Dames Unrestrained

My 20+ Year Journey To Own the Word Feminist

2015-04-21T14:16:00.000-04:00

In my mid twenties when I was fighting my way up the corporate ladder, and was pissed off because any man's opinion had more weight than mine when a co-worker called me a feminist. I immediately reacted negatively. “I'm not a feminist. I've never even thought about burning my bra!” I said this with complete sincerity while at the same time having a screen saver on my computer which had a fish riding a bicyle. The irony is not lost on me now.

I had been taught from a young age that a feminist was a bad thing and only brassy women were feminists. The type of women who were completely unqualified for a job like a firefighter, but demanded equal treatment and pay for less work. Feminists were women who had more mouth than sense. This was drilled into me constantly and re-emphasized with every store clerk, cashier, or other working woman we met. The lessons continue to this day. My mother recently indulged in a long rant about a female representative of a corporation who appeared at a land auction to bid. She was there amongst an all male audience of bidders, and couldn't possibly know as much as the men she was bidding against. This woman was out of place and she should know better.

Now, I spent a number of years of my corporate career in procurement positions. I bought millions of dollars of items each year for my corporate employers and I'm certain I did a good job. I'd say numbers don't lie, but that's not entirely true. I also remember being treated poorly by the Dell sales team. They invited my boss and other male members of my employer out to schmooze over drinks, but they didn't invite the sole woman who placed every order. Their feeling was I simply filled out the paperwork at my male counterparts direction. BIG mistake. HUGE. I promptly spearheaded a project to investigate other suppliers and certify them for use. Any time I could use any other supplier, I did. Treating me as an incompetent drone subject to the dictates of the more competent men with whom I worked was a sure way to fire me up to work harder and do my very best to serve their ass up on a plate. I'm sorry, was that brassy?

These days when my mother starts in on this crap, I fight back. So when she pointed out this female bidder as storming into an area which was inappropriate, I let her have it. The woman in question is probably dispatched all over the country to land auctions, and has terabytes worth of data on land values, characteristics, and forecasts. Compared to the other men who mostly rely on local knowledge and word of mouth, this woman was likely vastly more qualified to know what the land was worth. It was prejudice pure and simple which made her presence unacceptable, and not lack of ability.

Mindset is a hard thing to overcome though. My mother still treats me as a flighty girl who does things impulsively, and she's much happier now that I have a husband to guide and temper me. My corporate years were making me less and less likely to accept a submissive position in life. Fortunately I now have a husband to keep me in my place. The husband in question laughs uproariously at this characterization especially when applied to impulse purchases. He knows I don't buy anything without a spreadsheet and a complete round of due diligence. Our television purchase required visits to 3 different stores, individual rankings by both of us in 6 different categories, a Consumer Reports check, and a CNET verification. Left to his own devices my husband was more likely to drive to the closest store and just pick one. We also view our marriage much more as partnership where we each leverage our strengths depending on who's best in any given situation. Yes, I do the cooking, but I also do the taxes and the research for major purchases. My husband is much better at lawn care, laptop support, and getting the wireless router to cooperate. We don't feel constrained by traditional roles although neither do we reject one if it happens to fit.

To me, being feminist meant I had to hate men, and I never did. I was occasionaly frustrated by men, and often jealous that it was so much easier for them to be taken seriously. I usually treated them as individuals though and not as some amorphous group which I was required to loathe. Yes, I wanted equal rights, equal pay, and equal recognition. Yes, I was very leery of getting married because the expectations of my mother horrified me. If I got married, I was accepting that I was going to be the lesser partner and that I would have to spend the rest of my life making someone else successful. However, like so many other of the “important” lessons my mother taught me, this too was crap. My husband wants me to be as successful as he is, but more importantly he wants me to be happy. I don't have to be less than who I am to make him feel like a man.

Today I can accept the label of feminist without abhorrence as I couldn't do when I was younger. I can make my own mind up without being haunted by other's perceptions or expectations. I can be a feminist in a positive way which doesn't exclude my occasional need to do something crafty. It also means I can ignore my mother's ranting as ideas of a bygone era which have been proven to be in error. Sadly there are many people and groups who idealize that era and are determined to bring it back. Women who can't stand up to the pressure, or who have been brainwashed by their families. Recognizing the truth is not always easy especially when it goes against what everyone you love tells you. It's not easy when you're censored at every turn and using the word feminist is treated as if you screamed “motherfucker” in the middle of church service.

Check out this article which I saw on Yahoo today. A girl wore a t-shirt which said feminist on it, and her school principal, a woman, had it digitally removed as being inappropriately controversial. “It was mine and the photographer’s decision to photoshop your shirt because some people might find it offensive.” It's not like her t-shirt had an obscenity printed on it. Did the principal also have all Nike logos removed in case someone was offended by the idea that person was supporting child labor? Apparently not. Exploiting children is fine. Standing up for your rights if you have ovaries is not.

I hope Sophie Thomas sticks to her guns and continues to stand up for what she thinks. I hope she teaches her principal a valuable lesson that catering to the most conservative denominator is not always the answer. Mostly I hope that other women learn to be more comfortable with not only calling themselves feminists, but standing up for themselves. It's a long, hard journey, but it's worth it.

Sexting – The Modern Tease

2014-06-12T18:01:00.000-04:00

This post also appears on Adult Sex Ed Month. Check out the site for all kinds of interesting and informative articles.

Back in the days of non-optional black and white photos, explicit teasing took place only in burlesque shows located on the wrong side of town. Women teased male audiences by slowly removing strategic pieces of clothing. It wasn't intimate or personal as one woman performed for dozens of men. That was the era of good girls don't.

These days teasing is back, but like most of our lives, it's been impacted by technology. Now people remove strategic pieces of clothing, take a photo with their smart phone, and send it to the object of their desires. The good news is the interaction doesn't require a long drive to the other side of the tracks, and is hopefully between consenting adults. The bad news is an unscrupulous partner can make those images public with a click of a button. However, I prefer to focus on the positive side of sexting and not the dangers. The media already covers every sexting horror story ad nauseum with attention grabbing headlines.

I like to think of sexting as a form of flirting. It doesn't have to include explicit photos, but those are a bonus. The idea is to make your partner or potential partner think of you. To instigate arousal and/or make yourself attractive to the other person. Usually if you're sexting, the person to whom you're sending the messages isn't near by, or is otherwise unavailable. If they were available, you'd be flirting in person. That other person might even be removing articles of clothing for you. When they're out of reach, sexting allows you to communicate sensual messages. To build excitement for when you can meet in person. Done well, sexting can be stimulating, and incite a memorable reunion.

My partner travels a lot, and works long, irregular hours. That's hardly unusual in these tough economic times. Planning a regular Saturday night date for intimacy isn't workable for us or many others. Sexting helps us coordinate and keep in touch intimately so when he does make it home, we can make the most of it. My partner sometimes sends me a text telling me he's on his way home, and hinting at what he wants to do to me when he arrives. That's just enough time for me to clean up, put on something sexy, and light a few candles. By the time he arrives, it's ready, set, go.

Conversely, I like to send my partner inflammatory texts when he's on the road. I enjoy his remote sexual torment greatly. I've sent pictures of naked body parts, memorable lines from erotic books, and suggestions for lewd acts. He loves it. By the time he gets home, he's so wound up, the sex is fantastic. He hates traveling, and playing sexting games with me makes the trips more endurable. Yes, we could simply call each other and have phone sex. However, part of the fun is the long tease until satisfaction. Going straight for the orgasm has its time and place, but so does enjoying a building arousal over time.

How do you do it? There are plenty of articles online full of guaranteed techniques. I say sexting is like masturbation – everyone has a preference which works best for them. If you're in a relationship, you can simply ask the person about their fantasies. If you're sexting a potential partner, then you may have to engage in a little trial and error. The key idea is to use words or pictures to encourage them to fantasize; preferably about you. Describing what you would like to do to them or what you would like to have done to you is always a good place to start. You can expand from there based on the replies you receive. Remember, the point is to tantalize.

Most news stories focus on teens sexting, but while it may be popular amongst the younger set, it's fun for adults too. Like most things, it's not really new. Sexting is simply a new way to use a skill you probably already have. It's a way to enhance your relationship and/or overcome modern day obstacles leveraging easily available technology. So get out your smart phone and start tapping those keys. Thrills await you.

Bodies of 800 Babies Found at Catholic Run Home for Unwed Mothers

2014-06-05T11:28:00.001-04:00

"800 babies buried in septic tank at Irish home for unmarried mothers"

This is every bit as horrific as the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. Even 50 years after World War II was over, people worked to hunt down the perpetrators and ensure they were prosecuted. Those nuns should be brought to justice as well. The children were starved, abused, and then thrown away like so much garbage. If the Catholic Church is truly repentant, and interested in making up for the abuses of the past, then they should hand over the nuns involved in this tragedy to face trial. Let them face the women whose children they killed without mercy. Let them spend their few remaining years in prison enjoying the same conditions to which they treated their charges.

If any other organization in the world was found to be responsible for killing 800 children, it would immediately be shut down without question. This isn't even the first atrocity of which the Catholic Church has been proven guilty. Thousands of others were sexually abused by Church personnel. These depraved acts have been documented, and there is no doubt about responsibility. So why is the Catholic Church still operating orphanages, sponsoring youth programs, and hosting Boy Scout meetings? They have proven repeatedly they cannot be trusted with children, and that they are more interested in hiding their crimes than atoning for them.

I live in the Bible belt which means I have people at the door preaching to me constantly. I've been pressured at work to go to church with the threat it's the only way to ensure my marriage lasts. I've even been pushed by the in-laws to go to church. Why? So I can learn to kill and/or molest children? I tell them all the same thing. Organized religion has done more harm in this world than good. Not just the Catholic Church, but organized, especially Christian, religion. I have only to read about incidents such as this to know that statement is still true. It was true during the Spanish Inquisition, it was true when Queen Mary burned Protestants at the stake, and it's still true today. Abuse in the name of religion is not an issue of the past. It's going on today. Right now. We'll discover those poor victims tomorrow.

Sex After 40 - Why Sex is Better Now Even Though My Body Isn't

2014-06-03T19:23:00.001-04:00

There is no doubt my breasts were perkier 20 years ago, and my ass was admittedly less ample. The popular belief is I'm less sexy now since middle age has tagged me with cellulite and gray hairs. According to common thought, I'm on the slow slide down to a sexless existence full of gray hair and rocking chairs. So why is my sex life better than ever? I have more sex now than I did when I was in my roaring 20s, and the quality is superior. Certainly having a long term partner helps; or sex on tap as I like to call it. The major changes which allow me to be a more sexual being are mostly in my head. Some are how I perceive not only myself, but others. Some changes include allowing myself to express myself as a sexual being. Some are simply nature taking its course. What the changes all add up to is my sex life being a long way away from the downward spiral.

Part of the difference is the feedback I receive on a daily basis. My partner tells me I'm beautiful and how sexy he finds me. This is a huge change from my younger years when my mother bought all of my clothes a size too small to encourage me to diet, and insisted I'd look perfect if I lost just 5 more pounds. I recently looked at a picture from my college days where my cheeks are sunken in, and remembered her self-confidence robbing advice. Your primary source of feedback makes a huge difference in how you feel. Toss that issue of Cosmo, and while you're at it toss any other source of negative feedback in your life.

I have fully realized and accepted that the prettiest people with the most perfect bodies do not guarantee the best sex. From People's Sexiest Man Alive issue to Hollywood's worship of all things young, we're taught by everything we see to value people by their appearance. Why? Well, mostly it's because they want to sell us something, and making us feel insecure is the easiest way to plump up profits. Here's what I learned through hard won experience after having sex with a number of people. Sorry, can't give you an exact number. I lost count and don't care enough to try and add one up. The most handsome man I ever had sex with sucked in the sack. The next most handsome too. Why? It was all about them. They considered my appearance more than my needs. Had they spent the same amount of time trying to make me happy that they spent judging my appearance, I might have had a fighting chance at an orgasm. Since then I've had sex with men and women who spent a lot less time at the gym, but knocked my socks off. I'm salivating just thinking about those experiences. Not only were they interested in trying to meet my needs, their lack of self consciousness about appearance helped me shed my own. If we toss aside the ideals we've been taught, there is often something sexy to be found about many people who are not magazine perfect. Six pack abs don't help men find a clitoris, but neither does back hair prevent them from doing so.

I also don't automatically accept what the 'experts' tell me. According to Dr. Oz my vaginal walls are thinning due to age which results in low libido and painful intercourse. Women's Health also tells me I have lower levels of desire, and I'm likely to prefer extra sleep over sex. I say they're both on crack. Sorry Dr. Oz, but listening to a man tell me about a vagina makes as much sense as a Catholic priest advising me on marriage. They may understand things from a third party point of view, but there's no substitute for experiencing the real thing. The author of the Women's Health article isn't even 40. She doesn't reference medical studies, doctors, or even real life examples. The only person she quotes is Miley Cyrus who is also definitely not anywhere near 40. Don't let press like this influence your experience by setting poor expectations.

