Category: New

To be a student again! Lessons on Seduction by Estelle Pettersen

Lessons on Seduction by Estelle PettersenLet the lessons begin!

Blurb for Lessons on Seduction:

When college student Sapphire Blake finds herself fresh out of a breakup, she is ready to embark on a new journey in her life. A dark, sensual journey. Freeing herself from the expectations set by her family, friends, and church, an innocent and unworldly Sapphire begins experimenting with her new casual lover, Vera Richland.

Julian Richland is ridiculously handsome, smart, and intimidating. This university professor finds himself enthralled in a sensual relationship with a woman willing to pay top money for his time in the bedroom. To pay off his debts and continue leading his lavish lifestyle, Julian discovers the world filled with sex, drugs, and lies may not be for him as he first thought. With his contract almost up, Julian has his sights set on a new endeavor.

When the pair are introduced by none other than Julian’s own sister, sparks are ignited as Julian sees past the conservative stigma Sapphire believes the world has placed on her. Instead, he sees a sexy vixen—and he can’t help but admit he wants her.

As the couple begins a dangerous, passionate liaison, secrets become exposed and lives are threatened. Will Julian be able to save his relationship with Sapphire and rekindle the fiery flame they share? Or, will fate have another ending in store? Find out in this thrilling and erotic new adult romance novel.

Buy links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ng8YbDhttps://books2read.com/u/47XXGj
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/47XXGj

Lessons on Seduction by Estelle Pettersen

Excerpt (WARNING! Explicit language):
Chapter One
Welcome to my Playground

Julian
First semester at Montville State University, August

“Baby, come back to bed,” she purred, grabbing my arm.

“I need to get to class. There’s no time to sleep in.” I sat on the edge of the bed, gently loosened her grip, and kissed her forehead.

“Oh, honey, please, just one more time.”

“There’s a coffee machine on the kitchen bench. Help yourself to it on the way out.”

“But—”

“You were good, sugar.” I leaned forward and ran my hand along her smooth, tan, inner thighs. I slid my index and middle fingers inside her wet slit, pulled out, then licked them to taste her scent.

Melina Montes, or Mindy, was a college student in her prime.

Her flavor? Spicy and aromatic.

***

She was a sexy hellcat whose tits were popping out of her low-cut tank top when I recognized her across the room at a party last night. Dark hair: check. Dark eyes: check. Tiny waist and a fucking banging body: check, check.

She and I had had casual sex before, so it didn’t take long for the familiar flirtation to turn into a make-out session, which resulted in business in the bedroom in my apartment, where she was a star.

Mindy was a little minx who knew how to satisfy a man. Her naked body was a piece of caramel cake, with small droplets of brown candy on the peaks of her breasts, and a smooth pussy that flowed cream so tasty and hot.

She fucked like a pro and knew how to handle my cock with her mouth. She started on the head, tasting it with her tongue, before using her suction technique, which was spot-on perfect.

Sixty-nine was my favorite number, so while she worked her magic on my cock with her lips, I snacked on her exquisite pussy. That pussy had a landing strip of short, dark hair, which I inhaled to take in her aroma. She was musky, sensual, and pleading to be licked.

My tongue landed on her landing strip, giving it gentle licks. Then my mouth dove into her core, nipping, sucking, and circling the ripe center with my wicked tongue. Her whimpers and mewling grew louder as I continued eating her while pinching her perfectly plump nipples with my fingers and thumbs to stimulate a little more pleasure. Those nipples were divine—they were territory that I’d visited from time to time before, nibbling, licking, and devouring them until they were sore.

“Oh my God, oh my God.” Mindy’s filthy mouth broke away from my cock and prayed to a divine deity.

I continued to roll her nipples between my fingers while feasting on her clit, wanting more of that pussy cream. Her body quivered as I continued with the motions, bringing her to a state of euphoria.

“Fuck, Julian, I’m going to come!” Mindy screamed.

I broke my kiss, positioned myself on top of her, and grabbed a condom. Once I had it on, I slid my hard, throbbing cock inside her, pounding into her sweet, wet pussy at a paced speed, until she screamed unfiltered pleasure peppered with obscenities. We both came hard and fast before I collapsed onto her body, catching up on my breathing. A minute later, we lay in silence, and Mindy’s head rested on my chest. She played with the contours of my chest and stomach, tracing her fingers from my sternum to just above my love trail.

“Your abs. They’re so fucking rock hard,” she whispered, before falling asleep.

I’d just had the fuck of my life with Mindy. I’d known her for years, and she would come onto me like a cat in heat. We were amicable, but I wouldn’t call her a friend, so it was a case of acquaintances with benefits. You see, I met her through my sister, Vera, years ago—they both went to high school together and studied law in college. We hooked up from time to time, but that’s all it was.

After a night of little sleep, I woke up at seven, showered, and got ready for class. The mirror reflected a clear image of a man with mahogany hair and light bags under his dark, burnished eyes. I stared at the man, who was six feet tall with broad shoulders and a muscular build, thanks to my daily routine at Evolve Gym. The exercise initially helped me with a few back problems and eventually became a habit of taking care of myself. I lathered my square, unshaven jaw and started shaving for a fresh, clean look.

There’s a faint scar, just above my right eyebrow, which serves as a reminder of my youth, when a little shit by the name of Wilson Cole shoved a swing bench into my forehead. It’s a memento to remind me that the world is full of shitheads, and probably only twenty percent of the population are decent people worth having a conversation with.

I didn’t mind the heavy nights of sex, but there was one problem—I had morning classes to teach and needed at least a double shot of coffee on the way to the archaeology department. Being a teacher’s assistant/tutor while completing my PhD in archaeology at Montville State University meant I had to be alert and upbeat in front of the class. Based in the coastal city of Lester Harbor, in the state of Montville, the university had a leading archaeology research center.

As for Mindy, I didn’t have time for anything more than a flirtationship. She managed to find her way out of my apartment later that day and left her black, lacy thong, which I threw in the bathroom bin. My name isn’t Julian Carpenter Richland, the thong-collector. My middle name is my mother’s maiden name, by the way.

Lessons on Seduction by Estelle Pettersen

 Interview:

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
EP: When I drafted Lessons on Seduction, it was originally a sweet college romance, but I felt that it was flat and not quite what I was after if I was a reader looking for a hot love story. I wanted a steamy romance book with a decent plot, a protagonist who is both empowering and feminine, and a love interest who is intelligent, sexy, and relatable. I ended up doing some major revamps on the story after talking with a few friends, and the result is an erotic romance.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book:
EP: In Lessons on Seduction, Julian was originally Sapphire’s college teacher, but I wanted to divert slightly from the cliché teacher-student romance.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer? EP: I’ve always loved writing stories since I was little, so it was no surprise for my family and close friends back home in Australia. I met my husband during a transition period in my life, so writing a fiction novel was probably a little more surprising for him. However, the genre I write doesn’t surprise him at all, as he knows I’m a big romantic at heart. People in the town I live in would be quite surprised that I write erotic romances though. When I tell people that I write, they usually ask me if I write children’s books. Maybe one day.

My friends on a writing platform called Wattpad have been incredibly encouraging, and I’ve gotten to where I am today as a writer because of the support they’ve given me.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer.
EP: The biggest surprise I had after becoming a writer is having my manuscript for Lessons on Seduction accepted by my publisher Black Velvet Seductions. That was the highlight of my writing career, and through this experience, I’ve met wonderful authors with the same publisher whose work I’ve admired for a while. Being a shy introvert, I was a little tongue-tied when I was first introduced to them, as I was already familiar with some of their works. The BVS authors are my writing family, and they’ve helped me come out of my shell as an introverted author.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
EP: Yes, I have some rather quirky writing habits. I’m a sensitive writer and my moods affect my writing. Aside from being in the right mood, I need my coffee, music, a peaceful environment, and light. Without these, I don’t function very well with writing. I also love using tropes, particularly metaphors and allegories. I use these to give clues to readers on what is coming up in the later chapters.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
EP: Can I sleep in for another fifteen minutes? I tend to hit the snooze button, as I’m not much of a morning person especially in the winter, when it’s dark, cold, and raining outside. I don’t mind the alarm so much in the summer when I wake up to the natural morning light.

NA: What are you working on now?
EP: I’m working on a cowboy romance short story, set in outback Australia, for my publisher Black Velvet Seductions. After that, I’ll continue working on the second book in the Seduction series, which is Julian’s sister Vera’s story.

NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
EP: I can’t think of any for now. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to be interviewed. I want to give credit to Jessica Greeley, at BVS, for the artwork and the cover of Lessons on Seduction– she did an amazing job with it.

 Meet Estelle:

Estelle PettersenEstelle Pettersen is an Australian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland, Australia. Her second degree is an MBA from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and is passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. She is happily married and living in Norway these days.

 Author links: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elusiveromance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elusive_6788
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elusive_6788
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/94753616-e-pettersen
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/estellepettersen
Amazon page: https://amz.run/3Ld2
Author website: https://elusiveromance.com/

No place does it like the South! Death Southern Style by Beverley Bateman

Death Southern Style by Beverley Bateman

Blurb for Death Southern Style:
When Perrine Dupré dies under suspicious circumstances her daughter, Julie Ann Dupré, returns to New Orleans to find the truth about her mother’s death. She uncovers a family secret, hidden for years. Now someone is trying to kill her. Will the little dog who appears after her mother’s death help her? Is the sexy detective out to help her, or is he part of police corruption?

Detective Connor O’Reilly, a native of New Orleans, comes from a family of police. He’s an honest cop but realizes there is corruption in the division. His father may have died as part of that corruption. He meets Julie Ann, checks out her mother’s death and finds it was badly handled. Julie Ann deserves the truth and he wants to find it for her.

Julie Ann and Connor work together to unravel the real reason behind Perrine Dupré’s murder, Julie Ann’s mysterious past, and why people want her dead, while developing their challenging relationship. Can they both survive? And can their relationship survive?

Excerpt:
Perrine Dupré hurried down the street. She needed to get home. Dark New Orleans clouds hovered overhead. Thunder rolled. Large drops of late May rain pelted the streets of the French Quarter. It sounded like hail as the fat globs bounced off the pavement behind Perrine. The ozone mixed with the scent of magnolia and the smell of shrimp and fish cooking in the area.

The older African American woman struggled against the wind. It whipped her umbrella inside out. She clutched it tightly so not to lose it. Rain blurred her vision. Thunder crashes caused her to jump. She stumbled up the three steps to her front door. Her daughter was coming home for a visit. Perrine’s pulse increased and a smile sneaked out.

Perrine loved her New Orleans. She hated to travel, but two years ago she’d gone to New York to see Julie Ann and her new business. It was a mass of busy airports and crowded flights, but she’d enjoyed seeing the city and staying in her daughter’s apartment. Her daughter had showed off her new interior design business, introduced Perrine to a few of her friends and dragged Perrine to some of the typical tourist activities. Julie Ann had been getting her designing business established then and had a challenge taking time off to leave and come home. Recently she’d taken on a partner. It freed up a little extra time. Tomorrow Julie Ann would be home in New Orleans and Perrine could give her a big hug.

Juggling her parcels, umbrella and the key Perrine jabbed it in the direction of the lock. Finally, the key found the opening and turned.

Thunder rumbled a little louder, sounding like pins crashing in a bowling alley.

Perrine turned the doorknob and froze.

One of her psychic visions flashed in front of her. Her shoulders sagged. A man stood inside. Her visions didn’t lie. She wasn’t going to see Julie Ann after all. And she’d miss their regular telephone call tonight, too.

She wasn’t prepared to die. A single tear shimmered down her cheek. Her heart pounded. She clutched her parcels to her chest. Why now?

Lightning flashed. Thunder crashed again.

He waited for her to come inside.

The vision showed her crumpled on the ground in front of the house. She’d run, but obviously she wasn’t going to get far. Even if she managed to escape, they would kill her eventually. And after tonight Julie Ann would be home. She would also be in danger.

The family was too rich and powerful. They didn’t care about collateral damage or anyone who might get hurt. Had they killed off all the other people involved? Was that why the documentation wasn’t important anymore? The birth certificate should have been enough.

There was so much she should have shared with Julie Ann. At least then she would be aware of the threat.

Perrine didn’t want to die in the house. It would leave a permanent stain and memory. Julie Ann might never enter the house again if Perrine’s body was found inside.

In her mind, Perrine stared into the depths of the house, hands trembled, freezing cold filled her chest. She had to make a decision. He was getting ready to make a move. Perrine dropped her parcels, turned and raced down the steps.

The skies opened wide and lightning flashed across the sky, turning it an electric white. Perrine crumpled to the street. No one heard the shot. An icy shroud of death enveloped over her.

The front door closed. The lock clicked.

She felt no pain, not even when a boot kicked her sharply in the ribs – twice.

The feet moved away.

A gate squeaked.

A car engine roared to life.

The phone rang. No one answered it tonight.

Her spirit prepared to leave.

Perrine regretted that she’d never shared any information about Julie Ann’s real mother with her daughter, or how her mother had been murdered. She’d tried to protect her baby.

Julie Ann’s birth mother had kept records and passed them to Perrine, to be used for blackmail purposes for everyone’s protection.

It hadn’t saved Elizabeth, Julie Ann’s birth mother. She’d been killed before Julie Ann was a year old. That had been an ominous sign. Perrine had spent years looking over her shoulder, but there had been no issues. No one ever threatened them. Even today, there had been no demands or threats.

To the best of Perrine’s knowledge, no one else had been in danger since. Although she had never looked up any of the people involved at the time of Julie Ann’s birth. Now, for whatever reason, death had reared its ugly head. The documents hadn’t saved her. There’d been no threats, just the shooter.

What had changed? Why now?

She wished she’d at least told Julie Ann about the documents. It might help save life.

Perrine’s mind dimmed. She prayed to her god to help her keep Julie Ann alive. Her spirit gradually left her body and floated away. Using her fading power, Perrine pulled on the power of the Priestess to allow her to remain on earth, in any form.

Julie Ann would be at risk. Perrine might still be able to protect her. She needed to be there, at least in spirit, for her daughter.

Buy Links:
eBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089VRC1WR
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1777262410

Interview time!

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
BB: I like to use a little paranormal in books and I decided that New Orleans was the perfect place for a setting with a paranormal twist and a history of voodoo. Then I came up with the first scene of having a murder occur and the victim had a psychic vision of it abut to happen. After that I had to figure out why. I added and subtracted ideas, changed them and eventually came up with the complete plot for the book.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
BB: I researched New Orleans, districts, houses, funeral homes, voodoo, police departments and fight scenes.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
BB: I was in New Orleans with friends before I wrote the book. We stayed in a very old brick hotel in the Bourbon Street area. Our room had brick walls on the exterior. On the way back to our room one night we bought pralines. I had mine in the paper bag on my bedside table. During the night I was wakened by someone trying to get the pralines out of the bag. There was no one there. I believe t was a ghost trying to get at it. That same night my roommate said she woke up because someone was flicking the plaster from between the bricks at her as she lay in bed.

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
BB: I don’t have a day job any longer. Previously I was an administer for a government childcare and adult care program.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
BB: I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. I’d write plots and locked in a room stories. After I developed breast cancer for the first time I decided if I was going to do anything with my writing, I needed to get serious. So I wrote my first book.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
BB: My family and my friends that aren’t writers are very encouraging but if you start to talk about t, their eyes glaze over.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
BB: A bit of both. I get a feel for the plot and my characters and I write maybe one sentence per chapter as to where the story is going. Then I start writing, but I don’t always follow my one sentence outline.

NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
BB: The wonderful people I have met over the years, both online and in person.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
BB: Before or after Covid? Before I liked to travel, do glass fusion, eat out, and play my Native American flute. Now I putter in the garden and walk my rescue dog – and still play my flute.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
BB: Okay, that’s funny. Because of the Covid virus I spend most of time at home and I slouch around in leggings and t-shirt. I love pandas and today I’m wearing my panda t-shirt.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
BB: I’m one of the lucky ones, although with Covid there might be a lot more people, but I don’t wake up to an alarm. So I wake up when I’m ready to face the day.

NA: Strangest place you’ve brushed your teeth?
BB: I’m not sure it’s that strange but it would be in my car, (at a stop light).

NA: What are you working on now?
BB: I’m working on two things at the moment. Book 2 of The Foundation – Liability Wife – Lydia’s Story, and a novella.

NA: Did you enjoy writing Death Southern Style?
BB: Yes. It was a fun book to write. While there is murder, attempted murder and corruption, there’s also paranormal elements which I love and were fun to wind into the plot. And the research, for example the funeral, were fascinating to research. I enjoyed writing this book.

Meet Beverley:
Beverley BatemanBeverley Bateman now lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She recently moved from the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada. Instead of vineyards, orchards, lakes, and mountains she has ranches, farmers and a close community. She lives there with her husband and her Bichon-poodle rescue dog. During the cold Alberta winters, she snowbirds to Arizona and does glass fusion, watercolor painting and plays the ukulele besides working on her latest romantic suspense. Hunted, Missing and Targeted are part of her Montana series. She also has her Holly Devine series: A Cruise to Remember, and a Murder to Forget. Don’t Go is her darker romantic suspense.

Author Links:
Website – https://www.beverleybateman.com
Blog – http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Twitter http://Twitter.com/kelownawriter
Facebook Authorpage – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverleyBateman?ref=hl

Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/okwriter
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Beverley-Bateman/e/B008M01F5E

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/beverley.bateman.18?fref=ts
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7052567.Beverley_Bateman

LinkedIn – babateman@shaw.ca
Instagram – Beverley.Bateman

Saturday’s Child: historical fiction by Rosemary Morris

Saturday's Child by Rosemary Morris

Saturday’s Child works hard for a living…

After the Battle of Waterloo, motherless ten-year-old Annie travels to London with her father, Private Johnson. Discharged from the army, instead of the hero’s welcome he deserves, his desperate attempts to make an honest living fail. Without food or shelter, death seems inevitable. Driven by desperation Johnson pleads for help from Georgiana Tarrant, his deceased colonel’s daughter.

Georgiana, who founded a charity to assist soldiers’ widows and orphans, agrees to provide for them.

At Major and Mrs Tarrant’s luxurious house, Annie is fed, bathed and given clean clothes. Although she and her father, her only relative, will be provided for there is a severe price. Johnson will work for Georgiana while Annie is educated at the Foundling House Georgiana established.

Despite the years she spent overseas when her dear father fought against the French, the horror she witnessed, and recent destitution Annie’s spirit is not crushed. She understands their separation is inevitable because her father cannot refuse employment. Annie vows that one day she will work hard for her living and never again be poor. It is fortunate she cannot foresee the hardship and tragedy ahead to be overcome when she is an adult.

Buy link:

Prologue and excerpt

An interview with Rosemary:

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
RM: While reading historical non-fiction I found out that after the Battle of Waterloos many former soldiers were destitute.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
RM: I studied the politics, economics and social history of the Regency era and as Saturday’s Child is set in Brighton on the Sussex coast, so I visited the town.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
RM: I want my readers to be immersed in the era and for the story to linger in their minds after they have reached the end.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
RM: I can never remember a time when I did not make up stories. I developed a passion for reading historical fiction, biographies and much more, as well as a passion for history.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
RM: My family are very proud of me. My friends, who know how hard I work, are pleased for me.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a write.
RM: How generous other authors are with advice

NA: Do you outline your books ahead of time or are you more a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
RM: Before I begin a novel, I know what the theme and the plot are, and have completed profiles for the main characters, but I don’t make detailed plot plans.

NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
RM: When I began to write novels, I was amazed by how generous established authors were with their advice; and I am very grateful for the praise in many reviews of my intriguing, classical romantic novels

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
RM: I would find it very difficult to write sex scenes but have no wish to include explicit sex in my novels. I prefer to write about intense emotion and desire.

NA: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
RM: I enjoy visiting places of historical interest, having a holiday by the sea, working in, and enjoying my organic garden where I grow herbs, fruit and vegetables, and making delicious vegetarian meals

NA: A pet peeve?
RM: Characters in historical novels who behave as though they are 21st century men, women and children who have modern attitudes. An extreme example is of a medieval knight in full armor who scaled the walls of a castle to rescue a proverbial maiden in distress. The window was too small for him to enter her chamber, but she asked him. “Would you like a nice cup of coffee?”

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have worn today?
RM: I chose a tatty old T shirt suitable for working in my organic garden.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning.
RM: What will happen in the next scene or chapter?

NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
RM: If he had not left his body, I would like to dine with His Holiness, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who founded The International Society of Krishna Consciousness, translated Classical Sanscrit literature and inspired George Harrison.

NA: What are you working on?
RM: Grace, Lady of Cassio, the sequel to Yvonne, Lady of Cassio set in the reign of Edward III.

NA: What is your attitude to writing?
RM: It is extremely hard work which requires dedication and perseverance, but publication of my novels is the reward for so much self-discipline.

Meet Rosemary:

I am a multi-published, best-selling historical novelist.

There is a gigantic canvas for a me to choose from.

My novels are set in the reign of Charles II’s niece, Queen Anne Stuart, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, and the ever-popular Regency era, and in the reign of Edward II’s reign. I chose those periods because they changed the course of history.

The more I read about my chosen eras the more fascinated I become, and the more aware of the gulf between the past and present. Those who lived in the past shared the same emotions as we do, but their attitudes and way of life were in many ways very different to ours. One of the most striking examples was the social position of women and children in in bygone ages.

 The characters in my novels, are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st century people. 

Research of my chosen eras sparks my imagination. The seeds of my novels are sown, and from them sprout the characters and events which will shape their lives.

I was born in Kent. As a child, when I was not making up stories, my head was ‘always in a book.’

While working in a travel agency, I met my Hindu husband. He encouraged me to continue my education at Westminster College.  In 1961 I and my husband, by then a barrister, moved to his birthplace, Kenya, where I lived from 1961 until 1982. After an attempted coup d’état, four of my children lived with me in an ashram in France.

Back in England, I wrote historical fiction, joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel Society, Watford Writers, and on-line groups including Facebook.

Apart from writing, I enjoy classical Indian literature, reading, visiting places of historical interest, vegetarian cooking, growing organic fruit, herbs and vegetables and creative crafts. 

Time spent with my five children and their families, most of whom live near me, is precious.

Discover more about Rosemary and her books on her website.

Sci-fi gay romance! The H-Gene by Lisabet Sarai

New Release!The H-Gene by Lisabet Sarai
The H-Gene:
After the Plague Book 1
By Lisabet Sarai

When love is forbidden, the whole world’s a prison.

Blurb
Dylan Moore will do anything for freedom. Seven years ago, a gay plague spread to heterosexuals, killing millions and sparking brutal anti-gay riots. The Guardians rounded up men who tested positive for the homogene and imprisoned them in remote quarantine centers like desolate Camp Malheur. Since then, Dylan has hacked the camp’s security systems and hoarded spare bits of electronics, seeking some way to escape. He has concluded the human guards are the only weakness in the facility’s defenses.

Camp guard Rafe Cowell is H-negative. He figures the lust he feels watching prisoner 3218 masturbate on the surveillance cameras must be due to his loneliness and isolation. When he finally meets the young queer, he discovers that Dylan is brilliant, brave, sexy as hell — and claims to be in love with Rafe. Despite his qualms, Rafe finds he can’t resist the other man’s charm. By the time Dylan asks for his help in escaping, Rafe cares too much for Dylan to refuse.

Dylan’s plan goes awry and Rafe comes to his rescue. Soon they’re both fugitives, fleeing from militant survivalists, murderous androids, homophobic ideologues and a powerful man who wants Dylan as his sexual toy. Hiding in the Plague-ravaged city of Sanfran, Dylan and Rafe learn there’s far more than their own safety at stake. Can they help prevent the deaths of millions more people? And can Rafe trust the love of a man who deliberately seduced him in order to escape from quarantine?

Note: This novel was previously released by Pride Publishing under the title Quarantine. It has been revised and re-edited for this release.

Buy Links

Kinky Literature – https://www.kinkyliterature.com/book/7233-the-hgene-after-the-plague-book-1/
Amazon  US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CVNK6NL
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CVNK6NL
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1032512
Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-h-gene-lisabet-sarai/1137338272?ean=2940164186050
Kobo –  https://www.kobo.com/th/en/ebook/the-h-gene

Add on Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54529211-the-h-gene

Online Excerpt
https://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2020/07/new-release-and-giveaway-gayromance.html

The H-Gene by Lisabet Sarai

Excerpt:
The fact was, no one really knew who the Guardians were. At the height of the Plague, thousands had been dying daily. The streets stank from the smoke of burning bodies and torched buildings. Crazed mobs had roamed the cities, looking for the “carriers” they blamed for the death of their loved ones. The fact that gays had been dying twice as fast as straights hadn’t stopped them.

Then the Robbies had marched in, a small army, with Tasers and tear gas. At first, some people had screamed about an alien invasion. Within hours, the messages began coming from “the Guardians of American Greatness”, urging people to be calm, promising to contain the scourge of the perverts. Gradually, the chaos had subsided.

Dylan vividly remembered being dragged to the testing center by a pair of robots. They’d smashed in the door of the Castro District apartment he’d shared with his lover. Miguel’s body had been sprawled on their bed, his coffee-colored skin riddled with the oozing sores that were the Plague’s mark. Dylan had been crouched on the floor, crying and rocking back and forth, while explosions shook the building and sirens wailed.

He hadn’t put up any fight. What would have been the use? Miguel was dead. The world was in flames. He’d been seventeen.

But he was ready to fight now. He’d do whatever was necessary to get out of this hell. Dylan reached into the basin of the chemical toilet, feeling around the inside rim. The slimy plastoceramic surface made his skin crawl. Ammonia fumes burned his nostrils. He grinned as his fingers found the item he sought. Detaching the object from the hook he’d installed, he brought out an oblong about the size of a cig pack.

He unwrapped the protective plastic and switched on the controller. The organic LCD screen glowed pale blue. He’d lifted it from a discarded microwave oven. His fingers danced over the keyboard, composing his message. The interface was crude but adequate for his needs.

Closing his eyes, he brought up an image of the brawny black guard who was his target. What would work best? He didn’t know much about Rafe—he hadn’t been able to hack the guy’s dossier. He could read boredom and frustration in the man’s strong, regular features. He knew from their first encounter that Rafe had a temper. Yet Dylan also sensed a streak of decency. Most of the human guards at Malheur were supposed to be

The H-Gene by Lisabet Sarai

About Lisabet
Lisabet Sarai became addicted to words at an early age. She began reading when she was four. She wrote her first story at five years old and her first poem at seven. Since then, she has written plays, tutorials, scholarly articles, marketing brochures, software specifications, self-help books, press releases, a five-hundred page dissertation, and lots of erotica and erotic romance – over one hundred titles, and counting, in nearly every sub-genre—paranormal, scifi, ménage, BDSM, GLBT, and more. Regardless of the genre, every one of her stories illustrates her motto: Imagination is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads, Pinterest, and  Twitter. Join her VIP email list here: https://btn.ymlp.com/xgjjhmhugmgh

New release! Dare to Hope by Madison Michael

Dare to Hope
Double Dare Romance Series (Book 1)
By Madison Michael
 
♥♥GiveAway♥♥
Maddy is offering a few great prizes. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter! You may enter each day for a chance to win so be sure to follow along with us on the New Release Tour.
 

About Dare to Hope: 

She’s Betting on Love and the Stakes are High

 The “Crazy Eights,” eight women who have been friends for 30 years, have a powerful connection yet rarely see each other. At a pivotal time in their lives, they create a way to remedy this predicament, an audacious dare contrived to bring them together for weddings – each participant must get married within twelve months. The stakes are high. Win the bet and lose your heart; or lose the bet and perform a personally mortifying task.

 In the first of their stories, we meet Eliana, beautiful and brilliant, but starting over, focused on her career, not on some foolhardy dare. Longing for a family but recently divorced and on her own, Eliana sets her sights on a new job, a new home and accepting her single, childless status. Independent and determined, she has no idea that in less than six months she will both win and lose her heart’s desire.

 Jeremy Klein, genius engineer and inventor, is also making life changes. He’s sold his startup to a major medical device company, becoming President and CEO, and a billionaire before he is forty. Although he’s gun-shy about the dating game, Jeremy knows it’s time to apply his smarts, sex appeal and new-found success to finding true love.

 When Eliana meets Jeremy, they bond quickly. The couple has so much in common and a chemistry that sizzles. Winning Eliana feels like a fantasy come true to Jeremy. Their attraction is immediate and electrifying, and a one-night stand morphs into planning a future. But plans change. On track to wedded bliss, baby and all, Jeremy and Eliana are derailed by accusations that threaten their relationship, Eliana’s career and Jeremy’s future as CEO.

 Spies, lies, allegations and misunderstandings abound, threatening to destroy their happiness. That is, until those “Crazy Eights” get involved, scheming and manipulating to win Eliana her happily ever after. Can a group of determined friends help Eliana and Jeremy hold onto love?

 In the tradition of The Beguiling Bachelor Series, Madison Michael creates a romance series about independent and sassy women, sexy and successful men, true love, and lasting friendships.

 Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance

 Buy Links:

An Excerpt from Dare to Hope:

His grin was devastating up close – wide and welcoming, with a hint of naughtiness and the promise of shared pleasures. But it was his eyes, deep coffee brown and fringed with long dark lashes that were his best feature; piercing, intelligent and inquisitive eyes, trained on her.
Please, God, Eliana prayed quickly, do not let this man be the new sales manager. It would be lamentable if she had to keep him at arm’s length. He was the first man Eliana had felt drawn to since Nico. If she was honest with herself, he was the first man she had ever felt this attracted to so immediately. It was enough to make her believe in love at first sight or fate.
“Hi,” he stepped closer, ignoring the empty stool beside her to halt just inside her personal space. Usually, Eliana would have reflexively backed up, but she savored his closeness, the power emanating from his presence. Even in this stuffy bar, he smelled good – fresh, like soap and good whiskey. And up close, his eyes were more magical – a hint of gold dancing in their depths.
“Hi,” she responded on a breath, letting the single word hang there for a moment before adding “You aren’t in sales, are you?”
“Nope.” If he thought it was a strange conversation starter, he kept it to himself. “Engineering and design, although I have dabbled in sales. I could be in sales for you,” he offered in a voice smooth as brandy, redolent with sexual promise and a hint of curiosity. She laughed at his offer. “Are you in sales?”
“Yes, I am. I was thinking of what a crime it would be if you turned out to be my new boss. I’m meeting him tomorrow.”
“Jeremy,” he responded, extending his hand to shake hers. “Not in sales. Is your boss named Jeremy?”
“Thankfully, not.” Eliana extended her hand, savoring the moment as Jeremy wrapped his long fingers around hers. She noticed there was no wedding band as she admired the strength and length of his fingers, the fine hairs on the back of his hand, and his grip – warm and dry. His skin was soft over fine bone and healthy muscle. Everything about him captivated her. “Eliana.”
Jeremy seemed in no hurry to release her hand, but after several beats too long for politeness, Eliana pulled hers from his. “Is this seat taken?” he asked, already sitting down, not thinking twice about it. “Or perhaps that table against the wall? I am anxious to learn why you don’t know who you work with, Eliana.”
Eliana laughed and watched as Jeremy’s breath stopped. His every emotion was transparent, especially the desire flaming in his eyes right now. A passion she reciprocated. Wholeheartedly. She couldn’t remember such an instantaneous attraction. But with Jeremy, she felt electricity and lust move through her entire body, just from the touch of his hand and the sound of her name spoken in his rich baritone.
“Eliana,” he rolled the word around his mouth as if tasting a fine wine. “What a lovely name.” Eliana panties dampened. He was just saying words, but their underlying promise was undeniable. She wanted to be alone with him. She wanted to be naked with him. And all she knew was his first name.
Eliana nodded toward the table, questioning her sanity. She was sure about what this man wanted, but after only minutes, her body governed her head. Jeremy spoke briefly with the bartender, passed him a fifty like it was a single, and motioned for her to lead the way to the empty table. Before they had settled in their chairs, both had fresh drinks. Earlier, the bartender had responded to her beauty with decent service and half-hearted flirting, but he reacted with alacrity to the big tip.
“So, spill,” Jeremy directed, leaning forward on his elbows and putting his mouth dangerously close to hers. Just a few inches, Eliana imagined, and they could be kissing. “I am dying to hear your story. I want to know absolutely everything about you.” The way he lingered on the word ‘everything’ made Eliana wetter still. Oh man, she was in way over her head.
 ~♥~♥~♥~♥~
 

Meet Madison Michael:

Madison Michael loves to binge news, movies, books, Oreos and romance – reading romance novels, writing romantic stories, watching Rom-Coms over and over. Maddy has spent her self-isolation fretting about the health of her friends and neighbors and catching up on TV programs from ten years ago. Hunkered down with her cat, Gracie, and a Zoom life-line to the world, she is wondering how people date and social distance, how much junk food she can consume in a day and why Gracie only wants to play when Maddy needs to work.

 Oh, and Madison is also hard at work on the rest of the Double Dare Romance series. Watch for more of the series in Autumn and Winter, 2020.

Madison’s Social Links:

All Caught up on Madison’s Books?
The Beguiling Bachelor Series – 
Four Successful, Sexy Men meet their matches – and how!
The B&B Billionaire Books – Second Chance at Love stories set in small town America
Standalone Stories – from Sweet Time Travel to Sexy May-September Romance
(available only when you sign up to be an Insider)

New Lisabet Sarai release! (Erotica, MILF–Over 18, please)

The Slut Strikes Back by Lisabet Sarai

Anyone is fair game!

The Slut Strikes Back
Triple-X MILF Erotica, Happy Ending
27,000 words, 81 pages
Smashwords and Amazon KDP

Blurb

“Find someone else to satisfy your needs.”

When her husband complains about her constant sexual demands, MILF Lauren Gordon is shocked and hurt – and determined to act on his instructions.

Lauren has never strayed outside the bounds of her marriage, but now that she has permission, she unleashes her voracious libido on her gorgeous girlfriend next door, the UPS delivery man, and anyone else who strikes her fancy.

Her husband called her a slut in order to shame her. Lauren wears the title with pride. When he comes home to find her gang banging her son’s buddies from the college wrestling team, he realizes he’s made a huge mistake. He wants his slutty wife back. But once you’ve freed the genie, you can’t put it back in the bottle.

If you love wild adventures of wanton women, you’ll love The Slut Strikes Back.

Online Excerpt

https://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2020/07/my-latest-erotic-romp-is-available-for.html

The Slut Strikes Back by Lisabet Sarai

Excerpt

They huddled together, laughing and chatting, obviously good friends. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but the lovely, rolling cadence of their speech made her shiver. Shades of Michael Caine and Sean Connery! She’d always found an English accent devastatingly sexy. She squirmed on her leather seat, aware that her minuscule silken panties were well on their way to being soaked.

Nikki set down their single malts, in sparkling crystal glasses. Lauren couldn’t see how much of a tip they gave her, but her broad smile suggested they’d been magnanimous. Crossing one leg over the other, Lauren gave the barkeeper a come-hither gesture. “Another daiquiri, please,” she called.

The two men gazed in her direction, seeming to notice her for the first time. The dark one’s eyebrows shot up as he took in her generous curves, trim thighs and shapely calves. The red-head gave her a wolfish grin. She reached for her glass to drain the last bit of tartness, knowing that the gesture made her breasts shift under her form-fitting dress. Then she leaned over to fiddle with the buckle on her shoe, giving them both a clear view of her sun-tanned cleavage.

None of this was calculated. She wasn’t consciously trying to turn them on. They were watching her; it seemed natural to put on a bit of a show.

The shorter guy waved at Nikki. “Add her drink to our bill, please,” he said, staring straight into Lauren’s eyes.

She liked his boldness. “Why, thank you!” Slipping off her stool, she made her way down the bar, swinging her hips and flipping her long hair back over her shoulder. She settled her butt on the tall chair next to the man with glasses and set her purse on the polished wood surface. “That’s very kind of you.”

“It’s our pleasure.” The dark-haired member of the pair held out his hand. “I’m James.” He had big hands and a powerful grip.

Lauren couldn’t help wondering if he was big everywhere. The erotic potential of this encounter was already clear to her. Her mind running fast-forward, she saw herself sandwiched between these two delightful males. Her pulse jumped and new moisture dampened her already sodden thong.

“Lauren,” she replied, then stopped herself. Should she be using a false name? But why bother? Elliott had called her a slut, and he’d been right. She wasn’t ashamed of who she was. Far from it.

The shorter man licked his lips. “Phillip Worthington,” he said. “At your service.”

She liked that notion. Her vigorous nod caused her unfettered breasts to bounce. Their eyes followed every movement. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I gather you’re visiting LA.”

“We’re here for the IPI conference,” James replied, obviously struggling to look at her face rather than her tits. “Indie Publishers International.”

“Oh! You’re authors?” Brains as well as beauty!

“Phil’s the author.”

“Mysteries and thrillers, mostly,” Phillip added. “As P.J. Worthington.”

“I own a small press in London,” James continued. “Haversham Books. But I don’t imagine you’ve ever heard of us.” He drained his Scotch and signaled to Nikki. “Another round, please.”

“Meanwhile, why don’t you sit between us, Lauren?”  Phillip suggested. “That way we can share you.”

Even with the subdued lighting, Lauren caught the devilish twinkle in his eye. “Lovely idea,” she agreed. They shuffled about, until the two Englishmen bracketed her chair. She gazed from one handsome man to the other, then lifted her third cocktail. “Cheers!”

The Slut Strikes Back by Lisabet SaraiBuy Links

Kinky Literature – https://www.kinkyliterature.com/book/8791-the-slut-strikes-back-milf-erotica/

Amazon  US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CFRJSTM

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CFRJSTM

Smashwords –  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1031285

Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-slut-strikes-back-lisabet-sarai/1137303515?ean=2940164132507

Kobo –  https://www.kobo.com/th/en/ebook/the-slut-strikes-back-milf-erotica

Add on Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54428619-the-slut-strikes-back

The Slut Strikes Back by Lisabet Sarai

WARNING: X-rated Snippet

“Leave me alone.” Her quavering voice sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.

“You sure that’s what you want?”  When he released her wrists, her arms fell limply to her sides. A sudden pinch to one nipple kindled a fierce bolt of pleasure-pain. “Me, I think you want something else.” Grabbing her hand once more, he pulled it under his apron and curled her palm over his rock-solid erection. “I think this is what you want.”

He felt huge, so massively swollen she wondered how he’d ever get his zipper down. Saliva gathered in her mouth. She licked her dry lips.

“Give it a squeeze,” he ordered, his voice lower and more seductive. “That’s all for you, babe. You want it?”

No, she wanted to assert. What came out of her mouth was a whimper of need.

The Slut Strikes Back by Lisabet Sarai

About Lisabet

Lisabet Sarai became addicted to words at an early age. She began reading when she was four. She wrote her first story at five years old and her first poem at seven. Since then, she has written plays, tutorials, scholarly articles, marketing brochures, software specifications, self-help books, press releases, a five-hundred page dissertation, and lots of erotica and erotic romance – over one hundred titles, and counting, in nearly every sub-genre—paranormal, scifi, ménage, BDSM, GLBT, and more. Regardless of the genre, every one of her stories illustrates her motto: Imagination is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads, Pinterest, and  Twitter. Join her VIP email list here: https://btn.ymlp.com/xgjjhmhugmgh

Daisy play–Love Me, Lust Me Not by Brittany Boykin

Love Me, Lust Me Not by Brittany BoykinLove Me, Lust Me Not

Blurb:
Enjoy this must-read romance novel based in the heart of New York City as you walk with Beverly through a whirlwind of emotions. It’s amazingly intriguing and full to the brim with tons of drama, sex, and betrayal. Who does she fall for? Is it love? Is it lust? What about her crazy business partner? Is he going to ruin her life and their business all at once? Her best friend Sheila is a hoot and a half as well, but can she keep her nose out of Bev’s love life? So many unanswered questions! So little time!

Excerpt:
“Good Morning,” I say shyly as I press floor twenty-five.

“Good Morning, Bev,” Davis says as he reaches across me to press floor thirty-two.

I don’t know what angel died and fell from Heaven, but my heart sings every single time I see this dark, handsome, Armani suited, green-eyed, married hunk. Yes, sadly, he’s married, so untouchable. A girl can dream, though, right?

It takes everything in me not to inhale the delicious fragrance of Davis’ expensive cologne as the elevator starts to move. Oh my gosh, he knows my freaking name! WAIT! Did he just say my nickname? Davis is the only man on this Earth who can bring my giddy, little girl, high school thoughts back into play just by standing by my side. And, oh, what he would look like naked! I stand there, awkwardly, face flushed, as we wait for the elevator to reach my destination.

Praying my knees hold me up right just a little longer, the elevator bell finally dings at my floor. “See you, Davis,” I mutter shakily as I step out of the elevator into the bright reception area.

Buy links:
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089RB3L3N
IBooks App Link: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-me-lust-me-not/id1517244923
Nook e-book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-me-lust-me-not-brittany-boykin/1137146217?ean=9781735013404
Author Website: https://bboykin.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrittanyboykin

Love Me, Lust Me Not by Brittany Boykin

Let’s Meet Brittany:

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
BB: Honestly, I just sat down and started typing. Every time my best friend read a chapter and anxiously awaited the next one, she would beg me to tell her what was going to happen. I literally had no clue, though. So, my answer was always I don’t know yet. Then, the next day I would start typing again it would all just come to me.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
BB: I had to research a lot of setting information. The book is set in New York City and I have never been. I know risky, but it was fun! I also had to research some NYC law and court system information. One of my characters gets themselves into some trouble, and I wanted the punishment and process to be realistic.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
BB: I want my readers to know that you can find your true love. You do not have to put up with being treated poorly in any aspect of your life. You are worthy, and you should NEVER settle. Live life, have fun and everything will fall into place when you least expect it to!

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
BB: I do have a day job and I still currently work full-time. I also am currently going to school for my bachelors in accounting. I could not do any of this without my supportive husband and my amazing kids, though. I know: busy, busy.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
BB: Honestly, boredom. I quit smoking about 6 months ago and I needed something to keep my busy. I got a random idea for the main characters and the plot and just started typing away. My best friend and dad read the first chapter and thought it was just amazing, so I kept going. I don’t think I would have been able to finish without them!

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
BB: Everyone seems to be supportive so far. I am not sure how my mom will react when she actually reads the book, though. Disclaimer: there are curse words and sexy scenes.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
BB: Action and description. I can see it in my head but putting it to paper is hard. I probably rewrote certain settings/scenes 4 or 5 times because I kept rereading it and thinking that is not how it was in my head. Dialogue is the easiest, I think.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
BB: Spend time with my husband and kids. We are usually at sporting events regularly, but thanks to COVID, sports were mostly canceled. We have been going to the lake a lot now that it is hot. We love to go out on the boat and fish. We also love to go camping. In fact, I did my first round of edits sitting outside a cabin at a picnic table at a lake in Texas while camping with my family.

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?
BB: My all-time favorite series hands down is Harry Potter. I could read it over and over and never get tired of it. I know I am going to get some hate for this one, but I also LOVE the Twilight series. Then, I think it would have to be the Hunger Games. How did I get caught up writing a romance novel? LOL.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the morning?
BB: UGH. Work. I just want to write all day. HAHA. Maybe one day I can be a full-time author. That is the dream anyways. For now, I will keep my day job and daydream.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
BB: DISHES. They are the devil! I hate the icky feeling of gross soggy food. EW. Thank goodness my husband hates laundry. We traded – he does dishes, I do laundry. He is forever my soulmate.

NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
BB: JK Rowling of course. I would love to pick her brain. I have so many questions!

NA: What are you working on now?
BB: Book two of course. I need help naming it, though. I don’t think I picked a very good title for a series… Love Me, Lust Me Not 2 seems so LAME! Any contenders want to help name book two? Send me a message on Facebook with your ideas!

How can we find out more??

Britanny BoykinBrittany Boykin is a down home Texas gal, born and raised! She loves to play with her 3 beautiful children and hang out with her amazing husband. She was born in Waco, Texas and grew up in Dallas most of her life. She moved back to Waco eventually and ended up graduating high school from Bruceville-Eddy. She is currently attending college to get her Bachelor’s in Accounting. Brittany has always loved business and has been in the business world most of her career.

Brittany has many hobbies and her kids keep her busy. But when she is not busy doing kids activities, you can find her with a coffee and a book in her hand. Brittany has a newfound love for writing. She is a romance author and just published her first book. Follow her blog for excerpts from the book and to learn more about her day to day life! If you love a good romance novel, then stick around for Brittany’s book release to be announced this year! Don’t forget to follow her on social media and subscribe to her newsletter for all of the latest updates!

Facebook link: www.facebook.com/authorbrittanyboykin

Twitter link: www.twitter.com/AuthorBoykin

Website: www.bboykin.com

Book Links: www.bboykin.com/order-books/

Seeing stories as a journey: Amber Polo

Every Story Is a Journey

The Pharaoh and the Librarian by Amber PoloAfter writing for twenty years and publishing eight books, I finally figured out my brand—journeys. A road trip across country, a trip back in time, or a peek into a character’s mind, words take us on journeys. We don’t always know where we’ll end up, but sometimes we sit back and enjoy the journey.

The Pharaoh and the Librarian started as a prequel to a series. I rewrote. And rewrote. Along the way I asked for critiques. Editors said many nice things and some things I ignored. I sent the last version to my dream editor through Reedsy. She told me the same things. And finally I listened. She said the manuscript had an intriguing theme and series of events with an episodic life story kind of feel. And that it wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

I told her that her comments mirrored my life as well as my writing and, if I hadn’t been so shocked at the revelation, it would be funny. Yes! Intriguing theme? Series of events? Check. If I drew a map of my life it would be a maze of cross country travels. Yet episodic worked for me. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Looking back, I see each of my books as a journey. I even included some maps to help the reader follow along. Recovered, the third in my shapeshifter librarian series, my favorite and the most episodic, featured villains chasing my protagonists across the country. Looking even further back, my first romance novel “Hearts in the Vortex,” had a traveling-around-Sedona episodic feel.

So what’s next? It’s time for me to pull out a manuscript that’s as close to autobiographical as I’ll ever write. And, no surprise, my protagonists jump all over the country living episodic lives. Over a 20 year period they stop at many of the places I loved on my own cross country adventures, not knowing the other is also there. (Yes, I do believe in coincidences.)

What’s most fun about a journey? Sharing the beloved places with friends and readers. Hope readers will join my two Egyptian girls and their journeys to a new world.

The Pharaoh and the Librarian by Amber PoloBlurb:

What if Cleopatra faked her death and escaped on a pirate ship? While her sister sailed for Wales with the most valuable ancient books from her Library of Alexandria? And they both landed in an imagined new world filled with crypto-creatures and historical humans?

Trekking to the desert of 1st century New Mexico, Cleo from the Yucatan and Alex from Nova Scotia, they’d need bravery and help from friends and lovers to evade inner demons and determined villains across an uncharted wilderness.

Alternate history- Fantasy-Romance – Adventure!

Map: The Pharaoh and the Librarian by Amber PoloExcerpt:

When Alex emerged from her hut the next morning, Dylan lay in wait. She looked up into his glowering countenance. “What do you want?”

“My sister told me you plan to accompany your books on the voyage? She must be mistaken.”

“She is correct. That is my plan.”

“Are you mad?”

She shrugged and walked on, facing forward, ignoring the giant Druid at her heels. “Perhaps.”

“Alexandria, wait. The journey is long and dangerous. And very cold.”

“So be it.” She kept walking.

He grasped her arm and made her stop and face him. “I’m not talking about ordinary danger. Entire ships do not survive the three-month ocean journey. The crossing is treacherous. Filled with hardships. A ship is no place for a woman.”

Her body stiffened. “No place for a woman! You told me Viking women captain ships.”

“You are no Viking.” He stepped back and rubbed his head.

Her face reddened. “I am Alexandria Ptolemy of Egypt. I will accompany the most valuable library in the world to its new home. If you refuse to go, then stay.” Alex turned on her heel and marched to the caves to continue preparations for the journey. She might not be as courageous as Cleo, but she could be as stubborn.

***

Months later, Alex furrowed her brows against the bitter cold wind. If this was what Vikings called spring, they were truly mad. The ships she’d purchased with Egyptian gold had arrived. Her library, now well-protected inside shells and sealed in skins, was packed into their holds. And, with word that the ice had cleared from their chosen route, Dylan and the Viking captain Skrymir, a giant man with a mustache curled like the horns of a wild mountain sheep, were ready to sail.

Gwynne led them, blue cape furling, to the standing stones for a Druid ceremony. Alex smiled, for the Druid queen no longer appeared ferocious. Her friend’s blue-stained face was lined with kindness and concern.

“Are you determined to make this voyage, dear daughter of the pyramids?”

Alex nodded. “I must go with my books to see them to a safe land.”

“Dylan is an adventurer, but a good sailor and navigator. Many have trusted their lives to him.”

“My library is more important than my life.”

Gwynne embraced Alex. “I have enjoyed your company and wished for you to stay here in Wales, but I understand your dedication. I, along with my librarians, will fight off the Roman wolves as long as we can, so none will know you have left. We have our swords, shields, and magic caldrons. My second, Boudicca, is most formidable. And Y Draid Goch, our Red Dragon, defends Wales.”

Alex held her friend tight. She would miss the Druid Ovate. She’d learned much from her and spent many days with books and tea of lemon balm and peppermint, and many evenings with mead and stories.

Gwynne’s eyes closed. “I have seen a vision. Your books safe in a valley where you will build a new library.”

“Thank you. I will do my best to make that happen.” As comforting as Gwynne’s vision had been, fear of the unknown filled Alex’s heart. Cleo had often called Alex an obsessive introvert who shunned life. Now she must prove Cleo’s words wrong.

Gwynne stepped to Alex and removed Alex’s cape. Then with a flourish took off her own blue cape and placed it over Alex’s shoulders. “May this keep you warm and safe with Druid magic.”

Alex felt the weight of the cape like a comfort and her eyes teared with gratitude. Through the blur she saw Gwynne point to the sky. She looked up and saw a crimson flash soar over the standing stones, then circle back. Flames burst from the dragon’s jaws. It flapped its sharp forked tail. The people below cheered.

“There is one more gift.” Gwynne waved Dylan to her side. “Come to the Circle.”

Alex and Dylan followed Gwynne to the center of the standing stones.

Gwynne’s eyes shone with tears as she took Alex’s left hand and placed it in Dylan’s right. “Alexandria of Alexandria, daughter of Pharaohs, I give you my most precious gift, my brother Dylan, Prince of the Anglesey Druids, and Lord of Ynys Môn.”

Alex’s mouth opened letting in a gulp of frigid air. “What do you mean?”

Dylan squeezed her hand. “My sister is giving me to you.”

Gwynne smiled. “My brother understands it will be a long and dangerous voyage. With Dylan as your husband, you will have protection.”

“No,” Alex protested, attempting to pull her hand back from Dylan’s warm grasp. “This cannot be. I have vowed never to wed.” She looked into Dylan’s sea-blue eyes. “Tell your sister she is mad.”

Dylan held Alex’s hand fast. “I bow to the authority of my Druid queen. Gwynne, make haste with the ritual. My bride and I sail with the tide.”

Alex opened her mouth to protest but only a very un-royal sputter escaped.

With that, Gwynne spoke quickly in the dialect Alex had not yet mastered, and in minutes Dylan had transferred a gold ring from his finger to hers and clasped her in a warm embrace. She stood stunned when Gwynne ordered, “Now circle the stones. Then all will be complete.”

Dylan’s voice was gentle. “Come with me three times around the stone circle and it shall be done. I promise you shall not regret what my sister has decreed.”

 Available: Amazon print and ebook

Bio:

Amber PoloAmber Polo, constantly asking “What if…?” has a hard time writing in one genre. Best known for The Shapeshifters’ Library urban fantasy series which asked what if librarian dog-shifters faced book-burning werewolves, she shares her love of libraries and fascination with creatures and places, real and not-so-real, in The Pharaoh and the Librarian.

Author of award-winning fantasies and Arizona romances, Amber relaxes stressed writers and readers. Her book, Relaxing the Writer offers a catalog of suggestions and simple exercises while her calming CDs help almost anyone relax and find restful sleep.  Heads in the Clouds won Best Romance in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards and her essay “Trick or Treat” won the national Story Circle Network Susan Wittig Albert LifeWriting Competition.

To learn more about Amber and her books, find her at:

Website and Blog

Facebook Author Page

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

New! Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Cynthia Terelst

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Cynthia TerelseLet Sleeping Dogs Lie

Blurb

Will one of the treasures they find be each other’s heart?

It’s been five years since Tara walked out of Shepherd’s life without a word. Since then he’s spiralled through drugs, alcohol and empty relationships, with Tara on his mind the whole time. Now he wants to win her back, and what better way to do it than by creating a fake scavenger hunt? He knows she won’t be able to resist.

Tara’s lost enough loved ones and she didn’t want to see Shepherd added to that count. So, when she saw him high at graduation, she did the only thing she could – she walked away. When she’s teamed up with him for a million dollar scavenger hunt, the feelings reignite. For a second chance at love to work, she needs to be brave enough to open up to him, to tell him everything she withheld the first time around.

Shepherd didn’t realise how much winning would mean to Tara. He now needs to come up with $3 million for her foundation before the hunt is over. If he can’t he will need to tell her it’s all fake, and he doesn’t know if he can risk that.

Will secrets destroy them a second time around?

Excerpt
Tara
Shepherd and I sat on the couch side by side and watched The Martian while we ate dinner. The warmth from where our arms touched seeped through me. I should have moved away, but I didn’t want to. The spices from the tacos radiated off him. What would they taste like when mixed with the sweetness of him? My eyes were drawn to his lips, the curve of them. I could practically feel their softness.

Shepherd turned his face to mine. My eyes lingered for a moment as I imagined his soft breath brushing my face as he bent his head toward me. My breathing shallowed to the point that it was nearly non-existent, as if I were a starfish. I turned my face away and resumed watching the movie, making sure my hands kept to themselves and my thoughts remained on the man saving his own life on the screen. Matt Damon may have been the most attractive astronaut I’d ever seen, but he was nothing compared to Shepherd.

The movie ended and I sat there while the credits rolled. Our closeness suddenly made me feel like we were in a flux capacitor. Time—five years of it—had been starved, and now it was swallowing me whole. Everything about Shepherd felt like home. Everything. And if I allowed it to, this feeling wouldn’t just swallow me, it would become me.

I jerked away from him, my heart racing, my skin cold, while I broke into a sweat. I couldn’t allow this to happen. Shepherd was no longer my solace. He never truly was because he never knew my grief. My grief over my brother. The feelings of loss at my parent’s death.

No, Shepherd was not my solace. Not then. Not now.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Cynthia Terelse

Cynthia Terelst and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
CT: Ideas come in the most mysterious ways. My daughter had just moved to a new town for work. She told me about how there was a top pub and a bottom pub and at bottom pub people remembered your name. I made a random post about it and one of my friends said it sounded like a puzzle. So I thought, why not write a book revolving around a scavenger hunt.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
CT: You can’t have a scavenger hunt without places where to find the treasure. So after I decided where I would set the book I needed to figure out where the treasure was going to be hidden. Then I needed to come up with clues to direct the players to that place. It sounds easy. But trust me it’s not. You need to provide enough detail for them to get to the answer but still be vague enough so that can not guess straight away.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
CT: Many of the places mentioned in the book I have visited personally, and the ghostly encounter was real!

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
CT: I don’t write full time, yet. My aim is to be a full-time author at the end of 2023. That is when the project at my day job is scheduled to complete. I intend to write two books a year and build up a loyal fan base in between.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
CT: I have very supportive friends and family who like to say they know a published author. They might get sick of me talking about my launch, the book that I’m working on, but the never say so. And I appreciate that.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer
CT: The support in the writing community. People are open in sharing what works for them and what hasn’t. Many are there to extend a helping hand to you and share their infinite wisdom.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
CT: I know where my books starts, what I want to happen in the middle and what the ending is. My planning does not go much beyond that. For this book I wrote out index cards for each scene but I only looked at the first few and then my writing just went on its own merry little way.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
CT: Not really. Sometimes I listen to music, sometimes I don’t. I hand write my first draft and then type. I guess that is something not all writers do. It helps me think clearer.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
CT: I don’t have much spare time. I usually just veg out in front of the TV at the end of the night for an hour or so.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
CT: Because it was clean and it fits. I’ve put on a bit of weight and not all of my clothes fit at present.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
CT: How much longer I can stay in bed for because I MUST get up.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
CT: Cleaning is not my thing. When I got a pay rise the first thing I did was get a cleaner.

NA: What are you working on now?
CT: My next novel is a royal romance, with a smattering of polo, rambunctious kids and I’ll throw in a spider and snake, because Australia. Lol.

Teasers

“You’ve got ketchup—” His thumb reached the side of my mouth and wiped across my lips, leaving them heated. It was such a Shepherd thing to do, so natural, I thought nothing of it at first. But we weren’t Shepherd and Tara anymore. We were no longer a consist that couldn’t be separated, that would be useless apart. We were separated, and for good reason. Just because my lips yearned for his in that moment, it didn’t mean I needed to act on it.

***

I looked up at Shepherd. I wanted him to kiss me. My lust was a coiled snake, lifting its head, stretching out towards him. I knew what his lips felt like. I knew what he tasted like. I’d remembered it for five years and now I yearned for it more than ever. Musk from his cologne was sexy as hell. My skin tingled as I breathed it in deeper, drawing it deep into my lungs.
I took a step toward him. As he reached out and curled his hand around the back of my neck, heat surged through my body.

***

So, as much as I wanted to stay away from Shepherd, I couldn’t. The chance of winning three million outweighed my wants. How much I once loved him did not matter. I couldn’t afford to think about it. And I needed to rein in any residual feelings…for eighteen more days.

Buy Link

Author Bio

Cynthia TerelstCynthia Terelst is a project officer by day and a writer by night. She is a contemporary romance writer who likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love. Cynthia does not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.
She lives in Queensland, Australia, where the sun shines at least 283 days a year.

Read Cynthia’s previous blog post, The Cat’s Out of the Bag!

Social Media Links

Website http://cynthiaterelst.com/
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Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaterelstauthor/
Facebook For the Love of Words FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/572605370313807/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaterelstauthor/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cynthia-terelst
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Terelst/e/B07ZCTX8SB/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/cynthiaterelst
Linktree https://linktr.ee/cynthiaterelst

Whoa! Rock You Like a Hurricane by Sierra Brave

Rock You lIke a Hurricane by Sierra Brave

Title: Rock You Like a Hurricane
Series: Triple Passion Play
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Ménage

Rock You Like a Hurricane by Sierra Brave

Limited Time Re-release Sale: $.99*
(*US Price, prices in other countries vary based on market)
Buy Links:
Amazon
US UK CA AU

Other Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/mKD6Y9

Short Interview

NA: What made you decide to re-publish the first book in the Triple Passion Play series?
Sierra: After the unfortunate passing of the owner of the publishing company, my rights to Rock You Like a Hurricane reverted to me. To keep the book available, I had to re-publish.

NA: You made extensive revisions. Why?
Sierra: The characters in the Triple Passion Play series are some of my favorites which is probably why I wrote four books featuring them. The first book was published in 2016. When I was ready to re-publish, I took a fresh look at the story. Rock You Like a Hurricane was still a fun, sexy read, but in the past four years, I’ve learned a lot, and my writing style has changed. The voice no longer sounded like my own so I edited until the characters and story felt like they belonged to me again.

NA: Were there any major changes in the plot?
Sierra: No. The bones and the heart of the story are the same. The time frame covers less than forty-eight hours—Rock You Like a Hurricane is all about the catalyst for the deeper relationship developing between Ken, Tommy, and Trisha in the next three books.

NA: Is Rock You Like a Hurricane a historical romance?
Sierra: Not really. I call it a retro erotic romance. I wrote book four, Triple Naughty Christmas, first before any of what became the first three books. My intent had been to write a stand-alone holiday romance about a seasoned poly relationship. Once my middle-aged poly trio began to come to life on the pages, I felt like a lot more of the story of Trisha, Tommy, and Ken deserved to be told. The beginning seemed like a great place to start. Book one is set in 1996 when the three MCs are still in college.

NA: Why does Rock You Like a Hurricane feature so much world-building?
Sierra: I wanted to convey a sense of nostalgia for the mid-to-late 90s, but I spent a lot of energy setting the scene for a much larger reason. In order for older readers to be able to relate to the main characters, I needed them to feel as if they were stepping into the college coed or new adult mind frame. Tommy, Trisha, and Ken behave differently in book one than they do in book four because they’re not nearly as mature or confident yet. Navigating the early days of adulthood is a challenging time often filled with impulsive decisions and mixed-emotions of anxiety and excitement. I wanted my mature readers to remember those heart-pounding, fly-by-the-seat of your pants, but in some ways, much simpler days.

Sales Blurb:
All bets are off in the eye of the storm.

Trisha Harper has a dilemma. She’s crazy about two smoking hot guys, best friends who share a fascinating synergy. She’s honestly not sure which man she wants more, the Asian stunner or the gregarious blond jock. Maybe both?

Tommy and Ken know each other so well they’re able to complement each other’s strengths while minimizing each other’s weaknesses. Neither man can imagine a life without the other, but they never expected to fall for the same woman. Meeting Trisha changed everything.

A hands-off, gentleman’s agreement kept the peace but as the trio hunkers down together to ride out a potentially deadly hurricane, the quarters are close and the sexual tension is stifling. A game of strip poker has both men teetering between desire and the fear of rejection and loss.

Lightning crashes. Jealousy flares. Tempers explode, and then the power goes out. What will happen in the dark and how will they face the dawn?

Rock You Like a Hurricane is a stand-alone, Male-Female-Male (MFM) romance but also a prequel to the unfolding bisexual ménage saga of the Triple Passion Play series. The story contains sizzling, put-you-in-the-moment love scenes with graphic, descriptive language. If you are offended by explicit content and heavily implied bi-curiosity, you might want to read a different book. Previously published by Liquid Silver Books.

Excerpt

“Hey now! You’re going to mess up my luxurious locks.” Tommy ran a hand through his hair while smirking before he bent forward and snatch the pillow with one hand while gathering her up with his free arm. Trisha squirmed, resisting until Tommy pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Settle down now.” He nuzzled the side of her head.

Her chest tightened and her pussy sent shockwaves through her core. Tommy had hugged her before, but he had never held her close in such an intimate way. His hard chest supported her shoulder while his soft, yummy-smelling hair brushed against her neck and cheek. For some reason, he smelled like Ken tonight. She closed her eyes, breathing in his fragrance. Oh! Her eyes flickered open as his cock stirred beneath. He’s getting hard! Trisha’s breath caught in her throat, and she pursed her lips to repress a smile. As her eyelashes fluttered, she caught the expression on Ken’s face. Shit. He looks as if he’s been punched in the gut. Is he jealous? I can’t have these two fighting.

Scooting back into her seat, Trisha used both hands to shove Tommy away.

“Unhand me, you troll!”

“Troll!” Tommy scrunched up his nose and twisted his lips.

“Well, when you make that face.” She pointed and laughed. “I saw a deck of cards over by the snacks. Let’s play poker.”

Tommy grinned and nodded. “Sure, but Ken will wipe the floor with us.”
Trisha shot a look Ken’s way, offering him a smile and a wink before awkwardly looking away while playing with her hair.

Ken stretched in his seat. “As much as I’d love to rake you two over the coals, we don’t have any chips.”

Well, here’s my opening. Hope my voice doesn’t crack. Trisha lifted her face, batting her lashes at him. “Who needs chips when we have clothes?

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly awesome!!!!
What a fantastic read…I loved every page..the characters flowed..the storyline was fresh and so damn sexy lol
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I can honestly say I can’t wait to see what other adventures she has in store for us…

Thank you and blessed be
Victoria – Amazon reader

5.0 out of 5 stars All I can say is… HOT HOT HOT!!!
I didn’t know what to expect since I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review but I really enjoyed this book!!!!!!!!!!! At first I was skeptical but after reading the first few chapters and getting to know both male characters I was very intrigued and could not stop reading. Both Tommy and Ken have endearing qualities and the yin and yang balance between the two were very nice. I really LOVED the character of Trisha and how realistic her curiosity with both male characters progressed. The internal dialogue throughout the book was funny and witty where I found myself laughing out loud at times. I have not read a lot of M/F/M novels however I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It had a good amount of dialogue and passionate yet raunchy scenes. I was not sure what hentai was but after looking it up I can see that it fit in with your story and character very well. I also really loved the flow of the story and the descriptions for everything, where creative analogies and metaphors were utilized making the story more relatable. I look forward to more by this author. 🙂 THANKS SIERRA!! XOXOXO
Kimi – Amazon Reviewer

Triple Passion Play--Sierra Brave

More Books in the Triple Passion Play Series
The Power of Three
Amazon US UK CA AU
Other Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/4DoyPr

Baby Makes Four
Amazon US UK CA AU
Other Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/mKKYAL

Triple Naughty Christmas
Amazon US UK CA AU
Other Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/bzvGw9

Follow Sierra
The best way to keep in touch with Sierra is to sign-up for her newsletter. As a thank you, she’ll send you a download of Fevered Dream for FREE: https://mailchi.mp/7332d9f55a11/blushing-press-sign-up-page
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