Excerpts

“Don’t get your hopes up…” #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #MFRWHooks #LGBTQ

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

When I and my husband first invented Meghan Keenan, we envisioned writing a sexy romp with lots of menage scenes, capitalizing on her bisexuality. We had no idea she’d hang around for so many books. We also were moved by the way she handles herself. She’s always up front with potential relationships about the fact that she’s bi and non-monogamous. What you see is what you get.

Her good friend in Las Vegas hasn’t got that sorted out yet, and now she finds herself in a relationship that’s turning serous but is missing a crucial piece of information…

BLURB

A ring for Christmas? Sometimes what you hope for and what you fear are one and the same.

In Las Vegas for a brief stint in a musical revue and ready for some uncomplicated sex with a kindred spirit, Meghan Keenan is only too happy to resume connections with her sometimes lover, Lisa Perkins.

But Lisa’s in a quandary. Her most recent boyfriend has suddenly become serious, with hints of a diamond ring in her future – and she’s never told him she’s bisexual. What if he freaks? What if he makes her choose?

Professional photographer Bryce Henry spends his days up close and personal with beautiful models and actresses. Now he’s deeply in love with Lisa and ready to pop the question, but even he wonders about long term fidelity. What does he want, and how bad does he want it?

What will happen when Meg takes hold of Lisa’s problem and runs with it?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Lisa and Meg have spent the afternoon making love, and now they’re sitting in Lisa’s kitchen. Lisa’s just let Meg in on her problem.

“Do you have any ideas?” Lisa continued. “I really don’t want to lose Bryce, but I won’t put myself in a situation where I can’t be faithful to my partner and to myself. I know you’ve helped several couples sort things out.”

“Don’t get your hopes up about what I can do. I’m no Houdini. I’ve been able to assist couples to discover what they wanted who maybe didn’t recognize it before. Maybe a little more than that. But I don’t work miracles. In the end, partners have to work out matters for themselves.”

Lisa dropped her gaze, and Meg could see more tears streak down her face. “Don’t look so dismayed. I didn’t say I wouldn’t try to help. We’ll put our heads together and see what’s possible.” Meg paused. “You do know, though, it’s at least possible that when Bryce learns you’re bi, he’ll walk away? I certainly don’t understand why, but that is a possibility.”

“That’s why I’m stymied. But Christmas is coming soon. I can’t wait much longer. I’ve got to find a way and let whatever happens happen.”

“You guys have been an item for a couple years, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you haven’t talked about your level of commitment?”

“We talk easily about lots of things. We’ve talked about loving each other. But we’ve never gotten explicit about what commitment means.”

“Interesting. Maybe Bryce is as conflicted about commitment as you seem to be. So do you think he’s been faithful to you these past two years?”

Lisa shrugged her shoulders. “I’m quite sure he’s not bi. But he is a highly sought-after photographer here in Vegas. He’s constantly putting portfolios together for showgirls, actresses and wannabe performers.” Lisa scrunched her mouth. “I think if he was constantly fucking his models, I’d hear about it through the grapevine. Has there been a dalliance now and then? I couldn’t say. I wouldn’t bet against it.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“Maybe it should, but I’ve been with several women during that same time period.”

“Maybe you should be Bryce’s photography assistant…then you could share—just kidding.”

“So what do you think?” Lisa finally said. “Am I being stupid about all of this? Can you see a way out that doesn’t simply throw the last two years away?”

“No, I don’t think you’re being stupid. You have every right to be who you are. But you do seem to have dug a hole for yourself. Somehow, you’re going to have to find a way to share who you really are with the man you love. If you can’t do that with Bryce, then maybe he’s not the man for you.”

Meg watched Lisa fight back tears again and continued, not waiting for a response. “I think maybe I should invite Bryce to lunch to talk about having him do a photo shoot for me. That may give me at least a peek into what he’s thinking, if not what he’s doing. Does he know your ring size?”

“Yes.”

BOOK INFO

A Ring for Christmas
Meghan’s Playhouse, Book 4
Can be read as a standalone
Pages: 37
Words: 11, 276
Genres: LGBTQIA+, Erotic Romance, Holiday Story, Contemporary Romance, Menage

 

BUY LINKS

A Ring for Christmas is on sale at the publisher’s, now through December 31, for half price:

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR $1.00
https://www.extasybooks.com/a-ring-for-christmas

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/m2daPo

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

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Excerpts

“You must’ve really been a bad boy…” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #WeekendWritingWarriors #EroticRomance #LGBTQ #MFRWAuthors

It’s Christmas Eve—what gifts will Mack, Carol and Tara unwrap together?

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday,
the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write – and read!
Click on the graphics to travel to the other snippets.

                                        

BLURB

What is Carol up to now? Mack has always known his free-spirited wife is bisexual, but it seems she has new adventures on her mind this Christmas season.

Carol has long entertained fantasies of a threesome with herself, her husband, and their attractive nearby neighbor, Tara. Now that Tara’s troublesome ex is out of the picture, is this the season to make Carol’s fantasies come true?

Tara’s felt a little deprived since breaking things off with her ex, and she’ll admit she envies what Mack and her best friend Carol seem to share. If they invite her to join them, will she dare?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Carol, Mack, and Tara are unwrapping presents together by the Christmas tree.

Ten Sentences…

“Look, here are two more gifts…from Santa. One for me and one for Tara.” Carol gave Mack her best pout. “Sorry, honey, looks like Santa forgot you.” She winked at Tara. “We’ll have to try to make it up to Mack later.”

“So sorry, Mack,” Tara played along. “You must’ve really been a bad boy for Santa to leave you nothing.” She grinned at Carol. “But we good girls weren’t forgotten. What do you suppose Santa wanted to give us?”

And a little more…

“Let’s see.” Carol handed one light package to Tara and they both began to carefully pull at the tissue paper.

“Oh my,” Tara gasped. “Santa has sexy naughty taste.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Carol held up a sheer pale white camisole and watched Tara do the same. “They match,” she said as if surprised.

Mack cleared his throat. “Wow.”

“Do you think Santa got the right sizes?” Carol looked at Tara.

Tara made a show of carefully examining the thin material. “Hard to tell. He must’ve forgotten to get us bottoms.”

BOOK INFORMATION

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author: Adriana Kraft
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0922-7
Pages: 29
Word Count: 7421
Publication Date: 2016-12-03
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA+ Romance, Holiday Story, Christmas
Pairings: ff, mf, ffm

BUY LINKS

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR 80 CENTS
https://www.extasybooks.com/the-gift-exchange

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/bP7rqJ

 

All my holiday stories are on sale at Extasy Books for half price!

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Excerpts

Ménage? Polyamory? How about both? #EroticRomance #FFM #menage #polyamory #Excerpt #KU

Sometime back I was asked this question: Is there a difference between erotic menage romance novels and erotic polyamory romance novels? Here’s what I think:

Most of the erotic romance my husband and I write together involves sex scenes with three or more participants. Which label to place on them isn’t as straightforward as you might think, and people in the non-monogamous lifestyle might laugh at the effort to pigeonhole them.

Though many erotic romance readers and writers tend to think of “ménage” as simply meaning sex among more than two persons, the historic meaning of ménage (from the French) is “domestic establishment,” or “the persons of a household.” Naturally “ménage à trois” adds an enticing dimension, but it still technically implies a living together arrangement.

“Polyamory,” on the other hand, is somewhat simpler in its origin and implication: “Poly” means many, and “amory” means love. Polyamory is many loves. Easy? Not so much. There are what seem endless permutations and combinations of polyamory within the non-monogamous lifestyle. Some threesomes form an equilateral triangle, exclusively and equally committed to one another. Some couples view each other as their “primary,” but have additional loves outside the primary relationship, sometimes together, sometimes apart. And the list goes on.

My husband and I have written erotic romance that explores nearly all those possibilities. Our Swinging Games series chronicles the experience of a pair of empty-nest baby boomers who first dip their toes into the swing lifestyle, then embrace it fully across the fifteen (so far) stories in the series. Which label would those characters use? Though they sometimes have what might be called “casual sex,” they form loving relationships with some of their partners, and for a time they entered into a three-way relationship with another woman which we’re quite sure they would label “polyamory.”

An important additional dimension is whether or not any of the partners are bisexual.  Most of the women in our erotic stories swing both ways, so they tend to form FFM threesomes, whether short term or as their happy ending. In the Swinging Games series, some of the men are also bisexual, leading to additional combinations.

In short, in the real world, what to call it depends on how the participants define it, and there are more combinations and variations than can easily be categorized. What they all share in common, however, is the centrality of open and honest communication among all involved, a continuing effort to understand and meet the needs and desires of the participants, and a loving relationship, whether for the moment or long term. Oh, and need I mention, they share happiness, pleasure, and a wide range of sexual activities and combinations.

For readers who’d like to know more about “real” polyamory and ménage relationships, sex educator, author, and filmmaker Tristan Taormino has written a very straightforward and informative book about the open lifestyle and the intricacies involved:

Opening Up is available at this link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0097DDYR2/

I highly recommend it.

My favorite among our polyamory offerings is The Reunion, winner of the 2014 Bi Writer’s Association award for Best Erotica. I’m comfortable calling its trio either ménage or polyamory, because it is both. By the end of the story, an equilateral triangle has evolved through a series of tugs and pulls, and all three partners are in love with and committed to each other. At least two of the partners never saw this coming, but I’m pretty sure it fulfilled the fondest dreams of the third partner, once she saw what might be possible. Her faith that it could happen was a crucial catalyst in its development.

BOOK INFORMATION

The Reunion, by Adriana Kraft
B&B Publishing: Ebook, Paperback
September, 2013    ASIN: B00F30CTLK
Novel: 71,000 words
Cover Artist: Dawné Dominique
Four Flames:  Explicit sex: M/F, F/F; Ménage: F/F/M, FMF, F/F/F; Multiple partners; Polyamory; light bondage; voyeurism; anal sex; sex toys.

BLURB

Dark and brooding, Adam Granger was always the bad boy out of reach—but now he’s in Sarah Atkinson’s bed, the morning after their twentieth high school reunion. When Adam beats a retreat to his Pacific Palisades estate, former good girl Sarah throws caution to the wind and pursues him.

Petite copper-skinned Maria Ramirez greets Sarah at Adam’s front door. The former exotic dancer doesn’t challenge Sarah’s assumption she’s the maid—how long will it take the dark-haired beauty to figure out Maria is Adam’s live-in lover? Better yet, how long before Maria can entice her into their bed?

Determined not to rock his hard-won lifestyle, Adam resolves to push Sarah past her sexual limits so she’ll leave. When she stays, he watches helplessly as the two women fall in love with each other. Will they shut him out? And, if they let him in, what must he sacrifice?

EXCERPT

“I’ve done the same old, same old for so long I nearly failed take the opportunity to fly out here,” Sarah said.

Maria flashed an eyebrow. “But you did, and you’re not disappointed.”

“Not at all.” Sarah squirmed closer. “You were worth the trip. And we may get Adam to come around. Imagine! I didn’t even know you existed until you met me at the door. If I hadn’t gotten up the nerve to come out here, we never would’ve met.”

“I like that word we.” Maria pecked at Sarah’s neck and hugged her tight. “You’re a pretty damn spunky lady. Adam Granger doesn’t stand a chance facing the two of us.”

“I’m not so sure,” Sarah said, fighting the feeling that all was not well in nirvana. “So, Maria, does Adam love you?”

Maria withdrew and scowled. “That’s not a word in his vocabulary. He cares for me more than he has for anyone, unless for the image of you.”

“Do you love him?”

Maria didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

“Yet you still take other women to your bed.”

“Yes. Loving a woman is quite different. I haven’t found a woman I could be true to.” She offered a quirky smile. “Yet.”

“Oh.” Sarah worked at staying calm while considering the import of Maria’s words. “But you wouldn’t give up Adam for the right woman.”

“No, the right woman would have to love him as much as me. All sides would have to have equal strength.”

“Like an equilateral triangle.”

“Exactly.”

“I wonder if that’s possible.”

Maria sighed. “Maybe it isn’t.”

BUY LINK

Universal Buy Link

Available on Kindle Unlimited

https://books2read.com/u/49Vaj8

 

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Excerpts

“He’s seen us together…” #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #MFRWHooks #LGBTQ

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more. Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

When I and my husband first invented Meghan Keenan, we envisioned writing a sexy romp with lots of menage scenes, capitalizing on her bisexuality. We had no idea she’d hang around for so many books. We also were moved by the way she handles herself. She’s always up front with potential relationships about the fact that she’s bi and non-monogamous. What you see is what you get.

Her good friend in Las Vegas hasn’t got that sorted out yet, and now she finds herself in a relationship that’s turning serous but is missing a crucial piece of information…

BLURB

A ring for Christmas? Sometimes what you hope for and what you fear are one and the same.

In Las Vegas for a brief stint in a musical revue and ready for some uncomplicated sex with a kindred spirit, Meghan Keenan is only too happy to resume connections with her sometimes lover, Lisa Perkins.

But Lisa’s in a quandary. Her most recent boyfriend has suddenly become serious, with hints of a diamond ring in her future – and she’s never told him she’s bisexual. What if he freaks? What if he makes her choose?

Professional photographer Bryce Henry spends his days up close and personal with beautiful models and actresses. Now he’s deeply in love with Lisa and ready to pop the question, but even he wonders about long term fidelity. What does he want, and how bad does he want it?

What will happen when Meg takes hold of Lisa’s problem and runs with it?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Lisa and Meg have spent the afternoon making love, and now they’re sitting in Lisa’s kitchen.

“And you don’t think Bryce has ever suspected?” Meg asked. “He’s seen us together…well, I don’t mean really together…but we are fairly touchy-feely, even around him.”

“That’s how he sees me, touchy-feely.” Lisa let out a deep sigh. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I wouldn’t need another man in my life if I had Bryce, but that’s still not the same. I don’t want to be unfaithful to my wedding vows…but I can’t see a life without being intimate with a woman, at least now and then. Like us. Dammit. What we just shared in my bedroom is extremely special to me, and it’s more than raw sex.”

“And to me,” Meg interjected. “But I wouldn’t want to cause problems in your marriage. By the way, wedding vows can be written to reflect whatever you and whoever you marry agree to commit to. There’s nothing magical in those words. Magic, as you and I know very well from the theater world, lies in the heart.”

“I know. I know. Maybe that’s the crux of the matter. My heart knows the magic of two women being together as well as the magic of a woman and a man. I don’t want to lose either.”

BOOK INFO

A Ring for Christmas
Meghan’s Playhouse, Book 4
Can be read as a standalone
Pages: 37
Words: 11, 276
Genres: LGBTQIA+, Erotic Romance, Holiday Story, Contemporary Romance, Menage

 

BUY LINKS

A Ring for Christmas is on sale at the publisher’s, now through December 31, for half price:

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR $1.00
https://www.extasybooks.com/a-ring-for-christmas

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/m2daPo

 

Click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s hooks:

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He has to wait his turn… #MFRWSteam #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #LGBTQ #FFM


It’s Christmas Eve—what gifts will Mack, Carol and Tara unwrap together?

Welcome to the MFRW Steam Hop,
where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers
entice you with steamy excerpts from their erotic romance stories.

Scroll to the end for more of this week’s tempting excerpts.

BLURB

What is Carol up to now? Mack has always known his free-spirited wife is bisexual, but it seems she has new adventures on her mind this Christmas season.

Carol has long entertained fantasies of a threesome with herself, her husband, and their attractive nearby neighbor, Tara.  Now that Tara’s troublesome ex is out of the picture, is this the season to make her fantasies come true?

Tara’s felt a little deprived since cutting things off with her ex, and she’ll admit she envies what Mack and her best friend Carol seem to share. If they invite her to join them, will she dare?

EXCERPT

Set up: The three have unwrapped their gifts – Santa gave both women sheer lacy camisoles but forgot the bottoms. Carol and Tara have tried them on and invited Mack to watch…

“Oh, my,” Tara said, turning slightly to Carol. “You were right. The best Christmas gift is still waiting for us, though it does appear to be already nicely unwrapped.”

“Maybe not so patiently waiting. But,” Carol said, guiding Tara to the throw rugs, “he has to wait his turn. I’m sure Mack wants to know what we’ve been up to these last several months. Maybe we can surpass his fantasies. Do you want to try?”

“Of course.” Tara hugged Carol closely, then stuck her tongue out at Mack. “Don’t let that guy get chilled. I promise I have a place to warm him up if he does. Now, to whet your appetite just a bit more, your wife and I are going do a little more Christmas sharing.”

Carol blew him a kiss. “Don’t worry. Your turn will come.”

Mack watched his wife kneel on the throw rugs and turn her puckered lips toward Tara. On her knees, Tara wrapped her arms around Carol. Their lips barely touched, and then the kiss deepened. Mack blinked. His wife’s hands moved under Tara’s camisole to cup Tara’s breasts. He heard Tara moan as she shifted, giving Carol better access without breaking their kiss. Tara slid a hand down Carol’s back until she was palming Carol’s ass. He saw Tara drag a finger along the crevice between Carol’s ass cheeks. It was then Carol moaned the loudest.

Mack gave up not trying to touch his cock. He’d never in his entire life witnessed anything like this. Even porn had nothing on them. These women were clearly into each other and knew each other’s bodies well.

At last Carol broke away from Tara. “Let’s get rid of Santa’s gifts. They’ve served Santa’s purpose. Now they’re only in the way.”

Tara lifted her arms, and Carol slipped the flimsy garment over her lover’s head. Then Carol raised her arms and Tara did the same before tossing the camisole in his direction. It never reached him as it fluttered to the floor.

“Why don’t you lie down for me?” Carol said, patting the rug and dragging over a couple pillows. “One for your head, and one for your butt.”

Carol knelt beside Tara and spread the woman’s thighs wide. “Let Mack get a good view of his next gift. You okay, honey?” she asked smiling at him. “Don’t you dare let that guy pop until we’re ready.”

Mack stilled his hand on his cock. “I won’t,” he squeaked. “You two are amazing. I feel like I’m watching something sacred unfold.”

“Maybe you are.” Carol redirected her attention to Tara. “Do you want me to prepare you for your next gift?” Carol patted Tara’s pussy lightly.

Tara’s eyelids fluttered closed, then opened wide. “Yes. Please do. I can’t wait much longer.”

“Good.” Carol leaned over and flicked her tongue across the top of Tara’s pussy.

Tara tensed, then relaxed.

“That’s right, let Mrs. Santa prepare you for your Christmas Eve romp. Why don’t you prop yourself up on your elbows, so you can see if your Christmas gift is ready for you?”

Mack watched Tara alter her position so she could see him while Carol continued toying with Tara’s pussy. He knew he must look like a kid gawking in the window of his favorite store. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.

Tara smiled at him. “I think my gift is more than ready. I know I am.”

Carol shook her head. “Not yet. I know you, girl. I want those juices really flowing before sharing Mack with you.”

BOOK INFORMATION

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author: Adriana Kraft
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0922-7
Pages: 29
Word Count: 7421
Publication Date: 2016-12-03
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA+ Romance, Holiday Story, Christmas
Pairings: ff, mf, ffm

BUY LINKS

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR 80 CENTS
https://www.extasybooks.com/the-gift-exchange

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/bP7rqJ

…And don’t forget to travel to the rest of today’s steamy excerpts:

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“I think we should invite Tara…” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #WeekendWritingWarriors #EroticRomance #LGBTQ #MFRWAuthors

It’s Christmas Eve—what gifts will Mack, Carol and Tara unwrap together?

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday,
the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write – and read!
Click on the graphics to travel to the other snippets.

                                        

BLURB

What is Carol up to now? Mack has always known his free-spirited wife is bisexual, but it seems she has new adventures on her mind this Christmas season.

Carol has long entertained fantasies of a threesome with herself, her husband, and their attractive nearby neighbor, Tara. Now that Tara’s troublesome ex is out of the picture, is this the season to make Carol’s fantasies come true?

Tara’s felt a little deprived since breaking things off with her ex, and she’ll admit she envies what Mack and her best friend Carol seem to share. If they invite her to join them, will she dare?

EXCERPT [PG]

It’s getting closer and closer to Christmas – Carol has been planning a very special gift for herself and Mack. Just now they’re sitting in their north woods hot tub under a blanket of stars in early December…

Ten Sentences

“That’s right,” Mack said, “this is the first Christmas since Tara broke up with that asshole, Dereck. Don’t know how she could tolerate such an idiot.”

“Neither does she, now. At least she kept putting off letting him move in with her.”

“Thank God. Can you imagine him for a neighbor?”

“Fortunately, we don’t have to. It’s been eight months. I think we should invite Tara for Christmas Eve. Are you okay with that? I know Christmas Eve is a special time for you. Well, for both of us.”

And a little more…

“No, of course. We can share some of our Christmas Eve traditions with Tara. Maybe she has some, too.”

“And if we get too sloshed, she can stay over.”

“If we stay up until midnight to usher in Christmas like we usually do, the temperature is going to be well below zero. She can stay over if she wants. We’ll need to be sure she has enough presents to unwrap. But…there is one thing.” Mack gave Carol a quizzical look.

“What’s that?” The reflection from the hot tub showed her naughty expression.

“Our Christmas morning playtime.”

Carol giggled. “It’s a tradition. Do you think maybe Tara might enjoy playing with us?”

“Together?” He knew he sounded dumb. This wasn’t the first time his wife had dangled that possibility before him.

“Well, I doubt we’d need separate rooms. What do you think? Wouldn’t Tara make a delightful Christmas gift?

He quickly decided he needed more information before answering that question. Was there a wrong answer?

BOOK INFORMATION

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author: Adriana Kraft
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0922-7
Pages: 29
Word Count: 7421
Publication Date: 2016-12-03
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, LGBTQIA+ Romance, Holiday Story, Christmas
Pairings: ff, mf, ffm

 

BUY LINKS

BUY AT EXTASY BOOKS FOR 80 CENTS
https://www.extasybooks.com/the-gift-exchange

BUY AT OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS
https://books2read.com/u/bP7rqJ

 

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Excerpts

Out Now: Heather’s Haven, by T.S. McNeil #Romance #RomCom #HolidayStory @ExtasyBooks

BOOK INFORMATION:

Christmas Romantic Comedy novella
Published by: eXtasy Books
Author: T.S. McNeil
ISBN: 978-1-4874-4090-9
Pages: 90
Word Count: 21766
Publication Date: 2023-12-01

BLURB

Aging Pop Star Heather Fideler has had enough. After a painful divorce, she decides to spend Christmas, once her best time of year, on a remote island with no Wi-Fi or tabloids where no one knows who she is. The plan is to keep her head down and let the holidays slide by, but not if the locals have anything to say about it.

 

 

EXCERPT

Chapter One: Like A Broken Pencil

Holidays were never a big deal in Heather Fideler’s world. Reared by two of the strictest Calvinists in Christendom, she’d long held the opinion that vacations were for people who didn’t like their jobs.

Festivals could be fun, they were basically designed to be, but that was where it began and ended. Christmas was the only exception. Eggnog was part of it. Homemade and from scratch, with sprinkles of hand ground nutmeg dashed across the light-yellow surface. One sip could cure all that could be terrible about the world, at least for a moment. Even in the bleakness of early December, which was still technically late-autumn rather than winter, it could all make everything better. From the tree to the tinsel to the pudding no one really liked but pretended that they did. The magic of the season was down to tolerance, tradition and love. Until Halloween.

At the end of October, it hit like a brick. A mid-autumn shock that was not a treat or a trick, making any future holidays, even the holly-jolly, seem like a broken pencil. Pointless.

The autumn leaves had dropped, and the first flakes were expected to arrive by the week. Everything was made a bit blurry by rain in the meantime, any outdoor attempts at Christmas cheer put up since Thanksgiving sure to get drenched within seconds. Muzak renditions of Christmas classics chimed away in every mall from Seattle to Stockholm.

“Jiminy!” Heather yelped, as the tiny kitty going by the same name landed by her head to read over her shoulder.

Stepping down on the arm of the chair, the oddly green kitten curled up on Heather’s lap and purred herself to sleep. With a couple strokes of Jiminy’s tiny head, Heather got back to the recently discovered exercise in fatuity.

Deep down in the dark depths of the trip booking rabbit hole, each site made even more ludicrous promises than the last, yet she kept falling for them. A hotel could promise an Olympic sized swimming pool, a kangaroo petting zoo and elephant rides and she would probably click just to see. Travel was, after all, an industry based entirely on profit and the desperation of city dwellers reaching their natural limit of concrete captivity, making for massive profits for those who can promise to get them out.

Heather’s desperation only grew the more she knew about what a scam traveling could be. Fighting the urge to fall to her knees—Mr. and Mrs. Fideler had raised their only daughter to be a lot more dignified than that. She instead set her gaze skyward, appealing to a higher power.

“Please, just give me a sign!” she asked, not addressing anyone in particular.

Her request sent out to the universe, Heather got back to the computer, determined to give the little wheel on her mouse one last scroll before just hiding under the bed until it was all over.

A tiny island off the coast of her own city, settled by the Scots and known for its scenery and isolation, appeared from below the bottom limits of the search window. The name of the place, written in a happy blue just above a picture of an old-fashioned pub, was Heather’s Haven.

“That was rhetorical!” Heather said, again looking skyward.

Cynical as she might have become, to the point she was comfortably numb, even Heather didn’t falter in taking a chance when it was given. Scrolling down to the booking part, she gave it a double click for good measure. A photo of the pub’s proprietor came up at the top of the form. It was a moment before Heather’s breathing, let alone heartbeat, returned to form. Finally at the bottom of the form, after leaving her body to a mad scientist and signing away her first born in the terms and conditions, Heather clicked the last icon. Seeing the sweet notice of success, she relaxed a bit. The panic of packing and actually getting to her destination could wait until it was time to leave.

A xylophone of gentle clicks and clacks ran up Heather’s back as she stretched to nearly twice her height, literally reaching for the sky as Social Distortion were imploring her to do just that on the wireless earbuds that were rarely out of her head.

“Coffee,” Heather declared, getting up from the rolling office chair.

Banging like a drummer through every cupboard and cabinet housed in the mammoth kitchen that took up roughly a quarter of the main floor, Heather came up with nothing. Not a bean or ground to be found, even of the instant crystal variety. Gagging a little at the very thought, she deposited the little cat in her basket and set out into the icy December rain, desperately seeking relief.

Disguised as much as she could be by a hat and medical style mask, Heather walked into the relative warmth of the cafe, the smell of a dozen different grounds thick in the air.

Head down past the admirable attempts at cheering things up with lights and holly and such, the music mercifully better than most places that time of year, Heather got in line with the rest to wait her turn.

One of the weirdest things about her lot in life was being treated differently, despite the ideals of humility and respect being instilled in her from a young age. No one was essentially better than any other, no matter the evidence to the contrary. Corporate raiders, presidents, and kings ate, cried and died just like everyone else.

“Hey, sorry about this, but aren’t you Heather Fideler?” the barista asked.

“Yes,” Heather said, not wanting to be rude.

Most heads turned as the whisper ran around the cafe like a sugar-addled toddler. Unable to keep from rolling her eyes, Heather was losing any faith in her skills for disguise.

Stay calm, it’s really just a part of the job. Heather took a table to wait for her order, taking requests for photos and autographs as gracefully as she had been instructed by her agents. Not even able to get coffee without attracting a bit of a crowd was simply the lot of the pop star. Even so, part of her looked forward to going somewhere with no Wi-Fi where she probably wouldn’t be recognized, at least for a while.

BUY LINKS

Amazon

https://www.amazon.ca/Heathers-Haven-T-S-McNeil/dp/148744091X/

Publisher

https://www.extasybooks.com/Heathers-Haven

AUTHOR BIO:

Born in Toronto, and raised in the far north, T.S. McNeil grew up on novels and comedy movies.

Moving to B. C., he earned a degree in Art History in 2009 and has been writing in some way since the age of 8.

Discovering the legit jokes in Four Weddings and A Funeral, he took on romantic comedy as his main genre.

He lives in a cabin in the woods with his dog and several squirrels, and firmly believes that The Smiths would have been better as a trio.

LINKS: https://tmcneil933.wixsite.com/mysite

 

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Out Now: Broken Down Cowboy, by Seelie Kay @SeelieKay #Romance #Cowboy #NewRelease

Book Information

Title:  Broken Down Cowboy
Release Date:  December 8, 2023
Publisher:  Extasy Books
Genre:  Contemporary Holiday Romance
Heat Level: three flames
Pages: 77
Price: eBook $5.99, Print $8.99
 

An interview with Seelie Kay

Why do you write romance?

I didn’t really get into romance books until law school. Between holding down two jobs, studying, and attending classes, I really needed an outlet for the stress. A friend had a large paper bag full of romance paperbacks that she passed around to other law students. I borrowed one and then another until I read every book she had. After that I was hooked. I like to claim that those books got me through law school. Fast forward to 2017, another stressful time in my life. I needed to find a way to escape reality for a bit. So I started writing my own romance tales. My first book got picked up by a publisher and 25 books later, I’m still writing.

Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a lawyer, a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, they have to be paired with strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love. And brains over brawn, every time!

Why did you write “Broken Down Cowboy?”

This was my way of throwing down the gauntlet. There comes a time when you want to read more stories about people your age falling in love. Just because I’m in midlife does not mean I have become a dried-up old prune with a cold heart. I still adore men and I still enjoy romance. More importantly, I adore seasoned men. Men who remember rotary phones and record players and Van Halen. Since I have always had a fondness for cowboys, I created a story about two middle-aged people who, despite their differences, fall in love. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s romantic, it’s somewhat steamy, but in the end, they find what they didn’t even know they needed. Love. Obviously, I was not alone in wanting older romance. Look at the success of the TV series, The Golden Bachelor!

You have a tendency to write about lawyers. Is one of the characters in “Broken Down Cowboy” a lawyer?

Actually, she’s a recovering lawyer, like me. Someone who switched careers after practicing law for many years. Her reasons for becoming a pastry chef and owner of a tea shop are very much in line with my own reasons for switching careers. I believe you can choose to be miserable or you can reach out for happiness. Sometimes, that involves changing your life in dramatic ways.

Blurb:

When is it time to take a leap of faith? When the man holding the net is a sexy, middle-aged cowboy!

Tea shop owner and pastry chef Bailey Willis is nonplussed when she finds a handsome Texan sprawled out on the floor of A Spot of Tea. Trevor Anderson, on the other hand, is instantly smitten. Some might call him a broken-down cowboy, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the ability to pursue a beautiful woman, even if she is a northerner and a Green Bay Packers fan! Unfortunately, Bailey has other things on her mind, like winning the Hales Corners, WI holiday bake-off. When Trevor provides a valuable assist, Bailey begins to regard him in a different light. Too bad he’s planning to head back to his ranch after the new year. Will Bailey agree to wear Trevor’s Texas-size ring? Will Trevor agree to settle in the frozen tundra, the site of one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most humiliating defeats? Hold on to your cowboy hats folks, this tale of romance is going to take you for a ride. Texas style!

Excerpt:

Before Mrs. Franklin could respond, they heard a loud crash, and then the sound of breaking glass. The floor seemed to shake.

Bailey paled and quickly curtsied. “Excuse me, please.” She hurried back into the kitchen where her chef, Spencer, held a substantial pastry brush and was swatting a man sprawled out on the floor. A black cowboy hat sat at the man’s feet. “Spencer, what the devil? We do not beat on our customers.” She extended an arm to the man and helped him to his feet. “Now, will someone please explain to me what’s going on?”

Spencer’s victim picked up his hat and slapped it on his leg, then reshaped the crown. He placed the hat on his head. His soft brown eyes, punctuated by crow’s feet that appeared carved into his tan face, gazed at Bailey, and his full lips curled up in a cocky grin. “Sorry, ma’am,” he drawled in a sexy baritone. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, but my daughter sent me to pick up her order for my granddaughter’s birthday party. I saw how crowded it was out front, so I thought it best to come ‘round to the back door.” He made a face. “Not sure how I wound up on the floor. Guess I slipped.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Guess that happens to those of us ready for the pasture.”

Bailey squelched a sigh. Pasture my eye. He couldn’t be more than fifty, around her age. This guy could be on the cover of a romance novel. He was tall and sturdy, with curly dark hair, bushy eyebrows, and just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. And that voice. She could just imagine the man whispering into her ear after a night of passionate sex. A tiny shiver raced up and down her spine. She was exiting her forties, but her body was not immune to a handsome cowboy. Damn, he was fine.

Spencer planted his hands on his skinny hips and scowled. “He didn’t knock. He just whipped open the door and barged on in. Scared the bejesus out of me. I dropped a water glass.” He shot the cowboy a dirty look. “His boots must be wet because he took a less-than-graceful tumble. You know, ass over teakettle? You may be all that in Texas, cowboy. But in Wisconsin, we wipe our feet before entering a building.” He clucked his tongue and tossed his head. “Everyone knows what happens when you track in snow.”

The cowboy held up his hands and tried to squelch a grin. “Hey, I apologize. In my defense, I knocked several times. When no one responded, I just thought it would be easier to come in…”

“Oh, for Pete’s Sake. Did you grow up in a barn?” Spencer huffed. “I need to go clean up. I’ve got enough flour on me to enter a powder puff derby.” He flounced away, muttering about uncouth cowboys with bull crap on their boots.

Bailey rolled her eyes and giggled. She smiled at the man. “I hope that pastry brush didn’t seriously injure you.”

The man chortled. “I’m a bit buttered up, but it beats my granddaughter’s fingerpaints all over my face. As long as he doesn’t force me into an oven, I think I’ll be fine.”

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPNBT7LHa4

Buy links

Publisher:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy-Seelie-Kay/dp/148744012X

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-down-cowboy-seelie-kay/1144463727?ean=9781487440121

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/broken-down-cowboy-by-seelie-kay

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201784722-broken-down-cowboy

About Seelie Kay

Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s creative pen has resulted in more than twenty tales of contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance, and romantic suspense.

Seelie resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

She is also an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis.

Seelie can be found on most social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To subscribe to her newsletter, please visit https://rb.gy/w69pim.

Author links

Website:  https://www.seeliekay.com

Blog:  https://www.seeliekay.blogspot.com

Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/seeliekay51/

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/seelie-kay

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16492565.Seelie_Kay

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@authorseeliekay

Newsletter sign-up:  https://rb.gy/w69pim

Prior Books

Kinky Briefs:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-1

Kinky Briefs, Too:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-too

Kinky Briefs, Thrice: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-thrice

Kinky Briefs, Quatro: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-quatro

Kinky Briefs, Cinque:  https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-cinque

Snatching Dianna:  https://www.extasybooks.com/snatching-dianna

Infamy:  https://www.extasybooks.com/infamy

Cult:  https://www.extasybooks.com/cult

Hopehttps://www.extasybooks.com/hope

Martimus:  https://www.extasybooks.com/martimus

The Garage Dweller:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller

The President’s Wife:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-wife

Seizing Hope:  https://www.extasybooks.com/seizing-hope

The White House Wedding:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-white-house-wedding

The Last Christmas: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-last-christmas

The President’s Daughter:  https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-daughter

A Touchdown to Remember:  https://www.extasybooks.com/a-touchdown-to-remember

First, We Kill All the Lawyers:  https://www.extasybooks.com/first,-we-kill-all-the-lawyers

Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!:  https://www.extasybooks.com/ye-god-the-law-is-an-ass

Vive la Resistance:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Vive-la-Resistance

In the Midst of Angels:  https://www.extasybooks.com/In-the-Midst-of-Angels

Saint Con:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Saint-Con

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Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards @JanaRichards_ #HolidayRomance #SmallTown


It’s Christmas time at Solace Lake Lodge,
but a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.

BOOK INFORMATION

Genre: Contemporary Romance, small town romance
Keywords: contemporary romance, small town romance, mystery, holiday romance, Christmas, interracial romance
ISBN: Ebook ISBN 978-0-9952791-8-6
Print ISBN 978-0-9952791-9-3
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Release Date: Ebook, October 18, 2023
Cover Artist: 100 Covers
Publisher: Jana Richards Books

BUY LINKS

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198424344-christmas-at-solace-lake

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/christmas-at-solace-lake-a-love-at-solace-lake-romance-by-jana-richards

BLURB

An emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. He’s sure desperation is the only reason they’d allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.

Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and she’s grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when she’s always relying on others?

Drew sees Celeste’s frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. She’s nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.

As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?

EXCERPT

He put his hand on her arm. “Celeste, whatever happened, it’s going to be all right. I promise you.”

She looked at him then, her eyes filling with tears. “I finished the exam before anyone else. I could see all the answers in my head like I was reading them from a screen. The person who gave the exam told me I got all the answers right, one hundred percent.” Tears streamed down her face as she pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. “I got my permit.”

The wonder in her eyes, the relief and joy, made him smile. Though he’d promised himself not to touch her today, he simply couldn’t resist. He pulled off his glove and, leaning across the console, laid his hand on her soft cheek. Drew stared into her beautiful dark eyes. The intoxicating combination of her warm, welcoming scent and the silky feel of her skin made his heart soar and his body catch fire. The need to kiss her nearly overpowered him, but he held back, knowing it wasn’t what she wanted.

She signaled her withdrawal with a soft sigh as she turned her head and leaned back against her seat, out of his reach. Drew let his hand drop and sat back in his seat as well. He stifled his own sigh as he pulled his glove back on.

Would she always be out of his reach?

Author Bio:

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length contemporary romance, paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better).

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren and two senior cats named Layla and Leelou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com

Social Media Links:

Website:  http://www.janarichards.com

Blog:  http://janarichards.blogspot.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janarichards155/

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards

Amazon UK Author Page:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG

Newsletter Signup: http://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_Richards

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-richards

 

 

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Cover Reveal! New cover for Accidental Contact #CoverReveal #LGBTQ #AgeGap #EroticRomance #99cents #ShortStory #SapphicRomance #FF

Snowbound in New York City – will Natalie dare to make her move?

I love this new cover by Amber Daulton of Satin Rose Designs – just the right dash of sauciness for our heroine.

What romantic pairings do you love to read? Straight f/m? Bisexual f/f/m? Lesbian f/f? I’m half of the writing duo Adriana Kraft, and we love writing (and reading) all these pairings. Our newest release is a sapphic short story we wrote for an anthology over a decade ago, then revised and updated to release under our indie imprint. Is it really erotic romance? It’s definitely erotic, featuring one of my favorite f/f scenes as Natalie is caught between her fears and her desires in the middle of the night. Since it’s a short story, I’d call it happy-for-now, with a promising future.

And the inspiration? I love New York City, and we love setting stories there. I especially love it in the winter – Rockefeller center, with its giant tree and all the skaters, Central Park, Fifth Avenue with all the shoppers and window displays. Was I ever snowbound there? No, but I was stranded for two steamy August days during the great East Coast blackout of 2003, and that experience definitely helped set the background for this story.

BOOK INFORMATION

Accidental Contact, By Adriana Kraft
Release date: November 3, 2023
ASIN B0CMHLHL52
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Short Story
Pairing: FF
Tropes: Cougar Story, New York City, Snowbound, Just One Bed

BUY LINK

Universal Buy Link

Just $0.99 at all e-book retail outlets

https://books2read.com/u/47djkE

BLURB

Natalie and the much younger Bridgette are real estate agents who’ve often traveled together for business seminars. Now they’re snowbound in New York City in a hotel room with only one bed. Will Natalie dare to make her move?

EXCERPT

For three months, Natalie had eagerly anticipated this trip. She’d bought a pair of pink silk pajamas, wanting to feel a little more presentable and desirable. Pink had always gone well with her dark hair. And she’d come to believe that Bridgette’s choice of silk pajamas was perfect—not too seductive, not too revealing—but classy. Not klutzy like her old sleepwear that resembled sweatpants and gym clothes. On top of that, the feel of silk against flesh was incredibly sensuous.

At least she didn’t have to guess whether Bridgette was into women. She’d never tried to hide that fact. She’d even bemoaned not having found a partner with whom she really wanted to share a lot of time.

Natalie balled her fingers into fists. She’d made the effort to tidy up her pubic hair just in case. She swallowed hard. She couldn’t risk rejection. She’d done all she could. It was up to destiny now. What had Bridgette said? Everything happens for a reason. Maybe the blizzard was heaven sent just for her—just for her and Bridgette.

She blinked back tears. Even a blizzard wouldn’t be enough to fuel her courage. She dozed. Morning couldn’t come too quickly.

Outside their hotel, a winter chill has settled on NYC,
bringing with it a crippling snowstorm –
inside, will Natalie find a satisfying means of turning up the heat?

 

 

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