PSA: Retiring Titles

I published WEEKEND LOVER in 2012. That book was a fluke. As a writer I was stretching my wings and trying out new genres and erotic romance was definitely outside my comfort zone. I wrote sweet-ish romances, I thought. I would write sweet-ish romances until the day I die.

Then came along UNDER HIS KILT and that changed the course of my writing career. The past three years have been awesome and crazy. But after writing TWICE SHY, I had to admit I no longer write sweet-ish romances. And bless anyone who goes from DOUBLE TROUBLE to UNDER HIS KILT. Or a reader tries out DOUBLE TROUBLE after loving KILTED FOR PLEASURE.

Though I may be the common factor, these stories don't live in the same genre. When someone looks at my backlist, I don't want any confusion. This will only get worse as I add to my #dirtysexygeek series. So I'm retiring a couple of titles from the Melissa Blue name.

Don't freak out though. Many of these titles will be re-published under a new author name and I won't keep it a secret--PROMISE. This process will be long, but know that by 2016, you will no longer be able to purchase these titles under the Melissa Blue name.

Here's a list of titles that will be retired:

Sugar Plum Kisses
Everything You Need
Everything He Dreamed
Double Dare
Twice Smitten
Double Trouble
See Megan Run
See Lynne Chased
The One I Want

All right. Any questions don't be afraid to ask me. I don't bite unless you ask.

New Release: Devil of the Gridiron

A few months ago I decided to take a risk and write a story for submission. I wasn't going to have a release until January. I had time to write a short novella, and what could it hurt? Mind you, I haven't wrote to submission guidelines in more years than I can remember. But I heard about Kindle Worlds, in particular Bella Andre's GAME FOR LOVE series. Andre's story features a bad boy football player and a sweet heroine. Also, the book was hotter than fish grease. How could I resist?
I wrote the story, submitted it and Kindle Worlds accepted DEVIL OF THE GRIDIRON. It's out now! So exciting.

Anyway, here's an excerpt and the deets are below.

***

Six months was much, much too long to go without if a woman's back could get him revved. Some men weren't made to be monks. Adam sure as shit wasn't. What he wanted to do was cross the room, press his dick into the soft swell of her ass, and maybe nip the skin along her neck, just to claim her as his. Hell, just to taste her.

Rule. Number. Two.

No. Women.

Not even sweet ones, because once he fell off the wagon, he would binge himself into a sexually satisfied coma.

“I like to be a man of my word, so I came early.” He rasped out gruffly, much lower than he'd intended.

The basket dropped as she whirled to face him. The dress fluttered up. A flash of green satin underwear made him want to both groan and chuckle. The tease of seeing that scanty triangle over her mound would haunt his dreams. But now he knew exactly the kind of woman she was. The kind who would make sure her panties matched her dress. Knowledge that made dying seem preferable if this was the kind of torture he had to look forward to.

He strode over to Charlotte since she still stood there, eyes wide while she panted. Her heavy breathing caused her tits to jiggle. Another moment of witnessing the latter and he'd suffer from vertigo.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he mumbled.

Her hands fluttered up then down and she shook her head. “Yeah.”

He narrowed his eyes. This was not the woman he'd talked to over the phone and in email. That Charlotte had been outspoken, maybe even chatty. He stopped a foot in front of her.

“Charlotte, are you okay?”

“Fine,” she squeaked, her eyes shifty. She bent to pick up the fallen vegetables and basket. “I'm fine,” she muttered.

He grasped her shoulders and drew her up so she couldn't hide her face. She lowered her head, bringing down a soft cascade of hair. A shame because he liked her ocean-blue eyes.

“Is this going to be the next two hours of my life?” he asked. “I say something and you give me a two-word sentence, if I'm lucky?” He really didn't want to touch her any more than he had to— they could go down a bad, bad road if he did—but the action seemed necessary.

Adam cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Breath gone. She could look straight through a man and see exactly who he was. He dropped his hand and stepped back, not wanting her to see all his exposed wounds.

“Let's make a deal,” Adam said.

“What?”

Another one-word reply. He smiled. “You treat me like I'm not famous and things should go smoothly.”

“Oh, no,” she said horrified. “It's not that. It's…” She pushed out a breath, her cheeks coloring. “No. It's exactly that. Your fame blinds me, and I don't know what to do when you're around?”

Pleasure warmed his blood. So it was just him that flustered her. “That sounded like a question. Not sure if I'm the one who is supposed to answer or if you are.”

She threw her head back and laughed. Her entire body fell into the simple action, from a slight shake in her shoulders to the wide smile that went along with it. When was the last time he enjoyed the way a woman laughed—hell, wanted to join her because the sound was pure joy? Adam craved to be a part of it. A selfish need, but he'd taken away all other vices for his career. He needed new ones anyway.

Adam reached up and brushed a thumb along her cheek. The laugh, then the smile, faded. It hadn't been that long that he no longer recognized the change in her stance, the way she parted her mouth, and how she looked at him. Attraction buzzed between them in the silence.

Touching her hadn't been the mistake. Deciding to spend time alone with her had been the misstep. Why did he think he had impulse control when all of his adult life was proof that he didn't?

“Charlotte,” his voice was tight, tense. “Say something unsexy.”

The tip of her tongue feathered over her top lip. “I love Zucchini?”

Yeah. He was screwed. Adam tilted her chin up and kissed her.

***

BLURB

Six months down, six to go...

After a scandal puts his NFL career on the line, wide receiver Adam Carpenter must behave for a year. No partying. No sarcastic replies to the media. No women. He'll survive the longest year of his life if he can just keep his name out of the tabloids, and his hands off a sweet redhead who needs his help. He owes her a favor. Unlike most women he knows, she only wants him to donate his time to charity.

Charlotte West never thought she'd have to ask someone named Devil of the Gridiron for a favor, but her after-school food program is in trouble. She's desperate for donations to keep it going, and a visit from a sports star could create enough social media buzz to save it. But she knows with men like Adam one little favor may be all he'll need to seduce her. Charlotte's instinct is to run from men with wicked smiles and reckless natures, they bring nothing but trouble and heartache.

She can't seem to run from Adam, and the reformed bad boy stands to lose more than his spot on the team if he beds Charlotte—he could lose his heart.

Buy link:

Amazon

"Age of the Geek, Baby"

Back when I was in elementary, they rolled out new standards for reading. Every day students had to sit quietly and read for twenty minutes.

I was the student who already had their book out on their desk. I was the kid who would get in trouble for reading when the teacher lectured. I was that kid who practically skipped into the school library and the library was Cheers because everyone knew my name.

Hi, my name is Melissa Blue and I'm a word nerd. I know words that I can't pronounce because I've only read them. I can spell obscure words like a champ. I am that geek in the family who is at every family function with a book just in case.

I also love Harry Potter, and one day I'm totally going to dress up like Bellatrix for Halloween. Bow ties are cool. I don't believe in hiding under your covers when you're scared. I think you should fill a shot gun with rock salt and put a devil's trap underneath your bed. Time can be traversed with a DeLorean. I own a ton of shoes and some carry epic level status that can ward off even the scariest boss. I can kill you with the power of my mind. And if that doesn't work, I have a Scooby Doo gang that can research ways to put you down.

I am a geek. So it's only natural that I write a series that features geeks. Yet, I told myself I probably shouldn't. Taking on fandoms and the people in them was asking for trouble. What if I got the Batman cannon wrong? Or misquoted something in the Whedonverse? (Come on. Have you seen a mob of angry geeks? They are vicious. Let's ignore the fact that I am sometimes one of them.) What if I talked about leveling an Alliance Druid and got back nothing but blank stares? What if no one bought into the idea that a guy who wears glasses and loves defunct Sci-Fi shows is a hottie who is a dirty, dirty beast in bed?

Then I remembered the first rule of writing. Write what you know.

And I know what's it's like to feel like I'm on the fringes. I know exactly how it feels to make some obscure joke and lo and behold people laugh. I know exactly how gratifying it is to wave my geek flag and find people who feel the exact same way.

