Category Archives: Guest Blogger

Elizabeth Black Talks Cats Shapeshifters and Trouble in Thigh High Boots

Guest Blogger, , , ,

If you like hot fairy tales, and who doesn’t, you’re in for a real treat today. Elizabeth Black is my guest, here to tell us all about her hot new version of Puss in Boots, Trouble in Thigh High Boots. Welcome, Elizabeth!

Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons. – Robertson Davies

Perhaps it is because cats do not live by human patterns, do not fit themselves into prescribed behavior, that they are so united to creative people. – Andre Norton

Albert Schweitzer was wrong. There are more than two means of refuge from the miseries of life, and they aren’t only music and cats. The third is writing. I am a life-long cat lover, although I didn’t acquire any until I was in my mid-20s. I begged for a cat when I was a kid. The closest I ever came to having a cat were two hamsters and a salmonella turtle. Not exactly the cuddliest creatures on earth.

Four cats live with me in my apartment and they are my muses. They keep me calm when they are asleep and they provide endless hours of entertainment – and annoyance – when they are awake. One in particular – Lucky – likes to stand in front of my computer screen and stare at me until I stop writing and pet him. He can be a real pain in the ass. He’s also been known to collaborate with me. I’ll be in the middle of writing a soaring romantic scene (or a scary one, since I also write horror) when he’ll add his two cents, usually in the form of the same letter repeated fifty times because he steps on my keyboard and won’t get off.

Cats. Can’t live with them. Can’t eat them.

It was only natural I would choose a cat as a shapeshifter in “Trouble In Thigh High Boots”. This novella, which is an erotic retelling of Puss In Boots, stars Tita, a female feline shapeshifter. She shifts from the form of a sleek kitty into a gorgeous young woman. She has many of the same qualities as most cats. She is a connoissuer of comfort, as James Herriot would agree. Freud would be pleased to see that time with her is never wasted. She not only asks for what she wants (per Joseph Wood Krutch), she gets it. Although she has obtained shelter without confinement and love without penalties, she had to work for her food. W. L. George would say two out of three ain’t bad. She also expects to be worshipped as a goddess, which would please Terry Pratchett. And when she’s unhappy, Percy Bisshe Shelley would warn those around her that she’s just sitting there thinking up ways to get even. And in “Trouble In Thigh High Boots”, does she ever get even with her nemeses! You must read the book to find out how. And finally, Robert A. Heinlein, who was known for his love of cats, would agree that women and cats will do as they please. Tita is both rolled into one. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

Tita is a force to be reckoned with. If she intrigues you – and I’m sure she does – you will enjoy my erotic fairy tale retelling of Puss In Boots. “Trouble In Thigh High Boots” is available at Amazon, Smashwords, and other ebook retailers.

And now, to end my post, here are a few more cat quotes:

No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens. – Abraham Lincoln

Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. – Garrison Keillor

We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight. – H. P. Lovecraft (the horror lover in me had to throw that one in)

Blurb:

Tita is a Puss In Boots with a little something extra. Being a magical creature, she shifts from a kitty into the form of an alluring, ginger-haired woman when the situation demands it. And what a situation she finds herself in! Her new master Dylan is a poor man who needs a boost in the world. Sly Tita uses her seductive wiles to pass him off to the villagers and the king as the Marquis of Carabas in order to help both of them gain their fortunes. Her plan is not without its problems. Dylan’s malicious brother, Zane, lusts after Tita, and he wants her all to himself, but she refuses to succumb to his treachery. Being a cat first and foremost, she purrs in the arms of her many lovers but her heart belongs to only one man – the king. She hopes that in ensuring Dylan his lofty place in the world the king finds a place in his heart for her. Her life becomes an erotic adventure in reaching her goals.

Excerpt:

Her stiletto heels clicked on the hardwood floor, attracting the king’s attention. When he turned toward her, her heart nearly stopped at the unabashed thrilled look on his face when he set eyes on her. She sniffed the air and smelled castile soap and fragrant oil of rosemary. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he expected me. Maybe his knights told him I was on my way.

“Ah, cat, you have returned! How delightful!” The king’s jolly laugh boomed around the high-ceilinged room. “My sister told me she saw you on the road. Your rabbits were absolutely delicious. I saved a morsel in case you returned.”

She smiled and batted her lashes at him. Stop it! You’re acting like a peckish school girl with a bad crush! “You are too kind, Your Highness. Before I accept your gracious offer of food, might I offer you another present from the Marquis of Carabas?”

“Another present? Your Marquis is quite impressive. First, the fattest rabbits I’ve seen in these parts in a long time, and now more gifts! Yes, please, do show me what you have to offer.”

Oh, I’ll show you much more than you expect, sire. She lifted her knapsack and prepared to open it, but hesitated. The king looked dejected.

“What’s wrong?”

“I want this gift to be a special surprise for you, sire, but I can’t have you looking at me when I give it to you.”

“Well, what shall we do then?”

“I had an idea.” She opened the knapsack a tiny bit, reached inside, and pulled out a silk blindfold. “How about we play a game?”

He clapped his hands. “I love games! Cat, you are quite the adventuress!”

Little do you know… “I do my best, Your Highness.” She held the blindfold between her claws. “May I approach you and slip this over your eyes, sire?”

“Of course you may.”

“You trust me?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“How do you know I won’t shield your eyes and then slit your throat?”

“Because there’s something special about you, cat. I can’t put my finger on it, but you are very intriguing. I’m willing to trust you with my life.”

Her heart melted at his words, and she took great pride in feeling his affection even though he had not yet seen her in her human form. What would he think of her once he saw her long legs, full breasts, and thick tawny hair? Would he ravish her when he felt the warmth from her heart and tasted the sweetness of her breath? How would he react to the tenderness she longed to give him?

When would he remember her, if he remembered her at all? She had never spoken to him or shifted in front of him when she lived in the castle. Her heart ached with love and memories of his tender caresses and playful roughhousing. If only he recalled her!

She walked to him as he sat in his favorite chair, and then she leapt onto his lap. He ran his fingers through her long fur without thinking twice about it, as many humans did when accosted by a cat, although certainly not most. She had met her share of men and women who beat her and threw pans of water at her. Zane’s face flashed into her mind. When would she see him again? Tita knew he would make another appearance soon, aware of his cruelty and greed. She shook her head and quickly shoved his memory away. She would not allow him room in her head to ruin her time with the king.

Thankfully, her king was not cruel. She purred with pleasure as he scratched her behind her ears. Ooooh, he found my most sensitive sweet spot! I can’t stand it! Let me at him! In a fit of arousal, she rubbed her mouth against his hand, leaving her scent on his skin.

She stared into his deep blue eyes and paused before lifting her blindfold. I wonder if he can see into my soul when he gazes into my eyes. One look will show him a world he’s never before seen. She gazed at him, wishing he could read her mind, to sense the love she felt for him.

“You have lovely eyes, cat. The color of a deep sea – quiet on the surface, but I suspect there is quite a bit of turmoil in those depths.” He ran one hand over her back, stroking her length until she arched in response. “Your eyes are very human. Long-lashed and expressive. Are you enchanted?”

“In a way, sire, yes I am. But I’m not cursed. I can give you what you need.”

“And what might that be?”

“Let me show you.” She slipped the blindfold over his eyes and waited for him to sit back and relax. When his breathing eased, she curled into his lap, placing both paws on his shoulders. “Don’t be afraid. And whatever you do, don’t remove the blindfold. I’m about to give you my surprise.”

As her body lengthened and stretched, she stroked his hair. Paws elongated into palms and fingers and she scratched his scalp with her long nails. He moaned and curled his head into her embrace, but as her furry body grew into curvy feminine form, he backed away with a gasp of alarm.

“Please don’t be afraid,” she whispered in a deep, mellow voice that sang in his ear. “I won’t hurt you.” She guided his hands from his sides to her bare hips. “Touch me. Feel me.”

Buy Links for TROUBLE IN THIGH HIGH BOOTS

Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/trouble-amazon-us

Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/trouble-amazon-uk

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/240534

Coming soon: Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and AllRomanceEbooks

Find Elizabeth Black here:

http://elizabethablack.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

 

Guest Blogger: Slave Nano

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‘The Pagan Sorceress’ and the Yorkshire Wolds landscape

I’m delighted to be invited onto K D’s site.  Earlier in the year she contributed a blog to my web site about the influence of the Lakeland landscape on her book ‘Body Temperature and Rising’.  So, I’m going to return the favour and say how one of my favourite landscapes, the Yorkshire Wolds, influenced my story, ‘The Pagan Sorceress’.

The initial spark for writing a story involving ancient burial mounds came from a book I came into contact with at my place of work.  This was ‘Forty Years Researches in British & Saxon Burial Mounds of East Yorkshire’ by J R Mortimer.  Yes, I know that sounds pretty dry, but it’s a remarkable piece of work and just browsing through it provided me with the inspiration for the idea of a story.  In fact, I have Sam, my archaeology post-grad character refer specifically to this book in the story.  In the late 19th/early 20th century J R Mortimer surveyed and excavated loads of Neolithic and Anglo-Saxon burial mounds scattered across the Yorkshire Wolds, an incredible 196 barrows over 120 square miles!  Some are still obviously visible; others have been affected by modern farming and are only visible from aerial photographs or detailed investigation now.  Seeing this book really brought home to me the extent of the evidence of pre-Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlements in the local area.

This captured my imagination and I was determined to seek out some of the sites and find out a bit more about them.  So, armed with an Ordnance Survey map annotated with sites to look for from the book, I set off into the East Riding countryside on a barrow hunt!.  I went to a few sites but the one that really captured my imagination was a couple of burial mounds that form part of what is know as the Painsthorpe Group near a village called Kirby Underdale located just off the Wolds Way national footpath.

These ancient earthworks and tumuli are a significant part of the Yorkshire Wolds landscape.  Typically the burial mounds would have been sited on the top of theWoldswhere they would have been in full view of village communities in the dale so they could honour their ancestors.  They would have originally been covered in chalk taken from the Wolds and so would have stood out as white beacons on the crest of a hill.  The Yorkshire Wolds are something of a hidden secret; though David Hockney’s paintings and digital art work of the area may be about to change all that.  Parts are cultivated with farm land but when you get off the beaten track into the dry chalk valleys they are every bit as beautiful and majestic in their own way as the landscape inYorkshire’s more famous national parks.

These ancient burial mounds were all arranged into groups.  Now, and this I think is the truly amazing bit which really tickles my Pagan antennae, many of these groups were arranged by design to resemble the seven star formation you find in the ‘Ursa Major’ constellation..  How incredible is this?  Our Neolithic ancestors were so in tune with their environment, and drew such religious and mystical significance from it, that they consciously arranged for their burial chambers to reflect the celestial firmament.

Anyhow, it was these two particular tumuli I chose to describe as the site for Sam to conduct her re-enactment of an Anglo-Saxon burial ceremony.  Her reconstruction has consequences that she could never have guessed and her life, along with that of her friend Dan, becomes entwined with those of Cyneburh, the Pagan sorceress of the title and Alhfrith, her hero-warrior lover, from nearly 1,500 years ago.

*****

Pagan SorceressIf you’re looking for an erotic read this Halloween then check out Slave Nano’s new release ‘The Pagan Sorceress’.  The action takes place on Samhain as archaeology student Sam sets out to re-enact a Pagan burial ceremony.

If the author of the Anglo-Saxon heroic tale Beowulf did erotica what might it have sounded like?  That’s the challenge author Slave Nano has set himself in his newly released novella ‘The Pagan Sorceress’.

Sam is about to carry out a strange experiment.  She is an archaeology student specialising in reconstructive archaeology and her idea is to recreate an Anglo-Saxon pagan burial ceremony.  It’s Samhain eve and the night of a full moon so it’s the perfect time to carry out such a ritual.  She enlists the help of her friend, Dan, and together they go off to the site of a burial mound where wonderful swords and sceptres were excavated many years ago.

A travelling story teller is at the court of a Saxon king.  He recites the tale of two soul-entwined lovers from an earlier, more chaotic, period when king’s warred amongst each other.  He tells the tragic tale of Cyneburh, Pagan sorceress and daughter of the mighty Pagan king Penda and Alhfrith, son of Athelwald the king of Deira, her hero-warrior lover and betrothed.  The two kings have formed a mighty political and religious alliance but, more than that, the young woman and man have forged a passionate union of their own.  But this new alliance has enemies and before their wedding night is over there will be a tragic outcome.  As King Penda stands at the edge of their burial chamber he invokes a curse of vengeance against the murderous act perpetrated against him.  But, how many years will it take before he is finally avenged?

As Sam stands on top of the burial mound dressed as an Anglo-Saxon pagan priestess with Dan at her side, is she aware of what ancient powers she will invoke as their lives become entwined with those of Cyneburh and Alhfrith from many centuries ago?  Will the pagan king’s oath of vengeance be fulfilled?  Will the souls of the two lovers be finally released?

*****

Excerpt

“… just imagine, not a mound of grass but a mound of chalk.  When it was erected, immediately after the burial, it would have been brilliant white.  It would have stood out from the landscape and you’d have seen it for miles around.  So just visualise a bright white mound of stones, fronted by two yew trees and the night of a full moon, say from the cycle in 642 for arguments sake.  Here, take this.”

Sam, who had been rummaging in one of the ruck-sacks for something whilst talking, slung a red and white measuring stick at Dan who reacted nimbly and caught it in his hand.  A second came flying at him.

“What’s the time,” Sam asked.

Dan glanced down awkwardly at his watch whilst holding the two poles.

“Quarter to midnight.  But what’s significant about that?  Are you waiting for witching hour?” he laughed.

“This is serious Dan.  I want to prove a theory I’ve got,” she replied.

She took the map in her hand and carefully counted fifty paces from the centre of the mound with Dan following her.  She glanced quickly up at the sky.

“Right, put one measuring pole here,” she said digging the heel of her boot into the chalky soil.  Dan dutifully did as he was told and buried the end of the stick into the soil.  She walked sideways another twenty paces still checking the map and directed Dan to put the other pole into the ground.  The two measuring sticks were buried at the exact location where the two yew trees would have stood.  She raced back to the centre of the mound, Dan running after her.

“I don’t get it Sam, what are you trying to prove?”

But as soon as he had mounted the mound and turned around to face the two poles he gasped in astonishment.

“Shit Sam!”

“Yes, Yes.  That’s it!  I knew it,” Sam shouted punching her fist in the air and jumping animatedly up and down on the burial mound. “Just as I’d imagined it.  It was a guess – a calculated one – pure instinct really.  But I just knew it!”

They both stood on the top of the burial mound.  It was midnight on Samhain eve and as they stared back the full moon was in exact alignment between the two measuring sticks casting them and the mound in a luminous glow.

“Fuck, I knew it, I knew it!” she exclaimed.  “This isn’t just any old burial mound.  I’m convinced of it.  You’ve seen the pictures of the objects buried there and now this.  This was done by design.  It’s part of the meaning of the site.  There was somebody significant and very powerful buried here.”

Dan was transfixed.

“It’s awesome Sam. Really, it’s amazing. It’s so clever and well…..mystical.”

They both laughed loudly at the excitement of sharing such a magical moment as they stood on the ancient site of pagan ritual bathed in white light.  Sam slung her arms around Dan’s neck and spontaneously, caught in the thrill of discovery and the majesty of the setting, gave him a long passionate kiss. Of course they’d kissed like that before, but there was a tingle of something different between them as if the setting and the full moon had some influence over them.  Dan could feel it and sensed Sam was affected as well.  There was an embarrassed silence after they broke off from their kiss until Sam took up her discourse again….

Buy links:

Amazon UK
Amazon US
All Romance eBooks

*****

Author Bio

Slave Nano is a writer of erotic paranormal and fantasy stories with bdsm and fetish themes.  He has had short stories and novellas published by Xcite Books and House of Erotica.  His first erotic novel, ‘Adventures in Fetishland’, was published by Xcite in March 2012.

You can find out more about him and his writing at http://www.slavenano.co.uk

Guest Blogger: Catriana Sommers

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What’s Next?

The Arcanus Series initially started with 3 books. Then grew to five. With the addition of certain characters, the series jumped up to seven books. We’re only on book two now, but with this newest release, the next question is: what happens next?

I’m learning nothing ever happens as expected with this series, even as I carefully plan things out. A short story, Dune Whispers, has now become long enough to be an actual installment. As the story evolves, certain plot elements or ideas crop up that I add to my master plan. It’s been a fun challenge working with the series, and there’s definitely more down the road. Transcendence is the third official installation, and it’s already shaping up to be a fun ride.

What happens next is that the characters will continue to grow, and events will continue to unravel. The Obsidian Order’s goals will become clearer, relationships will deepen and yes, there will inevitably be a war. Beyond that I cannot say, but I hope to see you along for the ride.

This has been an exciting week for me. I’m grateful to everyone who has hosted me on this tour(my first one!), you all have been wonderful. I’ve enjoyed coming out and sharing my little world with you all. So long and thanks again!

Bound by Blood now available!

Buy Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/products_id/892/

 

Bound by BloodBlurb:

Rioran is a Kass’na’vah, king of a magical race, and his kingdom has been frozen by Olde Magick. Along with his brother Viron, the only known survivor of the attack, he travels across Meedia looking for leads to these mysterious practitioners of an eons-dead magic.

Their quest hits a snag when Rioran meets his lifemate, a dying seven-year-old vampire noble named Liari Varian. To save her life, he gives her his blood, binding himself to her. Now he’s stuck, physically incapable of leaving her, forced to watch from the sidelines until she comes of age and he can continue the search to free his people.

The world doesn’t remain idle while he waits, however. Tensions between races are building, war is brewing, and behind it all is a mysterious organization bent on eliminating all magic in the world.

CONTENT ADVISORIES: This title is erotica; it is not a romance title. This title contains both MF and MM sexual situations.

 

Excerpt:

I am surrounded by incompetence.

Kien Varian reluctantly waved away the two voluptuous women sitting on either side of him. They flashed him pouty looks as he blew them apologetic kisses. Their hips swayed seductively as they quietly exited his social room.

The playful expression on his face morphed into an icy mask. Warm amber eyes, turned cold and predatory. Before him, a Mixed male kneeled on one of his fur rugs, one fist pressed firmly to the ground.

“Markus Lotros.” Crossing his legs, Kien raised a well-manicured hand to stroke his goatee thoughtfully. “Care to repeat those words?”

The messenger winced despite the pleasant tone. “I saw the heir leave her party moments ago… with Lord Larian. I had heard you wished not to be disturbed, but the young master instructed I come to you.”

Kien blinked and the stroking stopped. “Young master? Ah, you mean Eris.” Eris Lotros, heir to the strongest clan in the vampire community. A bit older than the birthday girl tonight by a few years, but his interest was obvious. A good match, if any were worthy of his little Lili.

If she survives.

“Yes, Lord Kien.” Markus’s head remained lowered out of respect and fear. Even being from another clan, there were few who could claim ignorance concerning Kien’s capricious behavior.

Fortunately, the vampire lord had other things on his mind. “Guardian?” he queried.

“Her whereabouts are unknown.”

Right. Of course Reila couldn’t be found. Had Alik listened to him and put a pureblood in charge of protecting Liari, Larian’s obvious ploy would have been less likely to succeed. The last of the Ancient’s resources and abilities had gone into ensuring the heir’s conception; a replacement would not be forthcoming.

“Be grateful your prince is an only child.” Kien finally stood from his plush red sofa, straightening his ruffled blouse. He blew out an exasperated sigh, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to thwart an oncoming headache. “Do you know where they were headed, Guardian? Stand up, man. I swear I won’t unleash my crazy on you.”

 

About the Author: I live in a beautiful hilly town in the state of Washington. I have a wonderful husband and two cute dogs who are huge parts of my life. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, and I cannot imagine my life without it. I’m a fantasy/romance author, but I love reading Sci-fi/Fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and I’ve recently delved more heavily into steampunk.

I’ve been a published author since 2011. When I’m not writing, I’m procrastinating on websites like tumblr and roleplaying forums, I’m out and about learning the local area, or I’m playing video games. I’ve won National Novel Writing Month for two consecutive years and hoping to make 2012 my third.

 

Where to find me:

My Website: http://www.catriana.net
My Blog: http://catrianasmuse.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Catriana_S
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/catriana.sommers

Giveaway time! I’m giving away a free e-book copy of Bound by Blood via random drawing. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with your e-mail address and we’ll contact you if you’re a winner!

Starla Kaye Tells the Story Behind The CEO and the Cowboy

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It’s my pleasure to welcome Starla Kaye to Hopeful Romantic to share the story behind her hot new novel, The CEO and the Cowboy. And Starla is offering an exciting contest as well. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a copy of either MAGGIE’S SECRET WISH or STARTING OVER from Decadent Publishing and a special gift: a Spurs auto coaster. Contest ends October 6.

I live in the mid-west and tend to write most of my stories somewhere in familiar territory. Kansas City is one of my favorite places and I especially love the Country Club Plaza area. There are some really beautiful houses along Ward Parkway and I couldn’t resist having my CEO hero, Daniel Patterson, living in one of them. The cover even has a cityscape of the Plaza area, which is perfect.

My other hero, the cowboy Calhoun Cordell, has a ranch in the Flint Hills near Manhattan, Kansas, which is another area of Kansas that I am familiar with. His ranch doesn’t actually play much of a part in this story. But I will be writing a sequel and the ranch will have a bigger role in it.

THE CEO AND THE COWBOY is my second m/m romance for Decadent Publishing. It is another story of two heart-wounded, struggling men trying to make sense of their lives and stumbling into an unexpected romance. Although my main romance writing is m/f, I am enjoying writing these special stories. Everyone deserves to be loved and to love someone. All that matters to me is that my characters are in need of finding that one special person who makes their life complete.

Since the biggest percentage of my 50 some published stories involve cowboys, I wanted to write a story about a rancher, and I enjoy writing stories with businessmen as heroes. So I had my two basic characters in mind and a general location, then all I needed was a way to get these two men together. Who knew they would both show up at Calhoun’s ex-fiancée’s wedding! I certainly didn’t when I sat down and started writing the story.

That’s how I tend to write my stories. I come up with a title first, character names and a basic idea of what they look like next (I use photos from somewhere to refer to as I write occasionally). Then I come up with what in their backgrounds or current life might be a conflict between them. Sometimes I have a really loose idea of plot points to aim for, but I don’t outline. I’ve learned over my dozen plus years of being published that outlining in too much depth ruins the story for me. I feel like I’m finished with it after putting so much work in an outline. And my characters usually hate the outlines, too. They become “real” people (to me) and they want to follow their own paths in life, make their own mistakes, run into their walls and have to figure out ways around them. They take me along for the ride. I love working this way and I love the unexpected twists in the story telling.

THE CEO AND THE COWBOY has one such unexpected twist after Calhoun and Daniel have this sort of falling out. I wouldn’t have guessed they would do this (and I’m not telling you what happened), but it fit them and the story. So basically I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of writer.

BLURB

The whole thing about relationships and feelings confuses the heck out of Calhoun. He’s a simple cowboy and he’d been planning to marry a long-time friend for a while. When he finally realizes it doesn’t feel right, he lets her go. He probably shouldn’t have gone to her wedding to another man, but she wanted him there. But that’s when he really gets confused. His eye is drawn to a seriously hot businessman…and that sure does unnerve him…and yet….

Emotionally burned by the last man he thought he’d loved, Daniel isn’t anxious to replace him. But there is something about the proud, bedroom-eyed cowboy who shows up at his friend’s wedding. The CEO isn’t even sure if the cowboy’s gay, although the heat firing between them makes him wonder….

What he does know is that he plans to find out.

Available from:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon FR

Amazon DE

Amazon IT

Amazon ES

EXCERPT

Calhoun wondered what the hell he was doing in Patterson’s home, why he’d agreed to come here. From the second the man had asked him to see his Western art collection, he’d sensed there was more to it than that. The way he’d kept looking at him over his beer with such heat in his eyes…the strange way he hadn’t been able to look away…all of it unnerved him. Yet here he was, following him up the large, winding staircase, up to his bedroom, no doubt. Another guy’s bedroom! Holy hell.

Even more unsettling, he’d just been kissed. By a man! Damn! And it had felt…well, good. No, better than good. He’d even kissed him back. His chest pounded; his mind whirled with all the things happening to him, with myriad confused feelings spinning through him.

Patterson climbed the stairs in front of him, his long legs taking them two at a time. With each step the fabric across his ass pulled tight. For a city boy, a businessman, this man had a mighty fine butt. Another thought that unnerved him. He’d admired men for dressing well or acting confident and in charge, traits he identified with and appreciated in others. But he’d damn sure never spent any time admiring another man’s body.

“You okay?” Patterson moved onto the landing and glanced back at him.

He saw beyond the other man’s proud exterior, saw the hint of vulnerability in his eyes. It was clear Daniel had experience in what was happening between them, while he had only a very limited knowledge of such things. Daniel seemed…worried about him. The notion settled his nerves a bit.

“I’m hanging in.” That was as much as he could admit. Fact was, he still thought he should turn tail and run like the blazes in the other direction. He met his gaze.

Relief passed through his eyes, and he turned down a long hallway. With his first step, he passed in front of some kind of sensor because lights came on along the floorboards and ahead in a room Calhoun figured must be where they were headed. His bedroom. Never in his wildest imaginings would he have believed he’d be following another man to his bedroom. His gut tightened. Sweat beaded his spine and upper lip.

Patterson—maybe he needed to think of him on a first-name basis now—waited for him just inside a room big enough to sleep a dozen or so people, except there was only one bed. A hell of a bed it was, too. He’d never seen anything like the obviously king-sized—maybe bigger—bed with four thick columns for bed posts and a fancy carved headboard as tall as he was. A thick red and black comforter covered it. He gave the rest of the dark wood furnishings barely a glance. Mahogany, were they? It was the bed that caught and held his attention.

By the time he’d stopped gaping at the bed, Daniel had removed his suit jacket and tie. His white dress shirt was half unbuttoned. Through the slight opening, he noted a light dusting of dark, curly hair. His own chest was smoothly bare, a genetic thing from his long-ago Comanche great-great-great-grandmother. His mouth watered, and it surprised him that he wanted to touch that chest hair. He shouldn’t want to, shouldn’t even be thinking about it.

“We can stop right now.” He again offered him an out, although he sounded hopeful. “I’m going to tell you up front I want you. I’ve wanted to strip you out of your fine Western suit from the moment I saw you walk into the church.”

Starla Kaye

Family is extremely important to me. Life is far too short not to spend time with these special people in some way each day. My husband supports me in my writing craziness…always eagerly waiting for that million-dollar sale. (Dream on.) My daughter supports me in so many ways, including designing my website and fixing the many computer screw-ups I manage on an almost daily basis. And the rest of my family is there for me whenever I need them. I live for them all and love them with all of my heart. I laugh with them, too.

Beyond my family, I enjoy traveling anywhere, at anytime. I’ve been fortunate enough to see so many interesting places over my life, places I’ve read about or heard about. All of my many adventures and observations of people and places help my writer’s imagination. I’m filled with ‘what ifs’ and ideas for yet more characters. My writing, too, leads me on many adventures. I dabble with romances of many sub-genres: contemporary, historical Western, medieval, sci-fi, paranormal, and Regency. As with never having enough of traveling, I will never have enough of writing.

Find Starla Kaye at:

Website: Starla Kaye

Twitter:  Starla Kaye

Facebook: Starla Kaye Writer

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Dianna Hardy Shares the Story Behind The Witching Pen Novellas

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It’s my pleasure to welcome the delicious Dianna Hardy to A Hopeful Romantic today to share with us the story behind her exciting Witching Pen novellas.

Book One: The Witching Pen

Book Two: The Sands of Time

Book Three: The Demon Bride

It started with a domain name. Yes, seriously: thewitchingpen.co.uk

That’s how it began. I bought it three years ago when I was publishing my first ever book (in paperback – I knew nothing of eBooks then): a collection of poetry that I had spent my life writing sporadically.

I knew poetry wasn’t going to be all that I wrote, so I wanted a domain name that I could use for my website that would be flexible enough to encompass other genres, including the spiritual / occult books that I occasionally bring out.

As the months went on, I began to write erotic fiction. (That’s how I discovered eBooks.) That developed into paranormal romance, which in turn included hot urban fantasies… and now I truly am multi-genre, because, for the life of me, I can’t choose just one genre – I need to write anything I please at any given time!

DiannaHardy.com became my domain name, and thewitchingpen.co.uk became defunct.

But I liked that domain name – I couldn’t just give it up! And suddenly, just like that, the idea for The Witching Pen fell into my lap; out of the sky, or so it seemed. What if you really did own a pen that was witchy and magical, and that pen could do great things? What if it was mightier than the sword? Would you use it for good or for bad?

I had the plot, now I needed characters. I had the idea of a very strong, street-smart heroine wielding this pen to start with, but it didn’t work – not at all. And as I wrote her, within the first chapter, she morphed into this sweet, kind and innocent witch, who could appear meek to those who didn’t know her well, but who carried unrivalled power through her bloodline, and, unbeknownst to her, through a pen she happens to find one day: The Witching Pen.

Enter her best friend, Karl, the boy next door who she’s always loved – who has always loved her – who she can never be with because of a ‘curse’ that ensures she will lose her powers to any man she ever sleeps with … My God! I had book one! I had a paranormal romance.

From that point, the writing took on a life of its own, the characters became … real … (almost) and I never looked back. Books two and three tumbled out of me; sometimes with ease and sometimes through sweating blood and tears. But that is the nature of this series: it is easy, but hard; it is light, but dark; it is trust and betrayal; it is a test of the self.

In short: The Witching Pen began as a domain name intended to represent me and my writing, but it became a paranormal romance series that tested me and my writing; tested it in wonderful, beautiful and torturous ways. It truly is magical to me, how one can start with just a word; just a sentence … and it grows, and grows, and a year later, you have a trilogy that – thank God – most readers so far have fallen in love with.

To me, The Witching Pen will always be just that: a tool that somehow weaves magic with words. And I don’t always know if I’m the magician, or just the observer.

The Witching Pen Novellas are available in digital format, with the first trade paperback having been released in April. All info and buy links can be found on the series website The Witching Pen Novellas.

 Thanks so much to K D Grace for taking the time to host me on her blog.

 Book Promo Spotlight: The Demon Bride, by Dianna Hardy

The Demon Bride (Book Three of The Witching Pen Novellas)

Preceded by Book One and Book Two.

Two thousand and eleven years after the birth of the Failed One, the Witching Pen will be made manifest on Earth by the Great Shanka Witch of the Old Scrolls. By her hand, the Earth will rumble and shatter, and all dimensions will bleed into one.

The true purpose of the Witching Pen has been revealed, and it must be destroyed before an apocalyptic prophecy comes true. There’s just one problem — the Pen is indestructible.

As everyone searches for much needed answers, Elena lays down plans for a radical mission to save her mother from the Shanka’s shadow world.

Meanwhile, Mary has finally discovered who she really is, and what that means for the human race.

What Mary doesn’t know, is that Gwain has been searching for her for over ten thousand years, and had lost all hope of finding her. Now that he has her, he’s faced with an impossible choice: does he save the woman who altered his very existence, or does he sacrifice her to save mankind?

eBook available NOW!

Amazon US   Amazon UK   Smashwords

View the whole series at the series website.

EXCERPT

Prologue

Her fingernails dug into his wrist, as her scream pierced the air.

“God damn it!” he cursed. “Don’t you let go of me – don’t let go!”

But this was a battle they were both losing. The pulsing abyss beneath her was relentless, swallowing everything too close to it, like some ominous, living black hole, and she was more than too close to it – she was dangling above it, her feet touching the hungry darkness.

Terror gripped her – an unforgiving fear she’d never known, and she’d known a lot of fear.

For a second, exhaustion took her over, and her fingers slipped a little.

“No!” he shouted, and squeezed his hand in a tighter vice around her wrist. His other hand – the left one – was buried in the earth. He had pegged himself into it in an attempt to stop their forward movement. He had his legs entwined around a tree trunk, but the tree was now coming up at the roots, bowing to the force of the suction. Every muscle in his body was straining, bulging unnaturally – she wondered if he’d ripped any yet. Hell, he was strong – but not strong enough.

She looked up, forcing her head to move against the pull of the abyss, and met his eyes. Steely grey, and usually so steady, they were now marred with panic and anger. But still he held her gaze, and still – despite the horror of what was about to happen – she found a semblance of peace within his presence.

“Let me go,” she whispered.

Her answer was a tenacious growl.

“It’ll pull you in if you don’t. It doesn’t want you, it wants me. Let me go.”

He tightened his hold on her.

Damn it! She won’t risk him. Not now, not ever.

She spoke to him in the Old Tongue. “I’m not supposed to be here – it was always going to be this way.”

Determination hardened his features.

My God, he’s stubborn.

“I love you,” she whispered, and let the truth of her words touch him, seep into him, through the all-consuming connection they shared – one which she suspected was about to be ripped to shreds.

He was momentarily stunned at the weight behind her words. She had him off-guard, and in that split second, with a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she brought her left hand up, fighting against the vacuum with all she had, and tore into his cheek with her nails.

Startled, his grip loosened, and it was enough.

She yanked her right hand out of his.

His look of shock quickly turned to one of both rage and desperation when he finally realised what she’d done.

Blood seeped through the cuts on his cheeks. Her own face stung in response.

“Forgive me,” she pleaded. “You mean too much to me.”

Tears welled in his eyes.Tears? Oh, no, m’angeal, don’t cry. I’m not worth your tears.

“I’ll find you, I swear it,” he choked out.As the abyss closed up around her, she uttered a prayer, and she had no idea whether she was praying that he would, or that he wouldn’t.

Chapter One

Mary jolted awake, then moaned as the pounding in her head dominated all her senses. A nightmare? No. This pounding felt like normal pain – the kind you had when you hit your head, not the type of pain that seared her during her nightmares.

What had woken her up? A dream? But she didn’t have dreams – not normal dreams, anyway…

She tried to grasp at it and failed, the throbbing in her skull preventing her from going in too deep.

And she was hot – too hot – baking hot.

Where the fuck am I?

And far too quickly, she remembered her encounter with the monster in the prison, and being dropped into the hole in the ground. A portal of some kind? The memories rushed at her – they came so quickly, she thought she might puke. Ugh. She remembered being thrown down and cracking her head on the cement.
Shit. She hoped she didn’t have concussion.

Gingerly, she tried to move and realised that something was crusted onto the left side of her face, which smarted big time – she guessed it was her blood. Her face felt mangled. She must have done it when she’d cracked her head. A glance down at herself told her she was naked. That meant she’d been undressed.

Fuck.

She mentally assessed her body, trying to figure out if she’d been messed with in any way. It felt the same as usual, apart from her arms. Looking up with effort, she could see that her hands were tightly secured above her head in metal cuffs, each attached to a stone wall by short, linked chains.

She gave her hands a little wriggle. Pins and needles shot down to her elbows, which ached. She winced. Could this be any worse?

“She awakes,” came a voice, low and soft, to her right.

It just got worse.

Excerpt copyright © Dianna Hardy, 2012. All rights reserved.

Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things.She writes about witches, demons and angels. All info about her books can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com