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I’m late posting this today. I’m relaxing a bit. So far, I ate breakfast, went for a swim, took a shower… I’ve been looking through emails trying to catch up. I hope to write new words later today…

Conquests was a labor intensive effort to get produced. Now, it’s out there, and I can’t wait to see what people think. I’ve done collections before (see my Collections website), selecting the stories and doing the first round edits, but then I had the luxury of throwing it over the fence to the publisher to handle “the rest.” This time, I had to arrange the intensive editing, the promotion, the corralling of authors to help with getting the word out. They also helped with the art work, the blurb, etc. It was a true group effort! I hope all goes well, because I’d love to do more of them—be it for other publishers or on my own.

Next up will be the tentatively titled Rogue Hearts…

Conquests begs the question, is there a market still for erotic anthologies of short stories? I’d love to hear your opinions. From my perspective as a reader, I gravitate toward shorter fiction because 1) I have very limited reading time, and 2) I appreciate the skill it takes to condense a complete story into a shorter format. Of course, I’ve been doing the latter for several years now, so I know I’m biased! 🙂

I’d love to do more historical anthologies—medieval knights and Ancient warriors—and of course, more iconic contemporary heroes—more cowboys, Spec Ops dudes, etc. Is there anything you’re eager to see? I’d like to do one or two collections every year (it’s all I have time for given my writing schedule).

Let me know what you think!

Character Bio on Lia Cassidy…

I’m Lia Cassidy and I was born and raised in Ontario, Oregon, the heart sugar beet country.  My Dad is a farmer and I feel lucky I grew up with my feet in the dirt, wriggling my toes in that warm, sandy soil.  I didn’t really have much computer time because I loved being outdoors.  I came from a large family and often dreamed of having one myself.  When I rode my palomino horse, Goldy, bareback, I would throw my arms out at my sides, riding that rocking chair rhythm aboard my best friend.  I never gave a thought that my life would turn out so horribly different and difficult.  I look back on my wonderful growing up years, a loving set of parents, happy being in Nature, and shake my head.  That’s all gone, now.

Maybe it started because I loved adventure.  I joined the Army after graduating from high school.  I was really great at mechanics and the Army didn’t waste my talents.  I ended up being a mechanic in a motor pool at Bagram, Afghanistan.  I was one of the very few women and worked mostly with men in that building.  But I loved fixing things and I was very good at it.  Two years into my enlistment, I was attacked by two men who worked with me.  I had the duty that night and was alone in the huge building.

My father had taught me an Israeli fighting technique known as Krav maga.  When they pushed me into a corner, wielding knives, threatening to kill me if I didn’t let them rape me, my terror turned to rage.  I wasn’t going to lay down and let it happen,so I fought back.  They weren’t expecting it.  I still remember that terror-filled night like it was yesterday. Once they realized I wouldn’t capitulate?  They tried to kill me because they knew if I escaped, I’d turn them in.  Worse?  To this day, my body bears the scars of their knives.  My world was turned inside out.  I try to hide the scars from others by the kind of clothes I wear, but I can’t conceal all of them.  Men look at me, see the scars and turn away.  I never knew what loneliness was until this life-changing incident happened.

I survived the assault, but barely.  I left the Army and went to work for Delos, a global charity.  I wanted to hide and try to heal.  I was assigned to La Fortuna, Costa Rica, and became the manager for a Home School Foundation charity.  The jungle beauty of this country, the kindness of the people, the loving children who didn’t care about my scars, were exactly what I needed to continue to heal.

But even here, where I hid and was happy, evil stalked me again.  Dante Medina, the local drug lord who lived outside the village, attacked our small school and murdered the two teachers.  His soldiers came after me, to kill me, but I escaped, running for the jungle.  Tears ran down my face over the trauma of losing my two teacher friends.  If I survived Medina’s soldiers tracking me down, what was left of my twenty-five year old life?  Once, as a child I had dreamed of the man I would marry and how happy we would be.  Children would be just another form of love between us.  And since the attack?  I no longer dream those dreams.  And now, this demented monster who is going to hunt me down.  Was there nowhere to hide?

GIVE AWAY:  How do you think you would handle being badly scarred by violence?  Leave a comment below to be entered to win an e-book of NOWHERE TO HIDE.  International entries also accepted!  One winner will be chosen and notified.  Good luck!

NOWHERE TO HIDE

Welcome to my new series, DELOS!  Book 1, NOWHERE TO HIDE, introduces this romantic suspense series.  It features Lia Cassidy and ex-SEAL, Cav Jordan.  There is a FREE prologue, LAST CHANCE by Lindsay McKenna, so be sure to grab an ebook copy of it now!

This free novella is available on the five major ebook platforms (Amazon, KOBO, BN.com, and iTunes/iBooks/Apple on 7.13.15).

Don’t own an ereader but would like the ebook novella?  Come directly to my website, www.lindsaymckenna.com, and receive a free copy of it via the Selz software we have installed.  At the the end of the steps, you’ll receive a FREE copy of LAST CHANCE on your desktop of any device you want it on.

Paperback lovers, sorry, there is no paperback available on this free novella prologue.  But you can still download a copy from my website without any problem.  Try it!  It’s easy and quick!

Visit my website for all things Delos.  Family history, information on present and coming characters, their books, publishing dates, and so much more.  Just go to the Delos tab in the toolbar.  Download quote books on the Family and Delos charity.  Peek into the lives of the children you will read about!   This is a global, multi-national family who has a vision to help those who have less than they do.

Meet each of the siblings of General Robert Culver, USAF, and his Turkish/Greek wife, Dilara Badem-Culver.  Talia is first born.  Dilara then has twins:  Matt and Alexa.  Even though their family is worth billions because the Turkish-American-Greek family owns the largest fleet of container ships in the world, these three siblings learn early on that service to one’s country and being patriotic, is expected of them.

Follow their stories after the two above introductory ones.  Tangled Pursuit is Tal and Wyatt’s book, 11.11.2015.  Forged in Fire is Matt and Dara’s book, 12.3.2015.  Broken Dreams is Alexa and Gage’s book, 1.2.2016.  Paperback/ebook.  Sign up for my quarterly newsletter that brings you ongoing information about Delos and other series I’m writing.  Exclusive info.  A give-away. And more!  www.lindsaymckenna.com.

Thank you for having me, Delilah.

I am so thrilled to be in another boxed set with you.  Yay!!! The SEALS of SUMMER 2 is now available for purchase. Eleven BRAND-NEW NAVY SEAL ROMANCES by NY Times and USA Today bestselling authors!

My book, THE GUARDIAN, was a loooong time in the making. I’d actually written this book in 2009 about how a man and woman who are fighting personal struggles find love in Haiti. Bam. It was done and I sent to my editor.

While I waited for her to read it, catastrophe struck. On January 12, 2010, the 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti to its knees. It was horrific. Scary. I live in California and know about quakes, 5.0 will freak you out of your skin, but a 7.0 quake? No, that’s beyond comprehension. It had to feel like the end of the earth for those poor people. Hundreds of thousands of people died.

I don’t know about you, but I held my breath watching the search and rescue teams on television. I cried as victim after victim was pulled out of the rubble. What I remember to this day was the human strength, the absolute determination to survive, and the kindness, generosity and love of everyone who jumped in there to help. Goodness, it was breathtaking.

But my book couldn’t be published the way it was. Obviously, I hadn’t known the earthquake was coming but now that it had arrived, I needed to change the book. All of it. The place I’d written about didn’t exist anymore.

I dove deep into the time period around the earthquake gathering all the data, pictures, articles, videos, and news reports I could find. I wanted to set my story inside the Montana, the beautiful five-story hotel that pancaked in the quake. It wasn’t easy to find the information I needed. Oh, there was plenty of information after the quake, but not much prior to. I needed to know what the inside of the hotel looked like on January 11, 2010. But how? I’d never been there.

Enter YouTube. The Montana was a beautiful five-star hotel in Haiti and people had been proud and delighted to stay there. And, bless them, they’d posted their family videos on YouTube. I couldn’t understand the language, but I could watch. Learn. Understand. I worked really hard to get the facts and little details right because the people who were there would want it that way.

It is my hope that I did the place and people justice. I am so grateful to the Search and Rescue teams and relief organizations who work so hard in these situations.

Thank you all for reading.

Kimberley Troutte
Website   NEWSLETTER  @KTroutte

Kimberley Troutte is a 2015 RITA® award nominated, NY Times, USA Today and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author as well as being in the Top 10 on Amazon for Romantic Suspense. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, a wild cat, an old snake and all the other creatures hubby and boys rescue.

To learn more about her adult novels and nonfiction books, please visit her at www.kimberleytroutte.com or sign up for the newsletter at http://ymlp.com/xgbqwswygmgj.

First, I’d like to thank the beautifully talented Delilah Devlin for having me on her blog once again! She’s both nurturing and kick ass. 😉

Most women are nurturing. It comes from a combination nature and our historical “place” in society. Hormones and history say we are loving, meek, homemakers. I say to you, there is nothing wrong with this. But aren’t we also more?

All the heroines in my books are kick a** in their own right. Not all of them are ninja-riffic, weapon welding, ball busters. But this one sure is. She takes every assumption about women and flips it on its ear.

DANGER MINE

Base Branch Novel 5

Released July 7th, 2015

One determined to avoid it. One determined to conquer it. Both on a wayward mission and unable to deny it.

Khani Slaughter has dealt with danger since the day of her conception. After thirty-one years dealing with the bullshit, she knows how to attack it, defeat it, and avoid it. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, she still gravitates toward it. When you’re the head—and sometimes-deadly hands—of the Base Branch, the special operations force for the United Nations, hazard is everywhere. Her personal life, though, is restricted territory for trouble. No strings flings. That’s what she went for. Uncomplicated rolls in the sack. That was all she allowed. Or it was … until the rookie showed up.

Base Branch operative King Street takes danger and molds it to his benefit. Only there’s not much advantage in screwing the boss when regret sends her across an ocean. The desire to make her see him for more than a mistake places his wide frame directly in her path.

He is cocky and way too brash. Not at all what she wants. But when her brother goes missing, he is who she needs. Someone willing to navigate a wasteland and dodge bullets and her prickly demeanor to help rescue her only family. And, just maybe, in the process they can save each other from their painful pasts.

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | B&N | All Romance

ISBN ebook: 978-1-941899-13-7
ISBN print: 978-1-941899-14-4
Length: 272 pages

You finish the sentence and leave your email address!!! I’ll give away a digital copy of Enemy Mine to the winner!!! Women are…

—

Megan Mitcham
USA Today Bestselling Author
Sizzling Suspense – Are you sizzling yet?

The Base Branch Series

The Blacklist Series

Anthologies

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Thanks for having me, Delilah!

I love sharing vacation memories. For our last vacation, we met up with other members of my family in Orlando. We had a blast visiting Universal Studios, since it was my daughter’s first time there. We even stayed at a fabulous resort (big SHOUT OUT to the Avanti Resort, which was sadly struck by lightning and nearly burnt to the ground earlier this week). We hit up Downtown Disney and Islands of Adventure, too.

This year, we’re going somewhere for my birthday, which is later this month. I have no idea where, but somewhere. We’re thinking Savannah, GA or Myrtle Beach, SC. I haven’t even ruled out Dollywood, yet. The only thing is I’m dreading the crowds. But, when you plan anything during the summer, the crowds are just as natural as the air we breathe. It is what it is. Either way, I can’t wait to add a set of new memories to my wonderful collection.

I think one of the best trips ever was when we were all going to reconvene at my grandmother’s house outside of Atlanta. My brother was coming from upstate NY and we were coming from Raleigh, NC at the time. Somehow, in the midst of a monstrous traffic jam near Charlotte, I ended up passing my brother on the highway. He texted, “Was that you in the green Sienna that just went by?” My eyes nearly ballooned out of my head. What were the chances, considering he had a 900+ mile drive ahead of him and I had about 300+ miles in front of me and both of us were coming from two different directions?

Another “best trip” ever story happened when my daughter was about two months shy of turning 3. I wanted to get her to Disney World before I had to pay full kid price for her. So, as we’re sailing across on the ferry, my baby’s eyes nearly fell out of her head when she saw “Mickey’s Castle”. She blurted out “Mickey’s Castle, Mommy! Mickey’s Castle!” Laughing, I turned and nodded before going back to talking to my mom. Genevieve, my munchkin, grabbed my cheeks and turned me to see it again, “No, Mommy! You have to look. It’s Mickey’s Castle!” I hadn’t noticed until now, but everyone on the ferry was staring at us and trying to hide their smiles and laughter. Yes, it was her first time. No hiding that kind of joy on a kid’s face. Even the Ferryboat captain came over and asked, “I take it you’re excited about seeing Mickey’s Castle?” Genevieve nodded. “Yeah! Do you see it? It’s magical.” Oh yeah. That trip was magical all right.

So share some of your vacation memories. I want to hear them. I’m always open to trying new places. And did I mention how much I love Trip Advisor?

Thanks again for having me, Delilah! Don’t forget to check out my latest releases!

Marcia Colette
~ Embracing the creepier side of writing ~

Stricken – Available in ebook and print!
The Light at the End of Judgment and Day – Available in ebook!
www.marciacolette.com
http://marciacolette.wordpress.com

When I first started “coming out” as a romance writer to my family and friends, I often got some wry looks, and comments like “that must be the sexiest job ever.” I love what I do, but let me tell you: writing smut is not always as glamorous as it sounds. Reality, as we all know, has a tendency to be a lot more clumsy, messy, funny and sometimes not-at-all-sexy as romance books are. Case in point: several months ago, I asked hubs to help me block out a scene for my upcoming release, The Hierarchy of Needs, which comes out tomorrow! It went something like this:

Me: Honey, are you busy?

Hubs: Why?

Me: I need you to tie me to the bed.

Hubs: *drops everything* Not busy!

(At this point, hubs followed me into the bedroom, where I told him I needed to see how easy it would be to use a belt to tie someone to a headboard. Hubs then proceeded to dig into the dirty laundry basket to find his belt, which was still attached to his jeans. He, of course, was wearing a hoodie and flannel pjs bottoms. Sexy, right?!)

Me: *settles onto my back on the bed* *grins salaciously* Tie me up, baby.

Hubs: *climbs on top of me* *stares at headboard* *tries to figure out the logistics* Okay, hold on.

Me: *winces as hubs’ sweatshirt ties start batting me in the face* You need some help there, honey?

Hubs: *huffs* No, I’ve got it. There! *belt slips free* Okay, wait, let me try it again.

Me: *ducks head down as sweatshirt ties go in my mouth* Babe, you’re kinda choking me here.

Cat: *jumps on bed* Meow. *bats at sweatshirt ties* Meow?

Hubs: I think I’ve got it. *belt loosens again and falls down behind the bed* Please don’t put this in one of your books.

See? Not as sexy as it sounds! (But a good story, though!)

Here’s a little snippet from the scene in The Hierarchy of Needs that I ended up writing. Thankfully, Jamie and Dean’s experience with a headboard and a belt was a lot sexier than reality!

***

Stripping away the last of her clothes, Dean walked her to the bed. He kissed her again and pressed her down onto it, fingers weaving through hers, clasping their hands together and drawing them once more over her head.

“Hands on the headboard,” he ordered softly. “Around the slats.”

She did as she was told, hooking them onto the wooden poles. Dean stepped away,

returning a moment later with a condom, and his belt. Her eyes widened.

“To keep you still and help you let go.” Dean knelt beside her and waited for her answer. “Yes?”

She paused, glancing at the belt, then back at him. She’d felt so liberated when it was Dean’s hands holding her down. Nothing would help her let go as much as being fully restrained.

She wanted this. Fuck yes, she wanted this.

Jamie offered him her hands. “Yes.”

He placed the condom on the nightstand, then carefully wrapped the belt around her wrists and slid the leather through the buckle. She closed her eyes when he brought her bound hands back above her head, feeling the pull as he looped the belt through the rungs, tugging once to remove any slack.

The backs of his knuckles stroked over her cheek. Jamie opened her eyes.

“You can pull free pretty easy if you get scared,” he said.

It felt snug enough. It was all the illusion she needed. “I trust you.”

***

Giveaway: For a chance to win a free e-copy of The Hierarchy of Needs from the retailer of your choice, tell me: what’s your sexiest moment that became unfortunately un-sexy? You have until Friday, July 10^th to tell me your tale!

The Hierarchy of Needs

The Portland Rebels, Book # 2
Samhain Publishing, 7/7/15

Once you figure out what you want, it’s impossible to ignore what you need.

Jamie Matthews is stuck in a rut. After hitting a wall with her dream career, she’s back in her hometown, living a life as monotonous as swimming laps in the neighborhood pool.

Being surrounded by her perfect brothers is a painful reminder of her failure to launch. The last bonfire of the summer is an ideal way to let off steam, especially when she runs into Dean Trescott, the playboy friend she had one hot-as-hell night with back in high school.

Since the day Dean met Jamie, he’s loved her beauty, talent, and smile that lit up the whole damn block. But dating isn’t an option. She has a bright future ahead of her, and he refuses to chain her to his—helping run the family business that’s barely staying afloat.

A “what-happens-in-Vegas” weekend was supposed to get their craving for each other out of their systems. But neither counted on the past repeating itself, drawing them together in even hotter and dirtier ways and dangling the possibility they might both be able to get exactly what they need…

Warning: A friends-to-lovers twice over story that contains some hot ’n’ heavy kissing in the waves, hair pulling, and a man who knows how to use his hands. It may also feature a few practical jokes—only the fun kind, of course. 

Buylinks:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iBooks
Google Play
Samhain Publishing

Rebecca Grace Allen writes kinky new adult and contemporary BDSM romance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she’s returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish.

You can find Rebecca at:

Website: www.RebeccaGraceAllen.com
Twitter: @RGraceAllen
Facebook: RebeccaGrace.Allen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomRebeccaGraceAllen

It’s a Mega-#Hot Summertime #BoxedSet! Naughty Escapes highlights high jinks around the world

The Naughty Literati are delighted to present a new boxed set—their fourth!

“But OMG!” you cry. “Who, or what, are the Naughty Literati?”

The Naughty Literati are a group of authors who’ve come together to showcase their epic talents in stories filled with powerful eroticism and satisfying romance. Their tales range from heartwarming and sweet to scorching hot erotic; medieval to futuristic; humans to aliens and shape-shifters; vanilla committed couples to kinky ménage fun.

Naughty Escapes features eleven short stories set around the world. Read about couples discovering love in all kinds of sexy places: a penthouse playroom in San Francisco, the shore of Lake Superior, a deserted island in The Bermuda Triangle, a Mob-controlled nightclub in pre-revolutionary Havana, along an English river, a Parisian sex club, a nude beach in Barcelona, the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, a villa overlooking Lake Como in Italy, a Berlin honeymoon, and a swanky condo in Zurich.

Introducing Suz deMello, the author of numerous bestselling novels. Suz has written nineteen books in several genres, including nonfiction, romance, erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.

A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.

Here’s a little about Suz’s story, One Hot Havana Night.

Havana, 1958… On the eve of the revolution, journalist Ellie Wheeler dreams of the biggest story of her life. Two hot men make all her dreams come true—even ones she didn’t know she had.

Guess what? It includes a sexy M/F/M ménage.

Here’s an excerpt to sharpen your appetite:

The big doors closed behind her with a click.

She turned to see Almonte leaning against them, eyeing her with predatory interest gleaming in his dark eyes. Her belly fluttered. She’d exposed corrupt union bosses and crooked politicians, but this was really the first time she’d played with the big boys. Organized crime was nothing to treat casually, and she’d thought she was ready.

Maybe not.

He stalked toward her. “Take that stupid thing off. It fools no one.” He tugged at her wig.

“Ow!” She put a hand up to her head to stop him. “My hair clashes dreadfully with my dress.”

“Then take off your dress.” He slid one long, dark finger along the curve of her neck to her shoulder. The contact tingled in a way she hadn’t before experienced. “Strip for me.”

She turned to him, her eyes wide.

He laughed. “I thought you said anything for the story. You knew what would happen when you came up here. Shall we not pretend?”

She swallowed hard. How had she gotten into this predicament?

By being Hell on Wheels. Everyone thought she was brassy and bold. They had no idea she was still a virgin.

*~*~*~*

Here’s where you can score a copy!

http://tinyurl.com/NaughtyEscapes