A haven of magic, myth and mayhem! Blog stops, books, reviews, interviews and more. The site of fantasy author, poet and blogger A. L. Butcher.
I’m contemplating offering signed copies of my print books (including large print). Possibly with merchandise. Payment would be through paypal. Postage would be dependent on the timescale you wanted the book and where you lived but I could give you an amount at the time of enquiry. Please complete the poll above – it’s only worth doing this if enough people are interested.
Vote here
https://books2read.com/LBTSItalian5x8_BW_490 Wraparound Light Beyond Italian
In un mondo oscuro in cui la magia è illegale e gli elfi sono schiavi, una giovane elfa maga scappa dalla casa del suo malvagio Custode per salvarsi la vita. Inseguita dai suoi uomini e dal corrotto Ordine dei Cacciatori di Streghe, deve trovare un rifugio. Mentre i trafficanti di schiavi si muovono per i territori, rubando elfi da quel che resta delle loro case ancestrali, i Cacciatori di Streghe chiudono un occhio davanti alla tragedia, e una storia di potere, amore e terribile vendetta prende forma.
Radley’s Labyrinth for Horny Monsters
Kindle Paperwhite – 1 winner https://www.amazon.com/All-new-Kindle-Paperwhite-Waterproof-Storage/dp/B08412B9N5
Interview with Queenie Black. @queenieblackwr1 #authorinterveiw #amreading #eroticromance
Name: Queenie Black
What attracts you to the genre in which you write?
I’m fascinated by love in all its variations and I particularly love the power play behind the D/s dynamic. I’m intrigued by submission and how something that seems to be a weakness is, in reality, strength, and also the degree of trust and caring required to make such a relationship work. Writing about these sorts of situations is a way of exploring many different scenarios – more than I could live in a lifetime.
What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d known when you started your writing adventures?
Hmmm, interesting question. There are two I can pinpoint. One is write everyday. Make it a discipline and don’t wait for inspiration. The other is to be true to the story and don’t try shaping it for a ‘market’ or a publisher.
If you could have dinner with any famous person or character who would you choose?
The Greek Goddess Athena who gave her name to the Greek city of Athens. She was awesome. First-off her symbol is an owl, right? Who can resist owls? Her second symbol was the olive tree – long-lived, useful and beautiful trees that symbolise peace. Finally, she was kick-ass strong but clever with it, independent and known as the goddess of wisdom, warfare and handicraft-three things every woman should be proficient in. I reckon if we could get past the language barrier we’d hit it off and I’d learn a lot!
Who has been the greatest influence on your own work?
There are three women who have helped me get to this point in my writing. My auntie, who tried to write a Mills and Boon when I was about nine. I remember her talking about it and showing my mum these pages and pages of blue pen. This made me realise that it would be possible for me to write a book. My mum who never scoffed at my auntie or at my efforts throughout my childhood and was always supportive. Finally Jane Holland, an author who writes many different genres under many different names – Beth Good, Elizabeth Moss, Jane Holland, Victoria Lamb. Her writing discipline, output and dedication made me realise that being a writer is 80% hard work, 10% talent and 10% inspiration with a salting of luck.
Do you think the e-book revolution will do away with print?
Never. Print books may become more of a luxury and we may see books going back to being works of art or they may be printed on recycled or bamboo paper and become more tree-friendly and disposable, but there will always be print books.
Which 3 books would you take to a desert island and why?
Only three? Eeek.
Well then let’s see…in no particular order, it would have to be:
Check out the rest of the tour here
Author bio and book synopsis
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):
I’ve always loved writing and I won my first prize for a short story when I was still at primary school. I’m an avid reader of romance and erotic romance and if I’m not writing I can usually be found with my nose in a book. The dynamics and sheer variety of human relationships fascinate me, and this is what I like to explore in my writing. I live in North Yorkshire with my husband, cat and five hens and I enjoy running and Tai Chi. I’m currently working on a sequel to Hard Pressed (watch this space) and on a romantic suspense novel.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)
My latest release, Hard Pressed is out now.
Master Lucien has one night at Club Hard.
One night…to show bodyguard Rose Dainty that he can be the Dom she needs,
One night…to show her that submitting to him doesn’t make her weak, that true submission requires strength and trust.
Will pushing Rose to her limits prove to her she can trust him with her body and heart, and can she let go of her deepest fears long enough to enjoy her surrender? `
They both have everything to prove and everything to lose.
