Tuesday, 17 March 2015

Tantalizing Tuesday - Spider

Nessa swung past one blade after another, slipping through the lawn as fast as she could.
“Wait, Nessa! I can’t keep up!”
Her sister, Drew, was falling behind. Nessa felt the duty to slow and watch her, but there was also the desire to be free. Besides, the lawn was safe. It wasn’t as though anything bad could happen to Drew if Nessa wasn’t there to protect her.
In a surge of independence, she threw herself faster through the green, as fast as her arms and legs could propel her.
A high pitched whistle stopped her. She clung to a stem, listening. Was that an insect? Was it a friendly one, like an aphid, or something much more sinister, a spider perhaps? That made her curse herself for leaving Drew behind. There shouldn’t be any spiders that close to home, but Drew would keep following.
She turned, about to return, when another whistle sounded, closer than before. She looked over her shoulder, up to the tips of the blades.
There, she found a pleasant face looking down at her. One more whistle preceded his voice. “Pretty fairy.”
She smiled, but it didn’t last long. She could count his eight legs.

Check out all the teasers posted on our blog.

Monday, 16 March 2015

Forbidden from Kiki Howell #release

Available for a Limited Time at the special price of $0.99 !

James Alexander Whitmore III, better known as Jaws as a joke among his co-workers, doesn’t even want to be on this cruise he’s been guilted into.
A rule-breaker in his CEO father’s eyes, he’s a software engineer who designs video games. Although, he’s not your typical geek, either, with his muscular body framed by long, dark hair and home to tribal tattoos from his latest successful game.
After traveling around the world to gain certificates as a personal trainer and yoga instructor, Samantha has finally landed her perfect job working on a cruise ship. As a staff member, Sam has the run of the ship. She can fraternize with the passengers, but being caught in flagrante delicto is grounds for immediate dismissal.
While an adventurer, she’s not a rule-breaker, so this poses a problem when she meets Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious. While she can’t imagine fitting into the world of a man who can rent a secluded cabin in the Grand Turks for the five hours they are in port, he just may prove to be her greatest adventure yet, in the bedroom and out.

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Available Now at AmazonAll Romance EbooksNNP Store

“This book is sexy, sweet, funny and absolutely worth devouring! Watching Samantha struggle with her decision and Jaws flirting with destiny had me glued to the pages.” ~5 Stars, Ava Mallory

The romance that flourishes between them is swoon-worthy, and the narrative is far too good to not read all in one setting. I didn’t want to put it down! If there is one thing Kiki Howell knows how to do, it’s write a romance that is the perfect blend of erotic sensuality and passionate romance. Your breath will catch, your face will flush. You will swoon, you will sigh. In the end, you will read the final word with a smile on your face. That’s how you know it’s a great romance.”  ~ 5 Stars from AP Bullard, Triskele reviews

Sunday, 15 March 2015

Sunday Surprise - @ChangelingPress @LV_Writer @flashycat @AnneKane

Changeling Press is celebrating 11 years of publisher hot books, and it promises to only get hotter in 2015. Here are their most recent releases.

Breathe Me In is the first in a new series from Lily Vega, Crescent City. Tired of facing immortality without love, John Rabbitt refuses to consume life energy -- until his protege hires a stripper to dance for him. Veronika Mason never would have agreed to fulfill her strange client's every desire, but if she doesn't pay off her ex-boyfriend's gambling debts, the thug sent to collect the money may well follow through on his violent threats. Vampires naturally lead to life or death decisions.

Also from Lily Vega is Devil Inside, the start of another series, The Devil May Care. Blake Owens, a fourth generation demon from the second circle of hell, is used to masquerading as human. Arianna Prince, dressed in a sexy angel costume, seduces him at a party and proves to be a genuine damsel in distress. Until she meets Blake, Arianna believes her immediate future involves sex with a creepy shifter and death while giving birth to its offspring. Blake may be just the guy to give Arianna pleasure beyond her wildest dreams and save her from her stepmother's deadly plans.

How Not To Date a Bear is the enigmatic title of the latest release from Stephanie Burke, the fifth in her How Not To series. Declan Batalova is a bear unlike any other. The Russian shifter goes for relaxation in a new club that caters to bears. Cosmetologist Gillian Leekey is a woman on a mission. She loves big, muscular, hairy men, and Declan is perfect in every way. But after one night of passion, the Bear Shifter Mafia is declaring war at her front door! When did life get so complicated? But that's what happens when you decide to date a bear.

Black as Night is the first in a multi-author series, S.O.S. This one comes from Shelby Morgen. Feral cats are disappearing all over Chinatown, and Special Agent Tom Katowski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been assigned to investigate the case. Who better than an old tom cat? Officer Evaline O’Donnell thinks the Special Agent’s story is more than a little fishy, so she’s up to doing some investigating of her own. But will that Tom Cat strut get her so distracted she forgets who’s supposed to be wearing the handcuffs? The S.O.S. series mixes shifters with uniforms in hot little reads.

Anne Kane has released ,the second book in the S.O.S. series. There’s coyote trouble in the canyon. One coyote, to be specific. A male. He’s been creating havoc in the small rural community of Pine Valley -- enough havoc it’s time to call in the Feds. The S.O.S, U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Special Outreach Services Division, investigates crimes involving shifters. Special Agent Kinsey is the absolute expert on coyote shifters. Because she is one. And Greg expects nothing less than the very best.
Coyote Games

Anne Kane also has a boxed set of the five novellas from her Stargazers series. Descended from the witches of old Earth, Stargazers have the ability to control the lines of psychic energy that join the planets and other heavenly bodies. They use their talents to bend the energy to their own use, much the same as the druids of Earth used to harness the ley lines. They can power space ships, run machinery on far away planets and detect people's presences from great distances. Highly sought after, both by legitimate sources who want to hire them and by pirates who enslave and sell them, they are constantly on guard.

Here is an excerpt from Wanton in the Stargazer series.

Tarik watched the young woman pacing the cargo bay of his ship. Tall and willowy, she stalked the width of the cell with angry strides of long, slim legs. A short, fitted tunic did little to hide her shapely figure, and he felt a spark of heat ignite in his gut despite his mistrust of her kind. Wisps of wavy, chestnut hair escaped from the single braid that hung to her waist, and her green eyes sparkled with rage.
He felt the corner of his mouth tilt upward as she aimed a kick at the wall. He'd bet if he could hear what she was muttering, it wouldn't be very ladylike. Of course, she wasn't really a lady. Krystal de Mylar was a Stargazer, one of the few who hadn't yet sold her talents to the Intergalactic Council. Probably holding out for a better deal, he thought cynically.

The lack of military security surrounding her had made her an ideal target when he realized he needed to acquire one of the accursed witches in order to rescue his brother. Tarik's renegade status made it impossible to post a job proposal with the Stargazers' Guild, so he'd simply used his resources to plan and execute the perfect kidnapping. Unfortunately, none of his cybernetic enhancements would help him explain to the infuriated redhead why he'd spirited her away from her home without her consent.

The woman stopped pacing and pivoted to face the hovering droid, her eyes narrowed so that the green irises sparkled like gems. She'd obviously realized someone was monitoring her. A flicker of heat ran up his spine as she stood still, legs spread and hands on hips. Her mouth moved, and his attention dropped to her full, luscious lips as they moved slowly in exaggerated speech.

You are going to regret this.

It wasn't hard to read her lips. Or the threat in her eyes. He sure hoped she didn't know how to wrap the interplanetary energy lines around his neck.

"Not exactly what I'd expected." He turned to address his second-in-command. "I pictured someone older, and tougher."

Ryan grinned. "And a little less mouthwateringly attractive? Might have made it easier to deal with her. Do you want me to go in first and soften her up a bit? Your reputation with the ladies doesn't bode well for gaining her co-operation."

Tarik sighed. They'd managed to spirit Krystal out from under the noses of her parents and her bodyguards without a problem, but they needed her to co-operate if they hoped to accomplish their mission.

Stargazers could sense the energy lines that connected the stars and planets. They had the ability to grasp those lines and harness the energy for their own use. If she agreed to help them rescue his brother Cynn, all they'd need to do was narrow down his location and the witch could use the energy lines to get them in and out of Intergalactic space undetected by the patrolling warships. He didn't understand how the Stargazers accomplished it, but the results were irrefutable, which explained why the unscrupulous bastards running the Intergalactic Council made a point of hiring as many of the witches as possible.

Before his parents were murdered by the Council, they'd likened the Stargazers' abilities to the witches of Old Earth, who used the planet's ley lines to feed their magic. They'd been baffled though, by the Stargazers' tendency to accept employment with the restrictive Intergalactic Council. He sighed, running his fingers through his short hair. The longer he put this off, the angrier the witch would get.

"Get her into a set of restraints and bring her up to the interrogation chamber." He turned to leave, pausing when Ryan grabbed his arm. He looked pointedly at the offending hand, raising one eyebrow questioningly.

Ryan let go of his arm. "Restraints? Are you serious? She's already pissed. You need to convince her to help us, and treating her like a criminal isn't going to win you any brownie points."

That might be true, but he wanted her under control until she agreed to help. "Just the wrist restraints, then." He ignored Ryan's glare of disapproval. "If I understand the theory, she can't hook into the power of the energy lines without lifting her arms, so we should be safe enough."

Ryan's disbelieving snort told him what his second-in-command thought about that.

"Get her up there. Now." He issued the command in what he hoped was a stern tone, pivoting to stalk out of the room. The damn witch hadn't been on his ship for a full solar cycle and already she was causing trouble.

Saturday, 14 March 2015

The Liebster award

The lovely A.P. Bullard, who does fantastic reviews as well as a plethora of writing news, nominated me for Liebster award. Now I get to answer her 11 questions, nominate another 11 bloggers (with followings under 200) and give them 11 questions of my own. The recipients should like back to me and notify their nominees via social media that they have been nominated. Okay, enough stinky rules, let's get on to the questions!

1. When you see or hear the world ‘alien’, what type of image pops into your head?
Green man. Not like with almond eyes, like the Green Giant, or the Hulk.

2. If you could have any superpower or ability, which would you choose?
Teleportation. Travel for work is a bitch.

3. What is your biggest grammar pet peeve?
Apostrophes for possessives. Drives me batty when people get it wrong.

4. Who is your biggest literary crush?
Tough one. I'm going go with Tessa Wanton. Her Tess series is to die for.

5. If you use a purse, what are the top 5 things you simply MUST carry with you?
My phone, my wallet with my debit and credit card, lip balm, pocket pack of tissues and keys.

6. What is your favorite pizza order?
I love spinach and feta. No one else in my family does. Suck.

7. Favorite genre?
Fantasy. More so for reading than watching, but there are some wicked fantasy movies too (Princess Bride, Ladyhawke, the Dark Crystal...

8. If you had to live in one book’s/book series universe forever, which book would you choose?
I'd probably head to Hogwarts. Having magic would be pretty awesome.

9. What is your favorite time period?
Tough one. I'm kinda partial to the present. I guess I'd pick turn of the century, any earlier and there isn't really a Canada, and I love Canada.

10. If you won one million dollars, what would be the very first thing you did with it?
Pay off my house. That would leave me 3/4 of a million dollars. Lots to have fun with!

11. Do you prefer office jobs, or more active jobs?
I like a mix of the two, which is why being an environmental scientist working with plants is so awesome. In the summer I work outside, in the winter I work inside (office or lab). Parfait!

Here are my questions, bloggers:
1. What one thing can you not live without?
2. The library is on fire! Which book do you grab?
3. The house is on fire! What one thing do you grab?
4. Your car is on f... no I'm kidding, enough of those. When did you decide to start writing?
5. You made the NYT Best sellers list are raking it in. Who do you thank?
6. Authorgraph: yes or no?
7. Paper or electronic?
8. The power's out and you only have enough battery on your phone to play one album. What is it?
9. What is the one article of clothing that you love most? Where do you wear it?
10. Kink or vanilla?
11. Chocolate or vanilla?

And the nominees? These shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Most of them are hosting my blog tour and/or participate in Tantalizing Tuesday, Thursday Tasters, Flasher Fiction Friday, MidWeekTease or other groups with me.

1. Muffy Wilson
2. Naomi Shaw
3. J.S. Morbius
4. Linda Hamonou
5. Pablo Michaels
6. Ray Sostre
7. Mangus Khan
8. Kendel Davi
9. Doris O'Connor
10. Phoenix Johnson
11. S.J. Maylee



Friday, 13 March 2015

Flasher Fiction Friday - Murder

This Friday, I opted to write a snippet from the story I started the first month I wrote for Flasher Fiction Friday. That month, I wove the pictures together into a story about a world where the genders remained separate and only came together for procreation. You can find those clips here, here, here and here.

Mourning was a heavy and black cloak around Lara's shoulders. She had lost that which she had loved most, even when she hadn’t known it. She had thought her love was the woman with whom she wove great magic, grew beautiful things, but it was a man that grew the thing she loved most, a man who planted a seed in her, a man who created the being she couldn’t live without.
Now that life was gone.

Letting her despair fly from her with a murder of crows, she had murder on her mind. He would pay for her pain.

The blog has other 100 word flashes for the same picture.

Thursday, 12 March 2015

Thursday Taster: Slave - Preorder for only $0.99

Welcome to Thursday Tasters, where my wonderful comrades and I post excerpts from Works in Progress and published works. I have featured Slave on Thursdays past and I am happy to share that it releases officially on Sunday the 15th. Please take advantage of this opportunity to buy it and the original Blue Moon House for only $0.99. You can also sample the other excerpts I have posted here.
Now, one more taste of Slave:

“So soft,” she murmured, stroking him gently. She’d removed her gloves and her hands were just as soft as Will had imagined. He had stroked himself, but that didn’t prepare him for someone else touching him.
Nothing prepared him for her lips wrapping around his head. He shuddered at the sensation, his head tipping back. When he looked down at the long curls, he felt disappointed. He wanted Bart there.
“Not too much, Martha. I have plans for that.” Bart poured oil into his hand. “And you know you want to watch this.”
Bart bent over the seat of one of the chairs, exposing his ass. His oily hand ran between the cheeks, spreading the glossy liquid. He shoved one finger in, leaving no doubt as to what he wanted.
Martha stopped sucking, releasing Will with a pop. Her tongue lapped his tip once before she rose. “Let me anoint you,” she said, grabbing the crystal decanter. She poured oil over his length, using her hand to smooth it. Will sucked breath through his teeth at how her fingers slid over him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, Bartholomew? I’d be intimidated.”
Bart scoffed. “He’s not your first black cock.”
“Oh, he is yours? Pardon me,” she said stepping away from Will to take a seat in the chair facing the one Bart bent over, where she could watch.
Will turned to Bart, not entirely sure how to do what he had planned. He took hold of Bart’s hips and tilted his own until he was pointed at the puckered hole. He pushed forward...and nothing happened. It felt like he was trying to press himself into a short length, like he was bending. Will grunted at the discomfort.
Bart groaned and everything changed. Instead of pressed, Will was being drawn in, as though Bart’s hole were pulling him. He slid so easily.
He was being pressed again, but now it was around, as though the hole weren’t made for his thickness. The sounds Bart made assured him it wasn’t painful.
“Yes, Will,” Martha said, breathless. “Fuck him. You look amazing like that.”
Will didn’t turn his head to look at the woman, but he obeyed. He pulled back through the smooth, tight tunnel only to push forward again.
He sank deeper this time and the sensations around him changed subtly. He’d passed some point inside Bart.
“Yes, fuck, so good.” Bart’s hips began to rock and twist. “You’ve got me hard again.”
Will reached around to find that was the case. He stroked Bart in time with his thrusts.
Martha let out a string of raspy curses Will barely noticed in his euphoria. He thought he worshiped the cock, but this, the sensation, it was so much more.
His balls tightened and he knew the moment had come. This would be the most satisfying ejaculation of his life.

Please consider ordering a copy of Slave. And be sure to check out all the great samples from the Thursday Tasters.

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

Tantalizing Tuesday - Moon

Her lungs burned and her legs ached through her lower back and up her spine. Her hands scrabbled, searching for handholds and bruising when she caught them. Clinging to cold rock, she pulled her head above the clouds.
Thick clouds had covered the surface of Denir for over a century. The clouds were not so thick as to leave the planet completely dark, but Bromine’s eyes were whiter than her mother’s, more light-sensitive, a trait being bred. Now she wished she didn’t.
Hers was the first head to break through the cloud layer in recent memory. She was breaking ten laws and a thousand traditions doing this. She had been taught that the Creator brought the clouds to cover Himself and Denir, hiding from those who would harm them.
She had tried to convince others to come with her. It was a painfully lonely climb with no one to help her. At last, she had achieved her goal, one unattainable for decades.
She stared, dumbfounded, and nearly lost her grip on the peak.
The histories told of the moon, large and pale. They said it was always visible, even in daylight, but nothing else.
Now, there was a second moon.

Make sure you pop over to the blog and read all the other fantastic teasers. (Okay maybe not as out-of-this-world as this one, but fantastic!)