Today’s theme is life in a small town. I’ve lived in a few of those. Sometimes, it’s nice knowing your neighbors, but sometimes, it’s a pain in the ass because everyone knows your business. Here, Jackson’s lucky everyone knows his…

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These cowboys ride hard…

There’s a reason Western romance novels never go out of fashion. The cowboy is an iconic figure embodying the dichotomy of the fiercely independent, earthy alpha male crossed with the male as a nurturer and protector. Cowboys take care of their women in every possible way. Wild and wayward women are gentled by the scent of horse and cow and the sight of sun-kissed skin, the feel of work-hardened thighs and arms, and the sound of a deep-voiced Texas drawl.

Contributors at the top of the Western romance genre, including Charlene Teglia, Randi Alexander, Cat Johnson, and editor, Delilah Devlin, have corralled strong and memorable characters ranging from ranch hands to cattle barons, to a rodeo star and a feisty female gunslinger. Traversing romantic settings from Montana, Texas, California, Mexico, and the Outback of Australia, the stories in Cowboy Lust are risky and risqué, full of studs in spurs hot enough to send you to a vacation on a dude ranch!

Jackson Lowry cussed softly when he spotted the blue lights spinning at the roadblock just ahead. Too late to turn back now. He’d only draw more attention.

Squaring his jaw, he rolled down his window and forced a polite smile as he peered into the darkness at the sheriff’s deputy checking IDs with a flashlight.

As soon as the deputy waved the car in front of him to move along and turned to watch the black pickup roll forward, Jackson’s tension eased a fraction.

Maynard Colby’s expression turned from crisply professional to worried in a second a soon as he recognized him. “Dammit, Jackson, where have you been?”

“Around. Why?”

A soft moan sounded beside him, and Jackson reached surreptitiously beside him to tap the tarp covering his precious load.

“You didn’t hear?” At Jackson’s vague expression, Maynard stepped onto the truck rail and leaned toward Jackson. “It’s Sammie Jo. Her car was found in Shooter’s parking lot, the door wide open. No one’s seen her. Looks like she’s been snatched.”

Jackson cleared his throat. “How serious is this gettin’?”

“It’s only been a couple of hours, but Sammi Jo’s daddy is buckin’ to get the sheriff to call in the FBI, the CIA, ATF—and whatever other agency his money can buy to find her. I tried callin’ you, but your phone kept goin’ to voice mail. After the way things went down at the weddin’ last Sunday, I don’t blame you a bit for layin’ low, but I thought you’d wanna know.”

Another sound, this time a snort, sounded beside him.

Maynard’s gaze cut to the dirty tarp folded over a moving bundle on the floor of the cab. A ruddy eyebrow shot up.

“What’s goin’ on, Jackson?”

Jackson rolled his eyes, then pulled up the corner of the tarp to reveal a bound and gagged Sammie Jo whose eyes glittered furiously back at both men.

Maynard barked a laugh, then tightened his lips. “This time you’ve gone and done it, boy. This is seriously fucked up.“ He laughed again, then tipped his hat to Sammi Jo. “No disrespect meant, missy.”

Jackson cleared his throat. “Don’t s’pose you can forget about this?”

Maynard’s gaze shot to Sammie Jo again, raked her once as though ensuring she didn’t look to be in any real danger, then tipped back his cowboy hat. “Tell ya what. I’ll put a bug in the sheriff’s ear, but she better come walkin’ through the po-lice house doors come Monday mornin’.”

“Not a word to her daddy?”

One corner of Maynard’s mouth crooked up. “Man’s already caused enough problems. Deserves to cool his heels a couple o’ days. Don’t do nothin’ I’ll have to arrest you for.”

With a nod, Jackson rolled up the window and pulled past the barricade. In his side mirror, he watched as Maynard crossed to the other deputy’s car and both men bent over laughing.

“See that, Sammi Jo?” he murmured, not expecting an answer because he’d made double-damn sure he’d tied some serious knots and gagged her pretty mouth. “I’m not the only one who thinks you need a good paddlin’.”

* * * * *

Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors’ blogs:

Lauren Dane
Shelli Stevens
Leah Braemel
Jody Wallace
Caris Roane
Eliza Gayle
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M. Roth
McKenna Jeffries
Shiloh Walker
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels
Myla Jackson

So, the first time I told my husband my characters talk to me, he told me “They have meds for that.” I just had to giggle. Even though he’s my other half, he struggles to understand me as a writer. It’s difficult.

In my experience, that’s pretty common. No one else except another writer can understand fully.

But that’s all right. Because I can still share my stories with the world, whether people like them or not.

When people ask me how I decide what to write about, or how a particular story goes, it boils down to this: My characters tell me more often than I decide.

I am a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t plot. I just sit down and write and hope the words flow. Sometimes, they do. Sometimes, I struggle. Sometimes, I think I know what’s going to happen, and then the characters throw me for a loop. Sometimes, I’m the writer and the story follows the lines I assumed they would. But so far, if I listen to them, they let me know what the story will be.

Promise I’m not crazy!

When I’ve tried to plot, I haven’t been all that successful. I made decisions and when the story changed, I didn’t deal with the change in my structure. It just stressed me out. So I had to convince myself the way I have been doing things, my process, isn’t wrong. That every writer is different. And that’s OKAY!

Whatever works to get the words on the page is the correct way.

I guess that’s what I would tell other writers: Don’t mess with what’s not broken.

You know how I said my characters talk to me? Well, sometimes they can be difficult. As in…they won’t/don’t SHUT UP! Or give me peace of any kind.

One in particular, Cole, the hero of Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book One) feels as if he should be the center of my universe. When I was writing the book, he haunted my dreams. One might think that’s helpful to a pantser like me, but he wouldn’t let me even think about anything else! I suppose it’s handy that he’s so hot. 6’4, black hair, gray eyes, and of course all the right muscles. Hehehe. He’s funny, too, which is always a plus.

But I figured I would get relief when I was done with the book. Not so much. I KEPT dreaming about him, and his heroine, Andi. The positive thing in all that is, I suppose that they gave me the idea for a very cute Christmas story!

When I moved on to start book two, Cole insisted he needed an “important” role in the book, so for all those who read CF and liked him, be assured you will see him in book 2.

I’ve always been a writer, but the road to publication has been an adventure. I’m so glad I get to share what’s in my head with readers!

Where to find C.A.:

Facebook | Website | Blog | Twitter: @caszarek
| Goodreads

Bio:

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

Sword’s Call (King’s Riders Book One) is C.A.’s first book, and published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing. C.A. Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book 1), published by Total-E-Bound Publishing and was released June 28, 2013.

Buylink from TEB:
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2180&utm_source=focusonfirststrategy&utm_medium=authorpromo&utm_campaign=collisionforce

Thank you to Delilah Devlin for inviting Rachel and I back for a guest post.  In keeping with the recent posts related to inspiration for novels and other creative projects, I thought I’d share the poem that inspired Rachel and I to write our series, Chicagoland Shifters.  Our newest release, TIGER TIGER, takes its title from the poem itself.

Tiger Tiger
by William Blake (1757-1827)

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

From Bartleby.com, Great Books Online.
Website URL: http://www.bartleby.com/101/489.html, accessed 06/30/2013

While the poem is more a prayer to the Creator about who could make the lamb and the tiger, the peaceful and the fearsome, what inspired us is the idea that a shape-shifter is both man and animal.  The question we asked ourselves is, what if an animal empath were to encounter these shifted humans with an animal side?

We decided to explore the idea that fearsome warriors, modern-day soldiers in the American Marine Corps, were changed against their will into shape-shifters.  We used Siberian tigers, since they’re the largest tigers on the planet, and we only left a small portion of their unit alive.  They must stay together and guard each others’ backs against many threats – other humans who don’t know their secret as well as other shifter groups hostile to large predators in their territory. Our character, Doctor Sasha Soskoff, must make a place for himself within this tight-knit group as he discovers their secrets.

This month, we celebrate the release of TIGER TIGER from Samhain Publishing on July 23^rd.  We hope you’ll come with us around the web as we hold our blog tour.  Join us at the Noon and Wilder blog to find the other stops on our tour.  Here’s a little taste of TIGER TIGER for you to whet your appetite.

Chicagoland Shifters, Book 2

Veterinary trauma surgeon and animal empath Sasha Soskoff has found everything he ever wanted with his new partners Neal, Steve and Carlos. Life feels as safe and secure as it can be among a group of ex-Marine tiger shifters. Until a homeless man is found, gruesomely mauled and murdered, near Neal’s BDSM club.

When it’s determined a rogue tiger did the deed, the jaguars’ accusing eyes turn toward Sasha’s lovers. The precarious balance of peace tips dangerously toward war.

