TREBLE ANTHOLOGY

I am very much looking forward to getting my head down on edits for my story in Treble Anthology, which is being published by Total-E-Bound and will be released in September 2011.

I am so in love with this cover, anyone who knows me will be aware of my 'thing' for male armpits, so this image works particularly well for me :-)

And just look at the list of other authors, Desiree Holt, Lisabet Sarai, Imari Jade, Wendi Zwaduk and Elizabeth Coldwell. Aren't they just  a dreamy, heart-stoppingly talented group. OMG! I am so excited.

My story in the anthology - Orchestrating Manoeuvres - is about a broken-hearted supermodel and a couple of drop-dead gorgeous Italian pianists. The theme of the anthology is threesomes and music combined, and my story turns hotter than hot and certainly had steam hissing from my fingertips as I tapped it out!

Check out Total-E-Bound here.

Lily x

FROZEN!!

Today I just had to shout about a really great book I have just finished. It's called FROZEN and is written by Kat Holmes and let me tell you its one hot read!!

FROZEN is the first in the ARTICA'S LIGHTS series. Here is the blurb.

Brent Larkin came to Antarctica to study penguins. He didn’t come looking for either adventure or romance. But when a freak storm blows in and he loses his way, that’s exactly what he gets. Attacked by some bobbing lights, he suddenly finds himself in a wintry forest surrounded by men with swords pointed at him. The next thing he knows he’s in a dungeon and chained to the wall. 

Awni is the queen of Artica, a land of eternal winter. The daughter of a god, Awni’s cursed to never know the touch of another. Her icy skin is death for anyone who dares to touch her flesh. But, when a mysterious stranger shows up in her lands, she finds herself drawn to him. Eager to learn about his world, she invites him to spend time with her only to be shocked when he touches her and doesn’t freeze to death.

But Artica is a land ruled by tradition. Though she longs to keep Brent with her, the laws of the land force her to send him home. But without him, both she and the land begin to suffer. Now, Awni is facing the same peril as one of her ancestors. And if she perishes like her ancestor did, all of Artica will pay the price. 

Can Brent, returned to his own world, somehow find his way back and save her before all is lost?

I am certainly looking forward to reading more by Kat, she has great imagination and a wonderful way of making the unbelievable, believable.

Lily x

TOTAL-E-BOUND

Today, I have my first guest post over at Total-E-Bound. This is going to be a regular slot for me on the 28th of each month. I'm very excited to be hanging out with fellow TEB authors and having a chance to get in touch with readers via Hitting the Hot Spot.

Here are the books I currently have published with Total-E-Bound.

 FREE READ!!

 COMING SOON

Feel free to hop over and say hi. I'd love to see you there.

Lily x

CINDY JACKS - LANDLOCKED

The fabulous Cindy Jacks has a brand new release out at Ellora's Cave - yum - can't wait to get my hands on this one!!

BLURB

For ten years, Kathryn has struggled to survive in a war-torn region that used to be part of the United States. Her country ripped apart and her husband presumed dead, she and her son need a miracle to find safe passage to the West. She’s not expecting that miracle to come in the form of Captain Brett Logan when he stumbles, injured, onto her front porch.

A privateer for the Republic of Texas, Logan keeps one eye on the horizon and one hand on his sidearm, knowing the life of a modern-day pirate is often short. When an enemy bomb nearly ends him, Kathryn nurses him back to health. Against her better judgment, she’s drawn to the enigmatic man with his tattoos and battle scars.

Kate finds shelter in Logan’s arms—and his bed. The captain navigates her body with the same skill that he sails the seven seas. The heat of their passion gives way to deeper currents. But with danger surrounding them, they must struggle to stay together and survive.

If you want to find out more about Cindy hop over to her website.

ONE WILD WEEKEND

Last week I came across a great short story by a new author to me, J C Holly. Its called One Wild Weekend and it had me hooked from the first page. When I'd finished I wasted no time in sending a quick email to JC to tell her how much I loved it and she has kindly dropped by today to give me some inside information on herself and her book. Take it away...

Hi!

My name is JC Holly, and I'm a new author of erotic romance. I currently have one ebook out with Total E-Bound, titled 'One Wild Weekend', and more coming soon. Lily was kind enough to offer to let me post on her website, so I decided I'd write a little about why I enjoy writing erotic romance. It's not just the sex. Honest.

