The Laird's Future Bride
By
Hazel Gower
Cabin Fever
By
Willow Brooke
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
After Dark/Sinfully Sweet Romances welcomes Susan Hayes to the Spotlight!
Let's give a warm welcome to the super fabulous Susan Hayes! Susan, tell us about your hot new release!
Wilde Chase started out as a stand
alone book. One man, his dog, and a quest for a woman who could help
him fight off the loneliness and soul-staining darkness that often
comes from working in law enforcement. That plan lasted less than a
chapter, and now Wilde Chase is the first book in a series I never
even considered writing.
Not until the voices in my head
demanded it.
Coming from anyone other than a writer,
that last statement would probably be a cause for concern,
medication, and possibly a visit to a private room with padded walls.
Writers are a special kind of crazy though, so I know I’m
safe…mostly. And the voices I referred to belonged to the brothers
of my hero, Officer Ben Wilde. I didn’t know it when I started
writing, but he and my muse didn’t take long to inform me that he
was one of five sons, three of whom were cops.
“That’s nice, I said. I’ll
mention that in the story.” Apparently that wasn’t good enough
for man or muse, and before I knew it I was sketching out biographies
for all five of the Wilde brothers as they clamoured for attention
from the back of my mind. Names, backgrounds, dreams and heartaches,
it all came at me as fast as I could type, and before I knew it I had
four more men looking to me for their HEA’s. It was a challenge I
couldn’t refuse, and so now I have a new series to write, The Wilde
Brothers. 2014 just got a whole lot busier for me, and I couldn’t
be happier.
Blurb:
Police Officer Ben Wilde is married to
his work, and he wants a divorce. A third generation cop, he knows
the price his career demands, but he still hopes for more out of life
than taking down criminals and late nights with his canine partner,
Chase.
Veterinarian Kelly Towers loves all
animals, but she has a special place in her heart for Chase and Ben,
his human handler. When her clinic is broken into, it brings the sexy
Chicago cop and his four footed partner to her door, and the sparks
that have been smoldering between them finally combust into flames.
Two passionate souls, two demanding
careers and too many secrets lead to a Wild chase...
Excerpt:
“One of us is still wearing clothes,”
he pointed out, sliding his fingers beneath the lace sides of her
panties and moved them over her hips. He dropped to his knees as he
pushed them down her calves, pressing a kiss to her navel before
letting his tongue swipe several slow, lazy circles around her belly
button. When he finally got her panties to her ankles, she stepped
out of them, letting him see her for the first time.
She fought the urge to cover herself
with her hands when his gaze traveled the length of her body and back
again. She knew her body wasn’t perfect, but the way he was looking
at her helped to banish the last concerns from her mind. He was
staring at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in creation,
and it melted Kelly’s heart. Without a word she stroked her fingers
into his wet hair and bowed over him to press a kiss to the top of
his head.
“Mine,” he muttered, the single
syllable so softly she barely heard it. Before she could react, he
buried his face between her thighs, his hands coaxing her legs wider
as he nuzzled against her slick curls. Hot breath fanned over her wet
skin, his mouth nuzzling against her outer lips.
Feeling off balance, Kelly reached for
the corner post of the bed, needing the support. She sank down onto
the edge of the mattress and Ben growled in approval. He dropped his
shoulders one at a time as he coaxed her legs wider, working his
shoulders between her knees until she was completely open before him.
“Lie back and let me taste you, baby.”
The moment Kelly stretched out on the
bed, Ben had her legs draped over his shoulders and his mouth on her
pussy. His tongue danced in tiny circles around her swollen clit,
coming achingly close before moving away again. “Ben, please!”
she heard herself begging, but he just chuckled, the vibrations
adding another level to her pleasurable torment.
Again and again he tasted and teased,
never quite giving her enough stimulation to let her find her
release. Kelly’s pulse was thundering as if she’d just run a race
and her fingers were curled into the quilt, kneading at it in time to
the flicking of Ben’s tongue. She pressed down on his shoulders,
using him to lever her hips off the bed in a silent demand for more.
This time he rewarded her by sucking
her clit into the heat of his mouth, holding it carefully between his
teeth. He lashed at the tender nub until she was hovering on the edge
of an orgasm as fierce and wild as the storm still raging outside.
That was when he plunged two fingers inside her, pushing her past her
limits.
She came on a cry, her body arching
high off the bed as every cell of her body was saturated with
pleasure. The feeling was so intense that she lost herself for a
time, only drifting back to the here and now when she felt Ben
moving.
“Kelly?” he spoke her name in
hushed tones. The bed dipped as he lay down beside her, tugging her
limp body into his arms.
She opened her eyes and smiled when she
saw his handsome face looking down at her. “Hello, sexy.”
He leaned in to kiss her, one hand
threading into her hair as the other stroked down her back to cup her
ass. “I think watching you come is my new favorite thing in all the
world. You are gorgeous when you let yourself go like that.”
“Want to see it again?” She waggled
her brows at him, laughing as he grinned and nodded eagerly.
“Hell yes I want to see that again,
and again, and again. I told you, baby, once I got you upstairs you
were staying here all night. I have plans for you, and they don’t
involve sleeping.”
You can find Susan around the web:
Summoned Series Blog:
http://summonedseries.blogspot.com
Author’s Blog:
http://www.susanhayes.ca
twitter: https://twitter.com/capricia13
Friday, January 24, 2014
Fantasy Friday with Kennedy Layne!
Sinful Resurrection
CSA Case Files, Book 2
Available now from:
Sins of the past have been resurrected, predetermining their path to love. Can they overcome the treacherous obstacles set before them?
Jax Christensen likes his life just the way it is. He has his work, his club, and the occasional naked submissive to take his mind off everything else. He doesn’t talk about the past, as there is no point in reminiscing about things that cannot be altered. His chest has an empty hole where his heart used to be, but he’s grown accustomed to the constant pain. It’s become the only thing that reminds Jax that he’s alive.
Emily Weiss has never forgotten the one and only man she’s ever loved. She’s hidden for two long years in an attempt to protect Jax and herself, desperate to try and stay one step ahead of those who want her dead. She has information that could destroy the United Nations. Unfortunately, they want to eliminate her first. Emily’s exhausted and wants more than anything to feel safe once more. That was how she felt in Jax’s strong arms and she longs to be there again.
When Jax sees that Emily has risen from the grave, his heart and soul are full of anger and regret. He’ll never forgive her lies and deception. He will, however, keep her safe. He hates her for what she’s done, but he doesn’t want her death on his conscience. He’ll protect her and then walk away.
Secrets are revealed and the danger is more sinister and deadly than anyone could have guessed. Jax and Emily are forced on the run and the passion they once felt for one another burns even hotter and brighter the second time around. Jax doesn’t know how he’ll walk away this time or if he even wants to. Emily is determined to expose a high-level official within the United Nations and walk away unscathed. She wants a second chance with her first love — even if it kills her.
EXCERPT
He’d cataloged three people in the room. Crest was behind his desk, Emily was standing in front of him, and one other person was to his right. Jax didn’t give the man a second glance. He didn’t give a shit who the tight ass suit was. He only cared about the woman standing in front of him. Emily slowly turned and faced him, her blue eyes filled with regret and something else he couldn’t name. Whatever it was couldn’t hold a candle to the rage that was simmering in his veins. He changed his mind. There was no reason fucking good enough for what she’d put him through, only to turn up two years later as if nothing had happened.
“Jax, you need to listen to me,” Crest said, coming into his line of vision.
Jax turned and within seconds had Crest shoved up against the wall with his forearm against his boss’s throat. He was breathing hard, waiting for an excuse to be able to physically take out his frustration on another human being. Finally clearing the haze from his eyes, it dawned on him that Crest had known all along who Emily was and what her connection was to Jax. What else did Crest know? He pulled his arm back, with every intention of getting retribution.
“Jax, please don’t.”
Emily’s voice cut through the miasma that had surrounded him. He was trained better and knew that the slightest hesitation gave the other person the advantage, but it was too late. Before Jax could blink Crest brought up his hands, breaking the hold. Jax found himself up against the wall, Crest in total control.
