Dante's Desire

Today is new release day for ME! I love this cover. LOL I wrote this book after hearing song lyrics. These are the words that became Dante's Desire: "I Get On You, Getting Off On Me." The song is by Halestrom and I must say I enjoyed writing this quickie.

Below find the blurb and new excerpt. Oh and it's X-Rated!

Available from Ellora's Cave.

Blurb:
Masturbating can be so much fun—especially when you have a one-man audience. Addison loves sex. More importantly, she loves her body and isn’t afraid to make it sing. Add a little voyeurism and it’s totally erotic.

Dante’s muse has stalled—until his sexy neighbor starts seducing him. Through her bedroom window, he watches as her hands caress her tantalizing skin. It’s like something out of a strip club, with his very own personal view. Thanks to this beauty, he’s drawing like wildfire. To thank Addison, Dante sends her an invitation for a single night together. That night may encourages them to draw a new future…together.

Excerpt:

Dante sketched feverishly as she slid the vibrator in and out of her drenched pussy. She was the perfect muse. She was beautiful. He longed to run his fingers through her rich brown hair and kiss those creamy breasts. His cock throbbed against his boxers. It pained him, but he had to continue. He wanted to finish this drawing tonight. He was only one drawing away from completing the required amount his agent demanded for a showing.
If it weren’t for this beauty there wouldn’t be a gallery show. She’d given him the strength to move on during a dry spell. His mind was no longer blocked. His creative juices were flowing as long as she was performing. He feared if she stopped he’d fall back into a rut.
This art show meant the world to him. It meant getting his sketches out in front of buyers. It meant finally getting recognition for his hard work. His agent would be happy with him. When all was said and done he’d have to properly thank his little muse.
He glanced back to her show and realized she was close to climaxing. He’d seen that look so many times. It should be embossed in his mind, but it wasn’t. He picked up the camera and clicked away. He needed something to remind him of this moment. He had to finish and he couldn’t wait until she returned from work another day. Besides, what if she was tired tomorrow? No, as much as he knew snapping pictures of her was wrong, he needed them to finish his masterpiece. When this was over he’d send her the pictures.
He smiled.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered to the empty room.
Placing the camera down, he picked up his pencil again and went back to putting the finishing touches on her face. He wanted to capture the look of sweet surrender as she fell in to the most glorifying orgasm.
As he captured the essence of her orgasm he knew he’d need release. His balls ached and his cock pulsed begging for relief. His relief would be that much sweeter, having waiting so long.
He placed the pencil on the easel tray and stepped back to admire his creation.
“Fucking fantastic.”
He glanced over to her apartment. She was gone. She was likely showering and settling in for the night, which was okay. Her work was done for today. He still couldn’t believe his luck the first time he spotted her.
He’d been standing on his balcony enjoying a warm summer night and an ice-cold beer. The sky had turned a midnight blue. The stars were plentiful. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Dante remembered leaning against the steel railing and glancing around the neighborhood. He wasn’t expecting to find her standing there in the light of her bedroom. He never imagined as she gazed up at him that she would continue undressing. He’d expected her to flip him off and pull the drapes closed, but she hadn’t. Instead she smiled and removed all her clothes.
His beer nearly fell from his hand as he realized what she was doing. Never in his life had a woman undressed for him. Most women he dated were afraid of their sexuality. They wanted to have sex with the lights off, so he couldn’t see them naked.
Dante loved their bodies. Women were his inspiration. Maybe that’s what they feared with him. Maybe they were afraid of ending up on a canvas if they allowed him to fully drink in their beauty.
His neighbor had. She wasn’t afraid of him seeing every inch of her body. In fact there was no doubt she enjoyed putting on a show for him. What started out as a simple strip show turned into a full-fledged seduction over the last few weeks. She was gorgeous and sexy. He wanted to possess her. He longed to touch every inch of her precious skin. He wanted to claim her. Possess her.
The one downfall was she had no idea her body was displayed on many different canvases. She would know though. He wouldn’t keep that piece of information from her. Before he told her, he wanted to thank her properly for being a great inspiration. Once he’d properly thanked her he would show her the pieces of art he had grown to cherish.
Yes, it was time to meet his neighbor.

Hero & Heroine: "Let's Just Be Friends"?

 "Let's just be friends."

Good Lord. Those four words can send you into a tailspin, crushing your world and causing you to crash land while your heart breaks. It signifies the other person doesn't feel the same "need, want, desire" for you as you do for him or her.

Relationships are so stressing, especially if one person is more committed to it than the other. If one seeks "more" than the other is willing to give, the "just friends" words will end whatever hope for a future the dreamer has.

Sometimes romance books have the hero and heroine begin as friends...and sometimes they're not exactly enemies but end up on opposite sides of arguments. The ones that are friends, seem to fight the attraction pulling them closer together, as if they need to avoid that giant step to a more committed relationship.

When I met my then 24-year-old husband-to-be, he had a 6-year plan of what he would do, where he would be, and told me he wouldn't get married until he was 30. I said, "Fine." I figured we'd date...but I'd already made up my mind he was "the one" for me.

Being "just friends" didn't work out as he'd planned. Five months later, we got married and will celebrate our 40th anniversary this year.

In 4 of my books ("Second Sight Dating" and "Anything You Can Do" by Marianne Stephens, and "Sexy Games" and "Strip Poker for Two" by April Ash) the hero and heroine start out as friends/business associates. Both agree to keep it that way, although neither can resist the other's charm and allure. Passion takes over, lust enters their worlds, and love makes them more than "just friends".

When it's meant to happen, the hero and heroine are fated to fall in love. They can still "be friends", but on a much more interesting and sexy level!


http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.aprilash.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com
http://flirtyauthorbitches.com

Photos: Flickr: Tiago Riberio, Juliana Continho, and bobafred's photostreams.

WHENEVER WE MEET--how did you meet your significant other?

How did you meet your significant other? Or did you meet in odd circumstances?

Mine, I met through a mutual friend in grad school, who for ONE solid YEAR said, "you must meet this guy! He's fab! So you!" And the guy? Kept saying as I did, "Ah, no. Not my type."

Here we are. Many decades later!

Definitely my type.

This cover?

About two people who meet and know immediately they have a thing going on. He's a hotel magnate. She's his interior designer for a new chain of hotels. The setting is romantic Guadalajara Mexico and inland to the mountains which are breath-taking.

sigh.

Can we go now???

Please!

This book? Out Friday, August 20 over at EC.

Enjoy!

Ciao, bella.

Got my panties in a wad here...

I have certainly overextended my resources...

I have taxed my reserve energies to the max. I feel sorta like I am being pulled backward through a picket fence, and my brain is all tangled up in it's underwear. I think that's why I have been sick for the past few days. It's my body's way of telling me to take a step back and regroup.

So to those who are relying on me to jump in and start swimming, please wait for me to get on my water wings. I just might drown if I don't. :P

I have made several important commitments and am also trying desperately to get a wip to my editor...and frankly, I am drawing a blank.

But I will be back in the saddle, with my bootstraps pulled up and my fanny in gear and all those trite cliche euphemisms for getting my head out of my butt and moving forward. Sigh.

Thanks for your collective patience...

Fran

Daughters of Persephone - First Review

From Happily Ever After - 4 Teacups

LynnMarie’s Review

I’ve read other books by Julia Barrett, so I was eager to start Daughters of Persephone. I commend Ms. Barrett for the time and devotion in creating a realistic sci-fi world with its own terms and rules. You are pulled into the realism of a new world and kept there by the larger than life characters.

In book one, we meet Aja and Kyr. Their romance is sweet and humorous, both knowing they’d found their mate from their first encounter. Aja is a daughter of The Blood, a race of women developed long ago on Earth and since descended from Persephone. They have unique abilities and can defeat a male with their eyes closed. Kyr is captain and responsible for Aja’s safe delivery in a time of political unrest.

In book two, Aja’s sister, Ennat, and Kyr’s brother, Karna are the focus. Ennat has the same mahogany hair and grey eyes of her sister, but she’s stronger, ready to fight and kill whenever necessary. Her relationship with Karna is sexy and playful. They challenge each other, but can’t deny their desire. Once they take the step to join their blood, their fate is sealed, joining them together forever.

There is a lot of politics in this book which can be a bit heavy at times. However, the dialogue, humor and developing romances keep the reader’s interest. The entire book was consistent and followed the rules created by the author early on in the book. The two Daughters of Persephone are ready to take on their evil father in hopes to bring peace and stability to the world. We learn a little of a third sister, but only meet her briefly. Each woman would easily give up their lives for their cause, or for their mates.

If you enjoy a complex and engaging sci-fi read with kick-ass heroines and steamy romance, escape into Julia Barrett’s new world in Daughters of Persephone.

Treasuring Evie

Treasuring Evie released yesterday at Ellora’s Cave!
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8537-treasuring-evie.aspx

I wrote a version of the first chapter of this story years ago, on paper with a pencil! I tried it again last year, on the computer this time, in between writing Ageless Desires and Oasis of Pleasure and it wouldn’t flow, so I saved it and moved on. A few months ago, I had a vivid dream about Matt and the scene at the lake – you’ll have to read the book for clarification – and I had no trouble writing Treasuring Evie! He’s actually a guy from my past that I’d completely forgotten about.

When I was growing up, my family spent a month each summer at various cottages in different parts of northern Michigan. Sometimes we were in more touristy areas, other times we were way up in the Upper Peninsula, cut off from modern civilization. One of the summers when I was in high school, I think it was the one between my sophomore and junior year (but that’s not critical to this story except to place me firmly in teenage angst/hormonal-ville) we were secluded in the U.P. My older brother and I are less than a year apart in age and have always been very close. We were both miserable being away from our friends, a telephone, a TV, a stereo and having way too much time with our parents and bratty little brother. Mom and Dad were more than happy to hand over the car keys and let us go off on our own.

