Just a Harmless Bit of Smut

Sky Rockets Contest Winners

2011-07-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

Thank you all for your entries. It looks like we had quite the band of warrior women! That's so awesome.

I want to remind you all what our prizes were:

1st Place: A prize pack of books, Lindt Chocolates, and a ecopy of my two ebooks.

2nd Place: My two ebooks and a $10 GC to Amazon

3rd Place: My two ebooks.

The First Place winner will get to choose from three book bundles.

The Romantic Suspense Bundle which includes: a signed copy of "Two Lethal Lies" by Annie Solomon, A signed copy of "With No Remorse" by Cindy Gerard, and "Beg for Mercy" by Jami Alden.

The Robin De Hart Bundle: This includes the first (and possibly only) three titles in The Legend Hunters Series; Seduce Me, Desire Me, and Treasure Me.

And finally, The Hodgepodge Bundle which includes: "A Secret Affair" by Mary Balogh, "Scandal" by Carolyn Jewel, "Dreams of a Dark Warrior" by Kresley Cole, and "Lord of Shadows" by Alix Rickoff.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... (drumroll)

Our third place winner is... JUNE!!!

Second place goes to... SHERRY!!!

And our first place winner is... TWENTY WITHOUT MONEY!!!

Thank you all again for entering. To claim your prizes, please email me at monicakaye at gmail dot com. If I haven't heard from you in two weeks, I will draw another winner.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS!!!

Sky Rockets in Flight Blog Hop Delight

2011-07-04T15:02:00.004-06:00

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

I love holidays. I particularly love fireworks. I remember growing up and sitting out on the lawn with my brother and sisters as we watched the sky explode into a million different colors. Someday I hope to marry a man rich enough to afford to let me have fireworks at our wedding. ;-)

When you're younger, holidays like this just mean you get to eat great food, run around like a maniac with your friends, and watch the sky but as you get older, the meaning changes. The Fourth of July is when we declared our independence from England.

Well, the white people did, anyway. For Blacks, that time came much later. But that spirit of finally being able to stand up for what's right is what makes this country great. It's what allowed us, all of us, to be able to think for ourselves and not be afraid. It's why we still fight for the right to say what we want, to worship how we like, and marry who love.

America is a country of scrappers. We come from all backgrounds, religions, and beliefs but that is what makes us unique. What enriches our lives. How boring would we be if we didn't have the breadth of diversity that we have now? And all because a few men decided to stand up and say enough?

So I want to know. What's important to you? What would make you stand up and fight "the good fight"? Tell me and I will reward three of you for your scrappy spitits!

1st Place- A prize pack of books (titles to be determined), Lindt Chocolate Truffles, and copies of "Dirty Business" and "The Business of Pleasure" in any e-format of your choosing.

2nd Place- Copies of "Dirty Business" and "The Business of Pleasure" in any e-format of your choosing, and a $10 GC to Amazon.

3rd Place- Copies of "Dirty Business" and "The Business of Pleasure" in any e-format of your choosing.

Contest Rules:

- You MUST be 18 years or older to enter (I don't write for kiddos. I write dirty, dirty things!).

- This contest is open to US residents only.

- Ebooks/electronic files are intended for the winner(s) ONLY. Permission is NOT given to forward to others or post to file sharing sites.

-All winners have two weeks to claim their prizes. If I do not hear from winner(s) within two weeks of posting, I will draw another name(s).

Good luck!

Also, check out the other fabulous blogs participating in this blog hop!

http://www.jojosbookcorner.com/p/4th-of-july-blog-hop.html

And the winner is...

2011-07-04T14:57:00.002-06:00

The winner of "Never Cry Wolf" by Cynthia Eden is...

JARY!!!

Congratulations! Email me at monicakaye at gmail dot com and I will forward your email to Cynthia.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

A Girl’s Guide to Dating a Werewolf

2011-06-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hi, everyone! (And thanks so much to Monica for inviting me to post! Yay, Monica!)

For fun, I thought I’d write up a guide to dating werewolves (cause, you know, that guide could come in handy one dark night). The heroine of my upcoming release, NEVER CRY WOLF, has particular expertise in this department. Since she got her happily-ever-after with a wolf shifter, I thought I’d share some tips that Sarah King compiled during her…ah…courtship with wolf alpha, Lucas Simone.

Tip #1: Werewolves growl. Get used to it. Sure, it may be annoying at first, but under the right circumstances, it can be sexy. Go with it.

Tip #2: Beware of a jealous wolf. Those guys can get all freakishly territorial over a little thing like an ex-lover appearing. Be patient. EXTREMELY patient. And expect growls.

Tip #3: Other women will want your man. It’s that whole animal attraction bit. It’ll be your turn to be jealous. Feel free to growl yourself.

Tip #4: Don’t expect a lot of candlelit dinners. Werewolves are more the long walk/runs-through-the-night type guys.

Tip #5: Even an alpha wolf has a weak spot—you just have to find it. But finding that spot is half the fun.

Tip #6: It really helps to love animals. If you hate dogs, stay away from wolves. Just sayin’.

Tip #7: Werewolves have an extremely strong sense of smell. Use that to your advantage. The right lotion or perfume can drive him insane. Insane.

Tip #8: Keep a pair of back-up jeans handy for your guy. He’s gonna get naked sooner or later. Either because he’s shifting…or because he’s with you.

Now it’s your turn! Got any tips for dating a werewolf that you’d like to share? One commenter will be picked at random to win a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF.

Thanks!

Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

NEVER CRY WOLF—Available 6/28/11 from Kensington Brava

Be afraid of the big, bad wolf…

Guest Blogger: Anya Winter

2011-06-14T08:00:00.003-06:00

Thanks Monica for letting me guest post on your blog. There’s one thing about Twitter that I love - it’s meeting and developing friendships with people just like you :) You are an absolute doll. Chocolate worthy for sure ;)

There’s something exciting about a blank page. It’s filled with endless possibilities. Those first few words that you type - they ground you in the direction you want your book to go.

For me, I love the adventure. The journey is more important to me than the map. I like to know important parts of the map - the starting destination and the ending. But how I get there - I’m okay with detours. Growing up we used to go on weekend trips as a family. From the moment we left our driveway we never knew where we would end up. We would take turns deciding on the direction. At every stop sign someone would get to decide if we go straight, left or right. Sometimes we would have designated stops in mind, but whether it was at the beginning, middle or end didn’t matter. As long as we got there. That’s what counted.

Every trip was an adventure.

That’s my strategy with my stories. I know where I’m starting, and I know how I want it to end, but how I get there - that’s the fun part.

Especially when it comes to those steamy scenes. Guaranteed, I will have every single steamy, erotic or sensual scene written by the time my second chapter is completed. We all know that what happens between the heroine and hero sexually is what drives the rest of the story. I find that by writing these scenes before I actually get to them in the story, it shows me my heroines vulnerability and my hero’s weak points. I get a taste of what they’ve had to overcome to get to this point. I begin to see the steps I need to take to get them there.

Someone once told me I write my scenes backwards. Usually people will save these scenes to the ends and just place markers in their story labelled *steamy scene here*. Not me. I’m all about the passion. They are my favorite scenes to write. That and my beginnings :)

Anya Winter is the pen name for Steena Holmes. You can find The Master at Liquid Silver Books. A week long celebration for the release is going on over atwww.steenaholmes.com - prizes to be won every day and many of them have to do with chocolate!

Love what you read? Read more from Anya Winter:

The Master available from Liquid Silver Books

The Blindfold available from Smashwords and Amazon

Men In Bikini Underwear

2011-06-13T20:54:00.004-06:00

I want to lick him!

Gotta love a nice ass!

Um, yeah, just move the apple, why don't you?

Underwear models for everyone!

He's looking for me!

First Sale Friday: Cassandra Carr

2011-06-10T07:00:00.002-06:00

Hello!

It's been a while since I blogged or had a First Sale Friday but I thought I would start off with a bang (so to speak). My guest today is fellow Loose-Id author Cassandra Carr, whose debut book, Talk To Me, just came out.

Isn't that purty?!?!

Cassandra Carr lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, "like" her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr .

HS: So tell us, how long have you been writing?

CC: I’ve been writing my whole life, but I’ve only been writing to get published since 2008, and went full-time around the middle of 2009.

HS: What attracted you to your romance?

CC: The idea of being seduced by a voice. I just thought it was a really cool concept.

HS: How many manuscripts had you completed before you sold?

CC: Talk to Me was my second manuscript. My first, Should’ve Known Better, is still being considered by a couple of publishers.

HS: Lucky you! Tell us about the day (the minute, the second) you got "The Call" (or The Email). What was your initial reaction?

Well, I’m going to sound like the most boring person on the planet, but after a brief “Squeee!” I contacted the other two publishers who had Talk to Me to tell them I had an offer. About a half-hour after I got The E-mail I got a rejection for Should’ve Known Better, and my world righted itself. ;-)

HS: The universe giveth and it taketh away... You must have celebrated at least.

My hubby took me out the next night for a nice dinner to celebrate.

HS: Gotta love the DHs! Was there anyone whom you wanted you rub your news in his/her nose?

No. I try to be a positive person – I actually describe myself as “relentlessly optimistic”. I’m sure it’s annoying to others at times, but it’s served me well.

HS: You all are too nice for me! ;-) Enough about that, though. Let's get to the good stuff. Tell us about your new release!

Radio producer Jamie MacMahon is in over her head with ex-hockey player-turned host Drew Milan. She’s attracted to the man who earned the nickname “the Beast” during his playing days from the moment they meet, but he’s her boss and she loves her new job. She’s made plenty of mistakes with men and loathes the thought of being yet another plaything for Drew, a man who sleeps with women but doesn’t date them.

Drew doesn’t want to lose a great producer and knows Jamie deserves a real relationship, but can’t stay away from the sizzling chemistry they create every time they’re together. Jamie’s insecurities and the very real prospect of having to leave a great job if this thing doesn’t work out, coupled with Drew’s fears about opening his heart and the possibility of losing his first competent producer clash.

Excerpt:

By the time the show ended and Jamie thought about how long it would take her to shut everything down for the night, then hustle herself off to the subway station and take the three different trains to get to her apartment all the way out in Brooklyn, she was truly afraid she would self-combust.

Drew ran out of the place like a bomb scare had been called in, so at least she didn’t have to worry about him anymore. Nonetheless, Jamie waited a good ten minutes past when she was finished with her nightly duties, then made her way back to the small production room where she and Drew had recorded his promo earlier. She knew a copy of it would still be stored on the computer in the room, and after scooting in and shutting the door, she booted it up. She told herself she needed to check it one more time before giving it to the station manager tomorrow, but who was she kidding? She needed to hear him but in a safe environment. Where she couldn’t do anything stupid. She needed his voice to weave inside her, through her, like a drug.

The rough yet strangely melodic sounds of Drew’s voice drifted over Jamie as she leaned back in her chair. Closing her eyes, she pictured his face in her mind -- his to-die-for lips traveling down the length of her body, just as her hand was doing at the moment; his navy blue eyes, focused only on her as he brought her to orgasm… She reached the button of her jeans and eased them open, propping her feet up on the desk.

She couldn’t believe she was doing this at work, but no one was around, and if she didn’t do something to assuage this ache, she was likely to jump him the next time she saw him. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. Fantasizing about the man was one thing; straddling his powerful, muscular thighs in the studio chair and offering herself to him was another. That thought brought another rush of heat to her pussy, and she moaned. She needed serious help.

At first she just teased herself a little, rubbing outside her panties, but it soon became too much. She needed relief too badly to continue to torment herself. As Drew’s voice continued to assail her from all directions in the small, windowless room, she pushed her hand down inside the waistband of her panties and through her curls until she found the damp center of her sex. The sweet smell of her musk wafted up to tickle her nose, arousing her even more.

Twirling her fingers as much as the constricting position allowed her to, she imagined they were Drew’s tongue instead. She let out a plaintive moan as the picture caused her juices to flow even more, soaking her fingers. Plunging two of them into her pussy, she pressed her thumb on her clit, craving the direct stimulation. Jamie gasped as shock waves of pleasure shot from her pussy through her clit and up her spine, her back arching. And through it all, Drew’s voice urged her to new heights.

HS: WHEW!!! How did you know I liked the naughty stuff? Sounds awesome! When can we get our greedy hands on it?

CC: Talk to Me released on March 22^nd, so you can get your greedy hands on it right now!

HS: Where? Where? Where?

CC: Talk to Me is currently available through my publisher, Loose Id, and http://www.loose-id.com/Talk-to-Me.aspx. It should be on Amazon within a month or so.

HS: What are you working on now?

CC: I am just about ready to turn in a holiday-themed BDSM novella to Loose Id, and after that I’m writing an MS targeted to Harlequin Desire. I also have a non-erotic hockey romance on submittal (Should’ve Known Better – mentioned above), and a trilogy of bull rider books also out on submittal.

HS: OOOH! Nice (or should I say naughty!). What advice do you have for "Soon to be Published" Writers?

CC: Write, write, write. I have seen a noticeable improvement in my writing with every single manuscript I finish. Also, about finishing…to be a writer, you not only have to start writing a book, you have finish writing it. A million half-baked projects get you nowhere. And don’t query too early, no matter how much you want to or how sick of the MS you are. Be totally sure it’s ready for submitting before you dare send it out.

HS: So now for some fun stuff! Boxers or briefs?

CC: Briefs – why hide a great ass in a pair of baggy boxers?

HS: Really? I think you're the first to say that. But you can't hide a great ass under a bushel... Who's your ideal hero?

CC: I consider the hero from my first book, Should’ve Known Better, to be pretty much perfect. It’s like I took every attribute I love in a man and coalesced them all together to form Sebastian. I’m actually jealous that my heroine landed him!

HS: I sometimes hate my heroines. They get all the good men! What about facial hair? Chest hair? Yes? No? For your man, of course!

CC: Well, my hubby has a goatee, as well as copious hair on other parts of his body, so I’ll say YAY facial and bodily hair. Just try to keep it neatly trimmed, gentlemen.

There you go! Thanks, Cassandra, for visiting Harmless Smut!

Man Meet Monday with JK LeBanc! (Part One)

2011-05-09T08:01:00.000-06:00

Hello all in the land of Harmless Smut! Thank you gracious hostess Monica Kaye for inviting me, and my muse, to visit today!

I am so excited about a few things. So let me get to it. I wrote a book. YAY! I know, oo ahh wow. The book is a romance. (it’s getting better right?) I’m a photographer as well. (are you getting excited yet?) Let’s see what we’ve got.

Romance novel + photographer = illustrated romance.

No manga (STOP! I’m not hating, just saying) No cartoons, no doodles or stick figures. Photographs, images, a man and a woman, and all the sexy times we can squeeze under the cover. See what I did there? Because it’s a book, with a cover— okay I’m also a geek. There you go, out for all to see in my geekdom, because seriously who else could have possibly done this.

I wrote a time-traveling historical romance novel. Then I spent a year with smarter people making it better, then I went all anal and took over the cover shoot, and while there decided to go ALL. THE. WAY. I know you love it. Enough about me.

Let’s talk about His Grace, Gideon Alrick Trumbull, 10th Duke of Roxleigh, Earls of Kelso and Sussex, Viscounts Devon and Pembroke. Oh yeah, Rox is a country unto himself, a powerful Duke, and all about the business. Grrr…

Now those of us who love historicals know that every peer of the realm has a terribly important job, the begetting of heirs —and spares— to toe the line. This is no different for our Victorian duke as he sets out to find a suitable woman to take to wife. Problem is he’s a bit of a recluse. He hates the party crowd; doesn’t care for the ton and its accompanying gossip; can’t stand the mama’s tossing their daughters in his path, he generally doesn’t want to have anything to do with any of it even though they all want a piece of him. He would rather spend time on his beloved horses than deal with these issues.

Second problem. His brother Perry is a rake. Oh we all love the rogues don’t we? Perry (The Lord Peregrine Trumbull, Viscount of Roxleigh) loves to harass his elder brother, the one he hopes lives forever —or at least until he begets that heir— so he can continue to rummage through the innocent’s of London on the wings of his courtesy title. God forbid something happen to Rox, then Perry would have to step up and take the reign of that powerful dukedom.

So how does Rox find a woman, keep his brother at bay, and control his interests without succumbing to the pressures of the society he hates? How does Perry manage to, well…we’ll just watch Perry do what he does best—

—until his brother needs him the most. Then the truth of his dedication will out. I can tell you this. Rox does some of it with his clothes on…

More With Jk LeBlanc (Part Two)

2011-05-09T08:00:00.007-06:00

More with DEREK!!!

And some of it with his clothes off…

And some of it he does somewhere in between…

But he does ALL of it in my new illustrated romance The Rake and the Recluse, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and direct.

Website, Twitter, Goodreads

About me:

I have several constants in life that define me:

Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.

Born and raised in a household of other people’s children in this beautiful state —very nearly with a camera in hand— I never left. I started my own family, got used to the curls, went to college, built a CJ, and started a business, all with a camera in hand.

I always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. My fingers were never as quick as my mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside me. When my second daughter was born her inherent traits kept me pinned— my only escape the keyboard. Spending my days in parenting chat rooms I got highly adept with one-handed typing and I can still type just about as fast with one hand as I can with two. It’s a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. I recently finished my first novel but I quickly realized: I was born a photographer.

From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of MY book my control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.

I live and thrive off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. I wear shorts and flip-flops year-round —much to the chagrin of my friends and family— and I am currently working on the illustrations for my second novel.

Follow my blog or come chat with me on twitter for up to date information!

Thanks so much for visiting Harmless Smut, Jen! Those pictures are HAWT!!!

And because Jen loves us, she will be giving away two copies of The Rake and The Recluse at random. Comment for a chance to win.

RELEASE DAY

2011-02-01T12:24:00.004-07:00

So I know this is long overdue, but the sequel to Dirty Business, is finally here!

The Business of Pleasure picks up at Chloe and Sean's wedding. Drew Trotter has been fighting off his attraction to Carmen De La Cruz for months. She is everything he doesn't need in his life. He wants a woman with which to settle down and build a life. Carmen has "temporary" written all over her curvy body. Still, that doesn't stop them from giving into their mutual passion. Neither knew where this one night would lead them.

I love premises like this. Opposites attracting. Trying to fight something that you know is inevitable. Drew and Carmen are not who most people would pair together which is what made them all the more intriguing to me. He's all straight-laced New Englander. She's a feisty Dominicana who used to be a stripper. It was fun writing their back-and-forth. Carmen is one of my favorite characters. She makes me laugh and is sassy as hell. Drew was fun because it's always nice to write about man being blindsided by a woman.

That got me to thinking about those supposedly "bad decisions" we make. Choosing the wrong guy. Throwing caution to the wind and taking a chance on a relationship that seems doomed. Does it work out in real life? Do we regret it or smile a secret smile that communicates how much we enjoyed the ride?

So now it's contest time! I want to hear from you about that bad boy (or girl) you just couldn't stay away from. Was it a hot one night stand? Did it last past the morning after? Are you happily married to your "bad decision"?

Comment here and I will choose a winner on Friday. The winner will receive a copy of my first release, Dirty Business, and a $25 GC to Amazon.

Happy Commenting!

COVER LOVE!!

2011-01-30T20:40:00.002-07:00

COMING FROM LOOSE-ID IN FEBRUARY

BIG NEWS!

2010-11-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry that it's been three months. I'm not the best blogger. I'm more a Tweeter as I've already said.

I did want to share my good news, though. For those of you who have been waiting for a sequel to "Dirty Business" your wait will be over on 2/1/11.

Tentatively titled "Business of Pleasure", it centers around Chloe's best friend, Carmen and Sean's best friend, Drew. They are explosive together! Carmen is sassy and sexual and Drew is sexy and reserved but oh, when you get him in the bedroom, he is a sexual dynamo!

This book is IR. Carmen is from the Dominican Republic and Sean is Caucasian.

For Sean and Chloe fans, you will get a bit more insight into their relationship. The story starts at their wedding. It makes me happy that they have their happy ending (Ha Ha).

Anyway, more updates when they come along. I probably won't blog for a while because now the edits begin.

Total Hotness Tuesday

2010-08-31T09:00:00.000-06:00

I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves...

MECHAD BROOKS

Dorchester to their Authors

2010-08-11T08:50:00.004-06:00

The following was posted on one of the loops that I receive daily. The forwarder wishes to remain anonymous but she did say the many established authors have left Dorchester. Also, Dorchester did not say this e-mail was not to be forwarded. I'm just posting this now and I'll put my two cents in at a later time.

Dear Anonymous Author:

Don, Chris & I have been working to contact as many people as we could
before sending out a blanket announcement regarding some of the new format
changes many of you have already read about. Unfortunately, news broke
online before anticipated.

Given the many changes in the publishing industry over the last several
years, Dorchester has made the decision to more tightly focus its
distribution models so that we may fully capitalize on the most profitable
emerging technologies.

Starting with September titles, we will be moving from mass-market to trade
paperback format. This will delay new releases roughly 6-8 months, but it
will also open many new and more efficient sales channels.

And we're pleased to say all titles will be available in ebook format as
originally scheduled. The substantial growth we've seen in the digital
market in such a short period-combined with the decline of the mass-market
business-convinced us that we needed to fully focus our resources in this
segment sooner rather than later.

Dorchester has always been known as a company ahead of the curve and willing
to take risks. As bookstores are allocating the bulk of their capital to the
digital business, it only makes sense that we do the same. Everyone keeps
hearing that the industry has to change if it's going to survive. We're
excited to be at the forefront of that change and will continue to keep you
posted on further developments.

And to help answer some of the questions you might have:

When will my book be coming out?

Ebook editions will be out in the month the mass-market was originally
scheduled. The trade paperback will follow roughly 6-8 months after. We
have tentatively rescheduled many of the Sept.-Jan. titles through June or
July 2011. But we're still working on books scheduled farther out.

Why the delay?

Some of the delay will be in reformatting the typeset mass-market so that it
better fits a trade size. But most of the extra time is so that the sales
force we're working with will have a chance to sell books in to the
accounts. Just like mass-market, stores will be placing their orders about
4-6 months before the books are printed.

I read in an article that these are print-on-demand. Does that mean they
won't be offered to the general market?

We've partnered with Ingram Publishing Services, who will be selling in
books to libraries, Borders, B&N, Books a Million and all other retail and
wholesale accounts that we've called on previously. But by having many more
sales reps, we'll also be able to target accounts, such as many independent
stores, who have not ordered our books in the past. Just as for mass-market
books, stores will place their orders and we will print to fill them. Books
will be on the shelves for readers to browse. However, using
print-on-demand technology, we will not have to keep as many books in
inventory incurring warehousing fees. Books will be available for reorder
just as they are now, but we will only have to print as many copies as we
need instead of a minimum of 5000.

What happens to backlist titles?

We're currently in the process of changing warehouses, but once set,
reorders will continue as normal. When a book goes out of stock, we will
make the determination of whether to reprint-just as we do now. Reprints
will most likely be in trade format, though we haven't completely ruled out
the possibility of some staying in mass-market.

Thank you for your patience and support as we make this transition.

Best,
Leah

Leah Hultenschmidt
Editorial Director
Dorchester Publishing

RWA 2010 Recap PART ONE

2010-08-04T09:00:00.005-06:00

Hello to all my friends out in the blogosphere!

I know it's been a while but as I've said before, if you really want to keep up with me, you can find me on Twitter.

It's been a busy time since I last blogged. This whole last week I was in Florida attending my very first RWA Conference. I've been to RT several times but never really gave a thought to to attending this conference which I now know was a mistake.

I'd first like to thank all the staff at RWA who worked their asses off to put this together after the flood at the Opryland Hotel. They did an awesome job.

But really? Mother fucking Florida in the middle of mother fucking July? It was like the Devil's armpit there. I told several people that God had abandoned us. No way He could live there and He was punishing us. Still, as long as you stayed inside the hotel, all was well. But DAMN! It didn't even cool off at night.

That being said, everything came together amazingly.

My CP Tricia and I decided to attend this year because our other CP Viola Estrella was nominated for her first (and in no way last) RITA award. Unfortunately, she didn't win but still, it was a landmark nomination because it was the very first e-book to be nominated. A fact that I think RWA grossly undervalued. In my opinion, there should have been more fanfare. But whatever. Her name and her book will be remembered for that.

The thing that made me most happy though, is that I got to see La Nora. Of course, in true Monica fashion, I spit on her. Yeah. I have a tendency to spit sometimes when I talk and that was one of those times.

Awesome.

Nora gave a GREAT keynote speech. She talked about what it took to be a writer. My favorite quote and one that I'm going to get made into T-shirts was 'Ride the Hard.' My mind went to oh so many bad yet delicious places! If you get a chance to get a copy of this speech, do it. I was so inspired. Tricia and I came home determined to ride our hards all the way to New York. I'm working on putting a synopsis and querying agents.

And writing. Most of all writing.

I also met some AWESOME people. Of course there was Jessa Slade and Delilah Marvelle. These lovely ladies are kindness personified and my best night was sitting at the pool with them as well as Vi and Trish and talking shop. Career planning, publishing, the future of our industry. It was one of the best conversations. Ever.

I got a shitload of books. Like ten times more than RT. I swear, when I see books, my brain shuts down and goes into MUST HAVE mode. I grabbed everything I could. I have gotten more books in the past three months than I can read this year. But I'm going to try. Really hard. Though I will have to fit reading in around my writing and not the other way around.

I saw Nalini Singh. We had a room on the same floor and I swear she thought I was stalking her. I wasn't. This time.

I also think I freaked out Carolyn Jewel. I follow her on Twitter and when you read someone's tweets it's like you know them. So when I met her at RomCon I kind of approached her like I knew her. I didn't. But she was so sweet and lovely that when I saw her again at RWA we were BFFs. (Not really. At least not anywhere but in my own mind.) As such, I talked to her as though we were best gal pals. She humored me. But I saw the glint of "this bitch is crazy" in her eyes but I promise her I'm not going to be hiding in her bushes. I'm in CO, she's in CA. At least until RT next year.

KIDDING!!!

I was happy to get an ARC of her book though. It was like a stroke of luck because they were all gone and then one got returned and I snatched that shit up.

But the real highlight of my trip was sitting next to Donald 'Mother Fucking' Maass at the RITA awards. Another thing for which I need to thank Delilah and Jessa. Oh, and he's hot. I'd never seen a picture of him but wow. He was not what I had expected. And I did take Keri Stevens's advice not to lick him and thereby commit career suicide.

Random bits:

-Lisa Kleypas is gorgeous in person.

-Teresa Medeiros is funny as hell.

-Cynthia Eden continues to be the sweetest person on the planet and she told me she loves me. The feeling is mutual.

Okay. That's it for this installment. Next time more about the week and why RWA is better than RT. If you're a writer.

RomCon 2010

2010-07-14T09:00:00.005-06:00

Hello Blogosphere!

This weekend was a big one here in Denver, CO. The planets aligned to bring a giant slice of awesomeness to our Mile High City. Last weekend was RomCon. It was billed to be the biggest event for romance readers around and I have to say I agree, although there weren't all that many readers there. It was the first year so I wasn't expecting much and my expectation were WAY exceeded.

It's true what they say that writers are readers first and so even though the ration of author to reader seemed like 5:1, it was all good. Especially since I'm a huge fan girl and I got to spend some quality time with some of my favorite authors like Christine Feehan, Jessa Slade, Shannon K. Butcher, Nicole Peeler and the woman I most wanted to see, Nalini Singh.

There was so much opportunity for fans to meet up and spend time with an author. I did the Speed Date an author and people came to talk to me and even if they hadn't read my stuff, we still could have a great conversation about the books we liked and all things romance which I love to do especially since I rarely get the chance to do it.

The most fun I had was doing the Midnight Sexcapades with Delilah Marvelle, Lila DiPasqua, Bridget Midway, Delinda Jasper, K Jones, and a couple others whose names escape me night now. It was a raucous and rowdy night! I had very little hope that anyone would even show because it was the same night as the ball but we were packed and most people stayed until the end which was awesome. I decided to get the ladies (and a couple gentlemen) drunk by playing the drinking game 'Never Have I Ever.' Let me tell you, these women were freaks! One woman in her 60s told us about the time she had sex while stowing away on a freight train. Sweet.

However, the most fun came when Delinda read aloud from one of her books and had two people in the audience act out what she was saying. There is a video out there and as soon as I can find it, I'll send out a link. The woman, Jackie and the guy, Sam really gave us quite the performance. And at the end, they basically made out for real. It was so much fun.

I also got invited to join the Denver fetish community by a woman who shares her man with another woman. Ah, polyamory! She told me that judging from some of my answers the previous night at Sexcapades, she thinks I would be an ideal candidate. I thanked her, not knowing what to say to that but oddly flattered. I told her that I did have a story in mind that involved a BDSM and they very generously offered to educate me which was great and I do plan to take them up on it.

I won't say the conference wasn't without its flaws. For one, the setup for the book signing was weird. You bought your books up front and then went to this back room to have it signed. This did not work. Like I did not know Julia Quinn was there and I love her books and I was going to buy her new one but decided against it. I would have purchased it had I known she was going to be there.

Another thing was the food. I didn't but the meal tickets and I'm glad I didn't cuz I would've been pissed if I spent $35 on the one meal I got. The only reason I got the ticket was because Nicole Peeler gave it to me because she was out being wined and dined by her publisher and eating freeze dried ice cream and root beer from a giant syringe (her story not mine). The food I had was awful and wasn't even the menu they'd advertised. I should've known about the food because the hotel used to be a Holiday Inn where my company used to hold their Christmas parties and the food wasn't good even then. So the decor got better and the food got even worse if that's possible.

The other thing I didn't like was the location. It was near the airport in a part of town that was mostly warehouses. I know it was probably cheaper to hold the conference there but I kind of wish it was in a nicer part of town that was more accessible to all the fun stuff in town. I offered to show people around and give them a taste of Denver but no one took me up on my offer.

Despite that, I think the conference was amazing. I can't wait to do it again. I'm so glad they're keeping it in Denver and I have my fingers crossed that we'll one day attract Nora Roberts.

And now for some photographs!

I promised Jackie I wouldn't tell anyone how I got her and Sam to kiss but let's just say she wanted it. Bad!

The crowd from Midnight. This night was fucking crazy fun! We engaged in all sorts of wickedness and I got people drunk which was really more of a privilege than a duty. I just hope no one has pictures of me with the glow in the dark penis.

Jackie and I after the conference. We're both tired as shit which is why we look like it!

Me and Christine Feehan! It was so cool that I got a chance to chat with her for like five minutes. She was crazy nice!

That's right! Me and Nalini Singh! Jealous?

She is so freaking sweet and her accent is so cute. I think it's fair to say I have a pretty big girl crush!

Man I Wanna Hump Day!

2010-06-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

So I don't watch "True Blood" but many of my Twitter mates do. The past few days, the Twitterverse has been all a-twitter (har har) with the name Alcide. Being the curious gal that I am, I decided to put my Google skills to use and I found the man of all my newest fantasies.

JOE MANGANIELLO!!!

How did I not know about this man? Where has he been all my life? How long before I can see him naked? I wish it were now.

Sorry! I was lost in a fantasy. If YOU don't know Manganiello, oh honey, you really, really, REALLY need to!!!

He even looks good in clothes!!!

Guest Blogger: Jessa Slade!!!

2010-06-18T09:00:00.003-06:00

If you read this blog, you know Monica Kaye appreciates a fine hero. So I thought I’d share some of my inspiration for my dark heroes, written and unwritten.

I love tortured heroes. Dark pasts. Broken hearts. Wounded souls. With honed and burnished bodies, of course, although a few scars are unavoidable, what with the torturing and all.

This picture works for almost all my heroes. And not just because of the chest. I’ve always liked black and white photography. I took a b&w photography class (back in the days of dark room development) and the instructor told us a good print had at least one point of true black and a point of purest white. Sounds like a perfect dark hero, doesn’t it? Black and whites can be so stark, yet so revealing. Just like the best dark heroes. Despite the shadows in a dark hero, you always know exactly what you’re getting: a man...

Oh, sorry, lost my train of thought for a moment. You get a man who doesn’t give up, doesn’t give in, doesn’t give a damn...until he meets you—I mean, the heroine. In the heroine, he meets his match. And by match, I mean the woman who challenges him and who is his other half and who sets him on fire.

Well, those sexy scars had to come from somewhere.

Looking through my stash of eye candy, I found a lot of pix with deep shadows. Not surprising, I guess, since my books are all about shadows. The heroes of my Marked Souls books, SEDUCED BY SHADOWS (Book 1) and FORGED OF SHADOWS (Book 2, out this month) are alpha male warriors possessed by repentant demons. So yeah, they’re shadowed, inside and out.

They walk a sharp line between damnation and redemption and carry sharp blades to ensure they always end up on the right side of that line. If occasionally the line gets a little blurry, that’s just because of all the malignant demon guts on the edge of the blade.

Not that all my pictures are dark. See? This one has all sorts of sunlight behind him.But he still has those wonderful dark locks and dark, dark eyes and OMG actual dark chest hair (but not too much)! Swoon!

But he’s not facing the light. Nope, my dark heroes are resistant to the light. They’re like SPF 101. But love has a way of sneaking through the cracks in their armor. Or maybe just the cracks in their shirts. Dark heroes frequently have unbuttoned shirts.It’s a syndrome or something.

Lighting a dark hero—like properly lighting a photographic subject—can be tricky. A little firelight, or should I say firefight, shows them in action. A little candlelight shows them in a moment of romantic passion. The misty light of the moon gives them mystery while the cold, hard light of day reveals them. Or maybe they show best by flashlight, reading a book under the covers late at night.

All my dark heroes get their day in the sun, of course. That’s what happy endings are for. And speaking of happy endings, doesn’t Liam have a cute butt?

Who is your favorite dark hero and why? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a copy of Book 1 or Book 2 of the Marked Souls. Not sure which one you want? You can read the opening chapters of both books at http://jessaslade.com

WTFkery!

2010-06-06T13:10:00.001-06:00

Just because...

Memorial Day Man Meet

2010-05-31T13:51:00.003-06:00

Hello!

It's Memorial Day. A time where we remember our men and women in uniform who fight for our country and their loved ones. We are truly grateful for your sacrifice and service.

I've always wanted to marry a Marine. There's just something about them that makes all my girlie parts tingle.

Anyhoo, in order to celebrate my way, I present some soldier hotties!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

Twitter: Like IM only public

2010-05-28T09:00:00.002-06:00

Hello Readers!

As you may have noticed, I am suspiciously absent from my blog. Part of it is laziness and part of it is because I seem to spend every waking hour of the day on Twitter. (Follow me at MonicaKaye!)

I love Twitter. It's a great way to communicate and it's perfect for me because I always have random bits of shit in my mind that my mouth (or fingers) feels compelled to spit out. Twitter is quick, it's easy, and it's fun. When I write a blog, it takes WAY more of my time and thought process because I really want this blog to be entertaining. With my Tweets, if I'm funny 50% of the time, it works for me.

I also love that so many of my friends and author peeps are on Twitter. Writing is solitary and Twitter is a way to get that intstant gratification. I love watching people's conversations. Some should probably be kept private but the fact that they're available for all to see is both hilarious and odd. I mean the same thing could probably be accomplished with an IM program but where's the fun in that?

So if you're looking for more of me, your best best would be to follow me on Twitter. I'm there and it's like you're actually talking to me...but not.

And now, because I've so neglected you, here's something to make you pee your pants!

Will Arnett - Human Giant SEX TAPE from Will Arnett

OUR Mr. Romance 2010

2010-05-14T09:00:00.007-06:00

So I asked fan favorite Mr. Romance contestant, Andrew Shaffer, to do a guest blog for Harmless Smut about his experience in the Mr. Romance mangeant. He was clearly a fan favorite. As different from the other contestant as pizza is from asparagus But he stole our hearts with his charm and wit and humor. And he's quite cute despite his lack of the six-pack abs that permeate the mangeant.

I did a happy dance as elaborate as anything on ABDC when he agreed to do a blog for me. I think he's grateful for my great connections! I did, after all, introduce him to SB Sarah. Cuz that's how I do! He was so grateful, he even sent a shirtless pic!

Sexy!

All right, all right, I know you're done reading me. You want The Man himself. Here he is... (and a funny mother fucker at that!)

“My Right Breast”

by Andrew Shaffer (www.orderofstandrew.com)

While some of the other contestants brought their own topless photos to hand out and sign for fans (and I use the term “fans” loosely here), I inadvertently left mine at home. Let this be a lesson to all budding authors out there – never go to a conference without a stack of glossy beefcake photos of yourself. As soon as I officially entered the 2010 Mr. Romance contest, a photographer was immediately assigned to me to take publicity shots.

The photographer, a former Mr. Romance contestant himself, ushered me to an empty staircase and indoor patio inside the Columbus convention center. “We’ll take the shots here,” he said, squinting into the late afternoon sunlight coming through the convention center’s tall windows. “The shadows should give you some definition.” His wife joined us as a lookout to keep our makeshift studio clear of interlopers.

The first shots that we took were of me in my suit. Close-up headshots and a few of me talking on a cellphone. Thankfully, no one had interrupted us. “Now take your shirt off,” the photographer said.

I winced. After taking one last look around for gawkers, I slipped out of my suit jacket and began unbuttoning my shirt at lightning speed. I’d never gotten undressed so quickly in my life before -- and that includes when I lost my virginity. The photographer’s wife took my clothes and looked me up and down. “You’re pretty white,” she said. Of course I am. Show me a writer with a tan, and I’ll show you a writer who doesn’t spend enough time at their keyboard.

The photographer directed me to sit at a table, which was meant to hide my love handles. I sat as upright as possible and puffed my chest out. “That sort of looks like a pec,” his wife said, pointing to my left breast. “But the other one…” She scrunched her face up. Apparently -- and this was the first time that anyone had ever pointed this out to me – my right boob is a little, well, saggy. “It’s okay,” the photographer said, picking up an orphaned newspaper from a nearby table. “Just hold this in front of it.”

He snapped the photos quickly. The session wasn’t any more invasive or painful than walking through airport security. The photographer carefully scrutinized the photos on the digital camera’s display while I waited impatiently at the table sans shirt. He finally gave me a thumbs-up. “You can get dressed,” he said.

Thank God that’s over, I thought as I buttoned my dress shirt. Little did I know that my journey had just begun. Any modesty that I had left was sandblasted away by the dance routine later that week when I ripped my shirt off onstage in front of hundreds of screaming fans.

RT PICS!!!

2010-05-12T09:00:00.008-06:00

This is me and Mr. Romance 2009, Charles Paz. He loves a sista!

Just because...

Victoria Dahl, showing off "The Shirt!" Yes, folks, that is half-naked women riding wolves, shooting uzis, and gnawing on raw meat. Of course, being the person I am, I assumed the women were anally raping the wolves.

Oh, the Heavenly Night of Rock Band and everyone sitting enraptured as Mark Henry (not shown) reads aloud from an erotic romance. Good times!

RT WRAP 2010

2010-05-10T09:00:00.006-06:00

No, I'm not dead...

I've just been in lazy mode. I need to get writing and editing and submitting. But in the meantime, I did find the time to party!

I love RT. It's just a really fun place to meet readers, take some workshops, and best of all, stalk your favorite authors. Like I did. With Lora Leigh. But more about that later. The best part is I got to spend some QT with my good friend, Helen Hardt.

So, I get there Tuesday night (after being at work for a half day, never doing that shit again) and the first thing I do is go to the bar. (Of course!) The hotel is packed with morticians, and Christians, and perverts, oh my! The first person I see is another friend, Liz Pelletier, who is drink off her ass with her friend, Dawn McClure, and new on my list of awesome peeps, Jessa Slade. Helen goes off and smiles and flirts with the morticians for free drinks and I'm getting drunk and touching on Mr. Romance 2009, my bud, Charles Paz. All in all, a great 1st night.

But the next day is when it all begins... After waking up (late), Helen and I go to breakfast and just happen to run into Mr. Romance, Charles (by now I'm sure he's stalking me) and we have a lovely meal. It was enlightening as hell, such as the info that Mr. Romance only had 3 contestants. 3 CONTESTANTS? What is this? Victorian England? Where are my half-naked men to fondle? To dance with? To hear say that they would 'fuck the shit' out of me? (NOTE: Not making this up, happened last year. Not to me, but to my friend. But I heard it and yeah, it was hot.)

That bummed the shit out of me, especially considering I knew one of the contestants and was not a fan. He was hot but not a nice guy. A fact that Helen can attest to.

At this point, all I can do is drown my sorrows in sex... Sex on the beach that is. It seemed to be the drink of the convention. Or at least my little part of it. Delicious vodka and cherries will put any girl in a good mood.

As for the parties? First up, the EC ball. Paint the town Red. I even bought a red dress for the occasion. One which promptly got whole in it. That shit always happens to me. On the plus side, it made a killer shirt and my sweater concealed the tear so in true ghetto fashion, I was all good. I got better when the EC cavemen but on their show. Not quite a strip show, but I'm a writer, I have a great imagination so it was no trouble at all to go from half-naked to the full monty in my imagination. There was one caveman, Kruz, who literally made my mouth water. He knew how to move his ass and the man touched himself almost as much as I wanted to touch him. Literally. The man grabbed his junk every few seconds as if he wasn't entirely sure it was going to be there. I think one of my RT buddies has a pic with me and him. I might need some alone time with it. All and all the EC party was campy fun.

Next came the fairy ball. Nothing much to say here. Most of the men had gone and I wore fairy wings. Oh, and there was dinner and dancing. The food wasn't nearly as bad as last year but it was banquet food. Take from it was you will.

The next night is the vampire ball. Heather Graham and all of her family and friends but on quite the campy show. It's part musical, part train wreck, all awesome. Shayne, Heather's son and friend from last year, made his acting debut. Let me tell you, the man was made to...dance.

The final night was the Dorchester party. Which, I didn't go to cuz I was out being wined and dined by editors! Not really but I did get the hook up from my new BFF Victoria Dahl who invited me to dinner with her, Angela James of Carina Press, Kristin Sevick and Melissa Frain, both Tor editors. It was the first time I'd left the hotel, which I found out later was a shame because there was something called the North Market that I should have given my left nut to eat at. Ah, well.

As you can imagine, I wowed the editors with my sparkling and witty conversation. Especially when I talked about Bobby Brown helping Whitney Houston out with her constipation by going on a digging expedition. Yeah, that's how I roll.

But it was by far the best night because it was the night I met Mark Henry, hung out with the amazing Jaye Wells, and was treated to dramatic erotic readings by Mark, Heather Osborn, and Stacia Kane. Abso-fucking-lutely awsome! I mean I wish someone could have videotaped that. It was all red, weeping cocks, Organs of Dominion, and mmmfgrrr! It was a night I cannot wait to experience again. I'm wondering if I can convince them to put together a skype conference call once a month. I'm going to start working on that.

Another highlight, was the Mr. Romance competition. I'm just going to give you the highlights. For a more snarky analysis, you can go to Twitter and search #mangeant. There you will find colorful commentary from myself as well as Mark Henry. (Side note: The mangeant brings people to together. It's how Mark Henry and I discovered each other. I'd been trying to catch his attention for a while cuz I follow him on Twitter and FB and think he's one funny muthafucka. That he now thinks the same about me? Priceless!)

Anyhoo, by the time the mangeant rolled around, three contestants had jumped to six. There was DeLonn, a very nice (and I imagine very hungry) young man. There was Jamie, a sweet but shy guy. He was nice looking and that's all I have to say about him. There was Franco, last year's runner up. Antonio, a stripper and one of the EC cavemen. Some other guy who's name escapes me (that should tell you something). And ANDREW. By far, the crowd favorite. He was not your typical mangeant contestant. He's a published author and all-around fun and witty guy. He's looking to write romance novels. He wants his name, as well as his face, on the cover of books. Gotta love a man who loves romance. I imagine hearts all over the place broke when they were introduced to his extremely lovely wife. Yeah, I'd like to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation. "But honey, it's my JOB to flirt with all those hundreds of women!" I got to introduce in him Smart Bitch Sarah and there was a lot of mutual admiration going on. SB Sarah remembered me from last year which gave me another case of the squees. Girl crush!

Some highlights for me: meeting Lora Leigh, whom I LOVE!!! I was on the verge of stalking her until I met her Thursday night. She was more than a little tipsy and more than a little awesome. She's one of the sweetest people. I still pinch myself that I got to hang with Victoria Dahl. As some of you may remember, I wrote a review of her book, Talk Me Down. She's just as cool in person as I imagined her to be from her books and her inappropriate tweets. Plus there was meeting Jessa and Dawn, hanging out with Liz and Helen, and the sex...on the beach. Oh, and Jackie Frank looks SO GOOD. Very happy and super healthy. She practically glowed. And she gave me a copy of Stealing Kathryn. She's the shit.

There was also a bookfair. I bought too many books. Victoria Dahl dared someone to yell 'ballz' in the middle of the event. Being the kind of girl I am, I obliged. And got an ARC of her newest historical. I also betrayed my race by not buying a book and supporting another sista. With that in mind, I am announcing my entry into the Caucasian race. Gifts and money will be greatly welcome.

All in all, a great conference. I did go to some workshops. I got to be in the same room as J.R. Ward (another fucking funny as hell lady!). This was my first time as a published author and it wasn't what I expected but I'll be better prepared next time. I always say that I'm not going next year but by the end of it, I'm always looking forward to it. I love being able to talk about the books I read, love meeting the authors that write them, and maybe someday, I will have my own merry band of fans who've come to meet me and get me to sign something of theirs. (For the record, I'm not opposed to writing on tits. Just sayin'.)

That would be cool.

Man Meet Monday: Enrique Iglesias

2010-02-15T09:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Presidents' Day!!

I know that you are all so excited to celebrate the holiday. Pfft!

Anyhoo, I am knee-deep into a story. YAY!!! I need to get my ass in gear. Maybe Valentine's Day will inspire me.

Or maybe Enrique will.

This guy is HOT!!! I seriously want to lick him. And lick him. And bite him. I have s sneaking suspicion he tastes like caramel. If you couldn't tell, he totally does it for me. I have been in lust with him since 'Bailamos' came out ten years ago. Even now, he gives me the tinglies. I wish I saw more of him. (Literally!) I even forgive him his Anna Kournakova stint. Every man needs to get that out of his system.

I was actually heartbroken when he had the mole removed from his face. I thought that was one of the sexiest things I'd ever seen. That just goes to show you how much I do love him. Who else can claim a mole is sexy? Unless they're Cindy Crawford.

Fortunately for me, the internet is rife with shirtless pictures of the man of my dream. And I am generous enough to share him with you all.

ENJOY!!!!

(Mmm-mmm-good!)

Man Meet Monday: Josh Duhamel

2010-02-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to February! I thought that I would start the week and the month off right with some Monday morning hotness.

Josh Duhamel first got his start as a model before moving on to acting with his role as Leo du Pres on All My Children. Since then he has transitioned into a genuine Hollywood leading man with roles in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Transformers,and more recently When in Rome.

Unfortunately, he is married but who cares about that.

The best part? LOTS of photos of a half-naked, hot-as-hell, Josh.

ENJOY!!!!

Lia Slater

2010-01-22T09:00:00.001-07:00

Hello!

As you're probably able to tell, I am interrupting First Sale Friday to bring you the lowdown on an awesome book by an awesome person.

Please welcome my friend and critique partner, Lia Slater!

Hi Monica! Thanks for inviting me over and letting me talk about my latest release, WereSlave. It’s an erotic paranormal romance, the first story in a werewolf series. And it’s available now from Ellora’s Cave.

Blurb:

As the Queen of Paqualette, Nayla is forbidden to have a husband or a human lover. Her life is a lonely and disciplined existence, so when she’s given the opportunity to choose a Were from her dungeon as her sex slave, she takes a chance. Werewolves, she knows, are nothing but senseless monsters, but after the one she selects to be her WereSlave turns out to be more of a man than she’s ever known, she must question her beliefs.

As the alpha leader, Mace is responsible for his pack. He’ll do anything to keep them alive, even give into the Queen’s sexual demands. But not unless he’s in control. Turning his enticing captor into the submissive is the only way to show her he’s more man than she realizes. Falling in love is out of the question, but so is leaving her behind.

Excerpt:

Nayla shoved at his chest again but, of course, he wouldn’t budge. He was solid steel. More than a man, he was a Were. A fact that surprisingly heated her insides. He was strong. Unrelenting. Powerful. Demanding. Untamable. And hers.

But would she allow herself to be tamed by him?

Never.

He grabbed her wrists and kept her from repeating the action, which infuriated her even more. How dare he try to confine her?

“Let me go right this instant, Mace Quinton.”

“Not until we have this little argument settled,” he said through gritted teeth. His bold blue eyes glinted with determination.

“There’s nothing to settle.” She jerked her hands in an attempt to escape but it was ineffective. He held her tight.

“Stop fighting me, Nayla. I want you and you will be mine. Outside your castle walls. Outside your country’s watchful eyes. You will give in to me.” He moved on top of her and wedged himself between her thighs.

Though her heart and body wanted to concede, her temper rose. She wouldn’t be forced to do anything. She squirmed and kicked and nearly pulled her hands free.

“Stop.” He readjusted his grip on her wrists and pinned them to the ground above her head. “Stop, Nayla.” His voice softened as well as his expression. “I don’t wish to fight you. You’re weak from the trek and I’m deeply sorry for that. But this battle must end.”

“I didn’t start—”

“Nayla, love,” he whispered in her ear so sweetly, she had to take in a breath.

“I’m listening.”

“Let me have you. Please.”

Her heart drummed a beat so loud it reached her head. He was right. She was too tired to fight. And a large part of her didn’t want to anymore.

Not when his warm lips pressed against her neck. Not when his tongue licked her thumping pulse. Certainly not when the weight of his cock sat solidly against her pussy, making her body react. Wetness pooled between her thighs and her nerves tingled with anticipation.

One glance around the cave assured her no one could see them from the outside. They had their privacy, their own hideaway. There was no one to witness her submission. No one to see the Queen yielding to her WereSlave.

This is a GREAT book peeps. GO BUY IT!!!

Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8042-wereslave.aspx

Man Meet Tuesday: Men with Accents

2010-01-19T09:00:00.002-07:00

So this is a day late and I apologize for that. I've been sick for two days and I'm only now feeling better. I've decided to celebrate my recent wellness with some hot man meat. Specifically a month of men with accents.

I've gotten into this show "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" and there are two really hot dudes that I want to share with you. The first you may remember from "The Tudors."

CALLUM BLUE

Alas, I couldn't find any good pics of him shirtless but his face more than makes up for it.

ENJOY!!!

First Sale Friday: Wren Boudreau

2010-01-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to another installment of First Sale Friday. Today, Harmless Smut is pleased to welcome Wren Boudreau. Wren is a fellow Loose Id author that I met on the boards and begged to have on the blog.

HS: First of all, thanks for visiting Harmless Smut!

WB: THANKS for having me!!!!

HS: First of all, how long have you been writing?

WB: I guess I've been writing on and off since I was a kid. In terms of writing, um, professionally, "Ice Cream on the Side" is my very first book.

HS: LOVE that title! What attracted you to writing romance?

WB: I discovered m/m three years ago or so. Kind of stumbled upon it and wow - I was hooked immediately. Something about the dynamics of two men in a relationship really spoke to me as a reader, and I devoured a lot of books. I experienced the wonderful spectrum of quality that exists in these books. Periodically I’d say to myself, “Hey, I could do better than this.” (Then I’d read something by Josh Lanyon, or Jordan Castillo Price, or JL Langley, and I’d say, “Nah. It’s not that easy. I’ll just keep reading.”)

Then in late 2008 I stumbled across a contest a publisher was having. I literally wrote the book in a month’s time (my own private nanowrimo). Every entry was supposed to get editorial feedback, which I thought was great, since I didn’t have any beta readers or critique partners and lord knew I couldn’t ask my rl friends to review because holy crap the book has man on man sex in it! I just looked at it as a chance to see if I could write something others might want to read.

Well, I never heard back from the publisher, except for the automated we-got-your-document response. So I wallowed in bitterness and anger for a while then segued into self-pity and finally acceptance that I probably suck as a writer. A few months later, don’t know what possessed me, but I opened up the story file and re-read my book and thought, “This needs a lotta work. But it isn’t too awful.” So I revised. And sent the synopsis and three chapters to one of my favorite publishers, Loose Id.

Lo and behold! They wanted to see the whole dang thing! And after they read it, well, wonder of wonders, they wanted to publish it. And, la, here it is!

HS: That's awesome. I also got my big break from a contest. Loose Id rocks! How many manuscripts had you completed before you sold?

WB: Just the one. Neat-o, huh?

HS: That's flippin' amazing! Double congrats! Tell us about the day (the minute, the second) you received "The Call" (or email). What was your initial reaction?

WB: I’d been waiting…and waiting…a couple of emails back and forth with the editor I was working with at Loose Id gave me the sense that I would hear from management soon. One part of me felt pretty confident, because the editor had thought it good enough to send on up the ladder. Another part of me felt very unsure and kept coming up with little pep talks: It’ll be okay, maybe you’ll get some insights into what needs to change. There are other publishers to try. If you get rejected it’s not you personally they’re rejecting. Et cetera.

My husband and I were off on a cruise! So I had my laptop with me (‘cause y’know I had to be able to keep in touch with my college-age son in case of emergency, right?) and sure enough, while cruising off the coast of the U.K. I received the email that said “Welcome to Loose Id!” I read that a couple times to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Then I did the “hey guess what” thing with my husband. Did the happy dance. Smiled a lot.

HS: That's a great story! What did you do to celebrate after?

WB: We went to dinner at the nicest restaurant on the ship - the one where you have to pay extra. Had Asti Spumante (my fav) and talked about how cool it was that my book was going to be published.

HS: Nice way to celebrate. Anyone whom you wanted to rub their nose in it?

WB: Oh, it sounds so petty, but yeah, that first publishing company that never followed up. I got over that quickly, though.

HS: Success will do that for you! Tell us about your current release.

WB: “Ice Cream on the Side” was released on Dec. 8. It’s on the Loose Id website: http://www.loose-id.com/Ice-Cream-on-the-Side.aspx

Blurb:

Dylan Forest is really pretty happy. He’s a successful architect, lives in a great little town, and has good friends. More than ten years ago, Dylan’s first boyfriend betrayed him. Since then he’s learned to appreciate men briefly and intensely, with no lingering complications. But Dylan finds himself wanting something more with Michael Gilmore, the new art teacher in town.

Michael moved to Raven Pass to get away after a bad break-up. He just wants to teach and he’s got an exhibit of his own work coming up. He doesn’t expect to find himself attracted to anyone just yet. He has to give up his fear so he can explore a possible relationship with Dylan.

The guys manage to get past their insecurities and into bed, where they find out just how compatible they are. Before their romance gains momentum, however, life gets complicated. An old dead body and a new murder are both connected to Dylan’s love life, and it appears that Michael will be next.

What’s going on? And can Dylan and Michael stop it before it stops them?

Excerpt:

The pile from the backpack was an interesting assortment of things: tins of charcoals and pastels, pencils of different sizes, crumpled papers, an orange, several sketch pads, an iPod, headphones, tubes of acrylics, a six-inch wooden manikin, and a notebook computer.

The whole thing reminded me of Mary Poppins’s carpetbag. “If I stuck my arm in your backpack, would I pull up a hat rack?”

He didn’t bat an eye. “No, but you might get a floor lamp.”

Michael used the computer to make notes and write an outline of our plan. His fingers flew over the keyboard. When I tried to think, my eyes were drawn to his hands, and thoughts of architecture were replaced with thoughts of what those hands would feel like… I had to get up and move around the room in order to speak coherent sentences.

Eventually, my stomach pointed out that I hadn’t eaten yet by growling loud enough to be heard in New Jersey. Michael stopped typing and tilted his head to listen.

“Sorry,” I said. “Snack time?”

“Good idea.” He closed the laptop, set it off to the side, and stretched his arms toward the ceiling. My mouth watered when his stretch exposed a strip of skin at the bottom of his shirt. I turned rapidly toward the fridge and stuck my head in, hoping the cold would wash all the way to my cock.

“Do you feel like veggies and dip, or chips and salsa?” I yelled from the bowels of my Amana.

“Definitely chips and salsa.” His voice sounded from right next to me, and I nearly gave myself a concussion when I jumped. My scowl was lost on him; he only grinned at me when I straightened up. I handed him the salsa, and he poured it in a bowl while I dumped the chips into a basket. We each grabbed another beer and returned to the table, sitting at the far end away from the mass of papers strewn about. Michael turned his chair to face out toward the deck. Our conversation turned from our project to other topics.

I discovered, among other things, that he was originally from western Pennsylvania, had two sisters and a brother, graduated from my alma mater -- Penn State -- with a major in art education and a minor in graphic design, and at twenty-six, was six years younger than me. He learned that I was born not far from right here, my mother died when I was ten, my favorite thing to do was design buildings and landscapes, and gardening was a stress-relieving hobby.

I was just about to ask him about the kind of music he liked when I noticed a glop of salsa at the corner of his mouth. “You’ve got some, um, salsa, there.” I tried to point without pointing, to, you know, be polite.

“Where?” He rubbed at the wrong side of his mouth.

“No, the other side.”

He wiped a spot on his cheek. “Did I get it?”

“Here,” I said and scooped the offending sauce off with my thumb, which somehow then ended up in his mouth.

I watched with fascination as he sucked gently, pulling the digit in, swirling his tongue around it, his eyes closed as if this were the best thing he’d ever tasted. My other fingers rested on his face, feeling the suction through his cheek. He pulled back and opened his eyes; I got lost in them for a minute. When I moved my hand to the back of his neck and drew him to me, he gave no resistance. Our lips met, flavored with salt and salsa. We shared a series of little kisses, tasting each other gently.

He had turned his chair around, and we sat facing each other. His hands rested on my biceps, and my hands slid to his chest -- where they noticed that Michael did have more interesting piercings.

The soft little kisses grew stronger. The more I had, the more I wanted.

Without moving his lips away, Michael said, “I’ve wanted to kiss you since I met you.”

“So kiss me,” I mumbled back.

I caught his tongue with mine and sucked on it, a hopeful foreshadowing of events to follow. He pulled on my bottom lip with his teeth. The frenzy meter ratcheted up, our lips and tongues exploring, probing, claiming. I felt his hand in my hair, and my own hand twisted his shirt. Breathing became a secondary need, behind tasting. When air proved to be necessary, we slid back into short, small kisses. It didn’t take long for me to feel refreshed, and I plunged back into kissing him deeply, rolling my tongue across and under his teeth. He groaned when I held his face between my palms and bit lightly at his lips. He tried to take back control, but I couldn’t get enough of tasting him.

His tug on my hair pulled me away enough to look in his eyes. “Dylan,” he whispered.

“Shh,” I said. “A moment.” We were still, just breathing, and I could feel the reverberation of each kiss.

He gave me that moment; then he leaned back. “Wow.” His hands slipped away from my shoulders as he stood up. He walked to the sliding glass door and leaned against the jamb, staring out across the hills. This did not seem like a good sign to me. I didn’t know if I should follow or back away. I opted for the middle road, stood up but stayed near my chair.

He turned toward me.

“I…that was…” He shook his head. “I’ve never been kissed like that.”

“That makes two of us. Why are you over there?”

He looked out the window again. “I’m overwhelmed. This wasn’t what I expected.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Neither. Both. I’m not sure.” He crossed the room to where his belongings were piled. “I have to go… I need to think.”

“Michael, no. I want you to stay.” This time I did follow him, stopping just within reach.
He threw his things into the backpack. I grabbed his hands to hold them still. “Listen. I maybe didn’t do this right. I moved too fast.” He stared up at me, waiting. “I like you, and I don’t want to screw this up.” I thought about the different men I’d been with and how everything with them happened so fast because there was so little time for it. I realized I was walking new ground, here. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

He clenched my hands. “No…don’t…I think I scared myself. You remember I told you about the relationship I’d been in?”

I nodded.

“When I left, I promised myself that I would not jump into another one. I can’t do things part way.” He let go of me, and his pacing emphasized the words he spoke quietly. “Tim -- my ex -- and I, we were together almost a year, and I completely misread him. I was so excited about our being together -- I was looking at houses and furniture, but he was looking at other men. Our arguments left me realizing that I expected too much -- made too many big plans. Tim said some cruel things to me, but he made me think about not only ours, but other relationships I’d been in. I leap too quickly. I can’t trust myself.” He stopped moving, shrugged, and gave a little unhappy laugh. “My mom used to tell me I was too passionate about, well, everything. My brother used to tell me I was a nervous breakdown waiting to happen.”

He suddenly looked so very young. I felt like a lecher. I wanted to rewind back to where we were building a friendship. Before I could say anything, he continued.

“I thought I’d learned my lesson, but you were so unexpected. And it threw me.”

I’ve been called a lot of things, but “unexpected” was a new one. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”

His pacing brought him to the opposite side of the table. He leaned on it. “I never expected that I would find anyone like you in this place. You’re smart. Funny. Kind. Gorgeous. I’ve been thinking about that kiss for so long, I was sure the reality would never live up to the fantasy. I was wrong. It was better.”

I stood speechless. No one had ever said anything like that to me. I replayed his words in my head a few times so I wouldn’t forget them.

A sigh came from deep in his chest as he shoved his belongings into his bag. “It scares the shit out of me.” He zipped up the backpack and headed to the front door.

I tried to shake off the fog that was swirling around my head and stopped him with my hand on his arm. “Wait. Can’t we work through this together?”

“I just need a little time. I don’t want to go into anything blinded by my fantasies. And I don’t want to ruin something with exploding baggage before it begins.” A look of fear passed over his face. “Oh, God, have I ruined it already?”

I was too flummoxed to answer anything with conviction. “No, no, you haven’t ruined it. I think we both have baggage we need to unpack.”

Michael gave me a shaky smile and reached up to kiss me on the cheek. As he opened the door and stepped out, he said, “I will call you. I know that sounds stupid, but I promise I will.”

Before I could think of anything else to say, he was gone.

HS: Whew! Excuse me for a sec...

I'm back! Tell me you're working on something now!

WB: I’m in the very, very beginning stages of a new m/m romance. It may have shape-shifters of the wolfy kind. A tortured alpha male, a sweet beta boy. I don’t want to say more because I have learned that what you start out with may not be what you end up with!

HS: Wolves? I'm in! Any advice for the "Soon to be Published"?

WB: Read. A lot. Get a sense of what you like and what you don’t like. Read reviews of books in the genre you’re going to write in. Notice the differences of opinion between reviewers and hone in on the constructive criticisms they offer. I never really thought too much about why I liked or didn’t like a book until I started reading reviews. The really good reviewers give valid, well-thought-out reasons for their opinions, which made me look closer at the books I was reading and gave me new insights. Start writing. I am a first-class procrastinator, which is why it took a contest to get me moving - that provided the deadline I needed. So if you need one of those, make something up! Just write.

HS: Great advice! Now for some fun stuff! Tell us something about you that would surprise us.

WB: I am seriously shy. In my senior year of high school I was in a very small seminar class. Near the end of the year, in the midst of a discussion about our particular personalities, one of my classmates leaned toward me and said, “All this time I thought you were stuck up! And it’s just that you’re shy!” It suddenly was clear to me why I’d had such a hard time making friends. *sigh* I’m not much better at it now, but at least I know what’s going on! And on the interwebz, nobody knows you’re shy…or whatever.

HS: Gotta love the internet! Boxers or briefs on your man?

WB: Why limit oneself?

HS: Good point! Who's your ideal hero?

WB: I’ve always (well, at least since 1977) been partial to Han Solo. I still swoon if I happen to come across the very first Star Wars.

HS: If you could have sex with one celebrity, who would it be?

WB: Hugh Jackman…wait…George Clooney…. Alexander Skarsgard….hold on…Gilles Marini…no..Ryan Reynolds. Oh crap, I’ll have to try them all. I’ll get back to you.

HS: What's the funniest or most interesting line you've ever read in a book or written?

WB: There are a bajillion in Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books.

Here’s just one, from “Death Masks”:

Susan: “Elevator?”

Harry: “Stairs, if they have them. If someone shoots at us on stairs, we can scream and flail around a lot more."

HS: Good one! Facial hair or no? Chest hair? No hair on any part of the body (your partner, of course, not you)?

WB: Glad you made it clear this wasn’t about me! Not super keen on facial hair, but a closely cropped bit is okay. Some body hair is acceptable, but not furry (unless he’s a shifter and he’s…shifted) because then when you get to the licking part the loose hairs stick to your tongue and then there is that awkward moment where you have to fish hairs out of your mouth or worse yet they get caught in your throat. But long hair (on his head, I mean) trumps all. I am so a sucker for the long-haired boy. *Sigh*

HS: Great answers! Thanks, Wren, for joining us here at Harmless Smut!

What are you waiting for, readers? GO BUY!!

Later Gators!

First Sale Friday: Lilly Cain

2010-01-08T09:00:00.003-07:00

Hello and welcome to a new year and a new start to First Sale Friday! I can't think of any better way to begin than with the fabulous Lilly Cain.

Great picture, huh? We met last year at Romantic Times and she is as lovely as her photo.

Her first book, Dark Harmony, dropped last week at Red Sage. Peep the cover!

Awesome!!!

And now, onto the good stuff!

HS: How long have you been writing?

LC: It seems as though I have always been writing. I used to love creative writing in school, even writing papers for my two sisters who seemed to be more interested in math. I’ve been writing romance for 8 years, but you have to throw about 3 of them out during the time I was getting marriage therapy/separation/divorce. You can’t write romance or erotica when all you really want to write about is murder and mayhem. 

HS: Very True. With all that going on, what attracted you to writing romance?

LC: I read a lot of different genres, yet time and again I found romance in each story and began to look for it, and miss it if it wasn’t there – the connection between the hero and heroine. Eventually my reading turned to single title romance and erotic romance and I never turned back, although I still love mystery and science fiction. Since that is what I love to read, that is what I love to write.

HS: I'm always looking for the romance! How many manuscripts had you completed before you sold?

LC: I had completed two full length novels and a novella before I sold my first book, each one at a higher level of heat than the last, until I found my niche in erotic romance.

HS: It's funny how you kind of just fall into it. Tell us about the day (the minute, the second) you got ‘The Call’ (or The Email). What was your initial reaction?

LC: I was on high at my first RT conference. There were so many incredible people to meet! I’d already gotten an offer from Ellora’s Cave for my novella Building Magic, if I completed certain changes. That was pretty exciting! Then I had an appointment with Theresa Stevens of Red Sage and something just clicked. She already had a copy of Building Magic – I had placed in the Chase the Dream Contest and she, along with Raelene Gorlinski at EC had asked for a copy. So she already knew about my writing and something about her, about our conversation (and about the way she was also interested in my full length novel Dark Harmony) made me certain she was the one I wanted to work with. And she wanted to work with me! I knew immediately I would sign the contract she promised to send me – I consider that the moment I sold. Meeting her in person, instead of an email or a phone call was incredibly important to me, worth the entire cost of the conference, the time, the flight, you name it.

HS: That's awesome! I was at that RT with you. You were so excited! What did you do to celebrate afterward?

LC: I was to meet up with several friends – all published authors there to promote or meet agents etc, and I did, telling everyone along the way what had happened! It didn’t matter that I had no idea who these people were, I was too excited to be quiet! That night we had drinks by the pool, a big bunch of us with our feet in the water, sharing bottles of sangria in the warm Florida weather. I was 800 miles from home, so of course I had already called to share the news with my family. I can’t remember what I told them, just a babble of words. LOL

HS: I can't remember what I said either. I'm sure it was nonsensical. Anyone whom you wanted to rub your news in his/her nose?

LC: In a way I would have liked to show off to my ex. He wasn’t exactly supportive in our final year together. But I was past the point where it really mattered anymore. I was more interested in sharing my news with everyone who wanted to celebrate with me!

HS: I love the honesty! Tell us about your current release. (Please include an excerpt!)

LC: My first release is Dark Harmony – the first book in my Dark Seduction Series. It is a dark erotic vampire novel, full length. Here’s a blurb about it:

Running from a lover that has twisted her very nature, Lena Townsend hunts on her own.

Lena has been the object of many desires. Now she is all too aware that being an obsession can be deadly. Her mildly adventurous sexual life reached its pinnacle, and its end, when she met sexually dominant vampire Darien. He stole her life, and used her sensual nature to bend her to his will. In making her his own, he placed her in a position where she must constantly submit to him, yet be dominant to his pack. It’s a conflict that pulls her apart.

In leaving the pack, Lena strives for independence, but her vampire instincts push her to find more – to find a new pack, a new family. Alone, she cannot share what makes her vampire, and she cannot find a lover she can trust enough to reveal her submissive nature.

In her escape Lena discovers a power that could save her – the ability to read and influence emotion. With this talent she might survive the loneliness.

Unfortunately, her old pack wants her back, no matter what.

Richard Heron has given up everything for his daughter since the murder of his wife, but what he misses most is the chance to explore his deeply sensual side once again. Once the owner of a popular S&M club, and its favored dom, he left everything he was to shelter his family. Lena could offer him more than he ever expected, a level of sensuality he never knew existed and a love that could never die, but he must reconcile the danger she brings with his need to shield his family – especially when what killed his wife was certainly not human.

In a flight that leads her thousands of miles from her territory and into the province of a dragon, independence is not what Lena expected. But if she can finally learn to trust, she can find harmony with her submissive and vampiric natures, and join with Richard into a new blend of family – a Dark Harmony.

And to whet your whistles, here’s an excerpt:

London - Spring, 1981

The bar was hopping, full of people, lights, and sound. Helena Townsend sipped her drink and laid it on the bar counter. It had definitely been worth coming out tonight, her last night in London before she returned to her job in the United States. This place is alive. Her nose wrinkled at the tang of pot that hung in the air, and she threaded through the crowd toward the dance floor, a few steps lower than the bar level. The dancers rocked and twisted to the music. She looked out over them, enjoying the scene before she joined in.

From across the floor he watched her. Tall, blond, drop-dead fantastic, he stood apart from the crowd, just as she did. His eyes held hers and a slow sizzle began low in Helena’s belly. She licked suddenly dry lips. He walked toward her through the packed dancers. People shifted aside to let him pass, but she found she couldn’t move.

“I’m Darien. Dance with me.” The pounding music swirled around him like fog, parting for the deep timbre of his voice.

The tune changed from a fast rock beat to something slower, a power ballad. He smiled and she shivered as the heat in her body surged, pooling in her breasts and pussy with a force that made her gasp. He held out his hand and she took it, breathless as he led her to the center of the dance floor. With his long blonde hair and piercing eyes, he looked as though he could be one of the singers, a heavy metal god.

They danced for hours, moving together each time a slower song soared through the heavy air. Helena pressed closer to her dancing partner. Every curve of her body that touched his sent quivers of desire through her. Darien danced slowly. His tall, muscular frame swayed against her, and his hands caressed her back through her thin cotton blouse.

Loving you Sunday Morning floated out from the speakers, encouraging the dancers to cuddle their partners closer. Couples crowded the small dance floor as the persuasive guitars invited the crowd to consider sweet, slow-paced sex. God knew Helena was considering it.

The aroma of spice rose from his skin. She laid her face against his chest to draw his scent deeper into her body. Although she didn’t usually go for blondes, Darien’s height and his velvety bass voice caught her attention as no man had in some time.

The song drew to a close, and he held her, looking down into her face. His eyes were dark, his pupils huge despite the flashing dance lights. His lips held a soft smile.

“Let’s go for a walk.” His deep voice vibrated through her, starting a resonance low in her belly.

She shivered. She never went anywhere with strangers, and this man, Darien, was that. She’d only known him this one night, these few hours of dancing. But, good Lord, he was sexy. And it had been a while since she’d been this turned on. A long while, maybe never. She could admit it to herself. For a long time her fantasies had been better than any man.

“Don’t be afraid, Helena. I simply want to be with you and to taste those full lips.”

“O-kay,” she stuttered. Her voice sounded ridiculously soft against the noise of the guitar solo, but whether he heard her or saw it in her eyes, he immediately began to lead her toward the bar’s side exit. She used to love to come here and dance. It had been months since her mother’s death, and in all that time she hadn’t returned to a bar until tonight. She hadn’t needed the press of people to remind her she was alone in the world now.

Perhaps she’d been avoiding people. Her clothes brushed against the throng of other dancers as they wound through the mass of people crowding the bar. It almost seemed as though they were tugging on her blouse, catching their fingers in the soft ripped edges of her denim skirt. Each touch made her more aware of her growing arousal, her tightly peaked nipples, and the heat that radiated from her pussy. Music roared from the stage, some new raw heavy metal band pumping out sound. The drums pounded a heavy beat that echoed the blood pulsing through her veins.

Finally, they reached the door and pushed past the bouncer. Cool night air slid around her neck and beneath her long black hair. For a moment she hesitated, and then Darien was pulling her to the sidewalk and hailing a cab.

“I thought we were going for a walk,” she said.

He looked back at her, amused. “Helena, you don’t want to do this in an alley, do you?”

Her heart pounded wildly. There was no mistaking what he meant. “Not really.”

The cab ride was swift, most of it lost to his heated kisses. As his tongue thrust into her mouth, she opened her lips for him and let the sensation wash over her. Cascades of sparks danced down her body until they pulsed at her hot clit. When had she become so wanton? She wondered at her behavior even as she allowed his hand to slide up her skirt.

“I never do this sort of thing,” she gasped.

“I know.”

God, the way he smelled, like cloves mixed with saffron and musk. She wriggled closer to him. His fingertips grazed the lips of her pussy. She could have ripped off her clothes then and there, but the cabbie spoke up to tell them they’d arrived.

The local Hilton had never looked so inviting.

“I’ve got a room.” His voice rang deeper than ever, its low peal humming down her spine.

His steps as eager as hers, they dashed to the elevator. The instant the sliding doors closed, he pulled her to him. His long-fingered hands cupped her ass through her skirt and his mouth devoured hers again. She stroked the taut, lean muscle of his back. She couldn’t think. His mouth left hers to kiss and lick a path to her throat, and she groaned aloud with need. He nipped at her neck and the quick pain made her gasp. Desire flooded her senses.

The elevator doors opened with a chime, and they stepped out as one, their bodies pressed as tightly together as possible while still managing to rush toward his room. Helena’s mind was reeling. She staggered off-balance as he let go for a moment to unlock and open the door to his room. Why was she so dizzy? She put a hand to her throat and felt wetness. When she looked down at her hand, she saw blood.

“I’m bleeding.” Her voice caught in disbelief.

He grabbed her arm, wrenching her through the open door and into the dark room. Faster than she thought possible, the door slammed tight and the lock clicked shut.

“I’m bleeding!” she said again, louder, panicked.

“I know.” He pulled her hand to his mouth and licked at the blood on her fingers. She wanted to scream, but couldn’t. The heat of his mouth and the sound of his soft moan froze her in his arms as the room whirled around them.

As his tongue rasped her fingertips, her heart pounded again and not from lust. It was so damn dark in the room, she could barely see a thing. Only a crack of light from the bathroom door and the faint glow from the half-draped window allowed her to glimpse his face. His cold eyes glittered with the tiny amount of light. She felt odd, sick. She tried to pull her arm away, throwing her weight away from him, but he didn’t budge. Her attempts to pull away from his awful licking were useless. His height and strength, so arousing earlier, were terrifying now. Worse, as she scanned the shadowy room for some weapon or way to escape, she caught a movement.

They weren’t alone.

HS: WOW!!! I can't wait to read it!!! When can we get our greedy hands on them?

LC: The first book of my Dark Seduction series, Dark Harmony is available this month as an e-book! However, for one lucky commenter on this post, I will be offering a free e-copy, just share your thoughts to qualify to win!

HS: Damn it! I can't win one. But I am sure that my blog readers will be happy. Thank you. And if we don't win, where can we buy your books?

LC: You can buy my books at www.eRedSage.com. It will also be available for kindles at Amazon, and there will be several other distributors as well over the next few months.

HS: I'm going right now! What are you working on now?

LC: I am currently writing the sequel to Dark Harmony which I have tentatively titled Dark Melody. It is a ménage with two of the characters from book one and a third from the hero’s past. The main concept is still freedom, or our interpretation of it. And it features one red hot dragon shapeshifter. I am going to have to take a little time away from that in a month or so though to begin revision of my novella, Building Magic, the story that got everything started for me. Building Magic is the story of another world – the home world of dragons, as they struggle in a time of civil war. I will be making the story a little longer and opening it up for a sequel or more. The story is complex and needs more time to see everything through.

HS: A dragon? HOTT!!!! That's all I need to know. What advice do you have for ‘Soon To Be Published’ writers (as I like to call them)?

LC: I am sure everyone has heard this advice. WRITE. Finish your story. You can’t sell a story if it isn’t finished. And without practicing writing ‘The End’ a few times, you really won’t know how to complete a book. Beyond that and learning the mechanics of writing, I would suggest two things. One, enter contests, and two, go to conferences. You can learn a lot from both, and make contacts from both. I really believe that meeting someone is incredibly influential, and that nothing is more important than getting your material in front of an editor, thus the contests.

HS: Great advice! Now, tell us one thing about yourself that no one knows (or something very funny or interesting about you or your life).

LC: When I first separated from my ex I found an interesting parallel to our lives. He joined Yoga, I took up Karate. He joined ball room dancing and I took up KobuJutsu – the study of ancient Japanese weaponry, LOL. Hey, we all deal with stress in our own way.

HS: LMAO!!! Boxers or Briefs on your man?

LC: Helllooo boxers! Accessibility, and a variety of textures and patterns. What more could a woman want?

HS:Too true! If you could have sex with one celebrity who would it be?

LC: Wolverine…er I mean Hugh Jackman!!

HS: Thank you so much, Lilly, for visiting the Smut and the great interview!

Now, all you readers or lurkers, POST! Lilly will be choosing one commenter at random to win a copy of her book, Dark Harmony.

Me? I'm off to buy.

Later Gators!

New Year, New Man!

2010-01-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to 2010! I know you were worried but I am ringing it in the right way. With a man hot enough to make you want to keep that New Year's resolution to be as naughty as possible. Maybe that's just me.

Our man today is Gregory Vincent. He's an actor, model, singer, and get this ladies, a GYMNAST. That's right, our baby can bend!!! That's okay. You can drool. And pick up that other girl off the floor so she can see this...

OMG!! Sorry!!

2009-12-28T09:00:00.002-07:00

I didn't realize that it's been a month!! I hate the holidays. Time just seems to slip away. I had a great Christmas and I hope you did as well (or Hanukkah for my Jewish friends). I am back and I bring you the final Man Meet of 2009. A man who has done the impossible and made the name Albert sexy as hell!

ALBERT HOLLIS!

Albert hails from Sacramento, California and is a personal trainer as well as model. I need to get myself to California if this is the way they grow them there.

ENJOY!!

YOU'RE WELCOME!!

LATOR GATORS

Man Meet Monday: Steve Burton

2009-11-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

In keeping with my Soap Opera Hunk theme, I bring to you, Steve Burton. Steve has played Jason (Quartermaine) Morgan on General Hospital for more years than I can count. He wasn't always the ripped hunk that he is now. In fact, he used to be quite scrawny. Thank God for free weights!

Anyhoo, Steve is apparently quite the funny guy, performing stand up and is known to be a practical joker, which amuses me to no end because his character is about as emotionless and robotic as you can get. Steve is 39 and happily married with two kids, which is fine with me because he's more of someone I like to look at although my friend Julie would disagree as she wants to eat him whole.

Oh, and I also think he did a spread in Playboy.

Enjoy!

P.S. To those of you doing NaNo, CONGRATS!!! I decided that I couldn't hang this year, with a new job and moving so I'll be doing my own NaNo probably in January. Maybe March.

Man Meet Monday: James Scott

2009-11-23T09:00:00.002-07:00

Hello and welcome to my inaugural Man Meet Monday. Just my little way of starting you week off right. What better way that by looking at the some hot man meat. Get it? My wit astounds me.

Anyhoo, many of those who know me would think that I would start this new segment off with the man I fully intend to stalk, bag, and tie up in my basement so that I may so things to him that I am sure would get me arrested, even in France, Gerard Butler. Normally, they would be right but lately I've been into Days of Our Lives (yes, I love me the stories) and a certain hunk that makes me lick my lips every time I see him. James Scott aka E.J. DiMeara.

This man gives new meaning to the word Soap Opera Hunk. He's tall, British, and made of candy. I'm sure of it. It has to be the reason I just want to lick him every time I see him. And he's got this five o'clock shadow going on that I wouldn't mind it abrading the inside of my thighs, my breasts, my... Uh, yeah.

Obviously I think he's attractive and want to jump on him like a monkey on a trampoline. He hails from England and started out as a nightclub promoter. He got his first big break playing Ethan Cambius on All My Children and originated the role of EJ on Days three years ago. And boy, has he been busy. Unfortunately, late he's been more busy out of bed than in it but hopefully he'll get a love interest soon. Oh, and did I mention he's only 30. PERFECT!!!!

Please to enjoy...

THE QUEEN IS DEAD!

2009-11-18T19:04:00.007-07:00

So unless you live under a rock (or are doing NaNo) you may have read the news that Harlequin has partnered with ASI Solutions, a self publishing press, to create Harlequin Horizons. Harlequin Horizons would offer authors opportunity to self-pub. In fact, the new rejection letter will include a blurb about Harlequin Horizons. I imagine it goes something like, "Hey! We didn't like your story and you're definitely not good enough for us to publish, so instead of us paying you, you can give us money to allow you to publish your own book with minimal help or support from Harlequin. Whaddaya say?"

This officially makes Harlequin, the #1 publisher of Women's Fiction, a VANITY PRESS. As such, RWA has officially revoked their eligibility as an RWA endorsed publisher.

HOLY SHIT!!!

(Pause for the world to end.)

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. RWA has long since drawn their line in the sand in regards to non-subsidy/vanity presses (not to be confused with digital presses). RWA doesn't like them and doesn't support them. Period. This has been an ongoing argument in Romancelandia. However, RWA has long remained committed to the professionalism and business of romance authors. Any Joe Schmoe with some bucks can self-pub a book. Not that there aren't many talented authors out there who self-pub for one reason or another. But RWA feels this detracts from the profession.

Are they right?

I don't know. Smarter Bitches than me have blogged about it here, and Dear Authors here, and even fellow Tweeter Kwana here. (P.S. The Smart Bitches have a very Smart response from Malle Vallik from Harlequin.)

I just know that my dream is to some day be New York published. I don't plan on going the self pub way and I hope to keep my relationship with Loose Id who have treated me with so much respect. (Shameless love for my publisher. And editor, Hi, Jana!!!) I don't think less of someone self-pubbed. It's a way to go. I understand the need to get your voice out there. The have your stories read. I also understand the frustration of rejection after rejection after rejection. You can't blame people for taking matters into their own hands.

Nor can you blame RWA for sticking to its gun. Or Harlequin authors for being worried. Although Harlequin author and funny bitch Victoria Dahl put it best when she said "I'm a harlequin author & I feel no alienation. RWA is abiding by their rules. & I've been an RWA member much longer than I've been published."

The only thing to do now is to sit back and see how this all plays out. It was a ballsy move on RWA's part and with Harlequin like the WalMart of Romancelandia, they are sure to have some response.

There's no telling how this is going to shake out. So, grab the popcorn, kiddies! Showdowns like this don't come 'round very often.

Later Gators!

(Added: Another great post at Writer's Beware.)

Guest Blogger: Cari Quinn

2009-11-13T17:28:00.005-07:00

Hello and welcome to First Sale Friday! Given my luck with this blog thing lately, it's probably not wise to do this on Friday the 13th. Triskadecophobia is a bitch but we'll soldier on.

Blogging today is Cari Quinn, friend of the Smut and debut author. Cari Quinn wrote her first story - a bible parable - in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she'd ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari's genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, urban fantasy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she's come…

Visit her at www.cariquinn.blogspot.com

Her novella, Full Disclosure came out last week from The Wilder Rose Press. Check out this cover!

SEXXXY RIGHT!

Anyhoo, let's welcome Cari!

HS: How long have you been writing?

CQ: Hmm, since I could read? All my life, really, but I got “serious” probably about four years ago.

HS: What attracted you to your romance?

CQ: That I seemed to be good at it, LOL. I always liked spicier books, but not erotic romance per se. My CPs, Helen Hardt (I’m pretty sure you know her) and Tara Leigh Coons were actually the ones who helped build my confidence toward writing more boundary pushing stuff. Now I’m not sure I could write a “tame” love scene. I’ve come a long way from the bible parables I wrote in second grade…

HS: It's funny how good we get at writing about sex. Maybe it has to do with our naughty personalities. Or maybe that's just me... How many manuscripts had you completed before you sold?

CQ: Technically three, though 2 of them revolved around the same characters. I keep trying until I get it right. That same book, now titled Baring It All, is at the shop for yet another paint and lube job. Let’s hope the third time is the charm.

HS: 80% of writing is revising. Tell us about the day (the minute, the second) you got ‘The Call’ (or The Email). What was your initial reaction?

CQ: I got “the email” on August 18, 2009. I couldn’t believe it had finally happened. I’d been writing for a while and had gotten used to identifying myself as a unpublished writer. To hear that someone actually liked my work was a bit disconcerting (in a very good way!)

HS: I know what you mean. I felt like Sally Field at the Oscars. "You like me, you really like me!" LOL! What did you do to celebrate afterward?

CQ: Well, I was on vacation from the day job, so I did what a lot of women do to celebrate – I went shopping!

HS: Isn't that always the case! Anyone whom you wanted to rub your news in his/her nose?

CQ: There’s a couple coworkers who’d doubted me that I wanted to crow to, but I resisted. I knew I’d reached a goal (strange thing about goals…reach one and a dozen more crop up in its place!) and that was enough for me.

HS: Another person with more restraint than I. Tell us about your current release. (Please include an excerpt!)

CQ: Here’s the blurb: Thirty-eight-year-old divorcee Holly Burrows has had enough of battery-operated love. Prompted by an ad left at her law office, she investigates Hunk Du Jour, a website designed to foster ‘adult connections’. After weeks of sexy emails and phone calls with surf hunk Kent, she's ready to test their chemistry in person. But first she has to get through lunch with her colleague Alex, a man with a brain as agile as his body. When their consultation ends with a bang, she barely remembers the man she'd lined up for dessert. Now she thinks she's juggling two hot young guys. How can she choose between her two gorgeous cubs – and why do they remind her of each other?

And an excerpt…spicy enough for the readers of Harmless Smut! ;)

She obliged him, cupping his balls in her palm as she coaxed him deep into her throat. Her wet slurping noises echoed in her ears, but she could only concentrate on the feel of him in her mouth. He was so sleek and hard. So impossibly thick. Even another centimeter would be too much.

His salty liquid beaded on her tongue with every suck. She loved the way he tasted and the earthy way he smelled. Sex, soap and sweat. Totally male. Totally delicious.

The pulse between her thighs increased tenfold while she licked every inch of his erection. She didn’t stop until his cock gleamed, jutting straight up from its bed of crisp brown hair.

A beautiful sight. One she fully intended to enjoy.

She pursed her lips and blew again. As the cool air rippled over his hot, engorged flesh, he fisted his hands in her hair, yanking her down on him.Damn, demanding much? He clearly didn’t like slow and leisurely when he could have fast and furious, but she wouldn’t be rushed.

“Like my punishment yet?” she purred, trailing her nails over his sac. She waited until his dazed gaze finally met hers. Then she dove back down, her lips and mouth engulfing him.

HS: WHEW!!! I need some water! Can't wait to read it! When can we get our greedy hands on it?

CQ: Right now, as a matter of fact. ;) My debut release released on Friday, November 6th at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses.

HS: YAY!!! Where can we buy your book?

CQ: You can buy Full Disclosure here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=737

HS: What are you working on now?

CQ: I just finished Pleasure Principle, the followup to Full Disclosure. This story’s about Jenny, the webmistress of Hunk Du Jour, the online dating site that plays a big role in Full Disclosure. That story and my first Harlequin Blaze, Virgin Territory, are being polished before they go on submission. I have 5 other WIPs in various stages, including my NaNoWriMo Blaze, Heat Lightning. So I’m a little busy. ;)

HS: Just a little... What advice do you have for ‘Soon To Be Published’ writers (as I like to call them)?

CQ: Keep writing and don’t give up. You’ll never know what you can accomplish if you don’t throw in the pencil at the first hint of rejection. Every writer gets rejected either from editors or agents or their peers…it’s just part of the business. But who knows what’s waiting for you on the other side of that rejection if you don’t quit?

HS: That's great advice. You fail 100% of the time if you never try. So now for the good stuff. What’s the funniest or most interesting line in a book you’ve ever written or read?

CQ: I probably shouldn’t use one of my own funny lines, but I can’t help myself. ;)

This is from my WIP, Heat Lightning (and it’s more than one line, oops!)

“Yeah, well, it’s a free country and I can go where I please. And this bitch is a thief.” His mouth twisted into a sour smirk, and Nat had a startlingly clear memory of the last time that mouth had been between her legs.

God, she needed Summer’s Eve, quick.

HS: LMAO!!! That's awesome! So, facial hair or no? What about chest hair? No hair on any part of the body? (For your partner, not you)

CQ: Funny you should ask. Like Holly in Full Disclosure, I have distinct issues with waxed chests. I can admire a nice one, sure, but I’d rather see a bit of hair. It’s a fine line however, because too much hair is as bad as too little, IMO. Furriness has its place, but not in the bedroom! Facial hair’s fine, though I like a goatee/mustache/yummy scruff better than a full beard.

Well there you go! The very funny Cari Quinn. From Catholic school girl to erotic romance author. (Not that far of a trip, actually!)

Now GO BUY!!!!

Wednesday!

2009-11-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been really bad about my Wednesday blog but hopefully that will change. I've decided to make some changes at the Smut. Most have to do with schedules.

Mondays will now be Man Meet Mondays. I'll try to start your week off right with some of the hottest men that I can find. I'll kick it off with Men of Daytime. Mostly because I'm obsessed right now with James Scott. Fucking hot ass hell E.J. Di Meara from Days of Our Lives. If you want to look him up before Monday, you are more than welcome!

Wednesdays will be Writerly Wednesdays where I will try to blog about writing, the process, promotion, hardships, anything that catches my fancy.

Friday will continue to be First Sale Fridays. BTW, I've been trying, unsuccessfully mind you, to fix Lynn Lorenz's blog. I don't know what's going on there. I'm still working on it, though. This Friday, debut author Cari Quinn will be visiting the Smut.

You might ask, "What about the book blog?" That's still going to happen. Just not on a regular basis. Just when I feel like it.

So that's it. That's the new format.

What do you think?

Guest Blogger: Lynn Lorenz!

2009-11-06T09:00:00.003-07:00

Today Harmless Smut is pleased to welcome multi-published author and funny gal Lynn Lorenz. Lynn writes m/m for Loose ID and others. I don't know if Lynn remembers (probably not) but I met her at RT this year during the ebook signing event. She was lovely. Now without further ado (or cliche), LYNN LORENZ!

HS: First of all, thank you for visiting, Harmless Smut! Tell us a little about yourself.

LL: Thanks for inviting me to talk about myself and my books. I love to talk about anything, really, so you really didn’t have to twist my arm too hard. Just until it hurts so good…ahem. Maybe we should get started with the interview?

HS: I think I can outtalk you but that may be a discussion for another time. So, how long have you been writing?

LL: I’ve been writing since I was in high school, went to college for English and art, but finished with a degree in fine art. I’ve only just gotten back into writing about 4 years ago. In 2008, I published my first novel, The Mercenary’s Tale, with Loose Id.

HS: What attracted you to romance?

LL: Oh my God! Two hunky men who are into each other? Kissing, nibbling, demanding, dominating??? ‘Nuff said. I’d always written strong male characters and they always had this chemistry between them that verged on sexual, so when I finally crossed that line for my characters, it felt as if I’d come home. Very natural.

HS: I have to agree with you. Nothing like the hunks and double the pleasure? WHEW! How many manuscripts had you completed before you sold?

LL: I’d completed, I need to think about this….wait, I have to remove a shoe… 6 or 7 maybe?

HS: Perseverance! I like it. Tell us about the day (the minute, the second) you got ‘The Call’ (or The Email). What was your initial reaction?

LL: Well, it was an email. I read it and jumped up and down. Re-read it and twirled around in my chair. Then I re-read it. And it asked if I would be willing to add more to the story. It made a few suggestions and I emailed back and said let me see what I can do with it. And damn, if they weren’t right. It was a better book when I expanded it.

HS: Isn't it amazing how that happens? What did you do to celebrate afterward?

LL: I went out to dinner with my family. I have a group of friends, and we’ve had dinner together after each of my books has been published. And I have a celebration dinner with my family. Oh, and I have a few other friends and we go to lunch. Hey, I’m beginning to see a pattern here….

Hs: I hear ya. Seems like my life revolves around food as well. Anyone whom you wanted to rub your news in his/her nose?

LL: Sure. There was a woman in my critique group that told me I’d never get published (I had a m/m scene in my vampire book, Warriors At Heart). She also said that no matter what I did, I’d never make Ivan (the vampire) into a hero. Of course, to her, I’m probably not really published since not of my publishers are NY print houses…but I tried explaining that to the IRS says when they asked for their money, but they wouldn’t fall for it.

HS: Little did she know! Women are gobbling up m/m like candy. You were ahead of the curve. Tell us about your current (or upcoming) release. (Please include an excerpt!)

LL: My latest release is Best Vacation That Never Was, from Loose Id. It’s about a guy who’s planning his dream vacation and to get the man of his dreams, only the night before he leaves his apartment building burns down and he’s left literally with nothing. His friends have left, he has no family, no money, no cell phone, no clothes, just the towel he was wearing when he escaped. A hunky firefighter comes to his rescue, and proceeds to give him the best vacation he’s ever had, including the best lovin’ too.

Here’s an excerpt:

Jason rushed through the emergency room doors and straight to the counter.

“I’m looking for a guy.”

The admitting nurse looked up from the computer screen and nodded. “Name?”

“I don’t know his name.”

“Okay.” The helpful look faded from her face. “Do you have someone special in mind, or are you just looking for any guy?”

“Someone special. He came in last night. From the fire.”

“We had several patients from there. Can you be more specific?” Crossing her arms on the counter, she stared up at him, waiting.

Jason grinned. “He was wearing nothing but a towel.”

The woman’s brows rose. “Seems the towel made a big impression on you.”

“You could say that. Look, I’m the firefighter who brought him down and I just wanted to check on him. See if he’s okay.” Jason held out his identification card to prove it.

“Sure. How about you go on back, see if you can find him? Wait over there and I’ll buzz you in.”

“Great!” Jason bounced on his toes like a teen at his first concert as he waited for the double doors to swing open. They opened outward and he bolted through them.

Quickly walking down the corridor, Jason looked from side to side, checking out the rooms. Almost to the nurse’s station he glanced in the window to a room and halted.

The towel guy sat in a chair, shoulders slumped, staring down at his bare feet.

Jason’s heart soared, then broke at the torn look on the guy’s face. Sorrow. Regret. Fear. It was the fear that made Jason’s stomach knot, made him want to make it better, do whatever it took to put a smile on his face.

He stepped into the doorway. “Hey.”

The guy’s gaze rose. He focused, blinked, and then his brows furrowed as he took Jason in.

“Hello. Do I know you?” Troy croaked out.

Oh God. Please say I know you.

A smiling god stood in his door. A dark-haired god in dark blue jeans, and a baby blue polo shirt that clung to each and every muscle in the man’s body. There was something familiar about his blue eyes.

“Not really. I’m the guy,” the god said.

Troy swallowed the lump in his throat. The hottest man he’d ever laid eyes on just said hello and Troy was wearing the ugliest hospital gown on earth. Maybe the universe.

Perfect.

“The guy?” Troy’s voice was still hoarse.

“From the fire. The firefighter on the ladder.” He bounced the toe of his boot on the floor, looking incredibly adorable and tentative, as he hung half in the room and half out of it.

“That’s it!” Troy choked, starting a coughing fit.

“Hey, take it easy.” The guy came in the room and poured Troy a cup of water from the sink. “Here, take a sip.”

Troy took the cup from him, their fingers brushing. The shock wave rolled through his body and he swallowed hard.

The firefighter’s Adam’s apple jerked as his eyes widened.

Troy took a sip to hide his reaction, then put it on the table next to the phone.

“Have you been discharged yet?”

“Yeah. All ready to go.” Troy sighed.

“Is someone coming for you?” The guy bit his bottom lip.

Troy wanted to bite it for him. Bite it, suck on it, give it a gentle nibble. God, once a slut, always a slut.

“No.” Troy shook his head. “I…I don’t have my phone. And most of my friends, well, all of my friends are leaving this morning on a cruise.”

“A cruise you were supposed to be on?” The man leaned back against the door looking as if he were going to settle there for a while.

“Yeah. A dream vacation.” He frowned. “But all my stuff is gone.”

“Shit. I’m sorry about that.”

Troy shrugged. “I’m alive.”

The other guy’s eyes glinted. “Yeah, you are.”

Those blue eyes held Troy captive.

Troy cleared his still sore throat. It hurt to talk so much. “Well, thanks for coming by.”

The guy straightened as if to leave. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name is Jason Cooper.” He stuck out his hand at Troy.

“Troy Hastings.” He slid his hand into Jason’s and they shook. And shook. And shook as if neither of them would let go.

Jason took a step back, breaking their connection. “Have you got anywhere to go?”

“Not really. Everything I owned, except my car, was in the apartment. I don’t even have the keys to my car. Guess they burned up too.” He coughed from the exertion of speaking.

Jason bit his lip again. “Look. I know you don’t know me and I know we’ve just met, but if you want, you could come home with me.”

“With you?” Troy gasped. Go home with a god?

“Just until you get on your feet. Get your stuff sorted out, you know.” Jason shrugged.

Troy sat back and exhaled. This wasn’t for real, was it? Was he in some sort of crazy dream? He didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know what to do about anything right now.

“I…I…I,” he sputtered.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jason came in the room. “Are these your papers?” He tapped the folder on the table.

Troy nodded.

Jason scooped them up, taking control. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Troy stood and looked down. “No clothes.”

“That’s okay. Once we get to my place I’ll lend you some of mine. I’m guessing we’re about the same size.” He stepped back to let Troy walk past him out the door.

“Thank you,” Troy whispered and followed his rescuer down the hall and out the doors of the emergency room as people stared at him.

Hadn’t they ever seen a barefoot man, covered in soot, wearing a hospital gown before?

“My car is parked outside.”

They reached the car, a bright red Explorer. Troy barked a silent laugh.

“Yeah, I know. Red. Firefighter. Fire engines are red.” Jason shrugged, but it was unapologetic. “It’s cliché, but there you have it.”

“It suits you.”

Troy opened the car door and looked at the spotless gray leather seats. “I’m filthy.” He glanced across at Jason through the open door.

“No problem.” Jason disappeared from sight, the rear hatch opened, and then slammed shut. Jason reappeared at the driver’s door and tossed a blanket across the console. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Troy arranged it over his seat and then climbed in, careful not to get any of the soot on the car.

The seat felt so much better than the hospital chair. His body ached and his lungs hurt when he took deep breaths, but the nurse had told him that would go away in a few days. Troy sank back, closed the door, and put on the seatbelt.

Jason started the Explorer and they pulled out of the parking lot.

For one brief moment, Troy thought maybe he was out of his mind. He’d gotten into a car with a complete stranger and he had no idea where they were going.

He glanced across at Jason. What would Carlton say about this?

Have you lost your mind? You don’t even know him! He could be a serial killer!

But serial killers weren’t this nice, were they? Besides, he and Jason weren’t complete strangers. They’d met before. Outside his building. Three floors up.

Troy fell asleep rationalizing his answers to Carlton.

LL: My next two releases are in November, one with Amber Quill – My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, a m/m novella set in New Orleans about a frisky game of cowboys and Indians, and one from Liquid Silver Books – McCallan’s Blood, a werewolf love story set in central Louisiana, involving the McCallan pack’s alpha, who finds out the girl his brother knocked up is his mate. And he suspects his brother is trying to kill her.

HS: Those sound great. When can we get our greedy hands on them?

LL: In November, like I said. And I have a book in December, from Amber Quill, called No Good Deed, about a Chinese-American police captain who’s bisexual, but falls in love with a gay man.

HS: I'm always looking for a good multicultural romance. Where can we buy your books?

LL: I have three publishers, Loose Id, mostly m/m, Liquid Silver, all m/f and Amber Quill Press, mostly m/m and a few m/f.

HS: What are you working on now?

LL: Right now I’m on deadline to finish the next in the series In The Company of Men. It’s a medieval called Baymore’s Heir. The first in this series was my first book The Mercenary’s Tale. In Jackson’s Pride, we find out if one of the secondary characters from the first book gets his HEA. And in this one, Baymore’s Heir, once again Jackson’s pride gets him and Will into trouble.

HS: I can't wait to read them. What advice do you have for ‘Soon To Be Published’ writers (as I like to call them)?

LL: Well, aside from the usual stuff, like write a lot and edit even more, I think most important is find people you trust who will give you honest opinions about your work. Not “this is great!” sort of stuff, but real, honest, sometimes brutal, critiques about what you’re writing. If all you ever hear is “I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it” or “It’s perfect!” then those aren’t the right people.

My critique partners frequently tell me, “Seriously?” “You’re joking, right?” and my fav, “Were you drinking when you wrote this?” But they’re the best, I love them, and they’ve helped me be a better writer. And I have to say, my critique group has soon to be published writers, agented writers, newbies, and published, and we all write different genres, from inspirational to YA to M/M.

HS: I agree. I don't know what I would've done without my crit group. Okay, now for the fun stuff. Boxers or briefs?

LL: Boxers. When I was first married, back in the Cretaceous, my husband would put on his briefs and then strike all these men’s underwear poses from catalogs. I would laugh so hard I’d cry. And then he’d pull out the pipe (he tried to smoke one instead of cigarettes) and pose with it in his underwear, I’d laugh so hard I nearly pee myself. I still laugh until I cry, but he lost the pipe years ago, so I don’t have to worry about the peeing part anymore, thank God. So now, if I see a pair of those tidy whities, I collapse into hysterical laughter and point. Oddly, not a good thing to do to a man.

HS: OMG! That's fucking hilarious! If you could have sex with one celebrity who would it be?

LL: Just one?

HS: Just one.

LL: This is a fantasy right? It’s like I get to pick the time when I was the hottest I’ve ever been, tight tummy, firm ass, great tits? Flawless complexion? My thighs were like butter, I tell you. Butter.

HS: Focus, Lynn!

LL: Sorry, I digress. So I’m just sitting around the house and there’s a knock on the door and it’s Dermot Mulroney and he’s lost in my subdivision. How he got past the guard I’ll never know, but I’m damn glad he did. He’s here to clean my pool, except I don’t have a pool, but I let him in away. After all, he’s got that long pool skimmer thingy and wearing nothing but a pair of those low-slung baggy swim trunks, the kind you can see the guy’s indentations on either side of his belly below his navel? Yeah, those. *shudder*

Did I mention I look hot? Right. Butter, baby.

Dermont can’t believe his good fortune. I get my checkbook.

One thing leads me to another, and before I know it, I’m looking for a pack of menthols and I’ve got another pair of swim trunks for my collection.

HS: Great choice! And boo on you for making us use our imaginations. Thank you again for visiting the smut. You're kind of demented and I like that. I smell the bginning of a beautiful friendship.

And for you, blog readers, GO BUY!!!!

Later gators.

Guest Blooger: Viola Estrella

2009-10-30T17:22:00.004-06:00

So you may have notice that I have been a bit derelict in my blogging duties but I have an excuse. We've just crawled out from under a blizzard here in Colorado. Unfortunately, I don't have Internet at my house (other than my iPhone but that is a whole other post!) so I haven't been able to blog. Today is the first time I've even left my house (or my jammies) since Tuesday. Yeah.

Anyway, I am back with a bang! And a guest blogger. My lovely CP and friend VIOLA ESTRELLA! Her new book, Bewitching You, is out today from the Wild Rose Press.

Isn't that a beautiful cover?!?!

Take it away, Vi!

Thanks so much for letting me have a day on your blog, Monica! Bewitching You is out today – officially – in eBook and paperback and I’m pretty excited. This book was most definitely a book of my heart. What does that mean to me? It just means I poured my heart and soul into writing it and creating characters that made me laugh and cry right along with them. It was a journey to write this story and I hope readers will like it as much as I loved creating it.

Blurb:

An interfering ghost, a nosy mind-reading grandmother, a psychic man-hating mother, and a spell gone wrong are only a few dilemmas Sofia Good has to deal with in order to find love. It’s not easy having control of your own destiny when you can’t even remember what you put on that morning, even worse when you’re given a “gift” of precognition to save people’s lives, and you have no clue how to use it.

Grayson Phillips lost his brother in a senseless accident, and now he’s trying to gain back control by maintaining a safe and uneventful ‘life plan.’ But after sexy, quirky Sofia crash lands into his world he’s forced to rethink his strategy.

When Sofia’s grandmother casts a love spell, it successfully maneuvers Sofia and Grayson into her home in secluded Amish country. Time will tell if the love spell helps or destroys Sofia’s only chance at love.

Excerpt from Bewitching You:

Sofia finished showering, shaving, and changing into her favorite light green nightgown. It had spaghetti straps and was silky and sleek against her skin. She ran her hands over her hips and felt truly sexy for the first time in her life. It probably had to do with there being a hot guy downstairs who made her feel like she was something more than a short, chubby, wannabe cheerleader. So much more. He was sweet for sticking up for her against her worst high school memory. It made her wish she’d met him back then.

Sighing, she pulled her sketchbook from her duffle bag and sifted through the pages. Her own personal homage to Gray. How humiliating would it be if he found it? Even worse, if he were to see the numerous paintings that filled her bedroom at home. Sofia Good: Dream stalker extraordinaire. Why, yes, Gray, I did spend hours upon hours sketching and painting you, even before I laid eyes on you.

Not good. She stuffed it back in the bottom of the bag and scrounged for a new pair of panties. All that was left were her high-cut cotton briefs. Comfortable, but not sexy at all. She really needed to do laundry, but how embarrassing would it be to hang out your underwear for the world and Gray to see on a clothesline?

No way.

She opted to wear none for tonight. Nothing was going to happen, but it was fun to feel a little naughty. To know that with one slip of his hand, he would realize she was completely bare underneath this lightweight nightgown.

He’d only have to hike it up and straddle her on his lap… Stop it, Sofe. Stop. It.

Twenty-four years without knowing the touch of a man was starting to warp her mind. Sure, she could’ve given into a man’s advances on one of the several dates she’d been on, but when she had visions of the men falling love with someone else, the idea always lost its flavor. Of course, she didn’t have that problem with Gray. In her dreams of him, he loved her, and no one else.

She let out a breath and put a brush through her damp hair.

“Hey, Sofia.” Gray’s deep voice jolted her.

She swerved around to see him standing at the door with his hands braced against the doorframe. She really needed to remember to start closing and locking the door. Or not. His shirt was off again and the top button of his jeans was undone. She managed to squeak out a, “Hi.”

“Am I interrupting?”

“No.” She set the brush on the dresser and watched as he sat down on the bed.

He grabbed her wrist and gently tugged her over until she stood in between his thighs. “I wanted to say goodnight.” He set his hands on her hips and pulled her forward.

“Okay.” Oh, boy.

“And because sometimes words escape me, I wanted to make a point to tell you how beautiful I think you are. Inside and out.”

Sofia gulped. “I, um, thanks.”

His large hands slid down her butt and back up again. He must have noticed her lack of underwear, because he bit into his bottom lip and repeated the action.

Sofia was pretty sure her heart stopped beating. Not since Leo Wendle pinched her ass in the hallway in the seventh grade had someone acted like they appreciated God’s big, old, huge gift to her backside. And Leo Wendle had been an acne-faced pervert with premature facial hair.

This was so much better.

----

Bewitching You is available now as eBook and in paperback from www.thewildrosepress.com. You can also find it online at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.booksamillion.com.

To find out more about me and my writing, visit my website www.violaestrella.com.

WOW!!! That sounds awesome, Vi! Can't wait to read it! Now you out there in Bloglandia, GO BUY IT!!!!

And the winner is...

2009-10-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

Miss Priss!!!

E-mail me at monicakaye at gmail dot com to claim your prize.

Guest Blogging over at Helen's Heroes

2009-10-19T17:44:00.001-06:00

Sean, the hero from 'Dirty Business' is talking over at Helen's Hereoes. Go check him out!!!

RELEASE DAY!!!! (and Contest)

2009-10-13T19:56:00.004-06:00

Hello!

I cannot tell you all how excited I am to announce the release of 'Dirty Business' from Loose Id! It's a story near and dear to my heart. I hope the rest of the world loves it as much as I do.

Also, because I'm a dumb ass, I forgot to include the dedication page so I'd like to do that here. First and foremost, I'd like to thank my family. My brother, Joseph, who thinks I writes smut but is glad that I'm now getting paid for it. My dad, David, who when he heard I was getting published said that he was going to buy it--but not read it. And to my mom, Pat, who said, 'I am!' and proceeded to tell everyone in our universe, including my nana.

Also to my CP, Helen Hardt, Viola Estrella, and Tricia Leigh Wood, without whom I probably would have given up this racket ages ago. Thanks for all the support and encouragement.

Oh, and catch me over at Lia Slater's blog. I've got some pretty choice things going on over there.

Now for the fun part.

First, an excerpt. I know you all have been waiting for one and I've been waiting to give it to you!

Here's the blurb from the Loose Id website:

The moment Sean Keller spotted the dark-eyed beauty across a dim hotel bar room, it was lust at first sight. It wasn't long before he had his hands -and mouth- all over her. After one incredible night of sex, he awakens to find she’s disappeared, but it's not long before he finds her again. At his new office: she's his Executive Assistant! He can't allow himself to be distracted. He has come to Denver on a mission, to find the person trying to swindle him. Sean always gets his man. But keeping his distance from his newest employee is not going to be easy.

Chloe Walters had no idea that the handsome stranger she slept with the night before would be her new boss. Or that she’d be the number one suspect in his corporate espionage investigation. She's on a hunt of her own to uncover the scammer. But Sean’s idea of cat-and-mouse has higher stakes than just her job.

I LOVE IT!! SO FUN!

And now the excerpt...

She resisted the urge to fidget, knowing he was establishing his dominance. She didn’t relish the thought that he was a dog and she was the nearest tree. The silence stretched between them until she wanted to claw at the air until she could breath again.

She was just about to scream when he looked up. She jerked as his green gaze lasered into her brown one.

“So I was surprised to find you worked at Dorset.”

“Yeah, well, no more than I was to discover who you were.” Or that my new boss knew how to give an amazing orgasm using just his tongue.

Stop! Focus!

He leaned back in the chair, then steepled his fingers beneath his chin. “I’ve been reviewing your personnel file. You graduated magna cum laude from NYU with a degree in computer science, yet you work as an admin.”

She stiffened. “Yeah?”

“Why is that?”

She shrugged. “It was the end of the Internet boom. I wanted to live in Denver, and Mr. Dorset assured me that there was potential for advancement.”

“And you believed him?”

She narrowed her eyes, unsure of the direction of this conversation. “I’m not sure what you’re asking me.”

He leveled his stare on her. “It’s just that I’m a little surprised that someone with your stellar résumé is content to underachieve.”

“What does any of this have to do with the business at hand?” She hated the defensive tone of her voice. She especially hated he wasn’t saying anything that she didn’t tell herself on a daily basis. She already felt like a chump for staying and believing Dorset’s promises. The last thing she needed was for Sean to so accurately pin her as a dupe.

“Nothing. I was merely curious.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Well, I’m done with twenty questions, so let’s move on.”

“Okay. Just one last question, though. What do we do now?”

She pretended ignorance. “Now I help make this acquisition as smooth as possible.”

He smiled. “I’m thinking more along the lines of the fact that I want nothing more than to take you, bend you over this desk, and fuck you until neither of us can stand.”

Oh hell.

Now writing that was fun. So is this...

CONTEST!!!

Tell me about your most forbidden romance. (Obviously incest, bestiality, pedophilia, and liaisons involving bodily waste are out. But that does leave the field wide open.) Leave a comment on my blog and I will choose a winner. Now if you've never had a forbidden romance, don't despair. Tell me the most exotic location you've ever made love. Or fucked. They're not always the same. Sean and Chloe have some pretty fun adventures. What's yours?

The winner will receive a PDF copy of my novella, 'Dirty Business'!

Now go, comment!

Later Gators