Interview with Nikki Lynn Barrett

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

First, I want to say thank you so much for having me here today! I had a blast answering your questions!

Amber: Awww, thanks. I'm glad you agreed to stop by. 

 Right now, I would have to say Ben from The Secret Santa Wishing Well. He's the six year old son of the heroine, Cheyenne, and he has been known to inspire and make people cry.  Ben has no father figure in his life, and he knows his mom works too hard, so he's always trying to do what he can. Ben is the reason Cheyenne and Jacob meet, and it's been stated that men aren't the only ones that are heroes in romance stories.   Ben really made the book...and it was the easiest story I ever wrote.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why? 

Everywhere! I want to photograph the beauty of the world!  But the place I really want to visit is Germany. I am from German descent and my great grandmother still lives in Berlin today. I lived there for maybe a year, but I was 3 or 4 and don't remember much.

Tell us about your current release. 

Baby Stetson is book one in the Love and Music in Texas series.  It's a story about Avery and Lucas. Avery is adopted and though she's lived with wonderful parents, she still wishes for a clue about her past. She was left in a Stetson hat in the fictional town of Harmony's Echo Texas.  Then Lucas comes into town and he's secretive, reclusive and mysterious, but he can't stop thinking about Avery.  This story was so fun to write. It's emotional, funny, and mysterious. Avery and Lucas are characters I can't stop thinking about! I want to write more of them, so I hope my readers love them!

What does your family think of your writing career?

They're supportive! My dad snatched my proof copy of The Secret Santa Wishing Well when it came in and wouldn't give it back until he finished it. My mom has a copy, though she's a little slower at reading, but she tells people about it and even gave a copy to someone.  I got my love of reading and writing from my parents, who were always giving me books and when I asked for pens and notebooks, gave them to me. I was easy to please in that sense :)

Does your significant other read your stuff?

Yes! My husband reads through my drafts, he edits, he formats the books  for me....He is fully supportive of my career and I'm so thankful  for that. Currently, he says Baby Stetson is his favorite story I've written. :)

What hobbies do you actively pursue?

 Other than writing? I run a blog, Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More. I love reading, of course. There's also photography. No one is safe when a camera is in my hand...I'm Queen of Candids. My favorite thing to photograph is the weather. I love storms! And yes, even though I live in Arizona..we do get storms. Here's proof- www.weatherchronicles.comwww.weatherchronicles.com  .  That's my storm photography site.  I love music, love to sing.  My latest venture is making jewelry. It's something my mom and I bond over and we're having a blast.

Tell us about your next release.

Echoes of the Past is my next release. It's very different from The Secret Santa Wishing Well and Baby Stetson. It's going to have that same emotional feel, but Echoes is darker, more angsty. It's a paranormal suspense. The H/h have a past, and they are brought together when Gabriel, the hero, comes across Calisa's  card (She's a PI), and hires her to help him find his missing daughter.   Let's just say I'm surprised at how some of the stuff is coming out in this book, but the story is good!

Morning Person? Or Night Person?

Total night owl! If I didn't have a four year old, I would probably stay up all night and write. :)

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

I sure do! I put Pandora on and shuffle my stations. I write with headphones so that I can drown myself in the music and write.  It helps so I can ignore the world around me. I write when my 4 year old is in preschool, but I still don't have the house to myself :(

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

To those of you that have read my books and left reviews and/or let me know you love them, that's so appreciated. That makes an author feel good!  To those that are new to me and my stories, I hope you'll give them a chance. 

Thank you so much for having me here today! I really appreciate it!

Amber: Anytime...I've enjoyed your visit! :o)

Baby Stetson Blurb:

Baby Stetson

Love and Music in Texas, Book One

In small Texas towns, strangers come and go...

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town. 

Some strangers come with secrets and lies.

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know.

Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.

Excerpt:

“Wow. This is a nice kitchen,” Lucas said, closing the door behind him.

            Avery faced him. “You like to cook?”

            “Oh yeah. I learned at a young age that I had to take care of myself, so I taught myself to cook. Now it’s something I enjoy.”

            “Are you good at it?”

            “I’m good at a lot of things, Avery.” Lucas closed the gap between them.

            Too close, too close!

            She couldn’t back up anymore, though. Behind her was the counter. Her back was already pressed up against it. Lucas looked at her like he wanted to devour her.

            “Lucas...”

            “I know I need to stay away from you, Avery. All I want is one kiss. I’ve got to taste you. Tell me no, right now, and I’ll back away.”

            Lucas pressed his body to hers. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. His face, only inches from hers, lowered. “Tell me now, Avery. Because if you don’t, I’m going to kiss you.”

            Don’t! No! Yes! Do it! No!

            She couldn’t get the words out. All she could think about were Lucas’s lips, mere inches from hers, sexy, tempting, inviting. Avery opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

            “I’m not supposed to be so attracted to you, Avery,” Lucas whispered, then his lips crashed down on hers. He cupped her face, pulling her into his kiss. She didn’t even have time to decipher what that comment

meant. Avery tilted her head upward, responding to his kiss. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders as her fingers dug into them. Holy hell, this man could kiss. The deep urgency of his kisses

drove her mad.

            “Lucas,” she muttered against his lips. His touch was lethal. It wasn’t supposed to feel this good. Or amazing. Or sensational. Avery wasn’t supposed to react to him this way. She didn’t even know this

man! Oh, but she knew his gaze, so intent on her, and she was fixated on him.

            “Yes, Avery?”

            He trailed kisses along her neck now. Desire burned within, igniting quickly. His lips were back on hers now. He darted his tongue out, touching the corners of Avery’s lips, pushing his way in gently.

            Avery opened for him, needing another taste. Lucas’s erection pressed into her, only making her want

him more. She lost all senses, other than to kiss him. Lucas hoisted her up, still pressing her against the counter. Avery squealed and wrapped her legs around him. More fiery kisses came next. His

tongue was gentle, daring, inquiring.

            “Avery.” He moaned against her lips, nipping lightly. “I want to take you to-”

            They broke apart as the sound of loud voices neared. Lucas put her down quickly and backed away from her.

Add this book to your goodreads list!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341981-baby-stetson

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Stetson-Music-Texas-ebook/dp/B00BWIE1GI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363971733&sr=1-1&keywords=Baby+Stetson

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baby-stetson-nikki-lynn-barrett/1114866006?ean=2940016243566

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Baby-Stetson/book-rP9VC1UvlEqgaOrJJXLatw/page1.html?s=91X-oMVbn0aPh2Tu_jejRw&r=1

Other books by Nikki Lynn Barrett

The Secret Santa Wishing Well

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16159845-the-secret-santa-wishing-well

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki's site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com

www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett

https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor

@Stormgoddess925 on Twitter

Welcome Cris Anson!

Please welcome friend and fellow cougar - the lovely Cris Anson! Oh and I must take a moment or two to drool over this HAWT cover.

Top Pick from All Romance eBooks

By Cris Anson 

It’s no secret that writers write in a vacuum. Even if their office is just a corner of the dining room with kids underfoot and the TV blaring, they are surrounded by only their characters and the world they are creating. With critique partners it’s still a lonely occupation, day in and day out, to face the computer with our insecurities as well as our prose.

After a few months or a few years of writing, rewriting, polishing and editing, we send our baby off into the world. If we’re lucky, an editor likes it enough to offer a contract and we rejoice when it is released.

Then we wait. We wait for that first fan letter, that first review, that first royalty check. Because deep down, we worry that others won’t think it’s as good as we think it is. I was no different. My latest Ellora’s Cave release, Mercy and Redemption, was published on January 9 and up until today no one had written a review of it.

Yes, I know that it’s harder to get reviews now. When my first book, Dance of the Seven Veils, was published in January 2005, I had several 5-star reviews that first month and fifteen good ones within six months. Today there are dozens more publishers and huge numbers of authors writing erotic romance. I was a grain of sand on the Jersey shore and nobody was noticing my work any more. I was starting to get paranoid after almost three months without a word of feedback.

And then today happened. What a review! All Romance eBooks gave Mercy and Redemption a “TOP PICK” in their Wild Fire newsletter. Here’s part of what they said:

Mercy and Redemption, the second book in the Mercy series from the creative pen of Cris Anson, is a romantic and tangled plot that pulls the reader into the depth of the character's passion that tugs at the heart.  The touches of reincarnation and the idea that a love that strong between souls finding each other makes for an unbelievably gripping and clever storyline that charms…

The sparks fly and the sex scenes are absolutely smoking hot whether all together or when Mercy spends a little quality time in both Adam and Seth's bed rocking the sheets…

Mercy and Redemption is another perfect example of why author Cris Anson is on my auto-buy list.  I can't wait to see what's next for this exciting series.

