Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 435
November 22, 2013
A. Catherine Noon: Taking a Chance
A. Catherine Noon here. Thank you to Delilah Devlin for inviting Rachel Wilder and me back for a guest spot. We have exciting news today! Our short story, “Taking a Chance,” re-released from Torquere Publishing yesterday. Originally part of the 2012 Charity Sips to benefit the NOH8 Campaign, we helped raise over $3,500 with Torquere and the other authors who participated. Woo-hoo! And now, “Taking a Chance” is back, just in time for the holidays.
What’s different for us with this story is that it’s a straight-up romance, no paranormal, no monsters, nothing exploding. Well, okay, maybe not quite true – at least for the sequel. We’ll probably have an explosion or two. After all, the hero is a wealthy oil baron – the scion of a rich family, he trades oil futures on the stock exchange and handles the international holdings for his family. Something has to blow up when money, oil, and a Texan are involved.
For Rachel, this story is a bit of a guilty pleasure. She grew up reading Harlequin “white covers,” and adores the traditional romance tropes. We decided to write one with a twist, and do a M/M romance in a traditional way. We plan to start work on the sequel, a novel-length story about Chance and Jay, which will come out mid-2014.
What about you? What’s your guilty pleasure? Is it mystery? Pot-boilers? Straight-up soap opera with the wicked stepmother and the oh-so-luscious men flocking around the heroine but not quite lighting her fire?
Doctor Jacob Davison has outgrown the hookups of his younger days and wants to settle down. When he’s abandoned by the side of the road, a leather-clad stranger stops and offers him a ride. Chance Renton is different from anyone Jay’s ever met. He’s caring and helpful, yet cynical and world-weary.
From the first moment of their shared motorcycle ride, an attraction begins to simmer between them. Between Jay’s ex-boyfriend showing up and the misconceptions they have about each other, does this relationship have a chance?
November 21, 2013
Nancy Corrigan: Molding a Hero
Giving a character life is one of my favorite parts of writing. What will my hero look like? How will he act? For me, I need a name picked out before I type my first word. I simply can’t stick a generic title on him and build his personality. He needs an identity. Once I decide on a name, his life can take shape. This is where his story comes in. He didn’t just appear in the world I created. He lived in it, interacted with others, maybe loved and lost. Those are the details I need to know to mold him.
In Unexpected Find, my hero’s name is Rafe Alexander.
So let’s see, Rafe is a five hundred year old feline shifter. He’s protective of his family and works with the human government’s shifter division to locate and rescue kidnapped shifter children. After living for centuries, he’s a gentleman at heart, but his animal instincts make him dominant and possessive.
Hmm…so what does Rafe look like?
Tall, muscular and confident. Add in long blond hair, golden feline eyes and Rafe is born.
My cover for Unexpected Find matches him perfectly. Don’t you think?
Unexpected Find
Nancy Corrigan
Royal Pride, Book 1
Since the murder of her best friend, Jazz is stuck in a safe but lonely way of life. She’s willing to sacrifice everything to keep her family safe from the shifter world. The sexy stranger who struts into her friend’s bar changes everything. From the first glance Jazz knows she’s sunk—their chemistry sizzles from across the room, it’ll be undeniable up close.
Rafe wants Jazz from the second he sets eyes on her. The depth of the need that swamps him every time he’s near her surprises him. It takes every last ounce of his self-control not to pounce on Jazz and make her his. Only her distrust of his shifter nature holds him back. He counts it as a win every time his beloved human gives in to their passion and takes him to her bed. But Rafe’s patience isn’t infinite and he’ll do whatever it takes, face any danger—past or present—to ensure that Jazz becomes his. Forever.
A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Royal Pride series blurb
As multi-feline shifters, Royals—the privileged descendants of the gods—live with the wants and demands of the animal spirits sharing their bodies. Everything is more intense for a Royal—their primal drives, possessiveness and lusts. Exotically beautiful and strong, these immortals never lack companionship but once their mating instincts are triggered, nothing sways their devotion or dims their desire.
Their dominant nature demands they claim their female’s body and soul, ensuring their chosen one knows exactly to whom they belong. Once marked as a Royal’s beloved, their women realize how wickedly satisfying life can be with a mate focused on meeting their every need.
Excerpt
The butterflies in Jazz’s belly took flight. The man was a romantic. “You know, I’m starting to enjoy the odd way you talk. It makes me feel as if I walked into a world where princesses wait to be swept away by their knight in shining armor.”
Rafe grinned, the sad look replaced by amusement. Releasing her hands, he slid his around her waist. “You would make a beautiful princess.”
“Would I?”
“One to be fought for.” He twirled a lock of her hair around a finger. “What about me? Would I fill the role of your knight in shining armor?”
She smiled, completely charmed by this man. She ran her hands over his chest, luxuriated in the layers of muscle under her palms. “I don’t know if any horse would be able to carry you for long. I see you more as a warrior, a conqueror.”
“One who demands the bonny ladies as his reward after a battle?” He swept her into his arms. She gasped and grabbed his shoulders. Lust heated his eyes as he mapped her face. “Oh yes, I like this fantasy and in it I get to choose you as my booty.” He bent his head closer so his golden eyes filled her vision. “I think I might keep you, Jasmine.”
Her breath hitched. “I think you have a wild imagination.”
“Or a hopeful one.” He eased back but watched her with that focused gaze she was starting to associate with him. “I want you.”
The lust-hazed glint to his eyes told her exactly what he wanted. For once in her life, she did too—but it couldn’t happen. She had responsibilities. Spontaneity and motherhood did not mesh. The little episode in Josh’s office proved that. She would’ve been mortified if Sara walked in while they were having sex. Everyone in town would’ve known within the hour. The other playgroup moms would find out, maybe shun her or at least look at her negatively. No. Any liaisons she had would have to be planned and kept hidden.
