt the tight pinch of handcuffs on her right hand. "Where am I?" She focused her blurry eyes until her vision cleared and saw a police officer sitting next to her.
"In the hospital for observation," the uniformed officer answered.
"Why am I handcuffed?" she asked. Confusion clouded her judgment.
"You've been under doctor care for twenty-four hours. The EMT's were able to rouse you while en route here. I read you your rights while transporting you in the ambulance. Do you remember why you were arrested?"
"No." She paused to gather her thoughts. "My head hurts."
"My name is Officer Blake. Do you know your name?" Officer Blake took out his pen and pad to take notes.
"America Patterson," she answered.
"That's not what the drivers' license in your purse says. We'll print and book you later,," the officer stated and pulled out his radio.
"I'm going to jail?"
"Normally, people who vandalize private property, drive with reckless abandon, race illegally, and possess a fake identification card go to jail."
America cringed. "Where's my car?"
"Don't you want to know if you harmed anyone?" he asked.
"I know I didn't. I drove into the warehouse because I knew it was abandoned." His rude tone annoyed her. She put her free hand to her head. "It hurts."
"What's left of your car is impounded for evidence. Lady—whatever your real name is—is there anyone you can call?"
"No…yes," she said.
"Which is it, no or yes? You'll need to be bailed out."
"Where are my clothes?"
"What clothes? You had to be cut out of your car with the jaws of life. Your shredded clothing and broken heels are bagged for evidence, along with your purse." He reached over and unlocked the cuff to free her hand then gave her his personal cell. "You're damn lucky to be alive and relatively unharmed. Make the call. We're leaving as soon as the doc clears you."Amy heard the lecture in his voice. She took a deep breath and gulped back the fear of being escorted to a jail cell. She dialed her brother, Saint Vincent's number.
"Hello," a worried voice answered.
"Hi." Amy sniffled.
"America, where are you?"
"Saint, I'm in big trouble." Amy gripped the cell tightly to her ear. "I'm at Truman Memorial Hospital, about to be taken to jail." She started to sob when reality dawned on her.
"Thank God, you're alive. I've been going out of my mind since the link to the wreck was sent to my cell phone. Sit tight. We've been fielding police and the media, trying to protect your professional name. Sis, Alejandro demanded to be the one to handle the situation."
"I'm sorry for scaring you." Her brother and his team of misfits were all she had while growing up. Being named after their country of conception and proved just how zany her family was. Saint Vincent got his name chopped in half to Saint. "Is this going to hurt your business?" She winced at the thought of seeing Alejandro again after so long.
"No. Alejandro will make sure you have a smooth transaction. I'm forwarding him your info now. Sit still and relax. Can't have the baby of the family locked up and forgotten."
Her voice dropped an octave. "Can't you come? I haven't seen him since—"
"Miss, we're ready to transport you to the police department," Officer Blake interrupted.
"I gotta go." Amy snapped the phone shut and handed it back to the officer. He was kind enough to leave, allowing her to change into the scrubs they'd sent for. She rapped and opened the door after toeing into the slip-on canvas shoes. "I'm ready." Head dropped low, she allowed them to escort her to the jailhouse that was a ten-minute ride away.
Being booked took longer than she'd expected, and it mortified her. A nifty machine imprinted her fingerprints electronically after they took her mug shot. The issue with her identification became clear once she had a chance to speak and separate her professional identity from her personal one. When they finished processing her fingerprints and mug shot, she followed them through general population and looked at all the criminals on the way to her holding cell. The door buzzed and opened, and she was ushered in. She cast a glance at the officer, who shook his head, locked the door, and turned his back.
I'm not a criminal.

Toy Stories! Out everywhere for 99 cents!

One of 7 great toy stories!You want, you need to have all 7 of these stories in your hot little hands!
Yes, they are all out now on Kindle, Smashwords and Allromanceebooks.com!  I will get all the links and post here for you.
And to make your day sweeter still, if you answer each question in the contest, you will be entered to win a  KINDLE FIRE from the Toys-4-US Seven Sassy Gals!
Hurry, hurry and have a wonderful set of great stories. I read them each. I sighed. I laughed. I loved them all!
For latest news of all, go to:
http://toy4ustales.blogspot.com Our Blog!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, 99 cents tomorrow for each of these hot little numbers!

BAD LADY BARONTON~a nibble of Meta Mathews' newest Regency!

I am so tickled to bring you a nibble of Meta's newest Regency. She has such a talent for these. Remember her LADY CHAMBERLY's CHOICES? Loved it.
     Thanks so much, Cerise, for letting me visit your blog today and talk about my latest erotic Regency, Bad Lady Baronton. This was a fun book to write, partly because I grew so fond of my characters and partly because I enjoy writing about the Regency period.
            Here's a brief description of the storyline:             Thoughts of a marriage of convenience with the new Earl of Baronton horrify Lady Madelina, so she plans to discourage him by pretending to be a woman of ill repute. Her plan backfires when she discovers he's not the monster she'd been led to believe, but instead a lover who can pleasure her in ways she'd never imagined.            Having inherited a title he didn't want, along with the expectation he'll marry a woman he's never met, Garett decides to investigate her before he introduces himself. Then he meets a beautiful woman who blatantly offers herself, and their sexual compatibility astounds him. Too late, he discovers the woman he wants as his mistress was supposed to have been his bride. Getting himself out of this situation will take all the skills he learned during the Peninsula War, and more.Buy it at http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9528-bad-lady-baronton.aspx Care for a sample? Copyright 2011. Meta Mathews. All rights reserved.
"I must discover some way to keep from marrying that monster," Lady Madelina Anderson declared, staring at each of her four sisters, all of whom were grouped around her in the small parlor of Baron Place. "I simply must."
Lady Nora, the next to oldest, patted her elder sister on the knee. "Never you fear, Maddy dear. We'll think of something."
"But what will we do if you don't marry him?" Queenie cried. At fifteen, she was the youngest and the most emotional of the sisters. "He'll toss us out of the house and we'll perish. Or worse, we'll be taken in by different families and be separated. I'd rather die."
"Nonsense," eighteen-year-old Ophelia declared. "You know Aunt Louisa would never allow that to happen. She'll see to it that we have a home."
Ever practical Parmelia looked up from her embroidery. "I agree that Aunt Louisa would see to it that we have a roof over our heads, but how? Her dower house is too small to accommodate all of us."
"I knew it." Queenie's voice wobbled and tears filled her huge aqua eyes. "We'll be separated. I'd rather die."
"Yes, yes, Queenie," Maddy muttered. "We know you'd rather die, but don't do so just yet. I promise I'll keep us together. Give me a few minutes to think."
The sisters obediently fell silent, and Maddy turned her head to gaze out the window into the undulating green leaves of the large oak just outside. As eldest, she bore responsibility for the futures of her sisters. It was not their fault that Papa had frittered away his small inheritance on bad investments, and really, each girl was pretty enough not to require a huge dowry to attract a husband.
Nora, at nineteen and a half, was the true beauty of the family with golden blonde hair and regular features. Tall and slender, she carried herself well. In addition, she was quite accomplished at the pianoforte and with her watercolors.
Ophelia was certainly the most striking with her red hair and green eyes, while little Queenie with her silvery blonde hair held promise of growing into a diamond of the first water.
Even dear Parmelia, who was clearly the plainest with her brown hair and hazel eyes, was far from being homely.
Still, no matter how much beauty her sisters might possess, Maddy was aware that they needed much more. And they deserved more than marriage to a country squire. They were, after all, daughters of an earl, and each should have been assured of a Season in London where she would have been exposed to the most eligible men in the ton. Perhaps, if she agreed to marry that monster from the other branch of the family…
But no, she simply couldn't sacrifice herself in that way. Her earliest recollections included tales of the debauchery and cruelty inherent in the descendents of her great-great grandfather's brother. In addition to being cursed with physical abnormalities, that branch of the family was rumored to revel in the most unseemly behavior. In fact, she had it on good authority that the current earl, her fourth cousin, had sat out the war in a remote estate belonging to the Marquess of Chamberly. Several men, so the story went, belonged to a club that was devoted to nothing but pleasures of the flesh, and they'd thus whiled away the years of war while braver men fought and died.
No. She could not marry such a man.
But how could she in good conscience refuse him if the futures of her sisters were in peril?
What are others saying about Bad Lady Baronton?             Mandy, a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews, gave Bad Lady Baronton five stars and wrote:            This is my first Meta Mathews romance and I think it was written wonderfully, with just the right mix of detail and heartfelt sentiment. The emotion and tender feelings felt realistic and easy to relate to. It came to be about the love, not the sex, although Ms. Mathews did give us the explicit sex that I think you'll enjoy. You'll get warm-and-fuzzy feelings when you read Bad Lady Baronton and you'll surely hate to see it end, as I did. It was so good I wanted it to go on and on. I look forward to reading much more from Ms. Mathews!

Toy Store, anyone? Toy Story, anyone? yes, please

See all 7 and get hot and bothered!

7 Sassy Gals with 7 Sassy Tails! ah, no! TALES!

What happens when seven sassy women get together for a little wine, a few laughs and some inspiration?
YOU get 7 Sassy Tales!Each of them coming to you on the same day, at the same time for the same Sassy price of 99 cents!And if you read each one, you get to answer the questions and be entered in a drawing to win a Kindle FIRE!  Need the rules and regs?Of course, you do. Go here: http://toys4ustales.blogspot.comMore than that, you need to see the covers, sigh over the men and the stories and then tell your friends about TOYS-4-US series, coming November 1 to digital stores!So who are the Sassy Seven?Allie Standifer,  http://www.allie-standifer.com/
Brenna Zinn, http://www.brennazinn.com/
ME! Cerise DeLand, http://cerisedeland.com/
Desiree Holt, http://www.desireeholt.com/
Nicole Austin, http://www.nicoleaustin.net/
Regina Carlysle, http://reginacarlysle.com/
Samantha Cayto, http://www.samanthacayto.com/
And you must go here to see all the FABULOUS COVERS: http://toys4usbooks.wordpress.comCome back for nibbles of each of the wonderful stories about 7 women who don't take no for an answer from the men who have, until lately, eluded them.