If you love dark, uber-sexy stories, you should give this one a try! It’s a full-length novel and is FREE, for now, in Kindle Unlimited! It was previously published—a long time ago—so if you missed it back then, now’s the time to dive into the creatures of Ardeal! Very soon, I’ll be putting the pre-order up for the next book in the series, Dark Seduction, plus there are short stories related to the series you’ll be able to peruse!
Archive for November, 2021
UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
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I have a full-length novel coming out tonight after midnight! Dark Legacy is a story I wrote back in 2005-2006. I recently got my rights back to the story, so I re-edited it and gave it a brand new dark cover! And now, it’s ready for release—tonight! If you have a Kindle Unlimited account, you can read it for FREE! A print version is already available!
If you love a dark, erotic paranormal, you might want to give this one a go. Just be warned—it’s very sexy and might have some triggering sex some might want to avoid. I love this story. I indulged my love of ancient mythology creating this world. I loved writing the entire series, and if you like it well enough, I might write more…
Here’s what it’s all about…
Dark Legacy
How could everything have changed for Natalie Lambert so radically, so quickly?
Escaping from a tragic past, the virginal beauty arrives in New Orleans and falls victim to a series of strange, unearthly attacks. Now, for the first time in her life, Natalie aches with sexual desire. Confused, frightened, out of control, she struggles desperately to understand a world that is transforming around her. But soon, she will be powerful and magnificent in ways she could never have imagined…
A ruggedly handsome Cajun policeman, Detective Rene Broussard has come to rescue Natalie in her time of greatest need. And when he inexplicably wakes in bed beside her—both burning with a lust impossible to deny—he doesn’t care that a dark and vengeful enemy has brought them to this moment. All that matters is the irresistible curve of her body, the heat of her passion…and the forbidden pleasures the night promises.
With one sharp, sensuous, biting kiss, he will be hers for life…and beyond.
Warning: This book includes triggering scenes of questionable consent and FFM scenes.
Excerpt from Dark Legacy…
Natalie couldn’t sleep.
Not because she was afraid. For the first time in weeks, her stalker was the least of her worries.
Instead, her present danger lay in her own body’s betrayal.
Heat simmered beneath the surface of her skin—a flush of warmth that spread across her chest and belly. The air around her felt close and heavy despite the fan circling above the bed.
Her heart beat too quickly. Her breasts grew heavy. Her nipples peaked against the thin silk of her nightgown. Then blood rushed to the juncture of her thighs, plumping her slick folds.
She might be inexperienced, but Natalie recognized the signs of desire.
The cause of her misery paced restlessly around the house. The creaking hinges of the doors he checked and rechecked gave away his unrest. The muffled thud of footsteps as he walked around the living room below, and the slap of his bare feet on the wooden steps when he came up to patrol the hall pinpointed his location.
He passed outside her bedroom now, his shadow darkening the space beneath the door. Natalie ached to call out to him. Was Rene exercising extreme caution or suffering like she was?
Reaching beyond the moment, Natalie wondered, why him? Why now?
An instinct—some kernel of inborn knowledge—told her this new hunger was related to the current moon cycle. Just as the changes to her body began with the first sliver of pale light from the new moon, her need unfurled like a heron’s wings with the coming full moon.
This past month, she’d been steadily shedding the baby fat that plagued her adolescence although her appetite, especially for blood-enriched meats, had increased. Her first period ever had come and gone. Then sensual awareness dominated her waking and sleeping thoughts.
For days, she’d dreamed of an anonymous lover in her bed. The things he’d done to her had left her breathless and blushing. If she managed to sleep tonight, she knew she’d find Rene’s face, his jaw taut with desire, his shoulders bunched as he hovered above her, supplanting the hazy man of her dreams.
Why him? Although handsome, he wasn’t the first good-looking man she’d ever encountered. However, from the moment he’d pulled her from the park bench into his arms, her body had recognized his claim. He’d held her close, his thickly muscled torso sheltering her from further harm. His strength and distinctive scent, a spicy heated musk, had imprinted on her mind. If she closed her eyes, she was there once more, draped across his lap in the backseat of the sedan, awakening to desire for the first time.
Everything else—the horror of the attacks, the pain of her many little wounds—had faded away. She’d felt only his hard, muscled thighs beneath her bottom and the steely embrace that had crushed the air from her lungs while he’d struggled for control.
She wanted to know those sensations again—and so much more.
Frustration humming inside her, she tossed back the bedcovers and padded to the French doors, flinging them open. She stepped into a wind that whipped her hair away from her face and the nightgown tight against her body. Infrequent drops of rain pelted her uplifted cheeks, cooling her skin.
A click sounded from the door further down the balcony. Clad only in jeans, Rene stepped out.
He was pure temptation, from brawny chest to bare toes.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said, his voice a grumpy, sexy rumble. “You set off the silent alarm.”
With her heart thudding in her chest, she turned away. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Well, how ’bout not sleepin’ inside?”
His growling irritation made her smile. She felt the same way—bitchy, edgy, wonderfully horny.
She noted the tight set of his jaw, the rapid rise and fall of his chest, and felt an overwhelming urge to seduce him. And why shouldn’t she?
The way she figured it, her days were numbered. The menace dogging her steps would eventually catch up. Why not grab for all the joy she could find in what was left of her life?
She leaned back against the balustrade on her elbows, making sure the silky gown pulled tightly across her breasts.
His gaze lowered, lingering for a moment on her beaded nipples. “Cold?” he asked, his voice a graveled, yet silky slide.
“Not really.” She decided to make sure he wouldn’t misinterpret the invitation. She sauntered toward him, stopping inches away from his rigid body. This close, she breathed in his musky male scent. The breadth of his solid chest and his height overwhelmed her, made her feel small, vulnerable—and intensely feminine.
He sucked in a deep breath. “Look, chère, whatever you’re thinkin’—it’s not gonna happen.”
She cast him a challenging stare. “Because I’m not what you want?”
He shook his head. “Damn, you’ve got to know that’s not it,” he said, his voice raw. “This just isn’t the right time.”
She met his gaze, hoping she didn’t look too needy, but wanting him to know she could be his—if he’d just reach out. “What if there never is a right time?”
His hands fisted at his sides. “I’m not lettin’ anything happen to you.”
She lifted her chin. “You can guarantee that?”
He glanced beyond her to the midnight sky and stayed silent.
Stubborn man. He thought he could withstand this chemistry of hormones and waxing moonlight by sheer will. “Tell you what,” she said. “How about a kiss? And I’ll let it drop. It’ll be enough, I swear.” At his suspicious glare, she added, “Just a kiss.”
He blew out a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “Will you come inside then?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. She’d promise anything just to draw him nearer. If he felt even a fraction of her need, he wouldn’t be able to resist for long.
The muscles in his throat rippled, and he nodded. “All right. A kiss.”
Contest
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you love paranormal stories, and if so, what is your favorite paranormal creature!
Open Contests
What will you serve? (Contest)— Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!Michal Scott: Where Imagination Meets Fact (Contest & Excerpt) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!IN ONE PICTURE: DELILAH DEVLIN’S “HUNK OF BURNING LOVE” (CONTEST) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!- Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
- Next Boys Behaving Badly (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
- What would you do? (Puzzle Contest) — Win a FREE book!
UPDATE: The winner is…Bridget Werbin!
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It’s Saturday, so you know it’s Puzzle Day! Yay!!!
Okay, so you know I like making you work your minds a bit. A very little bit, so don’t get scared. I found this picture, and I thought it would be perfect for this Saturday’s challenge. For a chance to win your choice of downloads from among the books in my backlist, tell me this…
What would you do if you found this is in the woods?
With the holidays right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what holiday romances I would like to add to my TBR list. I try to read, or listen to, at least 4 holiday-themed stories during the month of December.
Are you a fan of holiday romances, too?
I’m not sure what it is about romances set around the holidays that have me swooning, but they are some of my favorite stories. Over the years, I’ve incorporated the holidays into a lot of my stories, but only one of my books has been a standalone holiday romance.
As with many of my stories, the idea for Tangled in His Embrace came when I was writing another book. I was about halfway through Longing for His Kiss when I realized I needed to give Gabby her own story. She was a single mom who’d had her heart broken when the man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with up and left her…and their daughter.
The setup was perfect for a second chance romance (another one of my favorites). And what better time for it to take place than Christmas.
One of the advantages to writing a story that takes place in the winter months, at least for books set in the northern hemisphere, is the ability to add snow to make things interesting. It’s amazing how those cold temperatures always help to heat things up!
Below is an excerpt from my second chance romance, Tangled in His Embrace, which is on sale now through December 15th for only 99 cents.
Tangled in His Embrace
A lock of Gabby’s blond hair had fallen out of her ponytail, her loose curls tickling the side of her face every time she moved. The urge to brush it back out of the way was strong, but he resisted. Jax knew it wouldn’t stop there. He’d want more. Like he’d wanted more the last time he’d stepped into her personal space to pick a piece of lint from her jacket.
It had been completely innocent, until he’d touched her, felt the heat coming off her body, calling to him. He’d looked into her eyes and in that moment he saw the same need reflected there that he felt deep in his soul. Instinct had taken over and before he knew it she was lying naked beneath him and he was buried inside her.
Gabby tucked the hair behind her ear, drawing his attention back to the present. “Are your parents going to pick her up next weekend or . . .”
“Yeah. Mom was hoping to pick her up from the babysitters so they can beat the Friday rush.”
“I’ll let Emily know.”
There was awkwardness in the air that never used to be there between him and Gabby, and he had no idea how to fix it. After Taylor’s nightmare the night before, he didn’t know if he deserved for it to be fixed. He’d caused his little girl pain. He deserved to suffer. “I should get going.”
A look of relief showed on Gabby’s face and it was like a knife to his heart.
“Mommy, why don’t we have a Twist-mas tree like Grandma and Grandpa?” Taylor walked into the room, dragging her favorite stuffed animal behind her.
“I just haven’t had time to drag everything out of the attic yet.” Gabby ran her hand over the top of their daughter’s hair in a loving gesture. “Maybe we can do it this week before you leave on your trip with Grandma and Grandpa.”
“I can get everything down out of the attic for you if you want,” Jax said.
“That’s okay. I can—”
“Come on, Daddy. I’ll shows you.” Before Gabby could even get her refusal out of her mouth, Taylor took him by the hand and coaxed him to follow her down the hallway.
Jax shrugged as he let his daughter lead him down the hall to where the attic access was in the ceiling. He reached up to pull the rope that would lower the staircase. “I need you to stand back.”
Taylor moved closer to her mother, one arm wrapped around Gabby’s legs.
The fold-up ladder creaked as he lowered it. He looked over his shoulder at Gabby. “Is there still a light up there?”
“Yeah. As soon as you get to the top it’ll be on your left.”
Jax nodded and climbed the steep rung of stairs leading up to the attic.
He’d only been in Gabby’s attic once before. They were fixing up the room that would become Taylor’s nursery. It had been a happy time for both him and Gabby. He’d been so full of nervous excitement that he hadn’t paid much attention to the attic itself or what was up there.
Gabby’s house wasn’t all that big, but it still took him several minutes to locate the artificial tree and two boxes of Christmas decorations mixed in with several boxes of toys and baby clothes. He couldn’t help but wonder why Gabby was holding on to Taylor’s old clothes. Was she hoping to have another baby one day? Or maybe she was holding on to them for her sister.
As much as it shouldn’t matter what her reasoning for keeping Taylor’s baby clothes was, Jax couldn’t shake it off. He carried the boxes Gabby needed down the ladder and placed them along the wall.
Once everything was down, he folded the ladder back up and made sure the access panel was secure before grabbing one of the boxes from where he’d left it. “Did you want these in the living room?”
“I can get them.”
He met her gaze and held it for a long moment. “I’m here. Let me help.”
She didn’t answer right away, seeming to weigh her options. Finally, she nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
Jax didn’t stay long after putting the boxes in her living room. It was getting late and he knew Gabby would want to start getting Taylor ready for bed. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew he had given up that right when he’d decided to leave them.
Grab your copy of Jax and Gabby’s story at one of the below retailers.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ooAMgb
Apple: https://apple.co/3bQLvtS
Nook: https://bit.ly/3bVFzzv
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3quP8hJ
Google: https://bit.ly/2Tgqa1N
Sherri Hayes
Sexy Stories. Real Heroes.
https://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/
UPDATE: The winner is…Alison Rush!
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So, yes, we’re still talking about Cowboys: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, and next week, we’ll start a new round of contests and discussion about the authors and their stories over on the Collections website (which reminds me I need to head over there tonight and close out some contests—hint!), but I’d like to begin thinking about what’s next because these volumes take time to put together. The first big decision is the theme for the book. As you can see below, we’ve had some fun themes!
Put your thinking hats on! Offer some suggestions for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
I’ve been thinking maybe a holiday-themed Boys short story antho would be fun, but there’s also, Military Heroes, Real Men (lumberjacks, construction workers, etc.), Silver Foxes, Royalty, Paranormal Heroes, Aliens, etc. Let me know if any of these pique your interest or if there’s something else you’re dying for me to feature. I’ll collect your ideas then come back with a poll! Have fun with this!
I never know whether to say “Happy” Veterans Day…
My father and brother retired from the Air Force. I served 14 years active duty, 7 in the Guard, and retired from the Army. My sister served in the Army and Air Force Reserves and retired. So, as a family, we’re a patriotic group. We gave years of our lives.
Here’s a shout-out to all veterans who served. I like these words: Serve, Service. They mean something still. I think more people ought to serve, whether it’s in the military, the Peace Corps, or serving their communities directly. It teaches you about responsibility and discipline. See the world. See how others live, and experience how they think. It’s a great education.
So, take a minute today and say thank you to those who gave something of themselves to their country. It’s old-fashioned, maybe, but it never gets old.