Monday Moans ~ Right Where I Need to Be

Moans are always so much fun. This one is sort of from the vault. It's been out a while, but I love these characters, so I had to share.

Right Where I Need to Be

Contemporary
Novel
Wild Rose Press
Available here!

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime.

Cass Jenson needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for - her movie or her bed?

(Pages 298) Hot

And now for that moan!! “I’ll get your water, but know this Logan Malone: don’t hurt her or I will hurt you. That’s a promise and a threat.” With that, Les stepped off the porch and disappeared around the corner of the garage.

Cass propped her chin on her knuckles. “Care to sit? You did work hard.”

Logan eased down next to her on the concrete step. He bumped her shoulder with his own. “I know where I’d like you to sit,” he mumbled.

Cass threw her head back and laughed. “You know how long it’s been since I heard that line?”

Logan shared her humor. “You can’t blame me for trying.”

Her laughter subsided as she watched him. “Thank you.”

He felt a camaraderie building and bumped her shoulder again. “That was a dirty trick, you know.”

Cass bit the corner of her mouth. “I know.”

Those two words resonated through his soul. She played his games with ease and intended to win. She brushed her hair away from her face.

“So where’s the water? I’m parched.” He grabbed his chest over-dramatically and slumped against her. “And fading fast.”

Cass playfully punched his thigh. “You are not, drama king,” she shot back. “We don’t have valets here in Crawford so you’re temporarily out of luck.”

Logan laughed until his chest hurt. “I need to learn how to get what I want on my own. I think this was lesson number one.”

She patted his knee, but her hand lingered a bit too long. “Good call.” She glanced at him and then at the ground before standing up. He reached out to touch the perfect globes of her ass, but recoiled. Don’t scare her.

“Cass?”

She paused without turning around. “I’m putting the tractor away. Do you need something?”

Logan opened his mouth. You naked and in my bed teetered on the tip of his tongue. “A shower?” Was that all he could muster? Wow. He left the lion’s share of his smoothness on the plane.

Cass hopped aboard the mower. “You do ask for a lot, but I owe you.” She started the engine. “Les will show you where the guest bathroom is.”

Before he could answer, she drove off. Yes. A shower gave him time in her house. Now…to breach her defenses and melt the ice surrounding her heart.

Sunday Snog ~ Right Where I Need to Be

This week for my Sunday Snog, I thought I'd shine a spotlight on my first novel, Right Where I Need to Be. Thanks to Victoria Blisse for having the Sunday Snogs. This is so much fun. Click here or on the banner for more snogs. Now on to that Snog of mine!

Right Where I Need to Be Wild Rose Press Contemp Spicy, m/f Novel Available here!

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime.

Cass Jensen needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for - her movie or her bed?

It's snoggin' time! “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he replied and sat on the edge of the bed. Wary, she took a step back. “Ah. You’re only staying one night. We don’t need to get intimate.”

He cocked his head. “You know you want to.”

“Don’t go there. I’ll get you an extra pillow and blanket.”

“For you?”

She wrinkled her brows. “Nope. I’m a loner.”

“I want to tell you something.”

Cass stiffened and narrowed her eyes. She could see the wheels turning in his mind. Knowing Logan as little as she did, she had no idea what he thought. The dogs whined behind her. Something felt off.

“It’s not bad, I promise.”

“Oh, sure.”

“When I’m around you, I’m tongue-tied because I want you to like me.”

She knotted her fingers together, mostly because she didn’t know what else to do with them rather than reach for him. She turned away. When did the air in the room get so blasted thin and warm? “I see.”

“Do you?”

His words washed over her like a waterfall. She wanted to give in, but if she touched him, she’d never be able to pull away. She turned back around. “Logan this can’t—”

He stood inches from her. His eyes flashed just as he lowered his lips to hers. A warm rush flowed from her brain all the way to her toes. She felt sparks radiate from his fingertips as he twined them with hers. A moan escaped her throat. Oh, he tasted too good to walk away from.

But in that instant, he pulled back. “That’s just a sampling,” he murmured. “We could continue all night long, if you desire.”

Cass swallowed hard. His erection jabbed into her stomach. Maybe she could turn a man on after all. More thunder crashed, spooking the dog.

“I’d better go,” she whispered.

Logan nodded. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

Late Monday Moan ~ Right Where I Need to Be

I'm late getting this week's Monday Moan up because well, I went to sleep last night after practically running all weekend long. Don't get me wrong, I had fun. I'll be posting about my weekend in a day or two (check on Wednesday), but right now is about the Moan! Right Where I Need to Be
The Wild Rose Press
Contemp, novel, m/f
hot
Available here!

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime.

Cass Jensen needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for - her movie or her bed?

Temporarily forgetting her visitor, she opened the door to the ice-blue guest room. “What the…” Her jaw dropped. There in all his naked glory, totally at ease and unaware, stood Logan Malone. He grabbed her fuchsia towel and wrapped it around his toned buns. Her mouth watered. She willed her heart to stop thudding so loud.

He turned slowly, giving her a tantalizing view of his sculpted back and legs. “Hi.”

Cass snapped her jaw shut. How did the man pull off casual in such a heavy situation? She spouted the first thing that popped into her head. “You always parade around in pink towels?” Oh crap. That sounded stupid.

He dipped his head. A wicked smile curled the corner of his mouth. Cass tried not to fan herself. Did the heat kick on? “I prefer blue or green, but I make do with what’s available.” He winked. “Enjoying the view?”

She nodded and licked her lips. Enjoying? Try having one of the most exciting daydreams of her life. “Well, then Mr. Pink. I’ll let you get dressed. I hate interruptions.” She turned to leave.

“Cass?”

She froze. The sound of rustling came from the room. “My manly blue towels are in the wash.” Forcing her feet to move, she stepped down the hallway and took a deep breath. At least she had a centerfold image to fantasize about later. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, there stood Logan in nothing but unsnapped blue jeans. The hunter green elastic of his boxers showed above the open zipper. A sprinkling of crisp hair led down into the V of his faded denim. Desperately reigning in her desire to marvel at his body, she redirected her attention to his face. “What do you want?”

Logan licked his lips. His eyes burned with flecks of amber and sage. She couldn’t look away from his intensity. Her cheeks flushed. He said only one word. “You.”

Jana Richards' Girl Most Likely is Here Today!

Jana Richards is right here! She's talking about her book, The Girl Most Likely! You should make sure to comment. Why? Jana is giving away one $20 GC to The Wild Rose Press to one randomly drawn commenter AND a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour!

So let's get down to the nitty gritty!! What was your favorite scene to write in “The Girl Most Likely”?
It was probably the opening scene when Cara first meets Finn. Cara works at a TV station for a live local events show and Finn is one of the guests. As a physical trainer, he’s there to talk about fitness and health. Cara is recruited as a “volunteer” to demonstrate what clients to Finn’s gym might expect when they visit him. She’s asked embarrassing questions about her eating habits, has the fat around her waist measured, and nearly collapses as she tries to do jumping jacks. Cara is totally mortified. She’s one step away from the ultimate humiliation of being weighed on live TV when Finn rescues her. I made poor Cara suffer, but it was great fun to write!

What was the inspiration behind “The Girl Most Likely”?
The Girl Most Likely is part of the Class of ’85 series from The Wild Rose Press. All the stories in the series revolve around the graduates of Summerville High School as they prepare for their 25th year high school reunion. I wanted to write a story for the series that was just a little different by putting together a younger hero and an older heroine, while still tapping into the insecurities of attending a reunion. In my book, Cara feels overweight and unattractive and wants to lose weight before the reunion. When faced with such an occasion, I’m willing to bet that a lot of people, both male and female, try to lose a few pounds. Nobody wants to go to their reunion feeling unattractive.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the name of research?
Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have scaled the Andes or participated in a police ride-along as part of my research. Mostly my research consists of looking up facts, usually on the Internet, or immersing myself in a time period by reading as many books as I can get my hands on, especially for my World War Two books. Those things, combined with interviewing people who may have knowledge I need for my stories, makes up most of my research. Research is fascinating, but also hard work.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?
The most frustrating side of being a published author is getting readers to know you exist! A friend of mine once said that promotion is like trying to convince someone in another universe to notice you. It’s very hard to do. I like to think that I have a very good product and that if I can just get someone to read one of my books once, they’ll come back for more.

The most rewarding part about being a published writer is when a reader, reviewer, or editor tells me they love my book. That makes all the work worthwhile.

What accent inspires you to do naughty things?
Hmmm, good question. I guess I’m a sucker for a really posh English accent. He could read the telephone book and still sound sexy!

Name something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
That I grew up on a farm on the Canadian prairies, and that although I live in a city now, I’m still a small town girl at heart.

If you could ask the readers one question what would it be?
What type of story is a must read for you?

What’s your writing process like?
Very messy! I usually write in big chunks of time. I’ll take a several days off from my day job and then write like crazy to get the first draft done. Then I’ll rip it all apart in the editing process, and put it back together. But it’s all good because it’s not till the editing process that I feel I really know my characters and their story.

What can readers expect next from you?
My novella “Home Fires” has just been contracted with The Wild Rose Press. British nurse Anne Wakefield travels to Canada in 1945 to marry her fiancé, a Canadian soldier she met during the war. But when she arrives, she finds that her fiancé has already married someone else. Devastated, Anne tries to pick up the pieces of her life. The kindness of her ex-fiancé’s brother Eric helps to heal her pain. She must decide whether to return to England, or to take a second chance on love – this time with Eric. But can he forget that Anne loved his brother first?

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?
The best thing about being a writer is living in my imagination and getting to create worlds and people out of thin air. The worst thing is finding time to write. Something is always competing for my time, whether it’s the day job, domestic duties or promotion. Sometimes I want to chuck it all and just write!

What is your method of breaking through writer’s block?
If one project is giving me trouble, I’ll leave it for a while and work on something else. Maybe I’ll write something short, like an article or a blog post. Or if I need to clear my head, maybe I’ll do something completely different like walk the dog, cook, or clean the house. I find that while I’m doing something else, my mind keeps working on my original problem and often finds a solution.

What fuels you as an author to continue to write?
Readers telling me they enjoyed my book. That, and wanting my next book to be better than the last. I want to continue to grow as a writer.

Can you tell us a bit about what book(s) you have coming out next and what you’re working on now?
“The Girl Most Likely” is releasing November 30, 2011 from The Wild Rose Press. Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, “fat, frumpy, and over forty.” The thought of facing former classmates—and the ex-husband who dumped her—at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help—but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?

Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She’s everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing—she can’t get past the fact that he's eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him—love?

Like I said earlier, I’ve just been contracted with “Home Fires”, a World War Two era story about finding love after loss. I’m working on edits for that right now. In the wings, the series that I call “Left at the Altar” is patiently waiting to be completed. Each book in the series begins with someone getting left at the altar. The first book in the series is “Her Best Man” and is published with Uncial Press. Now I have to get busy and finish the other two stories, “There Goes the Groom” and “Always a Bridesmaid”.

When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?
I love romantic suspense and Suzanne Brockman is one of my favorites. For contemporaries I enjoy Nora Roberts, and a couple of my favorite historical authors are Mary Balogh and Jo Beverley. I also read a lot of authors from the same publishing houses as me, such as other authors in the Class of ’85 series. There’s a lot of fun reads there!

What bores you as a reader?
Sloppy or lazy writing and poor editing.

What is your favorite feature on a person?
Kindness and generosity of spirit.

What is your favorite time of day?
Early morning, when everyone else is still sleeping. I can make myself a cup of coffee and sit down uninterrupted at my computer to write.

What music gets you dancing?
Anything Latin, like salsa, rumba, or cha-cha. It’s not like I actually know how to do any of those dances but I can at least do some chair dancing!

Aliens have landed on the planet. What are the three things you would tell them that are great about this planet?
Seeing the northern lights dance across the night sky, watching a sunset on the prairies, and chocolate.

You have been locked in a mall and told you can get anything you want and when they open in the morning you won’t have to pay a single cent. What stores would you hit? Better question how would you haul away all your loot?
I’d likely hit a bookstore, an office supply store and an electronics store. The bookstore is an obvious choice; I’d grab as many romance novels as I could carry out of there. And I love office supply stores and all their pretty papers and pens and clips. I’m pretty nerdy! I’d go crazy in the electronics store. I’d get myself the newest ereader, a really nice camera so I could take good pictures for my blog, and an IPhone. I just think they’re so cool.

How am I going to haul this stuff away? I’m going to bring a golf cart with a little wagon hooked on the back. I’ll drive it through the mall and then all the way home!

If you could share one major writing tip, to help other writers in their quest for publication, what would it be?
Never stop learning your craft. Keep taking classes, going to conferences, and reading other writers you admire. Never settle for good enough. Always try to better yourself.

If you could write in any other genre what would it be, and why?
I’d like to write a Historical (set before 1900) or a Regency. They are both so much fun to read.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?
Please go to my website at http://www.janarichards.net You can also catch me at my blog at http://janarichards.blogspot.com

Here's the official bio for Jana Richards:
Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, along with two university aged daughters and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou.

Website: http://www.janarichards.net
Blog: http://janarichards.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jana-Richards/157005711005866


Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, “fat, frumpy, and over forty.” The thought of facing former classmates—and the ex-husband who dumped her—at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help—but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?

Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She’s everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing—she can’t get past the fact that he's eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him—love?

Want a piping hot excerpt? Here you go!

He chuckled. “Jessica better watch her back. You could give her a run for her money.”

He heard Cara’s throaty laugh, and various parts of his anatomy tingled in response. “Yes, that’s my evil plan. Take over Rochester Noon, then the world.”

“If you set your mind to it, I’m sure you could do it.”

“Thanks Finn.”

“For what?”

“For believing in me.”

“Are you going to be okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

He wanted so badly to tell her he loved her, adored her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world. But fear stopped him. Was she truly over her ex-husband? Why else would losing weight for the reunion be so important to her if not to impress Peter?

“I’ve got to run. Thanks again. I’ll talk to you later at my condo, right?”

“Absolutely. I can hardly wait to hear about your big TV debut. Break a leg. Isn’t that what they say in show biz?”

She laughed. “Yeah, that’s what they say. Bye.”

Finn replaced the receiver and closed his eyes. He hoped everything went well with this interview. Cara deserved to realize how amazing she was.

If she did come to that realization, would there still be room in her life for him?

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Right Where I Need to Be

I thought I'd continue my Ten Things posts and hit my first novel, Right Where I Need to Be. This one is from The Wild Rose Press.

10. This isn't the first novel I'd ever written. It's actually the fifth.

9. The original title was going to be The Boys of Crawford County: Logan.


8. Ray had a bigger role in the original book. But I thought it would make more sense (and so did Kiss Carson) to give him his own story.

7. There's a secondary character named Speedle. I watched way too much CSI: Miami at the time.



6. The book went only to The Wild Rose Press.

5. I wrote this book on my husband's PC at night after the family went to bed because it was the only quiet time I had at the time.

4. I listened to a ton of Gary Allan at the time, but the title has a little more symbolism than that. Dh is a pilot and if you watch the video for Right Where I Need to Be by Gary Allan, there is a plane in it.

3. I saw Gary Allan in concert at the House of Blues the week I subbed the story.

2. Writing Dex Rose's character actually made me angry and his actions made me cry while writing. He pushed the line and I hoped his anger and issues translated into the book well.

1. I polished it over Christmas and nearly didn't submit it because I thought it wasn't ready. Guess I was wrong.


Here's the blurb:

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime.
Cass Jensen needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for - her movie or her bed?

New Video!!! Book of the Week!!!

Check this out. The ladies at Goddess Fish created this ultra cool video to help me celebrate and advertise my Book of the Week on LASR winning book, Right Where I Need to Be. I think it's pretty awesome.



Thanks ladies! I love it. What do you think?

And Don't Forget to Check out These Awesome Authors: Megan Slayer, Kealie Shay, Menagerie Authors, Jessica Jarman, Devon Rhodes, Ashley Ladd, Linda McMaken, Cheryl Dragon, Marianne Arkins, Anne Rainey, KA Mitchell, Mychael Black, and Jenika Snow!

Monday Moans

Ever have to admit your deepest fears? I mean, admit to the one thing that will knock you down and it may not be possible to get back up?

I was listening to the radio and "Learning How to Bend" came on. Naturally, I had to crank it up. I'm a man's man, but I do have a softer side. And really, the song is more about working with your partner rather than against. I then found the Gary Allan cd I love and blasted "Just Got Back from Hell". Made me feel a little better.

Oh, you're probably wondering who I am. Sorry. Deputy Marlon Cross. I work at the Jarvis County Sheriff's department in Ohio. I love my job and a certain woman.

But back to my fear. I love being a cop. It's in my blood. It's who I am. I can't begin to imagine not being on the beat, not keeping people safe, and not serving and protecting. But Wendi asked me a ton of questions (aggravating if you ask me), but she asked me a ton of questions and one of them had to do with my greatest accomplishments. Duh, being on the force. I am a cop. That was an easy question. Then she wanted to know about my greatest disappointment and my worst fear. Well, those were harder.

I don't like to admit I'm scared. Imagine being in a situation where a suspect has a gun drawn. You can't show fear. Not at all. So do I have moments when I'm scared? Yes. I won't go into the moment of fear and disappointment, but I came damned close to losing my job. I've said, I'm defined by my job. When things happened that put it in jeopardy, fuck yeah, I was scared. What would I do with myself? Being a bouncer is fun for a month or two, but not long term.

I'd be totally lost.

(*Sigh*)

I'm going to take off for now. I'm not really feeling too talkative all the sudden. I'm sorry this was a downer post. I'll call Logan or maybe Ryan to come over and chatter. They know how to work a room.

Later.

Wendi told me to put this on at the end:
And Don't Forget to Check out These Awesome Authors: Megan Slayer, Kealie Shay, Menagerie Authors, Jessica Jarman, Devon Rhodes, Ashley Ladd, Linda McMaken, Marianne Arkins, Anne Rainey, KA Mitchell, Mychael Black, and Jenika Snow!

Friday Flirts

Friday Flirts.

I wanted to have something fantastic to post today. I did. I feel sometimes like I'm falling a tad short.

Ok, so what am I working on?

Still have the NASCAR book in the works. I want to get farther on it. We'll see. Time is a minimum.

Halfway through the menage story. It sorta got kicked to the back burner. I'll get there.

Got PRM sent to the editor. I won't even hazard a guess on that one. Lest time I did, I fell flat on my face. What have I learned? Mum is the word. :)

Farmer is with CP, so he's at a stand-still. No worries.

I think that's all right now.

Game, Set, Match -- The Tour -- Here! Today!

Today the wonderful and talented Nana Malone stops by with her new book, Game, Set, Match, available now from the Wild Rose Press. She's here talking about her book and answering the random questions I came up with. Check her out! Want to follow her tour? Click here!

Hello Nana! Just a few random questions for those who want to know more about you! How long have you been writing?
Well I've been writing God awful poetry since I was a little girl. But I started writing fiction with publication in mind eleven years ago. It took me ten of those eleven to sell my first book.

Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Took me at least 5 years. But it's nice to be in good company at the same publisher. So, when you write, what comes first: the plot or the characters?
A little bit of both. With this book, I saw Izzy so clearly. The story centers around Izzy’s need to create her family. A nurturer at heart, she’s spent most of her adult life hiding from what she really wants in life and never fighting for herself. Jason is where I started to lay out the plot. He’s spent his entire career being an image but no one has ever seen the real him. I spent a lot of time hammering out their obstacles and the journey I wanted them to take.

Sounds very cool. And yes, I can't wait to get my hands on my copy! How do you come up with the titles to your books?
Usually in the shower, they just pop into my head.

Hee hee, the best things seem to just pop into my head, so I totally understand. What inspired you to write your first book?
I was living in NYC at the time, hating just about every aspect of my PR job, except the writing. And a little book called Bridget Jones’s Diary came out. It was after reading Bridget Jones’s Diary, that I dared to dream I could make a career in publishing. I felt like Helen Fielding understood my voice. I realized that I could bring out my stories too and hopefully make people laugh.

I think the book that really inspired me the most was Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole. I thought, man, that's an awesome world and if I can manage half that coolness, I've done something. Speaking of books, how many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Well I’ve written three, but Game, Set, Match is the first one published, so it has an unfair advantage. Lol. I wrote a hip paranormal a while ago and I’m thinking of retooling that into a YA. So it’s a close 2nd.

Hip paranormal for teens? You have my attention. Let me know the status on that one. I'm interested. Now on to the goofy questions, because I can. Have you ever cried during a movie? What movie or why not?
Oh yes. Many. What can I say? I can be mushy. Probably the one that stands out most in my head was Sarafina with Whoopi Goldberg. I saw it around the time Nelson Mandela was released from Prison. I touched me at the time like nothing else had.

Wow, that's heavy stuff. I cried at Toy Story Three. Won't give it away, but if you're a mommy, you'll totally understand and yes, it's fine to be mushy. It's what makes us romantics. Another randomly goofy question: favorite article of clothing?
Lol. I have this old ratty pair of jeans. Yes, they have holes in them that I’ve patched over. My husband insists that he’s going to throw them out, but I keep begging him not to. They’re just so comfortable. Had them 15 years.

I have some jeans just like that and a hoodie that's missing half the embroidery, but, man, are they comfy! And speaking of comfy, what does it take to get you in the mood to write? Do you have a schedule or just when inspiration strikes?
I used to have an awesome schedule. I used to color code it too. Yes, I’m “that” person. Lol. Then I had a baby and the idea of a schedule jumped out the window. So now I write when I can find the time. I usually keep a little notebook handy for when I’m inspired and try to write during lunch at work.

I only wish I could go back to being "that girl". I need structure, but it all seems fall apart when life happens. Oh well. Someone asked me this question and I love it, so I'm going to ask you, too. If you could write the story to make you a millionaire...the NYT Bestseller...what would yours be?
Well, ideally I’ve already written it. Game, Set, Match. Ha! Honestly. For someone like me it’s dangerous to think about the NYT bestseller. Because I’m competitive by nature and will write to conform to what I think the bestseller has to be. Instead I tell myself to write the best stories I can and make sure they sound like me and not someone else. The NYT list will come the more I write….Or at least I hope it will. Lol.

Competition is a good thing. It makes you strong. And its great incentive. Now for the last little thing and then we get into the best part--the book! Write a PG paragraph (mini story):
Ciara jogged down the front stairs of her pretty porch in a hustle to retrieve her new puppy. The silly rolly polly dog has escaped his crate for the second time that day. The little guy must have been Houdini in a previous life. Racing around the side of the house, she called out, “Rasti, Rasti. Here boy.” A tiny yip that sounded more like it belonged to a Yorkie than a baby Mastiff, alerted her to his location. Crossing over into the neighbor’s yard, she found Rasti planting a big wet kiss with his slippery, pink tongue on the neighbors little sister.

Very nice. I like it. Has it sparked your imagination to create a whole story around it? It's a surefire for me.

Thank you for stopping by and feel free to stick around. Nana will be here answering questions all day, so readers, here's your part: comment!!!

Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright’s playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he’s down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn’t the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven’t dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?

Want an excerpt? Coming right up!

Dark glasses masked his eyes, but Izzy knew behind them, she’d find intense heat able to strip her to the soul. His tousled blond hair just as she remembered it, a little unkempt, as if he hadn’t bothered with it. He was every bit the Hollywood playboy portrayed in the press. And that devil-may-care sexiness was going to be the death of her.

Before she could say anything else, his strong arms and a warm musky scent enveloped her. Involuntarily, her body stilled like an ice sculpture as her breasts came into contact with the hard planes of his chest. Unable to process the situation, she heard a faint clatter as his sunglasses fell to the floor. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of the last time she’d seen him, the last time he’d abandoned her for Sabrina.

“Damn, Izzy, you look amazing.” He set her down, but kept hold of one of her hands. Whiskey eyes poured warm amber over every inch of her body. “How’ve you been?”

The source of her greatest humiliation wanted to know how she’d been, as if they were old buddies. She reminded herself they, for all intents and purposes, were old buddies, until she’d made the mistake of pegging him as her first lover.

Behind Jason, his companion, with his rugged dark good looks and infectious smile, saved her from having to speak. Not that she could have. “Did I miss something, Jase? You two know each other?”

Jason’s smile flashed, making her want to do all manner of inappropriate things. Smash his head in with a frying pan? Strip him bare and see if he still looked as good as he promised? Launch a full TET offensive on him with her lips?

Not necessarily in that order.

Nana Malone Stops By Tomorrow!

Nana Malone stops by tomorrow with her new book, Game, Set, Match. Want to read the interview? Stop back tomorrow! And comment! There are prizes to be had and you don't want to miss out. Want to follow her tour? Click here!

Blurb? No problem!
Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright’s playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he’s down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn’t the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven’t dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?


Exceprt? Sure!
Dark glasses masked his eyes, but Izzy knew behind them she’d find intense heat able to strip her to the soul.

His tousled blond hair was just as she remembered it, a little unkempt, as if he hadn’t bothered with it. He was every bit the Hollywood playboy portrayed in the press. And that devil-may-care sexiness was going to be the death of her.

Before she could say anything else, his strong arms and a warm musky scent enveloped her. Involuntarily, her body stilled like an ice sculpture as her breasts came into contact with the hard planes of his chest. Unable to process the situation, she heard a faint clatter as his sunglasses fell to the floor. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of the last time she’d seen him, the last time he’d abandoned her for Sabrina.


“Damn, Izzy, you look amazing.” He set her down, but kept hold of one of her hands. Whiskey eyes poured warm amber over every inch of her body. “How’ve you been?”

The source of her greatest humiliation wanted to know how she’d been, as if they were old buddies. She reminded herself they, for all intents and purposes, were old buddies, until she’d made the mistake of pegging him as her first lover.

Behind Jason, his companion, with his rugged dark good looks and infectious smile, saved her from having to speak. Not that she could have. “Did I miss something, Jase? You two know each other?”

Jason’s smile flashed, making her want to do all manner of inappropriate things. Smash his head in with a frying pan? Strip him bare and see if he still looked as good as he promised? Launch a full TET offensive on him with her lips?

Not necessarily in that order.

Blue Light Special with Mysti Holiday

She's back! Welcome my pal, Mysti Holiday! I know I gave you some doozy questions, but I know you're up to the task.

Time to get down to brass tacks. Why write erotic romance?
I love romance... so the “romance” part is just a given. I seldom read anything that doesn’t have romance in it (even Dean Koontz includes romance in his books ... he’s no fool). Why erotic? Because it’s fun! Sex is awesome and sex in erotic romance is always good (the man always knows how to make his woman orgasm ... many times more than once, right?), and it’s something that feeds every reader’s fantasy, don’t you think?

Ah, yes, fantasy is important. But since my muses are acting up, I thought I'd ask you, where do you get your ideas?
From the idea store... we have one right down the street. ;-) You, too? :)

Okay, really, the fact is I don’t need an idea store because ideas are everywhere. Just look around ... see that lady over there? Why is she sad? Or that guy sitting on the bench in the mall all alone. Is he waiting for someone? Will she ever show up? Or the couple who go to the local cemetery every week. What are they doing? Look in the newspaper, the TV, the back of your cereal box. Writer’s brains are wired differently than non-writers, I think. We see a story in everything.

There are stories overfloweth, it's a matter of jotting them down so they aren't forgotten. Now I always wonder, what WON'T you put in a story?
An unhappy ending. My H/H will never die at the end (ala Nicholas Sparks). I’m not big on hardcore BDSM, so I probably wouldn’t write it ... but aside from the unhappy ending part? I never say never.

Never say never...giggle...ok, then Ms. Never Say Never: to research or not to research the story or toys or whichever?
Depends, really and there are different levels and types of research.

For instance, I have a sister who’s a lesbian in a committed relationship. I can ask her anything I want about a F/F relationship and I call that research.

Do I HAVE to participate in a ménage to write it? Nope, I have one hell of a vivid imagination ... though ... hmmm... I might have to have a little chat with my DH later. ;-)

Toys? Why not get some firsthand research? Even better, it’s a tax write-off!

I love it when we get to the fun stuff. Speaking of fun stuff, music, silence, or white noise? And why?
If I could write in a sound-proof room I would. I prefer absolute silence. I’m very into music, to the point where, when it’s on, I can’t focus on anything else. I can write with instrumental music on, especially if I don’t know the tune, but “can hear a pin drop” silence is best for me.

Oh good thing we aren't working in a room together. You might bop me on the head for being noisy... I do love to break into song when frustrated, 'specially if it's on the itunes. ;-P End this sentence: When I write I absolutely need ____________________
Time. I can’t jump into a story and go. I need time to read back a little and get immersed in the plot and characters again if I want what I write to be in the least bit decent.

I have to go back and re-read, too. Sometimes if I just jump in, I put stuff that was earlier or later in the story and then there's the dreaded repetition. Answer this extremely difficult question/statement: If I could write the next NYT Bestseller, it would be ______________________
Something so completely unusual that people would hold it up as the standard of whatever it was ala “The next ‘Harry Potter’!” or “In the tradition of ‘Twilight’!”.

Interesting take on it. Nice. Now, for more fun things, 'cuz I love having fun, name the oddest thing you've ever used for inspiration.
:::scratches head::: OH... how about the Guinness Book of World Records? Nope, not saying why. ;-)

Yanno, sometimes you take the fun out of things. ::Grumble, grumble:::Won't tell me... sheesh.... Ok, back to zany questions while I lick the wounds on my ego. Name the most mundane thing ever used as inspiration.
Again ... you’re making me think. I suppose it would be my old jobs. Most recently, I used my experiences as a bartender for “Blue Light Special”. I feel like I should say something like “toilet paper” or “my shopping list”, but that would be a lie. Though ... I feel a story coming on...

You could give us a little...glimpse into this story coming on...No? Fine. How about, your favorite date night movie?
“The Princess Bride” or “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” or maybe “The Wedding Singer”. All movies that both genders can enjoy so everyone is happy. That’s a must for date night.

Le sigh, always good choices...Adam Sandler could really work that sort of mullet look. Now if you were stranded and hat to have certain things, finish this statement so we know what to send you with: I can't live without __________________
BOOKS!! And maybe chocolate. Wait ... I should say something mushy here like, “My husband.” Right? But ... well... nope, books. And chocolate. *G*

Girl after my heart, books and chocolate. Add shoes and we'd be in like Flynn. Another fill-in, cuz I'm a brat ( but you knew that): If I could go back and revise my work (Not necessarily BLS) I'd change___________________

The length – of both my published stories. I think I’d like to add more background and more scenes. Deepen things a little, without boring the reader. And there’d be more sex, of course. :-D

More sex is always a good thing. Er.. um... did I just TMI? Oh well. Inquiring minds want to know the first thing you did this morning?
You mean AFTER I got out of bed? Then, I went potty. What? You didn’t?

I have no idea what time I went to bed last night. ((Rubbing Eyes))) oh well. Silly question alert: Ever had a "I shaved my legs for this?" moment? What was it?
The blind date I had with a guy who told me he looked like Riker from Star Trek: The New Generation. He wasn’t *exactly* lying, but what he’d neglected to say was that he was also only about 5’6” tall ... I’m 5’10”. So, yeah, that was doomed from the start.

What about you? I’d love to hear other folks dating disasters!!

Because a dear person and I can't see each other without one, tackle hug or casual handshake? (& why?)
Depends, doesn’t it? Tackle hug for a friend or family member I haven’t seen in a long time. Casual handshake for a new acquaintance or someone I’m just not that close to, emotionally.

Does that mean I get a tackle hug? Hmmmm.....

Visit Mysti at:
Her website: http://www.menagerieauthors.com
Her blog: http://www.menagerieauthors.blogspot.com

Want to know more about Mysti's book, Blue Light Special? Here's the blurb:

When Karin Lattimer moves across the country and her over-protective brother asks his friend Caleb Hawkes to keep an eye on her, she’s more than annoyed…she’s turned on. The attentive cop is a walking wet dream, but Karin knows he’s only hanging around out of a sense of duty. Acting on her crazy attraction would reveal more than the man’s buff body—it would also reveal her heart.

Caleb is well aware that Karin is all woman. He can’t keep his eyes off her and his hands itch to touch her. But she’s not one-night-stand material, and he firmly believes cops make lousy partners for long-term relationships.

Still, thinking clearly isn’t a top priority when Karin and Caleb finally touch. Sparks fly and barriers melt away as easily as their inhibitions, but can she convince him there's more to life than playing it safe?

Want an excerpt? Sure you do!

She grabbed her cell phone and texted him for the eight-hundredth time.

Need ur muscle, u jerk. U scared of me?

She hit send and leaned back in the grass, soaking up the sun and figuring she’d have to take the stupid car to some quick lube place. She couldn’t do it today...not enough time before work to drive into town and back. She’d have to do it tomorrow as soon as she woke up.

A shadow fell across her and she opened her eyes in surprise.

“I’m not scared of you, but you should be a little more careful laying out here in an open invitation.” Caleb shoved his sunglasses up his nose a bit and watched her.

“Open invitation?” Karin snorted. “Besides the fact those ugly hedges are as tall as you and twice as thick, it’s not like I was lying here like this…” She spread her legs and lifted her shirt until the swell of her naked breasts showed at the hem. Caleb’s nostrils flared, and she wished she could see his eyes.

“...or doing this.” She put her index finger into her mouth, sucked on it and then trailed it down her shirt until she found a nipple. Her finger circled the nipple until it poked against the thin cotton tank, then repeated the action on the other one.

“…or sounding like this.” She moaned and squirmed her hips just a bit.

“Jesus, Karin.” He looked around to see if anyone was watching. “You should be illegal.”

Red Hot Reads for June

These are my offerings for Red Hot Reads. You can find the full reviews at either LASR or WC.

Enjoy!

Hell, Yeah! by Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (351 pgs)

What happens when a perpetual bachelor turns into a terminal bachelor? Add one determined, but gun-shy woman into the mix... can’t make it too easy on him. What have you got? You’ve got a hot and bothered oil man and one saucy woman who just might make an honest man of him. Hell, Yeah.


Kidnapping the Groom by Desiree Holt and Allie Standifer
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (53 pgs)

What do you do when you find out the one that got away is about to marry the wrong woman? Kidnap him and show him the sexual time of his life, that’s what.

Are you intrigued? I was, so I read Kidnapping the Groom.

Spirits of Abaddon: Sanctified by Mychael Black
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (44 pgs)

A demon, a mage, and a human went into the gates of Abaddon. Sounds like a joke? It’s not. It’s the gripping introduction to Spirits of Abaddon: Sanctified and let me tell you, when you start this book, you won’t want to put it down.


Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (205 pgs)

You want a story that’s hot from the word go? Then you very much so need to read Rock Me.

I love a story where the bad boy and the good girl try to make a go of things. Ms Lynn’s story had me from hello. Things start hot and never let up. I felt like I was the one sitting there in the tattoo artist’s chair waiting for my new ink—and I’m too squeamish to get body art. But this story had me thinking otherwise.


The Lost Son by Mychael Black
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (91 pgs)

Non-stop action and a red-hot love affair. You won’t be able to put this book down.

I know when I pick up a Mychael Black story, I’ll be on a thrill-ride. The Lost Son is no exception to this rule and totally worth the read.


Shut Up and Kiss Me by Mysti Holiday
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (50 pgs)

What are you waiting for? Shut Up and Kiss Me. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? For Cole and Kasey, it’s anything but simple.

I love a story that grabs me and makes me feel what the characters are thinking/feeling immediately. This book is one of those rare gems. I’ve never read a Mysti Holiday story, but I guarantee, this won’t be the last. There is a sense of not only their longing for each other, but the raw desire felt when they’re thrown into a situation together. Ms. Holiday writes tenderness and snark with equal prowess.

RIGHT WON!!!!!

Yup, you read that right. Right Where I Need to Be was voted book of the week on Long and Short of It Romance Reviews. You can read the review by clicking here.

I'll try not to go all Sally Field as I say thank you to all those who voted for me. I really appreciate the support and hope you like the book!

Vote for Me! (Well, my book at least)

Right Where I Need to Be is up for Book of the Week over at the Long and Short of It Reviews. Want to read the review? Click here.

Want to vote? You know you do. Click here. I hope you vote for me, but hey, there are lots of good books up. Vote for the one you feel has the best review. And if it's mine... I owe you a smooch or a guest starring role in my next novella.

Rhonda Carver - An Author You Should Know!

Let's get to know Rhonda: What made you decide to write? I am a hopeless romantic. I love to weave tells of romance where every fairytale ends with a happy ending.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? Quit my job that paid very well to become a full-time writer. It was crazy but worth it.

Finish this sentence: I'll do anything for my writing, but give up my own fairytale love story. I have a true life, fairytale romance. I have found my soul mate. Nothing is better than reality. (Now tell us why.)

Your just took a trip to India, how's that going to shape your writing? Since I’ve come back I’ve written articles on Love in India—describing my day to days in the country. I’ve come back refreshed and that always helps in writing better.

Music on or off, tv on or off, or plain silence when writing? I don’t watch much TV. I find it to be a distraction. Silence works best for me, but I find I multi-task while I’m working.

You tend to write tough guy, badass heroes. Do the characters write themselves or do you shape them? Oh, my leading men always shape themselves and they certainly have a mind of their own. Sometimes I attempt to persuade a hero to do something against the grain, but if it doesn’t work…it just doesn’t work.

Advice for writers wanting to be pubbed? Read, read, and every chance you get, read. Find a handful of crit partners who will tell you the truth about your work. And don’t get discouraged by rejections. Every writer must start somewhere, and every writer has a few rejections, probably painful ones, in their closet.

What's your one can't-live-without food? Nutella

When you get a rejection letter, how do you deal? I stiffen my spine and say, “Yeah, watch this!!” It gives me the motivation to whip my work in shape and send it back out. Sometimes a rejection can needle underneath your skin, and I spend the day fuming, but the following day I tell myself, “Use it as constructively.”

What's coming up next for Rhonda Lee Carver? I am currently working on two. One is a sweet contemporary and the other is a no-holds-barred erotica.

Diamond in a Rose, releasing June 15, 2010

Blurb: Rose Donahue wants a peaceful life, but tranquility is the last thing she’ll get when the sexy, powerful Detective Clay Walker crashes into her life—literally. Clay holds secrets to her past and it will throw them into a whirlwind of betrayal and intrigue. Chasing after a murderer and a precious blue diamond worth millions, they find themselves encased in more than just a criminal case. They find danger in the form of passion. Will Clay cross the line from protector to lover? Will Rose deny herself the delicious magnetism that draws her to Clay? Love will shine as brilliantly as a fine cut jewel.

Excerpt

“Your husband got involved with a powerful group of people known quite well for their illegal dealings. From what I can figure up to this point, Donahue got into some trouble financially before the accident, gambling debt and business mistakes, and borrowed money from the wrong person. Delano Roberts is a loan shark.” He paused for a second. “When Donahue couldn’t pay Roberts back, he started devising a plan to keep himself alive. And what better way to take yourself out of the equation than by faking your own death?”

“Wouldn’t I have suspected him of doing something illegal, Detective?”

He looked her straight in the eye, “Would you?”

“Well, your five minutes is up.”

“Damn, woman. Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?” He jumped up from the stool and heard the cracking of wood as the legs split in half. “Add it to my bill.”

“I’ve heard every word you’ve said and now I want you to leave, Detective.” She didn’t make eye contact with him. She didn’t want him to see her fear.

He ran a hand over his hair. “Rose, listen to me. Your husband wasn’t alone in this crime. You’ve been on my list of suspects since I started tracking Donahue.”

Her back stiffened. Enough. “I’m innocent, and so is my late husband.”

“Then help me, cooperate, prove your words are true.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Tell me everything you know regarding your husband, where he could be staying, who his friends are.”

“You’re wasting your time, Detective.”

Want to know what's coming up next for Rhonda? Read on!

Double Dare releases August and Second Chance Cowboy releases in November, bth with Lyrical Press

excerpt from Massk of Bravery. My WIP

The mattress lowered under his weight and her body slid a few inches toward him. She gained her pose on the bed, as her breathing grew heavy in her ears. Her heart beat so fast she wondered if he could hear the heavy tempo.
Although she’d expected his touch to come, she jerked when his fingers touched her ankle. She giggled at her reaction, but it fizzled as his touch sent rivulets of heated sensation up her leg and exploding in her loins. A sigh fell from her lips before she could snatch it back.
Slowly, and deftly, his palm trailed a frenzied path up her leg, past her knee, and settled against her inner thigh.A shivering gripped her muscles and she couldn’t control the feeling. The tip of her tongue slid out and moistened her lips on its own accord. She didn’t care that desire plagued her with physical signs of longing. All she knew was that she wanted this man inside her.
With both hands, one on each thigh, he parted her legs wide. She anticipated a finger, but was shocked when the feel of his hair brushed against her skin. She squirmed, started to reach out to touch him, but his one large hand clutched her wrists and held them tightly. “I want to touch you.”
“No,” his voice came on a gruff whisper.
She didn’t argue, and wouldn’t have been able to, because his warm breath met her pink folds as his tongue slid past the barrier. He flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue and she arched her body as sharp tingles darted upward into her stomach. Not able to move her hands, she clenched her fingers into tight fists.
He pressed his lips against the silken delicacy and blew lightly, sending vibrations along the delicate tissue. She’d never felt something so glorious…so satisfying. As he licked and prodded, she gyrated her hips, welcoming his tormenting attention. Floating on a cloud, she lost herself in the moment. Nothing mattered but finding release.

I Was Interviewed By Whipped Cream... and I'm chatting tomorrow!

I thought I should share the good news. I was interviewed today by Whipped Cream Reviews. Want to read the interview? Click here.

I'm also chatting on their yahoo loop pretty much all day tomorrow. I'll have to pop out a bit to get some other things done, but yuppers, I'll be there. Come hang out with us and click here. Of course you have to be 18 and you have to register, but for the fun of hanging out with me, its worth it.

Hope to see you there!

Mysti Holiday - An Author You Gotta Read!

My dear friend, Mysti Holiday is here at the blog. Let's give her a warm welcome!

Her book, Shut Up and Kiss Me is brand spankin' new from The Wild Rose Press.



Thanks to Wendi for having me today! Her mission for me (and I chose to accept it) was this:

You say you wrote “Shut Up and Kiss Me” on a dare. Tell us about the dare and anything else you've been dared to do. Is there a certain dare out there that you'd never do? One you want to try and never got the chance?

Shut Up and Kiss Me was indeed written on a dare with my writing partner, Kealie Shay. We’re both insanely busy people with work and family taking up a huge chunk of time. Some days it was just impossible to engage our muses and put pen to paper. So – we challenged each other to write a complete story of at least 7500 words in two days. Sounded crazy, sounded impossible and I don’t think either of us thought we could do it.

But we did. Both of us. Kealie’s Appearances, which she’s currently editing, was her end result of that challenge, and my Shut Up and Kiss Me was mine. I polished it up nice and shiny and sent it in – it was my first official erotic romance so I wasn’t expecting a contract. Apparently, no one mentioned that to my editor, who liked my voice and had faith in my ability. The rest is history.

But you wanted to know about other dares – ones I wouldn’t do and ones I want to try...

Of course I have them. I mean, who hasn’t played a little Truth or Dare in their lives? I had some crazy times when I was in my twenties, times that I seldom discuss now that I’m all grown up and responsible.

For instance, take the time I was dating a man 15 years my senior. He was not only older than me, he was quite wealthy and loved the finer things in life. He also had some difficulty with the idea of black and white when it came to business, far preferring all those lovely shades of gray.

He once asked me to make a list of places I’d love to have sex, but was afraid to. I think his idea was to help me check them off, one by one. I had things like:

· In a hotel elevator

· Under a table at a wedding reception

· In the Louvre

· In a movie theater

· In Central Park

· In a moving car while one of us was driving

While none of these things came to pass, they have sparked my imagination for my stories and I’m willing to bet that at least a couple of these will show up in a story sooner or later.

He also decided he was going to start a very upscale escort service with men and women. He wanted me to partner with him, and offered as incentive the opportunity to “interview” the male escorts (did I mention he wasn’t the jealous type?). As tempting as that job was ... I declined the offer. And, I also broke things off with him, discovering that I wasn’t so fond of those gray shades after all.

Still, he made me realize that being a sexual person wasn’t a bad thing or something to be ashamed of. I admit to preferring monogamous relationships (much to the delight and relief of my husband), but that doesn’t mean sex has to be boring.

Maybe I’ll share that list with my hubby... I bet he’d be game for at least some of them. We live quite a distance from Central Park and the Louvre, but we have wilderness and museums here. *winks*

What about you? What are some things you were dared to do, but didn’t and wish you had? What are some things you were dared to do ... and DID? What was the outcome? I’d love to see what kinds of crazy other people have indulged in.

Hee hee, now you know I'm pals with you, Kealie, Megan, and Jenny Kat, over there at MA, so I'm game for more or less any dare, too.

Here's her blurb and excerpt for Shut Up and Kiss Me. You can click on the cover for the buy link and the banner for the link to follow her tour!

Blurb:

Kasey Davenport and Cole Roberts—adversaries since junior high when Cole did nothing but pull her hair, snap her bra strap and tease her mercilessly—find themselves unexpectedly thrown together when Kasey is in town on a layover. As always, sparks fly between them, but this time the attraction simmering close to the surface explodes into a passion neither of them expected or wanted.

After years of mutual avoidance and denying their attraction, can Kasey and Cole stop arguing long enough to discover if what they feel will last more than just one night?

Excerpt:

“Look,” he said. “You can stay. I’m on call this week anyway and working a million hours. I probably won’t be around much.”

“Still working for the nuthouse?” she taunted.

“The psychiatric hospital, yes. I’m nearly done with my residency.”

“Ooh...then you’ll officially be Dr. Jerk.” She got to her feet, and tipped her head back to see his face. She was normally at least eye level to a man, but Cole had more than his fair share of inches. She wondered if he had more than his fair share of inches somewhere else, too. Her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips and her gaze slipped down to his zipper.

“You’re going to want to stop doing that, Kase.” Cole’s voice rumbled low in his throat.

“Doing what, Cole?” She was less than a foot from the man and her fingers itched to grab hold of him and yank that body against hers—a desire she’d had since she found out just how much fun a man’s cock could be. Maybe even before then.

“Looking like you’re ready to have me for dinner.”

His hands squeezed into tight fists at his side, and she was amazed to find quite a bulge in the front of his jeans. For her? He’d never shown the slightest bit of interest before, but there was no mistaking his interest now. Maybe it was time to dance with the devil.

“Mmm...now that you mention it, I am hungry.” A slow smile lifted the corners of her mouth and she raised her gaze from his crotch to his eyes—brown eyes so intense they nearly pierced a hole straight through to her heart. There was no denying her desire, or his. “Care to feed me?”

Want to know more about Mysti Holiday? Go to the Menagerie Authors Blog and the Menagerie Authors Site.

Mysti Holiday - An Author I Know and So Should You!

Hi! Tomorrow, my dear friend Mysti Holiday stops by the blog to talk about her new work, Shut Up and Kiss Me. Now, I have to admit, I did get to read this one early and it was totally worth the read. It's a Scarlet Rose story from the Wild Rose Press and you can get it here.

Want the blurb?
Here you go:

Kasey Davenport and Cole Roberts—adversaries since junior high when Cole did nothing but pull her hair, snap her bra strap and tease her mercilessly—find themselves unexpectedly thrown together when Kasey is in town on a layover. As always, sparks fly between them, but this time the attraction simmering close to the surface explodes into a passion neither of them expected or wanted.

After years of mutual avoidance and denying their attraction, can Kasey and Cole stop arguing long enough to discover if what they feel will last more than just one night?

Wicked hot!

Want an excerpt?

Here you go:

“Look,” he said. “You can stay. I’m on call this week anyway and working a million hours. I probably won’t be around much.”

“Still working for the nuthouse?” she taunted.

“The psychiatric hospital, yes. I’m nearly done with my residency.”

“Ooh...then you’ll officially be Dr. Jerk.” She got to her feet, and tipped her head back to see his face. She was normally at least eye level to a man, but Cole had more than his fair share of inches. She wondered if he had more than his fair share of inches somewhere else, too. Her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips and her gaze slipped down to his zipper.

“You’re going to want to stop doing that, Kase.” Cole’s voice rumbled low in his throat.

“Doing what, Cole?” She was less than a foot from the man and her fingers itched to grab hold of him and yank that body against hers—a desire she’d had since she found out just how much fun a man’s cock could be. Maybe even before then.

“Looking like you’re ready to have me for dinner.”

His hands squeezed into tight fists at his side, and she was amazed to find quite a bulge in the front of his jeans. For her? He’d never shown the slightest bit of interest before, but there was no mistaking his interest now. Maybe it was time to dance with the devil.

“Mmm...now that you mention it, I am hungry.” A slow smile lifted the corners of her mouth and she raised her gaze from his crotch to his eyes—brown eyes so intense they nearly pierced a hole straight through to her heart. There was no denying her desire, or his. “Care to feed me?”

Yup, you gotta come back tomorrow. See you then.

I'm a Busy Girl Today... Follow Me!

I'm gonna be busy today, so try to keep up!

First: I'm at Lisa Leibow's blog for the last stop on my tour. http://llleibow.com/blog/

Looking forward to it.

My interview is up today at Long and Short of It Reviews:
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/interviews.htm

And my dear friend Kiss Carson added me to her blog as well. Here's the link: www.romantix10.blogspot.com

Stop by at any of the places. It's sure to be a hoot!

Toodles.

Follow me to You Gotta Read!

The tour's almost over, but not quite. Where am I? Good question. I'm at You Gotta Read Blog. Come check it out and make sure you comment to increase your chances to win!

See you there!