Naughty LIttle Bedtime Stories

 Tamaria Soana is middle-aged but feels like her life has just begun. She writes contemporary romance stories with a high heat level that always end with a 'happily ever after'. Growing up, she loved to read and make up new places in her head to escape to. In her late teens she began writing short stories and poetry. It wasn't until her late thirties before she began to spin a full story.

She's married and a stay-at-home mom of two beautiful young girls. They reside in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw is her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights.

Besides writing, she co-owns Shades of Rose Marketing and Shades of Rose YA Marketing, and she also hosts a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving Authors a Voice.

You can find Tamaria at the following places:

Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Bedtime stories that will heat up your night.

Naughty Little Bedtime Stories contains twelve short stories that will arouse your senses. You'll find stories that contain light bondage, food play, ménage (m/m/f), and other erotic events. Each story has a different setting and couple who explore all things naughty in and out of the bedroom.

Content Warning: adult language, graphic sexual situations

Purchase: Beach walk Press

Excerpt:

EXCERPT FROM Strawberries and Whipped Cream

We ate dinner, drank some wine, and talked about our week. Maybe tonight I would finally pop the question. After cleaning up, I refilled our glasses.

"Did you get something for dessert?" Emma asked.

I smiled. "Yes, I did. Why don't you go into the living room and make yourself comfortable while I get it ready."

"Okay. Are you sure you don't need help?"

"I'm sure."

After she left the kitchen, I gathered the bowl of strawberries and can whipped cream from the fridge. I walked in the room to find her on the couch, sipping her wine. I sat down next to her and placed the food on the coffee table.

"I love strawberries, but why the can of whipped cream?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Close your eyes. No peeking," I whispered in her ear.

I took a strawberry and traced her bottom lip with it. She opened her mouth slightly, and I allowed her to take a small bite. A low moan escaped her lips, and my dick twitched in response. I began to feed her another piece of fruit. My cock was getting harder by the minute as I watched her lips wrap around the strawberries.

"I want to feed you one," she said as she opened her eyes.

"I have a better idea. Close your eyes," I said in a deep voice.

Emma sighed and closed her eyes. I picked up a strawberry and touched her bottom lip with it, and she opened her mouth to take it in. I leaned in and bit the other end, letting our lips meet and eliciting a faint squeal from her.

"Would you like some whipped cream?" I asked her as I grabbed the can and shook it.

"Yes," she whimpered.

I squirted some whipped cream on her bottom lip. She seductively licked them while looking at me lustfully. I groaned, shifted to adjust myself, and placed my lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around me and the kiss deepened. Our tongues rubbed against each other. She tasted like whipped cream. Pulling away, I placed kisses down her neck and made my way to her chest. I lifted her shirt over her head. She was wearing a pink lace bra.

"Beautiful," I whispered as I reached around her and unhooked her bra. I slid the straps off her arms, placing more kisses on her neck. "Lay back," I told her as I took my shirt off.

I unbuttoned her jeans and slowly unzipped them. She lifted herself up as I slid them down her amazing legs and threw them on the floor. She was a sight to behold in just a pair of pink boy shorts.

"Do you trust me?" I asked.


EXCERPT FROM Instant Attraction

We walked out of the restaurant and down the hall into the main lobby of the hotel, my eyes scanning for any photographers. I really didn't want my face all over the tabloids tomorrow.

"I had a great time meeting you today. So, what now?" Slade asked as he looked deep into my eyes.

"I don't know," I whispered. I didn't want the afternoon to end.

"I don't want to leave you just yet, Jewel," he whispered in a sexy tone.

I bit my bottom lip and started to fidget. "Then don't." I took a deep breath, trying to figure out everything that was racing through my head. "Would you like to come to my suite for a drink, maybe?" I couldn't believe I'd just asked him that, but I knew what I wanted, and at the moment it was him.

"I thought you'd never ask."

We stepped in the elevator and the doors closed. We were alone. Before I could process what I was doing I was kissing him. The simple kiss set all the nerves in my body on fire. The elevator stopped and I pulled away as the doors opened.

"This is my floor," I said breathlessly.

We walked into the hallway in silence. The tension between us was so strong. We reached my suite and I swiped my card to open the door. I could feel his gaze on me, it was making me nervous and turning me on at the same time. My stomach was in knots as I walked in, but not the bad kind of knots, the I-want-to-jump-him kind of knots. He was making me crazy. I truly just wanted to go with what I was feeling. I was so attracted to him. As soon as the door shut Slade pushed me against the wall and started kissing me.

"Jewel, you are so alluring," he said as he kissed my neck.

"Slade," I moaned. I could feel how hard he was as he pressed harder into me.

"I want you," he said as his hand grazed my breast. "Do you want me?"

"Yes!" My heart was pounding in my chest as I led him to the bed. His urgent lips were on mine. He unzipped my sundress and it fell to the floor, leaving me in only a black lace bra and thong.

New Release!!! SciFi/Femdom-FemDocs

It's the near distant future...and women are tired of being passive, of doting on men. It's time to put the cooking pots away.

A group of top-notch woman doctors plan to eliminate the male population one man at a time, luring them to sperm banks, using man's lust and greed against them.
By the time they are done, only the good, the kind-hearted, and the easily malleable will be left, allowing the women to form a new, respectful race of men.

But when one doctor falls for an agent, can she save him in time, or does it mean going against all she believes?

Excerpt:

“I thought that mofo would never die.” Chacelyn tossed her hair and cast one look through the peephole located right behind the sofa.

“Shh. Someone may hear you.” Cassanna glanced around the hallway. Thankfully, at the moment, it was empty of patients.

“Did you see the line out there? I don’t think I can do that awful pole dancing for all those dirt bags.” Chacelyn raised her eyebrows at her friend and partner. “Why don’t you take over? That afro is pure hotness. You look like a young Pam Grier. If I have to lick my lips seductively one more time…”

Cassanna giggled. “Pam Grier? That was…centuries ago.” She placed her hands on her hips. “But thank you. On a serious note, do you want to fondle their balls? It’s pure nastiness. Some of them stink, I tell you. If I have to smell that musty, stale ball odor…”

“Ladies.” Cassanna and Chacelyn immediately turned at the stern voice coming from behind them. Chacelyn gulped loudly, and Cassanna patted her afro nervously.

“Doc,” Chacelyn acknowledged the woman before them. “Sorry, we’re just—“

“Don’t worry about it.” The woman waved her hand impatiently. Her dark hair was pulled back in a chignon, doing nothing to harshen her lovely features. Her hazel eyes pierced them. “I know it’s distasteful to say the least, but it must be done. For the good of us all.”

Cassanna murmured an amen, nodding her head in agreement.

“Just keep it out of the hallway and get that room ready for the next one. They’re coming in like crazy. Got a line in the waiting room.”

“Yes, Doc.”

As the woman they knew as Doc clicked her heels down the hallway, Chacelyn flipped a small, almost hidden panel and pressed a button. She and Cassanna waited a few beats, Cassanna watching the dial of her watch. When Cassanna gave Chacelyn a nod, signaling enough time had passed and the room was safe to enter, Chacelyn opened the door with a shove.

As quickly as possible, both women grunted, heaved, and worked together to remove the patient’s dead body, dragging it from the sofa to a hidden trapdoor under the removable stage.

The body landed below the building with a thump, and both nurses immediately withdrew wrapped squares of disinfectant wipes from their jackets, proceeding to scrub their hands clean, noses wrinkled with distaste.

“Well,” Cassanna said as she tossed her wipe into a nearby trash bin. “The crematorium is going to be busy today.”

About the Author:

Sonia Hightower is a pen name for Tara Chevrestt, a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.

Sonia writes the racy stuff and argues that she was here first. She just wasn't allowed to be unleashed until the last year.

