Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

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Blurb:
Allie only wanted two weeks of peace and quiet at her friend’s beach house to get her life in perspective. She wasn’t looking for sex, drugs and a kidnapping. But that’s what she gets when she encounters not one but two tasty men.

Tony, her gorgeous next-door neighbor, has a body any woman would want to explore, and Allie crave him licking, teasing and ravishing her body with those strong hands and kissable lips. Little does she know Tony’s on the trail of a drug dealer.

Then there’s Paul, who also wants a piece of Allie…if he can possibly tear her away from Tony.


An Excerpt From: SEX ON THE BEACH
Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One

The wind blew wisps of Allie’s long blonde hair back toward the road she’d just traveled. She sped along the California coastline in her yellow convertible Spyder, enjoying the sunrise in the distance. The sun sparkled across the ocean, glimmering orange as it rose. The rays would threaten to scorch her skin later in the day. The weatherman had said the temperatures would reach well into the nineties again.
She pressed her flip-flopped foot harder on the gas pedal. Allie allowed the car to accelerate because she knew no one in their right mind would be on the road at this ungodly hour. Not everyone woke before the crack of dawn. While most were still sleeping soundly in their beds, the air conditioner cooling their skin, Allie was up grocery shopping.
It wasn’t unusual for her to be up and going at four in the morning. She loved those first few hours of the day when life was quiet. She could sip her coffee leisurely. The hustle and bustle came later when she left the house to fight the highway traffic on her way to her job as a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company.
At least that was her life before she’d lost her job. She punched the steering wheel.
“Fuck,” she cursed to the open wind. While she missed the craziness of her old life she had to admit the last six months were the most stress-free she’d felt in years, right up until she returned to work.
The long hours and stress related to her job contributed in the onslaught of health issues she hadn’t known existed. After three consecutive months with a bout of what she thought was the flu Allie finally sought the advice of her doctor. He put her through numerous rounds of testing and came to the conclusion she suffered from acid reflux and Crohns disease. Both were brought on by stress, food choices and not taking care of her body.
Allie spent five agonizing days in the hospital while her doctor tried to get her disease under control. It was the worst experience in her life. There were times when she thought she’d die and sometimes she silently prayed she would. It was devastating and debilitating, but she swore she wouldn’t let it control her again.
Once Dr. Robinson managed to get the disease under control she looked pointedly at Allie.
“Look, your job is slowly killing you. Your body can’t handle the stress or long hours you’re demanding of it. You need to make some lifestyle changes or I’m just going to see you back here in a few months,” she’d said.
The reality of the doctor’s words was like a knife being twisted in her chest. She didn’t know how to not be on the go 24/7. That was the way she’d lived her life since turning sixteen.
Allie pressed even harder on the gas pedal.
She couldn’t get to the beach house fast enough. The idea of spending two weeks of quiet, soaking up the sun and sand appealed to her on so many levels. When her friend Pam told her she could use her beach house, Allie had immediately jumped on the offer.
The next few weeks would give her time to readjust to being unemployed and hopefully clear her mind. Eventually she’d have to decide what direction she wanted to take with her life. She had enough money saved to get her through six months of unemployment, but Allie didn’t want to totally deplete her savings. It was there as a safety net, nothing more.
Quitting had never been a word Allie thought she’d use, but her boss left her no other choice. She’d had a career as a marketing executive for almost five years before she’d up and resigned.
“Asshole!” She gripped the steering wheel, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes. She refused to cry. She wouldn’t give that shithead the satisfaction of beating her down. She wiped away the drop with the back of her hand.
“Screw you, Marty.”

Thoughts for the Day!

Yesterday’s post was pre-scheduled so when I said I had a great weekend, it was only a half truth. We did have a wonderful Saturday. Sunday I woke with a hoarse voice, chest congestion and a pain under my left shoulder blade.

The hubby insisted I go to the doctors I argued. I relented and I’m glad I did. The doctor checked all my vitals, listened to my lungs and thought I sounded clear. But because of the pain under my shoulder blade she wanted to do an x-ray. She did and discovered I have pneumonia.

The only reason I probably didn’t have more symptoms is because I’m pumped up on steroids to control my crohns. Yes, my life is fun right now. I’m taking more meds than a drug addict. But if it avoids the big C…my doctors are afraid of me developing, well…crap, pump me up.

I never feared hearing the word Cancer as much as I have lately. My doctors have been talking more and more about it and their concern I’m susceptible to it. I’m doing EVERYTHING the doctors are telling me. I’ve changed my diet. I’m trying to avoid unnecessary stress and taking the meds faithfully.

I have my blood tested weekly because the counts are so low they worry about me needing a transfusion. With the new meds brings other concerns. They suppress my immune system so I’ve opened myself up to contracting other things too easily. Thus the reason for the pneumonia. Like I said, I’m lucky to have been on a steroid already. It probably kept the severity of it at bay.

It’s sad in some ways that it takes a scare or in my case a possibility of reality to have a person rethink the way they live.

In 2012 I faced many demons. In 2013 I’m determined to get my health back in order and be the best ME I can be. I have a positive attitude and I’ve surrounded myself with great friends and family. I’m pushing the negatives aside.

The point? Don’t wait until you get slapped in the face with a dose of reality to love life. Appreciate it for what it is…a gift!

Good Weekend

Hubby and I had a date night on Saturday or should I say afternoon date. :o) Because I’m still battling recovery I get exhausted easier and earlier. Staying out past eight or nine isn’t possible at the moment so we went to an early show – 3:30.

I was surprise how packed the place was for an early show. We saw Zero Dark Thirty. It was an interesting movie, but slow. I realize they were likely trying to “show” us how painfully slow the process of finding and killing Bin Laden was, but seriously. They could’ve cut at least 30 mins of the movie. Okay, so I confess I hate long movies. If it’s over two hours it’s too long for me. Unless it’s the Lord of the Rings movies; those I can watch. Lol

Zero Dark Thirty Trailer

For those who like looking at the sexy Taylor Kinney…he’s only in the film for the last twenty minutes. Still hot, just not there long enough. :o)

We had a nice meal afterwards and then dropped in to Best Buy. We’re both still looking at laptops. Hubby’s is old…mine not so much. Mine is only a year old, but the motherboard is going and the company didn’t want to cover it one week out of warranty. As a writer we all know how important our writing tools are. I can’t afford to buy a new laptop, but when you’re typing along and only 60% of the words are hitting the page it gets very frustrating.

I think we finally found our new babies.

I’m working hard on my recent wip. It’s nice when the muse is here and not fighting me.

Here’s to another productive week!

Catching Up and Reviews

I've been busying writing. I've added over 5k to my latest wip this week. It feels good to be writing so I'm going with it. If I blog less...I'm sorry. The muse has to come first. :o) You all understand though, right!

Two new reviews! A nice way to end the week.


Claimed by Dragons

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-claimedbydragons-946836-142.html.

Out to Protect

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-outtoprotect-997908-145.html.

Welcome Shira Anthony

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

While it’s difficult to choose, I think my favorite character is the conductor, David Somers, who appears in all of the books in my Blue Notes Series.  David comes from a wealthy New England family and was raised by his grandfather, the CEO of a multinational company.  He’s “richer than God,” as some of the other characters describe it, and cool as ice on the outside.  Inside, he’s a warm, romantic man who was forced to hide his emotions from others after a difficult childhood.  He’s gay, but he married a woman when he was quite young, and she helped him navigate social situations and helped to ground him.  But when she dies, he retreats into himself.  That’s where David is at the beginning of Blue Notes #4, “Prelude,” the next book in the Blue Notes Series (tentative April 2013 publication).

Tell us about your current release.

My most recent release is the third book in the Blue Notes Series, “Aria.”  The Blue Notes Series are interconnected contemporary gay romances that are music themed.  Each is a standalone novel, and the books in the series can be read in any order.  “Aria” is the story of opera singer Aiden Lind and lawyer Sam Ryan, who appears in “Blue Notes,” the first book in the series.  “Aria” is a very personal story for me, since I spent about fourteen years singing opera.  It’s a realistic story about long-distance relationships and making sacrifices and compromises in order to maintain a relationship.  It’s also a story about moving on from loss.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I write every day, but since I have a full-time job as a lawyer in real life, I mostly write at night and on the weekends.  On the weekends, I can sometimes spend 10-12 hours writing and/or editing.  I’m usually doing both, since I have releases every 3-4 months.  It’s a very hectic schedule, but I love it (most of the time!).

Where do you research for your books?

Most of the “research” in my books comes from my own life experiences.  They weren’t kidding when they said, “Write what you know!”  My music themed books are drawn directly from my own experiences as a musician (first as a violinist and later as an opera singer).  Since my sister and mother are also musicians, I’ve been able to draw on their lives, as well.

I also have a series coming out this year that is a bit of a change of pace and is a fantasy about pirates and mermen shifters.  My research for that one?  My husband’s love of sailing (we own a 35’ catamaran and sail her at the North Carolina coast) and my love of the water and travel.

What do you think makes a good story?

Good characters make for good stories.  My Blue Notes books are primarily character driven.  I want to read about characters with flaws and watch them grow through their experiences and/or their love relationships.  Much as I enjoy good plots, without the strong characters to go with them, I tend to get bored. 

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I’m both a plotter and a pantser, really.  I generally have an idea of an overall plot (I call that the “bones” of the story) when I begin to write, but it’s very basic.  I have a beginning, middle and end in mind.  After that, I become a pantser as I write, following the characters’ growth and changing directions when my characters tell me to (no joke, sometimes they really do!).  Maybe I should be worried that they talk to me...

Tell us about your family.

I come from a family of musicians.  My mother is a harpsichordist and former pianist, and my sister was a fabulous cellist who, like me, gave up music when she was in her late 20s.  My dad is tone-deaf, but he adores music and can tell you the composer of a piece of music even though he can’t sing along with it to save his life!

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?

My pen name has a musical connection.  “Shira” means “song” in Hebrew.  I thought that was fitting, since music was and still is a big part of my life.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

I can’t listen and write—my brain wants to follow the music too much.  But I do tend to pick pieces to listen to depending on what I’m writing.  It’s easy with the Blue Notes Series.  Each book has a musical “theme” of sorts.  For “Blue Notes,” it was Brahms.  For “The Melody Thief,” it was Dvorak.  For “Aria,” it was a sexy duet from a Bizet opera.  And for “Prelude,” it was Sibelius.  Each of those pieces shows up in the books as central to the story in some way.

Tell us about your favorite fan letter you have received.

I think the most moving letter I ever received from a fan was from a gay man who is also a musician.  Not only did he tell me my Blue Notes Series moved him to tears, he also told me that it meant a great deal to him to read a series of gay romances that had the musical connection to his own life and career.  And he mentioned that he’d been a little uncomfortable with the idea of a woman writing gay romance, but that he’d realized what mattered was how the books made him feel, not the sex of the person writing them.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to hear that!

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Blurb:

 Five years after a prestigious scholarship jumpstarted his opera career, Aiden Lind has it all: fame, choice roles, and Lord Cameron Sherrington to share his life with. Maintaining his façade takes effort, but under his poised, sophisticated mask, Aiden is still the insecure kid from rural Mississippi. Then he walks in on Cam with another man, and the illusion of perfection shatters. 

Philadelphia attorney Sam Ryan never moved on after his partner died, though he tried. Instead of dating, he keeps himself busy with work—but when he unexpectedly runs into ex-lover Aiden while on a rare vacation in Paris, he’s inspired to give their love a second chance. First, though, he’ll have to get Aiden to forgive him. Because when Sam was still grieving five years ago, he broke Aiden’s heart.

When rekindled lust blossoms into a true romance, it seems like the start of something wonderful. But Aiden’s career has him on the road much of the time, and the physical distance between him and Sam starts translating into an emotional disconnect. If Aiden and Sam can’t learn to communicate, their separation may prove more than their love can bear.

Excerpt:

“MR. LIND?” The stage manager poked her head into his dressing room. “There’s a Mr. Ryan to see you.”

“Thanks, Carla.” Aiden guzzled the rest of his bottle of water and went to the door.

“Sam. Damn, it’s good to see you.” He pulled Sam inside and shut the door, then kissed Sam, lingering lightly over his lips before embracing him. There hadn’t been any earlier flights from Philly to Miami, and they hadn’t seen each other before the concert.

“You were wonderful.” Sam put down the small overnight bag he was still holding and swept two fingers over Aiden’s lips, a gesture that made Aiden shudder with pleasure.

Aiden smiled the same pleasant smile he always gave when someone complimented him. It mattered little that the reviews of his performances were universally good; he still felt uncomfortable with the praise. Even a little undeserving. “Thank you.”

He’d worried that the weeks apart might have made their reunion a bit awkward, but as usual, Sam set him at ease with another kiss.

“So what’s on the agenda to celebrate the New Year? You promised you’d let me know what you were up to when I got here.”

“Did I?” Aiden did his best not to smile.

“Is it something I’ll like? Because I’m thinking spending the night in a hotel with you would be fine with me.” Sam laughed against Aiden’s throat as he feathered kisses there.

“My lips are sealed.” Aiden pushed Sam playfully away, then grabbed a small duffel from off the lighted table. “I think you’ll like it, though. Just the two of us. Romantic.”

Sam put an arm around Aiden’s waist and pulled him back, this time to claim his lips.

“This is just the two of us.” There was a mischievous twinkle in Sam’s eyes.

“Do lawyers always argue?”

“Of course.”

Aiden pulled away and straightened his bow tie and cummerbund. “Mr. Ryan, we’re on a very tight schedule here. The limousine is waiting outside and”—Aiden pushed up his sleeve to check his watch—“we have four hours to midnight. I’ll hold you in contempt if we’re late.”

Sam held up his hands. “I’m throwing myself at the mercy of the court.”

“You’ll behave?”

“You might have to make me behave.” Sam’s eyes glittered with lust.

“Shit. You’re incorrigible.” He aimed Sam in the direction of the door, giving him only a minute to grab his bag before pushing him into the corridor. “This way,” he said as he gestured to the entrance to the street. A moment later they were outside, and Aiden was leading Sam over to a limousine. There, the driver took Sam’s suitcase and held the door for them.

Once settled inside, Sam looked at Aiden with a raised eyebrow. “Nice. So are we headed to some swanky party that only the rich and famous are invited to?”

Aiden only shook his head. “My lips are sealed.” Okay, so Sam proved him wrong on that point pretty quickly with a deep kiss. But he wouldn’t give up the secret. “Keep trying. I’m liking this.”

“Clearly I’ve miscalculated. I should be withholding my affections. Then maybe you’d come clean and tell me where we’re headed.”

Aiden bit his lower lip before opening a panel to reveal a bottle of chilled champagne and two crystal flutes. Then, without missing a beat, he said, “Something to drink?”

“Isn’t it a few hours too early?”

“It’s past midnight in London,” Aiden pointed out as he opened the bottle and filled their glasses.

A few minutes later, they were settled in each other’s arms. “I missed you, Aiden.  Sam’s voice was soft in Aiden’s ear. “More than you know.”

“Oh, I think I know.” Aiden’s heart felt as though it were going to burst.

THE limousine stopped about twenty minutes later. Sam looked out the window. They were in a parking lot illuminated by several lights. There was what looked like a small building at the edge of the lot, but other than a single light at the entrance, there was nothing to identify it. When Sam looked to Aiden for an explanation, he just took the champagne flute from Sam’s hand, placed it alongside his own on the console, then pulled something out of the same cabinet in which he’d found the bottle and glasses.

“Gonna tell me what that is?”

Aiden held the object out so that Sam could see it. A flashlight.

“What are you up to, Lind?”

The driver opened the door and Aiden illuminated their way, leading Sam across the parking lot and down a paved walkway. The faint scent of the ocean wafted on the breeze, and the air was cool. “You’re not very good with surprises, are you?”

Sam shook his head and chuckled. “Depends.” He snaked an arm around Aiden, nearly knocking him off balance before pulling him tight to claim Aiden’s lips. “As long as it involves you and sex, I’m good with it.”

“Could be.” Aiden slipped out of Sam’s grasp and continued to walk and point the way. “Watch your step here.”

A band of metal met the pavement, and the path beyond was wood. The smell of salt water was powerful here. A dock. “Aid—”

“You might want to take your shoes off.” Aiden was already slipping out of his patent leather oxfords and rolling up the legs of his tux pants. Sam did the same, unable to suppress a grin. Wherever they were going, he was having fun. He felt like a kid again. “You can leave them here. Ralph will pick them up when he comes with the bags.”

“Bags?”

Aiden took Sam’s hand, and they walked to the end of the dock until they reached a large white wall. A restaurant, perhaps.

Then the restaurant’s lights went on, illuminating the surface of the wall. “Holy shit.” It wasn’t a restaurant. It was an enormous yacht—at least a hundred feet long. “Where did you…?”

“Mr. Lind?” A man wearing a crisp white uniform, complete with captain’s hat, walked toward them down the gangway at the end of the pier.

“Richard?”

“That’s me. So good to have you joining us tonight. And this is Mr. Ryan?”

Sam offered the man his hand. “I’m Rich Cowan. Captain of the Prelude. Good to meet you.”

“The Prelude?”

Rich looked to Aiden, who nodded.

“She belongs to David Somers.”

They climbed aboard and Sam tried not to stare as a young woman dressed in white pants and a white polo greeted them.

“This is Amy. She’ll be attending to you gentlemen. We’ll be getting underway for the Bahamas in a few minutes. We’ll arrive by morning. Maestro Somers sends his compliments and says you should enjoy yourselves. We’ll arrive back in Miami in time for your flights on Monday morning. Enjoy your evening, gentlemen.”

“Dinner will be ready in about an hour,” Amy told them after Rich left. “Would you like to dine on the foredeck?”

“Sounds wonderful.” Aiden turned to look at Sam, who nodded his approval.

“Do you need me to show you the stateroom?” she asked.

“I know the way. Thanks, Amy.” Aiden turned to Sam after she left. “Well? How did I do?”

“Not bad.” Sam did his best to keep a straight face. But then Aiden smiled, and Sam grabbed him and crushed his lips against Aiden’s. “Better than that,” he said after the kiss broke. “Amazing, really.”

“We have an hour. How about thanking me up close and personal.” Aiden took Sam’s hand once more and led him down a set of stairs to the cabins below.

THEY sat on the foredeck, having finished one of the best meals Sam had ever eaten.

Not that the starry sky and the company had anything to do with it.

“Remind me to thank David next time I see him.” Sam stood up and began to massage Aiden’s shoulders.

“My fairy godfather.”

Sam laughed.

“David’s been too good to me.” Aiden’s voice was slightly wistful now. “Not only this, but he helped me out of a bad situation.”

“Cam?”

“I’m not sure I’d have had the guts to move out if it hadn’t been for David. Hell, I tried to find a place of my own in London and he told me to stay. Said he didn’t spend much time there anyhow.” Aiden leaned into Sam’s hands, and Sam kissed him on the top of his head.

“You sound almost like you don’t think you deserve his friendship.”

Aiden’s shoulders tensed beneath Sam’s fingers. “Am I that obvious?”

“No.”

“Sometimes I worry that I can’t even begin to give back what he’s given me.”

Sam moved in front of Aiden and drew him up off the chair with a hug. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, you know.”

“You think?” Aiden’s laugh was bitter.

Sam traced a line over Aiden’s lips. “I think I could kick myself for letting you go. Twice.”

Aiden’s smile looked strained. “Are you sure you want this? I mean, there’s a reason you let me go before. My lifestyle isn’t exactly the best for long-term relationships.”

“It was never about your lifestyle.” Sam wasn’t exactly sure how to explain his hesitation. “I just wasn’t ready.”

“You don’t need to justify it, Sammy.”

“I know. But I wish—”

“Here and now. That’s what matters. Fuck the rest of it.”

“Right.” Sam inhaled a long slow breath and looked over the bow at the moon rising on the horizon. And yet he couldn’t help but think of New Year’s past. And of Nick. “You’re right. Fuck the rest of it.”

“Happy New Year, Sammy.”

“Happy New Year, Aiden.”

Bio:

In her last incarnation, Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas asTosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.
 
Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children.  When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 30’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
 
Shira can be found on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter (@WriterShira) or on her web site, http://www.shiraanthony.com. You can also contact her at shiraanthony@hotmail.com.

Welcome Guest Ivy Bateman

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

My favorite character from my books is Lily Sinclair, the lead character in my current release. Perhaps readers may be confused as to why she is my favorite since Lily is an extremely cold person who treats people badly, uses people and pretty much does as she pleases, but she was a lot of fun to write! She is so different than me; almost polar opposite in a lot of ways and it was a challenge to write someone like that. A lot of my characters have tiny aspects of me in them, but Lily doesn't. Ok...maybe a little. Some of the things she actually says to people, I may think, but never say!

Tell us about your current release.

My current release is called Baby, You're Cold Inside. It was released from Breathless Press back in December. Like my second release with BP, The Fifth Story, back in September, 2012, it's a paranormal erotic tale. However, this one is a holiday tale inspired by the classic "A Christmas Carol". Lily is the Scrooge character and she is taken back in time by an ice creature who wants to melt her icy nature and release the warm soul he believes lurks inside. It's nice that he tries...

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

My daughter (who is in middle school and no, she hasn't read my books!) was and continues to be an inspiration to me. She's been a gifted writer since she started writing in kindergarten. She just picks up a pencil and writes. There's not a lot of humming and hawing...she just gets down to business. I do take a while to get started, but once I do, I write like she does: quickly and with passion.

Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

I have been very lucky in that I have many people in my life that I can turn to and talk about writing. My husband is one of them. He is always encouraging and helpful. My friend "J" loves to talk shop and has introduced me to other local writers. And over the last year I have met other writers through blogging who have been extremely inspiring and helpful with my writing and other things that have nothing to do with writing.


What do you think makes a good story?

 Personally, what I look for in any story are characters that have depth. I love a book that has characters that are so believable that you can imagine a life for them beyond the page or you can figure out a back story for them even if the author doesn't tell you what that is. However, I may be that way because I have a theatre background and we had to figure out our characters back story whenever we picked up a script.

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?

This too could have something to do with my theatre background, but I honestly let me characters dictate the main plot. I usually have certain plot points figured out, but not always how to get from plot point to plot point. When I'm writing and I've gotten to know my characters a bit, I think to myself "What would (character) do in the situation?" and go from there. I have no formula at all.

What is your favorite meal?

I have two: full breakfast (bacon, eggs, pan fries and more!) and a dinner of rare steak, salad and a baked potato smothered in butter and sour cream!

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I love to read and I intend on doing a lot more this year than I did last year. I also love to dance around the house with my daughter and watch TV shows on DVD with my husband.

Morning Person? Or Night Person?

I think I'm a late morning, early evening person. My energy gains momentum around 10 or 11am and then peaks again around 7pm.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I'd like to thank all those people out there who have picked up my books over the last year. I know my voice and my story telling is a little off kilter from other books in the romance genre and I appreciate those who have taken a chance on a new writer. I have had some interesting feedback; some of it positive and some of it not. I'm fine with either and although sometimes the negative is hard to swallow, stirring someone to express their opinion is wonderful. Writing is an art form and if anyone is moved by your work, negatively or positively, you've done your job as artist. 

Blurb for Baby, You're Cold Inside, By Ivy Batmean

Lily Sinclair isn't in the Christmas spirit.

Successful, sexy and headstrong; being nice is too overrated when being naughty is so much more fun. However, there are those who believe that her cool interior stands in her way of true happiness. On the night when something a little bit colder than Lily takes her on a journey to her past, she goes along for the ride, but...

Will her guide show her just what it will take to melt her icy soul?

Excerpt from Baby, You're Cold Inside By Ivy Bateman

"Oh yes, my dear, just a little bit further...come on honey...just bend over a little further. Come on now—just a little bit lower, that's it." I bite my lip to keep from screaming. "That's right keep it up, keep it up...I'm so close, yes, baby keep it up—no, no, no! Not now!"

I lean over my desk and punch the intercom. "Phillip! Get your ass in here now!"

He doesn't respond to my holler. Maybe he has the volume turned down. He's done that before, the bad boy, trying to ignore me. What kind of assistant does that to his boss? One that doesn't last that long, that's who.

I punch the intercom button again, harder even though it won't make a difference, but I'm desperate and my buzz is quickly fading away.

"Phillip! Don't ignore me! I need to see you in my office now!"

Again, he isn't doing anything! Okay that's not true. He's still doing something. He is still filing and bending over, which is a marvel to behold, but his moves are being wasted! I open my desk drawer and pull out a squishy ball. I chuck it at the mirrored glass that stands approximately twenty feet from the front of my desk. Phillip jumps and screams like a girl. He glances at the mirrored glass looking slightly shamefaced. He can't see me, but he knows I can see him. Wow, he's a good looking guy...who isn't moving!

My morning good time feeling is being quickly defeated by the anger that is starting to build up in my system. I throw a second ball against the glass. Another girlish scream erupts from Phillip, but this time he springs into action. He hot foots it to my door and opens it at top speed. He's breathless and nervous which is perfect; it's the way I like my men.

"Yes, Ms. Sinclair? Is there something I can help you with?" He runs a hand through his shiny brown hair and steps into my office.

"No, Phillip, I just like to throw things at my wall to hear you squeal. Thank you for being so obliging." I am sarcastic to the point of it being farcical, but my lovely yet sometimes a little dim assistant doesn't pick up on it even a little.

"Oh, that's fine, Ms. Sinclair. I-I-I like to squeal for you." He blushes and looks at his large, polished shoes. "I'll go back to my desk and listen for another ball. Thank you for making me aware that you like my noises." He backs toward the door, his face now the shade of a ripe tomato. It's adorable, but I don't have time for adorable.

Ivy's Blog: Ivy B Misbehavin'

Twitter @IvyBateman.

Book trailers on You Tube:

Baby, You're Cold Inside & The Fifth Story

Write Ivy at ivybmisbehavin@gmail.com.

Ivy's books available at Breathless Press, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca,

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What A Weekend

I had to work last minute and spent over 13 hours on a conference call. Have I said how much I dislike my job lately? It’s time to start looking into new opportunities. I feel like I’ve been doing this way too long and the long nights and weekends are taking a toll on me, my health and family time. A nice 9-5 with no responsibilities…well, those I can leave at the door when I go home. I don’t want to manage people or situations any longer.

Because I had a very productive week I decided I’d not do anything writing related over the weekend and I didn’t. It was nice to sit on the floor with the baby for an hour on Sunday and build towers and houses with her. It made me realize I don’t get enough one on one time with her. She loved every minute of it.

I missed half of my father in laws birthday party because of work. I can’t get those things back.

Enough of that. It was an awesome football weekend in our house. On Saturday the San Francisco 49ers won making me a very happy camper.

And I’ll give my hubby a shout out for his Patriots winning last night. We had a house full of guests for the Pats game. It was a good time and great food.

If the Pats/49ers meet in the Super Bowl hubby told me I have to move out for the day. LOL we went to the game in December were the 49ers beat the Pats. Hubby still is having not living that one down. ;)

All his friends were like how can you be married to a 49ers fan. Look I’ve been cheering for them since the 90s…I’m not changing for any man.

This week’s agenda is a big one and I hope I can accomplish all on my to-do list by Friday. I’m taking back my weekends.

Oh and I’m excited because my son is coming in tomorrow to spend a week. He has a wedding to go to, but it’ll be nice to see him.

Happy Monday!

New Release - Marie Rose Dufour

My good friend had a release yesterday and I'm loving the premise of this new series. I'm looking forward to some down time next week to read her new book.

Check it out!!!!

Buy Here



For hundreds of years, evil is trapped beneath the ground. It never sleeps. It only waits to return.

A man turns his back against his magical family a long ago and the prophecy predicting a powerful witch with green eyes will release the imprisoned evil into the world. Nathaniel Caswell is determined to avoid the prophecy and the sexy new woman in town who could be his salvation or his downfall.

Meg Costa didn’t realize when she left her urban guidance counselor job for one on the sleepy coast of Massachusetts that she would catch the attention of the sexy green eyed sheriff and be thrown in the middle of a battle between good and evil.

Destiny throws these two together and along with the rest of the magical community, they need to figure out a way to save themselves and the world from being plunged into darkness forever.

I'm Honored and Humbled!

Out to Protect has been nominated by Love Romances Cafe
Best Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Book: Out to Protect by Amber Skyze (Loose Id)

http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/amber-skyze/out-to-protect.html

Someone is killing prostitutes and Grant Wesson has been assigned to find out who the killer is. Problem is he just came out to his best friend and partner. Ralph didn't take it so well, so Grant's been reassigned to the new kid on the block, Parker Townsend.

Parker is young, sexy and very much in the closet. Grant fights the growing attraction he's feeling for his new partner, until Parker changes things up. He wants to break the rules and have sex with his new partner.

Against his better judgment, Grant agrees. It's the hottest sex either of them has ever had, but it's a distraction. The killer has Grant in his sights. Parker promises to protect him, but it's his heart that needs protecting.

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

Today is the return of Whet Your Appetite Wednesday. I hope you enjoy this bit from Research Required!

Blurb:

Ethan’s on the run from the mob. He’s in for a surprise when he knocks on the door of his sister’s neighbor. The last thing he needs is a distraction like Bailey. She’s sexy and sassy and dressed in skimpy shorts—and he wants to take her where she stands.

Sex with a stranger? Bailey would never think of it. Ethan’s no stranger though, he’s her friend Jenna’s brother, so that makes him a friend too, right? Sex in the kitchen, sex in the bedroom, sex on the couch, it doesn’t matter. Bailey can’t get enough of this hot-blooded stranger.

Will Ethan’s past catch up to him and ruin any hopes for their future?

Excerpt: 

Confused. Bailey was thoroughly confused. They were having a good time. No, a great time and suddenly he shut down on her. What happened? It was like someone flipped a light switch. One minute they were laughing, enjoying each other, the next he was talking about working on her article. She didn’t want to think about her article right now. She wanted to feel his cock inside her. Filling her. Fuck the article. Fuck her deadline. That could wait. Sex couldn’t.

“I thought we could see if this is outlawed in a few states too,” she said, rubbing her hand along his hard penis.

“We’d better not,” he said, releasing her from his grip. He jumped off the bed as if the touch of her skin burned him.

“Ethan?” Bile rose in her throat. What had she done?

He threw his clothes on haphazardly.

Following his lead, she eased off the bed and gathered her clothes. She held them against her chest, fighting back the urge to cry. His rejection pained her.

“What the fuck is going on here?” she demanded. She wasn’t going to stand for him ignoring her any longer. She deserved an explanation for his sudden cold shoulder.

He turned and looked at her. The haunted look in his blue eyes caused her to suck in her breath. There was a deep pain. He was hiding something from her.

“Is there another woman you’re cheating on?” Bailey knew some men tended to feel guilty after cheating. Maybe that was what was wrong with him.

“No, Bailey. There’s no other woman.” He tried to embrace her.

“Back off. I want an explanation.”

“It’s not you, Bailey, I swear.”

God, if she had a nickel for every time she heard a guy use that line. Shit, she’d used it a few times herself.

“You have to believe me, Bailey.”

“I don’t have to believe shit. Get out of my apartment.”

“What?”

He looked completely shocked. What, did he think he could use her and get away with it? Fuck that. If he didn’t have the balls to tell her the truth, well fuck him.

“You heard me. Get the fuck out of my apartment and don’t come back.”

“But I thought you needed help with your article.”

“I don’t need your help. I’ll find someone else to answer my questions. Thanks for the good time, now get out.” And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, she wanted to add. She turned her back on him. She couldn’t stand to look at him any longer.

“Bailey.”

“Go,” she said through clenched teeth.

When she heard the door close she let out the sob that she’d swallowed. She threw herself on the bed and cried. She had no clue why, but she cried.

She spent the next hour lying on her bed naked and alone, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. It was like a nightmare. She’d let a complete stranger into her place. She’d had the most incredible sex she’d ever experienced and thrown him out. All in the matter of a few hours. What the hell was she going to say to Jenna? Surely Jenna was going to want to know why her brother wasn’t there waiting for her to return. She could tell her the truth, that her brother was a dog just like all the other guys out there, but then she’d have to admit that she’d had sex with Ethan and that would cause some serious issues with their friendship.

Oh shit. Men sucked.