Neal knows damned well none of his tigers committed the crime. Someone must be in Chicago without his knowledge or permission, and they’d better find him fast before uncertainty and conflict rip the tight-knit band apart from the inside.

As Sasha struggles to heal the stress fractures forming among his tiger family, he begins to wonder if his dreams of a home, and love, were too good to be true. And it’s precisely that moment the killer strikes at the heart of the tiger clan—Sasha himself.

Buy link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html
Noon and Wilder Blog: http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/

What’s your favorite shifter?  Are you a traditionalist, and like werewolves only, or are you adventurous and like the unusual and new?  (Just not penguin shifters, please oh please…)

He Watches Me… And Anna Loves It

Anna, the not-so-innocent-yet-virginal heroine of He Watches Me, is an unlikely exhibitionist.

Exhibitionism is the act or the thought of exposing in public or in a public place parts of our bodies that are normally concealed. Taking off our clothes and streaking across a college campus is exhibitionism. Flashing our breasts during Mardi Gras is exhibitionism. Participating in a scene at a BDSM club can be exhibitionism. Putting on a private strip tease for our lovers is exhibitionism. The stages of exhibitionism range from fantasy (yes, thinking of being tied to the mast of a pirate ship is exhibitionism) to criminal.

As with many exhibitionists, Anna starts her sexual exploration with mere fantasy. She thinks about being watched. She fantasizes about the office hunk watching her as she strips. She imagines being ravished in an elevator.

One scorching hot L.A. night, she spots the neighbor’s gorgeously cool swimming pool and impulsively acts upon her exhibitionistic tendencies. Anna hasn’t seen Blaine, her billionaire neighbor, in weeks. His mansion is dark, his backyard unused. Unable to resist temptation, she hops the fence, strips naked (she doesn’t own a swimsuit), and skinny dips, swimming au natural in Blaine’s pool.

She does this every night. Soon, Anna becomes more and more brazen, pleasuring herself in and out of the pool. Being naked while outside with the slim but very real possibility of being caught excites her. She imagines Blaine is watching her, his brilliant green eyes sparkling with appreciation.

She doesn’t know this isn’t pure fantasy. Blaine has been watching her through his security cameras. Now that he has returned to L.A., he plans to continue watching her… from his poolside seat. She shouldn’t allow him to watch her. She certainly shouldn’t like it.

There are safe, low risk ways to add the thrill of exhibitionism to relationships. We can perform strip teases in the privacy of bedrooms, have sex in our cars while they are parked in our garages, wear long skirts while going panty-free. No one has to know we’re exhibitionists… unless we want them to know, to watch.

Have you ever engaged in exhibitionism?

She desires to be seen. He wants to watch.

Anna Sampson has a naughty secret. Every night, she slips into her neighbor’s yard and swims naked in his pool. She fantasizes that the dynamic young billionaire watches her nightly nude aquatics, his brilliant green eyes gleaming with lust.

She discovers this isn’t pure fantasy. Gabriel Blaine has been watching her via his security cameras, and now that he has returned to L.A., he doesn’t plan to stop. That’s all he wants—to watch. Anna knows she shouldn’t allow him and she certainly shouldn’t want more, but she craves Blaine’s attention, needing his gaze fixed on her body.

Part One of The Seen Trilogy

Buy it at Amazon

Cynthia Sax
Author Website: http://cynthiasax.com/
Blog: http://tasteofcyn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.sax
Twitter: @CynthiaSax

Just a quick FYI. The next installment of my serialized novel Crescent Moon, “The Scorpion’s Bite,” is scheduled to release sometime today! If you’re not already reading it, well, shame, shame… 🙂

I finished the fourth episode of Crescent Moon yesterday, so I’m playing catch-up with the rest of my obligations. I don’t remember what it’s like to have “free time” and not feel guilty about it. Guess I shouldn’t complain since being this in demand was something I always dreamed about.

I’m going to keep it simple today. A question you can answer at your leisure. Just one of those day-dreamy, “what if?” questions…

~*~*~*~

What if you had two weeks vacation coming, limitless funds, and an itch
to take a whirlwind vacation? What five countries would you choose to visit?

Hey there! Since I have a chance to play on my own blog today, I thought I’d tell you about some free stuff you might want! Plus, I have two exciting collections ready to release, one right after the other, and filled with smokin’ hot, high-octane stories about the heroes we women love! Take a look!

Smokin’ Hot Firemen — July 16, 2013

If you are an Amazon. com customer, don’t pay attention to that official release date because this book is shipping right now!

Below are pictures of the front and back of trading cards I had created to celebrate the release of the new book. And if you’d like to read snippets from the stories inside this volume, follow the countdown celebration occurring right now on the Smokin’ Hot Firemen website! There you’ll find sexy snippets, personal stories about the inspirations for the authors’ stories, and prizes! We also have a Facebook page where we post pics of handsome firefighters and chat about her obsession with suspenders.  😉

If you’d like trading cards, email me directly at delilah@delilahdevlin.com!

 High Octane Heroes — September 3, 2013

Again, don’t pay attention to that official date! Amazon tells me I’ll have my copy August 15th!

We’re getting geared up for the countdown over at the High Octane Heroes website. To entice you over there, we are giving away prizes. Be sure to check us out! Also, we have a brand new Facebook Fan Page for you to “Like!” Stay tuned for more fun happenings!

In the meantime, if you want trading cards, you know what to do…

Winner and a Brand New Contest!

The winner of June’s $20 Amazon gift card is…Melissa Keir (June 13)! I’ll be emailing Melissa shortly! Congrats!!

To make it simple, I’ll continue this contest for July…

What can you win? An Amazon gift card worth $20!

What do you have to do to win? Simple. Comment on my blog—on any posting, from now through July 31st! I’ll choose a winner at random from among all the comments. Good luck!

Thanks for hosting me today, Delilah. Today I’m sharing a bit about the idea that started my story, Whirlwind. Several years ago I was living in San Antonio, and I saw a huge article in the newspaper on a national tattoo convention being held downtown in the Convention Center. I became intrigued by the idea of these artists who are normally situated in small shops, probably working with a specific clientele, all coming together in a large forum to display their artistic abilities. Like with other gatherings of professionals, there were instructional opportunities as well as chances to see lots of exquisite work. This was years before the television reality shows featuring such artists. About the same time, I’d visited a museum and saw photos of Native Americans with various tattoos. Those two components meshed and I had my heroine, Senna Whitefeather. Read further to learn a bit more about the erotic short story, Whirlwind.

Unveiling tattoos with a stranger has never been so dangerous…or so sexy.

Hosting her first booth at a national tattoo convention is nerve-racking enough for artist Senna Whitefeather. But then she runs into another Native American—one with a smoking hot and firm body—a man she soon realizes is following her. Appreciation for art takes on a new meaning when a challenge to unveil their tattoos escalates into a passionate encounter in the back of her booth. But will Senna’s brazen attitude of going after what she wants backfire?

Senna lifted the plastic badge, angled it toward the security guard then turned toward her designated booth. And bumped smack into a male—solid muscle from chest to knees—and she stumbled.

Firm hands grasped her upper arms and steadied her. “What’s your hurry?”

The deep voice rumbling near her ear resonated through her bones, kicking up her heart rate, and set her further off-balance. Both hands tangled with the supple cotton of his T-shirt and held tight. All she saw before her was a broad expanse of black cloth. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking—” She glanced up—straight into midnight black eyes that seemed to look deep into her soul. Her gaze clung for a long moment then she forced herself to blink.

The stranger smiled and the bronze-toned skin around his eyes crinkled. “Good thing I was, or we’d both have gone down.”

With a quick look, Senna registered the slash of his dark brows, high cheekbones, and long, black hair pulled back along his neck. Another Native American. Strong features balanced by an open smile. Why did she have the sudden urge to sway forward against his broad chest? A chest that appeared capable enough to harbor a woman tied in nervous knots over today’s exhibit.

Spirit of Life, she was late.

“Again, I’m sorry.” She stepped back, away from his broad hands and fought against acknowledging the immediate loss of warmth. No time for distractions, even tall, dark and sexy ones. “I’ve got to get to my booth.”

With a dip of his chin, he swept a hand in the direction she headed. “The right-of-way is yours.”

Senna hustled down the side aisle but couldn’t resist a quick backward glance over her shoulder. The tall stranger dressed all in black had disappeared into the crowd.

AMAZON:           http://amzn.to/13sXmUu
B&N:                     http://bit.ly/19plihI
TWRP:                   http://bit.ly/11DBnaT

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BIO:   On a dare from a close friend, Layla Chase challenged herself to explore the steamier side of romance and discovered all sorts of characters whose stories needed sharing. She writes contemporary and historical stories from her mountain home in California that she shares with long-time husband and two dogs.

For more information about future releases:

www.laylachase.com

http://www.facebook.com/layla.chase.52

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/229815.Layla_Chase