Lorraine Nelson's Blog, page 24

Spotlight and Giveaway with London Saint James!!!

London Saint James – Bio

London wrote her first short story in the second grade.  Her teacher informed her parents London had a big imagination, but having a big imagination wasn't necessarily a good thing as far as he was concerned.  Without watering that seed of imagination, London placed her vivid characters, her childhood stories, along with her imagination on the shelf, where they would wither for a while.  At the urging of her eighth grade English teacher, London pulled her imagination off that shelf and wrote her second short story.  To no surprise, it was a love story which was inspired by a song.  With encouragement, London began to write once again.  She fell head over heels in love with writing, the power of words and the journey we all take when we read a great story.  Then as life does it moves on, so yet again London placed her imagination on the shelf to wither for a while.  She needed to do the "sensible thing."

In doing the sensible thing London earned a degree in Psychology but Philosophy, History, Theology, English Literature, Politics, Art History, Economics and other similar studies contributed significantly to her education and continue to interest her.  While in college she traversed into writing once more, was encouraged by a couple of professors to peruse that endeavor and wrote.  In doing so, she lit that spark of imagination which she thought was long dead.  She was surprised to find people liked what she wrote but yet again life moved on and she did the sensible thing.  You see to follow her passion was a pipe-dream, or so she had been told by some, so she placed her imagination and her passion upon that old familiar shelf.  London has held some rewarding jobs, had a career which was sensible but found herself scribbling stories on scratch paper as an outlet.  So one day she said, "Enough of the sensible thing." She pulled her imagination along with her laptop off the shelf, dusted them both off and began to seriously write.

London writes erotic romance, from sweet to downright naughty.  She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Passionate Ink.  She currently resides in Colorado with her dogs, her books, her writing and her imagination.

  Welcome to my hot seat, London .

You have quite a few titles to your credit. Congratulations!

*Wiggles* in the hot seat. Thanks,Lorraine!

Your books are classified as Contemporary Romance and Erotic. Why are you drawn to this type of story?

I guess I've always been drawn to a great romance, not necessarily always contemporary. Something about two people falling in love and facing all the obstacles that life throws at you appeals to me.  While there are some great romance stories out there without the erotic element, and that's fine, when it come to my own personal need, I want the erotic portion. I want the heat between the characters, so the draw to the erotic side, makes sense to me. 

Where do the ideas come from?

You know, I'm never really sure.  Some ideas just pop into my head (while doing dishes). LOL.  Some ideas come from a great song that hits me in that spot inside and makes me stop and think, and dream.  I have had ideas come from dreams (both good dreams and bad dreams). 

 What comes first, names of H/h, location or plot?

*Smiles* Well… sometimes the plot comes first.  Other times I have a location in mind.  Even other times the names have come first. 

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Pantser.  I may have some general ideas like mentioned above, names, locations, plots, etc… but I truly get the  idea and then write.  I'm not a note taker, or plotter at all.  I suppose I fly by the seat of my pants.  LOL

LOL! Sounds like me!

What is your typical writing day/night?

Willy-nilly! I write when I get the time, but it does seem that I write more late at night.

Do you ever have trouble getting into the 'writing zone'?

I think it's more like finding the time to get into the zone.  Time is never on my side!

My characters 'speak' to me as I write their story. Do yours? If so, what's it like to have them breathing down your neck?

Yes.  My characters speak, throw tantrums, yell… *Giggles*  My characters are very much at the forefront of my writing. 

If you had to describe yourself, what three words best suit you?

Truthful.  Sassy.  Open-minded.

If someone else (other than your significant other) described you, what three words would they use? *evil grin*

Smart-ass.  Perky.  Caring.

Favorites:

Author? I can't pick just one.  Sarah McCarty.  Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Lynsay Sands.  Rhyannon Byrd, Megan Hart, Victoria Dahl, Gena Showalter, Charlaine Harris, many fellow Evernight authors (including you my lovely Lorraine) and on and on.

Aw! So sweet! You are a favorite with me too.

Book? Ahh… again, can't pick just one.

Car? Whatever gets me from point A to point B without being stuck on the side of the road.

Color? Blue

Desktop or Laptop? Laptop

Dessert? Anything chocolate

Holiday? Christmas

Movie? Oh no.  Too hard to pick just one!

Pen or Pencil? Pen

Penis size? Oops! *Giggles* BIG! Is there any other size?

Shopping or Baking? Shopping

Vacation Spot? Somewhere on a beach!

Here inCanada, the changing seasons are beautiful. It's been freezing cold here this winter, but beginning to warm up. What is your favorite season? Why?

I adore Spring.  All of the trees are turning green, others blooming bright with white and pink flowers.  All of the spring flowers are coming out in a rainbow of colors.  The chirping of birds in the trees.  Beautiful blue skies with white puffy clouds, and bright sunny days. 

Do you think you'll try your hand at different genres in the future? If so, which ones?

Yes.  Currently I do have a finished erotic novel.  The working title: La Bonne Soeur (The Good Sister).  I need the time to go over it, polish it, edit it, etc…  I'm also working on a BDSM story for the naughty fairy tale line through Evernight. And I'm in collaboration with another author, working on a sci-fi series. 

What pearls of wisdom would you like to impart to aspiring writers?

Read.  Read.  And read some more.  Find your voice and writing style, and write about what you love, what you find inspiring.  Regardless of being published, write because you enjoy it. Allow your passion to show in your work.  Never give up or allow others to discourage you.  

 

Eternal, The Heart of Winter series, Book 4, is coming soon from Evernight. I love the cover!

Thanks! I love the cover too.

What prompted you to write this story? How long did it take?

Well, I had this idea about a girl who didn't have time for men.  She had a skewed view of love due to her own parent's horrible marriage.  As well she has a skewed view of herself.  We see her insecurities, her hopes, her heart, and her need to want to believe in love. 

The first book starts to tell Winter's story when she's in college.  She meets the perfect man when she wasn't looking, and findsAustinto be what she never believed in— her soul mate.  The rest of the books take you on a journey of Winter's life, loss, love, all told through her point of view.  There are some surprising twists along the way which takes this contemporary romantic series into more of a paranormal light. 

When I sat down to write Winter's story, it just flowed, and kept on flowing.  I didn't take long to write it.  So it ended up being one very LARGE book.  When I decided to submit my work to Evernight, I needed to break up the work, and it ended up a 4-book continuing series called The Heart Of Winter. 

Book 4, Eternal, completes Winter's story.

So sad to see it end! Glad you have something else on the go though!

What characteristics/personality traits make your hero and heroine memorable?

I think their chemistry, their undeniable love for each other, and their willingness to do anything to protect each other.

Can you share the blurb?

Sure!  Here's a blurb from Eternal:

Romance writer Winter Wells has found her new life with Hollywood Hottie, Cayden Cain, a blessing and a curse.  He is the blessing.  His career is the curse.  Involved in an unprecedented web of strange events, and wound in a string of lies about to break with devastating consequences, Winter must battle ghosts from her past that threaten to harm Cayden.  Faced with a choice she always knew would be inevitable, can the fairy tale of their relationship beat out the odds of their reality and really come true?

Excerpt?

Wednesday evening had arrived, and I was standing on the balcony of my bedroom when it started to rain. I lifted my chin to the heavens, toward the dark night sky, and the cold drops hit my face, cheeks, lips, and hair. It didn't take long before I was soaking wet. The ivory long sleeve shirt I wore was plastered to me, and my jeans were beginning to soak through, but I didn't care. All I could think about was Cayden. How could I ever live without him?

"Winter!"

In the distance of my mind, I heard Cayden's voice calling out to me.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "Winter. It's too cold. You are going to get sick." Cayden's arms encased me. He pulled me from the rain, into the warmth of the bedroom. He let loose of me and almost sprinted into the bathroom. I saw him pull one of the large fluffy white towels from the cabinet. He turned with a sense of urgency, and immediately came back to me. "What are you thinking?" Once he reached me, he unbuttoned my shirt, peeled it from my wet skin, and threw the soaked garment to the floor. Cayden whipped the towel out. It made a snapping sound before he wrapped the dry warm towel around me. "Winter, baby?"

Cayden stared at me. The expression upon his face, one of pain. He rubbed my arms with his hands as if the friction would warm the coldness I felt in my heart. It hit me. I wasn't speaking.

"Sorry," I said.

"Love, what were you doing standing in the cold rain?" He glanced down at my feet. "And you don't have on any shoes."

"I don't know. I was just thinking. I guess I stopped paying attention."

"Take those wet jeans off, too," he instructed before he headed back into the bathroom for another towel.

I shed the jeans and left them in a wet lump in the middle of the floor.

"I love you," I said when he came back.

He threw a new towel over my hair and started to rub it dry. "I love you, too. Tell me what is wrong?"

I placed my face to his chest, burying away my pain and taking in the scent of him. "Nothing is wrong."

"Winter, tell me," he pressed.

"Nothing, it's nothing. I go a little crazy when you're gone, but you are home now. We are together. That's all that matters."

"I have missed you," he said. Cayden's arms circled my waist and he picked me up from the floor. My feet dangled. "Do you know how much I hate to be away from you?"

"I know how much I hate being away from you."

The towels fell to the carpet when I draped my arms around his strong neck and my legs around his perfectly tight waist, hooking my ankles behind his back. Cayden laughed his low musical laugh and brushed his nose into my hair. "I love how your hair smells. It's like flowers and fruit, peaches."

"I have missed you so much, Cayden." I kissed him. It was a long time before I released him from my kiss.

Cayden's eyes, silver-gray, flashed. "I think maybe you did miss me. But never bet it is as much as I have missed you," he assured with his brilliant bright white smile.

I shivered. Whether from his eyes, words or touch I do not know, but probably from the combination of all of them.

"Cayden, make love to me."

"You're still cold," he said. "Come on." He carried me into the bathroom.

"I don't care how cold I am. Please, make love to me."

Cayden put me down. My bare feet felt the cool tiles beneath them. Cayden walked over to the stereo. He pulled back the glass wall panel and turned it on. He bent down, took off his black Adidas, and stripped off his socks. He placed them inside his shoes. With an underhanded toss, he threw the shoes out the bathroom door. They made a dull thud on the carpet in the other room when they landed.

There I stood. In the middle of the bathroom in my bra and panties, my hair tangled and wet, goose bumps covering my skin, mascara running down my cheeks, and probably looking pathetic, but I could not keep my eyes from Cayden. He turned on the steam and hot water in the shower. Placed his hands under the stream of water that was shooting down from overhead. He turned around, smiled tenderly, and closed the glass doors. The water hit the glass of the shower and mixed into the sound of the rain that pelted the roof. Everything melted into the music that played, becoming a symphony of rain.

"Please," I said.

Cayden looked at me intently. He raked his penetrating gaze over my body. "I have every intention of making love to you, but I need to get you warm first." His fingertips traced down my cheek, over the surface of my lips, down my throat then over my right shoulder. The warm water that was still on his hands trickled over the surface of my skin in every place he touched me. I trembled with his touch. Softly, he rubbed the mascara smudges from my cheeks.

"Cayden…," I whispered.

"You are so utterly beautiful." His lips skimmed over my shoulder, and his fingers made their way to the front of my bra. "I can't believe how beautiful you are." With dexterous skill, he unhooked the golden clasp, sending my bra sliding down the surface of my skin until it hit the tiled floor at my feet.

"Cayden, I need you," I murmured against his chest.