Buy links:
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/2lXpCSP
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2kswibm
Evernight: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/hard-pressed-by-queenie-black/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/958783
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/hard-pressed-18
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/hard-pressed/id1480423303
Social media :
Twitter: https://twitter.com/queenieblackwr1
Website: http://www.queenieblackauthor.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/queenieblackauthor/
Out Now—I’m the One You Need by Rob Matthews (@robandtina1) #cuckold #erotica #BDSM
Blurb
‘That hurt. I didn’t know if I could take it. But, at the same time, it was reassuring to be in your arms. You helped me get through the pain, even though you were the one causing it.’
Cuckold and hot wife couple, Rob and Tina, are back together, but they have a rough path in front of them. Rob knows Tina will never be satisfied with him and will soon be on the hunt for another man. But now her interest in sadomasochism has been awoken, is she looking for a stud or a master?
Fortunately, sexy young goth Charlotte is on hand to be their guide into the world of erotic pain and humiliation. Will Rob and Tina’s marriage survive beyond this latest stop on their Cuckold Odyssey?
A Cuckold Odyssey, book 4.
Buy links
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2WrLO5c
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Sko6Jf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/919554?ref=cw1985
Excerpt
Her mouth was wide open and her breathing was getting faster. I knew what that meant, and I’m fairly sure he did too. His expression was one I’d seen on other men’s faces while they were with my wife. He was trying to keep going until she came. Tina’s body tensed. She was very close. ‘Dirty little slut,’ he said, fiercely. This was enough to push her over the edge. She came with a shout. On hearing that, he relaxed and groaned as he came inside her.
‘Let me feel it pumping into me,’ she said. After a moment, he pulled out and sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t speak immediately. Raising her head to look at him, she said, ‘That was fucking intense.’ He didn’t answer, so she turned to me. ‘What do you say to Nathan?’
This was one of the moments when I regretted doing this with a friend. Nathan and I had played pool together. We’d chatted many times in bars, restaurants, and at barbecues. We’d always interacted as equals. And now I had to look him in the eye and say, ‘Thank you for fucking my wife.’
‘And?’ prompted Tina.
‘And for doing it better than I ever could.’
Author bio
Rob Matthews was born in London. He divides his time between Britain and the United States. He’s the author of the Cuckold Odyssey series: Come Home With Us, I Can Do It Better, We Make Our Own Rules, and I’m the One You Need. He’s also written the stand-alone book, Black and Blue – An Interracial Cuckold Tale. Rob is currently working on two more interracial cuckold tales, Talking Bull and Black Friday. Both are coming soon from Fanny Press, an imprint of Epicenter Press.
Links
http://www.facebook.com/robertpatrickmatthews
http://www.twitter.com/robandtina1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580846.Rob_Matthews
https://www.amazon.com/Rob-Matthews/e/B01K53HJ0K/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01K53HJ0K
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.
Out Now—La Contessa by S. Nano #newrelease #erotica #bdsm
Book Blurb
La Contessa
The most decadent city…
The most perverted mistress…
Renowned for her beauty and cruelty, La Contessa’s reputation as a dominatrix is well established. And eighteenth-century Venice has degenerated into a decadent and lascivious city, the perfect backdrop for her to play-out her debauched games and political ambitions.
She sends her maid, Julia, into the alleyways to search for a young man to act as her slave. Julia finds Roberto prostituting himself in the least salubrious district of Venice. He enters into La Contessa’s service to perform her bizarre and sadistic scenes.
From their first meeting, there is a mutual attraction between maid and servant. The young couple engineer a series of sexual encounters, knowing the risks should their mistress discover them. Their situation is complicated when La Contessa rescues Becky and brings her to the palazzo as her submissive girl-slave. The interloper exposes Julia’s jealousies… and the feelings for her mistress.
How long can Roberto and Julia keep their love secret? Will Becky’s presence thwart their relationship? Will La Contessa’s scheming bring her the richest prize in all Venice?
All is resolved before the grand ball and masked, BDSM orgy held by La Contessa in her palazzo as the climax to Venice’s Carnivale.
