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I’ve just returned from the RT Booklovers Convention in Kansas City. The annual event attracts around two-thousand romance readers, writers, bloggers, reviewers, and industry professionals, throwing them all together in one place with plenty of opportunity for them all to interact. There are workshops and events for everyone, but not exclusive to anyone. There are learning opportunities, games, social events, and parties galore, all under one roof.

It’s not unusual to find yourself in the elevator with a couple of NYT Bestselling authors or a group of fans dressed in their finest Steampunk regalia. Friends are made instantly over a common love of the romance genre. Standing in line at the one small restaurant in the hotel, having misplaced my roomie, I was on my own. No problem. The next person in line turned out to be the lovely Lynnette Austin. We shared a table and conversation over lunch, a brief moment of quiet in our hectic day. One morning at breakfast, Larry Kirshbaum, the chief of Amazon Publishing, was at the table next to myself and my roomie, Felice Fox.

Felice Fox

It was wonderful to reconnect with some author friends I rarely get to see, Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin, Jennifer Probst, and Tara Lain, to name a few.

Roz Lee & Tara Lain

Roz Lee & Jennifer Probst

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Roz Lee & Eden Bradley

Then there are the wonderful readers who devour everything we writers can come up with. A few of my favorites were Gloria from Oklahoma City, Mary, Linda and Anne from Rhode Island and Susan from Pennsylvania.

Post-conference, my vocal chords are strained and my smile muscles and feet aching, but I’m already looking forward to next year when I get to do it all over again. If you haven’t experienced one of these conventions, you’re truly missing out on a special experience. Next year the RT Booklovers convention will be held in New Orleans. I look forward to seeing you there. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

I collect cookbooks. I buy new ones, old ones, specialty ones and just about any one that catches my fancy. My daughter recently ran across one published by a Mennonite congregation in Mississippi so she bought me a copy. I like to think all the books in my collection are useful, therefore I won’t be purchasing Semenology – The Semen Bartenders Handbook.

Nope.

Not me.

And yes, this is a real book available for purchase ($22.95) from Amazon.

I also will not be purchasing Natural Harvest – A collection of semen-based recipes. ($24.95)

Call me crazy, but adding semen—even from a known source—to my food or drink doesn’t appeal.

The author of both books, Paul “Fotie” Photenhauer, did his best to convince me via the book descriptions, claiming that semen is nutritious with amazing texture and cooking properties. He cites the fluid’s delicate flavor as a reason to add it to cocktails, then he goes on to point out that fresh semen is available in most bars and kitchens.

Yuck.

I’ve heard stories about wait-staff spitting on food before delivering it to the table and Mr. Photenhauer’s comment will have me double-checking every condiment served to me for the rest of my life. And I’m not letting that cocktail glass out of my sight either!

Though completely grossed out and turned off by the very thought of using semen in food meant for consumption, being the curious type that I am, I decided to use the sneak preview option available to me. You know. Just in case I was mistaken.

Nope.

I’m not a fan of eggnog to begin with, but add semen to it and there isn’t enough money in the world to get me to drink it. And let’s just say I may never eat an éclair again.

Lest you think I’m sexist here…there are several websites—though no cookbooks that I could find—devoted to using human breast milk as a cooking ingredient. This website has everything from cupcakes and corn chowder to soap. And I seem to recall a while back someone was selling cheese made with human breast milk.

Umm…No.

I have to draw the line somewhere.

Have you used any of these unique ingredients? Come on. Tell us. We’re dying to know!

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As squeamish as I am about this subject, it hasn’t stopped me from using something similar in one of my books. If you haven’t been aboard the Lothario, my erotic themed cruise ship, then let me take you there for a moment. Here’s an excerpt from THE LUST BOAT, the first of five books in the Lothario series, where Ryan and Candace visit Pan’s Lounge.

Excerpt -

She’d never seen anything like it in her life, a sentiment she’d become intimate with since she set foot on the Lothario. The waiters in Pan’s Lounge wore gigantic phallic codpieces, some held upright with a strap around their neck. Other than the codpieces of varying designs, the men were naked. Ryan guided her to a cozy alcove with a good view of the bar. They ordered drinks from a waiter whose wooden phallus reached his shoulders. When the waiter left, Candace asked in a low voice, “Doesn’t that hurt?”

“They say it doesn’t. It helps to be at least semi-erect inside it and with all the beautiful women coming in to see them, that it’s not too hard, pardon the pun, to do. They like it when you stroke them.”

“I couldn’t do that.” She curled her fists in her lap.

“Try it when he brings our drinks.”

“Are you sure he won’t mind?”

Ryan pointed to another booth where three women were stroking their waiter’s phallus. “Trust me. He will expect it. He’ll probably lean in so close you could lick him.”

The waiter returned with their drinks in tall penis-shaped glasses, with a large opening at the tip to sip the drink through. He leaned in close to Candace. His giant phallus bobbed near her nose. Ryan nudged her and she closed her hand around the cold wood.

“Yes,” the waiter breathed out, flexing his hips in a suggestive manner. “That feels good.” Candace blushed scarlet and dropped her hand.

“Thanks Pan,” Ryan said. “You can go now.”

“Pan?”

“Pan was known in Mythology to masturbate often. He’s depicted in ancient art with a larger-than-life penis. In the evening, this place is crawling with men masturbating for anyone who wants to watch. These alcoves fill up with women and the waiters will masturbate, or allow the passengers to give them a hand job.”

Candace sipped her drink. “So this is tame.”

“In comparison, yes. Do you want to come back this evening and see for yourself?”

“Sure. I don’t think I’d want to give anyone a hand job, but I think I’d like to watch for a while.” She took another sip of her drink. “Do they, you know, come?”

“Some do, especially the passengers. The waiters have better control, but occasionally they do too. The last night of the cruise they have a semen tasting here.”

“I’m afraid to ask…”

“The samples come from men who have been thoroughly tested. Women line up to taste them.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope.”

“I think I’ll pass on that entertainment.” Candace dropped her hand to Ryan’s thigh and slid it up and under his wrap. She closed her hand around his still hard shaft. Ryan sucked in a breath and pressed a hand on top of hers. “No fair.”

“Will you masturbate for me?”

“Here? Now?”

“No one can see.”

“Sweet heavens, you’re going to be the death of me.” Ryan protested, but slipped his hand beneath the wrap and replaced her hand with his. “Just a little. I don’t want to come here.” He stroked his aching cock a few times. “Put your hand over mine.”

Read more here.

The Lust Boat is available from these retailers -

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Romancing the Jock

Life gets busy sometimes, even for a writer. Even though I claim to write full-time, the truth is most of the time I squeeze writing in between all my other responsibilities. Sure, I don’t punch a time clock, but believe me—my day planner is full.

When all of you were stressing over the holidays last year, I was trying to finish edits on my latest release, Lost Melody, write the first draft of Bases Loaded—the third book in the Mustangs baseball series, organize for a cruise/writers conference to be followed by a cross-country move, and plan a destination wedding for my oldest daughter. Yeah, nothing to do, huh?

February is almost over and I’m just now recovering from the last quarter of 2012! The good news is, we are snuggled into our New Jersey home now and that massive list above has dwindled down to one thing—completing Bases Loaded. Now that things are settling into a routine, I think it’s time to share some of my experiences with you.

Taking things in the order they occurred…first—the wedding. It turned out beautifully, and my daughter said if she had it to do over, she wouldn’t change a thing. High praise from a bride!

A beautiful day!

Next up was the Caribbean cruise with the Florida Romance Writers. I was still going rounds with my editor over Lost Melody and packing boxes for the move so I really needed a vacation, even if it was a working one. The good news is, we were not on the one that became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico!

Cozumel

We returned to California after the cruise, packed up the U-Haul (the DH’s idea, not mine) and left for New Jersey a whole thirty-six hours after stepping off the cruise ship. The drive was long, me with the dog in my car, the DH pulling the U-Haul behind his company truck. It took us eight days to make the drive, stopping to spend a bit of time with both our daughters along the way. Just in case you think the drive was totally boring…

It had its moments!

We arrived in New Jersey slightly ahead of this –

Home, sweet home.

The timing was perfect for me. I still had a round of edits to do on Lost Melody and the crunch was on to get it done for a Valentine’s Day release. Good news! I left all the boxes sealed and set to work on the edits and revisions, and voila! Lost Melody released as planned.

A contemporary romance.

 Blurb - 

Out of sight, out of mind. That’s what Melody Ravenswood was counting on when she invented a new life for herself as Mel Harper in the small farming community of Willowbrook, Texas. She could be herself, whoever that was. Having long since lost her identity to being the only child and sole beneficiary of a legendary rock and roller, she was finally going to live the normal life she craved – a job, a house, friends and no paparazzi.

Hank Travis is the last thing Mel needs in her new life. The local boy turned rock and roll star’s sexy, won’t take no for an answer pursuit makes her long for a life she has only dreamed of. Before Mel can have the future she wants with Hank, she must confront her past and find the Melody she lost along the way.

Read more here.

Learn more about my other persona, Dolores W. Maroney here.

So…what have you been up to??

I recently had the opportunity to see Thunder From Down Under at the Excalibur in Las Vegas. It’s a real-life Magic Mike kind of male revue – only all the performers are from Australia. At least that’s what they claim. I personally don’t care where they’re from. That’s not the reason I bought a ticket. With bodies like those, they could have claimed to be from Mars and I would have bought a ticket.

I was actually there as part of my daughter’s Bachelorette outing. I have to thank her for including me in the festivities. She knows how much I enjoy my research so she said I could come along. Isn’t that sweet?

In the interest of educating my readers, here’s my review of the revue.

Music – LOUD – supposedly so it can be heard over the hundreds of females screaming their heads off. At least, that’s my theory.

Dancing – Lousy – Clearly, these folks have no professional training in that area. No one. Repeat – NO ONE was concerned with their lack of dancing ability.

They ‘danced’ as firemen, cowboys, pirates, gangsters and gladiators. Women shouted and vied for the honor of being brought up on stage. A few made the cut, my daughter, the bride, being one of them. That in itself was something I would have paid money to see, and did! Anyway, back to the review. This is where the cynic in me comes out.

There were several bachelorettes in the audience – as to be expected. Not all of them were ‘honored’ on stage. I suspect the ones that were had been singled out before the show began according to the number of guests they had in their party. We were a dozen strong, and we had reserved seating so they knew where we were. It was clear to me that the performer who sought out our bride knew exactly what section of the audience to go to in order to find her.

Other ‘random’ audience members were brought on stage for various things including a fake orgasm contest. If these women were plants, they were good. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the show. Each of the three had a different take on the fake-it sounds – all believable based on their varied ages, and I imagine, experience. The oldest in the bunch, a woman around my advanced age, won, and rightfully so.

The ‘random’ selection from the audience that has me using quotation marks was a 72-year-old grandmother who made the stage twice. Both times, she interacted with the performer in a way that had me wondering how many times she did this each week, and if it paid well. Hey, if this writing gig doesn’t work out I could be looking for alternative employment!

Anyway, she knew the moves too well, and played the part of the dirty little old lady a bit too well to be believable for me. Even the younger crowd I was with commented on this, so it wasn’t just me.

Last – I didn’t expect to see any men in the audience, especially unaccompanied ones. However, there was at least one and he was seated next to me with nothing but an eighteen-inch bar table between us. Remember, this was assigned seating. There were open seats all around him and several between him and the group of young women occupying the rest of that block of seats. There were other men in attendance. Most were cozied up to their female dates, or at the very least, clearly ‘with’ a female. The guy next to me wasn’t. I’d say he was a bit older than me, and if I had to guess at his occupation, I’d say pimp. Yeah, did I say he was creepy? LOL I scooted my chair as far away as possible and tried to ignore him, but my gaze was drawn in his direction on occasion. Unlike everyone else in the place, he was a non-participant. He didn’t clap, laugh, scream or so much as smile that I could see. What was he doing there? I haven’t got a clue, nor do I want one. I was just glad he was sitting beside me and not one of the young women in our party.

Did I say I had a good time? I know this is a rather cynical review, but all things said, I had a fabulous time. I laughed until I cried at my daughters embarrassment and horror at having a stranger’s butt sweat on her hands! Yeah, that was worth the price of admission.

Would I go again? You bet! Next time I’m taking earplugs though, and maybe opera glasses – my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. <grin> And maybe I’ll stop in and see if they’re hiring. Dirty old lady in a male revue sounds a lot better than Wal-Mart greeter!

That’s me on the far left with my daughters.

Time is relative. When you’re a kid, the days and years seem like they are moving slower than a slug. Then when you finally reach the magic age that marks adulthood time speeds up until you suddenly find your kids are old and so are you.

It happens to us all. I swear yesterday was January 1^st, and now I’m looking at frozen turkeys and glittery decorations in all the stores. How did that happen? Anyway, this is the season to reflect on the previous months and the trends that caught everyone’s attention.

In the publishing world, there couldn’t possibly any doubt as to what book has had the greatest influence on the industry this year. I wish I could report that it was one of mine, but alas, that isn’t the case. The Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy has not only whipped the publishing world into a frenzy (Pardon the pun), but has extended its reach into all areas of our lives.

It’s the Fifty Phenomenon. There’s no need to voice the entire title. Just say fifty, and everyone knows what you’re talking about. We’ve added the term BDSM to our lexicon. Businesses selling everything from hardware to lingerie have benefitted from the popularity of the books and women all over the world have been inspired to spank some life back into their lackluster sex lives – even if their partners aren’t so inclined.

Recently, one British woman thought to do the same. According to news reports, she read the books then went out and bought some ‘marital aids’ (My words, not hers) and asked her husband to use them – on her. Her hubby was not inclined to that sort of sexual activity and declined to participate. So she divorced him, citing unreasonable behavior as her reason.

It’s tales like that one that will cement two-thousand and twelve in pop culture history as two-thousand fifty and twelve.

But long before that story made the news, I wrote a similar scenario into the second book of my Mustangs Baseball series, GOING DEEP. Only in my version, it’s the guy who wants to give the kinky sex a try and the woman who safe words out of the relationship.

So…how has the Fifty Phenomenon touched your life?

Here’s a short excerpt from GOING DEEP.

Jason’s girlfriend has left him and his teammate has coaxed the story out of him.

“What are you, some kind of shrink?”

“No, but I do want to win. And the Mustangs need you to start hitting. If I have to listen to your sad tale, then I’ll take it for the team.”

“Okay, but if you tell another soul I’ll use your head for batting practice and smile while I do it.”

Todd raised both hands in surrender. “I don’t doubt that for a minute. My lips are sealed, compadre. Now, tell me what happened.”

Jason glanced around the cavernous basement below the stadium to make sure none of the other team members were around. Assured they were alone, Jason began, “You know that book, the one everyone’s talking about? The one all the women are reading and saying it’s making them horny?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Well, Stacey bought a copy. We’d had some awesome morning sex, and I didn’t have to be at the field for a few hours, so we were just chillin’, you know?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, after breakfast, she picked the book up again — man, she couldn’t put it down. I swear, every time I saw her for days she had that book in her hands.”

Todd nodded, and Jason continued. “I asked her what was so interesting about it, and she started reading me some of the sexy parts. We laughed about a couple of them, and then she read this one where the guy handcuffed the woman and did some kinky stuff to her. It was hot, I’m telling you. Anyway, I said I wouldn’t mind doing some of those things to her.”

“And?”

“She looked at me like I’d turned into some kind of monster. She couldn’t believe I’d even think of doing those things to a woman, much less her.”

“What did you do?”

“I told her I wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want to do, and she should have known that.” Jason shook his head. Stacey’s behavior still didn’t make any sense to him. “Anyway, the next thing I know, I get a Dear Jason text. A text. We were in Atlanta and went from there to Cincinnati.”

“I remember that trip,” Todd said. “I didn’t have a single hit against the Braves.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t much better,” Jason said with a sneer. “By the time I got home, she’d cleared out of our place.”

“Had you ever asked her to try any of the things in the book, or done any of them without her permission?”

“No! I’d never force a woman to do anything she didn’t want to do. And honestly, I’ve never had to.”

“Your charisma aside, was there anything else she said?”

“Just that I was too demanding. That it’s always my way in bed, never her way. Shit! I asked her all the time to tell me what she liked.” He raked his fingers through his hair. Now that he’d started talking, he couldn’t stop. His frustration poured out faster than fans scurrying from the stadium when the home team was losing by a dozen runs.

“She said she didn’t like the way I tried to take care of her, as though she couldn’t take care of herself. It sounded like a bunch of women’s lib shit to me. You know. She said she could pump her own gas, and she didn’t want me ordering for her at restaurants. I’d call to check on her when I was out of town, just to make sure she was okay. I thought I was being considerate, but she said I was smothering her. And then the kinky sex thing…she said that scared her.”

When he finally wound down, it was as though the concrete walls had absorbed all the sound. The silence was deafening. Aware that Todd hadn’t said anything, Jason dared to look at his confessor. He didn’t like the way his friend eyed him.

“What?” Jason asked.

“Do you want to do those things to a woman? Really, want to do those things, or was it just some fantasy?”

Jason nodded. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. You know, calling all the shots, having a woman at my mercy. Willingly. I’d only do it if they wanted it, too. Stacey had to know that.”

Todd stood. “You have plans tonight?”

The abrupt change of subject caught him off guard. “No. Just gonna watch some TV, maybe have a few beers. Why?”

“I want to show you something.” He pulled a team notebook out of the bag he’d crammed underneath the bench. He scribbled something, tore out the page, and folded it in half before handing it to Jason. “Meet me at that address around nine. Dress casual.”

Damn, he didn’t feel like going out. “Thanks.”

“Sure.” Todd grabbed his duffel and left.

He hoped Todd wasn’t going to try to fix him up with some bimbo. The last thing he needed right now was a woman messing with his head — it was plenty messed up already.

Read more here.

Going Deep is available from these retailers-

Amazon

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All Romance eBooks

Diesel eBooks

Sony eBooks

Kobo

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Sexy Romance Stories

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Shelfari

It’s the epitome of romance – sitting in a tub of warm water with a hot guy. Candlelight flickers off crystal wineglasses and makes flawed skin appear flawless. The seductive scent of chocolate mingles with the fragrant bouquet rising from the bath.Talented hands close around the half-empty wine bottle, but instead of refilling your glasses, that gorgeous hunk of man tips the bottle… and pours all that lovely wine into the tub.

Okay. My first inclination might be to slap him silly, but wait! Let’s not be hasty. Perhaps he’s only trying to give you a unique spa experience you might not otherwise be able to afford.

Crazy? Not according to the folks at Caudalie Spa at New York’s Plaza Hotel.  There, the fruit of the vine is used for everything from bathes to wraps, scrubs, and massages. Fear not. When you’re through with your treatments relax with a glass or two selected for you by the spa’s full-time sommelier.

According to a treatment specialist at the spa who was quoted in the November, 2012 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that exfoliates and increases blood flow to the skin for a sexy, irresistible glow.

So, instead of pouring leftover wine down the sink, why not treat yourself to a luxurious spa experience at home? Just add about a quarter of a bottle of red wine to your bath water. Add soft music and candlelight for atmosphere. Don’t forget some decadent chocolates and perhaps open a new bottle to sip while you soak. And if you’re so inclined, invite a close friend to share the experience with you.

What’s your idea of the perfect relaxing indulgence?

Visit Roz Lee’s website.

I’m so excited today because I get to show you not one, but two new covers! Both are the work of the fabulously talented Talina Perkins at Bookin It Designs. I highly recommend Talina. She’s awesome to work with, and just look at these covers! They say it all.

The first cover is for my upcoming release, Going Deep (Mustangs Baseball #2). For those of you who read the first in the series, Inside Heat, you’ll recognize this handsome devil as Jeff Holder’s twin brother, Jason.

Available, Oct. 5, 2012

Blurb -

Control is the Name of the Game.

Keeping Carrie blindfolded and in the dark as to his identity suits Major League catcher Jason Holder just fine while he figures out if being a Dom really is his thing. With the media circling like vultures while he works to get his career back on track, the last thing he needs is a sex scandal if things don’t work out.

Just when he’s got it all under control a new kind of scandal from an unexpected source threatens everything, and Jason soon finds out that what you don’t know can hurt you.

Read an excerpt here.

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And now, for the other cover I promised you. Some of you may have already seen it since I updated the sales pages  a few weeks ago. But just in case, here’s the new cover for Inside Heat.

Blurb -

Megan doesn’t know anything about baseball, but she knows when she’s being hit on. When her quest to get Jeff Holder’s autograph for one of her pediatric patients turns into a proposition from the sexiest twins in the major leagues, Megan is tempted to play the game with them. As they say, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt or falls in love. Will Megan strike out, or hit a grand slam?

What people are saying about Inside Heat -

“You don’t need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this searing tale of a menage that blossoms into true love. Emotionally charged both on the field and off, the story will keep you engaged from the beginning to the final chapter.” – RT Book Reviews

“Inside Heat is a red-hot page turner! Sizzling with hot menage love scenes and layered with emotional grit, there’s not a page in the book that doesn’t deliver a sinful sigh of pleasure or a pull of the heart strings.”  - Night Owl Reviews

Read an excerpt and more here.

Inside Heat is available here -

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All Romance eBooks

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Diesel

Apple iBook Store

We’re all familiar with the terminology. A starter is something you begin with. It’s a first step – a trial of sorts to see if you like something. Years ago, I thought painting might be a way I could express myself, so I bought a starter kit. A few years later, having used the contents of the kit a time or two, I came to the conclusion that I was never going to be a painter, so I threw the slightly used, and now dried up, paints away.

That’s what you do with a starter. You use it and throw it away. Sometimes, however, once you’ve used the starter, you go back and buy an improved version. The starter got you going. You tried it – you liked it. You ate the appetizer and you want more.

There are all kinds of starters. Your first pair of high heels – your first husband – your first… well, you get the idea. We all have our list of starters – some we used and discarded, some we kept, but the one thing all firsts have in common – we learned from them. Sometimes the lessons are hard ones. I admit to a twinge of disappointment when I found out I had zero talent for painting, but it was a lesson I needed to learn in case I had delusions of quitting my day job in order to paint. The starter kit provided the insight I needed and saved me from making a huge mistake. Well, not really. No way was I quitting a paying job to paint, but you get the idea. Sometimes we’re drawn to do things that sound good at the time, but in reality aren’t so wonderful. Starters can save us from making mistakes.

But what about that other option? What happens when you get the starter and you discover something new about yourself? Wow! Whole new worlds can open up for you if you’re brave enough to explore your new-found depths. I should know. It happened to me. Not with the paint kit, but with what I like to call my starter book.

My starter book is/was a romantic suspense. I learned several things from writing that book. First and foremost, I learned that I could tell a story from beginning to end. Okay, so that one was a really poorly told story, but I did it. I started with a story in my head and I wrote it – all the way to my favorite two words – the end.

Believe me, this was a monumental revelation. After decades of searching for a way to express myself, I’d finally found the one I knew I wanted to be good at. Unlike painting, crafting and Lord only knows how many other failed starts, this was one I wanted to put in the necessary work to excel at. It felt right. Even I could see the starter wasn’t a masterpiece, but the fact that I finished it encouraged me.

I also learned how little I knew about actually writing a book. This led me to educate myself on the process and seek out other people like myself. I found them – a whole bunch of them – in Romance Writers of America. After joining the national organization, I found a ground level chapter – Los Angeles Romance Writers. There, I discovered published and pre-published writers who understood exactly what I was going through, and were willing to help me.

One of the greatest lessons I learned was – romantic suspense is not my thing. Loving to read it and writing it are two different things. This didn’t mean I had to give up writing – I just had to shift to something more suited to me. I tried all kinds of things, including romantic comedy. I really thought that was something I would be good at, but I was wrong. A crazy idea came to me one day, so I gave it a try. Who knew I could write erotic romance? I have to admit – it took me by surprise. But once I’d done it, and sold my first book, The Lust Boat, I was hooked on writing the genre.

My current work in progress, Going Deep, is the second book in my Mustangs baseball series. Remember I said there are all kinds of starters? Well… when a friend takes Jason to a local BDSM club, he’s intrigued. Something clicks for him, and it feels right, but he knows nothing about being a Dom. But Jason knows what he likes – and he likes to be in control. Carrie is everything he ever dreamed of in a woman. She’s beautiful, submissive and she trusts him – sight unseen. Unwilling to risk his public reputation if things don’t work out with his starter sub, Jason insists Carrie be blindfolded whenever they’re together.

Here’s a short excerpt from Going Deep.

“There aren’t any locks on the doors – a safety measure, just in case emergency services are needed,” Todd explained. “No one will enter unless invited, so no worries. The window is a two-way mirror,” he said, pulling back the curtain Jason hadn’t noticed to reveal a mirror. “If you want to invite people to watch, just pull the curtain open. Keep it closed for privacy.” Jason nodded and Todd continued. “As you can see, the room is equipped for just about anything you could want.”

Jason looked around, swallowing hard. Various apparatus he’d seen in the public rooms filled the space. The lighting was subtle, bathing the dark walls and a large platform bed in cool tones. His heart pounded against his ribs and his hands were as clammy as a teenager on prom night, but despite it all, a calm settled over him. This was where he belonged. These were his people. This was what he wanted with Stacey, and she’d seen just enough of his desires to be scared away.

For weeks, he’d harbored thoughts that scared him too. Maybe he was too kinky, wanted to do things a sane, healthy man shouldn’t want to do. But now, he saw he wasn’t…

“You aren’t a perv, Jason, if you want to do some of the things you’ve seen here tonight,” Todd said, as if he’d read Jason’s mind. “This is normal for a lot of folks. Most of society doesn’t see it that way, so we try to keep it to ourselves, but once you walk inside the door here, you’re considered normal.”

“How did you know?” Jason asked.

“About you?” Jason nodded and Todd continued. “Because when I was your age, I was in exactly the same place you are. A friend showed me the way, and I’ve been happy ever since. I’ve been a member of this club for ten years. I’ve had plenty of subs in that time, but Brooke has been with me now for over a year. We’re thinking of taking our relationship outside the club – becoming a couple in public, maybe even making this a permanent arrangement.”

“People do that?” Jason asked.

Todd shrugged. “A few. We wouldn’t be the first.”

“You’re exclusive? You don’t mess around?” Jason asked.

“If you’re asking if I do this in every city we go to, the answer is no, I don’t. There are clubs everywhere, and I’ve been to a few, but I’ve always played here.”

“I see.”

“Want to give it a try?” Todd asked.

If you’re ready to give it a try, get started with the first book in the series, Inside Heat. Going Deep will be available in October.

Inside Heat is available from these retailers -

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We’re halfway through summer here in the U.S., and I’ve just finished the first draft of another book – Jason’s story, the still untitled second book in my Mustangs baseball series. I deserve a break, and I’m taking one while my Beta reader picks apart my efforts.

With my daughter getting married in a few months, and one of our Sexy Romance authors, Jennifer Lynne, saying ‘I do’ in a few weeks, I’ve got marriage on my mind.  (Congratulations, Jen!) So, attempting to reacquaint myself with what’s been going on while I’ve been sequestered in my writing cave, I came upon a news story I had to check out.

Unlikely marriages are the staple of romance novelists, but this one? Well, judge for yourself.

It seems  Robinson Funeral Home in Easley, South Carolina is getting married – well sort of. They’re getting married to a Starbucks coffee shop.

Yep. True story. You can read all about it here.

It’s technically an expansion, but when two things come together to form one – that’s a marriage – right? They claim it will simply be a coffee shop, complete with a cozy fireplace, that sells the famous brand coffee. Sells. Coffee. To grieving friends and relatives. Or are they hoping to create a new revenue stream, drawing in customers who have no other reason to visit their establishment than that they’re dying for a cup of java and a pastry? Or maybe they’re trying to attract more tech savvy mourners. I can’t think of any other reason a funeral home needs free Wi-Fi.

Full Disclosure – I’ve been to Easley. It’s not far from where my daughters live in upstate South Carolina. In fact, I was there just a few days before I saw this story. The highway running through the town is lined with strip malls, fast food joints, red lights and churches. It’s home to at least one mega-church, as well as undoubtedly, the biggest McDonald’s I’ve ever seen – which BTW also has free Wi-Fi and coffee. One-upmanship seems to be a recurring theme in Easley, which might account for a funeral home installing a coffee shop.

As unlikely as this arrangement is, combination businesses are not as rare as one might think. Years ago, I remember seeing this improbable mix in western Massachusetts. Dave’s Soda and Pet City has five locations to serve your thirst and pet needs.

If you know me at all, you know I can spend hours doing precisely nothing, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I went in search of other businesses to add to my list of marriages made in corporate heaven. Here are a few more I thought were particularly interesting – or disturbing, as the case may be.

In the heart of Tornado Alley, this Kansas business might want to add a church too. They wouldn’t have to change the signage too much. <grin> Seriously, mobile homes in that part of the country should come with a free storm shelter.

I found this rather disturbing one in El Cajon, California . Guns & Liquor? This is soooo not a good idea!

And seriously, Ft. Madison, Iowa looks like a lovely town, but who thinks this is a okay?

Never one to pass up a bookstore, this is an interesting business in San Jose, California. Yep, that’s a combination cleaners and, I’m assuming, library specializing in Spanish language books.

And, in all fairness to the funeral home in Easley, perhaps they aren’t the first such establishment to seek a new revenue stream. I found this one in Ontario, Canada. I can almost understand the furniture business – you know, caskets and commodes? Kind of has a ring to it, don’t you think?

I know there are other strange ones out there, so bring it on folks! Tell me about your favorite unlikely business marriage.

In celebration of Leia Shaw and Carrie Ann Ryan‘s new paranormal romance releases in June and July, we’re participating in an angel and demon themed blog hop! (Click here to go to Leia and Carrie’s blog).
Leia’s book, Destiny Bewitched, features a sexy as hell (pun intended) demon named Geo, and Carrie’s, Dust of My Wings, hero is an angel named Shade.

We were asked to let readers know which we’d rather have to…uh…cuddle up with at night – angels or demons? And what are our favorite angel or demon books? Since we have four authors on this blog, each of us has a different opinion and a different book. Here’s what the Sexy Romance Stories authors had to say. We’re giving away a Sexy Romance Story ebook to one lucky commenter! (Good all over the world!)

Jennifer Lynne: Do I prefer an angel or a demon? Hmm, if we’re talking about real life then I vote for an angel, but when it comes to fiction and the most delectable romance hero a woman could wish for, then my vote almost always goes to the demon lover! There’s just something about a bad boy that really gets to me – maybe it’s the possibility of redemption through the love of a good woman. Maybe it’s the promise – or delicious threat – of violence just at the edge of all that passion. Whatever it is, I love reading about bad boy heroes, and most of the time I like writing about them, too. My heroes usually have a dark side. While I haven’t created an actual demon or angel as yet, I do have a Greek god or three on offer! My Gods of Love series that began with menage a trois erotic romance, Platinum Passion, continues with the just-released transsexual romance, Aphrodite Calling. This erotic novella features Himeros, an ancient Greek god of sexual desire who knows exactly how to answer the call of need in every mortal who asks. Here’s a brief snippet that illustrates the complex light/dark aspect of his nature:

“We do have a couple of onlookers.”

His soft words, murmured into her hair, had her thighs tightening involuntarily around him as the burning excitement grew. Who was watching? And what show did they want to see? Straight sex between a man and a woman, or sex between two people who both had a penis?

Are you wondering if I really had the op? If there aren’t actually two hard dicks here right now, hidden by my skirt, sliding up and down against each other and dampening my panties with all that leaking pre-cum?

Too bad.

A sudden flare of anger ignited inside of her toward the peeping Toms, whoever they were, and she dug one of her heels into the crease of his ass, rubbing it up and down with just enough pressure to elicit a moan of protest from Himeros.

She stopped. “Sorry.”

“Ah, but I enjoy the lick of pain, Gina.”

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Roz Lee: Whether or not you believe actual angels and demons live among us, the concept is familiar. Demons are bad and angels are good. Demons influence us in dangerous way, and angels come along to guide us on a better path. Demons are destructive, and angels help us heal.

We’re all familiar with the sayings, the devil made me do it, and there was an angel on my shoulder. Most people don’t believe those in a literal sense, but refer to the battle of wills going on inside us on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s as simple as deciding to tell the cashier she gave you too much back in change or smiling at your good fortune and keeping your mouth shut. Other times, it’s deeper, darker.

In my current work in progress, Jason’s inner demons have served him well, giving him the drive and determination to overcome the odds and build a successful career in major league baseball. But on a personal level, those very same demons that make him such a good baseball player, manifest themselves through sexual needs Jason has long denied. With another failed relationship behind him, Jason is forced to confront his dark desires before they destroy him.

What does Jason need here? An angel, of course! He finds one in Carrie, a woman who understands and accepts his dark side. She brings light to the dark corners of Jason’s life, and through her he finds a way to express himself in a constructive way. She’s the angel he needs to balance the demon inside him. Their relationship isn’t without conflict, but with the help of his angel, Jason will finally put some demons to rest.

Look for Jason’s story, the second book in the Mustangs Baseball series, later this year. Here’s a snippet –

Jason took a few moments to get his head screwed on right as he watched his new sub through the glass. She’d followed his instructions to the letter. Wearing white lace panties and bra, she looked like an angel, minus the wings. He’d have to reward her before he took her to task for disobeying him the night before.

After tonight’s game, nothing would please him more than to give this angel an orgasm she’d never forget, then sink his cock into her heavenly heat. But that wasn’t going to happen. No orgasm for her, and the one he had planned for himself would be fun, but nowhere near as satisfying as he’d hoped. He reminded himself that he was in this to build a lasting relationship, and in the grand scheme of things, one more day wasn’t much to set the right tone.

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Chellesie B. Dancer: Some people are mostly angels, and others are pure demons, but in my upcoming erotic novella “Restless,” free-spirited Cassie has both competing in her head. She’s had the same devoted husband for seven years.  They’ve lived in the same lovely house for six.  And she’s had the same practical career even longer. At thirty years old, Cassie is restless–there’s a hot wind blowing through her that just won’t be satisfied. Then her husband loses his job, his confidence, and his libido. Her inner demon grows stronger and Cassie indulges in some risky flirtations, but her inner angel keeps her mindful of her beloved husband. When a dark enigmatic stranger moves into their home, the devil inside makes her body burn for him. Can she stay cool-headed and loyal, or will she let the fire engulf her? Can her husband accept that his angel is equal parts devil? What happens if she gives in to both?

“You like to watch me, don’t you?”
Taken aback, he just nodded his head. This was the perfect opportunity to try her plan.
“Do you ever…imagine…that it’s you I’m with?”
Long pause. His shoulders were clenched so tight his neck disappeared.
She mentally kicked herself for going too far, but knew enough to keep her mouth shut.
“I don’t mess with married women.”
BINGO!  He was attracted to her and he’d practically admitted it. “Of course not, and I wouldn’t cheat on my husband…”
His shoulders relaxed, and he took a breath.
“Not even with a tempting hunk like you.” She lowered her eyelids seductively as she smiled.

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Sharon Buchbinder: Women, especially strong women, struggle with how they are perceived by men. At times woman are demons, at other times angels. One of the earliest known she demons identified in Sumerian and Kabbalistic Judaism is the seductress and succubus, Lilith. The first wife of Adam, Lilith was his equal in every way. She had no desire to be bossed around by him, so she left Adam and Eden for more interesting company, male demons who hung out around the Red Sea. Apparently, the demons wrote on cave walls, “For a good time, call Lilith!” She coupled with them all and bore hordes of demon babies.

The flip side of the coin is the maternal, angelic being, also from the Kabbalistic literature, the Matronit. This powerful female figure was considered God’s wife. When Israel was threatened, she became a warrior goddess, one capable of riding blazing chariots and destroying armies to defend her chosen ones. But when the second Temple was destroyed, the Matronit grieved and left God to go off on her own until her nation repented and was restored to glory. In the interim, Lilith gives solace to God, because after all, he is a male with needs.

When I wrote Desire and Deception, I wanted to have a strong villainess, a man-eating woman, who also had a side the reader could empathize with. Isabel Ramirez is haunted by her duality–she is Lilith to some and the Matronit to others. She struggles with this duality until she finds a man who loves sees the angel hiding behind the demon within her. Here’s a snippet from DESIRE AND DECEPTION that depicts Isabel’s conflict between seductress and mother.

A hard slap landed on her ass with a cracking sound.

About fucking time he got it right. “Yes! Give me ten like that!” The noise of slaps blended with the scent of her arousal and his grunts with each smack. He rubbed his erection between her legs, touching her wet lips, pressing them apart. She shook her head and panted. “Not yet.” At last when the stinging crescendo hit the right peak, she shouted, “Now, Sean, now!”

He plunged deep inside her.

Her breath came in ragged bursts. “Harder.”

Sean complied with faster, deeper thrusts. Her thighs banged against the desk with each push. She pulled his hands around to her breasts, and placed them on her rigid nipples. “Pinch me.”

He twisted her nipples and thrust harder. She screamed, Sean groaned, shuddered, and fell against her back and hugged her close to him.

Isabel pushed him away. “Get off me.” She handed him a wad of tissues. “Clean me up, and make it snappy. I have to get home before my husband decides to fuck the nanny.”

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We hope you enjoyed our snippets. Now tell us a bit about your preference: Angel or Demon?

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