Tasty Tats

I love my ink. I really do, and as I found out, getting a tattoo is likely to be addictive.

It all started with just one little symbol at the top of my spine but soon there were five more - and counting. Seems there can never be just one.

 

 

 

Not long ago, I discovered that sometimes, fictional characters can be just as addictive. For me, Caelan and Dean definitely are such characters. When I finished Ink, Sweat and Tears, I was convinced that I'd told their story. After all, at the end of the book they're together and the future ahead of them looks bright enough. Happy ever after, that's all that counts, right?

No, sir. Sometimes happy ever after isn't enough.

Imagine my surprise when these two came knocking back on my mental door and asked me to write a bit more about them. Obedient as I am (insert cough here) I got down to it and wrote More Ink, Sweat and Tears. It was supposed to be the only follow-up, but what do you know? The story kept unfolding in front of me, spinning further and further and before I knew it, what had been supposed to be a cute novella to explore some aspects a bit further was a full-sized novel. I would have loved to leave it at this, or in fact I would have preferred to tell Caelan and Dean's story in a single novel, but you see, the first book was already published and I couldn't follow up the novella with a novel, so I had to split it. Yet More Ink, Sweat and Tears was born. I know most readers didn't like the end of MIST, and yeah, I probably deserved the flak I got for it, but believe me or not, even I was surprised by it.

 

 

 

 

 

Now the tattoo triplets will be united as the complete series is released as a print combo titled "Ink, Sweat and Tears: In Ink", available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.











Oh, by the way - did you know Caelan & Dean have their own page on Facebook? Drop by if you have a minute and hit "like" for them: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Ink-Sweat-and-Tears/468113533233502

 

 

My Next Big Thing

Well, well, today is a double feature - the usual Tuesday Teaser - HC Brown - and my own My Next Big Thing.  No, not THAT. Keep those thoughts clean, will you?

Here's the story behind it: Last week my fellow Total-E-Bound author Tanith Davenport tagged me in her Next Big Thing, so this week it's my turn. The idea is that I answer ten questions about my latest project (My Next Big Thing) and tag five more authors who will talk about their next big thing next week.

 

So, here we go - My Next Big Thing is

 

 

What is the title of your book?

Re-Submission


How did you come by the idea?

Re-Submission is a book I just had to write. Yes, had to, because one of the main characters, Francis Hollister, kept pestering me about it. He just wouldn't quit until he had his story written.


What genre does your book fall under?

Gay erotic romance, like all my books


Which actors would you choose to play your characters if it were a movie?

Ohhh. I so wish I could cast Francis, Shae and Tyler. I would have loads of fun having them enact all those naughty scenes, but sadly, I can't really make up my mind. You see, you don't get many actors play dirty Doms and sexy subs and Tyler is definitely a kind of his own.


What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Rubbing a toppy sub, a submissive Top and a Dom with attitude together is guaranteed to send sparks flying — but what will they ignite?

Will your book be self-published or traditional?

Re-Submission is contracted with UK-based publisher Total-E-Bound and available in e-book and print format


How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

The first draft took about a month to finish.


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It is hard to compare Re-Submission to other books as I'm using an unusual narrative in it. Whilst the story focusses on the relationship between Francis and his sub Shae, it is told from Tyler's perspective. No worries, though, Tyler plays a big role in their relationship.


Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Writing my first published novel, Sub-Mission, where Francis appears as a secondary character. By the time I had finished that book, I knew I would have to tell Francis' own story too and I started it soon afterwards.


What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Oh, you know - the ususal. BDSM, scorching hot and explicit gay sex, two hot-headed but extremely loveable Irishmen and a story in which just everybody has their own agenda.


So this is My Next Big Thing - and here are the talented authors whose turn it is to tell you all about their Next Big Thing:

Clair de Lune
Gabrielle Holly
Rebecca Joyce
Jill Blair
Marla Monroe
 

And the winners are...

Sorry, guys, this is long overdue. My - hopefully acceptable - excuse is that I've been hiding in my writing cave. I did contact last week's winners by email, but you still have to get your official announcement. Oh, and congratulations, of course!

So, congrats and a big thank you go to Lasha and strive4bst!
*throws confetti*


Thank you to all the other visitors and everyone who left a comment. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you this week, but there is one more round to play, so what'cha waiting for?

