Emily Cale's Blog, page 9

Christmas in July with Lisa Fox

Where Lisa Fox goes, there is usually trouble. Which is of course why she brought alcohol with her to this party. *sigh* What else can I do but let her share?


Lisa Fox’s Guide to Christmas in July!


It is exactly halfway to Christmas and I think that is reason to celebrate. A Christmas in July party is the next best thing to an unbirthday. And the best part about it is you don’t need snow or cold or hot mulled wine to have a great party.


What you do need is some awesome food. Great summer treats like snow cones and ices, ice cream
adored with colorful candy, chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, peppermints and jelly beans and of
course lots and lots of chocolate. You know, all the healthy essentials.


I think that a nice, light sangria would complement that fine feast very nicely. Something Christmassy
and sparkly, but not too heavy. I really like the Quick Sparkling Cranberry Sangria from Yummy Mommy Kitchen:


Christmas Sangria
1 bottle white wine
25 oz. sparkling cranberry juice
1 apple, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cranberries
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and refrigerate for one hour or until ready to use.


But no Christmas celebration is truly complete without presents! Therefore, I am giving away a copy of Santa’s Sleeping Beauty to one lucky commenter. May it warm you from the inside out and make your Christmas in July happy and bright!




Blurb:


When Jordan takes a break from her last-minute Christmas shopping to have a cup of coffee, she meets
a handsome Santa with a twinkle in his eye and a sinful smile. He offers her a special Christmas treat
that Jordan is more than happy to accept.


Naughty never felt sooo right as together they share an outrageous night of love that is supposed to end
with the coming of dawn.


Or so they thought…


Buy from Ellora's Cave:
Buy from Amazon:

Christmas in July with JK Coi

Please welcome JK Coi to my Christmas in July event. I'm so happy she was willing to stop by since I happen to love her stories!


Have a Very Merry Christmas…In July!


When I started writing my holiday novella, Far From Broken, it was early spring last year. The snow had melted and the grass was starting to turn green. It was sooo hard to channel those feelings of bitter cold, and write about snow on the ground. Not to mention, try to bring back those holiday feelings when all I wanted was to throw off my heavy sweaters and welcome the summer!


When winter did come back around and Far From Broken was being published for everyone to read, it was easier to get into the mood, and I found that I wanted to write another holiday scene for these characters, which I’m now sharing with you.


Please enjoy this special Christmas gift for Jasper and Callie from FAR FROM BROKEN!

Callie finds Jasper in the salon early one afternoon. “What are you doing?”

He steps aside, revealing a neat little metal square on the floor, about the size of a large gift box. “A present? From who?”

“It came express. I think it might be from the general.” He frowns. “Which means it might not be entirely safe to open.”

She chuckles. “There’s only one way to find out, I suppose.” Stepping closer, she kneels down in front of it. It’s plain. Just an ugly gray metal box. “How does it open? It looks seamless.”

Reaching out, she picks it up. It’s heavy, but Jasper kneels with her and together they tip it over. “There,” he says, pointing. “A button.”

Looking into one another’s eyes, they share a spark of childlike excitement. Callie smiles. “Who gets to push it?”

“Shall we shoot for it?”

She’s been practicing with his Tesla gun, but knows she’s still no match for Jasper. Shaking her head, she holds out her gloved hand. “Arm wrestle?”

He breaks out into laughter, knowing there’s no contest in that. Her mechanical hand has the strength of ten men. “Why don’t we just push the button together then?”

He reaches out, but Callie stops him by leaning in for a kiss.

It starts sweet and soft, but soon becomes hot and deep, and he’s lost himself in her.

She breaks away suddenly, leaving him breathless and reaching out to pull her close again, but then he catches the glimmer of mischief in her eye, and the grin that curls her swollen lips. “Don’t you dare—”

But she’s already pushed the button, laughing joyfully. He shakes his head, but inside he’s pleased. Every day she grants him a smile is a gift, but when she actually laughs aloud he thanks God for miracles.

