Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 515

2 Days to Four-Gone! (Contest)

The next prize for this countdown will be awarded tomorrow!

It's an autographed copy of COWBOY FEVER. It includes SADDLED,

UNBRIDLED, and UNFORGIVEN! Be sure to comment.

A Four-Gone Conclusion releases Tuesday. You can pre-order it today and save $1.05 on the cover price! Thanks to all of you ordered the book. It's already on Samhain's top ten bestseller's list! Woot!

So have you enjoyed revisiting the boys from Two Mule, Texas? Ready for more Ezra? I'm hoping you'll love Johnny Logan half as much. He's the same taciturn sort of fella. A little younger and a little shy, but every bit as "take charge". Enjoy the opening of Book 4 of the Lone Star Lovers.

"…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

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.

Ezra barely suppressed the urge to step closer and crowd her tall, lithe body against her car. He'd love nothing better than to snug his dick between her legs while he licked that trickle of sweat tracking down her chest, and then follow the curve of her sweet, round breast.

But he and his brothers had planned this abduction down to the last detail. No time now to let a hard-on get in the way. "I'm not leavin' you on the side of the road. It's a hundred damn degrees out here, sweetheart. Get in the truck."

"Don't call me sweetheart," she said, sounding a little breathless.

It did his ego good to know she wasn't unaffected. This was the closest they'd stood in seven years. Since he'd kissed her before letting her head to the girls' restroom to clean up after he and his brothers had her.

A sordid little chapter he was determined to remedy. If he could get her ass inside his truck.

However, Chrissi, stubborn as ever, jutted her chin high and crossed her arms over her chest. Did she know she was plumping up her breasts, drawing his gaze to the creamy tops? Her clothing stuck to the sweat coating her skin. Her light blouse skimmed close to her narrow waist. Her dark blue trousers pulled tightly as she braced apart her legs. Did she know how well they cupped her pussy?

Just that hint of a cleft was enough to add a spike of steel to his already raging erection.

"Maybe you'd let me use your cell phone?" she ground out.

Ezra let a hint of a smile curve the corners of his mouth. One thing he'd learned over the years was the value of patience. He'd waited a long time to be where he was, standing in front of the one woman who had the power to make his knees buckle. The one woman he'd gladly share if that was the only way he could have her.

"Chrissi, don't you think we've waited long enough?" he asked quietly.

Her breath caught, lifting her chest. "I've waited long enough for you to act the gentleman and do what I asked. I'll walk back to town." She dropped her arms, reached through her car window for her purse, then straightened.

She'd have to stride around him, and he guessed she was girding herself to do just that. Her gaze didn't rise above his shoulder. She sucked in a deep breath and gave him a wide berth as she brushed past.

Ezra let her go, easing a hip against her red Mustang and watching her walk away—on three-inch heels that stuck to the hot tar, making a sticky sound with each step she took. She made it only about ten feet past the end of his truck before she slowed.

Her shoulders fell, her head turned to the side, but not quite far enough for her to meet his gaze. "You're not gonna let me go, are you?" she asked softly.

Her profile, so pure and pretty, stirred a suffocating desire inside him. He steeled himself to pretend a strength he was far from feeling. So many hopes rode on the next few minutes.

"I'm just givin' you a few moments to make up your mind, sweetheart. I have every confidence you'll do the smart thing."

"Just a ride to your place to make a call?"

"And a cool drink. Whatever else happens will be up to you. I've always let you make your own choices. Even when you were dead wrong. Even when it was killin' me."

And even though she still hadn't moved, he straightened away from her car and walked to the passenger door of his truck. He opened the door and waited.

Chrissi turned her head toward the road, and Ezra held his breath, praying another vehicle wouldn't come along, praying he'd have the strength to do what had to be done, no matter how much she might beg him to end it later.

When she faced him, he couldn't read her expression. Her mouth was firmed into a thin line. Her chin tilted. Her brown eyes raked him up and down, and she stepped out, her body moving fluidly, hips swaying. Not a conscious invitation, but he knew if he touched her between her legs right this minute, she'd be wet.

He fought a smile of satisfaction as she walked toward him and stepped up into his cab. Before he closed the door, she laid a hand on his bare arm.

Was she reconsidering? He stared down at her short, peach-colored nails and slender, ringless fingers.

"I'm not stayin' any longer than it takes to make that call." Her fingers tightened on him, and then slowly dragged away.

That touch had felt like a caress. Like she couldn't resist the urge to test the muscle beneath his hot skin.

She turned to stare out the front windshield, her purse in her lap. Her hands crimped around the leather as though she might use the bag to defend herself.

He slammed her door closed and loped around the front of the truck, slid into the seat beside her and started the engine. As soon as it roared to life, he turned the AC knob to full. "That better?" he asked softly.

"Dammit, don't be nice."

Fuck, the last thing he felt was nice. He gripped the gearstick and slammed the truck into first, then a quick second and third, roaring down the highway toward the ranch. Chrissi Page sat in the seat next to him. He'd gotten her this far. Unless she wanted to eat pavement, he wasn't slowing to let her out until he had her at his home.

3 Days to 4-Gone! (Contest)

Yesterday's winner is named at the bottom of this blog! The next prize will be awarded on Monday and is an autographed copy of COWBOY FEVER. It includes SADDLED, UNBRIDLED, and UNFORGIVEN! Be sure to comment.

A Four-Gone Conclusion releases next Tuesday. Don't miss your first taste the Logan brothers of Two Mule, Texas! You can pre-order it today and save $1.05 on the cover price!

So, have you enjoyed this little trip, tasting the many flavors of the men who inhabit Two Mule, Texas? I've missed the Kinzies. Ezra, in particular. *fans self* My, My. They're only helping out a buddy in this book. Tomorrow's installment will show you the girl they have their sights set on! Enjoy!

"…what you get is explosive, emotional and endearing, something Delilah Devlin does better than anyone…" 4 Cherries, Whipped Cream

There's a wild child trapped inside her, and they're hell-bent on unleashing it…

As the pretty daughter of the town whore, Shanna Davies has always tried hard to toe the line. But she just can't help it. Her boyfriend, Bo Crenshaw, has lured her untamed spirit out to play once too often. It's time to get the hell out of Dodge and make a new start where no one knows her past. After she fulfills one last, wicked fantasy.

Shanna is Bo's first everything. First kiss, first sexual playmate, first love. Yet he's never managed to convince her that he accepts her—good girl and bad—just as she is. So, she wants a memorable send off? No problem. He'll give her one that'll make her think twice about leaving.

On the appointed night, Shanna expects nerves. Yet once she crosses the threshold, the prospect of surrendering to a night of unrestrained passion with Bo and the three Kinzie brothers makes her mouth water—and her courage dry up.

But she asked for it, and now she's not about to blink first in this game of sexual chicken…

Warning: Four lusty cowboys prove a little domination goes a long way in breaking a stubborn woman to saddle. Lots of spanking, binding, flogging, and double-dipping can keep a girl on her toes, her back, her belly, her knees…

If you're not 18, don't read any farther!

Friday night, Shanna couldn't get any closer to Bo unless she crawled inside him. She'd climbed into the cab of his pickup and slid all the way over the bench seat, lifted his arm and snuggled against his side. She was hot and cold and scared all at the same time.

Ever since he'd told her the Kinzies had agreed to share her, she'd second-guessed herself a million times. She'd even called Bo twice to tell him she wanted to cancel, that it was all a joke, but he hadn't believed her either time. And here she was, pulling in front of the Kinzie ranch house, and her stomach was so taut she thought she might throw up.

The trip from her place in town to the ranch took only fifteen minutes, but she'd held her breath most of the way and felt winded.

"It's gonna be okay," Bo said, pulling her close and kissing her temple. He raised his arm over her head, put the truck into park and killed the engine. Then he turned back to her, his moss-colored eyes crinkling at the corners with his strained smile. "You don't like something, all you have to do is say so. If you want to change your mind, just head for the door. I won't judge you."

Shanna gripped one of his hands and squeezed it, glad of the darkening shadows that hopefully hid the blush heating her face. "I can't believe this is gonna happen, and that you're okay with it."

His eyebrows lifted up and down in a quick, wicked waggle. "Why wouldn't I be? You want it. I want you happy."

"That's what friends do, huh?" she said, lifting her chin in challenge. "Find a group of men willing to gangbang their girlfriend?"



His sigh seemed to come all the way from his toes. "It's not gonna be like that, Shanna. I swear, it's not gonna feel dirty."

"How do you know? Are you a girl?"

His chin firmed. "You wannna leave? We can head to Shooters. I'm okay with that. We can drink ourselves shitfaced. I'll see you home and tuck you in safe—and alone."

Shanna glanced away, staring blindly at the sprawling white ranch house. "I've dreamed about this every night since you said they'd do it, you know. I dream that tomorrow I'm walking through Two Mule, but I'm naked and everyone can see me."

His arm snaked around her shoulders and he hugged her close. "On my honor, baby, this is just between us. No gossip. Not a word or a sly look will follow you after this. I know you want this, but I know why you're scared. That's one thing you won't have to worry about."

She cocked her head to the side and gave him a slow smile. "Oh yeah? So what will I have to worry about?"

His smile widened. "Walkin' bowlegged for a week."

Shanna couldn't help it, she snorted. Laughter spilled out. When they'd both quieted, she lifted her mouth.

Bo didn't have to be told what she needed. He gave her a quick chaste kiss. "Come on inside. The guys aren't gonna jump you. We can talk first." He reached for his door handle.

She reached for hers and opened her door. "This is embarrassing. I'm already imaginin' them all naked. They won't have a thing to be embarrassed about."

"Neither will you."

She slammed the door and met him around the front of the truck. "I'm too skinny. I've got no ass. And a sixth-grader has bigger boobs than me."

"You're slender. You've got the prettiest, softest skin, and your nipples are cherry-colored." He thumbed one of her little berries through her shirt.

Her pussy clenched. "Okay, I can do this."

Bo encircled her waist with both arms and pulled her into his chest. "Yes you can. I'll be right there with you. I won't let anything happen you don't want."

How could she tell him there wasn't likely to be anything she wouldn't want? She'd stored up a lifetime of sexual fantasies, never letting them loose because she hadn't wanted to be seen as anything like her mother. Even with Bo she'd stuck to plain vanilla, shying away from anything too wild.

She squared her shoulders.

Bo unwrapped himself from her and held out his hand. She took a deep breath and placed her trust in him. He'd never let her down. Never pushed her. He'd been the best friend a girl could have.

"It's gonna be okay."

When she stepped onto the porch stairs, the front door opened. Josh, the youngest of the Kinzie brothers strode out and clomped eagerly down the steps. He stood beside Bo and waited, staring her up and down.

"Be polite, Josh," Bo said.

"Can't help it," Josh said, eager as a puppy dog. "I've wanted to see you naked forever, Shanna Davies."

His lazy smile was infectious. Shanna couldn't help chuckling even while her cheeks burned. She let Josh take her hand and pull her up the steps.

Bo snorted behind her, but that only made her smile widen. He hadn't liked how easily she'd accepted Josh's hand, not after the fuss she'd made.

Inside the house, she glanced around, curious about the brothers' home. She'd never been to the Kinzie ranch before, would have loved seeing the corrals and horses during daylight, but the interior of the old house was pretty impressive too. Yellow stone and natural wood on the outside, inside the walls were a mixture of stone and plaster. Stone stretched along the far wall with a bump out for the huge fireplace. A cast-iron chandelier, shaped like interlocking longhorn cow horns, was suspended from a high ceiling. The floor was a warm yellow oak. The furnishings large and leather—masculine browns and golds.

