Double Trouble: Out Now

It's out! (Finally!!!) I really hope y'all enjoy Sasha and Warren. Anyway, happy reading!

***

Sasha McCormick, part-time artist and full-time art professor, has decided to mend her flighty, commitment-adverse ways. She's already taken on a mortgage that forces her to pick up as many side jobs she can. When her well of contacts dries up, she may have to resort to something desperate. Or boring. Whichever pays better.

Warren Tennison isn't fond of anything that's not nailed down with logic. Raised by a troupe rather than a family, he comes by his bias honestly. He does his best to avoid Sasha's type—unreliable, emotionally unstable, selfish—because they're nothing but ten pounds of drama in a five pound bag. Unfortunately, he needs help with some art research for the book he's writing. He's over deadline and out of time, so hiring Sasha to be his on-call muse is his best bet.

Sasha knows Warren should be Mr. Perfect: steady and smart, but unfortunately also sexy as sin. Being around him makes her forget that she's determined to be a staid, responsible woman from now on. The passion is insanely explosive, and makes them both do reckless things that only proves they're doomed to keep falling for the Wrong One.

He can't find a logical way to justify his behavior, and she can't see beyond her wild past that keeps getting in her way. They both know this can only end in angst-riddled tragedy. All they want is a nice, normal romance, but lust keeps waylaying their road to reform.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ARe

Smashwords

Excerpt:

Sasha's gaze, once again, sought out Warren. His lips were moving as he focused on the laptop. Lost in his own world, he hadn't noticed it'd taken much longer than necessary to order their pastries. Warren needed a keeper. It had taken him five minutes to find his keys—they had been in his pocket. The way he had patted his laptop bag and then his jeans until he found them had been cute.

No matter how many times Sasha gazed at him, he wouldn't suddenly turn into a man ruled by passion. Hell, he didn't even believe in fate, and fate couldn't have handed her someone more perfect.

Resolute, she paid for their desserts and slid into the booth. He didn't glance up. Sasha placed the box with his pastry and a fork in his line of sight and then dug into her croissant.

“What'd you get me?” He continued to type.

“Oh, um,” Sasha said, caught off guard.

Her tongue flicked out to catch the stray crust of the croissant. Warren looked up at the same time. She had no intentions in making the motion provocative, but the way his nostrils flared and how those damnable irises became richer, darker and more decadent than the chocolate drizzled over her croissant proved intent didn't matter.

His gaze narrowed, and she felt wanton. Heat prickled along Sasha's skin, and she had the sudden urge to lick the corner of her mouth again just to see what he'd do next.

His eyes lighted with a sudden awareness she hadn't known he could possess. “Must be delicious.” His voice had deepened.

She tried to remember how adorably geeky he was, but simply couldn't recall any examples of him being cute, or nice. The man who continued to hold her gaze in challenge didn't need a keeper. He needed his shirt ripped off so she could lick him. This man looked like he wouldn't whisper sweet nothings in her ear, but dirty ones that would make her wet. Her reaction started setting off alarm bells because this feeling she knew.

“Strawberry tart,” she eked out a dry throat.

She won the staring contest by default when he opened the box and picked up the fork. He closed his eyes and hummed after the first bite. “I see the appeal.” The corner of his mouth twitched.

She got her heartbeat under control with the next breath. The look had been a fluke. He was adorable, borderline friend-zone material. That heated reaction had everything to do with her overactive imagination.

“If that's your reaction, I must have made a poor choice.” Still, her voice sounded husky.

He sampled another bite, eyes closed, and it wasn't wrong to detail his features in her mind. Strawberry syrup glazed his bottom lip and he scraped his teeth over the lush flesh. He tilted his head and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

She wanted to nip at the masculine skin, swipe her tongue over it to see if he would make the same humming noise as he did now.

“Second thoughts?” she asked. 'Cause boy, she was having some about him being the perfect guy to not tempt her.

***

Need to catch up on the series? Here's some handy info to find out all about Double Dare and Twice Smitten.

Den of Sin Release: Redeeming the Amazon

This is the last release for this "season" of Den of Sin titles. To find out more about this series check out the website. 

***

Most come to The Beaudelaire Hotel a select few times a year merely to indulge in sexual fantasy, but the stakes are higher for Karen Freeman and Paul Beaudelaire this New Year's weekend. Karen is nine years post-op from a double mastectomy, and her vain ex-husband hadn't agreed with her decision to remove her remaining good breast or to eschew reconstruction. In the end, that decision cost her. She lost her marriage, but she's certain the move has prolonged her life.

Returning to a normal dating and sex life has been difficult. She hasn't made love fully unclothed since the demise of her marriage, and her most significant relationship occurred right after her surgery. When she was still recuperating, she had an affair of the heart with a Marine amputee who'd also been her Ph.D. classmate.

Paul Beaudelaire once led a charmed life as a ladies' man who had his pick of women in the upper echelons of New Orleans society. He'd been satisfied to continue in that vein, until a Marine recruiter wooed him from LSU with tales of valor, courage, and commitment. His career in the corps cut short by the loss of his left leg, Paul returned to New Orleans with the best prosthesis Johns Hopkins orthopedics experts could fit him with. The problem was, he'd left his heart in Baltimore with a beautiful former model, whose crippled marriage was the only deterrent to his waning honor.

Will this fantasy weekend at his Uncle Henri's hotel give him a second chance with his contemporary Amazon, or will her fear of rejection be a barrier to their reconnection?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-The-Amazon-Den-Sin-ebook/dp/B00HI5WHSI

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/391451 (Discount Coupon Code YL37F)

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-redeemingtheamazon-1382988-149.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/redeeming-the-amazon-l-v-lewis/1117852210?ean=2940149042982

***

That's not all! Enter our rafflecopter to win some awesome prizes. A Kindle Paperwhite being just one of them.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Blog: On Cock-Blocking Cats, and Other Examples of Coitus Interruptus

Please welcome the hilarious Lucy Woodhull to my blog!

***

Hello there, I’m romantic comedy author Lucy Woodhull, and I’m here to promo my latest book, THE DIMPLE STRIKES BACK (sequel to THE DIMPLE OF DOOM), as well as to talk about humping and cheeseburgers. Hopefully there’s something in that last bit that piques your interest.

Here’s a blurb about the series:

The Samantha Lytton series by Lucy Woodhull

Obviously, the solution to a failed acting career and depressing dating desert is to take up with a dimpled art thief, get chased by thugs, lie to the police and almost die.

That’s not what Samantha Lytton thought would happen when she kissed the guy who said he was an accountant at the office Christmas party. But in her defense -- it was an amazing freaking kiss. The kind of lip-lock that frustrates you in the wee hours.

Turns out, thinking with your nether regions can lead to poor decisions. Or perhaps…fantastic ones. Samantha and her burglar travel from Los Angeles to Vegas to Paris to London on adventures that bring Samantha’s wildest dreams of stardom to fruition. After spending years falling on her face, she learns to fight for herself and her heart’s desire. You can’t choose who to love, but you can try to keep his cute butt out of jail and in your bed.

No matter where in the world you go, or how many hot movie stars you kiss (um, professionally), you never forget your first criminal. Hopefully, only criminal. Although bad boys with dangerous dimples are nothing but trouble, a relationship can still work as long as the goons don't get you. And if they do, well, at least an actress is good at improvisation.

* * *

When you think about “romance novel sex,” it usually involves hearts and flowers, rippling sinews and bosoms that, well, if they don’t heave, they at least vibrate. But me, well, I like exploring the weird moments that inevitably happen during the most passionate of sexual liaisons. Here’s a scene from The Dimple Strikes Back between my heroine, Samantha, and her dimpled art thief lover, Sam. Caution: dirty passages ahead!

* * *

He took off down a corridor with purpose. “It appears you know the way to the bedroom,” I said.

He grunted and threw me on the bed. Oh, how I’d missed man-grunts since I’d seen him last. Or smelled him. There may be no single scent on Earth I prefer more than the essence of his skin, of him. Not even cheeseburgers.

Everything stopped. He straddled me and balanced himself on his arms. “Did you just moan, ‘cheeseburgers’?”

I licked my lips. “I was thinking of you favorably by comparison.”

He cocked a brow, his eyes deepest pools of brown in the fading light of the room. “I take it as a compliment, if I scored above ground beef.”

* * *

I think the things that go “wrong” during sex can be so much fun -- they lead to laughter, which just makes everything more delightful. Well, some laughter during sex can be mean, but let’s not think about that...

Do you have a precious puppy, or perhaps an adorable cat? Yeah, if you’ve ever had pets, I know that those dirty fur balls have watched you get it on. They are straight-up perverts. And they can get very put out at not being the center of attention.

Here’s a little more Sam and Samantha, with a guest appearance by the cat, Captain Taco.

* * *

“These are very nice”—he leaned forward and slipped a finger into the bottom of my lace panties—“but I bet you’ll have more fun when they’re gone.”

