7 Days of Seduction–Horny Hump Day 6/20/12 Day 5: Cold Play

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WARNING:  MATERIAL NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18!

NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

Participating authors in Horny Hump Day post three sentences from their published works or WIP, hot enough to sizzle on the sidewalk! LOL

Today’s Horny Hump Day continues with Day 5 of 7 Days of Seduction.  Hunter and Ashley are in her bedroom and Hunter has brought her a bag full of playthings, though not the usual ones.  Here’s more sentences from his ice play.

 

She shuddered as he ran the melting ice down her abdomen, over her mound, to her clit.  The icy fingers pressed, rubbed, tweaked her clitoris until she ached with need.  “Put your dick in me, Hunter…please…please…I want to feel your hot dick now,” she begged.

Things are definitely heating up!

Please check out the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.   The site also gives the details of how to sign up for next week if you’d like to play with us. 🙂

Thanks so much for visiting the Journal once more for Horny Hump Day.

Posted in Blog Hops, On Horny Hump Day, On Seven Days of Seduction, On Writing Erotic Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Sexy Summer Solstice Bloghop 2012

How will you celebrate the solstice?

1.  Visit Stonehenge.  This site on the Salisbury plain is a well-known place where people gather to celebrate the solstice.  It’s one of the ancient traditions that originally drew me to the holiday.  I’d love to be at the site and see the light on midsummer’s morning shining through the standing stones.

 

2.  A Day at the Beach.  Summer fun in the sand–what could be better?  A little oil, a little heat and who knows what sparks might fly!

 

 

3.  A Romantic Picnic.  “A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou.”  Who could ask for anything more?  Well, perhaps some strawberries, a little cream, and chocolate.  Sounds like a romantic menu to me!

 

 

4.  A Fireworks Celebration.  Fireworks are always a great way to celebrate any festive occasion.  you don’t have to wait for the 4th of July.  Those sparklers are already available–grab a few and make your own private fireworks display.

 

5.  Read a Good Book.  As the sign says, Reading is Sexy.  Wouldn’t you just love to read over his shoulder?  And what better to read than romance!

If you’re in the market for a few good books, check out mine!

 

Coming later this summer:

Only Scandal Will Do

Blurb:

He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?

Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.

Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she’s a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he’ll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who’ll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family’s name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He’s betting their future he’ll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?

WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.

Available now:

Hog Wild

Blurb:

When Lula Wolfendale’s motorcycle breaks down on her way to a Harley rally, she makes a detour into tiny Shoshone, CA to find a replacement.  Seducing biker Beau Hogue and commandeering his Harley is easy; finding sexual satisfaction is a “hog” of a different color.  A Blue Phantom, to be exact, owned by Beau’s older brother Jesse.  After brief, unsatisfying encounters with his younger brothers, Lula approaches Jesse with a proposition:  a sexual battle for his Phantom, where Lula will emerge with either a bike to die for or the climax of her dreams.  Or is there a way for her to obtain both?

Almost Perfect

Blurb:

Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, promises to jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her past.  Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy takes an alarming wrong turn when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island—with ex-husband Roger Ware.

Forced by hunger to accept Roger’s offer of dinner,  Pam realizes the geek she married has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. His newfound confidence—and hot body—re-kindle old fires.  A simple kiss leads Roger to challenge her to discover how much his lovemaking skills have improved, leaving Pam torn between self-preservation and burning desire.

With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.

Heart of Deception

Blurb:

Celinda Graham—young, naïve, passionate—is head-over-heels in love with Andrew Finley, Viscount Hurston and insists on marrying him. Unfortunately, Andrew’s family has been feuding with Celinda’s for generations.  When her father refuses to allow the marriage, Andrew proposes a scandalous way to get his approval.  But Andrew has a secret that may spell disaster to his plans if Celinda finds out he is not what he seems.

Leave me a comment telling me how you intend to spend the solstice, including your email address, and be entered to win a book of your choice from my published works. You’ll also be entered to win the Bloghop Grand Prize:  A NOOK Simple Touch with Glowlight.

Now, continue the hop by clicking on the logo below to take you to the rest of the bloghop participants.  Enjoy!

