A little Gypsy magic, some time travel, the power to be invisible…
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BLURB
Always authentic, Assistant Mall Manager Joy Danser insists that her mall Santas must have real beards so children can believe. But even she is unprepared for the very real Santa who visits her bed invisibly this Christmas season. Is she dreaming, or has she gone mad? Joy consults Sophia Nardiz, manager of the Magical Gypsy shop at her mall. Sophia reads her palm and gives her a cryptic message: Joy is at a crossroads, and she must trust her intuition.
Owner of the Magical Gypsy chain and a true Gypsy himself, Nick Polaris is thrilled to play Joy’s Santa, in the mall and in her bed, but he knows it’s only a lark. For true love, he’ll need someone with Gypsy blood. Must he renounce the Scottish redhead he enjoys so much?
EXCERPT – PG
Sophia and Joy have just shared their first lovemaking.
“Who said anything about moving in?” Sophia shook her head. “I may be too fatigued for this conversation. Oh! You think I still live with Nick, don’t you?”
“You don’t?”
“Not for two years or so.”
“Why not?”
Sophia sobered. “Nick needs to find a wife and have a family…”
“…I can’t have children. I love Nick and always will. But our people expect, need him to have heirs.”
“Oh.”
“We still get together now and then, but we’re clear about what we have and don’t have.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“That’s fate.” Sophia shrugged. “So Nick’s not a problem for you or for us.”
“Apparently.” Joy shuddered. “In an off handed way, he asked to escort me to the Christmas Ball. I thought he was kidding.”
“Nick doesn’t do off handed very well. He only says what he means.”
“But he’s looking for a wife.” Joy felt her eyes round. “I’m not wife material.”
Sophia laughed. “I could debate that, but you don’t have to worry. Nick can only marry a woman with at least some gypsy blood. You don’t have gypsy blood do you?”
“No. I highly doubt that. So that makes me safe. I’m Scottish through and through.
A little Gypsy magic, some time travel, the power to be invisible…
and with any luck, three can join the happy ending.
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!
BLURB
Always authentic, Assistant Mall Manager Joy Danser insists that her mall Santas must have real beards so children can believe. But even she is unprepared for the very real Santa who visits her bed invisibly this Christmas season. Is she dreaming, or has she gone mad? Joy consults Sophia Nardiz, manager of the Magical Gypsy shop at her mall. Sophia reads her palm and gives her a cryptic message: Joy is at a crossroads, and she must trust her intuition.
Owner of the Magical Gypsy chain and a true Gypsy himself, Nick Polaris is thrilled to play Joy’s Santa, in the mall and in her bed, but he knows it’s only a lark. For true love, he’ll need someone with Gypsy blood. Must he renounce the Scottish redhead he enjoys so much?
EXCERPT
Rated PG
Fuming, Joy swung her legs over the bed and padded toward the bathroom. Before she could reach the doorway, she collided against a broad chest. Strong arms encircled her to keep her from falling. A beard swept across the top of her head.
“I told you he’d say you were crazy.”
“Maybe I am.” She rested her cheek on his chest. “Don’t you ever wear clothes?”
“Why should I when I’m visiting you?” He slid his hands up under her night shirt until he cradled a breast in each hand. “I love your Elf shirt. Were you thinking of me when you put it on?”
“Yes,” she murmured. She shuddered when his lips mussed her hair. She peered up at him but saw nothing. His mouth settled across hers. His tongue traced her open mouth before exploring inside. She blinked. She was gone, just like that. She’d never been kissed more thoroughly. If he was a phantom, then he was also an expert lover.
“I’m pleased that I please you. I had many tutors. Of course, I wouldn’t mind if you kissed me back.”
“Oh. I was lost for a moment.” She poured her concentration into the kiss. She traced the little ridges along the roof of his mouth. She tapped and toyed with his tongue. She kissed the corners of his mouth and tugged playfully on his moustache.
“You are equally skilled.”
She giggled. “Must come naturally. I haven’t had that many tutors.”
“You are nothing but natural. You always are.”
REVIEW
Five Stars at Amazon: A fun hot story
I really loved this great joyful fun story! I loved the characters, Joy, Sophia, Nick, and “Santa”! It has an adventurous storyline that has some wonderful Christmas magic that you could read all year long. Tracey P.
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!
With five Holiday titles to promote this season, I’m getting an early start. Santa’s Boss is one of my favorites – a little Gypsy magic, some time travel, the power to be invisible… and with any luck, three can join the happy ending.
BLURB
Always authentic, Assistant Mall Manager Joy Danser insists that her mall Santas must have real beards so children can believe. But even she is unprepared for the very real Santa who visits her bed invisibly this Christmas season. Is she dreaming, or has she gone mad? Joy consults Sophia Nardiz, manager of the Magical Gypsy shop at her mall. Sophia reads her palm and gives her a cryptic message: Joy is at a crossroads, and she must trust her intuition.
Owner of the Magical Gypsy chain and a true Gypsy himself, Nick Polaris is thrilled to play Joy’s Santa, in the mall and in her bed, but he knows it’s only a lark. For true love, he’ll need someone with Gypsy blood. Must he renounce the Scottish redhead he enjoys so much?
EXCERPT – PG
“You say this phantom came to you while you were having sex with your boyfriend.”
Joy nodded across the tiny round table at Sophia Nardiz. She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation, but how could she expect the woman to help if she didn’t know what had happened? “Yes. He entered me from behind while I had Ted in my mouth.”
“Interesting. And you never said anything to your boyfriend.”
Trying not to scratch at her eyes, Joy inhaled the rich incense filling the room. “I didn’t know what to tell him.” She realized that must sound lame.
Sophia pushed back dark tresses of hair from her shoulder. She smiled as if she knew a secret. “Have you ever had two cocks before?”
Blanching, Joy shook her head.
“And this visitor claimed to be Santa Claus.”
“That’s right. I felt his beard and mustache.” Joy shuddered.
“I’m sure you did. You look quite pleased with the memory.”
“I must be crazy,” Joy wailed. “You must think I’m nuts for sure.”
“Don’t say that, girl.” Sophia cradled Joy’s hand and Joy experienced an immediate calm spreading over her body. “What you describe is quite plausible.” Sophia smiled thinly. “You have too many aches—pleasant aches—for this to be something only in your mind. It could be someone with psychokinesis and telepathic powers. Rare, but not impossible. I have known persons with such powers.”
“You don’t think I’m crazy.”
“Not at all. I believe you must be very special to have received such a gift.”
“But you don’t think it was Santa?”
“Does that matter? Someone thinks very highly of you to want to nurture your belief, maybe not in Santa only, but in a world beyond that which you typically know. In my culture, we’d say you were blessed.”
Welcome to Steam Hop, a monthly offering by members of Marketing For Romance Writers for readers who like their scenes hot and spicy. Click on the links at the end to travel to other Steam Hop posts, and enjoy!
Today’s excerpt is from our forthcoming Holiday short story, A Reluctant Santa.
Is it ever too late to find happiness?
BLURB
They’re in their fifties. Grief-stricken (her) and battle scarred (him) from their previous loves, they don’t want to risk more heartbreak, ever. They’ll have to take it slow, talk it through, test the waters carefully. Can they make it happen at this speed, get it done in a short story, and reap the benefits of sizzling sex at their age? Why not?
EXCERPT
Set Up: Cliff and Carol finally shared a kiss at the end of their last date. Now, after a light supper, they’re in Carol’s living room with the Christmas tree lights on and a fire in the fireplace. Carol has just gone to get their wine…
Cliff’s eyebrows shot up as Carol reentered the living room. “Wow. The Christmas tree no longer overwhelms the room.”
“I thought you might prefer me in this outfit.” She blushed a bit as she set down the wine glasses.
He saw the rise of her breasts through the tasteful gown as she bent forward—she probably held that pose slightly longer than needed. His arousal was instantaneous. “You look like an Egyptian goddess. Lovely.” He laughed. “Though the slippers are over the top. Rudolph slippers with red noses.”
She stuck out her chin as if daring him. “I didn’t want to appear too sexy. One of Santa’s helpers might have helped himself to hidden gifts.”
Santa’s helpers? He blanched. “So Rudolph is your protection?”
“If need be.” She sat next to him and nestled in close.
He draped an arm around her shoulder, careful not to let his hand drop to a breast. In due time.
“So do you have Christmas traditions?” she asked.
“Not really. Not since my parents died. I used to go home for Christmas. Now I sort of hang around places where I can watch other people enjoy the season. I’m not a Scrooge, but it’s not the easiest of times. When my ex left me, it was a Christmas Eve. At the time I was devastated. Looking back on it, it was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever received.”
“That’s sad. Christmas Eve. That’s mean—beyond mean, really.”
“Yes, well. As the Dickens Christmas Carol puts it, that’s Christmas Past. This is Christmas Present, sharing it with you.”
“And who knows what Christmas Future holds.”
“That is definitely an unknown. No crystal ball here.” Cliff brushed his lips through her hair. He lowered his hand to cup a breast. “This is what the present holds, and that makes me a very lucky, happy man.”
His fingers curled around her breast, lightly grazing her pebbled nipple.
* * * *
Carol swallowed. This was really happening. Of course it’s happening. She’d planned it to, but they might not make it to the bedroom after all. She moaned softly and faced Cliff to meet his lips. They sealed on hers as if they had never parted. She turned further to embrace him, hugging him tight.
His fingers left her breast, only to work on the buttons of her gown. He had them undone quickly and leaned back to take her in, his eyes glowing with appreciation.
She smiled softly.
“You are gorgeous. I’ve wanted to see you like this since our first lunch.”
“Hmm. Let me see you.” Carol reached for his belt. “You seem very overdressed at the moment.”
You can tell where this is headed… For the real steam, watch for the release of A Reluctant Santa sometime in December, at Extasy Books. Better yet, follow me on any of these links so you won’t miss the announcement!
Newsletter: free download of our erotic romance novella Cherry Tune-Up for signing up.
For Laurel,
Christmas so sucks. She’s out of a job, money, and luck until her neighbor
Scott plays Santa. This tall, dark, and sexy hunk delivers sweet decadence and
holiday magic that makes being bad oh-so good.
Excerpt:
God, god,
god. Laurel indulged in Scott’s clean, wondrous flavor, his intense
heat, and male need.
He groaned
savagely.
The
unrestrained sound and his impassioned embrace said more than words could. He
wanted her as no other man had.
With one
hand firmly on her ass, he pulled her into him.
Trapped in
the best possible way, she surrendered to his desire and her own.
They kissed
as lovers would after a lengthy separation, his stubble scraping her cheeks and
chin. Few things could have better defined or intensified his masculinity.
She
couldn’t touch him enough and stroked his firm pecs, broad back, silky hair,
and the precious package between his legs.
A fierce
sound spilled from him. He pushed her tongue aside to fill her mouth and
fondled her boob.
Her nipple
came alive within his lusty caress, the tip and halo painfully tight.
Getting
close enough proved beyond necessary and seemingly impossible to achieve. They
were practically welded together and it wasn’t enough. She clawed his top,
wanting the damn thing off.
On a rough
moan, he cupped her ass and lifted her into his arms, her weight
inconsequential against his brute strength. Lost in intolerable need, she
pressed her thighs to his narrow hips, her pussy snug to his cock.
He tottered
backward and dropped onto the sofa, her straddling him.
Clothes
flew. Her tank top and bra tangled with his Henley.
He cupped
her naked breasts, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Warmth
swirled in her stomach and pussy, his pleased reaction doing wonders for her
battered heart. Especially given his physical gifts: smooth olive skin, taut
pecs, and beautifully defined abs. Even Photoshopped male models didn’t look
this good. “Where’s your phone? I have to take your picture.”
“Later.
Yours first though.” He tongued her nipple into his mouth.
Riotous
pleasure shot through her. Never had she experienced such intense heat. Her
head fell back.
He suckled
hard, soft, and somewhere in between. His tongue flicked her tip relentlessly.
Nerve
endings fired. She trembled.
He held her
tightly, preventing escape.
As if she
were crazy enough to be anywhere but up close and personal.
Finished
with one boob, he sucked air and leaned toward the other.
“No, no,
no.” She gripped his head. “Stop!”
Alarm
flooded his handsome features, dread beneath it. “Why?”
“I want—I
have—I can’t wait any longer. Sorry.” She scrambled off his lap, knelt between
his legs, and tugged his fly.
“Whoa.” He
gripped her wrists. “Let me help before you draw blood.”
“Hurry.”
“Believe
me, I’m trying.” He yanked his button free and rammed down his zipper.
Together, they shoved his jeans and stretchy boxer briefs to his thighs.
His cock
sprang out, wavered, and landed on his belly, the thick shaft so hard it
pointed north.
“Wow.” She
cupped his lightly furred balls, their weight and warmth pure wonder. “You’re
gorgeous.”
He sagged
against the sofa but also pressed his family jewels into her palm. “Yeah?”
“I have to
take a picture.”
“Not
fucking now.” Breathing hard, he cupped her hand over his dick and balls.
“Don’t you dare stop.”
“No sir. I’ll be good.” She took his rod into her mouth, tonsil deep.
About Tina:
I’m an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who
writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional
publishers and indie. Booklist,
Publisher’s Weekly,Romantic Times
and numerous online sites have praised my work. I’ve won Readers’ Choice
Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the
Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion
competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. I’m featured in the
Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, I worked at a
major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.
On a less serious note: I’m an admitted and unrepentant
chocoholic, brake for Mexican restaurants, and have been known to moan like Meg
Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while
wolfing down tostadas. I’ve flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary),
rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and am horribly
shy despite the hot romances I write.
Always authentic, Assistant Mall Manager Joy Danser insists that her mall Santas must have real beards so children can believe. But even she is unprepared for the very real Santa who visits her bed invisibly this Christmas season. Is she dreaming, or has she gone mad? Joy consults Sophia Nardiz, manager of the Magical Gypsy shop at her mall. Sophia reads her palm and gives her a cryptic message: Joy is at a crossroads, and she must trust her intuition.