While Tara and Sonia continue to fight over the laptop and debate who writes the next book, you can find buy links, blurbs, and other fun bits on their website: http://tarachevrestt.weebly.com/index.html or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Chevrestt-Sonia-Hightower/218383211513877

Arrested by her Sheik

Mix one quiet librarian looking for a good time. A sexy Arab-Greek Sheik in cops clothing signing on to teach her all about sex. And criminals who will stop at nothing to get what they want...namely her dead. And you have Arrested by her Sheik. I hope you’ll come along on this thrill ride of adventure as Mandy Wilson finds out what it’s like to be Arrested by her Sheik.

About the Author:

Honey Jans lives in a small Midwestern town with her husband and true inspiration. She is a born romantic with an extraordinarily vivid, yet kinky, imagination.   Honey loves writing erotica and hopes that her stories add a little spice to her readers lives.

Website / Blog

Excerpt:

“Oh my god, Mandy Wilson, you are so going to jail for this,” I hissed as I tiptoed up to the decrepit back door of the even more decrepit Greek jail. My first clue of impending disaster should have been the dented door hanging ajar, the second the eerie silence in the alleyway, but I was so determined to clear Marco’s name I breezed forward on my mission. I had to save my would-be gigolo from Nick Constantine, the obnoxious but sexy Greek cop who’d arrested him last night.  

Thankfully the sun was going down and the growing afternoon shadows covered my movements. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window and winced. I looked as ragged as I felt and even worse excited. I was reluctant to admit that good girl me was getting off on this. My mocha skin was flushed with what I was pretty sure was sunburn, my green eyes were drowsy from a sleepless night tearing ass through the convoluted Greek legal system, and my long wavy dark hair had long ago escaped the bun I’d pulled it in to curl around my overheated face.

  Damn, the jailer would probably take one look at me and call the gendarmes. I wouldn’t have been forced to go to these extremes if Nick had been reasonable last night. But he hadn’t been. Marco was inside, our cruise ship was about to depart, and I was damned well going to get him out. It was my second reckless act since starting this journey of sexual discovery, the first being hooking up with Marco two days ago, and I was going was damned well going to do this.

I touched the door, noticing too late that it seemed to have been kicked in, and winced when it swung open with an audible groan. The groan I bit back was even louder as I froze...double fuck...and waited to be arrested. I couldn’t help imagining Nick coming down on me hard. I shivered with what I was afraid was excitement...  

Confessions of a Sex Demon

1-Tell the readers a little about yourself.

I have a kitten named Nyx, after one of my favorite Kresley Cole characters. He’s nuts. His nick-name is ElectroMan because he’s chewed through nearly all my electrical cord and can be spotted with sparks coming out of his mouth at any given time. Oh yes, and I should probably mention I write paranormal romance, the kind that’ll make you blush.

2-As an author, do you take time to read? If so, what do you like to read and who is/are your favorite author/s?

Kresley Cole and Larissa Ione are definite favorites in my genre. I love the early JR WARD. I also love me some historicals, especially the highlander kind, Monica McCarty, Janet Chapman, Diana Gabaldon. Yum. 

3-How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?

I’ve never had to take out my flog, the Muse bows to this crazy imagination I seem to have. My problem is I have more ideas than time in the day. In my head I have at least six books that I’m just dying to write. What happens is, I get obsessed with my characters. Even if someone only serves coffee in my book, I wind up wanting to tell their story too. 

4-If you could go anywhere in the world on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?

Paris—but I’d probably go alone. If I was with some sort of stud, I’d probably go somewhere like Italy or Yucatan Mexico for intense white-sand relaxation. If I did find a guy that appreciated Paris as much as I do, I’d propose then and there. 

5-What is the hardest thing for you to write?

Contemporary. I love paranormal because the possibilities are endless. Contemporary is hard for me to write because I feel like everything has been done before.

6-If you could live the life of one of your characters who would you be?

Probably Michelle, she’s the heroine in my book Secrets of the Jaguar (out June 2013). The creepy thing is, she’s the most like me. The only difference is, she’s a jaguar shape shifter with a hunky vampire boyfriend who adores her. Other than that, we walk the same romantic streets, have an interest in Maya archaeology and climbing temples, and spend our time traveling. 

7-The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?