Buy links
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/2DLp1aX
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2nlOuAM
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/search?Query=La+contessa
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/la-contessa-s-nano/1127888667?ean=2940158958274
Author bio
‘La Contessa’ is his third full length novel. ‘Adventures in Fetishland’, a BDSM/fetish re-invention of the classic Alice stories was published by Xcite Books and ‘Mistress of the Air’, a comic, Steampunk, erotic adventure was also published by eXcessica. His novellas and short stories have been published by Xcite Books, House of Erotica, Forbidden Fiction, Coming Together and Greenwoman Publishing.
He is a regular participant in reading slams at ‘Smut by the Sea’ and similar events in the UK, contributing a workshop ‘Kinking Up the Past’, on getting inspiration for erotic stories in historical settings, in 2015.
Author web site: http://www.slavenano.co.uk/writing
Author facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nano.vaslen
Extract 2: Least Explicit
La Contessa gestures for me to take up a position at the opposite side of her from Becky.
She’s dressed formally, in her wig, a rich embroidered gown, and as much make-up as I’ve seen her wear. She’s dressed to impress, and when I see her guest, I understand why. His gown is grand, its hood lined with ermine. But it’s the cane, capped with a silver winged lion, which provides the vital clue for me. Nobody would openly carry such an iconic symbol if they were not part of Venice’s ruling elite. The ensuing conversation confirms my suspicions.
“May I speak frankly to you, Contessa?”
“Yes, these are my servants. I trust them not to allow any report of our conversation to go beyond this room. They know the severity of the punishment if they do.”
“This is a delicate matter, Contessa. As you know the trade through Venice of late has declined, and the Doge and Council of Ten are, let me be frank, in straightened circumstances.”
“Allessandro Fernasse, I’m perfectly aware the interest on my loans to the Doge is due for payment in a matter of days. No doubt you’ve been sent here to crawl on behalf of the Council of Ten to renegotiate the interest payments. And, knowing the perverse lecher you are, I don’t doubt you’d also like to avail yourself of the entertainments I offer. You will see I have acquired a new slave and slave girl since you were last here. The girl is especially delicious don’t you think… and very willing.”
The corpulent representative of the Council of Ten squirms uncomfortably in his seat, sweat dripping from his forehead. I’m intrigued by this exchange. It explains a lot. Venice is a place where money rules. This must be the hold La Contessa has over the ruling elite of the city, making her untouchable in whatever she does.
“Yes, Contessa, on behalf of the Council I’m here to ask for a rescheduling of our debts.”
La Contessa raises an eyebrow, “Ask? You mean beg, surely.”
“Well, to discuss what mutually beneficial arrangements we might come to,” splutters Fernasse.
“Ha! You mean beg. And yes, I will make you beg! Get out of the chair onto your knees and crawl towards me.”
“But, Contessa, is it your intention to humiliate me?”
“Yes, indeed it is. Do as I say and get on your knees or there will be no negotiation. I will simply insist on the repayment of my loan. You know the consequences.”
Offered no alternative, Fernasse heaves his body out of the chair and gets down on his knees. He crawls the short distance to where La Contessa sits, her hand outstretched ready for him. He takes it in his hand and kisses it. There is a pause.
Yes?” prompts La Contessa.
“Contessa, I beg you on behalf of the Doge and the Council of Ten to extend the period of your loan to the city for six months. We are expecting a fleet of merchant ships to arrive from the Far East by then with goods we can trade. I beg you to grant us this favour.”
“That’s better. And tell the Doge, next time he wants to reschedule his debts, he must come himself, and I will make him get down on his knees and crawl. I am minded to agree to an extension but I do have further conditions; a few trifles to satisfy my whims.”
“Yes, Contessa; let me know what they are. I’m confident we will be able to accommodate them,” said Fernasse, still on his knees.
“The first stipulation is that, on the final day of Carnevale, I will expect my barge to lead the procession along the Grand Canal, and for the ball to be held in my palazzo.”
“Why yes, Contessa, we would be honoured for you to host the Carnevale’s masked ball,” he says, relieved at the relative modesty of the request.
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.
Out Now!—Finding Angel by Jan Graham (@jan_graham) #romance #suspense #romanticsuspense
Finding Angel release date: January 30th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Blurb:
It’s time to participate in a dangerous dance of murder, trust, love, and intrigue.
Trouble isn’t Angel’s middle name, so why does it follow her wherever she goes? Her life should be less complicated after the death of her ex, but his actions continue to haunt her. While trying to gain some distance from a crime boss who has a contract out on her, and a cop who believes she’s the key to taking said bad guy down, Angel runs straight into the arms of two dominant brothers with an unexpected interest in making her theirs.