She licked her upper lip. “I haven’t had sex in a really long time, Rafe.” She dropped her gaze and stared at his chin. “What we did tonight wasn’t like me either. I’m not like that. Easy.”
He brushed his lips over her forehead. “I know.” He set her on her feet and took her hand. “Come, let’s get you home.”
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http://www.ellorascave.com/unexpected-find.html
Will also be available from Amazon, B&N and other e-book retailers. I’ll be posting links on my website as I get them.
About Me
I’ve always been an avid reader and encourage everyone to escape the hectic daily grind with a few minutes a day in your favorite book.
I’m lucky enough to share my cat’s home with my three wonderful children, husband, dog and snake. When not writing, I work as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.
My passions beyond reading and family include music, classic cars, tattoos and animals (all of which have found their way into my writing in one form or another).
So that’s a little bit about me…
Nancy
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November 20, 2013
MJ Fredrick: Two Hearts a Leaping
The other day my husband and I went on a road trip to Shiner, Texas, to tour the brewery. We had to drive through another small town and I turned to my husband.
“One of my heroes has land around here.”
He gives me the look only a man who’s been married to a writer for a long time would give. “Do you want to go visit him?”
Too often, my characters become so real that I feel like I can go visit them. My first book (still under the bed) was set in the small town near my grandmother’s house. I spent almost 2 years writing that book, and finished it about 17 years ago. To this day, I expect to see Kelly’s flower nursery when I drive through town, or encounter Sara at the local VFD barbecue.
When I see the hot shot firefighters on the news, fighting wildfires, I half-expect to see an interview with Gabe, the hero in Hot Shot.
In my latest release, “Two Hearts a Leaping,” in Swept Away for Christmas, my hero played college football for Alabama. This past summer was my first trip to Alabama, as research for this story. Until that trip, I never understood the depth of Alabamans’ passion for football. Crimson Tide stuff EVERYWHERE. So I decided to make the hero a former Tide player.
Now I, who never watched college football before, am a mad fan. I watch Alabama, UT (my son attends) and A&M (good friends are big fans). My husband shakes his head and watches with me.
It happens with books I’ve read, too, though not to such an extent, because I don’t usually spend months with characters in books I read. One exception is the characters in the Virgin River books by Robyn Carr. A couple of years ago my husband and I drove up the coast from San Francisco, through Humboldt County, where the series takes place, and I wanted nothing more than to explore to see if I could find the town.
Does that ever happen to you? That you get so invested in characters that they become real, and real-life events make you think of them?
And if you want to check out “Two Hearts A Leaping,” look at Swept Away for Christmas, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
MJ Fredrick knows about chasing dreams. Twelve years after she completed her first novel, she signed her first publishing contract. Now she divides her days between teaching elementary music, and diving into her own writing—traveling everywhere in her mind, from Belize to Honduras to Africa to the past.
She’s a four-time Golden Heart Award finalist, and she won the 2009 Eppie Award with Hot Shot and the 2010 Eppie with Breaking Daylight.
November 19, 2013
Saturday’s Winner…and a New Contest…
The winner of the free download of Tarzan & Janine is…Gail Siuba! Gail, congrats, and I’ll be in touch shortly!
Contest at Wild and Wicked Cowboys
Today, I’m blogging over at Wild and Wicked Cowboys, sharing photos of my workspace and asking you about your desks/work areas! Post a comment there and you’ll be entered to win a free book!
November 18, 2013
Sabrina York: Nerd-to-hot-hunk fantasy? Making Over Maris
I’m late! My apologies to Sabrina! I stayed up until the wee morning hours to work on a system update, which didn’t finish until just a little while ago!
* * * * *
Nerd-to-hot-hunk fantasy? Making Over Maris
When her long-time friend and über-nerd Jack Maris asks Sara Grant to help him become attractive to women, Sara Grant has numerous reasons for saying no. It is, after all, an impossible task.
He is dumpy and doughy and extraordinarily…be-furred.
He always looks vaguely unkempt. Okay, maybe not vaguely.
He is utterly clueless about women.
He wears clothes—usually t-shirts plastered with incomprehensible memes—harvested from a pile on the floor of his closet.
His encyclopedic knowledge of the female gender has been gleaned from C-grade porn.
And he religiously follows a flow chart entitled “How to Pick Up Chicks” which includes the dire admonition to “Proceed with Caution if she looks Cranky.”
But Sara just cannot say no. Jack is her friend. He’d always been there for her. Helped her survive college, even helped her get her job. So she agrees.
What Sara doesn’t know is that Jack doesn’t just want to be attractive to women. He wants to be attractive to her. He’s been in love with her for years. In fact, there are a lot of things Sara doesn’t realize about Jack. But when she learns he craves a taste of FemDomme, she is delighted to play along.
Their exploration takes them on a journey of lust and love and redemption—and a happy ending they both never dreamed could be theirs.
WARNING: Making over Maris is a Nerd-to-Hot-Hunk sizzling erotic romance. You will never look the same way at a geek in glasses again. Don’t miss this scorching finale to the Wired Series (with Adam’s Obsession and Tristan’s Temptation)
INSIDER’S SECRET: The sexy nerd on the cover of Making Over Maris is none other than Ellora’s Cave Alpha Caveman, DeAngelo.
Making Over Maris
Sabrina York
Wired, Book Three
When über-nerd Jack asks Sara to make him more attractive to women, she can’t say no—even though it’s an impossible task. He’s shaggy and doughy and hopelessly inappropriate. He has no style or emotional intelligence but he’s a good person. And a great friend. What Sara never expects? Beneath all that fur and geekiness is a steamy hunk just waiting to emerge.
Jack takes Sara’s regimen very seriously, working out and losing weight until he feels like a new man. He even complies with her command to shave his beard—because Jack didn’t ask Sara to make him over so he would be attractive to other women. He only wants to be attractive to her. They go on a series of fake dates, each hotter and more sinful than the last. It’s not long before Sara discovers Jack’s secret desire to be dominated and what began as an arrangement becomes something amazing—something that could be real.
