Beth D. Carter's Blog, page 37

Kristy Brown Talks About her YA Paranormal Romance...Summer's End!

Hello Kristy!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…
Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?
I literally did dream my lead male, Alex. I saw him so vividly just before I woke up and knew I had to write him!

Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?
Yes, Summer’s End is the first book in the trilogy. It’s a YA Paranormal Romance with a twist! I’ve just finished editing book two.
Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?
I don’t think anyone has written this twist on the genre before. Authors have written vampires, angels etc, but I think this is a fresh idea. I hope it is!
Q) What do you think is your strongest asset as a writer? …what is your weakest factor as a writer?
My imagination is my strongest, it never stops working and surprising me. My weakest is procrastination. I need to start book three but keep finding other things to do!
Q) Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Yes, but don’t all writers? It’s a balancing act between both I think.
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
Depends. Alex was a gift. I just wrote him. I needed a conflict, and that’s when I wrote Summer.
Q) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I like a standalone. But these three should be read as you need to see the character arcs and plot over all three books.
  Q) What are your upcoming projects?
Book three! My publisher (Muse It Up Publishing) will be asking for it soon. Also, I’ve just self-published a YA fairy tale retelling CINDERFELLA on Amazon and JUST SAM, a contemporary teen romance.


Blurb
She wakes up in the hospital, badly burned with no identity.

He’s been trained to kill her before she burns the world to ashes.

When they finally meet, will he be able to take her life now that he’s started to feel for her?

His fate is already written.

The prophecy is already set.

Love between them is forbidden.
Buy Links
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DK3Y88H/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summers-End-Kristy-Brown-ebook/dp/B07DK3Y88H
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/romance-print-books/paranormal-romance/summers-end-detail

About Kristy Brown
Kristy Brown lives in England with her husband and two sons. She trained as an actress and has a degree in Contemporary Arts. After her first child was born she began writing a short story whilst he took a nap. That was the beginning of the "Kiera's Quest" teen fantasy series, which is published by 'Muse It Up Publishing.'

Kristy then went on to write "Summer's End," a YA Paranormal romance series, which will also be published with Muse It Up Publishing.

"Just Sam," is a YA/ Teen contemporary romance book set loosely in the world of tennis.
Kristy is currently editing her YA modern retelling of Cinderella, "Cinderfella." She is also writing the third book in the "Summer's End" series and has many more stories in mind, yet not enough time in the day!https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40540183-summer-s-end
https://twitter.com/KBrownauthor
https://www.facebook.com/KristyBrownWrites/

Gemma Snow Visits with her New Release!

Hello Gemma!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…
Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?
Yes! Wild Flowers is book two in the Triple Diamond series, which is set on the Triple Diamond Ranch in Wolf Creek, Montana. The first book in this series, The Lovin’ Is Easywas actually meant to be a short, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to expand, so it’s now a four book series, with each story set in a different season. This one is fall and let me tell you, Montana is beautiful in the fall. (She says, from having spent too many hours on Pinterest and never having gone…)
I have to say though, living in the modern day is great! When I first started expanding this series, I actually found a real estate website for luxury ranches in Montana. It had these half hour video tours of the grounds and homes – it wasn’t quite as good as going myself, but it was a close second! It’s just been so much fun creating this setting and telling stories there.
Q) What do you think is your strongest asset as a writer? …what is your weakest factor as a writer?
I’d have to say that my strongest asset is probably my ability to just get it done. Programs like National Novel Writing Month or writing sprints/word count goals are really effective for me, because I write fast and once it’s on the page I can fix it. That being said, my weakness is also writing fast. It’s really important for me to write comprehensive synopsis and outlines to follow while I’m writing, or I’ll end up with a full-length book that doesn’t say a whole hell of a lot of anything.  
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I think every character develops as the story unfolds. I come from a background in journalism and it’s been very effective for character creation, with interviews and research and I love going into a story with a strong grasp on my characters. That being said, the characters get tested, they get challenged, they come upon unusual circumstances and, just like people, they change and are changed by those events.
It’s particularly interesting, too, to write romantic character development for ménage romances. The dynamic is going to be very different than a more traditional type of partnership and exploring those unique approaches to communication and trust has been a lot of fun and very educational. 
Q) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I love writing series! Every time I try to write a stand alone book, it ends up developing into a series. I’ve always loved reading them too, so I think that has a lot to do with it. For me, it’s fun to see characters or places from previous books and to get that sort of outside interaction. It’s easy to accidentally isolate our heroes and heroines because we do want them to be alone together, but we don’t want them to be alone in the world and creating that larger series setting can really help give them a solid place.
So yes! The Triple Diamond series is interconnected between the (what will be) four books in the series. I have a few stand alone short stories, but I think it’s a little different. I have two recently released titles I’ll be republishing and they’re both part of series as well and I’m actually thinking of expanding one across time, so yes, huge series fan!
Q) What are your upcoming projects?
I’m working on sucha fun project right now, but I’m quite at the point where I can spill the beans. Suffice to say, it hasdukes, friends to lovers tropes and bacchanalian, hedonistic festivities with 1800s circus themes! I have fun.
That’s in early stages though. Right now, Wild Flowersis out this week and book three in the Triple Diamond Series, Most Wanted is coming out early next year. I’m also planning to republish two of my recently unpublished works, so fun things!

Blurb
When it comes to the two very tempting search-and-rescue survivalists, Lily Hollis is all about getting in touch with nature…
Five years have passed since her fiancé’s death and Lily Hollis has had enough. She’s done with the self-pity and the guilt and putting the brakes on her own life. She’s going to visit her sister, Madison, in Wolf Creek, Montana and she’s going to finish her master’s research, finally graduating, like she never did all those years ago.

But Wolf Creek holds temptation, specifically in the form of the very sexy, very dangerous Dec McCormick and Micah Ellison, two search-and-rescue specialists who run a survival camp near her sister’s ranch. When they suggest she stay with them to complete her fieldwork, Lily is shocked to find herself agreeing. After all, she hasn’t wanted a man in a very long time and now she finds herself wanting two.

Which is…complicated. Because, while some of the folks in Wolf Creek don’t mind unorthodox relationships, Dec and Micah are clear from the start that it doesn’t appeal to them. It’s a shame Lily’s fool heart can’t seem to get the idea, because the more time she spends with the two men, the more she finds herself caring—that is, until one damning question could bring everything to a crashing halt.

Lily knows deep down that there’s more to whatever’s between them, but the question is, can she ever get Dec and Micah to believe it—and what might the future hold if they do?

Buy Links
Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/book/wild-flowers
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FVYQNJ7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-flowers-gemma-snow/1129134806?ean=9781786864192
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wild-flowers-15
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wild-flowers/id1415283601?mt=11





Excerpt

“We’ve got a scent!”

Axel was trying hard not to get too far ahead of Micah to see, and Micah did his best to keep pace, following the large and very determined golden retriever down a steep incline, clenching his thighs and lowering his center of gravity to avoid sliding on the wet, fallen leaves that coated the Clark Mountain Range of Glacier National Park, at the edge of the Montana–Canada border. Axel, on his four legs, was doing a much better job holding his grip on the ground, but Micah had no desire to go sliding off the edge of the mountain and into the depths of the canyons below, so he whistled a command and the dog slowed enough for Micah to catch up.

Still, they kept an admirable pace and quickly came to a plateau of flat ground. High above, at the top of the ridge, Micah heard his partner Dec—Deckard McCormick—approaching with Rosie, Axel’s sister. Rosie kicked up a pile of leaves on the approach, clearly picking up on the same scent Axel had.

“Anything down there?” Dec shouted, the sound catching and echoing off the many flat walls of the mountain range.

“I think I saw a cave,” Micah called back, straining to look around the corner of a large boulder that jutted forth from the ground and mountainside. “Give me a second. I’ll let you know whether or not to come down.”

Dec gave the affirmative then Micah crouched low to peer around the edge of the boulder.

Oh, shit.

That wasn’t just a boulder. That was the edge of the fucking mountain, looking down over a sheer two hundred foot drop to the canyon below. For a fleeting, horrible second, vertigo caught his senses and nearly dragged him to his knees, making the sky and the high trees waver and tilt.

But Micah put a steadying hand on the rock wall and took a deep breath, settling the sky firmly above him and the ground firmly below. He commanded Axel to stay put—not that he needed to. Axel was a damn smart dog and knew better than to go canyon jumping. Then Micah lay flat on his stomach, damn near hanging over the edge of the mountain, to look around the boulder’s protruding side.

There was definitely a cave on the other side, a yawning, darkened mouth, gaping right over the valley. The question was—was there anyone in it?
“Hello,” he called, his breath labored and caught, what with his stomach pressed against the ground. And he was still pressed against the ground. He had to keep reminding himself of that. The stones and wet leaves that rasped against his forearms, giving a slight fall chill in the mountains, were all real. For this moment, at least, he wasn’t plummeting toward certain death below.

"Is there anyone in the cave?” A pause. The silence was weighty, colored by the sounds of raptors flying overhead and wind rippling through the trees that towered high above the ground, giving Micah a very odd sense of perspective as to exactly how far up in the sky he was.

Oh, about ten thousand feet…

But now was just about the worst time to calculate the distance it would take to kill a grown man, so he focused his attention on the solid ground and his mission and called out again. “This is Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue Agent Micah Ellison, I repeat, is there anyone in the cave?”

A sound. It was barely even a real sound and if he hadn’t been trained by the very best to determine the difference between human and nature, he might not have heard it. But there it was, a whimper catching on the wind, the softest, shuddering inhalation of a very terrified child.

Chloe Robinson. Female. African American. Six years old and approximately thirty-nine inches tall. Last seen Tuesday, October Eight. Amber alert issued Wednesday, October Nine.

She’d been gone a week. In the world of search and rescue, a week was no better than a month was no better than a year. It was true what they said about forty-eight hours. Truer still when the Montana mountain ranges, of which there were many, were known for being unforgiving and merciless. Micah knew all about that first-hand.

But there was no denying the signs of life coming from the other side of the boulder. After nearly a decade of doing this job, Micah knew the sound of a frightened child all too well and unless the universe played some pretty hairy tricks, the girl on the other side of that sheer drop down to the valley was Chloe Robinson.

“Chloe,” he called out, hoping the sound would carry and not get lost on the wind, as any calls he made toward Dec and the team undoubtedly would. “Chloe Robinson.”

The sound of her fearful whimpering increased and when he called her name again, this time she answered him. Thank fuck for small victories.

“How do you know my name?”

But that was the way of kids, wasn’t it? Find them hidden in a darkened cave in the middle of a mountain range and they want to know how you know their name.

“Your mom and dad told me,” Micah replied. “See, they’ve been missing you and they sent me and my partner Dec out to see if we could find you with our dogs, Axel and Rosie. Do you like dogs, Chloe?”

A small sniff echoed across the gap, then, “I have a dog…at home. Her name is Daisy.”
Micah sighed in relief. Good, she was talking, which meant she wasn’t too dehydrated to function or too badly injured. He hoped.

“Well, Chloe, I’d really like to get you back home to Daisy, okay?” he said. “Now, I’m going to talk to my partner, but I’ll be right back…”

“No!” she shouted the word before he even finished his sentence. “Stay. Don’t leave. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

Micah nodded and as carefully as he could, reached for the radio on his utility belt.

“Okay, I’m not leaving,” he said. “But I’m going to talk to him over the radio, okay? I just want to let him know that I found you, all right?”

She sniffled but agreed and Micah brought the radio to his mouth, doing his damnedest to think about Chloe, the brave as all hell six-year-old in the cave, and not the freaking mountainous drop right below his face.

“Dec,” he radioed over. “She’s here.” The radio crackled in and out, then cut out completely, plunging the mountain’s edge into silence that suddenly felt a whole hell of a lot colder and lonelier than it had a minute ago.

Or maybe that was just the clouds rolling in overhead. For fuck’s sake.

Okay, okay. He’d dealt with hairier situations than this and he was damn well going to get that girl out of the cave if it was his last act on earth and all that. He sent up a prayer to as many of his gods as he could remember in the moment then called back to the little girl.
“Just you and me now, Chloe, okay?” he said. “Now, I’m going to hook my belaying chord to a tree on this side of the gap then I’m coming over to you. You can talk to me. I can hear you.”

He stood and stepped a foot in from the edge of the cliff, allowing himself one deep breath before walking over to the thick oak tree growing sideways out of the mountain. He tested a branch with his weight, finding it thick and sturdy, before tossing the end of the rope around it and securing the knot that he had been tying since he was about Chloe’s age. He tugged on the end attached to his security belt and, satisfied, returned to the edge of the mountain.

“How did you end up here, Chloe?” Don’t look down, Micah.

“I got lost,” Chloe said, only a slight sniffle to her voice. Christ, this six-year-old little girl has bigger balls than I do. “I hid in the cave and fell asleep then there was a huge lightning storm. I woke up when all the rocks crashed.”

On closer inspection, Micah could tell that a big section of the mountain had broken free, creating the gap between him and the cave where Chloe was hidden. She’d walked into the cave and hadn’t been able to walk out, unless she was some sort of New Age Jesus.

“Well, you’re very brave, Chloe,” he said, testing the rope one more time. “I’m coming over now, okay?” And before she could answer him, he began the slow, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other walk across the large yawning mouth of the valley. He didn’t dare lift his feet, but rather scraped them along the mountain’s edge, making rock and dust crumble, and he gritted his teeth to keep from following their path with his eyes.

He’d been working for Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue Team for nearly six years and he never got over that feeling of being suspended over the incredibly far valley below. Even two decades later, memories still plagued him, very nearly paralyzing a man who was otherwise incredibly good at his job.

But before Micah could give in to any of those fears or panics, his feet touched down on the other side, grounding him against the dirt and mossy leaves, and there he was, at the entrance to the cave.

“Chloe,” he called, his voice soft and gentle. “It’s me, Micah. Do you want to come out of there now?”

She emerged, her movements slow and wary. Her clothes were dirty and her hair had all manner of sticks and leaves tangled in the curls, but she appeared otherwise unharmed, and Micah let out a low breath of relief. “You did a good job hiding here, honey,” he said. “Now, I’d like to bring you home to your mom and dad, okay?”

She nodded and sniffled. “Okay.” It seemed that the bravery that had gotten her so far was just about tapped out. Well, fine, she was allowed to be a kid again. It was no longer her responsibility to get home safely.

“Okay,” he repeated. “Now, I’m going to hook you into this harness, then we’re going to slowly walk across that gap. My dog, Axel, he’s on the other side, waiting to meet you.”

She nodded and, before either of them got the chance to freak the fuck out about trekking across that massive drop again, Micah had her hooked into the front section of the harness built for rescue missions just like this one, and he was scooting them alongside the mountain’s sheer face, shuffling his feet and trying to keep breathing.

Then, mercifully, they were back on solid freaking ground, both inhaling more breath than necessary. Micah slowly, carefully, stood and picked Chloe up, hoisting her onto his hip. He unhooked the harness from the tree and whistled for Axel to follow before beginning the trek back up the hill to where their point camp was located.

It only took a few minutes. Axel kept a good pace and Chloe weighed about as much as a couch cushion, and before he knew it, the blue tent from their rescue rendezvous camp loomed into sight. A brief, weighty silence stretched across the mountain. Then all hell broke loose.

Her mother screamed then both of Chloe’s parents were sprinting toward them, Police Chief Cade Easton and two of his deputies hot on their heels. Mr. Robinson took Chloe from Micah’s arms and both of her parents were hugging her and touching her and making sure she was still in one piece. Micah tried to fade back, but Chloe grabbed the arm of his windbreaker.

“Thank you, Mr. Micah,” she whispered, her bright eyes shining. Her parents both looked up at him with the same glowing adoration.

“Thank you, Micah,” Mrs. Robinson said, as Mr. Robinson stuck out his hand and shook it hard, before bringing Micah in for a bear hug. Then they were gone, carrying Chloe over to the medic tent, and Micah stepped back to watch them walk off into the distance. He should have been relieved.

They hadn’t expected such a happy ending for Chloe and they’d been lucky, more than lucky.

But still, the ache in his chest didn’t dissipate and he knew it was no longer fear that made him feel so heavy and forlorn. Axel whimpered at his side, and Micah dug into one of his pockets to give the dog a treat. He loved Axel and Rosie and the other search dogs they kept at the Black Reef Survival Camp, but dogs were a poor substitute for family, for parents, for children, for people who loved a person unconditionally. Well, dogs were what he was going to get, a truth he’d come to terms with a long time ago. Family wasn’t in the cards for him, not the kind of family Chloe Robinson had. No, Axel and Rosie, they were what he got, so he’d damn well better be happy about it.

“Hey there, Superman,” Dec said, coming up behind him, Rosie hot on his heels. “Or should I say Spider-Man? That was some gravity-defying shit you did down there.”

And Dec McCormick. Of course. He counted as Micah’s business partner, search partner, family and best friend, all rolled into one not-giving-a-damn package of good-old-boy humor and charm. Dec was one of the few people in the world who knew just how much Micah hated heights, but, as with most things, he played to the lighter side of the situation.

“I can’t be out-balled by a six-year-old,” Micah said, suddenly feeling very weary. He followed Dec away from the camp and toward their cabin a little way down the mountain. If Cade needed them to give statements, he knew where to find them.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Dec said. “Come on, let’s get a beer.”

Micah nodded, but glanced back up at the Robinson family one more time. Growing older with a houseful of dogs and their business and Dec McCormick by his side definitely wasn’t the worst life a guy could have.


Author Bio
In her free time, she loves to travel, and spent a semester abroad living in a 14th-century castle in the Netherlands. When not exploring the world, she likes dreaming up stories, eating spicy food, driving fast cars, and talking to strangers. She recently moved to Nashville with a cute redheaded cat and a cute redheaded boy.

Find her on:Gemma Snow loves high heat, high adventures and high expectations for her heroes! Her stories are set in the past and present, from the glittering streets of Paris to cowboy-rich Triple Diamond Ranch in Wolf Creek, Montana.


Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GemmaSnowRomance/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182671112452573/?source_id=1447833352176243Twitter: https://twitter.com/GemmaSnowDesirePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gemmasnowdesire/?etslf=3145&eq=gemInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemmasnowauthor/or at GemmaSnow.com

Blast from the Past...Spotlighting "Mason's Mijos" by Jacey Holbrand!

... He’ll do anything for love.Mason Diaz is shocked when he sees his two ex-boyfriends, Flynn Grayson and Ryker Gemmings, together and at an alien encounters support group. Old feelings for them resurface when they tell Mason they want a threesome relationship. Eager to rekindle the connections, Mason goes up to Flynn’s house in the mountains for the weekend of a lifetime with the two men.
Abductions. Food play. Secrets and confessions about alien origins and shifting.
It’s not exactly what Mason had expected.
Especially the pregnancies.
Can he continue to love each of them while trying to survive the life changing events and all the revelations the weekend has in store?
Be warned: MPREG, m/m sex, menage sex (MMM), food play, rimming, double penetration, voyeurism

Mason’s Mijos by Jacey Holbrand, The Agency series - book 4
Q&A:                                                                  
1.       Did you plot this book out or write wherever an idea took you?
The first story in the series (The Encounter) was meant for an anthology. It wasn’t accepted for that but was requested as a separate story. Breeding Seth is the second book in my “The Agency” series followed by Cooper’s Condition then Mason’s Mijos. Originally this series was supposed to be a bunch of different stories following different peoples’ dealings with paranormal and supernatural activities. But that idea changed with the writing of Breeding Seth. I guess you can say I wrote according to how the storyline unfolded along the way – romantic scifi with male pregnancies. So, the series follows Seth and his dealings with people who interact with The Agency and the conspiracy theory he comes upon. Mason happens works for The Agency and is filling in at a meeting for Seth when the story starts.
2.       What was your hardest scene to write in this book?
The ménage stuff because Mason and Flynn seemed to take front and center and Ryker came off a bit flighty. Trying to get the three of them in one spot took a bit of doing.
3.       Did you hide any secrets or Easter Eggs?
I tried to incorporate the research I did in such a way that it wasn’t blatant, so that might seem secret-like or discovering the info could be like finding an Easter Egg. To that effect, a little-known fact: Abductions are not always about "collecting DNA" or experimenting as many people think. Instead, it's often about creating incredible terror in abductees and harvesting the energy of that terror.(*) Which Zen learns first hand in the first book, The Encounter. (*: http://www.rense.com/general82/unpl.htm)
4.       Any advice you would like to give to your younger self?
Have more faith and confidence in yourself. Contrary to some opinions (which that’s all they are) you are worthy and can do anything you put your mind to.
EXCERPT
“Why did you want to come back?”
Flynn put down his drink and took Mason’s hands in his. “Haven’t I made that clear? I returned for you. I fought to come back because I love you.”
Mason kissed Flynn’s knuckles on one hand then the other. “And I love you. That’s what I decided. Who you are on the inside is what matters. Not where you come from or what you can do. I. Love. You. What can I do to help you with your mission? Find a woman for you to knock up? I’m sure my sister has some friends who’d be interested in you.”
“No.” Flynn shook his head. “I don’t want any females. I just want you.”
“But if you don’t do what you need to, you’ll be sent home. Right?” Mason couldn’t imagine being without Flynn, never hearing his laugh or seeing his smile. He had to be able to do something to keep the love of his life on Earth.
“I know, and the thought of leaving you again just kills me.” Flynn appeared to think for a moment. “You know, I could transform my genitals long enough for you to impregnate me.”
Mason chuckled. A man, changing his boyish bits into girly parts so he could carry a baby? Given to him by his male lover? That’s one for the tabloids. “I gotta hand it to you. It’s an interesting idea, Flynn, but a gestation period will be much longer than a few minutes.”
“I realize that. I have a medication to speed up the process, so it’ll only take a few days to a week or so. I believe I can keep the small transformation of my reproductive system going until I deliver.”
“I don’t know, Flynn. As much as I always wanted a child with you, I don’t want to put you in danger. And what if it doesn’t work?”
“Trust me. I’ll do my best to keep myself safe and make it happen. If I have your child, I’ll have done my duty and given you the best gift in the world. If for some reason it doesn’t work, then I’ll have to bite the bullet and find an Earth woman to procreate with.” He squeezed Mason’s hands. “Please, Mason, say we can do this. Let me have your baby.”
If anyone ever had said he’d be having such a conversation in his life, he would have called them daft. Yet here he was. Talking with his partner about having a baby. Together. Without the medical intervention of surrogacy. Just him, Flynn, and nature taking its bizarre, in this case, course.