Prior to writing the piece I mentioned above, I'd never strayed further than sweet romance, and in fact spent most of my time writing fantasy. One night, while working on a particularly flirtacious scene, I got a little... bored, with the way things were going and decided to spice it up a little. Or a lot.

The resulting debauchery was entirely out of place for that particular story, but it got the cogs in my head whirring. Three days later, One Wild Weekend was born. I'd like to say it was written over one wild weekend, but I think it was mid-week.

Writing it was quite the experience, in more ways than one. Not stopping at the bedroom door (or park bench, in one scene) allows you to take a much larger snapshot of your characters and what makes them tick. You get to strip off all their layers (both literally and figuratively), allowing you to see some of their biggest secrets, and seeing them in the most intimate of times leaves you feeling like you really know them. At least, that's what I aim for! :o)

Fantasies become reality for one couple as they share a wild and sexy weekend

Bobby and Chris' relationship is starting to stagnate. They're constantly bickering, and haven't had sex in weeks. On hearing this, Bobby's assistant suggests they take a long weekend to explore each other's sexuality—though she uses rather different wording - and work on each other's fantasies. 

As luck would have it, Chris' friend is out of town on a business trip, and agrees to let them use his cottage up in the hills. Gorgeous surroundings, a horny boyfriend, and an agreement between them to make the others' sexual dreams come true. What more could a girl want?

Thanks again to Lily for the opportunity, and thanks for reading!

JC

Another great review for SHARED TOO

Today I'm over the moon with another 5* review just in for Shared Too from Night Owl Reviews.

Shared Too was complex book to write. I'd left Liam, Ariane and Quinn in their happy ever after at the end of Shared, but when the characters kept talking to me, swirling around my head, I was compelled to write more about their lives. I had so many questions about a polygamous relationship to answer, the 'what if's?'  not to mention the fact that these are such spicy, sexy characters I couldn't resist.

Here is what Marika from Night Owl Reviews says - 

Ten years have passed since Ariane answered the ad for a girl. She has been blessed with two men ever since. Ariane, Quinn and Liam are now married, have twin girls and have settled into a life on a farm and into a routine. Then one day, Quinn announces that he would like to be shared, too. This revelation rocks both Liam and Ariane to the core. Ariane doesn’t know what to say except that she is hurt and confused by Quinn’s request.

I will confess that I didn’t read Shared and still haven’t but I really don’t feel like I need to read it to understand the dynamics and personalities of Ariane, Quinn and Liam, but I will read it. Shared Too is a book that made me think, squirm, pant, and cry. Ms. Harlem takes us on a journey with a happily married threesome that has one of them wanting something a little bit more. As you know, most books with ménages end with the threesome happy and content. Ms. Harlem takes it one step further and asks the question, what happens when one person in the threesome, even though totally committed to the other two, wants something more, at least once? She takes you on an erotic maze of emotions, confessions, and sensual desires that melt your e-reader and your heart.

I highly recommend Shared Too if you are looking for what happens after the threesome commit to each other and how their lives are affected when one of them wants to be shared, too. Great job and I look forward to more of Ms. Harlem’s work.

Kat Holmes is here!

Hi Kat, thanks so much for dropping by and telling us all about your latest release WORKING UNDER COVERS which is Book 1 in THE GODS AT WORK Series.

Blurb

Due to the economy, the Gods of Olympus are now forced to work among mortals. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty decides to open her own Internet dating service in Los Angeles. Taking on the name Ariel Schell to hide her true identity, she opens Venus Connections.

Jordan Cade is a retired cop turned PI. But when several women go missing, his former boss drags him back for one last assignment. The only thing the women have in common is a dating service.

All Aphrodite wants is to earn a living. All Jordan wants is to find the missing women. But Fate has other plans and a little under covers work may be needed.

Excerpt:

“We have three missing women. They’ve never met and have nothing in common, except this service!”

Jordan Cade watched his old boss pace his office, frustration and impatience burning a network of implacable lines into his face. Pete Bruckney must be at his wits end. There could be no other reason he’d come to Jordan for help.

After serving twenty years as a police officer with the tenth precinct of Los Angeles, Jordan decided to leave the force and start his own private investigation firm. Two divorces and twenty years of dealing with humanity’s scum had been enough.

Find Kat at her website where amongst other things she runs a blog radio show. How cool is that?

Thanks for stopping by Kat.

Lily x

A CLASSIC WEDDING NIGHT

Earlier in the year Love Honey used my short story A Classic Wedding Night to promote their latest erotic fiction competition - I won this award in 2009 with my story Madam President :-)

A Classic Wedding Night is about Mr and Mrs Darcy's first night together as man and wife, it picks up where the story left off and like all my books gets raunchy! Love Honey made it not only into a FREE pdf for readers to pick up but also a FREE podcast.

I  was trawling around yesterday, checking up on things and noticed that this podcast has been downloaded over 1,100 times in the last few months - WOW! I hope people are enjoying it. The story takes about half an hour to listen to and if you fancy it, click below for the link to all the details.

Oh, and I am hanging out at Kat Holmes site today if you have time to drop by and say hi!

Hugs

Lily x

THE UNWHOLESOME ADVENTURES OF HARITA

I am thrilled to have contracted my Mumbai based novella THE UNWHOLESOME ADVENTURES OF HARITA with Total-E-Bound as part of their fabulous new Bollywood series which is due to launch in September.

Here is the scrummy cover created by the mega talented Emmy Ellis.

And here is sneaky taste of what the story is all about -

PLEASE WELCOME LAVINIA LEWIS

Today I am thrilled to have Lavinia Lewis hanging out on my blog. Lavinia is a fellow Total-e-Bound author, a friend and an incredibly talented M/M writer. Her series, Shifter's Haven, is going down a treat and she is going to tell us all about it. But first check out these hot covers - phew!!

Okay, Lavinia, let the grilling begin :-)

What inspired you to write this series?

I’ve been a fan of paranormal fiction since around the age of twelve, when I got my hands on a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Of course back then Vampires were the bad guys, not the romantic heroes they are often depicted as today. Everything changed for me about three years ago when I read Twilight. Suddenly vampires and werewolves were sexy. Dark and dangerous, sure, but sexy nonetheless. I began to look online to see what else was out there of a similar nature and was amazed at what I found. EBooks to be exact, thousands of them and so many in the paranormal romance genre that I was spoilt for choice. Through EBooks I discovered M/M romance and loved it so much I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. The many shifter stories available had me captivated and soon ideas began to form in my head for characters and plotlines of my own. I had so many ideas in fact that I knew I had to start writing a series. I got the first few hundred words down on the page and my Shifters’ Haven series was born.

What is the name of your latest book in the series?  And how did you come up with the title?

The latest book in my series is called Cody’s Revelation. Cody is one of three Morgan Brothers whose stories make up the first three books in the series. Each book in fact contains the name of one of the lead characters, so for example there are Luke’s Surprise, Cody’s Revelation, Kelan’s Pursuit and Aaron’s Awakening etc. I wanted to use the characters names in the titles so that they become memorable to the reader and easily distinguishable from each book but also to give a slight hint as to the plot of the story.

What books are you reading now?

I used to devour books at an alarming rate. At least one a day. However since I started writing my own and have less time, I read less. I was always the type of person that read one book at a time, finished it and then started another. Recently all that has changed. At the moment I have four books on the go and I dip in and out of them whenever I have a spare few minutes. Usually that’s at bedtime when my brain has turned to mush and I’m not able to write another word. The books of the moment are Anything For You by Ethan Day, Liquid Crimson by Carol Lynne, Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan and Italian Weddings and Funerals by A. J. Llewellyn.  I’m absolutely loving each of them for different reasons.

What do you snack on when writing?

LOL. What don’t I snack on would be a better question. I love food. I’ll eat anything and everything but I particularly love savory foods. Like most women I know, I’m on a constant diet so I do try to limit my snack intake. But give me a cheese sandwich with mayo, a packet of crisps or a bowl of cereal and I’m a very happy woman.

What are your current projects?

I’m currently in the middle of writing books five and six for my Shifters’ Haven series. The working titles are Nate’s Dilemma and Gregory’s Rebellion.  And at the request of my publishers, I’m lengthening a story I submitted for an anthology so that it can be released as a standalone novel. But like all writers I know, it doesn’t stop there. Every day a have a new idea and have to get it written down. My laptop is littered with stories at various stages of completion that I swear I’ll get back to as soon as I have a spare few hours to devote to them.

Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more than to write full time for the rest of my life. I think it’s pretty much common knowledge that romance writers don’t make a great deal of money but you can make a living from writing romance, and a good living if you are dedicated and take it seriously. If you treat it as a job and not a hobby then writing can most certainly be a career.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’d being making up stories since I knew how to write but my fate was well and truly sealed when my parents bought me a Brother typewriter for Christmas when I was eleven. Being an only child I was used to amusing myself but when I got that typewriter I’d literally shut myself away for hours writing stories, and I haven’t stopped since.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I’d have to say the main challenge for me is keeping track of all the characters, events and timelines in a story. I am one of the most disorganized people you are ever likely to meet. Unlike so many writers, I don’t plan. I guess I’m what you would call a ‘pantser’.  Basically, I wing it. I open up my current manuscript and write the story as it comes to me. I did try writing an outline once by I found it stifling and impossible to stick to. When I got a few chapters into the story and the characters personalities started to develop, I found they often didn’t want to do what I had planned for them so I threw away the outline and just went with it! That’s all well and good in theory but in practice it means I often have to go back and reread the last few chapters to see what I’m up to and quite often I go back and read from the beginning. That’s not a huge problem but it is time consuming. Sometimes I do wish I could be more organized when it comes to my writing but I suppose we just have to do what works for us.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Motivation can be a big problem for me. As much as I adore writing there are days when I have to force myself to sit down and open my current work in progress. Although when I do and I manage to write a few thousand words, I get a great feeling of accomplishment. So now I’ve learnt of things I can do to motivate myself that seem to help. Firstly I think it’s important to make writing a part of your daily routine, like cooking dinner or doing the washing up. It’s a good idea to set aside a certain time of the day for writing, and be specific about that time. For example plan to start writing at 9:17 at night for one hour or 8:24 in the morning for an hour and a half. Choose a time that fits around your lifestyle and stick to it. Make sure it is a realistic time when you are least likely to encounter any distractions. I find that if there is a precise time that I have to open up my manuscript and write, I am more likely to do it. And be sure to switch off the internet so you are not tempted to chat to friends on Facebook or Twitter. Sometimes the smallest distractions can completely derail us. Take away those distractions and make writing a part of your daily routine and you’ll be amazed how much you will accomplish.

Just for fun –

Beer or wine - Wine

Hot or cold Hot

Sweet or savoury - Savory

Summer or winter - Summer

Quiet or loud - Quiet

Ski or beach - Beach

Apples or bananas - Uh, Pineapple?

If you could choose any Hollywood star to be the main characters in your books who would it be?

Lol! I’d have Josh Holloway as every character in my books if I could.

Do you have a pesky day job which interferes with your writing time?

At the moment I temp which suits my lifestyle perfectly. I could do a three month contract and then nothing for several weeks or I could be asked to go in for just a couple of days a week. I love those weeks because on the days I’m not in the office I get to sit at home and write all day long.

Tell us where we can find you

Website : lavinialewis.com

Twitter : lavinialewis

Blog : lavinialewisuk.blogspot.com

Facebook : Lavinia Lewis

Thanks so much for taking the time to join us today, Lavinia - I am so with you on the Josh Holloway thing and Twilight vampires!! I hope your series continues to be a wonderful success and please feel free to drop in any time and let us know how you are doing.

Lily x

Oh, and just for you .....

Bite with Height by Lucy Felthouse

The lovely Lucy Felthouse has a new F/F release at Noble Romance which I just can't wait to get my teeth into.

Blurb

When Meg spots a young woman alone in the Pigalle district of Paris at night, she's intrigued. She has to know her story and find out why she looks so sad and alone. After introducing herself, Meg realizes that she and Grace have a lot in common. But when they decide to go and grab a drink together, they discover a mutual love that could bond them forever.

Excerpt

Meg was hungry. Or, to be more precise, she was thirsty. Taking her usual route down the Boulevard de Clichy, she knew she'd find something suitable to drink if she waited long enough. The Pigalle area was notorious both in Paris and further afield, known for its sleazy bars, clubs, and sex shops. Most young women traveling alone would avoid it like the plague. Not Meg. For her, it was the ideal hunting ground.

At this time, just past sunset, it was always full of people, some going about their daily life, which just happened to take the crowds through one of the city's seediest areas. Others came to stare, bug-eyed, at the voluptuous women trying to entice them into lap-dancing clubs. They giggled behind their fingers as they shuffled past shop windows advertising all manner of equipment for use in the bedroom.

