Marie Sexton's Blog, page 41

Cup-o-Porn

On Monday, January 24th, Heidi Cullinan and I are launching a brand new website. It is here:

http://CupoPorn.wordpress.com/

Coffee and porn in the morning, wine and sex in the afternoon.

This will not just be us pimping our books. It's a place for us all to celebrate the things we love, without apology. We're going to have some fabulous give-aways too.

Stop by. Check us out. Join in the fun.

Rachel Haimowitz: Anchored Release Party Blog Tour

My guest today is Rachel Haimowitz.

Rachel is an M/M erotic romance author and a freelance writer and editor. She originally dipped her toes into cable news and book publishing, decided the water was cold and smelled kinda funny, and moved on to help would-be authors polish and publish, write for websites and magazines, and ghostwrite nonfiction.

Her first novel, an M/M fantasy erotic romance titled Counterpoint: Book One of Song of the Fallen, released in August 2010 with Guiltless Pleasure Publishing. Her second novel, an M/M alternate-history erotic romance titled Anchored: Belonging Book One, released January 17 with Noble Romance Publishing. Her third, Crescendo: Book II of Song of the Fallen, will release in the fall of 2011. In between, Rachel is writing shorts and novellas, including the M/M BDSM collection Sublime: Collected Shorts, and a not-yet-released cyberpunk novella titled Break and Enter, co-written with Aleksandr Voinov.

You can find Rachel tweeting as RachelHaimowitz, chatting in the Goodreads forums, and blogging at Rachel-Haimowitz.blogspot.com. She loves to hear from folks, so feel free to drop her a line anytime at metarachel@gmail.com.

Rachel is touring cyberspace giving away tons of prizes! Be sure to check out the other stops on her tour – there are a couple of links below, or you can check out the full blog schedule by clicking any of the images in this post. Leave a comment today for a chance to win a book or a swag pack. She'll also be stopping by throughout the day to chat and answer questions. Thanks for stopping by!

Q&A with Rachel Haimowitz

From Barbara: Are your characters based on people who you know in "real" life?

Goodness, no. But also kind of yes? Check out my Jan 16 interview on Nights of Passion for a much more complete answer to this question.

From Veronica: Are you an emotional wreck after you beat your boys senseless like you did in Counterpoint and Anchored? I'm curious because as a reader I have to take a deep breath, hold it, maybe chant "don't cry-don't cry," and try not to wince with each blow. That's a pretty big emotional reaction for me so I want to know what it's like from the writer's end?

Frankly, I'm a sadist, and I rather enjoy torturing my characters (just in case, you know, you hadn't noticed that yet ;-p). Hot men in pain is sexy for me . . . although of course in real life, I'd never hurt someone who didn't enjoy it too. Fiction, however, is an entirely different story.

That being said, scenes like Counterpoint's Blód Sekt and Anchored's rape/torture are hugely emotional and loaded, even for me. But, I'm writing these scenes with calculation—with the intent to pack a big punch—so there's distance for me, I think: a sort of deliberate analytical precision wherein I'm approaching the scene from "How can I make this tear-inducing?" rather than "Oh my god, this is tear-inducing." I have distance from it, if that makes sense.

Oddly, the one time I actually did make myself cry in all the things I've written so far was not one of these dark, awful scenes. It was the violin scene in Counterpoint, and specifically, the line "Ayden heard the ocean." Totally choked up; actually had to stop writing for a minute.

From Adara: I'm always interested in the research/time investment that goes into stories. What do you take the time to research? What don't you? Does the amount of research something may take influence your choice of topics when outlining a story?

I take the time to research anything and everything the scene calls for that I don't already know. In this day of Google and easy information, I feel quite strongly that there's no excuse for lazy writing. Do your damn homework. Nothing's worse than reading along, enjoying yourself, when suddenly you come to a fact so obviously wrong that it just throws you out of the story. I don't want to put any speed bumps up between my readers and the world in which I'm trying to immerse them.

For Anchored, I was fortunate to have worked in cable news, so I didn't have to research very much. The jargon, the activities that fill up a producer's day, these were things I already had in my head. But for Counterpoint it was a whole different story, and I probably spent a good 50 or 100 hours looking things up for that book. Once I spent close to half an hour researching pond fish that could survive the winter in a Pacific Northwest climate. Even though it was a little insignificant throwaway line (that, by the way, ended up on the cutting-room floor by book's end), I just knew that if I mentioned an inappropriate breed of fish, someone who actually kept pond fish or knew a lot about them would stumble right over that and think to themselves, "That fish would die in the winter!" I don't want them to be thinking about dying fish; I want them to be enjoying the book. So, yeah, it's a huge amount of work, but I absolutely think it's worth it.

As for influencing my choice of topics, yes and no. For instance, I'd love to write a historical, but I'm terrified of the details. Historical readers are smart, attentive folks who often know their time periods as well as a historian. Getting the details right in something like that would require a level of commitment and bravery I'm not sure I possess, so I've so far avoided that genre.

From Allure VanSanz: I dig the cover for Counterpoint. Was that supplied to you, drawn by someone at the publishers, drawn by you? Bought? Stolen?

That cover's something else, isn't it? My publisher, Guiltless Pleasure Publishing, provided the cover, which they commissioned from Nathie Block. Nathie does amazing work (I can get lost for hours on his DeviantArt page), and I'm ecstatic to say that he'll be doing the cover for Crescendo: Book II of Song of the Fallen as well.

For complete information on dates and prizes and everything else, go here , or click any of the pictures above.

Yesterday's stops:

Reena Jacobs

Shakir Rashaan

Today:

Alan Chin and myself

Tomorrow's stops:

Bryl Tyne

Coffee Times Romance

And don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one of today's prizes! The winner will be announced on January 14th.

Please consider voting, plus a random update…

Strawberries for Dessert is in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll for 2010 Romance. Please consider giving it your vote.

Also, check out this guest blog post Ethan Stone did on Jadette Paige's blog. Partly I point you there because Ethan's a good friend, but partly it's because he said such nice things about me.

For those who like a random dose of man candy, I now have a Tumblr. Feel free to check it out.

I hope to have news for you soon regarding Between Sinners and Saints.

You can still enter to win The Pharaoh's Concubine by Z.A. Maxfield. Go here. And don't forget that Rachel Haimowitz will be here on January 17th as part of her Anchored Release Blog Tour! There will be prizes, so make sure you stop by!

Guest post and book giveaway by Z.A. Maxfield!

Whether it's my first or my twenty-first, a new release is still like flying my big granny panties up a flagpole for the entire world to see. I have a new one coming out today: The Pharaoh's Concubine, from Samhain Publishing. It's about two men from opposite worlds who find out they're not so different after all.

People ask if I get nervous when a new book comes out and I have to answer sure I do! Writing can be a roller coaster of highs and lows; you have to take the wins where you find them. I had one come up last weekend at the American Library Association Convention where I was 'manning' the MLR Press booth to help out Laura Baumbach and author James Buchanan.

That convention itself was lovely. Good friends, free books, great weather, nice restaurants… what more could anyone want? But at one point, a librarian from the Chicago Public Library system came to our booth. I introduced myself and her eyes widened with that spark of name recognition, and she said she KNEW WHO I WAS.

Holy Cow. Apparently, my St. Nacho's Series and my book Drawn Together is in the Chicago Public Library!!!

I like money, don't get me wrong, but finding out one of my books is in the public library somewhere gave me a charge like NOTHING I have ever felt.

The Library.

That my book is anywhere is a tremendous thrill. But finding out I'm in the library is so much more so. I wanted to plant a big, wet sloppy kiss on that nice librarian's lips for the joy she brought me! (Yet I'm guessing that's the definition of overkill right there…)

I'm so grateful for all the librarians who have shepherded me around and found me choice things to read and pointed me in the direction of information I needed. I love them for taking care of those books, for guarding my privacy, for looking past my children's bad behavior, for forgiving us the occasional lost or damaged book while allowing us to make restitution without (much) comment.

By the way, the ALA gives good convention! I've never been to one that clean and quiet, and there were free books everywhere.

A great librarian is like the ringmaster in an infinite circus. I've spent thousands of hours blissfully entertained by library books.

I gave out oversized postcards of my Stirring Up Trouble cover with calendars on the back… I wonder how many librarians will magnet that to the refrigerator cover-side up?

Does anyone have any spectacular library memories? Taking my firstborn to get her library card stands out in my mind as one of the best days of my life. (In my family, that's the equivalent of the Lion King holding his cub up for the pride to see…)

Leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Pharaoh's Concubine and… Tell me your own library stories. I'll do the drawing on Saturday Night to give everyone a chance to join in and announce the winner on Sunday. Good luck!

You can by The Pharaoh's Concubine here.

Winner

I want to thank everybody who stopped by this weekend. Although Cole claimed he'd pick the person who flattered him the most, I overrode him. Instead, I put all the names in a hat (okay, it was a tupperware dish, and not even a real one, but one of those disposable store-brand kinds) (don't judge me!) and I drew a name. The winner of By the Book by Scarlett Parrish is Jason!

Hooray! Jason, Scarlett will be sending that your way in just a bit.

Please make sure you stop by on Tuesday, January 11th. Z.A. Maxfield will be here promoting her brand new release, The Pharaoh's Concubine. I think she's giving one away too, so you know you don't want to miss it!

Cole interviews Scarlett Parrish

Well folks, here I am, and it seems that Marie has once again signed me up to do an interview. Today I'll be talking to one of my favorite women in the world, Scarlett Parrish. Scarlett's novel, By the Book, is now available from Loose Id. Marie tells me we're giving a copy away today too, so make sure you stick around!

Cole: Well hello, darling! So good to see you again, and especially on such an auspicious occasion: the release of your latest novel, By the Book.

Scarlett: You'll be pleased to know this one is about two men…well, mostly. I decided if I couldn't turn you, I'd come over to the dark side, so to speak.

Cole: If I were to turn for anyone, I dare say it would be for you, love. But I do hope you're not holding your breath.

Scarlett: *turns purple*

Cole: Stop! I won't give you mouth to mouth, no matter what you do!

Scarlett: *pout*  Fine!

Cole: Let's talk about your book!

Scarlett: Good idea! It's such a shame Daniel couldn't be here today, but he's, er, busy…I'm sure you can guess why.

Cole: I'm sure I can! You say it's "mostly" about two men. Would you classify this as m/m/f?

Scarlett: Weeeeell…more like M/M with bits of M/F/M and F/M/F and M/F. So pretty much a sexual free-for-all. But the primary story is about Reece Hutton (a librarian) and Daniel Cross (a writer). Hence the title – neither of them play 'by the book'. Believe me, the two of them see most of the action, which is inevitable, because Daniel is, by his own admission, a slut. You and he would get along famously.

Cole: Now honey, don't go disparaging my character! I'll have to take back all of the nice things I've said about you!

So which one has the gorgeous tattoos, Reece or Daniel? Don't tell Jonny, but I really do adore tattoos on my men.

Scarlett: That's Daniel. He has dark hair, likes to wear guyliner, looks like a bad boy. One of his exes (yes, a man) used to call him a fallen angel, so Daniel figured, "If I'm a fallen angel, I want my wings back."

Cole: He does sound intriguing.

Scarlett: Of course, the wings give Reece something to look at when…well, you can figure out the rest.

Cole: I most certainly can, love. So what about Reece?

Scarlett: Reece doesn't have any tattoos. But that's okay – something tells me you'd scare him. He's never been with another man and I know what you're like with new converts. *coughBigAngryCopcough*

Cole: I'm sure I have no idea what you mean, love! But that's okay, since this interview isn't about me.

So tell me about Reece? Being with other men is new for him?

Scarlett: He's definitely not vanilla. He and his girlfriend play around with thirds occasionally. Guest stars, you could call them. On his birthday his girlfriend, Georgia, gives him a threeway with her best friend, Sarah, so the lucky boy gets to play with two women for the night. And my editor wanted me to expand that scene from its original draft, so sorry, darling – there's detailed hetero sex in the book too.

Cole: *shudder* To each his own.

Scarlett: Anyway, Daniel is a library patron and he takes a shine to Reece, takes him out to lunch after his birthday to ask what his girlfriend gave him, which leads to a very interesting series of events involving another threeway, with two parties becoming rather more attached than they should be…

Cole: It sounds absolutely filthy! But then, those of us who know you would expect nothing less! You know everybody here is rooting for you, love, but since we don't want to give too much of the book away, I'll skip to something a bit different.

What do you think is the best thing about being a writer?

Scarlett:Getting to discuss hot men with friends, sexual techniques and positions, and discussing blow jobs…and it's research!

Cole: I'm convinced! Where do I sign up?

Scarlett: It's great being asked to beta read rude chapters too   And I love it when CERTAIN PEOPLE email me a) gay porn or b) photos of my celebrity crushes.

Cole: I have no idea what pervert would do such a thing. *ahem* What do you think is the worst thing about it?

Scarlett: Lack of self-discipline. I look back over 2010 and wince when I realise how much I could have completed by now if only I'd taken a hold of myself and WORKED.  So I suppose my answer would be, the freedom to write whenever, means I tend to slack off too.

Cole: What was the best gift you received for Christmas?

Scarlett: Hmm. I haven't 'done' Christmas for years. Lemme think…

Anything creative, like crayons, paper, pens, books…bit of a cop out answer really!

Cole: We'll let it slide, love. What's your favorite holiday?

Scarlett: Hogmanay. It's less depressing than the others, not at all commercial, and I always feel hopeful on the 31st December.  And I'm Scottish, and we're big on Hogmanay.

Cole: Honey, I'm American (and French) and I have no idea what you just said. Does it involve hogs?

Scarlett: It's a Scottish word for New Year's Eve, darling. We drink a lot and snog people we shouldn't. Oh! Shall I tell you about the 'first foot' tradition?  The first visitor of the New Year should be a man, tall, dark and handsome. (You like this, don't you?)

Cole: Sounds fabulous!

Scarlett: He should be carrying a lump of coal, a coin, and a bottle of whisky – to ensure warmth, fortune and good cheer throughout the year.

Cole: Sounds like my kind of holiday!

Scarlett: Often, just before midnight, a man fitting that description is sent outside to wait for midnight, then told to come back in, to be the household's 'first foot'. I don't think they come in the back door, if you know what I'm saying

Cole: Well, I guess we can't have everything….  ;-)

Back to you, lovey. What's your favorite food?

Scarlett: Chocolate. But for proper meals, definitely Italian. I've heard you like to get your jaws round some Italian meat too, darling.

Cole: Wicked girl! The less said about that, the better! Favorite ice cream flavor?

Scarlett: Anything but vanilla, sweetie.

Cole: A girl after my own heart!  Dogs or cats?

Scarlett: Cats

Cole: Coffee or tea?

Scarlett: Tea.

Cole: Last question lovey: name your three favorite gay men ever.

Scarlett: Adam Lambert.  George Michael, before he started crashing his car and getting his winky out in public. I mean just for the music.

Cole: Understood.

Scarlett: And you, of course!

Cole: I knew there was a reason I loved you!  Anything you'd like to add before we wrap things up?

Scarlett: I hope you're not too disappointed that Daniel and Reece both like girls too, sweetie, and I promise I'll write a strictly gay book one day. And I'll dedicate it to you. MWAH!

Cole: I'll be looking forward to it!

You can find By the Book here. Also, we're giving away a free ebook today. Leave a comment and we'll choose one lucky winner at random on Monday morning. And by "random" I of course mean that I'll choose the person who showers me with the most compliments. Whoever said flattery would get you nowhere sure wasn't me!

Winners!

First, the winner of Cruising Adventures by Nicole Dennis is Chris!

Second, I wanted to let everybody know that Promises came in 6th out of 20 for Romance in the 2010 Goodreads Choice Awards. It finished behind some BIG names: JR Ward, Nicholas Sparks, Jeaniene Frost, and two Nora Roberts books. I honestly feel like this is a huge victory, not only for me, but for m/m romance in general. Thanks so much to everybody who voted for me! I hope we see a lot more m/m (and how about some f/f?) in the running next year.

Full results can be viewed here.

I have more great guests and more great give-aways in the upcoming weeks, so keep checking back!

Nicole Dennis: Interview and Giveaway

My guest today is Nicole Dennis, author of Cruising Adventures.

Gifted a cruise by his office partners, Doctor Connor MacKenzie didn't expect to be propositioned and seduced while steaming away from the Florida coastline. Only that is exactly what happens when he meets gorgeous cyclist Nathaniel Grant.

Agreeing to an erotic fling for the duration of the cruise, with no mention of last names or pasts, they enjoy one another. From Connor's lavish suite, throughout the GLBT festivities, when Connor becomes a drag queen's pageant escort, a foray in the gambling hall, and the elegant Captain's dinner.

Still, reality whittles its ugly way into their bliss. Nathan goes astray to see how strong the fragile bond can withstand. Can there be a life for them beyond the ship?

First of all, tell us something about yourself and your writing. How long have you been writing? Is Cruising Adventures your first book?

Since I was a little kid, my nose was always stuck in a book or I created stories for my dolls – Barbies or paper dolls. I started writing them down at a young age, scribbling them in notebooks – some I still have to this day. As I got older, the stories progressed and grew longer, sometimes the notebooks I was supposed to use for class notes were turned into storybooks and I wrote during class. Romance is my first love, but I added twists of other genres along the way.

Cruising Adventures isn't my first novel, but is my third gay novel with Silver Publishing.

Is writing your full-time job, or are you employed elsewhere?

This is my beloved wishful career, but I do have a full time 9-5 job during the day that pays the bills.

Name your three favorite books, or three favorite authors (your choice).

Oh my, so hard to name three of either way. But I must say anything by Nora Roberts, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Laurell K. Hamilton tops my list. Though I'm an out there Harry Potter fan.

(Marie would like to add that she is also a huge Harry Potter fan, btw)

What's your favorite movie?

A little funny.. but I love Ella Enchanted.

Favorite TV show?

When in doubt or nothing is on, I always find my clicker going to a Law&Order show, even if its a re-run.

Name one irrational phobia you have.

Ugh.. Odd, but I have a social anxiety issue, yet I love going to all the theme parks in Orlando.

If you could solve one historical unsolved crime or mystery, which one would it be?

Amelia Earhart, what happened to you?

What's your favorite holiday?

Earth Day

What's your favorite season?

Autumn, I grew up in New Jersey and still miss the colors of the leaves and the crisp feeling in the air during that time.

Dogs or cats?

Cats!! I have two beloved furballs who rule my life. I am a cat slave to a red tabby and a demonic black-orange calico.

Coffee or tea?

Tea! Especially Earl Grey or a delicious Chai.

Where would you go for your next vacation if time and money weren't an issue?

A cozy cottage by the sea or lake where I could curl up with the kitties and relax.

Thanks so much for being my guest today! Cruising Adventures is available from Silver Publishing here. You can see all of Nicole's titles with Silver here. Her website is here .

We're also giving away a .pdf version of the Cruising Adventures today. Just leave a comment, and a winner will be chosen tomorrow.

Guests, guests, and more guests…

I have such fabulous guests lined up for you!!

Now, I know what you're thinking. With the holiday season finally over, you're probably thinking that you're sick of guests, right? WRONG! Because the guests I'm talking about won't be sleeping on your hide-a-bed, eating your food, or dirtying up your towels. What they will be doing is blogging about fun random topics, promoting new releases, answering questions, and maybe even giving a few things away. Seriously, you do NOT want to miss these guests!

Let me tell you what's coming up:

January 4th: Nicole Dennis will be here promoting her book, Cruising Adventures.

Gifted a cruise by his office partners, Doctor Connor MacKenzie didn't expect to be propositioned and seduced while steaming away from the Florida coastline. Only that is exactly what happens when he meets gorgeous cyclist Nathaniel Grant.

Agreeing to an erotic fling for the duration of the cruise, with no mention of last names or pasts, they enjoy one another. From Connor's lavish suite, throughout the GLBT festivities, when Connor becomes a drag queen's pageant escort, a foray in the gambling hall, and the elegant Captain's dinner.

Still, reality whittles its ugly way into their bliss. Nathan goes astray to see how strong the fragile bond can withstand. Can there be a life for them beyond the ship?

January 8th: Scarlett Parrish will be here promoting By the Book. I think Cole himself will be interviewing her, so you know it's bound to be good.

Two's company; three's allowed.



Reece Hutton conducts his life between the covers – of books and beds. A librarian by day, in the evenings he's a man whose tastes are anything but vanilla. So when local writer Daniel Cross appears in the library one afternoon with the aim of doing some research, Reece has a hard time not noticing how attractive he is, or what feels like chemistry between them. They exchange a few words and Daniel's business card, an interlude which Reece puts down to networking rather than flirtation.



After all, he has his girlfriend Georgia to go home to and her best friend: a threesome to help his birthday go literally with a bang. Reece, being a gentleman (most of the time), has no objection to returning the favour, especially as his new friend Daniel seems all too willing to be their third for the evening. Georgia sees their triangle as nothing more than a temporary bit of fun but Reece…? He'll eventually have to own up to breaking the unwritten rules of their relationship or close the book on a growing attraction to Daniel.

January 11th: None other than Z.A. Maxfield will be here talking about her brand new release, The Pharaoh's Concubine.

As mob boss Yvgeny Mosko's open secret, Dylan Anderson is happy enough with a passionate, if loveless, arrangement that affords him a life of luxury. But at thirty-six, he wonders how committed Mosko will be to an aging lover.

He finds out when a rival gang kidnaps him in a turf war everyone's sure to lose. Mosko unleashes deadly force, leaving no one alive except for a young man whose dark eyes tug at Dylan's heart—and the conscience he thought he'd excised long ago.

Though he tried to stop the kidnapping, William "Memo" Escobar knows Mosko will use what's left of him to send a powerful message to his rivals. When Mosko's pampered pretty boy risks everything to help him escape, he can't believe his luck.

Williams figures he's better suited to life off the grid, but as the days go by he begins to realize Dylan's beauty is more than skin deep. And as Dylan coaxes more and more beguiling smiles from William, he yearns for things—like family ties—he'd thought were best forgotten.

Yet behind their newfound happiness lurks the certain knowledge that no matter how careful they are, Mosko will come for what's his.

January 18th: Rachel Haimowitz will be here talking about Anchored. (Cover art isn't available quite yet, but I didn't want to short-change her, so I'm posting a random hot guy instead. Isn't he lovely?)

Network news anchor Daniel Halstrom is at the top of his field, but being at the bottom of the social ladder—being a slave—makes that hard to enjoy. Especially when NewWorld Media, the company who's owned him since childhood, decides to lease him on evenings and weekends to boost their flagging profits.

Daniel's not stupid; he knows there's only one reason why a man would pay so much for what little free time he has, and it's got nothing to do with his knowledge of current events. But he's never been made to serve like that before, and he fears he won't survive it with his sanity intact.

He finds himself in the home of Carl Whitman, a talk show host whose words fail him time and again when it comes to ordering Daniel to bed. Daniel knows what Carl wants, but it seems as if Carl isn't willing to take it, and Daniel's not willing to give it freely. His recalcitrance costs him dearly, but with patience and some hard-won understanding, love just might flourish where once there'd been only fear and pain. Can Carl become the anchor in Daniel's turbulent life, or will he end up the weight that sinks his slave for good?

I'm pretty sure Rachel is planning a giveaway, so make sure you stop by. Also, you should go here to leave questions for her, which she will be answering here on the blog.

January 21st: Amy Lane will be here talking about her new release Talker's Redemption, and possibly talking about exactly what it is about those bad boys that draws us in.

Tate Walker's past is too painful to just disappear, even if his dream boy, Brian Cooper, is there to hold his hand. Brian does his best, but Talker—always good at avoiding his own pain—is having a hard time facing the truth about what happened when he trusted the wrong man at the wrong time.

When that truth resurfaces and lands Brian in the hospital, Talker is forced to make a choice. He can either confront every demon in his fragile, bleeding heart, or he can let Brian take the heat for him, just like he has from the beginning. But even Talker knows you don't leave your dream boy alone and undefended when he just saved your life, and he'll have to find the strength to take care of Brian when Brian needs him the most.

January 27th: Keta Diablo will be here answering a rather random set of questions I sent her, and promoting her novella, Long, Hard Ride.

Civil War divides a Nation. Grayson Drake has been sent by a covert spy agency from the South to break Marx Wellbourne out of a Union prison. Ordered to return Wellbourne to Richmond, 400 miles away, Gray soon discovers Marx is courting death from malaria and pneumonia. To complicate matters, the sinfully gorgeous Wellbourne is none other than the same man he coveted from afar four years ago in Charleston.

Pursued by the villainous warden of the prison, Major Darkmore, nothing is as it seems when intrigue, suspense and passion collide on the long, hard ride back to Richmond.

January 29th: Tiffany Reisz will be finishing off the month with a post she guarantees will be absolutely smutty. Tiffany is the author of Seven Day Loan, and I hear it is smokin' hot, for those who don't mind a girl in their smut.

A trained submissive, Eleanor will do whatever her master commands…even spend a week with a stranger. Daniel has been a recluse since his wife's death, and Eleanor's lover thinks spending time with her will be therapeutic—especially since Daniel is also a Dom.

Despite her defiant streak, Eleanor can't resist giving in to Daniel's erotic demands. But while she'll let him have her body, she's determined to keep a guard around her heart. Even if Daniel wants to make Eleanor his permanently..

I think that wraps it up for January, but that won't be the end of the guests. Not by a long shot! In February there will be more, including (but not limited to) Tam and Jenre from Brief Encounters Reviews, Julie Hayes, and (I'm not even kidding here) the one and only Lynn Flewelling (!!).

See what I mean? Fabulous guests, and you don't even have to clean your house!

Michele 'n Jeff's Best of 2010

It feels like Cole's been getting all the love lately, but I'm happy to announce that One More Soldier made Michele 'n Jeff Review's Best of 2010 list!