Pepper Winters's Blog, page 31

FIRST DEBT RELEASE DAY ANNOUNCEMENT

It’s official. 

I can finally set a date…

First Debt (Indebted #2) will be released on….

14th November 2014 and just in time for the weekend. 

Here is the blurb, just in case you need refreshing…

“You say I’ll never own you. If I win—you willingly give me that right. You sign not only the debt agreement, but another—one that makes me your master until your last breath is taken. You do that, and I’ll give you this.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Stolen, taken, and bound not by monsters but by an agreement written over six hundred years ago, she has no way out.

She belongs to Jethro as much as she denies it.

Jethro Hawk’s patience is running out. His inheritance gift tests, challenges, and surprises him—and not in good ways. He hasn’t leashed her but he thinks he might’ve found a way to bind her forever.

 

 

And the cover because it’s so pretty…

And lastly, here are some advance reviews to give a hint of what you’re in for…

 

Ella Fox, USA Today Bestseller:  I just finished!! Absolutely positively fucking LOVED it!!!!!!! I don’t know how she did it, but she got me!! And that end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mandi Beck, reviewer:  Holy hell Pepper! I think this might be your best work and that’s tough for me bc I thought that Monsters in the Dark was absolutely the most brilliant story! So good woman. So good! 

Yaya, After Dark Book Lovers: Pardon my French: Are you fucking kidding me?  Love this book. Like completely and I can’t believe the shit going on.

Kiki Amit, reviewer: JET and NILA…. There are no words to express how Pepper does it! Her brain must hurt from being so smart. She in my eyes is a literary revolutionary!! MAD SKILLS….. Freakin’ MAD SKILLS…

Aleatha Romig, NYT Bestseller:  God girl! You’ve ruined me!!! I LOVE it!!! Like L-O-V-E it!!! Like Jethro is threatening Q for my affection. The intensity in this series is OFF the CHARTS! I love all of your work, you know that. But Debt Inheritance may just be my FAV!

If you’d like to join the Facebook Group where all things Indebted are discussed please join here:  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1511645192400372/requests/

And to wrap things up, here are a few teasers that I’ve shared on my Facebook Page over the last week

Have a great weekend, everybody!

HOW I SHOULD FOLLOW MY OWN ADVICE

(Excuse typos. It’s been a long day but wanted to get this done before I disappear back into my cave to get Indebted #2 ready for release.)

So…I’ve been thinking of the best way to do this blog post. Started writing it, decided against it, started again…couldn’t be bothered. The usual procrastination.

But the past few days has solidified something that has been creeping over me for the last month or so, and either because I’ve made the decision in my heart, or because I’m seeing it happening for a lot of authors, I’ve decided to put it out there so it’s in black and white.

You all know I’m a huge advocator of positive thinking, chasing dreams, that whole spiel. I won’t repeat myself. Well, I’m not a hypocrite in that area; I do this the majority of the day and monitor my thoughts for positivity. HOWEVER, another key thing to keeping positive and successful things in your life is by believing they are there to STAY.

And I haven’t been doing that.

I’ve been killing myself chasing this dream I want SOOOO damn badly. I wake up every morning bouncing with joy for the chance to sit on my butt and fall into the imaginary world where I get to spend the day torturing, making love to, and playing puppet master to my creations. There is no better job than doing the one you were put on this earth to do. And it would never have been possible without the immergence of eBooks, amazon, the internet, and social media.

Technology not only enriched our lives with pen-friends half-way around the world who are now our best-friends and in constant communication with, but also created avenues for people who might never had had the opportunity to write for a living to flourish.

I’m one of the those lucky people.

And despite the success I’ve found, I still don’t think I’m anywhere close to the trail blazers who went before me. I’m talking the complete originals who flipped the bird to the stigma that self-publishing was the cheap and nasty way out for ‘losers’ who couldn’t get a publisher, and made it the more preferred avenue. They are the Rockstars of my profession and I never get over the awe I feel when I get to speak to one of them.

Again, life made my dreams come true but not only gave me success in self-publishing, but also the opportunity to be published by a traditional house, Hachette. This large publisher has been nothing but supportive and kind to me, and I was also lucky enough to sign with an agent who goes to bat for me on foreign rights and all the other stuff that comes with a successful writing career.

All of that should make me jump for joy. I’ve hit the USA Today list three times, New York Times twice, and had the most amazing year of my life. I pinch myself and it still doesn’t seem real.

But it is.

I’m in a prime position to take my chosen path as far as I want to.

So why do I feel as if it will end tomorrow?

Is it because I want it too much and it petrifies me to think of it all being over?

Is it because I’m afraid of making a wrong step and releasing a book that ruins my chance at making it?

