Nona Raines's Blog, page 21

#SatSpanks with @RachellNichole

Howdy!

Welcome back to the Divas blog, and my next installment in the #SatSpanks Blog hop! I've got to say, I loved the warm welcome I got from everyone last week who stopped by. It was good fun to share Liz's first spanking experience. Click here to see last week's post.


And now for more from Chase & Liz (&Amber)....



           Oh, God, oh, God! What had she been thinking? She was standing here practically naked and watching as he— Thwack. Chase’s hand landed hard on the woman’s backside, and Liz clamped her mouth shut against a squeal. She shouldn’t be here for this. It was a private, intimate moment, and it should disgust her.          But she felt the answering rush of heat from within every time Chase’s hand made contact and Amber moaned. 


Want more?

To Sir will be on sale on Tuesday! http://www.loose-id.com/to-sir.html



Thanks so much!

And be sure to check out our fellow spankettes!

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Thanks,
Rach

#Review: The Red Sheet by @MiaKerick #YA #GLBT @BookieNookie

The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick

Description:


One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person—helpful, generous, and chivalrous—a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn’t recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape.
Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can’t hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it.

Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He’s attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before “the change.” Where he’d been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he’s a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations.

Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his “superjock” former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan’s newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he’s genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott’s trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan’s obsession.


***Nona's Review of The Red Sheet***
Bryan Dennison wakes up one morning with a sudden desire to rescue cats stuck in trees, help little old ladies cross the street and make the world a better place. He also wants to wear a red sheet tied around his neck, like a superhero’s cape.
This is a complete turnaround from the self-involved jock he’s been in the past. Why can’t Bryan remember what brought about this astounding change? And why does his classmate Scott Beckett refuse to speak to or even acknowledge him?
The Red Sheet is a YA novel that deals with school bullying, acceptance of one’s own sexuality and what happens to all the kids who don’t “fit in” at school. Bryan’s attempts to become a better person are inspiring but also humorous at times, especially when he tries to help a Little Old Lady who’s tough as nails. Being a superhero isn’t easy! He also has some struggles with his family, and trying to forgive the father that walked out on him and his mom.
More than that, he has a mystery to solve: why does Scott hate him? What happened between them? As time goes on, Bryan realizes he hurt Scott deeply, though he can’t remember how. Working together as partners for an English project gives him a chance to know Scott better, and Scott begins to lower his guard. Bryan also becomes a catalyst for change in his high school when he stops sitting with the jocks at lunch and begins sitting with Scott. Soon other “outcasts” begin to join them and form their own Social Justice League table. The more time he spends with Scott, the more Bryan realizes he cares for Scott as more than a friend. But how can he win Scott’s trust when he can’t recall what he did wrong in the first place? When all the threads come together, Bryan learns a shocking secret about himself and discovers that sometimes forgiving oneself is the hardest job of all.

I really enjoyed The Red Sheet and the themes it discusses gave me a lot to think about. The author did a great job with Bryan’s voice--there’s a fair amount of cursing in the story, but that’s how high school guys talk. He’s more than a jock and a bully, he’s a young man with a heart and deep feelings and the courage to try to become a better person. Anyone going through adolescence (and those of us who have been there) will identify with him. This is a great book for young GLBT people and their supporters. It’s also a perfect read for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider—and who among us hasn’t?



About the Author:


Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five non-pedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
My themes I always write about:

Sweetness. Unconventional love, tortured/damaged heroes - only love can save them.
Author Links:  
Website ● Amazon ● Facebook ● Goodreads 

Buy Links:
Amazon ● B&N ● Dreamspinner  


Tour Coordinator:



Please check out the other stops on this tour:

This post contains Affiliate Links.

#SatSpanks Blog Hop!

Hey y'all!

Welcome to the Divas of Desire blog! I'm so pleased to be participating in this week's Saturday Spankings with a sexy scene from my upcoming release, To Sir, on sale August 26!

When Elizabeth Clark is plagued by the idea for a kinky novel she can’t shake, she has no choice but to plunge, head-first into a genre she vowed never to pursue. But when she realizes the seductive allure of submitting her will, her interest in the BDSM lifestyle becomes less academic, and downright personal. 
Dominant and club owner, Chase Masters, has no idea what to expect when his partner books a meeting with an author doing research on the BDSM scene, but he’s blown away with the woman who walks through the door. He’s sure at first that she must be a visiting Domme, not the author. Her manner is confident, brusque, and even a bit disapproving of his lifestyle, but when he switches from his easy-going club owner mindset into his Dom voice, she instantly backs off. Perhaps she’s more submissive than she let on.

Chase and his club are in the crosshairs of a local senator and the bank, and he fears he might lose everything. So when Liz grudgingly agrees to be his, if only for a few weeks, he’s elated. But what kind of long-term relationship can a broke, out of work, homeless Dom offer to a burgeoning submissive who won't submit outside of the bedroom? 

And now... for Liz's first spanking!



That snarky little mouth of hers was parted in a pant of pleasure now. “Mmm, yes, that’s much better,” Chase said, trailing his hand down her back to her ass and kneading it. He searched her face for any sign of panic or refusal as he continued rubbing in slow circles around her left butt cheek. When he found none, he tapped her lightly with his fingertips while his palm stayed tightly cupped around the lace of her panties.She bit her bottom lip, and he waited. After a pause, she tilted her head down. If he hadn’t still had his fingers snug against her scalp, he might have missed the minuscule motion. Fuck. She’d said yes. 



Check out more from To Sir here: http://www.loose-id.com/to-sir.html

It will be available wherever e-books are sold on Tuesday, August 26


And be sure to stop by these other lovelies for even more hot spanking goodness!

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http://saturdayspankings.blogspot.com/

~Rach

#GuestBlog @DBlackErotica, author of THE BUCKET LIST

Hey there ladies and gents.

Have I got a special treat for you all today!

Please give a very warm Divas welcome to Mr. Douglas Black, a fellow Loose Id author of M/M Erotic Romance of the hottest (and most Britishy) variety!

So without further ado, I give you all Douglas...

Hello Rachell, thanks so much for letting me stop by to talk about the inspiration for my new novella, The Bucket List.
The Bucket List was released on August 5thby Loose Id Publishing. It follows Kade, a young man who has recently broken up with his long-term boyfriend, Niall. Kade is devastated that his relationship has ended – he thought he and Niall would be together forever – but when he turns to his friends for sympathy, he doesn’t find any forthcoming. Instead, his friends think the break-up is good for him. They think Niall has been verbally abusive to Kade throughout their relationship and they believe this has caused Kade to retreat into his shell. They write Kade a bucket list in a bid to force him to break out of his comfort zone and start experiencing and enjoying ‘life’ again.
You would think the main inspiration for this story would be the concept of bucket lists and you wouldn’t be wrong, but as I was writing I started to play around more and more with the idea of personal comfort zones and the importance of stepping out of them in order to keep experiencing all the exciting things life has to offer.
At the start of The Bucket List, Kade is very much stuck in his comfort zone, but he’s more than happy with that. He feels as though his life is falling apart at the seams and all he wants to do is fall back on what he knows and what makes him comfortable, namely, his routines. He doesn’t want to follow the bucket list since he doesn’t think his life needs any more upheaval, but, to keep the peace with his friends, he goes along with some of the tamer items on the list.
The list forces Kade to step out of his comfort zone, whether he wants to or not, and the first thing he ticks off the list manages to give his world another good spin on its axis when it results in Kade meeting Blake. If Kade hadn’t followed the bucket list, then his path might never have crossed with Blake’s, and then where would we be? Well, I wouldn’t be telling you all about my new novella, for a start!
As I was writing The Bucket List I kept finding myself thinking about how easy it can be, and how common it is, to see your life change before your eyes. We’ve all been there. Usually, it’s the smallest thing, the split-second decision, the chance meeting or the unexpected parting that tends to send us spinning off down a path we never expected to take. And that’s not always a bad thing. In fact, more often than not, I think it often turns out to be a good thing.
When I tell you my story concerns a main character reluctant to play ball with his bucket list (so to speak) who begins the novella very impressed with himself for going to shop in an Asian supermarket instead of his usual branch of Tesco, you might think that sounds like a very strange, very plain place to start a story. But that’s the point. It’s the little things we do, the small efforts we make when we really can’t be bothered (like the dinner party invitation we want to cancel, but don’t because we can’t think of a good enough excuse) that often lead to big changes in our lives that we would never have seen coming.
That’s the idea at the heart of The Bucket List. I suppose it can be summed up by saying, ‘you have to be in it, to win it’ and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Life is out there and it’s happy to wait for all of us, but its certainly not going to come and find us. We have to go find it! Kade learns that in The Bucket List. If you want to find out how he does it, you can pick up your copy now!
The Bucket List was released by Loose Id Publishing in August 2014. It is available from all good ebook retailers now. Find below the blurb.
Blurb Blake’s Australian accent and surfer-boy looks are the stuff of sexual fantasies and Kade surprises everyone – including himself – when he wastes no time making a move.
Kade goes with Blake into the Scottish highlands, but just as he is beginning to get used to life with his very own Mr. Australia, reality comes knocking. Kade’s newfound happiness falls apart when his abusive ex demands they meet. Blake senses something is wrong and he wants to help, but Kade knows he can’t confide in Blake.
After all, Kade hasn’t exactly been honest. He might feel like a different man when he’s with Blake, but Kade knows he’s still just an accountant from Glasgow with slight obsessive compulsions and a bucket list that someone else wrote. He knows Blake won’t hang around, let alone help, when he finds out the truth.
Or will he?


And now for even more goodies... Here's a snippet of The Bucket List... 
Kade assumed that, even given the circumstances, it was still acceptable to start with, “Hello.”
Blake turned his head, and Kade felt that warmth he had felt with his back to the fish tanks in the Asian supermarket. “Hi,” Blake said, his voice deep enough to carry against the music.
He turned, opening up his body and inviting Kade to step closer. Kade did. He wanted to, wanted to see if that strange connection he had felt earlier was still there between them.
“Who’s your friend?” Kade asked.
Blake just shrugged. “Don’t know. Just some kid. Art student, apparently. He was a good dancer, though.”
“Not a good kisser?”
Blake looked Kade up and down, taking his time doing so. Kade had always thought the idea that someone could undress you with their eyes was a concept fit only for the cheap romance novels his mum used to read, but he couldn’t think of a better way to describe what Blake’s eyes had just done to him. The words needed to describe how that made Kade feel wouldn’t be fit for polite company. Not that Kade was really in polite company.
“I wouldn’t know. Didn’t want to kiss him.” Blake reached out and stroked his hand down Kade’s right arm, from his shoulder to his wrist. He left it there for a few moments, holding tight, and then he pulled Kade’s wrist toward him. Kade’s hand landed on Blake’s hip, his thumb teasing Blake’s tight, strong stomach muscles. When Blake let go, Kade didn’t move his hand away.
“Why didn’t you want to?” Kade couldn’t stop staring into those bright blue eyes.
Blake shrugged and wrapped the hand that had been around Kade’s wrist around Kade’s neck. “He’s not my type. And I was hoping I would meet someone else here tonight. I thought it was a long shot, but I didn’t want to take the risk and ruin my chances.”
Despite his recent drink, Kade’s throat felt dry. He didn’t even care if that was a lie. Blake’s strong fingers rubbed Kade’s neck just below his hairline.
“Who were you hoping to meet?” Kade asked.
Blake tugged him in close so their bodies were pressing together. Kade’s hand slipped around to Blake’s back, holding on tight as Blake put his lips to the side of Kade’s neck.
“You,” Blake whispered. They were so close to the loudspeakers that the word should have been lost, but Kade heard that loaded syllable and felt it translate like heat through his body, like he had just stepped into a hot bath.
“Are you here with somebody?”
Kade shook his head. He felt Blake spread his legs. There was barely any distance left between them.
“Then would you mind if I did this?”
Kade turned his head to find Blake’s lips less than an inch away from his own. He smiled and tried for one of those winks he was so not used to giving, and then let Blake close the distance between them.

Want more? Get your copy here: http://www.loose-id.com/the-bucket-list.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MG4LA20
http://www.amazon.com/Bucket-List-Douglas-Black-ebook/dp/B00MG4LA20/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407313872&sr=8-1&keywords=the+bucket+list+douglas+black

Welcome to your fantasy.
You can find Douglas here: Blog: http://douglasblackerotica.wordpress.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Douglas-Black...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dougla...
Twitter: @DBlackErotica

Thanks so much for stopping today Douglas. It was great to learn more about Kade & Blake! 
~ Rach 

#CoverReveal TO SIR

Yahoo!!!! It's finally here. I give you the amazing new cover for my upcoming BDSM release, TO SIR!



My many thanks to cover artist Syneca Featherstone! 




When Elizabeth Clark is plagued by the idea for a kinky novel she can’t shake, she has no choice but to plunge, head-first into a genre she vowed never to pursue. But when she realizes the seductive allure of submitting her will, her interest in the BDSM lifestyle becomes less academic, and downright personal. 
Dominant and club owner, Chase Masters, has no idea what to expect when his partner books a meeting with an author doing research on the BDSM scene, but he’s blown away with the woman who walks through the door. He’s sure at first that she must be a visiting Domme, not the author. Her manner is confident, brusque, and even a bit disapproving of his lifestyle, but when he switches from his easy-going club owner mindset into his Dom voice, she instantly backs off. Perhaps she’s more submissive than she let on.

Chase and his club are in the crosshairs of a local senator and the bank, and he fears he might lose everything. So when Liz grudgingly agrees to be his, if only for a few weeks, he’s elated. But what kind of long-term relationship can a broke, out of work, homeless Dom offer to a burgeoning submissive who won't submit outside of the bedroom? 


Don't you just LOVE this cover???? 

To Sir is on sale August 26! 

~Rach

Interview with Roe Valentine

Have I got a treat for all of you today! The lovely Roe Valentine has stopped by to share her new erotic romance with all of us and answer a few questions.

Little Death
By Roe Valentine
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Age category: Adult/Erotica
Release Date: 5 June, 2014

Blurb:
A grandiose ego pushes Mona MonDragon to pursue high school nerd turned gorgeous ballet dancer Ivan Boss. Unfortunately, her perceived sure-thing week of no-strings-attached sex isn’t so sure. Her ego takes a major hit when he not only rejects her but pretends he doesn’t know her. When she jumps through hoops to have him, she begins to question if what’s driving her to take such chances is something residual from childhood. Whether it is or not, all she knows is his wish is her desire.
Revenge drives Ivan Boss, and when the object of his hate comes back into his life after 10 years he battles the part of him that loves Mona with the part that wants her to pay for torturing him when he needed her most. The internal struggle heightens when he starts to see her as human, and he begins to question his ability to follow through with his ultimate revenge.

Little Death is a standalone novella with explicit language and sex with some light bondage. It has a Happily Ever After (HEA) ending.

You can find Little Death on Goodreads

You can buy Little Death here:
- Amazon (Kindle)
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Bookstrand


The Divas Interview with Roe:
DIVAS: Where did you get the inspiration to write Little Death? ROE: The ballet Petite Mort
DIVAS: What is your favorite scene from this book?ROE: When Ivan, the hero, makes a tiny gesture in the bar by tracing his finger over her knuckles.
DIVAS: What type of research did you do while writing Little Death? ROE: I watched Petite Mort over and over on YouTube. I wanted to get the opening scene perfect when Mona, the heroine, first sees Ivan, the hero, dancing on stage.
DIVAS: There's a theme of revenge in this book, correct? Tell us how that translate into sex. Are there any "angry" sex situations? ROE: Yes, there actually is some angry sex in the story. It's more of a "you hurt me and I want to hurt you" type of sex that never really materializes.
DIVAS: What is your least favorite scene from this book? Or rather, the scene you had the most difficult "getting right." ROE: I struggled emotionally at the end when Mona, the heroine, fully exposes herself to the hero, Ivan. It's not just a physical exposure, but an emotional one.
EXCERPT: She was light as a feather as he lifted her buttocks. Her legs tightened around his waist, squeezing tighter and tighter around as he released one hand to retrieve his keys from the hoodie pocket. They barely made it through the small rusted gate of his bungalow house in Neartown before they clasped together like desperate magnets.“Just give me a sec,” he grumbled, though not taking his mouth away. His teeth clashed against hers, but she kept kissing him.Finally, he’d gotten the door opened, and didn’t take much time to shut the door and whisk her through the small living room, eighty-year-old hardwood creaking beneath his feet. His breathing echoed between his ears, his cock hardening with each exhale. Mona gyrated against him, he moaned out. “I’m gonna fuck your pussy raw. Do you understand me, Ramona?” He meant it in the most non-brutish way possible.She yelped, catching his gaze, her mouthing parting from desire. “You already did that.” Her voice was husky, deeper than he’d heard it before.He chuckled, pulling his mouth away. “That was nothing. You may not be able to walk tomorrow.” Her eyes widened. “I’m just warning you.”“Then you’ll have to tell Tom why I didn’t show up for training.”“I’ll be more than happy to tell Tom of all the ways I fucked his student so hard she couldn’t get out of bed.”She laughed. “I’m sure that will go over well.”He grunted. Tom. Tom probably wanted to fuck Mona himself. Ivan didn’t like that thought. Crossing over into his bedroom, he stopped at the doorjamb. “You ready for me?”“Just shut up and give it to me.”“I’ll be the one giving orders here, lady. And you’ll answer my question or I’ll let you go.” He still had to let her know who was in control, especially when he thought it wasn’t him.“I’ll fall!”He knew what it was like to fall. The longer he held her, the more he fell. How could he remain in control, when she could so easily take it from him? “Then I’d answer if I was you.”She bit on her bottom lip, swollen from kissing him. His eyes lingered there until she answered with the slightest smile emerging. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my whole life.”His heart stilled merely by the look in her eyes. Every puff of air emptied from his lungs with her eyes. She wanted him—needed him even. Her pupils screamed it. Her body screamed it as she tightened around him, and he could feel her pounding heart through the apex of her thighs.“I’ve never wanted anything more.” The words just came out.But instead of pulling away from his revelation, she grabbed the back of his head and crashed her mouth to his, tongue leading the way. He took that tongue with his teeth, taking her in as deep as her opened mouth would allow. Hungry for her, he shifted in the room just to slam her back against the wall. A picture frame hanging haphazardly for years fell to the hardwood, breaking in pieces. Like him. She was breaking him of the hurt, of the rejection, from many years.Finding the bottom of her scrunched up skirt, he pushed over the panties—he’d tear them in half before he was done with her. Her moisture spilled over to the crease of her thighs. Moaning, he strummed her pussy. She was wet, and he didn’t want anything more than to slide his bare cock inside her. Fuck, I can’t put it in without a condom again. But he did. Somehow, he’d managed to release himself from sweatpants and jammed himself inside her so deep their hip bones touched.“Ivan!” she screamed. How she could take him in like that was impressive. He knew he was a lot to take in one shot. And when he plunged inside her again, she said, “I think you’re touching my spleen.” Her eyes rolled back in time to miss the smile he gifted her.“Can you take it, baby?” Baby? He stilled for the briefest moment but didn’t stop.Immediately, her eyes opened and grabbed his. Her mouth parted as he continued to slide inside of her, pushing through her tightening womb. She moaned, and he thought he’d come right then and there. The way she looked at him as he was inside her, challenged his ability to last. Kept challenging it until she spoke with a breathy whisper. “I can take you, baby. I can take you all the way.”He wanted to go wherever that was.
About the Author:
Roe Valentine was born into the right family. Not only does the name Valentine suit her, but her grandmother, unknowingly, introduced the young Ms. Valentine to her first romance novel. She hasn’t read anything else since. She calls herself a romantic at heart and believes that love conquerors all.
The San Antonio native, who now lives in Houston, attempted to write her first contemporary romance novel when she was nineteen years old. That attempt didn’t take, but her story has a happy ending. She kept pursuing the dream until she landed her first publishing contract in 2013.
When not busy writing or reading love stories, Roe can often be found in a yoga class or chatting with friends at her favorite coffee shop. Enjoying margaritas with some girl-talk isn’t unusual for her either. For a night in, she watches reruns of her favorite TV shows and, of course, romantic comedies on her Roku, usually with a glass of wine.

Roe Valentine also LOVES talking to readers. You can contact her in the following ways:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- E-mail: info@roevalentine.com

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Little Death. You can win a 50$ amazon gift card!

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win:
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#Review: Photograph by @TanithDavenport #giveaway #eroticromance @GoddessFish

**The author is giving away a digital copy of Photograph--follow the Rafflecopter link to enter!**

BLURB:  
Tara Thornton hasn’t spoken to her sister in two years, ever since Azure married the man of Tara’s dreams. Tired of the rift, Azure invites her to take a Mediterranean cruise on a friend’s yacht and, bowing to family pressure, Tara accepts.
Forced to be in close proximity with the man she still desires, Tara is thrown into confusion. The presence of celebrity theme park owner Liam Wilder and the reality of his marriage to Azure send Tara into a tailspin and, in an attempt to regain control, she responds to the advances of hot fellow guest Ryan Hyde, while determined to feel no affection for him.

But Ryan has a way of getting under her skin, and Tara’s plan to get closer to Liam is rapidly losing its importance as Ryan begins to break down her defences. Can she let go of Liam, let Ryan into her heart…and tell Azure the real reason for her silence?


Excerpt:
Standing next to her husband—her husband—Azure appeared taller than she had ever done. While Tara had always worn her height like a uniform, Azure had worn hers like a casual coat one might leave open, carefree and loose, hands thrust into the pockets. Her curves, her relaxed stance, her playful movements had all diminished her—but now, although the swell of her hips and breasts was even more pronounced than before, Azure was every inch of six feet tall, her head level with his.
Him.
It was strange to see him in a formal suit. Even stranger to see him pulling out a chair for the woman she had only two years ago called her sister. Tara’s fingers gripped the back of her seat, her body tensing with restraint. The Liam Wilder of the commercials was exciting, unpredictable, unknowable. He was at once warm and passionate, calming and vital, crackling with energy to the tips of his hair—which even now was still in uncontrollable blond curls, the only point in which Tara could recognise the man from her photograph.
A wave of feeling, both dreamy and cloying, seemed to descend upon her. It was the moment she had pictured for so long, and yet, at the same time, was a resounding slap in the face. For she had been remembering Liam Wilder the character, and in front of her was Liam Wilder the man, and Liam Wilder the man was married to Azure.
Impossible, unknowable, and her brother-in-law.


***Nona’s Reviewof Photograph by Tanith Davenport***
This was a very interesting read. The author takes some chances, because our heroine Tara is not (at least to begin with) a very sympathetic character. Not only is she in love with her twin sister Azure’s husband, she plans to break up their marriage.
Tara’s been in love with Liam Wilder for years. A childhood crush, first formed upon seeing him on television, has grown into something resembling obsession. When Azure and Liam fell in love and married, Tara was shattered. No matter that she and Liam had no relationship to speak of, Azure’s apparent “betrayal” destroyed the twin sisters’ bond. They haven’t spoken in two years when Azure invites Tara to accompany them on a cruise with several other guests. The only reason Tara accepts is to see Liam again—and to steal him from Azure.
The story alternates between Tara’s and Azure’s point of view. While initially Azure seems to be “the girl who has everything”, we discover that she’s tormented by PTSD from her time in the military. Tara, too, is not quite what she seems. Though outwardly she’s tough as nails and has no problem using men for sex, her obsession with Liam shows another side of her, one that’s more childlike and immature.
The theme of this Totally Bound series is “What’s her secret?” There are plenty of characters keeping secrets and I enjoyed the surprises as each layer of truth was revealed. Tara does a lot of growing up as she begins to see her obsession for what it is, and discovers real love with a man she meets on the cruise. She lets her guard down with Azure, as well, and the twins’ rift begins to heal.

There’s a lot to enjoy in the story: hot and smexy sex, intrigue, excitement, and a peek into the lives of the rich and famous. What really stuck with me was the theme of love vs. obsession and the difference between what we think we know vs. reality. I recommend Photograph for a fascinating, somewhat unusual romantic read.
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Tanith Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way of the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme. Her debut novel "The Hand He Dealt" was released by Total-e-Bound in June 2011 and was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.
Tanith has had short stories published by Naughty Nights Press and House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.
Tanith's idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito at her side.
tanithdavenport.comwww.twitter.com/TanithDavenportwww.facebook.com/TanithDavenportBuy link: https://totallybound.com/photograph

Follow the Photograph review tour--the more you comment, the better your chance to win!  

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#Guest Post & #Review - TAMING DARKNESS by @KatDaemon

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome back to the Divas of Desire. 

We have a GREAT special guest today, Kat Daemon, author of Taming Darkness and the upcoming Killing Darkness! Kat and I met earlier this year, via our mutual friend (and fellow Diva) Kara, and let me tell you, the three of us had a BLAST at RT 14. :-) I'm so pleased to introduce you to Kat, and her good friend, Lucifer. 

Taming Darkness The Darkness SagaBook 1Kat Daemon
Cover Artist: S.P. McConnellGenre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: April 16, 2014    ISBN:1497495350         ASIN: B00JRHVFOC
Number of pages: 174 pages      Word Count: 54,000

Book Description:
Since he was sentenced to earth eons ago, Lucifer has always lived by three simple rules: Humans are toys that are meant to be played with, love is a useless emotion, and the only creature worth fighting for is himself. To him, nothing matters but his own enjoyment, whether it be manipulating those around him, or indulging in the sins of the flesh with Lilith.

Then he found young, sweet, and innocent, Maria, who is everything that Lucifer detests. She has devoted her life to her one true love, God. Unable to resist a challenge, Lucifer sets his sights on tempting Maria away from his enemy. Disguising himself as Lucas Starr, he creates a world that not even Maria can resist. He never planned on having the tables turned on him.
Imagine Lucifer’s surprise when Maria brings him to his knees and shows him a glimpse of heaven once more. Blinded by his arrogance and an unlikely vision, Lucifer falls again, this time forgetting that some lines should never be crossed. When his greatest opponent, Michael, shows up, all Hell breaks loose.
Will Maria be able to accept Lucifer for who he truly is, or realize what Michael already knows: some destinies can never be changed?
                                                            
And now... the inside scoop, from Luce himself! 
The Inspiration behind Taming DarknessBy: Lucas Starr
It is my understanding that you, the reader, are curious as to how Kat Daemon came up with the idea for her novel, Taming Darkness. Isn’t that cute? You naturally accredited her with that much talent. The girl is pretty decent at being a scribe, but you must understand, that is all she is.
Here, allow me to enlighten you as to what really happened.
I found Kat last winter, all alone in her living room clad in sweats and a hoodie. It was her birthday, and she was staring at her laptop waiting for some acknowledgement of her day to appear via a digital message. Pathetic, I know, and being the generous demon that I am, I took pity on her. You see, Kat had written about me before, she’s a bit infatuated, and who can blame her? The problem with her past writings is that she always failed to make me the main attraction, and I do not like to play second fiddle to anyone. It was time to remedy this.
So, after clouding her vision with what she comically refers to as “muse dust,” I laid the contract down before her: A novel that finally tells my side of the story. Sure, you are all familiar with the tale: Revolution in Heaven, temptation in the Garden of Eden, and the creation of Hell. But, all you know is what they have poisoned your brain with. Lies, I can assure you, and nasty ones at that.  It was time to clarify what had occurred.
With the seed planted, the tale began to unfold, and I guided Kat, making sure that she got every detail just right. I even insisted that she include my naughty, serpent sidekick, Lilith, in the tale, because I have learned: When Lilith is happy, then I am happy... in more ways than one.
Our next stop was a train ride where I took her into Manhattan and showed her all the spots that she needed to write into the story. Her eyes were ablaze with excitement as she took pictures and made notes for later reference.  And yes, if you are wondering, my own home was included on the tour.  I even invited her into my bedroom, a private spot that few have seen and survived to talk about, mostly because a night with me is worth losing one’s soul over.  She was hesitant at first, but I convinced her that if she was going to write an accurate novel, thorough research was in order.
Finally, I allowed Kat to become privy to my deepest, darkest secrets and showed her what happened when I encountered the one creature that showed me a glimpse of Heaven once more. Once I knew I had obtained Kat’s sympathy, I trusted her with my tale implicitly.
True, my intentions were for my own self interest, but I think we can all agree that in the long run, it worked out for everyone. I was finally able to get my story told, Kat got her book deal, and you, dear reader, get a rare glimpse into the magnificence that is me. 
Not enough Luce for you?? Here's more. An excerpt from Taming Darkness
There are many places that I have called home over my lifetime. I have rooms in every corner of the globe. Yet, I have such a fondness for Manhattan that I made a penthouse on the Upper East Side one of my more permanent lairs. I acquired the building during the stock market crash of 1929. Amazing what people are willing to give up when they are in a state of panic. Although the entire building is mine, I prefer to spend my time at the top, watching the city, keeping a close eye on humanity.     This particular evening, I was host to a party, an impromptu event in which many of my minions had brought with them a human counterpart to tempt and indulge. All around me, the weak were lost in laughter, swimming in the sensation of sin as they turn a blind eye on their conscience. Bodies were draped over chaise lounges with veins full of heroin, brains closed to common sense. Girls danced for men with dollars while greedy hands in the corner bet their house over a card game. In the back rooms, people fucked like dogs, cheating on their spouses, and snorting lines of cocaine off of the bodies of the camouflaged demons that would later chain them to the beds. The air was thick with smoke and fragrant with booze. It was a typical Saturday night.     I sat cast in shadows, a king on my throne, observing the jesters that provided my entertainment. Sometimes, human behavior fascinated me. But mostly, I was watching Lilith. She was sitting on top of the bar, with no less than a dozen suitors at her feet. Leave it to Lilith to break my one guest rule. Red leather high-heeled boots ran up her legs, black hot pants revealed too much flesh, and a red halter top tied her up in one neat package. Her skin might as well have been white marble, with lips red as roses begging to be kissed. Lavish, flaming red hair spilled over her breasts, hitting her hips in thunderous waves. She was the vision of a ripe, delicious, cherry waiting to be plucked. One of my favorite features was her eyes. They were always changing color, alternating between green and yellow. What was even more fascinating was that she could spin them at will, hypnotizing any man that needed to be soothed.      The primitive beings before her fought hard to serve, hoping for a fraction of consideration, but her eyes were on me. They always were. Hopping off of the bar, she walked toward me, her body swaying in a seductive rhythm, her hips demanding my attention. She offered me a half empty glass of bourbon, and made herself comfortable in my lap. Stretching out like a cat, she lay against my chest and raised a lazy hand beneath my chin, tracing my chiseled jaw with her finger. Had it been a normal night, I would have enjoyed her this way, but I knew it wasn’t for me. It was all part of the act for her fans, whose hungry eyes longed for her, with tongues hanging and dicks waving.      I pulled her hair out of my face, rested it on her shoulder, and took a generous gulp of the bourbon. “Rough day at work, dear?” I asked while eyeing the strings of her shirt knotted at her neck. It didn’t seem to be tied very tight, and I was tempted to pull it apart.      “If only it were. You know I like it rough.” She purred in my lap. “May I ask what the great Lucifer has been up to? I haven’t seen you around lately.”     I handed her the glass and revealed my secret. “I found a new toy.”     “Oh? I’m in need of a new toy.” She took a drink from the glass and licked her lips before laying her head against my shoulder. “I keep breaking all of mine.” She gestured toward the bar, where the men were begging for her return. Her fingers unbuttoned my two top buttons. She slipped her hand inside and ran her fingers over my pecs. She was warm, like me.     “I’m not sharing this one,” I declared.     “You never do,” she said, pulling her hand back a tad more defiant than I would have liked. Sitting up and slamming back the bourbon, she leaped from my lap, taking a step back toward her fans. “Lilith...I think I might keep this one for a while. This soul may be a bit harder to acquire.”     She turned and looked at me for a moment, contemplating my intent. “I never interfere with your work, just as long as it doesn’t interfere with me.”       “Go have fun. Work up an appetite, and when you get hungry, come back to me.”     She leaned down and placed a firm hand on each armrest, looking into my eyes with her wild, animal instincts. She kissed me fiercely, and added, “I always do.”       “One more thing,” I said grabbing her wrist and kissing the inside of it before she fled toward her toys. “That blonde with the great hair, but bad teeth...”     Lilith turned a lazy head and noted who I referred to. “Do you want him?” she offered.     “I want his watch,” I said, my eyes locked on the Rolex that was in all likelihood a family heirloom.     Lilith laughed. “Is that all?  Consider it yours.” Then she made her way back to the crowd to break a few hearts, and perhaps a few necks as well.

Rach's Review! 4 out of 5 DivasSo this book was a treat. Luce's voice is wonderful. The way he taunts and flaunts his badness is refreshing. It's nice to see an anti-hero who knows he's a bad guy. And who'd badder than the devil himself? There's a lot to revel in with Luce and his seduction of Sister Mary. And by the end of the book, I was begging for more. I cannot wait to see where Kat takes us with the next book. 

Still want more Luce? I know I do! Available at   Amazon    BN    iTunes


About the Author:
Kat Daemon grew up in New York where her imagination always seemed to get the best of her. When she’s not hanging with demons, she’s usually armed with a strong cup of coffee and dreaming up her next tormented character.
You can find out more about Kat and her books at www.katdaemon.com
https://www.facebook.com/kat.daemon.1
http://www.pinterest.com/katdaemon/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7383307.Kat_Daemon

Her Special Forces by Sophia Roslyn #erotic #military #romance

Happy Friday, friends! It's an especially happy day for me, because I have some awesome news to report! Our fellow diva Danica St. Como aka Sophia Roslyn has a new book coming out this Monday! Her Special Forces, published by Entangled, features a kick-ass heroine, a brave young girl, and a to-die-for hero who risks his life to save both of them.

Title: Her Special Forces
Author: Sophia Roslyn
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 294 pages
Release Date: August 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-63375-036-4
Imprint: Ignite


Retired Marine Viper helo pilot and ground cover expert, Kacey O’Donnell is called out of retirement for a special assignment: to assist in extracting the kidnapped daughter of a U.S. Senator, after an FBI team is betrayed and taken out.Former SEAL hero Nathan Weatherly looks forward to his new job as Deputy Sheriff in the small, quiet Normal Rockwell town where Kacey grew up. The former lovers have a history she has no desire to revisit, and a dark secret she refuses to share.With a young girl’s life at stake, Kacey helps pull Nathan’s team together for one last assignment. But, she finds it next to impossible to work with Nathan again—especially when she know he wants so much more, and she has so much to hide.For purchase information, visit: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/her-special-forces/
Congratulations, Sophia! We Divas wish you much success!

Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com
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#Tuesday #Tips with @RachellNichole

Hey y'all 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Sorry I've been a bit quiet the past few weeks (AGAIN), and a big shoutout to our girl Nona who's been holding down the fort for us here in SexyTown! 

So today's tips are all about the reason I've been MIA: Moving! 

Four weeks ago, I finally moved! So the past month has been all about painting, unpacking, buying new nonsense for the new place, getting organized, putting stuff up on the walls. So now, here's 5 Tips from a recent Pro on how to move, and what to avoid! 

5. Be prepared! This was a huge step in getting ready to move. I've moved before, but nothing like this. This time, we got this stuff called mover's wrap. It was amazing! Picture green saran wrap on a wand. I wrapped tables, glass cabinets, dressers, and pretty much anything else I could think of to wrap! This stuff helped protect the furniture, was much easier than trying to tape cardboard around the glass shelves or table legs or anything like that. Plus, it was so much fun! 




4. Get a big truck. Now this might sound self-explanatory, but a lot of people don't get a big enough one. Remember ladies, it doesn't matter what they say, size really does matter! I got the 17-footer 'cause I got a lot of junk. We had a couch and futon and a couple beds, table and chairs, a couple end tables, a glass cabinet, and about a zillion boxes. And we packed the hell out of that big truck. It was just the right size. The junk just reached the end with an inch to spare to close the door. 

3. Have lots of (female) friends, but not too many. Again, maybe this sounds like an easy one to remember, but you have to get the number just right. Now the right number depends a lot on size. Remember number 4? Size matters! So for us, the correct number was five. The old place was relatively large, and the new place was up three mini flights of stairs. If we'd had six or seven or heavens, eight, people, we would have tripped over each other. As it was, with some good communication, we were able to work around one another and coordinate the move with very few issues. And, kick the men out. I know that may seem kind of contradictory because of all those big muscles and such, but, when it's just the ladies, there's a few extra seconds of chatting and planning, but the results are flawless. We got the truck loaded, drove to the place, and had everything off the truck, out of the cars, and up three flights of stairs in four hours. 

2. Paint First. When you can, it's always better to get into the new place before all of your junk is in it to paint. Trying to paint in a sea of boxes while you're unpacking and moving furniture and all that junk is insane. Don't do it. Just, don't. 

And last but not least, the number 1 thing to remember when moving...

1. Don't try to get settled in a week. (Like I did). Trust me, it just aint gonna happen, folks. Even with an army of people, it will take at least a month to get everything unpacked an in its rightful place. And doing that at breakneak speed while also working a job (or three) will make you feel like ripping your hair out. Take your time. This is your new home, and I more than anyone know what kind of hell it is to feel unsettled and not know where anything is or where it goes, but forcing this process makes you long for your old place, where everything was just so, and it's not worth it to make yourself crazy trying to get settled all at once. 


So, that's it. 
It's been a month, and that's my moving wisdom to share with you all. Now that I've rushed to get settled (I know, I know, something I advise you all against) I feel wonderful! And I promise to be around the Divas watering hole much more often in the coming months than I have been recently. 

Thanks everybody, and as soon as I can get some good shots of the new place, I'll share them all with you. Wait until you see the office! It's red. :-) 


~Rach