Thanks so much to the fabulous Delilah Devlin for having me!!!  Have you read all of her books? Seriously, you should!

As writers, we always hear the words “write what scares you.” and given that it’s nearly Halloween and ghoulies are gearing up for the big night while the level of candy corn in my vat on the coffee table sinks suspiciously lower, I thought I’d talk about fear today.

Ignoring the big “I’m a human and instinctively scared of death, pain, natural disaster, and reality show contestants,” like love and taste in music, fear is individual – I am terrified of bugs and things jumping out at me, but blood doesn’t bother me at all.  I love being scared at the movies, but you couldn’t get me on a roller coaster, and I despise things jumping out at me (Haunted Houses, **shudder**).  If I see a copy of Stephen King’s “It” on the bookcase, I have to stop and read a few chapters, no matter that the experience will leave me scarred for the rest of the day.

I’ve been writing Halloween shorts for my BEWITCH ME collection, and while they’re not frightening in the classic sense of the word, I did try to think about the old order to “write what scares you,” if not in terms of oozing monsters with chainsaws, then in terms of what happens when you fall for someone completely different from yourself.  If you’ve been hurt, can you be brave enough to open up to someone?  If you happen to be powerful and strong, can you relate to someone who’s not?  Can you face the consequences of your actions and take your medicine, admitting you were wrong?  All of these emotional fears are very, very human, and it’s been interesting to write characters grappling with these questions and finding points of connection and compassion as they figure out the answers.  Of course, ALL writing is therapy, and characters love to force us to face our own fears and examine our insecurities under a microscope.

And don’t forget, being scared of something gives us the best excuse in the world to huddle together – there is safety in numbers!  This October, curl up with a horror movie, grab your sweetie, and be happy for this magical, ghoulish season that brings us all together for some scary Halloween fun.

Email: LilyCRede@gmail.com
Twitter: @RedeLily
Author Page: https://amzn.com/e/B008OC9048

Bewitch Me Buy Link

Five steamy short stories to fill your nights with sexy, spooky delight. Even good witches get to be a little bad on Halloween, and sparks will fly when love, lust and magic get all tangled up in these hot paranormal shorts.  Collection includes PASSION & PUMPKINS, MY FAIR HEX, ENSORCELLED, THAT MAGIC TOUCH, and BEWITCH ME.

From THAT MAGIC TOUCH:

“Had I known I was going to spend all night in a fridge, I would have dressed for the occasion.”

Wes’ eyes slid over her neat white blouse and black mini-skirt, lingering on the hint of lace at the tops of her thigh highs before following them down to her sensible shoes. Jane felt a curl of heat that had absolutely nothing to do with the temperature in the room. Wes rubbed his hands.

“I can warm you up, if you don’t mind a little magic…”

“No! I’d rather be cold.”

Wes frowned.

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“Not to you, it’s not!”

Jane tugged her skirt down and curled up as best she could as Wes made a sound of pure male frustration. He shrugged off his jacket and tucked it around her shoulders, his raised eyebrow daring her to protest. With a sniff of gratitude, Jane snuggled into the fabric, trying to ignore how it smelled of Wes and clean soap and linen.

Wes sat down across from her, leaning against another shelving unit.

“I would conjure up a deck of cards, but I’m afraid that might offend your delicate sensibilities.”

Jane scowled at him.

“You make fun, but is it so bad to just want my life to be somewhat normal?”

When normal is the one thing you can’t give me.

The thought was depressing. Life without Wes and Esme would be…bland.

“Normal gets old pretty fast.”

1NS 200 Birthday Celebration and Giveaway

Good Morning! I am super stoked to be one of Decadent Publishing’s 1NS Authors. I remember two years ago when this line went live. I had friends telling me to jump on board.  When I had time, I checked it out. I’d never seen a calling that had a deets sheet with some background. Once I read the set up I was hooked. When I originally began writing for the line, there was only a contemporary kind of feel. Down the line, that opened up to paranormal, GBLT, ScFi and a mixture of genres.

Check out the blog!

I began with:

Burn Me if You Can– A fun interracial short novella with two diverse characters. Madame Eve knows how to deliver future mates, that’s for sure.

Working for the Wichita Tribune is the best thing that’s ever happened to Rebekah Shayne, until she takes an assignment aimed to take down a prestigious matchmaking firm. She’s determined to ferret out the falsities, schemes, and swindling companies manipulating lonely souls.

Ashton Foster doesn’t believe in on line dating. When his mother takes charge of his personal life, he knows it’s useless to fight her and would rather go through a few dates with strangers than let her push the unending stream of locals down his throat vying for his pocketbook. In this he finds the perfect opportunity to downplay who he is and become a regular type of guy.

Tell Me No Lies – Taking a walk on the paranormal side, I chose an Angel and a seemingly innocent woman working in a sinful environment.

Trading Up– A sizzling hot interracial romance with sensory deprivation and two likeminded individuals standing in their own way of finding happiness.

Camilla’s deal breakers make finding a man to fit her wants, needs, and desires darn near impossible. For years she’s been primped and primed to be the perfect political daughter, when all she really wants to do is let loose without her world collapsing. When a friend sends her Madam Eve’s way, she grabs the opportunity to explore without being outed to the conservative watchdogs.

Jonah Dawson’s career is heading for a change. His friends have dubbed him married to the military, and he can’t deny that his focus has been off center. While they enjoy the pleasures of life and wives, he has nothing to come home to. When offered the chance for a 1NS, he signs up, unprepared for the exotic woman whose sweet exterior masks enticing sexuality.

Sensory deprivation and the natural freedom of anonymity launch unexpected sexual desires. Madame Eve’s only request–Enjoy the sweetness of life and let the chips fall where they may–leaves this couple eager for an eye-opening experience that breaks all the rules.

My Favorite 1NS Stories – Here’s the list of stories at a glance!

Satin Sheets In Space – Jessica Subject
Always A Marine Series– Heather Long
The Virgin Series– Kate Richards
Bella Ink – L. C. Dean
Cinderella Wore Combat Boots – Dawn Jackson
Take Down– Stacey Kennedy
One Night with A Wolf – Rebecca Royce
Want– Ann Mayburn

Enter the Rafflecopter Contest!

If you haven’t checked out the 1NS line, make sure you do. Here’s to finding great reads 😛

When Powers Collide

Thank you, Delilah, for having me around to visit today!

One of my favorite things about writing paranormal romance is the opportunity to write about powerful women – not just in the ass-kicking sense (though that’s fun too) but also in the has-her-shit-together, calm-in-the-face-of-any-crisis, ruler-of-her-personal-universe sense.  The heroine of my newest release (Karma of Naughty Karma) is one such woman.  In every book of the Karmic Consultants series, as all her consultants are finding love and saving the world (or, in one case, saving a wedding), she’s shown that she’s strong, she’s smart, she’s got mad psychic powers, and she’s used to being the boss.  So who could possibly capture her heart?

From the day I started writing the KC para-rom-com series, I knew the man for Karma was going to have to be something special.  I think a truly powerful woman needs an equally powerful man, someone she can’t walk all over.  Someone who will challenge her and never be cowed by her authority.  Someone who can truly be her partner.

But because it’s no fun if they just fall into one another’s arms, of course the first time they meet they wouldn’t be partners.  He had to be her nemesis.  And so Prometheus – the unscrupulous warlock with jaw-dropping powers of his own – was born.  And boy did I ever have fun pitting these two against one another… and forcing them to work together.

What would Elizabeth Bennett be without Darcy to pit her wits against?  In J.D. Robb’s In Death series, who can match up with Eve Dallas if not Roark?  In Nalini Singh’s Psi-Changelings, Hawke could only be mated to someone as epically powerful as Siena.  I gotta say I love a good power couple.

Do you have a favorite powerful pair?

Double crossing the devil is a dangerous business.

Karmic Consultants, Book 7

Nearly two decades ago, Prometheus sold his beating heart to a devil in exchange for epic power. That contract is about to expire—and so is he. There’s only one woman with the power to help him see his next birthday. And he’s willing to use every manipulation in his arsenal to pry that power from the ice queen’s grip.

Karma, who values order above all else, has had enough of the unscrupulous warlock’s pranks endangering her people. But when she confronts the wily trickster to demand a cease-fire, his terms throw her for a loop. The bastard wants her to save his life—and he wants her in his bed.

Clinging to her hard-won control is the only way Karma knows to keep her abilities from overwhelming her. If anyone can tempt her to embrace the chaos of her magic, it’s Prometheus.

One kiss brings her defenses crashing down. But can she trust Prometheus…or has she lost her own heart to a warlock with a hidden agenda?

Warning: This book contains scheming, manipulation, bargains-with-the-devil, and meddling consultants. All’s fair in love and magic.

MY WEBSITE:  https://www.viviandrews.com

BIO: Vivi Andrews is the award-winning author of over a dozen paranormal romance novels and novellas.  A nomad at heart, she lives in Alaska when she isn’t indulging her travel addiction.  For more about Vivi and her books, please visit her website (www.viviandrews.com) or blog (Ramblings from the Road, www.viviandrews.blogspot.com).

BUY LINKS:
Amazon | B&N |  Samhain:

Here’s a short excerpt of Karma and Prometheus going toe-to-toe.  Thanks again for having me, Delilah!

EXCERPT:

“You ass.” She stalked into the heart of his shop, the rap of her heels sharp on the hardwood floor. “I was willing to overlook the medallions you’d sold all over town, causing all manner of magical havoc.”

“Overlook? If no one was causing supernatural problems, you wouldn’t have any to solve. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to your business. I should get a commission.”

She didn’t appear to hear him. Her smoky, sex-kitten voice rasped over his words, gaining volume. “I chose not to respond to the pranks around Samhain and Beltane, and I ignored what I suspect was a curse of some variety designed to prevent me from being able to keep a receptionist for longer than a week.”

“I lifted that curse weeks ago.” Immediately after he’d semi-accidentally summoned a demon to harass her. It seemed the least he could do.

She went on as if he hadn’t spoken, though her hands clenched, rewarding him for the comment. “I refused to sink to your level, decided not to engage, but this? Siccing a demon on my brother’s wedding. A demon.”

“You have an exorcist on staff.”

“You sent a demon to stop my brother’s wedding!” she shrieked in an admirable impression of a banshee.

“It was a minor demon. And it wasn’t tasked with stopping the wedding. Just disrupting it a little.”

“A little? You almost killed my wedding planner!”

“Are you always this concerned with things that almost happen? I almost rescue orphans from burning buildings on a regular basis. Then I remember I don’t particularly give a shit about orphans.”

“You want things that actually happened? He actually possessed the wedding planner’s car and crashed it. He stalked her for three weeks. He kidnapped her!”

“What’s a little kidnapping among friends?”

“We are not friends. You’re—” She broke off, reduced to sputtering her rage.

“Dashing? Magnetic? Unscrupulous?”

If she could have lit him on fire with her eyes, he would have been a smoldering pile of ash. “There are no words vile enough to describe you.”

“You realize all of this could have been avoided if you’d let me hire you in the first place.”

“My people don’t work for ethical black holes.”

“Ethics.” He flicked his fingers dismissively. “Rules we make for ourselves are easily changed, bent or broken. Survival of the fittest is the truest law. Unbreakable.”

“I’m not going to debate morality with you.”

“What are you going to do? Punish me?” He smiled wolfishly. “That could be fun. I have been a bad, bad boy.”

She glared at him, sparks all but shooting from her eyes, hands on hips, her anger radiating a fierce heat. She’d missed her calling as a dominatrix. Give that woman a whip.

Musings on…the Weather?

Huge thanks to Delilah for hosting me today. I’m excited to be here!

I grew up in Michigan and Ohio, but I’ve been living in Texas for nearly a decade. We were warned about the weather, but at first Texas tried to deceive us. Two weeks after we moved in, we had a snowstorm on Valentine’s Day with five inches of snow. And that summer, it rained for almost the entire month of June. By the time July rolled around, Texas started to show its true colors, and we knew we were in trouble. I’ve been known to offer to trade my firstborn for a cloudy day during the summer. Needless to say, I still haven’t adjusted to the weather.

During mid-July this year, with afternoon highs well into the 100s, nighttime lows hovering in the 80s, no rain to speak of, and backyard swimming pools as warm as bath water, I was diligently working on edits to my forthcoming debut release. It’s a Regency historical set in London. So naturally, I started daydreaming about the weather there as I edited.

I visited London in June 2009. Average highs were in the mid-70s, and average lows in the 50s. I wore jeans! And sweaters! It was cloudy much of the time, and drizzled a bit. Never mind the sights – the trip was worth it just for the weather. But the sights were pretty fabulous, too.

Windsor Castle – check out those gorgeous clouds!

So you’re probably wondering if I added rain and below average temperatures to my story. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until November to find out.

Ally’s Bio:

Ally Broadfield lives in Texas and is convinced her house is shrinking, possibly because she shares it with three kids, five dogs, two cats, a rabbit, and several reptiles. Oh, and her husband.  She likes to curse in Russian and spends most of her spare time letting dogs in and out of the house and shuttling kids around. She writes historical romance and middle grade/young adult fantasy. Her first book, Just a Kiss, is coming from Entangled Publishing in November 2013.

Please stop by my website in November. I’ll be participating in a blog tour with giveaways in celebration of my debut release.

website: https://allybroadfield.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/allybroadfield
Twitter: www.twitter.com/abroadfield

The Time to Give Thanks

Thank you, Delilah, for allowing me to stop in and visit with you and your readers again. The last time I was here, my post was about the Canadian long weekend in May, our Victoria Day holiday, which is when my current release Worth the Risk takes place.  Due to the timing of this visit, I thought I’d talk about another holiday—this weekend is our Thanksgiving.  So, yes, I’m spending the weekend cooking. Hmm, not unlike most weekends, but this one’s special – it’s turkey time!

Just like in the U.S., Canadians give thanks for a good harvest and any other good fortunes over the past year, and we take time to stuff ourselves with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie, well, I actually prefer apple.  😆  However, our Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated earlier, on the second Monday of October.

Traditionally, this is a national public holiday for most of us, and although we do tend to get together with family on the Thanksgiving weekend, the holiday itself is not as big a celebration in Canada as it is in the U.S. While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, many will actually celebrate it on the Sunday.

Last time I was here, I talked about how we generally used the May long weekend as our springboard into summer—we open everything up—our pools, our camps and summer cottages. Well, we use this one to close them all up.  Summer is officially over, all done. It’s time to pack it up, sweep it away, and pull out the winter wear. Yuck. Coats and boots we’ve been hiding in the basement. *shiver* We look longingly at our shorts, swimsuits and sandals.  If we’re lucky though, it’s a beautiful warm fall day, the leaves have already turned to bright reds, oranges and yellows, and they’re gently falling from the trees.  Just in time for the kids and hubby to rake them up!  Pumpkins, squash and Indian corn are in abundance and adorn dining room tables, front entrances, and create beautiful crisp masterpieces that (hopefully) last through Halloween.

A few interesting facts:

• Canadian’s don’t have a Black Monday.  Our biggest shopping day is Boxing Day
• Similar to the U.S., Canadians have parades and watch football on the holiday Monday
• Kitchener Waterloo hosts Oktoberfest – if you’re looking for German music, beer and Schnapps, Kitchener is the place to be (if you can’t actually be in Germany of course 😀 )
• Quebec Francophones don’t consider it an important holiday – it’s simply a day off!
• The Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day

Now, remember when I said we took the time to express our thanks?  Every day, I’m thankful for my family and friends, both close and extended, my health, and my job. But this year, I saw my dream of becoming published come to fruition. And before the end of the year, I should see my second book hit the e-market. For that, I’m especially thankful too everyone involved in making that happen.

In my upcoming release, Friends with Benefits, Tyler is most thankful for the woman he shares his life with.  When he finds out that his best friend is moving to town, Tyler decides this may be the opportune time to surprise his wife, the woman he loves more than life itself, by fulfilling some of her fantasies, and Connor is the one man he trusts to help him do just that.

You trust your friend.

You love your wife.

Is your relationship with both of them strong enough
to put it all to the ultimate test?

There’s only one way to find out…

All images are for promotional purposes only and do not reflect the actual cover
or character images.  Author as appropriate rights for the use of all images.

I want to wish all my American friends a happy Columbus Day and all my Canadian family and friends a happy Thanksgiving!  Tell me…what are you thankful for?

To purchase Worth the Risk:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo | Bookstrand

To connect with Anne:

Web Page/Blog | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

A Cowboy and a Guitar

Thanks for hosting me today, Delilah! I’m excited to chat with your wonderful readers.

Country Western singers play a huge role in my fantasy life. A few years ago, I attended a concert with my girlfriends. We had too much fun planning naughty stolen moments with the opening act.

I just imagined what it would be like to get invited backstage by him, into his dressing room, accept a glass of whiskey from him, and sip it while watching him strip off his shirt. “Sure, I’ll wait while you take a shower,” I say, and he grins at me, takes the glass from my hand, and shakes his head. “You’re commin’ in with me, sugar.”

Hmm, should I risk messing up my makeup…oh heck, who am I kidding? I’m naked and in the shower before he can get his boots off!

Our first kiss is whiskey flavored, hot and slow. He likes to take his time. But he is intense, knows exactly what he wants and (woo-hoo!) exactly what I need. Do we ever see each other again? Of course we do! This is a romantic fantasy. Somehow, he tracks me down and we start a crazy-wild relationship that lasts happily ever after.

Fantasies are wonderful, aren’t they? Who’s the country star you daydream about? Are you sneaking backstage with him? Or do you have a different fantasy planned for him? Leave a comment for a chance to win!

Book 1 of the Hot Country Series: Country music superstar/actor Chase Tanner has yet to be denied anything–and he’s never wanted anything or anyone more than gorgeous screenplay writer Reno Linden. So when the film they are working on is finally finished, Chase decides to turn up the volume on seducing Reno.

Reno Linden lived a quiet, rural life until she was thrust into the Hollywood scene when her book was adapted to film. Chase Tanner is larger than life, sinfully sexy and hell-bent on getting her into bed. Skittish after a failed wedding engagement, Reno risks the plunge into Chase’s arms, and is surprised that her good girl self can keep up with bad boy Chase.

Though Chase returns to his cowboy roots often, and Reno cherishes the time spent with him on his ranch, the two find their careers pulling them in different directions. Will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

Excerpt from Chase and Seduction – Book 1 of the Hot Country Series:

Reno looked at Chase for a minute, losing herself in the dark passion in his eyes. Fisting her hand in his silky hair, she pulled him down to her and kissed him. Her tongue plunged in, twisting with his.

He took over, his lips slanting on hers, his breath hot and sweet as he explored every crevice of her mouth, teasing and caressing. His arms wrapped tightly, and he spread his feet apart so his hips could grind back and forth across her mound.

Her mind numbed to everything but the throbbing of her slit, the trickle of cream dripping from her opening onto her swollen lips, wetting her panties. She pulled his head back, still gripping his hair, and took huge breaths. “I’m drowning, Chase. Don’t let me go.”

“Reno.” His voice caught. “Never.” He walked her backward three steps and flattened her against the hard wall. His eyes bore into hers, his pupils dilated, making them look black, sensual, intense. He ran a hand up under her shirt, up to her breast. Her nipple grew rock hard as he teased it with his thumb, circling then squeezing it.

The pleasure ached, shivered down her belly, down low between her legs, making her cry out with the urgency of her need. He had to take her. Now. She couldn’t wait.

Chase tugged up her bra and fit her breast into his hand. “Oh baby, this is so fucking much better than I imagined.”

She stared at him, his face so close it seemed like a dream. Her voice seemed to come from far away. “Did you, Chase? Did you think about this? About making love to me?” She wanted to cry, for some insane reason—cry and hold on to him forever.

He gyrated his hips against her, hitting her clit through her clothes. “Yeah, I thought about this. Every time we talked, every time I saw you across a room.” He took her nipple between his finger and thumb again and caressed it. “And a hundred times a day when I could only see you in my mind.”

The ecstasy streaking from her breast to her pussy was outrageous. Sweet, heavenly contractions began, and she tipped up her hips to better feel his cock against her clit. The increased pressure flooded her pussy with heat as her climax neared.

“Reno.” He captured her mouth with his, demanding and driving, his need becoming frantic. He moved his hand from her breast to the waistband of her shorts and slid his fingers in, catching her lacy underwear with it.

Wanting to prolong her ecstasy, she pulled away from his kiss and caught her breath while she unbuttoned his shirt and yanked it open. Seeing his muscular pecs and abs, she lost all control and ran her hands over his hot, satiny skin, making circles with her fingers in the auburn hair lightly covering his chest. She leaned forward and bit him on the collarbone.

He cried out. “Oh yeah, baby, I like a little pain.”

She kissed the spot she’d just bitten. “And a little pleasure?” She’d never been so bold with a man. All her inhibitions had packed up and left.

He yanked her shorts and underwear down to the floor then stood and cupped her pussy with his big hand. “A lot of pleasure.”

**********

Leave a comment sharing the name of your fantasy ‘cowboy with a guitar’ for a chance to win an e-copy of Cowboy 6 Pack plus a box of swag.

Thank you!

Randi
“Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied”
RandiAlexander.com

-Chase and Seduction is Book 1 of the Hot Country Series, and is available digitally at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, and in paperback at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Createspace

A big thank you to Delilah for letting me play in her sandbox for a bit.

October has to be my favorite month of the year for a number of reasons. It’s my birthday month. Fall weather has usually rolled in. Boots and sweaters can be pulled out of the back of the closet. And I get to decorate for the spooky-ooky season, Halloween.

Even before I had children, I loved putting up cobwebs, flickering candles and tombstones. Now they help me drag stuff out of the attic. We end up with stuff all over the living room, foyer and front yard. Despite having boxes of stuff, we still add to it every year.

And costumes? I’ve lost count of how many we have. But like the decorations, almost every year I think of a new one to put together. This year I’m thinking Firefly (the show, not the insect).

My love of the odd, unusual and paranormal is probably why I was so drawn to Tullamore Castle, the setting for the Emerald Isle Fantasies series.

Tullamore is an enchanted castle-turned hotel, set in Ireland that is home to ghosts, witches, werewolves, vampires, selkies and other creatures that go bump in the night. While all of those paranormal beings might seem frightening to some, erotic delights can be found around almost every corner.

My book, Ghostly Persuasion, is the fourth book in this multi-author series.

When American-born Katie Ward takes her mother’s ashes home to Ireland, she finds hunky but spell-bound Seamus MacDonhnaill loitering in her suite at Tullamore Castle. Seamus is surprised Katie can see and hear him because he was turned into a spirit three hundred years earlier.

Seamus acts as her personal tour guide around the castle and estate. Not only does he show her the historical sights but Seamus introduces her to voyeurism and a variety of other cardinal delights. As frustrating as it is for them to not be able to touch each other, they push the limits as far possible.

Katie is determined to help Seamus break the spell cast on him by the wife of one of the previous lords. A woman he refused to take as a lover. Seamus only knows the spell will not be broken until he finds and claims his one true love. With help from a few castle ghosts and the local witch, Katie’s cousin, they break the spell.

Katie and Seamus fulfill her mother’s last request by spreading her ashes along the shoreline then begin their life together.

Get it now:
Ellora’s Cave  /  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Stop by my website later this month. I’ll be participating in a blog hop and giving away prizes.
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