"Baby," he whispered against my neck. "You have me. You know I'm yours."

Throwing myself into him, I wrapped my arms around his neck; my mouth frantically searched for his lips. We kissed with an aching in my soul. I wanted every part of Cayden to touch me. Needed to feel the exquisite sensation of his warm skin upon mine. Desperation surged through me. My hands slid down his shirt. Gripped it. Ripped the buttons free and exposed his flesh. The buttons bounced and tapped across the tiled floor. One pinged off the glass of the shower door. My anxious fingers explored the length of his stomach until I came to his jeans. I unbuttoned them, allowing my right hand to drift lower. Cayden was fevered and firm inside my hand.

Cayden picked me up again, his lips eager against mine, his mouth moving with my mouth as his breath, warm in my mouth, found its place. Cayden's tongue tangled deeply with mine. He never let loose of my body, shedding his jeans by stepping on the bottom edge of his right pant leg, yanking his legs free.

"Cayden," I moaned. I stroked his manhood. "I need you so much."

"God," he groaned.

Cayden fondled my waist, outlining the top of my panties with his fingers. He brushed so lightly over the canvas of my skin that it sent shivers over my entire body. His hand rested for a moment on my hip before tucking fingers into the top of my waistband. Cayden grabbed the material firmly.

"Do it," I said, placing my mouth to his.

Where can you be found:

My Authors Pages and Purchase links:

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/pages/London-Saint-James.html

http://www.amazon.com/London-Saint-James/e/B005I7KJWY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/london-saint-james

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=London+Saint+James

http://www.bookstrand.com/london-saint-james

http://1placeforromance.com/index.php?searchMe=London+Saint+James&column=author&_a=viewCat

http://www.manicreaders.com/LondonSaintJames/

http://www.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=London

http://www.thetalentcave.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&itemid=4

Website: http://www.londonsaintjames.com

Blog: http://londonsj.blogspot.com

Email: London@londonsaintjames.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LSJRomance

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LSaintJamesRomance

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lsjromance

London is graciously giving away a free copy to one lucky commenter. Don't forget to include your email address! Best of luck!

New Release!!! Virgins Behaving Badly

Nine authors, nine hot reads!!!

Check it out! http://www.evernightpublishing.com/virgins-behaving-badly/ 

15% off for the first 2 weeks at Evernight.

They may be virgins, but they're ready to fulfill all their fantasies…

Who says the first time can't include cuffs, ménage, or a spanking?

 Get ready to fan the flames of desire with this collection of nine erotic tales from Evernight Publishing.

Be Warned: some stories contain menage sex, spanking, anal sex, sex toys, public exhibition, BDSM.

Little Miss Frigid Knickers by Doris O'Connor

Be My First by Angelina Rain

The Siren Call by Melissa Hosack

Educating Sean by Carolyn Rosewood

Mutual Drive by Giselle Renarde

Her Seduction by Alyssa Fox

Hawk's Woman by Lorraine Nelson

The Virgin—Aptly Named by Raven McAllan

Lucinda' Song by Stacey Espino

In other news…

Trouble Brewing in Thunder Creek is a Featured Title at Evernight.

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/trouble-brewing-in-thunder-creek-by-lorraine-nelson/

 
 
 
 
 
 
And the book that started me on the road to publication, Zakia and the Cowboy , will soon be available in print.
 
 

Readers Rockin Radio Interview!

Today I get to announce my first radio interview and I'm thrilled to bits! Kim Mutch Emerson and Debra Shiveley Welch are kindly hosting me on Readers Rockin Radio tonight at 6:30 EDT. Hope you can join me! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/readersrockinradio/2012/03/14/lorraine-nelson-joins-readers-rockin-radio

Spotlight on Annalynne Russo!

Today I welcome fellow Evernight author, Annalynne Russo, as part of her blog tour to celebrate the release of Rendezvous with Rumpelstiltskin. Welcome to my blog, Annalynne! First a brief bio.

Annalynne Russo – Bio

A native of sunny San Diego, California, Annalynne Russo always had a vivid imagination. As a child, she loved to escape reality by immersing herself in books and poetry. After earning her bachelor's degree in Spanish literature, Annalynne worked as both a bilingual elementary school teacher and curriculum developer for more than 10 years. But soon her dream of becoming a writer became too difficult to ignore.

Nowadays, she passes the time fantasizing about hot and sexy heroes that nearly leap out of her imagination, begging for their stories to be told. A firm believer in the phrase, Love Conquers All, Annalynne is a sucker for a juicy romance and spends almost as much time reading as she does writing.

Now for the cover. Isn't it gorgeous?!!!

Blurb:

Finn Rumpelstiltskin is a wealthy playboy descended from a long line of European royals. A count with boyish good looks and an infectious smile, he seduces women with the grace and skill of a master swordsman. Until an insignificant one night stand changes his life forever. Horribly disfigured by a spurned lover and her sorceress mother, Finn is forced to learn the meaning of the phrase, Beauty is only skin-deep.

Katarina Krauss is a rare and exquisite jewel. On the cusp of womanhood, the talented weaver must decide whether to save her family from financial ruin, or follow her heart. Thrust into the hands of Aleksander Othman, a ruthless warlord eager to manipulate her gift and steal her virtue, Katarina must spin a heap of straw into a stack of gold.

Will Finn's magic help Katarina escape Aleksander's evil clutches? Can he win her heart and reclaim his soul?

 Now the Excerpt:

A smile spread across the imp's face, revealing a row of crooked, coffee-stained teeth. He stepped toward her, then faltered as if worried she might retreat. "Dry your eyes, my sweet, and sit down at the wheel. Let my hands guide yours, and together, we will make magic."

"Fine. I'm desperate,' Katarina said. "I'll do whatever it takes to earn my freedom. But what do you ask in return?"

The beast put a hand to his forehead and rubbed his temple. He tilted his head sideways and smiled at her. "Nothing. Other than the pleasure of your company," he said. "A man like me doesn't have many friends, let alone a beautiful woman to help pass the time."

Katarina nodded in agreement and accepted his outstretched hand. As soon as their fingers touched, she felt an inconspicuous jolt of electricity ripple down the vertebrae in her back. Her eyes shot open in surprise. The imp drew back momentarily as if he endured a similar shock to his system. He motioned for her to take a seat, then moved to stand behind her. With her seated in the chair, they were almost the same height. He leaned into her. The warmth of his broad, muscular chest radiated through the translucent cotton shift she'd worn to bed. He flexed his fingers, using them to place Katarina's delicate appendages along the spindles of the wheel. So close, his heated breath rolled across her skin, and sent shivers over the slender column of her neck in a series of tantalizing waves. The whisper-soft sensation caused goose bumps to form. Rather than pull away, Katarina let her body relax, enveloped in the beast's feverish embrace.

He extended his arm, grabbed hold of the wheel, and spun it. Its clickety-clack sound reverberated around the room as it completed its first revolution. "Shut your eyes. Surrender all your inhibitions, and visualize what you want."

Katarina groaned. She took a deep breath and laid her head against his well-defined bicep. What she wanted to do was lose herself in his comforting touch. Forget about the straw that blanketed the frigid concrete floor. Wipe away the memories of Aleksander's brutality. Soon, the muscles in her back and shoulders relinquished their unwavering grip. She turned her head and took in her companion's unique, earthy scent. Pine and sandalwood permeated her senses.

"Keep your eyes closed. Otherwise, the full force of the magic won't take effect."

Katarina heeded his warning. She allowed his talented digits to do their intricate work. The thin reeds of straw slid through their entwined fingers. Up and down. Over and under. In and out. She felt the rigid fibers give way, transformed into the smooth, silky fabric that cascaded down to the floor and pooled at her feet.

"Tell me your name, little man. Who is this knight in shining armor that sweeps me off my feet and saves the day?" Katarina felt him tense at her back. He stopped moving altogether.

"I'm sorry, my lady. I cannot tell you." He rubbed his palms down her arms as if to calm her rattled nerves. Or maybe his own.

"Please. Call me, Katarina."

"Katarina, it may not seem possible, but I haven't always been the repugnant barbarian that appears before you. Once, I was a handsome man from a prosperous family living in a nearby village. Unfortunately, I cannot jeopardize my identity. If my parents discovered me in this condition, it would be a terrible disgrace."

Katarina sighed and settled back against his bulky frame, her vision still masked. The sinewy muscles in his arms wrapped around her again as he returned to his work. They labored late into the night. Her fatigued body ached something fierce. Several hours later, she heard a rooster cackle somewhere nearby. The man behind her lifted his head and released the wire spindles on the spinning wheel.

He turned his head and whispered soft words that tickled her ear. "Katarina. Open your eyes and behold our masterpiece." Her eyelids slowly drifted up, and to her amazement, a luxurious golden-hued textile was laid out like an elaborate carpet draped over the frozen stone tundra.

"It's magnificent!" Katarina turned and threw her arms around his neck. The warm, exhilarating feel of his hulking form pulled tight against her pliant curves. His brawny biceps dangled over her torso and clung to her narrow, spiraled hips. He shifted his weight, and she felt the unmistakable proof of his desire. Katarina's cheeks burned with embarrassment. She pivoted on the balls of her bare feet and pulled away. "I wish there was some way to repay you. There must be something with which I can tempt you."

Her humble servant winked and shot her a devilish grin. "Be careful what you wish for. I might return one day and demand you turn over your first-born child." Katarina's eyebrows popped up, uncertain of his sincerity, until his robust laughter resounded in her ear. Then his expression turned serious. "Don't worry, princess. In my current state, I can hardly swat at a fly, let alone abduct a child."

 Annalynne's Website:  http://www.vampirescribe.com/

Purchase Links:

Evernight:  http://www.evernightpublishing.com/rendezvous-with-rumpelstiltskin-by-annalynne-russo/

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Rumpelstiltskin-Naughty-Fairy-ebook/dp/B007IOGZMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331645872&sr=8-1

Annalynne is giving away a copy of her naughty fairy tale to one lucky commenter. Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment. Best of luck in the draw!

 

I Was a Virgin Once Blog Hop

 Well, it's true!!!

We all were at one time. LOL

Once upon a time, back in 2009, this author set out to write her first sex scene. I revisited it recently for the promotion for our upcoming Evernight release, Virgins Behaving Badly. Angelina Rain came up with the idea for this blog hop and got us all involved. I hope you enjoy it. Have fun! 

My first sex scene was full of head-hopping, and it wasn't very explicit, but not bad for a first effort. The following (unedited) excerpt is that love scene, taken from an, as yet, unpublished novel, Daydreams & Night Scenes.

Releasing March 16th!

He opened the passenger door for her and reached for her hand, momentarily distracted by the silken expanse of leg revealed when the slit in her gown fell open from hem to upper thigh.

As she rose to her feet she deliberately sidled against him, rubbing against the bulge that had been at eye level when he'd opened her door.

Not one to relinquish control that easily, Alex lifted her and sat her on the hood of the car, still warm from the drive.  Pushing his hands through her hair, he dislodged the pins that had held it in place all evening.  When it was flowing freely through his hands, he urged her face steadily toward him, until they were breathing each other's breath.  Nipping first at the edges of her lips, he pulled her even closer and she was lost as he skillfully devoured her mouth.

Her legs were dangling freely and when she felt herself slipping off the hood she automatically wrapped her legs tight around him, bringing his erection into contact with her most private part as the skirt of her gown slipped sideways.  Tightening her legs as much as she could, still he wasn't close enough.  Her hands glided from his lower back to his shoulders and she thrilled to the feel of his muscled torso against her breasts, only then realizing that Alex had lowered the zipper to hold the bodice in place. 

Self-conscious, she began to tense and pull away but he would have none of it.  Swooping down on the nearest exposed breast, he laved and suckled until she squirmed and pleaded with him for more.

"Yes, Baby.  I'll give you more," he promised, "lots more."  Picking her up in his arms, he carried her into the house and up the winding stairs to the master bedroom, kissing her all the way without once stopping to catch his breath. 

What a turn on! 

When he set her on her feet she almost whimpered in protest, until he stepped back just enough to let her now fully unzipped gown slide to the floor.  His heated gaze was causing a meltdown of inhibitions as she stood brazenly before him, wearing nothing but the skimpiest of panties, jewelry and high-heeled shoes, all in black.  Alex reached out a tentative hand and trailed a path from her shoulder to her navel, and she was hoping desperately that her legs wouldn't fail her as she shivered wantonly, her nipples firming up before his devouring eyes.  Licking his lips he turned briefly to pull down the covers before sweeping her back up into his arms and laying her gently on the bed.  Carefully, almost reverently, he rubbed and massaged her dainty feet as he removed her shoes.

Alex shedding his suit jacket, shirt and tie, as he toed off his shoes was the most exquisite torture she'd ever known.  Randi could not take her eyes off him and was eagerly awaiting the chance to touch his gleaming torso.  When he finally lay down beside her, she welcomed him with open arms, splaying her hands open wide as she ran them up and down his gorgeous, muscled body, exulting in his heat as his body infused hers with untold warmth and desire.

Never in his wildest dreams had he had such a raging inferno in his bed.  She was wanton; she was all woman; she was all over him all at once.  With her hands she excited his upper body and her mouth mated with his while her legs and feet rubbed up his legs to the juncture of his thighs and down again, slowly driving him crazy with desire.  Shifting his position slightly, in one swift move, he ripped off her thong panties.  Next he reached to cup her mound as his mouth closed over her breast, delighting in the surprised arch of her back as she purred his name.

He played her body as gently and skillfully as he would a tightly strung instrument, increasing in tempo until the crescendo reached its peak before crashing down around them in a glorious explosion of sound.  Then and only then did he rise up and divest himself of his remaining clothing before splaying her legs and resting the bulk of his manhood at her core. 

Leaning forward to once again possess those delectable lips, he looked straight into her eyes, and holding her gaze with the intensity in his own he plunged to the depths of her inner core in one massive stroke…and heard her cry out in pain not pleasure!

"Randi!  You…a virgin?  Why didn't you tell me?  Oh my God.  I've hurt you," he said as he started to pull away from her.

"No, Alex.  Please, stay with me.  Make love to me," she implored as she held him tight against her body.

"But your first time should have been so much better for you, if I'd known…"

"I was afraid you wouldn't want me if you knew."

"Nothing could stop my wanting you from the first time I saw you in Toronto.  I tried.  Believe me, I tried," he said as he tenderly brushed the hair back from her face with one hand.  "Don't you realize the effect you've had on me?  Your body screams sex appeal while your actions and mannerisms portray your innocence.  I've been going out of my mind.  Believe me, I do good just to walk when I am anywhere near you."

"Then stop talking so much and teach me how to love you.  Teach me what I need to know to be your woman.  Make me feel alive."

"Ahhh, Randi.  I will teach you, my love, but I may never want to let you go," he warned as his shaft swelled to fullness once more inside her warmth.

"I'll take my chances," she assured him, and they began to move together in a dance as old as time, except when the music stopped they clung to each other in rapture, in tune with the beating of their hearts, instead of letting go and stepping back to await the next beat of the drum.

Before her breathing had returned to normal, Alex was running his free hand up and down her body in a caress that had her straining for more.  He cupped the fullness of her breast in the palm of his hand, rotating the bud with thumb and forefinger and causing it to stiffen and stand at attention.  Alex swooped in to lave and suckle and she began purring his name once again.

Shortly before dawn they drifted off to sleep, sleeping the sleep of the pleasantly exhausted.  Spending this night with Randi, he'd found his way to ecstasy at last.  That was Alex's last thought before dozing off with Randi cuddled up at his side.

And now for a sneak peek at Hawk's Woman, a western historical novella, one of nine short stories to be included in the Evernight anthology, Virgins Behaving Badly.

Blurb:

Tabitha Meadows, a member ofBoston's elite, elopes with her boyfriend, only plans change when he absconds with her money. The conductor throws her off the train at the next stop. With no money and unwilling to face the scandal in returning home, she meets Brody Hawkins (Hawk) and takes a job as entertainer in his saloon. The handsome cowboy draws her fire and her passion as no one before. Does her virginity stand a chance of surviving his charms?

Hawk isn't looking for a woman, especially one as innocent as Tabitha, but he finds himself drawn to her just the same. He should be a gentleman and buy her a ticket east on the morning train, but he wants her in his bed. Could he convince her to stay?

Excerpt:

Honey! Her skin tasted like the purest of honey and he couldn't get enough of her as he worked her body to a fever pitch. His hands explored with a mind of their own, reveling in the satin smooth expanse of skin as they skimmed her luscious curves, drawing her closer.

Her kisses were sweet, but he wanted hot. His tongue pressed against her teeth in a silent bid for her to open for him. She did. The kiss that followed was hotter than any before. Their tongues danced and swirled, imitating the mating to come.

He moved to rain kisses over her eyes, her cheeks, stopping to nibble at her ears, and earning a mindless groan in response. He nuzzled her neck, bestowing the tiniest of love bites before moving to untie her undies.

