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Marvelous Monday Reads: Cover Me
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, angels! Today I’m featuring Kacey Hammell and her delicious new May/December romance Cover Me. Take it away, Kacey!
Thank you so much for sharing my new release with your readers! I hope everyone enjoys the story as much as I did writing it.
Wanting her son’s best friend shouldn’t feel so right …
Jay Savage is one of the most sought after models in the business who seems to have it all. He’s the face of romance novel covers from coast to coast, and has expanded his brand to an executive role. Despite the endless possibilities in his life, Jay doesn’t have the one woman he wants most. She is everything he needs, and everything he can’t have. Their age difference isn’t the only obstacle standing in the way of convincing her they were made for one another. Leanne is also his best friend’s mom.
On Nita Lake to celebrate the marriage of her son, Leanne Hogan is faced with the most delicious temptation she’s ever encountered. Their smoldering heat burns down her defenses, and Leanne finds herself giving in to the only man who tempts her banked desires. They shouldn’t work. Can’t work. So why does it feel so right when she’s in his arms?
Story Excerpt
Leanne finished tying the strap of her bikini top, stomach rioting with butterflies, a permanent grin on her face.
Oh, you besotted fool. Chill the fuck out.
In the bathroom mirror, she scrutinized the red bikini and the small stretch marks across her tummy that she still loved because they reminded her of Beau. She cringed at the darker and more prevalent marks across her hips and over her ass. Not the perfect markings a man might want his lover to have.
What the hell. Jay hadn’t minded them last night, and she didn’t want to dwell on them now. He’d promised lighthearted fun and having a good time. Those were two things she needed in her life right now. Thoughts of tomorrow, a week away or six months down the road, weren’t to be discussed or pondered. The here and now was what mattered.
And what woman in their right mind wouldn’t love to have one of the hottest and sexiest models on her arm wherever she went? Leanne laughed, a foreign sound to her, but happiness bloomed inside her.
After admiring herself once more, she turned the doorknob and strode into the living room. Jay’s eyes lit up seeing her. Her breath caught in her throat as his gaze darkened and heat arced its way through the air, surrounding her. Body tingling, she lifted the sundress in her hands and drew it over her head. While she didn’t mind his eyes following her, or lounging on a beach, there was no way she’d stroll through the hotel on full display for everyone to see.
“Damn, had to cover that glorious skin, didn’t you?” Jay wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lips.
“The hotel guests won’t want to see me half-naked, thank you very much.” She grinned up at him, her fingers brushing his chin. “As much as I love you looking at me, I’m not that adventurous.”
“Hm.” He hauled her in tight. So tight, the hardness in his shorts poked against her. She smiled, thrilled she had such an effect on him. “Yes. Good idea. But my reasons are selfish. I don’t want other men setting eyes on your hot bod.” He slid his hands down her spine and cupped her ass. “I claim it as all mine.”
She kissed his chin, loving the fun and his sexy words, then stepped back. “Well, a man has never claimed me like that. I kinda love it.” She winked, grabbed her shoulder bag off the hook, and strode to the door.
Jay followed close behind. He slung an arm over her shoulder as they walked to the elevator and kissed her cheek. “I need to stop in my room, change, and grab beach stuff.”
Leanne pressed the down button and nodded. “Why don’t I meet you in the lobby? I’d like to grab water and snacks, unless you need a huge breakfast? Or a few snacks from the kitchen?”
He led her into the elevator when the doors opened and pressed the button for the third floor. “Sounds great. I shouldn’t be long. Just make sure you’re waiting for me, woman.”
Leanne snickered as he backed her into the wall and crowded against her. Her nipples tightened behind her bathing suit, and it almost hurt to breathe. It was as if her body were on fire, stoked and raring to go, and his touch was nearly too much while it soothed her deep.
“I’ll definitely be waiting for you,” she said breathlessly.
Jay groaned and lowered his head to claim her lips. She gripped his biceps as he took her into the decadent abyss of his taste and passion. As though they’d never spent last night making love, her body strained against his; she was more than eager to be with him again. The image of her climbing his body with her legs, settling around his hips, invaded her thoughts.
Leanne clutched his shirt in her fists, desperate to keep him this close as he swirled his tongue inside her mouth, giving all his passion to her. The walls of her pussy clenched. Maybe they should go back to her room for a few hours. Urgency filled her and made her want to sate herself in everything he had to give. Who was she kidding? Even a few hours wouldn’t be enough to satisfy her.
He lifted his head, his breathing deep as he laid his forehead against the wall beside hers. “Jesus, woman, you’re going to fucking kill me. My cock’s so hard, I swear these shorts just grew two sizes too small.”
As if to convince her, his hips shifted, and the length of his dick was very noticeable.
The ding of the elevator rang loud in her ears, and Jay drew away.
He opened both arms, holding the doors apart. His lips red and swollen, he was mussed like a man well loved. Leanne grinned at him.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself.”
She winked and glanced down at the tent in front of his shorts, then licked her lips.
Where to Buy
Evernight | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Bookstrand
About the Author
Canadian-born author Kacey Hammell is definitely a book-a-holic. A romance reader from a young age, she fell in love with happily ever afters. These days, as a multi- published erotic romance author, she enjoys adding a lot of heat, sass, and emotion to the many genres she writes.
Mom of three, Kacey lives her own happily ever after with her perfect hero in Ontario, Canada.
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Marvelous Monday Reads: Bound By Destiny
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, angels! Today I’m featuring Allyson Young and her new shifter romance Bound By Destiny (Blue Star Shifters). Take it away, Allyson!
River Fortuna’s wolf is awake and pacing, anticipating their first heat. Traumatized by early misunderstandings of shifter sexuality, River intends to avoid being claimed at all cost. She doesn’t plan on meeting handsome, virile Alpha Jett Reeves.
Jett is instantly drawn to River, his pheromones flooding to trigger her heat and force her sexual surrender, despite her tangible—and unlawful—means of avoidance.
Initially a mindless slave to her hormones, River comes to accept Jett past his ability to assuage her sexual need and falls in love with him. Unable to label his myriad of feelings, Jett doesn’t reciprocate, and she is devastated, realizing she is locked in a lifelong, loveless partnership.
Attacked by a rogue shifter, River wakes with no memory, and Jett must face the fact that what he felt for River all along was love—and find a way to bring her back to him.
