Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 480

Guest Blogger: Voirey Linger (Contest)

Any Which Way You Like It

I’m starting this blog with a confession. I’m writing while impaired. No, not drunk or hung over, though it feels close. I’m goofy from a move which doesn’t seem to end. Three weeks, I’ve been packing and moving, then unpacking, then going back across town to do it again. Somewhere in the shuffle, the cord to my Kindle vanished, lost in the depths of an as yet undiscovered box. This of course means I can’t recharge my beloved Kinny and read. All my print books are still boxed, too. So not only am I exhausted and sore, I’m bookless.

Pity me.

Without books to read, the next best thing for me is usually writing, but with edits due, I have to settle for the not-as-fun fixing on my third angel book. I supposed fixing isn’t so bad. It gives me a chance to visit my characters again. And I do like the characters.

This book marks the first time in the series I’ve dealt strictly with a het couple… which is weirder when you know that when I started the first book, I had no plans to do anything except het. I’d never considered doing m/m in any form. I didn’t read it, didn’t write it, never had it even fleetingly cross my mind. Then boy kissed boy and suddenly I had no idea what I did and didn’t write. Calling me confused would be an understatement.

Well, that unplanned kiss opened me up to reading more than just boy meets girl. I picked up several books with m/m and what do you know, I did like it. I liked it a lot. But I didn’t fall head-first in love with m/m.

My why is pretty simple. I like men who are manly, and there is usually one partner who isn’t. By manly, I don’t mean an alphahole who is overburdened with testosterone. I mean the character comes across as a strong, purely male in thought and action. I’ve never been a fan of the effeminate guy.

When I wrote the second book, I knew going in that it would be an m/m and that both men would be on even ground in size, intelligence, and in in that elusive manliness scale. Equal partners in all ways… well, except one of them was a college professor and the other an angel on a mission from the Most High. That bit kinda blew the curve.

Even though I loved Ren and Adam, I will still say my heart is with het romance. What about you? Do you read gay romances? Do you like m/m, m/f, f/f… or a little bit of everything? What do you like or hate about them?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of Forsaking Eternity, the second book… that’s the m/m one… in the Heavenly Lovers series, now available from Ellora’s Cave. The third book in the series, Embracing Eternity, will be available this fall.

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You can find Voirey online on her website, voireylinger.com, or on Twitter as @voireylinger.

Her books can be found at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever ebooks are sold.

Excerpt from Forsaking Eternity

“Is it too bright for you? I can close the blinds if you’d like.” Adam took a stack of books from a battered chair and set them on his overfilled desk. He began shuffling papers, straightening the desk. “I like the light so I keep the blinds up most of the time. Natural light is much better for working, at least it is for me, but if you don’t like it…”

Adam stood still as a statue for a hesitant second. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

“Perhaps a little.” Ren ducked his head and smiled.

“Please, make yourself comfortable. I don’t have much time, unfortunately.”

Ren didn’t move. He couldn’t. His feet were firmly planted on those aging boards, held captive by this man, this simple human. After an eternity of living among wonders beyond this or any man’s comprehension, how was it that Adam, in all his base humanity, could fascinate him so?

“I don’t really wish to sit.” He peeked up at Adam and his gaze caught on the expression on the human’s face.

Adam slowly circled the desk once more until he stood close in front of Ren, closer than socially acceptable, closer than comfortable. Something deep in Ren’s chest responded. It pulled at him, tugged him toward Adam until he swayed.

“Why did you come, Renatus?” The words were a whisper, their speaker so close Ren could feel them ghosting over his own lips.

“I wanted to be with you, if only for a few more moments.”

Ren couldn’t say which one of them moved, or if maybe they both had. He just knew that in the next moment his jacket brushed against the tweed of Adam’s, the near-contact of their bodies so overwhelming that he could feel every fiber as they caught and clung. Adam’s breath fell hot and fast against his face. Ren’s lids grew heavy, his head tilted and he began to lean in.

Reminder–Call for Submissions: Sex Objects (hot alpha guy stories!)

With just a little over a month to go before this call for submissions closes, I thought I’d remind all you authors out there that your stories need to be told! Please pass this along to all your writer friends out there! ~DD

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Sex Objects: Hot He-Man Erotic Romance for Women

Editor: Delilah Devlin

Publisher: Cleis Press in Fall 2013

Deadline: October 1, 2012

SEX OBJECTS: HOT HE-MAN EROTIC ROMANCE FOR WOMEN is open to all authors.

Editor Delilah Devlin is looking for hetero “super alpha” stories for a romantic erotica anthology tentatively entitled: SEX OBJECTS: HOT HE-MAN EROTIC ROMANCE FOR WOMEN.

What is it about heroes like Superman, Iron Man or Thor that revs our engines like no other? Is it the suit? The manly physique? Or is it the courage they display, wading in where others fear to go, to save the damsel, the city, the Earth? Well, we don’t want Superman or Thor this go-round! Are there real-life heroes who inspire the same lustful fascination? Kickass iconic heroes who enter danger zones in the name of duty, honor, country—or maybe love—who conjure images of hard, chiseled bodies, deadly glares and camouflaged features?

Sex Objects will seek stories that satisfy the reader who craves the romantic idea of that “super alpha” man. The stories will be contemporary. While traditional themes are likely to be featured, writers are encouraged to imagine greater in order to create tales that, while featuring this iconic hero, may also surprise.

