Stolen Desire by Tina Donahue (@tinadonahue)

by | Mar 6, 2014 | | 6 Comments

STOLEN DESIRE BOOK FOUR – OUTLAWED REALM SERIES

EROTIC PARANORMAL

 

Stolen DesireBlurb:

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

Outlawed Realm, Book 4

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grieving a failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room with velvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerful stranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And pray his promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes.

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimes against the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for the guards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fire and ice—if he can somehow forget the way her trembling body melts in his arms.

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated by strange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable need that consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’s plan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take without him.

Warning: Scorching-hot sex and loads of aching tenderness between a drool-worthy hunk who’s determined to do the right thing and a woman who’s not about to give him up.

 

Excerpt:

Thick gray clouds rolled above them, heavy with more snow. A sliver of bluish-white light poured through a gap in the cloud cover, as though the moon were trying to bleed through. Its rays swept across the land, which shimmered in the frail glow, sparkling like thousands of diamonds. The effect lasted only a moment, and then the light receded, with shadows once again taking over the hostile terrain.

As though that worried him, Zekin increased his already fast pace, pausing only once to shove her clothing into a snowdrift, burying it.

Why?

Paige wasn’t able to ask. She struggled to keep up, gulping air. It should have been icy, hurting her throat, but wasn’t. The transparent mask no doubt heated it. How was that possible? Desperate for answers, she cried out, “Where are we going?”

Zekin looked over. “A colony where you’ll be safe.”

Paige dug her fingers into his hand. “Where are we? What is this place?”

“E5.”

What in the hell was that? A government installation where scientists conducted classified studies and had pleasure slaves on the side? That made absolutely no—

Wait a sec. Suddenly, Paige recalled Zekin mentioning E1 when he’d first come into her room.

“I’ll do all I can to bring you back to E1,” he’d promised her then.

Instinctively, she held back. Just as quickly, Zekin yanked her forward.

“Don’t fight me,” he warned, “or you’ll end up like the others you saw outside the guards’ outpost.”

Paige shivered so badly, her voice shook. “Did those bastards throw the bodies out there after they murdered those people?”

“Only some. The others they pushed out there to die.”

“Why?”

“They weren’t useful any longer.” Again, he glanced over. “When one of the guards found you and brought you here, they got rid of the other woman. That’s what they do when they tire of females from your realm, or the pleasure slaves they haven’t already killed.”

Paige was about to pepper him with more questions. Instead, her mind snagged on one word—realm.

“You mean country?” Maybe she’d been wrong about his nationality. It wasn’t Greek or Middle-Eastern but Russian. Could be this was Siberia. In a weird sort of way, that made sense. “Is that what you meant—my country? The USA? America?”

He regarded the landscape past her. “We have to hurry before the other guards return and see us.”

Paige couldn’t imagine how that was possible. The material covering them was the same tint as their surroundings, making them virtually invisible…unless the guards had some kind of special eyewear, like night-vision goggles, that allowed them to see what the naked eye couldn’t. “How far is the colony?”

“Past that body of water.” He gestured toward what appeared to be an enormous frozen lake ringed by drifts.

As Paige scanned the area beyond it, searching for some sort of building, a flock of birds flew over the lake. At least she thought they were birds. Their thick feathers were an ashy white, their wingspans enormous, like nothing she’d ever seen.

They flew in an odd formation, not the usual V pattern, but in a perfect circle. Paige couldn’t help but stare at the phenomenon. How in the world did they do—

A thunderous crackling sound interrupted her thoughts, and the again screeching wind.

She flinched. Zekin released her hand and moved in front, his body pushing hers back, shielding Paige as something shattered the ice from beneath the center of the lake. Within seconds, a creature pushed through, hurling its milky body upward. The waves that followed it froze instantly in the raw air, the ends of the water curled over like a fine crystal sculpture. As massive as a blue whale, the creature surged from the lake, a horn protruding from its snout, no doubt what pierced the ice. With blinding speed, it penetrated the circle made by the birdlike creatures.

Shrieking wildly, they scattered, but it did no good. The whale-like thing swung its monstrous head back and forth, gulping several of the creatures before gravity pulled it back down to the water. A thin sheet of ice formed instantly, hiding its exit. Harsh winds toppled the frozen waves as easily as if they’d been a house of cards, then pushed them against the snowdrifts, returning the scene to the relative calm of a few minutes before as though none of the carnage had occurred.

Paige continued to hyperventilate. What kind of fucking nightmare had she stumbled into? Was it possible she’d been drugged and was hallucinating? If not… Aw crap, she didn’t want to think about that.

“There’s nothing to fear,” Zekin assured. “The thing has had its fill for the moment. It won’t harm—”

Her embrace stopped him. She clung to Zekin, her face pressed against his back, praying he wouldn’t push her away. “Don’t leave me, please,” she begged.

Her fiancé, Johnny, had done that, calling off their wedding after she’d worked so hard on the plans and getting him to want her. He never apologized. He’d just told her the score, saying they could still live together. As if she’d want that. Before he’d bugged out on her, her mother and then eventually her father had also left. She’d had no one for too long and by God, right now, Paige needed the warmth of Zekin’s body, the security and comfort of his size to preserve her sanity. To give her hope that they’d both get through this.

“Please,” she repeated.

“I won’t,” he murmured. “It’s all right.” With his hands on her wrists, Zekin gently pulled her arms from him but didn’t step away.

If he had, Paige would have followed. Out here, she had no shame, no pride, just an unbearable need to be close.

He turned to face her, then hesitated only a moment before wrapping his arms around her in a sheltering caress. She couldn’t stop shaking. As he ran his hand down her back, he whispered, “You’re safe.”

No, she wasn’t. Neither was he. Not out here in arctic-land. Deep inside, Paige was terrified they weren’t on Earth any longer. It was crazy to even consider that, but how else to explain all of this? How could either of them survive? Why had he even risked his life to rescue her? Who was he? Where had he come from?

She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. The transparent material covering her face was exactly like skin, letting her feel his solid frame, his heat. She snuggled, unable to stop herself, indulging in this small, welcome intimacy as the world went crazy around them.

The wind died for a moment, then picked up again, slamming against her body as it screamed past. Clouds continued to sink, weighted with snow.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

His hand stalled on her back. “For what?”

Being scared and being a burden, asking too many questions, not knowing how to make this better. All her life, Paige had done whatever she could so people wouldn’t leave her. Didn’t work. They always had.

“Getting you into this,” she finally said.

If she hadn’t had those stupid drinks at Rozie’s, if she hadn’t gotten involved with Johnny—a damn fool who couldn’t commit to marriage much less save her ass out here—none of this would have happened.

“You had nothing to do with this,” Zekin said. “It was my choice to come.”

Available for preorder from: Samhain – Amazon – Amazon UK – B&N  

Release: March 11

Other books in the Outlawed Realm series:

Unending Desire – Book One

Illicit Desire – Book Two

Shameless Desire – Book Three

 

About Tina:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks
Triberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue
My page at TRR: http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=tinadonahue

 

 

CONTEST DETAILS:

Tina will choose one commenter as her winner. Winner gets her choice of one of Tina’s award-winning, bestselling ebooks from this list:

1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT

2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit

3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award

4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT

5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT

6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller

7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books

8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR

9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR

10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book

11.  Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR

12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times

13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures

Rough Weather by Lisabet Sarai

by | Mar 3, 2014 | | 1 Comment

Rough WeatherDestiny hides in the tempest’s heart

Ondine has always felt at home in the sea. Orphaned at birth and raised by her grandmother on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, she has never really questioned her extraordinary affinity for the watery world. She concentrates on her work as a marine biologist, spends her weekends relaxing among the waves and worries about human threats to her beloved ocean environment. Fears of a deadly pregnancy like her mother’s make her cautious about sex.

When she encounters an attractive but arrogant engineer on her private beach, surveying the site for a prospective off-shore wind farm, anger is her first reaction. A casual touch, however, transforms that emotion to incomprehensible, irresistible, terrifying lust.

Ebony-skinned Marut has his own talents—aside from his uncanny ability to swamp Ondine with desire. He can control the winds and summon storms. He informs Ondine that they share a supernatural heritage and claims she is his destined mate. She responds with scepticism and tries to resist the charismatic Haitian, but ultimately her scientist’s training won’t permit her to deny the evidence of her senses—and her heart. As a brutal northeaster batters the island and Marut’s life hangs in the balance, Ondine learns that true power lies in surrender to her elemental nature.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of light bondage.

Buy Links
Totally Bound
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon US
Amazon UK

*****

Excerpt:

“Ondine.”

She whirled to face him. She hadn’t heard the squeak of the old screen door hinges, yet there he was, tall and dark as a thunderhead—gloriously naked. His piercing eyes pinned her in place. His noble forehead arched up to the explosion of frizzy curls that framed his skull. His skin gleamed as though it had been oiled. He stood before her—no, loomed above her—his muscled legs parted, his arms crossed over his chest, sniffing for her all-too-obvious scent. His nostrils flared like a thoroughbred racehorse and his prominent lips curled into a confident smile.

And there, rising from its nest of inky fur, was the cock she’d caressed out on the beach, a proud cylinder of dark flesh with a slick, mauve cap. In their frenzied groping upon the rocks, she hadn’t really seen his organ clearly, but now…

She’d read that primitive cultures worshipped the phallus as the source of all power. Now she understood, in a most visceral sense, how this could be. She wanted to fall on her knees before this vision of male potency, to beg for a touch, for a taste. Use me, something in her cried, though in fact his beauty and vitality struck her dumb. Helpless, terrified, swamped by need, she waited for him to make the first move.

The strange wind blew around them. Marut’s eyes glittered like chips of hematite. He stared into her soul, asking questions she didn’t dare acknowledge. Unable to bear his scrutiny for more than a few moments, she dropped her gaze to his bare feet, graceful and strong as the rest of him, and waited for him to take her.

“Ondine.” Her name on his lips was moonlight on a tropical lagoon, a gentle surf kissing the shore.

He won’t hurt me, she realised with sudden conviction. Then why was she so afraid?

He reached for her. She sucked air into her lungs, tensing against that first touch that she knew would drown her in irresistible lust. Instead, without any skin-to-skin contact, he took the T-shirt dangling from her hand and pulled it over his head.

Startled, she looked up. His massive erection bobbed against his white-clad belly, more prominent than ever.

“I’ll go now,” he told her. He turned to pull his pants off the line, sending clothes pins flying. As Ondine watched in fascination, he struggled into the tight garment and zipped away his swollen member. “I’d rather stay, but I don’t think you’re ready yet to face who and what you are.”

The bulge under the denim taunted her. Her mouth watered at her recollection of his smoothness, his hardness, his overwhelming maleness. Still she couldn’t bring herself to speak, to ask for what she wanted.

“I’ve left my mobile number for you on the kitchen table.” He headed in that direction and she followed like some mute animal. “If you call, I can be here in less than half an hour. I’m staying in Edgartown.”

“Um—ah—thanks.” She walked him to the front porch, where he’d left his boots. As he crouched to tie the laces, she marvelled that such a simple act could be so incredibly sensual.

When he was shod, he hoisted his pack full of equipment and faced her once more. He reached out to cup her cheek, following the curve without actually touching her. “I’m so grateful I found you,” he murmured. “I’ve been alone for a very long time.”

Sparks prickled across the gap between their flesh.

“But you need to realise that you’re in control. I won’t make a move unless you ask. I respect you, Ondine. I know before long that I’ll love you, as I did in my last life, and that you’ll love me.”

Love? This awful craving doesn’t feel like love. More like some disease.

*****

Contest!

Win a copy of Rough Weather plus a copy of its sequel,  Hot Spell, the book in which Ondine and Marut first made their appearance. To enter, send an email to contest [at] lisabetsarai [dot] com with the subject line “Rough Weather Giveaway”. Contest closes on March 31, 2014.

*****

Bio

Lisabet Sarai became addicted to words at an early age. She began reading when she was four. She wrote her first story at five years old and her first poem at seven. Since then, she has written plays, tutorials, scholarly articles, marketing brochures, software specifications, self-help books, press releases, a five-hundred page dissertation, and lots of erotica and erotic romance – more than fifty single author titles, plus dozens of short stories in various erotic anthologies, including the Lambda winner Where the Girls Are and the IPPIE Best Erotic Book of 2011, Carnal Machines. Her gay scifi erotic romance Quarantine won a Rainbow Awards 2012 Honorable Mention.

Lisabet has more degrees than anyone would ever need, from prestigious educational institutions who would no doubt be deeply embarrassed by her chosen genre.  She has traveled widely and currently lives in Southeast Asia with her indulgent husband and two exceptional felines, where she pursues an alternative career that is completely unrelated to her creative writing.

For more information about Lisabet and her writing, visit her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com) or her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com). She also hangs out at the group blog Oh Get a Grip (http://ohgetagrip.blogspot.com), writes monthly reviews for Erotica Revealed (http://www.eroticarevealed.com) and contributes to the ERWA blog (http://erotica-readers.blogspot.com).

An Interview with Jewel Quinlan (@jewelquinlan)

by | Feb 26, 2014 | | 0 Comments

I’m delighted to welcome Jewel Quinlan to the site today, where she’s talking about her latest release, orgasmic ice cream and Chris Hemsworth. Take it away, Jewel!

 

Stealing Cupid's BowTell us about yourself. Both your writing self and your non-writing self. What are your interests and hobbies? Do you have a day job, etc?

I wouldn’t classify myself as conservative but that is somehow the first impression I usually make. Sigh. During the day I work as a pharmaceutical sales representative so I have a well-developed outgoing side to my personality. But I think what has made me good at my day job is my shy writer’s side that is observant and always listening. I love to travel and have visited many countries. I have even travelled by myself. I usually meet all kinds of people right away when I travel so I am never actually alone, lol. I have many hobbies. At the moment my top ones are yoga, snowboarding, bartending and having fun with my two dogs.

Give us the background on your latest release. 

I remember telling my parents about my idea for this book. We had gone to dinner and had some wine and I felt brave enough to tell them about my idea. I don’t think they took me seriously at the time but they certainly do now. Lol. Valentine’s Day has always been my favourite day of the year. I celebrate it whether I am single or not. What could be better than a day dedicated to love? One year I found myself wondering what would happen if someone stole Cupid’s bow and this book was the result of my random musings.

How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?

I dabbled on and off with writing since I was very young. I always tell people that 40 is the year that I finally took myself seriously and finished my first book. The second, third and fourth ones followed soon after. My first book was accepted by a publisher I pitched to at a writer’s conference and the others were accepted through online submission. I think I have been luckier than some others though and I credit my sales background with some of my rapid success. Once I have a finished product (a manuscript) I know what to do with it. Go out and sell it!

What are you currently working on?

I currently have in progress a novella about a genie who has just been freed from her bottle and who is exploring our modern world. And I also am working on a novel that is part of an anthology called The Seven Deadly Sins. My book is based on the sin of Envy. *rubs hands together and chuckles deviously* I also just finished a short story titled Extreme Heat that was accepted by Evernight Publishing and should be coming out soon.

Do you have a particular Muse for your writing? Do any of your characters bear startling resemblances to sexy celebrities or people you admire?

I wish I could say there was a muse, I would certainly give her a name. 🙂 I have always had an active imagination and it sparks at the most random times. I remember being in a movie theatre once and having my thoughts stimulated by a preview. I then began typing notes furiously into my iPhone despite the glares of people seated near me. (that story will be coming in a post-apocalyptic series I am working on). My characters bear a startling resemblance to pictures of models I find online…lol. We writers find it easier to have a picture in front of us when we are trying to remember what our characters looked like than referring to our notes. I am grateful for the many catalogues that come to my house.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?

In less than five years I plan to be writing full-time and living in Germany. That has always been my dream! I plan to have audiobooks made for each book I write. Rock Star Ex is already available as an audio book and two more are on their way. It’s very exciting! I also hope that some of my work will be turned into movies or TV shows. I also see myself as being very happy, healthy and joyful through all of 2014.

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? I like swimmer build which is the happy middle of these two.

Tall or short? I am short so tall has always been my deal. However, since I am only 5’2”, everyone seems taller than me.

Boxers or briefs? I have seen sexy versions of each and I welcome seeing even more.

Moustache or beard? Scruff is as far as I will go. More than that and I will be searching for my razor and shaving foam.

Long hair or shaven head? Long hair all the way!!!!

Tattoos or piercings? Nope. That is all.

Intelligent or funny? I had to think about this one…Funny over intelligent. Although intelligent should take a close second.

Blond, brunette or red head? BLONDE! (I am brunette. Opposites attract and all that)

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)?  Chris Hemsworth, need I say more? *fans self*

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) I would give Mila Kunis a go.

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) Don’t have any, sorry

Favourite food – Breyers Chocolate Chip ice cream. It’s orgasmic.

Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) Pride and Prejudice

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like) – Bavaria

Anything else you’d like to add? It’s been really fun answering these questions!

 

Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.

Recently heartbroken, Raine Daniels arrives home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to help with her parents’ fortieth anniversary party only to discover they are planning to separate as soon as the last guest walks out the door. Everything she thought she knew—her very foundation is rocked to the core.

When she learns that Alexander, the sexy stranger she’d sat next to on the plane, is really the god of love, Cupid—she asks for his help, but he declines. The god of love, now long divorced from Psyche and living on earth among mortals, no longer believes in love.

Raine decides to take matters into her own hands, even if a god tells her she’s wrong.  With her life falling apart around her and the solution seemingly within her reach she dares to try and make everything better. Unfortunately, she’s unprepared for the consequences of stealing Cupid’s bow …

Where you can buy it:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Decadent

Excerpt:

From the corner of her eye, the back of a blond head, paired with broad, strong shoulders, caught her attention.

She knew who it was instantly.

Alexander was walking up ahead of them in the same direction. Her entire being zeroed in on him at once and she felt her pulse spike.

Jane was saying something to her, but all of her attention was tied up with trying to see his face. He’d moved off to the side now, and it looked as though he was watching someone intently. Actually, a couple of someones—a man and a woman. On the surface it looked like he was strolling along casually, but she could not mistake the intensity of his gaze on them. It seemed almost…predatory. Was he following them?

Both her mom and her aunt walked so slowly it was almost an agony for her. She didn’t want to lose sight of him. But there was nothing she could do. If she tried to make them hurry, it would spark questions from all three. And the most likely result of her telling them why would be her mother flagging Alexander down in a loud voice, which would be embarrassing.

Jane continued to chatter away, but Raine still couldn’t focus on her cousin.

Up ahead she saw that the man and woman had stopped next to a fountain. The man was saying something. From the look they shared, it seemed to be one of those special moments. Alexander stopped, too. He was leaning casually against a pillar watching the couple.

The man Alexander watched sank down on one knee while retrieving something from his pants pocket.

Alexander changed his stance at the same time. Out of nowhere a bow appeared in his hands. He quickly notched an arrow from the right side of the quiver on his back. He drew and took aim, gazing along the shaft of the arrow.

From what she could see there was only one target apparent in that direction: the woman.

As he released the arrow, a scream rose from within her, but the sound caught in her throat. The gleaming shaft streaked across the space and sunk deep into the woman’s chest, emitting a shower of golden sparks on impact. A second arrow struck the man as well and another cloud of gold erupted. She stopped walking and, since their arms were linked together, Jane did, too.

“Did you see that?” Raine asked.

Jane glanced at her. “See what?”

She pointed in the direction and her cousin peered up ahead.

“What is it, Raine?”

Her cousin wasn’t reacting at all and neither had either of their mothers. And none of the people that had passed right by the scene of the crime were disturbed. She looked again at the couple, afraid of what she might see…and blinked.

There was no blood. No body lay on the floor. No arrow shaft stuck out from either of them. Quite the opposite. The woman was unharmed and glowing with happiness. She had accepted the ring and the man was now swinging her around in joy.

“Did you mean the couple getting engaged?” Jane asked. “Oh yes, it happens all the time here.”

Raine was stunned. Her eyes found their way back to Alexander.

 

Jewel QuinlanNow give us your author bio and website/social media links.

From a young age, Jewel Quinlan had an abundant imagination and strong desire to write novels.  She particularly enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy romance. An avid traveler, she has visited fifteen countries so far (which she enjoys using as settings in her novels) and has plans to see more of the world. She has a particular fondness for Bavaria and studies the German language as one of her hobbies. During the day, she works as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, at night, she writes romance. She currently lives in Orange County, California with her two dogs; Shimmer and Penny.

Contact Details:

For more information visit her website and blog or you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!

Interview with Landra Graf (@riseoftheslush)

by | Feb 25, 2014 | | 0 Comments

I’m delighted to welcome Landra Graf to the blog today, where she’ll be dishing the dirt on the three aspects of her personality, sexual submission and Jensen Ackles. Take it away, Landra!

 

What You NeedTell us about yourself. Both your writing self and your non-writing self. What are your interests and hobbies? Do you have a day job, etc?

Actually there’s three of me: the one who writes, the one who works, and the one who parents. The writer loves to read as much as write. Plenty of idea, words, and curses flow through my fingers and my mouth during those times. The worker gets to cook all day. It’s a creative job where I’m usually provide a food item and then told to make the item part of meal solution, develop a recipe or simply determine how you’d prepare with it with a specific set of equipment. The parent manages homework help, household chores, and loves playing card games and Scrabble with her spawn.

Give us the background on your latest release.

The characters in What You Need are secondary characters from a contemporary romance I’ve got in the works. They were supposed to wait for me to write their story, but around Valentine’s Day 2013 they overtook my brain and demanded my attention. I couldn’t say no.

How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?

I’ve been writing for years, but I started on the romance path a little over a year ago. My route to publication was, in a word, unexpected. I always planned on the agent bit, and then the traditional publisher. Publishing small press came at me from the side, but some of the best opportunities never hit you head on.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a contemporary novella featuring a breast cancer survivor heroine and the King of Matchmaking. She isn’t looking for love and he’s finally ready to use his matchmaking talents on himself. This story is very dear to me and I can’t wait to get it completed.

Do you have a particular Muse for your writing? Do any of your characters bear startling resemblances to sexy celebrities or people you admire?

My muses are typically people I know, though each characters evolves into their own person. I usually find a sexy celebrity to give my characters a face, that way I know how to picture them when I write. Though I don’t think it’d be easy to figure out when you’re reading the story.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?

In five years, the writer plans on having all the contemporaries I’ve got plotted out in the world for readers to enjoy. The non-writer will be nearing a point where she can quit being a non-writer and be a writer all the time.

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? Muscled

Tall or short? Tall

Boxers or briefs? Briefs

Moustache or beard? Neither, Goatee for the win!

Long hair or shaven head? Shaven Head

Tattoos or piercings? Tattoos

Intelligent or funny? Intelligent

Blond, brunette or red head? Brunette

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? Jensen Ackles

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) Sandra Bullock

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) Will Farrell

Favourite food? Jalapeno Cheetos

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like)? Lake Minnewawa

 

Anything else you’d like to add? I’ve been cigarette free for 2 years. It’s a glorious feeling.

 

Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.

Blurb: A sexual submissive, Royce wants a woman who’ll make his fantasies come true. The last thing he expects on his 1Night Stand is to be paired with Victoria, his ex-best friend.  Haunted by their past, he refuses to deny his newfound attraction or his need for answers.  This time, he doesn’t plan to let her go.

Victoria has loved Royce forever, but the sting of his rejection is not so easily forgotten. No longer the naïve girl he knew, she’s matured into a sexual dominant. This domme demands a chance to restart their relationship—on her terms. Knowing that one night will never be enough, she plans a seduction that will last forever.

Excerpt

“Hi.” About the only word he managed before a pair of luscious, plump red lips descended on his. One sharp heel spike scratched the skin above his ankle. His trousers were tight and rough on his thighs igniting a pleasurable pain in his pulsing erection. She molded her body to his, and her nibbling bites on his mouth sent his brain reeling. The press of her weight sparked his nerves. Lord, he hadn’t experienced anything like that.

Skin hot and flushed, he moved to embrace her and deepen the kiss. Instead, she grabbed his wrists and anchored them above his head; a simple gesture of dominance and one he’d never thought of as arousing until then. Her ministrations slowed to a crawl, opting for tracing the seams of his lips and he thrusting his own eager tongue forward, desperate for another taste of spice and something familiar…a flavor of summer and sweet lemonade.

She pressed harder, her breasts crushed to his chest, his wrists still restrained, her nails biting into the flesh. Royce’s desire ratcheted up further and as he thought he might succumb to the most embarrassing release ever, she pulled away.

Panting, he tugged at his shirt collar. His date faced the window, out of the fan of illumination from low-lit lamps within the room. Curvy with toned arms and legs, her bare back on display, she stood straight and confident, her profile nothing less than stunning.

He took a deep breath and exhaled hard. What a way to start the night. Chemistry wouldn’t be an issue. But he also wanted a little conversation.

“That’s some way to say hello.” Chuckling, he grabbed his discarded bag and moved farther into the room.

“Yes, it is. But I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.” Her voice sounded sultry and all-too-familiar.

Holy hell.

“Tori?”

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Decadent

 

Now give us your author bio and website/social media links.

Bio: Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Website: http://riseoftheslush.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landra.graf?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter: @riseoftheslush

 

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!

Seven Sensuous Days by Tina Donahue (@tinadonahue) Coming Soon!

by | Feb 24, 2014 | | 4 Comments

SEVEN SENSUOUS DAYS

BOOK FOUR – APPOINTMENT WITH PLEASURE SERIES 

EROTIC CONTEMPORARY

Seven Sensuous DaysBlurb:

At an erotic auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

The night’s sultry, filled with carnal promise as Tessa participates in an agency event to raise money for charity. She’s chained and bared—as women were once displayed for a sultan’s harem—her sweet looks and full figure offered to the wealthy and powerful men.

Among them is Logan. To him, Tessa is so different from his late wife, the seemingly perfect female who cruelly stole his hope and future. Wanting only to forget and have a good time, he wins Tessa, demanding she be his in every way possible, engaging in all wanton acts, though not only for an evening…for seven sensuous days at his secluded Virginia estate.

A provocative proposal with such a dangerously virile man.

A week that changes everything, with Tessa’s exquisite vulnerability and Logan’s suddenly unquenchable desire more than either bargained for.

 

Excerpt:

Music swelled, drums drowning out what had sounded like flutes and a female voice trilling something. Blood pounded in Tessa’s ears, muting it all. With her face lowered, all she could see was the purplish sheen of her cape. She sensed the panels in front of her parting, the stage displayed. Beyond it were a series of steps descending to a stone walkway flanked with splashing fountains, which eventually led to the crowd…the one man who was supposed to win her for an evening.

A full day was reserved for goddesses like Felicity. With her participation in this event, Ronnie would probably have enough funds to build a community college for young women.

The microphone screeched with brief feedback. Tessa made a face. Ronnie said something Tessa didn’t quite catch.

She bit her bottom lip, and decided to hell with it. She was going to take Felicity’s advice and fantasize.

“He’s dark and dangerous,” Felicity had said.

His features would be masculine, strong, slightly rough, his face shadowed with his coming beard. No, wait. He’d have a mustache and a closely cropped goatee, that hair as dark as his eyebrows. His eyes would be black, piercing, his skin a deep bronze, his lips satiny, his mouth full and rich.

He’d move into her with a right given him by birth, as a ruler. As a male. Looking down at her, he’d smile, shameless lust transforming his features, making him seem even more dangerous. Sex would be on his terms. He’d take her in any manner he chose. Orally, vaginally, anally, his strength precluding escape, his stiffened cock demanding its due, all that she could—

Tessa’s cunt stopped aching with need as her hood fell away. Or rather, Brian had pulled it back. Instinctively, she lifted her head, her attention darting everywhere, much as she suspected a real captive would have behaved, not knowing what to expect. A part of her mind recorded water spraying from the fountains, the again-subdued music, rich and seductive. Ronnie’s voice. The muted conversations of the ladies with their so-called masters.

Those men who hadn’t yet made their selections were quiet. Tessa regarded each. Some were listening to Ronnie. Others glanced at Tessa’s cloak, no doubt wanting it off.

With a flourish, Brian complied and pulled the thing from her, then lifted her arms above her head, securing her shackled wrists to the column.

Tessa stiffened at being exposed in every way possible. There was no hiding her nudity or expression up here, not with the lights trained on her. They weren’t fully intrusive, just enough illumination to exhibit, making her the brightest spot among all the shadows and the torches’ flickering flames. The toasty breeze skimmed the faint moisture on her cunt and licked her nipples, puckering them even more so that the tips appeared that much longer. Areas Felicity’s makeup had accentuated.

Perspiration prickled Tessa’s neck. Her heart beat out of time, the pose she struck both daunting and oddly arousing. There was absolutely nothing to compare to this…being chained and displayed. A sensation of delicious helplessness. Intense vulnerability.

Especially as no one spoke up.

Oh no.

Embarrassment drove heat to Tessa’s throat and cheeks. The music played on and on. Each second crawled by while her mind raced. Would her part in the auction stop when the piece ended even though no one had offered a price? Would Ronnie call for an intermission then, or would she want to continue with the rest of the event as quickly as—

Someone called out a bid.

Tessa’s heart paused. She hadn’t hear the amount. It didn’t matter. One man, at least, craved her.

Who? She studied the audience. A guy, forty or so, smiled with kindness, rather than lust, no doubt sensing and seeing her uncertainty. She offered her own smile in return, liking his sympathetic manner, wondering if he was the one who’d bid on her.

No. He’d already turned to the server and was now pointing at his drink as though he wanted a new one more than anything else.

So who had made the offer?

Another client kept looking from her to Ronnie. Others took a moment to study the program, see who was coming up next.

That would be Felicity. For her, the men would shout over each other, demanding to be heard, letting the money flow freely.

Another bid rang out.

Completely surprised, Tessa continued to regard the crowd, her attention drawn finally, almost irresistibly, to Logan Kincaid.

She forgot to breathe.

Someone had relit the torch nearest his table. Its bobbing light bathed him in a warm golden glow.

Tessa’s body softened.

Young—thirties or so, just as she’d thought—he wore his dark brown hair longish on the top and sides, combed away from his face. His features were rugged, deliciously masculine, especially his shadow of beard. Tessa had no doubt those short bristles would be rough to the touch, a wonderful contradiction to the silkiness of his lips, his generous mouth. A man’s mouth.

Warmth sluiced through her again, the heat soothing this time. Arousing.

He wore a beige blazer that went well with his tan complexion, his white shirt opened at the collar. Decidedly relaxed. The same as his demeanor. He lowered his drink…whiskey or bourbon…from here it was impossible for her to tell. He glanced at his watch, then surveyed the crowd, not her.

Ronnie took another bid.

With a neutral expression, Logan regarded the man who’d made it.

Tessa didn’t bother to look. She focused on Logan.

Another bid followed the last. As if to determine why, Logan finally glanced at the stage.

Tessa’s pulse pounded. Her legs felt watery.

His attention swept upward from the ridiculous shoes she wore to her naked calves and thighs. He studied her exposed cunt and glittering body jewelry for a moment, then continued to her bared breasts, viewing them briefly before he at last reached her eyes.

There, he stopped, as though he hadn’t meant to. There, he lingered.

 

Available at: Ellora’s Cave  

Release: March 5

 

Other books in the Appointment with Pleasure series:
Claiming Magique – Book One
Losing Control – Book Two
Illicit Intent – Book Three

 

About Tina:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks
Triberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue
My page at TRR: http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=tinadonahue

 

CONTEST DETAILS:

Tina will choose one commenter as her winner. Winner gets her choice of one of Tina’s award-winning, bestselling ebooks from this list:

1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT

2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit

3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award

4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT

5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT

6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller

7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books

8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR

9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR

10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book

11.  Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR

12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times

13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures

An Interview with Tara Quan (@LaylaTarar)

by | Feb 20, 2014 | | 1 Comment

I’m delighted to welcome Tara Quan back to the site. This time, she’s answering interview questions and discussing globetrotting, speaking Italian and Alexander Skarsgard…

 

Catching RedTell us about yourself. Both your writing self and your non-writing self. What are your interests and hobbies? Do you have a day job, etc?

I’m a bit of a globetrotter. My husband’s job makes us move to a new country every so often (the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, thus far), which is great since I love learning new languages. I’ve been taking Italian full time for the past six months, but I can get back to writing after Valentine’s Day. I’ve had a number of day jobs up to this point (running the gamut from paralegal work, administrative work, event planning, newsletter editing, etc.), but the year we spent in Karachi allowed me to save up enough to indulge in writing full-time for the next couple of months. After that, I guess we’ll see.

Give us the background on your latest release.

I’m a huge fan of both fairy tales and Resident Evil videogames, and a submission call prompted me to marry these two interests into my Undead Fairy Tales series. While zombies occasionally get categorized under paranormal and my publisher considers my books urban fantasy, I would categorize the series as sci-fi. My degree is in biology, and my first job was as a lab tech—both came in handy for designing a fictional Undead Reanimation virus.

How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?

When I was in high school, I wrote Harry Potter fan fiction. Being overly logical, I shelved writing throughout college and fixated on more “sensible” career paths. Suffice it to say that I’m not great at being sensible—I got back into writing after my husband announced he’d gotten his dream job, which required us to move to Abu Dhabi in less than 30 days. Since this move more or less absolved me from contributing significantly to our family income, I started writing again (while working full-time at the very definition of a dead-end job).

Two trunked (and multiply rejected) manuscripts later, I stumbled upon a submission call for a zombie fairy tale. I wrote the novella, answered the call, and got rejected again. I was convinced Tower in the Woods was worth at least a few more submissions, and it eventually found a home at Liquid Silver books.

What are you currently working on?

Another fairy tale-inspired submission call has caught my fancy, so I’m going to give romantic suspense another try. I also have a Christmas story awaiting revisions on my computer (which I am, admittedly, procrastinating on).

Do you have a particular Muse for your writing? Do any of your characters bear startling resemblances to sexy celebrities or people you admire?

My dream is to be able to write like Nalini Singh, whose heroes—angel, shifter or vampire—are all to die for. However, I think my funny side gets the better of me so my “men” all end up being significantly less alpha.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?

Let’s see—in 2019, I’ll be moving again and probably learning a new language. I’m hoping to blog regularly once I’m in Rome (this July), so my website should be more robust. I should also have a significantly larger backlist (twenty more books would be ideal). Since I hate job interviews, I’m crossing my fingers I would have moved past the “intern paid in coffee” phase of author-dom to “part time minimum wage earner.”

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? Muscled (Let’s hope my husband doesn’t read this)

Tall or short? Taller than me (I’m 5’0’’, so most people should qualify)

Boxers or briefs? Boxers

Moustache or beard? Light Beard (think 5 o’clock shadow)

Long hair or shaven head? Long Hair (preferably in a queue at the nape, with a silver clasp. Yes, this is something to which I’ve given much thought).

Tattoos or piercings? Tattoos.

Intelligent or funny? Funny. I like being the brains of the family.

Blond, brunette or red head? Blond 

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? I have a crush on Aleksandr Skarsgard. In vogue or not, I still think vampires are super sexy.

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) Natalie Portman. Yes, I did watch Star Wars Ep1-3. And yes, I liked them.

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) Cartman from South Park. I know he’s a cartoon character, but he grosses me out.

Favourite food. Persimmons (they look like tomatoes, but they taste divine).

Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh. There’s something about an angel with jet black wings and a tattooed face….

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like) Wherever my laptop is located at any given moment.

Anything else you’d like to add? I loathe winter. It makes me want to hibernate.

 

Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.

Catching Red

Scarlet “Red” Ryding is on a mission. To prevent mass suicide, she must fulfill her grandmother’s evil wishes and return posthaste. With knives in hand, she dives headfirst into an abandoned hospital full of zombies. But after getting trapped within, she is forced to accept help from the world’s most dangerous predator—a man.

Covert Agent Marcus Woodsman received strict instructions against interfering in the affairs of nomads. As a spy for the Federal Military Agency, his mandate is to observe and report. But when he finds a little redhead caught in the center of a brain-eater swarm, conscience compels him to put his ax to good use. By the time he realizes this smart-ass scout comes equipped with a world of trouble, it’s too late—he would do anything to keep her safe.

As Red and her Woodsman work together to survive undead, brave a snowstorm, and bring down an evil cult, they learn to laugh, love, and fight for happiness. The second book in Tara Quan’s Undead Fairy Tales series, Catching Red is a post-apocalyptic thriller with a happily ever after.

Buy Links: Consolidated | Amazon | AllRomance | LSBooks | GoodReads

 

Excerpt:

Scarlet woke to the delicious smell of charred venison and cooking fruit. The rusty feeling between her joints was gone. She rubbed her crusted eyes as she curled into a sitting position. For the first time in months, she felt energized and rested.

Her bed ended where the kitchen area began. Marcus stood in front of the wood-burning stove, his back facing her. Even with his neck bent and spine curved, his blond head grazed the low ceiling. He wrapped a thick cloth around his hand, lifted the cast-iron skillet, and turned in place. He plunked it down on the circular stone tray at the center of her small rickety table. Her first and only attempt at carpentry creaked but didn’t fall apart.

She lifted an eyebrow as she scrutinized the skillet’s contents—seared smoked venison covered with slices of dried apple. It was an interesting meal choice.

Perhaps in reaction to her quizzical expression, he turned his palms up and defended his creation. “The food store in your basement is a mess. This was all I could scrounge up.”

She frowned. “I packed and stacked everything in alphabetical order.”

His broad shoulders rose and fell. “Your system didn’t make any sense. You’ll have to explain it sometime. Either way, this beats the MREs I fed you during the snowstorm. Come on. Your breakfast is getting cold.”

She grabbed the worn quilt and wrapped it over her shoulders. She was about to lower her feet to the cold floor when she saw him shake his head.

He walked over to the foot of her bed. The length of his torso and arms easily spanned the small area separating the cottage’s sleeping and eating spaces. He leaned forward and grabbed the edge of the table with both hands. When he brought his elbows into his body, the piece of furniture with all its contents slid as if on wheels. It stopped a few inches away from the bottom edge of the mattress. He stepped around it, then pulled up the only chair, and sat.

Scooting over, she sniffed the food. The smell made her mouth water. “Why are you being so nice?”

“I’ve always been nice.” He used his knife to spear a piece of seared meat and raised it to his mouth.

Scooting over, she sniffed the food. “You only did it to get me to have sex with you.”

Now give us your author bio and website/social media links.

Tara QuanAbout the Tara Quan

Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, fantasy worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at www.taraquan.com

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!

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