Then there were stag and hen parties—groups that descended on Pigalle, spent an evening causing havoc in the bars and clubs, then left, having laughed themselves hoarse and having drunk a skinful.

Most of these people were utterly harmless. The area was an attraction, a bit of fun. For others, it was much more. Attacks on working girls were not uncommon. Or at least, they hadn't been. The crime rates had dropped dramatically since Meg had moved to the area. Nobody, much less the police, knew why. And Meg didn't intend for them to find out.

Meg thought she had a thorough measure of the area and its inhabitants, so, she was completely taken by surprise when she saw the girl. By now, Meg was much further up the boulevard, on a strip of pavement between the Moulin Rouge and the inevitable branch of Starbucks. Glancing across at the coffee house, Meg spotted her. The girl sat at a table outside, gripping a cup of something-or-other as though her life depended on it.

She was beautiful. She was also completely out of place. At this time, the majority of people were here because they wanted to be. This girl looked as though she would rather be somewhere else. Anywhere else. Wondering if the girl had been coerced into coming by a boyfriend, Meg gritted her teeth and crossed the road.

As she drew closer, she realized there was no other cup on the table, no evidence at all to suggest that the girl was there with someone else. Meg headed inside and ordered a Cappuccino with an extra shot. Caffeine always did her the world of good. It warmed the blood. Taking her beverage outside, she heaved a sigh of relief as she noted both that the girl was still there, and that the seat beside her was the only one available.

Moving toward the girl, Meg smiled and asked, "Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is taken."

Momentarily startled, the girl looked at Meg and smiled shyly. "Sure, no problem. There's nobody sitting there."

"Thanks. I'm Meg, by the way," she said, extending a hand.

"Grace," the girl replied, temporarily removing a hand from her cup to shake Meg's. She put it straight back on again, but not before Meg noticed a slight tremble. The girl looked as though she was about to go back inside her own head, so Meg spoke quickly.

"So, what brings you here? I can't help but notice you're not local."

"Oh," Grace said, as if surprised that Meg was still there. "I live in Paris. I moved here with my boyfriend, but . . . ." she looked at her hands.

Suddenly, a piece of the puzzle clicked into place.

"I'm sorry," Meg replied. "I didn't mean to pry. I'm just a little lonely, I guess. Just making conversation."

"You?" Grace replied incredulously, studying Meg. "If you're struggling for company, then there's no hope for me!"

"Depends what kind of company you're looking for. Can't say there are many desirables 'round here, though!" She looked around, as though to prove her point. "Say, you want to get a proper drink?"

Meg stood, hoping Grace would follow her lead. She looked down at the girl, smiled, and held out a hand. She watched Grace's posture visibly relax, and her grin grew wider as she put down her cup and took the offered hand.

If you like the sound of this check out Lucy's website and see all her books then don't forget to nip over to Erotica For All which is her brain child.

Have a great day.

Lily x

The Promise by Tory Richards

Tory Richards hot new release 'The Promise' is now available.

Blurb

Shannon Hayes’ husband David was killed in Iraq nearly a year ago, and now she must face her first holiday season without him. With a toddler in tow, she travels to the Vermont farm where the rest of the family has gathered for the holidays. There she comes face to face with the man who was with him when he died, and her destiny, his older brother Ryan.
For the first time in years, Ryan returns home to keep a promise he made to David—to take care of Shannon and their daughter. It’s a pledge Ryan is reluctant to keep because he’s been secretly in love with Shannon since first setting eyes on her. Their attraction to each other is instant, intense and soon the promise isn’t the only thing between them.

Buy

Also, and not to be missed, beginning June 1st The Promise will be making ten stops on a virtual blog tour at Goddess Fish Promotions. Below is the schedule. Each blog will have a different post or interview from Tory. There's a prize involved! So be sure to hop on and leave your comments.

Here's a list of stops.
6/1/2011 Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews 
6/2/2011 Realmantic Moments 
6/3/2011 Book Junkie 
6/6/2011 Delaney Diamond 
6/7/2011 Sizzling Releases 
6/8/2011 Alisha Paige6/9/2011 Cali Cheer Mom
6/10/2011 Theresa Stillwagon 
6/13/2011 Sugarbeat's Books 
6/14/2011 D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters