Lily Harlem's Blog, page 307

Cross-Checked

On the 25th of May the 2nd book in my HOT ICE series, Cross-Checked will be released at Ellora's Cave.



Blurb
Okay, I'll admit it, I have a crazy, lust-infused crush! Brick, the sexy right-winger of the Orlando Vipers, is the star of all my erotic fantasies. Just a glimpse of him has me panting. So when the chance to actually work with this hot hockey player comes along, of course I say yes!
Being a world-class athlete myself, I have a strategic plan to have him all tied up with lust and desperate for me too. The thing is, plans never go smoothly. Especially when my heart pedals right into the vulnerable game of love again—completely unprotected.
Luckily this sinfully delicious superstar is as hooked on me as I am on him—phone sex, bondage, anal sex and rude piercings abound. Despite my tactical errors he catches me when I fall, holds me when I cry and pleases me when I need it most. He's hard on the outside, soft on the inside and plays one hell of determined game when it comes to finding the ultimate satisfaction.

Excerpt


I handed the cab driver a twenty and alighted outside the Waldorf. The doorman tipped his top hat as we pushed through the rotating doors into the creamy light of the foyer.I didn't pause to admire the opulent decor.Instead my heels rapped on the marble floor as we strutted past reception. We paced by several deep lounging chairs and a table overflowing with pink orchids. Brick placed his hand in the small of my back and guided me toward the elevators. "Your room or mine?" he asked."Yours." I had what I needed in my purse.He gave me the most indecent smile I'd ever received. Triumph, lust and cheekiness mixed with softness, patience and desire. My heart fluttered and my skin pricked. He thought he was in control. That he had me where he wanted me. Well, I was just about to show him he'd met his match. Or rather, I was going to do my best to show him he'd met his match.He pressed number eight.We stood in silence and waited for the elevator to reach ground level.The doors pinged open. An elderly gentleman with a newspaper under his arm wandered out.We stepped in.The second the door whooshed shut, his body slammed into mine. I staggered backward and found myself pinned against the smoky mirrored walls. I gasped in surprise but it was lost in his frantic kiss. My purse fell to the floor. Unbalanced, I reached up for his shoulders and hung on to solid muscles as I teetered on my heels.His hands roamed my hips and waist. "You're driving me crazy," he murmured as he stooped to spread kisses down my neck. "Like, really, actually crazy. You're all I can think about, you're all I want."I let out a whimper of lust and curled my fingers into him. I didn't know how I was going to stay standing, I was so dizzy with desire.His mouth was at the hollow of my throat, licking and kissing and sucking. His hands smoothed under my top, up over my stomach. My flesh trembled. What plan? He carried on determinedly over my ribs until he cupped my softly curved flesh.I moaned in delight at feeling his hands on my breasts for the first time. So big and strong and hot. So hot.Trapped between the wall and his huge body, I arched for more. I wanted him to touch me all over."God, you feel amazing." He nipped and kissed my collarbone. Then my top was up, up around my neck, the material bunched and shoved out of his way in one deft flick of his wrists.I was vaguely aware of the elevator pinging up the floors. But the noise was muffled beneath our desperate breaths.He pulled back to gaze at my chest. "Ah, you look so pretty too, even better than you described. Small but so utterly perfect.""Brick…" I murmured and caught his face in my palms. "We have to stop…""Yeah," he said, looking at my breasts the way a poor man would look at a winning lottery ticket. "In just a min—"He leaned forward and, quick as a flash, suckled my right nipple into his mouth. I gasped. Oh god, it felt so good. Just like he'd promised, he was taking in my nipple and the small, swollen portion of flesh surrounding it. Suckling and teasing with his tongue as the soft bristles from his five-o'clock shadow scratched against my flesh.My knees weakened; I didn't know how I'd stay standing if he carried on for more than another few seconds.He switched to the other breast. With my palms on his cheeks, I felt them hollow and dip as he kissed and sucked. His mouth was the hottest, sweetest, sexiest thing I'd ever known.My knees started to sink. I was going down. I scrabbled my hands over his body and fisted his shirt to support myself.The elevator door slid open.Still he kept on. His tongue laved at my taut nipple, his hand massaged my other breast. His breaths were hard and fast, heating my skin further. He moaned and the noise swirled like a rumbling echo.White light from the corridor spilled around us and I peered over his wide shoulder.I gasped.Standing stock still and staring, with his hand curled around the silver pole of a luggage cart, was a young bellboy."Brick, stop," I hissed, pushing at his shoulders. "Stop.""Mmm."I grabbed for my top and yanked it down, forcing it past his nose and mouth. He had no choice but to stop suckling my breast."What?" Brick asked in a hoarse voice, looking distinctly put out at being interrupted."We're here." I pulled my top to my waist and grabbed my purse from the floor. "Look."He snapped his rumpled shirt and turned, paused for the briefest of seconds as he registered the slack-mouthed bellboy, then reached backward for my hand. He cleared his throat. "Evening," he said, stepping forward and tugging me with him."Good evening, sir," the bellboy replied, shifting the luggage rack so Brick and I could step past.I braved another quick glance at the bellboy's face. His eyes were wide but I didn't know if it was because he idolized Brick or because he'd seen my breasts.I didn't have time to dwell on it because Brick stopped at the second door we came to and shoved in the key. The light turned green and he pushed it open."Get in," he ordered in a low, firm voice.

If you want to get your hands on the first book in the HOT ICE series, click on the cover below.


Blurb for HIRED

One hundred grand to babysit bad boy Logan "Phoenix" Taylor on a paradise island—seriously, how bad could he be?


Frankly, it didn't matter. Not when it would make my dreams of going to nursing school possible. I wasn't even expected to talk to him, just hang out in a luxurious villa on a private beach and study. Simple, right?


But I hadn't counted on Logan being so deliciously bad that he was oh so good. And when the temperature cranked to boiling point, he knew just how to satisfy the deepest, darkest part of my soul and give my body exactly what it needed. Amongst the sand and waves, we transported each other to an exquisite world of pleasure where only we existed, only we mattered.


But the heady mix of emotions and lust couldn't keep things from spiraling out of control back in reality, where I had to keep the secret that I'd been hired to entertain him…even if it shattered my delicate heart. Even if it cost my destiny.

Enchanted Submission

The 25th of May sees the re-launch of my e-book Enchanted Submission. The cover has been made all sexy and sultry which is befitting of its reputation as an incredibly dirty fairytale.


Blurb
It's the night before Cinderella's wedding and the girls are out on the town looking for some serious fun - especially Rapunzel. Tired of being a dominatrix to her wall skimming prince she's hoping to surrender control to the broodingly gorgeous, newly divorced Beast, but she mustn't forget about her naive friend Cinderella who's in desperate need of an eye opener before she gets hitched to the fast and furious Prince Charming – just as well Cinderella's eye is caught by a dashing Woodcutter more than willing to fill the gaps in her education which leaves Rapunzel to enjoy her own, more exotic kind of kink in Beast's private Turret Club room.
Here is what the reviewer said - 
"What an amazing little novella. I have read A. N. Rocquelaure's (pen name of Ann Rice) Sleeping Beauty trilogy and this seems to sum it up in its entirety into a short book.

The writing is sumptuous, lavish, and erotic. The scenery and atmosphere of the story are almost poetic in their finery and extravagance. It grabs Disneyesque elements and gives them not only an adult but a kinky fetish twist, plunging straight into the dark and deviant heart of BDSM.

The characters are surprisingly rich and deep. The opening of the novella may deceive the reader into thinking this a facetious take on fairy tales. However, although nostalgic fragments of childhood fantasies are at times depicted, these maidens and princes are nothing at all like you remember.

