gimme some power

some folks don't know that i enjoy working with my hands.

POWER TOOLS, people!  and not just battery operated ones, ha!

it's not a lot of fun renovating on my own, though, so my parents often come to help me in my house because they're retired, and they both love fixing things up as well.

recently i've been working on a boudoir. it's going to be a place where i can do my hair and make-up, where my shoes and scarves and nailpolish all have a place to hang out. i want lots of fun art and, of course, a shelf full of my favorite books right next to a comfy reading chair.

so after tearing off all the trim, the electrical, the doors and plastering all the damaged spots (my house is old!), we painted, installed all new trim, new doors, new electrical, new lighting, crown moulding, blinds and a curtain rod. yes, i know how to use the air compressor and nail gun.

the room is almost done. all that's left is to organize the closet and bring in the furniture.

did i happen to say i bought an antique vanity dresser with a swivel mirror? no?  so i probably didn't mention, either, that i stripped the ugly brown paint off it and painted it bright magenta with black hardware and branches and birds.

it's magnificent. i'll post photos soon!

holy hotness

those who know me even a little are aware i'm an avid pinterester (totally just made up that word) but i have a lot of personal friends and family who follow me on there and i don't like to melt their eyeballs with cocks and pussy. but i always felt a little restricted, like something was missing from my online life. so i finally caved this week and joined tumblr. honestly, there is some dirty, dirty stuff out there. 

i LOVE it!

i've taken down the silly little man page i had going on, because seriously people, tumblr is where it's at. if you don't like pure eroticism, if you don't like man-man-girl, and if you don't like lots of nudity, do not go there. go to my pinterest pages, you belong in one of my books or these are my characters, instead!

if you *do* happen to like all those things, you're going to be tickled! and turned on. ha!

so, tumblr on in to sexiness ;)

i can't even...

what the..? 

there's no proof, but i firmly believe that, sometime in the middle of 2012, i fell into a time-eating wormhole and i've only recently emerged from it, only to find that i somehow lost months and months and months.

yeesh.

at any rate, my feet are now firmly planted back on Earth and i'll be making infrequent posts here again.

for a quick update, the story previously known as Lawnmowers and now tentatively titled Opposing Currents is slated for release in early 2014. i am stoked about this story, people! Sam and Markus and Faye have pretty much ripped my heart out, but man was it worth it.

stay tuned...i may or may not have teasers every so often!

Fiction Friday - Blue Bottle Beach by Amie Denman

Blue Bottle Beach

by Amie Denman

There’s no better place for a bachelorette party than Key West, Florida. Jackie and her accountant friends call in sick and escape wintry Chicago to celebrate in the sunshine, but an unexpected twist breaks up the party. On her own for a weekend in America’s least inhibited city, Jackie meets a man who makes her heart do a tropical dance. Mitchell is handsome, charming, and knows just where to touch her. If he looks a little familiar, the thought is quickly lost on the hot sands.

Mitchell finds Jackie equally irresistible as he romances her on Blue Bottle Beach, but he has no idea she should be in her cubicle in Chicago balancing the sheets for one of his many companies. What will happen when Mitchell and Jackie eventually look past their attraction to discover he’s her boss? Will a hot weekend in Key West still sizzle in wintry Chicago at the corporate Christmas party?

Buy it today!

Fiction Friday - Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey

Bloom: Seeds of Love

by Julie Anne Lindsey

The debut novella in the Honey Creek Books line. Seeds of Love Series.

In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future….

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one. 

Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

Enjoy it today!

Fiction Friday - Touch by Julie Destry (little ol' me!!!)

i know, i know. shameless self-promotion...but i'm the feature book this week for my group of fiction witches!

now's your chance for a super fun, super hot read ;)  c'mon, you know you wanna...

Sometimes, the dark exposes more than it hides...

As a news anchor, Kass needs to show the world her conservative side, but underneath her public persona is a woman who longs for physical connection. When an invitation to visit a sex club arrives in her inbox, she jumps at the chance to indulge herself in an evening of hot, sweaty sex with a stranger—no strings attached. What she finds instead is a man who shows her that secret fantasies can become reality, but only if she’s willing to take a chance.

Finn's a man whose mojo has hit rock bottom. After the crash and burn of his last relationship, an anonymous sexual encounter is just what he needs. Although the goal for the night is simply to give them both pleasure, he discovers that he may be willing to give something more…

Kass is scared to risk revealing her identity to the man who just took her beyond her wildest expectations, no matter how much he tempts her.  But Finn’s determined that their scorching passion has a chance to see the light of day.

It's on Amazon!

Fiction Friday - The Heartbreaker by Maddie James

 The Heartbreaker

by Maddie James

An Amazon Bestseller - Contemporary Romance

Lucki Stevenson spends most of her time coaching unruly teenagers instead of giving her heart a much-needed pep talk. And when all-grown-up, boy-next-door, Dr. Sam Kirk moves back to town, Lucki wants to forfeit the game of love completely. Sam broke her heart once before, and she won't give him a chance to do it again... 

Returning home to care for his younger brother J.J., Sam is happy to accept Lucki’s expert advice about kids--and even happier that the tomboy he remembers is now a beautiful woman. When Lucki agrees to help him with J.J., Sam is sure he's on the road to success as an instant parent, and possibly as a husband--but first he’s got to convince Lucki that he's not the heartbreaker he once was, and that good guys do finish first...

Reviews

“This is a sweet southern romance with a lot of humor. The small town setting lends a rich atmosphere to the story, and I found the characters very likable and believable.” ~Amazon Review

"This is the second book of Maddie James that I've read for a review but it won't be my last. I love the way she writes and will look for more of her books in the future. I recommend this book - maybe you too can uncover another favorite author." ~Romancing the Book Reviews

*Please note, the BUY PRINT link below takes you to our print book store and a different shopping cart.

Fiction Friday - Texas Iron by Jade Morgan

 whew!

sorry i've been lax on posting my Friday Fiction. i'm back on track now!

 

 Texas Iron

by Jade Morgan

War veteran Mack Harding has little experience with men, but it’s hard to miss the signals the new blacksmith is sending him. Rebuilding his family ranch takes up all of his time, and he honestly doesn’t think anybody would want to be with him, what with the scars on his face and the flashbacks that plague him. But Caleb leads him into a night of sensuality he’s never felt before.

Caleb Lucas isn’t really looking for a relationship, but he’s always ready for a tumble. And the sexy new client is certainly ringing all his bells. When an interlude in the barn leaves him wanting more, can he convince Mack to take a chance on his own brand of Texas Iron?

Author Bio:  Jade Morgan is an Ohio native who grew up reading her mother’s romance novels, then re-reading the sex scenes (although there wasn’t much to read twenty years ago). Romance has always been in her heart, fed by the fact she’s been married to the love of her life for seventeen years. Jade has two kids and too many animals to list. She’s an average stay-at-home mom writing contemporary erotica and urban fantasy.

Jade loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at www.jademorgan.webs.com or authorjademorgan@gmail.com.

Fiction Friday - Buried in Briny Bay by Bobbye Terry

 

 

Buried in Briny Bay 

is the first book in 

The Briny Bay Mysteries by Bobbye Terry

Meet Trixie.

Meet Roxie.

Meet Mystery.

Roxie Turner finds herself up to her neck in trouble when her lifelong nemesis, Georgia Collins, is discovered buried in the town’s landfill. To make matters worse, with her characteristic Southern sass, Roxie has been saying she’d kill Georgia for more than twenty years. In fact, she listed the ways to do the woman in, constantly reminding prominent citizens of her intent. It was all a joke, or so she thought. But the joke turns on her as, suddenly, other dead bodies begin to pile up, all murdered with a technique from Roxie’s list.

 Enlisting the assistance of handsome hunk, Greg Norris, Roxie’s sister, Trixie Frye, comes to her aid, bent on uncovering the killer and the truth. Can they find out both before Roxie goes to the big house?

Get yours at Amazon

Fiction Friday - Skeleton in a Dead Space by Judy Alter

Skeleton in a Dead Space

by Judy Alter

A Kelly O'Connell mystery

Kelly O’Connell never thought real estate was a dangerous profession, until she stumbled over a skeleton in a dead space in an early-twentieth-century Craftsman house she was transforming into a coveted modern home in an older urban neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas.

From that moment, she runs into teen-age gang members, a manipulative ex-husband, a needy and single pregnant friend, a cold-blooded murderer, and a policeman who wants to be more than her protector. As free-spirited as the chocolate-peanut-jalapeño candy she craves, Kelly barges through life trying to keep from angering her policeman-boyfriend, protect her two young daughters, pacify her worried mother a thousand miles away, and keep her real estate business afloat. Too often she puts herself in danger, and sometimes it’s the girls, not Mike, who come to Kelly’s rescue.

Buy it here!

Fiction Friday - Two Brothers by Christina Wolfer

Two Brothers 

by Christina Wolfer

 At eighteen, Amanda Riley got her first lesson in love when Jacob Henderson broke her heart. But then she made the biggest mistake of her life – she ran off and married his younger brother.

Ten years later, she’s divorced and moving back to her small hometown. She’s made a name for herself in the cutting horse industry. That should count for something… Right? But decade old mistakes won’t be easily forgotten by everyone in town.

When Amanda and Jacob are thrown together to help an abused horse, old desires ignite and past truths are revealed. And just when they think they’ll get a second chance at love, the younger brother comes home.

Reviews:

 

"Emotional, intense, and sexy. Two Brothers was all that and more. The suspense in this book has you guessing how it will end...."

 

"A heartwarming tale of home and family."

 

"I highly recommend the tale of Two Brothers and the amazing writing of Christina Wolfer."

 

"Getting to the destination in a story is important, but the conclusion can make or break the rapport an author creates with a reader. In this instance, the author doesn't disappoint."

 

"I turned the last page with a smile and a satisfied sigh."

But it here!

Fiction Friday - According to Plan by Madison J. Edwards

According to Plan

by Madison J. Edwards

What do you do when things don’t go According to Plan? For starters, you trick, deceive, and lie to the very person who ruined your best laid plans.

Welcome to the world of Shelby Stewart, P.I., who’s been hired to find Harrison Grant. To complicate matters further, her ex-partner, ex-lover, ex-everything Tank shows up looking for Harrison as well, albeit for a very different reason. Harry is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of a call girl, Lulu, in L.A.

That wouldn’t be so bad, but Tank plans on staying at Shelby’s house, and makes it obvious he’s quite willing to help her heat the sheets, again. Shelby knows that sex with Tank is dangerous, fast, and sometimes a little dirty. Now is not the time to become side-tracked. Besides, this job could launch her company into a whole new stratosphere, so it’s imperative she remain focused.

Frustration becomes Shelby’s newest partner as she makes plans to out maneuver Tank in their parallel quest. Tank, on the other hand, is always one step ahead of the game—and is not what, or who, Shelby thought.

Reviews:

"According to Plan was a good romantic suspense filled with a LOT of very hot sex. It was worth the time and will definitely warm you up on those chilly autumn nights."

"... a great addition to any contemporary romance library! I loved most every aspect of this one and can't wait to see what Madison Edwards churns out next!"

Buy it here!!!

Fiction Friday - Rebuild My World by Cheryl Norman

 

 

 

Rebuild My World

by Cheryl Norman

More than anything…. 

Taylor Drake wants her life back. She’s returned to her family home, suffering from the agoraphobia that has plagued her since she was brutally attacked in her apartment. Once a confident and successful photographer, she now cowers behind closed doors with a loaded pistol. She fears her attacker will find her and finish the job.

The last assignment chief deputy Adam Gillespie wants is to babysit the spoiled celebrity Taylor. He blames her father for his family’s financial ruin; and her brother, Wil Drake, is the incumbent candidate for Foster County sheriff, Adam’s dream job. Wil is out of town, though, so Adam can’t afford to let anything happen to the sheriff’s sister. Complications arise when someone murders the man he arrests for stalking her.

Adam learns things aren’t as they first seem. Taylor is hardly a pampered prima donna, rather a warm, intelligent, yet troubled woman whom he grows to love. Also, there are holes in the history of the feud between their families that need filling in. He has to reconcile the feud or any future with Taylor is doomed. But first he must stop the cunning killer who wants her dead.


Buy it today!!

From Amazon Reviewers:

"This is a story you won't be able to put down." 

"Dirty dark secrets lie hidden. This may be my favorite book of all time." 

"Ms. Norman is a gifted storyteller. ...a compelling tale that keeps you guessing. This book's a keeper."

Fiction Friday - Paramour by Margaret Ethridge

heeey! it's Fiction Friday again :D  this week is a story about the wonderful things that make you shiver in all the right ways--ghosts and love!

Paramour

Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she’s been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom’s previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed. 

 Caustic and cranky, Frank has one soft spot—Cam. Over the years, their feelings for one another have evolved from grudging friendship to an enduring love that burns white-hot until Frank puts his feelings for Cam on ice.

 

"Simply put: Paramour blows the roof off the house! I believe this new author is someone to watch. She's going to make waves, especially if she can continually produce stories like Paramour. Read. This. Book!" 

~BookingIt Grade: A+

 

Get yours at Amazon!

Fiction Friday - Be Mine, Valentine

Turquoise Morning Press’ Valentine’s Day Anthology 2011.

A dozen short stories of love…just as good as roses. Maybe even better! This short story collection celebrates love—young love and old, mended love, secret love, and love enduring. Twelve talented writers share stories to touch your heart and soul.

Reviews

"...a wonderful mix of stories all wrapped around Valentine's Day. I have revisited some familiar authors and met others for the first time. They all offer stories of depth and passion to one degree or another. All will move you, and when you come to the end of the collection you will probably want to start reading them all over again." The Romance Reviews

“Be Mine, Valentine, a table full of delicious love goodies, has a wonderful assortment of love treats--young, old, saucy, sad, and sweet.” ~LASR Reviews

“Be prepared to smile, laugh, and cry. These stories will touch your heart. What better way to say I LOVE YOU than a gift that can be kept forever?” ~Amazon Review

Anthology Authors:
Krista Ames, Suzanne Barrett, Elizabeth Chalkley, Marissa Dobson, Janet Eaves, Jennifer Johnson, Margaret Ethridge,  Amy Le Blanc, Tracy March, Nancy Naigle, Cat Shaffer, Bobbye Terry

Buy here!!!

Fiction Friday - Purrfect Voyage by Ruth Hartman

 

 

Purrfect Voyage

by Ruth J. Hartman

Kitty Carter is used to getting into strange situations when she chases her cat, Arthur. But this latest escapade is just too much! When Arthur chases a mouse at the marina while she's doing research for her book, she follows him down the dock and onto a yacht. Not entirely her plan, since she falls down some stairs and hits her head, and wakes to find herself out to sea. And she and Arthur aren’t the only ones on board!

Reviews

“This is a well-written, delightfully charming story with equal time given to Kitty, Arthur and George. It's obvious Ms. Hartman loves cats, and her natural humor makes this sweet romantic story sparkle. Trust me, you'll love the ending.” ~Suzanne Barrett, Romance Author

“Ms. Hartman also has a sense of humor. It makes her story fun to read. ~LASR Reviews

“I loved this book, laughed all the way through it, and look forward to more by this author.”~The Romance Studio

Author Bio: Ruth J. Hartman is a published author and licensed dental hygienist. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband of twenty-eight years and their two extremely spoiled cats. Ruth’s published works include a memoir, romance novels, and short stories.

Get your copy of Purrfect Voyage at Amazon!

Fiction Friday ~ The Most Intimate Wish by Faith Bicknell

The Most Intimate Wish 

by Faith Bicknell

All she wants is a husband and family. All they need is for her to believe.

When Dinah and Jeff move in to be the Wheillercarts’ companions, their lives change for the better and the worse. Dinah loves Jeff, but after five years together, he still refuses to marry her, and Dinah’s dreams of starting a family begin to crumble. Regardless of their hot lovemaking sessions, she fears Jeff is cheating on her. Dinah will do anything to keep Jeff, even if it means sharing him with another woman.

However, strange occurrences and a seemingly psychic landlady keep Dinah guessing about her life and relationship with Jeff. And what about the bizarre statue in their landlady’s atrium? Little does Dinah know it holds the key to her most intimate wish.

Buy here!

Fiction Friday - Late Harvest by Suzanne Barrett

Late Harvest

by Suzanne Barrett

 Kurt von Daniken wants only one thing from Glenna Ryan: The key to making Eiswein - Ice Wine. Five years ago, while working at his family's California winery, she'd begun developing the method to simulate wine made from grapes gathered after a freeze.

Glenna wants only one thing from the von Danikens: To be left in peace to raise her son who suffers from a birth defect and needs an expensive surgery to repair it. When Kurt suddenly appears at her home, demanding she return to Cresthaven and complete the process, Glenna knows the money she'll earn by doing so will provide Robbie the treatment he needs. She also knows she'll risk having her heart broken, again by Kurt.

Reviews

"...emotional intensity that will hold you captive...rich characterization...highly recommended!" ~Lisa Mondello, Lover's Knot

“Full of emotional stress, insecurities, and misconstrued assumptions, Late Harvest throbs with unrequited love.” ~LASR Reviews

Buy on Amazon!

Fiction Friday - Rescue Me by Jennifer Johnson

Yes, last week got skipped, but only because of the holiday craziness that besets everyone. But don't despair!

Fiction Friday is back with a great one:

Rescue Me

by Jennifer Johnson

Sitting in front of her parents’ house in a U-Haul truck at midnight, Amy Mann decides it’s time to break it to them that she’s divorced from her husband and moving back home with her seven-year-old son, Toby. As Amy settles into her hometown, she has a plan to get out of debt, get her college degree, and put her life together.

Enter Captain Riley Pennimon, local firefighter and superhero to Amy’s son. Riley is kind, brave, and civic-minded. The captain does not fit into Amy’s putting-her-life-together plan, and yet he is way too good looking without a shirt. Much to Amy’s chagrin, Toby decides that Riley is just what they need for a happily-ever-after.

But, can Amy make peace with the demons of her mistakes and let the captain rescue her? And…can Riley let go of the pain of his past and grab onto the family he’s always wanted?

From the reviews:

"Rescue Me, by Jennifer Johnson, is chock-full of Southern wit and wisdom, quirky characters who tell it like it is, and good old wholesome humor that is sure to delight. ~ Romance author, Maddie James

"Jennifer Johnson's Rescue Me is everything a good read should be-interesting, poignant, filled with enough conflict to keep the reader engaged, and peppered with sparkling dialogue. Add two needy protagonists, a cute little boy, quirky yet charming secondary characters, a small town in Mississippi, and you have a recipe for success." ~Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer and Romance Author, Suzanne Barrett

Now only $0.99 at Amazon!

8 things i always mess up during the holidays

i was trying to get Elli to pose with the bear a couple of years ago. the only expression i got was "you crazy, mom."

1. i always forget to send cards until it's too late. most get there on time, but inevitably one or two don't. (sorry Lisa)

2. i procrastinate on buying two gifts until two days before and then curse at the crowds of other people doing the same thing

3. there are no decorations up at my house. unless you count the snowman teapot that i've had out since last year...hey! i live alone, it's no biggie, right?

4. i eat way too much junk. zero willpower. c'mon. you know what i'm talking about.

5. i can never find my Christmas hair clips and other ridiculous jewellery until after

6. one or both of my cats always chew the corner of my wrapped gifts. it's like an addiction for them!

7. my bows doesn't always match my wrapping paper, but that's usually because i wrap some of the things on Christmas morning before going to my parents' place

8. i volunteer to make a dessert for the Big Dinner, then forget to buy supplies for making said dessert

so far i've managed to beat #4, but the rest? 

i think they're tradition now ;)