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Blog
Saturday, May 20th, 2017
Happy Saturday! For most of you, I hope that means Happy Reading, too! Oh, to have the time to read a book… Well, I guess I do, since I’m editing quite a bit these days…
Anyways, I have some fun things to share! Two of my besties, sister Elle James, and the lovely Lindsay Cross, have exciting new books! And they both have drool-worthy covers! So, if you’re looking for a story to sink into, look no farther than Montana Dog Soldier or Mercy & Mahem!
If, on the other hand, you’re busy, busy, busy and want something short when you get a chance to put up your feet, check out my short story, Nerd’s Blind Date, or for those of you who were helping me come up with an appropriate title, my Badonk-A-Wonk story! Guess you had to have been there…
And if you’re not busy today at 3 PM Central, I’ll be live at the Romance Readers Recommend Presents Author Takeover–yes, a mouthful, but join me. I’m sure I’ll be giving away some things!
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Brotherhood Protectors Book #6
Prior service Army Dog Handler Joseph “Kujo” Kuntz and his dog Six team with a female FBI agent to locate and neutralize a terrorist training camp
Discharged from the army after sustaining a shrapnel injury that left him with a limp, Joseph “Kujo” Kuntz is angry with himself and the world, and forced to start over with the injured military dog “Six” that saved his life. Kujo accepts a job with Brotherhood Protectors in the Crazy Mountains of Montana, hoping to find new purpose and come to terms with his losses.
Following a lead that a terrorist faction is near Eagle Rock, Montana, training to launch terrorist attacks, FBI agent Molly Greenbrier thinks she’s on a wild goose chase. She’s operating a drone, pretending to be a photographer for a GPS mapping company, when she’s attacked in the mountains and left for dead. Discovered by former military service dog Six and his owner, Molly is taken to the owner’s cabin where he administers first aid.
Now targeted by the faction, Molly is in danger. Kujo informs his new boss of the situation and is assigned as Molly’s protector until the team can neutralize the source of the threat. Determined to complete her mission, Molly accepts Kujo and Six’s protection and discovers an electric connection to the cantankerous former soldier. Together they struggle to locate the faction while fighting their burgeoning desire.
Amazon | Amazon UK | Nook | Kobo |IBooks | GooglePlay | Print
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Marley was his madness. She was his addiction. He should have known she’d be his destruction.
He wanted nothing but revenge…until her.
Mack Grey wants one thing in his life: vengeance for the ex-CIA operative who betrayed his team, Jack Mankel. And he’s finally got the traitor within grasp, all he has to do is catch a hop across the Congo and capture his enemy.
He had no idea the depths to which Mankel’s evil could reach.
She never thought she could love again…until him.
All single-mother air force pilot Marley Mitchell has to do is fly a group of special operators across Africa for a HALO jump and then she can be back home with her baby girl. Then the unexpected happens. Her plane crashes and Marley has to rely on an insanely hot commander to get her out of the jungle alive.
Deep in the jungle, Mack gives her his heart and soul. He’s willing to lay down his life to protect hers.
But Marley has a secret.
A secret that could destroy not only their hope for happiness, but Mack’s entire team.
With Mankel closing in and guerilla soldiers on the prowl, their sensual attraction is put to the ultimate test in an action-packed thrill ride of passion so hot it threatens to burn them alive.
Get your copy here!
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Nerd’s Blind Date
(aka Badonk-A-Wonk)
When a lonely shut-in’s online query is answered for a sexy rendezvous, she’s stunned when her handsome “escort” proves more adept and familiar than she’d dreamed…
Get your copy here!
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Tagged: Guest Blogger, military romance, romantic suspense, short story Posted in About books... | Someone Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: ButtonsMom2003 -
Friday, May 19th, 2017
So…..I’m a kink girl. Not just an…I read it or write it or love it kind of kink girl. I’m an…I live it kind of kink girl. I’m beyond lucky and blessed to be in a 24/7 relationship with the man of my dreams. Kink isn’t just a passing thought in my head, frilly daydreams that come and go. It’s something that helps me be…me. It’s incredible and something I’m beyond thankful for because when I write kink, I write what I know. There’s something real in all of my books but I’ll never share what it is. LOVE to keep my readers guessing on what dirty and delicious research I got to do for each book!
Today in honor of celebrating Our Rules, the first book in my Hot Wife series, I’m going to give you my ABC’s of Kink! Let’s hit it!!
A – Anal Sex. Totally a thing. A very delicious and oh so fun thing! I think everyone should try it a handful of times to see if they like it! And don’t rush through it. Savor it…..
B – Bite marks.……….Mmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………One of my favorite things in the whole world.
C – Consent – means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To me it is the overarching agreement between individuals that they have spoken and understand what each is looking for in the exchange / relationship and that both or all parties have a two-thumbs up to moving forward in their play. This can be on a scene by scene basis or as a growing understanding throughout a relationship. This can also consist of consensual non-consent which is delicious for some people as well but IMHO needs to only be between people that have been with each long enough to understand non-verbal as well as verbal cues.
D – Drop. A lot of submissives experience some kind of drop after an intense scene. Intensity does not have to mean exclusive to physical intensity. I’ve seen people broken with nothing more than a few well-placed words. Drop can happen several hours or several days after a scene. It can be as minor as feeling a bit weepy or as catastrophic as major depression and takes days to fix. Not something you want to ignore and something you want to talk out and know the signs of.
E – Edging. Keeping someone on the edge of an orgasm without actually letting them cum. What I like to call a big…….NO THANK YOU!
F – Frosty Jim…….OMFG SOOOOO dirty! When a guy pees in a condom and ties it off…then freezes it so it can be used as a very cold dildo!!!
G – Gag. THIS CAN BE ANYTHING!!! Seriously….I’ve seen the regular ball gags, blow up gags, bandana gags and then I’ve seen dental gags, rope gags. Then I’ve seen habanero gags with duct tape and dick gags where the submissive will receive no pleasure if there are teeth marks on the dick being used. Such a mind fuck!!
H – Hot Wife Series. This will be a 4 book series about a group of friends who all participate in the sub set of kink called Hot Wife. This is where the wife is able and sometimes encouraged to participate in extra-curricular affairs with the full approval of her husband. All of the men in my stories are dominant and the women are submissive. It’s just how I roll. *grins*
I – Irrumatio – OMFG I got to look this up just for this blog! *BOUNCY* This is the official term for face fucking!!! Didn’t think you were going to learn anything today did you??? You were wrong! You’re welcome!
J – Joking. To me being serious all the time when it comes to kink is ridiculous. I love laughing. Love joking around and love enjoying life. I’m not saying laughing in every scene is appropriate or even wanted. But if I’m at work and not enjoying something I want to text my Daddy and tell him “RED!!” as a joke. Some people think safewords have to be serious ALL the time but that’s just not how we want Our kink. Thankfully I have a man who completely thinks the same way I do about it.
K – Kink….is what you make it. No one can tell you what kink means to you. You have to figure that one out on your own.
L – Legalized BDSM is not really a thing. I’m all over letting your kink flag fly but do so in a manner in which you’re ready to take ownership of the consequences. Kink is rarely black and white….coughfiftyshadesofgreycough….
M – Mind fucks. Just as intense as physical play and they last much much longer. Being made to think one thing even when it’s not possible. The mind is a very VERY powerful tool in a dominant’s / sadist’s arsenal of toys.
N – Negotiation. Something ALL people should give more thought to. I was talking to someone once who made this very clear, very quickly. He said he was talking to a girl before a scene and he asked what she wouldn’t do. She said…SMH…“I’ll do anything!” all giggly and excited. So he asked, “So it’s okay if I video what we do and send it to your mom? And it’s okay if I cut all your hair off and throw it out?” She was horrified. Thus is the need for negotiation!!
O – Our Rules. The first book in my Hot Wife Series. This shows the kink relationship bringing a couple back together and they must again find what it means for Tabitha to be Michael’s hot wife.
P – Play. That’s what we call most kink interactions. Play, a scene, topping and bottoming, dominating and submitting. Everyone calls it something different. You just have to find the sandbox you want to play in and dip your toes in!
Q – Queer. Bi. Trans. Gender Neutral. Straight. Homo. Hetero. Non Binary. LOTS of options in Kink. YAY!!
R – Rope. One of my favorite kinky things. Shibari specifically. It can be beautiful or painful. Soft or harsh. Sweet or sadistic. It can be everything or barren. Love it so much.
S – Subspace – This is an ethereal place that some submissives achieve when they play. It can be found from physical pain or pleasure for some, sensations for other, mind fucks for some. For me, during a scene, it’s like I’m running around in a dark room with things of different colors coming at me from all directions. My heart races and I’m panicky. Then when I hit subspace it’s like someone turns on all the lights. As if I’m floating in a bright white room where everything is just…..perfect. It’s…..indescribable.
T – Trust – In kink relationships trust must be absolute.
U – Universal. There is no right or wrong. There is no one journey. For a million people entering kink there will be a million different journeys. And I assure you there is no right way or wrong way. You just have to find the road that leads you….home.
V – Verbally communicate. This is SOOOO important when it comes to kink.
W – Watersports. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Not many are just ambivalent about it. I may have finally written about it in Zeke’s Demons. It’s very possessive and primal. Mmmm…..
X – X marks the spot for impact play.
Y – Yummytastic! Kink to me is completely and utterly yummytastic!
Z – Zipper. Specifically a clothespin zipper. Lots of clothespins are attached to string and then the clothespins are attached in a line onto small bites of skin. When the string is pulled off….you got it…it resembles a zipper. SO MUCH FUN!
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There you have it! Hope you found some new things to google there because OMFG kink can be the most eye opening amazing journey of your life. Real life or just through books is completely up to you!!!
And I am beyond excited to share the first book in my Hot Wife Series with you today! Michael and Tabitha have been in a kink relationship for years but Our Rules shows, taking any kind of relationship for granted can shatter everything you thought you had. Make every moment special and there is NOTHING more important than earning the love of that special person over and over and over again.

When the foundation of their marriage falters, Michael and Tabitha must rediscover what it means for her to be his hot wife.
Amazon – https://goo.gl/Bej8UX
Amazon UK – https://goo.gl/J7CFsA
B&N – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/our-rules-jennifer-kacey/1125990974?ean=9781786511478Totally Bound – https://goo.gl/GqQidk
Kobo – https://goo.gl/8qerH8
Itunes – https://goo.gl/UUDZrd
Print Amazon – https://goo.gl/Bej8UX
Print Totally Bound – https://goo.gl/yO8YXY
Website – https://jenniferkacey.com/books/hotwife/oururles.html
Tabitha is a hot wife. Not just a sexy wife. A hot wife. A wife allowed to be with other men with the permission of her husband.
Michael couldn’t love his wife more. Which is exactly why he shares her with others. Because she’s his.
On the cusp of everything they’re worked for—years in the making—a shattered promise threatens the foundation of their marriage. A foundation Michael had thought unbreakable until he lets Tabitha down in more ways than one.
Taking her submission for granted could lose him everything he’s strived for, and winning back her trust is the only thing that matters.
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This blog originally posted on another blog but the giveaway wasn’t posted and the blog itself was a bit messed up….so this is a take two with an AWESOME bag of goodies to give away to one lucky poster! Three print books and lots and lots of other swag and kinky goodies! Plus a cup and a kinky ruler and a pretty bag to hold it all!

**GIVEAWAY – US ONLY** – Just look at all the awesomeness you could win!! So tell me why YOU read kink? Why do you like it? What draws you in? What gives you the shivers and brings you back for more??
I’ll pick a winner on Monday the 22nd!! Good Luck!! PS –It’s always great to leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you! Hate not being able to give winners their goodies!!
Here’s a little bit more from Our Rules which is out NOW!

Decadently Yours,
Jennifer Kacey
About the Author
Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.
Website – Newsletter – The Decadent Divas– Amazon Page
Facebook – Facebook Author Page – Twitter – Goodreads – Pinterest



Tagged: BDSM, Guest Blogger, kink Posted in Contests!, General | 12 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: ButtonsMom2003 - Pansy Petal - Snarky Mom Michelle - Delilah - Angel -
Thursday, May 18th, 2017
Hi! I’m Opal Carew and I’m pleased to be back as a guest blogger. Thank you to Delilah for inviting me!
I want to tell you about something totally new that I’m trying. I got the idea from listening to the sexy narrator I’m using for the audiobooks for my Mastered By series.
When I listened to his smooth, sexy voice as he brought my hero to life during a love scene, I thought about how erotic it would be to listen to him talking to me. Telling me what he’d like to do to me. What he’d like me to do to him.
Just a pure erotic flight of fancy, right?
But then I thought, what if a woman who was terrified of men because of a past sexual trauma found an audio like that, with a voice that portrayed a man who was caring and tender, but down and dirty, too?
What if that audio helped her find sexual release in a way that made her feel safe, because he was a fantasy lover who could never hurt her? What if that escape helped her cope with the fear that had settled deep into her soul?
Then what if she met her new neighbor and… it’s his voice?
That inspired me to write my new series, Dirty Talk. Each part has an erotic audio like I just described.
