Welcome Michael Mandrake today & a Giveaway

I have the pleasure of hosting author Michael Mandrake today to the Reading Nook and I got to admit, I am fangirling this like mad. *laughs* Just a note, remember to enter the giveaway at the end of the post. The author is giving away 3 Ebook copies of Reconnection &  $5 Amazon GC

'The Importance of a Great Beta'

Greetings!

Today, I’d like to share with you how important it is to have a critique partner or beta. Now, some of you say, what’s a beta? Well, it’s a person who critiques and or edits your work before you submit or publish it. In many instances this person will call you to the carpet, hopefully nicely and respectful, and spot when your plot is off or wrote something entirely silly. Some like to help with your punctuation and or spelling as well. Even though all are important, the one that sticks out most is your plot. Does it make sense? Are you wandering aimlessly in storyland and boring the hell out of your reader? If this is the case, the beta tells you this and puts you back on the right path.

Even after four plus years, I’ll admit, I’m still a newbie and have made some mistakes. In the beginning, there seemed to be a lot more than there is now. Why? Because I didn’t have a beta and in a couple of situations, the proofer or editor didn’t catch the error and it was published. *bangs head on desk* We’re all human so this will happen but having more eyes on your stories will limit the amount of errors and or plot holes in your story.

These days, I’m very blessed to have a few betas. Some I’ve asked more than most. In the most respectful and kind way, all have told me what I needed to work on and what worked in terms of plot.  I’ve also had a few other authors and friends who’ve read my stories. Whoever has done it, I’ve definitely appreciated the feedback regardless of the tone. Some of them have been tough which is cool because you really don’t want your beta to stroke you too much. Find the faults, celebrate the good stuff and give pointers. The key, again, is doing it respectfully.

So now you know what it is and how important it is to have one. Authors, tell me what you think? Do you send your stories to a beta(s)? Readers? Do you read for an author? Let me know some positive experiences. And thanks to all my betas as well as my brilliant editor, Elicia for correcting my errors. *smile*

Blurb: Every once in a while, the average looking guy scores!

Robert McIntyre is a closeted, average looking sports columnist for the Daily Read. Unfortunately, his desire to stay in has cost him the chance at love more than once. However, now it seems his luck will change since his editor has asked him to interview, Jake Valenta. Jake and Robert knew one another in college and when he heard from a mutual friend that Jake might be bisexual, Robert didn’t believe him.

Before Robert’s trip, they discover a mutual affection for one another. Jake shares his desire to stay behind closed doors because he can’t stand being called a fag, but desperately wants Robert to be his man.

Robert and Jake want a chance to reconnect on a more personal level, but will this budding relationship ruin their careers?

Buylinks

 Evernight Publishing

Amazon

ARe

Smashwords

Bookstrand

Excerpt

Later on that evening, Jake and I finished our meal and we returned to the couch with wine and beers in hand. Jake is a masterful griller, cooking steaks with side salads and corn on the cob. It had been a while since I had such a filling and well cooked dinner. Most of the time in Chicago, my nights were Chinese takeout or fast food burgers.

“Ah, now this is nice. You and me, on the sofa, drinking liquor with sports on the TV. Can’t get any better than this.” Jake popped the cap on his beer open.

“Yeah, well, the NBA isn’t one of my favorite sports, but I guess it will have to do. It’s either that or hockey.” I cracked open the Merlot and poured myself a glass.

“You’re not into either one?

“Nope. Baseball’s my first love. Football is second for me. I love college and pro.”

“See I hate college football. I think it stems from our alma mater’s pigskin team getting more recognition than we did.”

“Yeah, and they got all the funding too,” I added with a laugh. “The NCAA knows college football can command more money than baseball, so they give them more attention.”

“And they didn’t even deserve it. They went 7-4 last year, for fucking last in the conference. We went to the playoffs and beat the number one seeded team.”

“But no one likes college baseball.”

Jake waved his hand and took another swig of beer. “Ah, whatever. I’m gone anyways, but it still sticks in my craw how they considered as unimportant.”

“You weren’t irrelevant, just the team. What happened when you got to single A, by the way? You weren’t seeing the ball, or…”

“I thought we were forgetting about the interview, Rob. Let’s save that for when we talk on the record.”

“I am. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

“I haven’t got a clue, Rob. I just wasn’t picking up the pitches like I should’ve.”