“I’m going to release you and you’re going to listen, because Emily’s life depends on it.” Crest’s voice never wavered, instead remaining calm and cool like his demeanor. That caused Jax to feel even more rage, but he bottled it quickly, knowing Crest had the upper hand at the moment. Jax relaxed his muscles, leaning his weight on the wall. He could play this game with the best of them. Crest continued to speak. “I know this looks bad, Jax, but she had good reason for what she did.”
“Just like you had good reason to keep it from me?” Jax asked, unable to keep all of his fury contained. He remained as still as Crest, relaxed in his hold, and waited until the man took a step back. Jax wiped the back of his hand over his mouth, unable to believe this was really happening. Disloyalty was something he couldn’t tolerate. He thought Crest held the same morals, but apparently not. “Nothing will ever make that right, Top.”
Jax had purposefully used the nickname that grunts used in reference to Master Sergeants in the Marines. He wanted — no, needed — to drill into Crest what an intimate betrayal this was. He personally had never called Gavin Crest by the nickname that Connor seemed to use like a minion did to a god. He understood his friend’s need to be grateful to Crest for giving them a chance to live their lives as a normal civilian, but Jax felt like he’d repaid his debt tenfold. He did his job and he did it well. No one could ask for more.
Connor had repeatedly said that Jax had changed on their last combat tour. Emily’s absence from his life had done that to him and made him realize what a person went through when people were ripped away. Switching his gaze to the woman he would have laid his life down for made him understand that her death would have been easier to accept. Her perfidy and deceit was just too much.
“Jax, I didn’t know until a month ago,” Crest explained. He took another step back, as if unsure how Jax would react, before slowly moving to stand in front of his desk. He loosened his tie and then made sure his cuff links were still in place. Jax couldn’t bring himself to look Emily in the eye and instead concentrated on Crest. She disgusted him and the only way he was going to get through this was if he listened to what Crest had to say and then left for his flight out of the country. He wanted to be anywhere but here. Crest motioned to the other man. “This is Schultz Jessalyn, Special Assistant to the National Security Advisor.”
Jax ignored the man who still stood on the other side of the room. There was no need for introductions, regardless of this man’s position. He could be the fucking Pope and Jax wouldn’t have cared. Not wanting to appear anything else but bored with this conversation, Jax stepped forward and crossed his arms. The faster he dealt with this the sooner he could leave.
“I have a flight to catch,” Jax said, keeping his tone even. He thought about quitting, handing in his resignation right here and now, but the assignment that would take him around the world and away from the duplicity that was filling up this room sounded even better. “Don’t worry, Crest. I’ll do my job.”
“Jessie is on her way in,” Crest said, as if Jax hadn’t spoken. His dark green eyes zeroed in on Jax. “She’s going to change your flight information over to Lach. He’s taking the overseas assignment. I need you here. Emily needs you here.”
Jax ground his teeth together to prevent himself from saying they could all go fuck themselves, but something held him back. Even though it felt like he was roasting his entire body over excruciatingly hot flames, he forced himself to really look at Emily. She’d dyed her dark brown hair to a light blonde, although she had left the length that he used to love to play with and still dreamed about. She was slightly thinner than he remembered, but he could find no sympathy that she might have stressed over the choices that she’d made. Her athletic build was still there, although slightly less obvious. There were shadows underneath her blue eyes and her skin had taken on a pale pallor, yet still he could feel their enduring connection. A mental barrier shifted into place, blocking out any emotion that may have lingered. Emily had no idea the hell she was putting him through but he immediately had closure that he hadn’t before. She was deader to him now more than ever. That switch was thrown.
“She made her choice.” Jax turned on the heel of his boot and walked to the door. He changed his mind on quitting. “You’ll have my resignation on your desk by the end of the day.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
www.kennedylayne.com
First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister…and a writer.
I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Erotic romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.
Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…
Friday, January 17, 2014
Fantasy Friday with Lexi DeHalo!
Lexi.dehalo@gmail.com
Lexi DeHalo lived in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina until she left for college to study Chemistry and Forensic Science. After graduation, Lexi decided to pursue her love of the arts by writing erotic romance. When she’s not too busy in the lab, you can find her working on her latest inspiration or playing with her fur-babies.
Last Kiss Goodbye
The Southlands
Haunting memories and shattered dreams of a life he left behind lead Karson Maddox back to Southlands, Montana and the one man he can’t forget, Marcus Deveraux. But Karson is a changed man, scarred by the chains of his past that are unwilling to let him go, and he doesn’t know if he can be the man Marcus once loved or if he will be forever bound to the horrors that plague him.
With his lover’s disappearance, Marcus repressed his pain and heartache by devoting his time to his family’s ranch. When Karson shows up on his doorstep five years later, battered and bruised, Marcus is torn between protecting the one man who stole his heart and the fear of betrayal.
As desire and passion reignite, the secrets surrounding Karson’s past threaten to tear them apart once again, and Marcus will learn just how far he’s willing to go to keep Karson safe from the demons that threaten both of their lives.
Excerpt
The Southlands End. The orange, neon words hung high above the doorway, glowing brightly in the nighttime sky. The loud music playing inside could be heard clearly from the crowded parking lot. This place was meant to serve as a safe haven for the shifter kind who resided in Southlands, Montana, but to Karson Maddox, it only served as a reminder of the life that had been stolen from him.
He took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the familiar rugged landscape. Montana had been the place he’d called home for many years, until that fateful night had changed his life forever. After five years, Karson had finally made it back home, but now, he was uncertain of what awaited him on the other side of those metal doors, and frankly, he didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was finding Marcus.
Reaching out with a shaky hand, he opened the door and stepped inside. He was instantly greeted by the bouncers, set in place to keep wandering mundanes—a shifter term for the majority of the human population—out.
“Passcode,” the large one on the left requested in a less than pleasant manner. His voice was deep and his intimidating stare was enough to stop any sensible person from advancing.
Karson ran a nervous hand through his shaggy hair. “I don’t know it, but—”
Before he could even get the rest of his sentence out, the other bouncer, who had yet to speak, grabbed ahold of his arm and pushed him back outside.
“Hey, wait a minute. Lemme go!” Karson struggled against the painful grip. “I’m here to see Marcus.”
His words did nothing to stop the two shifters from removing him from the building. They tossed him to the ground like a ragdoll, and the sting from the gravel scraping against his exposed flesh burned like a son of a bitch.
He glared up at the two men, his temper flaring from their harsh handlings as his mind was taken back to the past five years of abuse he’d endured in one moment. He could feel the animal inside him rise to the surface, itching for a release that couldn’t be sated. His inability to shift only fueled his desire to defend himself as he lunged at the taller man His fist collided with the bouncer’s jaw, but despite the pain that radiated up his arm, his target appeared to be unfazed by the blow.
“Fuck,” he cursed as he shook his hand in an attempt to free it from the ache that emanated from his knuckles.
“Is there a problem here?”
His heart caught at the sound of the slight southern drawl. He knew the man who had spoken those words even before he turned around and his rage was instantly calmed by the familiar voice. A wave of nervousness washed over him as his hands began to tremble. Turning slowly, he met Marcus’s eyes for the first time in five years and the world around him seemed to fade away.
Marcus Deveraux stood in front of him, dressed in a pair of dark-wash Wranglers and his favorite pair of cowboy boots. His white shirt was left partially unbuttoned, no doubt to showcase his well-muscled chest. Strands of his blond hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes as he stared down at Karson. The soft features of his face had hardened with the years, but everything else was just as he remembered.
Karson’s mouth went dry. He tried to find the words he’d rehearsed earlier in the day, but nothing came to him. Instead, all he could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights.
“Karson?” Marcus whispered as recognition finally kicked in. A look of shock and confusion fell upon his face as the pain and agony of the past few years shimmered inside the depths of Marcus’s piercing eyes.
The desire to reach out to him was overwhelming. It was an impulse that had surprised Karson given that he’d changed so much in the past few years. Something shifted inside him, awakening a mixture of emotions he hadn’t felt since the day he was taken from Marcus. Tears pooled in his eyes and he tried desperately to hold them back. He wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.
“Sir, you know this man?” the large shifter Karson had punched questioned Marcus.
Marcus gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving Karson. “Yes… he’s my mate.”
