Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 462
February 23, 2013
Snippet Saturday: Author’s Choice
I’m feelin’ lazy today. Like I don’t want to spend the day tappin’ the keyboard, so maybe I’ll be here, but maybe I’ll watch all those Longmire episodes I have TIVO’d. While I’m deciding whether to be a grownup or to blow the day off, you can get busy reading a naughty spippet. Be sure to comment! Then go check out all the other author who are playing today! Today’s theme is whatever the hell the author wants it to be!
If you post a comment today, you’ll be entered to win
a free download of this book!
“With amazing suspense, and hot, dominant lovin’ this cowboy and his high school sweetheart take the reader on an amazing emotional journey. ” ~5/5 Books, Reviews by Molly
“Devlin has done it again! I pretty much gobble up anything she writes and “Laying Down the Law” is another hit… ” ~The Brunette Librarian
“I LOVED it! Now, in fairness, it is my kind of book – Sexy heroic intelligent somewhat domineering man (preferably a cowboy) rescues a sexy, smart and sassy heroine… and she rescues him right back! How can you beat that? And Ms.Delilah is the Queen of Smart and Sexy…a win-win-win!” ~SnifferWalk
Seeking sanctuary could be the hottest mistake she ever made.
The TripleHorn Brand, Book 1
A lifetime ago, Zuri Prescott kicked the dirt off her boots and ditched her small-time small town for the glam city life—and lived to regret it. When she’s framed for a bank job, she lights out for home, seeking refuge with her old high school sweetheart while she figures out her next steps. Only she discovers that the boy she left behind is the last man she should trust.
Sheriff Colt Triplehorn knows trouble when he sees it, especially when it comes in the form of a familiar trespasser, caught naked between an angry bull and her underwear. Sure she’s up to her usual no good, he grants her sanctuary at his ranch—the better to keep an eye on her, and purge her from his system once and for all.
Reconnection is sweet and hot, but the heat can’t hide the truth. When Colt inevitably finds out what Zuri’s running from, it’s too late to put the fire out, and he’s got a career-compromising choice on his hands. Follow the letter of the law, or follow his heart.
Product Warnings: When a sheriff captures the girl who got away, expect revenge so hot it leaves brands on two lonely hearts…
Zuri breathed, taking in his crisp male scent. No man had ever smelled like that. Of horse and sage and his own male musk. Wearing his clothes had cloaked her in it, even freshly laundered. When she was surrounded with that smell, she couldn’t help but remember all the times they’d been like this, waking in the dawn, weak morning sun casting rays to chase away the shadows that made their loving something private and secretive. Something she could handle because he couldn’t see every expression flitting across her face.
Mornings revealed, inspiring fresh passion as well as fear. She worried over how she looked. Could he see the wrinkles beside her eyes? Would he think she’d grown old? Did he compare her to other women, more generously endowed women?
But mostly, she feared the honesty light revealed. With him, now, she couldn’t put on a careless face. He’d see how much every little caress meant, how wild he made her.
He came up on an elbow. Morning was more than kind to the man. Dark stubble on his jaw and chin added a dash of danger to his appearance. His large hand cupped her small breast and his callused thumb rasped the tip.
She bit her lip against a moan. Lazy heat burned between her legs. She angled toward him, unable to resist the challenge in his gleaming eyes. Reaching beneath the covers, she cupped his erection in her palm. “Have to say, Sheriff Triplehorn, you do know how to get a lady’s attention.”
His cock surged against her hand, and she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, loving the steamy heat and the soft satin feel of the skin surrounding his steely hardness. She gave him a gentle stroke, strumming her fingers over his length.
A deep growl rumbled through his chest, and he slipped the hand on her breast around her hip to cup a buttock. “Don’t tease if you don’t mean to do something about it. I’m in a world of hurt here, Zuri.”
“And it’s my fault? All I was doin’ was sleepin’.”
“You breathed, baby. That’s all it takes.”
This time when he leaned in to kiss her, she didn’t demur. Her mouth opened, her tongue slipped out to lick his bottom lip, then slid inside. The moist warmth she found fanned the flames building in her core. “Colt?” she whispered against his mouth.
“Anything, baby. Say it.”
“Fuck me. Jesus, fuck me hard.”
Abruptly, he rolled, covering her chest to toes, his hard cock trapped against her belly. She would have opened her legs, welcomed him inside, but his knees settled at either side of her and kept her closed.
“That’s not how this works,” she said, angling her head to trace the edge of his strong, square jaw with her tongue.
His stormy-gray eyes glinted before he scooted down her body, moving quickly but not missing a spot as he licked and nipped his way down to her breasts.
And as she had learned long ago, her breasts might be small, but they contained all the necessary nerve endings. Already engorged, the hard points tingled as his tongue flicked, shooting sparks south to warm her core and release a wash of arousal that dampened her sex.
She wound her fingers tightly in his hair and pulled and scratched while shivers shuddered through her. Her head thrashed, her pelvis bucked.
When he bit her nipple, she screamed, creaming in an instant. “Colt, Colt…”
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Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors’ blogs:
Lauren Dane
Shiloh Walker
Mari Carr
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
Leah Braemel
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Felicity Heaton
Caris Roane
Myla Jackson
HelenKay Dimon
February 22, 2013
Guest Blogger: Jackie Ashenden (Contest)
I’ve been writing since I was twelve years old and most of my friends and family knew I loved to write. But when I finally “came out” that I was writing romance and that I intended to try getting published as a romance author, one of the first things questions they asked was “but are you ever going to write anything else?”