“Hm, well I’m glad everything’s going well now. The general manager was wondering if he’d made the right choice with the pick. I knew you’d get it together sooner or later.”

“You had faith in me?” Jake caressed my leg through my jeans and flashed me a wry grin.

Feeling his hands on me again caused the adrenaline to rush through my veins. I desired nothing more than to attack him on this couch and forget all about the game on television. “I’ve always had faith in you.”

About the Muse and Author

Michael Mandrake pens complex characters already comfortable with their sexuality. Thorough these, he builds worlds not centered on erotica but rather the mainstream plots we might encounter in everyday life through personal experiences or the media.

To find out more please visit Michael Mandrake at Wordpress

Author Sharita Lira: In one word, crazy. Just crazy enough to have 3 4 different muses running around in her head, driving her to sheer exhaustion with new plot bunnies and complex characters.

In addition to being a computer geek and a metalhead, Sharita loves live music, reading, and perusing the net for sexy men to be her muses.  She’s also a founding member and contributor to the heavy metal ezine Fourteeng.net.

For more information, please visit http://www.thelitriad.com as well as her Facebook fanpage, The Literary Triad.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Talking with Anita Philmar

Please welcome author Anita Philmar today tot he Reading Nook Blog.

What started your interest in writing?

This is going to sound fun but I remember seeing an author interview on a talk show. The author said she wrote in her pjs and even though, she wrote hot scenes she didn’t get excited.

I couldn’t imagine she was telling the truth. I mean if you want your readers to get hot how can you not get hot?

So I decide to give writing a hot book a shot. My first book Black Dragon Blood was to me a hot book. Then I just couldn’t stop. Writing, reading, there is a thrill in both. 

What is your book(s) about?

My books range from other world people with special abilities, shape shifters, futuristic to historical westerns. As you can see, I write what I like. Yes, in some way, this gives me a broad band of followers but I love the challenge of writing new places, new settings, awesome heroes, and clever heriones. 

What are you currently working on?

I’m so excited about my new series. It’s about the hot, possessive men called Neanderthals. The series is set in current times.

Did you know there was a secret society of Neanderthals and they aren’t exactly overjoyed to have their DNA revealed to the masses?

This is a murder/crime mystery series with smoking hot scenes.  I haven’t finished it yet so I’m not sure when it will be published, but I believe my readers will love, love, love it. 

If you could be any paranormal creature what would you be?

 I’d be one of the women in my Black Dragon series. These women rock and have some very hot men to make them happy. 

What genres do you write in?

As long as it has romance in it. I’ll write about it, paranormal, mystery, historical, fantasy, etc.

Is there anything you would tell aspiring writers?

Enjoy the process, if you don’t? Then reconsider whether or not you want to be a writer. 

What was the hardest part of writing your book(s)?

Editing, now that the story is on the page, you have to switch to an editor and find all the places you need to clean up and make clear. This is a challenge for all of us because what we see in our heads, is not what we always write on the page. 

If you could sit down with any author dead or alive who would it be?

Mark Twain – he seems like such a character. It would be interesting to know the real man and not just the perceived tales of the man. 

Is there anything you wish to say to your readers?

Only, that I sincerely appreciate them taking the time to read my books. I know there are lots of options out there. I’m always honored when someone choses to read my books. 

I’m always looking for book recommendations. What books have you been reading? Would you recommend them?

I enjoy Christine Warren, Others series. It’s hot and has the trials of being different in a world where it’s not always good to be different.

 Blurb for Deputy’s Bride (3rd book in the Naked Bluff, Texas series)

Deputy’s Bride is an erotic, historical western that is a stand-alone story with a satisfying HEA. Texas Deputy Bo Kildare is looking for a special kind of lady, one that is willing to meet his special requirements. No sweet little virgin will do, he wants a woman who knows how to please a man, perhaps two.

 Recently widowed, Sarah Elizabeth Foster-LaFever has lived in the public eye for the last few years and wants out. Her reputation as Micah LaFever’s wife has left her penniless and without many viable options until Bo comes calling. Now, she believes she found the perfect man until her past rears its ugly head.

Can murder and corrupt dealings keep these two lovers from making it to the alter?

Excerpt:

Fighting to stay in his chair, Bo studied the woman leaning against the bed. She tempted him in a way few women had in a long time. Not only beautiful with her blonde hair and sea-green eyes, she also had a confidence that appealed to him.

“I have certain expectations. Some of which others might not understand.” Bo recalled his conversation with his brother. He had shot down the idea of a woman living on the ranch, claiming Bo didn’t spend enough time at home to warrant a wife.

Bo had to agree, but he also knew Chase. He never objected to having the companionship of a lady, as long as he participated in the fun of fucking her. Now, Bo intended to make sure they both approved of the arrangement so all of their needs would be satisfied.

She popped another button free and shifted her hips onto the surface of the bed. “And what would those be?”

Staring at the swell of her breasts over the top of her corset, he knocked back the rest of his water and set the glass on the floor. “I’m a demanding lover and don’t want an innocent virgin to blush every time I slap her ass.”

He dropped his gaze. “I’m looking for a woman who will spread her legs, when I tell her and show me her pussy.”

“Like this?” Sarah caught the skirt of her dress and lifted it above her knees.

He’d noticed her bare legs, after he’d arrived at the cabin. Sparking the idea of her being naked under her red, silk dressing gown, he waited impatiently to discover the answer. His gaze lit on the creamy length of her thighs, and he stared at the blonde bush between her legs. “Yes, now, put your feet on the railing of the bed and let me see your pretty cunt.”

She smiled and obeyed by settling back on the bed. The wide expand of her knees provided the perfect view of her intimate, pink folds.

He groaned hungry for a sample of her rich cream. “Did your husband ever ask you to show yourself to other men?”

With a brief nod, she slid the last button of her gown open, exposing her trim waist and off-white corset. He spotted the small dimple of her navel and envisioned dipping his tongue into the tiny divot.

“Did he let them taste you?” Bo unhooked his belt and shifted restlessly in his chair. He had to see how far he could push her, so he’d know if she’d go along with his plan.

“Yes.” She stood, pulled off her robe and walked forward in her corset alone. “Micah liked to watch other men play with me until I became so hot, I’d beg.”

Damn, that’s exactly what he longed to hear. Bo grabbed her around the waist and drew her between his legs. He breathed in her sweet scent and rubbed his face against the soft flesh of her belly. “What did you beg for?”

He pictured her with one cock in her mouth, one in her pussy, and another in her ass. A fire burned through him, igniting his lust. Blood pooled in his groin.

She tunneled her hands through his hair and tugged, drawing his head back. Her gaze met his with a wicked challenge. “I thought tonight was purely about you and me.”

Tempted beyond his endurance, Bo shifted her back enough to stand. “It is, but someday soon I plan to invite someone else to join the fun.”

“Does that mean you plan to marry me?” She worked her fingers over the buttons of his shirt, undoing them as she went.

“It’s why I’m here, and also the reason why we’re heading for my ranch tomorrow.”

http://www.amazon.com/Deputys-Bride-Naked-Bluff-Texas-ebook/dp/B00NUTJ5N6

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deputy039sbride-1689844-357.html

Bio for Anita Philmar

Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.

Influenced by sci-fi programs, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where erotic moments come to life in a great read.

Naughty or Nice?

Read her books and decide.

Website:  http://www.anitaphilmar.com/

Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com

Blog: http://www.anitaphilmar.blogspot.com/

FB: www.facebook.com/anita.philmar

GR: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1329767.Anita_Philmar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anitaphilmar

FB: www.facebook.com/anita.philmar

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/anitaphilmar

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Anita-Philmar/e/B002BMBE8C

Guest Author Day with Karenna Colcroft

Please give a warm welcoem to author Karenna Colcroft as we talk about their new release, Stepping Stone Not Doormat.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been making up stories since I was about three years old, and writing them down since I was five. When I was in junior high, I started writing young adult stories, and for a long time, that was what I believed my writing career would be. But then in 2006, a friend challenged me to write something sex-positive, and I began writing erotic romance, and my first published fiction, in 2009, was erotic romance.

What is your book(s) about?

Stepping Stone Not Doormat is a reunited lovers story, but it’s also a story of hope and recovery. Solara Flare, the drag queen main character, has battled substance abuse in the past, and was even arrested for burglary and drug possession, which is why her then-lover Navon broke up with her. After a stint in rehab, Solara got involved with a man who became extremely physically abusive, to the point of putting Solara in the hospital. On release, Solara left Los Angeles for Boston, chose Solara Flare as her new drag name, and began using that name and female pronouns on a daily basis, hoping to hide from her abuser. Nine years later, Solara still struggles with abuse-related PTSD, and having Navon suddenly show up to return something Solara’s abuser kept doesn’t help.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m working on a May-December male/male romance focusing around a flea market. It’s a short story for an anthology call I spotted online.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

For the past few months, I’ve been learning to play bass guitar. Which isn’t easy when I’m not actually taking lessons, and the friend who loaned me the bass told me, “Just listen to songs you like and mess around until you figure out a bass part that works for them.” But once in a while, I actually manage to play something…and if nothing else, banging on the bass strings is good stress relief.

What genres do you write in?

For romance, I write primarily contemporary. Gender and number are irrelevant for me; I write heterosexual romance, male/male romance, and menage, and I have a few different things planned for the next year or so. I also write young adult fiction under a different pen name, and most of those books are contemporary. And some have a smidgeon of age-appropriate romance in them.

Is there anything you would tell aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. You aren’t going to master writing right away—or, to be honest, ever. But you will always improve as long as you keep trying.

What was the hardest part of writing your book(s)?

For me, the hardest part of writing is always revising. I love getting through the first draft of a book, but then I have to shred it to pieces to make it good enough to send to a publisher.

Is there anything you wish to say to your readers?

Just thank you. Some of my readers have shown me amazing support and encouragement, and after all, there wouldn’t be any point in being an author if not for readers.

Has there been any characters that started off as supporting characters, but then developed into a more prominent character?

That was actually the case with Solara Flare. She was introduced in my novel I Should Tell You, which was released by Loose Id in March 2014, as the “drag mother” to one of the main characters. (A drag mother is a more experienced, sometimes older drag queen who mentors a newer queen. And often, they genuinely are like family to one another.) I loved Solara’s no-nonsense attitude, and I had a feeling there was more to her than showed in that novel. But the moment she became a definite main character was when I read a review in which the reviewer said she hoped to see more of Solara, because Solara was the character with whom she most identified.

How do you like to relax after a day writing?

My best friend gave me a Roku streaming stick for the holidays, and since I got that hooked up, I’ve become somewhat addicted to Korean dramas that are streamed on Hulu.

Stepping Stone Not Doormat

Loose Id Publishing

Stepping Stone Not Doormat buy link: http://www.loose-id.com/can-t-drag-me-down-stepping-stone-not-doormat.html

Fifteen years ago in Los Angeles, a man named Charlie lost everything in his life to drug and burglary charges. Everything including his lover Navon, who was unable to accept Charlie’s actions.

Nine years ago, after building a drag career that included TV appearances and international travel, Charlie left his entire life behind to escape his abusive boyfriend Mason, and started anew in Boston as club queen Solara Flare. Going by stage name and female pronouns, Solara has taken every step possible to prevent Mason–or anyone else from her former life–from finding her.

Now, Navon has tracked Solara down in the wake of Mason’s death to return something Mason had kept, and to apologize for abandoning her after her arrest. Fifteen years hasn’t dulled their sexual attraction to each other, but the memories brought up by Navon’s appearance are almost more than Solara can stand. And no matter how much she wants to give Navon the second chance he asks for, Solara doesn’t know whether she can move beyond the past.

EXCERPT:

“Where’s your mind wandered off to?” Solara finally sat on the couch. “Unhappy memories, it looks like.”

“As I said, families suck. Let’s leave it at that.” Navon forced a smile. “Anyway.”

“I saw my family a few months ago,” Solara said. “My parents, anyway. My father isn’t doing well, and my mother can’t handle it.”

“That must not have been easy.” I don’t want to talk about families anymore! We’re way past the small-talk stage. “I want to help you with it, if you’ll let me.”

“It wasn’t a bit easy.” Solara leaned back and closed her eyes. “I know what you want me to say, Navon. I can’t say it. I can’t predict the future. When you get out here for good, everything might be great, or we might crash and burn like we did before.”

“I fucked up before,” Navon said quietly. “I own that. Letting me support you with dealing with your parents isn’t a commitment, Solara. Feelings aren’t a commitment either.”

“Yeah. I know.” She looked at him. “But this whole situation feels like one. I want to let you in again, Navon, but it’s going to take time to believe you won’t walk away.”

“I get it.” I just wish you would give me more credit.

“Besides, I do have some support,” she said. “Mitch and Hunter are good friends.”

“Mitch said you took care of him.” Navon wasn’t sure he had any right to ask for more details, but it was better than getting too deeply into a topic Solara clearly wasn’t ready to discuss. “What did he need from you?”

“It isn’t my place to tell you Mitch’s story,” Solara said. “Maybe someday, if he trusts you enough, he’ll share. I won’t.”

“I’m not asking you to.” He didn’t need details to fill in the blanks. Even in stage makeup, Mitch looked haunted. That was the first word that came to Navon’s mind. The kid had a past, and Navon suspected he was an addict of some kind, though he couldn’t have explained what gave him that impression.

“I tried to get him through it,” Solara said. “Every time he struggled, I picked up the pieces. I know how it feels to have no support when you’re fighting demons. I didn’t want him to go through that.”

“I’m sorry.” The words were far too weak. Navon’s heart sank. Solara had done for Mitch what Navon had been unwilling to do for her.

Solara pressed her lips together. “I don’t know if ‘sorry’ can change anything, but I appreciate the apology. And I accept it. We were young. I don’t blame you for not wanting the baggage. Plus you were just getting started in your career, and the last thing you needed was anyone finding out you were living with a druggie criminal.”

“No excuses,” Navon said. “I was in love with you, and I should have helped you. You didn’t have a whole lot of people backing you. I should have been one of them. I should have forgiven you. God knows you’d forgiven me for some shit.”

“And now?” Solara raised an eyebrow. “Do you forgive me now?”

“God, yes.” Navon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, though she tensed instead of relaxing into the embrace. “I forgave you then. I was just too fucking stubborn to say so. I’m the one who should be asking for your forgiveness. Everything you’ve been through was because I didn’t stand up the way I should have.”

“Kicking your ass about something that happened over fifteen years ago isn’t going to do you much good,” Solara said. “And it won’t change anything. I forgive you, or I wouldn’t have asked you to stay with me. But you have to know you didn’t cause anything. I might not have gone back to you after rehab even if you’d still wanted me. There’s no way to know. You damn sure weren’t the cause of what happened after that.”

If I’d been there for you, you wouldn’t have ended up with Mason. Navon took a deep breath. He’d said that to Solara already. Repeating it wouldn’t serve any purpose. She was right. Regrets didn’t change the past. Navon wasn’t proud of himself, but he couldn’t undo what had been done.

Find the author at Karenna Colcroft website link: http://www.karennacolcroft.com

Pre-Order Blitz~ Interviewing Wade

Pre-Order Now: Interviewing Wade by K D Grace, writing as Grace Marshall (@kd_grace)

Coming 21^st March!

Blurb:

The Executive Decisions Trilogy may be over, but the story continues. Intrepid reporter, Carla Flannery, wants to interview Wade Crittenden, the secretive creative genius behind Pneuma Inc. But when, against all odds, Wade actually agrees to the interview, Carla suspects ulterior motives.

Carla has made a lot of enemies in her work and when Wade discovers she’s being stalked, he agrees to the interview to keep her close and safe. As the situation turns deadly, lives and hearts are on the line, and the interview reveals far more about both than either ever expected.

Excerpt:

Carla nodded to the chair opposite her and Wade sat down cautiously. She offered a dry smile and spoke around a mouthful of toast. ‘Chair’s not booby-trapped, food’s not poisoned. My security system’s not that good.’

When he made no reply but savoured a forkful of eggs, she joined him in devouring the feast, satisfied that after the first bite, he shovelled it in with as much relish and lack of delicate table manners as she did. With her, eating was always done in a hurry to get on with what was always way more work than she had time for, unless she was settling in for a meal with her father. She suspected he cooked for her especially for that reason. And as she watched Wade stuff half a slice of toast into his mouth in one go, she figured he was probably the same, with no one to make sure he got a good meal from time to time. Though possibly Ellis invited him over occasionally, or maybe Harris Walker and his new wife, Stacie Emerson. Apparently her culinary skills were spoken about in hush tones. Strange, but it felt good to be able to offer something to Wade, even if the idiot did show up at three in the morning

‘Good,’ he said, at last, covering his full mouth with the paper towel she’d given him in lieu of the napkins she didn’t have.

‘Thanks. You think this is good, you should see me make Pop Tarts.

‘I like Pop Tarts,’ he said.

‘The secret is,’ she leaned across the table, ‘you’ve got to get the toaster set just right. And then afterwards,’ he leaned closer with wrapped attention, ‘afterwards I put butter on ‘em and stick ‘em in the microwave until it melts.’

Wade’s eyes were huge and very green in the kitchen lighting. He looked dead serious, as though she had just given him her secret for cold fusion. ‘I never thought about melting the butter on them in the microwave,’ he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ‘But I find that I do like mine so that the little pastry edges are just beginning to get almost too brown.’

Christ! Were they actually talking about Pop Tarts? She laughed. ‘I like ‘em almost burnt, but I know that’s a matter of personal taste. My Dad likes his just barely warm.’

He lowered his head and went back to shovelling eggs.

She popped the last of her bacon into her mouth and spoke around it. ‘So tell me, is Fort Flannery as unassailable as my father assured me, or are we in need of an upgrade?’

He drained his glass of orange juice and pushed back from the table. ‘Your father did a good job. I didn’t have to do hardly anything.’

‘He’ll be glad to hear that,’ she said. ‘Sorry you had to waste your valuable time in the wee hours. I know how busy you are.’

‘Yes, well, it was on my mind. If you’ll let me see your Android, I’ll give it a little upgrade too.’

‘Will I be able to watch Russian porn on it?’ she asked.

‘Japanese and Chinese porn as well, if you like.’ There was that quirk of a smile that she really would love to eat right off his face.

‘And I’ll assume you’ve given it a test-drive.’

To her delight, the smile didn’t disappear, even though the blush was hot on those chiselled cheeks. ‘I’m my own best guinea pig.’

‘Wade Crittenden, that borders on too much information, but in the interest of consumer protection and all, I thank you.’ The blush grew, but the smile stayed put as she offered him a salute and went into her bedroom to get the device.

She returned to find that he’d shed his hoodie and was filling the sink with soapy water, his broad back mantling the counter like a giant bird of prey. For a second her stomach bottomed at the sight of Wade Crittenden doing dishes at her sink. She stood, Android crushed to her chest, feeling flushed and slightly off-balance. His t-shirt was a loose fit, misshapen and short in the back from too many washings for something that should have migrated to the rag drawer some time ago, and when he reached across the sink to add still more soap, the shirt rode up to reveal the slim line of his back and the muscles where his hips joined his torso just above the swell of his buttocks. The baggy jeans gave enough of an intimation of that swelling to leave Carla breathless and hot enough to want to throw off her own hoodie and splash herself with the soapy water in which he was nearly elbow-deep.

As though he sensed her watching, he turned, slopped water down the front of his shirt and onto his jeans and uttered a surprised curse.

Without thinking she rushed to his side, dropping the device on the table. ‘You don’t have to do that,’ she managed, in a breathless gasp. ‘Sometimes I go for weeks without ever washing so much as a coffee cup.’ She stretched around him, grabbed for a dish towel and offered it to him instead of patting him dry herself, which was what she really wanted to do.

He reached for the towel, holding her gaze. ‘You cook for me, I do the clean-up for you. Fair’s fair.’ His hand slid into the cloth and around her fingers as he drew it to his chest. His breath caught, his lips parted as though to speak, and God help her, she couldn’t resist, she leaned into him on tippy-toe and planted a kiss firmly on his mouth. She only meant for it to be a friendly peck, a way of saying thanks for checking up on her and for doing the dishes, but his other hand, covered with soapy water, swooped in and grabbed the front of her hoodie reeling her to him. Then he curled his fingers in the tangle of her wild hair and cradled the back of her head, pulling her still further up on her toes. ‘Oh God,’ he whispered, his tongue darting deep, his lips, soft and hard and bruising all at the same time, meeting hers in a clash of wills and a heroic effort to get closer and deeper. ‘Oh God, Carla, why did you do that,’ he gasped against her mouth.

‘Just being friendly,’ she managed, before the tongue sparring got serious. He gave the towel a toss and yanked down the zipper of her hoodie, shoving it off onto the floor, his hands skimming her breasts in his efforts, thumbs lingering to rake her nipples that were already painful in their peaking. His jeans might have been loose, but they were not loose enough to disguise his erection, and he didn’t seem to care. Both hands slid to cup her bottom and he lifted her, settling her onto the kitchen table, pushing her legs apart with his knees and moving in between her thighs as she went to work on his fly.

‘I have lots of friends,’ he breathed. ‘None of them do that to me.’

‘How about this,’ she said biting his lower lip and sliding her hand down inside his boxers. ‘Do they do this?’

‘No,’ he returned the nip. ‘Never, none of them.’ For a second he faltered. ‘Carla, I –’

‘Shut up, Wade. I don’t wanna hear it.’ This time she bit his tongue before she took his hand and guided it down into her baggy sweat bottoms and into her own boxers.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1xfr2kZ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xfr7Fs

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1xfsDY2

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1xfsCDp

Author Bio:

Voted ETO Best Erotic Author of 2014, and a proud member of The Brit Babes, K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?

When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.

KD has erotica published with SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and others.

K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include The Initiation of Ms Holly, Fulfilling the Contract, The Pet Shop and To Rome with Lust. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Witches trilogy, was listed as honorable mention onViolet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available.

K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis and The Exhibition are all available. Interviewing Wade, a follow up novel to the trilogy, is coming soon.

Find K D Here:

Websites: http://kdgrace.co.uk/

http://www.thebritbabes.co.uk

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/kd_grace

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Book Spotlight~ Wet Heat

Wet Heat: The Aphrodite Chronicles Story One

Erotic Paranormal Short Story

Blurb:

Attorney Naida Bouche has a secret… of paranormal proportions!

The secret tore her, and fellow attorney, Coop’s, marriage apart. She let her guard down and allowed herself to love. But that love—and the passion that followed—could have been the death of them…well, him.

A chance encounter in judge’s chambers catapult Coop Martin’s and his ex-wife’s libidos into overdrive. Add being stuck in an elevator to the mix and desires explode. Coop wants his wife back but she’s thrown up a roadblock that he’s determined to break through.

Can their undeniable chemistry be enough for Naida to reveal who—and what—she is? And could Coop still love her should the truth be revealed?

Excerpt 1

The last vestiges of summer

Second Chance, Pennsylvania

Water cascaded off her nude body. Small rivulets ran over her breasts and down her slightly rounded stomach, disappearing into the surface of the lake.

She was one with the water.

She could, literally, become one with it.

Moonlight reflected off the mirror-smooth surface, adding a soft glow to the night. Crickets serenaded her with their chirping song. A wolf howled in the distance. Nature cocooned her.

She grinned and dove under. Liquid embraced her, still heated from the sun’s rays of earlier in the day. Her body became insubstantial, fragmenting into molecules of H2O. Disorientation left her bewildered, but the feeling came and went. Weightless warmth enveloped her, and the ebb and flow of the tide lulled her into blissful relaxation.

The moon slid across the sky. Hours had passed. Her body became corporeal with a single thought. After regaining her human form, she cut through the water with powerful strokes and rose to the surface in a rush of bubbles.

The night air chilled her damp skin, raising goose pimples along her flesh. She pushed the long fall of golden blonde tresses from her face and glanced into the deep, lush woods that ringed the lake. Soon the leaves would change to shades of gold, orange, red, and brown. In would come the autumnal chill. Her time in the waters would decrease, and then winter would set in and freeze her out.

When that happened, she’d resort to the swimming pool located on the basement level of her large log home. Even with the greenery she had sprinkled about, it never fully replaced the exhilaration of the lake, the feel of fresh air against her skin, and the scent of the wilderness.

She repeated the cycle, year after year. The monotony had long since worn short on her nerves.

At one time, she’d had someone to break the mundane tones of her life.

But she had ruined that.

He hadn’t understood the need, the drive, to be one with the water.

She had allowed it to build a wall between them.

But how could he have understood? Hell, she’d have trouble believing the truth, if it wasn’t her life.

The root of their problems had been otherworldly, as her father was human and her mother was a water nymph.

The nymph side of her heritage presented two problems. First, she needed daily contact with a body of water. Like her pool in the basement. Second, she also needed a daily dose of sex. Preferably more than once a day. After all, the term “nymphomaniac” had been born of a nymph’s sex drive.

No, he had never known the truth of her desires.

She had pushed him away, afraid of exposing her real self.

And that fear, that uncertainty, had left her alone…and needy.

Excerpt 2

Coop thanked Smythe as he spun toward the bank of elevators. He pressed the “up” button and waited for the car to descend. The stainless steel doors opened with a bing. Stepping through the threshold, he hit the button for the third floor. He checked his reflection in the mirrored panels gracing the walls. The ride seemed to take longer than normal, which annoyed the hell out of him. His foot tapped impatiently on the carpeted floor.

The doors opened again, and Coop darted from the car to the judge’s chambers. His long, ground-eating strides took him to his destination in under a minute.

Coop didn’t bother to knock. He simply swung the door open and strode into the room. Sitting behind a large, ornately carved desk was Judge Hawker. Her gray hair haloed her head in a tidy mass of curls. Lines deeply etched her haggard face, affirming she was a kick-ass bitch.

She tapped her pen on her ink blotter. “So nice of you to join us, Mr. Martin.” Her voice cracked like an old Victrola record player.

Coop’s gaze fell upon the female occupant sitting in one of two black leather armchairs. Long, golden-blonde hair cascaded over the back, beckoning for him to run his fingers through the silken stands.

Anger, both at his reaction to seeing her and the fact she was there in the first place, rose up like a leviathan from the deep. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and his lips formed a thin line.

He walked in front of the woman. “Naida,” he greeted, through clenched teeth.

Coop stared at her beautiful face. Naida’s kissable, full lips formed a soft, forced smile that her large, doe-shaped brown eyes didn’t reflect. A form-fitting, cream-colored sweater hugged her breasts and torso, doing little to hide her lithe figure. Her hands rested in her lap. Long, jean-clad legs crossed at the ankle. The brown of her high-end leather satchel matched her well-worn hiking boots.

“Cooper,” she replied.

He inhaled sharply through his nose, never breaking eye contact with her, and enunciated each of the words that followed very clearly, “Do. Not. Call. Me. Cooper.”

* * * *

Naida hadn’t meant to say it so sarcastically. It had just slipped out. A defense mechanism. A way to cover the instantaneous hurt that had rocketed like a missile to her heart.

The other option had been picking her jaw off the ground. She hadn’t expected Coop to walk through the door.

His stiff-shouldered stance emanated anger. And rightfully so.

He had been wronged.

By Naida herself.

She ripped her gaze away from Coop and turned toward the bitch who had set her—no, us—up.

Judge Hawker grinned, exposing age-worn teeth. The pack of cigarettes she smoked a day did little to detract from the look. “Do you have something to say, Miss Bouche?” Her voice grated Naida’s nerves and reminded her of gravel scraping over an asphalt road. The hag had the nerve to broaden her smile.

Naida rose from the armchair with fists clenched at her sides, nails biting into the flesh of her palms. “Why is he here?”

“Why are you here?” he retorted, his steel-gray eyes darting from one female to the other and shooting daggers at same time. He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it onto the empty armchair.

One of those daggers pierced Naida’s heart, which thudded hard against her breastbone. How she hated Coop looking at her with such disdain. But she had brought it on herself.

Three years ago, she had filed for divorce from Coop with no explanation why. Just up and went to an attorney. Had he done anything wrong? No. Had he begged and pleaded for an explanation? Yes.

She had merely shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

That action had taken her away from the one man, the one human, she’d ever loved.

Buy Links:

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Author Bio:

I'm a writer of sexy romances with a kick of heat! Though my contracted stories are paranormals, I haven't discounted writing a contemporary or two.

I live in Pennsylvania just a hair shy of the Maryland border. I live with a family I adore which includes two furry feline children and a furry canine daughter.

In my spare time, I'm more than likely watching television. I watch Bones, Blue Bloods, NCIS:New Orleans, or some sort of car show like Wheeler Dealers.

I'm a huge sports fan, football in particular. During the fall/winter, I'm watching Notre Dame or Penn State on Saturdays and the Saints or Colts on Sunday.

I've been known to have my nose buried in a book. Nora Roberts/JD Robb and Clive Cussler are favorites of mine. I know, I know...Clive Cussler isn't a romance author. The man can weave a tale of adventure like no other!

Twitter-  https://twitter.com/LMLeFerrur

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005172795004&fref=ts 

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Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/L.M.-LeFerrur/e/B00RK90EQO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1420217841&sr=1-1