Riverina Romantics

BOOK TOUR: C791 by Eve Langlais - SCORE A Copy

2012-03-02T01:01:00.001-04:00

Today we are helping to celebrate the release of C791 by Eve Langlais. Not only has she given us a smokin hot excerpt to share but you also have the chance to win a pdf copy. Jodie xoxo

C791
(Cyborgs: More Than Machines #1)

by Eve Langlais

Machines aren’t supposed to feel, but this cyborg can’t help falling in love.

Assigned as a specimen collector for a captured cyborg, Chloe is intrigued by the machine disguised as a man. Kidnapped during his daring escape, he shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.

Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn’t find the answers he’s looking for, he does discover that affection and lust aren’t just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism—once a man—choose?

Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though because the military isn’t done with Joe. But their threats against him pale in comparison before the shocking discovery of project C791, the revelation of which stuns the rebel cyborgs—and ignites a fury for vengeance.

**Adult Content Warning**

The sight of Chloe and Seth so at ease with each other, and worse, touching each other set something off inside Joe, a combination of irrational anger sprinkled with a covetousness he’d not experienced but had heard of.

Jealousy.

Whatever the name for the emotion, he found himself unable to halt it as he ripped Seth away from Chloe’s side and sent his fist into the grinning face. He maintained enough control to not beat his friend to a pulp — barely — but he couldn’t stop himself from slinging Chloe over his shoulder and stomping off to their room.

“What the heck was that about?” she exclaimed as she dangled down his back.

“You seem to have forgotten who you belong to.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Are you jealous?”

“No.” Yes!

“It’s normal to feel that way. It just never occurred to me you would.”

“I don’t. Jealousy is a human emotion. I am a cyborg. We are above such petty wastes of our time.”

“Really. Well then, someone should probably explain that to Seth’s face,” she drawled.

“This is not entertaining. You were practically inviting him to take ownership of your body.”

“I was not,” she exclaimed, and a small rational part of him knew she spoke truly, but he’d lost the ability to decipher logic from madness where she was concerned.

Arriving at their room, he tossed her onto the bed and quickly tore at his clothes.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her eyes wide, but not with trepidation if the protruding nipples through her shirt were any indication.

“Showing you who owns your body.”

“Me.”

“Wrong answer,” he growled. “I do. And it seems I must show you.”

He fell on her, and despite her previous defiant answer, she welcomed him with open arms and a fierce kiss. Her legs spread wide to accommodate his body, but while he’d denuded his frame, she remained dressed. Their hands met at the closing to her pants, their impatient battle to remove them more of a fumbling parody. When he finally managed to strip them from her, he was ready to sink himself into her. He retained enough wits though to realize she required preparation for his penetration. With sex bots, that never proved a concern as they arrived to service pre-lubed. Human females however, according to his studies, required stimulation to achieve the same state. He slid a hand between her thighs and, to his relief, found her already soaking wet. It pleased him, on a level he did not understand, that Chloe achieved this state around him without means of manipulation.

He wasted no more time. He propped himself above her and thrust into her sex. Oh, the exquisite, unexplainable feel of her channel clamping tightly around his cock. He would never tire of it. Never tire of her. But did she feel the same about him? He had to know.

“Tell me who you belong to.”

Her eyes opened part way, her lids heavy with arousal. “Why do you care?”

He rammed into her hard. She gasped.

A growl left him. “Do not toy with me. You are my female. Not Seth’s. Not anyone else’s. Say you belong to me.” He almost roared the words, desperate to hear her say it.

For a moment defiance flashed in her gaze. “And if I don’t?”

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INTERVIEW/EXCERPT/SCORE A COPY: Wolf Moon: Redd's First Ride by Lula Lisbon

2012-03-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hi, I’m Lula Lisbon. I’m an emerging erotica writer, and I’m very happy to be doing this interview with you at Riverina Romantics! Thanks for having me.

Thank Lula, it is great to have you here. Lets start out on an easy question. What is a typical day in the life of Lula Lisbon?

I’m definitely a non-traditional artistic personality. I serve and bartend on weekends, and I write and attend to self-publishing administrative work during the week. I work nights, so my schedule is not the standard 9-5 one.

My cat usually wakes me up, and I’ll have some black coffee while I review emails and tend to business. I have a running idea file, so I’ll research trends and compare them to my file to see what’s selling hot right now.

Lately I’ve been looking up stock photography for covers before a story is finished; I do all my own design and I find it’s easier to have a cover in mind before finalizing a story. If there are certain details in a cover image, I like to have the option of writing them in as opposed to not being able to find anything that works. A great example of this is the cover of “Wolf Moon: Redd’s First Ride,” which is the first in my Wolf Moon Quartet. It’s an erotic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in an alternate-world setting, filled with intrigue, suspense, and of course, lots of hot sex. In the image, she has on a beautiful hooded fur coat, which I ended up writing into the story.

So I’d say about half of the time dedicated to this is actual writing and editing, and the other half is formatting, cover art, promoting, and other rather dreary tasks.

Do you have a current work in progress? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

The really great (and terrible) thing about self-publishing is that I can work on my own schedule, and every decision is my own. I’m currently releasing 1-2 titles a week, and at the time of this writing, I have seven releases. I have a lot of great ideas, and I’m keeping my genres rather diverse. So far, I have some FF, some MM, and some MF, and with the exception of the aforementioned Wolf Moon Quartet, most are set in contemporary times.

I’m very interested in expanding into historical and time travel, paranormal, transgender, and unusual takes on BDSM. I can only do one at a time, though! Currently though, I have a great idea for some horror/suspense erotica that I’m researching.

Have any of your characters resembled people in real life?

I usually am inspired to base my characters either on my own experiences or on lovers I’ve had. Names and details are changed, of course, but I have certain mental sources that I refer to for various types of scenes. They say to write what you know, but it’s a cliché because it’s true and it works! As an example, I’ve set several stories in my hometown of Philadelphia, PA, because it’s very easy for me to imagine the action and thus paint a vivid visual picture for my readers.

A good amount of the sexy scenarios are either based on personal experience, or on favorite fantasies that I’ve always wished I could have!

What has been the hardest emotionally or time consuming thing you’ve had to research for one of your stories?

It’s when the action isn’t based on things I’ve experienced that things get more difficult. I’m very exacting on how my work looks, reads, and how it is presented; and this perfectionism, while great for the reader, can get very time-consuming. I feel that it’s very much worth the effort, however, because I strongly feel that the finished quality of my work far surpasses that which you’d expect for self-published, and in the end truly speaks for itself. When compared to a lot of other self-published erotica available, I believe my writing stands out, and I look forward to building a very loyal fanbase once readers discover my writing.

Quickie Question Round

Sexiest feature in a man? Elegant hands and beautifully defined muscles.

Tell us something on your bucket list.To travel the world while writing!

What is your favourite romance novel by another author? Any time travel or historical by Jude Deveraux.

And lastly, If our viewers wanted to find out more about your work where can they find it and you?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/LulaLisbon

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lula-lisbon

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/LulaLisbon

Blog (NSFW): http://LulaLisbon.tumblr.com

I’d like to offer your readers an excerpt from “Wolf Moon: Redd’s First Ride,” the first in my new Wolf Moon Quartet.

Blurb

In this erotic alternate-world retelling of Red Riding Hood, Redd is a spoiled rich girl who always gets everything she wants in life: a submissive boyfriend, weyre servants, cars, and jewelry. Frankly, she's a bit bored by it all, and so she's been getting her thrills by becoming increasingly kinky behind closed doors.

But when she sees the dangerous, feral leader of the growing Weyre Liberation Movement on TV, destined by his Goddess to free his weyre-folk from slavery and oppression under their human conquerors, she feels an awakening of taboo lust. While out checking on Grandma's empty cottage, sexy Miss Redd discovers an unexpected houseguest, and much more...

“Who are you?” she shrieked. “And what are you doing in my grandmother’s house?” His arms were thick and bulging with muscle, his shoulders hard and broad. A thin cotton shirt clung to his torso, half-buttoned and gaping, and she could see the distinctive trail of silky-soft weyre-pelt running from just below his full lower lip, all the way down the middle of his hard chest and tight, six-pack stomach. His tawny eyes, wide and round as a wolf’s, pierced through her; his perfect lips parted to reveal white teeth, the long, gleaming canines impossibly sharp. Redd had always known her race was superior to his, but in this moment, she was just a little afraid.

“Well now, aren’t you just the prettiest little thing,” he drawled, looking her up and down, “and such a nice surprise. For your information, Clarissa Resahood gave me her permission to stay here while she was up North.”

“You… you filthy liar!” Redd gasped, full of righteous anger. “My grandmother would never give a fur-back lunaspic like you permission to stay in her house! You get out of here right now before I call the Federal Police!”

His golden eyes, full of playful amusement at first, instantly turned to icy steel. She squeaked as he gripped her arm in an iron hand.

“It’s a shame you’re not as loving and kind-hearted as your grandmother,” he growled. “I don’t have much patience for racist hate-spewing, and besides, you’re far too pretty to be talking like that.”

Struggling helplessly against his impossibly strong grip, Redd made a derisive noise, and spat in his face.

“No dirty moon-freak tells me how to behave! My father’s the Senator! When he hears about this, he’ll—” Her vitriol was cut short as he yanked her inside and slammed the door. Seeing the look of repugnance the weyre-male gave Redd as he wiped away her spittle raised the first real stirrings of fear inside her… and then, sudden recognition.

“You – you’re Mr. X!” Redd breathed, her heart beating wildly in her throat. “I saw you on TV today, you’re wanted for human murders and violent incitement!”

His nostrils flared, saying nothing, simply keeping her in his unblinking gaze; she felt as if he were raking her soul with that gaze, and finding her wanting. Suddenly she wondered if it were true, if they could smell female lust, if they could read minds and desires. His lip twisted in a sneer as if in answer, and his sharp teeth shone.

“I know it’s a serious crime for humans to help the WeyreLib cause,” he growled, “but there’s absolutely no excuse for blatant racist ignorance like yours. Your mouth is far more filthy than any weyre could ever hope to be, and I’m about to teach that pretty ass of yours a lesson!”

His huge fist around her arm tightened, and he dragged her, protesting, over to the nearest chair. He ripped the luxurious fur coat away from her shoulders, throwing it aside like a cheap rag.

“Grab the chair and bend over,” the weyre ordered, his eyes dangerous.

“Why should I listen to a dirty fur-back?” Redd retorted petulantly. “I won’t!”

Before she could say another word, his hand flashed out quicker than she could see and tore the thin silk dress down the middle, exposing her perfectly smooth curves. Her jaw dropped in shock, and he forced her wrists together, tying them to the back of the chair. He swiftly pushed on the backs of her knees, so she had no choice but to fall into a kneel on the hard wooden seat, luscious round ass in the air. Angry tears welled in her eyes, but for the first time in her life, she bit back a flurry of vicious words. He seemed to know this somehow, because he gave a short laugh of derision.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you, little Miss Redd?” the large weyre scoffed. He slid his long, brown fingers across the silky expanse of her milky skin, feeling the moist under-curves of her firm breasts, the delicate valley of her waist.

He leaned in close to her ear, his musk filling her nostrils, his thin shirt and angora-soft pelt brushing like feathers against her naked back.

“I can smell you,” he said in a husky growl, caressing her hip. “Mother Moon is almost full, and I can smell your lust.”

Like the sound of Wolf Moon?? Simply enter the Rafflecopter form below to be in with the chance of winning a copy.

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RANDOM RANT: Judgemental people suck ass.

2012-03-02T00:00:00.015-04:00

The title says it all really and yes I do get the irony of me saying judgmental people suck ass, but after year upon year of being judged myself and stepping back from society because of it, I now cannot stand friends and family and even complete strangers being judged.

I try my damn hardest not to judge others, I'm not perfect and I believe it's only human nature. But there is a difference between a petty, uninformed passing judgement that you keep to yourself and making a song and dance and openly disrespecting someone.

There is never a need for it. It serves no positive purpose, all it does is waste time and IT HURTS PEOPLE.

I quite simply do not understand it. I don't understand the point of it, I don't understand the enjoyment people derive from it and I sure as hell don't appreciate it.

No one has the right to judge someone else. Nobody can ever truly know someone else's story, so how can people have the right to judge?

What brought this rant on?? Well, there has been a number of incidents I've heard of in the past year that have niggled at me from little things like judgements on the books people read, or the explicit nature of what an author writes - but what pushed me over the edge with the force of a Mack truck was completely unrelated to the topics we usually promote on Riverina Romantics.

This week on a Australian television program called 'The Circle' two presenters mocked a war hero.

He isn't an everyday Australia, he isn't even a normal country serving soldier (all of which I truly admire) - Ben Roberts-Smith is an Australian Victoria Cross medal recipient (the highest award in the Australian honours system). Not only that, but he has also received the Medal for Gallantry making him the most highly decorated currently serving member of the Australian Defence Force.

But yet these two talk show hosts bagged the shit out of him. There comments were childish, inappropriate as well as completely unrelated to the reason why he was on the show.

The clip below has a brief overview of what happened.

For starters Ben Roberts-Smith is DAMN FINE!! He is 100% sexy ass male on top of the whole Captain Awesome he has going on with serving our country with such dedication.

Not only would it feel like a kick in the teeth to him after all he has done for his country, but how would his parents feel being so proud of their son and having to hear those words? Or his wife, who listens to all the hardships he goes through and knows how much he misses out of his kids life - ALL FOR HIS COUNTRY?

It breaks my heart.

This is only the basics of the story, there was an apology and you can read more about it here but don't you think the world is getting to a point of no return when people can say these sorts of things for entertainment? When people can think it humorous or take enjoyment out of hurting others.

I am going to lead by example, try to be a better person, not only for my children who learn from my example, but for myself. I feel better as a person - when I am a better person and I hope you will all do the same.

I don't care if you're a purple skinned midget who loves to masturbate while listening to the Pet Shop Boys - I'm no better than you, our skin colour may be different and our song selections would definitely differ, but we are all human and if you have time for me I will have time for you.

Spend time complementing people instead of insulting and if you feel the need to judge then keep it to yourself.

Now lets all hold hands and sing Kumbayah.

-END RANT-

BOOK TOUR/ EXCERPT: Supernaturally Kissed by Stacey Kennedy

2012-03-01T00:10:00.083-04:00

Today I'm excited to share some information on Stacey Kennedy's latest release - Supernaturally Kissed.....How hot is this cover!! Hope you enjoy the excerpt. Jodie xoxo

BLURB

Ghosts harass and annoy Tess Jennings to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice.

Kipp McGowen, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her.

Tess must help solve the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide.

Keep Kipp forever or find the killer…

http://www.staceykennedy.com/supernaturally-kissed/

About the Author

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart-squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and they even give you a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll also find fast-paced action, life-threatening moments and a big bad villain who needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks bestseller lists.

Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at http://www.staceykennedy.com/

An icy wisp of air swept in behind me, causing my heel to twist as I stumbled. To the other pedestrians striding along the downtown Memphis street, the sensation would be brushed off as a cold breeze.

They were wrong. A spirit lingered here.

“Can you hear me?”

From the intrigue rolling in his voice, he hadn’t expected me to acknowledge him. Shit! I’d already given myself away. A mistake I’d rectify.

Without hesitation, I righted my stance and strode forward with purpose, forcing myself to remain deaf to the voice. If I ignored ghosts long enough, they moved on and searched out someone else who held the same irritating ability, whom I had yet to meet.

Much to my annoyance, the ghost stayed right on my heels and his presence remained strong behind me. The cold air at my back remained a contrast to the warm morning air in front of me. Every hair on my neck stood up and goose bumps pimpled a trail along my skin. If only I could rub them away, but I didn’t dare. Ignoring him would make him go away.

“You can hear me, can’t you?” the ghost asked again.

Spirits were typically harmless, but annoying. I’m dead, what’s going on, why am I a ghost—yada, yada, yada. I quickened my steps and made my way down Peabody Place in hopes he’d leave me alone.

“Wait.”

He sounded desperate, which meant a big headache for me. If I hadn’t worn my damn slingbacks, I would’ve tried to run and hide. But the three-inch Manolos and the tight, tailored gray skirt restrained my movements.

I passed Miss Polly’s Soul Food Café, and the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs drifted along the air. My empty stomach complained. My only thought after I woke had been caffeine. Now I wished I’d grabbed a muffin with my latté at Starbucks. With ten minutes to get to my desk, I couldn’t worry about such things.

My boss, Event Manager Dylan Cobb, would hand me my ass if I stepped into the office a minute late. Sadly, there’d never been a day I didn’t cater to his every need.

I approached Beale Street and sighed in relief, relishing the warmth surrounding me. Not only from the sun above—the spirit’s cold presence at my back had vanished. Pleased my dodge of him had worked, I took a sip of my energy in a cup and smiled. Coffee’s fantastic, the ghost is gone—life is good.

Another block passed under my heels before I reached the historical red-brick building. Randall Marketing, written in black block letters, decorated the striped green-and-white awning.

I opened the door to the office and strode in, greeted by a bubbly voice. “Good morning, Tess.”

“Mornin’.”

“Give me a moment here.” Doris shuffled paperwork around her desk, her auburn curls bouncing on her shoulders. The receptionist had always been messy, yet somehow organized. “There were a few messages on the voicemail for you.” She raised her head and held out the pink slips of paper. “A lovely day today, is it not?”

“Sure is.” So I lied. The ghost hadn’t kicked off my day on a high note. Not as if I’d tell her about my interaction with spirits. My ability to converse with spirits remained on a need-to-know basis, and as far as it concerned me, no one needed to know. I grabbed the messages from her hand. “Did your weekend treat you good?”

“I spent the entire weekend knee-deep in my garden.” Her cocoa-colored eyes lit up. “My best year ever, I’m hoping. You’ll have to come out and have a look-see.”

“I’d love to.” Doris treasured her gardens, so I tried to appear interested, even though my green thumb looked black.

Her smile brightened, but when the phone rang, she waved a goodbye and answered the call. “It’s another beautiful day here at Randall Marketing, how may I direct your call?”

Leaving her behind, I strode down the hall toward my office and sipped my coffee. The warmth slid down my throat and provided an immediate rush to my energy levels. At the third door on the right, I entered my bleak workspace with its pale-blue walls, closed the door behind me and approached the desk. I dropped down into the black leather chair and flipped through the messages. None were urgent enough to worry about now.

I powered up my computer, but a knock at the door had me glancing up. Before I got a word out, the door swished open and I cringed, fully aware of the looming trouble.

Caley, the officer manager and my best friend since the age of four, looked like a typical Barbie. Perfect skin, long flowing blonde hair and a body men drooled over. I might have been jealous of her perfection since I couldn’t pull off her looks even with a makeover—so maybe a little envious—but her appearance had always been a front. She was the devil in disguise.

She scowled, shutting the door behind her with a slam. “Do you mind explaining where you were all weekend?”

“At home.” I batted my lashes. “Why? Did you try to call me?”

She pointed her finger, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t you try that shit on me. I called you all weekend and your phone went straight to voicemail.”

“Hmm…” I pretended to ponder. “The battery must have died.” She had enough gall to just come over, but the little hint had been a subtle way of telling Caley to leave me alone.

“Liar.” She plopped down in the seat across from my desk. “Where were you? I wanted to go out.”

“Nowhere. Honestly, I vegged on the couch.”

Caley snorted. “You lead such an exciting life.”

My mouth parted to offer a snappy retort, but a cold wisp of air brushed across my skin, causing my lips to snap shut. Damn! I thought I’d got rid of him.

“Hello.” Caley snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Leave the aliens behind and return to Mother Earth.”

I blinked, trying to force my attention back to her, yet failing. The ghost knelt right beside Caley—not kneeling, of course; more like floating, since ghosts were never able to obtain physical contact with the world around them—and my focus held strong on him, unable to stop myself from ogling. He stared intently, with one crystal-blue eye, while the other was a chocolate color. His strong jaw, the muscles clenching along his cheeks, all spoke of power. But as he ran his hand through his untidy sandy-colored hair, his expression showed playfulness. His black tank top left his arms exposed and muscles upon muscles layered those arms.

“Anyways,” she said, dragging my gaze back to her. “I had to go out with Susanne because you left me high and dry.”

I laughed. Caley’s horny, twenty-year-old stepsister had the body that men chased after. “You did have the option to stay home, you know.”

Her eyes widened. “On a Saturday night?”

“Yeah, you know, get some popcorn, watch a movie and relax.”

She frowned. “If you don’t stop your grandma behavior, your va-jay-jay is going to shrivel up and die.”

The ghost chuckled.

His smooth laugh hit me like a cup of warm cocoa, causing my insides to melt. Nothing amused me. First off, Caley had been so wrong—maybe a little right—but I’d never admit to her accuracy aloud. Second, reacting in such a heated way to a ghost definitely didn’t hit my to-do list today.

“Excuse me.” I spoke not only to Caley, but also to the irritating ghost. “My va-jay-jay is just fine.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’ve still got some spunk.” She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Because we’ve got a double date tonight.”

“A what?” Dear God!

She grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, my dearest Grammy, we’re going out.”

“With who?”

“Two guys I met on Saturday night. You’re coming with me, either willingly or unwillingly, so suck up your hesitations, babe, because saying no isn’t an option.”

“But it’s a Monday night.” Not saying a date didn’t sound like fun. A month had passed since my last attempt at dating—which failed miserably—but a man Caley chose while drunk? No thanks. My sex life might have been as dead as the sexy ghost in front of me, but I’d still search for a way out. “I have to work tomorrow.”

She wagged her finger in classic Caley fashion. “You’re a grandma.”

Most times, I respected her persistent personality. She never backed down, always dreamed big and went for the gold, but her grit hadn’t been all rays of sunshine. Her determination made her annoyingly tenacious. I had to agree or she’d never give up, and getting her out of my office sounded all too good. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, stop looking so pissy. We’ll have fun. Promise. I’ll come to your place at eight.” She opened the door, glanced over her shoulder and winked. “Leave the granny panties at home.”

* * * * *

The day came and went. My head pounded, not because my boss had been as demanding as any two-year-old, which he did often, but because the ghost hadn’t shut up. The past hours, even after I returned home to get ready for tonight,he’d tried his best to gain my attention. Good thing I’m great at tuning people—ghosts—out, or I would’ve caved after hour two.

“I’m not leaving until you admit you can hear me,” the ghost said.

With a flick of my shag-cut brown hair—that actually didn’t give me any trouble tonight—to dismiss him, I strode next to Caley, heading back toward the downtown core. Dressed in my low-riding, dark wash jeans and blue plaid three-quarter-length-sleeve top, tied to leave my midriff exposed, at least I looked half decent while I suffered through the embarrassing blind date.

The ghost’s tone came a little louder and more abrupt. “Dammit, woman! Will you stop ignoring me? It’s annoying.”

I’m annoying him? I nearly laughed at the ridiculous notion, but did not intend to give myself away. I’d held strong for nine hours. Soon, he’d catch the drift and piss off.

Caley knocked my arm. “Will you stop looking so tight assed?”

I glanced away from the sidewalk and smiled at her. “My ass is tight.” Okay, not eighteen-year-old tight, but only twenty-five now, I worked hard to keep things tight.

She chuckled. “You’re…”

“Damn right, you do, sweet cheeks,” the ghost said.

Caley stopped dead in her tracks, which caused me to stumble. “What’s got you blushing?”

I righted my stance, raised my hand to my face and, to my horror, my cheeks were warm. “I’m not blushing. I I I’m hot.”

“Unless you somehow turned into a lesbian and have fallen for your best friend,you’re acting weird.”

“I do love you.” At her widened eyes, I laughed. “But I don’t want you in the sack. Seriously, I’m just hot.”

The ghost’s voice deepened. “Ah, a way to grab your attention, I see.”

The little purr hanging off his tone made my stomach flip-flop. Clearly, I craved some attention and needed to get some in a bad way if I reacted in such a heated way to a non-living person.

I shoved the ridiculous reaction away and focused back on Caley, falling into stride with her. “Who’s the guy I’m hooking up with tonight?”

“He’s just your type.” She wiggled her brows. “You’re going to thank me later.”

“What do you mean my type?” I liked men, all types of them, and I’d never confine my options into a little box. Caley had apparently taped the box shut and shipped the package.

“He’s a pro baseball player and is home visiting his family for a couple days.”

“A pro, huh?” Maybe I had fooled myself into believing I didn’t have a type, because hearing baseball player made my interest rise. Images of skintight white pants and a scrumptious ass filled my mind.

“Yeah, he’s got the looks too.” She nudged her shoulder into mine. “And the money.”

“Women,” the ghost muttered.

I ignored the ghost like the ghost he was, turned onto Beale Street and Coyote Ugly Saloon appeared. A line of people outside meant an hour of waiting. Not as if I thought we’d have to wait. I had Caley with me, after all.

She snatched up my hand, yanking me forward, and hurried her steps. “Brandon,” she called out.

Two men turned toward her, and evidently, Caley knew my type better than I did, since either of the men would have fallen into the fantasy category.

“I’m so glad y’all came,” Brandon said.

Caley gave one of her pageant smiles. “We’re glad you asked us to come.”

“You must be Tess.”

I glanced toward hunk number two. He held the typical all-American look—brown hair, blue-eyed, charming smile, and with his dimple, I suspected he could woo his way into anyone’s bed. Maybe even mine if he played his cards right tonight.

“I’m Trent.”

“Nice to meet you.” I ogled his trim body and handsome face and caught sight of the big white D on his navy-blue hat. “You play for Detroit?”

He nodded. “Both Brandon and I do. We were lucky enough to get a little time off to see the family.”

“Figures, Detroit sucks,” the ghost said.

I smiled, keeping my focus on Trent, ignoring the annoyingly sexy voice by my ear.

“Come on, let’s go get a drink.” Caley wrapped her arm in Brandon’s and approached the bouncer. If one good thing came from her charismatic pushy attitude, she’d always been quite the social butterfly. No one, including me, ever said no to her.

“Did you grow up here in Memphis?” I asked Trent.

“Born and raised.”

Seemed as if he wanted to say more, but Caley interrupted with her typical impatient yell. “Come on, y’all.”

I glanced over my shoulder to find her waving her hands. “We’ve been summoned.”

Trent chuckled.

I strode past the irritated crowd, who didn’t have a Caley in their group to push their way through. Entering the bar, loud country music, accompanied by hoots and hollers, rang out around me. The stench of sweat made my nose crinkle. Caley pointed to a table across the way and I maneuvered through the partygoers, following her.

At the table, Trent held out a stool and gestured for me to sit. He sure played his cards right to a royal flush. I slid onto the stool, and he asked, “What’s your drink?”

“A cold beer sounds great.”

He winked. “My kind of lady.”

The boys headed to the bar. I glanced over at Caley, who bounced up and down on her seat in excitement. “I did good, right?”

I nodded, not at all ashamed to give her props for her choice. “He’s not only sexy as sin, but a gentleman too. You did great.”

The ghost snorted.

I’d forgotten all about him and had hoped he wouldn’t follow me into the bar. Nothing would ruin my excitement now. A long time had passed since I’d met anyone worth meeting. The ghost wouldn’t put a damper on my fun.

Within minutes, Trent and Brandon returned to the table with four beers in hand. I claimed a bottle, took a long sip and sighed in happiness. After the day I had, the beer comforted me. The alcohol refreshed the senses, revived the mood and removed the tension sitting heavy on my shoulders.

Trent grinned. “Looks like you needed a drink.”

I licked the dribble of beer from my lips. “I’ve been craving a beer all day long.” I set the bottle onto the table. “So, tell me, what’s it like to play baseball as a pro?”

I’ve never regretted saying words more in my life. One question led to a twenty-minute conversation I wished I’d never instigated. Caley, the traitor, had vanished onto the dance floor with Brandon, which left me with the pompous stud.

“I’ve grown as a player…” Trent went on.

“This guy is a fucking joke,” the ghost said.

I almost turned my head to nod, but of course refrained. I continued to listen to Trent’s words without truly hearing what he had to say. I merely muttered “yeah” or “cool” when appropriate.

“If I were him, I would’ve skipped the conversation all together and had you back in my bed the moment I laid eyes on you.”

He did not just say that! My stomach leapt up into my throat and my body warmed in places that shouldn’t from a ghost. He’d only said words—not used soft touches to entice me—but the way his voice carried into my soul, the effect had been similar to sweet caresses. “The coach has been pleased…”

The ghost’s tone dropped an octave. “I wouldn’t have wasted the time with small talk. I would’ve used my mouth to learn my way around your luscious curves and used your responses to tell me about the woman you are.”

I squirmed on the stool in an attempt to ignore the soft purr of his voice sending shivers down my spine. I even leaned in further toward Trent and tried to concentrate on his boring conversation.

“After I tasted your sweet skin and saw your desperation for more, I would kiss your mouth until your lips were rosy and swollen. I’d deepen the kiss by tangling my fingers through your hair and holding you close to feel all of me.”

I gulped, crossed my legs and squeezed them tight. He’s a ghost! Nothing that involved him should arouse me. But the pulse between my thighs declared he held the power to make me undone.

“I’d kiss my way along your jaw while I lowered my hand to trail along your stomach. Then I would seek to discover all those little places that make you squirm.”

He ran his finger from below my ear all the way to my nape. His touch forced my eyes closed. A cold shiver danced along my skin to leave goose bumps in its wake. Wild sensations stole my logical mind. My will to ignore him plummeted.

“Tess,” Caley shouted.

I opened my eyes, and after taking a moment to focus, I discovered not only Caley staring at me, but Trent and Brandon too.

She frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

I shook my head and released the breath stuck in my throat, which came out in a slow wisp of air. “Nothing—I’m fine.”

“I’d lower myself between those luscious legs of yours, tempting you and teasing you. I’d stare into those pretty green eyes of yours until they widened in pleasure.”

“You’re not fine,” Caley retorted. “Your face is bright red.”

“I’d wait until your hips arched toward me and begged me to take you. Then, and only then, would I give you what you desire.”

I grabbed my beer, took a big swig and a couple more. All eyes stared at me with blatant confusion. Part of me wanted to move away, while the other needed to hear more.

“Ah, Tess,” Caley whispered. “Seriously, are you okay?”

I paid my obvious inappropriate behavior no attention. The fantasy the ghost built in my mind needed to have a conclusion. “Yes. Yes. I’m good.”

“I would thrust against you, demanding you react to my intentions. You’d scream out and I would echo the sound with a moan of my own, as I used all my strength to satisfy you.”

Caley chuckled nervously.

I gripped the edge of the table in front of me and held on tight.

“You’d come into your orgasm because I’d leave you with no other choice. But I wouldn’t stop there.” He ran his finger along my exposed lower back and the coldness against my hot skin made me shiver. “Without giving you the chance to recover, I’d flip you over on your knees,” his tone dipped lower, “and fuck you senseless.”

I shot up from my seat, which caused the stool to slam back into the person behind me, who swore in return. “I have to go.”

Caley nodded. “Ah yeah, I think you do.”

Without another word—or a goodbye to the living men or the dead one who had got me all hot and bothered—I bolted from the bar and ran so hard my calves burned, reminding me of the three-inch heels strapped to my feet.

The ghost didn’t follow me and nothing pleased me more. I needed some space, time to return to reality or to pleasure the need out of me—either would do.

Within only a few minutes, I arrived at my condominium, which appeared more like an old textile factory, but inside were renovated modern apartments. The arousal burning inside me hadn’t vanished. The wetness between my thighs was a constant reminder of the ghost’s words.

I ran up the stairs while I took my keys out from my back pocket. At the thick mahogany wooden door, I raised my key pass to the scanner, grabbed the chrome door handle and swung it open.

Just three doors down, I opened the door to my condo before slamming it closed behind me. I didn’t bother to lock the door and did the only thing I thought of now. I sprinted to the bedroom, stripped out of my clothes and finished the fantasy the ghost had built in my mind.

INTERVIEW: Elizabeth McKenna

2012-03-01T00:00:00.004-04:00

Today we are excited to have Elizabeth McKenna with us. Please make her feel welcome. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and hopefully Elizabeth will be happy to answer.

Thanks for being here with us today Elizabeth. I will start off with an easy questions - Please tell our followers a little about yourself. What is a typical day in the life of Elizabeth McKenna?

Well, I am a full-time technical writer/editor, a full-time mom, and a part-time romance writer. My days start before 5am and end around 10pm. My two teenage girls are active in numerous sports and extracurricular activities, so we’re always on the go. (I can’t wait until they can drive.)

My husband travels for his job, so I’m often a “single mom.” I try to sneak in some creating writing every day, but lately I’ve been spending my free time on marketing Cera’s Place. I hope to get back to writing soon because I really miss it. We live in a small town by a beautiful lake, so when we have time, we’re usually boating, swimming, or fishing. (My life sounds boring. Maybe I should have made something up?)

Do you have a current work in progress? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

I’m working on Moonlight in Venice, another historical romance set in the 1750s. I love the cover art I found for it (see my website). The storyline involves murder, theft, art, Freemasonry, Carnival season, pregnancy, and cataracts – and love, of course, lots of love.

What has been the hardest emotionally or time consuming thing you’ve had to research for one of your stories?

Since I write historical romance (and am OCD), I spend a lot of time researching the internet and checking the etymology of words and phrases. I want the story as authentic as possible. Sometimes I have the perfect word or phrase but it didn’t come into use until the 1900s, so I have to start over. It can be frustrating.

Have any of your characters resembled people in real life?

Yes, but just bits and pieces. It’s easier writing what you know. Jake’s physical features in Cera’s Place were modeled after Viggo Mortensen. I’d like to think Cera is me in a previous life, but she has better breasts than I’ve ever had.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay attention to them enough to influence your writing?

Yes, I read them and I try to pick out the constructive criticism. If a reader rates it a 3 or lower

because the sex was too explicit, I ignore the rating. I wasn’t the reader’s cup of tea and that’s fine. I don’t see that review as a reflection on my writing ability. I had one reviewer say she wished the novel would have been longer and the romance developed slower. Now, that is something to consider. If I’m pacing a novel too fast, I would like to adjust. I’m learning as I go, but I’m realizing that I won’t ever satisfy everyone.

Quickie Question Round

Sexiest feature in a man? His sense of humor

If you were deserted on an island and could only have one man with you – who would it be? Viggo Mortensen (must have long hair as in Lord of the Rings)

Tell us something on your bucket list: Touring Italy with my family

What is your favourite romance novel by another author?Romeo and Juliet – though there’s no HEA, is there.

Your bookshelf is on fire, you can only save what you can carry what do you save? My hardcover Harry Potter series

And lastly, If our viewers wanted to find out more about your work where can they find it and you?

Elizabeth McKenna’s website

Cera’s Place Ebook: $2.99 (US) at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, Sony and Diesel.

Cera’s Place Paperback: $10.99 (US) at CreateSpace, Amazon and Infibeam.com.

Facebook (Elizabeth McKenna) / Facebook (Cera's Place)

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Caressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene

2012-02-29T00:10:00.026-04:00

Today we are doing a spotlight on author Amanda J. Greene. I'm yet to read any of her work, but the covers are smokin hot. Hope you enjoy. Jodie xoxo.

Caressed by Night

Rulers of Darkness #2

By Amanda J Greene

Description

Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire, was thought to be dead for the past four hundred years. Now, he is back and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered when he saves a beautiful art historian.

Kerstyn Ingmar’s life was normal and straight up boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy, powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri.

Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer to her impending doom.

While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate destroys them both.

Caressed by Moonlight

By Amanda J Greene

Book 1 Rulers of Darkness Series

Book Description

Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king, who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation, before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life.

Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend, Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark, mysterious, Dorian Vlakhos.

After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together while a force, more powerful than any vampire would bind them for all eternity. But treachery, war, and death rule Dorian’s dark world and Victoria would be fortunate to survive.

Get it at:
Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ARe

About the Author

Amanda J. Greene is an erotic paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student, who works part time.

She lives in Southern California with her very supportive military husband and their sweet cocker spaniel.

For more information about her upcoming books, visit:

www.amandajgreene.com

blog www.amandajgreene.blogspot.com

You can also find her at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-J-Greene/162646687109294

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4503428.Amanda_J_Greene

http://twitter.com/#!/AmandaJGreene1

Google pages

https://plus.google.com/117800803105791003658#117800803105791003658/posts

Hump Day Hotties

2012-02-29T00:00:00.019-04:00

I absolutely LOVE a big guy. I'm not exactly short or skinny so someone bigger than me is a real turn on! I love the way that a large man can make feel dainty, feminine and protected. That's what makes Michael David Barre so attractive to me. Also. it doesn't hurt that he's cute and cut LOL!

Michael David Barre is 6'3" and 235lbs. He is 29 and has dark brown eyes and hair. He's from San Diego, California, USA.

GUEST POST/ SCORE A COPY: Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

2012-02-28T00:10:00.090-04:00

Today I am EXTREMELY excited to have Kylie Griffin here today to celebrate the recent release of Vengeance Born. I know you will all love what she has to say - Kylie is truly brilliant - and will be excited to know that a paperback copy of Vengeance Born is also up for grabs - Kylie is truly brilliant. Jodie xoxo

Vengeance Born
(The Light Blade #1)

by Kylie Griffin

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons-and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council-and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war...

_________________________________

Firstly, I'd like to thank Jodie for inviting me over here to her blog. We met over at the Dark Side DownUnder website, where a bunch of Aussie & New Zealand paranormal romance writers like to discuss all writer-ly sorts of things - the publishing industry, editors, agents, writing competitions, but most importantly, our books and the characters who inhabit them.

When I asked her what she'd like in the way of a blog post she said you guys loved reading about heroes - hot heroes, the sexier the better - and would I be interested in doing something like that?

Hot, sexy heroes, huh? (*chirping crickets* as I think this over for about half a second) Ummm ... hell, yeah, who wouldn't be interested?!?! ;-)

So let's go for it!

As readers, we like to put ourselves in the heroine's shoes. From the opening page of a story we're looking for reasons to connect with her and once we do that anticipation shifts to discovering who the hero is and what's going to happen between them.

That initial point when the heroine meets or sees the hero is an exciting moment in time. We're seeing him through her eyes, noticing the details, assessing his looks (let's be honest, we all like a hero that's easy on the eyes), not realising that she's just set her gaze on the guy who's going to turn her world upside down and inside out.

Maybe he's a bit of a buff, blond god like Brad Pitt in Troy, or perhaps he's the gruff but likable Hugh Jackman as Drover in the movie, Australia (my personal favorite), or the lean, rugged warrior type like Aragorn in Lord of the Rings (a close second in my books - sigh).

Whatever the hero-type, we're looking for reasons to like him, sparks to fly and the romance to start!

In VENGEANCE BORN, Annika (the heroine) first meets Kalan (the hero) in her father's dungeon. He's the answer to her prayers, the opportunity to escape a life of torment, something she's waited twenty five years for.

With a soft sigh of relief, Annika descended the steps and glanced towards the center of the Pit, eager to see the prisoner. She winced at the silent pain expressed in the position the human male was forced to endure as a part of his captivity.

Chains suspended from the ceiling spread his arms wide, while more shackled him to the floor in a kneeling position. There was no leeway to sit or stand, the chains pulling at his arms were taut. Raw, chafe marks encircled his wrists, undeniable signs of a struggle to escape torment.

She murmured a soft entreaty to the Lady for help. Her whisper must have carried for the male lifted his head, his long, jet-black hair parting to reveal a battered face. Her breath caught.

Lady of Mercy, she had not expected him to be so comely.

The bruises, cuts and dried blood did little to hide an attractive face. Strong, fierce, captivating, yet his eyes commanded most of her attention. They were an intense, dark green that almost seemed to glow, bright with intelligence and power. His gaze reached deep into her, sparking an unfamiliar excitement that made her stomach flutter. A feeling so alien to her she almost forgot why she was there.

“I never expected him to be so handsome.” Hesia’s hushed comment turned her head.

“Handsome? If he had the markings he’d pass as one of the Na’Reishi.”

Did he possess the same arrogance and air of superiority the lordlings exhibited, the same traits that she despised because of their belief that it gave them the right to flaunt it over others?

The older woman raised an eyebrow. “You do realize the upper caste lords would be insulted to be compared to a human? But I wholeheartedly agree with you.” Hesia’s comment steered her thoughts in an entirely new direction. Annika blushed as her friend chuckled. “What? I may be old but I’m not blind.”

“We’re here to heal him. Not stare at him.”

“Then go heal him.”

Sure, Annika notes that Kalan's handsome but it's his eyes that draw her. They capture her attention, also we know from the shared look that he's intelligent and there's a natural aura of power surrounding him. A little conservative as far as hot and sexy goes, but not bad for a first meeting.

The kicker? Kalan's a Light Blade warrior, sworn to kill demons. Annika's a half-demon. Let the fireworks begin (and they do!) ...

Kalan frowned. “Your eyes...”

She hesitated in reaching for the pouch at her feet. “What about them?”

“Why do they keep changing color?”

“I’ve used a lot of energy tonight. Red means I’m hungry.”

“Hungry?” He halted by a thick tree trunk, the shadowed darkness beyond it less daunting than the fear that skittered along his spine. “For what?”

“For blood.”

His scalp crawled, shock and anger twisting within him. Lady’s Breath! Hadn’t he been trained never to let his guard down? A half-demon, even a pretty one, was still a demon. With a curse he jerked away from her, reaching for a sword no longer belted around his waist. “You drink blood?”

Adrenaline raced through him when he realized he was unarmed. Unarmed against a woman powerful enough to kill with a touch. He fisted his hands.

“That’s why you helped me escape? Why you need me with you?” The image of her latched onto him, feeding, flashed through his mind. “I’m a convenient food source?”

How many Light Blade warriors had he seen fall in battle? How many had he heard scream in agony as demon teeth ripped into their throat or wrists so they could be drained of blood?

Nausea choked him. Too many.

He dropped into a crouch, teeth bared. “Come one step closer and I will kill you.”

Lots of emotional tug and pull for both characters as they clash and strive to connect. Their journey and learning to trust one another is rocky - the fun part was pushing Kalan and Annika to explore their in-build prejudices for one another's races and developing the attraction between them at the same time.

Kalan's a bit of a white knight - it comes with the job of being a Light Blade warrior - but he makes some doozy mistakes along the way and ... well, I can't reveal any spoilers, but those mistakes take him on one heck of a learning curve, and as we see him on this journey through Annika's eyes we realise this guy is one hot, sexy hero.

So, one last snippet, folks, before I turn the discussion over to you ... this time, despite the uncertainty Kalan feels over their uneasy alliance, he proves himself to be true hero material as he tries to look past their differences and see Annika in a new light...

Kalan sighed roughly and moved towards Annika. She tensed. The flecks in her eyes were black as her gaze slashed up to meet his.

“So, do you now slide a knife between my ribs and slip my body overboard to save everyone the trouble of what to do with me?”

Her was tone biting, caustic. Unsurprising considering how he’d treated her but the remark wasn’t aimed at provoking him. He recognized it for what it was. Armor.

She’d lashed out at him to keep from being hurt again. And he had hurt her. Unforgivably. He’d blamed her for his own weakness and desperation to escape. Her actions were a convenient scapegoat for him to hang his guilt. The injustice of what he’d done ate at him.

Honor demanded he make amends. The path the Lady encouraged him to walk was undeniably a challenging one.

“Back in the dungeon I should have listened to my own instincts when I believed you were evading my questions. The responsibility of what I chose to do then lies with me, not you. Implying otherwise was wrong. Hesia tried to warn me your life among the Na’Reish hadn’t been easy. I should have listened to her. I’m sorry.”

I was tempted to throw in a spicy scene but, to be honest, the "hot and sexy" in our heroes isn't just confined to those parts in a story.

OK, now it's your turn. Do you prefer the tall, dark hero with abs sculpted into a six-pack? A man with a heart of gold? A bit of bad-boy? A typical alpha? Or the quiet, intelligent type? What sort of hero do you like reading about?

_________________________________

About The Author

Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com

Contact: kyliegriffin71@optusnet.com

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com

Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com

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Buy Links

Penguin Amazon.com The Book Depository B&N
Fishpond Books-a-Million Indie Bound

Want to win a copy of this awesomely beautiful book? All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below....Don't forget to answer Kylie's questions above if you can.

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EXCERPT: Witchful Thinking by H.P. Mallory

2012-02-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post to share an excerpt from H.P. Mallory's latest release. Hope you enjoy. Jodie xoxo

Book Blurb

Jolie thinks she’s seen it all, but life continues to spring surprises. The latest shocker? She’s just been crowned Queen of the Underworld. Jolie may possess a rare gift for reanimating the dead, but she doesn’t know the first thing about governing disparate factions of supernatural creatures. She can barely maintain order in her own chaotic personal life, which is heading into a romantic tailspin.

First there’s sexy warlock Rand, the love of her life, from whom Jolie is hiding a devastating secret. Then there’s Sinjin, a darkly seductive vampire and Jolie’s sworn protector—though others suspect he harbors ulterior motives. As the two polar opposite yet magnetic men vie for Jolie’s affection, she must keep her wits about her to balance affairs of state and affairs of her heart. Overwhelmed, under pressure, and longing for love, Jolie decides it’s time to take charge—and show everyone that this queen won’t take jack

Witchful Thinking: A Jolie Wilkins Novel by H. P. Mallory (Free Excerpt)

New Releases

2012-02-28T00:00:00.003-04:00

Available today!

Jane Jameson #4 - PNR

Immortal Rogues #1 - PNR

Elemental Assassin #6 - UF

Guild Hunter #o.5, #1.5, #4.5, #4.75 - PNR Anthology

Abby Sinclair #2 - UF

Virgin River #18 - CR

Friday Harbor #2 - CR

Madison Sisters #3 - HR

The Callahan's #2 - Romantic Suspense

LOTU #9- PNR

RANDOM RAMBLING: Fantasies. What's yours?

2012-02-27T00:10:00.004-04:00

Although the above image is a great fantasy, that isn’t really what I wanted to talk about.

What I’m talking about today is NAUGHTY fantasies. The ones that you think about before you go to sleep. The ones your hubby or best buddies don’t even know about. The ones that make you feel like a deviant...I want to know them all.

According to Askmen.com the top 10 fantasies that women have are:

10. Domination - with the woman dominating the man.

Ever wanted to make your man beg, maybe you want to tie him to the bed and tease him with an ice cube until he growls in frustration. Well apparently you aren’t alone. A lot of females dream about taking control in the bedroom so what is holding you back? Make your fantasy a reality, I’m sure your man will love it....and if he doesn’t you’ll have him tied to the bed anyway, so make the most of it while he swears at you to let him go.

9. Domination – with the man dominating the woman.

Now this is more my style. This is where the guy is calling all the shots, where he is literally the ‘driving force’ in the sexual situation. I’m a huge alpha fan and big, strong dominant men are always in my fantasies (in the form of my husband – OF COURSE). I’m not surprised to see this on the list at all.

8. Teacher/Student

Like a little bit of role play? Well you aren’t alone, apparently this is number 8 on the list. Have you been a naughty, naughty school girl? Do you like to put on a sexy school uniform and be pulled around by those cute little piggy tails?? Or maybe you like to be the naughty teacher and show the bad boy of school a proper lesson in education.

7. Sex With A Stranger

This is definitely a fantasy that will never become reality for me. This is what sexy books are made of – a lust at first sight scenario with a hunky hottie that wants to rock you into a coma....*sigh* I want to hear all the ‘Sex With A Stranger’ stories. I’m sure at least one of our followers has one - *Gets down on knees* Please share your story and let us live vicariously through you.

6. Threesome with another woman

Ever fantasised about adding another woman to your sexual twosome? Maybe you want a bit of added femininity to your lust romps. Well odds are that one of your friends has too because this is number six. Apparently this hits the list with the third wheel only playing with the woman. This fantasy doesn’t involve your partner playing with the other woman.

5. Threesome with two men

*Puts hand up* Yes please. This is definitely number one in my book. Two men paying you all the attention in the world. Hell. Yes. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Jason Momoa or Raffaello could tag team my husband any day....even better don’t bother with tag teaming I’m happy to take you both on at the same time. GGGrrrroooowwwll. How many Riverina Romantic followers have lived out this fantasy??

4. Voyeurism

Do you like to watch?? I’m not talking about television ladies, I’m talking about the dirty stuff. Do you like to watch other get it on?? Not only do men like to be naughty and watch– but a lot of women do too. So maybe hitting the sideline of a swingers club isn’t as ‘out there’ as you think. Why not bite the bullet, do some research and ask your significant other about it instead of holding your tongue.

3. Force Fantasies

According to AskMan.com ‘force fantasies are massively popular among women. Most psychologists believe this top 10 female sex fantasy allows a woman to have the wild, dirty sex she craves, without having to suffer the guilt that often follows.’ So do you like it rough? How many Riverina Romantics followers would list this in their top 5?

2. Exhibitionism

Although women are very self conscious a lot of us find the thought of being watched exhilarating. And even though the thought of seeing your thunder thighs getting plundered may disgust you – the fantasy of being video taped is high on a lot of women’s lists.

How many of you have made a home video? Or maybe you’ve gone one step better and have had sex in public.

1. Private Dancer

Wow. I wouldn’t have picked it at all. How many naughty ladies out there fantasise about doing a saucy private dance for your partner? Maybe you have a skimpy little outfit ready and waiting and just lack the confidence to get it out and give it a try.....well ladies I have a video here just for you.

Check it out – Lap Dance Lessons. Why not practice and surprise you partner...don’t forget to let me know how it goes ;)

So spill. What are your fantasies?? Are you a sausagefest kinda girl, wanting as many men as you can take? Or maybe one man is enough but you like it a little rough. Maybe you consider yourself a bit of a voyeur or the complete opposite and would love to show off your pink bits to a group of people. Or maybe your fantasy didn't make the list. There are thousands of fantasies to be had and with the growing erotic romance market there is never a shortage of ideas. So what is your fantasy?

How do they do that????

2012-02-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

You've no doubt heard about people who have been abducted and had

their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went
to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that
quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose
thighs were these and what happened to mine?
I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs.
Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans.
And then the thieves struck again...

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains
to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier.
But my new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my
original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long
skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was
fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm
swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really
getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time.
What could they do to Me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey
neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world wake up and
smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement
body parts - stolen from you and Me! The next time someone you know
has something 'lifted', Look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX - This is happening to women everywhere every night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in
bed and they were gone!

But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just
been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my
waistband.

I thought this was too 'important' not to pass on.

Have a wonderful day - with a joy filled heart.

Always remember to Laugh!!

Helps the heart AND the wrinkles!!

P.P.S. Those same thieves just came into my closet and shrank my clothes!

How do they do that????

Sunday Swag!

2012-02-26T00:04:00.007-04:00

Check out this new author! She writes Fantasy Romance!

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons-and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council-and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war...

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.

LOTS OF LOOT!

Kylie Griffin has generously provided this totally fabulous swag to giveaway! Sweet, right?

This week's swag prize will be a little different than usual. Because Kylie has given us some truly great stuff, I'm not going to pre-make the swag packs. The winners will be surprised as to what exactly from these pictures they will win!

Do you want to get your hands on some of this swag? You only need to do the following to enter this giveaway.

1) Follow Riverina Romantics in at least one of the many ways available. (Just look at our right sidebar)

2) Leave a comment about something in this post that interested you with your email address.

3) For an extra entry come back on Tuesday and comment on Kylie's guest post. You might find something there that you like.

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. All winners will be notified via email. There will be seven (7) winners of this giveaway. GOOD LUCK!

Need a Fireman?? I've got a few here for you.

2012-02-26T00:01:00.003-04:00

Gotta love a sexy fireman. My hubby actually pointed this film clip out to me when it was on the television. "This is completely demoralising to men" he said. "Yes honey, I agree. But let's watch the whole film clip and take note of all the demoralising material okay?"

I had to share.

In My Mailbox @ Riverina Romantics

2012-02-26T00:00:00.008-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's where we show off the books that we've got in the past week. The books can be bought, won or from the library. Review requests and freebies count as well.

I won this from the ladies at Under the Covers

Purchased

Won

For Review

EXCERPT: Heart of the Incubus (Demons of Infernum, #4) by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-25T00:10:00.003-04:00

“That package.” He motioned toward the counter. “It’s for you.”

“It is? From whom?”

“Don’t know. Will says he found it by the door when he was doing his rounds.”

Cresso picked up the box and handed it to her. When she saw her name scribbled on the plain brown wrapping, a ribbon of dread curled through her chest, winding its way down to the pit of her stomach. She knew that handwriting. Every time she saw it, she got hit with a major case of acid reflux.

“Thanks.” Her voice sounded far away even to her own ears. She took the package from him and stared down at it, willing herself the strength to open it.

Cresso must have read her discomfort because he shifted in place, sliding a hand into the pocket of his slacks. “I suppose I’ll leave you to it, then.”

For the first time ever, she barely noticed him leaving. She set the box on the cold steel countertop and traced the wobbly letters on the smooth paper. Whoever had written them had dug in the pen so hard that it had left grooves in the wrapping. And how familiar those cursive scribbles had grown over the past several weeks. Letter upon letter, a total of six in her collection now. But never more than a single piece of paper. Never anything of this size before. And that made her really, really afraid.

Come on, Gen. It’s just a package. It can’t kill you. Right?

Once Cresso’s footsteps receded into the hallway, Genevieve took a fortifying breath. Hands shaking, she tore off the wrapping to reveal an indistinct shoebox underneath. Okay…okay. Maybe it was a new pair of shoes.

Yeah, right. And maybe the yummy Dr. Taylor has all of a sudden decided to lose the harem of women who come sniffing around here, volunteering to be his lab rats. Not freaking likely.

Oh hell, might as well get it over with. Willing her calm, clinical side to take over, she grabbed the box and lifted the lid. The cloying scent of formaldehyde drifted to her nose before she caught a glimpse of what was inside. When she saw what it was, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She dropped the shoebox and it thumped onto the polished concrete. The contents flew up, then plopped back into the box, landing in an eerily similar position to how they’d originally been placed.

Genevieve didn’t even realize she’d screamed until Cresso came racing back into the room. He moved so fast he was nothing but a blur, materializing right in front of her. His hands closed around her arms, fingers digging in painfully.

“What’s wrong?”

She opened her mouth to tell him, but nothing came out.

His mouth tightened and he examined her thoroughly, as if checking for cuts or chemical burns. “Dr. Russell, what is it?”

“I…” Was it crazy that even now she noticed the heat of his hands on her? When he lifted a finger to gently press her glasses back onto her nose, her mind went blank.

“Tell me what happened.”

Oh, right. The package.

Not trusting herself to do anything more than blabber, Genevieve pointed to the shoebox on the ground by their feet.

He saw what was inside it and released her with a muttered curse. Squatting, he pulled a pen out of the front pocket of his dress shirt and used it to push around the thing in the box.

When his eyes met hers, unmistakable anger had darkened them into two glittering black pearls. “It’s a skinned rat.”

“Ye-yes.”

“Who gave this to you?”

Genevieve shook her head, gagging at the sight of the poor mutilated animal. She covered her mouth with her hand. “I don’t know.”

Cresso dropped his pen into the box and stood, waves of tension radiating off his body. His hands clenched into fists. “Okay, Genevieve, you need to tell me what the hell is going on here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If this excerpt caught your attention and you want to learn more about Heart of the Incubus, check out my review in the post below.

REVIEW: Heart of the Incubus by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-25T00:09:00.007-04:00

Heart of the Incubus
(Demons of Infernum, #4)

by Rosalie Lario (Goodreads Author)

4 HEARTS

The Blurb

Biochemist Cresso Taylor lives the sort of lifestyle most men would envy—he has wealth, natural incubus charm, and more women than he can handle. But it’s not enough anymore. Not after meeting Genevieve Russell, the sexy scientist who works with him at Elcorp Laboratory. And she wants absolutely nothing to do with him.

After her fiancé broke her heart, Genevieve has had enough of womanizers. She’s determined to steer clear of sexy-as-sin Dr. Taylor, despite the fact that his incubus allure makes her want to rip his clothes off. But when a secret admirer’s affection turns to the macabre with threatening notes and grisly gifts, Cresso appoints himself her protector. As she and Cresso hunt her stalker, she discovers there’s a lot more to the sensual incubus than she ever imagined.

Cresso Taylor is a biochemist at Elcorp Laboratories, a research facility funded by the Elden Council. The lab's work was primarily focused on ways to better integrate Otherworlders into human society. Cresso's job, as we know from his role in Touch of the Angel, is to find a cure for the toxic chemical that sex demons released during sex. We also know that he's close to accomplishing his goal. Because of a vaccine he created, sex-demons can now get busy with humans without killing them. Though this is a remarkable achievement he still longs for the cure to fulfill a long ago promise that he made to his mother.

Genevieve Russell is a brilliant human scientist who had a touch of magic in her in her blood. This gave her the ability to sense the chemical composition of products making her perfect for a job at Elcorp. She was thrilled when they recruited her, especially when you consider the shambles that her personal life was in. The chic had been burned, and burned bad. One day she'd thought that she'd surprise her fiancée at work and had found him with two women wrapped around him. No wonder she fled her home in hopes of a new start in England.

This novella is a story about a few topics - unrequited love, protection/loyalty and healing.

Unrequited love: Somehow Cresso had fallen in love with Genevieve. Not a big deal right? But, because he was an incubus, his allure uncontrollably oozed out of him every time he looked at her. Feeling that allure only succeeded on ticking off Genevieve. She'd just gotten rid of a player and she had no interest in a man who was constantly with multiple women.

Protection/Loyalty: When a threat was presented to Genevieve, Cresso was quick to step up and play hero. However, he wasn't playing. He was genuinely appalled at the stalker situation that Genevieve has found herself in. He stepped in to try to protect her because he was a gentleman, not just because he wanted to get into her pants.

Healing: Genevieve was in a bad place at the beginning of this story. Her heart had been shattered by her cheating scum fiancée. Because of the way Cresso treated her she was able to heal and learn to trust again.

Heart of the Incubus was another wonderful and detailed story telling. Rosalie Lario has a very special way of incorporating more than romance into her stories. Though this book can stand alone the Demons of Infernum series as a whole is captivating and interesting. It's a keeper!

On a totally separate note: This is a novella, not a full length novel like the other books in the series so IMO it should be labeled as Demons of Infernum #3.5 instead of #4. Another reason why I think it should be labeled this is because the book isn't about the original four brothers in the series, it is about a side character. Maybe that's just me and my issues lol, but originally that's how it was advertised. However because it is the 4th installment in the series #4 won out.

Hotness Rating

3 out of 5

EXCERPT: Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3) by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-24T00:02:00.001-04:00

“Why me, of all people?”

She blinked at him. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you choose me out of all the men in that club?”

“I...don’t know.”

That answer wasn’t good enough. “I’m so what?”

Her brow wrinkled. “What?”

“Back in the living room. Before you said you couldn’t resist, you said that I was so...you cut off before finishing. What was I?”

Amara gave him a half smile. “Too decent for me. I should have left you alone.”

Unable to help himself, Ronin reached out and traced her full lips.

She lost her smile, her mouth trembling at his touch. “You said that at the club. But I don’t think that’s what you were referring to.”

“No.”

She shifted her head and his fingers fell to her neck. He stroked the tender flesh of her throat before forcing her to meet his eyes. “So what then? What did you think of me?”

A deep sigh lifted her chest, and it took everything he had not to drop his gaze. Damn but she turned him on. Partly because of what she was. But even more because of who she was. Something about her called to him. This wasn’t good. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from engaging her.

“What, Amara?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

A spark of challenge lit her eyes and she lifted her chin. “I thought you were delicious.”

The surprise of that word elicited a laugh from deep in the pit of his stomach. “Delicious?”

“Irresistible. Everyone else faded into the background when I saw you.”

He sobered. Devil, she sounded serious. For all he knew she was playing with him, toying with his emotions. As a succubus, that was sort of her specialty. But part of him wanted to believe her. Hell, if he had to be honest, all of him did.

“I still feel that way,” she whispered, moistening her lips.

Her words made him hard in an instant. He’d had difficulty controlling himself upon the mere sight of her back at Asmodeus’s house. Now, after this, he knew it would be impossible.

Don’t forget what she did to you. What she put you through. He was undoubtedly weaker now. No way he’d survive another round with her. This was dangerous.

Hell, he was about to do something incredibly stupid. But then, that seemed to be his M.O. when she was around.

Before he could second-guess himself, he hooked a hand around the back of her neck and yanked her forward, crushing his lips against hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you liked this excerpt check out my review in the post below.

REVIEW: Touch of the Angel by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-24T00:01:00.013-04:00

Touch of the Angel
(Demons of Infernum #3)

by Rosalie Lario (Goodreads Author)

4.5 HEARTS

The Blurb

After months of no work, interdimensional bounty hunter Ronin Meyers jumps at the chance to locate an incubus who's using succubi as murder weapons. Faced with the possibility of being forced to return to hellish Infernum if he fails, Ronin and his brothers will stop at nothing to take out the incubus and anyone else involved-even the beautiful succubus who stole his heart, then nearly his life, during the most mind-blowing hour of his existence. Night after night, Amara and her fellow succubi are forced to extract special abilities from the strongest Otherworlders for their psychotic master's growing collection. When the gorgeous angel-demon hybrid she believed to be dead captures her, Amara is both stunned and elated. But the happily ever after she's dreamed of will have to wait. Together, they must bring down the madman hellbent on destroying them... and become each other's salvation in the process.

Poor Ronin. Without work what was he to do to keep himself busy now that 2 of his 3 brothers had settled down with their women? He was going to go crazy if he didn't find something to do soon.

Amara was in a shitty position. She had made a deal with the devil and had damned herself. As a succubus, she fed off the high that she got when she had sex. The down side of that was that sex demons secreted a compound during sex that was toxic and lethal to others. Unfortunately, she had bound herself to an incubus who used her as a sex slave to strip Otherworlders of their life essences.

The Big Bad in this book is an incubus named Asmodeus. Let me tell you, this guy was a complete and utter a-hole. I mean he was such a piece of crap! He had bound a bunch of succubi to him through deception and turned them into slaves. With the help of a dark fae, Belpheg, he had learned a way to strip "his" succubi of the energy that they got from the men that they killed. Men that he had specifically targeted for their powers. When he took the energy from his succubi he was stripping them of nourishment. He starved them when only he, as an incubus and their "owner", could feed them without any deaths occurring. He kept them barely fed so that they wouldn't refuse to complete the assassinations that he had demanded that they commit. If they failed, not only did the girls starve but they were also beaten. (Like I said, he was a horrible waist of flesh)

Now that I've given you the background info about this book let me tell you some awesome things about Touch of the Angel.

1) Ronin - Like all of the brothers in this series he's utterly smexy but that's not the only thing attractive about him. The most enduring thing about Ronin was his devotion to Amara. Though they couldn't have sex he did everything he could to keep her fed. Can you say Australian kiss? (It's like a French kiss except it's down under.)

Which brings me to...

2) The Sex - HOTNESS!!! That's all I can really say LOL! The heat was definitely turned up in this book and I LOVED it! I'm not sure if Rosalie Lario added the extra heat because her heroine was a succubus but whatever the reason, it rocked.

3) The Action - Bing! Bam! Boom! There was lots of action in TotA. The scenes drew you in and Rosalie provided the reader great things to visualize. It was like I was there experiencing it all.

4) The Romance - (See Ronin LOL!) But seriously, Ronin was willing to do something for Amara to help her that no man wants to do. I've come to realize that Rosalie Lario's heroes will sacrifice anything for their women. Their devotion to their loved ones is amazing.

5) The Big Bad - I can't even begin to explain how much I hated Asmodeus. Lario is a true artist when it comes to her villains. She can create them like no other. Sexual slavery is a hot topic for me so calling Asmodeus the lovely names that I have so far doesn't even cover my feelings for him.

Touch of the Angel is the best in the Demons of Infernum series so far. It is an absolute MUST READ. If you enjoy passion and action in your romance then this one is for you!

Hotness Rating

4 out of 5

FRIDAY'S FABULOUS QUOTES

2012-02-24T00:00:00.014-04:00

“Collapsing over her, breathing like a freight train, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, "Name's Tim. Nice to meet you.”

― Stephanie Julian, Size Matters

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”

― Albert Einstein

EXCERPT: Mark of the Sylph (Demons of Infernum, #2) Rosalie Lario

2012-02-23T00:05:00.000-04:00

Taeg tightened his hold on her wrist until she dropped the dagger. He grabbed her other wrist and pinned it back. “Look at me.”

Yeah, apparently she wasn’t in an accommodating mood. Because instead of listening she jerked her knee up, catching him square in the junk.

“Ooof.” That freaking hurt.

He let go, hands automatically lowering to protect his goods, and she shoved hard on his chest. As he staggered several feet back, she spun and delivered a stunning roundhouse kick that almost had him admiring her form, right before it caught him in the side and sent him sprawling.

“What’s the deal, lady?”

She grabbed the knife and flew at him faster than he would’ve expected from a human.

Taeg shoved off the ground and sidestepped her attack, and recaptured her wrist. He yanked her arm up behind her as he maneuvered behind her back.

“Shit,” Maya cried. The knife clanged to the ground, and he loosened his hold a fraction.

“Stop. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Yeah. Right.” Her tone made it clear what she thought of that.

Pushing her to the nearest wall, Taeg turned her to face him. He kept one hand on her shoulder and the other on her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“Calm down, Maya.” The familiar hum of energy in his ears told him his charm was doing its thing. “I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to ask you a few questions.”

Her scowl softened long enough for him to assume his power had worked. He let her go and backed up a few steps. “How do you know what I am? Can you see the real me?”

Rather than answering, she lifted a knee and slid one of her dainty hands into her boot. When she withdrew it, she clutched another dagger, a match to the one on the ground. Suddenly the reason for her boots became quite clear. The woman was a freakin’ walking arsenal.

“Oh, shit.”

She kicked off the wall and leapt into the air in a flying move that Jackie Chan would have envied, adjusting the grip on her dagger. Hand high in the air, she aimed for his neck. The woman was clearly determined to remove his head from the rest of his body. Taeg dropped his legs out from under him, hitting the ground hard.

Maya’s legs struck his back as she flew over him. He untangled himself and whirled around, but damn she recovered fast. She tossed her dagger to the side to avoid jabbing herself as she tucked and rolled. Then she jumped to her feet and faced him with both fists up. Her face was almost expressionless, her heavy panting the only indicator she was battling to the death. Damned if his interest wasn’t drawn to her ample chest beneath that tight black top.

She smiled, almost as if she were enjoying herself, and came at him with another kick.

He leapt back to avoid being hit. “Damn it, I’m trying to talk to you, lady.”

Did this excerpt intrigue you? The following post has my review of Mark of the Sylph.

REVIEW: Mark of the Sylph by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-23T00:01:00.006-04:00

Mark of the Sylph
(Demons of Infernum #2)

by Rosalie Lario (Goodreads Author)

4 HEARTS

The blurb

Half-demon Taeg is desperate to free his pregnant sister-in-law, who is spellbound to an indestructible book that will create an army of the undead. He is convinced that an ancient sword can destroy the book and the spell forever, but this relic has been hidden for a millennia by a powerful glamour. The clock begins to run out on his search when an old rival goes after the book and Taeg's family in his quest for revenge. Librarian Maya Flores has a secret: she's immune to magic and is well aware of the supernatural beings prowling the streets of New York City. Haunted by a brutal demon attack that took her family, she is on a one-woman mission to destroy the evil demons who did it-and any others who get in her way. Maya is Taeg's best hope for uncovering the sword. Unfortunately, she wants nothing more than to kill him. As he fights for her trust and to save his family, she is forced to face the truth that not all demons are evil. And the worst part? She might be falling in love with one, too.

Wow! The Demon's of Infernum series has seriously picked up! Mark of the Sylph is a fabulous addition to Rosalie Lario's series. In fact MotS totally pulled this series out of the shadows and into the bright lights of stardom!

Mark of the Sylph takes place six months after the first book in the series, Blood of the demon. This book is about Taeg, the half demon half air sylph (air sylph = faerie) and Maya the magic-sensitive human who also happened to be a demon slayer in her spare time. Taeg thought that he could use Maya's gift to right a wrong that he had done to his sister in law, Brynn, in Blood of the Demon. Actually, he really didn't do anything but he thought he had failed her so he was determined to fix the issue no matter what. Even if it meant kidnapping Maya and forcing her to help.

Maya was sorta immune to magic. Well, it's more like she's sensitive to it. She could see through the different glamors that demons' surrounded themselves with to make themselves appear human. Due to a horrible incident in her past she thought that all demons were hell spawn and she did whatever she could to return them to their maker. I tend to think of her a Buffy wannabe. Not that she wasn't bad ass or anything. But she was just a well trained human not the 'chosen one'. She was a kick ass heroine though. Maya is everything that you would want in a leading lady.

The big bad in MotS is Leviathos - who just happened to be Mammon's right hand man in Blood of the Demon, the first book in this series (review HERE). I remember him as a sniveling brown noser. In this book, he's still an ass, but I understand him a little bit better. The sentiment behind his actions is just. I would have had it out for Taeg too if I were him. No, I wouldn't have gone to the extremes that he did, but yeah, his feelings are understood.

So now onto Taeg...

OMFG!!!!! What a heartthrob! And I'm not only talking about his looks people. He's got this unbelievable cocky and sarcastic humor about him. This is so him:

I don't know why I found him so adorable. I'm the kind of person who's usually turned off by someone like him. But then he did something that was so giving, that even his worse critic would say he's the greatest.

I'm really diggin' these books. Rosalie Lario's Demon's of Infernum series is something that should be put on your TBR list!

REVIEW/ SCORE A COPY: Master of the Circle by Seraphina Donavan

2012-02-22T01:01:00.000-04:00

Master of the Circle

by Seraphina Donavan

4 HEARTS

The blurb

With a high powered job and a privileged but scandalous background, Jenna had always struggled to fit int. Fear of being judged has kept her from exploring her fantasies and indulging her desires. But an invitation to "The Circle", the most exclusive sex club in the city, gives Jenna the opportunity to explore her most secret desires with the promise of anonymity.

For years Jenna had thought the stories that she had heard about an elite sex club were an urban legend. Still, the steamy and sexy stories piqued her interest and she wanted to learn more about the club. Eventually her inquisitiveness was noticed and she was given an invitation to join the exclusive club.

This is the second story of Seraphina Donavan's that I've read. While Dragon's Lair - her first published work - was extremely hot I had a tiny bit of difficulty connecting to the characters. This was not the case with Master of the Circle, however. Lily's anxiety about her first visit to the club was easy felt, as was her pleasure. The Master played her body like a violin. To tell you the truth, I think I'm gonna need to wrangle up an invite to that club and schedule me some time with the Master!

Master of the Circle is a short but hot little read. If you need a quick, sex filled escape from reality, I recommend you give it a try.

**Contains: exhibitionism, voyeurism, light BDSM, and anal sex.

Hotness Rating

4 out of 5

Like the way this story sounds? Then why don't you try to win a copy? All you need to do to enter the giveaway for a digital copy of Master of the Circle by Seraphina Donovan is fill out the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hump Day Hotties

2012-02-22T00:00:00.023-04:00

When Rosalie Lario was asked about who she would chose as a Hump Day Hottie she was quick with the answer. She even gave me a few pictures to work with!

Jensen Ackles of the CW’s Supernatural is my Hump Day Hottie. Not only does he play one of the most awesomely badass, wise-guy characters to ever walk this earth (aka Dean Winchester), but the man is about as close to physical perfection as it gets. From his hazel-green eyes to the perfectly sculpted angles of his face and jaw...oh, and let’s not forget the trim but muscular body...you simply can’t go wrong with Jensen as your leading man.

Lest you forgot what he looks like, here are some pictures for you to drool over peruse:

Jensen Ross Ackles was born in Dallas, Texas, USA on March 1, 1978.

This 6'1" (1.85m) hottie is best known for his role as Dean Winchester on the CW's Supernatural.

Though he modeled on and off since he was 4, Jensen decided to try acting in 1995.

In 1997 he joined the cast of NBC's award winning soap opera, Day's of Our Lives.

He also played a guest role opposite Jessica Alba in the second season of Fox's Dark Angel in 2011.

You might have also seen him on the CW's Smallville as Jason Teague, a series regular.

He was on 22 episodes of Smallville but originally, he had tried out for the leading role on the show.

Jensen became engaged to actress/model/gymnast, Danneel Harris, after dating for three years.

They married in Dallas on May 15, 2010.

Ackles considers himself a non-denominational Christian.

EXCERPT: Blood of the Demon (Demons of Infernum #1) by Rosalie Lario

2012-02-21T00:02:00.000-04:00

Wait a second... his face.

“Your nose, it’s healing.” She stumbled toward him, surveying him, then his brothers. Taeg’s and Dagan’s wounds weren’t disappearing, but Ronin... “You, too, your wounds are healing. How is—how is that possible?”

“Brynn, go back into the room,” Keegan ordered.

Keegan and Ronin could heal themselves? Amazing. No wonder they were so badass.

The large gash down the center of Keegan’s nose closed itself. Other than a few stray droplets of blood, his nose seemed untouched. She took another step toward him, but her foot collided with a hard object. She’d run into one of the downed men. She lifted her gaze back to Keegan.

Wait!

Doing a double take, she stumbled backward to get a closer look at the figure of the man at her feet. No, he wasn’t a man. Not a man!

His characteristics were definitely male and his body mostly human, save the gray pallor of his skin. But his face—it was all wrong. Five eyes instead of two. Rhinoceros-like horn instead of a nose. Ridged spikes covered his forehead. His nauseating stench burned her nostrils, like a horrid mixture of wet dog and burning asphalt.

Warm hands gripped her arms, and someone shook her. “Brynn.

Brynn.”

She looked into Keegan’s face. His lips moved, but she couldn’t hear him over the loud, shrill sound of an alarm.

He shook her harder. “Brynn, stop screaming!”

She realized with a start that he was right. Shutting her mouth abruptly, she moved her gaze back to the thing on the floor. She couldn’t help it.

“Look at me,” Keegan said, his voice harsh.

She focused on his eyes, his lips, his nose—his fully healed nose. When she found her voice again, she sputtered, “What the fuck is that thing?”

Another figure on the floor moaned and stirred. Taeg strode over and kicked him, and he stopped moving. But even from here, it was obvious he wasn’t human.

“What are they?” she whispered.

Keegan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he reopened them, they blazed with the intensity of some unspoken emotion. Almost like he felt sorry for her. But when he spoke, all he said was, “Demons.”

“Demons?” She laughed. Then laughed some more. In some distant part of her brain, she recognized she bordered on hysteria. “Demons?”

Keegan just stared at her.

“Are you kidding me? Demons?”

“You freely accept people with special abilities,” Ronin said as he moved next to Keegan and pinned her with his gaze. “Is it too much of a stretch to believe that demons might also exist?”

“Yeah, but... ” What were they going to tell her next, that aliens were real, too? “But Ihave special abilities.”

Dagan coughed. “You also have dem—”

“Dagan,” Keegan snarled, followed by a string of foreign words. Dagan yelled back before whirling around and stomping out the front door.

She concentrated on reading Keegan’s expression. “You actually expect me to believe those were demons?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

She took several deep, calming breaths. “How? How do you know all this? How can you tell me with such certainty that these are demons?”

He exchanged a serious, telling glance with Ronin before answering her. “Because, Brynn... I am one.”

Interested in this book? You can find my review of Blood of the Demon in the following post.

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EXCERPT: Blood of the Demon (Demons of Infernum #1) by Rosalie Lario

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(The Light Blade #1)

Heart of the Incubus
(Demons of Infernum, #4)

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(Demons of Infernum #3)

Mark of the Sylph
(Demons of Infernum #2)