Thank you for hosting me today. I’m excited to talk about the spice RED PEPPER, and my latest release, Stripper With Spice, a contemporary erotic romance.
Raging Red Pepper
I’m one of those people who cook intuitively. Unless it’s dessert, I use a dash of this and a handful of that. With most spices, you can sprinkle liberally without worrying too much about overdoing it. Not so with red peppers. Put too much of that in the recipe and you’ll make people break out in a sweat, dash for the water glass, and maybe even experience pain for a while.
When I was in Texas last year, I stocked up on Texas food mixes, including chili. That turned out well since I could adjust the amount of pepper I put in there according to the handy instructions. Chili is kind of like a romance novel. It has various heat levels, and the highest is not usually for the faint of heart. Later, I ordered chili mix from a different company. Those instructions were the same deal. Adjust the heat level by how much habanero pepper you put in. But this kit also included a standard spice pack. It looked as if it had plenty of dried red pepper in there, but I figured it’s standard, right? So, I threw in the whole pack and chose the mild level for the habanero. After a couple mouthfuls of that chili, flames were blowing out of my ears and my husband couldn’t even eat it. Live and learn. I’ll never disrespect red pepper again, despite what the directions say.
When peppers are fresh, they can be hazardous to the cook as well. My family grew peppers for the first time and gave me some. As I’ve discovered, anything out of the garden is usually ten times more potent than the washed-out stuff you buy at the grocery store. I cut up the pepper along with the onion and threw it in. Not long after, my hands were on fire. When I got into a hot shower, I thought my skin was going to blister and fall off. I was in agony for hours! The next time my family offered me garden peppers, I said, “No thanks. I’ll stick to the dried stuff.”
Handling peppers can have serious implications for sex as well. These can be painful or titillating, depending on your point of view. And certain parts of the body (ahem) are more susceptible than others. When I write the first draft of a book, my sex scenes are sometimes a little rushed because I’m just trying to get the facts down. I add sensuality layers during my polishing phase.
One thing I learned from taking a class was to make the love scene uniquely belong to the characters. Because food was a big part of the plot of my story and Carlos’s family owns a Mexican restaurant, a hot pepper came to mind. That simple addition made the love scene take off. Janice and Carlos go from making fajitas together to sharing a peppery kiss and ending up on the couch in a scorching reunion. Throughout the book, Carlos is like a hot pepper, exciting but unknown and potentially painful. Janice learns to be a master chef, using just the right amount.
Getting back on her feet after unemployment, Janice treats herself to an erotic-romance convention. After winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a young stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.
When Carlos entices her back to the bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.
To convince her he’s more than a fantasy, Carlos teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally tested to the limit, she’ll be torn between clinging to safety and taking a chance on a whole new life.
He looks and sounds so serious and honest, how can I not be completely convinced? His words echo inside my head as he grips both sides of my face and lowers his mouth to mine in slow motion. The thrill bubbles return to my bloodstream as if the elevator cable has just snapped, dropping us to the basement.
Unlike last night’s, this kiss is slow and full of promise. He samples my mouth as if we have all the time in the world. A flash of mint-flavored tongue pierces my soul, tearing a moan from my throat. With one hand still on the button, I raise my other to his shoulder. Feeling the bare, hot skin there fuels my desire, pushing me dangerously close to the edge of self-control.
“Do you want this as much as I do, Janice?”
God, yes. I need more…all of you.
I reply by sliding my hand across the tiger-striped fabric over his back. The warm satin, with muscles moving under it, is just as sexy as bare skin. His hips dance against mine—rubbing, thrusting and teasing. My fingers move to the worn waistband of his jeans at his side, wanting to pull them off. My body throbs, needing him as I’ve never needed anything before.
When he pulls my finger off the close-door button, the door opens to reveal an annoyed looking family of five waiting to get on. The parents, obviously noticing Carlos’ wild vest and our heavy breathing, exchange a disgusted look.
Carlos takes my hand and leads me off the elevator. My heart races as we walk down the corridor. Luckily, the carpet absorbs the trembling in my legs so it doesn’t make a sound.
He stops at one of the doors. I fixate on the way he slides his keycard from his back pocket and inserts it into the door reader. It’s something I’ve done myself a million times without thinking, but this is different. This is foreplay.
The door responds with a little click and a flashing green light. I guess we just got the green light for wild, hot sex. My heart accelerates even more. If it goes any faster, he’ll have to call a paramedic. I can read the headline now.
Boring financial analyst dies from anticipating sex with a hot cover model.
I check my watch. Fifteen minutes have passed.
“We still have plenty of time.” He ushers me inside and closes the door behind me.
The room is completely dark because the drapes are drawn. It’s as if we’ve entered a private cave, hidden from the world. This is it, I think as Carlos flips on a dim lamp. We’re really going to do this. We’re going to have sex.
“Come in and make yourself comfortable,” he says.
I stay where I am but gaze around the room, noticing with approval how neat he is. His clothes hang in the closet and his toiletries are laid out on one corner of the sink. The smoky-brown bottle probably contains the mysterious mesquite scent. I wish he were a slob so I could tell myself it would never work between us.
It doesn’t take long for my attention to stumble across the centerpiece of the room, the large bed. Is it another stage? Is the perfectly pressed red cover the curtain? Unlike the platforms we shared for the photo shoot and lap dance, this one is completely private.
What if he doesn’t like my performance?
Coming Soon
Rock My Boat
Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.
Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.
Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?
This story will be part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, which will release 10 March 2014.
This post is part of the Stripper With Spice Blog Tour.
The grand prize for the tour is the winner’s choice of a wall-mountable black scroll spice rack or The Spice Lover’s Guide to Herbs and Spices book (U.S. shipping address only).
To be eligible, COMMENT on this post. The comment MUST relate to the spice I’m posting about in at least ONE of these ways:
1) How you cook with it or use it in food OR
2) How you use it as a natural remedy OR
3) How it reminds you of a particular man or intimate encounter
One of my favorite philosophical discussions with my husband is “who is more worthy?” — the son that has always done the right thing in his life or the son after a life of indiscretions discovers his honor? Is one more deserving than the other? And, at what point would you consider the two sons equal, if at all?
Needless to say, it brings some lively discussions over our dinner table.
A certain level of jealousy would develop between brothers and maybe that’s what forces them to extremes. The righteous son may long for a life without expectations or use his honor as a weapon against the brother who has none. The other may want what his brother has, but cannot find the right path home.
At what point is the second son unredeemable? What is the tipping point of change?
I’m a sucker for a bad boy turned good and love to believe in second chances. The prodigal son returns. There is something to be said about testing a character’s virtue and knowing the limits. Turning your back on the easy road takes courage, let alone the level of determination needed never to return to old ways.
I happen to love this type of conflict, so much so, Soul Awakened, my second book in the Key to the Cursed series, is based on this theme. Two brothers could not be any different. One (Bomani) raised in the warrior camp, fighting for his life and elevating to the level of Legion Commander on courage and will alone. The other (Bakari) lived a life of luxury and wealth, using his power to feed his lust and greed, until one fateful day. After years of imprisonment and torture, Bakari claims to be a changed man.
Years of rivalry and hatred stand between them. One woman to love. Can Bakari rise from the ashes to claim her? Who will be the victor? Love for blood or honor.
I want to hear what you think. Who is more worthy of Kendra’s love?
Or who do you root for: Team Life of Honor or Team Bad Boy Turned Good?
Commenters will be entered to win a $10 Kindle Gift Card/or equivalent eBook.
Kendra, an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo. To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.
HAUNTED BY SINS OF THE PAST
Bakari awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation, but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most— his Parvana. His butterfly.
Reviews:
Night Owl Reviews:Reviewer’s Top PICK/ 5 Stars (Abigail, Feb2013) : “I know other readers are going to love this series as much as I do. Get settled in for a thrilling paranormal tale.”
“I don’t know where to begin to describe the absolutely marvelous job that the author does in not only creating a wonderful world with so much depth and detail, but a story line the has the mystery and intrigue that will keep you glued to the pages.”
Only the strongest love can unlock the souls of the Underworld
In her pursuit of a nursing degree, Jean Murray aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. At the end of 2011 she said a heart-breaking goodbye to her Navy family and retired after twenty years of military service. Although her dreams of writing full time have yet to come true, she continues her writing journey and draws inspiration from her travels abroad. She enjoys spending time with her family and of course, writing about the “Carrigan sisters and their mates, Gods of the Underworld,” to bring you the next installment of the Key to the Cursed series.
Author Jean Murray brings a wonderful new spin to the paranormal world with her Egyptian Underworld gods. She broke ground in the paranormal romance genre with Soul Reborn and now continues the Key to the Cursed journey with Soul Awakened.
A cowboy on horseback might fade into the sunset at the end of a traditional western saga, but our beloved American icon won’t disappear anytime soon. The resurgence in movies, television, and books about heroes like those on hit TV series Longmire, Hell on Wheels, and Justified remind us why we love those hunky alpha men. These handsome cowboys are loners but not lonely, dedicated to justice and a cause, and remain tantalizingly out of reach. Once a cowboy commits to a woman, though, his heart stays true.
KISSING HER COWBOY character Treymont Woods was inspired by the classic western yarn. Our hero is forced to take light duty work around Breezy Meadows Ranch after a rodeo accident. While Trey’s body heals, he offers riding lessons to Houston locals on the greatest horse that ever lived, Big Blue. When police officer Daisy Phillips arrives for her first session, sparks fly. But her invisible wounds run deep, making it hard for her to form connections. KISSING HER COWBOY is the story of two broken people who heal on the road to their happily ever after.
KISSING HER COWBOY by Adele Downs
A Lunchbox Romance Short Story
Only .99 from Boroughs Publishing! Click on the cover to purchase!
A cowboy with a fractured back and a cop with a broken spirit heal on a Texas ranch with the help of a stallion named Big Blue.
Excerpt:
“Oh, Lord.” Treymont Woods kicked up dust on his boots as he sauntered from the stables to the woman who just had to be his new riding student. Her flaming red hair swooshed from one side of her shoulders to the other as she watched his stallion, Big Blue, canter inside the corral. Her hands, knuckles white, clutched the fence and every muscle in her tall, slim figure looked tighter than rail posts. Before he could get to her, she pivoted toward the parking area, moving her feet like she was fixin’ to run.
“Hey there!” He called out as a distraction. By the time Trey reached the woman’s side, he could hear her breathing like she’d raced a Texas mile. Before he could introduce himself, she turned to him with wide green eyes and shouted, “He’s huge!” Pink splotches bloomed under the freckles on her pale skin.
She licked her bottom lip and shook her head. “No, no, no, no….” and started backing away. “I can’t do this. Keep my deposit. I’ll figure something else out.”
Trey lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Okay. No problem. You don’t have to ride if you don’t want to.” Her jeans looked too tight for riding, anyway, and that white blouse would be smudged inside five minutes. Hadn’t the woman ever been to a ranch before?
She stopped moving then and frowned at him, causing twin lines to form above her nose. Her adorable nose, now that he’d gotten a decent look. In fact, everything about the woman seemed downright appealing, despite her reaction to Big Blue. Who in their right mind wouldn’t love the greatest horse that ever lived, on sight?
About Adele Downs:
Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.
Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), the trade journal of Romance Writers of America, and has presented workshops for writers. When she isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach.
Happy New Year everyone! I’m Dana Lorraine, writer of dirty words and sexy men. Thank you to the wonderfully talented Delilah Devlin for hosting me on her blog today. I’m thrilled to be here to celebrate the release of my paranormal erotic ménage, Dying to Love Her!
So I always liked to write. When I was in high school I wrote for the school paper and never shied away from an essay contest. In college I didn’t cringe (too much) when a lengthy term paper was assigned, but it wasn’t until I started writing book reviews that I realized what I wanted to do was write stories.
I’m an avid reader when I have the time. Sadly, there hasn’t been much reading as of late but I always find a spare moment for my favorite authors and series (J.R. Ward and R.G. Alexander…I’m waiting).
Before I started writing I would read four to five novels a month plus shorter stories. I used my check from Barnes & Noble to pay for my addiction and when they became popular I bought a Kindle (before the Nook was created) so I could feed my habit anywhere and anytime of the day.
Those books I loved I had to tell the world about so I started writing reviews. A few sentences were never enough for me. I had to pen witty paragraphs. I didn’t have an interest in leaving a review that wasn’t well written or anything but glowing…that is until I started writing romance myself.
It’s not that my reviews became negative but when I didn’t connect with a story I now knew why. If I got bored it was because there was too much passive voice. If the sex scenes fell flat it was because they were all tell and no show. So I started leaving reviews that were more like the critiques I would give to my critique partner.
Then I finished Dying to Love Her and it got published by Ellora’s Cave, *insert the most awesome booty-shaking happy dance here*and I stopped writing reviews—for the most part. If you’re one of my favorite authors I want to show the love and I’ll leave a review but otherwise I shy away.
Now I know how much work goes into writing a book and what a personal experience it is. I’m not as quick to judge an author’s choices unless asked to critique for them personally and then I’ll be brutal with my opinion. And I’d hope my critique partner would do the same for me because I’d much rather see those critical opinions before the book gets published. LOL!
I’m still a fan of reviews although I rarely use them as a way to select books. I’m a go with your gut kind of reader. If your blurb and cover catches my attention, I’m sold. I’m a little different—I like to read reviews after I’ve read the book to see if readers share the same opinions as me (kinda like a book club but without the food and wine).
Recently, I read a blog post by a very talented writer who said she didn’t read book reviews (really not one?) because they are meant for readers and not writers. I don’t think that’s true at all. Every time I wrote a review I wrote it with the author in mind. I think authors who don’t at least take a peek at their reviews every once in a while are missing out on an opportunity to receive some very constructive feedback and hopefully a few five stars. Because in the end, don’t we write the book for the reader and if we don’t take the reader’s experience into account aren’t we missing the whole point?
When Melanie Woodson joins Empriva Fitness she expects to lose weight, not gain two sexy vampire personal trainers. With an exercise regimen that includes passionate horizontal workouts, fat-burning orgasms and lusty words of encouragement, she’s in serious danger of forgetting their relationship is based on a business agreement and not mutual attraction.
Alec Kosta and Rook Abernathy, best friends and owners of Empriva, have waited over a century for the right lifemate to come along. Now that they’ve found Melanie, with her endless curves and quick wit, they’re ready to give up countless lifetimes to spend just one with her.
But time isn’t on their side—they’ve tasted her blood and now mere days are all they have to convince her their love is real or risk losing their chance to be with her forever.
A Romantica® paranormal ménage erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Delilah!
Happy New Year to everyone! I can hardly believe it’s 2014. Another year bites the dust! And what do I find in the stores now that Christmas is over. Valentine’s candy, cards, and assorted gifts! I have to admit I love Valentine’s Day. Sometimes the hubby and I go out, sometimes we stick close to home. This year it will be on a Friday, so it’s kind of a perfect date night. I’m thinking fondue. A reader recently told me that was her special Valentine’s date last year.
Heads up here, I’m doing a drawing for an ebook copy of my erotic romance Kinky Neighbors. Leave a comment on this blog along with your email address (this is will not be used for advertisement, it’s only so I can contact you if you win).
And because I love Valentine’s Day, this year I decided to be a part of a brand new Valentine’s anthology with never-before-published stories from some wonderful writers, Pamela Fryer, Haley Whitehall, Raine English, Lois Winston, Melinda Curtis. And me! We’re all inLove, Valentine Style!
Here’s a blurb for my story which is called Be My Other Valentine.
Five years ago, Grace was given a sacred duty by a woman dying of cancer: Every Valentine’s Day, Grace must deliver a special cake to a girl named Valentine, addressed from the girl’s mother in heaven. But this year, Grace’s van gives up the ghost before she delivers her cargo.
His daughter Valentine is all Brian has left of his wife, but he’s forgotten the cake Valentine receives every year, and they’ve moved to a new house with no way to contact the baker who follows his wife’s wishes.
In their quest to fulfill a dying woman’s last request, can Grace and Brian find their own Valentine?
So Grace is a fabulous baker and she makes wonderful specialty cakes for birthdays, weddings, and all occasions. Of course, I’m not a baker! So when I was putting the story together, I had to come up with some cool cake ideas. The little girl in the story, Valentine, is 5, so I had to think up all the cakes Grace has made over the years. I have to tell you, the internet is a fabulous tool. You can find just about anything you want with just a few keystrokes. So here’s a couple of web pages where I found some really fun cakes!
What’s great about this site is that there are recipes and instructions for making the cakes yourself. They’re great for a kid’s birthday party. I once made my husband a cake in the shape of cat. It was actually kind of cute, but the cake itself tasted terrible! Grace would never make a terrible cake. But she did make several of the creations I saw on this cool website! Here’s a little excerpt of the story:
He reached over to open the door. “It’s cold, get in.” When she hesitated, he added, “If your car won’t start, you won’t be able to turn on the heater.” He smiled and patted the seat next to him. “And I have seat warmers.”
“Oh God, you’re evil. I’ll put the cake on the floor behind the passenger seat. It won’t slide as much when you’re driving.”
He kept the engine running and pushed the buttons for both seat warmers. Her van was visible around the corner, and they would see when the tow truck arrived.
Settling beside him, she asked, “So I’ve been dying to know if your daughter likes the cakes.”
He smiled. Valentine was the light of his life. “She adores them.”
“Which one did she like best?”
He supposed it was like a painter or a musician or a writer asking if you liked their latest work. Her cakes were an art form. “The lamb. Or maybe that was just my favorite. Because Valentine was very partial to the pink and red ladybug.” There’d also been an amazing butterfly, its wings topped with colored fruit jellies arranged to look like a pink monarch, and a Finding Nemo fish, which had been pink instead of orange and accented with red stripes instead of black. “You’re very talented.”
Even in the shadows of the car, he recognized her blush. “Thank you. Valentine? For her birthday? I didn’t realize that was actually her name. Her mother didn’t say.”
His mood immediately spiraled. He hadn’t known what Marilyn planned until she’d done it. And when he’d seen the credit card bill later, he almost choked. But she was gone by then, and over the years, he’d realized what she’d given Valentine was worth every penny. In fact, it probably wasn’t enough. This woman—he hadn’t even asked her name—had already provided far more than the money Marilyn had paid her. A childhood’s worth of cakes, a mother lode of love. Why would she go to such lengths for a woman she didn’t know and a child who hadn’t even been born when she made the deal?
Hehe, there are the cakes! You can see samples of the lamb (they called it a sheep), Nemo, the butterfly, the ladybug. Of course, I changed the color to match Valentine’s favorite. Gosh, I should have used the panda, that one was cute, too! And what cake did Grace make for Valentine this year? LOL, you’ll have to read the story to find out!
Don’t forget to leave a comment and your email address to be entered in the drawing. You can find Love, Valentine Style exclusively on Amazon.
Yeah, I got nuthin’ today—only because I’m obsessed with this song. If you’d been at my daughter’s house last night, you’d have thought we’d all joined the looney bin. My dd and I showed the little ones the video (what do they know about furries anyway, right?) and for the rest of the night, all you could hear was “What does the fox say? Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding…”
It’s catchy–like Ebola. You’ll see. I dare you to watch it just once. And pay attention to how many downloads this video has gotten! 🙂
Organization isn’t my strong point, so I’m always looking for gimmicks to minimize my frantic searches through completed books in a series to find that one vital piece of information that’s absolutely necessary to keep me from making a mistake that some discerning reader’s certain to pick up.
My writing style is linear—that is, I write stories from start to finish without leaving some piece of the puzzle to fill in at a later date. At least that’s what I try to do.
When writing a series, however, I have to make certain that the later books don’t contain information that contradicts some fact I already had established in an earlier book. I’ve learned the hard way that if my editor doesn’t catch these inconsistencies, some eager reader will. If I’m lucky, that reader will write and tell me—if I’m not, she’ll tell every one of her Facebook friends and I’ll be getting a lot of social media attention that I didn’t want.
There are lots of ways to avoid these embarrassing gaffes, from creating a very simple card file of pertinent facts to methods so complex that they can add months, not days to the timeline of writing a series—or even a standalone book for that matter.
Have you ever had to search back in a manuscript to find whether a secondary character’s eyes were blue or brown? Or whether you already mentioned a prop that now has significance later on in a story?
If so, then you’re a lot like me—and my lapses become more so as the time between having written the initial piece of information becomes greater. For example, I wrote the three-book, Caden Kink series over a six month period starting about eighteen months ago. Meanwhile I have started another totally unrelated series.
Therefore, when readers began asking me for a fourth story about the Caden patriarch, I needed to find a simple tool to help me gather information about characters and interactions among those characters which were already established in the first three books. I also needed to gather details about the common setting so as not to create inconsistencies in the new novella.
Scapple is a simple new application from Literature and Latte, designers of the much more complex writing aid, Scrivener. Scapple works as a brainstorming application that is part outliner, part mind-mapper, part writer’s journal. I’ve been using it lately to gather and relate information in Lovers’ Feud, Shotgun Relations and Wild One, that I will use in creating the backbone of a new story which must, by its definition, tie in closely with information I had already established bit by bit in the stories of the new hero’s three grown children.
Generally I find writing aids overrated. Scapple is not. As a matter of fact, it’s awesome! A very inexpensive tool, it allows the writer to jot down notes about characters, character interaction and setting, to arrange them logically in terms of the new book’s premise, and to make connections that make sense.
I’m very glad I stumbled onto Scapple. If you ever have trouble keeping up with what went before, whether in a single book or a series, I encourage you to try it. It’s available for Macs as well as PCs.
Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.
And because I love Valentine’s Day, this year I decided to be a part of a brand new Valentine’s anthology with never-before-published stories from some wonderful writers, Pamela Fryer, Haley Whitehall, Raine English, Lois Winston, Melinda Curtis. And me! We’re all in 
