Wednesday, April 23, 2014
STAR RAIDERS - EXCERPT - R Rated.
Available only at Amazon:
http://is.gd/starraiders
Blurb:
A FIERY ENCOUNTER
Like two ill-aligned stars, Shyanne Kedar and Greyson Dane were destined to collide. She was a smuggler’s daughter, and he, an interstellar lawman. Their affair was scorching, dazzling…and ended like a supernova, in a blaze of betrayal.
A LOVE REKINDLED
Ten years later, the flames haven’t cooled. Shyanne’s lush body, the twist of her lips and the fire in her eyes—all radiate the same magnetism that ensnared Greyson before, and now he’s truly her prisoner. But as much as things have changed, they remain exactly the same. Danger threatens. Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance. And though his tempting captor doesn’t know it, if Greyson’s plan succeeds, it will save mankind…and lose him the only woman he ever loved. This time, forever.
Excerpt:
"Are you sure this is what you
want?" Greyson asked. Despite his obvious arousal, he was leaving the
decision to her. It would have been easier if he'd taken command. This way left
her no excuse.
His question increased her apprehension.
Want? No. Shy didn't want him. After all the pain and grief, how could she? No,
she didn't want this. She needed it.
"Yes," she said.
A small smile touched his lips. He took a
step toward her.
When she tensed, he placed his palm against
her cheek and looked into her eyes. "Trust me. I won't hurt you."
Looking into his eyes, she wanted to believe
him. Wanted to feel what she'd felt all those years ago: pure, innocent love,
untarnished by lies or deceit. But that time was long gone. Those feelings were
long dead, the people who'd felt them long discarded. Whatever they shared now
could be only physical. Lust: Yes. Sex: Hell, yes. Trust? Hell, no.
She stood in silent anticipation as he peeled
away her clothing. She shivered. Not from the cool air swirling over her bare
skin, but from the heated look in his dark eyes. Her breasts swelled. He leaned
forward and captured one hard nipple between his lips and sucked. Wet heat
sizzled through her. Her knees buckled. To keep from falling, she grabbed his
shoulders then gasped as he swung her into his arms and deposited her on the
exam table.
He crawled up and over her. His cock brushed
against the inside of her thigh where, slick and hot, moisture gathered. Desire
churned in her belly.
She reached up and pulled his mouth to hers.
Their tongues tangled in a silent battle, and she realized her control was an
illusion. Under the assault of his hands, lips and tongue, rational thought
deserted her. His lips left hers to trail down her throat. She arched her neck
to grant him access. Breath shuddered out of her as he rolled one aching nipple
between his fingers and sucked the other into his mouth. The suction sent
frissons of long forgotten sensation coursing through her, like the tiny
bubbles in effervescent wine they tingled in her veins.
Need built the pressure inside her, need
dammed up without release. Her skin felt super-sensitized. Greyson stroked his
fingertips down her chest and belly and explored the indent of her navel.
Lower, he combed through her damp curls. One finger moved past the hair and
delved into the slick folds.
When he circled her clit, the surge of energy
from the brief touch jolted her and she gasped. He tried to pull his hand away,
but she grasped his wrist and held him there. She felt him grin against her breast.
Twisting her body, she flipped him onto his
back, then rose on her knees and straddled his hips. Air cooled the heat on her
breast, but the feel of his hard cock pressing against her pubic mound sent a
surge of heat into her belly. Though his cock throbbed, bouncing gently against
her, and his breathing was rapid, he smiled.
Every nerve coiled in anticipation, but his
command of his passion angered her. She wanted him as frantic for satisfaction
as she. Desperate to take back control, to get what she needed from him, she
lifted her hips over him and plunged downward.
She gasped at the small spear of pain from
his intrusion into her body. Years of going without had left her tight. Still,
unwilling to wait for her body to adjust to his size, she rode him fast and
hard.
Clasping her thighs with his hands, he met
her stroke for stroke, pushing her ever upward. The bubbles in her blood turned
to sparks of fire. Inside her an inferno raged, burning away the last of her
reason, her doubts and her fears. Nothing mattered but reaching this summit and
plunging into the abyss beyond.
With a burst of inner light, she climaxed.
She cried out and fell forward over him. He thrust upward one last time and she
felt his liquid heat flow into her. She pressed her face against his
sweat-slick body and murmured, "This doesn't change anything. I may still
space you."
"I'll worry about that tomorrow."
Elysa Hendricks
Friday, April 18, 2014
Upcoming Workshop on Villains
Hi all,
I've been asked by Melanie at the Dog-Earred Pages Used Bookstore to give a workshop on Villains, titled Facing Off: Creating an adversary worthy of your hero. Apparently, she really loved Trent:D.
Date: April 18th
Time: 05:30 PM
Time: 05:30 PM
Anyway, the series is part of the Friday Night Writes, she hosts at her store. I believe this is a small fee to attend, but that fee will be applied to a book purchase. FMI, you can visit her website http://www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com/
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Excerpt from CENTAURI DAWN
I recently made the first book in my Centauri Series perma-free and I'd like to share an excerpt from that book, CENTAURI DAWN
CHAPTER 1
Always the same dream. He called to her.
“Princess Dayanara.” His voice was like rich, silky caramel, floating down her
mound of ice cream. It did strange things to her insides. She yearned to hear
him say her name again and again.
CHAPTER 1
Always the same dream. He called to her.
“Princess Dayanara.” His voice was like rich, silky caramel, floating down her
mound of ice cream. It did strange things to her insides. She yearned to hear
him say her name again and again.
It
was so hot and he was so sexy. Hot. God, she was hot. She kicked the blanket
off her leg. But he was just a dream. A fantasy.
Something…someone…touched
her leg. This wasn’t a dream! The hand she felt hot against her skin was real. She
jolted awake. The warmth she felt in her dream turned to a cold sweat.
A
man stood beside her bed. Not just any man, but the man from her dreams. Tall,
dark, with chiseled features. Handsome with broad shoulders and abs to die for.
His face came into focus and his gaze captured hers. Color of the deepest
ocean, so blue as to seem almost black in the faint light that surrounded him,
she struggled to look away.
Sitting
bolt upright, she screamed, then scrambled backward over and off the bed,
landing with a thump. She hit her back and shoulder.
The
man leaned over the bed, his large size looming down over her, blocking the
light from the window.
She
scrambled backward, struggling to get to her feet.
“Are
you injured?” His voice washed over her. He sounded familiar, like she should
know him, but she didn’t.
He
came around the bed and she bounded over it to the other side. As he closed in on
her, she glanced quickly around and looked
for a weapon, any weapon. Her hand landed on a small pink lamp. It had sat next
to her bed since she was five, keeping her safe from the boogeyman. She grabbed
it, pulling the cord from the wall and held it in front of her like a sword.
“Who
the hell are you? Get out of here before I call the police.” Her voice was
rough from sleep, edgy from fear
He
moved closer to her, reaching out a hand. Not with malice, but with something
else. Concern? “Princess you’re going to hurt someone. May I assist you?” he
asked, chivalrous.
Princess.
He must be a nutcase.
She
yanked at the straps of her gown, resettling them on her shoulders and pulling
the bottom down as far as it would go, but
it was too short to cover much.
“Stop.”
Her voice shook, though she tried to steady it. “Don’t come any closer.”
“You
must listen. You must come with me.”
She
screamed at the top of her lungs,
“Help! Help! Help!” What was wrong with the people in this building? Were they
all deaf?
“Princess.”
His
voice washed over her like warm chocolate, comforting her. That wasn’t right. Why
wasn’t he attacking her? The soothing voice didn’t stop her. He was a stranger.
In her bedroom. “Help! Help!” she screamed, keeping the pink lamp aimed at him.
She
lunged across the bed, reaching for the telephone.
“Now,
Princess, please calm down.” He reached for the phone and ripped it from the
wall. “I mean you no harm, but we must talk and there is little time.” He fell
to one knee, bowing in front of her.
Her
eyes wide, she swung the pink lamp at him at him. He deflected the blow with
his forearm as he stood, denting the lampshade in the process.
“Princess, someone
is going to get hurt if you do not allow me to speak.” He wrestled the mangled
lamp from her. “Hear what I have to say. Please,” he implored. “You must return
home. Immediately.”
“Help!
Somebody help me!” Screaming, she kicked out at him with her foot, tried to
take his head off but her skills were no match for his. He blocked her kick
with one arm, grabbed her leg with both his hands, flipped her completely
around and back on the bed.
“No
one can hear you. Stop screaming.” His voice never rose. He
sounded…exasperated.
Somewhat
reassured that he didn’t attack, Audra stopped to catch her breath. Breathing
hard, she rolled to her back, the sheet cool beneath her, eyeing him from top to bottom. “You look like you just
came from a Star Trek convention.” And
just like the man in my dream.
Could it be?
“Yes,
I have trekked across the stars in search of you, Princess.” His words were odd,
clipped, very formal, as though learned from a book.
“What
are you talking about?” This man, dream or not, was in her bedroom,
and she couldn’t imagine how in the world he got in there.
He
held out his hand to help her up, but
she swatted it away.
“Who
are you? Really? How did you get in here and...and who are you?” She lunged for
the lamp in his hands.
Placing
the lamp out of her reach, he said, “I am Coridian, brother of your betrothed. I am here to escort you
home.”
“Betrothed?
You’ve escaped from the asylum, haven’t you? You’re
some kind of nut and...”
“My
lady, I am not an escapee from an asylum, and I am not a pecan.”
“Then,
why do you keep spouting nonsense? I’m not a princess!”
“May
I rise? I’ll explain—.”
She
shook her head and backed up a step. “You—”
He
held up his hand to stop her. “Then you can ask your questions.”
“You-you
stay right where you are.”
In
the next instant, she grabbed the hairspray can from her dressing table, threw
it at his head and bolted for the door. He leapt forward and caught her before
she’d taken two steps, slamming her up against his chest, trapping her there
within his arms. The lamp crashed to the floor, shattered.
Kicking
wildly, Audra connected with his groin. His knees buckled, but he was quick to
recover and never loosened his hold on her. Her heart raced as she twisted,
freed an arm, and slammed the heel of her hand into his face. If he hadn’t
turned, she would have broken his nose. Her strike was solid enough though, she
heard him groan in pain before he released her.
Triumphant,
she spun around, connecting her right foot with his solar plexus, knocking the
wind from him. Now on the attack, she
switched feet, and with her left foot, launched him
backward, sending him landing on his back. Regaining her balance before he did,
she straddled his chest, her knees and feet trapping his arms.
“Now.
Tell me what I want to know or I’ll make sure you don’t see another day.”
He
smiled, actually smiled at her. “I have told you who I am. Only your aunt can
tell you more. I have no wish to harm you, my lady.” He
looked at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “I rather like you sitting on me like
this.”
“Are
you mad? I could kill you.”
Instead,
he bucked sideways, sending her toppling to the floor. Before she could rise,
he had her back on the floor, straddled her, his body pressing her down.
“Now.
Are you ready to listen?”
Looking
up at him, she finally nodded. He moved, rising swiftly to his feet. Her body
tingled from where he’d straddled her. She didn’t like, actually, she liked too
much, how it felt to have his weight upon her.
She
ignored his outstretched hand, stood and stepped away from him, her gaze
darting toward the door.
Smiling,
he shook his finger at her. “Do not even think it. I would have you before you
took two steps. Again.”
Raising
her chin, she nodded. She wasn’t afraid of him...her dream man. That though
made her pause. She should be afraid, but
somehow she sensed he didn’t mean her harm
Another
feeling rose in her-an electric connection.
The
urgent need to touch his body, run her fingers through his hair. Somehow she
felt, no she knew, that this man would never hurt her, would rather die than
cause her pain. How did she know that?
“Fine.
Tell me what you want and get out.”
Walking
to the window, he gave her some space. “I am Coridian. Darius Coridian. My
brother, Anton, is your betrothed. He sent me here to bring you home. To
Centauri.”
“Anton?
I don’t know any Anton, and I’ve never heard of Centauri.”
“Allow
me to finish. You are Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Dayanara, and heir to
the throne of the planet Centauri in the system you know as Alpha Centauri,
approximately four light years from here.
“You
have been living here on Earth for the last twenty-four years. This was done to
protect you from your enemies. Now, however, both of your parents are dead and
you must return with me to claim your throne and marry my brother.”
“You’ve got the wrong girl.” She shoved off
the bed, wrapping her arms about her.
“Princess.”
He stood next to her, but did not touch her. “Audra. Look at me.”
She
did and looked up into those dark, midnight blue eyes, framed with incredibly
thick lashes...and felt an instant and unwelcome thrill of recognition. It was
the same as in her dream. His proximity made her aware of nothing but him. The
room seemed smaller, the air thinner. Her heart beat faster, her pulse raced.
“Let
us go see your...mother. She will explain everything to your satisfaction.” His
voice was gentle, coaxing, almost mesmerizing. “Then we must leave quickly. The
trip home will be long, but not nearly long enough. You have many things to
learn on the way.”
His
words brought her back to reality. She walked over to her nightstand where her
phone used to be. “Give me back my phone. I’m calling the police.”
“I
will give you the device, if you agree to contact Princess Margareta.”
Taking
a deep breath, she decided she would find out if her dreams were correct or if
they were nothing more than the musings of a sexually repressed female mind. Rolling
her eyes at her thoughts, she reached for the phone he handed her.
“Fine,
I’ll call Mom.” As she groped for the plug, she never took her eyes off him.
“Call her.”
“I
can’t. You broke the damn thing.” Dropping the
phone to the floor, she said, “I’ll have to use my cell. You wait outside. I’ll
let you know what she says, and then you can leave.”
“No,”
he said, as if he could read her mind. “I’ll
wait right here. My mission is too important to play games. Call her. Now. I
give you my oath as Coridian, Captain of the Dragonera and Lord Protector of
the Throne of Centauri, I won’t move.”
“Fine.”
She found her cell in her purse and dialed the number. “Mom’s going to think
I’m crazy for letting you talk me into calling her.”
“We
will see, Princess.” He smiled. “We will see.”
There
was something about him, more than the fact that he
was a stranger in her bedroom that left her feeling uneasy. Fear that he might
be telling the truth.
“Hello.
Mom?” Audra remained facing Coridian, never turning her back to him.
Her
mother answered. “Audra? This is early for you to be up on a Saturday, sweetheart.
I didn’t expect you to call today. Aren’t you coming for dinner tomorrow?”
“Mom,
there’s a man here named Coridian who keeps calling me ‘Princess’ and says that
you can explain.”
The
sharp intake of breath heard through the receiver surprised Audra, telling her
that indeed the man, Coridian, might be telling the truth. Her heart stalled.
“Mom?
What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
Her
mother’s reply sounded strained, a little shaky. “What did you say his name was?”
“Coridian.
He said his name is Coridian.”
“Oh,
Lord,” her mother gasped. “Audra, bring that man with you and come home right
now. I’ll explain when you get here. I love you, dear.”
The
phone receiver went dead. Her mother hung up on her!
She
listened dumbly to the dial tone in her ear. Her mother never wanted anything done immediately. She always
told her children to slow down and take it easy.
This
was not good.
Monday, April 14, 2014
My Writing Process - by Vijaya Schartz
MY WRITING PROCESS
What are you working on?
Right
now, I'm writing Book Five in the CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK series, it's
titled SNOW CHEETAH, and will cap the end of the series, with the
official discovery by humans from Earth of the planet where the series
takes place. The last book in the series was a prequel, NOAH'S ARK,
telling the story of how humans happened to crash on that unknown planet
in the first place. Like all the books in the series, it's a romance as
well as a science fiction adventure. The heroine, Natalia, is a human
hybrid with psychic abilities, and the hero is the captain of the ship, a
nano-enhanced Space Marine, with a secret mission. Like in the other
books, cats play a role in the story, and in this one, it's a Cheetah.
The book comes out in November of this year. Look for the gorgeous
award-winning cat covers.
And
in July, I'll start writing the next book in my medieval fantasy
series, The Curse of the Lost Isle. It will be Book Six in that series.
It will be set upon the backdrop of the First Crusade.
How does your work
differ from others of its genre?
My
books are not typical romance and touch on other genres, like sci-fi,
fantasy, historical, or a mix of at least two genres. I also take the
time to create worlds where the reader wants to stay a while, but always
keeping the action and the romance going. My logline is Blasters,
Swords, Romance with a Kick.
Why do you write what you do?
I
write what I love to read. A romance novel without any action would
bore me, and an action story without a relationship would leave me
disappointed. As for sci-fi and medieval settings, some say I'm a time
traveler and I have known all these timelines.... the truth is, I do
intensive research, even when I write sci-fi.
How does your process work?
I'm
usually on deadlines, so I have to plan in advance, and figure out what
works best for me. I usually write a chapter a week, not a draft, but a
polished chapter. After five rewrites during that week, I present the
chapter to my critique partner, she makes comments, then I rewrite it
again, print it, set it in the binder with the other finished chapters.
When the book is finished, I revise the entire manuscript several times,
before sending it to my publisher. A month or so later, I get the first
edits, then second edits, then a final copy to review before it gets
published.
Vijaya Schartz - Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz
Friday, April 11, 2014
Time Travel and Sci-Fi Better Than Peanut Butter and Chocolate
(Note: This is a repost from March 2013)
Remember those Reeses Peanut Butter Cup commercials where one person with chocolate runs into someone else with peanut butter and then they collide? Or maybe I'm just that old.
But that's not the only thing that’s better when combined...or when it collides.
Science fiction is known for many things, but one of the best components is time-travel.
The idea has been around for a long time, across most cultures, and there are those who claim they've done it themselves.
There's no end to the story possibilities and a fish out of water story just never grows old.
Plus it's fun to imagine what would might do if given a second chance--a very compelling aspect of the human condition.
And sometimes we just want to know the future fashions.
I have two series that focus on the time-travel element--both #1 Amazon Bestsellers in Time Travel Romance. In Kiss Me, I'm Irish, a young Regency-era lady has been banished to a convent. When a chance of escape is at hand via some mysterious lights in the forest, she finds herself in modern day Tennessee at the mercy of a struggling musician and his snarky sister.
In Apocalypse Babes, the main character--a type of Persephone--gets a second chance at happiness, but she must fight her way through a crummy past, flighty friends, a mysterious compound in the wilderness, and pink velour.
So take a trip on the wild side, and travel through time--even if it's only in your mind.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Running to Stand Still
You ever feel like you have so much to do, you can't really figure out what to do, so you start a bunch of things but never seem to finish anything? That's me lately. For one, my release, Double Takes, is due out on 4/21/14.
In fact, it's available for pre-order now, so anyone who likes a rock star romance and wants to save a hot buck should get it while the gettin' is good. I'm hosting a giveaway before release day to sweeten the deal. Anyone who pre-buys Double Takes from Liquid Silver Books and sends me a screen shot of their receipt to kimbervale (at) hot mail {dot] com is in the running to win a rockin' bracelet. The fine print: good only in the continental US. If a winner is chosen outside the 48 states, he/she will receive an eBook from my back-list instead. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
So, needless to say, I've been swamped with the promo machine, churning out blog posts like it's my job (I guess it is?) and playing email tag with blog hosts and reviewers until my eyes feel like they're bleeding.
I'm also in the middle of self-edits for the third book in my Shooting Stars series, but it's slow going because I'm only hitting it in fits and spurts, unfortunately.
Fun news, though? I did start mapping out a new book that I'm excited about. It's a dystopian M/M, with sci-fi elements that I'm envisioning being a series and plan to work in with another book idea I had. It's only in the zygote stage, but I think it has potential to grow into something big and beautiful.
Of course, I have a paranormal M/F I want to get done before June 1st for a Halloween release, so that will be next up. I also plan to write one more Shooting Stars book at some point, to give the guys in book 3 a lasting HEA. I'm nice like that. :-)
Anyway, happy reading, and may you get everything checked off your to-do list today! I'm going to give mine a shot.
-Kimber Vale
www.authorkimbervale.com
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