Posted in Blog Hops, Contests, On Almost Perfect, On Heart of Deception, On Hog Wild, On Only Scandal Will Do | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Too Damn Hot! Hot Summer Nights Erotica Bloghop

During the sultry summer nights, what are some things that make you hot?

A steamy shower with a partner to wash your back (and other bits)?

 

An office luncheon just for two?

 

 

 

A new sex video?

 

A candlelight session in bed?

 

 

 

 

A suits optional pool party?

 

 

 

A surprise ménage a trois?

 

 

A hot erotic romance that makes you want to jump your significant other and role play?

 

Then take a peek at 7 Days of Seduction, my latest erotic contemporary romance:

 

 

Excerpt from 7 Days of Seduction:

“Back it up to where he comes in the room.  You’re sure you don’t know him?”  Ashley took a good look at the man’s face for the first time.  She didn’t know him, but man she wished she did.  Curly dark hair, nicely tanned skin, straight dark brows over wicked eyes.  The camera caught the half-smile that widened to an outright grin as he pounded into her again and again.  Her pussy clenched at the sight, as though trying to recapture the moment.  Ash groaned.  “Go to the beginning.  Who is that son-of-a-bitch?  Did he just walk up and stick his dick in me?  Did he even ask?”

“I don’t know, but you seem to be enjoying yourselves, whoever he was.”  Sam pushed a couple of keys and rubbed his fingers over the mouse.  “Here we go.  You’d just put my dick in your mouth.  Hadn’t even gotten a decent rhythm going yet, and then he walks in.”

“Why didn’t you say something when he came in?”

“My eyes were closed, I had a great buzz going, and your lips were around my dick.  The house could have burned down and I wouldn’t have known it.”

Ashley propped herself up on her elbows, inches from the screen, clutched her hair, eyes riveted as the door opened and Mr. Hunk walked in.  Yeah, he was a hunk, no question about it.  He didn’t seem surprised to see her down on her knees, her lips shrink-wrapped around Sam’s shaft.  A smile curled up on one side of his lips, in fact, and the sudden gleam in his eye made her swallow hard.

He strode over to stand behind her for a moment, then grabbed her arm and pulled her to stand in front of him.  Her lips leaving Sam’s dick made a funny sucking sound.  Ashley watched herself look into his face, cock her head, and smile at him.  “Hi.”

“Hi, Ash. Mind if I join you?” Before she could answer he pulled her head to him and fastened his mouth to hers.

He knows me? How does he know me?  And hell, I really wish I could remember this!  That kiss looks smokin’ hot.  Just watching it set her body to humming.  This was so unfair.  Ash could see the moment he deepened the kiss—his jaw widened and she pressed her naked breasts to his chest and rubbed against him.  It was agony to watch and not be able to feel it.

If hot Harley bikers are more your thing, then check out my first erotic tale, Hog Wild:

Excerpt from Hog Wild:

“As I said, Jesse, I have a proposition for you.”

“I seem to recall that being mentioned.” His big baby-blues, deep enough to fall into, took on a harder glint. “What’s on your mind, Lula?”

“I want your Phantom.”

He choked, fighting beer in his mouth as liquid threatened to spew. Finally swallowing, he coughed, cleared his throat and shot her a look that said—

“Lady, you are out of your fuckin’ mind.”

“Perhaps. But I’m also desperate enough not to care about being called crazy.” She stared back at him, unwavering.

His dark brows furrowed. “Desperate? What’s wrong?”

“I need to get to the Harley rally in Concord tomorrow.”

“You’re in desperate need of a bunch of hogs?” The mystified look and bewilderment in his voice made her want to laugh. But she couldn’t afford the time.

“Yes. That’s it exactly.”

His face contorted with the effort not to laugh, but he snorted anyway. “And just why do you need so many Harley owners? You starting your own club?”

“No. I need a good fuck and I figure with that many hogs, I’m bound to turn up one who can get the job done.”

She had to give it to him, Jesse’s mouth dropped open only a little bit at her bald statement. He blatantly looked her up and down, then shook his head.

“Lula, I’m not one to call a lady a liar, but are you telling me you can’t get anyone to fuck you?”

Those eyes, she couldn’t stop staring into his fucking brilliant blue eyes. “Oh, no. They’ll all offer to fuck me. And they all give me their best shot.” She pursed her lips. “Much good it does me, however.”

“Ah.” His baby-blues relaxed. “The lady is unsatisfied. I’m sorry.” His voice softened to a low, seductive tone. “That’s truly a shame.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Anything I can do?”

Bingo. Lula smiled her most seductive smile. “You want to help me? By giving me your Phantom?”

A grin stole over his starkly handsome face. Lean cheeks with an early evening beard, hawk-like nose, broad forehead, and those damn sexy eyes all lit up with the joy of that grin. “I was actually thinking of a different sort of help, Lula. The kind that would make your trip, uh, unnecessary.”

He leaned forward and pulled her into a kiss that startled her as much by its intensity as by its sweetness. His tongue stabbed into her mouth, softly explored teeth, tongue, inner cheeks, and sent hot piercing jolts down into her pussy. Leaning back, he toyed with her fingers. “So what do you think? Wanna give me a shot?”

Lula studied their hands, hesitating just long enough. “But what if I still can’t come? I mean, no offense, Jesse, but it’s not like I haven’t been trying.”

“Then I’ll take you to Concord myself.”

“On the Phantom?”

He laughed, released her hand and took a sip of his beer. “You sound like you’ve got the hots for my chopper.”

“Well,” she paused, licked her lips, “I’d say it’s a dead heat, now.” His deep baritone chuckle sent a pleasant chill down her spine. “And I promise, even if it doesn’t happen for me, I’ll make sure I take care of you before we leave.” She leaned back in her chair and narrowed her eyelids to sultry slits. “A promise I will keep, Jesse. I swear.”

And if you’d rather get hot on a tropical island, try Almost Perfect:

Excerpt from Almost Perfect:

“I came to make peace.” He waved the bottle at her. “Thought you might be thirsty by now.”

Her eyes fastened on the green glass, her mouth suddenly dry as though she’d eaten sand. She took a step toward him then froze, unwilling to take anything from Roger, not there anyway. That would make her feel weak, dependent. At this moment, though, she had to acknowledge, she was weak, dependent and thirsty.

“Come on, Pam. It’s only water.” He still held the tempting thing out to her. Damn. She tromped up to him, her steps thumping as loud as she could make them on the packed sand. Stopping an arm’s length from him, she peeled one hand away from her breasts and shifted her other to cover as much as possible. For once, she thanked God for a B cup. She snared the bottle, shot him a look of triumph, only to realize it remained capped. To open it she’d have to use her other hand.

Furious, she shifted her gaze from the tantalizing object to his gleeful eyes. “Would you open this for me, please?”

“Suddenly lost all your strength, have you, hon?” His eyes took on a hunger she remembered. “It’s not as if I’ve never seen your breasts before.”

“Then you don’t need to see them again, do you?” Heat rose in her cheeks. “Come on, open it. You said it was a peace offering.”

“And these are part of the peace negotiations.” He stood, arms crossed over his muscled chest, better looking than she remembered. Not fair.

“I’m bored. My date still hasn’t turned up, so I thought I’d come harass you a while. I’ll tell you what.” He reached for the Perrier and unscrewed the cap, but didn’t offer it to her. “You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”

“And why would I want to see yours again?” Her eyes remained on the bottle resting at his hips and watched the carbonated bubbles rising to the top.

“For old time’s sake?” His eyes flashed with mischief as he tipped the sparkling water up and started to drink. She stared, her parched lips opened in outrage. Glug, glug. He made that sound on purpose. Was he going to drink the whole damned thing?

After swallowing at least a third of the contents, he came up for air. “Ah! Hits the spot every time.” He grinned. “Still can’t take a joke? Too bad. Here.” He thrust it toward her. Grabbing with both hands, she shoved the end into her mouth so quick the glass clicked against her teeth. Greedily, she sucked in and almost choked. The exquisite, light lime-flavored water rushed into her body to hydrate the parched cells. Three more guzzles and she breathed deeply, satisfied for the moment.

She pulled the lip away and wiped her hand across her chin where she had dribbled some. Holding it out to him, she noticed his slack-jawed attention riveted straight on her chest. Which meant….

“You still look fine, Pam. Mighty fine.” Her ex-husband licked his lips, his grin reaching almost ear to ear. If there weren’t still some water left in the bottle, she’d brain him with it.

