Beth D. Carter's Blog, page 53

Beth and Bryce's Totally True Info on Food and Stuff, For Reals!

Ever wonder about bread pudding?  Yeah, neither have I.  And this blog post won't be sharing any secrets, except for maybe those who live in Vermont.  In any case, enjoy!

                                                 
     ~~****~~
Beth: Bleh on casseroles.

Bryce: Bread pudding is a type of casserole.

Beth: I disagree.  Casseroles must have a vegetable in them.  Bread pudding -if made correctly and without raisins...BLEH on raisins- has nothing but gooey sugary fat goodness in it.

Bryce: Au contraire! Clarence Bloomington Casserole III, inventor of the casserole said, "Casserole may be veg or meat, savory or sweet. Chief among it's possibilities, it must be bland to eat."

Beth: Well, that disqualifies bread pudding. It's not bland to eat. Unless made by a person with no taste buds.

Bryce: Oh, it's the blandest. That's why they dump a minimum of a gallon of Bourbon over each one. After a couple of bites, you forget how fucking bland it is. I can't believe how you've danced past the best and most obvious fact to support your argument.

Beth: Mmmm....Bourbon. Uh...what else did you say?

Bryce: What's the best argument that bread pudding isn't a casserole?

Beth: That it's pudding?

Bryce: Right there in the title!

Beth: See? I ain't dumb.

Bryce: Good game, you played well, you came with spirit but I'm afraid we cannot award you any points for that round.

Beth: Why the hell not?

Bryce: You could have gained some style points if you'd actually named a specific Bourbon. Your position on raisins was vague, at best.

Beth: I'll specifically plant my foot in your ass. Bleh on raisins, I say again!

Bryce: And you completely ignored the existence of cauliflower bread pudding so popular in Vermont and Sri Lanka. Arguing with the judges isn't helping your case much, either.

Beth: Ick. That's worse than raisins. But I highly doubt the Vermontians and Sri Lankans are that tasetebudless

Bryce: You dismissed the primary source material, typically considered the best evidence in any argument in an historical discussion.

Beth: Your imagination?

Bryce: No. If you scroll up you can see it typed out. In words. On the Internet. Therefore it's a totally true fact of truthness!

Beth: So if I type you're an idiot that makes it true?

Bryce: ...and hurtful. Why you gotta be that way? Would it help if I made you a bread casserole?

Beth: Yes, with Bourbon.

Jacey Holbrand Brings an Exciting new Story from The Agency!

Hey folks! Today I'm happy to announce that I finally have another story in my The Agency series out! It's called Mason's Mijos. But first a little about me... ~ * ~ BIO ~ * ~
Jacey Holbrand believes life and love comes in all forms and should be celebrated. She’s committed to her muse and writing so she can share her stories with readers. Hot days. Sexy nights. Come play in her world. Jacey loves to hear from readers! Click the link to eMail her: JaceyHolbrand@gmail.com
~ * ~ STALK ~ * ~
Website/Blog ## Twitter ## Facebook ## Facebook Page
~ * ~ ABOUT THE BOOK ~ * ~
This story is the fourth and last book in The Agency series that deals with the conspiracy theory.
Like two of the other books in the series, Mason's Mijos deals with male pregnancy, and it also has a couple of surprises that I hope readers will enjoy. ;)
In addition, Mason's Mijos has a menage element, has some food play and sexy, sexy men! :)
Be Warned: MPREG, m/m sex, menage sex (MMM), food play, rimming, double penetration, voyeurism
... He’ll do anything for love.
~ * ~ BLURB ~ * ~
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?
~ * ~ 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.
~ * ~ BUY ~ * ~
Evernight Publishing ## All Romance Books ## Amazon ## Apple ## Barnes & Noble ## BookStrand ## Kobo ## Smashwords ~ * ~Thank you for having me on your blog, and readers, thank you for stopping by today!Love & blessings to all! Jacey

Release Blitz for Go Long by Joanna Blake!!

Release BlitzTitle: Go LongAuthor: Joanna BlakeGenre: Contemporary RomanceCover: Mayhem Cover CreationsModel: Chase KetronPhotographer: Furious Fotog Release Date: April 9, 2016
There's a cardinal rule in football that you never break. You don't mess around with another player's girl and you don't touch the coach's daughter. Well, I've never been good at following the rules.Belinda Carmichael is uptight, prissy and the hottest girl I've ever seen. She's also the head coach's precious baby girl. And she's entirely off limits.The trouble is, I didn't know who she was when I met her. And she had no idea I was her daddy's newest star player. It was her job to show me around campus, and I showed her a lot more than that. But we fumbled the ball – she never told a soul who got her pregnant.Not even me, the baby daddy.As the quarterback I'm not supposed to date the coach's daughter. I'm definitely not supposed to knock her up. Well, too bad. I don't just want to date her. I don't just want her in my bed. I want to score the ultimate, game-winning touchdown.Her heart.*Go Long has a guaranteed HEA and no cheating! This edition contains bonus materials at the back for a limited time only * AMAZON


   
  
Add to Goodreads ★★ JOIN THE FACEBOOK RELEASE PARTY ★★


    Joanna Blake loves good old fashioned romance, men who open doors and work with their hands. Hot Blooded Heroes is a series of sizzling stories about True Blue American men and the women who love them. She's thrilled to be collaborating with Pincushion Press on her new series! Come along for the ride!

 XoX,

 Joanna

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Joanna-Blake/e/B00KLR25UA/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanna-Blake/682610571843087?fref=tsGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8280814.Joanna_BlakeTwitter: https://twitter.com/JBromancenovelsTumblr: http://jbromancenovels.tumblr.com/Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/JoannaBlakeWebsite: http://www.pikore.com/joannablakeromance  

Other books by Joanna Blake DEEP: http://amzn.to/1SayGgu RIDE: http://amzn.to/1oWsFXE PUSH: http://amzn.to/1J4qaLC HEAT: http://amzn.to/1Mmo7Ax GRIND: http://amzn.to/1KpofLXPLAYER: http://amzn.to/1LDXl7rBRO': http://amzn.to/1G4bzuJA Bad Boy For Summer: http://amzn.to/1QfU9DaRide With Me: ​http://amzn.to/1e4hKpHSlay Me (ROCK GODS): http://amzn.to/1B3FAMmDare Me (ROCK GODS): http://amzn.to/1FTqbdgCover Me (ROCK GODS): http://amzn.to/1I7qHWrWanted By The Devil (DEVIL'S RIDERS): http://amzn.to/1B68bklStill Waters (DEVIL'S RIDERS): http://amzn.to/1I7qwugSafe In His Arms (DEVIL'S RIDERS): http://amzn.to/1QrZ58nThe Rock Star Next Door (Joanna Blake Singles): http://amzn.to/1B68mvTThe Biker Next Door (Joanna Blake Singles): http://amzn.to/1QrZjfv  

Beth and Bryce's Totally True History of Stuff You Should Totally Believe, for Reals!

Today Bryce and I got into a discussion about a certain idiom.  See how I won the argument.



Bryce: Beth!
Beth: Bryce!
Bryce: How the fuck are you?!  I've been called to the carpet.
Beth: What does that mean?
Bryce: That's the phrase, right? answering to the big boss?  I have to write up some reports and email them out.
Beth: I've never heard that phrase.  I don't think it means what you think it means
Bryce: "called ON the carpet."
Beth: Nope. Still haven't heard that phrase.
Bryce: That's the right one.
Beth: I think you're making it up
Bryce:  Everyone else has shitty linoleum floors in their offices. The big boss has the nice office with carpeting. When you're called on the carpet, you have to stand there and answer his questions. Totally real. Stick in your Google and see what happens! Anyway, you're dodging the original question.
Beth: What was the original question?
Bryce: How the fuck are you?! Remember? I said, "Beth!"
Beth: Oh. Right
Bryce:  And you said, "Bryce!" And I said, "How the fuck are you?!"
Beth: Right. It's all coming back to me now.
Bryce: See? Right? So, are you the fuck how or not?
Beth: I Googled getting called on the carpet. Means being scolded.  I don't think you were scolded so you can't use it.  So therefore, you were wrong
Bryce: Alt definitions
Beth: Hmmmm....

Bryce:  Actually, I'm not that certain with it. Idioms are hard to nail down.  Shit, now I have to look up "nailed down."

Socks vs. Marriage...who knew?

Welcome to guest blogger Mike Woody!  He's a wonderful writer and a good friend, and has a very humorous take on marriage!
***
Marriage has taught me a lot, as apparently I’d been doing a lot of things wrong prior to taking the plunge. For example, I shouldn’t have based my tips on the amount of cleavage the waitress shows (The Hooters girls always got more than 20%) or only did dishes when the cupboards were bare. However, my worst mistakes were seemingly due to my lack of any fashion sense. I’m left to wonder how I ever dressed myself, as I failed with even the most basic of necessities. I’ll spare you the debriefing on underwear choices and instead focus on socks.
I really never knew how important socks were to an ensemble, as long as no hole was visible, all was good. So I thought. I was able to mask my deficiency of sock knowledge through the colder months, but once it became warm enough to wear shorts then my inadequacies were fully exposed. As if my ghostly white legs weren’t bad enough, my tube socks made it worse. Yes, much like my letter man coat from high school, I was forced to part with my collection of tube socks. While I miss my grandmothers daily, it’s a blessing they are departed because I’d never be able to explain why they could no longer get me tube socks for Christmas.
Apparently the truth is size does matter. The good news is, the smaller the better. You know what they say about men with big feet…small socks. Yes, socks so small, they are called ‘No Shows’ are the must haves for men to be fashionably acceptable, especially when wearing shorts. Is that a surprise to anyone but me?
In my defense, I’m not totally clueless in the field of socks. I know not to wear any size of black sock while wearing shorts. Also, it’s suggested that the tube socks not be pulled up all the way to the knee. Take my word for it, trust me, you will be laughed at. Mid-calf is also widely believed to be too high, as is even mid-ankle.
My legs aren’t very long, I’ve never been told, ‘You must be a basketball player,’ and I’ve also been advised against wearing short shorts. (That was an awkward conversation) A person need not be a fashion designer to know that if your shorts reaches your knees, then your socks are kept below knee-level. I typically kept my socks rolled down to an inch or two above the ankle, low enough that I wouldn’t look silly…Wrong! I even made sure the top stripe matched my shirt. I never want my colors to clash!

The first really warm day of the year, I broke out my shorts and rolled down my socks…red shirt, green striped socks (in the spirit of Christmas) and the wife was instantly ready to go shopping for socks. Before she’d go out to dinner with me that night, there was a quick trip to the store. I then received my first pair of ‘no show’ socks, with the warning to still not wear them with sandals or boat/deck/loafer shoes. My reaction to wearing them is similar to my feelings on G-Strings, why even bother? It’s all hanging out to see anyway.

It has been an adjustment, I feel so exposed, and my ankles have been freezing. The ankles must be the thermostat for the entire body. I suppose it’s just part of what it takes to be in style, or at least from below the ankle. 

***Thanks so much, Mike, for visiting with me! 

Mike Woody is a life long resident of Dayton, and has a passion for writing, which is good because he doesn't excel at much of anything else, except eating.

Woody has written for small-town newspapers since 2006 and has a degree in Creative Writing from Wright State University. (Perhaps something in the medical field would have been a better choice, but he passes out at the sight of blood)

To check out more of Mike's work visit his blog Woody's World at http://writingsbywoody.blogspot.com/ or follow him on Twitter  @mikewoody1

Beth and Bryce's Totally True History of Stuff You Should Totally Believe, for Reals!

Today we're talking about the history of salsa....




Bryce: Salsa Flinger is my Native American name.

Beth: I don't think salsa is a Native American delicacy.

Bryce: Not as it's currently made. The word is actually a Spanish derivation of a Choctaw word meaning fish stew. The cultures met in Eastern Texas in the early 1800s.

Beth: Fish stew...Really? (said dryly with an eyebrow raised skeptically)

Bryce: It wasn't just fish. Alligator hocks were really the key to the recipe.

Beth: I don't think Choctaws were in Florida, where the alligators are.

Bryce: There are alligators in the fresh water all around the Gulf.The gristle in the hock thickened the stew.When the African slaves arrived with okra, that went in the stew making the hard to harvest alligator hocks unnecessary. The French Canadians, completely did away with the Chotaw word and started calling the stew gumbo. Salsa was a noun without an object for centuries.

Beth: OK. Granted the Choctaw were around MS & LA, but I still think you're pulling this out of your butt.

Bryce: It was the Alamo that changed everything.

Beth: The Alamo is not at the Gulf.

Bryce:The units that fought for Spain had been stationed for several months in east Texas.

Beth: Which is not near the Gulf.

Bryce: Southeast Texas is on the Gulf.

Beth: Not San Antonio, which is where the Alamo is. I've been there. Corpus Christie is on the Gulf.

Bryce: Right. They were stationed near the Gulf but when the shit started going down, they were deployed there.

Beth: Who? The Texans?

Bryce: No, the Spanish troops.

Beth: Mexicans fought at the Alamo. Texas was part of Mexico.

Bryce: Right and Meixco had a treaty with Spain part of which was military support for the troubles in Texas and central and north California.The Spanish wanted control of the salmon trade out of California.

Beth: What does this have to do with salsa?

Bryce: It was small but valuable.So, the Spanish troops picked up the word from the Choctaw.

Beth: CA doesn't have salmon.

Bryce: Not now. It did.They were fished clean. Any more questions?

Beth: I don't think you have your facts straight.

Bryce: Every one is verifiable.

Beth: I think you're verifiable...cray cray.

Bryce: I'm just trying to help. I hate to see my friends live with a lie. Google California history salmon.

Beth: I would like to see your proof on salmon being in CA during the Spanish occupation.

Bryce: Mexican

Beth: They had a treaty, remember?

Bryce: But not an occupation.

Beth: Ownership.

Bryce: It was just fishing rights.

Beth: You're saying Mexico only had fishing rights to CA? What history book did you read?

Bryce: No. Mexico owned California. Spain traded with Mexico for, among other things, fishing rights.

Beth: The only salmon that's ever come out of CA is farmed, and I won't eat farmed salmon. Not healthy.

Bryce: Does salsa smell like alligator to you?

Beth: Ew.

Bryce: The ironic twist to this whole story is that alligators cannot eat modern salsa! Kills 'em in 30 minutes. One thing. What kind of seeds to you plant for a salmon farm? I can't find a fish section in my catalog.

***And that, my friends, is the totally true history of salsa you should totally believe, for reals. By Beth and Professor of Ergonomic Fictionalized History, Bryce Eddings.

Movie Review- (500) Days of Summer

         The heart of this story lies in the theory that even though you might find Mr. or Miss Right, it may not be a mutual discovery.  Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works as a greeting card writer, who falls instantly in love with his boss’s new assistant Summer (Zooey Deschanel).  And from the very beginning we are told that although this is a romance story, it is not a love story.  I disagree…it does teach us about love, only a different version of it.Throughout the film, the timeline of where Tom and Summer are in their relationship flashes up to propel us along their journey.  Tom is one of those romantic, wear-your-heart-on the-sleeve kind of guys and Gordon-Levitt has played him so well and convincingly that-in my mind-he is now propelled into Hottie status.  Summer is a little harder to figure out.  She is a woman looking for her own true love even though she tries to deny it by saying she doesn’t want to put labels on what she and Tom share.But this story is really about Tom.  In the 500 days that they have together, he runs the gamut of every facet that Love can be.  Joy, hope, passion, despair, reconciliation, anger, and finally, acceptance.Every shot and frame of this film is artistic.  The director, Marc Webb, has done a fantastic job bringing each segment of this film to emotional life.  It is one reason I like Indie films, because I always get done watching them with the moral or tale replaying through my head. 

I won’t give anything away, but the ending, though not the happy ending one might expect, is satisfying.  Tom does find his closure.  And in turn leaves us realizing that the heart truly is big enough to hold all types of loves and loss.

Lynn Burke and the Risso Family Return!

