Regina Carlysle

V.J. Devereaux...YOU ARE LUCKY

2009-11-14T08:46:00.004-06:00

Thanks to everyone who played my "name your superstition" game. It was fun remembering all those silly superstitions. This morning I drew VJ Devereaux...YAY. VJ, check out my titles on the right of this blog or go to my website, www.reginacarlysle.com and take your pick from my releases.

You can reach me here or send me an email at reginacarlysle@yahoo.com

In the meantime, I'm off to write. Later, today the husband and I are planning to see the new movie 2012 and maybe grab a bite of dinner. Have you all been watching the doomsday shows about the Mayan Calendar and the fact we're all gonna go KABLOOEY on Dec. 21, 2012? I watch these shows with interest but I've never been one to think...hey, I'd better get rid of all my wordly possession and get ready to put my head between my legs and kiss my ass goodbye. I found it interesting that NASA was all over the news yesterday debunking these stories as utterly ridiculous. I'm with NASA. They are a whole lot smarter than me and you can bet I'm going to believe THEM.

Now, I'm going to finish my coffee and write. Yesterday I thought I might take a short nap. Instead of sleeping, a new story just kinda unfolded in my mind so last night I did a little research, jotted down some ideas and started writing. Almost 2K on this new Jaguar shifter menage. YAY...lets hear it for productive non-naps!

Freaky Friday the 13th

2009-11-13T08:26:00.004-06:00

Late last night I was looking for pics of black cats since today is Friday the 13th. Gotta admit, this cat freaked me the HELL OUT! When I was a little kid, seeing a black cat was the only time I was allowed to cuss. I come from a long line of superstitious people and every time a black cat crossed the road in front of us, we'd all say...Damn Black Cat. Naturally, being a little kid I prayed for black cats to cross the road so I could do that.

I've always had a healthy respect for superstition but I've never actually had bad, terrible things happen on Friday the 13th. As a natural klutz, I guess I save my stumbing and bumbling for the rest of the days of the year! On Friday the 13th, I'm always extra careful. Guess I'm NOT careful the rest of the time, huh?

My Grandma Minnie, a tiny little Cherokee lady, was a wealth of knowledge when it came to superstition and she was always saying...no, don't do that, it's bad LUCK. So yeah, I guess I grew up hearing this stuff. According to Grandma, if your right ear itched, it meant someone was talking about you. Left ear? Uh-oh...they were talking and it wasn't good. No walking with one shoe on and one shoe off (a practice I still observe to this day)and itchy palms means you'll get money soon. I never walked under a ladder and, umbrellas open in the house? Nope, not happening around here.

I know there are plenty more superstitions I learned as a child but I'm not picking up on all of them today. Maybe because I live with so many of them they have become natural and not oogy-boogy stuff. I know that owls mean death and you'd better hope your cat doesn't run away because that means, death too. The cat thing, actually happened to us. When I was pretty young we lost three family members within three days...yes, there's a superstition about things happening in 3's too. Sure as heck, that cat took off and we never saw him again.

In honor of Friday the 13th, I'm having a little contest. Tell me about a superstition you have or an interesting one you have heard and I'll draw a name. Winner gets a free download of one of my books. I'll announce my winner tomorrow...RIGHT HERE.

Speaking of superstitions, Laura Breck, an author with Red Rose Publishing is guest blogging at Three Wicked Writers today. If you have a minute, run over and give her a holler. Click here to visit Laura.

In other news: Anne Rainey, Kelly Nyrae and I were guests of Phoebe Jordan on BlogTalk Radio last night. Yes, I was chewing nails before the show since I've never done anything like this before but we had a really great time once we got into it. Thanks to everyone who tuned into the show.

Busy Stuff

2009-11-12T10:05:00.003-06:00

Last night I was part of a terrific chat with my fellow authors in the Carnal Reunions anthology. Tessie Bradford, Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Paris Brandon and I had great fun at the Two Lips Reviews chat loop. Lots of fun and thats to TTL for having us.
I had a little contest and I'll be announcing my winner over at Two Lips later today. You can pick these stories up at Resplendence Publishing.

Tonight is time for MORE FUN! Anne Raine, Kelley Nyrae, and I are being interviewed on Blogtalk radio. I've never done anything like this before and I know it'll be a big learning experience for me. I'll be chatting live at 9 p.m. est. Call in and join the fun. 347-857-2123. We'll be open for business. lol.

I've also been interviewed by the ladies at Classy N Sassy Promotions. I'm over there chatting so come by and see what's up. Click ClassyNSassy to get you there! I'd love to see you.

EEP...Time to Trim the Locks!

2009-11-11T10:02:00.003-06:00

I've put it off far too long but today I'm going to the beauty shop for a nice cut and color. Figure a big chunk of my day will be taken up with the whole 'beautifying' thing but my hair goddess is fun and I'll be sure to catch up on all the local gossip. Of course, this means I won't get a lot of writing done but that's okay. We all need to do these things from time to time. Real life isn't as interesting as storytelling, in my view, but sometimes can be the source of a story or three.

Tonight I'll be chatting with my fellow authors in the Carnal Reunions anthology (available now at Resplendence Publishing). We're chatting at Two Lips Chat from 9-11 pm (est) so please stop by. I'll have a contest and so will the others so if you are shopping for some good reads, come by and get entered for the goodies we'll be giving away. Authors chatting it up are Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Tessie Bradford, Paris Brandon and me. Look forward to seeing you there.

In other news, I'll be talking on the RADIO tomorrow night. Phoebe Jordan will be interviewing Kelley Nyrae, Anne Rainey and me (the Three Wicked Writers) on blogspot radio. Now, I don't know what the HELL I'm doing with this stuff. It's all new to me. But if you want to catch me (most likely with my foot inserted firmly in my mouth) tune in. Tomorrow I'll have details about where you can do to tune in and ask questions.

Smokin' Ace-Out today at Resplendence

2009-11-10T09:19:00.003-06:00

A few months ago I signed up with six other authors to do an erotic anthology for Resplendence Publishing. The concept was simple, seven women, housemates during college, who meet up again at their ten-year college reunion. While there, they are reunited with the guys they left behind all those years ago. Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Tessie Bradford, Paris Brandon and myself joined together to bring the anthology to life. Can't tell you how much fun it was working with everyone to bring this about. So...happy release day to my fellow authors. It was fun and I'm wishing all of us many sales.

The books will go live at Resplendence Publishing before noon today so head over and check out the new releases.

Blurb:

A college reunion and seeing her best ‘gal pals’ is just the thing widow and single mom, Chloe Wells needs to put a little oomph back into her boring, routine life. For her, those carefree years and the friendships she made with six other women in the old Victorian were unforgettable and, hey, what’s wrong with revisiting a past that was fun and full of laughter? But when she bumps into Michael “Ace” Banner other memories surface. Memories of hot nights and rumpled bedsheets. Memories of the loss of the one man who burned her to ash.

Guest Blogging Today!

2009-11-09T11:25:00.004-06:00

Today I'm guest blogging at Erotic Muses. Talking about perfection in heroes and heroines. Hope you'll stop by to join the conversation. Here's the link

In other news, I just sent Cactus' story, Edge of Nowhere, to my editor at Ellora's Cave. Yep, it was a loooooong but productive weekend so YAY...I finally typed THE END. It's a great feeling.

Today I'm off to run some errands that I neglected all last week!

Writer at WORK!

2009-11-06T10:00:00.002-06:00

Sorry I've been lax in my blogging this week but I've been all tied up with my work in progress. Close, close, close to finishing Cactus' story and hope to get it to my editor verrrry soon. Hopefully, I'll have good news to report later. In the meantime, have a happy weekend and try to do something fun.

Becoming a Badass!

2009-11-03T09:10:00.003-06:00

I used to be a big wimp. That's right...a total weenie! I spent much of my youth afraid to speak my mind and tell it as I saw it unless I was with very close, close friends. Maybe it was all about the easy going attitude I had but I trended toward the peacemaker rather than the rabble-rouser. Sometimes, I guess, it was just easier to get along outwardly and work behind the scenes to bring about the changes I sought.

But evolution is a good thing and over the years, I've found I have evolved, or perhaps aged is a better word, into the person I want to be. I'm often asked if I would "go back" and be that very young woman again to which I always answer...HELL NO. There is something freeing about aging, I think. And NO, I'm not old by a longshot but I am definitely wiser and far more eager to step up to the plate and speak my mind. I don't allow others to abuse or mistreat me. I stand up for myself and my beliefs these days fearlessly.

It's a good feeling. I think I like being a grownup.

Love this Time!

2009-11-02T09:26:00.003-06:00

Don't know what it is about this time of year that I love so much. With the passing of Halloween, we are beginning to think about the holidays coming up and that was brought home to me over the weekend as both of my kids were home, miraculously at the same TIME. I loved having all of us together again. Unfortunately, the weekend is over and they are both back at school. Still, it was nice to discuss the upcoming holidays and their schedules. I suspect the next time I see them, I'll be busy getting things together for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Don't know if I've mentioned this before but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Maybe it's because the air is crisp, the house smells like heaven and there isn't a 'gift' attached to the day. It's a time to just get together with family and enjoy a wonderful meal before the craziness of the Christmas season kicks in. There have been years in the past that I've just not been INTO the holidays. That hits most of us from time to time but I suspect,this year will be one of anticipation and excitement. Don't know why it's hitting me more this year, than last, but I'm actually looking forward to getting the house decorated, doing the tree, etc. Don't know why that is exactly and I've been trying to put my finger on it. Maybe it's because my kids will be home for awhile. I don't know. But whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to it.

The flowers in the backyard are beginning to wilt a little bit though they are still very pretty and over the weekend we covered up the swimming pool. My husband and I discussed whether we would string lights everywhere this year or not. It seemed more important to do that when the kids were little so we are thinking of other things that will be festive and I've scoped out some deals on pre-lit trees...very small ones to put on our large front porch. That should be pretty and won't require trips up and down ladders! I LIKE that! There should NOT be an element of danger involved in Christmas decorating!

Lots of Stuff and a New Release from Tessie Bradford

2009-10-30T09:11:00.003-05:00

My friend Tessie Bradford has a hot new book out today at Ellora's Cave. I have a suggestion, pick this hot little number up today and when the trick or treating is done you can settle in for a steamy menage, futuristic guaranteed to make your hair sizzle! Here's a blurb and, of course, the link to buy! Happy release day, Tessie!

Buy it HERE!

Blurb:
Aliens who embrace the pleasures of the flesh in every conceivable manner and at every opportunity? A delightful fantasy but for average earthling Elizabeth Malloy, it is her shocking new reality. When two sinfully devine specimens of Argon male goodness boldly stake their claim to her body and her heart, the adventure truly begins.

Haga Ruuchar, commander of the explorer ship Oasis, takes skillful control of Elizabeth's body from the first moment they are alone. Gareth Ornne, second in command, playfully offers himself to Elizabeth, allowing her free rein to explore her newfound sexual freedom. Together they enthusiastically initiate Elizabeth into a world of decadent, uninhibited, orgasmic delights she never imagined existed.

Big Sale! Hurry over to Ellora's Cave. http://jasminejade.com and check out their boooo-ti-ful Halloween Sale. All vamp and shifter stories are marked down through the weekend. If you haven't read any of my shifter stories, now is the perfect time to try them on for size. Feral Moon, Highland Beast, Lone Star Lycan and Ringo's Ride are available for a pittance!

In other news: We had some excitement around here a few nights ago. My husband was out of town most of the week but when he was driving home through a rural area, he hit an 8 point BUCK with his beautiful sportscar. OMG! Talk about scary! His poor baby is just WRECKED!!!! He managed to limp home with it but for awhile there, it was iffy. Apparently the damage is more to the body of the car than to anything mechanical. sighhhhh. Looks like his brand new car will be in the car hospital for quite awhile. Good news is he is okay and very happy to be home.

Today we celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary! Wow. That's a loooong time! Someone pointed out to me just this morning that we began as a couple, then we were a couple with kids, and NOW we are a couple again. I hadn't thought of it in quite that way before. Anyway, I expect we'll go to dinner and have some fun.

Happy weekend everyone...whether it's trick or treating with the kids or maybe watching the World Series.

Stone and Sky Releases Today!

2009-10-28T08:04:00.002-05:00

Hold on to your hats! Cindy Spencer Pape's lastest gargoyle book is out TODAY at Ellora's Cave. I know you'll want to pick this up so I'm posting the blurb and excerpt and, of course, a BUY link. Enjoy!

Buy It HERE!

Blurb:
Heroes of Stone, Book Four

Marc Armel is a gargoyle under pressure. It’s up to him to find the fourth and final artifact necessary to save his race. When he goes off to think, what does he find instead but a gorgeous harpy, washed up on his beach in a tattered evening dress, no luggage and no memory.

Aldara knows she came to Canada for a reason, but she can’t remember what. After one look at Marc, she hopes to heck that she’s single because she wants him more than her next breath. As her memories return, her passion for Marc grows too powerful to resist.

Chapter One

I could just turn into a bird and fly the rest of the way to Canada.
Aldara Cromlech leaned over the rail of the cruise ship and looked out over the infinite inky-black swells of the Atlantic Ocean. She wasn’t going to shift her shape and fly. She was trying to put her harpy past behind her and live in the human world now.
She had only fifteen minutes until her next performance and she loved the fresh air as compared to the smoky atmosphere of the ship’s lounge where she sang. It was going to take her much longer to reach North America this way than in an airplane, but she was enjoying the cruise and was proud of the fact that by singing in the lounge every night, she was paying her own way. The small sum of money she’d been bequeathed by her foster father wouldn’t last very long and she’d been determined to fulfill Geraint’s last wish—returning a priceless artifact to the clan his father had abandoned over a century before. By earning her keep as she traveled, she’d have enough left for a modest start in a new land.
Her stomach clenched as she thought about her foster father and she blinked back tears, careful not to mess up the heavy eye makeup she was expected to wear for her performances. She’d stayed by his side during his final illness, watched as he wasted away from the cancer that had spread throughout his body. He’d told her of a time when the gargoyle race had been immune to such diseases and made her promise she’d do her best to help restore the magic that had once been his birthright. Aldara wasn’t sure that one diamond-studded antique crown was really going to save an entire race, but she’d made a promise to the man who had reared her and she was determined to keep it.
Aldara unscrewed the cap on her bottle of water and drained the last few ounces before tucking the empty bottle back under her arm. Time to go get ready for work. She had three more sets tonight and then she was free for almost two days. By morning the ship would dock in Nova Scotia where they’d remain overnight before heading south to Boston and finally New York. New York, where she intended to find work and start a new life. From Halifax tomorrow she would try to contact Geraint’s clan in Montreal and discharge her last responsibility. Meanwhile she had another set to perform.
She turned toward the garbage bin to throw away the empty water bottle. The small rear deck where the crew was allowed to walk was shady and dim, cast in shadows by the setting sun, but her vision was acute even in very low light. That and her voice were the two good things that went with her unusual heritage. Well, flying hadn’t sucked, not when she and Geraint had soared about his isolated Greek islet together. Those were some of the happiest memories of her life. The elderly gargoyle had found her, a half-dead child with feathers and wings on his beach and he’d reared her as his own despite the differences of age and race. She owed it to him to remember the good times and to cherish his memory. She blinked rapidly, trying to avoid another round of tears, then leaned against the bulkhead and closed her eyes for just a moment.
She didn’t hear anyone come up behind her, not until she felt the hot puff of breath on the back of her neck. She tried to spin, to see who it was, but an inhumanly strong hand gripped the back of her neck and held her in place. The next sound she heard was a whoosh behind her ear, which was followed by a sharp stab of pain. Then the world went black.
* * * * *
He was such a loser.
Marc Armel sat on the rocky cliffs overlooking the north Atlantic, folded his wings behind him and sighed. The last of his close friends had just gotten married. Their wives had come from outside the clan, but all three had survived the conversion process that made them gargoyles like their mates. Each of the three gargoyle men had fulfilled the destiny foretold by their clan’s seer at their birth. Only Marc was left and he hadn’t come close to either one.
He’d stuck around the gargoyles’ compound outside Montreal until Beau and his new bride were back from their honeymoon, and then until Damien’s daughter Erin was born hale and healthy, leaving him free to return to his former duties as second-in-command. Though Damien had recently moved back to the compound with his mate, he was a brand-new father, so Marc had been the logical choice to fill in as head of security for the clan. Remy had offered but he was too happy drawing his graphic novels and Marc had actually enjoyed the work. Most of his time was spent managing the clan finances but the four had all gone into the security division together as young gargoyles and it felt good to get his hands back into it again.
Now, though, Beau and his wife were back, Damien was back to work and Marc was once again unneeded. His mother, the clan matriarch, was still healthy and in charge of things and his father was her primary advisor, leaving little for a prince to do. All the monetary transactions he handled for the clan were done online and actually took a fairly small portion of his day. So he’d packed up his clothes and his laptop and headed for his favorite thinking spot—a small island he owned off the shores of Nova Scotia. Before he left, he told his parents and the clan’s seer Lady Helene, who’d sent each of his friends off on their quests. He supposed he’d secretly been hoping she’d tell him not to go and send him somewhere else instead, get him started on fulfilling his part of the prophecy. To his great dismay, all she’d done was shrug and remind him to take a raincoat.
It was beautiful here and rugged. It was also completely deserted, so a gargoyle could walk around in daylight with no one to see his tiger-eye-colored skin or his wings. He only had to be careful if a boat or plane went by and with his mottled brown coloring, he blended into the rocky shoreline well enough to hide in plain sight.
He stared out at the waves, wishing he could be as lulled as he usually was by the rhythmic motion. The late October breeze was chilly, but the damp cold didn’t penetrate his thickened skin. Though not actually stone, his hide was tougher than human flesh and kept out the chill along with the small hurts his bare ass might have otherwise gotten from the rocky ground beneath it.
It was almost sunset, when his body would revert to human form, if he wanted it to. He debated taking his motor launch across the inlet to the mainland where a small town offered a few shops and a couple of bars for entertainment after dark. This late in the year all the tourist traps were closed but he was usually fine drinking with the locals. Tonight, though, while he was low on groceries, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with people unless absolutely necessary.
Out the corner of his eye, he spotted something in the surf, just at the edge of his vision. As the waves pushed it slowly toward the shoreline, it looked like a bundle of black rags but it was big, almost the size of a person. Curiosity broke through his lousy mood and he stood, hopping easily down the jagged cliffs toward the beach.
As he approached the object, now lying on the sand, it did indeed begin to look like a person, maybe wearing a black furry or feathered cloak. The lump didn’t move, so there was little chance that it was a living creature but he moved faster, just in case.
He took the last hundred yards in a vertical leap, spreading his wings to glide the last few feet and land with his toes in the sand right beside the lump. Up close he could see that long black hair was tangled up in the feathered cloak and he reached out to wipe the sodden strands off a pale white face. As he did, a tiny moan escaped.
She was alive. And definitely female. Smoothing her hair back off her cheek, he saw fine, delicate features and long lashes. The water had smeared her makeup into a vulgar clown mask but he didn’t care about that. A soft pulse beat erratically at her slender throat and her chest moved. Her heart rate and breathing were minimal but she wasn’t dead.
He started to unwrap the feathery black cloak then gasped in shock. She wasn’t wearing a cloak. In fact, the only garment she had on was a shimmery black sheath dress. It was torn in the back where her wings, big, heavy and black as night, protruded from her shoulder blades.
So much for calling for a rescue flight. He couldn’t take a nonhuman to the emergency room.
“Keep breathing for me, cherie,” he muttered. Picking her up was awkward with the wings. He really hoped she didn’t have any broken bones because he ended up holding her in a fireman’s carry over his shoulder. Picking his path carefully this time, he made his way slowly up the hill, back to the house he’d built nestled into the side of a cliff.
Looked as if his life had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

Their nonstop sex may have to wait, though, when danger threatens to tear them apart. While Marc is determined to come through for his clan, he’s even more set on saving Aldara. But perhaps she’ll be the one saving him.

Crazy for Costumes

2009-10-27T09:45:00.004-05:00

Are you a fan of Halloween? I always HAVE been. I dont know..there's just something fun and whimsical about the whole thing and, as a little kid, I loved dressing up and trick or treating with my friends. It wasn't about the candy! For me, it was about the costume and walking through the streets when the night was dark and spooky, seeing how others had transformed themselves, and gathering adult reactions to what we were wearing.

Later, when I had kids of my own, I loved going through catalogues and finding just the perfect costume for my little ones. I can't remember HOW many times my daughter was a witch! Several. Orange taffeta with black lace, lace-up black boots and velvet and satin pointy hats. Yes, um, I went overboard. Always.

My son did the whole BOY thing. The ookier, the better. He was a vampire with a cape and fake blood dripping from his mouth. He was a ninja, too. The cutest costume he ever had was a black spider. It was a 'cute' black spider though. At the time he was about four and I'll never forget that one. It was a suit with a colorful padded belly. Many 'spider legs' were attached and when he held out his arms those legs spread out. The outfit came with a black top hat that featured a big orange and yellow band. So cute. I later sent the costume across country to my sister in Florida and her two boys used the costume.

I honestly felt a little guilty getting very pricey costumes. BAAAAD Regina! But I worked out a way to deal with the guilt by finding other 'like minded' moms. We began with trade costumes every year. This way the child had something new and fun but it didn't cost mom the moon and the stars to do it! We began a nice little sharing network with this stuff. In October, the calls would start...what do you have this year? A funny spider? A witch? Perfect.

I know there are lots of cute 'make em yourself' costume ideas but I never leaned toward the crafty. I envy those who can whip up something fantastic with a little bit of felt and a huge imagination! What are some of the best costume ideas you've come up with? Do you make them up at home or do you whip out the credit card?

Tis the Season...

2009-10-26T10:09:00.005-05:00

I've always loved Halloween. Maybe it was because my kids were always so excited about the holiday or that the weather finally morphed from hotter than hell to crisp and cool. No matter the reason, I've always thought it was a fun time. I got into their costumes and decorating and doing all the things required to make it something cool. As the kids got older, we'd hang out together and take in all the gore-fests on TV. These days we have stuff on the premier channels, plus SYI FI and CHILLER channels. It's a never ending supply of the creepy and downright gross.

Now I'm not one for GORE. Nope, doesn't do a thing for me and I tend to veer away from the queazy-make-you-throw-up things. Can't take lots of that stuff so when the kids had slasher movies on, I'd make myself scarce. Still, I like a scary movie sometimes. To me, The Exorcist was horrifying. I still remember going to the theater to see that when it first came out...yes, I'm dating myself here. Movies featuring ghosts, werewolves, vampires and otherworldly creatures are just fun. Can't do SAW or SAW 2, Saw 3 blah blah. Lordy! How many of those do they have out now? Torture movies are just too creepy for words so I won't watch them.

Some of my favorites? Halloween (a little slashery but I like it), The Amityville Horror, Young Frankenstein (gotta laugh sometimes), Poltergeist (the first one...the rest were just sad). My kids just saw Paranormal whatever that's out now. Um. Nope, don't think I'll be seeing that one. Just a little TOO MUCH. I like to sleep! What are some of your favorites?

Brand New Look!

2009-10-25T10:59:00.003-05:00

Lucky ME! I have a brand new look for my blog. What do you think??? My friend, Desiree Holt, has a talented daughter who fixed this up for me the other day. Thanks Ms. A!!! Personally, I think makeovers are a good thing. Something fun and fresh about something new.

Everyone is starting to feel a little bit better around here and I'm looking forward to a productive week. I managed to make progress on Cactus' story but honestly, I've been feeling so punk, I don't know if it's any good or not. Guess I'll re-read, tweak and play a bit tonight before continuing onward. Have set myself a goal of finishing within the next couple of weeks! This weekend, we got a visit from my daughter who took a break from the college stuff to come hang out with us. Yesterday we hit the grocery store to stock her up on a few things she needs and then we tried out a new recipe. Turned out pretty good. Then last night we went out for Tex Mex and then watched a movie.

Tomorrow it's back to the real world though. sigh. The DH is headed out of town so I'll be here holding down the fort for a few days. Umm...think I might get some serious writing done? Let's hope so.

Plink, Plunk, Plink!

2009-10-21T07:52:00.004-05:00

I might have mentioned that I came home from Romanticon with a head cold. Well, the damn thing morphed into a touch of the flu. I've been getting things done in dribs and drabs and that includes writing. It's been frustrating to write while sick but as this stuff begins to wear off, I'm making a little progress. YAY ME!

I've been pulling up the file and forcing myself to plink and plunk along a bit at a time and finally, late last night I had a wee breakthrough. The words started flying a bit. It feels so good to see Cactus Mackey's story begin to progress and now I'm thinking I may just finish this one by the end of the month. I'm beginning to believe that just having the file up (even if it's minimized off and on) really helps me get words down. Now, I'm not one of those writers who writes reams every day. I write SOMETHING every day. I'm slow but sure and try to turn in a clean manuscript at the end of the first draft. No, I'm not a multi-drafter either. When I'm done, I'm done. So, all is going right in my writing world and I'm feeling inspired.

Speaking of inspired. My friend Desiree Holt has a new book out today at Ellora's Cave. If you haven't read her, let me tell you, you're missing out. If you have read her? Well, then I know you are already a fan and wouldn't miss Dancing With Danger. Here's a taste of her new release and Happy Release Day, Des!

BTW...Tracy Cooper Posey has interviewed Desiree. Check out her blog to enter a contest to win one of Desiree's titles.

Visit Tracy and Desiree. JUST CLICK

Buy it HERE!

Blurb:

Rachel Windsor knew nothing about Gabriel Peralta except that he was walking sex appeal. He blew into her life without notice, here today then always gone on a puff of wind. But each time he appears, he does things to her body that even her fantasies haven’t conjured up, driving her to orgasms that shake her like a raging storm. His mouth knows every inch of her body. The imprint of his intimate kisses linger long after he disappears.

Now he’s back again, his life unexpectedly on the line. But even in the danger zone his sexual demands are more scorching than ever and this time, Rachel is determined not to lose him—or the erotic lifestyle that binds them.

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
An Excerpt From: DANCING WITH DANGER
Copyright © DESIREE HOLT, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One

The party had been going on far too long. It was a weeknight so dinner had been scheduled for six o’clock. The hosts had spoken and made their plea, things should be wrapping up now. The room should have been at least half empty. But it seemed no one was the least bit interested in leaving. The din of conversation competed with the sound of the orchestra, which segued from one rhythmic tune to another and people continued to jam the dance floor as well as both bars.
Standing quietly in one corner, Rachel Winters looked glanced over the room. She couldn’t quite conceal a smile of satisfaction. Another successful fundraiser for The Harris Foundation. Despite tough economic times, the people who had the money couldn’t seem to give it fast enough to Sam and Loraine Harris, people with old money and a very old social position. People everyone wanted to curry favor with.
Now the Harrises were mingling with their guests, discreetly collecting checks, their bodyguards in tuxedos and guns never more than inches away. Two years ago Sam had been kidnapped by a terrorist cell who wanted an enormous ransom to fund an arms purchase. Rachel remembered that time vividly. A very black ops agency contacted by one of Sam’s close friends had taken over, faceless men moving soundlessly around the offices, interrogating everyone while a hand-picked team went in to retrieve Sam. Now the same agency provided security 24/7. It had been a difficult time for all of them and Rachel still worried about their vulnerability.
Rachel smoothed a hand down the silken fabric of her signature black cocktail dress. She always wore black, convinced it minimized the flaws in her figure. She saw her hips as too wide, her thighs as too chunky, her tummy as too rounded, especially for someone as short as she was. Now she wished she could kick off the four-inch heels she used to boost her five-foot-two-inch height. Her thick honey-colored hair was pulled up in a sophisticated arrangement that added yet another inch or two. Anything to make her feel less like a chunky miniature lost at an adult function.
Casually she stole a look at her watch. Eight thirty. Should she find some way to signal people the party was over? Sam and Loraine weren’t so young anymore and these functions were always grueling for them. She loved her job and the Harrises treated her like family, which made her take a more personal interest in their welfare. Serving as director of The Harris Foundation filled her days and nights.
Too bad it couldn’t take care of her heart, which she was sure destined to remain unfulfilled. Why did she have to go and fall for a mystery man anyway? One who appeared without warning and then was gone like a wisp of smoke. No matter how sexy he was, how good in bed, how he drove her to the highest plains of pleasure, he never stayed. Never gave her more of himself than one night at a time and those were few and far between.
She didn’t even know what he did. They’d met at a barbecue given by mutual friends and fallen into bed within hours of “hello”. But even those friends couldn’t—or wouldn’t—give her any information about him.
She knew his name. Gabriel Peralta. That was it—if that was even his real name. She also knew he was six foot four of lean hard muscle with thick silken black hair she loved to run her fingers through, a hawk nose and eyes like onyx. Hands that could make a woman’s body writhe in pleasure and a magnificent cock that stretched her to capacity and made her explode with its friction.
And scars whose origin he refused to discuss.
Just as he refused to discuss anything else. Whenever she tried to lead the conversation in that direction, he artfully distracted her with his talented mouth and hands and body. In seconds she would be a writhing mass on the bed and any thought of questions disappeared as if it’d never occurred to her.
Weeks would go by without her seeing him, weeks in which she imagined every type of situation her brain could conjure up. He was a spy. He was covert military. He was a mercenary. On the worst days she even wondered if he was married and had a wife—maybe a family—that he spent his time with between his visits to her. But she always dispelled that idea quickly. No man could be so sexually intense with her if he had another woman in his life.
Sometimes she thought what an idiot she was, living for the rare visits with nothing in between. A smarter woman would tell him to go to hell and get on with her life. But no man she met came even close to measuring up to him. In any way. So there didn’t seem to be anything to get on with. She’d stopped circling the dates of his visits on the calendar, just focused on her work and accepted the pleasure he brought when he magically appeared.
She was imagining him in her head, wondering when he’d appear out of the darkness again, when a smooth male voice cut into her thoughts.
“I would love to have one dance with you, Miss Winters. If you don’t mind.”
She shook herself from her reverie to find Lincoln Harris standing in front of her with an expectant smile. Dancing with him was last on her list of things she wanted to do. Just being with him gave her a headache. She didn’t like the man. The fact that he was handsome in a classical sense and kept himself in top condition didn’t offset his personality. He was egotistical, self-involved and arrogant.
Unfortunately he was also the heir to the family fortune, CEO of Harris Industries since his father’s semiretirement and president of the foundation board. He wasn’t someone she could easily brush aside. Or god forbid, offend in any way. Any imagined slight on her part could make her life very difficult. Board meetings that he ran gave her fits but she’d learned long ago how to deal with the Lincoln Harrises of the world. She just wished Sam and Loraine weren’t quite so blind to him.
Rachel rubbed her forehead. Tonight for some reason she was edgy and Lincoln Harris wasn’t a recipe for calm. However, she put on her public smile and held out a hand to him, reminding herself it was just part of the job. Even if she couldn’t stand the guy, her paycheck obligated her to be nice to him.
“Of course.” She forced her lips into a smile. “It would be my pleasure.”
Rachel, what an accomplished liar you are.
The orchestra swung into an old familiar ballad and Lincoln led her onto the dance floor. He would have pulled her tightly against him but she put her free hand on his shoulder, ensuring at least an inch or two of space between them.
“You’ve done an excellent job tonight,” he complimented her. “I believe this is our best turnout yet.”
“It took a lot of people to make this happen,” she demurred, turning her face away from his. The scent of his cologne was overpowering. “You and your parents have really carried your message to people. The right people.”
“Don’t be so modest. You deserve a lot of credit for the work you do.” He tightened his arm around her slightly. “I’ve been watching you for a long time, you know. You’re smart. You have elegance and grace, always know just the right thing to say to people. An asset to the foundation. Perhaps when this is over we can share a quiet drink together. Talk about…things.”
And I know just the kind of things you’ve got on your mind, you repulsive lecher.
While she was searching for a polite way to turn him down a hand touched her shoulder and a familiar voice broke into the conversation and she knew what that edgy feeling tonight had been—her radar working overtime. “Sorry. The lady has other plans.”
Even after all this time, after so many long absences, Gabriel Peralta’s honey-smooth baritone could still make her knees wobble and her pulses pound. She was stunned that he’d showed up at a place like this, an event with so many people. Usually he slipped into her house in the dark of night and left the same way.
Lincoln glared at the man behind Rachel, anger and outrage chasing briefly across his face. “I’m sorry. Have we met? I’m Lincoln Harris. And you are…”
“A close…friend of Rachel’s.” Gabe’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll excuse us. I’m only in town for a short while and we have a lot of catching up to do.”
In a smooth maneuver he slipped her from Lincoln Harris’ arms and into his and began moving them away, his feet catching the rhythm of the music. She glanced over Gabe’s shoulder and caught the controlled anger on Lincoln’s face before he melted back into the crowd. She hoped there wouldn’t be a price to pay.
Rachel realized suddenly he was wearing what she considered an unusual outfit for him. All she’d ever seen him in were jeans and t-shirts, sometimes with a leather jacket if the weather was cool. But tonight he had on an expensively tailored charcoal gray suit, white shirt with gold cufflinks and a conservative tie. He looked exactly as if he belonged with the invited guests. It added a new dimension to her impressions of him.
With her face pressed to Gabe’s chest, she inhaled his distinctive scent, all male with a hint of the outdoors and something citrusy. She would never tell him that she still had a t-shirt he’d left several months ago that she slept with every night, holding the smell of him close to her.
“I’m impressed with your outfit,” she told him. “Did you have to borrow it?”
His chuckle rumbled against her body. “Believe it or not I actually own real-people clothes.”
“How did you get in here, anyway?” She had committed the extensive list to memory and she knew for sure his name hadn’t been there. “The guest list is completely vetted and our security is top notch.”
He chuckled softly. “Yes, I know that. But I have connections.”
“How long do you have to stay here?” he murmured in her ear.
“The Harrises usually expect me to stay until the bitter end. How long are you here for this time?”
“Two days. Can you leave early?”
The orchestra had segued into another slow, romantic tune and their bodies moved in perfect harmony. He danced with an unexpected grace, the muscles in his thighs flexing as he moved. She could feel his heart beating where he enfolded her hand against his chest and the thick ridge of his cock pressed against her soft flesh through the fabric of their clothing.
His hand caressed the nape of her neck, sending shivers down her spine and he pressed his cock more tightly against her. “Rachel, I have to see you naked. I’m so hard for you right now I’m doing my best not to lose control here in a public place.”
“I can’t leave,” she protested weakly, although she wanted nothing more than to run out the door with him. “What would I tell my bosses?”
They continued to move in time to the music, his pelvis grinding against hers, the sleek muscles of his thighs flexing with each step. One hand drifted down to cup the cheeks of her ass, pressing the light fabric of her dress into the cleft.
“People can see us.” She tried to reach back and rearrange the dress but he grabbed her hand and pulled it against him, trapping it between their bodies.
“They’re all too busy being seen by other people.”

Ridiculous, Meaningless Songs. Do you have a favorite?

2009-10-20T09:28:00.005-05:00

Ahhhh. The cold and flu season. Don't ya loooove it? I carried a wicked head cold home with me from Romanticon. It was almost as if God said...Hey YOU! You had too much fun and now you must PAY! Well, that head cold has morphed into a little flu and I must confess, I've been a little wobbly over the past few days.

Considering the circumstances, I thought I'd run a little poll by you all. Remember growing up and you'd drive along with your friends with the radio cranked to ear-splitting pitch? Some drivel laden song would come on and everyone would sing it at the top of their lungs? I sure as hell do!

So here's my list of totally worthless songs. They have a pretty good beat and are kinda catchy but have no redeeming social value at all. My number one? Sugar, Sugar by the Archies, followed by Dizzy by Tommy Roe. And who can forget Hanson's Mm Bop? And the best of the best? Barbie Girl by Aqua Aquarium which debuted in 1997. The newest of the lot of totally worthless songs? HUMPS by The Blackeyed-Peas. Yeah, kinda catchy tune but no redeeming social value at all.

So put on your thinking caps and tell me...what tops your list of totally worthless songs?

RomantiCon Surprise!!!

2009-10-16T09:14:00.003-05:00

Had a terrifically wonderful surprise on Sunday, the final day of Romanticon. The booksigning was about to begin. I went tearing down the hallway doing last minute stuff and waved to my editor, Helen, who was sitting next to the cutest little blonde. Then I stopped, did a double-take, and practically jumped up and down. Barbarb Huffert, one of my bestest and mostest friends, was grinning at me slyly!!!! HA. Leave it to Barb to not say a DAMN WORD! Didn't know she was planning to come and let me tell you, I was so thrilled.

My only regret is that we didn't have hours and hours to just sit and chat as we both wanted. Here's a pic of the two of us. We had a coke together in the bar before events tore us apart again but she is just such a doll. Funny and sweet. Thanks for coming, darlin'!

More RomantiCon

2009-10-15T09:26:00.003-05:00

Here I come again with more pics and stories about Ellora's Cave's RomantiCon so bear with me as I work the excitement out of my system! Friday night we attended the Psychedelic Soiree, a 60's themed party that featured lots of platform boots, minis, maxis, beads and fringe. Although I'm not one to dress up for things like this, I enjoyed seeing how everyone pulled their outfits together! The music was totally ROCKIN'. Spent a good portion of the evening singing the words to almost every song with my friend, Cindy Spencer Pape. We had a fun crew at our table and every one of us enjoyed the dancing and singing provided by the wonderful Cavemen. There were lots of door prizes and tons of laughter.
Saturday brought workshops for both authors and readers and many times we'd sit together as we discussed what was hot and what was NOT in the books we read. I loved the format. Everything was very informal and we sat at tables arranged in a circular fashion so we could see each other as we talked. Workshops included topics such as promotion, paranormal, interracial/multicultural, historical, and many more. Later that night, we all enjoyed a scrumptious dinner! The Cavemen were available for pictures and I confess, I have one. LOL. Actually as we stood around waiting for the dinner to begin, Desiree asked...are you getting your picture taken with the Cavemen???? To which I said...oh, hell no. I'm a middle aged woman. Not about to go THERE. So Des headed off to arrange for her pic and I'll be damned if she didn't grab my hand and drag me up there with her. So yes, this is how Desiree and I got our pics taken with the Cavemen. It actually turned out so good! So, thanks Des for pushing me into that!

Our gigantic booksigning was held on Sunday. Talk about fun! I sold copies of three different print books and schmoozed with readers and other authors. It was a great crowd and lots of fun! When Brian, one of the Cavemen (an lordy, is he ever a doll) came by, he spotted himself on the Tempting Turquoise cover. I told him thanks for all the good work they do in helping us sell our books because, let's face it, a cover is so important in the overall package. Later he came back and another Caveman, Rodney, took out pic. Ha. The picture looks a little strange because Rodney wasn't the only one clicking away. I looked at one photographer while Brian looked elsewhere. HA. Anyway, I thought he was sweet to stop by to meet me.

I'm also pictured here with my friend, Anny Cook! I love this picture of the two of us and was soooo disappointed that I couldn't grab my copy of Carnal Camalot before they sold out. Suspect I'll be getting my copy in the mail soon!

More tomorrow!

Romanticon-We are FAMILEEEEE

2009-10-14T08:37:00.004-05:00

Finally home from Ellora's Cave's very first ever RomantiCon and I can't TELL you how much fun I had. Actually how much fun we ALL had. I've had that old song "We Are Family" stuck in my head because that was how every moment of this event FELT. It was three full days of smiles and hugs and meeting people I felt I'd known forever. Since I have so many stories to tell, I'll spread this out over the week because, you know me, I love to share.

I travelled from Texas with my friend, Desiree Holt (we were also roomies) and let me tell you, I adore this lady. Talented, witty, kind, and so feisty. I don't think we stopped talking the entire time. Every evening we'd stumble to our room, completely exhausted, and talk for another hour or so. FUN! The first day we entered the hotel lobby and immediately ran onto Anny Cook and Cindy Spencer Pape. We have been friends forever but this was the first time I'd met them in PERSON. I thought I would cry. They are just as I imagined and you wouldn't meet warmer people anywhere.

Then we headed into the registration area and met the Queen Frog, our editor Helen, who traveled in all the way from Australia! WOW! She is the most impressive woman. Blessed with a sharp sense of humor and radiating warmth and intelligence and I found myself so proud to be associated with her. It struck me how very lucky we are to be Helen's Frogs and I can't think of anyone I would rather have guiding my writing career. On Saturday she treated her authors to an Aussie luncheon of vegemite sandwiches (may I say ewwww...I think it's an aquired taste) and Tim Tims (delectible, melt in your mouth chocolate cookies) which I immediately applied directly to my ever-widening butt. We learned an Aussie children's song about 'eating your vegemite' and...umm...TRIED to sing it as Helen waved her Aussie Flag. She dispensed little gifts and we just spent time hanging out together.

I took my camera but since I'm not one who takes a lot of pics, I would forget to bring it with me! So bad. Fortunately, yesterday friends shared pics and I've posted them here. In the group pic at the top, from left to right, is me, Desiree Holt, Tessie Bradford, Anny Cook, Dee Brice, and Cindy Spencer Pape. The other pic is me at the Sunday booksigning. This was taken by Tracy Cooper-Posey's charming husband. They are such a nice couple and I loved meeting them.

Tomorrow I'll post more about what we did at the conference!

Hitting the Road

2009-10-07T08:58:00.003-05:00

Heading out tomorrow morning to meet up with Desiree Holt. We'll be flying out Friday morning and heading to Ohio to meet up with a bunch of wild, crazy-assed romance writers at the Ellora's Cave Romanticon. YAY! Have a couple items to iron and some last minute chores but aside from all that I'm DONE!!!! I've reached the point of readiness that if I were any more ready it would be flat out scary. So I'm off for some fun and I have my dancin' shoes on...well, packed at least. See you all next week and I'll fill you in on the gory details.

What am I Missing?

2009-10-06T09:19:00.003-05:00

When I was a little kid and we went on a family trip, my sister and I would roll our eyes at our mom. Why you ask? Dad was always driving and Mom would sit there all fidgetty before finally blurting out....did I turn off the coffee pot? Did I lock the back door? What about the iron? Did I turn it off and put it away? Yes, we'd roll our eyes because she did this every time we got in the car.

Now, I truly sympathize with Mom. Looking back, I recall her doing EVERYTHING to get us ready to walk out the door. Dad would sit and watch her scurry around doing this, packing that, telling us to brush our hair or teeth. You know. Mom stuff!

Years later, I morphed into that fine woman and I can't tell you how many times I thought...Oh Lordy! I have become my MOM! There is just something about trips and traveling that turns a mom into a superhuman being who can do it all and often does it without any help. Are you hearing me out there, Moms?

This week I'm trying to get my act together to leave town on Thursday. I'm heading to the Ellora's Cave Romanticon and I'm pretty damn sure I'm going to forget SOMETHING. This time the packing isn't for the entire family but I swear, I'm just as frazzled. I started out with lists of clothes to take and then had to figure out which luggage to pull from the closet. I've been getting promo material ready PLUS making sure the honey has enough food stocked in the fridge so he won't starve while I'm gone. Sigggghhhhh.So finally, I've narrowed down the clothing options and I'm doing a little mixing and matching. Considering I'm flying, space is severely limited so it's important to get it right. In the end though, I know it won't matter what I'm wearing! I have comfy shoes and I'll be with my friends, however I KNOW I'll head off and wonder if I've forgotten to turn off the damn coffee pot.

The Clock is Ticking

2009-10-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

The clock keeps ticking down the hours and days until I leave for the Ellora's Cave Romanticon. We'll be partying down in Akron, Ohio Oct. 9-12 and a 'getting ready to go' frenzy has set in around my house. I know for a fact my friends are going through this too and some of those busy bees are already packed. Nope, not packed here. Just THINKING about packing. I've selected the appropriate luggage and checked the weather site to help me make wardrobe decisions. Saturday was one of those cool, rainy days so I primped. Did my nails and all that kind of thing thinking I'd get a jump on SOMETHING. Today, I'm looking at my 'paint job' thinking...no. Gonna remove that and just do a nice buff and shine. So yeah, basically I'm a little disorganized at the moment in my thoughts and actions.

Today I'll run out and pick up small grooming items and stock up on food things for my DH who is staying behind to hold down the fort. I suspect he'll manage just fine without me. On Thursday, I'm driving down to Central Texas to meet up with my friend, Desiree Holt. We'll be flying out of San Antonio in the very wee hours on Friday morning. We'll leave temps in the 80's and fly into temps in the 50's. Um. May I say wardrobe snafu? What I'd planned to wear for travel will NOT work so now I'm scrambling to come up with something else.

Awww yes. Adventures in travel, huh? Anyway, if my blog is hit and miss this week, you'll know the reason why.

Who is the Alpha Male..this guy or the Cheetoe Dude?

2009-10-02T09:54:00.005-05:00

Okay, I'm being silly. Of course, hunky, lickable Clive Owen is the alpha male here. Right? Earlier this week a friend blogged about Alpha heroes and I started thinking about it. Do we decide someone is an alpha male because of the way he looks? Been wondering.

Now who's to say yummy Clive wouldn't run crying like a sissy girl at the first sign of trouble and we might be shocked to our toes to see this 'slobberly dude' ditch the bowl of cheetoes from his lap and leap into the fray like a ninja warrior!You think?

I'm wondering if we equate way too many things to how a person looks. I commented the other day about the movie The Mist. I watched it with the family a few weekends ago. Hated the movie. Soooo not my cup of tea. Thomas Janes was fine looking as the Alpha hero of the movie that revolved around creatures lurking in a heavy mist. He is stuck in the local grocery store with his little boy and a host of other townspeople. Everyone who ventures out into the mysterious fog gets slammed by the alien creatures in the most intensely gruesome way possible.

Now here's where I get to my dilemma on the whole Alpha Male thing. There was this character whom I called 'the little dude' through the entire movie. An assistant manager at the grocery store, he was small, wore glasses, seemed very unassuming. For the most part the store manager or others laughed at him, rolled their eyes at everything he said and basically treated him like crap. BUT.....when the bad stuff started going down, he was the first guy to leap into action. He blasted bad guys with amazing accuracy and dove into situations that left the big, bad tough guys shaking in their boots.I loved him.

After awhile, I began to kind of ignore the hero because the 'little dude" was just so kickass I couldn't wait to see what terribly brave thing he might do next.Guess I'm wondering, why do we necessarily equate an Alpha Man with Alpha Looks? Are we really that shallow or are we just programmed to think of an alpha male as being gorgeous?

New Releases

2009-09-30T08:51:00.005-05:00

YAY! Happy release day to me and my friends. Today Mistletoe Magic featuring stories by Cindy Spencer Pape, Desiree Holt, and myself is out today in print at Ellora's Cave. The collection includes Breath of Magic (by me), Touch of Magic (by Desiree) and Whispers of Magic (by Cindy) along with Elven Magic, a neat, hot little quickie written by the three of us.

Get your copy here!

Blurb:
Breath of Magic by Regina Carlysle
Book 1 in the Mistletoe Magic series.

Powerhouse attorney Liza Woodward knows a little something about losing control and it’s been her life’s mission never to do it again, especially when it comes to small-town lawyer Tyler Blackwell.

Ty takes one look at the woman he’s always loved and knows it’s way past time he seduced away the control she wears like a suit of armor. It will take a steady hand, a bit of dominance, and a little breath of magic from a Christmas Elf to win this sassy Texas woman.

Touch of Magic by Desiree Holt
Book 2 in the Mistletoe Magic series but may be read as a stand-alone story.

Maddie Woodward is in a pickle. The last person she expects to see when she returns to the family ranch for one last Christmas is her former lover, Zach Brennan. He’s hotter as he ever was, all male and determined to get her naked. She’s just as determined to show him she’s over him—until she ends up in his bed, enjoying the wildest sex of her life. A night of uncontrolled, erotic sex shows her that Zach is far from out of her life. Now if she can just get him to help her convince her sisters not to sell the ranch…

Whispers of Magic by Cindy Spencer Pape
Book 3 in the Mistletoe Magic series, but may be read as a stand-alone story.

Hoping to get back in Santa’s good graces, Sparkle the elf takes on a difficult assignment—arrange a merry Christmas for photojournalist Jenna Woodward. Jenna has just lost her parents, her job, and her cheating “fiancé”.

Rancher Mitch Sterling doesn’t want his face on a book, but he does want Jenna back in his life. He offers a deal—he’ll sign off, if she agrees to be at his mercy for one day. Jenna left him once because she was afraid of his Dominant lifestyle. Now, with help from a magical snowstorm, Mitch has twenty-four hours of tempestuous passion to convince her that she’ll love being his sub.

Elven Magic by Regina Carlysle, Desiree Holt, & Cindy Spencer Pape
Book 4 in the Mistletoe Magic series, but may be read as a stand-alone story.

When three of Santa’s elves were ordered to provide happily ever afters for the Woodward sisters, they promised themselves a celebration if they were successful. Sharing a motel room during their assignment created a whole new level of sexual awareness among them, where boundaries were breaking down mentally day by day. With arousal at its peak after they all succeed, they decide to indulge in a sexual game of Truth or Dare, which will give a whole new slant to their friendship and allow them to explore their darkest fantasies—maybe even love.

Another fabulous new release!

Barbara Huffert's newest Chaos is also out today at Ellora's Cave. If you haven't tried her work, you must. She's a wonderful storyteller and this one is sure to please. This is Book Two of her Cosmic Connections series.

Buy the book here!

Blurb:
Cosmic Connections, Book Two.

When Shane McKade wakes up trapped in a bed, handcuffed to Alyssa Campini, he figures things could be worse. She aggravates him to no end but sex with the sassy photographer is smokin’.

Alyssa met McKade while photographing street gangs, and the hot cop has been a thorn in her side ever since. His only redeeming feature is an ability to deliver twenty-four orgasms in twenty-four hours—if he can stop arguing with her long enough, that is.

Then Shane is shot protecting one of Alyssa’s gang kids. When both find their lives in danger, perhaps it’s time to stop fighting and start evaluating what they mean to each other…before it’s too late.

In other news: My daughter is coming in for a short visit today. She has a dental appointment so is breezing in, doing her thing at the dentist, and having lunch with me. Wish she could stay longer. sigggghhhh. Still it'll be great to see her if only for a few hours!

Carnal Camelot by Anny Cook

2009-09-29T11:23:00.004-05:00

YAY! It's finally here! Anny Cook's Carnal Camelot is now available in Print at Jasmine Jade . This book includes her marvelous (and dare I say extremelly HOT) Chrysanthemum and Honeysuckle. Please pick up your copy today. If you haven't read Anny's work you are in for a treat.

In other news:
What is so wrong with being a good neighbor? A Michigan woman was ticketed the other day because she volunteered to stand at the school bus stop to see that her neighbors kids got safely on the bus. As worried moms headed off to jobs, she would watch over them and make sure they were okay. If it started raining, the kiddos would come into her house while waiting. No big deal right? I can say right now that if I saw a neighbor kid standing in the rain and I knew him/her and their parents very well, I wouldn't hesitate to offer shelter. I mean, isn't that what good neighbors do? I guess the authorities didn't see it that way. This woman was given a ticket and told that she was providing a 'day care' service and she had no license to do this neighborly act.
Ohhh pulllease!!!! This is frickin' ridiculous!

When my kids were little, there were many times a mom would be late to pick up from soccer practice or whatever. There was always another mom who would happily wait with the child until his/her mom showed up. That's what we do, after all! We help each other out.