Nona Raines's Blog, page 31

Born Into Fire Promo Blitz by Tarah Scott and KyAnn Waters #LiteraryNook #giveaway

Hi, friends! We have a promo blitz today! The authors are offering five giveaway copies of their book, so please don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter below! 

Title: Born Into Fire
Author: Tarah Scott and KyAnn Waters
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: 12/22/2012
Heat Level: Sizzling
Word Count/Length: 38,000 words


Blurb:She’s fire, he’s air. Together, their power is unimaginable…and hot, hot enough to melt steel.Aspiring artist Kenna Lang can’t believe her luck in meeting the gorgeous Eric Grey. What she doesn’t know is that their chance encounter was by his design.Their affair turns hotter than her glass furnaces. Drawn together in an erotic joining, they become more than human. In their merging, Eric shows her they descend from elements of air, water, earth, and fire. When another man tries to enslave her, Eric turns to the ones who were there when she disappeared: his race’s sworn enemy, the shape-shifting dragons Drakaura.
Adult Excerpt:
Chapter One     A breeze, that was him, fluttered the ivory curtains. Moonlight streamed through the open window, outlining the sleeping form beneath the sheet covering the queen-size bed. He hovered. Why had he answered the call of her element? He had no right. Anguish wrenched through him. Long ago, he’d answered the call of another Element, and she’d paid with her life. The memory—the pain— didn’t stop the rake of his gaze down the cotton sheet that revealed every lush curve of the sleeping woman’s body. Desire streaked through him. The fabric ruffled in response to his command, then slid downward.     He sucked in a harsh breath. Softly molded shoulders gave way to rounded breasts tipped with quarter-size areolas then a flat tummy and trim thighs led to long, toned legs. An unexpected vision surfaced of those legs wrapped tight around his waist while he thrust into her. The swirling vortex that was his core leaped into a furious dance.     Go, his mind commanded.     Fluid veins of amber light erupted beneath her skin. He stood frozen, her fire a drag on his wind that lay open the ache buried deep within.     Leave, came a second panicked admonition.     She inhaled.     Realization hit. Too late.     She drew him deep into her lungs. Warmth infused him in a heady rush. He struggled in desperation to escape the current, but each beat of her heart thrummed through him, echoing in his mind in a thunderous rhythm. The flow of blood through her veins washed over him like a thick velvet river.     And he gave in.     As if sensing him, she hesitated, then breathed him out on a shaky exhale. He shuddered, the loss tearing a howl of fury from him.     “More.” She wanted more. He needed more.     As wind, he lay beyond tangible comprehension, a cool breeze, nothing more. Hecould take a small piece and not imprint on her. This woman would be born into fire—without him.     In one decadent breath, he draped himself over her, touched all of her. Her heated skin cooled. No mortal man could experience her as he did. No mortal man could touch her as he could. He chilled the air over her nipples, then watched as they peaked, and felt them pucker. Commanding a gentle breeze, he caressed her contours, fitting his shape tohers.     She moaned. Excitement rocketed through him, and the current within him swirled. She shivered. He hesitated. Even a second too long would leave her with a sense of familiarity. He must leave or risk revealing himself—or worse, bonding.     Heat pooled between her legs. Every fiber of his being screamed, go. Yet, as if anchored by unseen chains, he remained motionless, unable to tear his eyes from the sight of energy that built in her erogenous points.Only a moment, his heart urged. A mere whisper of her essence to ease the emptiness. Then he would leave.     He focused hot pressure, the wispy kiss of an Air Element, to her neck. As he trailed the pressure to her nipple, he turned the air icy. She bowed off the bed. He filled the space behind her arched back, curving up toward her neck and down across her rounded buttocks. Her breath came in quick pants, frosting the air—him.     Frigid pressure tightened her nipples to erect peaks. He swirled air around the tips. She collapsed, thrashing on the pillow, and covered her breasts as if to ease the aching cold he created. Her hands heated until they glowed. The fire within her.     The glow spread up her arms, radiated out from her torso, and emitted a scorching heat that heightened his frequency to a fevered pitch. Fire. Fiera. His heart constricted. He had no right to name her. He would not be the one to bring her into being. She would seek another. But he would have this memory.      Air spun around her body. Faster, hotter. The friction against her skin hardened him. His core grew heavier. “Spread your legs.” The unbidden words echoed in his mind, but the unspoken command carried on the current of his breath and caressed her ear. She pulled her legs up and, knees bent, opened wide for him. He glided downward until his breath disturbed the auburn curls covering her mound.      The scent of her arousal penetrated his core. A need to shift into human form and taste her sweet nectar pooled energy into his center. He moved upward, concentrating until he held the gossamer form of a man, and settled vaporous hips between her thighs. In air form, he couldn’t slip his tongue into the sweet recesses of her mouth, couldn’tspread her damp folds, or plunge his rigid cock into her forbidden depths. But he could feel the heat.      “Open for me,” he coaxed.             Fiera moaned and reached between her legs. With a delicate stroke, she traced the seam of her pussy. He vibrated the air over her clit. A soft smile tilted her lips. Satisfaction rippled through him. She wanted more.      In a cyclone of current, he swirled around her. Strands of her flaming red hair danced in the static- filled air. Her peach-hued nipples puckered, her chest rose and fell with each deep breath she took.      More energy. Faster wind. Yes. Her hips rose off the bed, and she plunged a finger inside her channel. When she fit a second finger into her drenched opening and thrust deep, energy shot in a jagged pattern from his core to her channel. She cried out. Her eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t wake.     With her free hand, she touched her clit and thrust her hips wildly against an unseen force. Him. Gyrating her hips, bucking and arching, she fucked him, but used her own fingers. His mind whirled with her energy. It was as if she swirled around him.     The other female Air Element, the one who now haunted him, had engulfed him as Fiera did. He forced the anguished recollection into the fury of energy. Fiera convulsed in pleasure. He envisioned thrusting his solid cock into her channel, her sheathing him with breath-stealing strength. He clenched against the intensifying need to shift into human form, centered his energy on the torrential wave of her release, and absorbed the fragrance of her cream as she cried out.

Purchase Born Into Fire at: AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | ARe
About the author:
Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter. Contact LinksWebsite | Facebook | Twitter | Tarah’s Reading Group
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Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel #VBT #giveaway #GF_WeakAtKnees

WEAK AT THE KNEESByJo Kessel
BLURB:  
“We got so busy living life that we forgot to live our dreams.”
Danni Lewis has been playing it safe for twenty-six years, but her sheltered existence is making her feel old ahead of time. When a sudden death plunges her into a spiral of grief, she throws caution to the wind and runs away to France in search of a new beginning.
The moment ski instructor Olivier du Pape enters her shattered world she falls hard, in more ways than one.
Their mutual desire is as powerful and seductive as the mountains around them. His dark gypsy looks and piercing blue eyes are irresistible.
Only she mustresist, because he has a wife – and she’d made a pact to never get involved with a married man.
But how do you choose between keeping your word and being true to your soul?
Weak at the Knees is Jo’s debut novel in the new adult, contemporary romance genre – a story about love, loss and relationships, set between London and the heart of the French Alps. 

A recent review from the UK newspaper, The Sun, rated it 4 out of 5 and called it "Moving and bittersweet. A great read."


THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: 
A $50 Amazon or BN.com gift card--please be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link below!

EXCERPT
I tilt my head into his hand as he strokes my left cheek. He brings his lips in to meet mine and our eyes close. We seal our adulterous pact with a slow, slightly trembling, pressing kiss. When we pull away we smile, then hug standing, bodies tight and swaying, squeezing the breath out of each other.
He prods me playfully, steering me in the direction of my bedroom. When we get there he stands really close, running his hands up and down my arms, then holding my waist and consuming me with his gaze as he pushes me down onto the bed so that I land with him lying on top of me. I love the way his long black eyelashes curl at the ends, flickering. The way his nostrils flare ever so slightly when he inhales. The way his black mop flops forward, giving him a boyish look. We start kissing deeper and more urgently, gliding hands over each others’ bodies, one by one discarding each item of clothing, tossing them carelessly in the air, until we’re lying there completely naked, his flesh on mine. My body is one big tingle. No sooner than his hands gently glide over one part of my frame, my left breast, my right breast, my stomach, in between my legs, than the whole rest of me aches to be touched and not left out. His body is perfect, in its natural, lithe, muscular toning and in the texture of his skin, smooth and soft. His body is perfect in the way it fits on top of mine, meets mine and complements mine. I love feeling him, touching him, watching his eyes close dreamily when I stroke his back or kiss his neck. We take our time, everything in slow motion, taking pleasure in the contours of each others’ bodies.

Don't forget to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-book-tour-weak-at-knees-by-jo.html
An Interview with Jo Kessel:
1. If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?Roast chicken, roast potatoes and steamed vegetables served with lashings of gravy. My cooking’s simple and unfussy, using good raw ingredients.

2. Are you a romantic?Absolutely! Romance is what makes life worth living.
3. Do you listen to music when you're writing?No, I need silence to concentrate.
4. Do you ever read your stories out loud?I don’t tend to, but for my first novel, Lover in Law, I did some book readings/signings and had to choose a passage to read out. So I picked a couple of excerpts and practiced them in front of my husband and children to see which one they thought worked best. It was harder to read my own story out loud than I imagined it would be.
5. What are your future ambitions?To try to make more people reduce their carbon footprint on the world.
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
When Jo was ten years old she wrote a short story about losing a loved one. Her mother and big sister were so moved by the tale that it made them cry. Having reduced them to tears she vowed that the next time she wrote a story it would make them smile instead. Happily she succeeded and with this success grew an addiction for wanting to reach out and touch people with words. Jo lives in London with her husband and three children where she works as a TV and print journalist. She tells life stories and can often be found travelling the globe researching the next big holiday hotspots for readers to enjoy. Since becoming a mother anything even remotely sad makes her cry. She’s a sucker for a good romance and tear-jerker movies are the worst. She’s that woman in the cinema, struggling to muffle audible wails as everyone else turns round to stare.

P.S Jo’s pretty certain one of her daughters has inherited this gene.          
US buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E4VC70WUK buy link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E4VC70W
Jo loves to hear from her readers and they can connect with her on:Her website: www.jokessel.comTwitter: @jo_kesselFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kesseljoGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173167.Jo_Kessel

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Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com
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The NaNoWriMo Crazy Train Pulls Out of the Station in 16 Days!

Well, it's that time again folks. 

Normal people are getting ready for Halloween, stocking up on candy (and floss), mentally and physically preparing for the impending holidays and the influx of family members. 

Writers are prepping for their own little battle - it's called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and it's ridiculous! For those of you out there who've never heard of this crazy time, November is no longer turkey-centric. It's all about the writing - 50,000 words in 30 days! 

This year, I'll be writing a BDSM-themed book, tentatively titled Domestic Discipline Needed. It will star Elizabeth (Liz) Clark, an erotic romance author who can't get the idea of being dominated out of her head, though it goes against every modern feminist belief she's ever had, and my hero, Chase Masters, a Dom, and owner of the local BDSM Club, who's been searching for three years for a new sub or girlfriend and knows immediately that Liz doesn't have a submissive bone in her body. Or does she?


