Good Morning! I’m so excited to be blogging here today.

When I first sat down to write this story, I never believed I could take a very short story and spin the plot out to where it is today. In the past few years, I’ve learned that what you plan on writing out doesn’t always turn out as expected. In the beginning, Amara and Marisol was a f/f story with no plans on adding a hero to the mix. Out of nowhere this strong male who met the females through The Delightful Kitten made an unforgettable entrance that couldn’t be oppressed. My sweet heroines found in him the mate who could complete them emotionally, and physically. I’m excited to have readers take a journey into the world of the Kanima and into the lives of three unique individuals, one who fought tooth and nail most of the way.

Amaranta Costa uses her Kanima as an avoidance tactic, until the one person she cherishes most is taken from her. When Gavin Ford enters the fray uninvited, she’s forced to accept the help of his pack to find her mate.

Trusting others isn’t her forte. Though her inner jaguar accepts him hands down, the woman in her fights his dominating, take-control nature. Unlike Marisol’s soft personality, Gavin’s wolf challenges her at every turn. She can find no escape. His abrasiveness both sets her on edge and pleases her. She finds being in Marisol’s arms isn’t enough; the all-consuming need to be his burns to her core. There’s no denying the chemical attraction arcing among the three of them.

Will she reach out, and accept the love and support waiting for her?

Buy Link
ARe
Amazon
B & N

Mari flicked a gaze between them and nudged her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. Amara jumped so fast at her words their heads collided.

“That fucking hurt. You have a head made of steel, Amara.”

“Damn it. Baby, I’m sorry. You surprised me. I can’t believe you think I’m interested in him,” she hissed low, offended by the accusation.

“You’re acting funny. Really odd. I’ve never seen you behave this way.”

“Drop it, sexy. I don’t want dick.”

“Keep on lying to yourself,” Mari volleyed back. Amara barely heard the last few words out of her lover’s mouth.

“Marisol.” Amara growled. “Drop it now.” Damn crazy woman goaded her into anger. Seeing the red haze begin to cloud her vision, she took a few calming breaths to shove her jaguar back in place.

“Ladies?” Gavin moved to come between them.

“Back off, mongrel.” Amara turned her body to the side, shoving Gavin with all her strength away from them. The bulk of his large frame crashed into the wall, knocking knick-knacks onto the floor. Draven and Theron both rose, she assumed to intervene.

“Kitten, sheath your fucking claws.” He extricated himself from the raining sheetrock and paint to stalk over to her. Rage sparkled in his eyes. He reminded her of a Berserker. Not good. Her calculations told her she could take him and win. The accuracy of such thoughts, when balanced against her ego, said otherwise. “No, you didn’t just call me some ridiculous, endearing term. We’re fighting right now. Stupid dog.”

“Oh, shit.” Mari squeaked and slid from her arms to Draven’s. Amara’s jaw dropped open. Her girlfriend wasn’t going to rub her back and calm her down. Instead, she took a front row seat. Heat suffused Amara’s face. By the look of things, the lapdog brothers of his stayed back, intent to watch, not interfere. In a dark alley on an equally eclipsed night, she’d find herself worried to go up against him. He drew his body larger with every step he took toward her. Amara quaked in her boots, not from fear but from the new awareness sparking within her. A feeling she didn’t like one bit.

Her heartbeat danced a new cadence as she fought between darting away and standing her ground. So what? A little plaster is good for a person. She curbed her rampant thought.

“We don’t have time for this. There’s a madman loose. I must hunt.” Hackles raised, she backed up a step for each one he took closer to her personal space. Gavin could easily reach out and shake her like a rag doll but apparently chose not to. She had no idea what his aim was or how to strategize a way out of venting his anger. Her gaze honed in on the growing bulge in his pants. When he turned from her and walked over to Marisol, she sucked in a deep breath, a sigh of relief. He murmured something to her girlfriend and she nodded her head yes to him.

“What are you two conspiring to do?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Gavin snapped her way, baring his fangs. He pivoted, heading in her direction, his jawline twitching.

Every assassin knew all entrance and exit points in a house. In the position she found herself against the far wall, nowhere to go, her only way out was to fight. I don’t want to hurt him.

Where her traitorous thought came from, she hadn’t a clue. He drew closer to her by taking larger steps than her small ones away from him. His scent hit her nose and her jaguar paced under her skin. Her pussy began to throb. To ache. Gods, the slight twinge intensified, bringing her to her knees. On wobbly legs she rose to stand her ground, defiant, her claws unsheathed for self-preservation. Her mouth salivated, wanting a taste. His eyes glimmered in amusement. She watched him trace his bottom lip with his tongue. Her nipples hardened from the sensual act. A brief thought of what his lips would feel like grazing along her skin flitted through her mind.

