The first winner of the “Having an Affaire de Coeur Year” Calendar Contest
is Sharon Chalk! Sharon, congratulations! Send me an email that includes your
snail mail address, and I’ll send your prize! ~DD

* * * * *

The perfect gift, or not so much

Whoopee! We made it through the winter holidays. Just around the corner, however, is another potentially angst-ridden event, Valentine’s Day. This holiday can be fun for couples, sad if you’re alone, and downright dangerous for those who don’t know their partners as well as they think they do when it comes time to purchase a present.

Women don’t have it as tough as men when buying a gift. Pick up a six-pack of their favorite beer, prepare a nice meal, and show up in slinky lingerie and most men are pretty darn happy. Women, on the other hand, expect men to pay attention to their desires, and not just the ones in bed. If we’ve been hinting around that we really want an item, we expect them to buy it for us. They should be listening when we talk and doing everything in their power to make us happy.

Ladies, don’t count on it. Some men are good at gift buying, others really suck. If yours falls into the latter category, give him a break. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, it just means this is one thing he doesn’t do well. Hopefully, your guy has other redeeming attributes and you can forgive him this minor shortcoming.

My suggestion? Avoid disappointment this Valentine’s day, and ask him for gift cards, so you can buy what your heart really desires.

I’d like to share a cute joke about this subject:

Young Patty approaches her mother and announces, “Sally told me where babies come from.”

Mother, not ready to have this discussion, asks with dread, “Where is that, dear?”

“Sally said her sister Molly told her, Daddy puts his thingy in your mouth, then stuff comes out, then a baby grows in your belly.”

“No, sweetie, Susie’s wrong, that’s where jewelry comes from!”

Bwa-ha-ha! So true.

What would be your perfect Valentine’s Day gift? I’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy this excerpt from my latest book, Out of the Ordinary. Thank you for having me here today, Delilah, and thank you all for reading.

* * * * * Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s guest is late getting her stuff to me, so I’m popping in quickly to share “the plan.” The list below is everything I hope to finish by April 1st. The one item in purple is the only thing I’ve finished since the start of the year. (It’s the “BDSM in the Bayou” novel I finished last week!) Yes, the list is completely ridiculous, but I need big goals so I can keep adrenaline pushing me to tackle the biggest priorities on the list. If I can slide in some of the shorter projects too, I’ll have true bragging rights. 🙂

Reality Versus Fantasy

One of the most challenging things we can do as an author or maybe the easiest if like me, you eagerly look forward to slipping into the fantasy of a good book, is to create those special moments while dealing with the reality of life behind the scenes.

What reality you say? Well, in my case I’ve been going through a major renovation of the house my husband and I recently bought and we’ve had a lot of ups and downs. Many of the highlights include a beautiful new kitchen, a cozy and functional office and an expanded master bedroom.

Then there are the shocking and unexpected discoveries such as when you take down a cabinet in the laundry room and discover a small spot of wet wall and mold which then morphs into an entire rotted exterior wall that has to be removed and rebuilt in the middle of winter.

Now when I watch HGTV and see the homeowners near tears when more and more problems are found during the renovation process–I get it! (That is when I’m allowed to watch HGTV. My husband threatens to ban that channel every time I come up with a new “project” *grins*)

It’s during times like these where I have to dig deep and put aside the harsh reality of the disgusting bathroom we are currently tearing apart—

And begin to imagine this scene instead.

Or when the reality of the contractor who showed up to do the plumbing is nothing like the fantasy you had in my mind threatens the image in my head of the slice of near perfect alpha male perfection I want to show up in my book…

Despite the ups and downs of reality we all must go through and the challenge of writing under very uncomfortable situations to meet our deadlines, I’m eternally grateful that life is never boring. It might make me want to pull my hair out more often than I’d like, but it keeps me on my toes and hopefully strengthens my brain for the next challenge lurking around the corner.

At least when we need a break from the reality of day-to-day life, we can pick up a book and slip into a new world. What would we do without them?

Thank you so much to Delilah for hosting me today. It’s always great to come and visit.

Eliza

Eliza Gayle lives a life full of sexy shapeshifters, blood boiling vamps and a dark desire for bondage…until she steps away from her computer and has to tend to her family.

Check out Eliza’s brand new release, Purgatory Masters: Tucker’s Fall, or her many other books listed on her website at elizagayle.net.

It’s almost that time of the year again for roses, chocolate love…and handcuffs! 😉 To celebrate, Cari Silverwood, Kallypso Masters and Full Moon Bites have come together for a kinky giveaway hop! They invited a slew of authors and bloggers to join them! Read on below for the lovely intro (written by the wonderful Cari!)

When your man tells you he loves you with a gift of chocolates, roses and handcuffs, you know he’s no ordinary lover. What kink hides in your closet? Sometimes we don’t want a man who showers us with flower petals and kisses. Sometimes we want a man who will take charge and text us from work with a message such as this: Wait for me naked and kneeling in the bedroom. If this Valentines Day you get handcuffs from your partner, what message would you like to see on the gift tag?

Enter a comment on this post, and you’ll be entered to win a $25.00 gift certificate from Amazon.com to spend however you please on whatever naughty thing you want! Then take a tour to each of the websites listed below. Don’t feel overwhelmed by how many people are involved, you have until February 7th to enter! Read the rest of this entry »

This is just a quick stop. Have a book to finish today, and I’m not losing focus until the damn thing’s wrapped!

Thanks to everyone who bought and is reading Shattered Souls. The book is currently sitting at #2853 in the Kindle store! Woot! If you read it, please take the time to post a review. They do help other readers decide whether they want to spend the money!

What am I working on now? It’s a novel as well. 70,000 words of naughty excess—with a tinge of suspense. I hope the editor loves it. 😯

What else have I been doing? In my spare time, because I need an outlet other than dropping in front of the boob tube, I’ve been making things. Take a look at my Pinterest page if you’re interested in seeing. And if you’re into Pinterest, what would you like to see on my boards?

But that’s not the question I want you to answer. Here you go…

We all have that “go-to” person. The one we call day or night when we’ve got a question. “My dishwasher’s not working. Who do you think I should call?” “I had a fight with my husband, do you think I was wrong?” Who is your answer person?

Power of Love

Love is such a powerful thing. It moves people in so many ways. As a writer I love exploring the various ways that love unfolds. All the paths it takes are fun to explore.

I enjoy watching movies based on love. The last few weeks have had some very interesting ones. Each was so different and to see the ways love came and was shown made me think. One of the theme of the movies was they followed families. The love, tribulations and all the things in between. From the beginning of time people have been falling in love. Love can make you crazy, giddy and bring you such hope and joy.

Love has many types – the love between friends and family. The love between lovers. Each has the core of opening yourself to another person and becoming a unit. With friends it is building a close-knit relationship that stands through good and bad. The same with family. With family we share and love.

The love between lovers is what I explore in my books. From the start of the initial attraction, the first steps to getting to know each other, the dating and then finally the all encompassing feelings and knowing you belong together. There are of course the ups and downs and the times when you fall in and out of love. But when you find that right someone it is magical, exhilarating and soul moving. Yeah, I am a romantic at heart. All the steps to the power of love fascinate me.

* * * * *

Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future, she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroines, and sexy heroes. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. You can find out more about Taige at her website: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com or blog: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog.

* * * * *

Hurricane — When life gives you a second chance how do you decide what to do?
Buy here at Total-E-Bound.

Thank you all so much for the great suggestions! The winner of the free pendant is Jackie! Jackie, send me your snail mail address and I’ll ship your prize!

* * * * *

If you post a comment today, you’ll be entered to win an altered art pendant made by me!

I’ve been wondering what I can do for a contest to run alongside the release of Shattered Souls. Something that will entice you to stop by and check out the excerpts here, and something that will encourage you to talk the book up with your friends.

I love this book. Adore the characters. The hero and heroine are very strong individuals. The supporting cast is fun. I loved writing them all into the next story and having Cait find her witchy footing, albeit reluctantly.

So what might help you decide to read the book? Yes, I’ll share excerpts to tempt you. How about you tell me what would entice you to talk up the book and post it on your FB or website? Does anyone know how to run contests on Goodreads? What sort of prizes stimulate interest there? I’ve never spent much time there because I feel lost. I don’t know how to take advantage. I need advice! But in the meantime, meet Sam and Cait.

[Right now, you can save $7.00 on the Kindle version of Shattered Souls. Follow the link!]

The Excerpt

Hands gripped Caitlyn O’Connell’s shoulders and shook her. “Get up, dammit.”

The gruff voice was familiar. Felt right, hearing it in her bedroom—for all of two seconds. Then she pried open her eyes, wincing at the overhead light, and stared at Samuel Pierce.

Same taut expression, same hard body. Brown hair cut short, freshly shaved, and not a crease in his pale dress shirt or dark trousers. A silk tie ringed his strong neck. Strong lines bracketed his mouth, the corners turned down.

He didn’t seem particularly happy to be here. Which was sort of sad. Once upon a time, he’d sworn there was nowhere else he wanted to be more.

“How’d you get in?” she muttered. Was he aware his thumbs caressed her shoulders? She glanced down, then back up again.

Sam looked down at his hands, let go of her shoulders, and straightened. With his gaze still on hers, he raked a hand through his hair and sighed.

Now all six feet two inches of his sturdy frame loomed, bristling with ill-concealed impatience.

“Damn, Caitlyn, you still have a spare key on top of the door frame. I told you it wasn’t a good idea a long time ago. Anyone can let himself in.”

“Only person ever used it was you,” she grumbled, rubbing a hand over her eyes. “What time’s it?”

“Time to get your ass out of bed.”

“I don’t work on your schedule anymore.” She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and pulled on a scowl that would have had a lesser man backing up. “It’s eight fucking o’clock. Whatever it is can wait.”

“Sweetheart, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.” Read the rest of this entry »