The box starts to rumble, and they both turn their attention to it. It shakes across the floor. Standing, he pulls Callie up and they step a few feet back. The box is unfolding itself. As it opens, they see that inside is a kaleidoscope of greens and reds, silver and gold.

“Goodness,” she says. “It’s so beautiful!”

“But what is it?” He peers closer. The box is no longer a box. As it continues to shift, he’s still not quite able to pinpoint what it is.

She grabs his arm, and looks up at him with stars of wonder in her eyes. He’s completely captivated. “A tree! Jasper, it’s a tree. Complete with Christmas decorations. Look!”

And then he recognizes it too. The box has indeed transformed into a kind of tree. Made of metal tubes shooting every which way, it’s both the oddest looking and most unique Christmas tree he’s ever seen. On its limbs there are small rings, and each ring holds a pretty little ornament. Some are gold, some silver, and some red.

Once it’s fully formed, the room falls silent. They stand together. He takes her hand, and she leans into him. “It’s lovely,” she whispers.

He agrees. “Whoever put this together is a genius. I wonder if—” He reaches out to touch it, and as soon as he makes contact, the whole tree lights up. Light shoots out the ends of each of the metal tubes until it is completely enveloped in a golden glow.

“Oh, Jasper.”

He turns to his wife. The woman who held his heart and warmed his soul. “Merry Christmas, my darling.”

She looks up at him with a teasing grin. “It’s no sprig of mistletoe, but I still think you should kiss me.”

He smiles. “I think after this, the response should be more than just a kiss, don’t you?”

© JK Coi 2011




J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.


She also writes Dark Fantasy for young adults as Chloe Jacobs (www.chloejacobs.com)

FAR FROM BROKEN now available from Carina Press


Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye...and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper's guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything...including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife's love and forgiveness...but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

Christmas in July with Sasha Devlin

Please welcome Sasha Devlin to my Christmas in July event!


I’ve always been a sucker for Christmas stories and always knew I would pen one once given the chance, but it was quite by accident that Daniel’s Dare actually made it to publication. A few years ago, a writer’s forum I belong to (Romance Divas at www.forums.romancedivas.com) had a great holiday opportunity. People were invited to participate in a Secret Santa story swap; It was a free gift you could give another romance lover.

Though I was still really new to writing seriously, I signed up and started the story of two friends who had known each other half their lives, had been in love with each other for most of that time, but still hadn’t figured out how to make it work. To up the ante, I gave them both a competitive streak a mile wide and a Truth or Dare game that was quickly getting too sexy to manage (To be honest, I’m a sucker for Truth or Dare too).

The swap got canceled, but nothing could make me abandon Daniel Rich. He was too funny, too sexy and it was too much fun to watch Kaitlyn turn him inside out.  Here’s a blurb for Daniel’s Dare:

Daniel Rich and Kaitlyn Dow have been friends for fifteen years, and playing an increasingly outlandish game of Truth or Dare for nearly as long. In love with her friend for longer than she’d like to admit, Kaitlyn prefers to hide in the safety of truths she can guide away from embarrassing secrets. While ladies’ man Daniel can’t help but push Kaitlyn’s boundaries with bolder, sexier dares every chance he gets in hopes that he can finally get his friend to notice how he feels.

With her bed-and-breakfast overbooked, the two are forced to spend the night together. Under the twinkle of Christmas lights and the temptation of mistletoe, Daniel is ready to move their relationship to the next level. Kaitlyn suspects he’s still playing a game, and resigns herself to a one-night stand. But she’ll soon learn that Daniel is willing to risk any dare to get Kaitlyn to see the truth—that they belong together.

Buy Links:

Ellora's Cave
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ARe


Leave me a comment and one lucky winner will receive an e-copy of Daniel’s Dare and a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Please leave an email address so I can contact you. 

