written butterfly...let romance take flight

Why Erotica Romance?

2012-02-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

First let me say a huge THANK YOU to all who left me comments on my Valentine Blog Hop. I hope all of ya like your books...and for PaParanormal, please leave me your email address so I can send you a book!

Now, I've posted this once so some of you have read it, but I am blogging this again because I recently had a bad taste in my mouth from someone who had the audacity to say I'm not a real author and that I'm not educated because of what I write. So...here goes....

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I’ve had it all. The raised eyebrows, the nose in the air, the disdain very present in the eyes. Even the rolled eyes. Everything that screams disapproval. All because I say I write erotica romance. People can’t seem to get past the ‘erotica’ part of that statement and focus on the part that I’m published. I write stories that are turned into professionally edited manuscripts with wonderful cover art, ISBN’d, copywritten, and marketed. I work very hard to create characters that are real, flawed, and redeemed through love, all in the space of at minimum twenty thousand words. My largest body of work so far has been about 157,000 words, which is 642 pages and represents two years of my time.

And that book will probably never see the light of day in a readers hands.

Now, for anyone who has sat down to write down a story, carried it through days, weeks or even years to fulfillment, submitted to many (dozens) of publishing houses, received many (dozens) of rejections, revised under advice, changed or deleted characters or dialogue you love, resubmitted, to finally get one person who will give your work a chance…then lets talk. Writing is a very solitary life because when submerged in my worlds I live in my imagination. I hear the voices of my characters. I dream the scenarios of their lives.

And I do all of this working full time in the day, being a full time mother to a very active little boy, take care of a household and maintain relationships with friends. I sacrifice sleep, personal time and normal stuff that most people do (don’t ask me who the Kardashians are…no clue).

But I can’t NOT write. I might explode if I’m not at my laptop trying to find a synonym for the words ‘gazed into his eyes’. And why erotica romance? Because I’m good at writing it. The sex is graphic because the love is intense. My stories are not about people who court each other, go to church on Sunday, and sleep in separate beds. My stories are about people with problems…about a woman who was raped at fifteen, a man who was inappropriately touched as a child, a woman who has survived alone in a wasteland for years, a woman afraid of loving after her husband cheated. These characters are raw. Their emotions are encased in ice. These people are helpless, hopeless…until love finds them. So sex between these people and their partners isn’t going to have ephuanisms like ‘manhood’ and ‘joined together in bliss’.

What I write isn’t for everyone. I know that. Everyone has different tastes and opinions. There are people out there who think the word ‘cock’ is vulgar. Really, I get it. But I am a writer. I am a published author. And I don’t deserve the eye roll. None of us who write erotica romance do. To my fellow sister writers, I say give me more. Give me more sex. Give me more erotica.

Give me more.

The Vanilla Romance

2012-02-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

First of all HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! This is the holiday of romantics and since romance is my business I love when February 14th roles. around. I want to let hose of you following my "Most Romantic List" know that my countdown will continue on the 15th. Only 5 books left to reveal!

For this blog hop I wanted to write about romance so I thought I'd write about something that has been on my mind-how romance has evolved from predominately "white" perspectives. So please leave a comment at the end with your contact information because each comment will be entered to win a free PDF version of any of my ebooks, winner's choice.

Thank you!!!

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The first romance I ever read was Web of Silk by Yvonne Whittle, a Harlequin Presents set amidst the lush background of South Africa. Morgan, the heroine, was a titan haired beauty and her hero was an American blond Adonis. I devourered my mother’s collection of Harlequins the summer before I started fifth grade, not only enraptured by the romance and love but also by foreign locals I was transported to through my imagination.

Growing up in rural Missouri, in a town of about eight thousand people that had not one African-American, it never entered my mind that all the romance books out there only featured white couples. A decade later, when the 1990’s rolled around, I found myself living in Baltimore working at John’s Hopkins Hospital and taking the bus to work. My Harlequins, at this point, had graduated to sweeping Zebra Historicals. One morning I happen to see an African-American woman reading a Zebra novel, with a white couple brazenly displayed on the cover and it made me start to wonder why there weren't love stories featuring a black couple.

Now, this wasn’t a negative thought by any means. When I went back to the bookstore I started looking at all the covers…and all were, well, vanilla. I couldn’t help but see a wide gap that even romance novels wouldn’t breach through mainstream bookselling and I thought that was pretty sad.

The internet was just emerging by this point but used mainly for emailing friends because the information highway was a pain the ass since dial-up it took half a night to download anything. So I didn’t know the name of Elsie B. Washington, widely regarded as the first woman to publish an African American love story in mainstream romance. Nor did I know of Harlequin publishing the first collection of African American romance novels featuring Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, and Mildred Riley.

And then the Nineties gave way to a new century; the internet took off and people started realizing how small the world actually was and how beautiful other cultures are. Fast forward to the explosion of ebook publishing. Finally, love is able to dominate. Interracial couples are in demand and suddenly love is no longer vanilla. I’m so very happy about that. I have had the delight of reading the most amazing stories, not just about interracial couples but even interspecies couples, ménage stories, and gay romance. My first male/male romance novella will be released in May, a story that flowed out of my mind through my fingers in two weeks!

I am so happy and thankful that I live in a time when love can be love, in any flavor. Thank you for visiting my blog and remember to leave your name and contact info before heading off to the next blog at:

http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

The Most Romantic Book...#6

2012-02-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Number Six is another time travel book, this one a romp through the Roaring Twenties with Judith O’Brien’s Rhapsody in Time. The author managed to capture the innocence of the time, right before the Great Depression, beautifully through describing New York City’s nightclub and burgeoning Broadway scene.

Liz McShane lives in 1990s NYC, working for a vintage magazine and crushing on all things from the Twenties era. She goes on a very bad date and has to take the subway home late at night. She gets mugged, knocked unconscious and when she wakes up she’s transported to the day Lindbergh landed in Paris in 1927.

Dazed, she wanders around, seeing the changes going back seventy years has done to the city. The fashion, the politeness, a world vastly different than her own. She finds a speakeasy, of sorts, and settles in, listening to the piano music and ordering a drink from a man who looks just like Edward G. Robinson, but that’s because he is. She starts thinking about her job, how she was working on a piece about a famous pianist named Alec Arronson who had died in a 1935 plane crash, and when she turns to look at the man playing the piano it’s Alec!

But she was unprepared for her attraction to him. They are drawn together like two magnets. The romance is so breathtaking that you just want to keep on reading, to have the book go on forever. Alec hears Liz playing some music one day and thinks it’s her own composition, so he gets her hired on the Broadway show he’s writing. The world Ms. O’Brien has woven is rich with history, of music, of minute details you never knew about.

Of course, there is drama and danger. Alec is really an Irishman whose cousin runs the Irish Mob in NYC, a very dangerous man. Alec has tried to outrun his past, but his past has caught up with him, and Liz is placed right in the middle of danger.

This is one of the best written time travel novels, ever! (in my opinion). The flow never lets up, there is not one single dull moment in the book as we go on Liz’a journey as she finds love in 1927 and has to reconcile giving up the Twentieth Century, plus surviving attacks from a deranged Irish Mob Boss!

Run, don’t walk, to Amazon.com and buy this book!

The Most Romantic Book...#7

2012-02-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Back in the ‘80s, Bantam Books had a line called Loveswept, and within that division was a saga called The Delaney Dynasty Series. So successful was that series that they came out with a second series called The Delaneys, The Untamed Years II, and I’ve picked Velvet Lightning by Kay Hooper as #7 on my Most Romantic Book List.

I have to admit, I didn’t read the other books. In fact, I only read this one because my grandmother had read it and marked “wonderful” on the front page. She’s dead now, but I love looking at her signature; it makes my heart hurt just a little.

This book does have the political interweaving of the other books in the series, but I focused only on the love story between Catherine and Marcus. The setting is the island of Port Elizabeth, and Catherine has moved her father there over four years ago because of his ailing health. Desperate to hide his growing insanity and preserve some semblance of a normal life for him, she whisked him to the island for the widely regarded doctor who has retired there.

She meets Captain Marcus Tyrone, a man who used to be a privateer during the Civil War and now has his own unbelievable secret that he has to keep hidden. The two start a love affair that lasts two years, a love affair that Catherine accepts because she thinks she can never marry and have children because of the insanity of her father. She doesn’t want to pass that onto her own children.

But things change when Marcus starts falling in love with Catherine. He wants to settle down, marry her, and star his own family…and when he makes his intentions known she decides to end it. Only Marcus refuses to let her go, and when Catherine’s father discovers their affair, his warped mind transposes Catherine with her mother, thinks his wife is cheating on him, and takes matters into his own hands.

Catherine’s desperation is the reason why this book is amazing. Well, that and Marcus’s refusal to let her go. This woman has existed on fear for so long that it’s hard for her to think of anything other than the moment, which is why she likes the schedule of a sea captain. He comes and goes so frequently that she doesn’t have to worry about the long term commitment.

She loves Marcus so much and doesn’t want to subject him to a wife who might one day go insane, and yet Marcus stands by her side. Of course, insanity doesn’t really run in the family and the book sheds fear of a different kind from the knowledge of STDs, so the happily ever after is there, of course, but it’s an emotional rollercoaster ride along the way.

For a minor book within a large series, this one really packs a punch.

The Most Romantic Book...#8

2012-02-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

The next book I pick as Most Romantic #8 (on my Bookshelf, that is) is from fellow Loose Id author, Jet Mykles titled Heaven Sent, and includes two books called Heaven and Purgatory. I actually have the paperback of these wonderful stories and I’m happy to rave about them.

Heaven starts out introducing the band Heaven Sent. The famous band is scheduled to perform at a hotel called the Weiss Strande Hotel, and this lets the lead singer, Johnny Heaven, met the manger, Tyler Purcell. Tyler has always considered himself straight, but when he meets Johnny and encounters the man’s sheer dynamic force, all bets are off.

The second story, Purgatory, is the love story of Heaven Sent’s bass player, Lucas Sloane. Years ago one of his closest friends made a pass at him, one he spurned out of confusion and fear. Now, Reese is back and this time Lucas won’t let him go, even though Reese insists he wants a conventional, ordinary life.

There is another book in this series telling the loves stories of the other two band members, but my favorite is Johnny’s story. I just love how sexy and wild he is, at the same time how captivated by Tyler he is at the first introduction. Jet Mykles has written even more in the series and even started a new band, and I’ve bought and read each of them…several times!

The men are sexy, seductive, and all chose males to be their partners and lovers. This was actually the first m/m romance story I read and fortunately, I picked a wonderful series to get hooked on. Jet is one author I admire very much and look upon her work with inspiration as I move forward in my own writing career. She writes with depth, wit, humor and love.

The Most Romantic Book...#9

2012-02-06T00:17:00.001-08:00

Back in the early ‘90s Silhouette decided to cash in on the paranormal phenomena and started their own line called Silhouette Shadows. This series ran for three years (1993-1996) and produced 66 titles. I read a lot of them, was a huge fan of “From the Dark Side of Love” (their slogan), but there was only one book that stood our amongst them all. And that book lands at #9 on my list: Flashback by Terri Herrington.

The story is about a woman named Sarah who sees this old man staring at her. When she goes to confront him, he panics, runs into the street and gets hit by a car. Tragically, he dies. Stunned and curious as to why he was following her, she starts investigating who he was.

His name was Marcus Stephens, and forty years ago he had lived in Sarah’s house- and he had loved a woman who looked exactly like her. With the use of his camera from the 1950’s, Sarah hurtles over the time barrier and into his arms.

Each time Sarah goes to see him, it takes a toll on her body. But she dares to go back because she loves him. And the one person who has the power to bring her back into her own time is her twin sister. So Sarah hatches a desperate plan, one where she makes her sister believe she committed suicide so she will never call her again. So all she had to do to be with Marcus forever is stay alive.

This is one of those books that you can’t put down. It’s tragic and heartbreaking but at the same time it’s so romantic it eats you up alive. Marcus is a doctor who is shell shocked from the Korean War, and goes home to recuperate and is not quite sure what to make of Sarah when she shows up.

Their love is just beautiful. It’s not a heavy sex sort of book, even though there is a little of that; instead the author wrote a very pure, true love book. When you finish it and close the cover all you want to do is go back in time and re-read it all over again as if it were the first time. Very apt for a time-travel book, eh?

The Most Romantic Book...#10

2012-02-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

For my next romantic book (on my bookshelves, that is) I have picked the love story of Jace Wayland and Clary Fray. This is the first book in my series of Most Romantic Books that happens to be YA. Set within the pages of The Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones comes in at #10.

Actually their love is explored and tested over three books: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass. The author, Cassandra Clare, has just added on three more books to series. But the first book really allows the reader to sink his/her teeth into the story and especially the love between Jace and Clary.

When Clary headed into a night club in NYC one evening, she witnesses a murder…only the murder is that of a demon by demon slayers called Shadowhunters. The Shadowhunters are three teenagers named Jace, Alec and Isabelle. Within twenty-four hours, her world turns upside down when a demon attacks her house and her mother disappears. She turns to the Shadowhunters, half human half angel, for help and learns she is more a part of their world than she ever suspected.

From the word go, this book is packed with action, paranormal creatures, and of course, Clary and Jace. The author does an amazing job of portraying a world existing parallel with ours while keeping the paranormal genre fresh and new. We learn that sometimes being an “angel blood” isn’t all that’s holy and that demons can have feelings too. We’re introduced to a plethora of supporting characters that steal our heart as well.

And when the final ax is given on Clary and Jace’s love and turns their romance into something forbidden, well, it makes you want to reach into the book and strangle Cassandra Clare for writing such a great love story…only to snatch it from you. It’ll take you three books to resolve it but it’s worth the ride.

**A side note here is that this book is being turned into a movie staring Lily Collins as Clary and Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace. If it ever gets off the ground, I hope they stick true with the book!

The Most Romantic Book...#11

2012-02-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

Number 11 is a book by I read back in the 80’s and took over twenty years to find. It’s titled A Perilous Affair and it is a Candlelight Supreme written by Linda Randall Wisdom. When I started searching for it, I couldn’t remember the name, only the plot. I found a list of all the Candlelight Supreme’s and one by one I looked up each one until I discovered mine…at number 173!

So what is this elusive book about? It’s about an agent named Alicia who falls in love with her partner, Reid. Reid and Alicia plan to retire and marry, but their boss isn’t willing to let his two best agents go, so he sends her into an impossible situation where her cover is blown and she lands in a dark dungeon at the mercy of some sadistic dictator’s hands. When she is rescued, she is so badly damaged that the boss tells Reid that Alicia died. The truth is that she is a witness to the dictator’s cruelty, and so she has to “die”.

She is reborn as Mari Chandler and is sent off to the USA as store owner in North Carolina. And for three years Reid has believed the one true love of his life is dead.

They both want to put their past love behind them so they both end up at the same resort in Mexico where Reid proposed to Alicia, and low and behold, they wind up falling in love again!

To read this book now, in 2012, it’s totally unrealistic in parts. They went to all this trouble to bury her identity and when the bad guy Dictator shows up they let her “handle” it on her own. They talk about East Germany and Yugoslavia, and no uses a cell phone!

But the realism of this book isn’t what I’m writing about. What makes this book so romantic is the heartbreak meltdown that Reid has when he’s told Alicia died. His pain and sorrow is felt through the whole book. It tugs on my heartstrings each time I pick it up to read.

It is now sold through Amazon Digital Services for Kindle and has a new cover, so it would be interesting to read the outdated and antiquated “spy” world from 1987 with a 2012 cover…because I must say, it is a hot cover! But I’ll stick with my paperback with the old cover. It’s kind of like a fine wine.

The Most Romantic Book...#12

2012-02-03T00:25:00.000-08:00

Coming in at number twelve is a book by Francine Rivers titled Redeeming Love. Okay, this book is phenomenal! I read it when it came out twenty years ago and to this day it has stuck in my brain. I was even talking to a friend when out of the blue she mentioned this book…and this friend doesn’t read romance!

The plot of the book is a retelling of the biblical story Gomer and Hosea. Set in the California gold country in the year 1850, it is a time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea.

Of course, a story based on something biblical has to center around God, and though I don’t preach any religion, this book makes my Most Romantic List because of the power it portrays.

So, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go. (meaning God)

This story is fantastic! You will cry, there’s not a doubt in my mind, because Angel is so damaged, so bitter, that her redemption takes your heart and squeezes every bit of emotion from it. I think this was the book that made me want to write angst, to make characters so flawed only love can save them. And as I wrote A Silver Lining, a bit of Redeeming Love was in the back of my mind.

Francine Rivers is a Christian romance writer and her books center around her beliefs. I’ve not read any of her other work but Redeeming Love has sold over one million copies. I remember giving this book to my grandmother, Julia, and she kept my copy, but even though it’s not physically on my bookshelf it holds a special place in my heart.

Most Romantic Book....#13!

2012-02-02T09:38:00.001-08:00

Coming in at number thirteen is Kristin Hannah’s Once in Every Life. This is the story of a woman who is born deaf. Tess Gregory is a brilliant research scientist who longs for a husband and family to call her own. Sadly, Tess is struck by a bus and is killed.

But this is a romance! Where does the happily ever after come into play?

It just so happens, as she’s floating around in the cosmo’s, God has decided that Tess has been dealt an unfair hand and gives her another opportunity to find love. She is given a remote control and shown images of men and lives. She flips through the glimpses of lives until she sees Jack Rafferty, and something compelling in his haunted gaze touches her.

She hits the button.

And so she wakes up as Amarylis Rafferty, wife and mother of three, and surprise…she can hear! It doesn’t take her long to realize that Amarylis wasn’t the model mother of the year, and so she has to learn not only about Pioneer living but how to help a family not quite all together.

Her husband, Jack, has PTSD from the Civil War. One of her daughter’s suffers from dyslexia and is teased and taunted from a school environment that doesn’t understand. There’s so much heartache in this book that it brings on the waterworks pretty much from the word go. But the heartache is worth the marvelous ending, as Tess/Amarylis takes on a town to support and defend Jack.

This is a marvelous book, one that has endured on my bookshelf since 1992, the year it was first published. At a time when time travel books were just hitting their stride, this was one that stood out. It was masterfully written with wonderful characters. I highly recommend picking this book up to read, but make sure you have tissue handy!

My List of Romantic Books #14

2012-02-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

I decided to honor the month of February with a list of the most romantic books I know. Granted, I’ve not read every book out there, and I know everyone has a different opinion, but in the next fourteen days I’ll give my top fourteen picks.

So who made number fourteen on my list? Well, I’m going to have to say the author because I’ve clumped some of her books together. It’s Carole Mortimer! When I started reading romance back the ‘80’s, my mother had a whole bookshelf of Harlequin Presents. My favorites were the stories where the men acted all tough and foreboding, but when push came to shove, the heroes of Carole’s books couldn’t survive one more day without his heroine.

On my top Carole Mortimer list are the following books:

Freedom to Love (HP#473), a young girl gets lost and winds up in the wrong trailer exploring the rugged outback of the Canadian wilderness. Now if only the hero would believe it was an accident!

Forbidden Surrender (HP#547), the heroine is mistaken for someone else by a dark and handsome man. Turns out she has an identical twin she never knew of who is engaged to the man she’s come to love!

Golden Fever (HP #579), set aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, an actress has to over come the long lost love of her past since he’ll be directing her in a new movie!

A Lost Love (HP#740), to escape a domineering and controlling husband, a woman fakes her own death and has plastic surgery, only to end up falling in love all over again with the same man!

A Past Revenge (HP#780), seven years after she had been seduced, the heroine meets the hero again, and sparks fly. But he doesn’t remember her, and he has no idea of the child he fathered, the little girl who only lived a little while.

After the Loving (HP#1019), the heroine thinks its time to end the affair she was having with the hero, but the hero doesn’t want to let her go, especially not after finding out she’s pregnant!

Yes, the intrigue! Yes, the unbelievable plots and twists within the pages. But these stories always made my heart pound when true love was finally confessed. Even thirty years later, these books are still a foundation for my own writing. They sit proudly on my bookshelf.

How to Write a Kiss

2012-01-29T20:44:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have to do as a writer of erotica romance is describe the art of a kiss. After all, a kiss is everything. The dictionary defines a kiss as to join lips in respect, affection, love, passion. How romantic does that sound, eh? There is a Chinese Proverb that says “kissing is like drinking salted water, you drink and your thirst increases”. After all, a first kiss represents the spark of love, the hope of the future, quivers in the belly, and tingly sensations all over the body.

It should be easy, right? Writing a kiss should be the easiest thing in the world for someone like me. But capturing the beautiful act of kissing can be extremely difficult to describe. A written kiss has to be just the right blend of romantic and Oh la la! with no hint of being wet, sloppy or smacking (as I’m sure we’ve all experienced at least once in our lifetime!)

In my first novel, Black Leather Pants, this is how I wrote Kiley and Penny’s first kiss:

“Kiley's tongue slid into her mouth, twined with hers, danced, jolting a salacious moan from her. He explored each hidden corner. In and out he plunged, sweeping aside any doubt that this was exactly where she needed to be at this moment.”

Also, writing such a monumental step as a kiss in the love story of two people has to be stimulating for the reader. It’s my job to not only write a believable love scene, but to bring that love scene to life. So sometimes dragging out that first prolonged moment can be sweet torture.

In A Silver Lining, my current release, I wrote: “His hand hit the wall next to her head, trapping her. He leaned in so close that she felt his breath on her face. An answering need rose sharply inside her, and she itched to touch him, to bring his lips down upon hers. Fire ignited her blood. Her heart thumped almost painfully while her pussy creamed for the hard cock that pulsed through his heavy denims, pushing against her thigh. The overwhelming urge to fall to her knees and suck him into her mouth for a feast had her reeling.”

So how does a writer write a kiss? We close our eyes and jump back to that first moment, when we experienced that soul shattering kiss that changed us forever. We write them from our heart, from our hopes and wishes, we draw them out from every movie and book that turned us on. We study kisses, deconstruct them, fantasize about them. And we read…a lot!

While there are many ways to write a kiss, and many different scenarios to engage in a kiss, perhaps the most rewarding is that kiss when the happily ever after starts. Love stories start with a kiss, and though they may not end specifically with one, the reader knows that the kiss is there, waiting in our imagination when we turn the last page.

Please Welcome Donna Confer!!

2012-01-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

Good morning! I’m Lorelei Confer and I write romantic suspense.

I wrote my first story in the fourth grade in the form of a play which actually was produced by my teacher for parents and students. I continued writing and majored in English in College. I practice every day to improve my craft.

An author of romantic suspense I love reading almost as much as writing. I have filled my book shelves with my favorites, i.e. Harlan Colban, Eliza March, Johanna Lindsey, Kathy Carmichael, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Andrew Gross, Terri Garey, Karen Rose, LuAnn Rice, and Bobbi Smith just to mention a few, as well as all the classics.

I live on a peninsula in the mid west coast of Florida with my husband, two cats, and AJ, my long haired Chihuahua. I love hearing from readers so please visit my website: www.loreleiconfer.com or blog at www.loreleiconfer.blogspot.com.

In doing research for my first book, Deadly Deception, I learned so much about Human Sex Trafficking and I really wanted to get the message out that this horrific crime is happening in your own backyard. I met with an undercover detective assigned to our local task force for human trafficking and from all the information I gleaned from him and numerous other interviews I have been able to put together realistic stories.

My second book, Deadly Revenge, happens in the North Carolina mountains which is the eighth likely state for human trafficking due to their interstate going north and south and east and west. Who knew?

I’ve just finished my third book in the ‘Deadly’ series, Deadly Deliverance, which is also about human sex trafficking from an investigators point of view. It’s primarily located in the Washington, DC area and is available from Siren Bookstrand Jan 17th, 2012.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy researching and writing them.

***Donna is giving away one of her ebooks to a lucky commenter!!! So make sure you leave info for her to contact you!!!****

BLURB:

Things get personal for Sam Brower, undercover task force detective for human trafficking, when his niece, Autumn, goes missing. To make matters worse, he’s forced to work with his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Conover, former DC cop, when she’s assigned to a cold case involving his long lost brother.

After infiltrating the gang responsible for the multiple abductions, Sam and Lisa try to unravel the stories behind the kidnapping of Autumn and the disappearance of Luke before their cover is blown.

Undercover work doesn’t lend well to trust. Even if they work together like a fine tuned instrument, will Lisa and Sam be able to salvage love after all they’ve been through?

EXCERPT:

“Ahh!! Oh!! Yes! Yes! It feels so good! Right there! Please, don’t stop, please,” Lisa Conover muttered. “Harder, harder! No! Don’t leave now!” She groaned as she pounded her fists into the hardwood floor. “Damn it! Why did you stop?” she asked Godiva, her twenty-two pound silver tabby cat, who had jumped off her back and now sauntered over to a sunny spot on the carpet, flopping down in a very unladylike manner. Just like Sam used to do years ago, gets me feeling comfortable and then he takes off.

Lisa’s aching back muscles were so tight from hunching over her computer ten to twelve hours a day every day for the past weeks. She needed a massage. Better yet, she needed a vacation.

She rolled over onto her back and stared above at the open-beamed ceiling of her log cabin in the North Carolina Mountains outside Hickoryville. She studied the accumulation of dust bunnies along the beams.

The setting sun cast shadows across the room as she gazed out the two-story floor to ceiling windows on one wall. The view of the tranquil scenic mountains in its resplendent fall glory replaced some of the angst she felt about her work. She relaxed and stretched her arms above her head. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t had any lunch today.

She stood, trying to stretch her still-aching muscles by turning side to side at the waist, touching her toes—or attempting to anyway.

Then maybe she could get a few more hours of work done before bedtime.

After putting down fresh water and food for Godiva she opened the fridge hoping to find something for dinner. She knew what she would find but she looked anyway. It was empty except for a couple of eggs, and an older-than-she-knew container of yogurt she couldn’t trust anymore.

She glimpsed down at Godiva who had already finished her dinner. “I think I’ll run down to The Barn and get something to eat. You can hold down the fort here for a while, right?” she asked Godiva who sauntered away licking her lips.

She walked the short distance from the kitchen to the corner of the large open room to her desk which held her state-of-the-art computer system with three screens and a laptop. She sat down to start turning everything off when the phone on her desk rang.

“Conover Investigations, Lisa speaking.”

“Hi, is Sam Brower there?”

“Sorry, but I haven’t heard from Sam in years. How did you get my number?”

“This is the last number I had for him. I really need to talk to him ASAP.”

“Maybe I can help you. What’s the problem?”

“No, I need to talk to Sam.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you. Give me your name and a number where he can reach you, and if I hear from him I’ll let him know you’re trying to get in touch with him, okay?”

“My name’s Luke and he can reach me at …” Then the phone line went dead. He had hung up.

What is it about men? They never say good-bye.

ADULT EXCERPT:

“Sam, have you really thought this through?” Lisa asked as she pulled her hair away from her face.

“Of course I have. Do you think I really want to give up what we’ve just renewed?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, back the truck up,” Lisa said as she pushed away from him, her hands on his chest. “What do you think has been renewed? Yes, we shared a couple of ‘hello’ kisses for old time’s sake, but that’s all.”

Sam turned and moved closer to her. “Let’s take care of that right now. I know I want more out of our relationship, maybe even something permanent, don’t you?” He put his hands on her shoulders and attempted to pull her closer. She resisted.

He leaned in and kissed her shoulders, moving to her neck. She moved away. He pulled her closer and continued kissing her long neck, ears, and cheeks, moving toward her open and groaning mouth. Her hands moved to his elbows and then up to his shoulders until they were around his neck where she hung on for dear life.

His mouth moved to encompass hers, his tongue tangling with hers. He groaned as he pulled her closer to rub against his erection. He walked her backwards toward the bed until the back of her legs could go no farther. They slowly tumbled to the bed without breaking the kiss. He held her in his arms, plundering her mouth. His hands moved up her side and found her breast. She wiggled. His fingers found her nipple and gently squeezed until it became erect and hard. He pulled up her blouse and broke the kiss to take his wet mouth to her breast. He moved her satin-and-lace bra out of the way and plundered her nipple. She groaned and arched toward him. His hand pulled up her skirt and reached for her feminine curls finding soft, satin-and-lace matching panties. He pulled them aside and reached for her hot wet spot waiting and ready for him.

His hand slid between her legs and brushed the dewy petals of her damp folds, sending a zing of electricity through her entire body. Working a finger inside her, he growled, “Keep going,” with a jerk of his chin at her still hands.

He worked two fingers into her wet passage and stretched her wide. Her back arched as delicious tremors and hot shocks of pleasure streaked through her body. His eyes as deep and dark as night, his gaze caressed her, traveling over her body to rest where his hand had disappeared between her legs.

Eyes heavy-lidded, he murmured, “I want to lick you all over like an ice cream cone.”

His heated look inflamed her blood, and a film of perspiration covered her skin. She tried to fill her restricted lungs, but there wasn’t enough air in the room.

He moved his fingers inside her. He was huge, jutting past his belly button, a network of veins distended in stark relief along the length.

He was stroking himself while he was pleasuring her. He rolled on top of her and, finding the exact spot, he thrust inside her. She arched her hips toward him, wanting more, and he thrust deeper. In and out, in and out, their rhythm soon matched until they both spiraled out of control and into ecstasy.

Sam moved off her but lay close beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He didn’t want to let her go.

-Donna Confer

writing as Lorelei Confer (WWW.loreleiconfer.com)orwww.loreleiconfer.blogspot.com

Amazon.com: CHRISTMAS AWAKENINGS eBook: Lorelei Confer: Kindle Store

www.bookstrand.com/DEADLY-DELIVERANCE (Jan 2012)kindle

www.bookstrand.com/DEADLY-REVENGE (June 2011)

www.bookstrand.com/DEADLY-DECEPTION (Nov 2010)

Stop by on Valentine's Day!

2012-01-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

Drea Becraft will once again be hosting a blog hop, this time for Valentine’s Day! The contest will start February 11, 2012 and go till midnight February 14^th, 2012! There are over 200 authors participating, giving away free goodies! Make sure you stop by at

http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/ for more information!

As for me, I will be giving away one of my ebooks as a pdf file to someone, winner’s choice!

But between now and then Donna Confer will be a guest with me on Tuesday January 24^th…giving us an exciting peak into her latest book, with a free give-a-way!

On the 27^th I have Christian Jensen blogging with me.

And on February 1^st, I will be with Alexandria Christian to give a HOT excerpt! http://lexxxchristian.wordpress.com/

Welcome Cara Bristol!

2012-01-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

Cougar Relationships

If a woman is only a few years older than the man she's dating, that passes muster. But as the age gap widens, eyebrows rise and people begin to whisper, “cougar,” the somewhat derogatory name for a woman who deliberately targets much younger men.

In nature, a cougar is a large wild cat that is especially good at stalking and taking down prey.
But “cougar” also connotes other meanings such as erotic, hot and sexy. That it seems taboo or risqué makes even more enticing. In a 2003AARP survey, 34 percent of single women over the age of 40 were dating younger men. (The survey also said that most cases it was the younger man who had made the first move and pursued the older woman, in contrast to the connotation of the word cougar).

For the woman, the benefits of dating younger are that she gets a man who is likely to be more open, more sexually adventurous than her contemporaries - and who has a hot bod. The man gets a woman who is more sure of herself, more confident and more sexually adept than his contemporaries.

In my erotic cougar romance Reckless in Moonlight, divorcee Dana Markus didn't set out to be a cougar - especially not after her ex husband had left her for a much younger woman. But when the full moon rises - as well as the neighbor's sexy twenty-something son, Dana finds she's finally able to give rein to the desires that have been within her all along.

Reckless in Moonlight Blurb:
Forty-five-year-old Dana Markus knows a full moon makes people act crazy. It's why they call the power company with stories about aliens disrupting the earth's climate. It probably explains why her ex-husband left her for a girl scarcely older than their college-age daughter. It definitely accounts for why she impulsively invited the neighbor's hunk of a son over for a skinny-dip. And why 28-year-old Lon Corbin accepted.
Lon doesn't think much of the mass of rock orbiting the earth, but he does think he's the luckiest man alive when the sexy divorcee he's admired from afar invites him into her pool. He knows she has reservations about their age difference, but he's planning to show her in a very physical way how good they could be together if she'll give him the chance.
But when their simmering private passion boils over into a public relationship, family pressures and schemes threaten to split the couple apart.
The moon brought them together -- but will it save them?

Reckless in Moonlight Excerpt:
Back and forth, back and forth, Lon Corbin ran the sea sponge over the hood of his car. If it seemed odd that someone would wash his vehicle at night, well, the moon was full, and no one knew better than Dana Markus that moonlight compelled people to do strange things. Why else was she ogling the neighbors' twenty-something son like he was a strawberry dipped in Godiva chocolate?

And Lon offered so much to enjoy. A tiny moan of appreciation escaped her lips. From the top of his head, covered by thick amber hair, to his bare tippy toes, his majestic, youthful body inspired her to stand and salute. Strong, broad shoulders and a smooth chest decorated by lickable flat nipples tapered to slim hips and powerful thighs that were hugged by faded blue jeans. His legs weren't the only impressive body parts the fabric molded; the heavy denim cupped a massive bulge further showcased by the wetness of the fabric.

He'd soaked himself clean through with the hose. Water droplets sluiced down his arms, his chest, his flat abdomen…and led the way to his thick sex.

Lon dipped the sponge into the bucket again, then swirled it over the hood, round and round, making circles to ensure he got every spot. Every one. Dana admired a conscientious man who paid attention to detail, who took pride in a job well done.

He dipped again. Oops. He splashed himself with the soapy water. Dana licked her lips as her gaze followed the bubbles' journey over his chest and down his ripped abdomen, where they soaked into the waistband of his low-slung jeans.

Oh, to be those bubbles!

Another moan, louder this time, erupted from her throat and drew Lon's attention. Their eyes met across their adjacent driveways, and he flashed an all-American, 100 percent sexy grin.

“Hot, isn't it?” His low voice vibrated like distant thunder, and Dana knew he wasn't talking about the air temperature but rather the sexual tension that snapped and sizzled like a lightning strike between them. She almost could smell the ozone.

“Scorching,” she agreed. “Can I give you a hand with that?” She eyed the dripping sponge he held in his large hands.

“I was hoping you'd ask,” he said, with a grin. His ready acceptance of assistance lit a fire in her stomach. For months she'd watched Lon from afar, never exchanging more than a polite hello, never imagining she'd have a chance at anything more than a greeting. Dana glided across the driveway, tugged by the seductive promise of
Lon's gaze as if she were tethered to him, and he was reeling her in. Every step heightened her arousal. Her breasts felt heavy, her nipples tightened, and between her cream-slickened thighs, her swollen cunt pulsed hungrily.

Standing next to him, she could smell the detergent in the bucket and a manly, soapy scent that emanated from him, along with the even sexier aroma of clean sweat.

“Do you have another sponge?” she asked as she scanned the dark street for activity. No traffic. No late-night dog walkers. Perfect.

“You don't need one.” Lon tossed his into the pail and propped his sexy ass against the car's fender.

“No?” She ran a finger over his chest and circled the nipple. It perked under her touch. A sharp current of desire zinged through her clit. “What do I need?”

“You need cock,” Lon said and unzipped his pants.

Reckless Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Reckless-in-Moonlight.aspx
Website/blog: http://www.carabristol.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cara-Bristol-Erotic-Romance-Author/178661122147994
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/carabristol

Welcome Sara York!!

2012-01-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Hi I’m Sara York and I’m so happy that Beth invited me to her blog. I write mostly

Male/Male romance books with a few females thrown in for fun. On January 16th

Zane’s Inferno in His Hero Anthology releases. Zane is a gay firefighter in south

Texas and he’s not out of the closet. When Zane is almost killed in a fire he finds out

that his secret isn’t a secret to everyone.

Zane's Inferno by Sara York

Zane's Inferno—when burning, hot lust ignites into raging love.

After being trapped in a fire, Zane Wilson is shocked by the heat directed his way

by Nick Dubois, the fire department's top paramedic. Nick comes on to Zane, kissing

him in the bunkroom and surprising the hell out of him. The next day, Nick shows

up at Zane's house and the fireworks really begin. The sex is rough and hot, not at all

like anything Zane has had before.

Their relationship began because of a fire then almost ends because of one. When

Zane is trapped in a forest fire and almost killed, Nick moves in and doesn't leave his

side. But a jealous ex is setting up Nick...and gunning for Zane. Will they survive they

survive the firestorm created by their relationship, or succumb to the flames?

Excerpt

Zane Wilson inched forwards, barely able to move. Heat from the fire was baking his brain through his helmet. They were going to call him back any second. The swirl of the fire and the intense heat meant only one thing—this building was about to collapse. The stairs were engulfed in flames, blocking access to the upper floors. This had to have been deliberately set.

“Portable One, this is Command. You copy?”

“Command, this is Portable One, Zane here.”

“Heat’s built up in the attic. Come out now. Over.”

“Portable One exiting the building. We’re coming out. Over.”

James, his hose man, slapped him on the back. They’d moved back three feet when he heard the loud crack over the roar of the fire. The three-storey mansion was coming down around them.

“Run!” James shouted over the intercom just before he slapped Zane again, this time on the shoulder.

Zane dropped the hose then turned to run. They both dashed for the door. Zane saw a huge beam fall and he shoved James out of the way before he jumped back. A wall of fire surrounded him, blocking his exit. His oxygen tank alarm went off, signalling the end of his air supply. He would die in a few minutes if he didn’t escape the raging beast. Smoke seared his lungs, leaving him nauseous and dizzy. His tank should have lasted longer. Someone had given him an empty

one. His stomach turned as he fought to remember who had given it to him. The flames grew stronger so he forgot about the tank and searched for a way out.

The fire died down to his right for just a few seconds. He braced himself for the heat and leapt through the uneven wall of flames. The fire burned him but he kept going, pushing his way into the living room. The heat was less intense as he made his way through the smoke-filled room. On the far wall he saw a window. He grabbed his hooligan tool and tried to smash out the glass. The bar bounced back, smacking his visor. Shit, Plexiglas.

Zane pulled the lock on the window and tried to shove the pane up, but it wouldn’t budge. The heat, maybe paint…something was making the window stick. He tried again as chunks of house dropped to the floor behind him like bombs on a battlefield. He reached up, grabbing the sides of the window frame. There was a security rod preventing the window from rising. He pulled out the metal rod then slid the window up. Oxygen rushed in, fuelling the fire. The blaze snaked its way across the ceiling, straight towards him.

The curtain around the window burst into flames. He jumped back. Pain seared his shoulder as a beam fell and crashed into him. This was his one chance. Zane jumped forward, diving through the smoke and fire, landing and rolling to his knees. He ignored the pain racing through his body as he crawled to a standing position.

Noise split the air as an explosion ripped through the house. Heat pushed him forward, and for a brief second he was airborne. He hit the ground with a solid thud. Fire and ash rained down around him.

Website http://sarayork.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sara.york1

Bio - Sara York lives in the southern United States with her family and

dogs. Sara loves romance that takes you to distant worlds where you

could be a princess or a warrior. She enjoys reading about far away

places, but writing erotic romance is her passion.

Sara York writes erotic scifi romance that takes place on sex planets

where pleasure is the mainstay. With pleasure planets and deserted

planets anything can happen. It is erotic fiction!

Writing M/M, gay romances is new to Sara York, but the passion and

freedom of expression in the gay world is refreshing.

Sara also writes menage a trois and cougar stories. Take the passion of

two and ramping it up to the passion of three.

Sara's favorite vacation would be to spend the day at the beach while

reading or writing a good book. I love beach reads!

Link is http://sarayork.com

Bromance

2012-01-10T16:17:00.000-08:00

Having just finished watching one of my favorite movies, The Eagle, with Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell, I was inspired to blog about bromance. I love a good bromance, two beautiful men who find each other due to whatever outside force is driving them together. Originally, bromance was described as two heterosexual men who are friends, but come on…really?

There are the obvious bromances like Spock/Captain Kirk (both the old and new actors), Ben Affleck/Matt Damon and George Clooney/Brad Pitt. Now, I don’t claim to be an expert at knowing every single bromance out there; I don’t watch a lot of television or see many films, but here are a list of my top five bromances of the television or film age.

1) As mentioned before, Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell in The Eagle. Why? Two men,

epic adventure, ancient Rome. Need I say more? Well, okay, how about the first time Channing’s

character, Marcus, lays eyes on Jamie’s, Esca. Esca is fighting in a “gladiator” type of sporting event

because he’s a slave. He refuses to play the game, defying the champion by daring to be killed instead of

fighting. His actions of bravery earn Marcus’s admiration and Marcus votes “thumbs up” to save him.

When the two make eye contact…

wowser! Of course, Esca is bought to become his slave and the

two head off to find a long lost Roman statue, bringing the two men closer together. At the end they walk off into the sunset together.

It’s just lovely to see!

2) Next is Denny Crane and Alan Shore, two characters from Boston Legal played by William Shatner and James Spader. Why? These two characters always finished the episode by sitting and drinking together after the end of a long day. There was a love between them that defied age, gender and beliefs. At the end of the series, they even marry so that Alan can take care of Denny in his old age as forgetfulness began to set in for him. I adored the ending, perhaps the only tv ending that I really loved.

3) Then there is Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took from LOTR, a far better bromance than between Frodo and Sam, IMHO. Why? There is something special between two men who think up First Breakfast and Second Breakfast. Their reunion is nothing short of tear jerking as Pippin frantically confirms that Merri is alive. "I knew you'd find me. You can't leave me," Merri says. "No, I'm going to take care of you," Pippin answers.

4) Eric Northman and Bill Compton. Really, do the names need any more introduction? Okay, two vampires fighting over the same woman, but we all know vampires are very promiscuous so why don’t they all just get along? So why? In the books the two men hate each other but on the screen their chemistry lights up. The fantasy Sookie has where all three of them are getting ready to oo la la was wow wow wow!

5) And last, but not least, Holmes and Watson, as portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Why? The first movie is full of long suffering glances and pauses from Holmes each and every time Watson mentions his forthcoming marriage. The two men gravitate toward each other in each scene they are in, as if a magnet is bringing them together. Yes, each one has a woman but we all know that these men could never live their lives without one another. I’ve not seen the second film yet, but I heard it’s really good!

As I said, there are many bromances I’m overlooking. In LOTR alone there are about half a dozen! And Yes, I didn't include Harry and Ron. The ones I've mentioned are just five of my personal favorites. They are men that when you think of one you can’t help but think of the other. Sexy on screen, sexy in fan-ficiton!

Everneath - out Jan 24th!

2012-01-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Head on over to my friend CJ Redwine to read a great interview from author Brodi Ashton!!

http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-brodi-ashton.html?showComment=1326157218919#c5657531362135794892

The Heathcliff Syndrome

2012-01-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. I do not like the book Wuthering Heights. I know, I know…I hear it every time I say that sentence. WTF? Aren’t you a romance writer? You don’t love Heathcliff? No, no I don’t. While many consider Heathcliff romantic, I found him to be an angry, brutal, hate-filled character.

And yet there was a time when romance novels epitomized Heathcliff as the role model for the hero. I grew up reading Harlequin Presents in the 1980’s; my favorite author being Carole Mortimer. I was swept away by the passionate love displayed between the covers, always told through the eyes of the heroine. The women struggled to be strong, even the ones who had been beaten down by cruel circumstances, and managed to find passionate love. I thought I would find one of those handsome, rich, stoic men and live happily ever after. Back then, in my young girlhood mind, I didn’t see how these heroes between the pages of my favorite romance books, all resembled Heathcliff.

Harlequins were littered with such dialogue tags like “..he growled at her” or “…he looked at her coldly”. He was forever driving her up a wall or being unnecessarily cruel to her in an effort to hide his feelings. There was always something that prevented him from opening up to her, being nice, or admitting his love.

Now, I do understand Heathcliff’s pain, his embarrassment at being an outcast, and the hate he must have felt at Catherine’s betrayal at picking Edgar Linton for money over his love. That is tragedy and I get that. But it’s the bastard he became after he came back to enact his revenge that turned me off of him being a romantic figure.

I’m very careful in my own books to not encroach my heroes or heroines so far that they are unredeemable, as Heathcliff was. I love conflict within my characters, for instance, in my novel A Silver Lining, Heather Hart is a woman who has had a shitty life. And that pain has turned her in a foul-mouth, unlikable character. But she’s strong enough not to give into the blackness that surrounds her soul so when true love finds her she is redeemable.

What I love about romance is that you can type into Google “The best romance story ever” and you’ll get a bazillion different opinions about what is love and how it’s shared. Heathcliff will forever linger in minds as romantically tragic, and even thought I may not like him, I appreciate what he did for the genre I write today. I fell in love with the harsh, angry heroes from my precious Harlequins and they inspired my addiction to romance. Heathcliff made me want to rescue every single man out there in pain and in anger, so I do my best, one story at a time.

Why do I Write Romance?

2012-01-05T19:11:00.000-08:00

**These are not my words, a wonderful woman named Diana Duncan wrote them. However, they convey PERFECTLY why I write romance. **

"Some people belittle writers and readers- especially of romance. They think we’re living in a make believe world. They condemn us for wasting time with “trash”.

But when I write, I’m reaching out to women – and perhaps a few men- but it’s mostly women who read romance.

Women who’ve had the worst day ever.

Women with nasty bosses.

Women with broken hearts.

Women who are sick and suffering.

Abused women who’ve been humiliated and hurt.

Women trying to overcome terrible circumstances I can’t even begin to imagine enduring.

I hope that through my stories, I can help ease these women’s sufferings a little. I hope they forget their own troubled lives and take off on an adventure with my characters. That they escape from the real world.

And when they finish, when they reach “the end”, and close the covers of the book, they go back to their own lives with a little more peace in their hearts.

Refreshed.

Uplifted.

Better able to cope.

Because in romance novels, good always defeats evil. Tomorrow is a better a day. Relationships are mended, hope is restored, love triumphs over all.

This is why I write.

For the angst-ridden adolescent who wonders, “what does real, lasting love look like?”

For the office administrator stuck on the commuter bus forty minutes a day.

For the weary nurse on the cancer ward who’s lost one too many patients.

For the young mother with three kids under three and reaching the end of her rapidly fraying rope.

For the elderly woman trapped in a body that no longer works, with a still-young mind that cries out for companionship.

What an incredible gift. What a humbling responsibility.

What a privilege.

Write on."

-Posted by Diana Duncan

Sara York Guest Blogging Jan 13th!

2012-01-04T17:14:00.000-08:00

Sara York lives in the southern United States with her

family and dogs. Sara loves romance that takes you to

distant worlds where you could be a princess or a warrior.

She enjoys reading about far away places, but writing

erotic romance is her passion.

Sara York writes erotic scifi romance that takes place on

sex planets where pleasure is the mainstay. With pleasure

planets and deserted planets anything can happen. It is

erotic fiction!

Writing M/M, gay romances is new to Sara York, but the

passion and freedom of expression in the gay world is refreshing.

Sara also writes menage a trois and cougar stories. Take the

passion of two and ramping it up to the passion of three.

Sara’s favorite vacation would be to spend the day at the beach

while reading or writing a good book. I love beach reads!

You can find Sara York Ebooks at Amazon or other ebook retailers.

http://sarayork.com

Meet Vespa Nyx!

2012-01-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

Being Released Aug 14th, 2012...Tiffany Trent's new novel The Unnaturalists...

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

FABULOUS GUEST BLOGGERS IN JANUARY!!!

2011-12-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

Please come visit in January to read the guest blogs by some fabulous authors!!!

Friday, January 13^th – Sara York

Monday, January 16^th – Cara Bristol

Saturday, January 21^st – Drea Becraft

Tuesday, January 24^th – Donna Confer

Friday, January 27^th – Christian Jensen

Have a wonderful and safe NEW YEAR!

And the Winner is....

2011-12-19T10:59:00.000-08:00

for this Christmas Blog Hop, I had 14 comments left! That is fantastic! Thank you all for posting your New Year's Resolutions...even if you have none!

As with all my contests, I say I pick only one winner...but the reality is I hate when only one person wins. So I've decided all the people who left comments will get a free pdf ebook, their choice!

I'll be sending private emails out to the people who left email address, those that didn't leave email address are: Abigail, Elle, Megs, and Eva! Please leave a comment with some way I can contact you! Thanks so much!

Thanks so much for everyone who participated, I really appreciate it!

-Beth D. Carter

Another Year

2011-12-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

Another year is on our doorstep. Out goes 2011 and in comes the promise of something new, something better. New Year’s Eve builds our hope that the coming year will be different. That we will be different. Some will vow to finally lose weight. Some will vow to quit smoking, work harder, be a better person or spend more time with the kids. Resolutions are a tradition and yet breaking them is also a tradition. Some of us even make bets on when they’ll be broken.

I am one of those people who love making resolutions. And I vow each and every year that I will keep them. This is year I actually made a vow with one of my best friends, Dahlia, to lose 10 pounds. That’s not too much, is it? That seems like a reasonable number. And if I got a friend doing it with me, then I must stick to it, right?

My other goal is simple. I plan on turning my writing into a full time career, and I plan to push myself as a writer. I have a m/f/m cowboy historical erotica romance titled “The Scarlet Dove” almost finished, and I have a m/m romance going round in my head, as well as a rock-n-roll m/f/m story.

December is a time of love, joy, and reflection. I try not to dwell too long on reflections of the past, of memories that are painful or hurtful. It brings to mind a saying I heard years ago…”When your memories out number your dreams, the end is near”. So I always sweep out the old in December and embrace the new. Instead I turn to Percy Bysshe Shelley who wrote “Why linger, why turn back, why shrink My Heart?”

So, what will you do to greet the New Year? Will you sing Auld Lang Syne? Will you scrub your house clean? Will you ring a gong 108 times to expel 108 human weaknesses like the Buddhists do? Eat twelve grapes for twelve happy months? Watch the Rose Bowl parade?

To win a free ebook pdf version of any of my books, winner's choice, simply leave me a comment about what your New Year’s Plans or Resolutions may be. One random winner will be selected on December 19^th, so make sure you leave an email so I may contact you!

And make sure you visit all the other writers on the Stuff Your Stockings event page, to potentially win more prizes! http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Happy New Year, the birth of 2012. I raise my glass and toast to the promise of a new beginning. Happy writing. Happy reading.

The Clockwork Prince : A book review

2011-12-09T22:32:00.000-08:00

I bought this book on Wednesday and finished it Friday. O. M. G!!! Oh my F**ing Goodness!!! I’m in awe. Shock. Totally in love.

Okay, deep breath. Let's rewind. I liked The Clockwork Angel, but The Clockwork Prince far surpassed its predecessor. It did not go way of most sophomore follow-ups with a convoluted story line that failed to deliver the goods. This book packed so much of a sucker punch I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry through the whole book (I ended up crying).

The best thing about it?....the one liners. Cassandra Clare has a gift. My favorites:

1. ‘Will looked at him in puzzlement. “Is this a game? We just blurt out whatever word comes next to mind? In that case mine’s ‘genuphobia.” It means an unreasonable fear of knees.”’

‘”I think it’s charming,” said Will. “I’ve heard polka dots are the last word in fashion this season.”’

‘”I can trust you, Jessie, but you’re clearly not well enough to go. Which is unfortunate, since Aloysius always had a weakness for a pretty face.”

“Even more reason why I should go,” said Will.”’

‘”I’ve never swum naked in the Thames, but I know I wouldn’t like it.”

“But think how entertaining for sightseers,” said Tessa.

This book contains very raw emotions, and it will break your heart. It has restored my obsession with Cassandra Clare’s novels and now I anxiously await not only the next book, The Clockwork Princess, but book five in the Mortal Instruments.

Clarity and Laziness

2011-12-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

Today I went for a walk. I have been sick for a few days so yesterday I came home early from work and slept, and this morning I felt better. So after dropping my son off at school I bundled up and went walking along the harbor, looking at the variety of boats nestled among the slips. It was a great moment for clarity, to breathe in the coldness and feel it on my fingers, while moving through patches of sun for warmth. I thought about stories, possibilities. I thought about my current character whose story I'm writing and how to transform her into a strong woman my readers will empathize with. I’ve missed those moments, those walks I used to do years ago before life got in the way and I became too busy. The creative juices I had back then almost boiled me raw.

All my life all I’ve ever wanted to do is write, and now I’ve been blessed with the chance to fulfill my dream. Walking alongside the harbor, seeing the sparkling ocean, reminded me that it is so easy to sit on the laurels of what has been achieved...though I’m far from accomplished. I’ve remembered that I should never take for granted the opportunities I’ve been given. The drive I once had, before my first book being picked up for publication, came speeding back into me like a steam roller, demanding to know why I let so much complicate the dream.

So. There it is. How could I forget it? How could I keep telling myself, “Soon…” when soon is now? I’ve missed the voices in my head, the ideas overflowing until I can’t sleep until I write them down. I’ve missed that writer I used to be.

Hello, sunshine!

Christmas Blog Hop

2011-11-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

I will be participating in Stuff Your Stockings Blog Hop on Dec 16^th! There will be an easy contest and one lucky winner will win one of my pdf version ebooks, winner’s choice!

Make sure you stop by here on by that Friday and also visit http://www.thebloghopspot.com/ to win even more goodies!!

-Beth

Sexual Bondage

2011-11-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

Of the fetishes out there, Doms and Subs relationships are the ones I have trouble understanding the most. But only because there is a complex depth to the lifestyle I’ve never delved into. In the past couple of years, the D/s stories have exploded, and are perhaps the best selling stories out there. It is a complex world that deserves justice when it’s portrayed, and I hope to one day create a worthy story.

Bondage plays a heavy role in BDSM, with it being used a sexual stimulant and have a feature in sexual fantasies. The submissive is dressed usually in clothing that depicts passiveness or innocence while the Dom is dressed in something that gives the image of authority or control. Equipment can include ropes, straps, harnesses, bars, X-frames, handcuffs, ties, or anything else that can restrict movement. The person applying the restraints is usually knowledgeable, or should be, especially when using suspension lifts and ties.

But what is the emotion behind the lifestyle of D/s? Outsiders like to point out that the submissives like to be hurt, that they enjoy the pain or humiliation, but truthfully, it’s the exchange of power between the two partners, the trust behind it that stimulates the sexual experience. Mutual respect is important. Safe words are used in order to give submissives a small amount of control, in case the Dom oversteps the boundary of pain or emotions.

When the term “erotica” comes into play, most ordinary people automatically think BDSM, leather, whips, chains and masks. They don’t understand the deeply complex partnership that D/s enter into, contracts that are made, and trust that is given. While there are many out there that cater for the intense, occasional one night stand with being dominated, the true lifestyle is so much more.

The Thrill of Scarfing...

2011-11-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

This is a concept I knew nothing about until I watched Queer as Folk. My favorite character, Brian, was having an emotional crisis and started scarfing, or tying a scarf (or piece of material) around the neck while masturbating. This is supposed to restrict the blood flow to the brain and increase the pleasure of orgasm.

Brian: If I want to experience the joys of scarfing, what the hell business is it of yours?!

Michael: It's my business cause I'm the one that will get the call from the the god damn cleaning lady who finds you hanging from the rafters with a fucking boner!

The medical/psychological term is called autoerotic asphyxiation, and its popularity is high among young males. Accidental death has occurred due to the nature of hanging one’s self to achieve the desired sexual satisfaction. The person looses consciousness and the self-rescue mechanism fails. It is unknown how many suicides are actually botched attempts of scarfing but it is estimated about 250 to 1000 deaths a year.

The practice of autoerotic asphyxiation has been documented since the 17^th Century and was used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. People noticed that males being hung would produce an erection, sometimes even ejaculating after death. When the carotid arteries are compressed, the lack of oxygenated blood to the brain and the increase of carbon dioxide induces a semi-hallucinogenic state called hypoxia. Combined with the euphoria of an orgasm, the rush is highly addictive.

The thought of scarfing, for me, sounds a little like playing Russian Roulette. I would never judge any adult who tempted fate with practicing scarfing, but perhaps it would be better to be with a partner so that if anything were to go wrong at least there is someone to help. But then again, perhaps it’s the thought of self bondage which also heightens the pleasure. All I’ll say is just be careful of cumming while going…

The Emotion of Sexual Masochism

2011-11-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

Let’s start by saying that there is a wide berth of understanding when it comes to sexual masochism. It is a practice that sometimes goes along with BDSM, but doesn’t necessarily have to. For the sake of writing a dissertation on the subject, I’m going to stick strictly to the sexual practice of self-harm, not to those who are simply “cutters”.

Many people may ask what can possibly make hurting one’s self arousing, but the answers aren’t always black and white. Yes, it’s listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a paraphilia, or otherwise known as intense and recurrent sexually arousing urges, fantasies, or behaviors. But isn’t that all sex, really? Don’t we all have fantasies somewhere deep down which manifest in someway in our approach to sex?

In the research I’ve done, literature points out that self-harmers are not suicidal, or even attention seekers. Quite the opposite, actually. People who self-harm tend to use this means as a coping method for something in their past, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or a multitude of other disorders. Sexual masochism is slightly more prevalent in males and it is interesting to note that more people consider themselves masochistic rather than sadistic.

Some of the more popular acts of masochism are spanking, whippings, cutting, burning and hitting, and can occur in the context of role-playing. In the explosion of erotica romance, these practices are sometimes written about, in detail, and with a HEA ending. BDSM themed books are in demand and usually top the best-seller lists. But writing a believable book is important...and difficult if one doesn't truly understand or "get" the culture. It is important to relate the emotion in masochism, to make the reader feel the power behind it.

The World of Fetish....

2011-11-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

The explosion of ebook publishing, especially within the erotica world, has opened a door to the exploration of what turns people on. I find the different genre’s fascinating and have devoted this month to blogging about fetishes. Check back every Friday for my new series, Fetish Friday’s. I would love feedback but please be supportive or accepting to all guests who leave comments. I will tolerate NO DISCRIMINATION!

This Friday (Nov. 11^th) I will blog about self-harm, or cutting. I actually have a proposal to my editor about a character who is a cutter, and researching the psychology behind it is extensive.

The 18^th I plan on writing about Scarfing.

The 25^th will be about the world of bondage with the lifestyle of Doms/Subs.

Happy exploring!

And the Winner is....

2011-11-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

....all 7 people who left comments!

I am so thankful for the wonderful responses I've decided that all of you will get a free ebook of your choice!

I'll be emailing you this evening so start thinking of which book you'd like! And again, my sincere thanks for visiting my blog!

-Beth D. Carter

To Beard or Not to Beard

2011-10-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

When a story pops into my head I start to visualize the characters who will play out the leads. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes I pull my hair out very slowly trying to figure out the hero and heroine. For instance, in my book A Silver Lining, I had a woman who wasn’t nice, whose abrupt manner and off-putting tongue needed someone to perfectly foil her rapier retorts. Luckily, Tristan came along to not only rescue Heather but to rescue my deadline.

“Heather looked up, and up, past a cast-wrapped leg, over a large silver belt buckle, and into the darkest eyes she had ever seen. The rest of the face wasn’t bad as well, and Heather felt her heart flip-flop. High cheekbones, tanned face, handsome beyond belief.”

I realized about my third books that, unconsciously, I tended to write the same male character again and again and again. I was using the image of a man I found attractive in every story so I had to step back and reevaluate all my heroes. Even though I don’t particularly like chest hair that doesn’t mean my readers don’t either. And just because I love blue eyed men doesn’t mean every hero out there has to have baby blues.

“Penny blinked and snapped her gaze to his. She instantly saw the annoyance in his royal blue eyes fade into concern.”

And yet up until the explosion of ebook publishing and the erotica romance genre coming to life, there weren’t that many ethnic heroes out there. And now as I’ve grown more mature I realize my taste has evolved in what I find sexy. My heroes have become somewhat less…vanilla, for lack of a better word. Now I find so many new characters clawing at my mind, demanding their stories be told.

***Happy Halloween! To win a copy of any of my ebooks in PDF version, simply leave a comment about if you like beards or not! One winner chosen at random and announced Tuesday (make sure to leave your email if possible)! Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the blogs on the blog hop at http://dreabecraft.com/events-2/****

Are two men better?

2011-10-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have taken to writing m/f/m romances because I find exploring the dynamics of such a relationship interesting. But I wonder, can two men really be better outside the bedroom?

Sure, what hetero, curious and willing woman wouldn't want two men worshiping her in bed? Hell, if I could find two men as fulfilling as the ones I write about then sign me up!

But outside the hot and steamy sheets of fantastic sex, is it worth putting up with two men always under foot? Well, I say thank goodness the romance stories end with the HEA (or HFN)! I don't know how romantic even the sexiest man (men) would be under day to day scrutiny! Oh lord! Don't get me started on washing dishes and taking out the trash!!!

Tied up or Spanking?

2011-10-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a friend's website (author Kharisma Rayne) and saw a poll she had run, asking what people would like to try the most. The winner?...44% said being completely submissive. Another 33% like costume role/playing and being tied up. Finally, coming in third was being spanked.

As a writer, I find this fascinating, simply because it speaks of trends and what readers are mostly into. The question I have on my mind is...should a writer cater to the masses demands or should the writer focus more on their own quality rather than sales?

I would love to read your opinion so please leave me a comment!

Lawless Hearts Review

2011-10-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

LAWLESS HEARTS is a sexy ménage story that does not offer anything new but is still an enjoyable read for those who like the subgenre.

Scharlie is a lonely schoolteacher in the 1880's whose brother defended her against her lecherous stepfather and subsequently was forced to leave Scharlie. Now, ten years later, two mysterious men have arrived at Scharlie's home to give her news of her brother and to tell her she is in danger too. The mysterious duo is Garrett, who is emotionally available but sexually aggressive, and Cassidy, who is sexually complicated but very protective. While keeping Scharlie safe, the three explore their sexual dynamics and burgeoning emotional relationship.

Scharlie was a sweet but slightly naughty heroine who was comfortable with her own sexuality, despite her previous trauma. I liked this self-determination in Scharlie from the beginning and she maintained that quiet confidence throughout the story. Garrett was the more interesting of the men, as his ethnicity provided some depth of character that was well used in the story. Cassidy's brooding complexity was a nice foil for Garrett but his character was the least developed. The threesome's emotional development was lacking in favor of their physical relationship, but that is true in many ménage stories so I don't hold it against the story. Still, the three had nice chemistry out of bed as they worked together to keep Scharlie safe from an evil villain.

The pace of the story was quick and never bogged down. The author is a good writer who writes both tasteful bedroom scenes as well as strong dialogue. I especially liked the author's inclusion of a culturally specific ceremony as it allowed the threesome to connect to each other on an emotional level instead of a purely sexual level. My one complaint is I would have like the emotional denouement to be longer but it was sacrificed for the sexual finale.

This short story is more sexually intimate than emotionally intimate but its spice still has heart. Readers who enjoy m/f/m ménages or scorching-hot Western romances will enjoy this quick read.

Now meet Scharlie....

2011-09-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

...from Lawless Hearts:

"Dare," he said before she could even ask.

"Okay, the same," she said. "I dare you to do the same as Cassidy."

"I can do it better than Cass," Garrett replied, and she thought she heard a touch of boasting in his voice.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow, but waited.

Garrett stood up, hooked the back of one boot with the front of the other, and it came off cleanly. After he took off the other, he placed both behind him. As he removed his socks, he bent a little to place them on top of his boots, his ass prominent in Scharlie's line of view.

As she looked away, she caught Cassidy smirking at her.

When Garrett got settled again, they all flipped over cards, and this time, Scharlie lost, while Cassidy won.

"Dare," she said before he asked, and reached for her shoes.

"I dare you to remove your underclothes."

Her right lace-up boot fell from her suddenly numb hand with a thump. Her mouth formed a little O.

"E–Excuse me?" she stammered.

"Your pantalets. I dare you to remove them."

"Not my shoes?"

Cassidy shook his head. "You can't refuse a dare, Scharlie. This is a game of trust."

She looked helplessly toward Garrett, but got no help from him as he just stared at her challengingly. Should she believe him? Could she do as he asked?

-by Beth D. Carter

www.bethdcarter.com

http://www.bookstrand.com/lawless-hearts

Meet Garrett Webb...

2011-09-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

…from Lawless Hearts:

“Is it always like that? You know, what happened between us. I

felt…”

Her voice died off because she simply couldn’t describe the

feeling that had overwhelmed her. She had felt like the world had

shifted on its axis and she had fallen off it.

“I know,” Garrett said softly. “And no, finding someone who

makes you feel like that is almost impossible. Don’t get me wrong,

sex for the sake of sex is great. It feels wonderful. But when a

connection is made, it makes everything else fade in comparison. Any

other woman, or man, drains away. Forgotten.”

She bit her lower lip with her white teeth. “But two of you and

one of me doesn’t really bode well for a connection, does it?”

“Honey, we’ve had a connection since before we met.”

-“Lawless Hearts, the new Erotic Western Ménage a Trois Romance, by Beth D. Carter

available from Siren Publishing at: http://www.bookstrand.com/lawless-hearts

Meet Cassidy Brooks...

2011-09-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

…from Lawless Hearts:

“I’m not an easy man, Scharlie. I detest conformity, and to love

me, you have to give me what I need. What I crave.”

“I don’t know what that means,” she replied honestly.

His arms fell to his sides, and he took a step toward her. “Can you

accept us both, Scharlie? Can you love us both?”

And then he pulled her into his body, one hand curling around her

upper arm while the other hand buried itself in her hair. His kiss was

hard, seeking her response and demanding her answer.

-“Lawless Heart”…the new Erotic Western Ménage Romance by Beth D. Carter

Available thru Siren Publishing: http://www.bookstrand.com/lawless-hearts

Coming soon: Meet Garrett Webb!

Release Day for LAWLESS HEARTS!!!!

2011-09-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.bookstrand.com/lawless-hearts

This title is offered at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, September 15th.

Scharlie Thorn is the local schoolteacher of Rock Ridge, Missouri, who everyone looks at with pity. When she was fourteen, her stepfather attacked her, scarring her face. Her brother, Harlow, accidentally killed him while defending Scharlie, forcing him to run from the law.

Ten years later, she is visited by two handsome men, Cassidy Brooks and Garrett Webb, who come to tell her that Harlow has been murdered. But the man who killed Harlow is now after Scharlie. As the two men try to keep Scharlie safe, she learns that they are outlaws. And worse, Harlow was an outlaw, too.

Scharlie has decisions to make. Does she trust Cassidy and Garrett when they tell her they love her? Or will she hand them over to the law? More than her life is at stake. Her heart is on the line, too.

written butterfly...let romance take flight: Win a free pdf version of "Lawless Hearts"!!

2011-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

written butterfly...let romance take flight: Win a free pdf version of "Lawless Hearts"!!: Lawless Hearts being released Sept. 8th! Scharlie Thorn is the local schoolteacher of Rock Ridge , Missouri , who everyone looks at wi...

Win a free pdf version of "Lawless Hearts"!!

2011-09-05T10:38:00.001-07:00

Lawless Hearts being released Sept. 8th!

Scharlie Thorn is the local schoolteacher of Rock Ridge, Missouri,

who everyone looks at with pity. When she was fourteen, her

stepfather attacked her, scarring her face. Her brother, Harlow,

accidentally killed him while defending Scharlie, forcing him to run

from the law.

Ten years later, she is visited by two handsome men, Cassidy

Brooks and Garrett Webb, who come to tell her that Harlow has

been murdered. But the man who killed Harlow is now after

Scharlie. As the two men try to keep Scharlie safe, she learns that

they are outlaws. And worse, Harlow was an outlaw, too.

Scharlie has decisions to make. Does she trust Cassidy and

Garrett when they tell her they love her? Or will she hand them

over to the law? More than her life is at stake. Her heart is on the

line, too.

To Win: Write a blog about you favorite romance book about why it sticks in your mind, about 500 words, and send it to me at: beth@bethdcarter.com The winner will be chosen anonymously by a fellow author (not by me) and will win a free pdf ebook version of my new novella “Lawless Hearts”, have their blog posted on my site, plus a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble!

Runner Ups: Everyone else will have their blog posted to my site...a great opportunity to promote if you're a writer!

Hurry! Contest ends on Sept 8^th and the winner will be announced on the 10^th!

-Beth D. Carter

www.bethdcarter.com

http://bethdcarter.blogspot.com/

Great Reader Review for "A Silver Lining"!!

2011-09-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

From Heather in FL on Goodreads!!! Thanks so much Heather!!!

This was quite angsty. I hated Heather at first. She came to the ranch because her dying grandfather requested it. He wanted to see, more or less, if she was cut out for running a ranch, or whether he should leave it to Tristan, his foreman. Really, he wanted her to get out of her normal comfort zone and maybe heal from something that happened twenty years ago that had shaped her life. She and Tristan had a brief history that 20 years ago, before "the event". She had a huge crush on him, but she was only 15 and he was 21, so he kept his distance. "The event" really turned Heather into a huge bitch. She didn't care about anyone or anything, not even herself. But the attraction with Tristan couldn't be ignored, and while it was quickly turning into something more, she tried so hard to keep him at arms length. They were explosive together... lots of quick, heated encounters... they just couldn't stay away from each other, regardless of how much either one of them wanted to.

She was at the ranch for a month; that was how long her grandfather insisted she stay in order to be eligible to inherit the ranch. He asked that she learn five things, but didn't tell her what five things to learn. I think she was initially thinking it would be things about how to run a ranch... things that would prove she'd been paying attention. But she learned so much more than just about ranch life. She finally really thought about what had happened over 20 years ago, how it had impacted her life, how it was still impacting her life, and decided she didn't want that kind of impact anymore. She really grew up a lot in that short month!

I was crying at the end. Tears rolling down my cheeks. She had been such a bitch to Tristan, but he really understood her and accepted her, warts and all. Her sacrifice was so huge... and I knew Tristan wouldn't just let it go. Thankfully.

A great HEA, but lots of sadness to get there.

written butterfly...let romance take flight: LAWLESS HEARTS....COMING SEPT 8TH!!!

2011-08-28T11:23:00.001-07:00

written butterfly...let romance take flight: LAWLESS HEARTS....COMING SEPT 8TH!!!: LAWLESS HEARTS …by Beth D. Carter ****a ménage amour coming September 8 th from Siren*** Scharlie Thorn lives life as a school te...

LAWLESS HEARTS....COMING SEPT 8TH!!!

2011-08-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

LAWLESS HEARTS…by Beth D. Carter

****a ménage amour coming September 8^th from Siren***

Scharlie Thorn lives life as a school teacher in Missouri, trying very hard to ignore the pitying looks of the townspeople. When she was fourteen, her step father sliced her face, disfiguring her. Her older brother Harlow stepped in, attacked the evil man who had married their mother, and killed him, forcing Harlow to leave.

Ten years later, she is visited by two gunslingers, Cassidy Brooks and Garrett Webb, who come to tell her that her beloved brother is dead. Harlow had been killed by a vicious outlaw named Breaux Cox so Cassidy and Garrett decide to become her protectors.

As they integrate themselves into her life, Scharlie finds a love for Cass and Garrett that runs deeper than she could never have imagined.

And then Breaux Cox shows up in town, and her name is on his next bullet.

Available soon at: http://www.bookstrand.com/beth-d-carter

New Cover Revealed!....Lawless Hearts due out Sept. 8th!!

2011-08-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

Scharlie Thorn lives life as a school teacher in Missouri, trying very hard to ignore the pitying looks of the townspeople. When she was twelve, her step father sliced her face, disfiguring her. Her older brother Harlow defended her and ended up killing him, forcing Harlow to flee.

Ten years later, she is visited by two handsome gunslingers, Cassidy Brooks and Garrett Webb, who come to tell her that Harlow has been murdered. They stay, helping her with her small plot of land, until a tornado strikes, forcing them to seek protection in a cellar.

Trapped together, she is unable to resist both men, and she lets them love her.

When they are rescued, Cassidy and Garrett stay around to help Scharlie rebuild the part of her house that fell to the tornado. So by day they work and by night they love together

And then Breaux Cox shows up in town, and her name is on his next bullet.

Lawless Hearts a Manage Amour release from Siren Publication coming Sept 8th!

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

2011-08-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite books is being turned into a movie...The Host by Stephanie Meyer. The way that Ms. Meyer's has written the love between Melanie and Jared and Ian and Wanda, as well as the love between Wanda and Melanie, is stunning.

I discovered this song, inspired from the book, written by a woman named Czarina, from the Thehostmovie.com and I had to post it!

It's a fabulous song!!! Enjoy!

EXCERPT -- "KISMET"

2011-07-31T10:35:00.001-07:00

I bring my knee up, take out my nine from my ankle holster, and turn the safety off. There isn‟t a lot of room in the small wedge I have put us in, but there is enough space to stretch out my legs if I sit upright, which is fine with me. The only direction I have to maintain is in front of me; the collapsed building behind me safeguards my ass and flanks.

Through the night I watch and protect Seek as he heals, and I can‟t tear my eyes away from him. He is absolutely beautiful. His profile is chiseled strength, relaxed in sleep. Masculine lips, softened in repose. He has the type of body that many men go to the gym and work like hell to obtain, all sleek muscles and brawn, but I know he got this way through years of military training and hard work. He wears a dark army green long-sleeve shirt and dark fatigue pants. There is a rip at his rib cage, and I wonder if it was caused by a grazing bullet. I can‟t help running my fingers over the short brush of his hair, liking the tickling sensation on my palm.

Here he is, finally, in front of me. No longer a dream, no longer a yearning; I take a ragged breath. My lungs feel like they‟ve never taken a deep breath before. It is so hard to articulate my emotions at this moment. I want to gush, but despite the blonde hair, I‟m not a gushing kind of girl. I feel like I have waited my whole life for this very moment and am afraid to blink in case it‟s just another dream. I am a bit overwhelmed, expecting at any moment to wake and discover that I am once again back in my tent, sleeping somewhere on the side of the road, finding out all of this was another damn premonition guiding me. I am so sick and tired of always searching, but now that it‟s possible my search is over, I am finding it difficult to even blink in fear that Seek will disappear.

But I suppose it was inevitable that my eyes would close. All I really remember is one moment I feel the heavy, almost painful droop of my eyelids, and the next moment I feel a blade sliding over my throat and a deep, raspy voice demanding, “Who the hell are you?”

Available at: http://www.loose-id.com/Kismet.aspx

Beth D. Carter
http://bethdcarter.blogspot.com/
www.bethdcarter.com

Upcoming release from Lauren Wilder!

2011-07-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

Charles Pryce is sinfully sexy. Women fall at his feet, literally. He really knows how to treat a woman but then he should do, he’s been around. For over four hundred years!

When he meets Samantha he falls in love for the first time in centuries. He sets about seducing her and everything is perfect until evil Vamp Viktor rears his ugly head.

Charles is desperate to win Samantha’s heart. He wants her for all eternity but will she still want him when she discovers his dark secret?

-by Lauren Wilder

http://www.bookstrand.com/eternal-desires

This new release is offered at a 10% discount until July 20th!!!

Welcome Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy!!!

2011-07-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Romance That Lives And Breathes The Power of Love
Thanks to my kind host, Beth, for having me as a guest today. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here.

As for romance….

I confess that beneath my tough girl exterior, my hard as nails hammered into strong wood heart, I am a hopeless romantic. I can be sentimental and yes, although I seldom like to admit it, I have been known to weep at tender scenes in either books or movies.   The first time I watched Australia, I cried when The Drover and Nala found Sarah alive and well. Their sweet reunion brought tears to my eyes and choked me up with unshed sobs. I’ve even been known to shed a tear or two while writing some of my own scenes.

So my brand, tagline, motto, whatever anyone wants to call it, “Romance that lives and breathes the power of love” is true. I write it and I believe it.   Love is a powerful force. In my own life, I have seen love cause amazing things, beautiful and wonderful ones.   I have also felt in past relationships that withered and failed to grow how destructive and harmful love can also be.   But I think that the positive power far outweighs any negative.

As more of my novels are out into the reading public’s hands, I find it harder to pick excerpts because it reminds me of picking just one of my kids for a special treat.   But, since Love Never Fails, my contemporary romance is out in both eBook and paperback format, I’ll use an excerpt from it that I think illustrates my motto. The couple is meeting again for the first time after a five year separation and she came back to their hometown because he needed her, without even knowing why…

    “Are you all right?” She needed to know.
    “I’m okay,” Reid said. He put his hand in the center of his chest. “That is, except for this pain I’ve had right here for about five years now. A deep, burning pain that never went away. Today though, it feels just a little bit better.”
    She inhaled sharply, panicked at the idea of him having chest pains and then realized his heart trouble was romantic, not medical.   Without analyzing it or planning what she'd say, she leaned forward.
    “Maybe this will help it heal.”
    She touched her lips to his, a very light kiss, her mouth barely touching his.
    “It helps if it’s real,” Reid said, taking her face into his hands and kissing her with thoroughness that ignited fire in her veins. “Did you mean what you said on the phone?”
    “I came, didn’t I?”
    “You did, but do you?”
    Her answer was a vow. “I do, Reid. I love you.”
    He exhaled. “It’s about time you told me so.

Love Never Fails, like all of my novels and novellas, can be purchased through Amazon.com, All Romances Ebooks, Manic Readers, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance and more.

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy:

Romance That Lives And

Breathes The Power of
Love!

Love Never Fails, Rebel Ink

Press now available in

paperback,

all other titles in
ebook format.

My Amazon author page link:

http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/e/B004JPBM6I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1310491165&sr=8-1

A SILVER LINING...REVIEWS ARE IN!!!!

2011-07-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

From The Romance Studio:

As the granddaughter of the owner of Hart Ranch, Heather wasn't surprised to learn from the attorney that she might inherit the ranch from the dying man. What she wasn't expecting was to be in competition for the ranch with the man she had met on her one visit to the ranch. Tristan Rogers remembered the little girl with the sprained ankle. She had been jail bait back then, fifteen to his twenty one, but he hadn't forgotten her. He'd hired on at the Hart and eventually worked his way up to foreman. The Hart was his home and his life, and he wasn't about to give it up without a fight.

I liked this contemporary romance, but then, who doesn't like hunky cowboys? Tristan's character is believable because he is attracted to Heather but doesn't want to lose his home to some cold stranger, a vegetarian at that, who doesn't know the first thing about how to run a profitable organic cattle ranch. Heather and Tristan clash on many levels, including their attraction for each other, throughout the book. I really enjoyed the information about raising cattle organically. It was just enough to understand the fundamentals without a lengthy information dump (some writers like to tell everything they know).

The story moves along quickly as Heather is forced by her grandfather to learn about ranch life or have no chance to win her inheritance, losing it all to Tristan. Her character must grow up and take stock of who she is. Her introspection is done very well, including what she has to face to overcome past injustices, her hatred and distrust of men in general, and then move on to decide who she really is and what she really wants out of life. Be sure to keep your tissue box close by for the ending. I'm giving this one a thumbs-up.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Kathy F.
May 18, 2011

And From Whipped Cream:

Heather and Tristan first met when she was a teenager and sprained her ankle while visiting her grandfather’s ranch. Now she’s all grown up and returned there to compete with him for the right to take over the running of the family ranch once her ailing grandfather dies.

I really enjoyed the opening to this story. A step back in the past to see both main characters and how they first met. When we fast forward to the present we meet a completely different Heather. The author did a great job showing us the transformation of her character. She’s now someone you almost despise but somewhere in the back of your mind you sense something has happened to her to turn her into this rebellious and sometimes unlikeable young woman. Tristan is still his delightful and in many scenes I felt sorry that he had to endure Heather’s temper and attitude.

The secondary characters in this story are great and helped to round out this short read. The dialogue and pacing were both spot on. It’s a sexy story full of sexual tension as Heather and Tristan go about their business at the ranch and the author does a first class job with making you finally see Heather through Tristan’s eyes which eventually makes her more tolerable.

I won’t give away what Heather was hiding but when the author did finally reveal the dark secret, all became clear as to why she acted out during the first half of the story. I would have liked to have been told this earlier in the story so we could have spent more time with this couple while Tristan mends the hurt she’s been through.

This is definitely a story to pick up if you like a sexy cowboy and a quick read.

-Rating: 3.5 cherries
Reviewed by Stephantois

Welcome Lauren Wilder!

2011-06-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

Inspiration

I would like to thank Beth for having me as a guest on her blog. I really appreciate it. Thank you Beth, you’re a doll!.

My inspiration for my debut novel - ‘Her Heart’s Desire’ sprang from my penchant for sexy, well educated English men and beautiful architecture.

I love England’s stately homes and heritage. I have spent many a happy afternoon strolling through elegant manicured gardens and staring open mouthed at incredible buildings. I have no idea why, but being near such grandeur makes me weak at the knees and the idea of meeting the handsome lord of the manor really gets me going! When I watched Downtown Abbey my desire piqued! I went to Highclere house in Berkshire where the drama is filmed and the ideas came thick and fast (no pun intended)

I decided to write about my own dashing hero and created Highcroft house as his ancestral home. Hence (Lord) James St John was born. He is charming, handsome, titled and super sexy. What more could a woman want?

I also love reading ‘bodice rippers’ and I will read and watch anything with a handsome posh man in it! They really turn me on. I have fallen hard many a time for a suave and sophisticated gent, and subsequently nursed a few broken hearts when the big romances were over. (Cads!)

But my failed romances have not put me off. I still adore a real gent. As long as he is tall, dark and handsome, if he talks classy, opens doors, walks to the outside on the pavement, pays for dinner and calls me darling, I will do almost anything he asks in the bedroom. I would do naked cartwheels if I could! Such is my desire for the love of an English Gentleman.

I like my erotica to be set in an environment that has presence and atmosphere and setting my story in a grand Ancestral home gives it tons of that. Think four poster beds and what can be done in them, creaking floorboards, dark passageways (no pun intended), candlelight and roaring fires and you’re on the right track. Give me loads of romance with a bit of kink thrown in and I’m in fantasy heaven! So I wrote ‘Her Heart’s Desire’ and let my imagination run wild. I created Highcroft to satisfy some of my own Heart’s Desires. Step inside and prepare to blush!

Blurb:

When Marisa applies for a PA job to an English aristocrat, she expects a stuffy, older gentleman. James St John is anything but. He is an extremely good-looking, English charmer. Sparks fly, and the attraction is intense.

Marisa fights her desire, cautious about becoming involved with her boss. But James St John is unable to resist the sexual allure between them, and he will not rest until she is in his bed.

Marisa soon discovers that the walls of Highcroft house hide a hotbed of sin and dark longings. Will its secrets destroy her happiness when love starts to bloom?

http://www.bookstrand.com/her-hearts-desire

www.wilderromance.com

EXCERPT:

He watched her as she bent over to light the candles, her perfect arse showing under the tiny maid’s dress. He felt his cock grow hard instantly as he imagined kneeling behind her and kissing that peachy bottom with fervour. His heartbeat quickened as she lay on the bed and caressed herself, exposing her full breasts. He sucked his breath in. ‘Oh, God,’ he murmured as he watched her open her legs and reveal her silky cunt.

She closed her eyes and moaned gently as she touched herself.

He could see everything. She was exposed for him, her gorgeous, wet pussy. Her perfect breasts spilled out of the bodice. He stared at her nipples, hard and ready for his tongue, and it made his cock twitch.

He watched mesmerised as she continued her teasing. He smiled as he caught her peeking at him beneath her eyelashes. He gazed at her, his eyes burning with desire as he watched her slim fingers playing on her clit. Her tongue licked seductively at her lips, moistening them. He unzipped his pants and his cock sprang out, hard and proud. He began wanking it gently as he watched her breasts heaving and her finger frigging her clit. His excitement intensified when she started speaking in a soft, seductive tone.

‘I want strong hands to massage me and feel me all over, I want to feel my lover’s cock pressing against me.’ She breathed huskily as her eyes glinted in the candlelight, beckoning him, drawing him to her. James remained silent in the shadows, watching her as he pumped his cock slowly, massaging the bulbous head, squeezing the tip to extend his pleasure.

‘Hmm, I want my lover to take me and fuck me without mercy. I’m desperate to feel him. I long for his touch.’

‘Oh, I wish my lord and master were here. I want to feel his tongue on my tits, his fingers on my pussy, his beautiful cock in my cunt.’

James could not restrain himself any longer, striding from the shadows with his erection bobbing in front of him, he moved slowly towards the bed. She feigned surprise. ‘Oh, master, I didn’t realize you were there.’

He grinned wickedly as his eyes travelled all over her body. He loved the kinky maid’s outfit, the stockings and suspenders, frilly knickers pushed sluttishly aside, exposing her pussy.

‘Dear god you are a vision!’ he whispered, his voice husky with desire.

Marisa smiled at him wantonly. He licked his lips at the sight of her lying there. His fingers worked quickly as he pulled at the ribbons on the bodice of her dress. He gasped as the bodice fell apart and she lay there almost naked. He reached out and stroked the soft globes. He groaned as she touched his cock. He sucked his breath in as her soft fingers stroked his shaft. Her touch felt silky against his flesh, and he longed to thrust his hard cock into her tight pussy. But he wanted to make it last. He intended to take his time with her until they were both mad with desire.

‘My, we are a naughty little maid, aren’t we?’ he murmured. He watched her, transfixed. He continued stroking her tits, the nipples straining beneath his fingertips. He bent his head to lick them, making her groan as his hand went down between her legs.

‘Open your legs wide for me,’ he demanded.

Marisa did as he asked. Pulling her knees up, she spread her legs wide for him.

‘Yes, master,’ she said obediently. He grinned. He loved their games. Excitement rushed through his veins, and he longed to tie her up, bind her wrists to the bed, and make her beg to be released so she could touch his cock and suck him. His thoughts ran wild.

He could feel her heart thundering. Her breathing rapid with excitement and it spurred him on.

‘Hmm, you’re so wet,’ he murmured as his fingers worked in and out of her soaking pussy. Marisa was gasping with pleasure, crying out in ecstasy as he talked to her in his deep, masculine English accent.

‘Are you nearly there, are you going to come for me my darling?’

‘Yes!’ she cried out.

He swooped on her, licking her deeply. With a few long, lascivious strokes of his hot, wet tongue he brought her off instantly. He groaned as he felt her coming. He lapped at her juices and sucked her clit as she convulsed on his tongue. She cried out and tugged hard on his hair as she screamed in ecstasy.

He moved up her quivering body and kissed her lips passionately, his tongue darting into her mouth to share her secretions. She gasped and licked at him, wild and hungry.

‘Now it’s my turn,’ he growled, taking her hand and raising her from the bed.

‘Suck me, my naughty maid,’ he demanded.

Thank you Lauren for your deliciously sexy excerpt!! I can't wait to get my hands on James, er, the book!!!

My Upcoming Blog Spots!

2011-06-27T20:58:00.001-07:00

I will be guest blogging at a bunch of sights this July in preparation of my newest release, Kismet!

On June 30 come read my blog What's in a Name? at Liz Crowe's site: http://www.brewingpassion.com/

My new cover for Kismet!

2011-06-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is, I think, my favorite cover so far. It was designed by April Martinez, who has done two other covers for me at Loose Id, and I have to give her a huge round of applause. When I was writing Kismet I envisioned a "green" cover, with Evie and Kris nestled amidst the green Louisiana Bayou grass. And April hit this out of the ball park!

My favorite part is Evie's eyes. I imagine this moment is when they merge into one, her eyes fly to his and she gasps at the pleasure. To me, this cover is very sexy and embodies all of who Evie is.

Burb:

All of her life, Evie Rhoton has had visions of the immediate future. Her dreams are of two men, Kristian Seek and Hyde Galloway, and she travels her adult life tracking them down in the post-apocalyptic world after a virus has devastated the population.

She gets a dream that shows the two men in trouble, and heads to Los Angeles against a lot of trepidation. She finds the stoic side of Kris a perfect match for her soul, but questions her idea of love when her attraction for Hyde flares out of control.

The three race against time, trying to save a colony of survivors from the oncoming deadly earthquake. But will Evie’s choice be her destiny or ultimate destruction.

-Kismet available July 10th at Loose Id. http://www.loose-id.com/Kismet.aspx

Today's feature... Jane Toombs!!

2011-06-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Q) What got you started in the romance genre as a writer and reader?

A)I always liked to read, but until the so-called sweet gothics came along way back when, I didn’t focus especially on romance. These had a mixture of romance, mystery and either paranormal or at least a hint of it. I already enjoyed both mysteries and paranormal, and found I liked romance as well. I read every one I could buy or borrow. (Love libraries!)

Then mysteries, my other favorite read at the time, started having romance subplots and I devoured those as well. Fantasy became popular, much of it written by women who almost always had at least a touch of romance and usually more. Finally it got so if a book I was reading didn’t have any romance, I felt cheated. I was definitely hooked.

Until I was asked this question, I didn’t analyze what the appeal of romance for me was. Thinking about it, I believe my reason for feeling the need to have romance threaded through my reads came from the very human need to see love triumph despite formidable obstacles.

All this said, I don’t read very many romance books that don’t have another element added--mystery or paranormal or humor. If romance authors can make me laugh, I do keep trying their books.

Somewhere about the time I got hooked on sweet gothics, I decided I could write one. I’d been fooling around with short stories, never sending them anywhere (my bad!) and this gothic was my first try at a novel--actually my first serious try at something I would try to sell. So I wrote Tule Witch, blending my love of paranormal with the gothic romance. Since I was a nurse, my heroine became one. She worked in a spooky old hospital in the area where I lived at the time--California’s Central Valley. I’d never heard anyone say “Write what you know,” but it’s good advice for a beginning writer. This was my pantser period. I’d never heard the word synopsis applied to writing.

When Tule Witch sold to Avon, I never looked back--just kept writing sweet gothics until they stopped being popular.

How I learned to write--gasp!--sex scenes and how I learned I was really a plotter and needed a synopsis is another topic entirely. But romance is still within every story I write or read.

Check out my website at www.JaneToombs.com
My most recent book will be out in February from Devine Destinies--Flying High, a historical romance set in Al Capone’s bootlegging Chicago during the Roaring 20s. And, yes, there’s suspense as well as romance--with a touch of paranormal.

Movie Monday - Nine Lives of Chloe King

2011-06-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

Have to admit, this is not a "movie" but I enjoyed this new television show so much I thought I would blog about it. It is on Wednesday's on ABC, but since I never really sit to watch tv, I catch it at hulu.com.

The show is about a girl, Chloe, who discovers she is a descendant of the Egyptian Goddess Bast, a protector of sorts. The show starts out with a normal sixteen year old girl decided to break the rules and enter a dance club via the back door. She meets a good looking guy, dances with him, and shares a quick good-bye kiss with him.

But strange things start happening to Chloe. She is almost hit by a car and jumps backward, high in the air to save herself. She is attacked by a homeless man and scratches him across the face with her cat-like nails. She falls out of window and lands on her feet.

There is a mystery, of course, and bad guys chasing her. One pushes her out of a tower and she falls to her death, only to come back alive a moment later. This miraculous feat seems to make her some type of "uniter" who has nine lives. The bad guys, for some reason, want the rest of her eight lives to be quick.

Along with the danger, the super-powers, and the ancient lineage, are cute boys, best friends, and handling school. I'm almost reminded of Buffy, in a non-demony way.

I hope the continuation of the show is as promising as the pilot. I'll be turning to hulu.com to check it out!

What the Future Holds for Print Books in the World of Digital Technology

2011-06-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

Digital books are gaining immensely in popularity—some people even think eventually print books will become obsolete. While I do see e-books continuing to gain in popularity, I do not see print books becoming obsolete—at least not any time in the foreseeable future. After all, we still have reference books not to count the ancient works that remain on library shelves. Of course, there are also those like myself and many other readers who still prefer the look and feel of print books.

Statistically Speaking

According to the American Association of Publishers sales of books in all platforms increased 2.4 percent in December 2010 compared to December 2009 and 3.6 percent for the entire year. E-books saw growth of 164.4 percent over 2009 figure, a healthy increase and good portion of the market. Of course, it is unrealistic to provide figures for e-books without including other formats as well. Some of the other figures the AAP compiled for December 2010 include the following:

· Downloads of audio books increased 56.7 percent or 38.8 percent for all of 2010 over 2009 figures

· Purchases of physical audio books such (CDs and tapes) increased 34.5 percent but declined 6.3 percent for all of 2010 compared to 2009.

· Children's and Young Adult paperbacks declined 5.7 percent while the hardcover versions declined 9.5 percent over 2009 totals.

· In the adult category hardbacks decreased by 5.1 percent, paperbacks decreased 2.0 percent and mass market versions decreased 6.3 percent from 2009 figures.

Does this mean we are inching toward a reversal to e-books? The figures don't seem to support that transformation at this time. While there is definitely a decrease in paperback and hardcover print books, there is an increase in audio books. This could mean there is an increase in the overall digital market and not just e-books. For instance, people can listen to audio books while they are driving but they cannot read an e-book or a print book when driving.

Looking to the Future

While e-books will definitely increase in popularity especially with younger readers who are more likely to embrace this new technology, print books will be available—at least in the foreseeable future—for those who prefer holding a book in their hand. There certainly are advantages to e-book technology, especially for those who do a lot of reading while they commute or travel. Having the ability to carry along many of your favorite books in a lightweight e-reader is definitely an advantage. Even those who prefer print books indulge in the pleasure of e-books while they travel or commute.

Compatibility Issues

One of the problems that currently plague the e-book industry, especially when it comes to e-readers is compatibility. Writers that wish to make their work available to all potential readers must plan to make it available in several formats. I often hear writers say, "I just published my latest book on Kindle." Keep in mind Kindle is not the only e-reader available; there are many others including Nook, Sony and many more. If e-books are to survive the future there must be a way to make them more compatible with one another. Kindle, for instance, requires an add-on in order to allow users to read work in e-pub format (the format frequently used by online libraries). Other readers complain they have problems with the PDF format on their Kindles.

The technologic advances that have moved from simply reading e-books on a PC in PDF format to reading on a portable device that will fit in your purse are still fairly new. There is no doubt the technology is here to stay, but many—myself included—hope we will always have a choice between an e-book and a print book. It would be sad to have to take all those wonderful books that authors penned centuries ago and put them into the archives because readers are no longer interested in the work of past centuries.

-Brenda Coxe

Freelance Writer

http://brendacoxe.writersresidence.com

http://bscoxe.blogspot.com

http://joyofwriting.wordpress.com

http://www.facebook.com/author.brenda.coxe

Movie Monday - Kung Fu Panda 2

2011-06-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

As a sequel, this movie was really good! I don't think that it would be as entertaining without seeing the first movie because this one takes off where that one ended. So that being said, if you haven't seen the first one then this review probably won't make much sense.

Anywho...SPOILERS!!!

It was great to see that Po hadn't really changed from the first go round, at least all that much. He still craves food with an addiction that makes me sick. The first time we see him he's stuffing 40 steamy buns into his mouth!

The Furious Five have settled in and accepted him as a member of the team, even incorporating some fancy moves (from Crane) to help him along. Po, remember, can't run all that fast...or that far.

The action comes into play from the villian, Lord Chen (voiced by Gary Oldman), who "invents" cannons. He sees cannons as a way of taking control of China. He orders his wolf soldiers to gather up as much metal as possible, which bring the Furious Five and Po to defend the poor minstrals of a small town. It is here that Po sees a brand on the lead Wolf's armour that gives him a vision of a baby panda.

Shaken, confused, Po goes to his father, Mr. Ping, and asks where he has come from. Mr. Ping reluctanly tells the story of how a young baby Po came to him the week's vegetable delivery. Po comes to the conclusion that he was thrown away in the trash. Disheartened, he goes to Master Shifu for a Kung Fu lesson. The lesson is about finding inner peace, which has taken Master Shifu 50 years to find.

And then Lord Shen's plans are found out and the Furious Five plus Po go to defeat the cannons. There are many battles, lots of action, but underneath all of this is the story of how Po comes to find inner peace by making peace with his past.

The parts I really enjoyed were the flashbacks of his mother trying to save Po from the Wolf soldiers, hiding him with vegetables while she leads the pack away and, we assume, to die. As a mother, that really hit home with me. The artists did a wonderful job high-lighting the emotion of a mother leaving her child.

There was definitely a Greek tragedy feel to the story, since Lord Shen went about destroying all Pandas when a soothsayer fortold his demise by a warrior of black and white. Yes, the movie did borrow from a lot of different sources, but it came together nicely. I think one of the things that caught my attention was the great soundtrack.

I highly recommend seeing this movie in 3D. It really made the story all that more interesting, more alive. My son, who is 4 & 1/2 sat through the whole thing with his glasses on, glued to the big screen. He concluded the glasses made it into a Pop-Up movie.

Movie Monday - Zach and Miri Make a Porno

2011-06-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have to confess, I am becoming a huge fan of Seth Rogan.

When he first hit the scene, I wasn't too much into him, mainly because his movies weren't my cup of tea. But then he did the voice on Kung Fu Panda, and then the Green Hornet, and now I'm starting to get him.

I became aware of this movie, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno", when I read it had to do something with Star Wars. I really didn't expect much from this film, but I must say, I was surprisingly entertained!

Okay, let's start from the beginning. Zach and Miri have been friends since the second grade. They live outside of Pittsburg, struggling to make ends meet. When their electricity, water, and heat all get turned off in December, Zach comes up with this brilliant idea to make a porno! They enlist a friend as a producer (meaning they take his money) and promise him to see "titties" during auditions.

Okay, though the movie also stars legendary porn star Traci Lords, who plays a girl named Bubbles, the only real nudity we see is breasts, a fake shot of a scrotum, and the full monty at the end. There is the F-bomb a-plenty, and crude humor, but overall this is a hilarious movie!

Everything that could go wrong while making a porno, does. Including Zach and Miri falling in love. Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks have one of the most beautiful, erotic moments I've ever seen in a non-erotic film, while showing absolutely nothing!

Written and directed by Kevin Smith, this is one movie that is definitely worth chuckling over (when the kids aren't home)!

I've blogged at "Bookin' It" Reviews!

2011-06-01T21:25:00.001-07:00

I blogged at "Bookin' It" reviews...How to Write a Kiss!

Leave a comment and enter to win a free copy of my latest book "A Silver Lining"!!!
(must be 18 years of age)

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

or

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/2011/05/guest-author-beth-d-carter-giveaway.html?showComment=1306988556702#c1640404204790813378

Movie Monday - Beastly

2011-05-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is perhaps one of the rare times that I've seen a movie based on a book where I haven't read the book. What drew me to this film was the retelling of one of my favorite fables, being a pure romanticist at heart, set in the modern day world of New York.

We begin with Kyle (Alex Pettyfer), a pretty boy elitist at a distinguished school, who knows he is good looking and uses that as his platform to run for President of the Green Society. He openly admits that he cares nothing for the environment and wants the title simply because it'll look good on his school resume.

Kyle bashes on the "uglies" of society, even going so far as to equate them as the undesirables of the world. He makes it known that he believes that only the good looking people should be successful in life and when he goes home to his tv reporter dad, we understand how he got these ideas.

But Kyle makes a mistake, he plays a joke on the wrong "ugly", a gothic witch named Kendra, played by Mary Kate Olsen. I was happy to see Mary Kate play this unforgiving character, because Kendra places a curse on Kyle, making him as hideous on the outside as he is on the inside. Kyle has one year to find someone to say the words "I love you" to him.

Kyle's father moves him into a house in the far suburbs of NYC, with a Jamaican housekeeper who hasn't seen her 3 kinds in five years, and a blind teacher. And slowly, Kyle's father pushes his son out of his mind and out of his life.

Kyle develops a fixation upon one of his fellow schoolmates, Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) and starts, well, almost stalking her. He follows her, watching her. Her father gets into trouble with a drug gang, going so far as to shoot and kill one member. Kyle convices Lindy's father to let her move into his house where he can protect her.

Lindy reluctantly does under the belief that she is going to a distant friend of her father. Kyle calls himself "Hunter" to hide his identity and over time the two become friends. Kyle learns what Lindy likes in order to win her affections, namely JuJu Beads and a Greenhouse on the roof. The two fall in love and when Lindy gets the call that her dad OD'd, Kyle lets her go to tend to him.

This is pretty much the standard story of Beauty and the Beast, and up until this point the film was engaging, well acted and nicely directed. However, the story falls apart completely at the end, abruptly ending as if the writer realized that they only had about ten more minutes to sum everything up. Lindy's father is never seen again, his OD is resolved with a "he's doing okay" speech, and the drug gang who vowed to find Lindy and kill her for his brother's death was never an issue at all! The whole MacGuffin that drove the story fell apart.

We get the "I love you", of course, and Kyle turns back into his beautiful self, but we're left wondering if he learned anything at all. There was no "Oh my God!" revelation to support why Lindy loves him, nor do we believe that he had just cause to turn back into handsomeness. I'll watch it again, because I do love both Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens, but I would recommend Netflixing this one, or waiting till HBO.

Spirals Review!

2011-05-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

From Blackraven's Reviews...one of my best reviews ever!

"Wow! I’m still feeling the thrill from reading this book. At first I was put off by the first person, present tense, but it couldn’t have been more perfect. I even love the coverart!

Kaori is a character that became larger than life and I won’t soon forget her. For six years she survives alone in the aftermath of what once was Los Angeles. She learns to survive on her own and begins to appreciate all the little things in her solitary life.

Everything changes when Tobias and Orion find her hiding out at one of her safe houses. She doesn’t trust them at first. Trust did not help her survive for so long. But her physical attraction to both men can’t be denied and they soon infiltrate her emotional barriers.

Okay…where do I even start? Every once and awhile you pick up a book that restores your faith in fiction for entertainment…this is one of those books! From the first chapter, Ms. Carter captivated me with her unique writing voice. I savored every sentence and couldn’t stop reading until I finished the book.

There are twists and turns, action and suspence, that had my heart racing. The plot was brilliant and I still can’t believe this came for a writer’s imagination. The sex scenes were scorching hot! The blend of narration, emotion, humor and dialogue were all done to perfection.

I must have more from this author because Spirals has made me a huge fan of Beth D. Carter. This book took me on a beautiful trip that stimulated all my senses. The ménage element was done perfectly, tastefully and touched my heart. I’m giving this one my highest rating and recommending everyone who enjoys good fiction with an erotic flare to run and buy Spirals."

-Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Stacey!
You can read the whole review here:
http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=3703

My Upcoming Interview!!

2011-05-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

Tuesday May 31st through June 5th, I will featured on Bookin' It Reviews!!

Catch my interview here:

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

I will be promoting "A Silver Lining", with a free ebook giveaway, plus, my blog "How to Write a Kiss"!

Unearthly...A Novel by Cynthia Hand

2011-05-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I am a huge lover of the library. With books being so expensive now-a-days, I get really mad when I venture to buy one only to be disappointed with the book. But what’s great about the library is that it allows you to test the waters, so to speak, which is what I did with “Unearthly”. There is always a theme with YA books, and lately it’s been half angels. I’ve read “Hush Hush” and “Fallen”, which were good but not good enough to make me go out and buy the book for my library.

Let me say “Unearthly” is a keeper! Go out now and buy it! Fall in love with Tucker and Christian and see how Clara is going to make up for not following her destiny.

The book starts out with Clara Gardner, who knows she is quarter-angel, having a vision and seeing her purpose, or the reason why she was born. Her mother uproots her and her brother from California to Wyoming, where she meets Christian, the boy she has to save from a forest fire. And then she meets Tucker, her soul mate, and must figure out how to save both boys while fulfilling her destiny.

The writing is superb, fast paced enough to keep you turning pages as we go through Clara’s life. The dialogue is witty, especially between Clara and Tucker. And though the book ended in a satisfying, happy manner, I am really looking forward to book two!

New Release...A Silver Lining!

2011-05-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

A Battle of the Sexes...
When Heather Hart was fifteen, her parents brought her to Wyoming to visit her grandfather’s ranch. Heather met cowboy Tristan Rogers when he helped patch
her ankle after she twisted it and promptly lost her heart to the young rodeo rider.

Twenty years later Heather has been summoned by her dying grandfather to

determine if she is worthy, being the last of the Harts, to inherit the ranch.

Only the man she’ll be competing against is none other than Tristan Rogers.

He became the foreman when his uncle died and loves the land like no other.

She has one month to learn five things about the ranch and Tristan is given the

task of “showing her the ropes”, so to speak. Heather recognizes her adversity

and uses all the weapons in her arsenal to fight for Hart Ranch, namely sex

appeal and attitude aplenty.

But Tristan can’t help but remember the young girl who had been more

innocent and shy than this hellcat on high heels. As he tries to figure out

what embittered her, Heather must transform into a woman worthy of her

grandfather’s approval.

-From Beth D. Carter

www.bethdcarter.com

http://www.loose-id.com/A-Silver-Lining.aspx

Exciting News from Jessica Lauryn!!!

2011-05-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Jessica's first book, Dangerous Ally, will be released by Siren Bookstrand
on May 10th!!


Here's the blurb:

For five lonely years, diamond smuggling kingpin Lucas Ramone has
hidden himself from the world. With a father who has baited him all
his life, made a game of trying to trip him up at every turn, Lucas
will do whatever is necessary to protect what is rightfully his. What
he isn't prepared for is Lilah Benson...

Upon accepting a job in the home of her sister's maniacal ex-fiancé,
reporter Lilah Benson believes she has finally found the perfect way
to make her mark on the world. Exposing the criminal endeavors of
Lucas Ramone won't soon be forgotten. But as she comes to know the man
who was supposed to be her adversary, Lilah is tempted by a passion
far stronger than the desire to see her name in print.

Power and control are tools of survival, critical in a world of
thievery and deception. Lilah, an innocent in a land of criminals,
may be the one person capable of bringing Lucas to his knees. But
Lucas will stop at nothing to keep his empire secure.

He will have it all: His Fortune, His Legacy, and Lilah Benson in his
bed!



-Jessica Lauryn
"Dangerous Ally"
www.jessicalauryn.com

Shermaine Williams Says...

2011-04-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

Q) What writers do you feel spearheaded erotica as it is today?

Wow—that is a very good question, but one that is still quite difficult to answer because there are so many factors involved.

The main difficulty with the answer arises due to the sheer number of erotica writers out there. It makes it impossible to lay the credit at the door of any individual. The likes of Jackie Collins, Barbara Cartland, D. H. Lawrence and many Mills and Boon writers have opened the door to allow writers to develop the genre further.

Sub-genre is also a factor as some writers stick to one whilst others write within many, so how to you compare the contribution made? As M/M is more popular than F/F, for example, I don’t think that should mean that writers of the latter should get sidelined.

As with anything, it is a matter of opinion—some people love Shakespeare’s plays, others can’t stomach them. I think it is up to individual readers to decide for themselves who has spearheaded erotica for them. We all have personal likes and dislikes that help us find our favourite writers.

Bio
Shermaine Williams is a London-based writer of erotic fiction who has titles released with several different publishers. Her contemporary stories fall within a number of different sub-genres, such as interracial, BDSM and paranormal. Lean and Mean is her latest release with Total-E-Bound.

Shermaine Williams
Purveyor of erotic interludes
www.shermainewilliams.co.uk
www.shermainewilliams.wordpress.com

Movie Monday - Jennifer's Body

2011-04-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

There are some parts in films that certain stars are perfect for, and I think Megan Fox nailed it on the head playing a demonic possessed high schooler eating boys. That being said, I enjoyed this movie in a purely dumb, gory-yet-funny way.

Amanda Seyfried plays Needy, a girl whose best friend, Jennifer, is a popular and beautiful cheerleader, played by Megan Fox. How these two are BFF is a mystery and yet at the same time you realize why these two girls are drawn together. Needy “needs” someone like Jennifer in her life to make her feel wanted, while Jennifer clearly uses Needy to boost her own emotional insecurity. Things change, however, when they go to the local bar to see a band called Low Shoulder.

Low Shoulder’s lead singer is hungry for fame and fortune. So he comes up with the idea of making a sacrifice to satan in the form of a virgin. Unfortunately, they go after Jennifer who is, lets face it, the least virginal person in the whole tiny town. The ritual is carried out and the band gets famous but the side effect of this whole thing is that Jennifer gets a demonic transference, one that needs to eat people to survive.

Yes, the whole movie is awful. But if you recognize and ignore that fact and embrace this film as a campy, fun horror-slash-dramady, then it makes for a great eating popcorn on the couch film while it rains cats and dogs outside. My favorite line in the whole thing is towards the end, when Jennifer gets stabbed with a big stake and is bleeding buckets of blood, she looks at Needy and says “You got a tampon?”

Clearly this film is not for everyone. I think it gets a solid four out of ten stars. But I’m not hard to please when it comes to entertainment and I really adore Amanda Seyfried. Will I be watching it again? Probably, the next time it rains.

Keta Diablo Says...

2011-04-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

Q) Where do you find the inspiration for your super HOT men?

Thanks so much, Beth, for hosting me on your lovely blog. I'm happy

I found you because I'm following your blog now.

Many have asked me where I get my inspiration, and the the answer is

from several places. I'm a vivid dreamer, and believe it or not, many

times I remember my dreams the next morning. I also keep a notepad

on my nightstand, and yes, there have been times I've turned on the

lamp in the middle of the night and jotted down notes about my latest

journey in dreamland.

Another place I often find inspiration is from research. I'm a huge history nut.

Makes sense that I write historical and at times combine the genre with

paranormal. Last September Where The Rain Is Made was released by Decadent

Publishing. Many times there is a story behind the books we write as there is

with WTRIM. When my youngest son was 12, he took a sudden interest in

the Native American tribes. This led us to the library on many occasions. We

checked out everything available and soon my son zeroed in on the Cheyenne

Dog Soldiers. He found their customs and beliefs fascinating and their ending tragic.

About a year after that, he moved onto another fascination -- the Mafia if I

remember correctly -- and here I was with all this research on the Native Americans.

It made sense to write a book about the Dog Soldiers and put our hard work to use.

I hope to continue my Native American paranormals by moving on to some other tribes.

Their culture is steeped in mysticism and spirituality.

Oh, and by the way, Where The Rain Is Made has been nominated for a Bookie

Award by a wonderful group called Authors After Dark. You can read the five-star

reviews on Amazon http://amzn.to/fSjyOv

Today I'm here to tell you about Sojourn With A Stranger, another

historical/paranormal (think ghosts!). Watch for the release of Sojourn on

Kindle in March.

Namaste, Keta

 ~ Website ~ Blog ~ The Stuff of Myth and Men ~ ~*~ Where the Rain is Made ~*~

Movie Monday - Movie Trailer Breakdown!

2011-04-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil- The sequel to 2005’s Hoodwinked that stared Anne Hathaway as Little Red Riding Hood. I saw the first and really liked it, even though the animation wasn’t as sophisticated as it could have been. The new one has Hayden Panettiere as Red and it looks like the animation hasn’t come all that far in six years. I have a sneaky suspicion that the trailer has shown us all the best parts of this movie.

Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula- Yes, this really is a movie that is coming out though it was filmed in 2008. After seeing the trailer I can understand why it took three years to find a distributor! I suppose someone thought it would be cool to see the 1930’s outlaws take on a vampire…why not? Vampires are cool now-a-days. But I think that someone had a few too many drinks. This movie is being compared to Shaun of the Dean and Zombieland…uh, really?

Kung Fu Panda 2 – This trailer had me laughing out loud, which is a really good thing. All the star voices are back, thank goodness…couldn’t see Master Shifu as having any other voice but Dustin Hoffman. We got some new ones too…Gary Oldman, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Michelle Yeoh to name a few. So two big thumbs up, I’ll be eagerly waiting!

The Conspirator- Okay, any trailer that has James McAvoy in it I am definitely interested! Based upon the trial of Mary Surratt, this movie takes into the days immediately following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. History shows that she and three others were hanged for the conspiracy but what really happened, eh? Directed by Robert Redford and staring Robin Wright as Surratt, this should be a great film!

Bad Teacher- Cameron Diaz stars as a teacher who is just biding her time till she can find a rich husband…enter the sub (and heir to a famous watch company) played by Justin Timberlake. Weren’t they dating at one time? Oh well, Cameron doesn’t see to go out on a stretch in this one as she goes from foul mouth teacher to one with a heart of gold. The jokes didn’t seem funny enough to merit $12.00 for a ticket…mental checklist: Netflix.

Friends With Benefits- Not to be confused with the other Friends With Benefits …wait, that was No Strings Attached…whatever! This film with Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake actually seems like it’ll be hilarious. I don’t think I’d mind shelling out the exorbitant ticket price to go see if it produces that chuckles I had while watching the trailer.

And the Winner is....Kung Fu Panda 2!!!

An excerpt from RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE from Charmaine Gordon

2011-03-31T18:32:00.000-07:00

In 1996, I killed my father.

Dear old Dad was great with a belt. A belt of whiskey. A belt from around his waist unbuckled when you least expected it and later I knew when it was coming and some of us escaped. Not me, not Mom. Never Mom. I’m the oldest. I didn’t want the little ones to see the okay dad turn into a monster dad on payday. Every payday.

Chapter 1
I heard the television turned up loud before I opened the door. Mom always hoped for a distraction. Maybe this time instead of beating up on us, he’d watch the Minnesota Twins beat the hell out of the Boston Red Sox. Rant over every play, curse the umpires, yell that the Hubert H. Humphrey Stadium wasn’t good enough. 1996. Not a great year so far for the Twins. On this payday, after I dropped the kids off, I raced home just in time to be with Mom.

The front door banged open hard enough to rattle dishes in the cabinet. Mom’s treasure–a painted porcelain egg–rolled to the edge, teetered for a second and fell end over end to the hardwood floor. The small egg cracked with the force of a bomb. Mom stared at broken pieces from a life she had long ago. Her face turned white, every freckle showing, and my fists clenched.

He staggered around waving a tire iron in the air; muscled from working a jackhammer for the city all his sorry life and ugly drunk. Flowers flew off the table with sprays of water and shattered glass. Cursing, he went after Mom. This time I was ready. I wrestled it out of his filthy hands and hit him good. He lay torn up, didn’t move, blood everywhere on Mom’s clean kitchen floor. I stood there looking down at my father and thought how hard it was going to be for Mom to get the blood up. And how come he was the worst father in the world scaring all of us, hurting Mom and me. I breathed too fast and almost threw up. We were safe now because I’d done this terrible thing and I didn’t know how I could live with it.

Mom’s thick auburn hair came loose from her bun and she looked so pretty bending over him, a finger pressed to his neck as if she was a cop. On tiptoes, she pulled the ceiling fan chain and her sleeve rolled back. Black and blue marks covered her arm. I counted them. Mom had a lot more than I did. The breeze felt good. Then she wiped my fingerprints off the tire iron and replaced them with hers.

I watched Mom change from quiet refined Liz Costigan to someone I didn’t know.She reached in his pants like a pickpocket and came up with a handful of dollars and coins. Handing me the money, Mom said, “I guess he drank the rest of his pay. Sorry it’s not more. Let’s get you packed.”

She was in charge, this new mother, and I didn’t question her. Icy cold inside myself, Mom dragged me along to my bedroom. I kept looking back expecting him to come after us.

“Reach up high on the top shelf, Charlie. Bring the suitcase down.”
Mom’s hands caressed the leather case I’d never seen.

“I packed my clothes and ran away sixteen years ago,” she said. “I was wild, out-of-control.”

“Were you ever sorry, Mom?”

“I have you and Jimmy, and my little girls. Take a shower. I have things to do.” She pushed me toward the hall.

I heard Mom opening and closing drawers, knew she’d be too busy to worry about me for a while and crept back to the bloody mess to make sure he really was dead. His dark eyes had turned to an empty stare.

Shivering, I ran for the bathroom. Even a hot shower couldn’t warm me and blood refused to wash off. Words spun around in my head. ‘Out, out, damned spot.’ I scrubbed ’til it hurt. Lady Macbeth, that’s me.

Wrapped in a towel, I watched Mom empty my clothes into her suitcase.
I couldn’t move. He’s dead in the house and she packed my clothes for what? Mom added a dress hanging at the back of the closet, folded and placed it on top. The sound of the zipper closing on the suitcase startled me into action. I pried up the board in the closet, removed my money, and secured it into a money belt I’d bought in a second hand shop. Mom nodded approval.

“Wear this,” she said, handing me jeans and a long sleeved tee shirt. I dug some underwear out of the suitcase and dressed.

Unfastening a gold locket on a long chain she wore around her neck, she said, “Hold up your hair, my girl.”

We stood face to face, her hazel eyes looking into mine. I heard a tiny click when the clasp was in place around my neck. She kissed the locket and let it slide under my shirt.

“What’s in the locket, Mom?”

“Two sisters, my dear Charlie. One wise. One foolish.” Mom smiled the saddest smile. She held my face in both hands. “Yes, I have a sister, your aunt Eleanor. Now listen hard. Money and education. Most important. And one more thing, precious girl, don’t let boys catch your scent. Keep clean. That’s something I forgot.”

Scared and bewildered, I wasn’t used to her making fast decisions. Any decisions.
“I’ll call the police after you’re gone. It was self-defense. There are hospital
records of abuse for years. The Union will take financial care of us. Your job is to make a new life. Catch a bus to Chicago. My sister is there.”

She pulled a box out from a drawer in my small desk and opened it. Fancy stationery paper, the old fashioned kind with the scent of flowers. Taking a deep breath, mom wrote in her perfect handwriting. I always believed mom had a lot of secrets. Now I got a peek at some just before I was leaving. Not fair and I felt like my little sisters when they stamped their feet against the world. I didn’t want to leave. She tucked two sheets of paper in a matching envelope and added an address.

“Don’t lose this, Charlie. It’s your passport to a new life.”
I couldn’t speak. Somehow words got stuck in my throat so I read the name Mom had written. Mrs. Stuart Alfred. I unzipped a side pocket on my backpack and placed the envelope in with care.

“Don’t let her turn you away. She’s my older sister. She hated your father.”
I never saw her cry before and when tears fell, she brushed them away.

Panic set in. “What if she’s not there?”

“She’ll be there, same as always. I’ve kept in touch with her. Not often. Just enough.”

“Charlie,” Mom looked in my eyes so deep as if she was taking a picture, “don’t call. I’ll call you when I have something to say. Now hurry. It’s not too late to catch the bus.”

Mom hugged me and I ran.

-"Reconstructing Charlie" by Charmaine Gordon

AMAZON B&N OMNILIT PDF
INSTANT DOWNLOAD SPECIAL
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http://www.amazon.com/Now-What-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/193540797X
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http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Over-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407791

Charmaine Gordon Says...

2011-03-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Q) What is the best thing about writing?

As an actor, I cherished every word in the script with respect to the playwright never
thinking one day I’d be a writer. A mother hears her child say, “Read me a
story, Mommy.” Read becomes“Tell me a story, Mom.” And here I am with a
publisher, Kimberlee Williams-Vanilla Heart Publishing who calls and says,
“Write a new story.”

The best is using the powerful gift of imagination. An idea wakes me from sleep. In the
morning I write. Think of what the writer can do with a story. You create a
situation, two people meet, maybe fall in love, a misunderstanding, obstacles
you throw in their path to prevent an easy solution and at last, love wins. OR
an evil presence, a parallel story to collide, illness, death, destruction,
misunderstanding and love wins OR. . .Possibilities are endless. The author is
in command OR is she? The characters take over as they often do. The author
loses herself, cries, laughs, and writes until The End. You weep some more
because your baby has grown up and you want to show her to the world. Then the
real work begins. Promotion, marketing. Oh my. All you want to do is write.

Years of experience as an actor on daytime drama. Stage, spokesperson and commercials plus writing sketches for
Air Force shows helped prepare me for the wonders of a writing career. Of
course, I didn’t realize it at the time when immersed in the written words of
others, that I was like a sponge, soaking up how to construct a scene, write
dialogue, and paint the setting.

I kissed my acting career goodbye, leaving on a high note with the lead in an Off
Broadway play, “The Fourth Commandment” author Rich Knipe. It was great fun and
time to move on. Movies like “Working Girl”, “Road to Wellsville” and having
the pleasure of Anthony Hopkins company at lunch, working with Mike Nichols in
“Regarding Henry” and singing outside with Harrison Ford, crying with Gene
Wilder over loss on another set, When “Harry Met Sally” with the whole gang
singing It Had to Be You. Lots of fond memories. My first job as
stand-in leg model for Geraldine Ferraro in a Diet Pepsi commercial with Secret
Service men guarding her and her daughters. A sweet time.

**Charmaine has given me permission to post an excerpt from her novel
"Reconstructing Charlie"! Check back on Friday to read this totally
engrossing sneak peek!

Movie Monday - Sucker Punch

2011-03-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

There have been some negative reviews on this movie, and I think they come about from not truly understanding this film. Yes, its part anime, part video game, part fantasy, part steampunk, and part over-the-top drama, but at the core of it, Sucker Punch delivers a helluva ride.

The film starts out in a tech-noir type feel with Babydoll’s mother dying, leaving behind two daughters with a stepdad that is a lecherous old man. He goes after the younger sister, locking Babydoll away, but our heroine is fearless and brave. She shimmy’s down the drainpipe, runs back in the front, finds the stepdad’s gun and bravely goes to save her sister, only to accidentally shoot and kill her sibling.

Babydoll is taken away to a mental institute where the stepdad buys off the orderly to “send her to paradise” via a lobotomy. Babydoll has five days. Thus sends her off into a fantasy world to escape, literally, the crazy house via a journey of collecting five things that will help her in her quest for freedom. Babydoll transports her mind into a world where she has been sold into a brothel and she must dance to survive. We never see these dances but we know they enchant men who watch her. While she “dances” she goes into a fantasy world of WW1 trenches, fighting a fire breathing dragon, and stealing a bomb from a train. These fantasies are larger than life, including the four women who join her: Amber, Blondie, Rocket and SweetPea.

Now, this is where I think a lot of critics don’t understand who these women actually are and here’s my two cents…these friends are actually a personification of Babydoll’s psyche. She takes them with her on these fantasy journeys to escape the reality of being locked in a mental asylum with the threat of a lobotomy hanging over her head. I won’t divulge the ending, I don’t want to spoil it, but suffice to say that it is both tragic and sweet at the same time.

This movie wasn’t perfect. There were several things that could have been changed to make it a great film, and again, I can’t really go into it because that would reveal too much of the ending. But how can you not love a film that has badass girls wielding katanas and machine guns dressed in corsets and black leather? It was fun, it was entertaining, and it gave my imagination a jumpstart. I recommend seeing this film in the theaters to give the CGI and sound mixture its proper due, but don’t sit in the front row because you’ll give yourself a headache. And don’t be expecting an Oscar worthy script, like I said there are flaws and there are holes, but do expect to leave the theater thinking you’ve seen a helluva ride!

Book Review- Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

2011-03-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

This is the sequel to the fabulous novel, The Body Finder. And I’m glad to say that it holds up to its predecessor! Once again we follow Violet as she navigates through the ability to see the “echoes” of murdered victims, the new relationship she has with her BFF Jay, the FBI discovering her ability, and an unsolved death only she can solve. We are introduced to new characters and a deeper meaning to Violet’s unique gift, one she has to learn to accept.

It took me about two days to read this 368 page novel and I can’t wait for the next installment. I became a huge fan of Kimberly Derting when I read The Body Finder, and anxiously awaited the follow up. I think what I really like about these books are the honest way that Ms. Derting writes about teenage feelings. Yes, there is cussing, there is angst, and yes, she does venture into the “first time” sex very well. She takes a mystery/thriller story and adds a hint of paranormal. We know that Violet has a gift, we know she is special, but she is also very ordinary, and I like that fact.

The first book dealt with a pair of serial killers and in this book the creep factor comes in the delivery of an ordinary crush turning into something dark and deadly. I had half of it figured out, but the part I couldn’t was what made this into a great read. It leaves you guessing and needing to read it all to understand, which was why I had it done by the second day.

There are some paranormal YA novels that meander along (Fallen anyone?) and some that I debate if I want to read more (Crave..eh), and I blame that on mainly the authors trying too hard. With Ms. Derting, it’s effortless. Her writing style is succinct but her depth fantastic. I love Violet and Jay as a couple, and while some bemoan that Jay is too polished to be a teenage boy in love, the romantic in me is drawn to his devotion to Violet.

I’m very happy to read that two more books in The Body Finder series has been optioned, as has another series (The Pledge) coming soon.

Michael Mandrake/Rawiya Says...

2011-03-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Q) Do you ever feel some of the erotic books ‘cross the line?’ (too much BDSM) Are there somethings you won’t write?

A: Yes. I'm not into stories of incest. The recent controversy over an authors books being removed from Amazon did bother me but there's nothing that I find appealing about people having sex with family members. I do agree that the author has the right to publish what they want, and as long as there is a market then go for it. I myself would never write an incest story.

-Michael M- http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com
Rawiya/Blmorticia - http://rawiyaserotica.blogspot.com
Facebook - Taboos and Perversions
Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/rawiyamichaelm

Michael Mandrake's The True Meaning of Love is out now from XOXO publishing.
Different Kind of Family Portrait out in the Tattoo Anthology Volume II

Rawiya's Sugar Daddy Out in the Who's Your Daddy anthology by STARbooksin Spring
2011

(Desires of the Dead book Review was suppose to be posted on Wednesday...I got my days mixed up! It will be up on Saturday!!!)

Movie Monday - Laila's Birthday

2011-03-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Palestinian Director Rashid Masharawi’s body of work typically consists of films that depict refugee camp life; he was born in the Al-Shati camp, located in the north Gaza strip. His films “Curfew” (1994) and “Haifa” (1996) tell the story of one family’s adversity in a tumultuous era. However, in his current release, “Laila’s Birthday,” Masharawi teams up for a third time with vet actor Mohammed Bakri in a film about modern day Israeli-occupied Palestine, told through the eyes of an everyday working man.

Husband and father Abu Laila (Mohammed Bakri) is a court judge by profession, but he cannot attain his stature due to the economic climate of his country. As a result, to provide for his family, he's forced to drive a cab through the streets of Ramallah. One morning, Laila jolts awake to start another bleak day only to be reminded by his wife that it is their daughter’s seventh birthday and he must be home by 8pm with a present and cake in hand.

Although a simple task, Abu Laila does not have the luxury of using an “off duty” sign, and encounters a difficult day as each passenger he picks up weaves a theme with a socio-political message. The helicopters hovering overhead, reminiscent of a war-torn area, make Laila’s bright yellow taxicab is a glimmer of light against the neutral tones of the stone buildings and crowded market streets. Laila interacts with controlled agitation with each passenger, employing a judicial mind-set in trying to understand the psyche of his fellow Palestinians.

Laila is told by a young couple that it is cheaper to go for a cab ride than it is to surf the Internet; he charges only 4 Shekels, which is equivalent to one U.S dollar. As he drives past a potential welfare line, a female passenger jumps out to get on line not even realizing what the line is for. Later on, he refuses to take a Nun to an Israeli checkpoint, holding that they are demeaning and problematic.
Laila has a set of rules, which he enforces. He does not allow his passengers to smoke or to bear arms. Laila's own son (Saleh Bakri) stars as an ex-convict who insists on smoking in Laila’s taxi. Later in the film, the young man is seen marching in a street protest.

As Abu Laila attempts to choose a gift and a cake, he is consistently derailed by unexpected fares, a broken down cab, and then finally the coup de grâce–a bomb explosion that sends the city in to a panic. He gets so aggravated with the daily condition that he finally has an emotional breakdown. Stuck in a traffic jam, he takes it upon himself to vent over a vehicle megaphone that is conveniently situated at the side of the road. Ironically, although the day is harrowing, Laila still manages to make it home in time with a surprise for his daughter.
Visually, “Laila’s Birthday” opens with black and white title credits and uses artfully positioned saturated colors. Depicting Ramallah’s primarily stark landscape, gleams of beauty are seen through lush trees intermittently seen through the city. Accompanied with lyrical folk music, “Laila’s Birthday” is a simple story that tackles harsh issues with sardonic wit.

Mohammed Bakri is brilliant as a representative of the working class trying to get ahead. His is an overqualified cabbie seeking a superior life. His patience wanes as he overcomes each hurdle while analyzing the idiocy of the political situation. His final outburst towards the end of the film voices outrage towards the checkpoints, towards the young men who carry guns on the streets, and towards the futility of the resistance fighters. His wife (Areen Omari), who has appeared in both “Haifa” and “Curfew,” delicately reminds her husband of the importance of family even during dark days.

The beauty of this film is the comic and dramatic timing while dealing with grim material. The world is small, and although this film is in Arabic, it portrays global economic conflicts, whether caused by occupying country, overbearing government, or the internal struggle of one’s self-worth.

Winner of the Mustafa Akkad Prize at the 2009 Fajr Film Festival (Iran) and the
Silver Screen Award for the Best Asian Feature Film at the 2009 Singapore Film Fest, “Laila’s Birthday” is a 71-minute-long social message feature, told with sardonic comedy and familial storyline. Viewers will not be turned away by the film's serious theme and should be able to easily identify with the desire for a better life.

-Lark Aldrin-Clement

Book Review - The Boundless Deep by Kate Brallier

2011-03-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

(Sorry this is review is a day late!!)

Though this book was published in 2008, don't underestimate the power of this story. It's one of those books that you keep and re-read. It is a love story that crosses the division of death into the realm of reincarnation. Set amidst the era of whaling in Nantucket, it is told superbly in first person narrative.

Liza has had dreams of whaling her whole life, despite never having been to the ocean. So she jumps at the chance to spend the summer working in Nantucket with her roommate and friend. She has the idea that somehow she can disprove how accurate her dreams are, but quite the opposite happens. Not only can she spout facts about sailing, she can identify even the most obscure piece of equipment. Her dreams have revved up a notch as well. Every night she dreams of Obidah Young, a whaling captain from the 1840’s accused of murdering his wife.

Liza’s summer in Nantucket is filled with work and romance. She meets Adam, a museum guide, who has his doubts about her reincarnation theory. There is also Lucian, who uses his sharp tongue to defuse the sexual tension between him and Liza. The book is filled with memorable characters that help Liza solve the mystery of her dreams and who she used to be.

Ms. Brallier does a great job of differentiating between Liza of 1840 and present day by changing how she “talks” in the dreams, from very formal to modern day slang. But beyond how well this story is brought together, what really captures the reader is Nantucket itself. The author really did her research on bringing to life the city of old. I wanted to jump in my car and drive there, finding all the spots she wrote about and pointed out.

This is one of those books that beautifully blends a mystery, a romance, a historical and a paranormal all in one. It makes you want to visit Nantucket and see if you can find your very own Obidah.

The Reviews are in!

2011-03-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

I've received some great feedback on my latest novella, A Man After Midnight! Many thanks to Sheila and Ann for reading my work and reviewing it!

From Two Lips Reviews:

Caroline accompanies her friend to a convention in New York City to get over her failed marriage. Her friend suggests she go to a bar and find a man for a weekend fling. Being attacked upon leaving the bar, Caroline is rescued by Wren. They begin a weekend fling where nothing is taboo. Caroline knows there is no future with her fling in Beth D. Carter’s A Man After Midnight but will it open her to her sexuality and allow her to take risks or will she go back to her safe life in Louisiana?

I liked Caroline and Wren. Wren has the stronger personality but Caroline is not weak. Wren asks the question, “What do you want?” That is not an easy question to answer for a woman who has been in a bad relationship. Caroline has to face herself and her fears to grab what she wants. I liked the intensity between Caroline and Wren, especially sexually. Wren brings Caroline to a sexual level she has never had before. Both are working through their fears, wanting to trust each other, and wanting to belong somewhere.

Beth D. Carter has a succinct writing style that works well in A Man After Midnight. She is concise and sparse in her words. It beautifully sets up the intensity between Wren and Caroline and gives a tone for their relationship. They are not given to much speaking during their weekend but what is said matters as does what is not spoken. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Carter’s writing.

And from The Romance Reviews (TRR):

This was a very sexy, incredibly hot read from beginning to end, with just enough humor thrown in to round out the story. I loved it when Caroline's friend Aldy finds out that she is dating her boss, Wren, and her response is "Ewww"!

The story begins with Caroline vacationing in the Big Apple with her friend, Aldy, who is attending a cosmetic convention. Caroline has tagged along in hopes of getting her life back on track after her divorce and also to spend some time with her best friend.

Wren and Caroline's weekend fling begins in the hotel bar where he rescues her from a slimy lounge lizard. The evening progresses from dancing to a Big Band Orchestra, to heavy petting in the stairwell of the dance venue, to finally spending the night with Wren in his hotel room. Las Vegas really started something with their Ad campaign because Caroline ultimately realizes that "what happens in New York, stays in New York". She tosses her pro and con list out the window and begins concentrating on spending a guilt free weekend full of sexually satisfying pleasures with Wren.

The erotic interludes start out in a G rated fashion and quickly evolve to XXX. The author skillfully allows Caroline to explore both her sexuality and her inhibitions. As each sexual encounter takes place, the author eases the reader into the moment and then moves the story along. It's as if you're given the same safe word Wren gives Caroline to reassure her during their sexual encounters. I thought that I might be uncomfortable with the anal play and bondage in this novella, but the author makes each encounter a passionate and very hot experience. It just goes to show that stepping out of your comfort zone once in a while can be a good experience!

I liked the way the author used the weekend fling as a starting point for Caroline's examination of her marriage and why it failed. This enables her to begin the healing process by letting go of her hurt and anger. It's at this point that she realizes that not only has Wren given her great pleasure, but he's also given her the confidence to begin the process of putting her life back together and to move forward. Caroline realizes that Wren has given her a wonderful gift - the ability to love again.

My only complaint about the novella was it was way too short! The main characters were well developed and the story flowed from one scene to the next without a hitch. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment from this author.

Guest Blogger - Tricia A. Taylor

2011-03-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

When did I begin my dream of writing? Well, it really goes back to before I can remember. I know that as a small child, I loved to put on plays which were performed by a myriad of stuffed animals and dolls, presented with pride to the full-sized mirror in my grandpa’s house.

Later, when I actually knew how to read and write, my imagination went wild. Many of my stories were written as gifts to my mom.

I only wish in hind-sight that I would have realized that pencil is not the best way to preserve these stories.

At the time, I couldn’t even imagine being 40 years old, much less that I would have held onto my writing for so long!! Thank goodness for the advent of word processors and then computers.

My imagination has always been strong, if sometimes inconvenient. My writing swayed from action to sci-fi to romance. I also loved to write about my favorite tv shows and movies….including a new character that remarkably reminded me of….me. Today they call it Fan Fiction. I wasn’t aware of that label at the time (or if it even existed before popular websites).

My writing has always been very visual for me. If I can't "see it in my head" then it doesn't go on paper. I rely on these instincts to write the best dialogue and mannerisms for my characters. Because I used actual people from history in my books, I like to try to keep "their" history as accurate as possible. Obviously a lot of creative license is used to meld the fiction and nonfiction in what is hopefully a smooth narrative.

I am proud to say that as I’ve kept up with my writing, I have since become a published author and am working on another!

My obstacles in my writing adventures involve…LIFE. I let things in my life suck me away from what I love. I have many unfinished stories…some so close to being done that I can taste it. Yet I still suffer from the distractedness of my imagination. I am constantly getting new ideas and putting other endeavors on the back burner. I have a very good friend (Beth D. Carter) who has always impressed me with her ability to juggle family, work and her writing with great efficiency. I am hoping some of her determination will rub off on me.

Meantime, I continue to jot down my ideas, write what I “see in my head” and hope that I will never give up on what is my happiest “job”.

Keep on DayDreaming!!!

-Tricia A. Taylor
www.taylormadediversions.com

Follow my published writing and share with friends!
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/578066/tricia_taylor.html

Movie Monday - Letters to Juliet

2011-03-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Set amidst the background of Tuscany, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried from Mama Mia!) and her fiancée take a pre-honeymoon trip to Verona, Italy because both will be too busy after the wedding to take time off. And it’s a good thing they do, because it broadcasts how each pursue their passions, indifferent to each other. Sophie, a writer, discovers the “Secretaries of Juliet”, a group of women who collect the letters written by women who visit the famed Juliet’s balcony and statue, asking for love advice. These women devote their lives to giving all types of love advice.

With her fiancé off finding new wines and foods for his up-coming restaurant, Sophie decides to help answer the letters, and finds a letter written in 1957 wedged behind a stone, left unanswered. The letter is from a girl named Claire Smith (the amazing Vanessa Redgrave) who had been too overwhelmed by her love for a boy named Lorenzo, and leaves him behind. Moved by the regret in the letter, Sophie answers it. Low and behold, her letter finds Claire.

And so the movie takes us on a charming adventure of two women at different points in their lives, rediscovering true love. Claire, as she searches through Tuscany, trying to find Lorenzo after fifty years, and Sophie as she falls for Claire’s ill-tempered straight-laced grandson, Charlie. Charlie doesn’t believe in his grandmother’s quest, doesn’t really believe in love, but over the course of their travels comes to discover the miracle of one’s soul mate.

The only problem to find is using the suspension of disbelief that a letter mailed to a “Claire Smith” fifty years later would find its way to the original owner, but that’s a very minor moot point.

I have been fortunate enough to visit Verona and Juliet’s garden, and while as lovely and charming as depicted, there were little things off from how I remembered it. Not many people would realize that it is expected to cup Juliet’s right breast for a photo-op, ensuring good luck in love, so that may seem odd to some. And while I don’t know if there really is a “Secretaries of Juliet” society, it certainly is a beautiful concept.

All in all, this move was one of those romantic, feel good films that’s perfect to curl up with on either a hot day or cold night.

Eden Baylee Says...

2011-03-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

Q) Who makes some of those racy covers? Do you get a say about them?!

Yes, I had 100% say in my cover, so it certainly fits the tone of my book. I am self-published, so I designed the cover with my husband who does media design for a living.

As my book is a collection of four novellas, I couldn't just highlight a particular story with the cover since each story is very unique. Instead I took the title and played on it. Two stories take place in the fall, and two in the winter, so I chose images that represented the seasons. Next, I had to incorporate the erotic nature of my stories into the cover. For that, I chose a picture of a female's curvy back. From there, my husband created the layout. I love the symmetry of her body with the snowdrifts. The autumn leaves falling is a play on words with the "fall" season, and is meant to be whimsical, creating an illusion of movement.

Because the title is poetic and a metaphor for the stories themselves, I wanted the book cover to convey subtle sensuality. I’m not a fan of blatant covers—I like some mystery. The fact that several people have told me they didn't even realize it was a woman's body until they looked more closely shows me that I’ve accomplished my goal for the cover.

-Eden Baylee

EXCITING, EXOTIC, EXTREMELY EROTIC

www.edenbaylee.com