Book Tour: "Play Me" by Jennifer Probst

Playing with BDSM by Jennifer Probst

First off, let me thank the wonderful Danielle for allowing me to hijack her blog for the day and talk about something many readers are suddenly talking about.

BDSM.

Let’s take a quick peek at the definition Wikipedia uses to explain the term.

“BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of personal relationship involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role play. The acronym BDSM combines bondage and discipline (B&D or B/D), dominance and submission (D&S or D/s), and sadism and masochism (S&M or S/M). BDSM includes a wide range of activities, forms of interpersonal relationships, and distinct subcultures.”

With the popularity of the trilogy 50 Shades of Grey, BDSM has suddenly hit the spotlight. But many readers have already delved into this fascinating topic and enjoy a vault of talented writers who deal in this specific subject. Basically – this is not new to many of us. I’m just thrilled more readers may discover the fun and spice of this suddenly hot subject.

With my new 1Night Stand novel from Decadent, Play Me, I introduce some light aspects of BDSM. Here’s a quick blurb:

Professional gambler Sloane Keller is tired of dating weak willed men and longs to meet a man who challenges her dominant personality and forces her to submit. As the Queen of Cards, she’s used to making her own rules, and craves the excitement of Vegas. But her inner heart cries out for someone who can be her match, both inside the casino and in the bedroom.

As the new dealer in town, Roman Steele is burnt out on women looking for a quick penny and a man to follow. He craves a woman with fire in her soul and a keen intellect who can challenge him. When his brother recruits Madame Eve to help, Rome is amazed at the complicated woman he gets to spend the night with. But when the evening is over, will she be gutsy enough to offer him forever?

In Play Me, there is the use of some light bondage, a bit of spanking, and a lot of push/pull between two dominant partners. But it’s the energy and sizzle between these two characters that remain my favorite part of the story. Inserting some BDSM into a book without sketching out the proper characterization will leave the story flat.

Have you ever read romance books with BDSM elements? What is your opinion? Come share with me!

Come stalk me!

Website and Blog: http://www.jenniferprobst.com

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst?origin=

Author Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jenniferprobst

Buy Play Me here!

Amazon

Decadent

Allromance

Interview & Giveaway: "Great Escapes" by Linda Wisdom & Lynda K. Scott

Today I have Linda Wisdom and Lynda K. Scott here for a interview and I'm really excited because I'm a fan of Linda's. So let's give them a warm welcome to the Romance Book Junkies.

Q: I loved the setup of Great Escapes: Visitors to a quiet B&B get an unexpected sexual reawakening, courtesy of the B&B's resident ghosts, who are sort of like invisible sex therapists. What was your inspiration?
A: Linda W – Lynda and I’ve talked about this and we’re not sure what our inspiration was. We talked back and forth about the idea of co-writing erotica. The B&B and ghost lovers seemed to just fall into place.
A: Lynda S – When you have two slightly insane writers start kicking ideas around, weird things happen? Linda’s right. Our ghostly friends and the B&B just sort of fell into place wholly formed and ready to fly. I love when that happens.

Q: It also seems like the perfect setup for the "personalization" angle. Can you explain how it works for the reader?
A: Linda W- I’m still working on that. What I like with the personalization is that different people can read a different variation of the story. If you want super sexy, you have it. If you want a more traditional romance, you have that too. I wonder how many people ignore a story because it’s either too sexy or not enough while the story itself might be something they’d be interested in. This way they get to choose.
A: Lynda S – It really does give the reader the choice on a number of things (hero/heroine type or steaminess) and that’s just super. I think Linda and I are both relative newcomers to the technique of the customization but from what I’ve seen, Coliloquy has made it easy for the reader to get lots of variations. Readers know what they like and this is a great way to give it to them.

Q: How did you decide to start writing as a team?
A: Linda W -LOL! What I remember is that it was an experiment to see if it could be done. We thought it would be fun for one of us to start the story, send it on to the other who would look at the first part, perhaps make some changes then continue on and send it back. We’ve had so much fun with this.
A: Lynda S – Linda’s right. It’s kind of a round robin style of writing. This may not work for other authors but for us…it’s a total blast.

