And the winner of the caption contest is
Drum roll please......(insert rat a tats)
"Have you been Naughty or Nice? Only Naughty girls need apply."
This caption is curtesy of Marie Tuhart. Marie, you get your choice of e-book: AFTER HOURS or FIRST DATE.
"Have you been Naughty or Nice? Only Naughty girls need apply."
This caption is curtesy of Marie Tuhart. Marie, you get your choice of e-book: AFTER HOURS or FIRST DATE.
The first review for AFTER HOURS
Yes, I've been sitting on the edge of my seat (metaphorically speaking) waiting for the first review and here it is!
Seriously Reviewed gave AFTER HOURS a 18 out of 20! That's not bad. Heck, that's pretty good! Yay!
In case any of your were worried, I am feeling a lot better. I'm still coughing and tire easily, but I've got this virus on the run. I plan to spend the days between Christmas and New Year writing.
What do you all plan to do?
Seriously Reviewed gave AFTER HOURS a 18 out of 20! That's not bad. Heck, that's pretty good! Yay!
In case any of your were worried, I am feeling a lot better. I'm still coughing and tire easily, but I've got this virus on the run. I plan to spend the days between Christmas and New Year writing.
What do you all plan to do?
Today I'm over at Cari's.
I know you're all busy. 
This Friday is Christmas!
But grab a cup of coffee,
come on over and say hi!
This Friday is Christmas!
But grab a cup of coffee,
come on over and say hi!
Monday's Pick-me-up
How would you like to find this under your tree?
Yes, Santa. I've been verybad er good this year.
Yes, Santa. I've been very
The Sophomore Slump
"Sophomore Slump." It's a phrase that I hadn't heard until a few months ago. A phrase I wish I'd never heard. Can you say mind-numbing fear?
FIRST DATE had been out for two months. It's doing okay, I think. At least no one told me it was horrible and it was receiving pretty good reviews.
So what to do next? A follow up book, of course. I already had a contract for AFTER HOURS so Yippee! Right?
Ack!
Life happens.
Somewhere in the editing process, when I was feeling less than creative, I read the term sophomore slump and immediately froze. Was my second effort good enough? I wanted it to be better than FIRST DATE... you know in the whole spirit of grow-as-a-writer thing?
But what if? What if? Okay, I'll just say it. What if it sucked?
And yes, I am that insecure. Most of time. Sometimes. Right now.
As I grow as a writer, I become more and more aware of just how much I do not know. I seriously considered taking a month off to study The Chicago Manual of Style or maybe breaking out an old college textbook. Nothing like burying yourself in syntax to engender holiday cheer. ; )
Working on AFTER HOURS, I thanked heaven daily for my awesome, wonderful, patient editor. Not only is she supportive, she doesn't let me get away with shoddy writing. I knew I could relax because, if it got past her watchful eye, it wasn't horrible. AND (that's a big 'and')wanting her watchful eye to become bored forced me to up my game.
This is a tough business. It's tough on your ego, your self-confidence, your time and sometimes your sanity. Even after publishing, my biggest fear is that I'm just not quite good enough.
AFTER HOURS' release day has come and gone and now I'm waiting the first reviews. And that's another nerve-wracking experience.
So, anyone out there have periods of insecurity? Willing to share?
FIRST DATE had been out for two months. It's doing okay, I think. At least no one told me it was horrible and it was receiving pretty good reviews.
So what to do next? A follow up book, of course. I already had a contract for AFTER HOURS so Yippee! Right?
Ack!
Life happens.
Somewhere in the editing process, when I was feeling less than creative, I read the term sophomore slump and immediately froze. Was my second effort good enough? I wanted it to be better than FIRST DATE... you know in the whole spirit of grow-as-a-writer thing?
But what if? What if? Okay, I'll just say it. What if it sucked?
And yes, I am that insecure. Most of time. Sometimes. Right now.
As I grow as a writer, I become more and more aware of just how much I do not know. I seriously considered taking a month off to study The Chicago Manual of Style or maybe breaking out an old college textbook. Nothing like burying yourself in syntax to engender holiday cheer. ; )
Working on AFTER HOURS, I thanked heaven daily for my awesome, wonderful, patient editor. Not only is she supportive, she doesn't let me get away with shoddy writing. I knew I could relax because, if it got past her watchful eye, it wasn't horrible. AND (that's a big 'and')wanting her watchful eye to become bored forced me to up my game.
This is a tough business. It's tough on your ego, your self-confidence, your time and sometimes your sanity. Even after publishing, my biggest fear is that I'm just not quite good enough.
AFTER HOURS' release day has come and gone and now I'm waiting the first reviews. And that's another nerve-wracking experience.
So, anyone out there have periods of insecurity? Willing to share?
And the winners are
The lucky posters who each win a copy of a Jennifer Leeland book are.... (insert drum roll)
Emma Lai won a copy of THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES
and RK Charron won a copy of MARKED FOR PLEASURE
Congratulations to both of you and a big THANK YOU to everyone who commented!
Emma Lai won a copy of THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES
and RK Charron won a copy of MARKED FOR PLEASURE
Congratulations to both of you and a big THANK YOU to everyone who commented!
Interview with Jennifer Leeland
Adult excerpt included.
Recently, the busy and oh-so-talented, Jennifer McKenzie agreed to let my hone my interviewing skills on her. -- I now owe her a bottle of Crown Royal-- ; ) Just kidding. Jennifer is one of those people always willing to lend a helping hand or give the gift of encouragment. So grab a cup of coffee, sit down and get to know her and her writing better.
LR: How and why did you start writing?
JM: I’ve always written in one way or another. When I was in college and whenever I had strong feelings, I wrote poetry. Really bad poetry. But I also longed to write a mystery like my favorite authors Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh.
In 2002, my Dad passed away. All his life he’d wanted to be an author, publish a work of fiction. He’d even written a novel. But no one saw it. He never thought it was good enough. When he died, I realized time whizzes by and if I wanted to be published, I’d have to get to work. In 2006, I released my first two books. Christmas releases.
LR: What is your favorite part of being a romance writer?
JM:I love to evoke emotion. I know I’ve done my job when someone “reacts” to my stories. Emotion is a big part of who I am so I try to include it in my stories. I don’t always succeed, but I make a huge effort.
Also, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. Being in love is one of the most precious things I’ve been given, even when that love seemed wasted. I believe love is NEVER wasted and that’s what I write about.
LR: Least favorite?
JM: Mmmmm. I think the moral judgments out there. I write erotic romance and I have a very good reason for that. Very personal. (Not everybody wants to know gory details so I’ll save that story for when I’m on Larry King) But too many folks think erotic romance is somehow “wrong”. I love to write about the power exchange in BDSM and the way human beings will stretch their sexual exploration to keep a relationship from going cold. I’ve explored the difference between “sex” and “love” in all my erotic books. It’s a fundamental question no matter what your moral standing might be. I hate having to defend what I write.
LR: So do I and look out Larry King. : ) That's an interview I wouldn't miss. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
JM: The plotting. I don’t know how many times I’ve stalled on things I’m working on. Every book has been a struggle of one sort or another. Sometimes, they come out easily, but then revisions are a pain. Or sometimes, the whole process is pulling teeth. It’s always worth it in the end.
LR: Plotting is difficult for me too. Your love scenes are some of the hottest I’ve ever read. How do you approach writing a sex scene?
JM: Well, if I’ve done it right, the tension up to that point makes the sex scene flow naturally. The hardest sex scenes to write are the ones where two people DON’T have tension, like in “The Christmas She Rules”. In that story, it’s The Cage that provides the sexual stimulation, but it’s raw, almost calculating in how it arouses the patrons. Pamela wanted that. The lack of intimacy gave her release without complications. I don’t believe in that. Sexual conduct always leads to emotional complications no matter what. And that’s what sex is all about. It complicates, pulls two people together when they want to pull apart. Sex can be the way two people communicate when they can’t say what they feel. I don’t really think about that part of it when I write the scenes, but usually the characters are attempting to gain something. For Pamela, it’s emotional escapism. She wants release without her feelings being involved. And that is a trap.
Sexual tension makes the scenes hot. Whether that tension comes from without or within can change the way the scene is written, but tension is the key.
LR: I can attest you've done it right. Pamela sounds like a complex character. If you had to chose, who would be your favorite character?
JM: Oh man. I don’t know. I think I’m a little bit in love with David Peters, the hero in “The Trust She Yields”. He’s just so…confident and dominant. I do like that in a man.
My favorite heroine would have to be Magda Karlson in “Eye of the Storm” (a Jennifer McKenzie title). She just kicked ass and took no nonsense. I really liked that about her.
LR: I've 'met' David Peters and I think you're right. Yummy. Which character was the most difficult to write?
JM: Catherine in “The Mask She Wears”. For most of the book, she wouldn’t tell me her name. I called her “Mask Girl” while I wrote it and put Catherine in mostly because she didn’t object to it. I’m still not sure Catherine is really her name. LOL. First of all, she didn’t reveal ANYTHING about her motives or her feelings. It was all about sensation, the need to “feel” but not “connect”. Her damage was deep down and scary. Weird characters talk to me but they don’t always tell me everything. Catherine was the first time a character just gave me little bits of information but she was so real to me that I felt like she was a person in my head talking to me. (I know. Get the men in white coats, right?). Here’s the thing, though. I didn’t know anything about sensory deprivation (which was Mask Girl’s kink) but everything this character told me to write checked out. When I told an active member in the Lifestyle the things Mask Girl did/needed, it all had my friend nodding and agreeing. It was kind of spooky but very, very cool. It taught me to always stay true to my characters. Like Pamela. Wisdom said to make her more likable, make her warm and cuddly. But Pamela is not warm and cuddly. From the start, I knew Pamela had issues, but she didn’t give me details until later in the story. I could have made her more appealing, changed her kink to being a “switch”, make her submissive to a dominant male. But it wouldn’t have worked for her. She was all female domme.
LR: I've had that happen to me. It's awesome, in a spooky, not-looking-too-closely-at-it, kind of way. No men in white coats coming this way. They'd have to take me too. ; ) You’ve been productive this year. Tell us about your newest release.
JM: I have two.
“MARKED FOR PLEASURE” came out in November at Loose-Id. I’ve focused on writing erotic science fiction. It’s my favorite genre to write and this story is close to my heart. I contemplated what the universe would be like if there was a planet out there that based its entire cultural identity on the D/s lifestyle. Of course, I had to add a mysterious terrorist group with the motto “Disgrace and destroy” that attacks high ranking planetary politicians. There’s action, adventure and some very hot sex scenes.
My second release is “THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES” from Samhain Publishing. This book almost didn’t get published. I was very lucky Heidi Moore at Samhain was willing to take a chance on this story. Pamela is a character from another series of books and
I wanted to do her justice. Throughout the other three books, her character evolved. By the time TCSR opens, she’s moved from a comfortable place to the holiday insanity. And for her, it’s much worse than just the average family drama. I didn’t want to write Pamela. I knew it would be a gut wrenching experience and it truly was. The façade that she presents the world is the perfect, cold, emotionless Domme. But beneath the surface lies a depth of hurt I didn’t want to explore. Of course, she didn’t let me off the hook and boy, am I grateful she didn’t.
LR: You excel in creating tortured characters that find healing in love. Pamela is not exception. What attracts her to Chris?
JM: Pamela is a female Dominant. For her, submission is beautiful, sexy. When a strong man is willing to hand her complete control, it’s an aphrodisiac she can’t resist. But total surrender terrifies her. Christian is exactly what she wants and yet, everything she’s afraid of. He is a strong, independent person with both physical and mental toughness. He’s also completely willing to give himself over to her. He’s both nurturing and accepting, something Pamela is not.
Of course, when she first saw him, it was his tawny golden brown eyes, but things change pretty quickly after that.
LR: Christmas is coming. Will you share one of your favorite Christmas traditions with us?
JM: OH! I have two I love to talk about.
One is Christmas Cookie Weekend. In the beginning of December, I start Friday night and make dozens upon dozens of cookies, tons of fudge, friggin’ Marshmallow thingies, almond roca and chocolate peanut butter balls. Then, I pack them up and give them to my friends. My best friend and I used to do it together and include a bottle of Crown Royal Whiskey but she’s moved so it’s just me this year.
The second tradition is the Santa table. We put out the boy’s favorite stuffed animals around a small table. After the boy’s go to sleep, we smear a little honey on their mouths along with cookie crumbs so it looks like they all had cookies with Santa. It’s adorable. I know they’re getting too old for it, but I think we’ll still do it. LOL.
LR: I love the idea of the Santa table. I bet the boys would be disappointed if you didn't keep doing it... and Cookie weekend? Who would't love that? What book are you reading now?
JM: I just finished “TAKING LIBERTY” by Jodi Redmond. It was AWESOME.
LR: Will you share a snippet of the hottest love scene you’ve ever written?
JM: Mmmm. The hottest to me? Okay.
“You have never been fucked in the ass.”
“No, Mistress,” he choked out and his hips jerked slightly.
She released his balls and knelt again. At his feet were two small openings in the floor. She flipped open the lids and removed two more shackles. He licked his lips and his face lost color as she splayed his legs and manacled his feet to the floor. Immobile, he was completely at her mercy.
In front of him, with his eyes riveted on her, she stripped off the leather skirt and studded blouse she’d chosen to wear. The boots stayed on. Naked, she allowed him to look, but when her gaze met his, he immediately lowered his eyes. She smiled. The hot, needy expression in his face was erotic and stimulating. The fact that he both resisted and accepted her provided a tug of war within her own mind. He attracted and repelled her. His submission drew her like an addict to a drug, but repelled her by its very potency.
Part of her was terrified.
She pushed the thought away and focused on this moment, the sexual tension, the swirling energy that surrounded them. Deliberately, she encircled her waist with the belted strap-on. The dildo was long but not too thick. She dribbled lube over the tip of it and used her hand to stroke the dildo like it was a real cock. The action rubbed two prongs against her clit, part of the equipment that gave the user pleasure as well as the used. She reveled in the way Christian’s eyes turned a tawny gold, bright, feverish and focused on her hand. His cock strained and the muscles of his legs tightened.
He was a stunning figure, taut, hard, beautiful. Even as she tormented him, she devoured him in her mind. A feral part of her brain wanted to brand him, make him hers, mark him so he would never forget her. Foolish thoughts for a Domme who only intended to play with a submissive for a short time. Very foolish. But those foolish thoughts raced through her mind when a drop of precome leaked from the tip of his cock.
Finally, she stepped around him, adjusted the step stool and stood behind him. The tip of the strap-on pressed against his anus. He tensed. She squirted lube on her fingers and explored his ass. He was so tight, so hot. The way his ass muscles clenched around her hand and his head dropped back was magnificent. Two fingers, three, then his hips rotated and he groaned.
She sank her teeth into his shoulder just under the spiked collar. Her mouth by his ear, she whispered, “I’m going to fuck you hard. I’m going to shove this dildo up your ass until it makes you crazy.”
He shuddered and turned his head to stare at her. His eyes were a bit wild, uncertain. But he didn’t say the safeword. She removed her fingers and slid the dildo in his ass. He started to tense, but she used her fingers to pinch his nipples and he relaxed slightly. Her lips brushed his earlobe and his breath whooshed out as one of her hands dipped lower.
The dildo was halfway in when her hand gripped his cock. The lubricant on her fingers let her slide up and down over his flesh easily and he moaned. The dildo slipped in further. Finally, she pushed inside him hard. The tip of the strap-on slammed into his prostate and he cried out, “Mistress!”
The two prongs rubbed on her clit rhythmically as she slid inside his ass and her orgasm coiled, ready to spring free. She grazed her hand faster over his cock and his breath came out in pants. Her pussy ached and drenched the insides of her thighs. His cock pulsed in her hand and he thrust his hips as much as they could despite the restraints.
Tormenting them both, she slowed the pace and held the dildo in his ass, the tip pressed against his prostate. His body quivered as her hand eased the pace over his hard dick. He growled in his throat, words spilled from his mouth. He wanted to fuck her, he wanted to slam his cock inside her sweet, wet pussy. He wanted her to whip him, brand him, scratch him. Every syllable that tumbled from his lips ripped through her heart. She shivered as she struggled against his will and her own. Control. This was about control. She was supposed to play him. Not… Whatever this was, it wasn’t playing.
The prongs against her clit held her on the edge. One stroke, one touch and she’d explode. But she wanted his cock in her pussy. While he fucked her, she wanted to see his face when he came. She wanted to control that moment.
She eased the dildo out of his ass and his groan echoed in the room. With a jerk, she dropped the strap-on to the floor and kicked the step stool directly in front of Christian. His eyelids drooped over his eyes, making them narrow slits of fire. She obtained a condom from the box on one of the tables in the room and ripped it open. Her gaze held his as she slid the rubber over his dick. The sound that came from him was guttural and animalistic. She licked her lips in anticipation.
Sheathed and hard, his cock stood at attention as she stepped up on the stool. Good thing she was agile. She smiled as his face changed when she slammed his cock inside her, her thighs resting on his hips, her booted feet crossed at his ass. He growled low and menacingly as her hands reached up to grasp the ropes just above his wrists.
She rotated her hips and moaned as his cock slid in and out of her pussy. God, the feel of him was so sexy, so fucking amazing. She closed her eyes and just experienced the slap of his penis, the slide of her nipples over his chest, the sounds of his grunts as he tried to hang onto his release. There was something incredible about a man who wanted to come but didn’t. He did it without a cock ring, without a demand he wait. He was perfect, special.
Somehow he got his fingers around her wrists and squeezed. She opened her eyes and his were tightly shut, his teeth clenched and his neck corded. “Mistress,” the word hissed from his lips and his fingers tightened.
A hot fire swept through her when he spoke the one name she wanted to hear from him. When he said it she forgot they were playing, fucking. When he called her “Mistress” she believed it. The power surged through her, rocked her, made her skin heat and her mind blank.
Her teeth nipped his earlobe, his neck and lips. His breath was hot on her skin and his face was fucking hot as he strained to hold back. Even through the condom sheathed over his hard penis, she could feel the throb of his veins. Finally, she whispered in his ear, “Come inside me. Now.”
The last word hadn’t died before he shouted his release and made her ears ring. His expression as he came was a mixture of joy and pain that made her insane with need. She thrust her hips faster and faster. Her own orgasm washed over her and she arched her back. It swamped her, swept her away into an ocean of sensation that overloaded her senses and sent her spinning right off the planet. They swung back and forth as the ropes stretched taut from the force of their fucking. Her pussy convulsed and throbbed as his thrusts became uncoordinated and out of control.
She dropped her hands to his shoulders and her nails scored his skin. He shuddered and growled, a sound of pleasure and sensuality that made a purr escape her own lips. She noted that she’d dug her heels deep into his ass and marked him there too. His lids drooped over his eyes and his body jerked and twitched.
(I have to say I LOVE this scene from “The Christmas She Rules”)
LR: Wow! You melted the ice on my windows. Thank you. Where can we find your books? You?
JM: I’m easy to find at Redneck Romance Writer.
To celebrate my releases, I think we should celebrate the holidays with early gifts. Leave a comment and let me know what you love about the holidays. I’ll choose one commenter to win “THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES” and a second commenter to win “MARKED FOR PLEASURE”.
Thank you, Jennifer! You heard the woman, comment away.
Recently, the busy and oh-so-talented, Jennifer McKenzie agreed to let my hone my interviewing skills on her. -- I now owe her a bottle of Crown Royal-- ; ) Just kidding. Jennifer is one of those people always willing to lend a helping hand or give the gift of encouragment. So grab a cup of coffee, sit down and get to know her and her writing better.
LR: How and why did you start writing?
JM: I’ve always written in one way or another. When I was in college and whenever I had strong feelings, I wrote poetry. Really bad poetry. But I also longed to write a mystery like my favorite authors Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh.
In 2002, my Dad passed away. All his life he’d wanted to be an author, publish a work of fiction. He’d even written a novel. But no one saw it. He never thought it was good enough. When he died, I realized time whizzes by and if I wanted to be published, I’d have to get to work. In 2006, I released my first two books. Christmas releases.
LR: What is your favorite part of being a romance writer?
JM:I love to evoke emotion. I know I’ve done my job when someone “reacts” to my stories. Emotion is a big part of who I am so I try to include it in my stories. I don’t always succeed, but I make a huge effort.
Also, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. Being in love is one of the most precious things I’ve been given, even when that love seemed wasted. I believe love is NEVER wasted and that’s what I write about.
LR: Least favorite?
JM: Mmmmm. I think the moral judgments out there. I write erotic romance and I have a very good reason for that. Very personal. (Not everybody wants to know gory details so I’ll save that story for when I’m on Larry King) But too many folks think erotic romance is somehow “wrong”. I love to write about the power exchange in BDSM and the way human beings will stretch their sexual exploration to keep a relationship from going cold. I’ve explored the difference between “sex” and “love” in all my erotic books. It’s a fundamental question no matter what your moral standing might be. I hate having to defend what I write.
LR: So do I and look out Larry King. : ) That's an interview I wouldn't miss. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
JM: The plotting. I don’t know how many times I’ve stalled on things I’m working on. Every book has been a struggle of one sort or another. Sometimes, they come out easily, but then revisions are a pain. Or sometimes, the whole process is pulling teeth. It’s always worth it in the end.
LR: Plotting is difficult for me too. Your love scenes are some of the hottest I’ve ever read. How do you approach writing a sex scene?
JM: Well, if I’ve done it right, the tension up to that point makes the sex scene flow naturally. The hardest sex scenes to write are the ones where two people DON’T have tension, like in “The Christmas She Rules”. In that story, it’s The Cage that provides the sexual stimulation, but it’s raw, almost calculating in how it arouses the patrons. Pamela wanted that. The lack of intimacy gave her release without complications. I don’t believe in that. Sexual conduct always leads to emotional complications no matter what. And that’s what sex is all about. It complicates, pulls two people together when they want to pull apart. Sex can be the way two people communicate when they can’t say what they feel. I don’t really think about that part of it when I write the scenes, but usually the characters are attempting to gain something. For Pamela, it’s emotional escapism. She wants release without her feelings being involved. And that is a trap.
Sexual tension makes the scenes hot. Whether that tension comes from without or within can change the way the scene is written, but tension is the key.
LR: I can attest you've done it right. Pamela sounds like a complex character. If you had to chose, who would be your favorite character?
JM: Oh man. I don’t know. I think I’m a little bit in love with David Peters, the hero in “The Trust She Yields”. He’s just so…confident and dominant. I do like that in a man.
My favorite heroine would have to be Magda Karlson in “Eye of the Storm” (a Jennifer McKenzie title). She just kicked ass and took no nonsense. I really liked that about her.
LR: I've 'met' David Peters and I think you're right. Yummy. Which character was the most difficult to write?
JM: Catherine in “The Mask She Wears”. For most of the book, she wouldn’t tell me her name. I called her “Mask Girl” while I wrote it and put Catherine in mostly because she didn’t object to it. I’m still not sure Catherine is really her name. LOL. First of all, she didn’t reveal ANYTHING about her motives or her feelings. It was all about sensation, the need to “feel” but not “connect”. Her damage was deep down and scary. Weird characters talk to me but they don’t always tell me everything. Catherine was the first time a character just gave me little bits of information but she was so real to me that I felt like she was a person in my head talking to me. (I know. Get the men in white coats, right?). Here’s the thing, though. I didn’t know anything about sensory deprivation (which was Mask Girl’s kink) but everything this character told me to write checked out. When I told an active member in the Lifestyle the things Mask Girl did/needed, it all had my friend nodding and agreeing. It was kind of spooky but very, very cool. It taught me to always stay true to my characters. Like Pamela. Wisdom said to make her more likable, make her warm and cuddly. But Pamela is not warm and cuddly. From the start, I knew Pamela had issues, but she didn’t give me details until later in the story. I could have made her more appealing, changed her kink to being a “switch”, make her submissive to a dominant male. But it wouldn’t have worked for her. She was all female domme.
LR: I've had that happen to me. It's awesome, in a spooky, not-looking-too-closely-at-it, kind of way. No men in white coats coming this way. They'd have to take me too. ; ) You’ve been productive this year. Tell us about your newest release.
JM: I have two.
“MARKED FOR PLEASURE” came out in November at Loose-Id. I’ve focused on writing erotic science fiction. It’s my favorite genre to write and this story is close to my heart. I contemplated what the universe would be like if there was a planet out there that based its entire cultural identity on the D/s lifestyle. Of course, I had to add a mysterious terrorist group with the motto “Disgrace and destroy” that attacks high ranking planetary politicians. There’s action, adventure and some very hot sex scenes.My second release is “THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES” from Samhain Publishing. This book almost didn’t get published. I was very lucky Heidi Moore at Samhain was willing to take a chance on this story. Pamela is a character from another series of books and
I wanted to do her justice. Throughout the other three books, her character evolved. By the time TCSR opens, she’s moved from a comfortable place to the holiday insanity. And for her, it’s much worse than just the average family drama. I didn’t want to write Pamela. I knew it would be a gut wrenching experience and it truly was. The façade that she presents the world is the perfect, cold, emotionless Domme. But beneath the surface lies a depth of hurt I didn’t want to explore. Of course, she didn’t let me off the hook and boy, am I grateful she didn’t. LR: You excel in creating tortured characters that find healing in love. Pamela is not exception. What attracts her to Chris?
JM: Pamela is a female Dominant. For her, submission is beautiful, sexy. When a strong man is willing to hand her complete control, it’s an aphrodisiac she can’t resist. But total surrender terrifies her. Christian is exactly what she wants and yet, everything she’s afraid of. He is a strong, independent person with both physical and mental toughness. He’s also completely willing to give himself over to her. He’s both nurturing and accepting, something Pamela is not.
Of course, when she first saw him, it was his tawny golden brown eyes, but things change pretty quickly after that.
LR: Christmas is coming. Will you share one of your favorite Christmas traditions with us?
JM: OH! I have two I love to talk about.
One is Christmas Cookie Weekend. In the beginning of December, I start Friday night and make dozens upon dozens of cookies, tons of fudge, friggin’ Marshmallow thingies, almond roca and chocolate peanut butter balls. Then, I pack them up and give them to my friends. My best friend and I used to do it together and include a bottle of Crown Royal Whiskey but she’s moved so it’s just me this year.
The second tradition is the Santa table. We put out the boy’s favorite stuffed animals around a small table. After the boy’s go to sleep, we smear a little honey on their mouths along with cookie crumbs so it looks like they all had cookies with Santa. It’s adorable. I know they’re getting too old for it, but I think we’ll still do it. LOL.
LR: I love the idea of the Santa table. I bet the boys would be disappointed if you didn't keep doing it... and Cookie weekend? Who would't love that? What book are you reading now?
JM: I just finished “TAKING LIBERTY” by Jodi Redmond. It was AWESOME.
LR: Will you share a snippet of the hottest love scene you’ve ever written?
JM: Mmmm. The hottest to me? Okay.
“You have never been fucked in the ass.”
“No, Mistress,” he choked out and his hips jerked slightly.
She released his balls and knelt again. At his feet were two small openings in the floor. She flipped open the lids and removed two more shackles. He licked his lips and his face lost color as she splayed his legs and manacled his feet to the floor. Immobile, he was completely at her mercy.
In front of him, with his eyes riveted on her, she stripped off the leather skirt and studded blouse she’d chosen to wear. The boots stayed on. Naked, she allowed him to look, but when her gaze met his, he immediately lowered his eyes. She smiled. The hot, needy expression in his face was erotic and stimulating. The fact that he both resisted and accepted her provided a tug of war within her own mind. He attracted and repelled her. His submission drew her like an addict to a drug, but repelled her by its very potency.
Part of her was terrified.
She pushed the thought away and focused on this moment, the sexual tension, the swirling energy that surrounded them. Deliberately, she encircled her waist with the belted strap-on. The dildo was long but not too thick. She dribbled lube over the tip of it and used her hand to stroke the dildo like it was a real cock. The action rubbed two prongs against her clit, part of the equipment that gave the user pleasure as well as the used. She reveled in the way Christian’s eyes turned a tawny gold, bright, feverish and focused on her hand. His cock strained and the muscles of his legs tightened.
He was a stunning figure, taut, hard, beautiful. Even as she tormented him, she devoured him in her mind. A feral part of her brain wanted to brand him, make him hers, mark him so he would never forget her. Foolish thoughts for a Domme who only intended to play with a submissive for a short time. Very foolish. But those foolish thoughts raced through her mind when a drop of precome leaked from the tip of his cock.
Finally, she stepped around him, adjusted the step stool and stood behind him. The tip of the strap-on pressed against his anus. He tensed. She squirted lube on her fingers and explored his ass. He was so tight, so hot. The way his ass muscles clenched around her hand and his head dropped back was magnificent. Two fingers, three, then his hips rotated and he groaned.
She sank her teeth into his shoulder just under the spiked collar. Her mouth by his ear, she whispered, “I’m going to fuck you hard. I’m going to shove this dildo up your ass until it makes you crazy.”
He shuddered and turned his head to stare at her. His eyes were a bit wild, uncertain. But he didn’t say the safeword. She removed her fingers and slid the dildo in his ass. He started to tense, but she used her fingers to pinch his nipples and he relaxed slightly. Her lips brushed his earlobe and his breath whooshed out as one of her hands dipped lower.
The dildo was halfway in when her hand gripped his cock. The lubricant on her fingers let her slide up and down over his flesh easily and he moaned. The dildo slipped in further. Finally, she pushed inside him hard. The tip of the strap-on slammed into his prostate and he cried out, “Mistress!”
The two prongs rubbed on her clit rhythmically as she slid inside his ass and her orgasm coiled, ready to spring free. She grazed her hand faster over his cock and his breath came out in pants. Her pussy ached and drenched the insides of her thighs. His cock pulsed in her hand and he thrust his hips as much as they could despite the restraints.
Tormenting them both, she slowed the pace and held the dildo in his ass, the tip pressed against his prostate. His body quivered as her hand eased the pace over his hard dick. He growled in his throat, words spilled from his mouth. He wanted to fuck her, he wanted to slam his cock inside her sweet, wet pussy. He wanted her to whip him, brand him, scratch him. Every syllable that tumbled from his lips ripped through her heart. She shivered as she struggled against his will and her own. Control. This was about control. She was supposed to play him. Not… Whatever this was, it wasn’t playing.
The prongs against her clit held her on the edge. One stroke, one touch and she’d explode. But she wanted his cock in her pussy. While he fucked her, she wanted to see his face when he came. She wanted to control that moment.
She eased the dildo out of his ass and his groan echoed in the room. With a jerk, she dropped the strap-on to the floor and kicked the step stool directly in front of Christian. His eyelids drooped over his eyes, making them narrow slits of fire. She obtained a condom from the box on one of the tables in the room and ripped it open. Her gaze held his as she slid the rubber over his dick. The sound that came from him was guttural and animalistic. She licked her lips in anticipation.
Sheathed and hard, his cock stood at attention as she stepped up on the stool. Good thing she was agile. She smiled as his face changed when she slammed his cock inside her, her thighs resting on his hips, her booted feet crossed at his ass. He growled low and menacingly as her hands reached up to grasp the ropes just above his wrists.
She rotated her hips and moaned as his cock slid in and out of her pussy. God, the feel of him was so sexy, so fucking amazing. She closed her eyes and just experienced the slap of his penis, the slide of her nipples over his chest, the sounds of his grunts as he tried to hang onto his release. There was something incredible about a man who wanted to come but didn’t. He did it without a cock ring, without a demand he wait. He was perfect, special.
Somehow he got his fingers around her wrists and squeezed. She opened her eyes and his were tightly shut, his teeth clenched and his neck corded. “Mistress,” the word hissed from his lips and his fingers tightened.
A hot fire swept through her when he spoke the one name she wanted to hear from him. When he said it she forgot they were playing, fucking. When he called her “Mistress” she believed it. The power surged through her, rocked her, made her skin heat and her mind blank.
Her teeth nipped his earlobe, his neck and lips. His breath was hot on her skin and his face was fucking hot as he strained to hold back. Even through the condom sheathed over his hard penis, she could feel the throb of his veins. Finally, she whispered in his ear, “Come inside me. Now.”
The last word hadn’t died before he shouted his release and made her ears ring. His expression as he came was a mixture of joy and pain that made her insane with need. She thrust her hips faster and faster. Her own orgasm washed over her and she arched her back. It swamped her, swept her away into an ocean of sensation that overloaded her senses and sent her spinning right off the planet. They swung back and forth as the ropes stretched taut from the force of their fucking. Her pussy convulsed and throbbed as his thrusts became uncoordinated and out of control.
She dropped her hands to his shoulders and her nails scored his skin. He shuddered and growled, a sound of pleasure and sensuality that made a purr escape her own lips. She noted that she’d dug her heels deep into his ass and marked him there too. His lids drooped over his eyes and his body jerked and twitched.
(I have to say I LOVE this scene from “The Christmas She Rules”)
LR: Wow! You melted the ice on my windows. Thank you. Where can we find your books? You?
JM: I’m easy to find at Redneck Romance Writer.
To celebrate my releases, I think we should celebrate the holidays with early gifts. Leave a comment and let me know what you love about the holidays. I’ll choose one commenter to win “THE CHRISTMAS SHE RULES” and a second commenter to win “MARKED FOR PLEASURE”.
Thank you, Jennifer! You heard the woman, comment away.
Today I'm over at Lia's blog
Grab a cup of coffee, come on over and say hi! You can also comment for a chance to win a free copy of AFTER HOURS.
Monday's Pick-me-up and Contest
Can you think of a caption for this photo?
I know I have a few thoughts running through my head. *cough* And let's make it a contest! Why not? I'll send a copy of FIRST DATE or AFTER HOURS, your choice, to a random commenter between today and Christmas.
Be creative! The winner will be announced on the 28th.
Good luck.
Lynne.
I know I have a few thoughts running through my head. *cough* And let's make it a contest! Why not? I'll send a copy of FIRST DATE or AFTER HOURS, your choice, to a random commenter between today and Christmas.
Be creative! The winner will be announced on the 28th.
Good luck.
Lynne.
Today is the Day!
AFTER HOURS is now available today at The Wilder Rose Press.
Can you think of a better way to warm up?
Here's an excerpt:
Some men simply walk across a room, but not David.
Elle Simpson watched from her office as the new intern, his hips moving in a predatory roll, strolled to the copier and stood with his back toward her. No, not David.
She felt the color rise in her cheeks as her gaze traced his body, from the dark hair just curling at the nape of his neck, past wide shoulders, to the dangerous-looking narrow hips and an ass made for grabbing. Her body warmed and her inner thighs began to tingle.
David turned, as though he could sense her scrutiny, and flashed a smile that could short-circuit a city. Hell, it certainly did a number on her. Elle swallowed, hiding behind a noncommittal nod, and hoped she gave the impression she was too busy for pleasantries. Damn. She needed to be more careful.
After many years with the company, she’d earned her reputation as a dependable, hard working, no-nonsense kind of woman. She grimaced. What would her fellow employees think if they knew every time David Nelson walked in the room, Elle’s synapses stopped firing as all the blood left her head to settle between her legs? She shifted on her chair and the friction caused her pussy to ache, reminding her of its neglected state.
Evidently finished with the copier, David gathered his papers and walked back to his cubicle.
Elle tilted her head to better watch him walk down the hall. A damn sexy man. Perhaps he’d been born with some sort of exclusive hip design. It would explain the fluidity of movement.
Elle shrugged. One thing was certain—when David walked into a room, or out of it, he had her undivided attention. She didn’t think he was trying to be sexy, or if he was, the effort had become, well...effortless.
And the winner is...
Jason!
Jason, your comment on 11/30 just won you a copy of First Date! Congratulations.
Yes, I'm late with this. My apologies!
Jason, your comment on 11/30 just won you a copy of First Date! Congratulations.
Yes, I'm late with this. My apologies!
Coming in Two Days!
After the presents are wrapped
After the kids are in bed
Give yourself the gift of AFTER HOURS.
Elle Simpson doesn’t deny that the new intern is sexy as hell but he’s also ten years her junior--and she doesn’t date men from the office. Of course, dating isn’t what comes to mind when David Nelson enters a room. When Elle’s boss assigns her to work an important account, she’s thrilled—until David volunteers to help. Working one on one with her desirable new assistant is bound to test the limits of her restraint.
Everything about Elle, from her professional savvy to her hot body, turns David on, but first he has to unravel her mixed signals. After a few late nights alone with Elle in the office, David is at the end of his tether. It was hard enough during the day; keeping his hands off her after hours is proving impossible.
I'm feeling social.
Today I'm over on the Menagerie Authors' couch. Come on by and say, hi!
But first, here is your Monday morning Pick-Me-Up. I'm in a nostalgic mood. This man was plastered over my walls once upon a time--back when I was a Youth Gone Wild. ; ) But he makes the grown-up me smile too. I mean look at those pouty lips.
But first, here is your Monday morning Pick-Me-Up. I'm in a nostalgic mood. This man was plastered over my walls once upon a time--back when I was a Youth Gone Wild. ; ) But he makes the grown-up me smile too. I mean look at those pouty lips.
Book Review: FULL DISCLOSURE by Cari Quinn
I’m pretty sure if you looked up scintillating in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Full Disclosure. If not, you probably should.
Cari Quinn creates a drool-worthy leading man in Alex, the owner of Hunk Du Jour, an infinitely likable heroine in Holly, and a romance you can’t help but root for. Did I mention the searing eroticism? This story is seriously steamy enough to leave you panting.
Holly Burrows is a thirty-something lawyer with a failed marriage under her belt, and who is tired of battery-operated love. She opts to place an ad in Hunk Du Jour, a website for women seeking ‘adult’ encounters.
I don’t want to give away the any of the storyline so I won’t go further, let’s just say there are enough twists and turns to make this one enjoyable ride.
While keeping the sexual tension on high, Cari manages to bring her characters to life. Holly is relatable. She doesn’t have a perfect body or even temperament, which I loved, but you will genuinely like her. Alex Stryker is more than every woman’s dream date, although he is that too, he’s a complex character. And I can assure you, he’ll steal your heart by the end of the book.
I have it on good authority that this isn't the last we'll hear of Hunk Du Jour and I can't wait. : )
Here is a blurb and excerpt from FULL DISCLOSURE.
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?
Excerpt:
His hair brushed his collar, messily kempt in its own wayward style. She doubted he’d seen a barber in quite a while. She also doubted Alex was the type of man who’d wince if she yanked his hair too hard during sex.
That sealed it for her, and placed the cherry red lipstick kiss on the envelope. After her sexually anemic ex-husband, she deserved a young stud. And hell, she’d make sure the young stud got a lil’ something out of the deal, too.
“It is.”
After the waitress took Alex’s card, she rose, sure she seemed more confident than she felt. Her poker face had held her in good stead before, and it would now, too.
She’d simply act as if she were a sexy, voracious older woman who expected her every sexual demand to be met, and he’d never guess differently. He’d never guess her toes were curled in her sedate pumps, or that the back of her neck had already dampened, despite the air conditioning.
He’d never guess, and she would never tell.
She slid her hand down the strap of her bag. Coquettishly, she hoped. “Your place or mine?”
Alex stared up at her. There could be no debating the hue of his eyes now, a pure, rich green. Her heart skipped, much to her chagrin, but she couldn’t help it.
Had a man ever looked at her in quite that way before? As if he’d assessed every inch of her, and she’d come up a winner in every category?
What a heady feeling. And scary as hell.
He signed the credit card slip when it was presented to him and thanked the waitress. Then he stood beside her, drawing her gaze up to his sculpted jaw and the sexy cleft in his chin. He was taller than her five-ten by a good four inches. Maybe five.
Another huge plus. There weren’t a lot of guys who made her feel small—okay, smaller—but Alex did.
Of course, she’d taken note of his height in the office. Not the only thing she’d noticed. He also filled out a pair of well-cut trousers quite nicely. But she’d pretended not to notice, just as she pretended now to be unmoved by the heat of his hand as he touched her arm. Just that single contact, his fingers on her wrist, tightened her nipples to painful nubs.
Come to Mama.
“Let’s go to your place. I want to see where you live.” His gaze skipped over her face and continued down over her discreetly displayed cleavage in a way that was more proprietary than proper. “Where you sleep.”
When his fingers crept under the sleeve of her jacket and brushed her thrumming pulse, she gave him a flirty smile. She so could do this. In fact, if she didn’t take full advantage of this experience, she’d kick herself for the rest of her days.
“Where I won’t be sleeping tonight,” she said softly.
FULL DISCLOSURE is available at The Wilder Rose Press and you can find out more about Cari Quinn at her blog.
Cari Quinn creates a drool-worthy leading man in Alex, the owner of Hunk Du Jour, an infinitely likable heroine in Holly, and a romance you can’t help but root for. Did I mention the searing eroticism? This story is seriously steamy enough to leave you panting.
Holly Burrows is a thirty-something lawyer with a failed marriage under her belt, and who is tired of battery-operated love. She opts to place an ad in Hunk Du Jour, a website for women seeking ‘adult’ encounters.
I don’t want to give away the any of the storyline so I won’t go further, let’s just say there are enough twists and turns to make this one enjoyable ride.
While keeping the sexual tension on high, Cari manages to bring her characters to life. Holly is relatable. She doesn’t have a perfect body or even temperament, which I loved, but you will genuinely like her. Alex Stryker is more than every woman’s dream date, although he is that too, he’s a complex character. And I can assure you, he’ll steal your heart by the end of the book.
I have it on good authority that this isn't the last we'll hear of Hunk Du Jour and I can't wait. : )
Here is a blurb and excerpt from FULL DISCLOSURE.
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?
Excerpt:
His hair brushed his collar, messily kempt in its own wayward style. She doubted he’d seen a barber in quite a while. She also doubted Alex was the type of man who’d wince if she yanked his hair too hard during sex.
That sealed it for her, and placed the cherry red lipstick kiss on the envelope. After her sexually anemic ex-husband, she deserved a young stud. And hell, she’d make sure the young stud got a lil’ something out of the deal, too.
“It is.”
After the waitress took Alex’s card, she rose, sure she seemed more confident than she felt. Her poker face had held her in good stead before, and it would now, too.
She’d simply act as if she were a sexy, voracious older woman who expected her every sexual demand to be met, and he’d never guess differently. He’d never guess her toes were curled in her sedate pumps, or that the back of her neck had already dampened, despite the air conditioning.
He’d never guess, and she would never tell.
She slid her hand down the strap of her bag. Coquettishly, she hoped. “Your place or mine?”
Alex stared up at her. There could be no debating the hue of his eyes now, a pure, rich green. Her heart skipped, much to her chagrin, but she couldn’t help it.
Had a man ever looked at her in quite that way before? As if he’d assessed every inch of her, and she’d come up a winner in every category?
What a heady feeling. And scary as hell.
He signed the credit card slip when it was presented to him and thanked the waitress. Then he stood beside her, drawing her gaze up to his sculpted jaw and the sexy cleft in his chin. He was taller than her five-ten by a good four inches. Maybe five.
Another huge plus. There weren’t a lot of guys who made her feel small—okay, smaller—but Alex did.
Of course, she’d taken note of his height in the office. Not the only thing she’d noticed. He also filled out a pair of well-cut trousers quite nicely. But she’d pretended not to notice, just as she pretended now to be unmoved by the heat of his hand as he touched her arm. Just that single contact, his fingers on her wrist, tightened her nipples to painful nubs.
Come to Mama.
“Let’s go to your place. I want to see where you live.” His gaze skipped over her face and continued down over her discreetly displayed cleavage in a way that was more proprietary than proper. “Where you sleep.”
When his fingers crept under the sleeve of her jacket and brushed her thrumming pulse, she gave him a flirty smile. She so could do this. In fact, if she didn’t take full advantage of this experience, she’d kick herself for the rest of her days.
“Where I won’t be sleeping tonight,” she said softly.
FULL DISCLOSURE is available at The Wilder Rose Press and you can find out more about Cari Quinn at her blog.
AFTER HOURS HAS AN OFFICIAL RELEASE DAY!
After the presents are wrapped...
After the kids are in bed...
Give yourself the gift of AFTER HOURS!
Elle Simpson doesn’t deny that the new intern is sexy as hell but he’s also ten years her junior--and she doesn’t date men from the office. Of course, dating isn’t what comes to mind when David Nelson enters a room. When Elle’s boss assigns her to work an important account, she’s thrilled—until David volunteers to help. Working one on one with her desirable new assistant is bound to test the limits of her restraint.
Everything about Elle, from her professional savvy to her hot body, turns David on, but first he has to unravel her mixed signals. After a few late nights alone with Elle in the office, David is at the end of his tether. It was hard enough during the day; keeping his hands off her after hours is proving impossible
When First Dates go wrong.
Come on, it was too good to pass up. I had to explore it just a little.
Have you ever had a horrible first date? Have you been tempted to use the, I have to use the restroom and then slip out the back door ploy? My sister was once on a date so horrific that’s exactly what she did.
Things to NOT do on a first date.
Do not talk about exes of any kind. This is a big warning sign.
Do not go to a remote location. While hiking or exploring may be something you love doing. Be smart. Wait until you get to know the person. Until then, stay in public.
Team Sports.
And by this I mean playing the sport. Unless you are both into sports, don’t put your date on the spot by expecting him or her to play a team sport in front of people.
Do not take your date to a strip bar. I know some people who would so do this on a first date but for the majority of us, just don’t.
Don't drink too much.
Obviously all of these are conditional and depend on the people involved. Come to think of it, you probably shouldn’t have wild passionate sex in a barn on the first date either but hey, it worked for Bret and Jill. ; )
Your turn. Will you share some things you should not do on a first date? All commenters will be entered in the 11/30's contest to win a copy of First Date! Comment twice and you have a double chance of winning.
What are you waiting for?
Have you ever had a horrible first date? Have you been tempted to use the, I have to use the restroom and then slip out the back door ploy? My sister was once on a date so horrific that’s exactly what she did.
Do not talk about exes of any kind. This is a big warning sign.
Do not go to a remote location. While hiking or exploring may be something you love doing. Be smart. Wait until you get to know the person. Until then, stay in public.
Team Sports.
And by this I mean playing the sport. Unless you are both into sports, don’t put your date on the spot by expecting him or her to play a team sport in front of people. Do not take your date to a strip bar. I know some people who would so do this on a first date but for the majority of us, just don’t.
Don't drink too much.
Obviously all of these are conditional and depend on the people involved. Come to think of it, you probably shouldn’t have wild passionate sex in a barn on the first date either but hey, it worked for Bret and Jill. ; )
Your turn. Will you share some things you should not do on a first date? All commenters will be entered in the 11/30's contest to win a copy of First Date! Comment twice and you have a double chance of winning.
What are you waiting for?
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