A.C. James's Blog, page 7

Spice Box – 16 Book Box Set with New York Times & USA Today Bestsellers

Box Set Title: Spice Box

Subtitle: Sixteen Steamy Stories

Authors: Raine Miller, Cathryn Fox , Erika Wilde, K.M. Scott, Nina Lane, A.C. James, Christina Thacher, Stephanie Julian, Kathy Kulig, Geri Foster, Lisa Alder, Jan Springer, Sarah Mäkelä, Maureen O. Betita, Riley J. Ford, Travis Luedke 

Tagline: What’s your spice?

Genre: Erotic Romance

ISBN: 9781311437068

Pre-orders: NOW at these retailers:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon |  Apple | Kobo

Release Date: Sunday, June 29th for one month only.

 SAMPLE – FIRST CHAPTER OF ALL 16 BOOKS:

 .pdf | .mobi (Kindle) | .epub (Nook)

Book Description:

**Complete Books – No Cliffhangers**

What’s your spice?

Whether it’s contemporary romance or romantic suspense, alpha vampires, shifter filled stories, or BDSM romance—Spice Box offers sixteen erotic romance books with something for everyone. For a limited time this is your chance to enjoy books from today’s New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors and many more. The e-books cost over $50 when purchased separately.

Raine Miller, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

Cherry Girl

She will forever be his Cherry Girl…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Cathryn Fox, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

Torn Between Two Brothers

She’s breaking all the rules…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

K.M. Scott writing as Gabrielle Bisset, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

Blood Avenged

I am everything you desire. I am vampire.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Janelle Denison writing as Erika Wilde, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

The Invitation

An invitation that will take them beyond their wildest, most erotic fantasies.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Nina Lane, USA Today Bestselling Author.

Arouse

“Come here, beauty,” he says. “You need to be kissed.”

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

with…

A.C. James 

Eternal Ever After

A Gothic Cinderella re-telling with vampires and bondage…oh, my!

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

  Kathy Kulig

Red Tape

Sparks fly between two ex-CIA agents when a White House sex scandal spins out of control and turns deadly.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Christina Thacher

The Bequest: A BDSM Romance

CFO by day, sexual submissive at night. When her Master dies suddenly, Sara discovers his will leaves her to his nephew…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Stephanie Julian

His to Keep

He has her right where he wants her…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Geri Foster

Wrong Room

Short, Cute, Sexy!

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Lisa Adler

The Demon’s Deception

Certainly a Demon strong enough to survive being chained for a millennium beneath the Earth’s crust can resist one virginal princess when she demands his help.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Jan Springer

Sex With The Ex

Sky undertakes a dangerous mission to the dark sensual world of sex slave training…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Sarah Mäkelä

The Witch Who Cried Wolf

When her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves that she didn’t even realize existed…

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Maureen O. Betita

The Kraken’s Mirror

Where anything can happen. And usually does.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Riley J. Ford

Fifty Shades of Fifty Shades of Grey

Unable to withstand the pent-up ache radiating from his tender blue testicles, Ben decides to take Grey’s methods to a whole new level in order to relieve the pressure on his . . . er, marriage.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Travis Luedke

Blood Slave

From the ghettos of Spanish Harlem to a Manhattan penthouse, follow Hope’s shocking tale of life as a bloodslave to master vampire Enrique.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Save over $50. This set will only be available for one month, so order your copy before it’s gone! The price will increase to $2.99 once it’s release so get your copy TODAY!

The post Spice Box – 16 Book Box Set with New York Times & USA Today Bestsellers appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

Love is in the Air at “Lady Jane Salon”

And on the air with a syndicated article by Jasmine Brooks and Jayne Ann Bugda at WBRE.

Exeter Township, Luzerne County-  Mountain Top native, Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times, USA Today and Wallstreet Journal best selling author.

 

Her passion for reading romance novels began when she was just 12-years-old.

 

Today she is a  published author, with several books in her “Out of Line” series.

 

“I get really sucked into that world. I’ve been known to snarl at people when they pull me out of it. It’s like this voices in your head that won’t leave you alone until you tell their story.”

 

Jen is one of several authors who will be reading here at Bartolai’s Winery in Exeter Township at Lady Jane’s Salon, a monthly gathering where romance authors read aloud from their novels connecting readers with authors.

 

Courtney Lewis is the Co-founder of the Lady Jane’s Salon in the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Area.  She shared the history of the group with Eyewitness News, “Lady Jane is in honor of Jane Austin who most romance writers really love. The popularity of her books are tremendous.”

 

The idea to bring a Lady Jane Salon satellite to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area came from author A.C. James. She recently read her paranormal romance, “Eternal Ever After” at the original salon in Manhattan.

 

“It’s never been done before. We don’t have anything that connects the authors to the readers in our area.”

 

 The authors told Eyewitness News why they write romance novels!

 

“We want an escape.Woman like the happily ever after. They like to know everything is going to work out in the end.” said Roz Lee of the Mustang’s Baseball Series.

 

“You can be assured with a romance novel that no matter what happens, no matter what your characters go through that there is going to be a happy ending, they’re going to end up together.”  added Tina Gallagher, Author of “Misguided”

 

Lady Jane’s Salon is held the first Thursday of the month.

 

Proceeds go to help the Blue Chip Animal Refuge.

 

###

 

Join us tomorrow night for an evening of romance reading and wine at Bartolai Winery!

The post Love is in the Air at “Lady Jane Salon” appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

My Writing Process

My Writing Process…

1) What am I working on?

At the moment I’m writing Beyond Ever After. The mysterious T enters the picture and readers get to learn even more about Arie—our hot alpha hero. A love triangle of attraction and a road trip makes Holly question everything. And everything is not what it seems…

But it’s book #3 in the Ever After series.

