The Sexy Ghost

Happy Medium, the third book in my Ramos Family trilogy, was released by Berkley Intermix on January 21. All three books are ghost stories, and they feature a family of reluctant mediums who only discover their powers when they’re confronted by some nasty ghosts who need to be eliminated.

When I started working on Happy Medium, I’d already used ghosts who wanted someone to avenge their deaths (the traditional ghostly function) in Medium Well and with ghosts who wanted to increase their power by sucking vitality from humans (a slightly less traditional ghostly function) in Medium Rare. So I’d dealt with ghosts seeking justice and seeking power—what else could they be looking for? Sex, maybe?

Succubi (and incubi, the male version), are spirits who get off on sex with humans. This idea has been around for a long, long time—Lilith, Adam’s first wife, is supposed to be a succubus in Jewish mythology, and succubi show up in folklore in a variety of cultures. Succubi are seductresses, who prey on unsuspecting men with their sexual skills. And they’re also shape-shifters, which allows them to assume the form of loved ones, or someone you truly covet.

My hero, Ray Ramos, has to contend with this seductive ghost, but he’s more repulsed than attracted. This particular succubus haunts the house he’s trying to renovate, and she’s set free when he takes part in a séance that was supposed to be fake. Unfortunately, when Ray, a hereditary medium, takes part in the séance, it becomes the real thing. Leaving Ray with a sexy ghost who has definite boundary problems.

But I along with Ray’s difficulties, I wanted to do something slightly different with my particular succubus. She also haunts my heroine, Emma Shea, who has a few self esteem problems. As it turns out, my sexy ghost finds female victims by convincing them her skills can bring them the man of their dreams. It’s a very seductive promise—let me use your body, and he’ll never leave you. My heroine knows better than most that that promise is fatal, but even she finds herself tempted.

In the end, Ray and Emma have to find a way to destroy the succubus without being destroyed themselves, all the while working around Emma’s employer, a phony television medium who has no idea what she’s up against—or even that she’s up against anything at all.

Here’s a little taste of what Emma’s up against:

She closed her eyes. If this room wasn’t safe, what room was?

You’re nothing. You’re less than nothing, the voice whispered. He’ll leave you soon.

Emma stiffened. “I know it’s you,” she muttered. “This won’t work.”

He’ll leave you because you’re nothing, the voice hissed viciously. You’re pitiful. Look at yourself. A fat frump. He doesn’t want you.

Emma’s shoulders tightened. She shook her head.

He’ll leave you. Why would he stay? What could possibly make him want you?

Her breath rattled in her throat, her hands fisting at her  sides.

I could help you. I could make him want you. The voice was smoother now. Almost seductive. Once he’d experienced what I can do, he’d never leave.

Emma shook her head, her heart hammering almost painfully. “Like you helped Amina? No thanks.”

An image flashed through her mind—Ray naked beneath her, staring up with glazed, adoring eyes. He’d never leave. She’d never have to worry. She’d have him always, all hers. No matter how fat she was. No matter how ugly.

All hers. Until the succubus consumed them both.

Emma closed her eyes. “No. I won’t. No.”

You’re nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

She turned toward the door, running, half-blind with tears.

The blurb for Happy Medium:

 

Love is good for the soul… unless it’s one that you’re trying to exorcise.

Ray Ramos has a problem–the King William District mansion he and his business partner purchased for a fast renovation needs more work than expected. Ray could use a quick infusion of cash. Enter Emma Shea, assistant to Gabrielle DeVere, the star of American Medium. Gabrielle is looking for San Antonio houses to use for her televised séances, and Ray’s fixer upper seems to fit.

When Gabrielle does a sample séance, Ray and Emma become the target of a touchy ghost with no respect for boundaries. After Ray learns his family has a special affinity for ghosts, the two decide to investigate the haunted house. It doesn’t hurt that Emma is immediately attracted to the laconic Ray or that Ray is intrigued by the buttoned-down beauty who seems determined to hide her considerable assets behind sober business suits. But can the two of them fight off a vengeful succubus bound to the house while getting a lot closer than either of them planned?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A Sexy Soldier

Is there anything better? What about two? That’s better right?

A couple of months ago I was talking to my critique partner over coffee about the next story I was going to write for the Universal Defiance series. I wanted to write something that was darker and scarier than anything I’d ever written before. And I wanted to write more about the genetically enhanced soldiers I’d introduced in Shared Objectives. Only, this time, I wanted to focus on the soldiers still serving the government.

She listened to me as I gave a rough sketch of what I envisioned the story to become. I’m a pantser, so that’s pretty much all I ever have when I start a story. And then she said the words that would change the course of the story forever. “So, you’re going to write an m/m (male/male) story? I mean—they’re a group of enhanced soldiers on a mission, right? There aren’t any women.”

Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. I’d actually never thought about writing m/m. Sure, I’d read and loved it. But I’d just never seen myself as an m/m author. But she was right. There was no reason for a woman to be on this mission. And if I put one there just to make the story m/f (male/female), her character would feel contrived. There’s nothing worse than a contrived character.

So Julian and Gates were born, in my head at least. And the more I wrote them, the more I loved them. Julian with his domineering and controlling father and Gates with his drive to overcome all the obstacles of his disadvantaged childhood—they came to life with each word and each action of the story. They became my two super sexy soldiers.

Want to know more about them? Here’s the blurb for their story, Extreme Circumstances:

Universal Defiance, Book Three

Julian hadn’t wanted to become a genetically enhanced soldier. His father, the colonel, expected it. But when he sees his commanding officer for his first mission, he admits there might be some perks. Commander Gates is a wet dream wrapped up in a standard-issue military uniform.

He knows better than to screw around with an officer though. The last thing he wants is the complication of a relationship. But when the mission goes sideways and soldiers start dying, he realizes sex might be the best way to simplify things, especially given the scorching encounters Gates provides. A relationship though? They’ll have to survive the mission before they can worry about that.

Inside Scoop: Gates and Julian share some super-hot male/male action on a planet where gruesome monsters deal out grisly death.

A Romantica® sci-fi erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

And you can find an excerpt for Extreme Circumstances on the Ellora’s Cave website:
https://www.ellorascave.com/extreme-circumstances.html

Author links:
Website: www.ChandraRyan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandra.ryan
Twitter: @ChandraRyan

I’m back from my trip to the DC area. I stayed in a lovely, bucolic area just outside DC in Virginia with my ex and his girlfriend. I know that sounds really odd, but it works for us! I accompanied my dd and the three little ones, and of course, we shopped all along the way back—an outlet mall, two flea markets… Yes, bargain-hunting equals bliss for us.

Now, I have a Mount Everest-sized pile of work to catch up on. You won’t see me much for the next couple of weeks, and if you do, spank me, because I don’t have time to chat!

I say that and tonight is the After Midnight Fantasies authors’ quarterly chat at Writerspace. Come join the fun at 8 PM CST/9 PM ET. There are always prizes, and you can ask us anything your heart desires. I don’t know for sure who plans to be there, but you’re sure to have a good time! Anyone here plan to attend?

One more announcement before I dodge out of here and straight to work—if you are one of those folks who prefers to listen to their stories rather than read them, Crescent Moon releases in audio format today!

Are You All Tied Up … or Just Being Held Back?

Hello, Delilah D fans! Once again I’m honored to be visiting with you on DD’s gorgeous blog.

She’s All Tied Up, Book 2 of my Club 3 series debuts tomorrow!

Not only am I thrilled to unleash my latest hero on you all, sexy ex-Marine and body-builder dom Jake, I get to introduce you to his heroine, Carlie. Carlie is very special to me because the thing that is holding her back from living life to the fullest is something that I have battled as well. The battered self-concept that co-exists in our culture with excess pounds.

Doesn’t matter if the extra pounds number in the single digits or the triple, does it? Staring up at us from the scale under our pedicured toes, they can send us to our dimpled knees. Those numbers can also keep us from remembering the things that truly make us attractive– a smile on our face, a kind word for those we meet and a real interest in them. A verve for life, whether it’s the quiet little pursuits or the big, wild ones. There are people who can share what we love … if we have the courage to reach out.

Carlie was raised, like so many of us, by a well-meaning mother who only wanted what was best for her. My mom has never eaten an extra bite in her life, and thus never understood why I sometimes stuffed food in my face to deal with emotion. So, yeah, I kinda patterned Carlie’s mom after her, I admit it.

It took me years to discover what Carlie—lucky girl—learns in the course of her story, that she’s just fine the way she is, and no one else really cares about the five or ten extra pounds on her hips. Jake certainly doesn’t. He’s dumbfounded and then angry to learn that she considers herself too plump, and not woman enough for him.  God bless men who prefer an armful, right? Can I hear an Amen!

Carlie also learns that self-concept doesn’t really change with weight. We must love ourselves thick, or we won’t when we’re thin. Happiness comes from within, not the mirror.

In accepting this, we can reach out and accept that when that certain guy says we’re perfect for him, he’s telling the truth. And it’s one we deserve to hear.

If you’d love to share the heartbreak and triumph of discovering what’s truly important–along with some very hot, hot moves with Carlie and Jake, leave a comment and let us know what you enjoy about reading D/s and BDSM. I’ll give away a copy of the ebook, She’s All Tied Up right here. PLEASE leave your email addy so I can find you!

She’s All Tied Up

His control sets her free…and her trust throws him for a loop.

Club 3, Book 2

Carlie Milton is finally out from under her judgmental mother’s thumb. She has a great job, great friends, a loving father and brother… but her love life is a series of disasters.

When she’s rescued from her latest dating debacle by bodybuilder Jake Stone, she can’t resist his invitation to his BDSM club. The results are orgasmic, and Carlie comes back for more…until the night she goes all in. And Jake’s reaction, driven by a ghost from his past, drives her back into her shell.

An ex-Marine, Jake believes self-discipline and control are the only things holding his life together. Until Carlie. Her lush body, tender vulnerability and unquestioning trust shake him to the core, jarring loose the tight lid he keeps on his demons—at the worst possible time.

Now, to help her find the courage to try again, he’s going to have to do something he’s never done before. Make peace with his past…and convince himself that leading with his heart doesn’t have to end in pain.

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Product Warnings

Contains a hard-nosed ex-Marine with a soft heart and a way with knots, and a plucky heroine who isn’t afraid to let him learn to navigate her curves.

For an excerpt, visit Samhain Publishing.  And c’mon by my website to learn about my self-published books, too.

Best,

Cathryn Cade
Goodreads, My Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Samhain Author Page,

And sign up for My Newsletter for a chance to win goodies!

Some days I feel like a clown

Thanks, Delilah, for allowing me to visit again, especially on a weekend. 🙂

People often ask authors how they juggle everything else in their lives and still manage to write. We all have things we have to do…work, school, family, extracurricular activities, whatever.  If you toss writing into the mix, which is really a full-time job in itself, well, you’ve essentially got a circus. At least some days it feels like that to me. And I know I suck at juggling. I’m forever wondering how in the world I’m going to get everything done, and not let anyone down, myself included. So I thought I’d learn how to juggle. You can learn anything on the internet.

“Juggling is a challenging but rewarding hobby; studies show that people who learn to juggle increase their brains’ grey matter! While juggling may seem and be difficult to master at first, it becomes easier once you’ve learned the basics and practiced it.” 

The statement above and the steps below come from https://www.wikihow.com/Juggle. (for those of you wanting to learn a new trick in time for your next family reunion.) The steps appear quite simple and strangely enough, relatable in so many ways to what anyone who has to manage multiple commitments face every day.

1. Choose suitable balls. I work full time; I have a family, and other commitments.  Every day I need to decide what my priorities are for that day, what’s critical, what’s not. I need to plan. I need to know what’s realistic and achievable so I don’t set myself up for failure.
2. Choose a suitable place to work in. I need to be in the right environment for each of my tasks so I can concentrate appropriately. I can’t write sitting in the middle of a family birthday party. Now if it were on beach? Maybe J
3. Toss one ball from hand to hand to get the feel of juggling. To me, this is about learning what works.  How many tasks can I “juggle” at one time and still feel like I’m accomplishing something?
4. Practice scooping. Simply scoop, or dip, your hand before tossing the ball. Keep the dip shallow though; it isn’t going to work if you scoop too deeply. I think one is knowing when to stop, maybe change tactics. When to step back and take a breath. I admit I have a difficult time with this one.
5. With a ball in each hand, toss ball A, and when it reaches the top it its arc, toss ball B. Practice until it becomes comfortable. At the top is key. This will give you the most time for your next catch. When you start working with 3, 4, and 5, this becomes especially important.  Wow!  It’s all about planning and scheduling, isn’t it?

So, what about adding more balls?  What does wikihow say?

“Juggling three is a matter of understanding the ball’s trajectories and how they intertwine. Juggling five balls is just like juggling three, but you have to move your hands a lot faster and you need to throw the balls higher. Keep practicing –– it takes time and patience to master.”

Such sound advice.  So, then I looked at a few of their tips and discovered some are very applicable to any of us who juggle more than one thing at a time.

• Think of juggling as being less about catching and more about learning.
• Find a pattern that works best for you.
• Relax, breathe, and don’t get frustrated.
• Start out slowly. If you fail do not worry. Take a break and try again.
• Juggling is hard and sometimes depressing, annoying, repetitive or frustrating or all of these at once. But that is the same for any skill that is worth the time spent mastering it.
• Do not attempt to juggle fire axes. Only professionals know how to do this. (Just thought I’d throw this one in to see if you’re actually reading this.J)

And, finally, the most useful, the most important piece of information I took away from this…

“Anybody who juggles knows that drops are common. Of course, you will practice your act and try to perfect it, but at some point, it’s not a question of whether you drop, but when. It’s not the end of the world, and if you’re prepared to recover quickly and well, it’s not the end of your act, either.” 

Brand new release from Anne Lange

Can a summer of sexual exploration, lead to an unconventional forever.

When his best friend moves to the area, Tyler seizes an opportunity to fulfill his wife’s fantasies while, hopefully, leading her in the direction of his.

They shared women in the past, and Connor’s the only man Tyler trusts with this special summer assignment. But when neighbors start to gossip, and the actions of strangers threaten their already precarious threesome, he worries that Angela’s uncertainties and Connor’s ex will end what could be the perfect forever.

Check out an excerpt at Anne’s site.

Video for Friends with Benefits

Author BIO

Anne Lange loves to read. In fact, if you take a close look, she’s got either a book, her Kindle or her Kobo with her where ever she goes, and will usually sneak in at least a chapter or ten whenever she can spare a few minutes. She reads many genres of fiction, but prefers to write sexy romance with attractive men, strong females, and always a happily ever after.

While embarking on a career as a romance author, Anne juggles a full time job and a family. She grew up in Southern Ontario (Canada), but now makes her home in Eastern Ontario where she lives with her husband and three children, and Rocky the bearded dragon.

Connect with the Anne

Web Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  | Pinterest  | Amazon

Medieval Madness

I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth Rose and I am the author of 27 romance novels, including small town, medieval, paranormal and fantasy. I am mostly known for my medieval novels, and have loved castles, knights, dragons, swords, etc. for as long as I can remember. One of my all time favorite movies is the 1985 movie, Ladyhawke, which featured not only Michelle Pfeiffer but also Matthew Broderick. It is a wonderful romance and always makes me cry at the end – in a good way of course. And I also love the paranormal aspects as well.

My latest release is Onyx, Book 1 of my Scottish medieval, MadMan MacKeefe series. Onyx and his friends, Aidan – Book 2, and Ian – Book 3 are all madmen. The more dangerous or adventurous the task, the more it makes them feel alive. Onyx has two different colored eyes, and as a baby he was thought to be dead and put into a chest and was supposed to be thrown into the ocean.

Back then, people were very superstitious and also very religious. If you were left-handed, you were thought to be a devil, and the second born twin was also supposed to be evil. So someone with one orange eye and one of black, would be considered a demon for sure. Actually, Onyx is the brother to the four girls in my Daughters of the Dagger series. If you’d like to know more about how they were all named after gemstone daggers and the superstitions of their mother, you can read my FREE series prequel. And watch for Aidan and Ian’s stories coming up in the next few months.

I found it quite interesting to add my historical research to my novels, for instance in Ruby – Book 1 of the Daughters of the Dagger, the story deals with a child thought to be the king’s bastard. Kings back then almost always had illegitimate children and mistresses, so this was very common.

In Sapphire – Book 2, I take you on a journey with wool smugglers and the secret passageways that even today are still beneath some of the taverns of England. With Amber – Book 3, I pushed the envelope a little, as my heroine is a novice in an abbey, and I show some of the corruption as well as the power the church back then. And in Amethyst – Book 4, I take you on a journey of a woman put into a position of power in building a medieval castle.

Another of my medieval series is my Legacy of the Blade series. Watch video. In this series of four books, I include some special features such as a blind heroine who is the leader of a band of renegades in Lady Renegade and a female pirate heroine in Lady of the Mist.

I love dark, dangerous, tortured heroes, both physically and mentally/emotionally. Most of my heroes have issues they are dealing with from the past. And I also love to empower women, so my heroines usually know how to wield a sword, stand their ground, and are far from wimpy.

That brings me to some of my paranormal novels, which are my favorites to write. My Greek Myth Fantasy series has gods, goddesses, and even an amazon warrior princess. (Watch book trailer video.) Remember the old Xena and Hercules tv shows? That is what inspired those novels, years ago. And my Elemental Series, (watch video), has four powerful women who control the elements of fire, earth, air and water. And if you like shapeshifting, I have a warlock in denial along with a heroine who shapeshifts into a cat at night in Familiar. The guy on the cover is very sexy. Watch the video to see more about the book.

Or if medieval or paranormal is not your cup of tea, I have my small town contemporary Tarnished Saints series, about 12 brothers. These men are sons of a preacher, named after the twelve apostles. But they are far from saints. Matter of fact, they are nothing but trouble. Check out my new, sexy cover for Luring Levi, the second book of the series. And watch for Judging Judas, book three, coming in April, 2014.

Stop by my website at https://elizabethrosenovels.com to read excerpts of any of my novels, as well as to watch my book trailer videos. And if you sign up to be on my mailing list, you will get announcements as to my new books that come out nearly every month, as well as get sneak peeks at the upcoming covers.

I also do all my own book covers, as well as my own book trailer videos. And since there are other authors by the same name, my books can be identified by my trademark – my red rose by my name on every cover. Watch for new books monthly, as well as a few new series I have planned for this summer.

Thanks,

Elizabeth Rose

A Tattoo and A Leftover Christmas Swag Giveaway

I decided to give a present to myself after Christmas…well it wasn’t really a Christmas present per se, but it was definitely a present. Something I’ve been wanting for a really long time. Sixteen years to be exact.

And what was it you ask?

A tattoo. *super cheesy grins and a happy dance and a curtsy all rolled into one*

It’s a set of rainbow butterflies (five of them) and a set of pink hearts (two of them) that are in an arc around the curve of my left breast. And before you ask – no I’m not going to post a picture. Don’t want to offend any of your innocent sensibilities!! *grins*

And each piece of it means something to me and that’s why I placed it close to my heart. It’s a reminder to be true to myself, and be who I am and F**CKING own it! Every second of every day!

And what’s SO awesome is this is a…let’s call it a trial tattoo…I already have a small butterfly on my back (my nickname growing up was butterfly – thus the obsession with butterfly ink) and I want quite a bit more ink on my back. This piece is to make sure my body can handle the ink and isn’t allergic to it so many years later.

And that brings me back to sixteen years in the making. I got my butterfly tattoo two months or so after I turned 18 when I’d just started the journey of finding me. I’ve wanted more ink ever since, but I didn’t want a tattoo just to get one though I’ve been tempted once or twice. I want every drop of ink in my skin to mean something. Not just something, something important. And now I’ve got that, and the next step in my journey is going to be a VERY colorful one!!!

Hopefully, by my next post in Feb I might actually have pics to share of the tattoo on my back! Sure hope so!!

To spread a little leftover Christmas cheer I’m going to give away some swag of goodies and maybe a few naughty additions just because I can!

All you’ve got to do is comment to win! Tell me your favorite tattoo story, your own, or someone else’s, or a tattoo you have or want to get! Seriously, if it involves a tattoo it counts!

Members Only, Book Three

Skye has spent her life being the perfect daughter for her prominent, wealthy parents. She says all the right things, wears all the right clothes…and lies through her teeth about the kind of sex she needs. The bland “gentlemen” she dates don’t know a thing about what gets her going—and when they find out, they run screaming. In her deepest, naughtiest dreams, she finds a man…or two…who knows just how to tie her up and tease her until she’s begging for more. But those guys don’t really exist, do they?

Jackson wants one thing for Christmas, and her name is Skye. He’s watched her from afar for ages, biding his time, waiting for his chance to give her the kind of pleasure she craves. And this Christmas he’s going to get his way. He’s enlisted his buddy Nick and the two of them are going to give Skye a holiday treat she’ll never forget.

Inside Scoop: This holiday threesome features bondage and spanking benches…and creates whole new uses for Christmas lights and candy canes.

A Romantica® BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

 Buy Links:
Amazon | B&N | Ellora’s Cave | Kobo | ARe Cafe
Members Only, Book One – Together in Cyn

Bio –

Jennifer Kacey is a wife, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

Website | Facebook | Twitter –
Goodreads | Pinterest