WHERE TO BUY
Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/masons-mijos-by-jacey-holbrand
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Masons-Mijos-Agency-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01G2X18RW  
BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/masons-mijos-mmm
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mason-s-mijos
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/masons-mijos-jacey-holbrand/1123851998?ean=2940153038773
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/638768

A Chat with Jaqueline Snowe!

Hello Jaqueline!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…
Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?
Kate and Brody were characters that sort of jumped out at me. They are so obnoxiously proud of who they are, unique, complicated, and fun…it was easy to dive into writing their friendship and the slow progression of blurring that line. I think that’s why this story, Take a Chance on Me, was enjoyable to write. Their banter and exchanges were natural, so when their relationship went from friends to something more, it was easy. I mean, they are both young, attractive, and stuck living together for a couple months. Just throw in some tight clothes, some alcohol, and a dare…it’s really a wonder they didn’t hook up sooner.
Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?
What’s kind of interesting—and cool—about the job Kate has in the book is that a lot of my friends (and husband) actually work for a major league baseball team. It was tricky trying to be accurate with Kate’s job as an intern but also vague enough for the team in the story to be fiction. What I can say though, is that they work their asses off.
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I love doing character questionnaires before sitting down and writing the story. I use the same one that has about 30 questions ranging from favorite TV show, to biggest regret, to favorite guilty food. This helps me figure out who they are. I always know how the story begins or ends, but, the quirks and the things they say all are consistent with their persona. Like Kate and how she’s a messy eater and can’t cook or how Brody uses flirting and humor to avoid serious situations or how his only soft spot is worrying about Kate or his mom.
Q) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I would love to write an entire world of characters, following the lives of couples and their friends. Marie Force does an incredible job doing this with her series and providing little snapshots of previous characters and how they are progressing in their lives.  Kate and Brody are surrounded with friends that scream for their own story. Brody’s teammates, Kate’s co-workers… even the rival Brody has a huge issue with provides the perfect backdrop for a story. My goal is to continue this world as much I can. J
Q) What are your upcoming projects?
I’ve been on a huge Young Adult Romance kick recently. The young love, the excitement, the rollercoaster of emotions after surviving the first heartbreak. The high school setting with all the tropes is so much fun. The fake-dating trope is my favorite to write so my current project focuses on two people totally wrong for each other and how they need to ‘fake date’ for a couple months to avoid a scandal.
BlurbKate Zell and Brody Carlson have been best friends since elementary school. Their relationship had always been easy. Both of them loyal to a fault, they had been there for each other through everything: heartbreaks, hangovers, and tragedy. So when Kate needs a place to stay for three months, Brody doesn’t think twice about agreeing. After all, they had known each other forever. Would could go wrong living with his closest and oldest friend?

Apparently, everything. Three months in a small apartment becomes more than complicated. Brody shouldn’t be attracted to his dorky best friend…he most definitely shouldn’t. That would be absurd. She’s a relationship girl and he’s more a one-night-sans-clothes kind of guy.

One drunken dare of strip poker changes everything. Suddenly, two people with too much to lose play a dangerous game. The unapologetic playboy and the girl-next-door have a choice to make, if only their pasts didn’t keep getting in the way of their future.


Except
His biceps must’ve outweighed mine three to one—did he double in size? His shorts displayed strong, ripped legs that would seem too big if they belonged to anyone else. And what’s with that hair style? Buzzed on the sides with a wavy, longer part on top? Anyone else, it would look stupid. But on him, cool. I shook my head, my mood already better. Shit, I’d missed the guy. He saw me, and his face lit up.

“KZ! Get in here!”

He squeezed me tight, the air leaving my body for a quick second. I laughed into his chest, inhaling a subtle, masculine scent, and winced, hoping the lavender deodorant didn’t fail me. “Brody, you’re going to break me.”

“Deal with it. I missed you, punk. It’s good to see you.” His tall frame made me feel about two feet tall. I thought about pinching his side to have him stop, but he set me down.


I pushed him away, my grin taking up half my face. “Hey, stand there for a second and look pretty.”

“What?”

Ah, a look I had seen many, many times. Whenever I confused him or had an asinine idea, those brows joined as one and looked like a caterpillar.

“Just do it.” I pulled out the picture I’d ripped from the magazine. “I’m comparing before I get your autograph and sell it with the description of true to life. Hey, don’t judge me. I have student debt. I need the moolah.”

He glanced at the picture I held up. “God, you’re a dick.”
Buy Links

 Amazon: http://amzn.to/2GGhH0U

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/take-a-chance-on-me-jaqueline-snowe/1127562259?ean=2940155527329

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/take-a-chance-on-me-37

Author Info
Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the “dry heat” really isn't that bad. She enjoys making lists with colorful sticky notes and sipping on coffee all day. She has been a custodian, waitress, landscaper, coach, and a high school teacher. Her life revolves around 200 high school kids, her two dogs who don't realize they aren't humans, and her wonderful, baseball-loving husband.
Visit http://www.jaquelinesnowe.com/ to find out more about the author and her writing. She loves to hear from readers—so don’t be shy, send her a message!

Interested in hearing more from this author? Go to bit.ly/2IUTOVc to join her newsletter!

https://twitter.com/jaquelinesnowe

https://www.facebook.com/Jaquelinesnowe/

https://www.instagram.com/jaquelinesnowe/

Lynn Burke Visits with her New Release!

Welcome Lynn! Thanks for visiting Written Butterfly! Congrats on your new release!


Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?
This is the first in my Sandy Ridge trilogy which follows three girlfriends who enjoy getting away from Boston to the sticks of New Hampshire. Without Reservation was part of the Spring Fling boxed set which released in April, and I’m super stoked to get it out there as a stand alone.
Q) Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I stick to whatever the characters tell me - YES, I hear voices in my head. Ha! I always deliver an HEA/HFN, however, since I don’t believe a story shouldn’t end on a happy note.
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I used to plan everything out, going so far as to do character studies. lately, my muse hasn’t been cooperating unless I sit down to WRITE. Trying to plan has been the biggest pain for me lately, so I’m trying (struggling!) to roll with the punches. Personally, I think being a pantster sucks @$$.
Q) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
With this trilogy, they could be read as standalone romances, but there is an underlying external conflict that has its own arc which isn’t resolved until the final installment.
Q) What are your upcoming projects?
Without Hesitation is completed and ready for release, but I’ve yet to start on Without Condition. I’ve got a few other projects in the works that I need to finish first. *cries*


Without Reservation Blurb

Art studio vandalized and her mother in a fresh grave, Meg Winters heads off on vacation with her two best friends. She hopes for peace from her grief and the return of her muse. She doesn’t expect to run into the two men she idolizes, Trevor and Jack, the secretive wonders of the art world whose work she’s long admired. She certainly doesn’t expect them to be sex-on-legs gorgeous and determined to fulfill her number one sexual fantasy. 

They not only awaken her slumbering body, but also her creativity and the life she used to wield with her brushes. However, Meg carries a secret of her own which holds her back from surrendering herself fully to their desires. Will Trevor and Jack be able to overcome her reservations, or will the truth of her past ruin their chance for love? 


​PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon:  www.amazon.com/dp/B07H1G28PX  Amazon UK: www.amazon.com/dp/B07H1G28PX  B&N:  www.barnesandnoble.com/w/without-reservation-lynn-burke/1129453503 Kobo:  www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/without-reservation  Smashwords:  www.smashwords.com/books/view/892828  





EXCERPT:

Meg’s gaze dropped to Jack’s full lips. “Maybe just one kiss,” she heard herself say.He captured her lips without hesitation, sending a rush of heat and goosebumps skittering across her skin. His soft lips swept across hers as his hand slipped up her back and grabbed hold of her hair, angling her head toward him.The brush of his tongue along her lips sent a spasm through her pussy, and a moan rose to her throat.Trevor leaned into her, his open-mouth kisses dampening her neck as Jack continued his languid assault on her mouth. Tasting. Licking. One man’s hand in her hair, the other’s on her waist, one on each thigh, rubbing, slowing inching upward.Meg tore her lips from Jacks, heaving for breath, eyelids clenched shut.One kiss, she’d said. She hadn’t expected a long, drawn-out kiss that would make her body quake with need.“Come over to our cabin with us,” Trevor said, his low voice rumbling in her ear, his thumb drawing circles mid-thigh on her bare skin. “Check off your number one bucket list item.”Jack nibbled along her jaw to her other ear. A shiver slid down to her toes as he squeezed her other thigh. “I…I c-can’t.”“Does the thought of Trevor and I together turn you off?” Jack asked, nibbling her earlobe. A huff of laughter flew past Meg’s lips as the two men continued their assault on her senses. “I saw you kissing on your back patio the other night.” The words escaped her parted lips, unintended.Trevor nipped her skin in the hollow beneath her ear. “How did that make you feel?” “Aroused,” she whispered, eyes still shut tight. They pulled answers from her easier than…“I was thinking about you while fucking Jack.”A rush of moisture soaked her panties at Trevor’s low, rumbled confession against the hollow beneath her ear. “I-I heard you.”“Did you touch yourself?” Jack asked against the corner of her mouth, his sweet breath fanning her lips.Meg swallowed. “Yes.”“Did you come?” “Yes,” she whispered.Both men groaned. “Come to our cabin with us,” Jack said. “Please.”Meg thought she’d known what temptation was, but the war raging between her body and mind put a whole new meaning to the word.© Lynn Burke 2018  Sandy Ridge 1 Heat Level: 4 Release Date: September 19, 2019Keywords: MMF, Menage, Erotic, Contemporary, Romance, Series, HEA, Novella *Be warned: Multiple partners (MMF), anal sex, double penetration


  ABOUT LYNN BURKE:

Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.Website: https://www.authorlynnburke.com/ Blog: http://authorlynnburke.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Lynn-Burke-555282497937461/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLynnBurke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlynnburke/Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/authorlynnburkePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorlynnburke/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lynn-burke

Q & A with AJ Ryder!

Hello AJ!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…
Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?            A)   I’ve always been a big fan of duality, and soulmates. As such, I always strive to make my characters two halves of the same whole...each other’s missing pieces, if you will. On their own, they’re alright, but they’re constantly aware that something is missing, and that they themselves feel incomplete, or like their souls are in a slumbering state. When they finally find each other, they feel alive and whole, and they thereby become stronger simply because they’re together.  Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?          A)     Destined for the Dragon is part of my Ballads of Cadarnle series. This series sort of straddles the line between fantasy-romance and PNR, and Destined for the Dragon is the third, and newest, book in the series. The series takes place in the fictional land of Cadarnle, and each book centers (and will center, in the case of the future books I have planned) around the different races dwelling within the land. Bonds Eternal is an MMF menage that centers around the two elven races, The Beast’s Beloved centers around the race of wolf shifters, and Destined for the Dragon centers around the race of dragon shifters. I have concrete plans for three more books in the series, including a book that centers on the merfolk, as well as plans for a book that focuses entirely on the mortal King of Cadarnle, who has only been referenced to up until this point. I might add more to the series once I finish the three books that I for sure have planned, but I’m taking it one step at a time.
While each book in the series does carry over small references from the book that immediately came before it, they can nevertheless be read as self-contained standalones, and have their own HEA. There are no cliffhangers, I promise!
Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book? A)    I’m a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, and I snuck in a subtle nod to him in Destined for the Dragon. So far, no one has noticed it, but I’m remaining hopeful that someone eventually will! Q) What do you think is your strongest asset as a writer? …what is your weakest factor as a writer?  A)    I work very hard to make my readers feel the emotions of the scenes in my books. Basically, if a sad scene doesn’t make me cry while I write it, then I know I need to go back and rewrite it, because clearly I didn’t do it right the first time! My weakness is without a doubt writing combat scenes. I wholly admit it, and with every book I write, I try to make my fight scenes better and more gripping.
Q) Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? A)    I try to do a bit of both. I try to incorporate familiar aspects into different settings and put my own original twist on them.  Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write? A)    It’s a bit of both, actually. I start off a book with a basic idea of who my characters are; but, it’s not until I’ve written a few chapters that I start learning the finer details of just what makes my characters tick. Q) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? A)     I’m very much aware that certain themes in my books won’t be for everyone. For example, an MMF menage simply might not appeal to certain, and that’s totally fine. I’m also aware that people might buy the second or third book in a series by mistake without having read the first, or they happen to buy a book in the middle of a series because it happens to be free at the time. As a result, I make it a point to have all of my books able to be read as standalones.  While references are made to the books that immediately come before any given book in the series, they are small. If you were to start off my series by reading Destined for the Dragoninstead of Bonds Eternal, you wouldn’t feel lost by any means.  Even so, if you were to read all of the books in the series (regardless of the order), you would without a doubt feel the connection between them, and that connection will only enrich and build upon the lore I’ve created.
Q) What are your upcoming projects?  A)    While I’m not yet finished with my Ballads of Cadarnle series, I’m actually hard at work on the first book of a new series I have planned. While I don’t yet have a name for the series, I can tell you that it’s going to be straight up PNR. Also, the first book will be featuring a secondary character from Destined for the Dragon. How is this possible? 
All will be explained in the free novella that will be released exclusively to subscribers of the Scarlet Lantern Newsletter. The novella will be released as the main book’s release date gets closer, so, be sure to sign up if you’re interested!

BLURB Destined to save more than just his heart The High Dragon The moment Jaspyr, High Dragon of the y Draig clan, met Avyla he knew she was fated to be his mate. He sensed the magic within her and recognized that she was destined to be his salvation. She would be both his eternal love and guardian of his humanity. A kind apothecary But the meek yet strong-willed woman harbored doubt that a commoner such as she could be with, much less love, such a powerful man. Avyla did not know of the magic within her and had never experienced true love before. Though it may have been her destiny, Avyla’s heart was hesitant. Danger from within Not all dragons find their mates, which leaves Jaspyr and the others of his clan with the task of hunting them down once their humanity vanishes. When one of his clan falls to the insanity shortly after Avyla’s arrival, a battle wages that not only endangers the draconic shifters and their mates, but also produces a crucible where the bonds of love are tested and forged.Buy Links...https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GFJ6JLF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GFJ6JLF?tag=scarllantepub-20


About the Author...
One of the rare and elusive creatures known as a girl geek, AJ Ryder is an avid gamer, a voracious reader, and a lover of all things magical and fantastical. After years of thinking up sexy stories and hot, sensual characters of varying ilk in her head, she has decided to use her geeky, super powers for good and breathe life into them at last for the reading enjoyment of all.
You can stay up to date on AJ’s books and writing progress by following her on her blog, as well as on her Facebook Author Page. She can also be followed on Twitter, and Bookbub. If you want to be part of AJ’s ARC team, be sure to follow her on Booksprout, and opt in for ARC notifications.

JC Hay Visits Today!

Hello JC!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me...

  1)      How did you dream up the dynamics of the characters?
I actually lean heavily into something the brilliant Damon Suede has talked about in his workshops on character: each character is defined by a transitive verb. This gives a solid idea of how they behave in a given scene, and also a great way to create conflict by forcing opposing verbs together.
For Shadow of the Past (my contribution to Pets in Space 3), Rafe Penzak Grieves – he’s mourning the death of his partner-wolf, the end of his military career, and all manner of changes. I gave him a lot of conflict by pairing him up with the veterinarian Nafisi, whose defining action is Heals, the last thing Rafe wants to do.
2)      Is the book part of a series? If so, can you tell us about it?
This is a two-fold yes! The book Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 is the newest book in the Pets in Space series, collecting luminary authors from across the spectrum of Science Fiction Romance in a single volume. And my story, Shadow of the Past, is part of my TriSystems: Rangers series, and explores a side character who I wanted to see get his own shot at a happily ever after. 
3)      Can you give a fun or interesting fact about the book?
Fun and interesting, both! The Pets in Space series donates a portion of its proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for veterans and first responders by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge, and providing lifetime support of those partnerships.
4)      What do you think is your strongest asset as a writer? What is your weakest factor?
Eep! Rough question. I’d say my dialogue skills are probably my strongest. I’ve worked hard on creating natural dialogue that defines each character. I’ve also been putting a lot of effort into planning out longer series – something I’ve been bad at in the past. TriSystems: Rangers actually represents not just a series in its own right, but also a setting in which I have several other books planned, allowing me to visit the characters and places from different viewpoints.
5)      Do you try to be more original, or deliver to readers what they want?

       It’s a tightrope. I couldn’t write Science Fiction Romance if I didn’t absolutely love it, but it’s a broad category with a lot of tropes and sub-categories underneath. As a result, I write what I want to read (and what my science background allows me to suspend disbelief for), and trust that there are other folks who will like what I like.
6)      Do you plan all of your characters out before you start a story, or do they develop as you write?
I plan out the main characters in advance, often several books in advance since I have to 
introduce them and how they relate to the other characters in the book. It gives me a good starting place when I sit down to write their stories; if I know their transitive verb (how I define their personality) then I can write them consistently from the first introduction all the way through to their own happily ever after.
7)      Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My goal is to have each book be its own story, with a main story following the protagonists to happily ever after. That said, each of the stories does build on the events that happened prior, and help to create a living, breathing setting for the books to be taken together.
8)      What are your upcoming projects?
I’ve got two more TriSystems: Rangers books (Chen and May, finishing out Fireteam Bravo) in the works right now. After that, I’ve got a sports series in the same setting, following a Formula 1-style racing team across the Three Systems, and through the course of their first season.

SHADOW OF THE PASTBy JC HayLoss casts a shadow you can’t outrun…Commander Rafe Penzak is tired of jockeying a desk. With only months left before his forced retirement from the rangers, he decides to bend a few rules for one last mission: follow up on intelligence that vicious criminals have found the ranch that supplies the rangers’ umbra wolves. He’s ready to confront the reminder of his wolf’s death, but nothing in the Three Systems could prepare him for the spitfire who runs the farm.Veterinarian Nafisi Sultana has run her wolf breeding program her way since the death of her husband. The last thing she wants is another ranger taking up space, correcting her methods, or being underfoot. But she can’t miss the pain and sorrow that haunts the greying commander, and her need to heal others pulls her into his orbit despite the agonizing memories he wakes in her.With storms, raiders, and a renegade wolf pup driving them together, Nafisi and Rafe have to set aside their damaged past, or they’ll never be able to save something they both want more—a future.
Anthology Blurb:Pets in Space™ is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space™ authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space™ 3 today!
Anthology Loglines:The pets are back in this new, exciting collection of eleven original stories from today’s hottest Science Fiction Romance authors! Feel the action and passion!
Pets in Space™ is back with 11 original, never-before-released stories from today’s top selling Science Fiction Romance authors! Pick up your limited release copy of Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space™ 3 and help support Hero-Dogs.org!
Eleven original Science Fiction Romances. Eleven action-filled tales that mix Pets in Space™ with their two-legged companions. Supporting a great cause – Hero-Dogs.org. Don’t miss out on Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space™ 3!

Newsletter Signup:  http://www.petsinspaceantho.com/stay-in-touch/ or https://www.petsinspaceantho.comEveryone who subscribes to our newsletter will receive an exclusive, original and FREE Pets in Space™ 3 Coloring Book. This coloring book is only available with our newsletter.

BUY LINKS

Amazonhttps://amzn.to/2LvfDvY
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FNXKQJZ
Amazon CAhttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FNXKQJZ/
Amazon AUhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FNXKQJZ/
iBooks   https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/embrace-the-passion-pets-in-space-3/id1414010304?mt=11
B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-passion-se-smith/1129099896?ean=2940155751496
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/ph/en/ebook/embrace-the-passion-pets-in-space-3
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/S_E_Smith_Embrace_the_Passion_Pets_in_Space_3?id=JghkDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40237564-embrace-the-passion
Pets in Space™ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetsInSpace/

JC Hay
Website: http://jchay.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJCHay FB Handle: @AuthorJCHayTwitter: https://twitter.com/j_c_hay Twitter Handle: @j_c_hayAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/J.C.-Hay/e/B003N9TL0A/

Blast from the Past...Spotlighting "Transcending Fire" by Casey Moss!

Hunter Macario wants one thing—a place to belong. When given an opportunity to solidify his position in the motorcycle club, Devil’s Thunder, he takes it.Dragon’s Clan member, Safaia King, believes she’s found the man from her people’s legend and her dreams. She has one goal, even if he’s in a rival club—to make Hunter hers and keep him safe so he can fulfill their destiny.After Hunter makes a huge mistake, he’s sent to where Safaia lives—an alternate universe called The Den. In this new world, sex, battles, and secrets abound. Hunter must survive The Den to right some wrongs or else he could lose everything he’s ever gained, including his home and Safaia’s love.
Q&A Time
1.       Did you hide any secrets or Easter Eggs?
I named one of the characters after my best friend whom I’ve known for over twenty-three years.
2.       Did you leave out anything in this book that you wished you hadn’t?
The scene in the pub/hotel room between two antagonists and a secondary character is different than I’d originally wrote it. The editor had me change it up because it was too intense and ran the borderline of acceptable and unacceptable subject matter. I wish I could have kept the original scene in the book.
3.       Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?
I think it plays a part since it can catch a reader’s eye, and if the artist has done their job properly, it can enhance the blurb of the book, lending additional insight to what the book’s about.
4.       Any advice you would like to give to your younger self?
Publishing/writing wise: get serious sooner rather than later about being an author. On a personal level: heed your intuition!


EXCERPT
A wicked glint lit her eyes, and a playful grin spread across her face. She smoothed a hand down his hard chest. “I love the definition of your muscles, Hunter, how they shudder beneath my fingers when I touch you.” Inch by inch, she continued sliding her hand down his torso. She moved her hand between his skivvies and skin. Saf circled his cock and stroked him in time with the motions of his fingers within her. Desire pulsed through his body, setting it aflame. She pressed her face against his chest and playfully bit his pectoral as she rode his hand.
Adrenaline and arousal increased his breathing rate, and a warm buzz raced through him. The pull between them seemed so intense, undeniable, as if they had to be together or perish. He felt like one of the club’s customers addicted to black chip and needing a fix before he went crazy with want. And his drug of choice?
Safaia. Always and forever Safaia.
He wanted to eat her up. “I want to taste you. Lick up your juices and have you squirm beneath my face.” Hunter yanked down her jeans and repositioned her until her ass was at the edge of the boulder.
Sinking to his knees, he placed himself between her legs. Looking forward to tasting her sweetness and feel her softness after facing the harsh realities of his life, he traced a line of gentle kisses along her inner thigh from her knee to her pussy and then fastened his mouth on the sensitive folds between her legs. When he dipped his tongue into her canal, she shifted her butt to allow him better access. He reached up and snaked his rough hands under her shirt, concerned only for a moment whether she enjoyed or loathed the coarse touch of his dry, work-worn skin. She moved the cloth and her bra out of the way.
Seems she doesn’t mind.
Pushing away all his thoughts and focusing on her—his carnal treasure—Hunter kneaded her tits while he teased her clit. He loved the taste and scent of her musky flesh and lapped up her essence as he said he would.
She grasped his head, weaving her fingers in his hair. “Oh, great Universe. This is. This is.” She panted and grappled with his locks as a low, deep moan rolled from her throat. “I think I’m going to come.”
The first night they’d met, their lovemaking had been hot and fast, more wham bam thank you than let’s linger and relish this. This time, though, he wanted to savor her, make her feel all sorts of naughty pleasure as he took his own.
Saf bucked and tried to scooch away, but he grabbed her hips and kept her from moving away from him. Unrelenting, he tongue fucked her. She struggled and wriggled, but he continued his assault, plunging his tongue in and out of her, licking up her wetness, and nipping at her clit. Safaia pressed the back of his head and lifted her ass. Spasms racked her body. She cried out his name.
Bringing her to orgasm thrilled him, but his selfish streak came forward. He wanted to enjoy her and feel his own pleasure, so he rose, stepped back, and removed his jeans.




WHERE TO BUY
Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/transcending-fire-by-casey-moss/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075DGY3V6
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/transcending-fire-casey-moss/1127078126?ean=2940154541043
BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/transcending-fire-mf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/746447

Gwendolyn Casey Talks About her New Release!

Hello Gwendolyn!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…
Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?
Battlefield is book 2 in The Covenant Series. The stories are based on three motorcycle clubs in the American Midwest that have formed an alliance.  Like so many other MC series, the concept was inspired by the TV show Sons of Anarchy, most specifically the character Jax Teller. Motorcycle clubs (or MCs) have become popular in the romance genre in the last few years, and I absolutely love it. I had soaked up so many of the MC novels that I just had to write my own.  The men of the Covenant are dark,  dangerous and alpha to the core. There is action, drama and a ton of sex (of course).  The first novel was titled Reign Over Me which I do recommend reading before Battlefield but it is not necessary. There is also a Covenant novella in the Lawless anthology titled Hungry Eyes. I have no idea how many books the series will actually have but I have at least 3 more in the pipeline, not to mention some spin-offs for non-MC characters that are equally bad ass.    
Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?
Something interesting about the novel is the dedication. It is dedicated to all the people who have been waiting for the second book of the Covenant to come out. Reign Over Me came out in January of 2017 and Battlefield is being released a year and eight months later. I never wanted the wait to be so long.  But in that time, I have gotten a divorce and gone through a difficult custody battle all while maintaining a full time job and raising a toddler.  My time for writing was sparse. That is why I dedicated the book to those fans who have shown their support and gave me confidence when I really needed it.
Q) Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I would say that my writing is a mix of the two but not on purpose. The first draft of my stories are always just what I want to write. So, I am original in the sense that I am not writing to please anyone but myself. However, I think my writing just naturally has elements that appeal to a lot of readers because I am a reader of the genre and have been for years. The whole reason I started writing romance was because I was tired of being disappointed in all the stories I was reading.  I would read the back cover of a book and be so excited about the concept. Then I would read it and be bummed that it didn’t go the way I wanted. They were just missing those elements that I came to crave in my romance. I imagine a lot of readers feel that way but might not have the inclination to become an author. So I like to think that my writing appeals to readers because they are looking for all the same dirty decadence that I am. Of course, there will be people who have their judgements but if I were to try and write any other way, I wouldn’t be having any fun. And what’s the point of that?
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
My characters are definitely developed while I am writing. In order to know the character’s personality, I literally have to write them into the scene and see how they come out at the other end. The Hero and Heroine are supposed to be dynamic, meaning they are meant to change and learn as the story goes on. I can have an idea of that change will be but it won’t be fully developed until I am nearing the end of the story when I have put them (and myself) through the scenes.  

Blurb: 
As a member of the Aces MC, nothing in the world was forbidden to Jordan Mitchell and he was not in the habit of denying himself the things he wanted. But when he meets his younger brother’s girlfriend, he finally knows the torture of wanting something he can’t have. 
Cecelia Taylor knew Jordan would be a mistake since the first time she met him. Not only was he a filthy biker but also an arrogant jerk who could never seem to keep his hands to himself. And yet, she couldn’t seem to resist those hands...or his bed. 
Their relationship is a battle from the very beginning with casualties on both sides. But when Jordan’s past comes calling, their love is put to the test and they both have to decide if what they have is worth a real fight. 

Teaser Excerpt:
 Jordan turned me in his arms, but I kept my head down, not wanting to meet his gaze. He gripped my chin and lifted my face to his, forcing me to look into his warm brown eyes. I knew what he wanted; I could see it there. He wanted more than just sex from me. But it was too frightening to even consider. I stepped back from him. “I’m sorry, Jordan. I can’t.” Jordan's eyes narrowed, and his mouth turned hard. He walked toward me, making me back up until I hit the concrete wall of the pavilion. He came into my space, towering over me. I could see that the gentle lover act was over and now the dominant mad man stood before me.   “You're not sorry. You're scared,” he said. “And if you were any other woman, I'd be walking away by now.” His left hand came up and cupped my jaw while the other gripped my waist. “But this battle isn’t over.” His thumb brushed my lips, and I felt the answering slickness between my legs. His determination was frightening, but it made me feel giddy at the same time.  “Jesus. I'm not playing hard to get, asshole. I don't want you.”  Jordan smirked. Then I felt his right hand move to my belly right before it plunged into my pants and into my underwear. I grabbed his wrist, but he was too strong to stop. I gasped as I felt his hand cup my mound and his two middle fingers slipped into my wetness.His hand gripped my hair and tugged it gently, so I was looking up at him. “Never lie to me again, especially about this,” he said as he shoved those two fingers deep inside me. I moaned and closed my eyes, knowing that there was no point in fighting him. He could feel the wetness, and he knew I wanted him. And he was enough of a villain to use it against me. His fingers fucked me in a steady rhythm.  “You want to pretend you don’t belong to me, but we both know the truth,” he growled.His words came through the blissful sensations, and I tried to push him away. But my efforts were weak, and he ground his palm against my clit, silencing any protest with waves of pleasure.  “You are a psycho.” I tried to scream, but it came out as a silky groan.  He laughed like the devil. “That's right. You remember that when it comes to you, I am a fucking psycho.”His mouth came down on mine, his tongue plunging inside. He kissed me like he owned me, deep and rough, and his fingers followed suit, making me writhe. As the feelings consumed me, I couldn't help but want more. I wanted Jordan's thick cock instead of his fingers. I imagined being stretched by his length again. I kissed him back, making my tongue as aggressive as his.Jordan suddenly broke the kiss and he slowed his pumping fingers. “You want me inside, don't you?” I didn’t answer, not wanting to say it.  “I can feel your cunt gripping my fingers. It wants something more. Say it,” he demanded. I groaned as his fingers teased me, keeping me on the edge of bliss.“Yes,” I whimpered.He growled and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around him, ready to give him everything again. But he pulled his mouth away with a curse. He gritted his teeth as if he was fighting an inner demon. He looked down at me, the brown of his eyes like molten fire. “As much as I would love to spin you around and fuck you against this wall, we have some issues to resolve.” I blinked up at him. Issues? What the fuck? Is he trying to be a decent guy right now? I dropped my head to his chest, ready to cry in frustration. I didn’t want the decent guy. I wanted him to fuck me just like he described.He gave me a half smirk, knowing my problem. “But don’t worry, babe,” he said, and I felt his fingers begin to move again. “I will never leave you wanting.” He tilted my head back again and watched my face, while he gave me deep, thorough strokes, all while grinding against my clit. The pleasure that had been simmering returned to a boil, and I moaned into the night. I pulled his head down to mine, needing his mouth on mine. He gave it willingly, feeding my wanton body. It was only moments before I let out a cry, coming around him. I gripped his cut as he held his digits deep and put pressure on my clit as it spasmed.   Still shaking from the pleasure, I leaned back to steady myself on my own feet. He removed his hand from my pants, and I watched as he brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking each one like he was eating barbeque. Then he pulled me to him and kissed me again. It was vicious in its intensity. I could practically taste his need on my tongue. He broke away with a curse and stepped back from me. Without his body so close I felt cold suddenly. He turned his back on me, but I could see his fists tighten and release at his sides, like he was struggling to get himself back under control.I smiled to myself, loving how I drove him crazy. It made me feel feminine and tempting. I indulged in the feeling for a moment, knowing it probably wouldn’t last. After a moment, he turned back to me, looking frustrated but calm. He reached for my hand.  “Come on. I'll drive you home.”  I let Jordan pull me to his bike, my body languid while my mind tried to absorb what just happened. I came here to break things off, right? What happened? I would have to analyze it tomorrow because right now I wanted nothing more than to be close to him.I climbed on his bike and wrapped my arms around him as he started it. The rumble of the motor was almost soothing after the storm I just survived. When we pulled up to my house I got off the bike slowly, my limbs still loose from my orgasm. He helped me off and then his arm slipped around my waist, pulling me against him. He kissed me gently, without tongue.  “Goodnight,” I managed as I stepped away.“See you tomorrow.” 
I simply nodded and turned to go inside. I tried not to look back, but as I was closing the door, I peeked out to see him still there, still watching me. I shut the door quickly and turned the deadbolt.Only then did I hear him pull away. I took a deep breath and leaned back against the door.  Seriously, what just happened?
Links:
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/battlefield-gwendolyn-casey/1129511374?ean=2940155802860

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H8M5BKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536684445&sr=8-1&keywords=Battlefield+by+Gwendolyn+Casey
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781773397917
About the Author:
Gwendolyn Casey was born to romance like a fish to water. Just ask her mother who had to play Cinderella every day from the age two to five. Of course, she eventually moved on to more respectable films like Grease, Cry Baby, and Dirty Dancing. But it wasn't until she read a Nora Roberts paperback that she discovered the pure joy of the romance novel. Gwendolyn has been writing romance ever since. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and currently lives in central Iowa with her young son, who provides her with motivation and an excuse to watch Cinderella again. Sign up for Gwendolyn Casey's mailing list at gwendolyncasey.com.

Q & A with January Bain!

Hello January!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you. 
And me with you! Thanks so much for the invite to visit with you and your readers today!
So tell me…
Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?
I start by creating a backstory. 90% of which I won’t use! But the better I know them, the more I can flesh their personalities out in my stories. And then, after I create the plot outline, I leave room for these 3-D characters to grow and take over! And yes, they surprise me too sometimes. Usually for the better!