Imagine the Navy SEAL sent on a rescue mission; the damaged Army Ranger home from war; the para rescue team member jumping into frigid waters; a SWAT team member entering a human trafficker’s den… These “super alpha” heroes can be military members and based in far-flung places around the world or the smoke-jumper living next door. Then imagine the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…

Published authors with an established “super alpha” world may use that setting for their original short story.

The stories may be as kinky or vanilla as the writer wants—but a deep sensuality should linger in every word. Exotic locations and scenarios are welcome. Keep in mind there must be a romantic element with a happy-for-now or happy-ever-after ending. Strong plots, engaging characters and unique twists are the ultimate goal. Please no reprints. We are seeking original stories.

How to submit: Prepare your 1,500 to 4,500 words story in a double-spaced, Arial, 12 point, black font document with pages numbered (.doc, NOT.docx) OR rich text format. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) is required.

In your document at the top left of the page, include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 words or less bio in the third person to sexobjectsmanlyerotica@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. Authors may submit up to 2 stories. Delilah will respond in January 2013. The publisher has final approval over the stories included in the manuscript.

Payment will be $50.00 USD and two copies of the published book upon publication.

About the editor: Ms. Devlin has published over a hundred erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths. Her published print titles include Into the Darkness, Seduced by Darkness, Darkness Burning, Darkness Captured, Down in Texas, Texas Men, Ravished by a Viking, and Enslaved by a Viking. Her short stories are featured in Zane’s Purple Panties, and Cleis Press’s Lesbian Cowboys, Girl Crush, Fairy Tale Lust, Lesbian Lust, Passion, Carnal Machines, Dream Lovers, Lesbian Cops, Best Erotic Romance, and Girl Fever. She is published by Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Ellora’s Cave, Harlequin, Kensington, Mischief, Running Press and Samhain Publishing. In Fall 2011, she debuted her first anthology with Cleis Press, Girls Who Bite. In Summer 2012, Cleis Press released She Shifters and Cowboy Lust.

Direct any questions you have regarding your story or the submission process to Delilah at sexobjectsmanlyerotica@gmail.com.

Guest Blogger: Kaily Hart (Contest)

Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Gosh, how many times have we all heard that expression? Used in relation to just about everything? And sometimes even about actual books? With the explosion of self-publishing, there are a lot of books out there these days and getting your book noticed is becoming more and more difficult, I think. There are also a vast range of covers. Some professionally done and others…not. Some done really well and others…well, not so much O.o. Of course, that’s just my opinion.

I really do buy into the ‘never judge a book by its cover’ sentiment, but the reality is in this climate, a book’s cover has become even more important in the increasingly competitive world of attracting readers. A cover is often the first impression someone has of an author’s work. It has to be eye catching as readers are scanning the many hundreds of books at the online sites or on a bookshelf, give an idea of genre at a single glance, and it has to entice the reader to want to take a second look. And a third. And ultimately buy it. Of course, not all readers buy new authors simply on cover, but I do think for most, it plays into the decision to some degree.

I found several links out there that profess to have the worst covers of all time and I thought I’d share just a few of them:

http://www.2spare.com/item_93579.aspx

http://sobadsogood.com/2012/06/15/10-worst-book-covers-in-the-history-of-literature/

http://www.boredpanda.com/worst-book-covers-and-titles/

http://gizmodo.com/5905986/the-worst-book-covers-of-all-time-have-destroyed-my-faith-in-humanity

Did anyone spew anything onto their computer screens looking at some of these LOL? Yes, some of those covers were horrid. And downright terrifying. And yeah…extreme. The thing is, these are more the exception. There are a lot of good covers out there. And many really great ones. As an author who publishes through a publisher, covers are something I have little control over, but I’ve been fortunate so far. I haven’t shuddered at any of my covers—far from it—and I think I really lucked out with my most recent release, Rise of Hope from Carina Press. I do think it’s eye catching with the color scheme, I think it screams ‘paranormal’ and the hero…well, he’s not half bad to look at, right? Some might even say it channels a young Ryan Reynolds. And of course, I hope that it will be intriguing enough to new-to-me readers that they’ll go that extra step. Perhaps read the blurb. Check out the excerpt and let the writing sway them.

So..what do YOU think? How important are book covers in the buying decision process for you?

I’ll choose a random commenter through Monday 11:59 pm Eastern, to receive a book of their choice from my backlist J.

About Kaily

Kaily Hart, a seemingly straight-laced mother of four, left corporate America and a high-powered, lucrative career to be a stay at home mom. Right… That lasted about four weeks, during which time she realized she had a deeply repressed dream—to write. And (gasp) romance at that! Who knew? By day, Kaily plays conservative wife and soccer mom, but at night crafts hot and steamy tales of romance and love with gorgeous heroes who wouldn’t dream of leaving the toilet set up. Ever. She’s smart and sassy, at least in her own mind, and is creating as many happy ever afters as she can, one hot story at a time. Kaily never would have thought she’d be doing this, but now that she is? Well, you couldn’t pay her enough to do anything else.

Kaily’s books, PICTURE THIS, PAY UP, PLAY ME & POINT BLANK (yeah, she has a thing for book titles that start with ‘P’), are all currently available from Ellora’s Cave. Her latest release RISE OF HOPE, book 1 in the Fabric of Fate series, is now available from Carina Press. You can find out more information about all Kaily’s books here and read more about RISE OF HOPE here.

If anyone would want to contact me (which I would love by the way) or just keep up with what I’m doing, you can find me all over:

Web – www.kailyhart.com

Blog – http://kailyhart.blogspot.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kaily.hart

Twitter – http://twitter.com/kailyhart

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/kailyhart/

Sunday Report Card ‘n’ More…

Not so much a report card today, but a list of announcements—things you may be interested in, including freebies, contests, and what’s coming…

Subscribe now!

Look to the left. See the “Subscribe to Blog via Email” notice? I added that in case you’re absent-minded and forget to check out my site every day for new contests, guests, and events. You won’t be spammed if you subscribe. You’ll just get an email showing you what’s on my blog that day.

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About Contests

Yesterday’s winner of a free download of one of my backlisted Samhain stories is…Becky H! Congrats, Becky, and be sure to email me to arrange delivery of your prize!

This is the final week of the Authors After Dark Grab Bagszzz Contest (it ends the 30th!). Click on the link for details of how you can enter! A comment on this post is a great start!

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Free Reads at ERWA!

Don’t miss out!

I’m August’s Featured Author on the Erotica Readers and Writers Association website!

What does that mean for you? Well, I gave them three short stories to post that you can read for free! Come September 1st, it will be too late! So mosey on over there now and enjoy! Click on the picture for the link!

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The Cowboy Lust Blog Tour

One more blog hop was added to the blog tour. I won’t select winners until the 28th! Click on this link to read about the blog tour, check out the stops and the list of prizes. Don’t miss out! The Cowboy Lust Blog Tour details

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Reviews Needed!

If any of you have read any of my latest releases, all listed below, I would appreciate your help posting reviews for the books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Samhain website (where appropriate). To help incentivize you into doing it, I’ll be launching a Promo Ho contest on Thursday. So if you’d like to get a jump start, you can send me links to reviews you’ve posted and be entered for a great prize (to be announced!). Here’s the list of what I’ve had come out lately…

06/21/12 – GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS: Guy Free Fun anthology (Mischief)

07/10/12 – FOURNICOPIA (Samhain)

07/10/12 – SHE SHIFTERS: Lesbian Paranormal Erotica (Cleis Press)

07/12/12 – LICKS, anthology with Paisley Smith (Kindle/Smashwords)

08/07/12 – GIRLS WHO SCORE anthology (Cleis Press)

08/14/12 – COWBOY LUST (Cleis Press)

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Guests this week!

I love having guests on my blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed finding new authors here. This week, I have the following authors coming to play:

08/27/12  – Kaily Hart

08/29/12 – Voirey Linger

08/31/12 – Cheyl Ann Smith

Be sure to drop in and see what they’re talking about.

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For you writers…

My sister, Elle James, and I usually provide a free workshop in August called, “Write Fifty Books a Year” and a plotting bootcamp in September. Due to our overbooked work schedules, we’ve decided to slide Write Fifty to December, to help authors get ready for the New Year, and wait to offer another bootcamp until January. So mark your calendars, and if you’re interested in joining us, be sure to check out the Rose’s Colored Glasses website. Space is limited for the bootcamp, so the earlier you sign up, the better!

Saturday Snippet: My Choice

You know I’m going to tease you right up until release day! If you like my Westerns, you will LOVE this story. And you’ll want Gabe and Tommy’s stories next. So go ahead, don’t fight the urge another day.

Pre-order at Samhain

Pre-order at Amazon

Pre-order at B&N

Post a comment here today and you’ll be entered to win a free download from my backlisted Samhain books!

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…

“You still want to stay?”

Her head came up, her gaze clinging to his expression, which was set in firm lines that didn’t give away a thing he was really thinking. “You haven’t changed your mind? Your brothers didn’t talk you out of it? I’m bad news, remember?”

“I don’t answer to them. You willin’ to stay on my terms?”

She shook her head, not understanding him—angry and unbending one moment, offering her a carrot the next. “Why are you doin’ this?”

One side of his sexy mouth curved upward. “I haven’t a clue.”

The screen door creaked opened behind them. They both turned. Gabe gave her a hard, pointed stare, and then turned to Colt. “You have a call. It’s the station.”

Colt sighed and shot her a look that said he wasn’t satisfied, not by a long shot. “We’re not done.” Then he stood and walked back into the house.

Gabe lingered on the porch, standing behind her, making her uncomfortable enough with his silent disapproval that her hackles raised.

She kept her gaze resolutely on the roofs of the outbuildings just beyond the paddock. “You have somethin’ you want to get off your chest?”

“He’s not a kid anymore. He won’t be fooled twice.”

Zuri shook her head and aimed a narrowed glare over her shoulder. “You sound like I did somethin’ to him.”

“Just givin’ you fair warnin’.”

She lifted her shoulders. “I’m not here to start anything with him. I just ran into some trouble and need a place to stay for a couple of days.”

“Where you plannin’ to sleep?”

She arched one brow. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“I don’t want him gettin’ stubborn.” Gabe snorted. “He never had a lick o’ sense when it came to you.”

“I don’t get it, Gabe. I never did a thing to you.”

“You mess with one of us, you have the whole family to answer to.”

“Again, I’m drawin’ blanks. I never hurt your brother. I couldn’t. He didn’t give a damn about me.”

Gabe’s lips tightened. “Your father back in jail?”

Leave it to Gabe to say the one thing sure to get her back up. “I don’t know where my stepfather is. Haven’t talked to him in twelve years.” She lowered both brows, letting him see just how much he’d angered her. “You know, I never would have taken you for the prejudiced kind. I shared his roof. Not his bad habits.”