Faced with a difficult choice, Angel must decide who she can trust. Two kinky brothers that she just met? A cop she has more in common with than she realizes? Or a crime boss adept at murder? Trusting them all may end up saving her life.
Finding Angel is more than a love story between one woman and two men, it’s a romantic suspense with a whole lot of trouble.
This book contains erotic sex scenes, BDSM elements, a Ménage a Trois romantic pairing (M/F/M) and non-graphic descriptions of past sexual and physical abuse suffered by the female protagonist. Note: There is no sexual relationship between siblings.
Buy Links
Kindle US – http://amzn.to/2FjpUHY
Kindle AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B077XFD747
Kindle UK – http://amzn.to/2FlpDo1
*****
Excerpt One
Angel felt dirty, which probably had less to do with cleaning and more to do with the fact she’d just finished texting a crime lord. Adrian always had that effect on her. He may have been a good-looking, well-dressed, and very suave man, but the way he looked at her—like a predatory animal eyeing its prey—always made her nervous.
As she stood in the shower letting the warm water run over her body, Angel imagined the last five years of fear and turmoil washing away. She hadn’t sought out anything that she encountered in her life leading to this point. However, thinking back, she knew she had made some very bad choices. That had to change. If the last five years had taught Angel one thing, it was this. She was worth more than she had encountered in her life thus far. She was a good woman, caring and kind, and someone of that nature deserved better.
Angel remembered the day she’d arrived home to find Samuel gone. She shivered as she recalled the sight that met her when she entered the house. It was a mess. Everything thrown on the floor, cupboards open, books and CDs strewn across the living area, the stereo speakers kicked in and pillows from the sofa ripped open. Samuel’s computer was still on his desk, the side ripped open and a gaping hole where the hard drive used to be. If her life had been anything like normal, then she’d have been on the phone to the police within minutes. But, there was nothing normal about her life. And in this house, police were the enemy.
Angel recollected walking into the kitchen to place the bags of groceries on the counter as a knock sounded on the door. One of Samuel’s associates greeted her, only to become annoyed when he discovered Sam wasn’t home. Angel sent him away, telling him to ring Samuel if he needed to see him. After he’d left, Angel heard the faint ring of Samuel’s phone. She knew he wouldn’t have left it behind. It was like a third arm for him, he was never without it. She’d walked toward the back of the house, reaching for the back door just as the phone stopped ringing.
It was then she noticed the garage door was ajar. They only used the garage for storage. It was a single old building away from the house, built during a time when cars were smaller and detached garages popular because people didn’t mind walking to get what they needed. Angel recalled the crunch of the gravel drive under her feet and the creak of the rickety wooden door.
The air was cool around her as she stared at Samuel’s Harley Davidson belt buckle. She lowered her eyes, scanning down his legs to his feet. He wasn’t wearing shoes. His feet looked pale, she’d thought, as her eyes scanned back up his body to his chest. His shoulders relaxed, his hands by his sides. She smiled at him when her eyes reached his face, his head slanted to the side, the securely tied noose around his neck attached firmly to the middle rafter of the roof.
Angel drifted back to the present. As the water from the shower tumbled over her body, she smiled. She couldn’t have dreamed of a better end for that shit of a man.
About the Author
Jan Graham is an author of Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense. Her stories contain erotic elements, with some including elements of BDSM. She has numerous published titles to her credit, with more to come once she overcomes her current bout of procrastination. Jan lives in Newcastle, Australia where she writes, reads, feeds her Netflix addiction and drinks coffee with friends.
For those who enjoy labels and tags, as well as being an author, Jan is a submissive, an aunt, dyslexic, a lover of all things tempting and naughty (including chocolate), a participant in the BDSM community, a widow, an orphan, and sometimes, a wild child.
In short, she is generally a bit of an eccentric who lives her life slightly left of center. You can find out more about Jan and her work by stalking her on the various social media sites where she occasionally hangs out.
Social Media Hangouts
Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.
![anthemofthesea-outnow[113568]](https://libraryoferana.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/anthemofthesea-outnow113568.jpg)
Out Now—ANTHEM OF THE SEA By Thom Collins (@thomwolf @realthomcollins)
Blurb:
An ocean of possibility. For love, revenge and murder.