Just like Evie, I saw “Matt” for the first time stopped next to us at a stoplight. He smiled and winked at me. I saw him coming out of a store one time, another time I remember him leaning against a pole across the street from the laundry mat and he tilted his head in recognition of me and smiled a killer grin. It got to a point where I saw him every time we were in town. He was hotty hotness and I spent hours daydreaming about him.

The night before we were going home, we went to this huge party. There were a ton of kids there, it was way deep in the woods, giant bon fire, radios blasting, lots of beer, (yes I know we were under age but what can I say, I’m trying to keep it real). One moment I was chatting with a bunch of girls, the next, I thought I was going to faint when I saw “Matt”, leaning casually against the side of his car, all shirtless, tight, worn blue jeans, barefoot guy! He motioned for me to come over. I stood rooted to the spot, heart racing, fighting an internal battle for courage. I had taken a couple steps in his direction when my brother came over and said we were leaving, now. His tone left no room for argument.

I found out later that “Matt” had pointed me out to the group of guys my brother was with and had articulated his plans of seduction! My brother lectured me the whole way back to the cottage about the evils of older men – he’d found out “Matt” was 20. My fantasies became even hotter knowing this guy actually lusted after my person!

Treasuring Evie is NOT about teenagers but was inspired by my memories of the intensity of those emotions and fantasies.

Tessie
www.tessiebradford.com

A Tossed Summer Salad of News!

Today’s blog is a summer tossed salad of news.

I want to mention and thank Romancereader at

“Seriously Reviewed” for taking “Owned By Rome”

seriously and giving it a wonderful review.

Review: “Owned by Rome is an epic tale of lust, love

betrayal, and forgiveness. There were so many facets of the story,

 that as it unfolded, I forgot that I was supposed to be reading

 a romance and simply enjoyed the historical detail. The author

 does such a brilliant job of weaving fact, fiction and hypothesis,

that I was swept into the story and believed every word I read.

Some of the things I loved most about the story were also

aspects that some readers might not enjoy as much as I did.

The romance is often overshadowed by the historical details.

But the historical details are interesting.

The first third of the book reveals most about Atellus.

There is a lot of telling of events that had already occurred.

There was a build up of a certain aspect of the story that

wasn’t at all what I expected to happen. So lots of twists and

turns in the plot. The history of Atellus was also interesting,

but Owned By Rome at times, read more like literature and

was harder to lose myself in the story. There is an abundant

use of Latin in the story, but the use is not confusing

because Ms. Leon weaves words with clarity and context.

Once the story really picks up, after Rutila is introduced,

the romance of the story is bittersweet. They are both damaged

souls and need each other. But the wounds inflicted during

turbulent times fester in Rutila. Atellus is gentle and patient,

but also has darker needs. Rutila must forgive herself for

living before she can open herself to accept Atellus’ love.

And Atellus has to free the one woman who fires his soul.

She won’t be owned by a Roman. But if he lets her go,

he may never have her again.

Reading Owned by Rome will take you on an emotional

journey and in the end you’ll be glad you read the story.”

(Thank you!)

I also want to congratulate Tessie Bradford

on the release of her latest erotic romance

“Treasuring Evie” Here’s the blurb:

“So let’s recap. You screwed like bunnies in the yard and

then went inside to make omelets and get to know each other?”

Evelyn Ashlyn is living a life she’s struggled hard

to achieve. Her business is thriving, as is her career as an artist.

Success, however, always comes with a price. For Evie,

the price is her personal life—and sex life. She’s not had

any for two years. Dalliances with the summer tourists are

against her code of ethics and the few bachelors in her small

town are single for a reason.

Matt Carstead, recently retired Detroit police officer, thought

his dream come true was to move up north and spend his

days woodworking, fishing and relaxing. That was until he

met Evie, his fantasy woman come to life. Especially when he

discovers his new neighbor swims in the nude—and has a

mouth like heaven on earth.

Neither of them ever imagined what was about to happen.

      Tessie Bradford’s “Treasuring Evie” is available

now from Ellora’s Cave Quickies.

(Nude swimming? It sure sounds like fun!)

I finally finished my Christmas WIP and can take a

short rest from Christmas until the real Christmas

decorations start showing in stores in mid-September…

This week also marked Amber and I taking the

first step toward getting an interesting Ellora’s Cave

group project off the ground. I can’t wait to have something

solid to report on that front and hopefully we will soon.

Last but most important our sister scribe and blog

“Hunkifier” supreme Marianne Stephens aka April Ash is

 leaving us and hopefully will get a little rest and a moment to

herself to write more wonderful books. Thank you Marianne

for your generous, hard work and your sweet sense of humor.

You were the great informer. Without Marianne, how will

we know when National–hug-a-hunk day comes around?

Hunks might go unhugged! What a tragedy that would be…lol

XXOO Kat