Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Musings on a Strange Childhood

I thought I'd share a snippet from my kidhood. Something strange that I thought about and wanted to share.

When I was a kid, like between the ages of 9 and 14, I loved getting spare change. Loved it. Why? Because I felt like I was important. I had MONEY. Looking back, I'm not sure where the heck I got the change from, but I had some. The moment I had change, I wanted to spend it. Yep. Spend! Spend! Spend!

It was never anything big. Little things, like a blue folder or a banana hair clip or a pair of earrings. I'd see the object and know EXACTLY what I was going to do with it. The blue folder would hold my plans. Plans for what? I have no idea. I felt like I was important because I had plans. I was a thinker. The banana clip? For my Halloween costume...or when I wanted to dress up. And those earrings? Because they were pretty and would look cool with whatever outfit I loved at the time.

I don't remember how many of these plans and schemes actually panned out. I was a kid. I thought I was a thinker, but I was really a kid. I have no idea whatever happened to that blue folder, even though at the time I SWORE I needed it. The banana clip probably got broken and the earrings missing.

But that's how my mind worked. I could use this for that. Spend that on this to do those things.

Yep, I'm strange.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Hump Day Humps with Saturday Night Special


It's time for the Hump Day Hump! And since this book is finally out, I thought I'd showcase Saturday Night Special!

Saturday Night Special
Wendi Zwaduk
Contemporary, M/F, Racing, BDSM, Fem Dom, Toys, Spanking
Novella
From Turquoise Morning Press
Available here:
She makes his motor run.

Blaine Haeferle drives fast and lives on the edge. He’s not afraid to risk it all for the win—unless his heart is in the mix. He loved once, but things ended in disaster. Can he accept the woman who holds his heart, despite all their jagged past?

Mallory Sweet never intended to leave Blaine without a word. But one night changed everything for her. Instead of facing her past, she ran. Is coming to terms with her past the key to winning the love of her life back?

Anything can happen on a Saturday night under the lights.

EXCERPT:
With Kellen on the back of the machine, Blaine sped through the pits to the track. The surface seemed fine, if not a little dry. He couldn’t concentrate. His mind kept wandering back to Mallory.
“I don’t know, Kell—her being here has me fucked up.” Blaine gripped the handlebars. “I can’t wrap my mind around her coming back.”
“No shit,” Kellen replied. “If they keep watering the surface, the track will get tacky but I’m pretty sure it’ll be bone dry by lap twenty.”
“Yeah, the grip is up on the top shelf.”
“Cool. I can adjust for that.” Kellen gripped Blaine’s shoulders. “About your woman situation…you’re here to do a job not tag a piece of ass. Don’t hit me and don’t throw me off the back of this thing. She used to be a sweet girl and I can’t imagine what she’s been through.”
“But?”
“But you’re here to race so we can afford new parts for the Friday night car and buy a new front nose piece for the Saturday car. The Saturday Night Special pays well and you know
it. Figure out things with her afterward. She’ll be here. If I have to barricade the damn hauler and enlist the badass twins, I’ll keep her there. Hell, I might even have them escort Susie out while they’re at it. She’s not helping at all. I swear she’s been screwing around.”
“I haven’t fucked her, so I have no idea.”
“Good. Don’t. Let’s head back to the pits. It appears they’re doing the fireworks now instead of after the race. Gives me a little more time to adjust on the car and you time to work your shit out.”
“You know you can be a real asshole when you want to, but you’re right.”
“I aim to please or at least kick your ass into winning. Head back to the pits, hot shoe.”
Blaine processed Kell’s words. If the powers that be changed the order of the program, he’d have time to talk to Mallory. Whatever she had to say, he’d be pissed. But they had a few minutesplenty of time to make a sexy memory before he found out exactly what she had to say. Blood rushed through his body and centered in his cock. Yeah, he needed to make at least one more white-hot memory with her. Blaine pulled to a stop behind the hauler. No Mallory.
Quint nodded to the hauler truck. “She’s in there.”
“Thanks.” Blaine headed through the side door and climbed the stairs to the cabin area of the hauler truck. Mallory hugged herself and sat on the edge of the couch.
“Hey.” She didn’t move, just watched him. “Blaine. I came back here because it was more private. I’m sorry if I encroached.”
“Don’t want to talk.” Blaine locked the door and crossed the short expanse to her. She shot out of her seat and opened her mouth to protest. He smothered her answer with a kiss. Lust and desire slammed into his brain. As much as he’d told himself he didn’t love her, he knew better. She flowed through his soul. Mallory clutched at his shirt and pressed her body to his. This, her soft body underneath him, this is what he needed. Craved. He angled her to the couch and dropped down between her knees. He broke the kiss and shoved her skirt up past her hips. She gasped and braced her feet. The heels of her shoes clicked on the hardwood floor.


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Things I Learned While Camping - Part One

There are lots of things one can learn when you're camping, but it seems when I go camping....I never learn things about the actual act of camping. I learn about other things. Here's what I took from our trip to Jamestown.

1. Don't walk through other people's campsites - you'd think this would be pretty easy to figure out. With people bringing their dogs, having stuff strewn everywhere and well, wanting privacy, trucking through someone else's campsite isn't wise. And yet, people do it all the time. Apparently, what's yours is yours and what's mine is yours.

2. People will talk about you - Sounds crazy right? It's not that crazy. Think about it. We all love to observe. We talk about what we see. That's cool. But when you're talking about someone and being rude. Like, OMG, she's got blue hair. That's really hard to take care of. She must be a dirty hippie. I bet she doesn't bathe. Yeah, I got that. The thing that slayed me was when I happened to notice I was being talked about, the people chattering acted like I was intruding on them when I smiled. I acknowledged them. They knew I knew they talked about me. I didn't say anything. You can't. You're the one eavesdropping...even if they talk at concert level volumes.

3. Dirty looks are free and will happen often - yep. Be prepared.

4. People either love or hate blue hair and feel they MUST tell you their opinion - prepare for a dissertation on why your hair is strange and why they do or don't want it.

5. You can stay up late. Hooray! Late is one of my best riffs. But when you decide to cash in for the night... don't expect quiet. Quiet hours are a suggestion and in the morning everyone else will get up at the butt crack of dawn. You have to adjust.

Sounds like I had a crappy night of camping. Nope. Just thought I'd share my observations. And yes, this will be a recurring feature. There's lots to observe when you step outside your comfort zone.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Racing Quotes of the Week


They are back! I got into a spell there where nothing was quite happening the way I needed it to, but I'm back. :-)

Here are those crazy quotes from the race at Chicagoland!

“…Look at him riding the top…”
He knows where he wants to be.

“…lots of ground to cover and not much time to do it…”
I’m sure he’ll do it. He’ll die trying if he can’t.

“…making passes and looking fine…”
Always good to look presentable.

“…he charged right through…”
Got to love a man with a plan.

“…Double wide on the restart…”
Sounds hinky!

“…likes to be fast on the restart…”
Can’t blame him for knowing what he wants.

DOOZY OF THE WEEK:
“…side by side for the top shelf position…”

Ooh! Can we get them to go three wide? A conga line?

Hey, this was a lot of fun. Join me next week with quotes from Eldora!



Friday, July 12, 2013

Review ~ Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath

Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath
Avon Books
historical
spicy

Only one woman can break through his heart of stone...

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright...

Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl's illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.

After her father's death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord's indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.

available here: 
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Wicked-Intentions-Lorraine-Heath/dp/0062100033/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372348234&sr=1-1&keywords=lord+of+wicked+intentions+by+lorraine+heath

My take?

Some people are just meant to be. It's fate. Lorraine Heath's characters are two of those people. Eve and Rafe need to be together. The writing flows well and I couldn't put this book down. I couldn't! I felt like I was right there with them, realizing their feelings and what a cad the bad guy was.

Eve is in a bad situation. Her 'brother' is a jerk and is attempting to sell her off to the highest bidder. For what? He doesn't care. And she's too sheltered to know better. That's not cool. Rafe, though he's not interested in having a long term relationship with anyone, isn't going to let her suffer. He feels he's a bad seed. When he swoops in, he shows he's not. He's just got to realize that.

There were moments when I wanted to clock him and a couple where I wondered why she did what she did. But I chalk it up to emotional investment. Ms Heath had me turning pages needing answers. I'm glad I did.

If you want a historical that's sure to please, then this might be the book for you.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

The Next Big Thing ~ Whip it Up!

It's Time for The Next Big Thing!! I was tagged, so here's a little bit about my latest work, Honey and Decadence :-) Read on!


1: What is the working title of your book?
Honey and Decadence from the Whip It Up Anthology

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was given the task of writing a story involving BDSM and food. The characters shouted and I wrote as fast as I could. 

3: What genre does your book come under?
Contemporary, erotic, BDSM... Food play!

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Sean would be Chris Evans. He's tall, brooding and intense. 
Roxie would be Scarlett Johansson as she can play spunky and dangerous very well.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Boy wants girl, girl decorates herself in food, hot sex and passion are the end result.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
Published by Total-E-Bound Publishing. Should by out around the end of the Summer!

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Two months.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Any of the other stories in the Whip It Up Anthology. We all played with the idea of Sex and Food!

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The idea of using one's body as a table for eating and how that can become sexual real fast. Grin. 
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
A hot hunk, sexy lady and more whipped cream, chocolate syrup and honey than one might think is possible all involved with SEX!!


Layne MacAdam invited me and I tag...
and
to carry on with the Next Big Thing!



Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Scrap Metal with Jennah Scott

Today my good friend Jennah Scott is here talking about her latest book, Scrap Metal. Read on because this looks like a great book and  I know it's a fun interview! What are your current projects?

I’m working on a few things right now. My co-author, Alexi Raymond, and I just finished the second book in the Midwest Kisses series. I’ve also got a couple of short stories in the works. They are both set in Wyoming with cowboys as heroes. One is two friends finding each other for a second chance and the other is two strangers who find they can’t get enough of each other.

OOH! Cowboys! Gotta love 'em. Do you see writing as a career?
Absolutely! It’s my ideal career, wouldn’t wish for anything else.

Grin. Me, either. Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
Not as much as I’d like to. However, I did just take a trip with my family that resulted in an idea for a series of short stories. Once the idea came to mind, everything we saw on the trip helped me develop the plot.

That's what I love about traveling, even if it's only a short distance. You get great ideas. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Take the time to learn the craft of writing as well as the publishing business. If you rush, you risk disappointment. It’s hard to find the patience, but I can attest that it’s worth it.

Yep. I've done my own share of rushing and not letting things percolate. I can attest to waiting and patience being worth the time. How long does it take you to write a book?
About two months with the first draft and revisions.

You're fast! As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
An English teacher! I can remember setting up all of my stuffed animals and teaching them how to write a story.

I did that, too. Grin. But I taught them all about the American Civil War. Yeah, I was a goofy kid. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?
Cats for sure. They don’t take a lot of work and are really fun to cuddle with.

Very true, even if my dog swears she cuddles better than a cat. Now for the fun questions! Boxers, briefs, boxerbriefs…. Or commando? Why?
Boxerbriefs. I’m not sure why, but a guy in boxerbriefs never fails to make me sigh.

Because as much as they are showing - those things are tight! - there is so much that's left to the imagination. Leaving things to the imagination sometimes is exactly what is needed. grin. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Editing!

I was sleeping. Good night I had a bad headache. Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?
Oh, yeah. I bawled like a baby during The Notebook. My husband and I laugh about it now, because I am not a crier. However, we found out a couple of weeks later that I was pregnant, so I blame the crying on hormones.  J

Works for me. Grin. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night! Always have been. I’d much rather stay up late and sleep in.

I second that, although my cat is convinced I need to be a morning person. He likes to paw my face until I get up. The brat. Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot?
Yep, sure can.

I never learned. Oh well. One day. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?
Oh for sure! They are very distinct. I don’t like either one, actually. I prefer Dr. Pepper. And yep, there’s a difference between that and Mr. Pibb too. J

 Nothing wrong with that. Want to know more about Jennah Scott? Here you go!
Website: www.jennahscott.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jennah_scott
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjennahscott
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jennahscott

And a little bit about Scrap Metal...
Not one to settle down, Angelica Rousseau never thought she’d consider planting roots in the small town of Kimmswick, Missouri. When her art speaks to her—and gives her a reason to get up close and personal with body shop owner, Ryker Talcott—sticking around starts to have appeal.

Ryker has to deal with a lot of personalities and has found that custom orders for women almost never end well. Especially when the women are as picky and confident as Angelica. This time it’s different. He's never met a woman like her. She rivals his confidence and has the attitude to back it up.


When the past threatens their future, Angelica and Ryker have to decide what's more importanttheir own promises to themselves, or the love they both feel for each other.

Available here:
Liquid Silver: http://www.lsbooks.com/scrap-metal-p811.php

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-scrapmetal-1228767-149.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Scrap-Metal-Midwest-Kisses-ebook/dp/B00DTNO2BS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373295506&sr=8-2&keywords=Jennah+Scott

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Scrap-Metal/book-S_S_h6bf5EiGQuXn7xWSuA/page1.html?s=HvR4djgRCU-kqif9npr8SA&r=3

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Review ~ Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries
Pocket Books
Historical
Spicy

When Madeline Prescott took a teaching position at Mrs. Harris's School for Young Ladies, it was to help restore her father's reputation. Instead, she's in danger of ruining her own. The devilishly handsome Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, has agreed to provide "rake lessons" to Mrs. Harris's pupils so they can learn how to avoid unscrupulous gentlemen, and Madeline is to oversee his classes. She has always believed that attraction is a scientific matter, easily classified and controlled — until she's swept into the passionate desire that fiercely burns between her and Anthony. Nothing could be more illogical than risking everything for a dalliance with a rake — even one who's trying to behave himself. Yet nothing could be more tempting....

Available here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416551514?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1416551514&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

My take?

She wants to resist. Resistance is futile. Okay, that's a cheesy line, but it's true--for the both of them. She wants to resist him because he's a rake. He's the bad guy. Kind of. He wants to resist her because he's got a lot of issues and she can't be trusted. Tony's going to teach the girls at the School for Heiresses how to be smart around rakes. One issue? He's a little too good at his job and she's got a weakness for...well, him.

I liked this book. I liked how she stuck up for him and how he chased her. So much for being the tough guy all the time. He's got issues. Good! Men who are all brawn and no problems are good, but Tony's got lots of extra dimensions to him. Madeline isn't a slouch either. She's got pluck and even if she's obsessed with the nitrous oxide party, she's got reason. 

If you're interested in an intriguing historical read, then this might be the book for you. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A Visit from the Cover Faery


As a request from my editor, I wrote a story about witches. Well, one witch in particular named Havan and the human, Neil, who doesn't believe witches exist. Here's the cover!