And the answer to that is no, I probably won’t.
Romance is what I love to write. Human relationships are the glue that holds society together and I’m fascinated by them, especially romantic relationships. Love is an awesome thing and it has a lot of power, and exploring the pain and heartache and joy that goes along with falling in love is amazing.
Let’s face it. Real life can suck so hard sometimes. And part of what I adore most about being a writer is the fact that I can take two broken people who have had bad things happen to them, and give them the happy ending they deserve. Because there really aren’t enough happy endings in this world.
I guess this is why I find writing romance an honour and a privilege. It’s like I’m putting a little more love out there in the world. Giving people a little more of the happy, a little more of the optimism. The sense that bad things can happen but you’ll be okay and that happiness is possible. In fact, it’s not only possible but necessary and deserved.
Romance isn’t fluff and nonsense and not real literature. It’s powerful and amazing. Yes, sometimes the characters are larger than life and sometimes so are the situations, but the heart of every great romance novel deals with something everyone single person in the whole world can relate to – we all want love and a happy ending (even though we won’t admit it).
So yeah, I’m pretty happy with writing romance thank you very much. And I’m thoroughly stoked that my little contribution to world happiness is now out in the world!
What about you guys? What is it about reading romance that you love? Do you shout about it or is it a guilty pleasure? And what’s your favourite kind to read? (Jackie will give away a download of this book to one lucky commenter! ~DD)
When you’ve been burned, the heat of the moment is the scariest place to be.
Six months after a sexual assault, Anna Jameson has decided enough is enough. She’s sick of being a victim, of letting the experience have power over her. She wants her fear of physical intimacy gone, as in now.
In the quest to reclaim her sexuality, she needs a man. A man she trusts absolutely. A man like her best friend, Finn.
Finn Shaw is all about taking risks. He does it every week on his extreme sports TV show. But there’s one boundary he’s never pushed, and that’s his friendship with Anna. When his hyper-intellectual family kicked him to the curb over his dyslexia, Anna stuck by him.
Her request to become friends with benefits throws him for a loop. He can’t deny her anything, but this is a whole different ball game. Once they’re skin to skin, there will be no hiding the fact that he’s loved her for years.
When their chemistry burns out of control, Finn decides he’s the one who’s had enough. It’s time to break out of the friend box—and show Anna that risking her heart is a risk well worth taking. Even if it costs him her friendship.
Warning: This book contains a strong-willed heroine who knows what she wants, a daredevil hero intent on showing her how much more she could have, sexy love scenes that’ll melt your heart, and a grand gesture you’ll need a tissue for.
February 21, 2013
Final Lineup of Stories for SEX OBJECTS!
Following is the final list of the stories that will appear in Sex Objects: Erotic Romance for Women, scheduled for release by Cleis Press on August 13, 2013. That’s the final title for that anthology of super alpha male stories. The order of the stories may change. Congratulations, authors!
As You Were – Alice Janell
Five Alarm Fire – Sabrina York
Renegade – Brindle Chase
Painted – Leah Ridgewood
Besieged – Elle James
Pumping Iron – Christine d’Abo
Diving Deep – Jenny Lyn
Heated Negotiations – Macy Man
Once Upon a Time in Mukdahan – Sidney Bristol
Big Guns – Michael Bracken
Natural Appetites – Adele Dubois
SEAL Destiny – Sharon Hamilton
Mountain Man – Tamsin Flowers
The Star – Tahira Iqbal
Pitch Black – Delilah Devlin
Guest Blogger: Meg Benjamin
For the past four or five years I’ve been writing stories about Konigsburg, Texas. It’s a Hill Country town with lots of hunky guys and strong women. It’s also imaginary, which makes it really easy to write about. Need a winery outside town? No problem. Need a hideout for some inept bad guys? Got it. Towns you invent can provide you with everything you need just when you need it. All you have to do is remember what you called that street the last time you had the heroine walk up it.
But when I decided to do a trilogy of stories about a family of mediums, I didn’t want to set them in Konigsburg for a lot of reasons. I wanted someplace real and someplace spooky. Someplace you could actually visit if you were curious, and a place you could believe harbored a ghost or two. I settled for San Antonio’s King William District, one of the town’s oldest surviving neighborhoods. And there went all the convenience of having my very own town to play with.
You see, when you’re dealing with a real place, you have to respect the real details. For example, I couldn’t make up street names anymore. King William has streets and they have names. If I wanted my characters to walk along the river I had to specify that they were walking along Washington and not, say, Riverside. And they had to cross the river over real bridges, not something I concocted for the purpose of getting them over the water (fortunately for me, King William has the Johnson Street Footbridge—a really cool way of getting across the San Antonio River).
Moreover, I needed to be true to the way King William actually looks, its mixture of Victorian limestone mansions and smaller, wood frame houses from the last century. This wasn’t hard when I lived in San Antonio—all I had to do was take a drive through the District to get a feel for it. But now I live in Colorado, and reminding myself about what the District looks like required finding photos on-line of the things I needed to see (for a taste of King William, you can check out my Pinterest board).
Fortunately for me, King William is a full service location. Along with the Victorian mansions, perfect for ghostly visitations, it also has the Blue Star Arts District with its cafes and galleries and the Southtown district with its boutiques and funky clubs. And I was able to create a few things without doing too much damage to reality. Several of my characters do some research at the King William Historical Society, for example, an organization that exists only in my imagination.
In the end, I enjoyed my stay in King William a lot. I hope you’ll stop by and visit sometime, or at least visit my family of mediums.
Here’s the blurb for Medium Well:
Love At Second Sight
Real estate agent Danny Ramos has always had a knack for selling homes, but when his boss saddles him with a neglected carriage house, Danny discovers that his abilities are more than simple intuition…
On his first visit to the house, Danny is confronted with visions of a violent murder. His assistant, Biddy Gunter, doesn’t seem affected, and Danny starts to think he’s going crazy—until he gets a visit from his mother, who suggests that Danny’s uncanny talent to sell old houses may stem from his family inheritance: psychic empathy.
When Biddy reveals to Danny her own strange dream about the carriage house ghosts, they team up to investigate and discover both the house’s dark history and their own unexpected attraction. But as the hauntings turn from unsettling to downright dangerous, Danny and Biddy need to figure out how to rid the house of its ghostly inhabitants, before their budding romance meets an untimely end…
Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Read an Excerpt.
February 20, 2013
Guest Blogger: Caris Roane
Thanks, Delilah, for having me here today! I write a sexy paranormal romance series called Guardians of Ascension featuring winged warrior vampires. You heard it right: vampires with wings! I’ve gotten more questions about this choice and my fallback position is the whole bat-vampire thing. I decided to expand the concept and create an epic, multi-dimensional world engaged in a war that has raged two millennia. Humans who experience a sudden onset of preternatural power go through a process of ‘ascension’ which turns a human into a vampire. Of course, my stories feature the famous Warriors of the Blood who sport massive wings when they battle the enemy in the air. And of course each of the warriors ends up knocked flat by love. Of course.
I know, I know. Far-fetched, but I’ve had more fun writing this series. Here’s a sampling from the first novel, ASCENSION, about wing-release which will give you an idea where I went with this outrageous concept.
Kerrick drew in a deep breath and felt the familiar vibration through the muscles of his back, the sweet thrum, which preceded the powering of his wings through his wing-locks. He let them fly. He let them extend to their full height and breadth. He stretched them and held them at the farthest reaches of full-mount until his head swirled with endorphins and a fighting sheen of sweat flowed over the entire surface of his skin. He wanted Greaves reminded of the extent of his powers, that he wasn’t an ordinary warrior, and that if he wanted to go head-to-head, Kerrick was goddamn ready, right here, right now, this place, this time. Bring-it-the-fuck-on…
I don’t hold a lot back in this series, as you can probably tell. And one of my favorite characters is the leader of Second Earth, the infamous scorpion queen known as Madame Endelle. She’s profane and has no real filters that I’ve been able to find. But beneath her hard-bitten, fashion-challenged shell resides a compassionate heart, and we grow to love her as much for her eccentricities as for her self-sacrifice.
My most recent installment of Guardians of Ascension, a novella called, THE DARKENING, features a warrior vampire with emerging dark powers and his woman, Vela, who has the capacity to take him through an intricate maze of hidden tunnels called the darkening. The couple stubbornly holds back, unwilling to give up their respective solitary lives. But the chase is on and in the end they each surrender to love.
I hope Guardians of Ascension can become a new journey for you!
You can learn more about THE DARKENING at here.
BIO:
Caris Roane aka Valerie King has published over sixty Paranormal and Regency novels and novellas. In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance. As Valerie King, she is currently releasing her gently-edited backlist and working on a Regency Historical project. As Caris Roane, she writes paranormal romance for St. Martin’s Press and also dabbles in a few self-pubbed projects. www.carisroane.com
February 19, 2013
A Question…and a Winner!
Hey there! Just popping in between guests to let you know what’s happening here. I’m busy working on two new projects, a serialized full-length novel for Montlake (same folks who published Shattered Souls) and the next Delta Heat novel (Beau’s story–sorry, ladies, Mondo’s story comes last!). I have to make some hefty daily word counts to finish, so it’s a good thing I have so many guests lined up to keep you entertained.
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Speaking of Shattered Souls, I have the first two reviews in! See what Night Owl Reviews and Romance Junkies had to say…
“An intriguing paranormal tale that combines romantic suspense with a mesmerizing tale of otherworldly beings. The vivid image of the anomalous clue in the mirror is spine-chilling and the description of the subsequent investigation is filled with unexpected developments.”
~Top Pick, Night Owl Reviews
“Delilah Devlin has created a fascinating world of magic and the mundane in SHATTERED SOULS. A woman with the skills to hunt human predators and the supernatural abilities to deal with the paranormal world all around her, Cait is a captivating contradiction of ferocity and fragility… A terrific book, SHATTERED SOULS will leave you breathless for more. Don’t miss Devlin’s latest winner, a dark, paranormal romantic suspense from Montlake.”
~4 1/2 Stars from Romance Junkies
Thanks to everyone who bought the book! I truly hope you enjoyed it, because there’s a sequel coming soon!
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I have two new winners in the “Having an Affaire de Coeur Year” Calendar Contest! Mamakk (Feb 14) and Pam Howell (Feb 18) are winners! Ladies, send me your snail mail addresses and I’ll get a package in the mail!