I absolutely love the juxtaposition of the innocent fairy tale names and the steamy and raunchy sex scenes. The kink element is red hot. Dungeons, restraints, thigh boots and punishment implements... you have to read it to believe it!

Buy this book today and sample this delicious sinful taste of wickedness!"– Amanda Houiellebecq

Lincoln Book Festival

I've had a wonderful week at the annual Lincoln Book Festival. The highlight of which was Total-e-Bound's Ladies Romance Night at The Lincoln Hotel.

Join me over at Tina Donahue's blog where I am chatting all about the fun and my book Thief.

Coming soon - Cross-Checked

I've just written the blurb for the second in my HOT ICE series, Cross-Checked and I'm on the final set of edits so it shouldn't be long now until its release. 
Here is a sneaky preview of the blurb. The whole book is written from Carly's point of view as she sets out on a mission to bag the object of her affections.

Okay, I'll admit it, I have a crazy, lust-infused crush! Brick, the sexy right-winger of the Orlando Vipers, is the star of all my erotic fantasies. Just a glimpse of him has me panting. So when the chance to actually work with this hot hockey player comes along, of course I said yes! 
Being a world-class athlete myself, I had a strategic plan to have him all tied up with lust and desperate for me too. The thing is, plans never go smoothly. Especially when my heart pedaled right into the vulnerable game of love again—completely unprotected.
Luckily this sinfully delicious superstar is as hooked on me as I am on him, and phone sex, bondage, anal sex, and rude piercings abound. Despite my tactical errors he catches me when I fall, holds me when I cry and pleases me when I need it most. He's hard on the outside, soft on the inside and plays one hell of determined game when it comes to finding the ultimate satisfaction.

Erotica For All

I'm spending a lazy Sunday hanging out at Erotica For All  chatting about sequels if anyone wants to head on over to this fabulous site and share thoughts.

SHARED TOO gets Top Pick Review

The sequel to SHARED has just received its first review - and its great.
Miz Love Loves Books gave it a Top Pick Rating!

