Welcome fellow Lyrical Press author, Stephanie Haefner!

Welcome busy writer and mom, Stephanie Haefner! I too, juggle two kids and my writing so I have complete empathy and sympathy - so many of us do it and the worse thing...the comments of when we're going to get a proper job! Do people not realize how hard we work?? Anyway, rant over, welcome Stephanie!

When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

I can’t remember exactly. It was after I finished my first completed novel…all 130,000 words of it! I felt so accomplished. I wanted to share it with the world. So I started researching what I needed to do to make that a reality.

2) What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

Best- To work as a team to produce the best product we could.

Worst- I can’t think of anything..she’s been great!

3) Favourite author/s?

I love Ann Brashares. She does a fantastic job of writing characters you want to be friends with. People you can relate to. I love a coming of age story.

4) What is your typical day?

Get up, get kid #1 to school. Then me and kid #2 head to the gym. After that it’s home and I try to write in between fetching him drinks and snacks and setting up toys or games or his favorite movie or TV show.

5) Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us.

Karma Kameleon is the sequel to A Bitch Named Karma. I’m so excited for it’s release!

Karma is back, but this time she’s not completely to blame.

After surviving a heart- wrenching tragedy, Lexi Marshall is determined to find happiness with her wacky, new-age family. Stumbling through her first few months of motherhood, she's achieved the perfect balance living with her son, the love of her life, and her best friend and his lover. But happily-ever-after all under the same roof doesn't last long.

For one thing, Rich doesn’t exactly agree living with everyone is ideal. With their gay/straight double wedding fast approaching, he wants to find a place of their own instead of continuing to sponge off of Marcus and Kevin. But Lexi isn’t ready to give up her easy l ifestyle...or the never-ending wisdom of her lifelong best friend, Marcus.

Torn between assured comfort and true happiness, Lexi has to make a choice, and fast. Will she lose everything, or can she trust karma, and have it all?

6) Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?

Such an easy question! Since this is a sequel, these characters have been around for a while, so I have given this some thought! LOL! Rebecca Budding and Zac Efron. Yeah…she’s a t hirty-something dating a much younger guy! J

7) Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came?

Most of it was planned, but I am not a super plotter. The basic plot is there, but I do tend to let myself wander when I write. If I like the way it’s going, I adjust my plot.

8) What surprised you the most when you became a published?

Some of the people I expected to rush out and buy my book did not.

9) Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like?

Sadly, no. I write from my loveseat in my living room on my laptop, usually wrapped in an electric blanket.

10 ) What’s next for you?

Working on editing my next book. Hoping to find a home for it soon! J

Finish with details of where readers can find you – website, Facebook, Twitter etc

Website/blog: www.stephaniehaefnerthewriter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Haefner/99513980888

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/StephaniHaefner

Thanks for being here, Stephanie - I must download your books today! Now I've got Zac Efron in my mind, they just have to be read, lol!

Comments?

Novella number 3 is contracted!!

Good morning, my lovelies!!

I just wanted to add a quick post to let you know my fabulous editor and cover artist has sent me the contract for my next novella - "Zante Heat" is under contract with The Wild Rose Press and I hope to start the edits soon.

As soon as I have a release date and/or cover art, you will be the first to know. In the meantime, here's the working blurb:

Michelle Hutton leaves everything behind and flies from the UK to Greece in search of a new beginning. Her first encounter is with a sexy, pro-bono lawyer with a body that could adorn the cover of Playgirl. He tells her his sister has a restaurant in desperate need of a new chef. Sam Clarke seems too good to be true. And Michelle doesn’t trust anyone else after being let down time and again by the people she loves. Including the mother she left behind. But Sam is just too hard to resist…

Clarke is a busy man – a man on a mission to help women in jeopardy. So when he meets a woman with hair like a sheet of gold and eyes bluer than the ocean needing help, what is he’s supposed to do? The electricity between them is hotter than a live wire and Sam soon learns Michelle is more than capable of demanding and getting what she wants. She doesn’t need him, he should walk away…yet time and again he goes back for more.

As always, thanks SO much for your never-ending support - you guys are the best! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

https://twitter.com/#!/rachelwriter

Love

Rachel x

Saturday Promo - Rynne Raines!