What's with the Muses?

I was recently invited as a guest to a new blog run by four lovely fellow authors. It's called "Four Seduced Muses" and I'm reposting the main article here, in case you missed it (Still, the blog is worth checking out, so after you finished here, go visit them: http://fourseducedmuses.blogspot.com)

I always find it hard to come up with something to write. Guest blog posts are even trickier because they're about addressing a different circle of people than my own readers. In this case, however, it was fairly easy for me to find a topic. The name of the blog. Four Seduced Muses. It's a great name and I like the imagery. Above all, I like muses. Or rather, the Muse—my muse, precisely.

 But what is this “muse” that authors, or creative people in general, talk about so frequently? 

“The Muses (…) in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths.”
The classical understanding of the Muses considered them nine goddesses “who embody the arts and inspire creation with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance”.
"In modern English usage, muse (non capitalized but deriving from the classical Muses) can refer in general to a person who inspires an artist, writer, or musician."
So far the Wikipedia explanation. But do muses exist? And if they do, what are they? Goddesses? Ordinary people who, for some reason trigger a creative process in a writer, singer, sculptor or painter? Or is the muse perhaps simply an aspect of a creative person's own mind, of their subconscious, that reveals itself in certain situations or with a certain stimulation? 

Maybe looking at a creative process in action makes it easier to build an opinion. For me, writing usually works like this: I have a general idea to start with. I'll grab my laptop, sit down with it and start. Most of the time, that's the moment the story starts developing. Sometimes what happens is not at all what I thought would happen. Sometimes I find myself writing things I never thought I would write. I wrote characters I never thought I would write. It's like the words are just flowing through me, or, as a friend and fellow author once described it, “the story is being channelled through me”. It already exists somewhere, all I have to do is write it down. 

Now I'd like to hear your opinion. What do you think muses are? Favourable goddesses? Ordinary people? A subconscious part of the artist themselves? 

I honestly don't know. All I know is that my muse can be very generous. Oh, and I think his name is Matt.


If you'd like to read more about what writing means for a passionate author, why don’t you give my Phoenix-series a try? Jazz Spencer can tell you far more eloquently what it’s like to be a neurotic author.

Catching a Phoenix

(MM contemporary erotic romance, novel)
 

Confined to rural England for a holiday, Ryan Holmes isn’t expecting the only person within a five-mile radius to be the man of his dreams. Hotheaded but introverted, Jazz Spencer, Ryan’s solitary neighbour, may look like a dream come true but has the potential to become a nightmare.

Giving in to mutual attraction, they begin an affair, and Ryan finds himself increasingly intrigued. But even though they are obviously very compatible on a physical level, Jazz remains distant. His reluctance to reveal his feelings, or indeed much personal information at all, forces Ryan to make his own assumptions, which mostly turn out to be painfully wrong.

Ryan soon has to realise that whenever he is about to fall in love, Jazz just shies away, leaving Ryan's heart burned by the heat of passion.

Determined that he can solve the mystery that Jazz is to him anyway, Ryan sets out to catch him for good.

 

Publisher’s site: www.bookstrand.com/catching-a-phoenix

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009D4T3WK
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catching-a-phoenix-sage-marlowe/1113126086?ean=9781622418824

 available as e-book and in print

  

Keeping a Phoenix

(MM contemporary erotic romance / novel, sequel to “Catching a Phoenix”)

 

Catching a Phoenix was just the beginning.

Sinfully sexy and intriguingly smart but highly strung and neurotic, best-selling author Jazz Spencer, aka JS Phoenix, isn't one to be kept easily. He wants love but doesn't know how to live his happy-ever-after now that he has found it with Ryan Holmes, who, deeply infatuated with him, would do anything for Jazz - if only he knew how to keep his precious Phoenix.

Just as it seems that Ryan is finally getting somewhere with Jazz, things take a dramatic turn and Ryan finds himself broken-hearted after yet another break-up. He is certain that they will never meet again until one day, Jazz returns into his life, ready to start all over.

As Ryan unveils Jazz’s secrets, he is determined not to let him escape again. Going all in, he shows Jazz exactly how much he's wanted - with astonishing results.

