Sara Brookes's Blog, page 6

State of Sara – 8/9/15

Thought it was time for a bit of an update (nearly a year, I believe). The past year has seen the releases of GLAD YOU CAME (the last of the Geek Kink series), the re-release of IMPULSE CONTROL, PERFECT LIMIT, NO RESTRAINT, and SLOW BREAK, the release of the paperback version of RIDING IRISH, plus a nomination for the book as one of RT Magazine’s Best Erotic Romances of the year, the release of the second book in the Sinners & Saints series, BRANDED IRISH, the release of my first truly indie book, GET OFF EASY, the release of a quick little freebie, DIRTY LITTLE THING, and the pending releases of books 5 and 6 in the Sypricon Masters series, DARK MASTER and TWISTED DEEP (I’ll have a super exclusive cover reveal for TWISTED DEEP for subscribers of my New Release Announcement list on Sept 1st – just sayin’).

There has been a lot going on homefront wise this year, with more to come before the year is out. And it definitely has poked its finger into my writing world. Which is simply a way to say that progress-wise on some books, I’m not where I wanted to be at this point in the year. My release schedule, if you haven’t already noticed by that rundown above, reflects that with a lot of shorter stories than I normally put out in a row, and that trend may continue for a little bit.

I’ve got several irons in the fire for full-length novels though, which include:

~ third book of the Sinners & Saints series

~ second book of the Noble House series

I also have a few decisions to make in regards to a few other projects. It seems that I worked so hard to establish my author brand, that it’s worked a little too well. LOL Which isn’t a bad thing, but from the feedback I’ve gotten from readers, when they hear my name, there is a certain expectation for what type of book they’re going to be presented with (hot, intense, erotica/erotic romance, BDSM, menage, to name a few). However, not every story my brain concocts is those things – sometimes, they aren’t even romance. By no means do I want to stop writing any of those things readers have come to love under my name, however, there are more stories I’d like to tell that don’t fit under that name. Once I make a decision on this front, I’ll be sure to share.

In a fun bit of news, in May of 2014, an author friend and I decided to embark on a little adventure that was out of our comfort zones, and signed up to take part in a monthly reading series that takes place in New York City. August 2015 was our date, and we were set with the Lady Jane Salon. That reading took place last Monday night, and here’s a snap of me up on the stage, reading an excerpt from RIDING IRISH.

Also, stage lighting is HOT. I’d forgotten about that, and my glasses kept slipping down my nose as I was reading! But I got to gaze upon this awesome view during the ride on the Staten Island Ferry, and hoo-boy, I ended up loving the city way more than I was expecting.

Lady Jane Salon Reading – ONE WEEK AWAY!

 

NYC’s First & Only Romance Reading Series

Lady Jane’s Salon® as seen in Time Out New York and The New York Post…

Join us Monday, August 3rd, 7-9 PM at Madame X (NYC’s “sexiest bar”; loft level) for four steamy romance fiction readings by…

Guest authors: Lisa Fox, Sara Brookes, Joanna Shupe, and Jeannie Moon.

Admission: $5/person. Net proceeds support Win. Cash bar with $5 cocktails & “mocktails.”

Copies of Scribbling Women & the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them, a nonfiction charity anthology of bestselling romance authors to support Win, and guest authors’ books available for sale (cash only).

Launched in February 2009 by authors Hope Tarr, Leanna Renee Hieber and Maya Rodale and book blogger, Ron Hogan, Lady Jane’s Salon® is NYC’s first, and still only, monthly reading series devoted to romance fiction, now with eight satellite Salons nationwide.

Visit online:

www.LadyJaneSalonNYC.com ~ www.LadyJaneSalonNYC.com/blog, http://www.facebook.com/LadyJanesSalon & http://twitter.com/LadyJanesSalon.

New Release: Dirty Little Thing

Surprise! How about a quickie for your ereader to help pass the time during these scorching hot summer days? DIRTY LITTLE THING is a f/f contemporary erotica short that is FREE at all retailers. As a bonus, my New Release Announcement subscribers got a special super sneak peek of DARK MASTER, and the promise of another sneak peek in September (hello exclusive cover reveal) – have you subscribed?

Dirty Little Thing

Amazon* || All Romance eBooks || Kobo || Barnes & Noble || Apple || Smashwords

Shy, reserved and proper Adelita is the sweetest temptation Triss has ever known. Their loving relationship is only missing one single element even though Triss is more than willing to do anything to guarantee Adelita’s fulfillment. When Adelita accidently plays voyeur to a hot and heavy encounter of another couple, Triss finally understands what Adelita’s body craves, and will stop at nothing to give it to her.

Warning : An embarrassing glimpse of a f/f couple engaging in licking, teasing, sucking and fisting leads to a very public f/f orgasm that ignites a match that won’t be extinguished.

*Amazon pricing lags by a few days, so keep checking, and feel free to report lower price to speed things up!

How to Save the Universe (in 5 Easy Steps!) – Mass Effect Edition by Cate Peace

Please welcome the fabulously awesome Cate Peace here today, who is going to geek out about Mass Effect, which is always welcome around these parts!

Universes. Seems like these days, the universe is always in trouble. Whether it’s the Chitauri and Thanos, Darth Vader and the Empire, or Mass Effect’s Reapers, there’s a new threat every month. Want to save the universe on your own? Follow these twelve easy steps, and you’ll obliterate every galactic threat!

1. Suffer personal betrayal. Yeah, it sucks. But you have to be betrayed by the threat before you acknowledge the threat. Thanks to Loki, Thor’s beloved “brother,” the Chitauri found a way into our world. Anakin Skywalker went to the Dark Side (there were no cookies).

Saren betrayed the entire galaxy when he allied with the geth and introduced Sovereign to the universe. Yes, he was indoctrinated, but still. There has to be a catalyst to get your attention. From the beginning on Eden Prime, when Saren, a well-respected SPECTRE kills Nihilus, another well-respected SPECTRE in cold blood, it begins a wild ride no one ever expected, leading to discovering the Reapers, a race of sentient machines, and their plot to destroy the entire galaxy.

2. Gather ragtag team of ne’er-do-wells. There’s no Avengers without Tony, Bruce, Cap, and Natasha. No Luke without Leia, Han and Chewy. And no universe-saving without the whole gang. You’ll need your own ragtag team of ne’er-do-wells if you’re going to have a chance of avoiding galactic destruction.

Likewise, there’s no Shepard without Vakarian (there are even t-shirts). Or Tali, Wrex, Liara, Miranda, Jack (aka my baby girl), Grunt (also my baby), James, Traynor, Thane, Cortez, and all the rest. Throughout the trilogy, each character supports Shepard in their own way, whether it’s through strong friendships, teamwork, or romantic relationships (Shepard/Vakarian bromance and Shepard/Traynor romance ftw), and though ME3 may not end the way we all want it to, it wouldn’t be so amazing without the cast of characters that make up Team Galaxy.

3. Get an awesome ship. Millenium Falcon? Check. Starship Enterprise? Double check. Serenity? Triple check. Normandy SR-1 & SR-2? Quadruple check.

In the ME world, the Normandy is THE ship to end all ships. It’s a blend of human and turian ingenuity, a work of art in a lot of ways, and a beacon of hope. Originally in use by Earth’s Alliance military, it becomes a place where different species (including those who have a history of war with the species of their new companions) are allowed to gather and save the freaking universe.

4. Don’t be afraid to fall in love. Everybody needs somebody sometimes. Han had Leia. Tony has Pepper. Mal SHOULD have had Inara and Kaylee SHOULD have had Simon but you know, Fox stole that from us. I’m not angry. Nope, not at all.

Shepard gets their choice of a smorgasbord of romantic possibilities. Over 3 games, there’s over a dozen romantic possibilities for both sexes, and they’re all satisfying in their own rights (kudos to Bioware for their excellent writing). Except James. We don’t get to romance James. This hurts me on a deeply personal level that Traynor and Cortez almost make up for. I guess that’s why there’s fanfiction.

5. Sometimes you just have to make sacrifices. Sacrifices always happen in some way. Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker sacrifices himself at the end of Return of the Jedi to help his son defeat Emperor Palpatine. Captain America lands the ship in the middle of the ocean to protect millions of people (thus breaking Peggy Carter’s heart and making all of us REALLY MAD). When it comes to the safety of the universe, there’s no price too high to pay.

