Krista Ames's Blog, page 117

Author, author.... guest post

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Please extend a big welcome to our guest author...


Cassandra Carr  Do m/m authors really watch gay porn, & other questions answeredBy Cassandra Carr
I was trying to think of a topic for this blog, and I remembered there are a couple of questions I get asked a lot now that I've got a m/m book out. By far the most popular question is:
Do you watch gay porn?
The justification for this question is usually, "You don't have the right equipment, so you have to learn how it works some way, right?"
Yes. And no.
Here's the thing. Yes it's completely true that women have different plumbing than men - obviously - but that doesn't mean it's all that big a mystery. Sex is sex. And really, any author like me who's written a lot of m/f stories already knows how to write a good blow job or anal sex scene. Both are mainstays in today's erotic romances. Yes, two men having sex doesn't look exactly like a man and a woman having sex, but as far as being able to describe the actions, they're not that dissimilar.
Another question:
You're a woman. (Ed note: Thanks for noticing!) How can you know how men think and feel to write a m/m book?
Um, the same way I know what my heroes are thinking and saying in my m/f books. Now as I've said, two men is not exactly not like a man a woman, but there are enough things that are the same with every man that it's not that hard to create realistic characters. How do I know what men think and how they feel? I talk to them. I'm married to one. I ask. That whole "I ask" thing seems to throw some people off. Yes, I ask. "Would you notice such-and-such?" or "What would you think if..." really do bring a lot of great intelligence your way. And all you had to do was ask.
What's so fascinating about male/male?
It's the same principle as a man getting hot watching two women grinding on the dance floor. What's better than one naked man? Two. And whether or not they're interested in "me" aka women, it's still sexy.
So what other questions do you have of an author who writes male/male stories? Ask me in the comments!  
See the Light
Cassandra Carr

Hockey player Jason Monroe lives a double life—star defenseman and soon-to-be Olympian on the ice and closeted gay man outside the rink. A serious relationship is out of the question, and Jason makes do with anonymous sex in barroom bathrooms, not willing to take the chance on coming out as gay in a decidedly macho sport.
Advisor to the US Olympic hockey team Patrick Parker knows a thing or two about being a professional hockey player who’s not out. He’s fifteen years older than Jason, and when he senses the sexy younger man is interested, he knows he shouldn’t give in to the attraction. The two men can’t keep their hands off each other, though, and with each heated encounter it gets harder to hide their relationship. Then their world blows up around them, forcing them into the limelight. Will their love survive or be put on ice?

Buy Links:    Amazon     B&N     Loose Id


Excerpt:
Jason stared at the other man, the lust burning him where he stood. He moved even closer, like a moth to a flame.
What the fuck am I doing?
Apparently Patrick didn’t know either, because his expression became alarmed. “What?”
I can’t stop.
“I need to do this.”
Not giving Patrick a chance to react to his words, Jason grabbed him, one hand palming the back of Patrick’s head as Jason’s other arm snaked around the man’s waist, pulling him into Patrick’s rock-hard body. It was obvious the man kept in shape, despite his playing days being over, and a tortured moan escaped before he could stop it. Jason dived into Patrick’s mouth as the passion flared, melting him from the inside out. He hadn’t kissed a man in years, and he realized how much he’d missed it as the kiss went on and on, neither man willing to let the other go.
He could feel Patrick’s cock as it lined up with his, and even through layers of clothing Jason felt the heat pouring off the other man. It made him want to submit to anything Patrick desired, which confused him. Honestly Jason couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a man’s dick in his mouth, but right now he’d give just about anything to suck Patrick off.
Patrick pushed them backward until they crashed into the wall, never letting their lips separate as he took control of the kiss. With a growl,  the older man reached down and cupped Jason’s ass, pulling their cocks even closer and rubbing them together. Jason turned his head to the side with a gasp to break the kiss before he passed out, but Patrick kept at him, scoring his teeth down Jason’s neck to his pulse point.
“So fucking hot.”

Spotlight & Review: Birthday Bash by Kelli Scott

Title: Birthday Bash
Series: The Edge
Author: Kelli Scott
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage, Erotica
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Format: Ebook
Length: 6999 words
Buy Links: Amazon| Smashwords | Decadent Publishing | B&N|
 
Book Description:
 
Juli Falzone is stuck at home for her thirtieth birthday after the TSA puts her on the no-fly list…until her doorbell rings and she finds two hot cops standing on her porch with a warrant for her arrest.
 
Are they a practical joke from her well-meaning friends, the best birthday gift ever, or has her identity been stolen? Wanting answers and maybe a little more than curious, she lets them in. Can she talk her way out of the situation or will they make her come along peacefully? . 
  My Review: As much as I LOVE Decadent Publishing and all they have to offer...I must say this is my first Edge series book to read and review.  I can also say with extreme certainty that it will not be my last either as far as the Edge series or Kelli Scott  is concerned!!  Aren't their covers just to die for ? I absolutely loved and could totally relate to Juli in this story.  She is a true home-body type, never taking unnecessary risks or stepping 'out-of-the-box' persae.  I have to admit that i'm also one that isn't very spontaneous as Dara explained of her best friend.   I sure wish my best friend would send me a birthday present like Jared and Damian :)  I'm pretty sure if I opened my front door to two of the polices finest that also take off their closes at the drop of a musical note i'd be in heaven !!! Kudos to author Kelli Scott for writing a story about a scenario that is more than possible in this day and age and for creating great believable characters.  Birthday Bash was a super quick read but really packed one hell of a punch.    I'm thrillled to know that Jared may just be hanging around and I can't wait to see if Kelli Scott has more in store for these two characters.   I proudly give 5 stars !!!  (Make sure you visit this tour link so you can visit all the other great sites!)http://www.fmbpromotions.com/2013/04/book-blitz-tour-birthday-bash-by-kelli.html  
Excerpt:       "No, sweetie.  I've got to go.  But I did send you a little gift.  Enjoy."  Dara hung up.

      Juli held the phone out, staring at it, bewildered by the abrupt brush-off.      Another knock brought her to her senses.      When she opened the door, phone still in hand, a summer breeze blew along her skin.  Two police officers, completely opposite in appearance, stood on her stoop, stone-faced serioius.  The taller, darker cop had a white-knuckled grip on his nightstick.  The other, shorter and fairer of hair and complexion, wore a pair of intimidating, mirrored sunglasses despite the darkness.      The taller officer cleared his throat.  "Ms. Falzone?"      "Y-yes."      "May we come in?"  the shorter--just shy of six feet--blond man asked.      Her instincts said, no, don't let them in.  But she hadn't done anything wrong, and they were peace officers.  Maybe a crazed killer ran loose in the area, and they wanted to search her backyard, secure her locks and ensure her safety.  But after the harrowing day she'd spent at the airport that morning, she was a quart low on trust, dubious of authority figures, and testy in general.        Oh,what the hell.      She opened the door wider, looking past them to the curb.  "Sure."  A streetlight shone bright on a sedan.  No other cops appeared to be canvassing the neighborhood.  The uniformed duo filed in, but she wasn't in the mood to make a pot of coffee or answer a bunch of inane questions.  She'd filler her quota for the day.      "What's this about?"  She closed the door.      "We have a warrant."  The tall man whipped out a tri-folded piece of paper like he meant business.       She scoffed.  "A warrant.  For what?"  She put on her tough girl act, but had visions of spending life in prison.  "I haven't done anything wrong."  Ever.  Someone must have stolen her identity.  First the no-fly list, now this.      The blond whipped off his shades, treating her to sky blue eyes.  "Haven't you?"     Dara always encouraged her to take a walk on the wild side.  But every potential one-night stand date had struck her as a prospective serial killer or would be stalker.   She didn't want to have regrets for living a boring life, but she'd seen too many friends, family members and co-workers make tragic mistakes in judgment.  Unplanned pregnancies.  Bad marriages.  Worse divorces.  Bankruptcies.  She avoided all of the above.      "What's the charge?"      Office Tall-Dark-and-Handsome's upper lip quirked.  "The charge is being too sexy to be thirty."  
About the Author:
 
Left for dead in an enchanted forest, Kelli was raised by wolves, which explains her thick coat of fur and keen night vision. As an adolescent, she was exiled from the pack due to her love of well-done steak smothered in ketchup (her penchant for blackened beef has also caused her ejection from several fine eateries). On her own, she roamed the streets, eating from dumpsters and sleeping in abandoned dog houses. Cold, starving and destitute, Kelli turned to the oldest profession—writing. Since her fall from grace, she has penned several smutty stories for which she has received many accolades. And despite her limited vocabulary, inability to punctuate properly and her well-documented spelling disability, Kelli has collected some awards (some of them for her writing). But what she wants most in the world is to return to the enchanted forest and her pack. As soon as she figures out north from south and east from west, she will do just that.
 
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Decadent Publishing
 
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For more information about Decadent Publishing authors, books, and their submissions guidelines, visit www.decadentpublishing.com.
Decadent Publishing is current accepting submissions in all sub-genres of romance, including their ongoing series'.
 

Author, author... guest A.M. Griffin

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 Please give a warm welcome to our guest blogger.......A.M. Griffin  is sharing about her latest hero.   I wanted my hero Taio Xochis to ooze sexual appeal. I want my readers to dream the good dream of aliens every night. What I find sexy about him is of course his physical appearance; over seven feet tall, extremely muscular and long black hair pulled off his face. My favorite two characteristics about him is his eye color, lavender. I’m not sure why I envisioned him with lavender colored eyes, but I pictured him with those eyes framed by long dark-colored lashes and I melted. Another stand out feature for me is the tribal tattoo. He has a tattoo that covers part of his face, neck and torso. This is how Eva, my heroine describes it:   He raised his eyebrow. “Do you want to see the rest of it?” She nodded and he pulled his shirt over his head in one swift movement, revealing a perfectly chiseled torso. Her eyes roamed over the elaborate tattoo of a red and blue beast. Its head spanned one side of his chest. It had yellow eyes and oversized fangs too big to fit in its ugly mouth. The body extended down into his pants and wrapped around to his back. One of the arms extended to the other side of his chest, with the claw resting right above his heart. The other arm snaked up the side of his face with the claw holding his eye.  
Blurb 
After aliens invade and conquer Earth, Eva is transported to a distant slave trading planet. Escape and freedom are her only priority, but none of her martial arts training prepared her for what she faces. She finds herself enslaved to the warrior King Taio. Eva’s drawn to this sexy alien male who ignites her heart and body.
 
Taio is disgusted with the idea of owning a slave—until now. From the moment he sees her, he knows Eva is his for the taking. Torn between lust and duty, Taio knows nothing will stop him from protecting his little warrior. 
Excerpt
 Eva pressed her face against the rectangular window in the training room, watching the lights of unknown origin whiz by. She stood in one of the training rooms Ship had sequestered for her. After lunch, she felt more than a little stir-crazy. She needed to work off some of the tension that coiled around her muscles. It took all her strength not to get up and leave the dining hall while Taio’s gaze bored through her back. Did he really have to keep sending those smoldering looks her way?
  His lavender eyes locked on her whenever she entered a room. The intensity of his gaze made her body respond in a way that she didn’t want it to. No one would ever consider her to be a coward. But there was something about the way he looked at her that had her frightened.
 And that tattoo on his face. Sometimes it intrigued her and other times it made her scared. Who would allow such an intricate drawing to be completed? The pain alone would have been enough to deter any sane person from getting it, alien or not.

His body was a whole different story. It was downright criminal to have a body like his. The man had a body that would make a nun want to sin. He was tall, unbelievably so, but he was all rippling muscle.
This vessel was full of men and the only one who would give her a second glance was Taio. The thought should have given her some type of comfort. Instead of beating off twenty men, there was only one she would have to worry about. There was no mistaking his intentions. Every time he looked her way, it was as if he were willing her clothes to fall from her body. Her only counterattack so far was to stay away from him.
But she did have to agree with Ship, being under the care of Taio was for the best right now. She was fed, the dining hall was open around the clock, which was a plus. Oftentimes she found herself standing in front of the computer, requesting the buro flank with nitlick soupafter everyone else was fast asleep. These were the closest thing to Earth food she could find. They had the same taste as chicken and tomato soup.
She was finally clean. Although she would have loved to feel the caress of running water on her skin again, the ionized shower hit the spot. She had clothes, which, although they were tight, were at least clean. And most of all, she didn’t feel her safety was in any type of jeopardy, not at the moment.
She wanted to find Ally, but she had to face the hard facts.
She was far away from home.
In an alien world.
No money whatsoever.
Nowhere to go.
And alone.
Finally, pulling herself away from the window, she pulled a training bag from the corner to start her workout. Hand-to-hand combat always made her feel primal, the main reason she loved it so much.
Within minutes, her training suit clung to her body, the lightweight material not constricting her movements at all. Perspiration covered her from head to toe, her once tied-back hair hanging wet and loose around her. Her muscles thrived under the workout, coming alive once again.
Heavy breathing behind her caught her off guard. She flipped away, landing in a fighting stance facing the intruder.
Taio stood in the doorway, watching. He gave a curt nod her way, the acknowledgement doing nothing to make her feel relaxed.
“You have good skills, Eva.” He hooked his thumbs in the waist of his pants and leaned on the doorway.
Her name never sounded better.
“Thank you.” She relaxed and straightened, her eyes still watching him. This was his first time speaking to her since their ill-fated first encounter.
She didn’t dare move closer, especially since she still didn’t know his intentions. She didn’t move away either, fearing he would view that as a sign of weakness. So she stood her ground, her body betraying her in the worst way. Her heart sped up a little and her breathing became more labored. Now she found her nipples hardening as her name rolled off his tongue.
I know trouble when I see it.
Eva willed her body to fight against whatever “mojo” he was throwing at her.
Taio walked into the room and took a sword off a rack on the wall. He began flexing it, testing its weight. The gesture caused his arm and chest muscles to ripple with each movement.
Jesus.
“Who taught you fighting moves?” he asked.
“My sensei, he lived back home.”
“Earth,” he said as a statement, rather than a question.
“Yes, Earth. Ann Arbor, Michigan, more specifically.”
She eyed the weapons on the wall. She was trained to use various fighting weapons—sais, kamas, knives, nunchakus, bo staffs and swords. She could show him a thing a two.
She walked over to the rack and took another sword off the wall.
Shit!
It weighed a ton! No wonder he smirked when she picked it up. Even though she strained to hold it in both hands, she made sure not to let him know. She would give anything to smack that look right off his face. Instead, she concentrated hard on not dropping the sword. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She dared not try to maneuver it as he had.
“A male taught you?” He sounded surprised.
“Yes. Thirteen Earth years of training.” Taio laughed and shook his head in disbelief. “It’s not unusual on my planet,” she said. “A male can teach a female how to fight or even a female can teach a male.”
He laughed harder and shook his head. “There could never be such a thing on my world.”
She turned away. “I earned a black belt, first Dan in Kyokushin Karate. On Earth I’m considered to be a great fighter.”
“Your people did not fare well in the war against the Loconuist. The fighting techniques of your species mean nothing to me.”
Ouch.
If the sword in her hands wasn’t so heavy, she would have swung it at him.
Asshole.
“We didn’t know how to fight them. We’d never encountered aliens before.”
“Then it is good that I will take care of you from now on.”
Her head snapped around. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”
“You were captured by the Loconuist and the Tresdonians almost killed you.”
She shrugged. “But they didn’t.”
He smirked. “Because I saved you.”
“Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”
“It doesn’t matter. You are my responsibility now. You are my slave.”
Her eyes, squinting and cold, fixed on his. “Ship told me those assholes on that planet gave me to you. I think you got cheated. I’m not a slave. Not yours or anyone else’s.”
“If this arrangement does not suit you, I could turn the vessel around and give you back to the Tresdonians.” He turned from her and put the heavy sword back on the wall rack.
Her heart began pounding in her chest. He wouldn’t… “No. I’m not going back there.” She held her sword tightly in her grasp.
“Then you are my slave.” He stalked slowly toward her. His eyes locked on hers.
“No.” She backed away from him.
This cannot happen.
“You are mine.” He took another step toward her. “You will need to get used to the idea.”
“Never.”
He stopped his advancement. They stood facing each other. Her breathing came out in deep and heavy breaths. Her heart thumped in her chest.
Abruptly, he turned and walked from the room. She blinked at the empty doorway. The cold surface of the wall was against her back. She held the sword close to her chest, shielding her body. She stayed there until her arms shook from the sword’s weight.
She was no one’s slave.
Buy Links
Ellora’s Cave / Amazon/ All Romance Ebooks
 
Book Trailer
 
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About our author...
A. M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.

Author Links
Website / Facebook / Twitter
  
A.M. Griffin, thanks so much for being with us today.  Dangerously Mine sounds delicious !!! Readers, make sure you get your copy today.    Buy Links
Ellora’s Cave / Amazon/ All Romance Ebooks 
 Until next time, happy reading !! Krista 

Author, author.... guest post !

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Please welcome guest blogger...

Dilys J. Carnie  LOVE   Does love at first sight exist? As a romance writer I firmly believe it does.  Love is an emotion that is probably the most important human feeling you will ever experience. According to Sigmund Freud the study of love is left to the writer to depict but I believe it’s also up to the reader to envisage what that word means to them. Love is an emotion that has given us enjoyment since the beginning of mankind.  So what draws one person to another? I find this fascinating and one of my favorite things of all time is to people watch it’s amazing what you can see when you just sit there.    Chemistry…What is it?   The need to see that one person over and over again.  It’s the ignite to a relationship, an animal attraction between two people, a hit over the head that has you seeing stars. When you think of that special someone you smile for no reason, your heartbeat races, your breath becomes faster and a sense of excitement sweeps through you like a tornado.   In my book ‘Her Passionate Protector’ Alex sees Lucy in a picture and is immediately attracted…The consensus says that men are more likely to fall in love at first sight because they are more visual than woman. I’m not sure that’s true, but for whatever reason it’s the most special feeling in the world.    ~     ~     ~     ~     ~  about Dilys J. Carnie   I’m just an everyday kinda girl and I have lived on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales for thirty nine years. I have two grown up children Emma is a teacher and Christopher is involved in the family commercial business. I have three sisters; two of them live close by as does my mum.    I am an avid health freak, a vegetarian who is manic about working out in the gym and doing Pilates classes. I love clothes, makeup, having my nails and hair done. I’m just a girl’s girl.   If I am not in my office pounding the keys I’m sitting in my favourite chair reading on my new Kindle.   Author Links Website / Blog / Goodreads/ Pinterest / Twitter   Her Passionate Protector By Dilys J. Carnie Erotic Romance Secret Cravings Publishing November 12, 2012   When Lucy meets Alex the owner of the new company her cleaning business has just picked up a contract for, her hard won self-preservation and quiet life flies out the window. Smoldering heat ignites every time Alex comes near her. He is confused by this independent, yet vulnerable woman and when her ex-husband returns, determined to hurt her, Alex fights for her life and their love.   Excerpt   “Give her time, Alex. She’s been through a lot.” The pressure of his friend’s hand was reassuring on his shoulder and he just nodded. It would take more than time. It was going to be one hell of an uphill battle.   At that point, Jack came wandering into the kitchen, rubbing himself around Alex’s legs.   “And what do you want, little one?” Alex picked up the cat, its purring hum showing he had settled down quite easily.   “Do you want some cream, buddy?” He poured some into a saucer and put it down, watching as the cat lapped greedily.   “Let’s take the coffee out now.” Alex picked up the try and followed Simon.   After they went out on to the balcony, and he set the tray of cups and coffee on the table, Nic got up from where she had been sitting with Lucy on the wicker sofa and put her arms around Simon.   Alex looked over at Lucy, her body hunched, the pain and sadness evident in her chocolate brown eyes.     More excerpts can be found at Dilys WattPad   Buy Links Secret Cravings Publishing / Barnes & Noble / Amazon UK / Amazon US /  BookStrand

 

Author, author... Tasty Blurb Tour

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Sidney Shelton’s The Tides of MemoryBy: Tilly Bagshawe
Blurb:
On the surface the De Vere family appear to have it all: Wealth, political power, and idyllic life split between their London mansion, Oxfordshire country house and their idyllic, sprawling Martha’s Vineyard estate.
But beneath the gilded façade, and the family’s apparently watertight bonds with one another, lie many secrets, some of them deadly. When the mistakes of youth refuse to stay buried, and generation old hatreds resurface, the De Veres find themselves on the brink of losing everything. How far will each of them go to conceal the truth and protect the family?     Author Info:   The late novelist and screenwriter Sidney Sheldon remains one of the world’s top bestselling authors, having sold more than 300 million copies of his books. ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? was his most recent in a long line of huge hits on bestseller lists everywhere. He is also the only writer to have won an Oscar, a Tony, and an Edgar. THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS heralds him as the most translated author in the world.

Tilly Bagshawe is a New York Times Bestselling author. She lives in Los Angeles, California, and London with her husband and children.   Links:        http://www.tillybagshawe.com/        https://www.facebook.com/tillybagshawebooks        http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Sidney-Sheldons-The-Tides-of-Memory-Sidney-Sheldon?isbn=9780062073426&HCHP=TB_Sidney+Sheldon+s+The+Tides+of+Memory          Excerpt PROLOGUE “Was there anything else, Home Secretary?”Alexia De Vere smiled. Home Secretary. Surely the most beautiful two words in the English language. Except forPrime Minister, of course. The Tory party’s newest superstar laughed at herself. One step at a time, Alexia.“No thank you Edward. I’ll call if I need you.”Sir Edward Manning nodded briefly and left the room. A senior civil servant in his early sixties and bastion of the Westminster political establishment, Sir Edward Manning was as tall and grey and rigid as a matchstick. In the coming months, Sir Edward would be Alexia De Vere’s constant companion: advising, cautioning, expertly guiding her through the maze of Home Office politics. But right now, in these first few hours in the job, Alexia De Vere wanted to be alone. She wanted to savor the sweet taste of victory without an audience. To sit back and revel in the profound thrill of power. After all, she’d earned it. Getting up from her desk, she paced around her new office, a vast eyrie of a room perched high in one of the baroque towers of the Palace of Westminster. The interior design was more functional than fabulous. A matching pair of ugly brown sofas at one end (those must go), a simple desk and chair at the other, and a bookcase stuffed with dusty, un-read tomes of political history. But none of that mattered once you saw the view. Spectacular didn’t begin to cover it. Floor to ceiling windows provided a panoramic vista of London, from the towers of Canary Wharf in the east to the mansions of Chelsea in the west. It was a view that said one thing and one thing only. Power. And it was all hers. I am theHome Secretary of Great Britain. The second most important member of Her Majesty’s Government. How had it happened? How had a junior prisons minister, and a deeply unpopular one at that, leapfrogged so many other senior candidates to land the big job? Poor Kevin Lomax over at Trade & Industry must be spitting yellow, coffee-stained teeth. The thought made Alexia De Vere feel warm inside. Patronizing old fossil. He wrote me off years ago, but who’s laughing now? Pilloried in the press for being wealthy, aristocratic and out-of-touch with ordinary voters, and dubbed the new Iron Lady by the tabloids, Alexia De Vere’’s sentencing reform bill had been savaged by MPs on both sides of the house for being ‘compassionless’ and ‘brutal.’ No parole sentences might work in America, a country so barbaric they still had the death penalty. But they weren’t going to fly here, in civilized Great Britain. That’s what theysaid. But when push came to shove, they’d all voted the bill through. Cowards. Cowards and hypocrites the lot of them. Alexia De Vere knew how unpopular the bill had made her, with colleagues, with the media, with lower income voters. So she was as shocked as everyone else when the Prime Minister, Henry Whitman, chose to appoint her as his Home Secretary. But she didn’t dwell on it. The fact was, Henry Whitmanhad appointed her. At the end of the day that was all that mattered. Reaching into a box, Alexia pulled out some family photographs. She preferred to keep her work and home lives separate, but these days everyone was so touchy-feely, having pictures of one’s children on one’s desk had become de rigeur.
There was her daughter Roxie at eighteen, her blonde head thrown back, laughing. How Alexia missed that laugh. Of course, the picture had been taken before the accident. The accident Alexia De Vere hated the euphemism for her daughter’s suicide attempt, a three story leap that had left Roxie wheelchair bound for the rest of her life. In Alexia’s view, one should call a spade a spade. But Alexia’s husband, Teddy insisted on it. Dear Teddy. He always was a soft touch. Placing her husband’s photograph next to their daughter’s, Alexia smiled. An unprepossessing, paunchy middle aged man, with thinning hair and permanently ruddy cheeks, Teddy De Vere beamed at the camera like a lovable bear. How different my life would have been without him. How much, how very much, I owe him. Of course, Teddy De Vere was not the only man to whom Alexia owed her good fortune. There was Henry Whitman, the new Tory Prime Minister and Alexia’s self-appointed political mentor. And somewhere, far, far away from here, there was another man. A good man. A man who had helped her. But she mustn’t think about that man. Not now. Not today. Today was a day of triumph and celebration. It was no time for regrets. The third picture was of Alexia’s son, Michael. What an insanely beautiful boy he was, with his dark curls and slate-grey eyes and that mischievous smile that melted female hearts from a thousand paces. Sometimes Alexia thought that Michael was the only person on earth she had ever loved unconditionally. Roxie ought to fall into that category too, but after everything that had happened between them, the bad blood had poisoned the relationship beyond repair After the photographs it was time for the congratulations cards, which had been arriving in a steady stream since Alexia’s shock appointment was announced two days earlier. Most of them were dull, corporate affairs sent by lobbyists or constituency hangers-on. They had pictures of popping champagne bottles or dreary floral still-lifes. But one card in particular immediately caught Alexia’s eye. Against a stars and stripes background, the words ‘YOU ROCK!” were emblazoned in garish gold. The message inside read: ‘Congratulations, darling Alexia! SO excited and SO proud of you. All my love, Lucy!!!! xxx’ Alexia De Vere grinned. She had very few female friends – very few friends of any kind, in fact - but Lucy Meyer was the exception that proved the rule. A neighbor from Martha’s Vineyard, where the De Veres owned a summer home – Teddy had fallen in love with the island whilst at Harvard Business School - , Lucy Meyer had become almost like a sister. Lucy was a traditional home-maker, albeit of the uber-wealthy variety, and as American as apple pie. Alternately motherly and child-like, she was the sort of woman who used a lot of exclamation points in emails and wrote her I’s with full circles instead of dots on the top. To say that Lucy Meyer and Alexia De Vere had little in common would be like saying that Israel and Palestine didn’t always see exactly eye to eye. And yet the two women’s friendship, forged over so many blissful summers on Martha’s Vineyard, had survived all the ups and downs of Alexia’s crazy political life. Standing by the window, Alexia gazed down at the Thames. From up here the river looked benign and stately, a softly flowing ribbon of silver snaking its silent way through the city. But down below, Alexia knew, its currents could be deadly. Even now, at fifty nine years of age and at the pinnacle of her career, Alexia De Vere couldn’t look at water without feeling a shudder of foreboding. She twisted her wedding ring nervously. How easily it can all be washed away! Power, happiness, even life itself. It only takes an instant, a single unguarded instant. And it’s gone. Her phone buzzed loudly. “Sorry to disturb you Home Secretary. But I have Ten Downing Street on line one . I assume you’ll take the Prime Minister’s call?” Alexia De Vere shook her head, willing the ghosts of the past away. “Of course Edward. Put him through.” South of the river, less than a mile from Alexia De Vere’s opulent Westminster office but a world apart, Gilbert Drake sat in Maggie’s café, hunched over his egg and beans. A classic British ‘greasy spoon’, complete with grime encrusted windows and a peeling linoleum floor, Maggie’s was a popular haunt for cabbies and builders on their way to work on the more affluent north side of the river. Gilbert Drake was a regular. Most mornings he was chatty and full of smiles. But not today. Staring at the picture in his newspaper as if he’d seen a ghost, he pressed his hands to his temples. This can’t be happening. How is this happening? There she was, that bitch Alexia De Vere, smiling for the camera as she shook hands with the Prime Minister. Gilbert Drake would never forget that face as long as he lived. The proud, jutting jaw, the disdainful curl of the lips, the cold, steely glint of those blue eyes, as pretty and empty and heartless as a doll’s. The caption beneath the picture read ‘Britain’s new Home Secretary starts work.’ Reading the article was painful, like picking at a newly healed scab, but Gilbert Drake forced himself to go on. ‘In an appointment that surprised many at Westminster and wrong footed both the media and the bookies, junior prisons minister Alexia De Vere was named as the new Home Secretary yesterday. The Prime Minister, Henry Whitman, has described Mrs De Vere as ‘a star’ and ‘a pivotal figure’ in his new look cabinet. Kevin Lomax, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who had been widely tipped to replace Humphrey Crewe at the home office after his resignation in March, told reporters he was ‘delighted’ to hear of Mrs De Vere’s appointment and that he ‘hugely looked forward’ to working with her.’ Gilbert Drake closed his newspaper in disgust. Gilbert’s best friend Sanjay Patel was dead because of that bitch. Sanjay who had protected Gilbert from the bullies at school and on their Peckham public housing. Sanjay who’d worked hard all his life to put food on his family’s table, and faced all life’s disappointments with a smile. Sanjay who’d been imprisoned, wrongly imprisoned, set up by the police, simply for trying to help a cousin to escape persecution. Sanjay was dead. While that whore, that she-wolf Alexia De Vere, was riding high, the toast of London.
It was not to be borne. Gilbert Drake would not bear it. The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Maggie, the café’s eponymous proprietress, refilled Gilbert’s mug of tea. “Eat up, Gil. Your egg’s going cold.” Gilbert Drake didn’t hear her. All he heard were his friend Sanjay Patel’s voice begging for mercy. Charlotte Whitman, the Prime Minister’s wife, rolled over in bed and stroked her husband’s chest. It was four in the morning and Henry was awake, again, staring at the ceiling like a prisoner waiting for the firing squad. “What is it Henry? What’s the matter?” Henry Whitman covered his wife’s hand with his. “Nothing. I’m not sleeping too well, that’s all. Sorry if I woke you.” “You would tell me if there were a problem, wouldn’t you?” “Darling Charlotte.” He pulled her close. “I’m the Prime Minister. My life is nothing but problems as far as the eye can see.” “You know what I mean. I mean a real problem. Something you can’t handle.” “I’m fine, darling, honestly. Try and go back to sleep.” Soon Charlotte Whitman was slumbering soundly. Henry watched her, her words ringing in his ears.Something you can’t handle… Thanks to him, Alexia De Vere’s face was on the front page of every newspaper. Speculation about her appointment was rife, but no one knew anything. No one except Henry Whitman. And he intended to take the secret to his grave. Was Alexia De Vere a problem that he couldn’t handle? Henry Whitman sincerely hoped not. Either way it was too late now. The appointment was made. The deed was done. Britain’s new Prime Minister lay awake until dawn, just as he knew he would. No rest for the wicked.
 

Author, author...

...read all about it !!



Her Story
Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month
 
27 authors have come together to produce one awesome book to celebrate women!
 
In ancient times, women were regarded as sacred. They were thought to hold the mystical power of creation—responsible for the continuation of our species. With the rise of science and religion, these myths were dispelled and their plight began.

HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month is a collection of flash fiction and short stories from today’s top authors featuring female characters that exemplify strength of mind, body, and character. Some of these tales are based on real people while others are purely fictional. However, all are standing up for themselves and what they believe in.

Grab yourself a glass of wine or favorite hot beverage and get comfortable as you read about the lives of women who will light the fire in your soul.

This anthology features stories by Alexandra Chauran, Angelique Mroczka, Dahlia DeWinters, Danielle Villano, Dianne Hartsock, Dorothy L. Abrams, Gina Tonnis, Mary Terrani, Jodie Baptie, Justine Dee, Laura DeLuca, Lisa A. Adams, Lisa Cerezo, Lisa J. Yarde, Lori Beth Johnson, Lorraine Nelson, Marie Antonia Parsons, Megan D. Martin, Michelle Cornwell-Jordan, Mirella Patzer, Morgan Summerfield, Becca Diane, Lacey Wolfe, Sarah Cass, Shelli Rosewarne, Tara Chevrestt, and Toni Rakestraw.  Excerpt  AdellaBy Morgan SummerfieldA week later, Bliss was born.” Adella patted the arm of the child in her lap. “Doctors told me she would likely be retarded, given my ge and the complications over the nine months associated with my clumsiness.” Sarcastically, Adella spewed, “After all, one must be very uncoordinated to fall down the stairs so many times.”“How could people not see what was going on?”“People don’t want to see. They don’t want to believe that a neighbor, a friend, or a fellow worker is capable of such things.”“I don’t understand how a man can do that and not feel badly. Did he ever feel badly … apologize … show remorse?” Anger caused Tom to grip the steering wheel tighter and he forced himself to loosen his grip, for fear of alarming the woman.“No. I tried everything I knew to make him love me. But, I eventually realized that change was in his hands, not mine.”~     ~     ~     ~  Watch the Trailer: You Tube Buy Links:Amazon  Amazon Print   Nook   Smashwords 

Author, author... Sylvia Ryan :)

...read all about her !!!

Today we are pleased to have in our interview spotlight...


  Sylvia Ryan    Hi Sylvia, can you tell us a little about yourself? I am an ordinary wife, mother and professional living in Midwest Surburbia, USA. I read voraciously and love to lose myself and fall head over heels for the alpha males in the novels I read.When I get the chance to shed the prim and proper persona of an average wife and mother, my secret identity, Sylvia Ryan, emerges. My alter ego strives to write original ideas in extraordinary settings for my readers to remember long after the book has been read. My dream is to transform my racy thoughts and naughty nature into tangible works of erotic fantasy for others' secret identities to enjoy.
  When did you first start writing? I finished my first manuscript the summer of 2010.   What is a typical writing day like for you?  I try to squeeze in a few hours between work and dinnertime and write more on the weekends if I’m feeling inspired.  Do you have an specific routine you follow or specific items you need with you when you write? I write the majority of my books long hand in a spiral notebook I carry around with me everywhere. I’m more inspired when I tuck myself away under a tree or in front of the fireplace than when I’m sitting in my office in front of the computer.  What is your favorite part of writing?  Is there anything you don’t like about being a writer? My favorite part of being a writer is the feedback I get from those who have read one of my titles. It gives me a thrill when I get an e-mail from a reader. Probably because writing is such a solitary activity. It’s wonderful to hear that the hours of work were worth it. There’s only one thing I don’t like about writing. Sometimes it fills my days to overflowing and at times, I feel torn in different directions, wanting to fit in some writing but can’t because real life pulls me away.  What is your favorite length of book to write?  (Short story, novella, full length novel) Why? Full length novels are my favorite to read and write.  Character development is important to me and with novellas I just don’t think the reader can connect as readily with the characters.  Is there a to-be-read waiting on your bedside table? Absolutely! Lover at Last by J.R. Ward is calling to me even now. I also have Kallypso Master’s Rescue Me series next on my to-read list.  For fun, I have a few personal questions,  Favorite 5 1)  Favorite Holiday – 4th of July 2) Favorite Drink – Red wine 3) Favorite Author – J.R. Ward 4) Favorite Book- I don’t think I can choose just one…so I’ll name a few. Loved the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, J.R. Ward, Loved Cherise Sinclair’s Masters of the Shadowlands Series as well. 5)Favorite Animal – I am a dog person. I have two dogs now and would probably have more if my husband would let me. And for a bonus:  What is a typical mood for you?  And is your mood different when you’re writing? I’m normally joking around and fun at home. I tend to be considerably more reserved outside the house even to the point of shyness sometimes. And, yes, my mood can change when I’m writing a particularly emotional scene. My husband has gotten good at snapping me out of those pretty quickly.   Where can our readers find you??  Visit my website to enter the Kindle and swag GIVEAWAY celebrating my Being Amber release www.RyanBooks.net Email: WrittenbySRyan@gmail.com     Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it? Being Amber by Sylvia Ryan
Both danger and sex are inescapable in the Amber Zone.
 Jaci Harmon was born a Sapphire, but after she’s summoned to receive her final designation, the testing reveals she carries a gene slated for eradication. Within a day, she’s sterilized and dumped in the Amber Zone, where the damaged are corralled away from the rest of New Atlanta. Scared and alone, Jaci would rather die than face her future as an Amber.   Born in the Amber Zone, Xander Dimos is a product of a lifetime spent under the oppression of the Repopulation Laws. Decades of suffering have taught the Ambers to make the zone a place where touch, sex, and unconditional acceptance ease the pain of their fate. Jaci has a lot to learn about her new home, and it’s Xanderís responsibility to guide her through the differences and the dangers safely.   With the simmering undercurrents of sexual chemistry growing between them, and in the midst of discovering the Gov’s true motives, Jaci and Xander must overcome his secret and accept their love as undeniable…even if the time allotted to share it is short.   CONTENT WARNING: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, menage a trios, use of sex toys, and anal sex.      Buy the book - http://lyricalpress.com/being-amber                 www.amazon.com  I am seriously dying to read this one !!!!!  Thanks again Sylvia for being with us today and readers, make sure you get your copy of Being Amber ! Until next time,Happy reading !! Krista 

Book Blitz: A Gift for Emily + giveaway

 A Gift for Emily Book #2 of The Emily Stokes Series by  J.P. Galuska   A Gift for Emily picks up right where A Kiss for Emily leaves off. She is discovering that dating a ghost, solely composed of dense water molecules, has more challenges than she ever imagined. And when a bouquet shows up on the doorstep from an unknown suitor, life really gets complicated.     Genre: Paranormal Romance, Suspense Publisher: Self-pub. Format: Ebook, Paperback Length: 67,000 words
 
 
About our Author:
 
J P lives in Minnesota with her family, a crazy dog, and the world's best cat.
 
The Emily Stokes Series Facebook | Author Facebook | Website | Twitter: @JGaluska |



Tour Schedule:     http://www.fmbpromotions.com/2013/04/book-blitz-tour-gift-for-emily-emily.html




GIVEAWAY :  Please just follow the rafflecopter below :) A $15 Amazon gift card, magnets, pen and coffee mug.Ends May 1st 2013a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author, author.... #spotlight

...read all about it !!
   Hijacked by Sidde Lee Tate Book Two in The Night Series       Will an unexpected encounter leave Sharon's heart hijacked?

When Sharon Blake meets Kyle Phillips her first instinct is to simply seek the pleasure she's certain he can give her. But surprisingly, she feels a strong connection with him, something she's never experienced before, and that conflicts with everything she's always believed—sex is sex and nothing more.

The last woman Kyle trusted with his heart betrayed him, and he has no interest in getting involved with anyone. There's only one problem—now that he's met Sharon, he craves her touch, her laughter, the look in her eyes when he pulls her near.

Kyle and Sharon soon realize that being apart isn't an option. Someone else, though, has different plans for Kyle, and Sharon is left questioning everything he's told her. Kyle tries to explain, to make things right again, but Sharon doesn't know if she can trust him, and her instinct is to walk away now before her heart is bruised even further.

Content Warning: strong language and graphic sex     Excerpt:
The small blonde waitress placed a third beer on the table in front of him. Her breasts were at eye level, nipples looking tight as stones poked at the thin material of her top. The first time Kyle saw her behind the bar he knew she would be hard to forget. Lucky for him, she was his server.

"Two-fifty," she said, smiling. "Are you gonna drink those?" She pointed to the full bottles in front of him.

"Waiting for some friends. Check back with me in a few minutes." He handed her a five dollar bill. "Keep the change."

"Thanks." Her chest swelled, perfect mounds inches from his face. The light blue v-neck, lace top she wore was held up by thin straps. It was cut low, giving him a peek at what lie beneath. As she turned and sauntered to the bar, he couldn't help but stare.

She propped her elbows on the countertop and leaned over. Her round butt in the air had him practically salivating, and no matter how hard he tried, his eyes would only divert for a second before finding their way back to her.

He watched as the bartender handed her a shot and she tossed it back. As if she sensed him gawking, the waitress turned her head, propping her chin on her shoulder, and grinned.

Leaving the bar, she walked straight over to him, taking a seat in the chair next to his as though it were hers all along. "Why are you watching me?" she asked matter-of-factly, which made him cough in surprise. Was it that obvious? "You ordered at the bar first, right?"

"I…um," he stuttered and gave up on an explanation.

She smiled again, most likely at catching him off guard. He decided drinking the beer in front of him wouldn't be a bad idea and grabbed one of the bottles, chugged half, and sat it down. He eyed her with curiosity and pressed his sweating palms against his jeans.

Say something! "How long have you been here?"

She arched her left eyebrow. "You mean as in, tonight?"

"Working here, as in days, weeks, months, years."

"A few weeks." She crossed one leg over the other, hiking the already short, black skirt up her thigh, exposing more of her silky skin. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm on my break."

"And you chose to spend it with me?"

She shrugged her right shoulder and picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table he hadn't noticed her put there when she sat. She lit one, the flame from the lighter making it possible for him to notice her eyes had a green tint to them. "Your table is empty."

He playfully scoffed, amused at her excuse. There were at least six unoccupied tables in the room. "When does the band start?"

She looked down at her watch. Silver with rhinestones, it fit loose like a bracelet. "In about an hour. They start at ten. What's your name?"

He drank another quarter of the beer. "Kyle Phillips. You?"

"Sharon Blake." She reached up and pulled her long hair from the back of her neck and let it fall. "Is this your first time here? I've never seen you around. Are you from Pineville?"

Kyle cleared his throat. She was making observations, asking questions. He'd been divorced for three months, but this was his first time at a bar since meeting his ex-wife nine years ago, and he wasn't certain if he should explain his situation—a fresh divorcé. He decided to go with direct answers. "I live about three miles outside of town. And no, I don't get out much."

"Huh." She tugged on the cigarette and then snuffed the rest of it out in an ashtray at the center of the table. "I'm trying to quit."

"Six years smoke free for me. It was one of the hardest things I've done."

She eyed him carefully. "Are you meeting someone?"

"A friend. He should be here any time." Kyle peeled his gaze from her and scanned the growing crowd through the dimly lit room, suddenly hoping his friend didn't show for a while. He gulped more beer. "How long are you on break?"

"I've got a few minutes." Her eyes moved over him and he wondered how evident it was that he wanted to taste her skin. "Why do you ask?"

"I thought I might get you something to drink. But then, if you work here—"

"My drinks are free." She laughed and reached for his stash of untouched beer. "Do you mind?" The waitress…Sharon…didn't wait for an answer before popping the top and taking a sip. "Kyle Phillips, I need your help."

    Buy Links:  Beachwalk Press     Amazon        Barnes & Noble       About the Author:
Sidda Lee Tate has spent most of her life creating stories. Writing is one of her great loves, with romance and eroticism being her specialties. Whether her words make readers cry or laugh or just downright hot, she is proud to take people on a journey with her characters. Sidda Lee lives in a small town in Arkansas with her husband and son.

Author Links:      Site         Facebook         Twitter

Author, author... Sorcha Mowbray

....read all about her !!!
 
Please help  me extend a big welcome to..


Sorcha Mowbray Hi Sorcha, so great to have you here with us.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?I’m an office dweller by day and a romance writer by nightwhenever I can squeeze it in. I’m also an avid romance reader. But aren’t we all? I am married and live in Southern California with my hubby and my cats. God! I sound like the future cat lady! LOL!  Do real life events find their way into your stories?  So far, not really. Mostly because I’ve written historical romance. I have a contemporary erotic story coming out that has only a teensiest bit of real life in it. I mean, I did work in a Mergers & Acquisition firm in New York once upon a time. None of the events in the story have ever actually occurred!  Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?  I don’t consciously choose to, but I won’t say personality traits don’t make it in. J Little bits here and there, but never a whole person just cut from real life and pasted into my book.  Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?  Oh, always something different. I get ideas from all kinds of places. Movies, songs, and even scenarios I play in my head. I love to play the “What if?” game with myself.
 When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?  I squeeze it in when I can. Most times I write at night or weekends. But there are days when I get a little in at work on breaks and what not. I’ve been known to scratch out a few pages in long hand just to appease the need to write.  How do you feel about marketing your book?  I don’t really mind most of the time. In fact, I mostly love talking about my books. I get so excited about each new baby I mean book.  What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?  I don’t know to be honest. I think it depends on what social media works for you personally. I try to do Facebook, but I’m pretty sure I suck at it because I just don’t know what to say there. Twitter is more my speed since it is little bits of text in a stream. I am also trying another endeavor with a forum on my site. I like this idea a lot because it is more than just about me or my books. I want it to be a place where lovers of erotic romance can hang out and talk books, characters, or hell swap recipes!  Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?  So far I haven’t had the luxury of pitching story ideas. I would love to try to do that, but for now I am still in the write it and then sell it mode.   Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?  Write or wrong I think I have my fingers in all the pies I really want to be in. LOL! Oh wait…maybe something in the Urban Fantasy area. I do love a good UF story.   Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?  God no! I like to think I’m more astute than they are sometimes. But then again, I am human. I’m sure I’ve done equally dense things as them.    Just for fun, I have a few personal questions,  Favorite 5 1)      Favorite Male Actor  - Vincent D’Onofrio (he is such a fabulous character actor!)2)      Favorite vehicle – Anyting fast. I have a lead foot but not the car to go with it.3)      Favorite way to relax – A good book, my bed, and a glass of wine4)      Favorite ice cream – Cookie Dough!5)      Favorite outfit – Black pencil skirt, red peep toe heels, white blouse, and black cardigan – I may or may not sport my specs depending on my moodAnd for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be?  (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)Some tropical island. I want to lounge on the beach and then stroll to my patio to write! Le sigh.  Where can our readers find you??  Email: sorcha.mowbray@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/sorchamowbray
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sorcha-Mowbray-Erotic-Romance-Writer/100675426694322Website/blog: http://sorchamowbray.comAmazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sorcha-Mowbray/e/B0075BJCCE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1364951930&sr=8-1Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/sorchamowbrayTRR/Manic: http://www.manicreaders.com/SorchaMowbray/ Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?   [image error] Love Reclaimed Owner of one of the most successful brothels in London, Madame Marie Marchander has seen
and done it all. Jaded by the hand life dealt her, she gave up on love the night her virginity was auctioned off twenty years earlier. But then the boy, now a man, she once loved walks in to her establishment.





Jonathan Pierce, Baron Heartfield, had waited too long to save the woman he loved. A man no longer bound by the vows taken as a boy nor under the influence of his father, he is determined to woo and win the heart of the only woman he ever loved. The fact she was forced in to prostitution is of little consequence beyond the guilt he bears for not interceding with her father.
Resolved to prove to Jonathan that she is not in need of saving, nor is she an appropriate wife, Marie agrees to take him as a lover for six months. Steadfast in his love, he launches an assault on her heart with all the strategy his years in the military afford him. His only goal, to reclaim her love.
 Decadent Publishing | Amazon | B&N | Amazon.uk | ARe | Coffee Time Romance | Authorgraph


Excerpt #1

Madame Marchander paused from the conversation to survey her packed main salon. A deep sense of satisfaction settled in her bones. Philippe had informed her most of the rooms were occupied at present, and the card room bustled as well.

Business remained excellent.

Her gaze drifted across the room and collided with the tall figure of a man who impeded her view as he stood over the small group of fawning gents arranged at her feet. Shifting directions, her gaze swept down and then up the masculine form. Arriving at his face, the blood in her head deserted her as an older but all too-familiar face swam within her vision. Jonathan Pierce, currently styled the Baron of Heartfield according to her sources, had been her first love.

One of the men noticed her distress and patted her hand. "Madame Marchander, are you not well?"

Her head swam as the room closed in on her. Why was he there? What could he want? Was it presumptuous to assume he could be looking for her? She rose and the men parted so she could pass. "Please, I fear I am a bit warm with so many of you crowded around. I think a breath of air would be best."

"Madame, please allow me to escort you." Baron Heartfield slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and led her toward the French doors open onto the rear gardens.

"Do I know you, sir?" Hiding behind formality and time, she opted to continue pretending Marie Doring no longer existed.

"Baron Heartfield, Madame Marchander, or may I call you Marie as I once did?" Familiar blue eyes sparkled as he swept aside her deflection.

"Madame Marchander will do." Anger overcame her initial distress. What brought him to The Market? Why resurrect ancient history? She had not heard he was low on funds, so it was doubtful he intended blackmail. If the gentry of Coventry learned what had become of Miss Marie Doring, it might cause a ripple of scandal, but her sisters were long married and could weather the storm. They had little contact, the occasional bit of correspondence and the annual Christmas card being all she allowed.

Her skirts brushed past the doorframe as they attained the patio. The cool air, brisk and refreshing, snapped her back after the shock of seeing him for the first time in twenty years.

"I see." He paused. "Very well, I’ll permit you to hide behind formality for now. You look beautiful as ever." Warm, strong fingers stroked the bare skin of her hand he held captive.

"You will permit me?" Her spine stiffened in indignation while she arched one eyebrow at the infuriating man. "My Lord, you may be a peer of the realm, but I am the queen of my domain. I could easily have you removed from the premises and refuse you entrance in the future."

"Don’t get your feathers ruffled. It is good to see you again."

"Is it?"

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

Sorcha Mowbray is a mild mannered office worker by day…okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.

She is a longtime lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!

sorchamowbray.com | Tweet @sorchamowbray | Sorcha’s Fan Page | Sorcha’s Goodreads | Silken Sheets & Seduction


Sorcha, I can't thank you enough for being here with us today , sharing things about yourself and Love Reclaimed and I surely can't wait to read the whole Market Series !!!  Please feel free to come back again any time !!!

Until next time,

Happy reading !!

Krista