30 December 2013

Topic Tuesday - Best & Worst of 2013



This weeks topic is "The Best and Worse of 2013 and what you would like to see in 2014."
I’m sure this week’s topic is personal and even it’s not, I’m going to treat it as such.  World news is depressing enough…I don’t want to rehash it.  Of course, most reading this won’t care a fig about what my best and worst was this past year but here it is anyway.  

My best was definitely my writing career.  I managed to publish eight books in 2013 and while that may sound amazing, I actually wrote some of them in 2012 and only three were best sellers. 

My worst?...only three of my books were best sellers. 

I’m not much into fashion or trends so I can’t even talk about what was hot and what was not.  But I like music and some great songs came out in 2013.  Imagine Dragons “Radioactive”, Avril Lavigne “Let me Go”, A Great Big World “Say Something”, Zedd “Clarity”, Katy Perry “Unconditionally” & “Roar” (amongst others).  There were some movies I loved too: Star Trek Into Darkness, The Mortal Instruments, Thor 2, Hunger Games-Catching Fire, & The Croods to name a few (there were lots more I liked, just don’t have the space to list all of them).  I also got back into watching K-dramas (Korean television). 

As for 2014, I think enjoying each day is going to be a big resolution for me.  I had a birthday last week and just turned…a year older…so it’s important to me that I take time to enjoy the world around me.  My family and I are planning a huge trip to Japan in three years and we want to climb Mt. Fuji so I have to be in shape for that. 

And of course, writing.  Hoping this is the year that I can justify not going out and finding a real job.  So buy my books, people! 
Topic Tuesday Blog Hop

24 December 2013

Topic Tuesday : Things that lift the Blahs

In honor of Carrie Underwood's interesting revival of "The Sound of Music" I would love to hear about your favorite things to shake of the blahs! When your life bites and your ass stings and the corner has been bad. What makes you not feel so bad. Or what are your favorite things about the holidays
These past two months have somewhat kicked my ass.  Brian and I have been sick, Hadrian has had a head cold and my mother was hospitalized.  I’ve also had no motivation to write because I’ve been too busy running around trying to make Christmas as festive as possible. 

Which makes this week’s Tuesday Topic interesting.  What shakes off my blahs when life beats you down.  Well, lately it’s been watching Korean Dramas.  I love K-drama shows and I’m in the middle of my fourth one this month.  I saw “Scent of a Woman”, “The Great Doctor”, “To the Beautiful You”, and now “Master’s Sun”.  If you watch K-dramas then you know what I’m talking about…if you don’t, you’re probably thinking I’m weird.  And you’d be right.

But now it's Christmas Eve and tomorrow I get to see the joy on my son's face as he opens up all his presents.  He added two things to Santa's list so I ended up running around today until I found them because Santa doesn't run out of presents, you know.  I hope everyone who reads this to has a wonderful tomorrow, whether or not you celebrate for religious reasons, for Santa Claus reasons, for just having the day off reasons....whatever the case may be, I hope you have a great day.
 
Topic Tuesday Blog Hop

14 December 2013

Saturday After Dark Presents...A Man After Midnight



Last night I went to a Burlesque show with my BFF, Lark.  It was in Santa Monica at a magic store called Magicopolous.  It was supposed to be hosted by Justin Willman but that was one of many disappointments last night.  The night only got better (sarcasm) when I went to the rest room and a man decided to change the toilet paper...and my stall door didn't work.  I was caught, literally, with my pants down.  After that, the show that was supposed to start at 10:30pm finally went on at 11pm and the painful dialogue in between each dance was as cringe worthy as one could imagine in a magic store theater.  The theme was absinth but the only reference was the two narrators getting drunk and a lit up green fairy twirling with LED lights.

I'm being really negative but there were some high lights to the show.  For instance, the first burlesque dancer was very beautiful, with a rocking body doing a fan dance.  She returned later to do a dueling tassel dance (breasts vs. ass cheeks) to a banjo tune.  Then there was the girl who parodied Mylie Cyrus's Wrecking Ball.  So hilarious I was crying.  

But the high lights were few and far between and by the time the end came all I wanted was a drink.  The show did give me some ideas I'll probably incorporate in stories later on, and with that thought came this scene from my book "A Man After Midnight", where Caroline is taken to a sex club and watches a couple through a window.  It was inspired by my trip to live sex show in Amsterdam's Red Light District.
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Caroline didn't answer, but kept her eyes glued to the scene before her. One woman knelt down in front of the man beside her and took his long shaft into her mouth, holding on to his hips to help guide him in and out. The man splayed a hand in her hair, the look on his face rapturous.
 
The second pair started touching each other, bringing to mind her first encounter with Wren. She could see fingers coated with juices as they touched each other.
 
Seemingly overwhelmed by the scene around them, the final voyeurs succumbed, the woman falling to her knees as her partner mounted her from behind. Caroline saw when the man entered, his hips grinding furiously as the woman pushed back into him.
 
Caroline grew hot, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead. Her nipples hardened into little pebbles. She felt liquid heat pooling between her thighs. She waited with anticipation for someone, anyone, to climax.
And soon she got her wish. The dancing couple lost control. Caroline saw the man's lips tighten, and the grip on his partner's hips whitened. She saw the base of his cock swell with each thrust. The voyeurs behind the couple weren't fairing much better as their passion claimed them.
 
And just as Caroline was positive someone was about to come, the light went out and the music stopped.
Caroline blinked and then jumped to her feet. “Hey! Come back!” She looked at Wren, who watched her with narrowed eyes. “Bring them back!”

“I can‟t do that. The show is timed,” Wren explained quietly.
Caroline turned back to the dark window, her hands clenched by her sides, tension heavy through her shoulders. “That‟s not fair,” she muttered.
 
Wren stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. He made soothing motions to try and calm her. “It's not supposed to be fair.”

“That was the most erotic thing I've ever seen in my life,” she said, letting her head fall forward as he rubbed.
 
“Do you still call it porn?”
 
She shook her head.
 
“You’re the most erotic thing I've seen,” he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling, causing her stomach to tighten in wicked response. She bent over slightly, bringing her rear into direct contact with the hard bulge between his legs. She wiggled her hips, working his cock deeper between her ass cheeks.
 
“I want you,” she said in a breathy tone.
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Blurb: 
When her friend, Aldy, invites her for a weekend vacation in New York City, Caroline Grace jumps at the chance. She meets the handsome and sensual Wren Calder, and is immediately swept off her feet by the powerful attraction she feels toward him.  She doesn’t hesitate to indulge in a one night stand, but Wren has other ideas.  He proposes a no strings weekend fling and Caroline decides it’s just what she needs to get over her divorce.   

Wren slowly frees her inhibitions, opening her to a sexuality Caroline has long denied herself.    He shows her a world of voyeurism, the thrill of sex in public, and how she loves to be lightly dominated.  Overshadowed by the mistake she made in the past, Caroline leaves at the end of the weekend vowing to forget him. But she soon comes to the conclusion that getting over Wren is going to be a little more difficult than she thought, because she realizes just how much she’s fallen in love.  

Where to Buy:  www.bethdcarter.com

12 December 2013

These are a few of my...Favorite Books

Going around on Facebook is a question asking to write 10 books that have stayed with you. They don't have to be great works, just books that touched you.  And while I have a list of "Must Read" books at the bottom of my blog, I wanted to share a few that I haven't put down.

1) Colter's Woman - Maya Banks because after I read it I knew this was the type of genre I wanted to write.

2) Heaven Sent by Jet Mykles because it was my first MM romance (too!) and it was AMAZING!!

3) The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton because I love crying when reading.

4) Avarian Rising by Judith Tarr because the prose is beautifully written.

5) Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas because...well, every Lisa Kleypas novel really. It's Lisa Kleypas!!!

6) The Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare because she's a master story builder.

7) The Harry Potter books by JK Rowland because they made realize the value of a series.

8) Breathe by Abbi Glines because it was my first New Adult book.

9) Beautifully Damaged by LA L.A. Fiore because it was so emotional with a bit of mystery and I love a bit of mystery.

10) Zombies Don't Make Good Pets by Ashlynn Monroe because it was an erotic romance with zombies!!!

11 December 2013

Welcome Karenna Colcroft!


Too Busy

In our current day and age (does that phrasing make me sound old?) most of us have far too many demands on our time. Jobs, family, friends, the Internet… the list goes on and on.

For some people, there are just too many things, and something has to give way. When one is trying to make a living and make something better of their life, there might not be time for the Internet. Or for TV or reading.

Or, in some cases, for a relationship. A relationship takes time and effort to make it work, and some people feel unable or unwilling to put that much time into it. Instead they choose one-night stands, fuck-buddies, or friends-with-benefits so they can have a sexual connection without the added time and energy of maintaining a relationship.

The main character of my new male/male novella Whatever He Wants, Randall, is a working grad student who has devoted his life to school and his job. And, on occasion, to indulging his sex drive by hooking up with people he meets in class, at work, or at parties. Randall calls himself the “king of one night stands,” and his motto is “Get in, get off, and get out.” With all the other demands on his time, Randall doesn’t want the complications and added stress of a relationship.

That is, until he meets Isaiah. At first, when he and Isaiah start chatting at a party, Randall thinks of the other guy as just another one-night stand. However, Randall quickly realizes he wants more.

But Isaiah is aware of Randall’s reputation, and wants to show him what it feels like to be played. At the end of the night he walks away, and Randall doesn’t know whether he’ll ever see him again.

Whatever He Wants was released December 4 from Ellora’s Cave, http://www.ellorascave.com/whatever-he-wants.html, and is also available on third-party retail sites.

Karenna Colcroft is the alter ego of a shy, sedate wife and mother who is not a werewolf. She has been writing stories since age five, and started writing erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend. Her first book was published in 2009. Karenna lives in the northeastern United States with her two teens, her real-life romance hero husband, two cats, and a pet mouse who is plotting to take over the world.

Find out more on Karenna’s website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com; Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/karenna.colcroft, and Twitter, @KarennaColcroft.

Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt from Whatever He Wants:

Grad student Randall has a reputation to uphold. He’s too busy to fall in love, and is known among his friends as the king of one-night stands. He prefers it that way until he meets Isaiah at a party.

Against all of Randall’s expectations, Isaiah turns out to be exactly what he’s looking for, and for the first time Randall’s heart gets involved. Randall doesn’t know whether Isaiah is truly interested in him or just playing the player, but to find out, Randall will do whatever Isaiah wants.

EXCERPT:

Isaiah ended up eating only half his meal. He kept exchanging heated looks with Randall until Randall could barely stand it, and apparently Isaiah was just as turned-on. He shoved his plate away and tossed some cash on the table. “I’ve got yours. Let’s go.”
“Where?” Randall asked.
“Your place.” Isaiah smiled. “I want to see your bed.”
Randall grabbed him by the jacket and dragged him outside. Isaiah laughed the entire way to Randall’s apartment.
The second they were inside, before Randall even managed to speak Isaiah pinned him against the door, holding Randall’s hands to his sides. He crushed his mouth hard against Randall’s, teeth and tongues colliding so forcefully it hurt. Randall didn’t give a shit. He was here with Isaiah. With Isaiah’s body against his, cocks rubbing together through their jeans, heat building between them until he thought he would burst into flames.
And that was just a goddamn kiss.
Isaiah broke the kiss but stayed against Randall. “Do you feel how hard I am, baby?”
“Yeah.” Randall tried to pull a hand free to cup the pleasing bulge between them but Isaiah tightened his grip. “I want to touch you.”
“I’ve been this hard for you all week,” Isaiah growled. “All fucking week all I’ve thought about was plowing into your tight little ass and stroking your cock and making you scream. I jerked off so much I was almost raw and it wasn’t enough.”
“Because it wasn’t me,” Randall said. He was elated. Isaiah had suffered just as much as he had. Had wanted him just as much. He hadn’t been the only one to have a miserable week, and now they were going to make up for it.
“Because it wasn’t you,” Isaiah agreed. “What about you? Did you play with yourself while you thought about me? Did you come so hard you saw stars while you dreamed about having me play with your dick? Tell me, baby. Tell me how bad you missed me.”
Such intense arousal rushed through Randall that he almost wasn’t able to collect himself enough to speak. “Bad,” he blurted. “So, so bad. I stroked off every day. Saw you. Your eyes. Your hair. Your hands and cock. All about you and you weren’t here and I wanted to fucking kill you.”
“We really did a number on each other.” Isaiah let go of him and stepped back. “You only wanted a one-night stand last week before we hooked up, didn’t you?”
“Get in, get off, get out.” Randall took a deep breath and adjusted his painfully hard cock inside his pants. “The usual when I go to parties. But it wasn’t enough. I knew that before you even started to fuck me. I knew I wanted more. I wanted longer.”
“So did I.”
           Isaiah stepped forward and touched his lips to Randall’s again. This kiss was a stark contrast to the previous one. Gentle, not rough. Tender, not forceful. Full of emotions Randall had never imagined feeling, let alone admitting to, but they were all there bare and obvious. And mutual.

09 December 2013

Topic Tuesday - The Right Thing



How far would you go to do the right thing? And have you ever done the wrong thing, only to reflect on it later and realize you really should have done it differently?
To answer truthfully, I have no idea if I would do the “right thing”.  I would hope I was the kind of person who would turn in a bag full of money or a diamond necklace, but since I’ve never been in that position I haven’t a clue how I would act. 

That might sound shallow of me, or make me sound like a bad person, but most of us have never had their morals tested.  My parents raised me to do the right thing, but how does one know their inner strength unless challenged?  Ten or fifteen years ago I would say with absolute certain I would always do the right thing, but I’ve become a bit of a cynic over the years so now…I don’t know.

I can honestly say that I am cool under pressure.  Years ago I was working as a pharmacy technician and during our Christmas party, a man in a ski mask came in, pointed a gun at the pharmacist, looked me in the eye and demanded I give him all our “Class A drugs”.  (No such thing but I knew what he meant).  I looked him in the eye and pushed the silent alarm.  When he tried to escape, I ran after him, determined to get his license plate.  The pharmacist grabbed my coat and hauled me back inside reminding me that he had a gun and could shoot me.  All I was concerned about was catching him. 

Like any human being, I’ve fucked up through out my life.  But those are lessons I’ve learned and I've had to find a way to live with mistakes I’ve made.  I’ve apologized when I needed to but I know I'm not perfect and I'm sure I'll do something really dumb or say something wrong again at some point.  It's human nature.

I don't dwell on the things I wish I could change because it would drive me crazy.  I don't have time for what-ifs.  I have too much to look forward to.
Topic Tuesday Blog Hop

07 December 2013

Saturday After Dark Presents...Black Leather Pants


Black Leather Pants wasn't the first book I wrote but it was the first one I had published.  I wrote it while living in Paris, France.  Some of you might think that sounds familiar, and it is...I wrote a companion piece titled "True to Her Heart" that I featured a few weeks ago.  Now, the two have nothing in common except both are set in Paris.  I used to travel every day by train, exploring the city and I put all those adventures into both books.  At night I used to go to this English Pub (hilariously called "The Frog") to understand people and to watch football (soccer).  I fell in love with the game while living there.  

One night, I was watching Real Madrid (back when Beckham used to play for them) and I was sitting next to this girl named Steph.  She was from South Africa and was living and working in Paris.  She started talking to me, ready to make fun of the American watching a game that Americans don't appreciate at all.  Boy, did I surprise her when I was talking about the offside rule, the points, and the overall defense of RM.  

Me and Steph became friends and we hung out a lot, drinking beer and eating fish and chips.  Sadly, we lost touch once I came back home but what a great time!  Hmm....I should write a football story!

Anyway, here is my excerpt from Black Leather Pants.  Readers might realize that every time the hero, Kiley, wears his black leather pants, he and Penny have sex.  My perverse sense of humor started early.
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At that moment the wine hit her. All her inhibitions, if she had any remaining, simply vanished and she reacted  on pure lust. She fell back, he with her, and her hands started tearing at his clothing.

His sweater pealed off and she delighted in exploring every inch of smooth, hairless skin. Her fingers undid the button of his pants and pulled down the zipper, slipping her hands inside and pushing the leather off his rear. Penny sank her nails into his ass, giving his flesh a smart slap.
 
He pulled back from her nipple and gazed down at her in sinful arousal.
 
“You think I’ve been naughty?”
 
“A very bad boy,” she panted.
 
He cast her a wicked grin and bent to capture her mouth again. His tongue slipped deep into her mouth as he unbuttoned her jeans. He slipped his fingers inside, finding the nub drenched in moisture. With alternating sweeps of pressure, he rubbed her clit, making her gasp and clench as desire pulsed through her.

“You’re so wet,” he muttered. They finished undressing, tossing garments aside in haste. Kiley settled between her thighs, rocking, banging his cock against her slit. His hands moved down her body, caressing her leg until he grabbed her knee and brought her leg up to grip him around his hip. He moved his hand inward, grasping her thighs.
 
"Open for me," he whispered, demandingly, pushing her legs open wide.
 
As she lay there, staring at him through half closed eyes, Kiley trailed his middle finger toward her, past the dark curls to rub her lightly. He didn't need to go in any farther. Penny arched her back from the floor with a gasp, her eyes flying open to meet his.
 
"Ah," he murmured, rubbing again, using her slickness to coat his finger. Feather light caresses, faster, harder, over and over. Her body coiled, wound tight, all she could do was balance for a moment on the precipice and then fall.
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Blurb:

Small town girl Penny Varlet has moved to Los Angeles to pursue her love of art. Her boss, Kiley Laurent, is a sinfully sensual man who finds his way into her erotic dreams. One night, while working late, they act on their impulse and share a moment of raw passion.  

Circumstances continue to throw them together, until one night, while working late, Penny is attacked by an intruder and hurt. Kiley whisks her away to Paris to heal, showing her a world of art and wonder. As she heals, can Penny put the anger over her attack to rest and find the courage to act on her love for Kiley?

                    www.bethdcarter.com

03 December 2013

Topic Tuesday - Consumerism & Working Thanksgiving



This week's topic: Stores opening on Thanksgiving this year. What do you think about it? Did you partake? How does consumerism effect your holiday?
I noticed that this has been a hot topic lately and most people are shouting for stores to be closed so employees can share time with their families.  Frankly, I don’t see the big deal if stores are open or not.  Most of the stores closed at reasonable hours, allowing families to be together for dinner and if they happen to stay later then shifts were split. 

When I was in my twenties I was off living my life and my family was about three thousand miles away so celebrating Thanksgiving wasn’t a big deal. Often I volunteered to work either Thanksgiving or Black Friday because I didn’t care.  Sometimes people need the money, and usually if you work on a major holiday it’s time and a half.  Or employers compensate by alternating holidays; for instance, if you work Thanksgiving you get off Christmas. 

Frankly, I didn’t understand this big uproar about boycotting stores who were open.  I ended up going to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Thanksgiving night.  That’s one industry that doesn’t close, even on Christmas Day.  Movie theaters have been open on holidays for as long as I can remember.  No one talked about boycotting AMC.

Now, I don’t shop Thanksgiving or Black Friday so consumerism doesn’t affect me one way or another.  I usually start my Christmas shopping in July.  I’ve only got a few more people to buy for and of course Santa has a list that’s being added to daily.  And when I do go out and brave the long check out lines…or the post office lines…I do so knowing I’m going to be in line for a while.  I don’t stomp my feet, or sigh with impatience, or mutter and curse.  I just pull out my ereader and occupy myself as I shuffle along until I get to the check out. 

My blood pressure thanks me.
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I want to thank everyone who participated in the Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop!  I decided to give away two ebooks and the winners are J. Bur & Angela Searles, who have been contacted already!  Come January, there will be more chances to win on my Love Story Book Tour.
Topic Tuesday Blog Hop