“What are you afraid of?” His coarse question broke through the erotic thoughts stream-lining in her head. The second he stepped close enough to cage her body between the walls and his chest, she faced self-truth.

“You. Me.” Her second word was lost to their audience as his mouth crushed down on hers and she was taken in a tailspin of sensations. His possession dragged her into an abyss of dark pleasure. Anger never tasted so good. She heard herself moan and couldn’t stop herself from running her hands up his chest, her body leaning into his for more. Gavin angled his head to part her mouth with his tongue. The taste of him sent shards of electricity to pulse between her thighs. Her needy cunt creamed. Startled by his effect on her, she struggled to break free, and realized she’d just become an active participant in Gavin’s kissing game, with her mate as audience in the room with them. Guilt overwhelmed her and she panicked. Gavin nipped her bottom lip between his teeth and bit. The look on his face told her they were by no means finished yet. He gave her one additional suckle, let go, and pushed off the wall out of her close proximity. Like a beast guarding his territorial rights, she watched him scowl at the additional members of his team who’d come in at an inopportune time, including some she-bitch to the right of the room, whose attitude hit her full blast.

* * * * *

Contest:

I have a wonderful Satin and Steel coffee mug and keychain to give away. Comment with your email address for a chance to win. For additional chances, like me on facebook and follow my twitter @hales300

Author Bio:

Being smart and sassy with a great sense of humor comes easily for Mahalia Levey. An avid reader of books, she found herself enchanted with disappearing completely into the worlds authors created. One day she vowed to herself she’d be one of them. Then family life came, and college right after. Swayed from her childhood course of action, it took many years for her to get

back to that place she held dear as a child. Now she is running full steam ahead to keep up with the many ideas flowing freely. She plans on taking her work to higher levels and expanding her genres. Her main focus is giving her readers variety. Her works in progress include paranormal, fantasy and mainstream romance. Taking characters and watching them grow past what she’s imagined is her true passion.

www.mahalialevey.com
www.facebook.com/mahalialevey
www.twitter.com/hales3000
www.goodreads.com/mahalialevey

Fedora is the winner! Congratulations! ~DD

* * * * *

Sandra Jones’s Casting Couch

I’m so excited to be a guest on Delilah’s blog. We’re in the same RWA chapter, and I can tell you, she’s a fabulous lady.

I’ve been writing the first draft of a new historical, and I’m spending countless hours online researching to get all the historical details correct. By day, I’m a librarian, so I find research half the fun anyway—I’m just weird like that, I know!

One thing that I can’t resist is finding pictures of actors who best fit the characters I envision. My current hero is based on a fairly popular actor, so finding pics of every angle and expression he wears is a breeze. Admittedly, I’m kinda crushing on him…but I think we’re all supposed to fall in love with our heroes at least a little. J

If I ever sell one of my stories for a movie, I’d be tempted to offer a few suggestions for the stars. For my casting couch, I’m looking for men who look great in chainmail, kilts, or cravats. Think Mr. Darcy, William Wallace, or Lancelot. Would the actor look alpha in a ruffled, unbuttoned shirt? If so, he’s my guy! Here are a few of my current obsessions:

Taylor Kitsch
Joe Maganiello
Gerard Butler
Ian Somerhold

Who would you want to see on a casting couch? Leave a comment for me on Delilah’s blog, and I’ll give one commenter a copy of the ebook!

The Author

Sandra Jones is the author of sensual historical romances. She worked as a bookseller and as a librarian, where she indulged in her love of old books. When not researching or writing, she enjoys being with family, reading, and watching British TV. A self-proclaimed history geek, she currently lives in a 1905 Greek revival home in the Mississippi Delta.

Sandra loves to hear from her readers: visit her website www.sandrajonesromance.com or on Twitter: sjonesromance Facebook or Pinterest

Sandra’s latest is HER CHRISTMAS KNIGHT, a medieval romance story included in FIVE GOLDEN RINGS: A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, available in ebook now from Avon Impulse and in paperback in January.

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS

by Sophie Barnes, Karen Erickson, Rena Gregory, Sandra Jones, Vivienne Lorret

The holidays are a time for wishes, magic and, of course, love. Celebrate the season with this delightful collection of Christmas tales. What better way for Connor Talbot, Earl of Redfirn, to spend the holidays than convincing Leonora Compton that the only match she needs to make is with him!