Inside Scoop: Our hero appreciates Femdom—with the right woman. Our hero doesn’t appreciate perfect strangers grabbing his junk. Ask nicely first, ladies!
A Romantica® BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
GET IT NOW: http://www.ellorascave.com/making-over-maris.html
By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
An Excerpt From: MAKING OVER MARIS
Copyright © SABRINA YORK, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
“So… Have you thought about it?” Jack could have kicked himself. He hadn’t intended to burst into her office and blurt it out like that. He’d meant to be suave and slick.
He should have known better.
He’d never been suave and slick.
No. He’d hovered in the vicinity of Sara’s office—after sending Kenny on a meaningless errand—and barged through the door and pounced upon her as soon as Kat left.
“Sit, Jack.”
He plopped into the chair and, because he didn’t know what to do with his hands, laced his fingers.
Sara studied him, dissecting him in that way she had, with her head tipped to the side, wrinkling her button nose. She was so cute when she wrinkled her nose. He forced himself not to wriggle. His cock didn’t listen. Something about her eyes, her lips, her scent, always stirred him.
He shouldn’t have this kind of reaction to her. In the office. Everywhere. But he couldn’t help it. He just did. Always.
When she looked at him like that, when she spoke to him in that clear, commanding voice, it was even worse.
Or better, depending on one’s perspective.
She cleared her throat. “Okay. I’ve thought about it.”
His pulse jerked. “And…?”
She dropped her attention to her blotter and meticulously rearranged several deformed paper clips. His heart pounded a painful tattoo as he waited for her response. “And…” She met his eyes—God, she was gorgeous. “If I do this, we need to have an understanding.”
Relief, or something like it, trickled through him. An understanding was awfully close to an agreement. A promise. “Okay.”
Sara sucked in a breath. “First of all, we need to agree this is an impossible task.”
“Not impossible,” he grumbled. Surely not impossible.
“Okay. Improbable then. My chances of success are…dismal.”
Dismal? Jack’s belly dropped. He fiddled with the wiry hairs on the back of his neck. He didn’t like the way this was going. It was depressing that she thought so poorly of him. “Am I that hideous?”
Her eyes widened. A flush rose on her cheeks. “Oh my God, Jack. No. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It sounded that way.”
“Jack…” She rubbed her hands over her face. “Okay. How about this? We have a long way to go. Can we agree on that?”
“Sure.” He knew he was pouting. But he had a damn good excuse. She’d pretty much come out and said making him attractive to women—to her in particular—was a hopeless cause.
“My worry is this. I can teach you all the right things to say and coach you on how to act around women, prescribe a diet and exercise plan and even give you a makeover. But if you don’t listen to me—if you don’t follow the plan—I fail.”
“I’ll listen. I’ll follow the plan.” Hell. He’d follow her anywhere she wanted to lead. If she only knew…
Something fierce stirred in her eyes. “It’s not going to be easy, Jack. I’m gonna work you.” Why he shivered at the tone in her voice, he had no clue. Or maybe he did. “I want you to agree to honor our contract—even if you drop the ball.”
“Of course.” He always kept his promises.
“You swear?”
He put a hand over his heart. “I swear.”
She sat back. The fire in her eyes flickered and sputtered out. “Okay. So next week I’m going back East to spend some time with my mother—”
“How long will you be gone?” Damn. He hated it when she was gone.
Pain flashed across her features; her voice dropped. “She’s…not doing well.”
His heart squeezed and he wanted to say something comforting but couldn’t find any words. Sara’s mother had been in and out of the hospital for a year. They were very close. Each time her mother had a relapse, Sara suffered.
Jack had never had a mother so he couldn’t relate but he imagined having one and losing her would be even harder than never having one at all.
“In the meantime, I’ll put together a plan for you.”
“A…plan?” His mind spun. How on earth was this going to work if she wasn’t even here?
“Yes. And you have to follow it.”
“I will.”
She put her hands flat on the desk and skewered him with a glower. “Religiously, Jack.”
“Okay.” He tried to not wriggle in his seat. He loved it when she got all…adamant. “So you’ll do it?”
“Yes,” she sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Relief cascaded through him. Relief and hope. It was a tiny sprig of hope, but hope was hope. “So when do we begin?”
She gazed at him. Some strange emotion he couldn’t interpret flashed over her features. “Now.”
Oh. God. Excitement and satisfaction and panic surged through him. “Now?”
“Yes. I need to do an assessment. You know. To figure out exactly where we are.”
He swallowed. “An assessment?”
“Of your game.”
“Okay.” He liked games. He scooted to the edge of his seat.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman—”
“You are a woman.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Be serious, Jack.”
“I am being serious.” He was.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman you see at a bar. And you’re interested.”
Oh. He was.
“What’s the first thing you do?”
Okay. He could wrap his brain around this. He shifted to the side and pulled out his wallet. Found his trusty cheat sheet and unfolded it and spread it flat on the desk.
“What the hell is that?” She gaped at the rumpled, well-worn paper.
“It’s my flowchart.” Duh.
Sara blinked. “You have a flowchart for picking up women.” Not a question.
“Naturally.” Didn’t everyone?
“Let me see that.” Before he could stop her she snatched the paper away. Scanned it. “Oh God.”
He knew what she was seeing. He’d studied this flowchart a hundred times. Still, when she read it aloud, he winced.
“Picking Up Chicks.” She grimaced. “Seriously, Jack? That’s what you named it?”
“Yes.” What else would he name it?
“‘Step One. Assess the situation’. Okay. That works. ‘Does she seem cranky?’ Cranky? Seriously, Jack? Cranky?”
He shrugged. “It’s a critical variable.” It was. It was exceedingly difficult to pick up a cranky woman. “Statistically speaking—”
But Sara ignored him. “‘If Yes: Charm her from her bad mood. If No: Proceed with caution.’” Sara sighed and glanced up at him. “Proceed with caution? We’re not wild animals, Jack.”
“You kind of are.” This he muttered. She didn’t hear. Or maybe she did. Maybe she was ignoring him again. She did that.
With a derisive snort, she crumpled up his precious template for seduction and tossed it in the trash.
With a strangled “eep” he dove in after it, dug it out, refolded it and tucked it back into his wallet. It had never worked but it was all he had. He needed it.
She glared at him. And then for some reason she softened. “Women are not an empirical science, Jack.” She gestured to his wallet. “We’re not all alike. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to winning someone’s heart.”
Yeah. He got that. “But you need to have a standard operating procedure—”
“No, ya don’t.” She blew out a breath. He loved the way it made her bangs flutter up. “Don’t you see? This kind of thing comes off as cheesy. Planned. Practiced.”
“And that’s…bad?” How could planning and practice be bad?
“Women don’t want to feel like they’re an insect being dissected or analyzed. They don’t want to be one option in a sea of possibilities. They want to be special. They want a guy who responds to them on an instinctual level. A guy who is so interested, he can’t help but be charming. Not a guy who has to be reminded to be seductive—by an SOP.”
He shook his head. This was all so…alien. “I don’t get it.”
She buried her face in her hands. “No. You don’t. That’s the point. Oh Jack, I’m going to need a couple days to think about this.”
His pulse stuttered. “But you already promised…”
“No. I’ll do it. I did promise to do it. I just need to think about how to do it.”
He relaxed. Okay. Okay. Okay. It would be okay. “Thank you, Sara.”
“Yeah.” Her cell phone buzzed and she picked it up to check the screen. Her lips tightened and she set it back down. “No prob.”
Damn. Why did she seem so dispirited? He’d seen the tears on her cheeks when he interrupted her meeting with Kat. He’d hated her tears. Hated even more that he didn’t have any right to wipe them away.
“Sara.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Thank you.”
This meant everything to him. More than she could ever know.
“Sure, Jack. Give me a couple days to think about this.”
“Sure.”
She stared at him for a minute and then said in a very small voice, “You can go now.”
Right. He could go. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to go. He wanted to fold her in his arms and hold her and make whatever was making her sad disappear.
He didn’t have that right either.
And he never would.
But for the next few months, he’d have her attention.
And that would be worth a thousand trips to Paris.
GET IT NOW: http://www.ellorascave.com/making-over-maris.html
About Sabrina York
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, writes naked erotic fiction for fans who like it hot, hard and balls-to-the-wall, and erotic romance and fantasy for readers who prefer a slow burn to passion.
An award winning author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers, her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to BDSM to erotic horror. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!
Books by Sabrina York
Adam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon
Brigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon
Dark Fancy (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)
Dragonfly Kisses: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary)
Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Fierce (One Night Stand, Decadence Press)
Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)
Folly (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)
Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave)
Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Making Over Maris (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming November 6th
Man Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Rebound: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary, Available on Amazon)
Rebound is now available on Smashwords
Rising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave)
Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin’ Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)
Smoking Holt: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary)
Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line)
Tristan’s Temptation (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
November 17, 2013
Gia Dawn: What interesting things have you done in your life?
Most of us have visions of very different lives when we are children. We want to be princesses, kings, movie stars or millionaires. Then life gets in the way. We forget to dream, forget to play, forget we ever wanted to be brilliant and amazing.
In my life I have been everything from a small business owner, to a massage therapist, to a stay home mom, to a tarot card reader, to a romance writer. In many ways I loved all my different choices. They each said something about my personality; they each added something to my growth as a person.
In The Artist’s Way, Stella Cameron consistently asks the reader to choose several different career paths. Name five other things you could do with your life, she urges in just about every chapter. And even the rich and famous can find their road in life curves in many different directions. Here are just a few:
Matthew McConaughey intended to become a lawyer.
Jimmy Stewart started out as an architect.
Nicole Kidman was a massage therapist in Australia (A job dear to my own heart.)
Dan Brown was a singer-songwriter and even released two CDs in the early 90’s.
Mike Rowe from the TV series, Dirty Jobs once sang with the Boston Opera. (Makes me want him more now…lolol)
Graham Chapman of Monty Python studied at the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Gene Simmons of KISS fame taught elementary school in New York’s Spanish Harlem district.
Angelina Jolie once aspired to be a funeral director. (Yes, I can see it.)
Eva Longoria studied to be a physical therapist.
Steve Martin considered being a philosophy teacher before getting into comedy.
Tom Cruise briefly attended a Franciscan seminary and aspired to become a Catholic priest.
So what interesting things have you done in your life?
A Taste of Winter
Gia Dawn
Red Masks, Book One
For the ladies of the Red Masks pleasure waits behind every door…and no one is ever who they seem to be.
When Alaina accepts an invitation to the Charleston South Carolina’s premier sex club, she has no idea the stranger who makes her scream with pleasure is her micro-managing ex-boss, Ryan. And while she could not stand his domination on the job, his domination in the bedroom takes her to whole new levels of pleasure as he forces her to submit to his every decadent demand—including a threesome with his old friend and her new employer, Zayne.
But while Ryan knows Alaina’s true identity, she remains unaware of his deception until the masks come off and she is faced with a decision. Can she continue to submit to his will now she knows who he really is? And when he proposes a lifetime contract, can Alaina sign on the dotted line?
A Romantica® contemporary ménage erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Ryan Marquis stared in displeasure as his cell phone rang. He had a strict policy of no business between the hours of six on Saturday night, and noon Sunday, that brief block of time set aside every week to satisfy his need for rest and relaxation—along with some decadent indulgence when the need arose.
He frowned as the phone rang again, noting it was now three minutes after the hour, before picking it up to see who dared break into his personal time, his frown twisting into a semi-smile as he noted the number and answered.
“Bon nuit, mon cher,” came a husky voice across the line. “I have someone for you tonight. Someone you have been waiting for.”
His heart pounded in uncharacteristic excitement, his fingers tightening around the phone, a weakness he stifled in an instant. But his body proved a traitor to his discipline, every nerve buzzing, every muscle tightening in anticipation as thoughts of the night ahead wove dark and dangerous pleasures through his mind.
Was it her? Finally, after all this time, had she accepted his invitation?
Alaina Winter.
He’d been unduly fascinated with the frosty blonde ever since he’d hired her two years before. Not only was her work exceptional, the woman had an unnatural ability to match him on a professional level, her wall of politeness so thick she’d refused to break no matter what he’d thrown at her. And every time he heard her precise Southern voice across the phone, agreeing to his every ridiculous demand without a single hesitation, he became more and more obsessed with finding a way to make the ice queen melt.
It wasn’t a thing he was proud of in any manner. He deplored his need to feel her tremble in his arms, hear her cries of pleasure as he stroked his teeth across her skin…drive his flesh so far between her legs she’d beg him to stop while he kept her bound and still beneath him. His need had grown so distracting he’d finally taken action. He’d petitioned Madame Manette Brisson, the proprietor of the Red Mask Society, to issue Miss Winter an invitation to come and play—an invitation she’d ignored for so long he thought she would never send a reply.
So what had fueled her sudden acceptance? The lady was up to something, he understood in a heartbeat, remembering their last conversation. And whatever she was up to, he planned to enjoy the ride.
“Monsieur Marquis? If you are unavailable, I will find someone else to keep the lady occupied.” The woman on the other end of the line sniffed, her voice chill with censure.
“Not if you value your life,” he finally answered, his own voice throaty with rising excitement.
“Then I expect you here at eight o’clock sharp. Don’t disappoint either of us by your absence.”
Ryan’s laughter rumbled from his throat. “I never disappoint, Madame. Is my room cleaned and ready?”
“Mais certainment. Do you have any special requests for the evening?”
This time he didn’t bother to try and control the surge of want that throbbed between his legs, spreading them to make room for his growing erection, his hand dropping to rest on the lengthening mass of flesh.
What instruments did he need to make her scream in pleasure?
“Leather,” he answered with grunt of satisfaction. “Black. New. Enough to bind her to my will.”
“I will see it done,” said the woman in a whisper before the line went dead.
Lime green, my ass, he thought with uncharacteristic delight as he pocketed his phone and headed home, the taste of winter already tantalizing on his tongue.
Here is a quick history of my story as a writer:
After several deaths in the family and a health scare of my own, I quit writing back in 2008 after releasing several titles with Samhain Publishing. When my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes–young adult onset–in May of this year, I did what any good mother would. Cried for several days and then went to check out the Brenda Novak Auction where I bid on, and won, a three chapter critique from Ellora’s Cave!! I pitched to the lovely Julie Naughton at the Readers and Writers weekend sponsored by Lori Foster and Duffy Brown in June, and voila, the Red Masks Series was born. The first in the series, A Taste of Winter, will be releasing November 8 2013.
November 16, 2013
Flashback and Contest: Tarzan & Janine
Saturday’s here! And I’m letting myself slack off a bit today. Sure, I’ll write my NaNo words, but I’m not going to do much more. I’m definitely not going to sit in front of the computer all day. A certain 9-year-old wants a special day, which to her mind includes popcorn, a movie, and me spending the night. Should be fun!
I’m featuring Tarzan & Janine today. It’s a very funny story, co-written by my sister, Elle James, and myself. We’d written the first draft eons ago, but real life intruded and we let it languish. Our mother insisted we resurrect it. She’d been waiting years for us to finish the darn thing. 
Hope you enjoy the excerpt!
I’ll post the winner of today’s contest Monday morning!
Post a comment and you’ll be entered to win a free download of this book!
See what happens when a secret billionaire and an aspiring actress get a little wild in Texas!
A man with a soft spot for women…
Closet Texas millionaire, Tanner Peschke has three months to prove he can make a profit at the family used car dealership or he will lose his job, disappoint his father and break his promise to his dying mother. The root of his problem is women. He can’t resist them—any of them. All it takes is the scent of delicate perfume or a misty-eyed gaze from an elderly woman with a sob story, and he becomes silly putty in the hands of his feminine customers. Until, with a stroke of luck and a buck of a mechanical bull, he hires Janine Davis to star with him in the dealership’s live TV ads.
A woman who won’t let a handsome cowboy get in the way of her dream…
Determined to make a name for herself, Janine needs to pay the bills between acting jobs. The offer to do a series of commercials for Peschke Motors is a chance to get her face “out there”. Recognizing a player when she sees one, Janine agrees to co-star with her handsome employer fully intending to keep their relationship strictly professional. First break she gets, she’s heading to Hollywood.
Their jungle-themed commercials take a crazy twist, and Tanner finds himself falling…from a sales banner while chasing a monkey. But more importantly, he’s falling for Janine. She’s just the one woman to tame this cowboy’s wild heart. Convincing her to stay with him might be harder than catching a mischievous monkey.
After the first commercial Tanner and Janine shoot, they’re local a sensation. Customers and news crews crowd the car showroom, and Barbara Stockton, a cougar who reneged on a deal with Tanner and fired Janine shows up just when Tanner thinks he’s got things under control…
Barbara let go of Tanner’s arm, a smile curling her blood-red lips. “I want to offer her a job.”
Tanner’s stomach completed a full gainer and he blurted out, “I’m sorry, but she’s working for me through the summer.”
The beauty maven’s professionally arched brows rose. “Do you have a contract?”
“Well, it’s under revision…” Revision, hell. Tanner hadn’t even considered a contract. He’d never hired an actress before Janine. What kind of contract did actresses need?
Barbara’s fingernail scraped across Tanner’s shoulder in a long, slow slide. Her lips puffed out all sultry-like, reminding Tanner of when he’d been inside her hotel suite being sized up as the next meat course on her table. “I feel badly about firing her last weekend, and I want to make it up to her.”
Tanner stepped away from the woman, his eyes narrowing. “She’s not interested.”
“Why don’t we let her decide?” Barbara insisted.
“I promise you, Janine is not interested.” Tanner held back his anger and panic. Janine was turning out to be a gold mine, and he didn’t want anyone else staking a claim on her…talents.
“I’m not interested in what?” The object of his panic walked up behind him with the monkey in her arms.
“In coming back to work for me,” Barbara announced, a sweet-as-sugar smile on her lips.
“Oh, I’m not interested, am I?” Janine’s voice dipped dangerously low.
Tanner recognized the first signs of the thundercloud building in Janine’s eyes. “I thought after the way you were treated last weekend I could safely say you weren’t interested in working for Mrs. Stockton again.”
“And you think I like working with a nasty monkey any better?” She glanced down at the animal wrapped around her arm. “No offense, Spunky.”
“I can guarantee we never use monkeys in any advertising for Barbara Stockton Beauty Secrets,” Barbara interjected.
“But Janine,” Tanner cajoled, “…the monkey’s not so bad. He made the commercial last night.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Tanner wished he could take them back, but knew they’d come with her footprints.
“So the monkey was the commercial, was he?” Gathering the little leash, she peeled the monkey from her arm and handed him to Tanner. “Here, you like him so much—you hold him.” To the monkey, she said, “Sorry, Spunky. It’s been fun.”
“Now Janine, be reasonable.”
Spunky obviously didn’t like the change either, because he scrambled from Tanner’s arms to his shoulders and knocked away his cowboy hat. Giving an ear-piercing scream, the little monkey bounced on his back legs while keeping a death grip in Tanner’s hair.
Pain attacked his skull with each of Spunky’s bounces. Desperate, Tanner reached out his empty hand. “Honey, you know I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Take back the monkey, please. He likes you better.”
“No way. He was your idea—you deal with him.” The blonde turned to Barbara. “What kind of terms are you offering me?”
“Janine, you can’t be serious.” Tanner hurried to her side, while the monkey pounded the top of his head like a bongo drum. “Hey, cut that out, Spunky. Tommy, where the hell are you?”
Ignoring his predicament, Janine continued her conversation with Barbara. “I’d want double the salary with a signed contract and a specified appearance schedule.”
“You’ve got it,” Barbara agreed immediately.
“Janine…” Tanner stepped between the two women, hoping to stop the handshake that would seal the deal.
The sudden movement startled Spunky, and he leapt onto Barbara’s head, then across to a light pole behind the startled woman.
“Oh no, Spunky!” Janine yelled, the handshake forgotten as she rushed to pole. “The handler said not to let him go. He’s almost impossible to catch.”
Tanner glanced up at the monkey scaling the light pole, silently thanking the critter for his perfect timing. “That’s okay, he’ll come down sooner or later.”
“You don’t understand. If he gets up into the electrical lines, he’ll be killed.” Janine glanced up the pole at the monkey, then back to Tanner, her big, blue, beautiful eyes, clouded with worry. “Please, get him down, Tanner.”
Tanner’s chest tightened. How could he walk away from such a heartfelt plea? Afraid her next step would be to turn on the waterworks, Tanner heaved a sigh and looked up the pole at the delighted monkey.
The creature had climbed up to perch on the banner strung from the pole to the top of the showroom building, advertising the “Monkey Off Your Back” sale. The irony did not escape the media, and they rushed outside to film the little monkey’s antics.
Scotty walked up behind Tanner. “You weren’t supposed to let go of the monkey,” he said, his tone dry.
“I know that, damn it. Get maintenance on the radio and have them bring me a ladder, ASAP.”
Scott clicked the button on his walkie-talkie. A maintenance truck arrived in minutes with the requested ladder.
Reassuring himself that everything was going to be all right, Tanner reminded himself the monkey wouldn’t be up there if not for his negligence. The least he could do was go get the little guy before he got injured. It didn’t hurt a bit that reporters kept clicking cameras all around as well. This whole new fiasco was yet another opportunity to get more airtime.
When the maintenance man set the ladder in place, Tanner made the climb himself. He figured the effort wouldn’t be much to snag the monkey as long as the ladder was tall enough—which it was…just. Standing on the top rung, his arm hugging the round pole, he grabbed for the monkey.
Spunky moved a little farther out on the banner.
“Come here, Spunky,” he said, doing his utmost to keep his irritation with the miniature primate out of his voice. “I have a nice banana waiting for you at the bottom if you’ll just come here.”
Spunky moved out a little more and eyed the far end of the banner.
If he wanted to grab the monkey, Tanner knew it was now or never. Failure was not an option with Janine, his dad, and the entire state of Texas watching. He had to go for the monkey.
Making a jabbing stretch, Tanner grabbed for the monkey, but Spunky was quicker and skittered away across the top of the banner. Tanner in mid-reach, his fingers clawing the air, felt the ladder listing to the right. Letting out a startled yelp, he grabbed for the banner and hung tight as the ladder rocked once, then fell crashing to the ground.
Just as he was congratulating himself on his luck that the banner was strong enough to hold his weight, the monkey swung out to join him.
“You sorry little…”
A renting sound ripped through the air, announcing the demise of the banner and the loss of Tanner’s precarious perch. The end attached to the light pole tore free, carrying Tanner in a mad swing toward the showroom steps. Tanner yelled long and loud as he swung through the air toward certain pain. Putting out his feet, he managed to break his crash, absorbing the force of the fall with bent knees.
Tanner heard an excited shriek and stared upwards just as the monkey slid down the ruined banner and landed in his arms.
“Sweet Jesus! Did you see that Beans?” Joe’s voice rose above the stunned silence.
One person in the crowd clapped, another joined him, then another, until the applause grew louder, joined by cheers from the people gathering around the showroom steps.
Three feet away, Janine stood tall in her jungle outfit, one hand planted on a hip, a grin stretched across her face. Raising her voice enough to carry over the noise from the crowd, she shouted, “Way to go, Tarzan.”
November 15, 2013
Kristine Mason: Killer Motivation
Anyone who knows me knows I love my villains. There’s something liberating about writing a character so twisted, they keep me up late into the night either writing or lying in bed, wide awake because I’ve managed to disturb myself. That’s not to say I don’t love my heroes and heroines, I do. I love developing their story, watching them grow and fall in love. But, for me, bad guys are so much fun to write! As for motivating those bad guys…talk about allowing the imagination to soar.
So what motivates a villain? If you’re an avid suspense/thriller/mystery reader, I’m sure you’ve read books that have some pretty creepy bad guys in them. That bad guy’s actions might creep you out, but at the same time, have you ever closed the book and wondered, “what was the point?” Chances are, the villain wasn’t motivated enough. Chances are, he/she wasn’t developed enough and you were left not understanding why the villain would go to the extreme they did in the story. I don’t ever want a reader to finish reading my books and be left wondering what’s the point. Ever. Over the years, between reading and sharpening my writing skills, I’ve learned to constantly question why. Why did my villain do that or say this or kill the guy down the street?
In my book, Shadow of Danger (Book 1 CORE Shadow Trilogy), I have two men killing together. I knew I wanted this premise and loved the idea of an evil duo. But why would two men kill together? I had to dig deep and basically profile my villains. And although important, I’m not talking about just their ages, occupations and physical descriptions. I had to pick their brains, get inside their heads and discover what it was about them that made them join forces and do very bad things. I had to get a little twisted with this duo, but I think it made for a killer ending (haha).
In Shadow of Perception (Book 2 CORE Shadow Trilogy), I loved, loved, loved writing my villain, Michael Morrison. In all of my suspense novels I do my best to keep you guessing as to “who did it” and despite that I tell you upfront Michael is a killer, there is more to this story. The key to this book is not only watching the hero and heroine trying to figure out what the reader already knows—the bad guy—but it’s also about the reader trying to pull pieces together to discover the link and identity of a secondary character. This secondary character will leave you guessing and hopefully have you reading with the lights on.
Let’s go back to Michael. His motivation was easy: revenge. But I did my best to take that revenge to a new level. I took an ordinary man, put him in an extraordinary position, then I got into his head. As a mother of four, I know I would do anything to protect my kids. Would I go to the extreme Michael went to? Would I kill for my children? Tough questions and ones I wouldn’t want to be forced to honestly answer. But this is fiction we’re discussing. Still. How does an ordinary man become a killer? How extreme were the circumstances that pushed him to the edge, taking him from an average Joe to a serial killer?
In Shadow of Vengeance (Book 3 CORE Shadow Trilogy), I had the storyline created, knew who my hero and heroine were (they’d both been introduced in past books), the setting and a basic idea about the villain. In this story, young men pledging fraternities are being kidnapped during Hell Week and are never seen again. Pretty extreme, especially because this has been going on for twenty years—at the same university. Okay, so I had to really get creative. I had to climb inside the head of my killer and come up with why. Why kidnap pledges during Hell Week? What was it about this villain that drove him to such an extreme? Had something happened to him that changed him for the worse?
I’m not suggesting that that the psychotic sociopath isn’t fun to read. But for me, I want that sociopath motivated. As I’m reading, I want to get in his head and pick his brain. Leaving a trail of bodies is all well and fine, but why is he leaving a trail of bodies in the first place? With proper, killer motivation, well-developed villains will go from one-dimensional to three-dimensional and become more believable and realistic. Now there’s a scary thought!
SHADOW OF VENGEANCE (Book 3 CORE Shadow Trilogy)
Welcome to Hell Week. You have seven days to find him…
At Wexman University, male students will do anything to get into a top fraternity. They’ll prove their worth during Hell Week by participating in various physical, psychological and even juvenile pranks. But those shenanigans aren’t so funny when pledges start disappearing. What kind of evil has stalked this small Michigan university for the past two decades? Theories range from obscene scientific experiments to grotesque satanic killings…but they’re all wrong. The murdered boys serve a single purpose…the ultimate revenge.
Rachel Davis, forensic computer analyst for the private investigation agency CORE, has been itching to leave her desk behind and work in the field. When her brother Sean, a student at Wexman, is found beaten and his roommate kidnapped during Hell Week, she gets her chance. Only her boss insists former U.S. Secret Service Agent, Owen Malcolm, helps her with the investigation. Owen is the last person she wants on this assignment. She’d been secretly half in love with him for over four years, until the night he’d crushed her ego and destroyed her hopes for any kind of future with him.
For his own reasons, Owen refuses to risk becoming involved with a coworker. Now that he and Rachel are stuck working side-by-side to solve this perverse investigation, he’s having a hard time fighting his attraction to her…an attraction he’s tried to deny from the moment they met. But time is ticking. They have seven days to find the missing pledge and catch a killer. Seven days before the body count rises and the pledge ends up another victim of Hell Week.
KRISTINE MASON BIO
I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion, and found a career I love.
When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.
You can email me at authorkristinemason@gmail.com, visit my website www.kristinemason.net, or find me on Facebook and Twitter!
LINKS:
FACE BOOK: http://www.facebook.com/kristine.mason.1029
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KristineMason7
WEBSITE: www.kristinemason.net
November 14, 2013
What’s coming?
A quick reminder!
The huge multi-author rafflecopter contest may be over, however, the blog tour rafflecopter contest is still on! Win an Amazon gift card or free books. All you have to do is drop by our tour hosts’ websites to enter! Click on the pretty picture to the left to find the schedule of events!
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Uniform Desires is starting to fall in the ranking on Amazon. 
We’re still in the hundreds (Thanks so much!), but those double digits were awfully gratifying to see. I hope everyone who planned on getting a copy already has, because we could sure use your support THIS WEEK with sales. And the collection is an awesome deal. Well worth your time. And if you’ve read it, please review it. Tell another reader why they should take the time to purchase and read it. Folks do pay attention to those reviews.
Want to look ahead so you can budget for more books? My release schedule is always a fluid thing. Things pop up I don’t expect, but I think these are pretty firm…
12/3/13 — Texas Surrender (Ready for Pre-order!) This is a print book, published by Samhain, and it contains four Lone Star Lovers stories! So if you’ve been waiting for the paper version, here it is!
12/??/13— Big Brass Buckle This one’s a revised re-release of a short story I published a while ago entitled simply “Cowboy.” If you’ve never read my sexy little story, this will be your chance.
12/10/13— Crescent Moon (Ready for Pre-order!) This story was issued as a serial previously, but now it’s been re-edited and packaged as a novel, both in print and eBook version. If you haven’t read it, it’s kick-ass folks. Even if I do say so myself. Who doesn’t love mummies and demons and heroes with sugar-cane-sweet Cajun voices?
02/25/14— Reined In Ready for the next Lone Star Lovers book? This sexy cowboy menage is set to hit in February! As soon as I have more details, I’ll be sure to share.
05/06/14 — Her Only Desire (Ready for Pre-Order!) This will be the next big campaign. A full-length novel published by Forever (Grand Central), set in the Lousiana bayous and featuring a group of black ops guys deep into BDSM. Suspense, mystery, plenty of naughty pleasure. You are going to want this one! Pinkie swear!
5/20/14 — Once is Never Enough (Delta Heat, book #5) You’ve been waiting for Mondo’s story. And I know it won’t come soon enough, but there’s a date set in stone for ya!
06/10/14 — Cowboy Heat: Western Romance for Women (Ready for Pre-order!) This is the next Cleis collection of short stories I’ve edited. Plenty of sexy, erotic goodness!
So, that’s the lineup as I see it now. I’m sure there will be little things popping up unexpectedly, little surprises for you, but be sure to mark your calendars and get those pre-orders set so you get the best deal you can.
I’m busy writing, writing, writing. I love hearing from you. Especially those notes that encourage me to write the next book in a series. I do listen and plan accordingly. If you have a hankering from something you don’t see here, let me know. 
November 13, 2013
Adele Downs: Santa to the Rescue!
New Release! SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs
–CONTEST ALERT! — Leave a comment for author Adele Downs and be automatically entered to win a firefighter themed Christmas ornament for the holidays. USA and Canada mailing addresses please. Follow Adele’s blog tour for multiple chances to win. Weekly winners announced on Adele’s blog Saturdays through December. http://adeledowns.wordpress.com
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SANTA TO THE RESCUE firefighter hero Jamey Tucker and heroine Heather Longhurst, a pediatric nurse, mix one of Heather’s favorite adult beverages for their friends during a holiday party. The firefighters from Appleton Fire Station and the nursing staff from County Hospital mingle at Heather’s place. While the guys take their tequila with lime, the women enjoy something on the sweeter side. Here’s the recipe that gave their party that little something extra. Enjoy! Courtesy of Sauza® Tequila. Posted with permission.
Chocolate Vanilla Margarita Sips:
Serves 12
12 parts of Sauza® Blue Tequila
9 parts of Chocolate Liquor
6 parts of Chocolate Sauce or Syrup
2 cups ice
For the Vanilla Whipped Cream:
1 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tbsp. Powdered Sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
If you want to get fancy:
Chocolate block (for shaving on top)
To Make:
Beat together the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Meanwhile, prepare your mini cordial or shot glasses by dipping the lip in 1 tbsp. of chocolate sauce. Combine tequila, chocolate liquor, chocolate sauce and ice in a shaker filled with ice. To serve these mini-sips, spoon 1 tablespoon whipped cream into each glass. Top with 2 parts of chilled chocolate-tequila. Serve immediately and toast to your good health! Salud!
For more Sauza® Tequila recipes, visit http://us.sauzatequila.com/
SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs
A sweet contemporary romance novella
From Entangled Publishing
Firefighter Jamey Tucker knows three things in life to be true: An honorable man doesn’t go back on his word, never hurts a woman, and lasting love isn’t a myth. But with his recent move to a new job at the Appleton Fire station, the long hours don’t offer hope of finding the love he’s looking for.
When Jamey meets beautiful pediatric nurse Heather Longhurst after hearing her sing Santa Baby in a supermarket aisle, he offers her a promise he discovers he can’t keep. Heather has been betrayed by men in the past, making it hard for Jamey to gain her trust. Determined to find a way to win her heart, Jamey uses firefighter engine-uity and Heather’s favorite song to prove he’s got Christmas spirit she can believe in all year.
Excerpt:
Jamey Tucker unfastened his helmet, lifted his facemask and tugged off his fire retardant gloves before gulping a half liter of water. He could almost hear the liquid sizzle against his throat, dousing the heat, much like the smoldering embers behind him turned to sodden ash.
He held out the cup to the volunteer rescue worker manning the drinking water. “More.” That simple word was as much as he could manage. After chugging down a refill, moisture returned to his mouth and tongue. He licked his lips and released a satisfied sigh. All he needed was a hot shower and some chow to feel human again. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Merry Christmas, Jamey.”
“Yeah. You too.” He stank like a chimney after fighting a fire ‘till dawn. Dumb kids and their vacant warehouse Rave had caused their team hours of grief and gut wrenching work. Luckily, no one died. The last thing on his mind then or now had been Christmas.
Only .99! — Amazon Link
Only .99! — B&N Nook Book Link
About Adele Downs:
Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.
Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), the trade journal of Romance Writers of America, and has presented workshops for writers. When she isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach.
Visit Adele Downs at http://adeledowns.wordpress.com
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