He reached down and slipped off his sandals, then untied his drawstring, all the while gawking at her breasts. With one swift movement, he shucked his pants to reveal a hard, tanned body, complete with a serious erection.

She hadn’t seen that coming. Her mouth dropped open as the Perrier hit the sand. She stared at his fully aroused cock, a shiver of pure desire sparking through her before she dragged her gaze back up to his face. A low chuckle rumbled deep in his chest. “A promise is a promise. You showed me yours.” He threw her one more impish grin before taking off for the water. “You coming?”

Leave a comment for me with your email address to enter for a chance to win your choice of my published erotic works.  Don’t forget to continue on the Hot Summer Nights Erotica Bloghop by clicking the logo below.  Remember:  the more you hop, the more naughty goodies you can win!

Posted in Blog Tours, Contests, On Seven Days of Seduction | Tagged , , , , , , | 107 Comments

Guest Blogger: Sue Koenig and The Genesis of Nineteen Hundred

I am so pleased to be able to introduce you to a friend and fellow historical writer, Susan Koenig.  At my request, Sue is going to talk a bit about the inspiration for her recently released historical short story Nineteen Hundred.
The inspiration for Nineteen Hundred basically comes from one line in my now discarded Devil’s Mistress manuscript. A friend questioned the meaning of “He never said another word about that ever again.”

The following excerpt is from the Mistress’s POV.

“I’ve never felt like this before, or certainly not in the last century.”

I wonder if he meant to say that aloud. He was quiet for a minute as if thinking about the implications of the thought he had just mumbled.

He appeared uncomfortable; twisting his devil’s claw ring round and round, his forehead creased in thought. I found it almost amusing to see a man who worked for  the Devil so nervous.    Then after what seemed like a long silence, he said,

“The last time ended badly.” He never said another word about that ever again.

And somehow Lori (gotta love friends like her) greased my imagination. I figured out when he would have had this unpleasant experience and how they could have met, what kind of woman she would have been and the encounters they would have had. And what impact the ramifications from the past would have on the present. To tell the truth, it just came alive on its own volition, though I spoke to Gideon and Kathryn for quite a while before I felt ready to put words to their lives.

As an aside, one of the best things about being a writer, is we’re never lonely.

In the fall of 2010, I signed up for writing classes with the continuing studies branch of the local university. At the time my main characters were a very emotionally disturbed husband and wife who I had great plans for. Alas, Gideon entered my life and the couple faded into distant memory

The inspiration for the Devil’s agent arose from a discussion in class about Dead Like Me, a TV show, and from something I read about a devil’s mistress. I wrote the original story in late fall 2010. Then, in December 2010, we took a holiday to New Orleans. A story I heard at one of the plantations sparked my imagination that it would be fun if agents of the devil also came to New Orleans to help solve the mystery. And so the second story was born. And the seeds for further development were sown.

In September, 2011, I signed up for two classes online. When the second class, on dialogue and character building, was over I was so pumped that a steady stream of words bubbled out of me.

With no intention of elaboration I started writing anyway, still pumped by my recent classes. Nineteen Hundred is the result of that one line I’d never intended to expand on. Since I’d never written an historical before, I found the challenges interesting. Text messaging plays a prominent role in my Devil stories. It’s how he receives his assignments. Right before I started Nineteen Hundred, I wrote a story that takes place in the 1930s. It included text messaging. I don’t remember if I realised it, or if someone pointed the technological discrepancy out to me, but it forced me to find another method to use in the historical.

Okay, Jenna’s gonna scream. This is wordier than she asked for.  As long as the characters and scenes continue, the genesis of the ideas is unimportant.

What unique sources have you tapped for your stories?

And thank you so much for everything Jenna!

Only screaming for more, Sue!  Especially more of The Devil’s Mistress.  Are you sure that one’s gone for good?  But I am looking forward to more of An Ordinary Couple as soon as you post more on SSS.  And thank you so much for posting on Jenna’s Journal today.  Loved having you.

Blurb for Nineteen Hundred

The right love, the wrong time

December 31, 1899. At a dinner, hosted by her landlady, to celebrate the new century, Kathryn St. Clair meets sophisticated and handsome Gideon Thomas. He is a new lodger at the boarding house where she has settled since arriving in the city for a teaching position. His air of mystery speaks to her romantic imagination.