Around the time I turned 39, I hit a hormone surge which gave me a much better understanding of how 18 year-old men feel. A number of my slightly older friends had warned me about this phenomenon as it had already happened to them. I was ready and willing to have sex a dozen times a day. It was always on my mind. Not only did I want to have sex, I wanted to experiment. Toys? Bring 'em on! Bondage? Why not? Anal sex? Have at it! I was willing to give anything and everything a whirl. I thought my partner would be in heaven, but instead he was a bit flabbergasted. It took us some effort to get back on the same page sexually. I was now more interested than he was, and at one point he said he felt like he was being stalked. He totally was. In the end it worked out to both our benefits though. My partner started a fitness plan to give him more energy, and I bought a selection of toys to help alleviate my cravings. The result is we have more and better sex. I'm close to turning 43 now, and the hormones show no signs of slowing down. I know menopause is coming, but in the meantime I'm having the time of my life.

You could be having the time of your life too. You don't even have to wait until you're 40. Whatever age you are, go do something un-apologetically sexual today. Choose something fulfilling which makes you feel good. It doesn't matter what you look like, what your job is, or what anyone else says. Great sex at any age is absolutely within your grasp.

Net Neutrality – An Explanation Using Small Words and Ideas Which Everyone Can Understand

2014-06-03T17:19:00.000-04:00

Net Neutrality is a hot topic today. My in box is flooded with petitions about it. There are articles explaining what it is and which perspective we should favor all over the Internet. Most of the articles use high level market approach views to which few people can relate. Also few of the explainers have any actual telecom experience except from the sidelines. Any which way they talk about it, their articles mostly fall short. Check out this amusing video in which the host asks why fix what isn't broken? Keep watching because he does eventually provide an answer with some fabulous statistics.

I worked in IT for over a decade and the majority of those years were spent at telecom companies. Mostly I worked at setting up networks and hosting environments, but occasionally I was assigned to special projects like billing reconciliation. Having spent a lot of time in the operations groups of the companies who are fighting for net neutrality, I have a different perspective on their goals.

First, let me take net neutrality and give you an example to which you relate. Let's use electricity. It's a service which correlates nicely because the internet has quickly become a utility which we need for every day life, and not the luxury it once was. When electricity was first installed at the turn of the 19^th century it was a only for rich people. It was slowly rolled out to cities and other high density population areas, but it wasn't until after World War II that rural areas received access. Can anyone imagine life without electricity now? When a storm causes a power outage now, it's treated as a life threatening tragedy. Now those first wires which went up, were mainly intended for lights. Over the years more and more devices which use electricity have been added to consumers' households. Things like refrigerators, televisions, and even air conditioning. Did the utilities charge certain households more if they were using an electric air conditioner? Lights cost 10 centers per watt, but air conditioner traffic costs 25 cents per watt. Does the power company now charge more if you decided to decorate your house with National Lampoon style Christmas lights? No, they don't care what you're using the power for. They only care how much you're using.

What the telecom companies are trying to do in this instance is essentially charge you more by charging certain companies more for using particular types of service. They can do this because instead of the one generic plug which all electrical devices use, internet traffic is segmented by type. The transport pipes are mostly the same, but the traffic is defined by the port. So the telecom companies can charge more for prioritizing traffic of a particular type by prioritizing certain ports.

Why don't telecom companies simply bill users for how much bandwidth they actually use? That's more fair right? Right now if I watch Netflix all day at home, streaming gigabyte after gigabyte of data, I pay the same standard access fee as the neighbors next door who aren't home exchanging any data. The truth is the telecom companies never built in accurate usage based billing systems. They were busy either merging, rolling out new products, or jumping on the next hot communication fad. The people who did know the provisioning systems well enough to be able to assist in adding a billing function are mostly gone. They were fired and replaced with increasingly cheaper labor. First within the United States, and then the jobs were outsourced to countries like Brazil and the Philippines. What about to India you ask? Puhlease. That's the Cadillac of outsourcing now. There are many countries poorer than India out there with people who can be given minimal training, and then turned loose on the internet backbones.

When I worked on billing reconciliations, we identified companies who owed millions of dollars for services they had received, but for which they had never been billed. Those companies are ones that you and I buy things from every day. Did they pay their bills when the telecom companies were struggling and laying off tens of thousands of workers due to the economic downturn? Don't be silly. Of course not. Their sales teams managed to get them executive approval for credits because back billing them would be unfair. I got to watch the credits be applied as former co-workers were walked out the door with the smallest severance packages available. The layoffs were not about merit, they were mostly political. Managers' favorites or those with connections stayed and continued to work as little as possible, while other hard working people went home and tried to figure out how to feed their kids. The sales teams and executives sometimes even went on to jobs at the companies to which they had been so charitable.

So, do I favor net neutrality? Yes. The telecom companies are simply trying to find an excuse to sell their customers something more so the sales teams can book new commissions, and the executives can take home larger bonuses. Is it fair for everyone to pay the same rates? No. A way should be developed to bill based upon usage. We do it with water, electricity, garbage, etc. It's time for the internet to grow up, be classified as a utility, and have users charged accordingly. Perhaps the telecom executives could take time away from outsourcing jobs to foreign countries, mergers which only benefit their stock options, and yearly employee layoffs (Yes, they are still common practice. No, I was never a victim.) to do something useful for a change. This situation is a good example of why government oversight is needed, and when it should be used for the good of the people.

TODAY is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

2014-05-17T12:27:00.002-04:00

Check out the wonderful Blog Hop going on around the internet. There are an amazing 131 blogs participating. Here are a few of my faves:

Boys in Our Books - They ask:

Has reading LGBTQ content changed your views, actions, behaviors in your life and if so HOW?
Morticia Knight

Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons

Prism Book Alliance

Or enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway

Or the Movement Home Page full of happenings around the world, and inspirational messages.

Women in Combat - Vastly Differing Attitudes Affect Results

2014-05-05T12:27:00.001-04:00

It's amazing what you can do when you start with an attitude of figuring out how to make it happen instead of assuming it's impossible. Check out this article on the difference between the Army and Marine Corps attitudes and techniques on training women to serve in combat.

My two cents: The Marines need to join this century, and all men need to get their noses out of my ladybits.

