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Flashback: Darkness Captured (Contest)
Saturday, January 4th, 2014

UPDATE: The winner of the Amazon gift certificate is…Gail Siuba!

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If you’ve been visiting here a while, you know I love mythology, and that sometimes I interweave some of the stories I love into the stories I write. One such story is the ancient tale of Inanna. At least that was her name to the Sumerians. She has also been known as Ishtar and is perhaps the source of the story of Lilith. Inanna was the goddess of sexual love and fertility. She was bold and selfish and had a sister who was the Queen of the Land of the Dead, a crown Inanna coveted for herself.

At the heart of the stories in my Dark Realm series is Inanna. She’s never a major character, but her influence is felt throughout. She’s mysterious and beautiful, and evil to the core. Until you see her in The Land of the Dead, enslaved to the husband she lured there and left to save herself. Then you almost feel a little sorry for her. I tried to stay true to her spirit. She wasn’t completely without a heart. And she was a woman before she was a goddess, or in the case of my Inanna, a vampire. Enjoy this little glimpse inside Darkness Captured, the last of my Dark Realm stories.

Post a comment today and you’ll be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift
certificate to buy any ebook you please!
 

Darkness Captured

 

“Delilah Devlin delivers an erotic tale of good and evil elevated to a higher level… The erotic scenes in this book are hotter than Hades and ten times more tempting. I dare you to resist!” ~ 5 Cups, Coffee Time Romance

“Another hot read of dark sensuality, riveting situations and jaw-dropping desire.” ~ Fresh Pick!, Fresh Fiction

“Devlin creates memorable characters with exceptional emotional depth. Her magical worldbuilding sets as atmospheric scene for a fast-paced story. The sexual tension runs high and the encounters are smokin’ hot.” 4 Stars, RT Book Reviews

Driven by insatiable desire, a werewolf will enter hell to rescue a princess captured by the Master of Demons…

Headstrong and proud—a royal creature of sinuous grace, all primal instinct and lethal beauty—the shapeshifter Gabriella has agreed to serve as emissary to the vampires who rule in the shadows of the New Orleans night. But she cannot resist the pull of the demon she glimpses on the other side of a mirror, and she is drawn to him hungrily, through a magical portal into the Land of the Dead. Now an eternal nightmare awaits Gabriella at the hands of a mesmerizing dark lord who satisfies her every erotic need…while slowly devouring her soul.

The powerful warrior wolf Guntram Brandt is responsible for the safety of the vanished princess he swore allegiance to years before. Yet it is more than a soldier’s loyalty that pulls Guntram down into the depths of nightmare—for Gabriella ignites within him a burning animal passion that must be satisfied.

But when offered an escape, will she follow her rescuer to safety—torn between her lustful obsession with the dark lord who has enslaved her and her fierce sensual attraction to the only wolf who could ever master her?

Gabriella landed on her knees in the middle of the Persian carpet. Once again facing the crudely carved stone walls of Alex Broussard’s magical bolt-hole. “Alex, you lousy bastard, you can’t do this to me—”

Her shout was cut short when the object of her bitter tirade grabbed the hand of the pregnant woman who’d been resting on a deep sofa inside the cavern when they’d flashed inside. He cast Gabriella an apologetic smile, palmed the crystal key to the room, and they both blinked out in a narrow flash of white light.

“Sonofabitch,” she muttered, reaching up to grab the silver-linked choker from her neck that he’d used to subdue her and ripping it off. How could he do this, leave her in his bolt-hole, after everything she’d done to help him in his quest to usurp command of the vampires?

While he’d disappeared for hours, clutching the phoenix-creature he appeared to love against his chest, she’d helped round up the sabat, nipping at the council-members’ heels to herd them toward their rooms where Nicolas posted guards to keep them in lock-down.

Malcolm, Nicolas’s next-in-command, had led away Inanna’s private security force to the barracks for “debriefing” and posted their own men around the compound to keep things quiet while Alex’s closest advisors sorted through the chaos that was the aftermath of Inanna’s expulsion into Hell.

When Alex had at last returned, looking like he’d just had the sweetest sex of his life,  Gabriella shook her fur, pulling on her human skin, ready to remind Alex about their agreement when his gaze fled up the staircase, again.

