A Perfect Holiday by Riley Murphy: Cover Reveal


Coming soon to Amazon, by author Riley Murphy




It’s not a matter of what could go wrong when a kindergarten teacher who’s tired of living vicariously through her porn collection is virtually stranded for the weekend with Mr. Sex-on-a-stick. It’s more a question of what could go right.

Sidney Capp is tired of denying her natural desires to be the quintessential good girl her parents expect her to be. So when the holidays arrive, and she’s free of her folks breathing down her neck for the weekend? She’s drunk with power. Probably why when the opportunity to be a little bad presents itself, she doesn’t hesitate, but dives all over him.

Riker Mitchell thinks being forced into some much needed R&R for a few days is going to kill him until he inadvertently discovers his sexy but shy neighbor is secretly into watching porn on the weekends. Apparently, he isn’t the only one with erotic ideas on the brain. Little does he know, the hottie in two B is determined to turn her sizzling dreams into a sensual reality. On a regular day, with a regular girl, he would have been the first to sign up, but with this little innocent?  No matter how tempting it might be, he’s not going to take advantage of her…unless she can persuade him to do the wrong thing. 

Excerpt

Knock, Knock.

Sidney sat straight up. She muted the TV and scowled. It was eleven thirty on a Friday night. She wasn’t going to answer the door. The complex was deserted. Hadn’t Martha told her she’d be alone except for maybe one other resident around the place this weekend?

“Ms. Capp? Sidney? This is Riker Mitchell. I just got off the phone with Ms. Malloy and she said you had the set of master keys. I need them. I’m locked out.”

Now Sidney wasn’t one to believe in miracles. But it was the holidays and Riker “dreamy playboy” Mitchell knocking at her door? Right up there with God arriving to shake her hand and the Red Sox’s winning another World Series. Grabbing the remote, she pressed the pause button and listened. This really was too good to be true. Maybe she’d been fantasizing again.

“Ms. Capp?”

And that would be a no, as not one fantasy she ever had of him sounded this sexy. The guy’s voice belonged on late night radio. Late, late, late night when all his female listeners were lying in bed either boosting battery sales or straining ligaments in their fingers. Yep, he had that kind of effect on any woman not currently dead. Fortunately for her? Last time she checked she was breathing. Brushing a hand down her cotton shorts she paused to tug the hem of T-shirt before she fluffed her hair. This might be the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Maybe—one quick check down and she deflated. Forget the lame Star Wars shirt. What did that matter when there was a puddle of dried chocolate sauce with Twizzer shavings embedded in it? Gah, right above her left breast? The good one. Well, not the breast, but the bra cup holding it as she had a bum elastic strap on the right side.

“Hello? I see the light on and I heard noise. I know you’re up.”

Of all the nights…she wanted to punch the wall. Whenever she’d dreamt of this moment—a scenario she’d planned a thousand times in her head where he came to her door— she’d imagined herself in sexy lingerie, evenly tanned with those extra five pesky pounds she normally carried melted off her. Reality weighed heavy and her shoulders started to dip, but then she took a look around and reasoned. The lighting was dim at moment. Maybe she could—nope, there was no getting around the brown blob that looked like she took a direct hit from a multi-colored paintball pellet.

“Ms. Capp?”

Screw it. As a kindergarten teacher she’d had worse things sticking to her chest. A sudden flashback of tiny rabbit turds hanging off her cable-knit sweater one spring came to mind. Yeah, after the petting zoo debacle this was nothing.   

Just be smart. Witty. Original.

“What’s the password?” Okay, what the hell was with that shit? Sure, she was stalling for time as she slipped her arms out of each sleeve hole so she could turn her top around, but seriously. Password?

“You want a…?” He started to ask and then mumbled more quietly, “Password? Malloy didn’t give me one.” Louder he said, “Mrs. Molloy didn’t—”

The moment she swung the door open he stopped talking and she got her first look at him. Yep, it was him all right. Six foot four, dark hair, dark eyes, well-muscled, sun kissed skin, still no wedding ring, rugged, delicious, no lipstick on his collar, scrumptious and hot. Hot. Hot!

When she finally stopped devouring him and looked up, he gave her a bemused smile and let that honey coated voice pour all over her. “Hi, Sidney.”

She wasn’t going to put her hands over her heart, but she felt like it. She wasn’t going to swoon, but she could have. She wasn’t going to make a fool of herself… Please God, don’t let me mess this up. Drawing on all her strength she put as much confidence as she could into a casual grin, which was darn near impossible with the drool getting in the way of her trying to be cool, and said, “Hi. I was kidding about the password.” She stepped back and would have invited him in, but then she caught sight of the TV and nearly swallowed her tongue. Holy hell. Pulling a bouncer-esque move, she blocked his way. Then inwardly groaned as he stumbled back. Think. Fast. “Ah, you said something about keys? For your unit?”

No Nimrod, he’s asking for keys to someone else’s apartment. He’s a polite and considerate thief.

“Yeah, my brother needed my truck and unfortunately, my way to get in went with him.”

She almost asked him to produce his driver’s license so she could learn more about him, but one glance at the frozen vision on the TV stopped her. “Oh, I’ll um, you stay right there. Right there,” she held up her hand and patted air, “and I’ll get the, ah, key for you. Don’t move, okay?”

“Sure, but shouldn’t I come it? Your AC’s escaping.”

“Not to worry.” She felt bad about being rude as she left him to hurry up the hall toward her bedroom, but in this instance it couldn’t be helped. She didn’t dare draw attention to the corner of her living room where her TV was. Thankfully, the flat screen was against the back wall so he’d not only have to come into her place, he’d have to walk around the door to see it. A break for the weak-side. Wait…

Lumpy chocolate splat. Lumpy chocolate spat. Lumpy chocolate splat, sounded off in her head like that kid doing the Red-Rum chant in The Shining.

“Careful,” he said when she pretended to trip and fell against the wall, trying to walk backward in order to hide the mess.

 Real smooth, Sid.

 “Are you all right?”

She nodded, but continued to do the new strut, titled “the smear”, with her back against the drywall so he wouldn’t see the crusted chocolate as she made her way to her bedroom. Why did she drink that syrup right out of the jar tonight? You needed sweet after the bag of salt and vinegar chips you scarfed down, remember?

She groaned. Right.

With her room in sight, she pushed off the wall and practically dove in. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. You got this. She exhaled slowly and let her lids flutter open until she caught sight of her purse. Normally she loved her big bag, but not tonight. It was the enemy as time was of the essence. She dumped the whole thing upside down on the bed and shook out the contents. Spying the huge pink flamingo key ring she snatched it up and rushed to the entrance.

“I’ll just be a minute,” she called and held up the enameled bird. “You’re three A?”

Why she bothered to ask was a mystery. Riker had to be three A. He rented the penthouse apartment right over her unit. It was the only top-floor condo on this side of the building. So large it spanned the distance over the two units on either side of hers as well.

“Yes.”

When that smoky baritone voice reached her she shivered. The sound did awesome things to her insides. Her pulse raced and she refused to believe it was the sugar. No—she bit her lip as she fought to get his key loose without breaking a nail—it was his presence that had her all fired up. One stealthy glance toward the front door and she wished just maybe he’d stick around longer than a mere few hours. The complex always seemed more alive and exciting when he was in residence.

What was she thinking? He liked leggy blondes with beach ball breasts and perfectly vacant stares. She couldn’t she compete with that. She had regular sized knockers and an M. Ed from Florida State University. Kind of hard to pull off busty or stupid without expensive medical procedures. Did they even do lobotomies anymore?

“Do you need some help?” Riker saw her struggling with the keys and made the offer. He was dog-tired and still sweating his ass off even though the cooler air from her place breezed over him. Her AC was nowhere near as cold as he kept his and just thinking about that made him anxious to get upstairs where he knew his was cranking. Her place smelled great though. Orange and cinnamon. Nice—he sniffed—hell, the scent reminded him of Christmas and home. Memories the unseasonably warm weather lately had killed. “Do you want me to see if I can do it?”

 

“No, I’ve got it. I’ll just be a second.”