Now Available!Chasing after Him, Risso Family #5 Chasing after HimRisso Family #5By Lynn BurkeGenre: Contemporary Erotic RomanceRelease Date: February 23, 2016Publisher: Evernight PublishingWarning: Contains bondageCharlene Tucker is driven to achieve her goal of becoming a pediatrician, but her rigorous schedule is beating her down. She needs a break from academia, and perhaps pursuing a one-night stand with her hot Italian neighbor will help her relax and re-focus.Theo Risso enjoys being in control. Tying women up and having them at his mercy is his ultimate obsession. Flirting with Charlene stimulates and challenges his carefree attitude, but his determination to be a good neighbor subjugates his need to dominate her.​A blizzard tamps out the electricity, but not their desire, and being snowed in together provides the perfect setting for Charlene's plan…chase Theo until he succumbs to his own need to take control, to bind her body, and free her mind. Passions run high and tempers will clash as Charlene's pursuit challenges Theo's willpower to resist. But will her need for control threaten her ability to surrender herself to him?PURCHASE LINKS~~~oOo~~~Excerpt: Theo obviously liked how I looked. He’d enjoyed an eyeful of my bra-less chest and he’d also taken a sudden interest in my lips. I licked the lingering droplet of wine off the upper while lowering my glass. Time to get things moving. “So.”He lifted his gaze, brow quirked. “So.”“Why’d you agree to come over tonight?”Theo’s sexy smirk sent flutters through my stomach. “I enjoy making you laugh. Helping you remember there’s life outside of your life’s goal.”“Is that all?”He nodded and tipped up his glass, not taking the time to savor the dry, oaken flavor.My entire body tingled with the thought success was in reach. “Why didn’t you sit over here with me?”Theo peered at me with his dark eyes. Fathomless and unreadable. “Because you’re on a mission.”For the second time since he’d arrived, laughter bubbled from me. “I am.”“And according to you, you always succeed.”“I do.”He studied the wine while swirling it in the glass. “I sat over here to thwart your plans.”I narrowed my eyes as I studied his face. “Why?”“You don’t need any distractions right now.”Spine stiffening, I lifted my chin. “Or perhaps that’s exactly what I need right now.”“Not my kind of distraction.”His gaze latched onto me, and finally—finally—heat I’d dreamed of simmered in his stare. I fought the strange desire to lower my eyes. “I never back down. Ever.”His coy smirk sent a rush of moisture straight south to slick my panties. “You should.”“Oh?” I allowed my smile to grow and rubbed a fingertip along my shirt’s drooping neckline. His attention swung downward. “And why’s that?”“You’re messing with fire.” He lifted his gaze and scorched me with the lust in his black eyes.Fire? Oh yeah. My body ignited, and burning need swelled between my thighs and settled into my clit. I got up and set my wine glass on the coffee table while moving around it—all without breaking eye contact. Focused on his face, I peered down at him from between his legs. “I can handle a little heat.”  ~~~oOo~~~ For more information on the Risso Family, click on the image above.~~~oOo~~~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.Her current work, the Risso Familly Novellas, revolves around four siblings from Boston’s North End. Find Lynn: Website: http://www.authorlynnburke.com/index.htmlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Lynn-Burke-555282497937461/?ref=hlTwitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLynnBurkeTumblr:  http://authorlynnburke.tumblr.com/Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Burke/e/B00TGC9SJWGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13130238.Lynn_Burke

Q & A with Elodie Parkes on her new release Deep Dream!

Hello!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today! 
Thank you for inviting me to your blog today to celebrate my new release with Hot Ink Press, erotic paranormal romance, 'Deep Dream.'

Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?
Ethan Ross, my hero in Deep Dream was so immediately real to me as I had the story idea that the dynamics between him and my heroine Anna Prideaux just fell into place.He’s as immediately drawn to her as she is to him, but he’s fighting the attraction as hard as he can. That’s what leads to how he misbehaves and how Anna gives up on him and falls for Remy Dubois’s charms.
Q) Is this book part of a series?  If so, can you tell us about it?
I originally thought I’d write more StarZ club stories, but then in Deep Dream I gave characters happy endings and I think, if there’s another story, it will move away from StarZ, the rock club.
Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?
When I originally designed the cover, I had a base scene in mind of a New Orleans street. However when I came to buy the graphic the photograph had been categorized as editorial, meaning I couldn’t use it for commercial purposes. So, I bought another street scene and other graphics to make the base of the cover look almost the same as the one I’d wanted and then hunted down my couple to smoke into the scene, giving a dreamy effect. I hope. (Smiles)
Q) What gave you the inspiration for your book?
I’m always getting inspiration from just odd things. Ethan my vampire character inspired the whole story when I saw a 1920’s flapper dress covered in fringes and so pretty, I associated it with his turning point in life and the lover who’d abandoned him all those years ago.
Q) Do you have any habits that get you in the writing frame of mind?
None at all. I’m always desperate to write. I never have enough time for everything because I work such weird ‘day job’ hours and so after a few days when I haven’t had time to write I start being depressed.
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I don’t actually … my characters are suddenly just with me as is most of the story. I’ll see something, a road sign (Swoop on Love), a decorative door (The Black Lion), a building (A Dom for Patti), a paddock full of horses (Night of the Horse) and bam I have a story. I once had a story fall into my mind from a strange misty white patch that showed up on the outside of my patio doors. It inspired, Forever Blue. Stories are just there and then its hell for me until I write them because they nag me. (Laughs)
Q) How much real life do you put into or influences your books?
Sex scenes have some real life stuff in them. Scenery, places and emotions , they’re ofetn composite of what I’ve seen in real life.
Q) What are your upcoming projects?
I’ve recently submitted two erotic romance anthology stories, and I’m waiting on hearing back from them.
I’m writing another anthology story right now that’s dark and dirty (grins)
I‘m writing Tom Venn’s story, The Venn Pack in Love 4 for Siren and that has to take precedence soon.

I have a Sci-Fi/fantasy romance that I’m desperate to finish and a couple of other projects sitting in folders on my computer with a couple of chapters written and no time yet to write them. 




This story concept was originally formed for a proposed series. Now it has been completed revised, lengthened, and re-edited for Hot Ink Press.
Essentially a vampire erotic romance, it also has threads of magic, and taking place in New Orleans, it's set in a music club/rock club, the mysterious StarZ.
Ethan Ross, the vampire hero, has been in New Orleans since his girlfriend and sire, dumped him in 1922. He's used to the weird undercurrents of the city and now works in StarZ that caters to the supernatural folks. His band, Deep Dream, play there. He's tasked with taking care of the 'ordinary humans' that arrive in the club and he does this happily ...
With a broken heart to heal Ethan swore off love long ago ... that is until starry eyed Anna Prideaux wanders into his life. Then sparks start to fly ...

Read an excerpt
 She watched him disappear into the gloom. Anna stood and scooped her phone from the counter. She glanced around to check who might be watching her. When it looked like no one was, she quickly followed Marcus. She quickened her pace as she lost sight of him in the swirling mist at the back of the club’s main room. Marcus disappeared.
When she reached where she’d last seen him a shiver spiked up her back. The mist was freezing cold, the air thick with potent. Anna turned away as a weird fear gripped her. She practically ran back to the bar, weaving through the groups of patrons, and muttering, “Sorry,” as she knocked into one, splashed the drink from the glass of another, until she stood in front of Ethan.
His gaze mesmerized her. She wasn’t even sure she actually heard his voice, but somehow he soothed her.
“Anna, it’s time you went home now. You want to go home. You have work to do transcribing the interview with the band. Everything’s fine.”
She smiled at him. “I’m off now. Thank you for answering my questions. Thank Marcus for me. He left.” She gestured toward where she’d run from. A flutter of fear rose in her stomach and then Ethan was leaning forward, his blue eyes capturing her so that she dreamily froze to soak up his low voiced words.
“Goodnight, Anna.”She left the club happily, a faraway feeling carrying her along ...©Elodie Parkes Hot Ink Press 2016
BUY the Book
http://a-fwd.com/asin=B01BLO58YQ

http://smarturl.it/DeepDream
About ElodieI’m a writer who is in love with happy endings. Currently based in the UK but thinking about joining the next flock of birds I see heading south for the winter.I love: music, art, flowers, trees, the ocean...I work with antiques by day and words by night.Like a vampire, darkness is my friend, that’s when the silence is only broken by an occasional hoot of owls in the woodlands opposite my current home, and I write.Find me:Blog Facebook FB2 Twitter TsuTumblr ManicReadersGoogle + G+ Pinterest YouTube Amazon USA Amazon UK

The NØ Frat Clause - Naughty Office Romance by HK Carlton

Hello!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today! 
Thank you so much for inviting me, Beth! Excited to be here.

Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?
An interesting fact about this story is that it has had several different tellings and titles. Considering it is not that old of an idea, this story has gone in many different directions. The first title I dubbed this one was, Say My Name, since our sexy hero Roger, often says that to his new personal assistant Lexi, during some very intimate moments. The next incarnation of this story was entitled, The Moment of Truth, but I tried something a little different and it was not well received, it just didn’t work out. Live and learn. So back to the drawing board, I reworked the original Say My Name manuscript, but I no longer felt like that was the right title for the new and improved story. I finally decided on The NØFrat Clause, because it is the crux of our hero and heroine’s conflict.

Q) What gave you the inspiration for your book?
The idea for this story actually spawned from an image prompt in one of the weekly blog hops I participate in, Masturbation Monday. The explicit picture was of a man fully dressed in a business suit, sitting on a cream leather couch, playing with a naked woman. It immediately took me to an office setting and I wrote a short erotic flash fiction to go along with it. A couple of weeks later, with Lexi and Roger still on my mind and a second erotic image prompt for M-Monday, another part of their story materialized. By then I realized Lex and Rog had a story to tell.

Q) Do you have any habits that get you in the writing frame of mind?
Coffee, coffee and more coffee, along with my Chihuahua by my side.

Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
They absolutely develop for me on the fly. I might have a vague direction when I start, but the characters show me the way and often it isn’t where I expect to end up. They’re a pushy lot.

Q) How much real life do you put into or influences your books?
When I first started writing a lot of real life went into my stories but sooner or later you run out of things to share or that you can relate to. Often the day to day, is not that interesting. LOL. Not to say I don’t throw some of my own experiences or of those around me into it, I do, but  some of my more recent projects, I have zero experience in, so we’ll see how that goes. J I’ve been known to use snippets of conversation I’ve overheard, while I’m out and about, between absolute strangers, into my stories. So word to the wise, be careful what you share in public. You never know who might be sitting within earshot at the coffee shop, at the grocery store or on a plane. Author fodder is everywhere.

Q) What are your upcoming projects?

I have several manuscripts on the go but nothing complete at the moment. So stay tuned.

Temptation... It's all around us... the flesh is weak.
Haven't we all been tempted, at one time or another? Sometimes it's just too hard to be good.
Whether it's that rich chocolaty slab of cake alongside a cold glass of white milk while you're on a diet, or that drool-worthy muscle bound guy at the gym who you can't seem to keep your greedy gaze from, or the gorgeous young intern, new to the firm, who just needs some good training.
Temptation doesn't obey the rules and though they try their best to fight it, Roger and Lexi, don't either, The NØ Frat Clause.