This is the story:

While searching an old cemetery for likely gravestones to illustrate her colonial cookbook, Mercy Howe meets two hunks who are tracing their ancestry, and sparks fly. Literally. When Mercy casually touches Seth and Adam, her vividly erotic vision involving all three of them feels like a memory, not a dream, and awakens long-dormant sexual urges. Their kisses are achingly familiar, and she welcomes each in turn into her body. Then she spends a no-holds-barred weekend with both men in her bed and discovers an intimacy—and a past—that blows her mind. As memories resurface from three hundred years ago, Mercy will have to choose whether to relive the experiences from their joint past or forge a new bond with either Seth or Adam. Or both.

If you enjoy hot erotic romance with a touch of reincarnation, please check out Mercy and Redemption. This and all my other books are available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, and other digital publishers. You can read excerpts from all my books at Ellora’s Cave. And don’t miss my blog, Cris Anson’s Passions.

Ellora’s Cave – https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/cris-anson/

Amazon author page – http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0036LJT7A

B&N author page – http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=book&WRD="cris%20anson"

ARe - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?sortBy=bestSelling&searchBy=author&qString=cris+anson

Anson blog - http://crisansonspassions.blogspot.com/?zx=4857d73729f86c4f

I Had a Plan

My plan had been to submit two wips I had started in 2012 – I did this! Both were rejected. Not a flat out rejection, but one with suggested revisions to make the stories stronger.

That was not in my plan.

See once they were submitted I planned to write the next book in the Bag of Tricks series. I was excited about writing Becca’s story.

On top of the shifter book, I was working on a three book series. My EC editor loves the premise and wants to see the first book. I’m working on that now.

In between those four books I wanted to finish two contemporaries under my legal name, oh and I’m working on a non-fiction book.

So as the end of March approaches what progress have I made? Not much. I’ve revised one of the rejected books and resubbed for consideration. The other I haven’t even looked at.

I pulled out book one in my series and added 1k to the 7.5k I’d already written. Becca’s story? I’ve only managed tidbits here and there. With the notes I’m making I’d like to hope once I do sit down to write the book it’ll flow with ease.

The two contemporaries? Just fleeting thoughts in my mind. I believe one had less than 1k and the other, just more notes.

The non-fiction, which I planned to write 500 words a day on? 500 words is where it left off.

Sure I could blame my lack of production on stress, but I won’t. Everyone has stress in their life. My problem is procrastination. Sometimes I wonder if I’m a true writer or just a wannabee. Okay, okay, I’m a writer. But hey, sometimes I do wonder.

The year is early, only one quarter has passed. There’s still time to get a good portion of my PLANS accomplished. Will I?  Only time will tell.

Recovering

I’m a bit slow to recover this time. I expected to be back on my feet and off running by now. Nope, not so much. I’m walking like a little old lady, shuffling along. I’m on a weight restriction, so I can’t lift the little one. She’s sick, which breaks my heart. She did cuddle in bed with me yesterday. She’d been gone since Monday night, so having her home yesterday was bittersweet.

I’m not in too much pain. I’m glad because I don’t like pain pills so I ride out the storm with Advil or Tylenol. I haven’t taken it more than once a day. The good thing is I have a high tolerance for pain.

I’ve watched really horrible television and slept. I’m having terrible nightmares to the point I don’t want to sleep. It’s frustrating.

Today I feel better than I did yesterday, so I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I’m fully on my feet. The doctor told me I could start driving yesterday. I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I’m having enough trouble with the stairs.

Thanks to all my friends who send me wishes and prayers. I truly appreciate them!

Cindy Spencer Pape

STEAMPUNK FAQ

What to ask (or not to ask) your friendly neighborhood steampunk author.  Here are some of the mostly commonly asked questions, how I usually answer and what I’d sometimes like to say.

1)      What the heck is steampunk, anyway?

This is the big one—the one we hear ALL the time. My answers range from snarky (Jules Verne on crack) to oversimplified (science fiction set in Victorian times)For folks my age and over, I sometimes reference the old Wild, Wild West TV show. The long answer, which I never say, is that steampunk is a blend of historical feel and advanced technology. It’s not just a fiction genre, although it certainly is that, but it’s also a mood, a feel, and a thriving social phenomenon. It embodies futuristic technology, sometimes fantasy elements, and a rebellious attitude, along with a return to pride in manufacturing and craftsmanship. Most of all? It’s a whole hell of a lot of fun.

2)      Why write steampunk? And why do you mix fantasy and/or romance elements into your steampunk stories?

Again, because it’s fun. I like writing books that I’d like to read. I love mixing history, SF, fantasy and romance. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s what I enjoy.

3)      What’s the coolest gadget you’ve invented for your books?

Gee, I’ve had cybermen and networked computers in Victorian London. Typewriter, telephone, germ theory and dirigible are all there ahead of their real time. Rings that eject poison darts and clockwork powered artificial limbs. Beyond all of that, however, the coolest creation in the Gaslight Chronicles world is George, the mechanical dog. George is kind of like Mr. Data on Star Trek. He’s exceeded his components and programming to the point where he’s really more or less a living creature.

4)      How much research do you do, or do you make it all up?

Short answer: Quite a bit. Long answer: I do a surprisingly heavy amount of research for my steampunk stories. I very carefully take the key incidents that changed my world from the one we live in, then I follow those changes and decide how they would have effected everything else in the world where the characters live. In my case, the tipping point is twofold: 1) Magic has always existed and been acknowledged, and werewolves, vampyres, etc. DO exist. Therefore the Order of the Round Table was never disbanded in England and still exists, Knights with extraordinary powers who protect England from supernatural threats. 2) The computer was invented in the 1840s, by a man called Babbage, and is called an analytical engine. (There’s history behind this. Babbage in fact, did design this machine, but it was never built in our world.) Since a woman wrote the code for this machine, women in the sciences were catapulted ahead of where they were in our world. I also do a lot of research on clothing, settings, historical events and figures. In Cards and Caravans, I had to tweak the Scottish legal system, since they weren’t really burning witches in the 1850s. But that means I had to know it before I could tweak it. And maybe, in a world where magic was a known reality, those laws might have been a little different.

5)      Have you read… (insert your list of other people’s books that are or may be close to my genre)

Answer: yes, no, maybe. Much steampunk is YA, and I don’t read a lot of that. I also don’t read a lot of hard SF, where it’s all about the technology and the world. I like my character-driven stories and my romance, so that’s most of what I read. I have read William Gibson’s The Difference Engine, which  is one of the seminal works of SF. Also, since steampunk is so maker-driven, there is a lot of self-published and web-original work out there. I read some, but may not have had time to read all of it.

6)      Who are your favorite steampunk authors?

LOL, besides myself? Snark. I love MelJean Brooks, Gail Carriger (except for the book where the main couple breaks up at the end—HATED that one) Kate Cross and Seleste Delaney. There are so many more I need to read, but haven’t yet.

7)      Where can I buy your books? Are they at WalMart?

My steampunk series, so far, is only in e-book. That’s kind of awkward in a community that wants everything to look like it’s 1885. So yes, you can get them at Amazon, or B&N, or the Carina Press website. No, you can’t get them at the grocery store. Sorry. I wish that wasn’t the case, believe me.

8)      How many more Gaslight books will there be? When is the next one coming out? Which characters are in it?

Truthfully? I don’t know. It depends on a lot. Mainly, sales. That’s the hard reality of the fiction business. The more they sell, the more there will be. A girl’s gotta eat, you know? There are two more on the table with my publisher. That’s all I know at the moment. The characters? Well, that’s up to the publisher, too. Let’s just say there’s one more MacKay sibling and a whole bunch of Hadrians who still need happy endings.

9)      Where do you get all your cool steampunk clothes?

Thrift shops. (I’m short, so a lot of skirts are floor-length on me, so I cheat there.) Renaissance festivals. The vendors there tend to be awesome, but pricey, so build your wardrobe a few pieces at a time. Catalogs and online companies like Victorian Trading Co., Pyramid Company, Corset-Story and Holy Clothing. Finally, there’s the custom vendors. That’s where things get really pricey, but really, really, cool. I’m not very crafty, but honestly, if you can sew, you have it made.

10)  Last question:  How do you come up with the ideas for all this far-out stuff?

Usual answer: No idea. I just have a wild imagination. Snarky answer #1: I’m just twisted like that. Snarkier answer: The idea fairy leaves them in my shower and under my pillow, so I find them when it’s least convenient.

Thanks so much to Amber for having me here today. Everyone have a great weekend!

*****

Contest: In conjunction with the release of Cards & Caravans, Cindy is running a contest for a $25.00 gift card to the e-book distributor of your choice, plus the chance to name a character in the next Gaslight Chronicles story. To enter, visit the “Contact Cindy” page on her website and send her a note. Mention which blog you saw this on and some little detail about the post. One entry per person per blog post. The complete rules and a list of post locations and dates are available on the “Contest” page on Cindy's site.

*****

About the Book: Cards & Caravans is book 5 in the Gaslight Chronicles steampunk romance series, and releases from Carina Press on March 18. Find out more here.

Blurb: Belinda Danvers isn't a witch. But that won't stop them burning her at the stake...
Connor McKay can tell at a glance that Belinda's magickal powers are minimal at best. She can't be guilty of murdering village children. There's something suspicious about her arrest and lightning-quick sentence. Unfortunately, telling anyone how he knows would mean revealing his own powers. He's been sent by the Order of the Round Table to help and he can't just let her die.
Escaping from jail and running from vindictive villagers in her grandfather's steam-powered caravan is more excitement than Belinda's had in years. And despite the danger--or maybe because of it--she loves the time spent with her sexy rescuer. But there's more to his magick than he's letting on...
There's something going on that's bigger than the two of them. It's time for good to make a stand.
Review: 4 Stars from Romantic Times: “All the trappings of a good steampunk novel are here..but most enchanting of all is the love that develops between the hero and heroine.

*****

About the Author: Cindy Spencer Pape firmly believes in happily-ever-after and brings that to her writing. Award-winning author of 16 novels and more than 30 shorter works, Cindy lives in southeast Michigan with her husband, two sons and a houseful of pets. When not hard at work writing she can be found dressing up for steampunk parties and Renaissance fairs, or with her nose buried in a book. Catch her online at:

Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com (http://bit.ly/ybxKjP )

Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/

Newsletter group: http://yhoo.it/ni7PHo  

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindySPape

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/gjbLLC

Welcome Lexi Post

Thank you to Amber for inviting me here today!  I write erotic romance inspired by the classics and I just released my first book which was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death.” I’m so excited about my Synn (no that’s not a typo).  He’s my hero in my debut release MASQUE. My goal was to be published by a certain age and I’m absolutely thrilled to have achieved that goal (no, I’m not going to tell which age).

My hero, Synn, has a very different goal which is to free the trapped souls of his ghostly friends.  The difference between myself and him is that it took me six years to accomplish my goal while at the opening of the story we discover Synn has been trying for 150 years! Now that’s dedication, or rather a boatload of guilt.

No, Synn is not a vampire. Rather, he is a man, much like any other.  He is tall, dark, muscular, and handsome with long brown hair and eyes of grey with shards of blue.  The only difference for this aristocratic, first-generation, Nova Scotian is that his life has been on hold for a very long time. So you can just imagine what happens when Rena Mills buys the abandoned abbey Synn is trapped in with the intention of making it a haunted bed-and-breakfast.

What she doesn’t realize is that the old “abbey” was actually a Pleasure Palace and her newfound Ghost Keeper is rather experienced at the seven entertainment rooms, all of which offer a new erotic experience that must be completed to finish the Masque. But what Rena doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Right?  

I’m celebrating the release of MASQUE by giving away Venetian masks like the ones Rena and Synn wear in the book. For a chance to win this beautiful Venetian Mask made in Italy, be sure to leave a comment below.

Here is a blurb and excerpt from MASQUE. I hope you enjoy.

Lexi

Blurb:

Rena Mills plans to turn an abandoned abbey into a haunted bed-and-breakfast to prove she can be successful without her ex-fiancé. What she finds inside is Synn MacAllistair, the distinguished, self-proclaimed Ghost Keeper. Her dreams soon fill with sexual cravings for him. But are they dreams?

Synn, born in 1828, is determined to free the souls of the resident spirits, blaming himself for bringing the Red Death that killed them. When Rena steps into the old Pleasure Palace, he’s sure he can take her through the after-midnight Pleasure Rooms and stoke her passion to complete the Masque so the souls can cross over. Her innocent fire makes him crave more, but it’s far too late for him.

As Rena begins her erotic journey, her heart becomes more involved with every sensual caress until she discovers by completing the Masque she would lose her ghosts. Synn’s betrayal wars with her compassion for her ghostly friends. Torn, she must make a choice between her financial security and freeing seventy-three trapped souls. Either way, she could lose her Synn.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

People. Living, breathing people.

Synn MacAllistair grasped the embrasure of the parapet, his heart thudding as he stared at the vehicle crossing the stone bridge over the moat. It came to a stop at Ashton Abbey’s massive gate.

He waited. The great iron grille, chained and padlocked against intruders, would be considered a significant deterrent to entering. Open it. Damn it, open it!

The vehicle remained stationary. No one exited the large red monstrosity.

Impatiently, he pushed away his hair as the breeze whipped it across his view. What were they waiting for? If they needed an axe to break the chain, he’d gladly provide them with one.

Another smaller vehicle rolling parallel to the west wall caught his attention. It crossed the bridge and parked behind the larger one. More people?

A man stepped from the small conveyance and shuffled to the gate. Synn leaned farther over the battlement, anxious to see if their time had come. The joyful sound of clanking chains floated up to him on the breeze.

Finally! About bloody time. He swallowed hard to keep the yell of triumph from escaping his throat. No need to scare their new guests.

The man below hurried back to his transport and, without hesitation, backed across the bridge and left faster than he’d arrived.

Synn peered down at the red vehicle, still as a brick, its black windows making it impossible to see inside. A door opened and a woman burst onto the cobblestone entrance. She bent over and spoke to someone else still inside. Her blonde hair hid her face, but her ass, covered in men’s trousers, was small, her legs lanky. A woman? A woman dared enter a haunted abbey? He tried to grasp the concept.

His plan was to convince a man to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, but there had to be a man to convince…unless a couple entered the Abbey. Couples enjoyed the Pleasure Rooms as well. If he could persuade a couple to participate in the Masque then his companions could still be freed.

Peering hard, he watched and waited. After what seemed another decade, a door on the other side of the red contraption opened. He held his breath, willing the occupant to have broad shoulders, a beard, anything to indicate a man.

A long, slender leg stretched out, a black high-heel shoe of delicate design at its end, and a feminine hand grasped the side, but remained stationary.

He growled with frustration. “Bloody hell. What am I supposed to do with two women?” He hadn’t expected women. The Abbey overflowed with spirits. Only men should dare enter. How were blasted women going to help him? He paced away from the wall, but quickly returned. Could there be more people inside the vehicle?

He waited, his patience long gone, not that he ever had much, but damn, it’d been a hundred and fifty years. That would strain the patience of an archangel, something he definitely was not.

He glared as the leg moved and within a moment’s breath, the woman unfolded herself from the conveyance.

Synn stared, frozen in time for once, drinking in a beauty far surpassing any painted Aphrodite he’d ever gazed upon. Her long, wavy brown hair captured the sun, shining like fine brandy. Her figure, as lush as any Greek goddess, swayed sensuously in her short dress. Her arms were bare and the smallest of noses held her dark glasses in place. He stepped back, away from the crenellation, his heart racing, his mind whirling with ideas.

He paced the length of the wall. A vision was about to enter his stone prison. A woman fit to be worshiped with every salacious touch he’d ever learned. His cock hardened beneath his pantaloons. Amazed, he stopped and looked down at it. After so many years of having no needs—for food, for sleep, for relieving himself—the last he’d expected to feel was the need for a woman. He shook his head. It defied logic. But if his body could respond, then he could participate, guide a woman through the Masque.

The creaking hinges of the gate brought him back to the wall to see the backs of the two women entering the Abbey courtyard. Two women. Vivid memories of his happier days with the prince caught him by surprise and gave him hope. As he strode across the wall-walk and down the stone staircase, his mind raced with possibilities. One after another they were discarded as he floated to the landing on the second floor. But a new plan began to form as the great pine doors opened.

Masque is available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Masque-ebook/dp/B00BR070MS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363135944&sr=1-1&keywords=Masque+by+Lexi+Post

 Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/masque.html

For more information about Lexi Post:

website:  http://www.lexipostbooks.com/            

Blog:  http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/      

twitter:   https://twitter.com/LexiPost              

Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks   

Lucky in Love Winner

veRONIcaMarch 15, 2013 at 8:00 PM

Slainte!!!


xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com

I'll be in touch! Thanks to everyone who dropped by and participated.

Lucky In Love Blog Hop

Lucky in Love? Well, are you? It's a time of luck and wealth...or not. With each romance we find ourselves in a new world of love and memories. Are these just by chance? Is it luck? Welcome to your second annual Lucky in Love Blog Hop where we want to hear about your love, your romance, and how much you love St. Patrick's Day!!! Are you wearing green? Ready to get pinched...or wait...do you like that?

Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love! 

But that's not all....

We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

What's MY prize?

I'm giving away an ebook from my backlist to one lucky commentor. Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

Good Luck!

Website: http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/

Interview with Lucy Felthouse

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve always written, ever since I was little. But it was when I did a degree in Creative Writing that someone suggested I should have a go at writing an erotic story. I refused at first, but then I was dared, so I couldn’t say no, then. I wrote a story as requested and showed it to the people who were involved in the original conversation. It went down incredibly well, and I continued writing erotica, and looked into publishers and magazines. My first publication was in Scarlet Magazine, then soon afterwards, Xcite Books also picked up a short story, and the rest is history!

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

Oh wow, this answer could go on forever. I love visiting and exploring new places. If money was no object, I’d hire a huge motorhome and tour America. Why? Because it’s such a huge, amazing place, and look at all the people that I “know” online that I could pop in to meet on the way!

I also want to travel all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada… as I said, the list could go on forever!

Does travel play in the writing of your books?

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. In very short stories, there’s often no room to describe location, but in some of my longer pieces, I’ve written about London, Paris, Rome, the Peak District, etc. I actually have a series with Ellora’s Cave, where the first book, out now, is set in London. It’s called A Taste of London and is the story of two friends on their gap year before starting University. The next book, which I’m awaiting edits and a release date for, is A Taste of Paris. Next, the boys will go to Rome, and then Amsterdam (I went to Rome last year, and I’m going to Amsterdam in a couple of months). So although I don’t often visit places with the express intention of writing about them, many of them inspire me and pop up in books later on.

Tell us about your current release.

The Perfect Dom is a collection of four BDSM-themed erotic stories. They’ve all been previously published in various anthologies from Cleis Press (including Best Women’s Erotica 2013 and Best Bondage Erotica 2013) but I retain the rights, so wanted to put them all together for BDSM fans. One of the stories is actually set in Rome! J

Tell us about your next release.

Not including anthologies (I have several coming out in the next few weeks), my next single-author release will probably be A Taste of Paris, which I mentioned earlier. I haven’t received edits yet, but I’m hoping to get them pretty soon and have the book out in a couple of months. Here’s the blurb:

Book two of the A Taste Of… series

Ryan Stonebridge and his friend Kristian Hurst are traveling on their year off before going to University.

Unfortunately, Kristian has been called back home due to a family emergency. Ryan continues on to Paris alone, hoping his friend will join him again soon.

In the meantime, Ryan’s lucky streak with women continues, and by the time Kristian makes it to Paris, Ryan’s bumper box of condoms is depleting rapidly. However, there are more than enough women to go around, and Kristian intends to have some sexy fun of his own.

Where do you research for your books?

I’ve researched quite a few places specifically, and also visited places just for fun, then written about them afterwards. I specifically visited lots of country houses and gardens when I was researching for my as-yet-unpublished novel, Stately Pleasures. I also visited The Louvre, the Erotic Museum, the Pigalle area, and some cemeteries in Paris for various tales set in that fair city.

I’ve also written about places such as Buckingham Palace, Brighton, my nearest airport, Portugal and so on after visiting—sometimes many years later—but when an idea pops into my head, I just go for it!

Does your significant other read your stuff?

Sometimes he does. He’s not really into the genre, but he read my novel as I was writing it to help me out and advise, and if there’s anything I ask him to look at or discuss while I’m writing it, he’s happy to help out.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I’m a bit of both. With my short stories, I tend to just have a spark of an idea, and I’ll run with it. But for longer things, like novellas and novels, it helps to know where I’m going, how the book is going to end, and what action is going to be involved, so I stay on track and make sure things stay interesting.

What are your favorite TV shows?

Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, Grimm, Beauty and the Beast, Being Human… do you see a pattern? It’s mostly supernatural stuff!

Morning Person? Or Night Person?

Somewhere in between. An afternoon person, I suppose. I hate getting up in the morning, I always have. But I also find that my days are so busy that come the nighttime I’m ready to go to bed!

What would we find under your bed?

Lots and lots of books, toiletries, a box of receipts that desperately needs sorting out, and my spare slippers.

*****

Excerpt:

“Spank me. Is that an invitation?”

Shit. Mia had completely forgotten about him. Her flatmate, Katy, had asked if it was okay if her brother could stay on their sofa for a couple of nights. His own place was being fitted with a new bathroom and conditions over there weren’t exactly tantamount to hygiene. Mia had been rushing around in order to get to work and hadn’t really been paying attention, so she’d just agreed and then promptly forgotten.

Now, however, she was being treated to a huge and incredibly embarrassing reminder. Katy was on a nightshift at the hospital so when Mia had woken up at 9p.m.—her own body clock being on that of working in the club, though tonight was her night off—she’d deemed it safe to wander to the kitchen to get a drink in what she was wearing.

Big mistake. Alex was sitting on the sofa, an eyebrow quirked and a leering grin on his face. He held his iPad, and earphones hung around his neck. He’d obviously been watching a film or playing some ridiculous game before Mia had flipped the light on and sauntered through the living room in nothing but a skimpy vest and hotpants. The hotpants were, of course, what he was referring to. The fuchsia garment had SPANK ME emblazoned across the ass in large black lettering.

Mia gave Alex a look that would have turned a lesser man to stone. He, however, simply grinned even more widely, then said, “Well? Do you need a firm hand to that luscious butt of yours? Like a spanking, do you?”

Mia sighed. “Shut up, Alex. It’s none of your business. I’m just getting a drink. Get back to your damn gadget and leave me alone.”

“Oooh, someone’s defensive. I’m just saying, you must have them for a reason. A statement like that printed on your backside would definitely be construed as an invitation in my book.”

“Well, maybe it is an invitation, Alex. But it’s certainly not directed at you. Now if you’d kindly stop passing judgement on my non-existent sex life I’ll get my drink and get out of your way.”

*****

Four kinky and erotic BDSM tales from the smutty pen of Lucy Felthouse.

Balancing the Books

Philip’s a well off man, and doesn’t need a job. But when he sees the gorgeous owner of his local bookshop, he applies for the role that’s being advertised there immediately. He’s totally stricken by the stunning Giovanna, and when it turns out she wants to boss him around in a sexual sense as well as an employment sense, he has no intention of refusing.

Feeling the Heat

Taylor and Maisie’s car has broken down. Luckily, Taylor’s handy with engines and is working hard to get them back on the road. Unfortunately, Maisie is getting annoyed at the amount of time he’s spending in the garage and confronts him. Instead of arguing back, though, Taylor comes up with an ingenious plan to keep Maisie quiet.

The Perfect Dom

Part of Mia’s nightwear is a pair of hotpants with SPANK ME emblazoned across the arse. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but when she forgets that she has a houseguest and heads to the kitchen for a drink, she’s shocked to find Alex in her living room. Immediately spotting what he sees as an invitation written across Mia’s bottom, Alex makes an offer and Mia soon discovers that he is, in fact, the perfect dom.

Meet Me at the Spanish Steps

Darby is working at a holiday camp on the outskirts of Rome and is getting along just fine, with the exception of her sex life. For various reasons, she’s not getting what she wants in the bedroom, and her tastes are very particular. She turns to the Internet to get what she needs, and when she discovers William, it seems that he’s more than willing—and capable—of scratching that particular itch.

Buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/the-perfect-dom/

*****

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women's Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9