Lash,, Weresnakes, and Romance

At his request, I allowed Trystan Valeras a.k.a. Lash to be the one to pen this post at Decadent Decisions. A heartfelt thank you to him for this, and also a warning: watch the language, and don’t be threatening anyone.  - Tara Fox Hall

ROMANCE IS NO FRIEND OF WERESNAKES

I’m Lash. Those of you who frequent the Internet might have already heard of me. I’m trying hard to get the word out there about my exploits, promoting my series that bears my name as the title of the first book. If this is your first time seeing my name, don’t worry. I guarantee it won’t be the last.

The title above says it all. Romance is something that I gave up in my youth, when everything fell apart with Mara. See, like a lot of people, I started out poor and had to work my way up. It was hard work, sure, but I was well on my way to getting a decent life, if not a memorable one by the time I was sixteen. In the years that followed, my life became a constant struggle to go straight. My gangster father, Jared, pushed me from the first to join him in his life of crime. I admit I didn’t put up much of a fight, either. Accepting his dirty money gave me my one shot at the beautiful Mara. 

With my father’s money in my corner, I was able to get close to her, to be first friends, then her fiancée. There were so many complications, with her being human and me being snake. But I stupidly told myself that didn’t matter. I told myself that if she loved me, she had to love all of me, including the sometime scales. But her family hated me, and did the unthinkable to stop us getting married. Just like a long chain of glass dominos, all my dreams I’d worked so hard and hoped for came tumbling down to shatter, leaving me with nothing.

Later on, after I began working for my vampire boss, Abraham, I got together with Britney. She was a whore...um, prostitute, and I wanted her to stop, but she wouldn’t. I didn’t like that, but I accepted it, until the night she partnered with an enemy, playing bait to draw me in. Like a fuc…um, like a sap, I fell for it, and nearly got killed because of it. In the end, I killed her in self-defense. 

There was another woman named Gretchen that I cared about. We got together years ago, and I’d always wanted more. Finding her again was a miracle. Having her for my own seemed like a sign from God, so much so that I bought a ring. But she also died, after provoking me to bite her because she didn’t have the strength to take her own life.

Now all that tragedy was just in Lash. I’ve not even gotten to the events of the next book, Shadow Man. So you tell me, are romance and love my enemy, or what? How damned unlucky can a guy be? Hear the rest, then judge for yourself.

I decided to take another tack in Shadow Man, and tried with Abraham to order myself up a mistress. The Great Depression was in full swing, so women that might have ignored me before were willing this time to take a look, especially with my having a job. That’s where I met Nancy. She was good, and I liked her. But I’d been hurt before, and I wanted to move slow. She didn’t. 

When she left, I went back to Arlene’s, in search of a woman I’d seen singing there, Cassandra Nile. She still wanted some of me, and I took her up on that. We make a good pair, I think. But I thought that a lot of times before, and it turned out terrible. I’m worried that this time is going to turn out like all the rest.

Blurb:

A renegade vampire begins amassing a flock of true believers, threatening America’s vampire hierarchy. Weresnake Lash partners with old enemy Danial and new allies Burl and Spiderboy to track down and annihilate them. Betrayed and left for dead, Lash reemerges the victor, edging ever upward in the Assassin’s Ranking, and catching the eye of the sultry nightclub singer Cassandra Nile. Drawn into drugs by Cassie, Lash begins to doubt himself, yearning to leave his life of violence, even as enemies close in from every side.

Excerpt:

“So, anything else you like, besides dicks?” I asked with a leer.

“I don’t want presents,” Cassy said after a moment. “I’d welcome food, if you brought some for both of us like you did today. But I don’t want to be mated.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said uncomfortably. “I don’t want to be mated either.”

“Good,” Cassy said, her beautiful face breaking into a smile. “Bring me some first-class meat, enough for us to gorge ourselves. And maybe a bottle of wine, or some cheese?”

I wrote it down, just in case I forgot. “Anything else?”

“Anything to eat, or drink. But other than that, just bring yourself.” She smiled. “Think you can do that?”

“Have I let you down yet?”

She laughed and shook her head, and then she was kissing me.

***

Two weeks went by like this, until finally Abraham called me in and asked me what was going on. I explained to him about Cassy, and how happy she’d been making me.

