Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 149
April 20, 2013
Back List Blast – Sudden Breakaway by Jessica E. Subject #1NightStand #romance #hockey
Hello! Welcome to another Back List Blast post. Today I want to tell you about my eighth release, Sudden Breakaway. This story is a interracial erotic romance menage (military, sci-fi & light bondage elements), which released from Decadent Publishing as part of their 1Night Stand line on September 7, 2012.
I wrote this story to finish off the Space Service 1Night Stand stories that I’d wrote. Originally, it was going to be MM involving the Space Service recruiter who convince Flavia (Unknown Futures) to join the Space Service. But my muse just didn’t go for it. Paige wormed her way into my mind, and she dragged Jared along to give me Sudden Breakaway.
Here’s an excerpt:
Jared hung up the phone, grinning. His niece and nephew were still alive. Mrs. Collins, too. That sneaky woman had led him to believe his buddies would meet him at the game. Instead, she and those fuckers had set him up on a blind date—a one-night stand through Madame Eve, who Ms. Brown also mentioned. Whoever Madame Eve was, the woman had to be magic. He couldn’t have asked for a more perfect woman to be set up with—as if she’d been plucked from his deepest fantasies. God, his date exuded sexuality without even trying. And that red dress clung to every one of her delectable curves. Her long brown hair flowed down her back and across her shoulders in glossy waves. The right length to grasp while she….
Grrr.
If he understood the purpose of this date—a one-night stand—he would see every inch of the woman hidden underneath the scarlet fabric. His cock stirred at the thought.
Yet, he wore jeans and his hockey jersey. Shit. He should have listened to Mrs. Collins.
Would Ms. Brown—he didn’t even know her first name—hold his attire against him, seeing as how she looked so damn hot?
He stepped forward, anxious to find out, and to touch her soft, creamy skin again. “I—”
She spun around, her brows knitted together. “I’m sorry, Jared. If I had known you had children, I never would have approached you about joining the Space Service. It’s contrary to our policy to recruit parents.”
Needing some contact with her, he rested a hand on her waist. Oh, yeah. “They’re my sister’s kids. I left the Marine Corps to take care of them when their father passed away.”
She shook her head, her shoulders hunched. “Still.” Her voice cracked. “I should have known.”
Brushing his hand across her cheek, he yearned to see the sexy look she’d greeted him with. “I thought this was a date. Let’s not talk about work. Besides, if you hadn’t come after me, I would never have had the chance to fantasize about you.”
Her posture relaxed as she raised her eyebrows. “You fantasized about me?”
No turning back. “Yes, and let me tell you, you were amazing.”
Available From:
Amazon (US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble | more
Also available in PRINT or in an eBook BUNDLE
April 19, 2013
The Magic Touch #Giveaway Hop & Swag Bonanza! April 20-30
Thank you to author Kallysten and book blog Riverina Romantics for hosting this hop! In addition to individual prizes provided on each blog, assorted swag is offered to the first 100 participants who simply tell the organizers they want some! See all details and sign up here.
Madame Eve has the Magic Touch!
In Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand line, there is one character mentioned in each and every one. That character is Madame Eve, the woman who owns the 1Night Stand dating service. And while her history is a well guarded secret by the creators of the line, she has made so many perfect matches, working her magic every time.
Here are some excerpts mentioning Madame Eve from my 1Night Stand stories:
Celestial SeductionSix foot one, her date owned a successful construction company, and the picture….he resembled every man she’d ever fantasized about. His dark brown, wavy hair looked perfect to run her fingers through and his eyes…bedroom didn’t even begin to describe how enticing they were. She got wet just looking at them in a picture. Oh, she needed to see them up close.
“God, he’s gorgeous,” Tamara said.
Carrie blinked. Since it took Tamara twenty minutes to get from her place to Carrie’s, she’d been staring at the picture all that time. She flushed, trying to shut her laptop, but Tamara held it open.
“Not so fast. I want deets. What’s his name? What does he do?”
“His name is Frey; weird, but I can live with it.” She read his impressive profile to Tamara.
“Wow, Madame Eve certainly worked her magic here. He’s perfect for you.”
Satin Sheets in SpaceHe brought her hand up to kiss her knuckles, his lips soft against her skin.
What would they feel like elsewhere?
He slid a red rose corsage onto her wrist, marking her as his. She didn’t care to object. “I’m sorry I made you think I wasn’t coming. I…I had a hard time finding a costume that fit. So, will you consider spending the rest of the night with me?”
Consider? God, yes! She’d considered it the moment she’d heard his voice, but didn’t believe he would want to spend any time with her. And she could relate to the search to find proper-sized clothing. Madame Evangeline had found her perfect match. But could she go through with the date? Yes! Time to take a chance.
Sudden BreakawayThe door clicked open. She spun around in her seat to catch a glimpse of the man she’d spend the rest of the day with before he saw her. A rush of excitement fueled her fire. Her heart hammered in her chest.
He wore a jersey, but not from the team she cheered for. He wasn’t a hockey player either. Her panties grew wet as she stared at his full, luscious lips, imagining them traveling all over her body, bringing her so much pleasure. Madame Eve could not have picked a better match for her. Every one of her recent fantasies would become reality.
And from my upcoming release…
Another Night, Another Planet
A few seconds later, he stared at the screen, unable to believe what he’d read. He clicked on the first link. 1Night Stand? A dating service? The woman he’d seen had been too attractive to need someone to find her a date. If she’d found him half an hour earlier, she could have had him for the night. But no matter how much the idea flabbergasted him, he couldn’t stop reading about Madame Eve and her magical matchmaking abilities. Could there really be someone out there for him? He shook his head. Maybe for one night, but not for a lifetime. That bridge had come and been stolen away from him, never to be crossed again.
Giveaway!!
I’m giving away one ebook copy of one of my already published 1Night Stand stories, gifted from All Romance eBooks, plus a 1Night Stand swag package. Log into the Rafflecopter below with your email address or with facebook for your chance to WIN!
And be sure to visit the other participants listed here:
April 18, 2013
Book Spotlight: Hardened Desire by @LaynaPimentel #newrelease #paranormal #romance
What could Luc Mercier, a gargoyle who’s more than a century old, possibly have in common with modern introvert, Gillian Harris? Loneliness and isolation.
When meddlesome friends bring the two together, neither is prepared for the flurry of emotions nor revelations that overwhelm them. That is, until Gillian stumbles across the truth and struggles with how she let her guard down.
Learning to love again has never been harder.
EXCERPT
Luc picked up a newspaper from the stand and tossed a two-dollar coin to the elderly man working the counter. He ascended the cavernous stairs of Bloor and Dufferin subway station, irritated by the lights flickering intensely. I should have just taken my car.
But if he did, Luc would have missed an opportunity to observe society other than from the café he frequented lately. A society he didn’t belong in, technically speaking, and had no business being a part of. Long gone were the muddy, off-beaten roads of provincial France. Long gone was the time when an over-flowing bodice was considered scandalous.
Now people thrived on exposing as much skin as possible. The modern day sentiment of what was attractive and acceptable embarrassed him to the core, from the mode of dress to the inappropriate use of language. Didn’t anyone know how to speak without using an expletive every other word? Where had humanity gone wrong? It was ghastly enough that children didn’t respect their elders, much less their parents.
Nevertheless, as much as this modern world perplexed him, nothing could deter him from at least enjoying his freedom, regardless of the limitations restricting his activities to the darkness of the night.
He did, however, miss the ambiance of candle light and the soft cries while seducing a woman, tormenting her with his wicked tongue. Exploring deviant, but heavenly, practices of binding and mixing pleasure with pain. Sweet promises falling from his lips while exploring every inch of her delicate and exquisite flesh.
These days, the few women he was able to enjoy weren’t interested in highly sensual liaisons. No. Today’s women thrived on being in control of seduction, whether they were proficient or not. There certainly wasn’t anything wrong with the scenario, but it wasn’t his taste. He preferred his women soft, like Genevieve…his sweet, sweet Genevieve.
No matter how many decades passed, the only woman he’d ever confided in, and planned to wed, crept into his mind many a time. Genevieve was an old soul, who found him and fell in love. Then, much like a Greek tragedy, their story ended woefully. The trust and courage it had taken to confess to Genevieve of the monstrosity he had become left him restless and, for once in his miserable existence, vulnerable. If not for her kindness, encouragement, and love, who knew what he would be doing and where.
This last week, though, he thought to explore the possibility of trying again. A particular woman, who frequented the café where he spent his early evenings drinking a brandy and reading The Daily Sun, had caught his particular interest. Her laughter aroused his curiosity in the few and far between moments when he contemplated actually living life. Her voice, whether chuckling or whispering to her friend, always made his body react in an animalistic way.
While they had never met, she seemed like someone he’d be interested in getting to know, at the very least, for a little while. Luc doubted very much he’d find another woman like the love of his life and often thought it would be better that way. How could he even begin to explain why he only ever spent time with her at night, and why he’d always be gone before the first sign of daybreak?
AVAILABLE FROM
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
WHAT LAYNA IS WORKING ON NEXT
I’m working on the second installment of my Pleasure Garden Follies series. The first book Scandal at Vauxhall will be releasing this July, so make sure to stop by my site for latest updates.
BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered her love of reading at an early age. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance novels or writing, she enjoys losing herself in researching ancient history and mythology, weaponry, and hiking. She lives in Northern Ontario, with her husband and two daughters.
Layna is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and is a monthly contributor at 69 Shades of Smut. For updates on her upcoming releases, or to leave her a comment, you can find at:
April 17, 2013
Psionics: Fantasy of Fact? Guest Post by @KaryRader #fantasy #romance #newrelease
by Kary Rader
Jessica – thank you so much for having me on Mark of the Stars! I always love being here with you and your great readers.
(It’s my pleasure, Kary! 
)
Psionics is the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena . Examples of this includes empathy , telepathy , telekinesis , and other workings of the outside world through the psyche .
Today I want to talk about the mystical and ambiguous realm of magic as it relates to the untapped power of the human mind. I have always believed that we have tapped into very little of our physical, mental and emotional capabilities. Even with all of our scientific advances, there is so much we don’t understand about ourselves. If we did understand, I believe the potential would span into the infinite.
Every person has their personal story about a dead loved one who has visited in a dream, or an unexplained phenomenon in a home or with friends. These are the spooky tales you share around the campfire. But everyone seems to have had at least a small interaction with something (whether they can explain it or not) beyond normal—paranormal.
When I wrote my current release, Queen of Jastain, I wanted the characters to have abilities beyond the norm but I also wanted those abilities to be grounded closer to truth that the fantastical.
In Queen of Jastain, the main characters have been created with a seed of The Gift inside of them. This Gift is called The Implanting. The Implating is a special ability given by a higher power for the benefit of society as a whole. In most manifestations, The Implanting is a supernatural enhancement of a natural gift. For instance: if someone was a gifted artist, in Jastain, the art would be supernaturally enhanced and might even possess the power to heal the wounded or sick. The people of Jastain who carry The Implanting are known as The Chosen and they are allowed to rule the people by their Gifting. Along with enhanced natural abilities, The Implanting manifests in the form of telekenisis, telepathy, and, in some rare cases, teleportation. These things currently fall under the study of Psionics and there are a great number of people who believe and claim to have experienced the reality of them.
Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment and tell me if you believe in abilities beyond the normal. And don’t forget to get a copy of Queen of Jastain available here at All Romance ebooks.
Queen of Jastain by Kary RaderThe Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?
For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she’s the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.
Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she’s the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.
Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?
Excerpt:
When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He’d slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn’t give for a hairclip.
“Would you like a thong for your hair?”
She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn’t putting it in her hair.
He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.
She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”
Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.
“It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.
“Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you’re doing to help me.”
Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.
“It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.
Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she’d ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day’s tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.
When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.
She was pretty sure it was fear.
Author Bio:Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she’s drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished with words. It’s the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day’s work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.
You can find Kary at:
www.karyrader.com
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Pros & Cons to sleeping with a clone #giveaway #erotic #scifi #romance
Hello everyone! The MADE FOR HER blog tour continues…
Today, I’m visiting Erotica For All, discussing the pros and cons to sleeping with a clone of a deceased lover. Please stop by and weigh in.
Also, TBR the blog and New Age Mama are featuring Made For Her on their blogs today.
Remember, every tour post you comment on is an entry into the Grand Prize draw of a $10 All Romance eBooks GC.
April 16, 2013
#HumpDayHook – Meet Rachel’s sexy neighbor in Alien Adoration #sfrb #scifirom #AlienNextDoor
Hello! Here’s another excerpt from Alien Adoration.
The release date is less than a month away – May 10, 2013.
And it’s already available for pre-order at All Romance eBooks.
Ready to return to her bed, she squinted at the glow of moonlight reflecting off her neighbor’s front screen door. She sucked in a breath, hoping to catch a glimpse of him to use as a happy thought before going to sleep.
He walked out to his LJ Construction truck in only flannel pants hanging low on his hips. Opening the door, he ducked inside, grabbing…something. Then he slammed the door behind him. The view provided plenty of inspiration for her fantasies, his back muscles just as appealing as his washboard abs. Her pussy clenched, and she craved the toy she hid in her nightstand drawer.
Luke reached for the handle, but turned around before he opened it. Something above her house caught his attention. An airplane? The moon? No, his focus was on her. Shit.
Be sure to visit the Hump Day Hook blog to see who else is participating this week!
The MADE FOR HER tour has begun. Enter to WIN an @AllRomance GC! #sfrb #scifirom #giveaway
Good day! Yesterday began the blog tour for my erotic sci-fi romance, Made For Her.
The first stop was at Melissa Kendall’s blog, where I discussed whether to write a sequel.
And today’s stops are an interview at The Jeep Diva, and a book spotlight at Erzabet’s Enchantments.
Every blog you leave a comment on during the tour counts as an entry into the tour draw for a $10 All Romance eBook gift certificate.
Also, be sure to enter the NOR Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt!
Meet new authors & WIN fabulous prizes!
I’m giving away a $25 All Romance GC there.
Happy Release Day!!
A special shout out to my good friend and critique partner, Layna Pimentel, whose second book releases today. Hardened Desire is an erotic paranormal romance. Check it out!
Be sure to stop by Friday when she will be on my blog!
April 14, 2013
Cover Reveal: Sun Sand and Séances by Kathleen Ann Gallagher @Kathleenwrites @DecadentTEASE #romance #Allure
Good day everyone! It gives me great pleasure to welcome fellow Decadent Publishing author, Kathleen Gallagher to the blog to reveal her cover for Sun, Sand and Séances.
Hi Jessica! Thank you for having me as a guest today. (waving)
Today is the Cover Reveal Party for Decadent Publishing’s new Tease Line. My novella Sun, Sand and Séances is one of the Allure books. I’m thrilled to be one of the authors to celebrate the launch of Tease.
Sun, Sand and Séances:
Bobbi Collins, a caring and devoted kindergarten teacher, lost her fiancé five years ago, suddenly, after a silly argument. Her work fills up her week, but her weekends are boring and filled with longing.
When she stumbles across a newspaper ad for a psychic fair in Cape May, NJ, it seems like the answer. Bobbi is determined to revive her once vibrant spirit.
Kevin Carlton a successful realtor is tired of the dating game. He doesn’t remember buying a raffle ticket, but when his co-worker announces he holds the winning number, he decides to take a chance and attend the all expense paid weekend in Cape May, NJ, at the Lady of the Sea’s, Psychic Fair. Since he was a lazy and unfocused teen, with no direction, his goal is to find a spiritualist who has the ability to contact his father, in hopes of gaining his approval.
The sparks fly when Bobbi runs into Kevin at the hotel. Strange occurrences begin, and thrust her into her ex-boyfriend’s arms. She never dreamed of having a weekend of magic, memories, and a chance to rekindle the flame with her lost love.
Will two people who once shared something wonderful, be able to reconnect after dealing with the sudden tragedies in their lives or will it be too late? Does someone or something want to keep them apart?
Can the historic town of Cape May cast a spell on their hearts, and allow them to find what they both desire? How will passion survive amongst the backdrop of a town where spirits never sleep?
Which Tease do you prefer, Allure, Entice, or Captivate? Visit the website here to join the party. Giveaways galore! http://decadenttease.com/tease-affairs/
You can find me here. I’d love to meet you.
Blog | Website | Twitter | Facebook
Thanks for stopping by! My tentative release date is June 19, 2013. I hope to see you at the release day party.
Author Bio:Kathleen Ann Gallagher writes contemporary, paranormal, and erotic romance.
Although writing is my passion, nursing is my vocation. I work in an emergency room, and it’s been challenging, and rewarding, to be such an integral part of so many other’s daily struggles. I have a wonderful husband who always offers his support, and never complains about my crazy schedule. One of our favorite romantic getaways is Cape May, New Jersey, an old historic beach town where we take a step into the past, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Although my children are all grown with busy lives of their own, Chaz, our Shepherd mix, still dutifully stands guard at the house. We are also blessed with three adorable grandsons.
Other interests of mine include cooking, reading, and the theater. However, spending time with my family is most important to me. Even though my life is filled with work, family, etc., my mind continues to ponder the next story or concept for a new novel.
April 13, 2013
Back List Blast – The Power of Three by Jessica E. Subject #paranormal #erotica #menage
Hello and welcome to another Back List Blast post! Today I want to tell you about my seventh release, The Power of Three. This story is a paranormal erotica MMF menage, which released from Decadent Publishing as part of their The Edge line on July 20, 2012.
This story was inspired by a conversation with a friend about her collection of gargoyles. I asked myself, “What if?”
Here’s an excerpt:
Oscar groaned as Delayna rubbed her husband’s ass, her signature move in seducing him. Even though Bo feigned sleep, the man’s twitching foot gave him away. Next, she would reach around to grasp his cock, and Oscar held his breath in anticipation of the move.
As her hand rode up Bo’s shaft, Oscar closed his eyes, imagining her fingers tightening ever so gently on him. Just enough to amplify his need. She dragged her thumb up the vein on the underside of his dick. Oh yeah. And then back down. If only….
He didn’t have to worry about going hard; the body he occupied was already made of stone.
The gargoyle statues around Delayna’s house and yard provided several bodies for him to occupy. He moved in spirit from figure to figure, watching her every day, hoping to eventually feel her touch, and Bo’s, too. He watched from the headboard tonight, waiting for the day he’d finally be set free.
She didn’t waste any time with foreplay. No, she’d already fingered herself to orgasm before involving her husband. Even with her small frame, she managed to flip Bo onto his back. She draped her leg across him, straddling his waist, and then eased with a sigh onto his fully engorged pole. Swaying her hips, she ground against him.
“That’s it, Del. Ride me like a fuckin’ cowboy.”
Oh, to be in Bo’s place. But tasting, savoring both of them would be even better. He yearned to stick his dick in someone’s empty mouth or ass. Flesh slapped against flesh. The musky scent of sex wafted into his nostrils, as if he was home with his own lovers.
Shit! Even though he remained as stone, desire rushed through what was left of him, centering in his non-existent groin. He craved a real body so he could stroke himself, get off somehow, and release all his sexual frustration, built up since he’d been cursed to this form, to this place.
Delayna rode Bo harder and harder, making the headboard shake. The banging inched Oscar closer to the edge. The heart he no longer possessed sped up. What would happen if he fell off, broke? Would he return to his world, or would his life be over?
His stone feet teetered on the edge.
“Oh, God, Bo, I’m so close.”
He wanted to revel in her upcoming orgasm, to imagine her pussy squeezing his tool, but he worried too much about his own end. With one final thrust, the headboard slammed the wall and he tumbled off, hitting Bo’s forehead with a thwack then fell to the ground.
Fuck!
Bo hollered, shoved Delayna off him then grabbed Oscar from the floor. “Goddammit. Now I’m going to have a goose egg from a fuckin’ gargoyle.”
Climbing off the bed, she reached for him, but Bo held him high in the air, out of her reach.
“I’m so sorry. Give him here, please.”
A mix of emotions washed across her face, ending with a frown. Was she worried about him or Bo? She reached up for him again, rubbing her sweaty, naked body against her husband’s bare chest.
Oscar forgot his predicament. He longed to be pressed between them, sucking on her perky tits or groping Bo’s big rod. Just a little lower.
Available From:
Amazon (US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | Barnes&Noble | All Romance | more
April 11, 2013
My Writing Journey – Guest Post by author Christine Warner @ChristinesWords @BuyTheBookTours
My writing journey…
Guest Post by Christine Warner
Let me start out by sharing that I have always wanted to write a novel. Lol..I know, most authors say that don’t they? Well, from the time I was in elementary school and won my first essay contest, I was bitten and smitten. Then I won a few more writing awards, then I had a story put into print, complete with illustrations, placed in our middle school library. From there, dreams of writing a book that would be in more than my school library filled my head. Writing a book was something I wanted to do—had to do.
Then of course life got in the way. I went through my wild teen years, dated up a storm, married, had kids, a job, a busy family complete with pets, a home and everything else that gobbles up each second, minute, hour of every day. Not that I’m complaining, I love it…but my dream of writing was pushed to the back of my mind. And I admit there were long stretches of time where I didn’t even think about it.
Then there were nights I’d be chatting with my sister and we’d start talking about all the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve moments in our life and the writing subject would rear its neglected head. She knew deep down writing was something I always wanted to try. We’d grown up with a book always within reach and we especially loved romance novels. Through the years and our talks, I’d confessed more than once I wanted to try writing a love story.
Finally, about 4 years ago, when the subject came up again, probably in between a few glasses of wine…lol…she urged me to go for it. The kids were older, my job allowed me a bit more freedom and my time had gone from no time to me time. YAY!
I hemmed and hawed and she bought me a few books on craft, dragged me to Barnes and Nobles to find more, then bugged me by phone—and sometimes in person—to see if I had started. You know, all the things a sister who loves you does to help you realize your dream. (yeah, I admit it, I love my sister too).
After long hours of writing, contests entered, critique partners and groups found and lost, I had a manuscript.
Some Like it in Handcuffs. My first completed novel, weighing in right around 73,000 words. A light-hearted romantic suspense with humorous elements. LOL…is there a separate genre for that? I had no clue. I’m sure at that point talk of genres was something I wasn’t familiar with.
At the urging of my sister and my cp’s I wrote up a shaky query letter and sent my words out to a few agents. I believe five total, and my little story was rejected that same amount of times. And I was crushed. But I learned from all the other supportive authors out there that rejection is the norm, so not to take it to heart. Which is great advice, but still hard to accept. So I tweaked a bit more, read more on the craft of writing, scoured the internet and applied what I learned to my manuscript then sent it out to a publisher.
While I waited for a reply, I continued to learn about the art of writing, started a new manuscript, joined a few other writers’ loops and met more wonderful people who shared all their knowledge and wisdom and triumphs and defeats. It was like a little family and I loved being a member.
Just when I got to the point where I thought if I ever heard back from that publisher it’d be another rejection, and I’d be okay with it, I received an offer for a contract.
The Wild Rose Press loved Some Like it in Handcuffs and wanted to publish my story…not only that, but they wanted to publish it in ebook format and print. That was in April of 2011. After a couple of rounds of edits, waiting for the cover art, the galleys and all the little bits and pieces that go into making a writer’s dream of a book come true, I was given my release date of March 23, 2012.
I’m was beyond thrilled.
Since that time I published another book titled Two-Timing the Boss with The Wild Rose Press—a contemporary office romance, and I’ve also been contracted for a contemporary romance with Entangled Publishing and their Indulgence line titled Bachelor’s Special which releases in June 2013—right around the corner.
This has been an amazing journey and I still pinch myself at times to make sure I’m not dreaming.
Is there a dream that you are pursuing, or one that you pursued for a long time and finally obtained? I love to hear about either
Some Like It In Handcuffsby Christine Warner:
Light-hearted romantic suspense with humor
Sunny Kennedy, the only female in a family of blue blood male detectives, is determined to prove testosterone isn’t the only qualification required to solve a cold case. Handcuffed while undercover then taken to the precinct by an attractive detective, her domineering family demands she work with Detective Judson Blackwolf, or she’s off the case.
Judson Blackwolf thinks women in law enforcement should work behind the scenes. The prospect of working with his Captain’s sexy daughter doesn’t thrill him. He only agrees in hopes of solving the murder of his one time mentor’s daughter. Once the case is over, he’s moving to Montana to heal his wounds from the loss of his last partner.
Some Like It In Handcuffs on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Wild Rose Press
Excerpt:
“This isn’t how I wanted it between us.” Judson grabbed the neckline of her sweater, dragging her body to meet his with a solid thump. Sunny licked her lips in answer to the question in his eyes. He lowered his head to move his mouth over hers.
Sunny closed her eyes, a small whimper escaping her lips. She didn’t want it like this either, but that wasn’t possible. Unable to resist her attraction she accepted it wasn’t an affair, or a long distance romance she craved, but for him to love her back. It was all or nothing for her. Her heart sank. She accepted this as their goodbye kiss.
With no thought to what was happening upstairs, Sunny rose up on her toes demanding more. Her lips pulsated against Judson’s. When his hand trembled against her cheek in a soft caress she lost touch with reality.
“Judson.” Sunny’s weakened body drifted farther into Judson’s as his fingers glided down her arms, pulling them to her sides where their fingers intertwined. He forced them behind her before his tongue thrust into her mouth.
Their bodies molded together, she heard her own heartbeat and his as well when he curved his fingers around her rear and squeezed.
That’s when the click of the handcuffs against her wrist connected her to the handle of the locked cupboard. “What the hell…Judson?” She looked up at him, her knees shook, her body still inflamed with fever.
“Like I was saying, you wait here and I’ll go upstairs to check it out. Backup’s already been called, so you’re safe until your brothers arrive.” Judson winked before walking toward the steps to the third level. Once he reached them he turned toward her and smiled. “Gotcha,” he whispered with his notorious grin.
About the Author:
Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends. Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic. A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines. A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.
