Crimes of passion, it is said, are not usually committed by criminals, but by so-called ordinary people, pushed by unbearably strong emotions to find release in what would normally be for them an unthinkable act. The passions of the old are held in check in . . . the Haus im Wald . . . if more were said, if more discussion were acceptable, if less emotion were suppressed . . . if they only had more sex. But what then? Betrayal, jealousy, envy, revenge, injured pride, broken hearts—none of these classic motives for crimes of passion are obviated by sex, on the contrary. The fact is that the residents of the Haus im Wald are still alive, and so by definition, whether they have sex or not, their passions run high (324-5).
My murder mystery, A Place to Die, is set in a retirement home in the Vienna Woods, the Haus im Wald. Most of the characters in this novel are over sixty and some are over ninety. This might have been an odd sort of novel a hundred years ago, but now, life expectancy is on the rise—the number of people reaching ninety has tripled in the last thirty years, we are told—there may well be 8 million centenarians by 2050, we are told. This means that the life of the old is of more and more concern to all generations, to none more right now than to the baby-boomers who, themselves in their sixties, often have parents in their eighties and nineties. And those who are younger have to live with the thought that they themselves might live into their nineties and hundreds. For better or worse, old age is an expanding term.
In my novel, an old man is killed and an Inspector comes into the house full of old people, seeking the murderer in the midst of them. Into the lives of the residents crash not only the Inspector but also two baby-boomer Americans visiting an aged mother. During this tense time, they are forced to take a look into their own lives and what may lie ahead as they themselves get older.
I first had the idea of setting a murder mystery in a retirement home simply because it seemed to me a ideal plot device—a ready-made group of suspects, obliged by circumstances to stay at the scene of the crime. I did not set out to create a particular microcosm, to examine the dynamics of a group of old people, to analyze the likelihood that a crime of passion—or a cold-blooded murder—could occur among them. But as the investigation proceeded, I found myself looking closer and closer into the particular society I had chosen, the society of the old, that ever-growing segment of the population which is the ultimate destination of us all.
Eleanor and Franz Fabian arrive from New York to spend Christmas with Franzs mother in her sedate retirement home in the Vienna Woods. Their expectations are low: at best, boredom, at worst, run-of-the-mill family friction. But when the wealthy, charming Herr Graf is found dead in his apartment with an ugly head wound, the Fabians are thrust into a homicide investigation.
Some residents and staff have surprising connections to the dead man, but who would have wanted to kill him? Inspector Büchner tracks down the murderer against a backdrop of Viennese history from the Nazi years to the present day. Witty, suspenseful, lyrical, this is a literary whodunit that will keep you guessing till the last page.
Dorothy James Bio: Dorothy James was born in Wales and grew up in the South Wales Valleys. Writer, editor, and translator, she has published short stories as well as books and articles on German and Austrian literature. She has taught at universities in the U.S., England, and Germany, makes her home now in Brooklyn and often spends time in Vienna and Berlin.
She wrote A Place to Die in her attic apartment on the edge of the Vienna Woods. She has travelled far from Wales, but has not lost the Welsh love of playing with language; she writes poems for pleasure as does Chief Inspector Büchner, the whimsical Viennese detective who unravels the first mystery in this new series of novels.
Valentine’s Day – The day we are expected to send pictures of red naked winged-babies to our loved ones. A holiday marked with wine and candles and all that jazz. The day commemorating the horrible executions of several early Christian martyrs named St Valentine, which, some years, may seem all too symbolic.
But we all know that stuff. Here’s ten personal things that Valentine’s Day means to me:
10. Cherry red tinsel. Everywhere. And the burned out retinas that accompany said tinsel.
9. Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting – the greatest thing to come out of this holiday, and possibly any holiday? Perhaps.
8. The time that someone pointed out to me that the classic heart-shaped valentine has a similar shape as the labia majora, upside down, arguing that that is why it is shaped that way. I’ve never seen Valentine’s Day decorations the same way since.
7. Hot cocoa. I don’t drink wine, so this is my drink of choice. Add a little whipped cream, and it’s about as romantic as it comes.
6. Sappy movies. I admit it, ‘tis the season for romcom marathons, and I eat it up. I have a list on my blog of the thirteen best romantic movies for the holiday, and it is my preferred way of celebrating. In my pajamas. The way all good holidays are meant to be enjoyed.
5. Filling out thirty little cards that come in a box from the drugstore and feature the latest licensed fad characters for my sons’ preschool class. Not only is this both slightly annoying and rather adorable, this is also a great way to find names for new novel characters, since every year I get thirty new names I hadn’t thought of before. Well, this year it’s twenty-eight, since there’s two Jordans and two Lukes.
4. The two-week warning mark before my son’s birthday, and time to finish the shopping and decoration plans. Okay, so not romantic at all, but as a mom, you learn these memory queues to avoid insanity.
3. Red bowls full of candy. I’m a teacher, so this time every year finds me scooping up armfuls of candy to bring to class. Valentine’s Day always reminds me of buying $50 worth of junk in one go, and avoiding eye contact with the cashier as she rings it all in.
2. The constant struggle to find X-Free store-bought treats for the Tot’s preschool class Valentine’s Day party, where X stands for peanuts, gluten, sugar, animal biproducts and gelatin, Red # 40, artificial sweeteners, lactose and soy. Oh, and individually wrapped, as well. And holiday-themed, if I can manage it. Oy.
1. Romance novels! You knew I had to say it, and here it is. Now, on such an important day, I don’t always leave it up to chance by reading just anything. This is the day every year that I dig out one of my treasured paperbacks from my favourite writer, LaVyrle Spencer. This year, it will be The Endearment, I think. Nothing brings home the message of romance like a beloved book and a timeless story of lovers. It makes me proud of what I do.
Happy Valentine’s Day, with many books and kisses included, to each and every one of you!
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
*
V-Day, an erotic romantic-comedy for Valentine’s Day
It all started with a serenade…
A family like Daniel’s and the solitary pursuit of musical excellence is enough to make a young man crazy. No wonder all Daniel Vouks dreams of is getting away. He knows his violin will take him places in life, but the only place he really wants to be is next door. He’s been in love with his neighbor since he was fourteen, but can he ever make her see him as more than just a lovesick kid?
V-Day is the story of a Valentine’s Day weekend Daniel fears he may regret, but will never, ever forget.
Excerpt:
Daniel retreated to the music room, thankful he didn’t have a class or a practice scheduled on campus today. He didn’t even have to give any lessons until next week. The weather really didn’t look all that welcoming and he was grateful he could huddle inside as his family bustled off to their various destinations. After school, his parents would be off for the weekend, dropping his sister and her flotilla of luggage off at Kayley’s so the girls could get ready to go to the dance together, which meant leaving Daniel officially on his own until at least Sunday afternoon. Glorious.
Allowing the noise of their departures to roll off him as he sat absently at the piano, he plucked out a few strains and watched the sun glint off the fresh snow in the backyard. It was really beautiful when you could view it from a cozy place.
Blah! Another Valentine’s Day. His nineteenth one as a single guy. And, he thought ruefully, his nineteenth year as a confirmed virgin.
Jesus, even his baby sister had more going on than he did. Selby, his girlfriend in tenth grade, had been about as close to any action as he’d ever gotten. Her pathological fear of pregnancy made it absolutely essential that he keep his pants on at all times. Other than that, any girl he’d ever liked had tossed him into the “friend” basket and never bothered to reassess him.
Kelly, his best friend, did that. After Daniel followed the cute redheaded soprano around for weeks like a puppy, she finally took pity on him and explained he was simply too nice to attract her. After that, they formed an easy relationship through which both had a pal, and a no-fuss “emergency date” when necessary.
Flipping open his phone, he hit Kelly’s number.
“This better be good,” she grumbled after the fifth ring.
