Happy Saturday!
Welcome to another round of This or That. Today I’m featuring the characters from my steamy paranormal romance, Dark Fantasies.
Dark Fantasies is book two of the Fantasy Diary series. In this novel you’re introduced to Ashley and Kelan. Ashley is a wild child who’s trying her best to calm down her naughty ways.
Kelan is a handsome doctor with a dark side that he’s trying to tame. Unfortunately, when these two meet, all good intentions fly out the window and all they’re left with are their dark fantasies. I can’t wait to hear their responses to this week’s ‘this or that’ questions. Let’s get started.
#1 Sunlight or Moonlight?
Ashley: Moonlight. I’ve never been a day time person. I don’t really like being outdoors. But I do love when the moonlight illuminates my bedroom. There’s just something about night time that makes me feel naughty. Kelan, which one do you like?
Kelan: Whichever one you like.
Ashley: But that’s not one of the options.
Kelan: Which did you choose?
Ashley: Moonlight.
Kelan: Then I choose moonlight.
Ashley: But which one do you like the most? Just pick one, geez.
Kelan: I pick moonlight.
Ashley: Why?
Kelan: Because you like it.
Ashley: Kelan!
Kelan: And because I like how naughty you get when there’s a full moon.
Ashley: Ahh, thanks babe.
#2 Sweet or Salty?
Ashley: I like salty things. I especially like tasting Kelan’s salty skin.
Kelan: I like sweet things. Ashley is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.
Ashley: I better be.
Kelan: You are. I’ve told you this before. When I push my tongue inside you I feel like I’m tasting candy…
Ashley: Okay, that’s enough hon.
Kelan: I’m just trying to describe how good you taste. And when you’re wet, I….
Ashley: Um, what’s the next question? Somebody… please tell me the next question.
#3 One night stand or Committed for life?
Ashely: Committed for life. According to Kelan, now that we’re mated, we can never part.
Kelan: We cannot. You’re mine and I’m yours. Forever.
Ashley: Forever is a very long time.
Kelan: True. And I’m going to make sure you enjoy every minute of it.
Ashley: Ahhh babe. If we’re done here, I think I’m going to take my gentle beast home and show him how excited I am to be spending forever with him.
One kiss was all it took.
Between work, family and her ex-boyfriend, Ashley Blakely is completely stressed out. She doesn’t have time to write in her fantasy diary or compete in the annual ‘fantasy wish’ competition her and her sisters have going. The only thing she wants for Christmas is normalcy.
All hope of a normal Christmas… or life… fly out the window the moment she’s kissed by Kelan Grant. Now she’s swept up in a whirlwind of romance, seduction and danger. She wants no part of this new life. Yet once she finds out that her sisters and her best friend are in jeopardy, she will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Even allow herself to be kidnapped and handcuffed by a devil in disguise.
Dr. Kelan Grant always keeps his word. The moment he lays eyes on Ashley, he vows she will be his for eternity. He doesn’t care that his brother is mated to her sister and wants to keep their real heritage a secret from the Blakely family. Kelan will do whatever it takes to claim his bride.
Kidnapping her is the easy part. Winning her heart is going to take some strategic planning. But between the dark angels stalking him and Ashley’s constant need to break every item in his home, Kelan is having a hard time romancing the woman who he feels already belongs to him.
Will he get the eternity with Ashley he’s envisioned? Or will his enemies snatch her from his grasp and awaken the monster he tries to hide?
This or That with Camilla Jackson aka THE JOB BLOWER:
Summer or Winter:
Summer! I’m a sunny girl, in all regards. I like the sun, the beach, skimpy clothes and fragrant summer nights. I should move someplace where it’s forever summer. But since I flunked Geography, I’m not sure where that is…
Chocolate or Peanut butter:
Definitely chocolate. I’m probably the only American who HATES peanut butter. Will I be sued or something?
One night stands or Committed relationship:
I’ve never had a one night stand in my life. I believe in commitment, love, respect, and long term relationships. Even in soul mates, since I met Carter. Yeah, I’m a “Kodak moments” kinda girl! 🙂
ღ★ A ROMANTIC COMEDY THAT WILL BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF! ★ღ
Camilla Jackson is an ordinary young woman with an extraordinary knack for attracting disaster. When she is fired from her job as a secretary at a law firm, she realizes she has no idea what she wants to do next. Every job she does land ends up tragi-comically.
But when she meets the drop-dead-gorgeous journalist, Carter Evans, her life seems to brighten. Until she discovers that he hides some very deep and painful scars.
It remains to be seen if she will be able to help him heal and, in the process, find her own path in life. That is, if she manages to overcome her accident prone nature, which gets her into serious trouble…
ღ★ THE JOB BLOWER is a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud Romantic Comedy, the kind of book that you will keep in your bookshelf and reread to brighten your days and spice up your nights. ★ღ
Melinda De Ross is an international author of Romanian origin. She writes in two languages, and her books combine the elegance specific to the European style with the modern appeal of the American culture. She has a Law degree and has been a professional target shooter for over a decade. Her favorite genre to read and write in is Romance, and anytime she prefers to watch a classic movie instead of going to a noisy club. She loves to hear from her readers, and you can find her at: http://melindadeross.com/
Today we’re playing This or That with Alyssa and Devin from my paranormal romance, Christmas Fantasy. Since this book is all about living out your fantasies, we’re going to delve into their personal lives with three steamy questions. Enjoy.
Warning: This post includes a steamy excerpt that is for adults only. You’ve been warned. 🙂
#1 Lights off or lights on?
Alyssa: Lights on. I like to watch when he goes into beast mode. Best mode ever.
Devin: Definitely lights on. I like to watch her bite her lip while I’m licking her body.
Alyssa: He says the sweetest things.
#2 Handcuffs or Blindfolds?
Alyssa: Both.
Devin: Handcuffs. I love it when she touches me. But, I also love it when her hands are tied above her head and all she can do is watch and writhe as I please her. I want her to be able to see me, to see what I’m doing to her.
#3 Top or Bottom?
Devin: Top.
Alyssa: Top. But obviously we can’t both be on top.
Devin: So we switch positions multiple times.
Alyssa: I also like it from behind.
Devin: So do I. I like it when she arches her back.
Alyssa: I do that because I know he likes it. It always makes him growl. His growls turn me on. I think I’m getting turned on just by thinking of him growling.
Devin: Perhaps we should leave so we can go home and you can make me growl.
Alyssa: Best. Idea. Ever!
One bite was all it took.
It’s that time of year again. Alyssa Blakely is busy writing in her fantasy diary, filling it with all her forbidden, sexual fantasies. The star: her very sexy boss, Devin Jordan. Too bad for her, he’s never given her a second glance.
Or so she thought…
After a steamy kiss under the mistletoe and a night of wild sex, Alyssa has the bite to prove just how wrong she was.
Devin Jordan has found his mate. The only problem: she’s human. He’s not. Can he prove to her that his inner beast can be both naughty and nice? Or will her fear of the unknown and a threat neither of them saw coming keep him from claiming her?
“Beautiful,” she whispered, pleasing him and his beast. “Your eyes are so black,” she uttered in awe.
She didn’t seem afraid, that pleased him. She stood up and took his face in her hands. She stared into his eyes.
“I think I like this side of you,” she whispered before rubbing her hands down his shoulders.
“So big,” she muttered as if to herself as she familiarized herself with his form. Alyssa ran her hands over his chest then down his stomach, to his cock.
“I can’t believe all of this was inside of me last night,” she whispered.
Both he and his mate shuddered at the memory.
“Let’s see if it fits now,” she whispered, causing him to growl.
“Untie me,” he said, but she shook her head no.
Alyssa straddled him, taking his cock in her hands.
“I’m so wet,” she whispered.
“Let me touch you,” Devin growled, sounding more like an animal than a man. Again she shook her head no.
“I need to make sure you’re wet enough for me,” he told her. “I need to make sure you’re ready for me.”
She dipped her finger into her body then brought her finger to his lips.
His tongue darted out, tasting the sweet nectar she offered him.
“Can you taste how wet I am?”
Yes, he could and that only made him want his hands on her more.
“Release me, Alyssa. I won’t hurt you baby, I promise.”
“I know,” she said. “I’ve pictured this scene a hundred times in my head. You handcuffed, and me in charge. Let me fulfill this fantasy, just for a few minutes, and then I’ll release you.”
There was no way he could deny her this fantasy. But once she was done, he would fulfill one of his own fantasies. Devin stared down at her hands as she positioned his cock near the entrance of her body. She lifted her hips and eased down onto him, taking him in deeper, inch-by-inch.
Today I’m asking the duo from my Sci-Fi novel, Her Alien Protector, three This or That questions. Their answers may surprise you… then again, if you’ve read the book, maybe they won’t. 🙂
Things are about to get a little steamy, so be sure to turn your fans on. Enjoy!
This or That #1: Let’s start with something simple. Coffee or tea?
Lark: Coffee.
Raynor: I don’t know what those are.
Lark: They’re beverages imported from Earth. Tea is soothing. But I enjoy coffee.
Raynor: Why? What does it do for you?
Lark: It keeps me sane.
Raynor: Then I don’t need coffee.
Lark: Why not? It’s not like you’re Mr. Sanity. Sometimes you lose it and when you do, things get chaotic. Coffee would help keep you sane.
Raynor: That is why I have you. You keep me sane.
Lark: Oh. Ahh, that’s so sweet babe.
This or That #2: Moving on to number two. Boxers or Briefs?
Lark: I’ll let him answer first.
Raynor: I know what those are. I choose neither. They are too constricting. Lark purchased me a few of the boxers. I ripped them all in half.
Lark: It was an accident. He didn’t mean to.
Raynor: I did mean to. You were naked and they were a barrier…
Lark: What he means to say is that sometimes, when things get heated, he gets a little wild.
Raynor: No, I was saying I wanted to be inside of you and the boxers were in the way.
Lark: Let’s go with my reason, babe. We don’t want to frighten the readers. Okay?
Raynor: The readers understand that when it comes to sex between mates, there must be no barriers.
Lark: Let’s move on to the last question. Please.
This or That #3: Shower or bath?
Lark: Shower. Definitely shower.
Raynor: Shower. It’s more logical. Why would anyone want to sit in their own filth? Plus, I like to watch Lark’s body while we are in the shower together.
Lark: Babe, you don’t have to explain why you like showers.
Raynor: I was simply explaining that I love watching the water roll off your breasts and…
Lark: But that wasn’t part of the question.
Raynor: Understood. But is it wrong that I enjoy making love to you from behind while the water rains down on us?
Lark: Okay, I think we’re done here. My mate and I both have to get back to work.
Raynor: Or perhaps we could go take a shower.
Lark: One shower, then it’s back to work for us.
I hope you enjoyed This or That with Lark and Raynor. I know I did. Return next Saturday to see who else joins us to answer three random questions. Until then, be safe, be happy and read past your bedtime.
Falling in love with a prisoner was against the rules.
So why was Lark allowing herself to get close to Raynor? He was domineering, cocky and much too handsome for his own good. Though her mind found him unbearable, her body was ready to endure anything he could deliver. However, inside of him lived a darkness unlike anything she’d ever witnessed. If the rumors were true, that darkness would consume any and everyone in its path. Lark was going to try her best to stay out of his way.
They called him The Destroyer.
Raynor Batiste was many things: a monster, a killer, one of the most feared creatures in the galaxy. He was a beast whose name sent shudders through his enemies. However, a prisoner he was not. He’d only allowed himself to be captured so he could get close to his mate, Lark Valdese.
That task was proving harder than he’d anticipated. Lark is afraid of what lives inside of him, and she should be. Yet, when her planet comes under attack, the evil lurking within him may be the only thing that can save her and her people. He’s willing to protect her planet, but his aid comes at a price, a price only Lark can pay.
Will Beauty give in to the Beast in order to save her world?
Or is he a greater threat than her enemies?
**Novella coming soon: Silver – Bk 1 of the Beastly Bites mini series. You’ll get to meet Lark’s shy cousin, Malia. You’ll also meet Malia’s sexy Time-Dweller mate, Silver.**
Happy 4th of July weekend and welcome to my stop on the 4th of July romance blog hop. Today I’m sharing an excerpt from my latest Sci-Fi novel, Her Alien Protector.
“Shut the door behind you when you leave,” he told her as he slid the glass stall door closed. She really needed to get a see through door placed on that stall. Once again, he was shutting her out.
Yeah, not happening. She might seem desperate, but to hell with it.
Lark slid the stall door open. “So you’re going to shower with your pants on?”
He was covered in water. His pants soaked. It was really kind of humorous and she would’ve laughed if his chest didn’t look so sexy with water dripping down it.
“I would’ve undressed completely but you’re in the room.”
“I’ve seen you naked before Raynor, remember the bathing pool?”
“How can I forget,” he mumbled as he picked up his bar of cleanser and rubbed it over his chest.
“This is ridiculous. You can’t shower with pants on.” Before he could reply, she reached for the button on his slacks, ignoring the shocked expression on his face.
“What are…?”
Button undone, she quickly pulled his pants down. What sprang forward made her mouth water and it wasn’t just because the spray from the shower was dripping on her head and running down her face.
“Step out of them so I can wring them out and put them in the hamper.” Thank the stars her voice sounded normal because she wasn’t feeling very normal right now. She could feel his eyes on her, hear him breathing and she wondered if his heart was thundering in his chest the way hers was.
He slowly stepped out of the slacks. She picked them up and then walked over to the sink, leaving the stall door open. As she wrung the pants out their gazes once again met in the glass. He was still confused, but his eyes were swirling faster.
Stars, he was the sexiest being she’d ever seen in her life. Nervous, she stared down at the pants. She’d already wrung out every drop of water that she could, but still she twisted, unsure of what to do next.
In the shower, Raynor stood still, water cascading over him as he watched her. Done stalling, she took the wet pants over to the hamper chute and tossed them inside. Now what? With nothing to do with her hands she rubbed them through her hair. The nervous energy coursing through her was making it impossible for her to be still or quiet.
“Now you’re free to shower without getting your clothes wet,” she pointed out the obvious.
A jerk of his head was all she received as a response. He made no move to start showering. Naked they just stood there, both too nervous to make the first move. Lark knew her actions were confusing the hell out of him, especially after what he heard her say on his brethrens’ spacecraft that day.
“Do you need me to wash your back?” She didn’t wait on him to answer, she simply entered the stall and closed the door behind her, shutting them into the small space. Steam rose around them.
Instead of turning his back to her, he turned to face her. “Are you trying to destroy me,” his deep voice rumbled.
Lark shook her head.
“Then why are you doing this?”
“I only want to wash your…”
“Not just this, all of this. Why are you tempting me, reminding me of what I will never have?”
“It’s already yours. All you have to do is accept my apology and claim me.”
Falling in love with a prisoner was against the rules.
So why was Lark allowing herself to get close to Raynor? He was domineering, cocky and much too handsome for his own good. Though her mind found him unbearable, her body was ready to endure anything he could deliver. However, inside of him lived a darkness unlike anything she’d ever witnessed. If the rumors were true, that darkness would consume any and everyone in its path. Lark was going to try her best to stay out of his way.
They called him The Destroyer.
Raynor Batiste was many things: a monster, a killer, one of the most feared creatures in the galaxy. He was a beast whose name sent shudders through his enemies. However, a prisoner he was not. He’d only allowed himself to be captured so he could get close to his mate, Lark Valdese.
That task was proving harder than he’d anticipated. Lark is afraid of what lives inside of him, and she should be. Yet, when her planet comes under attack, the evil lurking within him may be the only thing that can save her and her people. He’s willing to protect her planet, but his aid comes at a price, a price only Lark can pay.
Will Beauty give in to the Beast in order to save her world? Or is he a greater threat than her enemies?
Welcome to part four of the Feisty Females Spotlight. Today I’m featuring Ashley from my Paranormal Romance, Dark Fantasies. Dark Fantasies is book two in the Fantasy Diary Series. (Bk 3 is coming this winter. It’s titled, Wicked Fantasies.)
Ashley Blakely is one feisty female. She’s independent and doesn’t need a man. And after the trouble she went through with her ex, she doesn’t want a man. But then she meets Kelan and technically he isn’t a man, he’s a demon. But his alpha male ego puts him on her ‘do not date list’. That doesn’t mean she can’t write down the things she’d like to do to him in her fantasy diary. Check out this feisty excerpt from book two of the Fantasy Diary series.
Ashley looked at the camera. She tried to listen in on his thoughts, but like always he was shutting her out. Every now and then he would let his guard down and she would get a glimpse into his mind, but for the most part, his head was off limits to her.
No fair. She really wanted to know what he was thinking right now. Was he sitting in his room staring at the screen and laughing at her? Was this all funny to him, some sick joke? Or perhaps he really was hoping this would cause her to fall in love with him.
For a sex demon, he didn’t know much about women if he thought this was going to make her like him more. If she had to fake it to make it she would. And it seemed it was time for her to do just that.
“Kelan,” she yelled at the camera. She needed to say something to get his attention. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I was mad and confused and all of this is just too much on me right now, you understand?”
No answer. Okay, she would try harder. “But it’s Christmas. Are you really going to leave me down here all by myself?”
Still no response. After the way she treated him earlier she wouldn’t want to be with her if she was him either. That was fine. She didn’t really want him down here. When he was near her it was hard for her to keep her thoughts away from him.
“Kelan,” she said. “Let’s play a game. You’ve taken me from my home on Christmas. You have to at least entertain me.”
What game could they play? Maybe a drinking game, then again she didn’t want to get drunk. Or they could play a drinking game without the liquor. Instead of taking shots they could demand the loser to do something, something like taking her handcuffs off of her.
Ashley pressed her lips tightly together to keep from smiling. This plan could work. If she got him to take the cuffs off of her she could probably get him to leave her door unlocked and she could sneak out in the middle of the night. Once outside she could try contacting Tinsley again.
“What kind of game do you want to play,” a deep voice filled the room.
Ashley stared up at the ceiling. She couldn’t pinpoint where his voice was coming from. The camera was right in front of her but it sounded like his voice was everywhere. She turned her head from the left to the right observing each corner of the room. Finally he put her out of her misery.
“I have speakers installed in every corner of the room.”
“You would,” Ashley mumbled under her breath.
“Yes, I would.”
“You heard me,” she stared up at the camera. “But I whispered that.”
“That is why I have speakers and mics in every corner of the room.”
Ashley shook her head. She really needed to get out of here.
“You said you wanted to play a game. Are you bored with the room already?”
“Yes, I mean the room is lovely and all but you didn’t even leave me the remote control. How am I supposed to watch T.V?”
“It isn’t for watching.”
“That’s what it was created for.”
“That’s not why it’s in the room with you.”
“Well why is it here, for decoration?”
“Sort of, just as I have to stare at something I want, but can’t have. You now have to stare at something you want, but can’t have.”
How childish was that? That was a real bitch move. What grown man acts like that?
“I’m not a man, remember?”
“How could I forget,” Ashley rolled her eyes.
She began singing jingle bells to shelter her mind from him. She couldn’t be nice to him. It was impossible. Every time she tried he did something to remind her why she disliked him. He told her everything down here was hers.
Yet he kept the remote so she couldn’t watch television and he handcuffed her far away from the couches so she had to either sit on the floor or lean against the wall. He was doing a shitty job of trying to win her heart.
There was no way she could ever love a jerk like him. And fuck his unwatchable television. Without thinking of consequences Ashley stepped over to the other end table. She picked it up and hurled it at the television. The sound of it hitting the large screen made her feel good but it wasn’t enough. The screen didn’t crack.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Kelan’s deep voice filled the room.
Ashley moved to another small table. “I thought this was my room and I could do anything I wanted to do with my shit?”
She grabbed the lamp off the table.
“Ashley you better not…”
Too late, she hurled it at the television screen with all her might. The lamp shattered and the T.V. screen cracked.
“Yes,” Ashley raised her hands in the air, signaling she’d made a touchdown.
“You’re fucking insane.”
“Thank you,” she smiled at the camera then walked back to the wall and leaned against it. “Now I’m bored again. Do you want to play a game?”
No answer. He was ignoring her now. Big baby.
“You said it was my television,” she told him. “If I want to break my television that’s my problem, it has nothing to do with you.”
Again her only response from him was more silence. So there was a possibility that breaking the television had been another bad idea on her part. She couldn’t help it. He made the insane part of her come out and once it was out, she couldn’t control it. Ashley took a deep breath. She wanted out of here, so she had to play nice.
“I apologize,” she said.
More silence.
“I apologize and I beg your forgiveness, Dr. Grant.”
More silence.
“Kelan, please talk to me. I’m lonely down here.”
If that one didn’t work she was fresh out of ideas. The only thing left to do was get naked and hope that made him pounce. She was saving that as a last resort.
“Kelan I…”
“You mentioned a game,” his voice came through over the intercom. “What is the name of this game?”
Oh shit, she hadn’t thought of a game.
“Um, have you played ‘I have never’ before.”
“No.”
“Great,” she just had to remember the rules. “Well it’s a simple game. Each of us takes turns asking the other one a question. For instance, I’ll ask you something like have you ever kissed a frog. You will either say I have or you will say I have never. If you have done something that means I win.”
“Why do you win if I have?”
“Because I have to ask you questions I think will get a yes response. I’ll only ask questions about things I think you’ve done before. If you say ‘I have never’ that means you haven’t done as I thought you did and you win. Does that make sense?”
“You ask me a question you think I’ll say yes to. If you’re right and I say yes, you win. If you’re wrong and I say no, that means I win.”
“Yes, you catch on quickly.”
Quicker than her old college buddies. It had taken her an hour to explain the game to them but once they got started they’d had a lot of fun and gotten hella drunk off tequila shots.
“If I win what do I get?” Kelan asked.
“Oh, well, every time I ask you a question and you answer yes then I get a reward. Normally my reward would be you taking a shot. But since we’re not drinking I figure our rewards could be something else.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I think it should be whatever we want it to be. Every time I win I get to tell you to do something, whatever I want you to do, within reason of course. And every time you win you get to tell me to do something you want me to do.”
“And you’ll do it?”
I might. “Yes I will. But first you have to win.”
Ashley waited on his response. Finally he answered.
“I’ll play and I’ll go first.”
“Okay, ask me a question.”
“Have you ever let a man cum in your mouth?”
Well damn.
One kiss was all it took.
Between work, family and her ex-boyfriend, Ashley Blakely is completely stressed out. She doesn’t have time to write in her fantasy diary or compete in the annual ‘fantasy wish’ competition her and her sisters have going. The only thing she wants for Christmas is normalcy.
All hope of a normal Christmas… or life… fly out the window the moment she’s kissed by Kelan Grant. Now she’s swept up in a whirlwind of romance, seduction and danger. She wants no part of this new life. Yet once she finds out that her sisters and her best friend are in jeopardy, she will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Even allow herself to be kidnapped and handcuffed by a devil in disguise.
Dr. Kelan Grant always keeps his word. The moment he lays eyes on Ashley, he vows she will be his for eternity. He doesn’t care that his brother is mated to her sister and wants to keep their real heritage a secret from the Blakely family. Kelan will do whatever it takes to claim his bride.
Kidnapping her is the easy part. Winning her heart is going to take some strategic planning. But between the dark angels stalking him and Ashley’s constant need to break every item in his home, Kelan is having a hard time romancing the woman who he feels already belongs to him.
Will he get the eternity with Ashley he’s envisioned? Or will his enemies snatch her from his grasp and awaken the monster he tries to hide?
Welcome to part three of the Feisty Females Spotlight. Today I’m applauding my character, Lark Valdese, for being a feisty heroine. Lark is the leading lady in my Sci-Fi romance, Her Alien Protector. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. Though she has a vulnerable side, she doesn’t like letting it show. She’s been there, done that and has the scars to prove it.
She’s determined to prove she’s just as tough as the boys. Truth is, she’s tougher than some of them, which is one of the reasons why some of them hate her. Having dealt with males like that all of her life makes it hard for her to accept her mate, Raynor Batiste. Oh, and there are a couple of other secrets that make her mating to Raynor a bit challenging.
He flinched as if she’d struck him.
She felt Ana’s hand on her shoulder. “Lark, be careful.”
“Yes, Lark,” Raynor stepped closer to her. “Be careful. Your next words could get your ex lover killed.”
How dare he? “Is that a threat?”
“No, sweet Lark. That’s a fact.”
“Well let me give you some facts. I was warming to the idea of you and I. I wasn’t totally on board with it, but I was closer than when I first laid eyes on you. But now I see you’re just like all the other males I’ve met. How dare you threaten a female, someone weaker than you? After all we’ve been through this day, you should want to protect her. You know what my enemies are capable of. You’ve seen how they’re willing to treat us females. Yet, you treat her no differently.”
“There’s a difference.”
“No, there isn’t.” Lark stared over her shoulder at Ana. “Ana, grab the duffle bag. We’re leaving.”
“If you think I am going to let you leave with her, you’re out of your mind.”
Lark raised her gun, trained it on Raynor. “If you think I need your permission, you’re out of your mind.”
Before he could reach for her, she pulled the trigger, sending a bullet through his chest. It wasn’t wooden so it wouldn’t kill him, but it would slow him down. Unfortunately all it did was cause him to stagger back.
“Don’t do this mate.”
“You’re giving me no choice.” Lark’s voice shook with unshed tears. He took a step forward, hand clutching his wound. “Please stop, Raynor.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“You’re choosing another over me.”
“I’m trying to help everyone. You’re the one making me choose.”
“I won’t let you leave with her.” He staggered in their direction. “She will die for the rift she’s creating between us.”
Lark shook her head. “Raynor, please.”
“Aim for the head,” Ana shouted as Raynor rushed in their direction.
He was getting closer. Lark didn’t want to kill him. Yet, the look in his eyes screamed him or Ana. One of them had to go. Lark pulled the trigger. Raynor dropped to his knees. Blood pooled from his head wound then dripped down his face. She closed her eyes when he slumped to the floor. What had she just done?
“We need to leave,” Ana yelled.
Lark opened her eyes to find Ana running toward the duffle bag. Her friend lifted the heavy bag and slung it over her shoulder like it weighed nothing. Lark stared down at Raynor. His eyes were closed, chest no longer rising and falling.
“He can’t die from this, can he?”
“I don’t think so.” Ana grabbed her hand. “But he will be one pissed off vampire when he awakens. We need to go.”
Ana tugged on her arm, pulling her from the room. Lark kept her eyes on Raynor. What the hell had she done? She’d shot her mate in the head. There could be no future for them now. Who was she kidding?
There had never been a future for them.
Falling in love with a prisoner was against the rules.
So why was Lark allowing herself to get close to Raynor? He was domineering, cocky and much too handsome for his own good. Though her mind found him unbearable, her body was ready to endure anything he could deliver. However, she wouldn’t allow herself to fall for him, to trust him. Inside of him lived a darkness unlike anything she’d ever witnessed. If the rumors were true, that darkness would consume any and everyone in its path. Lark was going to try her best to stay out of his way.
They called him The Destroyer.
Raynor Batiste was many things: a monster, a killer, one of the most feared creatures in the galaxy. He was a beast whose name sent shudders through his enemies. However, a prisoner he was not. The only reason he’d allowed himself to be captured was so he could claim his mate, Lark Valdese.
That task was proving harder than he’d anticipated. Lark is afraid of what lives inside of him, and she should be. Yet, when her planet comes under attack, the evil lurking inside of him may be the only thing that can save her and her people. He’s willing to protect her planet, but his aid comes at a price, a price only Lark can pay.
Will Beauty give in to the Beast in order to save her world? Or is he a greater threat than her enemies?
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**Coming soon, Beastly Bites. Novellas based off characters from the Beasts From Beyond series. The first book will be available in September. I can’t wait for you all to meet Lark’s cousin, Malia and her mate Silver.***
Today I’m sharing eight paragraphs from book one of my Fantasy Diary series. Book three of the series is scheduled to be released this winter. In book one you are introduced to Devin and Alyssa. They both have secrets. Hers is a little naughty and his is a little dangerous. But before they can get to sharing secrets they have to first get past the fact that he’s her boss and she’s his secretary.
Knowing that another man was touching her and loving her in ways Devin never would, almost made the demon he kept caged inside of him emerge. He could feel his skin rippling. Devin took a deep, calming breath. Alyssa was off limits.
Even if she were single and interested in him, he still couldn’t have her. It was too risky. She made him feel things he wasn’t used to. He didn’t know if he could handle touching her without hurting her. Hurting Alyssa was something he would never do.
He would just have to endure her presence. He would take pleasure in the shy smiles she cast his way every now and again. He would enjoy the laughs they shared while working late some evenings. He would maintain the professional relationship they had, even though he yearned for a taste of her.
Devin turned and placed his back against the window. Shoulders sagging, he felt like the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders. But it wasn’t the world weighing him down, it was his own feelings – feelings that he was determined to keep bottled up.
He stared at the door that separated him from the woman he desired. A piece of metal and space was all that separated his body from hers. It would only take a couple of strides for him to reach the door. One pull on the door knob and he could send it flying across the room. Then he would be face to face with the one woman in this world that made him wish he wasn’t a beast with a conscience.
If he had no conscience, he would take her, now, against his desk, against her desk, against the wall, on every damn hard surface in this building. He would make sure she enjoyed it. He would make sure he pleased her so thoroughly she wouldn’t ever think of leaving him, even when she found out he was not the man he pretended to be.
Devin sighed, but that would never happen. Because though he was a beast, he did indeed have a conscience.
That conscience kept her safe from him… for now.
~Christmas Fantasy Blurb~
One bite was all it took.
It’s that time of year again. Alyssa Blakely is busy writing in her fantasy diary, filling it with all her forbidden, sexual fantasies. The star: her very sexy boss, Devin Jordan. Too bad for her, he’s never given her a second glance.
Or so she thought…
After a steamy kiss under the mistletoe and a night of wild sex, Alyssa has the bite to prove just how wrong she was.
Devin Jordan has found his mate. The only problem: she’s human. He’s not. Can he prove to her that his inner beast can be both naughty and nice? Or will her fear of the unknown and a threat neither of them saw coming keep him from claiming her?
AVAILABLE NOW: Dark Fantasies – Bk 2 of the Fantasy Diary Series.
AVAILABLE NOW: Her Alien Protector – Bk 1 of the Beasts From Beyond series. A steamy Sci-Fi Romance. #NewRelease
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3S6SEY
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June is here and all month long I’ll be shining the spotlight on feisty heroines in romance. Today’s Feisty Female is Vanessa Warren from One True Thing by Amber Lea Easton. Vanessa is definitely part of the Feisty Female Club. **My review of the book is at the bottom of the post. 🙂 **
Title: One True Thing
Author: Amber Lea Easton
Genre: Romance Thriller/Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Release date: March 22, 2016
Publisher: Mountain Moxie Publishing
Heat Level: 4 out of 5
Vanessa Warren is America’s favorite rebel. Daughter and granddaughter of US Presidents and sister to a future one, her family connections and notoriety are seen as leverage for manipulating the White House—if she’s captured.
One little lie leads to a whole lot of trouble.
Reclusive international resort developer, Dominic Varga, needs a date to ward off his matchmaking parents. When he persuades the notorious Vanessa Warren to play his girlfriend for the night, he has no idea he’s stepped into the crosshairs of kidnappers who will do anything—destroy everything—to get to her.
One true thing…
Trapped in a rapidly escalating international terror plot, Dominic and Vanessa’s lie becomes the only real thing in the midst of betrayals, conspiracies, and murder. As their world falls apart, they suddenly only have each other to rely on against ruthless people who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Who can they trust? Who is behind the plot—her own family, a political rival of her family’s, or a terrorist organization? How far will the kidnappers go—what will they be willing to sacrifice—to control the power of the White House? Is there anywhere in the world where they can find safety?
Chin resting on folded arms against the balcony’s railing, she stared down at the streets below, erratic energy zapping from her bent body encased in violet while the breeze tossed her long tresses against bare shoulders.
She was too beautiful, too known, too wild, too…much. He knew that she was the kind of woman who could devour him, who would know his soul, who would wield her power over him with advanced skill. Yet he couldn’t leave. Maybe that’s why he had come, armed with chili-cheese fries, to dare destiny.
“My great-grandmother was a painter,” she said after he’d joined her. “Being an artist is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“And you did it. You had a successful showing and—”
“Someone destroyed them all.”
“Yes, they did.” He couldn’t imagine having one of his resorts go up in flames. Maybe it wasn’t the same exactly, but he poured so much of himself into each design, into every part of the decision making process, that it would feel like…a death. He didn’t know what to do or what to say to ease her pain.
She blew out a long breath before standing straight and looking at him through the shadows. “It’s at least one in the morning by now. Time for bed. Are you joining me?”
He inhaled sharply at the idea of resuming where they’d left off.
“Don’t you want to…talk or something?” he asked.
“About my feelings?” Her lips twisted. “It sucks. It hurts like hell. It pisses me off. There. I talked about my feelings. We good now?”
He’d never met anyone like her. Vanessa Warren was definitely one-of-a kind. She sauntered to him, almost like a predator about to go in for the kill, stood on her tiptoes until her breath caressed his chin, and whispered, “Make me believe in something good, something better than a lie.”
He grabbed her ass and lifted her up until they were eye-to-eye. Hair licked with fire slipped across his face when she leaned over him, all color and warmth. He wanted this, wanted her. This is why he had come, to feel this again, this agony of desire that he had suppressed for years.
Fingers twisted in the strands of hair that slipped against his face. He crushed her to him, ravaging her mouth like a dying man grasping at life. Tongues teased. Teeth nipped. And he fell past a point he had never thought to cross, not that he cared, not that it mattered. In his mind, he could see the lights of the city, blurring with speed and spinning beneath them.
God, she felt good. Intoxicating. Her lips nibbled across his neck.
“I shouldn’t want you so much, but I do. I can’t stop myself,” she whispered.
“Why do you want me?” He held her firm with his fists wrapped in her hair. “Tell me.”
“You wanted me when you didn’t know who I was. We were just two people, strangers, without a past or a future. I knew you wanted to fuck me against that mural, beneath that tarp, I saw it in your eyes, thought about it all damn day. Then tonight there you were. You walked up those stairs like a predator, seeking me out, sweeping me away.”
“You want to be swept away?”
“Desperately.”
“I’ll do my best.” He scooped her off her feet and carried her from the balcony to the bedroom. He fell onto his back against the mattress with her silk-encased body draped across him.
“Damn dress.” She propped herself above him and grimaced. “Help me out of it?”
“With pleasure,” he whispered against her neck.
His fingers moved to the discreet zipper at her side and — with his gaze never leaving hers — he slid it down. She shrugged it off her left shoulder. As if unwrapping a Christmas gift, he wasted no time in sliding the rest from her lean, toned body. Velvet hissed down her torso and slipped from her legs. Clad only in strapless bra and panties with her hair falling in wild layers past her shoulders, she kicked the tangled material off her feet and flashed him a devilish smile.
“You’re deadly.” But what a way to die.
Off came the bra. She grinned like the seductress she was and tossed it aside. “I’ll be gentle.”
“Don’t lie to me anymore.” His hands covered her breasts, claiming them. “Game’s over.”
“Wrong, Nic. It’s just getting started.” She pushed his shirt from his shoulders and kissed his neck.
Q: What motivated this suspense plot about the pursuit of power?
A: I have a love/hate relationship with politics. Not only am I an activist on the local level, but I find the political spectacle fascinating. How low will someone go to win office? What will it take for someone to betray a confidante? Is the ideal of the ‘greater good’ still relevant in today’s cynical world and, if so, what exactly does that mean? Are there still genuine good guys in office—I believe there are—and what is their struggle to remain that way?
Q: That’s a lot of questions. Do you deal with them all in One True Thing?
A. In a subtle way, yes. One True Thing is essentially about Vanessa Warren’s struggle to have her own identity despite a very public upbringing and a larger than life lineage. When she is suddenly thrust into the role of a pawn to be used to manipulate her famous family, she is forced to embrace the power that comes with her last name whether she wants to or not. As the story develops, the concept of the greater good comes into play—and it’s one she openly mocks in the beginning of the book—and she eventually realizes exactly what that means. That’s all I can say without giving spoilers.
Q: But this is a love story?
A: Yes, it is definitely a love story about a man who had closed himself off to feeling much of anything about anyone. He’s devoted himself to building an empire. Tragedy made him skittish about opening his heart, which is how he winds up with the most notorious woman in the world as a date to a party to deter his matchmaking parents. Their little lie has more truth to it than they initially believe and, as the story unfolds, becomes the only true thing they can trust. He sees Vanessa as a woman without an intimidating lineage and she sees him for the kind person he once was before tragedy made him a cynic.
Q: You’re known for creating a vibrant cast of characters in all of your stories, but in this one—although there are obviously secondary players—the focus is keenly on the main characters, why did you construct it a bit differently?
A: In this story, Vanessa’s world is shrinking as she’s being hunted. Everything she has taken for granted—even friendships—is being stripped away. Layer by layer, she starts doubting the people around her, begins questioning the world she’s lived in her whole life, and realizes how isolated she has become. The only person she can trust is a stranger she met named Dominic because he has no history with her, no motivation to sell her out. Hence the architecture of this book starts out broad and works into a sharp peak with Vanessa and Dominic at its center.
Q: What is the one true thing?
A: Family. Love. Strip away the power, the money, the fame, the illusion, and there is only one true thing that matters—love.
Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of romantic thrillers, contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and nonfiction. She also writes five different blogs, volunteers for children’s literacy, and advocates for suicide awareness. In addition, she is a professional editor and mother of two extraordinary human beings. She currently lives in a small cabin high in the Rocky Mountains where she is completely aware of how lucky she is.
What a great read! Vanessa is definitely a feisty female. Yet, underneath her tough exterior lives a woman who just wants to be left alone. Like all of us, she has dreams and goals. But, unlike most of us, she’s not free to pursue those dreams. Why? Because her family is involved in politics. And though she wants nothing to do with that life, she keeps being dragged back into the thick of things. And then she meets Dominic, the very sexy Dominic. These two are made for each other. He has secrets he’s trying to outrun and she has a killer she’s trying to stay two steps ahead of. If you enjoy a novel that is full of suspense with twist and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, then this novel is for you. Throw in steamy sex scenes and you have a five star read. This book has definitely made me a fan of this author.
June is here and all month long I’ll be shining the spotlight on feisty heroines in romance. Today’s Feisty Female is Yoko Hirano from THE PLOT by Melinda De Ross. Melinda is going to share with us what traits make her character part of the Feisty Female Club.
**My review of the book is at the bottom of the post. 🙂 **
~Feisty Heroines: Yoko Hirano~
When I was invited to talk about my most impressive book heroine, I immediately chose to talk about Yoko Hirano, the twenty-two-year-old female lead from my Suspense Romance, THE PLOT. Yoko is one of the strongest characters I have ever created, and I admit her story wasn’t easy to write. A strong woman by nature, she was forced to become even stronger when she was pushed into prostitution at age eighteen. Unfortunately, this horrifying experience with which many women are confronted in real life every day has made her hard, almost unfeeling.
Her only goal becomes to get revenge on the Chinese triad that has stolen her innocence and destroyed her life. And to achieve that, she is willing to go on selling her body even when she escapes the tentacles of the organization. She tries to freeze her mind and heart, and performs sexual acts with strangers like a robot. That is, until she meets Mark Chandler.
Since she was a virgin when she was forced to become a prostitute, Yoko’s opinions about men and sex are very unflattering. But she senses there is a strange chemistry between her and Mark, which she can’t explain. As a prostitute, she’d never allowed any man to kiss her on the mouth, so when Mark kisses her for the first time, she is torn between shame and love.
Feeling soiled and dirty because of her past, and afraid Mark would find out about it, she refuses to do anything about the attraction between them. But Mark is persistent, and even though Yoko’s all-consuming ambition drives her to one purpose, she finds herself dazzled by the charming antique dealer. It remains to be seen if he’ll manage to overcome all of her fears and accept love completely…
~What readers say about Yoko and THE PLOT~
“I loved this story, Yoko is such a strong character. I can’t imagine going through everything she has been through and she still turns out to be a strong willed, independent, ambitious woman.”
“Mark brings out the innocent, fun loving side of Yoko. I enjoyed the storyline, the interactions between characters, just the overall book. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author.”
“A very powerful read. Human trafficking is and will always be a sensitive, controversial issues and Melinda De Ross weaves a story that will both grab and empower you to understand and feel every page of this book”
“Best work ever, Melinda.”
“De Ross handles the disastrous effects of human trafficking in a believable, sensible fashion.”
“Melinda De Ross gives us another spine tingling story. This is more intense then all her other books!”
“This was a very intense read throughout , something completely different to what I have read before.”
Melinda De Ross (real name Anca-Melinda Coliolu) is an international author of Romanian origin. She writes in two languages, and her books combine the elegance specific to the European style with the modern appeal of the American culture. She has a Law degree and has been a professional target shooter for over a decade. Her favorite genre to read and write in is Romance, and anytime she prefers to watch a classic movie instead of going to a noisy club.
She loves to hear from her readers, and you can find her at:
I give THE PLOT five stars. I absolutely loved it. I don’t even know where to begin. I guess I’ll start with the feisty female. From the very beginning we see that Yoko is smart and ambitious. She only wants to better her life, not only for herself, but for her family.
Then the unthinkable happens and those dreams are stolen from her. I admire her courage and her ability to stay strong during those dark years. When she breaks free from those chains she’s determined to make those who hurt her pay.
Then she meets Mark and she has to make a decision: give up her plan for revenge and turn to love instead or turn her back on love and seek the vengeance she’s dreamed about for years. You have to read the book to find out what happens.
But I will tell you this, Mark is the perfect man for her. He’s kind, caring, sexy and he has a few secrets of his own. Purchase your copy of THE PLOT to find out if Yoko chooses to follow her heart or if she allows her need for revenge to lead her away from love. Trust me, you won’t be sorry and you’ll be surprised by the twists and turns the author takes you on. I highly recommend The Plot by Melinda De Ross.
Welcome to my haven for the naughty! 