Welcome To Eden--Eden Series: Book One (Short BDSM Themed Erotic Romance)

Blurb

Within the walls of Eden, temptation rules and anything goes….

Psychiatrist Caitlyn Ward never imagined setting foot inside the hottest fetish club in Los Angeles until the day a patient’s concerns about sexual desires went beyond her expertise. Now, determined to uncover the answers needed to alleviate her patient’s mind, Caitlyn ventures into a world of dark and forbidden pleasure beyond her wildest dreams.

Excerpt

"Come here," Evan said from across the room.

She could think of no better time to test his limits than now. "What if I say no?"

Something in those midnight eyes sparked and sent a chill through her right before they narrowed. "No?"

"That's what I said." Defiant, she met his stare.

He arched a brow and then crossed the room to stand toe to toe with her. It still amazed her she had to look up at him. That rarely happened, especially when she wore heels, but somehow it made her feel surprisingly feminine. He lifted a hand slowly, slipped it to her nape and into her locks of blond that spilled down her back. His fist clenched and the pressure of his grip alone made her knees buckle. Regardless, she looked into his eyes, unwilling to back down. This aroused him, she could tell, and more than anything, she wanted him turned on as much as she was.

He started forward until for the second time this evening he backed her to the wall. His rock-hard cock rubbed against her lower abdomen and she imagined what it would feel like when he filled her, stretched her, pounded her….

"Let me tell you something, sweetheart." She gasped as his hands went to her shoulders and locked her in a solid hold. "In this room, I don't take no for an answer."

He spun her and she found herself trapped between his massive frame and the wall. Before she could say another word, he had her wrists pinned above her head in one hand while the other worked expertly on the zipper of her dress. The latex came down in one hard yank to expose her scantily clad body. The rush of excitement overwhelmed her as she tested his strength and tried to pull free. He didn't budge an inch. She arched against him but his knee jutted forward between her legs and held her in place. He barely had to rock his leg to earn her harsh moan of approval.

"Someone's a naughty girl. I knew you'd like that."

His arrogance only fueled her desire. How was it that this stranger knew exactly what she wanted, needed, when no other man had even come close to driving her this wild?

Buy Now:

http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-To-Eden-ebook/dp/B006RXJ06Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325533963&sr=1-4

Pure Sin --Eden Series: Book Two (BDSM Themed Erotic Romance)

Blurb

Whips. Blindfolds. Restraints. And a man rumored to be the most skilled Dom in the city...

As the BDSM instructor at the hottest fetish club in Los Angeles, Bianca Alexander prides herself on being open, honest, and informative with her clientele when it comes to kink. The fact that she hasn’t knelt before a master of her own in four long years doesn’t affect her ability to teach, though a part of her longs to be back in her Dom's arms. But when her boss hires Cade Sinclair--her primary rival from a competing club--to assist teaching her classes, Bianca’s comfortable solo act becomes a sinful duet drenched in Pure Sin.

Excerpt

So this was Cade Sinclair’s idea of educating, was it? Bianca clenched her fists. Well, if he thought she would allow this type of behavior in her studio, he was in for a surprise. She narrowed her eyes and plotted his slow and painful death. No way in hell would she allow her classes and clients to act as a buffet to the man’s obviously insatiable ego.

“On your knees, slave.”

The warm whisper burned against the back of her neck and Bianca’s knees buckled. But it wasn’t the sensation of the breath against her skin that had her reeling. It was the voice. The low seductive drawl had coaxed her to orgasm several times in the past.

Sin.

“I must be losing my touch. Never took you this long to obey an order before.”

Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks.

It was Sin all right.

Bianca turned on wobbly legs and wondered when her three-quarter-inch heels had narrowed to the width of toothpicks. She leveled her eyes with a tanned V of flesh bordered by the clean lines of a stylish charcoal dress shirt. It wasn’t necessary to see his face. She recalled the exact width, the masculine curve of his chest, the powerful shoulders. Every ounce of her being warned not to look up, yet she couldn’t stop herself. She slowly lifted her gaze and an invisible fist struck her in the solar-plexus.

God help her.

Buy Now:

http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Sin-Eden-ebook/dp/B006RXJ4HY/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325533963&sr=1-5

Legally Bound --Eden Series: Book Three (BDSM Themed Erotic Romance)

Blurb

Evelyn Morgan has a secret. Donavan Carver wants to expose it. Bondage, debauchery, and a weekend at Eden lands one of them on their knees….

For years, Eve has craved sexual domination, but a kinky romp in the hay isn't worth destroying her prestigious legal reputation over. Even if that romp’s with her handsome rival and legendary Dominant, Donavan Carver. Desperate to protect her secret and keep the notorious playboy at bay, Eve clings to the lie she’s told for two years—she’s a Domme. Donavan doesn’t buy it. Given an opportunity to put Donavan’s doubts to rest, Eve lures him into a bet he can’t win—one that will tether him to her leash. So what if she cheats to win? He’ll never find out. Or will he?

Excerpt

At the challenge, Eve lifted her chin a measure while the wheels in her head nearly flew off their tracks. This could be her chance to finally put Donavan’s doubts about her being a Mistress to rest. “Care to make a friendly wager, then?”

Donavan studied her thoughtfully. “I’ve been known to make a bet or two. What did you have in mind?”

As if deep in thought, Eve tapped one freshly manicured fingernail against her lips. She wasn’t however. She knew exactly what she wanted.

“All right, if I win this case, we will attend the masquerade together—ah,” Eve wagged her finger when he tried to interrupt. “But you will be my slave. You’ll peel me grapes, rub my feet, and if you’re lucky I might just let you fan me with one of those giant feathers.”

For the first time in ages, Eve saw Donavan hesitate. It was only for a split second but it was there. Perhaps the stakes were just a bit too high for him.

“And if you lose?” he asked, intrigue evident in his tone.

There was no chance in hell of her losing now that she had the tape. Although it was underhanded to make a bet with an ace in the hole, he would never find out. No harm. No foul.

“If I lose, I’ll willingly submit to you for the entire weekend.”

His eyes narrowed and Eve’s pulse skipped a beat. Could he smell the bet was fixed? Did she look too eager? Too confident? Were her lips twitching and giving her lucky ace away?

Her throat dried further as Marcy proudly clutched the tape to her chest and marched toward them. If Donavan spotted that cassette, he wouldn’t enter into a wager that could land him on his knees without seeing what was on the tape first. She needed his answer. Now.

“What do you say, Carver?”

With his scorching gaze hot enough to melt the buttons clean off her ivory blouse, Donavan scanned her from head to toe. He brought his eyes back to hers. “You got yourself a bet, counselor.”

Buy Now:

http://www.amazon.com/Legally-Bound-ebook/dp/B005O1O9FC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327759197&sr=1-1

Welcome Eternal Press author, Gianna Bruno!

Today I have Gianna Bruno join me to chat - I am so glad because it has been FAR too long since I've welcomed one of the lovely Eternal Press authors to my little corner of cyber-world. Can't wait to see what you have for us, Gianna!

The floor is yours...

Thanks for having me, Rachel!

It's hard to believe Christmas was a month ago and that Valentine's Day is just around the bend. I've long lived my life with holidays, and holiday celebrations as mile markers. Since having children, the months tick by as I carefully pack up the crepe paper ghosts and Q-tip skeletons, pull out the pinecone turkeys, then tuck them in a corner to hang the ice cream stick ornaments with fall school portraits lovingly placed inside.

Soon it will be time for candy and hearts (sex and chocolate for the adults) and that's where I get on the nostalgia train. Some of my hottest memories are wintry ones in a Vermont log cabin with smoke spiraling from the chimney, soaking muscles tested to the aching point by icy ski slopes in a hot tub, then generating plenty of body heat to get through the long, cold nights.

I'l love to hear your memories of winters past--both the good and the bad ones. How did they inspire you to write a story, a poem, a love letter? Did your experiences motivate you to make big changes in your life, cement or break a bond between a friend or a lover?

My paranormal novelette Hot Chocolate Kiss was "born" on a wintry mountaintop. Rick and Keela not only battle the slopes, they face off with the metaphorical demons of life, lingering in a moment of "hopefully ever after," which is the best we can hope for in real life as well.

Readers have shared that they liked the story because the characters feel real and face the same dilemmas as the rest of us. And I struggled to write the characters as composites of friends and family to make them come to life.

In my novella The Journey, Milena's darkest moments are during a long, cold winter during which she wonders whether her lover--a sailor named Thomas--is dead or alive. It was easy for me to tap into those emotions--not being able to imagine being alone and cold, battling the elements as well as dark magick.

So if you'd like a special Valentine's gift for a special someone, consider Hot Chocolate Kiss, a quick sexy read that which guys love because of the extreme sports both on and off the slopes. Or The Journey, the story of a woman's odyssey during which she not only finds her man, but discovers dark truths about her own past while battling the both human and supernatural forces that threaten to tear them, as well as the North and the South, apart.

Contact me at gianna AT giannabruno.com for special print gift packages or personalized gift cards for digital formats. Please click over to my blog at http://giannabruno.blogspot.com for excerpts and to view the trailers. And I always love to hear from readers on my blog, on Facebook or Twitter.

Hugs and Hot Chocolate Kisses,

Gianna

What a brilliant idea for a Valentine's gift, Gianna! I love it :) Your post has really inspired me to come up with a Christmas story. All that snow, log cabins and skiing - how's a girl to resist?

Buy links:

The Journey
http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615722488

Hot Chocolate Kiss
http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650268

Contact/connect:

http://giannabruno.com

http://twitter.com/Gianna_Bruno

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gianna-Bruno/153839997984159?v=wall

Welcome book reviewer, Marika Weber/Kate!!

I am thrilled to have Marika visit with us today as any writer in the world should be hoping for those sparkly 5 Star Reviews - what writer wants 3 stars when 5 are up for grabs?? Not me, that's for sure. So when Marika agreed to visit, I was SO happy she was willing to reveal a few secrets into the minds of those elusive reviewers...

Over to you, Marika!

One Reviewer’s Take

I want to thank Rachel for having me on her blog today. It’s really an honor. Most people don’t want a reviewer on their blog much less having them talk about reviews.

Okay, right to it…a little background on myself. I live in East Texas, raised in Dallas, married with one son in 1^st grade and work an EDJ. I review for Night Owl Reviews, The Romance Studio and The Forbidden Bookshelf. I also have a review blog that I update semi-regularly. Why the information about me? To let you know, that I’m a real person, with a real life and real everyday issues. I’m not a god, a fairy, or an ogre. I bleed just like you do. Why the dramatics about me? I have some things that I want to talk to you about reviewing and what goes through my mind when I’m reading a book for review.

1. I get to pick the books that I review. Bet you didn’t know that? Well, I do and I choose books/authors/publishers that I normally don’t read or know much about. I pick books that are way out of my comfort zone. When I decided to review, I decided that I wouldn’t read books or authors that I was comfortable with. In the year that I began reviewing, I have found authors, genres and publishers that I seek out on a regular basis. I have been given books to review from authors for my blog and again, I follow the same guidelines if I was reviewing it for one of the sites that I review for.

2. When I review a book, I look for the following: plot (does it hold my interest), characters (do I even like them), flow (am I having to start and stop all the time) and lastly, did the characters connect emotionally and was it believable?

3. When writing a review, I don’t give out spoilers, the ending, the conflict, nor do I give out plot points. I will however, talk about what I did like about the book and what I didn’t. I hate when book review blogs from individuals give you a dissertation on the book. I mean, why buy the book in the first place? The blog already told you everything that you needed to now and more. This is becoming more and more commonplace with so many people reviewing books on their blogs and it really pisses me off. I have books on my Nook that I bought that sadly, I’ll probably never read because of it. Grrr…

4. Also, if you get a bad review, just remember, its only ONE reviewer’s opinion. Some people are going to love your stuff and some won’t love it. Reviewing is subjective and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt. That said if the review is snarky and/or down right rude and mean, please, please let the review coordinator/owner know. That should not be tolerated at all. That does happen and it puts all reviewers in a bad light.

5. Lastly, why do I review? I review because I love to read. Period. Some reviewers crave the power they have over an author but for me that’s the wrong reason to review. I review for the simple pleasure of reading and then telling people why I liked it.

If you’re an author, tell me some of your experiences good or bad with reviewers. No names, please. If you’re a reader, what do you look for in a review? I’ve listed below links to where I review to check me out. I look forward to hearing from you.

http://harliebooks.blogspot.com - personal review blog

www.nightowlreviews.com - Marika is my review name

www.theromancestudio.com - Marika is my review name

www.theforbiddenbookshelf.com - Kate is my review name

One last thing, contest…to one commentator a GC of $10 to either B&N or Amazon. And you thought reviewers were stuffy and not human?

What are you waiting for? Marika/Kate would love to chat! :)

Saturday Promo - Dena de Paulo

Blurb:

Laurel Stevens's professionalism has earned her the opportunity to orchestrate one of Spain's most important art events of the year. She needs the Lunera Exhibition to go off without a hitch, to assure her dream position back home in the States. But when sexy Spanish artist, Alejandro Lunera, introduces her to desires she's never known, she's tempted to risk everything she's worked for to spend one night in his arms.

Alejandro has built his career celebrating the sensual side of women through paint, but he's tired of the clientele his work attracts. He needs a new direction...a new muse. And he's found her. The intriguing Laurel rekindles his passion for color and inspires him to create again...to paint the woman of his dreams.

Can Alejandro convince Laurel to choose the passion and love he offers, or will their time together become no more than a moment painted with pleasure?

Excerpt:

Damn, the sooner this meeting was over the better. 

He tugged her through a series of concrete tunnels until they approached a large steel door guarded by two big men, Jorge and Louis. They both looked Laurel over then smiled at her in unison. Alejandro yanked at the door and loud heavy metal music greeted them. 

Whips and paddles decorated one wall. A leather masked man named Fernando, sat spanking a woman on his lap. The dance floor held many people in states of undress grinding against one another. Some were in leather and chains, some in khakis and polos. Some people had their sexual body parts exposed and painted. One corner held a pillowed harem style platform with women draped over the laps of the most influential men in Madrid. And in another corner the pool tables sat innocently enough but for the man who ran his hands up the lady in a mini leather skirt much like the one Laurel wore as he showed her how to use the cue stick. 

“You come here often?” She edged backward, eyes wide and for the first time uncertainty played over her delicate face. 

“No. One of my biggest clients is in the harem corner and he has some buyers with him. I’m hoping to sell out of my canvases and start a new venture.” 

“You want to what?” She tugged at his hand. “You want out?” 

“I don’t know. But right now, I want something else.” He wanted her, needed to paint them entwined. Was that possible after a single one night of great sex? Hell. “Come on, I’ll make it worth your while.”

http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=852

Blog, Twitter

Dena is giving away a PDF or Kindle version of her book to one random commenter today!!

Welcome my online friend and fabulous author, Emma Lai!

So excited to have my friend, Emma Lai, visiting with us today, She is one of the Wild Rose Press' most supportive and friendliest authors I've met since writing for them. I encourage you to follow this lovely lady on Twitter! Okay, over to you, Emma. Can't wait to read what you've got planned for the 2012... :)

New Year, New Plans

Happy New Year, Rachel, and thanks for hosting me. Happy New Year to all visitors as well. :)

For those of you who don’t know me or aren’t familiar with my writing, I am the author of a wide variety of genres: science fiction, fantasy and horror (as L. J. Maisen); children’s (hopefully you’ll forgive me for not sharing that pen here); and romance, both of the sweet and the erotic kind.

In 2011, I focused heavily on the erotic side and released five stories: Twice is Not Enough, Slave to Innocence, Tempting Terms, Not Just Friends and Riding Rodeo. However, this left me feeling slightly off kilter. So, this year I have a new plan.

I don’t know about other women, but I seem to have an...uh...natural cycle of highs and lows. And, it’s much easier to hammer out an erotic piece during the highs than during the lows. It’s also a b*tch forcing yourself to write something you’re just NOT in the mood for.

So, the new plan is a series of short pieces (3K or less) to be released in four anthologies throughout the year with Sybarite Seductions. I’ve teamed up with two other authors and hope others might get interested in participating. This way, I get to exercise those muscles at the appropriate time and hopefully create some fun, quick reads.

Now for those of you who like my longer pieces, no fear. I’ve just completed my first M/M, am 5K from completing the sequel to Twice is Not Enough and have a full-length piece I’m polishing. I’d like to get them all submitted by the end of February, which hopefully means longer releases later in the year. Also, I have a sweet romance, His Capture, Her Rescue, coming in April and a fantasy with strong romantic elements, Blood Sword, releasing under L. J. Maisen in March.

The rest of the time, I plan on working on the sequels to Blood Sword and a sci-fi/fantasy book that’s sitting at half-done. Busy year planned!

You can check my website at http://www.emmalaiwrites.com and my blog at http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com for updates.

Here is the blurb and link for Emma's latest erotic romance release...

Blurb:

After several disastrous engagements, Lady Minerva Peters is an expert at suppressing her own needs. Only in the darkness of night does she give in to her wanton desires with a fantasy lover.

In the middle of a crowded ballroom, she learns her father is not yet ready to let her fade into spinsterhood. Humiliated, she ducks into a dark alcove only to find out she's not alone. Her hiding spot is occupied by a captivating stranger. Before she can escape, the two become voyeurs to another couple’s sexual rendezvous. The atmosphere heats up and so does her body, especially with the tempting offers whispered in her ear.

Will Minerva deny her needs once again or will she embrace the anonymity of their seclusion and finally explore her basic impulses and the startling attraction to the compelling mystery man?

http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=804

Phew-wee, missus!! You are going to be one busy writer, lol! Puts my plan of two, maybe three novellas for 2012 to shame. Here's where you can find Emma on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/#!/EmmaLaiWrites

Okay, let's here your plans - writer or reader we want to know!

Welcome one of my favorite erotic romance writers, Desiree Holt!

Today, I am thrilled to have the wonderful Desiree Holt at my site - I can't remember which story it was now, but I read one of Desiree's stories when I first started venturing into writing erotic romance and I remember it blew (...) me away! Totally inspiring and a fabulous turn on - what more do you want from an erotic read??

Take it away, Desiree...

Fantasy: imaginary, illusional, make believe

Dreams that visit you in the dark cloak of the night

We all have them, in one form or another. Of course, the most stimulating are the ones we keep the most secret–erotic fantasies.

People who have never read erotic romance always ask me, “But exactly what kind of books are those? Are they–um–er–(in a whisper) pornographic?’ Then in an even softer whisper, usually behind a hand, “I don’t know if I could read–um-that kind of book.” So here’s what I tell them.

Everyone has fantasies. All kinds of fantasies. The kind they see in their dreams. Secretly wish for. Wild fantasies. Fantasies that come to you in the dark of the night. That make you blush as well as excite your body.

I bring those fantasies to life in my stories I gather all the dreams in your mind and present them to you n a love story that will touch your heart as well as ignite your sexual desires. In the pages of my books you can indulge in all the sexual activities that you hide in the light of day. And each story is different.

Here is just a taste of the fantasies you’ll find in my book list.

Night Mission (Decadent Publishing)

They each had a fantasy-a hot one night stand with their dream lover)

Navy SEAL Gabriel Walker didn’t think he was asking too much, just a hot woman with some brains who made his down time between missions pleasant. And maybe a little but more. Forty-something Maggie Fitzpatrick wanted a younger man with a sex drive to match her own and even smarts to hold a conversation. And maybe a little bit more. When Madame Evangeline paired them for the one night stand neither of them expected the explosive chemistry, the very hot sex…and a littler bit more.

Once Upon a Wedding (Ellora’s Cave)

Raine McIntyre had one fantasy and only a short weekend before her wedding to make it come true.

Loraine McIntyre longs for just one weekend to let down her hair and find a man who will help her live out all her fantasies before her conventional wedding to her very conventional fiancé and continuing her very conventional life. Despite Stuart's protests, she knows she has to do this or she'll always feel she missed something in life. Goodbye Loraine, hello Rainie.

And hello Joe, the sex god with lion's eyes she meets at the beach. Hopping on his motorcycle with him, she roars off to a weekend of the wildest sex anyone could ever want. But things are not always what they seem and life is about to hand Rainie a few surprises.

Teaching Molly (Ellora’s Cave)

Molly thought her fantasies had died with her marriage, until she met Nick

Molly Gerard, in her mid-forties, is divorced, unfulfilled and wondering if the things she reads in erotic romances could happen. To her. Meeting Nick Trajan, she thinks wow! But Molly is ten years older. Will that make a difference? When she accepts his invitation to spend the night with him, she wonders how she’ll compare with his younger women, but the night is more erotically satisfying than she could imagine. Nick, however, is immersed in the D/s lifestyle. When he introduces Molly to it, will she run? Or can he teach her sexual pleasure as she’s never known it?

All Jacked Up (Total-e-Bound)

Jack and Darcy had fantasies about their future mates–but neither of them resemble either of them.

Jack Manning is celebrating his fortieth birthday in a favorite bar with his friends. But it’s a bittersweet celebration because all his friends are coupled up while Jack–not quite as tall, maybe not quite as rugged looking–still lives in lonely solitude. Why? Because his ideal woman-a combination of Heather Locklear and Mandy Roth­–has yet to appear in his life. But Fate is about to play a huge joke on Jack and turn his life upside down.

Give It To Me (The Wild Rose Press)

Callie and Sam each had fantasies about each other, but it takes an act of fate to bring them together

Carolina (Callie) Michaels is tired of being a good girl. She has deep, erotic fantasies she’s just dying to live, but none of the men she dates seem to want to share them. She decides to give herself a birthday present of a night to remember, but when her intended date decides she’s too adventurous for him, Callie’s attention turns to dark, sexy Sam Winthrop, her next door neighbor who’s had his own erotic dreams – about her. She invites him to celebrate her birthday with her, and when he gets to her place and discovers what kind of celebration she has in mind, Sam’s convinced that tonight his fantasies as well as Callie’s will come true.

Want to read about more fantasies? Check out my web site www.desireeholttellsall.com and check out my blog www.desireeholt.com

And be sure to pick up my newest release, Erected, at Ellora’s Cave

http://www.jasminejade.com/

You can find my books on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Fictionwise and other online bookstores.

Be sure to leave me a comment today for a chance to win one of my ebooks. I’ll pick three winners.

Follow me on Twitter (@desireeholt) and Facebook (/desireeholt.)

Your backlist is fabulous, Desiree and thank you for hosting such a fabulously generous giveaway!!

Comment for a chance to win, lovely people :)

Giveaway Weekend!!

As I am all out of ideas for this weekend's blog, I thought I'd giveaway a copy of Explicitly English to a random commenter.... Explicitly English is special to me as it's my first published erotic romance novella. If you're a reader, what was the first erotic romance you read? If you're a writer, what is the name of your first published story? And more importantly, where can we buy it?

Explicitly English blurb:

Laura Markham needs to forget - just for awhile. Be someone else for change - live as her parents will never have the chance to. And for Laura, that means leaving the City for the English countryside and doing just what the hell she feels like…wherever she feels like doing it…

British stockbroker, Stephen Cambridge knows by going home to his country retreat two days early, he's likely to surprise his contracted interior designer. And when he finds out she's the woman who performed the solo masterbation show for him on the inward bound journey, Stephen will do anything to further convince her to miss the outward bound train and stay with him forever…

Thanks for all your emails asking if I have any news on novella number three! Nothing as yet, but you'll be the first to know as soon as the good news drops into my inbox... ;)

Love Rachel x

Welcome fellow UK author, Lily Harlem!

Hi Lily! Great to have you here. I interview so many US authors because I write primarily for the US market, it's fab to welcome another UK writer who does the same. I love that you live in rural England, we do live in such a gorgeous part of the world.

This is the first time we've spoken so I'm looking forward to learning more about you and your writing. Exceptional covers, by the way. Yum! ;)

Let's get started...

1) What is your writing routine?

I like to write first thing, which is odd as I have never been a morning person. I think it’s because I often wake up with new ideas, or characters thoughts and dialogue playing on my mind and I want to get it down. I am very lucky and my home office overlooks beautiful meadowland so whatever time of year it is there is always a lovely view – somewhere to gaze as I daydream, ponder plot lines and descriptions. For me its bliss to have a whole day to indulge my imagination. Housework can wait!

2) Which author/s inspire you to write?

Oh, so many, and in lots of different genres. Anyone who writes well, with fresh, snappy dialogue, intricate characters and a tale that doesn’t jump out too obviously makes me want to write. I particularly like, and this is a mixed bunch, Bronte, Hemmingway and Maya Banks. Also Natalie Dae, Kristina Lloyd and K D Grace.

3) Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?

To read I like ménage and BDSM. To write, ménage or anything with hockey or music included, especially if I can add a sprinkle of kink! But reading or writing it’s always romantic, there is always love, trust and respect and of course consent.

4) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

Take a deep breath and think of the next step for that manuscript, whether it’s a complete overhaul or a new publisher. I deal with it better now than I did when I first started out, though now I have editors I know well so generally understand what they’re looking for - luckily it’s exactly what I want to write.

5) What do you expect from an editor?

I would like to think that the editors I have worked with over the last few years, a couple in particular, have become friends, though of course ultimately it is a professional relationship. I value honesty, tolerance and an understanding that sometimes I don’t research things quite as much as I should first go round because I’m just in the writing zone! I come back to small details on edits, if the story just has to get out then I go with the flow and fiddle with the finer points afterwards.

6) Tell me about your latest release.

My latest book is a full length novel available from Ellora’s Cave and is called Cold Nights, Hot Bodies. I was snowed in last year - I live in a very rural part of the UK - and the characters had been rattling around my head for several weeks. But it wasn’t until I had the peace and quiet to sit and write that Ashley and Shane’s story tumbled out. It was enormous fun. Ashley is a mad fan of erotic romance, much like myself, and she was not going to settle for a guy who couldn’t live up to the heroes in her books, fortunately Shane more than stepped up to the challenge even going so far as to helping act out some of her favorite scenes! And when I got the book cover through I have to say, I was a puddle of lust on the floor – phew! – and yes, that is just how I imagined him to look!

7) Tease us with a blurb or short excerpt

Blurb - All my life I’ve been the quiet bookworm, the office mouse. It hasn’t bothered me. Immersing myself in erotic novels has kept me wriggling on the edge of my seat at work and firmly entrenched in my own fantasy world at night.

Though one thing is bothering me—my damn virginity. If only I could find a sexy bedroom expert to introduce me to the delights of having a lover. Someone handsome and charming, who can rival the hunky alpha males in my books. I have a very vivid, very well-fed imagination—he’ll have to keep up. Then, one bitterly cold night, thanks to a devious, conniving so-called-friend, the perfect opportunity to rid myself of this pesky virginal problem comes along. Before I know it, the heroes in my novels have come alive in the person of Shane Galloway, who’s pleasuring me with every trick in the book and wheedling into my heart in the hottest possible of ways.

Excerpt link (18+) - http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419935985.htm

8) Which is your favorite character in the book?

Shane and Ashley are of course my very favorites, but there is another character, Derek, who is Ashley’s boss, and to use my crit partner’s words, kind of like a ‘fairy godfather’ to Ashley. He was fun to add into the story and instrumental in Ashley’s happy ever after. I like secondary characters; they make the story real, no one lives isolated without friends or other people in their lives.

9) What are you working on right now?

My fifth Hot Ice novel. The fourth is with my Ellora’s Cave editor and this one just has to come out quick. Without giving anything away, I left a character in a tailspin and he needs my attention! Each book in this series is fine as a standalone read, but I’ve weaved the hockey players and their love interests into each new story so that the reader gets to know the whole team and say hi, like old friends, whenever they pick up the next book. It’s a fun way to write but it has meant that one player is in need of my attention! Not that I am complaining, he’s gorgeous!

10) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists? Get a crit partner. Someone who isn’t afraid of being honest, and then if something is rubbish, scrap it, don’t be precious about every single word. Also make sure you send the right manuscript to the right publisher, if they want delicate romance and you send erotic it’s never going to happen. When I started out someone told me that the first five novels you write are all practice, it’s the sixth that will be the one. I remember thinking, seriously, how long do you think my life is? But actually looking back, it was the sixth book that I thought, yes, that is it, I am truly happy with it. That book is Shared and was my debut release at Ellora’s Cave.

Link for Shared - http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8441-shared.aspx

11)Where can readers find you? www.lilyharlem.com and http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/ and http://www.jasminejade.com/m-640-lily-harlem.aspx

Thanks so much for having me today, Rachel, it’s been fun.

Lily x

Winner of 2009 Love Honey Award for Erotic Fiction

www.lilyharlem.com