I have officially started research for the book. I borrowed some books from the lovely and talented Ms. Nona Raines on delving into this topic, and have been perusing them over the past few days. This week will involve some hard-core... um reading, of course. :-) 

If you are interested in BDSM, as at least 11% of the population is, be sure to check out Nona's post on writing BDSM and where to start the research if you'd like to write one, here's the post. Also, make sure you check out her own BDSM, Uncollared. 

I'll be posting my progress, musings, and notes as I descend into this dark and interesting world. 

~Rach

Blurb Blitz: A Song for Sophie by Mackenzie Crowne #GoddessFish #giveaway

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I'm featuring a Blurb Blitz for fellow Wild Rose Press author Mackenzie Crowne's new release! Mackenzie will be awarding one of her backlist titles in PDF format to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a Grand Prize of a bundle of 15 PDF titles from various authors and genres of romance, (excluding erotica) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Please follow the tour and comment! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-song-for.html

A Song for Sophieby Mackenzie Crowne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Jobless, practically homeless, and tired of being manless, Sophie Taylor jumps at the chance to be Beaumont Walker’s personal assistant. Six weeks on the road with country music’s bad boy—and, more importantly, his all-male crew—is the perfect opportunity to change her life.
Beau Walker doesn’t need any more distractions. Sophie, with her butt-ugly suits and balls-to-the-wall attitude, shouldn’t be one, but she proves to be distracting and more—even, surprisingly, a friend. So when he discovers her plan to snag a man from his worldly wise crew, he’s determined to protect her from herself.

When Sophie realizes Beau is behind her failure to attract even one member of his crew, the last place she expects to find herself is in his bed. But will one night of passion convince her she's woman enough for him? Or will it destroy their friendship and his budding belief in true love?

Excerpt:
His lunch date? Is he insane? His definition of a personal assistant was obviously different than hers. “Now, just a minute.”
Beau ignored her, pulling her toward the wood paneled building. She blinked up at the neon star mounted above the door. A flashing steer rode above the sign announcing the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. A few miles outside of Amarillo, she’d driven by the popular bar occasionally, but had never been inside.
“A honky tonk? Really? This isn’t the kind of place I’d expect to find your mother.”
He kept a tight hold on her wrist when she tried to jerk free. “Savanna started her career on the Lonesome Steer’s tiny stage. She makes a point to stop in to see the owner whenever she’s in town.”
Yanking open the door, he pulled her in behind him. Her eyes were slow to adjust to the dim light after the bright sunshine outside. She blinked, glancing around as the door thumped shut behind them. Surprisingly busy for a weekday afternoon, most of the round wooden tables were occupied beyond the large, empty dance floor.
Heads turned at their arrival. Several of the diners called out greetings while others jabbed elbows at their companions and nodded in Beau’s direction.
“Unless you want me to cause a scene in front of your adoring fans, I suggest you let go of my wrist.”

Purchase A Song for Sophie here: Http://amzn.com/B00ES5J6LW 


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I'm a wife, mother, and grandmother (a really young one). My husband and I were blessed with two rambunctious little boys who we managed to raise into wonderful men without any disfiguring mishaps. Dirt bikes and ESPN are the order around our house, and life at the 'Testosterone Ranch' more closely resembles one of today's wacky reality shows, than yesterday's 'Leave It To Beaver'.
I'm one of eight kids, raised just north of Boston. I moved to Phoenix as an adult because living in the southwest feeds my soul. My childhood was a free-for-all, chock full of laughter, love, family and friends. I was raised on the concept that a stranger is just one conversation away from being a friend and I'm happy to say, that experience remains true today.
My love of books, specifically the romance genre, has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and a writer. A bout with breast cancer sharpened my resolve to see my stories shared with others. Today, I am a five-year survivor, living my dream.
My friends call me Mac. I hope you will too.
 Mac’s Links:
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Mackenzie-Crown...
mackenziecrowne.com: http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/
FaceBook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieCrowne
Twitter @maccrowne: https://twitter.com/MacCrowne
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...


Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

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Seduced (Lost In Oblivion) by @cariquinn and @TarynElliottFic #VBT #CBLSpromos #review

Seduced (Lost in Oblivion)by Cari Quinn and Taryn ElliottContemporary Erotic New Adult RomancePublisher: Rainbow Rage PublishingRelease Date: July 4, 2013Heat Level: SizzlingWord Count: 74,000
Available at:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSDPPA6ARe: http://goo.gl/zHPiIB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduced-cari-quinn/1115922704Kobo: http://goo.gl/xFW1T
Description:A PREQUEL to the NA rock star series Lost In Oblivion.
Warning: Get ready for a testosterone overload. The guys are in the driver's seat in Seduced - and the ride's gonna rock.
Twenty-three year old Nick Crandall has one focus in his life: Oblivion, the band he formed with his best friend Simon Kagan. With gigs coming up and the band members lacking focus after losing their drummer to rehab, they're out of ideas. Until Oblivion's bassist, Deacon McCoy, poses a surprising suggestion.
Bring in someone new. Two someones.
One You Tube video gone viral later, Oblivion is poised on the brink of stardom. With their new hot drummer chick — who comes in a package deal with a talented guitarist who happens to be head over pick in unrequited love with her - it seems like everything's falling into place. Or will the band Nick and Simon have fought to keep together disintegrate before their eyes?
Four guys & one woman + more success than they ever bargained for = trouble, of the sexiest kind.
Get Seduced by this novel-length introduction to the band Oblivion. This preview occurs before the four forthcoming books about each of the band members. Sometimes getting lost means finding yourself…

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations (including m/f/m menage) and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.


Spicy Excerpt:
Nick stabbed his fingers into the mile-high bun Jazz had fixed on top of her head, wrecking the orderly curls, tearing them down while his tongue plunged between her lips. She moaned, loud and sharp, not tempering the sound. And he feasted on it, on her, sucking on her tongue, nipping her lips, swallowing that same grape-sweet taste she’d tormented him with before.
“Want me to go down on you?” he whispered between kisses. It wasn’t an offer he made often, though he had a feeling she’d be the exception to all of his rules.
She shook her head, hard and definite. “No. Just fingers. Please. Like last time.”
They didn’t speak after that. Didn’t do a damn thing except kiss and touch and pant hotly into each other’s mouths. Just like last time, she stroked his cock like she was manipulating her drumsticks. Up, down, up, down, squeezing, letting go. Over and over until he shoved her back against the wall and pushed his hand under her skirt. All he could think about was getting inside her.
She wore panties tonight, tiny frilly ones, and he ripped them aside and surged his fingers deep. She threw her head back, banging her skull. He pulled out and rubbed her piercing, amazed all over again that such perfection existed in his world. The memory of those pink crystals around her taut little clit could take him straight to heaven. But he wouldn’t go alone.
He spent extra time toying with the studs, testing her reactions to each flick and flutter. Building the urgency between them until they both trembled like plucked strings. Then he was playing her flesh like she’d played him and all he could hear were her ragged gasps, each of them ending on a single plea.
More.
More.
God, give me more.
She came in a pulsing gush against his palm, and he groaned as he dropped his forehead into the crook of her neck. Her brown sugar scent and the smell of her arousal wrapped around him, constricting his lungs, blocking his airflow. Then she dropped to her knees again and pulled down his zipper, taking him out so fast he couldn’t do more than pant his gratitude. Her lips closed around the head of his dick and he fisted his hands against the wall, one of them still soaked from her, lost to the sensation of her wet silky mouth riding up and down his length.
It didn’t take long. She remembered what he liked, and he’d been primed for the past week. He hadn’t let himself come on his own, knowing he’d see her behind his eyes. She’d be the cause of his orgasm even if he was all alone. So he’d held back, held off, somehow knowing they’d end up in this place again. His own touch would never be a decent substitute when he could have her.
At least he had her right now.


Nona’s Review of Seducedby Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott
I haven’t read a great many rock star romances, but I liked the fact that Seduced features a struggling band and we see the band in “rags” before they get to the “riches” of fame and success. A lot of ground work is laid for future books in the Lost in Oblivion series. There are plenty of personal problems and romantic/sexual entanglements as well. 
As the tale begins, the band is hanging on by a thread. They’re still playing dives and their drummer Snake has once again entered rehab. The three remaining band members are at odds. Guitarist Nick, who founded the band, considers it “his” and has a hard time thinking of replacing Snake even temporarily. Still, they can’t go on without a drummer, as down-to-earth, level-headed bass-player Deacon insists. Simon, the lead singer, can slay an audience with his voice but is caught up in booze and women.
Deacon has a solution: two new members, drummer Jazz (Jasmine) and guitarist Gray. The guys balk at playing with a woman, but soon discover that Jazz is awesome on the drums. Gray is no slouch himself and when they finally play together, a video of their set goes viral.
The characters are fully fleshed and interesting. All the band members have their struggles, though we see this story through the alternating points of view of Nick and Simon. Nick struggles with the consequences of a harsh upbringing, stage fright in front of live audiences and his fear that he’s “losing” the band when new members join. Nick’s a little hard to like at times, as his resentment makes him do some jerky things. He does try to man up at the end, though, and make a sacrifice that may or may not end well for those concerned.
Though Simon was a cocky man whore, I found him more likeable, especially when he hungers for a classical violinist who seems out of his league. (Hopefully Margo will turn up in a future entry in the series). Still, he struggles with burgeoning success as well.
Serious and silent Gray and sparkly purple pixie Jazz are an intriguing pair. Are they a couple or what? Gray’s very protective of her, but she insists they’re not “together”. They have a very touching backstory. When Jazz begins hooking up with Nick, some sexy surprises are in store. Fans of erotic romance will have no problem with the varied romps enjoyed by the members of Oblivion. Between Simon’s exploits and the Nick/Jazz/Gray triangle, there’s plenty of hot sexin’ going on in the story.
The most mysterious characters so far are Gray, whose intensity comes out in his guitar playing rather than discourse, and Deacon. Deacon’s the sensible one, the peacemaker, the one who smooths things out for everyone. But we get hints that his still waters run deep. And I’m excited that his story is the next one in the series!
Well, Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott really reeled me in. I really want to find out what happens to these guys and gal. How will the Nick/Jazz/Gray be resolved? (Tip to Gray: quit being so damn self-contained and tell the woman how you feel, dude!) Will Simon find love with violinist Margo or will some other woman win his heart? And will any of his random hookups come back to bite him in the butt? How will Oblivion handle the sudden fame? And will Snake ever return?
Seduced hooked me and I can’t wait to read the next entry in the Lost in Oblivion series.

Don't forget to check out the other spots on the Seduced Book Tour !
About the Authors:Cari Quinn - USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
Connect with Cari QuinnEmail: CariQuinnauthor@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.cariquinn.com(sign up for her brand new newsletter!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariQuinnAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/cariquinn
Taryn Elliott - She’s from the great state of New York--upstate NY…you know, above NYC by about three hours. Her family consists of a brother who takes care of keeping the snarky side of her alive and a dog that is more spoiled child than mutt. Her writer-friends are the glue that keeps her crazy ideas more in the sane category, and her non-writerly friends are the reason she’s not a complete hermit. She can't go a day without laughing and truly does fall in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book. Music is life and every story has its own soundtrack.
Connect with Taryn ElliottEmail: taryn@tarynelliott.comWebsite: http://www.tarynelliott.com(sign up for her brand new newsletter!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/TarynElliottFic

Five Naughty Books that were Banned in Boston (and Elsewhere)! #BannedBooksWeek

The way the term “Mommy Porn” has been slung around lately, you’d think sex had only been recently invented. And you might think that E. L. James was the first author to ever write a sexy novel. I’m happy for Ms. James and all the success she’s had, but I’m sure she’d be the first to remind us that many authors have written sexually explicit material long before Fifty Shades of Grey came on the scene.  And some of these books were banned or nearly banned because some people found them offensive. Today, in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept. 22 -28, 2013), I’d like to share a few of them with you.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne—published in 1850. Now this book has been on many high school reading lists, and actually contains no sexually explicit material. But its heroine, Hester Prynne is an adulteress and has a baby as a result of an extramarital affair. Because of this, some people felt that this was an inappropriate topic for a work of fiction. As the book became popular, a Reverend Arthur C. Coxe attempted to have the book banned in 1852. Over the years, The Scarlet Letter has faced challenges, one as recent as 1982 in Ohio. (Perhaps those objecting to the book felt Hester, in spite of having to wear the scarlet letter A, was not punished sufficiently for adultery? The book actually portrays her in a much more sympathetic light than it does her partner in adultery or her “wronged” husband.) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert is another classic work of literature that has faced attempts at censorship. It so shocked the public when it first appeared in 1856 that the author was placed on trial on obscenity charges. Those familiar with the story may remember that the book’s main character indulged in two extramarital affairs before falling deeply into debt and committing suicide. The attempts to ban the book failed when the author was acquitted in 1857 and thereafter Madame Bovary became a bestseller (of course). When are people going to realize that the best way to insure a book’s popularity is to censor it? People want to find out what all the fuss is about!  Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence. Though one version was published in 1928, the unexpurgated version not published until 1960 in the UK. The book was also banned in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. . This novel features explicit sexual encounters between married Lady Chatterley (whose husband was paralyzed due to a war wound) and the game keeper Oliver Mellors. In addition to the explicit love scenes, the terms found in the story (“fuck” and “cunt”) contributed to charges of obscenity.The book’s UK publisher, Penguin Books, faced trial under the Obscene Publications Act of 1959 and was forced to prove the book had literary merit to justify publication. The jury delivered a verdict of not guilty in November 1960.
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller was originally published in 1934, but banned in United States until 1961. Even after the book was published, booksellers in 21 states faced obscenity charges for selling it. The book is a blend of autobiography and fiction narrated by the main character Henry Miller. “There are many passages explicitly describing the narrator's sexual encounters.” (Wikipedia article, Tropic of Cancer)
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious—published in 1956. If you haven’t read the book, chances are you’ve seen the movie starring Lana Turner. The film had to be toned down somewhat, but still managed to cover much of the novel’s themes of unwed motherhood, adultery, sexual abuse, rape and even abortion. Though the term “Peyton Place” became shorthand for any small town dirty secrets and hypocrisy, the book was banned in Boston and the entire state of Rhode Island.
For more information on Banned Books Week: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/
Some other “naughty books” are listed here!http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/censorship/bannedbooksthatshapedamerica

And there’s a Banned Books Virtual Read Out! http://www.youtube.com/bannedbooksweek
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com
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Quick update from Danica

First, let me congratulate Nona on her wonderful author interviews -- I've learned a great deal about successful writers. Keep up the good work.

Second, for those who may not be aware, Noble Romance Publishing LLC officially closed its doors, and is no longer in the business of publishing. While the Noble authors have had their rights reverted to them (so we "own" whichever books were released by Noble), it means that our books are no longer available through booksellers until we either find new homes for our titles, or re-release the books independently.

My long-awaited Aloha Man, Book Five of The Men of Sanctuary series, is safely in the hands of its editor, and may have a new home. I'm debating what to do with my backlist. In the meantime, I've targeted a possible publishing house for my novel-in-progress, a paranormal shape-shifter story that may be a jump-off point for a new series.

The Noble authors who wished to do so were also able to get their covers, minus the Noble imprints, so I have the rights to my Fiona Jayde covers -- yay!

My Sophia Roslyn book, Her Special Forces, is undergoing edits at Entangled. So, now back to your regularly scheduled program [grin].

Danica St. Como
www.danicastcomo.com

Rachel Leigh's New #Erotic #Romance Teach Me to Ride!

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I'm thrilled to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Scarlet author Rachel Leigh. Rachel currently has a yummy new erotic romance, Teach Me to Ride, available on Kindle. And lucky us, she's here to tell us all about it!

BLURB:
Caroline James wants to be the best investigative journalist London has ever seen. But until she has the money to leave the small town of Fayre Mead, she's stuck and her resentment is building. So when she’s assigned to cover the Lakeland Horse Trials and meets sexy, dark-haired, and astoundingly fit horse trainer, Michael Canton, she is happy to vent some sexual and emotional frustration…and write the story of her career. But after getting personal with Michael, can she remain impersonal with the article?
Michael Canton will do anything in his power to silence his tyrannical father once and for all. Under extreme pressure to compete in the countries show jumper trials and prove his worth, Michael’s fiery emotions are running high. Caroline’s beauty and sexual confidence stokes an inner strength and determination he never knew he had. But can he trust her to know the difference between fact and fiction? Together, they are a formidable team…but will their burning ambitions ultimately blow them apart?
EXCERPT
Still sitting in his lap, she reached behind her and lowered the zipper of her dress. It fell down over her shoulders, revealing naked breasts. His erection ached at the sight of her creamy white, perfect tits with nipples big and dark. He licked his lips and moved forward to suck one hard tip into his mouth. Her gasp sounded above him.Her skin smelled of something sweet and sexy, innocence mixed with danger. He inhaled deeply as he grazed her pebbled nipple with his teeth before reclaiming her mouth. Her tongue was rigid and demanding against his as they fought for supremacy.Rolling her over, he shimmied the dress down her body and tossed it to the floor. Naked, but for tiny satin panties, darkened by juices at her clit, Michael didn’t think he had ever seen a woman look more beautiful. He drank in every inch of her, knowing deep inside that this might be the only moment he’d ever see her like this. The only chance to take her, to watch her enjoy unadulterated pleasure. God, he wanted to give her pleasure.“Michael…”He snapped his gaze to hers. She watched him. Her eyes were heavy lidded, screaming for him, wanting him. Male pride surged like a fireball behind his ribcage. He crawled up beside her and kissed her, his fingers trailing over her breasts, lower over her torso before diving into her panties.She was wet. Soaking wet.His hand glided over her narrow strip of pubic hair to her rigid clit. He circled, stretched, and teased, then moved lower until his fingers found her slit, his blood roaring in his ears. He felt alive, masculine and powerful. Her legs opened and he thrust two fingers deep inside. 
Teach Me to to Ride Buy Links:
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-To-Ride-ebook/dp/B00EPQPNMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378280072&sr=8-1&keywords=teach+me+to+ride
Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teach-Me-To-Ride-ebook/dp/B00EPQPNMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378280101&sr=8-1&keywords=teach+me+to+ride
Author Bio:Rachel Leigh lives in the UK and has been married to her own sexy hero for fifteen years.
With four novellas contracted with The Wild Rose Press, Rachel is busy plotting her fifth, sixth and seventh. She plans to venture into the historical genre for the first time and write a trio of novellas set in a small English village in the early1900s. The characters we meet aren’t quite as prim and proper as they seem…
When Rachel isn't writing, she's reading, watching TV, running around after her two daughters....or playing with her husband. 
Links:
http://rachelleigh.co.uk/http://rachelleighromance.blogspot.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Leigh/266044849655?ref=ts&fref=tshttps://twitter.com/rachelwriter
Looks like an awesome story! Thanks for being here today, Rachel, and much success with Teach Me to Ride!

Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

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#RealityTV for #Writers??

So I've recently had this idea that I want to create a Reality TV Show kind of like a cross between American Idol and The Bachelor.

The judges/panelists would be one USA Today/NY Times Bestseller, two agents, and two editors.
The authors/writers would all be genre writers in all genres, though we'd try to have at least three in each genre to start with.
The host would be... well, me! :-) A sort-of mid-list multi-genre author with an MFA. I could host/mentor a few of the contestants, and we'd need a few more mentors depending on how many contestants. And we could be #TeamRach, #TeamNona, #TeamDanica #TeamPris #TeamBill etc. :-)

The format would start out with a five page submission that we'd have people read/act out on stage - that would be like the HUGE music-halls of people they have for American Idol. This process would take a few weeks and the winners would be pared down to 30 or so and then they'd all be flown out to live in a huge gorgeous house with multiple rooms/dens for writing time, a larger class-room type room and stuff. Something from the Romantic/Gothic or Victorian ages would be appropriate for a bunch of writers I think. Each week the contestants would have to submit 10 pages to the panel, some of which will have to be read/acted aloud for judgment. Of course, since popular fiction is supposed to be POPULAR, there would be an audience participation voting process where they could vote based on the selection read/acted on air or could read on the website the whole submission.

When a contestant has to leave - the Quill ceremony would hand out quills to all the writers who get to stay and a Golden Quill for the winner that week. That person would get an hour of one-on-one time with one of the judges to talk about their work/ideas etc.

Soooo... who would watch this awesome show? I'm really only half-kidding about this. We should make this happen.

~Rach

High Octane Heroes VBT Plus #Interview with Elle James, #Giveaway and #Review! #goddessfish

What is it about heroes like Superman, Iron Man or Thor that revs our engines like no other? Is it the suit? The manly physique? Or is it the courage they display, wading in where others fear to go, to save the damsel, the city, the Earth? Are there real-life heroes who inspire the same lustful fascination? Kickass iconic heroes who enter danger zones in the name of duty, honor, country—or maybe love—who conjure images of hard, chiseled bodies, deadly glares and camouflaged features?

High Octane Heroes will satisfy the reader who craves the romantic idea of that “super alpha” man. Imagine the Navy SEAL sent on a suicide mission; the damaged Army Ranger home from war; the para rescue team member jumping into frigid waters; a SWAT team member entering a human trafficker’s den… military members and based in far-flung places around the world or the smoke-jumper living next door. Then imagine the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…



Nona’s Review:

High Octane Heroes, an erotic romance anthology edited by Delilah Devlin, features alpha males of every stripe: cops, military men, prison guards, EMTs and others. Since these are short stories, the authors have only a few pages to set up an exciting situation, introduce the drool-worthy hero and serve up some sexy romance. It’s a tall order, but the stories deliver.
Every reader will have her own favorites in this collection, but some standouts for me include Sabrina York’s  Five-Alarm Fire, which offered a funny meet-cute for the hero and heroine and went on to show how a sweet girl-next-door can be very naughty when she meets the right guy. I also enjoyed the sassy first-person voice of the heroine in Michael Bracken’s Big Guns and how she fantasizes about a bad man, though she thinks he’s bad news. I swooned when the to-die-for hero of Elle James’ Besieged was not about to let even the siege of an Embassy keep him away from the woman he loved.
Tahira Iqbal’s The Star impressed me as a sexy, touching and bittersweet tale of a hero who “saves” the heroine emotionally, rather than physically. It would make an awesome prologue to a longer work (hint, hint, Ms. Iqbal). Another story that I hope the author will expand upon is Seal Destiny by Sharon Hamilton—Luke and the unnamed heroine have a real spark, but the story is too darn short--I want more!
Due to size constraint, some of the vignettes lean more toward the erotic, while others provide more of a balance with romance. They all, however, deliver the steam! Anyone looking for some hot heroes to fantasize about will find them aplenty in High Octane Heroes.  
***NOW ***Don't go anywhere, friends! Elle James, who contributed the short story Besieged to the anthology, is here with me. She's offering one random commenter an awesome prize package today. ALSO, there will be a grand prize (U.S. only) for the entire blog tour consisting of:
* $50 Amazon gift cert, signed copies of Cowboy Lust and Smokin’ Hot Firemen from Delilah* Tiara from Sabrina York* A print copy of Under His Skin and a So Inked mug from Sidney BristolIndividual blog day prizes for randomly drawn commenters will include:
Adele Dubois: a download of REV ME UPBrindle Chase: an eBook copy of his book Dark is the Night awarded every day of the tourDelilah: a hand-painted art pendant, backlist downloadsElle James: a prize package of books and swag on her blog dayJenny Lyn: $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N and a copy of her new bookMegan Mitcham: a “hot high-octane guy” calendarSabrina York: an eBook of choice from her backlist on the day she blogsSidney Bristol: an eBook of choice from her backlist on the day she blogsTahira Iqbal: a digital copy of The Merger. Yowza! So please remember to COMMENT for a chance to win! And if you'd like to learn more about the other contributions to High Octane Heroes, follow the entire tour here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/07/virtual-book-tour-high-octane-heroes.html

 Thanks so much for being here, Elle!
1.        Cops, firefighters, military men—all guys with intense, high-stress professions. All guys who make our hearts flutter. Why do you think these Alpha heroes are so popular among romance readers?
They embody what it takes to be a hero. They're the ones who rush into burning buildings without thinking about their own lives. They carry out the helpless the injured and the weak. Who wouldn't want a sexy, alpha hero to swoop them off their feet and carry them from a burning building? I believe it's a fantasy of most women to be swept off their feet by a gorgeous, hunk of a hero. Sigh...
2.      As much as we adore our alpha males, these heroes also need to show a bit of vulnerability, at least when it comes to the heroine. Is it difficult as an author to balance the tender with the tough?
Not at all. Those heroes have to have the stiff upper lip, but they need to be loved too and they have emotions they love to hide, but the heroines always tweak the right buttons to bring them out.
3.      What is it about erotic romance that appeals to you as an author?
We as women are really reaching out to embrace our sexuality. It's no longer shameful to admit you have desires equal to or greater than any man. But the sexual organ of the woman is far different than that of a man. Our sex organ is our minds! Stimulate the mind with erotic romance and you're much more likely to achieve your sexual goals. I hope by writing erotica, I'm helping others achieve those goals. Hehehe.
4.      High Octane Heroes is an anthology to which a number of authors have contributed. Do you find it easier or more challenging to write shorter works as opposed to full length?
I like writing short stories in between my longer books. It allows me to refresh and pack a lot of story into one short burst. Gets my juices flowing, so to speak.  Now we're back to the why I write erotic romance question...
5.      Can you tell us a bit about your story in High Octane Heroes?
With all the unrest in world and the dangers of working in embassies I thought it timely to write about an embassy takeover where the good guys get out safely. My hero is on the verge of asking the heroine's father for her hand in marriage, but is afraid her father might thing he's not good enough for her.  When the embassy is attacked, his lady love is trapped in her quarters. What better way to prove his love and worth to her father than to rescue her? BESIEGED follows the hero through his ordeal to reunite with his lover.
6.      What’s coming up for you regarding future work?
This month, BODYGUARD UNDER FIRE is out, the third book in the COVERT COWBOYS INC series with Harlequin Intrigue. COWBOY RESURRECTED is the 4th book in the series due out in October. Next year, I'll have out 7 books with Harlequin. Three Intrigues and four Romantic Suspense books. I've been a very busy writer!
I also write under my pen name Myla Jackson and have the next book in my UGLY STICK SALOON series coming out in December, BOOTS AND BUCKLES. In March 2014, BOOTS AND TWISTERS will release. Myla Jackson books tend to be sexier and have more ménages in them. Something for everyone!

EXCERPT from BESEIGED by Elle James
Tonight he planned to ask Kate Seward, daughter of the U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of  the small nation of Trejikistan to marry him and follow him to his next duty station in Italy.
He'd discovered the passageway during his initial week exploring the embassy quarters located in an older, historic district of the capital of Trejikistan. A breakaway country from the Soviet Union, Trejikistan had seen a few years of peace, interspersed with the occasional secular strife and violence. At some time in the past, a former ambassador had been foresighted enough to design and construct several hidden passages known only to the ambassador and his most trusted staff members for use when a silent retreat was called for.
 One such passage just happened to be located behind the ambassador's wing of apartments including the one assigned to him. Max had been given a suite designated for family of the ambassador. Since Ambassador Seward's wife was deceased and he had only one child, he'd offered the suite to Max upon his arrival, claiming he wanted his bodyguard close by to protect his daughter.
Had Max known that Seward's daughter was a grown woman and one of the most kind, caring and beautiful women Max had ever known, he might have asked to be placed farther away to keep his distance physically as well as mentally.
From the first day, Kate Seward had been a force Max had to reckon with. Their mutual attraction had launched a game of cat and mouse Max ultimately lost when he realized he'd fallen in love with the confounded woman.
Now, he slipped through the passage connecting his room to hers, like he had on numerous occasion, praying the reflection of love in her eyes wasn't just a dream. She'd asked him to stop by and check the security of her room after the dinner party.
It was code for a lot more than checking security.
As  he neared the panel that would open into her huge walk-in closet, his groin tightened and he imaged Kate in that simple black dress she'd worn for the dinner party, her long dark hair pulled up in a sexy twist, wearing the pendent he’d given her for her birthday.
Max had sat near the end of the table, resisting the urge to tug at the tight collar of his dress mess uniform. If not for Kate he’d have begged to redeploy to the strife-ridden country of Chad—more comfortable in ACU’s and face camo, training Chadian soldiers on anti-terrorism techniques, than sitting at formal dinner tables.
He pushed aside the panel leading into Kate's room and stepped through, the ring in his breast pocket burning a hole through to his heart. He loved Kate and he wanted her to be a part of the rest of his life. He'd planned on laying out clues for her to find over the next few weeks until finally he'd take her out to dinner and propose to her.
But today, he'd received his transfer orders, Max knew he couldn’t wait and he couldn't walk away from Kate. He didn’t want this fantasy to end. Tonight he'd ask her to marry him and he prayed she'd accept.
When he stepped out of her closet into the bedchamber, at first he didn't see her. "Kate?"
"It took you long enough," she said, her voice low and sexy. She lay in her bed, the cream-colored sheets pulled only up to her waist, her breasts bare and tempting in the light from a softly glowing lamp on the nightstand.
Max stepped forward. "I hope you were expecting me."
"Only you, babe. Only you." She threw back the sheet and quirked her head. "Join me?"
His heart flipped in his chest and his blood pounded through his veins as he ripped through the buttons on his dress mess uniform.
For such a proper ambassador’s daughter, she was mind-blowingly passionate, a fact that still amazed him and made him burn with desire.
Max shrugged out of his jacket, hanging it on the bedpost.
"Let me help, or we'll be all night." Kate leaned up on her knees and reached for the buttons on his shirt, flicking them through with quiet efficiency. Then she tugged the tails out of his trousers and pushed the edges over his shoulders, her hands sliding down the muscles of his shoulders and arms. She pressed her lips to his chest, finding and nipping at the little brown nipple over his heart.
Max sucked in a breath and concentrated on control. He unbuckled his belt and slipped the hook free on his trousers, his motions jerky in his haste.
"Uh uh." Her fingers caught his as he reached for the zipper. "Mine." Kate dragged the zipper down. "Always in uniform? Right down to the tidy-whiteys." She clucked her tongue even as she hooked her thumbs on the waistband of his trousers and underwear and pushed them downward until his cock sprang free. "Come to me." She stroked him, those supple digits sliding over his engorged member, her right hand reaching low to cup his balls and roll them between her fingers.
Patience shattered, Max kicked off his dress shoes and trousers. He grasped Kate's shoulders and lowered her to her back in the bed, then climbed in over her. "You take my breath away."
"I try." She smiled up at him, her full, pink lips puckering. "Aren't you going to kiss me hello?"
"I'm going to do more than that." He nudged her knees apart, and slid in between her thighs. "But first...I'll launch my own assault."
"Oh, should I be wearing camouflage..." Her calf slid up the back of his leg. "And should I be carrying a weapon?"
"Babe, your are the weapon. You've completely pierced my heart and laid it open."
"Such sweet talk from a grunt." She wrapped her hands around his neck and drew him down to her. "Shut up and kiss me."
He lowered himself to her, his mouth claiming hers in a devouring kiss. He braced himself in the front-leaning-rest position so as not to crush her with his weight, the muscles in his arms tight.
When he came up for air, he forced himself to concentrate on pleasing her. If she'd let him, he'd spend a lifetime showing her how much he loved her.
Max started by laying siege to her throat, tracing a path from her chin to the base of her neck where he tongued the spot where her racing pulse beat crazily beneath the skin.
"I thought the dinner would last forever," she admitted, her hands skimming over his shoulders and down to his waist.
"I couldn't take my eyes off you." Max continued his attack, firing kisses and nips over her collarbone and the swell of one breast. He captured her nipple, sinking his teeth in, sucking in a strong hold on the defenseless treat.
Her back arched off the mattress in her surrender to his campaign of lusty torture down the smooth contours of her ribcage, across the field of taut abs to his ultimate target.
Max slipped his fingers between  her folds and flicked the bundle of nerves that never ceased to set her off.
Kate buried her heels in the mattress, her hips rising. "Please, Captain, I surrender. Take me."
He chuckled. "Not yet. You really should put up a little of a defense."
"How can I when you do—"
He tongued her clit.
"That!" she cried, her fingers clutching at his ears, pulling him closer. "Oh, please."
He pressed a finger into her channel and swirled it around. "Please what?"
"Do it again, damn it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Elle James aka Myla Jackson spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She has 34 works with Harlequin, self published works under pen name Elle James, over 40 works with other publishers including Samhain, Elloras' Cave, Kensington and Avon and 18 works self-published under pen name Myla Jackson. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn't wrangling cattle, she's wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she's not at her computer, she's traveling, out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.
....escape with elle TRIGGERED  - COVERT COWBOYS INC #1- Harlequin Intrigue July 2013TAKING AIM - COVERT COWBOYS INC #2- Harlequin Intrigue Aug 2013DEJA VOODOO - CAJUN MAGIC - Entangled Suspense - Jun 17, 2013Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads