Help Alaska Flood Victims

Did you know there is flooding in Alaska? I didn't either.

Check out this post by Morgan Q. O'Reilly to find out the details, and how you can help.

The Morgan Diaries

Thank you for being such awesome readers. *cyber hugs*

Victoria's Secret Wish

Let's start the week off on a hot note, shall we? Here's my review of Victoria's Secret Wish, by Piper Denna.

Book 2 of Fantasies, Inc: Victoria’s Secret Wish

BLURB:

Maybe three isn't always a crowd.

“Erotica’s Sweethearts”, Brett and Victoria Grant, are launching the Fantasies, Inc. Aphrodite--a cruise liner dedicated to carnal pleasures. Since the voyage is all about fantasies coming true, Brett is determined to see Victoria realize her own wildest dream: being pleasured by two men at once.

Victoria can hardly keep her eyes--or hands--off gold medal swimmer David Roman when he boards the Aphrodite. And when Brett propositions David, she can’t say no. But Brett doesn’t know the extent of her fantasy. She wants him as into her other guy as she is. Will his adventurous spirit stretch that far?

David knows it’s a bad idea to get in the middle of the Grants’ marriage. He doesn’t have a kinky bone in his body--or so he thought before this trip--but the romps keep getting wilder and he keeps imagining more. And he really likes them both...as much in bed as out. If the paparazzi discover he’s involved with such a high-profile couple, his career is over. Is he willing to risk everything to continue?

WARNING: Adult sensuality and language, ménage a la two men bent on arousing their woman beyond all control, voyeurism, foot and hair fetish scenes, same sex situations, betrayal, and industrial espionage.

BUY IT HERE

MY REVIEW:

Upon reading the first book in the series, Fantasy Mountain, as a reader I was totally satisfied with Victoria and Brett’s HEA. When I heard about this book, I wondered how Ms. Denna would make us care about the same couple one more time.

She succeeded spectacularly. This book is a triumph of emotional risk, relationships, and sacrifice, with highly believable suspense thrown in just to keep us on the edge of our seats. How would you add a third to an already happy relationship? This question is not only explored, but answered to everyone’s satisfaction.

The setting is pure entertainment. What’s not to love about a cruise ship that makes an all-out effort to fulfill your every erotic fantasy? And does so with what’s becoming Piper’s brand of trade-mark humor which balances out the story, making it not only a scorching read, but a fun one as well.

If you are looking for a well written ménage story that will capture your imagination, this is it. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.

This Blackened Night - The Order: Book 3

Happy Thursday! Today we are honored with a special guest post from author L.K. Below. She's going to give us the scoop on her upcoming release. Read on!

46 Days until the release of This Blackened Night, The Order: Book 3!

Every author has a set of characters more dear to their hearts than any others. In most cases, this stems from these characters being among the first ever created. I won't claim Lori and Terrence were my very first, but they did come close. Their first book, Stalking Shade, which released in 2011, was originally written in 2007. And rewritten. And rewritten.

And now it feels like a dear friend is moving away. With the release of This Blackened Night on September 24th, 2012, the trilogy will come to an end. Lori might be a prickly character, not easy for anyone but Terrence to love, but I had a lot of fun with her. When I wrote this third book late last year, I dragged my feet to see it finished for the same reason. I didn't want to let the pair of them go. A not-so-secret part of me is hoping for an overwhelming response from readers asking me to continue so I have an excuse to revisit my favorite characters.

For now, I'm counting down the days until the third book releases. Maybe you'll fall in love with Lori and Terrence every bit as fiercely as I have. Lori might be stubborn in pushing people away, but Terrence is the most persistent character I've ever written. Good thing, too.

Join me in celebrating the release of the third book a bit early with this short, sweet teaser excerpt:

This Blackened Night by L.K. Below

With murders cropping up all around, who should she trust?

After months of searching, Lori finally scrounges up a clue as to the whereabouts of the missing leader of her secret organization. But her vision isn't encouraging--it points to her vampire companion Terrence as the culprit.

Terrence is adamant that he isn't at fault. Even though she knows she might be walking into a trap, she follows his lead to a shabby island port. When her informants start turning up dead with puncture wounds in their necks, Lori wonders just how well she knows Terrence. And why does he act different during the search than in their hotel room?

Lori doesn't know who to trust anymore. She only hopes that she won't be the next victim.

Seven Sweet Sentences from the book:

“Nothing this week,” Heaven whispered. Like last week. And the week before.

“The book?” Lori asked. Six months ago, she’d fished a small golden notebook from the Spenta Michos’s house. Touching it had earned her a single vision, which had told her only that their leader had been taken by force.

“Useless information,” the teenager replied.

Learn more about the series as a whole on the Lyrical Press, Inc. website: http://bit.ly/TheOrderSeries.

Read a longer excerpt from This Blackened Night at http://bit.ly/ThisBlackenedNight.

Bio: If L.K. Below gets far too attached to her characters, well, that's because they're interesting people. Read two of her favorites in her urban fantasy series, The Order. Join her online at www.lbelow.net to learn more. Want to keep up to date with her tour stops? Follow her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/LBelowtheauthor) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/LK-BelowLindsay-Below/355586159614)

Thank you for being with us today, L.K. We're going to keep counting down the days!

Good Things with Piper Denna

Hey, everyone! Just in case your summer isn't quite hot enough, today it's my pleasure to host author Piper Denna, who'll be chatting about her new release, Victoria's Secret Wish.

I'll be posting my review on Friday, so be on the lookout for that as well. Now let's hear from Piper.

Why mess with a good thing?

So I have this married couple in one of my books—Fantasy Mountain—and they’re my favorite romantic couple out of every one I’ve written. They got their HEA and for all we know, are doing just great together.

Why would I want to write their sequel and have them experimenting with another partner?

Good question, one I asked my muse when she seemed determined to take them into ménage territory in their next book, rather than have them moving on to the next stage as a couple (and taking backstage as secondary characters, while a new H and h get their romance). I knew Victoria, and was certain she couldn’t dabble with another man and walk away unattached. It’s just not in her makeup. So of course she was going to fall in love with this hot Olympic swimmer-dude who’s protecting his identity, hounded by the media, and lonely (I did!). Which meant things were going to get sticky in her marriage. There are bound to be hurt feelings, jealousy, distrust… right?

Yes and no. I did some research (including reading some m/f/m novels, most of which were more about sex than love) and discovered many women fantasize about having a second man, and it’s not all about the physical aspect, but for many females the idea of having another person focused on taking care of them… Yeah. I can see how that would click.

So, did inviting David into their bed screw up (pardon the pun) Vic and Brett’s relationship? It did get awkward several different times. But I think they managed to work out the kinks (again with the punny clichés, right?) so they have options, and are happy for now. Believably. And man, did they have a good time getting where they went…

This is a stand-alone novel, but it reads better knowing the characters’ backstory from Fantasy Mountain, especially the “bad guy”, who now has an anonymous accomplice aboard.

Hope you’ll check it out!

Thanks,
Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

BIO:

Romance is sexy. And often funny, and sometimes tangled up with suspense. Let’s face it: all sorts of things get mixed up with romance in real life.

Piper Denna’s stories are not cut-and-dried romance. She wants her characters to deal with issues female readers can relate to: independence and trust, empowerment, inhibitions, an unfaithful partner, motherhood. Sometimes her characters make mistakes and often her “bad guys” are not 100% bad. Mostly she wants to take the reader on an emotional journey to a happy ending…with a few enviable sexual encounters along the way.

When she’s not writing, she edits, raises two teens along with her husband, and has an evil day job.

She enjoys books--or movies--with a comedic twist and hopefully a love story with lots of tension, too.

Sexiest parts of a man in Piper’s opinion? The hands and eyes. Shoulders are nice too, and of course, great pecs are never amiss…

Lyrical Press Page 

Amazon 

Website: http://www.piperdenna.com/
 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Piper-Denna/55194578493
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperDenna

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today, Piper. I'm looking forward to the review on Friday. Wishing you a smooth blog tour, and much success!

Rescuing Rapunzel

 Buy It Here

Getting Rapunzel out the tower is only half the problem...

Rapunzel longs to live in the world she sees through her window, but more than her tower keeps her trapped. Her mother has taught her obedience without question and filled her with fear. She knows she will never reach the ground. Then Lord Nicolas von Hohburg scales her wall, breaks into her life, and changes everything.

Nick has resigned himself to a life of duty when Rapunzel’s song calls him to her tower. Soon she has his heart wrapped in her lengthy tresses and he can think of nothing else. But his responsibilities and sense of duty threaten to come between them...

Warning: A scheming witch, a damsel in distress and a Charming Noble who just might save the day.

My Review:

As young children, who doesn’t remember the story of Rapunzel being trapped in that awful tower? Well, let me tell you, it’s when she gets out that the sparks really start to fly.

Rapunzel has grown into a beautiful and lonely young woman, carefully concealed from the world by her caretaker. She’s been taught to obey without question, and she does just that, until Nick enters her life and presents her with a different point of view. As most young people do, she starts to question the wisdom of what she’s been told throughout her life. Her thirst for knowledge propels her to face her fears and find out the truth about herself, and the way she’s lived all these years. This decision puts her on the path to an enlightening, yet dangerous adventure which she faces with humility, humor, and courage.

Nick is a Charming Noble, through and through. He’s dedicated to his duty, his family, and his best friends, who just happen to be the other Charming Nobles. What’s not to love about charming, wealthy, eligible bachelors after all? Getting tangled up with Rapunzel turns his life inside out, upside down, and spins him into a journey he never thought he’d take. The one to finding his true love. 

Ms. Gilmer has done a fantastic job with this story. A small hitch is that it’s written in both first and third point of view. It took a little effort to get used to, but it really speaks to the author’s skill as a writer that it’s not only done well, she’s created a tale that will capture your interest and keep you turning pages until the very last one. The interplay between the Charming Nobles will keep you on the edge of your seat with laughter because they truly are the best of friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. After reading this I can’t really imagine Rapunzel’s life turning out any other way.

I’m looking forward to the next books in the series because I too, have fallen in love with the Charming Nobles.

The Magic of Epiphanies

Happy Friday to each and everyone of you. Today I'm thrilled to welcome the fabulous Candice Gilmer to Fox Tales. So take it away, Candice!

Thanks Sutton for having me here on your blog. It’s always fun to take over another author’s blog. I always feel so He-Man—I HAVE THE POWER! Muhahaha! (Child of the 80’s came out for a second, sorry! It happens.)

I find, both as a writer, and as a person in general, the things that occur to me far after the fact that surprise me. When I first met my husband, we were going through the VHS tapes (yeah it was that long ago) I owned, sorting them by genre, and my hubby glances at me and says “You must be a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan.”

“Why?” I ask him, because I certainly didn’t consider myself one.

“You have seven of his movies.”

I blink, staring at the array of films on the floor. He wasn’t kidding. I had Terminator 1 and 2, Twins, Junior, Jingle All The Way, True Lies, Eraser, and Total Recall. I have this weird moment, realizing that, yes, I must be a fan, because here I was, with almost a dozen of his movies. “Holy cow, I guess I am.” As we continue, I realize I was also a James Cameron fan, due to having every one of his films except Rambo.

This happens to me a lot. Sometimes I have to have something laid out in front of me before I realize the truth in the matter.

In this same vein of realization, I figured out not that long ago, when I was going over a list of future writing projects as well as current WIP’s, that, OMG…

I write speculative fiction.

I am totally a speculative fiction writer. Granted, romantic speculative fiction, but speculative, nonetheless. I have to have my HEA, of course. And I’ve always been about the relationship between the hero and the heroine, which does make me a romance writer, but almost every book I’ve ever done has been or had some level of paranormal, magic, or other kind of twist to make it not just straight contemporary romance. I always wanted to write, and I’ve always loved romance. I didn’t realize all that romance that I love always seemed to have some element of the speculative in it. Time travel, magic, paranormal, I love it all.

Even my latest release, Rescuing Rapunzel, has its little squeeze of magic, with the witch Gothel and Rapunzel’s healing hair.

Here’s a short excerpt with Rapunzel and Gothel:

Mother Gothel’s fingernails scratched my skin but I kept my face still, not showing any sign of pain. “I thought…for a moment, I thought I saw someone outside.”

Mother spun, heading back to the window. “Where?”

I gestured to the wall, unable to lie. Mother always knew and punishment was swift if I tried such a thing.

“I see no one.” She turned back to me. “Are you certain?” Her tone suggested that I was mistaken, that I had merely imagined a person.

Maybe I had.

“I thought… Maybe…”

“You thought you saw someone, or you did?” She snagged part of my hair, jerking it. “Be certain.” Her fists tangled around one of the braids.

“I surely imagined it.” I winced. “Forgive me, Mother.”

For good measure, she jerked on the braid again, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain. “Outsiders are dangerous, Rapunzel. You must be very careful.” She glanced out the window again. “Perhaps it is time, after all,” she murmured. She took a few steps away from me, hands clenched as she whispered to herself, before facing me again and pulling a small dagger from the folds of her dress.

I stepped back, though I knew it did no good.

Mother grabbed a plait of hair off the floor and, as she paced the room, let it slide through her fingers. “There are many who would wish you harm, Rapunzel. It is time, I believe, to be sure you are ready.” She found the very end of the braid, held it as though about to wield a paintbrush. The dagger glistened in the light from the window.

“Yes, Mother.” I gritted my teeth against what was coming.

The dagger was sharp, but it did not lessen the pain of Mother slicing off the bottom of my braid, though today she only took a hand’s width of hair.

Tears stung my eyes as the hair was severed but I forced myself to remain still.

Mother held the chunk of hair in her palm, examining the strands as she did every time. Then she turned her attention to me. “You must learn to defend yourself against intruders, my dear.” She dropped the rest of the hair. The braids landed with a thud on the floor.

My body sagged. It was over.

BUY IT HERE

Blurb:

The Charming Nobles Book 1

Getting Rapunzel out the tower is only half the problem...

Rapunzel longs to live in the world she sees through her window, but more than her tower keeps her trapped. Her mother has taught her obedience without question and filled her with fear. She knows she will never reach the ground. Then Lord Nicolas von Hohburg scales her wall, breaks into her life, and changes everything.

