Wednesday, August 31, 2011

YAHOO GROUP APPRECIATION EVENT DAY 17 ~ BETH WILLIAMSON

Today I have Beth Williamson from the Wicked Writers Yahoo Group. She is an award winning and best selling author of both historical and contempory romances with a soft spot for cowboys. She is the author of the DEVILS ON HORSEBACK and THE MALLOY FAMILY along with several other amazing books. Learn more about Beth at her website.


Beth self Published and released LUCILLE'S LAWMAN onJune 28. 

More than the law will be tested when a marshal meets a feisty widow.
Sean Reilly had the bad luck to be assigned the blue marble – the “cursed” marble shunned by the four other marshals in the Arizona Territory. He’s sent to take care of a land dispute for a widow named Lucille Quinn. He has no idea just how his life will change because of the dang blue marble.
Lucille Quinn needs help to settle the matter of some missing cattle. The marshal that arrives is unexpected as he is good-looking – he’s also the man who left her five years earlier. Beneath the anger lies an attraction that never died, it simply smoldered until flaring back to life the moment she saw him.
The meeting is by pure chance, the result is pure magic.

Excerpt:




Sean didn’t know what to make of the widow, especially after the stories the other marshals had told him. She was fast with a gun—faster than most men. However she also had a sharp tongue and was bossy as hell. He couldn’t tell even what she looked like due to the huge floppy hat, and a dress at least three sizes too big and two sizes too short so he could see the man’s boots she wore. All he knew was she was tall and ornery with an attitude as big as Arizona itself.
He followed her into the house, ducking through the doorway after she did. The interior of the house was dark and rich with shadows. Sean paused for a moment to get his bearings. The rough hewn furnishings spoke of folks who used what they had to make furniture including logs, sticks and mismatched boards. Whoever had been the carpenter should have been put out of his misery. They were crooked, tied together with bailing twine and spit. Sean was afraid to even sit on anything for fear it would splinter under his weight.
The interior was clean, at least, although the floor was dirt, there was two rag rugs and even a pump with a large wooden sink. She went over to the sink and started working the pump until the water gushed out. After grabbing a canning jar from a rickety shelf above the sink, she filled it and took a long drink. Dribbles ran down the sides of her mouth, leaving spots on her dress. She yanked off the ugly hat then to his surprise, poured the rest of the water over her head.
“Oh my God, I needed that.” The water ran down her body, soaking the sorry dress she wore, revealing a hell of a lot more than he expected.
Beneath the brown fabric lay the curves of a woman, breasts that would more than fill his hands, and an hourglass figure that made his body harden against his wishes. Sean’s mouth went dry and he vaguely wished he could have a taste of water himself.
From her skin.
“I hope you’re not the shy type, Marshal. I had a long day and need a bath. I’m gonna get the water ready while we jaw for a bit.” From beneath the stove, she pulled out an impossibly small hip bath.
Visions of her standing in that bath naked made him shake. What in the hell was wrong with him? This woman about shot his head clean off and now he was having fantasies about seeing her without clothes.
She filled a bucket with water and put it on the back of a large pot-bellied stove, then stoked up the fire.
“I’ll make some coffee so we can talk.” After filling a battered tin pot and throwing in some beans, she set it on the stove beside the bucket. “You don’t talk much do you?”
“What did you want me to say? I came here to do my job, nothing more.” His voice sounded rusty even to his own ears.
“I know you’ll be doing your job.” She gestured to the rickety chairs at the equally rickety table. “Sit down and I’ll get busy telling you why I sent for a marshal.”
Sean eyed the chair with suspicion, figuring his ass would be on the dirty floor before the coffee boiled, but sat anyway. At least it was a chair, something he hadn’t seen much of in the last month. It creaked ominously beneath him but held together.
“Get talking then.”
She sat in the other chair and blew out a breath, the force of which made one curl sway against her cheek. It wasn’t very bright in the cabin so he couldn’t quite see her face or tell what color her hair was, especially since it was still wet from the water she’d dumped on her head.
“Can we get some light?”
Another sigh. “I ain’t made of money, marshal. Oil ain’t free, neither is candles.” Even though she complained about it, she turned the wick up in the lamp. “That better?”
The warm glow painted her face in golden light. Memories slammed into him.
Lucille Harris.
Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.
Widow Quinn was Lucille Harris? What kind of world threw him into a situation with the woman who lived in his dreams? He hadn’t seen her in five years, not long enough to dispel her from his memories. Now here they were alone, she was wet and sexier than she had been.
“Lucy?”
Her expression hardened right along with her jaw. “You don’t get to call me that.”
“It is you, isn’t it?” Twitches of shock echoed through him.
“My name is Lucille. I ain’t been Lucy in years.” She slicked her hair back, revealing more of her face. Tiny lines creased at the corners of her eyes and mouth, as though she had been frowning a lot. Now she just scowled at him. “Can we just talk about the missing cattle?”
“How did you end up here?” He gestured to the hovel they sat in. “In this place?”
“I want to talk about cattle, not about me or my life.” She scratched at the tabletop, avoiding his gaze. “We had six dozen cattle, not prime beef, but they was ours. They’ve all disappeared over the last six months, not long after Patrick died.” She gestured to the door. “That cow is the last animal I got. I don’t trust anyone, including you, but I gotta do something. I can’t live on nothing but milk and dirt.”
Sean had a thousand questions for her, but she wasn’t going to answer even one of them. He had to focus on the job, not on the woman, however fetching she was.
“I’ll do what I can to sort this out.” He didn’t want to promise anything. She probably didn’t take care of the cattle after her husband passed, maybe didn’t know how. “Have you looked for the cattle?”
She made a face at him. “I looked on every square inch of this property for them beeves. They’re gone.”
Lucille got up and used a rag to pick up the coffee pot, pouring into an equally battered but serviceable tin cup. Sean wondered if she had more than one or if she wanted to share with him. That thought made his breath catch. No, no, no.
Don’t let your mind wander that way.
When she set the cup down, he watched her hands. Although she obviously did plenty of work with them, they were still very feminine looking with long fingers and skin the color of cream. “I ain’t much of a coffee drinker except in winter.”
He took a big gulp of the coffee to distract himself, and it worked. Too well. It had to be the worst coffee he’d ever had in his life. Not only were there bits of beans floating around in it, but it was as thick as sludge. He contemplated spitting it back in the cup but decided Lucy might bash him over the head with the pot if he did. Reluctantly, he swallowed the mess and tried not to shudder at the taste.
By the time he was done with that first gulp, she had already filled up the hip bath and was currently removing her clothing. Sean stood up so fast he spilled the coffee all over the table. Yanking off his neckcloth, he mopped it up as best he could, trying like hell not to look at her as she revealed her nude form. He could not get involved with Lucy again. Not again.
“I told you I was going to take a bath and hoped you weren’t shy. Life is too hard out here to be modest, Sean. Besides you already seen everything I got.”
Shy? Jesus, he wasn’t shy. He was a red-blooded man, alone with a woman in the middle of nowhere and she was getting naked. And wet. What the hell did she think he would do? Just watch like a fool while she took a bath?
He turned and headed for the door. Sean wasn’t an idiot. There would be a helluva lot more going on if he stayed. She didn’t say anything, which told him she understood why he was leaving. She could have called him back, or even invited him to join her, but she didn’t. Lucille was a woman alone, but she knew enough to not poke a bear.
Sean, proving to himself he was a fool, turned and looked just as he was closing the door behind him. The sight of her nakedness burned into his mind.