 

Publisher’s site: www.bookstrand.com/keeping-a-phoenix

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1622419642
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-a-phoenix-sage-marlowe/1113126109?ean=9781622419647

available as e-book and in print

 

 

And the winners are...

...Judi and Dennis!

 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog this week and playing along! I'll be in touch with you shortly to send you your choice of book.

Also big thanks to all the others who stepped by and left a comment. There are two more weeks to go and four more books to be won, and of course you're very welcome to enter again.

Tuesday Teaser: Clair de Lune (guest)

I'm thrilled to have a very special Tuesday Teaser today - talented author and dear friend, the lovely Clair de Lune! She's patiently answered a bunch of questions thrown at her and once again, she's managed to make me blush. Wanna know why? Read the interview, I'm sure you can work it out...

 

 

 

Q. What genre do you write and why?

 A. My first book was contemporary BDSM erotica. When that was accepted, I had an idea for a Regency ménage mystery, which I wrote at the same time as book 2 in the “Prometheus in Chains” series. When I retired, I had time to read for the first time in years. Then, I bought a Kindle and let myself loose on Amazon. I enjoyed reading BDSM fiction and bought some factual books on the subject. When it came to writing my first book, the genre was obvious. I’d always loved the Regency period and read widely about it, both fact and fiction so the Regency novel was no surprise. What was a surprise was the ménage. I’d never written anything apart from the first two Prometheus books, so a ménage, with hindsight, seems a bit of a reach, but I enjoyed writing it and that’s what counts.

 

Q. Do you start with plot or characters?

A. Characters always come first, well if you can call 9 books always. With “The Locket” the triplets came into my mind and, once I’d worked out what they looked like, the heroine and her plot came next. It’s the same with the “Prometheus in Chains” series. “Initiation” had several secondary characters all with their own stories and gradually I’m writing them.

 

Q. Do you have a particular person, or picture of an actor or actress in mind when you describe your characters?

A. No, I don’t. I suppose that a particular type of hero and heroine appeal to me so maybe that does influence me. Master Angus has a lot of Sean Connery in him, which is no surprise to me. Mostly it’s a physical description that fits the name I’ve chosen. Llewellyn in “Reconciliation” is Welsh, so the huge rugby players, born of the mining industry with their love of singing and community had to play a part in his character.

 

Q. How long does it take to write a book?

A. It varies. With “Initiation” it was very quick, just a few weeks, the story meant a lot to me and it flowed. It still can be quick but it depends on how fast the story develops. If there’s a hitch, then I have to leave it and think until I get the characters, or the plot, out of the knot they’re in. Sometimes it’s as simple as sleeping on it and waking the next day with the solution, sometimes it’s redoing chapters. The more books I write the more admin I have to do and that plus real life with the concerns of family, home and garden, slows down the rate at which I can write.

 

Q. Does reader reaction matter?

A. Yes it does. While I write because I have a story to tell, at the end of every book I add my email address. I like to hear from my readers and answer every email and Facebook contact. I think you can learn a lot from reader reaction, and some of my readers have become friends. Even negative feedback can be helpful provided it’s constructive, as everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

Q. What are you working on now?

A. I’ve just written Prometheus’s own story and I’m half way through his friend, Jack Robinson’s story. Jack is the ex-SAS friend who helps Master Eric out from time to time. I have a dragon shape-shifting series to come out in January 2013. That’s a new genre for me. During a family holiday to Moray in Scotland this year, we revisited Loch Ness. The dark waters of the loch and a line from an old song “There is a monster in Loch Ness the fact ye cannae hide” were enough to set off a train of thought and the first novel Dragon’s Mate was started on Findhorn beach, while watching my granddaughters make sand-castles.

 

Q. If someone hasn’t read any of your work, which book would you recommend they start with ?

A. For me “Initiation” will always be the best book to start with. Although the novels in the “Prometheus in Chains” series can be read as stand-alone books, many of the main characters for them appear in “Initiation”. It gives depth to the subsequent books if you know their back story. Each book is labelled no 1, 2 , 3, because, as a reader, I found it frustrating in the extreme trying to work out the correct order for some of the series I read.

 

Q. What are you reading now?

A. I have to admit I don’t have much time to read now but I just bought a copy of “Catching a Phoenix.” I loved the cover. I downloaded it to my Kindle and thought I’d just open it and read a chapter, then I couldn’t put it down. It’s a very good book, Sage, and so well written. I’ve just finished  “2 Sirs for Sasha” by Cooper McKenzie. I love her Esoteria series.

 

Thank you for inviting me onto your Blog, Sage. It’s been a pleasure talking to you.

 

 

Thanks for being my guest - as always, I enjoyed talking to you !

   ~Sage

Clair de Lune is published with Siren-BookStrand, Inc. Her next book, the fourth in her sexy "Prometheus in Chains" series, releases tomorrow, November 14th - and boy, she's got some hot stuff going on in there!

Learning to Live With Her Master

by Clair de Lune

[Siren Classic: Erotic Consensual BDSM Romance, public exhibition, voyeurism, spanking, caning, figging, sex toys, HEA]

 

After the collaring ceremony, Jane Browne and Angus Scott go on holiday to Southern Spain, and the adjustment begins. Jane is fast regaining her confidence, and they are falling more deeply in love every day.

All is not plain sailing, as when they return, they discover Emma has encountered some danger of her own. Jane loses her temper and challenges Master Angus and his nephews, who are Doms. To avoid losing face, Angus is forced to punish her. After seeing how much he disliked having to punish her, will Jane forgive him?

Then Jane overhears a beautiful woman claim Angus is her love, and she flees. Will Angus lose her when this woman from his past tries to claim him? Can Jane and Angus overcome their difficulties and learn to live together at last?

A Siren Erotic Romance

available to pre-order now: http://www.bookstrand.com/learning-to-live-with-her-master
(releases November 14th)


for all books by Clair de Lune go to: www.bookstrand.com/clair-de-lune

VIP release: Re-Submission

I'm thrilled to announce the VIP release of

Re-Submission

 

MM contemporary erotic romance, BDSM / Novel

Heat level: Total-E-Melting
Published by: Total-E-Bound Publishing

VIP release November 12th / general release December 10th, available to pre-order now from Total-E-Bound: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1887

 

Rubbing a toppy sub, a submissive Top and a Dom with attitude together is guaranteed to send sparks flying — but what will they ignite?

Meet Tyler Kane. Ballsy and headstrong, he's far from being the submissive type. Francis Hollister, Dom and proud owner of a BDSM club, couldn't agree more — and yet, as Tyler carelessly suggests a bet, Francis sees an opportunity arise and decides to take him up on it.

Soon Tyler finds himself in Francis' club and about to be trained as a sub. When Shae, the gorgeous Top Francis has assigned to teach him, doesn't appear to be quite as dominant as his role would lead to believe and Francis turns out to be a rather versatile Dom, Tyler sees a perfect match just waiting to be made happen. Too bad though that he's the only one who sees it. Or maybe he isn’t?

Curious to find out what happens when you rub a submissive Top, a toppy sub and a Dom with attitude together and what exactly the sparks from that explosive combination ignite, Tyler enlists the help of Pierce, Francis' brother, and his partner Noah, and sets out on a mission.

While Tyler's plan seems to work out astonishingly well, it seems that there's more than one man in the club who is pursuing a hidden agenda…

 

Reader Advisory: While this book stands alone, it features Noah and Pierce from 'Sub-Mission' and follows up on their story, so you might wish to read that first.

 

General release date December 10th - become a Total-E-Bound VIP customer and get your copy today at a discount! http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1887

 

Snippet from "Re-Submission"

Here's a snippet from Re-Submission - this scene finds Tyler and Shae at Shae's home, shortly after Tyler overheard a mysterious visit from Francis:

When several minutes had passed and Shae still didn’t show any signs of being about to move, Tyler quietly left his watching post and went to him.

“Shae?” he whispered.

Shae jumped. “Yeah?”

“Everything all right?”

For a moment, Tyler thought Shae was crying. He looked upset enough, and there was a giveaway tightness in his voice, but his eyes were dry.

Shae rubbed his forehead. “Yeah, sure.”

“That was Francis, right?”

“Right.”

“A bit late for a social call, isn’t it?”

“Depends on your working hours, I guess,” Shae replied.

“What did he want?” Not the most discreet of approaches, but Tyler didn’t believe in pussyfooting around.

“He…” Shae glanced up at him, and for the fraction of a second, the extent of his misery showed in his eyes before he managed to get a grip on himself and shook his head. “That’s between him and me.”

“He’s not…pestering you, is he?”

“Pestering me?” Shae let out a soft chuckle at the suggestion. “Gosh, no. What makes you think that?”

“Only that he seemed to want something that you weren’t willing to give.”

“Oh. You’ve been listening.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help it, what with the lack of walls and all. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t catch the details, though.”

“Good.”

“I just thought that maybe there is something you would like to talk about,” Tyler offered.

“No. Thanks, but no.”

“What’s the deal between the two of you?”

“What makes you think there was anything between us?”

“Hmm, let me think.” Tyler put on a mock thoughtful face. “You have sessions together that you don’t want the others to know about. He turns up at your place in the middle of the night and whatever he wanted from you leaves you in distress.” Placing the tips of his fingers under Shae’s chin, he made him tilt his head up to meet his eyes. “Come on, spit it out. Tell me what’s upsetting you so much.”

“It’s not…” Catching Tyler’s stern glance, Shae huffed. “Looks like it’s not just back to bed for us now, huh? Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

Shae went to the kitchen and busied himself with the coffee machine, obviously unwilling to say more.

“So, what is it?”

“It’s just…hard sometimes,” Shae said, keeping his back turned to Tyler.

“What is?” Tyler asked again. He had a suspicion of what was going on, but he wanted to hear it from Shae. When Shae didn’t answer, Tyler went to stand behind him and put his hand on Shae’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You love him, don’t you?”

Shae’s head snapped up and he looked gobsmacked. “L—what? I… What makes you think I…uh, that?” The expression in his eyes said everything that his mouth didn’t.

 

find out more: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1887

This week's contest

The clock is ticking... today's the final chance to enter for this week's e-book giveaway!

It's simple, just leave a comment on any of the posts that tickle your interest along with a valid e-mail address, and you're entered.

Entries are accepted until 6pm GMT, all comments received after that will automatically be considered for the next round.

So - thanks for visiting and good luck!

Tuesday Teaser: Lori King (guest)

Today's Tuesday Teaser is the fabulous Lori King with some inside info about her Gray Pack series - and a sexy excerpt! Oh, and do check out her blog, because one of Lori's many talents is writing beautiful poems. Her "Hiding From Myself" made my eyes all teary...

Hello to all of Sage’s readers, and thanks for stopping by to meet me! I’m Lori King, an erotic romance author with Siren-Bookstrand. Currently, I have two books out and they are the first two books in my paranormal series The Gray Pack. They follow a pack of werewolves who live outside of Kansas City, and work hard to keep the secret of their true nature from the humans that surround them.

My hero’s are usually very Alpha, and my heroine’s vary from submissive to feisty. They all have baggage, because let’s face it, we all have baggage, and they have real emotions involved. I write about men with a passion for their women that will stand the test of time, and women who melt when their men come close. Let me share by stories with you…

 


In Book 1, Fire of the Wolf, readers will meet identical twins Devin and Damon Gray, the Alphas of The Gray Pack, and firemen at the Kansas City fire department. These two always put family first, until they rescue the woman destined to be their mate from a burning building. Now, how to tell a human woman that she’s predestined to live the rest of her life as a werewolf, and married to TWO men….

http://bookstrand.com/fire-of-the-wolf

 

In Book 2, Reflections of the Wolf, we pick up where we left off with Liam Gray, cousin and Beta wolf to Devin and Damon. He gets smacked in the face with a human mate himself, but this woman has no interest in what he has to offer. Tina Jameson has wiped her hands of men, after her fiance is killed in a random act of violence, so when Liam makes an announcement to the world that she will be his mate…well the sparks fly in more ways than one!

http://bookstrand.com/reflections-of-the-wolf

Here’s a quick excerpt from Tina and Liam’s story:

“She’s okay, Liam. She’s just exhausted and overwhelmed. Give her some breathing room.” Tina could hear another man’s voice talking to Liam, but she couldn’t seem to make her eyes open to see who it was.

“Why did she pass out then?” Liam’s voice was annoyed, and she thought she heard him growl a bit. Damn, that was sexy.

“Who knows why women faint? What were you guys talking about?” A third masculine voice spoke.

“Shit.” Liam muttered. “I told her she was my mate. I didn’t mean to scare her.”

Tina could just imagine the look on Liam’s face right now. She understood that Caroline believed in this whole mating thing, and that was fine for her life, but Tina wasn’t interested in a serious relationship. She had lived through her share of heartache when it came to men, and the pain just wasn’t worth it anymore.

She took a deep breath and forced her eyes open a crack. Instantly Liam and two other men were leaning over her. What the hell did they feed these men? They were enormous and gorgeous!

“Oh my God, I’ve died and gone to single women’s heaven,” she said, moaning and then blushing when the two new men laughed, and Liam frowned. “Who are you guys?”

“Hey, Sweet Tina, nice and easy now. How are you feeling?” Liam’s eyes held compassion, concern, and a glimmer of apprehension. A gentle tug of desire shot through her body at his soft endearment. He helped her sit up, scooting to sit behind her to brace her back against his chest. She was now between his outstretched thighs with her head tucked just under his chin and his arms around her protectively.

“Like a werewolf beat the shit out of me,” she grumbled, and all three men laughed. She felt Liam relax against her a little bit. He rested his hands on her flat tummy, and his thumbs rubbed tiny circle patterns through the T-shirt she wore. She could feel sparks shoot across her skin, and she grimaced in her mind. Her body sure wanted a relationship with him.

“Good. I was afraid you were just going to say fine or something silly like that.” His amusement rippled through her, making her smile.

“Hi, Tina. I’m Rafe Whetstone. This is my brother Ryley.” He indicated the beautiful godlike creature standing next to him. “We were quite impressed with your show of bravery in there, but you better take it easy for a bit. If your back gets worse, Liam will get you to the doctor. You hit that wall really hard when he threw you. And now with you passing out on us like that, it makes me wonder about your head. Is it hurting?” Rafe looked like a Viking warrior with golden-blond hair that was a little shaggy and electric-blue eyes that seemed to assess her in one lazy sweep. She shivered at the look of interest heating his gaze and instinctively pressed backward into Liam. His arms tightened around her possessively.

“Yes, but I took a baseball bat to the back of it a few hours ago, so it’s to be expected. I think my head hurts more now because it’s trying to process all of this…umm…this werewolf love story my best friend is apparently living.” She rubbed her temples trying to ease the ache. Liam’s strong hand moved to the base of her neck and started massaging the tension away. She groaned softly, and Ryley laughed loudly.

“Yeah, well, if Liam has his way, you will be living your own shortly. We have to go talk with Dev and Damon. Take care of your girl, Liam. I wouldn’t want to have to sweep her away from you and make her fall in love with me.” Ryley winked at Tina, and Liam growled a threat.

“Oh, pumpkin, that’s sweet, but I’m just not sure there is a man alive that’s qualified for that job,” she said, smiling sweetly at Ryley as he and the others laughed.

“Oh brother, you’re going to have your hands full with this little spitfire. Good luck!” Ryley teased Liam, and Tina’s eyes narrowed at him.

“He won’t have to worry about me shortly,” she grumbled, but the pressure increased from Liam’s hands, and a low moan escaped her throat. All three men ignored her implied threat, and it grated her nerves.

Ryley really was very sexy. He matched his brother in golden looks, but he kept his hair much longer. It brushed the tops of his shoulders, and his eyes were just a touch lighter than Rafe’s with flecks of green in them. It seemed all of the firemen of Battalion One were flirts with bodies built on Olympus. She would have to see about spending more time with Caroline if this was the company she was keeping.

She watched the two Viking warriors walk away and had to swallow hard at the sight of their tight butts. Wow, maybe I hit my head harder than I thought. She chided herself for drooling over those two men when the one that really scared her was holding her in his arms. Worrying now about what Ryley had said, she fidgeted in Liam’s grip. Liam couldn’t really believe that she was his mate, could he? Goose bumps prickled over her skin when Liam kissed the nape of her neck where he had been gently massaging.

“Are they family, too?” she asked Liam curiously.

Liam tensed before replying. “Yes, they are my adopted brothers. You can trust them. Well, you can trust them with your life, but Ryley won’t ever stop trying to get into your pants.”

She laughed out loud and felt a surge of feminine confidence. “I’m sure I will enjoy his attempts.”

Liam growled behind her, and she stilled in his arms. That was definitely a possessive growl if she had ever heard one. Turning to look back over her shoulder with narrowed eyes, she took in his jealous frown and huffed with irritation. After a few moments of glaring at each other in silence, he sighed and relaxed, and she couldn’t help but smile at her victory. She wouldn’t tolerate being told who to spend time with, no matter who it was.

 

 

The Gray Pack is an ongoing series, and Legacy of the Wolf (Book3) should be out after the New Year! I hope you’ll pick them up at http://bookstrand.com/lori-king, and fall in love with these Alpha werewolves the way I have!

 

Keep track of my progress on future books by following me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lori.King.Author

OR follow my Blog for other works I’ve written from erotic teasers to poetry and random thoughts

http://www.lorikingbooks.wordpress.com

 

Thanks Sage for sharing your blog for a day!

 

Don’t forget to Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance!~Lori

 

 

Threesomes

Threesomes are popular these days. At least in literature. And it makes you wonder, doesn't it? I think the fascination is understandable. Even in the happiest of relationships, who doesn't sometimes wish for their partner to show a different set of character traits? Show just that little bit more enthusiasm to go out for long walks with you. Appreciate a cuddle on the sofa. Enjoy horror movies as much as you do. There's bound to be something where you're interests just don't match, and that's where another, a second, partner might come in handy.

Not to mention the sex. Enjoying the attention of two lovers simultaneously? Blows your mind...

 

But my question is, does it work? Can it work? Most people I know either believe in monogamous relationships, i.e. two people together, or they're single and looking for The One. What does it take to realise that the one person you're with is not enough and how do you go about finding a third? Or what if you're in a working relationship and suddenly there's someone else? Would you take the risk to include him/her? How big is the chance that your partner will feel attracted to that other person, too, fall in love with them, even?

 

Admittedly, I'm raising more questions than giving answers today, but these were the questions on my mind while writing Triple Trust, a story about three men who come to understand that sometimes, two just aren't enough. I believe I found some answers to my question as I followed Cole, Seth and Dylan along their bumpy and painful way to love and if you'd like, you can walk that road with them.

When trust doesn't come easy and two can't make it work, then three might be just what it takes to create the perfect relationship.

When Dylan Mitchell hires the indecently beautiful part-time fidelity tester and full-time cynic Cole Peckham to find out how loyal his boyfriend Seth Knowles really is, he is ready to expect the worst. What he doesn't expect is the immense temptation Cole presents to him—and to Seth. Or the instant attraction Cole feels for both of them.

Deeply disappointed by Dylan's lack of trust, Seth leaves Dylan both single and heartbroken, but free to turn to Cole for comfort.

A cruel twist of fate soon requires Cole to put much more into this fresh relationship than he'd bargained for. While he is determined to give his best, it looks like Dylan might need more than Cole can give him—especially since Dylan is still in love with Seth. But when two can't make it work, three might be just what it takes to create the perfect relationship…

 

 

Publisher’s site: www.bookstrand.com/triple-trust

Also available from Amazon & Barnes and Noble, as e-book and in print

Sage Is Out

 

 

 

I'm having a rare day out today as I'm frollicking with four seduced muses - wanna step by and say hello?  http://fourseducedmuses.blogspot.com

The Beauty of Independent Body Parts

His hands reached out, eager to caress and stroke, searching for the tempting warmth and the silk of his lover’s smooth skin.

Sounds good, huh? Yeah, well, we’ll see about that. We all know what this lucky guy feels as his hands reach out to do their thing. Anticipation and longing. Lust, possibly. We experience his thoughts transmitted by the action of his hands and we all understand what it means. And yet, what they’re doing is wrong—so, so wrong.

If you read this, chances are that you’re either a passionate reader, maybe an author or—uh-oh—an editor (Hey, if you’re an editor I’ve worked with: My tongue is firmly in my cheek during this post).

Anyway, you probably already know that in publishing circles, hands that reach out on their own, eyes that make contact across the room, and even eager cocks that yearn for release, or in short, body parts that act independently, are frowned upon, to say the least. Often they’re downright forbidden.

But why? Seriously, why?

I’ve been through enough edits with capable editors to have had the use of independent body parts (almost) drilled out of me. It’s rare these days that my addled writer’s brain absently lapses back and tells my fingers to type such a sentence in a WIP (needless to say that such fatal errors are removed as soon as my eyes pick them up). When I come across such a phrase in one of my book that’s already published, my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Naturally, the way I read other author’s books since I’ve delved into the colourful world of editorial comment boxes has changed. Often I inadvertently find myself reading copy, which kinda spoils the experience, but that’s a topic for another day. I started reading this book. It came highly recommended on Goodreads. Hmm. Readers seem to love it but for me it wasn’t exactly love at first sight, which had mostly to do with the story line. That aside, I soon realised that there appears to be something odd with the editing and yes, I started reading copy, so I put the book away for a couple of days and didn’t pick it up again until today, when I was desperate for just something to read—and boy, I was in for a surprise.

...His shoulders dropped for a second and then tensed...My nails dug in my thigh…I laughed as his brows curled in confusion…he drawled, blank eyes casually checking me out...

These are just a few examples from the couple of pages I managed to read before my break was over. Those are phrases that I very well could have written not so long ago, but that probably wouldn’t have made it past the grammar police. And rightly so, I would have said until not so long ago, because I tended to agree that body parts shouldn’t be allowed to do things independently. Imagine what could happen if they did:

I’m sorry, officer, but you can’t blame me for speeding because, you see, it was actually my foot that pressed the pedal down.

Oh, no, I didn’t slap that cheating bastard of a husband. That was just my hand.

 But I didn’t kiss that other woman, darling. It was my mouth that couldn’t resist to taste her lips.

 

Also, quite frequently, if read literally, independent body parts can make for somewhat, uh, unsavoury images.

His eyes crossed the room.

Eyes are one of my own favourites, as my lovely editors can confirm, lol, so here’s another:

He dropped his eyes to the floor. (No, really - eouw!)

Another good one is His voice said. Yes, I used that. The comment it earned me was: “His voice doesn’t say anything, he does.” Yes, I know. But it sounded good at the moment I wrote it, and as every writer knows, eventually you reach a point where you’re so desperate for some variation of this and that, he said or he sounded whatever that you’re willing to make voices say some stuff, too. Just like you become tired of he reached out to whatever, He put his hand on her thigh, They pressed their lips together, He breached the tightly sealed muscle with his finger and consider just letting his darned hand reach out or rest on her thigh, let their lips press together or even allow his finger to breach that unwilling muscle.

And why not? Our bodies do stuff on their own all the time, don’t they? Or when was the last time you had to tell your lungs to snatch a breath? Or your heart to keep pumping blood through your veins? Can’t remember, can you?

So why do our heroes (and heroines, for those who write female characters) have to always be in full control of every single one of their body parts? Why can’t they ever simply lean back and enjoy the ride their own lustful bodies take them for?

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying independent body parts should be used liberally, and you should always keep an eye on what the sentence means if read literally, but come on – those phrases make for a nice change and most readers (myself included) won’t even notice this when they’re absorbed in a story. It’s only when the story itself is crap that our minds drift off to analyse the writing.

Having said that, here’s one I’d veto: Retrieving my wallet from my discarded khakis, my eyes widened. Yeah, careful with that, because when eyes are taking wallets from khakis they’re really going a bit too far. Next they'll snatch your credit card and go shopping for mascara and eye shadow.

Books can teach us lessons, and the lesson I have learned from this book, is that even if understood literally, or technically incorrect, independent body parts can make for an entertaining, vivid read if you allow yourself to switch off your brain, sit back and enjoy the ride an author takes you for. I’m certainly grateful for the lesson this book and its author have taught me and look forward to reading the next 300 or so pages of it.

And, if you think about it, how do we perceive other people’s actions? Do we see them reach out their hand or do we see their hand reach out?

 

November is Contest Month!

Want to win an e-book? November is contest month here on my blog! Starting today, I'll be giving away free copies of my backlist titles (winner's choice, one book per winner) to two winners per week throughout November. All you have to do is leave a comment on one of the blog posts - any post - along with a valid e-mail address and you're entered.

Winners will be drawn at random on Thursdays at 6pm GMT. Entries received on Thursdays after 6pm will automatically be considered for the next round. Contest closes at 6pm GMT on November 29th, 2012

 

For all contest rules, please go to http://www.sage-marlowe.com/p/contests.html

 

 

Good Luck!