What's Driving Me Crazy – Goodreads

2014-05-02T16:13:00.003-04:00

I love Goodreads. It has connected me with dozens of wonderful friends and hundreds of fabulous books. The time I used to spend on Facebook now belongs to Goodreads. There's only one problem. Goodreads has outgrown itself. It's down far too often for a popular social media site.

I've spent hours today hitting the refresh button and getting a “Problem Loading Page” error message. Approximately once a week, I get an error message from Goodreads telling me it's over capacity. I thought people were reading less these days? Gen Y is busy tweeting, housewives are addicted to Pinterest, and old folks are keeping up with the grandkids on Facebook. Is it that a small percentage of are reading more?

Honestly, I think the problem is their infrastructure, and I'm not alone. Back when they were a private company, Goodreads had an excuse. Servers, circuits, and software don't come cheap. However, Goodreads is now owned by Amazon, and there is no doubt they have some of the best infrastructure around. Anyone remember the last time Amazon was down? Me either. Building an IT hosting environment isn't rocket science, and are many proven strategies exist to do it successfully. I say this as a former IT professional with over a decade's worth of experience in building such environments.

So Goodreads, I love you, but we have to talk. You need to address your issues like the adult application you supposedly are. Ask your parent, Amazon, for help if you have to. I do my part – I link to your site, and fill it full of book reviews. All I ask is that you make yourself available. Time to grow up before the next 50 Shades hits.

EVERY Parent Should Read This Post - Making Nice With Fellow Airplane Passengers

2014-04-30T14:47:00.001-04:00

Everyone who has ever flown on an airplane has at one time or another experienced the joy of listening to a screaming child. Mostly the parents try to ignore it's happening even when their child is playing soccer with the back of my seat. No amount of death glares can penetrate their willful ignorance. I don't know whether the parents are too tired or too lazy to deal with their offspring, but I'm left with a headache and a desire to kill the cute little tykes.

Huge kudos to the woman in this article who not only admits the problem, but does something about it. Sometimes no amount of appeasing will make a child stop crying, and even childless me gets that. However, this very smart lady does her best to apologize to those sitting around her, and try to make amends for the annoyance. If only more people had the guts to simply own the problem, and move on from there. Denial doesn't make anything better for the kids, the parents, or the other passengers.

Here's to you Laura Begley Bloom for being smart, classy, and above all, innovative.

The LAST Trashy Tuesday Review - “Grace Street” by Ella Dominguez – 3 stars

2014-04-29T15:15:00.002-04:00

Grace Street is a fascinating story reminiscent of the television shows “Tell Me Lies” and “Hannibal”, only the focus is on the romantic relationship instead of a murder. It features a man who thinks he’s the master of the mind game, and the strong heroine who unexpectedly challenges him. This is a dark story with some harsh elements, but it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s plenty of excitement and the occasional laugh to prevent the plot from getting mired down. Also, Elsa is no shrinking violet, and I’m planning to add several of her quotes to my favorites list.

At first I had trouble understanding Elsa’s attraction to Victor. He starts their relationship by stalking her, and frankly it’s creepy. Even Elsa thinks Victor’s behavior is sinister, and describes him as “Beautifully Creepy”. Elsa fingers her mace, but hesitates due his attractiveness. I wanted to yell at her, Do it! Do it! Of course, macing him wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun as the witty repartee they indulge in instead.

“…I’ve had my share of dangerous men and I’m over it.”

Elsa decides to follow Victor down the rabbit hole a little further, and meets him at a house on Grace Street. There the story turns hot. He’s still dark and torments Elsa without remorse, but I could see why she stayed. Whew! A bit of hot, dirty sex sure as hell hits the right spot for Elsa as well as the reader.

“So what you’re saying is: everything will be safe, sane and consensual?”

“Not exactly, but two out of three ain’t bad.”

Soon Elsa starts playing the game, but not exactly by Victor’s rules. She may be submissive sexually, but that doesn’t make her either stupid or a doormat. This is a concept which is missing in way too much BDSM fiction. Submissive doesn’t mean never questioning your dominant lover. It also doesn’t mean stupid or weak. No, I don’t subscribe to the theory ‘the submissive actually has all the power’ theory. When you’re tied down and your lover is flogging the crap out of you, how in charge do you really think you are? Elsa a smart, educated woman, and she starts turning the tables on Victor. It’s delicious to read.

“Grace Street” is intriguing with some very good characters, however, there are a few issues. The story develops a bit too slowly so the book seems much longer than the advertised 235 pages. There’s also an anal sex scene with no lube which always makes me clench my ass cheeks in horror. Lastly, there is no happy ending to this story. Honestly, I don’t see how there could have been a happy ending without ruining the book, but it’s important to note for those who require one in their books.

So who would enjoy “Grace Street”? Well, it’s less dark than “Mind Fuck” by Manna Francis although that term comes to mind frequently. It’s around the same level of darkness as “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day, only the characters/story are deeper. “Grace Street” is unique, and the story has plenty of interesting places to go in the next installment. This isn’t an automatic one click for the next book in the series for me, but on the other hand I can’t get Elsa or Victor out of my head.

Amazon, Goodreads

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

Trashy Tuesday Book Review - "Special Delivery" by Heidi Cullinan

2014-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Book Scorecard

	Stars
Overall	5	Ignore the marketing blurb. It doesn't describe the story well at all. I promise you will fall in love with this book. Just try it!
Fantasy World	5	From interstate truck stops to the lights of Las Vegas, the scenery is described in fabulous detail.
Tingle	5	OMFG! M/M, Menage, and BDSM action.
Characters	5	Sam is as sympathetic as Mitch is stoic. They're wonderfully drawn characters who will suck you in like a black hole.
Story	5	Heidi Cullinan breathes new life into a familiar story. Coming of age and road trip plot lines have been done before, but this one is done too well to miss.

Summary

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever love a book about a truck driver. This updated, re-issued version of “Special Delivery” is an instant classic which everyone should read ASAP. This is a coming of age story in which Sam runs away only to find himself, along with a lot of love and hot sex, on the road. This book made me want to visit a truck stop and go look for Mitch's truck, Big Blue. Yes, I know it's a fictional truck, but I was caught up in the moment.

“Special Delivery” is a bargain at $4-5 for 299 pages. Even if you're not a male/male romance fan, you should give this book a chance. It's simply wonderful.

Availability
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Book Reviews Moving to Margo's Red Light Fiction District Starting May 1st

2014-04-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Dames are announcing an expansion. Margo is establishing a new blog, Margo's Red Light Fiction District, which focuses solely on book news, reviews, and reveals. The book part of Dames Unrestrained was taking over, so we decided to give it its own space to run wild. The book reviews promptly installed a stripper pole on the new blog, and wrapped their conjunctions around it while listening to “Let's Get It On”.

Dames Unrestrained is still the place to find unvarnished opinions from Margo and Graziela including What's Driving Me Crazy, The Knicker Diaries and other random bits of nonsense. We promise to still bitch at length about our favorite gripes in language which makes our mothers gasp in horror.

Margo can still be found on Twitter as @DameMargo and on email at damesunrestrained@gmail.com

Graziela can still be found on Twitter as @DameGraziela

Cake, Candy, and Cait - "Tainted Touch" by Lucy V. Morgan

2014-04-17T14:53:00.001-04:00

“Tainted Touch” by Lucy V. Morgan is a well-written book full of witty dialogue, which is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. It's also a book of contradictions. There are humorous lines almost every other page, but these are balanced by some serious angst. The first half of the book is appropriate for a Young Adult audience as there is tremendous drama over holding hands and the first kiss, while the second half of the book includes several, explicit sex scenes. Much of the book focuses on the romance between Cait and Art, but a literary subplot contemplating the meaning of life is also included. Sometimes the overly complex plots gets in it's own way, but overall “Tainted Touch” is a fun, rewarding read.

The heroine, Cait, describes herself as “more conflicted than your average bag of snakes” and that's a good description. She was mentally abused by her ex-boyfriend whom she hilariously describes as a “deluded scrotclown”. The scars linger and effect her ability to not only form new relationships, but even to simply touch other people. Cait is supported by a wonderful cast of friends who add lots of life and laughs to the story. It's easy to sympathize with her struggles, while simultaneously rooting for her to get her head out of her ass.

The plot doesn't fall victim to the usual cliches, and Cait's issues with self worth seem all too real. However, the books is a bit slow, and seems longer than the advertised 336 pages. At one point Cait says, “We've spent so long on the cusp of kissing that sometimes, I forget that we haven't.” I wanted to jump up and down and yell “Yes, I know. Now get on with it already!” The author was making a point about Cait having trouble being touched, but the build up definitely drug on too long. The sex scenes were good once we finally got to them, but the explicit language was like a slap upside the head with a wet flounder because it was such an abrupt change from the page after page of earlier turmoil over even touching lips.

The hero, Fist Candy - also known as Art, is a mystery for much of the book. He's the hot, new massage therapist whom Cait lusts after at work. When he returns her interest, she's shocked. Art has his own demons though, and his difficult history is revealed as their romance progresses. He's a true blue kind of guy though, and definitely qualifies as an upgrade in the boyfriend department.

This review would not be complete without mentioning the cake. It's practically a character in the book. Most of the characters are students, and while their world should revolve around studying, it mostly revolves around cake and Instagram. Vanilla, chocolate, and everything in between are represented. If you make it through this book without falling victim to a cupcake, you're a better woman than I. Be prepared.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

Trashy Tuesday Book Review – My Wolf King by Rose Wynters

2014-04-16T13:35:00.001-04:00

Book Scorecard

	Stars
Overall	2.5	You can have the werewolf and eat the cheesecake too. This is a BBW paranormal romance with all the usual elements.
Fantasy World	2	The world is a bit ragged around the edges, and you'll definitely need to suspend disbelief to enjoy the story.
Tingle	3	A hot, naked man shows up on the doorstep, and wants to get busy. What's not to like? The sheik scene is more odd than hot though.
Characters	3	Full of hot, Alpha werewolf stereotypes. Carole's self-esteem issues become tiresome, and I desperately wanted her to get a clue.
Story	2	The plot is a well worn path. Nothing new, but it's still fun to take a stroll down it.

Summary

When Carol Anne goes to claim a surprise inheritance from her dead Uncle, she doesn't know it includes a sexy man showing up on her doorstep to provide erotic delights. She's trying to recover from her divorce, and plans to live alone in the country. Unfortunately, Carol Anne doesn't know she's actually close to a hidden werewolf town, and is smack in the middle of a fight between werewolves and panthers.

“My Wolf King” by Rose Wynters is a fairly standard paranormal romance with familiar elements. It's not going to rock your world, but is more like snuggling into your favorite sweats with a side of cocoa and cookies. You get to visit with hot men who know their mates at once, and a real sized woman who is valued for being more than a twig. It's a bit pricey at $3.99 for 282 pages, but worth the time to read if you can find it on sale.

Availability
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

What's Driving Me Crazy - Family Friendly Crap is Holding My Adult Life Hostage

2014-04-11T14:47:00.001-04:00

Here's a little secret which I'll share with you. I don't have kids. I have one nephew, and he doesn't live locally. None of my close friends have kids either. So the hubby and I can have sex toys in the bathroom, booze on the nightstand, and porn stacked by the television. Our pharmacy prescriptions come without child safe caps, and the school year is completely irrelevant to us. This is an adult only household.

When I see something advertised as family friendly, I immediately know it's not for me. I don't need high chairs or kids activities. I don't want real life toned down into a clichéd movie with an overly moral plot. What's my least favorite television network? ABC Family. Why? Too much freakin' pixie dust. I prefer HBO or Showtime where they admit people swear, have sex, and get naked. After all, where do all those little kids who need special entertainment come from? Did Mommy and Daddy place an order with the stork? Or did they get naked and do the nasty?

When I flip through Netflix or Amazon I'm subjected to queues for Kids and Family Friendly selections. There is no ability to remove them no matter how uninterested I am in Dora the Explorer. I can watch Hannibal, American Horror Story, and Sons of Anarchy every day for a year and neither my Amazon or Netflix home pages will never be updated to remove Spongebob. I'm not sure whether these huge impersonal corporations include advocating family values in their mission statements, or whether they're simply reacting to the bullying of fundamentalist groups. Whichever it is, they're definitely not serving my entertainment preferences. According to the government statistics only about 23% of the population is under 18 years of age. So what about the other 77% of us want to enjoy adult entertainment? No, I didn't mean porn. Not that I don't watch it, but I was thinking more along the lines of Dexter, Weeds, and Game of Thrones.

I've seen a lot of ads lately featuring parental controls where television content can be screened by rating. I thought, that's perfect! I can simply set it to remove all G content from my queues. Imagine my surprise that the controls only work one way. I can screen out R or TV-MA, but never G. There is NO escape from Disney. So I called my friendly neighborhood Amazon Customer Service Representative to discuss this situation. After all, Amazon sells sex toys and lingerie. That makes them somewhat adult friendly right? I was informed that removing kids and family content was not an available feature at this time. I asked if there was such a thing as an adult account which wasn't bombarded by with kids shows. The only cartoons I watch are Southpark, Drawn Together, or Archer. I was told no, they don't offer that either.

I run into the same problem when I go on vacation too. It's hard to find a destination where the hotels don't advertise family friendly features like Junior Treasure Hunts and breakfast with Sesame Street characters. As much as I like the Cookie Monster, I don't think I can face him over coffee and bagels. When even Sin City itself has become a mecca for strollers, where can I go that children aren't welcome? Where is there a restaurant where there isn't a kids menu or sippy cups? Where nudity and booze are fine because there are no little eyes to scandalize? Where I don't have to think about every word out of my mouth so I can swear and talk about sex all I want? Find me this place and take me there immediately. I will promise to vacation there every year. Vow to keep the annoying Baptists from knocking on my door every other day, and I'll even buy a house.

I don't begrudge people who have small children from wanting to be able to take them places which are suitable to their age group. It's nice for the kids that there are movies, hotels, and restaurants which cater to them. Do they have to sanitize the whole damn world though? I'll make the families with kids a deal. I won't go into Chuck E Cheese and put on a live sex show, and in return they can allow me an adults only pool at the beach. I won't make their Barbie and Ken dolls anatomically correct, and they can restrict themselves to a special sound proofed section of the restaurant. That way I don't have to hear them scream and they won't be scarred for life when I pass on blow job tips to my girlfriends. It's a win, win!

My Favorite Reviews From Around the Book World

2014-04-10T16:43:00.000-04:00

Where do I find so many great books to read? From my favorite book blogs of course! Sometimes the reviews are as fun to read as the books. Others are wonderful because they really work to provide readers a good overview of the book. So I thought I would share the wealth with you. Here are my faves this week:

Book	Blog	Comment
	Lady Smut	The review author sounds really innocent for a blog named Lady Smut. From the Goodreads reviews, it appears this post is more fun to read than the actual book. This is a good reminder that not all women own their own sexuality, or are comfortable with it.
	Boy Meets Boy Reviews	Five reviews for the price of one, and all of them are entertaining.
	The Jeep Diva	Some reviews I like to read because they’re entertaining on their own. Others I like because they give me a real feel for the book, and make me want to read it. This review is the latter. Great book description Eva!

Trashy Tuesday Book Review - The Ophelia Prophecy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

2014-04-08T12:46:00.000-04:00

Book Scorecard

	Stars
Overall	4.5	A truly great blend of genres, which results in a fascinating tale with all of my favorite elements.
Fantasy World	5	Exotic, lush, amazing. Just wow.
Tingle	4	You'll have to wait for it, but when they kiss... FIRE!
Characters	5	Great heroine who faces problems like an intelligent, adult woman. Every character is complex – no caricatures here.
Story	4	Fabulous plot put together like the Mona Lisa made out of mosaic tiles. End is slightly rushed.

Summary

The description doesn't do this book justice. It's everything science fiction stories should be, and too often aren't. The hero and heroine wake up on the edge of a lake without remembering how they got there. As they investigate each other, the reader gets to go along for the ride discovering an exotic new world full of genetically engineered wonders. Each character has their own agenda and motivations, which seem completely reasonable, however, are often in conflict with one another. There are romantic and erotic elements, but they mostly take a back seat. Overall, this is one of the best books I've read lately, and I recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction, urban fantasy, or post apocalyptic stories. The Ophelia Prophecy is pricey at $9-10 for the ebook version, but well worth the cost.

Favorite Quote

“She wasn't small, and she wouldn't let the amir make her feel like she was.”

Availability
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Nashville Trio by Joy Daniels - Cover Reveal and Giveaway

2014-04-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

Nashville Trio, A Music City Ménage
by Joy Daniels

Description:

Music City, USA

After years of hard work country music duo Sweet Talk is on the verge of success. Singer Ashley Ford swore off the romantic entanglements that cost her mother her musical career, but her playing has fallen flat. She needs a spark.

Where inspirations strikes

Co-singer Rob usually find his pleasure with men, but when Ashley runs back to the arms of her ex lover Ty, he realizes that he’s no longer content being only a friend.

A tangled trio

Pride kept Ty from pursing Ashley to Nashville. When Ashley returns to his bed, Ty vows not to give her up again, even if it means sharing her with a man he finds aggravating – and surprisingly attractive.

When secrets and ambition seem poised to destroy her chance to be a star, Ashley must decide if she’s willing to risk it all for a Nashville Trio.

Enter to Win - A Progressive Giveaway!

For every 50 Adds to the Goodreads "To Read" Shelf, there will be a winner and a new prize level will be opened!

There will be 1 WINNER for each level below:

• 50 adds to Goodreads TBR OR a winner in the first 24 hours if 50 have been added at the time of the reveal - ARC of Nashville Trio

• 100 adds to Goodreads TBR - ARC of Nashville Trio + ecopy of Revving Her Up

• 150 adds to Goodreads TBR - ARC of Nashville Trio + ecopy of Revving Her Up + $10 iTunes giftcard

• 200 adds to Goodreads TBR - ARC of Nashville Trio + ecopy of Revving Her Up + $10 iTunes giftcard + $10 Amazon giftcard

• 250 adds to Goodreads TBR - ARC of Nashville Trio + ecopy of Revving Her Up + $10 or $25 iTunes giftcard + $10 or $25 Amazon giftcard (they get to choose one at $10 and one at $25 for a total of $35)

• 300 adds to Goodreads TBR - ARC of Nashville Trio + ecopy of Revving Her Up + $25 iTunes giftcard + $25 Amazon giftcard (total of $50)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

I write erotic romance because I like to expose my characters completely – strengths, flaws and scars. My debut novella, Revving Her Up, was the first story in the Full Throttle series, which focuses on the bad boys – and girls – of stock car racing. It was a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick, and has been called "one heck of a sexy ride" (Sizzling Hot Books), and "a hell of a sexy read" (Read-Love-Blog). I am currently working on the next two stories in the series.

My newest novel, Nashville Trio, is a steamy MMF ménage novel about a country singer and the two very different men in her life. It comes out May 5, 2014.

New Adult romance is my new favorite passion. I love writing stories with angst and heart, heart-melting kisses, and happy endings. I'm currently working on two New Adults series. The first, Running Scared , is about a Boston University student and the bodyguard hired to protect her from herself. It will be out in August 2014. The second series is a trilogy (Scarred, Burned, and Marked) about three friends bound together by a terrible tragedy and the scars it left behind.

I'm originally from New York City, (and still a loyal Yankees fan!), but since moving south, I've developed passions for NASCAR and country music. Both feature in my recent stories. In addition to writing (and reading) I enjoy yoga, bellydancing, and growing veggies in the Washington, D.C. area with my scientist husband and two curious kids. I'm active in the Washington Romance Writers, and the Maryland Romance Writers, and have been a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) since 2009.

I love hearing from readers so stop by, and say Hi! at www.authorjoydaniels.com or friend/follow me on Goodreads, Facebook or Twitter. Come join me on Pinterest to see pics of hot kisses, sexy heroes, and images relating to current and future works-in-progress (WIPs).

If you want like to hear all the latest news and gossip, including information about upcoming releases and appearances, you can sign up for my newsletter here.

Be the first to hear about works-in-progress, help plot and plan upcoming stories, and get great swag by signing up for my street team, the Front Runners! For more info contact me via email at: authorjoydaniels at gmail dot com.

Thanks for stopping by!

Social Links:

Website ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Goodreads

Other Books By Joy Daniels:

Tour Coordinator:

Please check out the other blogs participating in this Cover Reveal:

This post contains Affiliate Links.

One Lucky Night - Cover Reveal!

2014-04-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm so happy today to share the cover and official blurb of One Lucky Night with you!

One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance? One Lucky Night is a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes by Aria Kane, Grace Teague, Ana Blaze, Constance Phillips, and Melinda Dozier.

Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she's in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Not even gorgeous ones. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whalen meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.

One Lucky Night will be available in print and at all major ebook retailers on May 7th. For now, you can add it to Goodreads!

About the Authors

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. As a military brat, she grew up all over the country, but now lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Grace Teague lives in Pittsburgh with her spouse, children and a cat named Mr. Sushi.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Tumblr

Melinda Dozier teaches English to middle schoolers by day and writes at night. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her college sweetheart and three sons.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Giveaway
The authors are giving away four print copies of One Lucky Night before you can buy it! Enter here.

My Favorite Reviews From Around the Book World - 4/3/2014

2014-04-03T16:42:00.001-04:00

Where do I find so many great books to read? From my favorite book blogs of course! Sometimes the reviews are as fun to read as the books. So I thought I would share the wealth with you. Here are my faves this week:

Book	Blog	Comment
Liam Davis and the Raven	My Fiction Nook	This is an excerpt not a review, but I’m including it b/c it made me laugh out loud. Don’t miss the giveaway now going on!
Breeder	The Jeep Diva	Good review which points out the dark world setting, and how the author makes it work for this story.
Kamikaze Boys	Boy Meets Boy	The folks (or rather unicorns as they call themselves) at Boy Meets Boy had me in stitches with their Happy Hour Chat. It’s 7 reviews for the price of one.

BONUS: If you want to see one of the most heartwarming videos I have ever seen, check this link out. Any couple who can be this happy together after ten years of marriage deserves a round of applause.

Grad school in a year and a half? WHAT?

2014-04-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

I just finished registering for more classes, and as I reviewed the degree requirements, I've realized I may be DONE. As soon as this fall. That's only a year and a half, folks.

As Miss Penny from "Big Bang" would say:

How is this possible!? I guess I dug in more than I thought.

So now, reality sets in. I have to DO something with this shiny new degree, don't I? Hm. What to do, what to do? I suppose looking for a job is the first thing, but can I just say, I AM TERRIFIED. Job hunting sucks more than usual these days, and gods help me, my interests lie in the non-profit sector to boot. Difficult to find gainful employment, to say the least.

I knew this was going to be a big change, since I've really been struggling with what to do with my life for a lot longer than a year and a half. But damn. I can't be a student forever, now can I? I feel pressure, although I know it's unwitting, from anyone who asks "What are you going to do when you finish your degree?" to have some brilliant prospect. That just ain't so, at least not today. And, graduating means I have no excuse but to find gainful employment, right?

Yeesh. I hate this feeling. I suppose I hoped the opportunity would leap up and bite my sorry behind, but that hasn't happened yet. I have seen a couple sign posts along the way - maybe grant writing? Maybe fund raising or development? One intrepid supporter even suggested an "executive Director" was the way to go - but of what? (sigh) This is one of those "gods help those who help themselves" situations, I fear. And to be honest, I have no idea where to start. I just hope I'm up to the task.

Trashy Tuesday Book Review - Choices by Galia Ryan

2014-04-01T00:30:00.000-04:00

Summary – 4.5 stars

“Choices” by Galia Ryan is a combination of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. A young, career woman faces both financial ruin and hard choices. She decides to investigate a second job as an escort, and is drawn into a world she never imagined. Choices is a thrilling ride on the wild side. Prepare yourself to be enraptured by Anna's story, but beware the cliffhanger ending.

“Choices” is book 1 in the Luxuria Trilogy, and is followed by book 2, “Secrets”. The third book in the trilogy, “Desires”, has been recently released and reveals the final outcome of Anna's decisions.

Fantasy World

The city is left slightly vague, but it doesn't matter. Anna could be a career woman in any urban environment, as the dilemmas she faces will feel familiar to any young woman trying to make it on her own.

Tingle Factor

Choices will give you a “FEVER”. Make sure you schedule some personal time along with reading time. Anna learns her trade well, and provides details on her 'dates' including each man's fantasy. Includes some fetish and BDSM practices.

Romance

Very little romance, and kept in the background.

Drama

Anna's bills provide a constant pressure as does her banking job. There's also the stress of her trying to adjust to her new job as an escort. Can she acclimatize to having sex with strangers for the money? Does she have what it takes to satisfy the rich, demanding men who book her time? Anna questions herself as she tries her hardest to be successful.

Heroine

Anna is a young woman in the big city trying to make it big. She wants to make her parents proud, and chooses a very traditional career path after college. However, Anna finds it's not as rewarding as she expected, and being an escort is better than she imagined. Anna is a strong woman and is admirable even when she makes non-traditional choices.

Availability

Amazon, Goodreads

About the Author:

Convent-educated from the age of four, Galia Ryan was brought up not to question. Perhaps because of this, she has always been fascinated by all things esoteric and “outside the square.” Originally from Sussex, England, and now living in New Zealand with her soul-mate husband and grown-up family, Galia tries to find time between her passions for writing and reading and for her other love—travel. There is always a growing list of must-see places. Desires is the third novel in the Luxuria Trilogy, which began with Choices. Book 2, Secrets, tells Stephanie’s story. Galia is currently working on an anthology of short stories. You can find her on the Web at: Galiaryan.fannypress.com.

Social Links:
Website ● Amazon ● Facebook ● Goodreads

Buy Links:
Amazon

Tour Coordinator:

Please check out the other stops on this tour today:

This post contains Affiliate Links.

DESIRES by Galia Ryan - Review and Blog Tour

2014-03-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Desires by Galia Ryan

Description:

Anna is one of Elite Escort Agency's most popular call girls. She is quite comfortable living in the lap of luxury and pleasing a variety of wealthy men on her own terms; however, she longs to return to respectability. Only now she is accustomed to the best of everything. So Anna embarks on a quest to discover what else she is good for, other than dazzling every man who crosses her path.

Anna's calm is shattered when a former client resurfaces. A few years earlier Adam introduced Anna to bondage and submission. But although he held her in his thrall, Adam overestimated his power. When he demanded total surrender, she cut herself off from him forever. Now Adam is asking to see her again. Initially she refuses, but what can she do? She can't stop thinking about him.

The owner of Elite, Stephanie, is also haunted by memories of a former lover--Giancarlo, now married and dedicated to charitable work. When, after ten years, they come together once more, neither can resist the pull of their unresolved past, despite the possible consequences to Giancarlo's career.

Desires is Book 3 of the Luxuria Trilogy. It completes the cycle that began with Anna's story in Choices and Stephanie's in Secrets.

Review/Interview:

Summary – 4 stars

“Desires” by Galia Ryan is a combination of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” and “Sex and the City”. It's sexy and paints a fascinating portrait of the life led by high end escorts. Anna is torn between a life lived on her own terms, and the dark desires engendered by her dominant lover. At that same time, Anna's employer, Stephanie, is haunted by the choices she made years ago. This riveting tale tore me in two as I applauded Anna for being a modern, independent women making pro-active choices, but then cheered when she fell prey to Adam as well. It's a modern dichotomy to which many women can relate.

“Desires” is not recommended as a stand alone book. Start with “Choices”, book 1 in the Luxuria Trilogy, and also read “Secrets”, book 2 in the Luxuria Trilogy. The characters' emotions and internal debates won't make sense to readers who have not followed the series.

Fantasy World

You will desperately want this luxurious, fictional universe to be real. The high living lifestyle will sweep you away in a wave of champagne.

Tingle Factor

The action is hot as the main storyline is interspersed with the details of Anna's 'dates'.

Romance

The romance is subtle and understated. Don't expect insta-love or in your face love in this story.

Drama

The tension is low key, but constant. Each character is faced with multiple choices which will alter the course of their lives.

Heroine

Anna began this series as a banker, and has always had an eye on her financial future. Surprisingly her career as an escort has made her more independent, and helped her grow as a person. Anna has discovered many things about herself including her attraction to the darker side of sexual behavior. She's an admirable character, and her decisions will surprise you.

Enter to Win!

• 2 Digital Copies of CHOICES
• 2 Digital Copies of SECRETS
• 2 Digital Copies of DESIRES

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Social Links:
Website ● Amazon ● Facebook ● Goodreads

Buy Links:
Amazon

Tour Coordinator:

Please check out the other stops on this tour today:

This post contains Affiliate Links.

What's Driving Me Crazy – Prom Never Ends

2014-03-28T15:56:00.001-04:00

I dedicate this edition of What's Driving Me Crazy to Prom. The high school landmark event which torments teenagers everywhere each spring. The Prom season is beginning and the Internet is filled with ads for teen fun, fashion, and fads. As if Prom isn't enough torture when we're in high school, each season we're reminded of hideous memories again when the yearly advertising blitz begins. Magazines show happy faces, and stores characterize this event as the time of your life. More like the event which will haunt you for the rest of your life.

I may still be bitter because it snowed on my Prom or because my date's parents made us go to church the following day before we were allowed to have fun with day after activities. I did manage to cause a minor scandal during Prom clean-up when they discovered my discarded pantyhose under a table. I ditched them during the dance because they itched, and no one could even tell what I was doing under the big dress which was de rigeur in those days. It was almost as big as my hair. The rumor mill took off, and soon everyone KNEW there were kids having sex in the back corner of the gym. Funny thing, I don't remember getting any at the dance. I didn't correct the story though because I found it far too funny, and every time it was mentioned the faculty sponsor got this pained look on her face. Even thinking about it now still makes me laugh.

The best advice I can give today's teens is don't take it too seriously. Don't shop endlessly to find the coolest dress possible. Find the most outrageously tacky dress you can and work it. Either way the pictures are going to be embarrassing in 20 years so you may as well save some time and effort. The dress I loved with all my heart and wallet now reminds me of bad draperies. It was baby blue with velvet appliques, and I wore eye shadow to match. Boo yah! I was styling baby!

Get laid. It's a Prom night right of passage. Despite the rumors circulating, I didn't have sex in the corner that night. I was a good girl then and made my parents proud with my knees firmly locked together. What was I thinking? I was denied a perfectly good orgasm by the tired rhetoric with which I was brainwashed. Well, I would hope I would have had an orgasm, but I suppose we are talking about inexperienced teenagers here. Regardless, I was young and nubile. I was in my prime and could still bend enough to have sex in the back seat of a car. These days I don't think I could manage the necessary contortions even in a Cadillac let alone the compact car of my youth. I wish I had the guts back them to march in to the drug store, buy some condoms and tell public opinion to go to hell. Sex isn't a bad thing, and there's no special reward for being a virgin on your wedding night. That's if you decide to get married at all. Something else I discovered along the way is that getting married isn't required either.

So for the few reading this who are headed to prom – have fun and do what feels right to you. Be safe, but have a good time. For those of you, like me, who are Prom survivors, take this opportunity to exorcise those demons. Laugh at the bad pictures. Laugh at yourself for working so hard to be cool, and take heart that you never have to do it again.

My Favorite Reviews From Around the Book World

2014-03-27T14:47:00.002-04:00

Book	Blog	Comment
Mountain Prey	Boy Meets Boy Reviews	I can’t decide which were funnier – the pix or the quotes.
Uncovering You	I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews	A totally honest review which gives me a good feel for the book, and makes me want to read it.
Multiple Hot Titles	Mary’s Menage Reviews	Mary has filled up my to read list for the next 6 months with this list.