Lily Harlem's Blog, page 268

Special Guest - Mia Downing

Please welcome the lovely Mia Downing who has stopped by with tons of information about herself and her wonderful books, keep reading to find out how you can not only grab yourself a free copy of Lethal Limits but also enter a contest to win more...




Mia, I am so thrilled that you’ve stopped by my blog today. Your stories look super hot and I’m sure we are going to have a great time.
Thank you so much for having me, Lily! I’m going to give away an e-copy of one of my books, winner’s choice, to a lucky comment leaver.
Can you start by telling us whereabouts in the world you sit and dream up your stories?
I dream up my stories in rural Connecticut, just outside of New Haven. We’re far enough out in the country so it’s very peaceful on my little farm.
How many books do you have published to date? 
I have 5 books out right now, and another novella to be released any day. Four are with The Wild Rose Press and there’s one novella I had edited and self-published since it’s straight erotica and TWRP only takes erotic romance.



Ripped (m/m short novella, very light BDSM):
The Wild Rose Press: BUY
Amazon US: BUY



Exceeding Boundaries (m/f office romance, light kink and BDSM):
The Wild Rose Press: BUY
Amazon US: BUY



Spy Games: Trained for Seduction (m/f/m super spies! Light kink and BDSM) (Spy Games #1)
The Wild Rose Press: BUY
Amazon  US: BUY



Spy Games: Birthday Games (m/f/m short novella, light kink and BDSM) (Spy Games 1.5)
Amazon only: BUY 



Spy Games: Lethal Limits (m/f, with kink and very light BDSM) (Spy Games #2)
Amazon: BUY 
Lethal Limits will be FREE on Amazon Nov 7-11!!!!!
I love your covers! Do you get any say in their design?
Thank you! I think they’re rather yummy, too. As far as a say in design, yes, and no. My editor is my cover artist—how lucky is that? So she knows the books intimately, and has an idea of what to put on them. We have detailed art sheets we fill out as well. Unfortunately, what you picture isn’t always what you can get because there are just so many things to be done with stock art. You have a better chance of striking gold in downtown Manhattan than you do of finding a hot blond guy. She won’t put horses on my cover unless I write a Cowboy Kink. ::sniff::
The cover needs to reflect your genre, so an erotic romance cover has to be sexy. If you want to write erotic romance, suck up to the fact it’s going to contain a hot, nearly naked man or woman. The cover for Ripped was not what we originally wanted, but I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it!
I notice you have two books in your Spy Game series. What is it about writing a series that you enjoy?
There are actually going to be three full-length books in the series, and a set of shorter novellas to fill in the gaps between. I love the world I’ve created for them, and how the characters interact from book to book. Because they’re super spies a la James Bond, they are cooler and more bad ass than your normal character. They don’t get the cool gadgets, though!
Describe your writing schedule in the winter? I know you have animals, do they take up a big chunk of your day?
My schedule changes from day to day. Right now writing and editing are my only jobs, so I try to get to the desk first thing and get to work. I usually do any promo that needs to be done first thing or last thing. My best writing time is at night, but I can write during the day as needed. I’m a fast writer, so 10-30,000 words a week is standard if the story is flowing. It comes in fits and spurts, though.
The animals are fairly easy despite having a herd of them. We have cows, a horse, chickens, a dog and 2 cats. The horse needs regular exercising and care, which is done after school when my daughter gets home. The cows are the beef kind, so no milking required.

