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Vi Carious’s review of Beyond the Misty Shore by Vicki Hinze

Beyond the Misty Shore
by Vicki Hinze
Amazon | B&N | Powells
Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J. MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancée. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve.

Review by Kimberly:

5 Stars
I want so badly to tell you about this book and why you should read it but there are not enough words to tell you how wonderful this book is. It is rare I give a book 5 stars but this book is most deserving. There is something magical about this book. It feels like a romance novel from years gone by even though it is set in the present. It makes you believe you are there and watching the love unfold instead of turning pages. Seascape Inn is a place you want to visit
This book reads like a movie. Have you seen the movies “Somewhere In Time” or “The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan”? OK this is dating myself but then if you have not seen them you should. Anyway, this book has the feel of these timeless movies. The softness of love as it grows between the characters and the mystical spirit that is there to guide not haunt make this book worth the read. More than worth the read it is worth owning the book and never letting it go. Luckily this is the 1st in a trilogy and I cannot wait to enjoy the other two books.
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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Steam Powered Passion by Corinne Davies

Steam Powered Passion
Steampunk Lust 1:
By Corinne Davies
Amazon | B&N
Tori is dealt a terrible blow when she is given to a couple of pirates as insurance on a ship. But finding herself lifted up into an airship is only the first of many surprises. The second?
Malcolm and Sean attacked her ship in order to get their hands on her. Malcolm and Sean both realize they need a woman in their relationship. Tori seems to be the perfect solution. But can she see past their physical differences to the men beneath and accept them as they are?
But Tori is more then she appears. She’s been passing secrets to the old-world rebels for years. When she is seen leaking information to the new-world military, will her men believe she wasn’t trying to betray them?
Can each of them see past their personal expectations and accept a relationship steam-built for three?
Review by Flying Frog Fairy:
Tori is keeping some serious secrets, but no one in this book is as they seem. So many characters have hidden agendas or double lives that you will be guessing who is good and who is bad throughout the whole story. And the story was engrossing. Equal parts passion and intrigue, it kept my interest from page one.  The characters were rich and I felt like I could immerse myself in the story as though I were really there.  The sex scenes were hot but what really got my attention was the plot.  It is an exciting story full of mystery and action.  There are several scenes where you feel like you are part of the battle. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something happens to throw it off course.  I do so love a story that isn’t too predictable.  Of course the main characters get their HEA. And there are also many other characters introduced that make it clear there will be more books in this series.
This was my very first Steampunk book. I was blown away! The details were rich and imaginative. I love how they mix a Victorian era with all sorts of new technology and off the wall inventions.  Writing a story like this takes some serious world building and Corinne Davies did not disappoint.  I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the effort Ms. Davies put into making this a rich exotic adventure for the reader. I am ready to start book 2: Steam Up Memories in which we get to know more about Tori’s sister Yzabeau. I highly recommend this book!
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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Steam Up Memories by Corinne Davies

Steamed Up Memories
Steampunk Lust 2
By Corinne Davies
Amazon | B&N
In a misguided attempt to atone for her mistaken loyalty to her father, Yzabeau Gifrator branches out on her own to find the truth and ends up in more danger than she ever faced before.
Liam McKenna never forgot the girl he failed to protect from being taken from their village, and now his days are filled with missions to locate women sold in the slave pits.
Tristan has loved Liam ever since the day he heard stories of a thirteen-year-old boy trying to fight an entire New World garrison in an attempt to protect someone he cared about. But their relationship has been built on the present without any true thoughts to a future.
Together, will the three of them find a love strong enough to face the bitter memories that shaped them, or will their pasts blow them out of the sky?
Review by Flying Frog Fairy:
Slave traders, spies and a forgotten past.  This book has them all, along with a healthy dose of steamy sex. Corinne Davies has done it again!  I was eager to read her follow up to Steamed Powered Passion and I was very pleased when I did.  This book grabbed my interest and never let it go. I read the entire book in one sitting.  Once again, there is rich detail in the fantastic world building.  More off the wall inventions and unbelievable technology. Even more secret lives and people who aren’t who they seem. Did I mention I love this book?  The fast pace and intrigue make for a very satisfying read.
There was also plenty of heart wrenching emotions.  I waited in agony for Yzabeau to finally realize that Liam was the boy from her childhood. And I wanted to hold Liam and tell him it wasn’t his fault. I waited with bated breath for Yzabeau’s memory to finally come back. And my heart hurt for Tristan as he desperately tried to keep them all together. It is a story of lust and love, triumph and treason, and ultimately good wins out over evil.
For now.
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Meljean Brooks’ Guardian Series

Falling for Anthony
Novella found in Hot Spell
In Regency England, a desperate lady is Falling for Anthony when a childhood friend comes back from the dead to protect her brother from an unnatural evil.
“An emotional roller coaster for both the characters and the reader.” –Romance Junkies
“…fantastic death-defying love…” –Fresh Fiction
$14.00 Berkley Trade ISBN 0425206157
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425212882
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/hot-spell
Demon Angel
Book 1
For two thousand years, Lilith wrought vengeance upon the evil and the damned, gathering souls for her father’s armies Below and proving her fealty to her Underworld liege. Bound by a bargain with the devil and forbidden to feel pleasure, she draws upon her dark powers and serpentine grace to lead men into temptation. That is, until she faces her greatest temptation—Heaven’s own Sir Hugh Castleford…
Once a knight and now a Guardian, Hugh spent centuries battling demons—and the cursed, blood-drinking nosferatu. His purpose has always been to thwart the demon Lilith, even as he battles his treacherous hunger for her. But when a deadly alliance unleashes a threat to both humans and Guardians in modern-day San Francisco, angel and demon must fight together against unholy evil—and against a desire that has been too long denied…
Who will be the first to succumb?
“Extremely engaging…A fiendishly good book. Demon Angel is outstanding.” –The Romance Reader
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425213471
Amazon.com ~ The Book Depository ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt:  http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-angel

“Paradise”
Book 1.5
Novella found in Wild Thing
Lucas Marsden has faced nosferatu before and survived, but he doesn’t know how to defeat the demon who hunts the vampires in his community…
But he knows exactly what he wants from the beautiful Guardian sent to protect them.
“Once again, Brook plays with the notion of free will on multiple levels, adding hope to her dark world of demons and nosferatu, and substance to a genre that is too often dismissed as fluff.” — Nicola, Alpha Heroes
$14.00 Berkley Trade ISBN 0425215164
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425225445
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/paradise-in-wild-thing
Demon Moon
Book 2
Return to the sensual netherworld of Demon Angelfor a startling romance of eternal love threatened by the consuming darkness of a Demon Moon…
No one would call vampire Colin Ames-Beaumont kind, but they would call him unnaturally beautiful. For two centuries his tainted blood has kept him isolated from other vampires, sustained only by his beauty and vanity—bitter comforts, since a curse has erased his mirror reflection, replacing it with a terrifying glimpse of Chaos.
Savi Murray’s insatiable curiosity had gotten her into trouble before, but she’d always escaped unscathed. Then came Colin. In the midst of Heaven, he gave her a taste of ecstasy—and of Chaos. Deadly creatures from that realm herald the return of an imprisoned nosferatu horde, and Colin and Savi’s bond is their only protection—and their only passion…
“A read that goes down hot and sweet– utterly unique–and one hell of a ride.” –Marjorie M. Liu
“The fourth book in Meljean Brook’s Guardian series turns up the heat without losing any of the danger or biblically tinged lore. A-” –Entertainment Weekly
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425215768
Amazon.com ~ Book Depository ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-moon
Demon Night
Book 3
Explore the seductive corners of the dark, as a forbidden attraction tempts danger under the canopy of the…
Charlie Newcomb worked hard to get her life back together. But all that is shaken when she’s set upon by three vampires desperate to transform her beauty into something evil. Because Charlie is the vital link to something they want—and need. It’s Charlie’s flesh and blood sister, a medical scientist whose knowledge could be invaluable to the predators.
But to get to her, they must first get to Charlie, now under the intimate protection of Ethan McCabe. As her Guardian, Ethan is attracted to her vulnerabilities—as well as her strengths. The closer he gets, the more protecting her becomes not just his duty, but his desire. But will it be enough to save Charlie when the demon night falls?
“[Brook] is truly one of the best voices out there. Sexy, exciting…a dark and sultry world.” –Gena Showalter
“Charlie’s traumatic past has left her believably afraid of her own needs, and Ethan is a brave, sweet guy with old-fashioned ideas about chivalry. Brook gives them distinctive dialogue and paints a fascinating, erotic world full of angels, demons, vampires and ambiguity.” –Publisher’s Weekly
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425219771
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-night
“Thicker Than Blood”
Book 3.5
Novella found in First Blood
A 2009 RITA® Finalist!
Annie Gallagher is the only survivor of a demon attack that exterminated every other vampire in her city. But she can’t leave before she finds Cricket, a young human girl whose vampire guardians have been killed. Annie needs help, but the rules of her kind demand that she operate in secrecy.
And when help comes, it’s from the one man she never expected…
“…a wonderful novella, with strong characters, an intriguing plot, and–of course–a good dose of blood and sex to boot.” –The Book Smugglers
“…four great vampire stories for readers who enjoy their romances with a bit of bite.” –Romantic Times BOOKreviews
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425224007
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/thicker-than-blood-in-first-blood
Demon Bound
Book 4
The seductive and dangerous world of the Guardians now yields a secret that threatens the soul of a woman and the fate of the universe, both…
Among the Guardians, Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow—a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. To save her soul, she agreed to deliver to Teqon the heart of the oldest and most powerful Guardian of all, or else be damned for eternity. After more than a hundred years, Teqon is calling in his debt.
Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But in aligning himself with her he never expected to fall in love. Now, their passionate flight to escape Alice’s damnable bargain is threatening both their souls. For they’re about to discover a hellish secret about the Guardians—something that will change their universe forever.
“Readers will be blown away by the fascinating and unique heroine.” –Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“…raises the bar on paranormal romance for sheer thrills, drama, and world-building, and hands-down cements Brook’s place at the top of her field.” –Romance Junkies
$7.99 Berkley Sensation ISBN 0425224538
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt:  http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-bound

Demon Forged
Book 5
Meljean Brook returns to the darkly sensual world of the Guardians with a tale of a prophecy, a devilish bargain, and doomed love…
An RT BookReviews 2009 Reviewers’ Choice Nominee!
Four centuries ago, Irena and Alejandro would have succumbed to the need smoldering between them — if a demon and a monstrous bargain hadn’t shattered the possibility of love. Torn apart by shame, Irena avoided Alejandro for centuries — until a vampire’s call for help throws her into his arms again.
Alejandro can control fire, but he’s never been able to control — or quench — the flames between him and Irena. And he knows Irena, hardened by her hatred for demonkind, will never accept that he now works at a demon’s behest. But even as he fights for a second chance, a shocking betrayal and a deadly prophecy shake the foundations of the Guardian universe, and all Hell threatens to break loose…
Are you starting the Guardian series with DEMON FORGED? No problem! Read a brief overview ofThe Story So Far.
“A dark, gripping read…the characters are brilliant, and the breathtaking romance, vivid setting and darkly delicious adventure will immerse readers in this spellbinding world until the satisfying conclusion. Description: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gif½” —RT Book Reviews
ISBN 0425230414 | October 6, 2009
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt:  http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-forged
“Blind Spot”
Novella found in Must Love Hellhounds
Book 5.5
The job was simple: find her boss’s niece, bring her home safely, and hand out a whole lot of pain to whoever had abducted her. But Maggie hadn’t counted on her boss’s nephew, the hellhound who loved to make her life difficult, or her own past rearing its complicated and ugly head.
“Page-turning romance…” –Publishers Weekly
$15.00 Berkley Trade ISBN 0425229599
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/must-love-hellhounds
Demon Blood
Book 6
“Brook brings together two broken heroes in the high-stakes sixth Guardian paranormal romance… Fans won’t be disappointed.” —Publishers Weekly*
“Brook’s characters leap from the page. Deacon is the perfect hero, tortured but worthy, and Rosalia is just the woman to save him. Description: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gif½!” —RT Book Reviews
…Fiery attraction and steamy love scenes…*
Long before she was transformed into a Guardian and trained to fight demons, Rosalia knew darkness all too well. Raised by a demon, Rosalia learned to guard her heart—and her soul—until she found a man worthy of her love. Once, she thought that man would be the powerful vampire, Deacon…until he betrayed the Guardians.
After losing everything to the lies of a demon, Deacon lives only for revenge—and is taken aback when Rosalia offers to help. A vampire who has nothing—who is nothing—isn’t worthy of her attention. But Rosalia wants to do more than just look, and the explosive need between them can’t be held in check. And when Deacon’s vengeful quest creates a dangerous alliance of their enemies, she will be his only hope…
ISBN 0425235475 | July 6, 2010
Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com
Booktopia (Aus) ~ Book Depository
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-blood
Demon Marked
Book 7
A stunning and sexy addition to the world of the Guardians about one man’s revenge against the half-demon he once loved…
Amazon | Book Depository | BN.com | Powells
Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Sony | Goodreads
Nicholas St. Croix is familiar with the evil of demons. After his father’s death, a demon took over his mother’s body and raised him. Six years ago, his “mother” was responsible for the disappearance of the woman he loved, and Nicholas swore he’d find her—even if he had to go to Hell and back. Except she finds him first—and with one tormented kiss, he knows she too is a demon. Now he is determined to take his revenge…
Ash is a half-demon with no memory of her past or how she got to Hell. All she knows is that Nicholas St. Croix holds the key to her identity. And though he’s clearly drawn to her, Nicholas makes no secret of his distrust of her. Yet one kiss at a time, he breaks down her defenses as they battle an array of demons and Guardians. But is Ash’s greatest enemy the man at her side?
“The award-winning Brook adds another multifaceted and intense drama to her already impressive Guardian series.” Description: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gifDescription: http://www.meljeanbrook.com/star_full_whitebk.gif½” —RT Book Reviews
$7.99 Berkley Sensation | ISBN 978-0425242698 | September 6th, 2011
Excerpt: http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/demon-marked
“Ascension”
Book 7.5
Novella found in Angels of Darkness
When vampires begin disappearing from a community protected by Guardian Marc Revoire, the world-weary warrior doesn’t know whether he’s hunting a demon or one of the bloodthirsty nosferatu — but he’d rather face either of those monsters than accept help from Radha, the irreverent, blue-skinned, and oft-naked Guardian who’d once loved him and left him. He won’t be able to persuade her to leave this time, however, because lighthearted Radha is on a deadly serious mission of her own: not just to help Marc save the community…but to save him.
$15.00 Berkley Trade | $9.99 Berkley Ebooks
ISBN 978-0425243121 | October 4th, 2011
Amazon.com | Borders.com | BN.com | Powells.com

Excerpt:  http://meljeanbrook.com/books/the-guardian-series/angels-of-darkness
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Interview & Giveaway with Sophie Oak

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have Sophie Oak on the blog today to talk about her new release Pure Bliss.   


Q1)  Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Sophie:  I live in Texas. I started writing very young, but I worked in journalism and theater. My first play was produced when I was 17. I’ve had full productions in both the US and Canada. I’ve also worked in comic books. I have 3 kids who range from 17 to 3 years old. My husband is a full time stay at home dad. I have a rescue dog who firmly believes she’s a cat.
Q2)  Have you always wanted to be an author?
Sophie:  Not at all. I wanted to be a marine biologist for a really long time. I loved dolphins and whales. Then I got my first real look at a shark and decided writing was really a better career for me.
Q3)  Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Sophie:  I grew up reading a lot of the classics, but I loved genre fiction. I still do. I love romance and science fiction and thrillers. If I can get a combo, I’m in heaven. In romance I love Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Howard, Shayla Black. I also have mad love for Steve Berry and James Rollins. I just finished reading The Hunger Games and loved that one, too. Oddly though if I had to say who really influenced me it would be a TV writer. I love the rhythm of Joss Whedon’s stories. I think I picked up an enormous amount of my own style from him.
Q4)  How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
Sophie:  I write erotic romance, but that’s just a label to put on it so the reader knows it’s got a lot of graphic sex. Under the heading of erotic romance, I’ve written romantic suspense, small town contemporary and fantasy. I love suspense. There’s an element of it in everything I write. I’ve got a six book Urban Fantasy series that I haven’t even tried to sell yet. It’s less erotic though there’s an element of that in there. I started writing erotic romance because I loved to read it.
Q5)  What are some of your writing rituals?
Sophie:  I have a very regimented schedule. I work best in short bursts so I literally split up my day in 45 minute to hour long bursts. I tend to write for an hours or so and then I’ll walk or exercise and then back to writing. I’ll work like that all day. My favorite thing to do is sprint with my writer friends. The competition really gets me going. Then if I can get my daily word count (approx5K) in, I get a glass of wine on the balcony before dinner.
Q6)  Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Sophie:  My latest is called Pure Bliss. It’s the sixth book in my Nights in Bliss, Colorado series. James Glen has shown up in all of the previous Bliss books. He’s a rancher. Hope McLean showed up in book 3. She’s always been kind of a quiet character, but you find out she’s hiding a really big secret that’s caught up with her after ten years. Throw in James’s long lost brother, Noah, and it’s a Bliss free for all.
Q7)  How did you come with the idea for this story?
Sophie:  I knew I was going to write a James/Hope story. Noah came in later. This book is really about Hope and what she went through, her redemption. She seems deeply quiet and retiring, but she has a very dark past. She’s riddled with guilt. I often “find” a character through listening to a song. The song that really opened up Hope to me is a Florence + the Machine song called “Shake it Out.” There’s a great line in there – “It’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake him off.” That’s what Hope goes through in this book. She finally deals with her demons.
Q8)  Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Sophie:  I’m waiting on the edits to Texas Sirens 6, Siren in Bloom. And I’m starting to write Beauty: A Faery Story.
Q9)  What would you be if you were not an author?
Sophia:  Really bored. And unemployed. I’m not good at anything else.
Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Sophie:  I just finished the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I’m going to read all three. I can’t wait for Cherise Sinclair’s next book. And I’m waiting on Triple Dog Dare from Tymber Dalton.
Q11)  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sophie:  Thanks so much for having me here today! If anyone has a question or wants to know more, please look me up at www.sophieoak.com.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sophie-Oak/120829387962141
I’m @authorsophieoak on Twitter

Giveaway time:  
Sophie is giving away an e-copy of anything from her backlist.  To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Winner will get to choose which book. But if you want to see what Sophie has on her shelf check out her website book list 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Guest blogger: Betty Midnight

Please welcome Betty Midnight to the blog:  
Why are werewolves just so damn sexy?
I get offered this question every now and again and each time it’s given to me, I sort of freeze.  There’s an obvious surge in the creatures who used to be more horror than objects of lust, people exploring some of their own personal fantasies and while we think about strong men or sexy cowboys, why not toss in a vampire or a werewolf here and there?
Sure, there have been books and movies that glorify them, turning them into these masses of men who can protect, love, and other things, but essentially, I think it comes down to the deep desire in us all to flirt with danger and death.
In my latest release, Hadyn Heat (Book One – The Urge), it explores the deepest urges of a man who is also a wolf.  More so, the story begins with Hadyn not just exploring his urges, but also testing danger.  He knows just how series it is to enjoy the company of a human woman, but he does it anyway.  And the same could be said for the woman, Sarah, as when she’s faced with a giant wolf, she doesn’t panic… she lusts for the wolf.  Something tells her to let her guard down and enjoy the risk of it all.  Sure, Hadyn as a wolf could have torn Sarah to shreds, but Sarah was okay with that risk because the reward that came instead of death was the most pleasure filled experience of her life.
When women are saved by the strong and sexy cowboys, there are done usually with a shootout where the hero takes out the bad guy and rides off into the sunset.  The same holds true for the darker creatures we long for.  The werewolf can change into a wolf and defeat the bad guys and then turn back into man with a hint of sweat and blood and take the woman away.
We love this kind of writing, and style of writing.  The action, the drama, and in the background, the passion and heat of it all swarming like a nest of angry bees.  I wrote Hadyn Heat to test the boundaries of a man coping with becoming himself.  A man who was a wolf.  A man who enjoyed his urges – whether they be for man or woman.  And finally, as the story progresses, a man who realizes what consequences are and instead of running from them, he dives into them, knowing that his life is on the line.  It’s all symbolic to me, the meaning of life into a work of fiction… who we are, what we want, and the things we will do to become that person.  I just prefer to toss in a tall, sexy wolf here and there… and be honest, you know you enjoy it.
Hadyn Heat
The Urge
links:  Amazon | B&N  | Smashword
As a man and as a wolf, Hadyn has been trying to control his urges.
After catching the scent of a beautiful woman named Sarah, Hadyn finds her and loses all control of his urges.
The pleasure was great, but the mistake was greater, for an evil man has been lurking for a long time, hoping to take control of the world. After kidnapping Sarah, the destructive man named Valon now can finalize his own plan: to have Hadyn mate with his daughter.
He uses Sarah and her lust for Hadyn to draw him in.
The urges grow worse for Hadyn and it seems nobody can stop him, not even his roommate and secret lover, another male wolf named Taylor.
The fate of Hadyn, Sarah, his pack, and the world are in the balance… but can he control his desperate sexual urges long enough to save it all?
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Happy "Official" Release day to Stephanie Rowe

Darkness Awakened
Order of the Blade: Primal Heat Trilogy #1
by Stephanie Rowe
Order here Amazon | B&N | ARe
The Calydons are a race of ancient immortals cursed with a dark side. Each Calydon is destined to meet his soul mate, to be so drawn to her that he is unable to resist bonding with her through the rituals of his race…
…but their destiny is to destroy each other and all they care about the moment their bond is complete.
Quinn Masters will stop at nothing to rescue his rogue teammate. To save his blood brother and ensure his brand of justice triumphs, Quinn will break every rule of his kind and partner with the sensuous, courageous woman destined to be his ultimate destruction.
Haunted by a brutal past, Illusionist Grace Matthews will risk everything to save her kidnapped sister, including putting her life in the sinfully capable hands of an immortal warrior whose ravaging kisses and intense passion propel her ruthlessly toward a fateful destiny she can’t afford to believe in.
My thoughts:
Quinn Masters is one tough son-of–a-gun, but his world just came crashing down around him.  All his trainees are dead, one of his weapons is missing, he almost died and it looks like one of his closest teammates may be responsible for it.  But just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse his sheva (mate) shows up.  This has to be one of the worst days of his life.  But Quinn never backs down from a challenge and no one is going to stand in his way of finding his teammate, not even his mate.
Grace will not stop until she has found her sister.  She is willing to do anything, even take on one of the most dangerous Calydon warriors, Quinn Masters.  But he may just be her last hope.  
What Grace finds in Quinn will far surpass anything she could have ever imagined.  But first they will have to survive Quinn’s teammates, finding her sister, the mating and each other.
I have to say a huge thank you to Stephanie Rowe for allowing me to read her book.
This was a great 1st book in Stephanie Rowe’s new series: The Order of the Blade.  I enjoyed the world that Stephanie created with the Calydon Warriors.  The Warriors are all a rough, tough, and take their jobs very, very serious. But it takes one small woman to break through their tough outer shells to make them realize that you can change destiny. 
I really loved Quinn & Grace.  They are such a fun couple.  They love, they fight, and ultimately have a chance to change their world. 
I am very much looking forward to the next two books in this series Darkness Seduced (April 15, 2012) and Darkness Surrendered (May 15, 2012). 
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Interview & Giveaway with Faye Roberts

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Faye Roberts to the blog today to talk about her new book Kiss and Make Up.  

Welcome Faye.

Faye: Hi there! Thank you so much for having me on your blog today!

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Faye: Of course. I write for Entangled Publishing under the name Faye Robertson and for Samhain, Noble Romance and Lyrical Press as Serenity Woods. Kiss and Make Up is the second book I’ve had with Entangled Publishing. The first was a Christmas novella called Holly’s First Noel. I work full time at the moment as a PA to four deputy principals at a high school, and I’m married with a teenage son.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Faye: Oh yes, since I was eight! I wrote a story at school based on the sci-fi series Blake’s Seven. I remember telling everyone on my table that they had to have a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. Mine was “They looked at each other.” It sounded more climactic to me then than it does now!

Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Faye: Chocolate and wine helps! My main writing time is between 6pm and 7.30pm ish. I sneak other moments whenever I can. It’s the only time I get at the computer as I work full time, so I have to cram editing, rewriting, new writing and social networking into that time. I’ve learned to type very quickly!

Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Faye:  Most challenging is definitely the edits – they can be so, so hard. But I learn heaps every time my writing comes back scrawled with red ink! Most rewarding is when someone produces a cover based on my story – I cried when I got the first one, and I love that moment when they turn up through the email. Such fun!

Q5) Can you please tell us about your latest book?
Faye: Kiss and Make Up is one of the four launch books for Entangled’s new Indulgence category romance line. And I’m so excited to be a part of it! It’s about Tabby, a makeup artist, who falls in love with Eli Black, a stuntman, and it’s set in Wellington, New Zealand.

Q6) How did you come with the idea for this story?
Faye: I came up with the idea for Kiss and Make Up while watching the extra features on Lord of the Rings. And Eli is based on Craig Parker, who plays Haldir.

Q7)  Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Faye: Yes, I’m writing another Indulgence based on the marriage of convenience trope, with a twist. The hero owns a chain of hotels, and the heroine runs the crèche in one of them. It’s going really well so far, so fingers crossed!

Q8)  Who are some of your favorite authors?
Faye:  All of the other Indulgence authors! LOL! And I love reading my writing friend’s work, Ruthie Knox. She’s so funny and witty – her Ride With Me is a must buy if you haven’t read it. Generally though, I like anything from courtroom dramas by writers such as John Grisham to thrillers such as those by Nicci French to historicals like Barbara Erskine’s.

Q9)  Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
Faye:  I learn something from every writer I read – even if it’s how not to write! But seriously, sometimes I learn new ways to describe scenery or even love scenes. I loved Laura Kaye’s North of Need for example – her love scenes are fantastic, as are all of Maya Banks’.

Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Faye: I’m working my way through the other Indulgences, and there are more coming out this month! Including the wonderful Annie Seaton’s – I’ve read hers in manuscript form and it’s fab, but I’m looking forward to buying it and reading it again!

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Faye:  Just a huge thank you for having me here! You can find out more about me here: 
Website: http://www.fayerobertsonromance.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/serenitywoodsromance
Twitter: @FayeRobertsonNZ
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/fayerobertson
And if anyone would like to win a copy of Kiss and Make Up, please answer me this question – what would be the one item of makeup you couldn’t live without? Most of my heroines use lipbalm, and I couldn’t live without it either! What’s yours?

Kiss and Make Up
A fling of a lifetime…
With only a month left of filming on location in New Zealand, the last thing stuntman Eli Black is looking for is a relationship. He made a promise to his brother before he died that his next stop would be Hollywood. But Eli’s will is put to the test when he meets the sexy new makeup artist, Tabby.
Tabby Rogers is heading off to London to a prestigious makeup artist school, and after her ex ruined her previous plans to attend, she’s determined that nothing will stand in her way again. But a steamy, no-strings-attached affair with gorgeous Eli is too tempting to pass up.
The sparks burn hotter than imaginable, but as responsibilities pull at them from opposite ends of the globe, it quickly becomes clear that something’s got to give. Must Tabby sacrifice her hard-won career for love? Or will Eli forever be the one who got away?


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Guest Bloggers: Leia Shaw & Cari Silverwood talk about 31 Flavors

Writing the Perfect Romance
There are any number of reasons why us writers choose to pen a romance – fun, a desperate need to tell stories, a need for more alpha males in our lives, money…Leia and I had all those and one extra one. So many of the romances out there are well, romantic. The men are ten feet tall with ten inch dicks and pretty much always get it right. And we women like that don’t we? Having a man who can almost read our minds, who knows just the right spot to nibble, lick or smack?
In BDSM romances the Dom or dominant male seems to become even more idealized. He is often the experienced one who can take his woman to the height of a world-shuddering orgasm with the precision application of ropes, cuffs, floggers and maybe a few more exotic pieces of equipment like candles, feathers or pieces of ginger used in a very naughty way.
A lot of women have a desire for some aspect of BDSM. It’s a fact supported by many surveys over the years. And although we all pretty much know that fiction is fiction, there does seem to be an extra potent effect when women first realize their desires may have a real life possibility of being forfilled. That they may not be freaks. That there may be a man out there who shares their desires for something kinky. I’ve seen a lot of women ready to kneel at the feet of almost the first real man who answers to the dominant label.
The problem is, even Doms are human. They aren’t perfect. They do make mistakes, and they do have to start somewhere.
Both Leia and I saw the need for a real story and since one of our friends had the same idea, was ready to let us tell her story, and hell, she even had a silly side to her that made writing the story fun, we went with it.
So here it is. 31 Flavors is the story of one married couple’s first foray into the land of BDSM. It’s not perfect. Sid’s husband Nick, is not infallible, and some of their mistakes may make you chuckle out loud. The comedy in the book , as well as the steamy sex seems to be grabbing our readers, and that’s good. Because as one reviewer has said,
“Wow… just wow! This novel is brilliantly written, it is well balanced with humor (at some parts hilarious), saucy sex scenes and genuine life drama.
There were times while reading that I thought “OMG that’s so true”, and there were times that just wanted to jump into the novel and give Sidney a hug and say, “never ever doubt who you are”. I was captured from the get go…”
We hope you enjoy reading it as well as perhaps ending the novel with some new insights on what can make a marriage hum.
There are some things in life you have to try before you know how they will affect you.
After 5 years of awful sex, I was ready. Bondage and spanking had always featured in my fantasies, and one day, I convinced my husband to try them. That day was a turning point.
Ice cream comes in many flavors and that’s us too – not vanilla, maybe not Rocky Road either. We can be a combination or make up our own and no one has the right to judge us.
But there will always be one question that tears at my soul: Will my husband, Nick, ever be happy with what I crave?
About Us: 31 Flavors is a book that is heavily based on a true love story. Although the sex scenes are obviously fictionalized, much of it really happened. This isn’t just another erotic BDSM story. We both felt (Leia and Cari) there was a place for a novel where the readers might draw parallels with their own      lives — a story where idealistic, perfect people did not exist, where mistakes are made, and in particular, where the top or Dom is not some godlike creation and the submissive or bottom is just your average girl-next-door.
Cari Silverwood: Cari writes stories that leap from the page and blast you from your bed. Heroines who will come rescue you and    heroes who will drag you back to bed by your hair and ravish you endlessly. Did she mention there was sex and adventure in her stories? 
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(ARC) Review of Crystalfire by Kate Douglas

Crystalfire 
4th and final book in the Demonslayer Series
by Kate Douglas
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420110020
ISBN-13: 978-1420110029
The Demon King still lives, stronger than ever, devouring souls in search of immortality. Against him stands the scholar Taron, a newly-minted warrior of Lemuria, and Willow, a woman of unearthly loveliness, born of mist. . .
Spellbound
Taron must pass through the waterfall of molten gold that shields the secret portal to his beloved land. His brilliant mind and the speaking sword called CrystalFire are his weapons against evil. But nothing can protect him from the power of love. Willow, whom he once knew as a sprite who could dance in his hand, has been changed by a master stroke of magic into the form of a beautiful, highly sensual woman, desiring a thousand pleasures that she insists he alone can give her.
Innocent and eager, Willow arouses his deepest needs and sexual hunger–and his love. He will risk all to save her, even if it means a battle to the death with the ultimate foe. . .
My thoughts:
Two of the most unlikely heroes, but well-loved characters hold the future of the world in their hands.  If they fail the world as they know it will end.  If they succeeded they will live to fight yet another day.
Taron is a scholar who has never thought he was missing anything in life.  That was until he learned that he was really not living and his life was turned upside down.  Taron has been sent out on a mission to help with a battle against evil.  The last thing he expects to find is that this is the final battle of good vs. evil and he is the one that determines that fate of the world.  But even more surprising is who will be the one fighting next to him.
When Willow wakes up to find she is no longer trapped in the mind of Bumper. But in the arms of the man she has longed for since she first laid eyes on him, she is overwhelmed by all the feeling and changes in her short life.  But when Taron tells her of his mission, Willow knows she must help Taron whether he likes it or not.
What happens along the way will change Taron & Willows life forever.
What a great way to end this series.  Although I am hoping that Kate will maybe write some more about our favorite Demonslayers.  If you have read the first three Demonslayer books you will love Crystalfire.  If you haven’t started this series I would highly suggest you get started and read the first three books before Crystalfire is released in April. Amazon has a 3 book bundle just for you to get started on the Demonslayer books click HERE. 

To Kate:  HUGE THANK YOU for sending me Crystalfire to read and review.  XOXO
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Guest blogger: Blair McDowell


Show, Don’t Tell

Who among us has not seen those dreaded words in the margin of a manuscript?   It sounds so easy.  “Show, don’t tell. ”
Those of us who are, shall we say, of more mature years, are programmed to tell.  Our parents and grandparents told us stories.  Charles Dickens and Jane Austen and Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie and Dostoyevsky all told their stories.  And they were very good stories indeed.
But the times have changed.  The shift in reader expectations from passive to active involvement in stories began, I believe, with motion pictures in the early decades of the twentieth century.  Movies pulled people into their stories in a way print never had.  For the first time stories were made visual.  Of course, plays existed before.  But only a minute proportion of the population ever went to the theater.  With the advent of movies, suddenly drama was available to everyone.
Then came television.  Living other people’s stories was no longer a once-a-week movie experience, it became a nightly event.  Drama came into people’s living rooms and captured an audience far beyond that of most books. Plots moved fast.  They had to.  There was only a half hour or hour time slot in which to draw[L1]  the audience into the story.  The story was visual.  The actions observable.  Emotions were shown, not described.  No imagination was necessary on the part of the viewer.  It was all there to see and to hear and to identify with.  
Video games came next.  Action at the speed of light with the players in charge of the story.
A result of all this recent history is that we as writers must adapt to a very different set of reader expectations than our predecessors.  Today’s readers expect to see the story.  And a natural corollary of this is that they want their stories to move faster, to be shorter.  Where the 90,000 to 110,000 word novel used to be the norm, now shorter works are more in demand.
            Stories [L2] must pull readers quickly into the experiences of the characters.  From the first page they must feel what our characters feel, see what they see.  Hear, smell, taste, touch, vicariously what our characters see, hear, smell, taste, touch.  The use of all five senses is vital to helping readers live our stories.
I rely heavily on the five senses in my stories.  In The Memory of Roses, the scent of that flower is a connecting link between the two love stories and forms a continuous thread from the beginning to the end of the novel.  In Delighting In Your Company, the ghost hero sings and whistles the tune, Greensleeves from the first pages to the last.  Abigail’s Christmas is replete with the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas.  Using the five senses is one of the easier ways of showing.  
 We cannot simply say that a character is sad, happy, nervous, tense, anxious.  We must show what the character is doing that physically expresses the emotion he/she is feeling.  This is not always easy.  But this is what “Show, don’t tell” means.
Here are two ways to tell whether we’ve slipped into telling where we should be showing.  
The first and most obvious is the use of the words “feel” “feeling” and “felt”.  If any of these words is present in a sentence, we’re probably not showing, we’re telling.  A computer search of the manuscript for these words will let us know immediately where we need to revise.
Amy felt deeply saddened as she looked around her father’s empty study.  
Clearly, this is telling.  What actions could we have Amy do that would show the reader she is sad?  If she were an actress with no lines to speak in this scene, what could she do to let us know how she feels?
She could sigh.  She could brush her hand across his desk and shake her head.  If she is deeply distressed she could cry.  She put her head in her hands.  Her body might slump.  We need to tap into the physical actions, the behaviors that indicate sorrow.  
Another area where it is easy to fall into “telling” rather than “showing” is the point in the story at which we describe what our hero or heroine looks like.
Telling: Amy had short auburn hair that never looked quite combed.  
Showing: Amy ran a brush through her short auburn hair and shrugged.  She knew it never looked combed but she really didn’t care.  
Telling: Andy had well-muscled shoulders and a broad chest.
Showing: Amy leaned against Andy, taking comfort from his strong arms and the solidity of his chest.  
Telling: Amy set about cooking breakfast for the kids.
Showing:  The bacon began to sizzle.  Amy turned to the stove, cracked four farm-fresh eggs into the hot bacon fat and watched as the edges began to brown.  Three pajama clad boys tumbled into the kitchen.  Amy smiled.  Nothing like the smell of bacon and eggs to rouse the troops .
Hearing, seeing and smelling were all a part of the above example.  When we draw on the five senses in a scene we always come closer to showing.
Any time we name an emotion we are telling rather than showing.  Almost any time we use a word with an “ly” ending (gladly, sadly, grudgingly, happily, etc.  etc) we are telling, not showing.  I regularly do a computer search for ly.  Sometimes I leave the word.  But usually I try to find an observable action that will express the behavior indicated by the “ly”.
Show, don’t tell means that we must live inside our character’s minds and have them behave in ways that demonstrate their feelings and thoughts, their reactions to the situations in which we place them.  Above all we must make it possible for our readers to become involved in what’s happening in our stories, to be a part of our hero’s journey.



Blair McDowell wrote her first short story when she was eleven and hasn’t stopped writing
since. After many years producing non-fiction professional books in her field, Blair decided to
exercise her rich imagination and write novels of mystery and romance set in places she knows and loves, peopled with characters drawn from her experiences in those locales.
One of her favorite places in the world is Greece, the setting for ‘The Memory of Roses’, Blair McDowell’s latest novel. While in Greece Blair was inspired by the ancient culture, friendly people and the picturesque settings, and the plot for the ‘Memory of Roses’ was born.
Blair has a home on a remote island in the Caribbean where the local lore of the ‘Jumbie’ (‘the dead who walk’) formed the basis for her novel of that name.
The setting for Blair McDowell’s book, ‘Sonata’, is the spectacular city of Vancouver with its
vibrant multicultural population and its rich musical life. In ‘Sonata’, Blair McDowell’s love of
music comes into play, and is intricately woven into this story of mystery and romance.
Blair is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America (Greater
Vancouver Chapter), and the Romance Writers of America (Women’s Fiction).
Website / Facebook
Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / All Romance / Ebookstrand

The Memory of Roses
The Greek island of Corfu unearths the enduring love stories of two generations of the
McQuaid family. First, renowned archaeologist Ian McQuaid meets the love of his life while
recuperating from an illness contracted during a dig in Crete. Even though he is married, his wife had not been a passionate partner for many years, and the appearance of the stunning Maria Calbrese was a miracle sent to him at the lowest point in his life.
Then a generation later, Ian’s daughter Brit travels to Corfu after his death. He left Brit a note
disclosing that he owned a villa on Corfu, and that when he was there he had fallen in love with a
woman named Maria while still married to Brit’s mother. He asked Brit to deliver a package to Maria, who he thought lived somewhere in Venice. Determined to fulfill her father’s requests and return quickly to the US, Brit’s plan is soon derailed. She meets archaeologist Dr. Andreas Leandros who looks like the Greek gods of ancient times, and her own damaged heart begins to come alive.
What does the mysterious package contain, and how will Brit find Maria as requested by her
father? Will finding her change Brit’s life? Will she manage to preserve her bond with Andreas, or will she return to the US to live out her life without him?
Excerpt:
It was on June eleventh that he met her. He had gone to Adriatika for his evening meal. It was a
week night and he had lingered over his late afternoon swim. By the time he arrived, the few other diners were well into their meals.
“What have you for me tonight, my friend?” he asked.
“Ah! You are in luck. We have Rabbit Steffado and I’ve kept a portion back for you.”
Ian settled into his chair at his regular table and opened his book. He’d long had the habit of
reading in restaurants until his food arrived. It kept him from feeling lonely.
He heard a commotion at the door and glanced up from his book to see a stunning young woman in conversation with Yiannis.
“Of course you are not too late, Signorina,” Yiannis was saying as he showed her to a table. “We
always look forward to your return in June. Did you have a pleasant journey from Venice?”
“Pleasant enough, Yiannis. I hope you have some of your Rabbit Steffado for me tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it for months.”
“Alas, I am afraid the last portion was just ordered by someone else,” he said, nodding in the
general direction of Ian’s table. “But I have a very nice fish if you’re interested.”
“Hmm. I’ll think about it. Meanwhile, if you could bring me a pitcher of your good house wine…”
“Of course.”
Ian went back to reading his book. Suddenly he sensed that he wasn’t alone. He looked up to see
the woman who’d just entered the restaurant standing at his table, a brimming pitcher of wine in her hand. She was tall and full breasted, her long ebony hair swung loosely to her shoulders and her eyes were dark and lively. Her face could have come from a Botticelli painting, beautifully oval, classically Italian. She wore a low necked blouse that seemed to fall off one shoulder and a full skirt that emphasized her small waist.
He realized with a shock that she was speaking to him in English and that he hadn’t heard a word
she had said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said I assume you speak English since you’re reading a book in that language. If you’d rather, we could speak in Italian. My Greek is a bit primitive.”
Confused, Ian managed to stutter, “English will be fine.”
“Good. I have a proposition for you.” She smiled.
Ian thought whatever it is the answer is yes. He merely nodded.
“You,” she resumed accusingly, “you have ordered the last portion of Rabbit Steffado. I’ve been
looking forward to Rabbit Steffado for months. I propose that we should enjoy that rabbit together. There is always enough for two in Yiannis’ portions. Meanwhile we can order some of Catarina’s eggplant and a salad to start and,” here she held up the pitcher, “I already have the wine.” She waited expectantly.
Ian threw back his head and laughed for the first time in months. “Please,” he said, getting up
quickly and pulling out a chair for her, “Be my guest. I’m Ian McQuaid.”
Over the eggplant she told him she was from Venice and that her name was Maria. “I always spend six weeks here at this time of the year. And this is my favorite restaurant on Corfu. I always came here on my first night back.”
They worked their way through the appetizers laughing and chatting about their experiences on
Corfu as if they were old friends.
The rabbit arrived at the table, steaming and aromatic in its rich sauce. Maria ladled it on to their
plates. “So what brings you to Corfu?”
Ian somehow didn’t want to admit his recent illness to this young woman who was the picture of
health and vitality. “I was working on Crete and I decided to take some time off. A friend suggested Corfu.”
“What do you do on Crete?”
“I’m an archaeologist. My special area is Bronze-Age societies, the Minoans in particular. Knossos, on Crete, is one of the best preserved Minoan sites in the world. I’ve been working there off and on for some years.”
“You’re an American aren’t you? Your accent isn’t British.”
“Yes. I’m a professor at Stanford University in California. But I spend half of every year in Greece.”
They continued to chat and laugh their way through the rest of meal.
Ian could hardly take his eyes off of her. She was so utterly alive. Her mobile face telegraphed her every thought and mood. When she laughed at his stories her whole face lit up. When she was serious,her eyes held the reflective calm of a mountain lake. He found her utterly entrancing. By the time they’d finished dessert he was wondering how he could prolong the evening, how he could arrange to see her again.
Then he reminded himself that he was still married, that he’d no right to become involved with
this young vibrant creature sitting at his table. And that surely she would have no interest in him, a middle-aged man graying at the temples and many years her senior. Regretfully, when Catarina began closing the shutters, he moved to pay the bill. “Please allow me,” he said. “You’ve given me so much pleasure tonight.”
She nodded and rose to leave.
Outside the restaurant, she paused confused, and looked around. “Where’s your car?”
“Actually, I don’t have one. I haven’t found much need for one here. I walk everyplace. The house I’m renting is just up the hill a mile or so.”
“Please let me drive you home,” she said. “I insist. It is small payment for that lovely dinner.”
Ten minutes longer with her, Ian thought. Ten minutes more of her lovely voice and beautiful
face. “Of course,” he responded.
She drove efficiently and competently. He watched the shadows and light fall on her face as she
navigated the curves of the narrow, winding country road.
“Turn here,” he instructed as they reached the open gates to the property. She came to a stop at
the circle in front of the villa. The fountain was splashing, its dolphins alive in the moonlight.
“What a beautiful spot.” She said. They sat in silence for a moment, neither quite willing to end the evening.
“You could come in for a brandy,” he suggested.
They got as far as the front door. Later they could neither of them remember who moved first.
They were in each other’s arms, tearing at their clothing, stumbling up the steps toward the bedroom. Frustrated with their slow progress Ian swept her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, covering her with his body. They made love wordlessly, frantically, as if their very lives depended on their being together in this way at this moment.
When the storm had passed, Ian tried to speak. “I had no right to do this,” he said. “I’m married.”
“Of course you are,” she replied. “No man as attractive as you could be single. Not at your age. I
came to you willingly, I asked for no commitment. We have here and now. We have tonight. Let’s not ask for more.”
He buried his face in her fragrant hair.