The Duke of Ashton has had three years to plan for his perfect Christmas present—the Lady Eleanor Fitzsimmons as his wife. Now, all he has to do is convince the reluctant lady …

Phin Baldwin does not believe in Christmas magic … until the clever and beautiful Ginny Overton gets it into her head to show him how wonderful it can be when wishes come true.

Just returned from the Crusades, marriage is the last thing on Sir Caerwyn’s mind. But will he be able to resist Lady Nia, the thief of his boyhood heart, when she tempts him yet again?

Responsible Ethan Weatherstone is determined to save Penelope Rutledge—and her reputation—from her silly scheme, but can he save himself from the temptation of her lips?

Excerpt

He stepped away, leaving her still half-swallowed in the unfastened chain mail. God but she still stirred him, even dressed in pounds of armor. The shapeless form forced his eye to her beautiful face and made him long for the rest of her body hidden beneath. “Aye, you’ve become an excellent rider, skilled with a lance. But underneath all Padrig’s trappings, you’re still female.”

“I practice at the quintain more days than not, and I’m a good horsewoman. There was no combat in the event, so I was never in any danger. You must admit I convinced you.” Her face brightened and she stood straighter. “I’m sure you would say it was Serena’s influence again. Just like three years ago, the last night in our keep, before you left. You and I were to meet. When you arrived I wasn’t alone…”

His chest tightened. He’d kept the memory at bay for too long to let her remind him. He barked, “Now you want to tease me! Aye, you deceived me today, and you betrayed me then. What point are you trying to make?” Mayhap she enjoyed pushing the knife deeper into his heart.

 “Caerwyn, you’ve never believed me, but I’ll say it again. I’ve never been with another man. Look,” she turned her back to him, gathering her braids in one hand and twisting them up to hold on top of her head. “Do I look like a woman from behind now?”

“You know you do not.”

“I practice in mail often. My father disapproves, of course. Serena’s worn it only once. In armor, she would look like a man from behind, don’t you think?” She moved closer to the bed, took hold of the thick banister. When she glanced over her shoulder at him, the sight of her posture, so sensual, so seductive, yet so unpracticed…sweat glistened on his brow.

“Aye. I suppose…”

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Barnes & Noble

A huge happy holidays to everyone, and a special thanks to Delilah for having me here so I can talk about my latest release, One Dom To Love. It’s the first of a new, super-sexy serialized tale called the Doms Of Her Life, about one tempestuous woman thoroughly in love with two men and their fight to see which Dom will come out on top. These characters are very special to me, and I had SO much fun writing this with my co-authors Jenna Jacob and Isabella LaPearl. We hope you enjoy them, too.

Since it’s December, and I know some of you are probably a little chilly (don’t even get me started on how much I hate winter), I thought I’d heat you up with a little blurb and excerpt from the book:

Raine Kendall has been in love with her boss, Macen Hammerman, for years. Determined to make the man notice that she’s a grown woman with desires and needs, she pours out her heart and offers her body to him—only to be crushingly rejected. But when his friend, very single, very sexy Liam O’Neill watches the other Dom refuse to act on his obvious feelings for Raine, he resolves to step in and do whatever it takes to help Hammer find happiness again, even rousing his friend’s possessive instincts by making the girl a proposition too tempting to refuse. But he never imagines that he’ll end up falling for her himself.

Hammer has buried his lust for Raine for years. After rescuing the budding runaway from an alley behind his exclusive BDSM Dungeon, he has come to covet the pretty submissive. But tragedy has taught him that he can never be what she needs. So he watches over her while struggling to keep his distance. Liam’s crafty plan blindsides Hammer, especially when he sees how determined his friend is to possess Raine for his own. Hammer isn’t ready to give the lovely submissive over to any other Dom, but can he heal from his past and fight for her? Or will he lose Raine if she truly gives herself—heart, body, and soul—to Liam?

EXCERPT

Raine drew in a shuddering breath. “You heard my argument with Hammer. I’m not very good at being submissive, I don’t think. When I lose my temper, I’m awful at controlling what I say. I mean to be good… I think I’m doomed to disappoint you.” For whatever reason, that thought nearly made her cry again. Her throat closed up. Embarrassment stung. “For my own selfish reasons, I want to say yes. But you’ve been beyond fair. I can’t be less so. The truth is, I probably can’t be what you want or need.”

He smiled gently. “We’ll never know unless we give it a whirl. I’ve the desire and patience to help you. What have you got to lose, lass?”

Hammer was already lost to her. “Nothing, I guess.”

“Precisely. We’ll have an enjoyable battle of wills, you and I. I promise, you’ll not be bored.”

A tremor passed through her when his broad hands surrounded her waist. This man could never be boring, not when he ignited every red-blooded cell in her body with a single touch.

“Take a chance, Raine,” he coaxed. “Have you not shed enough tears from these lovely eyes? You could do worse than a big bastard like me.” He chuckled, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “I’d try my best to make you feel good about yourself and the two of us together.” Read the rest of this entry »

Thank you Delilah for inviting us to cause chaos on your blog today. This is a release day for three of us and we can’t think of a better place to spend it! We know you love SciFi erotic romances as much as we do!

We thought we’d start from… well… the start, talking about the very first words readers see – our titles. Names are so important and the name of a story is no exception.

Christine d’Abo – Lust Rebooted

My story is a mix of erotic sci-fi, adventure with a dash of comedy. The main challenge that the heroine Zoe is faced with is the arrival of a sexbot named Sam and the jealous reaction from her sentient computer, Rupert. One wants what it can’t have, and the other has what it can’t appreciate. Zoe is faced with the choice of having to save one over the other when their computer mainframe is infected with a virus. I wanted a title that would show both the erotic nature of the book, and still somehow capture the computer elements.

Ria Candro – Bonded

I came up with the title for Bonded once I discovered the plot of my story. The heroine, Inara, has a mission to complete, and discovering she’s meant to be mated to a pod of Spygians goes against everything she’s planned. Much as she’d love to indulge with these dreamy hunks, she can’t afford to be sidetracked.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the story highlighting her dilemma:

Ah, that was right. How could she forget about the Spygian mating ritual? She didn’t know much about it, other than that all pod members were to be present. The thought of what it might possibly entail sent a shiver of lust raging through her body. She almost wished she truly was his mate…

Forcing herself to stand straight and strong, she looked him in the eye. “I’m afraid we have a problem then, for I cannot promise anything more than a night of bliss.”

She barely had time to see his face fall in clear disappointment before the leaves crackled and Valeron appeared in the clearing, his arms full of dead branches. Reading the tension in the air, he stopped cold, his gaze going from her to Neichon and back again.

Finally he moved toward the center of the clearing and dropped the branches to the ground. “We’ll probably need another batch.”

“It’s already growing dark.” Neichon’s gaze lifted upward, to where the pink and purple fingers of dusk already crept across the sky. “I’ll get some more wood and check for sight of the Malucons while I’m at it.”

As Inara watched him leave the clearing, she fought the unaccountable feeling that she’d just let something magical go. That was a ridiculous notion. She had her own destiny, and it was not to be bonded to a pod of barbarians. No matter how sexy, delicious, and utterly f***able those barbarians might be.

Of course her Spygians are determined to convince her she’s right where she belongs.

A.M. Griffin – Dangerously Mine

Dangerously Mine was originally a self-pub called Taken: Eva. When I got picked up by Ellora’s Cave I had to change the name because they already had a book named Taken. Per their policy, they don’t publish books with the same title, which is a really good policy. I can’t be expected to compete against Jaid Black.

I have to admit, titling didn’t come easy for me. Many of my author friends actually have expressed joy with titling their works (which makes me want to hurt them).

Mine was easy to come up with. Eva Smith is taken from Earth and sold into slavery to an alien. She’s petite and feisty, so being anyone’s slave was not sitting well with her. Throughout the book she is constantly reminding Taio (her owner) that she is not his slave. Taio of course doesn’t believe a word of it. Regardless of what Eva thinks or says, Taio has claimed Eva for himself.

Dangerously took more work to come up with, but when it finally popped into my head it clicked. Eva is a martial arts expert and as I said before, doesn’t want to be owned or controlled by anyone. She finds herself in a couple of fight scenes, one of which she ends up killing one of Taio’s Royal Guards.

Hence, the title Dangerously Mine was born!

Cynthia Sax – Warlord’s Bounty

Khan, the hero of Warlord’s Bounty, is the Warlord of Chamele 2, the richest and, in Khan’s opinion, the best planet in the Chamele system. This has made Khan a target. He has a huge bounty on his head, placed there by his enemy. Zeta, the heroine, is a feisty bounty hunter, seeking to collect the bounty on Khan. Although she is aware of the saying “the bigger the bounty, the more dangerous the fugitive”, she needs the credits for a bounty-hunter school she supports. She’s determined to get her big, bad male, in more ways than one.

Warlord’s Bounty was the perfect title, a marriage between the careers of a strong heroine and an even stronger hero. It was also a nod to Delilah’s wonderful Warlord’s Destiny which I absolutely LOVED. Lord Tetrik was a yummy hero, very much a Warlord.

Writers, what are the stories behind your titles? Readers, what are some of the best titles you’ve read?

* * * * *

Lust Rebooted

By: Christine d’Abo

Zoe is all alone on an outpost monitoring a lonely quadrant of space. It’s nearly Christmas and all she has for company is her computer AI, Rupert. She isn’t expecting a present from Xion Corporation to help pass the time, but when she opens the box to find a sex bot, a whole world of steamy entertainment possibilities come to mind.

When Zoe activates Sam she doesn’t realize the trouble she’s in for. Sam takes Zoe to sexy new heights and Rupert does a stellar impersonation of a jealous boyfriend. Zoe struggles to ground herself in reality despite her growing lust, but it’s becoming more and more obvious she’s falling in love. But with who—Sam or Rupert?

When a computer virus is unleashed on the outpost, Zoe must choose—or risk losing them both.

Buy Link:
https://www.ellorascave.com/lust-rebooted.html

Christine d’Abo’s Website:
https://christinedabo.com/

Bonded

By: Ria Candro

When Inara crash lands on a deserted planet, the last thing she expects is to run into two stunning men from the planet Spygia—who claim she is their mate. While she’d love nothing more than to indulge in a steamy encounter—or two or three—with these gorgeous hunks, she’s on the run from the barbaric Malucons who decimated her home planet of Chivea. And she’s on a mission to find her cousin, the only other Chivean survivor. Nothing, not even the promise of paradise to be found in the Spygians’ arms, is going to stop her.

When Inara refuses to be bonded to them, Neichon and Valeron strive to uncover what secrets she’s hiding before they unveil a few of their own. How will their reluctant mate react when she learns she’s destined for, not two, but four Spygian men?

Buy Link:
https://www.ellorascave.com/bonded.html

Ria Candro’s Website:
https://riacandro.wordpress.com/

Dangerously Mine

By: A. M. Griffin

After aliens invade and conquer Earth, Eva is transported to a distant slave trading planet. Escape and freedom are her only priority, but none of her martial arts training prepared her for what she faces. She finds herself enslaved to the warrior King Taio. Eva’s drawn to this sexy alien male who ignites her heart and body.

Taio is disgusted with the idea of owning a slave—until now. From the moment he sees her, he knows Eva is his for the taking. Torn between lust and duty, Taio knows nothing will stop him from protecting his little warrior.

Buy Link:
https://www.ellorascave.com/dangerously-mine.html

A.M. Griffin’s Website:
https://www.amgriffinbooks.com/

Warlord’s Bounty

By: Cynthia Sax

The bigger the bounty, the more dangerous the fugitive.

Khan, a Chamele warlord, has a huge bounty on his head. His enemy is willing to pay an outrageous amount to secure him. Khan wants to be apprehended, especially if the bounty hunter capturing him is a brown-eyed female with razor-sharp daggers and an even sharper tongue. He’ll allow her to subdue him sexually, his passion and prowess not inhibited by restraints, and when she collects her bounty, he’ll collect his revenge, killing his enemy and claiming his little bounty hunter forever.

Zeta doesn’t do forever. She captures the worst scum in the galaxy and trades them for credits. Khan is fierce and sexy and the most dominant male she has ever encountered, but he is also a fugitive, and once she sates herself with his body, she’ll betray him. It is her job.

Buy Link:
https://www.ellorascave.com/warlord-s-bounty.html

Cynthia Sax’s Website:
https://cynthiasax.com/

Eeks! I was supposed to post this on Sunday, but you know I’ve been working so hard it completely slipped my mind! Sorry, JoAnne! The blog tour continues…

* * * * *

Irish Kisses Pub Quiz — post 3

Today’s Question: Band-Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas, the UK Christmas chart-topping record was to raise funds for… what?

HOT WINTER KISS Released 30th November 2012

Book four in the bestselling Irish Kisses series.

Tasty treats await you.

PARINGS: m/f
FLAME RATING: four
GENRE: contemporary romance
PUBLISHER: www.decadentpublishing.com
PAGE COUNT: 47
CONTENT: May to December / Tinsel Play / Irish Castle / Snowed In / Holiday Romance

Hot winter kisses to warm broken hearts….

Sick of tending to everyone else’s needs around the holidays, divorced barmaid and granny Sandra ferries it from London to Belfast. All she wants for Christmas is some peace with a romance story in front of a roaring fire in a remote Irish castle. What she gets is a most unexpected Christmas present from her friends at Bell’s—A 1Night Stand with a young Irishman.

Can she hack it in the real world of romance, or are life’s complications and treacherous snowstorms best left to the pages of a book?

Newly widowed Ardan Draighean owns Ballygalley castle. Once run as a hotel with his late wife, the stone building now serves as a home for him and his son. After hearing about Madame Eve’s matchmaking skills, he contacts her in search of the perfect match. Although much older than him—by fifteen years—Sandra is his ideal woman. He be damned if he’ll let a good story get in the way of his happy ever after with her.

Hot winter kisses are all this couple needs to stay warm this Christmas, but will the heat stay long after the magical season of mistletoe has finished?

AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/lm/R2WFCBFWNDA9ZI
MORE BUYLINKS: https://www.joannekenrick.com/p/hot-winter-kiss.html

HOT WINTER KISS Chapter one, part two

She refused to head back to London to spend her time off babysitting her grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law enjoyed themselves, as she did every year. She loved the little ones, but this once, she’d decided to put herself first. Shaun—her boss back at Bell’s Irish Pub in London—may have thought himself clever by suggesting Irish castle hopping, but he hadn’t considered Sandra’s Law. If anything can go wrong, it will.

She pulled out her mobile—she had programmed in the number for her hotels in case of an emergency—and hit speed dial. An Irish lady on reception answered and rushed to arrange a car to pick her up from nearby Laverty’s pub. The driver would take maybe an hour and a half to reach her, but she’d be waiting in the warmth and be at her destination before hot cocoa time. The lady had even offered a bowl of soup upon arrival, although the kitchen had closed.

With the promise of peace ahead of her again, she immersed herself in the seasonal spirit surrounding her. Even threw a couple of pound coins in the Salvation Army’s collection box and requested they play “White Christmas.” The group in their stern navy outfits and funky hats changed sheet music and piped out her request. Stupid idea. She cursed herself for wallowing in holiday misery and tried to block the image of her ex-husband down on one knee while he presented a ring box to her on Christmas Eve. Seemed like only a year had passed since she last kissed him. Other times, it was as if he’d been gone forever.

She clutched at her empty ring finger and a shudder raced over her. “Too fanciful. I expected a ‘fairytale romance,’ he said. Pft, what does he know? Romance does exist…and not just in storybooks. I will find love. I will.”

Four children scurrying past her with grins and rosy cheeks nearly knocked her to the ground. A woman lagged behind, weighed down by dozens of bags. Sandra offered to help, but the lady moved past, her face a mask of stress, and didn’t respond. Maybe she was mentally checking she had the stuffing and trimmings for the family feast. Heck, she’d usually be in the same shoes this time of year. Instead, she’d nothing but herself to think about. She tugged the woolen scarf tighter around her neck before turning the corner and crossing the road to Laverty’s.

To be continued in Irish Pub Quiz post 3, Laura Kaye’s blog (link in rafflecopter)

* * * * *

About the Author

Born n bred Brit, JoAnne Kenrick grew up in a wee sea-side town in North Wales and has enjoyed a variety of vocations such as holistic healer, window dresser, and ghost tour guide. Having lived in Wales, England, and Scotland with her dear family, she finally escaped the dull British summers to reside in sunny Australia. After two years, they moved to the States where she endured three harsh winters in Minnesota. She now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids and two puddy cats. When they aren’t demanding her attention, or jumping on her head, she strums away on the keys of her little laptop, creating worlds and adventures she could only ever dream of. Come across the pond and faraway….with JoAnne Kenrick! www.joannekenrick.com

Get exclusive sneak peeks at her new and upcoming releases by signing up to her quarterly newsletter here: https://tinyletter.com/joannekenrick

Thanks so much to Delilah for hosting me!

Wednesday, my fifth book comes out! It’s a little surreal to think that in my first year of being a published writer, I have five actual books people can go out and read. Last week, my twin brother actually emailed me to say that while walking around on the base he’s stationed at, he saw a woman reading my novel Under His Skin. It’s crazy to me to think that there are people out there who are reading and enjoying my books! Sorry for my thinly veiled excitement, I’ve been bouncing in my chair for a month now.

Part of that excitement is that Bound with Pearls releases in just a few days!  I might be counting down the hours and minutes until I can flip through the digital pages of this book. It’s one of those I never thought I’d write and now that it’s done and about to be out there, just makes me all the more excited about it.

As the cover and blurb suggest, this book lives on the kinkier side of things. The heroine and hero have a decidedly Dominant/submissive relationship. Daniel takes the alpha role a step farther in the bedroom, which is exactly what Christine is looking for in her man. Through the story, they discover who they are as a Dominant and submissive, but also who they are as individuals away from the kink. I wanted to write about real people, who just happen to be a little, or a lot, kinky.

I can hear you now: So what do pearls have to do with whips and chains and all that scary stuff?

The art department at Ellora’s Cave really did a fantastic job with this book cover. Can I just gush a moment about it? I love the contrast between the beautiful, classic pearls and the black leather cuffs and whip. It’s such a visual statement about the character’s relationship.

I’ve always loved pearls. I think it has something to do with that old country song with the line, “You wore blue jeans with your pearls/That’s when I knew you were my kind of girl.” My fascination with this gemstone has grown the older I’ve become. While I still wear them with jeans and a t-shirt, I appreciate them in a more classic kind of style. I love the retro, housewife image of a woman with her full skirt and a string of pearls. I might be guilty of owning several such strands. In varying colors and lengths.

Do you see a fascination here? Besides simply looking beautiful, there’s a lot of neat history behind pearls, such as…

Did you know pearls are the only gem that’s made by a living creature? Okay, so we can debate how a live an oyster or a mussel is, but it fits the basic parameters. There’s no other precious stone that’s made by something. Sure we can make some synthetically now, but not like the pearl.

Pearls take their coloration from the inside shell of the creature they’re “grown” inside. They can be white, gold, purple or black, all depending on the color of the shell!

Some of the earliest jewelry we’ve found, dating back to 520 BC, is made from pearls.

There are several historical occurrences of entire military campaigns being funded by selling a few pearl earrings. They’ve been that highly valued through history!

I could go on, but you get the gist. Pearls are diverse. They’re a hardy gemstone, and they’ve stood the test of time. They’re beautiful, classic and more than a little unique. I mean, no two are the same. They’re as individual as your fingerprint.

I’d like to think that the characters in Bound with Pearls emulate some of those characteristics. Their kinky lifestyle can be beautiful or hard, they’re both unique individuals from pasts that are diverse and complicated, and they reflect the colors of their history. I think pearls are the perfect symbol for them. And maybe their future?

You can purchase Bound with Pearls and see how exact my description of them is on December 12^th, but I’m going to give one commenter a copy of the book! Just tell me what your favorite gemstone is and why!

* * * * *

The Author

It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life.  She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

* * * * *

Bound with Pearls, purchase December 12^th from Ellora’s Cave!

The last thing Christine wants to do is another favor for her sister, but Lucy always gets what she wants. This time it’s Chris playing sub to a demanding Dom. Their relationship begins with a power exchange and progresses to time spent between the sheets. Now emotions are getting complicated and the Dom isn’t just a hunky guy in black.

Daniel’s expectations are turned upside down when he meets Chris. She’s more than a well-trained submissive. She’s a woman with a body he wants to memorize. He’s willing to spend as much time as it takes to learn her, because she might be his match and his muse. He’ll make her come so hard he’s imprinted on every inch, and then he’ll offer her the most precious thing he can, himself.

* * * * *

Excerpt

Christine’s mouth closed with a snap. Her jaw hurt from clenching. Her hands ached from gripping her wrists. Blinking rapidly, she looked at the Dom’s broad back. He was getting ready to leave.

She’d failed, completely blown it, and he was right. Her attitude sucked. This wasn’t like her. She’d hit a low point and didn’t know how to dig herself out of this one.

Pinpricks of pain stabbing the backs of her eyes heralded tears. Screwing things up seemed to be her specialty today, from the reports at work to forgetting her entry fee for the charity race, and now it was going to cost her. Lucy wouldn’t give her the pearls when she found out the Dom had left, rightfully disgusted with her.

The muscles in her chest constricted until she was panting for breath. Her vision blurred with tears she had to dash away.

“Wait,” she said, her voice sounding strained and too high to her own ears.

The Dom glanced over his shoulder, unmoved. It shouldn’t get her off, but the idea of a man with such control was a turn-on. She’d been ready for someone big and scary or maybe on the scrawny side with a penchant for pain. Finding him a fairly normal guy unsettled her. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Christmas in a few weeks, and that means one I can justify indulging in my favorite treat. I love to walk the stores at this time of year. The presentation of the chocolates intrigues me.  The colors and shapes, the selection – just lovely!  It’s while I was studying the heaped counters that I decided to devote this blog to fun facts on chocolate.

And as none of us are going to stop eating it – we might as well enjoy it!

1. Chocolate is healthy for you – it’s made from plants and contains many similar health benefits as dark green vegetables. Chocolate contains flavonoids, which act as antioxidants to protect the body from free radical damage.  A small bar of dark chocolate a day will help to reduce your blood pressure and has proven to lower your bad cholesterol by up to 10%.
2. Chocolate contains copper, iron, zinc and magnesium – nutrients that are essential to the body.
3. Chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac. It’s not, but it does contain a chemical, called phenylethylamine, which is the same chemical the brain produces naturally when you’re in love.  So only enjoy with someone you want to be in love with – at least temporarily.
4. Chocolate contains serotonin, which acts as a natural anti-depressant – so it’s actually good to eat when you’re feeling down.
5. Chocolate stimulates production of endorphins, which helps you feel happy.
6. Chocolate contains other elements like caffeine, and theobromine, which act as stimulants – so it’s good to take when you’re tired as a quick pick up.
7. In the US, almost three quarters of the consumers choose milk chocolate over other varieties.
8. In 2000, the Italians created the largest chocolate bar coming in at a whopping 5,000 pounds.  The Armenians broke that record in 2010, producing a chocolate bar that weighed 4410 kilos (9702 lbs).
9. The popular belief that chocolate causes acne has been proven to be inaccurate.
10. When making the Hitchcock film, Psycho, they used chocolate syrup to represent blood in the famous shower scene.
11. The world consumes close to 600,000 tons of cocoa beans a year. Most of these beans come from West Africa. It takes close to 400 of these beans to make 1 pound a chocolate a year.
12. The chocolate beans come from a tree species carrying the genus name of Theobroma – which means Food of the Gods.
13. The chocolate industry coaxes over $20 billion a year from consumers.
14. An average American will eat about 10-12 lbs of chocolate per year.
15. The Swiss were reputed to be the heaviest consumers of chocolate each year, consuming close to 21 pounds per person per year.  Not to worry, they have one the lowest heart failure rates and obesity issues.  However, the Swedish have just moved into the top spot – consuming close to 30 pounds per person per year.  I have no idea how their health issues are!
16. Chocolate melts in your mouth, because it’s made with cocoa butter, which has a melting point lower than the average temperature of the human body.
17. It’s been proven that allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces brain and heart rate activity that’s similar to – and even stronger than – the effects produced when kissing someone passionately
18. One chocolate chip, should give any adult enough energy to walk 150 feet. Imagine what that one chocolate chip cookie could do for you.
19. American chocolate manufacturers use around 1.5 billion pounds of milk.
20. The first chocolate cake has been traced back to 1674.
21. Hersey’s is the oldest and largest chocolate company in the US.  However, Cadbury is the most popular in the UK.
22. The snicker bar was named after a pet horse belonging to Frank and Ethel Mars.  It first came on the market in 1929.
23. And finally, who said money doesn’t grow on trees, cocoa beans were used as a currency back in the days of the Aztecs and Mayans.

Besides, I’m celebrating the release of Garden of Sorrow, book 4 in my Psychic Vision series this week – with my favorite treat, a big box of chocolates!

Alexis Gordon has spent the last year trying to get over the loss of her sister. Then she goes to work on a normal day…and reality as she knows it…disappears.

Detective Kevin Sutherland, armed with his own psychic abilities, honed by his friend Stefan Kronos, a talented psychic artist and law enforcement consultant. But Kevin has never seen anything like this case – a killer with a personal vendetta to stop Alexis from finding out more about him …and his long dead victims.

The killer can be stopped. He must be stopped. But he’s planning on surviving…even after death.

So how do you indulge? On occasion – and yes, every day could be considered an occasion in my house. Only on big holidays like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day? To celebrate? To wallow? Tell me, what role does chocolate play in your life?

* * * * *

BIO

Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She’s best known for her Psychic Visions series. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in several different genres.  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series . All her books are available in print format as well.

To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at https://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author

Books by Dale Mayer

Psychic Vision Series
Tuesday’s Child
Hide’n Go Seek
Maddy’s Floor
Garden of Sorrow – Out December 1, 2012

Single Title Romantic Suspense/thrillers
Touched by Death – out now!

Novellas
It’s a Dog’s Life- romantic comedy

Young Adult Books
In Cassie’s Corner
Dangerous Designs – Book I
Deadly Designs – Book 2 – out now!
Vampire in Denial – Book I of Blood Ties
Vampire in Distress – Book 2!
Gem Stone Mystery Series- out now!

Non-Fiction Books
Career Essentials: The Resume
Career Essentials: The Cover Letter
Career Essentials: The Interview
Career Essentials: 3 in 1