Here is what the reviewer said - 
"As I reviewed Shared, I took the chance to read the sequel. I knew Quinn, Liam, and Ariane well already, so when I started Shared Too I was pleased to find I slipped back into their lives easily as though I had never had a break.
It's ten years later, and the trio have had children, who go to boarding school. This is just as well, because what happens in Shared Too isn't something that could be accomplished with children around—unless they are seriously heavy sleepers! The trio are incredibly happy still…but are they? Ariane certainly thinks so, as does Liam. She's our wonderful heroine who, because of the talented Ms Harlem's 1st person perspective, is shown as a deep-thinking, lovely woman who is shocked by Quinn's revelation. Of course, she would be, because she was under the impression they all had exactly what they needed. She was secure, happy, and everything worked out just fine.
But Quinn has been working with a woman, Eve, and has found himself attracted to her. Eve…I didn't like her purely because she was the reason for upsetting the balance in the trio's relationship—of course, Quinn had something to do with it because he had developed sexual feelings towards her, but still, I enjoyed solely blaming her because I didn't want to blame him. He's gorgeous, so very lovely, and I can imagine how he felt because Eve is dominant, makes it clear she's after him, and really, a man would have to be made of granite to not feel something for her—she's gorgeous too.
Ariane is understandably shocked at Quinn's revelation, and he puts it to her and Liam why he feels the need to explore with Eve. Ariane is understanding, but I really got hooked by her internal reaction. Of course she'd feel this new turn of events would upset her life, their relationship, and everything they had built up. Of course she'd wonder if she wasn't enough for the two men, as she had been for the past decade. But she agrees, because she loves Quinn and wants him to be happy.
Liam isn't pleased about this—he is devoted to Quinn and Ariane, is the nurturer, the one I feel Ariane has a closer bond with, if only for the friendship side of it and being able to express her feelings without receiving any ridicule. But Liam wants Ariane to be happy, and so the rules are set down for Quinn to have his time with Eve.
**PLOT SPOILER ALERT!**
What Quinn doesn't know is that a camera has been set up in the bedroom he takes Eve into, and Liam and Ariane watch the show. Ariane watches out of curiosity, and also, I felt, to see how Quinn acted with another woman. She's human, she needs reassurance as to why Quinn feels the need to be with someone other than her, and I understood her reasoning and her reaction. Liam is concerned about how it affects Ariane—he is such a caring, wonderful man—and sits beside her for support.
The tangle of emotions portrayed throughout Shared Too is incredibly real and thought-provoking. One might ask why Quinn wanted to sample another woman if he's in a committed ménage relationship, that his revelation was nothing short of asking for permission to commit adultery, but the fact he did ask says a lot about him. But my understanding of this change in Quinn was that he is human. Time moves along, life happens, Eves or Adams come along and entice. He found himself wanting more than he had—haven't we all felt like that at some point?—and he got what he wanted.
I felt Ariane and Liam loved him enough to allow him to get this "urge" out of his system. They wanted what was best for him, and despite it not sitting well with either of them, not deep down anyway, they agreed. That is the main point here—they did agree. I don't think Quinn would have done anything without their consent.
As it turned out, his tryst with Eve worked well and gave Ariane and Liam a new insight into how Quinn ticked, what he wanted in the bedroom. His encounter with the seductive siren (that's how I came to think of her) made the trio's sexual relationship more erotic and hot.
I particularly loved the scene where Ariane came to know what Quinn wanted. Her feelings, her thoughts about herself and how it would affect them all, were very real and, to be honest, a little heartbreaking from my perspective. If she had accepted it any other way—more easily or with just a shrug—it wouldn't have rang true for me, and her introspection, examining her self and why she might not be all Quinn wanted anymore…it was a poignant, beautiful scene that I will never forget.
I also enjoyed the voyeur scene, seeing how it affected Ariane in ways she hadn't imagined. She had been prepared to hate watching, to be uncomfortable, jealous, and all the other emotions you would expect in such a situation, but as well as feeling all those things, she felt something else… This was very real.
I also liked, when Ariane met Eve for the first time, how Ariane tried desperately to hate her. She inspected the woman, taking everything about her in, and this is exactly how any woman would be in her situation, I think. Comparing herself to Eve, examining their differences and why Quinn found Eve attractive. What was it about her he liked? Ariane was polite, making sure her body language didn't betray what she felt inside, and she made Eve welcome. But the internal war she waged...it was wonderfully written, brilliantly crafted.
An excellent sequel to Shared that brought forth a tumult of emotions that I dealt with bit by bit as I read, pausing to digest and wonder, to think about how this revelation would affect me. I would be outraged, and I enjoyed seeing how Ariane dealt with something so massive, so potentially relationship-destroying.
Although Shared Too can be read perfectly fine by itself, I would recommend reading Shared first because if you don't, you not only miss out on a delightful read, you also miss out on getting to know the characters so that by the time you read Shared Too, you have a better understanding of who they are and how this new intrusion in their lives will affect them.
Very well written, beautiful 1st person, intimate voice. What more could you ask for?"

Joyfully Reviewed.

Join me today over at Joyfully Reviewed where I have been grilled about my books, writing and anything else they could think of :-)

HIRED is up for book of the YEAR!!

HIRED won Best First Chapter and Best Cover in December 2010 which makes it eligible to win Book of the Year at D Renne Bagby's fabulous first chapter website.
You can read the first chapter of HIRED here.
If you like it, why not pop over and give me a vote :-)
Lily x

The Forbidden Bookshelf.

Join me over at The Forbidden Bookshelf for a natter about erotic photography.

HIRED gets another amazing review.

Hired - released just before Christmas - has just received a wonderful 5 Heart review from Sizzling Hot Reviews. Here is what they say - 

Temptation comes in many forms. Money, beauty, sex, fame, desire… But mix them together on an island paradise and hockey player Logan may just be able to tempt Brooke into forgetting that she was Hired to watch him while on vacation here.

One hundred grand to babysit bad boy Logan "Phoenix" Taylor on a paradise island—seriously, how bad could he be? Frankly, it didn't matter. Not when it would make my dreams of going to nursing school possible. I wasn't even expected to talk to him, just hang out in a luxurious villa on a private beach and study. Simple, right? But I hadn't counted on Logan being so deliciously bad that he was oh so good. And when the temperature cranked to boiling point, he knew just how to satisfy the deepest, darkest part of my soul and give my body exactly what it needed. Amongst the sand and waves, we transported each other to an exquisite world of pleasure where only we existed, only we mattered. But the heady mix of emotions and lust couldn't keep things from spiraling out of control back in reality, where I had to keep the secret that I'd been hired to entertain him…even if it shattered my delicate heart. Even if it cost my destiny.

Logan "Phoenix" Taylor is the Forward for the Orlando Vipers, the best ice hockey team in the state. His wife left him just over a year ago for her hairdresser, her female hairdresser that is. Both the press and his teammates have given him a really hard time about his wife leaving him for a woman. On top of that, he has had several injuries over the past season. Then, last week he got into a fight with a player from another team on the ice during a game and has been suspended for this week. The team owner, Fergal, is sending Logan to his villa on an island to get his head together and control over his temper. Brooke Ambrose is living with her friend Giselle after leaving her cheating ex of three years. She is waiting tables at The Grill while saving and studying for the entrance exams for nursing school. But Giselle is Fergal's call girl (yes, that kind of call girl) and hears that he is looking for someone to watch over and be there for the week of Logan's forced vacation. Fergal even offers a hundred thousand grand just for being a distraction, no sex required; he is that worried Logan will spend the week obsessing over past games, mistakes and drinking himself into a possible depression. Brooke is nothing like Giselle with her model looks and outgoing ways. Nor is Brooke easy about accepting money for her time and NO way could she ever exchange money for sex like Giselle does. But she can and does let Giselle talk her into accepting the idea of being paid to keep an eye on Logan, to make sure he doesn't become upset or depressed over the week. She does need the money for nursing school after all. What Brooke never expected was the powerful attraction between her and Logan. Or that he would turn out to be so much more than just a jock. But she can resist him only for so long. What is she to do? She has the fact that she was hired to be there, with him, on her conscious. And they are great together. But what happens after? He is a famous, rich guy and she isn't… And what if he finds out she was hired to be there? Hired is a great seduction scene set-up even if Logan has no clue that Brooke is being thrown at him. And Brooke actually thinks she is going to get studying done while on an island in the sun with a stud-ly man around? She is sweet, if a little quirky with her reading of auras and such. But to really expect to study and ignore the beauty of the island is almost sad. Luckily for her, Logan manages to distract her from the start. And boy what a distraction he is! He may have some anger issues, but even those seem to be mostly game related and he easily controls them when needed (like with women). He is sweet and caring with her from the start. And he is the one that talks about love early on and encourages her to fall for him as well! Now if he had just been a little more trusting and stayed to hear the entire story when her secret came out. But it played out well for the ending. Oh, Hired is a good story. It is a fun twist on the old "bet" tale (usually between guys about a date, sex or such) with just a touch of Cinderella added. And the sexy scenes between Brooke and Logan live up to anyone's idea of hot island paradise! Brooke and Logan are both sexy and sweet while having past issues to deal with, nice combo characters. There are a couple of expected, even formulary scenes, but overall Hired is a lot of fun and I fully enjoyed it.


*** HIRED is up for BEST FIRST CHAPTER OF THE YEAR - you can read the first chapter here and if you enjoy it your vote would be very much appreciated ***
Lily x