“I’ve heard of her,” he said, giving me a peculiar look. “She’s been around a long time.”

“What’s that fucking mean?” I snapped. “So she’s older than I am. You’re older than Winnie by what, fifty or sixty years?”

“Seventy,” he said, cracking a smile. “But that’s not bad, for a vampire and a human who fell for him.”

“She makes me happy,” I said contentedly. “Why aren’t you happy for me?”

“I am happy for you,” he said seriously. “I just need to know if you’re going to be gone most Saturday nights and Sundays until dark.”

“I am. Is that going to be a problem?”

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “But I can see you’re happy, so I’m willing to try it. If we need someone to fill in for you besides Spiderboy, I’ll hire a few more men. The economy seems to be improving. They say 1935 is going to be a good year.”

“Thanks,” I said warmly.

“You might want to know that Nancy’s doing well. She’s gotten herself a little house in France, near the Louvre. She’s attending a college there for art, and also learning French.”

I squirmed in my chair a bit. “I’m glad for her. Does she need money?”

“No. Winnie reports Nancy’s doing fine financially, and has gotten a part time job as a seamstress. She said to tell you she misses you very much, and hopes you’re doing well.”

All my happy thoughts were buried in a steaming pile of guilt that rained down on me like shit on an outhouse floor. “Tell her I hope she’s happy.”

“I’ll have Winnie add that to her letter,” Abraham said, shuffling some papers. 

“I need to go see to the guards,” I said, looking at my watch. “We need to target practice.”

“Then you’d better get to it.” His tone was curt.

I nodded and left, my happy mood gone.

***

Links:

Website: www.tarafoxhall.com

Email: tarafoxhallATgmailDOTcom

Tara's Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5286654.Tara_Fox_Hall/blog

Tara's Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Fox-Hall/151813374904903

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TerrorFoxHall

Amazon Webpage: http://www.amazon.com/Tara-Fox-Hall/e/B005YPAA4W

For info on my recently published series books Lash: Shadow Man click here: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Man-Lash-ebook/dp/B009UHDZHY  

Bio:

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

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Votes for Vixen

Usually on these blog tours, authors talk about themselves and the book. Well, I want to talk about someone else and my book, a woman that when I came across her, inspired me so much, I put her in the book. I made a spot for her! It’s one of these scenes an editor would arch a brow and say, “Is this relevant to the story?”

No, but I wanted this woman in my book. She is a true inspiration.

Her name was Mary Church Terrell.

She was the daughter of slaves and in a time when people of African descent were treated in the cruelest manner, she refused to submit. You know what this lady did? She got a college degree! She attended Oberlin College with all white men! Can you imagine how awkward she must have felt? I mean, I know what it’s like just to be a woman in a building full of men, add racial tension to that…and this was the 1880s.

Nevertheless, she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree both and went on to teach and run her own school. She spoke at least three languages. She was very active in suffrage, thus her appearance in Votes for Vixens.

Terrell was the first president of National Association of Colored Women. This was an organization that helped many African Americans in need, focusing on education and ending discrimination.

In 1904, she was the only African American woman at a major conference. She wowed the crowd and received a standing ovation for reciting her speech in three different languages.

Her activist movements did not stop with obtaining the right to vote, either. In the 1950s, she was at the helm of the fight to integrate eating places. She participated in picketing and protesting well into her eighties.

This woman was just not taking NO for an answer.

I think we should all fight for what we believe in.

To find out more about Mary Church Terrell:

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/civil/jb_civil_terrell_1.html

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aap/terrell.html

The scene Mary’s fictional character is in was, sadly, a common scene back then. Even though women in general, women of ALL colors and races were being denied the same right, many white women refused to march/work side-by-side with women of non-white heritage. They too often forgot they were all fighting for the same thing. And that is why women like Mary Church Terrell were important. She didn’t back down and continued to fight for African American women everywhere, when others were so eager to deny them a voice—even their own sex.

Is there a woman in history, readers, that inspires YOU? Have you ever just come across a memento, a biography of someone that just hit you somewhere deep inside? Inspired you to keep chugging along? Made you sit on the computer for hours, Googling for more information?

Feel free to comment.

Votes for Vixens is available on Amazon, Smashwords, and All Romance Ebooks.

Blurb: 

Elizabeth is a small-town Kansas girl who has grown up under her domineering father's shadow. When she finds out that her father has denied her hand in marriage to the town's most eligible bachelor--a man she's long secretly desired--she snaps. Her father punches her for the last time. She realizes she has no future and with stories of suffragettes, women's rights, and voting in her head, vows to be free.

She escapes to New York City where she meets Margaret. Margaret believes in the right to vote for women and engages Elizabeth to join in the National Women's Party activities.

Operation: Opera House is underway. In a month's time, President Wilson is due at the Metropolitan Opera House to give a speech. The NWP hopes that a peaceful protest will convince the president to gather congress in order to ratify the 19th Amendment.

As they prepare and plan, Margaret shows Elizabeth how to live and love. Under Margaret's sensual touch, Elizabeth begins to heal from numerous emotional wounds. But on March 4th, 1919, their "peaceful protest" becomes a riot on the streets of New York.

A riot ensues in Elizabeth's heart as well when her former flame shows up in the city…

***

Tara Chevrestt is 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.

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

They both agree, however, that strong is sexy, and they don't write the average, simpering damsel. They write about women who see what they want and obtain it.

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.

Her Perfect Man by Nona Raines

Kim Hansen has terrible luck with men. When her sexy downstairs neighbor shows a more-than-neighborly interest in her, she's suspicious. She's been burned too many times, by too many guys. Steamy sex is one thing, but Charlie Keller is smart, hot and successful—so what more could he want with her?

Though Kim does her best to shut him down, Charlie's not put off by her attitude. He doesn't scare easy. Kim thinks she's clever, using sex to maintain an emotional distance and to keep him off guard. But Charlie sees through her tough exterior to the tender heart beneath.

But Kim needs to be won over. Sure, their bedroom action is awesome, but given her past mistakes, she's convinced Charlie is too good to be true. Just too perfect. But if Charlie has his way, he'll prove that he's the perfect man for her.

Genre: Contemporary erotic romance m/f

Buy links: The Wild Rose Press

Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she's not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She's been writing off and on for years, but it was only when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association that she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript. 

Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. A former librarian, she enjoys reading books of all genres and discussing them with others. She is thrilled to finally be able to call herself an author and looks forward to hearing from readers.

Website / Facebook

Excerpt:

Kim pulled open the door and began "Look, I just want to…" Her voice trailed off and her mouth went dry as she got a good look at him. This was Charlie?

Gone was the preppy polo shirt he'd had on last night. Today he wore a black T-shirt that stretched tightly over his chest. A warm, hard chest that she remembered touching last night. Kim's heart thumped.

He'd changed last night's Dockers for a pair of jeans that hugged his thighs. Heat flashed through her as she recalled sitting on his lap and how hard he'd been for her. Oh, God, she couldn't help it. Her gaze went to his package, which filled the front of his jeans beautifully.

Her eyes flashed to his. "You like?" he asked. The same words she said to him last night.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. He was the same man, but different. And not only had the clothing changed, so had his demeanor. This Charlie was not the geeky schoolteacher or the helpful downstairs neighbor. This Charlie was a really hot guy. And from the way his blue eyes lasered her, he thought she was hot, too.

"Are you sober now?" His voice was taut.

"Huh?" She blinked. "Yeah."

"Good." Before Kim had time to wonder at his question or feel insulted by it, he stepped inside, kicked the door shut and hauled her into his arms.

He didn't so much kiss her as devour her—as though he were taking up from where they left off last night, before his conscience made him leave. Kim had no trouble catching up.

Dark Seraphine and KaSonndra Leigh

"Mom always says the angels walk among us. She forgot to tell me that sometimes they're not all fluffy and nice."

Seventeen-year-old Caleb Wood has seen people he calls the walkers since he was a baby. It didn't take long for him to realize something…no one can see these strangers but him. They never stuck around or tried to touch him. And they never said a word. That was until one day on the first day of class in his senior year when an incredibly gorgeous girl strolls into his life…and things are never the same again.

Soon Caleb realizes he has stepped into the middle of a growing conflict between two celestial races. And his ability to see the invisible ones, the half-breeds that want to modify the human race, just might be the only hope both he and the mysterious, but infuriating Gia have of making it out alive.

About the Author:

KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. Her two sons, aka the X-Men, have made her promise to write a boy book next.

She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora's Box (good writer's block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Excerpt

There was no one in the classroom besides the two of us. To admit this girl made me feel a little shaky sounded weak. I put on a manly face, squared my shoulders, and sat in the desk behind her. The little kid in me still wanted to run away like a baby, though. 

And then she laughed. 

It was a high-pitched giggle, a normal girl’s sound. That wasn’t right. I don’t remember any of the other spirits laughing before. 

“So you wanna run from me, huh? Go ahead. I’ll just find you like I always do, Caleb,” she said, still facing the chalk board in the front of the classroom. Her voice was smooth like a musical instrument, maybe a flute. Nah. It was more like a harp. I could listen to it all day. 

But even her sexy pipes didn’t change the fact that she just read my mind. How did she do that?

“Are you going to run, or stay? I need a quick answer, because I have a lot to do today.” She turned her head to the side a bit. 

“I don’t run from anything,” I said, trying to ignore the prickle in my underarms. Good thing I used my dad’s deodorant this morning. That old-timers stuff was strong enough to knock out anything. 

She didn’t scare me as much as some of the other walkers, my nickname for them. But I wasn’t ready to get her digits either. As a baby, I remembered talking to a few of them. That ability disappeared sometime around my thirteenth birthday. This was the first time I spoke to one in four years. 

“What are you people: angels, ghosts, or zombies?” I asked, my voice squeaking on the last syllable. What a dork. 

“Can’t you be a little more creative?” She turned around in her seat to face me, an amused expression on her ridiculously gorgeous face. I sucked my breath. Her strange amber-hazel eyes pierced through me. The word beautiful didn’t do enough for this walker-girl. 

“I thought I was pretty creative,” I said.

“Nope. Your ideas suck,” she said with a smug face. 

“Nice. Thanks,” I said, getting annoyed.

“And I don’t sparkle in the sun, either. So scratch that one off your list too.” 

I frowned. “Then tell me the right answer. And you can go ahead and explain how I won the honor of being stalked?”

“I’m a creative mix of many things. Feel better now?” She tilted her head. Blue-black hair flowed around her face as if it were made of silky thread. “So others have come before me?” She seemed to be talking to herself rather than asking me. 

“Maybe,” I said. Why should I tell her everything? One thing I did know. At this rate, I was probably going to be committed to the loony ward on the first day of school. 

“I’m going to need your help soon, Caleb. You have to be ready,” she whispered, her face suddenly serious. Right then, I knew my world was about to change…forever. 

Who is the Dark Seraphine? Find out in September, 2012.

A Pussy, a Pirate, and Poachers

I'm just bursting with excitement to have my sister author, Kassanna hanging out with me today. Oh wait. She's got Chef and Tyrell to wait on her. In the meantime check out her latest release. Look at that cover.

Blurb

Milla didn't know who or what she pissed off but she was having the worst week of her life. Her ship had sunk during a freak storm. Luckily, she'd gotten her crew and most of her cargo off.  But somehow she ended up on an island with a neurotic cat, a black panther to be more specific. Her week from hell culminates when they land on an island owned by an ex-drug lord with security issues. 

Then there was one little issue she didn’t see coming. Ole pussycat wasn’t a panther at all.

Alex had no clue why he didn't want to leave the infuriating woman. At least he didn't until he got a good whiff of her. Now all he could think about was mating her. That alone was ridiculous, she was human. What made it worse was her penchant for illegal activities.  As an ATF officer he was geared and ready to take her down for smuggling. Now he found himself doing anything to protect her. And she thought her day was bad.

Excerpt

Taking a different route from the one he'd started on, Alex headed back toward shore. Milla was sitting close to the waterline, staring at the sea. She shook her head as she rose. He watched her chest rise as she took a deep breath and started limping toward him. This was his chance to disappear into the jungle. Alex chuckled at the realization he didn't want to leave her. He needed to decide, however, if he would shift to cat or appear before her as a man. Loping toward her, he changed back into his panther form.

Stopping just out of her line of sight, he blended in with the foliage and watched as she walked the beach. Milla was about to walk right into him when she realized he was there––only inches stood between them. She jumped back, falling on her ass, and backpedaled to put some space between them. He stretched his front paws and eased from the brush. His stare clashed with hers. He finally had the opportunity to get a good look at his captor as he sat on his haunches and took in every nuance from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Milla's hair had dried into a two-tone afro of black and blonde. Her large eyes dominated her face and were the color of liquid gold. High cheekbones and plump, bow-shaped lips completed her features. His gaze skimmed over her tan skin.

The blue tank top she wore was ripped up the side, exposing the soft curve of her breast. Her sodden jeans clung to her curvy hips and were intact with the exception of multiple long cuts in the fabric on the inside of one leg.

Guilt washed over him. He'd been angry at being caged with no way to free himself on a ship that was sinking. He continued his study of her. She was missing a boot. The missing footwear was his fault too. She dug her hands deep into the soft silt, pushed up from the sand, stood, and limped a few more steps back, favoring her left leg.

She never looked away from him. Alex could hear her rapid heartbeat from where he crouched. His cock jumped. The predator in him responded to her fear by crouching low to the ground and flicking his long tongue out to wipe his muzzle. Alex prowled toward her.

"Nice pussy cat. Remember me? You saved me." She spoke quietly, raising her hands with the palms facing him.

Why did she insist on talking to him as if he were a housecat? He was a predator, not a pet. He growled his frustration and watched her eyes widen. The smell of fear rolled off her. He chuffed at the odor surrounding him. Suddenly she planted her feet, and her scent toned down considerably.

"Listen here, kitty; I am not your enemy. We're caught in a bad situation. You can go your way, and I'll go mine, but after the night I've had, you'll have a fight on your hands if you expect me to lie down and be breakfast." She turned her body toward the trees and, after a glance over her shoulder, limped away.

Turning her back on him was a bold move, and he was impressed. Alex walked behind her. His gaze was drawn to her ass, cupped so lovingly by the jeans. The sight made him groan inwardly. Damn, but she had a nice ass, and once she got hold of her emotions...he'd even admit she would make one hell of a cat.

Buy Links:
All Romance
Breathless

Don't forget to visit Kassanna at her cyber home and find her other luscious and spellbinding books.

My website www.Flavorfullove.com
Visit my blog at http://kassalot.wordpress.com/

Book Spotlight- Mommy Blogger by Carla Caruso

Stella lands a fab job as a mommy blogger. The catch is she’s never had children. Plunged into a world of insanity every mother faces, she must learn to cope as her lies build upon one another. A sexy ex comes into the picture, forcing her to choose between him or the job and a handsome ‘keeper’ of a coworker. It can’t last forever.

About the Author:

Carla Caruso has worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist, government PR and fashion stylist. Mommy Blogger was inspired by applying to write for a parenting website at the start of her freelancing career, pretending she was a mom – when she really wasn’t. Her clueless article ideas, needless to stay, didn’t make the cut – though, the experience at least gave her the premise for a fiction plot! Carla is a member of Romance Writers of Australia.

Website / Publisher / Amazon

Excerpt:

Cleo continues, “Most of our team work freelance from home or part-time in the office. You met Angelique in admin before. There’s also Bethany in accounts, who makes girly accessories for the site under her own label, and Topaz, who helps with packaging and postage. Oh, and Noah, of course, our webmaster—”

A deep male voice, behind me, cuts in. “My ears are burning.”

I swing around and my heart gets a jumpstart. The guy in question is not your garden-variety, weedy IT type. More like a young John Corbett, with mid-length, wavy, brown hair, sea-green eyes and a tall, well-built figure, clad in a fitted, charcoal tee and faded jeans.

Noah extends a hand toward me. I feel the warmth of his hand enclosing mine, before I remember mine’s Oompa Loompa colored. He smells of manliness and soap. Mommy blogging suddenly got a whole lot more interesting.

“Hey,” he drawls. 

“Hi, I’m...Stella.” Yup, just forgot my name. 

Noah’s gaze lingers on mine. “Your our new girl then?”

“Apparently.”

He nods slowly, as though sizing me up. “You’ll fit right in.”

“Oh, thanks,” I manage, but my mind screams: What’s that mean? That he could see me donning maternity jeans or possibly that I look like a MILF? Or worse, a GILF? (A Grandmother I’d Like To...)

“Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting,” Noah says, dropping my hand. Darn.

“Meeting?” I ask mildly as Noah strides away. 

There were meetings? I had imagined being a faceless blogger, squirreling away in tracky-dacks in my home office, laughing to myself, while re-runs of Sex and the City played in the background.

Stealing Christmas Release Day

Well here we are again, Release Day madness and a Christmas story to make you sigh and gasp. :-)
Stealing Christmas, a romantic suspense from Wild Rose Press.

Secrets abound in Benson's Bakery. A crazed Santa wants something valuable hidden inside the building, and only two things stand in his way...Jake and Sara.

When Sara Henderson receives threatening letters just days before Christmas, she asks sexy bread baker Jake Benson for help. Jake is more than happy to provide the muscle to keep the beautiful cake decorator from harm, but he has an ulterior motive--to steal a kiss under the mistletoe. Sara wants that kiss as much as he does, but first they have a mystery to solve.

Will they find out who is stalking Sara, or will Santa succeed in stealing Christmas?

Excerpt:

Sara loved the ease of being with Jake. She held his arm, strolling down the snow-covered sidewalks after dinner. A few flakes fluttered to the ground and the crisp wind danced them across the slippery maroon bricks in the street. Dense green garlands wound around black wrought iron lamp posts. Bright emerald wreaths with big red velvet bows hung on buildings or in windows. Blinking multi-colored lights vied with streetlights and traffic. The city was dressed for Christmas.

When Sara sighed, Jake glanced at her. “You okay?”

“When is the last time you walked downtown Flint without being afraid?”

“Good question. Downtown Development Authority has increased its patrols.”

“They have. Downtown is probably the only place in the city that’s safe.”

He chuckled. “Right, right.”

Sara stumbled, instinctively reaching for Jake. He caught her arm and dragged her against his strong lean frame. She peered into his eyes, their faces inches apart. Her heart hammered at his nearness. “You have this incredible knack for coming to my rescue.”

“I never could resist a damsel in distress.”

“My hero.”

“You can’t look at me that way when you say things like that.”

She moved her hands to the front of his coat. “Why not?”

He brought his lips to hers, giving her the only answer she needed.

Available from Wild Rose Press

Until next time, Indulge Your Inner Romantic

Spotlight: Rescuing a Runaway Bride by Honey Jans

Samantha Logan is a runaway bride. Jake Ramsey is a PI on a stakeout. When they meet in the dark after midnight all their formerly suppressed desires explode. Samantha so needs to prove her sexiness after finding her fiancée in the sack with another woman and Jake has wanted his bosses daughter for years. But will the fire burn out when she finds out he’s here to arrest her brother? To find out come along on the thrill ride as they battle her kinky ex-fiancée, espionage, and each other. Will Jake be able to rescue this runaway bride?

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:

Samantha Logan parked her car in front of her family’s dilapidated summer cabin in the north woods of Wisconsin and let out a demoralized sigh. Chicago’s morning newspapers would expose the entire disaster, complete with the glaring caption ‘Runaway Bride’. What they wouldn’t say was that after she caught the rat bastard with another woman Grayson St. James had freaked out so much he’d damned near killed her. It was an accident she kept telling herself but she wasn’t taking any chances by sticking around to hear his feeble apologies.

She’d gone to his condo needing to know if they were sexually compatible. The answer hell no, made her lips curve in a rueful smile as she remembered him grunting and sweating over some naked blonde bimbo who was going down on him. The fact he wanted sex wasn’t the shocker. The fact he didn’t want it with semi-virgin her was a huge wake-up call. This time around she’d choose a lover more carefully. What she needed was a teacher, some ideal hunk who’d teach her all about sex. And being academically minded she’d already mentally compiled a list of qualities her erotic arts instructor would need. The first being completely honest, she wouldn’t settle for anything less. The second being able to make her toes curl as she came. But first she was going to hole up here until the furor died down. In retrospect she realized Grayson’s betrayal had probably been just the boot in the butt she needed to shake her out of her safe little workaholic life.

With that thought in mind she climbed out of her almost paid off clunker and walked up the rutted path to her hideout. If she were in luck the key would be in the old hiding place on the ledge above the door. Reaching up on tiptoe she smiled when her fingertips encountered cold metal. Great, things were finally going her way.

Steadying her shaking hands, she stuck the key in the lock, and tried her damndest to turn it. The darned thing wouldn’t turn. It was probably rusted shut. Just her rotten luck. Good and mad now she rattled the rusty lock trying to force it.

Then suddenly the door jerked open taking her with it as she fell into the dark cabin. Crashing to the floor she let out a gasp when some linebacker-sized guy jumped on her taking her down in a rolling tackle that left her flat on her back under him. What the fuck, have I stumbled across a squatter? Because there is no way Grayson or my father and his private dicks could know I’m here.

Trying to suck in air she futilely kicked out at him giving him her best mixed martial arts moves learned during a free crash course due to her new contract with Max’s Dojo. And groaned in frustration when she couldn’t even land a decent punch as he blocked her every move with the stealth of a ninja. Then he captured her wrists in one brawny hand as he began running the other down her struggling body. Just then she finally drew in enough air into her starved lungs to scream realizing too late he smelled hauntingly familiar. It couldn’t be?her luck couldn’t be all bad.

He froze on top of her, if possible, pinning her harder to the floor and she heard him bite back a curse…a slightly southern totally snarky curse and wanted to die. It was. Oh dear heavens her nemesis and teenage wet dream Jake Ramsey.

“Stop your goddamned caterwauling, brat,” he bit out.

Her breath caught in her throat as his oh-so rugged body pressed intimately against hers, the steely brand of his cock damned near burning her sex through her panties. Damn she had to say she wanted to hire a sex instructor. Jake Ramsey was sex on a stick and his big work-roughened hand still cupping her quivering breast made her burn. On cue her nipple budded wantonly against his hot rough palm as a heat wave swept through her.

On top of her he sucked in a breath, his hand tightening on her breast and she thought she was going to die of bliss. Then he went absolutely still muttering what sounded like a curse and she wanted to cry. Great she’d shocked him…again. This was the part where he let her go and gave her the lecture for improper young ladies which had been his job way back when he first came to work for her father as part of Logan Industries Security Force. At least the dark would save her the humiliation of him seeing her blush.

Then the lights snapped on and she groaned. What did he do, install a timer? It’d be easy for the thug who now headed her dad’s security team. She gazed up at him needing to know if he’d changed in the seven years she’d been away, since he’d run her off really. She’d hightailed it for college early after he’d rejected her advances and hadn’t looked back until now.

His gray eyes were still hard and watchful, but they softened a bit as he looked down at her turning into a molten silver glow that took her breath away. There was something decidedly dangerous about the former soldier turned Logan Industries Security Chief. Unfortunately looking at her would no doubt cool his ardor. He hadn’t wanted her when she was eighteen why should now be any different? She didn’t fool herself that she was a great beauty. Her curves were too generous and her sassy independence turned off most men. But instead of his hard-on shrinking it grew against her making her gasp with surprise.

Instinctively she pressed against him pushing her luck. Then he rubbed his thumb over her hard nipple and she trembled, a moan pouring out of her throat. Since when did he want her? Or was this some new interrogation technique? A good cop, sexy bad cop thing designed to drive her nuts?

“What’s the matter, sugar? St. James not so good in the sack?” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

What was the question? She looked up at him with lust-fogged eyes. Oh yeah, is Grayson a flop in the sack? She never found out but she wasn’t about to admit it to the hunk. “None of your dang business, goon.”

“Answer me or I’ll take your sexy ass over my knee,” he growled.

Her toes curled at the huskily voiced threat even as her bottom heated up. Did he really think she had a sexy ass? She’d been reading erotic romances telling herself she was getting ready for her marriage. Now she knew different, she’d been getting ready for her sex instructor. Jake Ramsey disreputable as he was might make the perfect erotica one-o-one teacher. “Really?” she asked, knowing she sounded more hopeful than she should.

Bad Boy Blake

Blake Bennett is the town bad boy turned Sheriff, elected to keep the peace. When Blake first meets Gina, she's butting heads with the Mayor…over the type of dancing she teaches—pole dancing.

Gina West is a professional dancer, who retired from the stage, and moves to Westonville, NB, to start her own dance studio. But Gina is not who she claims to be, and when strange things start happening…vengeful threats and vandalism…Blake begins digging for the truth. In his role as protector, he begins to fall for Gina, but will her lies and subterfuge destroy any chance for them to be together?

She stood to follow him to the door, but found herself hauled up against his muscular chest as he treated her to another scorching kiss. 

“Woman, you’re driving me crazy.”

Pushing away from him she asked, “Me? What did I do?”

“Now that I know what’s hidden under that robe, my hands are itching to peel it off you again.”

“What’s stopping you?” she said as she swiftly untied the sash, shrugged the robe off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor.

Just as fast was his reaction as he picked her straight up in the air and set her down on the counter. He chuckled in response to her shriek as the smooth, icy marble met her bare backside and she arched backward, supporting her weight on her hands. Quick to take advantage, he swooped in to devour her breasts with his hands and mouth. 

Her legs wrapped around him of their own volition, urging him closer, closer…and then his cell phone rang.

He ceased ministering to her body and allowed his head to rest in the valley of her newly sensitized orbs. She ran her fingers through his hair, a touch on the long side for a man in his profession, her actions serving to hold him against her. 

“I have to go,” he mumbled against her skin.

“I know.”

“We’ll finish this later,” he said, promise inherent in his words. 

“Okay.”

He lifted his head and covered her mouth with his, their tongues mating, creating their own magic as they thrust and parried, suckled and withdrew. His hands cupped her buttocks as he lifted her and set her on her feet.

“This is the first time in my years as Sheriff that I allowed anything or anybody to come between me and my job. What kind of spell have you cast over me?” he teased.

“Not a strong enough one, apparently.” Then seeing his confusion, she added, “You’re only human, Blake. The job isn’t the sum total of who you are as a man.”

“Maybe not, but I’ve measured myself by it for a long time.”

“Then maybe you were due for a change.” She smoothed his hair back into place with her hands.

“You could be right. We’ll discuss this later. Right now, I have to see how Rob is and if forensics found anything downstairs, then I’ll have them come up here.” His eyes traveled the length of her body as he spoke. “Better get some clothes on or I won’t be the only one who knows your secret.”

“What secret?”

“That you are indeed a true redhead.”

Available at Evernight Publishing, All Romance eBooks, Bookstrand , Amazon, and wherever ebooks are sold.
To celebrate my first year in publication, I’ll be giving away 3 ebook copies of Bad Boy Blake. Just leave a comment to get your name in the draw. I’d be interested to know which, if any, of my books you’ve read and what your thoughts are on them. If I’m a new to you author, let me know that as well. 9 stops, 9 chances to win! Winners will be announced November 10th.
Blog Tour Schedule for Bad Boy Blake:
DateHost/HostessBlog url
30Lorraine Nelson http://lorrainenelson.wordpress.com
31Lia Davishttp://booksamour.blogspot.com/
1Cr Mosshttp://doubledranchtales.blogspot.com/
2Tara Chevrestt http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.ca/
3Kacey Hammellhttp://kaceyhammellkreations.blogspot.com/
4W Lynn Chantalehttp://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.ca/
5Leslie Stocktonhttp://workout2day4evr.wordpress.com/
6London Saint James  http://londonsj.blogspot.com/
7Doris O'Connor http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.com/?zx=764a701e81ce6f81

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lorraine Nelson is a multi-published author who lives in rural New Brunswick, on the east coast of Canada. Always a bookworm, she’s read many novels of romance and mystery over the years, finally deciding to put her pen to work at writing one. 

“To write romance and romantic suspense is my dream come true, although my mom says I was born with an avid imagination and pencil in hand, crafting stories from an early age. Now my children have grown and have lives of their own, I have time to indulge my passion for writing.”

Lorraine lives alone with an independent yet affectionate tomcat, enjoys spending time with her three sons and five grandchildren, with a sixth due in December. When not at the computer, you can find her spending time with family, gardening, baking and, of course, reading.

She loves to hear from readers. You can keep up with Lorraine’s releases by visiting her Website - http://lorrainenelson.weebly.com

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Or email your comments to: lorrainenelson_author@hotmail.com. 

Lorraine’s books are listed on her website. You’ll find blurbs, excerpts, reviews, and purchase links there. http://lorrainenelson.weebly.com

Or, if you’re a kindle owner, you can check out her author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lorraine-Nelson/e/B005XMAYFQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

What do you like about bad boys? One lucky commenter will receive a free download of Bad Boy Blake. Winner to be drawn November 15^th.