You can find Sasha online here:WebsiteTwitterFacebook

Winners from 1NS Blog Hop

So the Grand Prize winners drawn from the whole hop are:

Grand Prize # 1 - Kindle Touch
#1404 - Erykah Wyck's blog - Yvette


Grand Prize #2 - $50 Amazon.com gift certificate
#135 - Kerry Adrienne's blog - Megan @ Riverina Romantics


Grand Prize #3 - Goodies from Coffee Time Romance
#326 - C.R. Moss's blog - Teresa T. Miller

Jessica Subject has contact you guys and will get your prizes out ASAP.

The winner from my blog was Julianne. I've sent you an email so you can claim your prize. Thanks so much to everyone for coming out and supporting the series. We all really appreciate it and had a great time!

Christmas in July with Sandra Sookoo

Today, Sandra Sookoo is visiting my blog to kick off my Christmas in July event. I've got lots of great authors stopping in at various times this month to make sure you don't forget that holiday stories are fun year round. Plus, with all the hot weather, it's nice to remember what it was like when it was cool outside.

Take it away, Sandra.


Oh, I love Christmas in July themes almost as much as I love writing holiday stories. Anyone who knows me at all knows I’ve got an impressive collection of stories centered around holidays. Yes, it’s a sickness, and yes, I can’t seem to stop myself. Hey, you’d be proud. I’ve only written one Christmas story this year. It was hard. I’m feeling deprived. LOL

Anyway, I’ve been known to set the air conditioning down and crank up the Christmas tunes in order to meet a submission deadline for the Christmas holidays. Historical, contemporary, paranormal or sci-fi, it doesn’t matter. Give me a tree and candles, and I’ll write you tale.

Today, I’ve brought a blurb for my sexy Christmas short OFF THE LIST from last year. Man, this was such a fun story to write and Jack is just… well, he’s so darned yummy it’s a shame he only gets a chance to shine once a year.

She wants off the Nice List.  He owns the Naughty List.  Christmas Eve has never been so sexy.

Jack, the outcast cousin of the Claus family, has one job within the Realm of Christmas.  He’s in charge of the Naughty List.  Distributing coal, emptying stockings, returning gifts, that’s his bag—but it does have its perks.  Some of the women on the List wait up for him on December 24th and he makes sure to deck their halls with every visit.

Cadence Harris did everything right in her life.  Played by the rules, dated the “good” boys, said the right things, worked at the right job.  But this year for Christmas, she wants something entirely different.  She wants off the Nice List and in a big way.  Never in her wildest dreams can she imagine what’s in store when Jack pays her an accidental visit.

The night will prove that Santa always delivers.
Available from:
Publisher, ARe, and Amazon


Want to connect with me around the web?
Website:  http://www.sandrasookoo.com
Believing is Seeing blog:  http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sandrasookoo
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/sandra.sookoo

Leave a comment and one lucky winner will recieve an e-copy of Off The List (lucky person!)

1NS Blog Hop

I'm not sure if you noticed, but the year is officially more than halfway over. If you're like me, that means you are looking at your list of goals that you made in January and wondering how the hell you are ever going to make it through them by December. The question, of course, is what have you been doing this whole time?

Sure, we spend 12 months trying to lose weight or increase our productivity or even find a better love life. What if you could change your life overnight? I personally think that is the draw of the 1 Night Stand stories. People take control of their lives and one magical night changes them forever. Sure, it doesn't mean that they ride happily into the sunset (or sunrise) and never have a problem, but they do get a life changing evening with someone.

Whether they are trying to break out of their shell and become a little more adventurous...

After a heartbreaking end to her relationship with her girlfriend, Lucy Stark is looking to try something more adventurous. She turns to Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand service to help her find the perfect woman to push her boundaries and introduce her to the more daring side of a sexual encounter.

Samantha Taylor’s helped more than one woman explore her sexuality, but Lucy’s the first to really get to her. Keeping her walls up and the women she dates from getting inside is a skill she’s managed to master. After one night of unbridled passion, she has to decide whether to give up her hard exterior or let the woman of her dreams slip away.


