I'm blogging over on Icy Snow Blackstone this week about the funny way the premise for my book THEIR SECRET PARADISE evolved!

Stop by and find out what naughty things my muse whispered while penning the first in the IMMORTAL PARADISE SERIES here: http://icysnowblackstone.com .

My Valentine's Guest event is over, and I've got some more winners to announce! Here's a recap of each day's winners. If you see your name posted, please contact me at jroseallister@verizon.net and I'll put you in touch with the author so you can claim your prize.

Feb 9: JENNIFER! You win your choice of pdf copies from among Valerie J. Patterson's books!

Feb 10: TABITHA SHAY!! You win a pdf copy of Maggie Dove's Angel of Windword!

Feb 11: MAGGIE DOVE!! You win a pdf copy of your choice among Cate Masters' books!

Feb 12: J.A. SAARE!! You win a free download of JASON'S ACCORD by Regan Taylor!



...and here's the list from Week 1 again, in case you missed it:

Feb 2: STACEY ESPINO!! You win a Bookworm Bag of goodies from author Karenna Colcroft!

Feb 3: BOBBIE RUSSELL! You win a backlist title of your choice from author Lisabet Sarai!

Feb 5: SAVANNA KOUGAR! You win your choice of Cowboy Love, Wild Wyoming Nights or Love's Sweet Surrender by author Sandy Sullivan!

Feb 6: JENNIFER! You win a PDF of Stallion of Ash and Flame by Savanna Kougar!

Congratulations to all our winners! But there are still more chances to win, so be sure to stay tuned now through Valentine's Day!

My Valentine's Romance Guest Blog even continues with today's special guest,erotic romance author Alysha Ellis!

When it comes to reading stories about sex...big is better.

If you’re reading this blog, I’m going to assume you like reading erotic romance. And to enjoy reading erotic romance you have to have a big sex organ...one that weighs about three pounds. Yep, that’s right, the biggest sex organ is the human brain. Without it, any description of sex sounds like a cross between an Ikea assembly manual and a doctor’s prescription...Insert Tab A into Slot B. Repeat as necessary. Once your brain comes into it (and if you smirked at the word comes, that’s your brain doing its work), anything can be made to seem sexy. Take your car. It’s probably dependent on the four stroke engine cycle. Boring? Not at all. Next time you get a blockage in a fuel line ask your mechanic in a breathy, Marilyn Monroe sort of voice “Which part of my performance isn’t right, the suck, squeeze, bang or blow?” and watch him react.

Erotic writers know this, and we spend a lot of time getting inside the heads of our characters so they can get inside yours. If we don’t, what we write is porn. I read some porn just the other day. I didn’t intend to. Someone I didn’t know wrote to me out of the blue and asked me if I would comment on the story she’d written. I couldn’t get past the first two pages. The sex, and that was all there was, was described in graphic images concerned only with the grossly physical. There was no sign of emotion, nothing for my brain to do but recoil in rejection of what to me was unacceptably coarse. I hadn’t been told anything about the participants to make me care and so I didn’t find the writing erotic at all.

For me to enjoy the eroticism of a story, I have to be able to relate to the characters. I have to understand their hopes and fears. This is why I write and read Erotic Romance. I want the story to involve me in the experiences of the people in it, to take me away from my everyday life, to let me experience something outside my normal realm. I guess it’s why I also include paranormal or sci-fi elements in my stories. I like to put my characters in a challenging environment that requires them to make adjustments, that contains threats. They have to work out their relationship—and that involves sex, because almost all romantic relationships do.

Then of course, I have to get that story from my brain to yours. When you read, you decode a series of black marks on a white screen or paper. The entire process of creating meaning from that goes on in your head. What you enjoy, what you hate, what makes you feel icky, it all happens inside your skull. Ideas can have physical consequences, but they start as electrical impulses. You’d eat a shrimp, but be revolted by the idea of eating a grasshopper? The difference is in your mind.
And that’s the difference between porn and erotic romance. Your mind. Your brain. Back at the start of this discussion, I said when it comes to sex, big is better. The good news is, most human brains don’t differ in size all that much, but some of us seem more prepared to use them than others. I have a morbid fascination with the Darwin Awards, an annual event that celebrates those who have removed themselves from the human gene pool in the most spectacular fashion. These are people whose failure to use their brains has resulted in death. Readers who fail to use their brains, probably don’t stay readers.

So what is your brain telling you? What for you is the difference between porn and erotica? What do you look for in a book? What makes you come back for more? What turns you off completely? Leave a comment and let me know what's going on inside your head.


Alysha
www.alyshaellis.com
Watching Amy from Ellora’s Cave
Ghostly Ménage and Giving Up the Ghosts

My Valentine's Romance event continues with today's guest, romance author Regan Taylor!

Not-so-little Mel loves to choose winners and he will be front and center picking a random commenter to receive a free download of Regan's title JASON'S ACCORD! Post in the comments here for a chance to win!