“You first.”

The dimple liked that. Sam reached into his open fly and took out his cock. The male member is not exactly pretty, no, but it is invigorating just the same. My blood pounded through every inch of me, and I could not look away. He stroked the shaft nice and slow, performing for me.

Out of sheer, charitable gratitude, I slid my undies down my legs and threw them aside. A flurry of movement and chastising “mewr”s told me I’d just thrown my underwear on the cat. Sam stopped his sensual stroking to lean back and guffaw.

“Whoops.” I shrugged my shoulders and grinned.

“His therapist is going to have a field day with this.”

* * *

I have a cat, and let me tell you, that giant loaf of feline is a cockblocker of the first order. If you have any tales of coitus interruptus or funny things that happened, I’d love to hear about them in the comments. And hey, if you need a funny book or two to help get you through Christmas (and Uncle Wally’s obnoxious opinions about your life choices), here are some buy links to my Dimple series. You can pretend to read work emails on your phone, but really, you’re reading some nice, cheery smut. Not that I ever do that…

Thank you so much for reading, and I wish you every blessing for a wonderful holiday and new year!

Lucy -- Website Goodreads Twitter Blog Facebook

Book One: THE DIMPLE OF DOOM -- Available in print and digital from: Totally Bound, Amazon, AllRomance.com, B&N, Sony / Excerpt here.

Book Two: THE DIMPLE STRIKES BACK -- Available in digital (print coming March, 2014) from: Totally Bound, Amazon, AllRomance.com / Excerpt here.

Den of Sin Release: Wicked Surrender

Yup. Another Den of Sin title out now!

The Beaudelaire is not just a five star hotel critically- acclaimed for satisfying the rich and elite. During New Year's weekend, the hotel becomes the Den of Sin, where all desires and fantasies come to life.


To indulge in your most wicked desires….
After kicking her cheating ex-boyfriend to the curb, Kris Delacourt became celibate. Her grudge against the opposite sex has rendered her love life non-existent. The one thing that hasn’t been reduced is her sexual appetite. Kris is tired of spending her nights playing with hard plastic and silicone. She wants a real man. Spending a night at the Den of Sin sounds like the kick start she desperately needs. She doesn’t expect to meet one of the World’s Most Eligible Bachelors there. This isn’t the first time she’s met Travis Brenden, but it seems he doesn’t even remember her.


…would you surrender control?
Travis Brenden is a man who treasures being in control and he relinquishes it for no one. An invite to an exclusive event leads him to cross paths with a woman who seduces him with one innocent glance and erupts a torrid desire deep inside him. He dubs her the Temptress. Within the Den of Sin, he can indulge without the high expectations that come with his social status. Yet, something about this temptress jogs his memory to no end and while he’s with her his control begins to slip.

Excerpt: Wicked Surrender

Travis followed his temptress to the opposite end of the ballroom, where she stopped in front of the floor legend. He paused in his pursuit as well and stood several feet behind her. All he could do was stare, wondering why he felt like a young dude still wet behind the ears and running after his first piece of tail. The last time he’d drooled at the mouth over a woman was back in high school.
She tilted her head to the side as if checking to see if he was behind her. If that was in fact her purpose she turned it quickly again, averting her attention to the hotel legend.
What was he waiting for? He’d arrived here just for this reason. To indulge his fantasies at the Den of Sin. He approached her, although she did not immediately look up from the diagram on the podium labeling every level and every main area of kink.
Finally she turned making direct eye contact. She pursed her lips as she observed him. Her brows nearly came together again as she appeared deep in thought.
“Am I in your way?” she asked calmly.
Her voice was beautiful and he could have sworn he’d heard it before.
“Not at all.” He smiled. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
She blushed and looked away shyly. “I don’t think so.”
“I’d like to know you.” He gestured to the legend with his hand. “Which floor were you headed to?”
“I’m not interested in a ménage,” she said, quickly.
“Excuse me?”
“I saw you. I’m not headed to your level.”
He chuckled softly. “Then how about I head to yours?”
She smiled and her face brightened up. “Only if you can guess which one that is…”
“I’d rather not take a wild guess.” Travis held out his hand. “Can I buy some clues?”


Den of Sin titles:
Shamelessly Taken A Den of Sin Vignette by Mel Blue
Two Strikes: A Den of Sin Vignette by Holley Trent
Forbidden Rendezvous: Book 1 by Mel Blue
Ménage à Troys: Book 2 by Holley Trent
Wicked Surrender: Book 3 by Ambrielle Kirk
Coming Dec 27 2013 Redeeming The Amazon: Book 4 by LV Lewis


Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ARe

Smashwords

That's not all! Enter our rafflecopter to win some awesome prizes. A Kindle Paperwhite being just one of them.

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New Den of Sin Release: Ménage à Troys

The second installment is out! To find out more about the Den of Sin series click here.

Several times per year, New Orleans’s Hotel Beaudelaire invites a select few guests to make their sexual fantasies come true.

Eve and Brent Troy have been married three months and have yet to consummate their union. Faced with losing her claim to her family property, busy surgeon Eve had to marry before her thirtieth birthday. Brent was single and convenient, and more importantly, he said yes.

Now, she wants to light a flame under their cold marriage, but they’re strangers and don’t know how to connect. A New Year’s weekend at The Beaudelaire is supposed to give them the tools they need. When they arrive, they learn the tool they’ve been equipped with comes in form of Eve’s best friend and fellow doctor Remy Kelly. He knows Eve’s marriage is a sham, and is intent on claiming her for himself. But, when faced with Eve’s strapping new husband who comes onto Remy’s radar as exactly the kind of alpha male he likes, he has a battle of conscience. He wants to take Eve home, not Brent, but for some reason they seem like a package deal.

At The Beaudelaire anything goes, so instead of two people letting down their guards, three forge bonds. That’s all well and good for the weekend, but what will shake out of their tentative ménage à trois when it’s time to go home?

Amazon

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All Romance eBooks

Kobo

Smashwords

***

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New Release: Forbidden Rendezvous

This is the first book in the Den of Sin series. If you want to know more about the series you can check out the website here. 

What some reviewers are saying about Forbidden Rendezvous:

"This was a beautiful story, with A LOT of hot steamy scenes." ~ Michele, Devilishly Delicious Book Review

" Mel puts so much detail into the story and characters that you can't help but get attached to them and love them. I look forward to reading more of Mel Blue's books in the future." ~Rebecca, Becca Anne's Book Reviews

"The chemistry between them is electric and I was willing them to just get it on already! When they eventually do.....oh boy...so HOT!! Mel Blue sure knows how to write a sizzling sex scene! " ~Nikki, Blissful Book Blog

.

***

When the Beaudelaire Hotel turns into a Den of Sin for the New Year's weekend, any and every fantasy can become a reality...

Seraphina Gibson orchestrates fantasies, but this year she'll create one of her own. It's against the rules for an employee to participate in the weekend-long sex-capade but she's willing to risk it for Luke Moreland. The man's a mystery, but in a sea of CEOs and Fortune 500 billionaires, he stands out. His past and connection to her boss is clouded in intrigue, but she knows what he wants, and she plans to star in one of his voyeuristic trysts.

Born with a silver spoon Luke Moreland is used to getting everything he desires. Being next in line of his family's winery leaves him very little time to take advantage of his riches. For a weekend, out of every year, he gets to feel the thrill of the chase. Not even in his sexual fantasies does he like to lose control, but then Seraphina walks into his playroom. He doesn't know the truth of her past, but he knows the risk she's taken to be with him. That doesn't matter. He's going to spend the next two days with her in his bed and keep her secret.

When reality crashes into their fantasy, will they survive? ***

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Are

Smashwords

***

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Free Teasers: Den of Sin

I bet some are you are curious to what these Den of Sin stories will look like. Here's some free teasers to test drive them.

***

When the Beaudelaire Hotel turns into a Den of Sin for the New Year’s weekend, any and every fantasy can become a reality…

Layla Gunn booked a single night in the infamous hotel for a chance to remember what it’s like to be wanted and wanton. The last thing she expects is to come face to face with an old friend from college. Can she still live out her fantasy?

Christopher Trevino is ready to move past his grief, but he can’t seem to find comfort in just anyone’s arms. So when he walks into the hotel room and sees his former classmate, he can’t help but feel this meeting was destined.
One night turns into the next morning. Can they walk away or will they find more than a night filled with passion?

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ARe
Smashwords
Kobo

***

Room service attendant Giselle Burke has worked at the New Orleans’s Hotel Beaudelaire for two years. While the rich and famous have their most carnal desires indulged during the hotel’s rare Den of Sin weekends, Giselle must remain an outsider looking in on the revelry. A hard thing for a woman who craves being touched.

