Diane Saxon's Blog, page 12
January 4, 2015
ON A COUNTDOWN TO SHORT CIRCUIT TIME - Release Date 8th January 2014
Prologue
She narrowed her eyes and squinted at the skinny geek stumbling backward out of the passenger seat of her father’s car. She’d waited all day for the rumble of the engine of her daddy’s convertible. The old car had a distinct stutter and a sly rev she fantasized was because it had a mind of its own.
She smiled awkwardly, her mouth pulled tight across her braces and she pressed her fingers over her top lip to stop it from catching on the edge, rolling and making her look like a feral cat. Her face ached. They’d tightened the braces again and it hurt so much more this time. The smile dropped from her lips only to ping back up again as the geek caught his shoe on some piece of equipment in the foot well of her daddy’s car. He flipped backward, his gangly arms pin wheeling until he landed on his ass on the floor, minus his shoe.
He whipped his head up and she stepped back from the window hoping he hadn’t heard her girlish giggles. He wouldn’t be impressed. He was so much older and more mature.
Not many would believe he was twelve years her senior. Not with his thick russet hair falling in a boyish flop over his forehead, his fine gold-rimmed glasses perched right on the end of his nose.
Her heart fluttered in her chest as she chanced another peek.
His arms full of equipment, flushed to his hairline, he staggered toward the front door of her home. Adrenaline pumped hot through her veins. She took a few skips toward the hallway, ran back to the window to see her father’s car pulling away from the curbside. Her mother was out. She was the only one there to open the door. She darted back, hesitated, her pulse thrumming in the base of her throat.
A dull thud shuddered the door in its frame and she shot forward, wrenched it open before he did any further damage. His shoulder slid across the oak panel and he shot sideways through the entrance, his skinny limbs racing to keep up with the speed of his body, but to no avail. His foot skidded and down he went. The clatter of laboratory equipment skidding across the wooden floor filled her ears as did his quiet Irish curse.
“Bollocks.”
Stifling another snigger, she crouched to help, casting furtive little glances at him as he came to his knees, straightened his waistcoat and touched his fingers to his bow tie, ensuring it was still there.
“Hi Aiden.”
His deep frown almost made her stutter, but she knew he couldn’t sustain his annoyance. His small nervous cough made her smile.
“Hey.” The sound of his soft, smooth voice made her light-headed and she stopped what she was doing to gaze deep into his eyes.
He pushed his glasses further up his nose and glared at her. Unperturbed, she met his beautiful gaze with a lovesick one of her own.
“Do you need a hand down to the lab?” He dropped his gaze to her mouth. Her speech lisped embarrassingly through her clenched together teeth. She hated her braces, couldn’t wait to have them removed.
“No.”
Not wanting him to go yet, she piled another few items on top of the ones already in his arms and resisted the urge to stroke her fingers along the sleeve of his tweed jacket.
“Can I get you a coffee?”
“Zaphira…” he sighed, “Thank you, but no. I have work your father wants me to complete. I don’t want to be disturbed.”
Her chest ached. Just a little. The same as it always ached when he rejected her offers.
She bent to pick up Paco, her new puppy, snuggled her face into his thick fur and took comfort from his squirming, plump body as she hugged him close and let him lick sweet kisses across her chin.
Aiden paused at the lab door then glanced at her over his shoulder and her heart hitched again. There. It was there, the glint in his eye. The one that told her every time she was about to give up that there was a spark of interest. There was hope.
January 2, 2015
Role Reversal - His Dakr Master #1 - Shiloh Sadler
In the South before and after the Civil War, there were a select number of professions open to men of color. Most toiled in the fields or did other types of manual labor everything from carpentry to loading and unloading steamboats. If a man didn’t want to break his back working he could be a butler, a couch driver, waiter etc. There was a great need for servants.
But what about business ambitions?
Being a barber was one of the most acceptable businesses. Cutting hair and shaving also constituted serving others, but it gave men much more freedom. It was something they could do to go into business for themselves.
In Role Reversal I tell the story of Andrew. In ten years he goes from slave to wealthy businessman owning several barbershops in New Orleans. He was one of the lucky few. Except all his money couldn’t fill the loneliness in his heart.
Blurb:Before the War Between the States, Andrew had deep feelings for Robert, but he couldn't express his desires to his young master. When the family fled Atlanta, he ran away to obtain his freedom. Ten years later, Andrew is not only free but the wealthy owner of several barbershops in New Orleans. Only one thing is lacking from his life: a long-term lover. When a customer tells him the whorehouse hired a new male prostitute he hopes visiting him could ease his loneliness. Only in his wildest dreams did he imagine the new whore to be Robert.
The war turned Robert's life upside down. Without slaves to work his plantation, his father sold Robert to a brothel. Trained in the art of submission, Robert hates his life as a whore, but he doesn't see a way out. Heartache hits him when he thinks about his past and happy memories of Andrew. The man deserted him when they were children, just like everyone he cared for had over the years. When his former love interest reappears in his life can he get over the man's betrayal and embrace the future?
Content Warning: This book contains historical style BDSM
Excerpt:After a half an hour, Robert entered the bedroom wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Instantly Andrew turned rock hard. “Please put the robe back on,” he said, the words paining him. If you don’t then I’ll take you right now. I won’t be able to help myself. Robert quickly obliged, and Andrew breathed easier. He motioned for the white man to come to him. Before he could scramble up and join him on the bed, Andrew stood. “Now it is my turn to take care of you.”
The submissive’s eyes widened.
Andrew did not say any more, wanting to keep the man guessing. He led him down the hall and into his office where he did his accounting and paperwork. In the far corner of the room sat a barber chair. He ran his fingers across Robert’s face noting the light fuzz. “I will shave you,” he said, smiling. “I do know my business.”
“Yes, Sir. If it pleases you,” Robert said, sitting down.
Returning next door to the bathing chamber, Andrew warmed a towel in the sink and then placed it over Robert’s face. He sharpened on the strop and then a moment later removed the towel and began to slather his face with shaving soap.
Andrew carefully shaved his pretty face, knowing he’d not forgive himself if he nicked him. “You have beautiful skin,” he said, washing off the last of the soap.
“Thank you, Sir,” Robert said in a small voice, blushing.
Clearly the man was not used to compliments. What a shame. He deserved someone to take care of him, see to all his needs, and shower him with love.
After he’d finished shaving Robert, he took him by the hand and led him back to the bedroom. Once they got inside, he closed the door wanting the upmost privacy. Standing in front of him, he untied Robert’s robe; gently separating the two sides as he looked down at the submissive’s flawless body. A light blush crept down his skin from his head to toes.
Amused, Andrew gazed into his eyes and offered a playful smile. “Surely you’re used to being naked.”
“Y-yes just not in front of you.”
Andrew chuckled and ran his hands down the smooth planes of Robert’s chest. “I guess seeing each other without clothes as children didn’t count.”
Buy Links:Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N| iTunes| ARe
About the Author:
Shiloh Saddler likes to do research for her steamy romances first hand. She has invented a time machine and travels back to the 19th century on a regular basis. There are experimental settings on her time machine which could propel her into the future and even other worlds. She believes love and a good book makes anything possible.Shiloh Social Media Links:Blog: http://shilohsaddler.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiloh.saddler?fref=tsTwitter: https://twitter.com/ShilohSaddlerPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shilohsaddler/Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00H6CN5D4
January 1, 2015
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Paranormally Yoursby Anita Cox
Paranormally Yoursby Anita CoxGiveaway ends January 20, 2015.
See the giveaway detailsat Goodreads.
Enter to winDecember 29, 2014
Guest Post by Christy Gissendaner ...
Guest Post by Christy Gissendaner
Have you ever planned for things to go one way, and they turn out completely different than you’d planned? Authors will know what I’m talking about. I’m not a typical plotter, but I do have a general idea of where I want my stories (and series) to go. But I’m always surprised by the twists and turns it takes to get there. It was no different when I wrote In Too Deep, book 1 of my Tybee Island Shifters. I knew Drake Randolph, the alpha, and Emma, the sweet human, would find a happy every after. What I didn’t expect was for Micah, Drake’s brother, and Celeste, Drake’s beta, to practically jump off the pages with their love-hate relationship. So it was a no-brainer that Micah and Celeste would gain their own romance in In Deeper. In Deeper picks up almost two months after the conclusion of book 1. I kept Tybee Island as the setting with a brief jaunt to Atlanta. But guess what? Yep, another twist. I introduced The Underground League, a bad-news group who has Celeste and the Randolphs in their sights. The entire story unfolds more in book 3, which I’m currently writing, but it’s going to contain a major twist, one even I never saw coming! One so big it’s going to require a fourth book, which was definitely not part of my plans. And speaking of twists, I didn’t tell you about book 1. Emma isn’t quite as human as she appears. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but if you want to find out, pick up a copy of In Too Deepand In Deeper today.
Thanks for having me Diane, and I hope you enjoy the excerpt I brought along with me.
In DeeperChristy Gissendaner
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Etopia Press
Number of pages: 186Word Count: 56,012
Book Description:
The alpha’s brother has met his match.
Celeste Proctor always had the best of everything—expensive homes, fashionable clothing, and the coveted position of beta to the most powerful of all lycans, Drake Randolph. But after the alpha chose another to be his bride, Celeste is left without a mate. She needs one, and fast—the stronger, the better–to maintain her carefully cultivated position. One of the alpha’s brothers will have to do, but which one?
Micah Randolph has always lived in the shadow of his oldest brother. With his country music career heating up, Micah is looking forward to a whirlwind tour and achieving his own success, separate from his position within the powerful Randolph family. When the beautiful yet untouchable Celeste Proctor shows up, determined to mate with him or his twin brother, he has a choice to make: pursue the dream he’s worked so hard to achieve, or be drawn back into pack politics as the mate of a woman looking only to secure her rank in the pack? But the way she makes him feel when she looks at him…can he make her want him for more than his strong, lycan blood?
Buy Links:http://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Tybee-Island-Shifters-Book-ebook/dp/B00RCGDEAS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1419428579&sr=8-8&keywords=christy+gissendaner
Excerpt
Applause echoed through the packed arena, reverberating off the concrete flooring and resonating to the domed ceiling. Micah Randolph slung his guitar behind his back and waved at the fans who’d come to see the kickoff of his and Max’s summer tour. The concert had sold out due to their new single topping the country charts. The energy of the crowd and intense stage lighting made the temperature soar.Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and Micah lifted the hem of his T-shirt to swipe at his face. Another round of thunderous applause started. He smoothed his shirt back over his abs and shot a grin to the girls in the front row.Max, the other half of the band’s duo, unplugged his guitar from the amp and strode over to smack his palm in the center of his stomach. “Tired of being a sex object yet?” his slightly younger brother asked with a smirk.“You tell me,” Micah shot back. His brother experienced no lack in the female attention department either, despite his attempts to stay out of the spotlight.“It’s you they come to see,” Max remarked. He waved to the crowd, and the cheers increased. “Not me.”Micah arched an eyebrow. “Really?”“Shut it.” Max gave him a quick nod. “Good show.”As one, they turned to take a bow. They exited the stage to the pounding of drums and an electric light show to rival any of the big-name country artists. The production was nothing like the small gigs they’d done in Nashville, playing their hearts out for the small crowds at Deanie’s. Backstage, the crew gathered around the brothers and handed each an ice-cold beer. Micah took a deep draw from his bottle before raising it in a mock toast. “To my brother for writing kick-ass songs.”Max, ever the unassuming one, shoved his elbow into Micah’s gut and grunted. “I’ll see you back at the hotel. Drake and Emma are waiting for us.”Micah’s good mood evaporated. He’d forgotten his oldest brother and new wife were coming to Atlanta for the first show. Although he loved his family, he’d been in the mood to celebrate. Something Drake, stern alpha that he was, didn’t appreciate. Since his marriage to Emma, Drake had become softer but not soft enough to allow his younger twin brothers to party it up all night at a club.Micah drained the bottle and tossed it into a nearby trash can. Another crew member pressed a second bottle into his hand. He unscrewed the cap and drank half of it on the way to his dressing room. Thank God no press functions were planned for the night. He and Max had been on the media circuit for weeks, gearing up for their first headlining tour. With the success of their latest single, they’d garnered the music industry’s attention, and all the major networks sought an interview.He shifted the bottle of beer to his left hand and turned the knob to his dressing room. The scent of flowers assaulted him. Roses permeated the entire room, not something he’d expected to find in the space he’d left just ninety minutes ago. He recognized the scent in an instant.It betrayed the familiar female standing before the dressing table even before he locked eyes with her.Celeste.Gorgeous as ever. A tall, willowy blonde with perfect teeth and perfect hair. Unattainable. The one woman he’d always wanted but could never have. Despite Drake finding a mate, Celeste was still off-limits to Micah.“Celeste.” He placed the bottle on a table near the door and carefully shut the door behind him. “What are you doing here?”Celeste shoved aside the items littering the top of the vanity and placed her delectable ass on the counter. She swayed long legs, encased in tight leather, back and forth. “Hello, Micah.”He ignored the greeting and strode forward. The closer he came to her, the angrier he got. How dare she come here? He’d said everything he’d had to say to her at Drake’s wedding. “I repeat. What are you doing here? Did Drake invite you?”She cocked her head to one side. One long, loose curl fell over her shoulder to coil around a full breast pushing against the lacy corset she wore. “Drake doesn’t know I’m here.”Despite his anger, the attraction was undeniable. Celeste, with her fucking million-dollar smile and tight-ass body, drove him insane. He sneered at her, struggling to keep lust from clouding his judgment. He’d given into it once. Damned if he’d do it again.“You’ve always been such a good little beta. Are you sure you want to risk Drake’s anger by coming here and fucking around with me?”His cruel words hit their mark. Her lips turned down at the corners seconds before her eyes glowed with the flame of her anger. “It’s been a month, Micah. I thought we agreed it was a mistake.”“It was a mistake.” He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “We were drunk. You were drunk. The perfect shifter who always follows the rules. What would my brother say about you drinking yourself into oblivion after his wedding and ending up in my bed?”She lifted her chin, and a hint of the wolf appeared in her honey-gold eyes. “I don’t have to explain my actions to him.”“Damned right you don’t.” He strode forward and grasped her haughty chin in his hand. “But you owe me an explanation. Why did you fuck me that night?”Her gaze slipped away from his. “We were drunk. You said it yourself.”“Bullshit.” He waited for her to drag her attention back to his face. “The truth, Celeste.”Even angry, her beauty took his breath away—her oval face one of pure perfection, with tawny skin and a glorious mass of blonde curls. The locks of her unpinned hair reached beyond her waist and caressed the rounded slope of her ass.She took a deep breath and her chest rose. “The alcohol loosened my inhibitions. I was horny. You were there. So I had sex with you. End of story.”Jesus. Just the memory of her body moving beneath his, her lips gasping his name, sent a jolt of lust through his hardened frame. “You’re lying.”He stepped closer, trapping her between the table and his hips, and enclosed her body between his arms. “You come here dressed in this getup, expecting me to believe that’s the end of the story?”He ran his eyes over her low-cut corset and tight black pants. Red fuck-me heels and matching lipstick should make her look cheap, but it was impossible for Celeste Proctor to look anything but classy.He’d known her his entire life. She was his brother’s beta, a shifter he’d been forced to consider as his future sister-in-law. But that had been before Emma turned Drake’s life upside down and took the man Celeste had always thought she’d marry.He growled out a warning, “The truth, Celeste. Now.”She licked her too-bright lips. “I made a mistake.”“Damn straight,” he shot back. Only it hadn’t been a mistake. No sane man would ever consider her a mistake. Sexy, successful, and so damned stubborn she made his teeth ache. “You couldn’t text me an apology?”She tossed her hair over one shoulder and glared at him. Despite her beauty, she was fierce in her annoyance, a warrior who fought for what she wanted. “Poor Micah, always so willing to play the victim.”Her taunt made him see crimson. He jerked a handful of her lace corset and thrust his face next to hers. “You played the victim card better than I ever could. Poor Celeste. Losing the man you love to a non-shifter. It stings, doesn’t it? Knowing you weren’t good enough for him?”The expensive foundation and powder she wore were no match for the flush of shame tinting her cheeks. “Fuck you, Micah Randolph.”He grinned, but it lacked humor. “Been there, done that.”She lifted her hand, but he caught her wrist before she landed the stinging slap on his cheek. As a warning, he tightened his grip just enough to feel the bones in her wrist. “Careful. You might hurt yourself.”She tugged at her arm and cursed when she was unable to break free of his grasp. “You made your point. Let me go.”God, it hurt to look at her and know he could never be good enough, too much of a fuckup to have perfection. He let go of her wrist and shoved away from her. “Time for you to leave.”She stayed where she was, her legs spread as if Micah still stood between her thighs. The provocative position reminded him of tangled sheets and sex so hot it burned in his soul.“Micah.” Her tone dropped an octave and turned seductive. “I need your help.”Damn it all. Even her voice made him think of tangled sheets and sweaty limbs. “Find someone else.”She stood. The six-inch stiletto heels she wore put them on eye level despite him being several inches over six feet. “You don’t even know what I’m asking.”“I don’t need to.” He pulled off his sweaty T-shirt and dug in his duffel bag for a clean one. “I’m not your man.”Her gaze dropped to his chest. He would have to be blind to miss the spark of interest there, and he’d never missed any of Celeste’s expressions. She’d haunted his dreams since puberty. Too many nights he’d spent jacking off to the picture of her as a cheerleader in their high school yearbook. Too many afternoons seeing her flirt with his brother and knowing she’d never be his.Celeste never backed down from a fight. She ignored his disinterest and forged ahead. “With Drake out of the picture, I’ve had to reevaluate my position within the Society.”Micah shoved his arms through the sleeves of a faded black T-shirt and jerked it on. He pulled the hem down and waited for her to say more.For the first time, she showed hesitation. Unable, or unwilling, to meet his eyes, she looked anywhere but at him. “I’m the last of my family. The pressure has been on me for years to marry well. I thought I’d found the perfect match with Drake, but I can’t ignore it anymore. I need to find a mate.”The words ripped into him, flaying him with dreams of what could never be. He stuffed the old shirt into his bag and slipped the strap over one shoulder. “Congratulations to you and the lucky bastard, whoever he may be.”She jerked her chin in his direction. Heat singed him from the flames in her expression. “Don’t be an ass. I need your help.”He lifted an eyebrow. “If you think for one second, I’m going to play matchmaker for you, you’re…”“I want you to be my mate.”Her words forced him to a complete halt. “Come again?”Her voice changed in pitch, low and consoling, wooing him with its seductive quality. “Think about it. We’re from the two most powerful families in the Society. It’s a perfect match.”“Perfect for whom?” Irritation strengthened his tone. “Because I’m damn sure not sold on the idea.”Celeste placed her hands on her slim hips and cocked one hip forward. “Max is an option, of course. He’s always had a soft spot for me. Maybe he’ll—”He was in her face before the words left her mouth. “You’re not fucking mating with Max.”“But—”He held up a hand. “I refuse to let your ambition ruin my brother’s life. It’s not going to happen.”She smiled as if she’d already suspected his reaction. “Then it has to be you.”
About the Author:
Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.
Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!
To find out more, please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.com
http://www.twitter.com/christygis
http://www.facebook.com/christygis
http://www.goodreads.com/christygissendaner
Have you ever planned for things to go one way, and they turn out completely different than you’d planned? Authors will know what I’m talking about. I’m not a typical plotter, but I do have a general idea of where I want my stories (and series) to go. But I’m always surprised by the twists and turns it takes to get there. It was no different when I wrote In Too Deep, book 1 of my Tybee Island Shifters. I knew Drake Randolph, the alpha, and Emma, the sweet human, would find a happy every after. What I didn’t expect was for Micah, Drake’s brother, and Celeste, Drake’s beta, to practically jump off the pages with their love-hate relationship. So it was a no-brainer that Micah and Celeste would gain their own romance in In Deeper. In Deeper picks up almost two months after the conclusion of book 1. I kept Tybee Island as the setting with a brief jaunt to Atlanta. But guess what? Yep, another twist. I introduced The Underground League, a bad-news group who has Celeste and the Randolphs in their sights. The entire story unfolds more in book 3, which I’m currently writing, but it’s going to contain a major twist, one even I never saw coming! One so big it’s going to require a fourth book, which was definitely not part of my plans. And speaking of twists, I didn’t tell you about book 1. Emma isn’t quite as human as she appears. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but if you want to find out, pick up a copy of In Too Deepand In Deeper today.
Thanks for having me Diane, and I hope you enjoy the excerpt I brought along with me.
In DeeperChristy Gissendaner
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Etopia Press
Number of pages: 186Word Count: 56,012
Book Description:
The alpha’s brother has met his match.
Celeste Proctor always had the best of everything—expensive homes, fashionable clothing, and the coveted position of beta to the most powerful of all lycans, Drake Randolph. But after the alpha chose another to be his bride, Celeste is left without a mate. She needs one, and fast—the stronger, the better–to maintain her carefully cultivated position. One of the alpha’s brothers will have to do, but which one?
Micah Randolph has always lived in the shadow of his oldest brother. With his country music career heating up, Micah is looking forward to a whirlwind tour and achieving his own success, separate from his position within the powerful Randolph family. When the beautiful yet untouchable Celeste Proctor shows up, determined to mate with him or his twin brother, he has a choice to make: pursue the dream he’s worked so hard to achieve, or be drawn back into pack politics as the mate of a woman looking only to secure her rank in the pack? But the way she makes him feel when she looks at him…can he make her want him for more than his strong, lycan blood?
Buy Links:http://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Tybee-Island-Shifters-Book-ebook/dp/B00RCGDEAS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1419428579&sr=8-8&keywords=christy+gissendaner
Excerpt
Applause echoed through the packed arena, reverberating off the concrete flooring and resonating to the domed ceiling. Micah Randolph slung his guitar behind his back and waved at the fans who’d come to see the kickoff of his and Max’s summer tour. The concert had sold out due to their new single topping the country charts. The energy of the crowd and intense stage lighting made the temperature soar.Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and Micah lifted the hem of his T-shirt to swipe at his face. Another round of thunderous applause started. He smoothed his shirt back over his abs and shot a grin to the girls in the front row.Max, the other half of the band’s duo, unplugged his guitar from the amp and strode over to smack his palm in the center of his stomach. “Tired of being a sex object yet?” his slightly younger brother asked with a smirk.“You tell me,” Micah shot back. His brother experienced no lack in the female attention department either, despite his attempts to stay out of the spotlight.“It’s you they come to see,” Max remarked. He waved to the crowd, and the cheers increased. “Not me.”Micah arched an eyebrow. “Really?”“Shut it.” Max gave him a quick nod. “Good show.”As one, they turned to take a bow. They exited the stage to the pounding of drums and an electric light show to rival any of the big-name country artists. The production was nothing like the small gigs they’d done in Nashville, playing their hearts out for the small crowds at Deanie’s. Backstage, the crew gathered around the brothers and handed each an ice-cold beer. Micah took a deep draw from his bottle before raising it in a mock toast. “To my brother for writing kick-ass songs.”Max, ever the unassuming one, shoved his elbow into Micah’s gut and grunted. “I’ll see you back at the hotel. Drake and Emma are waiting for us.”Micah’s good mood evaporated. He’d forgotten his oldest brother and new wife were coming to Atlanta for the first show. Although he loved his family, he’d been in the mood to celebrate. Something Drake, stern alpha that he was, didn’t appreciate. Since his marriage to Emma, Drake had become softer but not soft enough to allow his younger twin brothers to party it up all night at a club.Micah drained the bottle and tossed it into a nearby trash can. Another crew member pressed a second bottle into his hand. He unscrewed the cap and drank half of it on the way to his dressing room. Thank God no press functions were planned for the night. He and Max had been on the media circuit for weeks, gearing up for their first headlining tour. With the success of their latest single, they’d garnered the music industry’s attention, and all the major networks sought an interview.He shifted the bottle of beer to his left hand and turned the knob to his dressing room. The scent of flowers assaulted him. Roses permeated the entire room, not something he’d expected to find in the space he’d left just ninety minutes ago. He recognized the scent in an instant.It betrayed the familiar female standing before the dressing table even before he locked eyes with her.Celeste.Gorgeous as ever. A tall, willowy blonde with perfect teeth and perfect hair. Unattainable. The one woman he’d always wanted but could never have. Despite Drake finding a mate, Celeste was still off-limits to Micah.“Celeste.” He placed the bottle on a table near the door and carefully shut the door behind him. “What are you doing here?”Celeste shoved aside the items littering the top of the vanity and placed her delectable ass on the counter. She swayed long legs, encased in tight leather, back and forth. “Hello, Micah.”He ignored the greeting and strode forward. The closer he came to her, the angrier he got. How dare she come here? He’d said everything he’d had to say to her at Drake’s wedding. “I repeat. What are you doing here? Did Drake invite you?”She cocked her head to one side. One long, loose curl fell over her shoulder to coil around a full breast pushing against the lacy corset she wore. “Drake doesn’t know I’m here.”Despite his anger, the attraction was undeniable. Celeste, with her fucking million-dollar smile and tight-ass body, drove him insane. He sneered at her, struggling to keep lust from clouding his judgment. He’d given into it once. Damned if he’d do it again.“You’ve always been such a good little beta. Are you sure you want to risk Drake’s anger by coming here and fucking around with me?”His cruel words hit their mark. Her lips turned down at the corners seconds before her eyes glowed with the flame of her anger. “It’s been a month, Micah. I thought we agreed it was a mistake.”“It was a mistake.” He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “We were drunk. You were drunk. The perfect shifter who always follows the rules. What would my brother say about you drinking yourself into oblivion after his wedding and ending up in my bed?”She lifted her chin, and a hint of the wolf appeared in her honey-gold eyes. “I don’t have to explain my actions to him.”“Damned right you don’t.” He strode forward and grasped her haughty chin in his hand. “But you owe me an explanation. Why did you fuck me that night?”Her gaze slipped away from his. “We were drunk. You said it yourself.”“Bullshit.” He waited for her to drag her attention back to his face. “The truth, Celeste.”Even angry, her beauty took his breath away—her oval face one of pure perfection, with tawny skin and a glorious mass of blonde curls. The locks of her unpinned hair reached beyond her waist and caressed the rounded slope of her ass.She took a deep breath and her chest rose. “The alcohol loosened my inhibitions. I was horny. You were there. So I had sex with you. End of story.”Jesus. Just the memory of her body moving beneath his, her lips gasping his name, sent a jolt of lust through his hardened frame. “You’re lying.”He stepped closer, trapping her between the table and his hips, and enclosed her body between his arms. “You come here dressed in this getup, expecting me to believe that’s the end of the story?”He ran his eyes over her low-cut corset and tight black pants. Red fuck-me heels and matching lipstick should make her look cheap, but it was impossible for Celeste Proctor to look anything but classy.He’d known her his entire life. She was his brother’s beta, a shifter he’d been forced to consider as his future sister-in-law. But that had been before Emma turned Drake’s life upside down and took the man Celeste had always thought she’d marry.He growled out a warning, “The truth, Celeste. Now.”She licked her too-bright lips. “I made a mistake.”“Damn straight,” he shot back. Only it hadn’t been a mistake. No sane man would ever consider her a mistake. Sexy, successful, and so damned stubborn she made his teeth ache. “You couldn’t text me an apology?”She tossed her hair over one shoulder and glared at him. Despite her beauty, she was fierce in her annoyance, a warrior who fought for what she wanted. “Poor Micah, always so willing to play the victim.”Her taunt made him see crimson. He jerked a handful of her lace corset and thrust his face next to hers. “You played the victim card better than I ever could. Poor Celeste. Losing the man you love to a non-shifter. It stings, doesn’t it? Knowing you weren’t good enough for him?”The expensive foundation and powder she wore were no match for the flush of shame tinting her cheeks. “Fuck you, Micah Randolph.”He grinned, but it lacked humor. “Been there, done that.”She lifted her hand, but he caught her wrist before she landed the stinging slap on his cheek. As a warning, he tightened his grip just enough to feel the bones in her wrist. “Careful. You might hurt yourself.”She tugged at her arm and cursed when she was unable to break free of his grasp. “You made your point. Let me go.”God, it hurt to look at her and know he could never be good enough, too much of a fuckup to have perfection. He let go of her wrist and shoved away from her. “Time for you to leave.”She stayed where she was, her legs spread as if Micah still stood between her thighs. The provocative position reminded him of tangled sheets and sex so hot it burned in his soul.“Micah.” Her tone dropped an octave and turned seductive. “I need your help.”Damn it all. Even her voice made him think of tangled sheets and sweaty limbs. “Find someone else.”She stood. The six-inch stiletto heels she wore put them on eye level despite him being several inches over six feet. “You don’t even know what I’m asking.”“I don’t need to.” He pulled off his sweaty T-shirt and dug in his duffel bag for a clean one. “I’m not your man.”Her gaze dropped to his chest. He would have to be blind to miss the spark of interest there, and he’d never missed any of Celeste’s expressions. She’d haunted his dreams since puberty. Too many nights he’d spent jacking off to the picture of her as a cheerleader in their high school yearbook. Too many afternoons seeing her flirt with his brother and knowing she’d never be his.Celeste never backed down from a fight. She ignored his disinterest and forged ahead. “With Drake out of the picture, I’ve had to reevaluate my position within the Society.”Micah shoved his arms through the sleeves of a faded black T-shirt and jerked it on. He pulled the hem down and waited for her to say more.For the first time, she showed hesitation. Unable, or unwilling, to meet his eyes, she looked anywhere but at him. “I’m the last of my family. The pressure has been on me for years to marry well. I thought I’d found the perfect match with Drake, but I can’t ignore it anymore. I need to find a mate.”The words ripped into him, flaying him with dreams of what could never be. He stuffed the old shirt into his bag and slipped the strap over one shoulder. “Congratulations to you and the lucky bastard, whoever he may be.”She jerked her chin in his direction. Heat singed him from the flames in her expression. “Don’t be an ass. I need your help.”He lifted an eyebrow. “If you think for one second, I’m going to play matchmaker for you, you’re…”“I want you to be my mate.”Her words forced him to a complete halt. “Come again?”Her voice changed in pitch, low and consoling, wooing him with its seductive quality. “Think about it. We’re from the two most powerful families in the Society. It’s a perfect match.”“Perfect for whom?” Irritation strengthened his tone. “Because I’m damn sure not sold on the idea.”Celeste placed her hands on her slim hips and cocked one hip forward. “Max is an option, of course. He’s always had a soft spot for me. Maybe he’ll—”He was in her face before the words left her mouth. “You’re not fucking mating with Max.”“But—”He held up a hand. “I refuse to let your ambition ruin my brother’s life. It’s not going to happen.”She smiled as if she’d already suspected his reaction. “Then it has to be you.”
About the Author:
Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.
Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!
To find out more, please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.comhttp://www.twitter.com/christygis
http://www.facebook.com/christygis
http://www.goodreads.com/christygissendaner
December 28, 2014
COMING 8th JANUARY 2015 - SHORT CIRCUIT TIME - FOUR MORE DAYS!
In the year 2086, Zaphira is alone, the last survivor of biological warfare on Earth. Before he died, her scientist father promised other survivors would come. Nobody has. So when a horribly mangled android shows up claiming to be her father’s assistant, Aiden, who has been sent through time to rescue her, she’s both frightened and astounded.
The last time she’d seen Aiden, she’d been sixteen, head-over-heels in love with him and had literally thrown herself at him, leaving her devastated by his rejection and him running for the hills. The following day, she’d been told of his death.
Eight years later he’s miraculously back, this time asking for her help. Without it, he won’t survive. But can she really put a dead man back together with tweezers?
For Aiden, everything has changed. There are no other humans, no government, and time travel has left his new android body unexpectedly weak and suffering from inexplicable genetic changes in eye and hair color, brought about by his molecular shake-up.
Unbelievably, the scientist who sent him is dead, and he must rely on the scientist’s daughter to help him. A woman who he’s not so sure has his best interests at heart.
The last time he’d seen her, Zaphira had been a sixteen year old with a dangerous crush on him and he’d been rocked by the turmoil of his own feelings. Now she’s twenty four and literally holds his survival in her hands. Too bad everything he does and says seems to annoy her.
Trusting her might be his undoing. But he is left with no choice.
For Zaphira, getting used to the transformation of old Aiden to android Aiden requires a large mental leap. But when android Aiden starts to rebuild his human form to a new and improved standard, things start to get tricky.
The Aiden she loved as a little girl was her father’s nerdy assistant. The new Aiden is hot. But are her feelings as strong eight years later or are they simply a cherished memory?
COMING 8th JANUARY 2015 - SHORT CIRCUIT TIME
In the year 2086, Zaphira is alone, the last survivor of biological warfare on Earth. Before he died, her scientist father promised other survivors would come. Nobody has. So when a horribly mangled android shows up claiming to be her father’s assistant, Aiden, who has been sent through time to rescue her, she’s both frightened and astounded.
The last time she’d seen Aiden, she’d been sixteen, head-over-heels in love with him and had literally thrown herself at him, leaving her devastated by his rejection and him running for the hills. The following day, she’d been told of his death.
Eight years later he’s miraculously back, this time asking for her help. Without it, he won’t survive. But can she really put a dead man back together with tweezers?
For Aiden, everything has changed. There are no other humans, no government, and time travel has left his new android body unexpectedly weak and suffering from inexplicable genetic changes in eye and hair color, brought about by his molecular shake-up.
Unbelievably, the scientist who sent him is dead, and he must rely on the scientist’s daughter to help him. A woman who he’s not so sure has his best interests at heart.
The last time he’d seen her, Zaphira had been a sixteen year old with a dangerous crush on him and he’d been rocked by the turmoil of his own feelings. Now she’s twenty four and literally holds his survival in her hands. Too bad everything he does and says seems to annoy her.
Trusting her might be his undoing. But he is left with no choice.
For Zaphira, getting used to the transformation of old Aiden to android Aiden requires a large mental leap. But when android Aiden starts to rebuild his human form to a new and improved standard, things start to get tricky.
The Aiden she loved as a little girl was her father’s nerdy assistant. The new Aiden is hot. But are her feelings as strong eight years later or are they simply a cherished memory?
December 24, 2014
December 21, 2014
All I want for Christmas...
...is a red hot wolf shifter with carpentry skills.
It's not entirely what I immediately thought of the day I was asked to join six other authors in an anthology.
Paranormal they said. I'd never written paranormal before.
But I have read it. Loads of it. I love the idea of shape-shifters, from Dr Jekyll & Mr Hide to Harry Potter. Add in a sprinkle of romance and a dusting of sex and you have authors such as Sherrilyn Kenyon or Lindsay Buroker, who can provide some of the best fantasy novels. The choice of course is whether it should be shape-shifter, demi-god or vampire.
For me, I thought a wolf.
...and I like a man who is good with his hands. So the carpenter was born, or rather evolved into my story.
For Heaven's Cakes
She flung open the door, and almost bounced it off its hinges.
“Whoa!” With a lightning-quick move, Beau reached up from his kneeling position on the doorstep, and grabbed her hips with both hands to stop her head-long tumble over him. The momentum flung her upper half forward. She dropped the can of soda, and slapped her hands hard on his muscled back to save herself, as he ducked his head.
For one brief moment, his face was pressed against her groin. His hot whoosh of breath washed through her skirt, to stroke the juncture of her thighs and weaken her legs. As his fingers sunk into her flesh, she panicked. The poor man was about to suffocate, his nose pressed hard into her crotch. Embarrassed beyond reason, and aware that the squishy layer of her belly encompassed his head, she gave a firm shove against his back and came upright. The tight grip he had on her hips stopped her from moving away.
She staggered a little, placed one hand on the top of his head to steady herself, and was tempted to run her fingers through his thick, lush hair. “I…”
He tilted his head back, and her hand stroked over his forehead before she was quick enough to move it. It seemed he’d managed to dry up her speech again. “I…”
He smiled, showing even white teeth and those sexy laughter lines. Her knees wobbled, and the temptation to slide down and join him on the ground was strong. Aware of the heat of his hands still on her hips, she pushed back. “I…” It wasn’t so much a stutter, just an inability to form a sentence.
Dammit, she needed to get something more comprehensive out of her mouth. “Thank you.”
He still kept a loose hold on her, as she stared down at him. His warm brown eyes twinkled with laughter. Surprised she hadn’t crippled him for life with her hefty weight slapping into him, she cringed at the insult she felt was about to come.
“The pleasure’s all mine.”
Mellow huskiness warmed her heart. She was sure it beat loud enough for the entire street to hear.
Self-conscious, she jerked her head from one side to the other to make sure no one had witnessed her humiliation.
She flapped her hand to indicate the soda can as it rolled down the street. “I brought you soda.”He glanced sideways to watch its onward journey. “It’s a good job I prefer coffee these days.”
The soft stroke of his thumbs into her flesh reminded her she should step away, but somehow, without any pressure at all, he held her there, unable to move.
“Oh, I didn’t think.” she said.
“Probably just as well. I would be wearing it.” He smoothed his thumbs in a circular motion, making her pulse kick up a beat.
She didn’t think it was capable of going any faster, but it was keen to try. “I’m sorry.”
“No harm done. It was worth it.”
“I could have hurt you.”
One fluid movement brought him to his feet. He towered above her, and filled her vision with his broad chest. He brought his head down until he was almost nose to nose with her. “I seriously doubt it.”
Available as part of Paranormally Yours
Buy Links
It's not entirely what I immediately thought of the day I was asked to join six other authors in an anthology.
Paranormal they said. I'd never written paranormal before.
But I have read it. Loads of it. I love the idea of shape-shifters, from Dr Jekyll & Mr Hide to Harry Potter. Add in a sprinkle of romance and a dusting of sex and you have authors such as Sherrilyn Kenyon or Lindsay Buroker, who can provide some of the best fantasy novels. The choice of course is whether it should be shape-shifter, demi-god or vampire.
For me, I thought a wolf.
...and I like a man who is good with his hands. So the carpenter was born, or rather evolved into my story.
For Heaven's Cakes
She flung open the door, and almost bounced it off its hinges.
“Whoa!” With a lightning-quick move, Beau reached up from his kneeling position on the doorstep, and grabbed her hips with both hands to stop her head-long tumble over him. The momentum flung her upper half forward. She dropped the can of soda, and slapped her hands hard on his muscled back to save herself, as he ducked his head.
For one brief moment, his face was pressed against her groin. His hot whoosh of breath washed through her skirt, to stroke the juncture of her thighs and weaken her legs. As his fingers sunk into her flesh, she panicked. The poor man was about to suffocate, his nose pressed hard into her crotch. Embarrassed beyond reason, and aware that the squishy layer of her belly encompassed his head, she gave a firm shove against his back and came upright. The tight grip he had on her hips stopped her from moving away.
She staggered a little, placed one hand on the top of his head to steady herself, and was tempted to run her fingers through his thick, lush hair. “I…”
He tilted his head back, and her hand stroked over his forehead before she was quick enough to move it. It seemed he’d managed to dry up her speech again. “I…”
He smiled, showing even white teeth and those sexy laughter lines. Her knees wobbled, and the temptation to slide down and join him on the ground was strong. Aware of the heat of his hands still on her hips, she pushed back. “I…” It wasn’t so much a stutter, just an inability to form a sentence.
Dammit, she needed to get something more comprehensive out of her mouth. “Thank you.”
He still kept a loose hold on her, as she stared down at him. His warm brown eyes twinkled with laughter. Surprised she hadn’t crippled him for life with her hefty weight slapping into him, she cringed at the insult she felt was about to come.
“The pleasure’s all mine.”
Mellow huskiness warmed her heart. She was sure it beat loud enough for the entire street to hear.
Self-conscious, she jerked her head from one side to the other to make sure no one had witnessed her humiliation.
She flapped her hand to indicate the soda can as it rolled down the street. “I brought you soda.”He glanced sideways to watch its onward journey. “It’s a good job I prefer coffee these days.”
The soft stroke of his thumbs into her flesh reminded her she should step away, but somehow, without any pressure at all, he held her there, unable to move.
“Oh, I didn’t think.” she said.
“Probably just as well. I would be wearing it.” He smoothed his thumbs in a circular motion, making her pulse kick up a beat.
She didn’t think it was capable of going any faster, but it was keen to try. “I’m sorry.”
“No harm done. It was worth it.”
“I could have hurt you.”
One fluid movement brought him to his feet. He towered above her, and filled her vision with his broad chest. He brought his head down until he was almost nose to nose with her. “I seriously doubt it.”
Available as part of Paranormally Yours
Buy Links
December 20, 2014
December 17, 2014
DAWNING OF LIGHT - TAMI LUND
Dawning of Light, the second in the Lightbearer Series, released on December 15th. The series is about magical beings called Lightbearers, and the shifters who hate to love them.
Here’s the blurb from Dawning of Light:
The Lightbearers are a group of magical beings who have lived for five hundred years hidden away in their warded and protected coterie. Now that the princess of the Lightbearers is mated to a shifter, their peaceful lives have been turned upside down.
In this second installment of the Lightbearer Series, shifter Finnegan Hennigan is doing his damnedest to keep lightbearer Cecilia Druthers out of trouble. His job is made all the more difficult by the fact that Cecilia doesn't want to stay out of trouble.
Despite their mutual annoyance, sparks ignite between this odd couple. As it becomes increasingly more apparent that someone is out to get Cecilia, the flares of attraction become impossible to resist, and soon, Cecilia and Finn tumble into, well, a closet together. And then the bed. And if Finn wants to keep her there, he's going to need to keep her alive. Which means figuring out who the hell keeps trying to kill her.
Into the Light, the first in the series, and Dawning of Lightare both now available at most major ebook retailers. Want a taste of Finn and Cecilia’s story? Here you go!
“We should never have allowed shifters into our coterie,” Cecilia muttered. “If you hadn’t, you’d probably be dead right now.” Again, he was right, damn it. Before he’d ever moved to the coterie, before he swore his allegiance to Tanner, Finn had saved both Cecilia and Olivia from members of his own pack on more than one occasion. Cecilia hated the idea that she owed him her life. She hated it so much so that she felt an almost overwhelming urge to get away from him. She contemplated using her magic to summon a great flash of light that would temporarily blind Finnegan, so that she could escape from his overprotective clutches. But if she did that, it would almost surely deplete nearly all of her magical stores, and even Cecilia was willing to acknowledge that slipping into the human world without a full store of magic at her disposal was not a good idea. The largest threat to lightbearers was dead, but that did not mean other shifters and even other magical beings did not bear ill will toward their kind. They had lived for five hundred years within their magically warded home, essentially cut off from the rest of the world. They had no earthly idea what dangers lurked out there. “Fine,” she grumbled. She turned away from him and began stomping back through the woods toward the beach house where the king and queen lived. Thanks to the thick canopy of evergreens, the coating of snow on the ground in this heavily wooded area was far easier to manage than it was on the expanse of lawn she would eventually have to cross in order to get back to the beach house. Finn fell into step beside her. She deliberately ignored him. It was not, unfortunately, easy to do. She could practically feel the higher-than-average body heat radiating off him. Shifters’ body temperatures were naturally several degrees warmer than a lightbearer’s. Olivia said it was like snuggling with her own personal heater in bed, except he was big and powerful, with sharply defined muscles and yet a soft touch. Cecilia glanced sideways at her counterpart. His shoulders were ridiculously wide, his chest was sharply defined, his backside was far too grabbable in those just-tight-enough jeans he wore. If his personality wasn’t so damn bossy and domineering, Cecilia was half-afraid she would find herself attracted to him. “If it helps, I don’t like Cecilia Duty any more than you do.” She abruptly stopped walking and turned to stare at him. “Cecilia Duty?” She all but choked on the words. He grinned again, the bastard. She wanted to slap him. He was forever foiling her plans to escape the coterie and then finding great joy in his successes. “It’s an apt name, don’t you think?”
“Is that what Tanner says?”
Here’s the blurb from Dawning of Light:
The Lightbearers are a group of magical beings who have lived for five hundred years hidden away in their warded and protected coterie. Now that the princess of the Lightbearers is mated to a shifter, their peaceful lives have been turned upside down.
In this second installment of the Lightbearer Series, shifter Finnegan Hennigan is doing his damnedest to keep lightbearer Cecilia Druthers out of trouble. His job is made all the more difficult by the fact that Cecilia doesn't want to stay out of trouble.
Despite their mutual annoyance, sparks ignite between this odd couple. As it becomes increasingly more apparent that someone is out to get Cecilia, the flares of attraction become impossible to resist, and soon, Cecilia and Finn tumble into, well, a closet together. And then the bed. And if Finn wants to keep her there, he's going to need to keep her alive. Which means figuring out who the hell keeps trying to kill her.
Into the Light, the first in the series, and Dawning of Lightare both now available at most major ebook retailers. Want a taste of Finn and Cecilia’s story? Here you go!
“We should never have allowed shifters into our coterie,” Cecilia muttered. “If you hadn’t, you’d probably be dead right now.” Again, he was right, damn it. Before he’d ever moved to the coterie, before he swore his allegiance to Tanner, Finn had saved both Cecilia and Olivia from members of his own pack on more than one occasion. Cecilia hated the idea that she owed him her life. She hated it so much so that she felt an almost overwhelming urge to get away from him. She contemplated using her magic to summon a great flash of light that would temporarily blind Finnegan, so that she could escape from his overprotective clutches. But if she did that, it would almost surely deplete nearly all of her magical stores, and even Cecilia was willing to acknowledge that slipping into the human world without a full store of magic at her disposal was not a good idea. The largest threat to lightbearers was dead, but that did not mean other shifters and even other magical beings did not bear ill will toward their kind. They had lived for five hundred years within their magically warded home, essentially cut off from the rest of the world. They had no earthly idea what dangers lurked out there. “Fine,” she grumbled. She turned away from him and began stomping back through the woods toward the beach house where the king and queen lived. Thanks to the thick canopy of evergreens, the coating of snow on the ground in this heavily wooded area was far easier to manage than it was on the expanse of lawn she would eventually have to cross in order to get back to the beach house. Finn fell into step beside her. She deliberately ignored him. It was not, unfortunately, easy to do. She could practically feel the higher-than-average body heat radiating off him. Shifters’ body temperatures were naturally several degrees warmer than a lightbearer’s. Olivia said it was like snuggling with her own personal heater in bed, except he was big and powerful, with sharply defined muscles and yet a soft touch. Cecilia glanced sideways at her counterpart. His shoulders were ridiculously wide, his chest was sharply defined, his backside was far too grabbable in those just-tight-enough jeans he wore. If his personality wasn’t so damn bossy and domineering, Cecilia was half-afraid she would find herself attracted to him. “If it helps, I don’t like Cecilia Duty any more than you do.” She abruptly stopped walking and turned to stare at him. “Cecilia Duty?” She all but choked on the words. He grinned again, the bastard. She wanted to slap him. He was forever foiling her plans to escape the coterie and then finding great joy in his successes. “It’s an apt name, don’t you think?”
“Is that what Tanner says?”