"Everyone's out back," Josh said.

Everyone. She hoped to God he meant just his two brothers.

They walked through the living room to the French doors on the opposite side. The flagstone patio that surrounded a pool was enclosed by a tall wall and lit by tiki torches. Boulders at one end of the pool formed a natural waterfall.

"It's beautiful," Shanna said, stepping farther onto the patio.

Cade rose from a lounger beside the pool. Dressed in jeans, a tight tee and boots, his dark hair was slicked back, and he smelled of soap, like he'd just come from the shower. "Nice to see you, Shanna."

The deep rumble of his voice skittered along her nerve endings, causing her to shiver. She was doing this, really doing it.

His gaze didn't sweep her body like Josh's had in blatant sexual interest. However, the way he looked at her face, especially at her mouth, said sex was uppermost on his mind, too. And since both brothers had proclaimed their interest with a steady gaze, she eyed Josh and Cade, standing side by side, comparing the depth of the muscle that corded their arms and legs, the width of their shoulders. The youngest Kinzie, Josh, was tall and lean like Bo; his shaggy blond hair touched the tops of his shoulders. His face was beautiful, his chin manly, but the dimple in the center softened his look. Blue eyes twinkled but he held still beneath her perusal.

Something about Cade's expression settled her nerves. Made her feel safe. His energy wasn't as apparent as Josh's. His body was tight, his expression a little wary. His gaze was steady as she raked him with a quick glance, all she dared, because the silence was stretching uncomfortably among them. Still, he was the same height as Josh, a tad broader in the chest. His face wasn't pretty like Josh's, being more rugged and masculine, but he still had the power to leave her breathless.

Cade reached for her hand and pulled her deeper onto the patio, toward the pool where a figure swam laps from one end to the other, his long sleek body gliding beneath the surface and completely nude.

Her mouth dried as Ezra Kinzie reached the end of the pool at her feet and hauled himself out of the water.

She stepped back, her heart racing, and tried valiantly not to drop her gaze, but his cock was thick and wakening, demanding attention. He was large. Everything about him was bear-like and oversized—feet, hands, cock. Lord, her jaw sagged as the manliest part of him seemed to grow harder, bigger still, beneath her fascinated stare.

Ezra slid a finger beneath her chin and raised her face. "You're overdressed."

The winner, by random number generator, of the $10.00 Amazon.com gift certificate is…Sherry S.! Sherry, be sure to email me to arrange delivery of your prize!

4 Days to 4-Gone! (Contest)

Yesterday's winner is named at the bottom of this blog! Today's prize is a $10.00 gift certificate from Amazon.com! Be sure to comment.

A Four-Gone Conclusion releases next Tuesday. You won't want to miss meeting the Logan brothers of Two Mule, Texas! You can pre-order it today and save $1.05 on the cover price!

In the meantime, we're continuing our little journey down memory lane. Did you realize that the stories in the Lone Star series are "two-fers"? What I mean by that is, I closely tied the characters of two stories at a time. Unbridled and Unforgiven are so close you'll want to read them together. Four Sworn and Breaking Leather are connected. There might be mentions of characters in previous books, but if you read a "two-fer" you wouldn't feel lost about the relationships or what happened before. I did that on purpose because I plan to write many, many Lone Star books and don't want readers to feel like they can't pick up books in the middle of the series and enjoy them fully. Following is the second in the Standifer family "two-fer". Enjoy the excerpt!

"…UNFORGIVEN is beautifully written, with sex scenes that should only be read with an air conditioner at the ready. I don't plan on giving many five star ratings, but this one deserves it…" 5 Stars, Romance Overload

"…Delilah Devlin's scorching and unforgettable story UNBRIDLED, has been followed up by the equally hot and mesmerizing UNFORGIVEN… As with any Devlin tale, the sex is so hot it should come with a burn notice. But more importantly, you get pages packed with so much emotion it chokes you…" 4.5 Cherries, Whipped Cream Reviews

"…Delilah Devlin gives a sneak peek into the head of a sexy cowboy whose old fashioned values conflict with his unrelenting desire for a woman who he feels has not lived up to his ideals. We also see a woman who is willing to bend her code for a man who does not necessarily have a big enough heart to deserve her love. Watching the two try to find a middle ground is what makes UNFORGIVEN such an entertaining read."

5 Angels, Fallen Angels Reviews

"…Ms. Devlin managed to create real, compelling characters, which I don't often find in erotic romance…The bottom line: Loved the characters and found the story absolutely believable…Go forth and buy, you won't be disappointed." Kwips and Kritiques

How does a man get over a cheating woman? Sweet revenge…

For Cutter Standifer, the pretty little redhead who opened a café in Two Mule, Texas was "the one." Until he caught her in a compromising position with the town's worst womanizer. To further strain his rigid code, his little sister just married the same damn bastard who shattered his world and is living in sin with him and another man.

A year later, he still can't forgive his ex-girlfriend. And forget? Forget, hell. He's ready kick his code into the nearest manure pile and take what he never had from her—full satisfaction.

That fateful morning, all Katie Grissom meant to do was use the bad boy's reputation to force Cutter to piss or get off the pot where their own relationship was concerned. But she went too far—deliciously too far—giving Cutter an eyeful she lived to regret.

When Cutter offers her a no-strings affair she jumps at the chance, hoping to either break through the rigid wall he's built around his heart…or get him out of her system for good.

Warning: When a hard-as-nails cowboy finally lets loose on the only woman he's ever loved expect the loving to get hot enough to melt a cold, cold, heart—toys, front and slammin' backdoor sex are only the beginning…

She'd arrived late and sat to the side behind tall urns filled with lilies during the ceremony. She'd run to the bathroom when the band struck the first note in the ballroom in the old house. Not until she was sure everyone was deep into their drinks had she started to mingle, always with an eye for where Cutter was.

When she'd seen him and Wade head out the door, glowering at each other and rolling up their sleeves, she hadn't been able to resist joining the throng pushing through the doors to watch the fight.

She'd kept behind everyone, standing on tiptoe to catch a glimpse.

Cutter's back had been to her for most of the fight and she'd drunk in the sight of his broad shoulders and thick arms and thighs as his muscles tensed. Watching the two men go at it like latter-day gladiators had sent a thrill of heat through her body unlike anything she'd felt in a long, long time.



When Cutter's glance had panned the porch and honed in on her, she'd taken a step back, hoping he didn't know it was her because she didn't want to leave just yet.

Weddings were always roller coasters. Happy, tense times for the participants; poignant reminders to observers. She'd clutched a tissue in her hand throughout the ceremony, envying the smiles the bride and groom and best man had shared.

All the while she couldn't help thinking that she might have been the one up there, standing exactly where Dani stood, gazing into Cutter's eyes as he slipped a ring on her finger—if only she hadn't strayed.

Infidelity wasn't something Cutter would ever forgive. She couldn't forgive herself. So she'd been a little tipsy. She'd been more than a little frustrated with how slowly Cutter had taken his courtship. Grown angrier the more she drank that fateful night with the fact he held the reins in their relationship and didn't seem to notice she wasn't happy with the pace.

Justin hadn't had to work all that hard to get into her bed. But even before he'd rolled off her, she'd known she'd just made the biggest mistake of her life.

Katie slipped from the ballroom, and headed down the hallway toward the living room and the front door. She'd tortured herself long enough with regrets. It was time to go home.

Just as she stepped into the living room, an arm reached around the corner, fingers closed around her wrist and whipped her toward a massive chest. The scent of spicy cologne, dust and male sweat assailed her, and she knew who held her inside his tight grip even before she raised her eyes.

Cutter tsked. "Katie Grissom. Funny, I know you weren't on the list of invitees."

Reluctantly, Katie lifted her gaze from the open collar of his shirt to meet his cognac-colored gaze. The color had always seemed so warm, so inviting, but now with angry color in his cheeks, his narrowed eyes made her heart kick into a panicked flutter.

She licked her lips. "Maybe I'm a guest."

"Then where's your date? Maybe I should return you to his side." His narrowed gaze and the bruising on his cheek and jaw lent him a sinister air. "Just to make sure you don't forget who you came with."

Katie pulled on her hand, attempting to break his hold, but he was stronger, more determined to keep her captive than she was to escape. One side of his mouth drew up in a nasty smirk.

She stopped fighting and blew out a frustrated breath. "All right, so I crashed your party alone. I was just on my way out."

Cutter's face hardened and his thighs crowded against hers. "Why are you here, Katie? Did you miss Justin?"

Her body betrayed her, heat softening her core. Could he feel her belly quivering against his? She shook her head. "No, I'm happy for him. Although I really think Dani deserves better."

He grunted, and then pressed her wrists against her lower back, bringing her closer still.

Katie wished she hadn't had the wicked urge to go completely commando when she'd dressed. There was no way Cutter missed the fact her nipples were tight and digging into his chest.

"Miss me?" he whispered.

Katie opened her mouth to tell him to go to hell, but the anger in his taut expression halted her. Did she want him mad enough to goose walk her to the door or just mad enough to make him let loose some of the feral tension vibrating through his body?

Isn't this exactly what she'd wanted when she'd donned the little dress this morning, forgoing every scrap of underwear for a lavish coat of lotion to make sure every curve glided beneath the scrape of a callused palm?

She licked her lips and tilted her hips—just enough to brush her belly against the thickening ridge of his cock. Oh yeah, she'd felt it.

His darkening glance said he had too.

"Guess you did," he growled. "Or were you being that particular when you got dressed?"

His words stung, but her body trembled from sensory overload. Cutter was too much man for her to make the smart choice and shove away from him.

Katie dropped her gaze and tugged one hand free to slip the buttons of his shirt open, one by one. When the opening exposed his bronzed chest and crisp, brown curls, she slid inside it and smoothed her palm over his hot, sweaty skin. "I've always been…particular."

His chest expanded, and then he dragged her hand away, bringing it behind her back to shackle both inside one large fist. "Looks like you've got a choice," he whispered.

"Doesn't seem that way to me," she said just as softly, tugging at her hands—more for show, because she didn't really want to be free.

His face bent toward hers, and her lips parted. But instead of the kiss she craved, he nuzzled into her hair beside her ear. "You know where the door is. You decide one way—don't let it slam you in the ass."

Katie shuddered as he inhaled along her cheek, like an animal scenting prey. "Or?" she managed to force through her tight throat.

He straightened and his glance cut to the stairway leading to the upper floor and the bedrooms.

Her eyes widened. "But you have guests."

"Who are busy sucking down alcohol at the moment. They won't miss me."

Cutter turned her in his arms and jerked her closer, pressing every inch of himself against her backside. His free hand skimmed up the hem of her short dress, sliding up her thigh to the curve of her bare bottom where his hand paused.

She stood still while his body tightened even more against her and his hand slipped forward, over the top of her thigh before gliding right between her legs.

His breath hissed between his teeth even as his fingers slid over her smooth pussy and into moisture.

Katie didn't care that at any moment someone might walk down the hallway and see them like this, with his hand under her skirt, her pussy exposed. She braced apart her legs and let her back bow around her bound hands to lay her shoulders against his chest.

His strong, thick fingers traced her outer folds, then tucked between them to skim over the sensitive inner lips. A single digit dipped inside her entrance and swirled.

Her legs trembled, her knees nearly buckling beneath her.

His hand withdrew from beneath her skirt, and Cutter loosened his grip on her wrists, freeing her, and stepped back. "Choose," he said, in an even voice.

Katie glanced over her shoulder, thinking fast. She knew this wasn't the answer to all their problems, but she wasn't backing down from the challenge in his rigid face. If she ever hoped for another chance…this was it.

She rubbed her wrists, stiffened her spine, then turned in her high-heeled sandals and sauntered toward the stairs.

The winner, by random number generator, of the free download of any of my Samhain eBooks, is…Kristi Thompson! Krsiti, be sure to email me to arrange delivery of your prize!

5 Days to 4-Gone! (Contest!)

You know I like a little drama here from time to time. And a new book releasing, something I'm dying for you to read, is reason enough, right?

A Four-Gone Conclusion releases next Tuesday, so we're gonna have some fanfare! In the meantime, I'm going to lead you down memory lane. Remind you about the cowboys who came before—at least the cowboys from Two Mule, Texas. Enjoy the ride, and if you're feeling anxious about 4-Gone, you can pre-order it today!

Oh, and I've giving away something today—a free download of any of my currently available Samhain books to one lucky winner! Be sure to comment!

* * * * *

Sometimes, I can't help myself. When I stumbled upon Justin, who had to work hard for everything he had, and who loved a girl who was beyond his reach, I couldn't leave well enough alone. Justin had to have some warts. He was a master manipulator. He wanted the girl, but he wanted so much more. Watching him fall for both Dani and Rowe and finally lose control was very, very satisfying…

"…In [UNBRIDLED]…we are following the sexy machinations of Justin, and he does sexy so well it isn't difficult to picture him doling out love to his two subs. It's also remarkably easy to see why they'd be eager to do his bidding. However, it is totally refreshing to watch Dani and Rowe slip the noose and insist on him obeying them for a change of pace… If you are seeking an intensely erotic short read, UNBRIDLED is the one for you…" ~5 Angels, Fallen Angels Reviews

Tough…or tender? If she plays her cards right, she won't have to choose.

Dani Standifer arrives home at her West Texas family ranch a day early, ready to pick up where she left off with Rowe Ayers, her high school sweetheart. However, when she opens the door to their line-shack trysting place, it's clear she waited a day too long. Rowe's with someone else—another man. And not just any other man— Justin Cruz, the bad boy with whom she shared one wild encounter, years ago.

Justin's waited a long time for this moment. He knows his reputation, but since he seduced Rowe, he's been a one-man cowboy—waiting for Dani to return and become the delicious fulfillment of his and Rowe's needs. If she's up to the challenge.

To her own surprise, Dani finds she's more than ready to have both men in her life—as soon as she and Rowe teach Justin a lesson or two about love.

Their small town may not be ready for their kind of relationship. And Dani's brother Cutter's mile-deep grudge against Justin throws in a complication that could break the foundation the three of them have built…

Warning: Hold on for the rodeo of your life with rough ridin' male on male action; blazing hot m/m/f scenes; and melt-your-panties lovin' as each of these sexy cowboys gives it the way they know best to turn their woman inside out.

Don't you dare read this if you aren't over 18!

"Jesus Christ." Rowe bent to grab his blue jeans from the floor, then held them in front of his gleaming cock.

"A little late now," Justin said. "I think she's already jumped to the correct conclusion."

Rowe's fist clenched around his jeans, then he dropped them to the floor and straightened his shoulders. A look of resignation entered his face; a silent plea for understanding glittered in his pale eyes as he returned her stare.

"I didn't know you were gay," Dani blurted out, ignoring Justin's smirk.

Rowe's crimson face tightened. "I'm…it's complicated."

"You're naked, obviously aroused. What could be more simple?" she asked, trying to gather anger around her, but mostly feeling confused. How could she not have known?

"She's got it almost right," Justin murmured.

"Shut up," Rowe bit out.

"Yeah, what'd I miss?" Dani snarled at Justin, hating him at this moment for rubbing her nose in her own naiveté.

"The fact I knew you were comin'," he said, his voice dropping to a sexy purr. "This is your homecomin' present, baby."

"Justin, you bastard!" Rowe said heatedly.

The larger, more rugged man shrugged. "She needed to know. She has choices to make here."

"I would have broken the news more gently."

"Doesn't look like she needs you to sugarcoat it." Justin's gaze pinned her. "She's not exactly looking ready to bolt or puke. Fact is, the thought of it, of watching us, turns her on."

"Does not," Dani denied hotly, heat filling her face.

"Your nipples always poke holes in your shirt?"

"You're a jerk." And yet, she barely resisted the urge to cross her arms over her breasts. She tilted her chin in defiance while heat crept deeper into her cheeks. She met his narrowed gaze, while images flashed through her mind. Since she knew what both men looked like naked, she couldn't help the raw, nasty pictures that flashed one after the other.

And yes, they aroused her.

"Prove me wrong," Justin murmured. "Leave now."

Dani shot Rowe a hot glare. "You gonna let him talk to me like that?"

Rowe's jaw flexed, but he didn't offer any response.

"He doesn't let me do anything," Justin said slowly. "He obeys me. In all things—here, at least. Rowan, your cock's flagging." Justin's gaze dropped, drawing all their glances to Rowe's sex, which pulsed and lifted again.

Rowe groaned.

"Get it ready for me," Justin growled.

Rowe's eyes closed briefly, then a look Dani had never seen slid across Rowe's face—something vulnerable and needy. "Justin, not now."

"Not now, what?" Justin said, his voice dead even.

"Please," Rowan whispered, his strong jaw flexing.

"Uh-unh." Justin shook his head. "You've carried around this picture of your innocent little sweetheart for years. But I don't think you really know her at all."

"And you think you do?" Dani bit out, hoping like hell the bastard wasn't getting ready to drop the other shoe that she'd succumbed to his bad boy charm herself. Rowe didn't deserve finding out that the two people he'd taken as lovers had a history of their own.

"The things you asked him to do, Dani," Justin said, his tone dropping to a raspy rumble. "The sexy little spankings, the special bonds you left underneath the bed… It's not in him to do that to you, but he did because he cares."

Dani's jaw dropped and her embarrassment caused her to tremble. "Rowe, you told him about that?"

Again, a muscle flexed along Rowe's square jaw. "I wasn't gossiping. It just slipped out. He found your things and asked. He's a friend."

"Friend?" Justin straightened away from the doorframe. "I'm a little more than that, aren't I? You don't keep any secrets from me."

But Rowe had kept one big goddamn secret from her. Dani's shoulders slumped.

"Don't take it so hard, Dani," Justin said, all traces of mockery gone now. "He loves you…almost as much as he loves me. But every time he was with you, every time he spanked that pretty little ass of yours, he was denying his own nature. Rowe's submissive. Just like you. He's just finally figured out he's not finicky about which gender offers him the kind of sex he craves."

"How the hell did you figure that out?" she bit out. "I've known him all my life."

"Because I watched him…with you. When you dared him into spanking you, he didn't get off on the act. He only got hard when you told him what it did to you, what it made you feel."

Her mouth suddenly went dry. The thought of Justin's dark, hungry glance raking her body as he watched her with Rowe caused another distressing wash of arousal to dampen her panties. She licked her lips. "You watched us?"

"Sometimes," he said softly. "You weren't as careful as you thought. Had to run interference a time or two with your big brother."

"Cutter knows?" she asked, her voice rising. "About Rowe and me?"

"He suspects. But he never got close enough to the cabin to ever know for sure. You have me to thank. And if I happened to catch a glimpse or two of your…sessions…well, I think I earned the right."

"Pervert!"

"Who's the pervert? Me for watching, or you for wanting his hands to leave your ass pink?" He lifted his chin toward Rowe. "Or him for needing the same damn thing from another man?"

"I don't believe you. Not about Rowe. This…" she said, gazing at the mattress in the middle of the floor, "…is just him experimenting a little. But I'm back now." Her gaze locked with Rowe's, pleading with him. "It doesn't mean anything. Not to us."

Rowe's glance fell away from hers, and her stomach dropped. What he had with Justin was important. Special enough that he hadn't bothered dressing because Justin didn't want him to.

"Dani, I never wanted to hurt you." Rowe's tone was low, aching.

Like the lump filling the back of her throat.

"Tell yourself whatever lies you need to stay in happy land, Dani. But we're about to get busy." Justin opened his belt and stripped back one side then locked gazes with her. "Now's your chance. You can run out the door. You don't have to see anything that might traumatize you."

Why was Justin being so cruel? He'd won. He didn't have to rub her nose in this mess. "I'm not a scared little virgin," she said, her voice shaking.

"But you're also not faithful to your boyfriend here either, are you?"

Dani stared at Justin's hard face through shimmering tears. "Justin…don't."

"He can't fulfill you," he said softly. "Not those dirty needs that keep you restless even after he's fucked you."

"Shut up," she said, tears filling her eyes.

Justin pulled apart the snaps of his shirt, letting it fall open to expose the dark fur of his broad, muscular chest. Then he unsnapped the top button of his pants. "Last warning…"

She stood rooted, unable to move as he scraped his zipper down.

"Rowe, take out my dick," he said, never looking away from her. "Now."

"Fuck." Rowe's tone was agonized, but his cock bobbed eagerly between his legs. "Dani, get out."

But she couldn't. Part of her died a little in that moment. But another part, one only Justin had ever touched, caught fire.

"Rowe, don't disappoint me," Justin said, his gaze never leaving Dani's.

Rowe's naked feet dragged across the floor. His expression was taut, his cheeks a brighter red than they'd been moments ago.

Justin firmed his jaw. "Can't turn back now. She knows. Let her see what it's like. If she hates you afterward, she isn't worth cryin' over."

Dani narrowed her eyes, knowing he expected her to bolt. She braced apart her feet and lifted her chin higher, even while she questioned whether she really could do this—watch the only two men she'd ever known intimately have sex.

Rowe didn't glance her way, but his chest rose sharply. Then he slipped his hand inside Justin's pants and slowly drew out his cock. His fingers clasped the shaft gingerly, but his thumb rubbed slowly over the smooth cap. Justin's cock thickened.

"Push down my pants," Justin said, his voice tighter than it had been before.

Both of Rowe's hands slid over Justin's narrow hips and shoved down the faded jeans.

Dani hated to admit it, even to herself, but watching Rowe do such an intimate thing to another man, knowing how the scrape of his rough palms felt on her own bottom, caused her sex to melt.

"Get on your knees and take me in your mouth," Justin rasped.

Rowe groaned, and Dani understood the feeling. Shame and arousal roiled together. Her own body was hot, moisture seeping into the crotch of the lacy undies she'd worn just for Rowe.

Rowe knelt, his hand shaking as he gripped Justin's cock and brought it to his mouth.

Justin cupped the back of Rowe's head with one hand, his fingers threading through Rowe's honey brown hair with surprising tenderness. For long moments, he stared as the other man's lips closed around the tip of his cock and sucked.

Rowe's cheeks hollowed, his eyes closed tightly, but his hesitation ended there. Surrendering, he groaned and opened wide his jaws, gliding along the thick, veined shaft.

"That's it," Justin said softly. "Take me deeper," he said, stroking his hips forward, his cock disappearing into Rowe's eager mouth. Then his gaze rose. For a moment, something almost haunted entered his expression. That wicked brow rose again. "He does it because he knows the rewards. But so do you, don't you, sweetheart?"

Dani didn't answer. She couldn't have pushed a word through her tightening throat if a rattler had slithered over her boot. Watching both men, engaged in such a carnal act, caused unexpected emotions to rise inside her. Sadness, because she'd never guessed Rowe wasn't fully satisfied with her. Jealousy, because Rowe never made those hungry sounds when he went down on her. And shame, because she wished she were brave enough to approach them and sink to her knees beside Rowe.

How she wished Justin would command her to, take the choice away from her. The hard edge of his voice when he'd cut through Rowe's objections had caused her own body to react with an instant, juicy response.

Justin braced his legs apart, and his face darkened as Rowe's strokes, forward and back along his shaft, picked up the pace. The slippery suctioning sounds and choked excitement gurgling in Rowe's throat caused Dani's whole body to vibrate.

Forgotten for the moment by both men, she wet her lips with her tongue as she imagined how Justin might taste. Moisture flooded her channel as her inner muscles clenched hard.

When Justin flung back his long, black-brown hair, her breath hitched. Starkly masculine elation softened his expression for just a second before his head lowered and his hard gaze met hers, issuing a wordless challenge.

Only Dani wasn't ready to accept. She lost her nerve, turned and fled through the door of the cabin, stumbling down the steps in her haste, before catching herself on the rail and bolting toward her horse.

Booted heels bit into the wood porch, but she didn't look back. With the sun sliding below the horizon, she nudged her heels into her mare's sides, kicking up dust behind her and leaving both men in her wake.

Guest Blogger: Natasha Moore

What's Your Fantasy?

by Natasha Moore

We all have them. Those sexual fantasies that get you hot when you close your eyes and let your imagination fly. I used to think there was something wrong with me when I became aroused while I imagined a faceless man tying me up and touching me. Or when I fantasized about more than one set of hands on me, more than one mouth pleasuring me.

Then I discovered erotic romance, and I will be forever grateful. It wasn't just me! Other women had fantasies too, and even if we never wanted to live out those fantasies in real life, we could read about them. I could write about them! And while I'll never experience all my fantasies for real, my sex life with my husband quickly became better and more inventive. And I give all the credit to erotic romance.

I can let my imagination run wild. I can live out any fantasy I desire. There's such freedom in that. We don't need to be ashamed or embarrassed. We can enjoy our fantasies, feel safe as we use them in our imagination, use them for our own pleasure.

But some people do want to live out their fantasies, and sometimes they NEED to. That was the idea behind my new series, Paolo's Playhouse. An exclusive club with playrooms designed for any fantasy. In each of the four stories in the series, the couples are at a crossroad, and while the sex is hot, the emotions are intense. For I believe in erotic romance, the characters and their emotions are as important, if not more important, than the hot, kinky sex.

The first story, Flaunt It, released from Samhain on Aug 30th.

When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben's bar, has it all going on. Now that they're dating, though, Ben wishes she'd dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every a laugh at some customer's lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.

Sure, they're dating, but he's no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?

Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo's fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won't prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he's not that special to her at all…

The second story in the series, Risk It, takes place in the playroom on the other side of the two-way mirror. It will release Nov 15th.

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband's climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn't had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she's too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will's long hours at work aren't the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo's Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she's never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they'd camp out in a club's back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their "us" time, and if she's booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she's serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it's too late to try.

Let's talk about the fantasies. First there's exhibitionism in Flaunt It. Then voyeurism in Risk It. February will see the release of Birthday Girl, which has a ménage and a bit of BDSM. The final story, Plaything, scheduled in May, deals more strongly with BDSM. I did mention I've had that bondage fantasy going on for years.

So is anyone out there willing to admit to their own fantasies? What kind of stories do you like to fantasize about? I plan to be writing erotic romance for a long, long time and I'd love to play with your fantasies too.

Thanks to Delilah for having me as her guest today!

Natasha

www.natashamoore.com

One Week–Two Books!

In one week, two books are set to drop—two very different books!

For those of you who enjoy the sexy cowboy stories with multiple pairings…

One devilish night…or a chance at heaven?

Sam Logan's foster sons have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. Most of it earned. When it becomes clear they don't plan on giving up scootin' after ever pretty pair of boots in town anytime soon, he issues the one thing he knows they can't resist: a challenge. Find a wife.

The oldest, Johnny, is actually grateful. He's had his eye on Mean Ellie Harker for a long time, and Sam's challenge is the kick in the pants he needed to ask her out. Except before he can make his move, his brothers kidnap her right out from under his nose. Now, instead of being one question away from victory, he has to compete for the woman of his dreams.

Ellie thought she'd be a dried up old spinster before Johnny finally untangled his tongue long enough to ask for a date. But instead of teaching him better uses for that tongue, his brothers have whisked her away to the ranch. At first she's furious…then intrigued when she starts to wonder what it might be like…

Warning: Four handsome cowboys. Four choices. Would it be a single sordid night or a chance at heaven as she savors every luscious inch of the Logan brothers?

4-Gone is available for pre-order—save $1.05 now!

Order it now!

Read an excerpt now!

* * * * *

For those who love vampires, but would love to read something with a fresh new twist…

"…These vampires are as different as anything readers have ever seen…these are original, sometimes devastating, and at other times unusual and brilliant…." from Love Romance Passion

"…The all new stories in this anthology will surprise you with their cleverness and their erotica. But they are more than erotic—they are sensitive and emotional and to me, at least, they fall into the category that I call literary erotica…" from Reviews by Amos Lassen

For bad girls looking for love…fangs are more than an accessory.

These are no Twilight tales—the stories in Girls Who Bite are varied, unexpected, and soul-scorching. Bestselling romance writer Delilah Devlin and her contributors investigate vampire myths from around the world, and add fresh girl-on-girl blood to the pantheon of the paranormal.

Take a walk on the wild side with some of the hottest erotic romance authors out there. In "La Caída," a Mexican "salt-eater" saves a fallen angel and redeems her own soul. In "Bloody Wicked," a powerful witch's spell to lure a lover turns her into a vampire's love slave. Through a "Pet Door," a shapeshifting vampire meets the dominatrix of her dreams. South African "Impundulu" sweeps you back into a vampire's primeval beginnings. With a list of contributors that include Adele Dubois, Christine d'Abo, Paisley Smith, Myla Jackson, Shayla Kersten and Vivi Anna, Devlin delivers a dark and sexy read you can sink your teeth into!

So, sit astride the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, sail with modern-day pirates, watch a meteor fall to earth, and taste the powdery wings of a Monarch butterfly. Not things you'd expect in a vampire tale? Then sip O-positive from a femoral artery while tugging at the silky strands of your lover's hair. Eternally delicious.

Amazon jumped the gun, so you can order it now!

Read an excerpt now!

And just for fun…

I placed an excerpt from my latest cowboy story into this online "tool." Check out the result and give it your own try!

I write like
Anne Rice

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

Guest Blogger: Chandra Ryan

I Need A Hero

by Chandra Ryan

Really, who doesn't? But, when I'm writing, that seems to be a major sticking point for my muse. The hero. He has to be perfect. Not for me, of course—some of the heroes I've written wouldn't make it a month with me—but for my heroine. So what is it that makes a good hero?

In Ravenborne, I needed someone the heroine, Saraphina Raven, could trust. That was crucial. Sara had grown up a piece of power in a political game of chess. And potential mates had always been more interested in her family's power and money than her. It was just a fact of life. One she didn't fully appreciate, though, until raiders murdered her family and destroyed their keep.

Second to trust was loyalty. She needed someone who was loyal to her above anything and anyone else. In a world filled with conceded, power-hungry families, this was a definite problem.

And lastly, she really needed a champion. In the seven years that followed the raid, she'd fought all her battles alone. Sure, she'd made some friends along the way, but none that could help her with the challenges life continued to throw at her. And she really needs help, even if she believes she can do it all on her own.

So is Kavin Hunter the man for the job? Being the King's Right, he's already sworn his loyalty to the crown. And if that wasn't enough, he's the brother of the bastard she'd been betrothed to. But he does have a couple things going for him. Sara does trust him. And the pesky man insists on fighting her battles, even the ones she wishes he'd stay out of.

It's not much but, in a game where the pieces are stacked against them, it might just be enough to give them a fighting chance.

So what about you, have you ever had to hunt for specific characteristics when looking for your hero? I'm giving away a download of Ravenborne to someone who answers. Just leave your hero requirement(s) and your e-mail address in the comments for a chance to win.

And, just in case you were curious, mine was loyalty. I needed someone who'd always be on my side. And yes, I found him. We'll be celebrating our fourteenth anniversary this November.

Tale of Two Contests

I love it that you came by to see what's happenin' here today, but you're one click away from the fun! Today, I'm blogging at Wild & Wicked Cowboys and have a very important question for you all! And of course, there's a prize involved. My dd says I'm an impulsive giver.

And remember, the Bored Fairy and a Signed Book contest continues! Post a comment here to win! ~DD

A Question…

I'll keep it simple today. I'm off for a few hours with the ladies of the family. We're going "antiquing"—just a nice word for lookin' at a bunch of junk. It's an excuse to get out of the house for a few hours, and some of us (me!) are a little restless after being chained to a desk for a week. I promise I won't be away from my keyboard for long. And I'll be sure to keep my eyes out for something fun or odd for a giveaway.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a question…

If you could have 50 pounds of anything other than money, what would you want?

Guest Blogger: Marika Weber (Contest!)

Psst! Remember, the Bored Fairy and a Signed Book contest continues!

Post a comment to win! ~DD

One Reviewer's Take

I want to thank Delilah for having me on her blog today. It's really an honor. Most people don't want a reviewer on their blog much less having them talk about reviews.

Okay, right to it…a little background about myself. I live in East Texas, raised in Dallas, married with one son in 1st grade and I work an EDJ. I review for Night Owl Reviews, The Romance Studio and The Forbidden Bookshelf. I also have a review blog that I update semi-regularly. Why the information about me? To let you know, that I'm a real person, with a real life and real everyday issues. I'm not a god, a fairy, or an ogre. I bleed just like you do. Why the dramatics about me? I have some things that I want to talk to you about reviewing and what goes through my mind when I'm reading a book for review.

1. I get to pick the books that I review. Bet you didn't know that? Well, I do and I choose books/authors/publishers that I normally don't read or know much about. I pick books that are way out of my comfort zone. When I decided to review, I decided that I wouldn't read books or authors that I was comfortable with. In the year that I began reviewing, I have found authors, genres and publishers that I seek out on a regular basis. I have been given books to review from authors for my blog and again, I follow the same guidelines if I was reviewing it for one of the sites that I review for.

2. When I review a book, I look for the following: plot (does it hold my interest?), characters (do I even like them?), flow (am I having to start and stop all the time?) and lastly, did the characters connect emotionally and was it believable?

3. When writing a review, I don't give out spoilers, the ending, the conflict, nor do I give out plot points. I will however, talk about what I did like about the book and what I didn't. I hate when book review blogs from individuals give you a dissertation on the book. I mean, why buy the book in the first place? The blog already told you everything that you needed to now and more. This is becoming more and more commonplace with so many people reviewing books on their blogs and it really pisses me off. I have books on my Nook that I bought that sadly, I'll probably never read because of it. Grrr…

4. Also, if you get a bad review, just remember, its only ONE reviewer's opinion. Some people are going to love your stuff and some won't love it. Reviewing is subjective and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if the review is snarky and/or down right rude and mean, please, please let the review coordinator/owner know. That should not be tolerated at all. That does happen and it puts all reviewers in a bad light.

5. Lastly, why do I review? I review because I love to read. Period. Some reviewers crave the power they have over an author but for me that's the wrong reason to review. I review for the simple pleasure of reading and then telling people why I liked it.

If you're an author, tell me some of your experiences good or bad with reviewers. No names, please. If you're a reader, what do you look for in a review? I've listed below links to where I review to check me out. I look forward to hearing from you.

http://harliebooks.blogspot.com—personal review blog

www.nightowlreviews.com—Marika is my review name

www.theromancestudio.com—Marika is my review name

www.theforbiddenbookshelf.com—Kate is my review name

One last thing, contest…to one commentator a GC of $10 to either B&N or Amazon. And you thought reviewers were stuffy and not human?