Mass Effect embodies this. Whether it’s the sacrifice of a crew member on Virmire, the potential loss of life on ME2’s suicide mission (which can border on catastrophic if you do it wrong), and of course, the much maligned and disputed ending of ME3, Shepard has to make a LOT of hard decisions.

Personally, I wouldn’t wish saving the galaxy on anyone. But I kind of pushed it on Uri and Shadi (and their ragtag group of ne’er-do-wells) in my new book GEMINI, which I can safely say is based on my absolute love for Bioware and the Mass Effect series. If you’re a fan of science fiction, adventure, and romance on the starry seas, this one is for you.

Being one of the Embassy’s glorified treasure-seekers has its perks…

Komandan Uriah Jacobs recovers ancient artifacts in exchange for more than just decent pay; he also receives guaranteed protection from his former owners, the nyx…until an emergency landing on a too-familiar colony brings him face-to-face with his past life and something more—a surprisingly priceless treasure in the form of a human woman.

A slave to the nyx since childhood…

Shadi spends her waking hours in the forge, dreaming of rescuing her brother with the help of a man she once worshipped like a father. A crashed ship on the colony becomes her only hope to escape. But before she can steal the ship, the pilot abducts her. They may be the same species, but will he help her find her Shilah?

Their attraction is undeniable…

Fighting it seems inconsequential as they evade the nyx’s bounty hunter and uncover a conspiracy that shines unwanted light on Shadi’s past and reveals the corruption in Uri’s beloved Embassy, placing their fledgling love in danger.

As the universe systematically falls apart, will Shadi and Uri’s newfound passion be enough to keep them alive?

Available at:

Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play

Sypricon Masters News: Impulse Control FREE! & Dark Master (Sypricon Masters #5)

Great news for fans of the Sypricon Masters series! I’ve finally got some time to dust away the cobwebs on the unfinished Sypricon Masters stories that have been hanging around my hard drive. The fifth book of the series will release on September 1, 2015, and I’ve got details to share with you already including pre-order links. There is more news about the series to share, so keep reading!

Dark Master

Coming September 1, 2015

Pre-Order Links (non-affiliate)

Amazon || Barnes & Noble

All Romance ebooks || Kobo

Apple || Smashwords

Tragically injured in the line of duty, Reeva Nix lost her sight…and her spirit. She goes through the motions of life without a sense of direction or purpose. Except at Tawse. The exclusive BDSM club on Sypricon is the perfect venue for her to forget what sets her apart from other submissives.

Except nobody wants damaged goods.

Korsen prefers the no strings attached approach when he plays with the pretty submissives at Tawse. When he spots a gorgeous sub who doesn’t realize her full potential, he takes charge, and plunges Reeva into a world of total sensory deprivation. Under his skilled touch, she discovers the true meaning of surrender. But the cover of darkness reveals unexpected emotions.

Korsen will have to choose between what his role as Master demands and what his heart now craves.

I’ve set up my release schedule for the next year (!!!) and another story will be added to the Sypricon Master series in March 2016, stay tuned for details on this and other exciting news later this year, including some news that will be delivered exclusively through my New Release Announcement list in September (have you signed up yet?). As a bonus, I’ve discounted the first book of the SM series, Impulse Control, to FREE at all ebook retailers! If you haven’t already, be sure to download your copy today.

Impulse Control 

an Authors After Dark Bookie nominee for BDSM Short of the Year

“…an erotic mix of sensuality and BDSM play.”

~ The Reader’s Roundtable After Dark

Free! at all these fine retailers…

Amazon || Barnes & Noble

All Romance ebooks || Kobo

Apple || Smashwords

Selene Orosova has come to Sypricon for one reason–distraction. And she is convinced the exclusive BDSM club, Tawse, is the place to escape the haunting nightmare of being a Planetary Marshal. She just wants to get in and get off. And she’s never met a Dom she couldn’t walk away from.

Until she meets this Sypricon Master…

Vaughn is immediately captivated by Selene. There is a wildness about her that he yearns to tame. But he knows he’ll have to break through her walls in order to get her on her knees. Determined, Vaughn pushes every limit she has with an authority no one else has been willing to give her. She’ll just need the courage to accept his command…and his love.

Warning: Contains a Dom willing to go the distance with a lesson in pleasure using technology-infused nipple clamps, collars, cuffs and floggers.

Playing with toys never felt so satisfying.

Impulse Control is an erotic romance short story previously published in 2011, has been extensively revised & is intended for mature audiences.

Release Day for Get Off Easy!

*tosses confetti* Today’s the day! GET OFF EASY is now available in ebook and paperback format for whatever your reading preference.

GET OFF EASY has truly been a labor of love for me, from the hours I spent searching for just the right cover art that I felt represented the triad and the atmosphere of the book, to the hard work my editor, my proofers and, yes, even my family, put forth in order to help me make this book (and this series) a reality.

As a special treat to readers, please enjoy the limited time pricing on the ebook version of GET OFF EASY at all retailers now through June 16, 2015. The price will then increase to 2.99 for this full length contemporary BDSM erotic romance.

Buy Links:

Amazon || All Romance eBooks || Barnes & Noble || Kobo || Apple || Smashwords

Read the first chapter here!

http://www.sarabrookes.net/books/noble-house/get-off-easy/

A paperback version is available as well! It will take a few days to propagate through the stores databases, with Amazon being the quickest so far: Keep an eye on the website for more retailers as they become available.

Amazon

Advance Praise for

GET OFF EASY…

“Intense!” ~ Reading Alley

“…an explosive beginning to this new series…” ~ JeepDiva Reviews

“So hot, the pages are singed.” ~ Manic Readers

“Turn on the fan! This is one steamy story line.” ~ Reading Alley

“A great ride to uncovering hidden desires and mouth watering fantasies with these long lost friends.” ~ Reading Alley

Grae is ready take her membership at Noble House to the next level. In her sights are two premier Doms who sparked her hunger during a forbidden night long, long ago. Surrounded by the club’s legendary theme rooms, her body awakens to urges she has kept locked away. As the trio explore their kinkiest fantasies, Grae realizes she’ll have to confess her darkest cravings.

Saint and Boyce have been partners for thirteen years, both at the club and in life. They know exactly what Grae desires. But they also know she needs to be open and honest. Until she finds the courage to trust them unconditionally, the powerful Doms can only seduce and tease her in every imaginable way. The men know that even though the triad’s chemistry is explosive, in power exchanges—and love—no one gets off easy.

Warning: One very confused submissive is convinced she shouldn’t wedge herself between two gorgeous and irresistible alpha men who are into role play, geek kink and switching it up. So she’ll just have sex with them…or play voyeur.

Get Off Easy – Chapter One (Adult Content)

Since we’re in the two week window of the release of Get Off Easy, I thought I would do some sharing. As in the entire first chapter of the novel.

Riding Irish Now Available in Paperback

Head’s up if you’re a reader who like to get their hot little hands on a paper copy of a book, the first novel in the Sinners & Saints series, RIDING IRISH, is now available in paperback, My copy should arrive in the mail today and I can’t wait!!

Check it out on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

 

No Foolin’ Get Off Easy ARCs Available!

One of the great things about putting a book out in the world through my own financing is that I have the flexibility to be done with the book early and offer eARCs (electronic advanced readers copies). That just means all the content and line edits are completed and while the book is going through proofing I can offer reviewers an early peek at a book. So without further ado…there are two ways reviewers can go about getting an ARC of Get Off Easy:

Reading Alley

or

Fill out this form

 

Branded Irish Playlist

Music always has a place in my writing, and even years after I wrote my first full-length novel (which went on to become my 3rd published book) I can hear a song on that book’s playlist and be instantly transported back into that world with it’s lively assortment of characters.

Playlists act as triggers, as I can identify a character or scene with a song, hear it, and be right where I need to be writing-wise in my mind. For Branded Irish, there is a key scene where there is a confrontation between the Riding Irish and a rival motorcycle club. Those events will have far, far, far reaching consequences, well beyond the Branded Irish storyline…it’s clear things are about to change for our fun-loving group of Irishmen.

Wrong Side Of Heaven ~ Five Finger Death Punch

What If I Was Nothing ~ All That Remains

Core of My Addiction ~ Fireflight

All of Me ~ John Legend

Stand Up ~ All That Remains

Afterglow ~ Nine Lashes

Saints & Sinners ~ Bullet For My Valentine

War of Change ~ Thousand Foot Krutch

End of All Days ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

In The End ~ Black Veil Brides

Close My Eyes Forever ~ Device (Ft. Lizzy Hale)