Interview with Landra Graf (@riseoftheslush)

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!

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

Sunday Snog – Stately Pleasures

Sunday Snog

Stately PleasuresIt’s time for another Sunday Snog, and this time I’m sharing something that involves lips but isn’t a traditional snog from Stately Pleasures. Chocolate fans will love it 😉

Some clanging and scraping noises were audible, and then Alice got her wish. As if they’d signalled to one another, both men closed their mouths over one of her nipples at the same time.

She gasped. Her sense of touch – or, rather, feel – was in overdrive. Lips on her tits, hands stroking her thighs, cooling chocolate trickling down the sides of her breasts … It was heaven. Soon, chocolate wasn’t the only thing trickling towards the table – her pussy was wet and ready, eager for a tongue, fingers, or, even better, a cock. Juices seeped from her core and gravity did its job, leading them down her arse crack and onto the wooden surface beneath her.

But it seemed Jeremy and Ethan had more teasing in mind before she’d get the touch she wanted; no, needed. Once they’d laved her skin clean of the sweet goo, they grabbed their bowls and spoons to repeat the process, trickling it over her boobs, stomach and thighs. They’d obviously decided to use it all up on her skin before it solidified in the bowls.


You can get your hands on Stately Pleasures here.

Also, don’t forget to head back to Blissekiss and see what other luscious lip to lip action other authors have posted. Yum!

Saturday Spankings #17 – #SatSpanks

Saturday Spankings-467x200Yay, it’s time for more Saturday Spankings, which is where authors post eight-ish sentences of a spanking on their blogs. This is another snippet from my M/F/M BDSM erotic romance novel, Stately Pleasures. Enjoy!

She’d always thought of Jeremy as the ringleader and assumed it would be him. She was about to have her arse turned red, though, so it hardly mattered who was going to do it.

Alice became aware of Jeremy moving to the front of the classroom and retrieving something from the teacher’s desk. He didn’t bother to hide the item as it was an integral part of the task, and therefore she already knew what it was.

A wooden ruler. Watching Jeremy – and, more specifically, the ruler’s journey – from the corner of her eye, her resolve slipped a little. It was wood, for goodness’ sake! It would hurt if a weakling swung it at her bare cheeks, never mind a muscular giant of a man. Fuck.

I hope you enjoyed that snippet! You can grab the book here. And then see the below list to hop to the other authors taking part…

My Sexy Saturday #19 – #MySexySaturday

My Sexy Saturday

Welcome back to My Sexy Saturday. This is where writers post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress, sticking to the week’s theme. This week’s theme is sexy kisses. Enjoy this snippet from Stately Pleasures, my M/F/M BBW BDSM erotic romance novel.

Alice was very much enjoying the feel of Ethan’s mouth against hers, but couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t yet deepened the kiss.

Seconds later, she got the answer to her question. It was delivered in silence. Ethan merely pulled away from her with a guttural – and very sexy – groan, gave her a look that made her feel like a juicy slab of meat to a starving predator, then put his large, strong hands on her hips. Alice frowned, then let out an involuntary squeal as he lifted her onto the work surface. She threw her arms around his neck to steady herself as he shifted her, and once she was safely settled, she couldn’t see any reason to move them.

Tangling her hands in the chin-length hair she’d been dying to touch since she met him, Alice drew in a deep breath. The scent that hit her nostrils was a combination of shampoo and a delicious aftershave. She pulled in another breath, savouring the smell of him. Then she moved in to kiss him.

He accepted her eagerly, his hands on her arse sliding her to the edge of the work surface so their groins pressed together. A powerful zing of lust rushed through her body as she felt the impressive erection crushed against her vulva, albeit through her thong – her skirt was up around her waist by now, pushed there by the necessary spread of her legs to accommodate Ethan’s hips – and whatever he was wearing. Tight-fitting boxers beneath his trousers, she hoped. Or nothing at all.

Suddenly, nothing at all was her preferred option as Ethan slipped his tongue between her lips and sent her libido climbing to oh-my-God-I’m-so-horny-fuck-me-right-now heights. The touch of his tongue against hers sent searing heat scorching through her body before centring in her pussy. God, she wanted him. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so fired up, wanted a man so much. Because it was him she wanted, not just sex. The tall, handsome head of security, who was on the verge of reducing her to a teeming mass of female hormones with his tongue in her mouth and his hands on her arse, massaging and squeezing her buttocks.

You can buy Stately Pleasures here.

Please use this link to head on over to the other blogs participating in My Sexy Saturday, and don’t forget to leave us all comments, we love ’em!

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

Stand to Attention (M/M Military Erotic Romance) Available Today!

Hi everyone,

I’m delighted to announce that my first release with Totally Bound is available today. It’s been available on their website for a while, but goes onto general release today. My m/m military erotic romance short story, Letters to a War Zone, appears in Stand to Attention, an anthology packed full of gay military goodness. Here’s all the dirt on this delicious anthology:

‘Almost’ by Sean Michael

Hammer let Lane drive him away, but now he’s determined to make Lane the one who almost got away.

Lane lost his legs while saving his unit overseas. It’s been two years and he’s doing his best to come to terms with things, including the fact that he dumped his lover to free the man up from being stuck with a gimp for the rest of his life. Luckily, Lane inherited his Gramps’ cottage — it just needs some renovations to make it wheelchair friendly. He’s determined to make the best of what he’s got.

Hammer was one of the men Lane saved… and his lover while they were in the army together. He let Lane drive him away back when the man first got hurt, but now he’s hunting Lane, determined to make Lane the one who almost got away. Will Lane be able to see past his legs far enough to realise Hammer’s in it for the long haul?

‘On the Home Front’ by Jambrea Jo Jones

Forgiving yourself is the hardest battle…

Peter “Bulldog” Jakes killed his mother. People tell him it isn’t his fault, but he is just as guilty as if he pulled the trigger. Bulldog knew being in the Army Special Forces would eventually hurt his family.

Moby Edwards’ heart aches for his First Sergeant and he wants to help, but Bulldog blows him off — every time.

When Bulldog is forced to take leave, Moby follows, but will things out of their control ruin what could be the healing power of friends turned into lovers?

‘Who Dares Wins’ by Lily Harlem

When secret service becomes not so secret servicing by not one, but two sexy soldiers, Ken learns that dreams can come true in explosive style!

Waiting for my SAS husband Jack to come home safe and sound is always a gut-wrenching, heart-twisting time. I have no idea where he is, what jungle swamp he may be lying out in or desert he might be marching across.

So naturally when he returns to me, our emotions can’t fail to run hot and our lust for each other cranks up to sky-high levels. But the one thing about Jack is he lives for the extreme and seizes the moment. I really should have known what would come of me telling him my wildest fantasies.

Oh, yes, he’s a guy who gets results…and when he brings home his colleague Slider, equally tough, equally rough, the pair of them can’t fail to hit the target. That target happens to be lucky old me and I head off on the ride of my life…

Reader Advisory: This book contains D/s elements and a MMM ménage.

‘An Act of Duty’ by Elizabeth Coldwell

When duty becomes mixed up with desire, can a battle-scarred soldier leave behind the horrors of war and enter a world of fantasy and fulfilment?

For Corporal Mark Stockdale, a trip to Amsterdam won’t just provide some much-needed R and R away from the horrors of the Afghanistan battlefield — it’s also a way of keeping a promise to a fallen comrade. But violence has a way of seeking Mark out, even in the most peaceful of locations, and when he stops for a drink in a quiet bar, he finds himself stepping in to help its owner, Robin Sneijder, fight off a group of opportunist thieves. Robin shows his gratitude, and Mark is stunned by the depth of the passion between them, and when Mark wakes in the night from a vivid nightmare of the attack that killed his best friend, Ozzy, Robin is there to comfort him.

Robin seems like the perfect partner, and what started as an act of duty turns into an unforgettably erotic encounter. But when Robin confesses he has an overwhelming urge to submit to a hunk in army uniform, Mark is not sure whether he can put aside the realities of war and fulfil his new lover’s most cherished desires. Can he separate fact and fantasy, and give Robin the domination he craves?

Reader Advisory: This book contains graphic descriptions of a roadside explosion, and acts of domination and submission between men.

‘Trusting the Army Captain’ by Noelle Keaton

When it comes to choosing between advancing his career in the army or being truthful with the man he loves, Patrick learns everything ultimately boils down to trust.

Ambitious army captain, Patrick Bosworth, is eager to advance in his career so that he can live up to his family’s distinguished legacy. But having been passed over for promotion to major twice already, Patrick fears his career has stalled. He worries he’ll never match the accomplishments of other family members, especially his brother, a Bronze Star recipient recently promoted to lieutenant colonel.

When a superior office suggests a way to get the promotion that involves gathering information on a fellow army captain in the Medical Corps, Patrick reluctantly agrees to participate. He regrets the assignment almost immediately, especially when he falls for Craig, the guy he’s supposed to be investigating.

When he forms a passionate and intense bond with Craig, Patrick finds it difficult to separate where his professional obligations end and his personal feelings begin. After working for so long to prove himself a worthy member of his accomplished military family, Patrick has to decide if finally finding the love of his life is worth sacrificing advancement in the army, or even giving up his career itself.

‘Letters to a War Zone’ by Lucy Felthouse

When lonely insurance broker, Bailey, gets himself a new hobby, he ends up exchanging letters with a war zone. But he’s not expecting what happens next…

Bailey Hodgkiss is lonely and dissatisfied with his boring life as an insurance broker. In an attempt to shake things up a little, he signs up to a website to write to serving soldiers. He’s put in touch with Corporal Nick Rock, and over the course of a couple of letters, the two of them strike up a friendship. They begin to divulge things that they perhaps wouldn’t have said in person, including their preference for men.

Nick encourages Bailey to add more interests to his life. As a result, Bailey picks up his forgotten hobby, photography, and quickly decides to team it up with his other preferred interest, travel.

Booking a holiday to Rome is his biggest gesture towards a more exciting existence, and he eagerly looks forward to the trip. That is, until Nick says he’s coming home on leave, and it looks as though their respective trips will prevent them from meeting in person. Is there enough of a spark between them to push them to meet, or will their relationship remain on paper only?

Sounds good, huh? Well, what are you waiting for? Go and grab your copy, pronto! 😉

If you’d prefer my story by itself, you’ll have to hang fire until the 28th March, when it goes on general release as a standalone title.

Happy Reading!

Lucy x