Lydia Michaels's Blog, page 12

A Tribute to Kilts with Kate McCullough

Hello, all! Kate McCullough-Marcelli here and today I’m going to talk about kilts!
Kilts have become something a great deal and still regarded by the modern day woman as sexy. Now, the history of the kilt is extremely jumbled from Hollywood interpretation. Back in the day, warriors like William Wallace from Braveheart, would have worn a long tunic, not a kilt. I could bore you with all the history, but rather, let’s focus on the important facts… Kilts are sexy!
Every clan has it’s own tartan. While some McCulloughs have red, our family’s tartan has a bit of blue to it. The men in our family each have their own dress tartan and often wear it for weddings and other formal celebrations—and the women appreciate it!
Kilts originated in the Scottish Highlands and weren’t adopted by the Irish until sometime in the 20th century, but there’s a lot of debate over the time frame—again, not what we’re interested in.
So… to summarize… kilts are sexy. We like kilts.
Below you will find some evidence I gathered online which explains why. Enjoy!
















For more fun with Kate, kilts, and the rest of the McCullough Clan, be sure to check out Lydia Michaels McCullough Mountain series!

Colin McCullough's Lesson in Gaelic

Colin: Hello, everyone! Today I’m here to give you a quick lesson in Gaelic so you can impress your friends this St. Paddy’s day. My wife, Sammy is going to help us, since she is still learning the language.
Samantha: Hello. Nil Gaeilge maith agam.
Colin: *Laughs and rubs Samantha’s arm* Sammy just admitted to not speaking Gaelic very well, but she’s a fast learner.
The first phrase I’ll teach you is:
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh. Pronounced: La ale-lah pwad-rig son-ah jeev.
This means Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s plural, so you’d say this when you walk into a bar or a party on the 17th.

Next, and this is an important one…
Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. Pronounced: pyunta Guinness leh duh hull
This means, a pint of Guinness, please, and it’s the only way Kelly will serve you at O’Malley’s on St. Paddy’s Day.

Now we’ll let Sammy try one. Repeat after me, love.Tabhair 'om póg, is Éireannach mé  
Samantha: *Repeats phrase slowly* “ TOO-irr um pogue, iss AY-ron-ock may” Colin: Very good! *Kisses Sammy* Sammy just said, “Kiss me I’m Irish.”

And finally, you may hear this one a lot this March.
Sláinte! Pronounced: Sloyn-cheh! Which means, Cheers!

So, let me wish all of you a Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh. *Holds up Guinness in a toasting gesture* Sláinte!  *Turns to Sammy* Now… Tabhair 'om póg, is Éireannach mé. *Leans in and kisses his wife passionately*
Spend more time with Colin & Sammy in Sacred Waters!
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Colin McCullough has always known the path his life would take and at summer’s end he will finally make his Holy Orders. But what should have been a relaxing summer in the mountains with his large Irish family turns into an interlude plagued with temptation the moment his brother brings home the enchanting Samantha Dougherty. When Samantha agrees to spend her summer break with Braydon McCullough she soon realizes his intentions are not what they seemed. While coping with Braydon’s assumptions that they are in a relationship, Samantha’s vacation only becomes more complicated when she meets his older brother, Colin, the soon to be priest! What was intended to be a peaceful holiday turns into an unforgettable experience of loyalty, lust, sacrifice, courage, and love.

Beer Tasting at O'Malley's Irish Pub with Kelly McCullough & Lydia Michaels!

Lydia: We’re here at O’Malley’s Bar and Grill in Center County. This popular little pub is owned and run by the much loved McCulloughs and today we’re joining the infamous Kelly McCullough who’s going to tell us what’s on tap this St. Paddy’s Day. *Takes a deep breath in preparation for meeting those blue eyes* Thanks for having us, Kelly.
Kelly: The pleasure’s mine, love. Welcome to O’Malley’s. I think we’re going to have some fun today.
Lydia: You’re always fun, but I think today should be especially entertaining.
Kelly: Beer tastings usually are.
Lydia: Since I’m not a beer drinker, I’ve brought along my husband, Mike, and my sister, Rachel, both are dedicated to the art of beer drinking and I consider them connoisseurs.
Kelly: Pleasure to meet you both. *Shakes Mike’s hand* Now, Lydia, beer tasting isn’t a spectator sport. Slide on over here, because you’ll be tasting with the rest of us. Your opinions will help other non-beer drinkers order, come St. Paddy’s Day.
Lydia: Okay, but I can’t promise I’ll like any of the selection.
Kelly: Let’s find out. *Sets several small glasses on the bar* We’ll also see how well Rachel and Mike actually know their Irish beers. I’ve chosen six popular beers most pubs carry during the month of March.
First, a popular one I’m sure even Lydia’s heard of, Guinness. *Pours dark brew carefully into each glass* Go ahead and give that a try.
Mike: This is just damn good beer. I mean, I already know that.