Daniel Blake, a handsome young singer, boards the Atlantic Anthem in Portugal for the final voyage of her maiden season. The state-of-the-art ship is the jewel in the Royal Atlantic cruise fleet. For Daniel, a one-time boy band member and TV talent show winner, it’s an honor to perform aboard such a vessel. Daniel loves the freedom and adventure of the sea. He began his solo career as a cruise ship entertainer and returning to the ocean as a headline act brings him full circle. He isn’t looking for love.
Neither is comedian Elijah Mann. Working at sea has given Elijah’s career the boost it desperately needed. Often considered too good-looking and sexy to be funny, work has been hard to come by since his TV show was canceled. With a potential new career opening up, he must remain focused. But when Elijah meets Daniel the attraction is mutual and instant. As the ship sets sail for England they have three days to get to know each other. Elijah can’t let that opportunity pass.
The voyage home is far from smooth. Also on board is a figure from Daniel’s past. A man who’s been holding a grudge for years, waiting for his moment. As a storm builds in the North Atlantic, Daniel and Elijah discover that the trip of a lifetime could be their last.
LINKS:
Pride Publishing: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/anthem-of-the-sea
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2rvgeTr
Amazon USA: http://amzn.to/2rh1Bnt
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/anthem-of-the-sea
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anthem-of-the-sea-thom-collins/1126384702?ean=9781786515681
EXCERPT:
The taxi collected Daniel Blake from the hotel on time. He liked that. Punctuality, efficiency and professionalism—three things he valued in all areas of his career. Be on time and be prepared—that had been his motto since he was fourteen years old. Fifteen years later, he continued to live by it.
He helped the driver load his gear into the trunk. There wasn’t much of it. When on the road, he traveled light with just a medium-sized case, a holdall and a suit carrier. He’d arrived in Lisbon the previous morning, disembarking from a cruise ship, where he’d performed for two nights. His shirts would need washing and his suit pressing before his next show. There was plenty of time.
He gave the driver directions to his designated cruise terminal and climbed onto the back seat. Thankfully, the air conditioning was running. Though it was late October, the outside temperature remained in the mid-eighties and it wasn’t even eleven o’clock. Last night he had heard some of the hotel staff complain about the weather turning cold, but for a boy like him, born and raised in the northeast of England, these climates were well above average. Back home, this would be a hot day in June or July.
It was a short drive to the port. Early in the day, but the streets were busy. Three massive cruise ships were anchored in the harbor, discharging thousands of eager tourists into the city. British, American, German, Japanese, they scurried through the streets, clutching backpacks and maps, keen to explore as much as they could of the historic Portuguese city in the few hours they had here.
Daniel smiled at their faces as they zipped by.
Lisbon, his last stop before home.
The car arrived at the port and within ten minutes Daniel stood beside the gangway with his luggage, waiting for the necessary security calls to be made that would allow him to board the ship. The enormous vessel towered above him, casting a huge shadow across the dock. The Atlantic was one of the biggest and most spectacular cruise ships in the world.
There were a lot of criticisms for super ships such as this. He’d heard them described as floating shopping malls, grotesque monstrosities and budget hotels at sea, but for Daniel there was something quite majestic about the craft and its design, to say nothing of the engineering that went into the construction of such a huge vessel.
“Those things are so top heavy,” a jobbing magician once had told him in a bar. “I hear they roll right over in high seas.”
Daniel had laughed at the man’s ignorance. “And when did you last hear of that happening?”
The man had floundered. “I’m just saying that something so uneven can’t be safe, can it? You won’t ever catch me on one of them things. Mug’s game, isn’t it?”
“It’s your loss,” Daniel had told him cheerily. He felt safer at sea, even in the roughest weather, than he ever had on a plane. Motorways too. It might not be the quickest, but without a doubt it was the most luxurious and extravagant way to travel. He loved being at sea.
Waiting for the security guy to return with his passport, Daniel realized he’d drawn some attention.
A slow stream of passengers was returning to the ship. They couldn’t have seen much of Lisbon, coming back already. Among them was an English family. While the parents lit cigarettes before joining the embarkation queue, the daughter, who looked around fourteen, stared directly at him.
“Hi.” He smiled. “Good day out?”
The girl was plump and pretty with wavy brown hair that fell around her shoulders. She wore a sweet, flowery sundress and red Converse shoes. She blushed as she realized she’d been caught gawking.
“Are you…? Oh, my God, you are, aren’t you? You’re Daniel Blake.”
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged. Don’t shoot me.”
The girl nervously stepped forward, looking at him with wide, hazel eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m waiting to join the ship. I’m performing on board.”
Her jaw fell. “The Anthem? You’re coming on the Anthem?”
He nodded. He didn’t mind being recognized like this. Daniel was famous enough in the UK, but not so much that it ever became an inconvenience. His fame came from a TV talent show. The public had made him and he appreciated all the support he got.
“Oh my God.” The girl’s face became highly animated. “Mam! Dad! Come here. Oh my God, you won’t believe it. Daniel Blake. It’s actually him.”
Her bemused parents stubbed out their cigarettes and came over. They were an attractive-looking couple of around forty. The girl looked a lot like her father.
“I hope she’s not bothering you,” the dad said, looking cautiously between Daniel and his daughter.
“Not a bit,” Daniel assured him. “It’s a pleasure.”
“Daniel is going to be singing on the ship. Can you believe it? How cool is that?” She grinned a mile wide.
“Starting tomorrow,” he said. “Make certain you get yourselves a great seat down front. I can use all the support I can get.”
“I will, I will. I voted for you every week on The One. You were my favorite from the start.”
“So it’s you I need to thank for winning. What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Julieann.”
“Well, thank you, Julieann. Your votes changed my life.”
The girl blushed violently.
The security officer came back to escort Daniel onto the ship. Before boarding, he posed for photographs with Julieann and her family.
“The girls at school will have a fit when they see these on Instagram,” Julieann said proudly as they took a selfie together.
“See you at the shows,” Daniel said as he walked on board. “And don’t forget—front row. Be there. I’ll look out for you.”
“We’ll definitely be there.”
Once on board, he passed his luggage through the security scanner and was equipped with his sea pass ID, the plastic card that would enable him to move around the ship, access his accommodation and run a tab in the bars and shops. He was greeted on the far side of security by a young woman in a blue shirt and khaki shorts. Her soft blonde hair was tied back from her round, attractive face. She was vaguely familiar from his engagement earlier in the season. He checked her name badge to refresh his memory. Belle Hodges, entertainment crew, from South Australia.
“Hi,” Belle said cheerily. “It’s wonderful to have you back on board.”
She extended her hand and he shook it. “It’s great to be back. Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this since I left in May. How has your maiden season gone?”
“Over too quickly and totally ace. I can’t believe it’s been that long since you were here. Yikes, the time has flown. Let me give you a hand with your stuff.”
“That’s okay. I can manage. Just point me in the right direction and I’ll find my way.”
Ignoring his protests, Belle took up the suit carrier.
“You’re in real luck,” she said. “You’ve been allocated a large stateroom on one of the passenger decks. Balcony and all.”
“You’re joking? Wow. Am I sharing with the house band or a football team?”
Belle giggled, wrinkling her nose. “Silly. You’ve got the whole place to yourself.”
“Seriously? What gives? I never get accommodation like that.”
Belle looked around cautiously and lowered her voice. “We had a family thrown off the ship in Gran Canaria so you’ve got their room. They caused a fight in the martini bar and punched an officer who tried to intervene. Captain Rassimov put them off at the next port. No second chances.”
“Good to know we’re in such firm hands.”
“Captain Rassimov is the best,” Belle gushed.
Daniel didn’t doubt it. He’d met the dashing captain on his last trip. Tall, dark, handsome and extremely charismatic, he sent hearts beating fast among the passengers and crew. If he wasn’t so straight, Daniel would fancy him too. Rassimov was the perfect man to master such a grand vessel.
Launched in May, with a rumored cost of over one-point-five billion, the Atlantic Anthem was coming to the end of its inaugural European season. It was the newest and biggest vessel in the Royal Atlantic fleet. Daniel had spent two nights on board when he’d performed a headline set on the maiden voyage. He’d worked for cruise companies all over the world, but he couldn’t fail to be impressed by the Anthem. It was billed as the ship with everything. From his own experience that was certainly true.
As he walked through the decks with Belle, his sense of excitement increased. The interior was truly splendid. Not a penny had been spared, from the lush carpets to the paintings and sculptures that graced every deck. Before coming on board, he’d read all the specs—about the spa and fitness center, two swimming pools and a solarium, the Royal Theater with nine-hundred-sixty seats, the bars—eight of them across the ship—the main dining room plus three specialty restaurants and a twenty-four-hour café. Several public entertainment areas were situated on Decks Four and Five around a jaw-dropping central staircase. Knowing all of that in advance, he still had been blown away when he’d came upon the ship for the first time. And he felt it now, all over again.
Only the most jaded, spoiled and hard-to-please traveler could fail to be inspired by the Anthem.
They rode one of the glass elevators to the tenth floor where Belle led him down a long corridor to his stateroom in the forward section of the ship.
“Last time, I had an interior cabin in the crew quarters.” He laughed.
“Yep, that’s where they like to cram us in. But now you’ve got this.”
Daniel swiped his sea pass card to enter the room. A major step up from crew class, the room was bright and contemporary, to the standard of any good hotel. He had an enormous double bed all to himself and a sitting area with a long, cream leather sofa. There was a dressing table, minibar, TV, private bathroom and balcony.
“I hope I don’t get lost in here,” he joked, dumping his luggage by the wardrobe.
“As long as you’re on stage for your shows tomorrow night, no one will mind what you get up to in here,” Belle said.
“You can put your mind at ease on that count,” he said. “I’ve been performing since I was fourteen and I’ve never missed a show in my life.”
Belle left him to settle in. Daniel unpacked his clothes first and filled a plastic bag with stuff that needed washing immediately—shirts, socks and underwear. Another great thing about working on a luxury cruise liner—everything was to hand. If he left the bag out today, all the items would be washed, ironed and returned by tomorrow.
He went into the bathroom next, laying out his razor, toothbrush and skincare products. He brought everything with him when he traveled. Though he wasn’t particularly vain, it was important to look good in public.
He didn’t have to worry. At twenty-nine years old—five months shy of thirty—he was in prime condition. He’d never looked better. For years he used to hate the way he looked. Everything about him had been out of proportion, especially his face. Eyes, teeth, nose, chin, they were always too big. But throughout his twenties, the rest of his body had caught up. He’d filled out and gained muscle and his face, which had seemed so awkward in his teens, had developed an extraordinary handsomeness. He had a strong jaw with a cowboy cleft, while his mouth was wide and masculine. With sky-blue eyes and thick brown hair, he had become a good-looking man. Very good-looking.
His confidence hadn’t grown to match his looks. A part of him would always be that skinny, peculiar kid. But only he could see it.
Finally unpacked, he relaxed and walked onto the balcony. He had a great view of the city and the people below, streaming like ants around the port terminals. Daniel took a moment to enjoy it all. He loved just about every part of the cruise experience.
Every ship, every voyage, was a new adventure.
The Atlantic Anthem promised a greater adventure than any other.
He couldn’t wait to get started.
Thom Collins Bio
Thom Collins is the author of the novel Closer by Morning, with Pride Publishing. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and promptly confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.
The novellas Gods of Vengeance and Silent Voices were published by Pride in early 2017, followed by the novel Anthem of the Sea, the first book in the Anthem Trilogy. He has recently finished writing the second book in a series and is working on the third.
Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age. Since taking his first cruise in 2013 he realized that sailing is the way to go.
Links:
Blog: http://www.thomcollinsauthor.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: @thomwolf and @realthomcollins
Email: thomcollinsauthor@aol.com
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.
Out Now—Damned If You Do by Lisabet Sarai (@lisabetsarai) #bdsm #eroticromance #lisabetsarai #bondage #discipline #dominance #submission #demon #pnr
Excessica, 2017
Paranormal BDSM erotic romance (Five flames)
Approximately 29,000 words
HEA ending
Blurb
Wendy Dennison is tired of being a starving author. The royalties from her critically acclaimed romance novels barely pay her bills. Her devoted agent Daniel Rochester may be smart and sexy, but he can’t get her the sales she needs. Then a charismatic stranger appears at her coffee shop table, promising her fame and commercial success, as well as the chance to live out her dreams of erotic submission. But at what cost?
Nothing you can’t afford to lose, my dear.
Seduced by the enigmatic Mister B, she signs his infernal contract. He becomes both her Master and her coach, managing her suddenly flourishing career as well as encouraging her lusts. Under her mentor’s nefarious influence, she surrenders to temptation and has sex with Daniel. The casual encounter turns serious when she discovers her mild-mannered agent has a dominant side. As the clock ticks down to her blockbuster release and Mister B prepares to claim her soul, Wendy must choose either celebrity and wealth, or obscurity and true love.