Do you have an overall favourite character in your books?
I really like them all, but I think I admire Kate Wells from Spy Games: Trained for Seduction the most. She’s caught between a rock and a hard place, and fortunately, that hard place is Chase’s chest! She’s the genius daughter of a mad scientist, and she’s been trapped in his lab, creating bombs and other weapons of mass destruction for him. She thinks they’re selling their weapons to the US, but eventually discovers she’s been used as a smart pawn. Chase was the man sent in to bust her father, and was also the man who took her to third base. She eventually discovers he’s her boss, and he’s been chosen as the man to finish the job so she’s trained for seduction.
Kate is strong, sassy and though she didn’t choose to be a spy, she’s happy with her new life. She has an incredible partner and trainer, Jake Anderson, who is her best friend though he lusts after her. And slowly but surely, she’s falling for Chase.
Is there anywhere in the world you haven’t set a book yet but would love to – and by that I mean visiting first for that all important research!
I’d love to visit Egypt and the pyramids. Ireland. England. And there are tons of places in America I haven’t yet seen.
Do you have a beta reader?
I actually have several. Everyone has preferences, so m/m may not be for some of them, or they may not really enjoy a ménage. My two main go-to women have been my friends for over a decade and are both published. They also know how to tell me I suck without making me curl up into a fetal ball for days.
For the Spy Games series I actually went and hunted down fresh victims who had never read the previous books so I could make sure the books could stand alone. I hate jumping into a series and being confused. I also rely heavily on my editor for her input.
Any tips for new writers?
Write! Write lots! Send your books out, collect the rejections and then write your next book. Don’t spend precious time revising over and over when publishers tell you no. Put it away and write something different. Learn from your mistakes and realize you’ll make new ones. Bad grammar is not synonymous with voice. Learn the writing rules before you try to break them. Blog even if you hate it. Always be nice.
Have you ever had extreme reviews for the same book? For example I had one reviewer say my book was ‘disturbing on so many levels’, and then another reviewer say it was ‘Hot, Hot, Hot and she wanted more’? How do you cope with reviews?
Oh yes, I’m just starting to get into the world of weird or conflicting reviews. I have a DNF (did not finish) from a reviewer nestled between two reviewers who had stayed up all night reading and loved it. I’ve now made it a goal to get a DNF for each book from a reviewer, since embracing the embarrassment instead of hiding from it seems to be more fun.
It’s definitely hard to read a bad review, because I put long hours into writing what they read. People starved, went to school in wrinkled clothes and lived in a dirty house while I wrote that (they have more right to complain.) I wouldn’t go to a dinner my Aunt Fanny cooked for me and write all over my blog that she serves the worst roast beef, ever. She spent time cooking it, so I should be nice. However, I’m selling a product and if I had to pay for Aunt Fanny’s crappy food then I’d be more apt to complain about choking it down.
So how I deal: I give myself 24 hours to have a pity party. I write whatever I wish to say about that bad review and I send it to my friend. If she feels it is fit to print somewhere, then I’m allowed to do so. But usually she says hell no, do not post that anywhere. Then I move on from it and remember there are total strangers out there liking what I write. So I go write for them.
When did you start writing and what led you down the path of erotic romance?
I started writing in 4th grade when I penned the sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I wrote my first historical in college. After I was diagnosed with lupus right after getting married, I picked up writing again as a creative outlet. I joined RWA and became a contest diva, but eventually I turned to technical writing to make money.
I started writing a few erotic romance pieces and put them away. Then my New Year’s resolution for 2012 (which I never make because I set myself up to fail miserably) was to finish what I had started and to submit it. I have written over 450,000 words in 2012, contracted 5 books and self-published one novella. I guess for once I didn’t fail!
What are the best and worst things about being a writer?
The best thing: I wake up, take the 30 second commute to work in my jammies carrying coffee from the Keurig. I search for hot men on stock photo sites. Reading books about sex and searching out DH for fun could be construed as research. I live in someone else’s world, manipulate them like God and someone pays me (eventually) to do it.
The worst thing: I spend a lot of time in front of the computer. The internet is easily distracting. You get people that love what you write and HATE what you write. The cookies call to you.
Any tips for staving off the dreaded writers bum? Do you force yourself to exercise or do your daily chores keep you active?
Is making coffee considered exercise? I have a really big mug. It’s heavy. I do walk, but I’m not nearly as active as I should be.
Do your family and friends read your books?
NO. Well, my sister has, and that’s it. My friends—a few have read them. Erotic romance is not for everyone, so they’ve been warned just because there’s a ménage, it doesn’t mean it’s happening here.
Have you ever written a dominant character who you’ve had to really work with to make likeable?
Chase Sanders is probably the most difficult character I’ve written. He’s all boss, strong and invincible, in control of every aspect of his life. He expects your best and won’t take less than that. He takes no prisoners. He has no problem omitting the facts to get the mission done.
And then Kate came into his life. She shakes up the boss side of him and drives him to distraction. Unfortunately, Chase’s need for control stretches into every aspect of Kate’s life and into their bed. In the first book it’s easy to see why he does what he does, but in the second book, Lethal Limits, Chase gets himself into trouble by micromanaging Kate’s life a little too much. I understand why he did it, but readers have been hating on my poor Lord of the Spies.
It doesn’t get much better for Chase, either. He’s between a rock and a hard place when he gets to Charlotte’s book, Spy Games: Endgame. Things might be happier at home, but he his job means balancing getting the bad guys and making sure his spies return from the job. Charlotte is like his sister, and she’ll question if he ever loved her at all in her book.
Sexy spy’s are always great reading fodder, what was it that drew you write about these particular heroes?
The first Spy Games book was something I had dreamed up while my DH was snoring and I was too lazy to get out of bed. I had different scenarios, but Kate always ended up with Jake, and it just never seemed to work as well. Then one night, I let Chase win Kate. While I was writing Exceeding Boundaries, I wondered why it couldn’t become a book. I started thinking about it in a more sexy way, and the series was born!
Can you give us some links so we can stay in touch?
FacebookGoodReadsTwitterBlog
What’s coming next from Mia Downing?
I have a m/m coming out very soon with The Wild Rose Press. Just Ask is a gay for you contemporary set in Fiji.
Blurb
When business mogul Jordan Hill inherits half of Bendura Island Resort, a posh vacation destination in the Fiji Islands, the will demands he release his half uncle's ashes somewhere on the island and that he indulge in a real vacation before he sells. As Jordan is reeling with grief and under good circumstances doesn't do vacations, especially if they include horses and looming volcanoes, he finds himself on uneven footing. The footing turns treacherous as Jordan realizes, for the first time in his life, he's attracted to a man--his new business partner.
For resort entrepreneur Ryan McCale, Bendura Island is a dream come true as well as his livelihood. He was warned Jordan would try to sell sight unseen, and after meeting him, there's no doubt the business shark has dollar signs in his eyes. But there's also vulnerability and desire in that chocolate gaze. Suddenly, Ryan's looking forward to showing Jordan the delights of the island and hoping to convince his new partner Bendura could be his dream, too.
I’m also working on another series, out the first of the year and other short novellas to go between the Spy Games books.
WOW! Thanks so much for stopping by, Mia, and sharing inside information all your lovely books and giving us an insight into your life and your writing. I'm itching to get reading now and immerse myself in the worlds your sexy characters live in!!
Don't forget readers, Mia is giving away one of her books, so leave a comment, say hi, add in your email address and you could be in with a chance.
Lily x