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Now, here’s the question…
Is there a food you don’t like that you wished you liked?
I’d love to like Gazpacho. It looks delicious, smells wonderful and is full of lovely nutrients, but I don’t like cold soup! How about you?
February 18, 2013
Guest Blogger: L.J. Garland
Debbie Gould and I have been writing together for years. Hey, we’re to the point that we finish each other sentences – which actually saves time. LOL When we decided to start a new series, Debbie suggested pararescuemen. Once we saw all the training these guys go through, we knew we’d found our team of hot, sexy heroes!
Here’s the training to become a pararescuemen or PJ:
“Pipeline” Training
After completion of six weeks of Basic Military Training, we spend the next 17 months training at the following schools:
•The PARARESCUE/Combat Control
Indoctrination Course
10 weeks, Lackland AFB, TX
•US Army Airborne Parachutist School
3 weeks, Fort Benning, GA
•US Army Combat Divers School
4 weeks, Key West, FL
•US Navy Underwater Egress Training
1 day, Pensacola NAS, FL
•US Air Force Basic Survival School
2 and a half weeks, Fairchild AFB, WA
•US Army Military Freefall Parachutist School
5 weeks, Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ
•Special Operations Combat Medic Course
22 weeks, Fort Bragg, NC
•PARARESCUE Recovery Specialist Course
20 weeks, Kirtland AFB, NM
Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spectrum Personnel Recovery (PR) to include both conventional and unconventional combat rescue operations. These Battlefield Airmen are the most highly trained and versatile Personnel Recovery specialists in the world. Pararescue is the nation’s force of choice to execute the most perilous, demanding, and extreme rescue missions anytime, anywhere across the globe. The 500+ PJs are assigned to Guardian Angel and Special Tactics Squadrons throughout the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Air Force components. They operate most often as independent teams but routinely serve alongside with other US and Allied Special Operations Forces
Mission
To rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Whether shot down or isolated behind enemy lines; surrounded, engaged, wounded, or captured by the enemy; PJs will do whatever required to deny the enemy a victory and bring our warriors home to fight another day
Capabilities
To execute the PR mission, Pararescue teams assault, secure, and dominate the rescue objective area utilizing any available DoD or Allied, air, land, or sea asset. Their qualifications and capabilities are extensive. All PJs are qualified experts in Advanced Weapons and Small Unit Tactics, Airborne and Military Free Fall, both High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) parachute operations, Combat Divers, High Angle/Confined Space Rescue operations, Small Boat/Vehicle Craft utilization, Rescue Swimmers, and Battlefield Trauma/Paramedics. All can fast rope/rappel/hoist from any vertical lift aircraft to both land and open ocean rescue objectives. All PJs can perform both static line and HALO jump operations utilizing boats, vehicles, or other equipment from any fixed wing aircraft. In addition, 1 in 12 personnel are tandem jump qualified and can HALO/HAHO both equipment and non-jump personnel into the objective area. As required, all PJs can jump in with and utilize extrication devices to remove war fighters or civilians trapped in wreckage or collapse structures. PJs also utilize the latest subsurface technology to locate and recover submerged equipment or personnel.
Recent History
Since 9/11 alone, these elite warriors have executed over 12,000 life saving, combat rescue missions. They’ve also eliminated and captured numerous enemy combatants during the execution of these missions. Additionally, because of their unique capabilities, they have been called upon to rescue over 5000 civilians worldwide during catastrophic natural disasters and other responses.
Decorations
PJs are the most highly decorated Air Force enlisted force. They’ve been awarded one Medal of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, and 105 Silver Stars.
Their motto, “These Things We Do, That Others May Live,” affirms Pararescue’s dedication and commitment to saving lives and self-sacrifice. As of January 2012, 10 pararescuemen have been killed in action and paid the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pararescue Creed ”It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, that others may live.”
In My Sights
A 1Night Stand Story
Pararescuemen Series – Book 2
Six months ago, Siobhan Cantrell’s world was changed forever by a sniper’s bullet. The incident transformed her from a secure confident woman to a recluse, afraid to leave her own home. When her friends urge her to re-enter the world of the living, they suggest Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand dating service. Nervous, she signs up and learns the company is renown for in-depth background checks and safe encounters. So, how dangerous could it be?
Sergeant Bobby Martin has witnessed Madame Eve’s magic firsthand. His teammate found true love through her service. Still a skeptic but giving in to peer pressure, the Air Force Pararescueman signs himself up. When he meets Siobhan, his doubts fly out the window—unfortunately bullets start flying in them. Determined to protect her from a sniper that won’t give up, Bobby vows to keep her safe. As their chemistry ramps up, so does the sniper’s attempts.
Can Bobby keep Siobhan alive, or will the killer catch them in his sights?
Genre: Contemporary, military romance, erotic romance, suspense/thriller
Heat level: 4
Word count – 16k
Cover art by Fantasia Frog Designs
BUY:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Sights-Night-Stand-ebook/dp/B00AP83BOE/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357781197&sr=1-2
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-inmysights-1026099-149.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/266141
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-my-sights-lj-garland/1113983526?ean=2940016105130
EXCERPT:
“Look, I’m not gonna lie to you.” He loosened his hold on her while he perused her face, settling on her mouth. “I wasn’t sure about this one-night thing to start with, but after seeing you…well, I can definitely follow through. No problem.” He shifted his attention to her face, the naked heat swirling in his baby blues causing her breath to catch. “But after what all you told me, I want you to know I get it. We can play this thing any way you want. Fast. Slow. Or I can just hold you.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms, sending delicious tingles along her skin. “Though I’ll admit, that’s not my first choice.”
She stared at him. God, he was such a gentleman. Without hesitating, she lifted onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, crushed her mouth against his, and…holy crap, what a kiss! Her pulse jumped, her head spun. A fire sparked deep inside her, and her breath caught at the passion winding through her. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting exactly, but not anything like this.
Before she melted into a puddle at his feet, she broke the kiss and gazed up at him. “Does that answer your question?”
A sexy grin curved his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
February 17, 2013
Guest Blogger: Joy Daniels
Thanks for having me on your blog Delilah! It’s always fun to have the chance to hang out and chat with new readers and future friends
Lately (okay, pretty much always), I’ve been thinking a lot about words and sex appeal and I’ve come to an interesting conclusion.
“E” is a super sexy letter.
Really, it’s true. When it comes to pure sex appeal, the other twenty-five letters are out of luck.
No, the shape doesn’t do it for me. In that category, “s” wins hands down. “S” takes the sound prize too. Hey, sibilance is sexy. (Sexy is sibilant too, which works nicely, don’t you think?)
If we’re talking about the letter that starts off the most words that are downright sensuous (another “s,” I know), “e” rises to the top.
How do I know this?
Recently, I was browsing through my favorite reference book, the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus looking for new and exciting words for my latest story, “Lights Out”, a short I wrote for the We Love New York: A Romance Anthology to Raise Funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief.
Well, I started to read through the thesaurus but quickly got sidetracked. It’s sooo easy for a word junkie like me. I mean, check out these great slang synonyms for abscond, a fantastic word in itself. Vamoose, skedaddle, clear out, make tracks, skip town, take French leave (huh?), scram … I never made it out of the “a’s.”
Instead, I turned to a list of sexy words I’ve compiled, loosely based on Annette Blair’s List of Sensual Words. There are a lot of hot ones there and every letter is represented. Yes, even the Scrabble 8- and 10-pointers: Juicy. Kinky. Quicken. X-rated. Zealous. (Zealous and quicken are also “bingos,” for those of you who care about such things. My husband does).
Scrabble aside, the words that really caught my eye all started with the letter “e”.
Allow me to explain, elucidate and expound.
Think about it. Of course, there’s erotic and its close cousin exotic. But how about these?
Eager. Earthy. Ecstatic. Effusive.
Electric. Enfolding. Enigmatic. Exposed.
Now, while I don’t recommend using all of these in one sentence, every one of them evokes some very sexy ideas.
Or maybe that’s just me.
For extra credit…
Use each of these in a sentence. More than one for a bonus. (Note: not recommended for staff meetings. Or discussions with your mechanic. Unless he’s really hot like Cole Cassidy in my debut release Revving Her Up).
Any “e” words I missed? Or some super sexy words that deserve a place on my list? Got another contender – a letter you think can topple “e” from its first-place perch?
Joy Daniels writes erotic romance because she likes to expose her characters completely – strengths, flaws and scars. Although she is from New York City (and still a loyal Yankees fan), since moving to Maryland she has developed passion for southern boys and their toys. Her debut novella, Revving Her Up features stock car racing, and she’s working on a ménage story set in Nashville. Given the opportunity to help her hometown, Joy contributed a short story, “Lights Out”, to We Love New York: A Romance Anthology to Raise Funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief. Her novella Unmasked will be included in the second volume of Coliloquy’s Entwined Erotica line. You can visit her online at www.authorjoydaniels.com.
February 16, 2013
Snippet Saturday: Sweethearts
I swear I haven’t forgotten about my naughty cowboys in Two Mule, Texas. They all seem to have a thing for threesomes, but I thought I’d let them rest a bit because a couple of the wives are expecting. In the meantime, if you haven’t read the series, Lone Star Lovers, here’s a snippet.
If you post a comment today, you’ll be entered to win
a free download of this book!
“…Put into the mix three sexy brothers who happen to be cowboys and who are hot for one lucky female? You have a sexual, erotic masterpiece!” ~5 Stars and Top Pick!, The Romance Reviews
“…Delilah Devlin just makes this type of story such an adventure as well as a hot ride… You will never go wrong with a Delilah Devlin story and you will never be disappointed.” ~5 Cherries, Whipped Cream Reviews
“Cleverly written, Breaking Leather breaks the mold when it comes to ménage stories… Highly recommend.” ~Sizzling, 4 1/2 Stars, Sensual Reads
“…The characters themselves are fantastic. All three men are alike and yet very unique. Chrissi is a strong woman and her character is flawless. Add in some wonderful support characters and you’ve got one robust set of characters and one outstanding story that shouldn’t be missed.” ~5 Hearts, The Romance Studio
One for remembrance…one for healing…and one to seal her heart forever.
Chrissi Page has tried to find one man who heats her bed the way the Kinzie brothers did one shameful night years ago. She’s failed miserably, leaving her with no choice but to bank that inner fire—and keep a lid on her inner bad girl.
She’d been weak, unable to choose between three men who appealed to her in different ways. And when they’d confronted her as a tease, anger had boiled over into a passion so wild, she’s still trying to live it down.
Since that night, Ezra, Cade and Joshua have individually sown their wild oats with pretty much the entire available female population of Two Mule, Texas. Yet nothing erases the attraction they still feel for Chrissi. And when she ends up stranded on the road near their ranch, it’s their last chance to turn their mutual obsession into an unusual proposition.
One weekend, three on one. If she can’t stand the heat, they’ll let her go on with her life. And try to find a way to live with the hole she’ll leave behind in theirs.
Warning: A girl who thinks she can’t have it all, and three brothers who set out to prove otherwise. One on one, two on one, and three on one; bondage in the wild; a bit of riding crop action. And a pickup truck load of emotion.
Chrissi Page raised her cell phone in the air, staring at the screen. No bars. Not even a hint of one skinny, green nub. “Oh, come on,” she moaned as her radiator hissed behind her. “Damn, damn, damn.”
She’d been tempted to ignore the CHECK ENGINE light when it first appeared, wanting to take the chance she could limp back into Two Mule. However, the steam seeping from under the hood had pretty much killed that hope.
Today was not the day for her car to break down. Not so far from town. Not so close to their ranch. Any minute now one of the Kinzie brothers might happen by.
They’d stop because they’d never leave a woman stranded.
They might not let her go because of their shared past.
And she didn’t know if she had the strength anymore to fight fate or her own inexplicable needs.
Macy Pettigrew, her best friend and boss, had sent her to the Dunstan house to make sure the owners had followed her suggestions to increase the house’s curb appeal. Never mind that there wasn’t a curb. Not really even a road—more of a caliche-covered goat trail that meandered up a steep hillside, rutted from runoff during recent summer storms.
Something must have happened to her car on the run up that hill. She’d heard the rocks pinging against her undercarriage but had been too busy thinking about Ms. Dunstan’s handsome neighbors. She’d been afraid she’d pass them or that they might stop in to see old Lettie Dunstan, the widow selling off her roughhewn, century-old home.
Chrissi had forced a smile on her face, looked at the potted plants the old woman had placed in pretty window boxes and admired the paint she’d used to spruce up the weathered door and window frames. The junk the old woman’s husband had accumulated, and that she hadn’t had the heart to part with after his passing, was gone from the front lawn. And lo and behold, grass was beginning to grow to fill in the brown patches where engines and tires had lain.
Macy would be pleased. They had a potential buyer. One who’d relayed an offer via email, which had checked out with the mortgage lender. Details Macy had been eager to handle herself, leaving the showings to Chrissi.
Chrissi heard a powerful engine rev. She slowly lowered her arm and glanced nervously over her shoulder. A metallic sage pickup truck pulled off the road behind her, and her stomach dropped to her toes. She’d known the moment her CHECK ENGINE light had shone that this was going to happen.
And good Lord, it had to be Ezra Kinzie. His dark gaze narrowed on her through the windshield, the intensity of it feeling like the hissing heat of a brand against her skin.
He opened his door and stepped down, slamming it with a decisive shove. Everything Ezra did was deliberate. He never wavered once a decision was made.
Long ago, he’d decided he wasn’t going to fight his brothers for her. If she wasn’t going to decide among them, then she’d have to take them all.
And, Lord help her, she had.
She’d never gotten over that night, had never been able to push it to the farthest corner of her mind when she lay down to sleep. Just the memory of it made her hot, cold, wet…
And horribly ashamed. Anyone could have seen them beneath the bleachers at the homecoming game. Gossip hadn’t followed, but that didn’t make her any less self-conscious when she strode down the sidewalk on Main Street.
Someone might know. Someone might tell. The thought of that sordid night being revealed left her feeling nauseated. Her life had been circumspect ever since, her love life nonexistent.
They’d left her scarred. Unable to move on.
Not because they’d harmed her physically, but because she hadn’t been able to shake off the terrible attraction that tempted her every single day since that fateful night.
Boots crunched on the gravel at the side of the road. The brim of Ezra’s straw cowboy hat left his ice-blue eyes in shadow.
She straightened away from her car and squared her shoulders.
“Havin’ trouble, Chrissi?”
“It just showed up,” she said under her breath, determined not to let him see how flustered she felt.
One side of his mouth quirked up. He glanced up at the sky, squinting against the bright Texas sun before leveling that devastating stare on her again.
Her belly clenched, and she fought hard not to give him any clues about how he still affected her. Just the rumble of his deep voice always made her think of crisp, cool sheets and hot, slick skin.
Her glance flicked over his body-hugging dark tee, noted his well-developed chest, the bulge of his biceps, his taut abdomen. She started to sweat. “Will you call a tow truck for me when you get home?”
A frown dug a deep crease between his dark brows. “Get in my truck, Chrissi. I’m not leavin’ you on the side of the road.”
“I’m not goin’ anywhere with you, Ezra Kinzie,” she said tightly.
A muscle rippled alongside his jaw. “I’m just offerin’ you a place to wait out of the sun. And a cool drink. Nothin’ more.”
His features were stern, his jaw rigid, but the heat blazing from his eyes mesmerized her, made her want to sway toward him. The intensity of that unblinking stare made her wish he’d take the decision right out of her hands. She’d never willingly take that first step. Her days of following his commands were over.
Chrissi swallowed hard and broke from his glance, looking down the road and praying someone else would appear over the crest of the hill. She needed rescuing from the deep emotions roiling inside her—from the temptation his large, hard frame embodied. However, only the shimmer of heat waves rose off the black tar.
A trickle of moisture dripped between her breasts, gliding along one curve—and just like that, her imagination replaced the slide of that hot little bead with the tip of his tongue. She turned away from him and dragged in a couple of deep breaths, trying to stiffen her resolve, but the only things hardening were the tips of her breasts. She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin, then turned to aim a glare at the one man who had the power to make her knees quiver.
So many memories swamped her as she stared into his handsome, rugged face. So many regrets sat like soured milk in her gut. He’d been “the one” until she’d succumbed to a dark sensual greed.
Too bad she couldn’t turn back the clock about seven years. She’d make damn sure she’d never let him take her hand and pull her into the shadows.
* * * * *
Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors’ blogs:
Lauren Dane
Shiloh Walker
Jody Wallace
TJ Michaels
Leah Braemel
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Felicity Heaton
Caris Roane
Myla Jackson
HelenKay Dimon
February 15, 2013
Guest Blogger: Sharon Hamilton (Contest!)
Well, of course, Navy’s finest: SEALs. In my book, they are retired SEALs. In writing Mortal Bite, I found my little fingers writing some new quirky characters to further the saga along. Golden Vampires, like in Book 1, Honeymoon Bite, can live in the sunlight, and they live forever. But their children are born mortal.
My legendary family, the Monteleones of Tuscany, hire dark coven vampires as their security. But dark vamps have to go to ground in the daylight, so, to add protection, they train some ex-SEALs to handle some of the daytime things. Now, can you imagine what happens when these SEALs learn about tracing and transporting? These are guys who are used to doing HALO jumps at midnight over water. Do you think they’d love to trace with a dark vamp? Heck yes. They’d be wanting to trace to go to the liquor store or the favorite burger joint.
I have a secondary character in this book who will have his own book soon: Lionel Jett. He has two brothers who live in California and help protect the Monteleone family. Lionel is about to go on a fact-finding mission. They have set up a group of ex-SEALs to join their team in the coming days. But tonight, they want to go incognito, pretending just to be a couple of randy guys.
Here’s a little excerpt of Lionel Jett and his brother, Hugh. But the ladies all call him Huge.
CONTEST NOTE: As a giveaway, one winner will get a poster-sized print of this book cover, SIGNED BY JIMMY THOMAS, or a free copy of Mortal Bite. Winner to be announced Sunday. And, if you comment on today’s blog, and then go back and comment on last Friday’s blog (CLICK ON “Friday’s blog), I will send you a set of special dog tags. So everyone has a chance to win something!
Excerpt, Mortal Bite:
Lionel was relaxed but wary as he strode down the wet streets of the little winery town. The heels of his scuffed Doc Martens pounded along the sidewalk, causing storefront glass to wobble. He made a point to go lighter, so as not to draw attention to his preternatural powers. He wanted to spend the evening without drawing undue attention, if he could.
His standard uniform was black leather jacket with the myriad of zippered pockets, his tight black Levis with more pockets, and the lace-up boots with the steel toes he wore everywhere except for a tuxedo affair. Since those only came along a couple of times a century, he still had a pair of pumps he’d bought back in the 1800’s made from pressed alligator—an illegal substance in today’s world—which were perfect and drew little attention.
PRESS was full of people tonight. The first thing that struck him was the giddy laughter coming from the bar and dark corners of the place, even though the lighting was darker than usual. It wasn’t the romantic quiet he usually found at a hook-up place. There were groups of people everywhere. Things were being said indiscreetly. Boundaries were being pushed. He was hit with glamour from all directions, indicating the dark forces were very present.
Perfect. Just what you wanted, right?
He felt his brother’s words coming from his right and he turned to find Hugh toasting him with a dark red glass of what was probably Meritage, his favorite blend of three wines, which matched his sexual tastes to a T.
That it is, brother. “You are eager tonight, Huge,” Lionel said as he took his seat in front of him and watched his brother’s features by light of the little votive candle on the shiny laminate tabletop.
“As ever.” Hugh nodded to a couple of new lovelies who had just walked into the den of sins, eyes as wide and blue-green as the ocean. Lionel knew they had no idea what was in store for them. They were expensively dressed, and obviously not aware of what a rough crowd they’d walked in on.
Hugh apologized to him, and stood, then walked over to the two mortal girls and invited them to their table. They had to crane their necks to look up into their host’s face, and then pulled a look around him to see Lionel sitting at the table. He nodded to them, and the redhead smiled and started walking right toward him. That left Hugh with the brunette, and Lionel knew that would be just fine.
The redhead’s light pink skin and fresh scent pounded a flush to Lionel’s groin area and his pants became unbearably tight. Then she touched his shoulder, balancing herself on him while she tried to sit down gracefully in spite of an impossibly short skirt and four-inch heels with laces that came to her knees. The dark shadow between her thighs made Lionel’s fangs ache, but he pressed them back up and swallowed. He’d surely bite himself if he couldn’t have her, and very soon.
But then he remembered himself and his mission. He needed to gather information about the dark hordes lounging here this evening, looking for recreation and perhaps willing to slip their guard a bit. He chuckled as the redhead removed her jacket to reveal an exquisite set of breasts that all but shouted his name, and this time his fangs dropped properly low and would not behave.
Did she see?
He send a little glam her way just as Hugh and the other girl slid past her shoulders and took a place next to each other on the bench seat across from him.
Hugh was having great fun watching him, Lionel could tell. Not that his brother hadn’t taken the time to adequately appreciate the redhead’s mammary glands.
Would be a shame to have a dark toddler suck those beautiful orbs and deform them, brother. Not that you were thinking along those lines, Hugh sent out to him.
Not possible, Huge. You know that.
No? With the powerful cum you’re going to lay inside her, who knows what could happen? I know you can see what she’d look like.
Keep your eyes on your own plate, brother, Lionel answered.
You suggested sharing…
Lionel squinted a dark glare at Hugh, who sat back, and draped his arm around the brunette. Her impossibly red lips parted and a whole new set of visions flooded Lionel’s head.
Hugh chuckled, raised his glass to his brother, and then motioned for a cocktail waitress. The redhead touched her bare thigh against Lionel’s, and through the jeans he felt the intentional caress of a mortal woman who had come to the bar to find sex. Well, he’d have to oblige, but not until his need for information was satisfied. Then he could satisfy himself with the knowledge of what she had barely covered up so with her panties. The knowledge of what it would feel like to slip in and out of her, what the taste of her blood would be as she moaned his name. He didn’t need to drink wine to get high. He’d get it from her.
The cocktail waitress went off in search of a very expensive bottle of Ravenswood Meritage, mumbling something about having to go downstairs to the cave storage to look for it. Lionel could tell Hugh had glamoured her too. Hugh had a fondness for taking his mortal conquests in wine caves and cool refrigerated private collections.
Lionel adjusted his jacket and the blue-green-eyed beauty on his right smiled as she appraised the leather and what lay underneath. “Can I help you with your jacket? You look hot.”
Her scent came to him like a blast furnace, along with the double meaning. It was good to be coveted, he thought. Nice that it happened without him having to expend an ounce of glam on her, too. Totally willing.
“Sure,” he said, adjusting his fangs before breaking a smile. She’d probably think he was trying not to smile, but he didn’t want to scare her, until it was time to do so. Just a little scare before the bite. Before the rapture of what it would feel like as he breathed into her ear, whispered incantations and took her. “But mind your hands. I have vera vera sensitive skin,” he added in a mock accent.
“Oh, I hope so,” she gushed. Her tiny pink fingers traveled quickly over his pecs, and tugged at the thick collar of the jacket, pulling it off his shoulders. He leaned forward, his face close to hers, allowing his dark hair to brush against her cheek, and felt her body shudder in response. She finished removing the heavy jacket and let it drape behind him on the chair. “Sorry, it’s very heavy, and a little too heavy for me. I’m afraid I’ve made a bit of a mess.”
You have no idea. He had practically come in his pants, but willed himself some control. He nodded, slowly perusing her chest while she watched him do it. “I don’t mind. I’m enjoying whatever your hands can do, and I can see you are skilled.”
The girl blushed. Had he glammed her? If she caught a little breath from him, it wasn’t intentional. He loved that his proximity made her tingle, blush, feel self-conscious. It’s what he loved most about mortal women. He never liked women that threw themselves at him. Her combination of subtlety and grace charmed him, and he allowed it to be so. Even fantasized she could glamour him.
Lionel broke the tension by looking over at his brother. Hugh had his tongue down the brunette’s throat and had already a hand under the table, snaking up her red knit dress. He would be no use tonight, Lionel thought. He could feel his brother sending sexual fantasies into the lady’s consciousness, and could hear her slight moan in response.
So far so good. Lionel scanned the room just before the waitress returned with the bottle of wine Hugh had selected. She frowned when Hugh didn’t acknowledge it, being otherwise occupied.
“Thank you,” Lionel said to the waitress as he pressed a one hundred dollar bill into her palm. This got her attention.
“Oh, thank you so much. Let me know if you need anything else?” Her smile was brave, but Lionel could see she fancied his brother, as most mortal women did.
Lionel removed the cork and slowly poured the wine while tipping the glass, so that the deep burgundy substance rolled back in a wave that resembled thick blood. The aroma was excellent, but he put the glass to his nose anyway the way humans did when savoring a nice bouquet. He closed his eyes as he swirled the liquid over his palate, wishing it were the feel and taste of the redhead’s lovely life force.
There will be time enough for that.
“You like?” He said to her. She had been watching his Adam’s apple, almost like a vamp female. But her scent told him she clearly wasn’t.
“Yes, I like.” She looked him straight in the eyes. He could feel her saying words, although unclear, like there was a filter between them, but part of the telepathy was working. Take me, she was saying.
“Good.” He tipped the glass to her lips. She closed her eyes and mirrored his tasting actions, swirling the liquid over her tongue. She licked her lips and coated them with the fermented elixir.
It was totally spontaneous. With her eyes still closed, he covered her mouth with his and she parted quickly and allowed him access. She sucked at his lips as he did the same. She was lovely, and just what he needed. He brought his hand to the back of her head and sifted through her long locks. She was intoxicating to him.
“More wine?” he asked as they parted and stared into each other’s eyes.
“Please.” It meant more than the wine.
“Your wish is my command.” They both smiled.