When her longtime friend Max—known in BDSM circles as the “dark dom”—invites her into one of the hotel’s premium black rooms to help him break in his new submissive, she throws caution to the wind for just an hour. Max knows exactly how to extinguish her skin hunger, but he doesn’t recruit her into his play just because she sets a good example. With her, he doesn’t need to be the dark dom. Unfortunately, that’s the only way she’ll have him.

Barnes and Noble
ARe
Smashwords
Kobo

***

Well, welcome to the Den of Sin.

Things To Come: Black Friday, Tours and Releases

First thing first, I'm part of a Black Friday sale.

As of 12:01AM Central Time this morning, the multi-author eBook sale is in effect.  A number of authors, myself included, have reduced the prices on their eBooks just for you, by up to 75%!  Sale prices will be in effect until 11:59PM on Cyber Monday, December 2nd.

You can check out the eBooks on sale here.  Please do feel forward to share this link with your eBook-reading friends.  Happy Reading, and enjoy your weekend!

The website for all the deals are here.

Double Dare and Twice Smitten are on sale.

***

December 1st I'll be part of a Twelve Men of Christmas Facebook event. The link is here. The mancandy is below. Or rather a preview to some of the mancandy. If you're on facebook check it out.

Join us every night December 1st-December 12th for a special 12 Men of Christmas event! We will have 12 authors bringing 12 of their favorite male characters. One author and their gorgeous man will be featured each day. Here is the scheduled author for each day.

December 1st- Dez Burke with Shane Davis from Skin Deep
December 2nd- LV Lewis with Tristan White from Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever and Exit Strategy
December 3rd- Tia Kelly with Kenneth Wilkerson from Playing For Love
December 4th- Lena Hart with Nate McArthur from Because This Is Forever
December 5th- Minx Malone with Jackson Alexander from One More Day
December 6th- Eve Vaughn with GianMarco Grimaldi from GianMarco
December 7th- Tali Martel with Jace Millet from Heart of a Cowboy
December 8th- Nia Forrester with Mark Acosta fromThe Seduction of Dylan Acosta
December 9th-  Roxy Wilson with Jordan Cooper from He's So Into You
December 10th- Melissa Blue with Ian Baird from Under His Kilt
December 11th- Delaney Diamond with Tomas Molina from The Wrong Man
December 12th- Holley Trent with Bryan Ridge from Bryan's Betrayal

***

Don't forget to check out my blog tour. You can score a $25 GC from Amazon or B&N. Follow the tour here.

***

Last but not least December shall be the month of two releases: Forbidden Rendezvous, Den of Sin series and Double Trouble, A Modern Fairy Tale series. I'll give you more info as I have it. But look out for some freebie teasers from Den of Sin.

Ok. I may have maxed out my linkage in this one post. Ciao for now.

Guest Post: Tia Kelly

I'd like for you guys to give a warm welcome to Tia Kelly! I'm letting her take over the blog for the day to showcase her new release. 
*Don't forget to comment to win for a copy of Playing for Love!

Blurb:

Kenneth Wilkerson, baseball's MVP of breaking hearts isn't in Craymont looking for complications. With an injury that has him sidelined from the game he loves, and the latest scandal in his wake involving a woman who is very much engaged to someone else, the last thing he needs is to get mixed up with Paige Scott.


Paige Scott, a former party-girl, has a very murky past and even murkier relationship with Kenneth's best friend Carlos Ortiz. Paige knows Carlos watched her go from it girl to broken and when she finally healed, he made it clear to her that he would not step aside to let another man in just to do it again.


But Kenneth lets nothing stand between him and what he loves.
Love for the game… his family… and her. 
PLAYING FOR LOVE is the first novel from the Wilkersons in Love series. Tia Kelly invites you to come meet the Wilkersons and get ready to fall in love.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00GXBEKMY Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-for-love-tia-kelly/1117506050?ean=2940149067411

Bio:

Tia Kelly may be witty and feisty on the outside, but she is a die hard romantic that is always looking for a happy ending while rooting for the underdog. In addition to her love for writing, reading and traveling, Tia loves to kick back with a glass of wine and a good game on her television screen.

Links:

Website: tiawithapen.com
Purchase: http://tiawithapen.wordpress.com/books/
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorTiaKelly
Twitter: twitter.com/TiaWithAPen

Excerpt:

“Open the door, Paige,” Kenneth demanded in between knocks.
He pulled up just in time to see her walk into her front door. His athlete’s reflexes were not enough to make it before she slammed it in his face.
Finally the door swung open. “I need you to leave.”
Kenneth pushed himself inside and reached out to tilt her face upward. He felt the dampness on her skin and felt worse.
“I probably shouldn’t have left, but I didn’t know what to expect after last night.”
Paige pulled back, wrapping her arms around herself. “You didn’t know? Or didn’t care.”
Kenneth leaned against the wall and let his head fall back. “Paige, you were drunk.”
“And that makes this better?”
“No, it doesn’t.”
He looked at her while she took a seat at the bottom of her steps.
“Why did you do that?”
Paige looked away, chewing nervously on her lip while tugging at her shirtsleeve. “I don’t know.”
“I think you do.”
“Is that what you do? Psychoanalyze the women you sleep with the morning after?”
“Paige, I don’t have any regrets about last night except for one.”
She looked up and searched his face to prepare her for what he was about to say. “And that is?”
“That I was the only one that actually wanted to be there.”
Paige pulled back and stared at him. “You make it sound like I used you.”
“Didn’t you?”
Paige huffed. “We have to work together until you’re released back to your team. I can’t have this conversation with you every time we cross paths.”
“And you won’t.” He stared back to her and sat on the staircase next to her. “Look at me, Paige.”
She glanced up, releasing the edge of her sleeve. Her expectancy and uncertainty warned him that whatever he had to say, he needed to be careful in how he delivered it.
“Typically, I don’t care about what happens the morning after, but there’s something in your eyes that tells me last night was more than just a one nighter for you.”
“What makes you think that?”

“Because last night scared me, too.”
***
*Happy Thanksgiving!

Excerpt: Under His Kilt

If you haven't caught my Tasty Blurb Tour, check it out. I'm giving away an $25 gift card. But you're here for an excerpt, right?

NSFW, but then again my hero, Ian, isn't ever safe for work.

****

“So, I've ruined you?”

Jocelyn didn't have to turn around to see the pleased smile. She couldn't let the egotistical comment stand. “Less you and more me, because all the stuff I've asked for were things I already fantasized about. I'll have to find someone else to do them with after you go. Teach someone else what I've learned about myself.” She grinned, practically seeing his annoyed expression. “You know, since the student has surpassed the teacher.”

“I can't have that then. I've got a reputation.”

She stilled at the low tone and closed her eyes. His voice was husky and a little bit raw. Ian only ever talked to her like that when they were naked. Hearing him now, like that, at work, felt like she'd brushed up against a live wire. Within seconds her panties were damp and her mouth dry. Damn.

It was inappropriate and grounds for firing to screw at work, but it was barely ten in the morning and waiting until five felt impossible. What had she turned into letting him have her in every way, in any way she asked for? A nympho, apparently. She tried to breathe through it and didn't turn around to him just yet. If she did and he looked like he was one swallow away from devouring her, all bets were off.

She handled the antique like a good curator was supposed to and let the quiet eat away at the anticipatory tension in the air. Jocelyn counted her steps back to the mannequin and knelt in front of it. Sucking in another breath, she placed the shoes on the stiff and lifeless feet. Shoes that cost way more than when they were made.

Her skin prickled. Ian was watching her progress or just watching her. In order to get through the ordeal and keep her hands steady, she told herself it was in a professional way. Professional curiosity. He just wanted to see how someone else in their field used ingrained techniques to dress inanimate objects with priceless and irreplaceable pieces of history.

He was not watching her because she was practically kneeling at his feet and he liked her in that position. Her kneeling would feed his desire to see her bend on his command. Ian wouldn't get off on the feeling of authority or power, but in her supplication. Nothing drove him over the edge faster than when she gave him permission to let go and do what he wanted. The whole exploration in his bedroom was about her and he never let her forget it.

Even though she told herself not to think about it, because fanning the flames only made the heat building at her core hotter, Jocelyn's imagination snagged on how she wanted him to do things she hadn't thought of yet. She was wet, already from the flirting with the thought of him being aroused. None of this would be an issue if he'd kept that tone under lock and key while they were at work. She finished dressing the shoes on the model, braced herself and stood to face him.

Damn.

****

DEN OF SIN

See what happened was...one day I was sitting in a FB chat with Holley Trent, LV, Lewis and Ambrielle Kirk. Someone, I'm not going to name names, brought up the idea of sharing a series world. One thing led to another and the idea of the Den of Sin came about.

What is this series about?

The Beaudelaire Hotel, set in New Orleans, is not just a five star hotel critically-acclaimed for satisfying the rich and elite. Several times a year the hotel becomes the Den of Sin, where all desires and fantasies come to life.

And thus a series was born. And, yes, these books are going to be as risque as they sound. Want a sneak peek? Of course you do.

Blurb

When the Beaudelaire Hotel turns into a Den of Sin for the New Year's weekend, any and every fantasy can become a reality...

Seraphina Gibson orchestrates fantasies, but this year she'll create one of her own. It's against the rules for an employee to participate in the weekend-long sex-capade but she's willing to risk it for Luke Moreland. The man's a mystery, but in a sea of CEOs and Fortune 500 billionaires, he stands out. His past and connection to her boss is clouded in intrigue, but she knows what he wants, and she plans to star in one of his voyeuristic trysts.

Born with a silver spoon Luke Moreland is used to getting everything he desires. Being next in line of his family's winery leaves him very little time to take advantage of his riches. For a weekend, out of every year, he gets to feel the thrill of the chase. Not even in his sexual fantasies does he like to lose control, but then Seraphina walks into his playroom. He doesn't know the truth of her past, but he knows the risk she's taken to be with him. That doesn't matter. He's going to spend the next two days with her in his bed and keep her secret.

When reality crashes into their fantasy, will they survive?

Excerpt

***

She pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth turned up. “I think Mr. Beaudelaire would like to know you hold his staff hostage.”

Henri would be displeased that he'd shamelessly flirted with any of his staff. Doing more than flirting? Now that would cause trouble their friendship didn't need. They used to be close as brothers. It had taken the last four years to be more than casual associates.

With that in mind, he considered Seraphina and just how far he could take this. “Have dinner with me. One that isn't a ruse for work.”

“No.”

He hadn't expected her to say yes, yet, but the quick refusal without any trace of doubt in her tone confused the hell out of him. She'd enjoyed herself. He could pick up on the slightest discomfort or sign that someone really didn't like him. He'd honed that skill in college when his world fell apart. He used the skill in all his business dealings.

Henri had his rules, but Luke had suspected Seraphina didn't let anyone in. “Are you seeing someone?”

“No.”

“Shitty childhood?”

“No,” but she said it with a laugh. “Back up.”

He took two steps and crossed his arms. She had room to leave now, but she only pressed her shoulders against the oak door. Usually he let her be, but this year there was something different about her. He didn't care what it was. He welcomed it.

“Then tell me why,” he said.

“You're a customer. It's against the rules.”

The answer sounded recited. “And if I wasn't?”

Her smile faded. “No. I will never go to dinner with you.”

Without thought, he stole back the space he'd given her, and he took just a bit more. Her chin tilted up, and if he wasn't aware of the line he was crossing Luke would have kissed her. Still, he brushed his fingers over her chin. Smooth. Warm. She shivered. Luke's cock hardened at the subtle but telling reaction.

He wanted to watch her eyes glaze over from pleasure. How did she touch herself? Rough or soft? How would her skin look flushed and slicked with sweat? He could almost hear her breathless moan.

“That's too bad.”

***

To check out the other covers, blurbs and excerpts drop by their blog:

Holley Trent

LV Lewis

Ambrielle Kirk

You can also take a gander at the beautiful hub for Den of Sin.

And Then There Was Three

Yes! More Nicole and Sebastian!

This new release is only .99 cents for a limited time.
Their final chapter...

Nicole Harrison has spent the last six months doubting her relationship with Sebastian. Between work and their sexual encounters, she's kept too busy to entertain insecurities. If her lover wanted to declare them a forever kind of couple, he would have. Anxiety over his feelings leads to one mistake that could unravel their professional life and, possibly, their relationship.

Sebastian Clark has always demanded what he wants. Nicole has become his partner in more than just work, and that doesn't sit well with him. For half a year she's held all the cards in their relationship, and he plans to take them back, leaving no doubt where they stand. Somehow he'll have to convince her that a ruthless, ambitious man like himself can change.

It's time to put all their cards on the table, but a PR crisis sends Nicole and Sebastian from San Francisco to Vegas, on a job that forces them to question their next step as business partners and ultimately lovers.

Will they bet it all and win?

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Pen Names, Restart Buttons and Such

This shall be short and to the point. I've been chatting with some other authors lately about self-publishing and publishing in general. So, I've been doing a lot of hindsight being 20/20. Branding is one of those words where you know what it means, you know what it looks like, but how exactly do you achieve it is another animal. The simple answer for both self-publishing and e/traditionally publishing is series.


Series sell. That's a simple truth. You take one world and you write in it. Your readers know what to expect from release to release. And if it's all one world, it's all one genre or sub-genre. The covers will look like the same. If your cover artist is worth their salt, they'll make sure your name's font looks the same or IS the same.


And, booyah, you have branding.


So what would I have done differently? Is not fight on principle to avoid writing a series. Lol So while I'm currently buried in revisions, edits and deadlines, I'm thinking about 2014.


Do you love series? Hate them?



*Next post will involve telling you about the massive releases coming up shortly. Until then...

It's Alive!

I'm so happy to announce that the Dirty Scot is live!

Jocelyn Pearson is determined to spend her last month as a twenty-something doing everything she's too busy or scared to try. Her imagination runs wild and then fixates on Ian Baird. He'll be working at the Langston Museum for a short stint as a consulting curator. He's Scottish. He believes sex is fun to be had. He's the perfect choice for a fling. She only has to get him break his rule about sleeping with co-workers. Seducing a man was on her bucket list...

Ian is no one's fool and knows exactly what Jocelyn wants—him. If she didn't work for the Langston Museum, he'd be more than happy to oblige any and every fantasy she desired, but she's the curator. She's sweet, inexperienced and well liked by everyone including the museum owner and director. Ian can't risk losing such an important contact for his consulting business. Not even when everything within in him craves a taste of her.

When Jocelyn sets her sights on him, there's no way Ian can deny her. They agree their affair will end in thirty days. No emotions, no entanglements, just sex. The closer the end date looms, they start to question if it's possible to walk away. They'll either have to come to terms of what they've become or stick to their original agreement.

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The Making of a Cover: Under His Kilt

Some covers are incredibly easy to make. The stock photo is dang near perfect and I don't have to do much but crop it, play with the colors and then add my title and name. Font is key and that can take eons, but for the most part it's a day's worth of work.

Under His Kilt was not one of those covers. Let's start with talking about the lone and original stock photo. Since it's so not safe for work, I'll just say a man with a towel riding really low is, um...Yeah. So... the man needed a good shave before I could use it on a cover. I wanted the cover to convey this was an erotic romance, but not THAT much of an erotic romance (though it is pretty dirty). After spending hours photoshopping out pubic hair, I decided I still needed something to cover that area.

This is what I came up with.

By no means did I think this would be the final cover, but I had a core look. I wasn't a fan of all the red, but from all the black surrounding him any other color didn't quite work. I also needed to figure out how to get something with a tartan into the cover so it ties in with a title. But, this book could look like an erotic romance. A contemporary one at that, because we romance readers are hardwired to think Scottish = Historical.

I worked some more and came up with this:

I was ok with this and something or the other nagged me about the overall cover, but it was serviceable. I knew I'd revisit it the closer to the release date. The edits came in and I finished them. I got through my first round of proofing. There was no more waylaying the inevitable. I had to fix this cover. There was no way in hell I'd go with this as the final. 

So less than a month before the release, I scratched that as the cover. The two goals I couldn't budge on is that it needed to look like an erotic romance and it needed to look like a contemporary.

I liked it but it was still missing something. Plus, his coloring looked off because of the light. Plus, nothing about it really said contemporary. At this point I did something drastic because I honestly couldn't see then potential of the cover. Let's just call it the attack of the blue-green alien.

Now if I were writing a paranormal this could be fine, but I wasn't. I give myself brownie points for the simple fact you'd be able to see this sucker in thumbnail (from space), along with the title and my name. Needless to say, I scraped this sucker.

And then I called on a friend in the middle of the night to help me. The idea well had run dry. I'd helped her create a draft of her own cover she wanted to use a comp. She suggested I used the same technique and coloring. I honestly had nothing to lose at this point. She punted the idea of having a bed or a night stand and that meant moving him over. Also, that damn tartan needed to get in there. 

Now I'd gone a step too far to the left with his coloring, but I liked the idea of a woman instead of an object. It felt more personal. When you have a nekkid man in nothing but a towel you don't want him by a nightstand. Maybe a bed, but...you get the gist. Anyway, we were on to something. The woman didn't work because she didn't feel contemporary. She felt like a Geisha to me and ding, ding, ding that rings like a historical. We hit stock sites. At this point it was like 1/2 in the morning. So our emails were getting silly. 

Finally, I did this:

And that was the last draft or I'd end up screaming for bloody murder. Plus, I absolutely loved it. It looks contemporary. It looks erotic. It haz tartan. Booyah!

So, that's how a cover is made. Sometimes, because if it was all the time I'd hire out.

*This book will be released on October 10th.