Book showcase: A Centaur's Solstice Wish by Siobhan Muir

Hello my lovelies, 

It's been a while since I've hosted guests on my site, so I am even more delighted to have a very special guest here today. She's visited my blog a few times already, but this time she is back with her first ever MM-romance story, A Centaur's Solstice Wish. She claims I talked her into writing it, but I think the truth is, I nagged her into it, lol. I've had the pleasure of beta-reading this lovely story and I can tell you, it's a sweet and smooth read by a talented author. But enough from me, here's the book, go buy it and see for yourselves ;) 

~Sage                                                      

When making wishes on the Hunter’s star...

It will take more than wishes to improve Sedgewick Icetrotter’s Solstice. After being sent to the infirmary, again, for dislocating his shoulder while stringing his bow, he figures he’s got a snowball’s chance in hell to impress the centaur he loves. Until Corporal Ronin Creekjumper brings in two injured centaurs suffering from unusual insect bites, and Sedgewick knows how to treat them.

Ronin can’t believe his good luck when Sedgewick saves his men. It also gives him a chance to do more than light candles for his injured friend. Ronin takes the chance and invites Sedgewick to spend the Solistice holiday together. Just the two of them.

And a pack of hungry dire wolves who’d like to put Sedgewick on the menu. Who says Solstice can’t be exciting?

***Excerpt***

A Centaur’s Solstice Wish

Copyright © 2015 Siobhan Muir

All Rights Reserved

"Hey, Sedgewick. How are you feeling tonight?"

Bethany stopped beside his window and gave him a warm smile.

"I'm feeling better tonight, Master Healer. Thank you."

"Oh, you can call me Bethany. It's Christmas Eve. No need to stand on ceremony tonight." She tilted her head with a small frown. "Are you having trouble sleeping? Is the pain bothering you?"

"No, Ma—Bethany." He grimaced at his slip. "I heard you singing."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it had been that loud. I just get into the spirit of the season and lose track of where I am." She shook her head. "I should remember to be quieter."

"No, no, it was beautiful. Peaceful and yet wistful. Are the songs from your home?"

"The Christmas tunes? Yes. Things we used to sing as kids. We'd go caroling from house to house when my mother—my dam was alive." The Master Healer smiled as she set a lit candle down on the windowsill. "It was damn cold, but the singing kept us warm and there was always hot cider or cocoa waiting for us when we got home."

"That sounds like a pleasant memory." He grimaced as his shoulder twinged. "Full of magic."

"It's a magical time of year."

Sedgewick snorted and shook his head. "Not magical, just harder. Colder. Darker."

"That's why we have candles and cheery fires, and after the solstice, the days get longer again." Bethany gave him an understanding smile. "But it can be a lonely time without loved ones." She sighed a little. "I miss my brother most of all."

Sedgewick heard the sorrow in her voice. "Has your brother returned to the Goddess?"

"What? Oh, no. At least, not that I've heard." She shook her head. "I just don't get to see him much, and now, not at all."

"Why is that, Master Healer?"

"He's a soldier, a fairly elite one, and he's always off saving the world. It's impossible to know if he'll be home for Christmas, and most of the time he's deployed somewhere exotic." She snorted with amusement. "The lucky jerk usually gets to go somewhere warm in the southern hemisphere.” But her smile fell away. “Unfortunately, he doesn't get to have fun there. He's a sniper." She paused. "Do you know what a sniper is?"

Sedgewick frowned and shook his head. "I'm not familiar with the term."

Bethany bit her bottom lip in thought. "He's really sneaky and quiet, and usually takes the enemy out by long range...bow shots. He's too far away for them to see him."

"That doesn't seem like an honorable way to fight."

Bethany nodded. "No, but it's a good way to keep his team safe and to facilitate rescue operations. He's their backup." She smiled a little. "Still, I send prayers up each year to keep him safe. I'm his backup."

"It's good to have brothers-in-arms, or sisters as the case may be, who have your back." Sedgewick turned his gaze out to the snowy night. "I often wish to have such companions."

Bethany raised an eyebrow. "You don't have that now in your cohort?"

Sedgewick shook his head and glowered. "No. I'm a terrible soldier and the other men know it. This injury just confirms it. So I'll just have to go on wishing."

"Where I grew up there's this belief that at this time of year, magic really happens for those who don't have any." She waved the hand glowing with her healing magic. "I didn't always have this ability, so I don't count. But the saying goes if you make a Christmas wish, the magic of the season makes it come true."

Sedgewick snorted. "You think the Goddess Epona will grant my wishes just because it's snowing outside?"

Bethany gave him a secret smile and shrugged. "I don't know, Sedgewick, but the energy at this time of year is different, more magical and mysterious. I'm sure you can feel it when the land goes to bed under a blanket of snow. But I do know that miracles are known to happen around this time of year. Too many stories about it to ignore."

She winked as she patted his human shoulder and continued lighting fragrant candles around the room despite the lanterns. Sedgewick turned back to the window and considered what she'd said. The snow had slowed and the clouds cleared a piece of sky. The Hunter's Point, the brightest northern-most star, glowed from its little patch of clear sky like a beacon to all those below. He stared up at it, wondering if Bethany knew more than he about the magic of the world than him.

She certainly uses it more regularly.