Rachel: Chocolaty. Malty. Yumminess.
Lydia: I think it has a coffee flavor. It’s smooth. I could possibly sip this.
Kelly: Stouts usually have a coffee tang and they’re smooth, because they have a nitrous widget inside the can. It has a nice creamy head and do you notice it doesn’t have the carbonation of other beer?
Lydia: *Takes another sip* Well, I’d have to taste a carbonated beer to see the difference, but yes, this is very smooth. Can you get this on tap?
Kelly: Of course.
Lydia: Whenever I’ve tasted this in bars it didn’t taste as smooth.
Kelly: That could be a number of things. The pub might not have clean lines. It could also have to do with the way the beer was poured. It takes a wee bit of skill.
Mike: Guinness is like a day at the salon for women. Sometimes you just like to treat yourself.
Kelly: Exactly. Every day’s a good day for a Guinness.
Rachel: I think people tend to drink Guinness more in the colder months, because it’s heavy and almost milkshake like. Where, in the summer months, beers like Corona that are light and crisp tend to be more popular.
Mike: I’ll drink a Guinness any season. Like I said, it’s just a damn good beer.
Kelly: *Clears glasses and sets out new samples*
Next, we’ll try Murphy’s Irish Stout, similar, but different from Guinness. Give it a taste.
Lydia: It’s dark like the Guinness. *Takes a sip* I don’t like this as much as the Guinness.
Rachel: Definitely doesn’t have the full body Guinness has. Not as chocolaty.
Lydia: This has a very strong beer flavor. I don’t know what that is, that bite, but I’m not a fan.
Mike: It’s very close to Guinness. I’d call this Guinness Lite.
Lydia: Really? I taste a huge difference.
Rachel: Yes, but it’s not as chocolaty, a little more flat in flavor. But Lydia doesn’t drink beer. You have to consider the wide range of beer out there.
Lydia: I can see that. For me, I’m dealing with a small window and compared to what I just tasted it’s very, very different. *Takes another sip and grimaces* I personally don’t like it.
Mike: Guinness is Ivy League. Murphy’s is community college.
Kelly: Guinness is definitely a more savory taste, so it would be smoother to a beer virgin like Lydia. They’re both frothy, but I could see how Murphy’s tastes a bit more potent to her. To us, they’re in the same family. To her it’s the difference between making love and having wild sex. She may not be ready for it.
Next we’ll try Harp Lager. Guinness also makes
Harp, but it’s very different and no where near as popular. *Pours light, golden liquid into sample glasses*
Lydia: Oh, you can see right through it and it’s bubbly. Wow, very carbonated, like a ginger ale beer.
Kelly: That’s the carbonation. The Guinness doesn’t have that because of the widget.

Mike: *Sips* This is a marketing scheme.  I think a good beer company that got famous for their dark Irish stout, created this only to grab the other drinkers that don’t like dark beer. This isn’t an “Irish” beer. This is the flop book a New York Times best seller puts out just to make a buck. I love Guinness, but this beer sucks in my opinion. The guy that created Guinness never would have let this get out. It just isn’t the same quality as a traditional Guinness.
*Laughs*
Kelly: *Clears away glasses* Next up we have Killian’s Irish Red.
Lydia: Oh, it is red! It almost looks like a blush wine, sort of amber. There’s hardly any foam. *Sips* I like this better than the Harp Lager. Oh. I like this flavor. It’s carbonated, definitely bubbly. There’s a little bit of a beer flavor to it, but it seems sweeter. It reminds me of something that would be good on an autumn harvest kind of day.  Rachel: Yes, it’s got an autumnal feel. It has a roasted flavor.
Mike: This beer’s safe. It’s not great, it doesn’t suck. I used to drink this a lot. 
Lydia: It has a pleasant taste, a bit more feminine than the others.
Rachel: I enjoy beer like this. There’s a Fireside Nut Brown Ale I like that has a similar nutty, roasted flavor. It’s not dense, very light. I think Killian’s Red is good.
Kelly: This is a beer patrons can drink all night, where the heavier beers are sipped slowly. We sell a lot of this at O’Malley’s.
Next we’ll try O’Hara Leannn Fullian, which is Gealic for full-bodied, extra Irish stout.
Lydia: Interesting. You know, I’m a little Irish, full bodied, and a bit stout. This beer should be called Lydia.
Mike: Oh, boy… *Glances at Lydia* The beer’s hitting her.
Kelly: *Laughs, offering Lydia a slow grin* Do you have a little Irish in you now, lass?
Mike: *Pins Kelly with a look* Settle down and pour the beer.
Kelly: *Chuckles and pours* O’Hara is darker, but carbonated, so there’s not as much head.
Lydia: This smells like I’m not going to like it. It’s darker than the Guinness. *Sips and makes a puckered expression* This is... Wait. The first taste is potent, but there’s a chocolate aftertaste.
Rachel: It’s good! I like the carbonation.
Mike: I personally don’t like this beer. I’ve never had this.
Rachel: I’ve never had this either, but I like this better than the Guinness.
Lydia: Really?
Rachel: Yes, but I don’t like especially strong or bitter beers that taste flat. This one isn't flat to me.
Mike: Wait a minute… this beer’s like new neighbors. You may not like them at first, but they grow on you. *Finishes sample*
Kelly: Which is the favorite so far?
Mike: Guinness. But this is pretty good actually.
Rachel: I like this better than Murphy’s. So far my least favorite was Harps.
Mike: I’ll agree with that.
Lydia: Killian’s was my favorite so far.
Rachel: I also like Killian’s best so far. I think O’Hara is good, but I wouldn’t drink it all night. It’s too heavy. I like it enough to buy a case for the house though.
Kelly: I have one more for you to sample. It’s a dark one. Give this a try…
Lydia: *Gasps* Kelly McCullough, that’s a Scottish beer!
Kelly: I know. Don’t tell the other McCullough’s. This is Belhaven Black Scottish Stout. It’s a very smooth and distinctive flavor.
Rachel: Wow, there’s no head.
Kelly: Head does make things a little creamier, but you should never judge a beer by it’s head any more than you should base a relationship on it. It may be there at first, but it eventually goes away.
*Laughs*
Rachel: Oh, you’re a naughty Irishman!
Kelly: The best kind. *Shoots Rachel a smoldering glance as he pours*  Lydia: *Sips* Oooh… *Sips again* This has a really smooth taste. There’s a beer flavor, but it’s almost an afterthought. This is refreshing! I like that it’s so cold.
Rachel: I would probably say this is my favorite of the stouts. I still think Guinness had more of a chocolaty, malty flavor.
Lydia: I like this much better than Murphy’s, maybe even better than Guinness, but Guinness definitely had a richer, chocolate flavor. It’s the Godiva to the Hershey.
Mike: I like this. What’s this called again?
Kelly: Belhaven Black Scottish Stout.
Mike: Well, the Scottish can add this to the list of things they’re famous for, kilts, bagpipes, and Black Scottish Stout. It’s a win. I can’t believe I’ve never tried it before.
Lydia: I think this is a good beer. I actually like it.
Kelly: That’s why I included it. So, Lydia, now that we’ve punched your beer card, what are your thoughts?
Lydia: I like Irish reds and Scottish stouts.
Rachel: I love stouts. They’re chocolaty and coffee flavored and that’s why I enjoy them.
Mike: This beer and I have not seen the last of each other.
Lydia: This was a lot of fun! Thanks so much for hosting a tasting, Kelly.
Kelly: Any time, love—always welcome at O’Malley’s. I’m glad I got to give you a taste some good Irish brews and hopefully I introduced Rachel and Mike to some new choices.
Mike: I’ve never had the Black Scottish Stout, but I’ll be having it again. Aside from Guinness, that’s probably the only beer of the night I plan to enjoy again.
Rachel: Killian’s was my favorite.
Lydia: I liked the Killian’s too. I think it’s a beer you could drink all night—maybe not me—but I could see Killian’s as an endurance beer, where the others I could only swallow a few sips. I could possibly finish a can of the Black Scottish Stout and maybe a Guinness.
Kelly: So any final thoughts?
Mike: Irish beer is good beer, but right now I’m favoring the Scottish for the simple fact, he’s the only Scotsman in a room full of Irishman and he grabbed my attention.
Rachel: Beer is good.
Mike: Good beer is good. Bad beer is bad.
Kelly: Beer, like sex, is like pizza. Even when it’s not that good it’s still pretty good.
*Laughs*

Lydia:Well, we look forward to coming back to O’Malley’s, Kelly! And for those of you out there who would like to visit this lovely Irish pub, you can find it and Kelly and the rest of the McCulloughs in McCullough Mountain, my small town, big family, contemporary Irish romance. Cheers!

Maureen McCullough's Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Lydia: Welcome back everyone. We’re back on McCullough Mountain at the big house with Maureen, Irish chef extraordinaire and mother to all those lovely McCullough men we love. Today Maureen is going to teach us to make Irish Soda Bread Biscuits. Thanks for having us, Maureen.
Maureen: Thank you for coming back, dearie! I feel so privileged to be cookin’ for so many people.
Lydia: Now, this will be the first time we’ve actually baked with you in the kitchen. Tell us what you have here.
Maureen: Well, You’re going to want to preheat your oven to 350 degrees so it’s ready (175 degrees C). This is another recipe I’ve adapted. I make my soda bread into bite-sized pieces. As you see, I have readied our ingredients. We’re going to need:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup dried currants
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon caraway seed

Start by combining the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. You’ll want to use a pastry blender to cut in butter until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Then stir in the currants.
Beat your egg and mix it in. Pour in the milk and use a fork to make a soft dough. This looks a wee bit dry, so I’m just going to add a touch more milk. Once you have a nice consistence, knead the dough lightly over a floured surface and roll it into a lump about a 1/4 inch thick and cut the dough into squares and triangles with a knife (approximately 2 inches in diameter).
Then you simply bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until slightly browned.
Shall we chat while we’re waitin’ for that to bake?
Lydia: Sure. Why don’t you tell us what other recipes you have in store for us this month?
Maureen: Oh, I’d love too! Well, we’ll be makin’ all the fix in’s for a traditional Irish American St. Patrick’s Day feast. I say Irish American, because corn beef and cabbage is about as Irish as spaghetti and meatballs.
Lydia: Really?
Maureen: Oh, yes, dearie. Irish traditionally favored Irish bacon, but when the immigrants came to America pork was very expensive. The Irish typically lived in New York surrounded by many Jewish delis, which is where they got their first taste of coned beef, very similar to the way Irish bacon is cured and cooked. And it was cheaper! Cabbage was also cheaper at that time than potatoes, so that was thrown into the pot instead. Once that hardy dish became popular in New York, it took off over the country and a new tradition was born.
Lydia: Very interesting!
Maureen: I’ve got some good stuff under all this red hair. The bread should be about done now. Let’s check. *Bustles to the oven and slides out the cookie sheet* Perfect! We’ll let it cool a spell and then you can test it out.
Lydia: I can’t wait to taste it, Maureen. Thanks again for having us to your kitchen.

Maureen: Any time, love. I’ve got lot’s more to share and soon you’ll be havin’ your own Irish feast, from my kitchen to yours!




Want to spend more time with Maureen and the sexy McCulloughs? Click here to check out Lydia Michaels’ McCullough Mountain series!

Maureen McCullough's Irish Potato Recipe

Lydia: We’re back in Maureen McCullough’s Kitchen today where she’s going to teach us how to make Irish Potatoes.

Maureen: Welcome back, love! I’m so excited to have you here. Now, this is a recipe I adapted, but it’s fairly simple. You will need:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
I triple my recipe, because I have a good size family and all of my sons are pigs. So you’ll be wantin’ to start off with a good-sized bowl. Beat the butter and cream cheese together until it’s smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar and beat it again, keepin’ it smooth. Pour in the coconut and make sure your hands are clean, because you’ll be usin’ them.  Mix in the coconut with your hands, just squish it around until it looks and feels even throughout. Then you just shape them into little balls like wee little potatoes, and roll in the cinnamon. When you’re finished, pop them on a cookie sheet and let them chill in the fridge.  *Holds out potato* Give it a try, dear. Tell me what you think.
Lydia: *Pops the confection in her mouth and moans* So good!
Maureen: And easy too! This is a great project for my grandbabies to help with. Just make sure they wash their grubby paws first. Next time we’re together we’ll touch on some baking. I’m thinkin’ I’ll show you how to make Irish Soda Bread. How does that sound?
Lydia: Perfect! Thank you again for having us at the big house. We look forward to coming back again soon.

Maureen: Any time, love!

Want to spend more time with Maureen and the sexy McCulloughs? Click here to check out Lydia Michaels’ McCullough Mountain series!

Maureen McCullough's Irish Cream Recipe

Lydia: Today we visit the big house on McCullough Mountain, home to Frank and Maureen McCullough. We’re in Maureen’s famous kitchen and she’s going to teach us how she makes homemade Irish Cream! Hello, Maureen. Thank you for having us.
Maureen: Hello, dearie. Wonderful to have you here for a visit. Since all of my strapping lads and lovely lasses have left the nest I’m glad to have the company. Can I get you something to drink, coffee, tea, a nip of Tully?

Lydia: Thanks. I’ll have coffee please.
Maureen: *Bustles off to pour coffee* Now, today I’ll be teachin’ you how to make some good old Irish Cream. It’s a simple recipe and all you’ll be needin’ is a blender and some jars. I like to keep mine in mason jars and sometimes I give them away for gifts at the holidays. Oh, but not with much luck. Those bastards I raised like to pilfer my stash. Bunch of sodden drunks they are!
Lydia: *Laughs* Well, we’re all excited to share your recipes. If anything, you’re famous for knowing your way around the kitchen.
Maureen: Ain’t that the bloody truth! Without me the natives would get restless. My brood likes to eat, especially my Finnegan, but you’d never tell it to look at him. Built like a brick shit house, that one. All of my boys are too tempting for their own good! Luckily they’re startin' to settle down. Especially my rogue, Kelly. Shocked the shit out of me, that one did. But he’s a good boy, my Kelly.
All right then, enough blathering from me. Let’s get started. You will need:
1 cup heavy cream
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 cup Irish whiskey—Our family is partial to Tullamore Dew
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Set your blender up and combine the heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and Irish whiskey—I like to add a touch extra.  *Tips the bottle over the blender to add a surprising amount of whiskey* Add in the instant coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract. It’s fairly simple. Now blend.
*The blender kicks into motion and Maureen continues to shout over the racket*
There’s somewhat of a dispute over whiskey, you know. Some believe Jameson is the traditional Irish Catholic whiskey, but we love our Tully, which is considered an Irish brew. Back in the day it was Jameson versus Bushmills, which was what the Protestants drank. People forget there were only two distilleries, one in the north and one in the south and Ireland can be quite divided. What most people don’t realize is that now a days Bushmills and Jameson are from the same distillery. Bloody nonsense! So we stick to Tullamore dew, simply because the slogan says “Irish True”.

*The blender rattles to a stop*  
And there you have it, love, a bit of history and a delicious batch of homemade Irish Cream! Let’s add some to your coffee. *Tops off mug* You just store this in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and give it a wee shake before serving.
Lydia: Delicious! Thank you for sharing with us, Maureen. It’s been fun.

Maureen: Of course! And next time you come by I’ll teach you how to make Irish Potatoes. My grand babies love them!
Want to spend more time with Maureen and the sexy McCulloughs?  Click here to check out Lydia Michaels’  McCullough Mountain series!

Braydon McCullough's Irish Movie Picks

Hello, everyone! Bray here, kicking off McCullough Madness for the Month of March with my top Irish movie picks.
Since moving to Pittsburg I find myself watching movies to make up for the lack of family. When I'm missing my crazy Irish clan I usually go Irish. Here are some of my top favorites.
10. The Crying Game
9. PS I Love You...Yes, I have a romantic side.
8. The Commitments
7. Far and Away
6. The Road to Perdition
5. The Devils Own
4. Gangs of New York
3. Boondock Saints
2. In the Name of the Father

1. Angela's AshesThis should be on every Irishman's list.
So grab yourself a Guinness and the remote and settle in for a great countdown. These movies are sure to put you in the Irish spirit!~Bray
Leave a comment and share your favorite Irish movies!For more on Braydon and the rest of the McCullough Clan, be sure to read McCullough Mountain, a bestselling series by romance author, Lydia Michaels!

MARCH is McCullough MADNESS MONTH!!!

Happy March, everyone! As you well know, us ladies here at LLL love our McCulloughs!
Since St. Patrick's Day is in March, we've decided to give the McCullough Clan their due and honor them with non stop spotlights and guest appearances! 
Here's what you can expect:
Recipes for the perfect St. Paddy's Day feast, right from Maureen McCullough's kitchen!
A visit to O'Malley's Irish Pub with Lydia and friends for a Irish Brew Beer Tasting!
Sheilagh McCullough's take on the best popular Irish music!
Braydon's recommendations for Irish movies every Irishman should know!
Kate's tribute to KILTS!
A lesson on popular St. Patrick's Day phrases in Gaelic from Colin & Sammy!

Luke's take on Irish Whiskey!
Character interviews!
More Kilts!
Shenanigans!
Prizes!
(Every visitor that comments in March will be entered into a drawing for a chance to WIN a copy of FAKING IT. So make sure you tell us when you're here!)
And More!
Don't miss all the fun! 
McCullough Madness starts NOW!!!
If you haven't met the McCulloughs, what on earth are you waiting for??? Start reading this funny, sexy, incredible series today! Go on, go...   BUY

BLOG HOP!

Thanks for hopping over for a visit! 
For those of you that don't know me, I'm Lydia and I write contemporary romance with lots of erotic twists! My first published series was The Order of Vampyres. There are currently four books in the series with many more to come! Here are some quick facts about The Order of Vampyres:
The Vampyres are Amish. Yes, Amish! You may wonder how that's sexy, but trust me... it's a VERY HOT series!
The Order of Vampyres should definitely be read in "order". The plot lines are very interwoven and while the books could be read on their own, I highly recommend reading them in order.

What reviewers have said about this series:"Intelligent and intense, Lydia writes a sensual, sexy tale with class."
"A wonderfully passionate love story, and the author keeps you wanting more."
"The words seemed to flow off the pages until I found myself closing my eyes and wishing I was lounging in a meadow in the Amish country side."
"These vampyres can heat up a room WITHOUT electricity!"
"This story is a fabulous study and comparison of familial bonds, romantic passions and cultural mores."

"Do you miss REAL alpha males in your PNRs? You know, the ones that take what they want, when they want it, and just don't give a damn? Well, Call Her Mine will bring you back to those golden days when powerful males said, "Mine!"."
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and be entered for a chance to WIN Call Her Mine  {Book 4 of The Order of Vampyres}. 
A winner will be chosen using Random dot org and announced Monday, March 3, 2014 on Lydia's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMichael... as well as here on Literally Lydia!
The order of The Order of VampyresCalled to OrderCalling for a MiracleDestiny CallsCall Her Mine


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You can find more information on this series, including blurbs and buy links, here:http://www.lydiamichaels.org/The-Orde... 

Bestselling author, Lydia Michaels, writes all forms of hot romance. She presses the bounds of love and surprises readers just when they assume they have her stories figured out. From Amish vampyres, to wild Irishmen, to broken heroes, and heroines no man can match, Lydia takes readers on an emotional journey of the heart, mind, and soul with every story she pens. Her books are intellectual, erotic, haunting, always centered on love. Lydia Michaels loves to hear from readers! She can be found of Facebook or contacted by email at Lydia@LydiaMichaels.org

Thanks for visiting!
Hop back over to Secret Cravings Blog by clicking the following link:http://secretcravingspublishing.blogs... 

NUMBER 1 of the Top 10 Countdown of Couples That Make Us Swoon!!!

# 1
Finn McCullough & Mallory Fenton
SKIN{McCullough Mountain 2}


Why? Because in this book Lydia Michaels somehow made every girl Mallory and we are given the luxury of truly feeling what it is to be loved by a man like Finnegan McCullough! *Fanning Self* Mallory Fenton is a REAL woman with a little more than curves, yet, to Finn, she is absolutely beautiful. This couple is simply magnificent! They are real and even the love scenes are graphically telling in a way most authors shy from. When you read SKIN you absolutely become the characters and Finn is guaranteed to make you swoon!
Watch the Trailer!


Shaky fingers unzipped her boots and she stepped out of them, shrinking three inches. She undid her jeans and slid them off her legs. Taking a deep breath, she removed her shirt and folded it on the corner of the sink.It wasn’t easy to face her reflection, but with a slow turn she pivoted. Opening her eyes she tried to see herself, truly see her, the way Finn would see her. Her breasts were displayed in a satin, black bra, supported in a way they didn’t naturally sit. Her stomach curved in wrong places and her belly button was a crease rather than the petite hole that a super model might show off.The black lace of her boy shorts scalloped the pouch of her stomach, making her, again, appear more feminine than she actually was. She would not start berating herself, not now when this was going to happen.Her fingers unclasped her bra and away went the support and down fell her breasts. Her nipples darkened and tightened in the cool air. She had nice nipples, not to big and not too small. Not too dark and not too pink.Her gaze landed on the jagged white scars stretching over her breast. She’d started getting stretch marks when she was a teenager. No amount of lotion or magic cream took them away and she, for the most part, tried to ignore them. Maybe he would ignore them too.Her head bowed as she slid off her panties. There she was, as naked as the day she was born. Wide hips creased by gravity made it difficult to notice the small patch of soft, brown curls at her apex.Her gaze flowed over her reflection and took note of her better qualities. Her nails were painted and filed neatly. Her makeup was subtle, but nice. Her hair was long and natural in color. For some reason, it became important for her to show him exactly who she was. There would be no veils or facades, not tricks of beauty or accessories to distract the eye. It was all or nothing. If he wanted her, that was exactly who he was going to get.She emerged from the bathroom wearing only her robe. Her breath caught when she saw him sitting on the bed in only his jeans, his bare chest showing in the soft lamplight from the nightstand. He was stunning.A fine trail of golden, brown hair ran over his abs, disappearing behind the unbuttoned snap of his jeans. On the nightstand she spotted the infamous box of condoms. Funny, not until that moment did it actually register that she was going to have sex. The physical act was second hand to all the emotional repercussions.She hadn’t had sex in years. She almost forgot what it felt like. Chills skated up her spine as she drew the slow epiphany that whatever he was hiding in those jeans was going to be inside of her very soon.She smiled and he reciprocated the gesture. With slow steps she walked into the bedroom. Taking one last look at the beautiful man sitting on her bed, her fingers went to the switch on the wall and extinguished the light.Darkness settled on the room for only a second and then a soft click came from the bed as Finn leaned over and turned on the nightstand lamp. He slowly shook his head, telling her there would be no hiding.Having her body displayed in light where unfavorable shadows could be cast was not a comforting thought. But the look in his eyes told her the idea of seeing her without shields was very favorable to him. She nodded in acceptance and he whispered, “Thank you.”Her feet carried her slowly to the bed. Standing at the foot, she struggled with the tie of her robe. He stood and met her at the foot of the bed, touching her hands softly, stilling her motions.She let out a shaky breath as he took over the knot and whispered, “Let me.”Shutting her eyes, she nodded as the terrycloth lapels were drawn apart. He sucked in an audible breath and said, “Gorgeous.”She bit her tongue so as to not object to the compliment and gentle fingers tipped up her chin. Soft lips pressed into hers and she shivered. The heat of his body covered her front as he stepped even closer. Tender lips coaxed her mouth open as he kissed her softly. Their heads tilted and her body warmed.Strong hands cupped her breasts as his thumb dragged over her nipples. Her body tightened as he deepened the kiss.The backs of his knuckles caressed her stomach causing her to slightly suck in a breath. He teased at the soft curls at her apex and she whimpered.“I love your body,” he said against her lips.


BUY