Spotlight on Afton Locke

Stripper With Spice

Thank you for hosting me today. I’m excited to talk about the spice OREGANO, and my latest release, Stripper With Spice, a contemporary erotic romance. 

Opposite Oregano

Oregano is the spice that gives zip to Italian spaghetti sauce. Whenever I make homemade, I always include some. Because it’s strong, though, it can be overdone. That’s why I tend to like basil better. What I didn’t know is that the flavor can differ based on where the plant is grown. Europe and the U.S. produce oregano with a milder, sweeter flavor than the spicy stuff grown in the Mediterranean. I think I need to go back to Italy to compare!

This is true of men too. Even two brothers who grow up in the same environment can have entirely different flavors. In high school, I tended to fall for brothers. In two cases, I fell for one brother but ended up with the other. The one I didn’t get would always make me wonder, what would he be like?

In the first duo, one brother was down to earth and drove a gray car. His brother was a wild party animal and drove a yellow car. He probably wasn’t relationship material, but I longed for one kiss, imagining exactly how it would feel and taste. After my relationship with the first brother ended, we all remained friends and got together one day for a visit. After kissing the one I used to date, I decided to be daring and pushed the brother on the bed, which was no small feat because he was a big guy. Did I mention all four of the brothers were tall? I planted a passionate kiss on him. Strangely enough, it was exactly the way I had imagined it. He was shocked but didn’t mind a bit.

In the second duo, I admired one brother from afar for a long time. He looked so serious but never gave me a second look. One night, I met his younger brother at a party. I didn’t even know it was his brother until I learned his name. Instead of not knowing I existed, he was all over me. Talk about a human octopus. That family really needed a third brother who fell somewhere in between. We dated for a short while, but he was just too aggressive.

Male strippers also come in different flavors. Each dancer has his own personality, act, costume and dance moves. In my story, Janice thinks all strippers are the same oversexed party animals. What she discovers is that Carlos is different. He still has the sexy, good qualities but not all of the bad. Will she dare to taste his unique flavor?

Stripper With Spice

Publisher:  Ellora's Cave Publishing

Release Date:  10 January 2014

eBook ISBN #:  978-14199-49050

Buy eBook:  http://www.ellorascave.com/stripper-with-spice.html

Stay tuned for reviews and more: http://www.aftonlocke.com/spice.html

Watch the Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/cYIzIyett4Y

Blurb

Getting back on her feet after unemployment, Janice treats herself to an erotic-romance convention. After winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a young stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.

When Carlos entices her back to the bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.

To convince her he’s more than a fantasy, Carlos teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally tested to the limit, she’ll be torn between clinging to safety and taking a chance on a whole new life.

Excerpt (explicit)

Stripper With Spice - Copyright © AFTON LOCKE, 2014 - All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

I chose you.

He looks and sounds so serious and honest, how can I not be completely convinced? His words echo inside my head as he grips both sides of my face and lowers his mouth to mine in slow motion. The thrill bubbles return to my bloodstream as if the elevator cable has just snapped, dropping us to the basement.

Unlike last night’s, this kiss is slow and full of promise. He samples my mouth as if we have all the time in the world. A flash of mint-flavored tongue pierces my soul, tearing a moan from my throat. With one hand still on the button, I raise my other to his shoulder. Feeling the bare, hot skin there fuels my desire, pushing me dangerously close to the edge of self-control.

“Do you want this as much as I do, Janice?”

God, yes. I need more…all of you.

I reply by sliding my hand across the tiger-striped fabric over his back. The warm satin, with muscles moving under it, is just as sexy as bare skin. His hips dance against mine—rubbing, thrusting and teasing. My fingers move to the worn waistband of his jeans at his side, wanting to pull them off. My body throbs, needing him as I’ve never needed anything before.

When he pulls my finger off the close-door button, the door opens to reveal an annoyed looking family of five waiting to get on. The parents, obviously noticing Carlos’ wild vest and our heavy breathing, exchange a disgusted look.

Carlos takes my hand and leads me off the elevator. My heart races as we walk down the corridor. Luckily, the carpet absorbs the trembling in my legs so it doesn’t make a sound.

He stops at one of the doors. I fixate on the way he slides his keycard from his back pocket and inserts it into the door reader. It’s something I’ve done myself a million times without thinking, but this is different. This is foreplay.

The door responds with a little click and a flashing green light. I guess we just got the green light for wild, hot sex. My heart accelerates even more. If it goes any faster, he’ll have to call a paramedic. I can read the headline now.

