Romance Excerpts Only Blog

Warm Up Your Winter II - 'The Snow Bride' now out at Amazon

2012-01-26T07:42:00.000-05:00

She is Beauty, but is he the Beast?

Elfrida, spirited, caring and beautiful, is also alone. She is the witch of the woods and no man dares to ask for her hand in marriage until a beast comes stalking brides and steals away her sister. Desperate, the lovely Elfrida offers herself as a sacrifice, as bridal bait, and she is seized by a man with fearful scars. Is he the beast?

In the depths of a frozen midwinter, in the heart of the woodland, Sir Magnus, battle-hardened knight of the Crusades, searches ceaselessly for three missing brides, pitting his wits and weapons against a nameless stalker of the snowy forest. Disfigured and hideously scarred, Magnus has finished with love, he thinks, until he rescues a fourth 'bride', the beautiful, red-haired Elfrida, whose innocent touch ignites in him a fierce passion that satisfies his deepest yearnings and darkest desires.

Now out at Bookstrand Publishing 2011
Order here.

Now out at Amazon, too!
Buy the ebook:

Amazon Kindle (US)
Amazon Kindle (UK)
Bookstrand

Read Chapter One

Here is another new excerpt to tempt you:

Elfrida stirred sluggishly, unable to remember where she was. Her back ached, and the rest of her body burned. She opened her eyes and sat up with a jerk, thinking of Christina.

Her head felt to be bobbing like an acorn cup in a stream, and her vision swam. As she tried to swing her legs, her sense of dizzy falling increased, becoming worse as she closed her eyes. She lashed out in the darkness, her flailing hands and feet connecting with straw, dusty hay, and ancient pelts.

“Christina?” she hissed, listening intently and praying now that the monster had brought her to the same place it had taken her sister.

She heard nothing but her own breath, and when she held that, nothing at all.

“Christina?” Fearing to reach out in this blackness that was more than night and dreading what she might find, Elfrida forced herself to stretch her arms. She trailed her fingers out into the ghastly void, tracing the unseen world with trembling hands.

Her body shook more than her hands, but she ignored the shuddering of her limbs, closed her eyes like a blind man, and searched.

She lay on a pallet, she realized, full of crackling, dry grass. When she scented and tasted the air, there was no blood. She did not share the space with grisly corpses.

I am alone and unfettered. Now her heart had stopped thudding in her ears, she listened again, hearing no one else. Chanting a charm to see in the dark, she tried again to shift her feet.

Light spilled into her eyes like scalding milk as a door opened and a massive figure lurched across the threshold. Elfrida launched herself at freedom, hurling a fistful of straw at the looming beast and ducking out for the light.

She fell instead, her legs buckling, her last sight that of softly falling snow.

* * * *

Magnus gathered the woman before she pitched facedown into the snow, returning her swiftly to the rough bed within the hut. Her tiny, bird-boned form terrified him. Clutching her was like ripping a fragile wood anemone up from its roots.

And she had fought him, wind-flower or not. She had charged at him.

“I wish, lass, that you would listen to me. I am not the Forest Grendel, nor have wish to be, nor ever have been.”

Just as earlier, in the clearing where he had first come upon her, a brilliant shock of life and color in a white, dead world, the woman gave no sign of hearing. She was cold again, freezing, while in his arms she had steamed with fever. He tugged off his cloak and bundled her into it, then piled his firewood and kindling onto the bare hearth.

A few strikes of his flints and he had a fire. He set snow to melt in the helmet he was using as a cauldron. He swept more dusty hay up from the floor and, sneezing, packed it round the still little figure.

No beast on two or four legs would hunt tonight, so that was one worry less. Finding this lean-to hut in the forest had been a godsend, but it would be cold.

Magnus went back out into the snow and led his horse into the hut, spreading what feed he had brought with him. He kept the door shut with his saddle, rubbed the palfrey down with the bay’s own horse blanket, and looked about for a lantern.

There was none, just as there were no buckets, nor wooden bowls hanging from the eaves. But, abandoned as it surely had been, the place was well roofed, and no snow swirled in through the wood and wattle walls. Whistling, Magnus dug through his pack and found a flask of ale, some hard cheese, two wizened apples, and a chunk of dark rye bread. He spoke softly to his horse, then looked again at the woman.

She was breathing steadily now, and her lips and cheeks had more color. By the glittering, rising fire he saw her as he had first in the forest clearing, an elf-child of beauty and grace, a willing sacrifice to the monster. Kneeling beside her, he longed to stroke her vivid red hair and kiss the small dimple in her chin. In sleep she had the calm, flawless face of a Madonna of Outremer and the bright locks of a Magdalene.

He had guessed who she was—the witch of the three villages, the good witch driven to desperation. Coming upon her in that snowfield, tied between two trees like a crucified child of fairy, his temper had been a black storm against the villagers for sparing their skins by flaying hers. Then he had seen her face, recognized that wild, stark, sunken-cheeked grief, seen the loose bonds and the terrible “feast,” and had understood.

Another young woman has been taken by the beast, someone you love.

She—Elfrida, that was her name, he remembered it now—Elfrida was either very foolish or very powerful, to offer herself as bait.

Lindsay Townsend
http://www.bookstrand.com/the-snow-bride/

SEDUCING OFFICER BARLOWE - The First Book in My Hot New BADGE BUNNIES Series!

2012-01-25T09:13:00.000-05:00

I'm going to lt you in on a little secret. I love writing about cop heroes! (See GOOD COP, BAD GIRL; PROTECTIVE CUSTODY; SAMANTHA and the DETECTIVE!) There's just something about a man in uniform, I guess. Especially the ones who come with their own handcuffs!

So, to embrace that, I'm starting a new series called THE BADGE BUNNIES SERIES. It's all about women who have a thing for hot and sexy cops, and the first book is called SEDUCING OFFICER BARLOWE.

Happy Reading!

Gotta Love a Guy Who Comes with His Own Handcuffs!

Harley Miller has always fantasized about having sex with a cop. So, when hunky Royce Barlowe comes to her rescue after her car breaks down, she can't resist flirting with him. One thing leads to another and soon she's kissing him.

Going further than that right there on the side of the road is crazy and impulsive, not to mention reckless, but neither one can help themselves and soon he's cuffing her hands behind her back and fulfilling her wildest fantasy - which turns out to be hotter than anything she's ever imagined.

Excerpt:

“I have a confession to make, Officer,” she said softly.

He drew her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked on it. “Is it something I’m going to have to arrest you for?”

An image of him pushing her up against the wall and frisking her popped into her head, and she stifled a moan as her pussy spasmed. “I don’t know.” She trailed her fingers down his abs to caress his belt. “Is fantasizing about having sex with a hot cop a crime? Because I’ve fantasized about it for a long time.”

Officer Barlowe’s eyes took on a deliciously dangerous glint. But instead of kissing her again like she’d thought he would—or even unbuckling his belt and pushing down his pants so he could slip that magnificent cock of his in her pussy—he lifted her down from the car’s hood and spun her around.

Harley threw him a confused look over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

His sensuous mouth quirked. “Playing into your fantasy.”

She opened her mouth to ask how he intended to do that, but all that came out was a soft, “Mmm,” as he slowly ran his hands down her body and back up again.

“If I were going to arrest you, I’d first have to frisk you,” he whispered in her ear. “Just to make sure you weren’t concealing any weapons.”

His breath stirred her hair, making her shiver.

“Nope, no weapons here.” He cupped her breasts, giving her nipples a squeeze through the fabric before slipping his hand between her legs. “What about here?”

She moaned as he thrust a finger in her pussy and wiggled it back and forth.

“No weapons here, either.”

He slid his finger out to fumble with something on his belt. Harley was about to look over her shoulder to see what he was doing when something cool and metallic snapped around her wrist. Handcuffs. A quiver of excitement raced through her as he gently pinned that arm behind her back and cuffed it to the other one.

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. This was even better than her fantasies.

He put his mouth to her ear again. “Spread ‘em.”

Buy it on Amazon Kindle!
http://www.amazon.com/Seducing-Officer-Barlowe-Bunnies-ebook/dp/B0071DO4YC/ref=sr_1_37?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327500378&sr=1-37

Buy it at ARe!
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-seducingofficerbarlowethebadgebunniesseries-673931-144.html

Buy it on B&N Nook!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seducing-officer-barlowe-paige-tyler/1108368442?ean=2940014017145&itm=20&usri=paige+tyler

*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

New Release - AND THE CAT CAME BACK - m/m contemporary adult

2012-01-15T12:43:00.002-05:00

And The Cat Came Back
by Christiane France
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-232-4 (Electronic)
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/AndCatCameBack.html
Home renovator Seth Lawley is ready to settle down if the right man comes along, but he’s cautious. He believes he who hesitates saves himself a whole lot of heartbreak.
Grant Kenyon, on the other hand, is ready to take a chance. He figures anyone who hesitates when it comes to grabbing what he wants from life risks losing out.
Foofuss, Grant’s bossy, matchmaking Persian cat, has decided his master needs company and Seth is it...that’s if he can figure out the perfect plan to bring the two of them together.
Excerpt:
...I figured my best chance of exposing the ghost was to spend tonight and however many other nights it took, camped out at Sweet Briar. I’d leave my truck far enough away so it wouldn’t be noticed, and go in and out via the back door.
I got there a little after eight. There was no SUV or any other type of vehicle parked along that stretch of the road, so I settled down to wait. Over the next few hours, a number of different vehicles appeared. Some stopped to let off a passenger or pick someone up, and some just kept on going, but none of them parked.
At midnight, I gave up and went in search of my sleeping bag. The power was supposed to be turned back on today, but there was a message on voice mail to the effect it wouldn’t be happening until tomorrow. In the meantime, the house felt cold and damp, and I was freezing my butt off.
Between a shaft of moonlight shining through the kitchen window and a hazard light I kept in the truck, I managed to find the flask of hot coffee I’d brought with me and set up my bed for the night.
I was about to take off my work boots and settle down when I heard a faint scratching on the glass.
I didn’t need to guess who it was; I knew. And sure enough, when I went over to the window, there was Foo, sitting on an old wooden box, glaring in at me from the other side. His mouth was going a mile a minute, demanding to be let in.
For a brief moment, I considered ignoring him. But then he cocked his head to one side and mouthed a silent, Pleeeease. He looked so damn cute I gave up.
I opened the back door. “You want to come in?”
He made a noise somewhere between a growl and hrmph, jumped down from the box and headed away along the side of the house. At the corner, he stopped and looked back, his big tail twitching back and forth as if to say, Move it man. I’m waiting.
“You want me to take you home?”
He disappeared around the corner. I followed and found him waiting in the middle of the driveway. He continued on to the street, turned toward home and then hesitated again.
It was clear he wanted me to follow him home, and I wondered why? I knew animals were capable of amazing things, and I wondered if something was wrong with Grant. Had he hurt himself, and Foo was out, looking for help?
But in that case, how did he get out? Or was he out and couldn’t get back in?
I grabbed Foo, hurried over to Grant’s house and pressed the buzzer. There were lights on, but since I couldn’t hear anything, I pounded on the door, praying he was okay.
The hall light came, and I heard Grant’s voice saying “Okay, okay, I’m here. What’s the problem?” Then the rattle of the safety chain as he opened the door.
He was still dressed, but he looked sleepy with his hair all ruffled up. And I hadn’t seen him wearing glasses before. The oblong-shaped, dark-rimmed glasses made him look cute and sexy, and…
I released my breath in a soft whoosh, put Foo down and wrapped my arms around him, virtually in one quick motion. “Thank God you’re okay! When Foo showed up and started scratching on the window, I thought… Never mind what I thought.”
He laughed and hugged me back. “As you can see, I’m fine. I was waiting for Foo to come home so I could lock up. I guess I fell asleep. More to the point, what are you doing out here at this hour?”
“I, umm…” I remembered, belatedly, the door was still open. I looked down and there was Foo, gazing up at the two of us with a smug, gotcha expression on his furry face. Unless I was very much mistaken, getting the two of us together had been the reason for his visit. “Would you believe looking for ghosts?”
“Ghosts? Hmm…” Grant’s hands slid down my back and he pulled me closer. I groaned softly as my cock reacted. Kicking the door shut with my foot, I gave in to what had been in the cards since the moment our eyes first met over at Sweet Briar...
Cool mysteries and hot romance - http://www.chrisgrover.ca
Latest Release: AND THE CAT CAME BACK - http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
Coming soon: THE RIVALS
http://www.myspace.com/185513895 http://twitter.com/chrisgrover2
www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Grover/1479706280

Warm Up Your New Year - 'The Snow Bride' is now out!

2011-12-30T04:59:00.002-05:00

Out Now: Love Reversed by Zenobia Renquist

2011-12-29T09:42:00.001-05:00

Love Reversed
by Zenobia Renquist

Changeling Press

eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-747-5
Genre: Erotic Romance, Interracial, Paranormal/Fantasy, Magic, Suspense/Action
Price: $4.49/US

It's only an even swap when both parties are satisfied.

Cinnamon came to the Hawaii celebrity retreat to meet her favorite actress. Calhoun crashed to find answers about his missing uncle. Neither of them signed on for the part of the tour that included body swapping. They have to find a way to switch back without anyone realizing their predicament. Long nights of searching for answers become even longer when curiosity takes over. It's a once in a lifetime chance to see how the other half loves, they don't plan to let it slip away.

Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1749

Read the first full chapter online at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog on 02 January 2012.

EXCERPT:

“Sit.” Calhoun pointed at the bed.

She lowered herself slowly and folded her hands in her lap, a very defensive pose that made Calhoun want to shake her. He didn’t like seeing his body like this. Beyond it being disconcerting, it was damn annoying. The sooner they switched back, the better.

Until then, he needed time to think. He started for the door. “Get some sleep. I’ll meet you in the morning.”

Cinnamon jumped off the bed and grabbed his wrist, pulling him back.

“Shit! Lay off. Lay off.” He yanked out of her grip and rubbed his wrist.

“Sorry.”

“Why’d you grab me?”

“You’re not going anywhere in my body. You might finish what you started earlier.”

“Lady, that is the last thing on my --”

“Bullshit! You’re a guy and you’re in a woman’s body -- literally. There is no way that isn’t what you’re thinking. I’m not letting you do perverted things to my body. You’re staying right here where I can keep an eye on you.”

Calhoun couldn’t argue since she wasn’t far off the mark. Actually, that was a bull’s-eye. He faced the room and her. “What do you propose we do?”

“We stay in this room until we change back.”

“All night and all day?”

“If that’s what it takes,” she said, crossing her arms.

He couldn’t help smirking at his most fearsome expression used against him. Was that what determination looked like on him? No wonder people got scared, not that he thought Cinnamon could back up the threat that look promised. He was more worried about her hurting him unintentionally, so he would concede to keep the peace. “Fine. That plan’s best anyway. If we tip off the old fogies that we’ve caught on, they may up the schedule.”

“Flint has been watching you since you got here.”

“I snuck in but it looks like I’m on the menu too. That’s the only reason they didn’t kick me out, I’m betting.” He looked around the room. “Who gets the bed and who gets the floor?”

“Normally, I’d say I get the bed, but circumstances being what they are…”

“We could share.”

“Or not and say we did.”

Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1749

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://zenobiarenquist.com
Caveat Emptor Series - Follow three couples as they struggle with love during a vampire-mage war.

New Release: COLE (Red, Hot & Blue)

2011-12-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

COLE by Cat Johnson

One night can leave a trail a decade long.

Red, Hot & Blue, Book 5

Ten years ago, a wicked curve ball and a scout for the major leagues gave Cole Ryan his big break. Before he set foot on the bus to training camp, Lizzie Barton gave him everything…then inexplicably broke his heart. Now he’s back in Pigeon Hollow with a bum arm and a cancelled contract. Lizzie is still there, still keeping her secrets. Still haunting his dreams.

To make sure Cole would have the future he wanted, Lizzie kept her crush on her older brother’s best friend to herself. But in this small town, there was no hiding the results of her one and only night in his arms. With Cole away playing ball, it was easy to pretend he would never know. But now that he’s back it’s only a matter of time.

Right about the time Cole figures out what he left behind, cameras for a reality TV show arrive to film Lizzie’s brother. And suddenly Cole is scrambling to keep the spotlight out of his and Lizzie’s private life…and to convince her they can still make both their dreams come true.

This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.

Warning: Contains love that conquers a decade of sitting on the bench…and one night of sex that resulted in a big change in two lovers’ lifetime stats.

EXCERPT (G-rated)

“Hey, Cole.” One of the guys bumped Cole’s fist with his own. “You should have been at the game today. Jared here hit a grand slam. Maybe he’ll be joining you in the majors one day.”

“Sounds good.” Cole slapped Jared on the back. “I wouldn’t mind another local boy there in the city with me.”

Jared shook his head. “Nope, big-city life’s not for me. I’m staying right here.

But it was nice to rub it in the other team’s faces today that Pigeon Hollow doesn’t lose to anybody.”

Another cheer rose and Cole shook his head and laughed. He better drink his fill fast, because as noisy as these guys were, this secret party was on borrowed time already.

Cole scanned the clearing and noticed that scattered amid the guys were a few girls milling around. Among them, tucked off in a corner looking embarrassed while holding a cup but not drinking, was Bobby Barton’s little sister, Lizzie. Only she didn’t look like she used to. Somehow since he’d been away she’d absolutely blossomed. Her dark hair was still long and wavy, but it wasn’t in pigtails anymore. She still wore the T-shirts and denim mini-skirts he was used to seeing her in, but boy-oh-boy, she really filled them out nicely now.

She’d always been a good kid—kind, smart, sweet, but that was it. She’d been a kid. Now… Wow.

A wave of guilt hit him. If Bobby ever saw him looking at Lizzie like this he’d slug him. Cole took a closer look around the clearing and realized that although Lizzie was here, Bobby wasn’t.

Cole poked the guy closest to him. “Hey, where’s Bobby at?”

“He’s always busy now. He’s been working at the grocery store and taking classes at the community college. Getting a degree in criminal justice or something so he can join the sheriff’s department.”

Cole nearly choked on his beer. “Really? The sheriff’s department? Wow.”

He felt guilty he’d lost touch with his best friend from high school while away at college. It wasn’t intentional. It was just tough playing ball in college while trying to keep up with classes. Weeks had turned into months, and before he knew it the whole school year had flown by.

He glanced at Lizzie again. Even as a child she’d always had the trademark

Barton dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that made all three distinguishable as siblings. Now, Lizzie had the body of a woman too. What a change from the little rug rat who used to trail along behind him and Bobby for as long as he could remember. Smiling at the memory, Cole started to work his way over to her.

Hell, it couldn’t hurt to say hi and ask about Bobby.

When he reached her side she smiled up at him—right as all hell broke loose.

Spotlights flashed on, making the clearing bright as day. The sheriff and two deputies strode out of the trees, yelling for everyone to stay right where they were. Cole didn’t think twice. After flinging both his and Lizzie’s beer cups into the bushes, he grabbed her and pulled her into the shelter of the trees.

http://catjohnson.net/cole/

www.CatJohnson.net

iBookstore iTunes

Don’t miss the lead-in to COLE (RHB, BOOK 5)

JARED (RHB, Book 4)

COMING MARCH 2012

BOBBY (RHB, BOOK 6)

REVIEWS:

"If you are looking for a nice romance with a great story line, and not too long, Cole would be the book for you. I was very impressed with the plot and writing..." Angela, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

‎"I highly recommend all of the books in this series but I'll admit, I hold a particular place in my heart now for Cole." Lee, Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

"...a story that will pull your heartstrings and make you wish you could get your hands on the next installment from Pigeon Hollow right now. Ms. Johnson has written a poignant story where your heart goes out to both the hero and heroine. Ms. Johnson gives detailed insight into both characters minds with her distinctive writing style. Cat Johnson has written another keeper, this series from Pigeon Hollow continues to keep us readers coming back for more and I cannot wait for the next installment." Kennedia, LASR-Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews

New Release! Naughty: Full to Bursting, A Lesbian Christmas Short

2011-12-23T00:03:00.002-05:00

If your holiday season is lacking in lesbian strap-on sex (and on a waterbed, no less!) then my new short ebook "Naughty: Full to Bursting" just might be for you. If it's lacking sex toy double penetration, then look out, sex ahead!

Naughty: Full to Bursting

By Giselle Renarde

Genre: Lesbian Erotica

Blurb:

After six months together, Wanda still hasn't told her children Janelle is more than just a friend. Janelle spends every evening at the house, helping with dinner and homework, but come 10 or 11 at night Wanda always sends her home. Their only chance for debauchery comes one weekend a month, when the kids visit their grandparents. With Christmas on the way, will tensions build too high for Janelle to handle, or will she be fully satisfied by Wanda's big, sexy gift?

Sample

“Wanda?”

Janelle sat up in the middle of the mattress, cradling the covers in both hands. Her back was bare, chilled not by the temperature of Wanda’s cozy home, but by her apprehension. The house was too quiet.

“Wanda?”

There was a squeak on the stairs and then a creak on the landing before Wanda appeared in the doorway. Janelle struggled with where to look first: she glanced at her woman’s face, but she couldn’t glean any emotion from that stony expression before her gaze shot down between Wanda’s thighs. Should she laugh or should she gasp? It was…wow, it was huge!

“Lost for words, little girl?” Wanda strutted into the bedroom, and that mammoth dildo bounced with every step. “Hey, you said you wanted more. I figured I'd give you part of your Christmas present a little early. Doubt you’ll be calling out for more after I fuck you with this monster.”

Janelle could feel saliva collecting under her tongue, and she forced herself to swallow. She couldn’t even remember what she’d been thinking about before. Now that she’d laid eyes on that big, veiny cock, she only wanted one thing.

“It’s new,” Janelle stammered, feeling like an idiot. Of course it was new, it was her Christmas gift!

The strap-on they usually used belonged to Janelle, but it was cheap, hard to wrangle, and the dildo that came with it was nothing to write home about. This new one was less a harness than a sleek pair of jockey shorts with a reinforced waistband and O-ring. Janelle had only ever seen them online, but that stretchy black fabric fit Wanda’s round ass like a wet dream.

Wanda crept up next to the bed, proud as punch, letting the new toy sway side to side. “Wanna touch it?”

Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_108&products_id=3475

Greet the New Year by Hanging with a Time Surfer!

2011-12-20T16:48:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas (or "Happy Holidays" if that suits you better) and a Happy New Year! :-)

With the old year quickly passing,and the new year quickly approaching, what better than to post an excerpt about someone who experiences the passage of time a bit differently? And what better excerpt than from my time travel erotic-romance story, Hanging with a Time Surfer?

Hanging with a Time Surfer
by Celine Chatillon
Liquid Silver Books
http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/hangingwithatimesurfer.htm

When Shelby meets the mysterious Quentin it's lust at first...grope. Deciding that it's time she made some changes in her life, Shelby agrees to accompany her new lover on a trip, only to discover that Quentin is indeed the rogue 42nd century time agent he says he is. Surfing the Time Vortex on his "time board”, the pair experience erotic adventures throughout history from the distant past to the Civil War era to the future… where an orgy ship houses an evil nemesis ready to cash in on the reward for Quentin's capture. Will Shelby be able to use her newly acquired sexual skills to save her man and return to St. Louis before it’s too late?

WARNING: This novel contains group sex, m/f/m, f/f, alien sex, oral sex, spanking, bondage

An excerpt from Hanging with a Time Surfer:

How can I say no to such a sexy man?

Shelby Schwartz moaned in her sleep and rolled to her back. It had been difficult drifting off to sleep in the weeks since Graham had left her, but tonight was different. Exhausted by a long day at the office, she had collapsed into bed and fallen quickly into a deep sleep. A deep, erotic-dream-filled sleep that made her hunger for a man’s intimate touch to pleasure her throbbing pussy... Instead she knew she would have to gratify her own sensual needs. Half asleep she reached over to the bedside table and groped around for her well-used vibrator.

She screamed as she felt the warmth of a human hand instead.

“Who are y-y-you?” she stammered, sitting up in bed and reaching for the lamp switch. The stranger removed her hand from the toggle before she could switch on the light and cradled it tenderly in both of his.

“No need to be upset. I won’t harm you. I was just passing through, and I heard you moaning in you sleep. I figured you needed a little... help.”

Help. Yeah, that’s exactly what she needed--help to find her phone and to dial 9-1-1 before she ended up chopped into soup-sized bits in this maniac’s food processor.

“I... I didn’t realize my voice carried quite so well through these brick walls.” She slowly curled her legs beneath her, preparing to bolt from the opposite side of the bed, explode toward the exit and fly down the steps and out the front door before her visitor even had a chance to go for his machete. “Or maybe I need to replace the windows. Pity, since the contractor told me they were top of the line.”

“Yes, there are. I can tell you’ve done a great job rehabbing this old brownstone. But don’t worry--it’s sound proof. I heard your sighs in my own dreams, and I surfed on in to investigate. Is this twenty-first century Saint Louis?”

Shelby blinked and stared hard toward the man with the resonant baritone voice kneeling next to her bed and holding her hands. She could only make out his silhouette in the darkness--and what a silhouette it was!

He was built like a Rams linebacker with broad, muscular shoulders tapering down to svelte waistline to what she could only assumed was a nice ass . And the big, strong hands that held hers made her imagine only how well-endowed he’d be in the crotch area... What a shame he was a common criminal who broke into single women’s homes and scared them half out of their wits at one o’clock in the morning. If she had brought him home from the bar she frequented after work, she would have been more than happy to put her vibrator away and ask if he’d like to help scratch her “itch”.

“Twenty-first century?” she said slowly, deliberately. Okay, maybe her visitor was just a plain ol’ delusional psycho and not a chainsaw murderer or run-of-the-mill rapist. If she could keep him talking, she stood a chance of getting out of this situation unharmed. “What century do you think you live in? The eighteenth?”

Shelby could have sworn she heard a smile in the stranger’s silky voice as he answered, “Why, the forty-second, of course.”

Hanging With a Time Surfer is available at Liquid Silver Books and in Kindle formats at Amazon:
http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/hangingwithatimesurfer.htm

Christmas Hope

2011-12-20T06:02:00.000-05:00

His fingers squeezed hers in a warm, comfortable handshake, and a spark of excitement shot up her shoulder.

How long since Josh’s touch elicited anything remotely as exhilarating as this?

“Hope,” she introduced herself. Then, after a tiny hesitation, she added, “Clark. Hope Clark.” There. She’d done it. Used her maiden name again and the world hadn’t collapsed in a tearful heap around her.

“May I buy you a drink, Hope Clark?”

“You may.” With that, she put a big, fat, Giuseppe-shaped tick next to Action Point Two on the list. Action Point Two, Meet Other People.

Action Point One had been Going On This Cruise As A Single Person. Originally, she had booked it as their tenth wedding anniversary celebration, a deluxe stateroom with a huge bed and a balcony, lured by the photo of a couple taking their morning coffee on their private sun-drenched deck. To Hope, the picture represented the very essence of contentment. A lazy day spent with the man she loved….

“Do you like Club Penguin?”

The question brought Hope back from her dreamland. “Pardon?”

“Club Penguin,” Giuseppe repeated. His voice, thick and rich, made Hope think of Christmas eggnog. “The bar on Level Eight. Shall we?”

She nodded. Didn’t care which bar. Tick the box next to Action Point Two, that’s all she wanted.

More here: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=1150

Warm up your winter: 'The Snow Bride'

2011-12-17T08:29:00.003-05:00

She is Beauty, but is he the Beast?

Elfrida, spirited, caring and beautiful, is also alone. She is the witch of the woods and no man dares to ask for her hand in marriage until a beast comes stalking brides and steals away her sister. Desperate, the lovely Elfrida offers herself as a sacrifice, as bridal bait, and she is seized by a man with fearful scars. Is he the beast?

In the depths of a frozen midwinter, in the heart of the woodland, Sir Magnus, battle-hardened knight of the Crusades, searches ceaselessly for three missing brides, pitting his wits and weapons against a nameless stalker of the snowy forest. Disfigured and hideously scarred, Magnus has finished with love, he thinks, until he rescues a fourth 'bride', the beautiful, red-haired Elfrida, whose innocent touch ignites in him a fierce passion that satisfies his deepest yearnings and darkest desires.

Coming Dec 27th from Bookstrand Publishing 2011
15% discount until January 3! Pre-order here.

Read Chapter One

Here is another excerpt to tempt you:

Magnus was worried. The fire he had made should have brought his people. It was an old signal, well-known between them. His men should have reached the village by now—that had been the arrangement. They were bringing traps and provisions in covered wagons, and hunting dogs and horses. He had been impatient to start his pursuit of the Forest Grendel and so rode ahead, returning with the messenger until that final stretch when the man turned off to his home. He had ridden on alone, finding the wayside shrine.

But from then, all had gone awry. Instead of the monster, he had found an ailing witch, and the snowstorm had lost him more tracks and time.

Magnus shook his head, turning indulgent eyes to the small, still figure on the rough pallet. At least the little witch had slept through the night and day, snug and safe, and he had been able to make her a litter from woven branches. He would give his fire signal a little longer and then return Elfrida to her village. There he might find someone who could translate between them.

Perhaps she did have power, for even as he looked at her, she sat up, the hood of her cloak falling away, and stared at him in return. She said something, then repeated it, and he drew in a great gulp of cold air in sheer astonishment, then laughed.

“I know what you said!” He wanted to kiss her, spots and all.

He burst into a clumsy canter, dragging his peg leg a little and almost tumbling onto her bed. She caught him by the shoulders and tried to steady him but collapsed under his weight.

They finished in an untidy heap on the pallet, with Elfrida hissing by his ear, “Why have you done such a foolish thing as to burn all our fuel?”

He rolled off her, knocked snow off his front and beard, and said in return, “How did you know I would know the old speech, the old English?”

“I dream true, and I dreamed this.” She was blushing, though not, he realized quickly, from shyness.

“Why burn so wildly?” she burst out, clearly furious. “You have wasted it! All that good wood gone to ash!”

“My men know my sign and will come now the storm has gone.” He had not expected thanks or soft words, but he was not about to be scolded by this red-haired nag.

“That is your plan, Sir Magnus? To burn half the forest to alert your troops?”

“A wiser plan than yours, madam, setting yourself as bait. Or had your village left you hanging there, perhaps to nag the beast to death?”

Her face turned as scarlet as the fire. “So says any witless fool! ’Tis too easy a charge men make against women, any woman who thinks and acts for herself. And no man orders me!”

Magnus swallowed the snort of laughter filling up his throat. He doubted she saw any amusement in their finally being able to speak to each other only to quarrel. Had she been a man or a lad, he would have knocked her into the snow, then offered a drink of mead, but such rough fellowship was beyond him here.

“And how would you have fought off any knave, or worse, that found you?” he asked patiently. “You did not succeed with me.”

“There are better ways to vanquish a male than brute force. I knew what I was about!”

“Truly? You were biding your time? And the pox makes you alluring?”

“Says master gargoyle! My spots will pass!”

“Or did you plan to scatter a few herbs, perhaps?”

He thought he heard her clash her teeth together. “I did not plan my sickness, and I do not share my secrets! Had you not snatched me away, had you not interfered, I would know where the monster lives. I would have found my sister! I would be with her!” Her voice hitched, and a look of pain and dread crossed her face. “We would be together. Whatever happens, I would be with her.”

“This was Christina?”

“Is Christina, not was, never was! I know she lives!”

Magnus merely nodded, his temper cooling rapidly as he marked how her color had changed and her body shook. A desperate trap to recover a much-loved sister excused everything, to his way of thinking.

She called you a gargoyle! This piqued his vanity and pride.

But she does not think you the monster, Magnus reminded himself in a dazzled, shocked wonder, embracing that knowledge like a lover.

Lindsay Townsend
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

A Wizard for Christmas

2011-12-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

New Paranormal Romance Novella! Just in time for the Holidays!

A Wizard for Christmas
By Dorothy McFalls
Published by: Barking Dog Press Dec 2011
$0.99 from all ebook retailers
Get your copy today from: Amazon, Smashwords, or Nook

Blurb:

Holly desperately wants a perfect Christmas, and she's perfectly willing to make herself miserable getting one. Unfortunately, there are mystical forces at play that threaten more than her holidays...her life is in danger. And the only one who seems to know what's going on is a darkly handsome, but mysterious, wizard who makes her want to add "romance" to this year's Christmas wish list.

Excerpt:

Christmas music was being piped onto the streets. Deck the Halls and Fa, La, La, La, La....Holly was ready to deck something. Fa, La, La, La, that.

Her suitcase toppled over again.

And again she had to stop, put the suitcase back on its wheels before she could continue dragging her personal albatross down the street. Why had she packed so many clothes? This was insane.

A few bouncy steps further, the suitcase hit a deep rut and one of the wheels got stuck. Brilliant. It took some effort to pry the wheel from the crack in the walk. And she was getting colder by the minute.

When she started pulling it again, she ran straight into an arm. A healthy male arm.

"Need a hand?" Hadrian asked. He was leaning against the storefront and blocking her way. He smiled. It made her stomach do a little flip.

"I-I'm okay," she said, and tried to push him out of her path. She didn't trust him. He was too interested in her, and she didn't understand why.

"Didn't you say you were going out of town?" His brow kicked up as he eyed her suitcase. "I didn't realize you were walking to your destination."

"I'm heading over to the train station."

"Really? That's blocks from here. Let me drive you."

Her throbbing feet wanted to scream, "Yes!" She'd dragged her suitcase from one end of town to the next in search of a non-existent hotel room. Her feet didn't want to take another step. Ever.

"I'm okay," she said, much to her feet's chagrin. But if he drove her to the train station, there would be a good chance he'd insist on staying with her until her train left. And she had no ticket because she had nowhere to go, and what was she doing telling complete strangers about her fantasy trip home in the first place?

She pushed him out of the way and hauled herself forward. He caught the handle of her suitcase.

"You're limping," he said.

"I'm fine." She tried to pry his hand loose.

"You're exhausted."

"I'm not." His fingers wouldn't budge.

"You're afraid of me."

Her gaze flashed up to his face. He looked harmless, but then so did many of the mass murderers caught in recent years.

"I'm being reasonably cautious," she said, tugging at the handle with all her weight. "Let go of my suitcase or I'll scream."

He let go so fast she nearly smashed her face against the sidewalk.

"You know me, Holly." He sounded so darned reasonable. "Deep in your heart, you know me. You know I'm not a threat to you."

"Perhaps. But maybe I'm not a very good judge of people. There is no Oblique Café. No one in my building has ever heard of it. I think you drugged me. Or hypnotized me."

"Hypnosis? Really? That's the best your wildly imaginative mind could come up with?"

"Goodbye Hadrian. Have a very merry Christmas."

She stuck her chin in the air and hoped she looked determined when she felt anything but. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. This was her chance, perhaps her one chance to spend Christmas with someone. Anyone.

She stopped, but didn't turn around.

"What if I told you I didn't have anywhere to go?" she asked the empty space in front of her.

"I'd ask what happened to your apartment," he answered.

"It's a long story."

"Hmmm..."

"It's a stupid, long story," she amended.

"There's plenty of time to tell it, you know. There's six days before Christmas."

She wanted to laugh. But if she did, she'd probably end up crying. So she bit her lower lip.

"What should I do?" It was a desperate plea. A question framed more for herself than for anyone else.

"Come to the café with me. Jake has a room upstairs. It's not the Ritz, but it's comfortable. And affordable."

His offer sounded like a blessing.

"But there is no café."

"Not in this world. But, Holly, it does exist." He held out his hand. "Believe me. It exists as a refuge for people like you...and me."

Get your copy today from: Amazon, Smashwords, or Nook

For more information, visit Dorothy at her website: www.dorothymcfalls.com
Or learn more about Dorothy's White House Gardener mystery novels written as Dorothy St. James at www.dorothystjames.com

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS by Cat Johnson

2011-12-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

Sexy, independent, corporate executive Casey Harrington’s life and career were shaped by a childhood Christmas wish left unfulfilled. Now, twenty years later on a Colorado cattle ranch, she finally gets everything she’s always wanted—both a hot cowboy and a dream job.

But Bonner “Blue” Boyd is a rancher and Casey is a New Yorker, and even if the sex between them is hot enough to start a prairie fire, they both know that city and country might mix for a week, but it can’t work for a lifetime. Or can it?

When a dramatic turn of events reunite Bonner and Casey, this time on her turf in her city, she has to prove to her displaced cowboy he belongs with her, no matter where they end up. Luckily Casey knows the quickest way to a man's heart is slightly lower than his stomach.

EXCERPT (PG 17)

As she pulled up to her sister’s split level ranch in the suburbs and saw the door open and the two girls run out before she’d even gotten her car door open, Casey had to smile. Her nieces didn’t care that she wasn’t married and didn’t have kids. They didn’t give her the cold shoulder when she was traveling for business and had to miss a family event. To them, she was the coolest aunt on earth.

“Aunt Casey!” Jenna crashed into Casey’s stomach and wrapped both arms around her. Courtney followed seconds later. Luckily their eight and ten year old bodies weren’t heavy enough to knock Casey over with the full body tackle. She did hold the wine bottles a bit tighter before she dropped them and bathed the driveway in Beaujolais Nuveau. “Hey, you two. I missed you.”

“Me too. We want you to tell us all about the cowboy ranch.” Courtney practically bounced with excitement.

“It was a cattle ranch.” Casey laughed, though Courtney wasn’t exactly wrong. There sure had been one hell of a cowboy there. The familiar feeling of longing settled in her chest. She pushed it aside. “In fact, I think I have a few pictures in my cell phone.”

“Yay! I wanna see.” Courtney led the way to the house with something that looked like a half skip, half jog. Casey wished she had half the energy these girls did. Though she supposed back when she was eight, she didn’t just walk anywhere either.

Jody laughed in the doorway. “Glad you’re here. They haven’t stopped talking about Aunt Casey all day. I thought Kent was going to lose his mind if he had to tell them again how many more minutes until you arrived.”

Casey laughed and waved at Kent where he squatted in front of the fireplace, putting in a log. “Hey, Kent. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“You too, Aunt Casey.” He smiled. “Let’s pop that wine.”

Jody grabbed the bottles from Casey. “I’m on it. Turkey will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Sorry, I didn’t get here earlier. I tried to get some work done before I left and lost track of time.”

“Oh, don’t worry. The girls will make up for lost time, I’m sure.” Kent closed the fireplace’s screen and brushed his hands together. “So how was Colorado? You survived ranch life I see.”

“It was actually really great.” Did her cheeks look as red as they felt? Casey still couldn’t manage to think about the ranch without blushing, even a month later.

“Aunt Casey, sit next to me.” Jenna bounced onto the couch cushion.

Courtney frowned. “No, she has to sit between us. I wanna see pictures of the cowboys.”

Casey glanced at the girls. Courtney, at least, seemed to have inherited her cowboy fetish. Perhaps it was genetic. “You’ll both get to see. Don’t worry.”

“Well heck, if there’s pictures of cowboys, I wanna see them too.” Jody carried out three glasses of wine from the kitchen.

“Oh really? This is new. I seem to remember someone—Jody—trying to talk me out of asking Santa for the Cowboy Cody doll for Christmas.” Casey leaned close to Courtney. “Your mom wanted me to ask for a Barbie instead back when I was your age.”

“Who’d rather have a Barbie than a cowboy?” Courtney screwed up her mouth dramatically.

On the other side of Casey, Jenna shook her head. “No, Barbie’s way cooler. She’s got all those fun clothes.”

“Jenna’s definitely your daughter.” Casey shot Jody a look.

“If I hadn’t given birth to her, I’d wonder if Courtney is yours.” Jody cocked a brow. “So speaking of cowboys…did you meet anyone interesting on your business trip?”

“I met quite a few interesting people.” Casey concentrated on the wine glass in her hand.

“Oh my God. You met a man.”

“What?” Casey’s attention snapped to her sister. She tried to look innocent and rolled her eyes. “No. Why do you say that?”

“You’re blushing. And you can’t hold eye contact.”

Casey forced herself to look at Jody, and found her grinning from ear to ear.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Casey shook her head, but she couldn’t help the smile that crept onto her lips just from the thought of Bonner.

“Oh, that’s it. You’re going to spill it all. Come into the kitchen with me. We’re going to talk.” Jody reached down and grabbed Casey’s hand, pulling her off the couch. Jenna and Courtney jumped up to follow. “You girls stay here and help your father watch the fire.”

Kent’s eyebrows rose. He glanced at the single log, barely burning. “Um, yeah. I could use the help.”

“But she’s going to show us pictures.” Courtney stamped her little foot and Casey couldn’t help but smile, knowing she’d done that at her age. Hell, she still did it sometimes.

“My phone is right here in my purse. You can look at the pictures while your mom and I go…check on the turkey.” Resigned now, Casey gave in. When Jody was after something, she could be relentless. She’d have to feed her sister some details about meeting Bonner, but definitely not all of them. No way. Her cheeks heated at the thought.

Casey located the pictures of the ranch on the phone. The first picture was of Bonner with Misty. She’d taken it the day before she left. Just looking at his picture, his blue eyes piercing under the brim of his hat, took Casey’s breath away.

She handed the phone to Courtney. “Here you go. Make sure to share with your sister.”

“I will.” Wide-eyed, she cradled the phone in both hands and stared at the screen.

Jody glanced over her daughter’s shoulder at the picture of the cowboy in the blue shirt with the black and white dog. “That him?”

Casey let out a laugh. It was no use trying to hide it. “Yeah.”

“Kitchen. Now.” Jody spun on one heel and strode to the doorway.

Kent stood to come look over the girls’ shoulders. He cocked one brow when he saw the picture. “You really do have a cowboy fetish, don’t you?”

As Casey watched Courtney become totally engrossed in the photo of Bonner, even zooming in on it to see him closer, Casey laughed. “I wouldn’t get so cocky if I were you. Apparently so does your daughter.”

“Daddy. Can we go to Colorado?” Courtney glanced up as Jenna tried to grab the phone.

“Yeah, I’m starting to see that.” He grimaced and then leaned down closer to his daughters. “We’ll talk about it later. Now what other pictures does Aunt Casey have on there? Are there any cows?”

Smiling, Casey made her exit, only to find Jody tapping her foot in the kitchen waiting for her. “So…”

“So his name is Bonner. He’s a former state rodeo champion and now he runs the Maverick ranch. He’s an honest to goodness cowboy, Jody. He straps on his spurs and chaps and hops on a horse to head to work in the morning the way most men grab their briefcases and get on the subway.” Now that Casey had started to talk about Bonner, it seemed she couldn’t stop.

“Age?”

“Early thirties.”

“Single?” Jody was like a prosecutor and Casey was the hostile witness on the stand.

“Divorced ten years ago. He got married young. The bitch made him quit rodeo at the peak of his career and then left him.” Casey found it very easy to be jealous of the woman Bonner had given his name to, and she’d never been the jealous type. Interesting.

“Is he looking to get married again?”

That question gave Casey pause. “I don’t know.”

Jody studied Casey intently for a moment. “Are you interested in getting married?”

Casey opened her mouth to give her rote answer, the one she’d been giving friends, relative and colleagues for most of her life, that she was focusing on her career. But it seemed she couldn’t say the words today.

“Oh my God. You are!” Jody had never looked happier.

Sputtering, Casey didn’t know what to say to undo the damage. Before she knew it, Jody would likely have their mother on the phone announcing her engagement to a man she’d had a week of incredible sex with but hadn’t spoken to since.

She took a steadying breath and gathered her thoughts. “Jody. First of all even considering a relationship with him would be nuts. He’s a real live cowboy. I’m a New Yorker.”

Jody pursed her lips while considering that. “I am having some trouble picturing you living on a ranch. And you’d probably die if you were away from the city for too long.”

The truth that she and Bonner were from two different worlds and because of that would never be together for more than casual sex a few times a year when she visited the ranch, hurt a little too much. Casey needed to lighten this conversation before Jody saw that she’d already started to fall for a man she had no future with.

“You don’t know the half of it. You should have seen me using the outhouse.”

Jody nearly spit her mouthful of wine out at that. “That I would pay to see. All right, so I see the difficulties. But tell me you at least had a little fun with him. I’m sure your cowboy, unlike that Cody doll you wanted, was anatomically correct. Right?”

“Jody!” Shocked, Casey still couldn’t stop the grin. “And yeah. He was. Very.”

MORE INFO AT CatJohnson.net

AVAILABLE NOW AT:

"In a nutshell, A COWBOY FOR CHIRSTMAS has it all. A sexy cowboy, feisty heroine, great secondary cast, HOT SMEXIN', a couple of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and a totally SIGH-WORTHY ending!!!" DiDi, Guilty Pleasures

New Release - WHC: Stripping Christmas by Zenobia Renquist

2011-12-15T02:36:00.001-05:00

Out Now!!

Stripping Christmas
White Hot Christmas (multi-author series)
by Zenobia Renquist

Changeling Press

eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-716-1
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Fey/Elves, Interracial, Magic, Christmas
Price: $2.99/US

Alex is firmly on the naughty list, and she wants Santa to join her.

Alex thought she was going to a job. Instead she ends up marrying the heir to the title of Santa Claus. The vows have been said and cannot be taken back, even if Alex isn't the ideal bride Kris was hoping for to re-energize the powers of the House of Kringle. But Alex is about to teach him that being a little naughty -- or a lot -- can go a long way.

Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1740

Full first chapter available online at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog on 20 December 2011.

Purchase this title and/or any of the other White Hot Christmas titles and you are entered to win Free eBooks for a Year from Changeling Press. Each purchase of a White Hot Christmas title is an entry. Contest ends 31 December. Full details available HERE.

EXCERPT:

Alex wasn’t going to get anywhere arguing about the marriage thing. She tried a different tactic. “What website?”

Kris walked over to a large desk. Alex followed him. Kris pulled up the website in question and gestured to it. “It seemed the perfect place to find my bride after searching this past year to no avail.”

Alex rolled her eyes at the title of the site -- Finding Your Perfect Mrs. Claus. It was her boss’s idea of getting into the holiday spirit. She said, “Show me what you clicked on to get to me.”

The page had two buttons -- one said Naughty and the other said Nice. Naughty referred to strippers who did full nudity, while Nice referred to strippers who went down to a string bikini.

Kris clicked the Nice button, which led to a page of pictures. Alex’s picture was the last on the page. Kris said, “I looked through all of the girls and found you the most desirable as my wife.” He clicked on her picture and loaded a page featuring stats about Alex -- age, height, weight, likes, etc -- and a vid of Alex wearing a Mrs. Claus ball gown while handing out presents to a room full of happy men.

Gesturing to the vid, Kris said, “You are a bringer of joy. Looking at this video confirmed you would be my perfect wife. I paid the dowry and here you are.”

Alex snorted. “Dowry, huh?” He had to mean the private party fee to have her strip on location.

“It was a small sum, but I paid it gladly.”

“Did you click on the button that says more?” She pointed to the bottom right of the screen.

Kris clicked the button. Another page loaded, showing the second half of the vid that had started on the previous page. It showed Alex ripping open her Mrs. Claus breakaway dress to the hooting and hollering of the men who had just gotten her presents. She danced on and around a pole while men stuffed money down her bra and panties.

Alex watched as Kris turned pale and his ears drooped until they were almost folded in half. His look of horror returned.

“What… what are you doing? This is naughty. This is extremely naughty. No wife of the House of Kringle should do such things as this.”

“Next time click the more button,” Alex said with a shrug. “Look, Kris. It’s no big if you don’t want me here. I’ll talk to my boss and get your money back. We can chalk this up to a fun mistake and go about our lives. Just tell Noël to bring the car around and take me home.”

“You cannot go home.”

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://zenobiarenquist.com
Caveat Emptor Series - Follow three couples as they struggle with love during a vampire-mage war.

MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE, Regency Christmas comedy

2011-12-07T09:17:00.001-05:00

BLURB:
A man who sees mistletoe everywhere is mad--or in love.

Charles sees mistletoe. Not surprising, since he's spending Christmas at Mistletoe Manor. But why does no one else see it? And why does it always appear above Penelope, the despised lady who jilted him after their last meeting?

Penelope wants nothing to do with the faithless Charles, the man who cried off after she accepted his marriage proposal. But he still stirs her heart--and he stares at her all the time. Or rather, he stares at the empty ceiling over her head…What does he see?

According to folklore, mistletoe is the plant of peace. Can Penelope and Charles, so full of hurt and anger, heed the mistletoe's message and make peace?

EXCERPT:

After Charles had heaped his plate with more food than he wanted, he took one of the empty chairs at the table bottom, as far from Penelope as possible.

His tensed muscles eased as he joked with his friends. Smythe made a comment and Charles turned to answer. He caught sight of Penelope…and a monstrous bunch of mistletoe above her.

"Gordon? What is it?" Smythe swiveled in the direction Charles was staring. He looked up and down, and from one side to the other. "I say, with your mouth hanging open like that, you must see something spectacular, but damned if I know what it is."

With an audible click, Charles clamped his jaw shut. "I thought I saw…" He forced his gaze back to his companion. "Nothing. I imagined I saw mistletoe."

Smythe's eyebrows rose. "Mistletoe?"

"Yes. The house is named 'Mistletoe Manor', so the place is filled with mistletoe decorations. Pictures, wall hangings, ceiling trim, whatnot."

"Indeed." Smythe's eyebrows rose higher. "That 'mistletoe' you saw is over that Miss Lawrence. Lovely little filly." His lips curved into a knowing grin. "My jaw dropped the first time I saw her, too."

Charles stiffened. "I was not looking at Miss Lawrence. I believed I saw mistletoe over her."

"'Mistletoe'." Symthe's grin widened. "Of course."

And I hope you got what you wanted for Christmas, too!

All REVIEWS are here:

http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/2010/12/mistletoe-everywhere-reviews.html

Buy links:
The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4295

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Everywhere-Christmas-ebook/dp/B004AHKBQW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1309011079&sr=1-1

All Romance Ebooks:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mistletoeeverywhere-484008-160.html

Barnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-everywhere-linda-banche/1029164492?ean=2940043343673&itm=1&usri=mistletoe%2beverywhere

Author Bio:
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!

I'm Linda Banche, and I write witty, sweet/sensual Regency romances with nary a rake or royal in sight. Most contain humor, some fantasy, and occasionally a little paranormal. But comedy is my love, and I've created my own wacky blend of humor and Regency with stories that can elicit reactions from a gentle smile to a belly laugh.

Like many other romance authors, I read romances for years before I wrote my own. Once I tried, I quickly discovered how difficult writing is. Did I stop? No, I'm persistent--that's French for "too stupid to quit".

I'm a two-time EPICON finalist, I live in New England and like aerobics and ducks.

So, laugh along with me on a voyage back to the Regency era. Me and my ducks. Quack.

I have four Regency novellas, all from The Wild Rose Press. LADY OF THE STARS (time travel, finalist in Science Fiction Romance in the 2010 EPIC eBook Contest), PUMPKINNAPPER (finalist in the 2011 EPIC Contest in the Historical Romance category. I'm two for two now. I've entered the EPIC contest twice, and I've finaled twice.), MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE, and my latest, GIFTS GONE ASTRAY.

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com/

Beautiful Dreams Do Come True!

2011-12-05T21:04:00.000-05:00

It's getting closer to the holidays--a time when beautiful dreams can come true!

In honor of the season, here's an excerpt from my erotic-romance novel set in the wilds of small town Texas, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER:

Beautiful Dreamer
by Celine Chatillon
http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/beautifuldreamer.htm

Can a sexy, sleepwalking librarian corral a commitment-shy sheriff during the mayhem of rodeo week? When Marianne the Librarian sleepwalks into the brawny arms of handsome Sheriff Cody Greene sparks fly and an erotic night of pleasure ensues.

A confirmed bachelor, Cody realizes Marianne isn't really the "love 'em and leave 'em" type of woman he's used to entertaining in bed, and he’s worried. But by the end of the week--and after surviving a series of livestock-related calls and some "sleepless" nights--Cody is able to conquer both his fear of stampeding cattle and his fear of commitment.

Excerpt set-up: Marianne takes a dose of a magic "sleep potion" and sleepwalks into the arms of the handsome sheriff.

Marianne yanked her gauzy gown over her head and flung it aside with a playful flourish, revealing her total lack of undergarments. Cody had to face the awful truth: He was lost, lost forever in the sensuous spell of the most imaginative lover he had ever known.

Shimmering moonlight slanted through the window blinds, bathing the exquisite dark-eyed beauty above him in an iridescent glow. The hypnotizing dance of light and shadows gracefully accentuated the roundness of her breasts and the pertness of her dark pink nipples. She obliged him by bending lower to kiss his forehead, offering her twin charms to his hungry lips to taste and tease until she cried for more pleasures from his roving hands. She guided his palms from her breasts down to the moist heat between her thighs, aching for a more intimate touch.

Miraculously, Cody's shirt and holster melted away, leaving his bare torso free to Marianne's curious tongue as she playfully teased his nipples into hard peaks, sliding ever lower toward the waistband of his cotton boxers peeking through his open zipper.

Cody's eyes snapped opened. Sitting up, he cupped her firm buttocks in his capable hands and scooted her face nearer to his own, trapping her enchanting eyes in his somber gaze.
"We'd better stop right here before we regret our actions later. I think it's better if we...”

The words died on his lips as she smothered his protest with a kiss, a long and demanding kiss, a kiss that sent his senses rocketing, intensifying his tenseness until he was certain his whole body would blow up on the launch pad. Just when he thought she'd come up for air she probed deeper. Tongues intertwining in a lover's tango of passion and promise, Cody knew he had never experienced a kiss quite like it before. This in spite of the fact in high school he'd once dated the entire Starling County High School varsity cheerleading squad within a period of one week.

"Ah, hell," he muttered when at last her lips released his. Without further regret, he kicked his boots off faster than a mule in a rage. His trousers soon followed suit. Nothing more than his now-wet-with-excitement boxers separated them from consummating their mutual desire.

Still, his sense of decency told him he had to resist.

"Marianne, you're tempting me beyond the brink, but you know we can't." Cody took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. Somehow he had to talk her out of this situation without hurting her feelings or losing anymore of his clothing. "We have to think about your health and reputation. I don't have anything on me for, uh, you know, protection."

Marianne paused in her litany of kisses upon his neck and brow. She drew back, blinking rapidly as she stared into his serious hazel-green eyes.
"The brave and handsome knight travels without the sheath to his sword?"

He exhaled a painful sigh. "Yes, yes, that's right. I left it along with my white horse back at the castle."

Her eyes slanted. She quickly reached behind herself and picked up his trousers, plucking his billfold out of the pocket.

"My good lord always carried his sheath in his moneybag just in case." A wicked grin graced her love-swollen lips as she withdrew the forgotten condom from his billfold and waved it inches from his nose. "It appears ye do likewise."

Cody blinked, then blinked again. His square jaw widened to the size of the Palo Duro Canyon. How had that gotten in his wallet? Then it dawned on him. He had picked up a pair of condoms off the ground outside the gymnasium after making his obligatory visit to the senior prom a few weeks back. They were brand-spanking new and in good shape, and he had thought he'd keep them just in case anyone ever needed any for just such an emergency.

"Uh, yeah, it appears I do, too." He cleared his cracking voice. "But it doesn't mean we have to...”

Covering his lips with hers, Marianne effectively silenced any further objections. Her butterfly fingers fluttered across his shoulders and down his sides, coming to a comfortable rest at his tight buns. Caressing him with unrestrained passion, she struggled to remove their remaining barrier.

"Allow me," Cody said, giving up the fight. He rolled his temptress to the side before carefully sliding his shorts down over his saluting cock.

Marianne's eyes widened. "My lord has indeed been blessed with a very ... broad sword."

Beautiful Dreamer is available from Liquid Silver Books:
http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/beautifuldreamer.htm

Mark your calendar for a Holiday party with eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies on December 10 and 11, 2011. Watch the web site (http://www.extasybooks.com/ ) or eXtasy's readers' Yahoo group (The eX Factor) for the location. Prizes will be drawn throughout both days. WIN eBooks from the publisher, prizes from authors, and for all readers who attend the party -- eXtasy will draw a winner for a laptop/notebook and also for a Kindle Fire. Bring your friends and come have fun with us!

New Christmas Release: The Red Satin Collection

2011-12-02T23:32:00.000-05:00

By popular demand, all 3 stories in the Red Satin series are now available together in one volume!

The Red Satin Collection is now available in print and as an ebook, and includes Red Satin, The Night Before Red Satin Christmas, and Red Satin Christmas, all previously published as individual ebooks by loveyoudivine Alterotica.

There isn't a heck of a lot of transgender lesbian erotic romance on the market, much less Christmas-themed transgender lesbian erotic romance, much less family drama... well, you get the point. We'll be here all day if I list all the specifics. :-)

Suffice to say, all stories in The Red Satin Collection have been well-received by reviewers and readers alike, and now they're all available together, and at a very reasonable price I might add. If you were to buy all three stories individually, you'd be paying $8.97. The Red Satin Collection is, I believe, $5.99 for the ebook and only $11 for the paperback! That's pretty awesome, if you're the type of person who (like me) prefers to put books on a physical shelf and look at their spines and their covers and feeeeeel the pages against your fingers.

Ahhh, yes, reading is a sensual experience.

Anyhoo, I sense that I'm getting silly now, so I'm going to cut myself off and post the blurb and excerpt from The Red Satin Collection. Whether you've been searching high and low for trans lesbian erotic romance, or you don't even really understand what a trans person is but you want to read a heartwarming Christmas story, The Red Satin Collection is an excellent starting point. I highly recommend it. (but of course I would--I wrote the damn thing, after all. LOL)

The Red Satin Collection by Giselle Renarde
Now Available!

Coming home means coming out.

The Red Satin Collection brings together all three transgender lesbian romance stories in Giselle Renarde’s erotic holiday trilogy. Red Satin, The Night Before Red Satin Christmas, and Red Satin Christmas, all previously published as individual eBooks by loveyoudivine Alterotica.

In Red Satin, mall magic inspires love and soon lust in the hearts of Regan and her transgender friend Maisie. Maisie’s family hasn’t seen her since she began her transition from male to female—not until she and Regan head home for the holidays in The Night Before Red Satin Christmas.

Regan figures she’s just along for the ride, lending her girlfriend support, until Maisie’s mother surprises her with a special dinner guest in Red Satin Christmas. Regan hasn’t spoken to her hard-drinking Cree father in years. Can she finally trust the man who’s once again claimed to have changed for good?

Together, Regan and Maisie face drama only Christmas can create. How will their well-meaning families impact their blossoming relationship?

Excerpt:

They sat in silence, Maisie's cheek nestled into Regan's chest. The shoppers downstairs generated a cacophony that surged to a peak before coming to a magical silence. A Salvation Army quintet took up their instruments. The muted sound of two silver trumpets, a trombone, a tuba, and a French horn filled the air with a melancholic rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Regan closed her eyes, transported from mall to concert hall. She imagined Maisie in that shimmering blue gown, diamonds around her neck, the epitome of feminine beauty. In her best suit, Regan would escort her new girlfriend to every big event. The whole city would see this gorgeous girl on her arm. When she took a deep breath, the scent of Maisie's cheerful perfume overwhelmed her senses. Regan floated on a cloud of citrus-and-lily.

"I do get frightened, you know," Maisie admitted, cuddling closer. "Of being called out, I mean. And of that looming threat of physical violence." She took a deep breath before asking, "How is my family going to react when I ring their doorbell? I wish I had a big strong girlfriend to protect me."

Opening her eyes, Regan found Maisie gazing up at her like a pulp fiction cover girl brimming with sweet desperation. Regan flexed the arm Maisie wasn't leaning against.

"Oh… you are strong," Maisie cooed. "You could protect me."

"I sure could," Regan began as Maisie wrapped a hand around her muscle. "If I were your girlfriend…"

Now the bashful Southern belle, Maisie released Regan's arm and looked demurely to the floor. With a hint of an anticipatory smile, she asked, "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Laughing over the quintet's Christmas Carol, Regan asked, "What did I say two minutes ago? Yes, I want to be your girlfriend!" Again, she breathed in the scent of sunny perfume. Maisie was beyond adorable, her dimpled cheeks plump with leftover baby fat. Her squeezable curves melted against Regan's body as she flicked brunette bangs away from her eyes.

Tracing the line of Maisie's jaw from ear to chin, Regan eased Maisie's expectant lips closer until their gloss grazed hers. For a moment, Maisie hesitated, her warm breath soaking Regan's moistened lips. She waited, her body throbbing, until Maisie placed a caring hand at the back of her head and pulled her into a heated kiss. Maisie's tongue was hot, pulsing against Regan's, their heads switching sides like rapid fire. Regan wrapped herself around Maisie's curves, digging her nails into the flesh at Maisie's sides, moaning into the depths of her luscious mouth.

Just as the flames of passion overwhelmed Regan's body, Maisie broke away with a startled look in her eye.

"What's wrong?" Regan asked.

Maisie chuckled nervously, touching fingertips to her engorged lips. She shook her head and giggled. "I just don't know what I want."

Want to buy a copy?

The ebook is available from:

1PlaceForRomance

All Romance

Amazon

loveyoudivine Alterotica (the publisher)

Rainbow ebooks

The paperback is available from:

Amazon

HOT NEW BDSM RELEASE - SUBMISSION BECOMES HER!

2011-11-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

I have a new release out with Ellora's Cave called SUBMISSION BECOMES HER and it's hot, hot, hot! It's also my first romance that focuses primarily on the BDSM aspects of a relationship. .

You're thinking, what the heck is she talking about, right? Because you know I always put a little sexy spanking and bongage in my books. At least whenever the h/h will go for it!

But this is the first book that's all about the hero dominating his very willing and submissive lover in the bedroom. Of course, there is still the overarching true-love romance, but in this case, I really tried to delve into exactly what the heroine is experiencing in her head during the BDSM scenes.

I wasn't sure how this approach would work for me - I usually write in a style that most would call "BDSM-Light." But I ended up having a really good time with this story, as I hope you will. Trust me - it's hot, it's sexy and it's romantic!

Happy Reading!

She wants to be dominated by a man and he's going to help her live out her every
fantasy!

Josie Roberts has a secret fantasy. She wants to be dominated, to feel owned by a man in the bedroom while being his complete equal outside of it. Finding that man has been difficult, however. But then she meets “Sir Dom” in an online BDSM chat room. After weeks of cyberspanking, Josie and her online Dom are both ready for the real thing, so they decide to finally meet in person.

When Josie arrives at the restaurant, she’s stunned to discover “Sir Dom” is none other than her ex-boyfriend Gavin Elliot. She can’t believe it. He might be gorgeous, but when it came to sex, he was about as vanilla as a man could get. Or so she’d always thought.

It turns out Gavin had kept his dream of dominating a woman in the bedroom a secret, too. And now, he’s going to live out every fantasy he’s ever had by tying her up and spanking her until she begs for more.

Excerpt:

Without a word, he snaked his hand in her hair and with a firm, but gentle tug, tilted her head back. The show of dominance made her go gooey inside and she gripped the front of his shirt for support as he claimed her mouth in a scorching kiss.

“Tonight, and for every night after, you’re going to be my submissive when we’re in this room, and I will be your master,” he rasped. “Is that understood?”

“Yes,” she panted.

“Say it,” he demanded.

“Tonight, and for every night after, I will be your submissive when we’re in this room,” she promised. “And you will be my master.”

The words were a vow, and as she said them, Josie knew they tied her to Gavin as completely as if they were married.

Taking her hand, he picked up one of the leather cuffs from the bed and slipped it over her wrist, tightening it so that it fit snuggly. Then he did the same with her other wrist. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure he must be able to hear it, but he made no comment as he led her over to the foot of the bed. Turning her to face it, he put his hand on her back and bent her over the bed. She wondered if he was going to cuff her hands behind her back with the sturdy- looking hooks that were attached to the leather. The image sent a quiver through her.

But he instructed her to put her hands above her head. She started to ask why, but remembered the vow she’d made and caught herself. She rested her cheek on the coverlet and obediently placed her arms out in front of her on the bed. Gavin took her right wrist and slid her arm closer to the edge of the bed. A moment later, she heard a click as he attached something to the leather cuff. Or rather, attached the cuff to something on the bed. She automatically gave her wrist a tug, but it wouldn’t give. That was when she saw the strap hanging over the side of the bed. It was some kind of restraint system, she realized as Gavin secured her other wrist to the opposite side of the bed. She gave that one a tug, too, but it was just as tightly bound as the other.

“Spread your legs,” he said softly.

Josie was so busy thinking about the restraints on her wrist, she didn’t realize Gavin had come around the bed to stand in back of her. Afraid he would think she’d forgotten her place already, she quickly spread her legs. It was only after she did that she realized just how vulnerable she was in that position, and as Gavin fit the leather cuffs around her ankles, she had to fight the urge to close her legs.

She expected him to secure them to the bed the same way he’d done with her wrists, but instead, she felt him attach something to the inside of the cuff around her right ankle. When he did the same to the cuff on the left one, she realized it was some kind of bar designed to keep her legs spread. If she’d thought she felt vulnerable before, that was nothing compared to how helpless and exposed she felt now. It had her so wet, she was practically gushing.

She sensed Gavin straighten up behind her. She automatically tensed, waiting for him to reach for either the paddle or the leather strap—both of which were still on the bed and in view. But he only ran his hand over the curve of her ass. Then gave it a firm squeeze.

Watch the Trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSq8cBkCiwc

Buy it at Ellora's Cave!
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9765-submission-becomes-her.aspx

*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE, Regency Christmas comedy

2011-11-23T11:45:00.001-05:00

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!

On Nov. 25, all digital titles, including mine, are 30% off at The Wild Rose Press with code e8f302ffef

My books are here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=486&zenid=0d68ca936816c62b5fd785020706d3f1

BLURB:
A man who sees mistletoe everywhere is mad--or in love.

Charles sees mistletoe. Not surprising, since he's spending Christmas at Mistletoe Manor. But why does no one else see it? And why does it always appear above Penelope, the despised lady who jilted him after their last meeting?

Penelope wants nothing to do with the faithless Charles, the man who cried off after she accepted his marriage proposal. But he still stirs her heart--and he stares at her all the time. Or rather, he stares at the empty ceiling over her head…What does he see?

According to folklore, mistletoe is the plant of peace. Can Penelope and Charles, so full of hurt and anger, heed the mistletoe's message and make peace?
EXCERPT:

After Charles had heaped his plate with more food than he wanted, he took one of the empty chairs at the table bottom, as far from Penelope as possible.

His tensed muscles eased as he joked with his friends. Smythe made a comment and Charles turned to answer. He caught sight of Penelope…and a monstrous bunch of mistletoe above her.

"Gordon? What is it?" Smythe swiveled in the direction Charles was staring. He looked up and down, and from one side to the other. "I say, with your mouth hanging open like that, you must see something spectacular, but damned if I know what it is."

With an audible click, Charles clamped his jaw shut. "I thought I saw…" He forced his gaze back to his companion. "Nothing. I imagined I saw mistletoe."

Smythe's eyebrows rose. "Mistletoe?"

"Yes. The house is named 'Mistletoe Manor', so the place is filled with mistletoe decorations. Pictures, wall hangings, ceiling trim, whatnot."

"Indeed." Smythe's eyebrows rose higher. "That 'mistletoe' you saw is over that Miss Lawrence. Lovely little filly." His lips curved into a knowing grin. "My jaw dropped the first time I saw her, too."

Charles stiffened. "I was not looking at Miss Lawrence. I believed I saw mistletoe over her."

"'Mistletoe'." Symthe's grin widened. "Of course."

And I hope you got what you wanted for Christmas, too!

All REVIEWS are here:

http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/2010/12/mistletoe-everywhere-reviews.html

Buy links:
The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4295

All Romance Ebooks:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mistletoeeverywhere-484008-160.html

Barnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-everywhere-linda-banche/1029164492?ean=2940043343673&itm=1&usri=mistletoe%2beverywhere

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Everywhere-Christmas-ebook/dp/B004AHKBQW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1309011079&sr=1-1

Author Bio:
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!

I'm Linda Banche, and I write witty, sweet/sensual Regency romances with nary a rake or royal in sight. Most contain humor, some fantasy, and occasionally a little paranormal. But comedy is my love, and I've created my own wacky blend of humor and Regency with stories that can elicit reactions from a gentle smile to a belly laugh.

Like many other romance authors, I read romances for years before I wrote my own. Once I tried, I quickly discovered how difficult writing is. Did I stop? No, I'm persistent--that's French for "too stupid to quit".

I'm a two-time EPICON finalist, I live in New England and like aerobics and ducks.

So, laugh along with me on a voyage back to the Regency era. Me and my ducks. Quack.

I have four Regency novellas, all from The Wild Rose Press. LADY OF THE STARS (time travel, finalist in Science Fiction Romance in the 2010 EPIC eBook Contest), PUMPKINNAPPER (finalist in the 2011 EPIC Contest in the Historical Romance category. I'm two for two now. I've entered the EPIC contest twice, and I've finaled twice.), MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE, and my latest, GIFTS GONE ASTRAY.

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com/

New Release - SPEED DATING IN THE COLD

2011-11-20T06:55:00.000-05:00

I hunch up and hug my arms. Still freezing. Whoever said Anchorage, Alaska, gets more sunshine than Seattle ought to get shot. Or forced to move here permanently, with no vacation rights in warmer parts of the world such as Hawaii, the Sahara Desert or even... yeah, even Seattle.

Here I am, Sarah Hadfield, age 28, born and bred in the rain of Seattle, exposed to the icy whips of the Arctic winds. A whim? A hunch? Following a dream?

Wikipedia puts Anchorage’s temperatures between 5F in the winter up to toasty seventy-eight degrees in summer, but if this is five degrees, I’m Gossip Girl.

“Allow me.”

Woollen bliss wraps around my shoulders. It smells of fresh pinewood chippings.

“Thanks,” I mumble into the lining. “Where are you heading?” A cursory civility on my part, for no matter where this stranger was going with his wonderfully warm jacket, he’s now coming to the museum with me. At least his jacket is.

He must have read my mind. “I’ll just follow you.”

OK, this is going to be awkward. Maybe. People accuse me of acting first and thinking later. Best to get it over and done with.

“I’m on my way to the museum.” No need to say which museum, Anchorage has only the one. Moving my lips gives me the illusion of exercise-induced warmth, so I plough on. May as well get it out in the open. “They have a speed dating evening in their café.”

“In the Muse? Cosy.”

Oh, I hope so. The longer I stay in the jacket’s embrace, the more I loathe the idea of ever being cold again.

(excerpt from Speed Dating In The Cold)

NEW RELEASE - SANTA'S WAYWARD ELF!

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love writing holiday romances, especially Christmas-themed ones, but when my hubby (who is also my writing partner!) suggested we write a story about one of Santa's Elves, I was like, "You're kidding, right?" Silly of me, actually. I mean, we pulled off a zombie romance in DEAD SEXY, which turned out to be an EPIC Award Finalist, by the way. Hubby still had to do some convincing, but he did it, and as we outlined the story, I completely fell in love with the heroine Sosie, a guileless elf who doesn't fit in up at the North Pole and ends up stranded in NYC on Christmas Eve where she meets and falls head over heels for a hunky cop. I think you'll fall in love with her, too!

Happy Reading!

Being one of Santa’s elves isn’t all sugar plums and candy canes.

At least not for Sosie. Taller than the other elves, she’s always had a problem fitting in at the North Pole, so when the transport sled she’s on breaks down in New York City on Christmas Eve, she can’t resist slipping away to explore the world of the “big people.” While she’s having fun, the transport sled takes off, leaving the naïve elf stranded.

Fortunately, handsome police detective Derek Clayton comes to her rescue, offering to let her stay at his apartment. Having heard horror stories about the big people, Sosie is both surprised and relieved to meet such a kind, sweet man. Not to mention one so gorgeous and well-built.

Even though Sosie expects the North Pole to send out a search party any day, she finds herself falling for Derek. She desperately wants to tell him she’s an elf, but knows he’ll never believe her. When the lies and omissions start to pile up, Derek can draw only one conclusion—Sosie is working for the mob boss he’s been after for years.

Just when things seem like they can’t get any worse, the chief of elfin security shows up to drag Sosie back to the North Pole. How is a runaway elf supposed to overcome a determined security elf, dangerous mobsters and a suspicious boyfriend all while keeping her pointed ears a secret?

Excerpt:

By the time the party wound down a few hours later, Sosie was more aroused from her fantasies than she’d ever been in her life. She was an elf in lust and nothing was going stop her from getting Derek into bed with her tonight. She didn’t care how much of a gentleman he was, there was no way he was sleeping on the couch again. In fact, if she had her way, he wasn’t going to be sleeping at all.

After they got back up to his apartment, however, her confidence faltered. But then she thought of the frustrated night she would assuredly have ahead of her if she didn’t proposition Derek, and how much she would regret it when she left.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. “I had a great time at the party. It was very nice of you to invite me.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you came. I had a good time, too.”

Sosie nibbled on her lower lip. Okay, it was now or not at all. Time to be a bold elf. She looked up at him. “You know, I feel awful about putting you out of your bed again. I was thinking maybe you might want to sleep with me tonight.”

He studied her in silence, his dark eyes unreadable. Sosie held her breath as she waited for him to say something. What if Tracee and Linda had been wrong? What if Derek wasn’t as “into her” as they’d thought?

“If I share the bed with you, Sosie,” he said softly, “sleeping is the last thing either of us will be doing.”

She gave him what she hoped was a flirtatious look. “Good. Then the mistletoe won’t go to waste.”

His mouth curved into a grin at the tiny sprig of greenery dangling from her fingers. “Mistletoe, huh?”

“I thought I could put it wherever I want you to kiss me.”

He chuckled. “Honey, you don’t need mistletoe for that. I’ve spent the past two hours fantasizing about kissing every inch of you.”

Her pulse skipped a beat. “You have?”

“Uh-huh.”

Cupping her face in his hand, he bent his head to cover her mouth with his. This time, there was no hesitancy in the kiss. This time, his mouth moved over hers with an urgency that left her breathless, and she had to cling to his shoulders to keep from melting as his tongue plunged into her mouth to take possession of hers. It was as if he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. The desire was mutual. She couldn’t get enough of him, either.

With a groan, Derek swung her up in his arms and strode toward the bedroom. She’d never had a guy do something so romantic before—mainly because she was always taller than the elf guys she’d slept with—but she decided it was very hot.

Once beside the bed, Derek set her on the floor, letting her slide slowly and deliciously down his body. Arms still looped around his neck, she pulled him down for another kiss. This time, she was the aggressor, her tongue seeking his and exploring every inch of his tasty mouth.

Derek groaned and ran his hands down her back to firmly cup her ass through the tight jeans she wore. She murmured her appreciation against his mouth as he pulled her more tightly against him. His erection strained against his jeans, pressing into her tummy. Mmm. Well, that answered the question as to whether he was well built everywhere. It felt as if he had a huge candy cane hidden in there.

Suddenly impatient to see how well built, Sosie ran her hands down his chest to the bottom of his shirt and urgently pushed it up. Derek must have thought she needed some help because he reached back and pulled it over his head to toss it on the floor.

She’d thought getting a glimpse of him without a shirt last night had been a treat, but seeing all that sculpted muscle up close was even better. Figgy, he was gorgeous.

5 Hearts from Sizzling Hot Books!

"Sosie is an elf that has never really fit in at the North Pole, so she decides to try the South Pole. But, when the sled she is on has trouble, she is enchanted by the city lights, the BP world (Big People) and wanders away. Needless to say, the sled takes off without her and she is stranded in the city. Sosie is a charming character. She knows only what has been shown on the local North Pole news about the big world and so while a little bit knowledgeable, her innocence and naivety are absolutely charming and funny.

Derek is a detective with the NYPD and when he finds Sosie, he can’t just let her venture about on her own. Taking her home may have been the best decision he’s ever made or it may turn out to be the worst when things start to fall apart. Derek is definitely an alpha male, but a gentleman with a heart of gold who likes to help women in trouble.

I have to admit that I read Santa’s Wayward Elf in one sitting - I couldn’t walk away from Sosie. This is one of the most unique, sweet and yet still sensual holiday stories I have read in a long time. There wasn’t a slow point to be found in Santa’s Wayward Elf as Paige Tyler weaves for us remarkable characters within a fairytale life that really embraces the Christmas spirit and spreads it to everyone that touches the pages!"

Watch the Trailer!
http://youtu.be/oEz-Rlqp0G4

Buy it at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid!
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=622&zenid=bfe7e3fcc71ed5a58a86c82d95c01468

*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

http://www.pigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

Anniversary Post: Small town romance, big town suspense

2011-11-13T19:49:00.003-05:00

This is the third anniversary of the printing of my Hometown Mystery.

What happens when an FBI agent tries to go 'undercover' in a small town? Yep. You guessed it. Everybody knows who he is ... including the woman he's tracking...

Setup: undercover FBI agent Nick Baxter has been sent to New Providence, Iowa to investigate recent widow Shannon Delgardie. Shannon's husband was suspected of treason. What Nick doesn't know is that Shannon (and just about everybody else in town) knows who he is because Shannon's father was in the CIA and she has 'contacts' who have helped her research Nick.

“How many people know about this?” Shannon went very still then wiggled, trying to get out of his arm. Nick held her firmly. “Shannon?”

“I told Judi and Evie some of it. Not the details but they were there when I got one of the death threats. They told Richard and Chris. And my Mom knows.” Shannon hurried on when she saw Nick’s outraged look. “I can never keep anything from her. So I suppose Aunt Joan knows. Uncle Matt might know and probably cousin Terry. Maybe. Terry doesn’t get along very well with Joan, so maybe she doesn’t know yet.”

Nick looked at her, open-mouthed. “In other words, most of the town knows you’re in trouble?”

“Oh, sort of,” Shannon mumbled. “When I bought the gun, I sort of mentioned I’d been mugged and I was worried. I mentioned it to Nancy Jensen’s husband, Bubby, he’s the one who sold me the gun.”

Nick leaned his head back on the swing. “Shannon, are you telling me all of these people know and no one suggested you contact the FBI or the police and turn it all over to them?”

“They all did,” she assured him. “But I wasn’t sure who to trust. I suppose it was inevitable somebody would let the cat out of the bag. I’m going to beat Richard up for this.” She struggled in his arms and once again, Nick pinned her to him. “You’re bullying me.”

He looked down at her and smiled. “I like having you here. You’re not going to beat up Richard. I’m going to thank him, personally.” He kissed her. “Shannon, you can trust me,” he whispered after he released her lips.

She leaned into him. “I want to. I’ve been scared for so long.”

Nick hugged her, hearing the exhaustion in her voice. “What did you plan to do?”

“Once the code is broken, I’d know who I could trust and who I couldn’t trust. Then I’d decide who to give the files to.”

“What do you think is in the files?”

Shannon sighed and that sound raced all the way down to his toes. His body stirred in response. “I think it’s gaming software.”

“Hunh?” He was distracted by her effect on him. The words didn’t soak in at first.

“Gaming software. You know, a revolutionary new program.” Shannon saw Nick shaking his head. “What then?”

“Espionage.”

“Oh, no. John didn’t have access to anything.” But her voice faded as she considered his words. “Chip design. John had access to chip designs because the programs he was working on would take advantage of the new chip designs. And of course there was the D.O.D. stuff.”

“D.O.D.?”

“John had Department of Defense clearance. The gaming software he was working on is often used with a few changes for war simulations. That’s got to be it.” She frowned in concentration. “It can’t just be that, though. Chip designs are always leaking around the Valley.” She saw Nick’s blank look. “Silicon Valley.”

“How far away are your friends from hacking the encryption?” He inched one hand under her blouse and smoothed the skin of her back. Nick began to nibble the side of her neck, putting small kisses along the edge of her jaw.

“Close,” she sighed, angling her head so he had better access. “Very close.”

“Hmm.” He shouldn’t be doing this. He should be focusing on the problem, focusing on the encrypted files. Right now Nick was more focused on getting her blouse unbuttoned.

“I was afraid whoever was sending me the messages might know you were FBI,” Shannon said breathlessly. “That’s why I pretended not to know. Because if it looked like I called in the FBI, then I’d be in danger and so would Mom.”

Nick paused in the act of unhooking her bra. “You’re right.” He pushed her bra out of the way and closed his fingers around her breast. He felt the firmness of her nipple. “If someone is keeping an eye on you, then they might be watching us right now.” She struggled briefly in his arms and he smiled at her. “So let’s give ‘em a show.”

Veteran's Day Excerpt from Moonlight and Illusions

2011-11-11T10:03:00.001-05:00

In honor of Veteran's Day today, I would like to share with you an excerpt from a scene in MOONLIGHT AND ILLUSIONS, my latest paranormal. The hero, STEPHEN ELLIOTT, is an immortal magician, born in the 1800s and now in the middle of WW II.

October 1944
Leyte, Philippine Islands

Someone had once said, “Be careful what you wish for.”Stephen had wanted to make himself useful in this crazy twentieth century,since it didn’t look as though he would be leaving it any time soon. Now hefound himself in a living nightmare. He pulled his gun closer and checked tomake sure no mud had gotten into the mechanism. His M-1 semiautomatic was anamazing piece of technology, far more advanced than the front-end loading riflehe had used as a boy. He could kill many men in a short amount of time; and hedid.

A shell screamed overhead. Someone in the trench sobbedand another prayed. He couldn’t blame them. The young men under his commandwere barely old enough to shave, let alone die in a muddy hole in Leyte.

The swarming chaos and noise of men and vehicles movingin every direction was incredible. Stephen, along with thousands of otherAmerican soldiers in the Sixth Army, had landed here, and now they wereattempting to reclaim the Philippine Islands from the Japanese. Machine gunsrattled. The drone of air support came from overhead, and in minutes bombsdropped and palm trees exploded in fireballs, along with the enemy’s ammunitiondepot some distance away.

“Keep your eyes open, boys, they’re flushing them out.Get ready when they come our way!” he yelled.

“Lieutenant!”

Stephen swiveled to see a soldier in green fatigueslike his, making his way toward him, radio in hand. “What is it, Jones?”

“The captain says the enemy is moving up to themountains. He wants you to take a group to clear out any stragglers.”

Jones passed the radio to Stephen, who listened to hiscommander’s orders. “Yes, sir. I’m on my way.”

A few minutes later, he and his men, rifles in hand,crawled out of the trench, heading cautiously toward the flaming supply depot.The U.S. planes had done a fairly thorough job bombing and strafing the area,so he didn’t expect too much resistance.

Stephen scanned the area continuously as theyprogressed. Flames consumed crates and smoke belched from a smoldering vehicle,now unidentifiable. His eyes stung as the stench of burning wood, rubber,gasoline, and human bodies reached them.

Gunfire rang out, and Roberts let out a yelp and wentdown. Neely went to his aid immediately as they all scrambled for cover.

“Sniper!” someone yelled.

The pop-pop-pop of sporadic shooting continued. Theywere pinned down.

“How’s Roberts?” Stephen yelled.

“He needs a doc, sir,” Neely called back.

“Smith and Neely, get Roberts back for help. The restare coming with me. You three go around to the right,” he pointed to three ofhis young charges. “The other three go to the left. Brown, you and I are goingstraight in. The sniper is behind the stack of pipes. Everyone fire at him, butkeep spread out.”

Through a haze of smoke they advanced slowly. Thesniper answered their gun fire. They had to take out the man before he killedagain.

Stephen glanced at Sammy Brown. The soldier was intentlyfocusing his shots on the unseen gunman and didn’t glance back. He decided torisk a bold action. Shifting his rifle to his left hand, Stephen extended hisright arm and concentrated. Under his uniform, a spot on his chest grew warm.The Companion Spirit’s energy pulsedthrough his body. From his fingertips greenish light flew out, barely visiblein the smoky haze. As the energy struck them, the metal pipes sheltering thesniper rattled. Suddenly the top one rolled off. Moments later the entire pilecame tumbling down in a loud clatter of metal on metal.

With satisfaction he saw the startled expression on theJapanese soldier’s face. But the feeling was short-lived. Searing pain tore hisleg out from under him then slammed into his belly and hand before he couldshoot. He collapsed forward clutching his stomach and watching while his mentook care of the problem as expected. There was one less enemy soldier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt. For more information go to http://www.dianewylie.com. You can also take a look inside the book at Amazon.

Links to buy MOONLIGHT AND ILLUSIONS:

Amazon Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-and-Illusions-ebook/dp/B005WZZRBK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Amazon print

http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Illusions-Diane-Wylie/dp/0983419876/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

B&Nook and print

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Moonlight-and-Illusions/Diane-Wylie/e/9780983419877

Vinspire Publishing

http://www.vinspirepublishing.com/book_pages/moonlightandillusions.html

Thanks and Happy Veteran's Day!

~Diane Wylie

'Voices in the Dark': romantic excerpt set in Venice

2011-11-08T05:56:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the re-issue of my romantic suspense, 'Voices in the Dark,' here is a romantic excerpt where the hero Roberto and heroine Julia go to Venice.

Excerpt.

Venice. Neither Julia nor Roberto had ever been to the floating city. Free of memories and ghosts, deserted by tourists in a day of freezing fog, Venice was theirs.
      Leaning out on the Rialto bridge, Julia spoke their united thought. 'Glad we came.' Time, their constant harrier, glided like the mist gilded streams under their feet as they regarded each other.
      They kissed on the bridge, the silver fog rising from the water hiding them and the city in a secret embrace.
     'I wish we could stay,' said Roberto, when they surfaced a little from the kiss. Julia turned a dreamy open face sidelong and ran her eyes over him. She wanted this rippling quiet, this day of misted sun glinting on the tops of suspended marble palaces, to go on for ever. No more struggle for success no more troubles. No more Scarpia.
     'I can't get used to you without that plaster cast,' she murmured, obliterating the world as she pressed her cheek against his chest. 'I like the suit.' Dark grey, classically cut, worn with eye-grabbing panache, the suit had been a revelation. She already had designs for borrowing the waistcoat. She hugged him tight. ‘You look great.'
     'And you are truly gorgeous.' Roberto stroked a hand down her back. 'Why do you hide those legs?'
     His hand, and even more his eyes were doing things to her.
     'Shall we?' he said.
     'Yes.'

      They took a gondola. Paying the gondolier not to sing, they settled against the heart-shaped backrest, Roberto giving Julia his cushion. Whilst he chatted to the gondolier about the latest football scores, Julia trailed her fingers through mist to cold, silken, softly grey-green waters. Both were too aware of each other to need more than the lightest touch of their bodies, side by side as they floated on the cradle of Venice's canals.
     Venice in a shimmering winter mist was as one of its more extravagant glass creations, cloudy and baroque at the base, its marble statues and wrought-iron house-grills looming through the mist like porcelain flowers stuck on Venetian chandeliers. Then halfway up the narrow buildings - just over the top of Roberto's brown spiky curls, Julia calculated - the mist thinned and sunshine dusted each white campanile.
     ‘We're here,' Roberto said softly. The gondola swayed against a painted landing post; a doorstep floated inches above the water. This was his surprise to her: a home, not a hotel, their own private place. He had booked it, along with a few extras, at Florence airport before they made their flight.
     He opened the front door. The gondolier, paid and tipped, was gossiping into his portable phone about having met Roberto Padovano. ' . . . and you know he's really normal . . . great bloke . . . asked about the big match, you know, Roma versus Inter-Milan . . .'
     Someone in the Romanesque palace opposite shook their shoes out of the balcony window. Hidden by a curve of buildings, muted by fog, two waterbuses honked as they passed on the Grand Canal.
     Julia rose circumspectly to her feet. The last thing she wanted to do was spoil the moment, shatter the delicious tension by an ungainly lurch off the boat. In jeans and trainers she would not have thought twice, but high heels and a fitted coat were a different matter.
     Roberto did not offer his hand but merely plucked her from the gondola, swinging her lightly off her feet into his arms. They entered the Venetian house that way, Roberto crossing the threshold carrying Julia. Closing the door on the grinning gondolier, he continued an unhurried advance to the bedroom.
     'Didn't I see a piano as we whisked through the living-room?' asked Julia. 'And a log fire and a Christmas hamper?'
     'You did,' answered Roberto, unbuttoning her coat, ‘This was once a composer's house. Now it's a luxury holiday home.' Slowly, he unfastened her shoes.
     Julia closed her eyes as his strong fingers brushed her ankles. ‘Which composer?' she asked softly, as her high heels went skating across the mosaic floor to the big sunlit window.
     'A German. He wrote many beautiful hymns - but then German is a spiritual language.' Spirit was not what Roberto was feeling at that moment. He swept her out of her coat onto the gold satin sheets.
     Julia helped him to shrug off his jacket and loosen his tie. 'What kind of language is English?' she asked, her nimble fingers undoing his waistcoat as his hands deftly slid into her dress, dispatching the fastenings. Her fingers brushed warm flesh as his thumbs circled the engorged nipples of her breasts.
     'Definitely pastoral.' Roberto's hands slipped gently between her thighs. 'Country matters.' As she gasped he kissed her.
     Off came the rest of the clothes, in silent, feverish haste. The pleasure of seeing each other naked was to be fully enjoyed in a later, less urgent moment; now it was contact, the mutual desire for possession. They burned in each other's arms.
     ‘What about French?' Julia murmured several long moments later, fingers teasing an intimate caress. He was so firm, so good to touch; she wanted all of him.
     'Intellectual.' Her hand guided. Her body enfolded. It was better than anything he had known before. Sweating, rigid in delight, Roberto forced himself to be slow.
     Julia felt him moving deep inside her. The virtues of Spanish and Italian must keep. She kissed his throat. His arms tightened around her. The spikes of pleasure intensified as his hips ground against hers. She writhed beneath him. As he came he shouted her name. As she came she kissed him on the mouth.
     For both, it had been worth the wait.

Smashwords and Kindle 2011
$3.99

Buy the ebook:

Smashwords
Amazon Kindle (US)
Amazon Kindle (UK)

Reviews from the original UK print edition:Birmingham Sunday Mercury:
Lindsay Townsend's mixture of arias and skullduggery turns into a highly readable thriller.

Yorkshire Post:
Confident debut.

Grimsby Evening Telegraph:
She obviously has a passion for writing. This is a book you will not be able to put down.

Lindsay Townsend
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/
http://www.twitter.com/lindsayromantic

Anniversary Post: A cross-country scavenger hunt

2011-11-05T18:26:00.000-04:00

This is the 1st anniversary of the print (and digital) release of my 18th book, which features a book store owner, an ex-cop, and a cross-country scavenger hunt with romance novels as the clues!

------------------------------------------

Setup: Odetta and Jack are on a cross-country trip together, trying to solve a mystery left to Jack by his ex-wife, Sandy.

“I lost track of her. She was, well,...Sandy was sort of, um...”

I leaned on the big book bag serving as a dividing line between us on the front seat. “She was sort of what?” I propped my chin on my hand and stared at him.

Jack cleared his throat and his blush rose again. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and I shot him another bright, innocent look. “She was getting into kinky things when we broke up,” he said, his words tripping over each other in his haste.

“Ooh,” I breathed. “Kinky things. What a woman. Like what?” I almost laughed at the sight of his blushing face. “You can tell me. S&M? Bondage? Domination? Whips? Silk scarves? Mutual masturbation? Leather? Sex toys? Farm animals? Sex in public? Multiple simultaneous partners?”

“Holy shit, Odetta! How do you know so much about it?” He glanced at me, his face flaming with color.

“I read a lot.” I smiled blithely. “And, in my youth, I was...experimental.”

He almost choked. “Gees, I don’t believe I’m talking to you about this! I just met you. I shouldn’t be talking about this stuff with you!”

“Heavens, Jack, it’s just sex,” I said in a no-nonsense voice. “Everybody does it. Or, rather, everybody who’s lucky does it. So what was it? Maybe it has something to do with what she said in the note.” I smiled guilelessly and fluttered my lashes at him.

He blew out an exasperated sigh. “Man, I don’t believe this.” His fingers opened and closed on the wheel. “Bondage. She liked to be tied up. And she liked some...pain.” He shook his head. “I didn’t understand it. I thought she was kidding, but she really did like it that way. When I found her and Sam, she was tied up and he was—”

“Okay, okay,” I interrupted. “Let’s just say she didn’t communicate clearly to you what you could do to please her.”

“What?”

“She didn’t train you, as it were. If a woman wants special things, she has to train a man how to do them for her. And vice versa, of course. I mean, we’re not mind readers, are we? If a man wants something special, he’s got to either speak up or show me, right?”

Jack hinged his jaw back up and stared at the pavement in front of us. “Uh-hunh.”

The Promise up for Book of the Year!

2011-11-05T12:26:00.000-04:00

Over at Deep in the Heart Romance! Voting ends Dec 31st.

Tory Richards

Shannon Hayes' husband David was killed in Iraq nearly a year ago,and now she must face her first holiday season without him. With a toddler in tow, she travels to the Vermont farm where the rest of the family has gathered for the holidays. There she comes face to face with the man who was with him when he died, and her destiny, his older brother Ryan.

For the first time in years, Ryan returns home to keep a promise he made to David—to take care of Shannon and their daughter. It's a pledge Ryan is reluctant to keep because he's been secretly in love with Shannon since first setting eyes on her. Their attraction to each other is instant, intense and soon the promise isn't the only thing between them.

Excerpt -

Just as she stepped off the bottom step, she heard a noise at the front door. She hesitated, unsure what to do. Who could be visiting at this hour? Just when she expected to hear a knock, she heard something else
instead. A key was being inserted into the lock, and right before her startled eyes, she watched the knob turn and the door open. Her gaze landed on a pair of army boots and slowly traveled upward, taking in the
muscular body in military fatigues. Her mouth dropped open in shock.

Ohmygod! Ryan had come home!

He appeared just as startled as she was. Halting in the threshold as their eyes meet, his rugged expression carved in granite. Only his eyes, those piercing blue orbs, showed any sign of life, if you could call it that. Shannon had a feeling that Ryan Hayes didn't reveal any emotions that weren't hardened by years of combat. For a moment, she thought he wasn't going to speak and half expected him to back out and leave.

"Do you mind if I come in?" His deep voice was just as Shannon remembered. "It's damn cold out here."

For the first time she realized she was blocking his way. Swallowing, she stepped back enough for him to enter and close the door behind him. He dropped a large army bag on the floor by his feet, and shook off the
snow onto the floor mat. All the while keeping his eyes trained on Shannon, as though she were the enemy. She took a nervous step further into the foyer, directly into the soft glow of the lamp that had been left on in the living room.

Ryan looked just like he did the last time she saw him. Big and tall, cloaked in that attitude of quiet strength he seemed to possess. His black hair cut in military fashion and suited his strong, square boned face. Though sporting a tiny scar over his left eyebrow and another, bigger one halfway down his left cheek he was still a handsome man. He eluded danger in practically every move he made, every glance. His eyes dropped, running over Shannon rapidly, making her painfully aware of her disheveled state.

She refused to reach up and smooth her hair back, knowing that it would do no good. The tiniest quirk on his full, sensuous mouth revealed he found her condition amusing. Quickly, his lips thinned almost menacingly
when his gaze narrowed on her breasts. It was then that Shannon reached up and pulled her ruined blouse together where the buttons had come off.

She finally found her voice. "Welcome home, Ryan."

"Where is everyone?" His tone seemed hard, gruff, more commanding than inquiring. He slipped off his jacket and hung it on a peg on the back of the door, and then bent to slip off his boots.

"Mom went to bed with a headache. Sheila must be putting the kids to bed. The rest won't get here until tomorrow night." Shannon couldn't help but notice the quick glance he shot her way when she called his
mother mom. She watched quietly as he set his boots against the wall and stood, towering over her again.

"It's just as well. I'm tired as hell and want to turn in early myself. But first, I want to find something to eat. I'm starved." Closing the distance between them, Ryan halted when he reached Shannon. "Is that okay?"

Shannon felt a telltale heat rush up to her cheeks when she realized she was watching Ryan's mouth form the words. What the heck was wrong with her? Jet lag, that's what. She gave her head a little shake. She must be more tired than she thought. As his words became clear, it dawned on her that she was once again blocking his way.

"Oh! I'm, ah sorry." Instead of moving to let him pass, she turned and began to walk in the direction of the kitchen. "I'll be glad to fix you something to eat."

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary." He was right on her heels.

"That's okay." Shannon pushed the kitchen door open and flipped on the light switch on the wall next to it. "Sheila put a plate for me in the oven and if I know her, she left enough for two. I don't mind sharing." Not waiting for Ryan to acknowledge her, Shannon took the potholders from the counter by the stove, opened the oven door and retrieved the plate. "Just as I thought."

She turned and showed him the full plate of corn beef hash. But the expression on Ryan's face almost made her drop it. Sweat had broken out on his forehead and he'd turned pale, his lips were thin as a muscle
twitched in his jaw that had hardened in an effort to hold back that he was in obvious pain. Intense pain. He was clutching the island counter in the middle of the kitchen as if it alone was holding him upright.

"Ryan!" Shannon set the plate down and rushed to his side. "What is it? What's wrong?"

He held a hand up in a silent warning for her to back off. She stopped immediately and waited for another sign from him, afraid he was having some kind of attack. After a few more seconds, he sucked in several deep breaths and released them slowly. It was clear by his expression that he hated showing her even that one small weakness. It was very clear that he didn't intend talking about it. Shannon knew the moment the pain left his body when his expression relaxed.

"You said something about sharing your dinner?" He pulled out one of the barstools from around the island and sank down onto it. Shannon hesitated for a moment, fighting the urge to question him. Something was
terribly wrong, she just knew it, but she didn't know Ryan well enough to feel she had the right to ask him anything personal. The look in his cold eyes warned her she'd be shot down before she managed to speak the first word. Forcing a smile she was far from feeling, she turned to get a second plate.

"I'll thank you not to mention what just occurred to my family," Ryan surprised her by saying while her back was turned to him.

"If that's what you want," Shannon responded, opening a cupboard door. She glanced with surprise at where the plates were usually stacked. Glasses had replaced them. Marsha had obviously done some rearranging
since the last time Shannon had been there. She opened up several other doors before finding the plates, stacked on the second shelf. Standing on tip toe she strained to reach them.

"Here, let me help you."

"Oh!" Feeling Ryan brush up against her, Shannon spun around before she could think. Suddenly, it wasn't her backside feeling his hardened muscles. Since he was in the process of reaching over her head for a
plate, they were now flush against each other. Her breasts flattened against his hard chest, the lower halves of their bodies were shockingly aligned, and their thighs were touching. Mouths within inches of each other, their breath mingled. It was crazy but Shannon was sure she felt their hearts beating in rhythm. She began to tingle everywhere and held her breath.

Their gazes met and held and Ryan became motionless, his arm still above her head reaching for the plate. It struck Shannon that she was seeing the dangerous side of him, the soldier sizing up the situation and
preparing for action. Only in this case, what would that be? She refused to let her mind go there.

New Release: Narcissist Seeks Narcissist, a lesbian erotic comedy

2011-11-04T23:40:00.001-04:00

This summer, I realized I didn't have many lesbian books on the market, so I wrote a new one. I was in a good mood at the time, so I wrote a comedy. It's silly, I should warn you, and a little over-the-top, but great fun:

Narcissist Seeks Narcissist

By: Giselle Renarde

Published By: New Dawning Bookfair

Published: Nov 04, 2011

ISBN # 9781466028388

Word Count: 12,400
Heat Index

Szuszu the former model has survived on women and scotch since she was just a teenager. All these years, she's had her best friend Babette by her side, but now that Babette is married and setting off on a world tour, Szuszu feels utterly abandoned. As a pre-departure joke, Babette writes up a silly and snide little personal ad, which narcissistic Szuszu posts in hopes of attracting a woman who looks just like she did when she was young.

Naomi thinks Szuszu's post is hilarious -- what a great sense of humor! She can hardly believe the centrefold she stole from her dad's collection way back in the day is looking for love. It's not like her to answer a personal ad, but for the infamous Szuszu she'll make an exception. She thinks Szuszu looks fantastic, and Szuszu (who refuses to wear her glasses) thinks Naomi looks just like her. What could ensue but sex, love, and a whole lot of comedy?

Excerpt:

"What's that you're scribbling, darling? It's about me, isn't it?"
Szuszu reached across the table, nearly knocking over her backup scotch
and soda. "Hand it over, Babs. Let's have a look."

Babette pressed the cocktail napkin flush to her chest, setting down her
slim gold pen. "It's nothing, Szusz. Just my shopping list." She shook
her head, eyes wide, guilty as sin. "Just my groceries."

"Shopping!" Szuszu cackled, knocked back the scotch in her hand, then
slammed the glass down on the table. "Darling, you haven't done the
shopping since you shacked up with that dairy cow you call a wife. You
don't need to shop -- just bend the old hausfrau over a bucket and
you've got your milk for free."

"Leave Matilda out of this." Babette shoved the cocktail napkin in her jacket pocket.

"Ah!" Gazing across the table through the amplifying lens of an empty
scotch glass, Szuszu pointed to Babette's chest. "There! I see what
you've written. It's all smeared across your tits, darling." Squinting,
she tried to make out the loopy handwriting smudged on Babette's skin.
"noitaroda… lautum… rof… What is that, darling, Latin? Or have you had a
stroke?"

Babette glanced down at the writing on her chest, wetting another
serviette with Szuszu's next scotch and rubbing it over the pen marks.
"It's backwards, darling. It's an imprint, you know." After setting the
wet serviette down on the table, she pulled the dry one from her pocket.
"Fine, then. Fine, if you're so curious. Here it is. That's what I
wrote."

Squinting at the flimsy square of paper, Szuszu held it up close and
then away from herself, but the words still wouldn't come into focus.

"I think you need to get yourself a good pair of specs, Szusz."

Szuszu's eyes twitched at the blasphemy. "Nobody wears glasses, darling,
except librarians and Elton John. I was a model, you know."

"Yes, I know, Szusz. Everybody knows." Babette rolled her eyes like a
teenager. "You do realize you've gone up to every person in this bloody
lounge to tell themI was a model?"

"Well, I was on the cover of all the magazines in my day."

"In your day, right, you were. Headlines read: War is over. Szuszu greets sailors at port."

An overwhelming desire came over Szuszu to kick her dearest friend in
the shins, but when she let loose, her snakeskin boot met the cylinder
of metal holding up the table. "Oh, for Christ sake," she moaned,
rubbing her toe. "If I wasn't legless, I bet that would smart."
Defeated, she handed the napkin back across the table. "Here, read this
for me, Babs. I can't see straight."

"Can't even think straight," Babette mumbled. "All right then, you want
to know what I wrote while you were babbling on about your glory days? I
wrote up a personal ad, darling: Narcissist seeks narcissist for mutual
adoration. Turn-ons include mirrors, soup spoons, darkened windows, and
other reflective surfaces. Must enjoy photo albums, the sound of her
own voice, and endlessly reliving days of cover girl glory.
Doppelgangers will receive preferential treatment--see attached photo.
Looks trump substance. Models preferred. Serious enquiries only."

When Babette had finished reading from the serviette, Szuszu offered
weak applause. "So you're going to dump the dairy cow after all these
years. Good show, darling. It's about time."

Babette's ears turned bright red and she shook her head. "I am not
dumping anybody. This ad isn't for me--it's for you. You're the
narcissist, darling. You're the one unlucky in love."

"Luck has nothing to do with it, Babs." Szuszu polished off the last of
her scotch and held up her glass for more. "I'm not like you, darling. I
don't buy into your little cult of Noah's Ark, everyone in neat little
pairings."

"It's hardly Noah's Ark if it's full of lesbians," Babette muttered.

---

Narcissist Seeks Narcissist is Available Now from:

New Dawning International Bookfair

All Romance Ebooks

Amazon

Amazon UK

Hugs,

Giselle

--
Giselle Renarde

Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica

http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde

Caveat Emptor 5: Forgotten Lover by Zenobia Renquist

2011-11-03T17:41:00.000-04:00

Caveat Emptor 5: Forgotten Lover
by Zenobia Renquist

Changeling Press

eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-681-2
Genre: Erotic, Paranormal/Fantasy, Vampire, Interracial, Magic
Price: $3.99

Can she bring herself to resume loving a man who is supposed to be her enemy?

Captured by mages, Medusa is more upset at her own weakness than the mages' idea of torture. Once free of them, she plans to slaughter them all. Except, there is one mage who awakens long buried memories of desire from a past best left forgotten. She knows this man to the depths of her soul, but she and Darius are on opposite sides of a war that has raged for centuries. It's more than her heart at stake if she gives in to her desires.

Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1708

Read Excerpt: http://www.changelingpress.com/content.php?utype=note&uid=5335

EXCERPT:

Lord Arundel reached for her. She thought he would touch her hair. He and the others had seemed enamored of it and the mythology of her namesake. She jumped with a startled squeak when he cupped one of her breasts instead. She looked at him in question. “My lord?”

“You, on the other hand, are very beautiful, Medusa. I would not mind taking what Adelaide offered from you instead.” He stood.

Medusa shook her head at him. “I am not… I could not possibly… Miss Adelaide will want me to return with your answer.” She looked at the door quickly, wondering if she could run to it in time should Lord Arundel attack her.

“That little twit will wait with bated breath until the end of time so long as she thinks she will gain what she wants. So let her wait.” He flicked his free hand at her.

All of Medusa’s clothes flew from her body. They landed in a neat, folded pile near the door. She couldn’t understand what had just happened. How had he done that with only a gesture?

Her questions would go unanswered, as she had other things to worry about. Lord Arundel bore down on her, herding her toward the bed. She sat against its softness, staring up at him.

He said, “There’s no need to be frightened. I plan to make you feel very good, Medusa. I have wanted to touch you since first laying eyes on you earlier this day. It is my luck that Adelaide was foolish enough to send you to me with a late night message.” He smoothed his hand up her leg.

Medusa didn’t know what to do. If she denied him, Lord Arundel might accuse her of trying to seduce him. That would make Miss Adelaide angry, and the woman might force Medusa to leave. Medusa had no other place to go.

She sat still as he touched her stomach and her breasts. Fine shivers shook her body.

Lord Arundel said in a soft, soothing voice, “There’s no reason to be afraid, Medusa. I will not hurt you. Just the opposite.” He dropped to his knees before her and smiled up at her. “Open your legs. I’ll show you what I mean.”

She hesitated for only a second before doing as he bade.

“Wider.”

She opened her legs more. Embarrassment made her whole body flush as Lord Arundel stared at her pussy. What did he plan to do?

He drew his fingers over the insides of her thighs. “A little more.”

She nodded. She had to brace her hands on the bed and scoot to the edge so she could open her legs as wide as they could go.

Lord Arundel leaned in close to her. She could feel his breath on her intimate flesh. She wanted to close her legs.

“Have you ever felt a man’s touch, Medusa?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Achilles. He’s a stable hand. We… once, out of curiosity, we embraced.”

Lord Arundel rested his chin on her thigh. “Did you enjoy it?”

She shook her head. “No, my lord.”

The encounter had hurt. She couldn’t understand why the books had described such an act as pleasurable. It had been fumbling and awkward and messy. When Achilles would have engaged her again, she refused him flatly. They hadn’t spoken more than was necessary since.

Lord Arundel chuckled, sending his warm breath over her skin. “This Achilles did not know what he was about if he could not satisfy you. But I am not upset by his misstep. It means the pleasure of hearing your first cries of orgasm will be mine alone.” He spread her pussy lips wide and then ducked his head.

Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1708

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://zenobiarenquist.com
Caveat Emptor Series - Follow three couples as they struggle with love during a vampire-mage war.

New Release: A Tale of Fur and Flesh, an erotic shapeshifter fairy tale

2011-10-28T19:21:00.000-04:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe A Tale of Fur and Flesh is my first shapeshifter story. ;-) And just in time for Halloween!

Let me tell you a bit about this new book. A Tale of Fur and Flesh was inspired by a Brothers Grimm fairy tale called Allerleirauh, about a princess escaping the clutches of her father, who is determined to take her as his bride.

Yikes.

My version contains a lot more shape-shifters (and a lot more explicit sex!), but it's also an HEA erotic romance, which is kinda rare for me. Like all fairy tale material, there's a deep psychological underscoring, but not to the point that it overwhelms the hot lovin' Princess Lally enjoys along her journey.

Of the wolf, the bear, the bunny, and the snake, I can't decide which shifter is my favourite. It's a tie between the Snape-like sssssnake and the coarse Scottish wolf. Have a read and see which one you prefer. Or maybe you'll crush on the good King Aelwyn as hard as Lally does.

Princess Lally was a happy child until her mother’s untimely death. It was then her devastated and distraught father locked himself away, leaving Lally to grow into adulthood without parents to care for her. When the King finally emerges after ten years, he is no longer the man Lally remembers from the halcyon days of youth. He has descended into lunacy, and is intent upon marrying his daughter.

Lally’s joy at her father’s return quickly becomes rage, and she takes refuge in the darker realms of her personality, surrounded by a forest of shape-shifting creatures. Disguised as a peasant girl under layers of furs, she seeks shelter and protection in the land of the good King Aelwyn. Will Lally remain in the dark world of the shapeshifters and succumb to the same madness that has overtaken her father, or will she find relief from her suffering in the one man who treats her with kindness?

Warnings: This title contains graphic and sexually explicit language.

Word Count: 25,400

EXCERPT:

Revere the natural world. That’s what mother taught. Honour the forest and its creatures will respect their humble visitors. But mother was gone now, so Lally climbed the mulberry tree, ripping thin sheaths of bark from its trunk. Ten years, and still father was grieving, locked alone in his chamber. Lally found a sturdy branch to sit on before tearing fruit-bearing offshoots from the great tree. Mother was dead and father was an impotent ruler. An absent parent, as well. He didn’t care a crumb about her. She’d grown into womanhood without him. If only he had died instead of mother. Mother was so knowledgeable and caring and wise. She could easily have run the kingdom on her own.

Black juice bled through pink silk as Lally smeared the fruit against her tattered gown. Tearing mulberries from their stems, she pressed them into the fabric of her slashed skirts and armless bodice. Her dress now stood dark against her pale skin. The contrast was pleasing. Her body was life costumed in death; peaceful death cloaking useless life.

“Ah, you too are dressed all in black,” Lally said to the tree snake slithering along her branch. She had no human companions.

Why shouldn’t she speak to the creature? “Why do I exist?” she asked him. “I have no purpose, no friends, no utility. If she ceased to be, who would miss the abhorrent princess?”

“I dare s-s-s-say,” a throaty voice hissed. “I should miss you greatly.”

The unanticipated response shook the princess. Nearly falling from her branch, Lally jerked around to see who addressed her. She had not heard any person’s approach, and indeed saw no man about.

“Who speaks?” she commanded. “Reveal yourself.”

“As you desire, your highness-s-s.” As the dark voice replied, a gust of wind forced Lally to grip the wide branch with all her might. The small tree snake grew and grew, sprouting human arms and legs. The flesh of his core was formed of black snakeskin, gleaming like chainmail. With his newly-formed human hands, he rubbed his snake’s head to reveal a human countenance. Long hair shone black as his eyes, but his face was pale as winter.

So the tale was true! The villagers believed all forest creatures to possess human wisdom. But, despite their capacity to take on fleshly form, it was said they only did so over matters of great import.

Lally’s heart leapt from her breast to her mouth. She was utterly unable to speak. Snake’s eyes, partially veiled by raven locks, shone like two candles in a cavern. Great insight glowed from the dark gaze of this manly being. It was as though he viewed her from a distance, but knew precisely what she desired. To touch his drawn cheeks, caress his thin pink lips, to feel the smooth black diamonds upon his chest...

A Tale of Fur and Flesh is Now Available

from eXcessica Publishing
from All Romance ebooks
from 1PlaceforRomance
Coming Soon to other retailers!

A Middle Class Existence

2011-10-23T19:50:00.000-04:00

In honor of the upcoming National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. the "Nanowrimo Challenge"), each week I'll be posting an excerpt from each of my published works. This week's lucky excerpt comes from my first erotic release, A Middle Class Existence:

Sex, lies, and blackmail... Can they add up to "Happily Ever After?"

A Middle Class Existence
by Celine Chatillon
Available at eXtasy Books
(Also available in Kindle format)

When Riki’s "perfect world" is threatened she embarks on a plan of vengeance to take back what is hers from her husband's ex-boss, Morgan Fahr. She soon discovers that she revels in the feelings of power she has over men like Fahr through casual sex and seeks it out with a shady lawyer as well. But as her simple blackmail plot spirals out of control, Riki begins to realize the only way out could lead to murder.

“What is a nice girl like you doing in a racket like this?” He sat beside me as I straightened up and tucked the wad into my back jeans pocket.

“Making a living like everyone else, I guess.” I crossed my legs to remove a spike-heeled sandal. “Everybody got to eat. Everybody got to breathe. Everybody got to fuck now and then, too.”

A dark cloud traversed his features, but the storm quickly passed. He leaned back on the bed and folded his arms beneath his head, watching me unzip my pants with unadulterated lust.

“You shouldn’t use such crude terms. You’re much too young and pretty to be talking like a sailor. You remind me of somebody… somebody I met once. Now, who could it be?”

I shimmied out of my jeans then carefully folded and placed them by my jacket. Could he have remembered me from a company picnic? Or maybe those few times I actually came by the factory in the middle of the day to talk to Daniel about the kids? Did I have enough guts to bluff my way out of this situation if he did place my face and name together?

I turned around, facing him, and took a deep breath, filling out my black, lacy B-cup as much as possible as I peeled off my top. “Your Sunday school teacher perhaps?”

His gaze dropped below my chin. It worked. I wouldn’t have to worry about him studying my face too much. The man was going to explode if he didn’t get off soon.

He chuckled. “More like the little red-headed girl I snuck out of Sunday School with to make-out behind her father’s barn. Come on over here."

A Middle Class Existence
Available at eXtasy Books

Celine Chatillon
http://www.celinechatillon.com/

Nice & Naughty~a hot holiday trilogy with firemen!

2011-10-23T18:24:00.000-04:00

What’s better than a fireman? Twelve ofthem, naked, on the pages of your calendar.

Thehot firemen you loved in Opposites Attractare back with their friends, but now they're wearing a lot less clothing andheating up the holidays like never before. Be prepared for secret identities, asizzling calendar shoot, smoldering bachelor firemen up for auction, sexySantas and a whole lot more!

Secret Recipe: Afamous lifestyle maven who secretly can't cook? Good thing a sizzling hotfireman/calendar model knows his way around the kitchen and is there to rescueher and her charity event from certain disaster. If they detour to the bedroomon the way to the kitchen, even better.

Mr. December: Whenthe real December calendar man gets sick, a rich department store owner has tostep in for him and play Santa. Once he meets the pretty lady photographer sentto cover the event, things really start to heat up. The only problem is, shehas no idea who he really is, and he’s not all that keen on telling her.

Can't Buy Me Love:What do you get when you take one over-worked caterer on the brink of a nervousbreakdown and add a hunky fireman for sale at the charity bachelor auctionshe's catering? You get a woman who finally finds the one gift to buy herselfthat she's never going to want to return.

Ifyou love the old black-and-white classic holiday movies such as Christmas in Connecticut, Shop Around the Corner and Holiday Inn, you’ll love the three Nice & Naughty stories they inspired.

This book waspreviously published. It has been reedited from the original version.

Excerpt(Rated G)

“Getting calledout before breakfast sucks. I could smell the bacon as we were driving away.”Troy sat next to Scott in the fire truck looking cranky. Troy’s stomach let outa big rumble to reinforce the point.

Antonio,the eternal optimist, shrugged. “Hey, it wasn’t so bad. At least it was a falsealarm or we’d still be at the call now.”

As thedriver pulled the truck up to the open garage bay, Scott had to admit he agreedwith Troy. He was pretty hungry and annoyed himself. He was happy to be back atthe firehouse knowing breakfast was on the horizon, but his lesson with Alexiswas ruined. And he’d been making such progress too. Damn, he could picture hernestled in nicely between him and the stove. Her cute little heart-shaped assright there in front of him.

Scottyanked his mind off that image before he embarrassed himself and moved intosafer territory. “Don’t worry, boys. Give me ten minutes and it’s omelets andbacon for everyone.”

Or maybenot... Scott looked up at the second story of the firehouse and saw smoke billowingout of the open kitchen window.

Troyfollowed his gaze. “What the hell?”

“Holyshit. Did you leave the stove on?” Antonio was getting out of his seat evenbefore the truck came to a stop.

“No, ofcourse not.” But he had left an unsupervised, unauthorized woman who didn’tknow how to cook alone with a six-burner, double-oven, propane stove.

Scottleapt out of the truck just as the driver parked. He barreled up the stairs tothe kitchen. The sound of tramping boots told him the rest of the crew wasright behind him. They hadn’t taken the time to remove their equipment, whichwas good, because after seeing that smoke, Scott figured they’d need it.

Hereached the kitchen doorway and skidded to a stop.

Alexisstood with the fire extinguisher in her hand and quite a mess of eggs andextinguisher foam on the stove. She turned toward them and her face crumbled.“I’m so sorry.”

Shelooked like she wanted to flee, but since a mass of hungry firemen blocked theonly exit she stood like a deer in headlights.

“Who doesshe belong to?” Antonio asked.

No wayaround it. Scott had to fess up. “Um, that would be me.”

“Really?”Antonio sounded impressed. He raised a brow and looked from Alexis, back toScott.

“Does this mean there’s no breakfast?” Troyasked the question that Scott figured must be on everyone’s mind and that’swhen Alexis started to cry.

Oh, boy.

Scott steppedforward and took the fire extinguisher canister out of her hands. It was heavy.He was impressed with her strength and quick thinking, but he decided to savethe compliments for later. He put it on the floor in the corner, about to tellher everything was all right when she turned to him with her eyes brimming.

“Ithought I could finish making the omelets for you. I made eight more, just likeyou showed me except one at a time. There was some egg left over and I didn’tthink it would keep so I was making a thirteenth one, but I must have put toomuch butter because I figured I’d just use it all up rather than throw it away.But there was a lot in the pan and when I flipped the omelet, it splashed andthe stove went on fire and there was all this smoke and flames shooting in theair…” She looked up at him from under the brim of her baseball cap, tearsstreaking her face.

It was apretty amazing story. She’d actually finished making the breakfast all on herown. Scott opened the oven and sure enough, there was the sheet pan filled withomelets. Some were thinner, others fatter, a few a little browner, and one wasbroken in the middle, but all in all, they didn’t look too bad. He wasimpressed.

“I’lltake care of getting those on the table, Scotty. Since you’ve got your handsfull here.” Troy tilted his head toward Alexis with a smirk and then grabbedtwo potholders from the hook on the wall. “Everybody to the table. Bacon andeggs on the way.”

Scott wasmore than happy when the crowd followed Troy and the food to the dining tablein the adjoining room, leaving him alone with Alexis in the kitchen.

Hestepped closer, hoping to convince her it was really all right, when she blurtedout again that she was sorry, dodged around him and took off through the door. Hefollowed her down the stairs, barely getting hold of her arm before she got outto the street. Damn, she was fast for a little thing. Good thing he was wellpracticed at running in his boots.

“Wait. Alexis,this is nothing to be upset about.”

Shefinally stopped and spun to look up at him. “Nothing to be upset about? Ialmost burnt down your firehouse.”

Hestifled a smile. It was pretty ironic, a fire in the firehouse. “But youdidn’t. You were smart enough to use the extinguisher and put it out.”

“Maybe I’dmake a good firefighter, because I sure as hell can’t cook.” She shook her headand plopped down on the stairs.

“We’realways looking for new recruits.” As if that wouldn’t be too distracting.Alexis next to him at work every day, and in the next bunk at night...

“Great.Thanks.” She rolled her eyes at his suggestion.

“Seriously,Alexis. The omelets you made looked great. You did that all on your own with noone to help. I’m very proud of you.” He lifted her chin and forced her to lookat him. “So what do you want to learn for your next lesson?”

“You’restill willing to teach me after this?”

Oh, therewas plenty he’d like to teach her, and only some of it involved cooking. “Ofcourse. I told you, I don’t frighten easily.”

Shehesitated. “I would like to learn how to make some hors d’oeuvres andappetizer-type things. Can you do that?”

Thedemand for hors d’oeuvres was not so big in the army or at the firehouse, butno need for her to know that. “Of course I can. I’m the appetizer king. I’m offtonight. Your place or mine?”

“Mine Iguess. I have all this cooking stuff people have given me. Half of it’s in theboxes still. I guess I should learn how to use it.”

“Perfect.What time?” Yeah, he didn’t sound too anxious. Sure.

“Five-ishI guess?” She shrugged.

“Great.”Scott thrust his cell phone at her. “Put your number and address in the contactlist.”

He triedto control his smile as she did. Yeah,baby. Alexis’s apartment tonight.

AfterScott had watched Alexis drive away he ran up the stairs two at a time, hiscell phone still clutched in his hand.

He blewinto the dining room and came to a halt before the group of guys sitting at thetable. “Anyone got a cookbook?”

Antonioglanced up. “Looks like you’ve done enough cooking already this morning judgingby the smoke and the smoking hot girl in the kitchen.”

Scottbraced himself for the inevitable teasing. He knew he couldn’t get away withhaving a girl in the firehouse, particularly one who’d almost burnt it down,without some ribbing. “Ha, ha. Okay everybody, get all your jabs in now becauseI have to come up with some recipes for hors d’oeuvres by tonight.”

“Horsd’oeuvres. What the hell for?” Troy looked up between bites of omelet.

“BecauseI’m giving a cooking lesson to the girl you just met. I’m going to herapartment tonight.”

“Well ifthis is how she cooks all the time, make sure she’s got smoke detectors withfresh batteries installed while you’re over there.” Still chewing and with hiscoffee mug clutched in one fist, Troy rose from his chair, walked toward thekitchen and returned with a book in his hand. He dumped it on the table infront of Scott. “There you go, Scotty. Gift from my sister two years ago. Bythe way, your girl’s omelets are pretty good.”

His girl. Hopefully by tonight she would be. Scottglanced down at the book, which had obviously never even had its colorful andslightly dusty grease-coated cover cracked open in the two years it had sat inthe firehouse kitchen. “Lexi Cooper Cooks.Never heard of her.” Scott started to flip through the pages.

“Sure youhave. She’s the party planner working with the children’s hospital on thebachelor auction fundraiser.” Antonio snagged another piece of bacon off thetray.

“She’sthe one? So it’s her fault I’ll be parading around half naked and gettingauctioned off. Great. Can’t wait to meet her at her little pre-auction bachelormixer cocktail party thing and tell her what I think about her ideas,” Troygrumbled.

Scottlaughed, but had to be impressed. Judging by the photos, there were some prettygood-looking appetizers in the book. Nothing he couldn’t handle making. “Can Iborrow this?”

Troywaved a hand absently. “Be my guest. What’s mine is yours, man.”

“Thanks.”Scott grabbed the last omelet and a few pieces of bacon, and settled in withthe cookbook to make plans for his evening with Alexis.

Hopefullyhe’d work up to a dessert lesson next, maybe something involving whipped cream.His mind reeled with the possibilities as he flipped the book over to look inthe index in the back…and stopped dead

There,smiling up at him from the back cover of the book, holding a whisk in one handand a bowl in the other was his cooking student Alexis, only she was reallyLexi Cooper, famous cookbook author.

“Scotty.What’s wrong, man? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Antonio frowned at himfrom across the table.

Scottswallowed and flipped the book over to hide the picture. “Nothing. Just can’tbelieve I have to make hors d’oeuvres.”

Thequestion of the day—of the whole damn year—remained. Why the hell was heteaching Lexi Cooper, best selling cookbook author according to the book blurb,how to cook anything?

Thedoorbell rang at five minutes before five. Jeez. Scott must be anxious to geton with the lesson. Lexi was sure anxious to see him. She definitely approvedof his hands-on cooking techniques. She had to admit in spite of the smallfire, which she had put out, she really had the hang of making omelets now.She’d even tried making one at home and was able to actually eat it.

That wasa step in the right direction. She’d had to break the brand new omelet pan thatone of the cookware companies had sent her as a promotional gift out of its boxfirst. But the eggs tasted great. Then she’d written an article about how tocook brunch for a dozen for her weekly lifestyle column. She’d thrown in a fewtidbits about table linens and centerpieces and viola, she’d gone from firehouse to foo-foo in one swipe of herpen, or computer keyboard as it were. It had been a very productive day.

Now she wasabout to have an evening alone with Scott. Lexi flung open the door, excited toget right down to more lessons…and maybe a little something else too.

“Somethingyou want to tell me?” Scott, in jeans now instead of his uniform pants butstill in his T-shirt, braced himself against the doorframe with one hand. Heheld her cookbook in the other. Her own photo smiled back at her from the backcover.

MORE INFOAT http://catjohnson.net/books-2/nice-naughty/

AVAILABLE NOW AT:

Don’t miss Troy and Antonio’s stories in Opposites Attract available now!

PUMPKINNAPPER, Regency Halloween comedy, 2011 EPICON Finalist

2011-10-20T12:39:00.002-04:00

Halloween is coming! How about some Regency Halloween comedy?

Let me tell you a tale of a love triangle: man, woman and goose. Join the fowl frolic as Henry the man and Henry the goose spar over heroine Emily's affections while they try to capture the foul (or is it fowl?) pumpkin thieves.

Pumpkinnapper was a finalist in the 2011 EPIC eBook Awards Competition in the Historical Romance category.

BLURB:
Pumpkin thieves, a youthful love rekindled and a jealous goose. Oh my!

Last night someone tried to steal the widowed Mrs. Emily Metcalfe's pumpkins. She's certain the culprit is her old childhood nemesis and the secret love of her youth, Henry, nicknamed Hank, whom she hasn't seen in ten years.

Henry, Baron Grey, who's never forgotten the girl he loved but couldn't pursue so long ago, decides to catch Emily's would-be thief. Even after she reveals his childhood nickname--the one he would rather forget. And even after her jealous pet goose bites him in an embarrassing place.

Oh, the things a man does for love.

EXCERPT:
"Emily, even with Henry, formidable as he is--" Hank glared at the goose. The goose glared back "--you need protection. I will send over some footmen to guard the place."

"No. Turnip Cottage belongs to Charlotte's husband. What will the townspeople think, with Lord Grey's servants about my house?"

Her refusal increased his fury. The sight of her hand on that damned goose's head didn't improve his mood, either. He balled his fists as his patience thinned and something else thickened. "I'll find you a guard dog. You must have some protection out here all alone."

"But I have Henry." She patted the goose's head and the bird snuggled into her hand. Again.

Heat flooded Hank, part desire for Emily's touch, and part desire to murder that damned goose, who was where he wanted to be. His insides groaned. "Very well, then, you leave me no choice. I will help you catch the culprits."

"But--"

He changed his voice to the voice that either melted a woman or earned him a slap in the face. "Who knows, mayhap we would enjoy ourselves as I lie in wait with you." I would love to lie with you.

Her eyes widened. Had she understood the innuendo?

"I cannot stay alone with you, and you know it," she said, her voice severe.

"You are a widow in your own home and no one will see. I will make sure of it."

"No." She marched back into her cottage and slammed the door. Henry smirked and waddled away.

Hank grinned. He would be back, whether she liked it or not.

All REVIEWS are here: http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkinnapper-reviews.html

BUY LINKS:
The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.wildrosepress.us/maincatalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87_112&products_id=3685

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkinnapper-ebook/dp/B0056H27R6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308489509&sr=1-1

All Romance Ebooks:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pumpkinnapper-364274-160.html

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pumpkinnapper-linda-banche/1029825918?ean=2940043335890&itm=3&usri=linda%2bbanche

Author Bio:
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!

I'm Linda Banche, and I write witty, sweet/sensual Regency romances with nary a rake or royal in sight. Most contain humor, some fantasy, and occasionally a little paranormal. But comedy is my love, and I've created my own wacky blend of humor and Regency with stories that can elicit reactions from a gentle smile to a belly laugh.

Like many other romance authors, I read romances for years before I wrote my own. Once I tried, I quickly discovered how difficult writing is. Did I stop? No, I'm persistent--that's French for "too stupid to quit".

I live in New England and like aerobics and ducks.

So, laugh along with me on a voyage back to the Regency era. Me and my ducks. Quack.

I have five Regency novellas, all from The Wild Rose Press. LADY OF THE STARS (time travel, finalist in Science Fiction Romance in the 2010 EPIC eBook Contest), PUMPKINNAPPER (finalist in the 2011 EPIC Contest in the Historical Romance category. I'm two for two now. I've entered the EPIC contest twice, and I've finaled twice.), MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE, GIFTS GONE ASTRAY and, lastly, AN INHERITANCE FOR THE BIRDS (coming 2/1/2012).

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com/

Out Now! BLOOD ETERNAL by MARIE TREANOR

2011-10-16T07:28:00.000-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce that Blood Eternal, the finale of my Awakened by Blood vampire romance/urban fantasy trilogy is now available! Here's an adult excerpt...

BLOOD ETERNAL: Awakened by Blood, 3
By MARIE TREANOR
Signet Eclipse/Mass Market Paperback
Order Today from Amazon

Secrets don't disappear after seduction...

Elizabeth Silk is struggling to reconcile her passion for the vampire overlord Saloman and her allegiance to the vampire hunters. When a shocking vampire revolt calls Saloman away from her, she refuses to follow him.

To make matters worse, Saloman’s beloved cousin Luk has been found and awakened by one of his greatest enemies. Frenzied with bloodlust, Luk embarks on a killing spree and prepares to expose Saloman’s biggest vulnerability: Elizabeth.

But under Saloman’s regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy, no longer willing to hide their power. Rumors are swirling about attacks on humans. After Saloman joins forces with the vampire hunters to consolidate his power, Elizabeth begins to understand her role in the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could bring resolution between vampires and humans—if she can manage to stay alive long enough to play both sides….

***

She gripped the stake, bracing her free hand against the rock. She didn’t need the detector anymore. She could sense Ancient.

He moved differently, like a shadow around the curve of the hill, gliding over the boulder a yard away from her feet. And instead of attacking, he stood still on top of the boulder and regarded her in silence. Only his long hair stirred in the breeze.

Slowly, Elizabeth lowered her stake. “Saloman.”

Saloman stepped down from the boulder and walked the distance between them. She tried to speak, questions and information tangling in her head and on her lips. In the end, she never made more than an inarticulate gurgle, because the words vanished as his sheer presence overwhelmed her. There was only his name in her head, his profound black eyes to drown in, his body pressing her flat into the rock. The hilt of his sword, a turning gift from Luk, brushed against her hip.

Wordlessly, she lifted her face to his. But he didn’t kiss her mouth. His silken lips took her neck in a strong, urgent pull. The hard shaft of his erection pressed between her thighs, and inappropriate lust galloped through her. Well, it had been a long time, several weeks. . . .

It seemed he felt the same. His tongue lapped at her vein and without warning his teeth pierced her skin. Her mouth opened in a silent cry of pain that vanished into the surge of fierce, familiar pleasure. She gripped his arms hard, letting herself glory just for a moment in the blissful weakness of her blood rushing into his mouth in answer to the tug of his lips.

So lost was she in the blood kiss that it was a moment before she realized he’d unzipped her jeans and pushed them and her panties down over her hips.

“Saloman, the hunters are here,” she managed. “They’re coming now.”

His cool, stroking hands left her hips, perversely disappointing her, until he seized the Ancient detector from her frozen hand and hurled it into the night. Before she could object to this vandalism, he lifted her and entered her body in one swift, gliding movement that shattered the remnants of her resistance.

Blood and sex and Elizabeth, he said inside her head.

Bastard. Can’t you even say hello?

He detached his teeth from her neck and flicked his tongue over the wound to heal it. His burning gaze lifted to hers.

“Hello,” he said huskily, and took her mouth.

Acclaim for BLOOD ETERNAL:

"the delightful adventure continues..." - Romantic Times.

"a lot of interesting twists and turns... unique perspective. I really liked Elizabeth... a good balance of action and romance. I enjoyed Ms Treanor's writing style and will be looking for more of her work." - Getting Naughty Between the Stacks.

"I thought that this novel would be like every other romance novel, but Treanor proved me wrong!... I can't wait to read the next installment." Livin' Life Through Books.

"Marie Treanor writes a very smart story... I fell in love with Saloman the moment he showed up... Smooth as silk...definitely steamy...I particularly liked the ending..." The Enchanted Book.

"a welcome vacation for the brain... Bravo, Ms. Treanor!...an awesome read...fabulously crafted... Can I please grow up to be Elizabeth?... Saloman. Mmmmmmm." That's What I'm Talking About.

"I am not ready to let these characters go! Best of all is Salomon and Elizabeth... I loved more than anything watching them as a couple figure life out." Bending the Spine.

Thanks for reading! Hope you;re having a great weekend!

Marie

Marie Treanor

www.MarieTreanor.com

The Awakened by Blood trilogy...how can it end?

BLOOD ETERNAL, 4th Oct, in Mass Market from Signet Eclipse

Adam's Treasure by Diane Wylie

2011-10-14T19:17:00.000-04:00

Adam's Treasure is a historical romance set right after the Civil War.

Back cover blurb:

Master of disguise, Adam Skelding, is a Pinkerton agent onassignment. His mission: Find themissing gold and stop the secretive Knights of the Golden Circle before theygain power. The future of the country depends upon it.

All Marilla Logan wanted was a way to escape from her lifeas a tavern wench. A dark stranger who breaks into her room offers her onlychance. Swept up into a life of intrigue, she becomes ensnared in a tangled webof clues, danger, and emotion to break the code.

Excerpt:

       The seconds ticked by and no one spoke. But Adam knew there were men in the room; he could hear them breathing and smell their sweat mingling with the smoky scents.
      A sharp prick of pain above his left nipple almost made him reach out to punch the closest person. He forcibly stopped any reaction. Just as he had told Marilla—no reaction to the unexpected.
      “Do you feel anything?” a new voice asked.
      “Yes,” Adam said, hoping against hope that he would say the right thing.
      “What was it?”
      “A torture.” The liquid warmth of his blood trailed down his chest.
      A low murmur of approval rippled through the room. Someone took his right hand and led him forward.
      “Mr. Adam Smith, as no man can become a Knight unless he is free, and of mature age…” The voice droned on and Adam answered as best he could.
      “Kneel”
      He did.
      The rituals went on for hours. The blindfold stayed on. Adam kneeled and stood when told, answered questions and parroted vows.
      “I solemnly promise that I will not write those secrets…hidden mysteries…prevent disclosure by my unworthiness…”
      Men shifted and moved through the room. He was given wine to drink, laced with some underlying taste.
      “…Violation, I understand, requires the penalty of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the root...” he recited.
      More drink. Kneel. Stand. Darkness. Smoke.
      “…So help me, God,” he repeated.
No faces. No friends.

Links to Buy Adam’s Treasure

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Adams-Treasure-Diane-Wylie/dp/1601547536/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275605869&sr=1-6

Barnes and Noble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Adams-Treasure/Diane-Wylie/e/9781601547538/?itm=2&USRI=Diane+Wylie

TWRP ebook

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/adams-treasure-p-4051.html?zenid=1991f2359a47790200bf700f9f17bb0e

TWRP Print

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/adams-treasure-paperback-p-4064.html

New Release: Red Satin Chistmas, trans lesbian erotic romance

2011-10-14T14:37:00.002-04:00

Who ever said you can't feel Christmassy in October? Sure you can! Just get yourself a candy cane and a copy of Red Satin Christmas, and you're all set.

For those who aren't yet familiar with my Red Satin trilogy, it's a love story between Regan, a butch Cree lesbian, and her long-time friend Maisie, a male-to-female transsexual. So... let's see... I guess that makes Red Satin Christmas an interracial trans lesbian erotic holiday romance.

Red Satin 3: Red Satin Christmas

Series: Red Satin , Book 3
By: Giselle Renarde | Other books by Giselle Renarde

Published By: loveyoudivine
Published: Oct 13, 2011
ISBN # 5075_1074

Word Count: 29,395
Heat Index

This is a Christmas of firsts for girlfriends Regan and Maisie. Maisie hasn’t returned to her hometown since beginning her transition from male to female. Her mother and sisters welcome her with open arms, but what about brother Jerry? Is he just going to ignore her forever? And who is this mystery woman he’s brought home for the holidays?

Regan figures she’s just along for the ride, lending her girlfriend support, until Maisie’s mother surprises her with a special dinner guest. Regan hasn’t spoken to her hard-drinking Cree father in years, and he’s the last person in the world she wants to sit across from at Christmas dinner. Can Regan finally trust the man who’s once again claimed to have changed for good?

Together, Regan and Maisie face drama beyond their wildest imaginings. Will their trials during this eventful family Christmas challenge their bond… or vanquish their limitations?

Excerpt:

It was one of those wake-ups where you’re not quite sure where you are
at first, and for a couple seconds you don’t even care because it feels
so good to be alive. And then everything that happened the night before
comes flooding to mind, and the morning takes a sharp turn…

Regan had slept on her side, which put a crimp in her neck, but Maisie
was pressed right up against her back, enfolding her in the world’s
warmest arms. Even if she’d wanted to, she couldn’t have moved. Regan
was right at the edge of Maisie’s little twin mattress.

When the world came into focus, Regan stared straight ahead, at the
lower shelves of the bookshelf in her girlfriend’s childhood bedroom. It
was most definitely a space decorated for a boy—royal blue walls with a
Toronto Maple Leafs border, autographed souvenir baseballs from when
the Jays won the World Series in ’92 and again in ‘93—but Regan tried to
ignore that fact as much as she tried to ignore the erection lodged
firmly between her ass cheeks. Morningwood was something Maisie couldn’t
help, and Regan knew her girl would find it humiliating if called
attention to. Penises were not Maisie’s favourite thing in the world,
and she had especially harsh feelings toward her own. Regan thought
Maisie was the most beautiful woman in the world, penis or no penis, but
of course she’d respect her girl’s wish to downplay the existence of
that appendage.

Maisie shifted, making soft moaning noises in her sleep, her long silky
nightgown rippled against Regan’s naked back. God, it felt good to have a
woman’s soft fabrics against her skin. Regan never wore stuff like that
herself.

The winter sun hadn’t yet risen, and Regan couldn’t see a clock
anywhere, but she figured it must be pretty early because she couldn’t
hear anyone wandering around in this house full of people. She had a
faint need to pee, but just couldn’t bring herself to leave a warm bed
and a hot body.

As Maisie carved her own path from sleep to wakefulness, her curvaceous
body stretched and writhed. Regan felt the motion against her back like a
giant caterpillar. And then that wave halted, and she knew Maisie had
swum her way back to consciousness enough to realize her body was
betraying her. For a moment, she was stone, and then her soft arms
retracted from around Regan’s naked form. When Maisie rolled away after a
night in such close proximity, Regan felt it like a stab in the gut.

“Morning, Beautiful,” Regan whispered before she’d even turned to look
at Maisie. Self-fulfilling prophecy—even with a few stray specs of
stubble growing in, Maisie was the prettiest girl Regan had ever known.

Still, Maisie buried her head beneath a pillow and moaned, “Charmer.”

...You can read the ENTIRE first chapter at loveyoudivine or All Romance ebooks!...

Buy Now from:

loveyoudivine Alterotica

Amazon

All Romance ebooks

Red Satin Series at ARe

Hot NEW Cowboy BDSM Menage! AND THE RANCH HAND MAKES THREE!

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to announce I have a new release! My Hot NEW Cowboy BDSM Menage AND THE RANCH HAND MAKES THREE, the Sequel to my Bestselling KARLEIGH'S COWBOYS, is now available!

When I first wrote KARLEIGH'S COWBOYS, I hadn't intended to do a sequel, but it was so popular and so many readers were interested in knowing more about Karleigh's best friend Heather that I couldn't resist. So, I came up with a story for Heather and her husband Clint, and their new ranch hand Blaine. It's hot, it's kinky and it's super sexy! Hope you like it!

Blurb:

In this sequel to Karleigh’s Cowboys, Heather Collins and her husband Clint hire hunky new ranch hand Blaine Saunders. While he clearly has the qualifications to work on a ranch, Heather and Clint are more interested in how good he is in bed.

Clint gets turned on by watching his wife have sex with other men, and since Heather is more than happy to oblige, she doesn’t waste any time seducing Blaine. She and the new ranch hand go from knocking boots in the barn to putting on a show for her husband before finally engaging in a kinky threesome that involves bondage, spanking and some scorching hot sex for all three of them.

Excerpt:

Blaine showed up promptly at eight that night. Having spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening thinking about what she had planned, Heather was already turned on as hell and only barely restrained herself from jumping him the minute Clint let him in. But the anticipation only made what all three of them were about to do that much sexier.

Heather greeted him with a long, slow kiss, then smiled pulled away to smile up at him. “Ready to demonstrate some more of those talents I witnessed today, sugar?”

He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

Pulse quickening, she took Blaine’s hand and led him down the hallway, stopping in front of a door at the far end. Clint followed, his dark eyes glinting with excitement. Giving the men a sultry look, she opened the door and led the way down the steps to the part of the house she and Clint affectionately called the “playroom.” The comfortable couch, plasma TV and king-size bed wouldn’t have looked out of place in any finished basement. The spanking implements and bondage gear, on the other hand, most assuredly would. As would the expensive leather saddle sitting on a stand to one side of the room.

Heather turned to see Blaine’s reaction to the sex toys, and found him regarding them with a mix of surprise and intrigue. There was a small smile playing around the corners of his lips, too. As if he was already thinking about which of those toys he’d like to try out. Her pulse quickened.

Unlike last night, Clint was going to participate instead of simply watching, so Heather wasn’t surprised when he took the lead. Coming over to her, he circled behind to wrap his arms around her waist. His erection pressed up against her ass, hard and throbbing inside his jeans, and she felt her pussy spasm in response. Pushing her long hair to one side, he pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. His free hand found the knot on the sash of her short robe, deftly untying it. She was naked underneath the garment and when it fell open, he ran his hand up her midriff to cup her breast.

On the other side of the room, Blaine devoured them with his eyes as Clint teased her nipple with one hand while cupping her sex with the other. Heather licked her lips, turned on as much from Blaine watching them as she was from Clint touching her.

Her husband brushed her ear with his lips, his breath blowing shivers across her. “Time to mount up, babe.”

At the command, Heather slipped her robe off her shoulders and walked over to the saddle. Putting one foot in the stirrup, she gracefully swung her other leg over the side. But instead of sitting down on the saddle like she would if she were riding a horse, though, she leaned forward so that the upper half of her body was on the seat. The position forced her to arch her back, which put her bare ass up in the air and her pussy on display for the men. It also put her clit in perfect contact with on the cantle, and she couldn’t help grinding against the leather as she made herself comfortable. Then she wrapped her hands around the saddle horn and gave the two men a come-and-get-me look over her shoulder.

Clint walked past her and over to the shelf with the bondage gear. Well, one of the shelves, anyway. She already knew what he was getting, but her heart still beat wildly when she saw him pick up the rubber bit gag. Not only did the horse-style bit go hand-in-hand with the equine theme, but it always got her aroused as hell.

When Clint offered the gag to her, Heather obediently opened her mouth so he could put it between her teeth. A quiver went through her as he buckled the gag behind her neck, and she let out a little whimper. When he was done, he ran his hand down her back and over the curve of her derriere to tease her exposed pussy with his fingers. She lifted her bottom higher, silently begging for more, only to be rewarded with a hard smack on the ass.

Startled, she squealed against the gag.

Her husband chuckled wickedly. “Your pussy will get plenty of attention after Blaine and I tan this gorgeous ass of yours.”

Blaine. She’d been so caught up in what Clint was doing she forgot the ranch hand was there.

She turned her head to glance at him, and caught her breath. Dang, if he didn’t look like he’d just like to eat her right up. And dang, if she didn’t want him to. After her spanking, of course.

Heather held her breath as Clint surveyed the spanking implements hanging on the wall. There were paddles of every shape, size and thickness, as well as straps, floggers and riding crops, so he had a lot to choose from. He must have wanted to keep with the equine theme because he picked the black riding crop with the loop on the end. She trembled just from the thought of him using it on her.

Clint glanced at Blaine, then jerked his head at the remaining spanking implements on the wall. “Take your pick.”

Blaine’s eyes locked with Heather’s for a moment before he walked over to browse the selection. He spent a long time considering the paddles, even taking a few of the wood ones off their hooks to smack them experimentally against his hand, but in the end, he decided on a strap. Two inches wide and made of supple leather, it was one of her favorite things to get spanked with.

Clint crossed the room to stand beside her, where he flicked the slapper at the tip of the crop against his jean-clad leg. Heather blinked up at him expectantly.

“Ready for your spanking, babe?”

She nodded, mumbling around the gag as she presented her ass even higher in the air.

Buy it on Amazon Kindle!
http://www.amazon.com/Ranch-Sequel-Karleighs-Cowboys-ebook/dp/B005UGFOCI/ref=sr_1_34?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318338604&sr=1-34

Buy it at All Romance eBooks!
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-andtheranchhandmakesthreesequeltokarleigh039scowboys-612756-146.html

For more of my sexy, erotic fiction, visit my website at http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com

While you're there, check out my other recent releases, KARLEIGH'S COWBOYS, CINDRA'S BOUNTY HUNTER, PIRATE'S WOMAN, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS COMES TWICE and SECURITY RISK!

Happy Reading!

*hugs*
Paige

*Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

Double Deuce by KC Kendricks

2011-10-10T17:08:00.000-04:00

New October 9, 2011!

DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now at Amber Allure
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DoubleDeuce.html

Free spirited Ian Coulter works hard and plays harder. An ex-cop turned private investigator, Ian enjoys meeting new men and making new friends. A night out ends up with one man on the floor at his feet, and another asking for his help. Big trouble’s brewing in little Amethyst Cove, and Ian’s a step behind. He’s quick to see Rick Mohr is the man holding the flare at the end a long, dark tunnel.

Undercover agent Rick Mohr walks a fine line, serving two masters. Insider trading, counterfeit printing plates, and a blown-up yacht have Rick stuck between two Federal agencies, one of which has been compromised. Rick has to discover the mole before it’s too late. When Ian Coulter walks into his life, Rick grabs the chance to salvage his assignment with both hands.

It doesn’t take Ian and Rick long to discover joining forces, and sharing resources, has definite perks - ones not found in any departmental manual.

INTRO:

“And yet, here you sit across from me.”

“For one thing, this is the first time I’ve actually gotten a look at you. No one ever said you were so…” He paused and blinked at me.

I helped him out. “Hot?”

Rick grinned. “The very word I was searching for.”

“You’re full of shit, Rick Mohr. What do you really want?”

“I’ve heard you like to have fun—safe fun. Was I misinformed?”

And they called me a slut. Rick had me beat for moving in on a guy fast. “I love to have ‘fun—safe fun,’ but I don’t know you. I haven’t seen you around at any of the local haunts.”

“Well, you know how it is. Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love. Boy gets dumped after eleven years and has to work hard to get back into the swing of things.”

I tapped the wide silver band he wore on his left ring finger. “Hmm. I’ve heard of that. Some weird word that starts with an ‘R.’”

“Relationship?”

I snapped my fingers. “That’s the one! Can’t say as I have any first-hand experience with it.”

Rick sighed. “I actually liked it, although I thought it would have a longer shelf-life.”

I sipped the lemony drink I’d had such a craving for. That craving, and another stronger one, was about to land me in trouble, I just knew it.

“I’ll tell you something, Rick. I don’t like men who cheat on their partners.”

His level gaze met mine. “I don’t have a partner. I have an ex-partner.”

“Why not take off the ring?”

“Truth? I’m not quite ready to have guys hitting on me. Maybe you can help me get over the hump.”

Years of cruising men, of reading their body language and looking into lots of pretty eyes gave me a good read on him. He wasn’t being honest with me about something, but it had nothing to do with the ring, the ex-partner, or the fact he liked to have control of the situation. The little voice inside, the one that never steered me wrong when it was time to cut and run, was silent, and I wanted to learn more about him.

The bottom line was we both wanted to get laid, no strings attached. I could do that for him. Call me Dr. Love or whatever. He wanted over the hump, and I was more than happy to help him out with that.

“So, Rick, why don’t we finish our drinks, then blow this joint and go find a more private place?”

EXCERPT

The intensity of Rick’s gaze slammed into me.

“What if I told you I could give you something concrete?”

Cold sweat broke out under my arms and across my back. I shivered and sucked in a deep breath. “This isn’t the place to discuss business, Mr. Mohr.”

Comprehension flickered in his pretty eyes. He reached across the table and covered my hands with his. My skin prickled with a new awareness of him. I had the sudden urge to give him about eight inches of concrete, regardless of how bad an idea it had become.

“You’re right, of course.” I got another shock as he raised my knuckles to his lips. “How about a little stroll on the beach? We can kick off our shoes and roll up our pant legs and get our feet wet. Get comfortable with each other. Whataya say?”
A walk outside was better than a hook-up inside. For all I knew, he worked for Earl Fox and had on a wire. This could be a set-up. That’s how paranoid I was about Foxy. I pulled away from the warmth of his touch and kept my voice pitched to where only Rick could hear me.

“We’ll take my car. I’ll bring you back later. And I want you to put your cell phone in your car and leave it.”
“I understand your caution, but it’s unnecessary.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, thank you.” I set my hat back on my head, slid off the bench seat, and held my hand out to him. He took it and uncurled his long, lean body out of the booth. I had to look up at him, and I’m no little fellow at five-eleven and one hundred seventy-nine pounds of carefully crafted muscle.

His arms came around me and I realized just how big a man he really was. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered to me, “I’m going to enjoy this.”

Before I could think, much less ask him what the fuck he was talking about, his mouth covered mine. I opened my lips to protest, and his tongue slipped past my poor defenses. Little stars danced behind my closed eyes. My arms slid around his neck.

Familiar heat coiled low in my belly when his tongue danced over mine. My balls tingled as my over-eager cock hardened, swelling relentlessly to an aching fullness. I inhaled, and, under the warm, spicy scent of his cologne, breathed in the rich, earthy tang of an aroused male.

Rick’s big hand cupped my left ass cheek and pressed me tightly to his pelvis. The hard ridge of his dick met mine and I hazed on the rush of testosterone flooding into my blood. I needed to sink my root deep in this man and hear him beg for more.

What was left of my sanity shouted I was in big trouble when his lips trailed fire along my jaw line and down my neck. I ignored it and cupped his balls in front of all witnesses, covering his bulging zipper with my palm. At least eight inches.

His big hands stroked up my back, then down my sides. I leaned over into the booth and grabbed my drink with shaking hands.
What the fuck had I just allowed to happen?

DOUBLE DEUCE
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-185-3
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now at Amber Allure
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DoubleDeuce.html

KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com

blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com

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

mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks

BLACK DRAGON - a romantic novella of the Borealis Space Station Universe - by Vijaya Schartz

2011-10-05T16:21:00.000-04:00

About the book:

Set in the Borealis Space Station, a rusting bucket of bolts at the edge of conquered space, this novella reads like an episode of your favorite sci-fi TV show, with much satisfying romantic content.

A dandy is cheating in a gambling den of the Borealis space station, and Lieutenant Zara Frankel intends to catch him in the act. She always gets her man, but this one could prove more than she can handle.

Captain Czerno Drake, code name Black Dragon, intends to break his innocent uncle from the most secure penitentiary in the galaxy, on the Borealis space station. He will stop at nothing to succeed, even enrolling the help of the lovely straight arrow TPP enforcer. When Zara realizes that she’s been used by a shrewd but seductive rebel, however, her reaction surprises everyone, most of all herself.

EXCERPT:
When she breezed through the doors of the crowded and noisy casino, Zara glided straight to the private area behind the row of tall greenery and searched the high stakes tables for her suspected cheater. The owner said he wore a tan and yellow outfit and flaunted a white fluffy Terran cat. An ostentatious luxury.

She easily spotted the caramel overcoat and the sleeping white fluff on the pink gambling table. As she walked toward the table, she studied the square shoulders stretching the expensive velvet, strong shoulders for a pleasure-seeking dandy. The gleaming dark hair tied at the nape with a yellow silk scarf denoted a rare degree of refinement for a human male, and as she neared him, the musky scent of his cologne made her best perfume seem cheap in comparison.

Just before she reached him, he turned around, rose from his chair, and smiled down at her. He stood taller than she expected, muscular, with strong thighs bulging under the caramel velvet pants tucked into soft brown boots. "Captain Czerno Drake, of the Providence. Lucky Drake to the ladies." The deep baritone voice rumbled low, like a sexy promise. The regular planes of his face, the square jaw, high forehead, dark brow, and the sparkle in his deep topaz eyes under thick eyelashes screamed of perfect genes and high-born society.

When he took her hand and kissed her fingers lightly, a frisson crossed her spine and her legs melted like chocolate in a solar flare. Despite the extraordinary refinement of his garb and manners, this man was alpha-male through and through, and as wild as they came. Eye candy in caramel velvet and yellow silk wrapping. All she could think about was unwrapping him, like a present at yuletide.

Read more about this novella at:

http://www.vijayaschartz.com/blackdragon.html

The download is only $2.99. Follow the links below to get it today:

Vijaya Schartz
Award-winning Sci-Fi, Guns, Swords, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Vijaya's paperbacks, kindle, and audiobooks at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JP7UJ4

Vijaya's eBooks at ARe:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Vijaya+Schartz

Vijaya's nooks at:
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Vijaya's eBooks at Smashwords:
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To Touch The Knight - Lindsay Townsend

2011-10-05T05:54:00.000-04:00

Here's an excerpt from my latest medieval historical romance, 'To Touch The Knight', where the hero tries his hand at cross-dressing...

Excerpt.

When Ranulf was escorted into the tent of the Lady of Lilies by a heavily pregnant maid, the princess laughed. He could hear her chuckling clearly through her veil and saw her eyes sparkling, half-closing in sheer amusement.

"My lord!" Seeing him and his costume - devised by Ranulf in a moment of madness on his way from the castle bath-house through the camp - Sir Tancred was clearly scandalized. His pale eyes bulged with indignation as he spilled most of his cup of wine down his gray beard and scarlet tunic.

"This will not do!" her gaudy steward protested, huffing and squawking like a hen thrust off its nest. The pregnant maid was giggling through her fingers.

Ranulf struck a pose. "I am Venus, a fair woman, and all is seemly between women." How did girls walk in long skirts? He felt to be hauling a mile of sacking around with him. "I come to give my sister-princess a kiss of peace."

As the princess continued to laugh, clutching her side, he puckered his lips, provoking another stream of laughter from his intended target.

"My lord, please!" the steward tried again, but the princess held up a hand.

"What is your hair made of, sir? Is it wool?"

"Bought from a spinster in camp," Ranulf replied, dragging the messy cloud of uncombed wool from his head and stepping with relief out of his rough bundle of sacking "skirts". "Where did my disguise fail, princess?"

He ignored the steward's snort and the maid's tittering.

"A lady with stubble? Venus in sacking? I think not. Ask Sir Tancred; he is behind you."

"Ah, your chaperone!" Ranulf turned and nodded to the older knight. "She saw through my play, it seems."

"You are outrageous!" Sir Tancred was another old hen, planting hands on hips and scarlet with indignation. "It is an insult to the princess!"

"Not so, good sir," put in the lady swiftly, slipping between them with a soft swish of her silks. "Sir Ranulf has learned that I too can take a jest against myself, and bear no ill-will for his foolery."

Ranulf thought: that is so, and she is right: she can take a joke against herself. But all I had planned with this was to jest a little, and to steal a kiss.

As if she guessed his mind, the princess went on. "Still, for my patience and forgiveness I would request a favor in return. The small silken star in silver, pinned to your breast: it is a favorite of mine."

"Come take it, then," he said at once, recognizing the justice and straightening as she closed in, drawing in his belly and praying his body would not betray him. It was a near thing, though, with this slender, shimmering moon of a princess, delicate as any courtesan of his dreams. She was still in her gold and cream, with many sparkling jewels and now she glided to him on cloth of some amazing stuff that was as fine and supple as spiders' threads, actually walking on it. The whole tent was carpeted in it, he now realized, and he felt shamed by his own great boots.

She drew near, her perfume slapping him lightly to arousal as a maze of images whirled in his head: a pair of bright eyes, a running scrap of a maid in brown, dainty feet.

Her fingers brushed over his chest, over his best tunic, and his heart hammered his ribs in answer. "Do not take too long, or I may change my mind," he muttered. Only the thought of the pregnant maid being shocked into labor stopped him from snatching her to him and seizing the kiss and all that he desired.

She had been unpinning the favor. Now she glanced up, her startled eyes showing how young she was, in truth, and, with the smile in her voice, how knowing.

"I will soon be done, my lord. There." She held up the silly scrap of cloth and he kissed it, and her gloved fingers. They were cool under his lips, quivering softly. He thought of them de-gloved, tracing down his ribs, scooping lower to his belly, and was lost afresh.

She knew, of course, and stepped back. "Do you go to the revels this evening, my lord?"

"Not without you, my lady," he retorted, glad of the distraction as the steward and Sir Tancred hissed through their beards, no longer hens but geese.

"You know I do not indulge in such revels," she answered easily. "I spend my nights in contemplation."

"Surely not of angels or god? I thought you did not believe in anything you could not touch or see."

The glow faded a little from her eyes. "In my experience that is the best guide."

"And all knights are dreamers to you, yes I know. But have you not considered that you may be wrong, princess?" he replied, feeling somewhat in the ascendancy again, "That there may indeed be more than the narrow realm of the senses?"

Expecting a sharp rejoinder, he was disconcerted when he saw her narrow shoulders sag. In truth he had not meant to hurt her, he realized, only to shake her a little. "But have you seen your other favors?" Keen to change the subject he held out his arms, where the favors won were threaded and tied like tiny banners amidst the long dagged-cut sleeves of his green and gold tunic.

"So many," she said, and a stricken look rose in her eyes, swiftly hidden as she turned away.

Best wishes, Lindsay Townsend

Altered Destiny Excerpt

2011-10-03T09:44:00.000-04:00

Outside Liane’s bedroom window, the castle grounds were dark. No streetlights pearled the night. No city window or doorway gleamed through the dark. It couldn’t be later than nine o’clock but they’d rolled up the sidewalks already.

A long, gurgling growl broke the silence. She’d missed lunch and skipped dinner. If she didn’t eat soon, her stomach was going to wake everyone in the castle.

Including Devyn.

She didn’t want that, didn’t want to face him.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d been wrong.

But cowering in her bedroom wasn’t going to get her fed. She tightened the robe’s belt, then opened the bedroom door a crack. Light, no brighter than moon glow, flowed from a fixture over the sink. Enough, she decided, to raid the refrigerator without waking Devyn. She slipped into the kitchen.

The refrigerator opened with a soft shirp. As she’d discovered last night Devyn didn’t keep much food, but the food he had was high quality. And the covered plate had to be leftovers from his dinner. She pulled it out, tilting one corner of the milky waxed paper covering the thin sliced beef, boiled potatoes and carrots. As hungry as she was, she didn’t care if it was cold. Her fingers settled on a round potato.

Some disturbance, some primal hormonal instinct, sizzled over her skin. She knew, without turning, Devyn stood behind her. Her breath quickened and grew shallow at the same time and she ordered herself to stop it. Not that it did any good.

“I should move the cooler into your room, aye? For these late night feedings.” Devyn, in his long blue robe, joined her. He flicked a switch and the kitchen brightened. “The drapes are drawn so it’s safe to have a wee bit of light.”

She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know if she should berate him or apologize. Instead, she bit into the cold potato.

“Ach.” Devyn wrestled the plate from her and put it into the counter-top oven. “Nae need to eat it cold, lass.”

He pressed the controls. The oven hummed loudly.

He slanted a brief look at her while he filled the teapot. “Ye’re in luck, ya ken. Morag cooked for us. She doesna do that so offen any more.”

Liane popped the rest of the potato in her mouth while Devyn fussed with the teapot, then pulled silverware from a drawer. She shifted as he reached into an overhead cupboard and retrieved two cups. “She’s been like a mother to me.”

Liane realized suddenly that his brogue deepened when he spoke to her or Morag, as if he felt comfortable in their presence. And why not? Morag doted on him while Liane was just a gowky woman he didn’t want and probably planned to get rid of as soon as possible. After all, he and Earvin were competing for the same woman, weren’t they? Men were such idiots.

“Fetch the cream, if ya will.”

She debated it but, as an act of rebellion, it didn’t hit the mark. Setting the bottle on the counter, she studied him. His green eyes darted toward her and his jaw twitched as if he was going to speak. Instead, he sighed, turned to open a drawer and pulled out a cloth napkin that he put next to the silverware on the counter.

“Morag’s an opinionated woman.” He leaned back against the counter, folded his arms over his broad chest and studied his toes. “And fierce as a dragon protecting its nest.”

Liane had to agree with that assessment.

“You’re a good bit like her.” He thought, then added, “Ye’re bonnier, though.”

There was something intimate about being in a kitchen with a bare-footed man. His feet were long and angular, the toes dusted with red-gold hair. When he crossed one ankle over the other, his robe parted for a second to reveal a muscular calf with slightly darker auburn hair. Deep brackets on either side of his sensuous mouth could be lines of fatigue. Weariness.

She broke her silence. “Don’t flirt.”

“Who said I was flirtin’?”

Altered Destiny is available at

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00579FKFO

B&N http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Altered-Destiny/Lynda-K-Scott/e/2940012882417

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/79552

Other books by Lynda K. Scott

Heartstone, Mundania Press http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Heartstone

Note: Use MP10 for a 10% Mundania Press discount at checkout

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Heartstone-Lynda-K-Scott/dp/1606592335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307896585&sr=8-1

Barnes&Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartstone-lynda-k-scott/1024283642?ean=9781606592335&itm=9&usri=heartstone

About Lynda: In her family of Kentucky 'ridge runners', oral tales were a tradition that even the children participated in. She spent many nights with her brother, cousins and friends telling tall tales to excite the imagination. Now she creates award winning science fantasy romance filled with despair, hope, love and courage.

Contact:

Website http://www.lyndakscott.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lynda.k.scott

MySpace http://www.myspace.com/lyndakscott

Twitter http://twitter.com/LyndaKScott

Blog http://www.lyndakscott.blogspot.com

Blog http://www.star-crossedromance.blogspot.com

Email Lynda@LyndaKScott.com

MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD - M/M ADULT

2011-10-02T14:41:00.003-04:00

Missing, Presumed Dead
(An Amethyst Cove Mystery)
by Christiane France
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-182-2 (Electronic)
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/MissingPresumedDead.html

Private investigator and ex-cop, Greg Stewartson, is on his way to bed when his Hollywood-producer brother, Vance, shows up on his doorstep. With him is the handsome, sexy, and blond Tim Fensham, the brother of Vance's latest girlfriend, movie star Petra Lianne. Vance says Petra went missing more than a month ago after last being seen in Amethyst Cove. He has new information, but the police refuse to follow it up. They’ve closed the case, declaring the actress "Missing, Presumed Dead."
But Vance and Tim don’t believe Petra is dead and ask Greg to take the case. After Greg agrees, Tim stays to help him find Petra, while Vance returns to L.A.
Greg doesn’t want or need help, and wishes Tim would leave, too. He’s attracted to the man and figures the feeling may be mutual, but he doesn’t mix business with pleasure and he doesn’t need the distraction of Tim staying in his house. He also doesn’t like the way Tim keeps trying to interfere in the investigation, or the unexpected moves Tim puts on him during a power failure.
Still, Greg can’t tell Tim to take his case elsewhere for fear of upsetting Vance, but he does tell Tim to back off. The trouble is, Tim is not a very good listener...
Excerpt:

...While Tim went outside to fetch his overnight bag, I collected the used mugs and empty beer cans, put them on the tray and took the tray out to the kitchen.
When he returned, I locked the back door, but didn’t bother resetting the alarm. If he decided to go back outside for whatever reason, I didn’t want the damn thing going off and waking me up. “If you want to come with me, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping. There’s an extra blanket in the closet if you’re cold, and there are soap and towels in the ensuite. If you need anything else, I’m in the room across from you.”
We’d made it halfway down the hall leading to the bedrooms when the lights went off, yet again. Tim cannoned into my back, almost knocking me over.
“Sorry about that. I hate the dark.” He gave a shaky laugh. “Always have. Scares the living crap out of me. Makes me jumpy as hell. Clumsy, too.”
Oh, yeah? I’ve seen more than a few clever moves over the years, but when it came to making the best of an opportunity, this guy was beyond good. Believable, almost.
He cuddled closer, presumably to prove his point, then wrapped his arms around my body, and I felt his hot breath tickling my neck. “I hope you don’t mind me hanging onto you like this.”
Mind? Why should I mind? The power’s never off for more than a minute, two at the very most, so I had no reason to worry about things getting out of hand. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine.”
Whether I would be fine was a whole different story. His heat, his scent, the way his hard cock was pressing against my crack was such a turn-on, I figured I might as well enjoy the thrill while it lasted. All I had to do was relax…one, two, three, four. Any second now there would be light. Five, six, seven, eight, nine… By the time I got to ten, my imagination had taken off and I didn’t care if the damn lights never ever came on again.
He was nibbling my ears and stroking my dick, and it didn’t take genius mentality to know where things were headed. But what the hell? Maybe he really was afraid of the dark rather than an opportunist, and if something we both wanted kept his mind off his fears where was the harm?
Just when things started to get really hot, the lights flashed on and off a couple of times, then came back on to stay.
He relaxed his hold and gave another shaky laugh. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to get quite so carried away. I guess what they say about fear being a powerful aphrodisiac is true.”
Oh, sure! The guy is edging in on forty and this is the first time he’s discovered the connection? I don’t think so. I may live in a small town, but he has to know us small-towners are not that naive. “You think?”
“Not really, no.” He visibly relaxed and treated to me to a soft, sexy chuckle that raised everything on my body, including my hopes, as he reached out and stroked a finger down my cheek. “You could have pushed me away.”
“True. I could also have screamed rape. Problem is living out here with my nearest neighbor working nights, I doubt anyone would have heard.”
“Would you have wanted them to hear?”
“Not particularly.” I smiled. This was California, and tall, good-looking, blond-haired, surfer-dudes are a dime a dozen. But there was nothing stereotypical about Tim. For one thing, he was much older than your average surfer dude, and while most surfers are just good looks and muscles, this guy had all that plus charisma to spare. His blond, sun-streaked hair looked natural, and his deep blue eyes were a turn-on all by themselves.
“You sure about that?”
“About as sure as I can be.”
The wanting was there on both sides. It was so damn obvious what was about to happen, and I needed to put a stop to it, now. This was where I was supposed to force a laugh, shuffle my feet to cover any embarrassment, and get back to showing Tim to his room. Except I knew I couldn’t do any of that. My rule of not mixing business with pleasure was about to get broken, and there was nothing I could do about it. At least, nothing I wanted to do...
www.chrisgrover.ca

New Release - MR RIGHT ONLINE

2011-09-30T06:02:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from a new Eve Summers romance, MR RIGHT ONLINE:

The second time Andy popped the question was a double-barrel effort. We were in a private chat room, and Andy was pretending that he was my soul mate and that he could ‘sense’ me across the oceans.

“You’re drinking red wine,” he typed.

I was. “So? You know I always drink red wine on a Friday night.”

“And you’re wearing something black.”

“Andy, come on. Most of the lingerie I own is black. Except that little red number, remember?”

“I remember.... Stop distracting me, though. I can so sense you across the miles.... You are rolling your eyes now, aren’t you? And before you can roll them some more, answer that phone of yours. It’s ringing.”

Now that was a little spooky. My mobile had just played the first notes of “Moonlight Sonata”. I was so surprised I didn’t check the caller ID.

“Gillian Moore speaking.”

“Will you marry me?” said the voice in my mobile phone, just as the chat room exploded in pixels of fireworks surrounding the typed words “will you marry me”.

That was way romantic. And I couldn’t laugh it off this time.

I had to say no.

Andy was perfect. But then many guys seem perfect online. It’s easy to dazzle a girl in cyberspace. You have all the time in the world to think up the best lines and you don’t have to worry whether your breath smells of garlic as you deliver them.

I know those online lovers. I looked up all their smiles and winking semi-colons and dirty thoughts in the online dictionary, and yes, I got a bit tipsy on all the possibilities of dirty sex. And yes, I was duped by all the clichés the online Mr Wrongs dealt me: they were knights in shining armours whose wives didn’t understand them, they drove white BMWs ready to sweep me off my feet, they were all into sunset kisses and cuddling. You name it, I fell for it. Dumb, huh?