Elise Hepner and me!

Today the lovely Elise Hepner, fellow Ellora's Cave author, has invited me over to her blog.
I hope you can join me for a chat.

K D Grace

My lovely friend K D Grace has invited me over to her place to chat about self-publishing. It would be great to see you there.

Lily x

Peeping Tom!

Head on over to When One Is Not Enough where I'm talking about voyeurism and giving a sneaky peak into The Glass Knot.


Happy Sunday
Lily x

FREE book!

Weekend at Wilderhope Manor by Lucy Felthouse is FREE from 27th– 31st October!

That's right! Lucy Felthouse's lesbian erotic story set over a Halloween weekend is FREE on Amazon UK and US from 27th – 31st October. Make sure to grab your copy, and tell all your friends!
Get it here: Amazon UK | Amazon US
Blurb:
When Stephanie and Jenny go to a Murder Mystery Halloween weekend at Wilderhope Manor, they’re expecting fun and games. But following creaky floorboards, spooky noises and an alarming encounter in the Manor’s grounds, the girls begin to wonder if there’s more to Wilderhope Manor than meets the eye. As they find frequent comfort in one another’s arms – and their bed – will the girls discover what’s causing the bumps in the night, or will they run scared?
Excerpt:
The car trundled up the long driveway, the crunching of gravel beneath tyres the only sound as Stephanie and her girlfriend, Jenny, peered out of the windows at their surroundings.Even at dusk the tree-lined driveway was impressive with perfectly maintained parkland, spanning for acres on either side of it. As Stephanie steered the Fiesta around a bend in the track, they both gasped. Their destination, Wilderhope Manor, had come into view and it was stunning. The Tudor style property was huge, with no less than three frontages visible from where they were. Chimneys with intricately built patterns jutted into the darkening sky, with tangles of ivy climbing parts of the manor, giving the place an appearance that was both beautiful and foreboding.Presently, the driveway opened out into a gravelled area, which as far as Stephanie could tell, doubled as a car park for the weekend. Stephanie manoeuvred into a spot between two vehicles and killed the engine. As she turned to Jenny, she jumped, startled. Her girlfriend had leaned in close, making a scary face with her hands mimicking claws.“Are you ready to be scared out of your wits, young lady?” Jenny rasped, wiggling her eyebrows and fingers theatrically.Stephanie shoved her playfully, laughing. “Come on, you silly cow. It’s a murder mystery weekend, not a monster hunt. There will be no ghosts, ghouls or vampires involved.”Stephanie got out of the car and closed the door. She’d already popped open the boot and started unloading their bags before Jenny appeared alongside her, pouting petulantly.“But it’s Halloween tomorrow,” Jenny insisted. “Anything could happen. The veil between the living and dead will be at its thinnest, and this place is meant to be swarming with ghosts.”“If you say so, sweetheart,” she replied, rolling her eyes. She was used to Jenny’s crazy beliefs by now. “Grab your bags and let’s get inside. It’s cold. You got the tickets?”Jenny nodded, brandishing her handbag in response. Jenny picked up her overnight bag as Stephanie slammed the boot lid before locking the car, then followed her toward the grand entrance to Wilderhope Manor.* * *A little while later, they were installed in their room. They’d each been handed a “Welcome Pack” by the staff member who had attended to them at Reception, which consisted of their itinerary and instructions for the weekend.As they unpacked, she voiced one of the thoughts that had run through her head. “Have you ever noticed how places never bat an eye at two girls sharing a room, and yet, if it’s two guys, they automatically assume they’re gay?”“They’ll soon change their tune when they see your outfit for tonight!” Jenny replied, grinning cheekily at her. “It screams ‘lesbian’ with every stitch!”“Whatever do you mean, you saucy wench? Someone with girl parts dressing as a distinguished gentleman does not a lesbian make.”“True, but I wonder what it’ll do to you? Perhaps it’ll work in reverse and turn you straight!”
Get it here: Amazon UK | Amazon US
*****
Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, Decadent Publishing, Ellora's Cave, Evernight Publishing, House of Erotica, Ravenous Romance, Resplendence Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour, Seducing the Myth, Smut by the Sea and Smut in the City. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Howloween Blog Hop

Welcome to the HOWLOWEEN blog hop!!
I'm going to give away a copy of DESSERT which is a spicy novella in the Ellora's Cave for Men line about the ancient Japanese tradition nyotaimori.



Nyotaimori is the name given to eating sushi from a naked woman. Often referred to as "body sushi". It's maybe not to everyone's taste but I was intrigued enough to want to find out more. Here goes...





Before service, the individual takes a bath using a special fragrance-free soap - that's good, wouldn't want perfumes interfering with the flavours - and then finishes off with a splash of cold water to chill the body down for the sushi. 
To be a living sushi platter, the woman is trained to lie down for hours without moving or speaking. She (or he on occasion) must also be able to withstand the prolonged exposure to cold food, for sushi is served from fresh from the refrigerator. It is also a good idea if the body is free from excessive hair! Wouldn't want that mixed in with your tuna roll.


People have different opinions on this tradition and it has sparked the interest of the international community. Promoters say nyotaimori is a form of art. Whereas some feminists argue that it objectives women by quite literally turning their bodies into a plate. Personally I'm quite fascinated by it, not by the food so much as the woman, and why she would lay with food on her body and what it must feel like to have people plucking it from her with chopsticks and listening to the conversations going on overhead.




The whole experience however is not particularly cheap,  tickets for a naked sushi night may cost around US$75 though others, more elaborate and with sake and champagne, cost $250.


I was inspired by this unusual way of enjoying sushi, and it forms the first few chapters of my novella DESSERT. Of course, me being me, its not just the food that's hot and spicy and the dessert is not something that would be typically found on a restaurant menu. 

Although this book is written for men to read and enjoy and hopefully get hot under the collar and ready for action, there is nothing stopping ladies from reading it or even enjoying it together, in bed :-)

