Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog, page 195

If I could talk to my dog…by Rebecca Royce

If I could talk to my dog…by Rebecca Royce 
(This is meant to be amusing but I'm not a funny author so I'm doing my best. LOL)
Rebecca: (to my Border Collie): Tips, come here. 
Tips (running in a circle around my children): Can't talk now, Mama.  Working.  Sheep have to be taken care of.
Rebecca: Sheep?
Tips: The Sheep, Mama. I'm taking care of the Sheep.  (Run. Run. Run.)
Rebecca: The children? Tips, do you think that the children are sheep?
Tips: Sheep. Children. What's the difference? (Darting right, darting left) Gotta keep them in line, keep them herded. 
Rebecca: I think they're okay. They're just playing with a ball.
Tips: Ball. Threat.  What's the difference?
Rebecca: Tips, do you want a cookie?
Tips: Cookie? (Head up.) Cookie? Yes, cookie.  Ooh, look…squirrel.  Wait, I've got to get the sheep.
This is why I don't think talking to my dog would achieve very much. But, Loraine in my new book Love Beyond Loyalty, has a different type of dog. And he helps the Outsiders in their quest to defeat the Darkness.  
As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
www.rebeccaroyce.com


Current and Upcoming Works
The OutsidersLove Beyond TimeLove Beyond Sanity Love Beyond Loyalty Love Beyond Sight (TBA)
Westervelt WolvesHer WolfSummer's WolfWolf RebornWolf's ValentineWolf's MagicAlpha WolfAngel's WolfDarkest Wolf (coming soon.)
The WarriorInitiationDriven
The ConditionedEye ContactEmbraced
Sexy SuperheroesScrewing the SuperheroBanging the Superhero
Other WorksBehind The Scenes First DimensionYes, CaptainReturn to the SeaOne Night With A WolfAnother ChanceLight Me UpI'll Be Mated For Christmas
Gabriel Ward has no problem with the fact that he's an Outsider. Hell, he's always known he was different. What he takes issue with is the idea he has to follow any destiny at all. He's taken care of himself-and others-since birth. There's no way he has to start following rules now.

Loraine Peacock can speak to animals. Other than that she thinks she's just a regular woman making her way in the world. She figures its not that weird. Many people have unusual abilities.

But when Gabriel and Loraine are forced together by a destiny he denies and she is ignorant of, they will both finally have to accept their Outsider legacy and help the others in their quest to defeat the ultimate evil—a demon bent on world destruction. That is, if they can both survive to find their way to the most important part of their destiny: love.
Excerpt "Are you going to tell me what happened to you? You just stood there and let that wave slam into you. I thought you were dead but Futon knew you were alive."
Futon? He regarded the dog. A medium sized border collie with black spots stared back at him. His heart sped up. He'd heard that name for a dog before. In fact, it was the same damn dog.
"I know you." He pointed at the creature. "But the last time I saw you was with an old woman on Magazine Street in New Orleans."
Gabriel had been working for a shady lingerie storeowner on the bad side of Magazine Street at the time. Trying to find out what Sebastian wanted with the man, he would later uncover that the demon had employed Trent, the owner, to kill virgins by bleeding them to death. Gabriel still didn't fully understand how it benefited Sebastian and he wasn't sure he ever would. On his second day, he'd been hassled by an old woman on the street who'd told him Sebastian was in New Jersey and that he needed to hurry up and get there.
She'd spoken of fate and a lot of mumbo-jumbo he hadn't understood. It had turned out that she was right and he'd high-tailed it off to New Jersey to help stop Sebastian's assault on the Outsiders. The woman had been with Futon.
The woman shook her head. "There are lots of border collies around this area. You must have seen a different one because Futon never leaves me."
Rebecca will be giving away a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour here.

What makes Military and Mercenary men so sexy?

Please welcome Tory Richards to the blog!
Tory will be awarding a $20 gift certificate to Bath and Body to one lucky person who comments. Be sure to follow her tour, because the more you comment, the higher your chances to win. Click the logo below to find her tour dates.