“So Colt always used to say. Funny how he suddenly stopped defendin’ you.”

“Gabe.”

Both of them froze as Colt stepped onto the porch.

He was still dressed in blue jeans, but he’d swapped his tee for a button-down shirt. His badge hung on the breast pocket, and he carried a cream-colored cowboy hat in his hand. “I have to head into town. Wade’s on call and has his hands full with a wreck on Silver Tree Road. I’m headin’ into the office in case anything else goes down.”

Gabe nodded and then gave Zuri a one-sided smile. “Colt keeps pretty busy. You might not see a lot of him while you’re here.”

“That’s all right,” she said, keeping her voice even. “I don’t need babysittin’.”

Colt ignored Gabe and grabbed her hand, pulled her up and kept hold of her while they walked toward the garage at the side of the house. When they stood beside a blue and white Sheriff’s vehicle, he dropped her hand. “The bed’s all yours tonight. Get some sleep.”

“But I thought…” She bit her lip, wishing she hadn’t reacted at all. He’d think she was disappointed they weren’t going to make love.

“I was just seein’ how far you’d go. How desperate you really are. Makes me wonder if you’ve told me everything, or if you’re still keepin’ secrets.”

Zuri closed her mouth, not wanting to dig a deeper hole for herself.

He paused as though hoping she’d tell him something more.

She sighed. “Look, I’m tired. Sleep sounds pretty good to me now.”

He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me everything,” he said, his voice a deep, masculine growl.

“I want to,” she said truthfully, fingering a shirt button. “I really do. But it’s so damn complicated. And like you said, we don’t really know each other.”

Colt’s lips firmed. His chest lifted around a deep sigh. “I’ll see you in the mornin’.”

His head descended, and as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do, she relaxed against the arm cinching around her and melted into his body. His kiss was surprisingly soft and over way too quick.

She must have made a sound of complaint, because he smiled, his eyelids dipping as he studied her face. “Not enough, is it?”

Zuri shook her head.

He bent his head again, but his lips hovered just above hers. He waited until she rose up on her tip-toes to press her mouth against his. Again, like a flame licking at dry tinder, sensual heat exploded between them.

Colt turned her toward the truck, crowding her against hard metal.

She slid her hands up his chest, then snuck them around the back of his warm neck to cling against him.

The kiss deepened, their mouths circling, tongues darting inward to taste. Colt glided his hands over her— cupping one over her bottom, slipping another beneath her shirt and molding it around a bare breast.

Zuri moaned and lifted her leg, sliding it over the crest of his hip as he pushed against her, rutting gently between her legs. She broke the kiss. “This is crazy,” she whispered.

“Agreed,” he rasped into her ear. “Bad idea.”

She raked her nails against his scalp, loving the way he groaned as though his body ached for completion as much as hers.

He slid his hand down her belly, gliding beneath the rolled waistband of the pants he’d leant her. Fingers raked downward, slipping between her moist folds.

“God, Colt,” she moaned.

His mouth slammed over hers again, and he stroked her slick sex, two fingers plunging inside her.

Her body vibrated, bowed backward. Her breath hitched.

Slowly, he circled his thumb over her clitoris, the callused digit scraping and exciting her arousal to full bloom, and she cried out, the sound muffled against his mouth.

Liquid heat seeped from inside her, coating his fingers, easing his intrusion. She pulsed, dragging on his stroking fingers, forward and back, in a slow, sensual ebb and flow.

He caught her lower lip with his teeth, and she opened her eyes, snared by the heat banked in his darkened eyes. “Come for me, Zuri,” he whispered.

Her orgasm exploded—rich, hot, moist. She gasped, her body undulating, inviting his deepening strokes until at last the convulsions rippling deep inside her grew still, and her body quivered in the aftermath.

Colt dropped his forehead to her shoulder and pulled his hand from beneath her clothing. Then he wrapped both arms around her, rocking them together until she breathed deeply, her cheek snuggled against his.

“Gotta go,” he said, his voice rough.

“Wish you weren’t gonna be so long.”

He pressed a kiss against her hair. “Get some sleep.”

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Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors’ blogs:

Megan Hart:Read in bed!

Leah Braemel

Eliza Gayle

Mandy M Roth

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

HelenKay Dimon

Lauren Dane

Shelli Stevens

Jody Wallace

Guest Blogger: Lisa Renee Jones (Contest)

IF I WERE YOU is released everywhere in all formats and I have a fun announcement to celebrate!

To celebrate the release of IF I WERE YOU I’ve partnered with  Tokii  the first ever self-help relationship management platform, specifically designed to deepen and strengthen all types of relationships—to create an interactive game based on her sexy novel. The game will allow couples to discover each other’s innermost desires and fantasies in a fun new way! Lisa will also be giving away a $200 Amazon gift card via THE GAME at the Tokii website.

So today if you go and play the game and enter to win $200 and then come back here and tell Delilah you did it I’ll enter you to win a $10 gift card, a Yankee candle, and a signed arc of the print version of HOT SECRETS!

How cool is it to have a game to go with the book and a chance for you to win $200? I hope you will give the game a try and I’ll leave you with the details on IF I WERE YOU! The $200 contest starts tomorrow so be sure to check out the game then too!

I can’t wait to hear what you think of the game!

About the book…

He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing, but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. Chris is dark, and so are his desires, but I cannot turn away. He is damaged beneath his confident good looks and need for control, and in some way, I feel he needs me. I need him.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING…

…. I was enthralled from the moment I picked up the book.

….I devoured this book

….I loved it, loved it, loved it!!! I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!! Two thumbs up!!

….Sexy, enchanting, and mysterious are the best words to describe the characters and this story. If I Were You is an extremely suspenseful, captivating story.

….My, my I loved this book!

Want autographed goodies?

Send postage and your shipping information to the following address:

10623 Ouray Creek Point, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

You will receive bookmarks and special journal of Sara’s thoughts.

Laying Down the Law — Sneak Peek

I know sometimes it’s hard to keep up with what’s happening with me, but my last Western for the year will be released on September 11th! And I think it’s one you will really enjoy. Sorry, no wild menages, but it does have a fun, suspenseful plot, starting with a bank robbery and ending with a bad guy staring down the hero at a police roadblock. In between, there’s tons of sweet of lovin’ as the hero and heroine learn to trust each other again. Below is a short snippet from one of my favorite scenes—the first kiss.

Enjoy it, and if you have time or inclination, you can pre-order the book now.  It’s available now at both Samhain and Amazon.com. If you happen to head to Amazon, do an author a favor and “like” and “tag” the book so other readers can find it when they search for sexy Westerns! Thanks, y’all!! ~DD

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 bit her lip. Colt didn’t look happy to see her. But why should he? It wasn’t like she’d been any more than a convenience for him in high school. The girl from the wrong side of the tracks with the scandalous family—she’d never really stood a chance at being anything other than his little bit on the side.

She could still remember standing in the gym, her heart pounding as she stared up at him, telling him she had her bags packed and she was heading east to start her life. Her stepfather had shown her the door that morning, his duty done. She didn’t have any place to go but away—unless Colt offered her another option.

But his face had hardened, his jaw sawing closed, a muscle rippling along the strong, square edge.

“What were you gonna tell me?” she’d asked past the lump lodged at the back of her throat.

“Never mind,” he’d said, pulling on a tight smile and walking her to her car.

With that, she’d had the answer to the question that had lingered between them their entire senior year. He didn’t love her enough to ask her to stay. And besides, she’d had big plans. Plans that didn’t include staying in this one-horse town, no matter how handsome her boyfriend was. Or how sweet his lovemaking.

Staring back at him now, she didn’t know why she hadn’t fought harder to hold onto him. The promise his lean, rangy body had held had been fulfilled. His broad shoulders and thickly muscled arms stretched the pale blue cotton of his work shirt. His waist tapered to well-hewn hips and thighs. His face, however, had undergone the most changes, losing its youthful softness. It was now honed to sharp, masculine edges. Lord, he made her mouth water.

She wondered if he’d been disappointed in the lack of change in her own body. She was still long and skinny, her breasts unimpressive swells that hardly needed the bra that had floated down the center of the river when she’d confronted the angry bull.

Colt knelt beside her clothing, tucked a finger under her skirt and raised it. “This all you have to wear?”

Light shone through a large jagged tear where the bull’s sharp hooves had ground the navy, summer-weight wool skirt. Zuri’s shoulders slumped.

“Do you have something else to put on?”

She shook her head, and Colt stared for a long moment. Then he dropped the ruined skirt to the ground and picked up the blouse. It was grayed from her time in the floodwaters and smudged by the bull’s abuse. Colt shook his head. He dropped the blouse too, heaved a sigh, then stood and began to unbutton his shirt.

“Where are your shoes, Zuri?” he asked, his voice rough as gravel.

“Guess I lost them,” she said, feeling like her mouth was stuffed with cotton.

“You gonna tell me what’s goin’ on?”

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth because it had started to tremble, but managed a nod, even though she knew she’d wait and see whether she could trust him with all her woes.

“Here,” he said, holding his shirt out for her take.

Only problem was, she’d have to stand and walk out of the water to get it.

Shouldn’t matter that much, anyway, she told herself. Nothing he hadn’t already seen…or tasted and caressed. “Um…I don’t suppose you’d turn around?”

His steely gaze narrowed. “Not a chance.”

“When did you get so mean?”

One dark brow rose, and Zuri felt a flush of heat paint her cheeks and chest.

“You do know you’re bathin’ downstream from a herd of cattle…” he drawled.

Zuri popped out of the water, her hands curling at her sides. “Ugh! And you just stood there?”

His soft chuckle held a note of bitterness and not a hint of amusement. Zuri began to think she’d run into the wrong man.

Slowly, she stood, barely resisting the urge to cover her “important parts” with her hands. With her head held high, she walked out of the water and snatched at the shirt, but he drew back his arm at the last second and held it just out of reach.

“Colt, this isn’t funny,” she said tightly.

“No, it’s not. Guess I’m just seein’ how much you want it.”

Zuri dropped her hands at her sides and slowly curled her hands into fists. “What’s it gonna take?”

“I don’t know,” he said, his gaze dropping down her body, lingering over her nipples, which tautened with embarrassing speed, then sweeping downward to the ruff of dark hair cloaking her sex. “How ’bout a kiss? For old time’s sake.”

Zuri sucked in a breath, startled at how quickly the tension coiled around them. “Just a kiss?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his gaze at last meeting hers again, and narrowing.

She stepped closer, knowing she was flirting with fire. They’d never stopped at just one kiss. Not once they’d gotten past the hurdle of her virginity.

Swallowing hard, she pressed a hand against his naked chest to steady her weakening knees and lifted up on her toes. Her mouth grazed briefly over his, and she dropped down and took a step back. “The shirt?”