Q: How does it work? I want to believe you get drunk, talk about your deepest fantasies, and then write them down…
A: Linda W - Hm, the drunk part could work. LOL! We’re in different time zones so email and phone works great for this. We figure out the basics and take it from there.
A: Lynda S – I’d like a Margarita…oh, that wasn’t an offer? LOL We’re writers. We don’t talk about it. We just go ahead and write it. It’s actually kind of fun to open the email and find an attachment labeled GE - CQ. GE is Great Escapes, obviously. CQ is for the next installment of Great Escapes using the initials of the two main characters – the story of Cilla and Quentin.

Q: What's coming up next in the series?
A: Linda W - Summer solstice and some fun holidays. We love it when we allow our imaginations to go wild. It doesn’t take much for that to happen!
A: Lynda – That would be Cilla and Quentin’s story. And no, it doesn’t take much for our imaginations to take the steering wheel and speed off down the highway, lol.

Q: If you could spend the night with one ghost, who would it be?
A: Linda W- Wow, tough question! I hate to say that I can’t think of one particular ghost.
A: Lynda – Our ghosts don’t have names. Yet. But the male ghost is a real charmer. And totally hot. So I pick him.

Q: What is your favorite Quote?
A: Lynda S – I have two fav’s. “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug”.- Mark Twain AND “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”.- Arthur C. Clarke

Q: What's the craziest writing idea you've had?
A: Lynda S -- That would be my story Altered Destiny. It has everything. Science, elves, dragons, a hot kilt wearing Scotsman. Or the one currently looking for a home (Rider) which has an organism that looks like a living tattoo. Or the one percolating about zombies and aliens. Sometimes I’m not sure I’m creative or just totally insane, lol

Q: Hidden talent?
A: Lynda S – I don’t know how hidden it is. I like to cook. My family/friends sometimes call me the Mad Scientist of the Kitchen because I like to try new recipes or new unusual ingredients or create new recipes. What can I say? I like to feed people. Food or imagination…it’s all good, lol

Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: Linda W - Free time? What’s that? I guess I’d say I use it to play with my dogs.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Linda W - A bubble bath with my digital reader protected in plastic, wine and sometimes my See’s Bordeaux.

Q: What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
A: Linda W - I watch some crazy stuff and so far, I’ve been willing to admit it.

Q: Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
A: Lynda S – The Hunger Games. I really liked that book.

Q: If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?
A: Linda W - Could my dogs be with me? I’d be holed up with my digital reader and my favorite movies.

Q: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
A: Linda W - I’m painfully shy.
A: Lynda S – I love fog. The mystery, the subtlety. It’s like reading a book, going deeper and deeper into the story and then the fog thins and the world or story opens up. Okay, yeah, I’m a bit odd, lol.

GREAT ESCAPES by best-selling author Linda Wisdom and Lynda K. Scott, is a new personalized erotica series centered on the guests of a quiet B&B in rural Virginia. The heartbroken, lovelorn, and disenchanted come to Great Escapes B&B in search of a relaxing getaway, only to embark on a weekend of sexual self-discovery, courtesy of the inn’s resident ghosts, who bring to life each guest’s deepest desires. Just as the ghosts transform to meet the needs of each guest, GREAT ESCAPES leverages digital reading technology to deliver what the reader wants. Do you like your erotica steamy or romantic? Blue eyes or brown? Anonymously fill out your preferences, and we’ll automatically deliver the best version of hundreds of combinations prepared by the authors. And if you’re not satisfied? Feel free to try it all over again. In GREAT ESCAPES: VALENTINE'S DAY, Rose’s best friend gives her a gift certificate to the B&B, where an invisible lover helps her to rediscover her sexuality. But will she open her eyes enough to see what—or who—is right next door?

I have one Kindle ebook copy of "Great Escapes" to give away to a US resident. Just fill out the rafflecopter below.
 

April's Historical Reading Challenge Giveaway

Welcome to the forth month of my 2012 Historical Romance Reading Challenge! Something new from last year is that I'm keeping the sign up open all year long so others can jump in and join us at any point during the year. 


This is April's post were you will be getting information about this month's giveaway and this is also were your going to link up your reviews using the Linky Tool at the bottom of the post. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at romancebookjunkiesdanielle@yahoo.com. Now on to the good stuff:


There will be one winner this month.They will be winning this lovely bookmark:

from Miss Bohemia and a ebook copy of 

Innocently embroiled in naval espionage Lucy Mainwaring sails on board RMS Titanic - will she and the man she loves survive?
Drawn into espionage by navy officer Edwin Hardie, Lucy Mainwaring is advised by her diplomat uncle, who is Hardie’s superior, to accept Edwin’s marriage proposal.  Believing the offer, although honourable, is made without true affection, she refuses him but agrees to get to know him better during an Atlantic voyage to a peace conference in America. They embark on RMS Titanic but who will reach New York?

She rose from her chair. "We are hardly acquainted," she reminded him as she turned to face him. "You cannot profess to love me as a man should love his wife. I have no fortune to bring to our union. So, I must ask, is your proposal based solely on your sense of duty?"

He came a few steps closer and looked into her eyes. "If anything happened to you, Lucy, I would never forgive myself."

She ripped her gaze from his. It was the only way she could say the words truly on her mind. "Do you want to marry me to satisfy your own conscience?"

He didn't answer.

"Don't patronise me, Hardie. I may only be the daughter of a country parson, but I do have my self-respect."

"I never doubted it."

She didn't know where her strength came from but knew she had to speak the truth. She fixed her eyes on his. "I have emotions and feelings, but my good sense tells me not to be influenced by a few kisses occurring in circumstances neither of us should have allowed to pass. To marry out of obligation is not a good starting point for marriage. Think of the future. Circumstances such as ours could so easily be construed into a situation where I would be blamed for entrapping you. I respect your sense of duty, and for the present, your loyalty is unquestionable, but I must be rational. My answer must be no."

Not waiting for his reaction she made of the door, her legs barely able to support her.

Donated by:

Here is the Linky tool to use for linking your reviews.

 

Hunky Hero Giveaway Hop!!

Welcome to Romance Book Junkies. I have decided to participate in the Hunky Hero Hop and I have the perfect books up for grabs. First lets thank the host of this great giveaway hop, Riverina Romantics.

So lets get down to the goodies. A short while ago I was reading this book and knew right away that it would be the perfect giveaway prize for this hop. The book is about a cyborg that is human but has been made into a robot with perfect bodies and almost indestructible. When I contacted the author she offered to not only donate "C791" but she is also giving me "F814" the sequel. So don't miss out on this great opportunity to win both books in this series and if you've ever read any of Eve Langlais' work you know its going to be hot.

More Than Machines #1

Goodreads Blurb: Machines aren’t supposed to feel, but this cyborg can’t help falling in love.

Assigned as a specimen collector for a captured cyborg, Chloe is intrigued by the machine disguised as a man. Kidnapped during his daring escape, he shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.

Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn’t find the answers he’s looking for, he does discover that affection and lust aren’t just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism—once a man—choose?

Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though because the military isn’t done with Joe. But their threats against him pale in comparison before the shocking discovery of project C791, the revelation of which stuns the rebel cyborgs—and ignites a fury for vengeance.

�Warning: This story contains violence towards the heroine that might offend some readers, but rest assured the hero kicks the offending butts. This is a spicy romance featuring an ultra hot, cyborg male. Reader titillation is advised.

More Than Machines #2 

Goodreads Blurb: She thought herself a robot, defective and unique among her kind, until he taught her how to live again.

F814 exists to serve the humans until they decide to terminate her. An instinct for survival makes her fight, but when she achieves freedom, she discovers she cannot throw off the chains of habit. Everything changes when another flesh covered droid arrives, a cyborg he calls himself, who teaches her she is more than a machine.

Solus hates humanity, and even though he was born as a flawed human, he strives to eradicate all traces of it from his persona—until he meets F814. Meeting and touching her releases something in him. Has him yearning for things he doesn’t understand. Makes him long for…affection.

Before he can learn to love though, he must first tackle the task of reminding F814 that she is more than the sum of her mechanical parts. But of course, when dealing with an illogical thing like emotions, there is no sure plan for success.

Warning: May induce a craving for a cyborg of your own.


I dreamt I was once human. I lived a nightmare as a robot. But love taught me I was more than a machine.

GO METAL!

Celebrate with Mary Jo Putney with Giveaways!

Mary Jo Putney has two titles being released this Spring, "The Rake" and "No Longer a Gentleman". In celebration she is hosting a contest like none other. The Grand Prize winner will receive 3 consecutive months of fresh cut flowers delivered right to their door plus a copy of each book. Then 10 more lucky winners  will win a copy of each of her books coming out this spring. It's really easy to enter just go to this website to get all the information about the contest and how to enter:  http://editor.booktrib.com/2012/03/29/enter-to-win-three-months-of-romantic-indulgence/

They also gave me a copy of each book to giveaway on my blog. So here's a little about the books.

Goodreads Blurb:
 Grey Sommers, Lord Wyndham, never met a predicament he couldn’t charm his way out of. Then a tryst with a government official’s wife during a bit of casual espionage in France condemns him to a decade in a dungeon, leaving him a shadow of his former self. Yet his greatest challenge may be the enigmatic spy sent to free his body—the only woman who might heal his soul.
Cassie Fox lost everything in the chaos of revolution, leaving only a determination to help destroy Napoleon’s empire through her perilous calling. Rescuing Grey is merely one more mission. She hadn’t counted on a man with the stark beauty of a ravaged angel, whose desperate courage and vulnerability thaw her frozen heart. But a spy and a lord are divided by an impassable gulf even if they manage to survive one last, terrifying mission….

Goodreads Blurb:
A man's past doesn't have to map his fate, especially when a woman holds the key to his destiny in this timeless novel by New York Times bestselling author and legend in historical romance Mary Jo Putney...

Disinherited and disgraced, Reginald Davenport's prospects cried for a dire end. But fate has given him one last chance at redemption—by taking his rightful place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women, yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston.

Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men—until Strickland's restored owner awakens a passion she thought she would never feel. A passion that will doom or save them both...if only they can overcome their pasts.

1. This giveaway is open to US & Canada only.
2. You must be 18 or over.
3. Fill out the rafflecopter.

Interview: "Tomorrow Belongs to Us: Titanic Novel" by Lynda Dunwell

Today we have Lynda Dunwell on Romance Book Junkies for an interview. She is just coming out with "Tomorrow Belongs to Us: Titanic Novel" just in time or the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. If your anything like me I love all things Titanic and I can't wait to read this one.

I know you get asked this question over and over but can you tell us a little about yourself? Maybe something juicy. ;)

 

Besides being a writer, I am a genealogist and researcher. I have traced my paternal line – that’s the Dunwells – back to 1485 in Yorkshire, England. Although I am based in the English Midlands and could not be further from the sea if I tried, I love anything nautical, unusual, weird and wonderful. I spend most of my vacations on board cruise ships. I don’t know how it got there, but there’s definitely salt in my veins.

When did you first start writing? Are you a full time author or do you do it on the side?

 

I began writing seriously six years ago when my mother died suddenly. She had encouraged me to write and read my early manuscripts with maternal enthusiasm. Although, she didn’t live to see me published, I only have to close my eyes and I can feel her supportive presence. Now I write full-time, usually in the mornings for about four hours a day. The rest of the time I research, read, surf the net and tend my garden. Gardening is my relaxation, I call it my prime thinking time.

Do you have a author that has really inspired you?

 

Aged 12, I read “Gone with the Wind” in three days and got hooked on historical romance for life. Mother was a great film buff, she told me about the movie and I yearned to see it. Fortunately, there was a re-release in our city on a super wide screen and we went.  I have watched the DVD many times since, but that first viewing, like the first read of Margaret Mitchell’s book, was awesome.

 

How long does it normally take you to write an average book or your last book?

 

First draft about six to eight weeks but only after the research has been done. It’s the only way I can get to know my characters by understanding the world they live in. Editing, polishing and sometimes changing aspects of the plot can take longer. I try to write from inside the head of each character, usually heroine, hero and, if the plot demands it, a secondary character.

 

What do you think makes a story great?

 

Emotion, factual accuracy, reader involvement – when I read I like to live the story, experience the characters’ lives, cry with them and celebrate their joy.

 

Can you describe your book "Tomorrow Belongs to Us: Titanic Novel" in one sentence?

Embroiled in naval espionage, Lucy Mainwaring sails on the ill-fated liner - will she and the man she loves survive?

 

What inspired you to write a book about the titanic?

 

When my mother took me to see the movie, “A Night to Remember”, I was an impressionable child. “The film didn’t frightened you, did it?” she asked when we came out of the cinema.

“No,” I said, “because we would have got in a lifeboat.”

 

The survival instinct was obviously sewn very early into my life, I’ve often said, “If I’d sailed on the Titanic, I’d have had a lifeboat ticket in my back pocket.”

 

Several years after seeing the movie, I read Walter Lord’s book of the same title. Over the years, I read most books written about the liner, so it seemed a good idea to place a novel on board.

 

Have you done lots of research for this book or did the story just come to you?

 

The story just came, especially having seen the Winslet/DiCaprio love story in James Cameron’s epic movie, “Titanic.” I wanted to write a novel in the Edwardian period. Titanic seemed the perfect setting.

What are you currently working on?

My current work is a sequel to my debut novel, “Marrying the Admiral’s Daughter” which was a sweet Regency romance also published by Musa Publishing. I didn’t see the villain off in my first novel, but with a new hero and heroine for the romance angle, it’s time for the bad guy to get his comeuppance.

 

Is there anything that I didn't cover that you would like to talk about or say to your potential readers?

 

Just what a fantastic age we live in, with so many good stories, networking facilities, and research at our fingertips via the net, enjoy life everyone – it’s the greatest gift on Earth.

 

Just for fun:

Hardback or Paperback?  Ebooks, first paper next, HB only if no alternative
Dog ears or Bookmarks?  Bookmarks, I like to be creative.
YA novels or Adult novels?  Adult preferred
Library or Bookstore? Both but these days I’m downloading most books
Reading glasses or No glasses? Readers especially at night, even with big format on my reader
Snack while reading or No snacks? Only drinks
Beach or Mountain? Sea but I’m no beach babe
Vampire or Werewolf? Vampire a little more approachable
Hot or Flirty? Hot – we are talking novels?
Movie 1st or Book 1st? Usually book but hey! My Titanic adventure started with a movie.
Contemporary or Historical? Usually historical – I’m an escapist at heart.
Page-Turner or Tear Jerker? Give me both at the same time if possible.

www.lyndadunwell.com

http://www.lyndadunwellauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/lyndadunwell

www.facebook.com/lyndadunwell

Book Tour: "Starline" by Imogene Nix

 

“Starline (Book 1, Warriors of the Elector)” by Imogene Nix

Secret Cravings Publishing, 201 pages

Erotic Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance

BLURB:

One man, one woman, one psychotic alien. Now the race is on to save humanity. Past. Present. Future.

Mellissa Davis is your average bookstore owner and aspiring romance author until one day an electronic book pad slides through the mail slot of her little bookstore. Now all she has to worry about is a sexy time travelling stealthship captain, staying out of the way of the bad guy and saving the universe, past and present. Not much to ask…

Duvall McCord, an up and coming stealthship captain travels to the past to stop the Ru’Edan leader, Crick Sur Banden, destroying the Earth Empire of the future. His mission? Retrieve the handbook for the Elector. He doesn’t count on love, or saving the woman of his dreams. But time is running out. This warrior must do everything he can to stop the plot...

 

Eyes sore and weary from watching information on the changes and major events since her own time had passed, Mellissa reached out and turned off the screen. Amazing. So much had occurred, and to think, I have a chance to be part of it. She shook her head. But so much she needed to learn. Could she manage to do that? What a question to ponder, she thought.

Inside the cramped cubicle of a Security Officer protecting her from prying eyes, she recapped in her mind the wonders she had seen. Interstellar travel—a huge technological leap there alone, she thought, and the change in the governmental systems—so much to learn about. Meeting new species and forming alliances, not to mention colonizing other planets and even inter-species marriages. How amazing was that? In her time, they still carried on talk fests about the feasibility of “some day” considering travel to the stars.

She grinned. And here she was, Mellissa Davis, in space and travelling toward a future she couldn’t possibly have imagined. “George and Eliza would love this,” she muttered to herself.

“Who are George and Eliza?” McCord peered at her, making her jump at the sound of his voice. She had missed the thud of boots on the flooring during her musings.

Mellissa gulped, wishing the floor would open and engulf her. How could she explain without him thinking less of her, not to mention her characters? George, a rough tough space Captain, and his protégée and maybe sometime lover, Eliza? Was it really something you could just blurt out? “Umm, they are characters in a book,” she said.

“A book? Of course, they were still huge in your time. In ours, only the rich have them. The rest have bookpads.” He smiled. “Who was it by? I might be able to access a copy for you.”

Her discomfort deepened. “Umm, I was writing it.” Her cheeks grew rosy.

“Really? Wow. What kind of book is it?” He looked at her, and she was sure his interest seemed genuine. She cringed at the thought of telling him it was a romance. After all, wasn’t it maiden aunts that wrote this sort of stuff anyway? Let alone read them.

Uh oh, she knew what to expect, she thought to herself. “Umm, it was a Sci If Romance.”

He looked at her. “You know, some of the most enduring books from your time are romances. Fancy that.” He grinned, and she could feel the air clear a little. She still felt embarrassed, but not as much as she had.

“Yeah, in my time, romance writers are sort of, well, you know, the bottom of the pack…gaining ground though. We actually have whole associations dedicated to reading romance.” She grimaced up at his face in embarrassment. What must he think of me? I’m some kind of old spinster? But wasn’t that what I was on the road to becoming? An insidious little voice in the back of her head quietly asked. Thinking how she wished her character, George, could be half as sexy as Duvall McCord, she had to mentally remind herself that here stood a real rough-and-tumble Captain and not some figment of her imagination.

“Well, there is definitely a career waiting for you as a writer of romance.” He grinned. “Come on and I’ll grab you a coffee, and you can give me the lowdown on your characters…was it George and Eliza?”

She hopped up quickly and followed him to the mess. Really, it seemed funny how quickly she had settled into ship life, she mused. “So, do you believe in romance yourself?” he asked, and he seemed just as surprised as she did by the question.

“Romance? Yes, absolutely.” Her enthusiastic answer surprised him. It radiated clearly on his face, the way it screwed up slightly. “That’s why I own a bookstore and am writing a novel.”

“Hmm, yes, but did you live alone?” His query zeroed in on a spot she didn’t really like to explore. “I mean, is there a man in your life?”

His gaze zeroed in on her again. She hoped, in fact had prayed, that there was more to the question, and then reminded herself it couldn’t be real. Her imagination still looked for the possibility of a relationship that didn’t and couldn’t exist.

“Not really. I mean, my man is really George at the moment. It’s kinda hard to explain.” She floundered a little, looking for the right words. “The way I grew up, in an orphanage, I never really got to see how families worked together, and I guess it kind of made it harder for me to work out what it looked like, so I guess…” He looked at her strangely.

“Orphanage? I was a fosterling. The Gentry’s fostered me. They were great.” His face softened. “Really good people. It must have been hard with no one in your corner. And they gave me a fabulous sister.” Gently his hand extended toward her chin and raised it until her eyes looked into his. “Really hard for you though…” The words dropped to a trailing whisper as he leaned toward her.

Her eyes fluttered closed as the distance between them melted away. She knew he was going to kiss her. Knew it probably wasn’t a good or even wise decision, but she needed to find out if he tasted as good as he looked.

“Captain, Miss Davis,” Elara called, interrupting the moment. “I see you think it is time for coffee too. Wonderful!” Then she looked again, the realization clear on her face that she had walked in on something. Then Elara seemed to mutter to herself and headed for the mess hall door.

The moment broken, they looked at each other. A wry grin on his face softened the years and hardness from his features somehow. He turned, motioning her toward the door and the coffee that lay within. It didn’t make her feel any better though. She had nearly made a mistake. A big one. Hadn’t she?

BUY LINK:

Secret Cravings Publishing:

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=30&products_id=239

VIDEO TRAILER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OaOcpbSX4tk

A mother of two, compulsive reader and bookstore owner. Imogene lives in regional Queensland, Australia with her husband, 2 daughters, dog, cats, guinea pigs and chooks. She has a particular fondness for Vampires, Star Ship captains and things that go bump in the night.  Visit Imogene at http://www.imoginenix.com.

Guest Post & Giveaway: "The Possibilities of Amy" by Jaye Frances

Today we have author Jaye Frances here with a guest post and a giveaway opportunity so let's give her a warm welcome to the Romance Book Junkies. 

Thank you, Danielle, for hosting me on Romance Book Junkies today. I really appreciate the opportunity to give your readers a sneak peek at my new romance novella, The Possibilities of Amy, and to share a little background about the story.

Since The Possibilities of Amy was published, I’m often been asked if there is any special secret to writing from a man’s viewpoint.  Well, in fact, there is.  And while it has nothing to do with self-hypnosis, mind-altering elixirs, shape-shifting rituals, or demonic possession, it is a process . . .  

I call it temporary trans-gendering—sliding into the disposition, temperament, and perspective of a male identity. Does it hurt? So far, I’ve suffered no permanent damage, although I do often wonder about possible and lingering after-effects—when did her little butt get so cute?

Yes, my expeditions into the male psyche have definitely made me more curious—about a lot of things. And on those occasions when I’ve journeyed into the very heart of Penis Town, I’ve had some frighteningly rational glimpses into the male spirit. (And yes, that did hurt.) But I’ve decided the advantages outweigh the risk. Writing from that unique masculine mindset provides me with the opportunity to make the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle distinctions between otherwise gender-bound ideologies. Often misunderstood, usually irrational, and definitely exclusionary, they take physical form as fraternal organizations, male bonding rituals, and shared sexual conquests—their testosterone-charged alliance to the “greater male” evidenced by old cardboard boxes that overflow with past issues of Playboy and Cigar Aficionado.

Bottom line, even though I’m female, my goal is to write with a convincing and authentic voice, persuading the reader to suspend their belief about author gender while avoiding that all-too-common trap of an androgynous translation.

And that’s why writing “Amy” from the male perspective was so important to me—because the story is based on a personal experience, and I wanted to tell his side of it. Not only to be fair, but because he deserved to be heard.

“Dave? The air is getting cold.”

I pulled the speaker inside and rolled up the window, letting the glass pinch the cord. I glanced up at the screen, not because I cared about the movie, but to confirm the plot was still unresolved, that there was still time to hold her, caress her, to compress an entire lifetime together into a few fleeting minutes.

I slowly ran my fingers up and down her arms. I wasn’t expecting a response, but she set her hands over mine and pulled them up to her face, giving my thumb a playful bite. Maybe she was trying to recover, to distance herself from an uncertain future. Could revealing the truth have changed the way she thought of me? Had I become a diversion, something to take her mind off her problems? Perhaps under the circumstances, it’s all I could be.

Her teeth had barely left my thumb when she began to slowly separate the fingers of my left hand, softly nibbling at each fingertip.

Suddenly, all first date pretense was gone, the awkward hesitation unnecessary. I turned my head just enough to kiss her cheek, feeling the muscles in her face contracting into a smile.

She leaned back, leaving the wet streak of her tongue as she playfully flicked the edge of my ear. She licked her lips and opened them slightly, moving her mouth closer to mine.

It was a light kiss, served to me like a question, begging for an answer.

She twisted her body, turning to face me. I opened my arms, waiting for her to resettle. Instead, she pushed back, staring at me with an intense gaze, as if searching my face for something familiar under the reflected layers of colored movie shadow. I wondered if I reminded her of someone from her past, and she was struggling to bring long forgotten details back into the here and now.

I pulled her face to mine and tasted the inside of her mouth. She returned my kiss with surprising passion, her tongue probing, sliding, exploring. Unlike my fantasy lover—reserved, yet submissive—the real Amy was driven with passion and need, initiating a torrent of wet, saturated kisses.

She slowly writhed against me, her hands gliding along my shoulders and across my chest. I slid my hands lower, across her butt and down the backs of her thighs, the sensations of my skin against hers no longer distinguishable as individual and specific areas of contact. She was everywhere, and I would not let her separate from me.

Amy is the ultimate trophy girl—gorgeous face, killer body, and a vivacious personality. But there’s something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she’s starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she’s up for grabs, available.

Infatuated from the first moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevent him from approaching her-until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.

 Jaye Frances is the author of the new romance novella, The Possibilities of Amy, and the paranormal-occult romance book The Kure, the first novel in The Kure series. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Her upcoming books include The Cruise - All That Glitters, a humorous take on a shipboard romance, scheduled for a May 2012 release, and Journeys From Above and Below the Belt, a collection of adult fiction novellas and short stories, scheduled for a Summer 2012 release. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com

My website is:  http://www.jayefrances.com

My blog is:  http://blog.jayefrances.com

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13551398-the-possibilities-of-amy

My Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor

Link for The Possibilities of Amy on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Possibilities-of-Amy-ebook/dp/B007LPVXIA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332085581&sr=8-1-fkmr0

 As the giveaway Jaye wants to offer on winner a Kindle edition copy of "The Possibilities of Amy". Just fill out the rafflecopter below. This giveaway will be international.

Book Spotlight: "Master's Mistress" by Patricia Bates

Today we have Patricia Bates on Romance Book Junkies to show off one of her books, "Master's Mistress".

Sibling rivalry, deceit, and seduction flourish in Ancient Ireland as Amoda Ni Cormac struggles to free herself from the shadows of her enslavement.

His brother’s wedding brings Norse Prince Mykyl back to Bratthl’id Norway, and face to face with the proud Amoda Ni Cormac, a woman destined to be his oldest brother’s concubine. Driven by revenge, Mykyl steals the emerald eyed beauty.

Bound by duty, secrets, and lies, Mykyl and Amoda are caught in a battle for survival that will ultimately set them free.

 

“A little something to keep you warm at night, Amoda? Mayhap we could settle upon the order of things without the need for violence.” Deep and rich, the voice filled the room around her.

Startled, Amoda whipped around to stare at the man lounging against the doorframe. His arms crossed over his chest, an unreadable look upon his face, he stared back at her.

“You slithering worm! How dare you go about scaring people?” Amoda dropped the sword in her hand at the dark look upon his face. She swallowed as he stalked toward her, his stride purposeful.

“I dare much in my own chamber!” She flinched as Mykyl kicked the trunk closed. “It seems I should be questioning your motives, Amoda. What does a slave need with her master’s weapons?”

Catching the dark look on his face, Amoda tensed, fear coiling within her as she stumbled backwards. She wouldn’t beg him for anything, regardless of what his intent. Her eyes slid down to his waist, settling upon the carved hilt of the dagger that rested on his hip near his sword.

Mykyl’s gaze followed her glance. She swallowed when his right hand came up to settle upon the dagger. Awareness sparked in his eyes. His expression shifted, tightened into an ugly mask of rage.

“Are you certain you wish to try it?” Mykyl asked icily.

“Come closer and see.” She knew she couldn’t win using physical strength, but mayhap with shrewdness, she could be the victor. If she had learned anything being Rognvaldr’s slave, it was to pick her opportunity. Sooner or later, a weakness could be exploited, whether successfully or not.

Mykyl unbuckled his belt, and tossed it at the bed without breaking eye contact. He stopped and waited a few inches from her. A blatant challenge in his eyes, he doubted her will. Amoda swallowed against the tangle of fear and anger. Her gaze darted from his face to his weapon as she weighed the risks. She backed up a couple of steps.

“Well?” He spread his arms as though in surrender. “Do you wish to please me woman?”

“Not particularly.”

Reading has been such a large part of my life. I cut my literary teeth on such author’s as Louis L’Amour, Nora Roberts and Janet Dailey. For me it wasn’t such a jump from reading the wonderful tales these author’s spun to imagining my own. 

Soon I was writing poetry, short stories and by junior high I’d written my first full length romance novel. Since then I’ve taken my love of history and my passion for writing and combined them into what I hope will continue to prove a successful career.

With six books contracted, four of which are currently available in print. All are available in electronic format with the last two ebooks due for a release in May and the other in the summer. I’m currently working on three projects, an erotic paranormal romance featuring a witch who loves Christmas, another Ancient Ireland novel, rich in the history of the Irish Celtic peoples, and plotting out a Cowboy Series tentatively titled “The James Gang”.

Of course I’ve got a lot more on the go. I’m developing and growing my editing company with some amazing authors, working on getting the books that Blade had revamped to fit the submission guidelines for some other publishers and keeping up on my writing and being a full time mom, working outside of the house…its amazing what I can manage in a 16 hour day.