Or is it because I’m terrified I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked so hard for in a rapidly growing market?

Probably all of the above, which is why I drove myself to the point of exhaustion, wrote so much I screwed up my eyes, didn’t exercise, didn’t talk to my hubby, and ate, slept, dreamt writing. I NEVER switched off. I was either on my laptop or tablet or phone. I was completely addicted to keeping my presence online, so no one forgot about me while the indie world exploded.

Needless to say that isn’t healthy.

Like at all.

And even though I KNEW that I was running myself into the ground, I couldn’t stop the deep-seated need to keep going. Just keep going. Keep sprinting. Never stop. I kept chasing an end goal thinking the moment I made it this crazy dream would be all over and I’d have to move onto the next thing.

But that’s WRONG.

Flat out wrong.

I know I’m not the only author out there who sees how manic the indie world has become. How many awesome new releases are published every day, how many new authors are streaking past others, and how the mentality of scarcity is creeping back in.

I got sucked into it to.

I kept thinking if I don’t release another book in a week, I’ll be forgotten. If I don’t deliver a book that EVERYONE loves, I’ll be forgotten. If I don’t keep up my twitter and Facebook page four times a day, I’ll be forgotten.

If I don’t…

If I don’t…

The never ending carrousel of stupid pointless undermining worry that is ruining all my talk of positivity.

Know what I realized?

Yes, the market is a lot busier than last year, hell even last month. Yes, there are some amazing kickass books being released every second, and yes that means readers have a lot more delicious material to get lost in and less hours in the day to do it.

But is it a death sentence? HELL NO.

Only a fraction of the world actually owns a kindle or an eBook device. There are still more paperback sales than eBook sales and will continue to be this way for years to come, but there will also be more people joining the eBook revolution. Every birthday and Christmas, someone will be gifted a kobo or kindle and the joy of reading in Eink will be spread far and wide.

Not only does it mean MORE success for everyone, but more material for the reader.

It doesn’t mean the market is going to implode in a few years. If anything, this is just the beginning.Sure there will be a huge influx of other talented writers and crazy good books that will stand out above the rest, but that doesn’t matter. Be grateful for them, happy for them, because ultimately it has nothing to do with me or you.

The only thing in my control is:

Write a damn good book.

Write quality not quantity.

Keep a good balance.

Create proper work hours and find down time to be more productive.

A good friend of mine, who I deeply respect has been going through the same soul-searching realisation I have. Unfortunately, her stress levels were worse than mine and she’s paying the price poor thing. But, all it took was looking at her daughter and realizing the most important thing. LIVING. Lili St. Germain wrote her own post about her decisions with her writing career which you can read here.

So…conclusions?

In the words of Jasinda Wilder, HM Ward, Bella Andre and all the greats…THIS IS NOT A RACE. IT’S A MARATHON.

Those words really resonated with me, and I really stopped to think. Yes, I’m freaking out to think that I’ll be yesterday’s news, but I’ve grown up a little and found that blissful thing I was missing –relaxation.

I’m relaxed now about my future, my goals and what I can achieve. I’ve relaxed knowing that as long as I‘m doing what I love, writing books that I enjoy, and interacting with readers who make my life a joy, I will ALWAYS have this. It won’t be going anywhere, because I was born to be a writer and I will never stop.

I can’t tell you how ‘centred’ and complete I felt when I finally let that conclusion sink into my soul. The stress of sprinting toward a non-existent finish line, the fear of not being online 24 hours a day, and concern of fading into the background just evaporated. I found my productivity went from 5,000 words every other day to 15,000 words a day, purely because I went back to my roots. WRITING. I’m an author. Sure, I run my own business and social media is just as important as getting a book out on time, but my imagination is where I find my Zen and I was able to get back to that happy place.

And because of that soul searching, I wrote the best book since I started this crazy journey. Ruin & Rule came together in four weeks. It was the easiest book to date to write, and I’m beyond happy to hand it into Grand Central today to start getting it ready for the market in 2015.

The joy I found from writing Ruin & Rule also reminded me of another important fact which I lost touch with.

Ultimately I write for ME. Not for the market, not for reviews, not for sales.

Tears of Tess was PURELY for me—and it’s my bestselling book to date.

Ruin & Rule was purely for me, too—I got rid of all thoughts of handing it into the publisher, because I knew I would self-censor like crazy and wouldn’t deliver the book I wanted. It worked. I LOVED writing that story.

And…as much as it will surprise some people, Indebted is just for me, too. Now, Debt Inheritance is my worst reviewed book so far. At the time it literally killed me. Split open my heart and I seriously wanted to pull the book and forget all about Jethro and Nila. But…time heals all wounds and makes big problems seem small.