The look on his face, one filled with a mixture of impatience and tenderness, had made her heart sink. When she’d cleared her throat to remind him she was still standing there, another look crossed his face—one that had her backing up a step and stammering.

The collar had been a real kick in the ass. He’d pulled it from his pocket and apologized, all the while grappling her to the ground to loop the damn thing around her neck. “I swear. It’s just for now,” he’d ground out as she wriggled beneath him. “Just until I get everything sorted out.” Read the rest of this entry »

A. Catherine Noon: Happy New Year, Dwarf Style
Friday, January 3rd, 2014

Happy New Year, Dwarf Style

The new Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug, has hit theaters and caused a sensation.  All of a sudden, it’s all about the dwarves – and I can see why!  Richard Armitage is every inch (if short) a king, and the antics of his merry band are heartwarming and, at times, romantic.

I saw an interview with Irish actor Aidan Turner, where he was asked about the relationship between his character, the Dwarf Kili, and the Elven warrior Tauriel.  The romance never took place in the book, so why the movie?  He makes the point that it adds depth to the characters and it’s an important aspect of the overall story.  I couldn’t agree more!  I was rooting for his character and for Tauriel to catch up to him when he was wounded, and there’s even the potential for a love triangle because our favorite elf Legolas fancies Tauriel.  Oh nos!

What do you think when directors change a classic story in order to tell a modern tale?  Not that romance is modern, in any particular; it’s a story as old as time itself.  But should a director add an element that isn’t there in the books, in order to please modern viewers?  Some fans of Robert Ludlum lament that the immensely popular Jason Bourne movie franchise aren’t true to the books.  But the movies are good movies, enjoyable and fast-paced.  I would argue that Peter Jackson has done the same with the Hobbit and deepened the tale, enriching it and telling more of the story as it could have been.

What’s your opinion?  Change away, or leave it the way it is thankyouverymuch?  I’d love to know in the comments!

JoAnne Kenrick: Getting OUTBACK DIRTY
Thursday, January 2nd, 2014

Getting OUTBACK DIRTY with JoAnne Kenrick

Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Delilah. It’s always a pleasure and an honor when my favorite authors give up a corner of their space for me to pimp my work. It makes me feel special! Very special. So seriously, thank you for the pink fluffy moment!

I’m here at Delilah’s place today to chat about my new release and the awesome new multi- author series it belongs to.

jkoutback dirty banner

OUTBACK DIRTY, Calendar Men book one.

 Granted, I’m known for my British voice and stories. And I have been asked several times already why on earth I stepped out of my usual brand to write a story set in Australia without a Brit in sight. Well, simply put, I was homesick! Yes, I’m a Brit, but I’ve lived in quite a few different places and in Australia for three glorious years. I miss the laid back…or should that be ‘she’ll be right’…attitude of the Aussies, and the glorious landscapes and the beer. Oh how I miss Tooheys. I could just neck a frosty Tooheys right about now. That’s right, folks, XXXX and Fosters are not Aussies best beers. They keep the good stuff for themselves. Can’t blame them for that!

We lived in New South Wales. While we were there, we did travel that area, but it’s my one regret to have not travelled farther. Lucky for me, I got to do that in my mind with OUTBACK DIRTY. But really, all it did was make me want to visit the Northern Territory even more. Although I’m not a fan of the deadly creepy crawlies, I sure would love a stay at the Outback Experience…and I’d love nothing more than to get OUTBACK DIRTY (inside joke for those who’ve read the book already).

Without further a fuss, cop a load of the blurb:

JK2_Outback Dirty_MD

She’ll do anything to win him back… even if it means getting OUTBACK DIRTY.

 Chris Ruter’s plan for Australia Day is to beat the heat by letting the beer flow. His New York ex, Janine, seems determined to drive the heel of her sharp stiletto right through the wall he’s built to avoid memories of her–but does she want him in front of her camera or in her bed?

 Janine Red is ready to get outback dirty to win back her sexy ex. Following him to his plantation, their bushwalk turns into a trip down memory lane. Can the magic of the outback heal her sprained ankle–and their hearts?

BUYLINKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE BOOK LANDING PAGE

http://calendar-men.blogspot.com/2013/12/mrjanuary-calendarmen.html

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE: http://www.joannekenrick.com

Calendar Men, the series.

Heroes doing good while looking great!

Read all 12 stories in this brand new multi-author series for 2014…

…and you’ll have a new book-boyfriend for every month of the year!

A man for every month!

Told by some of best authors in the world of romance, the Calendar Men stories have contemporary settings and star strong heroes doing good while looking great. With off-the-charts swoon-factor, the Calendar Men pose for a charity calendar to help military families of fallen heroes. Each has his own special reason for wanting to help the fictional Hero Family Fund, and each has his own obstacles to overcome before he can find a happy ever after.

Release Dates:

January 1st – Outback Dirty by JoAnne Kenrick
February 1st – February Lover by Rebecca Royce
March 1st – Seducing Helena by Ann Mayburn
April 1st – Frontier Inferno by Kate Richards
May 1st – Shockwave by D. L. Jackson
June 1st – The Other Brother by Lucy Felthouse
July 1st – The Letter by Mina Carter
August 1st – Burning Love by Cassandra Carr
September 1st – A Model Hero by Sara Daniel
October 1st – Falling For her Navy SEAL Again by Clarissa Yip
November 1st – Thankful For You by Cindy Spencer Pape
December 1st – Snow Angels by Sabrina York

 

Series news, exclusives, freebies, and more at the official Calendar Men blog:

http://calendar-men.blogspot.com

 JK1_Outback Dirty_banner

Happy New Year! (and a Winner!)
Wednesday, January 1st, 2014

New Year

Okay, I’m not crazy about his tie. But I thought a picture would liven up the post. Happy New Year everyone!

First, let me say—thank you! You all have made my dreams come true. I keep saying that in dedications in books, but I will keep saying it because it’s absolutely true. You have made it possible for me to become the thing I wanted to be—a self-employed writer.

Yesterday, I reviewed what I accomplished last year. Now, I’d like to talk a little about what I hope to accomplish this year.

calendar clip

This is a little corner of the annual plan I’ve constructed for the year. Just looking at the numbers under January, you might guess I plan to write a stupid number of chapters this month. I have to! I got myself boxed in and overcommitted, and now I have to dig myself out, but once I get past mid-February—if I can power through—I will take a much more leisurely pace for the rest of the year.

And what sort of stories can you expect from me in 2014?

I already have three stories written that will be released in 2014, as well as one collection of short stories I edited for Cleis Press:

Reined In (Feb)—Book 7 in the Lone Star Lovers series (Samhain)
Once is Never Enough (May)—Book 5 (the last one!) in the Delta Heat series (Samhain)
Her Only Desire (May)—Book 1 in the Sultry Summer Nights series (Samhain)
Cowboy Heat (Jun) (Cleis Press)

I plan to add one last book to the Lone Star Lovers series after Reined In, and then it’s done. I’ll be adding book 9 to the My Immortal Knights series. I finished the Delta Heat series, but now I’m going to add Delta Heat-Firehouse 69 books so I can chase those sexy firefighters for a while. With Lone Star stories finishing up, I’m starting a Comanche Moon Ranch series I hope you’ll love. And since I don’t like to write straight contemporary without breaks for things I find personally exciting, I’ll be starting a new witch series of stories—novellas I’ll publish with Samhain. Then there are the SEAL books… Argh. So many projects. If you read the boxed collection of stories, Uniform Desires, then you know all about my military hero in that book. The next two books in that series (which follow the adventures of three travel agents taking adventure vacations who get into a whole lot trouble only a military man can rescue them from) will be coming out this year too.

And that might not be everything, but now you know I’m gonna be busy.

You’re probably curious to know who won December’s Amazon.com gift card. It’s Pansy Petal (Dec. 11)! Congrats, Pansy! I’ll be in touch shortly to arrange delivery of your prize!

2013 in Review
Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

Pssst! Today’s the last day to enter December’s contest! ~DD

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Not to bore you, but I love to give an annual recap at the end of the year—just to remind you of the stories I gave you and remind myself I wasn’t a complete slug. Following is the list of stories I saw released in 2013:

  1. 01/01/13 – DR. MULLALEY’S CURE, Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, Vol 11 (Running Press)
  2. 01/01/13 – RED DAWN, Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance (Running Press)
  3. 01/29/13 – SHATTERED SOULS (Montlake Romance)
  4. 02/13/13 – NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM, Best Lesbian Romance of 2013 (Cleis Press)
  5. 03/12/13 – IN TOO DEEP (Samhain)
  6. 06/04/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 1 (Montlake Romance)
  7. 06/18/13 – TWICE THE BANG (Samhain)
  8. 06/18/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 2 (Montlake Romance)
  9. 06/25/13 – LOST SOULS (Montlake Romance)
  10. 06/25/13 –QUICK DRAW and ALL ABOUT ME, Mammoth Book of Quick & Dirty Erotica (Running Press)
  11. 06/26/13 – MAKING AMENDS: DAMON’S FIRST BITE (Kindle Worlds)
  12. 07/02/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 3 (Montlake Romance)
  13. 07/12/12 – STROKES VOL 2 (Kindle/Smashwords)
  14. 07/16/13 – SMOKIN’ HOT FIREMEN (Cleis Press)
  15. 07/16/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 4 (Montlake Romance)
  16. 07/30/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 5 (Montlake Romance)
  17. 08/13/13 – LONG, HOT SUMMER (Samhain)
  18. 08/13/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 6 (Montlake Romance)
  19. 09/03/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 7 (Montlake Romance)
  20. 09/03/13 – HIGH OCTANE HEROES (Cleis Press)
  21. 09/10/13 – CRESCENT MOON – Part 8 (Montlake Romance)
  22. 11/11/13 – DANGEROUS LIAISONUniform Desires (Kindle/Smashwords)
  23. 12/03/13 – TEXAS SURRENDER (Samhain)
  24. 12/10/13 – CRESCENT MOON (print) – (Montlake Romance)

The “Souls” books and the Crescent Moon installments were the highlights for me. I love writing paranormal stories, and those really challenged me to bring my “A” game. I hope you gave them a chance. I wrote my way through the end of the Triple Horn Brand trilogy, and really loved how I ended it all. I gave you another installment of the Delta Heat series, and I’m still thrilled at how receptive you’ve all been to my naughty cops in Memphis series. Guess it’s a good thing Mondo’s story is already in production! 🙂

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about what I have in the works for the New Year, and what I hope to get to writing-wise, barring any unexpected requests.

Here’s hoping you all have fun tonight and drive safe!

Sharon Hamilton: Finding the Right Narrator (Contest)
Monday, December 30th, 2013

FINDING THE RIGHT NARRATOR

Smiling Sharon in RedThank you, Delilah, for having me on your site again today. I’ve just come back from a month-long vacation, a cruise starting in Italy and winding up in Brazil. This week I was thrilled to learn my second audio book in the SEAL Brotherhood series, Fallen SEAL Legacy, was live and for sale on Audible/ACX.  I worked on it with my narrator, J.D. Hart, while on board this cruise ship, and I have to say it was probably the most fun of my day! We battled the seas of the Atlantic and internet holes between Africa and South America to get this project done. But I’m over the moon pleased with the results.

There are a number of things I was looking for in a voice narrator. First, I wanted a masculine, slightly husky, mature male voice reading my story. I’m not sure why, but I prefer to listen to men narrators over women, if the voice is right. The instant I heard J.D.’s voice it was like my character came to life right in front of me. He was exactly how I thought my SEAL would sound.

I took other’s advice and asked several people to audition for the narration. What I heard was a variety of voices and tones, but none of them seemed to capture the “feel” of my story the way J.D.’s voice did. I imagined a listener spending eleven hours hearing my book on audio, and while other narrators eagerly wanted the job, I knew only one person was the perfect fit. I think an author knows when they’ve found the right voice.

Then came time for other characters to be portrayed. This is where I got to experience the genius of the narrator. Because he is a trained actor, and because of his extensive experience in doing voiceovers and commercials as well, he was able to give me accents and characterizations for my entire cast. It was not something I’d considered before. I can see that had I not chosen J.D., I would have been stuck with someone who perhaps wouldn’t be able to tackle this burden.

There are a whole host of other things I learned while doing these first two audio books, so perhaps on a future post I’ll go into them. At the end of this post, please leave me a comment. One lucky person will be chosen to receive the Fallen SEAL Legacy audio book for free.

CrusinforaSEAL (1) copy 3

Excerpt Cruisin’ For A SEAL:

He got up and left some coins on the table, and made the mistake of looking over at her.  He gave her a little crooked smile. She’d have to be completely insane not to pick up he found her attractive. She arched one eyebrow as he couldn’t help but admire her rack. Okay, to be perfectly honest, he wondered what they’d look like released to his hands.

He was normally the gentleman with these types of hot women, not knowing anything about them. It wasn’t proper to admire another man’s lady, and this one was too fine not to be attached. So, he closed his eyes by way of an apology and then looked back at her as if to say Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

She did the wrong thing. She blew him a kiss with those red lips of hers in an obvious flirtation. The luscious lady slung her yellow Gucci bag over her shoulder, slipped her soft arm around his and snuggled to the side.

She said something in Italian. Marc was stunned. His legs felt like lead, unable to move as she unexpectedly squeezed her body next to his. He could feel her full chest pressing his resolve to the breaking point. His arm suddenly became the second most sensitive of his body parts. Read the rest of this entry »

Lavender Daye: What Men Can Learn from Romance Writers
Sunday, December 29th, 2013

What Men Can Learn from Romance Writers

Dear Lavender,

The strangest thing happened to me last Friday night, and I don’t know what to do.

I fell in lust with the most amazing man.

I don’t know how it happened. I mean, I’ve been married for twelve years and have two children. I love my family and my life, so this turn of events was a shock. Totally unexpected. And I don’t know how to handle it.

I left my office like always on Friday and when I approached my car, I discovered a tall man in a suit leaning against the driver-side door, the stem of a single pink rose in his hand. He brushed the flower down my cheek and did that thing men do with their eyes, checking me out from head to toe, and then he leaned in and kissed me full on the lips in broad daylight.

Needless to say, I was stunned. I hadn’t kissed a man in public in at least ten years, and here was this handsome man with his mouth on mine. Before I could say anything, he took my arm and led me to his car, going so far as to buckle me into the passenger seat.

He finally spoke as the engine rumbled. “I’m going to take care of you tonight.”

He took me to a restaurant I’d heard great things about but hadn’t had time to visit. It had a reputation, and well deserved, as a romantic spot, mood lighting and sumptuous intimate booths. One hand on my knee, his other on the menu, he ordered for both of us.

When the waiter left, this handsome man revealed his true intent, describing my body intimately, using words designed to bind me to him without a physical touch. A quiver began in my belly as I listened, and an erotic haze settled around me as if I were expecting to be caressed and kissed and loved in the next few moments.

His eyes. Oh, yes. His eyes burned with a deep and abiding affinity and I knew this man would change the way I thought about the male/female relationship.

The interruption from the waiter did little to abate the sexual tension and the sense of the inevitable lingered while we ate. Afterward, he stood and took my hand, drawing me to him and hugging me close to his side until he put me in the car. My body twitched, eager to know more of this familiar stranger and my brain, the most erotic part of me, longed for a permanent connection with the new man beside me.

When he parked in my driveway, I worried that the magic of the night would be lost, but when he helped me from the car his mouth came down hard on mine in a drugging kiss full of promise and passion.

I don’t know where this new man came from or how he came to be in my bed. I’m not sure I want to ask him for the details of his metamorphosis. I only know I want him to stay with me.

So, Lavender, this is where I need your help. Should I ask my husband what happened to enhance the way he loves me? Or should I simply enjoy him?

 

Lavender’s reply:

Men, smart men, often fall into ruts like we women do. Recognizing the slump and working to change it for the better is a wonderful thing. Enjoy.

Maybe, just maybe, he read a romance novel and gleaned a little insight into what women want in a lover.

Until next time-

Lavender

 

Find Lavender:
www.LavenderDaye.com
www.facebook.com/LavenderDaye
www.LavenderDaye.Blogspot.com

 

Lavender’s Latest Release-

LavenderDaye_Final_ChanceTake a Chance

Steve Gladston is a security specialist, a Dom, and part owner of the new BDSM club opening south of Dallas. He and his two business partners refurbished an old country club into a state of the art fetish club. All three are looking forward to the upcoming opening of Private Delights while they finish the remodel and work at their various careers in the community.

Dena Lindsay is the office manager at her family’s firm, and with three overprotective brothers, dating is difficult. She dreams of a sensual adventure and Steve’s appearance in her life gives her hope. Discovering his penchant for BDSM is a shock, and then stimulating.

When danger intrudes in her life, she turns to Steve for protection. Proximity makes her both apprehensive and aroused. At some point, she’ll have to decide what she wants from her man. Protection or Passion?