“Call that a kiss?”

“Colt…don’t…” she said, all bravado seeping away as she noted that anger rather than attraction glinted in his storm-cloud eyes.

“Forget how I like it?” he said softly.

Hell, no. She still had lush, wet dreams about his wicked kisses.

The temptation to give him what he wanted was too much to resist. Pretending she didn’t feel a thing, not the liquefying heat that curled deep in her core or the hummingbird-fast flutter of her heartbeats, she gave him a blistering glare and rose again, gliding the tips of her nipples across his bare chest.

He sucked in a deep breath. She reached up and thrust her fingertips into his short, black-brown hair and tugged to bring his mouth down.

When their lips met this time, they both gasped at the intensity of the heat twining around them. His arms closed around her. She clung to his neck, her knees weakening, her whole body trembling against him.

Skin-to-skin, she was reminded why any other man had fallen short in comparison. His muscled frame held hers easily, tensing everywhere their bodies met. He dug his fingers into her bottom and pulled her hips flush with his. His cock jerked beneath the zipper of his jeans, filling swiftly and rutting into her belly.

Their mouths didn’t move at first. Both breathed deeply, sharing their breaths as their hips ground together. And then he groaned and locked his lips over hers and softly sucked, moving her lips beneath his in drugging circles.

When their tongues made tentative forays, touching tips, then stroking deeply alongside each other, Zuri grew lightheaded, overcome with the sheer sensuality of their embrace. His silky-slick tongue rimmed the edges of her teeth, then slowly stroked over the roof of her mouth. His lips suctioned softly, reminding her how tenderly he’d once suckled her breasts.

She pulled her mouth away, struggling to breathe. Reluctantly, she met his gaze, knowing she’d given him more than he’d asked for because she hadn’t been able to stop.

His hands dropped from her skin. His expression hardened. “Guess you didn’t forget after all.”

Guest Blogger: Taige Crenshaw

Two notes:

1) The Authors After Dark Grab Bagszzz Contest is ongoing. Post a comment here today and you’re entered to win!

2) The Cowboy Lust Blog Tour continues. Today’s blog hop is to Seductive Musings!

* * * * *
Behind the Hurricane

There are many things that I use for inspiration. It is all around me and I use it to create books. For my upcoming book Hurricane, book 1 in the Singleton series, the inspiration I used is very personal to me.

The idea for Hurricane came partly from my mom and dad’s relationship. My dad and mom were very much in love. As a child I loved watching how they interacted with each other. Yes there was up and downs but they were there as a constant for us.  As a family we survived many family ups and down’s including a Hurricane that devastated a lot of the island where I am from. The strength we had was due to the family – those of blood and whom we see as family even through we had no blood ties. Standing side by side and helping each other is what got us through.

There were many storms we had. When my dad passed away I had just graduated from high school. It sent all of us reeling. I’m the youngest in my family.  In my case I had just moved away from home to go to college. I had only moved a week when I got the call he was gone. When I had to return home for the funeral I had already set in my mind not to return to college and told my mom so. She refused to let me give up my dream and told me that my dad was proud and knew what I was doing. After my dad’s passing my Mom was the rock that kept our family going. She made sure all of us were okay. She went on after such a devastating loss. Sadly my Mom passed away a few years ago.

When I sat down to write Hurricane I wanted to portray a form of the love my parents had. As well as the strong family dynamic I grew up with. I did take creative license to change how Julianne and Keenan my main characters of the novel get together to create a long lasting relationship. Throughout the book you will see them build from the base to a loving foundation.  Julianne and Keenan will have trials and things to face before they get there. Their journey is a growth for both of them.

Also when I created the concept for the Singleton series I wanted to give readers a view of me. The Locke’s is a family that were born in St. Thomas – the same island I was born in – and they moved to the fictional town I created called Singleton which is set in New York. Even with the move they maintained the closeness of family and added more by their friendships they formed. Friends who have become a part of the large extended family. The Locke family and friends are large, close-knit and portray what family is all about – being there through joy, pain and even death. They are the way my own family is.

Hurricane book 1 of the Singleton series will be released on September 24, 2012 at Total-E-Bound. It is available now for pre-order.  I’m extremely proud to bring the book and all the future books in the series to readers.

****

Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroine’s, and sexy hero’s. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. You can find out more about Taige at her website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com or blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog.

 

When life gives you a second chance how do you decide what to do?

Pre-order here at Total-E-Bound.

Guest Blogger: Jennifer Ashley (Contest)

Hard Mated, by Jennifer Ashley

Shifters! I love them, especially the sexy wildcats, wolves, and bears that populate my Shiftertowns.

A few years ago, when my publisher nixed my idea for a vampire series (too many vamps out there, they said), I pouted, then brought forth an idea for a shapeshifter series that had been swimming around in the back of my head.

I’m so glad I did! The first book, Pride Mates, was my first New York Times bestseller, and paved the way for more Shifters to come.

I decided right from the start that my series wouldn’t be “save the world from evil,” or “save the species from the evil thing trying to kill it.” The books would be about the Shifters themselves, how they live and love, about their families, how they interact with the human world, and the problems (sometimes dire) that they have to solve in order to thrive.

Pride Mates and Primal Bonds (Books 1 and 2) introduce Liam Morrissey and his family, three generations of charming Irish bachelor wildcat Shifters living in the same house in Austin, Texas.

Indie publishing has let me put out stories in this word between the main books, and Bodyguard (Book 2.5), is about Ronan, a Kodiak bear Shifter who works for Liam. The book is available in print from Amazon, and in e-book everywhere you can buy ebooks.