Later, over a game of Whist, they pay more attention to each other than to the cards on the table. Her honesty reaches out to him; her rare innocence touches his dark soul.

Together they visit several city amusements. But when, in her naiveté, Kathryn demands explanations for Gideon’s irrational comings-and-goings, wondering if he is a gentleman after all, his secrets forbid him from answering. He fears the truth would throw her into madness, and that her intelligence would not allow for his reality.

If they don’t conquer their conflicting natures, their new love will die, leaving Gideon to live with the bitter consequences of his misconceptions. 

Excerpt from Nineteen Hundred

Kathryn squirmed on the desk chair as she debated what to write her mother at home in Canada. Everything in the room appeared scaled down, so unlike her large childhood bedchamber that faced the back gardens; the flowers perfuming the room all spring and summer, the birds chirping and the white curtains starched to a stiffness that only a substantial breeze would stir.

On the left stood her inkwell and in front of her the pretty rose patterned stationary. Blank.

She wrote 17 January, 1900.  And what shall I say? Dear Mama. I can tell her about the special dinner on New Year’s Eve. Imagine! A new century. Who knows what the future will bring?

This chair was really too small to sit in comfortably and the straw seat dug into her straight through the delicate fabric of the sleeping gown.

            I can discuss the weather of course and work and my students.

As she thought about her family, Mr. Thomas came to mind. She particularly liked his well-trimmed beard and moustache. And his eyes. She knew if she gazed into those pools long enough she might drown.  At the same time they rarely revealed his thoughts. He was certainly a distinguished looking gentleman, and when he smiled it cheered her even after a day of teaching. They called each other by their first names now, although they had met only two weeks earlier. But she still felt uncomfortable thinking of him as ‘Gideon’.

She smiled and heat flowed to her cheeks.  If they had been introduced at home, her aunt would have accompanied them, but here she knew no one to act as chaperon, and if truth be told, the lack of a third-party pleased her. Two nights ago, walking home from the theater, they had been so close that his fingertips had brushed against hers; the temptation teased her to hold his hand, so warm and comfortable. She recalled their hand shake on New Years Eve and his assistance with the carriages.   He probably thought she hadn’t noticed since she had been chattering away.    But she had noticed the stir of air as his fingers drew closer to hers. I hope it was deliberate and not an accident.

She admonished herself to cease this train of thought at once. It felt so…evil.

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Six Sentence Sunday–06/17/12 Seven Days of Seduction–Day 5: Burnin’ Love

Welcome back to Six Sentence Sunday!

Thanks once again to everyone for your great support each week.  I do appreciate your comments, so keep them coming.  I also look forward to visiting your sites and reading your wonderful snippets.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads and Granddads!  Have a fantastic day with your kids.  You earned it.  Unfortunately, I don’t have a scene that involves a Dad.  Though one might have participated in some such shenanigans nine months previous to becoming a Dad. LOL

Today I’m offering another snippet from my  WIP Seven Days of Seduction–an erotic novella out to the publisher now– about Ashley and the man she runs into–in her shower.  We’re still on Day 5 of Seduction–an adventure that sizzles!  It’s a bit more colorful as well.  Hunter has brought her a bag full of playthings, though not the usual ones.  He’s running hot and cold with some BDSM play.  Here’s the HOT part.  Enjoy!

 

The first drop of candle wax hit the cheek he had just kissed and she shrieked, as much from surprise as from the dart of pain that welled forth.  The image of a hypodermic needle plunging into her ass rose in her mind.  “Give a girl some warning, why don’t you?”  Brief though the sting was, it setup the corresponding dread of the next drop.

 

“No anticipation, no fun, Ash.”

 

A stream of burning sensation sang its way up the small of her back and Ashley squealed, grinding her face into the towel. 

Sometimes scorching hot describes more than just a sex scene!  Hope you found this SSS blistering fun!

Thanks once more for visiting Six Sentence Sunday.  Click the SSS to try out more author snippets.  I bet you’ll enjoy yourself!

Posted in On Seven Days of Seduction, On Six Sentence Sunday | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Sweet Saturday Sample–6/09/12 Time Enough To Love: Betrothal

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s another post from my new WIP, my medieval trilogy Time Enough To Love.  Part 1 is called Betrothal.  The series is set in England and France in 1348.  Betrothal takes place at the court of King Edward III.  I’ve almost completed the first revision!

Lady Alyse de Courcy is a waiting gentlewoman to Princess Joanna, youngest daughter of King Edward.  As the book opens, Alyse is anxiously awaiting word of her betrothal.  She would prefer to marry Lord Brayton, a knight and courtier to the king, who has taken her fancy.  Alyse is watching Lord Brayton while a new courtier is presented to the court.  Now Alyse has been called before the king.  After receiving the new that the new courtier, Sir Geoffrey Longford, is her betrothed, a dazed Alyse manages to finally speak. (Disclaimer:  This work is not yet edited, so please forgive any flaws.)

 

“I affirm Lady Alyse to be all that could be hoped for in a wife.  Please you and God, we shall make the match, and with all good haste.”

 

His self-satisfied tone and the thought of his outrageous teasing touched a contrary flame in Alyse.   She pulled her wits together and beamed brilliantly at her newly betrothed lord. “Take care my lord, for the wise women say ‘Marry in haste, repent at your leisure.’” 

 

Sir Geoffrey raised a dark eyebrow while those around the banquet hall laughed.  Heart pounding at her audacity, Alyse watched helplessly as he reached over and lifted her hand.  “Such repentance could never be suffered too slowly, my lady, if ’twere your gentle hand that held mine through it.”

 

Laughter and applause washed over Alyse, struck absolutely dumb at the touch of his lips to her skin.  Her heart pounded, and there was a strange roaring in her ears; she wondered vaguely if she was about to faint.  His big, rough hand shot a blazing streak up her arm that lodged in her chest, stilling her breath. 

 

Spellbound, she watched him, head bent over her now smoldering hand, kissing it with an unhurried thoroughness that seemed to stop time.  His lips scorched where they lingered, all the while spreading fire that consumed her body and mind. Had she the strength, she would have snatched it from his grasp to save herself from immolation.  Other men had danced with her, held her hand, kissed it. They had never made her feel thus.

 

In a daze she watched Geoffrey wrench his lips from her hand and stand, eyes widened as if amazed.  His brows furrowed a moment, then he spoke to the king. “May I ask, Your Majesty, when the banns will be read?  I am sorely pressed to begin my repentance.”

 

The king chuckled. “You are impatient, Sir Geoffrey, but with such beauty before you, I well understand your desire for haste.  The first banns will be read this Sunday, and a fortnight hence you shall be husband and wife.  Now take the maid to back to her table lest you devour her with your eyes.” 

 

Alyse wanted to fan her hot face, furious at having been made such a spectacle in front of the court, but accompanied him obediently.  Indeed he gave her no choice, for he placed her arm atop his and started toward her table.  At least the humiliation is over.

 

As if reading her thoughts, Geoffrey shot her a mischievous glance that made her heart leap into her throat, then coolly reversed his direction. Instead of taking the direct route to her table, a mere half-dozen steps away, his course now included the entire Great Hall. King Edward laughed in approval at his courtier’s boldness as Geoffrey proceeded to stop at every table to present her as his betrothed.

I hope you enjoyed this sample of  Time Enough to Love.  Stop by SSS tomorrow for six sentences from 7 Days of Seduction.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.

Posted in On Sweet Saturday Sample, On Time Enough to Love, On Works in Progress | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Only Scandal Will Do–Official Excerpts!

In the midst of trying to finish up edits and then being out of town–and then recovering from being out of town–I forgot to post the official excerpts for my forthcoming historical romance Only Scandal Will Do!

Here’s the short excerpt, used by the publisher:

Katarina clutched the chair’s golden upholstery to keep from launching herself at him and wrapping her fingers around his arrogant throat. “I am Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam, sister to the Earl of Manning. I was kidnapped and brought here tonight against my will.”

He cocked his head. Then his mouth twitched. “Truly? What an exciting life you must lead…Lady Katarina, was it?” He chuckled deep in his chest, and took a step toward the chair.

She glared at him. “I am Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam, you dullard.”

“And true ladies always run around London at night scandalously underdressed as Greek slaves?”

“My brother and I were on our way to a masquerade ball when I was abducted.”

