Saturday, August 31, 2013

Review and giveaway with Laurel Cremant author of Persuasion Skills

Persuasion Skills by Laurel Cremant

 Blurb:

In the aftermath of a major health scare, Pepper Holts makes the relief-inspired decision to seize the day. Unfortunately, most of her “seizing” involves a bit of merlot and her best friend's pants! After a shared night of passion she realizes that her feelings for Jax are a lot more complicated than she ever thought.

Jax has finally realized that his allergy to marriage has nothing to do with the institution itself, and everything to do with the women in his bed—or more specifically, the one woman not in his bed. Her reaction to their one night together has him scrambling to regroup. So he does what he knows best—he disappears, and he thinks. The plan?—convince Pepper into staying with him at a secluded cabin for one week. One week of pretending to be a happily married couple to show her how great they could be together.


EXCERPT. . .

Marching into the main room, she confronted her friend-come-raving-lunatic.
“Forget Misery. You’re in definite Psycho territory here!”
A tint of red darkened his cheeks. At least he had the decency to blush. His show of embarrassment gave her hope that there was still a chance to reason with him.
“I know it looks bad”
“Looks bad? Looks bad? Jesus, Jax, you bought a closet full of clothes!”
“I didn’t want you to get cold. You’re such a Miami girl.”
“And my shampoo?”
“I wanted you to feel at home.”
“And the drawer filled with lingerie?”
He grinned at her. Stupid, sexy dimples.
“Okay, that one was more for me than you, but you can’t blame a guy for being hopeful.”
She stared at him and tried to take deep, calming breaths.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
“What exactly is your grand plan here? What are we supposed to accomplish trapped up on this mountain?”
He planted his arms across his chest and gave her a long, unreadable look.
“We live here for one week, like a real married couple,” he said finally.
She opened her mouth to retort, but he cut her off.
“Consider this a trial run. If at the end of the seven days, you’re not convinced we’ll be amazing together, I’ll let you walk away, and I’ll drop the whole thing.”
“I can’t just not go back to Miami, I have work—”
“I called your assistant this morning. She’s cleared your schedule for the next week.”
“My family—”
“All think you’re on a much-needed and overdue vacation. They say ‘Hi,’ by the way.”
Her left eyelid trembled. Was it possible to develop a chronic tick in a matter of minutes?
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
“And how exactly is a real couple supposed to live?”
“We do the things any other vacationing couple would do. We spend time with each other, go on walks, have romantic dinners.” He sent her a heavy lidded gaze. “We sleep together,” he said huskily.
Her body heated at his words, and her mouth went dry at the thought of being in a bed with him again. She let her gaze drift to his crotch and bit back a moan. He was most definitely aroused.
As if sensing her gaze, she could swear she saw his cock thump against his zipper.
She drew her gaze away from the hypnotic view as he made his way towards her with long, smooth steps.
“I’m not having sex with you again,” she said shakily. “That’s what got us into this mess to begin with. If we hadn’t slept together in the first place, you wouldn’t be proposing marriage right now.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He placed a hand on her lower back and drew her into his warmth.
The look in his eyes had her catching her breath. Crazy Jax she could handle. Aroused Jax was a whole other story.
He leaned down and nuzzled her throat with his nose before whispering in her ear.
“The sex only helps prove my point, but I’ll make you a deal.”
Her stomach quivered at the feel of his lips at the flesh of her ear. She cleared her throat before responding.
“Does it involve you coming to your senses?”
The rumble of his chuckle vibrated up his chest and against her sensitive nipples as one of his hands smoothed down her back and squeezed her ass.
“No, but it should put you at ease.”
His meandering hand was making it hard for her to concentrate. All she could do was snort in reply, silently begging her hips not to give in and rub against him.
 “For the next seven days, we get to pet each other as much as we want, fondle and taste to our heart’s content, but I won’t fuck you, Pep,” he said while nibbling at the soft skin of her throat.
It took a minute for her lust-addled brain to process his statement.
“But you said—”
He lifted his head and placed a soft, too-short kiss on her lips before stepping away.
“I said we’ll sleep together. Before we have sex again, I want you fully willing to be my wife and nothing less,” he said, a serious expression flattening his lips.
She searched his eyes, but his gaze didn’t waver. She grasped at the last life-line she could find.
“I don’t think I can be what you need, Jax.”
“And what exactly do you think I need?”
“I’m not exactly a submissive kind of woman,” she said.
She frowned as he snorted at her statement.
“No shit.”
“I’m serious, Jax. I don’t think I can be the type of woman you seem to want. Our night together was good—”
“Amazing,” he said firmly. “It was amazing.”
“Whatever, fine amazing,” she said, not wanting to go down that road at the moment. “But I’m not wired to be bossed around and told what to do. You want a submissive woman, and I’m just not that.”
He shook his head sadly at her. It hurt to see his look of disappointment, but it was what she expected. She wouldn’t take her words back because they were the truth. As much as she enjoyed him dominating her in bed she knew that the bedroom was as far as she would allow it.
“Pep, if I wanted a submissive woman, we wouldn’t even be here right now.”
“But—”
“Do I want to tie you down and fuck you senseless? Hell yeah. I can’t wait to see you bound and spread-eagled for me again.”
He reached up and cupped her heated cheeks, tilting her face up to meet his gaze.
“And I can’t wait to see your nipples in pretty little clamps, tight and hard just begging to be sucked.”
Her breathing was way past erratic, but she couldn’t look away from his heated gaze.
“But that’s where it ends. It stays with sex. I like your kick-ass attitude, Pep. I don’t want a woman who isn’t willing to argue and fight. What I prefer in the bedroom doesn’t extend to the rest of our relationship.”
Her heart sank as she saw her chances of surviving the next week with her heart unscathed deteriorate in a pile of ash.
“I don’t want to change who you are, Pep. I just want to prove that we work together. Give this week a chance,” he said.
A heavy sigh worked its way past the lump in her throat.
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Grey,” she told him.
It almost hurt to see his answering smile of relief.
“Well, Mrs. Grey, I think it’s time for lunch. How ’bout I fix you a grilled cheese sandwich and then we head out for a walk?” He pulled her back in for a hug.
She laid her head on his chest and breathed in his scent. She had a fleeting thought that traipsing around in the woods with him sounded like fun. Apparently, insanity was contagious.
“Yeah, sure. Why the hell not?”

BUY LINKS:



ABOUT LAUREL CREMANT
Laurel is a romance author, who like most writers loves to read. Her first love (pun intended) has always been romance. From the sappy YA romance novel to the more risqué erotica novels, Laurel is a sucker for a good love story.

Laurel writes paranormal and contemporary romance and is a self proclaimed, out of the closet nerd. She admits that she can't seem to avoid adding a bit of "nerdology" or "geek-dom" to all of her books. Living in Miami, she also admits that she can't seem to avoid giving her heroines gorgeous shoes, "In Miami, we worship everything strappy, open toed and just plain hot!"

AUTHOR WEBSITE & LINKS



UNDECAPPED Vinyl
Persuasion Skills is a fun, romantic and sensual read that many fans of the genre will enjoy their time reading.

Pepper lives her life, her business, which she is partners with her best friend in and she loves her best friend. Never willing to lose what they have because she cherishes their friendship so much. She continues to keep her feelings to herself. But how much longer can she continue to hold back?

Jax finally wakes up after a life time of being against the biggest commitment of life, marriage. He also has come to realize that the love he feels for his best friend is much more than friendship…

I LOVE IT when two people that are the very best of friends become much more. It’s more personal, real and rare when it happens. Good job Laurel! Now I just have to sit here and wait for more from you ;)




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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

#WedBriefs Flash Fiction Lady #14 & 15 by A.R. Von



Hello everyone and welcome to Wednesday Briefs Flash Fiction. This week is a touch different from the weeks past. The reason being is I'm posting both last weeks Lady and this weeks. I got hollered at by a reader or two that I left you all high and dry and I am very sorry I disappointed you. I didn't have proper access to the internet where I was and could not get into my email for the prompts or anything else for that matter (yes I was GRRRR!).

Otherwise, as always, I was given various options to inspire both briefs. I chose to go with the three photos below and two word prompts total, one for each LadyThe word prompt I used for Lady #14  is: "crazy in love" & for Lady #15 "the ties that bind".


For those of you that have not read the prior week's portions and would like to. Click HERE to access them all.

I hope you enjoy & thank you for reading!




“Lady #14” by A.R. Von

I leaned upon Dezso for comfort from the dark memories and remembered something from my vision, when the scorpions surrounded me in the cavern, during my dream state. A voice…Deep, eerie and evil. It reminds me of the voice of Than when he was speaking angrily with Dezso by the waters, the day he was looking for me in my former form.

It was Than commanding the army of insects, the scorpions, that surrounded me. His body was not present. At least not that I could see and his voice sounded far away. Faint, as if he was talking from another plane of existence so very…distant.

He said quite a few things in a language I could not understand. Even with the knowledge of languages Dezso gifted me with. There were some things he stated in the English language I recognized and they have me a bit puzzled. It was about the unicorns and how he and his followers are seeking each and every one, so the darkness can take over and they can live freely as they were meant to for ages.

They need the blood and horns of hundreds of unicorns and all of his people can live to their full evil potential. He said all unicorns and other creatures of light must die so the darkness can prevail. ‘Rid the world of all of its light’ is what he said.

That is not what puzzled me though. What did—were the five words he stated over and over again once he got out his plans for the creatures of light. ‘I know what you are.’



I must tell Dezso all of this I now remember and he can help me. We need to work together to defeat this darkness. It will only be defeated with us working as a whole…a team. One unit for the light to prevail alongside the others who freely join the side of good.

The goddess told me how Karma will do her duty in all ways and help the side of the light. She always helps the souls filled with light and goodness the most. Sometimes, she takes a while. But she alwaysgives what is deserved in any case.

I pull myself and my thoughts together. I must be strong for what’s to come. For myself, for Dezso, for our people and for our future. Taking a deep breath. I lift my head and look at my beloved and tell him all that I’ve just remembered.

He still caresses my skin in soothing circles as I reveal more on Than’s evil plans and the knowledge he revealed about me.
Dezso stays very quiet. Absorbing all of my words and thinking deeply.

I am now finished with all I’ve remembered and he still continues to touch me.
His face no longer looks relaxed and content. It now looks determined and a bit angry.
He pauses his circles and raises his hand to wipe the tears from my cheeks. “I have some ideas Iria. But I am unsure how possible they all are. I will need to train you in the use of the magic you now have. I know of others who can help with all I do not know of. Through it all, you will have to keep nothing but positive thoughts within your mind. Once one thinks in reverse, in a negative way…Is when darkness has more power. You must remember this my love. It is only a small portion of what is needed. But it will help strengthen our power when we face any darkness.”

I feel my body tremble from his words and his touch.
Dezso then places a tender kiss upon my brow and holds me close. “What we just experienced was us connecting as one soul in the most intimate of pleasures Iria. This is one example of positive. Together our light, even with me having some darkness within me can defeat all evil. Being with you brings me full light. The darkness is gone in your presence. My light brightens as it never has before. I’ve never been in love before. But I know I am crazy in love with you my lady.” He kisses me so very passionately and lovingly.

I understand what he is saying to me, indirectly. If either of us should be worried about defeating the darkness it should be him since he has darkness within. I do wonder where the darkness came from. Why a man with so much warmth and heart would have any darkness at all. So, I take this time to ask him knowing I will get my answer. “Dezso, how did you get darkness within you? Where did it come from?”

He looks down at his hands and takes a deep breath. Seemingly thinking of how to tell how it happened. He opened his mouth, looked at me. Then closed it again and looked back down at his hands.  He finally speaks while still looking down. “I do not like to speak of it Iria. But I know I must share all of myself with you and I will. All of the good and all of the bad. But can we please sleep now and start anew in the morning. We will go out and picnic under the sunrise and make love to a new day and talk until we run out of words. I do not want to ruin our first time together with my tainted life. Not right now, please?”

I feel his sincerity and know he will tell me all in due time. I have a very hard time even thinking of saying no to him and of course I relent. “Yes Dezso. But tomorrow you give it all to me. I want all of you and no less. Just as I will always give to you.” I smile and softly kiss his lips.
He smiles back and fluffs the pillows we are to lay upon for sleep, then pulls me close to him.

We both find sleep very quickly wrapped in one another’s arms…


~~~***~~~



“Lady #15” by A.R. Von


I awaken to a sweet scent that I know belongs to Iria. I got to move my hands to caress her soft flesh but find myself bound. My hands are tied together and attached to the bedpost. I turn my head to where I know Iria last lay and do not see her present. My eyes and mind are still full of sleep, confused as to why I’d be bound in anyway and how. “Iria?” I try to sit up but am restricted in movement because of the rope.
A loud sound at the foot of the bed brings me out of my current thoughts and the sight before me takes my breath away. 


Iria stands there naked and bathed in the light of the sun. Looking at me with a hunger I’ve never witnessed, desire that is as clearly written on her face as I’m sure it is on mine.



She seductively licks her lovely lips and trails a finger up from the top of my foot to mid shin. Giving me the most delicious goose bumps I’ve ever experienced. I cannot help but to wonder what is going on in her mind and why she is doing this. I tilt my head in question. Hoping there is no more need for words right now. I’m beginning to feel as if I am incapable of a coherent sentence at the moment. I’m highly aroused by this predicament.



“Dezso, my love. Your wrists are currently bound by the ties that bind us, our souls together as one. Will you submit yourself to me and complete our binding for all eternity? Will you become mine as fully as I am yours, forever bound to one another?’



I swallow a lump that has formed within my throat. It’s a painful swallow but I must to answer her with the words my heart speaks so loudly into my mind. “Forever my lady. I am forever yours, bound for all eternity. Throughout all ends and all beginnings. I would kneel before you and hand you my heart and soul without hesitation.”



She smiles at me and slowly begins to crawl up my body. Making sure her breasts caress my flesh as she makes her way, then her face is just centimeters from mine.



I shiver at the contact and find I am breathing very heavily from arousal. “Please untie me Iria. Let me love you.” I jolt up with the feeling of falling and find myself no longer bound or Iria above me.
She sleeps soundly beside me with a hand moving within her nether region and another upon her breast. What a glorious sight to awaken to. It’s just as arousing as the dream I left unfinished. My cock is harder than stone and begging—no pleading for release. I place one hand upon her other breast and move my face towards where her hand begins to quicken. I cannot help but wonder what she dreams. Hoping it is me, completing these actions and bringing her to her peak.


Inhaling deeply of her intimate scent I stop her hand and hold it down to her side while using my other hand to spread her folds and dive in for a feast with my tongue. 



She writhes beneath my mouth, panting and whispering my name. She quickly comes to completion with a jolt upwards. Grabbing at my head and pushing it closer to her. “Yes Dezso, yes!”



I remove myself from her valley and climb upon her.
 She’s blinking drowsily at my with a timid smile upon her face.


“Good morning Iria. I will have you know my love.”



She gives a small nod and spreads her legs wider for me.
I enter her with one powerful thrust and she screams my name upon entry. I do not hold back moving as fast as my hips allow. Pounding into her over and over again, while enjoying her pussy pulsing in orgasm around me.Bringing forth my own. There is no holding back my love for her. I release it with one more powerful thrust within her once again bringing forth another orgasm within her. Her pussy milks each and every drop of my essence. Almost as if it’s sucking it from my cock.


We both lay still for a few moments gaining our bearings. I am the first to move or speak. I lay a kiss upon her sweaty brow and continue along the side of her face until I reach her lips. “Good morning love. Are you ready to go out and about for our picnic with the sun?”



She sighs softly and smiles.“Yes Dezso. Can we go on our picnic as is.Without coverings?”


I cannot resist letting out a full bellied laugh. Tears are leaking out of my eyes from the intensity of it. “No Iria. We must dress. I will find you something to put on. We will both dress and go have our morning meal outdoors as I stated yesterday and I will answer all of your questions the best I can. Do you approve?”



“Yes Dezso. I approve just as long as we can remove the coverings again very soon.”



I give her another quick kiss and roll off of her to gather all we need to enjoy our day outdoors. I know I am taking a risk by bringing her out after what she has told me of Than’s words. But I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep us safe and aware for the time we are out. Plus, where I want to take her is not far from here and I already have wards in place to protect the surrounding area of our home.



I have a great feeling about today. I don’t ever recall awakening so happily…



Be sure to come back for the next brief!



(This story continues to be dedicated to my one and only sister, my Pookie. Her love of unicorns from when we were tots is what inspired me to write it. Love you my sissy!)




Sunday, August 25, 2013

Spotlight with Brenda Dyer and her latest release Prophecy's Child (Book #2-The Prophecy Series)



His secret will shatter her world.
Katherine Colby’s life splintered ten years ago when her lover suddenly vanished, leaving her with more than a broken heart. But when Kal unexpectedly makes an appearance, her safe, dependable existence is shattered once more. Drawn into Kal’s deadly world of vampires and demons, she must now put aside her hurt and anger and learn to trust him. Can she forgive past deceptions and find the courage to love again? Or will she turn away the one man who owns her heart and soul?

Her secret will change his life.

Powerful, and lethal, Kal is a vampire warrior, sworn to protect humans from demons. Loving Katherine too much to pull her into his dangerous world, Kal deserted her, believing his decision was best for them both. But not even time could assuage his yearning for the woman who has captured his heart. As fate tosses them together once again, Kal must fight to win Katherine’s trust and forgiveness before evil separates them forever. But is he ready to become the man she needs him to be? Or will he lose the one woman he can’t live without?


EXCERPT
Once on the veranda, Kal sat on a white wicker loveseat. He pulled his coat tight against him, warding off the cool, damp air. The moon shone through the trees, and stars studded the ebony sky.
If his heart weren’t so full of dread and remorse, he’d take Katherine for a walk later around the grounds. Even though the real beauty of the gardens was asleep for the winter, the yard still held a certain charming quality.
Not going to happen. Once Katherine found out about the prophecy, she’d never want to speak to him again, let alone go for a loving stroll.
His mother’s voice pulled him back to the business at hand. “Son. What is it you have to tell me?”
“Here goes,” he whispered more to himself. “Um…ten years ago I met and fell in love with a human woman. To make a long story short, I left her for reasons I’m not getting into. Anyway, we unexpectedly ran into each other. I found out I have a son.”
Silence followed his speech. Shit, maybe she’d fainted?
“Mom? Ya still there?”
He heard her inhale, but she didn’t answer.
“Did you hear what I said? You have a grandson.”
“I don’t have a grandson.” Her angry reply hissed into his ear, ripping a chuck out of his heart. “I will not accept this…this half-breed as one of my bloodline.”
Cold rage filled him. His fingers clenched around the phone. “Don’t speak about my son that way.”
“How did this happen?”
“You were mated and had two children. Do you really need me to explain it, Mother?”
“How could you do this to me? All the hard work I’ve put in, searching for a suitable mate for you, and you ruin it.” She paused. “How do you know this…child is yours?”
Kal closed his eyes, trying to control his building temper. “He’s a vampire. Plus, he looks exactly like Kedric and me when we were younger.”
“Oh sweet Vampier, father to all vampires. Please lend me strength.”
Whisperings in their native tongue tickled his ear. His righteous mother prayed to her gods.
Try praying for your soul, Mother, because you’re being a royal bitch.
The quiet mumblings stopped, and her hard tone was back in action. “Take him from the mother. We can make this work. Of course, I will have to inform the females I’ve chosen for you of this…atrocity, yet after all, you are a respected warrior from the fifth clan. As long as we make it clear your son will not be in line to be your heir, it shouldn’t be a problem. Although, I think it would be wise if he lived elsewhere. I can set him up in a nice house and hire staff to take care of him. He’ll be well provided for. This way it shouldn’t interfere with your upcoming marriage.”
Shock over her cold and calculating words made him sick to his stomach. “Wow, Mother. You have it all figured out. But for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“The only wedding that’ll take place is one between Katherine and me. That’s her name, if you were wondering. And obviously you didn’t hear me. I love her.”
“Oh, son. You can’t mean that. She’s a human—she’s beneath you. Don’t sacrifice your happiness, because you feel a misguided sense of moral responsibility toward her.”

BUY LINKS:






Author Bio


Brenda Dyer lives in the small town of Sooke off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, two teenage boys, and an assortment of animals.
She is a graduate from LongRidge Writers group.
When she isn't writing you can find her out in her gardens or working with her two miniature horses.
Brenda loves to hear from readers. If you would like to contact her, visit her website.




Saturday, August 24, 2013

Review His Passion, Her Temptation (Dominating BDSM Billionares #4) by Malia Mallory

"His Passion, Her Temptation"
18105446Author: Malia Mallory
Genre: Erotic Romance
Pages: 120
Source: Author in exchange for a honest review.
Published: July 1, 2013
Author's Website

Buy Links: Amazon

Goodreads Blurb:
Granger Pharma executive Monica Granger is hiding her relationship from her family. She has to. Her lover is the son of her father's biggest business rival. Ben Coron is more than Monica can resist; he's everything she's ever wanted - including dominant in bed.

But when Coron Health makes a play for Granger Pharma, Monica's relationship--and her life--blow wide open. She loses her job, and her family rejects her. Someone's stealing Granger's vital trade secrets, and worse, Monica's brother is dodging attempts on his life.

Their passion is too strong to keep Monica and Ben apart for long. They must thwart the takeover and heal the rift between their families. If they don't, they'll never trust one another enough to pursue the dominance and submission they both need.

My Review:
Once again not at all the direction I thought the author would have gone with the series. I was actually looking forward to more Anne and Jonah (from book 3 of the series). Those two are definitely my favorite of the series. His Passion, Her Temptation continues to be an erotic, fun and mysterious addition to the series that any fan of the genre will enjoy.

Ben and Monica meet at a mutual friend’s party and hit it off right from the bat. They get to know one another and find out that their families have a sort of…history. I history that is forever scarred into the minds of Monica and her family. But can history just be left at that? In the past and forgotten so that all may live in the present and actually enjoy life and all if has to offer?


Even though this is a part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone. But there are a few things it might ruin for the reader if they decide to go back and read the others in the series (just some FYI) :)



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