Quotes
“Lisabet Sarai writes the most beautiful erotic prose. Her stories tease at the senses and transport you to a world of sexual pleasure.” ~ Desiree Holt, queen of BDSM erotic romance and author of Forward Pass
“I’ve always been a fan—Lisabet Sarai’s erotic fiction is certain to captivate, dominate, and leave readers begging for more.” ~ Alison Tyler, best-selling author of erotic BDSM memoirs Dark Secret Love and Even Deeper.
Buy Links (Ebook and Print)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pT31HP
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pEb3Uf
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damned-if-you-do-lisabet-sarai/1126292735?ean=2940157395711
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/th/en/ebook/damned-if-you-do-10
Excessica: https://goo.gl/dZN3dr
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35009284-damned-if-you-do
(Other booksellers coming soon.)
About Lisabet
LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from mildly kinky to intensely perverse.
You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads and finally, on Twitter.
Introductory Posts (Optional – Please use only one)
Of Frustration and Temptation
Being an author is not for sissies. You pour your heart and soul into your stories. You spend hours of your scarce time and more money than you can afford on marketing. With each new release, you hope you’ll finally grab the attention of the book-buying crowd, that you’ll get the readership and the remuneration you deserve.
If that doesn’t happen (and given the number of people publishing books these days, odds are that it won’t), you’re stuck with the bitter knowledge that all your passion and effort were for nothing. This can be deeply demoralizing, even if you’re not trying to make your living as an author. If you depend on your writing to pay your bills, you’ve got financial anxiety added to your frustration.
I know this frustration only too well. My books receive consistent five star reviews, but somehow I’ve never been a commercial success. Thus, Damned If You Do is a rather personal story.
What would I do if I could magically turn my books into best sellers? How much would that be worth to me? That’s the question my romance author heroine faces when a mysterious stranger shows up waving a contract and promising her fame and fortune, sensual pleasure and the fulfillment of her most secret desires.
All he asks in return is her soul.
Crazy. Dangerous, maybe. But so, so tempting!
Excerpt 2: R-rated
One instant, they were wrestling for the check in the Café Gallette. The next, Wendy found herself sprawled on the bed in some hotel room, with Dan stretched out beside her.
What the hell? As Dan moaned and rolled on top of her, she understood that hell had indeed been intimately involved in the sudden, disorienting transition.
“Dan—wait! No, please…” She squirmed beneath him, but his weight pinned her to the mattress. Her struggles only made his erection swell further.
He ground himself against her pubis, striking flares of pleasure whenever his cock nudged her clit. Somehow he’d managed to grab her wrists. He swept her arms over her head, as her heroes so often did to the heroines. She tested his hold; he was surprisingly strong for an intellectual with a desk job. There was no way she could escape, not until he let her.
The realization made her pulse race and her pussy weep.
“Finally, I have you where I want you, Wendy.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “You’re mine now. Mine!”
That word. Almost as powerful an aphrodisiac as ‘surrender’. All her life, or at least since puberty, she’d fantasized about being owned, a slave to some virile and demanding man who would use her however he wished. Her nipples contracted into tight, throbbing knots. Her sex was awash with evidence of her need. She wanted to let go, to let him take what he wanted and damn the consequences. Still, she made one last effort at rationality.
“Stop now, Dan. Please. If you don’t, we’ll both be sorry tomorrow.”
Instead of answering, he covered her mouth with his own, sliding his tongue between her lips and kissing her with delirious, terrifying force. He was taking possession, staking a claim. His power dizzied her. She was intoxicated by his unexpected dominance. Relaxing into the bed, she let him devour her. What else could she do?
Contest Information
I will be giving away three $10 bookstore gift certificates during my release blitz, and three free ebook copies of my BDSM erotic romance The Gazillionaire and the Virgin. I will also give a $5 GC to a randomly selected host. The blitz ends June 1st.
To enter, readers must:
Sign up for my VIP email list: https://signup.ymlp.com/xgjjhmhugmgh
AND/OR:
Leave a comment with their email address on my release day announcement page: http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2017/04/out-today-damned-if-you-do-bdsm-pnr.html
Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.
Library of Erana 