He took another deep breath, hoping to recapture that little bit of nostalgia when he spotted her dining room chandelier. It wasn’t so much the hanging light itself, but the things dangling off it. Angels. And not the ethereal kind either. There was a fat one holding a harp, a skinny one wearing glasses and when he saw the mop-headed blonde one in the red and yellow poke-a-dot bikini he found himself smiling. He liked the winged chicks. Shifting, he tilted his head to get a better look at Sidney Capp. The few tenants he’d spoken to around here always referred to her as a “sweetheart”. He thought it was because she taught kindergarten, but maybe not. There was something about her.  He recalled how squirrely she’d been at the door and now watching as she fought with the keys, he decided maybe she was much the same as those ornaments. Quirky. Yeah, and probably an angel too. That sobered him right up.

   Angels were off his list. He’d been there and done that and it hadn’t panned out for anyone. Especially him.  He rolled his shoulders and shifted to turn away when he caught an image out of the corner of his eye. At first glance he’d though it was a graphic picture hanging on the wall, but then when he looked closer he realized it was a mirror. A mirror on the wall that reflected the image from—get the fuck out here—her TV. Miss quiet and keeps to herself kindergarten teacher—the woman he’d just determined to be a quirky angel— watches porn?

He eased the door opened wider and peered between the wall and the frame. Yessiree, she was watching naughty all right. Hardcore shit if the frozen image on the screen was any indication. Damn, that young woman was swallowing some pretty impressive—

“I got it. Oh, and I’ve also included a key to the pool gate. I know how much you like to do your twenty laps in the middle of the night when you can’t…”

Watching porn wasn’t her only form of late night entertainment it would seem. “Can’t?” He took the keys from her and while he waited for her to finish that sentence which wasn’t going to end well for her, he gave her the once over.

She was cute. Really cute with big eyes, pert little nose and nice mouth. Lips that were wide and full which only made him think about the image on her TV.

“Is that my phone?” He almost laughed. The comical way she cocked an ear, twisting back toward the master bedroom, but keeping her eyes on him, was priceless. “Phooey, it is—”

“I don’t hear anything.”

“Oh,” She leaned back farther and almost fell. “Yes, I hear it vibrating in the bedroom.”

He couldn’t contain his grin now. Judging from the porn, she might not be an angel but she was definitely quirky in an adorable way. “Are you sure it’s your phone?”

“Yup, gotta go. Thanks for stopping by.”

Riker stared at the door for a good thirty seconds before he realized she’d slammed it in his face. And there was nothing adorable about that. Intriguing? Sure. Interesting? Moderately. A fucking turn-on? Absolutely. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been shut out by a woman. He shook his head and closed his fist around the keys. Her dismissing him shouldn’t matter, but it did.

He was halfway up the stairs to the third floor when the raw image on her TV came to mind. Did the little kindergarten teacher watch skin flicks for real, or was it a fluke? A bad pause in an erotic romance of some kind?

Tumbling his apartment deadbolt, he decided. He’d seen plenty of R rated movies and nary had a one highlighted that kind of talent. That kind of action was triple X all the way. He wasn’t going to get his hopes up though. She probably had cable and stumbled on that channel by accident.

Once inside, he kicked off his shoes and went directly to the sink to wash his hands. He still had no idea what the hell had been on that rock. Right now he didn’t want to know. With that mess taken care of he grabbed an iced bottle of water out of the fridge and headed to his room. Bed was going to feel good tonight. Tomorrow he’d worry about quirky Sidney with her wide eyes and vibrating phone.

As usual, he peeled off his clothes and tossed each item into the hamper before he slid naked between the sheets. He closed his eyes thinking he hadn’t been wrong. Bed felt especially good tonight. Yeah.

“Oh, God. Harder. Oh baby, you rock my world. Yes. Faster. Ahhhhh…”

His eyes snapped open and he scowled. “Damn, don’t you guys ever take a weekend off?”

He was all for sex, yet their resident randy couple unfailingly kept him up Friday and Saturday nights. Not only was she a screamer, he was talker and they both were into role playing. Pretty cheesy role-playing if you asked him. This was why most nights when they “had at it” he’d head down to the pool. Their sex played out like a bad porno.

And when that came to him he shot straight up. “Son of a bitch. No way.”

This time he really listened while he tried to determine the logistics. Creating a mental floor plan he was shocked. His large penthouse condo ran the length of all three one-bedrooms below and now that he examined the virtual footprint he realized Sidney’s living room was right under his master bedroom.

All these nights. All the blaming and covert glaring at that middle-aged couple in unit two A. Damn.

He fell back in the bed and stared at the ceiling. So, it was adorable, wide-eyed Sidney keeping him up at night. Well, well, well. The little school teacher really did have a naughty side. This changed everything. Intrigued? Check. Interested? Check. Turn-on? Check, check.

She’s an angel…

Right, maybe if she hadn’t mentally stripped him when she first opened that door, he’d have been more convinced about that fact. But she did slam the door in his face so he should just leave it at that. Who was he kidding? That was the very reason he was burning to get to know her better. And what impeccable timing to do so, as they’d have this cozy little complex all to themselves for the weekend. With this unexpected turn, he was beginning to think his forced sabbatical from the jobsite might not be as bad as he’d originally thought.

“Harder. Oh, Doctor, you can examine me anytime. Faster. Oh, yes, the gloves…”

Scratch might not be bad. This was more like fantastic. He’d be sure to thank the guys for making him take a few extra days off for R & R before the holidays. Clearly they were right and he’d been working too hard. How else had he missed the little hottie literally underneath him for the past six months?

Suddenly the muffled talking and moaning stopped and one would have thought he’d be happy about it. At least he could get some shut-eye, but it wasn’t to be. Strangely his semi-hard state went to full-flag alert with the continuing silence because now all his thoughts were on what she was doing down there if she wasn’t watching TV.

He groaned.

He knew what she was doing.

Sleep eluded him. Damn.




Riley Murphy writes sexy, humorous and emotional romance, happy ending guaranteed. An optimist, she believes life is awesome, people are complicated, but in a good way, and we should never stop learning. Riley currently resides in Florida with her gorgeous husband. She has two wonderful kids and one very bossy English Bull terrier. When Riley's not working she enjoys reading, oil painting and getting to the Sunday crossword puzzle before anyone else does, so she can fill-in all the easy answers first. If Riley wasn't a writer she'd be an international spy with top-level security so she could have a peek at Area 51 and decide for herself if those green guys are for real. Riley loves her characters and she hopes you do too. You can visit her website at www.AuthorRileyMurphy.com  


  

Game For Trouble by Karen Erickson: Release Day Launch


It's here! Karen Erickson's GAME FOR TROUBLE is live and ready for you today! An amazing contemporary romance, GAME FOR TROUBLE is book 2 in the Game For It Series. It's steamy, sexy and a definite must-read! 

And you can get it today!!

See below for all of the information on GAME FOR TROUBLE and Karen Erickson, as well as where to find her. We also have an excerpt for you. After reading the excerpt, make sure to go and enter the amazing giveaway below! 


 Game For Trouble


Game for Trouble is book Two in the Game For.. series by Karen Erickson. Please remember, I don’t give spoilers in my reviews, but since this is the second book in a series, it very likely contains spoilers to the first book, Game for Marriage. So if you haven’t read book one, please proceed with caution. 

I read Game For Marriage when it first came out, and it was a great book. I loved Jared and Sheridan, and that is where I met Willow, Sheridan’s hard-hearted friend. I could tell she had been hurt by a football player, by the way she was so against Sheridan becoming involved with Jared. There were other clues that Nick was the likely suspect in book one. 

Honestly, there was such a long time between book one and book two, that I had forgotten about all of the events leading up to the sequel. I didn’t have time to re-read Game for Marriage, so I had to just wing it. It all came back really quickly though. I didn’t totally LOVE Willow in the first book, but I did fall in love with her in Game for Trouble. I can see where her hardened heart came from. While this is one of those reconnected love stories, it was a little different for me. Nick was a little different. I don’t want to give too much away, but he was a really great guy, in my opinion. 

I loved the way that Nick was willing to use whatever he could to get back into Willow’s life. I did get a little frustrated with their lack of communication at times, but I guess if we didn’t have that, there really wouldn’t be a book at all, it would be more of a short story, right? 

The story is told in third person, but alternating points of view, which is one of my favorite ways to read a story. I feel you get the whole story that way. I loved catching up with Jared and Sheridan, and some other characters from the previous book. We may even have a set up for another book, but in the name of all that is holy, if so, please don’t make us wait so long. 