Blurb:
Fresh out of college, Lexi Wideman lands an entry level job at a lucrative recruiting firm. Only six months into her tenure, she’s offered a major promotion—executive assistant to Roger Kent, the company’s coveted corporate headhunter. Older, irresistible, and ruggedly handsome, Roger Kent turns her into a liquid pool of need with just one smoldering glance. But the opportunity is just too good to pass up this early in her career. Lexi must find a way to remain professional while panting after her boss.
Roger Kent is thrown off guard when the company execs all of a sudden decide he needs an assistant. Perhaps he does, but Lexi Wideman is not the girl for him. She's smart, young, and gorgeous. It's hard enough trying to keep his eyes off her. Working in such close proximity, day after day, it would only be a matter of time before his hands followed.
So much for the No Frat Policy.
I hope you enjoy this naughty tease. A little Love in an Elevator... (sorry, I just got that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day).
Excerpt:
All of a sudden the lights flickered once again, and the lift jerked.
Lexi grabbed my thigh in panic. “Oh God!”
Oh God was right. Any higher and she was going to get a rock-hard handful.
I wound my arms around her, and we held on as the elevator came to shuddering halt. The lights went out entirely, plunging us into complete darkness. The hydraulic hum of the mechanics powering down droned. Then there was silence except for the clicking of the cables.
“Ohhh …” Lexi said in alarm.
“It’s okay. Take it easy,” I reassured her. “The auxiliary lights should come on in a second when the generators kick in.” But seconds ticked by and nothing happened.
“What’s happening?” she asked, her voice warbling.
“Power outage from the storm I’d say. Guess you were right, we should have taken the stairs.”
“Oh boy.” I felt her take a deep shuddering breath. She shifted, centering her back to my chest, and relaxed into me. I tried to maintain some distance, but there was no help for it, with her perfect little ass snugged right up against my upper thighs. There was no way she missed the massive bulge in my pants. She tensed, but she didn’t pull away either.
I inhaled her familiar scent. Another bad idea. It was just as arousing as the rest of her. She smelled fanfuckingtastic.
Her breathing became erratic. I was afraid she was about to panic.
“We’re okay. Relax.” I ran my hands up and down her arms.
She melted into me.
“Do you have your cell phone?” I asked in a tight voice. “We could use it for light. And-or call for help. At least let someone know we’re in here.”
“No, I left mine at the office. You?”
“I think I tossed mine in the briefcase. It's down here by our feet somewhere.”
A ringing noise made us both jump.
I released her and groped in the dark until I found the little door containing the emergency phone. “Hello?” I answered in a clipped tone.
“What's your name, and how many are with you?” a gruff voice barked.
“Roger Kent. There are two of us. Myself and my assistant.”
“We're working on getting you down. Try not to panic.”
“All right, but can you do something about the auxiliary lighting?”
“The generators should engage anytime now. Sit tight.”
“Okay, we’ll sit tight. As if we have a choice,” I said as I hung up.
From the awkward way I'd been leaning, I straightened up slightly, rearranging my hips back into the corner. “We’re gonna be a while,” I said and reached for Lexi. It was pitch black. I couldn’t make out a goddamn thing. “Where'd ya go? Christ, it’s dark.”
“I'm searching for the cell.” Just then my palm made contact with a nicely rounded hip. Oh fuck, she was bent over in front of me. I followed the soft plump curve as she rooted through the briefcase. I closed my eyes and took long, slow inventory of her shapely backside. I stifled a groan, but it escaped as more of a grunt.
Slowly, she straightened and turned in my direction. The low light from my cell screen glowed, illuminating the space between us.
The tension between us was palpable. She stared at me. Her lips parted. I don’t know what she saw in my expression. One of us made a growling sound. I suspect it was me.
Simultaneously, she dropped the phone and reached for me as I grabbed for her. I sought her lips hungrily as the darkness enveloped us once more. She moaned something incoherent into my mouth.
In a wild frenzy, we nipped and sucked at each other’s mouths, our hands roamed free and greedily. My cock lengthened to painful proportions.
Lexi arched into me, her ample breasts pressing against my upper chest. She squirmed as I tried to gather her sweet backside in my greedy hands. Lifting her, I thrust my hips at her, leaving no doubt as to what I wanted.
In answer, she pressed her pelvis against me. The pressure felt amazing, but I wanted more.
“Yeah,” she cried softly. “Yeah …”
Fuck yeah!
 Buy Links:Evernight http://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-no-frat-clause-by-h-k-carlton/Amazon http://myBook.to/NOAll Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thenfratclause-1973861-149.htmlBookStrand http://www.bookstrand.com/the-n%C3%B8-frat-clause-mf  Author Links:Blog http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.caTwitter https://twitter.com/AuthorHKCarltonFacebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/HKCarlton/Facebook Timeline https://www.facebook.com/authorhk.carltonEvernight Author Page http://www.evernightpublishing.com/h-k-carlton/Amazon Author Page viewAuthor.at/HKCarltonBookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/h-k-carltonGoodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6544863.H_K_Carlton