They were the kid who couldn't wait to read twenty minutes a day in class.

They read during the teacher's lecture.

The school librarian knew their name.

It's the age of the geek, baby.

So, look out for TO ONE HUNDRED. It'll come out Jan. 7th. The follow up (DOWN TO ASH) will hit in March. 2016 will be the year of the geek. I'm calling it.

*****

When they met online they were equals...Then she walks into his classroom.

For four months Eva March shared almost every secret with a handsome stranger. It was easy when she didn't have to meet his gaze in real life. The online flirtation was fun. She could be a strong, put-together woman without a sordid past. Most importantly, he'd never know the truth.

Grady Addison takes his job as a professor seriously. He doesn't sleep with co-eds, much less his students. Eva doesn't even fit his leggy, peppy blonde requirements, but he can't walk away now. He's spent too much time fantasizing about her, her smile and the way her eyes darken when she thinks of her past.

And her past is a problem. The secrets she hasn't yet told him could end his career and for Eva, her life could just come crashing down...again.

*****

You can add this to your GoodReads shelf HERE.

You can preorder it at these places:

iTunes

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Don't worry. I'll keep you updated as the preorder links go live on other venues.

100 days until I wave my geek flag.

Read TWICE SHY For Free Before It Hits Stores

If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, you totally should. I'll be sending out weekly installments of TWICE SHY from August 8th to Sept. 12th. This will be totally free. All you have to do is sign up. Sept. 18th the book will go live on most retailers.

Blurb:

When a handsome man walks into Yvonne Smith's jewelry store, she only meant to make him smile by telling him a silly story. How could she have known Gregory Wood's smile could melt a woman's heart? Unfortunately it's not just his smile that's irresistible.

All Greg wants is to sell off the engagement ring from a broken relationship. He's not looking for always and forever anymore, but Yvonne's unassuming charm is addictive and Greg can't seem to get enough.

Just like 1001 Nights, that one story turns into many more and a lot nights spent confessing secret desires. It's foolhardy to believe he could love her so soon after a heartbreak, but as the weeks pass Yvonne starts to suspect Greg just might be The One. He still wants nothing to do with love.

Her choice becomes clear: ignore her heart or protect it?

***

You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/n0RR1
You can read an excerpt on Wattpad now: https://www.wattpad.com/story/46029151-twice-shy-a-modern-fairy-tale-4/

Out Now: HIS EVERY TOUCH

Yup. The blog title says it all. HIS EVERY TOUCH is live! Courtney and Lucian were so fun to write. I know, I'm a fan of the forbidden romance trope but these two take the cake. Check it out.

Courtney Michaels wants to be the best paralegal in the biz, and working under Lucian Beaudelaire is her ticket. A highly sought-after attorney, Lucian is ruthless and relentless, in the office as well as the courtroom. He’s just the man to help Courtney’s career remain on the rise—if she can keep her less-than-professional thoughts about him in check.

Lucian would allow only one thing to interrupt a case—family. When his uncle is placed in a medically induced coma, Lucian heads home to New Orleans, with Courtney in tow. He’ll depend on her skills to keep the casework going while he deals with his dysfunctional family, even if sharing neighboring hotel rooms with her is Lucien’s personal idea of torture.

When familial stress becomes too much to bear, Lucian finds release in Courtney’s arms. And that’s exactly where he intends to stay…until they’re back home, and Courtney requests a transfer, convinced they can no longer work together.

But Lucian is a master at arguing his case. It’s time to show his paralegal exactly how ruthless and relentless he can be.

Amazon

Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Kobo
ARe
Smashwords

' Cause Kate

There's something about every heroine I write that I love. At this point I've written over twenty heroines. All different, though they might share my love of banter.

Joce from UNDER HIS KILT has this soft vulnerability but a craving for adventure. Keri from HER INSATIABLE SCOT has an awkward, geekiness that's just my soft spot. Victoria from KILTED FOR PLEASURE has a drive that I just admire.

But Kate...is bubbly, sassy and meddlesome. She's the kind of person that even if you only met her once, you'd never forget her. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt when she first meets, but don't take that to mean she likes everyone she meets. She's not that much of a sweetheart.