I’m giving it four stars, because it was a great story, it may have dragged on in places, but overall, it was a terrific book. Everything that I have come to expect from Karen Erickson.



Excerpt:


“Come in here.” She grabbed hold of his hand and yanked him inside, shutting the door behind her and twisting the lock into place. “Let’s stay in tonight. It’s cold out there.”

“But...wherever you wanna go, darlin’, I’m game. My treat. You could order fifty lobsters for dinner, and I won’t protest.”

She grimaced. “I hate lobster.”

“You do not,” he said, frowning. “You grew up here. You can pluck a lobster straight out of the ocean from your dad’s deck.”

“Just because I grew up here doesn’t mean I have to love seafood.” She scrunched her nose. How she hated explaining this. No one ever got it. “I’ve never been a big fan. Lobster’s sorta freaky. Crab is too much work, not enough reward. I don’t mind shrimp, though. You can just pop them in your mouth and eat them.”

“I’ll take you out for all you can eat shrimp, then. You can stuff your face until you wanna burst,” he suggested eagerly.

Laughing, she shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’d rather stay in tonight with you.” She sobered up quick. The more they stayed in the better. This so- called relationship needed to stay quiet. One mention of it to the media, local or bigger, and all hell was going to break loose. As in, her father would have an epic freak-out.

“We always do that, though. Stay in.” He scowled. “Aren’t you getting bored?”

Oh, no. “Are you?” God, he was already tired of her. Really, she shouldn’t care. She should be glad. The faster she got rid of him, the better.
Right?

“No. Hell, no. Anytime I’m with you is good, Will.”

He reached for her, settling those big hands on her hips. Dipping his head, he bent his knees a little so he could peer directly into her eyes. “Are you getting sick of me yet?”

She pressed her lips together to keep from saying what she really wanted. I could never get sick of you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“No. Well. Your constant sweet talk is getting sort of old.” She rolled her eyes, putting on an act. Nothing Nick did when they were together was getting old.

His mouth curved upward. “What are you talking about?”

“All the darlin’s and the sugars and the princess remarks. I think you say that sort of thing so you never have to worry about the name of the girl you’re with,” she teased.

His face turned frightfully solemn. “You really think that?”

Uh oh. She shrugged. “I’ve wondered.”

“Really.” His fingers bit into her flesh, he held her so tight.

“Maybe?” He had her doubting herself. How did he do that?
Dope. He constantly keeps you on edge.

“Trust me, I always know who I’m with when I’m with you.” He kissed her—the softest, sweetest kiss ever. So soft, so sweet, she immediately wanted to weep when he pulled away to murmur against her lips, “Willow.”

He never called her Willow. Ever.

ABOUT GAME FOR TROUBLE:

He’ll play dirty to get what he wants…

Willow Cavanaugh would be happy if she never saw cocky football star Nick Hamilton again. Sure, their fling was the hottest she’d had, but he’s way too much of a playboy to settle down with one woman. Plus, she’s got her heart set on a piece of real estate for her catering business—and Nick owns that property.


Nick may be at the top of his game, but all he wants is a second chance with Willow. When he offers to sell her his commercial space if she agrees to a series of dates with him, their chemistry is so scintillating that jumping back into bed seems like an inevitability. But Willow’s decided all’s fair in sex and blackmail. Little does she know, Nick’s playing to win…and she’s the prize.


About Karen Erickson:

USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read - sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she's a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.

Links:

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Erickson/e/B002BLNABC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382308173&sr=8-2-ent


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Slow Hand Quickens by Allie Mathews: Review

 
 

Growing up in an apathetic household with an abusive family friend, Kristen Weatherly doesn't know life can be better or that she even deserves it. When all your life you're told to be grateful for what little you have, no matter how awful, how do you know that your life can be more fulfilling?

Kristen's perspective begins to change her senior year in high school when she's befriended by Mila, a girl who shows Kristen that there are people in the world who care without expecting anything in return. Then comes Chris, a boy she's dubbed Mystery Eyes. She soon discovers that Chris' life is similar to her own in ways she never could have imagined.
 
Can the two get past their shocking and dreadful family histories together, or will their pasts come between them when it matters most?
 
This novel contains dark themes, sensitive issues and is intended for mature audiences only.

 

Slow Hand Quickens is heart breaking and empowering all at the same time. At some points during this book I wanted to shake Allie (the author) and ask her why Kristen had gone through so much before finally meeting Mila, and later on Chris, who truly cared about her without limitations.

Kristen was not expecting to let anyone into her life but Mila worked her way in without being noticed until it was too late. Their friendship is one that many wish they had especially in the hard/bad times. Mila is so different than Kristen but she isn’t judgmental like most people would be in her position.
This story really drew me in and I understood Kristen’s way of thinking through the entire book. I had a few moments where I had to remind myself that I didn’t really know Kristen and could not go and protect her.
One thing didn’t like about this book was John. He is the parent’s friend, well really the dad’s drug connection. He abuses Kristen starting very young but is over protective of her when it comes to others touching her. I didn’t like the way the author made his looks (most of the people I know that look as he is described are great people, it’s the pretty ones we should be worried about :/) and personality (he was to hot and cold to fit the description of the person she wanted him to be). But with that being said he is not someone anyone should have to deal with at any point in their lives.

I am giving this book 4 stars because I would have like to see more of Chris’s story and would have loved his point of view also.. who knows maybe Allie will surprise us and that will be next ;)



 
Allie lives in North Carolina and works at a university bookstore. She reads and writes in her spare time, including lunch breaks. When she's not reading or writing she's usually watching something on television, whether a good show or movie; or she's hanging out with friends...also perhaps drinking. A small amount. Usually rum. She likes rum. Oh, chocolate! She also enjoys eating things chocolate-y. She's always open to book recommendations. She listens to music while she cooks, usually throwing in a few dance moves. Allie thinks random things at random times and writes them down, even when they don't seem to be in any sort of order. She is a work in progress.
 
Find Allie on:
 
 


~ Book read, reviewed and posted by Tina at The To Be Read List~



Jack Stone - Deadly Revenge by Vivien Sparx: Review

 
 
A missing woman feared dead, and her sister desperate to find her. How can Jack Stone refuse? Called to California Stone discovers the sordid secrets of Heston's Cove and the dangerous man who deals in women, sex and slavery.
 

 
Jack Stone - Deadly Revenge is the second book in this series by Vivien Sparx. If you have not read the first book (buy it here) I strongly urge you to do so before finishing this review. The series is about the same man, Jack Stone, who is on a mission to find his sister who he strongly believes is being forced to be a sex slave.

In this book Jack gets a call requesting help from Cilia Walker. She is a romance writer who gets a serious lesson in the bedroom. She is looking for her sister who she has slowly lost her relationship over the years and has recently lost all contact which has her scared for her sister’s life. While trying to find answers about Cilia’s sister Jack is also hoping it will lead him closer to his own.

One thing you should know about Jack is he is a SLUT!! He is the perfect bed partner while he is around but he makes no promises to any woman and it just makes every one of them want him more. I love guys who know exactly what they want and are not afraid to be upfront about it right away. Although I must say that the woman Jack ends up with will be one lucky lady and I cannot wait to meet her in the future! So for those of you reading this that does mean this is not your average happy ending, but trust me when I say that it is worth the money to buy all of these books so you can read them over and over again.. I know I will be!

I give this book a 5 star review because I love Jack Stone and the story line of this whole series. I can’t wait for the next book to come out just to see the next woman who is lucky enough to get a taste of Jack.


 
 

From Vivien:
Since I was a teenager writing romance has been a passion of mine. More recently my writing has focused on Erotic Romance.

Join my exclusive newsletter group today! Copy and paste this link to join: Join Newsletter
Are you on Facebook? So am I!

I really love connecting and talking to my readers on Facebook. I hope you will send a friend request so we can talk more about erotic romance and the stories I write. Connect on Facebook
I also have a exclusive Reader Fan Page where you can join in competitions and win prizes and free giveaways.  Facebook Fan Page

As a writer of erotic romance, the beauty of the genre is not in creating lavish settings for my stories.
Nor is my fascination for erotic romance drawn from the opportunity to create handsome heroes and beautiful heroines.

My real love for the genre stems from the opportunity to take my readers on a journey and engage as many of their emotions as possible.

I believe writing erotic romance gives authors the most influence over how a reader feels as we engage them in our stories.

Writers of action books, or horror books certainly can create compelling situations, but with erotic romance we writers can immerse our readers in a multitude of emotions unprecedented in any other form of creative fiction.

I can frustrate readers, make them laugh, make them cry, delight them, intrigue them, inform them - erotic fiction is a total emotional experience, and it is gratifying to hear readers respond to stories with passion.

I believe readers want to be engaged and drawn into the pages of a story, and as a writer of erotic romance, we have the greatest opportunity because our stories are always relatable. They may be fictional worlds and fictional characters, but the themes of love and romance and erotica are so universal, and so personal to each of us that we all respond to stories in different ways.
But we all respond.

And that's the true joy of writing erotic romance. It matters not so much how you respond as you read... it matters only that you do respond. If a writer can engage you and make you feel, then the story's journey is one well worth taking.

I have several authors who I admire and who have been an influence on me in one way or another: Wilbur Smith, Gail McHugh, Lee Child, Jasinda Wilder and Julie Kenner to name just a few.



~ Book read, reviewed and posted by Tina at The To Be Read List~

Point of Seduction- Sunset Point by Lori King: Review

 
 
Built around the premise that love can be found with multiple partners, the island of Sunset Point has always been Gabriella Larkin’s home. She respects the open -minded community, but her own past relationships have left her burned, and she can’t overcome her doubts about love. Throwing herself into her clothing boutique, Designs By Lark, she makes it her number one focus, until she meets Austin, Michael, and Kendrick.
 
Brothers Austin and Michael Curtis, along with their best friend Kendrick McClure, are new to the island, but not to the idea of ménage. A chance meeting with the gorgeous Gaby has sparks flying and the men planning on seduction. Enthralled by the intense sexual attraction between the four of them, Gaby embarks on a tumultuous and passionate relationship with the trio, but reaching the point of seduction will mean facing off with her past…
 


Point of Seduction is Book One of the Sunset Point Series. This 5 book series is done by 5 different authors. Point of Seduction was done by Lori King.  Cross Point by LaurieRoma, Hearts & Handcuffs by Erika Reed, Tattoos & Cupcakes by HennesseeAndrews and Breaking Point by Susan Hayes. I did read all of the books before writing the review for Point of Seduction because I just couldn’t resist. All of these books are Ménage (one of my favorite genre to read!!) but none of them have any male on male…. Just in case that is something you don’t enjoy. If you do enjoy Ménage be sure to check out Lori King’s other series… I have read them all and they are some of my favorites!

In this book you meet 4 people who are just a little bit lost in life without each other. All 3 men are familiar to the ménage lifestyle. 2 of the men (Austin & Michael) were raised in a town where ménage was a normal way of life but are not sure if it’s for them and the 3rd (Kendrick) knew of the lifestyle from his friends but had never participated in it before. They guys know each other from the Army and move to Sunset Point to join the local police department.

Gabriella Larkin grew up in Sunset Point but just recently returned and opened up a shopping boutique (Designs by Lark) that all the women on the Island love. Gaby was pretty sure ménage wasn’t her thing so when she first met the 3 heart fantasy worthy men she didn’t know quite what to think. But once she set eyes on all 3 men she knew they would be hard to resist… that is if she even tried to.  

Even with her father’s disapproval she grows quickly in love with all 3 men. Each man brings in something special to the relationship and really brings the 4 some relationship to another level. Ménage isn’t for everyone and I love how Lori always seems to make it flow flawlessly.

I give this book a 4 star review because it is such a beautiful story. I do wish they had a bit more of a struggle coming together as a whole but sometimes love is just simple when you meet the one, or several, you are meant to be with.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Lori King is an everyday woman, born and raised right smack in the middle of the country in the ever-conservative state of Kansas. She juggles three sons, a husband, a dog, a turtle, and way too many extra-curricular activities to mention.

Writing is a way of stepping outside of the real world, and embracing something new and different for her. A hopeless romantic, she spends her days dreaming up Alpha men, and her nights telling their stories while always looking for the happily ever after.

Connect with Lori on:
 
 
 




~ Book read, reviewed and posted by Tina at The To Be Read List~

Madeline, Abducted by M.S. Willis




She was meant to be his destruction…
A pawn played in a perilous game between
father and son…
Yet, her strength was more than either
man could imagine.
As Maddy learns to save herself…
She becomes the one thing that could
set the son free.

Madeleine Clark was raised to become a concert cellist. Sheltered and naïve, she remains hidden behind her music, a protection from the world around her. On the night of her first solo performance, Maddy accepts the admiration of a stranger and finds herself captive in a cruel and twisted power struggle between a sadistic father and his son, Aaron.

Seemingly, dangerous and uncaring, Aaron manages the business operations of his father’s estate. Wanting nothing to do with the slaves kept at the Estate, Aaron refuses to take part in the deeper depravities of his father. Despite his resistance, Aaron’s father ‘gifts’ him with a petite, brunette woman he can’t refuse.

A bond forged in conspiracy and deceit, Aaron struggles to save Maddy by teaching her to survive in the world in which he’d been raised. An unlikely union, Aaron soon learns that great strengths can exist within small packages, while Madeleine learns that love and light can exist in the darkest of places.



M.S. Willis is a romance novelist whose debut novel, Control, was released in 2013. Although currently writing in the romance genre, Willis has plans to expand her literary pursuits into multiple genres and has no fear conquering difficult subject matters in her writing. Willis is a native Floridian who is also a photographer and musician. When not absorbing herself in written, visual or musical expression, Willis is an adrenaline junkie, a 'closet' video game enthusiast, and an avid outdoors person and nature lover.
Find M.S. Willis on Facebook


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Catch My Fall by Ella Fox: Review




Mia Reeve’s faith, trust and sense of security were all taken away in the blink of an eye. In need of a fresh start, she settles into a new town and begins to make a new life.
Tristan Chamberlain has always kept girls at arms length and he has no intention of changing. He’s caring, smart, handsome, but he’s also dealing with a lifetime of guilt that’s slowly but surely destroying him.
Sometimes the thing that you run from is the one thing that will save you.
Separately, they’re both free-falling. Together, they’re about to find that love can create the strongest safety net of all.



Catch My Fall was a little bit different from the usual Ella Fox novel. The characters were a little younger, they were in college, and the focus strayed into a little darker area. None the less, it held the same gripping story telling that every book prior to this has led me to expect. That is why I am a die hard Ella Fox fan, and she is one of the authors that are auto one-clicks for me. 

The story is told from Mia’s point of view, which is kind of a draw back for me. I think it would have added so much more to have had Tristan’s point of view throughout the book as well, but we know there is a method to Ella’s writing, so I trust her. 

I adore the entire cast of characters, Darby, Mia’s roommate, who introduces her to Tristan, his twin brother Trace (who has a complicated past with Darby), and Macy, Mia’s best friend from back home, with whom she shares a devastating secret that threatens to tear her life apart. 

The most fun thing about Ella’s writing is the way she makes you feel like you are in Mia’s head, talking to your best friend, with quotes like this:

"My stomach was screaming “Don’t do it asshole!” as my hand reached into the bowl, but I got a small handful and put it in my mouth. With the first bite, I was in heaven.”

I don’t even need to mention the Friends references. I don’t know if college kids even know about Friends. But none the less, Ella makes you feel connected to Mia, in a way that you are right there with her, for her entire story. 

I think there is another storyline running simultaneously with Catch Me Fall, which Ella is a MASTER at doing. I hope I’m right. If so, I’ll be first in line to buy it.

I give Catch My Fall four stars! 




Ella Fox is a thirty-something (not that far off from forty) author who writes like a woman possessed whenever she gets the chance! She is the author of The Hart Family Series, The Renegade Saints Series and The Catch Series.
When she’s not writing, Ella indulges the gypsy in her blood and travels the country. Ella loves reading, movies, music, buying make-up, reading Tmz, Twitter and pedicures… not necessarily in that order. She has a wild sense of humor and loves to laugh. Her favorite thing in the world is hanging out with her family and watching comedy movies.


Ella's Twitter




 
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