Behind the Scenes
What are your current projects?
My current projects include starting a new pen name for a M/F BDSM piece I’ve been working on entitled, Beautifully Broken [A Limitless Novel] and supernatural suspense novel that has yet to be titled.
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
Hmm. An interesting question. I think I have come a long way since my first book was released a year ago. I have found my own voice, so to speak, and I’ve quite enjoyed experimenting with different genres. I’m excited about my upcoming works in progress J
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
The edits. I switched editors with my latest book and while I was extremely happy with the feedback I got, I also spent many hours working on their suggestions. It really pushed me as a writer and helped shape the book to be what it is today.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Yes, I do. The cover is the first impression that a buyer sees and it needs to reflect the quality of writing, the reader can expect. A cover doesn’t need to be flashy or over the top, but it does need to be professional.
What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?
Being published is great route for a writer so long as it is a reputable publisher that does their share of the work. Realistically, I don’t want to do business with a publisher if their editing, cover art, and promotions are not worth 50-60% of my royalties. If I’m doing most of the work and even having to correct their edits, then I don’t feel like the publisher is holding up their end of the contract. In that case, self-publishing would be an ideal situation, especially with today’s technology. Hiring you own editor and cover artist can be an up front, out of pocket cost, though and if an author doesn’t earn back enough from their self-published title to cover those costs, it will be a direct loss that they have to take. For new authors, I feel that being published is a great introduction into the industry. It gives the author a feel for the expectations of the industry and is a good place to start. For more experienced authors who feel like they aren’t getting what they need from their publisher, they may want to try their hand at self-publishing.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Fantasy Friday with a brand new series CAMP PURGATORY!!!
A little personal note before this post starts...I have been waiting for this series to start from the moment the authors mentioned it, and I can tell you that having purchased the first two books...they haven't disappointed. So make sure you go and pick up your own copies...after you check out this post of course!
After
losing his best friend in a meteor storm that wiped out entire cities, Brady
Dane finds himself alone and scared, simply trying to make it from one day to
the next. Surrounded by chaos, desperation, and death, he turns his compass
toward Georgia and the refuge rumored to be established in the military base
there. Forming emotional attachments will only make him vulnerable, so he keeps
himself guarded, choosing to travel alone, but that all changes when he crosses
paths with a stranger on a lonely stretch of highway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to Purgatory:
Beginning of the End
After
losing his best friend in a meteor storm that wiped out entire cities, Brady
Dane finds himself alone and scared, simply trying to make it from one day to
the next. Surrounded by chaos, desperation, and death, he turns his compass
toward Georgia and the refuge rumored to be established in the military base
there. Forming emotional attachments will only make him vulnerable, so he keeps
himself guarded, choosing to travel alone, but that all changes when he crosses
paths with a stranger on a lonely stretch of highway.
Anthony Grimel—Grim to his friends—is
having a really bad day. Collapsing on the side of the road after being robbed
and beaten by a band of raiders, he’s ready to give up. He never expected to be
saved by an angel with golden hair and a smile to rival the sun. Finding
purpose once again in being Brady’s guardian, his protector, Grim vows to get
his new companion safely to the refuge, but he never expected to lose his heart
in the process.
Love isn’t always easy, though, a fact
Brady quickly discovers. Wading through a new, complicated relationship is hard
enough, but now, he’s not sure who to trust—who is friend and who is foe. One
hard truth becomes glaringly obvious not long after his arrival. Within these
walls, there is no life or death, there is only survival.
Welcome to Purgatory.
Welcome to Purgatory:
Journey to Nowhere
Forest
has been on his own since the world came crashing down months ago. Trusting
someone was never on his list of things to-do but finding his sister definitely
is. His trip to New Orleans is filled with peril but it’s about to get even
more interesting when he meets a new friend and protector on the causeway.
Manny never expected to play bodyguard to a
beautiful blond with more than a few submissive tendencies. With demons of his
own to battle, it’s been hard fighting off Forest’s as well. However, he hears
about a place where they might finally be safe enough to deal with their
issues.
Camp Purgatory offers security and a new
way of life. However, it is not what is in the brochure that they really have
to worry about.
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