This was followed by Wild Cat (Book 3) which introduces yet another family—wildcat Shifters Cassidy and Eric Warden (brother and sister), Eric’s son Jace, and the grizzlies next door. Wild Cat is Cassidy’s story (she meets up with a hunk of a Latino cop).

In October, Mate Claimed (Book 4), Eric’s story, will hit the shelves, and introduce yet another Shifter (Tiger), who gets his book next June.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased that this week, another character from the Austin Shiftertown gets his story told: Spike in Hard Mated (Book 3.5).

Spike is a “tracker”, a Shifter who works for the Shiftertown leader, one of a team of bodyguards and fighters. Spike is also a champion fighter at the Shifters’ fight club. Spike has a colorful past, working for the villain in Book 1, but now he’s one of the good guys. He’s tough and strong, and he’s about to meet he woman who cracks his hard exterior.

Hard Mated is available in ebook first, with a print edition following in a couple of weeks.

For more about the series—characters, blurbs, books, links, and my “Humans’ Guide to Shifters” see http://www.jennifersromances.com/NewSite/shifters/SU_main.html

More about all my series is at http://www.jennifersromances.com

Post a comment and you’ll be entered to win a free book from this series’ backlist! Winner’s Choice! 

Excerpt from Hard Mated:

“Fight’s over!” one of the refs shouted. “The bear  is down.”

The grizzly’s few supporters moaned in disappointment. The rest of the crowd screamed and hollered, humans punching the air, beasts doing victory leaps. Spike, champion of the Austin Shiftertown, had won again.

Spike stood still and caught his breath, his Collar sending fiery jolts of pain down his neck and into his spine. He’d pay a long time for what he’d done in the rings tonight. Close fight. The bear was damn good.

Spike stretched his forepaws into the air and let himself become human, his tall six foot six. He kept his arms up, acknowledging his victory, and his fans filled the place with noise.

Cormac the bear came across the ring, Collar sparking with residual arcs, and gave Spike a nod. “Good fight,” he said, his voice rasping.

The bear had no malice in his eyes, only approval for Spike’s technique and stamina. That was the problem with bears. They were so damn affable—when they weren’t trying to kill you.

“Good fight,” Spike said back. He kept his words light, pretending he didn’t want to fall onto the soft dirt of the ring and pass out. A few gallons of water poured down his throat wouldn’t hurt either.

Cormac turned away to his friends and a woman ran to Spike with a sports bottle.

Spike grabbed the bottle and upended a stream of water into his mouth before he realized two things. First, the woman who’d handed him the bottle was human, and second, he’d never seen her here before.

She had black hair cut short but wildly curly, blue eyes that looked back at him in perfect equanimity, a round face that was cute rather than pretty, and lips that any male, human or Shifter would want to sink into. Her plump body had nice curves that she didn’t much hide behind a button-down shirt, a sexily-cut lace tank, and jeans that rested low on her hips.

Shifter groupie? Maybe, but she didn’t have the obsessed look, nor did she wear a fake Collar or paint on whiskers or anything like that.

On the other hand, Spike was standing next to her wearing nothing but his tattoos, sweat, and the blood from the fight. The woman kept her gaze on Spike’s face, not even flickering it to his very naked body.

Spike upended the bottle, squirted water onto his face, and rubbed his hand over it. A shower was going to feel good.

A nice roll the sack would be great too, and here was this nice little morsel, handing him water and looking fine in a Texas cowgirl kind of way.

Not that Spike usually went for humans. He had to be too careful in bed with humans, because things could get wild and wicked. Shifters women were more resilient, more used to male Shifters and what they wanted.

But there was something Spike liked about this human.

“Who are you, sweetheart?” he asked.

“My name’s Myka. Myka Thompson. You don’t know me, but you know Jillian.”

Jillian. Jillian. Who the hell was Jillian?

“You knew her, I should say,” Myka said. “For one night at least. Five years ago. Shifter bar. You were a Shifter, she was a Shifter groupie . . .” She trailed off, one hand moving before she returned it to her shapely hip.

Memory came to him. Five years ago, sure, and Spike had been very drunk that night, but Jillian had been the hottest thing he’d seen in a long, long time. “Red-headed little thing, fiery. Yeah, I remember her.”

He’d never seen Jillian again. Spike liked to date his ladies for more than a night, much more than a night, but the phone number Jillian had given him had been disconnected, and she’d not come to the bar again—that one or any other Shifter bar.

Some humans were like that. They wanted a taste of the beast, but they didn’t want anything long-term with a Shifter.

“How’s she doing?” Spike asked. He grabbed a towel he’d left on a box outside the ring and rubbed his wet face.

“She’s dying,” Myka said.

Spike jerked back to her, towel dangling from his grasp. “What?”

“I said, Jillian’s dying. She wants to see you, but you have to come with me now.”

* * * * *

Order this book via: http://www.jennifersromances.com

Guest Blogger: Jennifer Ashley

Hard Mated, by Jennifer Ashley

Shifters! I love them, especially the sexy wildcats, wolves, and bears that populate my Shiftertowns.

A few years ago, when my publisher nixed my idea for a vampire series (too many vamps out there, they said), I pouted, then brought forth an idea for a shapeshifter series that had been swimming around in the back of my head.

I’m so glad I did! The first book, Pride Mates, was my first New York Times bestseller, and paved the way for more Shifters to come.

I decided right from the start that my series wouldn’t be “save the world from evil,” or “save the species from the evil thing trying to kill it.” The books would be about the Shifters themselves, how they live and love, about their families, how they interact with the human world, and the problems (sometimes dire) that they have to solve in order to thrive.

Pride Mates and Primal Bonds (Books 1 and 2) introduce Liam Morrissey and his family, three generations of charming Irish bachelor wildcat Shifters living in the same house in Austin, Texas.

Indie publishing has let me put out stories in this word between the main books, and Bodyguard (Book 2.5), is about Ronan, a Kodiak bear Shifter who works for Liam. The book is available in print from Amazon, and in e-book everywhere you can buy ebooks.

This was followed by Wild Cat (Book 3) which introduces yet another family—wildcat Shifters Cassidy and Eric Warden (brother and sister), Eric’s son Jace, and the grizzlies next door. Wild Cat is Cassidy’s story (she meets up with a hunk of a Latino cop).

In October, Mate Claimed (Book 4), Eric’s story, will hit the shelves, and introduce yet another Shifter (Tiger), who gets his book next June.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased that this week, another character from the Austin Shiftertown gets his story told: Spike in Hard Mated (Book 3.5).

Spike is a “tracker”, a Shifter who works for the Shiftertown leader, one of a team of bodyguards and fighters. Spike is also a champion fighter at the Shifters’ fight club. Spike has a colorful past, working for the villain in Book 1, but now he’s one of the good guys. He’s tough and strong, and he’s about to meet he woman who cracks his hard exterior.

Hard Mated is available in ebook first, with a print edition following in a couple of weeks.

For more about the series—characters, blurbs, books, links, and my “Humans’ Guide to Shifters” see http://www.jennifersromances.com/NewSite/shifters/SU_main.html

More about all my series is at http://www.jennifersromances.com

Excerpt from Hard Mated:

“Fight’s over!” one of the refs shouted. “The bear  is down.”

The grizzly’s few supporters moaned in disappointment. The rest of the crowd screamed and hollered, humans punching the air, beasts doing victory leaps. Spike, champion of the Austin Shiftertown, had won again.

Spike stood still and caught his breath, his Collar sending fiery jolts of pain down his neck and into his spine. He’d pay a long time for what he’d done in the rings tonight. Close fight. The bear was damn good.

Spike stretched his forepaws into the air and let himself become human, his tall six foot six. He kept his arms up, acknowledging his victory, and his fans filled the place with noise.

Cormac the bear came across the ring, Collar sparking with residual arcs, and gave Spike a nod. “Good fight,” he said, his voice rasping.

The bear had no malice in his eyes, only approval for Spike’s technique and stamina. That was the problem with bears. They were so damn affable—when they weren’t trying to kill you.

“Good fight,” Spike said back. He kept his words light, pretending he didn’t want to fall onto the soft dirt of the ring and pass out. A few gallons of water poured down his throat wouldn’t hurt either.

Cormac turned away to his friends and a woman ran to Spike with a sports bottle.

Spike grabbed the bottle and upended a stream of water into his mouth before he realized two things. First, the woman who’d handed him the bottle was human, and second, he’d never seen her here before.

She had black hair cut short but wildly curly, blue eyes that looked back at him in perfect equanimity, a round face that was cute rather than pretty, and lips that any male, human or Shifter would want to sink into. Her plump body had nice curves that she didn’t much hide behind a button-down shirt, a sexily-cut lace tank, and jeans that rested low on her hips.

Shifter groupie? Maybe, but she didn’t have the obsessed look, nor did she wear a fake Collar or paint on whiskers or anything like that.

On the other hand, Spike was standing next to her wearing nothing but his tattoos, sweat, and the blood from the fight. The woman kept her gaze on Spike’s face, not even flickering it to his very naked body.

Spike upended the bottle, squirted water onto his face, and rubbed his hand over it. A shower was going to feel good.

A nice roll the sack would be great too, and here was this nice little morsel, handing him water and looking fine in a Texas cowgirl kind of way.

Not that Spike usually went for humans. He had to be too careful in bed with humans, because things could get wild and wicked. Shifters women were more resilient, more used to male Shifters and what they wanted.

But there was something Spike liked about this human.

“Who are you, sweetheart?” he asked.

“My name’s Myka. Myka Thompson. You don’t know me, but you know Jillian.”

Jillian. Jillian. Who the hell was Jillian?

“You knew her, I should say,” Myka said. “For one night at least. Five years ago. Shifter bar. You were a Shifter, she was a Shifter groupie . . .” She trailed off, one hand moving before she returned it to her shapely hip.

Memory came to him. Five years ago, sure, and Spike had been very drunk that night, but Jillian had been the hottest thing he’d seen in a long, long time. “Red-headed little thing, fiery. Yeah, I remember her.”

He’d never seen Jillian again. Spike liked to date his ladies for more than a night, much more than a night, but the phone number Jillian had given him had been disconnected, and she’d not come to the bar again—that one or any other Shifter bar.

Some humans were like that. They wanted a taste of the beast, but they didn’t want anything long-term with a Shifter.

“How’s she doing?” Spike asked. He grabbed a towel he’d left on a box outside the ring and rubbed his wet face.

“She’s dying,” Myka said.

Spike jerked back to her, towel dangling from his grasp. “What?”

“I said, Jillian’s dying. She wants to see you, but you have to come with me now.”

* * * * *

Order this book via: http://www.jennifersromances.com