Saturday, February 28, 2015

Cowboy 12 Pack Hits USA Today and NYT Bestseller Lists!


I could not be more thrilled to announce that Cowboy 12 Pack rocked February and hit both the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists!

Have you read the hotness? Check out the review for this scorching set on Amazon and see for yourself.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-12-Pack-Twelve-Novel-Boxed-ebook/dp/B00PKTN7SI/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

If you love sexy cowboy romance books, get ready for a 12-pack of 'em from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors!

Featuring:

A COWBOY'S SEDUCTION - Cynthia D'Alba 
SADIE AND HER COWBOY - Paige Tyler 
THE BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND TEST - Elle James 
HER UNIFORM COWBOY - Donna Michaels 
I AM NOT YOUR MELODY - Shoshanna Evers 
CHASE AND SEDUCTION - Randi Alexander 
THE COWBOY WINS A BRIDE - Cora Seton 
THE HARDER THEY FALL - Beth Williamson 
THE REAL MCCOY - Sabrina York 
BADASS - Sable Hunter 
COWBOYS NEVER FOLD - Lexi Post 
CUPID'S COWBOY - Becky McGraw 


And check out the authors' responses to hitting the USA Today list in the Happy Ever After Blog!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2015/02/25/cowboy-12-pack-boxed-set-d-alba-james-tyler/23999795/

Here's a taste of my contribution!

The Real McCoy by Sabrina York

When Crystal Wilson gets roped into a wild, girls-only weekend at a rowdy “stud” ranch, the last thing she wants to do is tangle with a bunch of half-naked men pretending to be cowboys. But when she meets Ford McCoy, she can’t help but be attracted to his dark, dominant, gruff appeal.

What she doesn’t know is that Ford isn’t a stripper. He’s her friend’s overprotective brother, there to make sure his little sister doesn’t get into any trouble. She’s surprised at the passion that flares between them. In fact, what she has with Ford might just be what she’s been looking for all along.
It’s a pity the sexy rancher isn’t in the market for a city girl.

READ AN EXCERPT

She shouldn’t have taken the shot.
For God’s sake, what had she been thinking? She’d been on a low-carb, low-calorie diet—with no alcohol—for a month. Not because Blaine had called her fat. That had nothing to do with it. She just wanted… She just wanted to do it for herself. Yeah.
It wasn’t like he was coming back or anything. And it wasn’t like she’d let him.
But it would be awesome to run into him somewhere, say the bank or the coffee shop or that bar on Grill Street, looking like a vixen. She only had ten pounds to go to hit vixen weight. It was a helluva ten pounds. They didn’t seem to want to budge.
And damn, she really wanted something to eat.
And damn, the tequila had hit her hard.
So hard she’d left the weekend kickoff party—although, to be honest, she’d wanted to leave since the pumping music and the grinding bodies and the strobing lights were starting to make her eyelid twitch. As down-home country as the bedrooms were at this ranch-slash-resort, they sure knew how to throw a bacchanal at night.
It was pleasanter out here behind the house, staring up at the stars and enjoying the kiss of a soft breeze. There were no sounds but the rustle of the leaves in the trees, the crickets and the occasional croak of a frog.
Her head hardly spun at all.
She leaned back and closed her eyes and imagined how amazing it would feel to be twenty-one again and interested in those kinds of men. To rub against a hard chest and feel his thickly muscled arms hold her close.
But none of those boys had ignited a flicker of interest in her. They’d all been rubbed smooth. Although several of them, and one in particular, had made it clear he wanted to dance for her.
It was a damn shame.
It would have been fun.
What kind of man would she want, if she wanted a man? Tall, for sure. Broad. Hard. Rough. Maybe a little wicked twinkle in his eye.
A door slammed to her right and her eyes flew open. She blinked as a man strode toward her through the shadows. Her heart lurched and the breath caught in her throat. Yes, her heart whispered. Yes. That was the kind of man she wanted.
He was big, and broad and roped with muscle. His stride was sure, determined and powerful. He wore boots that kicked up dust with every step, and chaps and even a Stetson. He had high cheekbones and a well-formed brow. His square chin was spattered with a dark shadow. His shirt was buttoned.
He looked like a real cowboy.
He looked like a man.
This guy could dance for her. No problem. She’d love to have him rub himself all over her—
His steps stalled as he caught sight of her.
“Well, hey there, cowboy,” she purred. It was probably the tequila purring, but he didn’t seem to care. He peered into the shadows.
She did him the favor of moving into the light. She liked that his nostrils flared and his throat worked. He touched the brim of his hat. “Ma’am.”
Ooh. Ma’am.
Sexy. This stripper knew how to play a role.
“You’re late,” she said.
He blinked. “Late?”
“The party’s already started.” She sidled up to him—again, the tequila; normally she would never sidle up to anybody—and put her hand on his chest. The muscles rippled in response and something inside her rippled as well. It was probably her womb. Crying out for a visitor.
It had been a while, after all.
She leaned closer, against him, and it was good. She nestled her nose in his beautiful neck and took a whiff. And daham, he smelled sinful. Wicked. Alluring.
“What is that fragrance?” she asked. She needed to know. Wanted to bathe in it.
He chuckled; the sound rumbled through her. “Soap.”
“Mmm. Yummy.” She scudded her palm over his chest, his thick arms and down to his trim waist. He held steady as she explored, staring at her through insanely thick lashes. It should be illegal for a man to have lashes like that. His features were locked and hard. A muscle ticked in his cheek. “You’re hard,” she murmured. Oh, God, he was.
“Yes, ma’am. I am.” This he said in a low purr, one that gave a sizzle of double entendre to the words.
Something cracked inside her. It was probably the remainder of her pickled restraint. He was the hottest man she’d ever seen, much less touched. His heat soaked into her and melted her, liquefied her.
She couldn’t stop her roving exploration and wouldn’t have anyway. Her hand drifted lower. His body tightened, his breath hitched as she reached his belt. And then she found him.
Her knees locked. Her pulse rocketed through her veins. Because Jesus God, he wasn’t just hard, he was rock hard.
“Nice.” A whisper, all she could manage. She gave him a little pump.
He hissed in a breath and said through his teeth, “Yeah. Nice.” His hand came to her waist. He stroked her bare skin beneath the hem of her tee. His calluses scraped her sanity.
“You are the most authentic of all of them,” she murmured, kissing his neck.
He grunted and pulled her closer, cupping her ass, measuring it with a squeeze. “Most authentic?”
“Of all the strippers.”
He stilled for a moment and she sensed he was about to pull away, which she could not allow. He was far too delicious to give up. So she nibbled his chin. She loved the bristles of his stubble. And he tasted…like a man. More man than she’d ever had.
She released her hold on him and pressed her hips against his, wrapped herself around him, hooking her leg around his. The feel of his body, hot and hard, plastered against hers from chest to groin, made her mouth water.
He allowed it, but then he did pull back. But it wasn’t far, and it was so he could stare down at her face, so she didn’t mind. His breath washed over her and she had the sudden compulsion to taste his mouth. Not a need or a whim. A compulsion.
“You think I’m the most authentic of all the strippers?” She had no idea why he was smiling, but she liked his smile. Especially the dent that appeared on his left cheek. Everything about him pushed each and every one of her buttons. They were rusty buttons, but he pushed them.
“You are. You really do it better than any of them. You sure look like a real cowboy. Baby, you could rope and tie me…”
“Sounds…interesting.”
She stroked his back, reveling in the bulge of his muscles as she made her way down to his ass, which she squeezed as well. “And you’re really well built.”
“Thank you?”
“For a stripper.”
“Right.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you gave me a lap dance at all.”
“You…wouldn’t?”
“Not at all.”
“I’m…flattered.”
“Would you like to?”
His brow arched. It was a striking, manly brow. “Like to?”
“Give me a lap dance?”
“You have no idea.”
She liked the tenor of his voice, despite the fact there was a laugh hidden in it. She raked her nails along the back of his neck and he shivered. So she walked her fingers into his hair, ignoring that she tipped his Stetson clean off.
God, his hair was soft. Dark curls. Silky and thick.

Their gazes locked. His smile faded. Tension hummed between them. Then she tugged his head down and took his lips.

GET IT NOW: 

Friday, February 27, 2015

Excerpt from An Alpha's Fate (An #AshwoodWorld story)

An Alpha's Fate releases on 3/10/15 and can be pre-ordered now for $0.99 at Amazon.

She will not run a second time...


Logan sat in a rocker on the front porch, watching the dark forest. He hadn’t been able to sleep, his wolf too much on edge knowing that the Greenhedge wolves might be looking for Reagan. The murder of their Alpha gave them every right hunt her down. Plus her scent taunted him. The sweet caramel apple fragrance filled every inch of his cabin.

Damn the female for coming back. Damn himself for thinking of allowing her back into his heart. Really he had no choice. She was his fated mate.

A snap of twig sounded to his left just before the scent of apples drifted on the breeze. His wolf growled in his head. Logan waited until the female came into view. “Going somewhere?”

Her spine straightened and her hands fisted at her side. Not turning to him, she said, “I can’t stay here. I’ve already risked too much, exposing you. They’ll go after your Pack.”

“If, and that is a big if, they are after you, it’d be to congratulate you for killing the monster.”

That got her attention. She faced him. “You’ve known he was a psycho all this time?”

Her anger lashed out at him like a physical clap. Snarling he stood and advanced down the steps until he stood inches from her. “I did a little research after you went to bed. From what Connor said, Mason was working for Onyx and was a wanted man by the Council of Elders.”

She jerked back as if surprised by the information. “I never knew.” She sagged and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I was too busy dodging his fist.”

“And plotting your escape.” He softened his tone and reached out to her. Relief washed away some of his tension when she didn’t pull away. “Come inside. I have a few sentries keeping a watch out.”

Without warning, she hugged him tight. Closing his eyes, he held her to him, relishing in feel of her body against his. No matter how mad he’d been over the years, he still loved her.

Framing her face in his hands, he kissed her. A low growl vibrated from her as if the she-wolf approved. Need rocked through him and he tore his mouth from hers. Without a word, he linked their fingers and tugged her toward the bedroom.

Easing her down on the soft mattress, he gazed into the depths of her desire-filled eyes. The flame they once had flared to life as if waiting for the moment when they would reunite. He ran his knuckles down her cheek and she shuddered. “I’m not going to let you go this time.”

“I should have fought harder to mate with you, or at least told you what had happened.” Her hazel eyes watered.

“The past is behind us. I don’t have the strength to push you away or to hold my wolf back from making you ours, forever.”

Realization lit up her features. A shimmer of hope formed in her expression. “Then don’t. I’m yours. I’ve always been yours.”

He crushed his mouth to hers. A charged energy passed between, raw and hot. Her body under his felt too damn good, too perfect. He should have chased her the moment she left. However, things happened for a reason. Plus she came back to him.

Tearing his mouth from hers, he trailed light kisses down her jaw to her neck. A whimper escaped her and she tightened her grip on his hair. Her soft pants turned to moans as he gently bit down on the soft curve of her throat.

“I missed your scent on me,” he growled.

She pushed at his chest, then jerked at his shirt. “Too many clothes.”

Laughing he sat up on his knees and yanked his T-shirt off. She sucked her lower lip between her teeth. With desire bright in her gaze, she ran her fingers down his chest. He gritted his teeth and held onto the small amount of control he had left. When she reached the top of his jeans and started to undo them, he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the bed over her head.

With his free hand, he released his claws and smirked. “All your clothes will be burned. I’ll buy you new ones, because I hate his scent on you.”

“Then mark me.”


(c) 2015 LIa Davis

Thursday, February 26, 2015



Wolves of Willow Bend 
Rogue Wolf
Releasing February 27, 2015 




The Italian Alpha, Salvatore Esposito, crossed an ocean and dared to venture into unfriendly territory to hunt for his missing sister in Willow Bend. He’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means he must resist chasing the fierce enforcer who wakens his primal beast…anything.

As an enforcer, Margo Montgomery monitors the lone wolves. She is in the middle of investigating missing wolves from multiple territories when the order comes in to escort the Salvatore to Willow Bend. There’s bad blood between her and the current Alpha of Willow Bend, but they soon discover a new danger—a lone wolf gone rogue.

Now Margo must hunt the rogue—a pursuit made all the more dangerous because it becomes readily apparent the rogue they seek isn’t alone and Salvatore refuses to be left behind—not when wolves are vanishing without a trace… 



Rogue Wolf
Book #4 in the Wolves of Willow Bend Series


Series Reading Order:

Wolf at Law (Prequel)
Book 1: Wolf Bite
Book 2: Caged Wolf
Book 3: Wolf Claim
Book 4: Rogue Wolf


About the Author:

Heather Long

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Contact Details:

Email: heather@heatherlong.net

Excerpt:

Five cups of coffee and over a thousand miles later, she waited against the wall in the international arrivals area of Midway airport. Julian came through with the name of the airline—a flight via Canada—and the time of arrival. They had no photo of the Alpha and only his name. Plenty of humans stood around holding placards with names written on them. Margo didn’t bother.
The number of scents trailing around her—from the over-perfumed to the under-bathed—threatened to give her a headache. She’d taken an hour at a hotel to shower and change into fresh clothes. Fortunately, she hadn’t bloodied any clothes on her current assignment. Jeans, boots and a denim jacket over a dark green turtleneck fit for the current weather outside. She didn’t stand out, though a number of human males gave her a lingering look. Ignoring them, she scanned the new arrivals passing through the sliding glass doors with their bags.
Arms folded, she braced one foot against the wall. More arrivals spilled through the doors into the early morning light. She dismissed three men immediately. One dripped sweat, the second dripped illness, and the third—her nostrils flared—he avoided looking at anyone. She may not know her target’s appearance, but no Alpha walked with their head down and their gaze on the path in front of them.
A collection of women came through, all chattering about the delicious passenger—his height, his accent, his eyes—on their flight. Home from a holiday it would seem, and apparently the view on the plane trumped anything they’d seen on the ground.
The doors swished apart and fresh odors wafted toward her. Sampling the air, she scented him before she saw him. The hint of sweet-floral fragrance with an element of citrus, but beneath it all a distinctly masculine bite of hot sun on fur, and something her wolf couldn’t sort out.
A stream of businessmen waded through the travelers. Their suits were a dead giveaway, though so were the harried looks, cell phones in hand and rumpled appearances. Dismissing one after another, she stilled.
Awareness swept over her and she canted her head slowly to find one man had stopped a half-dozen feet away. Well over six feet in height, he towered over her five-foot-ten frame. Jet black hair crowned a deeply tanned face. Black eyes—true black, so dark she couldn’t make out a pupil—stared at her.
More than one set of eyes in the room turned toward him, and the crowd parted to walk wide of him. No one dared invade his space.
“Hello, Mr. Esposito,” she said, barely raising her voice. If he were who she believed him to be, he’d hear her anyway. The corner of his beautifully formed mouth quirked, and he made his way toward her. He carried only one mid-sized bag and moved with a tireless grace. The group of women who’d been gushing only moments before fell silent.
Yes, definitely Alpha. He had every woman’s attention and the men who weren’t admiring him, did their damnedest to stay out of his way. Straightening, Margo ignored the faint hint of heat licking along her skin. As the distance between them closed, her wolf quieted further, watchful and wary. An unfamiliar wolf in their midst—would he be friend or foe?
Buongiorno, signorina Montgomery.” Smooth. His accent stroked her senses, and she narrowed her eyes. For all the attention his looks received and the exotic bite of his scent, the handsome man before her didn’t radiate Alpha. His power didn't sweep out to encompass her like so many Alphas did on approach.
As a matter of fact— “Good morning, Mr. Esposito. Welcome to the United States.” Though the throng of the airport was heavy with new arrivals and those waiting to greet them, the crowd continued to avoid running into him. “Where is your pack?” Alphas might be the most powerful in a pack and they might rule with a velvet glove or iron fist, but they did not take sojourns into foreign lands without backup.
It wouldn’t be sane.
“They are not here,” he answered, then smiled. “You will take me to Willow Bend, yes?”
Cagey bastard. She refused to smile, however, no matter how charming his accent sounded and regardless of the way a shiver chased along her spine when he rolled his ‘r’s. “No, I’ll put your ass back on a plane if you don’t tell me where your pack is.” A lone Alpha? No.
“It is so hard to believe I would travel without an entourage?”
Holding his gaze proved a challenge, but he was not her Alpha. As an Enforcer, she bowed to no one. Keeping her posture relaxed, she raised her eyebrows. “No, not at all hard to believe if your wolves are elsewhere causing mischief.”
Pursing his lips, he squinted briefly. “Mischief—trouble? You’re worried my pack is doing something they shouldn’t?”
“We can stand here all day, Mr. Esposito. Until you tell me where your pack is, how many you brought, you’re not going anywhere. I won’t lead a Trojan Horse into any pack. If you’re a planning a coup or other trouble for any of the U.S. packs, you’ll have a problem with me. Capiche?”
His expression tightened briefly. “You do not carry the scent of pack,” he said as though it were a puzzle.
“No, I don’t. I don’t need to in order to deal with you.”
Sweat trickled down the back of her neck, and her wolf shifted within her restlessly. No power leaked from the presence within the man standing before her, but she and her wolf both knew he weighed, measured, and studied them. After a long moment, his lids dropped to half-closed and he took a step forward. The nearness amped her wariness. “Would it suffice for me to offer my word that they are performing no mischief?”
“At the risk of being insulting and challenging you directly…” She let the last three words hang in the air between them for a moment before continuing. “You are a stranger, so your word has no value.” Admittedly, he hadn’t lied to her as of yet and she gave him points for honesty.
“Admirable.” He made it sound like a compliment, if one left him perplexed. “Few would willingly oppose my desires, at least openly. Fewer still would refuse to back down.” Though his English was flawless, she didn’t let his comment sway her determination.
“Still not an answer to my question. Where is your pack, Mr. Esposito?” The perspiration sliding down her neck threatened to soak her shirt. Thankfully she’d worn the jacket, though even in the dense cloud of human bodies that made up the airport population, she didn’t doubt he would scent her distress sooner rather than later.
Neither she nor her wolf cared to rouse whatever sleeping beast the Alpha possessed, but they couldn’t afford to back down. If he proved intractable, she’d have to deal with him there and find an excuse to toss him back onto a plane. No one ever said the life of an Enforcer would be boring.
Bella, you amuse me, but I have little time for play.” A hint of authority crept into his words. “I will, however, show you courtesy as you made a request and your assistance would be useful as you know the terrain and I do not.”
Rather than interrupt, she simply raised her eyebrows and waited.
A frown, like a swift moving storm, gathered his brows together before they relaxed and the expression erased. Yep. She was pissing him off, a talent she had in spades.
“They are in Canada, in unclaimed territory. They will not cross into the United States until I send for them.”
“What part of Canada?” She pulled out her cellphone.
“A little town on the other side of border called Pierre St. Pete.”
Weird name, but it was Canada. She dialed Hadley as, last she’d heard, Hadley was in that area. “Hey, it’s me. I’m in Chicago. We have—” She glanced Esposito. “How many?”
An aggravated sigh, and his teeth gave an almost audible click. “Four.”
Gauging his expression, she tested a theory and simply raised her eyebrows again. Something was a tad off in his scent, but the exotic richness of it worked like a drug against her tired system, so she wasn’t sure if it was quite a lie.
His eyes didn’t change color but the weight of his stare seemed to double. “Four.” He repeated, “Only four.”
Hadley didn’t interrupt, but then she could hear the conversation clearly. “Four wolves from the Seven Hills Pack, Italy, in Pierre St. Pete, Canada. Keep on them, don’t engage. They’re waiting for word from their Alpha, who is here in the States with me.”
“Why do you get all the fun assignments?” Hadley teased. “Are any of his wolves hot?”
The Alpha’s lips twitched, and his bad mood evaporated. “Ask for Giovanni. He is very popular with the ladies in Rome.”
After clearing her throat, Hadley whispered. “Will do. Should I check in with you, Margo, or you want me to call Julian?”
Still eyeing Alpha Troublemaker, Margo said, “Julian, unless you think I need to know. I’m escorting him as far as Willow Bend.” Then because his smug smile annoyed her, she added, “Where he will be Mason’s problem and not mine.”
Goodbye, knowing smirk. Disconnecting the call, she motioned to the doors. “Shall we?”
“After you,” he said. “You know the way and, I promise, I will guard your back.”
Fantastic. A foreign Alpha with an agenda behind her, four foreign wolves waiting on the other side of the border, and she was on her way to see another Alpha who hated her.
The trip just kept getting better and better.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Wild Wicked Weekend 2015 was a blast!!!

I was lucky enough to get to go to San Antonio this past weekend with my mom to attend the Wild Wicked Weekend! If you've never been I HIGHLY recommend it for 2016. It's such an amazing time. It happens in the Menger Hotel which happens to be haunted! We totally had a ghost come see us a couple times. So fun!!!!

Here's a few pictures to show you how much fun we had so you'll mark your calendars for next year!!

 There was a dance review put on by our male hosts for the weekend. Taylor Cole (pictured above), Axl, Kelii, and Cole. Amazing performance!!!
 Stained glass ceiling in a portion of the Menger Hotel.
 I had a photo shoot with Heather Almendarez from Heather Lynn Portraits. This was a snapshot my mom took during the shoot. Can't WAIT to see the photos!!!
 Axl and I during one of the lunches! Such a super guy and adorable!!
 Cole, Taylor and Kelii with a little photo love!
 Me and my mum!!!
 Heather Long, fellow diva Rebecca Royce, and me!
 Heather Long photo bombing my selfie!! She cracks me up!!
 Me and mum on a carriage ride!
 Complete with a Cinderella slipper and Donovan our driver who was former Army and a super nice tour guide!
 Sex position gumby - best part of the con. Kid you not. So. Amazingly. Funny.
 Book signing! Sold all but a couple books! Yea!!
 The Elite authors that were there!!! Saranna, Roxie, Heather, me and Rebecca!!!
 Taylor giving great hugs!!
 Taylor and mum!!
 Axl and I after the book signing!
 Axl and mum!!
 Drag show...
 And the guys with the new winner!
And me and Robin Rotham at the dance party!!! Adore her!!

Seriously an amazing time!
Hope to see you all there next year!!!

Love, Jenn :)



The books in the Members Only Series can be found here...


Stand Alone


Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

Website - http://www.jenniferkacey.com/
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Guest Post: Making the Sausage, or, the Nuts and Bolts of Rewriting by J.J. Lore

Some might have the impression that writing is a magical experience. Authors wander around in a distracted daze as they listen their muses and when inspiration strikes, they plunge into their work in a fevered rush, emerging from their office days later with messed hair and a masterpiece. Well, maybe it works that way for some, but for me, it’s a very step-by-step process. First I get an idea, either about characters interacting or a sequence of action. I make notes, do research, come up with a rough outline, and then I bang out a first draft. After that comes the hard part; rewriting. What follows is a little snippet of a manuscript I’m working on. I’m going to show you the rough draft, made in the phase when I have to get at least a thousand words on the page a day. I just let the characters talk and push them through the scene. First, a little set-up; My guy Eidan is an alien sheriff recently arrived on an isolated planet to bring law and order to a wild mining camp. My gal is the town postmistress who’s been there a while. Let’s go!

“Would you like to sit down?”
“No, I’m all muddy.” She gestured at the clean floor with a slight frown.
The thought of some mud wasn’t much of a deterrent to sex in his mind, but she was a tidier person. If she needed to have her boots off, he was inclined to help. He crouched down at her feet and reached to help her unfasten the buckles that held her boots on. Her fingers tangled with his and skittered away to work at other locations. As she stepped out of the first boot, her hand landed on his shoulder while she balanced and he liked the pressure of her palm against his muscles. Another flare of arousal warmed him and his cock thickened as the possibilities of their position tantalized. He reminded himself there was no need to rush. They would have all night since Bryjid wouldn’t be back from her shift until mid-morning.
Teah cleared her throat and moved away from the wet puddle on the mat. She peered around the living room like she was trying to memorize the location of every piece of furniture and electronic device. He gestured toward the sofa and with a quick little nod she went to it. The sofa Bryjid had ordered was large, soft, and perfectly suited to various copulatory arrangements.  With a little sigh she sat down on the edge of a full, dark blue cushion, her feet perfectly aligned on the floor. She glanced up at him and her eyes widened slightly as he sat next to her, close enough to shift her his way, but not so near as to touch any part of her yet. He’d thought she was attractive before, but now, with the quiet house surrounding them and the evening stretching ahead, he let himself look. Full lips, deep brown eyes, and little tumbles of curling russet hair, damp from the rain.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here,” she said in a rush. “I’ve just been thinking about this for a couple of days and knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if I didn’t deal with it.”
Not an especially ringing endorsement of coitus, but he was sure he could please her.
“I’ve heard some rumors. Gossip. People like to talk about newcomers.”
Ah, she was worried their assignation might become common knowledge. “Most of it is false, I’m sure.”
“Have you spoken with Bokum again?”
Eidan paused, drawn from his study of the shape of her mouth by her abrupt change in subject. Talking before intimacy was certainly acceptable, especially if it put her at ease. Once they began he was sure she wouldn’t be able to string a sentence together. “No. Is there some story about him?”
Her hand crept his way and clutched at the sofa cushion. “Yes. He’s, well, he’s untrustworthy. A criminal.”
Eidan nodded for her to continue.
“He’s not happy you’re here. Either of you, or Collective law for that matter. He has a lot of power in this town. A lot to lose.”
“I’m aware,” Eidan said, wondering how to get her back on track. He wasn’t worried about the maneuverings of a minor extortionist in this isolated place. He’d faced down @@@@ in his time as chief investigations officer on Eleon. A small man in a muddy suit was hardly going to evade the law when Eidan moved to enforce it. “I appreciate you coming to tell me about it.”
Her brows drew together. “I had to. You’re in some peril and deserve to know.”
Ahh, so she harbored kind feelings toward him. That would make their encounter all the more passionate. He leaned a little closer.
“There’s something else,” Teah said as her cheeks flushed pink. “It might not be something that you’re interested in anyway, so I hesitate to mention it.”
She smelled sweet; of some sort of flower he’d encountered long ago and forgotten until now.
“I’m embarrassed to bring it up,” she said in a quavering voice, a quick smile flitting across her mouth. He wondered how she might be.
“I think our conversation has gone remarkably well so far,” he replied with as an encouraging tone as possible.
“It’s ah, about sex.”
As soon as the words left her lips his whole body tensed. Any doubts he had about finding a human female arousing were firmly erased by the primal surge in his body.

Not too bad. I’m having them come at the conversation from different directions, which I love to write, but upon further reading, I realize I want more of Eidan’s lust for her to come out. He’s hot for her and confident, which I want to play up. Her reactions are fine since she’s visiting merely to warn him so the stakes are low for her. I also want to play up his ‘otherness’ by making his language more formal, as if he’s learned it from a manual and doesn’t have a grasp of slang or colloquialisms.

“Would you like to sit down?”
“No, I’m all muddy.” She gestured at the clean floor with a slight frown.
The thought of some mud wasn’t much of a deterrent to sex in his mind, but she was a tidier person. If she needed to have her boots off, he was inclined to help. He crouched down at her feet and reached to help her unfasten the buckles that held her impervious boots on. Her fingers tangled with his and skittered away to work at other locations. As she stepped out of the first boot, her hand landed on his shoulder while she balanced and he liked the pressure of her palm against his muscles. Another flare of arousal warmed him and his cock thickened as the possibilities of their position tantalized. He reminded himself there was no need to rush even though his body was longing for hers. They would have all night since Bryjid wouldn’t be back from her shift until mid-morning. What an unexpected but completely welcome way to conclude his day. (Okay, I added that last sentence so show he’s confident she’s there to get in bed with him. He’s sure she finds him irresistible. He’s in for a big shock.)
Teah cleared her throat and moved away from the wet puddle on the mat. She peered around the living room like she was trying to memorize the location of every piece of furniture and electronic device. He gestured toward the sofa and with a quick little nod she scurried to it. The sofa Bryjid had ordered was large, soft, and perfectly suited to various copulatory arrangements.  With a little sigh she sat down on the edge of a full, dark blue cushion, her feet perfectly aligned on the floor. She glanced up at him and her eyes widened slightly as he sat next to her, close enough to shift her his way, but not so near as to touch any part of her yet. He’d thought she was attractive before, but now, with the quiet house surrounding them and the evening stretching ahead, he let himself assess and appreciate her even more. Full lips, deep brown eyes, and little tumbles of curling russet hair, damp from the rain. Unusual, but very pretty. (Put in that last sentence to point out they are different species and what we find normal, brown hair and eyes, he finds exotic.)
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here,” she said in a rush. “I’ve just been thinking about this for a couple of days and knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if I didn’t deal with it.”
Not an especially ringing endorsement of coitus, rather like something she was checking off her to-do list, but he was sure he could please her. She didn’t seem to need a reply because she continued. (I decided I needed to indicate dialogue here.)
“I’ve heard some rumors. Gossip. People like to talk about newcomers.”
Ah, she was worried their assignation might become common knowledge. “Most of it is baseless, I’m sure.” (Switched false with baseless to increase formality and sound more legalese, since he’s a sheriff.)
She shook her head and again clasped her hands together. “Have you spoken with Bokum again?”
Eidan paused, drawn from his study of the shape of her mouth by her abrupt change in subject. General conversation before intimacy was certainly acceptable, especially if it put her at ease. Once they began he was sure she wouldn’t be able to string a sentence together. “No. Is there some story about him?” (Again, changed a word to make him sound more formal.)
Her hand crept his way and clutched at the sofa cushion. “Yes. He’s, well, he’s untrustworthy. A criminal.”
Eidan nodded for her to continue. She leaned closer and lowered her voice. (I put this sentence in so the reader can visualize their postures and show that Eidan sees her as getting closer to him as a prelude to seduction. In reality, she’s just nervous and wants to keep her voice down.)
“He’s not happy you’re here. Either of you, or Collective law for that matter. He has a lot of power in this town. A lot to lose.”
“I’m aware,” Eidan said, wondering how to get her back on track. He wasn’t worried about the maneuverings of a minor extortionist in this isolated place. He’d faced down contract killers, rogue bounty hunters, and armed gangs in his time as chief investigations officer on Eleon. A small man in a muddy suit was hardly going to evade the law when Eidan moved to enforce it. “I appreciate you coming to tell me about it.” (And here’s another one of my ways to get the words on the page when I’m writing a first draft; using @@@@ to skip a section where I’ll go back and add more detail when I’m re-writing. I couldn’t think of a list of bad guys at the time, so I just kept going.)
Her brows drew together. “I had to. You’re in some peril and deserve to know.”
Ahh, so she harbored kind feelings toward him. That would make their encounter all the more passionate. He leaned a little closer.
“There’s something else,” Teah said as her cheeks flushed pink. This was looking promising. “It might not be something that you’re interested in anyway, so I hesitate to mention it.”
She smelled sweet; of some sort of flower he’d encountered long ago and forgotten until now.
“I’m embarrassed to bring it up,” she said in a quavering voice, a quick smile flitting across her mouth. He wondered how demanding she might be. It would be interesting to be directed during a sexual encounter. (I re-read this part and knew I needed a stronger sexual hint here, so I threw in ‘demanding’ and the next sentence about him speculating about her proclivities.)
“I think our conversation has gone remarkably well so far,” he replied with as an encouraging tone as possible.
“It’s ah, about sex.”
As soon as the words left her lips his whole body tensed. Any doubts he had about finding a human female arousing were firmly erased by the primal surge in his body.

So that reads a little better to me. I feel like more of Eidan’s personality has come out and I ramped up his sexual tension too. Mission accomplished! Once I’ve completed this stage of re-writing, I send the piece off to my critique partner. When she sends me suggestions, I start the whole process over again.







Unexpected

By J. J. Lore

Evernight Publishing


ASIN/ISBN: B00NRIUX3G


Voted best Sci-fi book for 2014 in Evernight Publishing’s Reader’s Choice Awards



As two Alphan warriors on the fast track to promotion and improved status, Mikel and Felix of the Tauride have their future planned out. They intend to go from performing security duties for the Prince while he visits Earth to eventually earning the right to seek out their human mate and rescue her in some dramatic way, impressing her and earning her love. But a chance encounter with a lovely young woman sends them both down a markedly different path.

Shy Alisa Sorrel merely wanted to see a rose garden, then retreat back to her safe and sequestered life in the Women’s Refuge on Earth, but once she encounters two earnest and determined Alphan officers, she’s forced out of her shell and into a whole new world of passion.

Even as the bonds they share tighten and satisfy needs they’d never imagined, Alisa, Felix, and Mikel are soon faced with danger and betrayal from the machinations of humans and Alphans alike. The Alphans will have the chance to rescue their fair damsel after all, but will they make it in time?


Buy links

http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Planet-Alpha-J-J-Lore-ebook/dp/B00NRIUX3G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1412297511&sr=1-1&keywords=unexpected+j+j+lore

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-unexpected-1640262-340.html

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/unexpected-by-j-j-lore/


Author Bio

J. J. Lore needs three things; strong, black coffee, time to write, and…well…you can guess the third. When she isn’t inventing fantastical tales filled with passionate people, she’s shaking sriracha on whatever she’s eating or reading about the Justinian plague.

For updates on her erotic romance releases, visit her at:

Website: http://www.jjlore.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-J-Lore/1393971707546734 ,

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8188490.J_J_Lore

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/J.J.-Lore/e/B00KDSRZN4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1407368835&sr=1-2-ent

Twitter: @JJLore1


Monday, February 23, 2015

Guest Diva, Louisa Bacio, Heats Things Up!

Are you looking for something to warm up a cold winter's night? Well then, I've got the book for you!

Louisa Bacio has a brand new book, Twin Cities, releasing on Feb. 25 from Ellora’s Cave and it looks like a hot one.



Blurb


Sure, Nate fantasized about a ménage á trois with two hot sorority sisters, but he never expected it to come true. On a business trip to Kansas City, reality becomes even better than fantasy when Desiree and Sherrie, a buxom blonde duo, get down and dirty. When the threesome get into bed, Nate discovers the ladies share a mutual lust, and not just for him—and two is not too much to handle.

Excerpt

Desiree bounced in first, throwing her tits against him. Umm, her arms around him. “Oh my God! What are the odds we’d all be here at the same time?”

Each jump resulted in playful corresponding movements. Her low-cut shirt didn’t hide an inch of cleavage.

“Just crazy,” he said. Her hair smelled like flowers, not overwhelming but noticeable.
Over her shoulder, he grinned at Sherrie and raised his eyebrows as if to ask, “Is she always this crazy?”

She returned his smile. “Good to see you, Nate.”

Desiree released her hold on him. “Oh, so sorry. I was so excited. You remember Sherrie, right?”

How could he forget? She might have been the quieter of the two, but she was an equal stunner. While Desiree didn’t hesitate to partake in bathroom blowjobs, Sherrie had hung with the sorority sisters more, and then got a long-time boyfriend. Some blowhard he didn’t remember the name of. Didn’t matter. He checked her ring finger, and it was clear. So she wasn’t married, or wasn’t wearing.

“Oh course I do.”

He hugged her for good measure, and her breasts pressed pleasurably against his chest. He told his little head to stay chill and not get all happy quite yet. Chicks may not appreciate that type of attention as soon as they walked into a guy’s hotel room.

“Come on in,” he said, ushering them inside. He’d forgotten how much they looked alike, as if it was more a figment of his imagination—true sorority sisters. Both were blondes, but while Desiree’s hair was platinum and flashy, Sherrie’s was more honey-toned.

“Look at this place!” Des said. She placed her purse on the couch and did a spin. “It’s huge. You must be doing quite well for yourself, Nate.”

“I can’t complain. It’s not bad to travel when you get to put it on your expense account.” He moved toward the bar. “Can I offer you two a drink?”

They exchanged a look and Sherrie nodded yes. “We’d love one. From this spread of goodies, I’d think you were trying to keep us in tonight…”

Her words trailed off, leaving the meaning open. She rubbed his shoulder, a sense of familiarity between them.

“Who, me?” he said. “Well, with you two beautiful ladies, would you blame a guy for trying?”


About Louisa Bacio

A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels.

Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture.