Jan Bowles's Blog, page 18

Win a Kindle from Stacey Espino

Wow! Stacey Espino, my wonderful friend and fellow Siren author is giving away a free Kindle, yes that's right a free Kindle!!
All you have to do to enter is follow the instructions on her blog HERE

New contract from Siren

I've just received word that Siren have accepted my latest book ~

Master of Submission 
This is the first installment of a new BDSM series titled  ~
Masters of Submission
The first is due for release 20th April 2012 (subject to change)

It's Release Day for CLAIMED FOR THE MASTER'S PLEASURE

Hi, everyone, it's release day for my latest book in the Guilty Pleasures series !

CLAIMED FOR THE MASTER'S PLEASURE is an erotic BDSM story woven around the casino world of Las Vegas.

The hero, Jake Benetti has spent the last three years grieving for the loss of his wife. All he cares about is his casino, the Arabian Nights. When he meets Lia Constantine he knows she holds the key to unlocking his broken heart.

Unfortunately, there's just one blot on the horizon - the 1.3 million dollars debt her father has left owing his casino. With so much money driving a wedge between them, can they find true love?

If you'd like to know more click HERE

New contract from Siren

I've just received some good news for the start of 2012. Siren have accepted my latest manuscript. It's a new series entitled All American Heroes .

The first one is called:

SNOWED IN WITH THE MONTANA RANGER
Mmm, imagine being trapped with a sexy ranger.

New cover art CLAIMED FOR THE MASTER'S PLEASURE

I think Les Byerley has outdone himself with his latest cover -

CLAIMED FOR THE MASTER'S PLEASURE
It's the 5th installment in my Guilty Pleasures series.

I'm over the moon with it. What do you think? I know I had to fan myself when it arrived in my inbox. The book is due to be released on 16th January 2012.

I've been nominated for the CAPA's

I just had to share my latest news. I've been nominated for a CAPA for Best Contemporary Romance for my book Bought for the Billionaire's Bed.

I'm so thrilled, I can't stop smiling.

For those that wish to know more about the CAPA's click HERE.

If you'd like to know more about my book visit this page HERE.

Read the 1st Chapter of LOVE SLAVE TO THE SICILIAN BILLIONAIRE here

LOVE SLAVE TO THE SICILIAN BILLIONAIRE
Guilty Pleasures 4
JAN BOWLESCopyright © 2011




Chapter One
Maximiliano D'Alesandro politely declined the offer of a glass of sherry from the pretty, dark-haired waitress. Instead, he glanced at his watch, wondering when a suitable moment would arise so he could leave without bringing too much attention to himself. From his position by the magnificent Louis XIV fireplace, he surveyed the elegant drawing room of the hotel, and adjusted his stance. The classy room was crammed full of people wearing black. He disliked funerals intensely, much preferring the living to the dead, but this was one funeral he couldn't avoid.

His best friend, Kirk Williams, had tragically died some five days earlier. It had been totally unexpected. He felt like a rug had been pulled from under him. Stunned, his world had shattered, tilting on its axis to undermine everything he believed in. The constant was no longer a certainty. People died. Best friends perished in the blink of an eye.

Both aged thirty-four, they'd grown up together. They'd played football together. They'd shared a lifetime together, but sadly, no more. His heart ached for the loss of his best friend, but he was filled with anger, too.

At that moment he let his gaze drift to Kirk's wife, Ella, and the cause of all his anguish. There she sat on the plush brocade sofa, looking every inch the grieving widow.

In the ten years he'd known her, he'd always believed her to be sweet natured and totally loyal to his best friend. He felt his mouth firming into a thin line of disapproval as he moodily studied her. Yes, she might have lost a few pounds. Maybe guilt had made her shed them? The black sleeveless dress only served to accentuate her slim arms and pale complexion. Her hands clasped nervously around the handkerchief resting on her lap. Every so often he saw her squeeze the linen square tightly in her grasp.

Normally, Ella wore her hair in a ponytail, but today she'd let it down, and it trailed around her shoulders in a glossy black mane. He thought her flamboyant hairstyle seemed wholly inappropriate for a funeral. Her shiny locks almost hid from view the black velvet choker adorning her elegant, slender neck. It reminded him of a slave collar he'd use on a number of his subs. That one thought alone kept his interest squarely on her. Up until a few months ago he'd thought Ella Williams would make the perfect slave. Her fiery, opinionated temperament was ideally suited to being trained to submit. It wouldn't be an easy task. He knew she'd be rebellious, but those kinds of slaves gave him the greatest pleasure when they finally submitted to his will. Of course, he would never have entered into such a relationship with her, even if she were so inclined. As the wife of his best friend, Ella had always been strictly off-limits.

Anger flared once more through his body, and he eased his shoulders, releasing the tension.
Everything had changed.

Even from this distance he could see the tears brimming in her bright blue eyes. One trickled down her cheek and ran to the corner of her mouth. He watched her wipe it away, and sighed to himself. Ella deserved an Oscar. She really was good at faking this grieving shit. He wondered how long she could keep it up. Almost forever, he figured, until the last guest had left. No doubt her lover was just waiting for the moment when he could slip into her bed unnoticed. A sudden thought struck him, and he looked around the room. Perhaps the fucker was already here. No one immediately came to mind as he scanned the dozen or so men standing close by.

Kirk had been really agitated after returning from duty in Afghanistan. Max had known something was amiss in the Williams household. By chance he'd seen Ella driving in a particularly seedy part of town. With his curiosity piqued, he'd followed her in his car, to a cheap motel, where she'd met a guy. They'd both disappeared into one of the run-down rooms, only for her to emerge alone several hours later, with a guilty look on her face. He guessed Kirk had known she was having an affair, too. After serving unselfishly in Afghanistan, and winning a Purple Heart for bravery, he'd come home to this shit.

Max knew it was time to leave. His body felt stiff, and he flexed his hands. Better to go now, before he said something he might later regret.

There was no doubt in his mind that Ella Williams had caused his best friend to commit suicide.

* * * *
Ella Williams nodded, acknowledging the words of sympathy expressed by yet another mourner. How long could she keep this up for? Everyone knew and respected her husband. They had come from all over the country to the small town of Andover, Kansas, as a mark of respect. Her husband had many real friends who'd happily given up the time to come to his funeral. For the last four hours she'd listened to their heartfelt and polite condolences. She knew they had no understanding of how she felt, totally bereft.

Didn't they know her world had fallen apart five days ago? It had fractured beyond repair. Her life lay shattered all around her. Just what was she going to do now? How could she cope? Every fiber of her being wanted to scream out, It's not true. He's not dead. He's going to come walking through that door any minute now. You'll see. Ella breathed in, taking the air deep into her lungs. She had to hold it together. What would the good people of Andover say if she screamed with sorrow at the top of her voice? Would the doctors feed her full of drugs until she forgot every terrifying minute of that awful day? The idea that she could erase those memories seemed very tempting.

What had Kirk been thinking of? She knew he hadn't been well. That was why she'd stayed with him these past few months, trying to help him come to terms with life outside the armed forces. Their marriage had been over long before he'd even gone to Afghanistan on his last tour of duty. He'd known it at the time, and they'd discussed it in a civilized manner. Yet, when he returned, he'd altered. He'd become paranoid and agitated, aggressive even. He frightened her.

Without thinking, Ella lifted a hand to her neck, and smoothed her fingertips over the velvet choker. Even through the thick material she could still feel the painful bruising beneath. What on earth had possessed Kirk? Thank God she'd been able to hide the unsightly blackened marks from view. The choker hid most of the bruising, and wearing her hair long hid the rest. It was not the lasting memory she wished for her husband. Whatever he'd done, he hadn't been himself.

A man cleared his throat, and she looked up to see Max standing in front of her. "Ella, my deepest sympathies, but I've gotta go."

Max cut an imposing figure whatever he was wearing, but today, sporting an expensive, hand-tailored suit, he looked especially impressive. Standing about six-three, and weighing over two hundred pounds, he was an imposing sight. Her husband had always joked that Max was just one step away from the Mafia, and often implied that you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him. His parents, both Sicilian immigrants, meant he certainly had the connections, and the looks. Thick, dark hair fell about his face in unruly waves. A typical Roman nose gave way to surprisingly sensual lips. But it was his eyes that stood out most from his olive complexion. A striking silver-gray, they commanded respect and attention. He'd never hidden his BDSM lifestyle from herself and Kirk, and she could only imagine how his slaves felt as he dominated them into submission.

She made her excuses to the guests sitting beside her, and walked him to the door. All the time aware that something had altered between them. He seemed distant, and reluctant to meet her gaze. This wasn't the Max she'd come to rely on when her husband was on tour with the Marines. Max had always looked out for her. Made sure she was okay while Kirk was away. Now he could barely utter two words to her without her feeling his anger? Why? She guessed he was grieving over the death of Kirk, just like herself. She had to make allowances. He needed time to come to terms with the death of his lifelong friend, too.

"Max, we need to talk." There were things she had to tell him.

"There's nothing to talk about, Ella."

"Please. For Kirk's sake." Max was a good ten inches taller than her, and she stared up into his eyes, feeling small and vulnerable in his presence.

"What do you want to talk about?" he eventually said.

"I can't say here," she whispered, her voice croaking and hoarse, "not with everyone around."

He studied her, anger flaring in his eyes. "I'll call you when I get the time."

"Please, Max." For whatever reason, she felt he wouldn't. She squeezed his hand. "I don't know what's happening anymore. You seem…" She shrugged, trying to contain her grief. "So angry, and I don't know why."

He stared at her for what seemed a long time. Then so no one could hear, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Of course I'm fucking angry. My best friend shot himself. I need answers, Ella. Why would he do that?"

"There are things you don't know, Max. That's why we need to talk."

His silver-gray eyes seemed to control her, calming her. "Like I just said, I'll call you when I get the time." He then pushed open the double doors before walking through the reception area and continuing outside.

She watched him stride across to his car, his demeanor stiff as he opened the door. The moment he removed his jacket and tossed it angrily onto the back seat, she knew he had no intention of calling her. Well, there was no way she'd let this drop. Max needed to know everything. Then maybe he'd understand.

If you'd like to find out more click HERE

Some great reviews for Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire

I've received a 4.5 Star review and 3 x 4 star reviews for Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire.You can check out the book HERE4.5 STARS: "Maximiliano D'Alesandro is reeling from the suicide of his best friend and there is only one person to blame, the wife who led him to his death, Ella Williams. Looks can be deceiving though, as Max begins to realize there is more to his friend's death than what he thought.  Ella is not to blame and his guilt for the harsh accusations he made towards her has him wanting to protect her, if only she could see him the way he needed as a Dom. I thought this was the best so far of the Guilty Pleasure series. The story tugs at you emotionally as you grieve with both Max and Ella, but as they begin to discover something special between them it becomes magical. A wonderfully written story that will become a favorite for fans of Jan Bowles." -- Emily, Sensual Reads4 STARS: "Love Slave to a Sicilian Billionaire is book 4 in Jan Bowles Guilty Pleasures series, I haven't read books 1, 2 or 3 yet and was not lost. From what I can tell they not are connected in any way, other than they are about the BDSM lifestyle. Ella is newly widowed and having an incredibly hard time dealing with the death of her husband, Kirk. Secrets and lies have come to light since his death adding to her devastation. Everything hitting her all at once throws her into a course of self-destruction and despair. Ella feels lost, she wants a man to take control of her and her life, she's always been interested in the BDSM lifestyle and knows that Max is a DOM. But he won't have anything to do with her because he blames her for her husband's death. Max has been restless with his subs and realizes he wants something stronger, a D/s relationship where he owns his subs heart, body and SOUL. When Max finds out things were not as he thought, he stops fighting his attraction and need to help Ella. He realizes with patience and love Ella could be the ONE. But will he be able to pull her out of the despair and destructive path she is on. Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire takes us on Ella's journey from a widow in despair to a woman confident with her sexuality and a submissive who has learned exactly how much pleasure a loving DOM can give. Max is a loving, but stern DOM who was exactly what Ella needed in her life. Max is a sensual lover and even when doling out Ella's punishment you can see his care and love for her. I liked that Max told Ella he had to know a woman intimately before they explored a D/s relationship or played in his playroom, that being said, I did feel like they went from intimate to the playroom a little quicker than I expected. Overall Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire is an enjoyable, steamy read. There were some definite make me hot moments where I went "OH I WANT MAX!!" One in particular is when Max tells Ella "this is your sexual journey, not mine. I'm just the facilitator for your fantasies." (yes I swooned)" -- DiDi, Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews4 HEARTS: "Ella Williams has just buried her husband and can't really understand how this happened. Why did he do the things he did? And now she must talk to someone about him and the choices he made. But the only person she can talk to is her husband's best friend and he wants nothing to do with her. Max must know decide if he is going rescue her from herself or is it too late for that? Max is a Dom and he thinks that Ella can be a natural submissive and wants to show all the pleasure he can give her, if only she will listen to him that he knows what's best for her. This was a very enjoyable read. I will warn you though, there are times this book will hit you with the emotion... The author does a wonderful job of describing the characters' surroundings in very vivid detail. The beginning and middle of the book have a great set up and you want to know what is going to happen next. It is sexy, hot, sizzling, and erotic. Those are just a few of the words that I would use to describe this book. This is book four in this series by Jan Bowles and i have read them all and was not disappointed. I can't wait to see if a next book is coming from this author." -- Camilla Berg, The Romance Studio4 STARS: "The events after Kirk Williams dies will forever change the way his wife Ella and best friend Maximiliano D'Alesandro will view life and each other. Ella and Max noticed immediately that something was wrong with Kirk after his last tour in Afghanistan. Max took it upon himself to follow Ella, coming to the conclusion that she was cheating on her husband. Ella believes that the post traumatic stress brought on from war and the lack of the military treatment for soldiers caused the events that led to Kirk's death. It isn't until months later that the events come to light and Ella has to find her way with the help of the very Dominant Max. There were a lot of twists and turns in Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire, the 4th book of the Guilty Pleasure series, that will make you sad, bring a smile to your face, and satisfy your many BDSM desires. Ella's world has turned upside down, and she finds that everything she knew was a lie, which takes an emotional toll on her and those around her. Max has always had feelings for Ella, but out of respect of his best friend he squashed those feelings. I appreciated that the chemistry between Ella and Max wasn't instant but built over time as both parties grieved for Kirk in their own way...The use of a character that is deceased and is only accessible from memories and emails works very well and kept me interested. I really enjoyed this story with all of its emotional roller coasters." -- L.T. Blue, Just Erotic Romance ReviewsCheck out the book HERE

5 Star Review for Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire

I received a lovely review from Alberta at Manicreaders. She gave Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire 5 Stars!


MR Review 
Rating: 
Reviewer: Alberta 
Review:
Ella's soldier husband, just home from Afghanistan has committed suicide and she is devastated. His best friend Max blames Ella for the death, but neither of them can imagine what prompted Kirk to take his own life.

Ella finally convinces Max that Kirk's death was beyond any help either of them might have given, and she enlists his help in finding out the truth. Max has long fancied Ella, but he has to tame her flighty ways before she will be his ideal submissive.

This is not so much a BDSM book, although there are some elements of that here. It is more a recovery of souls from a trauma that haunts both Ella and Max because of Kirk's death. Ella now feels that if she failed Kirk, then likely it was her fault somehow, so Max won't want her either. Max is on a mission to help Ella regain her equilibrium, and he feels that his Dom side will protect Ella and teach her that she is a person worth having and worth loving.

When Ella finally finds out the truth about Kirk's last days, she loses all her newfound confidence. It's up to Max to bring her back to reality and love. I liked Love Slave to the Sicilian Billionaire a lot. I liked Ella's journey and thought it was very well done. I have reviewed other Bowles novels and now follow her and read whatever I can of her books. I think this may just be the best of the ones I've read. Looking forward to more.

Read the review HERE

New Contract from Siren

Just received word that Siren have contracted my latest book in the Guilty Pleasures series. Should be released February 2012

It's called


Claimed for the Master's Pleasure