Nick has resigned himself to a life of duty when Rapunzel’s song calls him to her tower. Soon she has his heart wrapped in her lengthy tresses and he can think of nothing else. But his responsibilities and sense of duty threaten to come between them...

Warning: A scheming witch, a damsel in distress and a Charming Noble who just might save the day.

Doesn't this sound like a great book? I love the premise, Candice. Let's find out a little bit more about you, shall we?

Bio:

Candice Gilmer leads a dangerous double life as a mommy and a writer. In between diaper changes and boo-boo healing, she writes stories usually to the tune of children’s television shows.

Growing up in the Midwest, Candice stays close to her family, especially the ones with basements when the tornadoes come around. She also works as a hairdresser, which she’s done for over fifteen years, and brings her laptop to work so she can write between clients.

When she’s not writing, styling hair and taking care of her family, she gets together with her girlfriends for gossip and coffee while her husband hunts ghosts with Wichita Paranormal Research Society. All in all, she stays very busy, but really, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well, maybe a little less children’s television.

Thank you very much for being here with us today, Candice. If you'd like to stalk, er, follow Candice and find out more about her other books, some of which I've read and highly recommend, check out the links below:

Website: http://candicegilmer.com

Blog: http://candicegilmer.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candice-Gilmer/96543284794

Twitter: http://twitter.com/candicegilmer

In about two weeks I'll be posting my review of Rescuing Rapunzel, so be sure to stop by. In the meantime, we wish you awesome success with your book!

Writing Contest

The First Annual Lyrical Press How Lyrical is Your Romance? Contest opens on Monday, January 16^th. This contest is open to both published and unpublished authors.Entries must be complete works, ranging in word count between 15,000-100,000 words, any heat level, and fit into one of the following subgenre categories:

• Contemporary romance
• Historical romance
• Paranormal or urban fantasy romance
• Romantic steampunk
• Romantic Suspense

Prizes:

1^st Place: $200 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $100 upon finalized contract and $100 upon publication).

2^nd Place: $100 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $50 upon finalized contract and $50 upon publication).

3^rd Place: Top-scoring contestant in each genre category will receive an acquiring editor’s critique of synopsis and first 50 pages of manuscript.

Guidelines:

File type: .rtf, .doc, or .docx only

12pt black font (Times New Roman, Cambria, Courier or Georgia preferred)

Line spacing: 1.5

Margins: 1" all

Page-breaks between chapters

Please include a title page listing the following information:

Legal name

Pen name

Email address

Contact phone

Working title (include series name and details if applicable)

Word count

Genre/category

Entries will be accepted from January 16, 2012 through February 5, 2012, and must be emailed to contest@lyricalpress.com. Entries sent to an email other than the aforementioned will be ignored. Please include book title and contest in subject line thusly: Booktitle – How Lyrical Is Your Romance?. Attach full manuscript, and 2-5 page synopsis in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format (Booktitle_MS and Booktitle_SYN as file names--your book title replaces “Booktitle”). After February 5, the contest will close, but we’ll still be accepting submissions as always at our submissions@lyricalpress.comaddress.

No entry fee required. Judges reserve the right to Decline to Judge any entry if it does not fit our lines, level of writing is not acceptable, or submission guidelines are not followed.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria: Hook, Pacing/Plot, Characterization, Dialogue, Mechanics, and Author Voice.

Winners will be announced on March 12, 2012 via our blog http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/and direct emails to winners.

Guest Author Autumn Piper

Hey everyone. Today's guest is my fabulous friend and awesome author, Autumn Piper. She's one of the authors celebrating the Christmas Bash with Lyrical Press. (*waves* Merry Christmas, Autumn!) Without further ado, here's our guest.

With a little help from our friends.

Who among us doesn’t need friends? I know I do—and claim some top-notch, world class best as my own. (Sutton Fox included. Merry Christmas, Sutton!)

I think characters need friends, too. And those friends can influence how a character thinks, feels, acts. Sometimes in positive ways, and others… Well, we don’t need a lesson in peer pressure.

I love secondary characters—reading them and writing them. For me, they make the story whole and give us another look at how our characters act/react in different social situations. And my characters always, always have friends, to use as sounding boards, to lean on, to party with and forget their troubles, get razzed by, to celebrate the good times with.

In Waiting for Revenge, my lead character Mandy is pushed, pulled, influenced, tempted, and goaded by various other characters. Poor Mandy gets Advice Overload. She’s in a tough spot trying to decide what to do about her wayward—though not wholly bad—husband. (As if the holidays don’t come with enough hassles already, right?) Though she strives to keep her predicament private, someone else is always finding out about her troubles. Her great aunt gives her pretty stern advice and tells her to take her husband to task, her big brother thinks she should leave him immediately, and his wife proves herself a First Class Girlfriend as well. Her son, who above all else she tries to shelter, guesses something is up and wants to protect her, her marriage counselor advocates revenge… And above all, her heart tells her she’s over her marriage and moved on, but she just can’t get past fear and guilt to welcome in those new feelings for someone else. She’s in a real quandary, and unfortunately for Mandy, the more she discusses her situation with other characters, the deeper her confusion (something of a Quagmire of Indecision).

As we all do, she eventually figures out what’s best for her kids and herself, and goes for it, with a few bumps along the way. She gets her happy ending, survives her ordeal, and provides the reader with a few laughs along the way (and a few emotional patches, too, though it’s not a gut-wrenching, sad story)…and her friends are by her side at the end just like they were in the beginning. Just like true friends should be.

Here’s a link for the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNFue73I1Bg&feature=related

And the book’s page on the LPI site: (currently on sale for .69) http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_12&products_id=138

 

One good heartbreak deserves another.

Mandy plans to leave her husband the minute their month of counseling is over. How can she forgive his outrageous affair? It would almost be funny if the consequences weren't so harsh. They've got kids, and families with strong -- and warped -- opinions on marriage.

Her aunt thinks she should take a page from the black widow spider. Her brother's begging to avenge her broken heart, and their marriage counselor offers to play the willing victim in some payback sex.

While her clueless husband launches a campaign to win her back, Mandy meets Adam, the perfect shoulder to cry on. Will perfect justice prove just how sweet revenge can be when you wait for it?

Content Warning: Real people aren't all good or all bad. Neither are the characters in this story. The shade of right or wrong you see may depend upon whose glasses you are looking through.

If you're looking for a great read this holiday season, or anytime for that matter, you should give this story a try. I've read it, and highly recommend it. It's got engaging characters, an emotionally gripping plot we can all relate to, and hot romance. But don't think it's a sad story, Ms. Piper has crafted a story filled with her sharp wit, touching scenes, and enough humor to keep you turning the pages. What's not to love?

Christmas Traditions at Ericka Scott’s House

Don't you just love Christmas traditions? I do. Without further ado, here's fabulous author, Ericka Scott to talk about hers.

Around the Scott household, the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas all seem to be jam-packed with Christmas parties and family get-togethers. Some years, we have too many to fit into two short days. Over the last couple of years, I’ve let activities crowd out some of our most memorable traditions. Not this year.

This year, we’re having a real tree which we’ll decorate to the strains of NSync’s Christmas album (it’s tradition, you know). Then, we’ll gather around the fireplace to light our Yule log and eat sugar cookies we made to distribute to the neighbors as gifts.

These cookies are, in our eyes, masterpieces. No, they aren’t those gorgeous things you see in bakery windows, but have the quirks that our family is known by. We decorate Christmas fish, only one of which is given three eyes and made especially for our friend, Jon. There are some traditional shapes, stars and Santas, but you are just as likely to find rocket ships amongst the Christmas trees, a T-Rex waiting to devour the red and green bunnies, and there is always a haunted church cookie -- complete with sugar black bats in the belfry.

Given the oddities of our family, I guess it’s no surprise to find that my holiday tales aren’t full of Christmas cheer, instead they tout titles like A Christmas Curse, which can be found in the ‘Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas Anthology (http://www.erickascott.com/books/cursed-for-christmas-in-twas-a-dark-and-delicious-christmas-anthology/) and my latest, Tidings of Fear (http://www.erickascott.com/books/tidingsoffear/). I guess I enjoy making readers shiver from more than just the cold.

TIDINGS OF FEAR
A psychic, a skeptic, and a serial killer…

Psychic Lia Morgan sees portents all around her. Although estranged from her family, she joins the search for her missing sister. A simple case gets complicated fast when she discovers her sister’s plethora of secrets includes a son.

Professor Jared Trimble’s world has no room for paranormal mumbo-jumbo. When asked to consult on a case involving a series of crossword puzzles, he’s conflicted. Is he a suspect, or an investigator?

While Lia uses her physic gift and follows signs, Jared uses his wits and experience. When the two collide, passions flare and the final clue brings them both into the bull’s-eye of a serial killer’s target.


********

 Excerpt

“Hello?” she called. A creak sounded from above and a trickle of discomfort slid down her spine. She pulled out her key chain, from which hung a small canister of mace. Another creak made her jump.

“Hello?” she called again. Taking a deep breath, she strode purposefully into the house and found herself in a small living room. Lia glimpsed a small alcove off to the side and expected to find a small dining area, or perhaps an attached office.

Her breath caught in her throat as she walked into another large living room and straight into the past. Positioned under the window were the couch and loveseat she remembered from growing up. A recliner sat in the corner, a newspaper already opened to the comics on the seat.

She shivered. A tall enclosed bookcase, the one that had resided in Lia’s bedroom, stood next to the window. If she stepped closer, she knew she’d recognize every title on its shelves.

A small wooden rocking chair sat next to the recliner. A Raggedy Ann doll vied for seat space with her twin, Raggedy Andy.

“Oh, God,” Lia said. The memorial to her family should have been macabre. Instead, it brought tears to her eyes. Even the antique desk her sister, Sylvie, had thrown a fit to own and then despised when computers became popular and her father wouldn’t let her buy a more functional desk had a place in the room. A smile tugged at the corner of Lia’s mouth.

She could almost hear Sylvie’s famous whine, “But, Dad…”

As memories flooded her mind, she had to blink back a sudden rush of tears. She took a step back, turned and nearly ran back to the hallway. A light dimmed and brightened in another room. Lia didn’t need to count the pulses to know there would be eight.

A short walk found her in the kitchen. The stainless steel appliances sparkled and even the floor seemed to have been freshly waxed. She wished her kitchen looked this good. A towering pile of newspapers indicated they were sisters, after all. The stack teetered on the corner of the kitchen table. All of them were opened and folded to reveal the crossword puzzle.

Had Sylvie left these here? She couldn’t remember her sister having a penchant for crosswords, but she obviously didn’t know Sylvie as well as she’d thought.

Or had someone else brought these in and put them there?

Speaking of which, where was her sister?

She headed upstairs, calling as she went. Just as empty as downstairs. And just as neat. A small blue plastic item on the floor of her sister’s office appeared to be the only thing out of place.

Lia scooped it up. A thumb drive. She went to put it on the desk when a loud creak sounded behind her. She shoved it into her pocket and fumbled for her keys.

Heavy footsteps approached up the stairs.

Lia turned as a shadow fell across the doorway.

*****

Check out the Free Reads Page on my website in December for our infamous sugar cookie recipe (it contains eggnog) and also one for a decadent chocolate Yule log (yum).

And yes, Virginia, there were once camels in California…

Ericka Scott is a multi-published, bestselling author of seductive suspense. She's written stories for as long as she can remember and reads anything under the sun (including the back of cereal boxes in a pinch). She got hooked on romantic suspense in her college days, when reading anything but a textbook was a guilty pleasure. Now, when she’s not chauffeuring children around, wishing she had a maid, or lurking at the library, she’s spinning her own web of fantasy and penning tales of seduction and suspense. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

Get a behind the scenes look at her writing and zany family on her blog at http://erickascott.blogspot.com


She also loves friends, so come friend her at http://myspace.com/erickascott

She's also on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ericka.scott and Twitter @ErickaScott

You can find out more about her books at www.erickascott.com


Thanks for being with us today, Ericka. We wish you much success with your books!

Celebrate Summer!

With free reads from Lyrical Press.

To celebrate summer, Lyrical Press will be giving away books. No contests, no rules...just visit their store to download that day's book! Yep, that's right. All you have to do is follow them on Twitter or Facebook to watch for the free book announcements.

Here are the links to Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Reading!

The Lianhan Shee

By Erin Grace

Love is blind…seriously.

Once upon a time, the powerful Lianhan Shee—the Celtic Love Fairy--could capture a mortal man’s heart with a mere glance, trapping him into a life of misery and unrequited love until his death.

Nowadays, it is all she can do to get noticed.

Bored and wanting to prove her powers aren’t weakening in the modern Irish world, she accepts a dangerous wager, one that could see her kneel at the bidding of a scheming leprechaun.

But, the mortal chosen as her target isn’t all he seems…

As the battle begins for magic gold, immortality and the soul of a man who sees what others can’t, will love prove to be the most powerful weapon of all?

Buy It Here

The Lianhan Shee. Powerful. Immortal. Bored to tears, and still in possession of the heart and soul of a woman. Which means she struggles, just like all of us, with the needs, wants, and challenges these things bring to her existence.

Aidan is a wounded hero. And a fine one at that. He’s honorable, funny, loving, strong, and imperfect. Everything a woman, even an immortal one, would want in a hero.

If you haven’t guessed by now, this is my favorite of all four stories. To me, and I’m from America mind you, it embodies everything I find romantic about Irish folklore.

Ms. Grace has beautifully rendered a complete cast of fanciful, yet realistic characters including feisty leprechauns, fairies, immortals, and mortals, both bad and good. And dropped them right down into a modern days setting, where they fit perfectly.

Personally I think you should read all four stories, or you’re missing out. But if you only have time to read one, this is it.



Irish Ice

By Emly Forrest

Danger and romance ignite when Irish Eyes turn into Irish Ice.

A killer is on the loose in Boston with possible IRA connections and ties to murders in London. When Jessica Grandville lands in Beantown for business, she's charmed by Colin Keane, a much younger and sexy Northern Irishman.

As Jessica and Colin's brief liaison develops into the start of a serious relationship, she begins to suspect there is more to him than meets the eye. Dragged into a web of danger and intrigue, she believes Colin is directly involved in the murders. And although attracted to his warmth and wit, she fears his fierce temper.

Jessica must decide if she’s willing to sacrifice her comfortable, yet dull, existence to pursue a relationship with the man whose loving eyes can turn in an instant into Irish ice.

Buy It Here

Jessica Grandville takes her work and her life very seriously. She’s a great Mom, a talented ad exec, and a woman who lives her life alone for personal reasons. She’s blindsided by her attraction to a younger man because mature responsible women just don’t give in to their needs. Like most women, she puts herself, and her needs last.

Colin Keane is fierce, proud, passionate, and torn by his loyalties. Pulled into a dark and deadly world, he wants to make his choices count. To do it, he sacrifices much. When he finds a woman who soothes his battered soul, he is faced with yet another painful choice.

 Ms. Forrest penned a gripping tale that grabbed me on page one, and wouldn’t let go. Her characters are so well drawn and lifelike, I could totally see this plotline playing out in today’s modern world. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, and like a little danger to spice up the passion, I highly recommend this story.



Green's Fees

By Jasmine Black

Who’s your caddy?

Pro-golfer, Mallory “Birdie” Bird is in a slump. Financially cut off by her father, she’s desperate to increase her winnings. Living with the guilt over a two-year old tragic event, she’ll do whatever it takes to iron out her game…even hire a new caddy.

Caddy Green Sloan’s the best in the business. He knows the game better than anyone, and he’s never seen a green he couldn’t read. But he’s got a shady past he can’t shake, and no one’s willing to take a chance on him. That is, until a wee bird enters his clubhouse.

But she’s snooty. And he’s arrogant. Together, they spar nonstop. Driven by necessity and fueled by passion, they need each other on and off the course. But can they let go of the past and learn to trust again?

Buy It Here

A wonderfully bawdy tale, Greens Fees is the most erotic of the four stories. Ms. Black has created a thoroughly believable situation and peopled it with characters that shine in their ambition to do good, even though they’ve made mistakes in the past. The story is touching in the way that it showcases just how difficult living with ones choices can be.

Mallory Bird is a determined young woman who’s trying to do the right thing, even though it would be far easier not to. Her character arc is perfect for such a short story. She grows and learns just as we all do, by trial and error, with the support of good people around us.

Green Sloan is a thoroughly reluctant hero, and I just love those. He’s a good man who’s made mistakes and is unwavering in his desire to make amends. While his methods are typically male, his heart shines through even though he’d rather hide it behind a pint of Guinness.

This story is the perfect read for a light bit of spicy entertainment. Since Ms. Black is one of my CP’s you could say I’m partial. What I say is, I believe this is the best work she’s ever done, and you should read it.



Stone Cold Kiss

By L.K. Below

Who knew kissing a stone would thaw Kelsey’s heart?

 

One Kiss…

Dangling over the parapet of a castle, Kelsey Donovan doubts her decisions as she battles with her fear of heights. How will kissing the Blarney Stone change her life? But as the arms of a sexy Irishman close around her, she begins to change her mind.

Can it lead to a lifetime?

When Seamus McKinley rescues a tourist gripping the Blarney Castle for dear life, he never expected her to grab hold of his heart just as tightly. But the question is: can he convince her to meet him halfway?

Buy It Here

This story epitomizes everything I love about reading romance. Kelsey Donovan is a heroine worthy of the term. In true romantic form, she’s doing something totally outrageous in an effort to get what she wants. At the same time, she discovers something she didn’t expect.

Seamus McKinley is a wonderfully drawn man. He’s sexy, sensitive, and yet strong enough to be the perfect hero. In true Irish form, once he finds his woman, he makes things happen. Who wouldn’t want a man like that?

This story is pure entertainment. Ms. Below has done a fabulous job of crafting true to life characters in a totally believable setting, who doggedly pursue what they want, while struggling to understand what it is they need. And in the realizing of that need, Ms. Below penned a delightful tale.

Awesome Short Stories Week

Usually, I’m not much of a short story person. I used to say it was kind of like reading a commercial.

Until I began to write. Now, I have the utmost appreciation for people who write short stories. Because I understand just how much work goes into crafting a story with vivid characters, a gripping setting, a fast paced plot, and doing it in a few short pages.

With a short story you don’t have time to drone on and on about everything down to the last detail. You have to grab the reader’s attention and hold it, immediately.

With that being said, I was fortunate enough to come across a great collection of short stories recently.

You can find them bundled here.

Sexy Irish Stories Collection

Each one is unique in its storyline, and so well done, in fact, I’ll be featuring all four the rest of this week. So if you’re a short story lover, these are must buys. If you’re thinking, ahh, not so much, I say, give these a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Call For Submissions

Hey all you fantabulous writers out there, feel like trying your hand at a bit of Irish hotness? This call came through one of my publishers, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Lyrical Press is actively seeking submissions for our 2nd annual set of Irish-themed novels/novellas, to release March 2012. We want romantic, sexy stories either set in Ireland or including an Irish hero/heroine. Any subgenre of romance/erotica is welcome (we’d love to see what someone can do with an Irishman in a steampunk).

Books will benefit from group promotion—our authors in this year’s set have worked together and are doing some fantastic co-marketing.

Word counts can range between 15,000-90,000 words. Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2011.

Please include a 1-2 pages synopsis and your full manuscript, attached (in either .doc format, or .rtf). Enter “Irish 2012” in subject line and email directly to mary_murray@lyricalpress.com OR piper@lyricalpress.com

You've got time to plan. I'll look forward to reading what all of you have cooked up!

Minxy Fun!

I've been interviewed by the Minxes of Romance. They rock!

Come on over and join the fun. :)

From the Backlist

Out of the Darkness
By Lesli Richardson

Ancient evil forces a woman to fight for her life - and true love.

Man may forget horrors, but the land remembers. Built on a cursed patch of ground, George Simpson’s house of evil has ruined many lives over its hundred-year existence.

Author Steve Corey rents the place as an early anniversary surprise for his wife, hoping it might repair the deep rift his alcoholism has created in their marriage.

Before they moved to the Simpson house, Samantha Corey thought getting Steve sober was the hard part. But the house's dark nature has turned her thoughts to Matt Barry, Steve’s best friend and agent...and her old love. Can they overcome the ancient evil threatening them all from OUT OF THE DARKNESS?

Warning: Love, sex, violence, and a Labrador retriever who's no Lassie.

BUY IT HERE

                                                   

The fact that this story started out as a creative writing project is what initially piqued my interest. I had to read it, simply because I wanted to know what would keep a person working on a project, not for months, but for years. Why would the storyline hang around and not be replaced by another?

Because the story needs to be told. I read this story several months ago, and I can still recall it, very clearly. I bent my own rule to tell you about it, since the pub date is January 2009. But I’m fairly certain it was being edited in 2008 so we’ll go with that.

The characters are fully fleshed out, real people, dealing with painful issues. You don’t just walk away from people you care about when they have problems, and Sami is a strong protagonist who does her best to work through the challenges brought on by Steve and their marriage. Who could expect the coming turn of events?

A little romance, a few paranormal elements, a bit of horror to spice things up, and plenty of thrills keep things moving along at a breakneck pace. Ms. Richardson does a masterful job of weaving all the elements together to create a powerful story. Before I knew it, I was captivated by the characters, by the house, the history and everything it stood for. The plot drew me in, and kept me turning pages, long after dark.

If you want to read a story that will make you shiver, even though it’s ninety degrees outside, this is it. For all of you Stephen King fans out there, I highly recommend this story.

Trouble Under Venus

Sending out major congrats to my writer pal and friend extraordinaire, Autumn Piper. Today mark’s the release of her novel, Trouble Under Venus.

This is a very special story for Autumn because it has to do with her long lost father. You can find out the how’s and why’s over at her blog, Piper Patter. It will touch your heart.

Whatever you do, Don’t miss this story. This is Autumn’s finest work to date. It will sweep you off your feet at the beginning, and you’ll have no trouble turning the pages until the end. Her books are peopled with characters so real, you’ll laugh and cry right along with them, even as you’re hissing the bad guys and cheering the hero. Autumn’s deft blend of intrigue and humor will keep you entertained, while her finesse with matters of the heart will leave you breathless.

Get Your Copy Here!

Here's the blurb:

For some love lasts a long time, for others a lifetime. Can theirs outlast space-time?

Randi’s summer vacation plans? Attending Professor Sudo’s Time Travel Academy so she can blast back to 1980 Miami and figure out where her father disappeared to. She’s the head of her class until hottie Mitch arrives disguised as a geeky geologist and totally messes up her meditation. Goodbye Soulful in Sedona, hello Yearning in Yoga. So long solo time-travel, hello pushy partner--who happens to be a buff tri-athlete, a sympathetic listener, and an ace FBI agent on a top-secret mission. With his help, she’ll conga her way into the Cuban mafia, try not to destroy the delicate fabric of the space-time continuum, dodge a few bullets, and solve The Mystery of the Missing Dad. And maybe fall just a little in love…

Content Warning: A new adventure in women’s fiction, with a heroine who boldly goes where no chick has gone before, tons of danger and intrigue, a roller-discoing Granny, life and death betrayal, steamy Miami nights and one hot FBI agent.

Don't you just love the content warning? Great job, Autumn!

Holiday Appetizer

Looking for a great story to read over the holidays? Here's a little taste of one I found to be particularly delightful.



Enjoy!

Tomorrow, the review.