Across the Beer Bar with Liz and Charlene Roberts!

Welcome to my Beer Bar Charlene! what can I pour you to start? (feel free to say whatever here but be prepared for a roast if it isn't beer!)
Well let's see--I have to admit that my favourite drink is Rum and Coke (I can't help that; I'm from the islands), but I will enjoy a Corona, please, thank you!
Smacks forehead...bounces head on desk...I make beer here.  It's BETTER than any of that watered down pseudo-Mexican crap...trust me.  Here (passes a Wolverine Premium lager across the bar). Drink. 
First and foremost, I want to know about the HOT TRAINER...details...lots of them please. and how the training itself is going.
Lol!! Nate is a wonderful trainer. I met him about 6-7 years ago (my gosh, where has the time gone?) At a gym I had joined. Unfortunately the gym closed, and I became one of his personal clients. We worked together for a couple of years until he was given the opportunity to run his own corporate wellness centre. But it was too far away for me to continue working with him. After about a year of training with other trainers, I decided to go back with Nate, but I had to do it via online training--sigh, it just isn't the same.
And as for the training, I have to admit it's been hard getting back into it. After taking a break I started up again in late November, but with the Christmas season here, I can't seem to ignore the treats. Bad me, I know. And here I want to compete in a fitness competition! Pretty hard to do when I want to eat Christmas cookies, brownies and all that other good stuff.
My trainer is also a Harlequin model. Here are a couple of his covers so you can get a good look at him.
 AIYEEEEEEEEE!  What the F$#@? a Harlequin model was your trainer and you let him get away?  REVOKES LADY CARD.  Seriously.  wow.  lucky girl.  I had a trainer for a while.  He was tres hot.  I did whatever he wanted just to get to the "ham string stretching" he indulged me with every time.  
What was the first book you had published?
My first book was Under Cover of Night, published in 2009. I had originally written it for Ellora's Cave's Horoscope Gem Series. September was sapphires, so I wrote my story based on that. The email from Ellora's Cave came through when I was at work and checking my personal emails during my lunch. When I saw the email I thought "Oh great another rejection", but then I read through it and it was an offer for a contract! The first person I called was my best friend, who screamed over the phone for me, since I couldn't do it without attracting my colleagues' attention. Lol
Then I found out later that my story was going to be a standalone book instead of being part of the anthology. Even better!
I'll spare you how much I want Ellora's Cave to pick up something of mine....still trying!
I'm very intrigued by A Gentleman's Savior.  Tell us how much a part art plays in your books.
AGS was part of EC's "Art of Love" series. I never had the idea of writing about art; it was just coincidental that the two stories I've published involved art. I like challenges, and the story had to be finished by a certain date and time. I pushed it right to the edge.
The story left an opening for a sequel, which I'm working on now. I'm hoping to finish it by the end of January.
Oops, empty glass! what's next?
I think I'm going to have my rum and coke.WRONG ANSWER. Here, drink this baltic porter: a rich, clean finishing roasty, kinda chocolate brew. Trust Me. I'm a Beer Wench.
What's in the WIP file for you?
Other than the sequel, I started the preliminary work on the third manuscript, so I'm hoping to make this a trilogy. I'm also working on a werewolf story that's half done and an erotic comedy. I'm also editing a Viking erotica manuscript with the goal of submitting it in January. Too many ideas, and not enough writing time.
What's on your bedside table--you know to READ?
A sci-fi series from Michelle Sagara called the Chronicles of Elantra. I'm on Book Four of the series.
Give us one sentence of advice for aspiring writers.
May I give two?1.     Don't give up--persistence does pay off.2.     Never stop learning. Enjoy it.
Okay nightcap time...what's your poison?
Ha! Baileys straight up! Thanks for inviting me Liz :)Oy.  Seriously. No.  Here, try the last of our bourbon barrel aged Oktoberfest.  Nectar in a glass. Now, give us some samples of your work!


BLURB from A Gentlemen's Savior:

When Stephanie's art teacher issues a challenge—create a painting based only on the torso of a human sculpture—she decides to paint a Regency lord. But with his muscular body, longer hair and a few well-placed scars, Stephanie's lord is definitely no Regency dandy. Her best work ever, the painting stirs an obsession Stephanie can't explain. Not content to wait for the next class, she visits the art center, just to get a peek at her lord. She touches the painting…
And suddenly finds herself in a bedroom in 1817 London, her lord standing behind her—very real, very naked and very ready to end Stephanie's sexual dry spell.
Before she can say "ton", Stephanie's indulging her desires with Gabriel, dressing in the height of Regency fashion and meeting the Prince Regent. But life in 1817 isn't all tea and crumpets. Stephanie soon learns she's reliving her past life—one that ended tragically. Thrust in the middle of a sinister plot, she must save the prince, save Gabriel…and if she's luckier this time around, save herself.
A Gentleman's Savior: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8556-a-gentlemans-savior.aspx

EXCERPT from A Gentlemen's Savior:
On Friday, Stephanie decided to go straight to the community center after work. The thought of not seeing her Regency lord until Wednesday bugged the shit out of her. She needed a visual dose of his taut, muscular body to keep her fantasies running strong over the weekend. At the center, Stephanie hurried inside, the silence in the building eerie. There was always something going on at the center, but since it was after hours, the hallways now stood empty. The classroom doors were all closed and the early evening twilight lengthened the shadows in the long, narrow corridor.Stephanie walked quickly, her heels clicking with swift purpose. If she couldn't find the janitor before he left for the weekend… She shook her head. It wasn't the end of the world for Christ's sake! It was only a painting, after all.A movement ahead and to her right caught her attention."Excuse me?" Stephanie called out, seeing the familiar blue coveralls. "I was wondering if you could help me."The old gentleman stopped and turned to look at her. "What is it?"It wouldn't be easy getting him to unlock the door. She would need to come up with a good reason. "I'm one of Leila Rowe's evening art students. I can't find my paintbrushes and I think I may have left them in the storeroom."The janitor sighed, rolling his eyes heavenward. "Come on." He led the way to the storeroom and pulled out a large ring of keys, taking his time selecting one. "You artsy folk can be a pain sometimes.""I beg your pardon? What are you talking about?" Stephanie demanded, standing aside as he swung the door open and flicked on the overhead light."I'm talking about your weird requests. In the fifteen years I've worked for the center, the Adults Arts Program is the strangest.""In what way?""I've seen my share of people just like you, coming in here at weird hours, asking for me to open the storeroom door so they can stare at their masterpieces.""What's wrong with that?""They always forget to turn off the light and latch the door so it locks behind them, that's what's wrong! I can't be standing here watching them 'ooh' and 'aah' over their paintings." He made a limp gesture with one hand.Stephanie managed to keep a straight face. "I'm only here to find what I want.""You'll remember to turn off the light and lock the door behind you?""I promise."The old man nodded and walked off.Stephanie walked in and shut the door behind her. Five easels stood in a row at the back of the storeroom, the paintings covered with sheets to protect them from prying eyes and careless fingers.She moved forward, not knowing which one was hers, and yet she walked purposefully toward the last easel to her right, partially cast in shadow. Lifting the sheet, Stephanie gazed at her naked hero, feeling the rush of pride and slight embarrassment as she stared at his body.His gaze almost seemed to beckon her to reach out and touch his warm skin, to kiss the full lips curved slightly upward with a mysterious smile, to grasp his cock in both hands and feel its silky skin glide over her fingers.Stephanie let out a small gasp—she hadn't realized she was holding her breath. Reaching out with one finger, she grazed her lord's cheek ever so slightly…
*****London, England, 1817Friday evening
"My love," murmured a low voice.Stephanie stood absolutely still, waiting until her eyesight adjusted to the dimness. She stood in front of a mirror and saw her wide, frightened gaze staring back at her but nothing else. "Who's there?" she whispered.A low, sensuous chuckle. "Oh, I think you know," said a deep voice. "You enticed me back to the house, remember?"A slight scraping of metal on metal and a flame grew brighter in an oil lamp. In the mirror's reflection, Stephanie gasped as a naked man stood behind her, his skin gleaming in the lamp's warm glow.As she slowly looked at the reflection of a four-poster bed, the man's clothes strewn across the floor, she felt a nauseating lump grow in her stomach.Stephanie could just glimpse a dark moustache and beard, trimmed to accent the man's sharp cheekbones. Long, dark hair, slightly disheveled, covered his shoulders. As for the rest of him—she knew what to expect, but still experienced the heated flush that overwhelmed her face as she took in the full sight of hard, muscular flesh. She couldn't see his eyes but she knew their color—the color of the lush green grass she had painted weeks earlier in her landscape painting.Stephanie closed her eyes, believing it was all a dream."Is something amiss?"She shook her head, opening her eyes. "No, I'm fine." And taking a deep breath, Stephanie turned around.His stance, the way he looked at her with that smile…His eyes.It was true.She was inside her painting!


BLURB Under Cover of Night:


RCMP Lieutenant Emma Parris, a former jewel thief, loves nothing more than the thrill of the chase. And the international jewel smuggler known as "The Broker" proves to be fascinating prey. But she isn't prepared for Gerard McIver, The Broker's devilishly handsome right-hand man, whose boyish smile and hot, muscular body may prove too much for Emma's sense of justice.Gerard knows that Emma Parris is more than just an innocent, naïve tourist. But he's torn between uncovering the truth, and uncovering Emma's delectable body…
Under Cover of Night - http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7337-under-cover-of-night.aspxEXCERPT Under Cover of Night: As Emma started to dance, Gerard felt heat prickle his skin. She's going to do a striptease, he thought in wonder. His cock swelled swiftly at the image, and he reached down to adjust himself."No touching.""But darling, I can't—""I can stop if you can't handle one simple rule."Gerard jerked his hands away. "I'm all yours.""Good." She continued her dance, her hips swaying in time to the slow beat, her arms gently rising and falling. Now and again, she'd suggestively touch her body—rubbing her hands across her breasts, spanking her ass or using her finger to trace an outline around her pussy.He sat transfixed as Emma sashayed across the floor, tempting him with peeks of smooth flesh as she flashed a shoulder here, her waist there. She would gaze at him coyly over her shoulder as she turned, or move so seductively close that he would unconsciously reach for her, only to grab air as she danced away, her laugh low and sexy.Her shirt inched up, her stomach taut and the color of café au lait, and Gerard suddenly realized that he had never seen Emma completely naked.With one smooth pull, she had the shirt off and tossed it to him. He caught it. He raised the material to his nose, inhaling her fresh scent, while he kept his gaze glued on the full breasts barely contained in the lacy coral bra, the nipples just peeking over the edge.Emma moved towards him, her hands massaging over her globes, her fingers dipping into the generous cleavage. "Like what you see so far?" she asked.Gerard tossed her shirt aside and lunged for her, but she jumped back, laughing. "Don't be impatient," she scolded, wagging her finger at him. "The best part is yet to come.""Fine," he growled, sitting back. "Get on with it.""Hmm, someone's grumpy."He deliberately let his eyes travel over her until she started to fidget under his intent stare. "I want my dessert."The sneakers came off next. By this time, the storm was in force, and Gerard rose to shut the windows against its onslaught. He tried to pass Emma, but she figured out his plan, keeping her distance until he returned to the sofa.The sound of the rain pattering against the windows was a romantic counterpart to the music flowing from the radio and although his lust felt as sharp as a knife, Gerard managed to relax further into the sofa, watching as Emma hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her fitted pants. With slow, deliberate movements, she eased one side down, then the other, until the material pooled at her feet. She gracefully stepped out of them, kicking them aside, and allowing Gerard to fully appreciate the lush body that stood before him.Her lingerie was a matched set, the color glowing against the candlelight. As she turned, he drew in a sharp breath, his hands clenching into tight sweaty fists. The panties were high-cut, only covering half of her tight ass as she wriggled."What do you think of my underwear?" she asked matter-of-factly. She actually twirled in front of him. "Do you like the color?""I—" Gerard couldn't speak. All he could think of was getting his hands on her, but it wasn't going to be easy, if she had her way. "It's very pretty," he managed to say, sounding like an idiot.But Emma seemed pleased. "I never get the chance to show off my girly things," she said.Gerard wanted to see all of her girly things.

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