Sneak Peek Sunday

This week's Sneak Peek is from Handcuffs & Silk. Hunter is waiting at the bar with his brother at the Las Vegas Castillo Resort for the blind date Madame Eve has arranged for him from her exclusive dating service, 1 Night Stand.

“Stephanie.” Jason rolled the name on his tongue. “What do you know about this woman?”

“Not much. I just have to put faith in Madame Eve and her matchmaking skills.”

“Well, we’ll see.” With that said, he nodded in the direction of the door. “Pick up your rose.”

 Hunter lifted the rose, turned, and saw her. She’d slicked her blonde hair back in a tight ponytail, a pink, silk blouse lay like a second skin over perfect, round breasts. Nicely curved hips accented by shiny, black leather hot pants, high- heeled, thigh-high boots laced up her long legs, and a small leather bag hung on a silver chain snug against her hip. Hunter hardened instantly.

He took his eyes off her only for a moment to glance at his brother, who watched her with indifference as he would if he saw another dominant male.

“Don’t be fooled by this one’s appearance.” Jason smirked. “She wants to be owned.”

Hunter suspected this woman just might be what the doctor ordered to pick up his mood. He preferred a formidable woman and turned his attention back to the one in front of him. A beautiful face upon a slender neck put a vision in mind of her head thrown back in orgasmic rapture. Resisting the temptation to drop to his knees, he met her icy, blue stare. A gentle smile of approval crept across her face, compelling him to smile back.

Fetish Friday - A BDSM Virgin

This is a post previously featured on Romance Writers Behaving Badly.

I started wring a sweet romance about a one night stand between a lady cop and a lawyer but somewhere along the line the characters took over the story and sexed it up.  Bring out the leather and restraints... I was off to write about something I had no idea about.

So what did I do?

What any good author does... RESEARCH.  Here's where hubby had that Cheshire Cat grin. 

No, really... I poured over books (fiction & non-fiction), interviewed various Doms and subs then finally let my imagination go.

According to Wikipedia: "BDSM is a consensual lifestyle choice, or type of adult role-play between two or more individuals. The compound acronym, BDSM, is derived from the terms bondage and discipline (B&D), dominance and submission (D&S), and sadism and masochism (S&M). BDSM includes a wide spectrum of activities, forms of interpersonal relationships, and distinct subcultures."

I found the best help on the subject (other than personal interviews) was the online site Seekers.  This site states, "D/s is a lifestyle choice, Domination and submission, where people live their lives opting by nature to be either Dominant or submissive. In a relationship the one complements the other and is based on the gift of submission, and absolute trust."  I must say this insight was not only helpful with my work, but I also thought the owners handled the subject in a fundamental and kindly manner.

Writing Handcuffs & Silk became a whole new experience for me and opened a door I always thought was best kept closed.   Not only did I become a better writer because of my research but I've also developed a sincere respect for my friends who delve into this world. 

(And hubby is still smiling.)

Never be afraid to ask questions, the answers may amaze you. 

 

 

HumpDay Hottie

Yeah, it's still football season.

How do I sit in those cold bleachers week after week?

 

 

I have warm thoughts.



Tuesday Teaser - A Sweet & Sassy Match

My good friend Stevie MacFarlane is working on a new contemporary romance series, Sugar Babies, Inc.  Book 1, A Sweet and Sassy Match is out and she sent us a little teaser.

BLURB

Sam Barringer worked his way up from the slums of Philadelphia to a corner office with a magnificent view of Manhattan.   A powerhouse in his field, Sam made more money than he could spend.  Still single, he watched quietly as his associates marriages crumpled one after another.  It seemed there was always another beautiful gold-digger ready to take whatever the first or third wife left up for grabs.  Many of his male clients were ridiculously wealthy and so very alone, unable to trust their own judgment when it came to women, but there were good women out there.  The problem was they worked in coffee shops and school lunch rooms, as bus drivers and mechanics, hardly likely to meet a man who could and would provide them with security, love and guidance.

As his bank account grew, so did his dissatisfaction.  The men surrounding him were unhappy and frustrated, looking for something they were never going to find, despite their wealth.  It was then that Sugar Babies was born.   Quickly Sam discovered that there were a lot more men like him than he'd previously believed;  Dominant men, who firmly believed that disciplining their woman was sometimes necessary to insure a healthy, peaceful and long term relationship.  He also discovered an entire group of clients that wanted something more, a woman-child to call them Daddy.  

While scouting out a new location for a branch office, Sam meets Johanna Maxwell.  Jo is beautiful, hard-working and everyone’s best friend.   If you're moving and need an extra hand, Jo’s your girl; house-sitting, baby-sitting, pet-sitting?  No problem.  Need a loan, a last minute date, call Jo?  In fact, the only person Jo didn't take care of in her large circle of friends, family and co-workers, was Jo. 

Sam falls hard, but can he convince Jo that his business is legitimate and more to the point can he convince her that when he pulls her over his knee, it’s out of love?

Visit Stevie MacFarlane's website.

Monday Mojo - Hot New Tigers Manager

Right now Michigan radio and TV stations are busy with debates whether or not the new

Detroit Tiger manager is a good choice.

 

However.... 

some have noticed he may be the HOTTEST manager in baseball.

 

 

May I present our new Detroit Tigers manager, Brad Ausmus. What do you think ladies?

Sneak Peek Sunday - WIP Eagle Dance

Today's Sneak Peek is from a work in progress I am writing for the Decadent Publishing 1 Night Stand Series. It is part of a four book Native American shifter collection I am working on, Crow Magic being the first. I hope you enjoy this sample.

Dyami Shaffer an Chippewa Eagle shifter

Over a few beers he confided in a friend who listened while he celebrated his own pity party. Reaching his limit and fed up of women staring at him with fear or disgust, he needed to vent. His large size and dark Native American features didn’t help him find dates in the past. Women of his tribe whispered of his attributes and feared him. On top of everything, his nesting instinct unfortunately kicked in recently. He wanted a good woman who would accept and love him for the rest of his life. The buddy told him about the elite dating service, 1 Night Stand, where one night often led to a love match.  His spirit nurtured the seed of hope planted in his thoughts and persuaded him to fill out the paperwork for a blind date.

After months of waiting, he stood on his porch drinking his morning coffee when he saw a hawk fly overhead. His people considered hawks to be messengers. With an impatient heart, he checked his emails and discovered a message from Madame Eve.  

Following a day of work, he drove almost 700 miles.  During the trip he fought poor weather and spent hours talking to himself to stay focused. He eventually gave in to weariness and spent the night in a cheap hotel along Interstate 80 planning to arrive at his destination with vim and vigor. Surely the lonely journey would not have been made in vain.

 A plow rumbled on the road behind him creating large mounds of snow. The world grew white and cleansed in purity. Evergreens supported heavy boughs much like the weight he carried. The trunks of the giant firs stood strong, bearing the spirits of the earth. The crisp air filled his lungs. His spirit fluttered with hope.

He clasped the totem pendant he wore around his neck and closed his eyes. The small eagle mounted on an arrowhead represented his linage. The rough edges dug into his palm yet gave him comfort. In his culture some legends were true; such as those who are born with a totem animal or a spirit guide. His ancestors were blessed by the Great Spirit. In every generation one man would not only be born with a spirit animal who resides within one’s soul but also the gift of shifting from man to that of his animal.

Drawing from the strength of tribe, he prayed he made the right decision. The spirit of the eagle fluttered against his heart telling him to continue his journey. Since countless moments make a lifetime, a particular chain of them brought him to the place he needed to be.  Madame Eve found a woman who would accept his secret and dance with him. With confidence he climbed the steps to the main building of the Castillo Poconos Resort.

 

CLICK HERE for more peeking.

Copper & Love

Twenty-two years ago I married the love of my life. 

Years later with three boys and busy schedules we still manage to find time for fun and romance. Our relationship may have evolved over the years but is strong.

The gift suggestion for the 22nd wedding anniversary is copper. Copper is a lovely symbol for love and does not deteriorate over time. In fact, it withstands the test of time and actually has the highest recycling rate of any engineering metal in the world! Like the couple sharing a lifetime, this strong and hardy metal holds up against elements and only richens in patina and endurance.

Gift ideas include jewelry, sculpture and my favorite…. Copper foil wrapped chocolate. 

However, here are my thoughts…

I can light some spicy candles. Then I'll wrap myself in something copper colored and melt some copper-colored caramel? 

 

We could have some fun making a yummy dessert. 

 

New Military romance - No Flag by Liz Borino

I will quickly admit I am a sucker for military romance.  I found this new release that looks pretty good.  I haven't read anything from Liz Borino so I'm looking forward to curling up with this story over the rainy weekend.

For Mike and Will, “No Flag” meant “come home alive”, but will their love survive what happens next? Captain Mike Kelley does not ignore his intuition, so when sexy bartender Will Hayes captures his heart, Mike embarks on a mission to win him over to a Domestic Discipline relationship.  Will accepts with one caveat: Mike must promise not to renew his Army contract.  Mike agrees, and they spend a year building a life together, getting married, and starting a business.

Only days before their café’s grand opening, Mike receives news that threatens everything he and Will have built.  The Army invokes the Stop Loss military policy to involuntarily extend his commission and send him back overseas.  Will, left alone to cope with the café, must rely on the support of old friends who may be no longer be trustworthy.  Through emails and Skype calls, Mike and Will keep their love and structure alive…until the day a horrific terrorist attack occurs on Mike’s outpost.

Mike awakens in a hospital with a devastating injury and no his memory of the attack. As the only survivor, Mike’s memory may be the key to national security. Mike struggles to cope with his injury and Will struggles to support the man who always held him up.  Both fear they have lost their previous relationship.  Will has Mike back rather than a folded flag, but in the aftermath of war, can they rebuild the life they had before?  Especially when those closest to them may not have their best interests at heart?

Available on Amazon

Humpday Hottie for Halloween

Is he putting it on

or

taking it off?

 

Does it matter?

 

 

Sneak Peek Sunday - Queen of Hearts

I know this is the week of Halloween and the book I'm giving you a sneak peek from is actually a Valentine Story, but... the characters are at a costume party.  The theme is Alice in Wonderland.  The characters, dressed as Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter, have been best pals lusting after each other.

The story was inspired by this photo in a Lover's Lane Costume Edition Catalog.

*********************

 

Jenny turned to see what had caught her friend's eyes and saw Josh stepping with bold confidence into the penthouse looking around.  He moved with the elegance of a showman, slow and fluid.  Their eyes locked  the moment he spotted her.

With a wink, he struck a pose leaving her breathless.  Playing with her, he wanted her to look at him.  A red ribbon wrapped around his black top hat, resting at an angle over his right eye.  His brows arched, daring her to continue the inspection but she paused a the slight smirk of his lips.  As if he knew her focus, he blew her a kiss.  Heat spread through her body and pooled between her legs.

His tuxedo coat accented his broad shoulders.  Only Josh could pull off the sapphire blue bow tie which lay crooked at the base of his throat.  The blue matched his eyes.  The lapel opened to reveal a red vest, and black shirt.

Buttoned, the fitted garment gave him a commanding appearance.  Standing with his feet wide apart, black tails of his coat hung behind legs clad in black.  High polished black shoes added to the imposing stature. He wore fingerless red and black gloves with one hand resting on a carved rabbit head on his white cane.  His other hand fisted yet resting at his hip with determination.

Lifting her eyes back to his face, Josh's eyes bore into her soul with need and desire.  His jaw was taunt, until his lips slowly slide into a sexy smile.

"Two can play at this game." With a turn of her waist, she posed.

***********************

Queen of Hearts blurb :

 

Jenny has secretly lusted for her sexy next door neighbor for years but won't cross that invisible line dividing friendship and romance even if it is Valentine's Day.

Josh is done with his provocative life and ready to settle down. With a few tricks up his sleeve and the Valentine's Day costume party, he takes a chance on seducing his best girl pal.

Will the Queen of Hearts allow herself to be seduced by Madd Hatter's kiss and offer of more?                

Queen of Heart is available on Smashwords.

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