“As was I, fair lady,” he bowed with an exaggerated flourish, “when I decided to come to this charming establishment instead. Perhaps if we had continued on our ways uninterrupted, we would even now be dancing together at the ball.” That nasty laugh grated against her nerves worse than the screech of rusty nails, making her contemplate murder. If the scoundrel didn’t believe her story, killing him might be her only means of escape.

And here the official one I’ll be posting permanently on my blog:

“Lady Katarina,” the marquess said, taking her limp, cold hand. “I have been looking forward to this moment ever since I heard you were in London.”

That voice sent shivers down her spine. She remembered well the arrogance in it when he’d declared himself her master. Soft and silky now, his mouth poised over her hand, and the words sent searing heat that penetrated her long kidskin gloves. Only sheer determination kept her from snatching it out of his grasp, and fear at what might be said if she acted in any way as though she had met this man before. No one must know.

She made herself look at his face, into the dark brown eyes that gleamed with…apprehension? Amusement? Katarina twitched her mouth into what hopefully passed for a smile and said, “I am delighted to make your acquaintance as well, Lord Dalbury. Although I must confess that until just now I had not heard your name.” Although pleased to hear how strong her voice sounded, she feared she might choke on the lies she spouted. Kat slipped her hand from his and a measure of calm returned.

Jack was deep in his conversation with Lord Braeton, completely unconcerned about her. She tried to refrain from looking at the marquess, but he demanded her attention by addressing her again.

“I almost missed the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Lady Katarina. I left the ball just before midnight, but one of my carriage horses came up lame and I returned to ask Braeton for the loan of a replacement. Lady Luck surely smiled on me tonight.” His wide smile seemed genuine, his voice tinged with a hint of relief.

She sighed. Her last night in England and Lady Luck had to favor this fellow.

He continued on, disregarding her silence. “I understand from Lord Braeton that you and your brother only arrived from the colonies three months ago, Lady Katarina.”

She found it hard to keep her tone civil. “Yes, my lord. We came to England in early February.” As she had told him before! It helped not to look at his eyes. Instead she fastened her gaze on his cheek. He would likely carry those scars the rest of his life. She hoped it hurt his vanity every time he looked in the mirror.

He apparently saw where her gaze lay, for he ran his finger down the center mark. “Ah, I see you are curious about my wounds.” He shifted his weight slightly, drawing her a little away from the others.

“Is it a war wound, my lord?” she asked, feeling the return of her confidence.

“It is a badge of honor I wear, given to me by a worthy opponent who I underestimated in many ways. I now regret the chance encounter, Lady Katarina.” He lowered his voice. “She did not deserve the treatment she had at my hands. I make my most sincere apology for doubting her words to me.”

Kat stiffened at this offering. How could he stand there and try to apologize so cavalierly in a crowded ballroom? “Whoever she is, then, Lord Dalbury,” she said sweetly, “I hope your opponent is more forgiving than I would be.”

And here’s some not quite official news:  It is not confirmed, but I’ve got my fingers crossed–according to Lyrical’s website, Only Scandal Will Do is set to release

July 23, 2012!

I’m getting excited again, and I have a kind of different idea for a contest to be announced on the day it does release.  So stay tuned for that announcement–the prize is a bit different from most I’ve seen. 🙂

If you’ve been following my medieval romance Betrothal, Book 1 of Time Enough to Love, come back tomorrow when I post a bit more for Sweet Saturday Sample.

 

Posted in On Only Scandal Will Do | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Playing Favorites

I know we’re not supposed to play favorites, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.  🙂 So I have to confess, I have a favorite hero that I’ve written.  He is Sir Geoffrey Longford, hero of my medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love.

Sir Geoffrey is a knight at the court of King Edward III of England in the year of Our Lord 1348.  He has fought for the king for 10 years, since the age of 18, and is an excellent warrior.  He’s recently been betrothed to a girl he’s never met, but whom he intends to woo because he likes her and wants her to like him in return before they marry.

I love Geoffrey because he’s the perfect hero–a strong, skilled, loyal warrior with a soft, passionate side.  He wants his marriage to be more than just an arrangement–especially after he meets Alyce.   And he’s willing to change in order to make this happen.

I’ve been thinking about Geoffrey a lot recently because I’ve been revising the first book, Betrothal, and he looms large in the book, in several ways.  I think of him as a “gentle giant,” and his description in chapter one will give you an idea of the “giant” part:

Alyse (the heroine) sees him across the Great Hall:

Though she could not judge the stranger’s features, his sheer size was appalling.  Beside Thomas Knowlton, who was not a small man, this newcomer seemed massive, dangerous.

And moments later, when he stands before the king, only a few feet from her:

The broadest shoulders she had ever seen tapered to an impossibly narrow waist and hips; she was amazed they could support such a torso. 

As Sir Geoffrey knelt before the king, suddenly dark chestnut hair, cropped close to his head, came into view.  It framed a face ruggedly handsome with surprisingly intelligent eyes, long aquiline nose, and a strong, square jaw.  His mouth was generous, as she had seen across the room, with firm red lips now curled upward in an easy smile.  Attired in a rich, dark blue damask coathardie, Geoffrey Longford might have been any woman’s ideal. 

The “gentle” part becomes apparent throughout Betrothal, though he is given to jealous fits at times.  To me, he is the perfect Knight In Shining Armor (literally).

Now, why don’t you tell me about your favorite hero?  Decide which of your heroes  you’d like to introduce everyone to, and choose a snippet about this character (preferably no more than 200 words) to share about him. (A snippet from your manuscript would be awesome, but if you’re not comfortable with that, you can choose to do a character sketch–something to show us your character and writing.)  And if you’re not an author or just can’t decide, tell me about a favorite hero you’ve read.  Can’t wait to see you playing favorites!

Posted in On Time Enough to Love | Tagged , , , , , , | 29 Comments

7 Days of Seduction–Horny Hump Day 6/13/12 Day 5: Ice, Ice, Baby

WARNING:  MATERIAL NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18!

NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

Participating authors in Horny Hump Day post three sentences from their published works or WIP, hot enough to sizzle on the sidewalk! LOL

Today’s Horny Hump Day continues with Day 5 of 7 Days of Seduction (which I finished and sent to the publisher yesterday!).  Hunter and Ashley are in her bedroom–novel, I know for them.  And this adventure is a bit more colorful as well.  Hunter has brought her a bagful of playthings, though not the usual ones.  He’s running hot and cold with some BDSM play.  Here’s the cold part.

He reached into the bowl beside him and produced another ice cube.  Leaning over her, he stroked it underneath her breast, then up and around the aureola.  The cube changed hands; now her left nipple was given an ice bath while the right was sucked into his hot mouth and tormented with tongue and teeth.

Who knew cold could be so hot?

Please check out the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.   The site also gives the details of how to sign up for next week if you’d like to play with us. 🙂

Thanks so much for visiting the Journal once more for Horny Hump Day.

Posted in On Horny Hump Day, On Seven Days of Seduction, On Writing Erotic Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

What I’m Reading Now–Nineteen Hundred by Susan Koenig

The right love, the wrong time.

I’ve decided with my hectic schedule, the best way to get any reading in for a while is to read short fiction until deadlines ease up a bit and I can spend more time with Kindle in hand.  To that effect, this weekend I picked up Susan Koenig’s short story, Nineteen Hundred.

I love historicals and this one is no exception.  The characters are fresh–Gideon is quite a charmer, a true gentleman with a secret he aches to reveal, but cannot.  Katheryn, though a little meek (as befits her time),  has passion and goodness that catches Gideon’s eye.  They immediately strike up an acquaintance, leaving the reader no doubt they are made for each other.  Ms. Koenig’s characterizations are drawn with only a few strokes, yet they reveal much of her characters’ inner workings. Even the minor characters, such as the boarding-house proprietor Mrs Hodgson, are deftly penned and memorable.

Nineteen Hundred is also well plotted.  As the hero and heroine inch their way toward intimacy, they are constantly beset by problems that stem from Gideon’s secret.  It is heart-wrenching as we pull for their differences to iron themselves out, because in a very few pages we come to care deeply for these two people.

I promise the ending will surprise you, but as Nineteen Hundred is part of a larger work (though it stands alone perfectly well), we will have to wait for the rest of the story to see how it all plays out in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at life in Nineteen Hundred.  If you’d like to take a look at it too, it can be found at Amazon and Smashwords.

Posted in Reader's Corner, What I'm Reading | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments