Plot Bunnies ARE Real

plot bunny :
An idea for a story  that gnaws at the brain until written.

An idea like this may strike at any time. Sometimes they're great, sometimes they suck.

An idea for a story, usually referring to an author having more ideas than he or she can use.  
The term's origin is unknown but is known to predate NaNoWriMo. Because plot bunnies tend to multiply quickly, the term is thought to be related to the oft-quoted John Steinbeck quote about ideas and rabbits.


"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." --John Steinbeck

Congrats to one fellow author who managed to capture all her plot bunnies at once.

Lucas Black, a famous author, finds himself struggling with writer's block. As he falls further and further into his obsession, his lover Simon breaks up with him. Depressed, Luc prays for a muse and is surprised when his prayers are actually answered in the person of a young man named Dury, who claims to be Luc's plot bunny. Dury is everything Luc shouldn't like, eccentric, mysterious, and far too beautiful. But in spite of his doubts, Luc cannot help but feel an increasing affection for Dury.
After his painful separation from Luc, Simon Roth is unable to continue sculpting. Seeing his ex on the street with someone else only serves to reopen old wounds. To his shock, that someone -- a mysterious man named Dury -- begins to stalk him, pushing Simon to contact Luc once again. Simon realizes with dismay that Dury's gentle coaxing reaches out to a deep part of him, one he'd thought reserved for his lost love, Luc.

Even as the two artists acknowledge their feelings for each other, they understand they have both fallen for Dury as well. Dury, however, hasn't told them everything. His secrets may well be the death of them all.

THE PLOT BUNNY by Scarlet Hyacinth
Read an EXCERPT

I have been recently attacked by a supper hot, sexy plot bunny.  I like the way he thinks, it's going to push me into a different direction but looks like fun.  Sometimes, one simply has to be flexible with these rabid creatures... or have some really strong cages. 

If you are a writer and have too many plot bunnies,

you can drop them off at

 The Plot Bunny Adoption Center.

FOUR HEARTS from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Sizzling Hot Books is a review site that reviews romance,

paranormal, urban fantasy, erotica and more.

FOUR HEARTS review for Handcuffs and Silk by Mary Quast

Understanding your own needs sexually is important. For Stephanie and Hunter, they have not found a person who is a perfect fit for each of them but during a one night stand, must learn to explore just what they want.

Stephanie "Stiff" Johnson, is a tough Las Vegas cop who many men find too intimidating to date. Steph begins to wonder if something is wrong with her so she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who could be the yin to her yang, even if it's just for one night.

Hunter Morgan left behind years of living as a sub to a female Domme in New York. Upon return to his hometown, he questions whether he wants to continue with the "lifestyle" or find something different. Turning to 1 Night Stand, he hopes to sample his options.

A simple one-night stand opens a whole new sensuous world to both.

Stephanie Johnson is a hard as nails cop from a long line of police officers. Men find her intimidating and so she hasn’t been able to find a guy who could compete with her tough attitude. Deciding to give 1 Night Stand Dating Service a chance, Stephanie is hoping to at least ease her sexual torment, never expecting to find the man of her dreams.

Hunter Mason is a lawyer who returns to his home town of Vegas after living in New York. He had been living as a submissive in New York but has a change of heart about what he really wants. Hunter is looking for a future complete with children, a dog and a white picket fence. Looking for a night of passion, he also contacts Madame Eve and 1 Night Stand Dating Agency hoping to be able to explore his changing needs.

Handcuffs and Silk is an exciting read! The characters jump off the page and steam up the covers as they explore their sexuality. I really liked how Hunter and Stephanie were both switches, able to be both dominant and submissive. Their relationship showed how people could have so many different needs! The character of Stephanie reminded me of those tough policewomen who are forced to play in a man’s world. While they are strong and determined women, they also need to be taken care of and protected. With Hunter, Stephanie has the best of both worlds!

Handcuffs and Silk will make you look twice at the next police man or woman who pulls you over for speeding and will definitely make your body heat up with sex and sizzle! If you enjoy a strong story with wonderful characters and hot sex, you are going to love Handcuffs and Silk!

Handcuffs & Silk - A Hot Read for Cold Nights

A 1 Night Stand Story

Heat level: 4

Stephanie "Stiff" Johnson, is a tough Las Vegas cop who many men find too intimidating to date. Steph begins to wonder if something is wrong with her so she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who could be the yin to her yang, even if it's just for one night.


Hunter Morgan left behind years of living as a sub to a female Domme in New York. Upon return to his hometown, he questions whether he wants to continue with the "lifestyle" or find something different. Turning to 1 Night Stand, he hopes to sample his options.


A simple one-night stand opens a whole new sensuous world to both.


~Excerpt~

The blades of the chopper sliced through the heat of the night as it flew over the City of Lights. Casinos glowed in various hues of blue, plum, gold, green, and silver, casting a magical aura. Spotlights danced in the night, graceful fingers tickling the sinister side of Vegas. Unsuspecting people moved about, flitting from place to place, searching for excitement and fulfillment while cars in traffic jams occasionally brought the pulsing arteries in the heart of the city to a temporary halt.

Being a Las Vegas cop, Steph recognized the evil lurking in the shadows of the beautiful city, also known as Sin City. As the chopper made a turn, she viewed the vast landscape as an artist’s canvas. The awesome structures designed and built by nameless men. So many lives below. Where there is sin and sadness, one will also find love and happiness.

With a deep sigh, Steph continued to gaze at the site, wondering where she fit into the street party of existence. Not a single malicious bone in her body, yet a monster lurked inside, crying to be set free. And, despite the desire to have a special someone to share a lifetime of love and happiness, meaningless one-night stands never filled the emptiness inside. Lately, living and breathing her job had become her reason for lack of a social life. That, and always being looked at as one of the guys and a hard ass.

Some of the cops’ wives had made it their mission to fix her up with someone. Despite their efforts to feminize her, she intimidated the men they’d found for her. Not considered butch—she had all the right curves in all the right places and could wear sexy clothing that normally only looked good on a model—but everyone knew how tough she could be.

Controlling the power hidden deep inside her proved to be difficult and had ruined many relationships. Her last boyfriend liked to try kinky things, but had his limits. She’d gone out with a guy who’d insisted she be submissive to him, but that felt completely false and ended shortly after it began.

What’s wrong with me?

Frustrated at her inability to escape her reputation, she’d applied with an online dating service, 1NightStand. Not a regular matchmaking site, but more upscale; the mysterious owner, Madame Evangeline, had an amazing ability to find just the right person to satisfy one’s needs. Or so Steph had been told.

Her cell phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, she noticed an email from 1NightStand. Instinct told her Eve was probably letting her know the dating service could not match her up. To avoid disappointment until back on the ground, Steph put the phone back in its holster.

The chopper began its descent.

Monday Mojo - Meet Montana Volby

"Give me Mahler, Strauss, and Shostakovich any day."

Yep, he's just a model, dancer, and most of all,

classically trained musician trying to make it in LA.
This 22 year old college grad is ready for the world. 

Height: 6' 0"

Weight: 195 lbs

Neck: 17"

Chest: 42"

Waist: 32"

Hair color: Brown

Eye color: Brown

Facebook

Thursday Thirteen - Freaky Facts about Animals & Sex

I think my mind is still in Halloween mode... thinking of bizare and creepy things.  But..... 

This stuff is just plain weird!

1. Erect giraffe penises are four feet long.

2. To have sex with donkeys, Mongol men would often tie their hind legs together.

3. Average sexual intercourse between minks lasts eight hours.

4. Middle Eastern cave paintings reveal that men used to have sex with female crocodiles because they believed that it would make them rich and important

5. A dragonfly's penis has a shovel on the end that scoops out a rival male's semen

6. The Inca enacted laws to prevent llama drivers from having sex with their animals and enforced the laws be requiring that the llama drivers be escorted by chaperones.

7. Upon losing battles, apes will tend to masturbate.

8. Male boars excite females by breathing on their faces. (They have smelly breath.)

9. In the animal kingdom, chimpanzees hold the record for the fastest quickies. Sexual intercourse can last as little as three seconds.

10. Most giraffes are bisexual.

11. Billy goats urinate on their own heads to smell more attractive to females.

12. The average gorilla weighing 200 pounds has a penis that is two inches long.

13. When turning to sex with animals, Marquesan men are more likely to have sex with chickens.

My question is....

“How do researchers come up with this stuff?”

Tuesday Teaser - from 'the King of the erotic thriller'

Lolita meets Story of O, another memorable tale of love, sex and feelings

from 'the King of the erotic thriller' Maxim Jakubowski.

When Ekaterina meets Alexander a shockingly sexy but tender romance develops.

She is a young Italian trainee journalist, who dreams of wild sexual adventures. He is the older Englishman who she believes can fulfill her fantasies. When Ekaterina is sent to interview the ageing writer Alexander in London, she is blinded by his charm and experience. Their relationship explodes in a sensual orgy, which defies society’s acceptance.

When a mysterious angel of death who calls herself Emma enters their lives, Ekaterina and Alexander know their days together are numbered.

A shocking climax set in Venice in winter brings the three protagonists together.


Heat Level: SCORCHING

A tale of sex and tenderness that ranks alongside

Jakubowski's  classic The State of Montana.

Maxim Jakubowski is a crime, erotic, and science fiction writer and critic. Jakubowski was born in England by Russian-British and Polish parents, but raised in France. Jakubowski has also lived in Italy and has travelled extensively. Jakubowski edited the science fiction anthology'sTwenty Houses of the Zodiac in 1979 for the 37th World Science Fiction Convention (Seacon '79) in Brighton,and Travelling towards epsilon, an anthology of French science fiction . He also contributed a short story to that anthology. He has worked in book publishing for many years, which he left to open the Murder One bookshop, the UK's first specialist crime and mystery bookstore. He contributes to a variety of newspapers and magazines, and was for eight years the crime columnist for Time Out and, presently, since 2000, the crime reviewer for The Guardian.

Available in paperback and eBook format from the following retailers: Amazon UK, Amazon US, Book Depository, Waterstone’s, Xcite Books, All Romance eBooks and BookStrand, with many more to follow.

Ripped Roaring Halloween Hop

Welcome to the Halloween blog hop.

 If you need to find the beginning so you can get on the tour bus, head over to http://justromance.me/bloghop.

By taking the tour you are entered to win several awesome prizes. The Grand Prize is a Kindle with several download on it, including Handcuffs & Silk.

However, if you comment on this post you will also be entered to win a free download of my book Handcuffs & Silk.

Okay.... time for a little Halloween Fun!

Top 10: Halloween Sex Positions

This article was originally written from a man's point of view and is intended for entertainment purposes only; its content should not be taken as practical advice.

 Enjoy!

The time has come to breathe new life into Halloween -- to replace the confectionary-fueled fun you enjoyed as a kid with the pheromone-laced action you want as an adult. After all, you probably won’t be spending All Hallows' Eve donning masks and egging cars outside the house, so shouldn't you at least be releasing your inner demons inside the bedroom? This is something that is easily done with the help from some evil Halloween sex positions. So, while we’ll happily leave the Kama Sutra to hippies, yoga nerds and people who treat scented candles as a lifestyle, those of us more partial to dancing with devils in the pale moonlight will be generating shrieks and moans this year courtesy of the following Halloween sex positions.



No.1 Witch's Brew
Wart of mute child, eye of albino newt… unless you’re Prince or Charlie Sheen, this stuff probably doesn’t turn you on. But here for Halloween is the first-ever sexy witch's brew. Though swingers would probably have an easier time accomplishing this one, a drunk girlfriend and the girl she kissed in college should suffice. The key to this position is all in the setup (and the alcohol): Fill a hot tub with brown food coloring, novelty eyeballs, Gothic candles, and two revved-up bisexual females. The bonus in this one is the post-witch's brew shower, in which you’ll either get to clean your partners or sit back and watch evil take its course.


No.2 Pumpkin Head
Jack-o’-lanterns are supposed to act as guides for lost spirits in the night. But in our twisted minds, they act as beacons for downright nasty things. While your girl is painting her face with orange and black makeup, you’ll cut a hole in a box to act as the table. Your girl will kneel down with her pumpkin-looking head poking out of the hole. You’ll stand in front of her, aim for the gaping black grin and put a candle of a different kind into the mouth of this jack-o’-lantern.

No.3 Monster Mash
Only a blindfolded eunuch could watch Godzilla movies and not get riled up by the overwhelming sexual tension between Mothra and the radioactive lizard. That’s why we’re suggesting you and your partner try out the “Monster Mash” this Halloween. The premise is simple, but potentially expensive, depending on the cost of the outfit you’re willing to invest in. Go down the costume shop, pick out costumes for you and your partner, then cut out sections around the genitals in each costume; unless you’re Paris Hilton, we assume you possess the mental powers to deduce the nasty act that should follow.


No.4 Night Of The F*cking Dead
Squirming, convulsing and moaning isn’t something that only happens at Jack in the Box -- case in point: “Night of the F*cking Dead.” In this ingenious brain-dead Halloween sex position, partners start off in a standard missionary position, but once the male has comfortably entered the female, that’s when things really get dumb -- er, fun. Specifically, neither partner is allowed to use their arms or legs to support themselves during intercourse, leaving both sex-starved individuals to be grunting, struggling and shaking in order to get off.

No.5 Sleepy Bat
Courtesy of the public education system and some unpleasant personal experiences, we are extremely aware that it is unwise to put unprotected genitals anywhere near a sleeping bat -- that is, unless, your partner has assumed the role of a blind, flying carnivore for the evening. In this Halloween sex position, your partner will require a stable pull-up bar or shower pole on which to hang upside down. Once she is comfortably locked in, position your mouths at each others' genitals and engage in 69-ing until the sunlight comes up (or the blood rushing to her head causes your partner to pass out).


No.6 Bobbing For Boobies
This sex position is pretty self-explanatory: Fill up a bathtub with two or more breasts, stick your hands behind your back, and bob your head in until you catch yourself an endorphin rush


No.7 The Scarecrow
Aside from Michael Hutchence, a little bondage never (seriously) hurt anyone, and this sex position is no different. One partner is strapped to a cross-brace and must act as if they have no skeletal system; the other partner gets to enjoy the benefits of having someone strapped to a cross-brace in front of them. That involves groping, teasing, prodding, and just about anything else you want, just as soon as you get those cumbersome overalls unhooked. Best of all, when you are done, there’s all that straw to help clean up.

No.8 Tail In The Crypt
Let’s face it: The first thing that comes to mind when you project sexual deviancy on a high-pitched decomposing corpse is Michael Jackson; but don’t worry, our carnal take on the famous Tales from the Crypt TV series is much more legal. In this Halloween sex position, you and your partner make your way under your bed (the “crypt”) and engage in anal sex (the “tail”) -- we leave it up to you (the “crypt keeper”) to decided whether or not you’d like to annoyingly stimulate your partner with scratches to her back.


No.9 Grave Robber
The key to this Halloween sex position is finding a successful mix between the sexual thrill of robbery and the somewhat unappealing odor of putrid human innards. The way it works is that you wait for your girlfriend to fall asleep, then you ransack your laundry hamper and surround her with dirty, dank clothes to mimic the atmosphere of a grave. Once you’ve buried your corpse -- er, partner -- you give her the unexpected thrill of luring her back into consciousness with oral sex.



No.10 Ghost Rider
Before you start writing us letters about this one, we want to make it clear that we’re not suggesting you set your partner’s head on fire while she’s faced the other way in doggy style -- that would fall under a "Mike Tyson Sex Positions." No, the Ghost Rider is much more humane, though slightly tougher on the eyes. The way it works is that when the female is riding the male, the man puts a white sheet over her head -- all while resisting the overwhelming urge to cue up the Ghostbusters theme on his stereo.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Tuesday Teaser - New from JoAnne Kenrick

This post is for my a special Diva who still rocks hard to Bon Jovi. 

This new erotic romance novella is a must read!

It’s 1989 and Ryker Conall, American rock star and heartbreaker, is looking all kinds of Bon Jovi hot. He’s back in Australia and staying in the exclusive Darling Harbour Hotel where Sadie Fox works. His plans include more than rocking it down under. He also wants to rekindle what he had with Sadie back in ’85. But wanting and getting are two different things.


Sadie’s objective is to get through the week without getting under Ryker. Getting over him was hard the first time around. She’s not sure she could do it a second. Just one week, that’s all. Then she’s home free.

When a hurricane moves in, they have to wait it out. It might be a big hotel, but Sadie can’t hide from Ryker forever. It’s not long before Sadie is backed into a corner. A corner she is not sure she wants to get out of.

JoAnne Kenrick

Available in eBook format from BookStrand, with many more retailers to follow.

Check out JoAnne's blog tour.

BLOODY MARY SOUP

This wonderful soup is the answer to your surplus September tomatoes and those cold October nights.

1 medium onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2 tb olive oil
250 g fresh tomatoes, peeled
250 ml homemade broth
salt, pepper
Tabasco
1 tb lemon juice
4 tb vodka
Garnish
celery stalks to garnish


In a large pot, saute onions ad celery and bell pepper in oil.
Add tomato, saute 1-2 minute.
Add broth and let simmer 10 minutes.
Put all in a food processor and mix until smooth.
Add other ingredients.
Serve either hot or chilled, garnish with celery stalk.

Flirty Friday - Erotic Romance from KD Grace

An erotic novel by best-selling author K D Grace.

Blurb

In appreciation for a job well done, STELLA JAMES 's boss sends her a pet – a human pet. The mischievous TINO comes straight from THE PET SHOP complete with a collar, a leash, and an erection. Stella soon discovers the pleasure of keeping Pets, especially this one, is extremely addicting.

Obsessed with Tino and with the reclusive philanthropist, VINCENT EVANSTON, who looks like Tino, but couldn’t be more different, Stella is drawn into the secret world of The Pet Shop. As her animal lust awakens, Stella must walk the thin line that separates the business of pleasure from the more dangerous business of the heart or suffer the consequences.


Excerpt
"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS," O'Kelly said, nearly dropping the phone. "You can't really mean to give Stella James Tino for the whole weekend. Wouldn't a nice gift voucher from Selfridges be more appropriate?"

The Boss offered her a tolerant chuckle on the other end of the phone. "Didn't she tell you she thought an occasional shag wasn't too much to ask for doing such a demanding job?"

"Yes, but she was joking. I'm sure she never expected–"

"Well, she's right. It isn't too much to ask, is it? She's a very dedicated employee, and we've always done our best to reward dedicated employees, especially one with such promise, one that we have such plans for."

"Yes but–"

"Hasn't she met and surpassed our expectations since she's joined Strigida, and didn't we both agree she's exactly what we're looking for?"

"Yes, but–"

"She's not in a relationship, right?"

She rolled her eyes and glanced down at her watch. He was on a roll. Nothing for it now but to hear him out.

"No relationship, no family. Stella can afford to live in London because she has no life outside of work, all factors we took into account when we hired her. There's no arguing she doesn't have time for sex." He paused long enough for a quick breath. "Sorry to say that's the way of the world these days. All work and no play. Very sad. Very sad indeed."

"Yes, sir. It is sad, but, sir, Tino?"

"Yes. Tino."

"OK, maybe for a couple of hours, maybe. But surely not for the whole weekend."

"Yes, for the whole weekend, O'Kelly, from Friday night till Sunday evening. Every last second of it."

O"Kelly rubbed her forehead impatiently then rolled her shoulders to loosen the knots, which she could always count on the Boss to tighten. "It's not that the woman doesn't deserve a weekend of blow-your-brains-out sex. God knows she does, but ..."

"But what, O'Kelly? Get to the point."

O"Kelly squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She found the whole thing a bit embarrassing, actually. "Well, sir, she's just so ..."

"So what?"

"She's just so tight laced, so prim and proper. I don't know – all business. I can't help but wonder if we've made a mistake, and even if we haven't, a weekend with Tino is just so hardcore at this stage, don't you think?" She straightened in her chair and brushed her skirt free of the few remaining crumbs from the sandwich she had wolfed for lunch. "I can't picture her being the kind who could appreciate or even be able to handle a weekend with Tino."

"Prim and proper? Really? You just told me she was joking about the company providing sex as a fringe benefit for its overworked employees. Doesn't sound very prim and proper to me. In fact she sounds like exactly the woman we've been looking for."



Buy Links

Paperback:

Book Depository
Amazon UK
Amazon
Waterstones

eBook:

Amazon UK
Amazon

http://www.erotica-romance-ebooks.com/the-pet-shop.html


Bio
K D Grace was born with a writing obsession. It got worse once she actually learned HOW to write. There's no treatment for it. It's progressive and chronic and quite often interferes with normal, everyday functioning. She might actually be concerned if it wasn't so damned much fun most of the time.

K D's erotic romance novels, The Initiation of Ms Holly and The Pet Shop, both published by Xcite Books, are available from all good paperback and eBook retailers.

Her erotica has been published with Xcite Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and Scarlet Magazine.

Find out more about K D Grace on her website,  She's also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Sex tips to boost your love life

It's important to remember that sex should be fun.

1. Be confident
It's the sexiest thing any woman can do to turn on her man - take control and be sure about what you want and how you want it done.

2. Enjoy each other's bodies
Give each other compliments, pay special attention to a person's less favourite bits, make them feel desired and sexy. Body confidence is sexual gold!

3. Talk.
Tell your partner what you're enjoying and why, even what could be done to make the sex better; faster slower etc.. The sure-fire way to better sex time and time again!

4. Engage in foreplay
It's easy to forget that foreplay is all part of your sex life. Make sure you have enough foreplay with your partner until you're both ready for intercourse. Prolong it by putting your clothes on, go out for a drink or a meal. Keep the evening going on as long as you can until you have to run home for the most intense sex ever!

5. Surprise your partner
Put on some sexy lingerie one evening after work and wait for him. Don't let him touch you, dominate and lead him to the bedroom.


6. Drink coffee
Research has indicated that a couple of cups of coffee could well boost the female libido. Even if that's not 100% guaranteed, the caffeine will improve your concentration - very important if you're getting hot and steamy in the bedroom.

7. Turn off the TV
You may love watching what Rita and Norris are up to in Corrie, but it's a bit of a passion killer. Hit the off button and pay attention to each other.

8. Do a strip-tease
It doesn't have to look professional, as long as you move seductively in front of him and slowly take off your clothes. Don't allow him to touch either - this will turn him on even more.

9. Choose the right music
Having the right tunes playing in the background can improve your bedroom experience. The right rhythm will make your lovemaking far more enjoyable. Try Dr. Amgad & Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing for starters.

10. Ice ice baby
If you're performing oral sex on your fella, try popping an ice cube in your mouth halfway through - the sensation as it goes from warm to cold will drive him wild.


11. Eat salmon.
Obviously, it's a great choice for dinner, but it's also known as a sexual powerhouse. The vitamins in salmon will help lift the libido, it contains mood-enhancing Omega-3 oils and is protein rich, which is good for stamina.


12. Turn off the lights
In fact, go one step further and blindfold each other. By getting rid of the sense of sight, you'll be forced to use your other senses.

13. Don't touch his private parts
By not going for the one place he's desperate for you to touch, you'll drive him wild. Delay it as long as possible and when you do get there, make only the faintest touch at first.

Tasty Tuesday

Favorite American Hard Ciders by Bon Appétit

I'm not one to drint hard cider but living in Michigan I proudly purchase and consume Michigan products.  To see Michigan featured in something as simple as Hard Cider in Bon Appetit magazine is very exciting! 

 Way to go Michigan!  Whoot-whoot!

A proud tradition of cider-making exists just about anywhere apples grow--Argentina, Austria, England, France, Spain--and until now, the best bottles rarely traveled. That was true in the States, too, as residents of Michigan, Vermont, or Oregon will tell you.

Hard cider has a long history in America, where it's made in various styles, from sweet to dry and still to sparkling. From colonial days onward, hard cider was sipped by almost everyone, including children: Easily made and inexpensive, it was considered cleaner than drinking water. Then Prohibition came along and all but wiped out production and consumption.

Bon Appetit tasted 50 domestic hard ciders.
These four bottles--all sparkling and dry--rose to the top.


Z. Orchards / $13
Made with nine apple varieties for beautifully balanced flavor. 2010 Cidre, Oregon

Bellwether / $14
A bona fide thirst-quencher from a blend of heirloom Tompkins King and Baldwin apples. King Baldwin, New York

Tandem Ciders / $11
Refreshing, with hints of citrus.  Perfect cider for those in love... with cider at least. A favorite of chef Mario Batali, part-time Michigander. The Sweetheart, Michigan.  A unique stop on the Leelanau wine trail, Tandem Ciders specializes in artisanal hard ciders.

Farnum Hill / $13
The orchard's more esoteric batches are bottled under this label. Dooryard, New Hampshire

Monday Mojo - Things that make you go Hmmm....

WEIGHT LOSS - Fascinating Fact: Sexual acts lead to weight loss

The average human loses 26 calories when kissing for a minute. Furthermore, vigorous sex for half an hour burns 150 calories (you can lose three pounds in a year – if you have sex 7 to 8 times a month). Kissing is also very good for your teeth: the extra saliva released during the act helps to keep the mouth clean – reducing the risk of decay.

Six Sentence Sunday

His hands had been resting on her waist when Josh let out a groan and lifted Jenny into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.  He carefully put her back on her feet as he kissed her.  His hands slid along her back and tugged the zipper of her dress.  Once loosened, the gown came off easily and dropped to the floor.  Josh stepped back to view her perfect skin, breasts, and the curve of her hips.  He needed her. 

Can bestfriends admit to their feelings and take their relationship one step farther?

Or will crossing the line be the end?

FREE READ

Banned Books Week 2011

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Here's the 2010 List of Challenged Books:
 1) And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
 3) Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
4) Crank, by Ellen Hopkins
5) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collin;
6) Lush, by Natasha Friend
7) What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
 8) Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
9) Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
10) Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer




Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.


The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

For more information visit Banned Books Week 
 

New Release from Kim Knox

Check out the newest release in the Planetary Bodies series

from fellow Diva, Kim Knox. 

Way to go, Kim!

Book 3 in the Planetary Bodies series.

Alexandra Syato has complete control of her life.

She's rich and has Captain Rhearden Lawe as a delicious friend with benefits. Her life couldn't be more perfect. Until the mysterious force known as sheen turns her world upside down.

It changes Lawe in a way she doesn't expect and now her easy-going friend has become a dark and brooding stranger, determined to take her control. She can't fight their new, blistering attraction. But the price for having him may break her. Completely.



Buy here from Ellora's Cave

You can also read an excerpt here.

At my website there's a little sneak peek behind the series, Planetary Bodies.

Current is part of a linked series. Books 1 and 2, Magnetism and Friction, can be found here.
 

WINNER

CONGRATS TO KELLIE KAMRYN

WINNER OF A DOWNLOAD OF HANDCUFFS & SILK

PLUS

A BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE GLASS NECKLACE.

Monday Mojo - Check out this new book!

Rachel Leigh has a hot new novella available
from The Wild Rose Press.
Her latest release will get your mojo going!

Check it out!

Blurb: Kelly Hampton loved once...and lost. After two years of looking
for Sean MacKenzie in other men--and failing miserably--she takes a vow
of celibacy. No sex until she finds love. Then Sean strolls back into
her bar, reigniting old flames. No one has come close to understanding
or satisfying her like he did. Her body burns for the passion they once
shared, but her heart still remembers the pain.

Sean escaped Jessop Hill and his father's fists in the middle of the
night without a word--even to his love, Kelly--to protect his battered
mother, but he never forgot the explosively erotic relationship he left
behind. Now his father is dead and Sean is back for the only woman he's
ever wanted. Their reunion is full of fire – but can sexual
attraction and noble intentions overcome years of heartache or will
Kelly walk away to protect her heart this time.

Excerpt:

“We’re closed,” she snapped.

The stranger continued to walk closer without as much as a blip in his stride. The massive height and width of him engulfed the space between them until he stopped and his eyes met hers. Kelly stared. Recognition hit her like a demolition ball. Her breath caught and her heart picked up speed. No. No, it couldn’t be.

Swallowing hard, she crossed her arms to hide the shaking in her hands. He looked away from her, casually taking in his surroundings. She stared at his profile, her feet welded to the floor. No, she was wrong. It couldn’t be him.

This was a dangerous situation. She was alone. The guy was built like a Trojan warrior. Instinctively, she inched her hand below the bar and curled her fingers around one of the three aluminum baseball bats lodged beneath it at four feet intervals. Any funny stuff and he wouldn’t know what hit him.

Leaning his hands on the bar, he shook the rain from his dark blonde hair, spattering the polished wood of the bar, and looked straight into Kelly’s eyes.

Oh, shit. It was him. Without any doubt whatsoever. Her heart turned over. “Sean?” she croaked.

His smile was slow, sexy, and completely irresistible. Kelly trembled with the effort it took not to leap over the bar and slam his face between her breasts.

“Hi, Kelly,” he said. “Should’ve known you end up running this place.”

Cool. She needed to be cool. Slowly pulling her hand from the bat, she planted both flat on the bar, mimicking his stance and purposefully tilting forward so he could have a clear glimpse of her cleavage and just what the hell he’d been missing for the last two years.


Coming Backby Rachel Leigh
The Wild Rose PressRelease Date: 8-12-2011


"Coming Back confronts the age old issues of going home again and rekindling lost love. Sean and Kelly never stopped loving each other, but life pulled them apart. Now Sean is back to win Kelly without knowing if she will be able to forgive him and let their love bloom once more. Coming Back is a passionate tale of love and lust mixing together and what happens when we face the responsibilities of life. Rachel Leigh has a good erotic voice that keeps things fiery throughout her work." - Sizzling Hot Reviews

I can sign Kindle books!

I’ve always loved getting books signed by the author. As an author it tickles me pink when someone asks me to sign a copy of my book for them.



Now with Kindlegraph, I can actually sign my Kindle books. This is very exciting!


If you’ve purchased my latest release, Handcuffs & Silk, in Kindle version or wanting to buy one and want me to sign it; just go to my Kindlegraph Author Page and request me to sign the book! It’s that easy!

Tasty Tuesday - Death By Chocolate III

Ingredients1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix
2 (3.9 ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate covered English toffee

Directions
1.Prepare brownies according to package directions. Let cool.
2.Mix pudding according to package directions.
3.In a glass punch bowl, layer in the following order: 1/2 of the brownie, crumbled; 1/2 of the pudding; 1 toffee bar, crushed; 1/2 of the whipped topping.
4.Repeat layers in the same order. Save the last toffee bar to crumble and sprinkle on top before serving.
5.Refrigerate. Best if made the day before you serve it.

Erotic Author Blog Tour - Win Prizes!

Stop at Romance Writers Behaving Badly

to read today's tie up & tease post

by Erotic Author Mary Quast

Leave a comment for a chance to win

a download of Handcuffs & Silk

and a lovely handcrafted glass necklace.

Decadent Publishing

Erotic Authors Blog Tour

August 22 – 30, 2011

August 22 - Ann Mayburn at Book Lovers Inc.and giving away copies of Amber Moon and Emerald Moon.

August 23 – Dominique Eastwick at Aspiring Romance Writers, giving away a copy of Strawberry Kisses and a pair of Strawberry earrings.

August 24 – Stephanie Beck at Piper Patter blog and giving away ebooks.

August 25 – Desiree Holt at Delilah Devlin’s blog and promoting Joy Ride, giving away a Lightnin' t-shirt or mug (winner's choice) plus a choice from her backlist to another winner.


August 26 – Valerie Mann at Siren’s Song and giving away a copy of her 1Night Stand ebook, To Feel Again, a copy of her demon paranormal, Hey You and a small “Joy” wall quilt.

August 27 – Cassandra Dean at Romance Australia and giving away a copy of Enslaved, a signed postcard and magnet.

August 28 – Laura Kaye at Books n Kisses and giving away an ebook and a set of trading cards.

August 29 – Mary Quast at Romance Writers Behaving Badly giving away a download of 1NS Handcuffs & Silk and a lovely handmade, sculpted glass necklace.

August 29 – Deanna Wadsworth at Taboo Indeed

Sexy Australian Rugby Players

Friday Food Tip

Okay... so you want to plan a sexy dinner with your honey for tomorrow night.  You purchased sexy lingerie and hooker heels.  Here it is Friday and it's time to work on the menu.  After all... the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  The lingerie and hooker heels will be part of the desert.

So let's focus on food and wine.

Have you ever eaten a meal where the wine and food were so good that you could not forget about it? Then, did you later have that same wine with a different dish or the same dish with a different wine only to be disappointed?

Count yourself fortunate to have experienced the perfect marriage of wine and food. When the wine balances with the food in flavor, texture and taste, both food and wine enhance each other.

These area few hints to consider that will make food and wine pairing simple. But remember that if you like a certain wine with a particular food that is all that matters.

1. Use the same wine in the recipe as you will be serving with the meal.

2. Mask salty dishes with slightly sweet wines.

3. Serve cool, sweet, low alcohol wines with hot, spicy foods. Higher alcohol accentuates heat.

4. Balance acidic foods with sweet wines or round, dry, low acid wines.

5. Combine sweet wines with desserts. Make sure the wine is always sweeter than the dessert.

Combos for Beef

Beef roast, steak, hamburgers

Veritas

Classic Red

Merlot

Classic Blush

2 Cab/Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wild mushroom sauce

Merlot

2 Cab/Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Red wine sauces, stew, short ribs, beef stroganoff

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

2 Cab/Merlot

Stir fry, chili

Pinot Noir

Classic Red

Brisket, meatloaf

Merlot

Classic Red

Beef Wellington

Classic Blush

2 Cab/Merlot

Beef Bourguignon

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

2 Cab/Merlot

Thursday Thirteen - Sensual Touch

Something as simple as a touch can arouse a person. Unfortunately in today’s world the act of slow, sensitive, exploring touches is often forgotten when it comes to romance and love making. Humans from early on are affected and nurtured through touching. As adults, we still crave to touch and be touched; an act relevant to initiate us into the mysteries of sex. Touching each other is a form of communication showing trust, love, desire, as well as an opportunity to learn about each other.

Here is a list of 13 erogenous zones that are most likely to provoke sensual responses.

1. Scalp and Hair. The scalp is very sensitive to touch and who doesn’t enjoy having someone run fingers through their hair?
2. Ears and Neck.
Possibly amount the most sensitive parts of the body. Being stroked, nibbled, or licked or even feeling a lover’s hot breath in this area can be very arousing.


3. The Waist. Not often thought of as an erogenous zone, but a bit of kissing, licking, squeezing, and stroking can have an erotic effect. Personally, I like to feel my honey’s hands on my waist. Try it.
4. The Torso. The sides of the torso can be surprisingly responsive to touch, especially light brushing of fingertips or gentle nibbling.
5.The Spine. Very sensitive area you may need to discuss with your partner to see what is preferred. Try a warm touch with lotion or a cold touch with an ice cube.

6.The Chest. Although not as sensitive as the breasts, try light, teasing strokes and slow lingering caresses to create a pleasurable sensual touch.
7. Breasts. Duh. But did you know a man’s nipples are actually more sensitive than a woman’s? .

8.The Thighs. The inside of the thighs is highly sensitive. The closer the touch is to the groin, the more exquisite and arousing will be the sensations.
9.The Backs of the Legs. The hollows at the backs of the knees are especially sensitive to touch; try soft touches with fingertips or gentle kisses.
10.The Butt. I love a tight ass. Hmm… there are numerous ways of touching the butt. Try ranging from feather light caresses to squeezing and even spanking.

11.The Face. Yes, cheeks and lips but try placing a kiss on the eyelids. Hmmm…. Feels great giving and receiving.
12.The Neck and Throat.
This area responds wonderfully to gentle kisses and delicate fingertip caresses.

13.The Feet. Another area you may need to discuss with your partner. While some people enjoy feet others may be turned off by them. This area is very sensitive to touch from the tips of the toes to the ankle. A foot massage is a great form of relaxing as well.



What is your favorite erogenous zone and how do you like to be touched?

Humpday Help - Today's helpful honey

What a wild weekend. My house is still a mess. But lucky me, I have a helpful honey who cleaned up my kitchen for me. What a great guy, now he's taking time to clean up after himself as well.

Tasty Tuesday - Blueberries

With Blueberry Festival done, it's time to use up those berries.

Make up this wonderful recipe, serve with some Blueberry wine and enjoy.

Berry Pudding CakeIngredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup sugar (Splenda)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- a dash of salt
- 1 cup fat free milk
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 cups assorted fresh berries

Preparation:
Heat oven to 400° and apply non-stick spray to 6 ounce quiche dishes. In a medium bowl combine eggs, vanilla, sugar, and salt. Whisk the mixture until frothy then add milk, flour and baking powder blend until smooth. Divide the berries among the quiche dishes, then pour the batter over the berries. Bake 20 minutes or so, until golden brown.

Blueberry Splash Fruit WineProduced with 100% South Haven, Michigan Blueberries,

this wine will compliment any dessert made with blueberries.

Semi-sweet - Residual Sugar: 9.3%

Monday Mojo

Stretch your mind and fly.