Her pantaloons sailed through the air, followed by his jeans. Their bodies entwined as he kissed her again, impatient to learn every inch of her. He loved the tentative forays her hands made as they explored his skin, shyly coming to rest before touching his hardened cock.

"Go ahead. Touch me. It doesn't bite," he teased.

He thought he was ready for it, but her touch, so soft and light, had him gasping in response, so great was his need. He cupped her pussy, rubbing circles with his thumb and she writhed beneath his ministrations. Her rosy nubs hardened, begging for attention, which he freely gave. He suckled first one, then the other, nipping and laving, then blowing on them to increase the sensations. This was her night. A night in which he'd give her all he had to offer.

He plunged one finger into her moist heat, steadily rubbing against her clit, until she screamed his name.

"Hawk! Please!" she begged.

In answer he shifted position and parted her legs, wanting—no needing—to taste her. At the first swipe of his tongue, her hands tangled in his hair, to push him away or hold him closer, he didn't know, but he didn't stop to ask. Sweet, so sweet, like nectar from the gods. He slipped his tongue inside her, licking and pushing his tongue against her clit, rewarded by her uncontrollable moaning and thrashing about until she let go with a gush of juices. He didn't come up for air until he lapped up every drop.

"Oh my! I never dreamed…." was all she said.

"You ain't seen nothing yet."

Wet and ready, he wasted no time covering her body with his as he nudged her legs further apart. With a single thrust, he broke through the barrier and stilled.

"You're a virgin?" he questioned, astonished.

 "Not anymore. Is that all there is to it?" she asked, disappointment evident in her voice.

 He smiled as she wriggled beneath him. "Not by a long shot, sweetheart."

* * *

Now for some fun! We're asking you to blog, post on facebook, and tweet Virgins Behaving Badly, directing people to Evernight's Coming Soon page. http://www.evernightpublishing.com/pages/Coming-Soon.html. Visit each of the blogs listed below and share the links to your blog, facebook, and tweet in our blog comments in order to win a free copy. You have until release day, March 16th, to get your name in the draw. Each blog will pick one winner. Best of luck!

Other authors participating:

Stacey Espino: http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com

Doris O'Connor: http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.com

Alyssa Fox: http://www.alyssa-fox.com

Raven McAllan: http://www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.com

Angelina Rain: http://www.angelinarain.blogspot.com

Carolyn Rosewood: http://www.carolynrosewood.com

Edits!!!

As you know, if you've been following my blog, website, Facebook or Twitter accounts, I signed 5 contracts in January. Since January 30th I've completed 12 rounds of edits. Yep, 12! Three titles are completely done. Yay!

Coming March 16th!

Hawk's Woman, my first western historical, is releasing March 16th in the Evernight anthology entitled Virgins Behaving Badly.

Coming March 26th!

A Cowgirl's Pride, Book 4 in my Thunder Creek Ranch series, is releasing on March 26th.

Breathless Press has signed on for 4 titles. Her Unlikely Bodyguard is edited and ready for release on June 15th. The 1st round edits on Blessed Homecoming, my first inspirational, are finished and I'm waiting for the next round. Then it's on to Love on the Rocks, a romantic suspense, and Finding Baby J, a medical romance.

At first, I considered edits to be a nuisance, a necessary evil. LOL But I've learned so much through my lovely editors, that now I consider them, the editors and the edits, a blessing. Their input has made for a much more detailed and interesting read in every case.

I love dialogue! When I get into the heads of my characters, or them in mine as the case often happens, I enjoy writing up their conversations. Unfortunately, I forget about everything else when that happens, but my editors are quick to remind me about all 5 senses. It's not enough to know what they're saying. What are they seeing, feeling, touching, smelling, doing while they talk? Or tasting…my characters enjoy eating. lol

Then there is the comma guru. Since I obtained my business education back in 1980, someone up and changed some of the rules of comma usage. Not sure when that happened, but I'm learning, slow but sure, and hoping my editors don't pull their hair out in the meantime. So far, they haven't run away screaming, so it's all good.

Sometimes I disagree with them and have to question the why of things, but in the end, we compromise and carry on. I love my editors! Emma Shortt, Dana Horbach, and Tara Chevrestt. They know how to draw every ounce of love and suspense out in the open, which makes for a much better, more saleable novel.

I'm living my dream, and with the support of editors, publishers, and most importantly, my readers, it makes all the hard work worthwhile. I can work from home, at my own pace, crafting beautiful, believable stories of romance and suspense. For me, life couldn't get any better.

So, until my next set of edits arrive, I'll be writing Cameron's Quest, Book 5 of my Thunder Creek Ranch series. He's been screaming at me to get his story told…a story of secrets unveiled, family love and loyalty, and murder. Hoping to have it written, subbed, and edited for a May release. Time will tell.

In the meantime, I'd like to thank you all for your support.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Spotlight on Paul Rega

Please give a huge welcome to a man who has published a book that will help many obtain gainful employment.

Paul Rega is president of a retained executive search firm and a professional recruiter with over twenty-seven years of job hunting and career planning experience. His provocative new book, "How To Find A Job: When There Are No Jobs" strikes a nerve with millions of displaced workers and goes well beyond the principles of job hunting. Paul introduces a revolutionary concept in career management and personal development called "Intuitive Personal Assessment." He takes his readers on a powerful journey as he tells a gripping story about his own career and the challenges faced as an executive recruiter, often fraught with personal tragedy. This is a must read for anyone who is looking for a new job or wants to change careers in the worst economy since the Great Depression.

The author shares his vast knowledge of career planning and the inner workings of the job search process, citing hundreds of proven and effective job search techniques. He explains how to market your background to a targeted audience, interviewing skills and techniques, network building strategies, how to utilize personal and business contacts, effective use of social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, insider tips on working with headhunters, salary and benefits negotiation, how to write a resume, cover and follow-up letters, how to start and succeed in your own business and much more.

In a message to his readers, Paul believes that despite the many challenges faced by those suffering as a result of the weak job market, change in one's life can be positive. He explains that, "Change throughout your life is inevitable, and as your life changes so often does your career." His book is an effective guide that will provide you with the necessary tools, skills and inside knowledge from a professional recruiter to help you navigate through difficult economic times and find a new job or change careers.

Email: paulrega@paulrega.com

Web: www.paulrega.com

Web: www.howtofindajobwhentherearenojobs.com

Book: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Author: www.amazon.com/author/paulrega

Twitter: http://twitter.com/paulrega 

There Are No Jobs, 2012 Edition: A Necessary Job Search Book & Career Planning Guide For Surviving And Prospering In Today's Hyper Competitive Job Market

http://www.amazon.com/How-Find-Job-Competitive-ebook/dp/B0056PFONW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330912394&sr=1-1

Spotlight on LeeAnn Sontheimer Murphy

LeeAnn visits with us today to promote her latest release through Evernight Publishing, Love Shadows.

Welcome, LeeAnn!

The Cover is gorgeous!

Over to you!

            What is it about vampires we find so fascinating?  I'm not sure even though I've been into vampires from an early age and I write vampire romance with my Love Covenant series from Evernight Publishing.  One of my first published pieces of short fiction was an erotic vamp tale I titled "Flame" which appeared in a magazine down New Orleans way. 

            Maybe it's because vampires are immortal.  That offers a certain appeal because vampires can be ancient and yet appear very young, even handsome.  In most lore, vampires radiate (but don't sparkle) with a sexual energy and appeal which becomes almost irresistible.

            I adore vampires especially the one I created, Will Brennan, a more than two hundred year old Irishman who quotes Shakespeare, smokes cigarillo, sometimes drives an eighteen wheeler as a cover and way to pass the time, lives in a castle and loves his Cara to distraction.  His stunning good looks, dark hair and amazing blue eyes are based on an Irishman I once knew.

            My fourth book in the Love Covenant series, Love Shadows, is now out from Evernight Publishing and continues Will and Cara's amazing love story.  Here's the blurb, an excerpt, and be sure to comment for your chance to win a PDF copy of the new release!

Cara couldn't be happier now that her sexy vampire husband Will Brennan located his long lost brother Seamus.  Her new found brother-in-law even has a theater where she can sing – until a vampire named Henri shows up in the audience.  He covets Cara but not for a happy ending. The old vampire, far more powerful than Will or Seamus has a bad reputation among the undead.

Back in Memphis Henri demonstrates he can make them suffer at will.  A cat and mouse game begins and takes them back to Missouri, then onto Texas for what they hope will be a happy family holiday.

A last minute grocery store run puts Cara in Henri's hands and leaves Seamus near dead.  When Henri takes Cara deep into the mysterious back waters of Caddo Lake, it'll take more than just Will Brennan and his brother to save her – if they can.

Excerpt:

               Ever since Lafe Bishop told me how close to death – to an eternal end to existence – I came, I craved sex with a ravenous appetite.  Last night, even though Will felt that singing, soaring electricity between us, he wouldn't give in because I remained so fragile.   During the long day, I'd healed more and I felt almost normal again.   To kindle his desire, I touched my own lips to his throat, kissing with a light caress and letting my teeth, my fangs rake over the skin.  Before he came awake, I felt him harden against me, his cock ready for what I needed most of all.

               "No sooner met than they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy," Will whispered, his eyes drawing mine as if through magic. "Do you need to seek a remedy for what ails you, mo anam cara?"

               "I do," I told him, one hand straying down to touch him between the legs.

               "Do you feel up to this?" he asked and meant it.  If I said 'no', he would stop.  "If it's too soon, leannán, we can stop."

               "Don't you dare even think about it."

               He laughed with that sound that reminded me of chimes, musical and sweet. "I'll be gentle, I promise."

               "Then love me tender," I whispered, quoting Elvis.

               With the infinite patience of the stars, Will Brennan put his mouth over mine, as rich and sweet as the somnolent scent of honeysuckle on a summer night.  His lips stroked mine with such slow heat that I burned, not the savage flame that hurt so much on Halloween but a gentle fever that moved through my blood like intoxication.  That mouth cherished me as if my lips held the riches of all ages, a king's treasure.  Will's kisses teased over me like a whisper, reminding me of a light wind that might fondle a cheek or toss a lock of hair.   He handled me as if I might be as fragile as an exquisite antique of extreme value.  He touched me with care as if I might break if he didn't.  

                As his hands moved over my body like heat lightning on a humid night, elusive, my skin became so sensitive that each stroke sent a thousand nerve cells tingling.  When his mouth left my lips, they mourned his leaving but I had no time to think because his lips tickled down my throat, nipping and licking where my veins ran.  He followed the largest, using his tongue to trace its course until he reached my breasts.  Will used his thumb to rub against each nipple, one at a time, in a circular fashion that brought the buds to bloom.  He cupped my tits in his hands as if he held eggs, delicate and easy to break, and the weight of his hands against my flesh tortured me but in such an exquisite way that I wanted more.  Then he ran his hands down my sides, palms against my body, in a slow rhythm that filled me with a music that rang in my head.  

               When I raised my hand to touch him, he stayed it. 

               "Let me," he said, his voice just a faint rustle audible in the roaring I heard in my ears. "Let me do it all, mo anam cara."

               I yielded, slave to his master, and allowed to do what he wanted.  My body became his to command, his to take and he did with such deliberate measure that I thought I might languish there, imprisoned forever.  When he entered me, his rod stiff and hard, he burrowed into my warmth, my wet cave that waited for him without force or hammering.   Instead of conquering with might, Will poured into me like a tide sweeping over a beach, natural and powerful.  I felt the impact of his arrival and knew the sweet, sweet release as he covered me.   He filled me to capacity and then he bucked, no longer able to control his own need, yet even then with a gentle consideration.

               I rose to meet him halfway, drawing him deeper into myself so that when the moment we sought came, we rode it like a Fourth of July rocket into the stratosphere of our souls and let it explode over us with brilliant joy.  The release brought me to such a brink of physical pleasure that I cried out, unable to contain it and Will stopped my noise with his mouth, with a kiss that gave me the remaining roughness I craved.  He kissed me hard, his mouth all but raping mine as I gloried in the sensation, coming again in a breaking tide that consumed us both.

Find me at

Facebook: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Twitter: @leeannwriter

A Page In The Life: http://leeannsontheimermurphywriterauthor.com

Rebel Writer: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

http://leeannsontheimermurphy.blogspot.com

Purchase links:

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/love-shadows-by-lee-ann-sontheimer-murphy/ 

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Shadows-Covenant-ebook/dp/B00776T3M6

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

Also on Bookstrand, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.

LeeAnn is also doing a giveaway for one lucky commenter – one book, winner's choice of any format from All Romance Ebooks. Leave a comment and be sure to include your email addy to win!

Yahoo!!! 5 Star Review for Covert Mission: Undercover Cop

This just in from Book Obsessed Chicks!
 
Samantha, aka Sam to all her friends, loses her arm while in the service and wants to prove to everyone that she is independent and self-sufficient, mainly to the men. She even owns her own dry cleaning business! But what most people don't know is that Sam lost more than her arm while in the service and now does not feel like a "whole" woman.
 
    She meets Blake through her good friend Zakia and they automatically have chemistry, but Sam is not looking for any kind of commitment or the complications associated with "relationships". Blake is every woman's dream – a tall, dark, and handsome cowboy, but she tells him from the get go she only wants to be friends.
 
    When Blake first sees Sam getting out of her Chevy Tracker he knows that she was the woman for him. He does not see her as anything but a beautiful woman and discovers right away that she is as prickly and independent as they come. Sam keeps telling him over and over again that she does not do relationships, but he wants more than "just friends" and he's willing to wait and bide his time for her to come around and see that he doesn't see her prosthesis, just a sexy woman.
 
    When Zakia's stalker escapes and comes after Samantha, she comes to understand that Blake is there for her and what he is willing to sacrifice to keep her safe and yes, protect and help her. Can Sam overcome the feeling she has of being less than a whole woman? And when she tells Blake everything that she lost in the army, will he still want her and think that she is the woman for him and give him everything he wants and deserves?
 
    Lorraine Nelson's writing takes you along with her and the love of her characters at Thunder Creek. You have moments where you want to either shake Sam or hug her for everything that she has gone through. She makes you dream about your own Blake, and that others do not always see us the way we see ourselves.
 
REVIEW BY GUEST BLOGGER~ CASSANDRA MCGUIRE
http://book-obsessed-chicks.blogspot.com/2012/03/covert-mission-by-lorraine-nelson.html?showComment=1330990900291#c1521665635774883165
 
5 Orgasms Read (Mind Blowing Hot)

Thank you, Cassandra, for the excellent review!

New Cover Art from Evernight!

Coming Soon From Evernight!

It's hard to believe that less than 5 months ago I was still an unpublished author. So much has happened since then, and I find it all so exciting! Even the edits excite me; the editor's insights often helping to fine tune my work into a richer, deeper, more suspenseful, and sometimes hotter, story.

I'm even learning how to successfully promote my work. LOL (Read: Becoming a Facebook addict. )

My journey as a published author began on October 5th, 2011, with the release of Zakia and the Cowboy, Book 1 in my Thunder Creek Ranch series. It became an ARe Bestseller and Featured Title within 3 days of its release. It also won Book of the Month at TBR, a major review site, in December.

October 13th saw my first effort at self-publishing hit Amazon with my novella, His Christmas Wish, and it has done really well. It's a sweet romance and at $.99, a real bargain.

Mistletoe & Mr. Hoe became available for sale on November 15th through Amazon. I offered this one as a free read over Christmas to thank my readers, and an astounding 2,491 copies were downloaded in 5 days! I hope everyone enjoyed it.

Book 2 in my Thunder Creek Ranch series, Covert Mission: Undercover Cop, released on November 28th, with Book 3, Trouble Brewing in Thunder Creek, following on January 6th.

I'm honored that one of my shorts was accepted. Hawk's Woman, a  western historical short, will be included in the Evernight anthology, Virgins Behaving Badly, scheduled for a March release.

Now it's almost time for Book 4, A Cowgirl's Pride. First round edits have been completed and returned and cover art received. I love my cowboys, but I really like this cover! It speaks of romance, suspense, and ranch life. Dara England has outdone herself this time. Thanks, Dara!

I'm totally excited about the release of A Cowgirl's Pride. Luke's sister, Leah, returns to the ranch, pregnant and alone. I truly enjoyed telling her story. I hope you'll enjoy reading it just as much. Hoping for a March release. I'll keep you posted.

Breathless Press contracted 3 of my novels in January. Her Unlikely Bodyguard, releasing in June; Blessed Homecoming, due out in July, and Love on the Rocks, scheduled for August.

Somewhere in there will be Cameron's Quest, Thunder Creek Ranch Book 5. I'm still uncertain whether to end the series there, or keep it going. There are plenty more ideas rolling around in my brain, so maybe I'll keep writing until they play themselves out. LOL

So, by August this will make 11 books released in 10 months. It wouldn't make sense or be worth anything at all if not for my readers and the feedback I've received. Thank you for enjoying my work enough to ask for more! You're helping to make a lifelong dream come true! Love you all!

For blurbs and excerpts on all of these books, visit my website at: http://lorrainenelson.weebly.com