Boring financial analyst dies from anticipating sex with a hot cover model.

I check my watch. Fifteen minutes have passed.

“We still have plenty of time.” He ushers me inside and closes the door behind me.

The room is completely dark because the drapes are drawn. It’s as if we’ve entered a private cave, hidden from the world. This is it, I think as Carlos flips on a dim lamp. We’re really going to do this. We’re going to have sex.

“Come in and make yourself comfortable,” he says.

I stay where I am but gaze around the room, noticing with approval how neat he is. His clothes hang in the closet and his toiletries are laid out on one corner of the sink. The smoky-brown bottle probably contains the mysterious mesquite scent. I wish he were a slob so I could tell myself it would never work between us.

It doesn’t take long for my attention to stumble across the centerpiece of the room, the large bed. Is it another stage? Is the perfectly pressed red cover the curtain? Unlike the platforms we shared for the photo shoot and lap dance, this one is completely private.

What if he doesn’t like my performance?

Coming Soon

Rock My Boat

Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.

Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.

Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?

This story will be part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, which will release 10 March 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/TallDarkandAlpha

Where readers can find me

Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AftonLockeAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/afton.locke

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aftonlocke

Newsletter - The Love Chronicle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke

Contest

This post is part of the Stripper With Spice Blog Tour.             

The grand prize for the tour is the winner's choice of a wall-mountable black scroll spice rack or The Spice Lover's Guide to Herbs and Spices book (U.S. shipping address only).

To be eligible, COMMENT on this post. The comment MUST relate to the spice I’m posting about in at least ONE of these ways:

 1) How you cook with it or use it in food OR

 2) How you use it as a natural remedy OR

 3) How it reminds you of a particular man or intimate encounter

The tour winner will be announced at http://www.aftonlocke.com/SpiceTour.html on January 18th.

And The Countdown Begins...

8 days until my release Going for Broke. I’m excited about this book. It was previously published with Loose Id.

So now it’s revised and expanded and ready to take on the world. Here’s a taste.

Buy Link - http://www.ellorascave.com/going-for-broke.html

Blurb:

Deacon Burke has a singular goal—to win back the Las Vegas casino swindled from his father years ago.
Businesswoman Holly Perkins is equally determined to gain control of the Pleasure Palace, the decadent casino where anything goes—including exhibitionism and master/slave play. A corporate raider, she’s eager to put down roots in one location while running a business she loves.
When Deacon spots Holly in front of the casino it’s lust at first sight, and soon she’s submitting to him during a blistering-hot encounter. But how will he react when he learns of Holly’s agenda? All bets are off in their high-stakes game of carnal cravings and ultimate control.
Publisher’s Note: This title was previously released elsewhere under the title Hit Me, and has been revised and expanded for Ellora’s Cave.
A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Excerpt:

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.

Blog- http://amberskyze.blogspot.com

Website – www.amberskyze.com

FB - https://www.facebook.com/amber.skyze

Twitter - @amberskyze

Interview with Helena Harker

Please welcome Ellora's Cave author Helena Harker!

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

I write whenever my children give me the chance to write. So when they are in bed, or when they are watching TV, I am sitting at the computer, typing away! I try to aim for 1,000 words a day, but I often don’t meet that.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Absolutely. Every writer needs critique partners. My crit partners offer me valuable insights about little things that escaped my attention. Without them, my writing wouldn’t be as polished as it is.

Who are your books published with?

Mostly with Ellora’s Cave.

What do you think makes a good story?

Characters the reader cares about and a plot with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending.

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

Yes. I write erotica, so I don’t want people to know about it. “Helena” is close to my real name. “Harker” was suggested by a close friend. I liked the alliteration, so I went for it!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A novelist. I’ve never wanted to be anything else. I’m glad I’ve managed to get published, and it would be fantastic if I could quit my day job someday.

What are your favorite TV shows?

Game of Thrones (I watched all 3 seasons in 3 weeks), Dexter and True Blood. I am quite obsessed with all three. Other than that, my TV is pretty much always on the Disney Channel, because that’s what the kids watch.

What is your favorite meal?

Anything with the word “chocolate” in it.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Sometimes I go out and buy margarita mix. Then I kick back and relax while watching TV.

What would we find under your bed?
Lots and lots of dust bunnies! If I have to choose between writing and housework, well, writing ALWAYS wins out!