Food and drink. I’ve always been a curvy girl and I don’t mind keeping it that way if it means I get to savor dark chocolate or a nice glass of wine. Or champagne. Or guacamole. Or a cheeseburger. Extra fries. Cupcakes are nice. Chocolate chip cookies. What were we talking about? Oh yes, buy Confessions of a Sex Demon and bon appetite! 

XOXO JAYE SHIELDS

About Jaye: Born and raised in the grunge capitol, she took her love of music and poetry from the Pacific Northwest to California. Now she lives in Alameda, a quaint island town in the Bay Area. With a degree in Anthropology-emphasis in Archaeology, she’s itching to climb some more pyramids. When she’s not writing, she’s either at her day-job or taking long walks along the Alameda beach and gazing at the outline of San Francisco in the distance. Oh yes, and her heart can generally be found in Paris...

 Confessions of a Sex Demon is out September 17^th and will be available in digital format through Barnes and Noble, Amazon and my publisher’s website, http://www.beachwalkpress.com.I

Coming Soon From Jaye Shields:

Erotic Novellas

Confessions of a Sex Demon: Available now from Beachwalk Press 

           http://beachwalkpress.com/jaye-shields/

Claiming of a Sex Demon: Dec. 2012 from Beachwalk Press

Addictions of a Sex Demon: Feb. 2013 from Beachwalk Press

Sensual Full-lengths

Secrets of the Fog: Oct 2012 from Crimson Romance

Secrets of the Sky: Feb. 2013 from Crimson Romance

Secrets of the Jaguar: June 2013 from Crimson Romance

Email: JayeShields@gmail.com

Twitter: @JayeShields

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaye-Shields/228175300573148?ref=hl

Website/blog: www.JayeShields.com

Blurb:

Zahra proves that sex demons do it better as she goes from captive to captivator.

Sex Demon Zahra Aniron is a closet romantic. Too bad she spends her time having hot, kinky sex with paying strangers. But she needs the money to pay off her sister's debt to wizard thugs. There could be worse things than getting paid for pleasure, especially since a sex demon needs climax to survive.

As a blacksmith, Lennox Aegros puts his fury to good use pounding steel into swords. When he arrives at a new town, his real cause for being there isn't to sell weaponry, it's for revenge. When he finds the succubus he's been searching for, her beauty means he can mix business with pleasure. But the joke's on Lennox, because as he succeeds in torturing his victim by repeatedly bringing her to the brink of orgasm and then denying her the release that she so desperately needs, he realizes that Zahra's slow demise means the breaking of a heart he didn't think he had.

Excerpt

Zahra woke to a sharp pinch against her skin. She tried to peel open her eyelids, but they were heavy stones. She wanted to touch her eyes, but her arms moved nowhere. Fear caused her lids to fly open only to realize that she was indeed strapped down.

The perpetrator smiled, but it was subtle. Very subtle. His tan skin was darker in the dim room. His blue irises appeared so light that his eyes became demonic charcoals glaring at her in the shadowy room. He finished strapping her foot down.

"Do you like your accommodations, demon?"

"You should have asked Bane for help decorating. He's also very good at the dark, gloomy dungeon thing." She'd hoped to sound feisty, but instead, her voice was nothing more than a pitiful rasp.

"Since you're used to your mouth being filled, I'll help you." Lennox stood over her. She never took her eyes from his intense frown as he tied a scarf around her mouth. He pulled it tight enough to cut into the edges of her mouth. Zahra did her best to smash his fingers into the cold metal table she was strapped to. Unfortunately, the back of her head missed its mark and thunked hard against the steel.

At least she could still see what was taking place. Fear coursed through her. She barely knew this man and she couldn't imagine what he had in store for her. She was a succubus, used to kinky requests, and most men knew they didn't need to kidnap her for such a session. She watched Lennox's tall form cross the mostly empty room. The only furniture was a small table. Probably where he kept his—

Scissors. Lennox turned toward her with a pair in his hand. As he walked in her direction, he looked entirely too innocent to be foreboding. His blond hair was a stark contrast against his tan skin. She'd felt his muscles earlier and they were those of an intense lover, not a fighter. Clearly this guy was tweaked. He was hot as hell and normally she liked freaky guys. If he hadn't insulted her ever since they first met, they might've even had a chance. No charge.

Lennox stood between her legs and she could barely see him from her tight bondage against the table. The cold metal of the scissors slipped under her corset. As the fabric began falling away, the soft groan of the metal cutting through thick black fabric echoed in the empty room. Her tight top became looser with every passing second. Heat crept into her body. Good news: she had the feeling this guy could make her come. Hard. The bad news: she was kidnapped by a psychopath and no one knew where she was.

Maybe he's a trap-and-set-free kind of psychopath. Love 'em and leave 'em.

"Your body betrays you. You crave your abductor, don't you, succubus?"

She avoided his gaze by staring at the ceiling. Zahra could feel the heat from his intense appraisal of her body as he guided the shears across her pants. Apparently, he was leaving no clothes for her to try to escape in. It was becoming clearer by the moment that he had no plans for her to leave.

A Moment with Liz Grace Davis

1-Tell the readers a little about yourself.

I’m Namibian but was born in Angola. I’ve lived in a total of five countries. I’m now settled in Vienna, Austria with my husband. Books are my life. 

2-As an author, do you take time to read? If so, what do you like to read and who is/are your favorite author/s?

I love reading and try to fit it in as much as I can. I read a lot of different genres (romance, suspense, fantasy…) and books from various authors. I really enjoy reading Jodi Picoult, Marian Keyes, John Grisham, and Nicholas Sparks’ novels. 

3-How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?

I put a distance between myself and the manuscript that’s giving me problems. I usually read a good book and just relax with a bowl of cherries. Sometimes I might read a chapter from my WIP that I’m particularly proud of. It reminds me that I can do it, one letter at a time.

4-If you could go anywhere in the world on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?

Maldives. White sand + sparkling water + clear skies + fresh air + a beautiful bungalow + great food=HEAVEN on earth. Ooops, I forgot my hubby. Please add him to the equation. 

5-What is the hardest thing for you to write?

When my characters are going through a rough patch, I suffer with them. It’s hard to write then.

6-If you could live the life of one of your characters who would you be?

I’d be Nora. I too sometimes tend to do things just to make other people happy, even if I’m not. While writing the novel, Nora had shared some of her courage with me. The courage to stand up for what I believe in, what makes me happy, and to follow my dreams.

7-The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?

I soak in a hot tub with a wonderful book and a bowl of cherries. 

Thank you so much for interviewing me. I really appreciate it.

At her pre-wedding dinner, Nora Darkin, the daughter of a wealthy entrepreneur, discovers her fiancé is not the man she thought he was. As her father hoists his glass to toast them, she makes an announcement: there will be no wedding to her father's right-hand man.

Due to the fresh rift driven between her and her father, Nora escapes to the quaint town of Dreara. Determined to live her life her own way, she makes new friends and pursues her lifelong desire of becoming a chef. Ethan Danes, a neighbour with his own broken heart, helps soothe hers. 

Just as Nora discovers what it means to be happy, and she begins to fall in love with Ethan, a woman from his past re-enters his life…

Buy Link: Amazon

Excerpt:

Nora turned her attention back to the reality in front of her. She hated arguments; sometimes she wished she could hide somewhere, just wait them out. Unfortunately, life was not like that.

She lifted her eyes to meet Liam’s. The ice in his eyes had not melted. She dropped her gaze.

Instead of flirting with her appetite, the large marinated tiger prawns made her stomach queasy, and the oriental noodles looked like neglected yarn left out in the rain. From the way he dissected his steak, Liam’s appetite was just fine. She gritted her teeth as his knife scraped the porcelain plate.

Unable to bear the silence between them, she leaned forward and whispered, “I hate it when you ignore me.” 

“What do you want me to say?” He chewed the last of his food and waved for the waiter. “We’re done.”

The waiter nodded and scuttled over to remove their plates.

When the waiter was out of earshot, Nora hissed through clenched teeth, “I wasn’t done.”

Liam took a swig of water, probably wishing it were something stronger. “You didn’t look like you were hungry.”

“Stop treating me like a child,” she snapped. 

“Stop acting like one.”

Nora’s cheeks heated. She contained her anger with difficulty. “That’s really insensitive.”

“What do you want from me, Nora?” A vein pulsed in his neck. “What exactly do you want me to say?”

“Say you want me to be happy.” Her eyes brimmed. “Don’t ask me to get rid of my best friend.” 

He loosened his tie—and then slammed his fist on the table, knocking over Nora’s glass of water. The silver stream raced straight for her lap.

The waiter appeared as if from nowhere to replace the white tablecloth with a new one. Nora forced a smile and whispered an apology. The waiter nodded, and a minute later he left. 

Ignoring the curious looks they got from the other diners, she dabbed at the moisture on her black jeans. “You can’t always explode every time I refuse to do what you want.” 

Liam ignored her. “Ask to pay. I want to leave.” 

Nora flinched, but abided. Paying wasn’t so bad—so long as it was fair. On their first and second date, he paid. On their third and a few more after that, they went Dutch. After one year, he asked her to pay for an occasional meal until it became an unspoken arrangement between them. The only thing Liam had paid for himself in three years was her engagement ring. 

About the Author:

Liz Grace Davis grew up in Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Germany. She now lives with her husband in Vienna, Austria. 

Growing up, Liz spent most her days in libraries, diving into the world of books. In her spare time she reads a lot, travels, creates jewelry and designs digital scrapbooks. That's of course when she's not weaving stories. She's in her element whenever she is doing anything that requires creativity. 

Liz is the author of a young adult fantasy novel, Tangi's Teardrops, and a romantic women's fiction novel, Chocolate Aftertaste.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Book Trailer

The Flaming Pit

That's right. Today is my Internet radio debut with host Lesa Quade and her show The Flaming Pit. I'm no stranger to radio and I love the whole behind the scenes vibe, but this show is a little different. They also stream video live. So you'll get to see me as well.

So here's the link http://www.flinttalkradio.com/
Tune in at 12 noon Eastern and have some fun. Oh and you can even call in and ask questions. That number is 810-208-1854

Until next time, Indulge Your Inner Romantic.

Are You Cursed?

Thank you to W.Lynn for having me on her wonderful site and allowing me to talk to y’all about my upcoming release, Cursed and my experience while writing it. 

They’re not Romeo and Juliet, but their family’s loathe each other just the same. A centuries old grudge began with Colton Edgewater’s Great-great-great-great grandfather swindled the town witch and ran off with her Mother. To say ole Grandpa Jo wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box would be an understatement. He earned the men in his family a one way ticket to heart ache when the Voiles cursed them to be unlucky in love.  It’s 2012 and the men still can’t hold on to love.  Then Avalyn Voiles and her family move back into town and the chance for redemption is finally at hand in Baxter, Mississippi. There’s just one problem, Colton wants Avalyn Voiles for his own, curse or not. 

Avalyn’s spent her entire life hearing about the Edgeworth men, and how their wicked relative did her’s wrong. So when she moves back to Baxter with her Mother and her Grandmother she’s floored when she meets the sexy , enigmatic and intelligent, Colton. How could this man who seems tailor-made for her be all bad? 

Cursed is their tale as they wade through years of bad blood, misconceptions and their own self doubt.

 I had a lot of fun writing this one! It’s the first time I’ve written what I’d classify as a steamy romantic comedy and it’s my first self-published piece. It’s actually taken from a bit of a rumor connected to my family. It’s said when my grandmother married my grandfather his mom was none to happy, and the voodoo priestess cursed the males of our line to be unlucky in love… Scary yes? My take on this was a lot more humorous then I originally intended. But when the muse answers you listen. ;)  As a writer I’m always looking to do something new while staying “me”. This fit those requirements perfectly and I couldn’t be happy. Here’s a little tidbit to wet your appetite. I hope you enjoy it. Cursed release on Amazon, All Romance, Smashwords  Oct. 3^rd. 

Excerpt

When they pulled up, she read the cream-colored oval sign that read, Baxter Botanical Gardens. A large glass building with a dome sat in the distance. It was surrounded by a vibrant array of colorful art created with plants. The frog made up of two different shades of green was whimsical. Her spirits rose as she drank in the beauty, and the tranquility washed over her. She turned to look at Colton, shocked at the look of revelry that appeared on his face.

“Coming to this place is one of the few vivid memories I have of my mother. She loved flowers and kept a food garden in the backyard and a flower garden in the front. I remember spending a lot of time helping her outside. It was really just an excuse for me to play in the mud, but she always made me feel like what I was doing was important.”

A sweet smile curled the corner of his lips upward, warming her heart. There were few things as touching or telling about a man as the way he treated his mother. It was obvious Colton had adored her.

“She sounds like she was amazing.”

“She was. I wish you could’ve met her. I know she’d love you. She was very into living off the land and giving thanks to God and respect to the people around you. Even after all these years, those things are etched into my mind. I was lucky to have her for six years, but I would’ve loved to have many more.”

A twinge of apprehension struck. It was her family who was partially responsible for the premature death of his mother. Was this the moment when he’d ask her to remove the curse?

He slipped his hand in hers and tugged. “Come on; it’s even more beautiful inside, and I have a special surprise I think you’ll love.”

She allowed herself to be pulled along behind, clamping a lid tight on the negativity. It wasn’t like her to dwell on things like that. There were things in the universe that loved chaos, but they were barking up the wrong tree. She imagined the white light of healing beaming down on her, vaporizing the negative vibes and restoring her balance. Tonight she needed to meditate. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze with the hope she was conveying her appreciation. He’d really thought outside the box. While cookie cutter dates like dinner and a movie or the local bowling alley were always fun, special outings like these were relationship-defining.

For weeks, she’d been going back and forth, asking herself if being with Colton was worth the lukewarm reception she was getting from her gran, the pitying looks from her mother, and the guilt that twisted her gut on a daily basis. It might seem silly to some, letting the opinions of others affect her so much. But family was forever and supposed to come first. Dating Colton went against everything she’d been taught. Still, she couldn’t deny the message from Viola or the uncanny feeling she was exactly where she should be.

“What do you want to see first, the outside or the inside?”

“Your choice.”

“Inside then.”

The brilliant hues of the flowers mesmerized her as they moved from display to display. He told her a bit about each one, and she got the feeling he came here fairly often. When she asked as much, he answered, “I come here when I need to get away and think. This place holds some of my fondest memories, though I’ll deny it if you tell my brothers.” He flashed a wicked smile and winked. “I don’t care what other people think about me, but Randy and Hunter can be like a dog with a bone when they get a hold of the right information.”

She laughed. “I can tell you love them.”

“Oh, yeah. They just make me want to kill them from time-to-time.”

“I think it’s a family requirement.”

They toured the building, and he led her to the garden display set up outside.

“You’re such a tease, drawing out the surprise even longer,” she said as they walked beneath the lush green arches decorated with deep red blooms.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard those words from a woman.” He laughed. His eyes darkened with lust, and she grinned.

“I get the feeling I’m a lot of firsts for you, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“That’s because you Voiles are in a class of your own.”

“What does that mean?” She placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side.

“It means y’all are a handful.” He pulled her close to him and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Of course, that’s one of the things I adore the most about you. Never a dull moment.”

“Mmmhmm.” She fought back giggles. Truth was, his family was just as crazy as hers. The stories she’d heard about his Granpa Willie had made her laugh until she cried. They were on equal footing in so many different ways. Finally they reached a smaller building that sat away from the main one that housed the botanical gardens.

“Come on inside.” He steered them inside the building, and she gasped. It was a butterfly house!

I hope you enjoyed your glimpse into the tiny town of Baxter, and the main character of , Cursed, Edgeworth Men Book 1. Comment to enter for a chance to win a Botanical Garden basket. The winner will be announced on September the 12^th.

If you liked what you read, you can find me at the following places.

www.shylacoltsstraightshot.wordpress.com

Twitter: @shylacolt

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorshyla.colt

Street Safe was a Bestseller

That was the coolest, neatest thing I've ever seen. You know I had to take screen shots of this event. When I first learned about making the list, my publisher tagged me on FB.  By then I think I was at #79 on the Multicultural list. And this was on release day.
I had no idea something like that could happen…at least on release day. :-)
So thank you so much to everyone who has bought a book, shared the posts, links, retweeted on Twitter. You guys rock and are totally amazing.

I will confess there is a part of me that wants to see how far Street Safe can go and for how long. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a blurb and a snippet of my newest release.

Blurb:

Street Callan wants only one thing from the sultry voluptuous woman in red heels, a night of steamy, unadulterated sex.

Na’arah Simmons has no problem submitting to Street’s seductive allure, since she shares in the attraction.

When their one night stand leaves her with an unplanned souvenir, his less than desired response will force her to move on.

However, when she’s the only witness to a brutal murder, Na’arah has only Street to turn to if she wants to save herself and her unborn child.

Excerpt:

Street rounded the corner and paused. His heart pounded a little harder and the hard-on he’d sported most of the night came roaring to life. Oh yeah, tonight must be his night if Na’arah was standing next to his office alone.

He limped closer, the sweet, intoxicating scent of her perfume beckoning as easily as her sultry pose.

She probably had no idea of the alluring picture she presented. Eyes closed, full lips parted as if waiting for a lover’s kiss and one shapely leg bent so her heel rested on the wall behind her. That position also allowed the skirt of her dress to rise a little higher on her thighs. Tonight was definitely his night.

 He stopped in front of her and still she hadn’t moved. This close, and the heat of her body wrapped around his. Resisting the urge to mold his body into the temptation of her soft front he leaned closer, resting a hand near her head and dragging her scent deep into his lungs.

“Not liking the party?” he murmured.

She snapped open her eyes, a small gasp accompanied the quick rise and fall of her lovely breasts. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips and he stifled a groan. What he wouldn’t give to feel her mouth on his, or anywhere else on his body, for that matter.

“Not particularly, but they’re not my friends,” she answered. She straightened, her breasts brushing his chest, but he didn’t move.

She merely arched a brow and he smiled. So she didn’t seem to mind that he was invading her space. How far could he test her limits?

“So why are you the designated driver?” He leaned closer... His thighs brushed hers and sent a jolt of longing through his system.

“My sister.” Na’arah lifted an arm and rested her hand on his chest. “I owed her a favor.”

He savored the warmth of her palm. He could imagine the way her hands would feel sliding over his skin, trailing down his stomach and closing around his erection. “I’m glad you did.” He swept a lock of her hair from her shoulder, pleased at the silkiness of the strands.

Desire flared in her irises. Maybe she wasn’t as unaffected as he thought.

“So what would your girlfriend say if she saw us right now?

“Nothing. I don’t have one.”

Her shoulders sagged.

So she’d been worried about his relationship status. Interesting. “Should I be worried about some pesky boyfriend?”

She shook her head and looked away.

He tucked a curl behind her ear, before trailing a finger along her jaw until it rested beneath her chin. Slowly, he tilted her head until she once more met his gaze.

“You still have the most amazing eyes. I always remembered that about you.”

“I can’t believe you noticed my eyes.”

“That’s not the only thing I noticed.” He shifted until his knee slid between her thighs. He longed to explore her heat.  Closer still and he had her effectively trapped between his body and the wall.

Not a bad place to be at the moment, but he could think of one better.

“And you forgot my name.”

Chagrin coursed through him.

“Why did you stop coming?” A hint of hurt clung to her voice. “Did I do something you didn’t like?

Damn, she didn’t waste words and strangely, he found her candor arousing. He could do no else than be truthful. “Because I’m attracted to you.”

Her gaze flew to his then dropped away. A smirk twitched the corners of his mouth. He’d surprised her with his admission.

“Nothing to say?”

“Prove it.”

Buy Links

Evernight

Amazon

All Romance

Until next time, Indulge Your Inner Romantic.