Or find someone that understands the demands of an athletic career...

Hockey goalie Tarah 'TJ' Elliot is too busy stopping pucks to go looking for love. When her friend Natalie sets her up through Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand service, she grudgingly agrees to go. Her ultimate fantasy comes true when Scott Alarid, one of the top scorers in the league, shows up at her hotel room. Hockey player TJ can't possibly spend a night with him, but Tarah certainly can.

Scott's tired of dealing with women who only like him for his all-star status. After his teammates arrange a date for him using the 1NS website, he's delighted to find a woman who doesn't know a thing about the sport. But, will the truth force them to put their relationship on ice?


The couples who Madame Eve helps find a great way to change their lives.

Tell me what you would do if you could change your life in one night, and I'll pick a winner to receive their choice of 1NS story. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and so the organizer can contact you if you win the Grand Prize (Kindle!!!) Also, visit the other blogs involved for more chances to win the Grand Prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Matter of Lust Release Day Bonanza!!!

Today I am delighted to have my friend and fellow trouble maker Lisa Fox on my blog. Her new book came out today and even though I haven't read it yet, I can tell you it is very H-O-T.
Hi Everyone!
I am thrilled to announce the release of my paranormal, erotic romance A MATTER OF LUST !To celebrate, I am giving away a copy to one lucky commenter on my blog. Head over to LISA FOX ROMANCE (http://lisafoxromance.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/a-matter-of-lust-release-day-bonanza/) between now and Sunday, July 1, 2012 to enter!


Trask is a lust demon on the hunt for a playmate, a human exceptional enough to sate some of his ravenous hunger. When he finds Rena, he knows that she is the one he must have. He makes it his business to seduce her.
Rena is immediately drawn to Trask. She could easily fall for the dangerously sexy bad boy who makes her scream every time he makes her come, but the problem with bad boys is that they’re actually bad. They break girls’ hearts and hers has been broken too many times already. One more crack might shatter it forever.
Trask claims Rena for his own, but she needs more than just sizzling sex. She wants to trust him, but can they ever share anything more than lust?
An Excerpt From: A MATTER OF LUSTCopyright © LISA FOX, 2012All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.Chapter OneThe deep, melodic trance music vibrated through Trask’s body as he prowled the crowded dance floor. He was hungry, so very, very hungry, and the time had come for him to find a willing partner for the night. Any one of the mortals undulating around him would have sufficed, but so far none of them appealed to him. The need gnawed at his insides, but he waited, searching for the one. Over his long years among the humans, he’d learned that it always paid to be a little bit discriminating. It made the feast so much more gratifying.He sidestepped around a young woman, his shoulder accidentally brushing against hers. He felt her body temperature rise as he passed, the lust that had been simmering just below the surface swelling to a fevered pitch within her. She grabbed her companion and kissed him ferociously, shamelessly rubbing herself against him. She wasn’t the only one affected by his presence either. Potent waves of raw sexual energy radiated from him, infecting the air around him, threatening to turn the club into one giant orgy. Trask smiled at the thought.
He cruised the dance floor, reveling in the exquisite thrill of his hunt. Human lust was such a decadent treat, so very different from the desperate lust of the damned in hell, and it filled this ordinarily dull world with brilliant light and added depth to the darkest shadows. He could feel it oozing from the dancers, the men and the women, sweating and panting, touching and grinding, their bodies writhing in time with the music. Tension built in his groin and he welcomed the pure, straining delight.
He stopped suddenly, the prickling at the base of his spine alerting him to the presence of another demon nearby. Not a lust demon like himself, but something similar. Pride maybe, or perhaps wrath? He couldn’t quite get a fix on it. He waited, wondering if it was going to make contact. Often other demons haunting and hunting the human realm wanted to meet, to plot and plan and scheme, to “raise some hell” or whatever, but he got the impression that it was occupied with something else entirely. Which was just fine with him. He’d never been the social sort.
The music changed and a thumping bass beat poured out of the speakers. Trask shook off the psychic residue of the other and worked his way toward the bar. He ordered a bourbon on the rocks and leaned back, happily absorbing the intoxicating atmosphere while scanning the crowd for his potential playmate.His gaze fell upon a woman on the edge of the dance floor in a short, black dress that hugged every curve of her luscious body. Her violently dyed red hair was piled high on her head and sexy tendrils escaped to frame her heart-shaped face. There was a hint of rosy flush on her smooth, round cheeks and the way her hips swayed to the music made his cock stir.
Trask placed his drink aside and unconsciously ran his tongue over his teeth as he glided toward her. She was tall, probably close to six feet in her heels, but he still had to lean down to whisper close to her ear. “Hello,” he purred, breathing in her clean scent of shampoo and roses and woman.She turned slowly toward him, her gaze roaming over his face, his body, and he got the distinct impression that she was mentally undressing him. He certainly hoped she was. She obviously liked what she saw because a smile blossomed on her glossy, pink lips. “Hi.”
The instant, piercing sexual tension between them made his blood surge. He reached out with a fine strand of psychic energy and lightly dipped into her primal core. Trask hissed as desire coiled in his groin. She was sweet ambrosia, a succulent feast just waiting to happen and his cock ached to sink inside her, to make her come again and again while he fed on all that glorious lust. “You are very beautiful,” he said, savoring the tiny taste of her fire.
“Uh-huh,” she said, mischief and humor making her eyes sparkle. “Tell me something I don’t know.”Trask laughed. He liked this woman. “I think I might be in love with you,” he said, beginning the game. It was a line that had worked many times before—the humans always seemed enchanted and amused by the concept, but it was a hollow sentiment, something meant to elicit a grin and nothing more. But as the words left his mouth, they felt different this time, almost as if they had…weight.
“Are you sure it’s love you feel?” she asked, a smile dancing along the corners of her mouth. Her eyes flicked down to his crotch. “Or something else entirely?”
“Now I know I’m in love,” he replied, the lust coursing through his veins. She was perfect. Fun. Bold. Smoking hot. And she was going to be his. All night long. He reached out and traced the curve of her cheek with his index finger. Her skin was flawless, warm and silky. “What’s your name?”
She paused and an odd, little smile formed on her lips. “Does it matter?”
Normally it wouldn’t matter—in fact, there was no reason why it should matter, but for some reason it did matter. It mattered a lot. “Yes.”
Her smile changed, softened, and Trask was awestruck by just how simply beautiful she was. “Rena. My name is Rena.”
“Rena.” He liked the way it rolled off his tongue.
“And what about you?” she asked, leaning closer to him. He looked straight down into her very ample cleavage and took his time enjoying that magnificent view. His fingers itched to caress that soft skin, to feel the weight of her full, round breasts in his hands. “Do you have a name? Or should I just call you the sexy Darkman of my dreams?”
“I do like the sound of that.” He wondered if his presence was affecting her, making her more daring than she’d normally be or if this was just her nature. He had the power to inspire humans to say and do outrageous things simply by standing beside them. His gaze touched on her flamboyant red hair and he thought—hoped—that it was her and not a consequence of his influence. “But Trask is so much shorter and to the point.”
“Trask,” she said, and he had to admit, he liked the way his name sounded on her lips. He couldn’t wait to hear her scream it. Her eyes trailed over him, her gaze a provocative caress that sent hot, tingling ripples down his spine. “So, now that you’ve declared your love, what happens next?”
“Oh, you know, the usual.” He caught hold of a loose strand of her hair and twined it around his fingers. The tension between them rocketed up a few notches and he inhaled the essence of her arousal, breathing it deep into his body, relishing the flavor of her. “A whirlwind romance, storybook marriage, honeymoon in Paris.”“Followed swiftly by a quickie divorce in Mexico, right?”
Her voice was tinged with unmistakable venom and the bitterness sliced through the hazy, plush cloud of their lust. Startled by the mental slap in the face, Trask dropped his hand back to his side. Darkness deepened around him as anger settled in. He did not like this turn of events at all. “What makes you think I’d do anything quick with you?”
“I see,” she said, and he watched her features soften as her mood shifted. Humans were so extraordinarily complex. He didn’t think he’d ever understand their ability to feel so much, so quickly and thoroughly, even when those emotions were completely contradictory. Demons were defined by their desires, embodiments of the thing they hungered after. There was never a reason for a demon to feel anything more than his driving need. Everything else just got in the way of the goal.
Her bitterness ebbed away, gone almost as quickly as it had come, and she favored him with a dazzling, flirtatious smile. “You’re a slow-and-steady kind of guy then?”
“Oh yes,” he said, returning her grin. “And I always win in the end.”
She laughed, a lovely, musical sound that tugged at his insides. She leaned into him, a whisper of space between them and he could feel the heat of her body on his skin. “Hmm,” she said, and bit down on her lower lip. Her fingers flitted over his collarbone. “I do like confidence.”
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “Then you’re definitely going to like me.”
BUY LINK:http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10190-a-matter-of-lust.aspx
About the Author:
World-renowned neurosurgeon, jet fighter pilot, secret member of American royalty, seducer of legions of beautiful, outrageously sexy angels and demons and vampires and werewolves and the occasional pirate, Lisa Fox has done it all…in her own mind. In reality, she can generally be found at her desk with a cup of coffee close at hand. Or maybe a martini. It really depends on the day.Feedback, comments, opinions, words of wisdom, chocolate cake and the addresses of super hot men are always appreciated and encouraged. Please feel free to contact Lisa any time.Email: lisa@lisafoxromance.comWebsite: www.lisafoxromance.comTwitter: @LisaFoxRomance

Christmas in July

It's still a full 6 months until Christmas, but some of us don't like to wait. I'm hosting a Christmas in July event on my blog from July 1st-31st this year. If you have a Christmas (or other winter holiday) story that could use a little love, I'd be happy to host you one of those days.

You'll need to be able to give something away (copy of one of your books, giftcard, or other gift) as part of the event. If you are interested in participating, please email me at emily.a.cale @ gmail.com

Scavenger Hunt Winner!

Sorry for the delay in picking my winner. I spent the weekend at the Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Together. It was so much fun, but left me completely drained and unwilling to drag out my computer to count entries.

That said, Book Attict won the contest on my blog for a $10 Ellora's Cave Gift Card. I'll get that off to you this afternoon.

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by!

Hardware Store Jokes aka Why Emily Isn't Allowed in Public

Remodeling our house means that the husband and I make frequent trips to the hardware store. By frequent, I mean at least weekly. Often daily. Sometimes more (yes, I am actually serious). There is always the need for another size of screws, a new paint color, and another stack of drywall. For us, this means that we might as well deposit our pay checks at Lowes (seriously guys, this would make it a lot faster). For the poor store people, it means they have to put up with the two of us wondering their aisles.

I'm going to tell you a secret. There are people who actually maage to go to the home improvment store and not make dirty jokes. You know how I know this? They are the ones staring at us with expression that says they want to kill us for even thinking such things. But any trip that starts by asking how long the wood needs to be is bound to be hilarious.

I thought I'd give you some of the better ones from this week's venture:

Husband: I need more screws.
Me: Attempting not to giggle. What about the box we bought yesterday.
Husband: I need longer ones.
Me: When it comes to screwing, size doesn't matter.
Husband: It does if you're trying to hit a certain spot.

Me: Points to piece I think we need. What about this one?
Husband: That wood is too soft. We need harder wood.
Me: Maybe you could rub it?

Anyone out there have any good hardware store jokes? Dirty or otherwise?