Here’s the description of the first story.
Secret Pleasure is the first exciting episode in Opal Carew’s Dirty Talk series, a poignant erotic romance about a woman struggling with her sexuality because of a devastating trauma from her past, and the strong, sensitive man who helps her find her way. If you love bad-assed alpha heroes with a strong, protective streak then you’ll love Dirty Talk!
I was a little worried how readers would react to the idea. Mostly I was afraid the audios might be a little over the top erotic, but people seem to love them!
Reviews
5 stars! Hot does not even come close to this read!!!
“…This read has an added bonus!!! At the end is the most tantalizing audio of the hottest part of the book. It melted my panties and made me hungry for more!!”
~ By Maureen (Amazon reader)
5 stars! Short, so sweet, and hot hot HOT!!
I am in love with Tal and Sonny! This series just keeps getting better and better with each book – and more and more intense! And I don’t know how, but the special bonus audios just keep getting HOTTER!
~ By Leigh (Amazon reader)
5 stars! Spectacular!!!
Truly spectacular and let’s not talk about the recording, I can’t even say what it did to me. Thanks, Opal.
~ By Ruth (Amazon reader)
Curious yet? 🙂
I have samples of the audios on YouTube.
Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure: https://youtu.be/62_UJcReJAY
Dirty Talk, Whispers in the Dark: https://youtu.be/lzcxUHJ-Uw4
Dirty Talk, Sweet Release: https://youtu.be/wyZIRmPf4no
Dirty Talk, Sweet Release: https://youtu.be/lwSNczBYgIs
Or you can go to my website and download the more X-rated version that I didn’t dare put on YouTube:
https://opalcarew.com/DirtyTalk1X.mp4
The Dirty Talk books have taken a lot more time and work than others because of writing and producing the audios, including editing them and integrating them into the stories, on top of the usual production issues. But it was worth it. I think the audios are quite unique… and very, very hot!
I’ve loved working on this series. I love Tal and how sweet and protective he is of Sonny. He’s the kind of hero I truly adore! And I absolutely love how my narrator, William, has brought Tal to life in the audios!
The series is actually a novel in four parts, but all four are available as of next Tuesday (May 23rd).

Sonny has a debilitating fear of men. Tal is a scary looking tattooed bad-ass. Can Tal get Sonny past her fear and help her become whole?
Sonny longs to feel the intimate touch of a man. But she is haunted by a past trauma that leaves her terrified of being with a man. Even when she dreams of being in a man’s arms, the steamy sexual situation turns into a nightmare.
Sonny has found one way to cope. A stranger’s voice has been her salvation.
Tal wants a woman to love him. To have a real, long-lasting relationship. But most women are intimidated by his bad-ass appearance, with his tattoos, piercings, and broad, muscular frame.
Tal looks the way he does because of a past fraught with pain. The tattoos aren’t going anywhere, so he needs to find a woman who will accept him for who he is… and was.
When Tal sees Sonny, he senses in her a kindred spirit. The haunting pain in her eyes draws him, but he flinches every time fear flickers across her face when she sees him.
Can Tal find a way to break through Sonny’s barriers and start something that might heal them both?
Secret Pleasure is the first exciting episode in Opal Carew’s Dirty Talk series, a poignant erotic romance about a woman struggling with her sexuality because of a devastating trauma from her past, and the strong, sensitive man who helps her find her way. If you love bad-assed alpha heroes with a strong, protective streak then you’ll love Dirty Talk!
Buy this heart-rending erotic romance today!
BONUS:
When you buy this book, you’ll also receive the erotic audio that Sonny listens to in the story. Be sure to listen to it alone–or with your lover—and be ready for your panties to melt right off!
Buy Links (go to all major vendors):
Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure: https://bit.ly/2lMGzi4
Dirty Talk, Whispers in the Dark: https://bit.ly/2mcsh6q
Dirty Talk, Sweet Release: https://bit.ly/2mCEXGu
Dirty Talk, Blissful Surrender: https://bit.ly/2qU5hei
Remember the mention of free books?
I’m not offering a contest where only a couple of people will win, because every one of you can get several free books by signing up for my Reader Group (OpalCarew.com/ReaderGroup). This gives you a chance to sample my writing to see if you enjoy it. If it’s not your style, you can unsubscribe anytime. No worries! 🙂
About Opal:
As a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of erotic contemporary romance, Opal Carew writes about passion, love, and taking risks. Her heroines follow their hearts and push past the fear that stops them from realizing their dreams… to the excitement and love of happily-ever-after.
Opal loves nail polish, cats, old movies, crystals, dragons, feathers, pink hair, the occult, Manga artwork, Zentangle, and all that glitters. She earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, and spent 15 years as a software analyst before turning to her passion as a writer. She grew up in Toronto, and now lives in Ottawa with her husband, huge nail polish collection, and five cats. One of her sons just finished his second Masters degree in Geopolitics (first at Sussex University in the UK and second at Carleton University in Ottawa.) The other son has an undergraduate degree from Carleton University and is now working at Apple. Yes, mom is proud!
Website: OpalCarew.com
New Releases: OpalCarew.com/ReaderGroup
Facebook: OpalCarewRomanceAuthor
Twitter: @opalcarew
Instagram: opal.carew
Pinterest: opalcarew
Amazon author page: bit.ly/OpalCarewAmz
Blog: bit.ly/OpalsBlog
Goodreads: bit.ly/OC_Goodreads
Tagged: erotic romance, Guest Blogger Posted in Free Read, General | Someone Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: ButtonsMom2003 -
Wednesday, May 17th, 2017

Yesterday, my book Montana Dog Soldier released. I loved writing a war dog in this story. Another author recommended a book about bomb-sniffing dogs used in the military. These animals are wonderful creatures and they do an important job. I have a friend who adopted a retired war dog and loves him dearly. It makes me happy to know these animals are being given second homes once they are retired from active service. These animals are heroes and should be treated as such. I hope you like Six. He’s the dog in Montana Dog Soldier. He and Kujo (the human) are insuperable and help each other heal from their wounds and the loss of the purposeful lives they led in the military. Transition to civilian life can be more of a challenge than going to war for most military men and women. So, please, thank veterans for their service to our country and welcome them home.
Montana Dog Soldier

Prior service Army Dog Handler Joseph “Kujo” Kuntz and his dog Six team with a female FBI agent to locate and neutralize a terrorist training camp
Discharged from the army after sustaining a shrapnel injury that left him with a limp, Joseph “Kujo” Kuntz is angry with himself and the world, and forced to start over with the injured military dog “Six” that saved his life. Kujo accepts a job with Brotherhood Protectors in the Crazy Mountains of Montana, hoping to find new purpose and come to terms with his losses.
Following a lead that a terrorist faction is near Eagle Rock, Montana, training to launch terrorist attacks, FBI agent Molly Greenbrier thinks she’s on a wild goose chase. She’s operating a drone, pretending to be a photographer for a GPS mapping company, when she’s attacked in the mountains and left for dead. Discovered by former military service dog Six and his owner, Molly is taken to the owner’s cabin where he administers first aid.
Now targeted by the faction, Molly is in danger. Kujo informs his new boss of the situation and is assigned as Molly’s protector until the team can neutralize the source of the threat. Determined to complete her mission, Molly accepts Kujo and Six’s protection and discovers an electric connection to the cantankerous former soldier. Together they struggle to locate the faction while fighting their burgeoning desire.
Amazon | Amazon UK | Nook | Kobo | IBooks | GooglePlay
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Tagged: Guest Blogger, military romance, romantic suspense Posted in General | 2 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Pansy Petal - ButtonsMom2003 -
Tuesday, May 16th, 2017
Dear Readers and Friends,
First, thanks to everyone who wrote and said you want more of my stepbrother SEAL mini-series. I do love writing them, so it’s good to know someone wants to read them!
Today, the next story in my Lone Star Lovers series is out! You remember Dani, Rowe, and Justin from the first story, Unbridled. Well, Dani’s very pissed off brother is about to have a lesson in forgiveness. It’s not a story for everyone. Infidelity is a hard thing to get past. But for Cutter, it’s a lesson he needs to learn before he can hope to find any happiness. I hope you’ll give the story a chance. And never say never until you’ve walked in another’s shoes—if only in a make-believe story 🙂
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One lonely cowboy’s revenge was never so sweet!
Cutter Standifer is a man with a rigid personal code, who’s having trouble “acclimating” to the fact his little sister is marrying one cowboy and shacking up with a second. That the man she’s marrying is the same one who shattered his world a year ago isn’t something he can get past. Forgive and forget? Like hell. Not when he lost the only woman he ever loved.
It’s been a year since Katie Grissom shared the same air as Cutter, but she can tell he’s still simmering with anger over her betrayal. However, she’s been praying for a chance to make it up to him, so when Cutter offers her a no-strings affair, she jumps at the chance, hoping to either break through the rigid wall he has built around his heart or get him out of her system for good.
When Mother Nature complicates their arrangement, she’s scared he’ll do the right thing for all the wrong reasons. Now, she may never know whether she’s truly forgiven or whether he’ll ever learn to love her again.
Get your copy now!
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I’m Hunter. It’s the name I was born with, and the name my SEAL buddies let me keep, due to my uncanny instinct for finding enemy combatants. I’m not an easy guy to know. Most women might give me a look, but there’s something in my eyes I’ve been told, that makes them wary about coming closer. A hint of violence that only freaks find sexy. Freaks—and Sara, my little sister. Stepsister, that is.
Get your copy here!
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Tagged: Texas, Western Posted in About books... | 2 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: ButtonsMom2003 - Delilah -
Monday, May 15th, 2017
UPDATE: The winner is…Annie Chanse!
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I like to write and read about strong women. Probably all of us do, from time to time, but even if I start out trying to write a more submissive character, by the end she’ll be as strong-willed as any hero. In my very first long ago erotic short story (eventually published in Dream Lover, an anthology edited by Kristina Wright for Cleis Press,) the central character is a prostitute dominated and brutalized by her pimp, a woman who has given up on herself and drifts through life. By the end, though, she has saved a demon imprisoned in a huge gargoyle outside her penthouse window, and become a powerful demonic angel herself. Yes, I also love fantasy stories.
I love to write historical fiction, too, but I don’t even bother any more to try giving my heroines a softer edge. In “Flight of the Falcon” (in Delilah’s anthology Hot Highlanders and Wild Warriors) the Armenian Lady of Aragatsotn is every bit a match for the Mongol General from Ghengis Khan’s Golden Horde. In the other relatively few straight erotica stories I’ve written, I have heroines like a hot-air balloon pilot in 1800s San Francisco, a WWII Russian bomber pilot in the factual all-women Night Witches squad, and a semi-witch who saves the supposed “ogre” in the Puss in Boots tale. All strong women letting you share in their fun, and their sex.
With my preference for strong women, it’s not surprising that most of my work in recent years has been centered on lesbian characters, where I can have two (or more) strong women to play with. When I was invited several months ago to write a lesbian superhero novella, I wavered for a while—I’ve never actually been into superheroes, and I’ve never written anything longer than a short story. But I had a hint of an idea, and it seemed like a good time to take the plunge into a somewhat longer form than a short story, so I signed a contract, did great amounts of research, and actually got my piece done by the deadline. Whew. But—let me rephrase that. BUT! I was then told that I’d squeezed so much plot into the novella that I had to expand it into novel length. Which I’m trying to do, but there’s more difference between short stories and novels than just the word count. The pacing is different, and so is the way the characters are developed, and my editorial inclination to say the most in as few words as possible (I edit short stories for anthologies) makes it hard to adjust to the novel form. In short, this project is really kicking my butt. I love my characters, and I’ll finish the book, but it may well not be any good. It certainly won’t be what superhero fans expect, but it WILL be about very strong women. The title, probably, will be The Shadow Hand, from Ylva Books in 2018
I am now officially in awe of people who can write novels.
Back on the short story anthology front, I’ve been trying for years to get my main publisher to let me take on a fairy tale theme that would center on strong women and tweak the traditional expectations. Finally, success! My newest anthology, Witches, Princesses and Women at Arms: Erotic Lesbian Fairy Tales, is written for those who have had to settle for envisioning “he” as “she” when they’re reading fairy tales. I know similar books like this have been done every now and then, but I got such great stories from excellent writers that the stories themselves are worth reading as stories, regardless of the orientation of the characters—or of the readers.
Most of you probably don’t do this private re-gendering of characters in stories you read, and you may not like to read fairytales at all. Or if you do reimagine the characters, more likely you try now and then to envision “she” as a second “he”, which is fine. I’ve dabbled in m/m fantasy myself. Any variety is good exercise for the imagination (and the senses.) All else being equal, though, I take a story where it needs to go, with the characters who can best get it there. More often than not, these characters turn out to be lesbians, and this new anthology is a prime example. I know there are many readers who have longed for flights of imagination that could sweep them up into worlds of magic and sensual delights—if only all those heroes winning the day (and, of course, the girl) didn’t get in the way. Why can’t we have heroines who win each other?
As it turns out, we can. I asked writers for erotic romance, magic, and wild adventure, with women who use their wits, special powers, and/or weapons, and come together in a blaze of passion. The writers didn’t fail me. Some adapted traditional tales, and some updated old stories to contemporary times, in every case not merely changing the gender of a character but making the female aspect essential. Some created original plots with a fairy tale sensibility, while some wrote with merely a subtle aura of fantasy.
Their heroines are witches, princesses, brave, resourceful women of all walks of life, and even a troll and a dryad. There is laughter, sly wit, and an occasional tear; curses and spells, battles and intrigue, elements of magic and explorations of universal themes; and, yes, sex, sensuality and true love, all bound together into complex and many-layered stories. Whether a character is royalty or a miller’s daughter, a woman warrior passing as a man, a sorceress in flowing robes, or even a window inspector dangling in harness on a modern high-rise building—who better to rescue a long-haired captive in a tower?—all the relationships are passionate, intense, sometimes quick to ignite, sometimes all the hotter for restraint that flares at last into a fierce blaze.
If this just isn’t your thing, though, that’s okay. Maybe you could imagine that one of the “shes” is a “he”, although the fact of the characters being female is essential to most of the plots. But you might well discover that these stories of strong women in fantasy settings are well worth reading just as they are.
The Library Journal Review says of the book, “There is one creative hit after another…An excellent series of Sapphic fantasies. Highly recommended.”
Here’s a very non-representative excerpt from my own story in the book, but really, the stories are so varied that it would be hard to cite one as being representative. I went for humor in this one, but with more than humor at its core.
Trollwise by Sacchi Green
Trip, trop, trip, trop. Hjørdis stood back in disgust as Princess Tutti pranced across the bridge, hips swaying, the false tail strapped to the seat of her gown twitching. A coy toss of Tutti’s head knocked the goat horns on her headdress slightly askew. “Oh, Mr. Troll,” she piped in a falsetto voice, “are you there today? Don’t you want to eat us up? Look, this time there is a meatier prey than just we little goats!” She cast a mocking glance back toward Hjørdis. “A buxom brood mare!”
Hjørdis would have swatted the silly girl’s rump if there had been enough of it to be worth the trouble. Or, more truthfully, if she herself had not been bound by oath to abide peaceably among these puny southerners. For now. As it was, she took a threatening stride onto the wooden planks. Tutti ran off giggling toward the meadow, from which sounds of pipes and laughter and occasional playful shrieks rose above the lazy burbling of the stream.
Princess Vesla, also adorned with horns and tail, came up timidly beside Hjørdis. “There truly was a troll under the bridge a week ago,” she said in a tremulous voice. “When Tutti called out, I heard its voice, like the rumbling of stones. She thinks it was Werther, the dancing master, trying to frighten us, but I’m sure it wasn’t!”
“Oh? What did he say?” Hjørdis made some small effort to tolerate Vesla, who was not so spiteful as her sister Tutti. She felt also a slight sympathy for the girl, who had formed a hopeless passion for Hordis’s captive brother Harald. At least accompanying them on their outing, however nasty it promised to be, was an excuse to leave the castle.
“It said, ‘Scrawny bones not fit to pick my teeth! Get you gone!’” Vesla shivered. “But we haven’t heard anything since.”
Hjørdis knew a great deal more about trolls than these little twits ever could. More than anyone could who had not known Styggri. That sounded all too much like what Styggri would say, in a humorous mood. But Styggri had crossed into another world from which there was no return.
Hjørdis looked more closely at the bridge. Its sides and the pillars beneath were stone, with wooden planking wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side over its double arch. And wide enough for a troll to lurk beneath, although why one should wish to, or venture this far south at all, was beyond her. Still… She gazed far upstream to where water surged out from a cleft in a rocky hillside. Nothing to compare with the jagged mountains and plummeting rivers of her home, but still part of a long arm of hills and ridges reaching out from those same mountains.
“You go on to your frolicking.” She gave Vesla as gentle a shove as she could manage. Gods, these pampered southern girls were brittle, twiggy things! And their brother the prince—her husband under duress—was no better. “I’ll sit a while here in the shade of the birches. This heat annoys me.”
“Oh! Are you, then…already…”
“No! And if I were, it would be too soon to know. Go along now!”
Vesla went, trying to keep the gilded wooden heels of her shoes from making as much noise on the bridge as Tutti’s had done. Once safely across she looked back over her shoulder. “Give Werther a few stomps from me,” Hjordis called. The foolish dancing master deserved whatever he got, with his tales of ancient times in foreign lands where satyrs danced on goat hooves and bands of women ran wild under the spell of a wine god.
Get your copy here!
Giveaway
Comment about strong women, fairy tales, or short stories versus novels, and be entered for a drawing to win a paperback copy (in North America) or an ebook (elsewhere) of Witches, Princesses, and Women at Arms.
About the Author
Sacchi Green is an award-winning writer and editor of erotica and other stimulating genres. Her stories have appeared in scores of publications, including eight volumes of Best Lesbian Erotica, four of Best Women’s Erotica, and three of Best Lesbian Romance. In recent years she’s taken to wielding the editorial whip, editing thirteen lesbian erotica anthologies, including Lesbian Cowboys (winner of a Lambda Literary Award,) Girl Crazy, Lesbian Lust, Women with Handcuffs, Girl Fever, Wild Girls, Wild Nights (also a Lambda Award Winner,) Me and My Boi, and Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year 20th Anniversary Edition, all from Cleis Press, as well as Through the Hourglass: Lesbian Historical Romance and Thunder of War, Lightning of Desire (Lethe Press.) Sacchi lives in the Five College area of western Massachusetts, gets away to her NH mountain retreat as often as possible, and makes the occasional foray into the real world to do readings in New York and other exotic locales. She can be found online at www.sacchi-green.blogspot.com and on Facebook..
Tagged: anthology, fairytale, historical, LGBT, short story Posted in Contests!, General | 7 People Said | Link
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Sunday, May 14th, 2017
Why do we love vampires so much? Why do we find them endlessly fascinating? From the dark and creepy Nosferatu and Dracula, to Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, we can’t seem to get enough of these dark, compelling figures.
Depending on the mythology the author creates, vampires are either loathed or desired. They tap into our darker passions and fantasies where the normal rules of society do not apply. They are powerful, drawing their strength from blood, usually that of humans but not always. Sometimes they must feed from others of their own kind. There are endless possibilities when it comes to the world of the vampire. It is only limited by the imagination of the writer and the kind of story they want to tell.
Vampires are survivors. They hide among us, all the while keeping their true identities a heavily guarded secret. They often have skills beyond our human capabilities and understanding. Some are stronger and faster. Others can shapeshift. Yet almost all need our blood in order to survive. Deadly and dangerous, they lure us, willing or unwilling, into their sphere. They are often loners, walking in the shadows of our world. Sometimes, they band together to create a family of sorts. They are poets and warriors, rock stars and recluses. We fear them even as we are drawn to them. They allow us to examine and even delight in the darker aspects of our own nature.
I admit I’m a sucker for a wounded hero. And who is more wounded than a vampire who is destined to be alone unless he can find that one special woman who completes him? And what will that vampire do to protect her when he finally finds her after centuries of searching?
Now you can find out, because the Dalakis vampires are back. They weren’t really dead, just gone for a few years from the online bookstores because of a publisher closure, but they’re getting a second life.
LUCIAN’S DELIGHT

Book Two in the sizzling Dalakis Passion vampire romance series!
For years Delight Deveraux suffered from a recurring nightmare of being savagely attacked and assaulted, until the night a mysterious stranger appears in her dream to rescue her. When the same scene plays itself out in real life just days later, with the same mesmerizing dream man coming to her rescue, Delight suddenly finds herself swirling in a haze of passion and confusion, between what’s real and what’s not. But Lucian Dalakis is real, and he intends not just to save her but to bind her to himself for all time.
Lucian is a creature of the dark and must endure the same curse as all Dalakis men: they love only once in their lives, and may search for all eternity without ever finding their mate. When Delight shows up unexpectedly in Lucian’s life, he knows immediately that he has found his one true love. But her life is still in danger from the same vicious attackers, and he will do everything in his power to protect her, even as he uses every one of his seductive powers to keep her close.
As Delight surrenders to the searing passion that erupts every time they’re together, she’s also torn by the fearful prospect of giving herself fully to a vampire—even as Lucian secretly knows that the one woman who could complete him and be his for all time also has the power to destroy him…
This is a revised edition of a previous published book.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://amzn.com/B071DW31BJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/722244
Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/m7uu26u
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/lucian-s-delight-2
About the Author
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
Visit me at:
Website: https://www.njwalters.com
Blog: https://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
Tagged: Guest Blogger, paranormal, vampire Posted in General | 3 People Said | Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Mary Dellenbusch - N.J. Walters - Delilah -
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