Yikes!

Yesterday the baby made such a mess at breakfast that when we got back to our room I wanted to give her a bath. I went into the bathroom to run the water and came in contact with THIS:

It was the largest spider I've seen to date, outside a zoo or something. It had to be three or four inches in length. The yelling begins.
Me: Honey, do you have your shoes on still?
Him: Yeah, why? - He's watching TV in the other room.
Me: Come in here quick.
He walks very slowly and says, "What's wrong?"
Me: Look. - I point to said spider.
Hubby: Holy Shit!
Yeah right.
Me: Kill it
Him: I'm not gonna mess up my sneakers for that.
WTF.
The baby comes strolling along to see what her parents are up to.
Me: Throw her in the pack and play.
He doesn't.
He then insists I come out and watch her. I'm not leaving THIS in the bathroom. What if he moves.

Hubby saves the day by scooping the sucker into a container with a spatula and released it outside. (For the record I would've killed it. Sorry spider lovers.)

After a complete check of the hotel room again, I was able to give the baby her bath and rest easily.

I don't know what they're feeding these spiders in NY but damn I don't ever want to encounter one that large again

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Post

To bring you a hot new book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9iN7Ajq4o4&feature=plcp

Also a few places you can find Katalina and I today – drop by for prizes

http://keirakohl.com/2012/09/26/real-life-events-in-stories 

http://herdingcats-burningsoup.blogspot.com/2012/09/guest-post-giveaway-w-katalina-leon.html?spref=fb

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday will return next week!

The Dragons Have Landed

Buy HERE

In an odd Wiccan shop in Salem, Jael pulls an unusual stone from a witch’s wish bag. Little does she know her wildest dreams of adventure and a torrid affair with two gorgeous co-workers are about to come true—in spades.

Jael’s dreamy boss, Roarke offers her the assignment of a lifetime: a photo safari to Mount Kilimanjaro. The African scenery is stunning but the unexpected arrival of her two office crushes, Roarke and Kypton ignites her passion. Just as the trio is getting steamy at a beautiful waterfall, danger intervenes forcing the men to reveal their secret. They're dragons. And now, to save her life, they have no choice but to abduct a startled Jael to their mountain lair on Kilimanjaro.

In the dragons' love nest, Jael learns the truth about their origins and explores all the erotic possibilities two eager lovers can offer. Love awakens, but the guys are being stalked by a covert group of dragon hunters and withholding a life or death secret that will push Jael’s courageous heart and commitment to the limits.

• Note:This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage (m/m/f).

Excerpt:

Jael drew an anxious breath as she reached into the black felt bag. Choosing a stone from the wish bag started off as a trivial, touristy thing to do in a Salem witch’s shop, but now it felt heavy with importance, as if the choice truly mattered.

The atmosphere of the funky little Wiccan store, Silver Moon Scrying Shoppe, was charged with a strange excitement. She thrust her hand deeper into the bag and allowed a variety of smooth stones to tumble between her fingers.

“Let your fingers do the work.” Witch Casey leaned closer to better see Jael’s actions. “Don’t think about it. Let your heart guide the choice.”

Jael closed her eyes to block out the sounds around her and the overt, curious stares of her girlfriends Arcona, Becca, and Devon, who hovered near, watching her every move.

She concentrated on the stones. Casey, a renowned witch of Salem, Massachusetts, had told them they’d know when they found their stone, but Jael had yet to feel that telling inner ping of certainty as she stirred the stones with her fingertips.

A skeptic at heart, Jael wasn’t sure she’d believed in the hokeypokey magic of the town prior to coming. It’d been her friends’ idea. This minireunion of her three closest college friends had been a big wake-up call. Time was passing. They were all in their thirties now. Seeing them was a sharp reminder of the many dreams she once cherished but had allowed to languish.

In her college days she’d fully believed she’d be a globe-hopping, peer-respected nature photographer by now, but too many mundane obligations, like paying rent and eating, had prevented that dream from materializing.

Her friends thought visiting the town of the famous witch trials and infamous hangings would be a fun autumn trip. It was a weird choice, but they’d been right. There were so many amazing shops where curious souls could get a tarot-card reading or have their palms read. She was desperate to hear a little hint about what her future love life might hold. There wasn’t much going on in that department now.

They went on ghost tours, to a museum, and the walking tour was incredible. Jael loved anything historic, so strolling the streets and seeing homes that dated back hundreds of years intrigued her.

The most poignant part, and without doubt the saddest, was the monuments for the men and women who were accused of witchcraft and hanged. The nineteen bench-like stones bore the names of those who’d suffered a horrible death. The cemetery next door added a certain creepiness to the scenery. Jael felt sorry for those who’d lost their lives. She couldn’t imagine what it felt like to be dragged out of jail, brought to a tree, and hanged for the town to witness and cheer.

Jael continued to absently stir the cool, clattering stones between her fingers.

“Wow, you’re being so picky,” Becca teased. “Just choose a stone, already!”

“Choose?” Devon laughed. “Jael doesn’t commit. You know how she is. She’ll drag this out all day and still not make a clear choice.”

“That’s not true.” Jael jolted back to reality, realizing she’d completely forgotten what she was doing and why. “Don’t rush me,” she whispered. “This is important. I want to choose the right one.”

“You’re going to chose just one?” Arcona scoffed with a gentle smile on her lips. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

“Why are you all ganging up on me?” Jael laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with being choosy and having a plan B and a plan C…especially where love is concerned.” She refocused her attention on the wish bag. Blindly touching the polished stones and listening to soft clicking sounds they made was almost hypnotic.

“Aha!” Arcona interrupted. “Now we know you’re going to use your wish on love. What a shocker.”

“Hey, I need it!” Jael dug her hand deeper into the wish bag. “My love life has been bleak.” One stone finally stood out from the others. She felt heat cover her fingertips as if she were being drawn to a single piece of hot lava. She wrapped her fingers around the stone and pulled it from the bag with a victorious flourish. “I found it!”

She gazed at the rock lying in her palm. It looked like two stones fused together. The egg-shaped stone was opaque on one side and a translucent purplish on the other. The purple reminded her of an amethyst, while the other was a mottled dusty shade of rose.

“Oh, Jael, that is an odd-looking stone.” Arcona reached for Jael’s hand to tip the sparkling stone toward the light. “It’s beautiful when things you’d never think would fuse together mix.” She stared at the stone in wonder. “The world is full of weird stuff, isn’t it?”

Jael looked from the two-sided stone to her friend. “It is different.” She glanced at Witch Casey to see if she had any advice as to why she’d chosen such a stone.

“Interesting, but not surprising.” Witch Casey shook her head with her lips firmly pinched together.

Jael couldn’t read the woman’s eccentric gesture.

“A dual stone is often attracted to an undecided person,” Witch Casey spoke tersely.

“Undecided?” Jael stiffened and crossed her arms in a defensive manner. She’d been often accused of being indecisive in the past, and it hurt. Obviously Witch Casey had been eavesdropping. “Are you referring to me?”

“Of course I’m referring to you.” Witch Casey planted her fist firmly on her hip as she confronted Jael. “You’re the one holding the dual stone, not me.”

“What do you mean by undecided?” Jael knew where this was going. Witch Casey would now deliver a trite and highly predictable forecast about her future love life. She braced for the safe little clichés she knew were headed her way.

Witch Casey arced her hands dramatically through the air. “Your heart is always in two places at once and refuses to choose a lasting home. Am I right?”

Jael slightly recoiled. Witch Casey was right. The way the woman spoke with utter authority sent a shiver up her spine.

All her life she’d rushed toward one goal when secretly desiring another. She longed for a stable relationship, even a family, but another rogue part of her soul wanted to ditch her responsibilities, pick up a camera, and flee to the exotic wilds of Africa to fulfill her creative dreams. The same went for men. She could never make up her mind. Variety was the spice of life.

“There might be some truth in what you’re saying,” Jael sheepishly answered Witch Casey.

Witch Casey’s eyes flashed. “Might?”

Arcona leaned close to Jael’s ear. “I remember our last semester. You were always dating at least two guys at once and trying to keep it a secret. It never stayed secret.”

Jael silently admitted her love life was a disaster of indecision. She’d never met a man who fulfilled all her needs. Okay, maybe one man—Roarke, the gorgeous guy at her office, was a thrilling date for a friends-with-benefits type of evening, but a more solid relationship never quite gelled. Deep down she knew why.

They were two of a kind. Roarke was almost as undecided and commitment shy as she was. He would pant after her with lustful looks, coax and almost beg her to visit his apartment. When she gave in, the sex was always hot. Roarke was a total turn-on. Her hopes would rise that maybe Roarke was the one, and then nothing would happen for weeks at a time. No pursuit, no invitations back to his bed. It was as if Roarke would deny himself her company until he couldn’t stand it a moment longer; then he would call.

She’d noticed Roarke’s nightstand was fully stocked with condoms and every exotic brand of lube on the market, so she had to suspect he enjoyed other lovers as well, which hurt. She wanted to be someone special to him, and apparently she wasn’t. Obviously there was another.

“Would you like me to do a card reading for you?” Witch Casey interrupted the silence. “It might clarify a few of those undecided thoughts.”

“I don’t know…” Jael’s gaze darted anxiously between her friends. Their visit was nearly at an end. She wondered if her friends would willingly wait while Witch Casey sorted through the confusing details of her elusive love life. Probably not.

“You should do it.” Arcona shot Jael an encouraging smile. “Accept the card reading. Isn’t that why we walked in here in the first place—to get a little insight?”

Jael was suddenly nervous and excited to hear what Witch Casey had to say. “Are you sure you don’t mind? It really cuts into our last hour together.”

“I want you to do it.” Arcona wrapped her arms around Jael and hugged her like a loving sister. “And I expect to hear all about it later,” she said softly. “Don’t hold anything back. Actually I’m thinking of calling it a day. I have an early flight home, so I think I’ll say good-bye to everyone now.”

Arcona gently released Jael and hugged Devon and Becca as well. “It was so good to be with all of you again. You still feel like sisters.” She headed toward the front door. “I need some fresh air. I’m going to walk back to my hotel. It was so good seeing everyone. I love you all!” She waved. “I’ll be calling everybody later to hear about exactly what happened after I left.”

Jael watched Arcona wander out the door of the Silver Moon Scrying Shoppe, clutching the piece of amber she’d pulled from the wish bag and looking a bit distracted. A part of her worried for Arcona, and she wondered if she’d been unwise to allow her friend to walk away alone.

“Let’s sit in the corner where we can have some peace.” Witch Casey steered Jael toward a small table set with a melted tallow candle and two chairs. She encouraged Jael to take the chair facing the window.

Jael sat. Her gaze drifted toward Devon and Becca, who were standing on the far side of the shop trying desperately not to look like they were eavesdropping when clearly they were.

Witch Casey sat opposite Jael.

Jael looked closely at Witch Casey for the first time and noticed how beautiful the older woman was. Witch Casey had curly red hair that cascaded to her shoulders and piercing blue eyes swept with a thick fringe of black lashes that looked convincingly real. Something about her crisp profile reminded Jael of the classic beauties of old Hollywood. “You have such a wonderful face. May I ask where you’re from?”

“I’m originally from Greece. Do I look familiar?” A brilliant smile lit Witch Casey’s face. “I used to be known as the second most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Were you a runner-up in a Miss Universe pageant?” Jael asked innocently.

“No.” Witch Casey shook her head. “Helen of Troy was hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world, and I don’t begrudge her the title. Helen was breathtaking. No one could argue with that. I earned the dismal title of ‘Cassandra,’ the second most beautiful woman in the world, after I spurned Apollo’s amorous advances.”

“Apollo who?”

“The Apollo!” Witch Casey looked scandalized. “My goodness, there’s only one. I must say, being hailed as the king of the gods, driving a golden chariot, and having grabby hands are a bad combination.”

“You mean Apollo, the Greek sun god?”

Blogging Again

I feel like I’ve been so out of touch with my readers and friends for a long time. It’s been about 8 weeks and I guess it’s a lifetime in the writing world. My deadlines are drawing to an end and I’m hoping to get back into a blogging mode again.

October is for me. I’m going to read as many books as I can and do things that don’t require me to strain my brain. ;o)

I’m all over the place this week as Katalina Leon and I celebrate the release of book two in the Bag of Tricks series: Claimed by Dragons. I’m so excited for this release. It seems like a long time ago, last November when I started writing this book. I believe it was a Nano project. Kat worked hard on The Strix during Nano.

I plan to do the Nano challenge again this year but I think I’m going to stray from erotica and go back to the romantic comedy I love to write. We’ll see. I know there’s one more book in the series that I owe and eventually I will write it.

Today you can find me over at RomCon, drop by for a chance to win an ebook!

Interview with Kaye Spencer

BLURB                                               

Get Branded

For Christy Walken, attending a romance reader's convention is sheer torture. When she wins the grand prize—a date with romance cover model, Declan Brand—she ends up with more than just dinner and dancing. She not only loses her heart, she has the video and pictures to prove it.

EXCERPT

Christy stared into the decorative mirror across the hallway from Declan Brand’s hotel-room door, contemplating just when it was she’d fallen for him. Despite her determination to remain aloof and disdainful during the day’s photo shoot, she’d watched with increasing envy as the two models had worked with him. He’d thrown himself heart and soul into the poses, treating each woman as if she were the only one he’d ever loved.

Admit it. You know what he wants. The woman in the mirror arched an eyebrow and grinned slyly. You want it, too, or you wouldn’t be here. How could she not want him? Sure, today had been strictly media hype, but after watching him work with the charisma and charm of a Hollywood heartthrob, she finally understood why she and every other woman at the conference lusted for him. Yes, it was corny and cliché, but he wasn’t just another pretty face. He was truly a nice guy. She was amazed at how quickly she’d gone from total disdain of romance novels and everything associated with them to completely taken with Declan, who was the living, breathing embodiment of romance. Even so, all of that was superficial. Christy knew the real reasons she was losing her heart to him, and they had nothing to do with his public image.

She looked down at the plastic room key and the note she clutched in her hand…a tryst with Declan was too deliciously indecent to pass up. Unfolding the note, she read it again. The message, etched in bold, neat handwriting, explained his intentions clearly enough.

Christy, Please join me at 11:30 for an intimate photo session. The two photographers you met today have already set up the room. They’ll be back at midnight. Bring your camera. One of the photographers will use it. Take the sixth-floor private elevator to the Executive Suites Level. This key opens the elevator and my room, The Beachcomber. Let yourself in, and meet me on the balcony. Stay in costume, and bring a sense of buccaneer adventure. I guarantee uninhibited fantasy fulfillment and complete carnal satisfaction by daylight. I hope you’re not shy. Declan

*****

QUESTIONS:

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I am and always have been a card-carrying pantser. I write in scenes, collect them as the novel or short story progresses, and insert the scenes where they fit in the overall plot. I've been known to write the ending before the beginning ever reveals itself to me. Think of how directors shoot movies. They don't start with the first scene, they jump around from location to location, and it all comes together on the editing table, so to speak. That's me. My stories usually spawn from a picture (image of some sort) that creates a scene in my mind, and I go from there. Sometimes a spoken phrase will prompt the story idea. Outlining (plotting) in any form has never worked for me.

What books have most influenced your life?

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, many of Louis L'Amour's westerns, William Shakespeare's plays, Marion Zimmer Bradley'sMists of Avalon, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Gaston Leroux and The Phantom of the Opera, Victor Hugo and Les Misérables, and Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo

What hobbies do you actively pursue?

I have three strong interests, but I don't know that I'd call them true 'hobbies'. I have a petrified rock collection that I'm constantly on the look-out to add to. I dabble in wine (reading about, tasting, drinking). I'm obsessed with all things related to Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and La Bohème (as in collecting memorabilia, watching the performances/movies, reading about the performers, listening to the music, etc).

Where do you research for your books?

I have an extensive personal research library of 1000+ books on all sorts of topics that I've collected over the years. I also use the on-line Denver (Colorado) Public Library as well as other on-line libraries. The Library of Congress is a great historical resource. Whenever possible, I travel to the places I write about.

When was your first sale?

I sold my first book to Cobblestone Press in March 2006. The book is Lonely Places. Not only was Lonely Places the first historical Cobblestone contracted, it was one of the launch books during Cobblestone's grand opening month in June 2006. I'm currently writing the sequel to it.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

My favorite character is Beau Hyatt from Lonely Places. He's the antihero of the story. He's consumed with guilt over the the death of his wife and that she took the bullet meant for him. Hunting down the man who killed her is Beau's only reason to live. Loneliness is the overriding theme in this story.

Thank you, Amber, for inviting me over for an interview.

Until next time,

Kaye Spencer

Fall in love…faster, harder, deeper with Kaye Spencer romances

http://www.kayespencer.com

Welcome Back - Cari Quinn

Thank you for having me here today!

Music is a huge part of my life and it has been since I was a child. A lot of people don’t know that my original dream was to be a singer. My happiest moments were on stage, losing myself in a song. Now I lose myself in books—often others’s stories, sometimes my own. And one thing that helps facilitate that for me is putting together just the right accompaniment of songs for my story.

TEST SHOT was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever written, as well as one of the easiest. Sawyer came to me with no trouble. I “got” him and he was easy to write about. Layla, I could understand as well. Aidan was harder for me, because his closed-off nature on the page extended to when I was trying to peel back his layers and figure out what had shaped him into the man he’s become.

There were a lot of separate threads running through the book: Layla’s desire to grow as a person and face her fears, Sawyer’s need to remain honest despite the consequences, and Aidan’s fight to maintain the status quo, And then there were the relationship conflicts and connections…and man, you can see where I needed music to assist me with my persnickety characters!

There are two songs in particular that I associate with TEST SHOT. The first, A THOUSAND YEARS by Chrisina Perri, I had on repeat continuously during a big scene between Layla and Sawyer near the climax of the book and it literally brought me to tears because it so perfectly echoed their emotions. Even now, months after I wrote that scene, that song makes me teary. I know, I know, author sap in the house.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00

The second song is WANTED by Hunter Hayes. In TEST SHOT, Sawyer is on a one-man mission to show Layla all the amazing things he sees in her. This song is pretty much Sawyer’s theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruyaKdPfTN4

If it seems like I’m leaving out Aidan, not to worry, he’ll be getting his own book. He needs a full novel to explore what’s going on with him—and for the really hot sex he’ll be having, lucky guy. Which TEST SHOT also has plenty of, in case I neglected to mention that!

Here’s the blurb and link at Loose Id:

Layla Palmer is starting over in New York City with a new job at Hot Shots, an agency that specializes in hiring talent for jobs with an erotic bent. Happily engaged, she writes off the changes in her relationship with her fiancé, Aidan, as growing pains. But that all comes into question when her beloved fiancé comes up with a startling suggestion: he wants to watch her have sex with another man.

Aidan's a man on the edge, fighting demons he won't name for fear of losing the woman he loves forever. But the game he's playing can only continue for so long, especially when the man they decide to invite into their bed turns out to be Layla’s newest prospective model, Sawyer Blake.

Passion explodes between them, threatening to spill over and burn them all. Soon Aidan and Layla's already incendiary relationship hits the boiling point. Now she's fighting her own battles, including the conflicted feelings of lust and love she harbors for both men. But how can she figure out who to trust when everything she ever knew is changing, including herself?

Loose Id buy link: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/cari-quinn/hot-shots-test-shot.html#product_tabs_Excert

Now it’s your turn. How much does music influence you? Do you have a favorite artist?

Cari Quinn Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee, and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books, and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Visit Cari Quinn at www.cariquinn.com

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

HIT ME

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

Deacon rubbed his eyes. They burned from being sleep deprived and the bright lights didn’t help. It was nearing midnight, but who could tell in the city that never sleeps? He stopped to glance up at the majestic building. The four golden caps made it appear as if it were a true Palace. The design had been created with that in mind. Darius Burke had a dream. He’d wanted to build a casino that reminded people of royalty. He’d wanted them to feel like they were special when inside. For years he’d succeeded. 

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

The one verse of the incessant Christmas song filled his mind as Deacon climbed the stairs to casino. Sure he changed it a bit to suit his needs, but that was his prerogative.

The flight in from Hong Kong seemed to drag on longer than it should have, but he closed the deal. They would gain a foothold in Hong Kong with their latest fragrance. The time had arrived for him to close another deal. The most important one.

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

Deacon adjusted the laptop bag dangling from his left shoulder. He lifted his right foot and placed it on the concrete stair. Gold speckles glittered the front staircases leading to the entranceway.

Each step he took was painful to his weary feet and heavy heart. He hadn’t stepped foot inside the casino or Vegas for that matter in nearly ten years. The day had finally arrived. He was coming home after many years away. Deacon Burke was one step away from reclaiming what rightfully belonged to his family – the Palace of Pleasure.

Though when his father owned the Palace the top floors known as the Pleasure part of the casino didn’t exist. Deacon could see his father rolling over his grave imagining the things that took place in the Pleasure area. Not that Deacon minded. Sex was an enjoyment of his. There was something about cherishing a woman’s body that brought out the animal instinct in him. He also didn’t mind doling out a spanking or two. Having a woman bent over, hands tied behind her back getting spanked, got him overheated every time.

He stifled a moan, while fighting the hard-on that grew in his black slacks.

Maybe he’d partake in a little fun before meeting with the current owner. Why not try out the merchandise? Not that it would change his mind on reclaiming the casino. It belonged to the Burke’s and Deacon would stake his claim, no matter what stupid stipulations they put on him.

Cari Quinn

Blurb:

Author:Cari Quinn

Length:Long Novel

ISBN:978-1-61118-942-1

Genre:Contemporary

Series:Hot Shots

Layla Palmer is starting over in New York City with a new job at Hot Shots, an agency that specializes in hiring talent for jobs with an erotic bent. Happily engaged, she writes off the changes in her relationship with her fiancé, Aidan, as growing pains. But that all comes into question when her beloved fiancé comes up with a startling suggestion: he wants to watch her have sex with another man.

Aidan's a man on the edge, fighting demons he won't name for fear of losing the woman he loves forever. But the game he's playing can only continue for so long, especially when the man they decide to invite into their bed turns out to be Layla’s newest prospective model, Sawyer Blake.

Passion explodes between them, threatening to spill over and burn them all. Soon Aidan and Layla's already incendiary relationship hits the boiling point. Now she's fighting her own battles, including the conflicted feelings of lust and love she harbors for both men. But how can she figure out who to trust when everything she ever knew is changing, including herself?

Note:This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse; menage (m/f/m, no m/m interaction); voyeurism.

Excerpt:

“Like what you see?” Sawyer couldn’t help flexing a little for her. She was so pretty, and he wanted to impress her even if he knew this was a one-time thing. It didn’t matter. Right now, she belonged to him.

“You know I do. I love your body.” Layla fanned her hands over his chest, grazing his nipples with her pinkies. He stiffened at her purr of pleasure. “Sensitive here?”

She lowered her head to lap at one of them, then repeated the move on the other while she hooked one leg around his hip and massaged her heel into his back. Her wet pussy met his skin, leaving some of her arousal behind. First on his thigh. His belly. Finally on his cock. She eased back again, stirring up just enough air for him to feel every trail of her desire across his skin.

“Jesus Christ, Layla.”

“I need you. Hurry.”

Sawyer did a backward crab walk to the basket of supplies and grabbed a couple of condoms. Bright pink and blue. Man. But they’d get the job done.

He tossed a quick glance at the sofa and noted Aidan sat almost as placidly as before, if not for the tight lines of strain carving his face. Without shame, Aidan drew his gaze down Sawyer’s body. His eyes didn’t fire with anything but mild interest, but the look alone caused Sawyer to turn away.

This was new territory for him, being observed while he was with a woman. That watching-being-hot thing apparently only applied while everyone was dressed, because if he thought too much about Aidan studying them—and likely getting aroused himself—Sawyer had a feeling he’d go as limp as overcooked broccoli.

He tore open the condom and unrolled it over his length, hoping Layla would give him time for a repeat performance. If he didn’t get inside her fast, his thoughts would win. And he wasn’t about to let that happen.

“Pink’s your color,” she teased when he threw the other condom on the coffee table.

“It’s yours too.” He drew the swollen lips of her pussy apart, visually drinking his fill of the arousal coating dusky rose flesh. Her clit stood proudly, begging for the press of a finger or the flat tip of his tongue. He’d do both before the night was over. “Look at that, all for me.”

“Yes.” She jerked her head, and he knew she’d glanced at Aidan. “All for you.”

He stroked her with two fingers. Up and down he rode her seam, finally pushing them into her sheath. Fuck. So tight. Inferno hot, even more so than before. Her muscles squeezed him as he started to move, testing them both with his deep glides.

Good goddamn, she turned him on. Enough to forget where he was. Even why he was. There was just the two of them, giving and taking pleasure.

Twisting his hand around, he gave her three fingers and used his thumb to toy with the button of distended nerves, each flick pushing her nearer to the point where she’d rain over him. He caught her gasps with his mouth and pushed into her harder. Knowing she could take it. That she yearned for him to shove her to the limit of her control. He could see all that, and more, in the glazed depths of her eyes.

Her orgasm approached with hurricane force. He could feel it gathering inside her, a vortex gaining speed. Drawing energy. He wanted her to break around him, a moment only they would share.

He pulled free, and she cried out. “Shh.” He quieted her with a kiss. “I’ll give you what you need.” He tweaked her nipples with his wet fingers, then licked off the juice he’d displaced.

She gripped his head in both hands, holding him while he tucked his nose into the curve underneath her breast and absorbed her scent as if it were air. Lovemaking had never before been this sweet—or this bitter.

“Sawyer, please.” She encircled his width and scorched him right through the condom. “Come into me.”

The giveaway is tour wide, so please mention that in your post.  Cari is giving away $10 GC to either B&N or Amazon and ebook copy of Test Shot.  So there will be two overall winners. 

Rafflecopter code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s the tour schedule.  Please include the tour schedule at the end of your post. 

Date	Blog Address/Name
9/17	Queen of the Night Reviews http://queenofthenightreviews.blogspot.com
9/18	Guilty Pleasures www.guiltypleasures.com
9/19	Queen of the Night Reviews http://queenofthenightreviews.blogspot.com
9/20	Amber Skyze http://amberskyze.blogspot.com
9/20	Taryn Elliot http://tarynelliott.com
9/21	Welcome to My World http://lynnmyshejoseph.blogspot.com Confessions from Romaholics http://confessionsfromromaholics.com
9/22	Day Dreaming http://daygrmzzz.blogspot.com The Smutty Kitty www.thesmuttykitty.com
9/23	Harlie’s Books http://harliebooks.blogspot.com
9/24	Romance Book Craze http://romancebookcraze.blogspot.com

Pressure Cooker

That’s me. I can feel the steam coming out of the top of my head slowly, but it’s about to burst. I have all these balls in the air and instead of being able to juggle them, they’re falling down around me. At the day job I’m overworked like most of America. The victim of laying off too many workers and expecting others to pick up the extra work.

We have extra day care one day a week to help, but it’s not working out. The baby, who loves everyone, decided she’s not going to play nice. I think the reason is she KNOWS I’m here and wants to play with mommy.  That’s stressful for me.

On a happier note, I got through three rounds of edits and should just be waiting on final line edits. I’m about 6-8k away from finishing the current wip. I’m taking October off from writing. I want to get my last two books out from the Aspen Mountain disaster and finish editing my contemporary.

Nano is right around the corner and I see the fourth book in the Bag of Tricks series being written!

There you have it, my Monday update! :o)

Welcome Elodie Parkes

Elodie Parkes  

Elodie lives in Canterbury, United Kingdom. It’s famous for the Cathedral, Chaucer, and there is a UNESCO world heritage site, which includes the ancient ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church. There is also a ruined castle. It’s a pretty place too and the coast nearby is great.

She works in an antiques shop and writes. Elodie has two dogs that keep her fit with their need for walks.

Elodie writes romance, contemporary and always erotic with a twist of mystery, paranormal, and suspense now and then. She likes to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale

Welcome Elodie tell us a little about why you write erotic romance.

I started writing when I was seventeen. I never did anything like submitting to publishers etc. until I was about twenty-five and then queried to no avail.

I started writing again seriously a couple of years ago because I had so many stories in my head.

I have published three erotic romance books to date and I am working on another book right now.

They are available on Amazon kindle. I love eBooks myself, and it’s rare now for me to buy a paperback or hardback.

I read heaps myself from across all types of genres.

For my own writing people and emotions inspires me. The complexity of life spurs me to write.

I find the world harsh. There’s not enough love in it. Lots of people never find love. I write love stories with happy endings to spread a little lightness around.

For instance my book ‘Millie Reinvented’ .  was inspired through my day job.

I was talking to a young woman who was in the antiques shop where I work and she was buying a little sculpture of two lovers kissing. She said she had to have it because it was so nice to look at, as her husband didn’t even kiss her anymore. I couldn’t say anything I just wrapped the item, and stored the thought until the story burst out onto my laptop.

My books fall into the category of erotic romance because I do write the sex scenes graphically and that’s because I want the love the characters feel to show up properly in my stories.

I think too that readers have become used to reading more. They don’t want the description of the romance to stop at the bedroom door.

My latest release ‘The Horoscope Writer’ was inspired by signs along a country road when I was out driving one day in another county.

The main characters just started to flow into my head and by the time I had driven home, which was a three hour journey through the countryside, I had the book and characters completely ready.

Dominic Reed the horoscope writer is desperate for love. He doesn’t know he has never had the kind of love he suddenly finds with Cassie the female lead character. It ignites a sexual passion in him he didn’t know he could feel.

My books do contain graphic sex in the love scenes but they are love scenes, romantic and the characters are driven by love.

‘The Horoscope Writer’ is about a man, Dominic, who is a writer and has lots of different writing jobs for magazines amongst which is that of horoscope writing. He is a lonely soul, living in the country on a funny country lane where a few artisan’s workshops are. Fortunately he has a friend there too, Jeremy, who has a workshop, design studio there on the lane.

Dominic is lonely. His last relationship broke up a couple of years prior to the opening of the story and he really wants love.

There is a workshop to let on the lane and Cassie comes along to rent it.

Dominic is instantly attracted to her when he sees her in Jeremy’s office and she finds Dominic irresistible.

There is a mild paranormal streak running through what is an erotic romance because Dominic has been influenced by his great uncle who was also a horoscope writer.

This is a love story, erotic and enticing.

EXCERPT 18+ From The Horoscope Writer

Cassie smiled. “This is some garden Dominic are you sure you’re not a botanist?”

They had stopped and he put both arms around her hugging her close.

His face was in her hair and he pressed their hips together whispering.

“Not a botanist”.

Cassie lifted her hands to hold his face and kiss him.

She kissed him tenderly and then hungrily when the need to feel his skin against hers made her throb with need.

Dominic left her lips and kissed down her throat to suck a little at the base. He was cupping her bottom now and kneading her as he kissed her mouth again. His tongue finding hers and making her want to sigh with pleasure. She let out a little moan of appreciation and Dominic kissed the side of her mouth. She felt almost weak with the need to have Dominic make love to her.

“Cassie I promised you coffee and it’s become cold again out here”. He moved to hold her around the shoulders and walk back to the house. Cassie felt as if she wouldn’t be able to stand up now he had stopped holding her to his body, but she walked with him silently back through the garden to his house.

They were in his kitchen before she felt as if she could speak. The desire she felt for him had kept her silent.

He pulled out a chair for her to sit at the polished wooden table and was making coffee.

“I’m going to make instant Cassie. It’s actually a nice blend and we’ll get it quicker. Are you cold?”

She shook her head. “No Dominic I’m just desperate to make love to you”. Cassie was almost surprised to hear herself say this and she looked at him for affirmation.

Dominic was bringing the mugs of coffee to the table and he sighed.

“Cassie you are my dream come true. I already feel so much for you it’s scary”. Dominic meant what he said, and after putting the coffee down on the table, he knelt before her, and placed his head in her lap with his arms around her hips. The gesture touched Cassie deeply because it seemed to lay bare Dominic’s fear.

“Are you scared that it isn’t real, what we feel I mean?” She traced the side of his face with her fingertips.

Dominic looked up. “I know what I feel is real”. Cassie leaned to kiss him.

They were clinging to each other and Cassie whispered to him between kisses. “Dominic make love to me. Let me feel your skin against mine”.

He was captivated and stood with her in his arms to nuzzle down her neck. She had taken off her jacket and now Dominic moved aside her shirt to bite her shoulder gently. He sucked and kissed, and Cassie kissed him where she could reach, his ear, his neck, with her hands in his hair.

Dominic stood back and pulled off his sweater, and then almost tore the buttons of Cassie’s shirt open to reach her breasts. He pushed her bra down to her waist exposing her breasts and cupping them in his hands. Cassie’s breath was coming in gasps as Dominic sucked on her nipples, and then turned her around to clasp her to him, and kiss down her neck from behind. With his other hand, he unzipped her jeans and slid his hand down her stomach.

Cassie was desperate to feel his fingers inside her, and she arched towards his hand, pushing her jeans down for him to reach her. Dominic moved his fingers down to reach her wet and throbbing for him. He held her gently around her neck to reach her jaw and bring her head back to kiss her lips. With his fingers inside her, his tongue in her mouth, and his own hard desire pressing against her bottom Cassie moaned as she came. She was weak from the sensation, and Dominic was groaning low and whispering something to her. She turned her head more bringing her arms up around his head to keep his kiss on her lips.

“I need you so much”, Dominic was whispering, and he gently pressed her to bend across his kitchen table. Cassie knew what was going to happen and she craved it. Dominic pushed down his own jeans to free his erection before the hardness killed him.

He was tender as he pushed into Cassie from behind, holding her around her breasts so that she was not pushed hard against the polished wood. He slid into her and thrust deep wanting her to come again as she sighed with the pleasure of his hands on her breasts, her hips, and the way he filled her.

Dominic was in love with her, but she ignited a sexual need in him that drove him to thrust hard, and he let go of her breasts to bring his fingers to her bud at the same time as he thrust into her. Cassie couldn’t breathe as she came and gasped his name. “Dominic”.

He knew she was coming again because she instinctively pressed her delicious bottom up to his thrusts so that he drove onto her bud and made it last longer. He held her hips as he felt his orgasm start and then it overtook him with an intensity he had not expected. He was pumping into her and moved his hands to hold her stomach to keep her in place, and then he almost collapsed onto her as he leaned down to kiss her face where she had turned it to receive a kiss.

Dominic couldn’t move and stayed there holding Cassie tenderly for a few moments and then he slowly withdrew from her, helped her up, and turned her to kiss her lips.

Cassie kissed him, her arms around his waist, and whispered to him. “Dominic”. Just his name and it sent waves of sexual feeling over him.

Copyright Elodie Parkes 2012

Find me online:

http://www.facebook.com/ElodieParkes

https://twitter.com/ElodieParkes

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.co.uk

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/114681167004175190514/114681167004175190514/posts

http://elodieparkes.webs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/elodie.parkes.1

http://www.manicreaders.com/ElodieParkes/

http://www.theromancereviews.com/EllieP

http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/ElodieParkes

Find my books:

http://www.amazon.com/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U

http://www.amazon.com/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JIIVQ

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Horoscope-Writer-ebook/dp/B0094JIIVQ