Did I mention sassy?

She said, “You pay the bills, so I’ll call you whatever you like.”“Technically, Victoria’s paying you.”“Then you’re my—” Saying patient wouldn’t help things. With someone this stubborn, she had to win him over or the next few weeks would hurt—the both of them.Kate added with care, “I’m your companion. You want to drink, you can have one. Smoke—light ’em up. Plan to beat the record at the local eat-and-gab and chow down a sixty-nine-ounce steak, I’ll tip the waitress. I won’t provide any lectures.”His brows rose in disbelief. Kate ignored that. She was only halfway through the speech that won her as many jobs as it lost her. “If you keel over, I will provide CPR. I will stick your nitrogen tablet under your tongue. When you’re fine, I will mutter an I-told-you-so under my breath. CPR takes a lot out of me, and it makes me cranky, so… I’m not perfect. I just wanted you to know that about me up front.”His lips started to twitch in a smile, and Kate knew she had him. She put out her hand. “Katherine Campbell, but you can call me Kate.”He growled at her. “I’ll call you Kitten and spray you with water when you get smart.”Her stomach clenched for a moment at the nickname. “I charge extra for that.”

Yeah. So, if I had to pick a favorite heroine of mine, Kate would be at the top.

***

Comment for a chance to win a $10 GC from Amazon. Contest Ends June 24th.

BLURB

Kate Campbell promised to have an affair with a Parisian, says yes more than she says no and sin so she can actually have something to repent on Sunday. As a way to honor her grandmother's wishes, she takes a job as a traveling nurse so that she can see Europe—a trip they had once planned on taking together. She never bargained on meeting a sexy Scot who makes bad look so, so good, and he needs her help.

Quinton Baird, a retired, high-profile rugby player, has spent over a decade surrounded by people who all want something from him. From his former coaches to the groupies. He now has two rules for anyone he deals with: Don't talk to the press. Don't talk about him to anyone. Ever. His rules are the only way to protect himself from people wanting him to be their meal ticket. No matter how much he likes the sweet, sassy nurse, he can't believe she'll help him while asking for nothing in return.

The deal between them is simple. All Kate has to do is pose as Quinton’s girlfriend in public. In exchange for helping him salvage an important business deal, Kate gets many opportunities to say yes—in bed and out of it.

Then reality, and the press, threaten their fictional romance. Quinton will have to trust that Kate's feeling for him are genuine or risk losing her for good.

Amazon

iTunes

Kobo

ARe

Smashwords

***

Be sure to check out the other stops for this blog hop.

Summer Book Frenzy

I know you guys haven't heard from me in like forever. I've been crazy busy gearing up for back-to-back releases this summer. I didn't plan it that way but that's how it's going to shake out. So here are some deets on the things to come:

COMING JUNE 12th

Kate Campbell promised to have an affair with a Parisian, says yes more than she says no and sin so she can actually have something to repent on Sunday. As a way to honor her grandmother's wishes, she takes a job as a traveling nurse so that she can see Europe—a trip they had once planned on taking together. She never bargained on meeting a sexy Scot who makes bad look so, so good, and he needs her help.

Quinton Baird, a retired, high-profile rugby player, has spent over a decade surrounded by people who all want something from him. From his former coaches to the groupies. He now has two rules for anyone he deals with: Don't talk to the press. Don't talk about him to anyone. Ever. His rules are the only way to protect himself from people wanting him to be their meal ticket. No matter how much he likes the sweet, sassy nurse, he can't believe she'll help him while asking for nothing in return.

The deal between them is simple. All Kate has to do is pose as Quinton’s girlfriend in public. In exchange for helping him salvage an important business deal, Kate gets many opportunities to say yes—in bed and out of it.

Then reality, and the press, threaten their fictional romance. Quinton will have to trust that Kate's feeling for him are genuine or risk losing her for good.

You can pick up KILT TEASE on preorder now for a buck:

Amazon

iTunes

Kobo

ARe

Smashwords

COMING JULY 12th

Courtney Michaels wants to be the best paralegal in the biz, and working under Lucian Beaudelaire is her ticket. A highly sought-after attorney, Lucian is ruthless and relentless, in the office as well as the courtroom. He’s just the man to help Courtney’s career remain on the rise—if she can keep her less-than-professional thoughts about him in check.

Lucian would allow only one thing to interrupt a case—family. When his uncle is placed in a medically induced coma, Lucian heads home to New Orleans, with Courtney in tow. He’ll depend on her skills to keep the casework going while he deals with his dysfunctional family, even if sharing neighboring hotel rooms with her is Lucien’s personal idea of torture.

When familial stress becomes too much to bear, Lucian finds release in Courtney’s arms. And that’s exactly where he intends to stay…until they’re back home, and Courtney requests a transfer, convinced they can no longer work together.

But Lucian is a master at arguing his case. It’s time to show his paralegal exactly how ruthless and relentless he can be.

For more info on the book and the Den of Sin series click here.

Last but not least TWICE SHY will be a short story in an antho I'm writing with some truly amazing authors of color. I'll share more deets the closer to August. Just know it's Greg and Yvonne's story. Yes, Abigail's ex from TWICE SMITTEN.

KILTED FOR PLEASURE SPOTLIGHT TOUR

March 20th to March 27th KILTED FOR PLEASURE will be making its way around the net. It's a blog tour, baby! And that means there will be excerpts and prizes. Make sure you drop in on these sites to see how to win:

March 20th:
Nia Forrester

March 21st:
Bambi Unbridled

March 22nd:
Deanna's World

March 23rd:
Ambrielle Kirk
Reading Between the Wines Bookclub
Musings of an IR Romance Junkie

March 24th:
LV Lewis

March 25th:
TBQ Book Palace

March 26th:
Into the Black

March 27th:
Cover to Cover Book Blog

***

This rafflecopter will go live March 20th. So mark your calendars!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kilted Came Early

It's out! It's out! And it's out a day early. You can now pick up KILTED FOR PLEASURE. I know it's been a long wait. 

Blurb: 

Callan Baird used to laugh more than he frowned, but that was before his wife died. Now his life is duty, debts and a general apathy for anything else. And then Victoria Burke burst into his life. She's everything he wants to corrupt.
Victoria has two choices: agree to a grouchy, sexy Scotsman's extortion or call her boss to explain why she can't do her job. Since she's spent the last three years rebuilding her career as antique appraiser, and this one commission could make or break it, the decision is a no-brainer. Except everything about Callan is complicated.
He sees no problem turning their work relationship into a sexual one. She refuses to break her boss' no-fraternization rule. He's the one thing she wants and the one thing she can't have. He's had his one great love, and doesn't want a replacement. His heart doesn't agree, because she's everything he desires.
Callan will have to let go of his past if he wants Victoria to be in his future.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Kobo

ARe

Smashwords

Let's Talk Kink

I love that title because it feels like I'm about to talk to you in a school-special kind of way. I'm not. I hope. But let's start with the bottom basics and use the Merriam-Webster's definition:

kink

6 : unconventional sexual taste or behavior

I love this definition because it uses the word unconventional. It's not dating itself. Prior to Fifty Shades of Grey most folks wouldn't know what a flogger was. Some folks might even use a flogger now in their bedroom. Some folks still don't and that's okay, because this definition covers it. Kink is something that sexually arouses you that you probably wouldn't admit to in polite circles. That's it. That's kink.

Of course that's not the end of the post.

Why are we talking about this? Well...this is like lube before I unleash KILTED FOR PLEASURE out into the world. I didn't give you any with UNDER HIS KILT and HER INSATIABLE SCOT. I was totally remiss in that. My Under The Kilt series, at least when it deals with sex, is all about exploration and limitations, especially through the heroine's POV. Jocelyn had never experienced the kind of sex that strips you down to your most basic and primitive self. She had candles and flowers and soft music kind of sex. Keri couldn't relax enough to really, really enjoy flesh meeting flesh. She knew what she wanted but was too shy to ask for it. Victoria, the newest heroine, is savvy. (Or believes herself to be but she hasn't met a Baird yet.) She has explored. She isn't afraid to ask for what she wants. So where does that leave her on the spectrum I've set up for myself and you readers?

Let's backtrack a little bit. One of my dear writing friends sort of made it a challenge. To not spoil her book, let's just say the hero had a very interesting sexual background but he liked vanilla sex. And I said, "Wouldn't it be interesting to show the heroine that Kink, yes, with a capital K, can be arousing?" Hell, the heroine probably is kinky in her own little way. My writerly friend went Nope. Nope. Nope. And that's when my plot bunnies came out to play.

Because here's the thing, unconventional is such a vague word. Everyone would agree the missionary position is pretty basic and there's nothing kinky about it. Now let's take that the position, and place it in a roomful of people. Yes. You're doing the deed in the missionary position, but you have a roomful of people watching you. I'm sorry, that's kinky. Most folks don't invite an audience when they have sex. Most folks would probably suffer from performance anxiety and/or OMG-I'm-Naked-In-Front-Of-People. And for some people they would be incredibly aroused. They would prefer to have sex in a roomful of people.

And then you would have the sub-set of folks who would simply be aroused by the idea. Someone is watching you being pleasured (I know, a huge euphemism) and you really, really like that idea.

This particular kink has a name—exhibitionism.

That seems extreme. But this plot bunny went down a deep, dark hole and I found other things that would be considered kinks:

Role playing

Having sex in the tub or shower

Sex with a man (or woman) who has a beard

Having sex with more than one person i.e menages

Being tied up

Fellacio (If you don't know what that word means Google it.)

Foreplay

Geeks

Jocks

Massages

Nipple stimulation

Having sex with a man who is well-endowed

No. Seriously. The list goes on and on and on. BELIEVE ME. I researched it. These things can be kinks if you are unconventionally into it in a sexual way. And who exactly makes the rules of what conventional is? For some, if you require more than ten minutes of foreplay you're kinky. But these are all things you can find in an everyday romance novel. Hell, things we might like in the bedroom.

And they could very well be a kink.

Or, kink-lite as I call it in KFP. And that became the thing of this book, this heroine who is savvy and has explored—finding the roots or the foundation of what is considered conventional and making the logical kinky connection.

So, yeah, this is the fair warning. You will find clit spanking, erotic asphyxiation, exhibitionism and voyeurism in KILTED FOR PLEASURE. It's all very innocent and conventional the way it's written. And depending on who you ask, it can also be considered a kink.

What do you think a kink is?

If You Ever Wondered What Writers Talk About...

Kilted For Pleasure Spotlight Tour Sign Up

eARCs: Kilted For Pleasure

D day is in less than two months. Gah. There's so much to do and so little time to do it in. Anyway, if you are interesting in receiving an eARC for KILTED FOR PLEASURE, here's a link to the sign up form.

If you know anyone who might be interested please pass this link along. I'm really looking forward to this release!

Kilted For Pleasure

I know it's been eons since I released a Kilt book. So good news then. One is on its way. Lookie! It has a release date and everything.

***

BLURB:

Callan Baird used to laugh more than he frowned, but that was before his wife died. Now his life is duty, debts and a general apathy for anything else. And then Victoria Burke burst into his life. She's everything he wants to corrupt.

Victoria has two choices: agree to a grouchy, sexy Scotsman's extortion or call her boss to explain why she can't do her job. Since she's spent the last three years rebuilding her career as antique appraiser, and this one commission could make or break it, the decision is a no-brainer. Except everything about Callan is complicated.

He sees no problem turning their work relationship into a sexual one. She refuses to break her boss' no-fraternization rule. He's the one thing she wants and the one thing she can't have. He's had his one great love, and doesn't want a replacement. His heart doesn't agree, because she's everything he desires.

Callan will have to let go of his past if he wants Victoria to be in his future.

***

I will keep everyone up to date on this book and KILT TEASE. That one is slated for a late summer release.

You can always sign up for my newsletter to know the moment a new release hits.