Know what I realized? People can’t see the full story yet, so they have to review their feelings on the part of the story they can see RIGHT NOW. I get that. The topics are controversial subjects, and it’s a dark romance with taboo elements with some actions that won’t sit well with some people. But…it’s set in a setting that I’m in love with (old English estates) it has the rebel world of bikers, the seedy underbelly of diamond smugglers, the beauty and grace of couture and fashion, and a love story that is full of angst, betrayal and a slow burn that will all make sense in the end.

I very nearly pulled back from finishing this series, in fact I went so far as to scrap what I already had for the following book, but then I thought…I’ll write a bit more just for me. No one has to see it. I dropped all memories of bad reviews, and dived into the world that has only just begun. And I loved it.

I loved it so much in fact, I know I can’t stick to the original plan of each book only being a novella. I made an announcement on my Facebook page last week, saying each book in the Indebted series (up to 6 books) will be all full length of approx 250-300 pages. I didn’t expect many people to reply because hell, it seemed that not many people were enjoying the series. Turns out, I was unbelievably wrong. For every one person who didn’t like it ten did. That post went viral and had more comments, more likes, and more views than most of my posts for months.

And that was the final paper umbrella in my happy cocktail of positivity.

Indebted is PURELY for me. It will always be written the way I want it with no input or fear of reviews. I’ll publish it for people who want to come along on the journey. The rights have already been sold for Italian translations and audio will be done on the first two books very soon—so I know there is a market for this twisted tale of debts and a storyline that makes no sense yet. However, I’m being selfish and keeping it all to myself. I will market it as controversial, I will publish every edition, and I will not censor myself, so be warned that Indebted will continue to be slightly crazy and full of questions.

BUT, in saying that I also realize it’s time for me to start to branch out. Dark Romance got me onto the map of self-publishing, and I will never stop writing gritty taboo subjects—it’s in my blood. But at the same time, evolution has to happen to all of us and I’ll be branching into other genres in the future.

You already know of Ruin & Rule which is an Motorcycle romance and Forbidden Flaws which is purely an erotic contemporary (it will still have a grey twist but the storyline will be more mainstream) and I have a lot of other projects in the works that will be coming soon.

If you’ve read this far, then thank you. I know it was a bit of a jumble of thoughts and probably doesn’t make complete sense, but it’s my way of putting it out there, so if I ever start feeling insecure of my place in this crazy world, I can come back and remind myself that as long as I deliver a good product, stay true to myself, and never stop learning how to be a better writer, failure doesn’t have any power in my future.

To all the writers out there, if you’re stressed, running around like headless chickens, ignoring your families to pump out another 1000 words before bedtime, or turning into an insomniac monster because you can’t unglue yourself from your tablet…

STOP.

Take stock of your achievements.

Pat yourself on the back.

Turn off your Wi-Fi.

And RELAX.

The muse and readers will thank you for it, because you’ll be around for a lot longer and will never suffer that dreaded burn out that seems to follow success. I was lucky to smell the smoke before I went up in flames, and promise to you and myself that I’m not going anywhere—whatever the future holds.

UPDATES & RANDOMNESS

It’s been a little while since a post, so thought I’d do a quick recap on where I’m at.

For those who follow my facebook page, you’ll know that I’ve written over 190,000 words in 7 weeks. That’s a new personal best for me and I’m still not done yet. I’m currently working on three books: Ruin & Rule, Forbidden Flaws, and Indebted #2.

I’m very close to being finished with Ruin & Rule, which has to be handed into my publisher very soon, and then I can finish Indebted #2. (For those asking for a release date, I’m getting VERY close to releasing pre-order links and a release date.) Thanks so much for your patience!

I’ve been told by a few beta readers who have read Ruin & Rule, that it is shaping up to be my best work yet, so I’m super excited for that to release.

I’ve also been asked how I’m currently writing three books at once. To be honest, I never thought I’d be able to do it. I’m the sort of writer who gets absorbed by the characters and story and can’t think of anything else. However, I’ve had no choice and adapted to the point where I think I’ll always have multiple projects on the go, purely because it’s a relief to still be able to work even when dreaded writers block hits on one particular project.

The next few projects I have after completing these current three are Sin & Suffer, Je Suis a Toi, and Indebted #3. There won’t be any rest for me for the forseeable future, so I hope to get even better in productivity. But here is what I’m doing currently:

Start writing the moment I get up. I do at least 2 hours on one project before going for a quick run, having breakfast, and then settling back to work on another project. The break between the two allow me to switch ‘worlds’ in my head and continue working. I’ll have a break around 4pm and work either on the same project or another one. At around 6pm,I’ll quit writing and focus on catching up on messages, emails, and media.

It’s been like that for the past month and a half–I’ve really had to cut down on my social media in order to stay on top of deadlines,but so far, it’s working :)

There are no secrets, just discipline :) Oh, and a fabulous hubby who helps with the housework and keeps me alive by feeding me.

Before I leave, here are a few teasers on each book I’m currently working on and will be back soon to release a date for Indebted #2. Hope you have an amazing week!! xxx

Teaser for RUIN & RULE

Teaser for INDEBTED #2

Teaser for FORBIDDEN FLAWS

DESTROYED IS ON SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

The sale was planned for the 3rd October but it went live a few hours early. So… grab a copy if you haven’t read it! Very limited time

$3.99 to 0.99

BUY LINKS

DESTROYED

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Destroyed-Pepper-Winters-ebook/dp/B00IUNAHZ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406467930&sr=8-1&keywords=destroyed

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destroyed-pepper-winters/1118881586?ean=2940149218271&itm=1&usri=2940149218271

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/destroyed-2

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id838951593

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/416660

Page Foundry: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/d6cf07bb-ca5e-42ee-b111-faf753646c84

Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/book/230789128/Destroyed

FINAL HOURS FOR LIMITED EDITION CLOTHING

Final hours to grab Je Suis a Toi or Je Suis Q’s Esclave in either t-shirt, tanks, or hoodies before the limited edition runs out

I won’t be running another one for a while xxx

For JE SUIS A TOI click below:

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For JE SUIS Q’s ESCLAVE click below:

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ELEVEN PAGE TEASER FOR FIRST DEBT (Indebted #2) AND COVER REVEAL

As a special teaser I’ve decided to give an eleven page snippet of First Debt (Indebted #2) I don’t normally do them so big, but figured it’s time you see what I’m building you towards. :)

Read only if you’ve read Debt Inheritance and yes it does reveal a few things, so if you want no spoilers do NOT read.

Also, seeing as I released the cover for Forbidden Flaws early, I’ll release the cover for First Debt. For those who have read, you’ll have seen it in the back of Debt Inheritance so it’s not new to you

And now for the teaser…

Hope you enjoy!

 

First Debt

Goodreads: ADD HERE

Subject to copyright, UNEDITED, subject to change.

The next morning I was showered, dressed in a black maxi dress with a sequined orchid on the chest, and purple ballet slippers, before the sun was properly awake.

I sat prim and ready on the end of my neatly made bed.

Waiting.

He didn’t disappoint.

At precisely seven a.m., my door swung open revealing my nemesis dressed in black jeans and grey t-shirt. Seriously, didn’t he own any other colours?

He stopped short, frowning at my demure obedience.

I waved. “Morning, master, is it time for my walk? I’ve been waiting here like the good girl, anticipating my daily exercise.”

I knew I played with fire—or ice as the case might be—but I really didn’t give a damn.

Last night had broken something inside me and I’d yet to find whatever it was to try and fix it.

Standing, I crossed to him.

His nostrils flared, golden eyes delving deep into mine. “I thought you’d be hiding under your bed after your debacle yesterday.”

I shrugged. “Everyone has a limit and I crossed mine in your office.” I smiled softly, thinking of my replies to Kite and my father.  I was prepared to unplug Jethro, just like I’d unplugged my phone. I hadn’t touched it since—it was still in pieces in the drawer. For now, I didn’t care about the outside world, or even Kite’s reply.

I didn’t care.

It was liberating.

My fingertips landed on his chest, dipping coyly to his belt. His eyes flared but he held his ground. “Then I crossed another limit and I feel surprisingly…calm.”

A limit where I’d stopped fretting of over the future. A limit where I was just as volatile and as unhinged as they were.

“I can’t keep up with you.” His voice was dark with a trace of anger. He cocked his head, his salt-and-pepper hair catching the morning sun glinting through the window. “You’ve surprised me again, Ms. Weaver, and once again I don’t like it.” He leaned forward, his lips so close to mine. “I’m beginning to wonder if everything I know about you is a lie.”

I stood my ground. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

He chuckled. “We Hawks have our ways. I know more than you think.”

His cryptic comment didn’t derail me. I stared harder, trying to understand just how much he knew. But it was pointless—like staring into a black lake with no reflection other than myself.

“Come. It’s time for Gemstone and breakfast.” He smiled coldly. “I have no doubt you’ll be starving after your…what was that last night? Would you prefer the word breakdown or hysterics?”

I straightened my shoulders. “Neither.”

“You have to pick one.”

“No, I don’t. If you want me to define it, I’ll call it my way of saying goodbye.”

He jerked. “Goodbye?” His knuckles went white as his hands clenched into fists. “To who?”

My eyes tightened, trying to read him. He played the perfect part. “To my past, to who I used to be, to a friend called Kite.”

The reaction was subtle.

The small intake of breath. The slight whitening of his face. The indiscernible flinch of his muscles.

Then it was gone, hidden beneath the snowy exterior he held so well. “Ah yes, the James Bond idiot, 007.” Moving quickly, he grabbed my elbow, dragging me toward the door. “Well, I’m glad you said your goodbyes. Nothing worse than dying with unfinished business.” His smile sent gale-force winds howling through my suddenly torn open chest.

I slammed on my breaks. “You can’t help yourself can you?”

He paused, forehead furrowed.

“You just have to be so damn cruel.”

He sighed dramatically, backing me away from the door and toward the centre of the room again. “I’m not cruel.”

I laughed. “Says the heartless human who probably doesn’t have a reflection when he stares in the mirror.”

He took another threatening step. I took one, too. Backing away from him—waltzing slowly around the room—hunter and prey.

“You’re saying I’m soulless?”

I nodded. “Completely soulless.”

He smirked. “Okay, try me. Ask me to do something. Make me prove to you that I have a soul.”

I frowned. “Like what?”

He took another step, pressing me closer to the bed. The anger throbbing around him switched to sexual interest. My breathing picked up as his golden eyes darkened. “You’re the one who needs proof, Ms. Weaver. You make the choice.”

What could I make him do?

What would prove he had a heart and my resolution to seduce him would actually work?

I know.

I stopped retreating, locking my knees to stop myself from losing confidence and running. “I have something. A test. It will prove you’re not the monster I think you are.”

He came closer, a slow smile spreading his lips. “Go on.”

I balled my hands and took a deep breath. The precipice opened wide. I took a leap of faith and leapt. “Kiss me.”

The oxygen in the room disappeared. My heart erupted into flurries.

Jethro froze. “Excuse me?”

Standing tall, I said, “You’ve come so close to kissing me. By the stables, in the forest, just now by the door. Each time you get close you pull away. I want to know why.”

Jethro’s hands clenched by his sides. “And you think a stupid kiss will prove what?”

I narrowed my eyes. “That you’re not as cold as you think you are. That you do care—care enough to be affected by kissing your arch enemy.”

Jethro laughed, but it was laced with uncertainty and…was that fear?

“I’m not kissing you to prove such a ridiculous point.”

I splayed my hands, mocking him subtlety. “You said you’d do anything I asked.”

He chuckled softly. “I said something worthwhile.”

“Kissing me isn’t worthwhile?”

His eyes latched onto mine. A second ticked past. Another.

Then he lost his icy shell. “What the fuck do you want from me, Nila?”

My heart stopped.

Nila.

He’d called me Nila.

His eyes widened, noticing his slip, then furious temper etched his face. He stormed forward, threading his fingers around my throat. The smooth edges of his control were now jagged with temper.

I backed up until the bed stopped my escape, Jethro followed, his fingers tightening around my neck. “Tell me, goddammit. What the hell are you trying to do?”

My heart hurt at the unreadable expression in his gaze. He hid himself so well. The brief flashes of truth I’d gleaned didn’t add up. I was fishing for something that didn’t exist.

My eyes were heavy with tears. I shook my head. “I just want….”

There was no point to this argument. None.

“I need….”

To know you are capable of caring, just a little.

To want me, just a little.

To find something inside me that prevents you from killing me.

It was like wishing for a Pegasus to fly in and whisk me away. I wouldn’t get anything I wished for. Whatever I felt for Jethro was misplaced, ill-advised, and false. He didn’t have a caring bone in his body. I’d seen him hunt me. I’d seen his cold enjoyment of talking about taking my life.

He breathed hard, his scent of woods and leather surrounding me.

My hands flew up to hold his, trying to pry his fingers away. “Just…forget it. Let me go. Forget I was stupid enough to say anything.”

Jethro dropped his hands, pacing away. “Forget it? You’re the one bringing it up. You’re the one ruining the agreement between us.”

“What agreement?”

“The debts, Ms. Weaver! That’s all we’re meant to do. I don’t care about your wellbeing or emotional satisfaction. You had to ruin a straight forward obligation by trying to fucking kiss me in that coffee shop!”

My head shot up. Jethro was close to losing it. His pure way of speaking became littered with curses—the only sign of his temper winning over his artic control.

“I tried to kiss you that night because for the first time in my life my father gave me freedom. Can I help it I found you attractive?”

The atmosphere changed again, shedding its coldness for heat and heaviness.

“You found me attractive?”

God, he was so obtuse.

I couldn’t stop the laugh bubbling from my mouth. “Do you think I would’ve writhed on someone else’s fingers the way I did yours? I’m sexually starving but I’m not so desperate to allow someone to touch me that way who I don’t want!”

I clamped a hand over my mouth. Shit. I hadn’t meant to say I wanted him. That was a lie I was hiding even from myself. Sex with Jethro was supposed to be a weapon. Not something I wished he’d give me.

Jethro prowled toward me, pinning me against the four poster. His body heat sparked so hot and dangerously close to mine. His hands opened and closed at his side. So close. So temptingly close.

“This is getting interesting, Ms. Weaver. You mean to tell me you want my cock? You want me to…fuck you?”

My stomach twisted. Wetness built in my core as the argument switched from exposing his weakness to exposing mine.

I bit my lip, refusing to answer.

He smirked, his eyes dropping to my mouth. His lips parted as his breathing turned heavy and ragged. “Tell me what you want from me. You have my undivided attention.”

All the frustration from dealing with Kite came back. The need. The sexual burn. The endless torture of living with a man who meant to kill me. A man my body wanted more than anything.

I embraced the heat of anger, glaring into Jethro’s golden eyes.

Don’t do this.

You’ll get hurt. Terribly hurt.

I couldn’t stop myself.

“I told you what I want. Kiss me.” My arms swooped up, looping around his neck.

He reared back, breaking my hold. His chest rose and fell as he breathed hard. His eyes were almost black with need. Need I was sure reflected in mine. “Kiss you?” He laughed. “Why would I kiss you? A kiss is emotion. A kiss is a weakness.” Placing his hands on either side of me holding onto the four poster, he murmured, “A kiss is not something you’ll get from me, Ms. Weaver.”

I pressed forward breaking his hold and stalking him for a change. “A kiss is nothing. What are you so afraid of?”

What am I doing?

What were we doing?

Rules were being broken in this very moment.

Consequences would come. Pain would be endured. But in that moment, I didn’t care.

All I cared about was Jethro’s lips on mine.

He dogged my grasp, then forced himself to stand tall and unmovable. I pressed myself against him, looking up into his golden eyes. His lips were so close. My heart fluttered like a dying hummingbird, my stomach twisted. So…close.

I couldn’t speak.

Jethro didn’t move back, he stood there, his hips flush against mine, his hands came up on their own accord, grabbing my waist, holding me in place.

We didn’t speak, only breathed—hard and fast, knowing how dangerous this whole fight was.

“Stop. Stop playing me. What did you hope to achieve? That I’d kiss you? Fuck you? Came to care for you? That I’d fall in love with you.” His voice dropped to whisper. “That I wouldn’t kill you?” He shook his head. “You’re still as clueless and naïve as the day I stole you.”

“Prove it.”

His nostrils flared. “I will not.”

Cocking my chin, I anchored myself in as much courage as possible. A horrible wave of vertigo threatened to steal my posture. I was so close to getting what I wanted there was no way I would let my idiotic brain topple me over.

“Prove it, Jethro. Prove how cold you are by giving me something I desperately need.”

I need to see there is hope. Just a small shred of hope.

“What makes you think I can be manipulated? I don’t care about your needs or desires.”

“Liar,” I whispered. “You do care. Otherwise you wouldn’t still be here. You wouldn’t be fighting this.” I rested my hands on his chest, digging my fingernails into his t-shirt. “You would’ve struck me and left if you were anything like you portray.”

I stood on my tiptoes, reaching for his mouth. “I told you, you’re a hypocrite,” I breathed.

He paused, calculation dark in his eyes. “One kiss?”

I nodded. “One kiss.”

Jethro’s control broke. “Just one fucking kiss? Don’t you know what you’re asking from me? I don’t want to fucking kiss you!”

My heart broke. Was I so repulsive he didn’t want his lips anywhere on mine?

I withered in his gaze, falling back to my position of Weaver Whore. But then, I stopped. This was the only time I might get him this close. It might be my only hope. Glaring into his eyes, I snarled,” Kiss me. Give me one fracture of human company and I’ll never say another word to you again. I’ll be whatever you want. Just kiss me!”

His eyes went wide. “You’re an idiot.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“You’re wasting your time.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“I don’t want to kiss you.”

I lashed out. My arm came up. I opened my palm. And I slapped the self-righteous egotistical arsehole on the cheek.

The moment went from lust-heavy to stagnant with violence. We stared, breathing hard.

He growled, “You’re a fucking nightmare.”

“Kiss me.”

“You’re ruining my life.”

“Kiss me.”

“You’re—”

“Kiss me, Jethro. Kiss me. Just fucking kiss me and give me—”

His body crashed against mine. His hands flew up from my waist, grabbing my cheeks and holding me firm. His lips, oh his lips, they bruised mine as his head titled and with pure anger he gave me what I’d wanted for days.

My lungs were empty, he’d stolen all my air, but I no longer survived on oxygen. I survived on his lips, his taste, his unbridled energy pouring down my throat.

His tongue tore past my lips, taking me savage and hungry. There was nothing sweet or gentle. This was a punishment. This kiss was a reminder that I hadn’t won. He wasn’t kissing me. He was fighting me in every underhanded way.

His hands dropped from my cheeks, cupping my breasts. The violence in his touch bruised instantly. I arched my back, opening my mouth wider to scream, but he swallowed my cries, kissing me deeper, harder, stealing every inch of sanity I had left.

I thought a kiss would put me on even ground—show him that he did care. That he was human—just like me. I hadn’t gambled on being detonated into a billion tiny pieces that had no notion of who I’d been before he’d stolen my soul.

He backed me up, faster and faster to the bed. His breath saturated my lungs. His touch skated from my cheeks, to my breasts, to my waist, to my arse. Jerking me hard against the huge length of arousal in his jeans.

The bed stopped our motion, tumbling us onto the sheets, but nothing, absolutely nothing, could unweld our lips.

We were joined, kissing, frantic, desperate.

He groaned as I tugged at his t-shirt, needing it off—needing to feel his skin against mine, but there was no way I wanted to stop kissing him.

He was blood and fire and heat.

So different to the glacier he pretended to be.

 

The rest of what happens will be released in First Debt (Indebted #2) Release date to be advised very soon.

HUGE SIGNED PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY

Hot Summer Reads Giveaway.

Thanks to Sinfully Sexy, Schmexy, Rock Stars of Romance, and True Story Book Blog. To enter head to: http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.co.... if the rafflecopter below doens’t work.

Well. it’s been a SCORCHING hot summer in romantic fiction and what better way to celebrate the end of the season than to hook up with our absolute most favourite blogs and throw a MAHOOSIVE  giveaway to celebrate.  As the nights draw in and the evenings get cooler, it’s definitely BOOK SEASON and we’re giving away 30, yes 30, signed paperbacks internationally for you to bring back those hot summer memories!

We’ve teamed up with The Rock Stars of Romance, True Story Book Blog, The SUBClub Books and Schmexy Girl Book Blog and each blog has chosen their 5 HOTTEST reads from the summer to bring you as prizes!

The Prizes

Sinfully Sexy’s Hot Summer Reads

Beautifully Done by Riley MacKenzie

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

One Night Promised by Jodi Ellen Malpas

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Give Me Grace by Kate McCarthy

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

The Wild Side by RK Lilley

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

Debt Inheritance by Pepper Winters

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

Degradation by Stylo Fantome

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

The SUBClub’s Hot Summer Reads

Misunderstood by Kathryn Kelly

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads

What Happens Tomorrow by Ellie Michaels

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Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

The Saint by Tiffany Reisz

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Inked Armor by Helena Hunting

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

Sweet Fall by Tillie Cole

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

Schmexy Girl’s Hot Summer Reads

The Devil’s Contract by Claire Contreras

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Breathe With Me by Kristen Proby

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read our Review

Bang by E. K. Blair

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Let Love Live by Melissa Collins

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Hot-Blooded by Kendall Grey

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Beloved by Corinne Michaels

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True Story’s Hot Summer Reads

Hudson by Laurelin Paige

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Taming The Storm by Samantha Towle

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Taint by SL Jennings

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Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker

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Vanquish by Pam Godwin

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Burned by Tara Sivec

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The Rock Stars of Romance Hot Summer Reads

Use by CD Reiss

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read Our Review

Lead by Kylie Scott

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read Our Review

Devil’s Game by Joanna Wylde

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read Our Review

Until Nico by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read Our Review

Rogue by Katy Evans

Buy From Amazon | Add to Goodreads | Read Our Review

More Than Forever by Jay McLean

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Giveaway

Tempted?  For your chance to win, just enter the rafflecopter below and Good Luck!!

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PEPPER MAGIC MOVIES: Health, Wealth, Happiness

Hi :)

As you know, I’m a HUGE advocator of thinking positively and creating the life you want and deserve through the power of the mind. I’ve been using the power of positive thinking for six years and can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today without the focus and goal setting that visualization gives you.

I’ve read every book on the subject, have an obsidian turtle that sits in my back left pocket that I use as a reminder to constantly remember my goals every time I feel it, and up till recently had a photo album full of pretty images with my goals on that I would read religiously before going to bed.

Now, I’ve upgraded a little. I’ve created some Magic Mind Movies that hold images of things I want to come true, of places I want to visit, of the life I wish to live. I watch that every morning and night. Some days I don’t want to, most mornings my mind doesn’t concentrate on what I’m watching—but the repetition of watching resets your subconscious, so you’re constantly in-tune with what you want. It also ensures your thoughts are happy, positive, and you don’t let negativity or bad influences ruin your dreams.

Some of my goals that I started six years ago were:

Become a successful published writer
Have an amazing marriage with my best friend
Be able to travel often and to nice places
Live my ultimate dream (in a career I love: writing)

Those were my long term goals. Whenever I read them, I would sometimes get the voice in my head that said ‘yeah right.’ ‘It will never happen.’ ‘Might else well give up.’ But I just read, ignored the pessimism, and kept going. I’m not saying it happens fast, but if you put your dreams out into the world they DO come true if you believe.

I want to know what your goals are. Tell me below and write them down and read them every day to remind yourself :) Share what you want from life. x

Also, to help support your dreams coming true, I’ve created a few Magic Movies for you to watch and create your perfect life. There’s thousands of these on Youtube so pick and chose other great movies to bring what you want into your world. But here are a few that I created based on what I find works.

Mind Movie to bring WEALTH into your life.

Mind Movie to bring HEALTH into your life

Mind Movie to bring LOVE & DREAMS into your life

Mind Movie to bring GOOD KARMA & SERENITY into your life

I’ll also be adding more as time goes on, and if you have any suggestions on what you’d like to see in a movie, let me know. I can also do personalized ones (dependent on time.) So if you have any images or aspirations email me and I’ll see what I can do.

Have a great day everyone! xxx

Also if you want to see other videos, book trailers, and some previews on all my work they all listed below.

Trailer for Tears of Tess

Trailer for Quintessentially Q

Another Trailer for Quintessentially Q

Trailer for Twisted Together

Trailer for Preview on all my books

Playlist for Monsters in the Dark

Playlist for Debt Inheritance

Playlist for Destroyed

FORBIDDEN FLAWS COVER REVEAL

I’ve been dying to release this cover. I’m completely in love with it and hope you like it, too :)

 

There is a bit of confusion on release dates (the first part of the story will be released in the Boxset OWNED on the 10th November, however the remainder of the book will be a few weeks later and the date will be advised.)

Blurb:

Contemporary Erotic Romance

She’s forbidden.
Saffron Carlton is the darling of the big screen, starlet on the red carpet, and wife of mega producer Felix Carlton. Her life seems perfect with her overflowing bank balance, adoring fans, and luxury homes around the world. Everyone thinks they know her. But no one truly does.
The silver limelight is tainted the day the couple announce their divorce.

He’s flawed.
Raised in squalor, fed on violence and poverty, Cas Smith knows the underbelly of the world. He’s not looking for fame or fortune. He’s looking for a job to get him the hell away from the danger of illegal fighting, and comes face to face with the woman who ran all those years ago.
Unable to turn down her job offer, he agrees to be her bodyguard and personal trainer, all while she hides her secrets.

He had no intention of letting her back into his heart.
But neither of them were prepared for what happens when forbidden and flawed collide —fracturing the world they know, changing the rules forever.

 

GOODREADS

 

 

 

Q T-SHIRT, VIDEO & CHARITY for RAINN

Morning everyone :)

 

The sun is shining here and I’m about to get stuck into writing. I just wanted to let you know that I started a new Q campaign for those who missed out on the last one. Hoodies, t-shirts, tanks, and v-necks are available for a limited time.

 

 

 

 

To purchase JE SUIS Q’S ESCLAVE go HERE

To purchase JE SUIS A TOI go HERE

 

Also, I created a Video with all my releases, some of my favourite teasers, and some upcoming titles for the new year. To view go HERE

 

And, lastly there is another amazing Boxset that I’m super happy to be apart of called Playing with Fire. Just like the Breast Cancer awareness all proceeds of this boxset go toward RAINN

 

☆ANTHOLOGY PRE-ORDER ALERT☆

✯ Playing with Fire ✯
Twelve Romantic Suspense Novels that Sparked Bestselling Series …

12 Authors… 12 Bestselling Novels… Available for only 12 days starting Nov 4th! Available for Pre-Order NOW!

100% of the profits of this anthology go to
RAINN: Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network- the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization! 

Over 817,000 words and 2,200 pages for only $2.99! That’s the lowest price the retailer allows for such a large e-book! 

Grab it on Amazon now! Click here: http://amzn.to/1pqcPwz 

Go join the Facebook release party to stay up to date on the latest info! Join HERE!

Coming soon to Barnes & Noble Nook, iBooks, and Kobo!