When Jade invited me to be part of her Valentine's event I was thrilled because Valentine's day is my all time most favorite day. Aside from the fun of the little package cards and tiny heart candies, I've always bought into the romance of the day. In 1991 I was engaged to a Marine Corps Cobra pilot and after Desert Storm he was going through a really rough time. I let him wallow for awhile and then it was time to start rebuilding his life and mine. I gave him until Valentine's day 1992 to take the first step. As it turned out, I spent that Valentine's day with one of my best friends (another Marine). He said no one should be alone on Valentine's day.

During the next few months my friend and I had some lengthy discussions about how our relationship would change if we moved from being friends to lovers. Ultimately we made the decision that given how very much in love with each other we were, there was no question of where we were heading. On Valentine's day 1993 he said to me "I know I don't say it, but I hope you know how very much I love you." 18 years later he is still my best friend and the man I love. Sometimes we'll be sitting there and I realize I've fallen in love with him all over again.

You can see bits and pieces of him in my books, all my heroes have a bit of him in them. He even has a part, albeit a small one, in The Spell, available now with Siren-Bookstrand.

About The Spell:

The Spell is the first book of the McKenna Crime Series. Despite the protective efforts of boyfriend Adrian James death continues to stalk reporter Kelly McKenna. When her car is bombed, ATF agent Ryan Michaels appears on the scene. Rather than the attacks subsiding, they intensify and it soon becomes clear someone near to Kelly may know more about them than they are letting on. The Glass Cage, Book 2 in this series is due out with Siren-Bookstrand in July 2010.
Available at Siren-Bookstrand



About Regan Taylor:
I'm a life-long avid reader, devoted book-a-holic and love sitting home in my bunny slippers traveling through my books to other times and places.

My Valentine's Romance event continues with today's special guest, erotic author Cate Masters!

Cate will give away a PDF of any of her stories to a random commenter, so fire away! Check out available titles HERE.

Seeing Red This Valentine’s Day

Romance means different things to different people. Men need a little extra help in this department. For some, it can be more of a chore than a pleasure. But it doesn't have to be that way! Even (or maybe especially) if you've been married forever, you can make the difference between the two. You won't need to spend anything more than time.

Valentine’s Day brings many images to mind. Flowers and candy. Dinner and a movie. Bleh. Been there, done that. I bet your guy’s thinking the same thing: another Valentine’s Day, another card.

Well, shake it up, baby. This year, do something different. Let your inner goddess warrior rise to the surface and unleash her on your unsuspecting mate.Plan a night he won’t soon forget!

To get him in the mood, wear red. Studies have proven that red signals something primal in a partner, something that calls to his inner warrior too. Red is the color of fire, so let him know you want to set him ablaze. No wonder red is associated with Valentine’s Day, and images of hearts. It literally sends a signal to the opposite sex and acts as an aphrodisiac, unexplainably and subliminally. Interestingly enough, in the study, men were asked how much they’d be willing to spend on a date with a woman, then viewed images of women wearing blue, green and red. Guess which were most likely to be asked out? And given the royal treatment to boot? Yep, the women wearing red.

Whether you’ve been married forever or just have your sights set on someone, be bold. Let loose those inhibitions and signal your passion in a way he won’t mistake. In this video, men discuss the ways woman approached them to express their interest. Licking a man’s face may sound feral and a bit crazy, but it certainly made an impression on this guy. And if you want to lay claim to someone who makes your inner goddess warrior howl, what better way? Cosmo has more ideas on dates guys will long remember.

Your inner warrior goddess knows what to do. This Valentine’s Day, let her lead the way. Her power and beauty will rise through you, and be irresistible as a siren’s call.


Bio:
Cate Masters writes fantasy/dark fantasy, historical, contemporary and speculative fiction, described by reviewers as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” “such romantic tales that really touch your soul,” “filled with action scenes which made it a riveting story,” and “the author weaves a great tale with a creative way of using words that makes the story refreshing to read.” Visit Cate online at http://catemasters.com, www.catemasters.blogspot.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

My Valentine's Romance Guest Blog even continues with today's special guest,romance author Maggie Dove!

Maggie will give away a .pdf copy of her romance ANGEL OF WINDWORD. Post in the comments for a chance to win!

A Love Story

My good friend, Vicky, and I have known each other since high school. She used to give fun parties, many of which I had the pleasure to attend. During our junior year in high school, Vicky had a huge crush on a family friend and neighbor, one of four James Dean look-alike brothers; daredevils that a good girl should look at but not touch with a ten-foot pole. And if she were smart, she’d run away with her virtue intact while she could.

I had not stopped hearing about Jack Spencer, the youngest of the four--how gorgeous he was, how cool he was, how talented he was…. and so on and so on and so on! Vicky’s mom gave a surprise birthday party for her sister and she invited Jack and his brothers. The night of the party, everyone came including the Spencer brothers. Vicky was ready for them with sleek long hair, make-up and a new dress. She looked fabulous. Jack noticed, too. Finally, she had him where she wanted him…eating out of her hand…when the doorbell rang and in walked Paul, a friendly, good-looking guy, who had just returned from three months in Europe. Vicky’s mom had invited him to the party, too.

Paul arrived with a bottle of champagne. I was introduced to him and only spoke with him for about ten minutes, because I was asked to dance by one of the bad boy Spencer brothers. After a while, I noticed Vicky wasn’t dancing, she was sitting and having a conversation with Paul. After about two hours, I noticed Vicky was still sitting and talking to Paul. Three hours passed, and the girl was still jabbering away, giving him her undivided attention. I thought to myself, “What a gal! How absolutely polite and courteous of her to sacrifice her night with Jack just to make sure the new guy felt welcome. Actually, her crush must have been the one who felt crushed because Vicky never looked his way again.

Vicky fell hard for Paul at the party. She told me and another friend later when we slept over that Paul was the guy she would someday marry. During their long conversation, Paul, in his last semester of college, had told Vicky he worked part-time at a clothing store in a big mall. After a month passed by and she didn’t hear from him, Vicky walked that mall until her feet got blistered and tired. Finally, she found who she thought was Paul but instead was his best friend, Frank, who incredibly looked just like Paul. (True story, I swear!) Frank told her where Paul worked and that night Paul called her. They were married a year later, have been married for 35 years, and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters!

On this date so close to Valentine’s, I would like to toast Vicky and Paul. Theirs is a story that inspires romance writers like me to write about love, blind dates, mothers’ intuition and charming, good-looking men arriving at your doorstep with a bottle of champagne!

Bio:
Born in Havana, Cuba, Maggie Dove is a happily married housewife and mother of two, who has lived in the U.S. since she was five. As the granddaughter of a famous Cuban writer and publisher, writing is in her blood. Her family owned one of the oldest newspapers in the Americas. She’s had twenty-six of her letters to the editor published in The Miami Herald. Angel of Windword is her first novel published and the first of the Windword Trilogy.


Angel of Windword
Available from Eternal Press

Evil forces are at play surrounding Angelique Beauvisage, but she has no clue. Sensuous and suspense-filled, ANGEL OF WINDWORD, begins with a murder that takes place four years before and turns into a perilous cat and mouse game played by two reluctant lovers, who spin a web of deception that only their love can unravel.

Excerpt:

His thunderous expression softened. “Come closer.”

His eyes swept over her face as he caressed her cheek with the knuckle of his forehand. “I did not see her slap you, but your cheeks look burning hot. Answer something for me, Angelique” he ordered gruffly. “Has that woman ever hit you before?”

Angelique drank in the comfort of his nearness. His touch was soft and soothing. “Never,” she lied. “Victoria has never slapped me or hurt me. My lord, it was really my fault...I provoked her.”

He definitely will have his way with me and my place will be in his bed!
Mon Dieu! A guttural sound escaped her lips when she recalled her own words. She was not certain whether she was more distressed at having thrown those awful words at her stepmother or the dreadful possibility that Nicholas had actually overheard them.

Attempting to sound nonchalant, she stammered Victoria’s original question to him, “H-how long had you been standing there, monsieur? Did you...did you hear anything?”
she asked in a faint whisper, her voice cracking with embarrassment.

“Hear what, my love?’ he asked innocuously.

“Monsieur, how long had you been standing there?” she repeated with mounting dread. Then gazing at him, she suddenly wished she had not asked. His dark blue eyes sparkled with complete understanding as he stood casually against the doorjamb, strong arms folded across his chest, a devil of a smile beginning to form on his face.

“How long, monsieur…?”

Nicholas did not wait for her to finish. Without another word, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips. Then, just as suddenly, he let go of her, allowing her to fall back against the doorpost.

“Long enough to know I’m going to enjoy those willful ways of yours. Not to mention putting you in that bed of mine.”

Her heart pounding fast against her heaving chest, Angelique watched in stunned silence as Nicholas turned on his heel and made his exit. She could still feel his warm lips against hers as his deep, masculine chuckles echoed in the hallway.

My Valentine's Romance event continues with erotic romance author Valerie J. Patterson!

Romance Is What You Define It To Be.

As little girls we dreamed of our very own prince charming charging into our lives on his steed and sweeping us off our feet for a one of a kind love-affair of the heart and the loins. Okay, so maybe the dreams of a perfect sexual love didn’t come along until we hit our teens—or later—and we were more aware that there was more to our prince charming than his steed!

It’s the idea of this type of romance that provides plenty of ideas for writers to create a story of romance and love. Books provide an excellent escape for us, allowing us to watch as a heroine is swept off her feet by a dashing and charming hero, flawed as he may be.

Valentine’s Day affords every woman the opportunity to be part of her own romantic fantasy. Hopefully, her prince is not only willing to participate, but is also struck by Cupid’s arrow, which transforms him into the romantic you always wanted him to be. If you’re like me, you’re married to—or dating—a man who’s romantic. Here’s an example of the romance in my life:

The rain fell in a gentle shower. The type of shower that was soft to the ear, cool to the touch, and carried with it the subtle aroma of newly bloomed spring flowers. A full moon lit up the night sky, its golden hue shining brilliantly amidst the glittering stars. He held out his hand to me. “Want to go outside?”

“In the rain?” I asked.

“In the rain.”

I smiled. “Okay.”

He led me off the porch and onto the driveway. He took me in his arms and held me gently. “Let’s dance.”

“Here?”

He smiled. “You can hear the music in the rain.”

My heart sang. I moved closer, pressed my ear to his chest, and closed my eyes. Our bodies moved in perfect time with the rhythm of the rain. I was in heaven in his arms, and he knew he’d scored big romance points.

My husband is a romantic at heart. When he took me outside to dance in the rain, I knew I had the most special husband on the planet. For Valentine’s Day, he’s no less romantic. Last year he planned a weekend getaway and secured tickets to my all time favorite pastime: Professional Bull Riding.

Because of this romantic nature of his, he provides me with plenty of fodder for my books. All of my heroes have various traits of my husband’s. Not just personality traits, but also physical ones. Things about him that turn me on turn on my heroines as well. I get my greatest smiles when a reader writes to ask me about my heroes and wants to know if they’re fashioned after anyone I know.

Sean Myerson—the hunky detective and sexy husband of Ashlynn Myerson, the lead characters in my new series released by BookStrand—has many of my husband’s personality traits. He’s exceedingly patient, slow to anger unless someone has done or said something to or about his wife, and delivers the kind of kisses that leave his wife breathless and craving intimacy.

Sean and Ashlynn have the type of relationship that pulls a reader out of her stress-filled day and makes her simply sigh and think of her own prince charming—even if he can be a frog once in a while!

Just like real life, my characters have their moments of imperfection. But when it’s all said and done, and the day is winding down, romance creeps back in to stoke the love between them.

Romance in a relationship is what you define it to be. It can be a dance in a soft spring shower or a weekend getaway to a PBR event. It can be a box of chocolates and a touching card. It can be a carriage ride through the park or a jog through the park with your significant other. This Valentine’s Day find romance where you can. Who knows, it might just surprise you, and knock you off your feet.

Bio:
Valerie J. Patterson and her husband Steven make their romance in a quaint corner of Southwestern Pennsylvania. She’s been living her dream of being an author for nearly a decade. You can find her books published through Asylett Press, BookStrand, and Eternal Press. Valerie’s latest release is Honor Thy Neighbor, which is book one in the Myerson Mystery Series. BookStrand is releasing this fabulous story in paperback this month. Be sure to check it out at: http://www.bookstrand.com/user/278670 . Please stop by Valerie’s blog at: http://valeriejpatterson.wordpress.com/ and say hello. She enjoys hearing from readers.

My Valentine's Romance Guest Blog even continues with today's special guest,erotic romance author Angela Daniels!

Psychic Bonds and Tantra

Robin’s tongue darted out, licking her trembling lips. “Gabriel?” She looked around the empty room, and then shook herself. She was being silly. Gabe was miles away by now and she was alone. She walked into the kitchen and was pouring herself a glass of juice when she felt it again. A presence in the room with her. A very familiar presence. Gabriel. But he wasn’t here.

‘But I am. We’re tied together and I’ll never be more than a thought away.’

Gabriel and Robin don’t have just any bond, they have a psychic bond. Oh, how I love those! A metaphysical tie between the hero and heroine is a common aspect in many sci-fi and fantasy erotic romances. Through it they may be able to talk telepathically, feel one another’s emotions, and even give one another physical sensations. That last usually manifests in some strange and sexy way during sex, and let’s face it, metaphysical sex is hot! I’ve always enjoyed reading stories, in which some sort of psychic bond is made between the hero and unsuspecting heroine. I love seeing her fight against the closeness of the bond, only to finally discover that (after the hero has won her heart) that intense intimacy is what she really wants.

In my short vampire tale Chosen, something goes a bit off with the bond. Something not expected by Lukoran or Shauna. Aren’t you curious to know what? Then leave a comment and be entered to win a free copy of the eBook!

It’s too bad we can’t enjoy the benefits of psychic bonds and metaphysical sex in real life, but here’s something close for you to try with your sweetie this Valentine’s Day:

Merging Tantric Breath

The tantra commonly taught and practiced in the West comes from ancient Hindu teachings which have as their goal enlightenment through the union of the divine masculine (Shiva) and divine feminine (Shakti) energies. In Western Tantra partners seek to unite these energies by honoring each other as manifestations of Shiva and Shakti. This is the path with includes sacred sex as a practice. This is a basic Tantric Breath practice designed to foster connection and presence between you and your partner.

1.Create a comfortable, romantic space with candlelit, incense, and plenty of pillows.
2.Bath together taking turns massaging and washing one another.
3.Sit on pillows facing one another, knees touching. You can be on the floor or on a bed. Try not to talk during the exercise. Just be present with one another. And smile! Let your partner see what you are feeling.
4.Place your right hand over your sweetie’s heart (the heart chakra) while they place their right hand over yours. You can place your left hands on top of each other’s right hands.
5.Gently gaze into one another’s left eye.
6.Now breathe together, inhaling and exhaling at the same time. It works best if one person just breathes and the other follows.
7.As you inhale, visualize a current of energy running from your partner’s heart, down their right arm and into your heart. As you exhale, visualize the energy moving from your heart, down your right arm and into their heart.
8.You can also try this exercise in a position called yab yum. The woman sits in her partner’s lap facing him. In this position the heart chakras are touching, so you don’t need to place your hands on one another’s hearts.


Author Bio:
Angela Daniels is an author of sci-fi, fantasy, and erotic romance currently living in the Chicagoland area. A quintessential Gemini, she enjoys new people, new ideas, and new experiences.

Visit Angela

Week 1 of my Valentine's Guest event is already over, and we've got some winners to announce! Here's a recap of each day's winners thus far. If you see your name posted, please contact me at jroseallister@verizon.net and I'll put you in touch with the author so you can claim your prize.

Feb 2: STACEY ESPINO!! You win a Bookworm Bag of goodies from author Karenna Colcroft!

Feb 3: BOBBIE RUSSELL! You win a backlist title of your choice from author Lisabet Sarai!

Feb 5: SAVANNA KOUGAR! You win your choice of Cowboy Love, Wild Wyoming Nights or Love's Sweet Surrender by author Sandy Sullivan!

Feb 6: JENNIFER! You win a PDF of Stallion of Ash and Flame by Savanna Kougar!

Congratulations to all our winners! But there are still more chances to win, so be sure to stay tuned now through Valentine's Day!

My Valentine's Romance event continues with today's special guest, erotic author Savanna Kougar!

Valentine’s Day Meets the Chinese New Year

For a chance to win a PDF copy of my latest release, Stallion of Ash and Flame, leave a comment.

Hi, and Happy Valentine’s Day!



The Metal or Golden Tiger arrives on Valentine’s Day.
What does that mean, forecast-wise? I’m no expert. However, I’ll give this interpretation. In this year of 2010 ~ Love possesses the strength, the nobility and the fierce endurance of the Tiger.
Wherever we give of our love, to our lover, that one we adore with our whole heart... to friends, to our family, and to our communities...that splendid frequency resonates and expands with the strength and nobility of the Tiger, spreading throughout our world and making it a much better place.
~~~
If my fantasies came true on Valentine’s Day, the gorgeous red-golden and black-striped beast would arrive for me on this special day for lovers, a bouquet of sumptuous red roses held in his powerful jaws. Sans the thorns, of course.
Being a shapeshifter, he would let me stroke and kiss and revel in his ‘oh so’ beautifully furred body, before transitioning into his human shape... then, roar and roll! Let the passion begin... yes, I’d grab a ‘tiger by the tail’! And, once I gaze into the ‘eye of the tiger’, it’s ‘ride that tiger’... oh, baby!
~~~
Okay, obviously I have a fascination with Astrology and the animal that represents the Chinese New Year. Yes, it hits me where I like to creatively live. Last year, 2009, was the Year of the Ox or Bull. I had a great time writing ~ New Bull in Town ~ Flash Fiction episodes about my Bull Shapeshifting hero, Darius, and Shelley, the human woman he lusting snorted for, and pawed his heart out for.
This year, Tigers take over my imagination. However, since the Big Cats have always been some of my favorite animals, I’ve begun many a WIP with a heroine or a hero who sported those tiger stripes. I mean, who can resist that wilder than wild passion?

What follows is a the opening of a story I started in February 2007. Be prepared. I am an experimental writer. And proud of it. Except for the first 100 words, this excerpt hasn’t been made public before.

The Golden Tigress ~ OtherWorld Erotic Romance
From my WIP ~ The Golden Tigress Dances

She was golden tigress. Curvaceously beautiful, yet all powerful sleekness. Her mane of hair was rinsed by gold, yet bold red in color, reaching to her hips. And swinging like a heavy curtain of silk whenever she danced, or moved seductively. I knew she hadn’t been in cat form recently. She reeked. Beautifully. With many needs. I steepled my palms together, forced my breathing to less rapid. I used my thighs to squeeze my aching balls, to keep my towered cock from firing too soon. For her. I’d been carnal blistering for her, for several turns of the moon now.

She was a regular at the city’s largest, most luxurious dance club for singles. What had initially begun my fascination with her, beyond her fabulous beauty, had been the eclectic and exotic ways she pleasured herself. All within the box-shaped boundaries of her table area – the practice at all the singles’ clubs, and only allowed within your personal area. I’d watched her gently refuse every male where possible, and fiercely where needed, for those who approached for mating instead of fun swings across the colossal dance floor. She was solitary. So far no female or male friends at her table.

She was sweet-natured when not provoked. Provoked. Once I’d seen her claws emerge, strike before I could blink. The male had departed, undignified and quick, his expensive-fad clothing hanging in strips. When off duty, I’d been careful in how I mind-linked with her, remaining in th background, a shadow presence only. Just nibbles at knowing her. More and more, to my ferocious chagrin, my social time at the club was spent observing her. Wanting her with a ferocity that baffled my reasoning faculties, of which I was generally proud. I’d trained to clinically, calculatingly observe. On duty, I scanned minds.

I connected to those with criminal intent. Took action where required. Called in for support, using the public system. Except for emergencies. Then I had my hidden one-wire to summon assistance. It was why the central city of Jungalry was kept safe. There were thirty of us in the Mind Hunt Corp, our enforcement activities kept secret. As much as possible out of the press news. If I did approach her, the golden tigress, I’d have to partially deceive her. I balked at that. I wasn’t sure exactly why. Other than truth between male and female created higher sexual animus.

Maybe, part of me wanted her to know. As if she’d been made my mated partner. She was raw to roll and scratch in passion, and to know a mate, my golden tigress woman. I smelled it, potent scorch and honeyed sweetness, as did every other hungering male. She reeked to pleasure her carnal-swollen clit – which she would do soon. To the thump and sway of the seductive music. I crossed my leg, squashed down the relentless throb of my cock. She hadn’t even placed an order yet for a floral drink. She sat in a pose of leisurely enjoyment.

Her fingertips drummed the back of the lounge couch. Her nipples were ripe, boldly outlined by the clinging dark-gold film of her dress. God to the Starcats, I wanted the roughness of my tongue lapping her naked nipples. Lapping the musk of her clit. Lapping. With my cock threatening to fire I clamped my hand over the stabbing tip. Cat form, any variant of her, I wanted my tongue tasting her, pleasuring her. I wanted my cock thrusting savagely inside her. I gritted my teeth, felt my fangs begin – in primal anticipation of dragging her to our dark private coupling.
~~~~~~


STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME
Available from Siren-Bookstrand

Drojovv Zyan of the V’Trailuc Realm is a man-stallion of ash and flame on a mission to save his world’s crucial Earth portal from the fires ravaging the National Forest surrounding it. Pretending to be the tracker, Trail, he settles in a small southeastern Arizona town. When he gets an eyeful of the beautiful ranch owner, Seneca, he stud lusts after the Earth human, a woman he’s not supposed to take as his Mate.

Trail leaves her alone until her brother is in a bad motorcycle accident and she needs a hired hand. Soon both of them are threatened by a whole horde of enemies. At all costs Trail must protect her. His world depends on it, her world depends on it. And his heart comes to depend on it.

My Valentine's Romance Guest Blog even continues with today's special guest,erotic romance author Sandy Sullivan!

Sandy is giving away the winners choice of her releases: Cowboy Love, Wild Wyoming Nights or Love's Sweet Surrender. Post in the comments for a chance to win!


Hello all! I'm so glad to be on Jade's Blog today as we chat/blog about finding love on the internet.

I know, I know. How can you find love on the internet. Well let me tell you, it can be done. I'm a testament to that fact. You see, in 1998 I divorced my ex-husband. Yes, I'll freely admit, I divorced him. We were married for 15 years and had 3 daughters together, but by this time, I had decided, I wasn't happy in the marriage and hadn't been for some time. He had his faults and I'm sure I do too, but I couldn't see spending the rest of my life miserable and making the kids miserable while they listened to their parents fight and just generally unhappy. No, he didn't want the divorce or at least that was my impression.

Anyway, where this all goes is that shortly after we separated, I go online and signed up for a couple of free online dating services. I met a few men online, chatted with some of them for quite a period of time and even moved myself and my kids to a town closer to one. There were other circumstances in doing that, like cheaper rent for a single mom, closer to work, etc, but the main reason came down to, I wanted to be closer to the guy I was dating. To say the least, that one didn't work out.

Now, my current husband's name is Shaun. He was stationed in at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma Washington at the time. We joke now about how fate had a hand in our meeting so I'll time line a few things out so you can see where I'm going with this.

1. He had gotten an offer to finance a computer, but had no money being single with 3 kids of his own to raise, for shipping which is all they wanted up front. Back then the good ones were 333mhz.

2. Then he received an offer for a $300 unsecured credit card, just in time to pay the shipping for this computer.

3. He went online to Match.com and filled out a profile to meet women. No, at the time he wasn't looking for another wife.

4. I saw his profile and he emailed him on December 25, 1998.

5. He emailed me back.

6. I went back on Match to figure out who exactly I'd gotten the email from since I'd sent out like 3-4 at that time, and his profile couldn't be found anywhere on their website. Okay, weird!

7. We emailed for a week or so and then decided to meet on New Year's Eve 1998 so I drove to Tacoma with my kids to meet him at his apartment. I got a ticket for speeding on the way there! He drove by me while I was getting said ticket and thought, "I hope that's not her." Well, yes, it was me.

We dated for approximately 3 weeks before he asked me to marry him and I said yes. We have been married for 10 years this past August and we fit together like two puzzle pieces. We are linked so closely, at time we are thinking the same thing at the same thing, or one of us will have pain in the same spot as the other, although we aren't aware of it at the time. It's kind of weird, but fun too. We are sure his mother is up with God laughing her butt off! She died before we met of leukemia.

Anyway, for those of you that are still looking for love, it's out there, just be choosey and don't settle when you have the opportunity to find the love of your life. I know I did!

Author's Bio

Sandy Sullivan is a romance author, who, when not writing, spends her time with her husband Shaun on their farm in middle Tennessee. She loves to ride her horses, play with their dogs and relax on the porch, enjoying the rolling hills of her home south of Nashville. County music is a passion of hers and she loves to listen to it while she writes.


Wild Wyoming Nights
available at Siren-Bookstrand

Abigail Carter lost her firefighter husband on September 11th. On a mission to heal her heart, she starts a new life in the prairies of Wyoming. Her neighbor, hunky rancher and quarter horse expert Chase Wilder, makes her heart race for the first time in years, but will she let him get close enough to warm the cold winter nights?
Chase rescues Abby from her overturned car in an accident similar to the one that took his wife. His dormant libido goes into overdrive when he looks into Abby's beautiful green eyes. Unfortunately, she's still struggling with her grief, and Chase doesn't want to push her. Can the two find a way to overcome the past and have a future together?

My Valentine's Romance event continues with erotic romance author Rachel Clark!

Mr Reality versus Mr Fantasy

Why do we read romance?

I was lying in bed the other night doing what I usually do—dreaming up plots and characters for my stories. Mentally I was checking off all the necessary personality traits (IMHO of course) for my lead character. Brave…check. Strong sense of right and wrong…check. Protective and willing to put the needs of others first…check.

Still unable to sleep, my mind wandered to the similarities between my character and my husband. Yes…brave, strong sense of responsibility, protective and willing to put the needs of his family first. Hmmm maybe this character is my husband. Maybe, I've subconsciously written my man into the character in my story.

I lay there pondering the revelation. My husband has always joked that he plays the lead roll in all of my stories—maybe he's right.

I rolled over to snuggle into my deeply asleep, real life dream-man and what happened?

He farted.

Yup, but not a small, sneaky escape of gas. Nope, I couldn't be that lucky. This was the biggest, loudest, smelliest fart I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. Trying not to inhale, I ran for cover, straight back to my computer and my story. Hmmm…fantasy man.

When I could breathe again, I started to laugh as another revelation hit me…Maybe, that is why we read romance.

All the good stuff…none of the rough edges.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, romantic, pleasant smelling Valentines Day.

Rachel Clark
http://rachelclark.webs.com/


Bio:
Born and raised in Australia, she happily lives a romantic story all of her own with her wonderful hubby, precious teenagers and menagerie of perfectly behaved animals…and well, okay, for the real story you'll need to replace romantic with hectic, add mostly before wonderful and you can probably guess about the teenagers and animals. But hey she loves to read great romance stories and when life lets her, she scribbles a few of her own.

Rachel's latest release, Sarah's Pirate, is available at http://www.sirenpublishing.com/rachelclark/

How hard can it be to deliver medicine to sick children on the other side of the universe? Sarah is about to find out it's a whole lot harder than it sounds. Captured by pirates, she meets Captain Jordan Bowman, and the man's reputation precedes him. He's supposed to be cunning and ruthless, so why are Sarah's instincts telling her to trust him? 

Jordan has a big problem. Stealing the medicine from Sarah's ship is the only way to get it to the children without government interference, but now he's not sure what to do with the pretty courier with a fiery temper. A pirate ship is a dangerous place for a woman, and he has no idea how he's going to protect her from his crew. 

Under the threat of mutiny, and in the middle of an intergalactic conspiracy, can Jordan and Sarah find a solution and each other?

[Siren Classic: Erotic Futuristic Romance, M/F]

My Valentine's Romance Guest Blog even continues with today's special guest, erotic author Lisabet Sarai!


Lisabet is offering a print book from her backlist to a random commenter! Post in the comments for a chance to win. :)

Fidelity

I have been happily married for nearly twenty eight years. Nevertheless, I don't think I am monogamous by nature. Before my husband and I hooked up, there were periods in my life when I was simultaneously in love with, and had sexual relationships with, two men. I realize that some readers may find this outrageous, as well as improbable. I couldn't possibly have loved them both, could I? And how could the men involved have put up with such a thing? That sort of thing happens only in novels―usually in erotica rather than in romance.

Well, it's true. I couldn't help it. And actually, it worked reasonably well. When I was with either of my lovers, he was my emotional focus. I did not fantasize about the other man. I didn't compare the two of them. Each of my relationships stood on its own, not perfect (that never happens, except in romance novels) but enjoyable and fulfilling.

I didn't lie. My lovers knew of each other's existence. In some cases they had even met. If they were jealous, they knew better than to complain. I gave myself 100% to each of them when we were together. I guess they cared enough about me to be satisfied with that.

But all that changed when I married, right? Not exactly. Before we met, my husband had enjoyed at least as active and adventurous sex life as I did. Our marriage contract explicitly acknowledges the fact that we might not be monogamous. We grant each other sexual freedom, provided that we are honest with one another and always put our marriage first.

In fact, neither of us has been involved in side relationships with other people. However, we did experiment with polyamory in the first decade or so of our marriage. We were both attracted to the notion of finding another couple with whom we could have an intimate friendship or even form a family. We didn't really succeed―swing clubs and parties are not the right places to find the sort of deeper connection we wanted. I've come to believe that real polyamory is something that happens, not something you can go seeking. In any case, we didn't become monogamous, technically speaking, until we both got to the age where it seemed a bit ridiculous for us to be looking for outside lovers.

Despite this, I consider that I've been faithful to my husband. Don't scoff. Fidelity is an emotional concept, not a physical one. Our relationship comes first. His happiness and comfort are my primary concern. I might be drawn to a guy I meet, but I won't act on my attraction if I think it will hurt my husband (and these days, I know that it would). It doesn't bother me if my spouse is attracted to another woman because I'm confident that I come first for him, too. He could have sex with her and it would not diminish his love for me.

I've always had extremely vivid dreams, not infrequently erotic. I have a recurring dream where I encounter some man and there's instant chemistry. I don't usually dream explicit sex acts but every touch, every glance, overflows with desire. (I'm always younger in my dreams―somewhere between 25 and 30 when I was in my prime―so it never feels odd to attract someone's lust, the way it would in my waking life.) I'm so horny that I can scarcely bear it. He obviously feels the same way. It's overwhelming, intoxicating.

Then I'll remember: I'm married. If I go off with this other guy, whoever he is, my husband will be alone. I don't want to make my husband suffer. I know he needs me, needs my company, my presence. So, with some regret, I'll let go of the dream guy and the arousal he engenders. I'll explain the situation. I'd love to be with you, but I can't. I'm committed, and I take that commitment seriously.

I find this dream scenario fascinating. You'd think that in my dreams, where no one would get hurt, I'd let loose and give expression to my non-monogamous nature. Yet I don't. It's a measure, to my mind, of true fidelity.

~~~


Raw Silk now available at Total e-Bound
Bio:
LISABET SARAI has been writing fiction and poetry ever since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has published six novels and two short story collections, as well as contributing stories
in more than two dozen print anthologies. She has also edited two erotica anthologies, and is the editor for the upcoming Coming Together Presents series of single-author altruistic erotica.
For more information on Lisabet and her writing visit her web site, Lisabet Sarai's Fantasy Factory (http://www.lisabetsarai.com).

My Valentine's Romance event continues with erotic romance author Karenna Colcroft!

One lucky commenter on this post will win a Bookworm Bag of goodies from various romance authors and publishers. So post in the comments what you think about love at first sight!

Love At First Sight


“Their eyes met, and she knew he was the one.”

In stories, love at first sight seems like the height of romance. Two strangers meet and instantly know they belong together. Eyes connect across a crowded room, electricity hangs in the air… there are many, many clichés I could use to describe it.

It’s all fiction, right? No one really falls in love the first time they meet someone. Falling in love takes time. You have to get to know the person, learn about their personality and their past. Infatuation or lust, sure, those can happen at first sight. Not love, though.

Are we sure about that, though? I’d have to disagree. One night in May 2008, I went to a barbecue at the home of a friend I’d met through an online chat room on a dating site. I’d been socializing with her and a group from the site for a little over a year, so her house was familiar to me and so were many of the people there. However, I’d almost decided to skip the barbecue. I’d just ended a six-month relationship with someone else I’d met through the chat room, and had just dealt with a guy I’d dated previously who wanted to start things up again. Feeling like I’d been looking for the right thing in the wrong place, I’d decided to give up dating for a while. Since my friend expected close to a hundred people for her barbecue, all of them from the chat room, I wanted to stay home. I’d promised my friend I’d be there, though, so off I went.

For the first hour or so, I wandered around her yard greeting people I knew and introducing myself to people I hadn’t met yet. I even flirted with two or three guy friends who knew me well enough to know it was playful flirting, not a proposition. It was shaping up to be a nice, relaxing night with friends, and I was glad I hadn’t stayed home.

Then I saw him. Tall, brown hair, glasses. He introduced himself. When I looked into his eyes, something clicked. I told him my chat room name, and his face lit up. “I’ve been wanting to meet you!” he exclaimed.

That was it. I couldn’t understand or explain the connection with him, but it was unquestionably there. And even though I’d chosen to give up dating, I knew if I told him I wasn’t interested, I’d lose out on one of the best things that ever happened to me. For his part, a friend told me later that he’d said to her about me, “I don’t know what it is, but she has some kind of aura about her, and I don’t want to let her get away.”

Other people who were at the barbecue that night have said they knew right away that something special existed between me and this guy. I have a picture someone took that night, about half an hour after he and I met, showing us dancing together. The way we’re looking at each other, it’s obviously love.

The day after the barbecue, I tried to convince myself it had just been a one-night thing. That I wouldn’t hear from him again. After all, he lived two hours away from me. Surely he wouldn’t want to get into anything long distance. As I sat at the computer trying to talk myself into believing this, he IMed me. And the following day, he drove those two hours after working a full day so that he could see me again and meet my kids.

After that, nearly every week on his days off, he made the trip to see us. On that first visit, we agreed to date exclusively. Before a month was over, we’d talked about maybe living together someday. And on my birthday, five weeks after we met, he told me he loved me.

We’ve been living together now for seven months, and the wedding is planned for April.

BIO: Karenna Colcroft has been writing since she was five, and started writing erotic romance in 2006. Her most recent release is the novella Deep Down, available through Siren-Bookstrand. To find out more about that book, as well as Karenna’s other writing, please visit her site at www.karennacolcroft.com. Karenna lives in New England with her fiance, two daughters, two cats, and a fish.
Find out more about Karenna at: http://www.karennacolcroft.com

I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting guest blogs most every day between now and February 14 in honor of Valentine's Day!

Quite a few of my guests will be offering special giveaways just for posting comments, so be sure to stop by for a chance to win!

A few of the authors on tap:

Lisabet Sarai
Alysha Ellis
Sandy Sullivan
Cate Masters
Rachel Clark

...and more! They'll be posting their thoughts on romance, so come join the fun!