My host asked me, "What makes Military/Mercenary men so sexy?" My first thought was, are you kidding me? That's easy! It's so obvious. But then as I thought about it more, I realized it went much deeper than the uniform or persona they represented. And I guess it's what you consider sexy. Yet any man can seem handsome and sexy in a uniform. So, why?  For me it's what they symbolize. Safety. Security. Protection. Danger.  And how they carry themselves. I just feel that, no matter what happens around me, they will take care of me. Because that's what they do. Aren't they sworn to protect the weak and the innocent?  They're bigger than life and walk around with their heads held high, showing the rest of us that they are proud and strong. That yes, we can count of them. There's just something about a man in uniform that inspires romance. The dangerous places he's been, the fighting he's done. The power of his usually fit physique, along with any battle scars that reveal the life he leads. He has permission to be a hero. As a hero in a romance story he can do anything. Easily defeat the enemy with brawn and skill, and make love to his woman with wild passion and tempered strength. The ultimate alpha male.Clint Becker is my alpha hero in The Mercenary Way. He makes his living hiring out to the biggest purse. But when his cousin asks him to rescue her best friend, Sarah, he reluctantly agrees. He barely finishes up one mission before finding himself on his way to an island off the coast of Florida. After meeting the spirited, curvaceous blonde, Sarah Reynolds, he wonders what he's got himself in to. They mix like oil and water!The Mercenary Way was released with The Wild Rose Press the beginning of February. It's a revision of Against the Odds, which was first published a few years ago with a different publisher. Besides a new title and book cover, much content and heat has been added. And it has been thoroughly revised. Below is a blurb and brief excerpt.http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ http://www.toryrichards.com
When a ruthless gem smuggler mistakes Sarah for her best friend Susan, she's kidnapped and stashed on an island. Her only hope of rescue is Susan's cousin Clint -- a soldier-of-fortune whose my-way-or-else attitude is as infuriating as his muscular body is distracting. Clint, ex-Navy SEAL turned mercenary, desperately needs a vacation. Rescuing a kidnapped woman from an island paradise isn't what he had in mind. And when he encounters Sarah's sassy mouth and tempting ways, he soon realizes he's the one in trouble.Excerpt - "Is Stan─""Sshh!" he warned briskly, his gaze returning to hers. "Now isn't the time for conversation, angel."Sarah pressed her lips. She didn't like being told to be quiet. She dropped her eyes before his steady gaze, beginning to feel self-conscious of their intimate situation. Clint was too sexy and in spite of his gruff ways, she was attracted to him. Sarah recalled the eagerness of her response when he'd had his fingers inside her. She was hungry for that particular feeling again but now was hardly the place or the time."You can get off me now," she spoke quietly, pushing against his shoulders. "They're going away."Clint didn't budge. "They may have lowered someone to the ground to continue the search," he reasoned. "Be quiet."Sarah listened to the sound of the chopper diminish as it moved further away and raised her eyes to the top of the trees above them where the sky was visible. And where Clint's gaze was focused. She couldn't help noticing how thick and muscular his arched neck was. The veins were evident beneath his whiskered jaw."You can still get off me," she insisted, wincing at the weakness in her tone. He glanced down at her. Their gazes met and held. Sarah tried to gauge what he was thinking. After an awkward moment of silence, Sarah looked away, but not before she acknowledged the flame of awareness in Clint's pupils. His body grew taut.She caught her breath when he turned hard and demanding against her. With little between them, it was easy to determine Clint wasn't lacking there. And the knowledge turned Sarah hotter. It seemed the danger of being captured was over but another more primal danger threatened her.She knew she was playing with fire but couldn't stop herself from acknowledging Clint's hard-on in the most obvious way. Parting her legs, she arched into the hard shaft, being rewarded when he sucked in his breath. "You know if I was a smart man I'd roll off, start walking and not look back."Sarah stiffened. Then why didn't he? When Clint didn't move right away, Sarah closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at him. His closeness was unnerving, catching her off guard when she realized how much she liked his weight against her. However, closing her eyes turned out to be a bigger mistake when all it did was enhance the charged atmosphere between them.Her ears picked up the low drone of the helicopter as it was all but out of ear shot, but her senses were acutely aware of Clint. His breath was against her face, hot and intimate, his heart beating against her chest keeping rhythm with another more vital part of his body. When he began to grind his aroused cock against her, she began to respond to the situation against her will.Suddenly, she felt alive. Her breasts became ultra-sensitive, swelling against his chest as her nipples hardened into tight little nubs. In her mind's eye, Sarah could see his mouth on her, licking and tugging on them until she was breathless and on fire. Oh God! What is happening to me? An explosive rush swept through her blood. She kept her eyes closed, desperate to ignore the changes in her body, trying to ignore that it was a man like Clint— callous, raw, and totally unlovable—who was turning her on to such a feverish pitch. She struggled to bring her breathing under control, embarrassed when a soft whimper broke the silence."Open your eyes," he demanded in a voice hoarse with desire."No." The way Sarah figured it, if she didn't look at him, nothing would happen. He couldn't possible know she was so turned on she was burning up with it."I'm going to kiss you."
About Tori:
I'm a fifty-something author who discovered my passion for writing and story telling at the ripe old age of thirteen. Before I received my first manual typewriter, with pencil in hand, I would jot my stories down on notebook paper. Later, after receiving that desired typewriter I spent hours in my bedroom, where my parents thought I was doing homework. Writing turned out to be a kind of therapy for me, something I didn't realize until years later.   I also hold down a full time day job. So basically I'm working all the time. Only writing is a hobby for me, something I do during the quiet of the evenings and on my weekends. My goals are simple and realistic. By the time I retire I'll be happy if I'm just making enough "mad money" from it to be able to travel a little, and spoil my grandchildren.   I'll travel any place a cruise ship will take me. I've been to: Greece, Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Alaska just to name a few places. I don't like to fly, even before I found myself on a plane on 9/11, but I will if I'm given enough legal drugs. I collect antiques and art, and I love chocolate, who doesn't? And I'm addicted to good coffee and sweet ice tea.   For a while life got in the way of my dreams. A few years ago I decided to get serious and haven't looked back!
Find Tory and her books at:
http://www.toryrichards.comhttp://www.debbiewallace.blogspot.com/http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000953754308http://twitter.com/#!/ToryRichardshttp://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4548655443http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Tory will be awarding a $20 gift certificate to Bath and Body to one lucky person who comments. Be sure to follow her tour, because the more you comment, the higher your chances to win. Click the logo below to find her tour dates.

A Taste for a Mate: Six Sentence Sunday - #27

A Taste for a Mate came out this week! How great is that!? LOL. I've had a great release week and thank you to all of those who came by during the week.

You can find A Taste for a Mate on Amazon and Barnes&Noble

Here's a snippet from A Taste for a Mate !


Willow looked up into his deep green eyes and heat radiated from him, warming her body in an intimate caress."You want to finish the mating?" Jasper's voice deepened to an animalistic growl. His nostrils flared as he took deep breaths."Please," she whispered.He took the space between them in two steps and crushed his mouth to hers.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Your comments and encouragements have made this whole writing thing worth it. You guys are amazing and thank you so much for being by my side.You can find the other sixers by clicking the logo below. 

Interview with Jessica Subject

Hi! Thanks so much for coming today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
First of all, thank you Carrie Ann for having me here today! Other than an author, I'm also a wife, mother, and reader. And I believe everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after.Tell us a bit about your book.Unknown Futures started out as the sequel to Celestial Seduction, but Frey and Carrie stepped aside so that I could tell Jewel and Flavia's story, although they didn't completely leave. Here's the blurb: Attacked as a young adult, Jewel is left scarred and alone. She applies to the 1Night Stand service, believing no one can see past her appearance to love her. But she doesn't expect to be sent to a space station where her date could be any number of unusual alien species. Flavia left everything behind to be one of five humans working for the Space Service space station. Extremely homesick, she is excited to learn she will be a guide to a woman from Earth visiting the station for a couple days. She is immediately drawn to the petite woman, seeing past her scars to her true inner beauty, stirring unforeseen desires. Unfortunately, Jewel is there for a date which Flavia hasn't been told about. Can she contain her lust and simply show her a good time? Or will she let her desire lead them into an unknown future? Book trailer: http://youtu.be/HOBmZ9vKwYE
Available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.Buy Links here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=7671
Is this part of a series?
Yes, this is my third story in Decadent Publishing popular multi-authored 1Night Stand series. Each is the story of people being set up on a blind date by Madame Evangeline, who runs the 1Night Stand dating service. Find out more information here: http://decadent1nightstand.blogspot.com/
What did you find the hardest part of writing it to be?
As with all of my stories, I find it hard to get the emotional connection I feel for my characters, and what they feel for each other, from my head, onto the pages.
What was your favorite part?
The dance club scene. It brings me back to my dance club days, but I got to add an intergalactic twist.Here's an excerpt:She slid her hand from Jewel's waist, down, then back up, swaying in front of her. Only an inch between them. She couldn't get enough. Her Earth scent became intoxicating.
Beat after beat, song after song, she kept her hands on the sexy woman. She claimed her, telling everyone else to stay away. She wanted to savor her precious body. Maybe she could make her forget about her date.
She pulled Jewel even closer, her sensitive nipples pressed against the woman she desired. Holding her with both hands, grinding against her to the music. Her heart raced with hunger. I want to take her on the floor. Right here. Right now.
But the song changed. The beat slowed, indicating last call. The club would close soon.
Most of the patrons had left. Only those hoping to hook up remained. She stepped back. Jewel would have to make the first move. V could never force herself on anyone.
When Jewel took her hands and placed them back on her body, she couldn't help but smile. Perhaps the evening would end the way she wanted.
Jewel pressed against her, her head resting on her shoulder, swaying to the decelerated beat. "I don't want this night to end."
Their dancing became deliberate, a sensuous and intimate rhythm. "It doesn't have to."
Jewel stopped and looked up at her. "You…you're interested?"
Rate your story in terms of steaminess 
I would say four fireworks. There are two hot scenes involving the women, but the dance club gets pretty steamy with some exhibitionism.
Who is your favorite romance author?
Based on who I've read the most books from, that would be Nora Roberts. Although there are plenty of other authors out there that I love. For my ebooks, I have separate folders for the authors who I buy a lot of their books.
What is your favorite romance book or series?
Again, it would have to be the In Death series, by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). But I have to include Gini Koch's Alien series here. I could list a bunch more as well.
Who is your favorite romance character? If you could go on a date with that person, what would you do? Details please! *wink*
That would be Jeff Martini from Gini Koch's Alien series. *swoon*. If he and I weren't happily married, I would have to see just how fast and how much stamina he has as an A/C (Alpha Centaurian).
Boxers or Briefs?
Boxer briefs or boxers.
What is next for you?
Once I finish up the blog tours of my three releases in December and January, I'll be getting ready for the release of my first full-length novel on March 24 from Silver Publishing. The Zurian Child is the first in my Mark of the Stars series about aliens which live on Earth. This series was the very first thing I wrote, and began as a superhero story for my daughter. As I plotted and wrote, it became something much different.As for my writing, I'm working on the second book in my Mark of the Stars series and a couple other smaller projects.Thanks again, Carrie Ann for hosting me! And all the best to you!
Giveaway!! As part of the Unknown Futures blog tour with Sizzling PR, Jessica is giving away a $20 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or AllRomanceEbooks.com. Simply leave a comment with your email address for your chance to WIN! Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=8896
Bio: Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.Website/Blog: http://www.markofthestars.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubjectFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

Guest Dianne Venetta and Dating Younger Men

Generation Gap -- dating a younger man.
Hm.  Interesting topic.  In my current release, Samantha Rawlings and her lover Vic Marin are about ten years apart in age.  While this may not constitute a generation gap, it does beg the question:  "Is there an issue when dating cross-generations?
Yes, and no. (Of course I'd say both! I'm a have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too kind of gal!)  I think there can be an issue when the difference in age runs twenty years or more—and not necessarily due to the difference in tradition/attitudes that exist between us and say, our parents—but because of intellect.  Oops—I'm sorry.  Are you one of those still wondering why anyone twenty years younger would even be dating someone that old?  It does sound kind of crazy…  I mean, who in their right mind would want to do such a thing?
Ah...  Now we're getting somewhere! Usually it's a twenty-something younger woman dating a forty-something older man.  He's looking for the fountain of youth and she believes she has it.  Remember when you were young and thought you had all the answers?  I do.  And thank goodness I didn't do anything too "permanent" during those days—else I'd be in real trouble.
But I digress.  The core of the problem with this relationship is not the difference in age or body-tone, but intellect.  Do these two really have anything to talk about?  Is she mature enough to handle his teenage children (assuming he has some) or his mid-life crisis issue—or heck, how about his ex-wife?  (She's still the mother of his children and always will be.)  C'mon!  The girl has no life experience.  She's not equipped to handle this kind of conflict!  And you know there will be serious conflict when the ex finds out the old man is dating someone "decades" her junior.
Well then, fine.  How about a forty-something year old woman and a twenty-something year old man?  Does this feel any different?  Is she even interested in talking to the young fella?
Doubtful.  Most older women aren't seeking much beyond a good time when it comes to dating a man so many years her junior.  She's "been there done that" and already dealt with all the gripes and moans and she is SO over it.  Her ego fulfillment veers towards vanity and companionship, and of course, intimate gratification.  Need I say more?
An older man?  Sure he's looking for the intimate gratification part (always has been), but additionally I think he's looking for power, control and someone to take care of him.  And because this younger gal has no idea who she is yet, let alone what makes him tick, she's in for a wakeup call. (Hopefully they'll still be married and living happily-ever-after when she "awakes."  It's possible.  I've seen it happen.)
But the older woman? She wants freedom, fun and the easy road. Talk about liberated—this lady is hot to trot with a gallop that's on fire!  She's a precipice-jumping cougar with a frisky purr and powerful body to match!  (She goes to the gym on a regular basis, you know.  Add a few of those crazy-suspended-in-air yoga moves and she could probably out run a cheetah!)  Sha-ZAM!  I'm with her!
In case you were wondering, this is where the "no" answer comes into play. (I DO get easily distracted!)  If you're not looking for a serious relationship than no, I don't think the gap in generations matters.  Why should it?  So long as both parties know how to play "responsibly" we're all good. 
"Was it good for you?" he asks.
"The bomb," she replies, as in explosions ricocheting to the tips of her toes and back.
"Good," he returns.  And because he's young, he may actually leave out the thought so part.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with me!  But if you'll excuse me, it is getting a little warm in here.  "Oh, honey...!  I need a little research help!"
Author bio:
Dianne lives in Central Florida with her husband, two children and part-time Yellow Lab--Cody-body!  When not whacking away at her keyboard crafting her next novel you'll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men.  Definitely men.
A girl's gotta have fun, right?
When she's not knee-deep in dirt or romance, Dianne contributes garden advice for various websites and volunteers in her kids' school garden (a crazy existence to be sure). But at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses--or rosemary!—kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she's done all right.
http://www.diannevenetta.comhttp://www.twitter.com/DianneVenettahttp://www.facebook.com/DianneVenettahttp://www.BloominThyme.com - the last being my garden blog
Book blurb:
She has what he needs, and he won't stop until he gets it.  Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.# # #One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize.  In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy.  Turns out, a little too far...
Victor Marin has ulterior motives.  The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge, and his last chance for justice.  But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself.  But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.
Until Vic walks away.

Excerpt:
"You did well today, Vic.  You didn't win your argument, your performance was a little overpowering, but you did well."  She slid a hand across the table.  He would have sworn she was about to touch his, but instead, her fingers curled around the stem of her water glass.  "Chavez was out of line.  It's his MO.  Whenever there's a new attorney in his courtroom, he parades power like a peacock.  Don't take it personal."No longer sparring, Vic noted her removal of armor."You're good.  Really good.  You have phenomenal energy in the courtroom—I mean you had the jury."  A smile crept onto her lips, a gesture which reached deep inside him.  "I was watching.  Each and every one of them followed you around that courtroom, your every move, your every word, they were right there with you.  They didn't believe her either.""Then why won't you include me on Perry?"
Sam's breath caught in her throat.  Trapped beneath his gaze, the question echoed Raul's.  Around her, the noise level rose as lunch hour officially reached full sprint.  People shouted orders, metal cash registers clanged in action, but she focused solely on Vic.Her suspicion returned.  Because I don't need any help.  Because I don't want the distraction.  Because I'll be damned if some unknown hotshot comes in and tries to strip the prize from my hands regardless of how good, or how good-looking he is.Sam's spine locked straight.  All her life she had to work twice as hard, run twice as fast—because she was a woman.  As an adolescent, her parents forced her to share an overload of responsibility for the care of five younger siblings, despite the fact her brother was scarcely a year behind her.  In college she was offered more dates than internships with law school providing more of the same.Sam sighed.  Baker, Schofield, Martinez and Brown had been the one interview where she felt wholly respected—wholly appreciated for her talent and not her looks.  Because of Raul.  He focused on her abilities and she responded.  From there, the man taught her everything she knew, from the law to the lowdown, and groomed her into the legal shark she was proud to be.Her thoughts chilled.  Yet now, he was encouraging interference on her caseload from the new guy.  It didn't make sense.Sam honed in on Vic.  "Give me one good reason I should include you on Perry.""You said it yourself, I'm good.""So am I.""It's a big case.  More than one attorney can handle.""I have Diego.""I have experience.""So I hear."  Sam lifted her glass from the table, but never took her eyes off him."It could work to your benefit.""I work to my benefit."Vic eased his neck from his collar and reached for his glass.  "I'm offering to help, Sam.  Most attorneys would jump at the opportunity.""If you hadn't gathered by now, I'm not most attorneys." 
***********************************************************
"My father is a prominent attorney."Sam gave an expectant lift to her shoulders.  "And?""And, what?  He's a good guy."  Depressed, angry…  Vic sighed.  But a good man at heart."What do they think of you moving to Miami?"Something inside him hardened.  "They're very supportive of what I do."She nodded, as though it were obvious.  "They want you to be happy."Vic felt the old pressure swell in his gut.  "Something like that."  He sipped from his drink, coating his ache with a soothing measure of gin."Family is important," Sam said, with what sounded like genuine admiration.  "Particularly the dedicated kind."He paused, and held onto the softness that entered her voice.  "If you feel that way, why aren't you married?""Why aren't you?""Asked you first.  The way you said it, sounded like you have some experience in the department.""I do.  Loads of it."  She shook long bangs from her well-shaped brow and said, "I come from a family of six kids.""Six kids?""Six.  And I, being the oldest, had to help raise the little beasts—I mean, dearies."  She smiled sweet as syrup.  "And mind you, I love every one of them, but I don't want to repeat history."  She mimicked a shudder and fiddled with her drink's red plastic sword.  "I've had my fill in the child-rearing department, thank you very much, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the commitment my parents made to keep it together."Oblivious now to the parade of passersby, Vic felt a strange wave of disappointment.  "What, you don't want kids?""I have kids," she asserted.  "My brothers and sisters have several between them who I enjoy very much, but as for myself I've chosen a different path."Vic nodded, but said nothing.  He was calculating the new information, turning it over in his mind, deciding what it meant and how he felt about it.And it's reflection on her."So Vic, you still haven't explained why you chose Miami."He welcomed the shift in tide.  Talk of marriage and children was starting to depress him.  "I'm looking to add a little 'sunshine' to my life and this seemed just the place."Sam dipped into her martini, the fiery gleam in her eyes magnetic, her smile reflecting the earlier reference.  Inciting desire, it pulled him in, all without revealing her first thought."Yes, well, sounds to me like you had a vested opportunity in your father's firm.  Why cross the country and start over?""I wanted a change in scenery.  While I'm young," he added, with measured thrust.Sam smiled, intrigued, but let the subject go.While she had yet to decipher the reason for Vic's move, and Raul's insistence on acting as his cheerleader, she knew men didn't usually uproot their careers and move halfway across the country, particularly when their father was a well-connected attorney in town and their academics were spotless.Unless there was a problem.
THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: 
a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Find more about the tour here.

Interview with Malia Mallory

Hi! Please welcome Malia Mallory to the blog!

Hi! Thanks so much for coming today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for hosting me today! I am an erotica author. Thus far, most of my released material has been short stories and novellas. I do plan to work on some longer things soon! I've been writing off and on for years but finally took the plunge into being published last year.I live in Hawaii with my husband and the cutest, sweetest dog a person could ever have.

Tell us a bit about your book.

I have released a few stand-alone stories but I also have an ongoing series called The ABCs of Erotica. The stories are not necessarily connected but there have been a few characters who have popped up more than once. One example is Mistress Ven who is a main character is both C is for C*ck Ring and D is for Domination. Not all the stories are BDSM though, they cover a wide variety of topics based upon themes from the alphabet.

Is this part of a series?

So far, I've released five stories from the series including A is for Anal, B is for Beach, C is for C*ck Ring, D is for Domination and R is for Revenge. There are a few others that are complete but not yet released. You can get an idea of the topic from the title. For example, B is for Beach is about a couple who meet and fulfill a fantasy of having sex on a beach. It is a more romantic story. R is for Revenge is about a curvy BBW who has the opportunity to get back at her former boss. It started out as R is for Rubenesque 
but it was really the revenge aspect that was the focus of the story

What did you find the hardest part of writing it to be?

I find it difficult to find the time. I am a terrible procrastinator. I need to be more disciplined about putting aside specific blocks for writing. It is so easy to fritter away time.

What was your favorite part?

I really enjoy hearing from people that they were entertained by a story I wrote. I also like the feeling of satisfaction I get when a story is complete.

Rate your story in terms of steaminess 

I'd have to say they are pretty steamy and explicit. There is no purple prose here. The more BDSM stories are considered "lighter" BDSM as they don't go too, too far. Some of my stories are ménage and some use toys. The characters tend to be comfortable with their pursuits.

Who is your favorite romance author?

I was a huge Linda Howard fan for years. She was my favorite. Now it is hard to settle on just one because there are so many great authors.

What is your favorite romance book or series?

I'm a big fan of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. If you like regency, they are really great. I also like Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick. Again, these are regencies but with more unusual and original heroines. She had moved on from these somewhat and is writing more historical paranormal type stuff now with that pseudonym but those are good too.

Who is your favorite romance character? If you could go on a date with that person, what would you do? Details please! *wink*

Wow this is a tough question. You know, me and about a million other woman would love to meet Roarke from Nora Roberts' In Death Series (writing as J.D. Robb). Who can argue with smart, gorgeous, successful, romantic and rich to boot!It would be great to have a wonderful meal at a restaurant that I couldn't otherwise afford with some charming conversation.Honestly though, I am very happily married. I'm super lucky to be married to my own smart, wonderful guy.

Boxers or Briefs?

I like both. They each have their positives J

What is next for you?

I'm currently on a blog tour to promote The ABCs of Erotica. All the appearances are listed on my web site (http://www.maliamallory.com).I am also working on a sequel to Mia's Cop Craving as well as a short story that is steampunk erotica. It is called Clockwork Caning. There will also be more of The ABCs of Erotica coming soon.These questions are for your main charactersTo answer these characters questions, I'm going to utilize Erica and Ben who are the characters in The ABCs of Erotica - B is for Beach.

What were your first impressions of each other?

Before they met for dinner at the beginning of the story, Ben and Erica had only spoken on the phone. Both were pleased and relieved to find they like each other as well in person and that their "phone" chemistry translated to an in person encounter.

What are your favorite parts about each other?

Erica, like me, is a big fan of a great smile and Ben has one. Ben is intrigued by the duality of Erica's personality. She is alternately shy and then uninhibited.

What's next for you?

Ben and Erica are great characters. It seems like maybe a more fully fleshed out treatment of their relationship is something I should consider. That is to say, maybe they should get a book? JMalia Mallory is the author of The ABCs of Erotica series, which includes so far A is for Anal, B is for Beach, C is for C*ck Ring D is for Domination, and now, R is for Revenge. The ABCs of Erotica covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released Mia's Cop Craving and Santa's Backdoor Baby. She has hit the bestselling erotica lists at both Amazon and iTunes. Her books are available in electronic format at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and AllRomance Books.For a free copy of B is for Beach from The ABCs of Erotica, head to her website and sign up for the newsletter at http://www.maliamallory.com/Join_My_Mailing_List.php.Connect with Malia MalloryTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/@MaliaMallory
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MaliaMallory
Blog - http://abcsoferotica.wordpress.com/
Web Page - http://www.maliamallory.com

Book Spotlight: Snowy Fate by Marissa Dobson

Snowy Fate by Marissa Dobson
Fate always knows when you're ready for love.
The past is catching up with Aspyn Layton. The father she never knew passed away and she is left to deal with his estate. An unexpected snowstorm has her stranded at the one place she didn't want to be—her father's house—with a naked man.
Damon Andrews has a secret, one he shared with Aspyn's father. He must convince Aspyn there is more to life then what she knows. How will she react when she finds out he is a mountain lion, and she is his mate? Their fates are intertwined.

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, I now reside about an hour from Washington, D.C. I am a lady who likes to keep busy, and am always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, I believe you are never done learning.Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave me the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read I have always had my nose in a book. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I started writing down the stories I came up with.  I am blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He is my other half and allows me to stay home and pursue my writing. My writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to me bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways. Website / Facebook / Twitter Ruby Lioness Press / Kindle / Smashwords / 


Excerpt:She picked up the fire poker as she looked at the naked man before her. "Who are you?" Even though she was startled by the man who stood before her, she had a feeling that he meant her no harm. A man that sexy couldn't harm anyone; except to break a girl's heart. He looked as though he should be posing for Playgirl instead of standing in the cozy living room. "The better question is who are you and what are you doing here?" he asked as he shook the wet snow off his body. He stood there, not the least bit concerned that he was naked, nor that he was wet from head to toe. Her heart was fluttering, and desire was heating her cheeks. She wanted to explore his toned body with her hands, and her tongue. His dark hair was wind blown into disarray; that served to make him look dangerous, and that much sexier. "The name's Aspyn. Now who are you?""You're his daughter," he said more out of shock, then in question. "I'm Damon Andrews. John, your dad's lawyer, didn't think you would be coming to the house, or I would have left."Once she heard this man was a friend of her father's, she quickly squashed the attraction that was building inside her. There was no way she could pursue someone who knew her father. She didn't want to know any more than she already did about the man who ran out on her and her mother. "It wasn't the plan. I agreed to sell the place and his things. I planned to head straight home, but the storm rolled in, leaving me no time to get out of town. I didn't have anywhere else to go and I didn't think anyone was living here. The lawyer mentioned the key under the rug if I wanted to stop." She lowered the weapon as she spoke. He nodded in understanding. "If there is anything of his you want, please feel free to take it. There are lots of pictures of you.""He never gave me anything while he was alive and I don't want anything now." The first tear was threatening to fall. "Hey there, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry," he said, crossing the room in two strides. "It's not you. It's just being here, around all this. It's more than I can handle now. I'm not a woman who cries at the drop of the hat, I don't know what is wrong with me. All the years he missed, and now it's too late. This is like crying over spilled milk."He gently laid a hand on her shoulder.  "He wouldn't want you to be upset. He did what he thought was right when you were a child. It might not have been the best decision, but he felt it was the only way. It was the only way to give you a semi-normal childhood, and he regretted that decision every day."She looked him in the eye and with fire in her eyes, she lashed back. "I know this is going to sound childish and ungrateful, but then he should have come back for us." She shook off his hand. "But none of that matters now, it's too late. What are you doing here? Better yet, why are you naked?"Taking a step back, he nodded to the cot made in the corner. "I've been staying with your father. I'm building a house on the other side of the lake and was living at the hotel. On your dad's better days, he would come over and helped with the construction. The heat and plumbing aren't finished yet because of the freezing weather. Your dad invited me to stay until it was finished. When he passed and I found out you didn't want the house, I put the offer in to buy it. I couldn't see it sold off to someone who wouldn't appreciate the beauty of the area. As for my lack of clothing, well that is a long story. Why don't I make us something to eat? I'm sure you're starving.""That would be great.""On one condition … you must read your father's journal. You need to understand why. It will affect you more than I can explain." Before she could object he added, "Please. There is stuff in there that you really need to know. I told him time and time again that he needed to find you before it was too late and tell you. But he didn't listen. The first page is all I am asking. After that, if you don't want to read any more, I won't pester you anymore today."

A Taste for a Mate: Book Release Day!!!

It's Here!!! It's really here! A Taste for a Mate is now available on Amazon and should be on Barnes and Noble any minute! Whoot!

I'm so happy to share Jasper's story with yall. You can find it here. Thanks so much for coming on this Redwood journey with me! Its a full length novel and the second book in the series! I'm so excited!!

Pick up a copy, enjoy and tell your friends. LOL Okay you know I'm not that pushy, but enjoy yourself anyway!

A Taste for a Mate - Book 2 in the Redwood Pack Series

Jasper Jamenson's only responsibility to being the Beta of the Redwood Pack, second son of the Alpha, is to protect the Pack from themselves and the human world. After a century of selfless service, his brother's new found mating forced him into taking a good look into his life. He isn't sure he wants a mate, but fate may have other ideas.

Willow Delton is a skinny, bakery owner – the type most woman love to hate. Being without family, she finds herself alone to the Greek god with green eyes who saunters into her bakery every morning. Her desire to follow him, to be with him, overrides every rational sense she possessed.

Jasper and Willow are drawn together, despite every nuisance that works against them. But evil beyond even Jasper's supernatural compensation will make war against him, by going after the only thing in his eternal life he desires – Willow. Is Willow's heart enough to overcome Jasper's soul to save her life? A fight he cannot win, but to save her life – he must. 

Book Spotlight: The Fever and the Fury Stephanie Draven

The Fever and the FuryStephanie Draven
Revenge is a dish best served hot!Phaedra, a fury, is bound to make Lieutenant Luke Lazaros atone for his supposed crime, but her usual method of inflicting pain doesn't work very well on a phoenix with the power to be reborn every time he dies. However, each rebirth leaves him with an overwhelming need for sex. Phaedra's new plan: to drive Luke mad with desire.But Phaedra has never touched anyone—even herself—except to cause pain. She's an innocent when it comes to pleasure…but Luke isn't. His touch is a revelation, arousing a passion in Phaedra that is as delicious as it is terrifying. For no matter how much she wants Luke, giving herself to a man risks awakening her goddess's wrath.

A multi-published award-nominated author of paranormal romance. Stephanie's critically acclaimed  Mythica series asks: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth...and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, Stephanie lives with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books. Website / Facebook / Twitter Excerpt:She'd already killed him twice this week. Monday, the harpy bitch grabbed the wheel just as he was making a tight turn on a cliff-side highway. The car jumped the barrier and exploded in a fiery crash of glass and twisted metal at the bottom of Moraca Canyon. On Wednesday morning, he'd chanced taking a shower and she dropped a hair dryer in with him, sending a deadly shock through his wet body. It wasn't even the weekend and she was already trying to kill him a third time. Luke had awakened to the sinuous slide of her body atop his and, for one groggy moment, he'd enjoyed the carnal sensation of a woman in bed with him.Then her knee came crushing down on his windpipe. Now Luke thrashed upon the mattress, grabbing at her supple thighs, trying to throw her off.  The curve of her breast brushed his arm, her moist lips parted and she clutched at his face as if she were going to draw him into an intimate embrace…just before fingernails like talons cut his flesh to bloody ribbons. Or at least that's what it felt like.With the lightest touch, she could put an ordinary mortal man in complete agony. But he wasn't an ordinary mortal man and she should have known better than to touch him."Atone," the fury demanded, her voice driving needles of agony into his spine. "Atone!"Luke was desperate enough to consider it. Anything to get rid of her. Anything to make the pain stop. Anything that might relieve him of the memories that haunted him. The blood in the sand and all the lies…Take the money, Luke. There'll be more where that came from. His traitorous lips parted in surrender, ready to tell the fury whatever she wanted to hear, but then he felt his square jaw clench tight in stubborn refusal. No. Screw atonement and regret. Luke would rather die again. Her lithe legs wrapped around his waist like a vise. They were locked together as tightly as lovers and in blind suffering he banged the back of his skull on the headboard. It started like a fever, a sexual rush of heat that seared its way through his veins, pulsing through his hammering heart, racing to his groin.Damn it. He liked this villa, but he'd burn the place down to get free of her if he had to. Sparks leaped from his fingertips to the bedsheets and the scent of scorched linen rose to his nostrils. The fire would obey him—it was the one goddamned thing in his life he still had any control over—so Luke made the fire rise higher, engulfing them both in a flash of flames and searing pain. His bones went white-hot, molten beneath his skin, and he screamed. He was turning to ash. He was burning her too, burning her alive. He could have held onto her. He could have forced her to share his torment to the bitter end, but he flung her away. And her tumbling body was the last thing he saw before he died….
Phaedra was accustomed to inflicting pain, not suffering it. But now every cell in her body screamed in protest as her burned skin rose up in blisters. She was immortal. She could never die. That didn't mean she couldn't feel pain, and making this man miserable had somehow become her own personal torment. She lay dazed in agony on the floor, smoke filling her lungs while Lieutenant Luke Lazaros burned alive before her very eyes. Gods of Olympus, he was stubborn. He should have broken by now, but he was only getting more unmanageable. None of the men she'd been sent to torture had ever been so obstinate. Then again, she'd never been unleashed upon a phoenix before.In the light of the crackling blaze, Phaedra's blistered body healed, new pink flesh knitting over the old with miraculous speed, and it occurred to her that the fire alarm wasn't shrieking. A quick glance up at the scorched ceiling told her that he'd disabled it. That he'd planned for this exact circumstance. He was handy that way. Good with modern gadgets. And a born strategist. He'd started anticipating her. Adapting…All at once, the conflagration on the bed extinguished itself and a burst of air dusted her with Luke's charred human remains. A bit of stagecraft on his part. Of course, she'd seen him do this before—rise from the ashes as a new man, his dark curly hair cut in sharp military style, his name and blood type displayed upon frayed patches on his desert fatigues. A backpack full of cash in his right hand. This was how he looked the moment he was war-forged. The instant he stopped being an ordinary mortal man and became a monster. But as many times as she watched him die, she couldn't enjoy it. Watching him now, she took no satisfaction in his shudder of revulsion at the feel of a new body that wasn't his own. Nor did it encourage her to see the half hostile, half haunted look in his eyes as he tried to remember himself. Shaking his head as if to fasten upon his old memories, he caught her look of dismay and gave a dark smile-that-was-not-a-smile."What's the matter?" Luke asked. "Didn't expect me to be so hot in bed?"Given that she was clutching the burned and blackened remains of her clothing against her body, Phaedra didn't appreciate the sexual innuendo. It didn't surprise her though. Every time the lieutenant was reborn, he battled overwhelming hunger. He'd be ravenous now, for food, drink…sex. Still, he grabbed one of his white dress shirts from a drawer and tossed it to her. "Here. You can wear this."The gallant gesture was starkly out of place considering their situation. Phaedra eyed her nemesis as she fastened the buttons, disconcerted by his scent on the shirt and how it mingled with the perfume of her newly healed skin. "Does this mean you're ready to be redeemed, Luke Lazaros?""Just means I was brought up right," Luke said through his teeth. "And that an officer falls back on his training in a crisis. Or maybe I've just always fantasized about a leggy woman wearing nothing but my shirt. Until I get rid of you, I might as well improve the scenery.""How many times must we go through this?" Phaedra asked, ignoring the predatory glare in his eyes. She rose to her feet. She was tall, but he was taller. She was hard-bodied and imposing; even before they felt the torture of her touch, most men had the sense to cower. But not this man. "There is no getting rid of me, Lieutenant. Once a fury is unleashed upon a criminal, she's unbreakably bound to him until he atones or is driven to insanity.""I'm not a criminal," Luke snapped. "And I will find a way to be rid of you."I hope you do find a way, Phaedra thought. Because she was every bit as stuck with him as he was with her.

Exclusive Content and a Guest Post with Skye Warren

Thanks for having me!  For you guys, I've got exclusive content from my martial arts erotic romance, Below the Belt. This means, it's not in the book, it's not anywhere but right here on Carrie's blog. In this scene, Abe met his match in the sweet, sexy heroine last night. He also managed to screw it up just that quickly. But this is Nationals and he's a champion, so he's trying to focus on training…Abe's fists thudded against the leather in quick succession, followed by the slam of a roundhouse kick. The freestanding punching bag, despite the weighted base, tipped over with a shudder.The other guys in the gym looked over at the sound of the crash, but only Rafael was stupid enough to approach him when he was like this. Sweaty and out of breath from his tour on the treadmill, Rafael yanked his earplugs out and leaned against a nearby, still-standing punching bag. "Your mind on something, amigo?"Abe took a few gulps from his water bottle before dousing his thick head with the rest of it. The cool splash did little to cool his annoyance. Neither did the knowing grin on Rafael's face."Or maybe someone," Rafael said, "like a pretty girl with a nice pair of – "Abe cut him off with a growl. "Aren't you supposed to be running – not running your mouth?"Rafael sauntered off, having made his point. As if Abe didn't know what the problem was. All he'd been able to think about for the long, sleepless night and even longer morning in training was a certain gorgeous woman with a beautiful pair of…well. But none of that mattered, because he'd ruined his shot with her. Even by his own, admittedly low, standards he'd fucked up. Bad enough that he had approached her on a bet, that he had pushed his luck by having sex with her that first night, but his whole dumbass crew had found them together. Shit. A nice guy would have protected her from humiliation like that, not caused it. But then, Abe wasn't a nice guy.With a grunt, he righted the punching bag and went to work. Maybe he could work her out of his system, if he hit hard enough, moved fast enough. His muscles burned in protest, but that only made him push himself harder.Sweat slid into his eyes, stinging and blinding him. He went on fighting, just like he'd always done. More. Harder. Faster. The bag in front of him morphed into a wavy black column. He was moving on instinct. Except his instincts were all screwy. And suddenly the chant in his head wasn't about fighting at all, but someone else, something entirely different. Something he'd done just last night. Faster. Harder. More. Beautiful, trusting brown eyes blinking up at him, hazy with arousal.Fuck. I'm sure our mystery heroine will meet up with him soon, just in time to mess with his head (and other body parts) again. Here's the blurb to Below the Belt:Black belt Abe Montgomery is focused on winning gold. But at nationals, Abe meets Paris, a beautiful, mysterious woman. Paris Rivera has sworn off men and martial arts. Her black belt cost her more than years of dedication and sweat. The fight of Abe's life looms ahead, with his dreams of owning a school and his future with Paris hanging in the balance. He may dominate on the mats, but he's fallen hard for her. When the time comes for them to part, he may not be able to let her go.The best new is that Below the Belt is only 99 cents, so spend a couple more hours with Abe and see where it takes him. Fair warning: this is one seriously steamy novella. Buy it now at Amazon, B&N, or All Romance, or go to http://skyewarren.com/books/below-the-belt/ for an excerpt and more buy links.Thanks all!Skye WarrenUnapologetic erotica http://www.skyewarren.com