Bio:

Helena Harker is a teacher by day, writer by night, a daydreamer who loves to escape to other worlds. Her fiction is populated by strong men, passionate women and lots of steampunk inventions. In her free time she enjoys photography and curling up with a good book.

Blurb:

Camilla is a sexual blackmailer. After a betrayal from her fiancé, she spends her days exacting revenge against men who are unfaithful. Armed with an iron resolve, her Panoptoscope and a handbag filled with instruments of castigation, she becomes a formidable adversary. Her quest for revenge has hardened her heart, but a small part of her still thirsts for passion and the heat of a man’s touch.

Hephaestus is a skilled metallurgist who hammers iron into any shape his imagination desires. When Camilla walks into his forge asking him to repair a pendant, flames of passion ignite between them. After Camilla receives letters that threaten to expose her, she seeks his protection as well as his love. However, in order to melt her heart, Hephaestus must resort to extreme measures to make her see that pardon, not punishment, is needed for love to grow.

Buy link: www.ellorascave.com/camilla-s-consequences.html

http://www.amazon.com/Camillas-Consequences-ebook/dp/B00DP121BW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372525966&sr=8-1&keywords=camilla%27s+consequences

Website: www.helenaharker.com

Twitter: twitter.com/HelenaHarker

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/helena.harker.9

Excerpt:

Hunting men is a most lucrative occupation, one I enjoy with an ardent passion. As I wait for Lord Aldridge to exit his tent, I silently curse him for choosing to pitch his camp in this godforsaken bog. Although we are barely an hour outside London, it seems I have been transported to the jungles of Borneo. The dank, moist air wreaks havoc with my curls, my riding boots slip through the mud and my walking skirt reeks of rotting leaves and mallard droppings.

Silent, shielded by darkness, I rest my body against the trunk of a tree that leans precariously over the pond and adjust the lens of the Panoptoscope against my eye. Motionless against the elm’s rough bark, I blend into my environment. Although my hiding place is barely ten yards away from Aldridge’s simple canvas tent, he will never see me.

I aim the ‘Scope at my quarry and peer through the lens. How magical. My newest, truly ingenious modification far exceeds my expectations. My contraption allows me to see in the dark, and for a few moments I imagine myself to be a panther lurking in the undergrowth, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush my prey.

The leafless trees appear in various shades of gray, their limbs hanging low, resembling eerie fingers that reach for the tent. Lantern light glows inside, and shadowy figures stir within the canvas walls. Lord Aldridge has brought company. It is not unexpected. After all, Aldridge has many suitors.

All of whom are male.

Come out, Aldridge. Your judgment awaits. Often, I choose to confront men and punish them for their sins. It is a good thing that I do, for who else would pass judgment over them and sentence them for their transgressions? Surely not another man. No, it is a woman’s duty to judge men and determine whether they should be condemned for their actions.

Shadows shift. I catch sight of an arm, a knee, a head. An embrace? I believe so.

Does Aldridge’s wife know about his philandering? How can she not? After tracking his whereabouts for weeks, I know how little time he spends at home. How does she cope with his betrayal? When a man promises to stand by the woman he loves till death do them part, he should be forever bound by that promise or be prepared to suffer the consequences.

Camilla Covington’s consequences.

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday - Kathy Kulig

Blurb: Dante’s dimension is on the edge of destruction, he seeks the help of a special mortal woman, Haley Moore. Fierce, undeniable passion between them unravels his plans and threatens Haley’s life. To save her, he must resist temptation, abandon her and leave earth forever. The sacrifices and risks are great, but what if there’s one last chance at love?

Excerpt:

Don’t get personal with your quarry.

He’d seen her walking along the highway alone. Young, attractive, fearless and carrying a backpack. A traveler? Homeless? He didn’t know. She was the perfect Kithra or quarry. She accepted his offer for a ride, with a little telepathic influence on his part, and he’d driven her out into the desert. No one would see them here.

She’d laughed when he’d swung the bike off the road, heading into open desert. While he made a campfire, she’d taken his Navajo blanket from the saddlebag and spread it out by the fire. Now naked and in trance, he craved to take her as a mortal man would take a mortal woman, but he couldn’t. She didn’t need to be naked for the collection. And tonight it was making his task more difficult.

Dante had to make his quota of human lifeforce energy to the demoness of Anartia. The immortals needed his offering to maintain their world. If he failed, he’d be replaced—destroyed—by Gwyllain, or her consort Tarik, the rulers of Anartia.

The woman watched him with hunger and lust in her eyes. The need to climax was great. His cock ached. But he’d have to wait until the offering. Stay in control. The more he teased and prolonged her orgasm, the better the harvest of chi. She whimpered as she watched him work his cock.

Straddling her body, he knelt on either side of her waist. Dante leaned forward and stroked her breasts, then eased his hand over her belly and between her legs. The woman sucked in a breath. The aura around her body told him she was close but he wasn’t ready to harvest her energy yet. As he rubbed her clit, cream coated her folds and moistened his finger. He plunged inside her pussy and shoved deep. She cried out, raising her hips off the blanket. The scent of her arousal was mixed with the scents of the desert—the earth, the sage and mesquite. He loved the desert, and he loved taking his Kithra here. The distraction of its beauty helped him control his own desire.

“Fuck me or lick me. I can’t wait anymore.” She reached down and grabbed his cock and squeezed him.

Damn, it felt good. But he pulled her hand away and pressed both arms above her head. He couldn’t risk having her touch him like that. It’d been so long since he’d had the pleasure to seek release with a human.

Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over her nipple, then bit gently and rolled his tongue over the erect peak. He repeated the tease to the other nipple and she moaned in pleasure. “So good,” she breathed.

“Yes.” He didn’t even know her name. No matter. She wouldn’t remember him after the collection. “Stay still,” he ordered.

“Yes.” She nodded and stopped writhing but he still ached to drive his cock into her. A vibration surged through him as he prepared for the harvest. Opening his mouth, he held his lips close to hers without touching. She parted her lips as if anticipating a deep kiss and her chi energy flowed in a stream of light from her mouth into his. She cried out as the orgasm shattered her but he held her down. His cock throbbed and his balls tightened, his body tensed, aching for release as the chi energy rushed into him. Control, control. He had to slow down or he’d drain her.

When he felt her energy weaken, he pulled away and stood. The woman lay there, in a deep, trancelike sleep, her eyes open but dazed. As he watched her, something inside him stirred. His collection was complete. He should leave her here, now. After all, he’d picked her up along the highway. Why not leave her where he found her? When she awoke, she wouldn’t remember their encounter.

Dropping down onto the sand beside her, he brushed her hair back. He’d been hanging around Sakari too long. No wonder that Drone chose to become a mortal. She got too personal with her Kithra and it always got her into trouble.

Dante got to his feet, got dressed and collected his belongings, stowing them away on his bike. Glancing back to the woman, he saw her curl up on her side and shiver as if the desert night air had chilled her. She was coming out of the trance. He needed to leave. He could cover her with a blanket. The night was cool and she was naked. After covering her, he stood over her and watched her sleep. She snuggled deeper under the covering and sighed. His cock twitched, then hardened. It took all his willpower not to lie next to her and pull her into his arms. Not for another collection of chi, but to feel her body close. Fuck. He kicked a stone into the fire and sparks rose into the sky.

He couldn’t leave her. He didn’t know why but he just couldn’t do it. There was no way he was going to let Sakari or any of the Drones find out about this. After he helped her dress, he folded up the blanket and got her back onto his bike. She was awake, but still in a semitrance. He extinguished the fire, buried the ashes so there was no sign that anyone had ever been there and drove his bike back toward the highway. He found a budget motel and pulled into the parking lot.

“Here’s your stop,” Dante said in a friendly manner. As she climbed off the bike, he slipped some cash into her jeans pocket.

She looked at him a little confused. “My stop? I can’t afford to stay here.”

“Sure you can. You said you found some money at the last rest area you were at. You have it in your pocket.”

Fishing in her jeans, she held up the bills. “Wow. Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot.” She laughed. “I should save this money though. I abandoned my car shortly after I left Texas. It died. But I have a sleeping bag. I’ve been camping out.”

“No, you need a bed and a safe place to sleep for the night.” Dante used his telepathic influence again. He wanted to make sure she’d have a safe place to recover. By morning she’d regain her strength and her mind, although she’d have forgotten all about their encounter, all about him.

“It would be nice to sleep in a real bed and use a shower, not wash up in a rest area. Will you stay too?” she asked.

He gripped the handles on his bike and dared to glance at her lush mouth. Her lips were pressed in a sexy pout. If he kissed her, he knew he wouldn’t have the power to leave. “Can’t.”

She sighed. “Thanks for the lift.” She waved goodbye and strode toward the motel. By morning he knew she’d forget about their sexual encounter in the desert.

Dante turned his bike around and rode back onto the highway.

Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/damned-and-defiant.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Damned-Defiant-Demons-Exile-ebook/dp/B008YXDVAG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1352653864&sr=8-6&keywords=kathy+kulig

B & N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damned-and-defiant-kathy-kulig/1112582064?ean=9781419940804

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

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              

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Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

My mother jumped on the "Fifty Shades" Band wagon. We had a conversation about how I've been writing this stuff for many years before Fifty became a household name. I gave my mom a few of my friends books for Christmas to show her, there are better books out there.
To my surprise she informed me that she read Submit With Me over the holiday's and she enjoyed it. Thanks Mom! :o) Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, Mom is bias.

It just so happens it's my Whet Your Appetite this week. Here's a taste.

Buy Link

Blurb:

Rena is on a quest to get laid and she’s willing to go to any length to fulfill her need.

Marc has a thirst for a submissive. He longs to find someone he can bring to the edge of ecstasy and rein back in before an orgasm. He wants to tie, tease and torture his submissive, pushing the limits of sexual awareness.

 When he offers Rena five hundred dollars to be his sub for the night, he gets more than he bargained for. This spitfire is about to show him a thing or two about submitting.

Excerpt:

Rena had one goal in mind—to get laid. Taking a long drag off the straw nestled in her fruity drink, she scanned the smoke-filled bar for a potential mark. Tonight she didn’t care about getting to know someone. No, tonight she only cared about filling the void in her aching pussy.
“Damn,” she cursed under her breath. Tables were full with happy couples, either enjoying drinks or dinner. Soft jazz played in the background. Normally Rena enjoyed the lazy tempo, but not tonight. She was too busy looking for someone to fill her need. Her desire. Rena’s pussy ached to be fucked. Glancing around the haze, she shook her head. Not one guy in the place looked eligible. She considered going to another bar but decided against it. Not many bars offered rooms above them for the clients to rent by the hour. No, this was the place where she intended to find the man to make her pussy sing. Besides, the patrons were upper-class and the bar had a reputation for only allowing in respectable people. Safe. That was the reason she was here and wouldn’t go anyplace else.
Staring into the mirror behind the bar, she gave the room another scan. Still nothing. She couldn’t believe there wasn’t one man desirable enough to give her the relief she craved.

She emptied her drink. Maybe it was best if she called it a night. Obviously she wasn’t getting laid tonight.
As Rena stepped off the barstool, her face came into contact with one broad chest. She glanced up to stare into the most exquisite blue eyes she’d ever seen.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked in a husky voice.
“Just going to powder my nose,” she lied.
“I didn’t think women did that any longer.”
“I’m not just any woman.” Rena winked. “I’m every man’s wish come true.” Leaving him standing there, mouth agape, she headed toward the bathroom.
He ordered her a new drink when she shimmied onto the stool.
“Thanks for the drink.” She didn’t bother to look at him, but she caught him watching her in the mirror.
“My pleasure.”

Rena couldn’t help herself, she smiled.
He was gorgeous, dressed in tight-fitting denims and a painted-on black tee , muscles bulging from under the short sleeves.
“Come here often?” Lame. She hated pickup lines, so why was she using one on him?
He laughed a hearty laugh.
“Actually the first time.”
Hmm. A first timer.
“So what brings you here tonight?”
“I’m looking for a little action.”

“What kind of action?” Maybe the same kind she was looking for? A “wham bam thank you ma’am” kinda night?
“Nothing you’d be interested in, I’m sure.”
“And what makes you so sure I’m not interested in your kind of action?” Insult dripped from her voice.
“Just a gut feeling.”
“Are you saying I’m too prim and proper for you?”
He shrugged indifferently.
“Try me, I’ll bet I surprise you.”
He shook his head no.
Are you fucking serious? He was turning her down? No fucking way. This was not the way she had planned this night. She was determined to get laid and Mister Muscles fit the bill.

“Let me guess, you’re looking to get laid—no strings attached?”
He didn’t flinch when she blurted out the statement.
Instead he stood, reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash.
“You think you can handle my action?”
He slapped a hundred-dollar bill on the bar.
“I’m offering you one hundred dollars to be my slut for the night.”
She almost choked on her drink.
“See, I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle it.” He sat back down.
She laughed.

“What’s so funny?”
“That you think one hundred dollars is enough. Make it five and I’ll be Mary Fucking Poppins if you want.”

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

Buy Link

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.”