He sighed and straightened his shoulders as he faced the window, mentally shaking his head at his whimsy, but still incapable of not trying.

Sweetest Epona, Goddess of all the Herds, please hear my prayer. Please let me find my heart's desire tonight. He paused, trying to visualize what that would be. He closed his eyes, imagining himself working on something with great skill and proficiency, enough to garner admiration for his abilities from the community. At the last second as his mind's eyes swung around the crowd, Ronin appeared beside him and wrapped a burly arm around Sedgewick's shoulders, squeezing in a proprietary manner. Oh, yes, please.

Get your copy here: 

Amazon

All Romance eBooks

Smashwords

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Siobhan Muir lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with her husband, two daughters, and a vegetarian cat she swears is a shape-shifter, though he's never shifted when she can see him. When not writing, she can be found looking down a microscope at fossil fox teeth, pursuing her other love, paleontology. An avid reader of science fiction/fantasy, her husband gave her a paranormal romance for Christmas one year, and she was hooked for good.

In previous lives, Siobhan has been an actor at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, a field geologist in the Aleutian Islands, and restored inter-planetary imagery at the USGS. She’s hiked to the top of Mount St. Helens and to the bottom of Meteor Crater.

Siobhan writes kick-ass adventure with hot sex for men and women to enjoy. She believes in happily ever after, redemption, and communication, all of which you will find in her paranormal romance stories.

Siobhan’s latest release, A Centaur’s Solstice Wish, is the second story in her new Rifts series. She has published A Hell Hound’s Fire (a free read), The Beltane Witch, and Cloudburst Ice Magic in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Siobhan has also published Bronco’s Rough Ride and The Navy’s Ghost in the Bad Boys of Beta Squad series, Not a Dragon’s Standard Virgin and Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack through Siren Publishing, and Her Devoted Vampire through Evernight Publishing.

Find Siobhan on the net:

Website: http://siobhanmuir.com
Blog: http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com
Google Plus: http://plus.google.com/u/0/118081545120488658410/posts
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Official.Siobhan.Muir
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SiobhanMuir
Tsu.co: http://www.tsu.co/SiobhanMuir
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5760938.Siobhan_Muir
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/siobhanmuir35
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Siobhan+Muir
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Siobhan-Muir/e/B007CRB2F6/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/siobhan-muir

Special Guest: Author Chris Karlsen

Hi all, 

I'm thrilled to welcome a special guest to my blog today. She knows how to handle handcuffs as well as a keyboard and took mercy on a character she'd already killed when begged to let him live. 

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Chris Karlsen!

The business ones

Please give us a short introduction about yourself
I’ve always been an avid reader and the desire to write was sparked in my teen years. By the time I reached college age, I waffled on pursuing a writing career as I feared I’d never make a living at it. I chose the safer path and got a degree in business. A few years later I joined the police department and worked for two different agencies over the course of the next twenty-five years. I never lost interest in writing. After I retired from law enforcement, I decided to finally pursue my dream. I started my first book, Heroes Live Forever, and also began taking writing courses to learn the craft.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write romance but in two subgenres. My Knights in Time series are paranormal romance books and my Dangerous Waters series books are romantic thrillers.

Tell us about your latest release
My newest book is Knight Blindness. It’s book three in my Knights in Time series (all of which are set in England). The hero is a character from book 2, Journey in Time. I had killed him in that book (off page by reference). My critique partners loved him and insisted I let him live. I rewrote the scene and instead of making his death a certainty, I left it open as to whether he lived or not. Their reaction gave me the idea to give the character his own story, which turned out to be Knight Blindness.

Do you need a special setting to write in or do you have a ceremony to get you in the mood? What does it look like?
I don’t have a ritual and I’m not superstitious by nature. I have this little niche area between the living room and the dining room that I have my desk, computer, printer and a substantial cupboard for my reference books and bits and bobs for writing (some knick knacks and keepsakes along with small post it notes that I have stuck everywhere *grins* )

Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publication
I was both thrilled and nervous. Now I’d discover if readers liked my story.

Has the release of your first book changed anything in your personal life? If so, what?
No, not really, not in my interaction with my husband but it has given me focus, a place to be in the afternoons and a goal.

Where do you find inspiration?
I am moved by history, both events and historical figures. I like to build stories around timeframes and folks I am most interested in, like the Battle of Poitiers. That battle is used as the groundwork for my Knights in Time series. Or, the Trojan War, Hector and Achilles, are a fascination I gave the heroine in my archaeological thrillers from my Dangerous Waters series.

Who is your favourite character and why?
Wow, tough question. I’d reluctantly choose Charlotte, my nautical archaeologist in Golden Chariot and Byzantine Gold. I’d pick her because a part of me believes if I could go back in time, nautical archaeology is a profession I’d have enjoyed going into.

A favourite line from one of your books
For me every book has a favorite line. From Knight Blindness I’d say: “Not all lies are bad. Not all truths are good.”

The nosy ones

How much of the real “you” is in your stories?
A fair amount in the heroines and a goodly amount in the heroes as well. I work at putting myself in their place as I give them different scenarios and problems and happy events. I am constantly thinking-What would I do? The characters have advantages I don’t at times and that helps. They can be younger, stronger, and braver.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who was it?
Well, it is going back to my teens but I’d say I was rather smitten with James Bond. I read all Ian Fleming’s books two and three times. When they cast Sean Connery I thought it was perfect choice. I also think Daniel Craig is an excellent choice for the latest Bonds.

The steamiest scene from your books
There’s a love scene in Knight Blindness where the hero blindfolds the heroine by tying a silk scarf around her eyes and then proceeds to make love to her. The scene is done through all their senses except sight.

Favourite comfort food?
Potatoes in any form but mostly I love mashed. It’s safe to say I never met a potato I didn’t like *grins*

A person you admire
My late father. He was brave beyond imagining, honorable to a fault, and had a great sense of humor. He wasn’t afraid to laugh at life or himself.

If you could ask any person in the world one question of your choice, who would it be and what would you ask them? I don’t know that I can narrow my choice down that far when it comes to a person or question. If I got my hands on various people, I’d have a bazillion questions, some friendly, some not so much.

 

The fast ones

Favourite colour? Candy apple red

Favourite pet? Sascha, my geriatric doxie who passed away a few years back

Dog or cat? Dog(s) we have 5 rescues

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Hunky or chunky? Hunky

Suit & tie or jeans & boots? Suit and tie

Walk in the park or chat over cocktails? Chat over cocktails

Thank you for the interview, Chris. I loved getting to know you and I already know which book I'll pick next time I'm in the mood for some crime, lol. Let's take a look at your book now, shall we?

Knight Blindness 

Ready for battle, Medieval English knight, Stephen Palmer, charges into the French enemy’s cavalry line. Heeding a warning given months before, he hesitates as he comes face-to-face with the knight in the warning. Struck down in the year 1356, he finds himself landing in the year 2013. Grievously wounded, he’s taken to a nearby hospital. Confused by the new world surrounding him, he attempts to convince the staff he’s from another time, only to find they think him mad.

Rescued by friends, who, to his surprise, have also come through time, he must find a way to function in this odd modern England. He is quickly enchanted by the kind Esme Crippen, the young woman hired to tutor him. She too is enchanted by him. Tempted to deepen the relationship, she hesitates thinking him adorable, but mad. He must discover the means for getting her to believe the truth, all the while, unknown to him, he didn’t come forward in time alone. The enemy knight has also traveled to 2013.

French noble, Roger Marchand, doesn’t question why the English knight who charged him hesitated. That fraction of a pause gave him the advantage needed and he brought his sword down upon the Englishman’s helmet hard, unhorsing the knight. He moved to finish the Englishman off when the world changed in a rush of sensations as he is ripped through time.

Seeking a reason for the terrible event, he enters a nearby chapel. There, thinking God has chosen him for a quest to turn French defeat that day in 1356 to victory, he sets out to find the English knight. The man he is convinced holds the key to time. If he returns to the day of the battle, he can warn his king of mistakes that snatched victory from them.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Blindness-Knights-Time-ebook/dp/B00E2QS488/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t 

About the author:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write two different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is, Dangerous Waters.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Chris across the web:

Website: www.chriskarlsen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/chriskarlsenwriter
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/

Release Day Special: MK Schiller

Hi all, 

Today's special guest is celebrating release day. She's part of the TEB family and well, she has a way with words... Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome MK Schiller!

The business ones
Please give us a short introduction about yourself
My name is MK Schiller, I’m a wife and mother of two with a day job in the world of finance. By night, I love to sit by the warm glow of a computer monitor and think of sassy, sexy stories.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I have written only contemporary M/F romance so far, but I’d like to delve into other genres as well.

Tell us about your latest release
Thank you for asking! It’s a contemporary romance office romance with humorous elements. My goal is to make the reader laugh, sigh, lust, and maybe even cry just a tiny bit.

Marley Mason is dreading the arrival of the new business consultant. After all, this man will most likely outsource her job to China. The last thing she would expect is a case of mistaken identity, leading to false accusations of kidnapping when she attempts to pick up the wrong man at the airport, or worse…that she would have such a visceral reaction to the right man.

Rick Randy is super sexy, scandalously flirty, and perfect masturbation material, but a relationship is out of the question. Rick is contracted on a temporary basis to fix Marley’s ailing company, and then pull out, although as he expresses to Marley, pulling out is difficult for him, in more ways than one! Marley’s feelings range from utter confusion to intense contemplation as Rick charms his way into her life. All of those C-words Marley can control, but it’s the other C-word she fears—commitment.

Do you need a special setting to write in or do you have a ceremony to get you in the mood? What does it look like?
No – I just try myself from the P word – procrastination. It’s hard because I tend to walk into the living room and want to watch a snippet of a show, or read through my emails and Facebook sometimes. Writing can be emotional exhausting, especially the more dramatic areas, so taking breaks is essential but sometimes I take too many!

Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publication
Joy, justification and pride. It was a total surprise and I have saved that email so I can look back upon it when I’m having a bad writing day.

Has the release of your first book changed anything in your personal life? If so, what?
It’s even harder to write now that I have other duties in getting reviews for my book and marketing, but it’s all exciting.

Where do you find inspiration?
I think of writing like weaving a tapestry. You might here a funny story or a snippet of a conversation that’s totally unrelated but it could apply to this character in a slightly different way. I think writing is mostly observing first and foremost. All of these random obsercations become the fodder for my story...little threads. I change the thread, make it thicker/thinner, and weave it in. Hopefully, I have enough of those threads to make a finished product someone will enjoy.

Who is your favourite character and why?
In literature, it’s probably Robert Langdon from Dan Brown’s books. I’m attracted to intelligence. I think it’s downright sexy. In my book, it’s probably Rick because he’s strong, emotionally and physically.

A favourite line from one of your books
“Marley, if you so much as hurt a hair on my future wife’s pussy, I’ll kill you.”
Suddenly, I didn’t think we were talking about a cat anymore.

Your favourite drink and food when writing
I’d love to say wine, but honestly it’s coffee. I need it.

The nosy ones
How much of the real “you” is in your stories?
There are stories and personality traits, but I’m definitely not as bold as my characters.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who was it?
There are so many, it’s hard to narrow down. It runs the gamut from Mr. Darcy to Sawyer from Lost.

What’s the silliest error in a book you’ve submitted?
I meant to say ‘caramel’ colour skin but instead I said ‘camel’ - not what I was going for!

Who is your least favourite of the characters you’ve written? Why?
I have a couple books with mean girl characters. It’s hard to write them because you want to make them real people and not over the top.

The steamiest scene from your books
Usually the first love scene in all of the them is the steamiest, which makes sense since the characters have been lusting after each other for a while.

Favourite comfort food?
Mac and cheese – the homemade kind.

A person you admire
I have to say my daughter because she has managed to be a vegetarian for 5 years and a vegan for one. I actually made one of my characters one because I think it’s crazy the amount of dedication that requires.

I also admire Bill Gates. I love anyone who comes from a humble background , becomes a huge success, and still gives back to the community.

If you could ask any person in the world one question of your choice, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Hmmm...I’d ask Jimmy Hoffa where he’s buried!

The fast ones

Favourite colour? Green

Favourite pet? A dog...preferably a mutt with a great deal of affection.

Coffee or tea? Coffee. I’m American so if I’m having tea it has to be iced, which I know is improper.

Quickie or candles? - hmm both. Sometimes when the need is so strong you don’t have a choice. Whatever fits the mood I say.

Hunky or chunky? Hunky

Suit & tie or jeans & boots? Both and either. I like a guy that’s nine to five, but a weekend cowboy too. What can I say? I’m a girl who wants it all.

Walk in the park or chat over cocktails? How about a walk in the park, chatting with a Cosmo in my hand? Like I said, I want it all.

Thank you for the interview, MK! I loved getting to know you better. Let's take a look at your
book now, shall we?

The Other C-Word

Can she overcome her consuming desire for him? Can he make her comfortable with the other C-word…commitment? 
 

Buy link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2254

About the author: 
A wife and mother of two loveable, but angst-ridden teenagers, MK Schiller enjoys movies, gardening, and travelling. Although she loves to write, she is a reader first and enjoys nothing more than curling up with a good book and some tasty Italian (the food, of course!).

Author website: http://www.mkschillerauthor.com/

Book Quickie: Kaylee's First Crush by Erin M Leaf

Kaylee's First Crush

 

 

 

The last person Kaylee expects to run into when her flight is cancelled is Mr. Hugo Valtree, her favorite high school teacher. It’s been five years since she graduated and she’s never forgotten the sexy man who’d been her first crush. Now she’s all grown up, but he’s still out of her league: he’s inherited his father’s company, making him a billionaire. She’s still shy, still a virgin—what can she possibly have to offer him?

Surprisingly, Hugo offers her something instead, something she desperately needs: a place to stay for the night. It’s storming outside and just her luck, all the hotels in the city are booked. Of course, there’s only one bed in his hotel room…

 

 

 

 

Buy Links:

http://erinmleaf.com/books/standalone-novels/kaylees-first-crush/

Author Details:

Erin M. Leaf is a romance novel devotee, the steamier the better. She also writes erotic romance as Marie E. Blossom.

Website: http://erinmleaf.com

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

Twitter: @erinmleaf

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4355929.Erin_M_Leaf

Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/erin-m-leaf/

Release Day Special: Stripped Bare by Susan MacNicol

Hi all,

I'm super-thrilled to host today's guest and her new release. In fact, I'm so thrilled that at the time you read this, I'm probably hiding in a quiet corner to read that book. But before you get to peek at it, here's the interview with the author, the wonderful Susan MacNicol!

The business ones
Please give us a short introduction about yourself
An obsessive, driven, stubborn, pain in the arse, creative, loyal, quirky, humorous individual. The key word being ‘individual’. I don’t like labels. I think everyone should be exactly who they want to be in life -no hiding, no shame and no pressure to be something they’re not. And stuff anyone who thinks otherwise. I think that sums me up admirably.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write contemporary romance /suspense. Most of my books have an element of intrigue, danger and violence. I started out writing M/F romance with gay characters in them and now find myself totally drawn to writing solely M/M. It’s become a bit of an addiction, caused in no small part by your books, Sage. (I think I own most of them now.) I started reading M/M when I did some research for an erotic crime thriller I’ve written called Born Human. I have a bisexual serial killer in this one and needed to see ‘eh-hem’ how things worked. So what started out as ‘research’ (stop rolling those eyes, everyone, it really did) turned into a real desire to continue reading these books and finally to write my own. (I’ve since been told by a fellow author that if I continue with more of my ‘research ‘online, I might go blind. I’ll chance it.) Ah, research... *nods* No worries, you won't go blind... ~Sage

Tell us about Stripped Bare, which has just released today
Stripped Bare is my first M/M romance. It tells the story of the irrepressible Shane Templar, escort and master hacker, who meets the sexy but brooding and reserved solicitor, Matthew Langer. They’re bought together by a shared event and there is a definite spark. Or flare rather…

It’s what I call ‘techno sexy’, contemporary, set in London, with elements of passion, romance and violence that brings heart break and an awareness that love is not something to be thrown away because sometimes you could lose it forever. It is pretty sexy, someone in the M/M writing game even called it ‘dirty’ and I like that description….

Do you need a special setting to write in or do you have a ceremony to get you in the mood? What does it look like?
I’d like to say I have a bevy of half-naked men parading around bringing me everything my heart desires, from chocolate to wine to a comfy, elasticated pair of jeans to wear when I over indulge. But that would be a lie. Instead I sit on my couch, in the lounge, with my laptop. I have a study but I prefer to work amongst the chaos and frenetic activity of my family – husband, two grown kids, one kid’s boyfriend, and a hyper active dog. If I retired to the study each night when I got home to write, my family would never see me. At least this way I can interact a little, even thought my daughter has a saying ‘don’t poke the bear’ when I’m writing. But I do try and be a little sociable.

Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publication
I was gob smacked. I honestly submitted Cassandra by Starlight in April last year not really thinking it would get anywhere. I’ve never written a full novel before and have only dabbled at writing until coming up with the inspiration for this one. So when Chris Keeslar, Editor in Chief at Boroughs Publishing Group, emailed me back on my hopeful query as to whether they were considering it, and said ‘Yes’ I was truly astounded. My editor, Jill Limber, then sent me a very politely worded email saying they would take it on, but it needed a lot of ‘work’ on my formatting and I just said ‘I’ll do anything you want.’ Family and I broke out the champagne. I couldn’t announce it on any social networking sites because I didn’t have any then. And just over a year later, here I am.

Has the release of your first book changed anything in your personal life? If so, what?
It’s changed the way I feel about social networking. Before I had something to promote, I pooh-poohed the whole thing, thinking it was a crock of nonsense. Now I think very differently. It’s a gem if used wisely. I’ve come into contact and met some incredible people and done things I would never have dreamed of. Some online buddies have become actual real friends. I’ve been interviewed by local newspapers. I’ve been on a radio show. I’ve done book plate signing at libraries. I sometimes get a free beer in the local pub because the lady owner loves my books. Life is truly good.

Where do you find inspiration?
For my first book it was a random event in my home town that sparked off the idea of a suicide flinging himself off a motorway bridge and injuring a woman in the car travelling underneath. For the rest, I don’t really know. The ideas just come to me. I gnaw at it like a bone then come up with the story and the characters. I’m very random. A book I’ve just submitted to a publisher, called ‘Waiting for Rain’ features pole dancing, farms, haystacks and sheep and my next one will have penguins and Genies in it. I don’t have a bloody clue where it all comes from.

Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character has to be Bennett Saville from my debut novel Cassandra by Starlight. He was my first. He was inspired by my personal fan crush, Benedict Cumberbatch, a fact for which I show no shame. Everyone knows I’m crazy about the guy. I wanted a Cumberbatch but he wouldn’t have me, so instead I created my own version so I could do what I like with him. Sorry, I meant to him…Bennett is sarcastic, sexy, intelligent, witty, sophisticated and pretty tough. I just love his wicked sense of humour.

A favourite line from one of your books.
This is from Cassandra by Starlight, the story of Bennett and Cassie.

“Ah. A Chihuahua. Is it true that Chihuahuas love sunbathing?” asked Bennett with genuine interest. “I read about one once that was so fond of the sun it used to have regular sessions booked at a tanning salon.”

Your favourite drink and food when writing – tea, coffee, Coke.
I’m a fan of savoury so a pork pie, sausage roll or packet of crisps is my kind of writing comfort food.

The nosy ones

How much of the real “you” is in your stories?
There is a lot of me in Cassie. She’s modelled on me and some of the experiences that she had, I’ve had. The car accident, the shattered femur, the Wicca, the views she has. There are a couple of others too but I’m not telling. You’ll have to guess.

Who is your least favourite of the characters you’ve written? Why?
It would have to be Bennett’s stalker, Laura Mancini. She was a real crazy bitch, a nasty bit of work and I was glad when she got her come-uppance.

The steamiest scene from your books 
The first time Bennett and Cassie make love after their date was fairly hot and then there was the one scene in the theatre when Bennett tricks Cassie into wearing a certain dress he had his eye on. Stripped Bare has some fairly scorching ones too which made me hot writing them.

Favourite comfort food?
Sausage rolls, pies, crisps, pizza. I’ll do anything for them.

A person you admire
They’re all men and they’ve all been victims of sexual abuse. They’ve been courageous in coming forward and telling their stories. So James Landrith, Stephen Hill and Joe Leistman are all good choices. I’m involved with certain groups and causes and fighting for male sexual abuse victims to be heard is one of them. I’m currently co-writing an auto biography with Joe based on his life story. He dictates the material, I transcribe and try and form into a cohesive whole. He was abused for three years by a Scoutmaster when he was thirteen. If you know anything about the Boy Scout Perversion Files scandal in the US, then you’ll have an idea of just how wide spread this was.

If you could ask any person in the world one question of your choice, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I could be all predictable here and say I’d ask Benedict Cumberbatch to come home with me, but perhaps I should choose someone else. Eminem perhaps on how he got where was, as he’s a source of fascination to me, both his music and his life.

I never would've expected you to ask Benedict to... Anyway, let's look at 

The fast ones

Favourite colour? Purple

Favourite pet? Polar bear. I want one.
So does my daughter. Maybe you can have shared custody of one... ~S

Dog or cat? Dog

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Quickie or candles? Candles

Hunky or chunky? Hunky. Chunky is for chocolate.

Suit & tie or jeans & boots? Suit and tie, but if it’s just the jeans and boots, and he has a really good torso, I might have difficulty deciding…

Walk in the park or chat over cocktails? Chat over cocktails

Thanks for the interview, Sue. Let's look at your book now! (Well, I have been looking already, but it's time to introduce it to the visitors) 

Stripped Bare 

Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He's steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.

Buy link: http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare
More books by Susan: http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/authors/susan-mac-nicol


About the author:

Born in England, then parents left to go and live in Johannesburg, SA when I was eight. I lived there for close on thirty years, got married, had kids then in Dec 2000 we relocated back to England. I live in a county called Essex, just outside London, in a rural area. There's a really beautiful old Norman church across the road, which has very loud bells which chime every hour every night every day of the year....

I work in the beautiful city of Cambridge doing boring 'compliance' stuff, and spend all my time at home writing and networking. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Novelists Association in the UK.

Susan's website: www.susanmacnicol.com Blog http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com

Book Showcase: The Fire in Her Eyes by K.R. Haynes

The Fire in Her Eyes (M/F)

(In Her Eyes 2)

by K. R. Haynes

This title is offered at a 15% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, July 3rd.

[Siren Classic: Erotic Consensual BDSM Romantic Suspense, public exhibition, spanking, flogging, cropping, sex toys, HEA]

Since the first night Officer Mick Huon met Mary J Sinclair down at the Convict Inn, fiery sparks of passion have flown between the two of them. After stealing one kiss from her, Mick decides it’s best if he keeps his distance from Mary J, mainly due to his steadily rising affection for her that was stirred up from one brief tender moment they shared. What Mick hadn’t counted on was for Mary J to seduce him. The woman has a fire within her that sets him ablaze with primal lust. To tame a stubborn redhead like Mary J, Mick will have to pull out all the stops if he's planning on enticing her into his bed.

But when Mary J’s dark past collides with the present, it stirs up more trouble than they were both prepared for. Can Mick conquer Mary J’s past in time or will he end up losing her forever?

 
ADULT EXCERPT
Mary J could feel the heat of his hands on her back. His expert fingers made quick work of the snaps on her bra. She allowed the straps to fall from her shoulders as she continued to sip at his lips. Her hands clasped his head, hard, at the feel of his callous hands fondling her bare breasts. He held them in his hands, like he was weighing the feel of them in his palms. His naughty fingertips tweaked and pulled at her nipples, causing her hips to buck against him. Her lips fell away from his as she cried out. Her bra was whipped completely away from her body then, baring her breasts to his heated gaze. Then before she knew it, his hot, moist mouth sucked one of her nipples inside and had her crying out in ecstasy all over again.

The sensations Mick was forcing her to feel were like nothing she had ever experienced before with her past lovers. Not that she had that many nor had she taken a lover since she broke up with her ex a couple of years ago. Now, her body was primed and ready for Mick and his well-endowed dick.

“Please, Mick, I need...”

“You want my dick in you, don’t you, sugar?”

“Oh god, yes! Please, Mick, now I need you buried deep inside me right now!”

“It would be my pleasure to give you what you need then, sugar.”

Mary J lowered her hands to the zipper on his jeans and unzipped it as she scooted back on his lap. Reaching inside she wrapped her hand around his hot, steely length and pulled it free from his jeans. Her mouth watered at the sight of his dick standing tall and proud in her hands. Mick lifted his hips up and pulled out a small foil square and quickly sheathed himself up. Her panties, she was still wearing her panties. She needed to get them off, she realised a little too late, at the sound of material being ripped apart.

“You tore my panties?” she said in astonishment that he had actually torn her tiny see-through panties.

“Yep, they were in my way and they had to go.”

“But, no one’s ever tore my panties before.”

“Good to know I’m your first for something.” He slapped her on her now bare butt then told her to get up on her knees.

Mary J did what he told her to do and moaned when he rubbed the head of his cock through her weeping folds. Her clit was burning and needed something to take the edge off. Before she knew what she was doing her hand slid down her belly and her fingertips slipped between her pussy lips. By their own accord her fingertips then began circling her clit. “Oh god, yes!” whispered past her lips as a pleasurable haze began to wash over her. She could feel herself falling into the most incredible release. All she needed was the call to come, so her orgasm could finally take hold and whisk her off to that proverbial promise land of intense pleasure.

Then just like that, her hand was ripped away from her achy clit and the promise of release was slowly subsiding. She cried out in protest and even tried to batter away the interfering hand that was tugging her twiddling fingers away from her aching bud. But it was no use. Mick was in charge of her pleasure and right then she knew it. She may not like it, but she would succumb to his dominance. And if she found an opportunity in the future to turn the tables on him, then she would take it, regardless of the consequences her actions would bring to her or her ass.

“No, Mary J. This here is my pussy and your pleasure is for me to hand out and not for you to take when you see fit. If you need to touch what belongs to me in the future you will ask me, sweetly of course. Do you understand me, sugar?”

“Yes...uh, sir?”

“Good answer, sugar. Yes, I rather like hearing you say sir. So from now on, when we’re having intimate relations you will call me sir. Outside of that you can call me whatever takes your fancy.”

“Intimate relations? Really, Mick, why don’t just say when we’re having sex. Honestly.” Mary J shook her head and rolled her eyes at him only to receive another slap on her butt from him for doing it. “Hey!”

“I do believe I gave you some instructions to follow and I’m still waiting for you to follow them.”

“I’m not a damn kid, Mick. I don’t need instructions.”

“Apparently you do, little girl, because your pussy is not on my dick yet.” He slapped her butt again. “So hop to it, sugar, and get that hot little pussy of yours on my Johnson now.”

“Oh god,” fell from her lips at the mention of his dick inside her core. Hearing his amused chuckled had her face flaming with embarrassment.

“Nope, he won’t save you, sugar. Now haul ass, and get what belongs to me on my cock and no more stalling.”

“Yes, sir,” she grumbled out to him.

Drawing in a shuddering breath, Mary J lifted herself up from Mick’s lap. She hovered herself above his throbbing cockhead and ever so slowly she lowered herself down onto his dick. The stretch and burn from not having a penis inside her for so long had her gasping for air. Her fingers found his shoulders and gripped them hard as she paused for a second with his cock partially inside of her tight cunt. She could hear Mick’s deep voice talking to her, helping her to relax her inner muscles and accept his entry. Two years, it had been two whole long years since she felt a cock inside of her and Mick’s penis wasn’t small by any means. It was fucking huge.

“Breath for me, sugar, there’s no hurry, we’ve got all night. Just go nice and slow. Christ, you feel so tight around my cock. Your cunt is like a vice around my dick, sugar, I love it.”

After a few seconds pause, Mary J began lowering herself further onto Mick’s dick. His steady breathing and the calmness he exuded had her nerves and muscles relaxing further. He felt so large inside of her that he actually put her vibrator to shame.

Tuesday Teaser: Jaime Samms

Hi all, 


Today's Tuesday Teaser has just confused me with sending me her blog post in HTML-format, not knowing that as soon as those four letters pop up, my brain shuts down. So, instead of coming up with a brilliant introduction, I'm trying to get all those <strange> symbols <out of my mind> now. Ladies and Gents, here's Chaos Jaime Samms with her new book Off Stage Right and some of my favourite story elements. 
~S
 

My husband just tried to help me find an idea for my blog post. He was talking about entropy and it's opposite, which he didn't have a word for. He's a mathematician at heart, after all. He compared entropy (the basic forces of chaos in the world that rip things apart) to knowledge, and the opposite of entropy to all the caring and empathy that holds the world together.

When I asked him what the word for that second force was, he gave me a blank look.

Me: "What? You don't have a word in your world for all the people who care and empathize?"

Him: ...pause...."No."

Which, he might not have a word for it, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand it or exercise that force in his life. But anyway, the whole conversation got me thinking about my latest release, Off Stage Right.

That guy on the cover, there, Damian, he's entropy. Chaos. A force of nature in his own life, tearing things apart and wreaking havoc in his world. It's his natural inclination to tear through life with abandon, and without restraint, there is no doubt, he'd be one of those statistics: Famous, young, and dead.

Enter his music manager, Stan, and that opposite force of nature, the one without a name that holds the world together and makes things calm and sane. This book is about them and the swirling vortex that results when one force collides with it's opposite.

Blurb:

Damian Learner and his grunge band, Firefly, are on a meteoric rise to success. If they get the right break, fame awaits. Seeking more professional management, Damian independently strikes a bargain with the best agent in the business, Stanley Krane. Unable to afford the penalty for breaking old contracts, Damian agrees when Stan’s best friend, country and Western megastar Vance Ashcroft, offers to buy him out of his old contract.

Overwhelmed by a crippling loan, secretive guilt, Stanley’s expectations, and a volatile relationship with Lenny, Firefly’s lead guitarist, Damian disintegrates. Bad habits of too much sex, booze, and drugs create a rift in the band. Finally Vance, with his understanding of Dominant/submissive behavior, sees that submissives Damian and Lenny are falling into chaos, clinging to each other to try to avoid the inevitable crash.

When the pressure to perform becomes too much and the unthinkable happens, Damian and Lenny have to decide: accept that they need something they can’t get from each other, or burn out and take Firefly with them. Vance is ready to claim Lenny, but even Stan’s hesitant agreement to give Damian the direction he needs might not be enough for Damian—or the band—if he loses Lenny.

Excerpt:
Lenny was still in his room when Damian emerged from the shower, so he investigated the results of Lenny’s shopping excursion and made them both a supper of salmon and salad. Healthy enough even for a picky, demanding guitar player’s exacting standards.

Lenny emerged from his room as Damian was scooping the fish from the pan. “You cooked?” He made a show of sniffing the meat on Damian’s spatula.

“You want to wear it? Get out of the way.” Damian planted a hand on Lenny’s chest and shoved him from the small kitchen space while Lenny snickered at him.

“You have to admit, it doesn’t happen very often.” He managed to snag a tender pink morsel off the hunk of salmon Damian was sliding onto a plate before being forced away. “Ohmygod.” He licked his lips and reached for more. “And it totally should. This is awesome!”

Damian grinned despite his attempt to be stern and annoyed. “I’m more than this pretty face and a decent set of pipes, you know.” He demonstrated by trilling off a few notes of the song Lenny had been working on.

The guitarist blushed. “So you heard that.”

“Of course.” Damian popped a bite of fish from the pan into his own mouth. “It’s got potential.”

“I know.” Seating himself at the breakfast bar, Lenny accepted the plate Damian handed him and picked up his fork. “All it needs is a set of lyrics.” He glanced up hopefully.

“Already on it.” With a tap to the side of his skull and a wink, he set to his own dinner. “Mmm. Shit. This is good.”

Lenny shouldered him playfully. “I never thought you were all that pretty anyway.”

“Because you’ve never had a proper look.”

“Well.” Lenny made a show of thinking about that. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s not it.” He studied Damian’s bare face and mohawk, still damp and shaggy from the shower. “Good thing you have other qualities, I guess.”

“Thanks.”

Lenny grinned. “I live to knock you down.”

Damian speared a broccoli floret and popped it into his mouth without comment.


Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3781

Book Showcase: Naughty Delights by Kam & Dirk

Hi all, 


Kameron Brooks and Dirk Tyler have been at it again - cooking up a hot story, of course, get your minds out of the gutter, folks! The result is Naughty Delights, and they're here today to present it:


Naughty Delights
Genre: Erotic Romance

Excerpt:
This is it, Elizabeth thought as she pushed through the door to deliver a large batch of chocolate and vanilla sugar cookies to the display case. It was grand opening day for Guilty Pleasures, and she couldn’t be more excited or more nervous. Years of scrimping and saving had accumulated to this day. In a matter of minutes the bakery would be open for business, and their city would officially have their first taboo sweet shop.
Elizabeth took one final look around, making sure everything was perfect, when Felicia, her business partner and friend, appeared next to her, chomping on a fornication cookie.
Out of all the sugary creations crafted for the shop, Elizabeth and Felicia would agree these were the most fun to develop. They spent many wine-filled nights brainstorming and researching ideas for the inserts.
“What’s it say, babe?” Elizabeth asked, nodding toward the paper in Felicia’s hand.
Felicia laughed and read the naughty message, "Two heads are better than one, but three, now that’s what I call a party!" As she tucked the paper into her back pocket, she asked, “I forget. Was this yours or mine?”
“I actually think your man deserves credit for this one.” Grinning, Elizabeth grabbed the sampler plate off the counter and walked toward the front door, turning to take one final look around before the place filled up. She couldn't be any prouder of the decor in her little slice of heaven. She glanced to her left and smiled proudly as she admired the photos on the wall.
The food photographer they had hired did a fantastic job capturing the beauty and sexiness of several corset cakes available for purchase. But the icing on the cake, so to speak, was the mural to the right of the entrance. A local artist painted "What Are Your Guilty Pleasures" but the letters were actually naked people in compromising naughty positions.
Felicia giggled. “Oh yeah, it’s all coming back to me now. We definitely drank way too much that night.”
Nodding in agreement, Elizabeth turned on the neon sign and opened the doors for business.
Already, a few eager customers were waiting by the window. They actually applauded when Elizabeth stepped out of the shop door. She greeted them with a smile and offered them their choice of iced cocks or boobs. She wasn’t surprised the guests blushed when they made their selection and bit into the cookie. She expected to witness many rosy cheeks in the hours ahead of them—giggles too.
As the streets began to fill up with people going to work, Elizabeth tried to coax even more passersby into the shop with her funny shout-outs such as: “I bet our peckers taste as good as your man’s. No wait, even better!” And, “Our breasts are fantastic and all natural.” All the while she held up a naughty treat.
After the bell dinged behind her a couple dozen times, she realized the humorous approach to draw in customers was working like a charm. Now with them inside, she had no doubt every person who’d entered the shop erected from her dreams would be a repeat customer. And with this thought, she knew the many dinners of Ramen noodles were well worth the discomfort it cost her over the years.

 
Purchase link: http://amzn.com/B00DELSA9K

Goodreads link for the story: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18073879-naughty-delights

Contact info:
Blog: http://www.dirkandkam.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/DirkandKam

Goodreads' links:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5781386.Kameron_Brook
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5120666.Dirk_Tyler

Amazon Author Pages:
http://amazon.com/author/kameronbrook
http://www.amazon.com/Dirk-Tyler/e/B00A8IDHMC/