Blurb for Dessert
Nyotaimori was new for me, eating my dinner off a beautiful naked woman an experience I’d never been lucky enough to indulge in. So when a customer treated me to a meal at The Geisha Plate it was an effort to keep my cock under control and my focus on the food. Damn, it had been a while!But control myself I did—until, that is, the spice levels cranked to boiling point and dessert turned out to be a mind-blowing, soul-twistingly delicious blowjob. I instantly craved more.Plus I’m not a guy who likes debt. I had to return the favor by hook or by crook; it was an urge that threatened to consume me. Luckily my lovely Geisha girl turned out to be the sweetest woman I’d ever had the pleasure of pleasuring, and her healthy appetite for getting raw and naked with me for starters, main course and dessert turned out to be a wild ride for my every fantasy, and enough to keep me more than satisfied in every department.
Excerpt
The sushi and sashimi gradually diminished, my stomach felt full and I have to say, so did my dick. The lovely breasts shifting before me and the absolute physical control our Geisha plate had over her dainty little body could not be ignored.“That was truly delicious,” I said, wiping my fingers on my napkin.“I am glad you approve.”I smiled and licked my lips. The fresh, fragrant flavors hummed gently in my mouth. I had enjoyed so many tangy essences and delicious tingles on my tongue.The curtain drew back and with perfect swiftness waiters removed the now empty leaves from our lovely plate, exposing her slopes and curves in all their lusciousness once again.Another glass of sake was poured and enjoyed.“Thank you so much for accompanying me to The Geisha Plate,” Rai said. “I hope you enjoyed your meal as well as hearing all about Koni’s new products.”“Very much,” I said, my head a little muzzy from the strong rice wine. “I will certainly be interested in contracting stock for both national and international stores.”Rai grinned, balling his rosy cheeks into two apples. That news and the wine had made him flushed too. I was pleased—it made me feel less inept at handling my drink.“I hope you won’t mind,” Rai said, “if I leave you to enjoy dessert alone. Jun will be waiting up for me. Naturally Koni will be picking up the evening’s bill so have whatever you fancy.”“Well, I…”Dessert? Despite the small morsels of sushi, I’d eaten a whole big pile of the stuff. I wasn’t sure I could handle anything more to eat.“Dessert in this restaurant is highly recommended,” Rai said, standing, his expression one of firm insistence.I glanced at our exposed—except for the white flower over her pussy—plate. She was, as she had been throughout the entire meal, completely still, completely passive.Rai held out his hand. I shifted upward and took it.“Enjoy,” he said with a smile. “I will call you next week, with your permission of course, to organize contracts.”“Absolutely, looking forward to it.” I sat back on my cushion. Perhaps something sweet before I caught a cab home would be nice. I was in no rush to get back to my bed—alone. Stretching out on cool sheets and sleeping without being disturbed by another human presence had gotten old several months ago.Rai gave a brief bow, shifted from our booth and drew the heavy curtains up tight.
* * * * *I poured another shot of sake, rasped my hand over my stubbled chin and sighed. Fleetingly, thoughts of our business conversation popped into my mind but before I knew it my gaze was roaming the woman before me and I was appreciating the sight. Several grains of the rice I’d spilled were still on her flesh. There was also a seaweed-like strand of nori on her right thigh, curled like a question mark. And although the scent of cooking filled the air, I could almost believe that the subtle scent of woman was also tickling my nostrils—petals, sugar and spice.Suddenly she flicked her eyes open. I wouldn’t have noticed except that I was staring at her face when those long lashes fluttered upward.My heart flipped in surprise and a bubble of both suppressed lust and shock popped in my belly.She stared straight up at me with the darkest brown eyes I’d ever seen. Eyes that held such richness and such depth that I could have just jumped straight in and drowned a happy man.She poked out the tip of her tongue, pointed and pink, and swept over the scarlet lipstick at the center of her mouth.My dick responded to the action. It had settled slightly but was instantly heading back to full hardness. I tried to will it into submission but without success. That damn tip of her tongue was just too much for the dirty side of my imagination.She moved her arms, dainty movements, but they seemed startling after such a prolonged period of stillness. She rose, her breasts shifting from their side-sloped position to a perfect palmful of softness with heavy undersides. Her nipples stayed jutting out, like ripe cherries topping cupcakes.“Mr. Alan,” she said in a tinkling little voice. “Are you ready for dessert?”“I-I, er, yes…yes.” Why was I stuttering? I never stuttered.The pale corners of her mouth tipped and the reflection of the candles sparkled in her eyes. She slid to the very edge of the table and the flower covering her pussy lips fell to the floor as well as the few remaining grains of rice and the clinging piece of nori.Instinctively I reached for the flower, clasped the short stalk and handed it to her, at the same time wondering what she would use as modesty when she left the booth to order my dessert.“Thank you,” she said. Her voice was almost singsong, music to my ears, a tickle to my cock.I struggled to keep my attention on her face. For although I’d stared at her luscious body for over an hour, now that she was moving there were a whole load of other pretty curves and seductive shapes to appreciate and study. Sexual awareness simmered inside me and the effect of her proximity vibrated in my belly so hard that I was sure she’d be able to feel it in the air.“Please rest back,” she said, nodding to the solid wall that held the bell and the row of candles. I couldn’t have rested on the wall directly behind me, it appeared made of paper with a crisscross of dark wooden struts.I twisted and shuffled backward, the stiff fullness of my dick hindering my movements.“I hope you enjoy your dessert as much as you have enjoyed your main course,” she said, dropping to her knees in the small gap between table and my cushion-style chair.Her shiny raven-black hair spread over her shoulders, several strands skimming the rise of her breast, the blunt ends twirling around her nipples.“Well, yes, I am sure I will. The food here is lovely.”I gulped as she placed elegant hands on my knees. Her nails were long and painted pale pink. Her gaze stayed locked on mine.What is she doing?She smoothed her palms up my thighs. My skin was hypersensitive, I was so turned-on by her nakedness and the rubbing of the cotton on my leg. A new glut of lust shot to my cock. I glanced at the curtain, opened my mouth to speak.“Shh,” she soothed, her eyelids drooping as though heavy with a lust that matched my own. “No one will come in.”“But—”“Just enjoy your dessert, Mr. Alan. For you it is all part of the service at The Geisha Plate.”Her gaze was so intense I could hardly breathe. And when the tips of her fingers brushed the bulge at my groin I did actually stop breathing. Held my breath tight as though I was about to jump into the ocean for a deep-sea dive.She licked her lips, slowly, suggestively, smudging the red blob of lipstick at their center.Is she going to do what I think she is?No!My whole body was strumming with primal tension. My balls ached and boiled, my gut clenched. If I’d felt a little drunk before, now I was as sober as a rock. I was here in the moment, caught up in the spell she’d weaved around me.“Relax,” she said, cupping my dick through my pants. “Relax and let me suck your penis into my mouth.”Fucking hell!Blowing out a breath, I balled my fists. Had I heard her right? Had she really just said she was going to suck my penis into her mouth? Maybe I wasn’t as sober as I thought and I was hearing things I wanted to hear. Because right now, the thought of her sucking my cock was the most beautiful thing I could imagine.She tilted her head, her hair shifting on her shoulders like a river of silk. Her super-long lashes batted against her cheeks. “You would like that, wouldn’t you, Mr. Alan?”What man wouldn’t? This was a dream come true. A blowjob all part of the service.Hell yeah!
Tell me your favourite food to eat off a lover's body along with your email address and I will pick a name at random to win a pdf copy of Dessert at the end of the hop.
Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!
Lily x
Buy Links for Dessert
Ellora's Cave
Amazon US
Amazon UK
All Romance eBooks
Barnes and Noble

Erotic Enchants!

If you enjoy visiting Goodreads, chatting to fellow readers and authors, then why not join the Erotic Enchants Group. I'm a member and it's a fun way to spend some time, not to mention a great rescource for hunting down your next steamy read. There's prizes too, the first five members to join and  mention my blog will win!! (Prizes given out in Dec) What are you waiting for? Click the link below and head on over

If you want to find me on Goodreads - click HERE. Lets be friends :-)

Lily x

Free Short Story

The lovely girls at Long and Short Reviews asked me if I'd write a free quickie for their website.
I love a quickie, so decided to pluck a character from my sexy soccer novel SCORED - Ted 'the hands' Hatton - and write a little about him. Ted, as you might have guessed, is the team's goalie and this is a short piece about his wife, home alone, missing him.
Click on the cover to head over to LASR and read GOAL!




And if you enjoy GOAL! and want more steamy soccer romance, then grab a copy of SCORED and meet the deliciously bad Lewis Tate, captain of the England football team, who stars in this full novel.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Have a great day

Lily x

TEAMWORK release date - 30th November

I've been busy on edits this week for the fourth book in my Hot Ice series - Teamwork . This novel is due for release on 30th November. I can't wait to unleash Raven and Todd!! Phew!!


Blurb

What I know about hockey could fit on the back of a stamp. So my latest patient may be one of the NHL’s hottest defensemen, but I’m not exactly blown away by his stardom. Add in the fact that he’s a surly, growling grump, and I’m more than happy to work my magic on his battered body and then hot-foot to my date with his teammate, Todd “Pretty” Carty.
Todd is sex on a stick, a slice of man heaven and I want a bit of the action, preferably of the bedroom variety. But when Raven emerges from his bad mood and throws his energy into blowing my mind with just one kiss, I find my head spinning and my libido raging.
What I didn’t bargain on is these hard-training, hard-playing hockey players working as efficiently off the ice as on it when it comes to getting results. But who am I to complain when satisfaction is their ultimate goal? 

Excerpt


I slept fitfully, my head full of dreams of the two men who’d kissed me the night before. When I awoke, I was hot and naked, my fingers fragrant from fretting my clit. Masturbating hadn’t served me well. Several short, sharp orgasms had done nothing to take the edge off the lust Raven’s kiss had ignited or dampen the desire at the thought of being in bed with Todd.
What the hell was I doing? I’d never been attracted to two men before. I was a one-man girl.
But there was something about both of them that had set a fire in my belly that refused to be dulled, even in the light of day. And as I set about having a shower and washing my hair, applying a little makeup, I had no damn idea what I was going to do about it.
The small kitchen that was part of my area was out of coffee, so I headed downstairs in my underwear and robe. Raven had a stash of the good stuff in his cupboard.
After putting the coffee on, I stared out of the window. It was another sunny, blue-skied day in Orlando. Not a wisp of cloud to be seen. I thought of my parents in rainy Wales. I ought to give them a call later and check on how they were.
The house was quiet despite it being nearly ten. I guessed Raven was sleeping in after the late night. I wondered if he’d relieved himself the way I had, and if so, had it been any more fulfilling? The thought of him touching himself, jerking off with images of me in his head did something strange to my stomach.
What was it about this intriguing man that had my libido so riled? His Native American history, his steely determination and brooding manner had clearly clicked some switch in my Welsh genetic makeup. He couldn’t be any more different to me, physically and emotionally. The way he preferred to fold in on himself was so opposed to my love of talking through problems.
It was the age-old conundrum of opposites attracting, good girl goes for bad boy, not to mention the thrill of knowing someone wanted me enough to back me up against a wall and kiss me until I couldn’t breathe. There was no doubt about it, that had been the hottest kiss of my life.
I sighed and thought of lovely, perfect, polite Todd. He would be here in a couple of hours. I was looking forward to spending the day with him. Perhaps I’d get to see his place tonight and if so, bed action with him might shake this ridiculous attraction I felt for Raven. And it would hardly be a chore, jumping into Todd’s bed. The guy was a slice of man heaven just waiting to be devoured, or was that let him devour me?
A noise behind me jolted me from my sexy daydream. Turning, my breath caught and my head went fuzzy. Standing just inside the doorway of the kitchen were Todd and Raven.
Their shoulders were almost touching, each as tall as the other, but that was were any similarity ended.
Todd looked suave and sophisticated. His blond hair was carefully tousled, he wore smart navy pants, a white shirt and pale-blue tie. He held a pink gift bag decorated with an enormous bow and he was grinning broadly.
Raven once again wore just his sweats. His skin, the color of a perfect, just-baked loaf, appeared shower damp and his hair was scraped back. He topped off his look with the usual scowl and drawn-down brows.
Todd walked over to the table, his shiny leather shoes clacking on the floor, and set down the gift. “Morning, sugar, how did you sleep?”
“Well, I…not too good actually.”
“I’m sorry about that.” He stepped up to me, slotted his hand into my hair and gave me a soft kiss, right in the center of my lips. I couldn’t help but melt, and had to curl my hand around his forearm to keep my balance. Damn it, he was good. He smelled and felt marvelous, his cologne a combination of lemon and green apples, and his just-shaved chin as smooth as silk against mine. If I hadn’t been holding on, I would have pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“Sorry, I’m early. I guess I was just looking forward to seeing you,” he said quietly against my mouth.
“That’s fine, but I’m not quite ready and I just need to…” I glanced around his shoulder at Raven. “I just need to do ten minutes of acupuncture on Raven before we go.”
“Ah, the silent acupuncture treatment.” Todd dropped his hand from my hair and turned to face Raven.
Raven’s fists clenched and his shoulders lifted toward his ears. Somewhere in my subconscious I took that as a good sign, but I was more worried about the stormy expression flitting across his face—the tight set of his jaw and the way his lips had thinned —none of it boded well.
He hasn’t calmed down from last night then.
“I’ve heard all about your arrangement,” Todd said to Raven with a laugh. “How you two can’t bear to speak to one another. You’re a fool. I keep telling you, lighten up.”
Raven’s nose twitched and he took several ground-eating paces across the kitchen until he was face-to-face with Todd.
“Fiona and I communicate just fine,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “You’d do well to remember that.”
Todd raised his eyebrows. Amusement sparkled in the depths of his blue irises. He didn’t seem in the slightest bit bothered by the murderous intent oozing from Raven.
Hell, I am.
If they were going to kick off I had no intention of getting in the middle of all that brawn. And if Todd kept smirking at Raven then fireworks were really going to explode. Spectacularly.
I stepped away but a sudden arm around my waist stopped me moving far.
“Hey,” I gasped, staring up at Raven. “Let me—”
Suddenly he was kissing me with the same extreme passion he had the night before. I murmured a weak, pitiful complaint and, to my shame, allowed him to take total possession. I was helpless, too far gone. Raven’s particular brand of kissing was addictive and completely irresistible.
His tongue probed deep and he tipped me backward, dipping me to the floor at the same time as pulling me up against his warm skin and holding me secure in his arms.
As suddenly as it started the kiss stopped. He pulled me up and looked deep into my eyes. I was breathless, breathless and turned-on and about to become a quivering mass of helpless need on the kitchen tiles.
Jesus, what girl wouldn’t be?
My robe had slipped open and I could feel the cool air-conditioning blowing down on my cleavage, my belly and the tops of my thighs. I welcomed it, I was feverish.
“You see, Todd, no problem,” Raven said, gently pulling me completely upright but doing nothing about my exposed body. “Communication is not an issue at all. We’ve got a great system.”
A seed of sense returned and hurriedly I covered myself—words, apologies, excuses tripping through my brain. “Todd, I-I’m sorry, he… I…”
Todd tipped back his head and laughed. A great big guffaw. “Don’t worry about it.” He held his palms up to Raven. “I’m just glad you haven’t completely ducked out of the land of the living, buddy. I was worried about you there.”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Todd pulled in a deep breath, looked at me then back to Raven. His face fell serious. “Only thing is, you’ve just kissed my date.” He lifted his eyebrows. “And I’m not sure what to do about that.”
Raven folded his arms. “Your date?”
“Yeah, its Phoenix and Brooke’s little one’s christening. You did get an invite. I saw it on your desk.” He paused. “But Fiona is coming with me.”
Raven grunted.
Todd reached out and traced the chenille collar of my robe. “If you still want to, that is?”
“Yes, yes of course.” More than anything I didn’t want to ruin my chances with Todd, but it was also clear I was as trustworthy as an ice cube in the desert when it came to Raven.
I glanced at Raven and he pressed his palm to my cheek, as though absorbing the blush burning there. “It’s okay,” he said in as soft a voice as I’d ever heard him use. “Don’t worry about it. Go with Todd.”
My heart swelled. I didn’t want to leave him out or hurt him. “Why don’t you come too? With us.”
“He will,” Todd said quickly. “He can catch up with everyone. Show them all he’s still alive and kicking.”
“Will you?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He leaned forward. “If you want me to.”
His breath breezed across my cheek, or was it Todd’s? He was right next to me too, stroking down my neck, across to my shoulder. His aftershave was mixing with the raw, male smell of Raven—black pepper, soap and sex.
A white-hot shiver ran through my body. They were both so close, circling me, surrounding me. Far from fireworks of the fisticuff type, there seemed to be sparks of arousal flashing all over the place. And it wasn’t just me.
Raven’s mouth was by my ear now, his tongue just touching my lobe, his stubbled cheek against mine.
“Well, since we both want you,” Todd said, brushing his lips over my mouth, “why don’t we both have you?”

Smut by the Sea review

Smut by the Sea, edited by the fantastic Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse has just received a great review from Sh! Women's Emporium.
I'm thrilled, this anthology is really amazing with some great authors contributing and I'm honoured to be alongside them.
This review is expecially exciting for me as my story Swashbuckling gets a special mention
"My absolute favourite story has to be Swashbuckling by Lily Harlem. Sex and pirates are always a winning combination (especially when you picture the character as Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack…oo-er!)."






You can read the full review HERE, and if you would like to get yourself to Sh! on Saturday the 27th of October, you can meet the editors themselves in a fun packed evening of nibbles and saucy readings. Not to mention K D Grace will be attending to launch her newest book, Riding the Ether.
For more information email the Sh! girls on - events@sh-womenstore.com
Lily x
Buy Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK