Book picks for February and new releases from San Antonio Romance Authors
Book Picks on San Antonio Living
Hot reads for cold nights
Considering it’s winter (in the Northern Hemisphere), staying warm on chilly (or snowed in) nights, can be far easier when you’ve got a great read. This holds especially true when there’s a Happily Ever After (HEA) and great characters.
Here are a few of my favorites and what were featured on San Antonio Living. I’d have the video here, but the embed code isn’t working. I’ve left a message about it, but if you’re at all interested, click here:
http://news4sanantonio.com//sa_living/features/featured-on-living/stories/love-air-3086.shtml
**all buy links are to Amazon**
You ever wanted to read erotica, but didn’t know if you’d actually like it? The Cowboy 12-Pack is a perfect start. A dozen books for less than you’d spend on a regular coffee at your local convenience store. Authors are:
A COWBOY’S SEDUCTION – Cynthia D’Alba
SADIE AND HER COWBOY – Paige Tyler
THE BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND TEST – Elle James
HER UNIFORM COWBOY – Donna Michaels
I AM NOT YOUR MELODY – Shoshanna Evers
CHASE AND SEDUCTION – Randi Alexander
THE COWBOY WINS A BRIDE – Cora Seton
THE HARDER THEY FALL – Beth Williamson
THE REAL MCCOY – Sabrina York
BADASS – Sable Hunter
COWBOYS NEVER FOLD – Lexi Post
CUPID’S COWBOY – Becky McGraw
Like Greek Mythology? Check out Andrea Stehle’s Daughter of Athena is perfect for you.
Eons ago the gods of Mt. Olympus ruled over the developing civilization of ancient Greece. From the heights of their mountain retreat the gods manipulated and forced mankind to their will. But one day the Olympians grew bored with the mundane world – as immortals are predisposed to do. They looked away from their children for just a moment and the Earth changed. No longer were the names Zeus, Hera, and Athena whispered with awe and terror, but forgotten until they were nothing more than myths from the dawn of time. To their regret the Olympians discovered no amount of manipulation or terror could bring mankind back into the fold, and so they were obliged to start again. Transplanting a small group of humans to the distant world of Arcadia, the gods created their own perfect Utopian society. In their self-absorbed way each Olympian reigned over a cult of followers in a personal city-state where their word was law. To promote harmony, the Great Law of the Olympians sought to suppress the volatile nature of humanity by forbidding war on Arcadia. Unfortunately, the Olympians learned nothing is ever perfect. Once every hundred years the Son of Ares is born to disturb the delicate balance of their world. Although Ardella of New Athens was the chosen of Athena, blessed with the gift of empathy, she was young and naïve. She made the ultimate mistake – she allowed the Son of Ares to manipulate her and escape. Almost a decade later, the Daughter of Athena is still battling the chaos caused by that moment of weakness, when her brother is captured by the enemy. To save her twin, Ardella travels to Metropolis, the fortress at the heart of the Son of Ares’ empire, and offers herself in exchange. Exiled in a strange new city, the Daughter of Athena soon learns that the enemy she had come to know reading reports in her Tower in New Athens is not the same as the one she now faces in the thriving, very human culture of Metropolis. Bewildered by her growing admiration for the Son of Ares, Ardella must not only save her brother, but decide if she stands with or against the Gods of Arcadia.
Like a sweet read and a bit of happily ever after? You’ll love Laurie LeClair’s Once Upon a Romance Series:
IF THE SHOE FITS – BOOK 1
Romance? Love? Charlotte (Charlie) King doesn’t have time for either one. Charlie has no idea what her heart’s in for when Alexander Royale arrives for dinner to meet the all-female King family. What happens when a modern day Cinderella’s dreams don’t involve getting married, but Prince Charming won’t take no for an answer?
WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY – BOOK 2
Francie King longs for her dream wedding while Marcus Goode agrees to temporarily run King’s Department Store. When Marcus finds Francie in a wedding dress asleep in the store after hours, he kisses her awake. Neither one of them will ever be the same again. What will happen when a hopeless romantic meets a confirmed bachelor?
TAMING MCGRUFF – BOOK 3
Priscilla King longs to prove she’s worthy of the King name. Who would have thought intense, sexy Griffin James would be the only one who listened?! He seeks to destroy King’s Department Store. But after meeting Priscilla, he only wants to protect her from himself. Can a carefree, fun-loving Pixie tame the wounded heart of a McGruff?
Do you love Outlander? Who doesn’t? Guys in kilts? Sure! Author Willa Blair completely understands the importance of writing about said hotties and does so beautifully in her Highland Series. The third book, Highland Troth is out now.
Years ago, after tragedy struck Jamie Lathan’s family, fosterling Caitrin Fletcher was sent home, out of danger. Heartbroken, young Jamie never expected to see her again. He certainly never imagined he’d be called upon to escort her to be betrothed to another man.
But now, as their attraction reignites during the trip, Jamie’s longing for Caitrin deepens, and he despairs to lose her again. The secret he hides, however, may prevent any chance for a future with her. Can Jamie find a way to claim her himself without starting a war involving three clans?
Caitrin is torn between her duty to make the marriage her father wants and her feelings for Jamie, the lad she’s loved for years. When she meets the man her father has chosen, her secret Highland talent tells her he cannot be trusted. Can she refuse the powerful lord without revealing how she knows he’s lying…about nearly everything?
What if you’re more of a contemporary (modern day) romance kind of reader? Gail Hart has you covered in her Golden Heart nominated book Confessions of the World’s Oldest Shotgun Bride.
Rules were meant to be broken; condoms not so much…
Business executive Katie St. John has given up on love, which she sucks at, to focus on her red-hot career. All she wants from Steve Tyler, an ultra-sexy, surprisingly sweet, and much younger Air Force pilot, is help crossing some items off her secret to-do list of sexual fantasies. Sure, the chemistry between them is hotter than the Cayman sun, but once this vacation’s over, she’ll say good-bye and go back to plotting corporate coups.
But Steve won’t settle for being her temporary boy toy. He’s lusted after Katie, the glamorous older woman who lived next door when he was a kid, since he was old enough to know what lust was. Now that she’s finally moved from his fantasies to his bed, he’s not about to let her go without a fight– especially once he learns she’s returned home with the mother of all souvenirs!
What about the teen readers in your house? Sasha Summers wrote a YA book that’s as sweet as Fredericksburg Peaches (seriously, they are really good). Cowboys and Kisses, set in the fictitious town of Black Falls, Texas (based on the Bandera area) will have any romance reader smiling from ear to ear.
Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn’t part of it.
1. Get out of Black Falls, Texas – aka Redneck Hell
(Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.)
2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs.
(Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot—and a really nice guy.)
3. Avoid her parents.
(Shouldn’t be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)
4. Stop thinking about Wyatt.
(Which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so sweet… and he’d keep his shirt on.)
5. Decide what she really wants.
(Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)
Maybe falling for a cowboy could work after all?
Christmas Books for your List
I’m going to be on San Antonio Living this morning and I’m talking…what else? Books?
Here are a few I’ll mention:
Teri Wilson‘s Sleigh Bell Sweethearts
Jolene Navarro‘s Lone Star Holiday
A Recipe for Romance with Jolene Navarro as one of it’s writers.
My Journey Through Homelessness: The Real Story
Crazy in Love with Jennifer Zane
It’s summer and what’s better than a good read? How about 4 good reads?
Well, author Je
nnifer Zane knew you’d need a great set of books for your e-reader and out of the kindness of her heart, wrote four amazingly sexy stories that’ll you’ll have to turn on the fan and might need to pour ice water down your shirt.
The first of the series, Waiting is about how things can change, even at a garage sale. Here’s a quick blurb to wet your appetite.
Waiting: Crazy In Love Series – Book 1
Once you get the zing you can’t go back.
Jane West has everything a woman could want. A job in a small Montana town’s only adult store, two busy young boys and one dead husband. She’s been waiting–for a little zing. That all changes one summer morning at a garage sale with her kids.
Now someone wants their garage sale find and will let nothing get in their way. Including Jane. This new excitement for Jane spells trouble for a relationship with new neighbor–and hot fireman–Ty Strickland. Can Jane and Ty handle a relationship meddling mother-in-law, crazy kids, and stay alive while trying to solve the garage sale mystery? Will their love be worth the wait?
The second, Wanting is not only amazing, but also a steal. At $0.99, you can’t buy anything to beat the heat (except maybe something with the San Antonio Spurs on it–sorry, had to say it). Here’s a taste of what Wanting: Crazy in Love Series–Book 2 is all about.
Veronica Miller is a plumber on a mission—buy out her dad and the family business is finally hers. One big, handsome problem stands in her way. And it’s not a clogged toilet. Jack Reid is the boy she mooned over in high school. He’s back in town, but he’s no longer a boy. Ten years ago he broke her heart, skipped town and never came back. Now he’s a big shot lawyer in Florida whose uncle feigned a health crisis to trick Jack into coming back into town. Upon arrival Jack finds his uncle is gone, he’s homeless, and forced to be roommates with the one woman he could never resist. Jack discovers his lust hasn’t cooled for the sexy Veronica, but neither has her heart forgiven him. A sex-toy educational party, romance novel writing gone awry, Goldie’s meddling, an escape artist snake, a strange stalker in a fluffy pink coat, a house fire, plumbing gone awry, bitter cold, and a smart-faced garden gnome all conspire to force Jack and Veronica to work through a decade of baggage, disappointment, wanting and unrequited lust while figuring out the mystery behind the stalker.
Right on! But we’re only half done. Now you’ve come this far, you’ve got to Wonder what’s up next…and you’d be right.
Wondering: Crazy in Love Book 3, tells of Emma and Sam. Love the names and I love the book already.
Emma Hardy hasn’t been able to forget Sam Carter, or his incredible kiss in the elevator. Sadly, he rocked her world (and her libido), then calmly walked away, quit his job, and disappeared for two months. Not exactly the hot kiss follow-up she’d been hoping for. But Sam was busy making plans. And now, thanks to a glued-together gnome name George, a set of handcuffs, mistletoe, and a meddling adult store cupid disguised as aneccentric but innocent grandmother, Emma’s about to get the greatest Christmas gift of all…true love.
Love it!!!! And Jennifer was so incredibly gracious with her time and talent, that she wrote four books to get us through those moments when we’re counting the days for when the kids go back to school.
Finally, we end with Wishing. It’s romantic cover is enough to make me pick up the book. Here’s a bit about Wishing : Crazy in Love Book 4
Violet Miller is a teacher savoring her summer break until she’s been called in as emergency reinforcements—of the dating kind. She volunteers to help an old flame by pretending to be his girlfriend. In Alaska. At a family reunion. Since the guy is a handsome, lumberjack-sized doctor she’s never quite forgotten, faking a relationship won’t be hard work—while wishing for more.
Mike Ostranski is a desperate man on vacation. His mother wants grandchildren and sees a crazy Alaskan woman as a candidate for daughter-in-law. Mike needs Violet by his side to deflect the lady’s advances.
A week in Alaska as boyfriend and girlfriend should be easy for them. They grew up together, even had a brief fling. What could go wrong?
Everything.
Not only does Jennifer have books out, but she’s having an amazing Rafflecopter giveaway for a $20 Amazon Gift Card.
Want to know more about Jennifer? Check her out at her website, Facebook, Twitter, or email
Information provided by Rom Com Promotions.
Young Adult–Cowboys and Kisses
Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn’t part of it.
1. Get out of Black Falls Texas – aka Redneck Hell
(Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.)
2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs.
(Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot-and a really nice guy.)
3. Avoid her parents.
(Shouldn’t be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)
4. Stop thinking about Wyatt.
(Which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so sweet… and he’d keep his shirt on.)
5. Decide what she really wants.
(Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)
One of the benefits of being a published writer is knowing other (very cool) published authors as well and hearing about their projects when they are in their infantile stages.
So it brings me unmeasurable joy to see a friend’s idea go from just a thought to actual words to a printed project.
Sasha Summers has not only given us a new book to add to your “to read immediately” stack, but she’s given me a great reason to start reading more Young Adult books.
Cowboys and Kisses is the first of the Teens of Black Falls, Texas series. Set in the fictitious town of Black Falls (loosely based on Bandera, Texas) tells us the story of Wyatt and Allie, two teens who are simply trying to find their way in their chaotic worlds and end up finding hope with each other.
Without giving too much of the story away, know that Allie’s the new girl in town, looking to start over and it does include falling for her neighbor, Wyatt Holcomb.
Wyatt couldn’t be a more tried and true young cowboy with dimples sweet enough to give you cavities, but Wyatt isn’t without his flaws.
As Allie and Wyatt navigate their own paths in life, they are bound to cross each others and oh, what sweet fireworks they ignite.
Cowboys and Kisses is a sweet romance, one that you can feel comfortable having your teenagers read, but one you’ll enjoy as well.
You can purchase Cowboys and Kisses at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
For more information about Sasha Summers, her appearances and upcoming projects, find her at Facebook, Pintrest, Goodreads, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
And if one book by Sasha isn’t enough, check out these from her Red Carpet Series at Amazon or Barnes and Noble:
Happy Mediums with Meg Benjamin
Meg Benjamin stops by and talks about her book Happy Medium.
Mediums Rare
The third book in my Ramos Family trilogy, Happy Medium, is now available from Berkley Intermix, along with the first two, Medium Well and Medium Rare. All three books concern a San Antonio, Texas, family with some special abilities: they’re all mediums.
Now that word, medium, probably calls up a particular mental image—maybe an elderly woman who wears lots of rings and sits in a darkened room communing with the spirits. There’s even a medium a bit like that in Happy Medium, but as it turns out, she’s a phony. Actually, in the most basic definition mediums are just people who serve as communication channels for the dead. How they go about doing this varies widely, but when you get down to it, that’s what makes a medium a medium.
Mediums themselves have been around since ancient times, although the way they functioned differed from era to era. I think most of us are familiar with Victorian mediums, the ones who really got going on séances and spirit guides. Of course, now we’ve got television mediums who don’t necessarily do anything that dramatic. Too bad, in a way—I sort of miss the drama.
When I decided to write about a family of mediums, I didn’t want to go the traditional route. No trances, no séances, no holding hands in dark rooms. Well, okay, a little holding hands in dark rooms—these are romances, after all. The mediums in my trilogy aren’t all that happy about their abilities, and they aren’t trying to make money by exploiting people’s grief. Instead, they’re drawn unwillingly into the business of talking to dead people, sometimes very much against their will.
The hero of Happy Medium is Ray Ramos, a carpenter who specializes in renovating historic houses. Ray has run into a bit of a cash flow problem with the house he’s renovating in the King William District. Enter Emma Shea, the assistant to Gabrielle DeVere, a television medium. Gabrielle needs a house for a séance, and Ray’s place seems to fit the bill, although it’s not known to be haunted. But when Gabrielle insists on holding a test séance in Ray’s house with Ray and Emma as participants, she manages to turn loose a spirit who’s way more dangerous than the tame illusions Gabrielle is used to working with.
As it turns out, Ray is the unwilling recipient of hereditary mediumistic powers, while Emma finds that she has a few psychic tendencies of her own. The two of them find themselves fighting off a succubus who’s out to draw power through sex, and who doesn’t much care how she does it. Somehow, they have to rid the house of the ghost before Gabrielle holds her séance and all hell breaks loose, maybe literally. It helps that the two fall in love in the process.
Here’s a bit of that first, dangerous séance:
“Join hands everyone,” Gabrielle intoned in her most resonant medium voice.
Ramos gave her a piercing look, then took hold of her hand, extending his other hand across the table to Emma.
Gabrielle’s fingers were faintly damp, but Ramos’s were dry and hard. His calluses rubbed against Emma’s palm. For a moment she felt something like a mild electric shock tingle through her fingers. She pulled her hand away, staring.
Ramos stared back, his eyes wide.
“Take his hand, Emma.” Gabrielle frowned. “We need to get on with this.”
Emma extended her hand again, touching her fingers cautiously against Ramos’s palm. Nothing. Maybe she’d imagined the whole thing. Probably she’d imagined the whole thing.
Gabrielle raised her head, gazing up into the dim shadows overhead. “Is there anyone here? We call on you to come forth.”
Across from Emma, Ramos rolled his eyes. He had that sour look again. Just hold on a little longer, and we’ll be out of your way.
“Come forth,” Gabrielle whispered.
Ramos looked at her, then shook his head slightly.
And the candles went out.
Emma’s head shot up, and she turned toward the fireplace. There hadn’t been any flickering, any feeling of a breeze. One moment the candles had been burning, and now they weren’t. She gaped at Ramos, who was gaping back at her, his forehead furrowing. Somewhere overhead a door slammed.
At the head of the table, Gabrielle seemed not to notice. “Spirit forces, we call to you,” she crooned.
Something touched the back of Emma’s neck, a quick brush, so light she wasn’t sure she’d felt it. Then it came again, more definite this time, fingertips along the edge of her shoulder. She whipped her head to the right, but she couldn’t see anything in the gathering darkness.
Ramos’s hand jerked against hers. She turned back to him, but he was watching Gabrielle.
No, not Gabrielle. Beyond Gabrielle, toward the fireplace. The mantle glowed dimly in the twilight, as if there were lights beneath it. Then, one by one, the votive candles thumped to the hearthstone in front of the fireplace, bouncing lightly. Another door slammed upstairs.
Before I came to Texas twenty years ago, my husband and I lived all around the U.S., including Kansas, Iowa, Washington, Oklahoma, Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Pennsyvania, with brief visits in California, Connecticut, and New Mexico. In fact, one of my favorite things to do (in pre-gas price hike days) is to travel around the country, preferably off the Interstate.
A couple of years ago my husband took a new job in the Colorado foothills, so I’ve now relocated to the northwest Denver suburbs. It’s a big switch, but my mom grew up on the Western Slope, and she gave me an abiding love of the mountains, so I’m not expecting too many problems (and no, I don’t mind the snow).
In Texas I taught English, desktop publishing, Web design, and editing, among other miscellaneous things, before finally retiring after putting in my twenty-five. At the same time, I worked as a freelance writer and editor, on projects ranging from computer manuals to underwater photography books.
My husband and I managed to raise two wonderful sons, along with a variety of cats and a couple of dogs. We still visit South Texas, and we still love to wander around the country when the spirit moves us, although these days we’re likely to fly in and rely on public transportation (let’s hear it for light rail trains!).
Staying up all night with the Agents of D.I.R.E.
With the Polar Vortex waining and hope of warmer weather around the corner, I can’t help if the three agents from D.I.R.E. are responsible for the nicer temperatures. Of course, they are all amazing, so the cold might help counteract their hotness so we’re not all overwhelmed.
Award-winning author Joni Hahn brings us a new series where the men are men, the women aren’t push overs and the bad guys and girls are hate-worthy.
Get ready to be exhausted the next morning because you’ve stayed up far too late to read..but it’s worth it.
Enjoy!
EXCERPT Book 1:
Being invisible had definite advantages – slipping in and out of rebel compounds, stealing enemy technology and weapons, and listening in on private conversations, to name a few. But none, not one, was more beneficial, more gratifying, more freaking hot, than watching Rachel Monroe dress in this church, undetected.
Tristan Jacobs ducked around the full-length mirror to get a better angle. His conscience told him he should be shot for standing there ogling Aidan’s sister. His former BUD/S teammate and swim buddy, Aidan Monroe, had saved his life once upon a time, and Tristan owed him.
Or, had owed him – until last night.
Living with the ability to see himself but not be seen by others had made Tristan’s job so much easier. He could honestly say this was the first time he had used his ability for personal, unscrupulous gain. The ability to teleport from one place to another with the scan of a thumbprint on his armband, had given him a whole new spin on time management.
His lower body hummed as he stared at the bare flesh highlighted in the sunrays shining through the skylight. Rachel was a goddess. Not in the supermodel, movie starlet sense. Those women did nothing for him. She came off more as the small town, girl next door, they-know-how-to-grow-‘em-down-on-the-farm-type goddess. And damn, was she blessed.
The push-up bra she wore urged him to text his broker and buy stock in women’s lingerie. If Rachel walked into the Stock Exchange wearing that thing, she could single-handedly revive Wall Street and the nation’s economy.
Tristan stifled a groan as she slowly rolled up an ivory silk stocking and hooked it to her garter. The woman’s legs were all kinds of long, her stomach flat and smooth. Her skin held the hint of a tan – even the cheeks peeking out of her ivory lace panties were tanned.
He took a steadying breath. Don’t go there, Jacobs.
Aidan had known calling in that favor was the only way Tristan would have left his long-awaited staycation in Trunk Bay. The hothead all but ordered Tristan to help save his older sister, the saint.
Tristan whistled mentally as Rachel shimmied into her fitted wedding gown. He had never seen a saint with curves like that.
Aidan could only blame himself for Tristan standing in the bride’s room of an old, Victorian church in Podunk, Texas, watching his sister don a wedding dress she wouldn’t use. He’d told Tristan to meet him there.
Aidan was late.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Rachel told her reflection as she smoothed the lace skirt over her hips. “This will fix everything for Mom.”
Tristan frowned. No, you’re not doing the right thing. I did the right thing for you.
He’d crashed Cody Brewster’s bachelor party last night. Of course, no one had seen him there but Aidan. Tristan had seen first-hand what an arrogant ass Rachel’s fiancé could be. According to Aidan, Brewster and his father, Jock, owned nearly the entire town. Tristan had seen evidence of that in the way the men sucked up to them at the party. Gifts and drinks were expected from everyone and, other than Aidan, they had delivered.
“Hi, Mom.”
Rachel’s deep sigh and soft voice brought Tristan out of his reverie. Damn, he hadn’t heard Kate Monroe enter the room. Ogling his only friend’s sister while her mother stood by, well… even a corrupt mercenary like Tristan had his limits. He needed to get out of there.
“Rachel, you’re absolutely beautiful.” Kate rushed forward to give her daughter a hug.
The woman was the splitting image of Aidan, with her copper hair and green eyes. Rachel must’ve gotten her chocolate waves from her deceased father.
The heavy, oak door swung open. Aidan stuck in his head and looked around. “Anyone come by searching for me?”
“No.” Kate pinned Rachel’s veil to the crown of her head. She looked over at her son. “Who would be looking for you?”
Dismissing them without an answer, Aidan pulled the door halfway shut and left.
Good boy.
With sincere regret, Tristan left behind Rachel and the hottest fifteen minutes he’d experienced in a long time. He tiptoed around the faded, olive-colored sofa, steering clear of the glass lamp on the end table.
Invisibility didn’t mean he could move through objects.
Check out Aidan in book 2 and d’Artagnan in book 3
**covers by http://najlaqamberdesigns.com**
Author Bio:
By day, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world… or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing more exhilarating than falling in love (Other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers – that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.
Can you Call the Lightning?
I’m so excited to bring you a new author (and a new writer friend) Laurie Olerich. This US Air Force veteran has launched an amazing series, one you should check out. Here’s a blurb:
Bound by blood and flame…
Mica Thomas is not having a good year. First, her Primani Sean vanishes without a trace. Second, a sadistic demon wants to use her as leverage. Third, her totally unwanted powers are making her nuts. And then there’s Killian…his eyes hold secrets that confuse her and his every touch sends her blood racing out of control.
Killian Leahy has secrets–a lot of them. With Sean MIA, it’s up to him to keep Mica safe while her powers evolve. His protection takes a dangerous turn when she becomes a pawn in the game. Desperate to keep her alive, he drags her into his private world of ancient power and bloody altars with devastating consequences.
With their minds and bodies connected, is there room for Sean?
Excerpt:
I was humming “Chasing Cars” in the shower when the clear curtain slid back. Sean leaned against the sink, letting his eyes drift down my soapy body. He still wore jeans, but the button was undone and they rode low on his hips. He’d already stripped off the t-shirt he wore today. I licked my lips and tried to say something sexy but nothing came out. My tongue got stuck in my mouth. Instead, I stepped back to make room. The jeans hit the floor in the blink of an eye and his hands were everywhere at once. With my back against the warm tile, I closed my eyes and let the sensations overwhelm me. He dragged his lips away from my mouth and smiled wickedly. Nonplussed, I started to ask what he was up to, but it came out as a yelp when he scooped me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. His arms cushioned me from the hard tile as he impaled me with one quick thrust.
“Oh. My. God.”
Moving against me now, he bit my earlobe and murmured, “Not quite.”
After using all of the hot water, we stumbled to the bedroom to work out the bed. Exhausted and limp, I trailed my finger through the fine black hair that formed his happy trail and said, “There is no way that you’ve never had sex before me. You’re like a porn star.”
“A porn star?” He propped himself up on his elbow and frowned. I don’t think he liked being compared to somebody from a website like https://www.nu-bay.com/categories/45/asian, but I couldn’t understand why.
He looked so disgruntled, I started to giggle. “Baby, wait. I meant that as a compliment! You’re just so amazing when we…uh, do it.” I blushed and shut up.
“You’re a mess. You know that? Of course it’s amazing! Hello? Supernatural beings here! Our souls are connected; we share the same saol. God Mica, when I see you my brain and my body go into hyper-drive with awareness. I feel every breath you take, every heartbeat, every emotion. When I touch you, I feel your blood flowing under your skin. I feel it under my fingertips. I have the power to draw it to the surface anywhere I want. Do you know how hot that makes me? I want to lose myself in you.” He gently traced a pale blue vein on my chest with his thumb. It pulsed in response. “I can give you pleasure because I feel what you want when your breath catches just so.”
My breath caught as he nipped my collarbone with his teeth. I felt my bones turn liquid again and knew he was right. I felt the same things when I touched him. I was turned on just standing close to him. He hummed with energy that I felt on every inch of my skin. I assumed everyone in love felt this way, but maybe he was right. Our souls were entwined as much as our bodies. Maybe this was special.
He peered up from the vicinity of my naval and asked, “Besides, what made you think I was a virgin?”
Looking for more? Check out Laurie at:
https://twitter.com/LaurieOlerich
https://www.amazon.com/author/laurieolerich
http://www.laurieolerich.com/blog
Author Bio: Laurie Olerich is the author of the new Primani series. Part urban fantasy, part romance, part paranormal…Three things she can’t live without! Laurie spent most of her life in the Northeastern United States and in Western Europe. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her son and Dalmatian duo, Domino and Rambo. Desperate to escape the heat, she lives vicariously through Mica and her Primani by setting their adventures in the mountain coolness of New England and the rainy days of London. Before throwing caution to the wind and diving into a writing career, Laurie dedicated 20 years to her country by serving in the United States Air Force. Much of her time was spent around men with guns and cool toys…this explains her obsession with both.
Excerpt of “On the Isles of Mozambique” by Mila Ballentine
With Christmas so close, it’s always hard to find the perfect gift for a book lover other than a gift card, but look no further! Mila Ballentine has written an amazing story of adventure, tears, and triumph.
Blurb: Samira McAllister, an aspiring writer working for The Seasoned Traveler magazine is offered an opportunity. She takes advantage of the chance to jump start her career, hoping to make a mark in the writing industry.
Unforeseen hurdles threaten her ability to follow through with her plans, and life as she knows it becomes a memory. From that point onward, every choice she makes will seal her fate.
Okay, now can you not be interested in this? Plus the cover is gorgeous!
And here’s a tasty excerpt. Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
She heard keys rattling and the front door opened. Samira poked her head out in the hallway.
“Hi.” Amy closed the door, walked to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water.
“I was starting to think that I’d be eating dinner alone,” Samira said smiling.
“I went by Eric’s place to get the rest of my things.” Amy left the kitchen and went into the living room.
“How did it go?”
“Not good.” She shrugged. “But I got my stuff. That’s all that matters.” Amy slouched on the sofa, kicked off her heels and folded her feet on the sofa. Samira sat down next to her.
“He seemed nice when I met him.”
Amy huffed. “They’re always nice when you introduce them to your friends and family, but ‘come see me, and come live with me’ are two different things. We could’ve worked it out if he was less attentive, more considerate and polished up on his communication skills.”
Samira snickered, “You know most woman would kill to have a man who’s attentive.”
“Good for them! They can have him. Eric wants to know where I am and who I’m with at all times. I can’t live like that. I had a father who already raised me and I’m not looking for another one.”
Samira chuckled. “I bet you wished that fairytales would have warned you about guys like that.”
“Yes, it would’ve been nice. While you’re in Africa, bring back a tall, tanned, muscle-bound hunk for me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Amy laughed and hit her with a throw pillow she grabbed from the sofa. “I’m just glad the other person you were going to have as a roommate changed her mind. I needed to get away from him.”
“I’m glad too. The last thing I need is some random person going through my stuff while I’m not around.”
“Dido, if I had to spend another day at Eric’s place, I would’ve lost my mind. He’s too into me.” Amy took a sip of her drink and put it on the accent table beside the sofa.
“You don’t have to worry about me in regards to that. At least here, you’ll get to keep your sanity.” Samira eased back on the sofa.
Find Mila at her website, Twitter, Goodreads, Pintrest, and Facebook.
Brought to you by Enchantress Blog Tours
Naval Military Romances Worth a Birthday Celebration
Sunday, October 13th, 2013, is the 238th birthday of the American Navy and we proudly salute those who serve our country and the romance writers of America love what you do. Especially, because it makes for amazing tales, great good vs. evil, and over-coming adversity stories.
For years, the classic alpha hero in romance novels has often been a man who’s served his country and is dealing with the physical or emotional wounds in battle. The heroine helps him heal and they live happily ever after.
Now with the wide variety of romance novels these days, a reader can get a heroine who’s been in battle and needs the healing help of a lover, a hero who’s returning to his own hero, and a married military person returning home to try and get back to “normal.”
Here are some of the best writers of Naval Themed Military Romance out there today:
The Santinis—Melissa Schroeder, USA Today’s best selling author brings the Santini Brothers (Leonardo, Marco, Gianni, and Vicente) to life in this Naval military romance series. The box set, now available through Kindle for 0.99 cents, contains interracial and multicultural romance. The first of the series, Leonardo’s story, is set right here in San Antonio. Tease Me–Semper Fi Marines, her most recent and a spin-off of the Santini Brothers, is now available for 0.99 cents on Amazon.
Seal Brotherhood—Sharon Hamilton— This “almost” erotic best selling series are page turners.
Headed for Trouble—Suzanne Brockman–This best-selling author’s newest romantic suspense is not only a scortcher, but it’ll pull at your heartstrings and have you routing for the hero and heroine to find their Happily Ever After.
A Marine Affair—Heather Long–This male/male follows the life of two men, who’s years long relationship must stay a secret, until the appeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. One wants to come forward with their affair, the other isn’t so sure. Long also pens several Marine themed books that include Always a Marine Series, One Night Stand Series, and A Challenge Series. All books can be found on Amazon.
Now, don’t get romance readers or writers wrong, a man or woman in uniform isn’t always ripped or built like a Mac Truck, but there’s nothing wrong with showing great appreciation for what they do everyday.
Happy Birthday Navy!