“Hey early riser,” he chuckled.
“Well, if I had my mom bringing me my morning coffee in bed…”
“Okay, truce,” Daniel winced. “And my mom doesn’t let me drink coffee.”
“Why not? Afraid it’ll stunt your growth, stretch?” Kelly asked with a crystal clear laugh despite having just woken up.
“Something like that,” he said, flecking a flower petal off the top of the piano. “Listen…You’re probably…I dunno…busy tonight, right?”
“Are you trying again, Danny?” she groaned.
“Well, no. I just thought if you weren’t, maybe we could do something.”
“I have a date.”
“Right,” he forced a chuckle. “Yeah, I figured you would.” He straightened in his chair. “Being Valentine’s and all. No problem, just wanted to check.”
“Ahhh, Danny,” she sighed. “What about you?”
“I got a hot date all weekend,” he said over a grimace. “With that friggin’ tango, I guess.”
“Danny, do yourself a favor,” she said firmly. “Go get yourself laid. I told you that’s what’s missing from your tango.”
“Well then,” he quipped. “Support the arts and break your date. I can be there in an hour.”
“Har har har,” she said and then laughed for real. “Seriously, go fall for someone. Preferably someone who will fall for you back.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “For you, I’ll try my best.”
Daniel hung up and pounded out a few more notes on the keyboard in front of him, contemplating Kelly’s method music theory that said you could only sing or play what you’d experienced. If that were the case, his tango would remain a virginal one if his luck so far was any indication.
Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance, as well as a mother and teacher. You may visit Anne at her blog or website, or find her on GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter (@anneholly2010). Sign up for her newsletter here. Email: anneholly2010@gmail.com.
When I thought about what I wanted to write for my guest post, I eventually narrowed it down to music. I love music. I listen to it all the time. If you’ve ever taking one of those tests where you determine your learning style, I’m told mine is musical. I would have thought it was literary giving the writing and all…but no.
Now in terms of top ten…this is just ten selected. Who could possible say these are the top ten? It is so subjective. I have over 20 GB of music….and it was hard to just pick ten to even talk about.
I’m guessing you might be able to tell a bit about me from the selected tunes. I did try to pick some things from various genres I like. They are in no particular order. I’m hoping I didn’t date myself too much J
1. “Every Time I Think of You” – The Babys
I heard this on the radio earlier in the week and I thought to myself…mmm I’ve always liked that song. When I got home, I downloaded it on iTunes and it’s been in heavy rotation all week at my house (no doubt to the continuing dismay of my neighbors). It’s a great song and also not a ballad. I suppose you could characterize it as a power ballad. While there is anything wrong with ballads, I find this appealing, in part, because of the aggressiveness of it.
2. “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
I have loved this song for years and years. Now ignoring the biographical backstory of its author, it just simply is a moving tribute. A man loves a woman. Everything she is, is beautiful to him. Does it get any more lovely and straightforward?
3. “Truly Madly Deeply” – Savage Garden
The lyrics of this song are like a poem. I can play it over and over without getting tired of it. It’s bold, big, and breathtaking. It is about being in wonderful places with someone special and perhaps how everywhere is special if you are with the right person.
4. “Accidentally in Love” – Counting Crows
This song is simply fun. It is a more playful take on the concept of falling in love. It calls to the more quirky, less sappy side of me.
5. “Strawberry Wine” – Deanna Carter
This song is all about young love, first love. It is so very different from my experience as I was somewhat of a late bloomer. I think that is why I find it so appealing.
6. “She Came From Fort Worth” – Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea is truly a gifted song writer. Her songs usually tell stories and this one is no exception. I like the sound of it but perhaps also the lyric reminds me of myself. After all, I moved from New York to Hawaii in pursuit of true love.
7. “Head Over Feet” – Alanis Morissette
Jagged Little Pill came out during a time of heavy social activity in my life. This song in particular became a huge favorite of mine because it seemed to encapsulate my feeling of falling into infatuation over and over again that I was experiencing at the time.
8. “I Honestly Love You” – Olivia Newton-John
This song is totally a cliché type song, but still heartfelt. I was a huge ONJ fan as a kid (still am I guess) and I really like her rendition. As a bonus, I can sing along with Olivia a lot more easily than I can with Whitney.
9. “Anymore” – Travis Tritt
Not everything about love is wonderful warm feelings and emotional connection. This is about unrequited love. I imagine someone desperately, secretly in love and afraid to share it. Revealing something so vulnerable is a truly frightening thing to do. Opening yourself to rejection is never easy.
10. “I Don’t Believe You” – P!nk
This is another sad one. It’s a love song, but a love song about heartbreak and disbelief. Since P!nk got back together with her husband, when I listen to this song I can’t help but think she was right when she penned this one.
So take a moment and sample some of my suggestions. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. What are some of your favorite love songs? Feel free to comment and let me know your nominees.
To go with my love song theme, I picked an excerpt this is a bit more romantic. The following is from The ABCs of Erotica – B is for Beach.
Excerpt –
Erica loved the beach. She especially loved it at night when the moonlight reflected off the water and the sound of crashing waves broke on the shore. There was no one else on the beach but the two of them, and the solitude was lovely. During the day, the beach was hot, crowded. But now, with the moon and stars it was a place of dreams. She’d fantasized many times about being on the beach with a lover, alone together in the darkness, the water drowning out their cries of ecstasy. She shook her head ruefully. She was getting ahead of herself.
A gust of wind swept up, and Erica shivered a bit. Ben stopped, running his hands over her chilled arms and then leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers. Liquid pleasure filled her and Erica strained closer, bringing her hands to his shoulders. Finally, the moment was here. She’d waited all evening to feel his lips. Again and again, Ben kissed her urgently. He slid his tongue into her mouth, rubbing against the inside of her lower lip while Erica pressed herself fully against him. They embraced for a moment more and then pulled apart and continued down the sand.
Erica moved closer to the edge of the water and a wave broke over her feet, soaking the hem of her long, gauzy skirt. She laughed as the cold, swirling water retreated. Ben grasped her hand, pulling her back toward the dry sand which clung to her feet. They collapsed onto a small, raised dune, and Ben reached down and brushed away the sand. His fingertips brushed lightly over the tops of her feet, sweeping the grains away. She leaned toward Ben and his lips met hers again, kissing ardently. Closer and closer, Erica wrapped her arms around him and he sank back into the sand, taking her with him. She felt her bonds slip away. This man knew her. She could be exactly who she was.
Erica pressed close against Ben, but the barrier of their clothes was intolerable to her. Button by button, Erica opened his shirt and slid her hands inside. Her palms pressed against the smooth skin of his warm chest, touching, caressing. She fingered his nipples, tracing around the edges and rubbing across the puckered texture. Her hands moved up to his shoulders, and Ben sat up so Erica could push his shirt and jacket down his arms. She nipped his shoulder with her teeth and slid her tongue over the mark, pressing her lips against his skin.
Malia Mallory is the author of The ABCs of Erotica series, which includes so far A is for Anal, B is for Beach, C is for C*ck RingD is for Domination, and now, R is for Revenge. The ABCs of Erotica covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released Mia’s Cop Craving and Santa’s Backdoor Baby. She has hit the bestselling erotica lists at both Amazon and iTunes. Her books are available in electronic format at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and AllRomance Books.
Thanks, for having me over today! I thought I’d share a bit about me today rather than bore everyone with one of my lessons in writing. J Sexy foods anyone?
My idea of a sexy thing doesn’t necessarily embody what most would consider sexy…you know dark and lush and completely sinful. My list does involve a few standards, but I think you’ll be surprised what else I find decadent…tasty…sexy.
Before I get started, I’ll tell you a bit about how I came up with my list. Several months ago I was asked what I thought was the sexiest room in the house other than the bedroom. Without a second’s pause I immediately replied, “The kitchen.” Why you might ask? Because to me it’s the heart of the home where nurturing takes place…and that’s sexy. It’s also sensual, and if I might say it lends to a completely submissive frame of mind in and of that is where you can care for someone, give yourself up to them in a pleasing way, in a non-sexual way. I love to cook and when I know I’ve pleased my husband by feeding him something that satisfied him on not just a purely nutritional level…that makes me a very happy woman…
So here goes…Lila’s top ten sexy foods…
Number ten: Fondue. Yes you read that correctly. What’s more fun than gooey cheese or drippy chocolate that you can feed each other?
Number nine: Cheesecake. Need I say more? I mean come on…it’s lush and decadent and feels so good on the tongue…yum!
Number eight: Oysters. I live on the east coast…yes, it is true what they say. I’ve never been disappointed yet after one or a dozen.
Number seven: Strawberries. What’s not to love? Sweet, juicy goodness on a stem that can be rubbed across…
Number six: Chocolate. Yes, a standard, but this stuff is just pure sin in any form. Would you not agree?
Number five: French fries. J I can hear you all right now…What? Okay, this one comes from a friend who tells me one of the most romantic moments with her husband involved French fries…I believe her. J
Number four: Pasta, specifically spaghetti and meatballs. Why? Because of Lady and the Tramp, that’s why…and that’s my husband’s and my movie…I know a hopeless romantic.
Number three: Comfort food. See I told you I was outside the box. What says love more than a plate of fried chicken, mashed and gravy, and a big fluffy biscuit? I think it’s a sexy way to feed my man after a hard day’s work and it keeps up his strength for other things…
Number two: Pizza. When I first met my husband I was working horrendous hours and he was an instructor. Dinner time was not a joy and sometimes didn’t exist. It was the sexiest thing for him to bring home a pizza and feed me…see this erotic nourishing runs both ways. J
And, the number one sexy food for me: Wedding cake. There is nothing sexier than sharing that first piece as man and wife…sometimes I buy a cute little cake just because I can and have it with my husband along with a glass of bubbly—also sexy by the way…
Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012. And has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13. Ms. Munro also works as the VP of Business Affairs for Rebel Ink Press. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her website http://realmanticmoments.blogspot.com or through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com For more information about Rebel Ink Press please visit their website at www.rebelinkpress.com
Assumed Identity
Innocent childhood games of dress-up and pretend…
Julie Stevens is as straight as they come. Or so she tries to convince herself. But it isn’t easy believing that little white lie when she has the two most sexually eccentric best friends on the planet. One is a bi-sexual Domme who believes if it looks fun, try it. The other is a gay man in the role of slave to his very sexy Master whom Julie often wishes wasn’t gay. Dante’s commanding presence makes her want to do things that set her on fire with need and embarrassment. Given her boring vanilla life, how exactly does she fit into their world? Would they like to have a shinier third wheel?
Are a completely different animal for grownups…
After one wild evening and a bit too much liquid encouragement, Julie discovers a side of herself she’s always tried to ignore. The realization she’s a sub not only scares her, it excites her and she yearns for more. But the process of finding the right man to teach her becomes a real issue, until Mason comes along. He’s everything Julie imagines a Dom should be. Armed with her masque and Renaissance costume, Julie is thrown for a loop when the handsome Master draws more willingness out of her than she ever thought possible. Is it possible she’s more than a submissive? And will the assumptions he’s made about her identity end up tearing them apart?
“Are you wet, angel?” Mason asked, running one hand down the middle of her back. Her intake of breath told him she was and that she didn’t want to admit it. “Answer me. Now.”
“Yes,” she whispered over a whimper.
Covering her body with his, Mason leaned over her and gently took her by her hair. “Tell me what you need, angel.”
Silence. Sniffling. Muffled moans.
“Julie. Tell. Me. What. You. Need.”
“Sex.” Her voice was barely audible.
“No. That’s what you think I want. I know what I want. You’re to free your mind of thoughts concerning what you think I want.” Mason pushed back up and began moving one hand over her back in a soothing pattern. “Tell me what you need.”
“I need…I…Don’t make me…”
“Say it.”
“I need to come,” she whined.
“Good girl,” he praised. “Now tell me what you want.”
“I don’t understand…”
“Yes, you do. Tell me,” he growled.
“I want you to make me come,” she gushed, arching her back into his constant touch.
“I’m going to do just that, angel,” he spoke harshly, leaning back over her and taking a handful of hair, raising her head enough he could nip her earlobe. “Tell me you understand.”
“I understand.”
“When’s the last time you had an orgasm?” She started to answer and he cut her off. “With a man?”
“I can’t remember.”
“Shame on them,” Mason told her.
He stood and while keeping one hand on her lower back letting her know he was still present, he unbuttoned his jeans then unzipped them slowly, adding to her agony by being forced to listen to the click of each tine popping open. Scooting his pants down his legs along with his boxers, he stepped out of them and when his hand left her so he could sheath himself, Julie grunted in frustration.
“Get on your back on the bed,” he said as he finished rolling the condom down. She needed the visual contact even if she couldn’t see anything but shadows and reflections.
She hesitated, looked behind her as if trying to determine if he was baiting her or not, then turned and backed across the mattress before lying down with her legs spread and her arms at her sides, her eyes tightly squeezed shut. So clinical, as if she expected to be used as a vessel. Who the hell had she been with before and what the hell had they done to her to make her think sex was about lying like a dead fish while the man got what he wanted? Then he remembered what she’d been like at the party, after he’d caught her in the chase.
She was carefree and happy, not at all a dead fish beneath him. As he’d lain on her in the garden, she was vital and eager. Mason believed she’d have done anything he asked of her she was so pliable…She’d been Hayden. Not Julie. She’d not just been dressed for the party. She was literally hiding behind her masque.
A bit of anger and sorrow wound around Mason’s state of arousal and squeezed him as he realized she had to assume an identity to feel. Then he was almost ashamed at the bit of happiness that crept in at the realization that she was not only fresh and new to his world but actually, she was like putty in his hands. She was ready to be molded into the person she was perfectly capable of being. He could be the one to show Julie how good it really could be, not just physically, but emotionally as well. For tonight though, she needed a safe haven, a place where she could turn her fears into dancing.
The first kiss in any relationship can be such a magical experience, or absolutely dreadful, but either way, always memorable. It can turn friends into lovers, crushes into relationships, or make you want to run and hide. I remember them all.
In fiction, the first kiss changes everything as well. It is usually a major plot point in any romance story, and determines what the characters do next.
Here is the first kiss in Unknown Futures:
Jewel pressed against her, her head resting on her shoulder, swaying to the decelerated beat. “I don’t want this night to end.”
Their dancing became deliberate, a sensuous and intimate rhythm. “It doesn’t have to.”
Jewel stopped and looked up at her. “You…you’re interested?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? You’re the most beautiful creature in the space station.” Somehow, she had to make her see. She brushed her thumb across her lips, wanting to touch more, her entire luscious body. Taking a deep breath, V steadied herself. If this were to go any further, Jewel needed to show her own intentions. As warm moisture pooled between her thighs, V schooled herself to patience.
“Are you sure you’renot my date?”
Shit!That damn date, the only wedge between them. “No, but I wish I was.”
“I wish you were, too.” Jewel stood on the tips of her toes and claimed her mouth. V pulled her closer until the bit of space between them had been filled. Excited by the warm, curvaceous body pressed against her taut nipples, she fed from the sweetness of Jewel’s mouth, drawing out each delicious sweep. But she wanted more. She wanted all of her.
Now, in one word, describe your first kiss.
Unknown Futures
Attacked as a young adult, Jewel is left scarred and alone. She applies to the 1Night Stand service, believing no one can see past her appearance to love her. But she doesn’t expect to be sent to a space station where her date could be any number of unusual alien species.