Coming soon for Beth is another self published book. A COWBOY'S MUSE will be available Sept 27th.


Clio is not only the muse of history, she has virtually lived her life through books. When a lightning strike sends her through space and time, Clio finds herself in the Old West with no way of getting home and none of her powers. Relying on her book learning is not working out like she’d hoped.
Ace Nevada is an unwilling sheriff who has spent the last year trying to get out of town. When a crazy woman lands in the horse trough in front of a saloon, he finds himself strangely attracted to her. He can’t help himself from sampling her lips or her incredibly lush body.
Clio learns how to be human and Ace remembers what it is to be human. They are two halves of the same whole. Mates. When Clio’s powers return, will their love pass the test of time?

Excerpt:
Goddess.
Ace shifted uncomfortably in his trousers. As she called herself a goddess she pushed out those incredible tits right next to him. He could barely concentrate on the ham in front of him, let alone remember the taste of anything at dinner—except the taste of her scent. She was scrubbed clean and smelled fresh, like soap, and woman.
No, not like a woman, like a goddess.
He had no idea where Clio had come from, but it was evident obviously she didn’t even know how to cut her own meat. Maybe she was some kind of princess, had servants or slaves or something to fix her plate for her. She was a crazy mix of innocence and sexiness that had him dangling like a catfish on a hook.
He sat on the porch after supper and smoked one of his favorite cigars. The tip glowed amber in the summer night. The sound of katydids, frogs and whippoorwills echoed through the darkness. It was peaceful. The screen door behind him opened and he felt himself harden all over again.
Without looking, he knew it was Clio even before she sat down beside him on the step. His body recognized hers, like two magnets that couldn’t stay apart. She fluffed out her skirt and smoothed the material like she was wearing a fancy getup at a ball. He chuckled and she stopped.
“Did I do something wrong again?”
“Nope, you just confuse the shit outta me lady. One minute you talk like a book, the next you act loco. Where are you really from, Clio?”
Clio laced her fingers together and rested her arms on her knees. “I told you. Mount Olympus.”
“And your father is a king?”
As she nodded he heard her braid switch up and down her back. Her hair was enough to keep him up for two weeks. Just the thought of having it wrapped around him, everywhere. Hell, he couldn’t stop a shudder from racing through him. He needed to get laid.
“Yes, he is. You see, my mother isn’t married to him—he had nine daughters with her. My sisters and I are all goddesses.”
Lord Jesus, there were eight more of her? His mind hurt trying to imagine so many of them.
“Where are they now? Your sisters, I mean?” He tried to keep his mind, and his cock, on what she was saying.
“Home I suppose. They likely don’t even know I am here in Peyote.” She sounded wistful and he heard the love in her voice for her family.
“Do you think they’re looking for you in Texas? I could put out a wire to the other sheriffs to keep their eye out for them,” he offered, figuring it was the least he could do.
“Ace! That would be wonderful! I don’t know if they are in Texas, but it would make me feel as if I was doing something to improve my situation. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Before he could stop her, she had wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. His entire body reacted like it had been dipped in dynamite. He grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap, her nicely-rounded derriere sitting like a delicious piece of heaven on his aching staff. Her soft curves snuggled in like they belonged there. He wrapped his arms around her and those tits pressed into his chest. Groaning low and deep in his throat, he cupped the back of her head as he flicked his tongue along her lips.
“Open for me, Clio.”
“Open what?”
He grinned. “Your mouth, darlin’. Open your mouth.”
Just as her mouth opened and Ace knew he’d get this little goddess into his bed, the door swung open behind him and Hurricane Maybelle swept out onto the porch.
Shit.
“Ace Nevada! Get your hands offa that girl!”
Ace pushed Clio off his lap back onto the step where she landed with a thump. “She kissed me, Maybelle.”
Maybelle snorted. “And I’m the Queen of England. Clio! Get yourself back in this house!”
Clio jumped up and darted into the house. He waited for the rest of it. Maybelle smacked him across the back of his head and ended his waiting.
“Leave that girl alone, Ace. She ain’t quite right in the head and she don’t need a smooth-talker like you ruffling her drawers.”
With one last smack, Maybelle went into the house behind his goddess. Ace cursed his luck. It would be a long time before he slept that night.

Now on to the contest. Beth has generously offered one commenter a signed print copy of either DEVILS ON HORSEBACK : LEE or HELL FOR LEATHER. All you have to do is follow this blog and comment here telling me if you like cowboys and why or why not? Please leave your email addy so I can contact you if you win. I will pick a winner on 9/16/11 and post here.

* US Residence Only
* Must be 18 to enter

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

YAHOO GROUP APPRECIATION EVENT DAY 16 ~ CATHRYN FOX

Today my feature author is Cathryn Fox from the Wicked Writers Blog/Yahoo Group. Scroll down to read the blurb on her newest release and check out what I thought of it. Be sure to comment for a chance to win!


Lauren Gray loves everything about Adam Wilson, everything from his zest for life to his roguish good looks and his wild, wicked ways in bed. She can't, however, deny that his absence during the week poses a problem for her, but as a commercial pilot, he spends his weekdays flying. Nor can she deny that while she loves their frantic lovemaking sessions, there are times when she'd like to shift things into slow gear. 

When she discovers Adam home during the weekday, draped in darkness and asleep in his bed, she isn't about to question her good fortune. She slips between the sheets with him and attributes his achingly gentle touch and soft, sensuous kisses to his mellow state. Except come morning she realizes that it wasn't Adam who was searing her body with his slow, sultry lovemaking, it was his brother Garret—a race car driver who, unlike Adam, is home during the week and uses a gentle hand in the bedroom. 

Lauren can't help but think that separately the brothers are amazing, but a combination of the two makes the perfect package. And when this good girl realizes she's torn between two brothers it has her thinking about breaking all the rules... 

Review:

A hot, fast paced, novella that will have you fanning yourself in no time at all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had me sucked in right away and it wouldn't let go until the last page. Lauren if very sexual and has a great outgoing personality. Adam is strong and commanding in a very Alpha way. Garrett is soft, gentle and very nurturing. I absolutely loved every one of them. The story was good for a novella and the chemistry and sex scenes were smoking. The only problem I have with this book was it was too short. I would have liked this to be longer so I could get more of these two extremely hot, sexy men. 


I give this book 4 drinks

















Now for the contest!!! Cathryn is generously offering one commenter a copy of "Indulgent" All you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment . Tell me what attributes the perfect man has. Please leave your email addy so I can contact you if you win. I will choose a winner on Sept 16th and post here.


Thanks for entering. Remember there are still two weeks to enter the contest so spread the word. I will 
post winners on 9/16 here on my blog. Good Luck!!!


*US Residence Only
* Must be 18 to enter

Monday, August 29, 2011

YAHOO GROUP APPRECIATION EVENT DAY 15 ~ SHILOH WALKER

Shiloh Walker is my feature author today. She is also part of the Wicked Writers Blog/Yahoo Group. Her newest release "Hunter's Fall" is part of her Hunters Series. It was released in June. Check it out below and then continue down for the contest details.


UNKNOWN PAST
Something strange is happening to Nessa. Ever since she survived a near-death experience she’s not exactly who she used to be—and enjoying every minute of it. Then she’s called upon to go to battle against darkness. If only she could remember why.
UNEXPECTED LOVER
Dominic is having his own problems with memory, sanity, and hallucinations. Sent to Excelsior, the covert Hunter training facility, he senses a female presence that seems so hauntingly familiar. That’s because he and Nessa share a forgotten past.
UNSEEN EVIL
As Nessa and Dominic regain their memories, their strange mission against evil becomes clearer. And all the more dangerous because whether they should trust each other is the still the greatest unknown of all.


Shiloh is generously offering an ecopy of one of her backlist books from her Ellore's Cave or Samhain Collection. All you have to do to enter is follow this blog and leave a comment. Let me know what book you want and leave your email addy so I can contact you if you win. 
Visit her website here to pick your book
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop back tomorrow for a giveaway with Cathryn Fox!!!!


* Must be 18 to enter

Sunday, August 28, 2011

YAHOO GROUP APPRECIATION EVENT DAY 14 ~ MACKENZIE MCKADE

Today's feature author is the fabulous Mackenzie McKade from the Wicked Writers Blog/Yahoo Group. She just released a book on 7/27/11 called "Male Android Companion" This is a Sci Fi/Futuristic book. Scroll down for the blurb , an excerpt, and my thoughts on the book.

Hollywood, California 2095. Gia Easton has had it. After catching her ex-boyfriend-agent with her best friend, the beautiful actress is through with men, but not sex and especially not now. Her family is expecting to meet her latest squeeze and won’t take no for an answer. That’s why she’s standing before the new and improved line of Male Android Companions (M.A.C.). The Institute of Robotics promises the androids are as good as the real thing without the hassle or heartbreak.
Satisfaction guaranteed!
The starlet has just mistaken Marc Anthony Charleston, M.A.C.’s creator, as one of his humanoids. When she selects him to take home he’s in no hurry to correct her misunderstanding. Besides she’s getting more bang for her buck and so is he


EXCERPT:

Sitting in a black unmarked limousine as it sped toward her house, Gia stared at her new purchase. He sat quietly across from her. When their eyes met he flashed her a roughish grin.

What on earth was she thinking—an android? What had ever moved her to do such a thing?

She wasn't impulsive. Then again maybe she just needed someone tonight, someone who would hold her without judgment or ridicule. Thick emotion rolled through her like a big tidal wave. Tears built, but she'd be damned if she'd let them fall.

The headline she was thinking of earlier popped back into her head. Dumped starlet turns to hot male robot for affection. Broken laughter spilled from her mouth. The handsome android raised one brow in question but didn't make a sound.

No questions. No trying to fix the problem at hand, which always seemed to be what a man attempted to do, when all a woman wanted was to express herself. She let her gaze roam over him once more. Yes. There were some definite pros to consider. No more watching how much she ate with her new M.A.C. No playing coy or shy. This arrangement could be perfect—she had nothing to lose and there was no holding back. Her deepest, darkest fantasies were at her fingertips.

Then there were the cons.

Even though on the surface he was the effigy of a man, and a gorgeous one at that, this hoax would never work with her family. How would he hold a conversation about current politics with her dad or sports with one of her brothers? Surely, her mother or younger sister Becka would see through the lie. Her mother, the newly announced president of their family-owned banks since Gia's grandfather had retired, was used to seeing through lies. Of course Gia couldn't even think about taking Marc to Oregon with her.

And then there was the media.

A sudden gust of air-conditioning feathered through Marc's wavy black hair, which was short on the sides, longer on top. Clean-cut. All-American. The Institute of Robotics knew what they were doing when they packaged this model. His shoulders were wide, his chest thick and muscular beneath the tight polo shirt he wore. Even his jeans caressed sinewy thighs and narrow hips. Brazenly, she allowed her gaze to stroke his impressive bulge, something she would never have done to a real man.

He shifted nervously on the leather seat across from her.

When she looked up at his handsome face, she recognized lust. Desire simmered like a flame in his emerald eyes, making them glimmer.

So real. Someone she would love to bring home to meet her family. He wasn't flashy with the mark of Hollywood tattooed across his forehead like Doug but real, solid, a man's man—a man a woman could trust. Trust. The thought pushed the air from her lungs in one fell swoop. Shoulders sagging, her control slipped. The moment she felt tears fill her eyes she looked away. Batting her eyelashes, she attempted to blink away the unwanted emotion.

Dammit.

Gia had to get past the heaviness in her chest. Doug wasn't worth another tear. She had bigger problems ahead of her. Like how to explain why Doug and Mary wouldn't be attending her parents' party. Then there was Aunt Clare, who made her feel as though she was the black sheep of the family because she wasn't married. And of course, Gia had never been able to hide anything from her mother, including a broken heart.

Gia's gaze went to the android once again. Fortunately, sunglasses hid her sorrow; then again, the robot before her wasn't human. What would he care if she broke down and bawled her eyes out? Because that's just what she needed, a good cry. She glanced at the driver before closing the window between the front and back seat, secluding her with Marc.

What a mess. A weighted sigh pushed between her lips as she wondered what the chance would be that none of her family members had heard about the escapade at the studio. Lost in the little pity party she entertained, she jumped when a warm hand lay upon hers.

"Are you all right?" Concern furrowed Marc's broad forehead as he leaned toward her.

Sniffling, she fought back the moisture beating behind her eyelids. "No. I'm not." A wayward tear rolled down her cheek.

It was silly, but she could really use her mother's shoulder right about now, and for Doug and Mary to go straight to hell. She pinched her lips together. Her chin quivered.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk?" Her eyes gaped with surprise, unleashing several more tears. Before she could wipe them away, he raised a hand and smoothed a finger across each cheek. 

"Yes. Talk." The softness in his eyes appeared heartfelt, as if he actually cared, and that made it worse for Gia. "I'm a good listener."

Tomorrow she would face a barrage of people, interviews. Some who would feel sorry for her, others who would revel in her loss. Neither would give her any comfort. Dammit. She didn't want to cry, even in front of an android.

A pregnant pause ensued between them.

"Gia?" 

When he spoke her name, she inhaled sharply and then something inside her broke. On an exhale she began to ramble. "I've had one of the worst days of my life. Set delays. Wardrobe malfunctions." The strap of her negligee had fallen down her shoulder, the adhesive holding the material in place had given way and her boob had popped out, requiring a retake of the scene. Not to mention her embarrassment. She might wear skimpy, even risqué clothing, but never complete nudity. And it had all been caught on film. Thank God her parents would never see it, unless it spread across the internet, which was a possibility. Acid churned in her stomach.

This day was getting better with each second.

"Script problems," she continued. "Issues with actors. And to top it off," she released a shuddering breath, "I found my boyfriend fucking my best friend on my makeup table." She bit down on her lip to keep her emotions at bay. "Now the paparazzi know. It'll be plastered across every news media if it isn't already. My parents' anniversary is in a week. They were expecting me. Doug—" Gia tried to hold back the wall of sentiment but it was useless. The floodgates opened wide.

She was so entrenched in her pain, she didn't even realize that Marc had moved off his seat and sat beside her until his thigh touched hers.

Strong arms embrace her, holding her against a firm torso. "Sweetheart, don't cry."

For a moment she forgot who or rather what Marc was and locked her arms around his neck, clinging to him. "I-I hurt." Her voice broke in short gasping breaths. Her chest burned. She felt so alone, so betrayed. Not to mention homesick. The last five years had been hell being away from her family, and now this. She had no one to turn to or rely on. Her family loved her, but she couldn't admit to another bad choice in her life, not even to them.

God. She felt like a failure.

"I know, honey." Rocking her back and forth, he patted her softly on the back. "These things happen."

For the first time in quite a while, Gia buried her face into a man's shoulder and allowed herself to grieve aloud, something she had learned to shield from the public and her so-called Hollywood friends. Even her childhood friends back home had become distant since her success, except for the ones who wanted something from her, and who needed friends like that? It dawned on her that she was truly alone. Other than her family, she had no one, and pride kept her from reaching out to them. The emptiness crowding in on her was too much to bear.

"Shush, baby," Marc whispered, comforting her as if she were a child. "It'll be okay."

Gia wasn't a fool. It wouldn't be okay. If she moved home nothing would change. There would be no job waiting for her. No friends to welcome her back. Acting was her career and Hollywood was her home. Here her beauty was celebrated and opened doors for her instead of slamming them in her face.

When the car stopped at a light, she was still shaking from the outburst but her tears had lessened. When she swallowed, her throat felt raw and sore. She snuggled closer, not yet willing to release the warmth and support the arms around her provided.

"Do you love him?" Marc's black-velvet voice caressed her as if it were silk sliding across her flesh.

Sucking in a choppy breath, she looked up through misty eyes. Did she love Doug? Mary? Or had they been her only allies in a city where people were bought and sold and discarded in the blink of an eye? No one was who they pretended to be, including Doug. And there was that part of her that really wanted a relationship, someone to come home to, to share her dreams and aspirations with, and most importantly, someone who loved her. Not because she was famous, but because she was Regina Lynn Easton.

Gia was so tired and confused. For the last eighteen months, she had gone from one set to another without a break. Perhaps she needed a vacation, time away from the rat race and the life she had carved out for herself. She needed simplicity. She needed her family.

Pushing against Marc's muscled thigh, she sat up, shaking her head. "No. Not really." It would be a lie to say she didn't have feelings for Doug, but love? No. "I feel more betrayed then anything. I trusted him." And Mary. Gia sniffled and accepted the bar napkin Marc handed her. "Mary was my best friend. And then there's the press." Dabbing at her nose, she dragged in a ragged breath. "They'll have a field day with this mess." She paused, but only briefly. "I guess I'm angrier that the two individuals I cared for the most in Hollywood used and betrayed me." Irony filled her short burst of laughter. "Of course, the fact that I was dumped for my assistant doesn't sit well with me either."

There, she said it. Her pride had taken a blow and the world would know it, as well as her family. The embarrassment wasn't something she cared to face any time soon. No. Scratch that. The embarrassment wasn't something she ever wanted to face.

With a single finger, Marc pushed back a tendril that had escaped her cap. "I can assure you your agent had no plans on dumping you."

Agent? She hadn't mentioned Doug was her agent. How would an android be privy to that kind of information?

"Uh. How did you know—"

"You have to remember he's a man and most of us don't think past the brain between our thighs." He gave her a sheepish grin that she found so charming it erased the lingering question in her mind.

Instead, she reached up and ran a palm over his smooth cheek. "You act and feel so real." And smell good too. Like warm spice on a cold morning, his scent played havoc with her senses. Perhaps the M.A.C. Company added chemicals or man-engineered pheromones to the android's cologne in order to attract women. It was sure doing crazy things to her. Her breasts felt heavier and she couldn't help taking in his aroma again.

I'm distraught, she rationalized. Nothing more.

A smile crinkled the corners of his green eyes. "I'm about as real as you can get." His chuckle held mild amusement.

"I don't even know where to begin with you," she admitted unashamedly. He was an android and a damn good-looking one at that, but he wasn't real. She looked away, staring out the window. Skyscrapers reached heavenward, the sky a mass of transit filled with small spacecraft and trans-airliners moving in streaks of color toward their destinations, while other motorized vehicles and hovercrafts moved steadily below. 

Would there ever be a man who would love her for who she was inside and not what she was? Insecurity crept in on silent feet, skittering across her skin.

Marc smoothed a palm up her arm. "Perhaps we need to get to know each other better."

"What?" As she turned her head, he leaned in and brushed his mouth lightly across hers.

Startled, she wet her lips, tasting him and the flavor of spearmint. Not bad. Not bad at all. He felt so real beneath the hand she rested on his bare forearm. Muscles rippled beneath his suntanned skin.

"First we'll start by taking these off." Removing her sunglasses, his gaze locked on to hers. Something electrifying zinged between them—desire? She witnessed his slight flinch and he swallowed hard.

Did he feel the charge too?

Impossible.

Robot, hummed in her mind. But before Gia could analyze her reaction to the android, he drew closer, so near that their noses softly skimmed each other. Her heart beat a rapid staccato.

He caressed his palms down her arms to her rib cage, settling them at her waist. "You see, if you were my woman," he angled his head, sliding his lips once more across hers, "I'd never let you out of my sight." His pupils darkened to a deeper shade of green. A small, humorless smile curved his mouth. His grin and the dimple—in his right cheek only—were so sexy the air in her lungs caught. "You'd be mine forever." The conviction in his voice sent a shiver up her spine. "I'd love you like a woman should be loved."

Wings of arousal softly stroked her belly and then clenched, sending the sensation lower. She felt herself grow damp and her eyes widened with surprise. Did it matter that he wasn't real? At this point any man would do to vanquish thoughts of Doug and Mary's betrayal.

Gia cleared her throat, willing the flush of heat surely reddening her cheeks to disappear. "What would you know about love or what a woman really wants or doesn't?" She attributed her reaction to the android to the turmoil of feelings raging inside her, not to the fact she was attracted to him, which was, of course, ludicrous.

Sure, the android might have been programmed to locate a woman's erogenous zones and how to insert tab A into slot B, but he couldn't possibly possess the knowledge or the depth of emotion, the loving responses a woman wanted, no needed, in order to feel satisfied, fulfilled.

Then again, he did hold her tenderly when she had her outburst.

That sensual grin that made her go mushy inside curved his mouth. Sinful. Gia could see how another woman might be swayed by his good looks, but she was intelligent, something that most males overlooked in her. They always seemed to start at her face and stop at her breasts.

"You might be surprised." His knuckles glided along her jaw to her chin. "Women are not looking for a man who is too nice. You want someone you can trust but that will also provide you with mystery, adventure and maybe even danger." Their eyes met and she swore he could see her, the real her. "You need someone who can take you outside your comfort zone, teach you new ways to love a man. You want the erotic without the judgment."

"Not even," she huffed, lying to him as well as herself. How on earth could he know that there was a darker side to her, one that she had never admitted to anyone? This was bordering on ridiculous and a little scary.

His fingers smoothed down her throat, leaving gooseflesh in their wake. Gia inhaled and slowly released the air in her lungs as she attempted to control the burn that simmered through her veins.

Android whispered in her mind.


Review:
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.  It was fun, romantic, and HOT!!!

Normally I would summarize the book but since the excerpt above does that for me I will just jump right into my review.

Both the characters in this book are very well developed and three dimensional. Marc is one sexy man. He is a man that every women would want. Sensitive, caring, compassionate, intelligent, strong, sometimes dominate and very alpha. He understands a women's needs and a women's body. However, women have a hard time getting past the "geeky scientist" image of him so when he meets Gia, a very talented actress, he thinks she is way to good for him. 

Gia is talented, intelligent, strong, and beautiful, not to forget famous. She is looking for a man who she can share a life with but she is contantly betrayed by the people she trusts. 

When Gia and Marc meet, under unusual circumstances, they share an instant attraction for one another. As their relationship progresses you can feel the sexual heat and chemistry. The emotion is unbelievable throughout the whole book and had be tearing up at the end. I love the fact that aside from the obvious they are honest with each other from the beginning. The sex is unbelievably hot and erotic. You seriously will be fanning yourself after this one. 

The story line is intriguing and it grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the last page. This book is labeled futuristic/sci fi but does not feel like it at all. I don't normally read this genre of romance but I thought I would try it and am happy I did. The only thing that stood out at futuristic is this book was the technology and some of the language.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantastic read!!!

An amazing 5 drinks for this one







Mackenzie McKade is generously offering one random commenter an ecopy of this book. All you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment below  to be entered. Please leave your email addy and tell me what format you prefer. I will choose a winner on 9/16/11 and post here.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back tomorrow for Shiloh Walker.


* Must be 18 to enter

Saturday, August 27, 2011

YAHOO GROUP APPRECIATION EVENT DAY 13 ~ KARIN TABKE / KARIN HARLOW

Today I have Karin Tabke/Karin Harlow from the Wicked Writers Blog/Yahoo Group

BY: KARIN HARLOW

#2 in the L.O.S.T series ~ Releases Aug 30, 2011

Lovers from opposite worlds reunite in Karin Harlow’s explosive, erotic new L.O.S.T adventure...

While tracking uranium-spinning centrifuges in Kyrgyzstan, L.O.S.T. operative Nikko Cruz is ambushed and left for dead. Which means he must be hallucinating when the only woman he ever loved—the woman he was sentenced to death for killing—comes to his rescue.

Half-daemon Selena Guererro has secrets she’d kill for. The most important one, she’s already died to protect. Now she’ll do anything to keep her daughter safe. But she can’t just leave her lost love to perish. She injects Nikko with immortal blood serum, putting herself in grave danger.

When Nikko comes to, he is superhuman and super pissed. The mother of his daughter—the one he thought killed their child—is alive. He wants answers. He wants blood. And despite his best intentions, he wants Selena. He traces her to a mysterious terrorist cell where the spun uranium has surfaced. First, he must retrieve the deadly material. Then he’ll take revenge on his beautiful ex. But when nothing goes as planned, Nikko and Selena find themselves burning with desire . . . and blowing the roof off their separate worlds, human and daemon alike.

Wicked Read by: KARIN TABKE



Police officer Vaden Holbrook and widow Olivia Connor’s chemistry is off-the-charts hot, but incredible sex isn’t enough for Olivia. She wants it all. Will Vaden’s inability to commit push her into the arms of another man? Or can he overcome his past to become the man Olivia needs, the man he’d like to be?



Excerpt

Her mind wasn’t on the road. Or her driving. As usual, it was a million miles away, so when she took the wrong turn, it didn’t register. She followed the road a few miles before she carelessly ran a red light. A faint, Oh shit, I hope there wasn’t a cop hiding behind a bush, flashed through her mind. She made a quick left just in case, then gave her SUV some gas down the old country road.
It was late and it was dark. Hers was the only car on the rutted asphalt road. Her headlights blazed the way until she dunked into a pothole, the depth causing her to bounce and hit her head on the roof. As if to let the pothole know how she felt about that, she glanced angrily in her review mirror. That’s when she saw the headlights of another vehicle rapidly closing in on her.
She bit her bottom lip. Her nerves flared and her belly buzzed. When red and blue lights lit up behind her, her apprehension spiked.
The cop car pulled right up on her, lights blazing. She knew what to do. She looked right, making sure the shoulder was wide enough and not littered with the gaping holes left by the recent rain. She slowed, pulled over and came to a stop, then let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
In her side mirror, she watched the cop get out of his car and say something into his mic before he started toward her window; his tall broad form was silhouetted ominously against his headlights. As the strobes flickered over him, she could tell by his strut he was cocky. But then, most cops were. Nervously, she sat back, folded her hands in her lap and waited.
Anxiously, she bit her bottom lip and hit the window button just long enough for the window to come down a crack.
He stopped at the side of her car. All she could see was his duty belt and his narrow waist that flared into a wide chest. He tapped on the glass with the end of his flashlight.
“Open the window, ma’am,” he commanded.
Despite the nervous flutter in her belly, her immediate reaction to authority was to open the window more. Even if it weren’t, she’d open wider.
Tension sizzled along her nerve endings when he ducked down and they met face to face. Her instinct was to shy away from the dark green eyes shining brightly in the night. Instead, she swallowed hard as her gaze dropped to full firm lips before bouncing back up to the blistering gaze.
He wasn’t classically handsome. He had one of those etched character-filled faces. His angles were blunt, nothing refined about him, but they complemented his olive coloring and close-cropped jet-black hair. There was nothing soft or apologetic about this man. It was his eyes and those bad boy lips that transformed him from average to sinful.
Her nipples beaded when his gaze dropped below her chin. Her chest rose and fell in shallow puffs. Her shirt was classic Anne Klein office wear. Although her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows and the buttons didn’t quite make it to her neck, the way she was sitting made the shirt gape open, exposing her cleavage supported by a lacy demi-bra.
He looked back up at her face. Heat flickered behind his hooded lids. An insolent half smile quirked the right side of his mouth before he backed up. She huffed, sinking deeper into the leather seat. It wasn’t like she had intentionally given him a peek. She wasn’t like that. She bet half the women he pulled over took one look at him and did more than show a little skin. He was all smoldering sexy. His subtle snub pissed her off.
A woman scorned, regardless of the circumstances, was nothing to mess with. Frustrated by his assumption, she stiffened and stuck her head out of the window. “Why did you stop me?” she demanded.
He cocked a dark brow at her tone. “You ran the light back there. License and registration, please.” He held out a big hand. Thick fingers with smooth blunted ends, neat square fingernails. A working man’s hand. A single working man’s. No wedding ring.
His other hand rested casually on the butt of his gun.
“What are you going to do? Shoot me if I don’t do what you say?”
His lips quirked. “I’ll use whatever force is necessary.”
Shivers hopped along her spine. She wasn’t sure if she were afraid or intrigued. Either way, she didn’t resist. She took her driver’s license out of her wallet and slapped it into his waiting hand. His big fingers wrapped around hers before she could pull away. His touch was electric. A shock wave went straight to her nipples and banked south to the juncture at her thighs. She tried hard to remain impassive. She tugged her hand out of his grasp, then dug into the glove box for the registration. This time, caution prevailed; she sat back and handed it to him, keeping all but her fingertips inside the car.
He took it and looked at her license. “I’ll be right back, Ms. Olivia Connor. Don’t go anywhere.” There was a hint of amusement lacing his deep baritone.
Did he just laugh at her as he walked away? She stuck her head out the window, to tell him to go to hell, but he had already reached his cruiser. She sat back, her temper flaring. “Damn cops think they’re God’s gift.”
In her rearview mirror, she watched him watch her through his front windshield as he called in her info. After what seemed interminably long, he strode back to her door. He reached inside the car, released the door lock, quickly pulling the door open before she realized what he was doing.
“Step out of the car, ma’am,” he said thickly.
“Why? You can’t arrest me for blowing a red light!”
“Step out of the car, ma’am.”
Her pride screamed “no.” Her reason told her to just do as he said so she didn’t invite any more trouble than she already had. Ultimately, Olivia was good at following instructions.
She stuck her left foot out of the car, her four-inch heel digging into the soil of the shoulder. When she stood, she nearly snapped her ankle. The bad cop reached out to steady her. His long fingers wrapped possessively around her bicep. Her skin flared beneath his chaste touch. When her second heel stuck in the ground, she jerked away from him and had he not grabbed her with both hands, she would have tumbled backwards into the mud. The velocity of his actions brought her chest to chest with him.
The contact was electrifying.


Review:


Bring in the hoses ladies cause Ms. Tabke is burning up the pages with this one.


Vaden and Olivia's chemistry is off the charts HOT. The opening scene proves this and it doesn't let up. 


Olivia is a widow who is still mourning the loss of her husband. She has been a "good girl" and has always followed the rules. Until she meets Vaden. He is a "bad boy" and just what Olivia needs but the problem is Vaden won't give all of himself to her. He has no problem giving his body but his heart is a whole other story.


I really liked this story. Olivia is a strong confident character and does well with putting up with Vaden. He is a very alpha male. Strong, confident, protective, and gorgeous. *swoon* I sincerely enjoyed the relationship between the two characters. You can feel the connection and you find yourself rooting for them. The plot was amazing and very easy to follow. I really don't have to say much about Karin's writing style cause it always rocks and this story is not different. Ms Tabke has a way of putting steam, romance, emotion, and style into every book she writes. I would definitely recommend this wicked read to anyone who is looking for a hot sexy read.


4 cocktails for this amazing read!!!





For a chance to win a L.O.S.T. mug all you have to do is follow this blog and comment below. Have you read Enemy Lover? Do you like your boys *bad* and if so what makes the ultimate *bad boy* in your eyes? I will choose a winner on 9/16 and post here. Please leave your email addy so I can contact you if you win.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come by tomorrow for Mackenzie McKade!!!


* US Residence Only
* Must be 18 to enter






Books I've Read and Enjoyed!

Renegade
Nauti Boy
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Rescue Me
Honk If You Love Real Men: Four Tales of Erotic Romance
Long Hard Ride
Wild Card
Dangerous Games
Hidden Agendas
Killer Secrets
Maverick
Heat Seeker
Black Jack
Loving Lies
Cowgirl Up and Ride
Tied Up, Tied Down
Rough, Raw, and Ready
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Branded as Trouble
All Jacked Up


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