Lily Harlem's Blog, page 241

Saturday Spankings #SatSpanks

Greetings, I'm so happy you've joined me for a spank! This week a follow on from two Saturday's ago. Karen and Jacob are still out in the woods and things are hotting up!

The branch he wielded swung down again, the cold air shifting out of its way just a fraction of a second before it hit.I moaned long and low, no longer mustering the energy to remain completely silent.He picked up the pace, striking me fast and hard—they weren’t pansy hits, they had real male muscle behind them and each lash bit like a snake. Before long they all blurred, each cruel sting meshing with the last until my arse was just one thrumming mass of pain.A barrage of emotions overwhelmed me as I hung there, in the dark woods, my arse penetrated and being beaten by Jacob’s branch. I never would have thought I’d have this experience, but it was so liberating. Jacob inflicting this erotic pain had given me a whole new level of sensation. A whole new understanding of myself.As suddenly as it started, the beating stopped.I didn’t move, just allowed myself to be suspended by the ropes as I panted through the pain and listened to my pulse raging in my ears. My buttocks and the tops of my thighs were on fire, burning, and as the cold night stroked over them they sizzled and stung.“Look at me,” he said.
You can pick up a copy of That Filthy Book from all good retailers in ebook and print and check out the 5* reviews on Amazon. And if you enjoy Pinterest, check out Karen and Jacob's filthy board!

Hot Summer Romance Hop

Welcome to the Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Hop. It's great to see you here and I hope you're having a great time, keep reading to find out about grand prizes and my giveaway, and while you're here lets have ponder on the external benefits of reading erotic romance - in other words not just the pleasure of immersing oneself in fantasy with big, hot, raring-to-go hunks, but whether or not it improves individual's sex lives and spices up bedroom time. 




Certainly I believe introducing eroticism into the bedroom in the form of literature can only be beneficial, it gets you in the mood, gives you ideas and heightens the awareness of all things sexy - including your partner who, lets face it, can occasionally be neglected.
I say this because I did a secret bit of research recently on a friend who was an unwitting guinea pig - still is. She loves her man very much, they have been together for years, but she was finding that when it came to playing 'hide the sausage' it just wasn't happening for her, she wasn't up for it, the desire just not there - luckily she likes to talk, a lot, especially after a glass of wine.



In a totally separate conversation, we went on to chat about what books we were reading. At this point I confessed that I'd just re-read The Story of O. She however told me she was reading some awful zombie story. It was all horror, gore and suspense. I say awful because to me that sort of story is awful, and certainly not my choice of bed-time reading. No, I like to snuggle down with heart-stoppingly gorgeous men and wonderfully romantic and sexy tales spinning around my head, not blood and guts spilling out all over the place and wondering what every bump and bang in the house is at night - but that's just me.


Anyway, being a bit bossy, which I'm afraid I am, I told her that her reading material may well be the root of her libido problem. At which point she topped up our wine and said, "Go on." I pointed out that it was logical, if you're stressed and wound up as you go to sleep, wondering if that zombie is going to come and get you (doesn't help that she lives in a creepy old farmhouse that dates back two hundred years) then how are you going to feel in the mood for a bit of fun. For her this was like a revelation, for me it was common sense (told you I'm bossy!!!).
I set her a challenge to just read books I recommended for the next month to see if she would feel able to make the switch from fleecy pyjamas to satin nightie!


All the time I was being very scientific- well, no, not really but there you go - and I started off with gentle romances with a bit of action and when she said how much she enjoyed them I upped the heat level. Giving her stories with much more graphic sex scenes and a sprinkle of kink.
Before long she was texting me to say how much she was enjoying the books, she was neglecting her day time chores to read and getting through my paperback collection at a rate of knots.
Time to ply her with wine again...



Sure enough, she was soon telling me about the naughtiness her and hubby had been up to the night before, not loads of details but enough to make her blush and for me to know that my experiment had been a success. "I'm going to have to get a Kindle," she said. "So people can't see the covers of what I'm reading!" 
So in conclusion I would say that yes, reading erotic novels of any heat level can increase your sex-drive. And one of the most poignant things my friend said was that as she was reading all of these books, thinking about the dashing heroes and the sex and emotions, when actually, she had a hero of her own, lying right next to her, she just had to grab what was hers and make herself the star of her own erotic novel!!




Do share your thoughts, I would love to know if anyone else has done any serious studies on this matter!
Lily x
Oh, and talking of married couples, check out my co-author with Natalie Dae called That Filthy Book. All about a relationship that finds itself on a steep learning curve as the couple rediscover the joys of how they used to be...and more!


Check out the 5* reviews for That Filthy Book and if you fancy winning a copy just leave me a comment and your email address and I will pick a winner at random at the end of the hop.

Don't forget about the grand prizes too - A Kindle Fire AND a $50 Amazon giftcard.

Lily x


BACK TO THE HOP

Coming Soon - The Sexy as Hell Trilogy by Harlem Dae

 Find out more on my website

Congrats to Xcite!

Huge congratulations to one of my publishers, Xcite who have won the IPG Specialist publisher of the year!

I have three stories available from them, two in anthologies and one novella.

First Chapter of High-Sticked FREE

Read the full first chapter of the latest Hot Ice novel, High-Sticked for FREE at Renee Bagby's First Chapter Blog


Great new review from The Jeep Diva!
High-Sticked by Lily Harlem was sexy and sultry as life for Matthew and Todd played out on and off the ice rink. Todd Carty, forward for the Rangers ice hockey team finally decided to take the bull by the horns and admitted to himself that he is not only gay, but has fallen for photographer Matthew Foster. Matthew Foster was out and proud with a circle of wonderful friends that formed his family.

Life was not easy as the two began to bond after meeting on an Armani shoot in which the hockey phenomenon was the star. Todd decided that if he was going to be in a relationship with Matthew then it would not be a dirty little secret. Unfortunately being a professional athlete in a world of macho men brought its own set of conflicts and mountains to climb.

As always Ms. Harlem produced a sexy and loving tale as the two men grew closer together. Sexual intercourse was not the center of the story as Todd and Matthew found sensuality in their shared existence.  But have no fear, when they finally came together the sex was explosive.

Ms. Harlem delivered passion and grace as she wrote of their caresses and exploration. The slow build-up of a new relationship was meaningfully delivered as the author traveled the line of friendship to love.

The secondary characters added substance and depth to the story as each had a vested interest in the happiness of Todd and Matthew. High-Sticked was a wonderful addition to the Hot Ice series and should not be missed.

Amazon US  Amazon UK Ellora's Cave ARe B&N Kobo

Sexy as Hell by Harlem Dae - Release Date!

The moment we've all be waiting for is just around the corner. After months of hard work, the Sexy as Hell Trilogy, written by myself and Natalie Dae and published under the name Harlem Dae has a release date - 25th of July. What's more the first book in this series (best read in order) The Virgin, is going to be FREE for the first five days.

Here is a little information about these steamy BDSM novels, if you want to know more about the individual stories then head on over to the Harlem Dae website.

Sexy as Hell: an erotic trilogy that will submerge you into the black heart of a world of bondage and discipline, Dominance and submission, sadism and masochism.
Dare to take this twisting journey with Victor and you’ll learn the ropes with him, experience every carnal sensation and fall into a dark and dangerous love that grips like a fist and binds like a collar.
Get to know Zara, his sultry teacher, and you’ll gasp when she doles out her sinful instructions but then delight in the stunning results she not only demands but achieves. It seems Heaven and Hell are not so far apart when she holds the reins.
Victor has his layers peeled back, but when he does the same to try to get to his Vixen’s core, a revelation appears. Because Zara is a woman whose vast sexual experience is both her strength and her weakness; she can inflict pain and pleasure, make lusty demands and instruct, but she needs so much more, she needs…
Yes, the time has come to for her to admit to her needs and confess to the repairing her soul hungers for. A sea of memories, a lifetime of control requires an acknowledgement that will cut through her barriers, and there’s only one man up for the job—her virgin, her student, her newly trained monster, Victor Partridge.

Weekend Writing Warriors #WeWrWa

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors. This week one from an oldie, the first in my Hot Ice series, HIRED, which stars Brooke Ambrose and Logan 'Phoenix' Taylor, the bad boy of the Orlando Vipers!

I searched out Logan at the same time the camera did and suddenly his flushed face filled the big screen right in front of us.“And here’s the man they needed back in play,” the commentator jabbered in my ear. “And not one trip to the sin bin. This must be a record for Phoenix.”Logan’s hair was damp and stuck in black licks around his temples. His eyes stared into the crowd unmoving as he nodded and shook hands with a teammate. I glanced back down at the ice. He was looking straight at me from the center circle. The noise of the arena continued as did the radio chatter, but in my head the vast stadium was silent, there was only Logan and me in the whole place. 


Find out more about HOT ICE on my website

Saturday Spankings #SatSpanks

Welcome to Saturday Spankings. An exclusive preview today from the new Sexy as Hell Trilogy written by myself and Natalie Dae and due to be published later this month under the name Harlem Dae.


The first book in the series is called The Virgin, here is the blurb -


London – One meeting, one month of lessons and a landslide of depraved new desires.

My journey to Hell started with a decaff coffee. Nothing more than a grey mug full of dull-brown liquid devoid of its most useful ingredient.

One sip, one smile, one touch of her hand and it was soon clear my life wasn’t destined to stay dull. Oh, no, suddenly I had a month of bedroom education planned by a sultry vixen who intended to broaden my horizons beyond my usual peach-pink palette. 

She wanted to take me to deep purples and navy blues and the pitch blackness that was pure sin. And on the other side of that blackness was a place that might look like Hell, with debauchery and wantonness, people playing devil’s advocate, luring innocents into the hotter, steamier corners of the world.

Her world.

Oh, yes, she promised each night to take me there and paint me an orange-and-red picture that would come alive, flickering like flames, enticing me, holding me spellbound and eager to learn more. To touch, explore, drown in coming.

And drown I would. I was no match for her tricks and taunts. My only chance of survival was to show her that I was no vanilla virgin. I had a rainbow of mastery up my sleeve, too, and if she just opened her eyes, she might be dazzled enough to stay—stay and take ‘my’ lessons. If she didn’t kill me first, that was, with pleasure.



Here's your spank, or rather flog, Zara is at work and has brought her 'student' Victor along to watch the show from a viewing room. He's rather confused by the D/s display but also turned on, and you know it's just a matter of time before he's begging for the same treatment. This particular section of the book is written from Victor's view point...

With slow, teasing strokes, she swept the flogger down his back several times. He was shaking slightly, his right buttock now burnt red from the swipe she’d given him.
Suddenly she treated his left buttock to the same hard whack. Again I jumped—it seemed as though I was rushing to imagine the sensation, the skin on my bum tingling and warm.
His head snapped up, and he drew one hand, though pressed onto the floor, into a fist.That had hurt. Zara had put all her strength into the blow, and with what, about nine, ten, tails to strike his flesh, it was a lot of strips of agony to cope with.But now she was squatting behind him, smoothing a palm over the blushed buttocks. Caressing sweeps of her hand rubbing away the pain. He shoved backwards onto her touch and hung his head low. She manoeuvred him slightly so his arse was angled directly towards my window.I nibbled my bottom lip, tried to create a little more space for my cock by shifting the crotch of my jeans.Zara handled this big brute like he was an object, a slave, something to toy with.Why was he allowing it?


Sexy as Hell: an erotic trilogy that will submerge you into the black heart of a world of bondage and discipline, Dominance and submission, sadism and masochism.

Dare to take this twisting journey with Victor and you’ll learn the ropes with him, experience every carnal sensation and fall into a dark and dangerous love that grips like a fist and binds like a collar.

Get to know Zara, his sultry teacher, and you’ll gasp when she doles out her sinful instructions but then delight in the stunning results she not only demands but achieves. It seems Heaven and Hell are not so far apart when she holds the reins.

Victor has his layers peeled back, but when he does the same to try to get to his Vixen’s core, a revelation appears. Because Zara is a woman whose vast sexual experience is both her strength and her weakness; she can inflict pain and pleasure, make lusty demands and instruct, but she needs so much more, she needs…

Yes, the time has come to for her to admit to her needs and confess to the repairing her soul hungers for. A sea of memories, a lifetime of control requires an acknowledgement that will cut through her barriers, and there’s only one man up for the job—her virgin, her student, her newly trained monster, Victor Partridge.

COMING SOON

Coming Together Treasures by Sommer Marsden

If you adore Sommer Marsden's eloquent and sexy stories as much as I do then you really will adore this collection of 13 of her short erotic reads aptly titled Coming Together Treasures. All proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, so go on, grab your copy and open up a box of delights to spice up your day.

Find out more about Sommer and all her work on her website.

High-Sticked Review.

I'm thrilled that High-Sticked has just had a wonderful review on one of my favourite erotica websites, Erotica For All.

REVIEW...
High-Sticked is book five in Lily Harlem’s Hot Ice series, about hockey players. It’s also her first m/m title.
This is the story of Todd ‘Pretty’ Carty, who we’ve heard a little about in Teamwork, the previous book in this series. He’s moved to New York City and a new hockey team, and things are going great. He’s doing a shoot for Armani to help promote their latest fragrance for men, and he’s working with a top-notch photographer.
That photographer is British Matthew Foster, a gay man who’s fancied Todd since he first laid eyes on him. But he doesn’t think any more of it. Todd’s a notorious womaniser, so he certainly wouldn’t look at another guy… or would he? The story that follows is about how the two men eventually come together, and how that impacts them, their lives, their friends and family, and, inevitably, the media. It’s a really hard time for Todd, who’s coming to terms with his sexuality and his feelings for Matthew all at once.
Although this book, and all the others in the Hot Ice series are standalones, in my opinion, it’s much better if you read them all in order. As well as Todd, other characters from Teamwork appear in High-Sticked and you’ll have much more context and a richer experience if you know the full story. Plus if you adore the characters as much as I do, you’ll be really pleased to see them again and see what’s happened to them since the last book.
To me, it didn’t make the slightest difference that this is the first m/m in the series. I love Lily Harlem’s storytelling, the way she develops her characters, her plots, her writing style and her incredibly hot sex scenes. This was another excellent book in a fantastic series and I can’t wait to see which character from this “world” that she’s going to write about next. Highly recommended.