Fallen Ever After – Book #2 just came out last week with a vampire-fae war that’s been brewing nearly a century.

For readers that didn’t pick-up the series from the beginning you can catch up with the prequel Cursed Ever After and Eternal Ever After – Book #1.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My writing tends to be infused with my quirky personality and sense of humor. I’ve always been passionate about classic literature, fairy tales, folk lore, and mythology. Incorporating those elements and blending them with erotic romance just comes naturally to me.

3) Why do I write what I do?

Oh, that’s easy… I write what I read. I’d never be able to write it if I didn’t love reading.

4) How does your writing process work?

If it’s a brand new book or series I do some research to develop the characters and plot. Ideas can pop up at any time so I usually carry a notebook and pen in my purse which is actually big enough to fit an entire laptop. I’ve done it. After research I used to jump right into the story but found that I’d write 50K only to find that I didn’t really want it to be a love triangle, a character needed to go, or I didn’t like the POV I’d chosen. Now I outline but not as extensively as some writers do. I don’t have detailed outlines for every single chapter but I have usually jotted down the over arc and subplots.

Example:

These are my notes for Beyond Ever After. Trust me! There are no spoilers because only *I* will understand what it all means.

ACT I

Toren kisses Holly because he thinks she’s Katarina.

Find out who Toren really is…

So Holly is mega pissed and feels completely betrayed.

Arie starts to deteriorate because of the curse.

Hot sex scene with Holly and Arie. Isn’t make-up sex great?

Then they go to Rue’s Attic to enlist her help to break the curse. Rue has a wacked out vision that will lead them to Luna. (Escalating incident leading to second act)

More hot sex.

ACT II

Curse takes complete control over Arie. So shit just got a lot worse.

Visit Luna to get something of Daeveena’s for the locator spell mentioned in Act I.

Vivid flashback / super-hot threesome sex scene.

Arie, Toren, Holly, and Rue go on a road trip after the locator spell.

There’s some wicked hot sexual tension on the plane when the flashback gets discussed.

Holly feels even more pissed off because Arie should have told her all this shit before the curse completely took over. But she can’t even vent that shit because he’s under the influence of the curse so it wouldn’t do any good.

ACT III

Arie calls Julian when they land.

Visit Ty’s apartment but she’s not there due to the Old Ways (shifter law).

Rue does another locator spell with the necklace that Ty gives her. (Escalation)

They find her drunk and belligerent at a demon bar.

She feels guilty, miserable, and love struck so she helps them to reverse the curse. (Conclusion)

Falling action:

Arie and Holly are together. Toren takes off.

Arie and Holly confront her feelings of betrayal. Even hotter make-up sex.

Boom – The End.

Oh, and some of my best ideas happen when I’m curled up in bed with a glass of wine.

Up next on the My Writing Process blog hop is Kathy Kulig. Kathy is the award-winning author of erotic romance and erotica. Critics have described her writing as “very raw and hot”, “wonderfully unique” and “entertaining and captivating”. She’s won or placed in a number of writing contests including the PRISM and the EPIC Awards. On 4/21 she’ll share her writing process and the creation process for her upcoming release, RED TAPE.

The post My Writing Process appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

Fall Into Spring With Fallen Ever After

Maybe it’s because I was a fan of the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE series when I was a kid or maybe it’s because one of my beta readers preferred my alternative ending. But I got to thinking…what would happen if Arie didn’t turn Holly? What if it happened through some magical exchange beyond her control when she defeated Katarina? At any rate I had fun over the winter playing with this idea and rewrote the ending of Eternal Ever After so that Holly became a vampire entirely by accident. Fallen Ever After is based on this alternate ending. I hope you enjoy reading Fallen Ever After as much as I enjoyed writing it!

So Fallen Ever After, the second book in the Ever After series, is finally here and for the next week it’s listed at a special introductory price of $0.99 that I’m advertising to the loyal readers that subscribe to this newsletter! Get Fallen Ever After and save 75% before the price goes to $3.99.

He can’t lose her…

Arie Cush wanted Holly from the very first moment he met her. A night at the Hellfire Club (HFC) is filled with old friends and new danger. The long-standing feud between the faeries that run the Chicago Crew and a lethal toxin puts Holly and other fledgling vampires in danger. Can they stop a vampire-fae war that’s been brewing for nearly a century?

when danger strikes again.

Holly Ellis is still adjusting to their relationship and her new supernatural gifts. She never figured on another battle and she certainly didn’t count on a war. Despite the synthetic threat that could hurt their kind, Holly has been waiting for answers her entire life. She finally gets them when her godmother helps her discover even more about the family she never knew. But is there more to Arie’s past? And who exactly is the mysterious T anyway?

THIS INTRODUCTORY PRICE WON’T LAST LONG. GET FALLEN EVER AFTER TODAY!

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – ARe

Coming soon to Apple iBooks and Kobo.

Excerpt:

Arie’s eyes met mine. “Don’t come. Not until I tell you to.”

“Sir?”

Arie raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“If you’re going to use that on me I don’t think I’m going to last very long.” I nodded toward the vibrator.

“When you feel like you’re getting close say ‘edge.’ If you come, you will be punished.”

I gulped.

“Understand?”

“Yes. Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

Arie leaned forward and bit my lower lip. Then he slid the vibrator in, inch by inch, and I groaned. Vibrations filled my pussy, which clenched around its width while Arie’s fingers circled my clit with his other hand. He slid it in and out with excruciating slowness, but if he kept it up much longer it wouldn’t matter how slowly he did it. Not when the steady rhythm was hitting my G-spot. Regardless of the people scattered around us in the club, no one existed in that moment except us. His expert hands brought me closer and closer to orgasm. Closer and closer to that earth-shattering edge…

“Edge,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Good. Very, very good,” he whispered against my ear as he slid the vibrator out of my cunt. “I need to be inside you. I need to feel you come. Your orgasm is mine.

You are mine, Holly.”

He kissed me again; his mouth melded against mine, our tongues tangled and my legs shook. I needed to come. I needed it so bad that hot tears stung my eyes and it took all my effort to hold them back.

“Tell me…do you want me to fuck you in front of all these people?”

I closed my eyes.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Say it.”

I opened my eyes. “I want you to fuck me in front of everyone. Fuck me, Arie.”

The post Fall Into Spring With Fallen Ever After appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

SKIN IN THE GAME | Jackie Barbosa

A Play Action Novel

Available now at these retailers:

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBookstore |Kobo

Angela Peterson was always the quiet, shy kid growing up in Harper Falls, crushing on the high school quarterback and honing her football strategy skills. Now grown up and coaching the high school team, she’s shocked when that same sexy quarterback returns to Harper Falls asks her back to his hotel room. And then tries to steal her job.Injured NFL quarterback Cade Reynolds is in Harper Falls to take over as interim head coach, and he never thought the tall, blond bombshell he propositioned would offer up any resistance. Not to a repeat of the amazingly wild night they shared and certainly not to his coaching position.

But the Harper Falls High Eagles are Angie’s team, and even the hometown hero won’t take that away from her, no matter how hot he is. As the two engage in a battle of wits and wills, this is one game neither is prepared to lose.

Review

(from Amazon)

5.0 out of 5 stars  Hotter than hot  May 27, 2013
By Yvette Cervera
Format:Kindle Edition


Ever since I first read J. Lynn’s Tempting the Best Man, I have been hooked on Entangled’s Brazen series. I’ve read all nineteen (yes, I counted) of the colorfully-covered books, although Jackie Barbosa’s Skin in the Game (Play Action) is the first ARC I’ve received from the collection. Continuing in the tradition of the Brazen series, Barbosa has provided readers with a feisty heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, several steamy love scenes, and the promise of a Happily Ever After.

The post SKIN IN THE GAME | Jackie Barbosa appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

How Not to Write Sex Tip #1: Be aware of moving parts & don’t be afraid of flab.

Okay, so my local RWA ladies are starting their own private blog where I’ll be posting this sex writing series. But I figured why not share that with all of you on my own blog.

How Not to Write Sex

Tip #1: Be aware of moving parts and don’t be afraid of flab.

Choreographing intimacy is no small feat. Unless you’re writing a zero-gravity sex scene set in outer space for romantic fantasy please be aware that gravity exists. A woman lying on her back will not have her breasts jutting upward but rather outward—with the exception of breast implants. They don’t move, wiggle, and physics don’t seem to apply. If you need examples of how real breasts look and move, feel free to watch The Tudors on Netflix. There is no shortage of real breasts in this series, especially season four with Catherine Howard. One to the reasons I love this series is that they stay true to the time period and the lack of breast enhancements.

Not everyone is blessed with breasts the size of cantaloupes or a six pack. Body parts can be flabby in real life and when writing we can use that natural “jiggle” to our advantage. Voluptuous is sexy. Having curves to grab onto is really hawt. One only has to look at the Renaissance when paintings depicted full-figured women as the epitome of sexy.

As writers we know that to show we use the senses—touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing can provide powerful sensory descriptions that catapult readers into a scene. Describing how the body moves while being aware of our body’s imperfections but writing them in a sensuous way can add authenticity to our sex scenes.

The human body is a natural, beautiful, and mysterious thing. Be aware of its anatomy, how it moves, and how that translates on the page as you’re writing a sex scene. Remember it’s all about the choreography and the chemistry between your characters and why they are having sex in the first place.

I read and sometimes review literary erotica. One of the my favorite stories that explores the body, how natural it is, and aging is Meeting Myself by Anya Levin in the BIG BOOK OF ORGASMS, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Cleis Press). It’s a story about self-exploration after she lost her husband. This exploration is not about the breasts but the vagina. And a lot can learned about writing realistic body description from this story.

Whether writing the male or female body, don’t be afraid to write a character with a body flaw that anyone can identify with. It makes your character feel three dimension or real because they are relatable. The key to pulling it off is to make the flaw sexy or have the character face the flaw. How does the character view their flaw? How does their partner view it? Does it add an obstacle or conflict to overcome during sex? Does it add humor to sex?

Sex is organic. So sex tip number one is know your anatomy and don’t be afraid of writing the human body the way it really is. Or rather don’t write Mary Sue sexual stereotypes that readers won’t relate to. If you’re afraid to put this on the page it will come across as uncomfortable. Explore what makes you uncomfortable and then write outside that comfort zone. If it makes the readers squirm in their seats that’s a good thing!

Usually.

The post How Not to Write Sex Tip #1: Be aware of moving parts & don’t be afraid of flab. appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

Sneak Peek at Fallen Ever After

Fallen Ever After

(Book Two of the Ever After Paranormal Romance Series)

COMING SOON!

He can’t lose her…

Arie Cush wanted Holly from the very first moment he met her. A night at the Hellfire Club (HFC) is filled with old friends and new danger. The long-standing feud between the faeries that run the Chicago Crew and a lethal toxin puts Holly and other fledgling vampires in danger. Can they stop a vampire-fae war that’s been brewing for nearly a century?

when danger strikes again.

Holly Ellis is still adjusting to their relationship and her new supernatural gifts. She never figured on another battle and she certainly didn’t count on a war. Despite the synthetic threat that could hurt their kind, Holly has been waiting for answers her entire life. She finally gets them when her godmother helps her discover even more about the family she never knew. But is there more to Arie’s past? And who exactly is the mysterious T anyway?

“Brimming with emotion and sensuality, it’ll keep you up far too late reading and craving her next book.”

—Kathy Kulig, Ellora’s Cave Award Winning Author

Heat Level: This book is an erotic romance. It’s the development of a romantic relationship that is explored primarily through sexual interaction. The sex is an inherent part of the story, character growth, and relationship development.

NOTE: The sneak peek below is a very early look at a scene from Fallen Ever After prior to copy/line edits.

Sneak Peek

Worry reflected in her eyes. She wore a purple shirt with a silver swirling pattern, her blonde curls darting out in various directions and again her ethereal face was unmarred despite that she’d just turned forty, she reminded me of a well-preserved Madonna. Her silver bracelets jingled as she grabbed her purse from under a counter.

“Of course but are you ready?”

I gulped. “I think so.”

She nodded but I was sure she could tell I was lying. I didn’t know what to think or expect. I only knew that I shouldn’t get my hopes up and I should keep my expectations low. My grandmother might not want to get to know me, might not want anything to do with me after all this time. If she’d wanted to know me, if she’d wanted me at all then she would have taken me in but I figured her grief over losing a daughter made her incapable of loving the child that had stolen hers.

“Let’s go,” I said. “We can take my car.”

Rue turned to the cashier and placed a key on top of the glass case. “If I’m not back, can you close up for me?”

“Sure. No problem.”

She turned and followed me toward the front of the shop. The bell chimed again as we exited and made our way over to my BMW. Rue slid into the passenger seat while I rounded the front of the car and took the wheel. We drove a few blocks and I tapped the side of the steering wheel at a stop light. I sighed. It would be a long three hour drive. Rue told me that my grandmother lived out by Lake Springfield. The light turned green and I accidentally burned rubber when I hit the gas and pulled onto a highway heading out of the city toward Springfield. Rue looked over, her concern for me clear in her expression.

“Whatever happens is meant to be,” Rue said.

I glanced at her. The concern was quickly replaced by a serene look that almost seemed too calm considering the occasion but then again that was Rue. She returned her attention to the highway.

“Try to relax. Watch the road. There’s no sense in worrying about what might happen,” she said, trying to reassure me.

“I know. It’s just…”

“You’re nervous.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s to be expected.”

“I know that but what if she slams the door in my face?”

My voice almost broke.

“She won’t.”

“How do you know? What did she say when you called her?”

Rue paused and looked out the window again before turning back to me.

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? You told her that her granddaughter who she’s never met wants to meet her and she said nothing.”

I could hear my voice rising as panic surged and I considered pulling the car over.

“I couldn’t reach her.”

“So she’s not expecting us. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until she calls you back rather than us just showing up on her doorstep? You left a message, didn’t you? I don’t want to do this. This is a bad idea. Not if she doesn’t know we’re coming.”

I was shaking my head, my hands clenching the steering wheel.

“It doesn’t matter when we go. She won’t know we’re coming. Her number was disconnected and she’s not listed in the phone book.”

What?

“This is a waste of time.”

I didn’t mean to sound bitter. I needed answers and her number being disconnected made me feel deflated. Numbers don’t get disconnected without a reason. What if she moved? But really I was afraid that it was too late. What if she’s dead? I’d never get the chance to meet her and I’d never know why she never tried to be a part of my life.

“Then how do we even know that she’s still alive?”

“She’s alive.”

Rue said it with such certainty that I felt my throat tighten but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I couldn’t get my hopes up.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Your grandmother gave me a book a long time ago. It used to be hers. I used it to do a locator spell and the pendulum circled around the location of her house on a map. The same house your mother and I played in as children. She’s still there.”

It’s not that I didn’t believe in magic but you could never count on it to be entirely accurate. No, I’d found that magic could be just an unpredictable as everything else. I wouldn’t let her conviction give me false hope and be crushed when it turned out it wasn’t true. But I didn’t want to sound like a cynical, bitter unbeliever.

I loosened my grip on the steering wheel. “Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Rue put her hand on my shoulder. “You’ve come this far. I’ll be here every step of the way. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

She released my shoulder and we drove in relative silence until we reached Lake Springfield. Occasionally, Rue would break the silence to take my mind off it but it didn’t really work. As we circled around the lake and I saw the houses my jaw clenched and my teeth ground together. I had no idea how much the houses cost but I could tell from the looks of it that it was a lot. The further we drove and the closer we got, the angrier I became.

If she lived in a community like this that meant she had to have money. She definitely had the financial means to take care of me. I hadn’t even met her yet but the big houses with their swimming pools and manicured lawns pissed me off. We turned onto North Cotton Hill Road and passed a long driveway that led to a house on the edge of the lake. The area was wooded and we passed the back of a cookie-cutter development.

“Slow down and turn,” Rue said, as she pointed.

I’d almost driven past a dirt road that seemed incongruent with everything else. I slammed on the breaks and almost had to back up but I cut the wheel to the left and headed down the unpaved trail. The space went from being wide open to being edged by trees that became thicker the further we went until we passed under power lines and reached an old two story house.

“We’re here,” Rue said.

The post Sneak Peek at Fallen Ever After appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

One Night with the Shifter

One Night with the Shifter

Sons of Midnight Series

Book 4

Theresa Meyers

Genre: Paranormal romance

(vampires and werewolves)

Publisher: Harlequin  Nocturne

Date of Publication:  February 2014

ISBN: 978-0-373-88590-9

ASIN: B00EFPXT7W

Number of pages: 304 pages

Harlequin  Amazon  BN Books A Million

Kobo     iTunes    Indiebound

Book Description:

A one-night stand with a werewolf has unexpected consequences in Theresa Meyers’s latest romance in the Sons of Midnight series.

After he is exiled from his pack, Tyee Grayson must learn to make it on his own. But one night with a beautiful stranger who has luminous blue eyes changes everything…. Especially when his instincts shout that she is the one.

All elementary school teacher Jessica Brierly wanted was a night on the wild side, but when she finds herself pregnant, all the rules change. Not only does her lover have more secrets than she ever imagined, but suddenly they’re both fighting off vampires.

When vampires attack the town she dearly loves, Ty must work with his old pack to save them from a ruthless enemy who could kill not only his mate and his unborn child—but the entire human race.

Excerpt:

The air was clean and cold outside. Ty’s head cleared, his senses grew sharper. The cool evening breeze, heavy with the salty scent of nearby Puget Sound, ruffled Jess’s hair, sticking honey-colored wisps to her full, rosy lips.

“You okay?” he asked as he gently tucked the strands back behind her ear.

Jess blinked, and stared up at him, a mixture of curiosity and disbelief in her eyes. “What just happened in there?”

He tried to give her a lopsided grin, but it turned into a wince when he found his jaw was tender from the hits the vampire had landed. He rubbed the soreness. The night air chilled the dribble of blood from the cut on his cheek, making it wet and cold, but there was no scent of vampire. The third one must have been smart enough to ditch his buddies. His body ached from the fight, but it would heal fast enough. “A bar fight with strangers.”

“You didn’t know those guys?” she asked, looking around her nervously. “They seemed pretty intent on messing with you.” She grazed the corner of his mouth with her fingertips. “You’re hurt.”

The light touch was enough to send a powerful surge of awareness pounding through him that wiped away any of the ache that remained. Damn. There was no doubt in his mind there was a strong Mesmer forming with this woman.

He gently moved her fingers away from his mouth, keeping them folded in his. Her hands were fine boned and slender and feminine. “No big deal.”

Her full lips tipped up into a soft smile, making him crave to kiss her. “Tough guy, huh?” She pulled a car remote from her pocket and pushed it, making the lights flash on a silver pickup on the edge of the dirt-and-gravel parking area beside the bar.

“Sounds like you’ve been around a few.”

She opened the driver’s door to the pickup and turned, standing in the gap, staring at him, her head tilted. “A few. But they’re nothing like you.”

Ty closed the gap between them, putting one hand on the door frame, shielding her from view of the parking lot but maintaining space between them. He knew better than to get close enough to be swamped by temptation. The Mesmer might be working on him, but that didn’t mean she’d understand if he came on too strong. Especially not after the fight.

“If you want to head home, I understand. I’ll stay here awhile and make sure those guys don’t follow you home.”

She reached out and grabbed fistfuls of his T-shirt near his collarbones, pulling him close until he was chest to chest with her. The soft swells of her breasts pressed against him and the minty scent of her hair, and hint of lilac on her skin teased his sensitive sense of smell. Everything within him went silent and still, fixated on the lush curve of her mouth so damn close to his he could feel the warmth of her breath.

“What I want is for you to come home with me.” Jess stood on her tiptoes and looked up into his face, the dark fringe of lashes around her eyes making the blue luminous. Her rapid pulse beat against his chest, taking over the rhythm until his matched the pace she set. For a second the world tilted sideways.

Ty’s gaze dropped to the silky, damp edge of her lips and he was lost. He dipped down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and willing, tasting of peppermint. She tasted so damn sweet, hot and spicy all at once. A warm, viscous heat flowed through his veins, coating and drowning out every other sensation until he was hot and hard at the same time.

Ty gripped the edge of the truck’s door frame, nearly denting the sheet metal with his fingertips. But he was determined to keep his hands to himself, even though they itched to touch her. Heat seeped through his shirt, the temperature difference amplified by the chill in the air. The kiss turned deeper, slicker, the tip of her tongue brushing against his. The spicy fragrance of female that spiked the air left no doubt she was aroused. When they broke apart, both of them were breathing hard, their breath creating misty white clouds.

“You sure about this?” He could control his body, but not the rough edge of his voice as he struggled to maintain composure. “I could follow you.”

Jess looked up at him, her dark lashes dropping a fraction, giving her a sultry look. “Hop in.”

He was smart enough not to argue with her, but that didn’t mean that the little voice of human reason in the back of his head wasn’t screaming loudly that this was stupid and rash. He should take his own vehicle so he didn’t get stuck who knew where. He didn’t know a damn thing about her. Couldn’t read her mind and certainly hadn’t asked enough questions. But this was a Mesmer, the wild Were instinct side of him shouted back. No one, Were especially, could blame him for responding so quickly and profoundly to her. And hell, he could always follow his nose and walk back if he needed to.

“Anything you say,” he answered. He waited until she climbed up into the cab, admiring the way the dark denim jeans hugged the curve of her ass, then closed the truck door and walked around the back of the pickup. An uneasy sensation raised the hairs on his skin. He glanced over his shoulder one last time to make sure they weren’t being followed.

About the Author:

Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer’s Digest course and putting the book under the bed until she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car.

They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, two horses, an energetic mini-Aussie shepherd, a rabbit, parakeet and an out-of-control herb garden.

You can find her online at her website www.theresameyers.com or frequently on Twitter @Theresa_Meyers.

Website: http://www.theresameyers.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2867375.Theresa_Meyers

The post One Night with the Shifter appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

Professionalism

Okay, you might think that I’m simply another second class citizen ‘writer’ that’s weighing in on Donald Maass and his provocative post over at Writer Unboxed. If you haven’t read it, I personally think you should read the version that includes Konrath and Eisler’s take on it and commentary from the indie community.

What I’m actually weighing in on is professionalism.

I’ll keep this short and to the point.

Regardless of profession—it doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer, doctor, psychologist, literary agent, editor, or another lunatic writer—it all boils down to professionalism.

How you treat other people that you’re doing business with matters.

Period. End of story.

If you act like a horse’s ass or say things that sound ridiculous eventually it will come back to bite you.

Speak to people with respect and without labels. That’s classy.

Don’t be a taker trying to make a quick buck off of writers with your how-to books and expensive workshops.

The writing community is a lot smaller than you think. We all talk to one another and the thing about writers is…we know how to read!

If you snub the same people you’re trying to make money off of they’re not going to want to work with you.

And they will walk.

The post Professionalism appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)

Dakota Hearts Series by Lisa Mondello

Her Dakota Man

Dakota Hearts

Book 1

Lisa Mondello

Genre: Contemporary romance

ISBN: 978-1-9405-12-006

ASIN: B00FRSX700

Word Count:  37,000 words

Cover Artist: Purple Girl Design

Amazon  BN  Smashwords

iTunes  Kobo

Book Description:

She needed to risk the truth to get a second chance…

Poppy Erickson had spent the year wondering how all their lives might have been different after hearing the deathbed confession of her childhood friend. She’d left South Dakota years ago because she couldn’t bear to watch the man she loved loving another woman. But now she knows the truth. She’ll keep the promise she made to a friend, but will Logan understand when he learns the truth? More important, can they again recapture the passion that had been between them all those years ago?

He needed to face the past to get the love of a woman he thought he’d lost…

Everyone knows that the Dakotas didn’t get the name Badlands for nothing. Harsh weather and rough living are a way of life. But single dad, Logan McKinnon, had seen more than his share of bad times after the death of his wife a year ago. The last thing he needs is Poppy Erickson, an old flame and his late wife’s best friend, showing up unannounced to help after devastating floods nearly washed away their hometown. With no place to stay in town, he has no choice but to offer her a bed at his house.

But can he live under the same roof with a woman he’d once loved passionately without feeling he’s betraying his late wife?

Excerpt Her Dakota Man :

One look on Logan McKinnon’s face told Poppy that his foul mood had very little to do with the devastating destruction all around the Badlands of South Dakota…and everything to do with her showing up in town after nearly ten years.

She didn’t have to be standing next to him to feel his anger simmering just below the surface of his composure. Sitting in her rental sedan was close enough. What the hell was she thinking coming back home? Why had she made that ridiculous promise to Kelly?

She parked the car next to his truck and took a deep breath, mumbling under her breath as she pulled the door handle, “This may just turn out to be the stupidest thing you have ever done, girl.”

Truth was, even as pissed off as Logan looked, he was still an amazing sight to see. Part of her had hoped that she was wrong. That she’d gotten over him a long time ago. That she’d take one look at him, make sure he and Keith were okay, and be able to get back in her car and drive right to the airport in Rapids City.

He turned to her, standing tall and proud. His thick dark hair blew in the March wind, fluttering around his face and making him all the more strikingly handsome.

Yep. Stupid.

He was taller than she’d remembered, and he’d long since lost that too-lean teenage body that had driven her crazy in her youth. He worked hard on his ranch and it showed in how much his arms and chest had filled with muscles.

Despite the cold, he’d taken off his jacket while he worked in the yard and Poppy had a clear view of just how much his male body had filled out in places she’d dreamed of touching.

Lord, help her. She was in trouble. And she hadn’t even stepped out of the car yet. She pushed the door open and stepped outside to get it over with. It was either going to be the shortest visit on record…or the life changing experience she’d been dreaming of ever since she was a teenager.

“Hi, Logan.”

Logan starred at her for a long, agonizing moment. She read the emotional tug of war playing on his face as the sudden chill from the South Dakota winds bit into her exposed skin like a whipping.

Then his expression turned hard. “What are you doing here?”

He must have heard the car drive up. But Logan’s four-year-old son, Keith, remained so focused on the mud puddle he was poking a stick into to even notice anyone was around. That was good. The next few minutes would go easier for both of them if Keith weren’t aware of the tension.

Logan stared at her as if he’d been startled. Or maybe too focused on making sure his son was safely playing nearby to notice her car had driven up.

Or perhaps he’d been too pre-occupied with assessing the damage the recent angry South Dakota weather had done to his property. Poppy had seen just how Mother Nature had shown no mercy to her childhood town as she drove from the airport to the ranch. She couldn’t exactly blame Logan for being in a foul mood because of that.

Seeing her was just the icing on the cake.

“What the hell are you doing here, Poppy?” he repeated.

She took in a deep breath, smelled the muddy earth and decay all around her, and said, “I came to help.”

He took one long look at her, from her high-heeled boots, up the length of her legs, pausing at her hips. She could almost feel his eyes as if he were staring at the flesh beneath her fresh pair of blue jeans. When his gaze finally reached her face again, she slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and stared right back at him in challenge. A slow smile played on her lips. She could never last as long at this as Logan before caving into laughter. But she knew Logan was in no laughing mood.

“Poppy Ericksen. Rudolph was practically washed off the map from all that rain we had. After all this time, what makes you think I need anything from you?”

Even though his voice was even, she could tell he was still pissed. But he’d never show it. Keith was still poking at the mud and puddles on the driveway just a little ways away, completely unaware of present company.

“What’s the matter, Logan? You don’t look happy to see me,” Poppy said, pulling her sunglasses off her face with a wary smile.

 Badland Bride

Dakota Hearts

Book 2

Lisa Mondello

Genre: western romance

ISBN: 978-1-940512-01-3

ASIN: B00GIZ1OD8

 Word Count:  28,000 words

Cover Artist: Purple Girl Design

Amazon    BN   iTunes

Kobo   Smashwords

 Book Description:

She’d spent a lifetime packing armor around her heart…

Raised an Army brat, Regis Simpson was used to calling new towns home, learning to quickly make friends but never letting anyone get too close. When devastating floods tear through the Badlands of South Dakota, she thinks Rudolph is just another town that needs to be rebuilt. Nothing more. The sooner she gets her work done, the sooner the people of Rudolph can heal and she can move on to the next town in need. She never counted on the sexy town doctor, Keith “Hawk” McKinnon or his determination to break down walls she’d spent a lifetime building, making it impossible for her to leave.

He’s determined to break down her walls and give her a reason to stay…

Nothing pained Hawk McKinnon more than seeing people he’d known his whole life hurting. He traded a high-paying salary at a city hospital to come back to Rudolph and make a difference where he’d dug his roots. When the beautiful Regis Simpson comes to town offering help, he’s immediately drawn to her even though she’s spent a lifetime believing that everyone she loves leaves. Now she does the leaving and once her work is done, she’ll be leaving again. He’s determined to do everything possible to make her stay.

Excerpt Badland Bride

After easing herself out of the car, Regis limped up the newly built wooden ramp, unpainted and still sporting the color of wood that hadn’t been exposed to the elements for long. She winced through the pain as she took each step toward the front door. A small sign hung next to the door giving the clinic’s hours. She tried the door and it wouldn’t budge. Her shoulders sagged in defeat.

“What does he do in the middle of the day? Go fishing?”

“Nope, house calls.”

Regis swung around to see a tall man walking up behind her on the ramp. He had the Irish blue eyes she’d seen on many models in advertising magazines she’d bought when she was a teenager, and the dark hair that looked a little unruly in the wind, but seemed to fit him perfectly. The light scuff of a beard wasn’t more than a day old, but already dark and covering his square jaw.

For a moment, Regis was so taken with this handsome stranger that she’d forgotten why she was there.

 * * *

“Dr. Hawk, or whatever his name actually is, does house calls? I thought that sort of thing went extinct with the dinosaurs. The guy must be a hundred years old.”

Hawk fought to keep from smiling.  “There are days it seems that way.”  He then looked at the woman’s leg, and frowned as he saw the blood staining her pants. “We’d better get you inside so that can be cleaned.”

“The door’s locked,” the woman said, leaning against the rail as he came up beside her.  Her face was pale, most probably due to the pain she was experiencing and the loss of blood.

He smiled, looking down into her eyes. “Luckily, I have a key.”  They were pretty brown eyes, he decided.  No, they were hazel. And the fact that he didn’t want her to turn away so he could know for sure surprised him.

Standing six feet tall, he towered over her small frame, although he was probably no more than eight inches taller than her.  And she smelled like fresh soap as if she’d just taken a shower. But looking at the dirt and blood on her hands, that probably wasn’t the case.

“You must rate to have your own key to the doctor’s office. When does this Hawk doctor usually come back?”

He slipped the key into the door and turned the handle. Then he smiled as he pushed the door open and held it for her to come inside. “Why don’t you have a seat here. It’ll just be a minute.”

Hawk curled his fingers around the woman’s upper arm gently and helped guide her to the chair. As she sat down, a look of relief washed over her face.

“Does that take some pressure off?”

“What?”

“Your leg. Does sitting help?”

As he waited for her to reply, he walked behind the receptionist desk and sifted through the wall organizer that was filled with insurance forms. Nancy was going to have a fit if he had this woman fill out the wrong one.

“Ah, a little.”

He felt a muscle pull between his eyebrow as he glanced at the forms. For all his higher education, insurance forms were a mystery to him. Finally he sighed and dropped the papers on the desk.

“I’m going to need you to fill out some forms, but I’m not sure which one’s right at the moment and my receptionist, Nancy, will have my hide if I have you fill out the wrong form. So why don’t we just have a look at your leg first and fill out paperwork later?”

“Your receptionist?”

“Yes. She’ll probably be back from lunch before I’m done.”

“You? Wait, you’re Dr. Hawk?”

His lips curled up just slightly. “It’s just Hawk. But if you prefer, you can call me Dr. McKinnon.”

Her mouth hung open just slightly. “Oh, I’m…oh, okay.”

“Did someone tell you I was a deranged killer?”

“What? No, of course not, it’s just…”

She was adorable, all flustered with her flub. Hawk couldn’t resist teasing her. “They said I was a mean old bastard who was going to cut off your leg?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then what?”

“You aren’t…I wasn’t expecting someone so…”  She took a deep breath.

“So…handsome?”

Color immediately stained her pale cheeks. “Young. You look like you just graduated college.”

He chuckled. “So they didn’t tell you I was good looking. They told you I was old.”

She sighed heavily. “No. Mr. Bennett didn’t say anything except your name is Hawk. What kind of person walks around with a name like that anyway?”

“Me,” he said. “And I can assure you that you are in good hands. I may not be a crusty old doctor, but I not only went to college, I made it all the way through med school, my internship and a stint at the city hospital in Sioux Falls before coming back to Rudolph and starting my practice here.”

Her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t mean to imply—”

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said. “Let me help you—”

He bent down to help her to her feet, and he caught a whiff of her soapy scent again. Normally he didn’t notice such things. But he was having a hard time not noticing every little detail about this woman from the slight hook of her nose to the patch of too many freckles on her left cheek.

“No, I can do it.”

“Okay, follow me,” he said as they made their way down the hall to the first examining room. He opened the door and let her into the well-stocked room first. Then he carefully helped her to climb onto the examining table before going to the sink to wash his hands. When he was done, he put on a white medical jacket that was hanging from a hook on the door, and then turned to her.

“Now that you know my name, why don’t you tell me yours?”

“Regis Simpson. But people call me Reggie.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would people call you Reggie when Regis is such a pretty name?”

Her lips lifted to a sideward grin. “You’ve got one hell of a bedside manner, Doctor.”

“Did it make you forget the throbbing in your leg?”

She thought a second and then chuckled softly. “That’s not why you said that to me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Dakota Heat

Dakota Hearts

Book 3

Lisa Mondello

Genre: contemporary romance

ISBN: 978-1-940512-02-0

ASIN: B00H2W66H0

Word Count:  23,000 words

Cover Artist: Purple Girl Design

Amazon   BN  Smashwords

Book Description:

Hotshot Sam McKinnon was always leaving town, chasing another fire until his own hometown became vulnerable during the fire season after a devastating winter flood left debris and destruction in its path. He didn’t expect out of town dispatcher, Summer Bigelow, to catch his eye or his heart.

It hadn’t been Summer’s idea to move from Providence to South Dakota, but when a serial murderer suddenly turns his attention on Summer, her boss insists she leave town…at least until the heat dies down. She’s dealt with high tension, life or death situations many times in her job. It isn’t until she meets Sam McKinnon and falls for the sexy Hotshot that she really begins to know fear. The fear of losing someone she loves.

Excerpt Dakota Heat :

The girl was new.  Sam walked around the Interagency Fire Crew basecamp with familiarity.  He saw faces he recognized from working in different locations over the past few years.  But the girl…  Yeah, she was new.  He doubted he would forget the soft blond color of her hair or the slight tilt of her head as she read through paperwork, pretending she didn’t notice the people around her.

He grabbed two water bottles from the bucket full of ice in the back of the Quonset hut and walked toward her.  She didn’t look up until he held the water bottle in front of her.

Blue eyes met his with a mixture of irritation and surprise.

“You’re dropping ice pieces on my paperwork,” she said.

He noticed the smooth as silk sound of her voice before the water splatter on the top page of her paperwork.  He immediately pulled the water bottle back a few inches.

“Sorry.  I thought you might like something to drink.”

Her face softened as quickly as it had shown irritation.  She reached her hand out and took the water bottle, and then placed it on the bench next to her before shaking her hand of the residual moisture the bottle left behind. “Thank you.”

“You’re new here,” he said as he sat down next to her.

Not looking up, she said, “So are you.”

She smelled like soap and lavender.  After breathing in smoke and dirt for so long, it was refreshing to breathe in the sweet scents of a woman.

“Not exactly.  I grew up in Rudolph.”

That earned him a lingering second glance.  One that afforded him a few seconds to really look into her eyes, at her face.

“Really?”

“My whole life.”

She glanced around quickly.  “When I got in last night I was told the basecamp here was new this year.  I didn’t realize South Dakota had a dedicated fire basecamp.”

Sam had never worked fire duty in his home state before.  And he’d never come to a new location and been so familiar with faces as well as the location.  His reason for wanting to come back to South Dakota this year was personal.

A lot of his friends who worked with the Interagency Fire Crew were still reeling after the deaths of nineteen Hotshot firemen in Arizona last summer.  Some had quit fighting fires altogether at the urging of their family.  Sam’s own mother had tried her best to do the same during many phone calls since the tragedy, but Kate McKinnon settled for having him come home to Rudolph to work.

“This was just constructed this year.  The Black Hills are a hot spot this year because of all the flood and ice damage that occurred over the winter.  When I found out they were setting up a base here to do fire control for the season, I put in a request to work here.”

She nodded.  “Must be nice to be home.  At least for the season.”

She glanced down at her paperwork again.

He chuckled at how quickly she fell into her reading again.  “You’re looking at that like you’re cramming for a final exam.”

She shrugged.  “I feel I am.  This is my first season working fire dispatch anywhere.”

“Ah, then that explains it.”

“Must feel good to be home after—”

“Summer?”

Both Sam and the girl looked up to see the chief calling out from across the tent.  The girl quickly collected her paperwork and stuffed it in a folder.

“Be right there,” she called out.  She turned to Sam, lifting the bottled water in her hand.  “Thanks for the water.”

“No problem.”

But she was already trotting over to the superintendent’s office.  He hadn’t even had a chance to get her name.  But he would before the day was done.  This was one woman he had a feeling he wanted to get to know.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Lisa Mondello, has held many jobs in her life but being a published authors is the last job she’ll ever have. She’s not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she’d still be penning stories with paper and pen.

Her first book, All I Want for Christmas is You won Best First Book in the Golden Quill. Her books have finaled in the HOLT Medallion, and the Colorado Award of Excellence contests. In 2011 she re-released her award winning book All I Want for Christmas is You along with a re-issue of her romantic comedy, The Marriage Contract, with a new contemporary romance called The Knight and Maggie’s Baby.

In 2012 she reissued the first 3 books of her popular Western Romance Series TEXAS HEARTS including Her Heart for the Asking, His Heart for the Trusting and The More I See. Writing as LA Mondello, her romantic suspense, MATERIAL WITNESS, book 1 of her Heroes of Providence series made the USA TODAY Bestsellers List.

You can find more information about Lisa Mondello at lisamondello.blogspot.com

@LisaMondello

https://www.facebook.com/LisaMondello.Author

The post Dakota Hearts Series by Lisa Mondello appeared first on A.C. James - Erotic Paranormal Romance Author. Spanks for reading!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER :)