Rebecca Sherwin's Blog, page 2

Pieces of Black by Ava Bellamy: Review & Questions

I met Ava through social networking recently and among her quirky blog posts and glorious man candy, I noticed she's released her debut collection, Pieces of Black, so I invited her over to the blog. Read my review and see what answers she gave to my ten questions below.



I dived straight into Pieces of Black, reading it in two days. I have to admit, it didn't have me hooked straight away; I persevered because there was something about it that did call to me. I really liked the idea of the story, and I think that's why I wouldn't give up on it and put it down. I'm glad I didn't.
Serena and Jason have been online friends for a year; she has always refused to meet him, but her best friend, Sarah eventually persuades her to go to Edinburgh. Jason is an erotic writer (and a shoe 'salesman'), Serena writes clean romance and wants to learn how to write sex scenes while observing Jason on one of the 'play dates' he blogs about. The story was original - it is separated into five parts, each one with a different steamy scene. The story was not far-fetched. People meet online friends face-to-face every day and it is the fact that the two main characters are smoking hot, with their own money and steaming sexual chemistry that makes this story sparkle. Jason is an athlete in the bedroom and Serena discovers she is a closet voyeur.



I struggled with how Serena was a prude one moment and insatiable the next, but when I reflected back, I realised it ties in well with the sub plot. Serena's husband. It was a twist I didn't see coming. Again, I wondered why their story as a married couple wasn't developed and why Serena called him 'my husband, never giving him a name, but it is explained later on and is unexpected!

Overall, it earns four stars because while I found some parts choppy and felt some aspects could have been developed further and in more detail, I enjoyed the concept, the sex, the interweaving plots and I wanted to know if Jason and Serena got their happy ending.
That is yet to be discovered in Scattered Stones, the next instalment; the story of Parker, Jason's brother.
In the meantime, Pieces of Black is well worth the read and highly recommended.

Pieces of Black for Kindle
Pieces of Black Paperback


Let's get personal...
1. Describe yourself in 3 words.
Happy, driven and passionate
2. What would the title of your autobiography be?
The Girl Who Always Said Yes...In a non-slutty way of course
3. Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
That is a tough one but I will go with a frivolous one to ease you into my world.
I can't skip. I know it's ridiculous but my brain can't work my feet when I try. I just stand there dumbfounded when someone gets me to prove it. I am sure I could do it as a child but, now I can't. I'd love to be able to skip through the autumn leaves.
4. It's the weekend and you're celebrating with friends/family. What song do you put on to get the party started?
P!nk probable, depends on what's careering around my head. At the moment I can't get Pharell Williams' Happy out of my head and every time I hear it, I am dancing around to it. The guys at work just roll their eyes as I charm whoever is on the phone while wiggling my ass to the song on the radio.
5. What is the one material possession you couldn't live without?
iPhone, no contest.
I was posed a question the other day "what would you grab if you woke up and the house was on fire?" iPhone I say. Apparently the answer should have been the other half's hand. Hmmm, oops!
6. True or false? All's fair in love and war?
False. Stand by your morals no matter what. When at war or in love, those morals should stay in place. Always.
However, if we are at war over a bag of Maltesers I might slip those morals in my pocket for a second or two and use the art of deflection to get them.
7. You're stranded on a desert island. What three things do you need to stay sane?
Practical head, box of matches...iPhone.
8. Is the glass half empty or half full? 
Half full. I've always been Little Miss Optimistic, much to others' annoyance.
9. What is in it?
Ha! Love this question. Daytime it will be coffee, evening peppermint tea and dancing will be vodka. Neat with ice and a squeeze of lime. Unless I'm at a Rugby match, then it will be pints of cider. Very unladylike. But when you are screaming and hollering from the stands, ladylike goes out the window.
10. True or false? Man is an island.
True. Yes he is, in my opinion. I think once you work that out, life with a man becomes that much easier!

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Words of A Season by Lisa Fulham: Review and Questions

Ignorance is bliss, right? Wrong. As an avid reader and writer, I follow hundreds of writers on Twitter. You can't possibly click on every link every author posts and for that reason, some amazing work gets overlooked.
I'm not proud to say Lisa Fulham was one of them. I've followed her for a long time; she was one of my 'people you should follow' follows. I'm grateful for everyone I meet through social networking and am super excited to be meeting Lisa next month for cocktails and no doubt countless laughs. If you don't follow her, you should. She is a beautiful lady inside and out.
I missed her links for far too long; until I joined the VoElla Ladies Club. Lisa is a VoE Cheerleader and after clicking on her bio it was a light bulb 'oh heck, you write?!' kind of moment.
And boy, can she write. Her blog is full of poetry and posts that will have you going through her archive to make sure you haven't missed anything.




I read Lisa's debut novella, Out on Business last year and it got five sparkly stars for the steamy sex, glorious spanking, the hot boss in a suit, train sex...Need I go on? Didn't think so. Click the title and go buy it!

And then came Words of A Season. Until recently I'd skipped poetry, preferring to lose myself in a full length novel that took me all day and night to read. But the micropoetry on Twitter, picture captions and blog posts from the likes of Lisa Fulham got me intrigued and I'm now a proud poetry reader.
As Lisa mentions in the foreword of her collection, although Words of A Season has a winter theme, 'don't mistake a theme for a limitation.' It is split into four parts; Snow, Darkness, Depths and Love.
Each poem is different, one poem transitions fluidly into the next, making the book impossible to put down. I read it in one sitting. The way Lisa captures emotion and wraps it up in words that are beautifully haunting and powerfully real kept me hooked and I swiped my finger over the screen after the last poem and wanted more, much more - Maybe another collection?

Lisa writes erotica; it's her chosen genre, but Words of A Season is not erotic, yet lends itself to the same mood that erotica creates. When it comes to erotica I'm fussy; it isn't 'I love you's I look for, but the power of sex captured with words. Sex is never emotionless and it is cultivating those emotions and applying them to something to a piece of writing with no act of sex that, for me, is the mark of a great writer. That is what Lisa does. She uses her natural ability to awaken your senses and makes the simplest, otherwise insignificant things beautiful.
'So consumed in her question
She did not hear
The rose scream in pain
So distracted was she
She had forgotten
The rose lived too.'



Words of A Season gets five stars from me because I felt every emotion as I was transported to travel through every scene. The images were vivid; the pain, the longing, the love felt real and I was left searching for snowflakes when I looked up from my Kindle.


I have taken three pictures from Lisa's Twitter feed that she put words to, to share with you. Read, enjoy, remember and go and buy Words of A Season.



I want you To reduce me To a quivering  Wreck Before you lay Your hands on me I want you voice Your words To own me

You take me to the brink My edge And keep me there You make me plead You make me beg For the release I need From you

We danced to our own rhythm Howling to the moon and stars Bodies drenched With our carnal need To ravish one another

Let's get personal...1. Describe yourself in 3 words.Annoying, Opinionated and Loyal2. What would the title of your autobiography be? She Said What??????3. Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you?I have twelve toes lol. No, I'm only joking. I recently shocked a friend into silence by telling him that I had never watched porn, which was pretty funny. I know Judo, which is something that surprises most people.4. It's the weekend and you're celebrating with friends/family. What song do you put on to get the party started?Easy, that would be Jump Around by House of Pain *Every time I read this answer I have to put the song on!*5. What is the one material possession you couldn't live without?Pen and paper (they go together so it only counts as one lol) if I couldn't write I'd lose part of my soul.6. True or False? All's fair in love and war.Hell to the true. I'm a take no prisoners type lol VERY competitive.7. You're stranded on a desert island. What three things do you need to stay sane?A friend, pen and paper and a knife to release my rage on bits of wood as I hacked at them ;) I hate waiting you see.8. Is the glass half empty or half full? Hummm I'd love to say half full but I am somewhat of a pessimist, so half empty ;(9. What is in it?Hope, love, happiness and Sambucca, now that's a cocktail. 10. True or false? Man is an island.False. Man is a collection of messed up individuals that creates one melting pot of randomness.
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Perfect Pleasures by Cameron Lincoln: Review

I'm super happy to be reviewing the awesome work of Mr Cameron Lincoln. I couldn't put the book down once I started and it's taken me longer to write the review than it did to read the book. Sometimes when you find a book that has you hooked, it's hard to put it into words and feel like you've done it justice. Read my review and what Cam had to say when I sent him my ten questions.




“You’re vanilla,” she whispered as she left him behind,To bare everything to one who would appreciateWhat it was to share so fully that bodiesAnd minds had no limits…
Perfect Pleasures is a collection of poetry and short stories by Cameron Lincoln. I read Maria Unchained last year and cannot believe I hadn’t read more of his work before diving into Perfect Pleasures last week. Cameron has a captivating way with words, truly displaying erotica in its most romantic and beautiful form.
The poetry is crafted with finesse, creating such vivid imagery that is seldom found in full length novels. Every line, pause and verse cemented the fact that, for me, Cameron Lincoln is an artist with words. Give a painter a paint brush he’ll paint you a picture - give Cameron a pen and he will create words that call to the depths of your imagination, and your secret fantasies and desires.


His poetic style was consistent in his stories. Every story is different and each new tale is as enchanting as the last and sweet Jesus they are hot! There is something for everyone; sex outdoors, sex in front of a camera, an appetising banquet (it’s not what you think!), nylons, restraints… I could continue, but I urge you to buy the book and see for yourself just how versatile Mr Lincoln is. He stepped outside the comfort zone many writers call home and I’m convinced the paper it’s printed on struggles to take the heat, in this anthology of erotic genius.
I think the hardest question a reader can be asked is: ‘what is your favourite?’ and for that reason, I don’t have favourites.I made an exception this time and will tell you that Focus , the exclusive story for the collection, was my favourite piece of the seven poems and seven other stories in Perfect Pleasures. Sometimes a piece of writing makes an impact; there’s no technical reason why, no checklist to follow; it just stays with you, and Focus really stood out to me. The story of Richard and Stephanie and the variety of their sex life, the comfort of their relationship and the snowy day where they found Simon and Eleanor, is what stayed with me and what I think will appeal to many, whether because of experience, lack of experience… or some steamy wishful thinking and has what I will call the Cameron Lincoln stamp of quality. Take it from someone who read it in a coffee shop and was interrupted by a squeaky voice asking, ‘What’s that you’re reading?’ that it should be read in private. The woman (who I later found out was reading over my shoulder while I was curled up on the sofa with my vanilla latte) was not what I had in mind for Stephanie and I read it again when I got home.


To get to the point, Perfect Pleasures is descriptive, it’s fluid, it’s beautifully written with talent and flare, and it will have you squirming. It is a little treasury, 178 pages of beautiful and raunchy, tender and carnal romantic erotica that should be tried out by readers willing to explore a world of pleasurable perfection.

Buy Perfect Pleasures for Kindle Buy Perfect Pleasures in Paperback
Let's get personal...1. Describe yourself in 3 words.Caring. Passionate. Gentleman.2. What would the title of your autobiography be?How Do You Like It?3. Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you.I'm not actually Batman. Or am I?4. It's the weekend and you're celebrating with friends/family. What song do you put on to get the party started?Party Hard - Andrew W.K5. What is the one material possession you couldn't live without?I had to avoid answering a similar question with 'my smartphone', and I went with a fountain pen and pad so I can always keep up with ideas. I'm sticking with that!6. True or false? All' fair in love and war.False. There should be honour in everything, as foolhardy a concept as that can be. Too many hearts are broken, and lives lost, due to malice aforethought.7. You're stranded on a desert island. What three things do you need to stay sane?A Kindle loaded with a ton of books, the aforementioned pad and pen, and a photo of my lady.8. Is the glass half empty or half full?Half full, more often that not.9. What is in it?Wine, please!10. True or false? Man is an island.False. Though the need for some solitude is essential, it's infinitely more important to have other around you to support you through the bad time, and to laugh with when they're good.

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Ms Anonymous ~ Author Spotlight

Time for another author spotlight. I love these things!
I met Ms Anonymous on Twitter a little while back and want to bring her awesomeness to the blog. She's given us a little background into her story 'Civil' and answered the ten fun questions I will now be asking all of the victims here.
So without further ado, I give to you...

Ms Anonymous

Ms Anonymous is a 30-something year old gamer, sci-fi geek and an IT professional as well as an author currently residing in the North Texas area.  She has a deep-seeded love for all things anime, Mafia and abnormal, plus a mild addiction to her twitter account.  She has always regarded books as an escape from the world that we actually live in, so she strives to make her stories something completely different. Something that can take you away from what you are currently living and put you into the world that her mind has created.  But be prepared, she writes for every page to suck the breath from your body, kick you in the gut, maybe break a rib or three.  She wants you strapped to the edge of your seat and she won’t settle for anything less…

A little about her story...
“Civil” is actually a story that I’ve written, scrapped and re-written several times.  The title is a reference to two things, actually: First, the brewing civil war between the humans, the fae, the shifters and the vampires.  Second, there is a club, not yet revealed on the blog but already written, called Civil, where a rather pivotal scene takes place between several of the main characters.My first female protagonist, Chloe, is a kick-ass woman.  She is strong-willed, short-tempered and logical to a fault, the woman that you’d want managing your armies and planning your full-frontal attacks, because she’s the one that will make sure that no one dies.  She values life, sometimes more than she thinks that she should, but there’s nothing that she can do about that.  Instead, she has proven herself enough that she can call her own shots, do the right thing instead of simply following orders.  She’s not really good at following orders anyway…Owen, the first male protagonist that you meet, is a vampire.  He is also a spoiled, rich, lead singer in an insanely popular rock band called Profane Persuasion, and a slut of pretty epic proportions.  We meet him right around the time where he’s trying to change that last bit.  He is an interesting one.  There are flashes of him that seem to show a good heart somewhere under all of that machismo and pig-headedness.  But, sometimes he forgets that he’s a good guy.  Sometimes, he falls back into old, bad habits.Noah is the second male protagonist that you meet, a shifter of the panther tigris flavor.  His back-story, something that isn’t dwelled on but is explained, is a sad one that incites sympathy, especially from Chloe, since they share the title of orphans.  He is also the first… I don’t want to say victim, it sounds like he dies… recipient?  Okay, the first recipient of Chloe’s more-than-human.  His first scene with her is the first major look at what makes her different.There is another character, a female… But she hasn’t been introduced on the blog yet, so I’ll leave her out of it.  She’ll be up to bat in chapter 14…
This world that they live in is dark, sexy and violent.  It’s not for the faint of heart or the weak minded.  This is a city that will ride you hard and put you up wet without a second thought.  It’s the perfect backdrop for characters who, even in their lightest moments, still have that edge of darkness that makes people wary of them, even if it’s not a conscious decision.  But they will have to pull together on this one, or everything they know and love will go to shit.  The question is, with tempers and egos flaring, will they be able to in time.  Or will they be too late, and will you as the reader simply be subjected to watching the world implode as you stand by helplessly and watch in horror.Let's get personal...            1. Describe yourself in 3 words
Random.  Impatient.  Determined.2. What would the title of your autobiography be?"Finding Her Alacrity In Impetuosity & Caliginosity"(That title just taught you at least three new words, didn't it? My work here is done...)3. Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you.(Well that’s easy, seeing as how I am Ms Anonymous, so very little is known about me)  I am actually rather shy when it comes to new people and face-to-face situations.  I’m always afraid I’ll slip up and say something stupid, so I usually just stay quiet and keep to myself and people I know already.4. It's the weekend and you're celebrating with friends/family. What song do you put on to get the party started? If I’m picking without concern for others, something foreign, usually.  Probably Korean.  Probably pop.  Like, Shinhwa’s “Venus”.  If I’m being considerate, and picking English, something fun, like Justin Timberlake’s “Let The Groove Get In”.5. What is the one material possession you couldn't live without?I’d have to say my cell phone.  I’m forgetful, so it has all of my reminders for birthdays, appointments, phone numbers addresses… everything.  It’s also how I keep up with my twitter during the day, so I’m not overwhelmed when I get home from work.  It has my alarms to get me up for work in the morning (and I am not even slightly a morning person, so this is good).  And, it has GPS, which is great for the whole not-getting-lost thing.6. True or false? All's fair in love and war.I think it’s false.  All is not fair in either situation.  Fighting dirty, being a jerk about how you treat anyone, in love or war, will get innocent people hurt.  And that is not even remotely “fair”.7. You're stranded on a desert island. What three things do you need to stay sane?A large bladed weapon of some kind (to defend myself and chop things for shelter and food), a well made blanket (I hate being cold) and a really cute, intelligent guy to be stranded with me (so I have someone to talk to and to… um… stuff).8. Is the glass half empty or half full?My glass pissed me off and I threw it across the room, shattering it to bits years ago. Are we talking about your glass? Okay, let's talk about your glass. It's half full. Because, optimism.9. What is in it?Jagermeister.  Now, here’s what you do: Go find someone whose glass has peach schnapps and someone else who has cranberry juice.  Then come find me, and I will show the three of you how to make this awesome shooter called a Red Headed Slut.  Trust me, it’s awesome, you’ll thank me. (I'm thanking you already! I'll be trying this!)10. True or false? Man is an island.I think man status as an island or not an island is individual.  If you choose to isolate yourself from everyone and everything, like said island, than yes, that man is an island.  But, if you choose to get up, go out there and grab life by the proverbial balls, there’s no way that man is an island.  Life will come to him, and he’ll be surrounded by it.
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Semblance by Logan Patricks : Author Spotlight and Review

Alright. Before I get down to the review, I want to spend a little time on the wonderful Logan Patricks. I’ve followed his blog for some time, a member of his ‘exclusive list’ and boy do I get excited when I see his name pop up in my inbox. The most recent being entitled ‘whip me’ (a post about getting his butt in gear to get book 2 drafted...out of the gutter, now)Anyway, without further ado, I give to you...Logan Patricks
Who is Logan Patricks?Logan discovered both love and heartbreak at the tender age of seven, when the pretty little blue-eyed girl next door stole his Kit-Kat bar and shared it with the bad boy from across the street. Devastated, Logan found solace by escaping into imaginary worlds he forged with words, creating kingdoms where the chivalrous knight always got the princess.Twenty three years later Logan spends his days in a suit and tie, working for the government on matters of network security. However his thoughts never strayed too far from the incendiary nature of love — the passionate fire that’s both scintillating and dangerous. Obsessed with exploring the steamy and mysterious side of human nature, Logan continues to create worlds filled with thrills, mystery, and of course, sex.
Intrigued? I was too. If you don’t follow Logan’s blogwhich consists of stories of his shameful escapades, laugh out loudable sarcasm and dry wit, and updates on The Midnight Society, I urge you to become acquainted with him. Right now. After you’ve read the review and downloaded Semblance. You can find Logan’s links and where you can read a sneak preview from Semblance at the bottom of the post.
Now, down to business. Semblance was my first read of 2014 and my god did it start this year’s fictional journey off with a bang.I turned the last page and was smacked in the face with a whopping book hangover. I had the racing heart, the tear tracks, more tears falling, and a mammoth headache.This story was complete fuckery of the mind, body and soul and I loved every second of it.

Whoever said money couldn't buy happiness has never starved a day in their lives.
My name is Aria Valencia, a third year classical music student at the University, and I was down to my last dollar. Some nights, I seriously considered stripping at the Skin Bar just to make ends meet, but the thought of my dad's spirit--God rest his soul--scowling at me while I shoved my breasts into some pervert's face was enough to turn me off the idea completely.
And then one night, chance came knocking on my door under the guise of the Midnight Society, a secret cabal comprised of the most wealthy and influential souls this side of the Universe. Their leader was a man named Shadow, who was equally enigmatic as he was gorgeous and, for some mystifying reason, had his dark brooding eyes focused on me.
Seduced by the promises of fame and fortune in exchange for a seemingly innocent request, I soon found myself drawn into a provocative world filled with both vast riches and unending lies and it didn't take long for me to realize what being a part of the Midnight Society actually entailed: shiny things, hot sex, and dead bodies.
There's a dark side to every love story, and this one was mine.

Quotes*'…I hit the first note, creating an instant bond between my mind and my art. I closed my eyes and allowed the spirit of the music to possess me, my hands no longer my own, but an extension of the piano itself. I was its vessel – its mistress – and the intimacy we shared was filled with majestic music…'*'I wanted these moments we had together to mean just as much to Shadow as they did to me. I wanted him to look at me as I looked at him – as the person who captured my heart.'*'After enduring that nightmare, how could I ever think about touching a piano again? … Today, my desires to play music died along with my best friend.'*“Shadow please," I said, reaching out to him again."Just tell me you love me," he said. "that’s all I need from you." His face was red from strain, his voice hoarse."I love you," I said without hesitation.I saw peace on Shadow’s face as he closed his eyes, accepting that this was the end. If he was going to die, I wanted to join him.
Shadow Tremaine and Aria Valencia were two people from completely different worlds. Their collision was that of fate and intervention. And I fell in love with them instantly.
We see Aria as a broke music student, trying to make ends meet, feed her growling stomach and live out the dream she shared with her father. She meets Shadow and instantly goes from having nothing to having the world at her feet. But there are two sides to every coin and she finds herself immersed into the world of the Midnight Society; a world of power and money, but one with danger, murder and secrets.
Logan Patricks created a complex plot that had me hooked from the first page. The way he told a thrilling love story that was enchanting, haunting and intoxicating was genius and Semblance is by far the best romantic thriller I have ever read. I read and review books left, right and centre and this story just captured me.I know Logan worked tirelessly (and I believe his wife did too!) to produce this story and I cannot commend him enough for creating a tale that left me breathless.The sex was hot, the pain felt real, the anticipation was palpable and the mystery around Shadow and the bewildering Midnight Society was impeccably written, giving you just enough to have you begging for more.
I loved Aria’s voice. She’s strong, smart and her snarky attitude had me chuckling while the suspense was high. To find a writer who can make you laugh while your heart is racing in anticipation is rare.And Shadow…I don’t even know what to say about Shadow. He’s dark and brooding, mysterious and dangerous, but he was loveable and sexy as hell. Even his flaws were alluring. His love and need to protect Aria is again something Logan did with finesse and originality.The thick, intertwining plot, and the development of every character encountered throughout, is what had me still swiping my finger across the screen in the early hours of the morning.
Logan created a gothic world of murder, mystery and dangerous love and made it real. It earns a huge five stars from me and I’ll be going back to read it again before the release of book two this spring.
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SemblanceAmazon UKAmazon USGoodreadsSneak PreviewBreathless (Original song by L. Patricks, as featured in Semblance)]

Review: Secrets of a Broken Girl, A prequel

Secrets of a Broken Girl : A Prequel to Succumbing to Scars and Sorrow my Mary E. Palmerin


Secrets of a Broken Girl is to the prequel to the debut novel Succumbing to Scars and Sorrow by Mary E. Palmerin.We see Lyla just months before she is due to leave her hometown of Rigdon, Kansas and move to Chicago. She goes to school, does her homework and is at the top of her class, but it is the insights into her already troubled past, the conflict that resides in her mind and the terrible ordeals she faces in those final months that make this short read emotionally raw and tragic, yet full of hope.

The author writes a heartbreaking tale that echoes something many women experience. She is faced with being ostracised, suffers from low self-esteem, no confidence and has a desire to be like all the other girls in school. She believes she is unworthy of love and friendship and many a tear was shed because I wanted to tell her everything would be okay. My heart broke again and again as Lyla sank further into her depression as more pressure and pain were piled on top of her. I smiled when she found her strength to fight back and found myself counting down the months with her until she got her fresh start in Chicago.

This story was emotional and full of angst. It is written impeccably and while it isn’t for the feint-hearted, it gets you thinking, sitting on the edge of your seat and rooting for the underdog. It is not an easy read but it’ll have you hooked and emotional from the first page. It is a five star must read and I highly recommend it, along with the rest of The Sorrow Series.
Click the titles below to buySecrets of a Broken GirlSuccumbing to Scars and Sorrow

Street Teams

It has been brought to my attention recently (okay, someone sat down and put it all in Layman’s terms for me) that street teams are the way forward.

I have said it from the beginning of my publishing journey, I hate promoting. Not because I can’t be bothered, or because I don’t want people reading my books. But because I don’t want to ram myself down people’s throats. As a reader I rely on recommendations and reviews to download a book. If people want to post links for their books all day, then fine. Each to their own and I will never judge. But it’s not me.
I prefer to connect with readers on a personal level instead of saying ‘my book is the best thing you’ll ever read, tell everyone you know.’ You will never please all the people all the time and I refuse to delude myself into believing that everyone who picks up my book will love it, and I make myself cringe when I find myself saying, ‘oh hey, I wrote a book. Please read it.’ I don’t want that. I’m cringing just think about myself in a white fur coat with a gold chain and diamond teeth, pimping myself ‘til my throat is sore.
I have my beautiful pimps, and you girls look amazing in that fur ;) so I wanted to try and do something special. I’m not always tagged in conversations, but I see them and I love that people are spreading the story of Deacon and Jenna. The promotional sale saw over ten thousand copies of Second Chance Hero downloaded in five days, and it reached #10 in the Kindle chart. I am humbled and grateful and still shocked that it happened.
So to the point of today’s post. I want to bring everyone together, I guess kind of like a street team, but in truth, I have no idea if I’m doing this right so we’ll do it our own way. I’m tired of showing my appreciation for all of your support with an RT and a ‘thank you!’ reply. It isn’t enough. The group of girls who shout out and spread the word have become my friends and that is more important to me than getting 30% of 77p/99c, believe me.I want to put together a ‘Folquay Family’ (no, that is not the official name). Your support means the world to me. I honestly can’t put it into words. So yes, you will be helping to promote Second Chance Hero and any other little bits I post, but more importantly you will be joining a network of incredibly supportive people who love to read stories from all ends of the fictional spectrum. For more information, send an email to missrsherwin@gmail.com and we’ll get some swag up and running, maybe a little party and some chocolate. I have a few ideas, but I’m a ‘fuck it, let’s wing it’ kind of girl. If you’re interested in joining the family, don’t be shy; families are diverse, quirky and have members scattered all over the world. What more could you want?Love and kisses,
xx

Secret Societies - Or Whatever They're Calling it These Days

It has been brought to my attention recently (okay, someone sat down and put it all in Layman’s terms for me) that ‘secret societies’ are the way forward.

I have said it from the beginning of my publishing journey, I hate promoting. Not because I can’t be bothered, or because I don’t want people reading my books. But because I don’t want to ram myself down people’s throats. As a reader I rely on recommendations and reviews to download a book. If people want to post links for their books all day, then fine. Each to their own and I will never judge. But it’s not me.
I prefer to connect with readers on a personal level instead of saying ‘my book is the best thing you’ll ever read, tell everyone you know.’ You will never please all the people all the time and I refuse to delude myself into believing that everyone who picks up my book will love it, and I make myself cringe when I find myself saying, ‘oh hey, I wrote a book. Please read it.’ I don’t want that. I’m cringing just think about myself in a white fur coat with a gold chain and diamond teeth, pimping myself ‘til my throat is sore.
I have my beautiful pimps, and you girls look amazing in that fur ;) so I wanted to try and do something special. I’m not always tagged in conversations, but I see them and I love that people are spreading the story of Deacon and Jenna. The promotional sale saw over ten thousand copies of Second Chance Hero downloaded in five days, and it reached #10 in the Kindle chart. I am humbled and grateful and still shocked that it happened.
So to the point of today’s post. I want to bring everyone together, I guess kind of like a street team, but in truth, I have no idea if I’m doing this right so we’ll do it our own way. I’m tired of showing my appreciation for all of your support with an RT and a ‘thank you!’ reply. It isn’t enough. The group of girls who shout out and spread the word have become my friends and that is more important to me than getting 30% of 77p/99c, believe me.I want to put together a ‘Folquay Family’ (no, that is not the official name). Your support means the world to me. I honestly can’t put it into words. So yes, you will be helping to promote Second Chance Hero and any other little bits I post, but more importantly you will be joining a network of incredibly supportive people who love to read stories from all ends of the fictional spectrum. For more information, send an email to missrsherwin@gmail.com and we’ll get some swag up and running, maybe a little party and some chocolate. I have a few ideas, but I’m a ‘fuck it, let’s wing it’ kind of girl. If you’re interested in joining the family, don’t be shy; families are diverse, quirky and have members scattered all over the world. What more could you want?Love,
Bex
xx

My Christmas Gift To You

Christmas is my favourite time of year. I love the build up, the dark evenings, the cheesy movies and the giving. I love to give and I love the look on my friends and family's faces when they unwrap their gifts.

Unfortunately I can't wrap Deacon Reid up with a bow on top and ship him to all of you, but I can do something else.
So for five days, Second Chance Hero is free.
Christmas Day is an important day in the story. It's the day where the story begins and I want to share it with you for free so you can spend your hard earned pennies on your loved ones, and still have Deacon in your hands for the holidays.
Want to know what it's all about? Click here


Second Chance Hero is available for free on Smashwords as of today and you will be able to download it from the Amazon store between 19-23 December.
If you have read it already, I thank you. If not, snap up the story that is being described as a sexy, heart-warming emotional roller coaster and don't forget to share it with your family and friends!



Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon AU
Smashwords
Try before you buy! Free samples can be downloaded from the links above. Get a taste of Deacon and Jenna's story.

Gratis Anthology ~ Spotlight

I’m happy to introduce nine erotic writers to my blog - they have come together and written contributions to the Gratis Anthology. I will be posting my review soon, but for now you can meet each of the authors and find out what they have contributed to this must-read  free  winter collection out today. Click the links below to get your copy!



Gratis: Midwinter Tales“Christmas has come early: Nine writers work together to create the must-read Free Holiday release of 2013. Every one of the twelve stories contained within Gratis : Midwinter Tales serves as a satisfying bite out of each author’s repertoire, to tempt and seduce and sweep you off your feet. Our stories comfortably straddle both erotica and romance genres and cover a variety of themes. Some are innocent, others seek to force you to your knees, but all have something in common: they’ll make you feel.Gratis : Midwinter Tales comprises works by Chloe Thurlow, E.A. Chapterhouse, Elizabeth Woodham, Hedonist Six, Jason Jaxx, Kay Jaybee, KM Dylan, Livilla Sanders and M.J. Carey. We hope you’ll find a new favourite author, or nine, within these pages.”Meet the writers and their stories: Snow Falls Softly by  Chloe Thurlow
It is the night when Jools feels as if she is gripped in the hands of destiny, a night of uncontrollable passion, a love so deep it feels as if her soul is bursting. It begins to snow as Josh takes her in his arms and kisses her eyes, her neck. He draws her top over her head and her breath catches as his long kiss caresses the hollow of her throat. In two days, Josh will marry another woman unless Jools can convince him to stay or the snow that falls and keeps falling prevents him from going.In the Mood by  E.A. Chapterhouse  
In the mood: A moment in time, as if unfolding a calendar to find a secret day within, EAC and the Muse go to a celebration for a legend of the big band era. Their shared moment is captured by memories, sounds, colours and an intruding photographer.Wicked Games by  Elizabeth Woodham
I adore writing and work in a number of genres. Writing erotica is stimulating; I like to explore age-gap scenarios and feature older man, younger woman relationships in ‘It’s a Sin’ and ‘Eleanor’. ‘Wicked Games’, my contribution to Gratis: Midwinter Tales, is driven by a desire to share a little of Matthew Fletcher’s backstory. Told from more than one point of view, my aim is to take you deep inside his character. We first meet Matthew in ‘Eleanor’, a novella, where he introduces Eleanor Grant to control, dominance, bindings, and wild sex, in an escalation of wicked games. Matthew and Eleanor’s story continues in ‘Falconworth’, an erotic tale set in a medieval manor, sprinkled with a dusting of history and mystery, due for release in 2014.Virgin by  Hedonist Six
After nearly four years with Jeff, everything fell apart. I found myself single, scared, but somehow liberated as well. Rather than stumble into another ill advised relationship, my best friend Sally helped me find focus. I would spend the next few months “finding myself” sexually. That’s how The Rebound List was born.And -this- is how my journey begins: with a virgin. Number one on my naughty bucket list…What (or whom) would you do to celebrate your freedom after your first serious relationship breaks down?White (Lights Out) by Jason Jaxx 
A late night walk through the snow finds Jack alone with thoughts of love, lust, pain and possibility.A Pair Well Met, Blinked and The New Year Dancers by Kay Jaybee 
How long would you wait in the cold on New Year’s Eve in the hope of getting a glimpse of an erotic ceremony that might not even happen? In The New Year Dancers a new sexual acolyte is adopted in the mists of a midnight forest. An arranged marriage takes an unexpected twist in A Pair Well Met, a force fantasy retelling of A Taming of the Shrew, and something not entirely human is in control in Blinked…but what is it…The Future First Lady of France by KM Dylan 
Fashion supermodel Katie Wolfer’s scandalous journey of sexual awakening takes a sharp turn as her charismatic fiancée, Victor de Goncourt, begins campaigning to be elected the president of France. His baleful grandmother, the Duchess, demands that Katie clean up her act, and Katie wonders, does she have what it takes to be the first lady of France?This story picks up where the first two volumes of Katie’s fictionalized erotic memoirs (the Cult of Beauty series) leave off, but it stands on its own.Irrecusable by  Livilla Sanders 
‘Irrecusable’, my contribution to Gratis: Midwinter Tales, is told by Kate Parkinson. She encounters the alluring sexual force that is Séverine Rogers, a star character who features in ‘Cassie’s Call’, and the focus of my forthcoming novel ‘Séverine’. Kate is persuaded to attend a New Year celebration, and is targeted by the charming and charismatic Séverine, who embarks on a captivating seduction abundant with erotic possibilities, exposing a compelling world of secret desire she has only ever dreamed of.Glove by M.J. Carey 
In a moment of calm, away from the hustle of the day before Christmas eve, a woman lays a tribute to her dead lover in the cemetery. Her memories are bitter-sweet, his hold upon her still as strong as ever. She knows she needs to finish mourning and find her way back to life. A young man watches her as she reflects upon the past. She sees him.A Penheligon Christmas by M.J. Carey 
Set on Christmas day 1998, a few years before the events in the novel: House of Penheligon: Danielle’s rules, this short story tells the origin of Lizzie, maidservant to the House. Alicia Penheligon has returned from London and is keen to play Santa Claus to her sister Danielle, her cousin Imogene and the rest of the household.Where can you buy this sexy little collection of erotic festiveness, I hear you ask? Click on the links below!
http://bookShow.me/B00GVG59M6  (Amazon: redirects to the correct country site automatically)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gratis-hedonist-six/1117564393?ean=2940045469951
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/gratis-1
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gratismidwintertales-1359774-166.html
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381167
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chloe_Thurlow_Gratis_Midwinter_Tales?id=TFooAgAAQBAJ