A year ago, Bravo Team WOLF faced the challenge of discovery when Corporal Kaitlyn Amador was assigned to their unit. The wolves serving as a special unit of Force Recon Marines come from different packs as part of a negotiated agreement between the U.S. packs and the U.S. government. Bravo Team WOLF serves their country and the packs maintain their autonomy and secrecy. Kaitlyn’s presence threatens that agreement, but Captain Jax Raymond’s interest in her is an even greater threat to his peace of mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwSKMCe5NP0

Now, Sergeant Carlos “Cage” Castillo faces a new challenge when he leads a small contingent of the team to rescue a kidnapped child in Costa Rica. It’s just another day at the office until he accidentally bites aid worker Bianca Devlin who invested herself in saving the kid, too.

What happens in the jungle doesn’t stay there, and now Cage must stick close to Bianca in case his bite turns her—falling in love wasn’t in the mission statement, nor was turning her life upside down.

Wolves

When you’re writing wolves you know a lot about the characters before you start:

1. They’re loyal.
2. They’re tough.
3. They want to protect.
4. They are fierce and passionate.
5. Dominance games aren’t always played through physical action

These wolves come from different packs, different backgrounds—so much, that while they have a lot in common, they have different socio-cultures that come into play. Serving together, however, has also given them bonds of brotherhood. Immersing myself in that world is always a thrill.

Marines

These guys will go the distance to serve their country, their packs, and each other. What makes them a team is their loyalty, toughness, fierce protectiveness and their innate desire to serve. It also gives the term hard-headed a whole new meaning. Every single one of them volunteered. They train together. They work together. And they balance their differences with a common goal—getting the job done.

Cage kicks this book off with a lot to prove—to himself. Bianca is a woman who grew up in the service of others, and she thrives on saving people. Sure, they seem like a match made in wolf heaven, but what if being a wolf isn’t what she wants? And what if all the secrets Cage is keeping costs him more than he knew he could want?

All of this and more comes into play in Bitten Under Fire, releasing on May 28. May is Military Appreciation Month, and Monday the 28^this Memorial Day. While Bravo Team WOLF is a work of fiction, it’s also a love story to those who serve in all walks of life.

Contest

In honor of all of these, I’m giving away an e-copy of When Danger Bites, book 1 of Bravo Team WOLF. Just tell me what your favorite part of wolf or military stories are…what do love about these kind of heroes?  C’mon, take a walk on the wolf side and discover Bravo Team WOLF today!

Here’s a sneak peek at Bitten Under Fire:

Cage gave up on even the pretense of sleep and rolled out of the too-soft bed at four a.m. His body clock, still tuned to East Coast time and training, told him he should be out with the team. He could be on a run with the guys, alternating their training between wolf and human forms. Hell, if he timed it right, he could be out in the hill country and running free for the sheer joy of it. Instead, he stood in a dark bedroom, on a hilly suburban street near Austin, staring broodingly at the house across the street.

Bracing one hand against the window edge, he debated the next step. Spending time with Bianca was not a hardship; in fact, he’d half forgotten his purpose over dinner the night before. Watching her eat the ice cream aroused him and left him lusting hard. So much so, he’d been sure his erection would have a permanent zipper imprint.

His wolf didn’t help, not one bit. In fact, the beast settled in her presence and wanted to take root. The animal hated leaving. Between her tantalizing scent and absent-minded licking of her lips, Cage had to admit he found it difficult to bid her good night and walk out her front door.

Once outside, he’d noticed her windows were still open, upstairs and down. She hadn’t turned on any external lights, and he was pretty sure if he navigated his way over the back wall and leapt onto the deck, he’d find her French doors still wide open.

They’d eaten on her deck. She seemed more comfortable outdoors than in. He could get inside, maybe even steal a kiss before telling her to lock up for her own safety.

I’m not here to seduce her.Having to repeat the mantra after a sleepless night didn’t improve his mood. Bianca had accepted his reasoning for being across the street, but her suspicions filled him with pride. She wasn’t the type to just take a story at face value. Then again, he hadn’t been 100 percent honest with her.

There was no easy way to say, “I might have just changed your life forever…by the way, how do you feel about becoming an animal?” The wolf didn’t give a damn about Cage’s reasons for why they were there. The wolf liked Bianca, enjoyed her scent, and her husky voice. So do I.

Movement by her front door attracted his attention, and he let the wolf peek out. The shift of his eyes was a controlled move, and it allowed his night vision to expand. Bianca exited her place wearing a pair of denim shorts with frayed hems, an open button-down shirt over a tank top, and her feet were encased in pair of sneakers. She paused to lock the door, a bit of a struggle with her splinted wrist.

Hair swept back into a ponytail, she looked fresh and bright—if one discounted the bruise on her cheek or the scrapes visible on her forearms and long legs. Where the hell was she going at four in the morning?

Leaving, she moved slowly and deliberately down the steps, favoring her right leg. Her feet had been scratched, bruised, and damaged. Even last evening when she sat on her deck, bare feet stretched out to rest on the rail, he’d seen the angry marks on them.

As she reached the sidewalk, she paused, hands on her hips, and looked left then right. Her gaze swept back and forth, and it was then he realized her lips were moving. Even with his superior night vision, he couldn’t read what she said. Finally, she turned toward the uphill rise on her right and began walking.

At four in the morning.

In a city she didn’t know.

In a neighborhood she’d just moved to.

Cage growled then hurried to throw on shorts, a T-shirt, and running shoes. In less than three minutes, he’d dressed, descended the stairs, and let himself out of the front. Jogging, he followed her scent easily. Even at her limping walk, she’d made it to the end of the block and continued around the curve.

He’d almost caught up to her when it occurred to him that running at her in the dark might not be the wisest course. Slowing, he opened his mouth to warn her he was there, when she spun and slammed a taser into his side. The voltage sent a cascade through his nervous system. One minute he was standing, the next he lay on the ground staring at her dumbly.

“Oh, shit!” Bianca cursed, then turned off the flickering taser. Kneeling, she grimaced and touched his arm. “Are you okay?”

“No,” he said, slowly, not sure he trusted his voice. His wolf felt as stunned as he was. The shocks rioting along his nerve endings zapped him in lessening increments. Tingles spread throughout his limbs. His tongue seemed permanently rooted to the roof of his mouth. “No.”

The weight of her hand on his arm riveted him, helping to ground out the solid scrambling she’d sent through his system. Wolves were hardy beings, and they could take a solid beating. Most minor injuries they could heal in a short time. More serious wounds—bullet wounds, knife stabs, even claw rips—they could heal by shifting.

Electricity ripping through them? That hurt on multiple levels, and not even a wolf could recover from the stunning effect swiftly. Maybe it had something to do with the disconnect he felt with his wolf right now. The animal seemed dazed and distant.

“Cage?”

He’d almost forgotten Bianca was there; her fingers traced over his arm.

“I’m really sorry, I just heard someone coming at me, and it’s dark and…”

And she took his ass out with a taser.

Who Heather Long?

USA Today bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime.

From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family.

She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Heather is best known for her 18-book paranormal romance series Wolves of Willow Bend, which begins:

Prequel: Wolf at Law
1: Wolf Bite
2: Caged Wolf
3: Wolf Claim
3.5: Wolf Next Door
4: Rogue Wolf
5: Bayou Wolf
6: Untamed Wolf

Heather’s other fantasy romance series include the paranormal westerns Fevered Hearts starting with Marshal of Hel Dorado, Black Hill Wolves which start with What a Wolf Wants, Witches of Mane Street, Mongrels, and the forthcoming Bravo Team WOLF series.

Her contemporary romance series include: Always a Marine, Going Royal, Elite Warriors, The Love Thieves, beginning with Catch Me and Lone Star Leathernecks, beginning with Semper Fi Cowboy.

Heather is well-represented in fantasy wither her superhero series Boomers, a sci-fi western called Space Cowboy Survival Guide, an urban fantasy series called the Chance Monroe Adventures, and a stand-alone ghost novel titled Haunt Me.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.heatherlong.net
Email:heather@heatherlong.net
Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heather-long
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heather-Long/e/B002BMBCUC/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iKxQ5

UPDATE: The winners are Colleen, Pat, and Debra!
*~*~*

Summer’s nearly here! I’m excited. I’m planning to stick close to home. No travel. Just work, swimming, and maybe a little junking (flea-market shopping—one of my favorite pastimes!). I’m also making plans for several mass giveaways. Some will happen here. Some will be conducted through my newsletter. So, if you aren’t already subscribing to my newsletter, look to the left where it says “Get My Newsletter” and subscribe!

Today, I’d like to remind you that I have a ton of short stories, very reasonably priced, and very, very sexy. My favorite series inside a series is my Stepbrothers Stepping Out: With His SEAL Team series. If you love a quick read with military heroes and love ménage stories, this one’s for you! Currently, there are five stories in this subset series, but there will be at least one more. At the moment, I’m working on Stepbrothers Stepping Out: With His Client—an ultra-hot office-slave shorty. Be watching for it!

Contest

I’ll give away a short story to three commenters—any short story from my Short Story page, so go take a look at my offerings! Recently, my site was updated, so take your time looking around. 🙂

To win your choice of short story, answer me this…

What are your summer plans?

With His SEAL Team

When Sara’s stepbrother surprises her with an early return from a mission, he brings two of his Navy SEAL teammates along…

Of course, there are more stories in this series. Think I could write just one?
Click on the covers to learn more about these stories!

 

 

“Baby, ready to get down and dirty? I’m gonna make you so wet…”

I didn’t have to fake my enthusiastic, “Oh, please, daddy. I’ve been waiting so long for your call…” Andrew was one of my regulars, and thankfully, all he ever wanted was straight up, shared masturbatory sex with just a touch of domination. After “spanking” the old man whose wife thought he was sick because he couldn’t get it up unless he was punished, and stroking the ego of a dude with a whiny voice who claimed to be hung like donkey, but who likely had a teeny weenie, I was ready to have some fun.

Just one of the perks of my new job. I blew out a deep breath. “Lord, it’s hot in here.” I fanned myself, something he couldn’t see, but which helped me make the roleplaying real.

“Maybe you should take something off…”

“Mmm…” I glanced down at my thin tank and cotton shorts. They didn’t exactly fit the fantasy we were about to enact. “You caught me just as I stepped out of my shower, daddy. I took a cold one.” I pulled my shirt over my head, careful not to jostle my headset, then walked to the sink. I turned on the faucet, letting cool water run over my fingers. Then I stroked the water over the tops of my breasts. I rubbed away the moisture with my castoff shirt. “Oh!” I gasped. “I can’t stand it when a towel scrapes my nipples.”

“Are they aroused?” he asked, his voice deepening.

“Into tight little points. Umm… My towel hurts,” I said, injecting some little girl crankiness into my tone. “Wish someone was here to lick them dry.”

He groaned then chuckled. “Let me help. How about you do exactly what I tell you?” Read the rest of this entry »

Three Day Special! Coupon expires Friday, May 25

Hi Delilah Fans! Here’s an offer you can’t refuse. Book I, Hers to Choose, is already FREE at all retail outlets. Now, exclusive to Delilah’s blog, you can get Book II, Tangled in Two, FREE with coupon code YH27V.

Bryn McClure has put the Cannon men behind her. Or so she thought. Then Alex reappears with a plan that will save her farm and set her up for life. Overwhelmed, she would love to express her affection. But instead of reciprocating, he keeps her at arm’s length.

Then Dan shows up and there’s really no question about what happens next. She can’t get enough of the dirty discipline he dishes out. When he holds her in his arms, her world is complete.

But nothing is ever so simple as choosing one man or the other. Nightmares unfold as she and her beloved Ozarks farm come under attack by unknown enemies. Bryn quickly realizes—she needs them both.

Excerpt:

Before Bryn had a chance to protest, Dan pulled her up, turned her toward him, and lowered his mouth to hers, brushing over her lips.

What was this? Should she resist? Was he going through the motions in order to prove something? Torment her? His hands made their way down her sides and over her buttocks before pulling her tight against his lower body. An erection pressed through his slacks and against her belly. Did he think he could do whatever he wanted?

Her nipples squeezed to pebble hardness and her clit stiffened. An internal war broke out. Push him away?

His big hands began massaging her buttocks, and she wanted him immediately. His lips continued brushing over her mouth, her cheeks, down her neck. Her nostrils flared and her legs shivered.

“Has anyone serviced your needs recently?” he whispered against her neck. “Are you distracted from your business, Miss McClure?”

“No, I….I’m, yes, I’m distracted.”

Should she do this? Could she refuse? Whatever she did with Dan wouldn’t fill the hole left by Alex. Her desire for Dan fit an entirely separate part of her. But maybe it was all she could ever get. And it would help her forget her disappointment with Alex.

Rationalization? Justification? So what? She didn’t owe Alex anything.

Whatever Dan wanted her to say, she would say it. If he wanted her submission, she would happily give it. Any time she came under his control would feel like relief from the loneliness and regret she carried around every day. His arms held her in an iron grip. Heat blazed up her chest.

“Distracted is not acceptable, Miss McClure.” He stepped back. “Lucky for us, I anticipated this might be the case.”

Dan walked to his things at the couch and returned with a small bag. “You’ll find your garments in here. Get dressed and let me see you.”

Bryn’s mind went blank. It was an absurdly familiar and thrilling moment, his demands, the full realization of what might come next. One singular truth became clear—Dan was her dom.

Maybe Dan didn’t twist her heart the same as Alex, but it was better this way. Sex without commitment, without demoralizing emotional baggage. She glanced up at him. A sly smile curled his mouth but didn’t extend up to those calculating pale eyes, watching her, demanding.

Beyond that was the absolute certainty that he would take care of her.

In the bedroom, she shook out the bag and surveyed the contents. After discarding her clothes, she slid into an abbreviated white blouse with little cap sleeves and a shirttail tie that fastened under her breasts. A red plaid skirt with wide pleats, also quite small, fit low on her hips if she pulled it down far enough to barely cover her buttocks. White hosiery included elastic bands that held them at mid-thigh. She added a pair of her white thong panties then stared at herself in the mirror.

Gooseflesh rippled down her body as she studied her image. She hardly recognized herself, some trollop in a super trashy outfit. This had nothing to do with Wade. The outfit reeked of Dan.

In a sudden inspiration, she pulled down her ponytail, quickly dividing her hair and weaving it into two loose braids on either side of her head. If schoolgirl was what he had in mind, she could give it. With a deep breath, she walked out of the bedroom.

He waited near the wood stove. He had closed the window curtains against the arrival of evening. Another martini had been mixed and poured into their glasses. He lifted his glass toward her as she appeared at the bedroom door.

“Well, now,” he said in a husky voice. “You look ready for school.”

She clasped her hands behind her back. “Yes, master.”

His intense gaze lingered over her body. He remained fully clothed with his white shirt sleeves rolled against his tanned forearms and his thighs tugging against the dark slacks. He drained his glass and set it on the table before walking to her.

“You’re quite a handful, so easily distracted from your studies.” His hands grazed her tingling breasts, thumbing the rigid nipples before trailing down past the skirt and finding the panties.
He snapped the thong’s elastic band. “Can you not follow even the simplest instruction?” He yanked the panties to her knees and let them fall to the floor around her ankles.

She licked her lips. “I…need correction,” she murmured as his hands slid back up her thighs.

His fingers traced through her slick crease, lightly stroking her erect clit.

“Severe correction. Sir,” she added.

“Yes, I can see that.” He led her to the table then tied one of her wrists to a chair back. In moments he had fastened the ankle and wrist of her left side to one chair and the other ankle and wrist to another chair. With the chairs on either side of her, she remained upright as he again fondled her.

“The problem about your discipline,” he said, plying her breasts with his free hand, “is that there’s no secret you enjoy it. Now if I could manage to truly punish you,” he said with a hard pinch on her nipple, “so that you learned to stop making the same mistakes.” He pinched the other nipple. “Then perhaps you wouldn’t need so much correction.” He slapped her buttocks. Hard.

He walked away and took another drink of his martini before bringing her glass and holding it so that she had to gulp half the liquid. Then he opened his briefcase and took out a familiar wooden paddle.

“I gave this a lot of thought, Miss McClure,” he continued, striking the paddle against his hand in a loud slapping noise.

Her thighs clenched. She was soaked, sliding into complete submission. It felt glorious.

*~*~*

Don’t miss the rest of the Cannon Cousins series!

Book III – Payback Blues
Dan’s abrupt meeting with Riley Montgomery blossoms into intense feelings, not what he wants or needs. Does it hurt to sidetrack into a little spanking of her best friend?
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/791854
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1985580977

Book IV – His to Lose
Riley’s courage falters after she pursues her fantasy domination of Dan. Unexpected attacks on Cannon Company complicate the situation. Did she go too far?
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377220
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492797162

Thanks for reading!

Lizzie Ashworth

UPDATE: The winner of the free download is Elysian Fields!
*~*~*

The second story in my two-book “Heart” series is out today! This series includes True Heart and Lone Heart, that follows the Wyatt men who own a ranch in Colorado. True is the straight-arrow brother, who bends his own rules when he meets the woman he falls for like a ton of bricks. Lone, who’s a footloose rodeo cowboy, finds a reason to stick around when he meets his true love.

Lone Heart

Temptation this wicked has only one explanation—the devil has dimples!

When ex-rancher and rodeo cowboy, Lone Wyatt, saunters into a small Oklahoma town, he isn’t expecting much. After his brother married the woman they both loved, he’s been rethinking his life, opening himself to the possibility of finding his “one and only”—but he’s in no rush. Until he meets Charli Kudrow. One wary glance from her haunted eyes, and he’s ready to tear through every objection she offers. He knows there’s a hidden fire inside her just waiting to erupt.

For the first time since she lost her childhood sweetheart, widow Charli Kudrow feels a spark of attraction for the young cowboy who seems set on seducing her. Thinking she’ll never see him again, she succumbs to temptation, only to discover that little “spark” was more of raging wildfire. When her foreman hires Lonny, there’s no escaping his wicked, flirty ways.

Get your copy here!

In case you missed it—True Heart!

Two men plus one woman equals three bodies on fire…

True Wyatt’s hands are going to be full enough keeping the herd alive through the dead of winter. The last thing he needs to hear is that his brother Lonny rented out their isolated hunting cabin to a reclusive writer—especially a sassy, disaster-prone brunette. Who has the time to babysit a city girl until Spring?

With a deadline looming, erotica writer Honey Cahill is looking forward to six distraction-free weeks to finish her next book. However, between Lonny’s flirty sensuality and True’s hard-edged intensity, the Wyatt brothers set the stage of her imagination for a winter of wicked delights.

However, the fire that destroys the cabin is as real as it gets. Forced to shelter under True and Lonny’s roof, the temptation to experiment—all in the name of research, of course—is overpowering.

Get your copy here!

Contest

Win a free download of True Heart by telling me something cool, weird, or strange about you!

My newest release, Forbidden Monsieur, takes the reader to wine country in the South of France and eventually to Paris and features a character from the series, Chelsea Bright, who has done some not mature things against her sister and a man she thought she’d marry when she was twenty-two and fresh out of college. Her sister sent her to Paris for a year to let her mature on her own, and when she returned to Avce, Chelsea slowly accepted her fate.

Once her nephew is born though, Chelsea realizes it would be nice to have a family and not just marry. However, she doesn’t feel she has much of a choice. Her father gambles and puts the family in debt, again. Her mother is a shopaholic who expects Chelsea to marry a rich noble. And unlike her sister, she has no best friend who was an earl and rich to fall in love with. Chelsea checks out all the available nobles and doesn’t see anyone she’d ever want to marry. However, her mother claims to have met the perfect match for Chelsea in Paris. So she agrees to go and impress this Duc.

However her car crashes on a vineyard, and the sexy, Frenchman, Alexandre Travers, who grows wine for a living. He’s not rich or titled, but he lives and believes that anyone can be whatever they want to be. He even believes she should follow her art and not her parents’ wishes. She’s never kissed anyone like him. If she really had a choice, she’d choose Alex.

If you can help me spread the news about my newest release you might win a kindle! The link to the giveaway is on my page or at the end of the page.

Where to buy:
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/g0o60d
Barnes and Noble: http://smarturl.it/4cfh4e
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/89ehbt
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/oyzs3l
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/gg7v1f
Victoria Pinder Website with giveaway and special offers: https://victoriapinder.com/forbidden-monsieur-giveaway

First Kiss Excerpt:

He nodded and twirled her in beat with the song. He let out a sigh. “Chelsea, you’re different than what I thought. I’m sorry your father is sick.”

And she was sorry she couldn’t forget everything and stay right here, with him, forever. She could imagine herself painting outside, setting up a small store to sell arts and crafts to travelers, and perhaps even help Alex find more people to contract his wine with. She shrugged off the fantasy. “You didn’t bet him.”

“Neither did you.” As if that reminder was supposed to help? They stayed moving when the song ended waiting until the next began. The people around them changed places but all she saw was him. “If you didn’t have to marry this Duc, what would you do for yourself?”

Paint. Maybe be brave enough to take Sheena, her old friend from college, up on that offer to show her paintings at local shows in Paris or wherever she wanted. Chelsea stayed in the dance, accepting that her wants were trumped by need. “Doesn’t matter. I have to marry. Thinking about what if doesn’t help.”

He motioned up to the moon and spun her, so she’d get a better view of the bright orb in the sky. “Under the moonlight you can admit your secret dreams. Would you paint?”

A smile graced her lips. Nobody before now had ever seen into her heart and the headiness made her laugh. She ignored how her pulse raced. “I’d love to paint but that’s not happening. I had a chance to have my own showing in Paris next month, but I said no.”

Alex’s expression seemed caring, but that was impossible. How could he? The tone in his voice made her believe in the impossible as he said, “Because of your father?”

Right. Dancing under the moonlight was but a dream. “Because I am going to take care of my family and not talk about this to my sister.”

His gaze narrowed. “Why not? If I had a brother or sister-”

“You don’t get it,” she interrupted. Clarity returned to her mind. “I let Cassidy pay for college and my life until now. She should be done with taking care of any of us. It’s time I step up and do my part. I will ensure my parents are fine and that I’m financially secure without my sister’s money.”

His calloused hands on hers made her more aware of him, even after her declaration. He leaned close. “I wish I could help you.”

Her heart sped up. Alex’s presence made her feel…different. She glanced up at him again and stumbled into him. “Just hold me. Tonight, for once, my problems seem far away and don’t matter. Let’s just have that feeling drive.”

He closed his eyes, going with the flow of the song. The rough of his skin against her made her ache and she went up on her tiptoes.

Then his lips met hers and she was launched into heaven itself. Maybe it was the moonlight or his strong embrace or just his kiss itself, but something inside her set off and she longed to stay just like this, forever.

Contest

Rafflecopter link:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

ER nurse Sonnet Mendoza’s new housemate Griffith Parker proves there is more to a man than meets the eye, and shows her there’s more to life than just her career.

Sonnet Coupled

Sheltered and cosseted, Sonnet Mendoza abided by her papi’s wishes her whole life: no boys, studies first and always. Now an ER nurse in a busy Chicago hospital, medical school is so close Sonnet can taste it. Just like her father always wanted. Just like she can taste all the things she wants—like Griffith Parker, the man of her dreams and her new housemate.

Working “graves” in a large hospital as a security guard while attending the police academy during the day doesn’t leave ex-Marine Griffith Parker any personal time, but after meeting the beautiful Sonnet Mendoza, business as usual is anything but. Sassy, smart…and interested in him, too? Except, she’s made an art of keeping her distance, and she’s been clear that her plans don’t include him. But the heart wants what the heart wants. His wants Sonnet. He’ll put it on the line to win her.

Buy Links for Sonnet Coupled:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sonnet-Coupled-Roxanne-D-Howard-ebook/dp/B071RCN2NX/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sonnet-coupled-roxanne-d-howard/1126254545?ean=2940154129517
Boroughs Publishing: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/sonnet-coupled
CreateSpace (paperback): https://www.createspace.com/7095055
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sonnet-coupled
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/719258

Excerpt
Sonnet put water in the K-Carafe and listened to the hiss and gurgle of the brew as she got some organic eggs and soy milk out to scramble. She decided to make Griffith breakfast, too, even if it had to wait for him in the fridge. It was nice to have someone to look after again.

Hell, after yesterday, he deserved it. She knew she shouldn’t entertain starting something with him with medical school on the horizon, but after spending time with him, a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she was ready to start fresh and tackle her workweek. She sang a little, opened the fridge, and bent to retrieve the bacon from the bottom shelf. A sharp intake of breath filled the silence from a few feet away.

From under her arm she saw Griff, half naked in black sweat bottoms with the Police Academy logo. Her eyes drifted to the hard planes of his abs, a sculpted eight pack most men would give their left nut for. His stacked chest rose and fell, and his fists clenched. Like a current in the air, she could feel him trying to keep it together.

Her gaze trailed past his ribs and flat stomach, down the sharp V of his hip flexors, to the promise of what lay beneath.

Finally, her brain kicked in and she realized her bikini thong was on display with the globes of her ass cheeks parted and raised in the air, like she was waiting for him to grab hold and ride. Her hair chose the wrong moment to slide over her shoulder and into her face, and he let out a strangled moan.

Oh, God.

She stood and yanked the hem of her shirt down. “Jeez, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you were up. I was just about to make breakfast before I got changed.”

He gulped. Her eyes flicked to the hardened bulge of his cock, which tented against his sweats. He looked like he wanted to devour her. “I…need to use the bathroom,” he growled tightly, then marched down the hall and slammed the bathroom door.

She looked at the exposed bottom half of her panties, and rolled her eyes. “Great, Sonnet. Just great.” She turned off the stove, abandoned the breakfast food, and made her way to her bedroom. A stifled moan escaped from behind the closed bathroom door as she passed, and stopped her in her tracks.

In any other circumstance she wouldn’t give it a second thought—people moaned all the time because they were tired or relieved—but she listened. It was a certain kind of moan, one she made the first night she’d met him when she touched herself.

She heard a distinctive rhythmic thwacking of flesh upon flesh, a series of muffled pants, a grunt, and soft thud against the wall, and her pussy throbbed. She clenched her thighs together and put her palm over her mouth.

Contest

Rafflecopter Giveaway ($25.00 Amazon/Barnes and Noble gift card)
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About the Author

Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Social Media Links (for Roxanne):
Website: www.roxannedhoward.com
Newsletter: http://roxannedhoward.com/subscribe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxanneDHoward
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneDHowardAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxanned.howard/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15019190.Roxanne_D_Howard

Diana Cosby ©2018

When I began writing, I remember sending out my first partial, smiling, telling everyone the manuscript’s title, and that my book was going to sell. Then how, months later, I received a rejection letter. I was devastated. How could a publisher not want the book of my heart? And the rejection letter, Dear Author . . ., it could have been written to anyone!

Over the years I discovered that I had a deft skill for acquiring rejections. I remember one day my oldest son, who has now served a tour in the Marine Corps, carrying in a manila envelope saying, “Hey, Mom, you received another rejection.” 😊 Gotta love kids. After 100 rejections, I quit counting. I decided I knew how to acquire a rejection.

Throughout the years, regardless of the frustrations and doubt, I never gave up. Not only is it important to never give up, but I believe it’s essential for you to RECOGNIZE that with each passing year, you’re growing more knowledgeable in the craft, plus, you’re connecting with fellow authors and industry professionals, which is networking. Once you sell, your experience and contacts will prove invaluable. I never realized until looking back, the benefits of selling later in my writing career.

I feel passionate about this topic, because I wish someone would have sat me down and said, “That you write is well and good, but let’s say you sold, what’s your plan?” Plan? Why to write of course. It’s critical that after we sell that we keep on writing, but it’s also important to build a readership along with a list of reviewers. The hard reality is that unless you sell a book through a high visibility venue, few people will know who you are, much less buy your book. So, if you’re a new writer, don’t worry over about rejections, they’re a part of writer’s life, but plan for the day when you sell. Use your time accrued to your benefit, your success is no accident.

What is your exact goal? Define it. Plan not only make it, but make it a success. So, what can you do? My thoughts:

-If you have a website, great. If not, place it on top of your priority list. Let it reflect the target market you are writing for and will eventually sell to. If you’re going to blog, great, but stagnant blogs turn away readers.

-A Brand. What tag to do you feel is the essence of what you write, regardless of the line, era? My tag is, “Romance Edged With Danger.”

-Business Cards. Keep them professional. I have two different business cards, those I hand out to readers that have my website and e-mail, but not my home address and contact information. The other business card has all of my contact information, which I give to industry professionals.

-Bookmarks. I think bookmarks are one of the single best marketing tools a writer can have. I always say that if someone takes one and really doesn’t want it, odds are they’ll leave my bookmark somewhere – to be found by a reader who’ll scoop it up. Also, I send bookmarks to conferences, booksellers, venues that feature the type of book I write such as medieval gatherings, and anywhere I feel it’s beneficial.

-On-line social media pages.

-Conferences: Keep networking!

-Marketing. I’ll give you two bits of advice, choose what you LOVE DOING, and what’s within your budget.

After 9 1/2 years of writing, I sold. I found that in addition to writing an intense, multi-layer story, came the challenge of fitting in time for promotion. It’s easy to become overwhelmed. This is where preparing early in your career for success comes into play. Your well-planned foundation won’t add time onto your day, but it will give you a significant edge as you work hard to help your career take off.

As I look back, I’m thankful I didn’t sell early on in my career. After 9 1/2 years of writing I thought I was ready for the challenges after I sold; in essence, I was clueless. The years accrued before I sold gave me time to strengthen my writing, meet industry professionals, and to make friends who were a not only a bedrock in the enormous transition of becoming published, but who are truly a blessing in my life. So, next time you receive a rejection letter, set it aside, and focus on building your career. Last, always believe in yourself! I wish each and every one of you every success!

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com

Author of:
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
Forbidden Series: Forbidden Legacy/Forbidden Knight/Forbidden Vow–May 15th, 2018/Forbidden Alliance TBA/Forbidden Realm TBA

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