Cynthia Sax's Blog, page 188
February 9, 2016
Interview With Renee Rose
I sat down (virtually) with Renee Rose for a short interview. Renee Rose is part of the super sexy boxed set, Bound, Spanked and Loved: Fourteen Kinky Valentine’s Day Stories!
Cynthia Sax: What makes your heroes so freakin’ sexy?
Renee Rose: For this box set, I wrote my first menage. One of the hottest things about a menage, especially one with two doms, is that you can include lots of dialogue with the two doms discussing what to do with their captive sub. It adds to the objectification of the submissive, and builds excitement as they discuss what to do with her. It also creates sweet moments, when they discuss that she’s had too much, or that she needs some tender aftercare. 
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Theirs to Punish?
Renee Rose: I was reading a YA heist story with my 10-year-old, and of course, everything turns dirty in my filthy imagination!!
Cynthia Sax: How does Theirs To Punish start?
Renee Rose: My story begins with the heroine dropping from the air ducts into one of the hero’s rooms to steal a necklace from his safe. Both the heroine and the hero are trained in martial arts, so there’s a lovely tussle that leaves them both aroused (and of course, leaves the heroine pinned the floor at his mercy!).
Cynthia Sax: Where is Theirs To Punish set?
Renee Rose: My story is set in a high-class casino, which is owned by the Jamison twins, my two dominant heroes. While the characters don’t actually spend that much time out on the floor of the casino, it makes for an exciting setting, in that things can happen at all times of day and night (no one sleeps in Vegas!). No one bats an eye at seeing a young woman dressed in a submissive’s collar, either.
Cynthia Sax: Thank you, Renee Rose, for joining us today!
Renee Rose’s Website: http://www.reneeroseromance.com
*****************************************************************************
Bound, Spanked and Loved: Fourteen Kinky Valentine’s Day Stories
***14 ALL-NEW novellas! Available for a limited time only!***
Bound, Spanked and Loved: Fourteen Kinky Valentine’s Day Stories is the HOTTEST box set of the season, brought to you by fifteen New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors of bdsm and spanking romance. Lose yourself in a whole lotta naughty with this sexy collection of ALL-NEW, standalone novellas sure to set your e-reader ablaze and leave you breathlessly panting for more.
Publisher’s Note: The stories included in this smoking hot collection are MF, MFM, and MMMF pairings. Some contain taboo subjects and no-holds barred BDSM and spanking scenes. All will make you blush hard. ***over 700 pages of brand new stories***
Stories Include:
Slab Hands by Annabel Joseph ~ Christine’s always been curious about spanking, and the bouncer at the bottom of the stairs has a magnificent set of hands. Once he learns about her secret disciplinary fantasies, he’s more than happy to put those hands to use…
Master Class: Initiation by Sierra Cartwright ~ When wanna-be sub Jennifer Berklee calls him Master and begs him to flog her, PI Logan Powell knows all his military training won’t be enough to keep his jaded heart safe. He intends to claim this sexy, innocent woman for his own…no matter the cost.
Theirs to Punish by Renee Rose ~ When a billionaire’s daughter-turned-ninja picked Casino Magnifico for a heist, she didn’t take into account one thing–actually–two. Twin owners Joe and Alex Jamison won’t hesitate to employ a little corporal punishment to bring the virgin socialite in line…
Lust Angel by Cari Silverwood ~ On good days, what falls from the heavens may be a naked woman. As an ex-SAS soldier, now private contractor, Adam is used to the unexpected, but nothing in life has prepared him for a fallen angel with a craving for spanking, bondage, and punishment.
Stepbrother Jerk by Natasha Knight ~ To buy her stepbrother’s silence, Lisa agrees to submit to his discipline, even though she has no idea what she’s in for. But Jace knows exactly what his stepsister needs and a bare bottom spanking is only the beginning.
His Runaway Valentine by Sue Lyndon ~ When a handsome stranger rides out of nowhere to rescue Nora from slavers, the runaway bride is shocked to learn he’s the very man to whom she was betrothed. There’s no escaping the arranged marriage now, and Luke is quick to make Nora understand that he expects not only obedience, but her absolute surrender.
Rose’s Are Red by Ashe Barker ~ Rose has had a crush on Iain McCain for years and when she spots her sexy ex-teacher with a whip in his hand at her favourite BDSM club her heart stills. Dare she approach him? A Valentine’s Day card might earn her the spanking she craves if she delivers it personally…on her knees.
His to Take by Kallista Dane ~ On the now-sexless, sterile Planet Earth, Dr. Selena Reston saves the life of Haldor, a Viking warrior from another world. His savage lovemaking shocks her and awakens her wild side. Though she craves his domination, can she build a life with him halfway across the galaxy?
Stepping It Up by Cara Bristol ~ Ariel had crushed on her stepbrother Hunter for years. But if he expects to win back her heart in one wicked weekend, he’ll have to step it up and take her in hand…the Rod and Cane Society way.
Claiming Chloe by Korey Mae Johnson ~ When she is left alone on Valentine’s Day, Chloe takes matters into her own hands. But going out exploring on her own on an alien planet turns out not to be the best idea she ever had, and when her three handsome alien mates end up having to rescue her, Chloe’s bare bottom will pay the price for her naughtiness.
Maud and the Secret Society of Saint Valentine by Emily Tilton ~ Maud has decided that the new boyfriend she’s crazy about can’t be serious when he tells her she needs a firm hand in the bedroom and everywhere else. The Secret Society of Saint Valentine begs to differ, and summons her to a tribunal where she’ll learn just how serious David is.
Dancing With a Dom by Katherine Deane ~ What do ballroom dancing, hard spankings, and mind-blowing orgasms have in common? I guess it depends who your dance partner is. The man smiling down at me, with his hand on my waist… he’s a Dom. And he wants to be mine this Valentine’s Day.
Taking the Human by Trent Evans ~ For Lukanos, a muscle bound, seven foot tall alien, abducting the beautiful human female was the easy part. Winning her heart–and not breaking his own–was something else entirely.
Sweet Birdie Blue by Alta Hensley ~ Rem Langston has no choice but to save the feisty Birdie Bluebell, whether she wants saving or not. Their icy beginning soon turns to a passion hot enough to melt the blizzard outside, but will Birdie accept Rem into her heart?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AHDSD26?tag=httpwwwreneer-20
On iTunes: https://goo.gl/cmZZ7Z
February 8, 2016
Crash And Burn – Fourth Excerpt
Crash And Burn, the third standalone cyborg story will be releasing on February 23rd. I’m sharing the first chapter over the next few weeks.
Read the first excerpt here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/01/19/crash-and-burn-first-excerpt/
***
The ship shot into the blackness, open space in front of her, to her left and to her right. Takeoff and landing were the two most dangerous parts of any voyage. The majority of the trip was quite boring, requiring very little skill.
Her ship could handle the navigation. Safyre input their destination into the guidance system. Once upon a time, the guidance system supposedly had a voice. That had malfunctioned before she purchased the ship. But it did have an alarm. Red lights would flash and a siren would wail if the ship encountered anything unexpected.
As it settled into a constant velocity, the rattling decreased. It never completely went away. There were too many loosely fixed parts on board.
Safyre tapped a blinking light. It vanished. Her ship’s age and poor shape would be a benefit on this run. No one on the freighter would question her need for repairs.
That would be the official excuse she’d use to board. Captain Kray would assume she was contacting him for sex. Half a solar cycle ago, she’d given the randy freighter captain the best blow job he’d ever experienced. Being an arrogant male, he’d think she was back for seconds.
She’d suck off the entire ship if it meant she reached Nymphia. But she shouldn’t have to. The captain would want her to himself first. The K-19 in her pocket should ensure he kept his flight suit fastened.
The ship trekked through space. Safyre yawned. There were no signs of other vessels. She set the course and activated autopilot. It was time to relax and she knew the best way to do that.
Now that her headache was gone and her nosebleed had stopped, her horniness had returned. She kicked off her boots and unfastened her flight suit. A hot and heavy masturbation session would quiet her brain and allow her to sleep.
She wiggled out of her garment. A slash of red caught her gaze. She touched the scarf wrapped around her forearm. Nymphia had given it to her before going on her last run. The scarf would remain on her arm, to be removed only when she saw the girl again.
Safyre propped her heels on the console and spread her legs, opening herself fully to the universe. Seated nearly naked on the bridge of her ship, her audience was an expanse of blackness.
She rubbed her hands over her breasts, hips, thighs, deliberately avoiding her pussy. Heat flicked over her, the contact, even with her own fingers, exciting her.
Fuck. That was how lonely she was. She turned herself on.
There was no one else to complete that task. She plucked her nipples and squeezed her curves, teasing her body. Desire built and built and built.
But she needed more.
She ran her hands along her inner thighs, moving them closer to her center. Her pussy wet with anticipation. She drifted her fingers over her folds and moaned.
Do you require repairs, female?
Oh shit, Crash was listening to her. She hadn’t noticed that he’d opened the transmission line. That was a moan of pleasure, warrior. I’m not hurt.
You’re with a male? His tone sharpened.
Was he jealous? She touched herself. That was unlikely. He’d never met her, never seen her, trusted her even less than she trusted him. I’m alone.
You’re pleasuring yourself?
Yeah. She circled her entrance, grazing over her clit. If you want to talk about our plans, you should contact me at a later time. I’m a little busy at the moment.
Have the plans changed? Have you finally applied your processors and abandoned them?
Processors. Safyre’s lips twisted. I have a brain, not processors. You’ve been spending too much time with cyborgs. And nothing has changed. I’m not abandoning anything. Or anyone. She’d reach Nymphia’s side.
Then there’s no need to discuss the plans.
Would he close the transmission line now, leave her? She’d be alone again, always. Safyre skimmed her fingertips over her pussy, some of her joy dissipating.
Describe your actions.
She blinked once, twice, questioning her hearing. You want to know how I’m pleasuring myself? Why did that arouse her?
You lack the ability to transmit images.
He wanted to watch her masturbate. Safyre’s ass wiggled against the leather captain’s chair. What do you want to know? How dirty did he wish for her to be?
Are you touching your breasts?
She wasn’t but she would touch them for him. I’m squeezing them. She cupped them with both hands, the contact flowing down her spine, curling her toes. I can’t squeeze all of them at once. They’re too large.
He rumbled through the lines, the sound thrilling her. You’re soft.
Very soft. I’d surround you with curves.
You won’t surround me. I’m a very large male. His arrogance made her smile.
Are you large all over?
Yes.
Mmmm… She moaned, loving big males. Your huge cock would stretch my pussy. I’d fit you snugly, clinging to your shaft, as you thrust in and out of me. The image she crafted in her mind fueled her arousal. How would you take me? Face-to-face? From behind?
I’d breed with you face-to-face. You’ll know who is claiming you.
They’d breed, not fuck. His words were excitingly primitive. Your chest would rub against my breasts. Was his chest smooth or did he have a mat of rough hair? I’m pinching my nipples right now. She tweaked the taut tips, the tinge of pain drawing more wetness from her core.
What color are they?
My nipples are pink. My skin is white with freckles.
Freckles. He paused. Small patches of light brown pigment on your skin.
Had he looked up the word? Her lips twitched. My hair is short, spiked, and bright orange.
I’ve never seen a human female with orange hair.
He’d never seen a human female. Crash must mix with other species. I color it.
It was a warning to every being of who she was.
A couple of solar cycles ago, a male in a beverage station had insulted Nymphia, calling her a fat bovine. That had angered Safyre. No one hurt her friend. She had pushed Nymphia aside, rolled up her sleeves and beat the disrespect out of the male.
While he lay on the floor, holding his nuts, moaning, Tifara had mentioned that she should be forced to wear a sign, warning others of her temper.
Safyre had colored her hair bright orange the next planet rotation.
Read the next excerpt (available February 16th) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/02/16/crash-and-burn-fifth-excerpt/
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
February 3, 2016
Releasing Rage – A Top Pick
Awww… Nicola at Heroes and Heartbreakers named Releasing Rage as her best read of January!
She shares
“I am obsessed with this erotic science fiction series! The world building is great, the sex is hot, and the romance is so satisfying, I devour each new book as soon as it’s available.”
Read the full list here
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
February 1, 2016
Crash And Burn – Third Excerpt
Crash And Burn, the third standalone cyborg story will be releasing on February 23rd. I’m sharing the first chapter over the next few weeks.
Read the first excerpt here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/01/19/crash-and-burn-first-excerpt/
***
A prick on her arm diverted her attention. Tifara stood beside her with an injector gun.
“What did you do?” Safyre demanded.
“We’ve known each other almost all of our lifespans. I can tell when you’re hurting.” Tifara clucked her tongue. “That’s a pain suppressor for your headache. If it gets worse, we’ll have to remove the implant.”
It had already gotten a lot worse. “Fuck, Tifara.” Safyre pushed herself to her booted feet, feeling light-headed. “Crash is able to talk with me at any time. I need a functioning brain when I deal with him.”
She stumbled out of the chamber.
“You’re welcome.” The doors closed on Tifara’s cheery voice.
Another reason Safyre needed a functioning brain was because she was flying this planet rotation. She leaned against the wall for a moment, fighting the urge to vomit.
Beings passed her, gazing at her questioningly. None of them stopped because none of them truly cared.
About her. They had their causes, many of them seeking to rescue beings from the evil clutches of the Humanoid Alliance.
She’d rescued her fair share, flying into areas no pilot should ever fly into.
But Tau Ceti would be the worst she’d seen.
The planet was the site of a cyborg manufacturing facility. The Humanoid Alliance, concerned that the facility would fall into the wrong hands, was extending major resources to defend it. They’d locked down all of the Tau Cetian airspace, allowing only authorized ships to enter, destroying all others.
There was one docking facility still standing. They controlled that, too.
For now. The fighting was fierce, the battle having raged for over a solar cycle. Rumors said the rebels were winning, their forces helped by off-planet allies. Many of the locals had hid in tunnels during the initial purifying. They had warriors, weapons, missiles, and were downing a remarkable number of ships.
They could down the freighter. If she made it onto the planet, it would be a miracle. She was unlikely to make it off. Two beings leaving the planet’s surface was an impossibility.
She knew she was going to die during this mission. She’d accepted that.
Safyre glanced at the closed doors. She wouldn’t see her friend again, wouldn’t be patched up by her healing hands, view her smiling face, feel the warmth of her hugs, hear her bubbling laughter. Her heart ached. “Good-bye, Tifara.”
She swiped her dripping nose with the cleaning cloth and strode toward the docking bay, not looking behind her.
Her pack and the supplies had been loaded. She entered the space. Her ship was ready to go.
Some beings would debate that statement. The exterior was a patchwork of different-colored panels, all salvaged from wrecks. The interior wasn’t much better.
But it was hers. Safyre patted the side, savoring the smack of palm against unrelenting metal. She’d scrimped and saved credits to buy the vessel, taking the merc jobs no one else wanted, spending endless planet rotations in open space.
Unfortunately, Mesh, her ship, didn’t have clearance to land on Tau Ceti.
Three human males glanced in her direction. She knew them, had helped the largest male with a route issue. They didn’t approach her, didn’t ask her where she was going, what she was doing.
She told herself that was because information about many missions was restricted. The reality was…they didn’t care.
Safyre strode up the ramp, closing the doors behind her.
She breathed deeply and the weight bearing down on her shoulders lightened. This was her home, the only home that had ever truly belonged to her.
She drifted her fingers over the lopsided container Nymphia had made for her birthing day five solar cycles ago. Her gaze fell on the white scarf wrapped around a pillar. That had belonged to Tifara. It had been payment for medicine she’d sourced for one of her friend’s patients. That had been an adventure, one she barely survived.
Her ship was small but it was filled with memories.
It was also deathly silent.
Safyre was used to that. She’d spent much of her lifespan alone. The supply runs and the rescue missions she undertook for the Beings For Peace were risky. If she were caught, the Humanoid Alliance would interrogate, torture, and kill every being on board her ship. It was better she didn’t have a copilot.
Her lucrative private sector deliveries were even more dangerous. She was paid very well to fly into regions no sane pilot would. Flying solo meant no splitting of those credits and no guilt if she made a mistake.
Sex sessions with random males gave her a moment of comfort but left her feeling lonelier. She couldn’t talk to them, couldn’t tell them anything about who she was and what she did. They met as strangers and left as the same.
Safyre was tired, so fuckin’ tired of the isolation. A mission ending in certain death didn’t scare her. A future filled with meaningless encounters did.
She strapped herself into the captain’s seat and underwent the usual take-off verifications, deriving comfort from the routine.
“It’s you and me for one more run, Mesh.” She started the engines. The ship rumbled like a great discontented beast, unhappy to be awakened. “Come on, baby. You can do this.”
The engines leveled as though responding to her words. Safyre navigated the ship through the battle station’s docking bay.
“That’s it,” she continued to talk to her vessel, needing to hear the sound of some being’s voice, even if it were her own. “Once we clear the battle station, I’ll put you on autopilot and you can do your thing. You’ll like that.”
The pain suppressors had kicked in. Her headache was gone, her nosebleed had slowed to a trickle, and she felt drowsy, not having had a solid sleep since the implant was inserted.
Safyre accelerated. The force of the takeoff drove her back in her seat. She gritted her teeth and grinned, loving this part of the flight. There was no experience like being propelled into space.
Read the next excerpt (available February 9th) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/02/09/crash-and-burn-fourth-excerpt/
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
Fighting For My Billionaire Boss Releases!
Fighting For My Billionaire Boss releases today! Woot!
Love is worth the fight.
My boss, Brick Armitage, is one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He’s handsome, young, and the billionaire CEO of an online company. Brick dates stunning supermodels and famous actresses, the most beautiful women on the planet.
I’m determined to be the next woman he kisses, touches, pleases. To land the man I love, I’ll become the delicate lady he seems to prefer. No cussing. No sprawling over the furniture. No punching the pretty out of Brick’s trash-talking ex.
But when I fail at this and the footage of my brawling goes viral, will I lose my sophisticated billionaire forever, or will he realize a scrapper is exactly who he needs?
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-My-Billionaire-Boss-Infamous-ebook/dp/B01AS4ZA0C/
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-My-Billionaire-Boss-Infamous-ebook/dp/B01AS4ZA0C/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fightingformybillionaireboss-1968442-149.html
Smexiest SciFi/Fantasy Of 2015 – Releasing Rage AND Breathing Vapor
Awww… both Releasing Rage AND Breathing Vapor are in the final round for Smexiest SciFi/Fantasy of 2015
https://www.facebook.com/events/1519447938385522/permalink/1525560457774270/
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 28, 2016
Interview With Safyre, Heroine Of Crash And Burn
Woot! Kate Reedwood / Felicity Kates has interviewed Safyre, my heroine from Crash And Burn.
http://katereedwood.blogspot.ca/2016/01/kickass-interview-cynthia-saxs-safyre.html
Here’s a snippet…
LMKA: If you had to choose between sex on a beach or sex in a bed, which would it be?
Safyre: Sex against the wall, my arms stretched above me, my hands bound. Give it to me fast and hard. ‘Course a male would have to be strong to take me that way. I’m not a small female. (Cynthia whispers ‘He’d have to be cyborg strong.’)
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 25, 2016
Crash And Burn – Second Excerpt
Crash And Burn, the third standalone cyborg story will be releasing on February 23rd. I’m sharing the first chapter over the next few weeks.
Read the first excerpt here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/01/19/crash-and-burn-first-excerpt/
***
“Safyre.”
“I’m okay.” She waved her hands dismissively. She knew damn well that she wasn’t okay, but the implant was essential for coordinating with Crash. It couldn’t be removed.
“Hmmm…” That sound said Tifara didn’t believe her. “Do you have a headache?” She scanned Safyre’s skull with a handheld device.
“I’m on a battle station with thousands of chatty humanoids.” She scowled. “Of course, I have a headache.” They looked at her for leadership for some unknown reason. “That’s not why I’m here. I need something that will knock a human male out.”
She didn’t want to kill the freighter’s captain, not if she didn’t have to.
“You’re asking me to risk my position on the battle station.” Tifara set the handheld device down with a thump on the horizontal support. “If any being finds out I gave you some of our much needed supplies, I’ll be removed from my role as chief medic and forced to leave the vessel.”
“I’m not asking for me. I’m asking for Nymphia.” Safyre didn’t try to hide her emotions. “Would you allow her to die alone?”
Her friend’s face softened. “She could already be dead. If she doesn’t find a water source—”
“She’ll find one,” Safyre insisted. “Tau Ceti is lush. She’s trapped underground where many of the streams are located. And this is Nymphia. Remember how we hid the extra nutrition bars and she always found them?”
Having known hunger, they’d hoarded the bars. Just in case. Nymphia never had those concerns. She’d been confident they’d take care of her.
Tifara smiled. “Nymphia does have a talent for finding things but—”
“She’s a child.” Safyre wouldn’t listen to the buts. “I can’t allow her to deal with this on her own.”
“She has eighteen solar cycles.” Her friend placed her hand on Safyre’s shoulder. “Nymphia is no longer a child. She knew the risks she was taking.”
Safyre snorted. “She thought only of saving children and nothing else.”
“True, but—”
“She would risk her position to help you.” She met her friend’s gaze.
They stared at each other for one, two, three heartbeats, neither of them backing down. Safyre wouldn’t. She’d vowed to always take care of Nymphia.
Tifara’s shoulders slumped. “She would help me,” she conceded. She turned and looked at the selection of medical supplies lining the walls. Her forehead furrowed. “K-19 would knock out a human male but not a cyborg. I don’t know anything that will do that.”
Shit. That had been Safyre’s next request. Crash would be leading a cyborg army. If he ordered them to attack her, she’d be fucked.
Which was why she had to intercept the shuttle first and take control of the systems. He might have command of the cyborgs, but she’d have command of the ship. He’d need her. “I’ll take the K-19.”
“Only one tube is needed to subdue a human male.” Tifara slid three tubes into a tiny injector gun. “You don’t trust this Crash being, do you? You think he’ll double cross you.” She held onto the medical device.
Safyre gazed at it, tempted to snatch it from her friend’s hand. “I’m not taking any chances.”
Crash couldn’t technically betray her because he hadn’t actually agreed to anything. He’d adeptly skirted around making any commitments to her.
That pissed her off. But she had suppressed her anger because she needed the damn male. That had been hard, so fucking hard, to do. Controlling her temper wasn’t a strength of hers.
“See that you don’t take any chances.” Tifara handed her the injector gun. “What type of being wants a cyborg army?”
A dangerous being. Safyre had no illusions about Crash’s character. She had heard the menace in his voice, the warning, the power. He was accustomed to being obeyed, feared.
But she had to deal with him. She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, trying to stave off her nosebleed.
Tifara gazed at her, expecting a reply.
“What type of being wants to be dropped off on a war-torn planet?” Safyre tucked the injector gun in her pocket. “He has his reasons. I have mine.”
“I don’t like that you’re facing this unknown male alone.” More worry lines appeared on Tifara’s face. “Maybe…”
Say it, Safyre silently pleaded. Tell me you’ll come with me. Show me you care, that you’re willing to die by my side.
She’d reject her offer. Her softhearted friend would be a liability on the sure-to-be-bloody mission. She’d attempt to heal every being Safyre shot.
But she needed to hear the words.
“I want to come with you.” Tifara frowned. “Except I have patients depending on me.”
“I understand.” And she did. Those lives were more important than she was. The beings her friend healed could change the universe. They could matter.
“You should take someone with you.” Tifara gazed at her with concern. “To ensure that this Crash being doesn’t betray you.”
There were no other someones. Nymphia and Tifara were her closest friends. Safyre didn’t have anyone else. “If I arrive and I’m not alone, Crash will believe I betrayed him.”
“He would believe that.” Her friend scrunched her nose.
“It’s best that it’s only me.”
Tifara tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “You want to be alone with him. Ohhh…” Her lips formed a circle. “You plan to fuck him.”
That wasn’t the reason she’d arrive solo but Crash’s low growly voice did appeal to her and a sexually sated male was much easier to manipulate. Plus she had needs. Normally. When her brain wasn’t being bombarded with pain. “Fucking him is a possibility.”
“It’s a certainty.” Tifara rolled her eyes. “I know you. If he is at all attractive, you’ll do him.”
“That’s likely.” She grinned. A splitting pain shot through her brain and her lips flattened once more. “Depending on the circumstances.” Her headache might stop her sexual exploits.
Read the next excerpt (available February 2nd) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/02/02/crash-and-burn-third-excerpt/
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 24, 2016
Dealing With Negative Or 1 Star Reviews
I was yapping with the always awesome Felicity Kates about dealing with negative or 1 star reviews. She mentioned that I should share this information with others so here goes…
You’ve edited your book to be the best it can be. Beta readers love it. YOU love it. The quality is there. You’re confident that it is a solid story. You send it out into the world.
You get some great reviews. Then you receive a negative review.
Hopefully.
Negative reviews on a quality story often mean your story is selling well or it does something different or it is reaching a new-to-you readership. This isn’t a bad thing. This is a GOOD thing.
It still hurts. We want every reader to love our stories. But that isn’t possible. Some readers will love our stories and some readers will hate our stories. This disagreement creates buzz and that is how many bestsellers happen. Reviewers, bloggers, critics discuss our stories, prompting more people to read them. No one discusses a story everyone loves. We do need those lovers but we need the haters also (note: Don’t look for haters. They will find you).
Trolls
Some of these haters will be, what many writers call, trolls. They haven’t read your book. Their reviews are (usually) easily identified.
They tend to be something like this
“This book was boring. I couldn’t force myself to finish it. The characters were too stupid to live. I wanted to strangle them. Save your money and don’t buy this book.”
They’ll be verified purchases so they’ll look legit but they (likely) aren’t. How can we determine that they aren’t? There’s no mention of character names or significant plot points. With Releasing Rage, there’s one scene that is mentioned in almost all legitimate 1 star reviews (you know the scene). Trolls never mention it.
But-but-but they are verified purchases. Trolls know the significance of those two words. If the troll is paid to leave a bad review (which, unfortunately, happens quite often), the person purchasing the review usually covers both the reviewer’s fee AND the cost of the book.
(Writers are contacted about these ‘services’ so we all pretty much know how it works.)
The interesting thing is… Amazon usually promotes stories with XX (and this XX seems to continually move) reviews more heavily than stories with fewer reviews. 1 star reviews count toward this number. The trolls are helping you promote your story.
And, as any book reviewer will attest, 1 star reviews also sell books. I was a reviewer for a huge site years ago and I had a readership that would buy EVERY story I didn’t like. They didn’t even read the review. They looked at the 1 star rating and made a purchase.
There are some ‘negative’ reviews that sell truckloads of books. Hearing that an erotic romance has too much sex or is too dark or too taboo will encourage some readers to buy the story.
Sales Killing Reviews
There are some reviews that are sales killers however. The biggest one for any romance author is “This story doesn’t have a happy ending.” or “The hero/heroine dies at the end.” or “The characters don’t end up together.”, any twist on “This isn’t a romance.”
When I first started out, I received this type of review quite often from trolls (many of these reviews magically disappeared when Amazon banned writers from reviewing their perceived competition’s stories). This is why I usually include “(My story title) IS a romance and has the expected romance ending.” in the From The Author section.
Notice how I don’t address the reviewer or the review directly.
What To Do When You Receive A Negative Review
When you receive a negative review, do NOT address the review. Do NOT contact the reviewer. Do NOT talk smack about the review. Do NOT send your readers or street team after this reviewer. Do NOT ask people to vote down the review.
Why? Because a) it is unprofessional and it makes you look like a doufus and b) it ends the discussion about your story. You WANT this discussion to continue. What I usually see is, after a 1 star review is posted, a 5 star review immediately follows. This occurs naturally. There’s no need to prompt it. It simply happens.
What can you do?
Some writers don’t read reviews. Ever. Or they have friends filter the reviews and send them the positive reviews only. They find reading negative reviews sucks their creativity and there’s nothing they can do about the reader’s concerns. The story is published. The writer/editors/publisher is happy with it. They aren’t going to make any changes to it.
I read reviews after my fresh writing for the day is done.
There are five main types of negative reviews
1) I intentionally did something different in my story and the reader didn’t like it. – This is an expected review whenever I do something different (which, ideally, should be always).
2) I unintentionally did something different in my story and the reader didn’t like it. – This might be something I change in future stories. For example: When I first started writing romance, I didn’t necessarily have the hero say he loved the heroine. He might have thought it. He might have showed it. He didn’t say it. Many readers need the hero to say the words. I included these three words in future stories and that made these readers happy.
3) The reader doesn’t like my style/niche/genre. – Congratulations to the reader for trying something different and congratulations to me for being that something different. I’m bringing something fresh to the publishing world.
4) The reader doesn’t like the story or the characters. – Every story, every character I write is unique. A reader won’t like them all. If she does, it is an indication I’m not writing fresh stories. This review tells me I AM writing fresh stories.
5) The reviewer is a troll and hasn’t even read my story. – These reviews are ignored.
The Games We Play
When you’ve been in this business for a while, you start to anticipate the negative reviews. I knew some readers would have an issue with that one scene in Releasing Rage. I knew a reviewer would call it ‘porn.’ I have a list of key words trolls use.
A writing buddy plays Bad Review Bingo. She puts the key words from anticipated bad reviews on a bingo card. Every time, a reviewer uses one of these words, she marks the card. When the card is completed, she treats herself to a reward.
I have bets with my dear wonderful hubby about what type of bad review will be first or next. I find anticipating these bad reviews make them hurt less. Your strategy might be different. Figure out how to deal with it.
Because we WILL receive negative reviews (we’ll also receive hate mail and I tend to receive a death threat every once in a while but those are entirely different posts).
Negative reviews are part of this business, a necessary, healthy part. Accept that they will happen. Learn how to deal with them without losing your mind or your love for writing.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 23, 2016
The Riot Club And Diverse Secondary Characters
Your main characters, your hero(es) and/or heroine(s), are unique and special, one of a kind creations. They dance and sing on the page, are fascinating beings you’d love to watch simply drink coffee.
Your secondary characters are…well…secondary. They’re faded backdrops to your main characters. They all act, look, speak similarly.
But who cares, right? They’re secondary characters.
Your readers care. I receive more messages and email from readers about my secondary characters than my main characters. Readers want a certain secondary character’s story to be next. They care about them.
And if you need a vivid example of why creating diverse secondary characters is important, watch The Riot Club. The Riot Club is a movie about an elite club at Oxford. The members come from wealth. They’re all male. They all look and act similarly. They are so similar; a secondary character remarks that he can’t tell them apart.
They are CONSCIOUSLY the same. Old members vote in new members who could be their clones. Diversity is bad. That’s the social commentary in The Riot Club.
This sameness makes the movie as confusing as hell. Of course, every member of The Riot Club is different on the inside but, because they’re so similar on the outside, I spent most of the movie not knowing which character was which. It was distracting, annoying, frustrating, and it drew my attention away from the story.
This is what your readers experience if you don’t make your secondary characters unique. This isn’t merely physical uniqueness (though that is nice too… and necessary for realism if your characters are living in today’s world). I write cyborgs. Many of these manufactured males come from the same batch. They’re very similar physically but they have different personalities. They have different ways of speaking. They use different words and actions.
Yes, secondary characters shouldn’t overshadow the main characters. If they do, reduce their time on the page. But they should be interesting and different.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