Flavia left everything behind to be one of five humans working for the Space Service space station. Extremely homesick, she is excited to learn she will be a guide to a woman from Earth visiting the station for a couple days. She is immediately drawn to the petite woman, seeing past her scars to her true inner beauty, stirring unforeseen desires.
Unfortunately, Jewel is there for a date which Flavia hasn’t been told about. Can she contain her lust and simply show her a good time? Or will she let her desire lead them into an unknown future?
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.
As part of the Unknown Futures blog tour with Sizzling PR, Jessica is giving away a $20 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or AllRomanceEbooks.com. Simply leave a comment with your email address for your chance to WIN! Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=8896
Huge thanks to Books-n-Kisses for hosting me here today! I’m celebrating the release of my new dark paranormal romance, In the Service of the King, the first in my Vampire Warrior Kings series. I thought I’d play on the awesomely cute name of this blog and assert that there’s nothing better than vampires-n-kisses, too! *winks* And, to prove my case, I’m offering a few vamptastic excerpts to seal the deal.
First, there’s nothing like a first kiss, is there? Here’s Kael’s and Shayla’s:
Shayla’s mind erupted into a cacophony of joyous confusion. She’d been specifically told there would be no kissing. The king did not kiss. But, holy hell! Did the king ever kiss.
His large frame bent down over her, surrounding her in his heat. His full lips sucked and pulled at hers and his tongue demanded entrance and exploration, which she freely granted. His hard muscles bunched and thrummed around her, setting her body on fire everywhere they touched. The scent of powerful masculinity filled her nose, and the exquisite flavor of his tongue in her mouth intoxicated her. And, oh God, every time she felt the passing hardness of his fangs as they kissed made her whimper and moan. Her body readied itself immediately for his, moistening, opening.
Having shielded herself from physical relationships, she was astounded to learn her body had the ability to produce this crazy, urgent euphoria. Her brain scrambled to process each new, maddening sensation. In that moment, she would’ve done anything to maintain the feeling. Was it always like this?
Kael growled low in his chest as his mouth came at her again and again, and Shayla felt the vibration of the feral sound against her breasts. She squeezed her thighs together, seeking friction to satisfy even a little of her now uncontrollable lust. Her mouth was so filled with his probing tongue it was difficult to get enough oxygen, but his kisses convinced her she could live without it as long as he continued to devour her so intensely.
Never had she imagined the expression of physical love could make her feel so wanted, so needed.
His obvious pleasure throbbed against her stomach and flooded her with unbelievable feelings of power, and just a little fear. Because they were off the grid now, outside the bounds of the rules and expectations she’d been taught during her training. And she was thrilled it might mean he was as affected by her as she was by him. Wherever the king was leading them, she was only too happy to follow. In truth, she felt powerless to do otherwise.
While desperate kisses like the one above are amazing, there’s something to be said for soft, sensual ones, too. Like…this one, for example:
This wasn’t the wild kiss he’d claimed her with earlier. His lips found hers gently, reverently, as if he was savoring small tastes of a rare gourmet meal. One large hand grasped her shoulder and the other cupped her cheek—both brought her closer to him. He pulled and sucked at her lips, his hair falling around their faces as he rose up over her. She opened herself before he even demanded it of her—her body remembered his exquisite taste and begged for its return.
Their tongues stroked and explored, but she needed more. She pushed forward just enough to suck his whole tongue deep into her mouth.
Sweet fulfillment exploded against her taste buds, dragging whimpers and moans from her. He groaned and her hands flew to his hair. Her left hand found masses of thick silky bronze she gripped and tugged as she held him to her, but her right hand fell on his jeweled braid. Knowing the significance of it, she yanked her hand back, afraid she’d offended him.
But then his big hand grasped hers where it rested against his chest and pulled it back up
to his head. “Hold me,” he whispered against her lips. “Touch me.”
And, just to make sure my case for the awesomeness of vampires-n-kisses is full-proof, I offer you more kisses, just, this time, not on the mouth:
Shayla licked her lips as she gazed at the red-painted knot over Kael’s heart. She wanted to…to…
She sprang at him and opened her mouth over the red. The moment her tongue touched his skin, she groaned, a nearly strangled sound from deep in her throat. This was the urge she’d been feeling all day. She licked and sucked at the spot over his heart until only his clean tattoo remained. She drew back, whimpering. Not enough. It wasn’t enough.
“Here,” he rasped. He pointed to another symbol painted on the bulge of his bicep.
Needy sounds spilled from her as she pulled his arm to her mouth. She feasted on the mark, but it, too, was gone too soon.
He held his hair away from the left side of his throat. “Again.”
She moaned and climbed up him. His other arm strapped her against him, held her in place while she sucked and licked the red away. Kael grunted and shook under her frenzied attention and it drove her on.
It was blood. His blood. It sang to her, beckoned her. She needed more. So much more.
So, did I successful make my case? *winks* The awesome thing is: we don’t have to choose between books-n-kisses or vampires-n-kisses, do we? Because In the Service of the King proves one can have books-n-vampires-kisses altogether!
To celebrate her new release, Laura is giving away one e-copy of In the Service of the King at each stop on her New Release Tour, 1/30 – 2/15! In addition, all commenters from across the tour will be entered to win a prize bag filled with swag and various vampire items, perfect for the vampire lover! RULES: Must leave e-mail address & if from U.S. in comment. Ebook prizes open to international; prize bag to U.S. only.
About In the Service of the Kings
Book 1 in the Vampire Warrior Kings Series
Harlequin Nocturne Cravings
Kael, Warrior King of the Vampires, loathes the Night of the Proffering. He needs the blood of either his mate or a human virgin to maintain his strength, but hasn’t enjoyed the ritual since he lost his mate centuries ago. Kael doesn’t want a new companion, yet his resolve is tested when he lays eyes on his new offering, Shayla McKinnon. He is drawn to Shayla’s beauty and poise…and the submission she offers. She is eager to give him anything he wishes, including her innocence, to please him. Will Kael give in to their overwhelming desire–even if it means risking Shayla’s life?
About Laura Kaye
Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of a half-dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is a finalist for the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
GIVEAWAY TIME:
To enter for a chance to win Laura’s newest book. Please use the Rafflecopter form below.
Thanks so much to Kelly and Books-n-Kisses for inviting me to stop by the blog today!
If you are a reader who follows writer’s blogs, you’ve probably heard writers talk about “the book of their heart”. This term is tossed around all the time, and doesn’t mean much unless you’re a writer. For me, every book I write is “the book of my heart” otherwise I wouldn’t write it. If I don’t love the characters enough to want to tell their story, my interest won’t last long enough to write the book. But for every writer there is one book that stands out above all the rest. Sometimes it’s the first book they wrote. Sometimes it’s the book they waited to write until they knew they were a better writer. For other authors—like me—it’s the book they wrote, then come back to over and over and over again, even years later.
My most recent release, WAIT FOR ME, is this book. Chronologically, it’s the second book I wrote, but that really means nothing because it’s been revised more times than I can count. My first book sucked big green donkey whompers. Seriously, it was so bad it will never see the light of day. But when I finished—and even though I knew it was awful—I was proud of it. Because I learned a lot in the process of writing that book. And when I was done I knew I could tackle the book I’d wanted to write from the start—WAIT FOR ME.
WAIT FOR ME is the story that got me writing. It’s the one that’s been in my head the longest. When I finished it, I knew the writing still wasn’t that good, but I didn’t shove it in a box and forget about it like I did my first book. Yes, I put it away, but every time I learned something new or discovered a better way to write, I went back to WAIT FOR ME, pulled it out and revised.
The final version of WAIT FOR ME bears no resemblance to that early manuscript. The location is different, the suspense is different, the scenes are totally different. But one element remains: the love story. The love story in this book is what kept drawing me back. It’s that element that I couldn’t let go of. It’s the part that makes this book THE book of my heart.
Putting this book out into the world for readers was not an easy task. Like I said before, I didn’t want to release it until I knew I could do it justice. After eight published novels, plus two more that are done and waiting to be released, I finally felt ready to revise WAIT FOR ME one last time and let it go. It’s crazy to say that after ten books I’m still totally nervous as to how readers will react to my story and writing, but I am. Especially with this book because it has such a special place in my heart. Thankfully, readers have been enjoying it, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. When a book has been with an author as long as this one has been with me, there is no other feeling in the world than hearing from readers how much they love it and that they think it’s my best book yet. In a silly, author-neurotic way, it makes the “wait” totally worth it.
Is there something in your life you waited for that you’re happy you postponed until you were ready? I’m giving away an ebook copy of WAIT FOR ME, a second chance story with a twist, to one lucky commenter today!
***
A woman without a past…
After a tragic accident left her with no memory, Kate Alexander struggled to fit in with a husband and world that didn’t feel right. She’s had no reason to question what friends and family have told her, not until her husband is suddenly killed and she finds a photo of a young girl in his office. A girl who can’t be anyone but a daughter Kate didn’t know she had.
A man desperate for a reason to live…
Ryan Harrison lost his wife in a plane crash five years ago. To cope with the pain of her loss, he dedicated himself to his job and to raising their daughter. Now a successful pharmaceutical executive, Ryan has everything a man could want—money, fame and power—but he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for just one more day with the woman he still loves.
Two lives about to converge.
As Kate begins to dig into a past she doesn’t remember, evidence leads her to San Francisco and puts her on the path toward Ryan, a man who sees in her the woman he loved and lost. Kate feels a draw to Ryan, one she can’t explain, but is that feeling enough to convince her this is where she’s supposed to be? As Ryan and Kate search for answers, they uncover lies long buried, a passion hotter than either expected and a danger that threatens…even now…when the second chance they’ve both been searching for is finally within reach.
“Full of twists and turns, lies and deception, and the ultimate revenge, WAIT FOR ME is a great romantic suspense read.”
—Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick
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A former junior high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton traded in her red pen and test tube set for a laptop and research books. She now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards including the prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, The Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her at www.elisabethnaughton.com to learn more about her and her books.
The United Kingdom today includes Scotland, Wales and Britain, but it took centuries and blood to unite them…especially Scotland, which didn’t take kindly to the idea at all.
Scotland still considers itself an independant country, in spirit at least, and it fought for two centuries and two bloody wars for that right.
BRAVEHEART. The Battle of Falkirk
The first of those wars is probably the most famous thanks to Mel Gibson, who brought the first half of the Scottish War of Independence to the big screen in the runaway best-selling movie, Braveheart. William Wallace didn’t survive to see the success of the war. He was executed shortly after the decisive Scottish vistory at Falkirk, but his influence helped shape the events in the rest of the war.
Robert The Bruce – King of Scotland
The English withdrew most of their presence from Scotland after Falkirk, to lick their wounds. But they did keep hold of Stirling Castle, one of the most strategically important and strongest castles in Scotland. The Bruces, the ruling Scots clan, promptly laid seige to the Castle, with Edward Bruce, the King’s brother, in charge.
King Edward “Longshanks” – King of England
Edward bargained with Sir Phillip Mowbray, who was in command of the castle, giving him until mid-summer to give up the castle. This tactic had worked before with other, lesser castles. But Stirling was too important to meekly hand over and the seige lingered on, while the English King Edward rounded up a mighty army to come north and face the Scots once and for all.
The river that ran past the castle was called the Bannock River or, as the Scots called them, a ‘burn’. The Bannock Burn.
It was here that Edward and Robert “The Bruce” met in battle on June 24 in 1314, in a battle that was to last for two days, and would become known as the Battle of Bannockburn.
The Scots won, sending the English from Scotland and declaring Scotland independant. That independence would be formalized with the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328.
Alas, Scotland’s independence wouldn’t last. They would have to fight to preserve it a second time. The Second War Of Independence lasted from 1332 to 1357, but Scotland won that war, too.
One of the interesting things to come out of both wars was the use of the long bow. The wars proved how efficient the long bow was as a killing machine, and the long bow became the general weapon of choice across Europe for knights and foot soldiers for the rest of the late medieval period.
___________________________
Bannockburn Binding
by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Time is theirs to keep. But it comes with a price.
MMF Urban Fantasy Futuristic Time Travel Romance Serial
In the early 23rd Century, vampires learned how to travel back in time, and created a time-tsunami that threatened life as we know it, until they corrected their mistake. They created the Chronometric Conservation Agency, which is tasked with preserving history and therefore protecting humanity’s future. The Touring arm of the Agency offers trips back into the real past, with vampire guides, called travellers. When Natalia (Tally) Marta, vampire and traveller, takes her client to visit the siege of Stirling Castle in 1314, she is caught and held hostage for ransom by Robert MacKenzie, a Bruce clansman. Rob finds himself drawn to the wilful, stubborn and very different English lady he has captured and the relationship becomes an intimate, highly-charged sexual pairing. Swiftly, Tally and Rob realize their bond is more than sexual, that the emotions stirring their hearts are true. Christian Lee Hamilton, vampire, one of the last true southern gentlemen, and Tally’s ex-lover, knows the 1314 time marker enough to jump back and help Tally return home. His arrival at Bannockburn adds complications, for Christian finds himself drawn to Rob MacKenzie as much as Tally is. But neither of them can stay in the past forever. To do so means certain death.
Rob dragged the servant and his lady into the encampment shortly after the mid-day lull, when everyone was busy with new-found energy and enthusiasm. It also meant everyone would be focused on the castle, and his two captives would rouse the least amount of interest.
He avoided asking himself why he wanted to draw no attention. Later, he would think about it.
For now, the woman’s servant was trouble enough to deal with. He pushed his boot into the man’s behind, encouraging him to keep moving. The man was staggering and moving slowly, making hard going of it.
Rob was puzzled by the man’s over-reaction to the bloody nose and having his hands fastened behind his back. The man was simply terrified, making Rob wonder how long he had been in the service of gentry. In this day and age, capture and ransom was the way of things. Rob had been gentle enough with him, considering.
Rob tugged on Thunder’s halter, encouraging the horse to follow the man’s uneven progress. He glanced up at the woman on Thunder’s saddle. She had managed to arrange her gown so that not even an ankle was revealed, despite her hands being tied to the horse.
“Do ye have a name you’ll give me?” he asked of her.
She glanced at him. “One ye’ll believe is mine?”
She had him there.
“But if ye give me ye name,” Rob countered, “The quicker this’ll all be done with. If ye don’t, we must figure out who ye be and it’ll all take the longer. An army camp is no place for a lady, I assure ye. Even an English one.”
“Especially an English one, in this camp,” she amended. “But you fail to mention that the English king will be here to save his castle before midsummer, and if I am English, I will be saved, also.”
Rob snorted. “Yon Edward won’t move his buttocks out of England, not even for his last Scottish castle. Dinna hold ye breath for that.”
“He will,” she said softly. Firmly. “You’ve given him just the excuse he needs to march his army into Scotland and break King Robert and every last man of ye.”
Rob halted the horse and looked up at her. “How’s a fine young thing as you get to know of such matters?” he said sharply.
She hesitated, and he could feel her caution. “I am a woman. Men speak freely in front of me because I am of no account. So I hear things.”
“And remember them, aye?” Rob nudged Thunder back into motion. “Ye confirm with every word yer high status, my lady. I’m thinking ye’ll raise a goodly number of coins.”
“I think you’ll be surprised,” she returned, still speaking softly. Her assured manner was more the fit of a much older woman, or even a man seasoned in battle or politics. Yet she seemed barely to have blossomed into womanhood.
And a fine, fine womanhood it was, a voice whispered in Rob’s mind.
He tugged at Thunder’s halter irritably, making the big beast snort a protest, for he was already moving forward. Rob scowled at the muddy ground they were crossing, trying not to glance over his shoulder at the fresh young thing sitting on his saddle. The English army might think nothing of returning a woman to her family with her virtue spoiled and her innocence gone, but that didn’t happen in Robert’s army. Well, not in Edward Bruce’s army, at least.
Rob kicked the whimpering manservant again, as he amended the thought. Not in my charge, then. Not while she belongs to me.
“You’d better hope your English king hurries himself,” he told her, keeping his eyes on his tent, fifteen paces ahead, where he could lock her away from his sight and his thoughts. “If ye’ll not tell me who ye are, he is ye best hope for rescue.”
“He is not my king,” she returned, “Any more than he is your king.”
“So ye say.” It was a feeble retort, but the best he could manage. Suddenly, he was desperate to return to the mindless watch at the base of the castle and the ribald masculine chatter around the building of the siege engines. Even Prince Edward’s sharp tongue would be welcome.
“My name is Natalie,” she murmured. Her voice seemed to whisper in his ear.
He reached up and released her hands from their bonds and grasped the trim waist to assist her down. His fingers nearly met, and his body tightened in response. He could feel warmth and soft flesh, beneath the cloth of her gown.
He cleared his throat. The rope was still fastened around each wrist and he gripped it, looking at her. “Ye give me ye word ye won’t try to escape, and I’ll leave the bonds be.”
“I canna do that.”
He sighed and pulled her into the warm, dim tent, leaving her manservant crouched, whimpering, on the ground beneath Thunder’s nose. He’d deal with him after.
The inside of the tent, he was relieved to see, had been tidied by the pageboy he shared with four other officers. It had been a half-hearted attempt, but the tent at least looked somewhat civilized. The furs on the ground had been beaten and re-laid, and his personal belongings stowed in the chest.
Rob lifted the rope around the woman’s wrist up and hitched it to the tent pole, high up above her head so she could not lift the rope off by herself. It raised her hands very high. For a moment, they stood face to face, with only the heavy bole of the tent support between them.
Sweet temptation soared through his veins in a scalding, aching rush. He had only to drop his hand from the rope, slide it down the length of her arm, to tuck his hand beneath the heavy swell of her breast where it lifted her gown in a full, ripe mound….
She was looking him square in the eye. There was not a single whisper of coyness in her glance. He wondered for an insane moment that if he dared let his gaze linger in the depth of her eyes, would he see mutual knowledge there?
He made himself step away. His whole body seemed to pound with the effort it took to move from her.
“Ye arms will lose feeling,” he told her, his words more brusque than he intended them to be. “Then they’re going to throb, the like of which ye’ve never felt before. Then they will start to burn. Ye may want to reconsider giving me your word, before then.” He turned to go.
“Wait!”
He turned back and lifted his brow. In this low light she almost seemed to glow, so pale and flawless was her flesh. Her lips were full and tempting beyond belief.
“My manservant. What do you intend to do with him?” she asked.
“What do ye care? He led you into danger.”
“He…has sentimental value to my family. I would rather he stay by my side.”
“So he can untie ye the moment my back is turned? What sort of fool do ye take me for, m’lady?”
Rob stalked out of the tent, his black temper roused beyond belief. He kicked the servant up off the ground where he lay shivering, to alleviate his mood.
Such scattered, inane thoughts over a pair of dark eyes and pink lips. He was addled.
___
Now Available
Erotic MMF romance, time travel, urban fantasy story line, on-going serial storylines.
This is the first book in the BELOVED BLOODY TIME series.
Futuristic settings: Australia, near-planetary space. Historical settings: Medieval Scotland, France.
Pages: 162 in PDF, including front matter. (Short novel-length story)
$2.99 in all electronic formats, and at all retailers.
$8.97 in print.
__________
Tracy Cooper-Posey is a national award winning author, with more than 35 romance titles published since 1999. She writes mainly romantic suspense and paranormal romance, with brief forays into other romantic genres here and there. She has been nominated for three CAPA’s for best paranormal romance, one CAPA for best historical romance, and the CAPA for Favourite Author, and has won the Emma Darcy Award.
…an author I’ll pick up simply because her name is on the cover. Kristi Ahlers, Amazon.com
…reminded me of why I fell in love with reading in the first place. M.M. Gwynn, eBookConnections
…touches the heart and makes you feel everything. Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance
…writes books which deserve a place on keeper shelves everywhere! Julie Bonello, ECataRomance Reviews
Winter, a professional thief who can manipulate others’ biologies by touch, accidentally “healed” her former partner—and former vampire—Sebastian, whom she secretly loves. Her healing created a symbiot pairing between them that neither of them wants.
Nathanial, a sexy thousand-year-old vampire and Sebastian’s ex-lover, talks Sebastian and Winter into stealing evidence that will expose all vampires to the world. But Nathanial is a puppet-master who doesn’t believe in falling in love with humans, leaving Winter unsure of his real feelings for her once he seduces her, or how he feels about Sebastian, the former vampire-now-human whose life he has turned upside down once more.
But the evidence they steal is hot property. The future of all vampires is on the line and others will stop at nothing to get it, leaving Sebastian, Winter and Nathanial with no allies but each other. They must trust each other to survive. Only…can they?
JODIE: 1950s, what an era. Beehive hair-dos, rockabilly dresses and petticoats, and everyone broke out into song and dance… What? They didn’t really do that? But what about An American in Paris?? Okay, well I WISHED everyone broke out into song and dance. What is it about musicals that carries joy over the next 50+ years. My kids enjoy the shows like Mary Poppins and Sound of Music. They are timeless in their plots and have managed to capture people’s imagination generations later. The most noted in the early era is people like Fred Astaire, but my personal fave was Gene Kelly. I sometimes feel like their looks are also timeless, that we’d never see a guy that pulls off that look again. Which is a shame. I loved Singing in the Rain, with the romance, comedy and singing. Who is your favorite leading man, Sid?SIDNEY: I have a secret. I love musicals, and I’m almost tone deaf. I also can’t remember a name to save my life, so I concentrate on remembering the names of people around me, which means actors are forever relegated to, “That guy with the face and the eyes.” I can’t tell you Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly’s names, but I know their faces, I know their moves and their voices, which I think they would be okay with. There’s something timeless about the male leads of that era. They’re classic, versatile men who could wear many hats. They could be the smooth talking player bound to get caught up with a sweet southern belle, a lucky man who happens onto the path of the woman he will love, the bad boy who just needs the right woman. Not only that, but they sang and danced and wooed their intended’s heart. There is something that makes me sigh and loose myself in the process of falling in love.
JODIE: I agree. Do you think it might be the techno-color? Everyone is rosy cheeked and dresses are brighter, streets are cleaner and props are man-made. And you know, back then they generally had popular pairings. Fred Astaire was known to always act with Ginger Rogers. In fact, you’ll like this clip, Sid, it’s Fred and Ginger dancing on roller-skates in Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dskTypuEXoM&feature=related
My fave pairing was Rock Hudson and Doris Day. I loved their chemistry on screen and I must admit I have a box set with Pillow Talk, Don’t Send Me Flowers and Lover Come Back. I adore Lover Come Back. It’s about two competing advertisers who want VIP, a product they know nothing about. When Doris mistakes Rock as the scientist to woo, Rock takes advantage and uses it to seduce ideas out of her. But he ends up liking her and you can see where this is going. Nowhere good. LOL It’s also the romance I adore in musicals.
SIDNEY: The romance plays a huge part in the draw of the genre. There’s something sweet about it, how the culmination of the romance is a touch and a kiss. Those gestures become so much more because of it. I’m also a huge sucker for the music, period. The other day, someone tweeted that they were watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and I broke out singing “Bless Her Beautiful Hide,” without breaking a beat! The music from that time period and all of the productions that went on have stayed with us. Who doesn’t know a few bars of, “Singing in the Rain,” or , “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” or “White Christmas.” There was a magic quality knowing any moment could bring about another song, a huge dance number or something. I think one of my favorite dance numbers is from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, when all of the brothers are dancing and fighting over the girls. Do you have a favorite, Jodie?
JODIE: I love that movie! I think it’s true, there is some type of magic about that era of film. The way romance is played out by simple gestures, music and body language. I actually don’t have a favorite, since each and every one of them have this sense of wonder about them. The colors and the innocence of the time is so mesmerizing. I love the style and the way they also made realities of a time into fantasies. Like The Harvey Girls with Judy Garland, which featured the very famous Harvey Girls of history. Or Doris Day who plays Callamity Jane who sings and dance.SIDNEY: Musicals somehow made everything glamorous and innocent. I really like Gigi, which is about a teenage girl being raised to become a courtesan to her best friend. Her entire point in life is to go from man to man, whoever can afford to keep her. Now, of course she goes against the rules and falls in love with her man, and he with her. It breaks all the social rules to fall in love with your Mistress, and yet everyone is smiling and singing these happy songs while they’re unhappy. There’s a line at the end after the two have gone through the wringer about wanting a relationship. Gigi says to Gaston, “I’d rather be miserable with you than miserable without you.” Okay, I might have said that to a boyfriend once when we were going through a rough patch…
Readers, have you ever taken direction from a musical? Because there are moments I wish I hadn’t!
One luck commenter gets a bracelet.
To Enter to win this bracelet from Jodie & Sidney. Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
Yay! I’m back at Books-n-Kisses again! I love it here. Hi! How are you? Is 2012 treating you the way a lover should so far?
I’ve been a busy little (ahem) bee for the past few weeks. I’m working on a new series of erotic romance novellas for 2013, and I’m terribly excited about them. They all take place in a fictional little town called St. Blaise, Missouri, and let me tell you, there are some hot nights on the horizon for those folks!
I’ve also been dabbling in the Dirty Bits again. Bad Maggie! I can’t help it. I love writing these quickies for Sapphire Nights Books. All it takes is a little spark, and I’m off and running.
My first Dirty Bits story, Spectators, was inspired by the décor in family-style a restaurant, of all places. There were windows cut into the walls, so one could see the people dining in the next room. Seriously, it was food voyeurism at its best. I may have taken it a bit further, that’s all…
An article on personal ads in an airline magazine provided the flint for my latest Dirty Bit, MissedConnection. Of course, I put my own naughty little spin on the subject. Here’s a little teaser:
Saturday morning sorority girl—Cuppa Joe—Halsted St.
At least that’s what you look like to me. I see you every Saturday, ordering your non-dairy, decaf, why-bother version of coffee. You with the Goldilocks hair, big blue eyes, and toothpaste smile. You match your little gym outfits to your yoga mat and clutch your Blackberry like a lifeline.
I shouldn’t be attracted to you, but I am.
You want me too. I’ve caught you, you know. You stare at me with the same hungry gaze you use on the chocolate croissants in the case.
Do you have a craving for ink, Goldilocks? Are you itching to take a stroll on the dark side? Will you dare to take a bite, or will you deny yourself pleasure like you do pastry?
Don’t walk away again. Let me have you. Let me have just enough so I can stop thinking about you and you can stop staring at me. Take a taste of me. I dare you. Meet me at Cuppa Joe, Friday the 15th at 9PM.
Don’t settle for just right, Goldilocks—just this once, choose too hard and too hot.
In a few months, I’ll have another Bits story called Happy Endings coming to an on-line retailer near you. Shh, don’t tell my massage therapist about that one. My imagination may have run a bit wild one Saturday…
Nice or naughty, spicy or sweet—I love inspiration in any form. Tell me what stokes your fire. Anything sparked your interest lately?
Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back the wonderful Stephanie Draven to the blog. We have let Stephanie take over the blog today to tell us about her new book. Take it away Stephanie.
A multi-published award-nominated author of paranormal romance. Stephanie’s critically acclaimed Mythica series asks: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth…and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, Stephanie lives with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.
Phaedra, a fury, is bound to make Lieutenant Luke Lazaros atone for his supposed crime, but her usual method of inflicting pain doesn’t work very well on a phoenix with the power to be reborn every time he dies. However, each rebirth leaves him with an overwhelming need for sex. Phaedra’s new plan: to drive Luke mad with desire.
But Phaedra has never touched anyone—even herself—except to cause pain. She’s an innocent when it comes to pleasure…but Luke isn’t. His touch is a revelation, arousing a passion in Phaedra that is as delicious as it is terrifying. For no matter how much she wants Luke, giving herself to a man risks awakening her goddess’s wrath.
Excerpt:
She’d already killed him twice this week.
Monday, the harpy bitch grabbed the wheel just as he was making a tight turn on a cliff-side highway. The car jumped the barrier and exploded in a fiery crash of glass and twisted metal at the bottom of Moraca Canyon.
On Wednesday morning, he’d chanced taking a shower and she dropped a hair dryer in with him, sending a deadly shock through his wet body.
It wasn’t even the weekend and she was already trying to kill him a third time.
Luke had awakened to the sinuous slide of her body atop his and, for one groggy moment, he’d enjoyed the carnal sensation of a woman in bed with him.
Then her knee came crushing down on his windpipe.
Now Luke thrashed upon the mattress, grabbing at her supple thighs, trying to throw her off. The curve of her breast brushed his arm, her moist lips parted and she clutched at his face as if she were going to draw him into an intimate embrace…just before fingernails like talons cut his flesh to bloody ribbons.
Or at least that’s what it felt like.
With the lightest touch, she could put an ordinary mortal man in complete agony. But he wasn’t an ordinary mortal man and she should have known better than to touch him.
“Atone,” the fury demanded, her voice driving needles of agony into his spine. “Atone!”
Luke was desperate enough to consider it. Anything to get rid of her. Anything to make the pain stop. Anything that might relieve him of the memories that haunted him. The blood in the sand and all the lies…
Take the money, Luke. There’ll be more where that came from.
His traitorous lips parted in surrender, ready to tell the fury whatever she wanted to hear, but then he felt his square jaw clench tight in stubborn refusal.
No. Screw atonement and regret. Luke would rather die again.
Her lithe legs wrapped around his waist like a vise. They were locked together as tightly as lovers and in blind suffering he banged the back of his skull on the headboard. It started like a fever, a sexual rush of heat that seared its way through his veins, pulsing through his hammering heart, racing to his groin.
Damn it. He liked this villa, but he’d burn the place down to get free of her if he had to. Sparks leaped from his fingertips to the bedsheets and the scent of scorched linen rose to his nostrils. The fire would obey him—it was the one goddamned thing in his life he still had any control over—so Luke made the fire rise higher, engulfing them both in a flash of flames and searing pain.
His bones went white-hot, molten beneath his skin, and he screamed. He was turning to ash. He was burning her too, burning her alive. He could have held onto her. He could have forced her to share his torment to the bitter end, but he flung her away. And her tumbling body was the last thing he saw before he died….
Phaedra was accustomed to inflicting pain, not suffering it. But now every cell in her body screamed in protest as her burned skin rose up in blisters. She was immortal. She could never die. That didn’t mean she couldn’t feel pain, and making this man miserable had somehow become her own personal torment.
She lay dazed in agony on the floor, smoke filling her lungs while Lieutenant Luke Lazaros burned alive before her very eyes. Gods of Olympus, he was stubborn. He should have broken by now, but he was only getting more unmanageable. None of the men she’d been sent to torture had ever been so obstinate. Then again, she’d never been unleashed upon a phoenix before.
In the light of the crackling blaze, Phaedra’s blistered body healed, new pink flesh knitting over the old with miraculous speed, and it occurred to her that the fire alarm wasn’t shrieking. A quick glance up at the scorched ceiling told her that he’d disabled it. That he’d planned for this exact circumstance. He was handy that way. Good with modern gadgets. And a born strategist. He’d started anticipating her. Adapting…
All at once, the conflagration on the bed extinguished itself and a burst of air dusted her with Luke’s charred human remains. A bit of stagecraft on his part.
Of course, she’d seen him do this before—rise from the ashes as a new man, his dark curly hair cut in sharp military style, his name and blood type displayed upon frayed patches on his desert fatigues. A backpack full of cash in his right hand.
This was how he looked the moment he was war-forged. The instant he stopped being an ordinary mortal man and became a monster. But as many times as she watched him die, she couldn’t enjoy it. Watching him now, she took no satisfaction in his shudder of revulsion at the feel of a new body that wasn’t his own. Nor did it encourage her to see the half hostile, half haunted look in his eyes as he tried to remember himself. Shaking his head as if to fasten upon his old memories, he caught her look of dismay and gave a dark smile-that-was-not-a-smile.
“What’s the matter?” Luke asked. “Didn’t expect me to be so hot in bed?”
Given that she was clutching the burned and blackened remains of her clothing against her body, Phaedra didn’t appreciate the sexual innuendo. It didn’t surprise her though. Every time the lieutenant was reborn, he battled overwhelming hunger. He’d be ravenous now, for food, drink…sex.
Still, he grabbed one of his white dress shirts from a drawer and tossed it to her. “Here. You can wear this.”
The gallant gesture was starkly out of place considering their situation. Phaedra eyed her nemesis as she fastened the buttons, disconcerted by his scent on the shirt and how it mingled with the perfume of her newly healed skin. “Does this mean you’re ready to be redeemed, Luke Lazaros?”
“Just means I was brought up right,” Luke said through his teeth. “And that an officer falls back on his training in a crisis. Or maybe I’ve just always fantasized about a leggy woman wearing nothing but my shirt. Until I get rid of you, I might as well improve the scenery.”
“How many times must we go through this?” Phaedra asked, ignoring the predatory glare in his eyes. She rose to her feet. She was tall, but he was taller. She was hard-bodied and imposing; even before they felt the torture of her touch, most men had the sense to cower. But not this man. “There is no getting rid of me, Lieutenant. Once a fury is unleashed upon a criminal, she’s unbreakably bound to him until he atones or is driven to insanity.”
“I’m not a criminal,” Luke snapped. “And I will find a way to be rid of you.”
I hope you do find a way, Phaedra thought. Because she was every bit as stuck with him as he was with her.
Giveaway details…
To win an e-book of The Fever & The Fury. Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
Welcome to stop #7 in my blog tour For Chosen By Sin (Para-Ops #3).
Thank you to Books–n–Kisses for having me here today! This tour focuses on my writing and my paranormal series, but also my Twelve Resolutions for 2012, as well as the resolutions of my hero in Chosen By Sin, werebeast Dex Hunt. Those of you who know Dex know he’s a bit…difficult, so I’m curious to see what he comes up with. (Psst: Dex doesn’t actually know it, but his “resolutions” are more like a Twelve-Step Program designed by me to get him to his HEA).
I’ll be giving away a prize to one commenter from this blog stop, but I’m also giving away one grand prize to one blog tour follower. See the giveaway details below! 🙂
The Para-Ops Series: Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn—humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills. (Chosen By Blood (Book 1), Chosen By Fate (Book 2))
So what’s Resolution #7 for me? Teach My Boys To Lift The Lid
I have three boys under the age of twelve. Enough said? 🙂
And what’s Resolution #7 for Dex Hunt?
Here’s a hint from Chosen By Sin, during a scene in which Jes has just told Dex she needs to drink the pure blood of a human.
“I’ve used him a few times only. But he’s young. His blood is very potent.”
I’ll bet it is. “Why am I here, Jes? And how did you know I was in France?”
She hesitated and bit her lip. “Listen, Dex, I—”
A young Adonis, blond and tall and muscular, walked into the room. Dex growled at the interruption, but mostly it was with renewed jealousy. Of course this was the immaculate she was going to feed from. Only the best for Jes. The guy was so good looking he even put Caleb O’Flare to shame.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, Jessie.” He held out a hand to Dex. “I’m Raul Merced.”
Dex glared at the guy until his hand fell.
Jes stood. “We’ll talk when I get back, Dex. I’ll return in a moment.”
“No.”
Equally startled, Jes and Raul stared at him.
“Excuse me?” she asked faintly.
“You don’t need to drink from him. You can drink from me.”
Her eyes rounded with shock, her pupils expanding so they shone like the moon, wiping out nearly every trace of her dark irises. She blinked, but she couldn’t disguise the glitter of her desire. Desire for him. It took her several tries before she could speak. “For nourishment, vampires need pure blood. Blood from humans or animals. Can’t be anyone with Otherborn heritage, not when I’m weak and hungry, or else it’ll make me sicker than I am now. You’ve dated many vampires. You’ve got to know that.”
…“Then tell me you’re going to drink from his wrist. Because that’s the only way I’m going to let it happen.”
Okay, so for his seventh resolution, Dex is going to try and work on his possessiveness and jealousy. (Although I have to admit, I kinda like that about him. But we don’t want him going overboard…)
Want to see a trailer I made depicting the Para-Ops characters as I see them? Dex is particularly yummy! Here’s the link: http://on.fb.me/z6Z8nI
Bio: Virna DePaul is a former prosecutor and now national bestselling author of the Para-Ops Novels. She also writes contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (It Started That Night, May 2012) and HQN (Shades Of Desire, June 2012).
Blurb for Chosen By Sin:
The longest life isn’t always the happiest one…
For now, werebeast Dex Hunt serves on the Para-Ops team, but his true purpose is to kill the werewolf leader he blames for his mother’s death. Biding his time, Dex keeps his emotional distance from his team members and anyone else he might care for, including a mysterious vampire he met in L.A.
As a doctor, vampire Jesmina Martin has dedicated her immortal life to healing others. As a scientific researcher, she’s trying to prolong life spans, in particular those of her adoptive dragon-shifter family and the werewolf who saved her as a child. Her greatest hope lies with Dex, a werebeast she believes can gift immortality to others.
Only Dex knows nothing about his gift or the fact Jesmina wants to harness it. After a passionate night together neither expects to see the other again. Weeks later, they are reunited in France and forced to acknowledge a fragile miracle—a new life struggling to survive. At the same time, they must stop a group of rebel shape-shifters hoping to unleash every demon in hell. But before Dex and Jesmina can save their child or the world, they must relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.
Daily Blog Tour Giveaway: Today, Virna is gifting one book from her backlist (prize winner’s choice, see backlist here) to one randomly selected commenter who either leaves a comment on the blog, or a question for Virna to answer. Please also include your email addy.
GRAND PRIZE TOUR GIVEAWAY: What was Dex’s “resolution” that Virna talked about today? Do you know the answer? Fantastic!! Because…
Virna is also gifting a $100 Amazon gift card to one randomly selected reader who leaves the answer to this question during the blog tour. Go to: http://chosenbysin.com/virtual-tour-grand-prize You can be entered to win the grand prize once each day by simply following the tour from January 9 – 20, and leaving your answer with each day’s different resolution!!
Virna is also offering autographed copies of CHOSEN BY SIN for purchase during this blog tour. To purchase an autographed copy, please visit http://chosenbysin.com.
