Anytime Darlin' - Fallen Angel Reviews

5 ANGELS:

"When paramedic Jake McKenna responds to a call, he never expects to find an unconscious girl, beaten and fevered. Wide, terror-stricken eyes meet his and their hands clasp as he works to save her. It's soon discovered that the girl, Devlin, has recently lost her immediate family to a car accident. The man who did this to her was her own uncle and guardian, a ruthless man who will do anything to get a hold of Devlin's trust money, including taking her life. Jake doesn't understand why but they connect on a deeper level and he doesn't leave Devlin's side until she's better. After a kiss between the two that leaves him spooked, Jake takes off to his family's ranch to help with calving. Almost five years pass before they see each other again, but neither has forgotten the feelings they have for one another and soon they're together every day. Devlin loves being with Jake but never feels quite safe; she knows her uncle is still out there and will stop at nothing until she's dead. Anytime Darlin' is a fabulously suspenseful story of one woman's path from tragedy to joy. There is a part of the story where Devlin chronicles her ordeal at the hands of her uncle, and she includes the telling of her rape. While disturbing, it endears the reader to this character, and we're able to more fully appreciate the anger of the hospital workers and other characters in the story, to share in their emotions. Jake is a thoroughly compassionate, delicious sexy hero. At a time when Devlin had no family in her life, Jake's presence is a calming balm. Although Devlin is several years younger than him, they make a delightful couple and their smoldering sensuality fairly melts the digital pages. The secondary characters also round out this story, making a decent story even more robust. This is the first story I've read by this talented author. It certainly won't be my last." -- Bella, Fallen Angel Reviews

http://fallenangelreviews.com/2010/September/bella-anytimedarlin.htm

I'm also super pleased that Anytime Darlin' is up on Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Darlin-Publishing-Allure-ebook/dp/B00440DUPO/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285893446&sr=8-1

I'd also like to thank Romances for More for featuring my menage One Four All: http://romancesformore.blogspot.com/2010/09/one-four-all-julia-barrett.html

I so wish I had something profound to say, but man, I am still so sick...sucks...

Welcome To My World

Welcome To My World

 

Dinner time; a joint effort between hubby and I on most nights. He grills, I spice or marinate meat, prepare side dishes. 

This particular evening, I’ve worked way too long, have no motivation and decide to embrace ‘tater tots’ as my only contribution to the meal. Hubs comes inside as I’m spreading oil on a sheet pan with my fingers. He leans in close and presses himself seductively against me.

Hubs: “This gives me all kinds of ideas.”

Me: “Huh? What are you talking about?” I pour the tots on the tray and move around a bit due to him invading my personal space by pressing his person against mine.

H: “Oil, on our fingers, rubbing, massaging…”

M: “Vegetable oil? Eewww! That’d be a freakin’ mess.”

H: “I wasn’t talking about pouring it.”

M: “Any amount would soak through the sheets and into the mattress.”

H: “We could get a rubber sheet.”

M: “You want to buy a set of special sheets so we can use cooking oil in the bedroom? Where would we go to get those? And wouldn’t it get so slippery that we’d slide off?”

H: “But how much fun would we have slipping and sliding around?”

M: “Do you realize what a cleaning nightmare that would be?” I shudder at the thought of filling a bucket with Pine Sol, finding the mop…

H: “Never mind."

Damn, I need a vacation!! 

Tessie

Erotic Romance vs Porn?

Erotic Romance vs Porn?

 

I recently blogged about the difference between erotic romance and pornography and I’m posting the question again with a few additions because it’s an interesting question and I was desperate for a blog today. lol

As a writer of erotic romance I often see knowing looks on the faces of others when I tell them what I enjoy writing. I notice a lot of heading nodding and smirking. I’ve often watched in slight discomfort as the “Wow, I thought she was such a nice lady…” expression melted right off their face and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it except explain myself.

Men can be especially bad about jumping to the wrong conclusions. A few immediately assume erotic-romance must fall into one of two categories “silly women’s romance” or “porn for women” and they say so. “Oh you write porn, I never would have guessed.” Or “Oh, that silly woman’s stuff? Maybe I can pose for your next book cover?” (Then they actually pose)

I often feel honor bound to explain that the vast majority of well-crafted erotic romantic fiction deserves its own category and it’s not silly or pornographic. 

Porn is lonely. It doesn’t foster tender feelings or look for common ground between partners. It’s a purely physical focus. It’s about bodies meeting—not souls. 

If souls don’t meet in a story, it’s not a satisfying romance.

Erotic romantic fiction focuses on the sexual side of emotional bonding. Souls meet and bond through the physical act of love. Erotic romance has a heart. The partners involved care about each other and grow to love each other. 

In my opinion emotional intention is the big difference between porn and erotic romance. Erotic romance incorporates strong feelings for the other. The other partner’s thoughts and welfare matter before, during and after any sort of sexual activity—even a kiss.

Pornography doesn’t care about those involved in the act or ask about their feelings afterward and to my eyes, is not the least bit romantic. 

Erotic romantic fiction is about exploring love through the physical sensations and emotions associated with sex. 

In erotic romantic fiction (if not always in real life) sexual exploration must lead to a caring mutually beneficial relationship. Love and respect must exist between the fictional partners or else the story simply doesn’t work as a romantic fiction. 

The erotic part of the story has to be honest, emotionally engaging and trigger a physical reaction in the reader or else it doesn’t work as erotic fiction. 

An author of erotic romance has to seek a delicate balance between love and lust that oscillates between the panting, crazed, call of the wild and the highest, selfless expression of sacred love. 

When it all comes together the result can be some very memorable, soul-thrilling erotic romance.

The boundaries get pushed to the limits with erotic romantic ménage. The balancing act gets far more complicated. Multiple fictional partners equal multiple emotional entanglements and everyone needs to be included in the heart circle or else it’s not a romance, it’s just erotic. If the partners are simply enjoying sex and don’t really care about each other (gasp!)—it’s porn… 

Many authors handle the mixed emotions of ménage beautifully and have written some stunning love stories that can leave us all wondering “what if that could work?”

Where do you draw the line between the erotic and pornographic?

XXOO Kat

Another Rainy Day and Mean People Suck

You know the saying When it Rains it Pours? Well today is one of those days. Last night I went to bed having to deal with an issue I thought we put behind us last school year. It seems the girl who was tormenting my daughter about the loss of her brother has started up again.

Of course L was very upset by her taunts. I got to witness firsthand what the girl was saying when my daughter showed me on Facebook. So now I’m dealing with the police and a cyber bullying issue.

Then I wake to learn a close friend has lost her husband unexpectedly. My heart goes out to her and her family. To make matters worse another good friend had some unfortunate things happen to her. Enough already.

I’m not sure what I had planned to blog about originally, but needless to say it’s gone.

On a side note, my Loose Id Adrift is up for Favorite 5 Heart Review over at The Romance Studio; if you would like to vote please do so here. 

http://theromancestudio.com/5heart_form.php

I’m up against some awesome writers so I’ll understand if you cast a vote for someone else .:)

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Happy Tuesday!

Nibble on UNTIL THE DAWN by Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand

Already out over at http://www.jasminejade.com/ is the first in a series of erotica thrillers by my good pal and talented award-winning author, Desiree Holt, and me!

Yes, we have taken our suspense to the highest level to give you...a thriller!

This one, UNTIL THE DAWN, introduces you to women who are, to be blunt, kick-ass wise and strong. No. Not superheroines, except in the most real sense. The first heroine is Madison Sommers who hires a man she should resist. But can't. Doesn't. Once she has him, she wishes she'd done it sooner. YEP. Dan Foreman is that luscious.

Want a taste of our trailer about Dan and Maddie?

Feast!

Then come read!

We have the second coming soon, UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

Our tag line?

Danger has new mistresses.

UNTIL THE DAWN.

You'll be thrilled.

Desiree and I will see you both at Romanticon next week, won't we? DO HOPE SO!

And for your pleasure, here is our trailer:

Need your opinion...

I have been buying a few stock photos to use in learning to create banners and covers.  

I didn't notice until after I pressed the "Pay" button that this hot dude is sporting a bit of body piercing jewelry. Now, I don't mind seeing a bit here and there, but a man's nipple is sacrosanct, and must be unadorned, to be admired, nibbled, and licked without anything getting in the way. But in a photo, the offending bit of glitter can be photo-shopped away gently to leave that nipple as pristine and sexy as ever.

Tattoos are really becoming the "it" thing to do now. Back in my youth (Ahem...better known as the Crow-Magnon days) only sailors, prison inmates, and an occasional drunk teen after the Junior Prom had tats...and women? Gasp! Never!  It used to be a skull and a name. Now, tribal tats are extremely popular.  Unfortunately, I see very few members of any tribes I know personally with a tribal tat.  I live in an area where five different tribal reservations are centered, and I have yet to see a tribal tat on any naked biceps!

But I digress.  Back to nipple adornments.

I love hot male nipples. Does that mean that I am a hopeless degenerate? But I love the purity of design of the au naturelle nipple.  Does that make me hopelessly outmoded? I have had guys tell me when I have interviewed them that they love the "look" of female nipple piercings, but when they get down to the touchy-feely-sexy part of foreplay, the hardware gets in the way, and some get turned off.  

So how about you? Do you think nipple rings are hot?  Oh...you have a couple?  Um...okay...how about on men?  You tell me what your thoughts are, and prove I'm completely outdated, silly, and antiquated.  :P

Fran

http://www.franleeromance.com

Anytime Darlin, from Two Lips Reviews

Paramedic Jake McKenna responds to an ambulance call and finds Devlin Barre emaciated, raped, and beaten to near death. He instantly feels a connection to her and becomes a constant support during her stay at the hospital while she recovers from her trauma. However, he’s 24 and she’s only 17, so he knows they cannot have a relationship and decides to put some distance between them.

When Jake doesn’t call on her 18^th birthday, Devlin realizes that she needs to get over Jake and learn to take care of herself. Although her uncle, who raped and beat her, got away, she knows she can’t live in fear forever. She has no family left, but she leaves her new friends and heads back home to go to school and find out what she really wants in life.

Four years later when Jake and Devlin reunite at a friend’s wedding, the sparks fly. They realize that the feelings they had for each other never went away, only this time there’s no reason to deny it. But Jake isn’t the only one hoping to reunite with Devlin; her uncle is still looking for revenge. Can Jake and Devlin forge a life together or will it be too late?

I would have liked to see the relationship between Devlin and Jake develop more slowly. It was love at first sight and I never got a feel for why they were so in love with each other so quickly. Although if you can get past that, the relationship between the two is so sweet and endearing that it really doesn’t matter why they got together in the first place. Plus, the sizzling hot sex scenes burn up the pages and you can definitely feel the attraction between them.

I almost didn’t read Anytime Darlin’ because of the rape of the main character, but I’m so glad I did. I thought Julia Rachel Barrett did an excellent job of touching on this sensitive subject but not making it the central focus. Devlin is a memorable main character who has a series of tragic events happen in her life that she overcomes with strength and grace. Jake is the perfect hero for this story because although he knows he could be with Devlin when he first meets her, he does the honorable thing and lets her go.

This book has it all, suspense, real life characters, and a heart-warming love story. It will make you think and will stay with you long after reading it. Definitely a recommended read!