Story Excerpt
They rode the elevator to the sixth floor in near silence, the eddies of lust making the small space nearly insufferable for him, and his mate leaned against the wall as though she might slip to the floor any moment. Her brow and temples glistened with sweat and her fingers twitched spasmodically. She was coming into her full heat and fighting it all the way.
Stepping off when the doors opened, he strode in the direction the small arrow indicated and found the room within several yards. The key card gave them entrance and he flicked on the light. He shoved the cases just inside the door, blocking the heavy panel with his forearm so it wouldn’t close. “In you go, River.”
Did women trudge? His woman did, despite the trembling of her entire body. His heart ached at her trepidation despite the all-encompassing lust he experienced. Her head down, intense need radiating to pull him in, he threw the deadbolt, and then gave in to what their nature decreed.
Thrusting his hand through her thick mane, his fingers weaving among the long, silky strands just as he’d fantasized, he drew her head back and forced her to look him in the eyes. Hers were dilated, the rich brown irises nearly eclipsed by the stark black of her pupils. Square, white teeth clenched her full bottom lip, presumably to control panting, because she drew draughts of air in through her nose. He could detect the threads of resignation weaving through her vast need, her intense heat rapidly eclipsing any coherent thought. Regret that he’d caused this once again pierced his own narrowly shrinking focus—but only briefly. He lowered his head and took her mouth.
Sweetness and life burst over his senses at his first taste, and he groaned against her full lips even as his tongue made a foray past them. River totally surrendered, as female wolves do when they met their fated mate, and he barely had time for that thought—fated mate—before he wrapped an arm around her limp form. Two steps and they fell to the big bed, the mattress compressing beneath their combined weight as he ravished her mouth. She opened to let him in and gave up all the flavor that was uniquely her.
He reluctantly tore his lips away to rear up and shred the plain shirt that hid her from his view. Her lightly tanned skin filled his vision as her utilitarian bra met the same fate, and he noted with pleasure how modest her tan lines were. His wolf rose up. Mine. The growling claim resounded in the room and her eyes fluttered open and she blinked. Behind the thicket of her dark lashes, a sexual haze again blurred the rich chocolate, and her lids drifted shut.
Once they came to know one another, their coming together could be slowed and savored, but for now, he needed to visibly establish his claim. His frantic cock shuddered in agreement as he demolished the tough denim of her jeans, taking care not to score her soft skin with a claw.
With her nude beneath him, his gaze drawn to the soft, pale fur at her apex, he willed his other-self back, and his claws retracted. Lord knew what she’d seen when she’d stared up at him. Probably a wild-eyed beast intent on its succulent prey, and he blessed the Mother and the mating heat that River hadn’t screamed in fear. Only an alpha could partially shift, and it was unlikely she’d seen one in such a state before.
His own apparel fell away as he quickly stripped and then blanketed his mate’s writhing form. Velvety flesh met his own in a haze of heat and sensation.
“Please.” Her plea was strangled and all the more evocative because of it.
“I’ll take care of you,” he promised. “Always.”
Where to Buy
Evernight | Amazon | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks
About Allyson Young
Allyson Young lives in cottage country in Manitoba, Canada with her husband and numerous pets. She worked in the human services all across Canada and has seen the best and the worst of what people bring to the table. Allyson has written for years, mostly short stories and poetry, published in small newspapers and the like, although her work appeared in her high school yearbooks too! After reading an erotic romance, quite by accident, she decided to try her hand at penning erotica.
Allyson will write until whatever she has inside her is satisfied- when all the heroes man up and all the heroines get what they deserve. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Alpha Bitch
Whee, it’s Wednesday! Never fear, for today I’m here with Loralynne Summers and her awesome new book Alpha Bitch, now available from Evernight Publishing. Take it away, Loralynne!
Hello! Thank you for having me today! I’m so excited to share my new release, Alpha Bitch, with you. This story was a bit of a surprise to me. I never expected to write a shifter story. Vampires, yes – I’ve got more than one vampire story in the unfinished files – but I learned early on not to fight my muse and just go with it. I have to say, I am quite pleased with the results.
I don’t know exactly where the idea came from. I can say that I was listening to a lot of Elle King, and the song Ex’s & Oh’s is basically Cassie’s theme song – it’s that “I don’t give a shit what you think of me” and “I’m not taking your shit” attitude that influenced the creation of Cassie. Currently there aren’t any sequels planned for this, but with being a shifter story, which involves packs, there are plenty of secondary characters to work with. So while it’s not a series at the moment, the possibility is there. I do have the feeling that there’s a story lurking out there, I just don’t know who it’s about, lol.
One runs free…
Cassandra Dumas is the Alpha of Stone Point, with no interest in bowing down to any man, let alone her fellow Alphas. At least, not until an accidental encounter triggers the mating bond. So when the High Council orders her to mate the heir of neighboring River Run, she is determined to find a way out of it to be with the only man she truly wants…
One is a captive…
Kieran Kimball is a caged wolf. Forbidden to shift, he chokes daily on his Alpha nature and serves Stone Point however the Alpha sees fit. Recently, he cares only to serve Cassandra. When she sends him away in advance of her forced mating, his world shatters. Until the unthinkable happens…
Together, they’ll change all the rules…
Cassandra is nothing if not resourceful. Outsmarting River Run is just one piece of the prize to be won if she can pull off the coup of century while keeping everyone important still breathing.
Story Excerpt
Before she could convince her wolf to turn around—because she really didn’t want to have to take control and force a shift, leaving her bare-assed while traipsing through the cool woods at night—Kieran came into view. He stopped short at the end of the path.
Her heart, among other parts of her body, warmed at the sight of him. Water dripped from his long hair and ran down his bare chest to disappear beneath the band of his jeans.
“Cassie,” he said, surprise evident in his tone.
Against her better intentions, she walked over to him and rubbed against his leg.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he whispered. Regardless of his words, his hand traveled down her back, stroking her fur as she wound around him. If she were a cat she would have purred, the sensation felt so good. He smelled fresh and clean, as if he’d been bathing in the river. He fell to his knees, and she stood in front of him with her head resting on his shoulder.
“Do you need something?”
She whined in response and nuzzled him.
Kieran’s arms came around her neck and he buried his face in her fur.
“We can’t, Cassandra.” He pulled away and held the sides of her head gently, staring into her eyes. His own were nearly completely gold, as close as his wolf could get to the surface. “You have to go. You have to forget about me. Find another.” His voice was hard.
She whimpered, responding to the authority within him and nearly giving in to the command. The reaction both amazed her and pissed her off at the same time. Cassie’s wolf shook her head and stomped a foot.
“Yes. Go. Now.” Kieran stood and stepped back.
Cassie shifted, heedless of her naked body, and stepped forward, reaching for him. Kieran’s jaw clenched and he swallowed hard before turning his back on her.
“Go, Cassandra. It’s for your own good, and the good of our pack. Go,” he said over his shoulder, entering his cabin without another look at her.
With an indignant huff, Cassie turned and stalked away, hoping he was taking a good long look at what he was rejecting.
Where to Buy
Amazon | Evernight | All Romance eBooks
About the Author
As a child, Loralynne was always the student getting in trouble for talking in class and punished at home for making things up. Combining her ability to go on and on and her flair for storytelling, she naturally grew up to be a writer. Originally planning to write fantasy, her muse had other plans. Once she opened herself up to the whims of her muse, she couldn’t type her first sex scene fast enough and now writes romance. Loralynne lives in Upstate New York with her husband, cats, and children. You can friend her on Facebook, follow her on twitter under LL_Summers, or check out her blog: loralynnesramblings.weebly.com
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Dark Redemption
Whee, it’s Wednesday! Never fear, for today I’m here with Sarah Marsh and her new book Dark Redemption, now available from Limitless Publishing. Take it away, Sarah!
Sofia Boon was ready to make changes in her life, but she didn’t see this coming…Taking a chance, she finds the nerve to ask out her handsome neighbor, but when he doesn’t show up for their date, Sofia knocks on his door and meets a man claiming to be his roommate, and she soon realizes she’s made a horrible mistake.
Eitan Kent is a tortured man, haunted by a death he was unable to prevent…
Eitan believes he is unworthy of being loved. He buries himself in his work and takes a job to track down a wanted criminal, Ben Donovan. He locates Donovan’s apartment, but finds it empty—until Donovan’s “date” shows up.
Eitan doesn’t know what to make of sweet, curvy Sofia, but she’s the only lead he has…
Feeling he has no choice, Eitan decides to take her with him to see if she can somehow lead him to Donovan before it’s too late—or if her innocence is all an act and she’s involved in the bastard’s crimes.
Sofia is terrified and tries to explain to the dark stranger that she barely knows her neighbor and has no idea how to track him down, but Eitan knows exactly how to get the truth from her. Who knew a little torture could be so sweet?
Story Excerpt
That rat bastard! She thought as she watched him stroll out of the room just as though nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t just gotten her so turned on that she thought she’d spontaneously combust and then just…left.
Sofia didn’t think about what she would have done if he’d tried to have sex with her. That would just ruin the fury she was currently riding. She should be relieved he hadn’t tried to force her. She should have been, logically speaking, but she had to admit to herself her overheated body was ready to beg for release and that her traitorous hormones were killing the rational part of her brain. Sofia knew it was crazy, but all she could think about right now was that the most satisfying way to get some relief was under her sexy captor. It was an issue that only got worse as he walked back into the room with a tray of food and all that beautiful, tanned bare skin.
“Here, let me help you sit up so you can eat,” he said, putting the tray down on the nightstand and moving closer, “Or would you rather wash up and use the bathroom first?”
“Bathroom first, please,” she said immediately, thinking she could follow his lead and get some satisfaction while cleaning up.
But clearly her eagerness must have given her away because he raised one eyebrow in challenge.
“Okay, but you have ten minutes to shower, and you are not allowed to touch yourself other than to get clean―am I understood?” he said in a firm tone as he leaned forward and undid her wrists.
“You’re going to watch me?” she asked, not quite certain if she was offended or turned on at the prospect. She wondered for a second why his firm tone seemed to excite her more than it should have.
“Do you want me to watch you?” he whispered low next to her ear, causing awareness to spread through her entire body.
Sofia was a little breathless at the thought of putting on the same show for him as he did for her, but in the end, her pride won out over the wanton need she felt inside.
“No,” she barely answered, and it sounded weak even to her ears.
His deep chuckle at her answer made her nipples peak even more, and she was almost disappointed when he leaned back and pushed the timer on his watch.
“You’ve got ten minutes, Sofia. Then I come in and get you.”
Sofia had never used the washroom and showered so fast in all her life, she got done with barely a minute to spare as she put her bra and underwear back on and then wrapped herself in a big fluffy towel before she walked back out into the room.
“You can keep the towel until you’ve eaten, then it’s off,” he said once he saw her.
She’d take that small win, and she took her sweet ass time eating as well until he finally took the tray away after she’d spent five minutes chewing a single piece of melon.
“Now are you going to make this difficult on both of us or are you going to behave?” he said as he motioned toward the wrist cuffs once again.
She thought about it, but there was nothing she could do against his superior strength, so she begrudgingly laid back against the padded headboard and raised her wrists.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly. “I told you everything I know already.”
“Well, I’ll see about that soon enough, won’t I?” was all he said in reply as he fastened the cuffs and picked up the tray before he left the room.
****
By the time Eitan had gotten the kitchen cleaned up from breakfast and returned to the bedroom, he was already half hard from replaying how she’d looked watching him come in the shower. He thought about putting on a pair of jeans, but why bother? He certainly wasn’t ashamed for her to see how she affected him and she sure as hell didn’t seem to be put off by his body, so he may as well use that to his advantage, right?
“Ready for the ankle cuffs?” he asked as he entered the room.
He saw her swallow hard and move her legs tighter together.
“Why do you have to?” she asked with a worried look. “Are you going to touch me?”
“You don’t want me to touch you?” he challenged, already knowing her body didn’t have any arguments.
“Of course I don’t want you to touch me!” she answered, clearly trying to sound offended that he’d suggest such a thing, “I don’t even know your name!”
“Well, that’s easy enough to remedy,” he said as he placed one knee on the bed and pulled up the first ankle cuff. “My name is Eitan. Now give me your leg, Sofia.”
He could tell she was surprised he’d given her his name, and to be truthful, he was a bit surprised by that himself. But the more he thought about his name on her lips as she moaned her pleasure, the harder his cock got. He was doing all sorts of things with this little captive that seemed to be breaking his rules, and Eitan wasn’t sure he really cared.
When she tentatively placed her little foot in his hand, he quickly attached the cuff and then slowly ran his fingers over the softness of her skin. Clearly she waxed her legs as the skin was still supple and hair free. That thought made him more aware of the noticeably smooth skin under those pretty purple panties, and his mouth watered as he imagined how soft it would feel under his tongue. As he fastened the second cuff and her legs moved further apart, it was all he could do not to crawl up her body and relieve her of those panties just as he’d fantasized about doing in the shower this morning. It was then that he finally had to admit to himself that this interrogation was probably going to be more difficult for him than it was going to be for her…because his self-control was already bucking to be let loose.
Where to Buy
About Sarah Marsh
Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia where she still lives, she has only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five office job. She’s been a science fiction and romance junkie for years and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.
Sarah’s also a former pastry chef and spends a lot of time cooking and baking for friends and family as well as painting and knitting. Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind…she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish.
When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.
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Marvelous Monday Reads: His Mafia Princess
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring April Zyon and her new erotic romance His Mafia Princess (Family First, Book 1). Take it away, April!
Thank you, for hosting me today. This book was truly one of those books that simply had to be written, it was one that was inside of my head and demanded to be let out. I hope that everyone loves it as much as I loved writing it.
I am doing a giveaway; 10 lucky winners will win a free copy of His Mafia Princess… read to the end to learn how.
Gregorio Bosco worked his way up the ranks of The Family. He never had trouble killing, selling, or anything he was tasked to do. He’d been trained to take over for Giovanni when he stepped down, but that all changed when Alessandra was taken. She was the only good in his life, and he’d do anything in order to protect her—no matter the cost to anyone around him.
Alessandra Morello was born into a life that she didn’t understand. She thought she was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, however she learned it was far from the truth. She’s pulled into the center of a war with Gregorio as her only constant. Her attraction for the older man has only grown over the years, but can there be a future for them in their twisted world?
Story Excerpt
Gregorio was pissed off that he had been called to the mansion, again. He had to get a hold of his men, or the Boss wouldn’t let him take over in the timeframe given to them. It wasn’t because of his fuck up, but one of his underlings. The little bastard was dead now. Greg had personally seen to it. No one got away with stealing from the family, not under his watch. Period. Now if only he could get the Boss to agree that times needed to change and the stakes had to be higher so that their family ran even tighter, because the Russians were trying to move in on their turf and usurp their power. It was up to Gregorio as the Boss’s right hand—and eventual heir—to ensure that they died trying instead of taking over the area that they had carved out for themselves.
When he was let into the Boss’s study, he stood loose in front of the man. Gregorio was armed and ready for anything. “You called?”
“Gregorio, take a seat.” The man didn’t pose it as a question, and Gregorio knew it. It was an order. Once he was sitting, the Boss nodded. “I hear you took care of the mistake.” The Boss sneered as he said the last word, as if it were dirty. “And you made an example?”
“Yes, sir. I did. He’s currently hanging with his hands cut off and his gullet filled with molten silver. His silver-filled body was left on the lawn of the Russian Boss’s home, as per your request. We will need to be more careful with our recruits. How this one passed as Italian, I will never know. It was the theft from the small general store that got him. The girl recalled him speaking Russian as he stole from her. She was injured and in the robbery, she remembered our underling because he had come to collect the protection fee two days earlier.”
Gregorio smiled. It was a smile of pure darkness as he thought of the pain the man suffered. He then tilted his head slightly as he asked the next question. “You let your daughter leave without a guard?” Gregorio changed the subject to one he really wanted to know. That woman had gotten under his skin and had been there since she was sixteen when he saw her naked in the pool house. That was when he was third in the organization. Gregorio killed the second because he was jacking off to Alessandra. Only he was allowed to even think of her in that capacity, and he ensured that every-fucking-one knew it. Even the Boss knew now that Gregorio had declared himself to the man.
“She plays golf with her friends every Thursday. Her guards are with her. Have you learned more of her mugging?”
“I have.” Another reason Gregorio was angry; he was here when he should be tracking the bastards that hurt her. No one hurt her and lived.
“And?” the Boss asked impatiently.
“One of them is sitting in my basement tied to a chair. I was in the middle of discussing respect with the man when you called.”
“It’s more than respect,” the Boss said angrily. “You would do well to remember respect yourself.”
Gregorio had to bite the inside of his cheek. “Yes, Boss. I’m sorry.” He hated those words because it was a reminder of just how much more Gregorio had to learn. Just saying them had him wanting to kill someone.
“That’s better. You have to remember who you are speaking with at all times. Yes, I have been grooming you to take over, but that’s in the near future. In the meantime, you’ve much to learn, things I had to learn the hard way through trial and error and a lot of blood lost.”
“Thank you, sir.” Those words came from his mouth in a near growl. It wasn’t that Gregorio didn’t appreciate what the Boss was doing for him, but the simple fact was that he was impossibly impatient at times.
“Now, what was offered to Tomas to make him turn from his Family?”
“Half million and the promise of a new life. Beyond that, it was the tie to his long lost relative who was a Russian that we didn’t know about.” He shook his head decisively at that statement.
“The Russians are growing bolder. They are searching out long lost Russians in our family’s men and enforcers. Seems as if we need to work on our own genealogy so we can head these off at the pass when possible.”
“They want what we have. They want the docks. They want the refinery and everything else we have. Everything we’ve worked so hard to get.”
“That I worked so hard to get. That my Father worked so hard to get. Don’t forget, Gregorio, you are only being groomed because I didn’t have a son but a daughter. One that I would kill for and one that will never know the reality of her life.”
Greg knew the truth though. The old man had twin sons that were older than Alessandra, but they were born from his whore so they would never hold any sort of position of power inside of the organization.
“I agree. She’ll never know the truth of this life. Not as long as I live. That’s my blood vow to you, Boss.” He would give it too, his blood to keep Alessandra safe, to keep her pure and to keep her out of this life.
He was going to say something else when the doors opened. Gregorio was on his feet with his weapon drawn on reflex.
The man who stood in the doors literally pissed his pants. “I’m sorry, Boss, but we got a note you have to read.”
“Bring it.”
Gregorio holstered his weapon and watched. He was curious about what would have anyone daring to open the door when he and the Boss were in a conference. No one but Alessandra dared do such a thing. She would breeze in when they were planning war and not realize what she walked in on.
When the Boss stood fast enough to send his chair flying behind him, Gregorio knew it had to involve Alessandra. She was the only one that would garner that sort of reaction in the man. “Those fucking bastards!” The Boss yelled out his frustration. “Get everyone here.” He looked at Gregorio. “Someone took Alessandra. Took her in the middle of a crowded lunch at the Country Club.”
Gregorio saw red. He shook in his fury. “Who?” He spoke to the man that brought the note. “Where are her guards?”
“They were found in their cars, both with holes in their foreheads. Whoever did this made it personal. They wanted these men to see who killed them.”
“Boss?” Gregorio waited for his orders to find the woman that held both of their hearts.
“Go. Find her. Take her to safety. I’m done with these Russian bastards on our turf.”
“You calling a war?”
“They did when they took her,” the Boss said as he pulled his weapons from his desk.
Where to Buy
Evernight | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords | iTunes
Giveaway
Simply click this link. (PS only available in the US, sorry!): https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/2f09835d46c86b22
About April Zyon
Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Reader Group | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Website
Marvelous Monday Reads: Beauty in the Beast
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Elyzabeth M. VaLey and her yummy new erotic romance Beauty in the Beast. Take it away, Elyzabeth!
With a flick of a wand a pumpkin can turn into a carriage. If you meet an old man on the road and are kind to him, you’ll be rewarded with a golden goose, or great riches. An ugly duckling can turn into a beautiful swan… do you remember the stories that made you dream? The stories that made you believe that anything was possible? The stories in which good always won over evil?
Yep, I’m talking about fairy tales. We’ve all read them, seen them, heard about them, in one way or another. I love fairy tales and when Evernight Publishing announced its submission call for a line of Naughty Fairy Tales, I knew I had to participate. The Golden Cock came to life together with a whole new world full of possibilities: The Witches’ Mischief series.
For centuries Soussanna Wiles has created strife in the world, but her powers have unleashed a force that can only be contained with the help of another: her daughter, Morgana. Now, the darkness is coming and the women must unite forces to fight against it with the strongest magic ever known: love.
But will it be too late?
Beauty in the Beast is the last book in the series. Now, is the time for good to prevail over evil… but will it?
In any case, don’t believe the myth that fairy tales are only for children. They’re for adults too and below is a list of things you’re going to love about these magical stories.
Top Ten Things to Love about A Naughty Fairy Tale (and The Witches’ Mischief series)
- Fantasy. Magic. Flick that wand. Show me some powers, baby. Soussanna Wiles knows how to use her magic to seduce and tease.
- The ancient powers of good versus evil are back. There’s a dark presence that looms over the world in The Witches’ Mischief series. That means…it’s adventure time, sweetheart!
- Did someone say adventure? Yep! Live it up with the characters. Get into a sword fight, climb out a window, outrun a group of thieves, run naked through a forest, and fight the shadow that threatens to destroy us…
- Speaking of naked, the key here is in the naughty. These aren’t kids running around. These characters are adults with needs. Things can get heated up before you can say abracadabra. The big bad wolf can be a Dom, the three little pigs can be three women, a bear can be a shifter, and a cock can have magical proprieties…
- Hot sex. Scorching hot sex.
- Humans, paranormal creatures, whatever they are, they have feelings, emotions, things we can relate to because we feel them too. For instance, Simon, the hero in Bear Heart carries heavy guilt in his heart for his past deeds. On the other hand, Christopher Bexley, the hero in Beauty in the Beast is more of a trickster at hear.
- The hero doesn’t always rescue the heroine. Sometimes it’s the other way around. Whatever the order, there’s always love. As Morgana the witch says: Love is power.
- Everything is possible in the fairy tale world.
- There’s a HEA. Of course there is a Happily Ever After. What kind of fairy tale would it be if it didn’t have one?
- These stories are all about hope and in this day and age we all need some more of that, right?
What are your favorite things about fairy tales?
Morgana Wiles has spent her life, alongside her mother, fighting against the arrival of the creature known as The Darkness. Unfortunately, neither of them were able to stop him and now he’s here, ready to destroy all that is good in the world. Morgana must face him, but now that the time has come, she finds that things are not as simple. Her mother is gone, self-doubt is creeping in, and her visions are unclear. To make matters worse, a man with evil intent has entered her life and is bent on complicating her mission. Will she be able to resist him in time to fight The Darkness or will she succumb and become that which she despises?
Christopher Bexley is no gentleman. He enjoys trickery, deceit, mischief and above all seduction. Sexual intercourse is the greatest source of power there is or at least there was, until he heard about the Gem. Now that he has discovered there’s a stone that can make him the most powerful magic user of all time, he must have it. The only problem is that the only other person that might know where it is, is a stickler for rules and being good. Morgana is too innocent for his liking, and there’s only one thing he can do to change that: corrupt her.
Story Excerpt
“Going anywhere, little one?”
She stared at Christopher. His hair was all over the place, his robe open to reveal a chest smattered with dark hair. His eyes glistened deviously, matching his grin.
“Are you keeping watch over me, Mr, Bexley?” She crossed her arms over her chest, hoping that he couldn’t see her beaded nipples.
Christopher laughed.
“No such lucky, Miss Wiles. I thought I heard a noise and came to investigate.” He looked her up and down. Her cheeks burned. “I suppose you heard something, too, or you would have dressed more appropriately before coming out of your bedroom.”
She hastened to cover herself up. Sweat dripped down her back.
“Don’t do it on my account, I’m quite enjoying the view.”
Morgana scowled. Where was this heat coming from? “No. I couldn’t sleep. I’m waiting for Anne.”
“Are you? I haven’t seen her since we arrived”
She licked her lips. She needed a fan. Christopher shifted his weight and it hit her. It was him. His energy was like a hot ball of fire. Like an animal that had come from a hunt, or from a run. Primal. He took a step toward her. His robe shifted, revealing more of his chest. How would it feel to run her fingertips across his flesh?
“Yes.”
“Are you all right? You seem flustered.”
“I’m fine.”
Christopher raised his eyebrows.
“I’m fine,” she repeated. She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m just tired.”
“Maybe you should try and get some rest. If you can’t sleep, I’ll be happy to hold you.”
“Like you’re holding the woman in your bedroom? I think I shall pass down your offer, Mr. Bexley.”
He shrugged. “Your loss.”
He started to turn around but stopped. “You know, Miss Wiles, I don’t think your rejection sounded very convincing.”
Morgana stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”
Christopher’s eyes lit up as he sauntered toward her. Morgana backed up against the wall. He crowded her against it, placing his arms on either side of her head.
“You’re smothering me.”
“Good.”
“Mr. Bexley, this is—”
Christopher dipped his head so that she was staring into his eyes. They were the color of crushed pine needles. “Mr. Bexley this, Mr. Bexley that.” He gently grabbed her chin. Her heart skipped a beat.
“You’ve been watching me, little one. Watching me and wondering about my energy. I can tell a woman’s, a witch’s curiosity, and you are dying to know what my energy feels like. Will it really make you feel more powerful? Will it hurt you? Is it what you need to defeat that dark thing you’re so afraid of? I don’t have the answer to any of that, but I can tell you the surge of power you feel when you share your body with another human being. It is amazing. Your powers will be heightened, and you will have the ability to be faster, stronger, and to learn things quicker.”
Morgana swallowed. She should get out of here now that she could, but she was mesmerized. Yes, she was curious, but she knew better than to be led on by a man like him. She took in a deep breath, determined to say something witty and be rid of him. Instead his scent curled around her. He smelled musky and masculine, different from anything she knew.
“I’m going to kiss you now, Morgana. I’m going to kiss you and show you an inkling of what this feels like.”
His lips mashed against hers before she could think to protest. Morgana froze. They were warm and soft. He pulled back a bit and kissed her again. Her eyes drifted shut. Christopher put his arms around her and pulled her closer. He took her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged. She gasped. Her heart hammered against her chest. Butterflies rushed throughout her body, touching her with their wings and making her fly. She wound her hands into his hair, the silky strands slipping against her fingers. His tongue wormed its way into her mouth, curling around hers. Sparks danced behind her eyes. She arched her back and moaned. She could feel the outline of his cock beneath his robe. Liquid fire rushed to melt between her legs. Her swollen nipples rubbed against the material of her gown, begging for attention. Energy crackled between them. She could hear it, feel it, and taste it in his kiss, in his touch. It was palpable. Christopher slid his hands down her waist, over her hips. She held her breath. He tugged her bottom lip between his teeth. She groaned, following his mouth even as he pulled back. He grasped her chin and tilted her head. Morgana opened her eyes. Christopher looked at her as if bewildered. His brow was furrowed and though desire still shone deep in his eyes, there was also something akin to amazement.
“What?”
He blinked and the moment was gone. His eyes lightened and he grinned mischievously. “There you have it, little one. The power of a kiss.”
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand
Amazon US
Amazon UK
About Elyzabeth M. VaLey
Considered weird by normal standards – what is normal anyway? – Elyzabeth M. VaLey enjoys making up songs about mundane things, doodling stars and flowers on any blank sheet of paper, talking to her Lab whenever he feigns interest and coming up with love stories to make readers dream.
From contemporary to historical or fantasy, she enjoys writing stories about good and evil, love and passion and all that comes in between happy ever after.
Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Beauty in the Beast Pinterest
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Chasing After Him (Risso Family #5)
Oh, look — it’s Wednesday, which means something hot and sexy from Lynn Burke and her Risso Family series. Today I’m featuring Chasing After Him (Risso Family #5), now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of erotic romance. For more information on the Risso Family, click here.
Charlene Tucker is driven to achieve her goal of becoming a pediatrician, but her rigorous schedule is beating her down. She needs a break from academia, and perhaps pursuing a one-night stand with her hot Italian neighbor will help her relax and re-focus.
Theo Risso enjoys being in control. Tying women up and having them at his mercy is his ultimate obsession. Flirting with Charlene stimulates and challenges his carefree attitude, but his determination to be a good neighbor subjugates his need to dominate her.
A blizzard tamps out the electricity, but not their desire, and being snowed in together provides the perfect setting for Charlene’s plan…chase Theo until he succumbs to his own need to take control, to bind her body, and free her mind. Passions run high and tempers will clash as Charlene’s pursuit challenges Theo’s willpower to resist. But will her need for control threaten her ability to surrender herself to him?
Story Excerpt
Theo obviously liked how I looked. He’d enjoyed an eyeful of my bra-less chest and he’d also taken a sudden interest in my lips. I licked the lingering droplet of wine off the upper while lowering my glass. Time to get things moving. “So.”
He lifted his gaze, brow quirked. “So.”
“Why’d you agree to come over tonight?”
Theo’s sexy smirk sent flutters through my stomach. “I enjoy making you laugh. Helping you remember there’s life outside of your life’s goal.”
“Is that all?”
He nodded and tipped up his glass, not taking the time to savor the dry, oaken flavor.
My entire body tingled with the thought success was in reach. “Why didn’t you sit over here with me?”
Theo peered at me with his dark eyes. Fathomless and unreadable. “Because you’re on a mission.”
For the second time since he’d arrived, laughter bubbled from me. “I am.”
“And according to you, you always succeed.”
“I do.”
He studied the wine while swirling it in the glass. “I sat over here to thwart your plans.”
I narrowed my eyes as I studied his face. “Why?”
“You don’t need any distractions right now.”
Spine stiffening, I lifted my chin. “Or perhaps that’s exactly what I need right now.”
“Not my kind of distraction.”
His gaze latched onto me, and finally—finally—heat I’d dreamed of simmered in his stare. I fought the strange desire to lower my eyes. “I never back down. Ever.”
His coy smirk sent a rush of moisture straight south to slick my panties. “You should.”
“Oh?” I allowed my smile to grow and rubbed a fingertip along my shirt’s drooping neckline. His attention swung downward. “And why’s that?”
“You’re messing with fire.” He lifted his gaze and scorched me with the lust in his black eyes.
Fire? Oh yeah. My body ignited, and burning need swelled between my thighs and settled into my clit. I got up and set my wine glass on the coffee table while moving around it—all without breaking eye contact. Focused on his face, I peered down at him from between his legs. “I can handle a little heat.”
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing
Amazon
Bookstrand
All Romance eBooks
About Lynn Burke
Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.
Her current work, the Risso Familly Novellas, revolves around four siblings from Boston’s North End.
Marvelous Monday Reads: Dark Beast
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Alexa Sinclaire and her yummy Naughty Fairy Tale Dark Beast. Take it away, Alexa!
Scarred and bitter, all former soldier Kieran Thomson wants is a wife, a beautiful bride he can control and manipulate. And use for really hot sex. He isn’t supposed to fall for her. He isn’t supposed to actually care about her. He just wants to lock her up in a gilded cage and use her for his own pleasure. But when she finds a way past his barriers with her sensual touch, Kieran realizes he must either set her free or let her into his heart.
Despite being ignored and shunned by her family, Josephine Richmond is willing to protect them at any cost. Even if it means marrying a man she’s only just met. They say he’s a beast, scarred inside and out. She knows she should be afraid, she knows she should hate him for trapping her, but she can’t. Unable to resist her attraction to her husband, Josephine’s determined to make the marriage work. Especially when she has her own secret scars that only Kieran seems able to heal.
Story Excerpt
Looking down at the petrified Josephine, Kieran rationally understood why she was nervous, but he didn’t care. Not one tiny bit.
The woman was an adult, after all. She wasn’t being forced—maybe ‘manipulated’ was the word—into the marriage. To hold back the feeling of pity creeping into his conscience, he remembered the look on her face when she saw his scars at their one meeting before the wedding. The repulsed reaction was just like all those women before her who trembled at his disfiguration, and reminded him that like those vapid bimbos, she was as superficial as them.
It was the main reason he felt little guilt in picking her purely based on looks. She’d been stunning as a sixteen-year-old girl and now six years later, she’d grown into her body and was absolutely beautiful. Her figure was something out of a 1950s pinup: smooth curves and dips, filling out in all the right places. Unbelievably fuckable.
Her skin was porcelain smooth with a few freckles across the bridge of her nose that looked a bit out a place on her alabaster skin yet gave her something unique. But it was her mouth that really killed him: luscious and pink, with a distinct curve along the upper lip that he wanted to lick. They looked permanently swollen and ever since their brief meeting to discuss the prenuptial agreement, he’d spend many a night imagining those lips wrapped around his hard cock. At least that hadn’t been damaged by the landmine.
Josephine’s innocence practically radiated off of her. Her father had informed Kieran that she’d attended a strict boarding school before returning home and now attended college through an online-learning program. Considering her father’s social standing, her isolation seemed suspect, but Kieran didn’t let himself dwell on it too much.
Kieran watched her lips now as she began to speak the words that committed her to the marriage. Committed her to him.
“I-I-I do.” The tremor in her voice was audible.
It was now time to kiss the bride, he heard the priest inform them, and he waited for the moment of revulsion to cross Josephine’s face as she turned to face him, just as it had two weeks ago. But all he saw was slight trepidation as she looked up into his eyes. Her gaze didn’t even wander across his face and onto the scars. She remained looking up at Kieran, focusing intently on his own hazel eyes. Why wasn’t she recoiling?
Irritated by the feelings of confusion her stoic stare caused in him, he wrapped one arm around her waist, whilst grasping the other behind her neck, and firmly pulled her flush against him. Leaning down, he smashed his lips against her perfect mouth. He stiffened as he felt her small hands grasp his biceps.
Kieran expected her to subtly try and push him off her, but inside she melted into his arms. Not only was she not pushing him away, she seemed to be willingly letting him draw her small, soft body against his own. She didn’t even stiffen in his grasp. Her hips pressed against him and as he pulled away from her mouth, he heard a faint sigh escape from her lush lips.
Almost as if she’d enjoyed it.
Aware of their location, he willed himself to step back. He released his wife from his grasp but moved to grasp her hand and turned to walk out of the church. Kieran glanced over at her, amazed to see that a flush had spread across her cheeks and neck. As if she’d relished his touch. No, it was impossible to think that she was anything but repulsed by him. After all, he was a monster.
Nothing more than a beast.
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
All Romance eBooks
Bookstrand
About Alexa Sinclaire
Alexa Sinclaire writes erotic romance: the hotter the better. Originally from the East Coast, she now lives in England with her very own Alpha male British husband.
Nicola’s Sunday Shoutout: Doris O’Connor
Today’s Sunday Shoutout goes to the magnificent Doris O’Connor, whose gorgeous new shifter romance Claimed by Her Viking Wolf is now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of fine erotic romance. And now, here’s Doris!
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today with my new release Claimed by her Viking Wolf. You know that phrase.
It started with a kiss.
Well, in my case, and that is true for a vast majority of my stories.
It started with a picture.
This one to be precise: ->
The lovely Kim posted that hunk in my reader group The RavDor Chicks, and my muse drooled. After some brainstorming in the group, we decided that he was a Viking and a wolf shifter. It all went from there, and Kim’s very own Viking story was born.
When historical romance writer Kimberly Talbot finds a displaced, injured Viking at her campfire, her life sure starts to get complicated. She can’t leave him there. Besides, what sort of writer would she be if she didn’t take up this splendid opportunity for some hands on research of the sexy Viking god variety?
All she has to do is keep her heart out of the firing line.
Asger, son of Liufr wakes up in a strange, cursed land, out of time, injured, and unable to shift. Drawn to the fire of the flame haired kona by her intoxicating scent and the promise of food and shelter, he has no choice but to trust the woman his wolf claims is their mate, their válað, the very key to his return home.
He doesn’t belong in these strange times, but does Kim belong in his?
A choice has to be made…
Story Excerpt
Remembering a Burlesque Class she’d attended for research into a story a few years ago, she closed her eyes, and swung her hips to imaginary seductive music. Kim ran her hands slowly up underneath the hem of her blouse, exposing minute amounts of skin in slow motion, while continuing the sway of her hips.
Asger’s sharp intake of breath spurred her on. Letting go of the blouse she ran her hands over her breasts, cupping each heavy mound until she could thumb her own nipples. Shivers of delight chased across her skin, and her clit contracted in need.
A Norse curse made her open her eyes to find Asger had retreated to the stairs. Sitting down, with his legs spread wide, he watched her through hungry eyes, as he stroked his dick in slow moves mirroring the speed of her hands on her tits.
Emboldened she danced closer, slowly unbuttoning her blouse until it fell from her shoulders, and she threw it across to him. Asger caught it with a grin, and the bra that followed.
Seeing him lift the lacy contraption up to his nose and inhale deeply made Kim lose her stride. That was just so damn sexy, as was the way his cock jumped in his hand. The thick head glistened in pre-cum, and Kim licked her lips, desperate to taste him again.
A deep rumble rose from Asger’s chest. She tore her gaze away from the sight of his cock, ran it up the ridges that made up his abdomen, over the ink gracing his side and chest into the bearded column of his neck, and the proud lines of this warrior’s face up to his softly glowing eyes.
“Not that slow, kona. I want to see my cunt. I want to see it weep with its dew, ready for my tongue and my cock. I want to taste you, devour you, until your only thought is me. I want you.”
“God, yes, please, I want that, too.”
All finesse went out of the window as Kim unsnapped her jeans and yanked them down her legs, taking her sodden underwear with them. She stumbled in her haste to kick off her shoes and her jeans, and braced herself for impact. Instead of the floorboards coming to greet her, however, she found herself on the stairs draped over Asger’s knees. The first sharp slap of his hand on her ass cheeks stung like crazy.
“Ow, what was … ow.”
A second and third swat followed interspersed by the deep, menacing growl of his wolf. The vibrations of that sound trembled through her body and settled straight in her clit, so that the fourth, fifth, and sixth swats didn’t hurt. They set her ass on fire, for sure, but the pain added to her arousal. Again and again those blows came, until she lifted her butt into each one, and moaned her denial when he stopped. She was dimly aware of being lifted and the feel of the stairs carpet under her knees and forearms, as Asger moved her into position as though she weighed nothing. In this position cool air rushed across her swollen pussy lips.
“So beautiful with your red ass, and wet, sweet cunt. I want you to scream when you come against my tongue, do you hear me, kona? All the way up these stairs, and if you’re a good girl, you will get my cock. If not…”
Kim gasped and her knees buckled at the first bold swipe of Asger’s rough tongue along her exposed slit, and Asger chuckled into her swollen labia.
“We will just have to start all over again.”
Her clit quivered in need, and yet more of her juices trickled down the inside of her thighs. Asger lapped them up with an appreciative rumble, and then swatted her ass.
“Start crawling up one step, kona. I want to be comfortable for my meal of fresh cunt.”
Oh, good lord. Is he going to make me crawl up these stairs with him eating me out? I’m never going to survive this.
Somehow she managed to follow that command, and several more licks of his far too talented tongue were her reward. Kim groaned and moaned as he took her up the rungs of arousal with every step they managed that way. When she slipped, his hands dug into her hips to hold her still, and seemingly satisfied with her, he renewed his efforts. Up and down her slit he lapped up her arousal. He nibbled and teased, and when he ran his tongue up to her anus and circled the tight ring of muscle, while simultaneously pushing two fingers into her wet channel, Kim did scream. Asger finger-fucked her with devastating precision, curling his digits until he found the spot designed to drive her wild with need.
Kim tensed, shook, and then exploded as her orgasm burst from her with an intensity that took her breath away, as his tongue breached her anus. With her ass up in the air, her elbows on the stairs, and his broad shoulders supporting her body she was spread obscenely wide and unable to move—completely at the mercy of this man—as he wrung every last shudder out of her. Only then did he withdraw his fingers, and swatted her butt cheeks again several times in quick succession.
“Start crawling, kona, if you want my cock. He’s mighty eager to sink into your body, but only if you do as you’re told.”
Where To Buy
Evernight Publishing
Amazon
Amazon UK
Bookstrand
All Romance E-books
About Doris O’Connor
Doris is a writer of sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, Sci-fi, BDSM, F/F, M/M, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.
Happily married for the last twenty-five years, she lives with her husband and their brood of nine in a far too small house filled with love, laughter, and chaos.
Stalk her in these places:
Website | Reader Group | Tsu | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Evernight Publishing
Amazon | All Romance E-Books | BookStrand | Barnes & Noble
Apparently I can write fantasy. Who knew?
So far I’ve gotten feedback on Empress of Storms from two of my beta readers. These are people I trust to tell me when I’m fucking up, and apart from some spelling/punctuation errors they’ve been enjoying the story. One BR, who is gay, said that he was even kinda frustrated because his husband wasn’t home and my smut made him want to jump hubby and, I repeat, “bang him like a screen door in a hurricane.”
When a MF story has that effect on a gay man, you know you’re doing something right.
While I’m waiting for copyedits from the team I’m going through and doing a third edit/polish and setting up the ebook formatting. It will be available in all formats through Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords, and will be available as a print book through CreateSpace by next week (I need to format the interior and get the page count to Jay so that she can calculate the spine size and do the front and back cover for me).
And of course we’re doing a release party on FB this Sunday, so make sure you come over and join in the festivities. The lovely and talented L.D. Blakeley will be joining me to cohost and we’ll be doing giveaways, posting pics, and generally having a grand old time.
Apropos of nothing, I got into a discussion about inspiration so I thought I’d share the pics that I’ve been staring at for the last six weeks while I wrote feverishly. The hilarious thing? I had no idea they’d been in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo together (why, yes, I’m kinda slow when it comes to popular culture).
I go by visuals and sometimes voices when I look for character inspiration, then I work out their backstory and how they behave as the story progresses. Actors work well for this because I know how they sound and can use them as mental paper dolls as I write. I already had Daniel in mind when I started writing Matthias (warrior king, tormented by his wife’s death, not thrilled about this new marriage, thousand yard stare, you do the math), so when I stumbled across a picture of Ms. Mara I thought, “Ooh, yeah, she’s got grit and determination, and she can pull off regal at the same time. She’ll work as Danaë.” It wasn’t until someone asked me if I was a Girl fan that I discovered what I’d done. I probably need to see the movie at some point.
Oh, I’ve also been asked why I’m using Nicola M. Cameron on Empress of Storms. I lifted the idea from the late, brilliant Iain Banks who wrote mainstream fiction as Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks. It was a way of differentiating between the two genres without having to use a pseudonym, and I decided to use the same trick here, especially as I noticed the rather sharp falloff of sales with my MMF novel Deep Water. Nicola Cameron is pretty much associated with MM/MMM fiction by this point, so if you pick up a Nicola Cameron book that’s what you’ll get, whereas Nicola M. Cameron writes MF fiction with occasional forays into MMF. That should keep everyone happy.
Nicola Cameron Writes 