An Almost Perfect Paradise

As promised, here’s a blog post originally published on the Daily Dose of Decadence blog site in January.  I’ve refurbished it a bit–added a little more eye-candy–and hope you’ll think about your version of Paradise.  There’s also a BIG contest at the beginning of this post, so read it thoroughly and check it out!

I’m offering a prize today, taken from the suggestion of commenter Michelle Vasquez from the beginning of May.  Her suggestion was for commenters to help spread the word about Almost Perfect and Read For A Cure: “They would have to tweet about it, blog about it, and share on Facebook to earn entries.”

Fabulous idea, Michelle!  You win that $5.00 card and a Decadent Book of your choice.

So here’s the Contest:  Spread the word about Almost Perfect.  Share with all your social media sites.  Share on Goodreads or any of your reader sites and blogs.  Let me know all the ways you have promoted this cause by listing them in a comment on this post or any post on the blog now through next Wednesday. (Give me links if you can so others can visit those sites too.)  Be creative!  What other ways can you get the word out about this worthy cause?  Let’s promote this campaign and really Read for A Cure.  Decadent is donating all of its proceeds and I’m donating 50% of mine to Relay For Life.  Come on!  Make me give up my money!  Let’s see those sale numbers rise. 🙂

The person with the most number of entries (1 promotion=1 entry; for example, if you FB, Tweet, post the message on a blog, and on Goodreads, you get 4 entries) by next Wednesday at Midnight will receive a $10.00 Gift Card, a Decadent Book of your Choice (except for Almost Perfect), and a copy of my other erotic contemporary, Hog Wild.

Paradise.  What images does that word conjure up for you?  I immediately envision a tropical island with lush foliage, pristine beaches, and azure waves lapping against a white shoreline.  When I started writing Almost Perfect, I decided I wanted my couple to be abandoned in one of the most beautiful, most romantic places possible:  an island paradise.

When Pam Kimball set up her 1Night Stand fantasy encounter, her movie-buff mind automatically turned to one of the major romantic tropes:  pirates.  She expected a Pirates of the Caribbean adventure at sea to include a gorgeous, sexy man, a pirate captain who would sweep her off her feet, making her forget the trauma of her divorce.  As her writer, however, I decided what Pam needed to fulfill her fantasy instead was another cinematic trope—a fantasy island.

Many women—me included—would love to be stranded on a deserted island with a hot hunky guy.  The movies have been showing us this desire for decades:  Father Goose, Blue Lagoon, Six Days Seven Nights, Castaway.  According to msnbc.com, the island paradise of Hawaii is the number one honeymoon destination, followed closely by Jamaica and the Bahamas.  There’s just something totally romantic about standing on a moonlit beach, feeling a warm gentle breeze beside the one you love.  The perfect recipe for a happily ever after ending.

I have yet to visit my island paradise.  How about you?  Do you dream about escaping to a secluded island or a beach resort with your significant other—or a sexy stranger—for a hot time that will make your toes curl?

Blurb for Almost Perfect:

Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, is supposed to help her jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her ex.  Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy goes wrong when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island with ex-husband Roger Ware.  When Pam is forced to accept Roger’s offer of dinner,  she recognizes that he’s  changed since their divorce and his newfound sensuality re-kindles an old fire.  When he challenges her to find out how much his amorous skills have improved, Pam is torn between self-preservation and desire.  With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam has to decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.

And here’s a little excerpt to further whet your appetite:

She inched into the lapping surf, searching for movement. Reflection off the water made this task harder than expected. Wasn’t the Caribbean supposed to be teeming with fish?  Now that’s something she’d had a lot of instruction in. Almost every marooned-on-an-island movie had a scene where the heroine learned to catch fish. Six Days, Father Goose, Blue Lagoon. All you needed was your hands and patience. She could do this.

Pam waded out further then stopped just before the water hit her now dry shorts. “Not gonna to have a damp crotch all night.” The words reminded her of exactly what she had hoped for tonight. “But not from wet shorts!” She headed back to shore to remove and drape them next to her shirt. The bandeau was a different story. Still damp, even after several hours, and uncomfortable. Might dry better if not next to her skin anyway. “Screw it!  Live dangerously.”

Standing as good as naked on the deserted beach, Pam smiled as the warm breeze caressed her bare body. The sense of being slightly naughty added to her delight in the sensual feel of the air as it dried her breasts. Her nipples peaked as the wind cooled them. She strutted down to the water’s edge to sink her toes in the sand, the salty tang in the air adding to the perfect moment.

“If you’re skinny dipping, you forgot to remove one very important piece of clothing.”

Pam whirled around. Roger stood on the beach behind her, a green bottle of Perrier in one hand. His gaze played up and down her naked torso and his salacious grin widened. “Mind if I join you?”

Hope you enjoyed this little piece of paradise.  And remember:  keep getting those entries!

Oh, I’m also being interviewed today over at Realmantic Moments by Lila Munro.  Stop by and leave a comment for another entry!  You can find out my favorite drink and the worst book I ever had to read!

Posted in 1Night Stand, Almost Perfect Blog Tour, On Almost Perfect, Read For A Cure | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Sex on the Beach: Horny Hump Day 5/16/12

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

This week, as my title indicates, I’m back to giving you some hot sentences from the beach in my erotic contemporary novella, Almost Perfect.  I’m showcasing Almost Perfect all over the internet because it’s Decadent Publishing’s Read For A Cure book for May.   For more details, see my post from May 1.  Read a book, fight a disease.

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 challenges 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.

“Hop on—I’m going to give you the ride of your life.” He grabbed her waist, hefted her as if she weighed nothing then drew her against his chest. Instinctively, she threw her arms around his neck; he positioned her legs around his hips, gripped her buttocks and eased her onto his dick.


I hope your own Horny Hump Day is just as wet and wild as Pam and Roger’s!  And I love your comments! So let me know if I need to crank up the heat!

Please check out the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.  Quick before your sunscreen sizzles!   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 Tours, On Almost Perfect, On Horny Hump Day, Read For A Cure | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Spice It Up–An Almost Perfect Guide to The Kama Sutra

Read For A Cure and Help Close the Book on Cancer

Almost Perfect is Read For A Cure Book for May 2012

To help promote Almost Perfect and Read For A  Cure this week, in addition to my other blog stops, I’m going to be re-posting several guest blogs I did when the novella first came out in December.  So if some of this looks familiar, it’s not deja vu, just a little promotional reprint to catch your attention. 🙂

This first post was originally found on Casea Major’s site, and I thought it would be fun to revisit my talk about sex–specifically about the Kama Sutra, which figures prominently in my book.

I’m sure most romance readers have heard of the Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian text considered the ultimate guide to sexual and sensual pleasure.  Composed of seven books, the Kama Sutra’s second book is devoted to practical advice on sexual union–including chapters that discuss types of embraces, caresses, kisses, marking with fingernails, biting and marking with the teeth, slapping with the hand and corresponding moaning, and an illustrated section on sexual positions that lead to superior orgasms.

Good To Know’s website on Sex and Relationships  gives descriptions and illustrations of some of the most popular–and most challenging–positions recommended by the text.

In Almost Perfect, Roger has become a student of the Kama Sutra and challenges Pam to let him show her why he’s at the head of his class.

There are a total of 64 positions described and illustrated in the Kama Sutra, along with advice on how to accomplish the total sensual experience between partners.  Some of the things it suggests are eye-opening to say the least!

The various Kama Sutra positions have pretty strange names:  Widely Opened, The Congress of the Crow, Splitting of the Bamboo, Milk and Water Embrace.  Some are very easy to accomplish while others look as though they’d have to be performed by Circ du Soliel!  All promise to be a fun time in the bedroom–or anywhere you feel the urge.

My favorite position is The Pair of Tongs–just to look at.  I could never do it because it seems to defy gravity!

So if you’re ever bored in your love life or need a little spice in the bedroom, check out the Kama Sutra and rediscover the fun side of sensual sex.

Had you ever heard of the Kama Sutra before this post? What’s your opinion on the extreme positions it advocates?

Posted in Almost Perfect Blog Tour, On Almost Perfect, On Writing Erotic Romance, Read For A Cure | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Six Sentence Sunday–5/13 Only Scandal Will Do

Read for A Cure All During May!

See Post for May 1st For Details

Happy Mother’s Day to all!  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. With my Mother’s Day celebration, I’ll be visiting you later today.

I’ve got one or two more teasings from Scandal, and I hope I’ll have news for you about when it will be available.

The masked man has purchased a woman in a brothel auction and has come to claim his prize.  His “slave” however, continues to insist there has been a mistake.  He has managed to turn the tables on the “lady” and call her virtue into question.  While evading the man’s advances, they discover a missing bit of vital information that seems turn the tide of his opinion of her.  Then, in a moment of weakness, Katarina lets down her guard and things begin to heat up. She was reveling in a scorching kiss from the stranger who is bent on taking further liberties when reality crashes back, safe haven becoming a trap she too easily falls into.  She makes a last-ditch attempt to free herself…and realizes she has been duped.

 

He never once believed her story. And she had let this scoundrel touch her…

Twisting, she fought back as he pressed her into the soft covers. With ease he gripped her hands, raised them above her head. God, but he was strong! He pushed her gown up to her hips and an insistent hardness pressed against her legs as he tried to part them.

This is so not looking good for Kat.

My Sweet Saturday Sample and Six Sentence Sunday posts from January through May here at on my blog can catch you up to what’s been going on in the story.  Be sure to come back next week for another six sentence installment on SSS.

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 Only Scandal Will Do, On Six Sentence Sunday, On Writing Historical Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Sweet Saturday Sample–5/12 Only Marriage Will Do

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s another post from the second book in my House of Pleasure series, Only Marriage Will Do,  set in Georgian London.

I’m off the computer most of today, but I’ll be returning SSS posts this evening, so I’ll be sure to catch you up.

In Only Marriage Will Do, there seems to be a little mystery afoot.  Amiable has stepped in to rescue a damsel in distress and to his amazement the damsel–who he’s never seen before–is calling him husband and introducing him as the Earl of Manning (who, if you may recall, is Katarina’s brother from Only Scandal Will Do and a friend of Amiable’s).  Amiable is a tad confused,  but gamely carries on with the subterfuge.  He too is interested in why her suitor claims she is his wife and seeks a more thorough explanation.  St. Cyr has just asserted that Juliet is married to him and no one else.

After another slight altercation, St. Cyr leaves and Amiable comforts a distraught Juliet.  Finally, having found out that Katarina is not there, he is pressed into service of a different kind.

 “I will explain more in the carriage.”

“The carriage?”

“Yes, Captain Dawson.  I am going to press you into the role of knight in shining armor once more and beg you to escort Glynis and me to my friend, Lady Honoria Claypool’s home.  I am to stay with her for several days until my aunt arrives in town.  Then I will remove to her townhouse until Duncan returns.”  Juliet made a face.  “Aunt Phoebe is so difficult.  But I suppose everyone has some relative like that, don’t you think?  Glynis,” she called to a girl standing unobtrusively in a corner.  Amiable had not noticed her until now.  “Glynis, please get my light shawl.”  Juliet rescued her cap and stood stuffing her hair underneath it helter-skelter.  “And get your things too.  This gentleman is taking us to Lady Honoria’s.”

“Yes, my lady.”  The girl bobbed a curtsey then rushed out of the room. Juliet stood looking expectantly at Amiable.

After several moments he gathered his wits, scattered at the unexpected news of Katarina’s departure and the equally unanticipated request for escort.  He finally found his feet and bowed graciously to the young woman.  “Nothing would give me more pleasure than to escort you, Lady Juliet.”

Glynis returned and draped the golden silk shawl around her mistress’s shoulders.  “The carriage is ready, Captain Dawson,” Juliet said, raising her chin slightly.

“But of course, my lady.” Amiable offered his arm and felt an unexpected thrill chase down it when Juliet took it, firmly pressing her hand into the crook of his elbow.  They moved down the hallway and out of the front door, Glynis following behind. 

With mute appreciation, Amiable watched the fetching sight of Juliet disappearing into the black lacquer carriage with the team of matched grays, then sighed and assisted Glynis to sit on the box beside the driver.  He sent one swift look around the area, taking in the surroundings, not for any particular reason but because ten years in the army had taught him caution.  Danger lurked somewhere.  Whether inside or outside the carriage was yet to be determined.

And just what does Amiable mean by that?

Hope you enjoyed a little more of Only Marriage Will Do.  Stop by SSS tomorrow for more from Only Scandal Will Do.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.

 

Posted in On Sweet Saturday Sample, On Works in Progress, Only Marriage Will Do | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

I’m Over At Inkslingers Blog Today Talking About Lucky Charms

Just a little heads up!

I’m blogging over at Inkslinger’s Blog Site today, trying to change my run of bad luck by talking about good luck charms.  Here are some of the charms I talk about:

Come on over and let me know what your favorite lucky charm is!

Posted in Inkslingers | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hot and Wild for Horny Hump Day 5/09/12

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 steam your contacts! Just watch me try! LOL

When Lula Wolfendale’s motorcycle breaks down on her way to a Harley rally, she detours into tiny Shoshone, CA to find a new ride.  Seducing bikers Beau and Rob Hogue and commandeering their Harleys is easy; finding sexual satisfaction is a “hog” of a different color.  A Blue Phantom, to be exact, owned by the pair’s older brother, Jesse.  After brief, unsatisfying encounters with the first two Hogues, Lula approaches Jesse with a proposition:  a sexual contest for his Phantom, where Lula will emerge with either a bike to die for or the climax of her dreams.  Or can she possibly obtain both?

Here’s part of Lula’s encounter with Beau:

Beau raised his head just in time to see her long, pink tongue emerge from between blood red lips. Starting at the thick root of his cock, it continued sliding aloft in one single, sensuous lick, ending at the crown. Her mouth engulfed the tip and tugged upward, leaving bright red streaks on his taut skin. 

And this ought to make your Happy Horny Hump Day:  if you’re ready for some more Hog Wild hotness, go to Amazon and download your own copy for free!  It’s free at Amazon today and tomorrow.  So what are you waiting for, a cold shower? LOL  And don’t forget your comments!

Please check out the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.  Quick before your thermostat erupts!   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 Tours, On Hog Wild, On Horny Hump Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Kicking Off The Almost Perfect Read For A Cure BlogTour

Happy Monday, folks!  I know I announced the tour last week, but this is the Official Kickoff with the Official Banner for the Tour.  I’m going to be blogging all over the place because Marissa Dobson at Sizzling PR has done a fantastic job of putting this tour together in a very short time.  I’ve got 14 stops during the month, plus 9 others I’ve gotten on my own.

Overkill?  Maybe.  But the cause–Relay For Life–is too good, too important for me to give anything other than my best shot to bring in donations.  Remember, all of Decadent Publishing’s proceeds from sales of Almost Perfect during the month of May will go to Relay For Life.  And I will be donating a percentage of my proceeds as well.  I haven’t set an amount yet, but the higher my sales, the higher my percentage will be.

So today I’m kicking off my blog tour for Almost Perfect and Read For A Cure with a Double Shot:

I’m at Sarah Ballance’s blog drinking coffee and talking about Memorable Meetings and at Cera DuBois’ talking about second chances and giving away a copy of my erotic contemporary Hog Wild.

And the fun doesn’t end there!  I’m also at Ella Quinn’s Blog tomorrow talking about Pirates and Romance, being interviewed by Christine Warner on Wednesday,  generating romance titles at Carrie Ann Ryan’s blog on Thursday, and on the Inkslinger’s Blog for my monthly post on Friday, I’ll be talking  about Good Luck Charms.

I hope you’ll be able to come by some of these stops during the month and check out my posts.  I’m having a blast trying to come up with creative topics that have some good info and a bit of fun into the bargain.

And today, on this blog, leave me a comment with a suggestion for either a blog post topic or another way to promote Read For A Cure this month and my favorite comment will receive a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.  So put on your thinking caps!

Remember: Read For A Cure and help close the book on cancer.

Posted in 1Night Stand, Almost Perfect Blog Tour, Blog Tours, Giveaways, On Almost Perfect, Read For A Cure | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Six Sentence Sunday–5/06 Only Scandal Will Do

Read for A Cure All During May!

See Post for May 1st For Details

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.

Another snippet from Only Scandal Will Do. I’m still in a teasing mood!  May I whet your appetite further? LOL

The masked man has purchased a woman in a brothel auction and has come to claim his prize.  His “slave” however, continues to insist there has been a mistake.  He has managed to turn the tables on the “lady” and call her virtue into question.  While evading the man’s advances, they discover a missing bit of vital information that seems turn the tide of his opinion of her.  Then, in a moment of weakness, Katarina lets down her guard and things begin to heat up. She was reveling in a scorching kiss from the stranger who is bent on taking further liberties when reality crashes back, safe haven becoming a trap she too easily falls into.  She makes a last-ditch attempt to free herself.

“But I see you are still reluctant. Come, let me help you forget your troubles once more.”

With a cry of “Nooooo,”  she scrambled off the bed, making for the door, praying wildly that it was unlocked.  He snared her in one arm, pulled her back to the bed and threw himself down on her.

“You are the most spirited lady I have ever had the pleasure of seducing,” he said, gathering her into his arms. “If I wasn’t afraid of yet another scandal, my dear, I would set you up as my mistress and we could play these delicious games to our hearts’ delight.”

My Sweet Saturday Sample and Six Sentence Sunday posts from January through April here at on my blog can catch you up to what’s been going on in the story.  Be sure to come back next week for another six sentence installment on SSS.

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 Only Scandal Will Do, On Six Sentence Sunday, On Writing Historical Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Sweet Saturday Sample–5/05 Only Marriage Will Do

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s another post from the second book in my House of Pleasure series, Only Marriage Will Do,  set in Georgian London.

I’m working on finishing 7 Days of Seduction to send to the publisher this weekend.  Not a book you will see excerpted here. LOL

In Only Marriage Will Do, there seems to be a little mystery afoot.  Amiable has stepped in to rescue a damsel in distress and to his amazement the damsel–who he’s never seen before–is calling him husband and introducing him as the Earl of Manning (who, if you may recall, is Katarina’s brother from Only Scandal Will Do and a friend of Amiable’s).  Amiable is a tad confused,  but gamely carries on with the subterfuge.  He too is interested in why her suitor claims she is his wife and seeks a more thorough explanation.  St. Cyr has just asserted that Juliet is married to him and no one else.

Blood roared in Amiable’s ears, as though he was in the heat of battle. He dropped his hand to his hilt and started toward St. Cyr, who backed hastily for the door.  “This is not the end of this, Juliet.  I will return with the papers and make you see reason,” he called, returning to English again.  With that parting shot, the viscount turned and fled the room.  Moments later the front door slammed shut.

A little watery sigh behind him caused Amiable to turn toward Juliet.  “My dear. . . “  Amiable got no further. Juliet dissolved into frantic weeping, tears cascading down her cheeks at an alarming rate.  He was by her in a moment, his arm around her shoulders drawing her to him as he guided her to the sofa and sat her down.  He fished a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her, then urged her head onto his shoulder.  She complied without resistance and simply abandoned herself to sobbing.

Some minutes later she seemed to recall herself.  The crying lessened into little hitching sobs and when she realized where her head lay she sat up abruptly and looked at Amiable, wide eyed.  “Oh!  I beg your pardon, sir.”  She drew a little away from him, her cheeks rosy in embarrassment.

Amiable smiled reassuringly at her agitation.  “Not at all, my lady.  It is ‘my lady’ I assume?”

“Oh, yes!  Of course, you don’t know who I am, do you?”  She smiled in spite of herself, wiping at her tears.  “I am Lady Juliet Ferrars.  And I am so grateful to you, Mr.. . er. . .Lord?”  She paused, quite at a loss.

“Captain Amiable Dawson, at your service.” Amiable inclined his head.  “Then you are not married to Jack Fitzwilliam, er, the Earl of Manning?”

“Oh, no, Captain Dawson.  Jack is my brother-in-law.  I used his name merely as a ruse to throw Philippe off balance.  I am so grateful that you came to my rescue just now.” Her eyes glowed with admiration.  “Just like a knight in shining armor, don’t you think?  Only not really in armor.  Except for the sword.  Would you really have called Philippe out?”

“Do you doubt it, my lady?” He stared into dark, sinfully intoxicating eyes.

“Well, you did look as though you wanted to kill him at one point.  So did I when he brought up the Christmas ball.”  Juliet colored again at the thought.

“I should have enjoyed removing his tongue after that little indiscretion.  But what he said, Lady Juliet, about being married to him.  Is it true?”  Amiable decided he should at least find out that much.  And then he must ask for Katarina.  She was the damsel in distress he had actually come to rescue.

“Absolutely not, Captain Dawson.  I am convinced Philippe is lying about our marriage.  He would never go against the wishes of his father and his father no longer wished us to wed.  Philippe would have cut out his own tongue before disobeying the Count de Mallain.”  Juliet was vehement enough that Amiable believed her.  At least believed that she believed it was true. 

So Juliet may not be out of the woods yet!

Hope you enjoyed a little more of Only Marriage Will Do.  Stop by SSS tomorrow for more from Only Scandal Will Do.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.

Also, if you have a chance, come on over to the Daily Dose of Decadence Blog where you can meet the hero of Almost Perfect, Roger Ware, up close and personal.  Hope to see you there!

Posted in On Sweet Saturday Sample, On Works in Progress, Only Marriage Will Do | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments